Sharonica’s More Quirky than Logical Review of Susan Hawke’s “How to Forgive” 🐺💙🦄

How to Forgive

by Susan Hawke

Take one fabulous unicorn of a person…

Grayson Davis came back to their hometown after college to help a new generation of kids who might be reliving their own past as a bullied young teen and LGBT teens who are struggling to find their identities in small-town USA. Taking a job as a youth counselor at The Rainbow Kids Foundation is their dream come true… even if it means working for the very man who once bullied them. So what if they can’t forgive Clark Danvers for the past? They can peacefully coexist with Clark and that’s good enough for Gray. As for their personal life, well… who needs one? They have family, friends, and their crazy cat Spike. As for everything else? Well, there’s an app for that.

Add one flirty, pansexual biker who’s the opposite of an outlaw…

Canaan “Wolf” Matthews isn’t looking for love, let alone commitment. He’s busy running a club of bikers who do their part to rescue kids from bad situations, help abused spouses escape, and accompany social workers into the rough areas when it’s not a case for the cops but backup is a necessity. Meeting Gray while on his way home from a hookup—with the evidence clearly crusted on his shirt like a merit badge—isn’t quite the meet cute Wolf would’ve wanted when he found the one person who could make his little pan heart go pitter-pat. Like everything else in his life, Wolf decides to roll with it and see what happens.

To equal two people who might just be what the other needs.

Gray only wants to have fun with Wolf. No strings necessary. So why do they keep reaching out to the annoyingly cute biker when things get dicey for a teen who’s dealing with a situation that is far too relatable for Gray? Anxieties flare and forgiveness beckons as Gray starts to see their old nemesis, Clark, for the person he is today. Before Gray can plan a future, they need to make peace with their past. With Wolf’s support, can Gray finally learn how to forgive and find their way to a full and happy life?

This is the sixth book in the LOVESTRONG series about finding love and being yourself in a small town. Intended only for 18+ readers, this is an mm romance full of all the fun, laughter, and sweet feels you’d want from an S. Hawke book.

(Lovestrong #6)

How to Forgive: Lovestrong Series Book #6
MMy Thoughts and Review:

Is it weird to say I love the backend of Susi/ Susan’s books as much as the stories? Having her share info and places where the reader can find more info on themes and topics from the book always touches me. Just wanted to toss that into this little review salad. 😜

This book was EVERYTHING! It brought the Lovestrong Series full circle, because young Grayson is now all grown up, and returned to their hometown. Just as many of us who leave home, hoping to outrun our demons then go back, Grayson is nervous about facing down their childhood bully. The one person who made their life a true misery.

Even though they know Danvers has grown up to become a decent person and has done all he can to atone for his past, Gray still struggles from time to time with what Clark Danvers did to them as a kid. Now, back home, Gray must face all these fears and more.

There may be more than Gray bargained for when Wolf, a hot tattooed guy, with a souped-up bike, and a smile that screams trouble comes knocking…only thing to make this HEA more Fairy-tale-esque is the guy foretelling of grandchildren and happily ever afters of his own with Gray, whom he adoringly calls, “Cutie.” Too bad the snarky genderfluid person Wolf has imprinted on does not believe in HEAs.

As a reviewer, I am sure folks get tired of reading repeatedly, how much someone loved a book. Until a word is invented that describes that all-encompassing feeling one gets when they remember the first time they knew what a real wobbly kneed kiss felt like. Or when someone cupped their cheek while looking so deeply into their eyes, they thought they would melt on the spot. Or the first time they held their favorite pet and the little thing snuggled under their neck completely trusting and content in their presence. Until a new word comes into being that evokes the emotions the word LOVE does, reviewers like me will go on using it. We will especially use it to state our feelings over how we feel over couples like Wolf and Grayson. How much we adore seeing MCs like Grayson so vibrant and alive and strong after all they battle and contend with, but still keep moving forward. I love those emotions, those types of characters, and those stories.

THAT is exactly how I felt about this story, AND about the Lovestrong Series as a whole. I loved seeing Clark Danvers grow up, in his story, and now to see Grayson as an adult, taking on their demons, helping others who struggle in much the same way they did as a teen. I may have cried, but since it was in the quiet of my room, no one can prove anything. I also laughed. I mean, of course, I did…it is a Susan Hawke story for crying aloud. 😂

If you have not started the Lovestrong Series, do it! Because it is important. It will bring you joy and happiness, and you just might walk away a better person for it. Laughing creates unicorns and unicorns make rainbows and rainbows bring happiness…everyone knows that! Yes, even YOU can create unicorns by reading this story. Laughing, remember? 😂💜🤣

Enjoy! 🌈📚🌈

P.S. For any of the Series fans out there, Susan left a bit of a 🎉surprise🎉 at the end of the story, and the little girl that still lives in this old dragon is **squeeing** with delight!