To Trust a Hero

Heroes of Dunbar Mountain #2

by Alexis Morgan

A place to stay…

Or a new start?

Max Volkov recently helped solve a mystery in the small town of Dunbar, Washington, and now he’s going to stay at Rikki Bruce’s bed-and-breakfast to write the story. Against her better judgment, Rikki finds Max becoming more involved with the life she has built for herself and her son. He’s handsome, charming and has a writer’s curiosity, all of which puts both her heart and her secrets at risk.

From Harlequin Wholesome stories of love, compassion and belonging.

Heroes of Dunbar Mountain

Book 1: The Lawman's Promise
Book 2: To Trust a Hero
Book 3: Second Chance Deputy

Genres: Romance

248 pages, Kindle Edition

First published August 22, 2023

About the author

Alexis Morgan grew up near St. Louis and received a B.A. in English from the University of Missouri-St. Louis. She and her husband have made the Pacific Northwest their home for more than thirty years, where she launched her career as a writer. She is published in paranormal romance, fantasy romance, American West historicals, and most recently, contemporary romances with her new Snowberry Creek series.

Reviews

[Tina Loves To Read · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a Clean Romantic Suspense, and this is the second book in the Heroes of Dunbar Mountain series. I have read the first book in this series before picking up this book, and I feel that you really need to have read the first book before picking up this book because this book plays a lot off the first book. I love getting to see another side of Max in this book, and I love getting more of the B and B as well. I really love a story that takes place in a B and B. I figured out what was going on way before it was revealed, but I still really enjoyed the reveal. I enjoyed both the slow moving romance and the suspense in this book. I received an ARC of this book. This review is my own honest opinion about the book like all my reviews are.

[Anita (Hearts and Whodunits) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Max Volkov recently helped solve a mystery in the small town of Dunbar, Washington, and now he’s going to stay at Rikki Bruce’s bed-and-breakfast to write the story. Against her better judgment, Rikki finds Max becoming more involved with the life she has built for herself and her son. He’s handsome, charming and has a writer’s curiosity, all of which puts both her heart and her secrets at risk.
This was a very sweet wholesome romance. It was a satisfying read without the need for overt sexuality. Rikki's strong, no-nonsense attitude played well against Max's need to be a caretaker. There was enough suspense to keep me interested and turning the pages. I would definitely read this author's work again. Thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin Romance for this advanced reader's copy. This review is my honest opinion.

[Robin Loves Reading · Rating 4 out of 5]

Max Volkov arrived in the quaint little town of Dunbar as a man not well liked. A mystery that went back a couple of generations in Max’s past once threatened the peace and security of Dunbar. Although that situation has been resolved, Max is sticking around, staying at the bed-and-breakfast owned and un by Rikki Bruce.

A slow acceptance of the towns members faces Max as he now plans on writing a book about the very thing that brought him to Dunbar. Meanwhile, as a mother to a young son, Carter, Rikki does not take that responsibility lightly. Her priorities are definitely in order, but both she and Carter are more than drawn to Max. In all actuality, it just might take Max’s presence to realize how lonely she actually is.

What a lovely story of friendship and the growing bond of love.

[Ann Lorz · Rating 4 out of 5]

To Trust a Hero is the second book in Alexis Morgan's Heroes of Dunbar Mountains series. I have to tell you I really enjoyed it. I wanted to see how Max was going to become part of the small town. He burnt some bridges in the first book.

I really like Max he's a great guy who doesn't really want to hurt anyone. He cares about the people around him. He's great to Rikki and her son. He spends time with him and makes sure he feels important.

For the most part I also enjoy Rikki and think she's a great mom. I do believe at times she's a bit hard on Max for really nothing. But I get how it is when you raise a child alone. It's hard to let others in.

You'll enjoy the back story for both of them. It's a bit heartbreaking but it did help for them to understand each other better. I also really love the relationship between Max, Cade and Titus. Morgan writes guy friends really well.

As a whole this is a great story that I really enjoyed. The mystery is a good one and you'll be wondering what's going on and who's the bad guy. I would say that this series is better if you read them in order so that you know why and what happened between Max and the town. I'm really looking forward to Titus' book which is out at the end of December.

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ARC received for an honest review

[Kate Vale · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another in the Heroes of Dunbar Mountain series, in which writer Max Volkov returns to little Dunbar to write a novel about his great-grandfather. He chooses to stay at Rikki Bruce's B&B to test his attraction to her that began in a previous installment in the series. But while there, Rikki finds someone writing bad reviews about the B&B and then damage occurs, both to one of the models that her pre-school son has created with Max's help and to one of the rooms in the B&B. Who is causing the damage and the bad reviews?

Max suspects one of the regular guests, but isn't sure how to go about catching the person without further damaging Rikki's trust that he--unlike her ex-husband--is a good guy. How is this going to work out when she expects her B&B to be full with guests for an upcoming wedding?

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

To Trust a Hero is a good, clean romance with lots of love shown by single mother Rikki for her son. It is a story about learning to trust again, something very difficult for Rikki to do after her divorce. Max returns to Dunbar and works hard to earn her trust and more, helping her solve a mystery surrounding her Bed & Breakfast. This is the second book in Alexis Morgan’s Heroes of Dunbar Mountain. I am glad I read the first one as it does set the backstory for this book. It is possible to enjoy this book as a stand alone book but I recommend reading both books for the full effect and great character developments. I enjoyed the book and look forward to the third book in the series!

[Lghiggins · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoy Harlequin Heartwarming novels because they are predictably clean romances. To Trust a Hero fits that role, but it also has characters you will love and a mystery that you may figure out the whodunit of the plot before it is revealed, but not the why. I loved watching it play out. The main characters Max, a freelance writer, and Rikki, a single mom and the owner of a B&B, both have difficult backgrounds that they have not shared with others. Their pasts make trusting difficult for each of them, but when Max rents out the turret room for an extended period, he finds that he is not “just a guest anymore.” It is hard to tell who he falls in love with more, Rikki or her adorable 5 year old son Carter. Carter and Max bond over Legos.

This is Max’s return to the town of Dunbar. He has been invited to see the Trillium Nugget in the Dunbar Historical Museum. His presence and the Nugget caused quite an uproar in a previous book, but was worked out satisfactorily. On his return, the townspeople gradually warm up to him. Now he wants to write a book about his great-grandfather using resources at the town’s museum to research his ancestor’s story.

When someone breaks into Rikki’s B&B and vandalizes two rooms, Max flies into protective mode. At that point we learn more about Cade. the Chief of Police, and Titus, an excellent cook with a gruff exterior.

Interesting characters, gentle romance, a mystery without a murder, and a cute kid—I couldn’t ask for more. If you want to escape from all the craziness infused into this world, take a trip to Dunbar. I think you’ll find it an engaging and pleasant relief.

I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

[Sara · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved the second book in Alexis’s Heroes of Dunbar Mountain series. Max and Rikki are such fabulous characters with so much depth and emotion. I love that they formed such a friendship that was always going to turn into love. I enjoyed the mystery that played out with Rikki and her b & b and it’s always so good to keep seeing the characters from the first book. This one was just perfect, so emotional, funny and grounded in community, friends and love.

[Barbara Tobey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it. A sweet romance. A bit of a mystery that does add to the fun. Wonderful small-town characters, including a dog and a young boy. I look forward to another visit to Dunbar Mountain. An engaging romantic mystery. Thanks to the publisher for providing a copy via NetGalley. My review is voluntary.

[Harlequin Books]

Small Town & Rural Fiction, Contemporary Romance, Wholesome Romance
Miniseries
Heroes of Dunbar Mountain (Book #2)

[Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

#35 of 2024. Good. Heart warming

[JoAnn · Rating 4 out of 5]

To Trust a Hero is a very well written romance. I throughly enjoyed the plot and characters. I definitely recommend this book. My thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for my advance ebook. This is my unbiased review.