Trust Me by Jordan Riley: Book Review

 **ARC received for consideration. All opinions are my own. 

The Book

It’s been seven years since Cody Jennings was left standing at the altar. He swore he’d never risk his heart again, throwing himself into the family guiding business and the safety of being single.

But on the anniversary of that heartbreak, a stranger walks into the only bar in Bellamy—a woman with bruises, a baby on the way, and nowhere to turn.

Cody offers her protection, shelter, nothing more. Just until she figures out her next move.

Except a few nights stretch into weeks when her baby comes early. And somewhere in the chaos—through sleepless nights, raw vulnerability, and the endless love and support of his family—their walls begin to fall.

Trust Me is a story where God’s grace weaves two damaged hearts together through faith, family, and a whole lot of love.

Book Review

This is, perhaps, one of the most tender romances I've read recently... and I was absolutely here for it. Seriously, the way that Cody steps in to care for Karissa (and her unborn baby) when they were very much still strangers? My goodness! How could you not just love these two together? I honestly don't tend to read a lot of pregnancy centered romance, but this one was done so well that it might have changed my mind. It truly brought tears to my eyes; it was so incredibly sweet. That doesn't mean they always got it right, though... which is one of the things that I enjoy most about Jordan's books. Her characters are imperfect characters, just doing their best to figure it all out. They point to God, but don't brush away the struggles that even Christians can face. There's something really refreshing in that and this book was another beautiful example of that. Postpartum depression is a big theme in this story. While I haven't struggled with PPD, I have struggled with depression and anxiety and feel like this is another thing that Jordan does really well- showing the realities of mental health struggles in a way that I feel like we need more of in Christian fiction. I've enjoyed all of Jordan's books, particularly in this series, but Cody and Karissa's is my favorite one yet. 

Trust Me is a closed-door Christian romance with fade-to-black between a married couple. (There are mentions of prior intimacy outside of marriage but approached from a Biblical perspective- not glorified.) There is also some minor language throughout. This is the third book in the Jennings Family series, and while I think you could enjoy it as a standalone, I do think that those who have read the previous books will have a better understanding of family dynamics and appreciate the story most. 


You can purchase your copy here: https://amzn.to/4sz4ZJA