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Perspectives #3
The Heart As He Hears It
Love can slip through the smallest crack in the door.
While most of his friends have moved on to “real” careers, Jon Buchanan is content skating through life as a part-time waiter and gay porn star. Firmly single thanks to a previous relationship disaster, he focuses his spare time on Henry, a dear friend dying of cancer.
And with Henry’s happiness paramount, Jon is on a mission to help Henry meet his recently discovered grandson.
Isaac Gregory hasn’t set foot outside for the past year. He has everything he needs delivered, and his remaining family knows better than to visit. When a complete stranger shows up claiming to be his grandfather—with a distractingly handsome younger man in tow—his carefully structured routines are shaken.
Despite his instant attraction, Jon senses Isaac is too fragile for a relationship. Yet tentative friendship grows into genuine companionship. And when Henry’s health begins to fail, they realize Fate brought them together for a reason.
Warning: Product contains a neurotic porn star with body image issues, a virgin hero with severe agoraphobia, and a fluffy ball of gray cuteness you’ll want to take home and cuddle. Also contains references to past abuse some readers might find disturbing.
While most of his friends have moved on to “real” careers, Jon Buchanan is content skating through life as a part-time waiter and gay porn star. Firmly single thanks to a previous relationship disaster, he focuses his spare time on Henry, a dear friend dying of cancer.
And with Henry’s happiness paramount, Jon is on a mission to help Henry meet his recently discovered grandson.
Isaac Gregory hasn’t set foot outside for the past year. He has everything he needs delivered, and his remaining family knows better than to visit. When a complete stranger shows up claiming to be his grandfather—with a distractingly handsome younger man in tow—his carefully structured routines are shaken.
Despite his instant attraction, Jon senses Isaac is too fragile for a relationship. Yet tentative friendship grows into genuine companionship. And when Henry’s health begins to fail, they realize Fate brought them together for a reason.
Warning: Product contains a neurotic porn star with body image issues, a virgin hero with severe agoraphobia, and a fluffy ball of gray cuteness you’ll want to take home and cuddle. Also contains references to past abuse some readers might find disturbing.
312 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 19, 2016
74 people are currently reading
853 people want to read
About the author
A.M. Arthur
87 books1,235 followersNo 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 (bromance wasn't a thing yet) 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. You can contact her at AM_Arthur(at)yahoo(dot)com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 173 reviews
May 16, 2017
I liked this story quite a bit and, unlike book 1, the fuckery was kept too a minimum, with only a bit of *truly* uncharacteristically bad behavior by Jon toward the end of the book.
However, for one of the MC's to be a porn star, the story was surprisingly light on the sex. It was there in spots, but not too in your face, which was fine.
The story ends with a bit of insane stalker cray-cray, which felt a slightly over the top, but it didn't bother me too awfully so.
Overall, I'd rate this one around 3.75 stars.
However, for one of the MC's to be a porn star, the story was surprisingly light on the sex. It was there in spots, but not too in your face, which was fine.
The story ends with a bit of insane stalker cray-cray, which felt a slightly over the top, but it didn't bother me too awfully so.
Overall, I'd rate this one around 3.75 stars.
May 15, 2021
*** Wonderful A.M. Arthur M/M story !!
Awesome series !! ***
Complex characters, a psycho, a shut-in, a dying friend, finding a true friend and savior, healing, caring, first time sex, and a beautifully written story that will make you happy. Much is happening with Jon,
waiter/porn star, a handsome man who has stayed away from relationships.
His friend is dying and wants to connect with a newly discovered grandson. Jon helps. When Henry and Isaac meet, Jon is there and has an instant reaction to Isaac.
Isaac is an agoraphobic, timid, and shy, partially deaf,
plus terrified of strangers. We find out why later.
I liked this cast of people, so genuine, honest, accepting and understanding. I know Rick hurt Jon with verbal abuse when they were together, but his presence in the tale seemed relevant.
Throughout the blooming friendship, Isaac opens up more and more.
The addition of the kitten was adorable and helped the men bond.
"BEAR" she's so cute !
Their first time "sexcapades" are well done, erotic, and wonderfully written.
The psycho brings violence and craziness. The rescue is great.
This tale is more hopeful than sad. Good coming from bad.
I'm highly recommending this story.
It can stand alone, but I've read them all, so I knew all the side characters,
which made it more fulfilling. Terrific epilogue !
ENJOY !!!
====================
Awesome series !! ***
Complex characters, a psycho, a shut-in, a dying friend, finding a true friend and savior, healing, caring, first time sex, and a beautifully written story that will make you happy. Much is happening with Jon,
waiter/porn star, a handsome man who has stayed away from relationships.
His friend is dying and wants to connect with a newly discovered grandson. Jon helps. When Henry and Isaac meet, Jon is there and has an instant reaction to Isaac.
Isaac is an agoraphobic, timid, and shy, partially deaf,
plus terrified of strangers. We find out why later.
I liked this cast of people, so genuine, honest, accepting and understanding. I know Rick hurt Jon with verbal abuse when they were together, but his presence in the tale seemed relevant.
Throughout the blooming friendship, Isaac opens up more and more.
The addition of the kitten was adorable and helped the men bond.
"BEAR" she's so cute !
Their first time "sexcapades" are well done, erotic, and wonderfully written.
The psycho brings violence and craziness. The rescue is great.
This tale is more hopeful than sad. Good coming from bad.
I'm highly recommending this story.
It can stand alone, but I've read them all, so I knew all the side characters,
which made it more fulfilling. Terrific epilogue !
ENJOY !!!
====================
May 16, 2023
This is book #3 in the Perspective Series. Each of the book's themes touch on love, tragedy and disability. They are all "story" driven, with intense plots and well-developed characters that have real connections with the characters around them. Jon Buchanan works as a waiter and a gay porn star. Left reeling from an abusive relationship, he struggles with anorexia and poor self-esteem. He works hard to focus on staying healthy. Henry is Jon’s constant, the father figure that took the place of Jon’s biological father when his family asked him to leave....and Henry is dying of cancer. He has also just found out that he has a grandson, the son of a son that he never knew he had. Henry wants/needs to make connections with this grandson before he dies. Jon would do anything for Henry, including tracking down an elusive, almost reclusive, man who doesn’t seem to want to be found. Jon is an incredibly down-to-earth character; he is mature, knows his own faults, and would do anything for those he loves. Now...meet Issaac. Isaac is twenty-two and a total shut in. Surviving a severely abusive childhood has left him suffering from extreme agoraphobia...he cannot even open the front door without being affected by it. He doesn't own a phone, he orders groceries online, and has no contact with anyone, not even the family he has left. Everything about his day is and must be, ordered and predictable. That's how he copes with being alive…until his aunt brings a man named Henry who claims to be his grandfather into his life. He knows that Henry is the father of the man who abused him. Along with Henry is Henry's friend, Jon. Jon doesn't believe in terms like “love at first sight” or “insta-love” , so how can he feel an instant connection to a near-stranger? Nothing rational could explain it as anything more than simple physical attraction. Instant connection and an urgent desire to touch and know everything there was possible to know about someone? Just a myth... Until now.... Until Isaac. It's a slow buildup, with just the right light touch to make the progression of the relationship between these two men totally believable. Both have serious issues, and those issues are treated with respect and woven into their relationship in ways that make the connection stronger between the two. There’s also a cat, named Bear that is the cutest, cuddliest thing you will read about. Each book in the Perspectives series stands well on its own, but they should be readin order as the characters from the other books all know one another and interact in each other’s lives throughout the three books.
April 23, 2016
What goods a buddy read without the angst...
This was my first buddy read over on GR with the awesome Christelle. Thanks for the giggles and the occasional ragefest ;)
'The Heart as He Hears It' was the third and probably the final book in this series since Ms. Arthur tends to write her series in sets of 3. Hopefully there will a spin-off series as we have seen happen previously since she left us with more than a couple of characters that we need more information on. There was Jake, who seems to keep showing up with mysterious and really poorly explained injuries, Dane who is just a big ole' sexy enigma, Dell who is Chet's nephew and fell off the rehab wagon for reason's known to Rick but which Rick refuses to clarify and yeah, let's not forget Rick, but I'll get to him later and there's also the sexy and seemingly sweet nurse, Vinson who was hired to care for Henry. So yeah, lots of new characters begging for their own story.
