Sidney Bell is a new to me author, this is my first book of this author, and I think, it won't be the last.
Rough Trade was an interesting read, reminds me of some series I really fond of back then.
I didn't read the previous books, but I think I intend to read it soon!
Ghost captivated me from the start, and I rarely wrong in judging people. He is one of a kind.
Then enter Duncan, I think, he is the only one who can really get along with Ghost.
The slow burn romance was killing me, I kept waiting for their 'sexy times' and waiting and waiting.
LOL.
This is an opposite attract at it's best, slow, full of anticipation, and frustrated me at some point. But I liked it in the end.
I recommend this for Sidney Bell's fan, you'll love it.

I absolutely 100% LOVED this book. Sidney Bell can spin a yarn like no other. I have been anxiously awaiting Ghost's story since the first book and Rough Trade did not disappoint. This was the perfect end to this beautiful trilogy. There's love, loss, great banter, a whole lotta steam and we all know Ghost and his sass. Absolutely gorgeous book and I can't wait for more from Ms. Bell!

Rough Trade is such an emotional roller-coaster! I am not exaggerating when I say I stayed awake until 3am reading this book. And not just for the action packed suspense of the story, but for the damned emotions it kept making me feel!

Plot wise, Rough Trade is action and angst packed. From intense action scenes, to emotional conversations, Bell  has packed so much into this book. However it wasn't the action that kept me reading into the wee hours of the night, it was the emotions.

Both characters, Ghost and Duncan, have been through some tough times. While Ghost has certainly had things a lot harder in his life, the emotional journey and betrayals that Duncan faced certainly pack a wallop. I adored these two as a couple. I loved watched them interact and just really loved how they connected with each other.

While Rough Trade is the third book of the series, I didn't have too much trouble starting at book three. The first chapter covers a lot of plot and backstory from the first two books, but it wasn't anything too strenuous and I found myself following along very easily.  And if you do find yourself struggling with the first plot heavy chapter, then the worry not because you will be swept away with the story in chapter two.

At its heart, Rough Trade is about trust. When do you trust other people? When can you trust yourself? When is it okay to be okay? So you need to trust me when I say, this book is fantastic, emotional, and just so jam packed full of feels!

Best Bits:

*The characters - Ghost and Duncan were just so nuanced and incredibly well written. Ghost took time to grow on me but once he did - I was gone. Done. I was not only in love with both of the characters but I just couldn't put the book down until I knew they would be okay.

*That therapy scene - I don't want to get into how emotional I got while reading this scene, but needless to say I was leaking tears.

Recommendations: I absolutely adored Rough Trade. I don't like scoring books with the star system but this book got one of my rare 5 star ratings. It was great - it made me laugh, it made me cry, and it made me suffer through a day of work with only four hours sleep.

I would really recommend any fan of the romance genre to pick up this amazing character study of a romance novel.

Please note: I received a copy of Rough Trade from NetGalley.

⭐️⭐️⭐️

I struggled to get into the story and have it hold my attention. Lots of potential with interesting characters and suspenseful plot.

I voluntarily read an advanced copy.

To be honest, I have not read the first two books in this series (yet). This caused a few gaps in knowing who everyone was, but the story was well-told with very few, if any, proofreading errors. Although there are some stressful moments as we follow the two MCs through their activities, the author does a nice job showing the effects of trauma in all of the characters and how they each handled it. Note that this is a slow burn between the two MCs and low on intimate moments.

I recommend this story, although I think it would be enjoyed even more after reading the other two.

I am new to Sidney Bell, but I will definitely be getting her previous works based on this book. Ghost lives outside the law, having an abusive past that leaves him unwilling to trust, especially someone like Duncan Rook, an exceedingly honest cop on leave. In this suspenseful and dark novel where danger abounds and it is hard to see them ever escaping the situation they find themselves in, Ghost and Duncan learn to depend on each other and eventually find the love they both deserve.

I loved the two previous books in this series and I really like Sidney Bell’s writing style. Ghost’s story should’ve been the most exciting of the three since he was saved for last but unfortunately this book fell short for me.

I liked getting to know about Ghost and seeing him change and learn that he does deserve to be loved and that he can make “good” decisions. Rook was patient with him and I swooned at how gentle he was, especially for his size. They shouldn’t have worked together but they did.

These two men are on the run together hiding out from a dirty police officer and the Russian mob. This concept usually works so well for me but I felt like a whole lot of nothing was going on for most of the book. They talk, they talk so much that my mind wandered so many times. It took me 5 days to read this and that’s pretty much unheard of for me.

I can appreciate why the story went the way it did and once it picked up towards the end I enjoyed it more but it seemed that the relationship took over the book and I was hoping for more action. By the time I finished I was relieved but it was a nice wrap up if the series.

I'm going to get this out of the way first so I can then gush about this awesome book.

The problem persists. Several books later and it still hasn't been addressed by an editor. 😡. Dialogue changes from character to character without notice, leaving the reader confused as to who is speaking. I mentioned it in my reviews of the previous books. This time I'm putting it front and center. This needs fixing!

