ok so I'm not going to lie. I was afraid of reading this book. I was even anxious buying it but I bought it anyway and then mentally bitch-slapped myself to stop being such a wimp!! I was so afraid of reading this because it was different. I knew it was different before I even read it. I knew it was different, not because I read the reviews but because even the cover has that something different about it! And It. Was. Different. But hell if it wasn't one of the best books I have ever read!!!
At the beginning of the story I struggled. I really did because like I said it was different I had never read anything like this before. Ever!! There was parts I was wincing and wishing I didn't have to witness it, that I didn't have to 'see' it. I love romance books because I honestly think there is enough bad in the world so I want the characters to get their HEA I am a hopeless romantic sentimental soft hearted gal! That is not to say I don't read darker books because I still do and I do bloody enjoy them but it just takes me a few minutes to get there.
Now this book is special. It starts off with Aimee a young girl who loves books and loves, wants, needs to believe that there is magic in the world especially the kind that comes with the carnival that sets up in her town, across from her house, for two weeks every year. Reluctantly, and solely just because it's her birthday her father decides he will let the family go to the carnival the day of her birthday even though the thought of it disgusts him and his haughty ways!! Yes I disliked this man very much.
Kestrel, the little cheeky, cocky boy, the same age as her who she knows is trouble from the moment she lands her eyes on him. He is a carnie and they strike up an unlikely- forbidden friendship but even at the age of ten they have a strong connection and are drawn to eachother. What I loved about this book is that your with them from the very start. I rarely read, or rarely hear of this kind of story where two people find their true love when they are young and they stay together and the hopeless romantic in me is jumping up and down with delight! It was lovely to experience all their firsts with them as awkward as they were and even when Kes was being a stupid smelly idiot boy!!! Kes is anything but easy!! God is he difficult! Their whole relationship is difficult. It is always there, barely hanging on then edge and you never know which way it's going to be, how it is going to go. But hell when it was there, 100% it was sweet, beautiful, and so f-ing hot!!!!
"Then he prowled toward the RV, his eyes fixed on mine, and a look on his face that told me a storm was about to hit. I backed away and he slammed the door behind him, muting the laughs and catcalls that followed.
He didn't even speak as he grabbed my hand and towed me into the bedroom, physically lifting me from my feet and tossing me onto the bed.
Then he ripped off his t- shirt and pinned me to the bed with his body, the heat pouring from his skin and through my thin blouse, heating my blood and burning my flesh." ***fanning myself***
They have always been forbidden and the odds ALWAYS against them and they never knew how much until when their plans were stumbled upon and they were separated and lost contact, all contact! (my heart shattered at this). A chance meeting eight years later and they are crashing into each others life and yet again its not an easy ride.
Kes is still bloody difficult as always! His past has shaped him, the past he will not talk about, he refuses too he bottles it up and a lot of his life is a mystery and he is closed off but in rare beautiful moments he is vulnerable with Aimee and your heart will break into a million pieces for the boy he was and for the man that is obviously still hurting. Aimee is still so in love with her carnie boy but is much stronger yet is just as vulnerable as the teenager she once was, when Kes is around her.
Jane Harvey Berrick sure can provide the shock factor!! There are many shocks,there are sweet moments, hot and intense moments and it all ties together besutifully. I love how hot and intense it can be and then it can be sweet and silly and vice versa! in the click of a finger and it completely makes sense. I cannot believe this is my first time reading one of her books! It blew me away. It was so emotional for me I was so invested in it, I couldn't put it down at one stage and I read from 30%-100% in one sitting it was simply beautiful. It's haunting and will stay with you forever.
Family was also a big theme in this, not say it was in a good way, well it was but not always, it was bittersweet. This may be a bit twisted of me but I found the fact that Kestrel was illiterate made me smile?? yeah ok not like that I'm not a complete weirdo i wasn't happy he was it was just the way Aimee was so patient with him and when he spelled his words wrong it melted my heart and I couldn't help smile!!! These characters had such a connection, they had sweet and silly, intense and hot, banter and boldness. It sure was a rollercoaster! And considering I'm from Dublin of course I loved the Irish references!!! :-)
This story is hauntingly heart breakingly beautifully magic and so bloody emotional. This was my first of Jane's books and it certainly will not be my last. I cannot wait and yet I'm sad about it, for the conclusion to their story, The travelling woman. I was so shocked so many times in that book. One of the biggest shocks was that Zachary was gay, and who he was in love with!!?? bloody hell, I had to put my tablet down because I was crying, so emotional. I was also gasping so hard when I found out that Sorcha and Kes... hell yes I should've seen that a mile away but I didn't because Jane's writing is so captivating I have not got lost in a story like that in a long time. It is so beautifully written and I am not even messing I want all the carnies stories'!! I want Tuckers, I want Zef's I want Zachary's I want all their stories! and I definitely want Kestrel's POV well because I'm a greedy cow and don't want Kes out of my life just yet and want to get inside that complicated beautiful mind of his!
***Ends on a cliffhanger. But so worth the read because The conclusion, The Travelling woman is following this and I cannot wait! For the first time ever I'm nervous about a book but can't wait!!
Of course I give this 5 magical beautiful stars *****
buy link and leave a review!!
AMAZON ====http://amzn.to/1aJ8KUS
GOODREADS ===== https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/23902435-the-traveling-man?ac=1
- Janes Twitter @jharveyberrick
- FaceBook http://on.fb.me/1NaadCu
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