Slowly We Trust

Fall and Rise #3

by Chelsea M. Cameron

Audrey Valdez didn’t mean to fall for Will Anders. He isn’t her type. At all. But his goofy smile, Star Wars quotes and athletic body make it impossible. She's lived so long in the darkness and Will is like the sun. He makes her laugh more than she has in years and cares for her more than her own family.

But there are things about Audrey that Will doesn't know, things he can't know. She tries to push him away, but he just ends up getting closer to her, and to her secret. Is the risk of losing him forever worth the chance a being with the only person she's ever loved who has loved her back?

Genres: New Adult, Romance, College, Contemporary, Contemporary Romance, Drama, Amazon

330 pages, Kindle Edition

First published April 22, 2014

About the author

Chelsea M. Cameron is a New York Times/USA Today/Internationally Best Selling author from Maine who now lives and works in Boston. She's a red velvet cake enthusiast, obsessive tea drinker, former cheerleader, and world's worst video gamer. When not writing, she enjoys watching infomercials, eating brunch in bed, tweeting, and playing fetch with her cat, Sassenach. She has a degree in journalism from the University of Maine, Orono that she promptly abandoned to write about the people in her own head. More often than not, these people turn out to be just as weird as she is.

Reviews

[Lauren-Sophie · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really like Ms. Cameron's book but this book was so, so bad!
Audrey was an unlikable character, poor Will. And I felt really bad for Eddie.

[a · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've been reading this series religiously since the first book came out a few years ago and I'm still in love with it.

Slowly We Trust is about two characters that want to be together but for unknown reasons, can't. It can seem like a plot well used but Chelsea M. Cameron really made this one her own.

I really loved Audrey's character;I loved how strong and independent she is but her whole "secret" thing really got on my nerves. I just don't understand why she had to make a big thing out of it. Yes, she made some decisions in her past but it's not like she killed someone or something. I just felt like it was one of those things were there's unnecessary drama that was dragged out.

Will is the sister of the heroine from the first book and I was really excited to get his story. He's so funny and cute, especially with his Star Wars obsession. I love that throughout everything he never stopped believing in his love for her and trying to be there for her.

Technically each book is a standalone but they're interconnected so it would definitely be best if you start from the beginning. Trust me, each book is great! Overall, I really enjoyed this book and if you're a fan of classic New Adult with just the right amount of angst, fun and steam then I highly recommend Chelsea M. Cameron's books!

[Soph - Lock&Key · Rating 2 out of 5]

Uh, so dramatic and frustrating. I found it to be just too unbelievable.

More like 1.5 / 5

Full review soon.

[Jessirae]

Holy fuuuuuuck. There's a third book?! Daaaaamn my life is made.

[Casey · Rating 3 out of 5]

Review originally posted at Ramblings From This Chick

Slowly We Trust is the third book in Chelsea M. Cameron's Rise and Fall series. This book can be read as a standalone, but does have interconnected characters. I had not read the previous two books in the series before reading this one and even though I didn't know the characters previously, I had no problem understanding this one. I am interested to go back and read the first two books though after having read about them in this story. I really liked Audrey and Will's group of friends, and I am interested to get to know them better and see how some of them ended up together. While I really enjoyed their group, this book did leave me with some mixed feelings. There were things that I really liked about this story, and then there were a few things that I didn't care for.

Audrey never intended to fall for Will, but once she got to know him there was no stopping it. Audrey has things in her past that she hasn't told anyone and because of that she thinks that she needs to push him away. But the more that she tries to stay away from him, the harder it gets. Will is heartbroken when Audrey says that they need to just be friends, but he would rather have her as a friend than nothing at all. The more that they continue to run into each other though, the harder it gets to stay apart. Will and Audrey both love each other, but there are still many things that stand in their way. Will is determined to be whatever Audrey needs as long as he gets to stay in her life. Audrey knows how Will feels and when things between them continue to get stronger she decides to give a relationship between them a chance. Will knows that there are things in Audrey's past that she hasn't told him, but he continues to tell her that it won't make a difference in how he feels about her. Audrey isn't so sure though, and she has a hard time trusting because of her past and family. Can Audrey really open up to Will and give their relationship a chance? Or will her past continue to affect her future?

