I didn’t think Trust Me could be better than Into the Storm and how wrong I was!

“All at once, what she’d done hit her. She’d rejected her rescue.”

The MC of this book is yummy Chris Flyte, Xavier’s friend/comrade from the previous book. He’s just signed divorce papers after finding out his wife of eight years has been cheating on him with one of his best friends.

Our FMC is badas* Dr Diana Edwards. She is in Jordan to help with an excavation for a local university and get over her heart ache after losing her fiancé in a tragic accident.

When Diana is kidnapped by terrorists needing her expertise for looting, Chris and his team are sent in for rescue. What they don’t expect is that Diana would reject her rescue and choose to stay.

“All he knew was he couldn’t stop thinking about the woman. He was in awe of her bravery and pissed as hell at her recklessness.”

The sexual chemistry is immediate and the two can’t resist each other. I found the way that our two MCs brought one another away from the edge so sweet and once again am in awe of how well Grant can develop relegations in such short periods.

This book lasts about a week or so after Diana is finally rescued.

I was surprised to see all the Flashpoint and Evidence cameos- we get lots of Morgan, Freya, Ian Boyd and Rand! Honestly, this was a perfect book to bring all of the series together. I can’t wait to see what’s in store for Rand and Kira.

Is it selfish to want their book before Trust Me has officially published?

I received an ARC from Netgalley and this review is my honest opinion.

Trust Me by Rachel Grant is one of my most anticipated reads for 2023, and it has delivered. The queen of romantic suspense has done it again! The plot is a beautiful mix of strategy and archaeology sprinkled with passion, drive and reflection. The protagonists are complete gems, distinct in their ability to hold themselves in dire situations but identical in how they love and protect one another. The element of suspense shines throughout this book and keep you on edge as Diana's ordeal grows dire by the minute. The supporting characters (yes, we have a few from a previous serious making their return) complement the operation immensely well. You do not need to read the last series to get acquainted with this story, but it is highly recommended to understand the characters better.

Leave it to the author to balance expertise, passion and well-rounded characters. One of the easiest five-stars reads I have given this year. Grab your copy on June 15th!

Thank you, NetGalley & Janus Publishing, for giving me an e-ARC. This honest review is left voluntarily.

I volunteered to read and review an advanced readers copy of Trust Me through Net Galley . This is a Spectacular Suspense Romance . Its action packed from the beginning . Archaeologist Diana Edwards is trying to find information on artifacts being sold on the black market and the ties with terrorists . She's is kidnapped and forced to dig and clean artifacts for the terrorist who is supposed to be dead . When Navy Seal Chris Flyte and his team attempt to rescue her she indangers him and his team . After being rescued the second time . Diana's abduction and forced digging is questioned . Diana soon realizes trouble and terrorists have followed her home and she's in danger again . This story is off the charts with suspense and intrigue on the edge action not to forget romance . I highly recommend taking the time to read .

✔️Fast paced plot
✔️ Hot SEAL named Chris
✔️ Gutsy, brave archeologist Diana who puts its all on the line
✔️ Covert ops fighting both domestic and foreign terrorists
✔️ reigniting of the Monuments Men-Cultural Heritage Monitoring Lab
✔️ links two series together
✔️ steamy scenes
✔️ a darn fine read

I love Rachel Grant’s books! Her plots are creative, complicated, sexy and she writes the smartest heroines. I appreciate that they are smart career women with intelligence, courage, a strong sense of integrity and a bit inventive. This is truly a unique meet-cute and could have ended very badly. Both the hero and heroine had previous relationships that were tragic, but soon realize that the past has no hold on them or the out-of-control attraction they feel. Lots of characters from previous books support here and that was just so fun. This is another plot that really could really happen and that has its' basis in reality. It had me reading continuously to the end.

Diana Edwards is an archaeologist with a mission, and it isn't just the dig she is currently working on in Jordan. She is a part of a special group whose purpose is to disrupt the supply chain of antiquities whose theft and sale funds terrorism. She is terrified when kidnapped from an open market but sees a chance to make real progress in finding the leaders behind the artifact trafficking and shutting down the operation. She is depending on her subdermal tracker for rescue when the time comes.

