Traveling Man | Saucy Southern Readers

Traveling Man

The Traveling Duet Series – Book 1

By Jane Harvey-Berrick

Synopsis

I was ordinary. Nice.

He was extraordinary. And he wasn’t always nice.

Moody and difficult, brilliant and beautiful, Kes scared me and he protected me. He could be incredibly hurtful and incredibly thoughtful. He wasn’t perfect, but he was perfect for me. He challenged me, he took me out of my safe little box and showed me the world could be magnificent. He was everything I wasn’t.”

* * * *

Aimee Anderson is ten when the traveling carnival first comes to her nice little town. She doesn’t expect her world to change so completely. But meeting Kestrel Donohue puts her life on a different path.

Even though she only sees him for the two weeks of the year when he passes through her home town, his friendship is the most important of her life. As a child’s friendship grows to adult love, the choices become harder, and both Kes and Aimee realize that two weeks a year will never be enough…

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Excerpt

He’d grown taller. Not as tall as his grandfather yet, but nearly as tall as my father. His shoulders were wider and I could see his biceps pushing through his ragged t-shirt, but he was still on the thin side, wiry, I guess. He looked stunning, like he should be in a boy band—you know, the bad one that makes all the parents fear for their daughters’ virginity.

I watched him out of the corner of my eye as I turned to study the competition. I had to admit it wasn’t looking good. The girl was taller than me and wore a low cut tank top that showcased a lot of cleavage. Her boobs were no better than mine, I decided—there was just more of them on show. So whereas I looked safe, nice you might say, she looked dangerous. Her arms were covered in colorful tattoos, her ears pierced five or six times each, and she had silver rings through her lip and eyebrow. Her face was hard, but beautiful, even caked in makeup.

I guessed she was maybe two or three years older than me, it was hard to tell.

As if she felt my gaze on her, she swung toward me, her eyes blazing.

“No rubes back here!” she yelled. “Get the fuck out!”

I was shocked that a complete stranger would speak to me like that. I froze, my eyes darting to Kes. He turned to look at me, his frown of annoyance changing to a warm smile.

“Chill, Sorcha,” he muttered. “The shrimp’s a friend.”

I wanted to laugh. I wanted to cry. He was pleased to see me, but so dismissive. I stood there with my mouth hanging open. And then I was in Kes’s arms, breathing in the scent of sweat and soap and something like fresh hay that was so familiar.

“Hey, kid! How you doing?” he said, as he led me away.

His voice had deepened. No longer childlike, it was a light, pleasant tenor.

“Don’t call me kid!” I snapped, punching his shoulder.

He laughed and rubbed the spot where I’d hit him. His dimple popped out and I wished I’d hit him harder—then kissed him better.

“Okay, not a kid,” he smiled, but then I watched his eyes darken as they drifted down my body, pausing at my chest, then doing a slow sweep along my legs and hips. “No, not a kid,” he said again, and this time his voice was gruffer.

Michel’s Review

This book was brought to my attention while I was signing up for another blog tour. The cover caught my attention. When I read the synopsis for the book I knew I wanted to read this book. When the ARC was delivered to my kindle I had to start the book immediately. From the very first page I was hooked. I could not put the book down. I was mesmerized by the characters and their story. After I finished the book the I could not stop thinking about it. It was such a special, magical kind of story that captured my heart and imagination. Traveling Man was a 6 star book and made the 2015 Favorite List.

Imagine living in rural America, in a very small town where nothing ever happens. A town that is full of simple minded people and ordinary life. A town where excitement is non existent. Then one day a caravan of huge trucks rolls through town stirring up the dust. These trucks are not just passing through, they are stopping at an old abandoned farm. They are bringing a magical world to this small town. The carnival has arrived. Magic is in the air. The excitement level has escalated from zero to ten. For two weeks this sensation is going to breath life into this small world.

Aimee Anderson is celebrating her tenth birthday. She has been granted a special wish. She can celebrate her birthday anywhere she wants. She has watched the trucks roll through town. She knows the only thing she wants is to feel the magic the trucks have brought to her small world. She wants to go to the carnival.

Her birthday wish is granted and she is going to the carnival. She could of never imagined that the one wish would give her the most precious gift of a lifetime. She has been given the gift of a life long friendship and ever lasting love from a boy that ispart of that magical world. She has been given Kes Donohue, the boy extraordinaire. For two weeks every year, she will get to leave her ordinary world in the background and become a part of the world that Kes belongs to. For two weeks every year she will experience friendship, magic, excitement, and love.

Kes and Aimee come from two completely different worlds. Her world is structured. Aimee is smart and lives in a world of books. She has a stable home, a predictable family, and a predictable life. Kes lives in an RV. He travels the country throughout the year. He doesn’t attend school. His family consists of his grandfather, his older brother, their pet monkey, and fellow carnie friends. At a young age he became a showman and dare devil. There are not many children in his world and he has no friends. When he sees Aimee at the carnival absorbing all the wonders that most people don’t see, he knows he wants to share his world with her. He wants Aimee to share her world with him.

These two ten year old children form a deep friendship in less than two weeks. Their families are reluctant to allow the friendship because of how different their worlds are. Both families will see that this friendship is special and is beneficial for both the children. With reluctance they will allow this friendship to flourish.

Kes and Aimee will spend two weeks every summer together for six years. They will grow from children to young adults. They will change throughout the years. They will discover new feelings that are much deeper than their friendship. They will discover love.

Their sixteenth summer will bring their friendship to a halt. Their hearts will be broken and their lives torn apart. It will be the end of their magic.

For eight years Aimee and Kes will be traveling on new paths in their lives. They will become adults and begin new careers. They will be in control of their own destinies. They have both changed drastically. They are no longer the children with wonder in their eyes. That is until the magic hits them once again… their paths will cross once more. Can they bring their two separate worlds together and create the magic once again?

Traveling Man was mesmerizing. I love books where the readers get to experience the characters coming of age. Experiencing the characters go from childhood innocence to the angsty teenager and finally the full grown adult is like watching yourself grow through the pages. Being able to experience that first kiss and first love is magical.

Jane Harvey- Berrick captured the world of the carnival. Throughout the book I felt like I was right there with the characters. I could feel the smallness of Aimee’s world. I could feel the electricity in the air. I could smell the hotdogs in the air, I could taste the funnel cakes, and I could feel the excitement like it was electricity in my bones. I became a part of the book. She also brought her characters to life and the reader felt every emotional moment.

I absolutely loved Traveling Man! I cannot wait for the next book.

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About Jane Harvey- Berrick

I lived in London for over 10 years and have a love affair with New York. It’s only since I have moved to the countryside, that the words have really begun to flow.