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Make a Right

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LGBT Contemporary

Stubborn, loving, and loyal, Tuck would take care of the world if the world would let him. When he loves, he loves for life. Even when he’s on the edge of a breakup with Cade he can’t give up hope for their future. Tuck knows that a painful secret from his past is haunting Cade and driving him away. He swears he’ll find out what’s wrong and make it right or die trying. When he and Cade are invited to the wedding of a pair of foster kids they once rescued, Tuck convinces Cade to go with him. They’ll pretend nothing’s wrong so they won’t spoil the wedding for the girls they think of as daughters.

Being this close to Tuck again, Cade’s resolve stumbles. He’s falling in love again--but it won’t last unless he and Tuck can reconcile their differences. Though Cade wants to tell Tuck the truth, pride keeps his lips sealed. He knows his one chance at a reconciliation is giving up his secrets. The reward would be absolute--but can Cade find the courage to take the risk and face the consequences?

Two wrongs don’t usually make a right. But sometimes--if you’re lucky--against all odds, they do.

Publisher's This book contains explicit sexual content, graphic language, and situations that some readers may find male/male sexual practices.

245 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 14, 2011

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About the author

Willa Okati

218 books220 followers
Will Okati is made of many things: imagination, coffee, stray cat hairs, daydreams, more coffee, kitchen experimentation, a passion for winter weather, a little more coffee, a whole lot of flowering plants and a lifelong love of storytelling.

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5 stars
12 (20%)
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18 (30%)
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25 (41%)
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4 (6%)
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
Profile Image for Kassa.
1,117 reviews111 followers
July 21, 2011
I chose Make a Right because I like Willa Okati’s writing and the men seemed a touch angsty, which I adore. While the story succeeded in being romantic with a lot of elements fans are sure to love, I couldn’t quite connect with one of the main characters which kept me from truly enjoying this story. The right reader, however, will find this an easy, enjoyable book to read with very strong love conquers all and soul mate themes.

The story starts with Tuck and Cade in some kind of religious home for runaway and homeless teens. After living and surviving on the streets for so long, both young men are damaged. They form a connection though and the story then fast forwards ten years of mostly blissful happiness. Yet about six months ago Cade left Tuck for reasons unknown. After being together for so long and truly believing they are soul mates meant to be together, Tuck just can’t let go. When he receives a wedding invitation from friends and near sisters, Tuck seizes the opportunity to get Cade back. The two men both have secrets, fears, hopes, and dreams and whether they can find their way back to each other is anything but easy.

Right away the story cements the concept that Tuck and Cade are meant to be, soul mates, and destined to be the loves of each other lives. So almost immediately you know it’s just a matter of time before the two work things out and get back together. The remainder of the ~200 pg story is the back and forth between the men as they try to figure out what happened and if/how they can fix things. Narrated exclusively from Tuck’s third person perspective, the story delves into the extremely complicated relationship and characters. This somewhat works as Tuck is a very engaging narrator with a lot of strength and likable characteristics. He’s stubborn, loyal, helpful, and above all completely committed to Cade. He’s rough but also tender and loving. He’s a great flawed and messy character that easily carries the narrating duties.

Unfortunately the story could have really used Cade’s perspective as well. The entire breakup hinges on this deep dark secret Cade is unable to tell Tuck and thus has made their past ten years anything but easy. The story doesn’t show any of the past ten years of happiness but instead picks up when they’re broken up so there’s very little understanding of what their relationship has been up to now. For almost the entire novel Cade is telling Tuck they’re over, to stop trying, and that he wants to be alone. Yet of course Tuck doesn’t listen because deep down Cade doesn’t really mean that. The fact that this is true and the lack of Cade’s POV makes Cade a bit of a difficult character to connect to. He’s remote, often cruel, quick to hurt Tuck, yet clearly wants to be back together. The fact that Cade forces such a long separation is difficult to understand, even considering the reason. When the final reason comes out I actually agreed with Tuck that he should leave Cade, partly because these two have such a difficult and complicated relationship full of secrets and lies that I’m not sure even a fated love can survive.

Of course I want to believe it as will most fans so hopefully others won’t be as bothered by this. The supporting characters and great background all lend an air of angst and much needed edginess to the story. The writing and actions tend to be somewhat repetitive, we’re told Tuck and Cade are stubborn bastards over twenty times, and the cycle tends to be Tuck and Cade have sex, Cade regrets it while Tuck sees it as a step forward. For all of these potential problems, Okati writes an easy story to read with a lot of external interest in the setting and secondary characters. They’re not especially well rounded or even that important but they move the plot along and help get the two men back together. I think this type of story will appeal most to those fans of soul mates/love conquers all themes. It’s not a homerun but it’s an enjoyable enough story, especially if you can connect and feel for Cade’s plight.
Profile Image for Beatrice.
48 reviews
December 7, 2011
Before I start, I want to extend my thanks to Chris for her status update and her review that inspired me to read this book. I had not even encountered Make a Right before Chris brought it to my attention.