Tracking the car that took her from the market, her rescuer is Navy SEAL Chris Flyte, but his timing is all wrong. Diana has met the man who had her taken and found information that will take down the traffickers, but no one will believe that a dead man kidnapped her without proof. So, Diana does the only thing she can do: she refuses to be rescued and mouths "Trust Me" to her rescuer. Chris is baffled that the hostage refused to be rescued. So, the team waits, and Diana is forced to do the terrorists bidding and loot a site in order to find the elusive leader.

When the time comes, and she activates her tracker her rescuer is again Navy SEAL Chris Flyte. On returning to the states, Diana finds her account of what happened is not believed and her choices have placed her in danger of being returned to Jordan and prosecuted. She needs a champion and reconnects with Chris who believes her but has questions. After seeing one of the terrorists who held her captive at a Metro stop, Diana and Chris decide she isn't safe in DC and that there is a larger network in place than they first thought. Just how deep the network goes and who is involved is a web they need to untangle in order for Diana to be safe again.

My thanks to the Publisher and Author for providing a complimentary digital Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) of this novel via NetGalley. This is my fair, honest and personal review. All opinions are mine alone and were not biased in any way.

Trust Me is the second book in the Evidence: Under Fire series. This is a fantastic second book in the series. This book focuses on Chris, a Navy Seal, and Diana an Archaeologist.

Diana Edwards is taken hostage by terrorists, when a SEAL attempts to rescue she makes a gesture with her hand and mouths Trust Me. Chris does not understand the repeated gesture with his hands but decides to trust her. She has uncovered a plot to unearth hidden artifacts to be sold for profit and a terrorist that is believed to be dead. Despite the risk of not being rescued a second time she is determined to follow through with her mission.

Navy SEAL Chris Flyte has one job to do, but the hostage refuses to be rescued. They return to base and review the video taken during the attempted rescue and quickly understand her message and why she asked for more time. Chris leaves for another mission but Diana is not far from his thoughts.

Six weeks later Dr. Edwards sets off her locator to let them know where she is and ready to be rescued. Chris again sets off to complete the rescue mission to return everyone safely home on US soil. After he completes the mission and Diana is believed to be safe. Her story of abduction and being forced to dig becomes suspect puts her life and everyone around her in danger again.

This was a wonderfully thrilling and intense read. I thoroughly enjoyed Chris and Diana's story. The characters are very committed in the completion of their duties. They are also focused and determined as well as very likeable. Looking forward to the next one in the series.

I have never read Rachel Grant before but I absolutely will again. Great thriller which was full of intrigue and romance. I found the archeological details really interesting and was gripped by the novel. Would recommend.

Really excited about this book. It was an Absolutely phenomenal read. High will recommend to others to pick up as soon as it is released.

Trust Me, the second installment in the Evidence: Under Fire series, has a powerful, realistic, dark plot that hit me hard in the feels and it made me think a lot.

When archaeologist Diana Edwards is abducted in Jordan US government sends his best men to her rescue. But when the Navy SEAL Chris Flyte arrives on the site he can't save the hostage because she follows the criminals. Has Diana betrayed her country? Or there's a real explanation behind her inexplicable actions?

Diana is a very smart, strong woman who has had some traumatic experiencies in her life. Chris is a loyal, brave man who was just back from an op where he and his team were ambushed.
They are perfect for each other, it seems like they found in each other some peace, comfort and security.
I've rooted for them since the beginning of their story. I've followed their tough journey with my heart in my throat for most of the time, but when they were together my heart was all warm and fuzzy.

Rachel Grant writing is really good, intriguing, suspenseful and sweet, but what I appreciate the most is her knowledge of the world of the archaeology.

I highly recommend to read this book, I loved everything about it and I can't wait to read the next one by this author.

This was an exciting military romantic suspense that certainly delivered on the suspense. The situations that Diana went through were nail biting. Unfortunately, I felt the romance was not as well developed. There were some sexy scenes but I didn’t buy into the love emotions. It was more attraction due to circumstance, proximity and high stress. I liked the characters who had well developed personalities but there didn’t seem to be much opportunity for some heart to heart about the future for Diana and Chris. While it is expected as a military romance, I found it heavy (especially in the first couple chapters) on the acronyms and how the various military organizations interacted with each other.

Once again Rachel has given me a book to read that destroyed any chance I had of sleeping I always say I won't start one of her books unless it is early in the day and i have some chance of finishing it and once again I was reading into the early hours of the morning unwilling to put it down.

