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Inches of Trust #1-10

Inches of Trust

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When architect Brian Townsend meets a man dressed as Zorro at a Halloween party, it seems like a chance hookup. There’s no denying Brian’s immediate attraction, but it takes more effort than he thought it would just to find out the man's name.


NYPD homicide detective Tristan Blake comes from old money, which he loathes. An idealistic streak burns within him to do a job that serves a purpose. A former lover scorned him at a time he was most vulnerable, after the death of friend, and now Tristan is slow to trust what appears to a developing relationship between him and Brian.


Beer tasting, a broken window, a fall down a flight of stairs, a grenade, and a violent attack ... what do these all have in common? Each one brings Tristan an inch closer to trusting Brian with his heart.


Contains the stories: Crimson Regret, A Taste of Darkness, A Glimpse Inside, Windows and Walls, Head Over Heels, Police Navidad, Auld Acquaintance, Tabled Discussions, Pulling the Pin, and Vulnerability.

193 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 1, 2008

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A.R. Moler

119 books93 followers

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5 stars
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46 (47%)
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16 (16%)
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Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
Profile Image for Carol.
3,781 reviews138 followers
July 11, 2022
Why are these books with such sweet, beautiful, lovable characters so frustratingly short? 200 pages just was NOT anywhere enough! What an absolutely perfect, fantastic pair these two guys made. We have Brian Townsend, an architect... with an instant, catchy humor and a sense of undeniable trust...and we have Tristan Blake...a NYC homicide detective that sees the horrors of life every day and in his personal life has a homophobic, wealthy family who don’t approve of his job choices or, and maybe this is especially...of his being gay. He is also trying so hard to forget the mess that Eric, his ex-guy... (can't call him a lover), made of his life and his heart...and most of all to find the courage to return Brian's unconditional love. There is a very short 2nd installment that I have now and will include it to this review later. It really needed to have been part of this one.
Profile Image for Ami.
6,245 reviews489 followers
February 17, 2014
This book contains 10 short stories that were previously released separately. So you can get all of them which MUCH cheaper price now.

I did think that as a whole, this was a lovely story. I loved how Brian took his time and never pushed Tristan to share everything. Tristan’s previous relationship was really bad, and he had issues to trust again. I loved how Brian was able to knock down Tristan’s walls, one by one, by using patience, caring, and some really good (well, sometimes bad) puns – though I loved Brian’s cheeky puns! This was a story about relationship, the good and the bad. The romance felt natural, nothing felt forced (hey, no insta-love!) and I loved every single important event in Brian and Tristan’s life.

However, I also thought the flow of the book was slightly off, due to the reason that these short stories were released in the span of four years. It was clear that because they were released separately, A.R. Moler needed to include information about events that happened previously. So I felt it became rather repetitive, to be informed about an event, when I was JUST finished reading it a minute before. For example, I read about their first meeting then a minute later, I was reminded HOW they met in the next chapter. So it is probably better if you don’t read this in one sitting!

All in all, it was still a really good relationship story. If you are reading this, I suggest to taking time to read in between the chapter, to really savor the development of Brian and Tristan’s relationship.




The copy is provided by the publisher for an exchange of fair and honest review. No high rating is required for any copy received.
Profile Image for Anita.
2,017 reviews27 followers
July 30, 2017
This is my second book by this author and I love her voice. Real, down to earth, men with issues and feelings, humor and emotion. Brian and Tristan meet (in costume) at a Halloween party and have a "thing" in a shed behind the house where the party is being held. Neither has gotten the other's number but they find each other. Tristan is a cop with a fascinating back story. Gay son to affluent parents who don't approve of his choice of employment or the fact that he's gay. He was in a relationship that ended very badly. Brian is an architect, affable, personable with a screamingly funny sense of humor. He too, was in a long-term relationship that ended, not as badly as Tristan's, but badly enough. Loved the slow yet steady development of the relationship. Great breezy writing, captured the ins and outs of life with two busy guys, one of whom, because of his backstory, is not terribly trusting. The title is spot on. Have gone digging around in the author's backlist to find her other MM reads.
Profile Image for Christy.
4,446 reviews127 followers
June 30, 2017
Have you ever had a relationship that began very slowly and hesitantly? I have and there's a sweetness to it when both people are stumbling around trying to feel their way through each other's personalities and characteristics. I'm very glad that I received the full volume of 'Inches of Trust' by A.R. Moler versus ten individual stories as, frankly, that would've made me nuts. Instead I got a very sweet love story with a little drama and a happy ever after.