I really liked Will. He was such a different hero, and I found him absolutely adorable. He was sweet and kind, patient and understanding. He was the most committed and loving hero that I have read about maybe ever. He never wavered in his devotion to Audrey, even when she was pushing him away. I honestly felt like her let her get away with too much sometimes though, and I really wanted him to stand his ground a bit more. He really did love her though and it was clear that she was the only one for him. I loved how he was such a lovable nerd though, and his Star Wars obsession was really cute. I will admit to being frustrated with Audrey several times in this book. I liked her and she was really smart and funny, but she definitely had issues. I really wanted to see her open up and trust Will more. Eventually she realized that she could talk to him, and she did start to open up to him. However she had said that she wasn't going to tell him everything, and she didn't until she was basically forced to. That bothered me, and I felt like she really never made that decision to be completely honest with him. I felt like Will deserved better than that, and it really made it hard for me to fully connect with Audrey because of that. I understand that she had been through a lot and had some issues because of her family, but Will never gave her any reason to doubt him and I really thought that she should have given him the whole truth by her choice. I did like that she was such a huge Harry Potter fan though, and I liked that she was a bit of a nerd also. I thought that her and Will really fit because they understood the other's quirks and really made it a point of supporting the other and their interests. Will and Audrey had great chemistry also, and you could tell just how much they were attracted to each other and couldn't keep their hands off the other.

I did think that this book was a rather slow though. I had a tough time getting through this one, and it didn't hold my interest like some of Chelsea's other books. I felt like the first third of the book was extremely slow and even though it picked up after that, it was mostly Audrey's journey or Audrey and Will having sex. Audrey did make a lot of progress from the beginning of the book to the end, but it was done in a way that I had to put the book down and walk away for awhile rather than keep flipping the pages to find out what was next. I also felt like Audrey was frustrating a lot of the times, but Will's sister Lottie was also really annoying at times as well. For the first third to half of the book Lottie was torn between her friend Audrey and her twin Will, and I couldn't tell half the time if she was trying to get them together or keep them apart. She was really annoying and frankly I thought she interfered far too much. I wanted her to go away, and honestly I didn't like her at all. She got better towards the end of the book though, and it was like she was a completely different character. I did like Audrey and Will's story despite my criticisms with the book, and I did think that they were good together. I will admit that I wasn't shocked by Audrey's big reveal though, I had it figured out early on and I am surprised that Will didn't figure it out. I think that this is a good read for NA fans that are looking for not only a love story, but also a story about personal growth and overcoming obstacles that life throws in the way sometimes. I think that a lot of NA readers will find these characters to be likable and easy to relate to. If you haven't read anything be Chelsea M. Cameron, I would recommend checking out her work. She always writes characters that are deep and complex, and are easy go get invested in. I look forward to reading more from her in the future.

**ARC provided by Inkslinger PR**

[Emily (Mrs B's Books) · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the third book in the series and focuses on Audrey and Will, Lorries twin brother.

Although this novel wasn't as good as the previous two books, it was still good.

Will and Audrey are kinda together but Aid has this push him away pull him closer thing going on. She also has a secret which I had guessed early on and was not at all surprised when it was revealed.

I felt sorry for Will with the way that Audrey was treating him, but they constant will they, won't they got annoying.

We meet another character in the book, Eddie. Audrey had known him from her previous school and we have to feel sorry for him with what landed in his lap after Audrey's revelation. It may have taken him a few days, but he really acted like a decent chap and I hope he gets a HEA.

[Nani Dawson · Rating 2 out of 5]

Cuatro estrellas, sólo por Will. (Aunque aún así se me hace mucho :/)

UPDATE: No puedo dejar las cuatros estrellas, aunque ame a Will, siguen siendo demasiadas para este libro u,u


No se, todo el libro basado en ese gran secreto, que no es tan secreto porque lo adivinas. Tanto misterio por no tanto. No se, me dejo con sabor a nada, y es algo lento.

Will, eres lo único que disfrute y por momentos, porque ese amor incondicional que soporta casi todo, medio irreal. Igual te ame.

[Vani · Rating 3 out of 5]

De mayor a menor.
Tenía muchas expectativas ya que el anterior me encantó, pero este no me terminó de gustar.
El secreto de Aud tenía bastante drama, pero se dio a conocer y nada. Fue rarísimo.
No quiero decir mucho más para no dar spoiler, pero no me gustó tanto u.u

[Kristine Davila · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 immature stars!

