The last in the Woodbury Boys trilogy. It was nice to see Ghost's point of view. I did feel the mystery aspect got a bit convoluted as extra characters were added although the resolution worked out and didn't seem like an out of the blue resolution. I preferred the second book over this one but it was still a solid addition to the trilogy.

This is the first book I’ve read by this author and I now have her on my watch list. I really enjoyed this somewhat heartbreaking story. Ghost is a guy who just can’t get a break. He sees himself so differently than everyone else sees him. He has had awful things happen to him and yet is seems to carry on. I really enjoyed his quick personality. I was impressed the way the author brought out the background of Ghost and yet kept him a decent guy. As his path crosses with Duncan the two form a unusual relationship. Mostly a love hate interactions. Duncan’s personality is so literal that I had to laugh at these two together.

I really think the secondary characters added so much to the story and helped make Ghost human.

I am surprised the way the author took the story to the ending. It was so smooth and yet kept me hooked on the story. I have not read other stories in this series but will do so now. I want to thank NetGalley for bringing this author to my attention and providing me with a copy of this book. I just hope my review does it a little justice.

Rough Trade by Sidney Bell
The Woodbury Boys #3

Grabbed me and kept me glued to the story from beginning to end! I cared and felt and hoped and wished and was so glad that eventually Ghost and Duncan managed their HEA. I loved them both and only wanted the best for them.

What a tortured soul Ghost was and yet he was so giving and charming and wise and strong and damaged. Duncan was the perfect partner for Ghost even though it was NOT an easy relationship for either one of them.

With more than one villain to thwart the two had a lot to contend with. Car chases, shooting, corrupt police and so much more made this action-packed romantic suspense just what I needed on a cold rainy day!

This is the first book I have read by this author but it definitely won’t be the last. Thank you to NetGalley and HQN-Carina for the ARC – This is my honest review.

5 Stars

5 Stars!!!

I'm afraid my review is never going to do justice to this book. It was so good and so different from anything I've read.

For starters, this is the third book in the Woodbury Boys series, but it can be read as a standalone. The characters from the previous books appear in this one and I'm intrigued enough to want to go back and read their books, but I never felt as if I was missing something.

This is a long book and there's a lot happening and let me tell you, some parts aren't easy to read. Everything Ghost has gone through since he was a little kid is heartbreaking and I was amazed at his strength. Don't get me wrong, he was affected by it all, but he found ways to cope with it. I loved that the author didn't decide to just have him be magically cured after meeting/falling for Duncan, but that Ghost actually went to therapy to work on his issues.

I loved Duncan and his patience. Perhaps he wasn't exactly a good cop, like his friend told Ghost, but he was a good man and it showed with the restraint he had with Ghost, who kept pushing and tempting him. Their relationship was a bit of a slow-burn, mostly because Duncan was really considerate and knew Ghost wasn't ready for anything else. He gave Ghost space and time and it turned out to be the right thing to do. The chemistry between them was undeniable and despite their age gap and how different they were from each other, they fit well together, working in tandem to keep Ghost alive.

As I said before, I was really intrigued by Church and Tobias and the dynamics of their friendship. I actually liked, or maybe more like respected, Mama and even Kellen, yes, they weren't exactly upstanding citizens, but they had some sort of warped sense of ethics. The ones I hated were Spratt, who thankfully got a satisfying resolution and Crayes, who provided some closure.

Overall, I can't recommend this book enough. I know it's not everyone's kind of read. It's not all flowers and candies, it's raw and emotional and deals with some very heavy issues, but it's very worthy of your time, in my opinion.

*** Copy provided to the reviewer via NetGalley for my reading pleasure, a review wasn't a requirement. ***

I don’t generally do trigger warnings, but in this case, I think it’s important to note that one of the main characters was abused as a child. It’s not extremely graphic, in my opinion, but there’s enough mention made that it might make some people uncomfortable.

The plot of this book springs directly from events in the two previous novels in the Woodbury Boys series. I hadn’t read them, so I was a bit lost in regard to the who, what, and why of the story at first. Eventually, though, I was able to pick up enough to focus on the action, and there was certainly enough of that to keep me interested.

