Carnival

Traveling #4

by Jane Harvey-Berrick

Empty inside, cold in his heart, Zef turned to whisky and drugs to fill the void.

Instead, he ended up with a prison sentence and a new determination to get clean and make something of his life.

Since his release, Zef has been on the road, finding his spiritual home with a traveling carnival and working as a motorcycle stunt rider.

Live fast, live hard, keep moving.

He doesn’t want to be tied down to anyone or anything. Fiercely loyal, the only people he cares about are his brother and his carnie family.

Until a crazy girl who’s run away to join the circus crashes into his world.
But now his old life is catching up with him, and Zef has to choose a new road.

A standalone story, and the last one in the TRAVELING SERIES.

Genres: Contemporary Romance, Romance, Contemporary, Family Drama

320 pages, ebook

First published December 26, 2017

About the author

Author also writes under Jane H. Berrick

Writing is my passion and my obsession. I write every day and I love it. My head is full of stories and characters. I'll never keep up with all my ideas...

All through 2021, I'll be including a new and original short story in my monthly newsletter. You'll get a FREE copy of my little heartbreaker PLAYING IN THE RAIN when you do.

http://janeharveyberrick.co.uk/newsle...

I live in a small village by the ocean and walk on the beach 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.

I've just published my first ever historical romance - partly set in Britain during World War Two, and partly set in Iowa and Las Vegas today: THE LILAC CADILLAC

Did you know that I also write books with STUART REARDON, talented, kind AND handsome!
UNDEFEATED
MODEL BOYFRIEND
GYM OR CHOCOLATE?
THE WORLD ACCORDING TO VINCE
THE BABY GAME (Nov 24th 2021)

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Reviews

[Heather❀Kiss The Pages❀ · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 Sawdust and Stardust Stars

What an amazing way to finish an absolutely fantastic series! This is the 4th book in the Traveling series but can be read as a standalone.

This is Zef's story and OH MY GOSH! I loved him so much. Zef is one of the Daredevils, a carnival act that involves amazing death defying motorcycle stunts. He is the anti-hero. He is an ex-con who used to lose himself in drugs and alcohol. After prison he joins the traveling carnival and attempts to turn his life around. While he finds his new family with the daredevils and starts living clean, he feels like something is missing from his life. He has a need for something more.

I loved that Sara and Zef's relationship took time to build. They meet when Sara runs away from home and hides in Zef's rig. At first Zef found Sara very annoying. There is a large age gap here and while Sara has a crush on him from the start, he views her as a kid. I found Zef hilarious when he spoke without thinking and said some potentially hurtful things because you know he has such a good heart that it came from obliviousness more than the intent to hurt Sara. He really was clueless at times.

"...Would you ask me out?"
"No."
She sucked in a deep breath, looking hurt and confused..
"Why not? Am I that awful?"
"Shit, no! Of course not! You're kind of pretty... when you're not crying... but you're just a kid..."

As Zef gets his head on straight and realizes he has strong feelings for Sara, I really start falling for this man. SWOON WORTHY!! This man was so sweet and so thoughtful. He became Sara's protector and lover. This sexy, tattooed ex-con had such a great heart and was the epitome of the perfect man. Zef is now on my top list of best heroes!

This book was also so sexy at times. After their shows, the Daredevils all had an adrenaline rush that they needed to release. I loved how Zef tried to restrain himself with Sara because he didn't want to hurt her. His tenderness made these scenes even more sexier to me.

Another great aspect to this book are the carnies themselves. This traveling carnival was a family. These people were rejected by society but in the carnival they were accepted. They loved and supported each other through the good and the bad. This was a group of misfits who were always there for each other.I got so emotional towards the end of this book. I hate that this is the last book in this series. I'm going to miss these guys so much. Of course I have to acknowledge Bo. I love this freaking monkey so much!

I highly recommend reading this whole series but this book can be read as a standalone. Book 1 and 2 need to be read together (Aimee and Kes's story). I have not read Book 3 which is Tucker's story but that will be rectified ASAP.

5 Stars
Contemporary Romance
Series: Book 4 (Interconnected Standalones)
POV: Mostly Hero
Heat Level: Mild to Moderate
HEA



COME FIND ME!

[Betül · Rating 4 out of 5]

**ARC provided in exchange for an honest review**



3.75 stars

I love the Traveling series, and was happy that the author decided to write another book focusing on Zef. He looks and comes across as tough but he he will do anything for the people he loves. He made some mistakes in his past and paid for those. Now he is on the right path and lives a simple carnie life. This simple life is disturbed when he finds a young woman hidden in the back of the rig. It's obvious she is running away from something but isn't ready to open up. Zef does his best to stay away from her, but she sees something in him that draws her in. And eventually the pull between these two is too strong. You will have to read this book to see what will happen next.

"Sometimes you didn't choose the life; sometimes the life chose you."

I really enjoyed Zef's character and the author gave such a great view into his mind and life. The story is mostly told from his POV, which made it more difficult for me to connect to Sarah because I didn't know what was going on in her mind. She had her immature moments which made it harder for me to see her as the right person for Zef. She made some stupid decisions in the past as well, which she will have to own up to. I was glad she became more mature towards the end but in my opinion I felt like the development in Zef and Sarah's relationship was rushed. I didn't believe when they proclaimed their love for each other, it just didn't feel real to me. I loved Zef, and I feel like I could've loved Sarah if there was more chapters told from her POV. Overall it was a more than okay read for me. I loved reconnecting with all the previous characters and the whole carnival setting is just one of my favorite. There were a couple of things not working for me in this book but I still think it was a nice addition and conclusion to this series.

