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The Temptation Saga #6

Trusting Sydney

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Sam O’Donovan is bored with his stale life in Montana. When his brother-in-law offers him a great job and a cut of the McCray business in Colorado, he’s ecstatic. This is the change he needs. As for beautiful Sydney Buchanan resurfacing? That’s icing on the cake.

Sydney’s back for one reason and one reason only. She needs to win as many purses as she can to help her parents run their struggling ranch in Nevada. She doesn’t bank on running into Sam O’Donovan. All the sparks they shared five years earlier are still there, but so much else has changed. If only Sam could understand the decisions she made during their time apart…and trust her.

206 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 11, 2013

453 people are currently reading
1607 people want to read

About the author

Helen Hardt

202 books8,330 followers
#1 New York Times, #1 USA Today, and #1 Wall Street Journal bestselling author Helen Hardt's passion for the written word began with the books her mother read to her at bedtime. She wrote her first story at age six and hasn’t stopped since. In addition to being an award winning author of contemporary and historical romance and erotica, she’s a mother, an attorney, a black belt in Taekwondo, a grammar geek, an appreciator of fine red wine, and a lover of Ben and Jerry’s ice cream. She writes from her home in Colorado, where she lives with her family.

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5 stars
973 (56%)
4 stars
450 (26%)
3 stars
217 (12%)
2 stars
49 (2%)
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20 (1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 104 reviews
Profile Image for Jennifer.
202 reviews12 followers
July 1, 2017
1. Insta-love gone wrong is what we have here. I don't usually quote books in my reviews, but this book can be summed up by this exchange:

Thunder: "Love? In this short time?"
Sam: "Yes, dammit. I know it sounds ridiculous ..."

Yes, Sam, it does sound ridiculous - this whole story was ridiculous. And predictable; I guessed early on that Duke was Sam's. I couldn't feel any chemistry between Sam and Sydney and I saw absolutely no reason for these two to be in love.

2. Sydney was unlikable. Just unlikable. Nothing could redeem her in my eyes.

3. Sam was a bit of a bossy Dom in the bedroom. I liked him overall and he was the only reason why this book earned 2 stars.

4. I've read the whole series and I would tell (warn) people that this is not Mrs. Hardt's best work. The only book in the series that I rated better than 3 stars was (Teasing Annie) and this was because I really liked Dallas. That being said, they look pretty on my book shelf with the colorful covers and cute heart on the spine.
Profile Image for Candice.
1,166 reviews7 followers
December 1, 2016
This was my least favorite of the series. I did not like the heroine, Sydney. It was just hard to swallow that Sam could love a woman that was full of lies and deceit but the only history the two shared was a one night stand five years ago. Sam's character was OK but I had hoped Dusty's brother would have been portrayed in a stronger light. The writing style is good the plot not so much.
Profile Image for DJ Sakata.
3,301 reviews1,781 followers
February 6, 2015
Favorite Quotes:

“Baby, I want you so bad I think I might die an early death if I can’t have you.”

“His nose was perfectly formed and those lips… too full and pink for a man. Women would spend a bundle on Botox to have them.”


My Review:

More cowboys, more drama, more steamy love scenes. Trusting Sydney is not among Ms. Hardt's best efforts. While it not a bad story, it was extremely repetitive, which I find tiresome and tedious. The melodrama was over the top and more than a bit cheesy. However, Ms Hardt always does sensual scenes well, which saved the rating somewhat.
Profile Image for Shae.
3,221 reviews351 followers
April 29, 2021
This one was a bit of a struggle for me, as it focuses on a trope that I don't especially love. I do think the back and forth was a bit like whiplash. The resolution at the end was also a bit hurried. Not one of this author's best.
Profile Image for Kika Medina.
258 reviews6 followers
September 7, 2018
Ohh I loved it Sam and Sydney are just wonderful, loved the story it was beautiful and steamy, very steamy another great book by the amazing Helen Hardt!!
Profile Image for ☠︎︎༒︎✞︎ ѕℓιм ☠︎︎༒︎✞︎ .
1,534 reviews102 followers
March 21, 2018
Spoilers..... Here and there...

https://ladiikeiii.wordpress.com/2018...

