Show Me How to Trust

Juniper Creek #3

by Ray Celar

Adam

After breaking up with my abusive ex, I’m busy getting my life back on track. I have old friends to mend my relationship with, new friends to get to know, therapy sessions to attend, and a restaurant to run. There’s not much time for anything else.
When my best friends invite me to their New Year’s Eve party, I might not be sure whether attending is a good idea or not, but in the end, I accept, wanting to make an effort to spend time with them. I can always leave early, can’t I?


Corbyn

New Year’s Eve is the day that changed my life forever five years ago. This year it’s supposed to mark a new beginning. And how better to celebrate than with my new friends?
After all, they have a guest room I can escape to, if everything gets to be too much. So what’s the worst that could possibly happen?


When two people both jaded and shaped by their pasts get thrown together by an unexpected blizzard, tentative bonds form. Will this new friendship last longer than a snowed in day? And has it the potential to transform into something… more?


"Show Me How to Trust" is a hurt/comfort mm romance with approximately 71,000 words. It's the third book in the Juniper Creek series, but can be read as a standalone. Please check the front matter for content warnings.

Genres: M M Romance, Grief, Romance, Abuse

287 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 31, 2023

About the author

Ray Celar lives with her husband, daughter and two cats in Southern Germany.
When she was six years old, she proudly declared she’d be an author one day, and that dream never changed. She was declared “most likely to ever publish a book” in her yearbook and only four years after her graduation, this statement and her lifelong dream came true — though she still isn’t sure whether she should send a copy of her books to the teacher who nominated her for that title.
If she isn’t chasing after her daughter through the apartment, she’s probably translating books, writing books or procrastinating doing any of those things by watching too many DIY-videos online — she might even be working on one of the DIY-projects she picked up.

Reviews

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love hurt/comfort books and this story is a double dose! Adam is recovering from an abusive relationship and Corbyn is 5 years out from his fiancé being killed in a car accident. Both have to take a chance and learn to trust someone with their heart again.

Corbyn is just the sweetest - so kind, gentle, and considerate - just what Adam doesn't even know he needs in order to feel safe again. The slow burn here is necessary, especially for Adam. He is still working on his recovery and has relapses of anxiety. Through it all, Corbyn is just there to support him with friendship and hugs.

I did not read the previous books in the series but those characters do make lots of appearances in this book. I would say you can definitely read this as a standalone, but those people and the references to their lives won't mean much to you.

A 4/5 star read for me that was refreshingly sweet and straightforward in communication. And if you like a little steam, they get there too and it's worth the wait!

I received an ARC of this book from Gay Romance Reviews and this is my honest review.

[Janet · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very slow burn and hurt/comfort on both sides

I love this series and I think this is the best one so far. Both men are hurt, struggling, existing as best they can. Neither is looking for someone but maybe, they unexpectedly found a friend in each other.
If you've read the first two books, you'll see familiar faces throughout. This is a small community and Avery (Show Me How To Love), Zayne (Show Me How To Heal) and Adam are best friends so we know their history and have an idea what's coming. It can be read as a standalone but if you're up to date with the series, it would add more depth and understanding.
Adam is still suffering greatly from his last relationship, with his abusive ex Marc casting a long shadow over him, and Corbyn is still grieving for his fiancé who died in a car accident five years earlier.
Adam is understandably skittish at all times but gentle giant Corbyn is patient, thoughtful, kind, understanding, having seen firsthand how abusive and toxics relationships affect the innocent parties. He makes Adam feel safe around him, able to trust someone for the first time in a long while.
This is a very slow burn romance but the pace was spot on for their circumstances. Adam needed the time and the support that Corbyn gave him, letting Adam set the pace, just being there for him. The support that came from their friends and family was also important too, and I loved all their interactions. Corbyn's family were wonderful and I don't just mean the human members of the clan. Corbyn's murder of crows was hilarious, and I laughed out loud at one particularly satisfying encounter.
I don't know whose story is next but I'm looking forward to it.

