Saturday, January 11, 2020

Between the Lines (New Milton #2) by Sally Malcolm







Blurb

“I loved this book. It’s a reading highlight of this past year…gentle and lyrical but also engrossing and sexy.” —Cat Sebastian, author of A Gentleman Never Keeps Score

Theo Wishart has given up on finding love.

Luca Moretti doesn’t want to find it.

A handful of summer days may change their lives forever—if they’re brave enough to look between the lines.


Eyes might be windows to the soul, but for Theo Wishart they’re all shuttered. His dyspraxia makes it hard to read people. He doesn’t do relationships and he certainly doesn’t do the great outdoors. Two weeks spent “embracing beach life” while he tries to close the deal on a once great, now fading seaside hotel is a special kind of hell.

Until Luca. Gorgeous, unreachable Luca.

Luca Moretti travels light, avoiding all romantic entanglements. Estranged from his parents, he vows this will be his last trip home to New Milton. His family’s hotel is on the verge of ruin and there’s nothing Luca can do to save it. He’s given up on the Majestic, he’s given up on his family and he’s given up on his future.

Until Theo. Prickly, captivating Theo.

No mushy feelings, no expectations, and no drama—that’s the deal. A simple summer fling. And it suits them both just fine. But as the summer wanes and their feelings deepen, it’s clear to everyone around them that Theo and Luca are falling in love. What will it take for them to admit it to themselves—and to each other?

This book is approximately 73,000 words



One-click with confidence. This title is part of the
Carina Press Romance Promise: all the romance you’re looking for with an HEA/HFN. It’s a promise!

Review 
My Rating - 5 Stars!

Sally Malcolm's Between The Lines is an amazing read. 

Luca comes home to his mom and homophobic step-father for one last time. And I fell in love with him and his plight from the start. The small town of New Milton immediately comes to life, easily placing the reader in the setting.


Both Luca and Theo have a complex relationship with their parents. Both men are multi-layered who come together with a quick connection. What follows is an emotional journey as they deal with their trust issues. The men butt heads at the start, but they definitely end up being perfect for one another. Unfortunately, they don't live near one another, which is just one more issue they have to face.


Overall, Luca's self discovery/awareness is a stellar issue that pulls the plot along. I love it, both in it's subject matter and it's development. It's something we see way too often, and witnessing someone coming to terms with their issues, and making amends is inspirational. The character growth is stellar!

Theo's dyspraxia is wonderfully written, full of understanding and care. The author perfectly illustrates the physical and emotional effects.

The following quote is my favorite. Both poignant and thought-provoking, it's well worth repeating it. 

'"People lie all the bloody time. I mean, they call it sarcasm or good manners or irony or horsing around, but when you can't tell the difference...?"...It's easy to make mistakes."'


It's no surprise that the writing is fabulous, as the author excels in bringing settings and characters to life.

The storyline is definitely predicable, but never disappointing. It's full of denial, confusion, and coming to terms with one's feelings. The family elements are amazingly well developed.

And if you've read Perfect Day, which I loved, you'll enjoy getting to witness Josh and Finn's wedding.  

Between the Lines is a beautiful story of fear, as Luca struggles with taking a chance on love. It's a stunning story of finding what one truly wants out of life. This Sally Malcolm book is a fantastic read. 



 

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