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.

Trust the author to give us a super intriguing character in Ghost (even more so than Embry from Bad Judgement), and then make us wait till the final book of the Woodbury Boys to tell us his story. Rough Trade was most definitely worth the wait though. For one, it digs deep into Ghost's past and helps us understand a lot of the complexities of his character. For two, it addresses the messy Mama drama that started back in book one, not to mention his mysterious entanglement with Spratt as read in book two. Between crooked cops and vengeful Russian mobsters, the book is teeming with tense action. Speaking of tense action, there's strong and stoic Duncan, Ghost's reluctant hero who is as honest as the day is long but can't help but care for the cold-blooded hustler-slash-ingenue he's been entrusted with. The book was a strong - powerful, even - finish to a brilliant series and I can't wait to see what else the author has in store for us in the future. Oh and there's crossdressing ;-)

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.*

Really dark story, lots of triggers for those that may have issues with trauma.
I was not real impressed with most of the book, I had a hard time getting into the characters .

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!

I liked the premise of the book but had a hard time liking it.

Ghost.had such a hard and sad life. I wasn't prepared to deal with the sexual horrors that he experienced I. His youth. By the description in the chapter his mother pimped him out as a child and forced to preform sexual acts.

Rook was overall a nice guy. His career has been on hold and is now at the ready to help Ghost.

The story was more of a suspense thriller than romance. I'm not opposed to it but I would have preferred more heat less horror.

I totally loved Ghost and Duncan. I was wary of going into this book without reading the first two but I must say I totally got into it after a few chapters. This is a slow burn romance with little-to-no sex. Ghost and Duncan are total opposites. Ghost has survived a horrific past and he is so strong and loyal and brave. Ghost is also very funny and snarky. I loved their banter.There were many times I laughed out loud. I love that we have both POVs and I loved being inside Ghost's head.I love him. Period. Ghost and Duncan are incredible together and they have something very special.
Trigger warning mentions of childhood sexual abuse
*ARC provided by the author via A Novel Take PR and Netgalley in exchange for honest review

Oh my goodness! I picked this up when I was in the mood for a light, quick romance read and instead got sucked into an epic, thrilling, romantic suspense story. The danger to our two heroes was palpable and had me wondering several times how the heck they were going to escape unscathed. I haven't had a bedtime reading book that had me saying "Just one more chapter..." like this in a long time. Highly recommended!

I received a digital ARC from the publisher via Netgalley.

This book kind of wrecked me and I don't know what to say that wouldn't be considered spoilery, so I'm just going to spout some gibberish about my feelings and hopefully there will be something useful amongst the gibberish.

Gibberish with copious graphics. Like I do.



Rough Trade picks up where Hard Line left off and we finally FINALLY get inside Ghost's head. He's on the run and the action plot line takes up quite a bit of this story. He and Duncan join forces to try to figure out how to extricate Ghost from this situation with minimal collateral damage and without breaking the law. Parts of their hiding out I did think dragged but when it picked up it was fun and kept me on the edge of my seat. However, throughout all of it Bell developed a relationship sturdy enough to withstand a Cat-5 hurricane.

Ghost, for me, has been largely enigmatic. I assumed some things about his past that contributed to shaping him and unfortunately I was right about those things. Ghost has survived his own personal hell. (Trigger for mentions of childhood sexual abuse.) That sort of upbringing necessitated a certain tenacity and a set of survival skills that make him somewhat unpredictable; they are second nature to him. Unlearning them is no easy feat. The complexity of Ghost cannot be overstated.



What blew me away... well, a bunch of things actually, but once Ghost starts dealing with his past, some of that dialogue is stunning and the insightfulness of it dazzled me. Ghost's honesty stole my breath a couple times. At one point I was even talking to my kindle! Like a nutbag.

It's no secret that I (along with many others) have been enamored with Ghost from the start but after being inside his head, it's official. I love him. I never ever expected him to be funny. What a surprise that was. I cackled repeatedly at his snarky and highlighted like a fiend. The banter between he and Duncan was a delight.



Honestly, I also never expected Ghost to fall for a cop who's a giant either. Were Duncan a different sort of person this thing between them would've never gotten off the ground, but Duncan is eerily intuitive when it comes to Ghost. How he just knew not to do certain things and to do others made me respect him. The way that subtly changes the longer they know each other is what made me love him, love them. He is a positive influence and a caretaker at heart but mostly importantly, he believes in Ghost which is exactly what Ghost needs making his size a source of comfort rather than a source of intimidation.



