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MC Securities #1
Trusting Jack
With only a few days to go until Christmas, Michael Cross has to admit there is something amiss about his latest employee, Jack Whelan. Quiet, jumpy, thin… he never seems to eat. He is also incredibly gorgeous with dark spiky hair that Michael aches to touch. But as his boss, Jack is off limits. And when it comes to relationships, he…well, he sucks.
Jack Whelan is at the end of his tether. He’s living rough in the middle of winter, and paying off a massive debt, so getting a job with MC Securities is a lifeline. His new boss is also the hottest guy ever. Geeky, broody, and scarily clever.
When Michael stumbles upon the reality of Jack’s life, he offers to help. But as Michael’s feelings deepen, and Jack’s terrible past catches up with him, Michael has to decide between believing in the awful truth that is staring him in the face, or trusting Jack.
Jack Whelan is at the end of his tether. He’s living rough in the middle of winter, and paying off a massive debt, so getting a job with MC Securities is a lifeline. His new boss is also the hottest guy ever. Geeky, broody, and scarily clever.
When Michael stumbles upon the reality of Jack’s life, he offers to help. But as Michael’s feelings deepen, and Jack’s terrible past catches up with him, Michael has to decide between believing in the awful truth that is staring him in the face, or trusting Jack.
206 pages, Paperback
First published December 10, 2018
74 people are currently reading
160 people want to read
About the author
Ruby Moone
23 books137 followersBiography
My name is Ruby Moone and I love books. All kinds of books. My weakness is for romance, and that can be any kind, but I am particularly fond of historical and paranormal. I decided to write gay romance after reading some fantastic books and falling in love with the genre, so am really thrilled to have my work published here. The day job takes up a lot of my time, but every other spare moment finds me writing or reading. I live in the north west of England with my husband who thinks that I live in two worlds. The real world and in the world in my head...he probably has a point!
My name is Ruby Moone and I love books. All kinds of books. My weakness is for romance, and that can be any kind, but I am particularly fond of historical and paranormal. I decided to write gay romance after reading some fantastic books and falling in love with the genre, so am really thrilled to have my work published here. The day job takes up a lot of my time, but every other spare moment finds me writing or reading. I live in the north west of England with my husband who thinks that I live in two worlds. The real world and in the world in my head...he probably has a point!
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 67 reviews
January 1, 2019
Wow... this one kinda wrecked me. Ms. Moone quickly sucked me in completely and had me deeply caring about these wonderful characters she created. I absolutely adored Michael and Jack, they became so very real to me. I loved the dynamic between these two throughout the book. I really loved the way they complemented each other and together tehy each helped to heal the damage in the other. This was such a sweet, charming read with lots of heat and a bit of suspense as well. Loved It!
December 21, 2018
~2.5~
This book was a bit of a letdown for me. I love Ruby Moone's historical romances, and I liked the premise of this story, especially the hurt/comfort aspect.
Both Michael and Jack were troubled, but for different reasons. Michael was drawn to Jack and rescued him from a terrible situation.
I'm not opposed to Insta Love, but this relationship was whiplash inducing even for me. The MCs went from boss/employee to lovers to forever in the span of a few days before Christmas.
The feelings came too quickly and didn't strike me as entirely genuine, particularly since there was no epilogue to solidify the connection.
But that's not my main gripe with this story. While I didn't mind the suspense surrounding Jack's predicament, the entire execution was flawed and had far too many loop holes:
Why didn't Jack push back in some way against Bryce the Muscle? Why did an up-and-coming owner of a security company deal with a shady criminal? Why did Christian never answer his damn phone? Why were Michael and Jack so absurdly stupid as to hand over a bag of cash with no assurances or proof of having done so when they were told to wait? What the hell happened to Jack when he disappeared? If he was so disoriented and bruised, how did he recover in fewer than 24 hours?
None of this made sense. It was all super rushed and kind of ridiculous.
Also, the numerous editing issues pulled me out of the story.
I'm not giving up on this author, not by a long shot. I just hope we get an explanation in book 2 of the series.
This book was a bit of a letdown for me. I love Ruby Moone's historical romances, and I liked the premise of this story, especially the hurt/comfort aspect.
Both Michael and Jack were troubled, but for different reasons. Michael was drawn to Jack and rescued him from a terrible situation.
I'm not opposed to Insta Love, but this relationship was whiplash inducing even for me. The MCs went from boss/employee to lovers to forever in the span of a few days before Christmas.
The feelings came too quickly and didn't strike me as entirely genuine, particularly since there was no epilogue to solidify the connection.
But that's not my main gripe with this story. While I didn't mind the suspense surrounding Jack's predicament, the entire execution was flawed and had far too many loop holes:
Why didn't Jack push back in some way against Bryce the Muscle? Why did an up-and-coming owner of a security company deal with a shady criminal? Why did Christian never answer his damn phone? Why were Michael and Jack so absurdly stupid as to hand over a bag of cash with no assurances or proof of having done so when they were told to wait? What the hell happened to Jack when he disappeared? If he was so disoriented and bruised, how did he recover in fewer than 24 hours?
None of this made sense. It was all super rushed and kind of ridiculous.
Also, the numerous editing issues pulled me out of the story.
I'm not giving up on this author, not by a long shot. I just hope we get an explanation in book 2 of the series.
December 10, 2018
LOVED! Absolutely loved this book, couldn't put it down once I started reading it and now I'm gutted because it's finished.
This book is a perfect festive treat, but it's more than that, it's also Ruby's first full-length story and it's the start of a new Manchester-based series about a British security and private investigations company filled with wonderful characters and a brilliant sense of place.
I've always loved Ruby's historicals but this, her first foray into contemporary, is a real gem. It's set over the festive period but it's more than just a Christmas romance, this is about two lost souls finding each other at the right time.
Michael is Jack's boss and he's been attracted to the younger man since he first gave him the job but he's an employee so off limits. But Michael's office manager's concerns about the younger man brings him right into his orbit and then Jack's vulnerability and Michael's fears about his safety put them in close proximity.
Everything about this narrative worked for me. Jack's vulnerable but not powerless, he's desperately strong and dealing with a life that's been just a little bit crappy apart from one small shining light and now he's having problems because of that light getting tarnished.
I loved the way the tensions were all story driven, nothing in this felt like it was there for the plot point only. Jack's life led him to the place he was in but he wasn't a victim and he was doing his best to get himself out. Michael's intervention felt honest, the actions true to his character.
Their falling in love happens over a short time but is, in actuality, a slow steady fall, not feeling like instalove at all. I won't go more into the plot because I think this is a story that, like a well-wrapped Christmas present, just deserves to be peeled away layer by layer.
Now, let's talk Christian and Daniel shall we Ruby?!
#ARC kindly received from the author in return for an honest and unbiased review
This book is a perfect festive treat, but it's more than that, it's also Ruby's first full-length story and it's the start of a new Manchester-based series about a British security and private investigations company filled with wonderful characters and a brilliant sense of place.
I've always loved Ruby's historicals but this, her first foray into contemporary, is a real gem. It's set over the festive period but it's more than just a Christmas romance, this is about two lost souls finding each other at the right time.
Michael is Jack's boss and he's been attracted to the younger man since he first gave him the job but he's an employee so off limits. But Michael's office manager's concerns about the younger man brings him right into his orbit and then Jack's vulnerability and Michael's fears about his safety put them in close proximity.
Everything about this narrative worked for me. Jack's vulnerable but not powerless, he's desperately strong and dealing with a life that's been just a little bit crappy apart from one small shining light and now he's having problems because of that light getting tarnished.
I loved the way the tensions were all story driven, nothing in this felt like it was there for the plot point only. Jack's life led him to the place he was in but he wasn't a victim and he was doing his best to get himself out. Michael's intervention felt honest, the actions true to his character.
