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Cost of Repairs #5
Foundation of Trust
Not everyone gets a second chance with their first love.
Cost of Repairs, Book 5
David Weller thought he had it all—a loving partner who gave him a ring, a steady job he didn’t hate, and so much hope for the future. But in the wake of a devastating diagnosis, everything he thought was solid and real lay in pieces at his feet.
Four years later, he’s still sifting through the rubble of his life. His catering partnership occupies his days, while his nights are filled with dangerous sexual hookups and very bad decisions. Then the last person he ever expected to see again walks back into his life.
Owen Hart’s single biggest regret is the way he was forced to leave David behind—no explanations, no chance to make it right. Until now. Finally free of eight years of lies, Owen’s back for the only man he’s ever loved.
An incendiary encounter in a club proves that time hasn’t weakened their physical connection, but David’s wounds run deeper than Owen’s deception. And if David can’t first forgive, Owen doesn’t have a second chance in hell.
Warning: This book contains an Australian transplant with a head full of secrets, a party planner with enough baggage to sink a battleship, and a surly teenager who just wants them both to get over themselves.
268 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 21, 2014
38 people are currently reading
417 people want to read
About the author
A.M. Arthur
87 books1,233 followersNo stranger to the writing world, A.M. Arthur has been creating stories in her head since she was a child and scribbling them down nearly as long. She credits an early fascination with male friendships (bromance wasn't a thing yet) with her later discovery of and subsequent affair with m/m romance stories. When not writing, she can be found in her kitchen, pretending she's an amateur chef and trying to not poison herself or others with her cuisine experiments. You can contact her at AM_Arthur(at)yahoo(dot)com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 95 reviews
September 16, 2017
3.5 Stars!
I liked the book but it didn't feel like it connected to the series as smoothly. It felt very much separated. Both characters took a bit of time to warm up to. Especially David. He kept a lot about himself to himself and only opened up near the end. Owen was pretty much an open book once he was able to safely reveal why he has been gone and why he had left in the first place. Not going to lie. It was a bit much. I think some of it could have been left out. It got to be a little unbelievable.
These guys both have a lot going on personally and together that took some time to work through. I enjoyed the story and the steps the men took to get to know each other again instead of just jumping back into a relationship that ended 4 yrs earlier.
I could have done without the flashbacks, but then again I have never been a fan of them in a story. It distracts me and takes me a bit out of the here and now of the story. I understand why the author had them though. It did help see how these men had become a couple to begin with. Still, I didn't care for them.
I have really enjoyed this series. Give it a chance if you have yet to read it.
Happy reading dolls! xx
**I was kindly given an ARC by the author in exchange for an honest review.**
I liked the book but it didn't feel like it connected to the series as smoothly. It felt very much separated. Both characters took a bit of time to warm up to. Especially David. He kept a lot about himself to himself and only opened up near the end. Owen was pretty much an open book once he was able to safely reveal why he has been gone and why he had left in the first place. Not going to lie. It was a bit much. I think some of it could have been left out. It got to be a little unbelievable.
These guys both have a lot going on personally and together that took some time to work through. I enjoyed the story and the steps the men took to get to know each other again instead of just jumping back into a relationship that ended 4 yrs earlier.
I could have done without the flashbacks, but then again I have never been a fan of them in a story. It distracts me and takes me a bit out of the here and now of the story. I understand why the author had them though. It did help see how these men had become a couple to begin with. Still, I didn't care for them.
I have really enjoyed this series. Give it a chance if you have yet to read it.
Happy reading dolls! xx
**I was kindly given an ARC by the author in exchange for an honest review.**
November 23, 2014
I see this is Book 5 in a series. I haven't read books 1 - 4, in fact I haven't read any other works by Ms Arthur, I will however read the synopsis of her other stories and take the Goodread's scores into consideration and maybe, maybe...purchase another.
I liked it....in the end.
Writing style is simplistic, characters are, ok. I didn't weep, I didn't find it angsty. As one of the characters actually says, "I don't know what to think about any of this. It sounds reasonable, but it also sounds like the plot of some kitschy Lifetime movie".....you said it son!
It's pretty obvious that the author enjoys cooking, there's a few lists of buffet food menus, descriptions of dinners and conversations regarding the best comfort food to surprise someone with (Yawn).
It was ok. Plot was pretty good in that overly dramatic sort of way. I liked it. More domestic than action. 3 stars.
I liked it....in the end.
Writing style is simplistic, characters are, ok. I didn't weep, I didn't find it angsty. As one of the characters actually says, "I don't know what to think about any of this. It sounds reasonable, but it also sounds like the plot of some kitschy Lifetime movie".....you said it son!
It's pretty obvious that the author enjoys cooking, there's a few lists of buffet food menus, descriptions of dinners and conversations regarding the best comfort food to surprise someone with (Yawn).
It was ok. Plot was pretty good in that overly dramatic sort of way. I liked it. More domestic than action. 3 stars.
December 18, 2014
Originally posted at http://smexybooks.com/2014/12/review-...
Favorite Quote: Words only go so far in a relationship.
David Weller had it all four years ago. A loving partner, a great job, and a wonderful life, until he received a phone call that destroyed him and left him with nothing but a series of memories and a heart shattered into pieces. Now he engages in random hook ups that help him deal with the pain he still holds on to.
Owen Hart never meant to leave his lover with nothing more than a phone call but when danger from his past comes knocking on his door, he had to make a terrible decision to save himself and his son. Now that the danger is over, Owen has come back to explain what happened that night and hopefully get a second chance with the only man he has ever loved.
The explosive chemistry between them is still there but David’s pain goes far deeper than Owen anticipated and unless David can let go of his pain and anger, he and Owen don’t stand a chance.
Foundation of Trust is the fifth book in A.M Arthur’s bittersweet M/M romance contemporary series-Cost of Repairs. We met David in book four, Acts of Faith. He befriended Rey and they started a catering business together. Hints are given to David’s story being much more than a simple break up and this installment gives us the truth of the matter.
Second chance romances are a favorite of mine. I enjoy seeing how a couple’s relationship was derailed and the different situations that can destroy a seemingly indestructible love. I also enjoy seeing the extent to which they are willing to work to fix their issues. David and Owen’s relationship was doomed from the beginning as we are given the particulars of Owen’s defection. A relationship built on lies never works as this couple soon finds out but the circumstances are understandable. Owen hasn’t led an exemplary life and it comes back to haunt him. Unfortunately, this all happens around the same time David learns he carries the genetic markers for Huntington’s Disease. He feels Owen left because of the disease and that hurts him even more. Once David learns the truth of why Owen left, he understands but cannot seem to forgive and ends up punishing Owen over and over.
A.M. Arthur writes a compelling story about love, loss, redemption, and forgiveness. Emotionally plump with a steady pace and dynamic characterization that takes us back and forth between the past and present to help us understand what happened. A well plotted cast of secondary characters add their voices to help us see the devastation that was felt by both parties and the aftermath of their choices. Unlike the other books in this series, the small town setting is not as prevalent as the story maintains its focus on David and Owen. We do reconnect with Samuel and Rey whose story started the series but again, they are only guests who pop in and out as needed.
