The Heart as He Hears It, by A.M. Arthur
Series: Perspectives, Book 3 (Stand-alone)
Publisher: Samhain Publishing
Release Date: April 19, 2016
Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
series: perspectives
Blog Tour: The World as He Sees It, by A.M. Arthur (Excerpt, Interview, and Giveaway!!!)
Cover Artist: Lyn Taylor
The World As He Sees It, by A.M. Arthur
Series: Perspectives, Book Two (Stand-Alone)
Publisher: Samhain Publishing (October 20, 2015)
Page Count: 283 pages
Genre: Gay (M/M) Romance
Welcome to the blog tour for A.M. Arthur’s newest release, The World As He Sees It, which is the second book in her “Perspectives” series! I am RIDICULOUSLY excited to be hosting this tour today… if you follow me at all, you know that I’m a pretty big A.M. fangirl.
I adored The World As He Sees It, which has the kind of real, down-to-earth, gorgeous characters that A.M. is known for, but with a fantastic twist: Tristan, one of the main characters, has no short-term memory! You can read my 4.5 star review here.
Keep reading for an excerpt from the novel, my interview with A.M. herself (in which she dishes about her upcoming novels!!!), and your chance to win an INCREDIBLE gift basket prize!
Summary:
Love knows no limits…but fear could keep them from seeing it.
Gabe lives a double life. As Gabriel Henson, he works multiple jobs to support his remorseless, alcoholic mother. As Tony Ryder, he does internet porn for extra cash and regular safe sex without complications.
Yet when he encounters a scared young man freaking out in a night club, he’s compelled to reach out. Ever since then, the memory of that young man has haunted him.
Tristan Lavelle lives his life thirty minutes at a time. After a traumatic brain injury three years ago, he gets through his day recording his life in spiral notebooks and sticky note reminders.
A month after Tristan’s embarrassingly public meltdown, another chance meeting with Gabe sparks a warm, emotionally fulfilling email relationship. Both men crave more, but fear of the next step stands between them.
Until Tristan gets the opportunity to take part in a clinical trial that could improve his memory—if the side effects don’t kill him. But for Tristan, the possibility of a real life with Gabe is worth any risk…
Review: The World as He Sees It, by A.M. Arthur (Rating: 4.5/5)
The World as He Sees It, by A.M. Arthur
Series: Perspectives, Book 2 (Stand-alone)
Publisher: Samhain Publishing (October 20, 2015)
Page Count: 278 pages
Genre: Gay (M/M) Romance
Rating: 4.5 out of 5
* I received an advanced copy of this novel in
exchange for a fair and honest review. *
Before we get to the review, here’s a quick giveaway! If you’re new to the Perspectives series, or new to A.M. Arthur in general, simply leave a comment on this post telling me your favorite romance novel theme (love at first sight, hurt/comfort, marriage of convenience, etc) and you’re immediately entered to win!
One lucky winner will receive an eBook copy of The Truth As He Knows It (Perspectives, Book 1), from ARe (you can read my 4-star review here). Contest ends October 18, 2015 at 11:59pm EST, and is open to anyone world-wide!
I’ve been looking forward to this novel ever since I first read the summary. It’s such a unique take on the hurt/comfort storyline, and from an author that I really love and trust to do right by the characters. In the end, I wasn’t let down at all, and I’ve completely fallen in love with Gabe and Tristan, as well as their friends!
Gabe lives a double life. As Gabriel Henson, he works multiple jobs to support his remorseless, alcoholic mother. As Tony Ryder, he does internet porn for extra cash and regular safe sex without complications.
Yet when he encounters a scared young man freaking out in a night club, he’s compelled to reach out. Ever since then, the memory of that young man has haunted him.
Tristan Lavelle lives his life thirty minutes at a time. After a traumatic brain injury three years ago, he gets through his day recording his life in spiral notebooks and sticky note reminders.
A month after Tristan’s embarrassingly public meltdown, another chance meeting with Gabe sparks a warm, emotionally fulfilling email relationship. Both men crave more, but fear of the next step stands between them.
Until Tristan gets the opportunity to take part in a clinical trial that could improve his memory—if the side effects don’t kill him. But for Tristan, the possibility of a real life with Gabe is worth any risk…
Tristan is an incredibly fascinating character, and I’ve never had the pleasure of reading someone like him! He’s completely dependent on others, and he only barely gets by with his notebook and post-its, which tell him what’s going on in his life. His best friend Noel (from the first book) is always there to help him, but Tristan wants his old life back. After meeting Gabe, the desperation increases, because he realizes that he has something worth losing if he doesn’t go ahead with the clinical trial.
