Monday, October 5, 2015

The Truth as He Knows It by A.M. Arthur


Lies are the chains that keep you weighed down at rock bottom.

Officer Noel Carlson isn’t out to anyone in small-town Stratton, Pennsylvania, only to distant friends and family, so a relationship is out of the question. That doesn’t stop him from wanting one, though.

When a night-shift call brings him face to thonged butt with a hired stripper whose girl-party gig went terribly wrong, Noel takes pity on the guy and lets him go. But he can’t get the encounter out of his mind.

Shane has big-time debts to repay, especially to the brother who sacrificed nearly everything for him. His two jobs, in a deli and as a stripper, leave him no time for a social life. But a non-date of hot sex and takeout food with Noel? He can squeeze that in.

The bond they form is stronger than either expected or wanted. Especially since the step Shane’s about to take to put his brother—and his soul—back in the black isn’t quite legal. And he never calculated just how much his determination to make things right will cost him in the end.

Warning: Following on from the Cost of Repairs series, this book contains a closeted cop who’s looking for love, an indebted stripper who doesn’t believe he’s worthy, and a tasteful abundance of dirty guy sex. Also contains references to past physical abuse some readers may find disturbing.

Add to Goodreads


Book 1
Buy Links

Amazon US  ~  Amazon UK  ~  Amazon Au  ~  Amazon Ca
Samhain Publishing



Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Erica☆☆☆☆☆
The Truth as He Knows It was a unique, well-written, fast-paced M/M romance that didn't rely on the usual tropes to move the story along. Jam-packed with all the darker emotions: past abuse, grief from the loss of loved ones, illness in the family, down-on-your-luck, and a stripper/porn star falling for a cop.

A.M. Arthur takes the reader on a journey, allowing you to connect with Shane a bit deeper than with Noel, and have a front-seat view into their budding relationship. The fears and hopes in their relationship feel raw and real.

The side cast of characters are just as endearing, particularly Tristan (Noel's endearing best friend who has short-term memory problems after a bashing), Jason (Shane's ill brother who is his rock and hero), and Gabe (Shane's porn co-star turned unexpected friend).

All of the conflict lies within a need for money on Shane's part, dealing with past pain on both their parts, the illness of Jason and the disability of Tristan. What I appreciated the most was that A.M. Arthur didn't sink to using miscommunication as a plot device. The couple grew closer by sharing secrets, not having the secrets brought to light by others to tear them apart. Even in the face of criminal acts, the cop was patient, respectful, caring and kind to Shane, and that is what made their relationship feel real. Noel was hurt, but he understood that not everything Shane did was about him, especially with a friendship/relationship so new. I appreciated how the author used conflict to bring them together instead of having outside forces tear them apart for the sake of angst. There was already enough angst and darkness packed into one book.

The porn scenes in the book were not used to bring unnecessary hot smexy time to the story. Many of these scenes, as well as the between the sheets action between the couple, were written off-scene, making the focus on the characters, the storyline, and the emotions it evoked. Not that the reader wasn't taken on a very hot ride.

Warning: have a fresh box of issues on hand, because The Truth as He Knows It is filled with the 'feels'.

I've already started on book 2, more than 30% into it but had to stop as I needed some sleep (pulled an all-nighter) Tristen and Gabe have very unique stories as well, and I look forward to more.


Angie☆☆☆☆☆
You will need tissue when reading this at times. I cried several times during this book. This book had so many things going on. I felt like I was on a rollercoaster at times. At times I wanted to reach through the book and just slap Shane upside his head; I mean seriously he was ticking me off at times with some of his crap. But I still loved him and felt every emotion right there with him and Noel, oh Noel, poor guy had a hell of a time with Shane but it was so worth it. I loved Tristan too. There were a few really emotional parts that just pulled at your heart and tore it right the hell out. I don’t want to give anything away and I know my review isn’t doing this book justice, just know that it was an amazing book and I loved it.

Characters: Well written and believable
Sex: Oh yeah!
Religious: No
Would I recommend to others: Yes
More than one book in the series: Yes
Genre: M/M Romance
Would I read more by this author: Yes


Shannan☆☆☆☆☆
This was not at all what I expected from this book. It was such an emotional ride. The angst, the push and pull between Shane and Noel. The chemistry was up there, but it was the emotional that I loved. The pain of the past for both Noel and Shane. Secrets that were burying Shane in guilt, the after effects when all the secrets were laid on the table. I loved the side characters. Jason, Shane's brother, who would do anything for him, giving up his life for a period for Shane's. Tristan, Noel's best friend, whose life was changed forever when he was bashed for being gay.

I cried but I couldn’t put this one down. I devoured it, having to know how it ended. I can't wait to continue on with this series.


Also Available in the Perspectives Series

Book 2
Buy Links

Amazon US  ~  Amazon UK  ~  Amazon Au  ~  Amazon Ca
Samhain Publishing



No stranger to the writing world, A.M. Arthur has been creating stories in her head since she was a child and scribbling them down nearly as long. She credits an early fascination with male friendships and "bromance" (and "The Young Riders") with her later discovery of and subsequent affair with m/m romance stories. When not writing, she can be found in her kitchen, pretending she's an amateur chef and trying to not poison herself or others with her cuisine experiments.

Connect with A.M.

Facebook  ~  Twitter  ~  Google+  ~  Blog  ~  Goodreads


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Reviewers on the Wicked Reads Review Team were provided a free copy of The Truth as He Knows It (Perspectives #1) by A.M. Arthur to read and review. Review copy purchased by blog.

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