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Big Top Romance #1
Tempting the Ringmaster
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.
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.
- GenresRomanceContemporary
225 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 19, 2014
70 people want to read
About the author
Aleah Barley
8 books131 followersAleah Barley is a writer of humorous (she hopes) contemporary romance. After living all over the United States, she recently moved to Motor City with a fluffy Maine Coon Cat who is constantly trying to appropriate her computer. She is hard at work on her next book.
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
November 13, 2014
Graham Tyler grew up in a small town where everybody knows everything about everybody. Once he became of age, he fled the small town with a quickness to see what else the world had to offer. After a wild and crazy time, he straightened up and joined the Navy, eventually becoming a Navy SEAL. His younger brother quickly followed suit by joining the Navy and was killed in combat leaving behind a young wife and newborn son. Graham did the honorable thing by leaving the service and returning home to help care for his deceased brother’s wife and child, Kelly and Trevor. Now he is the police chief of the small town of Buck Falls, Michigan.
Belle Black was raised in the circus life. It is all she knew. Her family had founded and ran the Black Shadow Circus for generations. Her mother passed away when she was a young girl leaving her to be raised by her father. When she turned 18, she dreamed of a bigger life than that of the circus. She left and started her own life. Belle worked hard and was successful. She had her own place and was co-owner of a tattoo parlor. Then tragedy struck when her father died and was forced back into the circus life. Belle was struggling to keep her family’s legacy afloat due to the extreme amount of debt her father left for her to handle.
Pulling into the small town, the circus was going to do a weekend’s worth of performances to help raise funds to hold them over for the winter season. Graham’s father, the mayor, was not happy with the intrusion of circus folk in his humble town. To appease his father, the police chief decides to check it out and assure him that one weekend of circus performers will not cause havoc.
Belle and Graham’s first introduction didn’t go over well and continued on a roller coaster ride after that. They were immediately attracted to each other but Belle knew all too well that people from the circus and townies did not mix. She was only there for a few days and knew nothing would come from her attraction to Graham, but that didn’t stop the magnetic pull that they felt for one another.
Circumstances changed causing Belle and the circus to stick around longer than planned. Graham and Belle had to address the elephant in the room (or rather the elephant found running loose in the town-seriously there was an elephant in the town that didn’t belong to Belle’s circus). Will temptation become too strong when Graham and Belle are faced with more time together? Read to find out! I loved this book. It was such a great read. I was entranced and stayed up until the wee hours of the morning to finish it. There is danger, suspense, romance, evil twists and turns, clowns with rubber noses, and lots of fun! I definitely would recommend this book to a friend.
Belle Black was raised in the circus life. It is all she knew. Her family had founded and ran the Black Shadow Circus for generations. Her mother passed away when she was a young girl leaving her to be raised by her father. When she turned 18, she dreamed of a bigger life than that of the circus. She left and started her own life. Belle worked hard and was successful. She had her own place and was co-owner of a tattoo parlor. Then tragedy struck when her father died and was forced back into the circus life. Belle was struggling to keep her family’s legacy afloat due to the extreme amount of debt her father left for her to handle.
Pulling into the small town, the circus was going to do a weekend’s worth of performances to help raise funds to hold them over for the winter season. Graham’s father, the mayor, was not happy with the intrusion of circus folk in his humble town. To appease his father, the police chief decides to check it out and assure him that one weekend of circus performers will not cause havoc.
Belle and Graham’s first introduction didn’t go over well and continued on a roller coaster ride after that. They were immediately attracted to each other but Belle knew all too well that people from the circus and townies did not mix. She was only there for a few days and knew nothing would come from her attraction to Graham, but that didn’t stop the magnetic pull that they felt for one another.
Circumstances changed causing Belle and the circus to stick around longer than planned. Graham and Belle had to address the elephant in the room (or rather the elephant found running loose in the town-seriously there was an elephant in the town that didn’t belong to Belle’s circus). Will temptation become too strong when Graham and Belle are faced with more time together? Read to find out! I loved this book. It was such a great read. I was entranced and stayed up until the wee hours of the morning to finish it. There is danger, suspense, romance, evil twists and turns, clowns with rubber noses, and lots of fun! I definitely would recommend this book to a friend.
August 11, 2016
The clowns were on the warpath. They’d been angry ever since New York – the Big Fumble – but things had gotten worse lately. Whoopee cushions in the office and whiskey bottles spilling out of their caravan every morning.