Their falling in love happens over a short time but is, in actuality, a slow steady fall, not feeling like instalove at all. I won't go more into the plot because I think this is a story that, like a well-wrapped Christmas present, just deserves to be peeled away layer by layer.
Now, let's talk Christian and Daniel shall we Ruby?!
#ARC kindly received from the author in return for an honest and unbiased review
December 7, 2018
2.5 stars
I haven’t had much luck with my ARCs lately. For some reason I’m liking all my other books and then I read an ARC and it’s a letdown again. Now this book wasn’t that bad, but it wasn’t great for me either.
Michael is the head of the company he owns with his business partner. He is quite happy that he hired Jack, a young man of 25 who seems to be a bit different, but still highly capable.
When one of his employees asks Michael to have a chat with Jack, Michael is wondering why. It appears his colleagues are worried about Jack. Something about him not eating and smelling a bit bad.
Michael want to know more about Jack before he talks to him, so he tries to figure out where he lives. When Michael sees Jack is basically homeless and struggling, he offers him a place to stay.
Jack doesn’t know what to do with his boss’ offer. Does Michael want sex in return? He can do that, since his boss is hot. But when he offers, Michael turns him down.
With Christmas almost there, the two are spending a lot of time together in Michael’s apartment and are trying to ignore their attraction to each other. Michael because he doesn’t want Jack to want him because he’s grateful, and Jack because he doesn’t want to push Michael into something he doesn’t want….
I really wanted to like this book. It had all the ingredients of a wonderful hurt/comfort Christmas story. And while I did like the plot, I had a hard time liking the characters. So I can totally see people who do click with these guys enjoying themselves with this book.
I mostly had a hard time with Michael. He was so stiff and anti-social. Like how he was 30, but hadn’t ever had penetrative sex because he thought that was just too intimate. Now I’m all for ‘older’ virgins, but this was supposed to be the head of his own company, the guy who was rescuing his employee Jack from a life on the streets. I wanted him to just be a bit more alpha I guess. Like how he also didn’t really want to offer Jack a place to stay at first, because then Jack would be in his home. I wanted Michael to be this caretaking person, but he wasn’t quite that.
I know these issues are mostly because I love the stereotype alpha taking care of the younger twink and that it was a bit different here, but as you guys all know, if you don’t like the characters, there’s not much that can save a book.
------------------------------
An ARC of Trusting Jack was generously provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
This review has been cross-posted at Gay Book Reviews.
I haven’t had much luck with my ARCs lately. For some reason I’m liking all my other books and then I read an ARC and it’s a letdown again. Now this book wasn’t that bad, but it wasn’t great for me either.
Michael is the head of the company he owns with his business partner. He is quite happy that he hired Jack, a young man of 25 who seems to be a bit different, but still highly capable.
When one of his employees asks Michael to have a chat with Jack, Michael is wondering why. It appears his colleagues are worried about Jack. Something about him not eating and smelling a bit bad.
Michael want to know more about Jack before he talks to him, so he tries to figure out where he lives. When Michael sees Jack is basically homeless and struggling, he offers him a place to stay.
Jack doesn’t know what to do with his boss’ offer. Does Michael want sex in return? He can do that, since his boss is hot. But when he offers, Michael turns him down.
With Christmas almost there, the two are spending a lot of time together in Michael’s apartment and are trying to ignore their attraction to each other. Michael because he doesn’t want Jack to want him because he’s grateful, and Jack because he doesn’t want to push Michael into something he doesn’t want….
I really wanted to like this book. It had all the ingredients of a wonderful hurt/comfort Christmas story. And while I did like the plot, I had a hard time liking the characters. So I can totally see people who do click with these guys enjoying themselves with this book.
I mostly had a hard time with Michael. He was so stiff and anti-social. Like how he was 30, but hadn’t ever had penetrative sex because he thought that was just too intimate. Now I’m all for ‘older’ virgins, but this was supposed to be the head of his own company, the guy who was rescuing his employee Jack from a life on the streets. I wanted him to just be a bit more alpha I guess. Like how he also didn’t really want to offer Jack a place to stay at first, because then Jack would be in his home. I wanted Michael to be this caretaking person, but he wasn’t quite that.
I know these issues are mostly because I love the stereotype alpha taking care of the younger twink and that it was a bit different here, but as you guys all know, if you don’t like the characters, there’s not much that can save a book.
------------------------------
An ARC of Trusting Jack was generously provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
This review has been cross-posted at Gay Book Reviews.
December 21, 2018
I love Ruby's historical stories; however I felt this first foray into contemporary romance was lacking in some respects and I was left with far more questions than answers. 3 stars.
I would've thought that a prudent businessman like Michael's business partner Christian would surely have distanced himself from a shady character like Daniel McCafferty...but apparently not. What was the deal with Bryce?? If he was working as muscle for McCafferty, why didn't he know about Bryce's little side jobs such as extortion or possible rape?? Why could Michael never get hold of Christian who in turn couldn't get hold of Daniel?? Not very good businessmen if you ask me, never returning messages 😉.
Jack seemed more fleshed out as a character than Michael, but I honestly didn't feel much of a connection between the two so the insta-love element seemed a little out of place as Michael obviously didn't trust Jack completely. Let's hope book 2 of the series answers some of my questions and leaves the typos etc [taught not taut eh??] behind.
I would've thought that a prudent businessman like Michael's business partner Christian would surely have distanced himself from a shady character like Daniel McCafferty...but apparently not. What was the deal with Bryce?? If he was working as muscle for McCafferty, why didn't he know about Bryce's little side jobs such as extortion or possible rape?? Why could Michael never get hold of Christian who in turn couldn't get hold of Daniel?? Not very good businessmen if you ask me, never returning messages 😉.
Jack seemed more fleshed out as a character than Michael, but I honestly didn't feel much of a connection between the two so the insta-love element seemed a little out of place as Michael obviously didn't trust Jack completely. Let's hope book 2 of the series answers some of my questions and leaves the typos etc [taught not taut eh??] behind.
December 11, 2018
*** 4.5/5 Stars ***
Well, first of all….I need to say that I LOVE THIS BOOK SO MUCH!!
The book and cover already grabbed my full attention since I saw it for the first time, and I knew that I’ll love the story as soon as I read the first few pages of the book and really can’t put it down. I read it in one sit and I got this constant overwhelming feels inside me while I read it.
The story is a bit fun and light at the beginning then slowly turned a bit emotional after halfway through it, and yes there’s include some teary eyes here and there, but most of all the story is sweet and heartwarming and all wrapped in good plot, lovely characters and good writing.
The story start with Michael who cannot take his eyes from his newest employee Jack Whelan. He’s quiet, intelligent and hardworking, but there’s something about the new guy that drawn his attention. When his team manager ‘complaint’ to him about the new guy which never go out for lunch and a bit ‘smell’, Michael want to know what his new employee hide from him. So he decided to following Jack after work. When he found out that Jack is actually homeless and live at one of the abandoned building and being threatened by someone, he decided to offer him to stay at his place for his safety.
At twenty five years old, Jack Whelan had live a rough life. After the death of his brother and put him in serious debt his brother leave him, Jack must work extra hard to pay the debt back and faced the terror from a guy who want him to pay his brother debt. When his boss offer him to stay at his place for a while he felt confused at first but then accepted Michael offer just for a night. But then everything start to change…
The story then grew more and more interesting when both Jack and Michael must fight their attractions to each other. The high sexual tensions feels thick in the air. The flirting and push and pull between the two enough to make me flush and blush. They trying so hard not to cross the line but with the growing attractions that strong hung between them? It definitely not easy to do.
