Review ~ Taking a Chance by A. M. Arthur

Book: Taking A Chance

Series: Restoration #3

Author: A. M. Arthur

Genre: Contemporary M/M Romance

Format: e-book

Page Count: 262

Published: Carina Press, September 14, 2015

Source: Publisher

The last time Elliott fell in love, his fiancé cheated on him. Now fresh out of rehab, Elliott’s confidence lags behind his libido—not that that stops him from lusting after the sexy carpenter working on his kitchen—from a distance. He won’t risk his sobriety on another potential broken heart.

As half of an experienced home renovation duo, Augustus expects this job will be easy. Until he sees the house’s tenant, a man he never thought he’d meet—his ex’s other man. Augustus knows he should say something about their secret, shared past, but he’s tongue-tied by their intense, unwanted attraction.

Despite attempts to keep things professional, the two men give in to temptation and forge a genuine connection—and his developing feelings for Elliott leave Augustus in an impossible situation. If he stays, his secret will always hang over the relationship. But telling the truth might send Elliott spiraling to a new rock bottom and cost Augustus the only man he’s ever really loved.

I’m not one to usually reread a book, but after finishing this I realized that I can, and probably will be, one to reread a whole series. I got into the RESTORATION series by chance, and it has been a rough ride, an extremely emotional ride, but definitely a worthy one. This final book in the series may mark an ending of sorts, but I feel like this won’t be the last I’ll be hearing from these guys. Just like its predecessors, this one took me on an emotional roller coaster that ended up being a worthy experience.

For those who are familiar with the storyline-and I strongly suggest you read these books in order if you’re considering the series- it was obvious that this was going to be a difficult journey for Elliott and Auggie. Having unknowingly shared a man, they had a chance to finally put things to rest and move on with each other, and theirs was a beautiful story.

Review ~ Finding Their Way by A. M. Arthur

Book: Finding Their Way

Series: Restoration #2

Author: A. M. Arthur

Genre: Contemporary M/M Romance

Format: e-book

Page Count: 251

Published: Carina Press, July 20, 2015

Source: Publisher

Thanks to an abusive father and a string of bad relationships, Riley McCage learned the hard way that people are not kind without a reason. Now, after landing a job at popular gay bar Pot O Gold, Riley is on the right track–until the night Boxer finds him drunk and drugged in the back room of an exclusive sex party.

Donald “Boxer” Boxwood wasn’t looking for anything beyond some casual kink until he peeled Riley off the floor and gave him a safe place to stay. But there’s something compelling about the guy crashing on his couch, and the two forge an instant friendship that eases into unmistakable attraction. Despite Riley’s hesitancy, Boxer knows one thing to be true: he needs Riley in his life.

Riley risked everything to run away and build a new life for himself, and his secrets aren’t something he’d ever wish upon his kind, gentle new friend. But when the past comes to call, he’ll have no choice but to put his trust in Boxer…and believe people can change enough to deserve a second chance.

It’s not up to me to say, and certainly wouldn’t be fair, that among this tight group of friends, Boxer was the one who deserved happiness the most. But I can say he was my favorite. He was kind, helpful, understanding. The best way to describe him would be that he was one of those guys who are just too good to be true. The fact that he’s a fictional character, well, you just need to overlook that for the time being.

The second book in the Restoration series was definitely so much better than the first one. The first one, I got into knowing nothing and expecting more by the time I finished, whereas in this book, everything was pretty damn close to perfect. There was an excellent balance of romance, emotions and growth. The heroes found strength in each other and stood up for one another. Boxer’s teddy bear personality meshed so nicely with Riley’s silent courage. And the kink.. Oh, the sex was hot by the way, if I hadn’t mentioned it before, you know, in case you’re wondering.

Review ~ Getting It Right by A.M. Arthur

Book: Getting It Right

Series: Restoration #1

Author: A.M. Arthur

Genre: Contemporary M/M Romance

Format: e-book

Page Count: 245

Published: Carina Press, March 16, 2015

Source: Publisher

Detective Nathan Wolf might just be a junior detective, but he tackles every case with the passion that he lacks in his personal life. A series of failed relationships with women has left him still single at thirty-four—because he’s too scared to admit to his longtime crush on his best friend James.

Dr. James Taggert likes to keep his profession as a psychiatrist separate from his party-animal persona. Known around the gay clubs as Tag, he’s the guy who screws them, leaves them, and never looks back. But James’s drinking is getting heavier, and when bad memories from the past resurface, he’s close to becoming the worst version of himself.

After a drunken blackout ends in a hot and heavy make-out session with his very straight best friend, James has no memory of the steamy affair. But Nathan isn’t sorry for the kisses that James can’t remember. Nathan finally musters the courage to tell James how he really feels, but a life-altering event might force them apart before they can ever be together.

I was honestly not sure about how to rate this book. I’m still not. On the one hand, it was hot when the two heroes got together, plus the fact that they were so far away from being perfect with their difficult problems and challenging pasts, and on the other, I simply failed to see the turning point from friendship to relationship. In fact, I can’t even say that their 15 years of best buddies thing was all that convincing either. They both had their hang ups and problems that the other had no idea about, and though people can hide things from even their closest friends and family, I just felt like everything was thrown at me all at once to make the book more interesting and challenging.

James was an alcoholic psychiatrist who f*cked his problems away-pardon my French- who also happened to have a distant relationship with his mother-his only living relative. And Nathan was a cop who lived a straight bachelor’s life until one night when James drunkenly planted a kiss on him and he started to question his sexuality and their friendship. There was a lot going on in this book, and 200 pages were simply not enough to tell them all.