David and Owen reconnect slowly, reacquainting themselves with each other and the changes they have both gone through in their separation. There is also a teenager in the mix. A teenager who was hurt by everything that happened. Owen has to be extra careful because it would not only be him that would be devastated if he loses David again. Owen tells David everything about his past, choosing to lose him rather than lie again., while waiting impatiently for David to do the same. The relationship develops with plenty of emotional, physical, and sexual tension. Neither David nor Owen are perfect and there is a shadow of darkness and pain that exists in both of them.
The main conflict and subsequent plot lines are convoluted and wrap up nicely though there were some issues I didn’t feel were thoroughly resolved. David’s need for pain during sex is only handled in an offhand manner with us being told that with Owen back in his life, that aspect is no longer needed. I didn’t buy that. I also didn’t understand what was the reasons for adding the scene of Michael’s job and Owen’s response.
Regardless of my issues, I thoroughly enjoyed David and Owen’s story and look forward to reading more from A. M. Author in the future. You do not have to read the entire series to understand and connect this story but it helps as characters and events from previous books are mentioned in here.
Overall Rating: B
Favorite Quote: Words only go so far in a relationship.
David Weller had it all four years ago. A loving partner, a great job, and a wonderful life, until he received a phone call that destroyed him and left him with nothing but a series of memories and a heart shattered into pieces. Now he engages in random hook ups that help him deal with the pain he still holds on to.
Owen Hart never meant to leave his lover with nothing more than a phone call but when danger from his past comes knocking on his door, he had to make a terrible decision to save himself and his son. Now that the danger is over, Owen has come back to explain what happened that night and hopefully get a second chance with the only man he has ever loved.
The explosive chemistry between them is still there but David’s pain goes far deeper than Owen anticipated and unless David can let go of his pain and anger, he and Owen don’t stand a chance.
Foundation of Trust is the fifth book in A.M Arthur’s bittersweet M/M romance contemporary series-Cost of Repairs. We met David in book four, Acts of Faith. He befriended Rey and they started a catering business together. Hints are given to David’s story being much more than a simple break up and this installment gives us the truth of the matter.
Second chance romances are a favorite of mine. I enjoy seeing how a couple’s relationship was derailed and the different situations that can destroy a seemingly indestructible love. I also enjoy seeing the extent to which they are willing to work to fix their issues. David and Owen’s relationship was doomed from the beginning as we are given the particulars of Owen’s defection. A relationship built on lies never works as this couple soon finds out but the circumstances are understandable. Owen hasn’t led an exemplary life and it comes back to haunt him. Unfortunately, this all happens around the same time David learns he carries the genetic markers for Huntington’s Disease. He feels Owen left because of the disease and that hurts him even more. Once David learns the truth of why Owen left, he understands but cannot seem to forgive and ends up punishing Owen over and over.
A.M. Arthur writes a compelling story about love, loss, redemption, and forgiveness. Emotionally plump with a steady pace and dynamic characterization that takes us back and forth between the past and present to help us understand what happened. A well plotted cast of secondary characters add their voices to help us see the devastation that was felt by both parties and the aftermath of their choices. Unlike the other books in this series, the small town setting is not as prevalent as the story maintains its focus on David and Owen. We do reconnect with Samuel and Rey whose story started the series but again, they are only guests who pop in and out as needed.
David and Owen reconnect slowly, reacquainting themselves with each other and the changes they have both gone through in their separation. There is also a teenager in the mix. A teenager who was hurt by everything that happened. Owen has to be extra careful because it would not only be him that would be devastated if he loses David again. Owen tells David everything about his past, choosing to lose him rather than lie again., while waiting impatiently for David to do the same. The relationship develops with plenty of emotional, physical, and sexual tension. Neither David nor Owen are perfect and there is a shadow of darkness and pain that exists in both of them.
The main conflict and subsequent plot lines are convoluted and wrap up nicely though there were some issues I didn’t feel were thoroughly resolved. David’s need for pain during sex is only handled in an offhand manner with us being told that with Owen back in his life, that aspect is no longer needed. I didn’t buy that. I also didn’t understand what was the reasons for adding the scene of Michael’s job and Owen’s response.
Regardless of my issues, I thoroughly enjoyed David and Owen’s story and look forward to reading more from A. M. Author in the future. You do not have to read the entire series to understand and connect this story but it helps as characters and events from previous books are mentioned in here.
Overall Rating: B
October 16, 2014
I reread Acts of Faith just before getting into this one, and it set me up for David’s story nicely. I loved the complex nature of AM Arthur’s stories. Bad things happen to her characters, and they are real and awful, and it’s both easy and hard to watch them fight their way through the bad stuff.
She shows the importance of friendship, and that often family aren’t blood, that they are the people who you choose, or who choose you. David hasn’t had a family for four years, but he’s still got Lindy and has now met Rey, and many aspects of his life are settled, and this means when Owen walks back into his life, David has people he can talk to and help him deal.
Poor Owen, though, he has nobody. As much as I feel for David, Owen really tugs the heartstrings here. His reasons for leaving David are as bad as you can imagine. There are no quick fixes here. But there is still attraction, connection and the possibility of a second chance.
I find these complex stories absorbing and intense. The smex is hot and the conversations real. I think I can see where we will go next ??
(I would have liked to have seen more of Rey and Sam though...
If you have enjoyed the other Cost of Repairs books, I recommend this one as well. Nothing comes easy, but when should it ever?
This copy was provided by the publisher via Netgalley and received with thanks. Out on Oct 21.
She shows the importance of friendship, and that often family aren’t blood, that they are the people who you choose, or who choose you. David hasn’t had a family for four years, but he’s still got Lindy and has now met Rey, and many aspects of his life are settled, and this means when Owen walks back into his life, David has people he can talk to and help him deal.
Poor Owen, though, he has nobody. As much as I feel for David, Owen really tugs the heartstrings here. His reasons for leaving David are as bad as you can imagine. There are no quick fixes here. But there is still attraction, connection and the possibility of a second chance.
I find these complex stories absorbing and intense. The smex is hot and the conversations real. I think I can see where we will go next ??
(I would have liked to have seen more of Rey and Sam though...
If you have enjoyed the other Cost of Repairs books, I recommend this one as well. Nothing comes easy, but when should it ever?
This copy was provided by the publisher via Netgalley and received with thanks. Out on Oct 21.
July 9, 2019
Good
3.75⭐️
Reread- new edition
I enjoyed this one. I liked the family the guys made together.
I understood David’s anger at being left behind the way he was, and then also felt for Owen when David lashed out as he was trying to make it up to him.
The flashbacks were a good way of going through their past, the only problem was that a few times it took me a second to realise it was a flashback and not current events.
