Review: Hits Ya Right in the Heart!
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 06 30, 2014
It seems that I have read the Touched series out of order, starting with book three, Trusted. This is Pearl's story, who is the daughter of Jade and Knox featured in book one, Touched and the sister of Bo who is featured in book two Forgiven, with Stormy. Trusted keeps you up to speed with the family so it can be read as a stand alone, however I want to know more about this family dynamic and am going back to read the other two.Pearl has put her painting aside to run Hot Rock, the bar she owns. Not looking for love, she concentrates more on work and family, until she meets Harley. I'm not sure if Harley is featured in book two as he seems familiar with Pearl and her brother from the get go. Either way, she is instantly attracted to the mysterious man.Harley has bounced from bar to bar just as he has bounced from foster home to foster home as a child. His main goal is to make some cash to send home and move on. He isn't looking for friends or any close connections, because people just can't be trusted in his eyes. Harley holds resentment from a tragic past that keeps him from wanting to move forward, until he gets to know Pearl.After saving her from a drunken ass at the bar, Pearl and Harley start to form a relationship, while still holding their secrets close to the vest. They both have a lot to lose and don't know who to trust just yet, but eventually the secrets and past come back to haunt them. I will stop there as not to spoil the various story lines.Before reading Trusted, I was warned by Vicki Green to have the tissues ready and I will agree as she pulls the rug right out from under this story. While I am not a fan of insta-love, the book is well written and has the perfect amount of sexy to balance it out.