Tracy’s review of True (True Believers, Book 1) by Erin McCarthy.
When Rory Macintosh’s roommates find out that their studious and shy friend has never been with a guy, they decide that, as an act of kindness they’ll help her lose her virginity by hiring confident, tattooed bad boy Tyler Mann to do the job…unbeknownst to Rory.
Tyler knows he’s not good enough for Rory. She’s smart, doctor smart, while he’s barely scraping by at his EMT program, hoping to pull his younger brothers out of the hell their druggy mother has left them in. But he can’t resist taking up her roommates on an opportunity to get to know her better. There’s something about her honesty that keeps him coming back when he knows he shouldn’t…
Torn between common sense and desire, the two find themselves caught up in a passionate relationship. But when Tyler’s broken family threatens to destroy his future, and hers, Rory will need to decide whether to cut her ties to his risky world or follow her heart, no matter what the cost…
Rory’s mom died when she was 8 years old and it was just her scientist nerd father and herself. She loved her father but for a multitude of reasons he just didn’t do the kids social thing. Because of that Rory grew up in a quiet household, focusing on science and not social interaction. She didn’t date in high school and now she’s in college and to say she’s socially awkward is almost an understatement. She really has no idea what to say or do in social situations – especially around boys.
When she and her roommates are at a friend’s apartment and her roomies are back getting laid she’s in the living room with a guy she thinks is just as socially awkward as she is. When he starts asking about her roomie, Jessica, she knows that he has no interest in her whatsoever and proceeds to get drunk because of her feelings of hopelessness. She just knows that no one will want her if this guy doesn’t have any interest in her. Of course not wanting her doesn’t stop the guy from making moves and trying to rape her. She’s saved by Tyler and he ends up taking her home.
After that night Tyler, who comes from the wrong part of town and is covered in tattoos, starts paying more attention to Rory. He shows up at her work and then goes so far as to suggest they study together as he’s not doing well in Anatomy and she’s not acing English Lit, which he’s great at. The unlikely pair form a friendship and then more. When Rory finds out that her roommates set Tyler up to take her virginity she tries to stay away from him, as she thinks he doesn’t really want her, but she really likes him and decides to ignore that little issue.
The couple becomes so much more than friends but there are many things standing in the way of their love. First there’s Rory’s father who is dead set against Tyler being anywhere near his baby girl. Then there’s Tyler’s mother who is a drunk and a drug addict who has created a horrible family life for him and his three brothers and it’s up to Tyler to try and take care of them all. Matters come to a head when Tyler’s mother goes too far and the ensuing fallout hurts everyone involved.
I have to say that I haven’t read all that many books in the New Adult genre but I thought this was a great addition. McCarthy gave us some great characters and brought them to life on page.
Rory was really stifled before she met Tyler and frankly she truly blossomed when she was with him. He brought out feelings in her that she didn’t even know she could feel and I loved that about their relationship. Tyler was wonderful. A great hero that was loyal to his brothers who he loved so very much. He might have looked like the bad boy but really he was kind and giving. Not that he wasn’t tough but he usually only used that toughness when it came to protecting those he loved.
The story was a good one and I enjoyed it very much. I thought the end seemed a little rushed but it was still pretty satisfying. I would definitely recommend this one and can’t wait for the next book in the series to come out.
Rating: 4 out of 5
You can read more from Tracy at Tracy’s Place.
This book is available from InterMix. You can buy it here or here in e-format. This book was provided by the publisher for an honest review.
Sounds good! Thanks for the review!