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

“Don’t let Bertie see how soft you are for the kid,” she warned. “Everyone’s replaceable. Even you.”


“Yeah? What if the kid asked you to stay?”


“He already tried. And I’m still around, aren’t I?”


“Did you think he’d show up here today on your lunch break?”


Not specifically, but it didn’t surprise him, either, considering their encounter the night before.


“Levi wants out of this town,” he said. “That’s why he was showing off in front of Otto. Me staying is never going to happen.”


“So what happened? Bertie would’ve taken him if he hadn’t played dumb. You could’ve had him to your heart’s content then.”


“He discovered he didn’t like the way Bertie does business. And I don’t blame him. He’s better than this.” He swept an arm at the nearby tents. “Better than all this.”


Chapter 44