Say It Right

All Saints #2

by A.M. Arthur, Tyler Stevens (Narrator)

9 hrs 48 mins

After his parents kicked him out for being gay, Marc Villegas lived on the streets before getting a second chance. Now he's giving back by working at a shelter for LGBT teenagers—because helping fight their demons keeps his own at bay. Including his infatuation with the former best friend he's sure is straight.

Anthony Romano hasn't seen Marc since Marc left home eight years ago. In his confidant's absence, Anthony turned to heroin. Now at rock bottom, he has an offer from Marc to help him get clean. Detox is hard and ugly, but not as hard as admitting the truth: he's in love with Marc. Always has been.

Marc swore he'd never date an addict, but he never dreamed the one in question would be the man he's always wanted to be with. As the two explore their feelings for each other, Marc faces a difficult choice. Say yes, and it could cost him his sobriety; say no, and it could cost him his heart.

Genres: M M Romance, Romance, Audiobook, Friends To Lovers, LGBT, Contemporary, Abuse

10 pages, Audible Audio

First published September 12, 2016

About the author

No 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

Reviews

[☆ Todd · Rating 3 out of 5]

Book 2 of Arthur's latest series was an entertaining read, but I must admit that I preferred book 1, "Come What May," a bit more than this story.

At 24, Marc has been sober for nearly 5 years, having overcome homelessness, prostitution and his battle with shooting up heroin, then co-founding an LGTB homeless shelter with Tate from book 1.

Former high school soccer star Anthony, Marc's ex-best friend, also had his life upended when Marc was kicked out of his home at 16 for being gay. Without Marc, Anthony was lost and ended up turning to drugs as an escape.

After an 8 year separation, Marc rescues Anthony from the streets and helps Anthony kick his own heroin addiction.

This story expectedly felt much more serious and somber than the first book, with Marc's "big secret" as to why he's so closed off and hates to be touched, keeping his friends, along with the reader, from really getting very close to him.

My biggest issue with this story was the lack of a physical connection, as I'm a sucker for cuddle time and tender touches. Yes, Marc's been abused, so I understand his aversion to hugs, comforting your partner and such, but I'm still not a big fan of books with physically and emotionally withdrawn MC's.

When the former best friends begin to date, once Anthony has 6 months of sobriety under his belt, earning back some of Marc's trust, they do get physically intimate; however, those scenes still came across as a bit distant in this story, especially compared to book 1.

Also, toward the end of the story, the Drama Llama did make a brief appearance, with Marc hitting Anthony twice, then throwing the lowest verbal blow of all at Anthony, followed by a shouted, "Get the fuck out of my house," which felt a bit manufactured and extremely out of character for Marc.

The story definitely kept me engaged while reading, but once I'd finished, I just had an odd sense of not feeling completely satisfied, so I'd rate this one at around 3.5 stars overall.

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My ARC copy of the story was provided by the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for a fair, unbiased review.

[Lyn❤Loves❤Listening to Real Voices Only!!!!❤️🎧📚 Addict ON HIATUS · Rating 2 out of 5]

Audio - 4.5 stars
Story - 2 Zzzzzz stars

[Chris · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wanted a bit more from this book - liked it but sadly didn't love it. I really enjoyed the whole group of characters but Marc actually annoyed me with his whole frantic lack of trust, his no touching and then his off the charts reaction to bad news. I just felt he over dramatized everything and for me, it was wearing thin. Anthony was a pretty good character, and the love of Marc's life but again I couldn't quite buy into his story. This story just dragged a bit for me - so many dramas, so little romance !

[CrabbyPatty · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars. We first meet Marc in Come What May, where he and Tate are co-founders of All Saints House, a shelter for at-risk LGBT youth. Marc is the moody, lonely, quiet guy you just know has a dark secret, something that explains why he is so committed to the homeless shelter and All Saints' mission.

And while Marc's backstory is compelling, the story of Anthony and Marc felt predictable - two childhood friends, one comes out and is discarded by his "loving" family onto the street; the other remains home to mourn the loss of his best friend. Life deals each of them a bad hand, and they meet years later, only to realize they have always loved one another.

The arc of Anthony's rescue and ongoing redemption keeps the story interesting, and Marc and Anthony's love for one another is tender and true. In Come What May, I loved how Josh came to terms with his love for Tate. In Say It Right, Marc is so closed off and so tightly wound (with some pretty big triggers) that breaking through to that love was a difficult (and sometimes slow moving) process. While the ending brings Marc and Anthony to that hard-won HEA, the whole fundraising subplot seemed a bit too long-winded and unfocused.

But, I completely understand that "your mileage may vary."

I received an ARC from Carina Press, via Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review.

Visit my blog, Sinfully Good Gay Book Reviews

[Carol · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the second book in the "All Saints" series, but it could also be a standalone story. Marc Villegas has been sober and drug free for over four years. His parents threw him out when he came out while still a teenager. He went through some hard times before he hit rock bottom and finally got clean and sober. Now he helps run the All-Saints shelter for LGBT teens, so they don’t have to do what he did to survive. Then we meet Anthony Romano who had it all; he was going to be a soccer star. He and Marc were best friends and then Marc left. Anthony’s life just seemed to fall apart after that, but he couldn’t admit why to anyone. He’s been in and out of rehab and is at his rock bottom when Anthony finds him dirty and drugged up living in an abandon gas station. Marc has never stopped loving Anthony, but he promised himself that he would never date an addict. Now Marc has to decide if he’s willing to break his promise to help the man that he’s always wanted but never though he could have. The story is very emotional on several levels.... some good...some bad...some heartbreaking. it was a great job that Ms. Arthur did treating this subject with frankness as well as compassion. I’ve never personally known a drug addict, but I have worked with LGBTQIA youth who have had or have family and friends that have been addicted, so I know that the author must have either had an experience or thoroughly researched this subject in order to write this story. Her descriptions and accounts were accurate and compelling. Anthony had a lot to overcome before Marc will trust him with his heart. Marc has to let go of demons from his past and let Anthony in. I don't especially like stories that twist you up before getting to the "Happy Ever After" part, but I couldn’t put this one down once I started reading. I didn't intend to start with book 2 but I'm an old hand out reading out of order, so I'll just get book 1.

[Allison ❤️Will Never Conquer Her TBR❤️ · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 Second-chance Stars!

