A Matter of Trust

The Silicon Beach Trilogy #3

by Jill Blake

Klara Lazarev doesn’t have time for romance. She’s too busy forging her own path in life: scrambling to finish her senior thesis, applying to grad school, writing innovative software in her spare time. Besides, she’s been burned before. She refuses to let it happen again—especially with a man who can’t even recall that they’ve already met.

Russian-born venture capitalist Vlad Snezhinsky excels at two things: making money and being a dad. Still struggling to get over a disastrous marriage, he has zero interest in starting a new relationship. That is, until he runs into his colleague’s stunning sister-in-law, Klara.

But when a shocking murder throws their world—and their hearts—into chaos, discovering the truth becomes more than a matter of trust…

(Please note: while this is book 3 of the Silicon Beach Trilogy, each book can be read as a stand-alone.)

150 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 7, 2016

About the author

Jill Blake loves chocolate, leisurely walks where she doesn’t break a sweat, and books with a guaranteed happy ending. A native of Philadelphia, Jill now lives in southern California with her husband and three children. During the day, she works as a physician in a busy medical practice. At night, she pens steamy romances.

The Doctors of Rittenhouse Square :
Pursued by the Playboy (Kate & Marc) - http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00B1S1EJQ
Taking a Chance (Samantha & Alex) - http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00FG936YC
This Time for Keeps (Isabelle & Luca) - http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00I6SYS60

The Santa Monica Trilogy :
Without a Net - (Eva & Max) - http://amazon.com/dp/B00LDVF1VS
Coming Home - (Grace & Logan) - http://amazon.com/dp/B00OZR19C2
Balancing Act - (Angie & Zach) - http://amazon.com/dp/B00VUKNZ60

The Silicon Beach Trilogy :
Beyond the Ivory Tower - (Anna & Ethan) - http://amzn.to/1FQQceo
Sweet Indulgence - (Becca & Leo) - http://amzn.to/1ndlclu
A Matter of Trust (Klara & Vlad) - http://amzn.to/2cvDqvv

Reviews

["Avonna · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was a little nervous going into this story because it is the third in The Silicon Beach Trilogy, but the blurb said it could be read as a standalone and it was correct. WOW! A MATTER OF TRUST was a very well written contemporary romance from a new to me author Jill Blake. I will definitely be going back to get books one and two!

Klara Lazarev has a full plate and no time for romance. She is working on her senior thesis testing innovative educational software that she designed for preschoolers at a prestigious day care. She runs into Vlad accidentally as he is a business associate of her brother-in-law. She has always thought him gorgeous, but after his drunken behavior at a wedding two years previous and now not even remembering who she is, that is enough to make her want to avoid him.

Vlad Snezhinsky is a Russian born and Western educated venture capitalist. He excels at both his job and being a single dad to his daughter, Lora. He is still entangled in a messy divorce with a woman who lied about Lora’s parentage to escape Russia. The last thing he is looking for is a relationship, especially with a younger woman related to his business associate.

The budding romance between Vlad and Klara is suddenly put in jeopardy by the murder of Vlad’s soon to be ex-wife and her boyfriend. Vlad is afraid for his family and is also worried about the fallout for Klara, but Klara believes in him and his innocence. The romance moves forwards and grows as the two let the authorities work the case. No amateur sleuths here.

This romance flows and grows over time with the story. Vlad and Klara were perfect for each other and Lora. The sex scenes were hot! There are a lot of little background elements going on throughout this story and the author was adept at bring them all together for a very satisfactory conclusion. I am looking forward to reading more from Ms. Blake.

Written for and posted first on The Romance Reviews.com.

[Ruthie Taylor · Rating 4 out of 5]

~~I received a free copy of this book to read and review for Wicked Reads ~~

This is the last in the trilogy - and although I think you could read it as a standalone, there are characters that interlink and the experience would be richer if you read them in order. They have all been excellent reads.

There is a good level of drama, intrigue, and a really lovely love story. The Russian connection and the bigger picture make for an interesting backdrop to a complicated scenario. Klara is a good person who has plenty to question about Vlad, but somehow she deals with it all. And any romance reader will be happy with the outcome!

[Mary Mooney · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a free copy of this book to read and review for Wicked Reads, so here is my review.

