Cale has the circus in his blood. As ringmaster and owner of Meriful’s Traveling Circus, his world is the arena, the spectacle and the heat of the spotlight. He looks out for his ragtag troupe of performers as if they’re his family, because after tragedy struck, they are.
Ryah’s been battered and bruised by life and is ready to give up. Then Cale finds her, and she runs away to join Meriful’s … Meriful’s Traveling Circus and becomes the horseback acrobatics star she’s always dreamed of being.
What ultimately calls to her is Cale’s dangerous knife-throwing act, and the thrill of putting her life in his hands. Soon, she doesn’t want to be just part of his act. Cale’s doing his best to resist the fragile eighteen-year-old. He’s the ringmaster, but lately he’s been wondering… Who’s running rings around who?
more
This highly emotional, amazing read will blow you away!! Literally! The emotion and words in this story absolutely sucked me in and let me feeling so happy. This book is different than any other book I’ve read. The storyline is like NO OTHER book I’ve read.
Brianna hale knows how to take a story and fill it with emotion, second chances, crazy acts of love and knives, and the joy of finding a family to help you through tough times. I absolutely adored and loved this book with everything I have.
Cale and Ryah meet under pretty crazy circumstances. When she joins the circus, she has many ups and downs, but her joy and love grow each day because she now has a “family”, blood or not. You see her fight feelings and go through hard times because of her past. She is there for Cale through his tough times and when their friendship turns into more, they both struggle and have to figure out life in a new way. Together, they survive this thing called life and make it one beautiful, amazing, over the top age gap book you will LOVE!!
Another great read from Brianna Hale. In Ringmaster we follow Ryah, who lives in an abusive home until the day she meets Cale, ringmaster of a passing circus. When he offers her a chance to escape she doesn’t look back. As they spend more and more time together they become closer. Until Ryah desperately wants to move beyond friendship.
This slow burn has you aching with the need to see this sexual tension explode. But when it does, you find that the wait was worth it. To top it all off the setting is absolutely unique and something that few people actually experience. I recommend this to those who enjoy slow burn and age-gap.
Cale was the Ringmaster of the traveling circus. He left home when he was young because he couldn’t deal with the murder of his sister. Then he took a liking to throwing knives. Ryah’s mother left her with her drunk abusive father when she was young. She had a horse that she would escape on. Then one day an older man saved her from her father. Cale and Ryah’s journey to love while they worked the circus route and struggled with their personal demons made this story very fun and exciting. Good read
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I purchased this book via Amazon and am leaving my review voluntarily.
Triggers: abuse, age gap, flashback to a murder
**spoilers**
Cale, left home at a young age , full of rage, after his sister was murdered. He joined a traveling circus, eventually becoming the Ringmaster.
Ryah, almost 18, abused by her father. Runs away and is rescued by Cale. She joins the circus family and shares a wagon with 2 other women.
This is a slow burn, age gap romance. Nothing sexual happens until after the 50% mark, when the h is 18. A bit of drama. This author always writes sweet age gap romance novels that have you rooting for a HEA.
Having joined Meriful’s Traveling Circus over twelve seasons ago, Cale Hearn takes his role as ringmaster and owner seriously, as he is extremely protective over his circus family. Upon seeing Ryah in an abusive situation, Cale quickly acts in the only way he knows how. Wanting to earn her board, Ryah becomes a horseback acrobat but soon wants to partner in another act. Together, Ryah and Cale navigate slowly as each has their own emotional baggage.
“Most of all, I want to do it because it will be the most wonderful thing I’ve ever done. I want to fill my life with wonderful things. Don’t you?”
With a gripping prologue, the stage is set for Cale’s act and also how he deals with his emotions. As there is a certain romanticism in the atmosphere relating to the close-knit friendships and nomadic elements in the traveling circus, there are also some reality checks. As narrated in dual POV, this helps to understand what drives Cale and Ryah. While Ryah doesn’t want to be a burden, she does seek the safety net Cale so ably provides.