Hooker Ghost is on the run from both corrupt cops and a Russian crime family when he meets Duncan Rook, an honest officer on medical leave from his police department. Duncan wants to take the bad guys down, and he needs Ghost’s help to do it. Ghost has pretty flexible morals and always plays the angles. He’s not really interested in justice, just in keeping himself and his friends safe, but he surprisingly also finds himself interested in the very upright Duncan. Ghost doesn’t think he has anything to offer Duncan; he’s bad, and Duncan is good. Duncan sees more in Ghost, though, and can’t help falling for him.

For a romance, this book has lots of action and a high body count. Bell doesn’t shy away from violence, and some of it is fairly vivid. The story is full of bad people who do bad things, so that’s not so surprising. But with that and the abuse Ghost experienced as a boy, it’s probably not something you want to pick up if you aren’t in the mood for something a bit dark.

I thought that the romance between Ghost and Rook was well done. Even with all his issues, Ghost is likeable—well, at least if you are a fan of strong, snarky people, like I am—and I could see why Duncan would fall for him. The relationship that develops between them was believable to me. I especially liked the fact that Ghost isn’t magically cured by love. Instead, Bell separates the two men for a while to give Ghost some space to work some things out for himself before giving them their happy ending.

If you are looking for a gritty romance, check this one out. I’m going to have to go back and read the other two books now, because I want to learn about Ghost’s friends, too.

A copy of this novel was provided through NetGalley for review; all opinions expressed are my own.

Beautiful writing, a riveting plot, and fascinating, complex characters. One of the best books I've read this year. Sidney Bell is an author to watch.

I have not read any of Sidney Bell's books before but I will be reading more from now on. From the beginning of this book my heart went out to Ghost. He is one of those characters that speaks to the toughness of the world we live in and sometimes don't pay enough attention to. But he found his defender in a tough cop who helped him when he was in trouble that he could not handle alone. This was well written, the characters were well drawn and now I want more.

This was the exciting ending to the Woodbury Boys trilogy. The story has two aspects. One is the case of the crooked policemen that they're working together on and the other is their relationship.

The case was action packed and could be made into a movie. There's fighting and car chases and shoot outs. I thoroughly enjoyed how this part of the story played out and how it gets wrapped up

I was most looking forward to the relationship aspect though. I admit I was a bit worried going in to this. Ghost has had a terrible past and he's suffered a lot of trauma over the years. I was really worried that the author might try to wrap up all his issues with the love of a good man as we so often see in romance stories. She didn't though. She made Ghost's progression very gritty and very realistic. He works so hard for his happily ever after. When he gets there though it is beautiful. The epilogue made my ears tear up I was so happy for him. Ghost was a very conplex and well written character and his sense of humor helped break up some of the more emotionally heavy scenes.

Duncan wasn't at all what I would have thought as a match for Ghost but he ended up being perfect. He was so calm. He took Ghost's issues seriously and he respected his boundaries which really needed to happen in a story which such a serious plotline.

I had high hopes going into this book and I'm really excited to say this exceeded my expectations. I loved every minute of this book and I'm sure this is going to make my Top 10 list for the year. This should not be read as a standalone as the criminal case is an ongoing one since book one. You should also note a content warning for non-graphic child sexual abuse flashbacks.

If you haven't started this triology I highly recommend it. All three books have been 5 star reads for me and some of the best books I've read this year.

Ghost has been on his own almost as long as he can remember. All of his choices were taken away and now survival is in his blood. He prefers to stay on his own because people bring complications. In a moment of good conscience, Ghost steps in to protect a friend. He has no idea how he even wound up with a friend in the first place, but Ghost ends up with more trouble than he even knows what to do with.

Ghost is pointed in the direction of policeman Duncan Rook and Duncan is nothing that Ghost expects. He may also be Ghost’s last and best hope. A hustler known for lying and breaking the law doesn’t quite fit into Duncan’s carefully ordered law-abiding world, but the real Ghost underneath, he may be exactly what Duncan needs.

