Sandra Orchard's "Blind Trust"

If you have not yet read Deadly Devotion and you intend to do so, please read no further, as this review will utterly spoil the mystery of that novel.  And it would be a good idea to read it, as it provides a helpful introduction to the characters and the dynamics surrounding the small Canadian town of Port Aster. 

In the second of Sandra Orchard's Port Aster Secrets, it becomes apparent that the scandal of the first book might just be part of an even bigger plot than Kate and Tom had suspected.  The question is, what is related, and what is not?  Does GPC Pharmaceuticals have anything to do with rich Molly Gilmore, who attempted to kill Kate and murdered her friend?  Is the company chasing after something Kate's father discovered 20 years ago that led to his arrest and death?  How can there be a connection between Kate's dad and Tom's past in the FBI in DC?  And what about the rash of counterfeit bills appearing around town, including in Kate's hand?  The questions keep piling up, but the answers are slow in coming.  There are few people that Kate truly trusts, and she knows she can trust Tom to keep her safe - but can she trust him with her heart?

Well, I must remind you that this book is part of a series, and it is the second book of at least three - so it is a relief to know at least one other book is yet to come.   Just sayin', there are some things that might not quite be resolved in the end . . .  

I like that the author is taking Kate and Tom's relationship slowly.  The first book takes place only two months ahead of this one, not to mention Kate has trouble trusting cops, so it is not as though they have had a lot of time to develop a deep relationship.  Also, the author makes a good point about how with even the hint of an indiscretion on her part or romantic bias on Tom's, a lawyer could rip apart their reputations and discredit them to a jury in the upcoming trial.  Reputations are not just an old-fashioned important-in-history-but-not-much-now things; they still make a difference!

What initially grabbed my attention about book one was the focus on herbs, and I'm glad the plants and natural remedies, though perhaps less of a focus in this installment, still have a decent role in this book.  I generally consider myself fairly knowledgeable about such things, but even I learned something new! (Which, naturally, I cannot share, it being pivotal to the plot). 

I would like to see a little more growth on Kate's part; while she is a Christian, I feel like she is avoiding God in the same way she avoids Tom.  She still jumps to conclusions and switches suspects at the drop of a hat, which makes for a lot of theories constantly tossed around.  As a second book in a series, this one serves its purpose well - it expands on the first and builds up to what will likely be the climax in the next book. 

Thank you Revell for providing a free copy of the novel for the purpose of review; I was not required to make it positive, and all opinions are my own.

Port Aster Secrets
1. Deadly Devotion
2. Blind Trust
3. Desperate Measures