First and foremost, I find Audrey (Aud) immature, selfish and exasperating. She may be going thru a tough emotional roller-coaster ride, but it seems that at times she was more selfish than broken. She had entered into a relationship wherein she knows that Will was absolutely serious about her but she seems not to care but the sex and attention. She was totally into keeping her secret from all of her friends. If the circumstances was with her, she will be keeping her big secret until eternity. Thankfully. it wasn't.

Will on the other had was just a good person that he had accepted Audrey even if he believed she was carrying a heavy load and she doesn't want him to be part of it. And again, as a good person when he had known of the secret, he had accepted and loved Audrey more.

The only part that I had liked in this book was the part wherein Audrey had manned up and took responsibility of her big secret. Her secret thou was not a big twist in the story. I had known all along about it.

[Natalia Paez · Rating 3 out of 5]

My rating for this book is 3.0 stars.

No fue una historia que te sorprendiera, pero tampoco era mala. Simplemente que se parecía a un mar tranquilo, sin olas o huracanes que te provocaran alguna reacción memorable.
La historia entre Audrey y Will es muy sencilla con complicaciones que pueden ser pasajeras y que el Will toma de manera muy calmada, la verdad no lo vi alterado en ningún momento, simplemente siempre fue gracioso y paciente, lo cual me hacia sentir un poco incomoda porque esperaba un personaje mas dramático, estoy acostumbrada a eso.

En fin, el problema radica en el pasado de Audrey y que ella es incapaz de dejar que todo sepan de que se trata su sucio secreto, pero el tiempo tiende a revelar todo quiera o no lo quiera el propietario de ese secreto. En realidad se quedo corto con la historia, se quedo corto con un poco mas de dramas un poco mas marcados y que se siente variaciones a lo largo de la historia y que no fuera tan plano.

[Lisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

I thought this was an ok read. There was too much uncertainty and back and forth with Audrey and Will. For the reason she held back it seemed very irrelevant. I do understand things happen in our past that we want to hide but life sometimes forces your hand! There was just a lot of repetitive writing going on. Some grammatical errors but overall an ok read!

[Tina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Chelsea Cameron has a way with characters and words that are the envy of many authors within the New Adult genre. She has been on our” must read” list for a while and this series is one of my favorites she has ever written. The characters and situations are so genuine and Slowly We Trust was no different. This story focuses primarily on Will and Audrey’s relationship and Audrey’s path to self-discovery. Will is the sweetest! He was the life of the party yet so sensitive when it came to Audrey. His desire to cherish her and love her was so heartfelt. I love his personality and his demeanor overall as a character. Audrey is a complicated one but you cannot help but love her. She struggles throughout the vast majority of the book with her hidden secret, which causes friction and sadness in her daily life. Her desire to love and loss herself in Will is understandable and her reservations are complicated and real. I love that this book was able to touch on several valid cultural and relevant issues without being overwhelming. There is true emotion leaping from each page as you watch Audrey struggle with her past and the hope she finds in Will and her friends.
The chemistry and friendship between Will and Audrey was one of the best parts of the book. Their passion is literally explosive and a small gesture escalates into sexy and sweet. Their friendship was solidified in ways that true lasting friendships are born, through fandom. I love that Will was a Star Wars nerd and Audrey was a Harry Potter fangirl. I laughed so hard when they would say something in relation to their fandom and in representation of true love, they strained to better understand each other through the lens of Hogwarts and Galaxies far far away. It is well worth the read for the Harry Potter and Star Wars references alone.
One of the best parts of the series as a whole is the continuation of the Rise and Fall family. You see so much of Lottie, Zan, Katie, Stryker, Simon and Trish. From family dinners to meddling friends, they round out the story, adding a layer of love and a sense of family that is so key to this tale. While reading this book, you will learn what true friendship, sacrifice and love looks like. The different variations of love left me smiling with a warmth in my heart. Sometimes those you choose as your family are the ones that are able to carry your heaviest burdens, while those chosen biologically refuse to cherish you and give you what you need. You will not want to miss this story!

[Emma · Rating 3 out of 5]

Let me get this out-of-the-way right at the beginning, I love this series but Audrey really frustrated me. There I said it, I will give credit where it’s due and say that Audrey’s character development is the foundation of this story and she does come a very long way as the story progresses. However, I can’t help it if I wanted to give her a good shake for most of the book :)

At the start of the book Audrey is weighed down by an incident in the past, she is so affected by it that she deals as if she doesn’t deserve to have friends let alone a relationship with Will. She creates all sorts of barriers that she believes are to protect herself and the people around her. Her ‘secret’ is so obvious right from the beginning and really of little consequence in the grand scheme of things. However, the way in which she has been treated by her parents; the lack of affection and support she has had to endure, have had a profound affect on the way she views how other people will react. In all honesty is was quite heart-breaking that Audrey felt this way. The reason I wanted to shake her was because she needed to see that no matter what the people around her would not treat her like her parents had. The dynamic of the group of friends is a support system, they have the ‘family’ air to their interactions, reflected in the way they accept each other without judgement.