'The Heart as He Hears It' is Jon's story. Jon and ultimately Isaac, the grandson of Jon's dearest friend Henry, whom as we know from book #2 is dying. In his efforts to get his affairs in order Henry discovers he had a son named Jerome. While Jerome is no longer alive he is survived by a son. A son who is damaged both physically (he has a severe hearing loss) and emotionally (things in his past have left him both mistrustful and basically terrified of the outside world resulting in Isaac becoming agoraphobic).
When Isaac first meets Henry and Jon it takes all his inner strength to open his front door and let his aunt bring these strangers into his home. While he is leery of Henry who bares a vague resemblance to his abusive deceased father, he is immediately drawn to Jon. Jon who is magazine model beautiful and whose voice Isaac wants desperately to be able to hear better because it sooths him.
While the attraction between these two men is instant the love is not and this I really liked. Their relationship built through a series of events that draw them together and Jon realizes immediately that Isaac is not ready by any stretch of the imagination to dive into a relationship so he offers Isaac what he feels he can handle...a friendship. One that Isaac can determine the pace of. it's hard but for Jon it's worth the effort and he's willing to do what it takes to keep them in each others lives.
I loved how the relationship between these two progressed and there were some very giggle worthy moments...sex talks were epic...I might have digressed to being a 12 year old once or twice. In spit of his fear of the world Isaac is a young man with an insatiable thirst for knowledge, he is full of questions and he asked them in the most direct manner.
It may have been Jon & Henry that got Isaac to open the door and let the world begin to slip in a bit at a time but it was a sweet little grey kitten that helped him to be brave enough to take that first step back outside of his backdoor and it was such a wonderful moment. Once he did this he became determined to stop existing and begin living again. It wasn't always easy and there were setbacks but I loved watching Isaac as he struggled with his fears, watching Jon give him friendship, support and ultimately seeing them admit their love for each other and yeah, there were definitely some 'fan yourself' moments...there was the time in the shower and of course the bed, hours spent kissing on the couch...there is much to be said for kissing.
This all sounds pretty good right? It was. This part of the story easily gets a solid 4 maybe even 4.5 stars from me...so, what happened? where did it go wrong? Why only 3.5 stars? Well as is often the case with this author I think she got out her 'angst & sh!t went wrong' shopping list and just kept adding. Rick is the perfect example did we really need him in the story? From my perspective no. But yet there he was.
There was more so much more that it really did start to feel like a shopping list of 'angst & sh!t that went wrong' that the author was using or maybe it was just her way of digging Rick out of the corner that she'd put him in so that we'd like him enough to want his story. If that was the case than it worked because I went from wanting him to be able to sing soprano to relocating certain parts of his anatomy to thinking 'well maybe, he's changed tell me a bit more about him and I'll consider it' but he was still a douche when he was with Jon and sorry, not going to believe differently and Chet's gold halo has a big tarnish spot on it for making Jon feel like he believed Rick over him...oops, I guess you now know what one of those ragefest that Christelle got pertained to ;)
So at the end of all this we know 2 things for sure. #1 Once gain this is a case of less would have been more as in more stars from me, if there had been less angst and drama towards the end and #2 sometimes I suck at writing short reviews...oops, 3 things...#3 Christelle is an awesomely fun person to do a buddy read with. Thanks my friend.
Sadly this is only 3 stars rounded down from 3.5 because you guessed it still no 1/2 stars here on GR and because too much is too much and the angst at the end of this book ended up being too much.
This was my first buddy read over on GR with the awesome Christelle. Thanks for the giggles and the occasional ragefest ;)
'The Heart as He Hears It' was the third and probably the final book in this series since Ms. Arthur tends to write her series in sets of 3. Hopefully there will a spin-off series as we have seen happen previously since she left us with more than a couple of characters that we need more information on. There was Jake, who seems to keep showing up with mysterious and really poorly explained injuries, Dane who is just a big ole' sexy enigma, Dell who is Chet's nephew and fell off the rehab wagon for reason's known to Rick but which Rick refuses to clarify and yeah, let's not forget Rick, but I'll get to him later and there's also the sexy and seemingly sweet nurse, Vinson who was hired to care for Henry. So yeah, lots of new characters begging for their own story.
'The Heart as He Hears It' is Jon's story. Jon and ultimately Isaac, the grandson of Jon's dearest friend Henry, whom as we know from book #2 is dying. In his efforts to get his affairs in order Henry discovers he had a son named Jerome. While Jerome is no longer alive he is survived by a son. A son who is damaged both physically (he has a severe hearing loss) and emotionally (things in his past have left him both mistrustful and basically terrified of the outside world resulting in Isaac becoming agoraphobic).
When Isaac first meets Henry and Jon it takes all his inner strength to open his front door and let his aunt bring these strangers into his home. While he is leery of Henry who bares a vague resemblance to his abusive deceased father, he is immediately drawn to Jon. Jon who is magazine model beautiful and whose voice Isaac wants desperately to be able to hear better because it sooths him.
While the attraction between these two men is instant the love is not and this I really liked. Their relationship built through a series of events that draw them together and Jon realizes immediately that Isaac is not ready by any stretch of the imagination to dive into a relationship so he offers Isaac what he feels he can handle...a friendship. One that Isaac can determine the pace of. it's hard but for Jon it's worth the effort and he's willing to do what it takes to keep them in each others lives.
I loved how the relationship between these two progressed and there were some very giggle worthy moments...sex talks were epic...I might have digressed to being a 12 year old once or twice. In spit of his fear of the world Isaac is a young man with an insatiable thirst for knowledge, he is full of questions and he asked them in the most direct manner.
It may have been Jon & Henry that got Isaac to open the door and let the world begin to slip in a bit at a time but it was a sweet little grey kitten that helped him to be brave enough to take that first step back outside of his backdoor and it was such a wonderful moment. Once he did this he became determined to stop existing and begin living again. It wasn't always easy and there were setbacks but I loved watching Isaac as he struggled with his fears, watching Jon give him friendship, support and ultimately seeing them admit their love for each other and yeah, there were definitely some 'fan yourself' moments...there was the time in the shower and of course the bed, hours spent kissing on the couch...there is much to be said for kissing.
This all sounds pretty good right? It was. This part of the story easily gets a solid 4 maybe even 4.5 stars from me...so, what happened? where did it go wrong? Why only 3.5 stars? Well as is often the case with this author I think she got out her 'angst & sh!t went wrong' shopping list and just kept adding. Rick is the perfect example did we really need him in the story? From my perspective no. But yet there he was.
There was more so much more that it really did start to feel like a shopping list of 'angst & sh!t that went wrong' that the author was using or maybe it was just her way of digging Rick out of the corner that she'd put him in so that we'd like him enough to want his story. If that was the case than it worked because I went from wanting him to be able to sing soprano to relocating certain parts of his anatomy to thinking 'well maybe, he's changed tell me a bit more about him and I'll consider it' but he was still a douche when he was with Jon and sorry, not going to believe differently and Chet's gold halo has a big tarnish spot on it for making Jon feel like he believed Rick over him...oops, I guess you now know what one of those ragefest that Christelle got pertained to ;)
So at the end of all this we know 2 things for sure. #1 Once gain this is a case of less would have been more as in more stars from me, if there had been less angst and drama towards the end and #2 sometimes I suck at writing short reviews...oops, 3 things...#3 Christelle is an awesomely fun person to do a buddy read with. Thanks my friend.
Sadly this is only 3 stars rounded down from 3.5 because you guessed it still no 1/2 stars here on GR and because too much is too much and the angst at the end of this book ended up being too much.
December 23, 2018
Story 4+ stars. Narration took a while to get used to but not bad, 3.5 stars. I realized I have over a dozen audio books on my Audible account I haven't listened to, so here goes. I enjoyed this book a lot. There is so much adversity facing all of the characters in this story but it wasn't melodramatic or depressing. Despite everything, the story had a hopeful tone throughout and I was so proud of these guys and how they faced their demons. It was a bit unbelievable that Isaac could get as far as he did with only Jon's encouragement. IRL he probably would have needed, and still needs, years of counseling. But this is fiction, so it worked. I accidentally started working through this series with book 3, but fortunately, it doesn't seem to matter that I went out of order.
January 27, 2024
What a twist.
May 12, 2020
Darum geht's:
Henry ist unheilbar an Krebs erkrankt. Bevor unausweichlich sein Tod kommt, will er ein Unrecht gut machen und stöbert in seiner Vergangenheit. Dabei findet er heraus, dass er einen Sohn hatte. Zwar ist dieser schon verstorben, aber Henrys Enkel lebt noch und zwar ganz in der Nähe.
