Believe

True Believers #3

by Erin McCarthy

Robin used to be a party girl… until she got black out drunk and woke up in bed with her best friend's boyfriend. Now she's faced with being THAT girl, and couldn't be more disgusted with herself. She can't even tell her friends the reason for her sudden sobriety and she avoids everyone until she meets Phoenix—quiet, tattooed, and different in every way that's good and oh, so bad…

Phoenix is two days out of jail when he meets Robin at his cousin's house, and he knows that he has no business talking to her, but he's drawn to her quiet demeanor, sweet smile, and artistic talent. She doesn't care that he's done time, or that he only has five bucks to his name, and she supports his goal to be a tattoo artist.

But Phoenix knows Robin has a secret, and that it's a naïve dream to believe that his record won't catch up with them at some point. Though neither is prepared for the explosive result when the past collides with the present…

Genres: New Adult, Romance, Contemporary, Contemporary Romance, College, Young Adult, College Romance

266 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 21, 2014

About the author

USA Today and New York Times Bestselling author Erin McCarthy sold her first book in 2002 and has since written over a hundred novels and novellas in teen fiction, new adult, and adult romance. Erin has a special weakness for high-heeled boots, beaches and martinis. She lives in Ohio with her family, two grumpy cats and a socially awkward dog.

Reviews

[Lady Vigilante (Feifei) · Rating 2 out of 5]

2 stars!





I really don’t know why I bothered continuing this series. If I’m being completely honest with myself, I think it’s because I don’t want NG’s pre-approved widget to go to waste. Book 1 was so not my cup of coffee, book 2 was an improvement, and this book left me feeling…nothing.

This book is about Robin, the best friend of the heroines from the previous books in the series and her insta-love/whirlwind romance story with Phoenix, the cousin of the heroes in the previous books. Robin is the embodiment of many NA clichés: she parties hard in college, sleeps around, and drinks like there’s no tomorrow. So of course it was no surprise to me that she ends up in bed with her one of her best friend’s boyfriend Nathan, who is the biggest douche ever. Feeling immense guilt, Robin stops partying and drinking after the incident and carries around this horrible secret for months. Like any other day, she’s visiting a friend and meets Phoenix, the tortured, tattooed bad boy who’s also an ex-convict. Their friendship & relationship develops at the speed of lightening and pretty soon they start voicing their love and adoration for each other.



So obviously, I had a problem with the insta-love. I also felt like their love was pretty desperate. For months, Robin had no one to tell about her secret and Phoenix had awful memories of his home life along with anger management issues that no one understood and by finding each other they both had someone to turn to who’d offer no judgment. Not necessarily a bad thing, but in this case, there just wasn’t enough of anything to convince me that they really loved each other; it was more like a ‘this-is-a-NA-book-so-of-course-the-couple-needs-to-voice-their-love-for-each-other-even-if-it-might-sound-fake’ love.



Another thing that was bothersome was how the author glazed over important issues & delicate subject matter. In the beginning when Robin ends up sleeping with her best friend’s boyfriend, I saw it as rape – she was drunk to the point where she didn’t know what was happening or where she was, she blacked out and the next thing she knew she was waking up next to the douche. Nathan, however, was completely aware of what he was doing and after the deed, verbally assaults her for another go. In other words, he took advantage of her. In other words, rape. But was that addressed? No. I can’t believe he got off the hook so easily. Very disappointing. Another was Phoenix’s anger management issues. He eerily reminded me of Travis Maddox when he was angry and threw things around, punched things, etc…I thought he needed professional help but instead his actions are portrayed as sexy and obsessively protective...



This book was so not for me. As the next one is about Kylie, the girlfriend Nathan cheated on and one of Robin’s best friends, I think I’m going to pass. I really don’t see how a rather smart and bright girl like her couldn’t see that her boyfriend is an asshole. Of course I feel a certain degree of sympathy for her but she was never a character that stood out to me in this book or the previous ones so it looks like I won’t be continuing this series.

ARC provided by Penguin Intermix via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Bibi · Rating 1 out of 5]

This is what we won't do, Erin McCarthy.

We will not misrepresent what happened to Robin as consensual sex because she was too incapacitated to have assented to having sex with Nathan, so he basically raped her and you somehow refused to include that in the story.

PSA: Do not normalise or rationalise rape in fiction and authors should write rape scenes only if they can portray all aspects of it.

*0 stars*

[Sarah Elizabeth · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an NA contemporary romance story, featuring a man just out of prison.

Robin was an okay character, and it was easy to understand why she was so upset about blacking out and sleeping with her best friend’s boyfriend. Phoenix was a bit of a live wire though, and I’m surprised he didn’t end up back in prison for the things he did towards the end of this book.

The storyline in this was about Robin feeling guilty over the sex with her best friend’s boyfriend, whilst he wanted it to happen again. Then we had the romance between Robin and Phoenix that was pretty good, but basically most of the book was just waiting for the best friend to find out what had happened.

The ending to this was happy, although again, I’m surprised Phoenix managed to stay out of Jail.



6 out of 10

[♥Rachel♥ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Believe was an touching and heartfelt romance that really got to me!

Robin has done the unthinkable, and in her mind, the unforgivable. She slept with her best-friend’s boyfriend, Nate. In her defense she was drunk to the point of blacking out and doesn’t remember any more than a flash here and there of the evening. However, this is enough to drown her in feelings of worthlessness, and depression. Robin’s friend, Jessica, knows there’s something up with her because she’s stopped taking care with her appearance, won’t hang out and has lost weight but she’s not sure what happened. When Robin meets Phoenix, Tyler and Riley’s cousin, and develops an immediate friendship, she feels her dark cloud lighten a little. She’s not sure why she doesn’t care that he’s fresh out of prison, only that they seem to have a connection, and for once she starts to feel like herself again.

I was so lonely I ached with it. But here, in the hot car with Phoenix, I felt like at least one person understood what I felt like, and I wondered if two loners could make each other less lonely. So far, the answer for me was yes.

Phoenix is staying with Tyler and Riley while he gets back on his feet after being released from prison. His mother moved and didn’t tell him where, taking all of his clothes and belongings with her. Phoenix didn’t have much before, but now he has absolutely nothing. Things begin to change when he meets Robin. She’s beautiful and quiet with sadness pouring off of her in waves, and he wonders what happened. They bond over art and easy conversation, and even though he knows he’s in no position to go after her, Phoenix wants more. For some reason, Robin doesn’t judge him for his circumstances, and soon they’re together every free moment.

Robin and Phoenix met at a vulnerable time in each other’s lives and provided love and support, helping them to heal and move on. Their romance was a little on the insta-lovey side, but it didn’t bother me one bit, and I felt it just fit Robin and Phoenix.

I wasn’t playing it cool with Phoenix. I knew that. I just didn’t care. What did playing head games with guys get me ever? A boyfriend who cheated and a lot of casual dates. There was no flirt left in me.

Believe made me do something I didn’t thing was possible: sympathize with a cheater. The circumstances made it impossible to hold this against Robin, and in fact she beats herself up more than any other person could. My heart hurt for her! Nate, the bottom-feeder boyfriend, was the guilty party in this situation!

Phoenix was raised by a completely selfish mother, and I was blown away that he was deprived of so many things a parent should automatically provide. He was so starved of love that Robin’s simple gestures of love and affection completely overwhelmed and touched him.

Erin McCarthy’s take on New Adult has once again proved to be a cut above the rest. She has a talent for creating flawed, but relatable characters that I won’t soon forget. Believe was more of an emotional and deeper read for me that the last two books, making me tear up in more than a few places! *sniff* I can’t wait for the next in this series, Shatter. The teaser at the end has me chomping at the bit!

A copy was provided by Penguin Group in exchange for an honest review.

You can find this review and more at The Readers Den.

[Rose · Rating 2 out of 5]

Initial reaction: I need some time to think about how I want to reflect on this one. It's not really all that much better than the first book I've read in this series, and I had issues with the portrayal of some very serious matters. Not saying that some of it isn't realistic, and I can't say that this work was as "by the formula" as "True", but man - this novel is one of the reasons why I rail against the problems with New Adult for situations and portrayal of very real issues.

