Rough Trade

✩ ✩ ✩ ✩ ✩ 5-STAR ✩ REVIEW ✩ ✩ ✩ ✩ ✩ > > Judging a Book by its Cover < < Two men, fully dressed, sitting back-to-front together make up the top ½ of the cover and a vague, rundown, roadside motel is shown on the bottom. Thin series and title font are barely strong enough to be read while browsing through thumbnail photos. Author font is bold and legible. Synopsis interested me a lot! > > Looking Deeper < < POV ~> Third-person This was a LONG book but wonderfully written and NOT a hardship to read whatsoever! Ghost is a street-savvy survivor, a hustler, and occasional prostitute. His childhood is riddled with abuse and neglect. He lives and breathes manipulation. When he gets mixed up with the wrong people, he finds himself on the run. Duncan Rook is a good man, honest and loyal. When his mentor calls with a favor, he does not hesitate to agree to help Ghost. Both men got more than they bargained for… with bloodshed and bullets flying, they were kept on their toes, even while laid up with injuries. Only with the help of a few well-trusted friends –and one unlikely, untrustable ally- could they hope to make it out alive. Though this was labeled as a GAY ROMANCE, there was little romance or sex. There were developing emotions and a relationship/bond formation, but the traditional, romantic element was sparse. Sexual tension was present but sex was more of an avoided topic [due to previous experiences] than frequently present in the plot. The plot was fantastic, the characters were well ranged in personality. The predictability was low. The conclusion, while providing as a flash-forward indicating an HEA for the men, was not as solidly set as I’d prefer. I would highly recommend this to those that like Romantic Action/Thriller/Suspense and Gay Romance. Note: Although this is the third book in the series, this was the first I’d read and it is my opinion that it was able to stand strongly on its own. . Rating: [R] ~ Score: 4.525 ~ Stars: 5 ========================== ⭐ ⭐ **** Disclosure of Material: I received a copy of this book from NetGalley and the Author/Publisher with the hope that I would voluntarily leave unbiased and unsolicited feedback. I was not asked, encouraged, or required to leave a review - nor was I compensated in any way. I am posting this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising". ***** ⭐ ⭐

Rough Trade by Sidney Bell The Woodbury Boys #3 Grabbed me and kept me glued to the story from beginning to end! I cared and felt and hoped and wished and was so glad that eventually Ghost and Duncan managed their HEA. I loved them both and only wanted the best for them. What a tortured soul Ghost was and yet he was so giving and charming and wise and strong and damaged. Duncan was the perfect partner for Ghost even though it was NOT an easy relationship for either one of them. With more than one villain to thwart the two had a lot to contend with. Car chases, shooting, corrupt police and so much more made this action-packed romantic suspense just what I needed on a cold rainy day! This is the first book I have read by this author but it definitely won’t be the last. Thank you to NetGalley and HQN-Carina for the ARC – This is my honest review. 5 Stars

4 Stars Review by Elizabeth Late Night Reviewer Up All Night w/ Books Blog Rough Trade is installment three in the Woodbury Boys series by Sidney Bell. I have not read the first two installments in the series so I went in blind. I do have to say, Rough Trade was a good read. I may not have read the previous two installments in this series but I will be reading them as soon as I can. Rough Trade is a slow burn story about so much more than romance. The main character, Ghost, has had a rough, tragic life and it broke me. I am not one for angsty reads but this one was just too good to put down. This is not your typical MM book and that is what I loved about it. I had so many feels while reading and I shedded countless tears. I cannot really say a whole lot without giving it away. I will warn you that there are some sensitive topics (abuse). If you have not read this book, read it.