Reviewed by Becca
TITLE: Escaping Camp Roosevelt
AUTHOR: Bryan T. Clark
PUBLISHER: Cornbread Publishing Inc
LENGTH: 252 pages
RELEASE DATE: May 1, 2019
BLURB:
“He’s a bad boy—cocky and damaged. So, why can’t I stop thinking about him?”
Broken Dreams
Sociable and unselfish, eighteen-year-old Tucker Graves loves two things—his darling little sister and the thrill of playing baseball. He never dreamed that he’d be homeless, but after a series of misfortunes, his life is nothing like he could have possibly imagined. Shocked and shattered, Tucker, his mother, and his baby sister now must brave the dangers of a dilapidated homeless encampment called Camp Roosevelt.
A Wounded Heart
Homeless since the age of fourteen, Dancer has mastered the tricks of living on the streets as a sex worker. The quiet, reclusive, and calculating ways of this twenty-year-old, green-eyed Adonis help him to survive. He hides his emotional scars from the world by interacting only with his clients, whose occasional bizarre requests he reluctantly fulfills. Dancer’s past has taught him to trust no one.
A Second Chance
When Tucker and Dancer come face to face on a stormy night, having been thrown together under the same roof, Tucker brings out a feeling in Dancer that he didn’t know still existed in him—desire. Neither man can deny the attraction he feels for the other. But some scars run deep, causing both Tucker and Dancer to question whether falling in love is even possible, especially when survival is on the line.
REVIEW:
Wow. This is a very hard story to deal with. Another one of those stories that upset me because so many people look away and choose to ignore the problem right in front of them. From their children being abused, to the homeless epidemic we have in this country. Yet we have things like golf courses or other stupid stuff that could be used to home these people. Especially children. It just upsets me so much. This book deals with rape, being attacked and things of that nature, so if any of it is a trigger for you, please be careful.
Dancer liked being alone. He hated being touched or having to sell his body in order just to eat, but for 6 years it’s how he’s survived. After being raped by his stepfather and believing his mother wouldn’t believe him, he ran away and has been living on the streets since. It was torture at first, but someone took him under his wing and let him live in his shanty. And he’s been there since. Alone now, since his friend has disappeared. But someone else has planted their tent right in front of his door and he’s not too happy. Especially when he sees Tucker. Because right off the bat, Tucker makes him feel things he doesn’t want to feel. And with all that’s going on, Tucker needs Dancer’s help, even though it takes all he has to say so. The more he gets to know Tucker, the more Tucker is getting under his skin and he can’t help but fall in love. He’ll never admit it, but he is. And Tucker has already admitted it to him. But one fateful night, Dancer is attacked on his way home and left for dead. Tucker gets to him three hours later, after looking everywhere for him, as the ambulance is taking off with him. And a seizure sets him off. But what makes things worse, is Dancer is fighting to live and his mother has finally appeared out of the blue and wants to take him away. What does that mean for the man he loves and him?
This book was so good, but hard as hell to read. I wish I could make homelessness magically disappear. And it hits close to home with me, because I’ve been there once and my daughter and I have almost been there a lot. It’s hard as hell too, because this is another one of those books I want to reach through and beat the crap out of people who think they can manipulate and bully and rape children. It’s the one time I’m definitely all for the death penalty. It’s despicable. But no matter what these two young men have been through in their lives, they keep getting up and trying. It may not be our version of a great thing, but living on the streets only leaves you so many options. And they are trying. They are using everything they know how to use to get them by. Even if Dancer has had to teach Tucker a thing or two. But the other important thing, they knew they had each other. Even with Dancer not really trusting people, in his mind, he knew at the end of the day, Tucker would still be there for him. And he tried to be the same for Dancer. One step at a time. It wasn’t easy. It never is in that situation, but they did their best not to give up.
In the end, this book is about forgiveness, second chances and learning to survive. As well as learning there are people you can trust and love, if you let go just a bit. It’s a hard lesson to learn, but again, we all need to make a stand. Even if it’s for one person, make a stand.
RATING: 
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