[Fanny · Rating 4 out of 5]

Definitivamente la autora dejo lo mejor para el final. La historia de Zef y Sara no solo se ha convertido en mi preferida de la saga sino que encima me parece que es la mas emotiva y sentimental de los cuatro tomos.

Admito que en un inicio dude de que la historia de amor fuera a ser de mi agrado, el hecho de que hubiera una diferencia de edad tan notable entre los protagonistas me hizo pensar que tal vez su relacion no me convenceria, por suerte no fue el caso.

Obviamente en ciertos momentos senti esa diferencia de edad, particularmente debido a ciertos comportamientos de Sara, los cuales eran un poco inmaduros, sin embargo, en general me crei su amor, no es perfecto pero eso solo lo hace mas real y bonito.

La vida del carnaval sigue muy presente en este cuarto libro, y reconozco que en varias escenas me senti muy emocionada, la gran familia que han creado estos personajes es muy hermosa, me encanto como son tan unidos y desinteresados entre ellos.

Carnival fue una novela que se me paso muy rapido, cuando me quise dar cuenta ya llevaba mas del 70% leido, lo que solo demuestra que la escritora sabe muy bien como atraparte con su estilo, el cual sigue siendo igual de bueno que en sus comienzos.

En fin, un final de saga muy muy grato, esta totalmente a la altura de una serie tan imborrable como The Traveling, mi unica pega es que deseo saber mas de algunos personajes secundarios, ojala algun dia Jane Harvey Berrick se anime a crear un spin off o algo similar.

3.75 Estrellas!

[Jacqueline · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've been happily living in my reading bubble for a few days reading this and I'm sad it's finished and this fantastic series is finished. A new Jane H-B book is a real treat for me, I love the way she writes, makes me think differently about something, it's so refreshing to have an original voice in among all of the well used plots and set pieces out there in indie romance land.

This is a feel good romance set in the circus, but it's also a slow burn that builds anticipation gradually and with subtlety. I loved catching up with characters from the rest of the series and Kes and Aimee from the first book and the lovely Ollo feature heavily in this too and there's even a crossover from Dangerous to Know and Love as Daniel is Zef's brother.

This is one I'll definitely be re-reading. A fab read if you're looking for a feel good romance without too much angst and lots of sweet emotion. Highly recommended.

Complete standalonestory but part of a series.

Thanks to the author for my arc.

[Gitte TotallyBookedBlog · Rating 4 out of 5]

‘May the lights never dim.
May the Wheel never stop turning.
May the road never end.
May the ride go on forever…..’

And so we come to the end of the Traveling Series, and it’s been one hell of a journey. Kes, Tucker, Zef and all the colourful carnies we’ve met along the way have entertained us from the comfort of our living rooms, whilst transporting us into their world, thanks the wonderful vivid prose of Jane Harvey Berrick.

We could smell the candy floss, experience the exhilaration of the rides, savour the carnival atmosphere, letting our imaginations fly as we held our breaths ‘watching’ Donohue’s Daredevils thrill us with their death defying skills, feeling the blood sweat and tears of the circus coming to life.

‘There was a city of canvas to build, a world of possibilities.’

Along the way we’ve embraced some wonderfully heart-warming characters, witnessing Kes and Tucker find the love of their lives, and this time around, it’s Zef’s turn to find his soulmate.

Joseph Colton, (known as Zef) hasn’t had the easiest life – losing his parents very young, and then stepping into the role of guardian to his younger brother. Zef had made some silly decisions in his youth, all with good intentions, which saw him spend time in prison. Riddled with guilt, Zef would find his way with his carnie family, becoming a stunt rider with Donohue’s Daredevils in the circus.

Sara Weiss, an eighteen year old runaway sneaks into the circus, easily weaving her way into carnie life, and hopefully into Zeff’s heart. But Zef is wary, after all, Sara is only eighteen, Zef is thirty two, and he’s yet to find out what Sara running from and why?

Whilst Traveling Man (Kes’s) story will always remain our favourite, Carnival was a fitting finale to this series, even if our hearts were ripped out at one point over a beloved character we’ve followed from book one. Oh gosh, that tore us up!

There is a powerful message of acceptance this author weaves throughout this series, and it’s one of acceptance. No matter who or what we are, each one of us is special in our own way, and it is this message we will take away.

‘We’re all different, we’re all amazing. You can be a nerd, a weirdo, a freak, or play varsity ball and be valedictorian – everyone is equal when you’re a carnie. It doesn’t matter if you have a past like mine; what matters is who you are now.’

Click here for full review at TBB


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[ale202224 · Rating 3 out of 5]

3,5 stelle

Ho aspettato tanto e con tanta impazienta il capitolo conclusivo della serie Traveling, una serie bellissima e con meravigliosi personaggi peccato che questo ultimo libro non sia stato per nulla all’altezza dei precedenti secondo me.
Zef è un motociclista acrobatico con un cuore grande ed un passato difficile, lasciato da Mirelle praticamente al prologo, inizierà a sentirsi escluso dalla felicità che pervade il resto del suo gruppo di amici, tutti ormai felicemente sposati, fidanzati o in procinto di diventare genitori. Tutto procede secondo un filone di rimpianti e depressione finché al circo non approderà Sara, appena maggiorenne in fuga da qualcosa.
E mi dispiace dirlo, ma qui inizia un interminabile serie di disattenzioni narrative e contraddizioni, o almeno io così le ho percepite, che per non spoilerare dovr�� tenermi per me, i protagonisti, nonostante il loro vissuto pesante, mi sono risultati poco accattivanti e proprio non sono riuscita ad empatizzare con loro, lui ha 32 anni ma a tratti ne dimostra 16 e lei, soprattutto nella prima parte, è di un’immaturità disarmante, ma almeno dalla sua ha L scusante della giovane età. E così il mio personaggio preferito di questa storia diventa Ollo, l’anziano nano che altro non è se un elemento secondario della storia, ma la reale anima di questa piccola comunità di circensi.

