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The Circus Affair
After four dancers join a circus in Brazil, their idea of life under the Big Top changes forever. Given a tiny, cramped caravan for their six-month contract, they make a to find a man who can take them away from their rust-bucket lifestyle.
Melissa is a hopeless romantic, but can she trust the dashing Ringmaster and his secretive ways, or does he have plans of his own?
Sarah's goal is to remain at the circus, whatever the cost. But why?
Lisa, the youngest in the group, is as naive about the job as she is about life. She is looking for romance, but can she tell the difference between lust and true love?
Wendy's only wish is for a quiet life, but will her disturbing past catch up with her?
Finding themselves outsiders in a Latin American world of female rivalry, magic tricks and murder, they walk a thin tightrope of discovery and learn how to live the nomadic life of circus performers. Amid the trapeze, treachery, and torrid affairs that constitute life in the sawdust strewn ring, a crime has been committed. Can the girls solve it in time and make it out alive?
If you've ever dreamed of running away with the circus, or are wondering what happens behind the scenes, this book is for you. Find out what really goes on when the curtains close, and what true circus life is all about.
Melissa is a hopeless romantic, but can she trust the dashing Ringmaster and his secretive ways, or does he have plans of his own?
Sarah's goal is to remain at the circus, whatever the cost. But why?
Lisa, the youngest in the group, is as naive about the job as she is about life. She is looking for romance, but can she tell the difference between lust and true love?
Wendy's only wish is for a quiet life, but will her disturbing past catch up with her?
Finding themselves outsiders in a Latin American world of female rivalry, magic tricks and murder, they walk a thin tightrope of discovery and learn how to live the nomadic life of circus performers. Amid the trapeze, treachery, and torrid affairs that constitute life in the sawdust strewn ring, a crime has been committed. Can the girls solve it in time and make it out alive?
If you've ever dreamed of running away with the circus, or are wondering what happens behind the scenes, this book is for you. Find out what really goes on when the curtains close, and what true circus life is all about.
264 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 29, 2020
4 people are currently reading
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
August 18, 2020
The Circus Affair by Michele E. Northwood is the second book I've read from this author. The first was a memoir, and now, she's published a contemporary fiction novel based on her experiences in the dance world. This time, her main characters are four women with intriguing backgrounds who find themselves joining a dance act in a traveling circus in South America. What could possibly go wrong? Language barriers? Culture clashes? Different dance styles? Killers coming after them? Oh wait... yep, that's all gonna happen!
Northwood's main story is a good one. Immediately we get to know all four women who bond and become friends. Like reality, they occasionally fight and struggle to get along. Similarly, they seem to be a little flighty and often smart, depending on the situation. Seems like a well-rounded view on the wide range of personalities. Some of the women are strong and fight for what they want; others let themselves fall prey to an abusive man who holds too much control over them. Even letting other women control their futures, but that's just part of their world sometimes. It's usually hard to see the forest for the trees that lurk within, and these women learn hard lessons before they get there.
Many times I laughed, often I felt awful for their suffering. I think this was the author's intention as the overall period of time when the women are traveling with the circus is full of emotional situations that most of us have probably never experienced. From learning how to hitch their caravan to a truck and to dealing with some swarthy men, the conflict and plot are ripe with opportunity and interesting endeavors. Written in UK English, it took me a bit to adapt, as I tend to read more American English, but once you fall in line, it's a fun, quick, and interesting read.
The style is similar to the author's memoir -- witty, direct, a little offbeat but very clear... and it's one of those books where you hardly realize you're already done when you hit the last page. That's a good thing! I enjoy the variety of relationships depicted in theses stories... marriages, new love, angry break-ups, parents / children, bosses / employees, and friendship. You get a bit of everything. Even possible death... but I won't say who, as that would spoil the surprise. The novel was just released last month, so get in while the train is about to take off and find yourself a lovely treasure to enjoy one sunny afternoon!
Northwood's main story is a good one. Immediately we get to know all four women who bond and become friends. Like reality, they occasionally fight and struggle to get along. Similarly, they seem to be a little flighty and often smart, depending on the situation. Seems like a well-rounded view on the wide range of personalities. Some of the women are strong and fight for what they want; others let themselves fall prey to an abusive man who holds too much control over them. Even letting other women control their futures, but that's just part of their world sometimes. It's usually hard to see the forest for the trees that lurk within, and these women learn hard lessons before they get there.
