I am not sure what I was expecting in this book but it wasn’t this. It is mysterious, with a Victorian era gothic feel to it.
I really knew nothing about ballet before reading this now I feel enriched for having read it.
You travel in a place while reading in where you are asking yourself if this is realistic or you are in a dream world.
Very atmospheric the book has a dark gothic feel to it as though you know something is just around the corner waiting to happen.
There are bits of it I just don’t understand, like the red ballet slippers. They are such an important connection ,then when they are stolen they are no longer important?
The ending was surprising and a shake up. The book felt a bit like swimming in murky waters while reading it.

Pub Date: 07 Sep 2021
I was given a complimentary copy of this book. Thank you.
All opinions expressed are my own.

FTC Disclosure: I received a complimentary copy of this book. These are my honest thoughts.

This was my most-anticipated book of 2021. I’m not sure yet what I think about it.

In one way, I feel very misled by a couple of things. The back blurb and meet-cute both indicated a certain romance was going to take place, but the story took a weird turn on that front. While I grew to enjoy certain aspects of the romantic thread and rather adored the finale, it wasn’t anything like what I’d been led to believe it would be.

In another way, this story grew on me and wrapped me in a vintage era that felt very much like home. The atmosphere in this book helped the story slowly sift past my defenses at the aforementioned deception. The words chosen created such vivid imagery that I found myself immersed in a different time and place and wanted to stay in the fantastical ballet-and-circus world the author created.

I struggled to understand why Mr. Dorian had such a sullied reputation. While he was known as a flirtatious playboy who could have any of the female dancers he wanted, the character I got to know on the page wasn’t anything close to that sort. Why did he have such a terrible reputation? That thread did not make any sense to me at all, because what I saw was a kind, generous, compassionate gentleman. His personality was in direct contrast with his reputation, and the two never melded for me. It was very clear throughout that he cared greatly about wanting to keep the leading lady’s reputation intact, further instilling his gentlemanly qualities.

The circus bits were fascinating. It wasn’t really full-blown circus stuff, but that made it even more special. It was like stepping into the behind-the-scenes, day-to-day aspects of the circus, and I loved that. To glimpse what it might have been like to be an intrinsic part of the circus was mesmerizing and utterly fantastic. I would love to see a circus story or two by this author’s hand. Pretty please, Mrs. Politano???

The red shoes got lost for half the book. They were stolen pretty early on, but after a brief worry and rummage, the leading lady simply went on about her everyday life. So why were those shoes so important to her again? She apparently forgot they were one of her last ties to her dead mother. I wanted to feel urgency in discovering who had stolen them and why. I wanted there to be a heart-pounding search and investigation into the matter and a yearning to have them returned. Instead, the leading lady randomly stumbled onto the shoes at one point, which was very anticlimactic and not something she’d actively pursued. She’d quite forgotten about that memento of her mom’s that she’d cherished in the opening scenes.

The cover is exquisite and sets a beautiful tone for this story. There’s something romantic and atmospheric and utterly amazing about the color scheme and saturation, the wistful, reminiscent pose of the ballerina, and the lyrical typeface of the title that really called to me when I originally saw it. Those things still drew me in every time I picked up this book to read a little more in the time I found between work obligations and family time.

Because of the abovementioned issues that bothered or confused me, it took me about three weeks to read a book that I thought I’d guzzle in three days. However, now that I know the ins and outs of the story and which aspects I didn’t understand on my first read, I have a feeling this story will continue to grow on me through another two or three reads. It’s one I really want to love, so I’ll be giving it another chance. The final several chapters did bump my rating up from three to four stars, because some things came to satisfactory ends and the climax of the ballet swept me away so that I kept flipping pages as quickly as I could.

The big secret that I didn’t even realize until late that Ella was keeping close didn’t make sense to me. It seemed to come out of nowhere. Even when it was “revealed,” she didn’t come out and say what the secret was, so I’m still not sure I fully understand what had happened and if it had indeed happened to Ella or not. Maybe I’ll understand that part better next time.

This book definitely had some mesmerizing qualities. It was lyrical and vintage and exquisite at times. I will likely read it again in coming years, and I believe a lot of readers will adore it.

Content: pub, drunkenness, gambling on a woman’s virtue, swearing by “heaven’s name” and “all that is holy,” tobacco, prostitutes mentioned, statues of Greek mythology, alcohol

Author Politano has such a way with words and sweeping the reader into the stories of her characters. This was a story that pulled me through it's atmosphere and had me turning to the pages to get to the answers that Ella Blythe and I both had need of.

