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.

✩ ✩ ✩ ✩ ✩ 5-STAR ✩ REVIEW ✩ ✩ ✩ ✩ ✩
> > Judging a Book by its Cover < <
Two men, fully dressed, sitting back-to-front together make up the top ½ of the cover and a vague, rundown, roadside motel is shown on the bottom. Thin series and title font are barely strong enough to be read while browsing through thumbnail photos. Author font is bold and legible. Synopsis interested me a lot!
> > Looking Deeper < <
POV ~> Third-person
This was a LONG book but wonderfully written and NOT a hardship to read whatsoever! Ghost is a street-savvy survivor, a hustler, and occasional prostitute. His childhood is riddled with abuse and neglect. He lives and breathes manipulation. When he gets mixed up with the wrong people, he finds himself on the run. Duncan Rook is a good man, honest and loyal. When his mentor calls with a favor, he does not hesitate to agree to help Ghost. Both men got more than they bargained for… with bloodshed and bullets flying, they were kept on their toes, even while laid up with injuries. Only with the help of a few well-trusted friends –and one unlikely, untrustable ally- could they hope to make it out alive. Though this was labeled as a GAY ROMANCE, there was little romance or sex. There were developing emotions and a relationship/bond formation, but the traditional, romantic element was sparse. Sexual tension was present but sex was more of an avoided topic [due to previous experiences] than frequently present in the plot. The plot was fantastic, the characters were well ranged in personality. The predictability was low. The conclusion, while providing as a flash-forward indicating an HEA for the men, was not as solidly set as I’d prefer. I would highly recommend this to those that like Romantic Action/Thriller/Suspense and Gay Romance. Note: Although this is the third book in the series, this was the first I’d read and it is my opinion that it was able to stand strongly on its own. . Rating: [R] ~ Score: 4.525 ~ Stars: 5
==========================
⭐ ⭐ **** Disclosure of Material: I received a copy of this book from NetGalley and the Author/Publisher with the hope that I would voluntarily leave unbiased and unsolicited feedback. I was not asked, encouraged, or required to leave a review - nor was I compensated in any way. I am posting this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising". ***** ⭐ ⭐

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.

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 did not expected to love this book,but I did.
Loved the guys together.The book reads like a dream.
I have not read the (woodbury boys 1 and 2).but for me
it was not a problem.You get easy in the storyline and
the author is really talented.It is not an easy read.
it is fast paced,full with drama and angst but not overly.
I loved it that the building off trust took the most part between
the two off them.I loved ghost and Rook was his match.

the only minus point for me,was the space and time that Kennen
took up.that was not for me a plus.for a side character she got to much
pagetime.

but overall a great read and I loved it very much.

Arc was provided by novel take pr

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.