No matter how Audrey tries to push Will away they are drawn together like magnets. For all their surface differences they are surprisingly alike when you have the insight of their inner monologues. The Harry Potter and Star Wars references dotted throughout the narrative add to the adore-a-geek fest this series possesses.

The tension within the plot comes not from Audrey’s secret itself but the way in which she sneaks around in order to try to hide it. Leading to much worse assumptions. The flow of the story is well-balanced, drawing you in and holding you with Audrey and Will til the very last page.

I loved seeing the other characters within the story and keeping up to date with the events in their lives. I hope we get a story set 10 years in the future in order for me to keep my connection with the characters :)

[Kat DM · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a 4.5 sweet stars for me!
*on behalf of Give Me Books Blog*

What an emotional roller-coaster. Audrey was frustrated with her up and down, push and pull with Will. There were times when I just wanted to pull her hair and knock some sense into her. Why be with someone when you can't even trust them with your secret.
Audrey and Will, have been in and out of their relationship. And when they got back together, things got even more complicated. When Audrey received a phone call from her Aunt Maria and when she saw Eddie from her high school, she became even more distant and distracted with everything else that is going on around her. Audrey is scared that if she told Will her deepest secret, he might not love her any longer and will leave her. She never meant to fall for him, but she did. Will is head over heels in love with Audrey that he would do anything for her. He knows that she has a secret secret that she's keeping from him.





This is a story about trusting people and that no matter what happened in the past you just need to move forward and don't let anything get you down. It's about being independent and fight for the people you love and no matter how you push someone away, if that person really loves you, they will fight to the end. Emotions that flowed through this book was just a little frustrating because of the secret Audrey was keeping, but in the end, I was all smiles. It ended just how I wanted or knew it would for both Will and Audrey.

[What Makes Patri · Rating 3 out of 5]

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Slowly We Trust (Fall and Rise, #3) by Chelsea M. Cameron

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The Unofficial Addiction Book Fan Club's Review:

Rate: 2,5 stars

Review:

I am a big fan of Chelsea M. Cameron's books, specially the Fall and Rise series 'cause it was one of the first New Adult books I started reading. I had high expectations for this book and I was looking forward to reading it. However, I didn't connect with the story as much as I did with the first book.

I liked Will back in the other books 'cause of his dorky side and nice appearance. Although I prefer those alfa males that tell you what they want and what they are planning to do, I was looking forward to see what he could be like when he liked someone really bad.

In Slowly We Trust he's head over heels for Aubrey, so he decides to tell her on New Year's Eve. Bad move, 'cause she freaks out and from then tries to avoid him at all costs. However, it's not that easy when you share friends and you end up seeing him a lot.

You can see they have chemistry and can be a good potential couple, but there were times that Audrey was kind of "excessive" on her pushing-Will-away plan. To the point of walking all over him. Not cool, Audrey. I felt so bad for Will... and he needed to grow a pair and go all alpha male. So much drama.

I think this was the main point I couldn't connect with Audrey or the story as much as I was expecting or did with the first book.

I you are a fan of the Fall and Rise series, you might want to give it a chance. You can read all about the gang together and maybe you would like the romance in the story. If you haven't, this can be perfectly read as a standalone.

[Briana · Rating 3 out of 5]

