"A summer carnival whirs to life in a quiet corner of a world at war, and the lives it touches will never be the same. Linda Paul's sweeping historical romance pulled me into its world, where a forbidden love transcends cultural barriers. Her authentic portrayal of Romani culture avoids stereotypes. A story rich with humanity and heart." -Tamatha Cain, author of Song of the Chimney Sweep
In 1942, eighteen-year-old Marisol Mazaria arrives with her Romani family at Ohio's Buckeye Lake Amusement Park where big bands come to play and thousands of wartime-weary visitors long for an escape. She is desperate for work and haunted by tragedy after her abusive husband's violent death. Marisol faces a future of tarot card fortune-telling and servitude-until a chance encounter with Will Worthington changes everything.
Will, a college student dreaming of becoming a pilot against his wealthy father's wishes, is drawn to Marisol's intelligence and fierce determination. As their secret romance blossoms amid the lights of the midway, both must navigate the treacherous waters of prejudice from their own communities. When the park manager's wife begins secretly teaching Marisol to read and helps her apply to medical school, Marisol longs for a future she never dared imagine.
But as war clouds gather and Will is drafted, their forbidden love becomes increasingly dangerous. A vindictive park supervisor sabotages and threatens to destroy the Romani community, and family pressures mount. Marisol must choose between the traditions and loyalty to her family or the uncertain promise of a life lived on her own terms-before fate makes the choice for her.