Brian and Tristan meet at a Halloween party and things are progressing nicely until Tristan gets called away by a dead body. No pun intended. Tristan is a homicide detective while Brian is an architect. What ensues is a very careful dating relationship and it is a while before Tristan reveals his difficulty with trust and why. Discovering that Tristan comes from a very wealthy family is the beginning peek at some of Tristan's issues as Brian works at understanding this man he's very interested in.

It was such a slow and gentle progression watching Tristan let go of some of his barriers. From meeting Brian at a beer tasting, to showing up outside his apartment after being released from the hospital and needing someone to watch over him for twenty-four hours due to his concussion, Tristan very slowly begins to understand that Brian might really care about him and that Brian is worthy of being trusted. Now Tristan just needs to put his fears to rest and learn to trust again.

I very much enjoyed this story. Brian and Tristan are both strong characters, the writing was good, and the romance was slow, soft, and sweet. I can easily recommend it if you enjoy those types of stories.

NOTE: This book was provided by the publisher for the purpose of a review on Rainbow Book Reviews
Profile Image for Barb ~rede-2-read~.
3,762 reviews113 followers
February 1, 2014
Caution: Contains details that may be considered spoilers.

This book is a collection of a set of short stories previously released by the author individually. Each chapter can be read alone, but they do flow nicely from one to the other, and together they make a remarkable love story that’s so much fun to read. I was excited to begin each chapter because I felt like opening a gift when I have some idea of what might be in there, but then I’m pleasantly surprised and sometimes shocked with what’s really in there. The characters were very well developed and I was engaged by their charm immediately. Brian, a blond, curly-haired architect has a wonderful sense of humor and is a master in the art of making a pun. Tristan, dark, macho NYPD detective comes from a very wealthy family background but he’s very reticent to speak of his family or of any personal issues.

The two meet at a costume party. Brian, dressed as a devil, sees Zorro, a tall and sexy stranger whose mask hides most of his face but not the rest of his attributes and knows he’s got to make his acquaintance. The two hit it off over a discussion on foreign beers and then find themselves in the garden toolshed for a brief erotic interlude. But Zorro gets a call and has to leave quickly, neglecting to give his contact information to Brian. Thankfully, Brian is able to get his name and an email address from the party’s hosts and Tristan responds to that with a suggestion for a date. On that date, they end up back at Brian’s apartment. Though Brian tries to find out more about the quiet man, Tristan is not responsive to personal questions, and when he heads out quickly after they have sex, Brian starts to think he should just write Tristan off. He’s therefore pleasantly surprised when there’s an email from Tristan the next day apologizing for his rude behavior.

When Brian finally gets to see where Tristan lives, he’s impressed with the turn of the century brownstone and surprised that Tristan would live there. He explains that the only family member he was ever close to was his grandfather and when he died he left the home to Tristan. For an architect, the home is a dream come true and Brian helps Tristan with some necessary home repairs while they talk and learn a bit more about each other’s likes and dislikes.

Late one night, Brian is shocked to find Tristan at his door looking beaten and bruised and with his arm in a sling. Tristan was injured at work and comes to Brian because he needs someone to check on him all night in case he has a concussion, but what he finds is that Brian gives him the unconditional TLC that he’s never gotten from anyone else. That night, he finally reveals what happened when he broke up with his former lover, Eric who deserted him when Tristan’s work partner was killed.

On Christmas Day, when the two exchange gifts, Tristan is surprised and pleased with Brian’s gift and Brian is happy to find that one of his gifts is a set of keys to Tristan’s house. For New Year’s Eve, Brian convinces Tristan to accept a society party invitation, and there they run into Eric. When Eric corners Brian in the restroom, and Brian refuses his advances, he shoves Brian so hard he falls and injures his hip. Shaken, he convinces Tris to take him home. Tristan tells Brian that next year they’ll just stay home with a bottle of champagne, so Brian is elated that it looks like they have a future together.

