Weight of Silence

Title:  Weight of Silence  (Cost of Repairs: Book 3)

Author:  A.M. Arthur

Length:  164 pages

Rating:  B List

Quad Shot of Love

Blurb:  The wrong secret can poison everything–even if it’s kept with the best of intentions.

Cost of Repairs, Book 3

Gavin Perez knows he’s a living cliché. He works a dead-end job, shares a trailer with his waitress mom, has an abusive, absentee sperm donor, and he’s poor. So color him shocked when middle-class, white-bread Jace Ramsey agrees to hang out with him.

Granted, Gavin is trying to make up for dumping a bowl of cranberry sauce on Jace at Thanksgiving. And boy, is Gavin forgiven, over and over again…until Jace goes back to college for finals and stops returning Gavin’s calls.

Back home from the semester from hell, Jace doesn’t want to do anything but sleep through the holidays. It’s easier than coming out to his family—or facing Gavin’s hurt. But Gavin’s ready forgiveness draws them back together, and Jace won’t be able to stay in the closet much longer.

Nor will he be able to keep hiding his pain. He trusts Gavin with his body, maybe even with his heart. But can he trust that a devastating secret that’s eating him up inside won’t destroy everything—and everyone—he loves?

Review:  This is a fun and sweet coming-of-age story that addresses some serious issues. I loved that it was set in the familiar universe of this series, so we knew a lot of the supporting characters and had insight into the people and history that they shared.

Gavin has grown up with an awareness that the world isn’t fair and that sometimes the people who should love and care for you can be the most dangerous people you know. He is who he is and he refuses to hide his light or pretend to be anything other than fabulous. Gavin was the support and strength that Jace needs and his understanding and care help to make a terrible burden something that Jace faces and overcomes. His father was a nightmare, but his mother was wonderful, and they help take care of each other and deal with the drama and pain that Gavin’s sperm donor brings with him whenever he pops up in their lives again.

Jace has only known the safety and security of a happy, loving and close-knit family and the protection of having a dad for a cop. He fears his family’s reaction to his being gay, but overall knows that he is loved. He was completely unprepared for the harsh realities and dangers lurking in the world outside of his happy childhood. The secret that he holds inside fills him with shame and fear and he needs help to deal with it. He will have to dig deep and be honest with himself and his family, but with Gavin at his side he can face anything.

These boys have a lot of love and support in their lives and although they grapple with some serious problems, they have the tools they need to make it through. The way that they supported each other was wonderful. I was pulled into their story and hurt right alongside them as they struggle and find their footing in the adult world.

A fantastic addition to an excellent series.

Reviewed by Nina