Trusting Toby

New York City #1

by Ayala Fallone

When a homeless cafe worker in need of a firm hand meets a kind, muscular welder, sparks ensue.

Toby
I might not have a permanent home, but my naughty reading habits help me survive the mean streets of Brooklyn. I want a man like the one I read about. Kind. Muscular. Dominant. In possession of a solid hand they won't hesitate to use if their boy needs a solid dose of domestic discipline. Right. As if I have that kind of luck. When the embodiment of my desire strolls into the cafe where I work, I can't help my attraction to him. Aiden Carnahan is a snack of a man with broad shoulders and an easy smile who takes me in when I need a warm play to stay. But Aiden's straight. Isn't he?

Trusting Toby is a power exchange, friends to more domestic discipline romance that is book one of the now-complete MM New York City Romance series. Each book in the completed series offers a first-person, alternating perspectives stand-alone MM romance with a guaranteed happy ever after. Please note that this book deals with themes of past homophobia.

Genres: M M Romance, BDSM

118 pages, Kindle Edition

Published February 4, 2024

Reviews

[Drusilla · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a nice little D/s story. Very light on the daddy-kink and just as the two characters are beginners in their sexual dynamic, perhaps this book is made for beginning readers who just want to see what it's like when one character calls the other Daddy and gets a pink bottom when he's been naughty.
The story itself is interesting and lightly written even if it has some not so amusing aspects. Homophobia and abuse are side topics.
Toby and Aiden are a cute couple. I think I would have enjoyed their story from getting to know each other to being introduced to the parents more if it had more words in it. It didn't really feel rushed while reading, the pacing was decent, but somehow lacked a few "flourishes" to create a real atmosphere. Not sure how to put this. The sentences are too short, too many things happen on a page to really immerse you well?
On the other hand, I was just in a mood that didn't need much depth and a sprawling writing style. So the story suited me. The writing style is good but not perfect, and I'm not sure if this is a debut?

Anyway, the intimacies between Toby and Aiden are adorable and build up to hot and delicious.

This angel of a boy did nothing but pull me in. I wanted Tobias Lemuel Hamrick with every fiber of my body. I wanted to kiss him, wanted to do dirty, dirty things to him. Wanted to take him out for an evening. To spoil him rotten, because he deserved it. 🌸🥰🌸

Aiden kissed me again, softer this time, more of a faint brush of lip on lip. I loved that kiss every bit as much as the longer one. Physical affection from Aiden made me melt like the gelato we’d just devoured. 💞🫠💞

Toby met my thrusts, his nails digging into my back. “I love you too, Aiden.” This man loves me. My sweet, naughty Toby actually loves me. 🦋😍🦋

And at the end there's a little epilogue that makes the transition to the second book, which is very well done and even made me cry. So I will have to put the second book on my list. 😊

[Ed Davis · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this short book. It’s perfect for anyone who loves a strong alpha male and his sweet boy. Toby is the perfect boy. He’s been kicked out of his intolerant home by his homophobic parents. He works a a coffee shop and lives mostly on the street. He meets Aiden who is a construction worker at the coffee shop. There is a daddy/boy element to the story, but it was subtle enough that it didn’t bother me. I love a strong Dom and his Submissive. This is very light kink, but a sweet story.

[Alex (HEABookNerd)]

DNF @ 40%

I wanted to like TRUSTING TOBY but the dialogue was awkward and there was no chemistry between Aiden and Toby.

[Nikki · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rating: 3.25 Stars
POV(s): Dual—First Person
Relationship: M/M
Genre(s): Contemporary Romance, Novella

❥

To keep it short, I wasn’t the biggest fan of the writing, but the story was short enough and I liked the plot enough that I pushed through. I wouldn’t read it again, but I would read the other books in the series.

❥

Title: “Trusting Toby” by Ayala Fallone
Interconnected Series: Yes
Standalone: Yes
Cliffhanger: No
HEA: Yes
Triggers: Yes Religious Homophobic Family, Domestic Abuse (of secondary character)
Third Act Breakup: No
Tags/Tropes:
➢ Daddy Kink
➢ D/s
➢ Hurt-Comfort
➢ MMC1 Takes MMC2 in
➢ Size Difference

[Chelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked reading this.

[Maggie]

Bx,Rokp

[D. · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was okay, but not quite for me.

[Bonnie J. McIntyre · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good read

While not as "spicy" as i.expected , I still very much enjoyed the story. It was heart breaking that Toby was homeless. Adrian was a good " daddy" .