Ella is a dancer. She has the skill and it is in her blood. From the first pages of the book I was swept into her world of dancing, the darkness of it, the conniving of others, and the dark side of it. Taking place in the late 1830's in London we get a very vivid picture of what it might have looked like to make it in the dancing world.

And oh, the secrets and hidden agendas and a bit of a mystery as we saw through the eyes of Ella, who was trying to find her place in this world. And the romance. I want to say this was a little bit of a Gothic tale for me, reminding me of times of the Phantom of the Opera. If you are looking for a bit of different read I highly recommend this lyrical one.

I was provided a copy of this novel from the publisher. I was not required to post a positive review and all views and opinions are my own.

A Midnight Dance by Joanna Davidson Politano is breathtaking. This story takes you to the very early London ballet world, to the very onset of dancers using pointe shoes. Before her life was ruined in an horrific fire, Ella Blythe’s mother was a famous ballerina. After that, Ella trained in secret with her mother. She then earned a scholarship to continue that work at the Craven Street Theater, where her mother was disfigured.

Now, Ella must navigate between the attention of the company flirt, her growing attraction to principal dancer Phillipe, and her search for her birth-father. Ella’s finds her focus stretched thin. Focusing on ballet becomes hard.

As she starts to put the pieces together, a shocking secret puts Ella in grave danger, at the worst possible moment in her dancing career.

As a ballet mom, the depth of research in A Midnight Dance blew me away. This is remarkable. Having listened to my own ballerina talk about how if feels, I can say, hand on heart, Politano nailed it. Combine this with the historical elements and the plot, and you have a truly great book. I fell in love with Jack’s heart, Ella’s method for shining on stage and the plot twists I didn’t see coming.

Without hesitation, I’d highly recommend this book.


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A Midnight Dance is a very well written inspirational romance. Great plot and character development. I recommend this book.

This book had me in tears right from the beginning - simply because the author somehow put together everything I love right from the opening paragraph: gorgeous, lush descriptions, the aura of beauty and mystery that surrounds the theater, romance, secrets from the past, references to classic literature, and a young girl longing to figure out who she is and where she belongs. This is undoubtedly my favorite book of Ms. Politano's so far. I couldn't put it down! The poetic writing matched the beauty of the art being described (ballet), and the story was like a dance in itself. The ending was so perfect I had to get tissues. This book will a person away to dreamland and back again, resonating deep within the heart. This one is going on my shelf to keep, share, and read again.

Joanna Davidson Politano’s evocative, lyrical writing style brings ballet in Victorian London to life in A Midnight Dance! Ella is an orphaned ballet prodigy looking for answers about her past and her identity. Jack, the unlikely hero, brings color and spontaneity to her rigid, perfectionist life. I love the way he helped her break out of her shell, and her faith helped bring him growth and stability. The mystery of her past raised the tension and kept the story moving. There was a twist at the end that I probably should have seen coming, but the surprise was delightful and ended the book on a high note for me! I recommend this book for fans of historical romance, especially readers who enjoy Elizabeth Camden and Roseanna M. White.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Though I have never danced myself, I have always been enchanted by ballet ever since I was a little girl. I have also previously enjoyed books by Joanna Davidson Politano as well and find that she has such a unique way of telling a story, so when I saw that her newest novel was about ballet, I was all the more excited to check it out. While I must say that for me, this was not as great as some of her others that I have read... that does not mean that it was not still a fantastic read! This had such a beautiful blend of mystery and romance and drama that you couldn't help but be drawn into. I particularly loved the message of faith weaved throughout the story so beautifully as well. Overall, this is beautiful story and one that fans of historical fiction are sure to enjoy.

**I received a complimentary copy for consideration. All thoughts are my own.

A Midnight Dance by Joanna Davidson Politano

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
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Story Notes

An intriguing mystery story about a young ballerina trying to break onto the world's stage and solve the mystery of her mother's secret past.

