Review: As I Am by A. M. Arthur

13 February of 2017 by ButtonsMom2003

Reviewer's Rating: 5

5.0Overall score

Another book that ripped my heart out.

As I Am By A. M. Arthur

Genre: Contemporary New Adult, GLBTQ, MM Romance

Released: February 13, 2017

Publisher: Carina Press

Series: All Saints, Book 3

Synopsis

Will Madden is healing.

Thanks to therapy and a growing support system, he’s taking baby steps into a promising future. One of those steps leads him to an online chat room, where he quickly bonds with fellow PTSD sufferer Taz Zachary.

Despite their virtual connection, Taz is initially freaked out at the idea of meeting Will face-to-face. A sexual relationship may be the last thing on his mind, but his craving for human interaction—and more of the way Will makes him laugh—gives him the courage he needs to take the next step.

In person, the chemistry between them is undeniable. But Will is hurt when Taz doesn’t seem to be in any rush to get him into bed. Still, acceptance, love and happiness all seem within reach for the first time in forever—until demons from the past threaten the future they both finally believe they deserve.

Review

Reviewed by ButtonsMom2003

Another book that ripped my heart out.

As I Am is the third book in the All Saints series but it stands alone just fine. I’ve read all of the All Saints books and they are wonderful and I highly recommend them.

Will Madden has suffered more trauma, physical and emotional, than I could ever imagine. I know bad things happen in this world but what happened to him is just unbelievable to me. I don’t want say any more about it – I don’t do spoilers – you need to read the book.

Thomas (Taz) Zachary also suffered physically and emotionally when he was attacked because he came out as bi to his friends. He’s pretty much a hermit and unwilling to leave his house. Both Will and Taz suffer from PTSD and their understanding of each other’s problems almost instantly creates a strong bond between the two.

This was such a hard book to read in some ways but it was also inspiring to read how these two young people work hard to confront their personal demons. This story contains a mystery and suspense along with a twist that I didn’t see coming.

Characters from Ms. Arthur’s previous Carina Press series – Belonging and Restoration – make appearances in As I Am. Readers of those series will be sure to enjoy seeing more of them in this book. I haven’t read them yet but they are in my TBR pile.

Readers should be aware that this book discusses acts of sexual and physical abuse.

♥♥♥♥♥

O Factor: Scorcher

All Saints Series

Come What May, Book 1

♥ Amazon US ♥ Amazon AU ♥ Amazon CA ♥ Amazon DE ♥ Amazon ES ♥ Amazon FR ♥ Amazon IT ♥ Amazon UK ♥ Barnes & Noble ♥ Google Play ♥ iBooks ♥ Kobo US ♥ Kobo CA ♥ Kobo UK ♥

Say It Right, Book 2

♥ Amazon US ♥ Amazon AU ♥ Amazon CA ♥ Amazon DE ♥ Amazon ES ♥ Amazon FR ♥ Amazon IT ♥ Amazon UK ♥ Barnes & Noble ♥ Google Play ♥ iBooks ♥ Kobo US ♥ Kobo CA ♥ Kobo UK ♥

About Author

A. M. Arthur

A.M. Arthur was born and raised in the same kind of small town that she likes to write about, a stone’s throw from both beach resorts and generational farmland. She’s been creating stories in her head since she was a child and scribbling them down nearly as long, in a losing battle to make the fictional voices stop. She credits an early fascination with male friendships (bromance hadn’t been coined yet back then) and “The Young Riders” with her later discovery of and subsequent love affair with m/m romance stories.

An avid reader of het romance, her first foray into reading published m/m romance (slash fanfic doesn’t count) is thanks to a Dear Author review of K.A. Mitchell’s CHASING SMOKE. After devouring K.A.’s existing backlist, she dove headfirst into other authors. While she prefers contemporary, she’ll occasionally sample an historical or SFF m/m romance.

A.M. wrote her first m/m stories in the guise of Kish fanfic (the Kyle/Fish romance from cancelled soap opera “One Life to Live.” As her stories were met with more and more positive feedback, A.M. was inspired to try her hand at creating original m/m romance. And the rest is history.

When not exorcising the voices in her head, she toils away in a retail job that tests her patience and gives her lots of story fodder. She can also be found in her kitchen, pretending she’s an amateur chef and trying to not poison herself or others with her cuisine experiments.

Author Links