This book is the third in the Woodbury Boys series and directly builds off of the books that come before it. Ghost has been an incredibly intriguing character throughout the series and I was waiting for his book, yet also hesitant if the story would match the anticipation. Ghost was even more than I thought he would be. One of the best things about this book is not knowing what is going to happen and, on that note, this will be on the brief side.

Leading off of the events of the second book, Ghost needs to get out of town. Yet, what he is trying to get away from wants to follow him. He winds up at Duncan’s door, although not quite in the way he intended. Ghost has a whole lot going on with him layered under all of his protective instincts. He’s snarky and witty with a dry sense of humor and that was hilarious to see as he plays off of by-the-book Rook. Their banter, and Ghost’s thoughts and comments, were highly entertaining all of the way through.

The book is a slow burn and anything else truly would not have fit Ghost. I truly appreciated that there was no quick fix for Ghost and everything was earned and hard won. Ghost has been on his own for so long and doing things solely to please other people and survive, so he has no idea what he might like and no idea how to even remotely go about having a relationship. But Ghost is a revelation even to himself and much stronger than he would ever give himself credit for.

Duncan is Ghost’s opposite is almost every way. He promises to protect Ghost, but he lets Ghost be. He doesn’t try to change Ghost and he doesn’t judge Ghost and he falls so hard so fast. Duncan, however, will not be a part of breaking the law and Ghost knows that Duncan is a good man, the best man he has ever known. But Ghost wants something for maybe the first time ever and he comes to realize that there is more than one way to be a good man.

The larger storyline of why Ghost is on the run is ever present throughout the entire book and Bell kept the intrigue high as to how it would all play out. If there was one area I would have wanted more on it would be Ghost’s past. We are given enough to work with to piece together where he came from, but I would have preferred even more detail on that. Rough Trade offers glimpses of Tobias and Church, but mainly the book is filled with Ghost, making this the absolute best book of the series.

Amazing action-filled story, the suspense nearly killed me! I also loved the sly humor that snuck in when the MC’s weren’t running or fighting for their lives.
This is a gritty romance between two heroes who have both been beaten down by life and aside from the suspense plot, it has some heavier themes too, like sexual abuse and its resulting mental health issues. So not a lighthearted read, but definitely an amazing, insightful, original and gripping story.
The two MC’s could not be more different.
Ghost takes a very dim view of the world and the people in it, and doesn’t trust easily if at all. He’s experienced some horrible things in his young life. But he survived. He’s very much a fighter, never giving up and using whatever means possible to get through another day, stealing, lying and cheating as he goes along. He needs every bit of his resolve and strength to fight for his life (literally) and for his chance at happiness with Duncan.
Duncan is the quintessential strong, silent type. He’s a firm believer in justice and made a brave choice to do the right thing in a difficult situation, only to be betrayed by the very people who were supposed to have his back. Now he’s struggling to find a new path, slowly realizing he can’t return to his former life. And then he meets Ghost!
The connection between Duncan and Ghost builds up slowly, with ups and downs, but it is beautiful to see the trust between them grow and to see them get closer, however tentatively at first. Ghost has serious mental health problems, and I was glad to see him reach out for help, going to therapy and building a life for himself. Love was not an easy fix for him, though it was an important motivator. I really liked that extra little bump in the road, the realism it brought to the story.
I very much enjoyed this book! I was so caught up in it, just couldn’t put it down once I started, which doesn’t happen to me all that much anymore.
This book is part of a series, but can be read alone.

We finally get the story of Ghost, the enigmatic hustler of the trio of Woodbury boys. It is as dark and as inspiring as I hoped it would be. In the first two books, we got to see Ghost as the character that nothing could touch, neither feelings nor fists, Ghost was portrayed as being beyond those things and in this book we find out why. Throughout the trilogy we have gotten hints to his past and know that it can’t be good but I was also unsure whether or not his past was past. In this book we find out it wasn’t, he is still so strongly affected by it, and hasn’t had any chance to heal, that he is essentially still suffering from his past and its painful to read. But this book wouldn’t be as great as it is, if the main character continued to keep punishing himself for what was done to him as a child. Instead we get to experience Ghost going through the healing process and its beautifully tragic to read.