I think I might have to stick with McCarthy's adult novels, because this isn't flying with me. Not at all.

Full review:

Let's have a frank discussion on Erin McCarthy's third novel in her "True Believers" series, "Believe". I picked this up on NetGalley because I'd heard from some discussions about the book that this was better than the first book in the series. I always have this tendency of giving books/series/authors second chances even if I'm turned off by a certain story sometimes, and so I figured I'd read this through something of an academic/curious filter with no expectations. This series has recurring characters within it, but I didn't feel like I missed anything by picking this up having read only the first book.

(I didn't want to read Jessica's story, because from the excerpt in the first book, it sounded like Jessica was an absolutely infuriating character and that it would go the typical NA route with various offenses to boot. I'll admit I was curious about the hero in that book though.)

I'm going to start with the positive because that will take me less time to say than delving into many of the problems this book has. Kudos for featuring a character of color as a leading role in this narrative, because in general, characters of color aren't well represented in this genre, and many times, it's like they're either token characters or have very little role in the overarching stories they're within. I liked and sympathized with Robin, even when I found her actions problematic in turns. I liked the portrayal of her family, even for the brief time that I saw her interactions with them. I even liked some of her little quirks like kitten pictures and such that she receives in texts from the hero when they're flirting and carrying on random conversations as they grew to know each other.

Kudos for featuring characters with clear motivations and rationales behind the way they think and feel. Many times in this genre, I see too many authors just jump to sex or problematic details without really delving into them and just throwing it in for melodramatic purposes and engaging with the emotional conflict porn of it all. It's milked to its maximum, but then when reaching the breaking point, they don't deal with the very real consequences of it all. Many times it's shallow representations of very real and palpable issues.

That said, I'm going to dig into this narrative's problems. This book pretty much started with a rape/"rapey" scene like the first book "True." I'm not going to mince words about it being rape, even if it's not mentioned as rape in this story, and I honestly have to wonder why it isn't, because it certainly wasn't consensual sex.

At the point of the story's beginning, Robin describes herself as once a party girl, flirty, a heavy drinker, someone who "dresses in short skirts" and some negative self assessments of her expressions of sexuality (which bothered me from the start). It took one night of her getting drunk so badly that she blacked out with no memory of events. She wakes up realizing that she had sex with her best friend's boyfriend, Nathan.

She is horrified because in her words, she would never do something like this if she were sober, that she didn't know exactly what she did, though there's one fragmented snippet of a memory that she has of her "legs around his neck."

Nathan, the jerk that he is, doesn't seem to care about Robin being absolutely horrified and worried about her relationship with her friend, Kylie. He doesn't even seem to care about the fact that he cheated on Kylie.

It's then that Robin decides to swear off alcohol, and to distance herself from her friends because she knows that Kylie would hate her for sleeping with Nathan.

But Nathan knew what he was doing. He might've been drunk, but he was far more aware of events than Robin. He had cognition to be able to make a decision, and he knew that Robin was drunk. Robin was drunk to the point where she didn't know where she was or what she was doing. For me, given the details in the narrative - it wasn't that Robin "slept" with Nathan and cheated on Kylie, Nathan raped her. But Robin's perception isn't portrayed as such.

Robin sets herself to move out of the place where she and her friends are staying, to go back to her parents' place, but then she ends up meeting Phoenix. Phoenix is a guy with a messed up past, typical scenario I realize for the genre, but there's some heart behind his situation. He was just released from prison, his mother was a drug addict and pretty much threw out all of his former belongings and identification, so he's left with nothing but the clothes on his back and his record. He's having to adjust back to normal society for the crime he committed (which I won't say for spoilers, but I see why he did what he did.)

Still, Phoenix has anger issues (*rolls eyes* Please spare me the cliche). People in his life left him behind. His ex-girlfriend cheated on him and is pregnant with someone else's child. He really can't catch a break. So he's reluctant to hook up with Robin though they are within the same social circles, but ultimately - the two hit it off, first in cute ways, and others with a little more spice.

Okay, maybe a lot more spice for sex scenes (though, there's a give and take I personally had for those scenes.)

Ultimately, both of them have things about their present troubles that come roaring back to interfere with their abilities to live and be together. For Phoenix, it's his mother and worrying about Robin's situation (because she tells him about it eventually). For Robin, it's dealing with the perceptions of her person/image (there is some rampant female hating/shaming in this that made me want to facepalm several times), her past with drinking, and then the pending fallout with Kylie over Nathan.

Suffice to say, the situation with Nathan is even worse considering he heckles and harasses Robin via text messages with explicit sexual content, even saying that her sex "tasted like chocolate." And it was noted that she'd repeatedly asked him to stop contacting her.

Guys, what does behavior like that sound like to you? Seriously.

Things come to a harrowing head after Kylie found out about Nathan, and reveal that Robin has more mental issues on the matter than she first thought, with drinking as an emotional trigger. I actually railed against Phoenix at one point because he was blaming her unfairly instead of supporting her. I was aware he had issues with people who suffered from addiction in his life (namely his mother, and when I figured out how she neglected and stole and treated him miserably, I wanted to rage). But for him to do that to Robin when she needed someone the most? Eff no.

And then there was the side plot with the drug dealer. Honestly, I think this book could've done without that whole situation. It wasn't necessary, and was just thrown in to give some kind of harrowing situation where Phoenix swoops in to save Robin. She's definitely not passive for the situation, but I still felt like it was an outlier in the collective story.

The depiction of Robin's college environment bothered me too, and has me worried about how authors portray college students in NA in general. It's not like people pay money just to drink and party while going to college, and I think some authors in this genre skirt that factor. (Though arguably, there are people who go to college and don't realize this factor themselves, they for whatever reason may neglect or underperform in their studies and that becomes a problem.) In the narrative, there's one point where Robin's not even a few days into the new semester and suggests cutting class, but Phoenix is the one who tells her "No, you're like halfway finished with your degree, focus on that instead of skipping just to be with me." (I mentally fist bumped Phoenix at that point, even considering times I wanted to throttle him.) Many NA books have a college backdrop, but it's almost as if it's background noise and the characters don't really "care" about their education or what they want to go for, just makes it seem like the tragic past and drama is the only thing that matters.

At the same time, I can't help but think the college environment here mostly showcased a lot of insinuated pretentiousness at times. I don't know whether it was the specific company that Robin kept or if this was a really problematic presentation of college life in general. There was the slut shaming that Robin encounters when a group of girls gossip about her looks and dress while she's in Phoenix's company. And then there's the "Sober Group" meeting (group of students who either don't drink or have stayed sober for some time) where some science/pre-med majors are really condescending to Robin as an art major and to Phoenix because he's got tattoos on his body (and the measure that he was able to get a job as a tattoo artist.) I didn't like the portrayal of that, but maybe I'm the only one who had problems with that factor specifically.

Anyway, "Believe" may or may not be a step up from its predecessor novels. It still has a familiar formula that isn't completely shed, and it was a struggle to get through in points. I wanted to like it more, but the parts I could potentially give praise to were overshadowed by problematic presentations that did not match up with the respective problem, cliched elements, and just feeling too much of the "same script, different cast" progression that's been a part of this respective series.

The irony is that while this series might be depicting some kind of "true" terms, the reality still feels removed for the sake of drama that may either be manufactured or misrepresented. At least in moments of the narrative, I was able to see some specks of genuine character interaction and palpable struggle. I just wish there was more.

Overall score: 1.5/5 stars

Note: I received this as an ARC from NetGalley, from the publisher InterMix.

[Jen · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Believe" is book #3 in the True Believers series by Erin McCarthy; and this one is hands down my favorite of the series so far. The all consuming love and passion that Phoenix and Robin have for one another just drew me in to every word on the page. There was an intensity to their relationship that got my juices flowing, and captured my emotions so that I was fully engaged and invested into their story.