After what his ex done to him, Michael didn’t trust a guy easily, he didn’t do relationship and only do hookup with no string. But since Jack came to his life there’s this strong urge in him to protect the poor young man and he almost can’t control his wild fantasy toward him. Jack had learned hard way that there’s nothing come for free in this world. So, when Michael offered him some helps, what’s come to his mind is what the motives behind all the kindness offers Michael gave him. And sex is the only answer. So, he offer him sex in exchange for all the help. But when Michael refuse it, surprisingly it hurt him because deep in his heart Jack can’t denied that he want all the intimate things with Michael…
Michael actually also want what Jack’s offers him, but he want Jack to want him not as the act of gratitude because he’d help him with a place to stay and pay his debt. On the other side, Jack want Michael to want him because he want it and comfortable with it. Jack want to feel needed. And he need that from Michael. Things then get more and more complicated at nearly end of the book, and Michael had to decided whether he could trusting Jack or not…
I must admit that there's some things that feels not quite right here and there, but I decided to ignore it because the warm feeling this book gave me is enough to make me closed my eyes to those small mistakes.
This is the first book from Ruby Moone new series MC Securities. And I can’t wait for the next book from this series especially the author already drop some hints about who will take the next spotlight in this series, and YASSSS! It’s Christian and his cousin, Daniel McCaffrey!
Recommended!
* I voluntarily and honestly reviewed this book without bias or persuasion from the author*
December 5, 2018
There're so many things I enjoyed about this book, the first being where it was set, in Manchester, in the north of England, close to where I'm from and you got a vivid sense of the place and the people. Michael and Jack were such likeable characters and I adored how strong Jack was; practically homeless and even after all that life had thrown at him, he just soldiered on and got on with it despite all the baggage he was carrying. And Michael, seemingly poles apart from Jack in status; successful business owner and Jack’s boss, was Jack’s saviour, even though he was quite vulnerable underneath too and not trusting after his own experiences.
What an absolute treat this story was, I devoured it from start to finish. You know when you’re really enjoying a story and you think that it’s so good, it surely can’t maintain its momentum until the end and keep giving you that feeling - that special something that makes you fall in love with a book? - well this one did, in spades. It was such a beautiful love story; very real, heart-warming and choc-full of feels and I��m really hoping we’ll get to read Christian and Daniel’s story. What a pleasure this story was. Five big stars from me.
Review Copy requested and reviewed on behalf of OMG Reads.
What an absolute treat this story was, I devoured it from start to finish. You know when you’re really enjoying a story and you think that it’s so good, it surely can’t maintain its momentum until the end and keep giving you that feeling - that special something that makes you fall in love with a book? - well this one did, in spades. It was such a beautiful love story; very real, heart-warming and choc-full of feels and I��m really hoping we’ll get to read Christian and Daniel’s story. What a pleasure this story was. Five big stars from me.
Review Copy requested and reviewed on behalf of OMG Reads.
December 17, 2018
This was just too….everything. Too much talk of getting/being hard, too insta love, too much thinking/talking about sex, too much melodrama. Even too much showering! I like my holiday stories sweet, but this was pure sap. Sex and sap.
December 20, 2018
This book was interesting. I enjoyed reading it from start to finish. The book is based in the UK so there were a few phrases that were used I got the gist of, but didn’t really understand. But the characters and their development worked out really good for me and the storyline flowed pretty well. It gets you into a festive mood surrounding Christmas but doesn’t put the full focus of the story on the holidays. The love story we get between the two guys is believable and really sweet to watch happen. It’s a fast moving relationship but it doesn’t feel forced, almost like they were meant to be and nothing will keep them apart.
Michael is used to being alone and doing everything himself. He doesn’t want a relationship, because of past heartbreak and someone destroying his trust. But right from the beginning, I got the feeling that was all just a ruse. He wants to be loved just as much as everyone else, he just needs to take the plunge. And the perfect person for him to take the plunge with is Jack.
Jack has been dealing with some major stuff for the past few years. Luckily, Michael is able to unknowingly get him a second chance by hiring him at his company. I loved Jack. He really just doesn’t let anything or anyone get in his way or stop him from doing what he needs to do to get by. I totally understood where he was coming from being so hesitant about Michael and his motives at first. But even after everything he’s still lighthearted and trying to be happy in life no matter what is thrown at him. I just love him, he’s a character that just makes you smile. And you just want to hug him and make everything in his life better.
*** Copy provided to Bayou Book Junkie for my reading pleasure, a review wasn't a requirement. ***
Michael is used to being alone and doing everything himself. He doesn’t want a relationship, because of past heartbreak and someone destroying his trust. But right from the beginning, I got the feeling that was all just a ruse. He wants to be loved just as much as everyone else, he just needs to take the plunge. And the perfect person for him to take the plunge with is Jack.
Jack has been dealing with some major stuff for the past few years. Luckily, Michael is able to unknowingly get him a second chance by hiring him at his company. I loved Jack. He really just doesn’t let anything or anyone get in his way or stop him from doing what he needs to do to get by. I totally understood where he was coming from being so hesitant about Michael and his motives at first. But even after everything he’s still lighthearted and trying to be happy in life no matter what is thrown at him. I just love him, he’s a character that just makes you smile. And you just want to hug him and make everything in his life better.
*** Copy provided to Bayou Book Junkie for my reading pleasure, a review wasn't a requirement. ***
December 26, 2018
2★'s = it was ok.
I hate when this happens.
It is just such a busy time of year, truly.
I seem to have marked when I started this, I'm iffy on when I actually finished it, and well, I don't seem to even recall all that much.
I think it read a bit weird and well, it didn't make all that much sense.
Oh well.
I hate when this happens.
It is just such a busy time of year, truly.
I seem to have marked when I started this, I'm iffy on when I actually finished it, and well, I don't seem to even recall all that much.
I think it read a bit weird and well, it didn't make all that much sense.
Oh well.
June 29, 2024
Rating: 2.5 stars (rounded down)
I adore this author's historicals so I was excited to try one of her few contemporary romances but it didn't go well. This started out really good but went downhill for multiple reasons, most of which are connected to this being the author's first full length contemporary romance and also the author's inability to craft a coherent, intelligent suspense plotline.
First - the positives! I went into this being wary about the age gap because I'm fussy over what kind of age gap dynamics I like. Thankfully, the author took one of the approaches that I like. On the surface, Michael holds a lot of cards: he's nearly 10 years older than Jack, he's Jack's boss and while Jack is homeless and poor, Michael has a nice home (which he invites Jack to move into) and is the owner of the successful cybersecurity company that Jack works for. But the author leveled the playing field between the MCs by giving Jack much more sexual experience and life experience. Michael was a bit naïve about the world, which put Jack in a superior position during some of their interactions. This balance meant I really enjoyed their relationship and the age gap didn't matter.
I also liked the MCs as individuals and I liked that both of them had had bad prior romantic relationships and those relationships directly led to issues that drove their actions throughout the story (lack if trust, insecurities etc). I also thought their relationship was really sweet and I loved that the majority of the story has the two MCs living together and being adorable and domestic together. The story takes place over Christmas and since Jack hasn't had many good Christmas experiences in his adult life, he's overjoyed to share Michael's home and the holidays with him, which was also very sweet.
Now for the negatives. I'll list them in order of least annoying to most annoying.
Small Issues
+ Michael owning a cybersecurity company has zero relevance to the plot, which was odd and wasted potential
+ I lost count of how often the MCs showered but it was an absurd number. On many days, they both showered twice and washed their hair every single time.
