Release Blitz, Excerpt & Giveaway:
Benny From The Block
By K.C. Kassidy
Blockers, Book Two
When high school principal, William Garrison, steps in to help a bullied freshman boy, he is surprised to learn that fifteen-year-old Ben is the son of his former high school nemesis, Benito “Benny” Vega.
William has mixed feelings about seeing Benny again, considering Benny was the one who used to torment and pick on William for being different. But Benny is a changed man, in more ways than one, and he wants the chance to prove to both his son and William that he’s not the same guy he once was.
Can William be the bigger man and let go of his unresolved feelings toward Benny or will their shared personal history get in the way of helping Ben?
After all, they do say love always wins, right?
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I am delighted with the way Benny is redeemed to William, as well as the reader.
Benny is the classic example of someone who struggled with repressed homophobia. I appreciate that he had more problems in his past that formed his personality and led to his behavior. Now he has to deal with the fact that his son is struggling with being bullied. His son Ben is everything he didn't want for his son and brings him around to facing his own treatment of William.
William, as a principle, is fabulous. It's not an easy job, but he excels in caring about his students and trying to help them.
I enjoy all of this story. The redemption. The romance. The Ben issues. All of it is written with heart and care, making for a multi-layered, and ultimately sweet story.
This is a story with bullying, expectations, homophobia, parenting issues, school issues, and heritage issues. Benny's family has a history and expectations that come with their upbringing. To go off course isn't an easy step.
Written with some glimpses into the past, the author allows the author an understanding of Benny and why he is the way he is. I am thrilled to have understood Benny early on and to be able to sympathize with him throughout.
This is the story of Benny and his progression, as he deals with accepting himself and learning to grab on to love.
Benny From the Block is a fabulous story. KC Cassidy packs a lot of layers and emotions into this former bully romance. And I love every minute of it!
I watch as Ben towels off his dark shaggy hair, and I can’t tell if he’s letting it grow long on purpose or if he hasn’t been able to get a haircut.
“Ben, I’m just going to be blunt and bring up the obvious. I don’t think you did this to yourself in the boys’ bathroom this morning.” I swirl my finger around in the air toward his damp hair. “My guess is someone, maybe more than one, held your head down either in the toilet or the sink.”
Ben’s hands stall mid-air, the edge of the towel drooping over his head. His eyes pop wide in fear as they peer at me from under the cover. “How…I mean, why would you think that?”
Leaning across my desk, I give him an empathetic smile. I prop my chin in my hands, elbows on the desk, and look him straight in the eyes.
“When I was your age, I got bullied a lot, too. It got to the point in my sophomore year that I would avoid going to the bathroom at all during the day. Sometimes I barely made it home before I peed my pants.”
My smile is warm and self-deprecating and his lips twitch, a thin acknowledgment of the humor in my sad tale and perhaps some camaraderie.
“Ben, I know exactly what you’re going through because I’ve been there myself. I also know that it serves neither of us any good if I ask you who’s bullying you because you probably won’t tell me. You think that, by not snitching, you’re protecting yourself from retaliation. But I promise you, it won’t stop them. They’ll keep coming at you until you stand up to it safely.”
His bottom lip trembles slightly and my heart breaks for his needless suffering.
“I want to help you, Ben. You don’t deserve this. No one deserves to be beaten down and picked on by ignorant jerks. So, what do you say? Will you let me help you?”
The kid seems to think this over, glancing everywhere but at me, and then finally gives me a shrug of agreement.
It’s a start and I can work with it.
Enter the Giveaway:
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K.C. Kassidy is the gay romance pen name for Sierra Hill, new adult author of over 35+ awarding winning novels.
Her debut novel, C*ck Blocked, is the first book in the standalone Blockers Series.
Connect with K.C.:
Website: http://authorkckassidy.com/
Email subscriber link: https://www.subscribepage.com/authorkckassidy
Amazon: https://amzn.to/3sKQVxb
BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/k-c-kassidy
FB page: https://www.facebook.com/k.c.kassidyauthor
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