Robin and Phoenix were two lost, lonely souls that discover each other and immediately they gravitate to one another and fill the lonliness that they have both been experiencing. They are both at a bit of a low point in their lives. Phoenix just got out of jail, and is staying with his cousins; Tyler,Riley,and the younger boys. He has a lot in common with his cousins, as he also has a mother who is addicted to drugs. Needless to say, Phoenix has gone through life feeling like he is worthless, and that no one gives a darn about him. My heart really went out to him, because all he really wanted was someone to see into the heart of him and love him just the way he is.

Robin is at a very low point in her life too. Usually, she is the life of the party and always dressed to kill, and always with a drink in her hand. The day that that all changes, is when she wakes up next to her best friends boyfriend. She had drank so much the night before that she doesn't even remember the fact that she slept with Nathan. Robin ends up turning away from alcohol, and letting herself go..her appearance is no longer important to her, and she also feels she will have to move away from her friend because the guilt is slowly killing her.

When Robin and Phoenix meet at The Mann brother's house, their attraction happens very quickly. It is like they just gravitate towards one another and their souls literally speak to one another. Some readers may not like how fast their feelings and relationship happens; but I found it worked perfectly for the story. I had thought that everything was a little too flowery and lovey dovey at first, but there are some things that take place further on in the book that brings out the angst that Ms. McCarthy is so great at in her New Adult books! The one thing that I love about the author's stories is that she has so many profound things to say, and a lot of the quotes that I highlight really get me thinking. She is very good at writing statements that make a person stop and think. There is nothing empty about her writing..Every book that I have read by her has major substance to it.

The sex between the hero and heroine is off the charts HOT! As one of my GR friends has a habit of saying, "the scenes made me throw my panties across the room!!!" I literally had butterflies as I read their scenes together.
Last but not least, it was a joy to catch up with the gang of characters that I have grown to love and cherish through out this series. I adore them all, and what each of them bring to the table. Even Jayden, who is one of the brothers who has down syndrome! He is a hoot, and just such a pleasure to read about.

This is a series that I highly recommend, and I am eager to get reading book #4! When I am reading one of Erin's books, I know I will get love,laughter,tears,anger, and of course great sex! Also, there is usually very realistic situations that a lot of the times I can relate to in some way! This will be a series that I will cherish and reread for years to come!

Thank you to Net Galley and Berkley NAL/Signet Romance for providing a copy of this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

[Ash Wednesday · Rating 2 out of 5]

1.5 STARS

"So what do we do now?" he asked.
"'There's no remedy for love, but to love more.' That's Thoreau," I murmured.
Phoenix kissed the corners of my mouth. "'The future for me is already a thing of the past. You were my first love and you will be my last.' That's Bob Dylan."

Everything works out if you do whatever you want. That's Peter Griffin.

Oh we're not doing a quote-off? Because outside a drinking game that didn't exist two seconds ago, these kinds of conversations NEVER happen in real life. They do, but I imagine couples or people talking to each other like this (in all seriousness) are always asked to leave the premises because of excessive eyeroll factor.



Right, got ahead of myself again.

As the third book in Erin McCarthy's True Believers series, Believe offers a lot of firsts to its fans. This is the first time the story is told in alternating POVs between the hero and the heroine. First time the male protagonist is not a Mann sibling… And the first time I wanted to DNF a McCarthy book at 20%.

At first I thought it was just my "conflict of interest" with New Adult books in general but I just read Sweet immediately before this and while I had issues with that one, I still managed to appreciate what it was trying to accomplish. This one, on the other hand, was such a struggle for me from the get-go. Poor editing, inorganic dialogue, messy character building, questionable logic… and so on.

So we're done with Rory (True) and Jessica's (Sweet) books, it's their roommate Robin's turn to have a happy ending. She was introduced in Sweet as Jessica's partying, graphic design student friend who starts her HEA journey by sleeping with her roommate's boyfriend after one night of heavy drinking. She goes off to the Mann boys' house in the shady side of town (which given the amount of foot-traffic from WASPs is steadily losing street cred) to tell her roommates (Jessica and Rory) that she's leaving their shared apartment burdened with the guilt of hurting Kylie.

Here she meets tattooed, intense and hot Phoenix (I can't remember his last name, dammit!), Tyler and Riley's cousin who just got out from jail. He makes her feel good despite her dirty little secret. There's insta-lust, yes. She gives him her number on first sight. They exchange cat memes and honey-badger videos. Day 2, they go out on a date. Insta-lust/insta-love is par for course in New Adult books, its somewhat the rule so its pointless to rage against that. My problem lay with Robin inviting Phoenix to her apartment to spend the night in the couch and eventually in her bed (I know, WTF) without knowing what he went in jail for. Because that is also Rory AND Kylie's apartment. Remember Kylie? The one whose boyfriend your guilt-tripping on sleeping with? THAT'S how you deal with your guilt? By inviting an ex-convict in her apartment without checking first what he served time for?

And nobody in the book find this an issue. AT ALL.

I don't want to pass judgment on a person's past and I do believe having a criminal record shouldn't be the one thing we base a person's character on. Just as someone's biceps and tattoos and floppy hair shouldn't be the sole basis of you trusting a guy enough to invite him to the place where you live with two other women. Someone needs to watch Frozen with Robin.



This being my third book from McCarthy, I'm starting to sense a pattern to her writing. Her messages against certain stereotypes seem sincere but it feels awkward and off-key the way she incorporates it in the story. Whenever the narrative transitions from dialogue to a character's musings, it comes off forced and winding. Case in point Phoenix' ramblings on octopi and his love for Robin. It's too long to quote, let's just say it came out of nowhere and made me worry about Phoenix' mental stability when you put it alongside his bizarre musings.

EXHIBIT A: "I want to kidnap you," he murmured in my ear. "So that I never have to let you go."

EXHIBIT B: I found it oddly satisfying that she was crying, which was fucked-up, but the thing was, I knew she was crying out of sadness for me. I'd never really had anyone care about me like that.

EXHIBIT C: Maybe part of me wanted her to wake up. Maybe I wanted to see fear in her eyes. Not because I warned her to be afraid but because when someone is scared of you, you're no longer vulnerable. They don't have any power over you.

Just sayin', this totally missed out on making an unprecedented genre-shift to a psychological thriller. But as a college romance… que?

Not to mention the catatonic staring while driving, the watching while Robin was sleeping, the tattooing of Robin's face on his body… I mean, Phoenix has Intermittent Explosive Disorder (which oddly sounds like Irritable Bowel Syndrome) but these thoughts hardly factor into his lack of rage control, I think, and just makes me concerned and confused. Because what I'm seeing is a person with deep psychological issues when the way he was presented in the majority of the book, he was a territorial bad boy hero who just doesn't want his girl getting hurt.

Um, swoon?

Also, why does Phoenix have longish hair coming out of prison? I'm no expert but I assume keeping an appearance as less feminine as possible is somewhat prison tradecraft right along with not dropping the soap in the shower.

I failed to make a strong opinion out of Robin unfortunately. She was neither here nor there for me. The details of what went on between her and Nathan were quite fuzzy because one moment of hindsight she claims its consensual, in the next she remembers she's passed out from too much alcohol and in another, Nathan claims she gave him the best blowjob of his life. I did like that she recognized where the problem lay and her intent to protect her friend was believable and rational.

This was a little more steamier than the previous books if that's your thing. A whole lot of cussing from the Mann Boys which I adored. I loved Jayden and wished longer scenes where he shows his dog shaming photo collection. But seeing as the next book is about Kylie, a character I have no intense affinity to begin with, I think it's time this series and I part ways.

ARC provided by Penguin Intermix thru NetGalley in exchange for an honest and unbiased review. Quotes may not appear on the final edition.

Also on BookLikes.

[Anne · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

Not that this was bad, but it's definitely not the best in this series. It's (my opinion) an ok romance with decent characters.

There's not much to say about this story that the blurb doesn't already tell you. And Robin and Phoenix don't really have any obstacles in their relationship that aren't fairly easy to overcome with a little bit of communication. They have a tiff at the end over what happens after the truth about Nathan and Robin comes out, but it's not anything that felt insurmountable.
They met.
They liked each other.
They fell in love.
They both had baggage.
And they both were fairly understanding of the other person's issues.
Kinda like real life...