+ During the climax, . The only reason this little sequence was included was to give Michael the chance to angst about Jack potentially having betrayed him, which made Michael look even dumber than he already was (this point connects to the last part of my review)
Instalove
This entire story takes place over a few weeks and the MCs go from co-workers to lovers to ILYs during that time. The beginning of their relationship was paced really well with both MCs knowing about their attraction to each other but being hesitant to act on it due to the power imbalance between them since Michael (the boss) has invited his homeless employee to live with him without any expectations of payment. Jack has had bad prior experiences with people using him for sex or expecting sexual favors as a form of payment for basic kindness and other things so that added a layer of complication. They settled into an adorable domestic routine and I would have liked for the UST to keep building as they kept getting to know each other without sex being involved, but the author had different plans. At the halfway mark, they start having sex and just a few chapters later, they're 'in love'. This rushed conclusion to what was a well paced beginning was a disappointment.
Sloppy SPAG Errors
A lot of this author's work is unfortunately known for being filled with sloppy, irritating SPAG errors which anybody who is literate and has a basic understanding of narrative writing would be able to identify from a mile away. All of the author's usual offenses appear frequently: missing or extra quotation marks, missing words and the most annoying common offender of all - not ending questions with question marks. The majority of these errors are very obvious and there's no excuse for having a book filled with so many of them.
Amateur Writing Style
This is the author's first full length contemporary book and the fact that she usually writes 1800s historical romances was very evident because she struggled making the MCs sound like they were living in the 21st century instead of the 19th century. It's kind of hilarious because in most cases, contemporary romance authors have trouble making their historical characters not sound contemporary. Anyway, the MCs would very often not use contractions when trying to emphasize a point and it didn't fit how either of them would be speaking or thinking in this century. In some cases, it felt like the author wrote out certain words to emphasize them but due to the lack of italics, it didn't come across as emphasis but just somebody speaking in an oddly formal way that didn't suit their characterization or circumstances.
Another issue was repetition and choppy sentences. This author's prose is usually really good so I don't know what happened here, but the author frequently had series of short, choppy sentences that said the same thing over and over again. Like with the lack of contractions, I think this was meant to create emphasis but it was so repetitive that it lost its effectiveness. Specifically, some oddly formal words like utterly, certain and absolute were used so often that they stood out. Here are some examples (each line is individual):
'Jack melted. Utterly. He gave himself up.'
'He was lost. Utterly lost.'
'It was heaven. Absolute heaven.'
'...but nothing had prepared him for this. Nothing at all.'
"There will be an explanation. I'm certain. He wouldn't do this. He wouldn't."
And later during the same conversation:
"Yes. Yes, you're right. There will be an explanation. I'm certain. He wouldn't do this. He wouldn't."
I think the problem is that the author struggled to adjust to contemporary speech patters and thought patterns after writing historicals but it's something that she should have noticed and addressed before releasing this into the world because this book makes it seem like she's an amateur writer and she's not.
Stupid MCs In A Stupid Suspense Plotline
I have yet to come across a well crafted, coherent and smart suspense plotline by this author and unfortunately, this book is yet another example of her failing to pull it off. This entire story only happens because both of the MCs are stupid.
The entire suspense plotline was amateur and dumb and in order for this stupidity to work, both MCs had to act like morons. The unfortunate thing is that the whole Jack-being-extorted plotline could have still worked if the author had steered it in a different direction. Jack had nothing and nobody to turn to for help so if a random dude wanted Jack to give him all of his money in exchange for staying alive, that would have made sense. Michael running a cybersecurity company would have been the perfect way for Jack to get help. Them working together to keep Jack safe would have also allowed the romance to progress at a slower and more natural pace. Basically, this entire story would have been a thousand times better and more sensible if the author had chosen a different direction for the suspense plotline.
Conclusion
Overall, this was a disappointment. The writing style not only suffers from the author's usual sloppy errors but the amateur nature of it isn't a reflection of her usual abilities. In addition, the romance was rushed and the suspense plotline was a mess and hinged on both MCs being idiots.
I adore this author's historicals so I was excited to try one of her few contemporary romances but it didn't go well. This started out really good but went downhill for multiple reasons, most of which are connected to this being the author's first full length contemporary romance and also the author's inability to craft a coherent, intelligent suspense plotline.
First - the positives! I went into this being wary about the age gap because I'm fussy over what kind of age gap dynamics I like. Thankfully, the author took one of the approaches that I like. On the surface, Michael holds a lot of cards: he's nearly 10 years older than Jack, he's Jack's boss and while Jack is homeless and poor, Michael has a nice home (which he invites Jack to move into) and is the owner of the successful cybersecurity company that Jack works for. But the author leveled the playing field between the MCs by giving Jack much more sexual experience and life experience. Michael was a bit naïve about the world, which put Jack in a superior position during some of their interactions. This balance meant I really enjoyed their relationship and the age gap didn't matter.
I also liked the MCs as individuals and I liked that both of them had had bad prior romantic relationships and those relationships directly led to issues that drove their actions throughout the story (lack if trust, insecurities etc). I also thought their relationship was really sweet and I loved that the majority of the story has the two MCs living together and being adorable and domestic together. The story takes place over Christmas and since Jack hasn't had many good Christmas experiences in his adult life, he's overjoyed to share Michael's home and the holidays with him, which was also very sweet.
Now for the negatives. I'll list them in order of least annoying to most annoying.
Small Issues
+ Michael owning a cybersecurity company has zero relevance to the plot, which was odd and wasted potential
+ I lost count of how often the MCs showered but it was an absurd number. On many days, they both showered twice and washed their hair every single time.
+ During the climax, . The only reason this little sequence was included was to give Michael the chance to angst about Jack potentially having betrayed him, which made Michael look even dumber than he already was (this point connects to the last part of my review)
Instalove
This entire story takes place over a few weeks and the MCs go from co-workers to lovers to ILYs during that time. The beginning of their relationship was paced really well with both MCs knowing about their attraction to each other but being hesitant to act on it due to the power imbalance between them since Michael (the boss) has invited his homeless employee to live with him without any expectations of payment. Jack has had bad prior experiences with people using him for sex or expecting sexual favors as a form of payment for basic kindness and other things so that added a layer of complication. They settled into an adorable domestic routine and I would have liked for the UST to keep building as they kept getting to know each other without sex being involved, but the author had different plans. At the halfway mark, they start having sex and just a few chapters later, they're 'in love'. This rushed conclusion to what was a well paced beginning was a disappointment.
Sloppy SPAG Errors
A lot of this author's work is unfortunately known for being filled with sloppy, irritating SPAG errors which anybody who is literate and has a basic understanding of narrative writing would be able to identify from a mile away. All of the author's usual offenses appear frequently: missing or extra quotation marks, missing words and the most annoying common offender of all - not ending questions with question marks. The majority of these errors are very obvious and there's no excuse for having a book filled with so many of them.
Amateur Writing Style
This is the author's first full length contemporary book and the fact that she usually writes 1800s historical romances was very evident because she struggled making the MCs sound like they were living in the 21st century instead of the 19th century. It's kind of hilarious because in most cases, contemporary romance authors have trouble making their historical characters not sound contemporary. Anyway, the MCs would very often not use contractions when trying to emphasize a point and it didn't fit how either of them would be speaking or thinking in this century. In some cases, it felt like the author wrote out certain words to emphasize them but due to the lack of italics, it didn't come across as emphasis but just somebody speaking in an oddly formal way that didn't suit their characterization or circumstances.
Another issue was repetition and choppy sentences. This author's prose is usually really good so I don't know what happened here, but the author frequently had series of short, choppy sentences that said the same thing over and over again. Like with the lack of contractions, I think this was meant to create emphasis but it was so repetitive that it lost its effectiveness. Specifically, some oddly formal words like utterly, certain and absolute were used so often that they stood out. Here are some examples (each line is individual):
'Jack melted. Utterly. He gave himself up.'
'He was lost. Utterly lost.'
'It was heaven. Absolute heaven.'
'...but nothing had prepared him for this. Nothing at all.'
"There will be an explanation. I'm certain. He wouldn't do this. He wouldn't."
