Reviewed by Sadonna
TITLE: Raise Up, Heart
AUTHOR: Leta Blake
PUBLISHER: Self-published
LENGTH: 136 pages
RELEASE DATE: October 5, 2020
BLURB:
Two years ago, grief took Cole’s heart when he lost Damon, the love of his life in an accident. He’s felt empty ever since.
But his lover’s heart survives, placed inside his cousin, Alex. As time passes, it becomes clear: Damon’s heart is too devoted to Cole. It’s strong, and lovelorn, and terrifyingly true blue. The fight for Alex’s body is brutal. But, to win, Damon’s heart only has to beat.
Even faced with the horror of his lover’s eerie return, Cole’s heart leaps at the chance to finally have the man he’s yearned for. What will he sacrifice to be with Damon? And who will pay the ultimate price?
Raise Up, Heart, is a stand-alone, second chance gay romance, inspired by the famous gothic, short stories of yore. With head nods to Edgar Allen Poe and Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, Raise Up, Heart, is dark, epic, consuming, and dreamlike. Released just in time for Halloween, the story includes angst, steam, and a happy ending. This novella displays Leta Blake’s writing style at its most beautiful and challenging.
REVIEW:
Well I wasn’t really prepared for what all this story encompassed. But it was very well done, treading a narrow line between horror (lite) and romance. It’s reminiscent of the best elements of gothic and noir even. Cole’s grief at losing Damon is devastating. He’s really and truly suffered over the death of his boyfriend. The fact that Damon’s heart saved his cousin and best friend Alex, we would believe should have been somewhat of a comfort, but it also seems to be equal parts pain for Cole. When Alex disappears, it’s like the loss hits again for Cole. Even though he’s tried to move on, he’s just empty. The way the author describes the way the grief knocks him to the ground on the regular I think rings true to how grief comes in waves and never really goes away. It’s just farther from the surface maybe.
From Damon’s perspective, he wrestles with what he’s apparently taken in order to return to Cole. He’s ambivalent in some regard, but not necessarily regretful that things have turned out this way. He apparently had no choice in the matter and he has not idea how it happened that he is back, but he knows he couldn’t stop it. And he is worried that Cole is at the end of his rope and he doesn’t have a choice about trying to get that under control as well.
There are some interesting turns in the story. Emily, Alex’s girlfriend and Cole’s best friend is there to support Cole, but it is sometimes too much for Cole. He’s filled with regret for all the things he didn’t get to do or wasn’t ready to do with Damon. And he feels under a microscope. In his small town, everyone knows his story and they worry for him. His sister in particular is a bit overbearing in her worry – but understandable given the toll the grief has taken on him. But once he is convinced he’s not crazy or delusional or dreaming or dead, he is desperate to find a way to get the life he should have lived back. That takes some planning, sacrifice, work and a fair amount of deception. I found it to also be clever.
This author is as favorite of mine and this is another reason why. She always finds a little different twist or perspective that causes me to think a little harder about things. This is an homage to writers and stories that have come before, but refreshed in a new way that pulled me into the story. The grief and loss are palpable. The confusion and fear are visceral. The horror and realization of what has happened is not overlooked or ignored. I just found the story fascinating. It’s a perfect Halloween season morsel 🙂 Recommended particularly for those who like a little horror and surprise in their romances 😉
RATING: 
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