I'm a big fan of McCarthy, but this one was lacking the trademark humor that draws me to her books. Without the usual dose of funny, this is just a Plain-Jane romance novel.
Good writing, good story, good cover.
It's...good.
But it's not my favorite.

In case you were wondering, I received a digital arc from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Kelli C · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 decent stars!

Believe is book three in the new adult romance series True Believers. It is a read with a rough undertone and hard characters pushing through life and whatever comes their way. .

Robin has spent the majority of college partying hard and loose. She has lived life to the fullest of collegiate stereotypes unabashed to her actions. When she wakes up from a night filled with Vodka she is shocked to find herself naked and in her BFF Kylie’s boyfriend’s bed. Vowing to never let this happen again she boards the guilt train and stops living. She is now sober, unkempt, and doing anything she can to get out of the apartment she shares with Kylie.

Phoenix is two days post jail release finding sleep and peace on his cousin’s couch. Upon opening his eyes he is faced with a sullen Robin who is drawn into his very bad looking tattooed self. With his laid back style he peaks Robin’s interest and is shocked to find her to be quite the artist.

For Robin, Phoenix is a safe haven. He is non-judgmental and when she is with him she feels free and she feels loved. Phoenix is overwhelmed by the comfort and honesty Robin provides. She is supportive of him and his uncertain existence but most importantly, she believes in him. Time ends up being the enemy for both as their pasts finally catch up and force them to reevaluate if they truly belong together.

Believe moves fairly fast with plot and character development. The first two books do not necessarily need to be read, but would be beneficial to understand supporting characters and their roles. This has dual POV’s which I enjoyed since both characters were dealing with internal conflict. I found both person struggles emotional and realistic. Robin was struggling with ideals of who she was versus who she should be. As for phoenix, I really enjoyed him from start to finish. He was never anything more than what he was presented as. He embraced his circumstances and let the goodness of one girl final give him hope for more.

Overall, I thought the read was fairly good. I found I liked the characters more than the story itself. Phoenix and Robin had a great natural feel to them and their moments of intimacy were both sensual and emotional. Their declaration of love, although fast, was very heartwarming. I did find the conclusion to be a bit chaotic and abrupt. I am hoping that as the series progresses, Phoenix and Robin will return with a more complete and settled relationship.

[Tana · Rating 5 out of 5]

Believe (True Believers #3) by Erin McCarthy

This is or I should say was the first book I’ve read by Erin McCarthy, I have to say the writing was outstanding, the story, plot and characters are well written and I never once stopped reading this book till I reached the end. I also have to say that while reading Believe I had to go search and find the other two books in this series and read them back to back.

We meet up with Robin who is in college and having the time of her life, going to college and having the time of her life with her friends partying. Until one fateful night where she makes a mistake she cannot forget or find a way forgive herself. Robin is struggling with figure out how to deal with her inner demons.

Well then we meet Phoenix who is what every great romance novel needs; great looking, sexy, bad boy who inside is a great man.
Robin and Phoenix become fast friends who doesn’t need a person in your life that is non-judgemental and you can tell your deepest dark secret too?

Nothing is easy for Robin and Phoenix but they both want to move on from their past and work on having the future they both deserve.
Believe a fantastic read! I absolutely loved reading this entire series and I really cannot wait to read more. I have rated Believe a 5 star rating and would recommend anyone reading this to go purchase the whole series I loved it.

I also would defiantly read anything Erin McCarthy writes, and cannot wait to read more.

[Luzie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This review may contain SPOILERS!
How good is this series? I actually liked this book even more soo than books 1 & 2. The love interests in these books always seem soo bad-boy-ish on the first look, but when we get to know them, there is soo much more to these characters. I didn't think I would like Robin and Phoenix as much as I turned out to love them. Robin was soo little mentioned in the previous books and when her name popped up it was always related to a party or hook-ups. Then came this book, where she did a whole 360-turn-around. Phoenix seemed like the "we-know-him-from-books" bad-boy type for about a whole 2 seconds, and then we really got to know him. I think the problems these two struggled with were relatable and genuine considering how they grew up and what they've experienced before, and therefore I was 100 % on board with this story. Furthermore I have only one thing to say, READ these books, you won't regret it!
5/5 stars

[Siiri (Little Pieces of Imagination) · Rating 3 out of 5]

I like how Erin McCarthy’s New Adult debut series is made of companion novels so we get to concentrate on a different couple in every book. That’s pretty awesome since all of their stories are so very different and driven by unique pasts and happenings compared to the rest of the couples. Believe tells the story of Robin & Phoenix and if you’ve read the ending of Sweet? How could you not be intrigued by these two :)


"I missed the whole summer," he murmured. "But none of it would have been as good as today was anyways."


So it is about the aftermath of a cheating incidence. Robin accidentally slept with her best friend’s boyfriend and it’s even worse because she can’t remember anything of it. She has isolated herself from her friends, has been sober ever since (she used to be the party girl so that’s huge for her) and the guy she was with keeps harassing her to do more. She doesn’t want to tell her friends because she doesn’t want to break her best friend’s heart and I really felt for her which isn’t something I thought I would do—I wasn’t expecting to sympathize with Robin. It helped that she was utterly disgusted by her actions even if she couldn’t remember them.

Then we have Phoenix who is an ex-convict and has just gotten out of jail. They meet during an awkward moment in the Manning’s house (Phoenix is Riley and Tyler’s cousin). I really liked their chemistry and the bond they formed over art—it was extremely cute. However, it was a little insta-love-ish. Ok a lot, insta-love-ish, because the L-bomb was dropped too early in my opinion (and even though I liked Phoenix, he sounded a little like a creep in his POV at first), but it kind of felt natural at the same time because they were so similar and the attraction was definitely there from the start.

Phoenix has a secret of his own though—his illness that he’s trying so hard to work through and that’s basically all anyone can ever ask for. I’m very pleased that the author decided to write this into the story. Phoenix has a lot of tattoos and the one he got during this novel kind of creeped me out. Okay, not kind of, but actually like a lot. O.o Then again, it goes with these two since they’re very intense in their relationship. It was me that was a bit put off by this tattoo.

One more thing, Robin’s family was awesome, though at the same time Phoenix’s mom was very wtf for me. I don’t understand how she could give such good advice considering she was a drug addict and based on Phoenix’s memories she wasn’t a very good mother. It didn’t feel that consistent regarding the story and the characters, but someone had to take away Phoenix’s insecurities and I guess that’s why the pep talk scene was there.

I felt so bad for the girl who got cheated on, but I’m looking forward to her journey towards happiness and the sneak peek at the end of Believe indicated that we have yet another type of story in our hands soon and that’s pretty darn exciting. Even though I wasn’t as big of a fan of this book as I was of True, I still enjoyed it and can’t wait for more.

Rating: 3.3 out of 5.0

More of my reviews can be found on my blog.

[Simply Love Book Reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kitty‘s review posted on Guilty Pleasures Book Reviews

Review copy provided for an honest review

5 STARS

Wow, Believe, book 3 of the True Believer series was undeniably the best so far. Robin and Phoenix heat up the pages and give a new meaning to angst. They are explosive with each other and others around them. But, what they find in themselves is unBELIEVEable. Two lost souls with pasts that should have never brought them together. But, somehow, they fall in love and their lives will never be the same.

Robin was raised in a normal, middle-class family. Parents that loved each other and a Latina Grandmother with her own opinions on life and how life should be led. She becomes a real party girl when she hits college. She doesn’t really sleep around but loves to drink. Until that night when everything in her life goes wrong … when everything she thought she knew about herself … when she hurts the one person who was always there for her – Kylie. Sober it is …. nothing ever again …. she doesn’t know herself when she drinks and refuses to ever fall into that again. Her only option is to move out of the house she will be sharing with Kylie. She can’t even look her in the face. Her only solace now is her painting.