“Sparkle, you’re crazy!” I grin up at him. “Well, yeah. But the good kind, right?”
I thoroughly enjoyed the setting of rural England for the traveling circus and the imagery of the verdant landscape. Though Ryah’s situation was heartbreaking, her willingness to adapt and seek love was endearing. Being so young, her naivete is apparent in different aspects, but her heart is pure. As for Cale, he is like a white knight atop a fierce stallion. I liked his character and felt for the pain of his loss. Cale and Ryah share a mutual temptation and when they finally surrender to it, it’s tender and sensual. Though I liked the overall plot trajectory, the ending was a little too sweet for my preference.
Ringmaster is a story about opening one’s heart to love. This book will appeal to those who enjoy a slow burn, a protective hero and an age gap romance.
I am a huge fan of Brianna’s, she can write dark, twisted, and now I see she can write steamy but a sweet book at the same time. Ringmaster is an age-gap story that takes place in Europe in a carnival life that brings a bunch of different characters together.
The emotions, secrets, love, some twists, and turns these characters have will keep you reading till the very end of this book. Ryah and Cale have a complicated relationship and that is what I loved reading. Cale understands that Ryah is younger than him and that even though he has feelings for her he shouldn’t or might never have a relationship with her. But he will be there and protect her for however long she needs him.
Ryah’s is a young girl that needs to escape her home and Cale helps her do that. But she doesn’t need him to keep her alive. She is a strong girl that wants to be free and then can take care of herself after that. When she finds that she can be part of the carnival and stay with Cale she couldn’t be happier.
This is a book that keeps you intrigued waiting for that moment these two finally admit their chemistry and fall for each other. The suspense of that is wonderful!
“First I must say that I never expected a slow burn romance. Ringmaster blew my mind. Running away and joining the circus seems funny right? Imagine that plus unexpected twist and turns. The slow burn was so astonish. An age gap so fascinating yet intriguing. The way Brianna developed the story was amazing! Plus the whole circus environment made everything perfect. Funny, seductive and enjoyable. This was my first book of Brianna Bale and definitely it won’t be the last one.”
Brianna Hale is quickly becoming a favorite author of mine. I want to begin saying that I absolutely loved this.book and recommend it to anyone who loves romance. It has the power exchange part PLUS a really incredible and unique story. Mysterious Cale comes at just the right moment, rescuing Ryah from domestic abuse from her father. Cale has his own tragedy in his past and has a really great heart. I dont want to say anymore and ruin it. Really enjoyed it from the beginning to the end.
Not gonna lie, this cover drew my attention. The Blurb made me pick it up. But the book itself kept me reading. I love the circus, I love reading about the circus, there is just a mystical romantic mist around the circus and the Ringmaster did not disappoint. The relationship between Ryah and Cale is slow, like really slow. With a friendship forming quickly, a partnership cementing their connection and the overall chemistry that was there from the first moment eventually leading them to admit how they feel for each other. Now just because the burn is slow does not mean there isn’t heat throughout. The fact that as a reader you get to go with these two as they learn more about each other and themselves, the payoff of them admitting those feelings and giving into them makes it more much better. Ringmaster is the kind of slow burn I love because the anticipation of what is to come is so much better. Even with the age difference Cale and Ryah were made for each other. I really truly loved this book so much. I would love to see more from the other characters involved in future installments.
-Mackenzie
This is the first book I’ve read with the circus theme and I LOVED it! Already being a fan of the authors work I knew this would be great but it exceeded my expectations. I really liked the age gap aspect it was the perfect set up. This book had so many really sweet moments that will just make you melt Cale is so protective but absolutely adores Ryah and to her Cale hangs the moon and stars. I couldn’t get enough of this book five stars!
By Tiffany
Ringmaster by Brianna Hale
4 STARS
Ringmaster was my first read from author Brianna Hale.
This story was unexpected for me. I never been to circus, so I enjoyed the world of circus.
Written in dual POV, the book tells the story of Cale, the owner of the circus and Ryah a girl from one village and runs away with the circus.