*2.7
The first 10% of the book was good, but after that the story got to be rather hard to get through. I had high hopes for this book, as it was about Audrey and Will, the ones I most wanted to read about in the series, but it really fell flat on its delivery.
The relationship between Audrey and Will is on a roller-coaster of together/not together, until they decide they can't have a relationship where they aren't together in some way. Audrey was great for about the first chapter of the book in the beginning, then she really started to become manipulative, first saying she wants to be friends, then acquaintances, then nothing, and ultimately deciding on being in a boyfriend/girlfriend relationship.
Audrey started to become very annoying with her treatment of Will and her relationship with her friends. She holds this dark secret over their heads which they are not allowed to mention at all, and when it is brought up by chance or some unforeseen event, Audrey blatantly lies about it to them. In an effort to keep her friends she seems to have forgotten that it's a giving relationship, you need to give them your trust in order for them to give you theirs.
We the reader do not even get to know what the big secret is until over halfway through the book, even as half of the book is in Audrey's POV. I like building up suspense for a big reveal in the plot, but if one of the protagonists already knows what it is then it defeats the point of having suspense, and the story then feels dragged out. Up until the point we discover her secret, there was really no character development for her or Will at all, because how can a character develop if they keep making the same decisions with no good results over and over again? The characters need to learn from their past experiences, not shove them under the rug and leave a huge mound in the middle of their lives that everyone can see but no one can touch.
The book had some good moments between the characters, especially the relationship between Will and Lottie, but overall I wish the character development had happened much sooner in the story.

[Danielle · Rating 3 out of 5]

Slowly We Trust is the 3rd installment of the Fall and Rise Series. This time the story centers around Audrey Valdez and Will Anders. As you may remember, Will is the twin of Lottie. So, if you follow the series, you will see and the other characters that follow throughout. It makes you feel like the gang is al back together (even though they never really left).

Will is a dorky, Star Wars loving, fun guy who is head over heals in love with Audrey. So in love with her, he tells her on New Year's Eve. At midnight. . Andrey liked their relationship before Will had to declare his feelings. She was not looking for anything serious. Audrey panics when Will declares his feelings and bolts. Like she literally runs out the door. From that point on, she decides to push Will
away and keep her distance. This is extremely hard because they share all the same friends. Especially his sister. Lottie is put in the middle. Poor Lottie doesn't want to lose her friend or hurt her brother.

The chemistry that Will and Audrey share can not keep them apart for long. That fact and Will's persistence. Will tries to do whatever he can to keep fighting for Audrey. He will be her friend. He pretty much lets her walk all over him. Andrey can not keep away from Will no matter how hard she tries to be just friends with him.
They are adorable together. In a weird way.

The main reason Audrey wants to keep things with Will platonic has to do with a secret she is keeping. A big one. One that not many people outside her family know about. There is a lot of sneaky phone calls and visits made by Audrey to keep what she doesn't want anyone to find out about. She is afraid when people do find out, things will be different.
There are some major twists and turns. Will is a great guy who is there every step of the way. He is a truly great book boyfriend.

[1-Click Addict Support Group · Rating 4 out of 5]

Chelsea M. Cameron has done it again, giving readers an emotional and heartwarming story in Slowly We Trust. As the third book in the Fall and Rise series, it really cannot be read as a standalone. The characters and plot are introduced in the first two books, and the action starts right in on page one! This book was a definite page turner, with tons of angst, secrets and insecurities. You won’t be able to put this one down – you will have to know what is going on with Audrey!

Slowly We Trust centers on Will and Audrey, as they develop a relationship and learn to trust each other. The intrigue comes in the form of a secret kept by Audrey, and she is terrified of the fallout if Will finds out. You will have to read the story to find out what happens, but all I can say is WOW! And WHAT?! The secret is pretty intense, and it just keeps on coming! Seeing how Audrey handles the situation is both heartbreaking and impressive. I was right there with her, and loved the strength, emotiveness and beauty of her character. That being said, I really loved all of the characters, as they are dynamic, human, and quirky. It was so much fun to revisit old friends like Lottie and Zan, and learn more about Audrey and Will.

My one gripe is that the beginning of the book felt a bit like a tennis match, going back and forth between will they/won’t they, and back again. The second half of the book shines with more emotional development based on the groundwork of the first half. The realness of the situation and the emotions tied the story together, and kept me on my toes throughout.

I give Slowly We Trust a big 4 stars, and definitely recommend the book – it had all the feels! Fans of Chelsea M. Cameron will love this next installment! ~ Alicia, 4 stars

[The_Book_Queen · Rating 3 out of 5]

It took almost 1/3 of the book before I was swept into the story. The beginning was slow and left me a bit uncertain about the romance. I'm still unsure if I missed something in the previous books, since page 1 begins with Will and Audrey in love with each other. Then, to make matters worse, the two dance around for about 15% of the book: “I love you, but we would never work! Let's be friends. But wait, I still can't stop thinking about you . . . “ I quickly grew tired of this, as I saw no solid reason for such conflicted feelings.