Trusting Sydney

Omg, I freaking knew it, in my gut. That her brother Duke was not her brother Duke. He was actually her son. And she's pretending like it was her son. And the baby father is Sam. Ha I knew it I was waiting on that t9 x9me out and dang if her ex-fiance didn't blow her cover. That's what she gets, but she was actually going to tell him (Sam) until Rod knocked on her hotel door. I believe that Rod guy needed to begin. I feel like if things don't go his way he likes to ruin things for people.

Hmm, interesting she tells Sam and Rod she gave the baby up for adoption. Hmm, I wonder this kid is in my mind I still think it was Duke. IDC, IDC. I'll see when I get further in the book. Ha, and I knew I www right again Duke is his child. I'm glad that he was still in the family and his grandparents were taking care 9f him, and he wasn't adopted into another family. Though I still think Sam would've fault through hell and water t9 get him back.


I would've done the same thing Sam was doing with getting his son and claiming him. She (Sydney) may have given up her rights, but he didn't. I would fight too. Both Sid and her mom upset because of what Sam was trying to do, I mean why you mad?! You kept this man away from his child he didn't know about over something ridiculous because, she assumes he already had too much on his plate like a child, please. Plus, I'm petty I would take Duke away from them, but I still think he should have rights and allow to spend time with his son and keep his son and her parents could be grandparents not allowing Sam the right to get his son is so wrong.

I like how in the end Sam and Sydney did what was best for Duke. I liked that, its funny how they assume it may be her father but all along, it was her mother. I figure that because she was the one who didn't want Sam around his own son. And bribing her husband into leaving town and taking Duke away from her own daughter and his own dad. When Sam was only trying to get his son because he loves him, I wouldn't blame him for that, and I was glad when Sydney dad called her and left her a voicemail telling her that he will bring Duke back. To her and let her and Sam take care of him until his mother I mean to his wife get out of the institution that she was in because she was sick. I was shocked that she wanted Sam killed just because he wanted his son and that is so crazy in the end is book really good, and I'm glad I finished it
1,533 reviews
June 3, 2022
Spoilers********The books in this series are becoming cookie-cutter and stale, but Trusting Sydney is simply horrible! Sydney and Sam had a one-night stand 5 years ago and meet again at the rodeo where she is competing. Her mother, father and younger brother, Duke, are all there for the week. When Sam and Sydney cross paths their passion is still there, until Sydney's lies begin to unravel her life. They are outlandish, trite and stupid, but they keep on coming. Her brother is really her son. Sam is the father who, of course, was never told he has a son. Her mother and father refuse to let Sam be a part of Duke's life because they are the "real parents." Sam can't trust Sydney (duh!) and Sydney doesn't plan to keep Sam around because she can't hurt her parents by taking away their child. Oh, that's not the worst! The morning after she and Sam reunite, there's a knock on her door and it's....wait for this....her fiancé!! Her mom and dad abscond with Duke and never intend to bring him back to his "sister!" Sam almost dies in a car crash, Sydney finds him and her father brings Duke back. Her mother is hospitalized for mental illness....there must be a happy ending, right? NO! Sydney lets her parents raise Duke as their child and she is "Auntie Sydney" and Sam is "Uncle Sam!" Sam's sister, Dusty (one of my favorite characters), asks Sydney if Duke will ever know that she's his mother and Sam's his father...."Maybe one day when he's old enough..." There's one more story in this series and I just can't subject myself to this misery once again. The only thing that saves this is the excellent narration by Kendall Taylor.
Profile Image for Ria Alexander.
2,657 reviews51 followers
July 21, 2017
Sydney and Sam....can trust override deception?

