Every once in a while a book comes along that has me fascinated not only because it is well written, meticulously researched, about interesting characters, and deeply touching emotionally, but also because it contains a story that needs to be told. "The Good Fight", as the name already implies, is such a book. Two very special men meet and then unite in a fight for justice which, to be honest, should not even have to be fought.

What am I talking about? One of the two main characters in this book is a Native American, and his niece and nephew were taken by the state and put into foster care when his sister died. Yes, the children needed to be taken care of until he could travel to be with them. But – foster care is not intended to be permanent, and yet, child services do everything in their power to keep the kids away from their uncle. As always, money is involved, and the situation just made me angry. The fact that this is only one of many such stories of injustice and the "white" establishment still working against the interests of Native Americans makes me furious.

Jerry works as an IT consultant, developing websites and complex web-based applications. He likes working on his own, has enough projects to keep him more than busy, and moving back to Sioux Falls when his grandfather got sick was the best thing he ever did. Now that his grandfather has died, he focuses on work and soon has enough to hire help. When he does, his life changes. One of the men he hires opens his eyes to a whole new world of social injustice, and being the man he is, always doing the right thing, Jerry jumps in to help. As he slowly falls for John, he gets involved on an emotional level as well, and I loved how steadfast, loyal, and supportive he is of his new lover.

John/Akecheta is only looking for work, but finds so much more when he accepts the job offer from John. He is very quiet and withdrawn until you get to know him, or until his ability to take care of his niece and nephew are questioned. Then he gets very intense and I loved how he is not afraid to show his emotions, be they happy ones or signs of extreme frustration at a system that will not let him win. When he decides to fight, with John's help and encouragement, I cheered him along all the way. Seeing him stand up for himself and his rights, and enlist others to support him, was wonderful and very satisfying to watch.

Andrew Grey has taken on the telling of a socially important story with this book. He makes the issue clear, treats the implications with care and sensitivity, and, hopefully, will make every single reader realize that not everything is as just as it seems in one of he most advanced nations on this planet. That even in the early 21st century such blatant mismanagement of an entire people's interests is even still possible infuriates and saddens me in equal measure. Thank you, Andrew, for taking on this subject, and for giving this issue your time, and these people a voice. I certainly hope you will continue adding stories to this one, making this a series which can help readers be more informed about a form of social injustice most people are not even aware of.

Suppression and discrimination is never right, and if you want to find out more, handed to you in the form of an interesting story full of amazing characters, please buy and read this book. I think it is well worth every cent you spend on it, and every minute of your reading time will be well invested!




NOTE: This book was provided by Dreamspinner Press for the purpose of a review on Rainbow Book Reviews. ( )

Enjoyed the story overall. Book is a little on the sugary side. ( )

Enjoyed the story overall. Book is a little on the sugary side. ( )

~

3.5 Stars

~Enjoyable story

~Hit and miss writing

~Though-provoking

~~~

Take a look at my Male/Male Romance Book Blog:


http://www.attentionisarbitrary.blogspot.com ( )

I went back to read The Good Fight after I read the sequel, The Fight Within, so I already knew what it was supposed to be of Jerry and John. That gave me the chance to concentrate on them as a budding couple, how they met, how they fell in love.

Probably the most unexpected development is the one of John. I’m true, I have this romance novel imagine of Native Americans, and I’m always expecting for them to be proud of their heritage, strong men and women who will fight for all the rights that should be theirs right from the beginning. Actually a little how it was in The Fight Within. But here John, while for sure pride, is also a man who is able to recognize he needs help and that help can arrives from Jerry, the man he is falling for. John is quite emotional, maybe a good thing in a relationship, but not so much when you are fighting for custody of two children. Jerry is a mainstay, someone who is able to ground John’s emotions and drive him steadily towards their happily ever after as a family.

I also liked that Jerry wasn’t some perfect nerd/geek guy, clever but naïve of real life; Jerry decided to “retire” to a small town after he had the chance to experiment the big city and deciding it wasn’t for him. He saw the bad and went back to a more comfortable environment, one where you know your neighbor, bad or good as they are, and in a way, knowing you possible enemy is a way to being able to face them. And after all, the enemy is not so bad, and you have all the chances to fight and win them over.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/1613727364/?tag=elimyrevandra-20