Say It Right is the second book in the All Saints series and each can be read as a standalone. All Saints is a homeless homeless shelter for LGBT teens and Marc is one of the founders of this inner city non-profit. A homeless teen himself years ago, he knows what it's like to be turned away from his family, society, because of his sexual orientation. When a knock comes on his door and he's confronted with a face from that past 8 years ago, he's forced to decide whether to take in his old high school love friend or turn him away for fear of falling back into his old ways.

It's been a long eight years since Marc left Antonio's life back in high school. Homeless and addicted to heroin, Antonio thinks he's hallucinating when his sister and Marc pick him up off that abandoned gas station floor. Can he clean up his act for a second chance with his game changer, Marc?



I've read a fair amount of MM books from AM Arthur - always promising readers both angsty plot and steamy romance. This book, albeit on the surface was a great second chance romance, I felt it a bit long-winded and monotonous. I think cutting the length by 25% would've actually given readers a bigger 1-2 punch but long-drawn details of secondary characters and such tended to muddle the waters and lesson the emotional connection for me. I still enjoyed it, however, it's not my favorite book from this author.

AM Arthur delves quite deeply in the subject of drug addiction in this love story. Not only for the addict, but for the people who love them. The mistrust and day to day struggles for all involved to stay true to the commitment to not use drugs and to rebuild trust in the user. It's not sugar coated here and AM Arthur did a nice job with the realistic nature of that daily struggle. We also get quite a few glimpses of previous heroes within her past books.

I look forward to more within the All Saints series.




Advanced copy received by publisher via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

[kaye taz]

dnf @ 76%

i tried so hard but i cannot any longer. this audio is 10 hours long and even on 3x speed nothing is happening. nothing has been happening. i think nothing will keep on happening.

book 1 was cute, but this for sure is a skip.

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was able to finish this as I got ready for work this morning. Woohoo!!!

I had to be in the right frame of mind to read this story. My first attempt I couldn't get into it, so I switched to a different A.M. Arthur book. This isn't an easy story. It deals with being rejected by family and kicked out on the street for being gay, being homeless, drug use, prostitution and violent gang rape. If you don't like high angst and drama in your books, you won't like this one as it is very heavy.

Me? I love drama and angst so this was right up my alley. ;) I was sad to hear about Anthony and Marc's history, and how Anthony felt he had no other choice but to turn to drugs to numb his feelings. That's true of too many people in this world. I was happy to see that Marc was willing to give Anthony a chance. If Anthony can stay clean for 6 months, they will go on a date. High incentive for staying clean, right? Anthony did have a hard time detoxing and he had temptations but he did not want to disappoint Marc. They were going to have their date!

This was a drama filled story but with also filled with love and hope and friendship. They care about each other, and Marc is finally able to trust someone enough to tell him how bad things really were for him on the streets. It's why he helped create the shelter for LGBT kids - he doesn't want anyone else to suffer what he did.

If you are a fan of book 1, and A.M. Arthur, you know what to expect. I enjoyed it, hurt for all the characters, and cheered their successes. Great story and I can't wait to read book 3. I don't want to spoil it for you so that's all I have to say. A solid 4 stars.

[Erica Chilson · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received a copy of this title to read and review for Wicked Reads

3 Stars.

Say It Right shouldn't be read as a standalone, being that it is the second in the All Saints series. Yes, some series are easy to read as a standalone, but the connection to the past book is necessary in the overall enjoyment of the read. The same cast of characters are shown, and their presence keeps the reader rooted in the story.

A.M. Arthur is known for writing emotionally shattered characters with tortured backgrounds and back-stories, and the two MCs of this novel are no different.

Marc is one of the founders of an LGBTQ homeless shelter for youths, after being tossed out of his home at 16 by his abusive father and battered mother. As a recovering addict with dark and traumatic emotional wounds, he won't allow anything to jeopardize the life he's built.

Anthony is a drug addict, caught in its vicious web at the start of the novel. He'd spiraled out of control after his best friend was tossed out of his life, only to reconnect 8 years later.

Say It Right is a journey through addiction and emotional trauma, done in a mature, compassionate manner.

I have to be truthful in my review, especially when it involves such hard-hitting subject matter. While well-written and accurate, the pacing was one of the slowest I've read, making it difficult for me to stay interested. I read Say It Right over the course of a few weeks, reading a chapter or so a day. I was never gripped by the story, never compelled to continue forth. After the 3rd or so chapter, I knew how it would play out. How there would be a lull where the MCs got along well, then miscommunication or a breach of trust by using would break them apart, then they would come back together again. I was frustrated while reading, to the point I was able to put the book down and only the due date on my review looming had me picking it back up again.

Pacing.

Pacing- many scenes of everyday nothingness that didn't propel the story forward while waiting to the end of the book to offer a reward to the reader for sticking with the story. Since this was 100% character-driven, with no true threads of conflict besides addiction and relationship building, the reader needs a payoff earlier, or else it feels dragged on.

It's obvious from page one the MCs will get an HEA together, so waiting nearly 300 pages to give the reader a taste is the epitome of drawn out. But, for me, there was no tension, so I didn't care when they finally did. I understand more than most the aversion to touch, but I wish this would have been dealt with earlier in the book, as it's nearly 80% into a long book before a connection is made. I don't just mean sexual, but hugging, holding hands- altogether touching through connection. The MCs touching, working through Marc's reason for not enjoying it, would have anchored the reader to the couple, instead of creating a sense of disinterest.

Things needed to happen sooner in the novel, with a real resolution to their issues being found.

I worried it was my mood, but my mood would have changed over the course of many weeks. This is a shame, as the storyline is compelling, the subject matter is important, but the pacing dragged it down to the point I no longer cared about the character or what was happening. Some of this may be because everyone is so wounded, everyone is so broken, to the point there isn't enough pages to make sure everyone gets help. Not truly. The only voice of reason was an 18 year old high school senior wishing to study psychology in college. Why are there no therapists in sight?

There was a scene near the end of the book that I wish would have happened at the midway point, and then the events should have been fully explored instead of written away with an ILY. Real life angst, where real issues could have been worked through.

This scene also felt out of place, out-of-character, featuring many forms of abuse on Marc's part. Mental and emotional abuse by treating Anthony as lessor in their romantic partnership by calling their home, MY home, as if Anthony had no rights to it, as if he's a guest in Marc's life instead of forging a loving partnership together. Physical violence by touching Anthony with the intent to injure and harm. Even if Marc was in the throes of a fight-or-flight reflex, he should never be written away.

