The Heart As He Hears It by A. M. Arthur is an emotional love story between a slightly neurotic porn star with body image issues and a virgin hero with severe agoraphobia. I received one copy of this book at no charge in exchange for my honest reviews but all opinions expressed here are my own. This post contains affiliate links.
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The Heart As He Hears It by A. M. Arthur
Purchase Links: Amazon
Title: The Heart As He Hears It
Series: Perspectives Book 3
Author: A.M. Arthur
Publisher: Samhain Publishing, Ltd. (April 19, 2016)
ASIN: B017XDICZG
Genre: M/M, Contemporary
Length/Format: 948 KB/253 pages
Heat Rating: 3
Star Rating: 4
About the Author: Learn more about A.M. Arthur by checking out the author’s website or following along on Facebook.
Book Blurb:
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.
My Review:
The Heart As He Hears It by A. M. Arthur is book 3 of the Perspectives series. It can be read as a standalone novel, however you will meet couples from the previous books so I recommend getting to know them first by reading the series in order.
Jon is working in the porn industry and waiting tables to make a living. He had a bad relationship experience in the past and porn is his outlet for safe sex. He doesn’t have much motivation for finding a different way of making a living and most of his free time is spent with his friend Henry who is dying of cancer. Henry is an older gentleman who has recently discovered that he has a grandson. It is now his life’s mission to meet him and Jon is determined to make Henry’s last wish become a reality.
Isaac is agoraphobic and doesn’t leave the apartment ever. When Henry and Jon show up at his door he is both terrified and oddly drawn to them. Thankfully Jon is smart enough to figure out that Isaac is emotionally unstable and NOT ready for a relationship. There is a wonderful, slow buildup of friendship. The smallest hints of attraction, inexperienced (on Isaac’s side) fumblings and slowly comes a passionate relationship and true love.
I love the characters that are created in this story. They are unique, slightly flawed, and each have their own worries when it comes to life and love. Isaac is so scared and naive and worried about so many things. Jon seems like he wouldn’t be a good fit for Isaac but honestly Jon makes him want to grow as a person and experience new things in life. And of course, a cute kitten gets thrown into the mix which really throws Isaac for a loop! Gotta love a romance book with cute critters in it to up the AWWW factor!
The one thing that I didn’t really like was how Jon handled his job in porn when it came to his relationship with Isaac. While he doesn’t do any scenes once the two of them are serious about each other, he also doesn’t tell him right away either. That was info that should have been shared immediately. And Isaac didn’t seem to care at all once Jon told him about it. I thought that was a bit unrealistic, even though Isaac was really a very understanding kindof guy.
There is no getting away from the sadness of this story. Hopefully this isn’t too much of a spoiler for you but Henry passes away. There is no miracle cure to be found before the end of the book. The story is pretty heavy at times and covers some really intense issues. But, woven into this sadness is also hints of hope, love and freedom. The end of the story was a combination of both tears and smiles as Isaac and Jon get their happily ever after even as they have to say goodbye to Henry.
Overall, The Heart As He Hears It by A. M. Arthur is an emotional love story between two very flawed men who are better together than they every were apart. Definitely a must read.
Check Out The World As He Sees It by A. M. Arthur
(Perspectives Book #2)
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