The man that inspires Ghost to heal is Duncan Rook and I just love him. I’m a big sucker for gentle giant characters that are absolute sweethearts and Rook perfectly fits the bill. Rook is a cop on medical leave because he has found himself on the opposite side of the thin blue line after his definition of justice didn’t match with that of his comrades. He is a lawful good character if I’ve ever seen one and is perfect to inspire Ghost to want more out of his life. Its Rook’s gentleness and “stupid morals” that make Ghost want to be better and it was fun to watch him struggle between how he wants to act and how Rook wants him to act. Together Rook and Ghost make the perfect team to take down Mama and while that is how they initially connect, they eventually develop feelings for each other that can’t be ignored.

This book is dark and while you could technically read it as a standalone, you shouldn’t because you won’t get the full Ghost experience. I highly recommend this series as probably the best romantic suspense series that I’ve read. It was incredibly bittersweet to read the end of the Woodbury boy’s stories. I loved that they all got a realistic love story ending and still remain friends. But I’m so sad to see them go. Ghost’s story was a beautiful way to end the series because he was the most flawed. It was also the lowest heat story but I thought that the heat that was there was perfect because it shows that Ghost is on the path to healing. I feel like I could say so much more but you should do yourself a favor and read it yourself.

Ghost is a character with a terribly dark & tragic past (sexual abuse. prostitution, violence) so Rough Trade was a heavy read but so well done.

Duncan is an excellent match for Ghost and the whole process progressed slowly - as it should have.

I also loved how much Ghost realized he was worth more and took the time to work through his past before jumping into something new. It hurt while I was reading it but it made the eventual HEA that much better.

I’m not sure *enjoy* is the right word but I did love this final (I think) installment for the series. It gave Ghost a his HEA and wrapped up several loose series threads nicely.

Rough Trade is a dark, gritty, and rough M/M contemporary romance. It's the third in a series but it easily read as a standalone. This is my first book by Ms. Bell but after enjoying her smooth writing style, unique characters, and intriguing storytelling I quickly became a fan. In this book we have Ghost. A streetwise hustler who finds himself in more trouble than even he can handle. Thankfully he ends up in the care of a stoic yet sexy cop named Duncan Rook. Ghost doesn't trust easily but with his life on the line and dirty cops after him how much does he have to lose by leaning on Rook?

I highly recommend this one!

the final book in the woodbury boys series, rough trade, finally sheds light on the ever-enigmatic ghost. abused in every way possible, ghost's moral compass is somewhat lacking. but he's trying to do the right thing.

his problem is that the right thing keeps blowing up in his face. on his way to share some important evidence with duncan rook, an honest police officer on medical leave, ghost is left fighting for his life with the evidence he was meant to put to use completely destroyed.

duncan isn't sure what to do with ghost, except he believes him, and he sees all his broken pieces and wants to help. but ghost is so damaged, it's hard to fathom that it would ever be possible for him to be whole and healthy enough to be the person duncan believes he could be.

this series is gritty and suspenseful and tells these beautiful love stories. there's so much angst and anger and pain, but there is also romance and this astounding love and healing that these characters go through. this is the perfect series capper and i look forward to seeing more from this author.

**rough trade will publish on december 3, 2018. i received an advance reader copy courtesy of netgalley/carina press in exchange for my honest review.

This review--like my reaction when I saw I'd been approved for an ARC--is basically *sounds only dogs can hear.* I have been waiting for Ghost's story. Waiting and waiting. And this ... was pretty much everything I could have hoped for. So much about this story is my catnip, all I can say is if you aren't reading this series yet, you have a treat in store for you! As for me, I can't wait to see what Sidney Bell writes next.

A satisfying conclusion to a great series. This author knows how to blend mystery, suspense and romance. None suffer due to the other.