“Nell’era digitale, perché si sognava ancora di scappare e unirsi al circo? Che cosa, quella parola, portava all’immaginario delle persone? Era come diceva Ollo? Polvere di stelle e segatura? O era qualcosa che avevamo nel sangue? Qualcosa che ci richiamava, la strada, la vita da nomadi, le stelle nel cielo e il pubblico che trovava della magia in ciò che facevamo? Forse un insieme di tutto questo.”

Il pregio di questo romanzo è assolutamente ed indiscutibilmente il circo e la sua magia, la vita nomade raccontata dai suoi protagonisti, persone diverse e sconosciute che riescono insieme a formare una vera famiglia e a far vita alla magia...ed è proprio questo che mi resterà nel cuore.

“Che le luci non si affievoliscano mai.
Che la Ruota non smetta mai di girare.
Che la strada mai finisca.
Che questo cammino continui per sempre.”

[Melanie A. · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 very solid stars!

We were all like that in the carnival - mongrels who didn't call any place home, but everywhere was our kingdom and the road was our right.

I don't know if it's only me, but sometimes I'm able to fall into a book and just float along effortlessly with the words. Well Jane Harvey-Berrick is that kind of writer....there was not one single awkward sentence in Carnival. It was such a pleasure to read.

The story basically starts with our hero, Zef, getting a phone call from his girlfriend:

"I'm pregnant. It's not yours."

It's a blow that has him re-evaluating his life. At 32, he's happy on the road as a member of the Daredevils, a motorcycle stunt act, but he's lonely. Even so, there's no way he's getting involved with an 18 year-old pregnant runaway after she's discovered hiding out in his rig.

I loved Zef. He was broody and incredibly sexy (this author excels at describing the physical ;) – and he was so busy making himself emotionally unavailable that it took him a while to realize that Sara was exactly what he wanted - no matter how inappropriate a relationship with her appeared on the surface. And Sara? She wasn't my favorite heroine of all time but she had her moments:

"You know, words are on sale this week. You could probably afford a whole sentence now and then."

Carnival was a heartwarming read with an understated sexiness to it, as well as a wonderfully unique setting. It's definitely worth your time and money!

[Tammy Cody · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had to read this book after reading Dangerous to Know and Love..I had to see how Zef’s story played out. Very good read, even if I got a little irritated at the heroine at times.

[Jenny - TotallybookedBlog · Rating 4 out of 5]

‘May the lights never dim.
May the Wheel never stop turning.
May the road never end.
May the ride go on forever…..’

And so we come to the end of the Traveling Series, and it’s been one hell of a journey. Kes, Tucker, Zef and all the colourful carnies we’ve met along the way have entertained us from the comfort of our living rooms, whilst transporting us into their world, thanks the wonderful vivid prose of Jane Harvey Berrick.

We could smell the candy floss, experience the exhilaration of the rides, savour the carnival atmosphere, letting our imaginations fly as we held our breaths ‘watching’ Donohue’s Daredevils thrill us with their death defying skills, feeling the blood sweat and tears of the circus coming to life.

‘There was a city of canvas to build, a world of possibilities.’

Along the way we’ve embraced some wonderfully heart-warming characters, witnessing Kes and Tucker find the love of their lives, and this time around, it’s Zef’s turn to find his soulmate.

Joseph Colton, (known as Zef) hasn’t had the easiest life – losing his parents very young, and then stepping into the role of guardian to his younger brother. Zef had made some silly decisions in his youth, all with good intentions, which saw him spend time in prison. Riddled with guilt, Zef would find his way with his carnie family, becoming a stunt rider with Donohue’s Daredevils in the circus.

Sara Weiss, an eighteen year old runaway sneaks into the circus, easily weaving her way into carnie life, and hopefully into Zeff’s heart. But Zef is wary, after all, Sara is only eighteen, Zef is thirty two, and he’s yet to find out what Sara running from and why?

Whilst Traveling Man (Kes’s) story will always remain our favourite, Carnival was a fitting finale to this series, even if our hearts were ripped out at one point over a beloved character we’ve followed from book one. Oh gosh, that tore us up!

There is a powerful message of acceptance this author weaves throughout this series, and it’s one of acceptance. No matter who or what we are, each one of us is special in our own way, and it is this message we will take away.

‘We’re all different, we’re all amazing. You can be a nerd, a weirdo, a freak, or play varsity ball and be valedictorian – everyone is equal when you’re a carnie. It doesn’t matter if you have a past like mine; what matters is who you are now.’

Beautifully said, Jane. Farewell to these colourful characters, farewell to the stardust and magic. It’s been grand.


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[JG · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another magical story in this truly breathtaking series!

Gah, this series makes me all warm and squishy inside. I haven't read one book or met one character that I haven't been enamoured with. Right from the first page, I could barely put the book down and loved and lived nuance of the story right along with Zef and Sara. I didn't think this book could top its predecessors but Carnival was totally the icing on the cake for me. What JH-B writes is pure magic. These books are simply sublime and written in a way that makes you want to up sticks and join a travelling carnival.

Ok, superlatives aside, for now, this story has romance, tragedy, happiness, sadness and every emotion in between. When Zef thinks his future is doomed with the news he receives that Mirelle has ended things with him, in the cruellest sense possible, he is left with his travelling family and not much else. With Ollo and Bo at his side though, he finds the strength to continue with his life and not risk returning to the addictions which have plagued his past. When he meets stowaway Sara, Zef is at his lowest and despite the best interests of his friends, sees nothing in Sara but trouble. Sara is young and has found herself running from a painful past and carrying part of her traumas with her. Despite being fearful of Zef, she is also intrigued by him and watches him relentlessly.

Sara is timid, frightened and fearful of being returned to her family but with the Carnival folk on her side, she soon becomes one of the family but is still kept at a distance by Zef. Slowly but surely though, Zef’s barriers are broken down and he soon experiences hopes for the first time in a while.

Sara and Zef’s developing relationship is slow and deliberate and written in a way that draws you in and at the same time makes you fearful for your own heartbreaking if things go wrong. Sara and Zef seem to be held together by little Bo who, as with every story, unwittingly steals the limelight as he wheedles his way into everyone's hearts. Bo even finds himself a friend in this story just to raise the cuteness levels even higher!

I also thoroughly enjoyed spending more time with rest of the carnival characters that we have come to love, from Aimee and Kes to Tucker, Tera, Zach, Luke, and of course Ollo.

I am so incredibly sad to see this series ending. I have loved each and every moment with these characters and I will never forget them.

This ebook was kindly provided by the author prior to release in return for an honest and unbiased review.



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[Sejla · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a huge fan of Jane Harvey-Berrick and the Travelling series I couldn't wait to read Carnival. I knew it will be a beautiful but very emotional journey because I had to say good bye to my dear carnies for good as soon as I reach the last page. I loved how Jane made it so easy to re-connect with this magical world and these beloved characters. I really missed Kes, Aimee, Ollo and the rest of the crew. This bunch of people is a big loving family full of very different individuals in all shapes and sizes. To them it doesn't matter what you did and who you used to be before. They only care about who you are now. They are very loyal people who once accepted you into their middle would never let you down.

Carnival is book four in the Travelling series and tells the story of Joseph "Zef" Colton. We know him as Daniel's older brother from Dangerous to Know & Love and as one of the four motorcycle riding Daredevils. Zef lost his parents in a car accident, leaving him and his younger brother behind. Unable to fully cope with this situation he turned to alcohol and drugs. This bad decision resulted in a prison sentence and a new determination to get clean and make something out of his life.

Since his release Zef is clean and on the road with the carnival, working as a motorcycle stunt rider. He enjoys his freedom and doesn't want to be tied down to anyone or anything. The only people he cares about are his brother and his carnie family. Until Sara, a young beautiful girl who’s run away from home, crashes into his world.

Zef is unable to stay away from her, no matter how hard he tries. Sara brings out his protective side, making him realize that life is not always about the things we want. Sometimes great, unexpected things happen that change the course of our lives...we just need to stop fighting them.

As an ex-con and former addict Zef believes that Sara deserves better. But he doesn't realize what a great and loving person he is! Yes he made mistakes but he changed and learned from them. Behind his broody and rough exterior, there is a man hiding with the most beautiful and generous heart. I loved him with every piece of my heart and soul.

Sweet Sara was such a lovable girl. She was much younger than Zef but didn't care about their age difference at all. Despite knowing about his past, all she saw in him was a great guy who deeply cared about the people he loved. Sara has some deep secret's of her own that she is reluctant to share. She is too afraid to loose Zef because of them.

Will Zef and Sara stay together once all secrets are out, or will their both pasts tear them apart? In order to know you need to read this amazing book! I guarantee you it's worth your time and money. Embrace this colourful carnie world full of stardust and magic and let yourself be carried away. It will be the best ride of your life! Thank you for this amazing journey Jane.

[Selma · Rating 5 out of 5]

I fell deeply, madly and irrevocably in love with the colorful and vibrant carnie world thanks to Jane's beautiful and captivating writing. The Travelling series books are among my most favorite reads because they convey strong, important messages and worldly wisdoms. I'm so glad that this amazingly talented author has decided to write Zef's story and to finally give him his well-deserved happily ever after. We know him as Daniel's older, drug-dealing, ex-con brother from Dangerous to Know & Love and as one of the four hot and sexy, motorcycle riding Daredevils stuntmen from the Travelling series.

There is so much more to Zef Colton than meets the eye. He may be an intimidating, bearded, tattooed hunk but deep down he is a caring and protective guy. Zef had to grow up very fast when his parents died in a car accident and suddenly left him with a younger sibling to provide for. He was overwhelmed and made mistakes. After prison he joined the carnival and found not only new friends but a family too who accepted him wholeheartedly for who he was. But something was missing in his life. He wasn't aware what it was until a sweet, young woman named Sara joined his carnie family and set his soul alive, making him wish and long for things he never dared to dream about ...

Sara is a runaway who joined the carnival on a whim. She is frightened and hiding from someone but she is not willing to share the reason why. This timid girl appears to be fragile and vulnerable at first glance but she shows on occasion a strength and decisivness that truly impressed me. Sara is fascinated by and attracted to Zef from the moment she sees him. Contrary to him she doesn't care that Zef is 14 years older. She feels secure and content near him. Although Sara falls for the rough around the edges carnie she feels unworthy of him fearing that her secret may destroy the delicate bond that has formed between them ...

I loved the chemistry between Sara and Zef. They complemented each other perfectly despite their differences in age and character. Their banter was very entertaining. Sara knew how to make him laugh and relax. She made him bare his heart and share his fears and insecurities with her. Zef thought that Sara would run away when she heard about his shameful past and that she was better off without him. But he didn't see himself the way Sara saw him. She recognised in him a man with a heart of gold who paid his dues and learned from his mistakes. A wonderful, special person who deserved love, respect and happiness.

It was great to revisit the magical world of carnival and see my beloved protagonists from the former books - Aimee and Kestrel, Tara and Tucker, Luke and Zach and Ollo. I've laughed, cried, suffered and rejoiced with them. It was an epic journey I will never forget. I'm very sad that this series is now over. But in my heart these amazing characters will live on forever.
"May the lights never dim.
 May the Wheel never stop turning.
 May the road never end.
 May the ride go on forever ..."

[♡ Jeri's Book Attic ♡ Jeri the Romance Bibiliophile ♡ · Rating 4 out of 5]

#gosh - I did not expect to see my favorite character ever back here ... The author really surprised me with this. I really liked the story and honestly for someone like me who is not a big fan of "roadtrips" this is a feature .... So far I only ever liked two books in "carnival" genre and this is one of them.

#sigh - again it might have something to do with revisiting my favorite character - even if he is only there for a short moment. I tried to remember things and I think I have to revisit that other book (no spoilers here)

#quiet - You will not find huge revelations or big surprises (for once .. hahaha) in this book. This time the author choose a more quiet and intense kind of story.

#Admit - yeah I have to admit I struggled with the same issue that the male lead had when it came to the female lead in the begining. And I am still not sure if I personaly could work with it. It worked out with these specific characters somehow maybe because in that setting where nothing feels "normal" anything is really possible.

#Thoughts - it is not a 5 star read for me eventhough I really liked it. My "issues" with the relationship and the fact that there were (and I am really only talking about ME here) no gutwrenching or laughing-out-loud moments prevented me from giving 5 stars. But really this 5th star should remain something special so I have to be unforgiving in that point. But I truely believe that there will be many people out there loving this story and I can only recommend it.

#Happy Reading

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[Shannon · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5*

I'm rounding up to 4* for Zef. I really liked him, much more than I expected from his appearances in the previous books in this story. He showed what a huge heart he has in this book and I really loved seeing that. I love the family that Jane created throughout this series and am sad to see it come to an end. While there were a few things I didn't love about this book. I did love the way things were brought full circle. My heart even broke a little.

What pulled the rating down for me was Sarah. I didn't quite feel the connection between her and Zef. And the age difference really bothered me, specifically because of the way she acted. She was very immature at times and that made it hard for me to believe that Zef, someone 14 years her senior, would fall for her. As the story progressed I did warm up to her a bit, and that was mostly because of Zef. He deserved love and happiness in his life, and if she was the one who could give that to him, well who am I to judge.

This has been a really entertaining series. I loved the atmostphere of the carnival and feeling like part of the family. It is hard to say good-bye, but I think with this book Jane did a wonderful job of bringing the series to a close.

[FMR Book Grind · Rating 4 out of 5]

GINA'S REVIEW
4.5 STARS

It's always bittersweet when a series comes to an end especially one that you have read from the very beginning. But one thing I know is that the author did a beautiful job on wrapping it up. There may have been a few sniffles and few tears shed but it did make my heart full.

I thought the story was fantastic. How the heroine was introduced to the story was fantastic. It was something I wasn't expecting at all! Then her backstory was so intriguing. I just loved it! There were a few elements to the story that didn't appeal to me, but minor details. Overall, it was a fabulous story, well written, had a nice flow. The character development was there! This can be read as a standalone but you really don't want to miss out on reading the first three books. This book and the whole series is really great!

[Arlene · Rating 3 out of 5]

“May the lights never dim.
May the Wheel never stop turning.
May the road never end.
May the ride go on forever . . ."

[Mallory · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 Stars

[AJ · Rating 3 out of 5]

“The world is changing and maybe traveling carnivals won’t survive … but people will always need a little magic in their lives.”

3.5 stars

Jane Harvey-Berrick takes us back to her magical world of the traveling carnival with this, her final book in the Traveling series. The Traveling Man is one of my all-time favourite reads, and it sets up this amazing world and introduced us to its players, and now we get the story of Zef, the final single member of the Daredevils - the bold and daring motorcycle stunt group that form the adrenaline-junkie part of the carnival.

Zef’s life has been hard and he hasn’t always made the right choices. He got in with the wrong crowd, and he has paid for it with prison time and a drug addiction that he has fought hard to overcome. He has found his peace in the carnival and he lives for his traveling family, for the rush he gets from performing, and for the freedom his lifestyle affords him.

And then along comes Sara. He finds the 18 year old stowaway hiding in the back of his rig and, as is the way of the carnival family, she is accepted into the fold and offered support and a place to stay. She is running from something, and seems to revel in her newfound freedom, but it’s her oh-so-obvious crush on Zef that has him on edge. Much to the entertainment of his friends and family, Sara only has eyes for the broody 32 year old, but in addition to their 14-year age gap, he knows that she deserves better than him.

The world was a hard place and she needed someone to look out for her.
I just wished that she hadn’t picked me.

There’s a lot of a back and forth as Zef and Sara get to know each other, push each other away, flirt, argue and fight against the attraction between them. Their path together has its ups and downs, with both of them dealing with personal dramas and struggling to fully open up to each other. But their pull to each other cannot be denied.