Klara Lazarev doesn't have time for anything but finishing school and her senior thesis. While visiting her sister one night she sees a man she met a few years ago at Leo and Anna's wedding and didn't think she would see him again. But here in here brother-in-laws office is Vlad Snezhinsky, a Russian born venture capitalist and he is eyeing Klara like she is the last supper for a man on death row.
Vlad knows that he knows Klara from somewhere but he can't remember where. When she reminds him, he is shocked because he can't remember what happened at the wedding. He was drunk after all because he learned some shocking news from his wife and drinking was the only way he was able to save face at that time.
Now fast forward a few years and he is divorcing his wife, or has been trying for the last year but she keeps asking for more in the divorce settlement. All Vlad wants is his daughter Lora and to be left alone for good. But Klara is working her way under his skin and there is nothing he can do about it. After a few dates with Klara, he wants to slow things down because he has a daughter and she comes first. But when a double murder happens, it throws their world into a tailspin.
Can Vlad make Klara see that he had nothing to do with the murders? Will Klara shows Vlad that she trust him completely or will that voice in the back of her mind win, you know the one that keeps asking could he really kill someone?
I love this series and that each story can be read as a standalone but the characters overlap in each one.

[Nancy R · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it! Jill Blake is fast becoming one of my fave romance writers, and I think A Matter of Trust is her best book yet.

Even though Amazon lists the book under "New Adult" and "Contemporary romance" categories, it's more a romantic suspense. The heroine is 23 year old Klara. Her older sister Anna starred in the first book in the series and appears here again in a supporting role (it's interesting to see her from Klara's perspective, and the younger/older sister dynamics are spot on). The hero is Vlad, a 27 year old single dad of a very cute preschooler. They meet before the book starts, at a wedding they both attend, where Vlad behaves like an ass. Worse, he has no recollection of meeting Klara at all, until she jogs his memory in the opening scene of the book. The mutual attraction this time is pretty immediate, but their relationship is fraught with problems. Vlad's soon to be ex-wife is one of the biggest problems. Especially after she ends up dead, and Vlad is the prime suspect in her murder.

As with Jill Blake's previous books, this one is flawlessly edited. And the chemistry between Klara and Vlad is off the charts hot.
If I have one complaint, it's that the book isn't longer. There are a lot of complex inter-relationships and background elements that Blake weaves into a very short space, but she does a nice job tying everything together in the end.

An advance review copy of this book was provided by the author.

[Olga · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow. Just wow. I love Jill Blake's stuff, and this book is her best yet! It's more than a simple romance. There's layers of mystery, including a murder that happened prior to the start of the book and doesn't get fully resolved until the end, as well as the main murder which happens about half-way through the book and occurs at a pivotal point in Klara and Vlad's relationship. (No spoilers here, Blake mentions this in the blurb, but to find out the who, what, and why, you'll just have to read the book.)

I loved how Blake interweaves the lives of her previous characters from the series into the plot of this one. Klara's sister plays a supporting role here, and both the tension and love between the two are nicely played out. If you haven't read any of the previous books, don't worry, this book can totally stand on its own. But it's like potato chips. You can't eat just one. Same with Jill Blake's books. Can't read just one. I can't wait to see what the next book will be about...

[JigsawGirl · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked the book. The story was entertaining. I don't know if it would fall under romantic suspense or romantic mystery.

Vlad and Klara definitely had chemistry. I thought it was interesting that it took Vlad's extreme predicament for Klara to finally stand up to her more than irritating sister, Anna.

It was a pretty quick read, but I think I would have been just as happy with more detail. When Lora showed Vlad the picture, it was a lightbulb moment for him, but for me, it didn't feel like there was enough interaction for Lora to feel that way. Also, there was nothing in her behavior to indicate that was coming. It almost felt like certain aspects were inserted to bring closure, but there wasn't much lead up to them.

Considering all of that, it was still an enjoyable read and I would recommend it.

I voluntarily read and reviewed this book.

[Carol Stalnaker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Klara and Vlad are a great couple that were faced with significant roadblocks to their getting together.  I loved their personalities, ambitions and the way they worked things out and that they trusted each other despite their differences.  This book was a great addition to the Silicon Beach Trilogy. 

I volunteered to review an Advance Reader Copy of this book from Reading Deals.

[LJT · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jill Blake's A Matter of Trust is an fine read; replete with engaging characters, an affecting plot, and a lustful love story. Although I am not a fan of the suspense genre, Ms. Blake's interpretation is exciting and smoothly executed.

Klara Lazarev is a smart woman on the cusp of figuring out what she wants to do with her life after she completes her senior thesis. Graduate school or starting a company to market the children's educational software she developed, are only two of the opportunities up for grabs. Meeting venture capitalist Vlad Snezhinsky for a second time, causes her to rethink her options. Vlad is a good-looking man with a young daughter. He and Klara have an amazing chemistry and their attraction is very hot. Vlad's soon to be ex-wife, in addition to his link to his father's death, create some obstacles that they have to overcome in order to form a family together.