Phoenix can’t believe that his mother would move out of their apartment, not tell him where she is and leave him with nothing. Thank God he has cousins that will help him. Tyler and Riley are there for him, letting him crash at their place, giving him clothes to wear, supporting him when everyone else has turn their backs on him. He did what he had to do – beat up the man that was trying to carve his mother up and he paid the price for it. Granted, mom is a drug-addict and never been around from the time he was small, but she was still his mother. A girl-friend that got pregnant while he was in jail, a mother that deserted him, no job, no money … there is no way that the beautiful Robin would ever want to have anything to do with him. But, he asks her to spend some time with him and she agrees.

They find out that they have so much in common. Her painting – his tattoos. They are both afraid of their secrets coming out. Both sober – both looking for something from life that just isn’t there yet. But, when the truth finally comes out, the real test of their love for each is truly tested. Robin goes to the bottle and Phoenix looses his temper and takes it out on Nathan, the man that caused all of Robin’s troubles, the man that is stalking Robin while telling Kylie that he loves her, the man that always did and always will look down on Phoenix.

Again, Erin McCarthy brought so much to the pages of this story. Love and hate. Laughter and fear. She also mixed it up a little bit – writing from both Robin and Phoenix’s POV. And, I absolutely loved it. They were two characters with a lot going on. She helped us understand Robin’s self-loathing and Phoenix’s insecurities. But, in the end, she gave them an HEA that took me totally by surprise but was absolutely true to the story. The ending that could have gone in several different directions was absolutely perfect for Robin and Phoenix … I just hope they keep in touch in future.

[ShoSho · Rating 2 out of 5]

Why did I read this?
Received an ARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review


I didn't enjoy this and I just wanted it to be over. One of the biggest problems were its dialogues. They were so unreal!

Characters actions and reactions were unreal and illogical too.
There were 2 semi-villains ,one was the friend's boyfriend .He was acting as if Robin was the only girl available in the universe .He was sending her text messages and expecting his girlfriend not to find out !
The other one an inmate from the jail.He seemed to think Phoenix was the only person in the universe who could move his drugs. Both were so dumb I can't even laugh about it.
And then there was Phoenix's mother , she was this drug user who hadn't cared for her son in 21 years ,all of a sudden she started giving him advice about his love life and started crying because her son was moving away! There was no consistency in this character's actions and what we were told about her.

There were a few good moments but they were lost!!!
The main characters had traits and depth ,they weren't just names with some actions on the paper. They weren't always good but at least these 2 were almost consistent !
One other good thing about this book was the alternating POV. It was one of the reasons I continued reading the book.

This was my fifth Erin McCarthy and unfortunately it'll be my last. I really liked The Pregnancy Test and True but the other 3 including this book and Sweet weren't my favorites.At least this one had a plot compared to the previous book in the series.

[Krista · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read nearly the entire True Believers series back-to-back because the stories in each book were each so good both by themselves, and as part of a larger story about four college friends who find love in unexpected men. Believe is the third book in the series, and it's plot was alluded to in Sweet, which was the second book in the series.

In Believe, Robin is struggling over the summer as she tries to come to grips with the fact that she slept with her best friend Kylie's long-term boyfriend when she was black-out drunk one night. She meets a kindred spirit in Phoenix, the cousin of Tyler and Riley, who are her other BFFs' boyfriends. Phoenix is going through his own stuff, having just got out of prison, so falling in love was way far down on his to-do list. But, eventually, Kylie comes back to start the new school year, and Robin will have to eventually own up to what happened.

The best part about Believe is that it's the first book in this series that is written in dual POV. It was such a delightful surprise when I read the first chapter from Phoenix's POV. At first he was a pretty broody and cranky guy (who wouldn't be after just getting out of the clink?), so it was nice to get a glimpse inside his head.

It was good that the main issue of Robin sleeping with Nathan, her BFF Kylie's boyfriend of over a year, wasn't glossed over or solved easily. This is a huge deal, as any girl can attest to. Normally, I'd automatically hate on the girl who would do that to a friend. But, in this case, I actually felt horrible for Robin. She was black-out drunk when it happened, and as soon as she realized what she had done, she made it clear to Nathan that it was a huge mistake and would never happen again. Even when he stalked her afterward, she never once led him on. And, Robin was so adversely affected by this one event that it set in motion some major changes to her life.

Phoenix never had been a drinker. So, when Robin swears off all alcohol forever, she finds it easy and comfortable to be with Phoenix. He's never going to pressure her to go have a drink at a bar. And, he's never going to look sideways at her when she goes for a Coke instead of a beer. Plus, they are both artistic and appreciate art and music. They really seemed to be pretty perfect for each other.

Except, both were harboring secrets. Robin didn't want to tell Phoenix about what happened with Nathan because she didn't want him to think she was a slut or a bad friend, even though she thought those things about herself. Phoenix didn't want Robin to know about his anger management problem that had landed him in prison in the first place. People warned both of them from starting a relationship together, but when things click with someone, you just have to find a way around the difficulties. And, most times, that only makes a couple stronger.

Of course, as you would expect, there comes a time when both of their situations blow up in their faces. Robin's drunken night with Nathan is discovered by everyone and Phoenix's rage is put on display. It was only after they each handle their situations badly that they realize that the first step to making your life better is to find a partner to help you with the hard stuff. When you try and go it alone is when you fall.

Believe was another awesome addition to the True Believers series, and after it was over, it was easy to move right on to the last book, Shatter, which is Kylie's story. More on that one soon.

[AH · Rating 2 out of 5]

Initial Thoughts: I'm beginning to think that this New Adult genre is not for me. It was hard not to feel frustrated with the characters, especially Robin. I don't know - I don't care how hot a boy is - if he's been to prison and hasn't told you the reason why he was incarcerated, why would you actively pursue a relationship? I don't care if he is your soul-mate or whatever. It's not worth it.


The Review:
New Adult genre = college aged kids doing what college aged kids do. It's that first taste of freedom, booze, sex - lots of firsts. Kids today have a lot going on.

That being said, I had a lot of problems with this book. First of all, the main character Robin was a mess. Robin spent her entire 2nd year at college being the party girl. Lots of booze, fooling around, etc. When she wakes up from a blackout and finds herself in bed with her best friend's boyfriend, Robin absolutely hates herself. She spends the summer in isolation and she stops drinking completely. During her time of retrospection, she can't understand why she attracts guys that don't want to commit. Robin, honey - it's how you present yourself. If you dress like a slut, party like an animal, make out with whomever - don't expect the stable marrying kind of guy.

Enter Phoenix. Add in New Adult trope of lean, muscled, tattooed, and troubled guy. Phoenix has just gotten out of prison where he spent the last 5 months. Why was he in prison? It's a mystery for about half the book. Phoenix is without a home or family so he crashes at Tyler and Riley's place. There, he meets Robin.

Insta-attraction! Despite being warned away from Phoenix, Robin is attracted to him and agrees to go out with him. The two share a love for art. Robin hasn't asked him why he was in prison because she feels that would be invading his privacy. Hello? You are dating someone who just came out of prison - wouldn't you want to know how dangerous he was? What if he were a rapist or a murderer?

Troubled background - I did have some sympathy for Phoenix. His mother was a junkie, selling his ADHD medications to buy heroin when he was younger, never buying groceries, and hitting him up for money.

Did I say tattoos? What is it with these troubled heroes and their tattoos? Phoenix is so sure of his love for Robin (keep in mind that this is a very short time frame) that he gets a picture of her face tattooed on him. Robin is so flattered that she gets a tattoo as well.

The circle of friends I had a little trouble remembering the characters' names from the previous books. The use of unisex names like Rory and Riley also added to a little confusion for me at the beginning of the book.

Despite my lower rating, I did finish this book due to my curiosity of how it would end. The next book is Kylie's story.

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Group Berkley NAL for a review copy of this book.

[P๏€cɨℓią* L · Rating 3 out of 5]

While book one was a solid hit for me, this one failed to wow me. It's a rather typical New Adult book with characters falling in love with each other while having to deal with their issues.

Similar to Tyler in book 1, Phoenix grew up in a less than ideal environment. While I absolutely adore Tyler, I cannot say the same for Phoenix. I'm just biased towards his issue. He does have a lot of redeeming qualities though, like his love for his shitty mom. But, when I'm biased I'm biased.... doesn't matter how swoony the character. Also, I don't understand the tat. I think I'll get creeped out if I were Robin.

