This book has no business being as sweet as it is.
I started Trusting Cade during one of Sophie's miracle naps — you know, the ones where she actually sleeps for more than 40 minutes and you're afraid to breathe too loud — and I was genuinely annoyed when she woke up because I was right in the middle of Cade going full protective-alpha on Braden's stalker situation and I needed to know what happened next.
The Bodyguard Meets The Baker (And Yes, It's As Good As It Sounds)
Look, the premise is not reinventing the wheel. Big strong military guy starts a security company. Sweet pastry chef with a rough past gets a stalker. Bodyguard falls for the person he's protecting. You've read this setup before. But Luna David does something smart with it — she lets the emotional stakes do the heavy lifting instead of relying on constant action sequences. Cade isn't just generically tough; he's 38 and established and patient in a way that feels earned. And Braden isn't just a damsel — he's a business owner who's already survived an abusive relationship and is actively rebuilding his life. The Sugar n' Spice Cafe stuff is such a warm little detail. Every time Braden stress-bakes, I wanted to reach through my earbuds and grab whatever pastry he was making.
The romance moves fast. I'll be honest about that. Some readers have said the trust and love build too quickly given Braden's history with abuse, and... yeah, I can see it. There's a version of this story where we get another two or three hours of Braden wrestling with his walls before letting Cade in. But at 10 hours and 15 minutes, this is exactly the kind of book I can knock out in a week, and I wasn't mad about the pacing. Not groundbreaking, but sometimes you don't need groundbreaking. Sometimes you need the emotional equivalent of a warm cinnamon roll, and this book IS that cinnamon roll. Field Trip gave me that same cozy, low-stakes warmth when I needed it — different setup, same feeling of being wrapped up in something that isn't trying too hard.
Tristan James Earns His Keep
Okay, so the narration. Tristan James gives Cade this slightly deeper, steadier voice — confident without being cocky — and Braden gets something lighter, a little more uncertain. You can hear the difference immediately, which is critical when you're pausing and coming back 47 times like I am. There's a hint of an Irish lilt that creeps in occasionally (I noticed it more with some of the secondary characters), and it adds this subtle warmth that works for the tone of the story. His emotional delivery during the scenes where Braden starts to let his guard down? Really solid. You can hear the shift in Braden's voice as trust builds, and that's the kind of narrator work that makes me choose audio over reading the print version.
No audio gimmicks here — no sound effects, no music, just a single narrator doing clean, focused work. Which is exactly what a character-driven romance needs.
The Ending That Needed Five More Minutes
Here's my one real gripe: the ending feels like someone hit a deadline. You're riding this emotional wave, the stalker plotline is wrapping up, Cade and Braden are finally in a solid place, and then — done. It's not a cliffhanger exactly (this is book one of the Custos Securities series, so there's clearly more coming), but it felt like the story needed one more scene. One more quiet moment between them. I was sitting in my car in the garage — my sacred 45 minutes of silence before going inside — and when it ended I actually said "wait, that's it?" out loud to nobody.
It didn't ruin the experience. But it did leave me slightly unsatisfied, like eating a great meal and skipping dessert. Ironic, given all the baking.
Who Gets a Ticket to This One
If you love M/M romance with a protective hero and a hurt/comfort arc, this is a really solid pick. Fans of bodyguard romance will feel right at home. If you need slow-burn where trust builds over months and months of page time, this might frustrate you — the timeline is compressed and the feelings come on strong. And heads up: there are references to past abuse and ongoing threats/stalking, so check your headspace before diving in.
Survived 47 pauses and still made sense. Car time approved. I'm already eyeing the next book in the series because I want to know what happens with the rest of the Custos Securities crew. Satisfying ending — well, mostly satisfying ending — and exactly the kind of comfort listen I needed after a week of Lucas's kindergarten drama and Sophie discovering she can open the pantry by herself.
My book club will love this. If I ever have time for book club again.