[Barb ~rede-2-read~ · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story was an unexpected and pleasant surprise. The premise seemed simple but the execution was more complex and full of emotion than I expected and was both heartbreaking and heartwarming.

This is primarily a second chance at love romance, with one man still deeply grieving for his husband five years after he was killed in a car accident on New Year’s Eve, and the other man recovering from a verbally and physically abusive boyfriend, Each agrees to accompany friends to another friend’s house to celebrate the New Year, though neither is in an especially festive mood, and both give in to heartache as midnight grows near. When snow piles up a little too quickly they find themselves stuck there overnight and, as these things happen, they have only each other for company during the long lonely night, as the others have paired off. They spend much of the time talking, sharing, and letting some of the pain of loss out, and by morning, they find they’ve planted the seeds for a friendship to blossom—one that will grow throughout the book as they work on healing and on allowing trust to build between them.

This is a low heat, but high emotion story, and the characters are engaging people I enjoyed getting to know and wouldn’t mind meeting in person. The principal secondary characters have apparently previously had their own stories but that does not affect this story at all. In fact, I enjoyed this so much I’m going to go back and read the others. Those who know me know that’s high praise. I most definitely recommend this to lovers of MM romance.

[Shawna (endemictoearth) · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars - I'm rounding up because while I might have made slightly different choices in the last 15%, I have a lot of respect for the author for pacing this as slowly as it needed to be. I also have a soft spot for widowers finding a second chance, so that might have also affected my feelings.

Adam is really finding his way after finally cutting ties with his abusive boyfriend. I'd had my eye on him in the last two books, and was hoping he would get out of that situation and his own HEA. Corbyn has been mourning his husband for five years and is just beginning to think he might be able to try again with love, and over New Year's, the two are thrown together quite a bit and start to tentatively spend more time getting more closely acquainted.

It was so lovely to see how gentle and considerate they were with each other, taking everything really slow and not even calling it dating or each other boyfriends (they were not dates and in a non-relationship for a long time, bc that's how they had to frame it to allow each other closer.)

At 75%, they had only just kissed, and part of me wishes that the book could have ended before they had sex, because it almost seemed out of place in this book, but I could understand why the author felt it necessary to include. I'm still rounding up, because so much care was taken with this relationship overall.

This was a very pleasant surprise after being a little disappointed by book 2, but I recommend the series as a whole, because we get the backstory for Adam along the way.

I received a copy for review from Gay Romance Reviews.

[Raven and Chris · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh this one is soooooo good. I’m not surprised though. I loved the first one in this series but somehow missed the second one. That didn’t affect how much I loved this story though. I think I have a soft spot for hurt comfort books where one character is moving beyond an abusive relationship. Watching Adam slowly regain his confidence as he becomes friends with Corbyn was amazing. Corbyn has his own trauma he is moving on from but he understands Adam’s pain more than most. He is so patient with him, and while he is careful around Adam so as not to trigger him, he doesn’t treat him like glass. These two were so beautiful to watch as they moved from friends to something more. It was like a dance. I absolutely loved this book! One of the things that I noticed with these characters was how the author portrayed Adam’s friends. They love him and want to help him move on, but they don’t know how to act around him anymore. They are too careful and don’t give him some of the carving touches that he needs. I think that is probably one of the hardest things about trauma from an abusive ex to get over and to understand. This story absolutely pulled me through from beginning to end and I loved it!!!

[Claire Louisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved Show Me How to Trust, it is the first book in the series I have read and I've already downloaded book 1 Show Me How to Love.

This was a beautiful and emotional read, both of these guys have lost a lot in their lives, Corbyn, when he lost his fiance and friend in a tragic accident and Adam, has lost himself due to an abusive ex. Corbyn's friend was leaving an abusive partner when the accident occurred, so he really feels protective about Adam and his situation.

I loved how their friendship seemed to grow so easily as they learnt to trust each other and their judgement. They started off very tentatively after they ended up connecting at a new years eve party neither really wanted to attend. They both give the other something that the other really needs, accepting each other for who they are and finding they are able to share their thoughts and feelings easily. Theirs is a slow-burn romance which ends in a HEA.

