Trust in Me (Friends & Lovers #3)
By: Bethany Lopez
Nook, 179 pages
Publishing Date: February 28, 2013
Self-Published
Source: eARC from Author
Goodreads Summary:
This is a New Adult Title - Meant for Readers 18 & Older.
Releasing Feb 28, 2013
Roni’s dreams of becoming a contemporary dancer were smashed under the brutal rage of her ex-husband's fists. Getting divorced and starting over at the age of twenty-two was never her plan, but maybe in Texas, she'll find her path. When the town's local player, Rich, opens a Rec Center, she sees a way to rekindle her dancing dreams...and maybe have a little fun with her sexy new boss.
Rich never expected to fulfill his dreams in the town he planned to leave behind, but that's just what he's doing. His reputation as a noncommittal ladies' man might make it challenging to earn respect in the business world, but he's willing to prove that he's serious. In fact, when it comes to pursuing Roni, he's more than willing. But she's taking a page out of his book, not wanting to risk another relationship. Can he convince her that his playboy days are over and that she can trust him with her heart?
My Take on this Journey:
Roni, the main character, and her twin brother, Kent, were brought up in a disfunctional family. They had an alcoholic father that was physically abusive their whole lives, and a passive-aggressive cruel mother, who didn't know how to stand up for herself, or her children. Kent protected Roni at all costs from a very young age, and took the beatings of their deranged father for the both of them. When it was time for Kent to leave home for college, his sister Roni marries her high school sweetheart to get away from her disfunctional home. This just took her from one disfunctional home into another. The vicious cycle of abuse had passed from her father to her husband, and she never saw it coming.
This story was devastatingly haunting. From the first descriptively disturbing sentence, the book will grab you, and have your undivided attention. The reader is thrown into the sadistically violent realm of the main character, Roni's, nightmarish world. I could feel the knot in my stomach, the fear in my bones, and the heart wrenching trauma as it was unfolding. Ms. Lopez has breathed the cruel realities of an abusive life into her novel. You will become Roni, and you will feel her fear as I did. Roni never knew when her next beating was coming, but most of the time it followed a pattern. The creepy feelings that enter your psyche as the door knob turned on the front door will have you feeling like you want to yell to Roni to run and hide.
Roni got a beating that almost took her life, and finally called out for help. It was a shameful acknowledgment that she had to face up to. Roni called Kent, and he came immediately to save her from the terror that she lived in silence with for far too long.
This is so realistic that it made me feel sick inside for all the many women who live this frighteningly tormented and fearful life every day of their lives, and don't know how to escape from it. In this story, our main character gained the strength she needed to push forward, even in the face of a mother that seemed to be happy that her daughter had to endure the punishments that her own life has bestowed upon her.
Six months later, while adjusting to her knew life, living with her brother Kent, Roni met up with Rich, a friend of Kent's, from the past, that had always cared about her. Rich is totally the opposite of her ex-husband Hank, but she has so many skeletons in her closet to overcome, that it was hard to visualize her getting through all of it. Rich has a mouth watering body, and a witty grin. He's gorgeous but unassuming, kind and sensitive, and he comes from a wonderful family. Rich is well adjusted, and if you were to ask the ladies in town they'd all tell you that he knows what to do in and out of the bedroom. He has a reputation as quite the ladies man, but when he meets Roni, he is ready to be a one woman man. Rich is also a philanthropist, who wants to do good for the community by opening a center that will help keep kids off of the street. Rich gives Roni the opportunity to fulfill her life long dream of owning her own dance studio. This gives her a sense of pride in herself once again. Her passion and fight throughout the story had me rooting for her all the way.
Unfortunately, there was one aspect of the story that I thought was not realistic. I would have liked to have had more sense of closure with her husband. I feel that in reality, there it could have ended so cut and dry in a relationship where the husband said he'd never let her out of, that never came. It read more like a short story to me, which was a little disappointing, especially since the story started out so strong.
Overall, this book was well written, and I thought the beginning of the book was more realistic than I would ever want to live through. It was so interesting that I read straight through the night in one sitting to finish this novel. I hope that there will be a sequel. I give this book a 4 out of 5 terrifyingly heart-stopping stars.
Come Along for the ride,
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