Carson's Story by Blak Rayne - A Review

Carson's Story by Blak Rayne

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


While this book is the third in this series, it is a tremendous stand-alone read. Well crafted, articulate descriptions and nearly palpable tension are the mainstream threads that weave this multi-faceted and emotionally layered story together. Carson, a twenty year veteran on the RCMP force is involved in a vehicular crash while on duty that leaves him physically and mentally traumatized. After recovering from his physical injuries, he struggles with the PTSD flashbacks that paralyze his mental recovery. Questioning everything in his life, his history, his motivations, his love and marriage to his long time love and husband, Carson’s life is thrown into turmoil. His painful struggles have a near disastrous effect on his marriage to the man with him he has pledged his devotion.
This would be enough of a storyline for most authors but not so for Blak Rayne. She adds a further layer of pressure in the form of a drug dealing low-life who has long been trying to get Carson into his bed, one way or another. Carson, cleared to return to work, is completely stressed over returning to work. This pressure magnetizes Carson’s struggle and throws his marriage into a downward spiral, adding yet more stress to every aspect of Carson’s life and his ability to cope.
This is a wonderful story of human nature and the evolution of our lives and commitments. While it is the story of a married gay man struggling through the shards of a devastating automobile accident and traumatic recovery, it reflects the humanity of everyone’s life struggles. We all try to deal effectively with the surprises and challenges life deals us.
In the end, it is the strength and resilience of the people that we love—often in spite of ourselves—that help us survive our personal, emotional and physical life-fights. The importance of being honest and vulnerable, truly vulnerable, factors significantly in Carson’s recovery and long-term happiness. No matter the genesis of his struggle, or ours, it is often the simplest decision, the softest thing that unwittingly changes the course of our life. That comes to Carson when he needs it most.
This is a story of hope and promise, love and change. A story embracing struggle to evolution. It is the survival not of the fittest, but of the loved that this story tells. And I loved it.




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