Over time, the two depend on each other for emotional support, and grow closer. Tristan’s feelings for Brian come to a head when Brian is hurt badly in a late night mugging. Tristan finally tells Brian he loves him and ultimately proposes. The author ties in the title when Tristan confesses that it’s hard for him to trust but he knows it’s earned an inch at a time and is looking forward to miles of it in the future with Brian.

I really enjoyed this book! These men are so engaging and have become so familiar to me that I simply must have more of them in the future. I’d highly recommend this one to all lovers of M/M romance. It’s also perfect for someone who might need to put the book down between chapters to get other work done because it’s so easy to resume where you left off. Or, if you’re like me, you make everything else wait while you savor every moment and enjoy every opportunity to open the next gift, i.e. chapter, in this wonderful tale of Brian and Tristan as they move toward their Happily Ever After.

Note: This book was provided to me by the publisher through Hearts on Fire Reviews in exchange for an impartial review.



Profile Image for Sadonna.
2,706 reviews46 followers
June 25, 2017
This review and much more can be found at The Novel Approach

Tristan and Brian meet at a Halloween party given by Brian’s coworker. Tristan is a friend of the coworker’s husband, and after a pretty intense encounter, Tristan leaves the party and Brian hasn’t even gotten his name. But he really wants to see him again, so he asks the coworker to find out, and Brian pursues him.

Brian and Tristan’s story is told over the course of these ten short stories. As time progresses, they forge a real relationship. While Brian is pretty much an open book, Tristan has a very hard time sharing any information about himself—from his professional life as a detective to his completely unsupportive family to his asshat of an ex. Each story serves to move forward the action in their lives, individually in their jobs as well as together as a potential couple. Sometimes it’s one step forward, one step back.

Brian exhibits a lot of patience and understanding for what Tristan has been through. He also brings a lot of humor and fun to Tristan’s life, whether it’s through some of the dates they go on, or his relentless bad puns, Tristan begins to realize his life would be a lot less enjoyable without Brian. Brian hasn’t had the easiest of roads either, but he’s really happy with Tristan and wants to do what he can to support him.

I’ve been a fan of A.R. Moler’s work for years, and this is another series that confirms my enjoyment of her stories. She is so good with each story—a nice, contained vignette of Brian and Tristan’s budding relationship. As the stories progress, we get to really know Brian and especially Tristan, and see what makes them tick and why they are so good for each other. This is a lovely slow-building love story between two very different men who learn to trust each other despite past experiences. Recommended especially for fans of more mature characters who take the time to build something real.
64 reviews
October 4, 2014
Thanks to the structure of this book (it's basically ten novellas), I was able to go through this pretty quickly.

"Inches of trust" isn't an innuendo, by the way, even though Brian would surely be happy if that were true. It's an apt description for the relationship between Tristan and Brian. It took a while for the trust to develop on Tristan's side. Brian was ever so patient, to the point that he seemed too perfect at times. I did like the fact that Tristan's job wasn't a problem in the relationship, which is something that usually comes up in most books I read where one person in the relationship is a cop.

The writing isn't the greatest and some sections had this drabble-like feel to them. BUT, it all seemed to work somehow? I'm a sucker for hurt-comfort and there was plenty going here. And the PUNS! Oh man, there were some seriously bad puns here. Brian was relentless with them and I found myself torn between groaning and laughing at times.

All in all, I really enjoyed this one. I'm giving it 3.5 stars, rounding it up to 4 stars.
Profile Image for DeeNeez.
2,006 reviews13 followers
August 8, 2017
An fun and enjoyable read. Loved the chemistry between the two and Brian's puns had me smiling throughout the book. Extra rating just for that alone.
Profile Image for Daniel.
34 reviews
October 20, 2020
I write this after some time has passed but having just finished #12 I Thee Wed. Moler writes of interesting characters and moments in their lives, however this still remains a collection of short stories. Now, it is enjoyable, really. So much so that I wish Moler would do a reboot and flesh the whole into a proper novel. It would help eliminate having to repeat some information from short story to short story (like what a nasty piece of work Eric is, for instance).

Moler is talented and I would love to read more of what did happen/does happen between characters and become more invested in their growth.
Profile Image for Ellie Thomas.
Author 61 books76 followers
May 11, 2022
What a find! I loved this collection of short stories and was instantly engrossed. The writing style was so engaging as we tumbled into Brian and Tristan's lives and their hot first hook up, before tentatively progressing to a tentative relationship.