If you are a fan of slow burn, age gap romance, and something light, this book is the one for you.
Cale is the ringmaster of the circus and considers them his family after a tragedy happened to his own. Ryah has a difficult life and decides to join the circus after meeting Cale. She is much younger than him. The attraction between them is strong and too powerful to deny for either of them. A good read.
Someone must of been watching over her that night, for as her life was in peril, there he was.
He’s a stranger to her, but that matters not as he offers a lifeline. A chance to live without fear and punishment.
She might be scared and frightened, but he can see potential in her and knows she will find her feet with his people.
Welcome to the travelling circus, where your imagination is brought to life before your very eyes!
What a fantastic read! the storyline appealed to me greatly as the circus is completely fascinating.
A family that isnt a family, a bond that is chosen rather than bred. Its sacred, special and shines through the pages in abundance.
I loved Cale and his attitude to his chosen family. He wasn’t above his crew he was one of them, and watching him fight his true feelings was beautiful.
Ryah starts out meak and mild, almost scared of her own shadow but as she begins to bloom and grow, it becomes obvious that shes uniquely beautiful.
This is an age gap romance that’s written in a way that it’s not cheesy, it’s not savage or brutal but gentle like the waves on a beach, as the tide rolls in. It’s obvious what’s going to happen but still you cant tear yourself away.
I would happily read this again several times over, knowing that each time I would fall in love all over again.
An amazing story. This is an older man younger woman romance. The characters are outstanding. You will not put it down.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Brilliant! First off, I loved that this book was set in and about the English countryside. Having been there myself, it was like a trip down memory lane. Second, it would be easy to label this the story of a young girl infatuated with a much older man, but this is soooooo much more. Ryah (great name!) Has been through much in her young life. Though somewhat naive and innocent in some ways, in others she is wise beyond her years. And Cale is truly a good hearted man. He fights acknowledging his feelings for Ryah: for the sake of her age, to give her a chance to grow and settle into her new life, and because of his own tragic history. But Cale and Ryah heal each other. Third, I love that this is a longer story. Anything shorter would have been a disservice to the story. Discounting the prologue and epilogue, this takes place over the course of a year and some change. You get to see two people grow and heal and face their past. You see a couple go from rescuer and frightened young girl to friends to partners to finally lovers. This is not a book for a quick break, but it’s a wonderful use of your time! Love, love, loved it!
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Enjoy the England landscape with the Meriful’s Traveling Circus! It’s such an amazing atmosphere, and if you know me, then you know how important atmospheres are to me.
Can you imagine Cale, protective, determined, and gentle on his Friesian (OMG they are my favorite horses…have you seen how formidable they look?).
But I digress…
In this nomade world, Cale and Ryah’s lives enticed me from the beginning. The author perfectly captured the sweet damaged souls of her main characters. Their grief, their doubts never left me unfeeling. Their goodness warmed my heart, I absolutely loved the positive vibe the book emitted in spite of the darker scenes.
Throughout the months, the seasons, the countryside changed, the characters evolved, building each other back up.
With a background of shows, sparkles and tricks, the anticipation built, slow and touching. How many times did I find myself smiling while reading this book? Well, I’m still smiling!
Mrs Hale wrote a beautiful romantic story. If you like age gaps, if you are in the mood for a feel-good tale, then I cannot recommend Ringmaster enough.
Ive read other books by Brianna before and loved them, and this book was no exception. Its just so lovely, it sucks you in from the moment ypu start reading and doesnt let you go till the end, and even then its still in your head
I loved Cale and Ryah. I loved their relationship. They both needed each other, even though Cale would think other wise, but they both needed the other one. Their relationship was just so well written and explorered.
I highly recomend this book, it was such a lovely and ineresting read.