Both characters were wounded, but that doesn't erase their bad behavior. As a survivor of domestic violence, it gutted me to see Anthony write it away with compassion- while altruistic and selfless, this removes boundaries and any self-respect Anthony has for himself and any respect Marc had for Anthony, because Marc wasn't being held accountable for his actions. It bothered me during the entire novel how no one until the ending of the book cared about Marc's mother and siblings being abused by his father- even then no one stepped in, allowing nature to take its course. A simple phone call could have saved the mother from harm.

Victims of domestic violence suffer in silence, most not realizing they are being abused (like the abuse of being told your home is not yours, but only your partners- that IS abuse. Isolation, demoralizing). Those who love them should be their voice. This isn't written away with a hug and an ILY.

Whether it be a male/female couple, or a same sex couple featuring two men or two women, abuse happens. Men can abuse other men. Women can abuse women. Women can abuse men. Don't write this away with a, "he didn't mean it, so it's okay," or, "Mom doesn't want help, so we'll ignore it."

Marc didn't mean to hit Anthony... Marc isn't like his dad. But Dad became an abuser with the first hit.

Many readers look to books to find a path through their own struggles. When it comes to the domestic violence angle of this novel, Arthur missed the mark by a thousand miles.

After the first hit, the second is easier, and the third, because your victim excuses your actions- the abuser loses all respect for their victim because they didn't stand up for themselves (out of love). Boundaries and respect gone, the abuser knows they can take their emotional issues out on their partner, because their partner won't leave them for their heinous misbehavior. This is how an abuser and victim are born, not dealing with the issue from the first hit, the first insult, the first manipulation. There is no abuser without a victim.

Marc needed intense therapy that day, especially after growing up in an abusive household where it was commonplace to strike your partner if you were having a bad day, especially when you are a drug addict who thrives on negative emotions to give you license to do bad things. Full Stop. The minute he returned, Marc needed intense therapy.

While the drug addiction was portrayed accurately, there were many instances of things that were neglected. That is the issue when there are 10+ traumatized characters living and breathing on the pages- their traumas are written away instead of properly being dealt with, with only certain issues being addressed.

What wasn't accurately portrayed in regards to the addiction- you don't treat the addiction, you treat the problem. Anthony had NO problem, other than 'love', and Marc's issues were hidden. Neither was fully addressed.

I don't believe I will be continuing on with this series, and I'm on the fence with reading more by this author when I've read 90% of all of their works, simply because I find the same issues with every book. Too many traumas, where love fixes it, and never any real solutions. The characters always act out of character for the sake of drama, using miscommunication and running off (usually getting lost without a cellphone (when we lived in a world without cellphone until 2 decades ago and didn't die from a lack of it), where the rest of the cast of characters has to come to their rescue). Harsh words are said, pain is dealt to loved ones, but it's always written away as, "He can't help it because of what happened to him in the past." Victim mentality creating more victims, no matter how horrible of a backstory the author created.

I prefer reading about survivors, and no longer feel like being emotionally extorted by an author.

[Maria Rose · Rating 5 out of 5]

Say It Right is the second story in A.M. Arthur’s All Saints series, all about the staff who work at a teen LGBT shelter. Some of them, including the hero of this book, Marc, have personal experience with the difficulties encountered by many teens when they come out to their family. With backgrounds of addiction and dependency, working the streets and surviving day to day, most of the teens who come through the shelter and the adults who work there have had their share of hardships. Yet the author manages to take this background and still create an uplifting story with a sexy and heartwarming friends to lovers romance.

When Marc came out to his family, they kicked him out. Not only did he lose them, but he had to leave his best friend Anthony, an aspiring soccer star with whom he’d been friends since they were young boys. Marc’s experience on the street was grim, but with the help of a former priest Father Davis, who worked as a drug and alcohol counselor, he got clean and sober. Father Davis helped him get an electrician apprenticeship, which led to other home repair skills and odd jobs, and he was able to give back by getting a job with All Saints House. When Anthony’s sister comes to Marc for help, Marc is shocked to find out that after he was gone Anthony spiraled into depression and addiction himself. With a heavy heart, Marc is able to find Anthony and get him off the street. Bringing him home to his house isn’t the best plan, but it’s the only one he has for the man who used to be his best friend. But Marc has an ultimatum for Anthony – he’s got to get clean or get out. He can’t afford to backslide into his own addiction problems. He can help Anthony, but it will take a long time for him to trust him. As Anthony pulls himself out of the mire, he finds things to look forward to. Marc is part of a supportive community, and they are willing to help Anthony too. As Anthony’s life improves, he is able to reveal the truth to Marc – that he is bisexual and had feelings for Marc in high school. And Marc has his own truth – that he’d secretly been in love with Anthony in high school too. Can these two young men find healing and hope with each other?

I’d read the first of the series and really enjoyed it so I was looking forward to Marc’s story, having been introduced to him as a secondary character in Come What May. In this story, we get a fuller picture of the difficulties he’s faced and how far he’s come with the help of friends, especially Father Davis who saw beneath the addiction to the strong and capable man underneath. It’s admirable that Marc is willing to work at All Saints House after his own personal experiences, but it’s his way of paying it forward. Having Anthony around again is both a blessing and a curse. The man Anthony is now is not the boy Marc once knew. And Marc can’t afford to ruin all the hard work he’s done for his own sobriety. But as Anthony gets over the initial withdrawal and Marc can see the effort he is putting in to stay clean, the other thoughts come back. The ones about the attraction he had towards Anthony as a teen. When Anthony starts to act and appear more like the person Marc knew and confesses his bisexuality, it’s easier to think of starting a relationship with him. But Marc is smart. He sets a time limit of 6 months for Anthony to stay clean before they’ll go on their first official ‘date’. The result is a slow burn romance between the two as they share their thoughts, feelings, and experiences. They become intimate but as friends, not as lovers. It doesn’t mean there aren’t a few slip ups here and there, but the wait is definitely worth it. There are some steamy scenes between them as Anthony’s life is finally moving in the right direction and Marc can admit to himself that a future with Anthony could be in the cards. I really enjoyed seeing how Marc and Anthony coped with the challenges of rebuilding their friendship and a relationship. The story is told from both points of view and it was heartening to see Anthony take control of his life once again. As well, the circle of friends and support that surround Marc and Anthony add some lighthearted and amusing scenes. The situations come across as very realistic and despite the serious topics, I didn’t find the story depressing or melancholy. Rather, it’s a testament to human strength and compassion as these two longtime friends find each other again, and start to build a future together.