And later during the same conversation:
"Yes. Yes, you're right. There will be an explanation. I'm certain. He wouldn't do this. He wouldn't."
I think the problem is that the author struggled to adjust to contemporary speech patters and thought patterns after writing historicals but it's something that she should have noticed and addressed before releasing this into the world because this book makes it seem like she's an amateur writer and she's not.
Stupid MCs In A Stupid Suspense Plotline
I have yet to come across a well crafted, coherent and smart suspense plotline by this author and unfortunately, this book is yet another example of her failing to pull it off. This entire story only happens because both of the MCs are stupid.
The entire suspense plotline was amateur and dumb and in order for this stupidity to work, both MCs had to act like morons. The unfortunate thing is that the whole Jack-being-extorted plotline could have still worked if the author had steered it in a different direction. Jack had nothing and nobody to turn to for help so if a random dude wanted Jack to give him all of his money in exchange for staying alive, that would have made sense. Michael running a cybersecurity company would have been the perfect way for Jack to get help. Them working together to keep Jack safe would have also allowed the romance to progress at a slower and more natural pace. Basically, this entire story would have been a thousand times better and more sensible if the author had chosen a different direction for the suspense plotline.
Conclusion
Overall, this was a disappointment. The writing style not only suffers from the author's usual sloppy errors but the amateur nature of it isn't a reflection of her usual abilities. In addition, the romance was rushed and the suspense plotline was a mess and hinged on both MCs being idiots.
December 4, 2018
Okay, can I just say WOW! I loved this book.
Jack is 25 and living rough, considerably below his means, due to a debt that his dead brother owes. He finds himself taking an admin job where he works for Michael.
Michael is 30 and lonely. His only relationship ended when his boyfriend stole his ideas and ran, leaving him and his company in jeopardy. But now, his business life is under control. His security company is doing well and his partner handles the people-ing, so he's got it made. Or so he thought...until his secretary announces that Jack stinks and it's up to him to deal with confronting him.
This is where it gets really good. He follows Jack to his 'house' in a derelict building with no doors, then fights off a brute of a man who's the muscle collecting on a $10K note that he owes.
So, I'm trying not to give the story away, but it's obvious that this is more than just a sweet romance. There are so many barriers and issues and boundaries and bad guys. It's got some action and it's got some love and it's totally endearing.
As for the main characters, Jack and Michael. Awesome. Jack was so guarded and skittish but when pressed, he said what he meant and he meant what he said, post haste. Michael had the upper hand being confident and monetarily secure, but he was crap with words. He said all of the wrong things, but he knew it and he fixed it. Right away he fixed it and it was just so real.
Throughout the story was the theme of 'Two's Company' and it was very fun to see that woven in their relationship and how they saw each other.
This was just a very sweet, charming, honest story of two different lives making space for love and jumping in with eyes wide open. Loved it.
*Galley copy generously given by the author in exchange for an honest review. To be cross posted on http://gaybook.reviews/*
Jack is 25 and living rough, considerably below his means, due to a debt that his dead brother owes. He finds himself taking an admin job where he works for Michael.
Michael is 30 and lonely. His only relationship ended when his boyfriend stole his ideas and ran, leaving him and his company in jeopardy. But now, his business life is under control. His security company is doing well and his partner handles the people-ing, so he's got it made. Or so he thought...until his secretary announces that Jack stinks and it's up to him to deal with confronting him.
This is where it gets really good. He follows Jack to his 'house' in a derelict building with no doors, then fights off a brute of a man who's the muscle collecting on a $10K note that he owes.
So, I'm trying not to give the story away, but it's obvious that this is more than just a sweet romance. There are so many barriers and issues and boundaries and bad guys. It's got some action and it's got some love and it's totally endearing.
As for the main characters, Jack and Michael. Awesome. Jack was so guarded and skittish but when pressed, he said what he meant and he meant what he said, post haste. Michael had the upper hand being confident and monetarily secure, but he was crap with words. He said all of the wrong things, but he knew it and he fixed it. Right away he fixed it and it was just so real.
Throughout the story was the theme of 'Two's Company' and it was very fun to see that woven in their relationship and how they saw each other.
This was just a very sweet, charming, honest story of two different lives making space for love and jumping in with eyes wide open. Loved it.
*Galley copy generously given by the author in exchange for an honest review. To be cross posted on http://gaybook.reviews/*
December 7, 2018
This was a pretty good read. What happens when the boss is attracted to his employee only to realize that said employee is in some trouble and needs help? Will that boss help the employee or will he just continue ignore the employee in hopes that the employee will never notice the inappropriate thoughts he has had about him? This book has some minor twists to it. I have to say that the twist that did happen, I kind of expected it after getting to a certain point I. The book but the way it all unfolded was surprising. So that was a huge plus.
Michael and Christian own a company together. While Christian is out of town working on a new contract Michael has to hire a new employee. This is not something that Michael normally does so he is kind of uncomfortable having to do so. When Michael does end up hiring someone he hires a man named Jack.
Jack is an extremely hard worker and seems to be working well within the company. So when on of Michael’s most trusted employees comes to him in confidence about Jack, Michael is intrigued. He was already crushing on him but the thing that gets him is what he did not notice. Evidently Jack is not the nicest smelling person. Though he looks clean, he has an odor to him evidently that most every other employee has noticed. But not only that but it was also noticed that Jack never eats much other then the provided biscuits and tea. Also he is on the thin side. Michael is just shocked that he never noticed before considering how often he finds himself staring at Jack.
When Michael does some investigating on his own, he finds that Jack is indeed living rough. What’s more is evidently someone named Bryce is out to get Jack in more ways then one. Michael cannot take a chance at letting that happen. So Michael does the only thing he knows to do and that is take Jack home with him until they can figure out somewhere safe for Jack to go.
What neither man expects to occur is for both to feel the same crush on the other. So how will things turn out between them now that Jack is basically living with Michael? Will Michael be able to keep his distance? How is Michael going to help Jack out of the mess he is in once Jack opens up to him about it?
I enjoyed this book. I do believe that this is the first book by Ruby Moone that I have read. I hope that Ruby will write a book about Christian and Daniel, two of the charcters mentioned in this book, because there is definitely a story behind these two that I would love to read!!!
Was given this galley copy for free for an open and honest review
Michael and Christian own a company together. While Christian is out of town working on a new contract Michael has to hire a new employee. This is not something that Michael normally does so he is kind of uncomfortable having to do so. When Michael does end up hiring someone he hires a man named Jack.
Jack is an extremely hard worker and seems to be working well within the company. So when on of Michael’s most trusted employees comes to him in confidence about Jack, Michael is intrigued. He was already crushing on him but the thing that gets him is what he did not notice. Evidently Jack is not the nicest smelling person. Though he looks clean, he has an odor to him evidently that most every other employee has noticed. But not only that but it was also noticed that Jack never eats much other then the provided biscuits and tea. Also he is on the thin side. Michael is just shocked that he never noticed before considering how often he finds himself staring at Jack.
When Michael does some investigating on his own, he finds that Jack is indeed living rough. What’s more is evidently someone named Bryce is out to get Jack in more ways then one. Michael cannot take a chance at letting that happen. So Michael does the only thing he knows to do and that is take Jack home with him until they can figure out somewhere safe for Jack to go.
What neither man expects to occur is for both to feel the same crush on the other. So how will things turn out between them now that Jack is basically living with Michael? Will Michael be able to keep his distance? How is Michael going to help Jack out of the mess he is in once Jack opens up to him about it?
I enjoyed this book. I do believe that this is the first book by Ruby Moone that I have read. I hope that Ruby will write a book about Christian and Daniel, two of the charcters mentioned in this book, because there is definitely a story behind these two that I would love to read!!!
Was given this galley copy for free for an open and honest review
December 31, 2018
A Joyfully Jay review.
