Reviewed by Amber
TITLE: Godsend
AUTHOR: Sloan Johnson
PUBLISHER: Self Pub
LENGTH: 235 pages
BLURB:
You can’t choose who you fall in love with. Despite knowing from a young age that he was gay, Scott Murphy couldn’t imagine life without Shelly. He threw away the labels and had eleven amazing years with her, but now, he feels even more lost trying to figure out how to move on after Shelly’s death. After nearly a year of watching Scott fade away, Shelly’s father forces him to start living again.
As much as Chris loathes the idea of attending a bereavement group week after week, it’s one of the only places he can go in this town, other than the bar, to not feel so alone. When there’s nothing to distract him or dull his senses, he spends too much time obsessing over how he should have been able to help his sister. When Scott shows up at his group session, Chris decides that maybe some good can come out of his sister’s death.
There’s no denying that Chris is the first man to catch Scott’s attention in a long time, but how can he move on when just thinking of Shelly sends him to his dark place?
The road to recovery won’t be an easy one, but Chris is determined to help Scott see that life is still worth living. But before Scott can allow himself to admit what he feels for Chris, he knows he has to reveal the full truth about Shelly’s death.
REVIEW:
Well this was a very pleasant surprise. After all the controversy and drama surrounding this book I was hesitant, I will admit it. I didn’t want to let it affect my review but I’m human and some of the reviews left me wondering.
I think in this day and age with all the sexuality labels out there, why is so farfetched to believe this man loved a woman but was still attracted to men? Why is it so hard to believe that he fell in love with the person and not their sex?
Scott has always been attracted to men, even going so far as to labeling himself gay at a very early age. Why is it then that he’s starting to have serious feelings for his best friend, Shelly? After admitting to himself that he is in fact in love with her and can’t fathom anymore time apart they both move forward in their relationship. Life however is not on their side. When Shelly’s diagnosed with terminal cancer she decides she’s not going to let the cancer kill her slowly. She’s going to die on her terms, so surrounded by Scott and her close friend and family, Shelly ends her life. Understandably, Scott’s miserable. He loses himself in a bottle for the better part of a year. He drinks to forget and drinks to remember, there are times where he is so desolate that he contemplates joining Shelly. But Shelly made her father promise to be there for Scott and make sure he doesn’t lose himself to grief. Shelly’s father finally convinces Scott to go to a grief counseling session with him and things slowly start turning around for Scott.
Chris’s sister committed suicide and he is still haunted by that. He goes to grief counseling because he doesn’t want to be alone and it offers him some solace. Being a therapist also gives him the tools to better handle what he’s feeling.
During one of these sessions Chris sees Scott hunkered in a chair and there’s an immediate attraction between both of them. Scott pushes Chris away because he’s still in mourning and doesn’t quite know what to do with his feelings for Scott. After an accident leaves Scott in a cast, Chris comes to the rescue and offers to help him during his convalescent. During this time they become very close and things progress pretty rapidly from there.
I loved these two men together, absolutely LOVED them together. I felt every emotion with Scott. When he loves he loves so hard it’s almost tangible. Amazing and beautiful. Chris was such a constant; he was the rock Scott needed to cling to when the waves got too rough. Through trials and tribulations these two men persevere and set out to make a future together. I loved watching it all unfold.
This author is new to me but I enjoyed her writing style. I was very much attached to the character, main and supporting. I mourned with them, laughed with them, and healed with them.
This was a beautiful story of love after loss. It gives so much hope to anyone that has lost a loved one. I highly recommend!
RATING: 
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