Ringmaster by Brianna Hale just a spellbinding, complex, seductive and fun good time!! I never thought running away to the circus would end up like that . Just saying, if I somehow am found living in a circus, all the blame goes to this book (smile). The story is written in beautiful tones, with both romantic and yet heartbreaking parts. This is Cale and Ryah’s love story, one that is a slow burn. Get ready for a age-gap romance. It’s electrifying, taboo, steamy, sizzling, angsty, raw, emotionally intense and beautifully poignant. I found the characters to be fantastic, the plotline phenomenal and the whole reading experience perfect. I can’t wait for the next book by Ms. Hale.
My Rating: 4.5 **********
A slow burn romance. Ryah sees the traveling circus pass by her house and wonders what it’s like to travel. Living with an abusive father she rushes out of the house where we she meets Cale. He gets her out of there and from there the slow burn that is this books starts. She joins his circus and falls more in love with the man who makes her feel safe. Cale and Ryahs relationship doesnt start to grow til she turns 18 and even then he holds back. When they finally come together I swear I thought I was going to cry. Ryah had never felt love like the does from Cale. I enjoyed every moment with this book.
I received an ARC in exchange for a honest review
Let yourself be transported to a new, beautiful, and unique world and just sit back and enjoy the show!
‘Ringmaster’ by Brianna Hale is a stunningly written romance that takes place in the countryside of the UK, following the wonders of Meriful’s Traveling Circus.
“Welcome to Meriful’s Traveling Circus. Here one day, gone the next. As mysterious as the dark side of the moon and as mercurial as the tides. Ever-changing, ever-moving, ever-delightful. Prepare for an evening of mayhem-magic-amazement-wonder-beauty-merriment, and danger.”
This is wonderful and marvelous, it encases the true essence of the circus and shows you the realness of what these performers have to go through.
The author was able to completely bring this world to life for me, the way she described each scene made me feel as if I was right there alongside her characters. It brought excitement to my bones, an eagerness to witness a unique show, and amazement to be able to experience it all.
This book will show you the rawness and truth of the traveling circus life, it’ll show you the glamorous side of each show and performance but also the not so attractive side of living in caravans and being constantly on the move.
This is a romance with an age gap that will steal your breath alongside your heart, it will make you feel a vast range of emotions and have your heart pounding at every encounter.
Cale is the Ringmaster of Meriful’s Traveling Circus. As a Ringmaster, he has to be strict and make sure everyone is diligent and safe when performing their dangerous acts, while also ensuring his circus is a safe place for them to be, one without terror or fear.
He is stern and mostly serious, he is very talented with his knife-throwing skills, but he is also a born showman, a natural leader, and entertainer.
His life drastically changed when he was just a kid, but his past only contributed to create the amazing man that he is now and brought him to the circus, his true home.
Cale is sweet and caring, always watching out for the most vulnerable amongst his performers, always making sure everyone is happy and safe.
He will have to go through a rollercoaster of emotions during this book, he will have to learn how to deal with them and most importantly how to act on them and express them.
Ryah has had the worst upbringing anyone could ever get, she lived in constant fear of what was going to happen next or constantly wondering if there was more to life.
She is still young and naive, but she is resilient, brave and strong, a young woman with an old soul that will help her get through her personal hell.
When the opportunity comes to finally leave her life behind, she doesn’t have to think twice.
Joining the circus will help her grow, mature, and become the extraordinary woman that she truly is.
This is a slow-burn story full of incredible acts, a lot of fun, steamy stolen glances and constant doubt and fear, acting on their most basic instincts.
This is a light but wonderful read with just enough suspense to keep you hooked right till the end, enough to have you gasping with shock or laughing with happiness.
Cale and Ryah’s love story is a complicated one, an unconventional one, but a pure one nonetheless. Their feelings are explosive and magnetic, powerful like the sun in the sky and incredible like the stars that sparkle in the night.
This book will transport you to a happier and more beautiful world. One you won’t want to leave, one that will give you strong emotions, happy moments and beautifully written characters that have the potential of staying with you forever.
If you are ready to take on this journey and dive deep into the beautiful life of the circus, then this is your ticket. Welcome to the Circus!