Book Reviews

Book Blurb

Sometimes to find love, you must first learn forgiveness.

A dozen years, two thousand miles, and a law degree after high school, Rafi Steiner continues to harbor resentment toward Isaac Jones, his childhood bully turned NBA star. When Isaac appears at Rafi's favorite restaurant acting like a long-lost friend, Rafi bluntly dismisses him.

But Isaac is tenacious and he has his heart set on the grown-up version of the boy he always wanted and never forgot. The way Isaac sees it, he and Rafi are perfect for each other, if only he could sink the most important shot of his life: his one shot at forgiveness.

NOTE: This book was previously published by Dreamspinner Press 2013 Daily Dose package "Make a Play".

 

Book Review

Cardeno C.’s moving and insightful novella, A Shot at Forgiveness, provides a rather different view of the bullying many gay and lesbian children and teens are forced to endure. In this story the bully, Isaac Jones, now 30, has become a National Basketball Association most valuable player. The boy he bullied, Rafael (“Rafi”) Steiner, also 30, is an “up-and-coming” real estate lawyer. (Rafi narrates the story.)

It’s a dozen years after the bullying stopped, when Rafi and Isaac graduated from high school and went their separate ways, and the bully seeks out the boy he bullied. As Rafi says, Isaac is his “nemesis turned stalker.” Is it credible that in some situations the bully is more confused about and tormented by his sexuality than his victim? In my own view, for whatever it’s worth, that might explain more than a few cases of bullying.

Without including spoilers in this review, I can say there are even more surprising turns in A Shot at Forgiveness than a famous and wealthy NBA MVP’s making contact with his former victim. I can also affirm that the way Cardeno C. shapes the story makes them all believable. They certainly don’t happen every day, but who’d wish to write or read about every-day matters?

I must also praise Cardeno C.’s writing style. Rafi tells us: “My bed was usually a revolving door. Men came and went without fanfare or memory.” At one point Rafi and Isaac agree: “The contrast of dark and light, short and tall, bulky and slender” is “hot as hell.” Rafi again: “I take whatever comes my way with a grain of salt. Preferably sprinkled along the rim of a margarita glass.”

Rafi and Isaac’s story won me over. I highly recommend it.

 

 

 

 

DISCLAIMER: Books reviewed on this site were usually provided at no cost by the publisher or author. This book has been purchased by the reviewer.

Additional Information

Format	ebook
Length	Novella, 17536 words
Heat Level
Publication Date	07-June-2015
Price	$2.99 ebook
Buy Link	https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-ashotatforgiveness-1824736-149.html