Ghost has been an enigmatic character from book one, and I wondered how his background would allow him to trust anyone. He has been manipulated, lied to and abused for most of his life, and his character builds even further in this book.

It's Duncan who is able to cross the barriers Ghost has erected, mostly because of his strong ethical code, and his straight up honesty. As they move closer to breaking the case, Ghost starts to hope, which we all know, is dangerous.

A great book. I recommend all three of this series, and in fact, all of this author's work. Thanks to Netgalley and publisher for advanced copy. Due out December 3.

This review is based on an advanced copy.

I really enjoyed this book. It's not a light hearted easy read by any stretch, but that's what I liked most about it. It's gritty and realistic. The characters have problems because they are humans. I think for some the character of Ghost will take a while to grow on them, but for me he was an instant win. From the beginning he's cynical as hell but is still unable to resist doing something right even though it doesn't make a lot of sense. He hasn't had an easy life at all and he's dealing with it as best he can. Duncan took me a little longer to like but eventually his blunt, no-nonsense attitude won me over. The timeline of both the action and relationship was excellent. Nothing too fast or too slow. All in all, highly recommended.

There was some strange formatting issues with the copy on my ereader with the spacing of lines at the beginning of the paragraph being different from further on, but this issue wasn't visible on the computer copy so it may just be my reader. It didn't effect reading in any way, just a visual note.

[I received a digital arc for an honest review]

Rough Trade by Sidney Bell is the third book in The Woodbury Boys series. I did not read the first two books in the series, while I was in no way confused about the characters or the happenings in the book at any time, I do think I lacked the caring for the main character and side characters that would have made me enjoy this book way more.

This book was a hard one to read. Our leading male, Ghost, was sexual abused as a child and it has completely turned him into the emotionally stunted, distrusting person he is today. He chooses the life of a prostitute because he can control who has sex with him and is able to go completely numb and shut out the unwanted touching. In the beginning of the book Ghost finds himself on the run from a Russian crime syndicate and a dirty cop. Beaten down and without the only evidence he had to take the dirty cop down he finds himself dependent on a man name Duncan Rook.

Duncan Rook is on medical leave and when his ex partner asks him to help out Ghost he agrees and even when things go bad he keeps his word. Rook believes in the truth, justice and not killing unarmed men. He finds himself falling for Ghost but doesn't want to be with a shell of a man, and he can't trust Ghost who does nothing but lie and manipulate.

It took me a while to care about Ghost, he was hard to like at first. As Duncan broke down his defenses and you saw his vulnerability, I couldn't stop myself from rooting for him. The gentle way Duncan handled Ghost was heartbreaking and moving. I also enjoyed the banter back and forth between straight forward gruff Duncan and crazy Ghost.

Overall, Rough Trade was an emotional and crazy ride of a young man trying to get out of his circumstances. Learning to accept there's no normal in life and to just aim for happy and that the things worth having are never ever easy.

Ghost hasn’t had it easy and is used to fending for himself but he is in it deep this time and could use a bit of help even if it comes in the form of a cop. Ghost tore me up and spit me out. I fell for Duncan right away and was right there with him wishing that Ghost would want to want more for himself.
I loved this story. It took me a bit to get into it because I hadn’t read the first two books (a situation I plan to remedy quickly) but I was able to follow and make some assumptions as the story progressed. This story will make your heart go pitter pat. You will laugh, cry and sigh.

Ghost has made a deal with the devil (a Russian woman referred to as Mama), for himself and the safety of friend. When life goes to crap (as it usually does for Ghost), he finds Duncan. Maybe Duncan can help him, if they can learn to trust each other. Bad cops, Russians with bad attitudes, and dead friends make for an interesting story.

This book has some action, some death, and some surprises. But it’s really a love story (full of pain, anger and a lot of blood), but still just a love story.

I have been waiting for Ghost’s book for seems like forever (really just short of two years, but in book years that is forever). He’s enigmatic, brutal, scared, almost broken, BUT surprisingly caring for those he considers his. Watching Ghost and Duncan dance around each other while dealing with imminent jail/destruction/death wasn’t pretty but it was very satisfying.