This review appears at Straight Shootin' Book Reviews: https://straightshootinbookreviews.co...

Note: a copy of this story was provided by the publisher via NetGalley for review.

[Aerin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Say It Right is a dark, heavy, gritty book, exactly what you'd expect from characters who are both drug addicts. This book wasn't easy to read, and the struggles the characters face are heart wrenching, but it's so, so worth it! I loved this book for everything that it had the potential to be, but wasn't... it wasn't too angsty, the characters were not tortured or made to face hard to believe struggles, and it wasn't dramatic.

We met Mark in the first book in this series; along with Tate and a third partner, they opened All Saints LGBT shelter that helps keep homeless LGBT teens off the streets. Mark has a dark past that was hinted to and we know he is HIV positive, but Mark is a very closed-off individual, and not much was revealed about him. Mark became a homeless teen after his parents kicked him out for being gay; this seems to be a frequent topic in MM books and something that unfortunately happens too often in real life. Mark lost his family, his safety and his best friend Anthony (Tone) who's very straight and who Mark has been crushing on for years.

After a couple of years spent on the streets doing whatever he needed to keep himself fed and alive, Mark got a second chance. He stopped using drugs, stopped drinking and bettered his life the best he could, but the scars run deep and certain things are hard to forget.

Anthony hasn't seen or heard from Mark since he left home over 8 years ago. Mark's absence was something Anthony couldn't deal with, because Mark was the most important person in Anthony's life, and without him the truths he had to face were too harsh. Anthony turned to heroin to forget and numb the pain, and became an addict that two stunts in rehab couldn't help. Now Mark and Anthony's sister find him on the streets and Anthony gets a second chance he intends to grab with both hands and never let go. Being with the man he's always wanted is not going to be easy, and Mark makes it clear that Anthony needs to prove himself worthy of his trust and has to stay clean of drugs.

I loved how the characters interacted with each other; their relationship takes a long time to flow from friends to lovers, and that's so understandable all things considered; I truly expected nothing else because anything else wouldn't have worked. Both Mark and Anthony are flawed and each has a ton of baggage from the past, but they're written so beautifully and seem so real, you can't help but be fully invested in their relationship and lives, and root for them all the way to the end.

What I love most about this series is the awareness it brings to the situation homeless LGBT teens face every day, how many struggles they go through, and how much even a little bit of our contributions can help. This book makes you want to do something to help, reach out to others, contribute in whatever means you can, be it by volunteering or donations. There's this feeling of hope that I'm not used to getting from Arthur's books; little things that happen, like Anthony beating his addiction and bettering himself, a homeless teen being accepted back into his family, friends helping each other and having each other's backs, make this book light and hopeful even during the dark and heavy times.

I stand by my statement I've made after reading Come What May that this is the best series Arthur has written so far. I'm looking forward to the next book, I think it's going to be amazing!

[Susan · Rating 2 out of 5]

What a disappointment.

I remembered when I was reading this that I didn’t really like Marc in the first book and I didn’t like him in this one. He was so cold. This dude did not enjoy life. I never figured out what it was Anthony saw in him.

Marc runs the LGBT shelter together with his friend Tate. Marc was thrown out of the house when he was 16, lived on the streets for 3 years, was addicted to heroin, tricked to stay alive and got HIV. That’s him in a nutshell.

Anthony was Marc’s best friend growing up. He couldn’t handle it when Marc was thrown out of his home and he couldn’t see him anymore, so he acted out. Eventually he ran away from home several times and now he’s 24, addicted to heroin and living on the streets until Marc saves him, even though they haven’t seen each other in 8 years.

Marc takes Anthony home and tells him to get his life together. Anthony is struggling, but he’s doing okay. They both loved each other when they were kids, although neither ever said anything to the other person. So when Anthony tells Marc he has always loved him, Marc is shocked. He tells him he loves Anthony too, but that they can’t be together. They will go on a date once Anthony is 6 months clean. So they just have to wait for Anthony to get his shit straight before they can act on their feelings…

Things I did not like:
- These guys had absolutely no chemistry. There is one sex scene in the entire book and it wasn’t that great. I get that Marc didn't like to be touched because of a traumatic experience, but it created a distance I didn't like.
- Marc is HIV positive and they have unprotected oral sex.
“Next time we do that, you’re coming down my throat.”
Wait, what? Doesn’t this author do research? There is ALWAYS a risk, no matter how small. I don’t care that Anthony was on Truvada.
- Anthony is struggling what to call himself. Gay…? Bi..? So a friend of Marc, who Anthony has gotten friends with too, takes him to a gay bar. To ‘experiment’. Anthony and Marc already declared their love for each other, but are not officially dating yet. Anthony almost receives a blow job from some guy, until the dude offers him poppers and he leaves. I did not get this at all. Anthony knows he and Marc will become an item, so this was most definitely cheating in my book. If the guy hadn’t offered poppers, he would have gone through with it.
- The fabricated drama near the end. Marc hitting Anthony because he was upset felt VERY out of character for him.

These things really bothered me, and together with my severe dislike for Marc, this book was not a success.

(Although Tara still wins our discussion of who’s book is more depressing, she has dying dogs.)

[Vallie]

This book suffered the unpleasant consequence of being the first addiction story I picked up after I read the excellent Counting Daisies by Nikola Haken. There is nothing bad about the book as far as I can tell in the 15% I have read so far. One of the main protagonists has a history of drug abuse and the other one is introduced as an active drug user who undergoes detox. And I understand that this is not a textbook on drug addiction. But having the bar set so freaking high by Counting Daisies, I could not help but feel a bit disappointed at how much less depth was provided in the portrayal of the addiction and the detox we saw on page.

And really, it’s unfair for me to keep reading it with this kind of attitude because it’s massively affecting my enjoyment of the book at the moment. I am going to have to shelve it for now and pick it up at a later date when Counting Daisies is not still at the forefront of my mind.
Because of this, I would definitely not discourage people from reading it what I have seen so far lays the foundation for a romance that will put the MCs through the wringer and this author is a win win for delivering this kind of plot.

Wrong timing for me I guess.

[Jordan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow, this book was hard to swallow.

Drug addition has never been anything I've had to deal with in my life, and I feel pretty fortunate about that, but reading this book gave me a peek into what it might be like for some people, and that was really difficult for me to read about.

I really, really disliked Anthony as a character, at first anyway. But his determination to stay clean for Marc was kind of inspiring. Anthony wanted a real life. A life where he had friends and a stable job and could come home to the love of his life and relax without worrying about what he'd have to do to score. He was so determined, and yet the temptation was still always there in his mind. That broke my heart a little bit. He kinda grew on me.