Many times I laughed, often I felt awful for their suffering. I think this was the author's intention as the overall period of time when the women are traveling with the circus is full of emotional situations that most of us have probably never experienced. From learning how to hitch their caravan to a truck and to dealing with some swarthy men, the conflict and plot are ripe with opportunity and interesting endeavors. Written in UK English, it took me a bit to adapt, as I tend to read more American English, but once you fall in line, it's a fun, quick, and interesting read.
The style is similar to the author's memoir -- witty, direct, a little offbeat but very clear... and it's one of those books where you hardly realize you're already done when you hit the last page. That's a good thing! I enjoy the variety of relationships depicted in theses stories... marriages, new love, angry break-ups, parents / children, bosses / employees, and friendship. You get a bit of everything. Even possible death... but I won't say who, as that would spoil the surprise. The novel was just released last month, so get in while the train is about to take off and find yourself a lovely treasure to enjoy one sunny afternoon!
January 22, 2022
This is the third book I've read by Michele Northwood, and the stories she has tell are quite unique and unforgettable. Michele has a vast range of life experience under her belt which has given her insight to the lifestyles she's writing about, making it accurate and on point. The circus life would not be an easy one by no means, so my props go out to her completely!
There are four main characters in The Circus Affair. Four European woman who have traveled to a foreign country to spend the season performing in the circus. Sarah, Wendy, Lisa and Malissa didn't know one another before joining the quartet, but they grow together and become very close friends. Standing by one another's side for every step of their journey. The book as a whole doesn't have a whole lot about their acts and the circus in general, it's a bit more about the backscene stories and the camaraderie of the girls.
Of all four girls, Wendy has the scariest background. She actually joined the circus in order to escape and hide from her abusive husband. So, as the other three girls peruse relationships and/or flings or what have you, Wendy really just want to stay safe and supportive. Unfortunately, she can't run forever and the danger she's trying to escape is just around the corner.
Malissa is one of the lucky ones who truly does find love. She's weary, and spends the majority of the book watching and waiting for Benjamin to be a no good dirty cheater, as that's what she's experienced before. She's convinced that he has to have a wife up his sleeve, and she battles her inner demons all the while working her butt off along side the other girls so that they can maintain a jaw dropping show as they travel from place to place.
Sarah finds herself tangled up in the trapeze act with a fun loving flipper named Fernando. She enjoys his company and winds up learning a thing or two about the trapeze. Toward the end tragedy strikes and Sarah has some very serious decisions to face as it pertains to her and Fernando's future.
Lisa is torn between two young men throughout the story, Mario and Miguel. Mario is young, handsome and an absolute ladies man. Of course Lisa falls for his charm. Even after she catches him smoozing around with some other girl, she believes his crap and lets him in. It was a huge mistake, yet luckily for her, Miguel is an attenuative man who is willing to be patient and wait for her to give him a real shot.
All in all I found this book to be fun and upbeat. 4 stars for me.
There are four main characters in The Circus Affair. Four European woman who have traveled to a foreign country to spend the season performing in the circus. Sarah, Wendy, Lisa and Malissa didn't know one another before joining the quartet, but they grow together and become very close friends. Standing by one another's side for every step of their journey. The book as a whole doesn't have a whole lot about their acts and the circus in general, it's a bit more about the backscene stories and the camaraderie of the girls.
Of all four girls, Wendy has the scariest background. She actually joined the circus in order to escape and hide from her abusive husband. So, as the other three girls peruse relationships and/or flings or what have you, Wendy really just want to stay safe and supportive. Unfortunately, she can't run forever and the danger she's trying to escape is just around the corner.
Malissa is one of the lucky ones who truly does find love. She's weary, and spends the majority of the book watching and waiting for Benjamin to be a no good dirty cheater, as that's what she's experienced before. She's convinced that he has to have a wife up his sleeve, and she battles her inner demons all the while working her butt off along side the other girls so that they can maintain a jaw dropping show as they travel from place to place.
Sarah finds herself tangled up in the trapeze act with a fun loving flipper named Fernando. She enjoys his company and winds up learning a thing or two about the trapeze. Toward the end tragedy strikes and Sarah has some very serious decisions to face as it pertains to her and Fernando's future.