Hope Ethan gets a book
3.75⭐️
Reread- new edition
I enjoyed this one. I liked the family the guys made together.
I understood David’s anger at being left behind the way he was, and then also felt for Owen when David lashed out as he was trying to make it up to him.
The flashbacks were a good way of going through their past, the only problem was that a few times it took me a second to realise it was a flashback and not current events.
Hope Ethan gets a book
October 25, 2014
3.5 stars.
I liked this well enough, it just didn't wow me.
I liked this well enough, it just didn't wow me.
January 30, 2015
3.5 stars
I liked the blurb and the overall storyline. I didn't like the flash-backs, I found several of them unnecessary and disruptive. There were a couple of by-chance-meetings which were too good to be true and to be honest, I found David let Owen get away with his disappearing and then re-appearing too easy. I was missing some majorly groveling :)
(Hope this makes sense)
I liked the blurb and the overall storyline. I didn't like the flash-backs, I found several of them unnecessary and disruptive. There were a couple of by-chance-meetings which were too good to be true and to be honest, I found David let Owen get away with his disappearing and then re-appearing too easy. I was missing some majorly groveling :)
(Hope this makes sense)
September 18, 2017
This last book of the Cost of Repairs series is David’s story, Rey’s partner in the catering business. At a business event, David discovers that his ex, Owen, has come back and wants to explain what happened to make him disappear four years earlier. It’s a pretty darned good reason but David has to get past what he took, at the time, as yet another betrayal in his life. David, and Owen and his son Michael, are fully realized and vivid characters and their emotional connection was evident in the narrative.
There were aspects I didn’t care much for, such as David looking for sadistic sex partners during his time alone. It was a form of self-harm and certainly plausible but not my cuppa. The situation with the businessman’s wife and David also seemed like overkill, since it was so unrelated to the main plot line. Just a little too much extra on top of everything else and I’d rather have seen more focus on David once he got past his resistance to reconciling with Owen. I wanted more of them together and less of David being unreasonable.
Still, I liked returning to the world this series created and seeing a little more of Sam and Rey and how solid their future became. It was a good story bringing that one thread in the story arc to completion. I initially read only books 1, 2 and 4 of this series, which remain my favorites and I’m happy to have had the chance to complete it. Highly recommended books, series and author for those who enjoy a good hurt/comfort read.
* ARC was provided to me by the publisher via Hearts On Fire Reviews in return for an honest opinion*
There were aspects I didn’t care much for, such as David looking for sadistic sex partners during his time alone. It was a form of self-harm and certainly plausible but not my cuppa. The situation with the businessman’s wife and David also seemed like overkill, since it was so unrelated to the main plot line. Just a little too much extra on top of everything else and I’d rather have seen more focus on David once he got past his resistance to reconciling with Owen. I wanted more of them together and less of David being unreasonable.
Still, I liked returning to the world this series created and seeing a little more of Sam and Rey and how solid their future became. It was a good story bringing that one thread in the story arc to completion. I initially read only books 1, 2 and 4 of this series, which remain my favorites and I’m happy to have had the chance to complete it. Highly recommended books, series and author for those who enjoy a good hurt/comfort read.
* ARC was provided to me by the publisher via Hearts On Fire Reviews in return for an honest opinion*
July 17, 2016
I wondered what I was going to think of David; I went back and forth from previous books because he seemed so broken and so sad but then I didn't like the kind of guy he was or the things we assumed he got up to... I guess we understand better now, the reasons for why he was the way he was and done the things he done. It was heartbreaking...Losing Owen and the child he cared about so much like that...
Owen; his whole story line was unbelievable in a way... I dunno, I didn't get into it, I didn't see Owen as that kind of person and I thought David was right, it was all LIfetime movie mumbo jumbo like lol
Okay, those weren't his exact words, but close enough!
It also got on my nerves, the back and forth... the David is mad, and rightfully so, but then Owen is mad, and then David is mad again and then Owen is mad again, and Michael; that kid stays mad it seems like... It's like... You guys are horrible at communication and stuff just really isn't that serious to get mad over.. Owen; if you didn't like what was happening at the club, you should have stopped it; David; either forgive and forget or stop wasting everyone's time.. it was exhausting I kept forgetting who was mad at which time and why??!!!
I'm sad about David's disease, even though he's okay right now; there will come a time when he's not and I admire Owen for not caring about it; for knowing how hard it will be when the disease makes things harder for both of them; not that it's a reason to leave someone, especially if you love them but I hate that these people have already been through so much and they'll have to endure more.
Another thing I hate more than anything about this series; is the bad guys always get away with being the bad guys... Wether it be attempted murder; attempted or otherwise rape; breaking and entering; bigotry, kidnapping, whatever; it's like none of those things matter and nothing happens to them. This dude in this story gets what? 6 months in jail and has to pay 1,000 dollars? He's rich for goodness sakes! And the dude that Michael worked for? Owen got mad but then nothing happened to him, he's just an angry, bigoted old man and that's okay... we'll let him do wrong and get the readers mad about it then just let it go... I HATE THAT! BLAH!!!
Other than that, I loved Michael's relationship with David; I'm glad his relationship was improving with Owen cuz had that been my kid at 14, a lot of that stuff would not have gone ignored but... whatever... I'm curious to read more about Ethanial and maybe Cam... Although, I'm not big into BDSM and that seems to be what Cam is into; so we'll have to see... I'm looking forward to it though....
3.5 for me on this one.
Owen; his whole story line was unbelievable in a way... I dunno, I didn't get into it, I didn't see Owen as that kind of person and I thought David was right, it was all LIfetime movie mumbo jumbo like lol
Okay, those weren't his exact words, but close enough!
It also got on my nerves, the back and forth... the David is mad, and rightfully so, but then Owen is mad, and then David is mad again and then Owen is mad again, and Michael; that kid stays mad it seems like... It's like... You guys are horrible at communication and stuff just really isn't that serious to get mad over.. Owen; if you didn't like what was happening at the club, you should have stopped it; David; either forgive and forget or stop wasting everyone's time.. it was exhausting I kept forgetting who was mad at which time and why??!!!
I'm sad about David's disease, even though he's okay right now; there will come a time when he's not and I admire Owen for not caring about it; for knowing how hard it will be when the disease makes things harder for both of them; not that it's a reason to leave someone, especially if you love them but I hate that these people have already been through so much and they'll have to endure more.
Another thing I hate more than anything about this series; is the bad guys always get away with being the bad guys... Wether it be attempted murder; attempted or otherwise rape; breaking and entering; bigotry, kidnapping, whatever; it's like none of those things matter and nothing happens to them. This dude in this story gets what? 6 months in jail and has to pay 1,000 dollars? He's rich for goodness sakes! And the dude that Michael worked for? Owen got mad but then nothing happened to him, he's just an angry, bigoted old man and that's okay... we'll let him do wrong and get the readers mad about it then just let it go... I HATE THAT! BLAH!!!
