I adored Ms. Malcolm’s last book, a retelling of Persuasion, so to say I was very excited for this one would be an understatement! And, yes, it was just as good! It’s a delightful example of enemies-to-lovers starring a neurodivergent character, with an underlying message of forgiveness. While it’s set in the same time and includes the wedding of the two main characters from the first book, I think it’d work perfectly fine as a standalone.

“The horizon was already dark, a few stars visible in the deep blue, and when he opened the window and stepped out onto the narrow balcony he could hear the roar of the surf. It was a comforting sound, like the endless hum of a Manhattan night, only more gentle—and with fewer fumes. He inhaled a deep breath and felt the peace of the place sink into his bones. For a strange moment he found himself wondering what it would be like to belong here, to have that peace for himself.”


Luca’s a bit of a wanderer, content to travel from beach to winter resort, working as a seasonal surfing or snowboarding instructor. The only constant is that every summer he returns to New Milton, his childhood home and the location of his family’s hotel, the Majestic. This year, however, may be the last, as his mother reluctantly intends to sell it. Theo represents the company making the offer, and needs to close this deal to prove to his father, the CEO, that he’s worthy of taking over the company. So when Luca’s mom suggests that Theo stay for two weeks before she’ll sign the offer in the hopes of making him see what’s so great about the Majestic, he reluctantly agrees. Despite a rocky start, the chemistry between Luca and Theo is undeniable, so they agree to a no-strings-attached fling while Theo’s there. I’m sure you can guess how that works out!

“See?” he said irritably. “You’re doing it right now. Why can’t you just say what you mean, instead of expecting me to divine it by—” he wiggled his fingers “—magic?”
Luca snorted a laugh. “You know what? It’s lucky you’re gay. At least guys tend to be pretty up-front about what we want, huh?” He made a vague, crude gesture. “You’re hot, let’s screw. Am I right?”
“I guess.” Theo poked at his hamburger. “But even hookups take a certain degree of…nonverbal communication. And it’s so easy to make mistakes, to think you know what someone wants when the truth is they don’t want you at all.”


From the meet-cute to the epilogue, it’s obvious that Luca and Theo are very different men, and Ms. Malcolm did an amazing job with differentiating their voices. Theo has dyspraxia, which manifests for him as coordination issues and problems reading social cues. It’s frustrating and exhausting for him, wondering if people actually mean what they say or are being sarcastic, or lying, or any of a multitude of other reactions. A past work romance gone wrong – the man was married – has soured him on all relationships. I thought this was handled very well, from the descriptions of how it affects Theo’s life to how Luca reacts to it. Rather than coddling him, Luca simply adapts to make things clearer or easier or Theo, not protection but assistance. Luca, for his part, has his own demons he’s fighting, and that’s part of the beauty of this book. It feels emotionally deep and honest, and while at points it’s heart wrenching, it doesn’t feel like you’re being played for those emotions.

“Point is, resentment screws up your life. It’s always best to move on.”
Luca glanced at him, wondering whether he was making a point, but perhaps it was only Luca’s conscience pricking. Resentment was one of his oldest friends, after all. It had served him well the past five years, kept him from forgetting how badly the people you loved could screw you over. Kept him from making the same mistake twice.”


The nature of one of Luca’s demons, though, is the one part of the story that’s still bothering me. Luca’s dad ran off when he was young, and five years prior to the story, Luca’s mom Jude married Don. While, at one point, Don tells Theo that he thinks Luca would never have accepted any other man in Jude’s life, it most certainly doesn’t help that Don is of the “love the sinner, hate the sin” homophobic camp. Feeling betrayed that his mom chose Don over him because she married him, Luca swore to never spend another night under their roof and left. Cutting ties with the hotel that’s been in his family for three generations hurt, and he blames Don for Jude’s determination to sell the hotel. Of course, going with the whole forgiveness theme, there is a reconciliation storyline here, and I’m of two minds about it. While it’s true that Don seems to have changed – though he still disapproves of Luca’s “promiscuous” lifestyle – most of their behavior towards Luca is still pretty awful. Jude seems incapable of understanding why marrying somebody who so thoroughly rejected a part of her son hurt him so badly. I’d also agree that the degree of resentment that Luca is harboring, while completely understandable, is a giant festering wound that’s poisoning his life – he refuses to take over the hotel because it would benefit Don’s retirement – and it nearly drives away Theo. His reconciliation to someone who’s still unable to apologize for his homophobic stance seems like it might be extremely hurtful to readers who’ve dealt with the same pain and who’ve chosen to cut contact. I’m not one of those, though, and there’s a line in the book, to paraphrase, about “forgiveness, even when it’s not deserved” and, to me, that’s what’s happening here – Jude and Don don’t deserve Luca’s forgiveness, have done nothing to earn it, but Luca gives it to them anyway to free himself of the burden of resentment that’s been controlling his life for too long.

