Reviewed by Kat
TITLE: Positive Raleigh
SERIES: The Lonely Heroes (Book 5)
AUTHOR: Sam E. Kraemer
PUBLISHER: Self Published
LENGTH: 252 pages
RELEASE DATE: September 7, 2021
BLURB:
Raleigh ‘Nemo’ Wallis
“Positive.” That’s the first thing I remember when I think about my time in the Navy as a SEAL on Team Two. There were many missions and assignments during my time in, but that one word would define my Navy experience and shape the course of my life until I finally died. I’d made the decision to live a celibate life, so nobody in my life had to hear the word for themselves because of one stupid decision I’d made years ago.
I’d suffered a lot of loss in my life, and for so many years I felt as if I was the black cloud in everyone else’s life so I did my best to stay detached from people as much as I could but still effectively do my job. That was until I was hit with the dreaded “dying wish” from one of the few people I allowed into my heart.
That was when I became reacquainted with Benji Hoffman, a family friend from years ago. I had no clue when I began protecting him while he was on the campaign trail he would be the one who would make me rethink my solitary life. One question I couldn’t reconcile in my mind was how I could love him and not kill him?
o-0-o
Benjamin Hoffman
Running for the U.S. House of Representatives wasn’t a childhood ambition. I was a lawyer by trade because it was the family business, but the opportunity to run for the General Assembly came up, and my best friend and partner-in-crime from our childhood encouraged me to run.
When I won the seat, I thought that would be as far as I’d go in politics. Unfortunately, a sitting representative in the House was accused of spanking a member of his staff, and the man was forced to step down, retiring under the auspices of failing health. Once again, I found myself on the campaign trail, only this time, it seemed as if someone was working behind the scenes to undermine me.
My financial director detected issues with my campaign account, and when my campaign office in my hometown went up in flames, I knew I had a problem on my hands. Getting my backside kicked at a quick stop after a campaign rally had me saddled with something I never thought I’d need…a bodyguard in the form of my childhood crush, Raleigh Wallis. How could I survive being with that man every day and not die of longing for him?
Raleigh had the stone-cold persona down, but he took my safety seriously. Was it because he actually cared about me, or was it because someone he loved cared about me? If I could get him to trust me enough to open up, maybe we could be friends? God knew I wanted a lot more, but it seemed as if I was alone in my yearning. I knew I loved Raleigh Wallis from the time I was fifteen. Were his protective instincts toward me based on something more than a self-inflicted sense of obligation?
Please Note: This book contains material which may be offensive to some readers, and deals with difficult themes including character deaths and HIV/AIDS. It includes graphic language, violence, adult situations, and descriptions of sexual activity between two, consenting adult males. This fictional story is intended for adults over 18 and is approximately 96,000 words in length. It is the fifth book in “The Lonely Heroes Series,” but it can be read as a stand-alone book. I hope you enjoy it.
REVIEW:
Okay so this one really, really got to me!
Raleigh “Nemo” Wallis, a former Navy SEAL, is Gabriel “Gabby/Gabe” Torrente’s right had man at GEA-A. He also, after making the hugest mistake of his life, is HIV Positive. He now lives a celibate life to protect others like he wasn’t. His biggest regrets was not being able to help out his little sister when she needed a kidney. Now he works and works and works. Protecting others and serving with the other GEA-A “heroes” is his life’s mission. But, when his baby sister takes seriously ill and is rejecting her 5-year old kidney he rushes to her side down in North Carolina. There he comes face-to-face with his sister’s BFF Benji Hoffman. That adorable boy had grown ito quite the handsome man and is now a State Senator. Racheal, Raleigh’s sister, is helping with Benjamin’s campaign for the US House of Representatives seat. Raleigh had a hard time resisting the boy before but Benji seems he’ll bent on making himself to much to resist.
People make mistakes…that’s a given! And, in a moment of lust, mistakes aren’t uncommon. But few mistakes are as deadly as a one-and-done that changes and threatens you for the rest of your life. HIV is that. I don’t know if that guy didn’t know if he was infected or not that night but that one act of passion changed Raleigh forever. He would not take a chance on infecting another man’s life EVER!!! He is that honorable. So celibacy was/is his life. That is until Hurricane Benji blows in and knocks his world off it’s axis.
I loved Benji’s take the bull by the horn attitude that he was going to make Raleigh his and was well educated on the risks that were present. I know Raleigh just wanted to do the right thing and protect Benji but he was so far behind the times. I get that Raleigh didn’t want to put Ben in any kind harm. That was totally against his true being but, with Benji on PrEP and Raleigh’s undetectable viral load, they could practice safe sex and keep Benji safe.
The other part of this story that kept me riveted and turning the page as quickly as possible was all the intrigue and mystery surrounding Ben’s run for the Rep seat in Congress. I wanted to know who was behind all that was happening. When those were wrapped up I was spitting mad at the parties involved. I will say, Ben was more forgiving of his friend’s involvement than I might have been. And the acquisition against Ben, in a way to smear him so that he would lose the election, was reprehensible and unforgivable. Even though there was no proof and the rumors were dispelled, that albatross will be forever around his neck to bear. Someone doing something so dastardly to an innocent person just to win an election is beyond wrong.
I love this series and the honorable men that it portrays. And I just discovered that we are getting a Christmas treat that will be having them all back together in December. I can’t wait! I do recommend that you start at the beginning and read this whole series in order. You won’t be disappointed I’m positive! 😉
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