Other than that, I loved Michael's relationship with David; I'm glad his relationship was improving with Owen cuz had that been my kid at 14, a lot of that stuff would not have gone ignored but... whatever... I'm curious to read more about Ethanial and maybe Cam... Although, I'm not big into BDSM and that seems to be what Cam is into; so we'll have to see... I'm looking forward to it though....
3.5 for me on this one.
October 21, 2014
My Review:
I can't imagine how devastating it would be to be abandoned by your partner and his son after four years without a word as to why. That's where David's been for the last four years since Owen left with his son Michael only two days after a devastating medical diagnosis for David. He always assumed he was abandoned because of the diagnosis, but he was wrong. But regardless of why he was abandoned, he was...and that left him horribly scarred mentally. He hasn't dealt with it well. Now he has no desire for anything resembling a relationship and instead has a very masochistic attitude toward sex. It has to hurt for him to get any feeling out of it at all. Yeah, David's more than a bit messed up because of what Owen did.
So when Owen comes back, things are certainly not smooth. But it's hard to hate Owen because he had no choice in the matter. But four years of devastating hurt is so difficult to overcome. This is an easy book to see and feel from both sides...and my heart hurt for both guys...and Michael who got caught up in the middle and lost a dad in all of this too.
It's definitely an emotion-filled book and I do love those. And it's not just the emotions from the break-up. As the guys get to know each other, they both find that the other has done unspeakable things. How do you get past that?
There were moments when I wasn't sure if love was going to be enough for these two. So much pain and hurt between them, but that did make it a great read for me. I love that kind of angst when the heart is pulled toward the other person, but the head says 'hell no!'
It was definitely a good book. I've eyed this series for a while now. I think I need to go back and read some of the first four books from it. BTW, this is number 5 in the series, but it absolutely stands-alone easily. Not once was I ever confused or wishing that I read one of the other books before this one. It's a strong story all on its own.
I received a complimentary copy of this book in return for an honest review.
I can't imagine how devastating it would be to be abandoned by your partner and his son after four years without a word as to why. That's where David's been for the last four years since Owen left with his son Michael only two days after a devastating medical diagnosis for David. He always assumed he was abandoned because of the diagnosis, but he was wrong. But regardless of why he was abandoned, he was...and that left him horribly scarred mentally. He hasn't dealt with it well. Now he has no desire for anything resembling a relationship and instead has a very masochistic attitude toward sex. It has to hurt for him to get any feeling out of it at all. Yeah, David's more than a bit messed up because of what Owen did.
So when Owen comes back, things are certainly not smooth. But it's hard to hate Owen because he had no choice in the matter. But four years of devastating hurt is so difficult to overcome. This is an easy book to see and feel from both sides...and my heart hurt for both guys...and Michael who got caught up in the middle and lost a dad in all of this too.
It's definitely an emotion-filled book and I do love those. And it's not just the emotions from the break-up. As the guys get to know each other, they both find that the other has done unspeakable things. How do you get past that?
There were moments when I wasn't sure if love was going to be enough for these two. So much pain and hurt between them, but that did make it a great read for me. I love that kind of angst when the heart is pulled toward the other person, but the head says 'hell no!'
It was definitely a good book. I've eyed this series for a while now. I think I need to go back and read some of the first four books from it. BTW, this is number 5 in the series, but it absolutely stands-alone easily. Not once was I ever confused or wishing that I read one of the other books before this one. It's a strong story all on its own.
I received a complimentary copy of this book in return for an honest review.
January 10, 2015
I am definitely a hopeless romantic and I love the love stories where the characters have to fight for their happy ever after, or at the very least, their happy for now. But this story was a little melodramatic for me, and at times the passion and sexual tension came across as forced. That being said, the story itself was a good read.
David is a complex character that is broken in such a way that it breaks your heart and endears you, the reader, to him. Owen is responsible, when he left he broke David's heart, but now he is back to reclaim what is his. And then you have Michael, Owen's son, and you learn the reason Owen left was to protect his son from the mistakes of his past. Michael pretty much stole the book for me, he is far more mature than most teenagers his age, and his fierce protectiveness of his father was a wonder to see play out.
I think perhaps I should have read the other books in this series, even if the book does state it can be read as a stand alone story, I just felt like something was missing while I was reading.
I'd say if you are a fan of slightly angsty adult stories and hard fought HEA, then you will enjoy this read.
* I received a copy of this book through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*
David is a complex character that is broken in such a way that it breaks your heart and endears you, the reader, to him. Owen is responsible, when he left he broke David's heart, but now he is back to reclaim what is his. And then you have Michael, Owen's son, and you learn the reason Owen left was to protect his son from the mistakes of his past. Michael pretty much stole the book for me, he is far more mature than most teenagers his age, and his fierce protectiveness of his father was a wonder to see play out.
I think perhaps I should have read the other books in this series, even if the book does state it can be read as a stand alone story, I just felt like something was missing while I was reading.
I'd say if you are a fan of slightly angsty adult stories and hard fought HEA, then you will enjoy this read.
* I received a copy of this book through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*
October 20, 2015
This is my first book by this author and yes, I do realise it is the fifth in a series. But whatever said, it was epic.
This book had me on a train which would stop on all emotions it was possible to feel while making a second chance work. And in fact I haven't read a lot of books (read: none) with the theme being, making a relationship which has broken completely (like the MCs don't see or talk to each other in 4 years kind of broken) or more accurately painfully torn into shreds work, once again and manage to make it believable.
David and Owen are trying to give their relationship a second chance but things are far from easy when their pasts pore in, things go wrong and people get hurt. I had a love-hate relationship with both characters who are actually quite "gray" characters. They are like the people in whom you like a few things, tolerate the others and detest the rest. But they fit together.
Also there are a whole lot of over-protective friends, with an extremely understanding business partner and a teenager bent on getting David and Owen to work things out.
All in all the stark simplicity and beauty of the emotions won me over, I feel like saying that there is probably nothing very amazing about the book except the fact that the characters feel very real.
This book had me on a train which would stop on all emotions it was possible to feel while making a second chance work. And in fact I haven't read a lot of books (read: none) with the theme being, making a relationship which has broken completely (like the MCs don't see or talk to each other in 4 years kind of broken) or more accurately painfully torn into shreds work, once again and manage to make it believable.
David and Owen are trying to give their relationship a second chance but things are far from easy when their pasts pore in, things go wrong and people get hurt. I had a love-hate relationship with both characters who are actually quite "gray" characters. They are like the people in whom you like a few things, tolerate the others and detest the rest. But they fit together.
Also there are a whole lot of over-protective friends, with an extremely understanding business partner and a teenager bent on getting David and Owen to work things out.
All in all the stark simplicity and beauty of the emotions won me over, I feel like saying that there is probably nothing very amazing about the book except the fact that the characters feel very real.
