The Life She Was Given.

☆☆☆☆☆

the life she was given.
ellen marie wiseman.

Publisher  Kensinghton.

Publication Date:July 25,2017.

Genre: Historical Fiction | Mystery.

Format|Pages: EBook|304.

 Source:  Goodreads|Library.

 CONTAINS SPOILERS

On a summer evening in 1931, Lilly Blackwood glimpses circus lights from the grimy window of her attic bedroom. Lilly isn't allowed to explore the meadows around Blackwood Manor. She's never even ventured beyond her narrow room. Momma insists it's for Lilly's own protection, that people would be afraid if they saw her. But on this unforgettable night, Lilly is taken outside for the first time--and sold to the circus sideshow.



More than two decades later, nineteen-year-old Julia Blackwood has inherited her parents' estate and horse farm. For Julia, home was an unhappy place full of strict rules and forbidden rooms, and she hopes that returning might erase those painful memories. Instead, she becomes immersed in a mystery involving a hidden attic room and photos of circus scenes featuring a striking young girl.



At first, The Barlow Brothers' Circus is just another prison for Lilly. But in this rag-tag, sometimes brutal world, Lilly discovers strength, friendship, and a rare affinity for animals. Soon, thanks to elephants Pepper and JoJo and their handler, Cole, Lilly is no longer a sideshow spectacle but the circus's biggest attraction. . .until tragedy and cruelty collide. It will fall to Julia to learn the truth about Lilly's fate and her family's shocking betrayal, and find a way to make Blackwood Manor into a place of healing at last.

 ☂

 

Heart-wrenching. Extraordinary.



My feelings. There were so many emotions; I think that it’s one of saddest books that I read this year. When I came across THE LIFE SHE WAS GIVEN at library, I had a feeling that it was going be a story that I was going to enjoy. I had a feeling that it was going be a sad one when I read the summary of the book, but I was not prepared how emotional it would be. Even after finishing reading, I cannot get the story out of my mind. THE LIFE SHE WAS GIVEN is a book that you won’t forget; it will stay with you long after you reach the last page. I had always loved books about circus; one of my best friends does that, Circus. For as long as I remember, it always fascinated me and THE LIFE SHE WAS GIVEN wasn’t any different, even if there were times where it was hard to read the book because of what was happening. I enjoyed reading both from Lilly and Julia’s point of view, though Lilly’s story pulled me more into the story. I was curious what Julia would find out, though it wasn’t what I was expecting at all, took me by surprise.



THE LIFE WAS GIVEN Is a story that will pull you in, but at the same time there will be times where it get hard for you to read. You will cry, I did. That ending, I wasn’t expecting and with everything that happened, even I did not expect that ending. I loved Lilly, and out of all the characters in the book, she was my favorite. Considering everything that she went through, she kept on going and that takes a lot of courage. There were times when I wanted to give her a hug and just hold her. All the feelings that Lilly was feeling, I found myself having the same feeling while I read the book. I prayed for her to get out of the situation and find some happiness. It seemed like there was always something going on, and the way she was treated at the circus. I am glad that she at least had Cole. I was hoping and rooting for her happy ending. I still cannot get over how the story ended. There wasn’t anything I didn’t like about this book, I couldn’t put it down despite the fact how sad it was.



THE LIFE SHE WAS GIVEN was the first book that I read by ELLEN MARIE WISEMAN and now that I have, I am eager to check the other books that she had written. If you love historical fiction with some mystery in the mix, be sure to check out THE LIFE SHE WAS GIVEN. Be prepared for emotional roller coaster ride.