This story centres around Diana Edwards a archaeologist working in Jordon who is also trying to prove the link between stolen artifacts and terrorism and when she is taken hostage she finally finds that link when she spots a man known as the Four of Diamonds a terrorist that the US believed was killed two years earlier When a Seal team is sent into rescue her she doesn't want to be rescued and tells Navy Seal Christopher Flyte to trust her after all she need proof that the terrorist is alive. Soon Chris and his tam are sent into get her again Can she prove that what she saw is true and can they get to the bottom of it all. Once again Rachel has given us a strong no nonsense heroine and a all alpha military man who isn't sure how to handle this strong woman but he knows he wants her. Can they have a future You will have to read to see

This series just goes from strength to strength.

Diana has been working on Jordan, helping to catalogue on an archaeological dig. But unknown to the Government she is also there to help thwart relic traffickers. When she is kidnapped in broad daylight, she is forced to help dig illegally. But when her chance for escape comes, she shocks her rescuer by helping her captors get away.

Chris is the Navy SEAL sent to help rescue Diana and he is shocked when she signs for him to trust her. Trust her - she's making off with the bad guys! Weeks later she manages to get an SOS of sorts out and once again Chris and his team are sent in. This time they arrive just in time to rescue Diana. But when she reveals that a terrorist is alive, Chris begins to wonder if her story is on the up and up.

Modern day Monuments Men (and Women) mix with hunts for terrorists, relic trafficking and scorching chemistry between Diana and Chris, which neither are sure if they should trust. There is also a traitor/mole to unearth and that alone had Chris doubting all of his comrades.

Lots of cameos from previous couples from this and other interconnected series but you don't need to have read their books to understand their involvement.

Can't wait for Kira and Rand's story to unfold!

I couldn't stop reading this one, I needed to know what was going to happen. When Diana is taken and has a chance at rescue she doesn't take it? Somethings are just more important than yourself at times and this book is all about that.

She puts her life at risk to take down one of the most wanted men who everyone thinks is dead but is very much alive, only to be turned on by her boss, he country, and everyone but a select few. You must read this one. It will have you on the edge of your seat wondering what will happen.

I received this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

TRUST ME is a delicious guilty pleasure of a read. The novel has all the elements needed for readers who want to be whisked away from reality and into a fantasy of action, sex, romance, and intrigue.

Rebuilding her life after a devastating loss, Dr. Diana Edwards has agreed to work on an archeological dig in Jordan. She's there ostensibly to gather information for an American billionaire with plans to launch 'dig for a day' tours for wealthy tourists but her real mission is as an undercover operative for the Friday Morning Valkyries (FMV). Like the Monuments Men, FMV are determined to stop the looting of antiquities by severing the pipeline between artifacts trafficking and terrorism. But before Diane can identify the main traffickers, she's kidnapped and forced to do the very thing she's trying to stop. But when a team of Navy SEALs is sent in to save her, she has to risk everything if she wants to finish the job of cutting off the black market supply.
For Navy Seal Christopher Flyte, Dr. Edwards actions put his team at risk because he can't figure out if she's a victim or an enemy accomplice. By the time they're back on US soil, the situation is more complicated than ever but at least they're working on the same side.

Rachel Grant's TRUST ME is a fast-moving action packed narrative that will keep readers entertained from the first page to the last. Readers who routinely steer away from the romance genre will find the writing, characters, and ripped from the headlines plot a great beach read.

Thanks to #Netgalley for providing a copy of #TRUSTME in exchange for an honest review.

Pub date: 15 June 2023

This was action packed and full of twists! Diana is willing to go as far as she can to help bring down a group of terrorist. She never expected to make it out alive but one seal had faith in her as well as her people. Chris was so confused when she gave hand signals but refused her rescue. When he found out what this hands signals meant he was floored as were everyone else in the room. Diana said she met one of the most terrible terrorists who was supposed to be dead but he obviously wasn’t. Chris can’t get her out of his mind and when it is time to rescue her again he is determined to be successful.

Hot chemistry, suspense, intrigue, and action! Trust Me has it all. This is the second book in the Evidence: Under Fire series but definitely can stand on its own. The main character, Diana Edwards, is working at a dig site in Jordan when she is kidnapped by terrorists. As the story builds, so does the tension. I ended up finishing this book in one day!

I was fortunate enough to receive an advanced reader's copy of Trust Me by Rachel Grant from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Full disclosure: I am a big fan of Rachel Grant and I have enjoyed most of her novels. That doesn’t make me any less objective, however. I tend to be more critical of known/established authors because the threshold is just set higher. Happily, Trust Me continued Grant’s winning streak.