March 20, 2016
**3.5 stars
So, this is book 5 in the series and I'm left with an ending that doesn't feel like an ending......again. Not only does the ending not feel like an ending I realized that all the endings (have I written "ending" enough yet?) in every book was rushed and I can only guess it was to bring the books to a close....maybe? Or this must just be the way this author writes her stories. *shrugs*
If the characters weren't so likeable and the overall stories not so entertaining I would have stopped reading this series a couple of books ago. In saying that Foundation of Trust didn't work as well for me as the others. It's a good enough story and I loved the main characters but Owen's life is a bit over the top.
I don't look for real life in my romance books because after all no matter the genre, whether it be m/f or m/m, it's all fantasy but when I start laughing or rolling my eyes at how much really bad stuff one character can go through that's never a good sign.
Strangely enough, I'm fascinated by this series and if another should come along - say with Cameron and Ethan as main characters - I won't hesitate to pick it up. This one may not have knocked my socks off but it was an okay read.
May 22, 2015
After Owen suddenly left, David has been living a reckless life. He got his career on track but found he needed pain, needed to hurt to escape the past and the future. He feels abandoned by those that love him for the second time in his life. Owen's reappearance in his life is not welcome, David both hates and loves him and nearly doesn't give him the chance to explain.
Knowing that Huntington's Disease has claimed members of your family for the last two generations must be a big burden to carry. Waiting for the first symptom to appear would be frightening.
Once Owen explains the reason he and his son disappeared, even though it's completely understandable, it doesn't mean David can forgive him. There have been so many lies and David wants the truth, every sordid detail yet doesn't want to share his secrets in return.
I really enjoyed the story. Owen, David and Michael were rounded, believable characters. Their struggles were heart wrenching and it was good to see there could be happiness for David in what is his very uncertain future.
Knowing that Huntington's Disease has claimed members of your family for the last two generations must be a big burden to carry. Waiting for the first symptom to appear would be frightening.
Once Owen explains the reason he and his son disappeared, even though it's completely understandable, it doesn't mean David can forgive him. There have been so many lies and David wants the truth, every sordid detail yet doesn't want to share his secrets in return.
I really enjoyed the story. Owen, David and Michael were rounded, believable characters. Their struggles were heart wrenching and it was good to see there could be happiness for David in what is his very uncertain future.
May 4, 2016
3.5 Stars
I was intrigued by the character of David Weller in Acts of Faith and I enjoyed his story. It was great to learn about the reasons for his reckless behavior and to see him happy for once. I love a good reunion story too. Owen's backstory was a little melodramatic for me, but I appreciated his desire to ask forgiveness once he was able. Good installment in a very good series. I hope A.M. Arthur continues the series with either Cameron or Ethaniel soon.
I received a free e-galley of this book from Samhain Publishing via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
I was intrigued by the character of David Weller in Acts of Faith and I enjoyed his story. It was great to learn about the reasons for his reckless behavior and to see him happy for once. I love a good reunion story too. Owen's backstory was a little melodramatic for me, but I appreciated his desire to ask forgiveness once he was able. Good installment in a very good series. I hope A.M. Arthur continues the series with either Cameron or Ethaniel soon.
I received a free e-galley of this book from Samhain Publishing via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
October 26, 2014
I did enjoy the story of David and Owen and was happy for David that he found Owen again. I do have to say I was getting a little disappointed with Davids on again off again treatment of Owen and not making up his mind. I was happy to see Ethaniel come in with some competition for David so he could make up his mind what was really important. I was really sad about the Huntingtons disease for David but in the end he really took it in and decided not to let it rule his life and to enjoy the good years he had left, very emotional and moving.
I would have loved to read more of some of the previous characters from Cost of Repairs series even through we heard from Rey and some of Sam. Still a great addition to the series and I would love to read a story on Ethaniel and the Dom Cameron!!
I would have loved to read more of some of the previous characters from Cost of Repairs series even through we heard from Rey and some of Sam. Still a great addition to the series and I would love to read a story on Ethaniel and the Dom Cameron!!
November 1, 2014
Okay but I ended up skipping pages near the end. The we are together again, let's celebrate sex scenes kinda felt flat for me. I found myself pushing next, next, next on my ebook reader.
Still, both characters are well rounded. I especially liked that both were shades of grey. Had things, black things in their lives, their make-up that they had to deal with. Not with the same success but still this is a rare depiction of two people who loved each other once and decided to work on getting to know each other again and work on their anger and guilt.
David, Ethan were worth my time in the end.
Still, both characters are well rounded. I especially liked that both were shades of grey. Had things, black things in their lives, their make-up that they had to deal with. Not with the same success but still this is a rare depiction of two people who loved each other once and decided to work on getting to know each other again and work on their anger and guilt.
David, Ethan were worth my time in the end.
January 16, 2016
If you take a ball of drama up a giant mountain and then roll it down and watch it get bigger and bigger and bigger then you have the plot of this book. I've enjoyed the prior books in this series but there were so many things that didn't work for me in this one I can't even get started or this is going to turn into a crazy person rant.
December 15, 2014
I'm finished with Foundation of Trust: 4.5 Angst-filled stars. The emo in me preens.
February 9, 2015
very good final edition
loved to read this complete series
I really recommend it !
looking forward to the spin off that is coming :)
loved to read this complete series
I really recommend it !
looking forward to the spin off that is coming :)
October 24, 2017
I loved David’s story. I wasn’t sure about him at first when he was introduced in Acts of Faith: Cost of Repairs Book 4, but he grew on me and I found myself wanting to know his story. What his ‘deal’ was. I knew there had to be something devastating in his background.
I am a big of fan of second chance love and redemption. David and Owen fell in love and had planned a long life together, but life and bad choices often bite us in the ass. Owen and his son, Michael, walked out of David's life years ago, out of necessity not want. But, Owen never forgot his love and he wants his David back.
Even though David hated Owen for abandoning him, he never stopped loving Owen. The spark and sexual tension between them was still there after all the years apart, but David isn’t that easy. Owen has to prove himself worthy of David’s love and trust.
I love how AMA took us back to the past and let us see what happened so we could feel the full weight of emotion of how Owen and David’s story started and how it ended four years earlier. AMA didn’t have them jumping back into a relationship, because who does that? You just don’t get over a perceived betrayal with the snap of a finger and a well-placed “I’m sorry.” You have to start over and AMA does a wonderful job of allowing the characters to find their way back to each other.
Owen’s son, Michael, was portrayed realistically and I love that. The teenage angst and my life sucks attitude after all he’d been through was spot on. He often stole the show and children often do.
Foundation of Trust is well-written with a complex plot and lovable characters. It brings the series to a close and gives us our final HEA. David and Owen have awesome chemistry and are HAF together.
I highly recommend this entire series. You won’t be disappointed.
ON A PERSONAL NOTE: The disease David was diagnosed with hit close to home for me. It runs in my family. My father’s grandfather, mother, and 4 of his 7 siblings died from the disease and I have several cousins who have been diagnosed (some living with it/others dying from it). To learn more about David’s disease, go here: http://hdsa.org/
I am a big of fan of second chance love and redemption. David and Owen fell in love and had planned a long life together, but life and bad choices often bite us in the ass. Owen and his son, Michael, walked out of David's life years ago, out of necessity not want. But, Owen never forgot his love and he wants his David back.
