ARC Review: Trusted & True (Men of Haven #7)

Trusted & True (Men of Haven #7)

by Rhenna Morgan

Blurb:

The last person Callie Moore is prepared to see when she shows up for a job interview is Danny Parker, the guy who witnessed her at her worst and gave her an ultimatum: get clean or don’t ever ask for help again. It’s been years since then, and Callie’s been through hell, but she’s finally doing the work to change her life. That doesn’t mean she couldn’t use the job. And it doesn’t mean her troubled past is completely behind her, either.

When his best friend’s sister-in-law walks in looking for a job and a second—or is it third—chance, Danny isn’t so sure he’s willing to risk it. Even if he does desperately need the help at his custom car shop.

Letting Callie back into his life opens Danny’s eyes, and heart, to the woman she is now—and the man he wants to become. If anyone has a problem with that, too bad. Including his skeptical Haven brothers. But when a dangerous part of the life Callie’s left behind comes to town, seeking revenge, the family will have to join together to save her—as well as the innocent Haven life caught in the cross fire.

Themes:  Contemporary

Rating: 4.5 stars

Heat Rating:  

Review:

To be honest I went into this story a little bit leery, not because I doubted the story would be remarkable, but because it had been so long since I read the previous novels and I was afraid I wouldn’t recall the storylines and would be lost.  But like an old friend as soon as I was half a chapter in everything came back to me and I was right back in the world of Haven and knew I was settling in for a great read that would last in my mind for years to come just as the others in the series had.  Rhenna Morgan caught my attention with her Haven series in the most random way when I was cruising amazon one day and I was thrilled I took the chance because I have read everything she printed since and was thrilled to get the chance to read Danny and Callie’s story.  I really hope the series continues with at least one more novel, but if not this one brings us back full circle and gives us an HEA that will keep me happy and ready for whatever story she send my way next.  Callie has finally started to get her life in order after years of addiction and bad choices, but she knows that returning to the town where she hurt so many and facing her sister and friends will be the hardest challenge to her sobriety yet.  When she follows a lead on a job to get her started she never expects to run into Danny, her sisters brother-in-law and a man who she burned so many bridges with she has no hope of redemption.  Dann never imagined he would see Callie finally getting her shit together, but the woman standing in front of him asking for work not only seems healthy and on the straight-and-narrow, but the attraction he feels to her is astonishing. As Danny and Callie work together and try to become friends, and maybe more, they both make mistakes, leading them to understand neither are perfect, but they might just be perfect one another.  Just as they are finding their happiness a dangerous enemy from Callie’s past comes back and threatens all they are building, risking Callie’s life, and leaving Danny to wonder if he’s lost the chance to have the woman he has come to love in his life  before ever coming clean about his feelings to her. Danny was such an interesting character in this story, his past and issues subtle and not the ones you think would be causing issues, but truly sometimes those that seem the most together truly aren’t.  He has severe issues with trust and belief in those that are trying to turn their lives around, leading him to make some stupid decisions in the beginning, but thankfully he comes to understand that Callie is different and she is doing everything in her power to make healthy choices.  He is protective, loving, sweet, and strong, and once he pulls his head out of his butt he is obviously the perfect mate for Callie as she finds her footing in her return to her family, supporting and championing her in the most unexpected of ways. Watching him fall and come to terms with that was truly one off the best reader experiences I’ve had in ages.   Callie has had a lot of issues in the past, but she is moving forward the best she can, working hard to overcome her bad decisions and trying to make amends to those she loves and hurt.  Her addiction is truly a disease that was perpetuated in the worst of ways from a young age and she never much had a chance to succeed until hitting that rock bottom and coming to terms with what it would take to make herself healthy again.  I loved watching her interacting with her friends, coworkers, and family, but the way she offers support to all those around her and gives her all to others shows how great of a person she truly was all these years buried under the substances.  She is smart, dedicates, brave, and loyal but the best trait she has is her willingness to do whatever is needed to protect those she loves, if at the expense of her own feelings or life.  She and Danny were so well matched it was ridiculous and it makes you wonder if she had been sober when they first met how explosive their relationship would have been all those years ago. The attraction and heat these two enjoyed was sweet and subtle, but no less intense for that as they slowly explored their new relationship and built a friendship before becoming lovers to support one another’s needs and healthy choices.  I truly loved these entire story, laughing, crying, and falling in love right along with the characters and hope for more, but if this is the end I feel comfortable in saying Ms. Morgan gave us an ending to rock the world and worth every second of the wait for it.  Brava Ms. Morgan!

* ebook provided by publisher (via NetGalley) for the purpose of an honest and unbiased review.  No compensation was provided.