Book Review: No Such Thing by A.M. Arthur

Title: No Such Thing
Author: A.M. Arthur
Genre: Contemporary Romance, M/M Romance, New Adult
Sensuality Rating: Erotic
Source: Review copy provided by author
Published: February 17, 2014 by Carina Press

Twenty-two-year-old Alessandro Silva knows that returning to tiny Perch Creek to help his foster mother was the right thing to do. With no degree and a delinquent's reputation, he's lucky to have landed a job waiting tables. But not everyone is happy he's back, and the only thing keeping his move home from being a total bust is his boss's hot brother.

Jaime Winters spent most of his life watching the world go by, first from a series of hospitals and then from behind big stacks of textbooks. Studying is easier than facing the fact that years of heart failure means he's still a virgin at twenty-three. Until the new waiter in his sister's diner awakens desires he'd long ago given up on.

The last thing Alessandro wants is to fall for someone as fragile as Jaime. And Jaime may have a new heart, but he's scared of what giving it to another person would mean. Their no-strings-attached, instructional approach to sex keeps emotion safely at bay, until a secret from Alessandro's past forces them to confront their feelings in the present…

Reviewed By: J9

In a Nutshell: For readers looking for a well written MM New Adult short novel this will fit the bill perfectly.

The Set Up: Alessandro returned to the small town he left five years ago when his foster father died. He wants to help his foster mother raise his two youngest siblings and he’s happy to be hired at the local bakery. Jamie’s sister owns the bakery and he’s immediately attracted to Alessandro. Jamie is finally ready to live his life after being sick for most of his teenaged years and then having a heart transplant. Alessandro agrees to show Jamie the gay way but neither expect their emotions to get involved or for their small town’s secrets to come out.

Why I Read this Book: Synopsis seemed interesting.

What I Liked: I liked both these characters. Alessandro is trying to make up for his angry teen years by returning to shoulder responsibility for his foster family. I could see why he made decisions he did because he wants to have permanence but he’s also scared of it. Jamie’s zest for life and desire to experience it all was fresh and compelling. These young men have a strong attraction which makes the novel erotic and develops some emotional intimacy as well. Their relationship has the exuberance and exploration of young men’s sexuality which I thought fit the characters well.

What I Also Liked: I love communities in my romance and I got that here. Jamie’s sister is a gruff but heartwarming character in how she includes Alessandro in her and Jamie’s lives. Alessandro’s foster family are also well written with his loving mother, Eunice, his mirror-image brother, Tony, and the gentle, wounded five-year old, Molly. Unlike a lot of MM romance, women have important and meaningful relationships for the MM leads and that’s always refreshing for me.

The plot of small town secrets provides good tension. Alessandro and Jamie’s relationship is the novella’s focus but the unraveling of secrets is a good backbone to hang the romance on.

What I Didn’t Like: This is book one of a series so I didn’t get the emotional denouement I like in my romance. Also, I like mature patina on my characters which the young and fresh Jamie and Alessandro weren’t. I readily admit this is purely personal preference and no knock on the novella.

Finally, just a little word of caution that Alessandro and Jamie spend a Saturday exploring options at a gay bar and go home with two men. I think this fit the characters very well while still maintaining a believable relationship between these two young men but some readers may not like this sexual exploration.

IMO: So long as readers are looking for a spicy MM New Adult book then No Such Thing will be a good read.

J9’s Rating:

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