Jon, für den Henry ein enger, väterlicher Freund ist, begleitet ihn zu seinem Enkel. Und als sich Jon und Enkel Isaac zum ersten Mal sehen, spüren beide, dass zwischen ihnen etwas ganz Besonderes ist. Nur hat Isaac ein dickes Problem - er ist traumatisiert, verlässt nie seine Wohnung und will auch möglichst zu niemandem überhaupt Kontakt haben.
Meine Meinung dazu gibt’s hier
Henry ist unheilbar an Krebs erkrankt. Bevor unausweichlich sein Tod kommt, will er ein Unrecht gut machen und stöbert in seiner Vergangenheit. Dabei findet er heraus, dass er einen Sohn hatte. Zwar ist dieser schon verstorben, aber Henrys Enkel lebt noch und zwar ganz in der Nähe.
Jon, für den Henry ein enger, väterlicher Freund ist, begleitet ihn zu seinem Enkel. Und als sich Jon und Enkel Isaac zum ersten Mal sehen, spüren beide, dass zwischen ihnen etwas ganz Besonderes ist. Nur hat Isaac ein dickes Problem - er ist traumatisiert, verlässt nie seine Wohnung und will auch möglichst zu niemandem überhaupt Kontakt haben.
Meine Meinung dazu gibt’s hier
October 19, 2017
Seit einem Jahr hat Isaac Gregory nicht mehr das Haus verlassen. Der junge Mann, der schon soviele Verluste, Tragödien und Gewalt in seinem Leben ertragen musste, lebt völlig isoliert und hat längst Ticks entwickelt. Kontakt zu seinen Verwandten hat er kaum und ins Haus lässt er niemanden rein. Selbst den Mann, der seine wöchentlichen Einkäufe erledigt, hält er auf Distanz. Doch dann schleppt seine Großtante plötzlich zwei fremde Männer an, von denen einer behauptet sein Großvater zu sein. Isaac schwankt zwischen Panik und Neugierde. Kann es wahr sein? Doch was, wenn sein Großvater ebenfalls ein gewalttätiger Taugenichts ist?
Henry, Isaacs Großvater, hat nur durch Zufall von seinem verstorbenen Sohn und Isaac erfahren. Doch die Zeit arbeitet gegen Henry, der sterbenskrank ist. Nur noch wenige Monate bleiben ihm und er will seinen Enkel kennenlernen. Aber dieser ist verängstigt, panisch und neurotisch. Erst Jon, ein Schützling von Henry, gelingt es eine Brücke zu schlagen. Jon, der von Henry in jungen Jahren aufgenommen, unterstützt und als Sohnes statt angenommen wurde, freundet sich mit dem scheuen Isaac an und es gelingt ihm langsam die Schutzwälle von Isaac aufzuweichen.
Die Geschichten von A.M. Arthur sind immer tragisch, dramatisch und zutiefst berührend. Doch sie haben eine Botschaft und transportieren auch viel Hoffnung, Freude und Lebenslust. Besonders dieser Plot ist besonders tragisch, da Isaac schon in jungen Jahren soviel Gewalt ertragen musste. Dass er nicht völlig irre geworden ist, scheint einem Wunder gleich zu kommen. Auch Jon hadert mit seiner Vergangenheit, die ihn ebenfalls in die Nähe des Abgrunds geführt hat. Auch er kämpft mit einer Störung und gegen seinen Körper, der ein ständiges Ärgernis zu sein scheint.
Nach einer katastrophalen Beziehung ist Jon ins Pornogeschäft eingestiegen. Dort kann er sich sicheren Sex ohne Verpflichtungen und emotionalen Verwicklungen holen. Enge Freundschaften pflegt er nur zu Gabe und Tristan, sowie Henry. Dieser ist Freund, Vater und Vertrauter. Ihn sterben zu sehen bricht Jon das Herz und bringt seine Welt völlig durcheinander.
Dieses Buch hat mich wieder gefordert. Aber durchaus im positiven Sinne. Dieses Mal gibt es auch einen kleinen Krimiplot, der die Geschichte noch zusätzlich aufwertet und ihr Spannung verleiht. Ausserdem gibt es einen kurzen Sidekick zu Gabriel und Tristan aus dem vorherigen Band. Es ist schön zu lesen wie dieses Paar sich weiterentwickelt hat und man ist ja auch neugierig wie es Tristan mit seiner neuen Behandlung ergeht. A.M. Arthur ist sicherlich nicht für jeden geeignet, da die Autorin ihren Protagonisten wirklich sehr viel abverlangt. Doch es lohnt sich auf jeden Fall einen Blick in das Buch zu wagen.
Henry, Isaacs Großvater, hat nur durch Zufall von seinem verstorbenen Sohn und Isaac erfahren. Doch die Zeit arbeitet gegen Henry, der sterbenskrank ist. Nur noch wenige Monate bleiben ihm und er will seinen Enkel kennenlernen. Aber dieser ist verängstigt, panisch und neurotisch. Erst Jon, ein Schützling von Henry, gelingt es eine Brücke zu schlagen. Jon, der von Henry in jungen Jahren aufgenommen, unterstützt und als Sohnes statt angenommen wurde, freundet sich mit dem scheuen Isaac an und es gelingt ihm langsam die Schutzwälle von Isaac aufzuweichen.
Die Geschichten von A.M. Arthur sind immer tragisch, dramatisch und zutiefst berührend. Doch sie haben eine Botschaft und transportieren auch viel Hoffnung, Freude und Lebenslust. Besonders dieser Plot ist besonders tragisch, da Isaac schon in jungen Jahren soviel Gewalt ertragen musste. Dass er nicht völlig irre geworden ist, scheint einem Wunder gleich zu kommen. Auch Jon hadert mit seiner Vergangenheit, die ihn ebenfalls in die Nähe des Abgrunds geführt hat. Auch er kämpft mit einer Störung und gegen seinen Körper, der ein ständiges Ärgernis zu sein scheint.
Nach einer katastrophalen Beziehung ist Jon ins Pornogeschäft eingestiegen. Dort kann er sich sicheren Sex ohne Verpflichtungen und emotionalen Verwicklungen holen. Enge Freundschaften pflegt er nur zu Gabe und Tristan, sowie Henry. Dieser ist Freund, Vater und Vertrauter. Ihn sterben zu sehen bricht Jon das Herz und bringt seine Welt völlig durcheinander.
Dieses Buch hat mich wieder gefordert. Aber durchaus im positiven Sinne. Dieses Mal gibt es auch einen kleinen Krimiplot, der die Geschichte noch zusätzlich aufwertet und ihr Spannung verleiht. Ausserdem gibt es einen kurzen Sidekick zu Gabriel und Tristan aus dem vorherigen Band. Es ist schön zu lesen wie dieses Paar sich weiterentwickelt hat und man ist ja auch neugierig wie es Tristan mit seiner neuen Behandlung ergeht. A.M. Arthur ist sicherlich nicht für jeden geeignet, da die Autorin ihren Protagonisten wirklich sehr viel abverlangt. Doch es lohnt sich auf jeden Fall einen Blick in das Buch zu wagen.
March 20, 2016
Reviewed for From Top to Bottom Reviews.
*I received an ARC of this book from Samhain Publishing via Netgalley in return of an honest review*
This was the first book I read by this author.
The Heart As He Hears It is part of a series but you can easily read it as stand-alone. Characters of the previous books are mentioned in this one but I had no problems following this story because it's centered around two different characters. But after reading this one I definitely want to read the first two books too.
The Heart As He Hears It is about Jon, a porn star with serious body-issues and self-perception issues, and Isaac, an agoraphobic young man who still struggles with things that happened in his childhood. They are both fractured souls who are trying to cope with what happened to them, both in a different yet similar way.
Jon started his porn career to win back a bit of confidence and Isaac started an online comic to handle his fear of not being able to control a situation. He feels safest in his house and hasn't left it in over a year.
They meet because Henry, Isaacs grandfather, who at the beginning of the story didn't know he had a son (and a grandson) comes looking for Isaac.
Henry suffers from a terminal illness and wants to spent his remaining time getting to know his grandson. Jon is there to accompany Henry and immediately feels a connection with Isaac.
I really liked the slow-burn development of the relationship between Isaac and Jon. They've both been hurt before and insta-love would have felt out of character. They get to know each other and slowly a friendship forms which turns then into more.
I had a bit of the problem with the realism of how Isaacs agoraphobia was portrayed. This book is fluffy and romantic but it seemed illogical for Isaac to get better so fast and without the help of a therapist.