I read romance all the time and there are a lot of phenomenal writers out there who can convince me that their couple are soulmates or of their compatibility or of their longevity, but I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that Ghost and Duncan will never leave. Neither of them are built that way with Duncan being steadfast to the core coupled Ghost's loyalty and trust issues makes them rock solid in my mind. Maybe all their days won't be sunshine and daisies but they won't leave. They've fought too hard for each other for that to happen. This, I know. And as a romance reader, there's not a lot that beats that feeling. However, there is very little sex content. It just doesn't fit their narrative and I appreciate that Bell stayed true to that.



Instead we're treated to a multitude of quiet moments that meticulously construct a manifest intimacy between them that I found poignant. Slow burns aren't always my cup of tea but the way in which this particular relationship developed made them necessary to each other and that for a squishy marshmallow like me is what brings me back to the genre again and again.

I freely admit that I am biased when it comes to Sidney Bell simply because I feel a sort of kindredness with her writes. She is wordy. I am wordy. She seems to be fascinated with the human psyche as am I. Sometimes that sort of thing doesn't work for people but for me it does. All the words have a purpose: character development. She crawls inside her characters and turns them inside out, showing them warts and all. Neither Ghost nor Duncan are perfect. They make mistakes with each other, they have weaknesses and blind spots but there was never an instance wherein I didn't understand exactly why they chose to do what they did, both the good and the bad. Those choices are what made them fully realized characters, characters that will remain in my memory for the foreseeable future.



So, if you enjoy slow burn romances between protagonists who are polar opposites that are fantastically well developed by a highly talented writer, give this series a try. All the Woodbury boys have been terrific and Rough Trade is not a standalone.





ARCs were provided by NetGalley in exchange for honest reviews.

Rough Trade is a dark and dense novel, darker and more claustrophobic than the two previous books in the series, but it never quite leads the reader into the abyss or succumbs to melodrama. Instead, the dreary setting of depressing motel rooms and violent confrontations are broken up by intimate scenes full of dark humor and pathos.

On the surface, Ghost and Duncan are completely different, their outlooks on life quite incompatible. But what becomes clear is that while their behaviors and motivations are on diametrically opposite ends of the scale (Duncan is honest to a fault and Ghost barely knows how to give an earnest or true response) - maybe they aren’t so fundamentally different from each other. Both of them are tough as nails, both of them are socially isolated and very close to alone. Both of them have lost more than most. On a practical side, they like to have their weapons handy and be prepared for violent situations. From the beginning, they work well together when it counts - when threats come to their door, when they have to fight or run. It starts with a flicker of respect, and leads to understanding and trust. And then, because it is after all a romance, to love.

There are some very powerful scenes, ones that hurt and ones that warm. Until the resolution with the antagonists- evil cop Spratt and evil mafia boss Mama - there is an intensity to the novel that only unravels and opens up once the threats have been taken out. We are left on such a hopeful note, with characters that are healing, that are learning love, touch, and trust - it's a stark and beautiful contrast to what comes before.

"<I>Hey, what's your sign? I want to read your horoscope.</I>"
"<b>You're pissing me off.</b>"
"<I>Scorpio, huh?</I>"

Of course I jumped right into this after HARD LINE. Sure, sometimes I put things off but once I'm in it.. I'm in it to win. I also have no chill.

"<I>Are you flirting with me by not murdering people?</I>"
"<b>Do you like it?</b>"
"<I>Jesus. No. No, I don't. That's not.. this is so fucked up. Conversations with you are like minefields.</I>"

There has been so much buildup to Ghost's story since he was first introduced in LOOSE CANNON and I'm not going to lie.. while I had absolute faith in Bell's abilities to see this through, you still have expectations as a reader, right? Big ones. But this didn't disappoint whatsoever.

"<I>For the record, working in retail is way more demeaning than hustling ever was. People are dicks when they think you won't stab them.</I>"

What was surprising, though, was how much humour there was here. I expected Ghost's book to be gritty and dark and painful -- and it definitely had moments of that (the scene with the therapist almost had me lose it, and if not for the fact that I was heading out the door I would not have choked back those tears) -- but this was also a journey of healing, of exploration, of moving forward and I liked that Bell focused on some of the lighter moments between this very different pair of personalities, and the awkward banter, the bitching, the lack of play.. it was hilarious and wonderful and kinda awful at times but I lived for it.

