Rainbow Reading is our weekly series focusing on book reviews with a geeky/sci-fi/fantasty/supernatural flair with LGBTQ characters. Today I review Finding Forgiveness by Dana Marie Bell.
Finding Forgiveness is part of a series called the Poconos Pack, and while I think reading the series does add more depth to this book , it can be read as a standalone.
I love this couple, and have been rooting for them since they were first introduced in another book. The main characters are Ben Malone and Dave Maldonado and they are part of a werewolf pack. Dave is Beta for the Poconos pack and Ben is the Marshall. Dave suffers from severe migraines to the point that the pack doctor is concern about the possibility of a stroke. Ben, as Marshall of the pack, can feel what is going on with certain members, and he misinterprets what Dave is feeling as a constant hangover instead of migraine pain. Ben grew up with an alcoholic father who beat him, and his mother did nothing about it, and now he can’t stand the idea of joining with his mate who he believes has had a drinking problem since the age of 15.
Early in the book, the migraines send Dave to the hospital. It is at this time that Ben finds out exactly what is going on with his mate, and comes to understand how badly he has treated Dave over the years. He is under orders not to stress Dave out in any way, and that includes no talking to him until after Dave returns from vacation. So, what is a mate to do in that situation? Ben goes courting. He leaves Dave chocolate and flowers and venison (the entire dead, bleeding deer on his porch steps!). This does not go over well.
Dave leaves on his vacation that he has been planning for a while - a trip to Florida and Disney during Gay Pride Week. He has thoughts of potentially trying to find another mate while he is gone. Ben however has other ideas, and once he finds out where Dave is going, makes arrangements to travel to the same place. Ben finds Dave, and they do what should have been done years ago - they communicate with each other.
Ben: "You're not dreaming."
Dave: "No? In about three seconds you're going to tell me you're sorry, you can't live without me, and you've got a naked Gerard Butler stuck in your pocket."
Ben: "Two out of three isn't bad."
Don’t worry - groveling is involved on Ben’s part. Ben is able to explain to Dave what he thought and why he thought it, and Dave is gracious enough to forgive Ben.
This is a short book full of mates learning how to communicate and forgive each other. It is a perfect Sunday afternoon read, and I highly recommend this one, and the rest of the series.