Other than that I quite liked the story and the characters and of course Bear. She's a cutie!
I have no experience with an eating disorder but for me it felt like A.M. Arthur handled that aspect of the story really well and it seemed realistic.
The writing in this story flows easily and it didn't take long for me to get into the story.
I can't say a lot without giving too much away, but there's a quite a bit of drama toward the end of the book which seemed over the top. It was completely unexpected and threw me a bit out of the story.
Overall though I really enjoyed it and would recommend it especially to someone who's looking for something romantic and fluffy and who can oversee a few little flaws in the realism of the storyline.
*I received an ARC of this book from Samhain Publishing via Netgalley in return of an honest review*
This was the first book I read by this author.
The Heart As He Hears It is part of a series but you can easily read it as stand-alone. Characters of the previous books are mentioned in this one but I had no problems following this story because it's centered around two different characters. But after reading this one I definitely want to read the first two books too.
The Heart As He Hears It is about Jon, a porn star with serious body-issues and self-perception issues, and Isaac, an agoraphobic young man who still struggles with things that happened in his childhood. They are both fractured souls who are trying to cope with what happened to them, both in a different yet similar way.
Jon started his porn career to win back a bit of confidence and Isaac started an online comic to handle his fear of not being able to control a situation. He feels safest in his house and hasn't left it in over a year.
They meet because Henry, Isaacs grandfather, who at the beginning of the story didn't know he had a son (and a grandson) comes looking for Isaac.
Henry suffers from a terminal illness and wants to spent his remaining time getting to know his grandson. Jon is there to accompany Henry and immediately feels a connection with Isaac.
I really liked the slow-burn development of the relationship between Isaac and Jon. They've both been hurt before and insta-love would have felt out of character. They get to know each other and slowly a friendship forms which turns then into more.
I had a bit of the problem with the realism of how Isaacs agoraphobia was portrayed. This book is fluffy and romantic but it seemed illogical for Isaac to get better so fast and without the help of a therapist.
Other than that I quite liked the story and the characters and of course Bear. She's a cutie!
I have no experience with an eating disorder but for me it felt like A.M. Arthur handled that aspect of the story really well and it seemed realistic.
The writing in this story flows easily and it didn't take long for me to get into the story.
I can't say a lot without giving too much away, but there's a quite a bit of drama toward the end of the book which seemed over the top. It was completely unexpected and threw me a bit out of the story.
Overall though I really enjoyed it and would recommend it especially to someone who's looking for something romantic and fluffy and who can oversee a few little flaws in the realism of the storyline.
January 14, 2023
I was so excited to begin 'The Heart As He Hears It', the third book in A.M. Arthur's 'Perspectives' series. I loved the first two books and having met Jon previously I really wanted to know his story. Even more I wanted him to find the love his best friend Gabe found with Tristan, and to find someone who loved him for exactly who he was.
"Existence wasn’t enough anymore. Isaac stared at the stumbling kitten, startled by the realization that his carefully structured life wasn’t saving him. It was confining him. Protecting him from harm, yes, but also restraining him from people like Henry and Jon. Two people he did want to get to know better. He wanted to live. And he could start by rescuing a tiny kitten."
Jon was kicked out of his parents’ home at eighteen for being gay. Through his oldest sister and a friend of a friend, he met Henry and lived on his couch for years. Henry helped him get his feet under him and was there when Jon's mentally abusive relationship led him to anorexia. Henry is the father Jon never had and now he's dying of cancer. So when Henry tells him he just found out he had a son who was murdered but left a wife and child, Jon instantly agrees to take Henry to meet the family he never knew. That's how he meets Isaac, Henry's grandson, who is partially deaf and suffers from severe agoraphobia.
Please find my full review at Rainbow Book Reviews
"Existence wasn’t enough anymore. Isaac stared at the stumbling kitten, startled by the realization that his carefully structured life wasn’t saving him. It was confining him. Protecting him from harm, yes, but also restraining him from people like Henry and Jon. Two people he did want to get to know better. He wanted to live. And he could start by rescuing a tiny kitten."
Jon was kicked out of his parents’ home at eighteen for being gay. Through his oldest sister and a friend of a friend, he met Henry and lived on his couch for years. Henry helped him get his feet under him and was there when Jon's mentally abusive relationship led him to anorexia. Henry is the father Jon never had and now he's dying of cancer. So when Henry tells him he just found out he had a son who was murdered but left a wife and child, Jon instantly agrees to take Henry to meet the family he never knew. That's how he meets Isaac, Henry's grandson, who is partially deaf and suffers from severe agoraphobia.
Please find my full review at Rainbow Book Reviews
May 8, 2016
2.5 stars
This book just got on my nerves. I was happy I quit with the audio and started reading, because I was not too thrilled with the narrator. He used an old man’s voice for Isaac, who was 22. And to listen to that for 11 hours...
I’m always curious to see how authors handle one of the MCs being in the porn industry. I was not too happy how things were handled in this one.
I was glad to see that Jon never did another scene once he started dating Isaac, but I felt the whole importance of Jon being in porn was totally brushed over here.
When Jon told Isaac he was in porn, all Jon thought was how he hoped Isaac wasn’t a judgmental asshole about it.
Could it be that it’s not about judging you for being in porn, but that fact that he might have a problem with you having sex with other people?? Oh, and Isaac was totally fine with it, which struck me as very unrealistic. They were very in love by that point and I cannot believe Isaac just shrugged and was okay with it.
The rest of the story showed potential, but I felt things were over explained or just too detailed. It took some of the emotion out of the story.
This book just got on my nerves. I was happy I quit with the audio and started reading, because I was not too thrilled with the narrator. He used an old man’s voice for Isaac, who was 22. And to listen to that for 11 hours...
I’m always curious to see how authors handle one of the MCs being in the porn industry. I was not too happy how things were handled in this one.
I was glad to see that Jon never did another scene once he started dating Isaac, but I felt the whole importance of Jon being in porn was totally brushed over here.
When Jon told Isaac he was in porn, all Jon thought was how he hoped Isaac wasn’t a judgmental asshole about it.
Could it be that it’s not about judging you for being in porn, but that fact that he might have a problem with you having sex with other people?? Oh, and Isaac was totally fine with it, which struck me as very unrealistic. They were very in love by that point and I cannot believe Isaac just shrugged and was okay with it.
The rest of the story showed potential, but I felt things were over explained or just too detailed. It took some of the emotion out of the story.
July 28, 2018
I really liked how the romance progressed in this one, but I have issues with how the mental health stuff was handled. I wish Isaac had sought out therapy. I wish the message wasn't that someone just needs to fall in love and they can cure their mental illness. I wish that There had been a little more focus on what Jon was going through, there's a little bit so it wasn't ignored but it just felt unbalanced. So much focus was on Isaac and his traumas. I didn't care for the ending, it felt like it came out of nowhere. I'm not sure how I feel about the author's clear attempt to make an abuser sympathetic because she has plans for him in a later book, however the abuse is so off page and vague that it's possible to write Rick out of that corner. Does he have a book out? I'm curious.
August 9, 2016
Not the best writing, but a cute story for my first romance novel. I am concerned about the abundant use of the term "babe," do people really still call each other that?
April 21, 2016
Okay, seriously?! WTF?! The book was good, I liked the trope, I liked the characters and I liked the slow development of feelings and 'quirky' Isaac.
BUT... Commence rant:
BUT... Commence rant:
March 15, 2016
~3.75 stars~
This is book #3 in this series and it can be read as a standalone, although I recommend reading the previous books as well since some of the characters are mentioned a few times, especially the ones from book #2.
I was excited to read this book and it was almost 5 stars from the beginning because I loved most of it. Jon is a porn star (Gabe's best friend if you read book #2) who enjoys his job thoroughly because what's not to like? Safe sex in a nice environment, no judgement from the other partners and getting paid to have fun! The only thing missing is someone to fall in love with and thank god for that, because Jon definitely isn't looking for a boyfriend. You'd think a porn star is someone completely happy and confident in their body, with a lot of confidence and self esteem. That's not the case with Jon.... Jon has serious body issues and has been battling anorexia for some time now. An emotionally abusive ex-boyfriend left Jon with no confidence and no love for his body, never really happy with how he looks.