Robin, despite her initial party image, was actually a person with a lot of integrity. In my opinion, she should just pin the whole thing on Nathan and "forget" it, pun intended. I did not understand why she felt so guilty. And, as a friend, she should just come clean about it. I seriously doubt similar thing hadn't already happened. In fact, I wouldn't be too surprised if Nathan actually made up the whole thing.

Overall, it was a nice easy read, but there just wasn't enough twist or angst to keep me interested.

Thank you NetGalley/ PENGUIN GROUP Berkley, NAL for providing the ARC

Review also posted @ http://slitsread.wordpress.com/2014/0...

[Deniz · Rating 3 out of 5]

Uh how to rate this?
there were things i really liked and others that i didn't. so 3stars? 3,5Stars?


REVIEW
3,5Stars

When I got a mail from Netgalley, that I was pre-approved to read this. I immediately put it on my kindle and started reading.
I read True, but actually haven't read Sweet yet. I did apply for an ARC way back when- but I was declined. To be honest when I got the mail for Believe, I just assumed it was the second book of the series- you know me and names? Yep, we not exactly the best of friends. Only while I was reading Believe did it dawn on me that I should check if I missed any books in the series...
The good news these do work as stand alone. Each book is about a new couple. Though if you really OCD about this kinda thing, you might wanna stick to reading it in their order. Because it does give you minor spoilers. We talking teeny tiny. And frankly I didn't care.
Oh and a last and quite funny detail. In the mail it said I should request Sweet if I hadn't read it yet... well I did and got declined today. Good thing I bought it last Saturday on my book buying spree.

Again I found myself pondering on how to rate this. Because there are thing about this I really really liked. But other stuff that was way to cliche for my taste and to "romancy" (yep, I just said that! but there is no other word for it. Soooo, sue me!), mostly some things feel to mapped out.
I think I liked the story of Robin and Phoenix better than the one of Rory and Tyler. In fact about halfway in I would have said this one is better. Then there was an, in my opinion, unnecessary twist added - which kinda put me off.
The story line is much of the time your usual New Adult romance. Take the angst, the insecurities and some insta-lust add a hottie and a sweet girl a big blow up ... and you got it. Sounds sarcastic doesnt it? But that's what it is. Still it had me captivated and I read it in one setting. There was some eye rolling, which is to be expected. Romance and me still have a weary truce. My biggest issue was the big show down with David and I didn't get how it was supposed to have been solved at the end. It was just a tad bit to much for me.
I loved the ending though. Obviously it's HAE for the couple. But it was still left open, just pointing in the direction it was going and the different possibilities for all the characters. My favorite kind of an ending for a book. Somehow like in life a chapter is over and you go onto new adventures.

One of my issues in True was the character building was too cliche for me. So I was pleased that, while there were quite a bit of cliches all around, the character building was way better. I really liked Phoenix, I could related to his issues, his fears and saw his strengths and insecurities. Add all of that with his looks - and he makes it quite high up in the fictional hottie list.
Same with Robin. She was really well characterized. And McCarthy did a good job and making you understand where the two of them were coming from.
Funny while Robins behavior right at the beginning of the book is a total NONO. I never blamed her, because she knew she messed up and was trying to make amens.
I really love the relations ship between the friends,which is one of the main reasons I will be reading Sweet and am waiting to get my hands on Shatter.
However, the badies were really really badly written. They were just to cliche, which made me way to unrealistic. Just two black and white.

I love McCarthy's prose. It is my favorite part of the book. The way she describes things is captivating and thoughtful. The love scenes were again, sensual and hot. And very very different from the first book. The romance between Rory and Tyler was so different than Robin and Phoenix, their connection completely unique. Which is quite frankly really nice, because some of these kind of series, end up being a replay of smut and romance in each book.

There are a few things that kinda got to me. Well I mentioned David. It was my biggest issue with the book
Then there were minor things, that startled me. First the reaction of people when they found out about Robins mess-up. I couldn't believe it! seriously? Tell her to keep it a secret? Sadly I know that's how most people would react.. still I strongly disagree.
When Phoenix got his tattoo- my reaction: WTF? is he mad? that's way way too soon. The reaction of everyone else? Oh that's so nice. Uh?!!! What? really? What if it doesn't work? I mean not one person said anything in that regard. A tattoo is PERMANENT- someone should have mentioned it, just maybe? Though it did sound rad, dont misunderstand me. It sounds like a seriously cool tattoo. I just felt it was way to early. oh and Robin ink on the other hand? I want it!!
And then sadly i felt that McCarthy didn't manage to capture the feeling when you draw thing. I just didn't work for me... maybe because Art and drawing is such a personal and integral part of my life and it just means so much to me? I don't know. It felt not quite right while reading it. Like someone describes outlines rather than the whole sketch. As I said I think this one is very personal.

A Young Adult Romance that had me captivated, that was fun and moving to read. For me McCarthy has become an author I will be watching out for.
I am reading Sweet very soon, it's on my kindle- But I am really looking forward to reading Shattered!

ARC was provided by Publishers through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review

[Miss.lilly · Rating 2 out of 5]

Diiesen Teil fand ich leider richtig schwach. Liebe nach einer Woche, Wutausbrüche und Drama.. Hoffentlich holt die Story rund um Kylie noch mal was raus.

[Jaime Arkin · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 stars rounding to 3

Robin was a party girl… in college it’s the thing to do right? That is, she was until she got so drunk she blacked out and had sex with her best friend’s boyfriend. Now she’s struggling with the guilt of it and she’s cut herself off socially from everyone, shutting them all out. Until she meets Phoenix.

Phoenix is recently released from jail on the day he meets Robin. Sleeping on his cousin’s couch he overhears a conversation between her and her friend. He’s inexplicably drawn to her… the quiet withdrawn, sweet and artistic girl has secrets… but doesn’t everyone?

This was my first Erin McCarthy book, and while I may look for other books by her in the future, I’m not sure I’ll read anything else in this series. I struggled with this book. A LOT.

Let’s talk about what I did like first… The writing was really well done, the story flowed really well, and the characters were wonderfully developed.

I liked Robin. I really did. I mean how many of us have done something incredibly stupid after drinking? It just so happens that her mistake is constantly reminding her about it and pursuing things he shouldn’t be. This really put her struggle in a different light for me, because most times we can move on from our stupidity, but between living with her best friend, and getting random text messages from the douchebag, she really wasn’t allowed that.

I even liked Phoenix… His struggle to make something of himself, his fierce loyalty to his family despite their faults … these things make him a wonderful guy. And the way he and Robin connect was wonderfully done. It wasn’t forced, you can see how why they end up together.

The things I didn’t like though, overshadowed these positive for me.

I struggle all the time with insta-love and let me tell you this book had it in abundance. Yes, as I said above, I understand the connection they have and the bond they form, but OMG PHOENIX TATTOOS HER FACE ON HIS BODY ONE MONTH AFTER THEY MEET!!!



I mean… I get it, you’re young… you want to make a statement. But come on. I would have been running for the hills.

Also, the tiny bit of a plot point with the former prison mate? I didn’t get it. I didn’t understand the point of even having that be part of the drama and to be perfectly honest, it was done pretty half-assed. I mean, the story would have been fine without it. Believe me, there is enough drama in other areas of this story. Yeah, okay, his past is catching up with him… but if you wanted it to be a serious plot point, then at least put the effort into including it and making it a serious part of the story.

Finally, the anger issues that Phoenix has. I know they are touched on and discussed as part of his ‘problems’… but do we have to keep making beating the shit out of people and things sexy? It could just be me, but I don’t find it sexy. AND the fact that Phoenix does what he does at one point and there are absolutely no repercussions to it is unbelievable to me. UNBELIEVABLE.



So there you have it. Like I said I struggled a bit with this one for the reasons above. But if you’re a fan of drama filled New Adult stuff then this just might be a perfect fit for you. I see Ms. McCarthy has some other books I might try though, because as I said there were some things I really liked about this, but ultimately the characters and their actions didn’t work for me.