<I>He knew the filthy words, the porn-star poses, the right pressure and pace and angles. He didn't know how to make it good for <b>Duncan</b> specifically, though. And he didn't know how to make it good for himself. He felt abruptly young and lost and a little frightened.</I>

Considering all the sexy of the last book, and particularly considering Ghost's tendencies, this was the least sexy of all the <I>Woodbury Boys</I> books and it was so perfect. It fit. It was just.. oh man. Slowburn, yes, but more accurately it was a slow-trust. It was Ghost finally having the opportunity to discover who he was, what he liked, and gah the feels.

"<I>I have the flu.</I>"
"<b>No you don't. You have feelings. It's okay to have feelings.</b>"
"<I>It might be Ebola.</I>"

This was an easy four star right from the opening chapter and when I think about the journey I've been on with this series, and the amazing characters and the growth they had, the things they've overcome, there's nothing to do but award this all the stars. For all my nitpicking about the mafia-heavy plot at play in book one, I wonder how I would feel about it with a reread now that I've seen not only where but how those elements have played out. My guess is I would be a whole lot less bothered but who knows. Ultimately I was super happy with how it resolved, as you can see by that shiny five, and I was happy we had something of a reunion with all the Woodbury boys. Happy for them. Happy for me as a reader. And pleased as punch for Bell, too.

So looking forward to whatever this author does next (and she's teased it and it sounds amazing and I want it) and will no doubt happily reread this series, and BAD JUDGMENT, many many times. Definitely recommend.

4.5 "you gonna stab me? / not right now / fair enough" stars

Ghost, Ghost, Ghost.... J'ai tellement attendu son tome....

Ce dernier tome concerne le dernier de la bande des trois amis de Woodbury : Ghost. Ghost est un personnage très complexe. C'est un jeune homme que l'on n'arrive pas à cerner. On pense le comprendre, puis les élèvements du second tome m'ont fait douter. J'étais impatiente de découvrir son tome, son histoire en fait, où l'on poursuit également toute l'intrigue de fond débutée en début de saga concernant les fameux Russes. J'ai voulu absolument relire les premiers tomes pour me remettre dans le bain, reprendre toute l'intrigue depuis le début, me retrouver tout simplement dans l'ambiance si particulière de cette saga.
Si j'ai pu dévorer les deux premiers tomes à ma relecture, j'ai pris mon temps pour lire ce dernier volet...

Le début du roman m'a assez surprise au départ, on démarre sur les chapeaux de roues en quelque sorte. On reprend plus ou moins là où l'auteur a laissé Ghost à la fin du tome précédent. Ghost devait rencontrer un certain individu, sauf que tout ne se passe pas comme prévu et il va se retrouver avec une connaissance de cet homme : Duncan.
Ghost est très particulier, il n'a pas des relations que l'on peut qualifier de « normales » avec les gens. Ses meilleurs amis Church et surtout Tobias pensent ne pas vraiment le connaître. J'avais adoré les interrogations et réflexions de Tobias à ce propos dans Hard Line. L'entente et entraide entre Duncan et Ghost ne va pas être simple...

Je ne peux malheureusement pas en dire plus... Et en même temps, je ne sais pas quoi dire d'autre à part que j'ai adoré ce tome ! Sidney Bell n'est pas tombée dans la facilité et m'a présenté un Ghost parfaitement imparfait et tel qu'il devait l'être, pour moi en tout cas. C'est un personnage qui reste complexe et le sera toujours. J'ai aimé comment l'auteur a traité toute la psychologie de ce personnage. Ce qui se passe dans le roman devait se passer, et pas autrement, cela fait réel, authentique.
J'ai beaucoup aimé Duncan aussi. Il apparaît comme quelqu'un d'un peu brute de décoffrage, il ne parle pas pour ne rien dire aussi. D'un autre côté, il voit que Ghost est particulier et va agir en conséquence. On se doute qu'il va y avoir une romance ici aussi et c'est là aussi où je dis que Sidney Bell n'est pas tombée dans la facilité. Les deux personnages ont une relation atypique et rien n'est facile. La romance n'arrive pas de but en blanc, c'est avant tout une confiance qui va s'établir entre eux, pour évoluer vers autre chose, sans qu'aucun des deux ne s'en rende compte, en particulier Ghost bien sûr. La romance apparaît donc logiquement tardivement et est très lente.