TRUSTING SYDNEY is the sixth novel in THE TEMPTATION SAGA Series. You do not have to read the previous five in this series before you read this one. As with the previous books, I really enjoyed this one. there was a little bit of everything in it: misunderstandings, wrong decisions, distrust, heartache, lies and finally a second chance at love.

This is the story of Sydney Buchanan and Sam O'Donovan, two people who had shared a one night stand five years earlier. That is where their story really began, however, when Sam comes to Colorado, to help in the running of his brother-in-law's ranch, old acquaintances are renewed, lies are discovered, secrets are no longer hidden and trust becomes vital.

The twists and turns are what kept me interested in this story. Sam was a very likeable character, but Sydney did tend to annoy me. Even though I wouldn't rate it as one of Ms Hardt's best, i still enjoyed it. Looking forward to book seven.

Read and Reviewed for Reading Is Our Satisfaction

FOUR STARS
Profile Image for Jamie.
2,068 reviews93 followers
July 7, 2021
This was by far the worst of the series. It was so obvious from the beginning that Sydney had a secret. And it doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out within the first chapter what that secret is. They have a one night stand five years ago, then have sex one time, and now they love each other...



Sam finds out Sydney lies, is disgusted, and leaves, but I just can't stop thinking about you. Then Sydney lies yet again...Sam I can't believe this. Then they see each other and have sex because I can't keep my hands off you...I love you, oh Sam I love you too...



I just can't do it with this series anymore. These books should be getting better but keep getting cheesier.
Profile Image for B. Milligan.
490 reviews10 followers
March 11, 2019
Trusting Sydney is book #6 in the Temptation Saga. They can be read as standalones but I recommend being read in order.

I think this book could have turned out to be a lot better than it was. It started off great but just like Book #5, I was quickly let down.
The book did keep my interest from start to finish, however I felt the characters were not that great.
I personally did not like Sydney because she was a selfish, unsympathetic, sadistic woman. I did not like Sam through the last half of the book because he became too demanding and spineless. He became a "People Pleaser" and he was way too forgiving for the circumstances and I felt like he settled instead of fighting for what he really wanted just to please Sydney and her parents.
Profile Image for Ashley Hedden.
5,259 reviews43 followers
December 17, 2020
Trusting Sydney (The Temptation Saga #6) was another great read by Helen Hardt. Sam O'Donovan has a stale life in Montana that he is bored with. His brother in law offers him a great job and a cut of the McCray business in Colorado. He is ecstatic with being closer to his family and that it is a change he needs in his life. Sydney Buchanan resurfaces in his life and it seems as if everything is perfect. Sydney is only back in order to win as many purses as she can to help her parents run their ranch in Nevada that is struggling. The sparks that led to a night of passion five years earlier is still there. But Sydney's past could choices ruin everything. I really enjoyed reading Sam and Sydney's story and can't wait to read more by Helen Hardt.
416 reviews2 followers
February 6, 2017
6th in series now with sam and sydney buchcan blakes sister....sam had a one nitestand with her 5 yrs ago she got pregnant but never told him...she was young so her parents raised him for 5 yrs...sam finds out and cannot believe she never told him again lies as the other females in this series...but he loves her so much and wants his son...her parents take off with duke to be found nowhere..her brother blake tells them their parents are from mafia grandparents and had hidden money in caymen islands they are searching and finally her dad says he is on his way back with duke as her mom is in hospital...read on.....for yourself
Profile Image for Donna Feibusch.
1,766 reviews24 followers
July 3, 2017
An Awesome Book!