Lisa is torn between two young men throughout the story, Mario and Miguel. Mario is young, handsome and an absolute ladies man. Of course Lisa falls for his charm. Even after she catches him smoozing around with some other girl, she believes his crap and lets him in. It was a huge mistake, yet luckily for her, Miguel is an attenuative man who is willing to be patient and wait for her to give him a real shot.
All in all I found this book to be fun and upbeat. 4 stars for me.
December 2, 2020
Love and mystery at the circus.
This is the second book I've read by this author and is her first venture into fiction.
It tells the story of four young women who leave England to work in a Brazilian circus as dancers. They are full of optimism and excitement, however, life in the circus is not all glitz and glamour. They soon realise that they have to undertake extra menial duties and are forced to share a dirty and cramped caravan. The author has concocted a wonderful mixture of characters. From the bullying 'princess' to the mean Mario, their journey is intertwined with romance and laughter, with a little bit of mystery thrown in. But most of all this book is about the strength of friendship and the bonds between four women in a strange land. I very much enjoyed this book. Michele Northwood writes in a way which is compelling and I wanted to keep reading. A great debut fiction book and highly enjoyable.
This is the second book I've read by this author and is her first venture into fiction.
It tells the story of four young women who leave England to work in a Brazilian circus as dancers. They are full of optimism and excitement, however, life in the circus is not all glitz and glamour. They soon realise that they have to undertake extra menial duties and are forced to share a dirty and cramped caravan. The author has concocted a wonderful mixture of characters. From the bullying 'princess' to the mean Mario, their journey is intertwined with romance and laughter, with a little bit of mystery thrown in. But most of all this book is about the strength of friendship and the bonds between four women in a strange land. I very much enjoyed this book. Michele Northwood writes in a way which is compelling and I wanted to keep reading. A great debut fiction book and highly enjoyable.
February 15, 2021
The Circus Affair is the third book I’ve read by Michele E. Northwood, and as with the others, she delivers a fun adventure. This time, four British dancers, Wendy, Melissa, Sarah, and Lisa join the Circus Felicidade in Brazil with no idea what Circus life is about, all except Wendy with some experience under the big tent. Each has a history that has brought them to Brazil, but nothing as dangerous as Wendy’s who's joined the circus as a means to flee her past, a place to hide where she cannot be found.
Northwood has plunked a cast of vastly different women together which makes for an interesting plot. When they arrive at their new home in the circus, a tiny rickety caravan with only two beds, a cramped bath, and a kitchenette, they're outraged. Can they bear cramped quarters for six months? From the beginning, they devise a way out of the tight space.
The girls agree to the pact and set out to find Mr. Right, well the man with the biggest caravan. Eager to don their tights and dance outfits for well-choreographed routines, they find their first days in the circus filled with drudgery, routines every circus member must perform before the show begins. Sienna, the circus owner's prima donna wife with jealousy tendencies, makes the girl's lives more difficult as she gives them ghastly roles and costumes so as not to outshine her performance.
As they try to fulfill their part of the pact, unexpected romances transpire with the men they targeted for a better living space. And as with all romance, heartache, complications, and true love develops. Amidst romance, lies danger as trouble has followed Wendy to Brazil, a danger that may cost her and the girls their lives. Will they survive the threat lurking in the woods outside their caravan? Well, I can’t say.
The Circus Affair is a fun, suspenseful read filled with misadventure, romance, and a bit of mystery as the three women’s past unfolds in the small confinement of their rusty caravan. Northwood pulls together circus life, giving us a view of what happens daily with burgeoning romance, and a bit of danger, culminating in unexpected ways. The Circus Affair is a fun, suspenseful page-turner. Most of all, I love seeing the girls overcome personal obstacles, grow into stronger women and make the right decisions. I highly recommend The Circus Affair. Ms. Northwood thank you for another great read.
Northwood has plunked a cast of vastly different women together which makes for an interesting plot. When they arrive at their new home in the circus, a tiny rickety caravan with only two beds, a cramped bath, and a kitchenette, they're outraged. Can they bear cramped quarters for six months? From the beginning, they devise a way out of the tight space.
“We should find someone who can provide for us throughout the contract, regardless of whether we intend to stay with them afterwards or not…You need to target the owners of the biggest caravan… Someone with a proper shower and toilet in their caravan, which actually works, so we don’t have to use the public showers because they are usually appalling!”