Alright, now that's out of the way, let me tell you about this book. It's Ghost's story. The one so many of us have been impatiently waiting for. --- It was worth the wait. Sydney Bell delivers!

Ghost, oh my goodness... poor, hurt, broken, brave, wonderful Ghost.

In the mad bid to escape Mama and Spratt, Ghost teams up with officer Duncan Rook. Polar opposites in everything, these two may be exactly what the other needs.

The action and suspense is second only to the character development in this beauty of a book.

If you've been following this series, this is a must read. If you want to pick this one up as a stand alone, you won't be sorry.

I didn't even read the first two books in the series and I still fucking love this story of Ghost and his hunk of a man, Duncan. Ghost is barely twenty, yet he had overcome so much in his life. He is a prostitute and although he appeared to be proud of his way of life, we get the gist of his childhood of what makes him that way. His best friends are Tobias and Church from the previous two books, but even he keep them at arm length. Ghost like to turn on his charm, deflect and pretend in front of everyone until he meet a goody cop, Duncan who could see through his bullshit.

The drama/suspense/danger involving a group of crooked cop is an engaging plot by itself, but what fascinate me most in this story is the interaction between Ghost and Duncan. Somehow, Ghost ended up seeking help from this straight laced cop and it turned out to be a life changing experience.

Duncan is my favorite kind of hero, strong, silent and so damn honorable. He is a total opposite from Ghost, who had no respect for the law and reading about them arguing about everything is the best kind of entertainment. I absolutely adore their slow burn relationship and it really fucking slow without much sexual innuendo and lack of smut. I love my mm romance to be smutty, but the lack of sex in this book really fit the narrative here and it actually make this much more appealing. Due to Ghost past, he had never been interested in anyone sexually with feelings at least, and Duncan knew enough to know not to even fucking touch him without consent. Their relationship is the best kind of slow burn that have me hanging by their every tentative touch and gentle kisses until 5 freaking am.

I love the way the story show Ghost's journey to self discovery/redemption. There is no magic cock with magic cure, just pure determination and willingness to better himself and seek for the happiness he deserve. And not to forget the epic grovel towards the end! This is my first read of Sidney Bell and definitely a winner!

I loved this book. It was my first by this author and the first from this series (I know, right?!). I loved Ghost and the dynamic between him and Duncan.
After finishing the book, I went on to read the first two books in the series and enjoyed them as well. But going back to the third one afterwards, it became clear that it would always be my favourite. Ghost just seems so mysterious, yet vulnerable even though that's the last thing he wants to be.
I did enjoy that Sidney Bell managed to include enough hints to the first two books in the third that you could understand the history between the men - without giving away anything important.
I will definitely be going back to reading about these guys again!

This title is quite suspenseful, but with the initial introduction to the character and the plot, I was very confused with what was happening. The storyline is a little harder to understand in the beginning.

*Received an ARC in exchange for an honest review from NetGalley.

Well! If you’d have told me a week ago that Ghost’s story would give me all the feels, and have me almost in tears, I would have asked you what you were smoking, because during the first two books he most definitely does not give off cute mushy vibes. At all. Sidney Bell most definitely saved the best ‘til last. I was dying to get into Ghost’s psyche, desperate to find out what made him tick. Duncan Rook apparently. I can’t say I blame him either. Duncan was adorable, the perfect gay book boyfriend, he was strong and caring, he listened and he never ever pushed Ghost beyond his boundaries. Another suspense, action romance, good versus evil, if you will, with Ghost and his gang facing off against Mama, Kellen and Spratt. I was hooked from the get-go. I hated having to go to work and having to wait for my next instalment. A full five star read from me. I received an advanced copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. This is my honest review.

I really enjoyed this, but some trigger warnings would be welcome. I loved it myself, though. Ghost is a great character and whilst the story dragged on a little too long, I found this to be an enjoyable read.

Solid editing and great main characters but the story dragged on too long for me to enjoy. I liked the first two books in the series more.

I would have given this book 5 stars if it had come with trigger warnings. As it is, some readers may find themselves unknowingly walking into a minefield.

I should also mention I read this as a stand alone, without apparent issue.

Now that I've said my piece, on we go.

To describe Ghost in just one word would be terribly wrong of me, it can't be done. Ghost needs help. He got in trouble with the wrong people, and now they're after him. But Ghost is also a victim of abuse, and so the help he needs extends way beyond that. A layered character, sometimes difficult to understand (which is natural for those of us who have not been though the same things), but always endearing and captivating, Ghost is definitely the one who carries the bulk of the story.

Duncan is a big man, an ex cop, and a goody two-shoes. Perhaps do-gooder is a better expression. He is the man who sets out to help Ghost, and finds out just how difficult a task that is along the way. Can these two moral opposites make it work?

Personally, I found Duncan a forgettable character - direct opposite to the impact, the interest, the fascination that Ghost leaves in his wake. But that might have been on purpose. This story needs no knight in shining armor.

Overall, it was a very good book. Again, I must stress that it has sensitive content and trigger warnings are advised. If you have had experiences with trauma and abuse in the past, and those are two of your triggers, you may want to steer clear of this book.

But if you haven't, and if they aren't, I do recommend it.