“We’ve met,” Tristan said before he could think twice.
Gabe’s eyebrows twitched. “Yes, we have. Do you remember that?”
“I remember your eyes.” (Kindle Loc. 291)
Gabe’s patience in this novel was absolutely legendary. He’s patient with his mom, who is an (often violent) alcoholic. He’s patient with his life, which is going nowhere fast. He’s patient with Tristan’s friend Noel, who clearly doesn’t like him very much.
But most of all he’s patient with Tristan himself; he goes above and beyond to help Tristan, recognizing a man he could grow to love under the frustrating memory lapses. Their relationship begins first in email, allowing Tristan to re-read their previous messages, before moving into the real world as the clinical trial begins to work. But at no point does Gabe wrap Tristan in bubble wrap, which was by far the best part. He treats Tristan as a friend, boyfriend, and lover, but never as someone who’s damaged.
“How’s the sex?”
Gabe didn’t even pretend to be surprised by the nosy question. “It’s intense. I know it sounds kind of Bella Swan of me, but I feel connected to him.”
“Sounds like a man in love to me.”
“I think I might be.” His heart thumped harder. “He’s the best thing in my life.” (Kindle Loc. 2235)
The writing was really well done, showing Tristan’s memory lapses and the struggles he and those around him face as he forgets and has to be re-told things over and over. And I loved seeing the progression as he begins to gain his memory back, because it was very well done!
I loved this novel so much. Gabe’s family life and his job add a great point of tension in the plot, and Tristan’s friendship with Noel and his ups and downs on the trial medication were fantastic.
Don’t forget to comment below for your chance to win a free eBook copy of The Truth As He Knows It (Perspectives, Book 1)!
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Review: The Truth as He Knows It, by A.M. Arthur (Rating: 4/5)
The Truth as He Knows It, by A.M. Arthur (Perspectives, Book One)
Publisher: Samhain Publishing (February 10, 2015)
Page Count: 289
Genre: Gay (M/M) Romance
Rating: ★★★★☆
“You got a lotta secrets stored up in that head, don’t you?”
“You have no idea.” (ePub page 130)
Like the title says, this is a novel about truths and secrets, and about finding someone to trust enough to bare your soul. On the surface, Noel and Shane seem like two normal guys; Noel is a police officer in a small town, and meets Shane during a disturbance call one night. Shane, working odd jobs to free him and his brother from a mountain of debt, is instantly attracted to the officer who helps him out. But they both have serious secrets buried in their closets, and they have to decide which truths to share and which to hide as the attraction between them boils over.
Guys like Shane got casual fucks, dead-end jobs and rusty old trailers. They didn’t get hot, put-together cops like his mystery savior. (ePub page 12)
One of my favorite things about A.M. Arthur novels is how she focuses on the characters and their relationships. Both Noel and Shane have only one person in their life that they really trust. Noel’s best friend and confidant is Tristan, who was attacked several years ago and suffers serious short-term memory loss. Likewise, Shane keeps his secrets– and his shame– secret from everyone but his brother Jason, with whom he shares a trailer.
At the heart of the novel though is this gorgeous relationship that builds between Shane and Noel. At first it’s just lust; they can’t keep their hands off each other long enough to go on a date, let along long enough to have serious conversations. But Noel keeps his past firmly tucked away, and Shane is being torn apart by the jobs he has to work to help pay off a debt that he blames on himself.
TISSUE WARNING! I was reading this at work (naughty, I know), and started tearing up at one point. You’ve been warned: you will get emotionally invested in these characters, and there are some seriously heavy emotions at play here.
It’s not all serious though. There’s a lot of humor, especially between Noel and Tristan, and the relationship is really lovely.
“I take it that turned into a date?” Tristan asked.
“Yep”
“What’s his name?”
“Shane.”
“Sounds like a porn star name.”
Noel nearly snarfed his soda. “This from a guy named Tristan?”
“Touché.” (ePub page 28)
I’ve said it again and again… I’m all about the relationships when it comes to romance novels, and A.M. Arthur always delivers on that front.
And keep an eye out for the next book in the Perspectives series, The World as He Sees It, which is out on October 20… and it features Tristan!
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