Taking A Chance Charity Anthology by D.G. Carothers and others

This anthology is part of a charity project to help celebrate International Take A Chance Day. Seventeen authors came together to write stories outside their comfort zones to explore gender and sexuality aspects that span the whole spectrum and genres from contemporary to sci fi to paranormal and relationships of all kinds, and with all proceeds going to the AIDS Healthcare Foundation.

As in all anthologies there are stories you enjoy more than others, but all were very well written and added something unique. My favorites were Desert Knight by D.G. Carothers, Alien Attraction by Gianni Holmes, The Twilight Hours by KC Luck, Always and Only You by Claire Marta and Abrianna Denae and The Sweetest Ache by Bretton Sans.

Desert Knight by D.G. Carothers was a sweet sci fi story containing intelligent species of all shapes, cuddle parties and a very sexy lavender skinned male with boundary issues who the space PI Tekken Mcallister can’t help falling in love with when helping him find his missing uncle and stumbling into a case of futuristic sex trafficking. Very unique but so adorable!

Alien Attraction by Gianni Holmes was another unique but adorable story about true love defying all obstacles, when an alien prince finds his chosen one in a human man and ends up fighting for his inter-species love story and the life of his unborn children.

In The Twilight Hours by KC Luck we returned to earth again in a story about how it’s never too late to find love and happiness when 60+ women Helen and Mel meets by chance at a remote campground.

Always and Only You by Claire Marta and Abrianna Denae was my absolute favorite of all the stories. It was such a gripping and heartfelt story about a lost love and second chances when Dallas comes back as a transgender man to the only boy he’s ever loved, but who he couldn’t be with until he finally was his true self. It was so raw and authentic in the way Dallas had to feel at home in his own body before he could meet Ward again. It was so beautiful about souls understanding each other, about the chemistry between Dallas and Ward and about the two of them being soul mates not because they were perfect but because their combined flaws pieced them together.

The Sweetest Ache by Bretton Sans was another gorgeous second chance romance. The Summer after high school, Travis kissed his best friend Spencer, but the next week he left for an LDS Church mission and never pretended it happened. Ten years later, he returns as a famous musician, finally out and ready for a relationship. Despite his fear of getting heart-broken all over again, Spencer agrees to go for a hike with Travis. I really loved this low-angst romance and the cute bantering between Travis and Spencer, but also the vulnerability and the sweetness between the two of them exploring what they could have had already ten years ago, if Church and other people’s opinions hadn’t stopped them.

Some of the stories were perhaps a little too much out of my comfort zone, and the anthology as a whole was a bit long; the stories were all a bit longer than usual and added up to a quite massive read in total. But all in all, I recommend this anthology with all my heart! It’s such a unique collection of amazing stories all showing in different ways that love truly is love and doesn’t see any gender, race or sexuality!

Thank you to Gay Book Promotions for the blog tour invitation for this wonderful book! All opinions are my own and I am leaving my honest review voluntarily.

Rating:
4 stars

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