Overall, though I spent a lot of time thinking about Luca’s parents and their actions, at heart this is a lovely, emotional story about two flawed men and how they find their HEA. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and will definitely be picking up whatever Ms. Malcolm writes next!

I received this book for free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

Theo Wishart has come to New Milton to buy The Majestic Hotel. His father is his boss and Theo is constantly trying to prove himself, and landing this deal will further his career. Theo has a hard time reading people and while his dyspraxia has made certain areas of life more difficult, Theo only wants to be defined by what he can do. Theo wants to find love, but after a disastrous experience, he doesn’t think that’s likely to happen for him.

Luca Moretti grew up at The Majestic, as the hotel has been in his family for generations. He always thought that one day it would be his, but when his mother remarried, Luca did not feel welcomed in his own home by her new husband. Luca now travels the country and this summer he has returned to The Majestic. He knows it’ll likely be his last visit as the hotel is going under. Luca also thinks he has no interest in being tied down romantically, that is until he meets Theo.

In order to close the deal, Theo will be staying at the property for two weeks. Beach life is not for Theo, but the view of Luca adds to the appeal. Luca feels that getting involved with Theo is just short of sleeping with the enemy, but the men agree to a summer fling. With no expectations and no promises, the men seem doomed before they even have a chance to begin.

Sally Malcolm offers a story of two men that, despite their prickly exteriors, is on the sweet side. Theo arrives to the small beach town and has something to prove. He needs to make this deal to show his father, who is his boss, that he can handle it. Theo has a neurological disorder called dyspraxia that makes some things in his life more challenging. While Theo does sometimes wish certain things were easier for him, this story is not about him trying to overcome anything.

When Theo and Luca crash into each other, there is something there immediately, but Theo doesn’t think that romance will ever find him, and Luca’s not at all interested. Luca has a lot of anger built up with his mother and the situation with The Majestic. The hotel has always been his home and Luca has so many unresolved feelings and is too angry to say what he really wants. He can’t even admit that he really wants Theo.

From the beginning of the book, I knew how it would end, but it was still engaging to see it play out. These guys don’t communicate, oh they have their reasons, and it takes one of them to really step up and go after what they want to make both of their dreams come true.

Theo’s father was a character that seemed misplaced to me at times. He was presented originally one way and then was shown another way and it was never quite clear if he was on Theo’s side. He was a driving force behind a lot of Theo’s choices and scenes with him didn’t fully work for me each time.

Ultimately, I enjoyed Sally Malcolm’s writing style and Between the Lines is a sweet story about going after your dreams and going after the one you want to share them with.

Theo is sent by his father to purchase the Majestic Hotel in New Milton, which will be torn down to make way for a sleek modern hotel / resort / golf course. Although owner Jude and her husband desperately need to sell, they hope that Theo will get a sense of why the Majestic is so special and invite him to stay there while negotiating the sale.

Jude's son Luca (who we met very briefly in "A Perfect Day") is at the Majestic this one last summer as a lifeguard and teaching surfing and boarding. Luca has no permanent home, other than a converted van, and spends his winters working at ski resorts.

Theo has dyspraxia which includes poor balance and muscular coordination and issues with judgement, processing and other cognitive skills.

"People were difficult, that was the problem. They were confusing and he didn't have the knack for connecting with them. He couldn't make himself understood and he couldn't understand them in return. Sometimes he imagined a glass wall stood between himself and other people - he could see them well enough, he just couldn't break through."

Or as Theo later tells Luca: "You ever hear the expression 'the eyes are the window to the soul?' Well, to me, all the blinds are down. I can't read people. It's a dyspraxic thing." The two men eventually decide to indulge their sexual attraction with a short summer fling, and Luca agrees to always tell Theo the truth, but Feelings change everything. Malcolm does a wonderful job of showing us that growing love combined with the realization they will each go their separate ways soon, and yet each man wonders if this could become something more. I like the pace of this story, as the romance grows and develops and we learn more about Theo and Luca, and the Majestic hotel works its magic and makes Theo think that perhaps one day it could play an important role in their future.