Jeez. What a wonderfully intense story - full of angst and hurt feelings... This book definitely tested my boundaries and my capability to handle drama and dysfunctional relationships. How much tighter can a book squeeze my heart? It grabbed me and wouldn't let me go. I understand that it may be too much for some people, that the angst may be a bit too over-the-top and that Cade may seem like a huge jerk and that the story is mediocre. But something in me calls for broken characters, and Willa Okati portrays them so well. I'll try to eloquently list down the reasons why I like this book as much as I do. Again, beware of slight spoilers.

First of all, the characters. From the moment I first met Tuck and Cade, I knew they were flawed and broken people, two guys who've had dysfunctional childhoods and are still searching for their rightful places on the planet. So yes, I became sympathetic right from the get-go and I felt what they felt. I experienced their tears and frustrations and hurt. Although I am a really emotional reader, it takes a lot for me to fully invest myself in the characters. But that happens here. Tuck seems like such a martyr and saint on the outside but because the book is told from his perspective, the reader knows just how many doubts he has within himself - all the jealousy and regret and, eventually, his thoughts of giving up.

And Cade... Cade is probably the opposite. We see him through Tuck's eyes and at first he seems like he's nothing but a man who's broken beyond repair. But eventually he becomes stronger, especially after he finally tells the truth. By the end of the book, it's not only Tuck taking care of Cade. It's also the other way around. Hannah and Megan and Thomas... All I can say about them is that they were wonderful, too. Each with their own little nuances and mannerisms. The book doesn't play with a huge cast, which is good because we get to know these five central characters a lot.

Secondly, the emotions. As I've said above, I felt what Tuck felt. The emotions were almost tangible, jumping out from every page, being emphasized and highlighted in all the right places. I probably had chest pains more times than I can count, and let's not talk about any crying I may have done... Now, there's something about the prose that just made the emotions that much more intense. It's difficult to explain, but the author's writing style here is definitely something I love. It's not your casual tone, but it's not graceful either. It's raw and pure, for the lack of better terms. No fluffy words and vocabulary. She manages to convey the story in such a beautiful manner with simple words. (Let me just say, that scene where Hannah tends to Tuck's wound and says she knows the truth just broke my heart.)

Now, why am I not giving this five stars? That's because I spotted the "worst thing ever" from about a mile away. In fact, I was mildly aware of it beginning in the first or second chapter. It made me frustrated at Tuck (instead of frustrated with Tuck) during some instances because all the little things Cade did and all his subtle reactions - which Tuck noticed, by the way - make the secret so obvious. Maybe Tuck was just really clueless when it comes to these things; he did say, after all, that he wasn't the brains, but rather the brawn. But some part of me also thinks that maybe Tuck blocked it out on purpose. Who knows?

All in all, a book that is definitely worth your while. It's nice and long with plenty of time for character development, as well as hot sex filled with bottled emotions. I read the most angsty of parts while waiting for the bus to come, and I just had to stop reading it once I got on the bus because I couldn't risk crying in such a public area. That's how much this affected me. Highly recommended. (Also, I'm surprised that this book doesn't have more ratings.)
9 reviews
August 1, 2012
This book was confusing and the choppy, unorganized writing left me wondering who said what and what the hell they meant.

We never really find out the details of why the Tuck and Cade broke up 6 months ago except that Tuck took a side-job with his taxi, carting around call girls and helping to keep them safe. He did it all to earn extra money to buy Cade the house he's always wanted. But Cade was SO PISSED that he left Tuck, the obvious love of his life. The premise made no sense, even with the eventual attempt at an explanation.

Then we're supposed to believe that Cade is so upset by this "betrayal" (when Tuck did nothing to betray him, really) that he pulled away form Tuck.

Then Cade decides to reveal the truth that Cade himself sold his body when he was a street kid (like Tuck himself) and he was ashamed to tell Tuck after 10 years of being together. And this is why he walked away. There was no infidelity, the love they had together was sustained and never breached. The made-up drama in the plot twists was boring, unbelievable and intensely hard to follow because of the author's choppy, and at times incoherent, writing style.

It's one thing to take poetic license. It's another thing entirely to abandon all basic rules of writing to prove that you are "different".

This book had compelling main characters. It had such incredible potential. I can't understand how a book editor (if there even was one) let this go to print.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Chris.
2,890 reviews208 followers
November 22, 2011
I'm pretty sure I cried for 2/3 of this book. I'm pretty sure I'll have a crying hangover in the morning, too. The struggling couple in this m/m romance just got to me, over and over... and I can't even tell you that it was anything other than a decent, angsty read, because I can't step back far enough for the emotional impact it had on me. Your mileage will definitely vary. :)
Profile Image for SueM.
777 reviews146 followers
August 13, 2011
This is an angst-ridden novel that had the possibility of being better than it was. The two main characters have been separated for 6 months after a 10 year relationship. Cade had left Tuck 6 months before, without really saying exactly why. Tuck is aware of one reason but also knows there must be something else. Coming together for the sake of their foster sisters' same-sex wedding, Tuck realizes he must break through Cade's barrier of silence if they have any chance of having a relationship in the future.