3.75 stars
rusting Jack is a perfectly fine romance, never leaning too much toward angst and never becoming too flippant. But it never really evolves beyond being “fine.” It’s rather ordinary and while it isn’t bad at all, nor is it very fulfilling.
Michael and Jack are a nice couple and we’re given enough about their backgrounds to make them feel like flesh and blood. They work well together, though they lack a bit of spark. Like the story itself, Michael and Jack are rather ordinary. They don’t seem to capture a real sense of passion between them so despite their intimacy, they feel more like roommates than lovers. They’re sweet rather than sexy and I know some readers really prefer that, but I wanted a bit more “zing” here.
Read Sue’s review in its entirety here.
3.75 stars
rusting Jack is a perfectly fine romance, never leaning too much toward angst and never becoming too flippant. But it never really evolves beyond being “fine.” It’s rather ordinary and while it isn’t bad at all, nor is it very fulfilling.
Michael and Jack are a nice couple and we’re given enough about their backgrounds to make them feel like flesh and blood. They work well together, though they lack a bit of spark. Like the story itself, Michael and Jack are rather ordinary. They don’t seem to capture a real sense of passion between them so despite their intimacy, they feel more like roommates than lovers. They’re sweet rather than sexy and I know some readers really prefer that, but I wanted a bit more “zing” here.
Read Sue’s review in its entirety here.
December 5, 2018
Jack has had a hard life. Orphaned very young, having no one but his brother by choice to care for. When his brother dies, he inherits his debt. Working any job he can to pay off the debt, living in a condemned building, barely hanging on. When he starts working for Michael’s company his life changes.
Michael’s policy of never dating the people who work for him is tested with Jack. As their feelings grow for each other, Michael knows he might be making a mistake but can’t help himself. When he discovers that maybe Jack lied to him he begins to doubt both himself and Jack.
Nice story with a Christmas theme. It’s definitely an insta-love. Both men had issues with trust and that fueled the angst in the story. Overall a sweet, quick read, holiday story with likable characters.
Review Copy requested and reviewed on behalf of OMGReads.
Michael’s policy of never dating the people who work for him is tested with Jack. As their feelings grow for each other, Michael knows he might be making a mistake but can’t help himself. When he discovers that maybe Jack lied to him he begins to doubt both himself and Jack.
Nice story with a Christmas theme. It’s definitely an insta-love. Both men had issues with trust and that fueled the angst in the story. Overall a sweet, quick read, holiday story with likable characters.
Review Copy requested and reviewed on behalf of OMGReads.
December 25, 2018
This is the first contemporary I've read by Ruby Moone but I adore her historical reads.
This story has one of my favourite type of MCs. Gruff, stoic, convinced they are unloveable. That's Michael. And when he falls, he falls hard. Rescuing homeless characters and Christmas seem to go hand in hand. This is a lovely tale of finding the one and accepting your fate.
#homelessMC #colleaguestolovers #treetriming #awkwardMC #loveinaflash
This story has one of my favourite type of MCs. Gruff, stoic, convinced they are unloveable. That's Michael. And when he falls, he falls hard. Rescuing homeless characters and Christmas seem to go hand in hand. This is a lovely tale of finding the one and accepting your fate.
#homelessMC #colleaguestolovers #treetriming #awkwardMC #loveinaflash
December 14, 2018
I have a toothache, that ending was so sweet.
I like the plot and the flow of the story. I wish I had felt more of a connection to Michael. His character wasn’t as strong as Jack was to me. Like I said, super cute, super perfect present wrapped in a bow ending.
I like the plot and the flow of the story. I wish I had felt more of a connection to Michael. His character wasn’t as strong as Jack was to me. Like I said, super cute, super perfect present wrapped in a bow ending.
December 10, 2018
Ruby Moone has written a deeply engaging story with Trusting Jack, the holiday introduction of the first book in the new MC Securities series. I got absorbed into this fictional world very quickly and had difficulty in closing the Kindle between my interrupted readings!
Jack’s had it hard. He’s trying his best to get out of the mess he’s found himself in but the world always seems to kick him when he’s down. The only good thing to happen to him lately is getting a job working for Mr. Cross.
Michael Cross runs his own security company, along with his friend and business partner. He employs the enigmatic and alluring Jack based on a hunch, and a mediocre resume. But there’s something about Jack that calls to Michael, and he needs to figure out what it is.
This story is gritty and gasp-worthy. The characters are not typical – which gives the book a point of difference and makes it memorable, likely to stay with me for a long time.
There are tense moments but infinitely sweet ones as well. A dash of awkward with a touch of realism makes Trusting Jack a highly worthwhile read; definitely recommended for those of you after a grittier Christmas tale this holiday season.
Jack’s had it hard. He’s trying his best to get out of the mess he’s found himself in but the world always seems to kick him when he’s down. The only good thing to happen to him lately is getting a job working for Mr. Cross.
Michael Cross runs his own security company, along with his friend and business partner. He employs the enigmatic and alluring Jack based on a hunch, and a mediocre resume. But there’s something about Jack that calls to Michael, and he needs to figure out what it is.
This story is gritty and gasp-worthy. The characters are not typical – which gives the book a point of difference and makes it memorable, likely to stay with me for a long time.
There are tense moments but infinitely sweet ones as well. A dash of awkward with a touch of realism makes Trusting Jack a highly worthwhile read; definitely recommended for those of you after a grittier Christmas tale this holiday season.
December 13, 2018
Honestly, there MIGHT have been one or two things that could have used a tweak here or there, but frankly, this story was perfect for me! I had two books ahead of it on my TBR, but I just couldn't help myself, so I jumped right in! The characters were so well-written and believable... Jack was one of those MCs that you just want to pick up and take him home with you. Oh, wait... that is exactly what Michael did! *grin*
I look forward to seeing where Ms. Moone takes this series next... so many wonderful, intriguing possibilities! ;D
I'll admit, I am always drawn to the "bad" boys and Daniel looks like he is going to fit the bill nicely! Now, I guess we just have to wait... *sigh* LOL!!!
I look forward to seeing where Ms. Moone takes this series next... so many wonderful, intriguing possibilities! ;D
I'll admit, I am always drawn to the "bad" boys and Daniel looks like he is going to fit the bill nicely! Now, I guess we just have to wait... *sigh* LOL!!!
February 2, 2019
Awww...
4.5 stars
After two DNFs in a row, this was the Christmas miracle I needed. Loved the characters, the story, I genuinely teared up at points and it left me with such warm fuzzy feels...I loved it. Oh, and the sexytimes were A+
Would definitely recommend for a quick comfort read.
4.5 stars
After two DNFs in a row, this was the Christmas miracle I needed. Loved the characters, the story, I genuinely teared up at points and it left me with such warm fuzzy feels...I loved it. Oh, and the sexytimes were A+
Would definitely recommend for a quick comfort read.
December 8, 2018
I've read Ruby Moone's other historical romances, and I have I loved this modern day romance just as much as the others. When you meet Michael, he is aware of Jack, the admin assistant he hired on, more than he should be. He follows Jack home one night and realizes how rough his life has turned out. His protective instincts kick in when Jack is attacked and he brings the man home with him. I really like how much Michael opened up to Jack when they were living together. Someone who usually kept to himself, he went out of his way to make Jack comfortable while fighting his own feelings for the man. Jack is a sweetheart who has been dealt a bad hand in life. He's caring, hardworking, and smart but he's had a hard time. He works two jobs and doesn't really have a home until Michael takes him in. The relationship between the two is sweet and loving, and by the end, love between the two is destined. A wonderful read that I highly recommend!!
May 24, 2020
Home is Where You Are!
Homeless Jack is rescued in more ways than one by his boss Michael and falls in love. A well-written tale with likable characters and an interesting enough premise with a bit of dangerous but no surprises. A good read.