I loved reading Trusting Sydney(Temptation Saga Book7), all about Sydney Buchanan a twenty-three year old cowgirl/barrel racer & Sam O'Donovan a thirty year old cowboy/bronco rider and the sister of Dusty McCray. Six years ago Sam & Sydney had a one night stand, it was the day that Dusty rode Diablo the terrorizing bull that gored Zach McCray and threw Dusty off its back! The author wrote a story about a young girl who sleeps with a guy that was to good to be true, and then has his baby and never tells him! Read this story and fall in love & out of love with Sydney & Sam! I can't wait to read book 7 in this amazing saga!
Profile Image for Maria.
935 reviews2 followers
March 12, 2018
Though an interesting look on circumstances here, is sex always the answer for Sam and Sydney?
This was a different outlook on the series so far. Sam has been in most of the books due to relations with his sister Dusty. So we know what he has been through, but dies sex always need to be the conclusion? Sydney made a choice when young. Was it a good choice or bad?
As per usual, no spoiling on content but many questions here, and per usual in this series, the ending was fast and predictable. Good read still and awaiting next instalment- Maria. Is this going to be the last in the Temptation Saga Series, we need to wait and find out.
Profile Image for Toni.
486 reviews
April 28, 2021
Out of the books I have read in this series, this is my favorite. This has a high 3 rating. Just like the title, this book is all about trust. How long has happiness been missing from Sam’s life? Thunder Morgan and Sydney in a room is a dream come true for Sam. He can look to his idol for guidance in more than just horses. Sydney hits Sam with life changing news that literally makes me feel for him and gave the book so much suspense. There is instant chemistry between the two so it is hard for them to stay away. I’m not so happy with the ending. Out of the blue, Sydney’s mother needs to go to the hospital. It’s almost like that was the only way for Sam and Sydney to take care of Duke.
Profile Image for Meaghan Royce.
326 reviews12 followers
July 18, 2017
Trusting Sydney is a story of instalove and betrayal. Sydney is a character that I didn't truly connect with. She had reasons for doing what she did, but it's hard to believe her, especially for Sam. Sam seems like a great guy. I liked his character more than Sydney. The storyline was good, and I liked the chemistry and connection between the main characters even though I felt they fell in love very fast. I would definitely read more books by this author because the writing style was great and the book kept me entertained.
Profile Image for Nicki - The Overflowing Bookcase .
4,816 reviews177 followers
September 3, 2017
Sydney and Sam had one night of passion 5 years ago, only to walk away and never see each other again, but that does not mean Sam ever forgot the woman he fell in love with. When Sydney comes back in to his life, he tries to prove to her that he is the man for her, but when a secret is revealed can Sam trust her enough to let he remain in his life? Or will it be too much for him to forgive? This storyline had me hooked from the opening pages and I was sad to see it end. I fell in love with Sam from the first book and it only got stronger when he was the main character in his own tale.
Profile Image for Julie.
140 reviews
January 13, 2019
I received a free copy of the book for an honest review. I liked this book early on. Sam and Sydney were interesting characters, but then the story just went off the rails and into crazy town. Too many side stories, too many people involved, and sex in a hospital supply closet. I get it is a romance novel, but a little class, maybe. It is a quick read and I do like the authors writing style so 3 stars for me. I debated 2, but usually only give 2 for a snoozer and this was fast paced just too many plot twists.
Profile Image for Noelle Walsh.
1,172 reviews62 followers
June 4, 2019
This book could have been better. Maybe it's because I don't read a lot of what could be considered erotic fiction, maybe there's another reason I' not currently aware of, but I didn't get what I was hoping for with this. I feel like the females in this book could have been treated better than just as someone to talk down to and that they didn't forgive so easily. I don't think I'll be trying the rest of the series if the women aren't better written and continue to take shit (and they should never take shit).
Profile Image for RomanceReader1.
799 reviews
November 5, 2020
Sam and Sydney, what a story.
I suspected some plots right away but then the story had me on edge trying to figure out how everything will play out!!!

I got to say, this is the first story of Helen that I’m left not liking the ending!!!! It can’t be the ending......
Is there a bonus epilogue or chapter somewhere?

