Trusting Taylor by Susan Stoker

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

From New York Times bestselling author Susan Stoker comes a scorching Silverstone installment that finds a former military man racing to save the woman he loves as danger closes in on them both.

Former military man turned government assassin Kellan “Eagle” Trowbridge isn’t looking for love. He’d rather keep his head down at his cover job as an employee of Silverstone Towing. That all changes, however, when he meets Taylor Cardin.

Beautiful, smart, and witty Taylor instantly falls for the mysterious tow truck driver, who comforts her both in the aftermath of the car crash she sees firsthand and when the police dismiss her as a credible witness because of her prosopagnosia, or face blindness. Eagle, on the other hand, can remember every person he’s ever met—and the two counterparts forge an immediate connection. But someone else is just as intrigued by Taylor’s unique condition as Eagle is…and his intentions are downright deadly.

Soon, Eagle and Taylor are too caught up in each other to see the danger that’s approaching. But as time runs out, they’ll discover their love isn’t the only thing fighting to survive.

She Can’t See Faces. He Never Forgets Them.

The following ratings are out of 5:
Romance: 💚💜💙❤️🩷
Heat/Steam: 🔥🔥
Chemistry: 🧪🧪🧪🧪
Story/Plot: 📕📗📘📙
World building: 🌏🌍🌎🌏🌍
Character development: 😋🙂🤨🤣😎
Narration: 🎙🎙🎙
Narration Type: Solo Narration (Read & Listen)

🎧 Audiobook/Book Review: Trusting Taylor (Silverstone, #2)

Author: Susan Stoker
Genre: Military Romance / Suspense
Narrator(s): Lucy Rivers

👫🏻 Character Background & Plot Dynamics

Taylor Cardin lives with prosopagnosia, or face blindness, a condition that shapes every interaction she has with the world. After witnessing a violent altercation in a grocery store parking lot, she tries to help the police but can only offer details about clothing and cars. Faces, to her, are indistinguishable. The moment sets the stage for both danger and connection.

Kellan “Eagle” Trowbridge, a former Delta Force operative, now works with his four-man team eliminating high-value threats like terrorists, serial killers, and the worst humanity has to offer. Their legitimate towing company in Indiana doubles as a cover for their government‑sanctioned black‑ops work. Eagle’s unique gift is the perfect counterpoint to Taylor’s condition: a photographic memory for faces, whether seen once or in passing.

When Eagle arrives at the grocery store on a mundane supply run, he notices Taylor’s distress immediately. He’s never met her, but something about her vulnerability pulls him in. When she explains her condition, he reveals his own opposite ability and frames their meeting as fate; an unexpectedly sweet moment that sets the tone for their dynamic.

🌟 Strengths

• Opposing abilities that complement each other. Taylor’s face blindness and Eagle’s flawless facial recall create a compelling contrast. It adds texture to their characters and gives their connection a sense of narrative symmetry that feels fresh in the romantic‑suspense genre.
• A villain who exploits Taylor’s vulnerability. The serial killer antagonist is chilling precisely because he sees Taylor’s condition as an opportunity. His belief that he can approach her repeatedly without being recognized adds a psychological edge that elevates the suspense.
• A satisfying reaction to the team’s true profession. Taylor’s response to learning that Eagle and his team are assassins is grounded, thoughtful, and importantly the reaction you wanted but didn’t get in Trusting Skylar. It feels earned and aligns with her character’s intelligence and emotional maturity.

💔 Limitations

• Inconsistent portrayal of prosopagnosia. While the book introduces interesting aspects of Taylor’s condition, it glosses over key realities. People with face blindness often rely on voice, gait, posture, or body shape to identify familiar individuals. Taylor, however, seems unable to recognize anyone unless they’re wearing the same clothes, which oversimplifies and at times misrepresents the condition. This weakens the authenticity of her experience and occasionally pulls you out of the story.

🎙 Narration

The story unfolds through multiple POVs but is performed by a single narrator, Lucy Rivers. Her voice is pleasant, but her delivery leans more toward straightforward reading than immersive character acting. Since solo female narration isn’t your preferred style, pairing the audiobook with reading (“Immersive Mode”) helped maintain engagement. The narration is serviceable but not particularly memorable.

💭 Final Assessment

This installment offers a more emotionally satisfying heroine and a stronger romantic dynamic than Trusting Skylar, thanks largely to Taylor’s grounded reactions and the clever pairing of her condition with Eagle’s gift. The villain adds genuine tension, and the plot moves at a brisk, engaging pace. However, the inaccuracies surrounding prosopagnosia keep the story from reaching its full potential, especially for readers who value realistic portrayals of medical or neurological conditions. Overall, it’s an enjoyable romantic‑suspense read with

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