The writing is excellent as always. I couldn’t put this down and in fact started reading it again as soon as I’d finished. I highly recommend this to anyone looking for a sweet, somewhat unique, low-angst romance. It’s funny, terribly sweet and somewhat thought provoking.

4 stars for this perfect love in the perfect world book romances!

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.

Dani: I haven't read many shifter books. They don't appeal to me in theory. But this is Cardeno C. and Mary Calmes, so I was willing to put my baggage aside. And I'm so glad I did! This book was funny, just angsty enough to be interesting, totally absorbing, and sweet as hell. … What I really enjoyed about the shifter theme here is that the culture of the hawk ket came alive without getting bogged down by heavy backstory (this is how you show not tell!). … The relationship between Vy and Robert is at once tender and smoldering. Vy loves how strong and possessive and almost feral Robert can get in bed, and so do I! The lovin' here was damn good, especially at the end, with the biting and the…(go read it for yourself if you want the nasty details). … I was smiling so hard at the end, I may have split a lip. This is just a happy book, with well-rounded secondary characters, some action, lots of snarky dialogue that had me laughing aloud, one uppity, slightly insecure hawk, and one hot hunk of a grizzly bear.Sandra: So, I've always said I'm not much for shifters….Big mistake, clearly, because holy crap, I breezed through this in no time at all, giggle-snorted and lawled and snickered at the high-strung bird who found his mate and the big ole Grizzly bear who loves him back. …Also, holy hot boysecks, Batman…What I really liked about this shifter book…

THE ONE WHO SAVES ME is another winner from Cardeno C and I recommend it to anyone who likes romance that springs from friendship rather than just lust, and a well written story with characters that are well developed and loveable to the reader.