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

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

Publisher: Samhain
Publish Date: February 10, 2015
Reviewed by: Heller
How I got this book: E-Arc from Publisher

Perspectives #1

23358161“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.”

I have such a soft spot for angsty characters and this has it in spades. All the characters have varying levels of angst working for them and as I was reading this story I couldn’t help but feel that something horrible was on the horizon. It made for a tense read. I actually had to skip to the end because I was so worried. Lesson learned because the end made me ugly cry and then when I went back where I was and read back up to it again I didn’t think it would upset me again but it did and I went for ugly cry, Round 2.

Shane has a huge amount of guilt. He’s lived a hard life and he and his older brother, Jason, are barely making ends meet. The men are working hard to pay off their debts accrued over the years. Shane is stripping on the side to make extra money and it’s at a noise disturbance at
one of these jobs that he meets Officer Noel Carlson.

Noel has angst of his own. He and his best friend where bashed during college and both have scars. Noel on his body and Tristan, who is suffering from short term memory problems. Seeing the two of the interact and the caring relationship between them was so lovely to read. Their story is so sad and just made me so angry. Noel is a protector and he meets Shane again at his second job at a deli. The men hit it off and begin and on and off again relationship.

I can honestly say that this had some of the hottest sex I’ve ever read. Insanely hot and intense. The chemistry between Shane, whose real name is Jody, and Noel is incendiary but so much more than just sexual. I liked that their problems were resolved through communication even if it took them a while to get there. These men have secrets and they learn hard lessons about what happens when they both share and hold them back from each other.
This is such a drama filled story and one that focuses a lot on family and obligations. I loved it and I loved the characters.

I need Tristan’s story. I’m afraid for him because I think I have an idea of what’s happening to him and I’m worried about him. Also, I really want to see him get and HEA. He really deserves it. I went to the author’s site to see if his story was coming and it IS! His and Gabe’s and I couldn’t be more excited for it. I can’t wait to see these two together and I want to read this now!

I’m giving The Truth as He Knows It an A-

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