This is the final book from Ms. Blake's Silicon Beach Trilogy and it can be enjoyed as a standalone. However, in order to truly experience this well conceived series, I recommend reading all the books in order. Some of the characters crossover, which adds a nice familiarity and background to the storyline. Overall, this book and the series should definitely be added to your TBR list.

Complimentary copy provided by the author.

[Rebecca Austin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Vlad Snezhinsky works for Ethan Talbot at Talbot Fund and is finally getting his life in order after a bad marriage to Oksana but he doesn't regret that resulting in his daughter, Lora.

Klara Lazarev is getting close to finishing her schooling and doesn't want a relationship to get in her way. But something draws her towards Vlad and his daughter Lora.

When Vlad's life is turned upside down by an event will Klara stand by him or will she disappear when he needs her support the most?

I really enjoyed this book and have really liked all of the books in the trilogy.

I really liked Vlad and how dedicated he was to Lora with everything that had occurred with Oksana and Vlad's father. Vlad was an amazing father and he was a great guy to Klara and wanted to protect her from everything that was going on.

I was kind of mad at Anna for not supporting Klara and how she was jumping to conclusions about him without knowing everything that was going on. I liked that she was still determined to get her schooling done but that she still wanted to be there for Vlad.

Love the mystery and romance!

[Margaret Watkins · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a complimentary copy of this book. This is my voluntary and honest review.

A Matter of Trust is a suspenseful romance with an intelligent young Klara and an enigmatic Vladislav, better known as Vlad. Klara is finding her way as far as future career options are concerned, but she is very sure about not wanting to get involved with Vlad, especially since he had blown their initial meeting. The same attraction that Vlad experienced on first seeing Klara springs to life when he meets up with her again. The relationship between Klara and Vlad can only be called fated, even though both parties deny the existence of fate.

I found A Matter of Trust to be an enjoyable, entertaining read with a good balance of romance, suspense and lifestyle. A delightful pre-schooler helped the plot along, as did the surely bodyguard whose responsibilities included carrying a princess lunchbox! The dialogue was hilarious, especially when Klara got nervous, and I appreciated Vlad's ability to recognise that Klara was a woman in her own right, who was entitled to make her own decisions. I look forward to reading more books written by Ms Blake.

[Arica Shupe · Rating 5 out of 5]

A MATTER OF TRUST
by Jill Blake

A Matter Of Trust is the third book in the Silicon Beach Trilogy. Although this book is part of a trilogy you are able to read this as a stand alone. This book was a really cool book with mystery, intrigue and drama all wrapped up in a romance. Vlad the main male character is someone who at first you're not sure what to think of where Klara seems too sweet and soft for a man like him. They really capture your attention as you read this book and put you through many different emotions. I'm not usually a fan of mysteries but absolutely loved this one and will be looking to read more from this author.

**Reviewed by Hot Box Reviews blog**
** I voluntarily reviewed an advanced reader copy of this book **

[Robin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read an advance copy of Jill Blake’s A Matter of Trust. It’s the third in a series. I enjoyed the book and was able to get right into it, even though I hadn’t read the first two.

When Klara and Vlad meet for the second time, he doesn’t remember meeting her the first time. He should have, because he kissed her. He was drunk, but still... Fast forward to now, he’s going through a divorce and Klara’s busy with school and work, but when she ends up working at Vlad’s daughter’s preschool they see each other every day and end up giving in to their attraction for each other.

When Vlad's estranged wife is murdered, he's the obvious suspect. Did he do it? Read A Matter of Trust and find out!

[Heather · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Matter of Trust is the third book in the Silicon Beach Trilogy, by author Jill Blake. This can be read as a standalone book. Despite not reading the prior two books in the series, I was easily pulled into the story-line and the character dynamics.

It was an enjoyable read but could have gone more in depth with some of the character development and interactions.

I voluntarily reviewed an advanced reader copy of this book.

[Deeann Zessin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've finished the trilogy and these are very good stories. The books are short but very good. I like that the lead characters, both male and female, are very strong. They are very likable with strong beliefs, but able to get along despite their differences. I will definitely be looking for more books by this author.

[InD'tale Magazine · Rating 4 out of 5]

The twists and turns just keep coming in “A Matter of Trust”!

Read full review in the 2016 December issue of InD'tale Magazine.