Cardeno C.'s moving and insightful novella, A Shot at Forgiveness, provides a rather different view of the bullying many gay and lesbian children and teens are forced to endure. ... Is it credible that in some situations the bully is more confused about and tormented by his sexuality than his victim? In my own view, for whatever it's worth, that might explain more than a few cases of bullying. Without including spoilers in this review, I can say there are even more surprising turns in A Shot at Forgiveness than a famous and wealthy NBA MVP's making contact with his former victim. I can also affirm that the way Cardeno C. shapes the story makes them all believable. They certainly don't happen every day, but who'd wish to write or read about every-day matters? I must also praise Cardeno C.'s writing style... Rafi and Isaac's story won me over. I highly recommend it.

I love this growing up and accepting yourself themed book. I cannot stop reading it, makes me smile and believe true love really can conquer all.

How we see our lives is really just a collection of impressions seen from our viewpoint, not how events actually unfold. Usually we don't get a chance to explore how right or wrong our impressions are, but go through the years believing what we think happened is true. But what if our impressions are skewed? Cardeno explores this idea in a nifty little novella that has the protagonist reevaluate his life from someone else's perspective. ... This delightful premise and the ensuing untangling of memories could be a study in strum und drang, but Cardeno approaches it with a deft hand and a light touch, making the story one of those "awwwww" moments in reading.... Cardeno's story is a little gem that will tickle even the most jaded readers and brighten their day.

A Shot at Forgiveness is such a sweet tale of mistakes, forgiveness, and moving on. It's a story with a minor focus on bullying and the hurt it causes, but most of all it's a story of healing and love. It's an easy read full of promise for the characters and their future. And I love the interracial aspect. It highlights the beauty in diversity. And what I like most about this novella is that it's a chance at a new beginning for both characters. Mistakes were made. Hurts were harbored for a long time, but forgiveness is always an option. And of course, I love these characters. As always, Cardeno C has a way with characters.