Trust Me (Southern Nights, #2) by Ella Sheridan
Romantic Suspense
February 1, 2015
Self Published
Reviewed by Tori
Favorite Quote: “What, did they grow’em for their muscles around here? Really, it as ridiculous. “
Ex military turned security expert Jack Quinn has played the field for many years, never seeking to settle down until he locks eyes with a new bartender at his favorite watering hole. The secrets in her eyes and the aura of trouble that surrounds her only adds to his attraction. Jack wants to peel back all her layers until there is only him and her but some secrets are meant to stay buried.
Maddie Baker is a woman on a mission. The abusive man she ran from four years ago has put a bounty on her head and she is determined to not only destroy him but also the secret life he has built. When a teenager is kidnapped from a small town, Maddie knows he is behind it and time is running out. Nothing will stop her…not even the one man who has made her feel something besides revenge in a very long time.
Jack unknowingly drags Maddie out of hiding, placing her directly into the path of a killer. Maddie has to decide if placing her heart and trust in Jack will bring her the justice and peace she so desperately craves or destroy her once and for all.
Trust Me by Ella Sheridan is the second installment in her Southern Nights series but can be read as a stand alone. Boldly flavored writing, dynamic characters, and an insidious suspenseful plot will keep readers on the edge of their seats as Sheridan leads you down a dark path of abuse and human trafficking towards one woman’s all encompassing need for justice. The story starts slow and steady, giving us character backgrounds and setting up the plotlines. The running dialog between the characters is fast and smooth-allowing you to slip right into the story with them. As the plot reveals itself and picks up speed, the ripe tension stays till the very last page.
Southern belle Maddie Baker thought she had found heaven when she married a prominent lawyer. Instead she found hell and learned the hard way that the devil wears many disguises. Abused and raped for years, Maddie finally escapes and slowly evolves into a new person in order to bring down her husband. Gone is the innocent school teacher. What has arisen in its place is a warrior of strength, intelligence, and fortitude.
“The only thing she allowed herself to need was justice…”
Fans who are familiar with this series will be happy to be learning more about Jack and meeting the woman who steals his heart. Jack Quinn served in the Marines before coming home and setting up a security firm with his best friend. A tall cool drink of yummy, Jack is 100% alpha male with a strong protective instinct. An instinct that kicks in full force when he meets Maddie.
“One look at those boots and his dick shot straight up and strained in her direction as if she were true north and he was a compass.”
Maddie and Jack are a delightful mixture of contrasts and similarities. Their romance holds a very strong place in the story with the main plot weaving in and out, enhancing the story. They are fabulous together-both stubborn and protective of those they love. They butt heads repeatedly. The sexual tension is an explosive entity to be reckoned with as they spend time together getting to know one another (in and out of bed). Jack has a very, very dirty mouth. My kind of hero. *wink*
“I’m gonna lay you out. Spend hours tasting your body, sucking your nipples, feeling all that hot cream drip over my cock as I drive into you.”
Maddie is a survivor. Intelligent, tenacious, and strong willed, she survived and escaped from what would have destroyed most people. She says what she means and challenges Jack in ways no one else dares to. Though she has some serious baggage from her past, Jack understands more than she thinks and takes his time with her, gaining her trust and proving and that he can and will protect her with his life.
“Every instinct screamed at him to keep her close, to glue himself to her side…”
The secondary characters are as rich and inviting as our protagonists. Each one adding personality, drama, and insight to the story. The dynamics between the characters are crisp and defined. The cast is a solid foundation in which our two protagonists work and build from. The villain(s) of the story are evil personified; wrapped in normality. Though we are alerted early on to who the villains are, the nature of their crimes and the extent at which they are committed is unbelievably cruel and vicious. It’s disheartening to know this happens in real life every single day.
The ending comes at the reader fast and furious. Loose ends are wrapped up, questions answered, and the wrongs of the past are made right and finally laid to rest. Sheridan pens a thrilling suspense with a strong romantic lead. I look forward to book three.
Overall Rating: B
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