Trust Me is a fast-moving tale that begins with action, intrigue, and suspense that carry forward through the entire novel. The pacing was smooth and the entire novel was well-written. You’ll be fully engaged from start to finish.

I wasn’t keen on archaeologist Dr. Diana Edwards at first - she was a bit obnoxious - but the main male character/love interest, Navy SEAL Chris Flyte, made up for Diana. As the story progressed, Diana grew more endearing and was better matched to Chris, in my opinion. Their chemistry was hot and the banter between the main characters was engrossing.

All in all, this novel was enjoyable and I can’t wait for the next book in the series.

I enjoyed this book. It’s a long one. There is lots of angst, suspense, heat and intrigue. There is a lot of detail and history in this book. The writing is very good. I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced free copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. I received a copy from the publisher through Net Galley.

Good romantic suspense with an interracial relationship theme.

Dr. Diana Edwards is part of a group of women who fight the sale of ancient antiquities to fund the ISIS terrorists. Her activities and knowledge as an archaeologist lead to her being kidnapped and forced to conduct illegal excavations to fund a cause she hates so much. When the SEAL team is sent to rescue her, Diana decides to stay with her captors to catch one of the terrorists' top leaders. This mission ultimately fails, and the military begins to doubt if Diana really saw the presumed dead ISIS leader. To make matters worse, back in the States, Diana thinks that one of her young kidnappers is following her. Fortunately, she can count on the help of Chris, a SEAL who was part of her rescue mission.

Diana is a woman with a very strong personality. Her stubbornness in the first chapters of the book may be irritating to some. After that, Diana starts behaving much more rationally and has no major problems accepting Chris's help. The two fit together quite well, and I didn't have much trouble believing their feelings. The characters are complex and interesting.

The suspense part is also very good. There's a lot of action, if you like chases and explosions, that's what you'll find in this book. The whole idea of trading in ancient artifacts to finance terrorist activities is interesting and unfortunately close to reality, although I don't think it was particularly used in this book beyond the first part. I think that the author will expand on this theme in future books.

I've read the previous book in this series, but it's completely unnecessary to enjoy this book. You won't have the slightest problem figuring out what's going on, especially since this book doesn't make any particular reference to the previous one. Of course, we meet the main character Chris for the first time in the first book.

4.5!

Archaeologist Diana is currently in Jordan officially assisting in a dig with a Jordanian archaeologic site, unofficially she's a part of a team looking to make connections between artifact traffickers and terrorist group funding. When Diana is kidnapped for her expertise regarding ancient artifacts, she uncovers a bit too much.

Navy SEAL Chris Flyte is a part of the SEAL team sent to save Diana immediately after her abduction. However, when Diana mouths "Trust Me" to Chris before she appears to unwillingly but cooperatively follow her kidnappers, Chris is in for a long journey of figuring out if Diana is trustworthy, stupid, a traitor, or something else entirely...

I am a big fan of Rachel Grant and have enjoyed her Flashpoint series and her Fiona Carver duology. Prior to starting this ARC, I purchase the prequel and book 1 of the series (even though this definitely stood on its own). Trust Me and the series it's a part of "Evidence: Under Fire" is part of what appears to be a spin-off series from Grant's Evidence series which consists of 12 books that I haven't read. In Trust Me, there are a handful of Evidence characters that make side appearances that aren't required to know previously, as well as a few side characters from the Flashpoint series which I was pleasantly surprised to see.

Rachel Grant takes great care in having super complex plots and mysteries that her main characters need to solve and this is no different. Diana has a lot of smarts to her and is a strong and powerful woman who ends up getting into a terrible situation through no fault of her own. One piece to this plot that I didn't love, especially after reading book 1 of this series immediately before, was just how complicated this plot ended up being. Into the Storm (book 1) is a complex plot with a large number of moving pieces, but the setting largely takes place in one location and so the scope of the issue seems less crazy. Trust Me features a lot of location changes and almost too many strings that end up being pulled in the final reveals that I couldn't follow certain changes between chapters. I'm still not sure if there is a chapter that is in Diana's POV or a different character's POV since it's so short and purposely leaves ambiguity (which also makes sense for the moment but was super confusing while reading without knowing what the "good guys" were attempting).

Ultimately, still really loved the focus on the careers and the accuracies that Grant pours into her work as well as the general plot that our heroes were facing.