Even though David hated Owen for abandoning him, he never stopped loving Owen. The spark and sexual tension between them was still there after all the years apart, but David isn’t that easy. Owen has to prove himself worthy of David’s love and trust.
I love how AMA took us back to the past and let us see what happened so we could feel the full weight of emotion of how Owen and David’s story started and how it ended four years earlier. AMA didn’t have them jumping back into a relationship, because who does that? You just don’t get over a perceived betrayal with the snap of a finger and a well-placed “I’m sorry.” You have to start over and AMA does a wonderful job of allowing the characters to find their way back to each other.
Owen’s son, Michael, was portrayed realistically and I love that. The teenage angst and my life sucks attitude after all he’d been through was spot on. He often stole the show and children often do.
Foundation of Trust is well-written with a complex plot and lovable characters. It brings the series to a close and gives us our final HEA. David and Owen have awesome chemistry and are HAF together.
I highly recommend this entire series. You won’t be disappointed.
ON A PERSONAL NOTE: The disease David was diagnosed with hit close to home for me. It runs in my family. My father’s grandfather, mother, and 4 of his 7 siblings died from the disease and I have several cousins who have been diagnosed (some living with it/others dying from it). To learn more about David’s disease, go here: http://hdsa.org/
November 2, 2014
FourStars
A. M. Arthur wrote a great story about second chances in love and in life. The characters were David, Owen and Michael, Owen's son. Despite having created a beautiful life together, David and Owen's relationship is left in shambles when Michael and Owen must pick up and leave David behind.
The story really begins when Owen returns with Michael, in search of David, once again. I enjoyed where the story began, because the reader was given a glimpse in to how David's life was going at the time. Despite having some recent success in his party planning/catering business, David is still missing something in his life. He had past hurts that cut him deep and dealing with those feelings was not going so well for him.
Owen has dragged poor Michael all around in his attempt to keep his child safe from past mistakes. Michael is a typical teenager, who has been moved around quite a bit. His attitude towards his father is what you would expect of a normal teenager, but his overwhelming love and protectiveness of his father is heart warming too. Michael stands up for his family in a way that most teenagers would cower at. I really enjoyed reading Michael's character and watching his development.
The story has a somewhat strange spin off of a less than important side story. I am unsure if this was to create some angst within the story that does not involve David and Owen's feelings, but rather to show protectiveness within the relationship. I don't quite know how I feel about this story twist - it kind of adds to the story - it allows for the author to show the protective streak in both Owen and Michael, on behalf of David, but otherwise, I am not sure it really adds to the story. I believe the author was already bringing the characters back together in a much more cohesive manner and then, it seems like they decided to throw this twist in, in the hope that it would end the story quickly rather than continue on the started path of bringing David and Owen together based on love, forgiveness and family.
David and Owen meet again, but must overcome some monumental hurdles in order to have their second chance at love. Forgiving both themselves and each other is probably the most difficult things they must deal with. I really enjoyed the story, despite the strange twist.
I was given this in return for an honest review by Inked Rainbow Reads.
AvidReader
ThreeStar
I have to admit, I didn't particularly enjoy this book. I thought it started off strong, and I was interested to see why the relationship between David and Owen ended and how they would rebuild it. I thought it was an interesting and fresh take on the subject, and I did like that it wasn't easily resolved as a misunderstanding. Unfortunately, for me, it was all downhill from there.
The first problem I had was that Owen kept reminding us--at least once per chapter--that he's gay. It annoyed me for two reasons. One, everyone he told already knew, and it wasn't necessary to rehash it. Second, the author established his being gay in a way that puts me off. She set him up as potentially bisexual, but then had him "discover" that he's really gay. The problem is, it never actually appeared that way. He referenced being attracted to women; never showed any interest in any men other than David; David was his "catalyst" to being gay; and Owen even seemed somewhat repulsed by the idea of being with any other men. Yet he keeps talking about how gay he is. It came across as Owen trying to convince the readers while not really being convinced himself, and it made it look like the author was trying to avoid the "messiness" of a bisexual character. I see that as lazy writing, used for the sake of having a "coming out" story rather than one about a relationship.
My second problem was all the women in the story. With one exception (David's friend Lindy), the women were either dead or shrews or both. It upsets me greatly that a woman would write a story with such poor examples of womanhood. I would rather have seen no women at all than have all of them be horrible people with largely no redeeming qualities.
Third, I felt that a lot of the plot was contrived and some of the events just didn't make sense other than as filler. There was a subplot towards the end that didn't have any bearing on the rest of the story. There were a couple of prior things that occurred in the story, and I thought this subplot might be connected. As it turned out, it wasn't at all, and it seemed almost silly. It looked more like just a way to say, "Hey, how can we screw up an important day for these guys?"
The one thing I did like was the relationship between Owen and David. If that could have carried the whole book, it would have been much better. The way they resolved things and the discovery of David's demons were fantastic and very strong writing. However, the tropes in the rest of the narrative were not necessary to the relationship at all. The same story could have been written with Owen as bisexual or as established gay; the coming out part was so minimal it was unnecessary. The women could have been more varied and nuanced; the two women who were "bad" but also instrumental to the plot were sufficient.
I have no doubt someone will love this book, but that someone was not me.
I was given this in return for an honest review by Inked Rainbow Reads.
~Amy
A. M. Arthur wrote a great story about second chances in love and in life. The characters were David, Owen and Michael, Owen's son. Despite having created a beautiful life together, David and Owen's relationship is left in shambles when Michael and Owen must pick up and leave David behind.
The story really begins when Owen returns with Michael, in search of David, once again. I enjoyed where the story began, because the reader was given a glimpse in to how David's life was going at the time. Despite having some recent success in his party planning/catering business, David is still missing something in his life. He had past hurts that cut him deep and dealing with those feelings was not going so well for him.
Owen has dragged poor Michael all around in his attempt to keep his child safe from past mistakes. Michael is a typical teenager, who has been moved around quite a bit. His attitude towards his father is what you would expect of a normal teenager, but his overwhelming love and protectiveness of his father is heart warming too. Michael stands up for his family in a way that most teenagers would cower at. I really enjoyed reading Michael's character and watching his development.
The story has a somewhat strange spin off of a less than important side story. I am unsure if this was to create some angst within the story that does not involve David and Owen's feelings, but rather to show protectiveness within the relationship. I don't quite know how I feel about this story twist - it kind of adds to the story - it allows for the author to show the protective streak in both Owen and Michael, on behalf of David, but otherwise, I am not sure it really adds to the story. I believe the author was already bringing the characters back together in a much more cohesive manner and then, it seems like they decided to throw this twist in, in the hope that it would end the story quickly rather than continue on the started path of bringing David and Owen together based on love, forgiveness and family.