Isaac is the new-found nephew of Henry, Jon's father figure and person he would do anything for. Isaac has been an agoraphobic for the past year, and an unhappy childhood at the hands of an aggressive drunk/druggie father left him with limited hearing and plenty of issues; Isaac is basically afraid of his own shadow and he isolated himself from the rest of his family. When Jon and his dying grandfather show up on his doorstep, Isaac takes a huge effort to get to know them. His effort pays off because he gains a great friend and a loving grandfather; nothing heals a heart better than love (well maybe some kitten cuddles do make everything that much better).
Jon and Isaac are instantly taken with each other and there's nothing more endearing than an experienced porn star and an innocent Isaac helping each other become stronger and figuring their way to a beautiful relationship. I really liked (and though was very appropriate) how slow their relationship progressed considering Isaac's serious and crippling issues. But there's strength and perseverance within them both and it was beautiful to see how they made each other better.
I can't say much without giving away the entire plot, but towards the end of the book there's this totally cliche moment when thing come to a blow and it sort of disappointed me. I didn't need the extra drama because this book was full of feels and emotions, it truly was beautiful until that point. (it's what brought my rating down from 4.5 stars to 3.75)
Overall this was pretty great, a beautiful and emotional book full of feelz. My final rating is 3.75 stars.
This is book #3 in this series and it can be read as a standalone, although I recommend reading the previous books as well since some of the characters are mentioned a few times, especially the ones from book #2.
I was excited to read this book and it was almost 5 stars from the beginning because I loved most of it. Jon is a porn star (Gabe's best friend if you read book #2) who enjoys his job thoroughly because what's not to like? Safe sex in a nice environment, no judgement from the other partners and getting paid to have fun! The only thing missing is someone to fall in love with and thank god for that, because Jon definitely isn't looking for a boyfriend. You'd think a porn star is someone completely happy and confident in their body, with a lot of confidence and self esteem. That's not the case with Jon.... Jon has serious body issues and has been battling anorexia for some time now. An emotionally abusive ex-boyfriend left Jon with no confidence and no love for his body, never really happy with how he looks.
Isaac is the new-found nephew of Henry, Jon's father figure and person he would do anything for. Isaac has been an agoraphobic for the past year, and an unhappy childhood at the hands of an aggressive drunk/druggie father left him with limited hearing and plenty of issues; Isaac is basically afraid of his own shadow and he isolated himself from the rest of his family. When Jon and his dying grandfather show up on his doorstep, Isaac takes a huge effort to get to know them. His effort pays off because he gains a great friend and a loving grandfather; nothing heals a heart better than love (well maybe some kitten cuddles do make everything that much better).
Jon and Isaac are instantly taken with each other and there's nothing more endearing than an experienced porn star and an innocent Isaac helping each other become stronger and figuring their way to a beautiful relationship. I really liked (and though was very appropriate) how slow their relationship progressed considering Isaac's serious and crippling issues. But there's strength and perseverance within them both and it was beautiful to see how they made each other better.
I can't say much without giving away the entire plot, but towards the end of the book there's this totally cliche moment when thing come to a blow and it sort of disappointed me. I didn't need the extra drama because this book was full of feels and emotions, it truly was beautiful until that point. (it's what brought my rating down from 4.5 stars to 3.75)
Overall this was pretty great, a beautiful and emotional book full of feelz. My final rating is 3.75 stars.
February 16, 2019
Audiobook review3,5 stars
The Heart as He Hears It is the third book in the Perspectives series. It can be read as a standalone as each book focuses on a new couple. They do appear as minor characters, but you won’t feel lost when they do.
Sadly, I just wasn’t feeling the magic this time around and I can’t really tell you why. I mean the story is a good one. I love dented characters and we got that here, there are plenty of issues going around with everything from eating disorders, anxiety and agoraphobia. I love to read about overcoming adversity and we got that here. We follow Isaac’s journey letting John and Henry in, first in his apartment and then into his life. Developing a friendship, learning about attraction and even venturing outside for a moment. So the story is there. The narration is there (more on that later), so why I just didn’t connect I sadly can’t answer. I do know that it’s all on me and not the book.
Guy Locke performed this book really well. The different voices made it easy to separate the characters and following along. He also captured the nuances of their personalities. Isaac’s fear and anxiety for almost everything. His fascination with new knowledge. The friendship between John and Henry also came through so clearly, as was the loss when he “finally” passed. He added a lot of feeling and emotions to the narration and brought the story to another level.
While I didn’t connect to the audio as I’d hoped I do recognise that’s all on me. The writing and story is there and the narration is a good one. So if you are looking for a new beginnings story with a lot of emotions this might be the book for you.
A copy of this book was generously provided by the author in exchange for an honest review
March 6, 2016
I received a copy of this title to read and review for Wicked Reads
5 Stars.
A.M. Arthur's writing style is always filled with a slow-burn romance between fully fleshed-out, developed characters, mixed with the reality of tragedy and disabilities. The Heart as He Hears It is no different.
The 3rd book in the Perspectives series is a great addition, following in the footsteps of its predecessors. The past narrators are shown, allowing the readers to stay connected, and no doubt we've met the narrators for future books.
Jon is a complex character, who is going through a painful time as he watches his best friend, Henry, waste away from cancer. The ties that bind the series together, Jon is a porn actor battling emotional demons- an abusive, past relationship which left his confidence in the negatives, as well as helped exacerbate his anorexia. Shifting his focus onto Henry, he'd do anything to make his final days happy ones.
In walks Henry's long-lost grandson, Isaac, a young man fighting his own demons. Demons in which left him deaf in one ear, and partially deaf in the other. Agoraphobic, socially inept, innocent in the ways of the world, home-schooled and highly intelligent, the comic book creator is Jon's perfect balance.
Without writing the entire plot out, The Heart as He Hears It runs the gamut of emotions. I laughed, smiled, and cried with the characters who felt so very real for me. No fear on insta-love, insta-lust, or even an over-abundance of between-the-sheets action. The novel is most certainly story-driven, but there is a true sense of intimacy between Jon and Isaac.
Sad yet endearing, throw a cuddly kitten in the mix and you've got yourself a comfort read.
Recommended to MM Contemporary Romance fans, with a depth of the darker sides of reality mixed with the warm and fuzzy. However, those who are looking for a romp need to understand while the book is highly sensual, it's not a smexy fest.
I look forward to the next in the series. Actually, I wished I had it right now. I'd gobble it right up.
5 Stars.
A.M. Arthur's writing style is always filled with a slow-burn romance between fully fleshed-out, developed characters, mixed with the reality of tragedy and disabilities. The Heart as He Hears It is no different.
The 3rd book in the Perspectives series is a great addition, following in the footsteps of its predecessors. The past narrators are shown, allowing the readers to stay connected, and no doubt we've met the narrators for future books.
Jon is a complex character, who is going through a painful time as he watches his best friend, Henry, waste away from cancer. The ties that bind the series together, Jon is a porn actor battling emotional demons- an abusive, past relationship which left his confidence in the negatives, as well as helped exacerbate his anorexia. Shifting his focus onto Henry, he'd do anything to make his final days happy ones.
In walks Henry's long-lost grandson, Isaac, a young man fighting his own demons. Demons in which left him deaf in one ear, and partially deaf in the other. Agoraphobic, socially inept, innocent in the ways of the world, home-schooled and highly intelligent, the comic book creator is Jon's perfect balance.
Without writing the entire plot out, The Heart as He Hears It runs the gamut of emotions. I laughed, smiled, and cried with the characters who felt so very real for me. No fear on insta-love, insta-lust, or even an over-abundance of between-the-sheets action. The novel is most certainly story-driven, but there is a true sense of intimacy between Jon and Isaac.
Sad yet endearing, throw a cuddly kitten in the mix and you've got yourself a comfort read.
Recommended to MM Contemporary Romance fans, with a depth of the darker sides of reality mixed with the warm and fuzzy. However, those who are looking for a romp need to understand while the book is highly sensual, it's not a smexy fest.
I look forward to the next in the series. Actually, I wished I had it right now. I'd gobble it right up.
April 2, 2016
Jon and Isaac balance each other out so well. They both have suffered through something that has completely skewed their view on relationships with others, even attempting to allow new relationships to develop. Isaac has locked himself in his home. It is the only place he feels safe. Jon has turned to porn as a career. The Mean Green Boys studio is the only place where he feels like he can find safe, no strings sex. These two men meeting and developing a friendship is an amazing thing. The relationship that turns into a kind loving relationship makes for a great read. I loved this book!
Your heart is going to break for both Jon and Isaac. Jon is losing his best friend and father figure Henry to cancer. Henry has been there for Jon at his lowest times. Henry has helped Jon put himself back together more than once. Jon does not see being by Henry’s side as any type of hardship. He knows that the hardship will come with his far too soon death. When Henry asks Jon to help him connect with his grandson Jon knows there is only one answer, of course.