I really enjoyed the first book in this series (Deeper We Fall) and I have book 2 on my Kindle. But Slowly We Trust was a bit slow, ending just above average for me. It had its sweet moments, plenty of sexy action, and fun lines and jokes sprinkled throughout. It was an easy, enjoyable read, even if it's not my favorite by the author.


But I needed to connect more with Will and Audrey, and like I said before I was unclear on how they first met and fell in love (was it in the second book that I have yet to read?) There were a few flaws in Slowly We Trust, yes, but nothing major. I still liked this book, and it did pick up around the 40% mark.


I found Will to be a refreshing hero; he's more Beta than Alpha, and he was so sweet to Audrey. I loved his inner nerd, even though I connected more with Audrey in that regard (a HP fanatic like myself).



I will definitely continue to read Cameron's books, and recommend them to fans of highly emotional NA contemporaries. If you read the previous books in the series, you won't want to miss this one, as we revisit the tight group of friends. Slowly We Trust packs a lot of emotions and steam in a quick, fun read!



3 1/2 STARS!

[Zili · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 Stars in my Sky!

I'm new to the Fall and Rise series and although there were definitely aspects of the book I missed in the first two books, I was able to enjoy Slowly We Trust as a standalone.

Audrey and Will are friends, well sort of. They've been kinda dating, without dating and both really like each other. Audrey has has a pretty big secret which she think means she doesn't deserve kind, charming and geeky Will. I didn't totally get her reasoning here but I could understand why she kept this big secret and why she felt she couldn't be with him.

Will is that rare thing in NA fiction: a handsome caring and patient teenage guy. Seriously, Will has a LOT of patience when it comes to Audrey, because she inadvertently messes him around a lot! I'd have told her to shove it along time ago, but thankfully Will's far more dedicated and patient than I am.

The entire gang (group of friends) are all pretty involved in their relationship and I liked how they all supported each other. The only thing I would say here is sometimes I wasn't entirely sure how old they were supposed to be. Sometimes they seemed mid teens then they'd talk about sex and Uni and I'd realised they had finished high school. I think this is down to the dialogue which makes them seem a little immature at times. Now don't get me wrong I enjoyed the tone and the story, I just wasn't always sure of their setting/ages - BUT I think that perhaps this clearer if you start at book one instead of three?!

I really liked the culture references, and because I'm a big sci-fi/fantasy nerd I really appreciated the Star Wars and Harry Potter love.

I received a copy in exchange for an honest review!

Also reviewed on my blog Zili in the Sky

[Crazychriss889 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mhm.. I've got a really hard time coming up with a review for this novel.

Don't get me wrong, the plot is pretty good and I still love the writing style (we get the perspectives from both Aud and Will, which is something I totally adore)
I'm glad that we find out more about their friends (I just love Zan and Lottie :D).

So, let's start with Will. He is so charming and I love that he is so into sports but also into video games and movies. That's awesome. Plus, he is so cool with his best friend Simon and the relationship between him and his twin sister is just hilarious but totally sweet. I really like that he doesn't give Aud up, no matter what she does. She lies to him, she only tells him part-truths and he still sticks with her and I kind of love him for it.
Yeah, I don't get everything Aud did, which is why I never grew to love her. But I don't dislike her either. She had some serious decisions to make and there was a lot of pressure on her (especially by her parents, god, they are just awful... Can't believe these guys... And her brother? Holy hell... Talk about indifferent)
So, well, I'm not very satisfied with how everything turned out. In a way, I can't believe he could put up meeting her secret all these months. And her thoughts? They must have been on her secret continuously but that's not what we learn in the first chapters of the novel. Also, I cannot believe she never told Eddie... I mean, at that point I was really disappointed... But he was so understanding..

Mhm...

3.5 stars - let's round this up.

About part 2 and 4, guess, I won't read them. I'm not really a fan of Trish and I can't stand Katie... Sorry :D

[Tracey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Audrey Valdez and Will Anders have a complicated relationship. He likes her and she likes him, but Audrey has a secret, a secret that she believes will be the end of them.

There is a lot going on in this book. Besides the ever-changing relationship between Audrey and Will, there is the whole back story involving the 'gang,' the circle of friends and family that comprise their world. The interaction between Audrey, Will, and the rest of the 'Family' is both touching and entertaining. These kids really have each others' backs, and it's through the trust and support of each other that Audrey is eventually able to let Will in completely, and see the bright side of life.