David and Owen meet again, but must overcome some monumental hurdles in order to have their second chance at love. Forgiving both themselves and each other is probably the most difficult things they must deal with. I really enjoyed the story, despite the strange twist.
I was given this in return for an honest review by Inked Rainbow Reads.
AvidReader
ThreeStar
I have to admit, I didn't particularly enjoy this book. I thought it started off strong, and I was interested to see why the relationship between David and Owen ended and how they would rebuild it. I thought it was an interesting and fresh take on the subject, and I did like that it wasn't easily resolved as a misunderstanding. Unfortunately, for me, it was all downhill from there.
The first problem I had was that Owen kept reminding us--at least once per chapter--that he's gay. It annoyed me for two reasons. One, everyone he told already knew, and it wasn't necessary to rehash it. Second, the author established his being gay in a way that puts me off. She set him up as potentially bisexual, but then had him "discover" that he's really gay. The problem is, it never actually appeared that way. He referenced being attracted to women; never showed any interest in any men other than David; David was his "catalyst" to being gay; and Owen even seemed somewhat repulsed by the idea of being with any other men. Yet he keeps talking about how gay he is. It came across as Owen trying to convince the readers while not really being convinced himself, and it made it look like the author was trying to avoid the "messiness" of a bisexual character. I see that as lazy writing, used for the sake of having a "coming out" story rather than one about a relationship.
My second problem was all the women in the story. With one exception (David's friend Lindy), the women were either dead or shrews or both. It upsets me greatly that a woman would write a story with such poor examples of womanhood. I would rather have seen no women at all than have all of them be horrible people with largely no redeeming qualities.
Third, I felt that a lot of the plot was contrived and some of the events just didn't make sense other than as filler. There was a subplot towards the end that didn't have any bearing on the rest of the story. There were a couple of prior things that occurred in the story, and I thought this subplot might be connected. As it turned out, it wasn't at all, and it seemed almost silly. It looked more like just a way to say, "Hey, how can we screw up an important day for these guys?"
The one thing I did like was the relationship between Owen and David. If that could have carried the whole book, it would have been much better. The way they resolved things and the discovery of David's demons were fantastic and very strong writing. However, the tropes in the rest of the narrative were not necessary to the relationship at all. The same story could have been written with Owen as bisexual or as established gay; the coming out part was so minimal it was unnecessary. The women could have been more varied and nuanced; the two women who were "bad" but also instrumental to the plot were sufficient.
I have no doubt someone will love this book, but that someone was not me.
I was given this in return for an honest review by Inked Rainbow Reads.
~Amy
September 23, 2017
Great potential for angst (David's illness and destructive ways of looking for sensations, Owen's criminal past, a vindictive client), but everything has been sweep over. Sex scenes dominated the story
January 4, 2020
Good
Don't get me wrong i liked this book alot but did not like how it kept going back and forward to past events. I was so looking forward to read David's story but was slightly disapointed
Don't get me wrong i liked this book alot but did not like how it kept going back and forward to past events. I was so looking forward to read David's story but was slightly disapointed
December 12, 2022
3-
Questa autrice cerca sempre di mettere tutto in tragedia ma raramente riesce a coinvolgere nella storia. Troppe esagerazione e i protagonisti sono sempre talmente incasinati che spesso non si fanno apprezzare
Questa autrice cerca sempre di mettere tutto in tragedia ma raramente riesce a coinvolgere nella storia. Troppe esagerazione e i protagonisti sono sempre talmente incasinati che spesso non si fanno apprezzare
August 6, 2017
Review to come
June 19, 2019
Excellent series
I highly enjoyed every single book in this series. It was great to finally get the back story of David and his connection with Owen is electric.
I highly enjoyed every single book in this series. It was great to finally get the back story of David and his connection with Owen is electric.
October 14, 2014
Note: This ARC was provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.
Before I start with my actual review for the book, I would just like to personally thank the author, A.M. Arthur, for her kindness. She generously offered for me to read the ARC of this book after I posted my reviews for the first four books, all of which I loved. ^.^ I'm such a fan of this series, so you can imagine just how thrilled I was that I was able to read the ARC and fall in love with the story and characters. So, thank you again, A.M. Arthur! ♥
Foundation of Trust is the fifth book in the Cost of Repairs series by A.M. Arthur and tells the story of two people, who were together only to be torn apart by circumstances beyond their control, trying to find their way back to having what they once had. However, even second chance love stories have difficulty getting to their happily-ever-afters when the person you loved most and thought you knew best turns out to be someone you didn't know very well at all.
Four years after receiving his Huntington's Disease diagnosis and soon after being left behind by his life partner and the son he considered his own, David Weller is trying to live his life on his own terms. Professionally, his catering business with Rey King is doing pretty well. Personally, he no longer wants to commit himself to anyone. He simply wants to feel again, even if it means physical pain while having sex with random hook-ups. Then the one person who turned his back on him returns unexpectedly...
Owen Hart has had many regrets in his life, but the one he's had to live with for the past four years is his having to leave the man he loved without as much as a proper goodbye. In the process, his son, Michael, has blamed him for the sad state of their lives, especially without David. Upon his return to the town they considered home, Owen discovers that the David he sees before him is filled with four years' worth of anger, hurt, and distrust, and Owen realizes that getting back what they once had will be an uphill battle.
David was introduced to readers in the previous book, and while I initially didn't really like him (because he was a tad flirty with Rey), the bits and pieces of information about his past made me realize that there was something more to this guy. Now, we finally get his full story and you can't help but feel for him, especially after everything he's been through. He had what he thought was the perfect life and then it was all taken away from him in a matter of a couple of days.
Owen is interesting because there are a lot of deep and dark secrets that he carries with him and suffice it to say that I so wasn't expecting his explanation for why he and Michael had to leave David four years prior. From the way he's described, you would never have thought that there was so much he was hiding and that he had no choice but to do so for as long as he did. His meeting David made him want what he thought he couldn't have again.
The characters are complex and multi-layered and they sure as heck aren't perfect, which is what I love about them. ^.^ They're not ideals and their time apart wasn't spent pining away for each other, saving themselves for their reunion. They're human, after all, and they've made mistakes but this book is a story about re-building a foundation based on love, respect, and trust, all of which must be earned and not taken for granted. The book is, ultimately, about forgiveness so that one can finally let go and move forward.