For the past year Isaac’s remaining family have kept their distance and allowed him his solitude. The day his great aunt shows up on his doorstep with two strangers is beyond shocking to the young man. His home has become his sanctuary, his only safe place. That one step of opening the door for the strangers his great aunt came by with will be the first of many new things for Isaac. It’s the miracle that Isaac has been waiting for. It’s the beginning of two lives being lived when both believed there was no hope.
The first book in the Perspectives series sparked my addiction to A.M. Arthur books. I’ve read many since and look forward to many more. The Heart as He Hears it easily works as a stand-alone. The couples from the previous books have a mention and one couple has a small appearance but nothing in Jon’s life happened in the previous two books that would require a reader to have to read those books. I do highly recommend them as they are excellent reads.
Your heart is going to break for both Jon and Isaac. Jon is losing his best friend and father figure Henry to cancer. Henry has been there for Jon at his lowest times. Henry has helped Jon put himself back together more than once. Jon does not see being by Henry’s side as any type of hardship. He knows that the hardship will come with his far too soon death. When Henry asks Jon to help him connect with his grandson Jon knows there is only one answer, of course.
For the past year Isaac’s remaining family have kept their distance and allowed him his solitude. The day his great aunt shows up on his doorstep with two strangers is beyond shocking to the young man. His home has become his sanctuary, his only safe place. That one step of opening the door for the strangers his great aunt came by with will be the first of many new things for Isaac. It’s the miracle that Isaac has been waiting for. It’s the beginning of two lives being lived when both believed there was no hope.
The first book in the Perspectives series sparked my addiction to A.M. Arthur books. I’ve read many since and look forward to many more. The Heart as He Hears it easily works as a stand-alone. The couples from the previous books have a mention and one couple has a small appearance but nothing in Jon’s life happened in the previous two books that would require a reader to have to read those books. I do highly recommend them as they are excellent reads.
June 22, 2016
Das ursprüngliche Zuhause dieser Rezension ist der WortWelten-Blog:
http://wort-welten.blogspot.de/
Zusammenfassung:
Seit dem Tod seiner Großmutter hat Isaac Gregory das einstige Haus seiner Großeltern nicht mehr wirklich verlassen. Nur dort fühlt er sich sicher. Als jedoch eines Tages ein Mann vor seiner Tür steht, der behauptet, der ihm bisher nicht bekannte Vater von Isaacs eigenem gewalttätigem Vater zu sein, und der zudem auch noch einen außerordentlich gut aussehenden jungen Mann bei sich hat, stellt das Isaacs bisher wunderbar strukturiertes Leben mehr als nur ein bisschen auf den Kopf.
Denn nicht nur, dass Henry, sein neuer Großvater totkrank ist. Nein, auch sind da ganz unbekannte Gefühle, die Isaac plötzlich für Jon, Henrys besten Freund zu empfinden beginnt. Und das, wo Isaac doch bei Beziehungen alles andere als bewandert ist und zudem ein Trauma mit sich herumschleppt, das kaum mit ihm in sein Haus passt. Und auch Jon hat weit mehr Geheimnisse, als Isaac erwarten würde - allen voran sein Doppelleben als Bomer Black, einem gefeierten Pornostar ...
Fazit:
Nach The Truth As He Knows It und The World As He Sees It, haben wir hier nun also den dritten Teil der Perspectives-Reihe. Wie bei den beiden voran gegangenen Büchern hatte auch dieses Werk wieder Teile, die mir wahnsinnig gut gefallen haben. Aber eben auch fast mehr Aspekte, die einfach nicht meine Sache waren, die mich total genervt haben oder die ich gar unrealistisch oder bizarr fand. Leider. Alles in allem bewerte ich dann hier also ein Buch, das mir dann doch weniger gefallen als gut gefallen hat.
http://wort-welten.blogspot.de/
Zusammenfassung:
Seit dem Tod seiner Großmutter hat Isaac Gregory das einstige Haus seiner Großeltern nicht mehr wirklich verlassen. Nur dort fühlt er sich sicher. Als jedoch eines Tages ein Mann vor seiner Tür steht, der behauptet, der ihm bisher nicht bekannte Vater von Isaacs eigenem gewalttätigem Vater zu sein, und der zudem auch noch einen außerordentlich gut aussehenden jungen Mann bei sich hat, stellt das Isaacs bisher wunderbar strukturiertes Leben mehr als nur ein bisschen auf den Kopf.
Denn nicht nur, dass Henry, sein neuer Großvater totkrank ist. Nein, auch sind da ganz unbekannte Gefühle, die Isaac plötzlich für Jon, Henrys besten Freund zu empfinden beginnt. Und das, wo Isaac doch bei Beziehungen alles andere als bewandert ist und zudem ein Trauma mit sich herumschleppt, das kaum mit ihm in sein Haus passt. Und auch Jon hat weit mehr Geheimnisse, als Isaac erwarten würde - allen voran sein Doppelleben als Bomer Black, einem gefeierten Pornostar ...
Fazit:
Nach The Truth As He Knows It und The World As He Sees It, haben wir hier nun also den dritten Teil der Perspectives-Reihe. Wie bei den beiden voran gegangenen Büchern hatte auch dieses Werk wieder Teile, die mir wahnsinnig gut gefallen haben. Aber eben auch fast mehr Aspekte, die einfach nicht meine Sache waren, die mich total genervt haben oder die ich gar unrealistisch oder bizarr fand. Leider. Alles in allem bewerte ich dann hier also ein Buch, das mir dann doch weniger gefallen als gut gefallen hat.
March 2, 2017
4.2 Stars
I've been on an angsty, self-reflective and/or mentally ill character book streak and it's a little bit exhausting.
That said, this was really good. I think the agoraphobia, anxiety and eating disorder were handled well and accurately - and with respect. Also, still loving that porn is treated in a mostly positive light for their studio; that Chet considers it a stepping stone for guys to get where they want to professionally and personally, and that he's a pretty decent boss.
I'm not sure if AMA has more in store to further this series but I sure as hell hope so! I need to know what the hell is up with Jake, what happened to Rick's charmed life, if Dane & Chet are a couple and why Chet's nephew ODed. So, I'm crossing my fingers for at least 2-3 more additional books!
I've been on an angsty, self-reflective and/or mentally ill character book streak and it's a little bit exhausting.
That said, this was really good. I think the agoraphobia, anxiety and eating disorder were handled well and accurately - and with respect. Also, still loving that porn is treated in a mostly positive light for their studio; that Chet considers it a stepping stone for guys to get where they want to professionally and personally, and that he's a pretty decent boss.
I'm not sure if AMA has more in store to further this series but I sure as hell hope so! I need to know what the hell is up with Jake, what happened to Rick's charmed life, if Dane & Chet are a couple and why Chet's nephew ODed. So, I'm crossing my fingers for at least 2-3 more additional books!
December 28, 2018
4.5*
Loved this one, book 2 is still my favorite but this one is a close second.
My heart ached for Isaac, for Jon and Henry too. I'm so happy with the snippets we got from Gabe and Tristan, nothing of Shane and Noel though, I'm hope they're still enjoying their HEA.
Loved the families-of-choice sentiment, as well as the power of love breaking walls that seem impossible to overcome.-
Loved this one, book 2 is still my favorite but this one is a close second.
My heart ached for Isaac, for Jon and Henry too. I'm so happy with the snippets we got from Gabe and Tristan, nothing of Shane and Noel though, I'm hope they're still enjoying their HEA.
Loved the families-of-choice sentiment, as well as the power of love breaking walls that seem impossible to overcome.-
June 2, 2020
Auch der 3. Teil der Perfectives konnte überzeugen
Jons bester Freund Henry hat den Kampf gegen den Krebs verloren. Zufällig erfährt dieser, dass er einen Sohn hatte, der aber nicht mehr lebt. Da es auch noch einen Enkel gibt, hilft Jon bei der Suche.
Isaac hat durch seinen gewalttätigen Vater den größten Teil seines Gehörs verloren. Dank seiner traumatischen Kindheit traut er sich nicht mehr aus dem Haus. Als sein Großvater mit Jon vor seiner Tür steht, reagiert er zunächst panisch, doch dank Jons Geduld lernt er wieder zu vertrauen. Doch auch Jon ist nicht unbelastet durch seine Vergangenheit. Sein bösartiger Exfreund hat dafür gesorgt, dass er an Magersucht erkrankte und beinahe an Unterernährung starb. Doch gerade diese psychischen Verletzungen bilden allmählich eine Brücke zwischen Jon und Isaak. Und natürlich hat auch das kleine Kätzchen Bär geholfen, denn es war der Grund dafür, dass Isaak erstmals seine Selbstisolation aufgegeben hat.