The girls agree to the pact and set out to find Mr. Right, well the man with the biggest caravan. Eager to don their tights and dance outfits for well-choreographed routines, they find their first days in the circus filled with drudgery, routines every circus member must perform before the show begins. Sienna, the circus owner's prima donna wife with jealousy tendencies, makes the girl's lives more difficult as she gives them ghastly roles and costumes so as not to outshine her performance.
As they try to fulfill their part of the pact, unexpected romances transpire with the men they targeted for a better living space. And as with all romance, heartache, complications, and true love develops. Amidst romance, lies danger as trouble has followed Wendy to Brazil, a danger that may cost her and the girls their lives. Will they survive the threat lurking in the woods outside their caravan? Well, I can’t say.
The Circus Affair is a fun, suspenseful read filled with misadventure, romance, and a bit of mystery as the three women’s past unfolds in the small confinement of their rusty caravan. Northwood pulls together circus life, giving us a view of what happens daily with burgeoning romance, and a bit of danger, culminating in unexpected ways. The Circus Affair is a fun, suspenseful page-turner. Most of all, I love seeing the girls overcome personal obstacles, grow into stronger women and make the right decisions. I highly recommend The Circus Affair. Ms. Northwood thank you for another great read.
September 5, 2021
The dark side of the Big Top
Four young English women accept a contract to work in a circus in Brazil. A good job in an exotic location, what could possibly be less than a fantastic experience for them? Unfortunately, they are about to find out that working for 'The
Greatest Show on Earth' isn't quite what any of them expected.
Apart from the language problem, (none of them speak Portuguese), dark secrets soon begin to emerge and one of the women is herself, not being totally honest about her past, an omission that will later lead to dangerous consequences.
When the youngest woman, Lisa becomes besotted with one of the circus performers, she ends up sleeping with him, losing her virginity and a later pregnancy test proves positive. Only then does she realise what a fool she's been. When the girls all confess to feeling as if someone is watching them, Wendy reveals that she was married to a particularly nasty criminal back in the UK and she is convinced he's sent a hit man to eliminate her.
There’s so much going on in this book, one can't help but be entertained by the constantly evolving story which eventually reaches a conclusion by finally revealing more secrets, none of which I am going to tell of in this review for fear of spoiling things for other readers.
All I will say is that I wholeheartedly recommend this as a great read from start to finish. I have no hesitation in giving it a five star rating!
Four young English women accept a contract to work in a circus in Brazil. A good job in an exotic location, what could possibly be less than a fantastic experience for them? Unfortunately, they are about to find out that working for 'The
Greatest Show on Earth' isn't quite what any of them expected.
Apart from the language problem, (none of them speak Portuguese), dark secrets soon begin to emerge and one of the women is herself, not being totally honest about her past, an omission that will later lead to dangerous consequences.
When the youngest woman, Lisa becomes besotted with one of the circus performers, she ends up sleeping with him, losing her virginity and a later pregnancy test proves positive. Only then does she realise what a fool she's been. When the girls all confess to feeling as if someone is watching them, Wendy reveals that she was married to a particularly nasty criminal back in the UK and she is convinced he's sent a hit man to eliminate her.
There’s so much going on in this book, one can't help but be entertained by the constantly evolving story which eventually reaches a conclusion by finally revealing more secrets, none of which I am going to tell of in this review for fear of spoiling things for other readers.
All I will say is that I wholeheartedly recommend this as a great read from start to finish. I have no hesitation in giving it a five star rating!
January 2, 2022
3.5 stars
Finally! For the past year I have been looking for a fictional novel about the "behind the scenes" of the circus - what the lives of performers working at the circus are like. I DNF'd all of the ones I've found until I found The Circus Affair! Great story and an interesting look at what life is like when you're a circus performer! Michele Northwood certainly had the experience to write such a novel, and I'm glad she did!
Finally! For the past year I have been looking for a fictional novel about the "behind the scenes" of the circus - what the lives of performers working at the circus are like. I DNF'd all of the ones I've found until I found The Circus Affair! Great story and an interesting look at what life is like when you're a circus performer! Michele Northwood certainly had the experience to write such a novel, and I'm glad she did!
August 10, 2020
The Circus Affair by Michele E. Northwood
Purchase Verified Format: Kindle Version
A circus success
This a fascinating story about four girl dancers who decide to take up the challenge of joining a circus in Brazil under a six months contract for a variety of reasons.