And Marc was the type of character that you look at and think wow, look how far he's come. He was inspiring and sweet and perhaps even more determined than Anthony to get his childhood best friend off of the streets and keep him clean. He was in love with Anthony, but he couldn't let him in when he was still at risk for using again.

These two men had both let drugs into their life and it nearly destroyed them. This book was dark. I was rooting for Anthony to stay clean and I wanted so bad for him to have his HEA with Marc, but I was also a little skeptical that it was going to happen because Anthony thought about going out and buying drugs every few pages.

I'd love to say that Marc's faith in Anthony was unwavering, but it wasn't. He doubted him all the time, and that brought an element of reality into this book that you usually don't see. These characters were real, and this story was real.

The chemistry between Marc and Anthony was definitely there. It was sizzling under the surface for most of the book. Occasionally Marc would slip and let something happen between the two of them, but for the most part it remained out of reach. Anthony's determination to stay clean and keep his promises to Marc came before their love and need for each other, and I think that's one of Anthony's many redeeming qualities as a character.

I really enjoyed this book, but it was dark, and a little difficult to read because of that. I would definitely recommend it, but only to people who enjoy a little bit of that darkness in their novels (plus, the HEA didn't really balance it out, so I still had a little bit of a depressed bleh feeling after finishing this one).



Reviewed by Jordan at Alpha Book Club.

Disclaimer: This book was provided by the author in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions expressed herein are my own and not influenced by the author or the publisher in any way.

[Emalie · Rating 4 out of 5]

~ Book provided by NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion

I'm going to jump right into the review with saying that some people might feel like the romance of this book develops too slow, but I personally found that it had the right pace which worked perfectly with the way the story was told.

After reading the first book of this series - and liking it - I was quite happy when I saw that it would get a second installment and was available for review on NetGalley. I have to be honest now and say that I had Say It Right for more than 3 month now. I've been kind of procrastinating reading it, because I wasn't sure I would like it as much as the first one. The reason why I thought that was the image of Marc I had in my head from book one. I wasn't that interested in his story, but after just the first chapter of Say It Right, I was hooked and loved his POV's.

I've read a few books by A.M. Arthur and this has to be the one with the darkest undertone yet, because it deals with sexual abuse, drug abuse and illness of the body and mind.

Both our main characters struggled a lot, both with their problems and their feelings and I loved to see them develop. From how they didn't trust each other at the beginning to how the lean on to each other at the ending. They had some really heartbreaking scenes.

I really like how the book was written and should there be a book three in this series, I will definitely read it. Not sure about which character it could be, but I'm all for a third installment of the series.

Rating: 4,25 stars

[Sandra · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is apparently book 2 in the series, but I had no issues reading this as a standalone.

If you've read the first book, you probably remember Marc who's a former homeless ex-junkie, selling himself to survive. Having pulled himself together with a lot of help, he now runs the LGBT shelter with Tate.

Eight years ago, Anthony led a mostly charmed life, in unrequited love with his best friend Marc, until Marc was gone, kicked out of his home at 16 for being gay. Lost without his best friend, his confidant, Anthony turned to alcohol and heroin.

Now Anthony is a junkie himself, and after a couple of failed attempts to get clean, he's on the verge of an overdose.

A late night visit from Anthony's sister spurs Marc to find Anthony and get him off the streets. But there are rules. Anthony must stay clean, or Marc will kick him out. And after 6 months, if Anthony stays off the drugs, they may go on a date.

This is a rather somber story, and both men keep secrets. Marc hates being touched, for reasons that aren't clear to those around him, and Anthony struggles without the drugs to kill his pain.

There wasn't a whole lot of physical affection between them for quite a while, which made it difficult to connect with the love story, and even though they eventually got together, there was what seemed to be manufactured drama toward the end, with Marc lashing out almost inexplicably toward Anthony, which nearly derails their budding romance.

While I can to some extent understand Marc's issues, I had a hard time forgiving him for the pain he puts Anthony through.

The main focus of the story is on drug addiction and recovery, and those parts were really well done. The author let us see deeply into Anthony's struggles with sobriety, and Marc's fears of relapse himself, and the lingering pain from the abuse he suffered. Also explored are the realities of life on the street, and the difficult choices so many young people have to make to survive.

As I said, this is a rather somber story, and while we get a happy ending, it's a hard fought for one.


** I received a free copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley. A positive review was not promised in return. **

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 Stars

This was an emotional and heart-wrenching story that grabbed me from the beginning and never let go. I loved the reunion between Marc and Anthony and how they were able to overcome all their issues to finally get the happiness they deserve. I thought the author handled the addiction elements with respect and really made me (as a reader) understand where the characters were coming from. It was also great to see cameos from other A.M. Arthur stories pop up.

I received an eARC of this book from Carina Press via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Tammy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyed it so much I'm already starting the next book in this series!!

[Fedora · Rating 5 out of 5]

Four and a half stars

Marc Villegas and Anthony Romano battle addiction and their pasts to be together at last.

[Izzy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rated C

Say it Right is the second in the A.M. Arthur’s All Saints series, and although characters from the first book have page time, it is a standalone title. The cover might portray differently, but the two main characters are Hispanic – namely, Marc Villegas and Anthony Romano.

Marc has poor, Catholic, Puerto Rican parents who threw him out onto the streets at sixteen for being gay. He has never understood why his best friend Anthony didn’t stay in touch or help him. He turned to heroin and prostitution, had an awful time and was saved by a Catholic priest. Marc now works at a shelter for LGBTQ+ homeless teens.

Anthony was disowned by his poor, Catholic, Puerto Rican /Italian parents for becoming a drug addict and later for being gay. He went downhill when Marc’s parents and his own turned their backs on Marc for being gay. Anthony doesn’t understand why best friend Marc didn’t turn to him for help, or ask him to go with him. Anthony lived on the streets, had a trip to prison, turned to prostitution, had an awful time and was saved by Marc.

The first half of the book concentrates on Anthony’s detox from drugs and his battle to stay away from them while staying with Marc. His one relapse is so minor considering what we are dealing with here, that the overreaction from both characters felt rather humorous – which I am sure was not intended.

The writing is fine if rather pedestrian, but the whole plot and exposition feels like it was written to a formula. This ‘episode’ needs to have people of colour represented, so let’s bring out the poor Hispanic template. By the end of the novel any male Hispanic character is written either as drunk, violent, mixing with a bad crowd, or totally homophobic. One character retains all of these qualities.