Foundation of Trust definitely ties the previous book, Acts of Faith, as my favorites in the series. I loved that there were things about the story that simply caught me off-guard and that these two lead characters were perfectly imperfect. Michael, Owen's son, deserves a special mention because he definitely seemed to have more sense at times than both David and Owen. ^.^ This fifth installment in the Cost of Repairs series gets five stars and I recommend that you read the whole series in order, though this will definitely work as a standalone. ♥
Before I start with my actual review for the book, I would just like to personally thank the author, A.M. Arthur, for her kindness. She generously offered for me to read the ARC of this book after I posted my reviews for the first four books, all of which I loved. ^.^ I'm such a fan of this series, so you can imagine just how thrilled I was that I was able to read the ARC and fall in love with the story and characters. So, thank you again, A.M. Arthur! ♥
Foundation of Trust is the fifth book in the Cost of Repairs series by A.M. Arthur and tells the story of two people, who were together only to be torn apart by circumstances beyond their control, trying to find their way back to having what they once had. However, even second chance love stories have difficulty getting to their happily-ever-afters when the person you loved most and thought you knew best turns out to be someone you didn't know very well at all.
Four years after receiving his Huntington's Disease diagnosis and soon after being left behind by his life partner and the son he considered his own, David Weller is trying to live his life on his own terms. Professionally, his catering business with Rey King is doing pretty well. Personally, he no longer wants to commit himself to anyone. He simply wants to feel again, even if it means physical pain while having sex with random hook-ups. Then the one person who turned his back on him returns unexpectedly...
Owen Hart has had many regrets in his life, but the one he's had to live with for the past four years is his having to leave the man he loved without as much as a proper goodbye. In the process, his son, Michael, has blamed him for the sad state of their lives, especially without David. Upon his return to the town they considered home, Owen discovers that the David he sees before him is filled with four years' worth of anger, hurt, and distrust, and Owen realizes that getting back what they once had will be an uphill battle.
David was introduced to readers in the previous book, and while I initially didn't really like him (because he was a tad flirty with Rey), the bits and pieces of information about his past made me realize that there was something more to this guy. Now, we finally get his full story and you can't help but feel for him, especially after everything he's been through. He had what he thought was the perfect life and then it was all taken away from him in a matter of a couple of days.
Owen is interesting because there are a lot of deep and dark secrets that he carries with him and suffice it to say that I so wasn't expecting his explanation for why he and Michael had to leave David four years prior. From the way he's described, you would never have thought that there was so much he was hiding and that he had no choice but to do so for as long as he did. His meeting David made him want what he thought he couldn't have again.
The characters are complex and multi-layered and they sure as heck aren't perfect, which is what I love about them. ^.^ They're not ideals and their time apart wasn't spent pining away for each other, saving themselves for their reunion. They're human, after all, and they've made mistakes but this book is a story about re-building a foundation based on love, respect, and trust, all of which must be earned and not taken for granted. The book is, ultimately, about forgiveness so that one can finally let go and move forward.
Foundation of Trust definitely ties the previous book, Acts of Faith, as my favorites in the series. I loved that there were things about the story that simply caught me off-guard and that these two lead characters were perfectly imperfect. Michael, Owen's son, deserves a special mention because he definitely seemed to have more sense at times than both David and Owen. ^.^ This fifth installment in the Cost of Repairs series gets five stars and I recommend that you read the whole series in order, though this will definitely work as a standalone. ♥
August 21, 2016
I have to admit, I didn’t particularly enjoy this book. I thought it started off strong, and I was interested to see why the relationship between David and Owen ended and how they would rebuild it. I thought it was an interesting and fresh take on the subject, and I did like that it wasn’t easily resolved as a misunderstanding. Unfortunately, for me, it was all downhill from there.
The first problem I had was that Owen kept reminding us–at least once per chapter–that he’s gay. It annoyed me for two reasons. One, everyone he told already knew, and it wasn’t necessary to rehash it. Second, the author established his being gay in a way that puts me off. She set him up as potentially bisexual, but then had him “discover” that he’s really gay. The problem is, it never actually appeared that way. He referenced being attracted to women; never showed any interest in any men other than David; David was his “catalyst” to being gay; and Owen even seemed somewhat repulsed by the idea of being with any other men. Yet he keeps talking about how gay he is. It came across as Owen trying to convince the readers while not really being convinced himself, and it made it look like the author was trying to avoid the “messiness” of a bisexual character. I see that as lazy writing, used for the sake of having a “coming out” story rather than one about a relationship.
My second problem was all the women in the story. With one exception (David’s friend Lindy), the women were either dead or shrews or both. It upsets me greatly that a woman would write a story with such poor examples of womanhood. I would rather have seen no women at all than have all of them be horrible people with largely no redeeming qualities.
Third, I felt that a lot of the plot was contrived and some of the events just didn’t make sense other than as filler. There was a subplot towards the end that didn’t have any bearing on the rest of the story. There were a couple of prior things that occurred in the story, and I thought this subplot might be connected. As it turned out, it wasn’t at all, and it seemed almost silly. It looked more like just a way to say, “Hey, how can we screw up an important day for these guys?”
The one thing I did like was the relationship between Owen and David. If that could have carried the whole book, it would have been much better. The way they resolved things and the discovery of David’s demons were fantastic and very strong writing. However, the tropes in the rest of the narrative were not necessary to the relationship at all. The same story could have been written with Owen as bisexual or as established gay; the coming out part was so minimal it was unnecessary. The women could have been more varied and nuanced; the two women who were “bad” but also instrumental to the plot were sufficient.
I have no doubt someone will love this book, but that someone was not me.
The first problem I had was that Owen kept reminding us–at least once per chapter–that he’s gay. It annoyed me for two reasons. One, everyone he told already knew, and it wasn’t necessary to rehash it. Second, the author established his being gay in a way that puts me off. She set him up as potentially bisexual, but then had him “discover” that he’s really gay. The problem is, it never actually appeared that way. He referenced being attracted to women; never showed any interest in any men other than David; David was his “catalyst” to being gay; and Owen even seemed somewhat repulsed by the idea of being with any other men. Yet he keeps talking about how gay he is. It came across as Owen trying to convince the readers while not really being convinced himself, and it made it look like the author was trying to avoid the “messiness” of a bisexual character. I see that as lazy writing, used for the sake of having a “coming out” story rather than one about a relationship.
My second problem was all the women in the story. With one exception (David’s friend Lindy), the women were either dead or shrews or both. It upsets me greatly that a woman would write a story with such poor examples of womanhood. I would rather have seen no women at all than have all of them be horrible people with largely no redeeming qualities.
Third, I felt that a lot of the plot was contrived and some of the events just didn’t make sense other than as filler. There was a subplot towards the end that didn’t have any bearing on the rest of the story. There were a couple of prior things that occurred in the story, and I thought this subplot might be connected. As it turned out, it wasn’t at all, and it seemed almost silly. It looked more like just a way to say, “Hey, how can we screw up an important day for these guys?”
The one thing I did like was the relationship between Owen and David. If that could have carried the whole book, it would have been much better. The way they resolved things and the discovery of David’s demons were fantastic and very strong writing. However, the tropes in the rest of the narrative were not necessary to the relationship at all. The same story could have been written with Owen as bisexual or as established gay; the coming out part was so minimal it was unnecessary. The women could have been more varied and nuanced; the two women who were “bad” but also instrumental to the plot were sufficient.
I have no doubt someone will love this book, but that someone was not me.
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