Sidney Bell m'a surprise jusqu'à la dernière page... Là où je pensais qu'il me manquait un petit détail pour finir en beauté (bien que ce détail n'était pas indispensable tout compte fait en y réfléchissant) je vois ces quelques petits mots défiler sur ma liseuse...Puis je les relis en me demandant si j'ai bien compris ce que je lisais... J'étais toute émue.
Pour moi ce tome est parfait... J'ai adoré ces personnages, Ghost et Duncan. J'ai aimé la tension qui monte concernant l'intrigue. J'ai aimé la relation qu'il y a entre les deux personnages, tous les non-dits, car il est vrai qu'ils parlent assez peu, un simple moment de détente devant la télévision prend des proportions énormes.

J'ai beaucoup aimé cette saga, l'atmosphère et les héros si particuliers dont j'ai pu faire la connaissance, des personnages qui font très vrais...
Je crois que je suis devenue complètement fan du style et des histoires de Sidney Bell. J'en parle probablement mal, j'aimerais dire tellement plus de choses sur Ghost, sur les garçons du centre de Woodbury.... Merci Madame Bell et vivement votre prochain livre !!

The third title in Bell's Woodbury Boys series centers around Ghost, a prostitute with a terrible secret and an penchant for knives. On the run from both a Russian matriarch and a dirty cop, Ghost ends up in the company of Duncan Rook, a police officer and a good man. What follows is an adventure that takes place in the quite moments between car chases and gunfire.

In many ways, Rough Trade is about trauma and consent. Bell's writing isn't heavy-handed, nor does it veer into after-school-special territory; instead, she focuses on what makes a person good or evil, and if that affiliation can change. Much of Duncan and Ghost's interactions take place while one or another of them is healing from an injury. Physical injury is the least of what ails the protagonists, but it's a poignant story about trust.

WOW -- this book was tough to read! Definitely NOT a true romance, but does have an HEA.

Ghost is such a complex character. His pain is palpable as you learn more and more about it. I would have liked a little more back story on how it all came to pass -- we get snippets of HIM at the very end.

Duncan Rook is just all heart and 100 percent devoted from the first moment he meets Ghost. He is patient, supportive, protective, and ALL IN. You know he wants for Ghost to be free of all his demons and whole once again, even if that means it's without him.

The adventure to Ghost's safety and the demise of the Sheriff was filled with lots of craziness. The story moves quickly. The end result was worth the journey for sure.

4,75 stars

Ghost's story! I was dying to read it for SO long!!! He was the most intriguing character in this series.

When I got this ARC from NetGalley I was over the moon. Before diving into this one I've read a wonderful book. The trouble is that we tend to compare the books we read. So after a pretty HOT and kind of rough book, action packed and full of crimes, this one left me wanting a little more. Don't get me wrong, I am still rounding up and giving 5 stars to this one, but I will mention why it's not a "5 huge stars" book for me.

What I absolutely adored here would be the way this story was revealed to us. The chase, the wounds, the motel, the mistrust, all the sweet moments. I was surprised many times and it's definitely a page turner!

This wasn't a light read. I am all for angst in books and I am not easily touched by the stories. Here I ached for Ghost. I think it's safe to mention there are some scenes that could make you tear up. Ghost's past just broke my heart. No wonder it was SO hard to get close to him. After all he's been through, he was still protecting himself from getting hurt. In any way he could.

The romance was painfully slow. I was just dying for more. OK, I get it, Ghost was keeping his distance (as always) and Duncan didn't want to cross the line, but... It just took them too much to explore what they felt.

There are some scenes that simply melt your heart, like them watching old movies together and Ghost being brutally honest and admitting what he feels for the first time in his life. But there were some other things that didn't really work for me. Even if I know it wouldn't have been realistic for Ghost to dive right into a relationship with Duncan, it still hurt how he chose to act, radio silence and all. And then I really didn't like how Duncan chose to ignore him.

I would have wanted many more scenes with Ghost and Duncan, more sweet and also hot ones.
We do get A LOT of action and I am happy with how things ended with Mama and Spratt, but overall the ending left me wanting a little more.

ARC kindly provided by Carina Press via NetGalley.

I knew from the first book in this trilogy that when I got to Ghost's story, nothing would be easy. I was thrilled to get to read the eARC. And I was right. It is SO GOOD. Despite crappy ARC formatting, I could not stop reading it. I'm glad I've pre-ordered it. I'm looking forward to re-reading where the dialogue breaks are clear, but even more, the message of hope against all odds really hit me where I live. (There are a lot of messages in these books. You pick up the ones that speak to you. I look forward to finding more on my re-read some day.)