A Stranger She Can Trust

Carson Lane has been on medical leave for almost nine months from his job as paramedic, he also helps out at a friend’s bar, the Escape Club, which also serves another purpose, that of a safe house and more to people in distress. Carson has been existing in a very dark place since his friend and partner Sarah died on the job; he blames himself, he keeps looking for the mistake he must have made. Late on Friday evening, as he’s taking out the trash, Carson sees a woman stumble out of a cab, bruised and obviously in great distress. The caregiver that he is kicks in, and Carson takes her in the club. The woman, whose name he will learn later on is Melissa Baxter, whose friends call Lissa, and she can’t remember a thing, only that she doesn’t want to go to a hospital and that she is terrified. Carson recognises the signs of trauma-induced amnesia; he knows she will probably remember everything in due time, so Carson tells his boss at Escape that he will keep an eye on Lissa for the night. However, it turns out to be much longer than that, because someone is trying to get to her… What a terrific book this is! I thrive on amnesia tropes, and A STRANGER SHE CAN TRUST is as good as they come! Ms. Black obviously did a lot of serious research on the subject, and it made the story even more captivating, as Lissa’s memory came back in an entirely believable way. Carson is depressed, he doesn’t feel he has much to live for, and yet keeping this woman safe gives him a purpose, and again the author’s understanding of survivor guilt is riveting. Every character is sharply drawn, and Carson and Lissa are amongst the most realistic protagonists I have come across in a good while. Regan Black’s sense of balance is impeccable, as a steady pace is maintained throughout the book, the dialogues are easy as Carson and Lissa eventually slip into companionable chitchat. The author’s prose is simply spectacular: Ms. Black possesses a stellar vocabulary, which she uses to tremendous effect in flawlessly constructed sentences, making the narrative enthralling. Ms. Black’s writing is so smooth, nuanced and yet crisply descriptive; it is a thing of beauty, and still her wonderful style never distracts from the intricate and superbly crafted plot. The suspense side is impeccable, the story captivating from page one, and the romance unfolds organically; while the sex scenes are not explicit, they are beautifully done and perfectly in tune with the tone of the book. I cared for Carson and Lissa, I wanted them to be safe and happy together, I was invested in the story and their relationship. Simply put: A STRANGER SHE CAN TRUST is just about as good as it gets when it comes to romantic suspense; this is a book that should not be missed, and it comes with my highest recommendation: absolutely fantastic! I voluntarily reviewed an advanced reader copy of this book.