Reviewed by Sadonna
TITLE: Trust in Me
SERIES: Arbor Heights
AUTHOR: Diana DeRicci
PUBLISHER: Self-published
LENGTH: 159 pages
RELEASE DATE: July 27, 2022
BLURB:
Can trust form for a man who’s been hurt by those closest to him? Can trust be enough when doubts plague the cop who is starting to care for him?
Corey Shaw is a transplant to Arbor Heights, a high school dropout who had nowhere to go after losing everything. Determined to make a life for himself, even if he has to start at the bottom in squalor, it is enough to say it is his. Enough to let him wrap the little pride he has around him like armor to make it through the day-to-day challenges.
For Trevor Beckett, chasing a car burglar into a collision with an innocent bystander was not on his Meet-A-Cutie bingo card.
After ensuring the young man was safe and sound after a rough introduction, compassion and Thanksgiving leftovers bring him back to check on Corey. It hadn’t occurred to him that he was simply floating through life, uninterested and unaffected after leaving the Army, returning to Arbor Heights to be closer to his family. Suddenly a future with someone didn’t look so far-fetched. It only took blue eyes and wondering what it would take to earn this one man’s trust.
REVIEW:
Corey has lost everything. He has no family, no friends, nothing to fall back on. He had to leave his home without even his high school diploma for his own safety. He’s managed to find his way from Idaho to Arbor Heights where he got a job as a gopher for a handyman service. His boss AJ is a really good guy and does his best for his employees. Corey doesn’t have much, but he has an apartment of his own and a job. When he gets invited to Thanksgiving at AJ and his husband’s house, he meets more people and starts to feel like maybe he can settle in. But after dinner as he’s getting back to his apartment, he finds himself in the middle of a foot chase.
Trevor is a cop in Arbor Heights. He’s former army and he came home to be near his family – parents and his three sisters. He’s pretty happy with his lot in life and he’s able to be helpful and protect people. He’s the cop on the foot chase and he finds Corey in a heap after being flattened. He makes sure Corey gets into his apartment ok and notices that Corey literally has nothing. His fridge is empty and he doesn’t even have a bed. He’s worried about the young man and also finds him really cute.
Trevor can’t get Corey out of his head and so he brings him other leftovers. And gets him to go out for burgers with him. But then he pushes and Corey reacts. It is going to take Corey a while to trust and he knows that Trevor is suspicious. They have a bit of a push/pull as Corey decides he shouldn’t be so defensive and realizes that Trevor is coming from a good place – of caring about him. They keep going back and forth and then Trevor’s sister Roni gets into the act 🙂 She really likes Corey and they get close as well.
Trevor can’t help his suspicious nature – especially as the are that Corey lives in is a hot bed of criminal activity 🙁 Corey really resents Trevor treating him like he would do anything illegal – especially since he’s worked so hard to make it on his own without resorting to criminal activity. Thankfully there are those around who help Trevor see the light so to speak 😉
This is a sweet romance of a very young guy who has not had one single break. He’s got a lot of baggage from his upbringing and in particular the way he’s lost his family and home. He really has done his best to stay off the streets and keep himself on the straight an narrow, as it were 😉 Trevor is a really good guy with a good and supportive family. I particularly loved the scenes with Trevor’s dad. His sister Roni is also a great friend and sister. AJ, Corey’s boss is a super good guy and has his back too. There is nothing earth shattering here, but it’s really nice to see Corey go from timid and scared to confident and empowered and full of hope for the future surrounded by friends and found family. If you’re looking for a low angst romance with a happy ending, this might be the one for you.
RATING:
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