Trusting Will

Camerons of Tide's Way #3

by Skye Taylor

Falling in love could break her heart.Brianna Reagan's life fell apart when her husband, an Army Ranger, was killed in combat. Now, three years later, she and her young son, Sam, have started a new life in Tide's Way. She's determined to protect herself from more heartache. But then she meets Sam's Cub Scout leader, tall, sexy Will Cameron. Will takes one look at the gorgeous blonde and decides his hunt for a temporary apartment is over. There's a space available in Brianna's building. Sam adores Will and has become best pals with Will's nephew, Rick. Brianna quickly learns that Will is a North Carolina Highway Patrol Trooper, excelling on and off the job in activities that challenge him mentally and physically. He relishes living life on the rock-climbing, sky-diving, riding motorcycles, and pushing himself to be the best at whatever he does. He's putting himself in the line of danger, just as her late husband did. And he's hoping for a promotion that would transfer him to a state-wide task force, meaning he'll say goodbye to her, Sam, and Tide's Way. As she struggles to remain "just a friend," Will brings tender, patient romance into her life--with the promise of hot passion, when she's ready.Can she resist? And what happens if her worst fears come true?Skye Taylor has been a member of Romance Writers of America since 1995 and of the Ancient City chapter in St. Augustine, Florida, for the last six years. Her publishing credits to date include several non-fiction essays about life as a Peace Corps Volunteer, one mainstream political intrigue, WHATEVER IT TAKES, and the Tide's Way series.

206 pages, Kindle Edition

First published May 1, 2015

About the author

Skye Taylor oldest city in the US where she divides her time between writing novels, walking the beach, volunteering at the JAX USO, keeping up with dozens of friends via the internet and trying to keep her to-be-read pile from taking over the house. She considers life an adventure and in a world of people who ask why, she has decided to ask "why not?" She spent two years in the South Pacific with the Peace Corps (2002-2004). She's jumped out of perfectly good airplanes and earned a basic sky diving license. She loves to travel and has visited twenty-six states and fifteen countries on four continents and in the South Pacific. Her bucket list includes at least that many more places to see. She's a member of RWA, Women's Fition Writers, Sisters In Crime, and Florida Writers Association. Check out her website at: www.skye-writer.com.

Reviews

[Ally.Always.Reads · Rating 3 out of 5]

*Arc from Netgalley*

Sooooooo.. I'm not real sure how I feel.
I kind of liked it but I kind of didn't.

Bree aggravated me with her refusal to move on and her determination to keep Will at arm's length. i understand she lost her husband but it was time...

Will is perfection. He's almost too perfect.

I'm a sucker for single parent books so I think that's why I liked it. I enjoyed the relationship between Sam and Will. It was sweet.

[Smith Evelyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Trusting Will by Skye Taylor is a tender, emotionally grounded romance about second chances after devastating loss.

Brianna Reagan has already endured the ultimate heartbreak losing her Army Ranger husband in combat. Now settled in Tide’s Way with her young son, Sam, she’s focused on stability and protecting her fragile heart. Love is not part of the plan. Enter Will Cameron Cub Scout leader, North Carolina Highway Patrol Trooper, adrenaline junkie, and all-around good man.

Will is drawn to Brianna immediately, but what makes this story resonate is his patience. Rather than pushing, he shows up for Brianna, for Sam, and for the community. Sam’s bond with Will (and with Will’s nephew, Rick) adds warmth and authenticity, grounding the romance in family dynamics rather than just chemistry.

The central tension is beautifully layered. Brianna’s fear isn’t irrational Will’s profession puts him in danger, echoing the trauma she’s already survived. His ambition for promotion, which could take him away from Tide’s Way entirely, adds another emotional hurdle. The question becomes not simply “Will they fall in love?” but “Can Brianna risk loving someone whose life carries danger again?”

Blending slow-burn tenderness with the promise of passion, Trusting Will is ideal for readers who appreciate mature romance, small-town warmth, and stories centered on healing and trust.

[Jaymy M. · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Trusting Will” By Skye Taylor starts with a wallop ... and picks up a few years in the future, with the female lead of this tale, Bree, still coming to terms with her life. Her husband Ed was killed while serving oversees, after re-upping, continuing to choose service to his country over time with his wife an child. So, her worst fear is confirmed: he was killed in action, leaving her a war widow, and their son Sam, who barely knew his father because he was rarely stationed state-side much less home, without a father.
So, Bree is determined not to ever love that way again, to trust a man with a job that leaves her constantly sick at her stomach each time he head out the door, afraid he too will be taken from her, sure she couldn’t survive such a thing twice.
State Trooper Will feels like he’s the one who’s been smacked over the head. He’s attracted to Bree, the mother of one of the Cub Scouts in the den he leads, instantly in a way he’s never felt for any woman. The electricity bouncing between then zapped his heart and he just knows he has to get her attention, to take him seriously as a man.
She notices him, but his career puts him off limits... just too big a risk for her wounded heart. The more time he spends with Bree, who insists she can’t be more than Will’s friend, and Sam, the harder he falls.
Will worms is way into her life, sneaking in like a thief in the night, a constant for both her and her son, who hero-worships Will. He’s determined to give her time, to show her that they’ll be great together.
Things progress and despite her protests and determination, Bree can’t get Will out of her thoughts or far from her heart. But, his job... she’s afraid ... but she’s come to want him, need him, love him.
Ironically, just when she’d decided she’s all in, she’s just waiting for the perfect moment to tell him, she almost loses him to an incident that didn’t occur on the job.
I really enjoyed this read. Will has such a big heart, and despite his options, sees beneath Bree’s exterior and surface to the woman beneath. Bree, like anyone who’s suffered loss, holds those she has left that much harder and does everything she can to protect him and herself from pain, suffering and future mistakes. But, she’s also forgotten how to truly love as only a woman can love her partner.
Will shows her every day with steadfastness, big an small gestures to trust, to love, to live again. He’s also there for her kid, and loves him as his own. He’s all in.

[Terisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

After losing her husband in combat Brianna Reagan decided that she was never going to offer her heart to another man again and if she ever did, it would be someone safe. She couldn't bear to lose another piece of herself like that because it's taken her three years to finally put those pieces back together. She's dating again, not someone that really does anything for her but someone who is nice to her son and has a nice safe job. It doesn't take long though to discover that even though he might be safe doesn't mean that he's right for her. Her son's Cub Scout leader, Will Cameron, is the exact opposite. He makes her feel things that she hasn't felt in a very long time, but he's completely unsafe. He's a risk taker and regardless of what her body feels towards him, she's determined to keep her heart out of the mix because she cannot deal with losing someone else and his job as a State Trooper is almost just as dangerous as a soldier.

The moment that he met Sam's mom and discovered that she was a widow, he feel for her. It's was just dumb luck that he happened to be in need of a new place to live and found out that an apartment had just opened up in Brianna's building. He's never met a women so beautiful but also one that holds herself back so often, afraid of being hurt again. She's determined to that remain friends just as much as he's determined not to.

While Brianna drove me somewhat crazy with her fear of, well everything really, I absolutely loved everything about Will. There were so many things that he did that made me feel that way. Always the perfect gentleman, a great role model to children that weren't even his, the way that he could talk Sam into doing something while not making Brianna look like the bad guy, his faith in God and last but not least, what women doesn't like a man that cook???

This was the third book in The Camerons of Tide's Way Series but it was the first one that I had read. I really enjoyed it and even though I could tell that it's wasn't the first book in the series, it was written so well that I never felt lost. I will admit though it does make you want to read the rest of the series and I've already purchased book one and will be reading it next.

I received an ARC from Bell Bridge Books through Netgalley in return for an honest review.

[Mariel Hoss · Rating 2 out of 5]

*ARC through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*

This is a book in the Cameron's of Tides Way Series though I am not sure which one...and characters in the series (from previous/other books) weave in and out. This functions as a stand-alone though because I did not get that lost but would probably be better if read as part of the series.

This is Bree and Will's story and it was ok. Bree was too uptight and too determined to avoid heartache that I wanted to Gibbs-slap her a few times throughout the book. Will was portrayed as strong and dependable but I also wanted to Gibbs-slap him a few times for being too lackadaisical in his pursuit. At times, I felt like "why bother?"...

This was a slow read for me, having the need to put it down and pick it back up just to continue the story. It needed more oomph for me and more relatable characters.

[Danielle · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a cute quick read. I enjoyed Will and Bree and watching them slowly fall in love. And believe me it was slow. You can see right off the bat they are attracted to one another but Bree has some hang ups from loosing her first husband.


I could understand Bree's feelings but the way she was living wasn't fair to her self. I enjoyed the way Will took it slow and just wanted to be friends and the way Bree started having feelings.


The way Will was with her son Sam was so special and touching. You can see right away that Sam is taken with him and I love how will not only wants to spend time with them but take care of them.


I think their could have been a little more heat and maybe a little more drama to keep it more interesting but overall it was a sweet read.

[Karie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was lucky enough to read read this third installment of this series. Once again Ms. Taylor writes characters you can't help but fall in love with. She brings such life to them as well as her settings for the story. I would highly recommend this book, and series to a wide range of readers. 5/5. Reviewed this from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Cross posting to My Reading Reality and Baps Book Blog

[Reading · Rating 4 out of 5]

Brianna is a widow, and yes...the typical conflict exists here that a widow of a man who worked a dangerous job doesn't want to get involved with a similar man. Granted, I've never been in this situation but it seems a common plot device.

Brianna has a son, and his Cub Scout leader is Will. They begin a romance, and it is sweet. I thoroughly enjoyed the story despite the predictability.

[Tonya Peterson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can't imagine loosing the only person I ever loved and then try to trust that it won't happen again. Bree told herself it was easier and safer to not love anyone that had a dangerous job but again you can try all you want and the heart will always win. during the months things were tested and she had to accept the fact danger is everywhere rather that's your job or not.

[Malka · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 Stars