Review: Review: Weight Of Silence by A.M. Arthur
Rating: 3 out of 5
Date: 08 22, 2013
Gavin Perez is a young 23 year old gay man who lives at home, has a dead end job, and an abusive father. Jace Ramsey is a 19 year old college student home for the holidays. When he and Gavin meet over a spilled bowl of cranberry relish, the chemistry sparks and they spend the Thanksgiving weekend getting to know one another.Gavin is disappointed when he doesn't hear from Jace after he goes back to school but forgives him easily when Jace comes home for Christmas and they hook back up. As Gavin and Jace spend more time together, Gavin notices that Jace seems different. He's losing weight, irritable, and easily spooked. When Jace is faced with the object of his fear, he finds himself with a seemingly impossible choice. He already trusts Gavin with his body. Can he also trust him with his heart or will he lose the man he's come to love?Weight Of Silence is the third book in A.M. Arthur's Cost of Repairs series. Plot lighter than the last two, I found this one fell more under New Adult as both protagonists are college aged. A sweet coming of age novel that addresses sexuality and dealing with abuse.The author introduces Gavin and Jace and allows their relationship to progress at a realistic level while intertwining their back stories and consequent present troubles. Gavin is dealing with protecting his mom from his abusive father and Jace has his own secrets that are causing him pain. Jace's secrets are more troubling than Gavin's and not only affect him but also his twin sister, Rachel. Though we are almost to the end before Jace admits exactly what is is facing, there are enough hints given to the reader that foreshadow the revealing.Gavin and Jace's romance is angsty sweet and touching with an appealing sense of innocence. I liked that Gavin, being the more experienced of the two, let's Jace take his emerging sexual orientation at his own pace. Gavin doesn't push Jace or make him feel bad for his lack of experience. Though we are given some physical scenes, they aren't presented in a way that feels cheap or exploited for a more racy storyline.The main conflict and subsequent conflicts are used to help facilitate Gavin and Jace's relationship and Jace's coming out. Both of their problems mirror each others in a basic sense. I liked Arthur's take on the problems and the emotions conveyed by each of our protagonist. What might seem ridiculous to an older adult doesn't make it less of a problem to someone younger.  The solutions given allow for Jace and Gavin to deal with the problems themselves, helping them regain their self respect and confidence. I was happy we see some familiar faces from past books, though they were as integrated into the storyline as in the previous books.However, while the ending is filled with drama it is also  anti-climatic. Everything resolves a little too easy without  fleshing out of the details. I also can't say I'm quite 100% percent happy with some of the sub-plot endings. I felt some issues aren't addressed fully and others were used as convenient way to give our heroes their HEA.Regardless, I enjoyed my trip back to Scranton, PA and visiting with all it's lovely residents. I'm looking forward to book four, Acts Of Faith, set to release December 17, 2013,  which brings the focus back on Rey and Sam.Rating: C+