Thank you to Penguin and Netgalley for the advance copy in exchange for my honest thoughts.

[Anna's Herding Cats · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don't know how McCarthy manages it but she's got me falling more and more for this group with each addition book. They're just incredible reads and Believe was no different. McCarthy created a rich, unique and heart warming romance that completely captivated me as Phoenix and Robin found an unlikely friendship and helped each other heal from the pains of their pasts.

So, Phoenix and Robin. These two. Whew. I freaking LOVED Phoenix. His life has been a real bitch. He's never gotten any breaks, his family is beyond dysfunctional and he really doesn't have anything to call his own. But this guy totally doesn't let it break him. He's got his issues, for sure, but he's sweet, keeps plugging along and is just a great guy and damn sexy to boot.



Going in I was a bit nervous about Robin. I have a thing about cheaters (even if it's fairly unintentional) and wasn't sure if I could get on board with her...but she really won me over. She hit rock bottom and instead of just wallowing there she made changes and really tried to be a better person. And I've got mad respect for that.

The two really fit each other. They're both lonely and in their own ways broken and just need someone they can be themselves around. Not have to worry about being judged or the need to impress the other.They're just them. Milk drinking, funny meme texting, sometimes goofy selves that avoid things like smoking/drugs/drinking. And whew these two could steam it up!! There were a number of scenes that definitely had me fanning myself as they got to know each other.

"No boundaries."

His eyebrows shot up, disappearing under his hair. "Now that's fucking hot."

"No boundaries, unless you want a threesome or something. I'm not doing that." I wasn't sharing him.

Phoenix made a face that had me relieved. "Fuck no. Why would I want that? You're everything I need and want. Though I would not say no to a strip tease and a lap dance combo, that's for sure."
All of a sudden I was feeling a hot rush of blood in my face, and I didn't think it was from the pain.
The thought of doing what he wanted made me super excited, but a little nervous, too. "I'm not a very good dancer."

Phoenix glanced up at me. "Baby, that is not the point. Naked enthusiasm is all that's required."

"Oh. I can do that."

Believe was really a fantastic addition to the series. It had me all excited and just feeling hopeful as I went along on Phoenix and Robin's journey. The romance was sweet, sexy and touching. The drama they both experienced because of their pasts was just nicely done and really made you feel for them and the struggles they overcame and it all ended in a great place and has me so anxious for the next book. Pretty damn perfect if you ask me.



Reviewed for herding cats & burning soup.

[Lauren · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 Stars!

I have zero idea why I waited so long after reading Sweet to pick up Believe. I did the same thing between True and Sweet and I JUST DON’T KNOW WHY! This weekend I was in one of the mystifying moods where I had “nothing” to read and was completely clueless where to start. And so I decided to dive back into the True Believers series.

Oh, why did I put you down? I was immediately drawn back into this series that I love, with familiar old characters that I adored from the beginning.

I really liked Robin, a lot in fact. I didn’t really get much of a feel for her in the previous book so I was interested in learning more about her. I thought she was an honest character and very realistic. She felt terrible about what she did to Kylie and made no excuses for her actions, which I appreciated. I also really liked the fact that she knew that she had a problem with alcohol, and that is where her bad decision-making spawned from and chose to let that be a thing of her past. She was definitely flawed, but I enjoyed her tremendously. And then there was Phoenix. Hello! He was so incredibly sexy, and like the other guys in this series, had a ‘bad’ exterior but was all warm inside. I of course also loved that the previous characters were featured so heavily in Believe as well, Jessica, Rory, Riley, Tyler and, of course, the younger Mann brothers. Even the romances are fabulous, the part that keeps me coming back to this series is by far the wonderful characters.

The romance was not my favorite of the bunch, but I still really enjoyed it and loved Robin and Phoenix together. This was definitely instalove, but the thing about it was that they didn’t deny that they fell head over heels for each other so quickly which makes it more realistic to me that they both acknowledge it. There is, of course, some bumps in the road, which is the pattern for this series (and most New Adult romances) but I like the way Erin McCarthy handles these sometimes tough topics with her characters. One point that is definitely noteworthy for me, was the way that Phoenix handled Robin’s “secret”. He cast no judgement upon her and was incredibly kind. I really, really enjoyed how that was handled.

I finished Believe and immediately started on Shatter, which I’m nearly done. That is the way I should have been reading this series, not this lazy pace that I have been because I adore the girls, the sexy boys, the stories, the instalove, the sexy times… ALL OF IT.

I definitely recommend this series, which I’ve said after each book but seriously… if you love New Adult romance, give these books a try!

[K. · Rating 1 out of 5]

Okay, first things first: I didn't actually hate this as much as I did book 2. But 90% of that is because I can't stand Jessica as a character, so having her in the background was a huge help. Robin is a party girl cliche. Phoenix is a bad-boy cliche, right down to his stupid name and the fact that he's literally just been released from jail. Because nothing says "perfect new adult love interest" like a felon! O.o

Basically, their relationship was ridiculous and beyond whirlwind proportions. He'd text her a rose emoji and she'd swoon. It mostly seemed to be built on mutual sobriety, only with Phoenix being hella judgey of anyone who drinks. After a month, he had her face tattooed on his ribs and she got all "OMG THIS IS MORE PERMANENT THAN MARRIAGE!!!". There was some obligatory drama in the form of her getting drunk and ending up in hospital, and him having serious anger management issues, but for the most part it was just dumb.

Oh, and when it wasn't dumb, it was kind of gross. So Robin's big dark secret is that she slept with her best friend's boyfriend and now she feels super guilty about it. Except that what ACTUALLY happened is that she got blackout-can't-remember-anything drunk and woke up in bed with her best friend's douchenozzle of a boyfriend who then proceeded to spend the next couple of months sending her disgusting text messages ("Your pussy tastes like chocolate" was a prime example). Yeah, that's not OMG MY BEST FRIEND WILL HATE ME territory. That's rape and harassment. But it's never dealt with as that. Robin finishes the book still feeling guilty about it and with her best friend essentially only forgiving her because it made her realise that her boyfriend was a cheating scumbag.

In short, there's rape that's never dealt with and which Robin continues to see as her fault. There's a main character with insane anger management issues. And there's a stupid insta-love relationship between two characters that I didn't give a fuck about. And yet, still better than book 2 and Jessica-most-annoying-character-on-earth Sweet.

[Once · Rating 4 out of 5]

Robin is a college student wanting to break out of her norm, yet she did it so effortlessly. She turned into a big time party girl and ended up doing the one thing she never thought she'd do-sleep with Nathan, her best friend's boyfriend. Phoenix is a 20 year old who just got out of a 5 month stint in prison for protecting the one person who means the most to him, even if she doesn't deserve it, his mother. When they meet they know they aren't right for each other, but maybe Phoenix is Robin's road to her own forgiveness, and Robin is just what Phoenix needed for him to get some perspective.

From the start I was in love with Phoenix. I know he just got out of jail, but a guy who will send a kitten meme text after a joke about that has been made-what's not to love? He's honestly a sweetheart who has the bad boy image, which is honestly what I think most girls want. Also his time in jail was for a good reason, it's not like he just killed a guy for fun. He was protecting his mom, which shows his devotion to those he loves. Robin, although I understand everything that she did, I just wish she had handled everything so differently! I understand that for her to get with Phoenix she had to handle her problems how she did, but I really wanted her to just come clean to her friends about what happened. Keeping it to herself makes it seem like it wasn't just a onetime thing, and that irritated me.

The story was good, it kept me enthralled in what was happening. I loved switching between Robin and Phoenix's perspectives. I think this helped to show just how much Robin meant to Phoenix. It's hard when the lead romancer is a bad boy because there's always that doubt that he doesn't truly love the girl. But being able to get into Phoenix's head showed just how crazy he was for Robin. I did feel like the problems that arose at the end of the book were rushed, but honestly I really just wanted more of Robin and Phoenix's love story at this point so it wasn't too horrible that it was rushed. - Bri

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Believe is the third book in the New Adult series True Believers.

