In 1934, life in Brookburn, Indiana, is quiet, simple, and peaceful, but young dreamer Levi Beckerman yearns for more. When the carnival shows up for the Fourth of July, he’s entranced by its many temptations. None is more seductive than the charismatic barker, Sebastian Gustineau.<br><br>Seb’s been a part of the carnival for almost a decade. Once, it provided him the escape he needed from a life he thought he didn’t want, but now, he craves things it can never offer. Flitting from dusty town to dusty town, he loses himself in pretty dalliances. Levi seems like the perfect distraction, until a single conversation convinces him that preserving Levi’s innocence and way of life is more important than his momentary satisfaction.<br><br>However, his plan to discourage Levi goes horribly wrong. When Levi’s family is threatened, Levi fights to protect them, doing what he can to hide the secrets he’s sheltered his entire life. The only person he trusts is Seb. He just isn’t sure if the growing bond between them is enough to save them all.

A Simple Charm

“So he’s angry because of that?” Hope flared, brief and bright. “I’ll talk to Bertie. I’ll get him his job back.”


Sighing, Seb scrubbed at his face. “Even if you could find some sway with Bertie, it wouldn’t do any good. You made Otto look bad. Clearing his name is the only thing that’ll work.”


It went without saying that the only way to do that was to admit he’d pulled one over on Bertie, which would put him right back in the middle of the trouble he’d been trying to avoid. Half a dozen of one, six of another. Both cases put his family in danger.


“I went home sick from work to keep an eye out,” Levi said. “I can’t do that every day.”


“We get past the Fourth, and you’re scot-free. It’s not worth pretending that long just to keep them safe?”


“No.” He braced himself for what was to come next. “That’s why I’m here.”


Chapter 34