JEFF: TRUST ME

by Barbara Eckhoff

Jeff is used to a dangerous life, but after his last case,
nothing is as it was before. Mentally devastated,
he can't and won't go on like this. In his search for a fresh start,
he meets Raven, an international fashion model.

For Raven, the new guest at her parents' hotel is a strange character.
Jeff Farmingham seems intent on avoiding everyone.
When she bumps into him by chance one day,
she can't resist the attraction and a tempestuous affair begins between them.

But is Jeff really just the nice, handsome man he pretends to be?
Or does he have something to do with the mysterious circumstances
that have surrounded Raven since his arrival?
Before she can find out more about him,
she finds herself targeted by murderers and a race to the death begins.
Jeff is now the only one who can help her, but hope fades
when he fails miserably at a crucial moment.
But all he wants is for her to trust him.

299 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 5, 2024

About the author

Born near Hannover/ Germany in 1968, she was drawn to faraway places at an early age.
As a hotel manageress, she worked in hotels all over Germany and spent a year in Canada as an au pair, befo-re settling down with her husband and the two daughters in a small village in Schleswig-Holstein. In 2013, she emigrated with her family to Florida/USA. It was there, when she began to get more serious about writing. In the meantime, more books have been published in German and English. Today, she lives with her husband and their Golden Retriever in the beautiful Shenandoah Valley in Virginia/USA and runs a Bed & Breakfast.

Reviews

[bookhaven__ · Rating 5 out of 5]

After finishing Barbara's previous book, JAKE: Don't Look Back, I eagerly anticipated her latest release—and it did not disappoint.

This story grips you from the very first page. Jeff, plagued by relentless nightmares, decides to leave Washington for a clean slate and heads to Lexington. Along the way, he finds an advertisement for Brisley Mountain Inn, a cozy retreat just outside town. The inn’s peaceful surroundings and upkeep convince him to pay upfront for a two-week stay.

Raven, the innkeeper’s daughter, is a former model soon to start working as an FBI profiler. When she notices Jeff lingering around, her instincts kick in—she can’t help but wonder why this stranger is staying so long. Her suspicions deepen after a break-in at the inn, where she glimpses a gun in Jeff’s possession. Who exactly is Jeff, and what has brought him to Lexington? Can Raven trust this mysterious guest, or is there more beneath the surface?

Barbara has truly mastered the art of suspense in this novel. The story’s pace is brisk, with twists that kept me guessing. There wasn’t a single dull moment, and I found myself unable to put the book down. Every chapter left me wanting more, and I thoroughly enjoyed the journey. If you’re looking for a book that pulls you in and keeps you riveted, this one’s a must-read!

[Readers Choice · Rating 5 out of 5]

Raven never planned on entering the world of modeling, but life had other ideas. Her accidental journey turned her into a sought-after international model, gracefully navigating the fashion capitals of the world. Despite her success, she yearned for a career that could offer deeper connections and lasting friendships, as the modeling industry felt too fleeting, and so did many of the people within it.

Then she met Jeff. While visiting her parents, she noticed the intriguing stranger, feeling both drawn to and wary of him. Jeff was staying at her parents’ inn, contemplating his future after leaving a dangerous job in Washington—a job that had left him with haunting nightmares and nearly cost him his life.

The mystery deepens when Raven learns that Jacomo Spirelli, a designer she worked with, has died under questionable circumstances. Soon after, a call from HR warns her that someone accessed the personnel files of the models, urging her to stay vigilant.

In this riveting book, the author crafts an engaging story with memorable characters. Raven and Jeff are brought to life with depth, and the setting in Lexington is vividly described. The powerful narration makes you feel like you're right there, witnessing the events unfold firsthand. Dive in to discover where their paths lead and what secrets unravel.

[_sassy_39 · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Jeff - Trust Me" by Barbara Eckhoff delivers a captivating tale with twists and turns that keep readers hooked. The story follows Jeff, a man seeking solace after a troubling final case in Washington that pushed him to resign and escape his old life. Haunted by nightmares, he checks into a cozy inn in Lexington, hoping for a quiet reprieve. But things take an intriguing turn when he meets Raven, the innkeeper’s daughter. Skeptical of Jeff’s intentions, she secretly investigates him, believing there’s more to his story.

Raven has her own complicated past, having left her modeling career to pursue a role as an FBI profiler. But as mysterious and disturbing news starts surfacing around her, she’s unsure if Jeff’s presence is a coincidence or if there’s a deeper connection between him and the recent events. Is Jeff a charming stranger simply looking to heal, or is there a darker truth beneath his arrival?

This book was an absolute page-turner. The chemistry between Jeff and Raven unfolds against a well-crafted, atmospheric setting, making the suspense even more intense. The writing is straightforward and accessible, while the plot’s pace and unexpected developments had me hooked from start to finish. I thoroughly enjoyed the journey and found it impossible to put down!