Homeless Jack is rescued in more ways than one by his boss Michael and falls in love. A well-written tale with likable characters and an interesting enough premise with a bit of dangerous but no surprises. A good read.
December 19, 2018
Well, I liked the story, but not so much the writing. With the best writing it feels like you're getting inside the characters. You feel their feels. This kind of felt like looking through a glass. You could see the feelings, but not quite touch them. I knew how I was supposed to feel, but it didn't reach me. I will however give the next book in the series a chance as well.
March 10, 2019
For such heavy material, Trusting Jack is surprising light on the angst. I was surprised and pleasantly so. But also a smidge disappointed because the lack of angst also made for a lack of memorability. The story is basically hurt/comfort gold, but it’s hurt/comfort-lite and I was expecting more of a visceral reaction to the characters and their stories (Jack especially, obviously) than what happened.
Both Jack and Michael are likable characters, the kind you root for and want all the HEA action for. Michael is a regular guy, but more, so regular-guy-who-is-worthy-of-being-an-MC kind of guy. Everything about him is just a little better than your average. He has a shy, unsure side that was appealing and more him more accessible though. He needed that and I needed that from him. I didn’t want him to be a knight in shining armor for Jack, that wouldn’t have worked for Jack’s personality. It was cool seeing him be all heroic and badass when he needed to be, but his unassuming side was what was so appealing about Michael.
Jack has seen some shit. He’s been through a lot and has a lot of secrets he’s hiding as he works to get his life together. Michael is curious about Jack’s story and his curiosity gets the better of him. It’s easy for him to indulge though (even though he says he doesn’t want to - methinks he doth protest too much) as Jack is his employee and another employee is concerned. Jack’s story is tough, which is to be expected, but the bad guy didn’t make a lot of sense for me, and in the end, it still didn’t make a lot of sense.
Jack was a good guy in a bad situation. The whole thing was a little too black and white though, I needed a little gray nuance to make the drama work. Honestly, Jack could have just been down on his luck and the story could have spent more time in the development of Michael and Jack as a couple, built some imperfections in there, simplified the story arc by leaving the bad guys out. Michael and Jack had plenty to work with, their setup had me hooked, their personalities were intriguing and I wanted to get to know them without the noise of the villain(s).
I know this reads like I’m bagging on this story, but, I am a huge fan of this author and her historical novels. My expectations were high and while it wasn’t necessarily what I had hoped for, I still enjoyed the story and the characters and I’ll definitely be reading the next book in the series.
**a copy of this story was provided for an honest review**
Both Jack and Michael are likable characters, the kind you root for and want all the HEA action for. Michael is a regular guy, but more, so regular-guy-who-is-worthy-of-being-an-MC kind of guy. Everything about him is just a little better than your average. He has a shy, unsure side that was appealing and more him more accessible though. He needed that and I needed that from him. I didn’t want him to be a knight in shining armor for Jack, that wouldn’t have worked for Jack’s personality. It was cool seeing him be all heroic and badass when he needed to be, but his unassuming side was what was so appealing about Michael.
Jack has seen some shit. He’s been through a lot and has a lot of secrets he’s hiding as he works to get his life together. Michael is curious about Jack’s story and his curiosity gets the better of him. It’s easy for him to indulge though (even though he says he doesn’t want to - methinks he doth protest too much) as Jack is his employee and another employee is concerned. Jack’s story is tough, which is to be expected, but the bad guy didn’t make a lot of sense for me, and in the end, it still didn’t make a lot of sense.
Jack was a good guy in a bad situation. The whole thing was a little too black and white though, I needed a little gray nuance to make the drama work. Honestly, Jack could have just been down on his luck and the story could have spent more time in the development of Michael and Jack as a couple, built some imperfections in there, simplified the story arc by leaving the bad guys out. Michael and Jack had plenty to work with, their setup had me hooked, their personalities were intriguing and I wanted to get to know them without the noise of the villain(s).
I know this reads like I’m bagging on this story, but, I am a huge fan of this author and her historical novels. My expectations were high and while it wasn’t necessarily what I had hoped for, I still enjoyed the story and the characters and I’ll definitely be reading the next book in the series.
**a copy of this story was provided for an honest review**
December 27, 2018
Reviewed by Cindy
Michael is smitten the first time he sees Jack but knows that getting involved with an employee is a bad idea. But when another employee points out that Jack might be in some kind of trouble, Michael can’t help but get involved.
Jack is in trouble…a lot of it and Michael steps up to help just when things are starting to look their darkest. He can’t quite bring himself to believe that Michael is interested in him as a person and not just as a grateful piece of ass.
Michael and Jack are two sweet men who both lack the confidence to be able to communicate what they really want from each other. This leads to more than one problem between them. Watching them work the issues out is frustrating and sometimes funny and just when they get it all figured out, Jack’s past tries hard to come between them.
The author does a good job of letting us get to know Michael and Jack. I had no problem working up sympathy for both of them and she also manages to show how two men from totally different back grounds can have the same kind of issues.
I liked this story. It made me smile and while it didn’t totally blow me away, it took me on a gentle journey that really had no surprises. But just because I knew what was coming doesn’t mean I didn’t enjoy the ride. The author is good at dialogue and building up the tension as the reader waits for Michael and Jack to figure things out.
There aren’t a lot of side characters, none of any note except for Michael’s business partner. And we don’t see much of him although I think he’s kind of intriguing.
I’m just guessing but I’m going to assume book two in this series is going to be about Michael’s friend and business partner and I think I will enjoy that one as well.
This book was provided for free in exchange for a fair and honest review for Love Bytes. Go there to check out other reviews, author interviews, and all those awesome giveaways. Click below.
Michael is smitten the first time he sees Jack but knows that getting involved with an employee is a bad idea. But when another employee points out that Jack might be in some kind of trouble, Michael can’t help but get involved.
Jack is in trouble…a lot of it and Michael steps up to help just when things are starting to look their darkest. He can’t quite bring himself to believe that Michael is interested in him as a person and not just as a grateful piece of ass.
Michael and Jack are two sweet men who both lack the confidence to be able to communicate what they really want from each other. This leads to more than one problem between them. Watching them work the issues out is frustrating and sometimes funny and just when they get it all figured out, Jack’s past tries hard to come between them.
The author does a good job of letting us get to know Michael and Jack. I had no problem working up sympathy for both of them and she also manages to show how two men from totally different back grounds can have the same kind of issues.
I liked this story. It made me smile and while it didn’t totally blow me away, it took me on a gentle journey that really had no surprises. But just because I knew what was coming doesn’t mean I didn’t enjoy the ride. The author is good at dialogue and building up the tension as the reader waits for Michael and Jack to figure things out.
There aren’t a lot of side characters, none of any note except for Michael’s business partner. And we don’t see much of him although I think he’s kind of intriguing.
I’m just guessing but I’m going to assume book two in this series is going to be about Michael’s friend and business partner and I think I will enjoy that one as well.
This book was provided for free in exchange for a fair and honest review for Love Bytes. Go there to check out other reviews, author interviews, and all those awesome giveaways. Click below.
January 2, 2019
A Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words Review An Alisa Review:
Rating: 3 stars out of 5
First off I felt this book was more of Jack needing to trust Michael as the one little blimp of Michael not trusting Jack was quickly done and gone. Michael has stayed away from relationships since his ex tried to hurt him. Jack is just trying to survive, after the death of his brother and the way his ex cheated him he doesn’t believe he can ever deserve happiness.
I felt that I got the opportunity to get to know both of these characters through their points of view. I liked how Michael selflessly helps Jack when he realizes what’s going on and he isn’t willing to take advantage of Jack. Jack has not had a great life and it takes time for him to accept Michael but also make Michael see that he is what he wants. The story was good I just felt like there could have been more to it or something but I am not sure what it would be, though we do get an idea of who the next book may be about.
The cover art is great and I love the visual of Jack.
Rating: 3 stars out of 5
First off I felt this book was more of Jack needing to trust Michael as the one little blimp of Michael not trusting Jack was quickly done and gone. Michael has stayed away from relationships since his ex tried to hurt him. Jack is just trying to survive, after the death of his brother and the way his ex cheated him he doesn’t believe he can ever deserve happiness.
I felt that I got the opportunity to get to know both of these characters through their points of view. I liked how Michael selflessly helps Jack when he realizes what’s going on and he isn’t willing to take advantage of Jack. Jack has not had a great life and it takes time for him to accept Michael but also make Michael see that he is what he wants. The story was good I just felt like there could have been more to it or something but I am not sure what it would be, though we do get an idea of who the next book may be about.
The cover art is great and I love the visual of Jack.
May 26, 2020
I really enjoyed this story, both mc's were very likeable and so sweet. A little anst with blackmail of a sort and attempted rape and kidnapping. The history in Jack's past made for sad reading but Michael's caring and loving brings life back into his life. These two are ones I would love to read more of, a lovely book beautifully written.
January 3, 2021
Well, I loved this story! From the very beginning, when we see Jack through Michael's eyes, we know there is something that is not right. Something is going wrong in his life, and soon, we discover that, well, everything has gone wrong in his life.
I love Michael's deep need to help him, his horror at Jack's assumptions that any good thing comes with a price tag, the way in which he is socially awkward and yet, utterly competent in every other aspect of his life (yes, I have a thing for competent people, sue me!) .
And Jack! He is strong and stoic and doggedly decided to keep going no matter what. And even when the title of the story is 'Trusting Jack', a big part of the conflict lays in the fact that Jack needs to trust Michael, too.
I really liked the way in which all the conflicts were acknowledged and how they keep trying to make things work, but they aren't magically fixed because they fall in love; how they are aware that they might need help to overcome their issues and they are ready to get it.
I particularly enjoyed the sense of slow burn, even when it really wasn't *laughs* But the fact that they didn't fall in bed together at the first chance, that they take the time to build something, to be sure that they were acting by the right reasons give the story a wonderful feeling of rightness.
I love the fact that even when Bryce was present only four times (and one of them, we only know about it but don't see him) his presence permeates the whole story with a sense of threat and danger.
I really, really liked the story, and I'll be reading the rest of the books in this series, no doubt about it,
I love Michael's deep need to help him, his horror at Jack's assumptions that any good thing comes with a price tag, the way in which he is socially awkward and yet, utterly competent in every other aspect of his life (yes, I have a thing for competent people, sue me!) .
And Jack! He is strong and stoic and doggedly decided to keep going no matter what. And even when the title of the story is 'Trusting Jack', a big part of the conflict lays in the fact that Jack needs to trust Michael, too.
I really liked the way in which all the conflicts were acknowledged and how they keep trying to make things work, but they aren't magically fixed because they fall in love; how they are aware that they might need help to overcome their issues and they are ready to get it.
I particularly enjoyed the sense of slow burn, even when it really wasn't *laughs* But the fact that they didn't fall in bed together at the first chance, that they take the time to build something, to be sure that they were acting by the right reasons give the story a wonderful feeling of rightness.
I love the fact that even when Bryce was present only four times (and one of them, we only know about it but don't see him) his presence permeates the whole story with a sense of threat and danger.
I really, really liked the story, and I'll be reading the rest of the books in this series, no doubt about it,
December 23, 2018
3.5 rounded up
I really liked both men and their vulnerability, quirks, and tender hearts. There was something so innocent in their interactions that I found them endearing rather than lacking. While the resolution of the drama was a bit quick with a giant save from the initial supposed villain, it didn't fully detract from the point of the story. Michael learned to trust someone, to trust their word, their intentions, and ultimately, to trust his heart to them. Jack grew to understand his own worth, a new way of interacting with someone he cared for, and what he should expect in return from them. Both men were so good and needed someone special to highlight their goodness to themselves so they could heal and move forward.
There were a bunch of times I wasn't sure where their heads were, like why Michael, the naturally suspicious, very intelligent, successful tech and securities guy, would push to get a huge wad of cash to a severely shady character when he knew he could watch out for Jack well enough that they could have at least waited until the situation was more in their favor. And I didn't mind the quickness of their relationship progression because we were so much in their heads, especially Michael's, so it didn't feel as fast as the timeline indicates. Overall I found the story to be pretty sweet despite its issues.
I really liked both men and their vulnerability, quirks, and tender hearts. There was something so innocent in their interactions that I found them endearing rather than lacking. While the resolution of the drama was a bit quick with a giant save from the initial supposed villain, it didn't fully detract from the point of the story. Michael learned to trust someone, to trust their word, their intentions, and ultimately, to trust his heart to them. Jack grew to understand his own worth, a new way of interacting with someone he cared for, and what he should expect in return from them. Both men were so good and needed someone special to highlight their goodness to themselves so they could heal and move forward.
There were a bunch of times I wasn't sure where their heads were, like why Michael, the naturally suspicious, very intelligent, successful tech and securities guy, would push to get a huge wad of cash to a severely shady character when he knew he could watch out for Jack well enough that they could have at least waited until the situation was more in their favor. And I didn't mind the quickness of their relationship progression because we were so much in their heads, especially Michael's, so it didn't feel as fast as the timeline indicates. Overall I found the story to be pretty sweet despite its issues.
September 3, 2019
I *think* I got this free, in April 2019.
Michael knows something is going on with the new hire, but he can’t figure out what. When another colleague asks Michael to speak to Jack, he knows this is his chance to find out what’s going on. What Michael did not figure into his perfect little equation was Jack being assaulted. When all becomes clear WHY this assault happened at all, Michael goes all Alpha-Male-Protect-Whats-Mine on Jack. Jack, at the end of his tether, accepts Michael’s help, and hope Michael will give his heart to Jack too.
I liked this book, a lot! It’s not really a difficult read, but it carries a difficult story line. Some readers may have triggers for assault, loan sharks, homelessness.
Both Michael and Jack have a say, in the third person. Both voices are clear and distinctive.
Even though this was a Christmas story, it’s not centred around Christmas, you know? Christmas just happens in the story. I’m not a big fan of holiday stories that focus totally on Christmas! *Bah Humbug*
Things move fast though, and this was why I gave it 4 stars and not 5. It was all just a bit too much too soon for me.
This is, as far as I can see, the first I’ve read of Ms Moone. I’d like to read more, something with a bit more bite!
4 solid stars
**same worded review will appear elsewhere**
Michael knows something is going on with the new hire, but he can’t figure out what. When another colleague asks Michael to speak to Jack, he knows this is his chance to find out what’s going on. What Michael did not figure into his perfect little equation was Jack being assaulted. When all becomes clear WHY this assault happened at all, Michael goes all Alpha-Male-Protect-Whats-Mine on Jack. Jack, at the end of his tether, accepts Michael’s help, and hope Michael will give his heart to Jack too.
I liked this book, a lot! It’s not really a difficult read, but it carries a difficult story line. Some readers may have triggers for assault, loan sharks, homelessness.
Both Michael and Jack have a say, in the third person. Both voices are clear and distinctive.
Even though this was a Christmas story, it’s not centred around Christmas, you know? Christmas just happens in the story. I’m not a big fan of holiday stories that focus totally on Christmas! *Bah Humbug*
Things move fast though, and this was why I gave it 4 stars and not 5. It was all just a bit too much too soon for me.
This is, as far as I can see, the first I’ve read of Ms Moone. I’d like to read more, something with a bit more bite!
4 solid stars
**same worded review will appear elsewhere**
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