When a book starts off with an intro like that, you know you are in for a fun read – I mean how could a book with clowns in it not be fun? But there was also a lot more – lots of romance, lots of mystery/suspense, and some real colorful characters that drew me right in to the story from the first page (ok, it was the clowns, I admit it!)
I loved Belle and Graham. Belle has been looking for stability her whole life. She ran away from the circus to put down roots, and all she really wants to do is have a place to call home. Graham has come back to the small town he grew up in to be responsible. After running away to New York City and then enlisting with the Navy and becoming a SEAL, he feels a sense of obligation and duty to the people of Buck Falls – especially his brother’s widow and his nephew – and just wants to live up to everyone’s expectations. When Belle and Graham first meet, sparks instantly fly between them and you can tell they are just so right for each other. Of course Belle has been burned before by the local boy who only wants to use her, but when the circus settles in for a bit of an extended stay – thanks to Tiny the Elephant – they agree to a temporary relationship.
Of course even at the circus things aren't all fun and games, and it quickly becomes obvious that someone is out to sabotage the Black Shadow Circus. And when Graham thinks Belle might be in danger, he makes sure he does all he can to protect her. Of course when emotions run high and priorities must be re-evaluated, Graham and Belle find themselves with more than a big top between them.
This was a really fun read that I thoroughly enjoyed! I loved the use of the circus as a backdrop to the story – it was so unique and allowed for the inclusion of some really colorful characters and issues that you normally wouldn't come across in any other story. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone!
I received a copy of this book from the author for an honest review.
June 26, 2014
Disclaimer: Review copy obtained from author in exchange for an honest review
I have no idea how Aleah Barley does it! I mean, this is literally a boy-meet-girl and they're totally unfit for each other's lives type of story. Been there, read that, you might think... Wrong!
Because this isn't just 'that' story; it's a tale of people and a town, and with her words, Ms. Barley makes it all come to such vibrant life you have no clue at what point you got sucked into the story and suddenly, you are finished reading, and you're thinking, "Oh, shame, the book is over; I want more!" I gulped this one down in 2 sittings, even dragging my tablet with me to catch some more pages while waiting in the car for school to end - yes, I was that desperate to know more and see how it would all end.
Throughout the story, Ms. Barley keeps it at the forefront of your mind that Belle will move away, while Graham will never leave this little town. So how can they end up together? How would she give them their HEA???
It is all done with a stroke of mastery; that's all I'm gonna say to not spoil the absolute pleasure it is to read this story and get on the love journey of Belle and Graham. Throw in the secondary characters - which even includes an elephant! Yes, you read that right! - and the community of Buck Falls...it's a total winner, imo.
And the best thing is, I've heard there are sequels/books set in the same town coming in the future. Oh goody - I, for one, cannot wait!
Definitely THE book you want to be reading right now. Don't be turned off by the idea that it revolves around a circus and has clowns in it (I have a phobia of clowns!) - Aleah Barley has written a true romance, and this is what you're gonna get.
I have no idea how Aleah Barley does it! I mean, this is literally a boy-meet-girl and they're totally unfit for each other's lives type of story. Been there, read that, you might think... Wrong!
Because this isn't just 'that' story; it's a tale of people and a town, and with her words, Ms. Barley makes it all come to such vibrant life you have no clue at what point you got sucked into the story and suddenly, you are finished reading, and you're thinking, "Oh, shame, the book is over; I want more!" I gulped this one down in 2 sittings, even dragging my tablet with me to catch some more pages while waiting in the car for school to end - yes, I was that desperate to know more and see how it would all end.
Throughout the story, Ms. Barley keeps it at the forefront of your mind that Belle will move away, while Graham will never leave this little town. So how can they end up together? How would she give them their HEA???
It is all done with a stroke of mastery; that's all I'm gonna say to not spoil the absolute pleasure it is to read this story and get on the love journey of Belle and Graham. Throw in the secondary characters - which even includes an elephant! Yes, you read that right! - and the community of Buck Falls...it's a total winner, imo.
And the best thing is, I've heard there are sequels/books set in the same town coming in the future. Oh goody - I, for one, cannot wait!
Definitely THE book you want to be reading right now. Don't be turned off by the idea that it revolves around a circus and has clowns in it (I have a phobia of clowns!) - Aleah Barley has written a true romance, and this is what you're gonna get.
June 30, 2014
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 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.