Lisa, the youngest in the group, is looking for romance and a boyfriend, an attitude that the others find irritatingly naïve.
For Melissa and Sarah, travelling abroad is nothing out of the ordinary, having spent the past ten years travelling overseas for a variety of dancing contracts. It is their first venture at working in a circus.
Of the two, Melissa is eager to find the perfect man and settle down but she is still recovering from falling hopelessly in love with a man who after a year together turns out to be married. Whereas, Sarah has become battle weary after flings in the past with men who were too involved in their careers to commit themselves to a long term relationship.
Looking on as a veteran, Wendy has no intention of getting involved after fleeing from an abusive husband and a life she does not even want to think about. All she craves is a quiet life and is quite content to stay in whatever quarters they are allocated and would be more than happy if the other two find boyfriends to stay with, so she can have the place to herself.
Struck by a sudden brainwave, she persuades the others to agree a pact to target the owner of the biggest caravan on site where they could all share at any time of the day or night without crowding.
When they arrive, apart from the obvious hostility from the other circus wives who find themselves threatened by the newcomers, the wife of the circus owner goes out of her way to make sure they do not outshine her when she rehearses their dance routines. Added to the discomfort of being crammed into a rabbit hutch of a caravan, the girls discover that, after performing an exhausting four shows a day as well as four at weekends, they are expecting to change into old clothes and help in dismantling the circus tent and their caravan ready for moving to their next location, a two hour drive away, and do the same thing all over again.
Not surprisingly, Lisa is the first to fall under the spell of Mario who works on the high wire with his sister, despite his flaring jealousy and dubious call girl friends. Melissa on the other hand is drawn towards Benjamin, the ringmaster, until she discovers him together with a lady who she thinks is his wife and Sarah gets feelings for Fernando, one of the flying trapeze groups – confusion all around.
Meanwhile, Wendy is disturbed by a stalker who she discovers is circling the caravan at night. Outraged, Wendy jumps out to challenge the intruder and is confronted by a figure dressed as a clown, aiming a pistol. Dodging the shot, she raises the alarm and becomes the centre of attention with police cars swarming all around them onto the site.
However, readers will be relieved to hear that the author has managed to sort out all the entangled relationships with astonishing ease, making the story a wholesome success and a thoroughly recommended read.
Purchase Verified Format: Kindle Version
A circus success
This a fascinating story about four girl dancers who decide to take up the challenge of joining a circus in Brazil under a six months contract for a variety of reasons.
Lisa, the youngest in the group, is looking for romance and a boyfriend, an attitude that the others find irritatingly naïve.
For Melissa and Sarah, travelling abroad is nothing out of the ordinary, having spent the past ten years travelling overseas for a variety of dancing contracts. It is their first venture at working in a circus.
Of the two, Melissa is eager to find the perfect man and settle down but she is still recovering from falling hopelessly in love with a man who after a year together turns out to be married. Whereas, Sarah has become battle weary after flings in the past with men who were too involved in their careers to commit themselves to a long term relationship.
Looking on as a veteran, Wendy has no intention of getting involved after fleeing from an abusive husband and a life she does not even want to think about. All she craves is a quiet life and is quite content to stay in whatever quarters they are allocated and would be more than happy if the other two find boyfriends to stay with, so she can have the place to herself.
Struck by a sudden brainwave, she persuades the others to agree a pact to target the owner of the biggest caravan on site where they could all share at any time of the day or night without crowding.
When they arrive, apart from the obvious hostility from the other circus wives who find themselves threatened by the newcomers, the wife of the circus owner goes out of her way to make sure they do not outshine her when she rehearses their dance routines. Added to the discomfort of being crammed into a rabbit hutch of a caravan, the girls discover that, after performing an exhausting four shows a day as well as four at weekends, they are expecting to change into old clothes and help in dismantling the circus tent and their caravan ready for moving to their next location, a two hour drive away, and do the same thing all over again.
Not surprisingly, Lisa is the first to fall under the spell of Mario who works on the high wire with his sister, despite his flaring jealousy and dubious call girl friends. Melissa on the other hand is drawn towards Benjamin, the ringmaster, until she discovers him together with a lady who she thinks is his wife and Sarah gets feelings for Fernando, one of the flying trapeze groups – confusion all around.