The revelation of Audrey's secret was a bit frustrating for me, for a couple of reasons. Firstly, I felt like it was pretty easy to guess what the secret, or the basic gist of it, was, and secondly, it just took such a long time for it to come out. Once we got to see what had actually gone on in Audrey's life to shape her view of herself, the story moved much more quickly and was more satisfying. That being said, though, I did really enjoy the interaction of all of the characters here, and the continuation of story lines that were introduced in the first two books of the series. And, as with other of Chelsea Cameron's books, the innate humor really is a plus, and fleshes out the characters and makes them seem that much more real. All in all, this was a good solid read for me, and I recommend it if you're looking for a sweet, yet sexy, book.

[Amber · Rating 4 out of 5]

***Spoiler Alert***
I had read the other books in this series so I was very excited to read this book. Will and Audrey had this hot/cold relationship. Will was completely head over heels for Audrey and I could tell that she really loved him but had this secret that was holding her back. Even when they actually started dating, Audrey continued to push him away. I figured it out early on in the book that she had been pregnant before and had a baby so I was sitting on the edge of my seat waiting for her to tell Will. I felt so bad for Will because he just wanted to help Audrey deal with whatever she had going on but she just wasn't ready to deal with any of it. Audrey's daughter getting sick was a complete twist for me - I didn't see that one coming. I was happy that she finally got to meet Emily and told Eddie that he had a daughter. I felt awful for Eddie though because she should have told him when she found out she was pregnant. It was nice to think she was protecting him, but he had a right to know. I was happy with the ending and am secretly hoping that there is a book about Eddie. I think Eddie and Trish should get together so that he can stay in the group. We don't know much about Max so I am okay if he doesn't stick around. There are so many odd dynamics in the group that I think Eddie would fit in great even though he has a daughter with Audrey. Can't wait for the next book!

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

☆☆☆☆½

**ARC provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.**

I love Chelsea M. Cameron and I can't help but feel excited every time she releases a new book. Slowly We Trust is the third book in the Fall and Rise series and I love how each book is a new adventure with a new couple. The friendship group is the same but the main characters are always different. This time around it is Will and Audrey's turn.

I absolutely love Will and Audrey and I feel like I have waited a lifetime for this book. From those sparks that were visible in Deeper We Fall to now, I couldn't have been more happier with the outcome of this book. Though I was a tad frustrated with Audrey at times because of her need to hold onto her secret, it didn't deter from the emotions I felt throughout the entire book. I smiled, laughed, swooned and cried at all different points in the story.

The more I read Chelsea's books the more I fall in love with her as one of my all time favourite authors because she always brings something new to each book. It is evident that Chelsea puts her heart and soul into everything she writes and continually excels with each book she releases. These characters are hard to let go of but there's good news because there will be a fourth book in the series!

"Love happens when you don't expect it. It sneaks up on you and latches on."

[Adriana · Rating 3 out of 5]

* I received an arc of this book in exchange for an honest review

I can honestly say that the first two books in the Fall and Rise series were one of my favorite reads 2013. Which is why I was looking forward to this book so much. Unfortunately, Slowly We Trust did not invoke the same feelings in me as the first two did.

Audrey and Will are sort of, kind of together. Audrey has feelings for Will, but she's hiding a big secret. On New Year's Eve Will wants to tell Audrey how much he means to him and maybe even take their relationship to the next step. So when Will drops the 'I love you' bomb, he gets a reaction that he kind of expected from Audrey. From here on out, Audrey begins to push Will away.

I liked Will. He's Star Wars obsession was cute and his geekiness was something that I haven't seen much in books. But even though I did like him, I wanted him to either stand up to Audrey or just let her go like she wanted to. Unfortunately, I didn't connect with Audrey. I mean she was fiercely independent and her story was compelling, but there was just something about her that kept me back from really loving her character.

Overall, it was a good book. I was expecting more after reading the first two in the series. If you're a fan of the series and wish to know what happens with these characters, you should read it!

[Cheryl · Rating 3 out of 5]

Review of Slowly We Trust (Fall and Rise #3) by Chelsea M. Cameron

Review done for Hooked on Books & CherryOBlossom Promotions

3 out of 5 stars

Audrey Valdez is afraid to get close to anyone. She has a huge secret that she is trying to protect. No one would want to be with her if they knew what it was.

She tried really hard to not fall for Will Anders. How could she not when he is everything she could ever want: handsome, sexy, smart, and so sweet.

When her past charges into her present, she can’t keep her secret any longer. Unfortunately, her secret could destroy more than just her.