“You build walls so high, it feels like you’ll never tear them down, and you don’t want to either, because walls protect you.”
“Do…do you feel like that…with me?”
Her voice was so soft I could barely hear her.
“No, Sara. You took a wrecking ball through those walls.”

I enjoyed the dynamic between Zef and Sara. Their relationship is unpredictable, and though I wasn’t really sure where they stood a lot of the time, they were the same and I felt their confusion as they tried to figure out what was happening between them. Unfortunately though, I didn’t really feel the romance as much as I wanted to. Though it wasn’t an easy ride, things progressed with them way too quickly for me to feel invested in the depth of emotion they were feeling for each other. I wanted more of a build-up so that it felt real. And I got frustrated at Sara a lot for her behaviour and stupid decisions, but then I would remind myself that she’s only 18, so I tried to cut her some slack.

The story is written mostly from Zef’s POV which I really liked. He’s an intriguing character, and I loved getting so up close and personal with him. (In a delicious twist that I didn’t realise until I started reading, Zef is the troublesome older brother of Daniel from Dangerous to Know & Love, and I loved that tie in, and the opportunity to catch up with Dan and Lisanne and see some more of their story). Zef has a lot of demons that he wrestles with, but I loved seeing his soft side as he cares for his family and gets all alpha-protective over Sara. We get ample opportunity to see just what a huge heart he has, and I loved the progression of his story and the development of his character as it all unfolds.

I also loved seeing so much of the other characters in this series. Kes and Aimee feature of course, and I loved that we saw so much of them and their story progression, as well as the other boys in the Daredevils, and much-loved characters of the carnival.

Though I wish this one had a bit more romantic ‘oomph’, the book ends well, finishing off Zef and Sara’s story, and the series, really nicely and leaving me satisfied with everybody in a good place.

May the lights never dim.
May the Wheel never stop turning.
May the road never end.
May the ride go on forever…

3.5 stars

An Advanced Review Copy was generously provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.

[Shelby (BookLoversHaveMoreFun) · Rating 5 out of 5]

 

What a way to start off the new year!! I started this book in 2017, but if I finished it while it was still 2017 it would've been a TOP FAVORITE of mine for the year.

Jane has such a TALENT for storytelling. All of her books are so very different and I love them all the same.

Carnival, while it was the fourth and last book in the Traveling Series, it was the first for me. It CAPTURED me right away. I felt like I was right there among the carnies. Jane painted the picture BEAUTIFULLY. I could FEEL the love and bond between each one of the characters. There were times when Sara's immaturity became a bit much, but it was needed to see how far she grew by the end of the book.

I really wished I read the previous books because I think my experience would've been that much STRONGER. Despite that I didn't, I'm still sad this series is over, but I think it ended PERFECTLY.

 

[Grace · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25 stars

One more Daredevil to tame.
Kes and Tucker have found love, and yet it is Zef, who finds the love in the most unlikely of places.

When I heard Zef was getting a book, my immediate thought was it would feature Mirelle. And he probably would have thought the same. But sometimes life throws you a curveball and you can't prepare yourself, you just brace for the impact.

This curveball comes in the form an 18-year-old runaway by the name of Sara Weiss.
The whole situation with her was a bit strange to me. She is so fragile and emotional (for reasons we later learn about), it really takes time to understand her and find out her backstory.

Although it is obvious that Sara has some immediate attraction to Zef, it is not reciprocated. I think initially Zef is leery of her, which comes off as hostile. But this new girl comes out of nowhere, doesn't share anything about herself, yet takes over his room. I'd be pissed too! However, Zef softens up to her with time, especially after her secret is revealed.

While I love Zef and this gang of carneys, I didn't understand his progression from co-worker to eventual lover. It may have helped if he was tempted by her early on, but kept his distance. Instead, his attraction seemed to be overnight. Even though I didn't fully buy into his new commitment to Sara, it was still a sweet transition, and I liked how protective he was of her.

Through four books, I have grown close to the gang. And it was inevitable that eventually things may change for this travelling family. I've adored a lot of the side characters like Ollo and Bo, so this loss was tough. *wipes tears*
"Always Free!"

The men of the Donahue Daredevils have lived wild, and at times, reckless lives. However, each has come to learn the power of love, which has someone tamed the beasts within them. And it is always fun to watch the might fall (in love).

*An ARC was received for an honest review.

For more reviews, visit

[Peggy M · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received an ARC of this book and this is my voluntarily, honest review of it.

‘Carnival’ is the lastest story in ‘The Traveling’ series and this time we get the story of Zef. We already read about Zef in the previous books of this series but we also met Zef in the book ‘Dangerous to know & love’ (this is the story of his younger brother Daniel). In that story he didn’t made a great impression on me so I was very curious about the Zef in this story.

After a few difficult years (where he was addicted to drugs and went to prison) Zef has finally find his place in the world. He found a new home in the carnival and not only that, he also found a new family there too. People who accept him just like he is. But even when surrounded by people who care about you, life can be lonely when you don’t have someone special in your heart and arms.
The last thing that Zef expected was to fall for the young girl that he found hideaway in their truck. A young girl that obvious run away from home. Slowly Zef and the young girl Sara are becoming friends. And although Zef wants more, Sara is also keeping him at a distant. She’s keeping secrets from them. Secrets that could destroy everything. Will Sara stay after Zef discovers her secrets or will she run away again??

