Trust in Us by S.M. Harshell

Just coming out of a horrible relationship, Jocelyn Jane Zona… J, to her friends… swears off men and throws herself into her work. Unfortunately, she’s around men every day. Being a female mechanic is an uphill battle, but she loves what she does. If people want to make an issue out of it, let them. J lets her work speak for itself. She knows she is damn good at what she does.

She’s worked at Z’s Service since she was fourteen, learning everything she knows from her pop and the boys at the shop. They are family. Family is supposed to be there for each other, protect each other. When she finds out someone in the family is putting her father’s business in jeopardy, she vows to protect what’s hers.

Cole Masters finally feels like he’s breaking the hold of his past. He’s enjoying his life and his new job at Z’s Service. He feels like he fits in. This could be a home for him.

When he meets J, he is impressed. Turned on by her strong attitude, he realizes one night would never be enough. He also knows baggage he carries is too much for him to deal with, let alone expecting someone else to. In his mind, he doesn’t deserve to be happy.

When he finds her in trouble, his protective nature kicks in. Can he hold his heart at bay while he protects her and tries to save Z’s? Can he learn that his past doesn’t define who he is now? Can he trust again?

Book 1
Buy Links

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~  Available with KindleUnlimited  ~

Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Ruthie – ☆☆☆☆
4.5 stars

This is a really good read, with a strong thread of drama running through it, which I wasn't expecting but really enjoyed, as well as a slow burn, super-charged love story. The pacing is incredibly effective, with really urgent, fast action sections, and then slow, intense moments when the significant reveals happen.

Both J and Cole have shadows in their pasts which are shaping their present. The big question is whether they can shrug off the shadows and make a better future – something which is far easier said than done. The real challenge, of course, is whether they can achieve it together.

If you enjoy reading about imperfect people, who lead real lives, work hard, and know how to party, then this will appeal to you – and as I mentioned above, there is a fabulous plot which makes their lives anything but boring, and not always in a good way!

I am very happy that this is the first in a series, as the peripheral characters are hugely important to the plot here and deserve to have more of their story told in the future. I can guess at a few who might feature in future installments and hope that some others will still get their happily ever afters (Nan most of all!). All in all, I find I am rather invested in the future of the Z's garage gang.

Thank you, Ms. Harshell, for another strong story. I hope you are busy planning the next one!


Mary Jo – ☆☆☆☆
Everyone has secrets, either to protect themselves or their families. Oftentimes the secrets arise due to person being betrayed in some form. The person who keeps the secret does so to prevent others from looking at them with pity, sorrow, disgust, or a combination of emotions. The person is embarrassed by what has happened to them, as if they could have prevented the actions of others. The victim often blames themselves for the what was done to them, as the abuser reinforces the physical abuse with mental abuse. This is the basis of J's and Cole's story.

Both J and Cole are keeping secrets. Things they don't want anyone else to know. Cole is keeping his secret because he doesn't want people to know the why of his prison stay. J is keeping hers because of her foolishness of falling for the wrong man.

The attraction between J and Cole is a tangible thing, but with their trust issues, it’s going to be hard to find a common ground. As things heat up at the garage, J begins to rely on Cole but his unwillingness to tell her about his past is something she can't overcome. Cole does his best to be a good friend to J, but he's tired of being kept at arm’s length.

A very good book and I hope that we get the second book in the story soon.

S.M. Harshell lives in western Pennsylvania with her husband, two children and two attention seeking cats. She has been writing since she was a child. Recently, with the support of her husband and him giving her that extra little shove she needed, she has ventured out into the Indie world.

S.M. is an avid reader. You can find her, in any free time she has, reading. Whether it's waiting at the doctor's office or standing in line at the grocery store, her nose is stuck in a book.

After the completion of her first novel, Saving Amy, she is currently working on several new releases.

Connect with S.M.

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Reviewers on the Wicked Reads Review Team were provided a free copy of Trust in Us (Forbidden Love #1) by S.M. Harshell to read and review.