Book 898: Trust with a Chaser (Rainbow Cove #1) – Annabeth Albert

Oh, Annabeth Albert, how I love thee . . . seriously though, I should just write an ode to here and be done with my reviews. I say this even though there are some of her earlier books that aren’t as well written as her more recent books, where she’s really coming into her own, they’re still REALLY good books.

This is one of those examples even though it’s not that old. Originally published in 2017, it just doesn’t have quite the polish as her more recent series even though it has a lot of the things that make her works great.

Trust with a Chaser is set in Oregon, similar to her Portland Heat series, but instead of in the city it’s more remote along the coast where rural small-town America is the vibe. The protagonists are Mason, a young restauranteur who fled the city and his family to find his voice and discover what he wanted in life returning to help revitalize the town, and Nash, the slightly older town sheriff who never left town and inherited the job from his father.

He kissed like he ate—a starving man who didn’t know when he’d next get hot food or a chance to enjoy a meal. There was a fair bit of wonder and surprise in our connection, too—as if he hadn’t expected to enjoy it so much like he was surprised to find himself devouring what was in front of him. And he absolutely made a buffet out of my mouth, nibbling and teasing until I opened up, allowing him to feast in earnest. (79)

Nothing was shocking or unexpected in this story. Mason is out and proud and wants to tap into the Rainbow Dollar to bring money and tourists to Rainbow Cove (hardy har har) and he and his two friends have purchased the old town tavern and are doing just that. Nash, who is deeply closeted, eats there because it’s convenient and if Mason continues to catch his eye and engage him then that’s just a nice bonus.

I love a grumpy turned loving character and Nash was no exception. His is the biggest hurdle to overcome in this book because he carries so much baggage from his father’s uber-conservative obsessed with image upbringing. And when he finally gets his head out of his ass, the story just soars.

Damn, but I liked a man who blushed. It was a . . . thing, I guess you could say. A thing I had. (20)

Albert did a good job of balancing the propriety of Mason and Nash’s relationship with their antagonistic families (Mason is from the wrong side of the tracks) and, as I predicted, it was the thing that nearly broke them. Not because they didn’t do it right, but because they did and neither wanted to but knew they had to. In the end, though it worked out, they got their HEA and I really really really hope that we get to check in on them and Mason’s niece again in the next couple of books. I just want to know they’re doing okay and still living their HEA.

As always the sex scenes were well written and added to the story. Albert had the characters walk the walk being verse and she did a great job of writing a first-time scene as well as changing up what they were doing without it seeming robotic or ticking boxes. More importantly, however, she also did a great job of having Mason and Nash realize how domestic they became over time and it was just so well done.

He thought I had no heart, but the truth was that he was it. He was my heart, my world, my everything. And hell if I knew how to walk around, do my job with that heart missing. Hell if I wanted to. I’d never thought of myself as lacking in courage, but I was going to have to find some extra in a hurry if I wanted a chance to make this right. (243)

Recommendation: Another wonderful read from Annabeth Albert. Although it’s not in my top five and you can tell she’s gotten even better as an author and storyteller since this was published, it was still really well written, engaging, and worth reading! I can’t wait to read more in the series and to tick another series off my Annabeth Albert backlist.

Opening Line: “When Adam stepped inside the glorified closet I was using as an office, eyes all twitchy and hands wringing a bar towel, I knew I wasn’t going to like what came out of his mouth.”

Closing Line: “Our bodies were making promises that I knew our hearts would keep, and I couldn’t wait to watch it all unfold. Together.” (Whited out to avoid spoilers, highlight to read.)

Additional Quotes from Trust with a Chaser
“Flint was a Rainbow Cove institution himself—born and raised here, same as Adam and me, but unlike me, he’d never left, sliding into his father’s shoes as police chief and apparently fitting the role as easily as a pair of broken-in jeans. He’d been Officer Flint last time I’d seen him, almost ten years prior.” (2)

“And damn. I’d never been one for the whole hot-for-cop thing, but the shades and the glower and the authoritative stance were a sight to see.” (34)

“Ready or not, I was changing thanks to Mason Hanks, and hell if I knew what to do with the person emerging.” 193)