I must confess that I have very mixed feelings about this story. To my surprise and delight I liked Zef more in this story than I expected. He was a silent, strong and loyal man. I’m glad that we got to read much from his POV. Sadly, I must say that I had a ‘problem’ with Sara. Because no matter how hard I tried I couldn’t connect with her. Yes, she is very young (she’s 14 years younger than Zef) and so it’s understandable that she will sometimes act as a young adult but still…..I love reading New Adult stories so I’m used to reading about young adults but Sara’s character and naivety couldn’t convince me. I found it (personally) hard to believe that Zef would fall for someone like her. But then love is never logical, is it.

It was great being in the Carnival world again. To catch up with the other members of the carnival, Kes and Aimee, Ollo, Tucker and Tera and even Zef’s younger brother Daniel and his girlfriend. It was a happy reunion with them all.
One of the many things that I really appreciate about this series is the fact that these guy aren’t billionaires or glamour boys. They have bad luck, good luck, they have to work hard but no matter what, they are there for each other and I love that about this series very much!

I would recommend that you read the other books of this series first before you read this one. It will give the story more depth if you do.

[MJLovestoRead · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm all kinds of speechless right now, having cried hard twice while reading Carnival. My goodness, I've wanted Zef Colton's story since I met him and his surly self in Dangerous to Know and Love all those years ago and I honestly did not even entertain the thought that it would to be the emotional ride that it is. With the ever-present carnie life as the backdrop, I was once again seduced by the sights and sounds that Zef and his quirky albeit loving family of motorcycle daredevils encountered every minute of their lives. This is Jane Harvey-Berrick's writing soaring to new heights, capturing every last feel imaginable in this glorious tale of redemption.

The hardened ex-con and the naive stowaway. Zef and Sara should have never been. Yet within minutes of their discovering one another as Sara makes her unexpected presence known, you could tell something would brew between them. With Aimee and Kes and the rest of the crew amenable to this newest member of their eclectic little family, Zef is clearly wary and maintains his stubborn ways. But as the slow burn attraction between the two starts to make itself known, not helped one bit by Tucker's smart mouth I might add, it becomes more than apparent that Sara and Zef might just be each other's salvation.

I can't even begin to describe how engaged I was, every step of the way. Watching as Zef with his quick temper and gruff attitude be tamed by the extremely skittish and at times, immature Sara. A notion that seemed practically impossible! The author portrays Sara as a young woman on the run with a secret she is hesitant to reveal, absolutely perfectly. Yes I wanted to yell at her almost as much as Zef did at times, but I wouldn't expect any less of her since she was only 18! And Zef. Not even with a devil of a past persistently on his shoulder could he fail to see the bright light that is Sara. A miracle in the form of a feisty princess he simply couldn't resist.

There are a multitude of layers to this story and Jane Harvey-Berrick combined them masterfully. Every member of this troupe we've gotten to know in this series is present and accounted for and each play as important a part as do Zef and Sara. Ollo as the wise father-like figure was a standout once again for me. That man could take the hardest of hearts and make it sing. Even just a few whispered words could remedy any difficult situation. He IS the soul of this family and his quiet devotion to both the carnie life and these diverse characters is a thing of beauty.

The sheer devotion that is this family would at times bring me to my knees. Add to that the dedication they all have to their craft and you have love in the most purest form. Yes this is the story of one man's journey of discovery that he could be a better man with the right woman by his side. But in the end it was so much more. Zef and Sara were the road we all needed to take to get to the end of this adventure. Yet it was the smallest of detours as they fought to get it right with Kes, Aimee, Ollo, Zach, Luke, Tucker, Tera and even Bo and Socks by their sides, that made this book so complete. I'm saddened my time with these characters is over but filled with utter joy that this last hurrah was everything and more.

I cannot recommend this book highly enough. Surely to be at the top of my list of favorite books for 2017, I happily give Carnival a HUGE 5+++ stars.

[Funzee Shu · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Sometimes you didn’t choose the life; sometimes the life chose you."


🍀🍀🍀


It's kinda sad to know that the author said that this is gonna be the end of The Traveling's series. I wish that Zach and Luke will also have the chance to have their own story, but it seems I must banish my hope and keep it for myself.

Zef story was the final story for this series. It's like 'a goodbye reunion book' where you can also meet some characters from previous and another book appears in this book, like Zef brother's, Daniel and Lisanne.

Daniel and Lisanne wedding was like another bonus to add into the story which make me happy to see they finally move to the next step on their relationship.
You also can see Kes and Aimee here and Tucker and Tera as well, oh and a glimpse of Zach and Luke relationship here.

But the main story was definitely will be on Zef and on how he finally found his true love from young Sara who show up in his life in the most unexpected way.

The age gap issues, Zef dark past also trust issue took large portion in 'playing' all the feels in the whole reading.

There's a laugh, happy moments and also sad part in this story. But you still can feel the stardust and the magic mingling in the air through the whole reading until the very last page.

I must admit that it a bit sad to 'saying goodbye' to the series that had growing with you from the very first story about Kes and Aimee, but like Ollo always said,

“The world is changing and maybe traveling carnivals won’t survive, but people will always need a little magic in their lives.”

Damn! I will be miss this strange little man who talked in riddles full of wisdom in every words he said....

And the author successfully ended this series with super sweet family HEA because yes, everybody deserve their own happy ending!








*ARC is kindly provided by the Author in exchange of a fair, unbiased and honest review*

[2OCC Reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I finished this story, I had one thing in my head, why haven’t I read this series earlier because Jane has written a dynamic series that completely enchanted me form the very beginning. The travelling series explores the world of the carnival and really captures the emotions that people in carnival feel about being part of a travelling carnival. This author really opened my eyes to the love that people have with traveling in the circus and in particular with the motorcycle act that the characters are apart off.