To top off the whole angst-ridden episode, the author includes gang rape and makes a character HIV positive and of course, there is a death.

A story where the only men who have done well are white, and the poor ‘saved’ Hispanic drug addicts are saintly, does not paint an accurate picture and perpetuates really harmful stereotypes.

Often reviews include trigger warnings – I do not usually, but here I feel they may underline my main points:

Hard Drugs
Drug Abuse
Sexual Abuse
Rape
Gang Bang
Poverty and Homelessness
HIV +
Death of a loved character
Domestic Abuse
Alcoholism
Prejudice
Racism

Despite the list of disasters that befall or have befallen these characters, I felt no emotion or empathy towards them. This was angst by rote. There is more to emotive writing than merely detailing an event or memory. I have read this ‘story’ so many times by so many different authors, and I am bored with this formulaic approach. This is not the worst example by any means and I’m sure there are many readers who really enjoy romance in this form and will enjoySay it Right. As a last plea – could we have more novels featuring Hispanic characters with relationship issues rather than religious and criminal ones?

Full review - www.allaboutromance.com/book-review/s...

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was given a copy of this book to read and review for Wicked Reads.

The causes and consequences of LGBTQI youth homelessness are important and timely issues that need to be explored and written about. This story draws attention to LGBT youth homelessness as well as to the abuse and addictions too often experienced by street kids.

So while I’m keenly interested in the ideas and topics that this story address, I really struggled with the execution of the story itself. For me, there was too much going on in this story for the author to do any one character or issue justice. Both main characters are recovering heroin addicts. To this huge problem, the author adds domestic abuse, sexual abuse, gang rape, prostitution, the deaths of homeless kids and a string of other, massive issues. The result is that every problem feels watered down and simplified. Only Anthony’s initial detox is given enough detail to feel real and honest, but even then he manages his subsequent recovery by attending a few meetings and having a new sense of purpose.

This isn’t the first book by this author where I’ve had reservations about the way very serious issues are treated with superficial quick-fixes. Previously, I was annoyed by a rape written off as a sexual assault and not reported. Here again, serious domestic abuse is written off and not reported to the police or other authorities. As someone who works closely with traumatised youth, I worry that books like this actually normalise serious criminal offenses, leaving victims who don’t bounce back to normal after a couple of conversations feeling weak. Adding sensational crime after sensational crime to a story without earnestly exploring the difficult road to recovery faced by victims feels irresponsible and in this case, almost salacious.

Enough ranting. The relationship between Anthony and Marc is sweet (except for one scene of domestic abuse which obviously doesn’t count because he didn’t mean it). I enjoyed the way the childhood friends reconnect and make each other stronger. However, they meet at the start of the novel, they actually set a deadline for when their romantic relationship will start and then readers must wait until the very end of the book for any relationship to begin. And while I would have loved to learn more about the kids at the shelter and Marc’s group of friends, we are instead treated to a diary-like record of Marc and Anthony’s day to day existences. I got bored. The pace picks up again near the end as Anthony starts working and develops his interests, but from 20% to 70%, I found this story to be a very slow, very mundane hard slog.

It may just be that too many of the issues in this author’s books hit too close to home for me right now, but I am going to be taking a break from her books for a while. I’m possibly reading too much into a romance story so prospective readers probably need to order a sample and make up their own minds about this book.

[h o l l i s · Rating 3 out of 5]

These are hella emotional and full of hard-dose reality situations, but man. SAY IT RIGHT definitely succeeded for me where it's predecessor, COME WHAT MAY, fell short.

We're introduced to Marc in book one as Tate's co-director of the All Saints youth LGBT homeless shelter. We don't know much about him despite the fact that he's been single for a while, is HIV positive, and doesn't like to be touched. Oh and there was someone from his past who he had loved and lost.

"You're what's normal to me. My life without you was a waking nightmare. Everything was off balance and wrong. You're right, Marcos. You and me. We always have been."

That loss was Anthony. And on New Years Eve, eight years since they last saw each other, Anthony's sister comes knocking on Marc's door for help to find her missing brother. Once a clean, successful, athlete with dreams of being a great soccer player, Anthony is now a junkie, sobering up only to fall off the wagon over and over again. But with Marc back in his life, giving him the tough-love detox treatment, suddenly he has a reason to be clean. To finally own up to why, out of nowhere, he turned to drugs. And the reality is not what Marc expected it to be.

"Guide him in his journey to sobriety. Help him become a man who doesn't remind you of hell. Help him grow into a man worthy of your heart."

I loved the build between these two. Friends forever, with a reluctant and messy separation before their reunion, the struggle Marc -- who is sober after his own years on the streets -- faces when confronted with his wreck of a friend, the baggage they each carry and carefully and slowly reveal, the journeys they take, the goals and the promises, and the temptations.. it was heartwrenching and beautiful and amazing.

"The people who really, truly love you, Marcos? We love you even more for trusting us with the truth, and for surviving so we can keep on loving you with our whole hearts."

Arthur really struck gold with this story and I was so so loving it. Right up until the 90% mark when things go off the rails a bit. It doesn't last long, and there was a silver lining to it, but it did kind of sour my enjoyment which made me kind of sad. Because up until that point this was definitely four star material. It isn't full of major super sexytimes or relentless flirty banter, and there's lots of reasons for that, the obvious being Anthony's recovery and Marc's reluctance to be involved with a junkie, but the slowburn and the emotional payoff is so so worth the journey.

3.5 "would you ever want me" stars

[Caroline Brand · Rating 4 out of 5]

REVIEWED FOR PRISM BOOK ALLIANCE

4.5 Stars

There are only two books in this series so far, there is scope for many more but this is my favourite for the time being.

This was pretty raw and intense for the most part. It was a story of hope for both the MC’s who had both been dealt a pretty shitty hand in life which was then exacerbated by addiction amongst other things.

We met Marc in book one. He is Tate’s best friend and partner in an LGBT homeless shelter for kids. That shelter and the kids it helps mean everything to Marc – if something similar had been available when his family kicked him out for being gay then his life may have been very different. There wasn’t a shelter available and Marc spent time living on the street and doing what he had to do to feed an addiction that was slowly killing him. His story is sad and harsh but it is also very relevant – this stuff happens, this stuff is still happening and it’s not ok.

