Review: Roustabout (Traveling, #3) by Jane Harvey-Berrick (Goodreads Author)

Roustabout by Jane Harvey-Berrick
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Tucker McCoy made his first appearance in The Travelling Man, the 1st book in Jane Havey-Berricks’s fabulous The Travelling Series

Roustabout is the 3rd novel in the series and we now have Tucker McCoy, roustabout turned stunt daredevil bike driver with Hawkins Daredevil Stunt Riders carnival traveling show. He has never looked back since he joined a travelling carnival 12 years ago at the age of 17, leaving the life of poverty and hardship he had known. He’s happy with the new family and friends he has in his new life. He’s fun, happy-go-lucky, sexy, loves women but only for the sex rush….doesn’t do love and happily ever after!!

But under that carefree façade, we see a man fighting the demons from his past. The story is told from both Tucker's and Tera's POV, so we are able to see the real Tucker.
I found Tucker so endearing. So many times I felt the urge to hug him and comfort him……he’s one of those characters that grab you and never let you go.

Tera Hawkins couldn’t be more different from Tucker’s world. She’s comes from a life of wealth and privilege, his best friend, Kes’s sister and totally off limits.

Despite the differences between her and Tucker. Loved seeing how she tried to show him that he was a man worth loving. Her kindness and her openness were just some of her traits that I loved.

The story and character development was so good. Tucker and Tera’s relationship progresses from friends to lovers and a joy seeing how both dealt with the attraction and feelings for each other. How much Tucker tried to persuade Tera that he was not a man worthy of her….

“We’re on two different roads, TC. Crossing paths was an accident, but it’s not meant to be.”
… “Can’t we make our own road, choose our own path?”

But Tera is not daunted…she fights for what she believes in….and Tucker is the man she wants to be with.

“Won’t you even try?”
He closed his eyes, a pained look on his face.
“Is that really what you want, Terra? A guy like me?”
I shook my head. “No, Tucker. I don’t want a guy like you. I want you.”

The most poignant part of the story is when Tucker goes back home to attend his mother’s funeral. We find out about his life and his family and friends, before he left all those years ago. There so much sadness, so many people who had betrayed and lied to Tucker. The cruelty and hardness shown by the town’s inhabitants was so damn awful….my heart wept for Tucker…….and then when Tera makes an appearance at the funeral….jeez, I thought I was going to breakdown!!!

“Why are you here, TC? I don’t mean in this shitty little town…why are you here with me?”
“Because I like you.”

The other touching scene is when Tucker sells his beloved Ducati bike

so he can help someone, who turns out to be the most devious character ever…..never thinks of himself but doing good for someone else……
And then, I cried buckets…..

“Don’t ever cry for me.”
“Someone has to.”

This is also a story of family and how much they care for each other. I loved meeting up with Kes and Aimee from Travelling Man/Woman duet. And watching the daily life in a travelling carnival, the interesting and quirky characters, the friendship, the loyalty….

A beautiful written and touching love story, filled with unforgettable characters that you are fully engaged with.

This is a series I will definitely read again.

One quote I liked

Oh, I’m going to end off now and leave you with something I found rather interesting and fun…..check out more about the life of a Roustabout…here

View all my reviews