The female character Sarah I really enjoyed because she had me laughing a lot throughout the book and she had me cheering her on when she got angry at the main male character Zef.



Zef I absolutely loved because he was so protective of his loved ones and he was a really caring and loving guy. Despite mistakes in his past, he looked after the people around him and it was obvious with the way that he helped Sarah he was a good guy.



Carnival is the fourth book in the Travelling series and follows the story of Zef one of the members of the Daredevils and teenager runaway Sarah who decides to something that we all think about doing at one time or another, she ran away with a carnival.



Carnival was a slow burn type of story that I really enjoyed reading because readers were able to read about the way that the characters developed feelings for each other. I loved the way that the author was able to write about the way the characters were able to develop relationships and friendships with the other characters in the story. I really loved the sense of family that the characters made with each other with the carnival. This series is definitely one I would recommend everyone to read. This is a standalone and I did read this story without reading the other books in the series and fell in love with the story. I’m definitely going to be reading the other stories in the series now because I loved the whole storyline of the carnival.

[Bobo's Book Bank · Rating 4 out of 5]

CARNIVAL is book four in the Traveling series and although this is a contemporary standalone, I feel like if I had read the first three, I would've felt MORE connected to the main character, Zef, as well as the secondary characters. Zef is a tattooed, "bad boy", ex-con carnie who's a whole lot older than Sara (32 to her 18). Their romance is slow to ignite, mostly because Zef is uncomfortable with their age difference. But I loved him! Oh my goodness! I'd describe Zef as the strong, silent type, maybe a bit lonely and extremely self conscious of his dark past. He'd found his place as a motorcross stunt man in the traveling carnival (SWOON!!) and I gotta say...it was so cool to get a glimpse into that whole lifestyle! I truly was in awe of how Jane Harvey-Berrick described the atmosphere of the carnival, the Ferris Wheel, the food and most of all the feeling of being part of a FAMILY. My only complaint was Sara's character. I understood she WAS only eighteen but I found her to be so naive and childish at times. (Zef even comments on this during the book!) But Sara does mature a bit as the story progresses and I found myself liking her by the end. And speaking of the end...that was one of the most BEAUTIFULLY WRITTEN endings I've ever read, both sweet and profound! This one was so unique, I've decided I NEED to go back to the beginning and read the entire series because I want more of these enigmatic carnies! Told mostly from Zef's POV with a few chapters from Sara and a wonderful, positive HEA. I received, read and voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book.

[Angie Crabtree-Liezel and Angie's Book Blog · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love books about the carnival life. The ones that are freaks. The unwanted. The unloved by townies outside of the carnival. But also the family that they create amongst each other. The love, loyalty, and strength they provide.

I loved how, if I closed my eyes, I could smell the corn dogs, the funnel cakes and cotton candy. I could see the Ferris wheel and the carousel with the lion and it’s opened mouth. I could feel the wind on my face and hear the music in the air. That’s how immersed I was in this book. I loved the comradeship of the characters. I loved how I could see what Ollo looked liked and Bobo too. Heck I could envision what all the characters looked like. I also love that this wasn’t insta-love and there wasn’t much sex in it.

I didn’t like Sara much at first. I know she was 18 but lord have mercy she was the most annoying 18 year old I have read about in awhile. I almost put the book down because of her. I’m not a fan of whiny characters and she went above that. I’m glad I pushed past her though. Zef and the other characters made up for her dialogue and she eventually calmed down. I grew to love her as much as the other characters and I seen a strength in her that I didn’t see at first.

Carnival is a slow burn read that you won’t want to put down. It has a lot of heart and the characters will draw you into their world from the first chapter. This is definitely one book I’ll recommend to others for a long while.

[Jolene Huber · Rating 5 out of 5]

Finding The Magic

This if the 4th book in the series. And it should he read in order. Zef is an ex-con who spent two years in the. He was able to get a reduced sentence for his testimony. Wanting to get out of state he took off taking side jobs where he was found by Kes. He brought him on as a Daredevil. Zef is closed off and doesn't trust easily after his time in prison. So when after a gig and a ride to a new town produces a stowaway he is immediately not trusting. Sara is just turned 18 and had to get away. Her parents as well as outside influence was wanting to force her against her will to do something she didn't want. This book was a nice wrap to the end of the series. I was sad to see it end. Loved it!

[Theresa Alberts · Rating 4 out of 5]

Carnival by Jane Harvery-Berrick was the perfect conclusion to the Travelling Man Series as a whole. I loved Zef's story and watching him evolve from someone who was cold and closed off, to someone who let people in, fell in love and was loved in return. It was perfect to see all of our favorite characters from the other Travelling Man books and where they are in their lives, like a catch up of sorts and it was fantastically written like only this author can do!

If you are a fan of the Travelling Man Series than you must ride the Ferris Wheel of laughter, heartache, angst, hardship and tears with Zef and his carnie family! You will certainly be glad that you did!

4 stars

[Melann · Rating 3 out of 5]

Plutôt 3,5/5.
Un peu le même sentiment que pour la lecture du tome 3. J'ai eu du mal à accrocher à l'héroïne, qui n'est pas évidente à comprendre. Mais l'ambiance de la fête foraine et la présence des personnages de la série font que l'on passe néanmoins un bon moment de lecture.
Dernier tome de la série et je ne regrette pas de l'avoir tenté .

[Emma · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was great to be back and to catch up with the characters of the Traveling series. I always look forward to reading a new book by Jane Harvey-Berrick and Carnival was a treat. Very sweet and feel good romance. Can be read as a standalone or as complete series.

Thanks to the author for my arc.