Title: Roustabout
(Traveling Series #3)
Author:
Jane Harvey – Berrick
Genre:
Contemporary Romance
Release
Date: September 9, 2015
Twelve
years ago Tucker McCoy walked away from the hell that was his family with not
much more than the shirt on his back. No regrets. Never once looking back.
Living
his life as a roustabout turned stunt rider with a traveling carnival keeps a
smile on his face. His new family are the people he’s chosen to be in his life,
the people who travel his road. Kes, Zach and Zef don’t share his blood, but
they share his hopes and dreams. Understand his fears and know what makes him
tick. They’re his brothers, his real family.
If
you keep moving, no one can catch you—it’s a simple rule. So when Tucker
crosses paths with Tera Hawkins, he knows he should move on. There’s no woman
that’s ever been worth breaking his rules for. Besides, she’s off limits,
untouchable. He knows stronger men would walk away, but dammit, he’s always
been weak.
All
he can offer her is a night she’ll never forget, but will that one taste be
enough?
Roustabout is the third book in The Traveling series by Jane
Harvey-Berrick.
I fell in love with Tucker when I read The Traveling Woman. I can’t
say I liked him when I first met him in The
Traveling Man but, like he told Aimee, “You’re
immune to my charm, but I’ll grow on you”.
He did grow on me and when we found him sitting outside Kes’ hospital
room all night and said, “Oh God, Aimee,
I’m so sorry. We were racing . . . oh f . . . I never . . . all my fault . . . so
fing sorry.” I felt his pain, guilt,
and tears. I cried with him and wanted
to give him a big hug.
From that point I couldn’t wait for his story and Roustabout
is it. Tucker is such a lovable
character he knows how to laugh through his pain. He is an optimist even when life throws him
all kinds of curve balls. His attitude
and the way he views life just makes me love him that much more. He is so sweet and loving it is impossible to
hold his womanizing against him.
“This
man made me completely crazy. It was a rush, a fairground ride that spun me
around and flipped me upside down, leaving me dizzy and grinning like an idiot—
the Tucker McCoy effect.”
Tera Hawkins is my kind of heroine. She is strong but
controversial. She is self-confident and
knows how to take care of herself. I
like that she stands up to her parents, even if she is a little late. She is Tucker’s advocate on more than one
occasion.
These two characters are complete opposite. Tucker comes from a poor and abusive
family. Tera on the other hand lives a
life of privilege. Tucker knows if
anyone looks at them on paper they shouldn’t be together but they work.
“There
was nothing about us that matched: she was from money, and I’d grown up dirt
poor; she had a Master’s degree and I was a high school dropout; she was a
vegetarian and I liked burgers and steaks; she liked having manicures and girly
shit, and I had motor oil under my nails.”
It is the dynamic between these
two working out their relationship that makes the story so interesting and
captivating.
The way the book is organized is perfect to show the
chemistry between the characters. Most
of the chapters switch back and forth between Tucker’s and Tera’s point of
view. This technique moves the story
forward and allows the reader to see life as the characters experience it. There
are several chapters that are devoted to Tucker or Tera because the events
primarily impact that character. In some ways these chapters devoted to Tucker
are the most emotional.
It is also a delight to have more time with Kes, Aimee and
the rest of the carnie clan. I love
catching up with their life.
I love this book and I will read it again, however something didn’t feel
right when I reached "The End". I couldn’t put my finger on it and went back and did a re-read. In some
ways this felt more like Tera’s story more than Tucker’s. The prologue is from Tera’s point of view and
consists of approximately 4000 words.
Again the last chapter is from Tera’s POV and is approximately 3600
words. We do get and epilogue from Tucker’s
point of view which is only 375 words. Honestly I want
more Tucker. Don’t get me wrong, this is only a small concern so I'll say it again--I do love
this story.
I love that the characters are unique and relatable. The events depicted are realistic. Jane knows how to tell a story that holds the reader’s attention from the first page without following the typical romance novel tropes. I just want to feel a little more Tucker because he is so hot and I love reading about him.
I love that the characters are unique and relatable. The events depicted are realistic. Jane knows how to tell a story that holds the reader’s attention from the first page without following the typical romance novel tropes. I just want to feel a little more Tucker because he is so hot and I love reading about him.
4.5 STAMPS
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.
I live in a small village by the ocean and walk
my little dog, Pip, every day. It’s on those beachside walks that I have all my
best ideas. Writing has become a way of life – and one that I love to
share.
Connect
with Jane
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