Joanna has such a gift of creating complex stories that not only capture your heart but your imagination as well. Her books have an air of mystery surrounding them and characters that you want to cheer for in all circumstances. This particular story was a little harder for me to get into as I had no prior knowledge of the world of ballet but I was soon absorbed into the rest of the story and learned quite a lot as I read. Though I'm still not completely sure of all the terms mentioned nor what they meant, I really loved how Ella's story was so much more than the ballet. She had a good character arch that expanded dramatically as the pages went by and by the end she was a really wonderful person. Jack was so good at getting her to open up and teaching her true freedom that I was glad to see how things worked out for them. I will say that I got a little confused in the beginning of the story as to who was whom and what was happening but I soon sorted everyone out as I got into the rest of the story. The mystery held on to the very end and the conclusion was very well done, with everyone getting exactly as they deserved. I certainly recommend this story and hope that others will find it as engaging as I did. Looking forward to what comes next from Joanna!

I received this temporary complimentary E-book from Revell Publishing via NetGalley. I was not required by anyone to write a positive review but I am pleased to do so. I will receive no fiscal compensation for this review and the opinions expressed herein are entirely my own.

If you've been missing attending performances at the theatre and the ethereal magic of ballet, then pick up "A Midnight Dance." This book is the perfect antidote to your blues. Politano's descriptions are breathtakingly beautiful and captured the beauty of the art.

My favorite quote was right at the beginning where Ella says indignantly, "Is art only validated by the presence of an audience?"

A Midnight Dance, by Joanna Davidson Politano, is an interesting tale set in London, England. After her mother’s death, Ella Blythe has gained a scholarship to begin her ballet training. Her mother had not wanted her to enter this world. An unknown person had injured her mother years ago!

As Ella seeks to learn the truth of the mystery of her mother’s former life, she must handle the presence of Jack Dorian and Philippe Rousseau. Both men show an interest in Ella; however, she has no idea what they are after. You hope their interest is for Ella’s good and not her demise!

By the final page of this tale, you will not only discover Ella’s next place in this world, but also the answer to her mother’s story!

It is beautiful to see Ella’s relationship with God blossom as she learns each new dance move!

I was sucked into the beautiful and treacherous world of the ballet theatre in this powerful testament to God's love and support of His children.  The intrigues and the plot twists that I did not expect kept me on my toes and I loved the lush descriptions and emotions in this story.  Politano has crafted stand out characters, none of whom are willing to tell their full story all at once, and it makes for a wonderful journey of discovery.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions expressed are completely my own.

In 1830's London, Ella Blythe longs to be a ballerina. Her quest for a career in ballet brings her closer to her mother's mysterious history, questions about her father, and a love story of her own.

I wanted to read A Midnight Dance because I absolutely loved The Love Note and Lady Jayne Disappears by Joanna Davidson Politano. I enjoy historical fiction and also have a lifelong interest in ballet, so this novel was particularly appealing.

The author does an amazing job at setting the scene in another time. As a reader, I vividly pictured the theater and the world Ella traveled through. The novel had a dark, atmospheric tone for me, with the past fire and the haunted ambience of the theater backstage (especially at night).

Ella is an interesting protagonist - she is striving for a career at a time when there were few careers for women, but she is also trying to answer the mysteries of her family background and to find romance and happiness in her own life. She finds a way to connect with her faith through dance.

A Midnight Dance has many layers - and many twists and turns too. I recommend it for fans of historical fiction, Christian fiction, and for anyone who has a strong interest in dance.

Oh, this was such a beautifully written story. The story developed so well and had this reader intrigued by the mystery of the theater and shocked by some revelations.

I loved how the author used Ella's journey to learn to let go and dance with grace, passion and love to be a picture of our journey with God - how if we will just let go on things we so desperately try to perfect and manage the best outcome, we will soar like eagles if we let God set the wind.

Oh, I loved Jack! The way the author made this reader fall in love with him as we, along with Ella, get to see glimpses of who Jack really was.

I had a feeling there was a story behind the North Wind, and very glad I was right.

If you enjoy Historical novels, and yet to read this author's work, pick up this story and you will be in for a treat.

*I received a complimentary novel from the publisher. All opinions expressed are my own.*

Breathtaking, brilliant, and beautiful. A tale of ballet in which mystery and romance dance in and out of the pages, with a final scene as unexpected as it is unscripted.

This is my favorite Politano book by far. It was riveting. From the first pages I was drawn in and had a hard time putting it down. It was a fascinating look into the world of ballet or theater in Victorian England. The atmosphere was rife with jealousy and competition both for parts and for supporters. Ella is a breath of fresh air in this environment. She won't succumb to being a man's mistress in order to dance. She dances because she must. It's breath to her.