Before Marc’s parents kicked him out he was living a pretty regular life. His best friend Anthony was always at his side and if one was in trouble the other was too. Anthony was the first person Marc came out to and it didn’t change their friendship – they really were a solid pair. Anthony tried to help Marc when he ended up on the streets but circumstances prevented it and saw Anthony’s family moving to a new area.

They don’t see each other for eight years…

Anthony was never entirely honest with Marc as a teenager and when his best friend is ripped from his life and just disappears Anthony’s life implodes. Gone are the chances of scholarships, gone are the hours playing sports and in their place is addiction. Anthony has tried to get clean, he’s been to rehab, he’s sorry for the hurt he’s caused his family but he is back living on the streets just one or two highs from death and that’s when Marc finds him and brings him home.

Marc and Anthony back together trying to rebuild a friendship that used to mean everything to both of them means a walk down Honesty Avenue and it’s not pretty. Both are sitting on pretty big secrets, things they have never told another living soul and have consequences that they have to live with daily. There is no magic cure here, the story unfolds slowly as does the romance. The healing takes time and is painful but if they can hang on it will all be worth it.

The author is building a great cast of characters in this series and I have my fingers crossed that we will get Will’s story soon.

[Tracy~Bayou Book Junkie · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 Stars

**copy provided by author:publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review**

I'll be honest, A.M. Arthur is one of my favorite authors, and I absolutely loved "Come What May", book one in the All Saints series. This book, not so much. I thought the story was wonderful. Two best friends who haven't seen one another in 8 years are suddenly thrown back together. They have both lived on the streets, both been heroine addicts, now Marc can't turn his back on his former best-friend, the only boy, now man he's ever loved. He offers to help him detox and try to stay clean.

I liked the idea of the story, but I didn't care for Marc. He was too distant, and I never connected with him. I didn't feel the romance in this book, it felt more like just good friends to me. I think the author waited too long to get them romantically involved. I understand Marc giving Anthony a 6 month ultimatum before getting involved, but it took away from the natural progression of the relationship. Even once they became romantically involved, I just didn't feel the chemistry between Marc and Anthony.

As I said, I loved book one, and it was great getting to catch up with Tate and Jonas, and other secondary characters, not just from this series, but others. Donner and Ezra are one of my favorite couples and they play a big part in this book, as well. The book is well-written, but it was just missing the chemistry and natural progression from friends to lovers I was looking for. Still, it was an enjoyable and emotional read.

[Diverse · Rating 3 out of 5]

Say It Right is book 2 in AM Arthur’s All Saints Series. I actually didn’t read book 1 and I can safely say it was totally fine to read as a standalone.

This book mainly focused on the MC’s and while I’m sure there is a lot of story with the secondary characters nothing is taken away from these characters and their story.

Now…. This story. This is a very heavy book. It’s about drug addiction, abuse, loss, recovery, more loss, reconnecting, and disconnecting. There’s a weight to this book that even after it ended I didn’t feel like it lifted.

Anthony, Tone, once had great dreams of being a soccer star but when Marcos, Marc, is kicked out of his house at 16 for being gay, Anthony’s whole life falls apart. Eight years later Marc, a recovering addict of 5 years, is trying to help Anthony, the love of his life, fight the battles of his own addictions.

Marc’s story is horrible I mean it’s gut-wrenching and just tears you a part inside. I felt the author waited too long to tell us the deep dark secret. So long that my imagination conjured up much worse but it was still in the same ballpark. The timing dragged too much. And by dragging the timing the healing part, and Marc’s serious rage toward the end of the book made me feel off kilter and at the same time rushed in the end.

Anthony’s character was amazing I loved his path and how he grew and healed. His struggles were real and oddly the pacing for him was spot on.

I loved seeing past characters like Ezra and Donner and such, that is was awesome!
I would have liked to see the healing. I felt we didn’t get the Marc, Tone connection just the rehabilitation of the individuals. And I know it sounds harsh but because each of them are a huge, I mean HUGE reason their lives shattered or even in the present, crumble. I felt more of THEM gaining trust in their closeness needed to be tied together.

It is a gritty rough read. High angst and drama. So if you’re looking for that then here it is!

[Alisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars

This second book of the All Saints series was about Marc who we initially met in book one. He's the co-manager of the homeless teen center that Tate works at. The two men are good friends and Marc was in a few scenes in the first book. At the time this book starts Marc is 24 and he's been sober for 5 years. He has been homeless and prostituted himself for drugs in the past which is part of his devotion to the kids at the teen center.

Marc lives a very limited life. He works and that is about it. His calm is upended when the sister of an old friend shows up. Marc is shocked to find out that Anthony has been using drugs and been homeless himself for years. His sister begs Marc to find her brother and try to help him. Marc hasn't seen Anthony in years but not only were they good friends but Marc was secretly in love with Anthony.

When Marc finds Anthony he brings him home with him and they start working together on Anthony getting sober and rebuilding his life. It's a long road for both of them as they have numerous issues to work through.

I enjoyed the story and both of the MC's. I'm not sure how realistic I found it but I thought is was an entertaining tale and I enjoyed seeing all of the other characters we first met in book one. I say this in every review I do of this author's work, there was some OTT drama at some points, but it's a known factor. It's always going to be there in her books and I'm ok with that. I know it going in so it doesn't bother me.

This is the second in a series but can be read as a standalone. There is some cross over of characters but this plot is completely independent of book one.

*ARC provided through Netgalley in exchange for a honest review.*

[Debi · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was very hesitant to begin this story as I seem to have read a grand series of books lately involving HIV positive MC's and/or drug addicts. This book has both and I wasn't sure I really wanted to read another book about these two dynamics. However, I really wanted to put this series behind me before the end of 2017 as I've had these books for what seemed like forever. So, I picked it up, began reading and was pleasantly surprised. While I believe the author wrote true and realistic to both of these heavy issues, she didn't dwell on them to the point that they weighed the story down into a too dark place. This helped keep the story thriving for me as the others I've read recently were the reason I wasn't sure I wanted to be put back into this deeply troubled and depressing world. The author keeps things relevant without dragging the reader through the darkest depths of these subjects.

Both MC's have some serious baggage. Both have a lot to still overcome. Together, they give each other the support and love and encouragement neither found elsewhere in the world around them and they compliment each other in the most endearing of ways. Marc stays true to himself and his own personal needs as he helps Anthony become strong enough to battle his demons. Each man learns to put behind themselves the ugly of their pasts and build a stronger and brighter future with each other; as they always hoped for when they were young and secretly in love with each other.