Tuck is an appealing character, well aware of his own responsibility for their separation. Cade, however, remains fairly hostile, almost unlikeable, through till nearly the end. While aware that this might be the author's intention - a way of emphasizing Tuck's struggle to reach through Cade's barriers - it doesn't actually help the reader to become involved. The other issue is that the angst was way too drawn out for me; I wanted to slap Cade out of the silence myself - nothing is worth the amount of drama he put Tuck through! A case of 'Enough already!' for me. Other than the excessive angst, I did enjoy this novel. (All the angst meant a 3 star read instead of a 4 star read.)
Profile Image for Wendy❤Ann.
1,757 reviews48 followers
May 21, 2016
Wow, feeling kind of tired after reading this one. I’m not sure I’ve witnessed two MC’s who struggled quite so much to come together – it left me feeling fairly exhausted and more than a little sad, actually. I loved Tuck beyond measure, but Cade was a different story. There were elements of the story that didn’t sit quite right, but I still found myself fairly absorbed in it. A shining example where communication is both the issue and the answer.
Profile Image for Lily.
3,911 reviews48 followers
August 5, 2011
I had a hard time with this story. It's very angst-filled which normally isn't a problem for me but coupled with a protagonist that I just didn't like made for a difficult read. It's well-written and the storyline overall was interesting but I was just never able to fully connect with Cade and therefor his relationship with Tuck didn't engage me.
Profile Image for Jes Jester.
1,146 reviews5 followers
July 31, 2019
Whoa. Talk about an emotional roller-coaster. Man, the past and present for this couple are so full of ups and downs, but the reader can't help but really root for them. Love was never the issue for these two, but could it be the solution? I'll never tell...
Profile Image for Mel Bradley.
227 reviews13 followers
September 4, 2011
Author: Willa Okati
Publisher: Loose-Id
Word Count: 81,295
Published: 2011
Fictionwise: $7.99

I was torn over even purchasing this book, especially when I saw the steep price (thank you for coupons), but being an Okati fan, it was just too hard to pass up. The story begins somewhat abruptly with two former lovers, crossing paths. Their 10-year history together is uncovered slowly throughout the book, but the premise is that they need to join forces to attend their friends (from their foster home) wedding. The story line itself – everything from how they met, their relationship, the premise for them coming back together, and the random characters, were a bit far-fetched and felt somewhat arbitrary at times. However, when you’re able to weed through the confusing plot turns and random dialogue and revelations, these characters evoked great emotion and passion throughout – and this fact alone, is why I’ve given it the rating I have.

The personalities between the two main characters were as different as night and day, but each loved the other in his own way, which made it sometimes painful to read (think tears), and other times almost comical. Tuck was, by far, the more relatable character and made this read worth it. I don’t think that any of this would happen in real life, nor do I agree that anyone would give in to someone who hurt them for TEN YEARS, but in this book, it seemed to happen to wrap up the story quickly.

The sex between them, when it happened, was a bit all over the place. The first encounter felt shameful, but after that, while there were regrets, the sex was filled was passion, thus, evoking even more emotion than their encounters evoked. Very vanilla sex, but you could feel their passion and wacky love for each other and it brought them even closer.

Out of four…
Overall Read: ♥♥
Sex Heat: ♥♥
Plot: ♥♥

Overall, I would recommend this book if you’re a Okati fan, or if you’re looking for some strong emotions in your story (and can overlook some random things thrown in). I was impressed by the level of heartfelt connection throughout, but there are definitely some plot issues that would make it difficult for a plot-driven reader to overlook.
Profile Image for Cheryl.
83 reviews
February 19, 2012
Tuck and Cade were both kids from the street. The ended up at the same reform school, Tuck first then Cade later on. The first day Cade was there Tuck explained that it wasn't that bad there.

Tuck fell in love with Cade and told him it was for life. They spent 10 years together. Tuck took a job driving escorts, to buy a house for Cade.
Cade got mad and left when he found out. Said it was over for good.

Six months later Tuck gets an invitation to Hannah and Megan's wedding. They were like sisters to them. Tuck tracked Cade down and gave him the invitation.

The story is about secrets and how it can affect a relationship. Cade has a secret that he's ashamed of. He is sure that if he tells Tuck that he will hate him. Tuck loves him and tells him repeatedly that it wouldn't matter. The story is a tearjerker. I enjoyed it though.
Profile Image for Mirka.
576 reviews34 followers
July 24, 2011
I am not a huge fan of too much angst in a book. But I loved this one. I don´t know...I loved Tuck who was just determined not to give up and I kinda understood Cade who felt the pressure of his secret. I am actually surprised I liked it this much because there really weren´t many happy moments in it but the love was there so I guess love really is the most important thing...
Profile Image for Becky Condit.
2,377 reviews66 followers
July 24, 2011
Heartbreaking and wonderful. Sat up all night to finish it. Could. Not. Put. It. Down. Willa Okati is at her awesome best creating characters and putting together a plot that is emotionally riveting. Loved this book. Highly recommended.
721 reviews1 follower
April 30, 2012
Somehow the resolution, the HEA after the angst, was hollow and unsatisfying.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews

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