‘Rough Trade’ picks up where things left off in book 2. Ghost is stuck between Mama and Spratt, and his time is running up quickly.

As far as the crime/action plot goes, this book hits the ground running. The danger that Ghost is in is imminent from the get-go, and it never really slows down.

The twists and turns kept me very entertained. I’m a sucker for a good action plot, and ‘Rough Trade’ did not disappoint.

It’s got all the corrupt cops, crime lords (or, in this case, ladies), shoot outs, and close calls I could ask for.

But the real star of this book isn’t the crime angle, it’s the slow-build relationship between Ghost and Duncan.

Ghost’s predicament brings him to Duncan’s doorstep. And while Duncan knows that Ghost is nothing but trouble, his unshakeable morals won’t let him turn away.

The two men are complete opposites. Duncan is a by-the-book officer of the law. Ghost has spent his entire life trampling that book into the ground.

And yet these two are helpless to the web that slowly weaves them together.

But it isn’t easy. Ghost has lived a life of trauma, and fuck, did his backstory ever hurt. His only protection has been to build a shell of deceit and manipulation around himself. Duncan sees right through it, and won’t settle for anything less than the man he knows is underneath Ghost’s exterior.

It was almost painful to see Ghost’s struggle as he slowly fell for Duncan. But when he finally let himself believe that he deserved something good in life, Ghost showed up in a big way.

My only niggle: I thought Duncan could have been a tad more considerate of why Ghost was the way he was. But even so, there’s never any doubt that Duncan loves and accepts all of Ghost’s pointy edges.

It takes a lot of hard work, but Ghost and Duncan more than earn their happy ever after.

Overall, this was a great conclusion to the Woodbury Boys series. If you’re looking for romance, crime, and complex characters, give this series a try!

I enjoyed this book. Hooker that wants to have a heart of gold on the run meets straight arrow hot cop- what more could you want. Normally I'm a reader that wants to get straight to some heat. However, Bell deftly worked their relationship so you truly understood each of the MC individually and invested in them. Ghost has issues, lots of them. We are given enough sneak peeks into his past to know that it will take time and effort to get through his walls and reform his soul. Duncan sees the world in black and white. How these two men face their demons and both are changed by the other is worth the read. There's plenty of action. Dirty cops, mobsters and tense hold your breath moments. There's not a lot of heat but you don't notice because you are to engrossed in the story.

4.5 STRONG STARS
Here's a shocking truth - I didn't read Books 1 & 2 in this series before I read this book. The blurb of this book sounded really good, the reviews were really good, and I got an ARC. The blurbs for the other 2 books just didn't grab me so I took a chance, read some reviews of the first 2 books, and plunged in.

I'm sure I missed some backstory, but the book did a good job of mentioning some history so I didn't really feel lost.

I LOVED Duncan and Ghost. The way Duncan handled Ghost was amazing. He was so intuitive to what Ghost needed to feel safe. If you're a hurt/comfort fan, you'll enjoy this book a lot. Tables turned and Ghost ended up doing some serious grovelling. This is the only issue I had with the story. I thought Duncan took such a hard line stand against what Ghost had done and wish it hadn't gone on so long. But go on long it did, and Ghost stood true to his new-found self.

Such a good book!

The third and final installment in Sidney Bell's Woodbury Boys was an absolute hit for me. I enjoyed the first two books in the series as well. The big thing here is Ghost. Ghost is one of those characters that leaves you with more questions than answers. He's a complete enigma and that left me impatiently waiting for Sidney to write his book and give me those answers. Rough Trade gives plenty of answers.

In Loose Cannon Ghost makes a deal with the female leader of the local Russian crime family. It was an easy choice for him to make. Even though Ghost doesn't believe it or see it this way, he was helping a friend. Hard Line gives a huge amount of page time to finding out what has become of Ghost since he made his deal with a devil.

I've been wondering what type of man Bell would pair our beloved Ghost with. His name is Duncan Rook. Duncan is just as puzzling as Ghost, in different way and for completely different reasons. I fell in love with him a little when he sees something in Ghost that Ghost doesn't even see in himself. It's this thing that turned their relationship into something that would last, something that would stand against anything. It was something that happened before they really changed their dynamic into something that would turn out to be something more.

The epilogue was perfect. It's a few years down the road and readers are given a glimpse into how Ghost is healing. We could have been treated to a glimpse of how happy his and Duncan's relationship is but the author gave us how he is growing as a man, how he is moving away from his past. So much of this book just worked for me.

*Be sure to read this series in order. The books do not work on their own.*

I received an ARC of this book through Netgalley in exchange for an honestd review.

This was a new aithor for me which is always exciting for me.

Things that I liked:
~good editing, correct spelling and grammar, MUCH appreciated!
~great main characters when the two were established finally

What I didn't care as much for was the large amount of important characters that come and go, especially in the first third of the book. I felt as if at times it was so complicated with characters that may be temporary, I found myself skimming some parts which I hardly ever do.

There was a sufficient amount of sexual tension build up between characters, however pretty soft in the “hotness” factor with essentially no full sex between the characters, just build up and oral. That may be preferable for some readers as well. Middle of the road book for me but worth a read!