I liked the idea behind this story but it was lacking in substance. The plot was dragged out for way too long. I also thought the characters were actually in high school at first. They just seemed a little immature to be in college.

Once the secret came out, the story flowed a lot better but then the book was pretty much finished. I would have liked to read more about Will and Audrey after the fact. I think book would have worked a lot better with things sped up and more angst surrounding how everyone got along afterwards. I would have liked to see how Will and Audrey worked things out after college.

I am a fan of this author but this was not one of my favorites.

[Evette · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 Stars
I love fandoms and people that love fandoms. :)
Andrea and Will have an undefined thing. Flirting and kissing is ok, but when Will asks for more Andrea runs. And the story begins.
This is told in dual POV which I appreciated. Will is Lottie’s twin, which also means we get a big dose of twin fun as well as some Zan. Oh I have missed Zan…And Katie and Stryker…and Trish and Max….love this world of friends!
Back to my review- Will killed me with his broken heart- I am pretty sure he was worse than a girl! His pining for Andrea was epic. And their little “family” was having to choose between them.
I will admit I wanted to shake Andrea. Her parents suck yet she lets them form what she thinks of herself. She is terrified of being happy and comes close to sabotaging herself daily with all of the secrets and pushing she does. But Will stands strong and doesn’t give up on his girl!
Love the fandom tangents. Love Will and Andrea together- and holy hotness the sex! Together they make sense- if only they can make it work.
Difficult topics are in the story, decisions that change lives and a beautiful new love. A wonderful read.

[Marie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Seit dem ersten Band warte ich auf die Geschichte von Aubrey und Will, daher habe ich mich sehr gefreut, sie endlich lesen zu können.

Die Geschichte fängt ungefähr da an, wo das letzte Buch der Serie aufhört. Will und Aubrey sind 'irgendwie' zusammen. So lange keine echten Gefühle im Spiel sind, kann Aubrey damit leben. Auch wenn sie kurz davor steht, Will den endgültigen Laufpass zu geben. Was dann auch passiert, als er ihr seine Liebe gesteht.
Der selbstbewusste, witzige, spritzige Will erfährt hier einige üble Rückschläge und scheint nichts dagegen tun zu können, dass er immer wieder zu Aubrey zurück kehrt und sich noch mehr Schläge abholt. Vor allem als Aubrey auch noch beginnt Zeit mit anderen männlichen Studenten zu verbringen.
Aubrey spürt auch, dass Will eigentlich der richtige ist, aber sie kann ihm einfach nicht trauen.
Als ihre Vergangenheit sie einholt, kommt es für Aubrey zu einigen schweren Tagen und noch schwereren Entscheidungen bis sie endlich zu ihrem Happy End mit Will kommt.

Wie alles von Chelsea M. Cameron eine solide, logisch aufgebaute Geschichte, die alles beinhaltet: Herz, Schmerz und Liebe!

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book.

The first book in the Fall and Rise series was good, but it had a few issues that sort of bugged me. However, the more Chelsea writes (and she writes a ton) the better she gets. I really enjoyed the 2nd book in the series, and this one was even better.

I love love love Will, and I actually sort of lived Audrey's secret. Because of her secret, she's afraid to get too close to Will, but Will loves her and refuses to give up - "Because I had to give it a shot. Because I love you and I didn't know what else to do."

The whole group of friends is great, and aside from the fact they are all ridiculously cute and kissy, I'd totally hang out with them. "You can only hang out with this group if you're a little f***ed up. You should also be a little of a nerd. It doesn't matter what about."

I'm pretty sure there's going to be a 4th book in the series - we're set up for at least one or two characters to get their own story.

[Marci · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think this turned out to be a 3.5-star read, but there were parts that annoyed me enough to not make it to 4-stars.

This is Will and Audrey's story. While I found myself getting annoyed with Audrey, Will was absolutely amazing. He was patient, understanding and sooooo sweet! I loved their obsessions with Star Wars and Harry Potter, and the whole wonderful gang was there again.

Still entirely too many editing errors. When I notice tense disagreements, you know there is an issue! And I found myself not really liking Lottie here at all. Man, she was a wench!!! I hope the next book is Trish and she ends up w Eddie.

I figured out Audrey's secret before it came out, and was annoyed until we got more concrete clues! I just wanted to know already!! I usually despise when something like this happens, but Ms Cameron told it in a way that had less sting and seemed realistic. Entertaining, sweet and I look forward to the next book!