Rating: 4.75 stars
Buy Links:Ā Ā Amazon | All Romance
Length: Novel
āGuess some things donāt last forever,ā he said.
āSome arenāt meant to,ā Jaime replied. āIf we kept everything forever, weād never find anything new.ā
Alessandro couldnāt wait to get out of town after he graduated high school six years ago. But when his foster father passes away, Alessandro drops everything to return to the only home heās ever known to help the only mother heās ever known. While searching for a job in town, AlĆ© happens upon a small bakery and is hired on the spot. Thatās where he meets Jamie, the ownerās brother. The man is beautiful, and Alessandro wants him immediately, but Alé isnāt a commitment kind of guy.
Jamie Winters has watched life pass him by from a hospital bed, but now heās better and slowly attempting to reacquaint himself with society. Then he meets Alessandro. Their friendship quickly moves to acting on attraction. When Jamie confesses his virginal status, Alessandro presents an offer to show Jamie everything he knows about sex, no strings attached.
The agreement is easy at first. Ā Sex with Jamie is something Alessandro looks forward to ā sharing his experiences, seeing the look of ecstasy on his face. After spending so much time with Jamie, itās impossible not to develop feelings for him, though AlĆ© refuses to say anything. But when Alessandroās past shows its ugly face, threatening not only his family but Jamie and his sister, there is nothing AlĆ© wonāt do to protect his own. Even if it means facing and begin honest about his own feelings for Jamie.
Itās no secret that I am a huge fan of A.M. Arthur, and itās because of books like this. No Such Thing is a story about growing up, finding oneās self, and finding love unexpectedly. Itās a beautiful story that enraptured me from the beginning with Alessandroās need to care for what is his and Jamieās need to move past the bubble his life has become. I loved it from beginning to end.
Of course, I adore Alessandro and Jamie. Alessandro is so caring, the type of guy to take care of those around him. And he really does. He learned from the mistakes of his past and moved on and up. He is a good man, a strong man who wants nothing more than to see the people he cares for happy. Not one for staying in one place, he hasnāt ever made attachments, never claimed anyone as his, but that all changes when he meets Jamie. Jamie appears to be fragile and weak in the beginning. But the manās spirit, his will, his intellect are powerful. Heās a force to be reckoned with. There are points in this story that it may seem like Jamie is taking the cowardās way out, but in retrospect, he is attempting to protect the people he loves. Both Alessandro and Jamie bring out the best in one another. And Iām always a fan of diversity in any form. I love that this relationship is interracial ā Alessandro, dark skinned from Brazil and Jamie, pale and blonde. They are beautiful inside and out.
Ezra is an acquaintance of Alessandroās ā a very hot, extremely sexy acquaintance. I donāt want to go into detail about the night out with Ezra. I only want to note that this author creates not only amazing main characters, but intriguing secondary characters as well. Ezra is a man who has sworn off commitment of any type. He holds a mysterious past that I am dying to know about.
āI apologize if I overstepped this morning,ā Ezra said.
āYou didnāt,ā Jaime replied. Ezra was too beautiful to shut out. āI just get a little uptight about my scar.ā
āUnderstandable. So many people put a high emphasis on perfection, especially among young gay men. The thing most donāt remember, though, is that even the most outwardly beautiful men can be disasters inside.ā He spoke with a conversational tone, but a lingering hint of sadness colored the words with experience.
After reading this, Iām hoping Ezra will get a story of his own soon.
One of the subjects highlighted in this book is small-town bigotry ā the rumors, the hate crimes, the bullying. Arthur also shows the effects of those rumors on impressionable young children. Itās a very difficult and uncomfortable subject, but I have to say the way this author handles such volatile situations is commendable. The story is painful and heartbreaking at times, but Alessandro and Jamie learn from their situation, they grow. Yes, they hurt and they donāt give up and donāt turn their backs on one another, but in the end they find something worth fighting for, worth being themselves for. Seriously, itās painful but so beautiful.
So, on to happier subjects. The writing, as always, draws me in. This author has a way of captivating me with her characters and her stories. The words flow so smoothly and the dialogue keeps me wanting more. Here. Let me show you. This is part of the first actual conversation between Alessandro and Jamie:
āSo where were you really going when you saw the help-needed sign?ā
Alessandro laughed. āThe steakhouse down the street, on the off-chance they needed help in the kitchen. But Iām glad I stopped at Bakerās Dozen.ā
āMe, too.ā Jaime coughed. āI mean, Shannon was really stressing this morning, so Iām glad she got someone fast.ā
āHow fast I am remains to be seen.ā
He rolled his eyes. āThat she got someone quickly.ā
āWell, Iām a quick study, and I like a challenge.ā
Those final four words made Jaimeās skin prickle, as much for their overt innuendo as the tone Alessandro used when saying themālike a caress of fingers over silk. He had to be imagining the whole thing. He didnāt dare hope Alessandro was actually gay, or interested in him. Neither one of them said anything for a while. Jaime was completely stumped. He wasnāt a blunt person by nature, but every single thought circled back to asking Alessandro the bluntest, most personal question possible. He just couldnāt get the words past his lips.
āSo Eunice suggested I find out where people my age hang out and go make new friends,ā Alessandro said. āYouāre my age. You want to take me out?ā
Jaimeās brain tripped and his cheeks heated. āTake you out?ā
Alessandro nodded. His coffee-brown eyes searched Jaimeās face. Jaime tried to hold his gaze, tried really hard, but his dropped down to Alessandroās mouth. Smooth, thin lips that Alessandro licked at that exact moment. Jaime swallowed hard, then looked away.
āItās okay. Never mind,ā Alessandro said lightly, no hint of annoyance or embarrassment in his tone. āBut maybe we can hang out sometime.ā
āMaybe.ā
I love the vulnerability and forwardness, as well as Jamieās shyness in this meeting. Itās a precious moment that these two build on throughout the book.
I absolutely love this book. Iām not surprised, as I have loved everything Iāve read from this author. This will be a series, with book two to be released this summer, although Iām unsure of the series name. Iām hoping for more of Jamie and Alessandro, but Iām also hoping for Ezraās story as well. I highly recommend No Such Thing by A.M. Arthur.
Note: This story will be published February 17th by Carina Press
As always, thank you for the fantastic review! I loved sharing Jaime and Alessandro’s story.
And don’t worry, Ezra’s story is next. MAYBE THIS TIME comes out in July, and this is the one I kept calling the Big Book O Angst. It took a darned stubborn hero to get under Ezra’s skin and discover his secrets. š
YAY!!! I can’t wait for the Big Book O Angst! I loved Ezra!!Ā
And as always, thank you for a wonderful book!!
Oh yea! Ā Another A.M. Arthur series š
And so good, Sadonna!!