My only niggle with "Between the Lines" is Luca's massive angst-filled miscommunication with Theo and basically becoming an asshat in the later part of the book until he comes to his senses. It feels out of character and just too much given their gentle dynamic. Also Luca's stepfather has made some homophobic comments in the past and while it's hard to imagine Luca's mother in effect choosing him over her son, I like how Malcolm offers the start of an unthawing and understanding between Luca and his stepfather. It's not perfect, but it's a work in progress.

It took me a while to really get into this story (unlike "A Perfect Day" which captured my heart right away), but as we get to know Theo's beautiful spirit and his hope and dreams for a loving relationship, family and home and how Luca finds himself on the cusp of getting something he never fully realized he wanted, I was completed hooked. AND the ending and epilogue a year later is absolutely perfect! Bonus: we also get a loving update on Finn and Josh and their swoon worthy wedding. 4.5 stars for "Between the Lines."

set in the small, coastal town of new milton, between the lines finds two men at a crossroads of sorts. luca moretti's family legacy has been his touchstone, but now it's in danger of being sold to a hotel conglomerate out to make it another luxury golf resort. he's too much of a ramblin' man to settle down, he has old hurts and wounds that won't allow him to take over for his mother. some of his anger rational, and some just covering some deep hurts.

and then there's theo wishart, who longs to be the ruthless businessman his father wants him to be, but who struggles with dyspraxia that makes him feel awkward and unable to read social cues. luca makes him feel like a bumbling idiot most of the time, but he also is the only person who has a viable solution for the majestic and as much as he wants to help luca preserve his family legacy, he is enough of a realist to know that it might not be possible.

luca and theo connect and it's both sweet and challenging. they are two different people, two bruised souls, but they also find so much acceptance in each other's arms. like it's possible that together they can do anything. it's enough to get both men dreaming.

this is a beautiful follow up to perfect day and spins a sweetly, angsty love story.

**between the lines will publish on december 10, 2018. i received an advance reader copy courtesy of netgalley/carina press in exchange for my honest review.

Very much enjoyed this romance. Other elements also added to the enjoyment - the setting, and the community particularly. I haven't read the first book, but I easily picked up the significance of the big gay wedding.

I liked that Luca and Theo were different people, and yet both felt a strong connection. It was great to see them become friends first, and then risk everything for the physical intimacy. There were clear reasons for their reluctance to take greater leaps of faith, and this is the sign of a well crafted novel--that when we have the big misunderstanding, readers can accept it and stay with the story while resolutions happen (even if it takes a little while).

I have already found another short story set in this same universe, so I guess I can expect to see more. Yay.

Thanks to Netgalley and publisher for advanced copy. Between the Lines is due out on December 10.

Theo is willing to learn what does the Majestic have that makes people love it. Love that will also be present to him in the form of Luca Moretti. Both men have closed their doors to love, but when love strikes there's nothing they can do about it.

Theo has a hard time reading people. That's why being in a relationship is something he would never look forward to. He's not an outdoor person and the beach time he's spending trying to close a deal for his father is proving to be the nightmare he was expecting, until he meet Luca. Luca is trying to keep himself away from love. Being vulnerable and facing the possibility of being left behind is something he dreads and he chooses to never being attached to a place or a person. But what seems like his last visit to the Majestic, his family hotel, makes him face the possibility of love. Even when Luca and Theo decided to have a summer fling, and nothing more. Their hearts start to betray them and give them more than they were reaching for.

It was a really nice book. I had a great time reading it. It was slow paced, but that work fine because it gave the story a little more romantic feeling. The writing was beautiful. This was a new author to me, but I'm excited to look for more of her books, because I really loved the way she makes the reader connect with the main characters' emotions. What I didn't like about it was also the slow pace it had. Even though I see it as a good thing in terms of romance, it made it hard to read while I was starting the book and haven't fell in love with the characters yet.

Theo and Luca made a beautiful couple. I loved how much they struggle to get to their happy ending. Both were very complex characters and their internal dialogue was captivating. I loved how insecure both of them were and how much it took them to let themselves admit they were in love. The intimate moments they share were really well written and very romantic. The chemistry between them was evident since the moment they meet, even if they didn't have the most pleasant start. The emotions between them were something I loved, it was so easy to know they were in love.

Overall it was a lovely book to read. I had a great time with it and I would recommend it to any reader looking for some M/M romance.

Between the Lines was written by Sally Malcolm. This contemporary m/m romance novel is set in the same world as Perfect Day, one of Malcolm’s other books. I don’t read a lot of contemporary romance, but the plot of this book piqued my interest.