Mir hat die Story gefallen, die nicht einfache Thematik wurde überzeugend dargestellt. Außerdem gab es ein Wiedersehen mit Paaren aus den ersten beiden Bänden, besonders schön zu lesen war, dass es Tristan gut geht.
Jons bester Freund Henry hat den Kampf gegen den Krebs verloren. Zufällig erfährt dieser, dass er einen Sohn hatte, der aber nicht mehr lebt. Da es auch noch einen Enkel gibt, hilft Jon bei der Suche.
Isaac hat durch seinen gewalttätigen Vater den größten Teil seines Gehörs verloren. Dank seiner traumatischen Kindheit traut er sich nicht mehr aus dem Haus. Als sein Großvater mit Jon vor seiner Tür steht, reagiert er zunächst panisch, doch dank Jons Geduld lernt er wieder zu vertrauen. Doch auch Jon ist nicht unbelastet durch seine Vergangenheit. Sein bösartiger Exfreund hat dafür gesorgt, dass er an Magersucht erkrankte und beinahe an Unterernährung starb. Doch gerade diese psychischen Verletzungen bilden allmählich eine Brücke zwischen Jon und Isaak. Und natürlich hat auch das kleine Kätzchen Bär geholfen, denn es war der Grund dafür, dass Isaak erstmals seine Selbstisolation aufgegeben hat.
Mir hat die Story gefallen, die nicht einfache Thematik wurde überzeugend dargestellt. Außerdem gab es ein Wiedersehen mit Paaren aus den ersten beiden Bänden, besonders schön zu lesen war, dass es Tristan gut geht.
October 31, 2020
Ich mag die Reihe von A.M. Arthur und auch der 3. Band ist wieder eine wunderbare Geschichte um ein Paar, das es in seinem bisherigen Leben nicht einfach hatte, aber dennoch sind beide bereit, um- und miteinander zu kämpfen, damit nicht länger ihre persönlichen Ängste ihr Leben bestimmen.
Jon und Isaac sind ein tolles Pärchen und die Geschichte um Isaacs Großvater, der sie zusammenführt, und später dann das kleine Kätzchen Bär – das sind teils echt süße Szenen, wo ich beim Lesen förmlich breit gegrinst habe. Es ist so schön zu sehen, wie Isaac nach und nach aus seinem Schneckenhaus kommt und Jon später sogar hilft, als der droht, in alte, sehr ungesunde Verhaltensweisen zurückzufallen.
Was am Ende dieser kurze Einschub mit dem Stalker soll, ist mir allerdings ein Rätsel. Der war in meinen Augen total unnötig, ich fand ihn eher störend. Außerdem wurden bei der Korrektur eine Menge kleiner Schusselfehler übersehen, das kenne ich von dem Verlag so eigentlich nicht.
Dennoch ist »Der Klang in seinem Herzen« eine sehr schöne Geschichte, die ich mit Sicherheit nicht zum letzten Mal gelesen habe.
Jon und Isaac sind ein tolles Pärchen und die Geschichte um Isaacs Großvater, der sie zusammenführt, und später dann das kleine Kätzchen Bär – das sind teils echt süße Szenen, wo ich beim Lesen förmlich breit gegrinst habe. Es ist so schön zu sehen, wie Isaac nach und nach aus seinem Schneckenhaus kommt und Jon später sogar hilft, als der droht, in alte, sehr ungesunde Verhaltensweisen zurückzufallen.
Was am Ende dieser kurze Einschub mit dem Stalker soll, ist mir allerdings ein Rätsel. Der war in meinen Augen total unnötig, ich fand ihn eher störend. Außerdem wurden bei der Korrektur eine Menge kleiner Schusselfehler übersehen, das kenne ich von dem Verlag so eigentlich nicht.
Dennoch ist »Der Klang in seinem Herzen« eine sehr schöne Geschichte, die ich mit Sicherheit nicht zum letzten Mal gelesen habe.
November 4, 2019
I appreciate that this book focused more on plot and a whole lot less on sex than book 2 did, however, I just can’t stand Jon and Isaac together!! The best scene for me was when Gabe came to Jon’s apartment .
Tbh they should have just deleted books 2 and 3 and made a book about Gabe and Jon being together. As a sidenote, I thought they handled the anorexia alright, so 👏🏻 (It could have been better and or maybe slightly more realistic but that could just be me projecting how I would/have handled it).
Tbh they should have just deleted books 2 and 3 and made a book about Gabe and Jon being together. As a sidenote, I thought they handled the anorexia alright, so 👏🏻 (It could have been better and or maybe slightly more realistic but that could just be me projecting how I would/have handled it).
October 3, 2016
I've toyed with my review for this book for a few days, and I think I'm going to settle with 3.5 stars. While I really liked the idea behind the story, and I really liked the characters, it fell a bit flat. I'm disappointed because, I mean, HELLO! Bear is the cutest thing EVER! But alas, she was not enough to distract me from the corniness when I wanted more depth. So this could be my hang up, but in the end, it felt a bit one-dimensional, and I skimmed the last 20 percent. I'm not sure A.M. Arthur and I are a good match...
March 12, 2016
This wonderful story has a trio of main characters - Isaac, Jon, and a relationship-starting kitten named Bear!
Jon is a porn model with serious body issues he struggles every day to overcome. His best friend Henry rescued him from the streets when he was kicked out for coming out, and now that best friend has terminal cancer, which sends Jon reeling. When Henry finds out he’s fathered a child and has a grandchild out there somewhere, he asks for Jon’s assistance in locating them.
Isaac is a partially deaf shut-in, an agoraphobic whose parents created so much anxiety in him that he can’t even open his front door without heart palpitations. Surprised by his maternal aunt at his front door with Henry and Jon unannounced, and then learning that the father of his own deceased monstrous father is alive and wants to meet him stuns him into near immobility.
Isaac’s life is carefully measured out by day and time within each day, so when he discovers a tiny disaster of a very young kitten in his backyard and faces his fears to go scoop the little mess, he then has to figure out what to do with it. He certainly can’t go out and buy what the thing needs, so he calls on Jon, who is more than willing to help the handsome man.
This is a slow burn relationship, building layer by layer, one day at a time. I enjoyed the realistic way that agoraphobia is portrayed, because a lot of what I’ve read in the past has the person suddenly able to pop out and go wherever, and in reality, it simply doesn’t work that way. The pacing is slow, but it doesn’t feel that way, and the character development is sound and steady.
The only real issues I had were with Jon’s manager at the filming studio and the plot twist. First the studio: four years of relationship and the guy just buys what a new person from the street has to say without giving Jon any chance to speak on his own behalf? That felt very contrived and as if it was thrown in just to create angst, as if there wasn’t enough already between the two main characters. Second: the plot twist turning it into a suspense also felt contrived and unnecessary to the story as a whole. These two aspects dropped the overall rating for me
Regardless, I still recommend this book, as the main story is lovely to watch unfold. I’m rating this 3.5, which I’m rounding up to four for sites that don’t allow halves.
ARC provided by author in exchange for an honest review.
Reviewed by Cat from Alpha Book Club
Jon is a porn model with serious body issues he struggles every day to overcome. His best friend Henry rescued him from the streets when he was kicked out for coming out, and now that best friend has terminal cancer, which sends Jon reeling. When Henry finds out he’s fathered a child and has a grandchild out there somewhere, he asks for Jon’s assistance in locating them.
Isaac is a partially deaf shut-in, an agoraphobic whose parents created so much anxiety in him that he can’t even open his front door without heart palpitations. Surprised by his maternal aunt at his front door with Henry and Jon unannounced, and then learning that the father of his own deceased monstrous father is alive and wants to meet him stuns him into near immobility.
Isaac’s life is carefully measured out by day and time within each day, so when he discovers a tiny disaster of a very young kitten in his backyard and faces his fears to go scoop the little mess, he then has to figure out what to do with it. He certainly can’t go out and buy what the thing needs, so he calls on Jon, who is more than willing to help the handsome man.
