Title: Trust
Author: Shawn Lane
Publisher: ellorascave
Genre: Contemporary M/M
Length: novella
Rating: 4.5 stars out of 5
THE BLURB
Brad Callahan has lived with regret for thirteen years. In college, he broke Justin Lowe’s heart by cheating. Justin hasn’t spoken to him since, but his love for Brad never died even if some wounds never heal. When Brad’s paramedic unit is called to an accident, he finds Justin in the wrecked car. Still in love with Justin, Brad visits his former lover and well-known mystery writer in the hospital. When Justin reveals he believes he was forced off the road and has been receiving ominous letters, Brad takes Justin home. Passion long held back ignites and they cannot resist being in each other’s arms. With someone wanting to tear them apart and Justin’s inability to trust Brad again, will love be enough to unite them forever?
THE REVIEW
Brad and Justin had been lovers for about six months in university when Brad did the unthinkable, he cheated. When the dust settled Justin had moved away, Brad was left with regrets and Justin had a broken heart. Fast forward 13 years. Justin is now a well-known mystery writer and Brad is a paramedic, but they live in different states. Brad is on duty when a call comes in to the station to go out to a scene of a highway wreck. When he arrives at the accident the driver is dead and the passenger is critically injured. When Brad realizes that the passenger is Justin he is heartbroken because even though they had not been in contact for all those years he still loves him, and now he might lose him forever.
Several days later when Justin is conscious he seems to need and want Brad in his life again despite the past. He tells him that his life is in danger and he believes the accident was a deliberate attempt on his life, the culmination of several threats. It appears that someone had been sending him threatening emails and had recently accelerated their campaign by entering his home and leaving ominous messages, but the police did not appear to take these threats seriously. Justin was obviously frightened and Brad takes him home from the hospital, but once there the old attraction, still alive and vibrant, takes over and they end up in bed. However, looming over all this togetherness are two major issues, neither of which is easy to resolve. The identity of the mystery stalker and the issue of trust – would Justin ever trust Brad again with his heart?
This is a well written story and the characters really shone. The plot moved quickly and the supporting characters, especially Brad’s mother, did seem to have a role apart from being just’ filler.’ While I did find it strange that the threats against Justin’s life were not taken seriously even by Brad’s friend Joey Martinez who was in law enforcement, I suppose that the police receive thousands such claims every year.
The issue of trust came up frequently in the story due to Justin’s background and family situation – his parents had divorced because his father cheated on his mother and she never forgave him, consequently it was dificult for him to have any confidence in Brad after catching him in the act. Trust is such a delicate balancing act and once lost, regaining it is almost impossible. I think the author handled this part of the story very well. The themes of trust, love, forgiveness and second chances were dealt with sensitively in Trust and in my opinion Shawn Lane did a really good job on how this was eventually put to bed between the protagonists
What did I like about the story? The characters and the pacing. Brad and Justin seem really in love with each other even years later and this was illustrated throughout the story. The sex between Justin and Brad, although passionate, was tender and emotional as well. The plot was feasible except for a few minor holes discussed below.
What didn’t I like about the story? It wasn’t made clear how the stalker was able to enter Justin’s home on numerous occasions or how he knew his travel plans. I would have assumed, since Justin was a well-known author, that there would be extra security at his home to prevent crazed fans from gaining access. Also, given the recent incidents, his travel plans would not have been public knowledge so, again, how did the stalker gain access to this information? My impression from the story is that Brad, after realizing how much he had hurt Justin, lived an almost celibate life in the intervening 13 years with no sexual relationships, which I found difficult to believe since he was a young man with all the usual urges. This would be a severe and excessive self-imposed penance for one incident long ago, but this is a fantasy after all, not real life.
This is by far the best book I have read by this author and despite the issues I had with the story I strongly recommend Trust to anyone who is a fan of the genre.
As I was reading and you said 13 years my first thought was “please tell me he didn’t go without sex for 13 years.” LOL Two I can see, 13? Not so much. But as you said, its fantasy and sometimes you just have to let things slide. Sounds like a good read though.
I am a fan of Shawn Lane and have pretty much liked her books. I am not a fan of Ellora’s Cave but I am intrigued enough to get the book.
Tam
I could be wrong but it seemed that Brad went without, certainly much of the time if not all the time.:) However, I think the point Shawn was trying to make was that he did not have a good time during the 13 years of separation because he was punishing himself for what he did. However Justin did manage to have a few flings during that period, after all, he he was not the cheater.*g*
Suzi
I buy from EC about once every 4 months or so when they build up their selection of M/M books (they hardly have any, and in the future they will no longer accept M/M manuscripts from their authors). This time I picked up Trust and about 4 others which I will be reviewing over the next couple of weeks, so watch for them.
I believe last time I bought anything from Ellora’s Cave was also a Shawn Lane story… i find her stories easy to read and like you said, quick pace. usually I finish one in a couple of hours. Maybe I read this right away, while waiting for Liquid Silver to post their new release this week! 😛
Thanks for the review. 13 year celibacy! wow!! *g*
Hi Eve
As I said earlier, it might be a partial celibacy but it did sound as if he had not had any relationships (or maybe any sex either) over the years. I’ll wait for Shawn to confirm or deny.:) or I’ll have to re-read the book. Trust was a quick read and I really liked it – much better than her other books that I have reviewed to date.
Liquid Silver is always late posting – sometimes it doesn’t happen until the evening.:(
Woo, thank God, lol.
I am glad you liked it. I’ve had pretty positive reactions to Trust even though I was concerned with the “cheating” issue as I know it isn’t an easy thing to deal with.
I find there are always things I might have changed on a re-do including some aspects of Justin’s stalker but yeah the 13 years. For Brad it was a punishment thing. Which is why at one point he even refers to how he tried to martyr himself. Er, yeah, total fantasy.
Anyway, 4.5. What a nice Monday surprise.
Hi Shawn
I’m glad you liked the review AND the rating.:) I noticed that you received 5 stars from another review site which shall be nameless*g* but as you know I’m much tougher, although some people might not think so.
I must admit that I did go WTF? when I read about the 13 years of celibacy, but as you said, total fantasy! There’s something else I wanted to check with you about the story but I’ll do that offline. Good job Shawn!
Last thing I bought at ellora’s cave was Broken Bounderies I think.
Anyway this sounds like a good read 🙂
“This is by far the best book I have read by this author”
I think we often feel about the same about her books, so if you say this, then I definitely will add it to my TBB. Thanks, and great review.
Lynn
I did enjoy Trust a lot. It was a fast and easy read, although I did have those problems outlined in the review.
I’ve been boycotting EC for their stance on m/m but I might just have to break down and get this and Islands by SK. Any others you recommend Wave? I only plan on buying from them just this once 🙂
Lisa
I don’t buy from EC as a rule but occasionally I purchase several books at the same time. When I bought Trust I bought 4 others but I can’t vouch for them since I haven’t read any of them. Here are the names – you might want to check them out.
Private Dicks by Katie Allen (Larissa recommended this one)
In His Mind by Cheryl Dragon
Hidden Hands by Shayla Kersten
Breaking Ground by Ava Rose Johnson
I reviewed Islands sometime ago and I really loved it. SK is an excellent writer – it’s too bad all of her other books are menages.
Good luck.:)
Hey Wave – thanks for the titles. I’ll check them out. I’ve read some of SK’s menages – they are good although I prefer to leave the chick out of the stories 🙂 I’ve heard good things about Islands.