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

“California’s a long way away,” he said slowly.


A sad smile tipped Pap’s lips. “Not as far as those clouds you’ve been living in.” He clapped Levi on the shoulder, his broad hand lingering to squeeze it in comfort. “Besides, you can always write. You know how much your mother loves getting letters.”


The hope he’d felt at Seb’s before he’d had to face Pap was nothing compared to what bloomed inside his chest now. No running meant he could always come back and visit, a gift he hadn’t dared wish for when he’d thought he’d be hurting those he left behind. He didn’t have to deny the life he’d already had. He could just move on to the next part of it.


“I think I’d like that.” His throat choked further at the sight of Pap’s brief nod, accepting what he’d known all along. “I really am sorry about what I tried to do. I honestly thought it would make things better.”


Chapter 51