I enjoyed their interactions so much, the way they both got so much out of doing things that would make the other happy. And I loved Corbyn's personal murder of guard crows and Larry, I especially appreciated the scene with Adam's ex.

Their group of friends were great and I'm looking forward to getting to know them and how each couple got together as I go back and read books 1 & 2.

[Nancy Lockett · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars. I really enjoyed this installment of the series. However, it does deal with sensitive topics such as a verbally and physically abusive ex for one MC and the death of past fiancé for the other MC. Adam is going to therapy to learn to deal with the abuse of his past boyfriend, Marc, and Corbyn is still recovering from his fiancé dying in a car crash 5 years ago. This book realistically shows that love will not cure all things but can make living life better as each character slowly begins living their best life again and how communicating your feelings honestly is the best way to have a healthy relationship. The 2 MC's were aquaintances but get to know each other better at a New Year's Eve party thrown by a friend. When they have to share a room due to being noted in, Corbyn finds himself opening up to Adam about it being the 5th anniversary since his fiancé died. This begins a friendship that slowly develops into romance. Corbin is sensitive to how Adam can react to sudden movements and Adam provides Corbyn a safe place to talk about his former fiancé without any feelings of jealousy. Corbin and Adam are a really sweet couple who deserve their HEA.

[Ellie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve read the first two books in this series, and I absolutely loved them both. I was hoping that this book would be as good, and it is!
This book follows Adam and Corbyn as they unexpectedly fall in love with each other. It’s a hurt comfort romance between two men who have been really damaged by their past. Like the rest of the series, it is set in Juniper Creek, and there are many appearances by characters from the previous books, which I loved. While it can be read as a standalone, I highly recommend reading the previous books first for a better understanding of the setting and knowledge of the side characters.
I was leery of the book initially because of the trigger warning at the beginning (I was afraid it would be too sad), but the author handled it well. I also really appreciated the warning.
I recommend this book (and this series), and I look forward to more from this author in the future.

[L H · Rating 5 out of 5]

Both Adam and Corbyn have been through some emotionally rough times in recent years. Each has suffered loss that is taking a while to recover from. For Corbyn the death of his love has made the last five years tough and the holidays tougher. For Adam, an abusive ex who isolated him and messed with his head has left him wondering if he can trust himself and feel safe around people. Both hesitated when they were invited to celebrate the start of a new year with their friends. They got more than they expected as they both were open to a real new start and their time together during the gathering helped them to start to believe that they could heal and build a life anew with one another, one step at a time. Such an emotional and hopeful read as these two find their way back to life and joy in a safe place, with a fellow traveler who really understood.
I received an ARC from GRR and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[C.B. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gentle healing. Adam, escapes from an abusive ex boyfriend and is working to get his life back on track. He keeps his head and works in his restaurant. Five years previously, Corbyn suffered a fatal loss. Current day,hHe's finally ready to move forward. New Year's Eve, they are both invited to a party with mutual friends to celebrate new beginnings. They are both tentative, but willing to at least try. An unexpected sudden storm forces them to get to know each other better as the other couples hunker down seperately. Our two wounded, spend their time wisely getting to know each other. They share secrets and deep thoughts. Is this the first time they start to really heal? How do they handle surprises? Is their foundation strong? Nicely done. I received an ARC and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Jess · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this book. Fantastic hurt/comfort. Especially if you've followed Adam's story through the other two books. Congratulations to Ray, I now want to move to a small Colorado town. :) What I really loved about the book is the pacing of the relationship. Utterly perfect for two men in a lot of pain and relearning how to live their lives. While I needed a few tissues through this story, it was never overwhelming. I fine line to walk.
In fact the only complaint I had about the book is that Adam incessantly thinking people obviously dealing with trauma were "weird". Which, considering his symptoms of the trauma he was working through, annoyed me. Otherwise, he was a great guy.
Definitely recommend this series. I got sucked in. Read the three books in two days. A perfect relaxing weekend series. Looking forward to the next!

[Kayla (cozyrosybookrecs on insta) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I cannot even begin to tell you how healing this book was for me. Before I got married I was in an emotionally abusive relationship and seeing Addy push back against the voice of his ex that was in his head was so healing for me. I adored Addy and Corbyn. Their journey as a couple and individuals was fantastic, and got me all in my feels. There is less spice than in the other two books but it is not missed because they’re connection to one another was just so intimate with or without sex.
Highly recommend!! Also you’ll want a crow army when you finish…that’s all I’m saying…

TW/CW: emotional, physical, and verbal abuse by a boyfriend in memories and trauma that this abuse caused. Death of a fiancé.

[Diane · Rating 5 out of 5]

There are so many days I would love to have my own 'murder of crows!'
I love how they knew exactly when to be protective.

When an accident steals Corbyn's fiancé from him, his depression is overwhelming. Adam (Addy) is recovering from a relationship in which an abusive ex has traumatized him.

Is it any wonder that you're pulled into a story where they find love and comfort in another who has suffered from pain also?

I would totally recommend you read the entire Juniper Creek series from start to finish. The background lends so much to the richness of this book.

Be prepared to cringe, cry and chortle as past wrongs are righted and healed.
Those crows really come through!

A beautiful conclusion to this series. I totally love Ray's gift for story telling.

[Elaine Gray · Rating 5 out of 5]

Both Adam and Corbyn are in pain and dealing with their heartache without anyone's help. Adam lost the love of his life and left his job as a paramedic. He has his pet crows and loves to renovate old furniture. Corbyn's ex abused him physically and emotionally and it's hard for him to get over it. They share a room after they are snowed in on New Year's and talk about their past. Adam agrees to help Corbyn decorate his apartment and they develop a friendship and later a relationship. The book is sweet, romantic, slow-build, with some angst, funny and the crows stole the show. It was great reading about the previous characters and reading this book in one sitting was great.

[Bretton Coppedge · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was the slowest burns out of the 3 books so far because Adam doesn't trust himself to make good choices any more. Corbyn is also overcoming trauma of his own but is further along in his grief/ personal healing. They teach each other that the future can be bright.

I enjoyed this story and the whole series so far. These are small town romances but everyone has big problems that are not easily overcome. They usually have to rely on the rest of the cast that has continued to get more fleshed out.

I would highly recommend this series but definitely heed trigger warnings. Especially for this installment.

[Malorilovesbooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

Heartwarming and Endearing

Five stars for Ray Celar.
I was so excited to read Show Me How To Trust after just finding Ray and reading the first two in the series. Ray is an excellent author and while this book didn’t have a ton of spicy moments the heartbreak these two went through to find each other makes this book an amazing read.

Corbyn has lost who he thought was his forever and Addy finally found the strength to leave his abusive ex. Together these two found happiness and trust. All the side characters added to the wonderful news that is this book.

I highly recommend starting with book one of the series. You won’t be disappointed.

[Janniemac · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a book! First thing to say is READ THE TRIGGER WARNINGS. This is one rollercoaster of a story. Two very broken men coming together, learning how to love again, learning how to trust. A definite must is a box of tissues, my heart was broken into tiny little pieces before being put back together with a very satisfying HEA. It is book 3 of a series and although it isn’t necessary to have read the other 2, they do introduce other secondary characters who are important to both Adam and Corbyn and are well worth a read.

[Ida Umphers · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you've ever screamed at the characters in a romance to just "talk to each other for goodness' sake", then this is the story for you. Adam and Corbyn get talked into attending a New Year's Eve party when they'd rather do anything but party for two very different reasons. When they are snowed in, they spend the night talking and sharing in a way that you sometimes can with a stranger. All the talk leads to a friendship that slowly blossoms into so much more. Loved the pacing of this one, all the sharing and the wonderful characters.

[patricia · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have been waiting patiently for Adam's story. In the previous two books he was going through a rough time with his abusive boyfriend. I just knew this book was gonna be sad. I was surprised he got paired with Corbyn. It didn't take me long at all to realize they were perfect for each other. Corbyn has definitely been through a traumatic situation just like Adam has and that bonded them together, that vulnerability. I definitely ugly cried a few times, but they were both so sweet and patient with each other. I loved this book!!

[Janice Wilson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a slow-burn romance and I really enjoyed reading it. The characters were genuine and complex. The book was well-written and kept my attention throughout. I enjoyed getting to know the characters. It was not as steamy as I prefer my MM romance, but it was still a really good book to read. Being this was my first time reading a book from this author, I am looking forward to reading the whole series and any other works available.

I received an ARC of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Golden Child · Rating 5 out of 5]

Adam & Corbyn: So happy for Adam. He deserves this happiness and I couldn’t help but fall in love with Corbyn. Adam find a safe place with a new friend and Corbyn is ready to live again after a tragic loss. Murder crows, Larry and Skittles, so much fun. Great addition to the series although you don’t need to read what comes before, I highly recommend it, the series is great. Can’t wait for Storm’s story, so mysterious.

[Rosyln Faulk · Rating 5 out of 5]

I told myself I wouldn't cry when I read this book. I mostly succeeded.

This book was adorable. It dealt with grief, abuse, feelings of unworthiness and general depression and it was done very well and tastefully. I felt fully immersed in Corbyn and Adam's story, rooting for them and wanting them to get their HEA. I loved it so much. A great end to the series.


I received an ARC for my honest review.

[K-Me · Rating 5 out of 5]

This one tugs at the heartstrings. Adam and Corbyn are both insecure, Lonely and bit broken. Adam suffered a horrible abuse and even though he a bunch of friends, he just cannot seem to connect again with them or himself. The tentative friendship he starts to build with Corbyn is everything. Their story is an angsty double hurt comfort which is why it works. Together they learn to live and love again. Very well written and touching.

[Frances · Rating 5 out of 5]

So many emotions in this book. I am so glad that Adam got his book!!!!!!! I’ve been rooting for him. From the very beginning you can feel how shattered both Adam and Corbyn are. This book has everything; slow burn, high heat, just enough angst, loving family and the best part…. Murder crows! I’m so glad that these two were able to find each other after the heartache they went through! Thank you again for Adam’s book!

[DLB2572 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful Story

This series has touched my heart with each story and this one absolutely was the most amazing one so far. Both Adam and Corbyn have experience trauma in the past that still held them in the grips of pain. Reading this story and following along as they go from new friends to more was full of emotions but worth reading.

I received an ARC and this is my unbiased opinion

[Janet Hunt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Show Me How To Trust is the third book in the Juniper Creek Series. Adam has broken up with his abusive boyfriend and is a little broken. Corbyn has similar issues but he lost his long time love in an accident. They are both jaded but I absolutely loved the friendship that grew between them first. Corbyn understood Adam’s pain and helped Adam to gain his confidence back. These two were just perfect for each other! Overall, a fantastic addition to the series. Well written with nice pacing.

[Jo Atkins · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an excellent book, the two main characters are both dealing with traumatic events that have occurred in their previous relationships. The writing is really empathetic to the situations, and I love how the friendship group were characterised. I haven't read the previous books in the series but I will because this one was so good.

[Gwen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Adam and Corbyn, two men utterly broken by pain come together and heal. Adam was abused by his ex while Corbyn lost the love of his life. They get closer on the very day both remember their pain the most. It’s a beautiful relationship. I loved Corbyn’s murder of crows. That shows his inner light, when a bird gets attached to him in a loving way. I totally enjoyed this story, tears and all.

[Irishlass99 · Rating 5 out of 5]

he pacing for this was beautiful. I loved how Adam and Corbyn healed each other. You felt their connection jump off the page. It was a quicker read. I did want a little more ex resolution, but the characters and their romance were really center stage. I loved the dates, the feeling. Just a warm and fuzzy of two wounded men who heal through each other. Definitely recommend!

[Shawn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sweet romantic story of a second chance at love and a second chance at trust. Both Corbyn and Adam have tragedy in their past. Can they connect and help each other heal? This is a sweet story of learning to trust again, learning to love again and includes a fantastic murder of attack crows!!!