This was perfectly paced as we found out more about both men, their backgrounds, busy lives (especially Tristan's tough daily experiences as a cop), revealing the reasons behind their trust issues (again, especially Tristan's).

Both characters were so engaging and I was completely caught up in their love story. Terrific storytelling!
701 reviews6 followers
April 5, 2014
A.R. Moler is a new author to me and I must say I was very pleasantly surprised by Inches of Trust, Volume 1. The book is a series of previously published short stories which when put together deal with the developing relationship between Brian Townsend and Tristan Blake. Now, you might be thinking that cobbling together separate shorts into a novel wouldn’t work, there would be continuity problems, but fear not, that is not the case here. I thought Inch of Trust was perfectly blended.

What I liked most about the book was its natural progression in the relationship of Tristan and Brian. They meet, they date, they have dating issues, they start to get serious, and they come out to close friends and family. Everyday relationship woes which were expertly played out in each part of the book. A very realistic look at a contemporary gay romance.

All in all, a very enjoyable read and I look forward to Volume 2.


Dark Divas Reviews
Profile Image for Joyfully Jay.
9,092 reviews518 followers
March 14, 2014
A Joyfully Jay review.

3.75 stars


Inches of Trust Volume 1 is a collection of short stories by A.R. Moler written as Sips for Torquere Press. Separately each story is a glimpse in the ongoing relationship between Brian and Tristan, mostly seen from Brian’s POV. It’s a sweet and believable view on a slow building relationship. And though I have a couple quibbles, I enjoyed the stories.

I like Brian and Tristan, although I didn’t feel a great connection to them. I like Brian’s persistence and patience. And I adore Tristan’s dedication and perseverance. These two are a good match, each complementing the weakness of the other. I just wasn’t feeling them individually. They’re decent enough characters, but there was something missing.

Read Crissy's review in its entirety here.
Profile Image for Maureen.
3,732 reviews39 followers
September 7, 2025
These ultra short stories have been cast into a singe book as chapters. They revolve around Brian and Tristan who meet at a party and have an instant attraction. These two are totally adorable, both recently hurt by previous partners, but while Brian's family are close and loving Tristan's wealthy family shun him for being gay and for being a detective rather than what they would choose. Brian's easy going attitude and his careing nature brings much needed peace and contentment to Tristen world.
This was a lovely read and luckily there are four more shorts that follow these, I'm off to read them, love these two men.
Profile Image for The Novel Approach.
3,094 reviews137 followers
March 9, 2014
What can I say? I love these types of stories. There’s some angst in the storyline but just enough to see how these two handle diverse situations together. I enjoyed reading how Tristan’s trust towards Brian was a slow but not painful, or even a ridiculous, process. It was a very mature getting-to-know-each-other read, with a dab of humor to lighten some of the situations.


See the entire review at The Novel Approach: http://thenovelapproachreviews.com/20...
Profile Image for Alina.
708 reviews29 followers
March 29, 2014
Absolutely loved this story! I enjoyed seeing the guys slowly falling in love and Tristan slowly starting to opeen up about himself and beginning to trust Brian. And I adored Brian's patience and how he didn't pressure Tristan and just waited till he's ready instead. Both guys were awesome and cared deeply about each other. I'd love to read some more about them in the future :)
719 reviews11 followers
April 18, 2017
Not my thing

Not sure if the series of vignettes is this author's typical style but I found it a bit choppy and repetitive. I also had an issue with Brian's silly puns....enough! And the repeated use of the term "lover." Really? Reminded me of a hokey soap opera. I rolled my eyes A LOT but I did finish it.
Profile Image for E.
207 reviews1 follower
July 27, 2014
3.5. I thought they acted a little immature at times. Also a whole lot of back and forth for pretty much no reason. The bad ex boyfriend was over the top/corny. I like how they met and some of there were some steamy scenes.
Profile Image for Leaundra.
1,210 reviews47 followers
January 27, 2014
I loved this book! I loved watching Brian and Tristan fall in love!
Profile Image for Angel Pedroza.
571 reviews6 followers
August 2, 2014
I enjoyed the two main characters and their romance. I am looking forward to learning about them.
Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews

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