Review: A story of healing, hope and finding love
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 07 5, 2012
Cost of Repairs by A.M. Arthur is a story of healing, hope, and finding happiness even when you think you don't deserve it or don't want it.Samuel Briggs is the new beat cop in a small town in Pennsylvania. He's making an effort to know the people on his route and even make some friends. He's starting over, we find out how much and why he's starting over throughout this book and suffice it to say, Sam's story is a dozy.Rey King is a short order cook, part time hardware store worker, and general handy man. He's well liked around town but he's had some trouble in the past. Rey's life has been far from easy and he feels that the only luck he has is bad luck.When Sam and Rey meet for the first time, there's some obvious attraction. But at the time, neither one is sure about the other's sexuality. Rey is out, everyone in town knows and he's okay with that. Sam being a cop keeps his sexuality under wraps. There are people who know he's gay but he doesn't flaunt it around town. The first couple of times Sam and Rey get together it is great in the moment but then afterwards they seem to fall apart. We eventually find out that they are both dealing with a lot of pain and memories that are still affecting them. When Rey is critically injured and then evicted, Sam brings him to the home he is restoring and sets out to help Rey get back on his feet. Of course Rey doesn't like help but even he has to admit at this point, he needs it. During their time together, we begin to understand these very complex men more and it gives us great insight into why they behave the way they do. Things seem to be going fairly well and then someone connected to Sam's past shows up putting both men in danger.This is an extremely well rounded book. I love how Ms. Arthur slowly reveals the backgrounds on these two characters giving us bits and pieces of information but kept just enough back that you know there is more to the story. I like that even though these two jumped into bed together rather quickly, they both come to realize that they genuinely like each other and spend time getting to know one another. I appreciate the fact that even though they both have been through so much, they somehow manage to trust each other. At times it seems all they want to do is say something to really hurt the other person. But, they both are very good at calling each other out and not letting the other one push them away.Cost of Repairs is a book that proves healing takes time, distance, and sometimes a different perspective. Both Sam and Rey are very complex and different people but together they build something special both in the house they are renovating and in each other. I thoroughly enjoyed their story and I've added Ms. Arthur to my must buy list.