ARC Review – Trust In Me (Rancho Del Cielo #5) by Dee Tenorio

It isn’t a pretty story, yes there are some beautiful and sexy moments but there is also the ugly reality of abuse and the scars that come with it. However, it was flat out fantastic! ~ Slick, Guilty Pleasures 

Description:
Sometimes falling in love is the easy part…

Locke Jackman is single, childless…and he has a bad case of empty nest syndrome. For years, as he fought tooth and nail to keep his brothers and sisters together after his parents died, his entire life was focused on his responsibilities.

Now his siblings have all moved on with their lives, and there’s no one around to distract him from his overpowering attraction to his sister’s best friend. Their mutual desire is stunning…but then again, so are the secrets keeping them apart.

Susie Packard’s nightmarish marriage taught her what happens when she gives in to her weakness for powerful men. Too bad the big, stoic frowner across the street—the one who sets her bells jangling just by breathing—has her in his sights.

Try as she might to keep her emotional distance, Locke is determinedly knocking down all her walls. But as much as she wants to be the woman he needs, she knows better than most— passion may have its rewards, but every secret has its price.

Product Warnings
This book contains a hot, modern-day Viking seducing his way to the heart of his woman, a stubborn lingerie designer with a world of secrets and a very deep bathtub… Enjoy!

Review copy provided for an honest review

I have been a huge fan of Dee Tenorio’s Rancho del Cielo series and although this book is part of a series it can be read as a standalone. The one thing I’ve always loved about this series is every book tackles an issue, it’s woven into the plot so it’s not like it jumps out at you but Dee’s books will always make you think. Trust In Me is no different and while I’ve enjoyed every book this one was flat out fantastic.

We met both Locke Jackman and Susie Packard in the last book. Locke really over stepped his bounds with his little sister Amanda who happens to be Susie’s best friend. In that book you got the sense that something was brewing between Locke and Susie, but you also got the feeling that Susie wouldn’t let it happen. Susie is a wild card and she makes sure she relies only on herself.

Right from the start we find that Locke and Susie shared a night together, something he’s hasn’t forgotten and plans to repeat as soon as she lets him. Susie on the other hand knows all too well they spent that time together and as much as she want to spend more time with Locke she has to keep her distance for now.

It’s so hard to review this book because I don’t want to give anything away so I’ll begin by saying Susie barely escaped a horrible abusive marriage. Locke after raising his 6 younger siblings is feeling at odds and is ready to start living HIS life and he wants Susie to be a part of it. Susie adores Locke but she really feels she’s doing him a favor by staying away. Good thing his sister Amanda doesn’t see it that way and neither does he and he slowly begins to knock down the twelve foot high brick walls she’s built around herself.

I loved watching Locke work to gain Susie’s trust and work his way into her heart. While he is a bit overbearing you just get the feeling that he really is a big old teddy bear and you want to hug the stuffing out of him. He is so well meaning and I love the way he jumps in and cares for Susie when she isn’t feeling well. I also love that he shares a part of himself with her that he doesn’t share with anyone else including his siblings. Susie…wow, I admire her so much for what she dealt with in the past and all she’s overcome. While I would love to fault her for keeping her distance from Locke I can’t because I know she truly believes she’s doing the right thing.

This is one of those books that will have you running through a gambit of feelings. I would be laughing one minute, crying the next and spitting nails right after that. It isn’t a pretty story, yes there are some beautiful and sexy moments but there is also the ugly reality of abuse and the scars that come with it. What I love more than anything about Trust In Me is Locke’s complete and utter confidence that with love and hope all things are possible.