Tempting The Ringmaster by Aleah Barley 4-Star Review

Synopsis

Welcome to Buck Falls, Michigan, where the gossip is fresh, the people are feisty, and the circus has pulled in for a limited engagement.

The last thing police chief Graham Tyler needs is a ragtag bunch of circus freaks rolling into town.

Then he meets sassy, spirited, ringmaster Belle-Anne Black.

Belle-Anne’s got a rule against dating townies, and she’s not about to break it… even for the spicy hot lawman who makes her insides sizzle. Then Graham makes her an offer she can’t refuse: one night only, no repeat performances.

Of course, in the circus nothing ever goes exactly to plan.

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Tracey’s Review

When I had the chance to read ‘Tempting the Ringmaster,’ I was not sure what to think. The idea of a contemporary romance about a circus ringmaster, well, it was intriguing. But would it work? Would it draw me in, or just be too darned outlandish to appeal to the average reader (me)?

Aleah Barley has done a great job with this book. The characters are engaging and unique, and the story was just different enough to really hook me. I was totally invested in the circus troupe, and the citizens of Buck Falls were great. From the beginning, the chemistry between Belle and Graham was sizzling, and, even though they couldn’t have been more different from each other, the possibility of them falling for each other was completely believable. After all, all Belle has ever wanted is a man that will love her for herself, not looking down on her because she is with the circus. And to Graham, having had to prove himself as a solid dependable guy just as worthy of respect as his brother, Belle is like a breath of fresh air, an exotic arrival in his otherwise ‘normal’ life.

There is a bit of insta-love that takes place, given the short time frame of the events, but it didn’t take away from the story. I found myself thoroughly engrossed in seeing how things would unfold for Graham, Belle, and the rest of the Black Shadow Circus crew, and the twist of intrigue that was presented made the read even more interesting. A very satisfying 4-stars, and I look forward to more books by Aleah Barley.

Aleah Barley Bio:

Aleah Barley writes smart, sexy, funny (she hopes) books while living in Detroit, Michigan. She’ll do anything for a piece of chocolate or a good review… really, try her. Her first two books are Too Hot to Handle and Leaving Las Vegas. Her fondest hope is that her cat and her dog will start getting along. Barring that, she’d like world peace and an end to global warming.