Jack, who Ella labels a trifler, is amazing. He's able to help Ella with his unconventional ways and methods. He coaxes, or rather pushes, her to freedom from fear.

One of the most beautiful parts of this book is seeing how Ella comes to term with what she sees as two competing passions...dance and God. She has an intimate relationship with God and it's amazing seeing how she uses that to help her dance. This book presents a beautiful message of using your talents for God's glory no matter what they are.

I would highly recommend this book. Thank you to Revell for providing me with a free e-copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

Joanna Davidson Politano is a masterful storyteller, and one of my favorite historical fiction authors. Her newest novel, A Midnight Dance, is an intricately woven tapestry of history, romance, mystery, and inspiration set in London in 1833 and populated with colorful, interesting, multi-layered characters. It’s also a fascinating look at the theatre culture at that time. The heroine, Ella Blythe, is talented and focused, but plagued with feelings of not being good enough. I loved seeing her journey as she let herself be tutored by Jack Dorian.

“The only way you’ll go far is to leap big. You may fly or you may fall, but either way, everyone will be looking at you.”

Although Jack is known as the dance company flirt, his true character is revealed as the story progresses, and he’s definitely a fitting hero. Many twists, turns, and surprises swirl through this tale as it winds its way to the inspirational and emotional end. This is a beautiful story of personal and spiritual growth. 4.5 stars

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy from Revell through NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

From a skilled hand comes a tale of loss, unrequited love, self-discovery, and grace set against the backdrop of Victorian England.



With her trademark style that has an ethereal quality, Joanna Davidson Politano takes us on another journey to Victorian England, this time to the world of ballet. Amid the soot stained streets of London, we are given a story filled with grace that is hauntingly beautiful.



Ella Blythe is a delightful heroine. She’s strong, dedicated, and intrepid. Her striving for perfection is something that I think we can all relate to. I cheered for her as she worked to uncover the truth about her mother and those around her.



The romance in this book is so achingly wonderful. Tender and hard-won, there are twists and turns that truly took me by surprise in a good way. While I won’t give away any spoilers, it truly is one of the most original romances I’ve read in a while. Mystery as well abounds in this book and truly kept me guessing up until the very end. It was so delightful.



The setting of this book was pitch perfect. The dark tones of the Victorian era are portrayed in an almost tangible way and the cut-throat and unforgiving theatre world fit within it perfectly.



A Midnight Dance is surely one of my favorite books of the year. Avid readers of historical fiction will love this book. Highly recommended!



I received a complimentary copy of this book from Revell through NetGalley. All opinions expressed are my own.

I’m sitting here in tears as I write this review. A Midnight Dance is one of the most gorgeous, exquisitely written stories I’ve ever had the pleasure of reading. I was already audibly gasping at the first chapter, and I was in tears at the end. Joanna Davidson Politano has a talent for creating characters the reader will inevitably become attached to, and these characters will always hold a very special place in my heart.

This is the second book I’ve read by Politano, and now I know for certain that her books will take me on an emotional roller coaster. Her stories are less predictable, in terms of the ending, than the ones I usually read, which was wonderfully frustrating and ultimately fulfilling. A Midnight Dance features the most perfect twists I can recall ever reading. I actually had to set the book down for a moment when I was near the end. In part because I was sobbing uncontrollably, but mostly because I just didn’t want to turn the final pages.

As I followed the twists and turns of this story, I knew my rating would come down to the ending, most likely the last chapter. This proved true, and all I can say now is that A Midnight Dance needs to be read by everyone. It is stunningly inspirational, exquisitely romantic, and Politano’s talent shines most vibrantly here. You absolutely cannot miss this book! 5/5 stars

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Joanna Davidson Politano has woven intricate plot lines among intense characters, displaying the heart of God. While the Christian element of her writing is essential to what she has created, fans of secular historical fiction will be equally enthralled with Ella Blythe's story. Set in 1830s London,the book centers around the world of ballet, but the theme of longing to belong to someone, to some place is universal. Ella's story, and the stories of those closest to her, demonstrates the struggles involved with moving forward following rejection. While the book has an element of darkness, the light of hope shines through, shining brightly in contrast to the darkness.

I am extremely grateful to have received a complimentary copy of A Midnight Dance from Revell via NetGalley without obligation. All opinions expressed here are my own.