Reviewed by Heather C

STORY: Blessing
BOOK: Lost and Found
AUTHOR: Dakota Chase
EDITOR: Kris Jacen
PUBLISHER: Featherweight Press
BLURB: Some statistics say that 40% of all homeless teens are GLBT. They’re on the streets after their families have thrown them away, told them that they don’t matter, that they’re not normal. Well, guess what? Those families are wrong. This collection of stories by ten talented authors spans the spectrum (historical, paranormal, transgender, cutter, gay) to show that – it’s okay, there are people out there that care, and these teens are perfect just the way they are.

REVIEW:

NOTE – This review contains spoilers.

Blessing is a wonderful short story set back in the 1930s about Simon Angel, a young orphan with a powerful gift.  Raised and abused by the fraudulent, evangelist Brother Clavin, Simon is drug all across the southern states and forced to use his gift of healing on the Believers in return for exorbitant fees paid to Brother Clavin.  Simon’s gift also allows him to see deep inside one’s soul and know their darkest sins.  So when Simon refuses to bestow his gift upon those he deems not worthy, he must suffer the wrath of Brother Clavin. And with all the injuries he’s suffered throughout the years, his gift never works on healing himself; Brother Clavin always said it was because he was unworthy.

When Simon is 10 years old, he heals a young boy’s deformed foot.  This boy, Jericho Falcone, has the most beautiful soul Simon has ever seen, and a deep connection is formed in the few minutes these boys are in each other’s presence.

Years later, Simon finds himself back in Euclid, Mississippi and again staring into the smiling face of the one and only Jericho Falcone.  Jericho has come to see the boy who he has never forgotten, Simon Angel.  Of course, Brother Clavin is watching, and their encounter is cut short.  Later that night, Simon escapes another beating attempt from Brother Clavin and runs away…straight into Jericho! How can Simon stay hidden from Brother Clavin? And what are these feelings he is starting to have for Jericho?

I really loved this story.  Yes, it was very sad and painful in the beginning, but the ending is very sweet and hopeful. I was really captured by the writing, but I am greedy and would have loved to have gotten to see more of Simon and Jericho together…before and after Brother Clavin was taken care of.

Heather’s Rating:

BUY LINKS:

Featherweight Store  ||  Book Store (ebook)  ||  Book Store (Paperback)

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Heather C is one of the official reviewers on The Blog of Sid Love.

To read all her reviews, click the link: HEATHER’S REVIEWS
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TO WIN A FREE COPY OF ANY ONE OF DAKOTA’S BACKLIST TITLES, LEAVE A COMMENT TO THIS POST:
(Published Works of Dakota Chase includes – Changing Jamie, Monster Town and Repeating History – The Eye of Ra)

1) Follow the given format to enter yourself into the contest:

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CONTEST WILL END ON 22nd June, 2013 @ 11:59 PM Central Time!!

There will be a giveaway contest everyday from 16th to 23rd of June, 2013. The blog will be hosting these for the authors who have contributed to this anthology – who will be giving away either any of their books from their backlist (excluding Lost & Found, of course!) or their will be a giveaway of Gift Cards!

MLR Press will choose a lucky winner from the entire lot who have participated in these daily contests and the winner will get to choose one book of their choice from their HUGE backlist!

ALSO, PARTICIPATE IN:
TOM WEBB’S GIVEAWAY
TABATHA HEART’S GIVEAWAY