June 25, 2014
4.5 starts
What can I say, this was a welcome change for a story. Belle has just taken over as the ringmaster of her father's circus. Trying as hard as she can to make a go of it and keep her employees happy. No one seems to really like her or want to listen to her. Little do they know, they are just barely getting buy. Having left her job as a tattoo artist and dug the circus out of debt, she is now trying to make the best of her life.
Along the way she meets Graham. He is a former Navy SEAL and the Sheriff of the local town that her circus has stopped by. Living in the shadow of his brother, always being made to feel that he was not good enough. Graham helps to raise his nephew and tries to ignore his overbearing father. When he gets one look at Belle, he is sunk.
But circus life does not allow for relationships. So they decide to see where it all goes, knowing that it will end eventually. Throw in some crazy characters and a kink, that I never saw coming. And you have an awesome refreshing story with great characters and a unique story line.
Will Graham and Belle be able to find a way to make a relationship work or are they doomed before they even have a chance to start?
What can I say, this was a welcome change for a story. Belle has just taken over as the ringmaster of her father's circus. Trying as hard as she can to make a go of it and keep her employees happy. No one seems to really like her or want to listen to her. Little do they know, they are just barely getting buy. Having left her job as a tattoo artist and dug the circus out of debt, she is now trying to make the best of her life.
Along the way she meets Graham. He is a former Navy SEAL and the Sheriff of the local town that her circus has stopped by. Living in the shadow of his brother, always being made to feel that he was not good enough. Graham helps to raise his nephew and tries to ignore his overbearing father. When he gets one look at Belle, he is sunk.
But circus life does not allow for relationships. So they decide to see where it all goes, knowing that it will end eventually. Throw in some crazy characters and a kink, that I never saw coming. And you have an awesome refreshing story with great characters and a unique story line.
Will Graham and Belle be able to find a way to make a relationship work or are they doomed before they even have a chance to start?
August 30, 2023
Belle-Anne Black inherited the Black Shadow Circus from her dad and is trying her best to keep it afloat -- including selling their winter campgrounds in Florida to finance the circus. Struggling to find money to get the circus a winter campground, the Black Shadow Circus lands in Buck Falls/Whispering Oaks (?) - a pair of companion small towns in Michigan with a very bored Chief of Police, Graham Tyler, who lives near the fairgrounds and ends up beaten up by the slightly aggressive clowns before the circus even opens. To avoid anyone going to jail, Belle-Anne agrees to a date with the handsome chief which ends with an elephant eating azaleas and steamy kisses. Will the circus find a winter campground? Will Belle-Anne and Graham be more than a brief fling?
What I liked: Cute romance related to circus which always wins me over
What I didn't like: Based on the cover, I was expecting a little more spice but I'm not complaining about spice that I get. There is a mystery (not my favorite genre) related to the accidents happening to the circus. It's done cutely - but I wish there was more story about the Big Bad and the BB's family.
What I liked: Cute romance related to circus which always wins me over
What I didn't like: Based on the cover, I was expecting a little more spice but I'm not complaining about spice that I get. There is a mystery (not my favorite genre) related to the accidents happening to the circus. It's done cutely - but I wish there was more story about the Big Bad and the BB's family.
October 15, 2020
It was fun reading about a circus.
February 3, 2022
What a great read!! There are so many new aspects of this book that make it such an enjoyable read!
Who would have thought of a cop and a ringmaster from the circus? When the circus comes to town, cop Graham Tyler, goes to check it out but when trouble starts it is circus owner Belle-Anne Black that rescues him from a beating.
The circus is struggling to stay afloat and Belle must do what she can to make it survive, even if it means leaving behind her new love, Graham Tyler.
I loved the relationship between the two of them and everyone else in the book. I loved the family feel that you got from the town as well as the circus. Although there were many "villans" in the book that want to control both the town and the circus.
I absolutely loved the book and was so surprised by the amazing and original concept!
Who would have thought of a cop and a ringmaster from the circus? When the circus comes to town, cop Graham Tyler, goes to check it out but when trouble starts it is circus owner Belle-Anne Black that rescues him from a beating.
The circus is struggling to stay afloat and Belle must do what she can to make it survive, even if it means leaving behind her new love, Graham Tyler.
I loved the relationship between the two of them and everyone else in the book. I loved the family feel that you got from the town as well as the circus. Although there were many "villans" in the book that want to control both the town and the circus.
I absolutely loved the book and was so surprised by the amazing and original concept!
read-2014
January 4, 2015DNF.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews