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Lean on Me #3
Trust In Me
Reviewers say Kathryn Shay knows teenagers. As a high school teacher, she has dealt with troubled kids like those in this story. She also grew up in a small town, near a race car track.
As kids, the stock car racing town of Glen Oaks called them The Outlaws, but no one knew the hoodlums on the streets would grow up to be upstanding citizens. Their leader, Linc, has become a minister, but never got over his first love, Margo, now an atheist because of her upbringing in a religious cult. Beth is lonely after the death of her young husband, Danny, until Tucker, the man who blames himself for Danny’s death, comes to town. And Annie has overcome emotional and physical scars from her youthful marriage to Joe, but will her progress be enough when he reenters her life five years after their divorce? Troubled young teen, Ronny, reunites all of them, and in trying to help the boy, the three couples uncover a passion for each other that can’t be denied.
Praise for TRUST IN ME
“An unusual and compelling tale. I don’t know when I’ve been more involved in a novel’s characters and story.” The Romance Reader
“A master story teller…don’t miss this book or you’ll be sorry you did.” Reader to Reader Reviews
“Talk about emotional, heart-wrenching stories…be prepared for an extraordinary reading experience that will linger in your thoughts for a long time.” Tanzey Cutter, Old Book Barn Gazette
“I don't know how I missed this author before, but she's on my automatic-buy list now. What a great book. Controversial subjects handled in a sensitive and yet honest way--characters that just walked off the page, real and warm. The story just kept coming. A heart toucher, about problems that really happen with no easy solutions. Wonderful! Don't miss!” An Amazon customer
“This is definitely another hit for Kathryn Shay. The story is well written and easy to follow…it involves some very deep issues which some authors may not cover quite as well as Shay does. The characters are very real, likeable, compassionate and understanding even with the issues they are faced with.” An Amazon customer
As kids, the stock car racing town of Glen Oaks called them The Outlaws, but no one knew the hoodlums on the streets would grow up to be upstanding citizens. Their leader, Linc, has become a minister, but never got over his first love, Margo, now an atheist because of her upbringing in a religious cult. Beth is lonely after the death of her young husband, Danny, until Tucker, the man who blames himself for Danny’s death, comes to town. And Annie has overcome emotional and physical scars from her youthful marriage to Joe, but will her progress be enough when he reenters her life five years after their divorce? Troubled young teen, Ronny, reunites all of them, and in trying to help the boy, the three couples uncover a passion for each other that can’t be denied.
Praise for TRUST IN ME
“An unusual and compelling tale. I don’t know when I’ve been more involved in a novel’s characters and story.” The Romance Reader
“A master story teller…don’t miss this book or you’ll be sorry you did.” Reader to Reader Reviews
“Talk about emotional, heart-wrenching stories…be prepared for an extraordinary reading experience that will linger in your thoughts for a long time.” Tanzey Cutter, Old Book Barn Gazette
“I don't know how I missed this author before, but she's on my automatic-buy list now. What a great book. Controversial subjects handled in a sensitive and yet honest way--characters that just walked off the page, real and warm. The story just kept coming. A heart toucher, about problems that really happen with no easy solutions. Wonderful! Don't miss!” An Amazon customer
“This is definitely another hit for Kathryn Shay. The story is well written and easy to follow…it involves some very deep issues which some authors may not cover quite as well as Shay does. The characters are very real, likeable, compassionate and understanding even with the issues they are faced with.” An Amazon customer
404 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 4, 2003
486 people are currently reading
383 people want to read
About the author
Kathryn Shay
173 books501 followersKathryn Shay is a lifelong writer. At fifteen, she penned her first 'romance,' a short story about a female newspaper reporter in New York City and her fight to make a name for herself in a world of male journalists - and with one hardheaded editor in particular. Looking back, Kathryn says she should have known then that writing was in her future. But as so often happens, fate sent her detouring down another path.
Fully intending to pursue her dream of big city lights and success in the literary world, Kathryn took every creative writing class available at the small private women's college she attended in upstate New York. Instead, other dreams took precedence. She met and subsequently married a wonderful guy who'd attended a neighboring school, then completed her practice teaching, a requirement for the education degree she never intended to use. But says Kathryn, "I fell in love with teaching the first day I was up in front of a class, and knew I was meant to do that."
Kathryn went on to build a successful career in the New York state school system, thoroughly enjoying her work with adolescents. But by the early 1990s, she'd again made room in her life for writing. It was then that she submitted her first manuscript to publishers and agents. Despite enduring two years of rejections, she persevered. And on a snowy December afternoon in 1994, Kathryn Shay sold her first book to Harlequin Superromance.
Since that first sale, Kathryn has written twenty-one books for Harlequin, nine mainstream contemporary romances for the Berkley Publishing Group, and two online novellas, which Berkley then published in traditional print format.
Kathryn has become known for her powerful characterizations - readers say they feel they know the people in her books - and her heart-wrenching, emotional writing (her favorite comments are that fans cried while reading her books or stayed up late to finish them). In testament to her skill, the author has won five RT BookClub Magazine Reviewers Choice Awards, three Holt Medallions, two Desert Quill Awards, the Golden Leaf Award, and several online accolades.
Even in light of her writing success, that initial love of teaching never wavered for Kathryn. She finished out her teaching career in 2004, retiring from the same school where her career began. These days, she lives in upstate New York with her husband and two children. "My life is very full," she reports, "but very happy. I consider myself fortunate to have been able to pursue and achieve my dreams."
Fully intending to pursue her dream of big city lights and success in the literary world, Kathryn took every creative writing class available at the small private women's college she attended in upstate New York. Instead, other dreams took precedence. She met and subsequently married a wonderful guy who'd attended a neighboring school, then completed her practice teaching, a requirement for the education degree she never intended to use. But says Kathryn, "I fell in love with teaching the first day I was up in front of a class, and knew I was meant to do that."
Kathryn went on to build a successful career in the New York state school system, thoroughly enjoying her work with adolescents. But by the early 1990s, she'd again made room in her life for writing. It was then that she submitted her first manuscript to publishers and agents. Despite enduring two years of rejections, she persevered. And on a snowy December afternoon in 1994, Kathryn Shay sold her first book to Harlequin Superromance.
Since that first sale, Kathryn has written twenty-one books for Harlequin, nine mainstream contemporary romances for the Berkley Publishing Group, and two online novellas, which Berkley then published in traditional print format.
Kathryn has become known for her powerful characterizations - readers say they feel they know the people in her books - and her heart-wrenching, emotional writing (her favorite comments are that fans cried while reading her books or stayed up late to finish them). In testament to her skill, the author has won five RT BookClub Magazine Reviewers Choice Awards, three Holt Medallions, two Desert Quill Awards, the Golden Leaf Award, and several online accolades.
Even in light of her writing success, that initial love of teaching never wavered for Kathryn. She finished out her teaching career in 2004, retiring from the same school where her career began. These days, she lives in upstate New York with her husband and two children. "My life is very full," she reports, "but very happy. I consider myself fortunate to have been able to pursue and achieve my dreams."
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Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews
March 7, 2018
I obtained this free e-book from Amazon and I am voluntarily writing a review. This book is about 5 friends relationships intricately woven from their bad boy/bad girl teen years to adulthood and the 1 person linked to them through a horrific tragedy. This is my new best favorite book.
September 8, 2016
My grade: B. An interesting book. It was long, as it told about three complete relationships. I have mixed feelings about the stories. In the author notes, Shay says the book is about redemption.
Linc and Margo: Linc has become a minister and Margo is an atheist, but they've loved each other since they were teenagers. Because Linc knows their disparate philosophies would never let them live happily together, they've been only friends for 10+ years. Honestly, I just wanted them both to let go and get on with their lives. For some reason I couldn't really pin down (maybe because Linc couldn't shake loose of her and I felt she was holding him back from a fulfilling life) I didn't really like Margo. But by the end I did an about-face, not only buying but liking the ending. Overall, I didn't think Shay went deep enough with these two characters. With the other two couples, she did. But I had a lot of questions about the motivations that drove these two, and they were never answered.
Joe and Annie: I felt for them, wanted them both to be happy, but really didn't think they should end up together. I'm fine with her finally forgiving him, but I really didn't like the inference that they'd work it out in the end and end up together. In real life, some obstacles are just too big to get past. Yes, they loved each other once, but a lot happened. They should both end up with different partners. As much as I liked both characters I didn't want them to end up together. I think they could both fall in love with other people (they are both entirely different people than they were when they were married) and be happier not having to face and cart around all that baggage they'll have together. They'll still have the same baggage, but they won't have the additional baggage that being together brings them. We don't actually see them end up together, but it's definitely inferred they're headed in that direction. Of course, the author had her reasons for writing it this way.
Tucker and Beth: My favorite couple. They had so much to work through, and how it all happened made sense. I loved their happy ending.
I will definitely be trying another Kathryn Shay book.
Linc and Margo: Linc has become a minister and Margo is an atheist, but they've loved each other since they were teenagers. Because Linc knows their disparate philosophies would never let them live happily together, they've been only friends for 10+ years. Honestly, I just wanted them both to let go and get on with their lives. For some reason I couldn't really pin down (maybe because Linc couldn't shake loose of her and I felt she was holding him back from a fulfilling life) I didn't really like Margo. But by the end I did an about-face, not only buying but liking the ending. Overall, I didn't think Shay went deep enough with these two characters. With the other two couples, she did. But I had a lot of questions about the motivations that drove these two, and they were never answered.
Joe and Annie: I felt for them, wanted them both to be happy, but really didn't think they should end up together. I'm fine with her finally forgiving him, but I really didn't like the inference that they'd work it out in the end and end up together. In real life, some obstacles are just too big to get past. Yes, they loved each other once, but a lot happened. They should both end up with different partners. As much as I liked both characters I didn't want them to end up together. I think they could both fall in love with other people (they are both entirely different people than they were when they were married) and be happier not having to face and cart around all that baggage they'll have together. They'll still have the same baggage, but they won't have the additional baggage that being together brings them. We don't actually see them end up together, but it's definitely inferred they're headed in that direction. Of course, the author had her reasons for writing it this way.
Tucker and Beth: My favorite couple. They had so much to work through, and how it all happened made sense. I loved their happy ending.
I will definitely be trying another Kathryn Shay book.
March 11, 2018
Read this as part of the on-going project to help a friend develop a booklist for her group, Adult Children of Parents with PTSD. And there is PTSD galore... Characters in this novel suffer almost every sort of trauma there is. One would think with all this drama this would be a far better book than it is.
First of all, it needs editing for grammar, punctuation, spelling, and syntax. Someone really needs to review the use of the comma, for instance.
Secondly, if an author is going to have a preacher tell his congregation to turn to page forty-five of their pew Bibles and read along with him the account of the woman taken in adultery, then that author needs to know what is on page forty-five of most pew Bibles. That will take one to the tail end of the book of Genesis in the Hebrew Scriptures, aka the Old Testament.
Page forty-five in the Christian Scriptures, aka the New Testament, takes one well into the Gospel of Matthew whereas the Gospel account of the woman taken in adultery is recorded in John 8:1-11.
An author needs to get the facts straight.
Thirdly, I was astonished to see someone refer to someone's lake of cahonies, I kid you not, spelled phonetically and incorrectly. If someone is going to use a common Spanish word, for goodness sake, spell it correctly as "cajones" or if the author doesn't know how to spell "cajones," then use "balls."
Fourthly, as a survivor of various things that this author writes about, I was deeply offended by the way she glossed over the whole recovery process. What finally made the characters who had engaged in abusive behavior face up to the truth about themselves? What led them from denial to seek the recovery process? As for the characters who had been abused and stuck in their co-dependency roles, what was their process to face their denial and learn not to be co-dependent? We are presented with it as a done deal and no one who needs to face their own stuff is going to be helped by this, even tho0ugh the author claims in their afterword that she hopes the book will help them.
One of the characters, as it says in the description is a widow raising her teen-aged son. I really don't understand why this kid is written as a troubled teen when it is clear he really loves his mother, she loves him, his self-esteem is good, he has a wonderful male role model in his uncle. I really felt as if the author was manipulating this child to serve her purposes, forcing him to be troubled when there was really no reason for it.
Then there is Linc's story. There he is living with the love of his life all through college. She was raised a cult and as a result, has rejected God and Christianity and somehow Linc chooses God, the call to become a minister and attend seminary over her. How? Why? This part of the story is just skipped over entirely.
I find myself wondering why the author didn't write four books, one each about the couples and their experiences. Of course, she would have had to do a great deal of research to make it believable. Not to mention be a better writer in the first place.
First of all, it needs editing for grammar, punctuation, spelling, and syntax. Someone really needs to review the use of the comma, for instance.
Secondly, if an author is going to have a preacher tell his congregation to turn to page forty-five of their pew Bibles and read along with him the account of the woman taken in adultery, then that author needs to know what is on page forty-five of most pew Bibles. That will take one to the tail end of the book of Genesis in the Hebrew Scriptures, aka the Old Testament.
Page forty-five in the Christian Scriptures, aka the New Testament, takes one well into the Gospel of Matthew whereas the Gospel account of the woman taken in adultery is recorded in John 8:1-11.
An author needs to get the facts straight.
Thirdly, I was astonished to see someone refer to someone's lake of cahonies, I kid you not, spelled phonetically and incorrectly. If someone is going to use a common Spanish word, for goodness sake, spell it correctly as "cajones" or if the author doesn't know how to spell "cajones," then use "balls."
Fourthly, as a survivor of various things that this author writes about, I was deeply offended by the way she glossed over the whole recovery process. What finally made the characters who had engaged in abusive behavior face up to the truth about themselves? What led them from denial to seek the recovery process? As for the characters who had been abused and stuck in their co-dependency roles, what was their process to face their denial and learn not to be co-dependent? We are presented with it as a done deal and no one who needs to face their own stuff is going to be helped by this, even tho0ugh the author claims in their afterword that she hopes the book will help them.
One of the characters, as it says in the description is a widow raising her teen-aged son. I really don't understand why this kid is written as a troubled teen when it is clear he really loves his mother, she loves him, his self-esteem is good, he has a wonderful male role model in his uncle. I really felt as if the author was manipulating this child to serve her purposes, forcing him to be troubled when there was really no reason for it.
Then there is Linc's story. There he is living with the love of his life all through college. She was raised a cult and as a result, has rejected God and Christianity and somehow Linc chooses God, the call to become a minister and attend seminary over her. How? Why? This part of the story is just skipped over entirely.
I find myself wondering why the author didn't write four books, one each about the couples and their experiences. Of course, she would have had to do a great deal of research to make it believable. Not to mention be a better writer in the first place.
March 5, 2018
This book dealt with so many issues. As usual, Kathryn Shay didn’t shy away from issues of neglected, troubled and abused teenagers, abused women, and guilt in many forms. This is a story about many women and men. Each with his or her pain, concerns and fear. Underneath everything else it is a book about forgiveness for those who hurt you, for those who you blamed and lastly for yourself.
Depending on how you count, this is a book of 3, 5 or more romances and the trouble people can feel while trying not to do the wrong things for others. It is not always an easy book to read. The abuse and inability to prevent it, the blame and pain it causes, and the toll that adults put on the children, deliberately or accidentally, is so realistic it hurts. The resolutions of each situation are not pat answers, but bring healing and an awareness that love and support can be achieved with openness and love.
For me, this is one of Kathryn Shay’s finest books, yet. I look foreword to her next ones.
Depending on how you count, this is a book of 3, 5 or more romances and the trouble people can feel while trying not to do the wrong things for others. It is not always an easy book to read. The abuse and inability to prevent it, the blame and pain it causes, and the toll that adults put on the children, deliberately or accidentally, is so realistic it hurts. The resolutions of each situation are not pat answers, but bring healing and an awareness that love and support can be achieved with openness and love.
For me, this is one of Kathryn Shay’s finest books, yet. I look foreword to her next ones.
March 17, 2018
Forgiveness
These six friends have been through everything together. They had a rough time in their youth. When it really mattered, some feel like they let Annie down. Beth is so strong and she doesn't want to have anyone help. Margo is afraid to trust. Joe is seeking forgiveness. Linc wants Margo to accept him for who he is. Tucker was not part of the group but he is still seeking forgiveness. They will all be there for each other but it is the forgiveness and trust that needs to be given and earned.
These six friends have been through everything together. They had a rough time in their youth. When it really mattered, some feel like they let Annie down. Beth is so strong and she doesn't want to have anyone help. Margo is afraid to trust. Joe is seeking forgiveness. Linc wants Margo to accept him for who he is. Tucker was not part of the group but he is still seeking forgiveness. They will all be there for each other but it is the forgiveness and trust that needs to be given and earned.
March 25, 2018
This is a story about 6 people. It starts in their teenage years and thickly moves to adult hood. What they have become changes them and their interactions with each other. It’s a story about their relationships and each ones affects the other person. A long story which in the beginning takes time to keep the characters straight but once you realize whose who, you quickly become attached to all 6 characters. A very emotional at times read.
April 14, 2018
Second chances and forgiveness
Second chances, guilt, redemption, forgiveness and friendship, all wrapped up in this 3 couple story. Difficult topics are tackled and you might find yourself saying “No way!” “As if” or “ walk away now”. That means you got involved, like me! I didn’t agree with everything and some personality traits of each character seemed over pronounced - Linc being particularly overly saintly at times. But still likeable !
Enjoyable read.
Second chances, guilt, redemption, forgiveness and friendship, all wrapped up in this 3 couple story. Difficult topics are tackled and you might find yourself saying “No way!” “As if” or “ walk away now”. That means you got involved, like me! I didn’t agree with everything and some personality traits of each character seemed over pronounced - Linc being particularly overly saintly at times. But still likeable !
Enjoyable read.
July 14, 2019
Today was the day I needed to read some of my "to be read list" and this was one of them. Since this is the first book from Kathryn Shay I've read, I had no idea what to expect. This was often a hard book to read; the abuse, neglect, assault of young troubled teens and then the consequences of when they grew into adults. The emotional and physical journey these individuals went on was sometimes overwhelming but redemption was the underlying factor.
October 18, 2021
Up One Side And Down The Other
WOW!! Talk about covering life's experiences from the good, the bad and the ugly. This has it all. Kathryn Shay did a great job with the pages she wrote. Quite the page turner if you are into what is all around you. You may think she could have covered certain subjects more in depth, then again she could have made it a series. I like how she depicted each situation.
WOW!! Talk about covering life's experiences from the good, the bad and the ugly. This has it all. Kathryn Shay did a great job with the pages she wrote. Quite the page turner if you are into what is all around you. You may think she could have covered certain subjects more in depth, then again she could have made it a series. I like how she depicted each situation.
December 7, 2019
3 very different stories of 6 high school small town friends. Starts when they were in high school then jumps to 20 years later and what has happened to them in the intervening years. How they are dealing with what has happened to each of them is the topic of the book.
I highly recommend Trust in Me!
I highly recommend Trust in Me!
March 7, 2018
Ebook
A story of teenage friendship that lasts through marriages, death, spousal abuse and so much more. They group helps each other through so much, works to make their lives and those of their families better. I loved this book!
A story of teenage friendship that lasts through marriages, death, spousal abuse and so much more. They group helps each other through so much, works to make their lives and those of their families better. I loved this book!
April 24, 2018
Redemption
The outlawed have grown up, some better than others. They grouped together as teens. None of them had good homes so, they supported each other. 15 years later they still support each other. Lots of serious trouble in their lives.
The outlawed have grown up, some better than others. They grouped together as teens. None of them had good homes so, they supported each other. 15 years later they still support each other. Lots of serious trouble in their lives.
May 18, 2018
Troubled teenagers grown up and facing new challenges
Well defined characters who after spending their teenaged years as a gang have become adults who rely on each other to face the and overcome new obstacles
Well defined characters who after spending their teenaged years as a gang have become adults who rely on each other to face the and overcome new obstacles
April 10, 2019
Sensitive and believable
I am new to this author. I was immediately engaged by the prologue and my interest never flagged. Ms. Shay dealt sensitively with difficult topics and made me care about all of the characters. I will read more of her work.
I am new to this author. I was immediately engaged by the prologue and my interest never flagged. Ms. Shay dealt sensitively with difficult topics and made me care about all of the characters. I will read more of her work.
January 10, 2018
Too many story lines in one book.
March 5, 2018
Great
Another wonderful story in the series. Each character in this story had strengths and weaknesses that brought up do many going on in thee world today.
Another wonderful story in the series. Each character in this story had strengths and weaknesses that brought up do many going on in thee world today.
March 15, 2018
Love in many forms
Written with a deep appreciation of how love can be despite barriers. Shay tackles some very sensitive issues in a thoughtful and constructive way.
Written with a deep appreciation of how love can be despite barriers. Shay tackles some very sensitive issues in a thoughtful and constructive way.
April 22, 2018
Growing pains
This was a story of high school friends as they matured into adults and all the trials and tribulations that can bring. Fun story.
This was a story of high school friends as they matured into adults and all the trials and tribulations that can bring. Fun story.
June 3, 2018
A group of friends that gathers you in and makes you think.
July 3, 2018
Great book!
This book has highs and lows, ups and downs and some much emotion. It deals with so many of life’s real issues today! As always, it was a great book!
This book has highs and lows, ups and downs and some much emotion. It deals with so many of life’s real issues today! As always, it was a great book!
September 27, 2018
The Outlaws from high school have grown up - and they are not all successful..
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 7, 2018
Good book
Initially I thought the book was going in a different direction but became surprised at where it lead. Dealing with difficult subject matter I felt was well done.
Initially I thought the book was going in a different direction but became surprised at where it lead. Dealing with difficult subject matter I felt was well done.
May 30, 2018
It is a great book to read
January 3, 2020
The book takes the reader on a journey following the lives of a group of people who had been a close group of friends as teenagers.
Grammatically well written, with only a few minor mistakes, I enjoyed following the lives of the main characters.
Something different about this book is that one of the main stories is following the life of a recovered wife batterer, which is a tricky subject the author deals with well.
Linc and Margo are well liked, as is Ron who is clearly a good boy in the wrong crowd. All characters remained consistent and realistic.
I really enjoyed reading this book and was a little sad when it came to an end; I definitely could have read more.
I would recommend this book, and would read other novels by this author.
I rate it 4 out of 5.
Grammatically well written, with only a few minor mistakes, I enjoyed following the lives of the main characters.
Something different about this book is that one of the main stories is following the life of a recovered wife batterer, which is a tricky subject the author deals with well.
Linc and Margo are well liked, as is Ron who is clearly a good boy in the wrong crowd. All characters remained consistent and realistic.
I really enjoyed reading this book and was a little sad when it came to an end; I definitely could have read more.
I would recommend this book, and would read other novels by this author.
I rate it 4 out of 5.
March 4, 2012
I absolutley loved this book! I enjoyed seeing characters I could relate to. I like the message of forgiveness and seeing a reformed minister, Linc, who couldn't quite let go of his old ways. I am glad that they took it slow with the characters Joe and Annie. Joe had abused Annie when they were married and instead of him arriving back in town and she just falling in love again, they took time to work out their issues. Kathryn made it believable that there is a chance for change and forgiveness, but it is earned and takes times. By the end of the book the two were not together but working towards a peaceful understanding. This is a great read!
September 20, 2016
What an emotional roller coaster ride. Trust in Me dealt with such tough subjects...all in one book. The main characters each have their story but each story twists and turns with the rest. The characters all have such depth to them. If you love Kathryn Shay books...this is one you don't want to miss.
June 30, 2014
Can people change? Is the next generation doomed to repeat the mistakes of the previous one? Three couples are kept apart by old history, but when the son of one woman gets into trouble they all have a chance of redemption.
June 12, 2011
Religious overtones without being too preachy. It ended a little too easily in my opinion, but a pleasant book to read
Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews