Title: Trust: A New Beginning
Author: Cristiane Serruya
Author: Cristiane Serruya
Series: Trust Trilogy #1
Publisher: CreateSpace
Published: November 14th, 2012
Page count: 464
Format: ARC
Source: Won via Goodreads First Reads
Book Summary:
They are beautiful. They are rich. They are strong willed and successful. They have everything, but love. And each one of them has a dark secret looming in their past.Sophia is a 25 year old Brazilian widow. Intelligent and ravishing, she flees from her own country after a tragic incident. Hiding from everyone and everything, she remains alone, torn between the love for a dead man, the torment of living without part of her memory and the fear of moving on.Ethan is one of the most important tycoons in the steel industry. As the memory of an awful evening in his adolescence haunts him night and day, he keeps looking for an elusive woman whom he could love – and who would love him – as he never has in all his 35 years… Until he finds Sophia.Alistair is a 34 year old powerful banker, searching for one–night stands with women who will warm his bed. And that he can punish physically to abate his anger for his late wife’s black deeds and his own guilt for being such a debauched man for so many years. Any woman will do, and he has many to choose from, as they all fall instantly for his manly, devilish charming ways.In Europe, in the months after October 2009, their paths will cross and clash. Who will win the prize of love?This book is the first installment of a trilogy.It is intended for 18 and up.
*The Reader’s Review*
My rating: 4/5 stars!
My reading experience with Trust was very different from any other books I’ve read before. You see, when I really, really like a book, 99.9% of the times I have to finish it in one sitting or in a day or two because I just want to devour it completely. I want to eat, drink and breathe every word in every page. But there’s this rare 0.1% of the times when it’s exactly the opposite for me. When I have to take my time, take everything slowly, put it down and walk away a few times and then come back again and pick it right where I left off. This rare occasion happened with Trust. Trust IS the reason why this 0.1% exists in the first place.
This book is the kind where you have to look at it from different perspectives in order to understand it, to not jump into harsh conclusions without really trying to hear what it has to say. It might be taken as vain or “too much” when in fact, Trust has many layers worth uncovering no matter how slow or deep into the story you’re in. Like in a relationship, this book and its characters slowly build up trust with us readers and between themselves. It’s torturous, exasperating, yet understandable in my opinion.
I came to like and enjoy (most of the time) Sofia’s, Ethan’s and Alistair’s company, despite their flaws and troubled pasts. I wish to say I know and understand them really well because even though I spent hours with them, I actually don’t know who they are, or what they’ve done. I have the faintest idea, but really, I’m not even sure if I’m correct about my hunches. Reason why I need to get to the next book soon and find out.
One thing I did find annoying was Sofia’s taste in men. She likes them powerful and dominating, and I think she even has a thing for jealous guys. Countless of times I shook my head for her tolerance in them, especially considering she’s an expert in that area when she helps out other people. However, I’m glad somewhere inside the book she recognizes her situation and finally gets why people react in these types or any other kind of situations. Sometimes our hearts betray our common sense, and that’s when we find ourselves in shoes we never thought we’d wear.
Talking about shoes, Trust is a book very rich in detail, not only on clothes, but also in food, places, jewelry, music, etc. I didn’t mind this at all. The characters’ expensive lives and richness didn’t bother me because well, that’s how they roll. They are rich, they can spend, they can talk and think about these kinds of things however they want because I guess that’s how they are. No problem, besides, my knowledge of expensive stuff has grown a lot thanks to it. Yay!
And I can’t leave without mentioning the romance inside this book. There are many, MANY hot scenes, some bordering on too unsettling for my taste, but I know many readers will love them just the way they are. Forgetting that part, I’m anxious to see how it all plans out. Two hot crazy guys, one beautiful lady, and secrets threatening to make life even more difficult. I like it!
*Please note: I received an ARC of Trust by Cristiane Serruya after winning a Goodreads First Reads giveaway.*
Hi, Melissa,
I'm so glad to be on your 0.1% of kind of books. *grin* You really grasped that I wanted my readers to be thinking about what they were reading and not just drink the words. Imo, art, in all its styles, literature included, has to pass on a message and as I read your review, especially "Sometimes our hearts betray our common sense, and that's when we find ourselves in shoes we never thought we'd wear." I'm happy to see that I succeed in it. We are very quick in judging others, but we shouldn't do it before being in one's shoes.
I'm honored by your review.
You're a young, very intelligent woman and I wish you all the luck in the world!!
Love,
Cris x