Meanwhile, Wendy is disturbed by a stalker who she discovers is circling the caravan at night. Outraged, Wendy jumps out to challenge the intruder and is confronted by a figure dressed as a clown, aiming a pistol. Dodging the shot, she raises the alarm and becomes the centre of attention with police cars swarming all around them onto the site.
However, readers will be relieved to hear that the author has managed to sort out all the entangled relationships with astonishing ease, making the story a wholesome success and a thoroughly recommended read.
October 8, 2021
Having read the memoirs by this author, I entered the world of The Circus Affair with much curiosity. Authors often or perhaps always cannibalise their own lives, and why ever not when there’s rich pickings. In the case of Michele E. Northwood, the pickings are rich indeed. And spicy! This time, Northwood gives us her fiction and we’re off to Brazil to join the circus! What could possibly go wrong? Well, possibly everything. Especially as the dance troupe all have different backgrounds and don’t entirely get along. And the set up is anything but glamorous.
Lisa’s the newbie, naive and starry-eyed. Melissa and Sarah are old hands, having been on the road for a decade. Melissa is after true love. Will she find what she’s hoping for? Wendy couldn’t care less. She’s escaping a bad marriage.
Wendy sets up the plot when she decides the best way to deal with the cramped conditions of their caravan is if they each - except her - found a boyfriend, one with better accommodation. Meanwhile, things in the circus are not at all rosy. The local dancers resent the British troupe. The circus owner is a sleaze and his wife is openly hostile. How will the dancers survive a whole six months?
The story is colourful and entertaining, and filled with Latin passion and romance and excitement. And as the story progresses, also danger. The Circus Affair ends on a positive note, and I liked the way the author wrapped up the story. A perfect, feel-good read.
Lisa’s the newbie, naive and starry-eyed. Melissa and Sarah are old hands, having been on the road for a decade. Melissa is after true love. Will she find what she’s hoping for? Wendy couldn’t care less. She’s escaping a bad marriage.
Wendy sets up the plot when she decides the best way to deal with the cramped conditions of their caravan is if they each - except her - found a boyfriend, one with better accommodation. Meanwhile, things in the circus are not at all rosy. The local dancers resent the British troupe. The circus owner is a sleaze and his wife is openly hostile. How will the dancers survive a whole six months?
The story is colourful and entertaining, and filled with Latin passion and romance and excitement. And as the story progresses, also danger. The Circus Affair ends on a positive note, and I liked the way the author wrapped up the story. A perfect, feel-good read.
March 25, 2024
Author Michelle E. Northwood claims to be a former international circus performer and an award winning author. If so, she had to have hired somebody to write this paper thin excuse for a novel.
It’s about four female dancers (Lisa, Sarah, Melissa, and Wendy) who join a ragtag Brazilian circus. They’re cartoon characters. Three of them immediately strike out to find a male partner. The last, Wendy has marital problems. She must, because the author uses her to provide a plot. Lisa is new to the circus and very young; she immediately hooks up with the wrong guy. Wendy warns her about him, despite the fact that she knows nothing about him, but, of course, she’s right.
The four girls live in a claustrophobic little trailer, two to a bed. They’re being stalked. Wendy pretty much tells us who it is and Northwood doesn’t have a problem making her worst fears a reality. The villain is a bumbling idiot. At one time he rings the doorbell, then runs away, firing a shot at them as he leaves. He’s dressed as a clown. He shows up again later disguised as a law officer.
We don’t learn much about Brazilian circus, other than that they have traditional trapeze artists who sometimes fall and hurt themselves. Northwood surprisingly remembered to throw in occasional Portuguese dialogue.
Wendy leaves the circus only to return with presents for the three remaining dancers. You won’t believe what it was. I certainly didn’t.
It’s about four female dancers (Lisa, Sarah, Melissa, and Wendy) who join a ragtag Brazilian circus. They’re cartoon characters. Three of them immediately strike out to find a male partner. The last, Wendy has marital problems. She must, because the author uses her to provide a plot. Lisa is new to the circus and very young; she immediately hooks up with the wrong guy. Wendy warns her about him, despite the fact that she knows nothing about him, but, of course, she’s right.
The four girls live in a claustrophobic little trailer, two to a bed. They’re being stalked. Wendy pretty much tells us who it is and Northwood doesn’t have a problem making her worst fears a reality. The villain is a bumbling idiot. At one time he rings the doorbell, then runs away, firing a shot at them as he leaves. He’s dressed as a clown. He shows up again later disguised as a law officer.