The third book is Robin's story. It is told in alternating points of view: Robin and Phoenix (Tyler and Riley's cousin).

In the previous books Robin was portrayed as a wild party girl. But after she blacked out and did something shameful she is now the poster girl for sobriety. She is acting like the good girl. However she is consumed with guilt.

She meets Tyler and Riley's cousin Phoenix. Phoenix has just gotten out of a 5 month stint in jail.

I really enjoyed Robin in this book. She made a mistake and she was doing her best to change her life.

If you read Sweet (book two) then you have a good idea of what Robin's secret is. It all happened at that party that Robin and Jessica (the narrator of Sweet) went to.

I hate book spoilers. But I guess the description of the book pretty much gives away what Robin did that is consuming her with guilt. I personally think that Robin's major fault was that she allowed herself to drink so much that she blacked out. I place almost all the blame on the guy who took advantage of her and who is not a very nice guy.

I have enjoyed this series and look forward to the next book. After reading the first three books in this series I don't really like the next narrator. But I am sure that reading a book from her point of view will give more insight into her character.



Thanks to netgalley and PENGUIN GROUP for allowing me to read this book.

[Jacqueline J · Rating 4 out of 5]

Okay first I'm going to say how odd it is that this, Book 3, came out in a paper copy way after Book 4 did. Hmmm...

I liked this one. I liked that the heroine, Robin, had had a wake up call and realized that heavy drinking and partying in college was a very wrong road. Before the book starts she has spent 4 months turning her life around after blacking out and doing something she is very ashamed of. So when she meets the hero, Phoenix, who is fresh out of prison, she doesn't judge because she knows she is in no position to call herself better than anyone else.

The author did a very good job with her fragile state of mind and self loathing. The relationship between the hero and the heroine was fast but seemed realistic to me. They are both only 20 and these things happen fast at that age. They were just boyfriend and girlfriend. They were committed to being together but in a realistic young kids way rather than marriage and kids and stuff right off the bat.

I've read some of Ms. McCarthy's adult stuff and while I enjoyed it, I think I really like this NA stuff of hers better and since NA isn't really my favorite that's saying something.

[Chrissy T · Rating 4 out of 5]

I heart Phoenix!

Review coming soon!

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This book can be described with two words: Second chances. Read my full review on my blog!

[Flavs is Mrs David Gandy♥~♥’ · Rating 4 out of 5]

AAH Phoenix... I think I love you <3

[Tori · Rating 3 out of 5]

Originally posted at

Favorite Quote: “Who has two thumbs and just came twice? This girl. Holy crap.”

Robin was the quintessential party girl until a one night stand throws her for a loop. Disgusted with herself, she has stopped drinking, stopped partying, and is looking to complete her next semester from her parents house. She doesn’t want to be “that girl” and hates that she can’t even talk to her friends about it.

Phoenix just got out of jail; broke and homeless. Crashing at his cousins’ house, he knows he needs to get a job and get out. When he meets Robin, he is instantly bowled over by how sweet and talented she is. She is the girl he always wanted but never thought he was good enough for.

As Phoenix and Robin spend more time together, Phoenix sees she is carrying a huge secret but hesitates to push her. When their pasts collide, neither are prepared for the explosive aftermath.

Believe is the third book in Erin McCarthy’s True Believers series. A new adult series that revolves around a group of friends and their issues with drugs, alcohol, and relationships. In Believe we meet Robin and Phoenix. Robin, one of Jessica’s (Sweet) and Rory’s (True) best friends, has been noticeably absent all summer. When she sleeps with her best friend’s boyfriend at the end of school, she undergoes a complete transformation and avoids everything and everybody who could trigger a relapse. Three months later, she meets Phoenix. Phoenix, Riley and Tyler’s cousin, has just gotten out of jail after a six month stint. He has anger issues and this time they landed him in jail. While he isn’t the perfect guy for her, there is a connection between them that allows them both to forget their pain and disgust for awhile.

Entertaining and emotionally satisfying, Believe doesn’t have quite the external drama the first two books had. While there is some, the conflict here is more internalized. Robin and Phoenix have issues that affect their views of themselves. McCarty’s signature clean writing style and a easy to follow storyline(s) makes it incredibly easy to become involved in this book. Heavily character driven, we easily fall in love with our hero and heroine from their first meeting.



“Do you have a boyfriend?”
“What?” I almost dropped my paintbrush. “No. Why?”
His phone slid across the table toward me. “Then give me your number.”
“Why?” I said again, which was a totally moronic thing to say. But I didn’t get any vibe he even liked me, let alone was interested in me.
For the first time, I saw the glimmer of a smile on his face. The corner of his mouth lifted slightly before he controlled it again. “Why do you think?”
For a split second, I felt like myself, and I said the first thing that popped into my head. “So you can send me honey badger videos?” I joked, because it seemed like a safer response. He was just out of prison, and he had just broken up with his girlfriend ten minutes earlier. So not a good idea to get involved with him. I wasn’t up for dating anyone, let alone him.
“Yes. And kitten memes.”
“Well, in that case.”


McCarthy does a nice job of characterizing Robin and Phoenix as individuals and as a couple. Both protagonists are easy to sympathize with. Phoenix’s childhood involved a co dependant mother whose next fix was more important than taking care of her child. Robin, whose childhood was much better though she has a critical grandmother whose comments are nasty; uses parties and drinking to avoid dealing with her body issues and to boost her self confidence. Both learn that they are worth far more than their face value. The dual POVs enables us to see what each are feeling and thinking at pivotal moments. McCarthy takes their relationship slow, allowing them time to get to know one another and form a trust bond that supercedes their past behavior.



“I want you to remember that forever. Because I will.”


Though I felt the romance happened fast-insta love is never an easy sell-a part of me understood their need to cling to one another. Neither has ever had a relationship that didn’t involve some pretending on both their ends. No game playing and prime communication between our couple made the story more enjoyable in my eyes. The sexual scenes are bittersweet and sexy. The storyline and romance blend together effortlessly, elevating each other with a few plot twists to add to the overall tension.

We see plenty of past characters-Jess, Riley, Rory, and Tyler. I enjoyed their interaction and the outside observations and influence they bring. Seeing where they were at in their relationships and the hints given towards the future assures us they are all working hard towards their HEA. We also see a deviation from the past trope of the bad boy boyfriend the parents hate. Phoenix’s mom and Robin’s parents are rarely seen and when they are, they are there only in a supportive role.. Although, we do see the love/hate dynamics that affected the first book, True. Phoenix loves his mother but realises early on he can’t protect her from herself anymore.

The climatic moment that blows everything wide open isn’t so much a shocker as it is sad. Robin pays a heavy price for her drinking problem but it also frees her to move on with her life. Her guilt was like an albatross hanging from her neck. She may have lost a friend but she gained her sense of self back. The subplot involving Phoenix and his troubles seemed to come out of left field and resolved rather quickly. It didn’t really served a purpose.

While I enjoyed the story overall, I did have a few issues with it.
One, Robin’s grandmother. I don’t subscribe to the notion that advanced age allows you to be cruel and I was surprised this wasn’t explored further.

Two, Jessica. I liked her well enough in True and Sweet but she became extremely judgemental in here and I was confused where this stemmed from. She makes noises about Robin leaving their room mate, Kylie, high and dry when Jessica does the same thing. She comes off jealous of Phoenix and I wasn’t buying the custody battle excuse. She didn’t want to share her new found family and it showed. Does this mean no relatives of the boys can ever come to visit? She’s also extra harsh with Robin after the big reveal; even after seeing evidence that it wasn’t all Robin’s fault.

Three, Robin blacked out from too much alcohol and woke up in bed with Nathan. She remembers basically nothing. It was essentially date rape and that aspect is never addressed.

Regardless of my misgivings, Believe is a sweet new adult love story that takes us journey of friendship, self discovery, forgiveness, and love. McCarthy continues to entertain with the third installment of True Believers series. She also includes a brief excerpt from book four, Shatter, which releases in June 17, 2014.



Overall Rating: C+

[Anna · Rating 4 out of 5]

3,5 Sterne ⭐️