Seriously, Helen Hardt stories are always pulling the strings of my heart, and I love it, but this particular story left me wanting so much more for the characters especially for Duke.
Profile Image for Night Runner.
1,551 reviews36 followers
November 21, 2020
This one was tough and had me scratching my head. One thread regarding the Ex was left unresolved or maybe it was so short that I skipped over it. The end was unrealistic for me in how the final conflict was somewhat handled. Keeping more secrets is always a bad idea and secrets blowing up was the foundation of this book. I also didn't like how the H treated the h as he was acting like a 17 year old with no thought or impulse control.

With all of that, I did like the story but wish that the ending was better.
Profile Image for Sparklin C Reads.
1,995 reviews
June 28, 2017
This who series has been really good. Trusting Sydney has a good story line that you can easily follow along. Once you start you won't want to stop reading. Sydney comes to Colorado to barrel race. She's trying to win a purse. So she can help her parents out. She also has a secret she is hiding from Sam. Sydney's parents are also hiding secrets of their own. You need to read the book to see what secrets Sydney and her parents have been hiding.
Profile Image for Alice.
18 reviews
February 17, 2019
I just couldn't relate to this book at all. Sydney is full of lies and selfishness. Sam was very forgiving for the most part. I don't know anyone who could forgive so easily if their own child was hidden from them for 5 years. It just wasn't relatable to me. And the sex, who would want to go to bed with a woman that kept their child from them for 5 years purposely? Not me. I'd have nothing but hate for that person for missing so much But that's just me
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
192 reviews3 followers
March 5, 2019
Another amazing instalment to the temptation saga by Helen Hardt. This is the penultimate book in the collection.
This book had some unexpected twists and turns, it was a very emotive and deep novel, entirely different to the rest in this series.
This is the story of Sydney Buchanan. You hear of her love, passions and family.
This story reminds us that we should forgive the past, it cannot be changed. The future is ours to carve.
Profile Image for Lauren.
1,897 reviews4 followers
May 27, 2019
Sydney is reunited with an ex one night stand. She starts acting really off so you're quickly able to piece together what happened. I don't know why this author chooses to make her characters so deceptive. I have come to realize I hate at least one of the main characters in each installment. I get giving Second Chances but after as much is Sydney put him through it never should have been considered.
Profile Image for Milena.
37 reviews1 follower
October 7, 2019
Gotta admit, I didn't like Sidney in the begin. But, eventually, my opinion changed.
She became a single parent after a night spent with Sam. And she did the best thing she knew to protect her son.
She grew up in a smart woman, and I loved the development of her character.
Although, I felt sad about Sam who didn't know about his son, I'm glad everything went well for him too, and I'm so glad that he got the happy end that he deserved.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Patrice Tipping.
45 reviews
April 2, 2021
This book is part of a series (Temptation Saga) but can be read as a stand alone, this is the story of Sam O’ Donovan (Dusty’s brother if you’ve read the previous books) and Sydney Buchanan, it details how they first met and what’s happened in their lives since, and their next meeting five years later, I quite enjoyed this story, it’s not as intense as some of the other storylines in this series but it’s a nice little read
32 reviews1 follower
June 10, 2017
Loved Trusting Sydney!

I have enjoyed and loved reading Trusting Sydney. The title perfectly represented Sydney and Sam's story and the book was a great installment to the Temptation Saga. I loved the outstanding characters and the natural flow and depth of the story that was as wonderful as the prior books in the series.
Profile Image for Martha.
599 reviews
July 24, 2017
This is the 6th book in the Temptation Series...

This story has a bit of everything.. Lies, deceit, secrets, and on. Sydney and Sam have a past that eventually clashes with the present. They meet up again 5 years later and Sydney has a HUGE secret she has kept from Sam. These 2 have a great chemistry throughout the story. This was a good addition to the Temptation Series.
Profile Image for Michelle.
21 reviews
February 3, 2018
I enjoyed the Temptation Series because of the story. It is s love story of people following in love. But not to much romance where you have to skip pages. Each book gives details into the characters and then you read their love story and are able to see how it unfolds. I enjoyed the series. Reminded me of harlequin romance books just some stories a little rougher and tougher.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 104 reviews

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