Police Officer Samuel Briggs has moved from New Mexico to Stratton, PA to start a new life after a tragic loss. He patrols the town on his new third-shift beat and spends his off-time fixing-up his new home. The people he meets are warm and welcoming and he makes it a habit to stop by Dixie's Cup diner for dinner and coffee. He has a hard time admitting to himself that he's also draw to Dixie's by Rey, the handsome short-order cook who makes a mean special. Samuel wants to start over but isn't sure that he's ready for a relationship. When an offer of lunch turns into to an afternoon of "just sex" Samuel finds himself caring about Rey as a friend with the potential for more. Samuel knows Rey is dealing with burdens of his own but doesn't know how to help a man whose pride leads him to take care of himself.
Cooking is just one of Rey King's many jobs. He's buried under the weight of debt, hurt, and disappointment. He has little time for anything other than work and isn't interested in a relationship when he feels he has nothing left to give. But, he can't seem to stop thinking of Samuel and that's who he finds himself turning to when he is overwhelmed. Together, Samuel and Rey will find unexpected healing and love.
In COST OF REPAIRS, A. M. Arthur weaves an emotionally complex story that captures the imagination. The novel is structured in 3 parts; the story is told from Samuel's point of view, then Rey's, then both. The format gives additional power to the story in that the wounds and life experience that motivate each man are gradually unveiled to the reader. We know Rey is struggling but we don't know why until we sift to his perspective. The curiosity and uncertainty kept me reading late into the night. Ms. Arthur created extremely vivid characters and I wasn't going to be satisfied until they had their happy ending. The story has an erotic element but I felt it was secondary to the power of the emotional relationship elements. I absolutely look forward to reading more by Ms. Arthur.
Fixing the home can heal the heart—if you can find all the pieces. Police officer Samuel Briggs is getting to know the people on his new, third-shift beat, but he’d prefer they not know too much about him—or the painful past that drove him away from New Mexico to start fresh in small-town Stratton, PA. All he wants is peace, a manageable routine, and time to fix up his project home. There’s no room in his broken heart for a new relationship. It’s crowded with too many memories. But there’s something about the Dixie’s Cup short-order cook, who’s flirty one minute, distracted the next, that piques Sam’s interest. Part-time cook, part-time hardware salesman and full-time handyman Rey King lives to work—but not because he loves it. Relationships? No time. Until one glance at Sam’s haunted eyes sends a plumb line straight to his wary heart. One afternoon of impulsive, no-strings sex begins to grow into a cautious friendship. But when Rey is seriously injured protecting a friend, the cracks in their already shaky foundation begin to show. Falling in love wasn’t in either man’s recovery plan…and this time, the risk could be too great. Product Warnings Contains one emotionally wrecked cop, one angsty short-order cook, a few too many secrets, some meddling small-town folk, and plenty of hot man-on-man action.
© 2003-2026