• A Shot at Forgiveness

  • By: Cardeno C.
  • Narrated by: Robert M. Clark
  • Length: 1 hr and 38 mins
  • 4.3 out of 5 stars (141 ratings)

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A Shot at Forgiveness  By  cover art

A Shot at Forgiveness

By: Cardeno C.
Narrated by: Robert M. Clark
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Publisher's summary

Sometimes to find love, you must first learn forgiveness.

A dozen years, 2,000 miles, and a law degree after high school, Rafi Steiner continues to harbor resentment toward Isaac Jones, his childhood bully turned NBA star. When Isaac appears at Rafi's favorite restaurant acting like a long-lost friend, Rafi bluntly dismisses him.

But Isaac is tenacious and he has his heart set on the grown-up version of the boy he always wanted and never forgot. The way Isaac sees it, he and Rafi are perfect for each other, if only he could sink the most important shot of his life: his one shot at forgiveness.

©2013 Cardeno C. (P)2016 Cardeno C.
  • Unabridged Audiobook
  • Categories: Erotica

What listeners say about A Shot at Forgiveness

Average customer ratings
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  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
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Story
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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Robert M. Clark's narration is a SLAM DUNK!

Any additional comments?

Let me start by getting some fangirling out of the way...Robert M. Clark's narration for this is a SLAM DUNK! He brought Rafi and Isaac to life. I was absolutely impressed and can only say the narration was so good for this short story that as soon as it ended I immediately started it over and listened again.

What I love most about this sweet short (now my 7th time re-reading) is how I find something new to appreciate about it every time I read, or now listen to, it.

I love how Rafi is snarky, sarcastic and absolutely not interested in anything Isaac Jones has to say at first. I melt every time with how fully committed and absolutely determined Isaac is to win over the one man he's always wanted.

***
"I've wanted you since the first moment I realized what it meant to want," he said, reminding me that he'd been harboring feelings for much longer than the couple of weeks since we'd reconnected, or even the six months since he's decided he wanted to pursue me. "I do know you, Rafi. I watched you grow up. I know who you are inside. And you know me too."
***

*swoon*

This sweet enemies-to-lovers is funny, smolderingly sexy, sweet, and fluffy!

RECOMMENDED!

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    1 out of 5 stars
Listener received this title free

Stalkerish

This story is weird. I enjoyed the first 3 or 4 chapters. It had snarky humor and an enemies-to-friends trope. But then it just turned creepy.

Isaac admits to watching Rafi enter his door code so he can just go into Rafi's house anytime he wants. Ok, weird but not stalkerish. Yet. After they've been together, Rafi asks him about why he treated him like crap in HS. Isaac's answer was fine, but apparently it was enough for Rafi to suddenly think he had "misread" everything. Really? You misread a bully bc he's nice (read: pushy) now? That's gaslighting. Isaac never apologizes for his actions, or even for hurting Rafi's feelings. One of the things I like about MM is you don't have heroines making stupid choices. Well, that changed with this book. Rafi is a pushover. No "great couple award" here. This is more of a "What not to do" story.

The narrator did a great job performing the characters and their lines! Unfortunately, it sounded like he had a lisp, which was very distracting.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Great narration, interesting story

This is a super short story in which two child-hood “enemies” are reunited. Rafi was the bullied nerd and Isaac was the bullying jock. Rafi is now a lawyer and Isaac is an NBA star.

12 years after high school, they’ve never formally met since, Isaac begins to “stalk” Rafi and then they begin a relationship, despite Isaac’s career.

**

Wow. I am so on the fence for this.

When I originally read this story -over two years ago- I gave it 4 stars. It’s meant to be a cute, sexy short story – certainly not an exposition on racism or bullying or professional athletes coming out or anything political. So, if I accept that as truth, then I can just enjoy the fantasy that gets played out here – it’s pretty hot. Isaac is the stereotypically well-hung 6’7” basketball player and Rafi is a petite twink type who really enjoys getting pounded. So the smexy times were pretty hot.

But… it wasn’t until I listened to this – which made me pay way more attention than when I read it – that I realized how “unhealthy” this read. The narrator, whether on purpose or not, helped to put me in the scene. He made Rafi’s voice almost lispy and nerd like and Isaac sounded the part. The imagery I was left with: a skinny young thing being tormented by the big guy on campus and feeling so horrible he had to face therapists for years – his own words. So when Isaac shows up, I was psyched , because there’s nothing like making a big guy grovel – but… the grovelling never came. In fact, Rafi was meant to look at his high school experiences and see a troubled basketball player, not a bully. Hmmm. That didn’t set well with me.

Then there was the fact that Rafi takes a shower after having evicted Isaac and when he gets out of the shower Isaac has “just used his code” to get in. That felt really unsafe and stalkery and not at all sexy. Sure, he was cute and bought Rafi dinner, but … yeah. I didn’t like it much.

So… that was both very dissatisfying and troubling as far as my ability to relate to this story. I know it’s a short story, and I LOVE Cardeno C’s work, but I never felt that connection to Rafi or Isaac that I wanted to. Instead I was a bit angry at Isaac (and then Rafi by connection) for not properly apologizing, for being a LOT creepy and stalkery, and for Rafi for having no back bone. To me Rafi felt bull dozed into this relationship and it didn’t set well with me upon listening.

As for the audio – the narrator did a terrific job becoming the characters. He was really funny – Rafi’s internal dialog is hysterical and Robert has impeccable timing. I really enjoyed his narration, and like I said, it really brought to light things I hadn’t thought about before, possibly due to his excellent narration.
(A final nit pick – I liked the original cover better – the two guys look sweet, like they’re almost embracing, while this new cover looks like the guy just has an extra arm! And I didn’t figure out the towel thing til I really looked closely at the picture. )



So… to rate this:

Story 3 of 5 stars

Audio 5 of 5 stars

Overall 4 of 5 stars

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  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    1 out of 5 stars

I am not convinced that Cardeno C. wrote this!

I am not convinced that Cardeno C. wrote this! I have over 600 audiobks in my library and most of CC's are in it. This one, however, is being returned. One man is a stalker and the other comes across as a 13 yr old instead of a grown man.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars
Listener received this title free

Second Chance.

It was a good story. All about second chances. Very hot. The narrator was okay. I truly enjoy Cardeno C books.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars
Listener received this title free

Quick Listen

This is a quick listen. It's a little weird but kinda fun. Narration was done really well.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars
Listener received this title free

Second chance meets bully romance.

A Shot at Forgiveness is sweet and will definitely tug on your heartstrings. The only thing I might have done differently is begin the story in the middle of Isaac trying to win Rafi over, instead of at the beginning. Their romance was technically years in the making, but it was a little hard to belive that Rafi would consent to things so quickly. Once they get going they can't seem to stop, almost like they're making up for lost time. I thoroughly enjoyed the story, and would love to see more of them together.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars
Listener received this title free

Isaac and Rafi

4.5 stars. Rafi's initial reaction to seeing Isaac again made perfect sense. Meeting your bully makes most people prickly. Isaac doesn't let Rafi's attitude deter him though and I thoroughly enjoyed his pursuit. There were several laugh-out-loud moments and the end was way too soon.
Highly recommended author

Audiobook: nicely done narration

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Love this story!

Short but sweet story about school bully and forgiveness and love when they become adults.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

As always Cardeno C is a master!

His characters are intriguing. His writing is well done and his love scene descriptions are hot! Well worth the read.

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