This is a slow burn relationship, building layer by layer, one day at a time. I enjoyed the realistic way that agoraphobia is portrayed, because a lot of what I’ve read in the past has the person suddenly able to pop out and go wherever, and in reality, it simply doesn’t work that way. The pacing is slow, but it doesn’t feel that way, and the character development is sound and steady.
The only real issues I had were with Jon’s manager at the filming studio and the plot twist. First the studio: four years of relationship and the guy just buys what a new person from the street has to say without giving Jon any chance to speak on his own behalf? That felt very contrived and as if it was thrown in just to create angst, as if there wasn’t enough already between the two main characters. Second: the plot twist turning it into a suspense also felt contrived and unnecessary to the story as a whole. These two aspects dropped the overall rating for me
Regardless, I still recommend this book, as the main story is lovely to watch unfold. I’m rating this 3.5, which I’m rounding up to four for sites that don’t allow halves.
ARC provided by author in exchange for an honest review.
Reviewed by Cat from Alpha Book Club
April 19, 2016
REVIEWED FOR PRISM BOOK ALLIANCE
Book 3 in the Perspectives series has a whole lot of feels to pull on your heart strings. I really like the characters that A M Arthur creates and I also like the way those characters grow, usually painfully, throughout the stories. Gabe and Tristan still remain my favourites but Jon and Isaac are now a close second.
Jon and Isaac are both damaged by people from their past. For Jon it was mental abuse that he dealt with from a previous and very toxic relationship, the results of which are still carrying over in to his everyday life. To a certain degree Jon is on the path to recovery but that in itself is tricky. To prevent ever getting back into that situation again he has closed off his heart, nowhere in his future does he see himself in a relationship again. Being a porn star gives him a safe way to have sex and in turn keeps him from having to worry about becoming attached or people becoming attached to him. His spare time is taken up with looking after his friend Henry who is coming towards the end of his life and is probably the only other person in the world that Jon truly loves. Henry has only a few months left when he finds out he has a grandson and that is how Isaac enters their lives.
Isaac is referred to as a shut in. He has suffered untold trauma in his life that has left him with permanent disabilities but more than that it has left his heart and soul broken – he trusts no one. For all the kindness in Henry the same could not be said for Isaac’s father, who is now dead, the two men were like chalk and cheese. Isaac reminded me a lot of Tristan in that I wanted to wrap him up and keep the world away from him whilst at the same time cheering him on for every little bit of strength he showed and he did have strength but it was deeply hidden under fear.
I felt the author’s writing was very sympathetic to the struggles of both men. Their tentative friendship turns to romance and its intimacy is like a balm to both their souls. Neither man is confident in what they have and initially they spend a lot of time testing and pushing boundaries. I’m not sure the stalker added anything to the story except a bit of drama towards the end – an ending that was both happy and sad and left the path open for many more stories in this series.
Book 3 in the Perspectives series has a whole lot of feels to pull on your heart strings. I really like the characters that A M Arthur creates and I also like the way those characters grow, usually painfully, throughout the stories. Gabe and Tristan still remain my favourites but Jon and Isaac are now a close second.
Jon and Isaac are both damaged by people from their past. For Jon it was mental abuse that he dealt with from a previous and very toxic relationship, the results of which are still carrying over in to his everyday life. To a certain degree Jon is on the path to recovery but that in itself is tricky. To prevent ever getting back into that situation again he has closed off his heart, nowhere in his future does he see himself in a relationship again. Being a porn star gives him a safe way to have sex and in turn keeps him from having to worry about becoming attached or people becoming attached to him. His spare time is taken up with looking after his friend Henry who is coming towards the end of his life and is probably the only other person in the world that Jon truly loves. Henry has only a few months left when he finds out he has a grandson and that is how Isaac enters their lives.
Isaac is referred to as a shut in. He has suffered untold trauma in his life that has left him with permanent disabilities but more than that it has left his heart and soul broken – he trusts no one. For all the kindness in Henry the same could not be said for Isaac’s father, who is now dead, the two men were like chalk and cheese. Isaac reminded me a lot of Tristan in that I wanted to wrap him up and keep the world away from him whilst at the same time cheering him on for every little bit of strength he showed and he did have strength but it was deeply hidden under fear.
I felt the author’s writing was very sympathetic to the struggles of both men. Their tentative friendship turns to romance and its intimacy is like a balm to both their souls. Neither man is confident in what they have and initially they spend a lot of time testing and pushing boundaries. I’m not sure the stalker added anything to the story except a bit of drama towards the end – an ending that was both happy and sad and left the path open for many more stories in this series.
March 30, 2016
4.5 Stars
*copy provided to Bayou Book Junkie by the author/publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*
**Note this review will be cross posted at BayouBookJunkie.com and NetGalley.com
After getting out of an abusive relationship and getting his life back on track Jon entered the world of gay porn 4 years ago. He felt he could make money and have enjoyable sex, all while having control over his environment. Jon's best friend Henry is dying of cancer. Henry doesn't have much time left, so he's trying to make amends for his past transgressions. While doing this, Henry discovers he has a grandson he never knew about. As his caregiver, Jon takes Henry to meet his grandson, Isaac.
Isaac was raised by a father who was abusive to him and his mother. After losing both parents he was taken in by his grandparents. Since their death a little over a year ago, Isaac has become a severe agoraphobic. He doesn't go out, and definitely doesn't let anyone in his house, yet when his Aunt shows up with Jon and Henry, he feels compelled to let them in. There is an immediate connection and pull between Jon and Isaac.
I loved these characters. I'm not a huge fan of the porn industry being in books, so I was happy that we didn't really see Jon in that light a lot. It was mostly kept in the background and the story dealt with the budding relationship between Jon and Isaac. I thought the speed and progression of the relationship was realistic considering the issues Isaac is dealing with. This book was very sweet and romantic. I thought the characters had good chemistry and the book even contained a little heat. This book was a definite emotional rollercoaster, that had me smiling, laughing, and crying. It even had a couple of awe moments.
While I loved all of this, there is a reason this book didn't get five stars. Without giving anything away, this book had enough drama, and I felt there was a situation in the end that added unnecessary angst to the story and made the story less realistic.
All in all, this was a very enjoyable read. I loved getting to see Gabe and Tristan make an appearance. I love AM's writing, and I can't wait for more in the future. Definitely recommended!
April 26, 2016
4.5 stars. I have so enjoyed this series. Each couple has really had to overcome some real difficulties and in this case, Isaac's demons are huge. He's basically agoraphobic and hasn't left his house in over a year. He's lost most of his hearing due to abuse. He's suffered more than any 10 people should in a lifetime. When he meets his heretofore unknown grandfather in Henry, Jon's best friend, and Jon, he is terrified but curious. He seems to have a connection with Jon and while he's still afraid, he somehow comes up with the strength to try with Jon. Jon is not without his issues as well and their shared vulnerabilities and their ability to communicate honestly are what makes this relationship so different.
I'm not going to spoil the story because there are a bunch of twists and turns that take place should be experienced only through reading the book. I loved the way the author took us through the thought processes of both Isaac and Jon. The story is more powerful for us getting a glimpse into the way Isaac struggles to deal with his fears and Jon's way of approaching Isaac carefully and with compassion. Their exploration of their friendship and then more is really well done.
There is sadness in this story - on many levels - for both Jon and Isaac. They are both dealing with overcoming their own insecurities as well as the inevitable loss of Henry. There is an urgency to the story that can't be denied. The surprises that move the story along are not sensationalized but rather treated tenderly. Neither character reacts perfectly in every situation - they are very much flawed people who are human.
I am sad that this it he last of these books for a while. With the closing of Samhain, I'm not sure what will happen with this series, but I really have enjoyed this one a lot and hope that somehow, someday, we will have more in this world.
I'm not going to spoil the story because there are a bunch of twists and turns that take place should be experienced only through reading the book. I loved the way the author took us through the thought processes of both Isaac and Jon. The story is more powerful for us getting a glimpse into the way Isaac struggles to deal with his fears and Jon's way of approaching Isaac carefully and with compassion. Their exploration of their friendship and then more is really well done.
There is sadness in this story - on many levels - for both Jon and Isaac. They are both dealing with overcoming their own insecurities as well as the inevitable loss of Henry. There is an urgency to the story that can't be denied. The surprises that move the story along are not sensationalized but rather treated tenderly. Neither character reacts perfectly in every situation - they are very much flawed people who are human.
I am sad that this it he last of these books for a while. With the closing of Samhain, I'm not sure what will happen with this series, but I really have enjoyed this one a lot and hope that somehow, someday, we will have more in this world.
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