We don’t learn much about Brazilian circus, other than that they have traditional trapeze artists who sometimes fall and hurt themselves. Northwood surprisingly remembered to throw in occasional Portuguese dialogue.
Wendy leaves the circus only to return with presents for the three remaining dancers. You won’t believe what it was. I certainly didn’t.
March 4, 2021
Four girls join the circus and solve a mystery. That's what the blurb on Amazon says about this book. However, the mystery doesn't really appear until you're over halfway through the book. It's not that it is a slow read. The story is entertaining and has good characters. However, the mystery part of it takes a long time to get to. By looking at the cover, I assumed this was going to be a historical fiction piece. However, it happens in modern times. It is also written in British English and Michele provides a wonderful poem at the beginning explaining the differences between British English and American English.
Two things stuck out for me. The point of view switches between characters at random. It makes it a challenge to keep up with the storyline. Usually, the switch is at the start of a new paragraph, but sometimes not. She also changes scenes without a break. We start out in one location with one character and bam! we're off to another one somewhere else in the next paragraph. That was really jarring.
The second thing is the book could have used another round of edits. There are misplaced quotation marks, a few wrong verbs (singular verb/plural noun), and some capitalization errors. It isn't heavily throughout the story, but when they pop up, they are pretty evident.
Two things stuck out for me. The point of view switches between characters at random. It makes it a challenge to keep up with the storyline. Usually, the switch is at the start of a new paragraph, but sometimes not. She also changes scenes without a break. We start out in one location with one character and bam! we're off to another one somewhere else in the next paragraph. That was really jarring.
The second thing is the book could have used another round of edits. There are misplaced quotation marks, a few wrong verbs (singular verb/plural noun), and some capitalization errors. It isn't heavily throughout the story, but when they pop up, they are pretty evident.
February 6, 2021
A wonderful journey
A world I knew nothing about opened up to me in this book. Ms Northwood has captured the excitement, drama, politics, and sometimes frustrations of being a circus performer and shared it through the eyes of four English girls on an adventure in Brazil.
The four protagonists of the story: Melissa, Sarah, Lisa, and Wendy are quite different from each other, but working in the circus builds bonds and friendships to last a lifetime. Through the girls’ experiences, Ms Northwood cleverly exposes the circus world and draws the reader into life under the big top.
But don’t be lulled into a sense of security, the girls’ adventures culminate in a gripping conclusion.
A Circus Affair is a fascinating insight into not only how four English girls adapt to living in a circus in Brazil, but how a circus functions in its own realm.
A world I knew nothing about opened up to me in this book. Ms Northwood has captured the excitement, drama, politics, and sometimes frustrations of being a circus performer and shared it through the eyes of four English girls on an adventure in Brazil.
The four protagonists of the story: Melissa, Sarah, Lisa, and Wendy are quite different from each other, but working in the circus builds bonds and friendships to last a lifetime. Through the girls’ experiences, Ms Northwood cleverly exposes the circus world and draws the reader into life under the big top.
But don’t be lulled into a sense of security, the girls’ adventures culminate in a gripping conclusion.
A Circus Affair is a fascinating insight into not only how four English girls adapt to living in a circus in Brazil, but how a circus functions in its own realm.
December 15, 2021
The book tells the story of four girls who fly out to Brazil to become dancers in a circus. They all have a reason for going, but I don't want to add spoilers - their reasons have a bearing on the story.
The circus aspect of the book was excellent and gave a very interesting insight into the hard work and boredom which is also a part of circus life. I found the pull-down and setting-up of the circus especially fascinating.
The fortunes of the girls are mixed. There is mystery and drama, as well as deceit and sadness, but they all reach a happy ending eventually.
This is a book I enjoyed reading and am happy to recommend.
The circus aspect of the book was excellent and gave a very interesting insight into the hard work and boredom which is also a part of circus life. I found the pull-down and setting-up of the circus especially fascinating.
The fortunes of the girls are mixed. There is mystery and drama, as well as deceit and sadness, but they all reach a happy ending eventually.
This is a book I enjoyed reading and am happy to recommend.
December 17, 2020
Great book
I liked the adventure as well as the romance in this book. It was very descriptive and I enjoyed reading about a foreign place.
I liked the adventure as well as the romance in this book. It was very descriptive and I enjoyed reading about a foreign place.
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