This book had a little bit of everything - depression, HIV, surrendering a newborn, cutting and even a little hockey. Drew is debating whether to return to his hockey team after taking a skate to the throat last season. While the accident almost killed him, he was mostly concerned for his teammate Zee who tried to stop the bleeding not knowing that Drew was HIV positive. While attending an HIV support group, he meets Ravyn a dreadlock wearing tatted up mess. Besides having HIV, she had given up a baby to a safe sanctuary and to punish herself she was cutting.
Two opposites going through the same things bring them together for some quick sex but the longer they are together the more they grow together.
This was a great story of a person using his experience with pain and depression to help another person go through her own experience and come out the other side. ( )

ARC: Rites of Passage (Tulsa Thunderbirds) by Catherine Gayle

With Ms. Gayle there is no halfway. Her stories are absorbing journeys that impart wisdom, demand attention and leave readers craving more. Kleenex is always close at hand in my case. Raw emotion is hard to contain. Rites of Passage deals with a hot button topic that still is misunderstood years after it's first appearance. HIV. Three letters that have changed many lives over the years are still the catalyst for debate. Rites of Passage humanized this disease and gives a voice to those unknown faces living in fear. I applaud this courageous story, it's hard not be affected by the struggle of anyone in pain whether it be emotional or physical. If I had to describe Rites of Passage in two words, I would use hauntingly beautiful. ( )

I received this book as an ARC for an honest review.

When I read the epilogue of Ghost's story, I knew Drew's story was going to be epic. Once again, Catherine delivered another powerful love story with important sub plots and characters unlike any others. I love that she isn't afraid to write stories that knock you on your butt and make you think about life differently. Her characters aren't "perfect" people living "perfect" lives. They are as real as it gets and sometimes you find yourself sad that you can't turn the page and magically make everything end up differently.
It's a beautiful story that taught me a thing or two about a couple different subjects that I thought I knew so much about, but really knew hardly anything.
I loved how she wrote these complicated characters and continues to blend in the ones we've come to love from the previous books in the series. Each of them dealt with their own challenges and it's fun to get glimpses into their happily ever afters in subsequent books.
I know I say it time and time again, but Catherine Gayle gets better and better with each book she writes. Each one is my new favorite and I can't wait to get my hands on Huggy Bear's book. If you haven't experienced any of the books in either the Tulsa Thunderbirds or the Portland Storm series, I recommend you take a chance on these amazing books. Start with Portland Storm as that is where it all begins.
Thank you again for writing a heart wrenching yet enjoyable book. Defineately going on my favorites list.
Happy Reading....enjoy! ( )