What surprised me most here was that I completely enjoyed this story despite the limited intimacy between the MC's. Don't get me wrong. These MC's do share some very sexy times together. However, they are not the primary focus in the story and this doesn't take one thing away from how enjoyable this book is. In fact, it seems perfectly placed and not forced. Overall, the story is very well paced and put together. Despite my initial reservations, I was very pleasantly surprised and pleased with this book.

[Mike Oaks · Rating 4 out of 5]

Coming home

Book two is the tale of Marc and Anthony. Marc is still working at his shelter. Anthony, Marc's childhood best friend is brought back into his life. As they sort out their feelings and secrets they slowly grow closer than ever. Drama with work, family and a savior are what drives the second and third act. A few characters stroll through the book that leave me wondering if we'll hear their story in future books in this series. Overall I liked this book as well as the first one. Another quick pass with the editor would have corrected a few typos. 4.0 for second chances.

[Mari Cardenas · Rating 4 out of 5]

*** Copy provided to the reviewer via NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review. ***

Say It Right is the second book in the All Saints series and while it can be read as a standalone, I suggest reading Come What May first, it's an outstanding book and one I can't recommend enough!

Marc and Anthony were the best of friends since they were six years old until Marc's parents threw him out of his house when they were sixteen, and Anthony's parents refused to take him in. After that, Marc disappeared and Anthony's life spiralled out of control, allowing drugs to numb him against the pain of losing not only his best friend, but the love of his life, even if he never was brave enough to admit to it.

Marc's life after his parents threw him out wasn't a walk on the park. He's had to do things he's not proud of, however, now he's a recovering addict, has been sober for five years and runs a shelter for LGBT homeless teens with his friends Tate and David. The last thing he expected was a blast from the past in the form of Anthony's sister, who is looking for her brother after he refused to go to rehab.

Finding Anthony was the easy part, helping him recover and stay clean might prove a bit more difficult and regaining Marc's trust and perhaps have a chance at love may very well be impossible.

This book was definitely darker than Come What May. It deals with addiction and everything that it entails. It definitely wasn't an easy read.

I have to admit that I was a bit disappointed. While I liked Anthony a lot, I couldn't feel the same connection to Marc. He appeared a bit dettached, especially at first. I get that Marc had a hard life, that he had to go through a lot of things, but I would've thought he'd be a bit more empathetic considering all the history he shared with Anthony.

I loved to see Anthony's journey into recovery. His strength and realization that he needed to do this for himself and not just because it was Marc's condition for them finally having a chance at love. It wasn't an easy road, he was tempted into falling back to his old patterns and yet, he managed to get to a point where it was manageable.

It was nice to see Marc opening up to Anthony later in the book, even when he didn't fully trust him and give into the love they felt for one another. It was slow burn, as it took a bit for Marc to allow Anthony in, but once he did, it was obvious they belonged together.

Just when I had warmed up to Marc, though, there was a scene near the end that left me reeling. It felt unnecessary in the sense that it just brought back to the forefront that they were still a work in progress, and I didn't particularly like the way it was resolved, but oh well, that's neither here nor there.

Overall, Say It Right was a mildly angsty, heartbreaking read, with a lot of build-up and a somewhat satisfying resolution, well-written and with cameos from some of A.M. Arthur's other books, especially Tate and Jason. Recommendable!

Rating: 4 Stars!

[Elyxyz Elyxyz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dopo aver apprezzato il primo volume, ero curiosa di ritrovare i personaggi dell’All Saints House, il rifugio per ragazzi LGBT senzatetto, che viene gestito da persone splendide. Tutte loro hanno toccato con mano il dolore e la disperazione, ma si sono rialzate e ora vogliono aiutare ragazzi bisognosi cercando, per quanto possibile, di migliorare le loro vite.
Anche se questo volume si può leggere autonomamente, mi piace pensarlo come una specie di seguito, che riparte poco dopo la fine del primo, in cui abbiamo già avuto modo di conoscere Marc, il migliore amico di Tate e suo socio nel gestire il rifugio. Di lui si era intuito che avesse un passato difficile, fatto di sofferenza e scelte sbagliate, e qui abbiamo modo di scoprire il suo drammatico vissuto e il coraggio che ha avuto nel risollevarsi.
L’altro nostro protagonista è Anthony, suo amico d’infanzia e primo amore, dal quale Marcos è costretto a separarsi bruscamente, ancora adolescente, dopo esser stato cacciato di casa per il suo orientamento sessuale ed esser finito a vivere per strada.
Tony non fa una gran figura nelle prime righe; a un passo dalla morte per overdose, viene salvato da sua sorella e da Marc, a cui lei aveva chiesto aiuto. La strada della disintossicazione non è semplice né indolore, intanto che i due giovani hanno modo di riscoprirsi e di chiarire dei malintesi del passato, ma mentre un amore mai morto torna a farsi sentire, ci sono mille dubbi e obiezioni su una possibile relazione fra loro.
Questo libro tocca nuovamente tematiche delicate e sofferte, dall’abuso fisico alla prostituzione, passando per dipendenza da droghe, alcol e per molti altri argomenti che, seppur narrati, non sono descritti in modo eccessivo, pertanto non dovrebbero urtare la sensibilità dei lettori, anche se – lo ammetto – alcuni accenni mi hanno fatta indignare e poi intristire, perché la vita è davvero ingiusta e a volte il destino è crudele anche con gli innocenti.
Pur toccando il fondo con i protagonisti, questa è soprattutto una storia di rinascita, un lento percorso di guarigione e un inno ai sopravissuti, alle seconde possibilità e alle realizzazioni personali.
È una storia d’amore sofferta, ma anche dolce e delicata, fatta di piccoli gesti premurosi e affetto. Non sono presenti molte scene esplicite, ma quelle lette sono piacevoli e coinvolgenti, ed è tutto parte di un percorso che trova il giusto coronamento.
Ad affiancare questi protagonisti ci sono i precedenti, Tate e Jonas, innamorati più che mai, con tutta la loro adorabile famiglia di zii e sorelle che abbiamo già apprezzato. In aggiunta, conosciamo altri preziosi, nuovi personaggi, pronti a sostenere e ad aiutare chi è in difficoltà.
Anche se questo volume ha toni un po’ più cupi del primo, mi è piaciuto altrettanto e lo consiglio. Non è una storia da ‘passatempo’, ma fa riflettere e arricchisce il lettore, non solo per la storia d’amore, ma per gli altri messaggi che dà.