Theo has arrived in New Milton to close the deal on purchasing the Majestic, a seaside hotel that has fallen into disrepair. This is a big opportunity for Theo to finally impress his father, who sees him as incompetent.

Luca has returned to the Majestic to try to talk his mother out of selling the hotel to a big corporation. Luca grew up at the Majestic, but it hasn’t felt much like home to him for years. His stepfather does not accept that Luca is gay, and so Luca lives a nomadic lifestyle- living by the beach during the summer and the ski slopes in the winter.

Naturally, Theo and Luca clash- Luca wants to save the hotel, and Theo is simply there to do a job. But they soon realize that they can’t ignore the spark of attraction. They agree to a no-strings-attached fling, but the more they get to know each other, the harder it is for them to deny that they aren’t connecting on a deeper level. And with the sale of the hotel looming, will they really be able to walk away from each other unscathed?

This was a delightful book. One of the things that sets this book apart is that Theo has dyspraxia, a neurological condition that affects his coordination as well as his thought process. Luca sees Theo as standoffish as first, but he is empathetic once Theo tells him about the dyspraxia. These two heroes have very different personalities, so it was very sweet to see them find common ground. Theo spends the first part of the book restrained and buttoned up, but he learns to relax. Likewise, Luca arrives frustrated and angry, and he also learns to relax.

I would recommend Between the Lines to fans of contemporary m/m romance. The tone is fairly light with just enough angst to keep things interesting. Theo and Luca are delightful together, and I’m pleased to have discovered Sally Malcolm. I’m looking forward to reading more of her books in the future!


I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book.

What an amazing story this was! I fell in love with Theo and Luca as they were falling in love with eachother. They were both such sweet men, that truly deserved a happily ever after. Those last couple chapters had me bawling my eyes out with sad tears and then happy tears. I’m totally smitten with New Milton and it’s people and I look forward to reading more stories about the people of this quant little town.

3.5 stars

This story was about 2 guys - 1 who never thought he'd have an HEA and the other who thought he didn't need one.

I liked this book but didn't love it because I felt like there were some unresolved issues.

Luca didn't ever resolve the issue he had with his mother, Jude, marrying someone who had homophobic tendencies. Luca felt his mother betrayed him when she married Don and I never felt like this issue was resolved between them even though the story tried to make it seem that way.

I also wanted to see Theo stand up to his overbearing father. At the end, when Theo revealed he <spoiler>bought the hotel from his father</spoiler>, it was just stated as a fact but I felt cheated in not seeing how that all went down. It just seemed to easy when it never seemed like his father would allow that to happen.

And while I don't mind instalove, these 2 just didn't spend a lot of time together and I never truly felt their connection. Yet I still enjoyed the story and would recommend it to anyone who likes a straightforward romance with fairly low angst.

This book has the most accurate blurb I've ever seen.

I'd never heard of dyspraxia prior to this book. It's amazing the things we learn about reading romance novels. As the author herself says, their greatest draw has always been and continues to be, that they show us that happily-ever-afters are for everyone.

Us romance readers love to read about characters who overcome obstacles to find their true love. For me, it's never more poignant than when a character struggles with a disability and finds the soulmate they deserve.

Theo & Luca give us a beautiful story of love and acceptance. Overcoming mistakes and building a future filled with happiness.

I thoroughly enjoyed this romance!

Sally Malcolm returns to the coastal town of New Milton with the story of Luca, a man who does not wish for love or a lasting relationship, and Theo, who fears his dyspraxia will prevent him from finding the real love he desires. How these two finally come together after many complications and misunderstandings is a story worth reading,

I remember—with loads of fondness—Sally Malcolm as an author whose SG-1 fanfic I binged on years and years ago, for her insight into emotion, human behaviour and characterisation. And well, to give me the HEA that I could always depend on her for when the show’s episodes let me down. I’m less familiar with Malcolm’s works within the official SG-1 published books, so reading ‘Between the Lines’—a different genre, a different type of fiction really—is like visiting an old friend’s familiar writing style, even if it’s only to see Malcolm’s growth as an author.

The hallmarks of Malcolm’s writing haven’t faded at all; in fact, what I remember of her sharp style still stays and to see it in print is akin to seeing a long-lost favourite fanfic author inked in permanence. The setup of Luca and Theo is deliciously fraught with sexual tension and issues from the start and I liked every page of their progression from enemies-to-lovers (sort of) as the potential sale of a family legacy hotel puts them on opposing sides.

Only the conflict and its eventual resolution made what would have been a solid 4-star rating dip in the end. Though it was always obvious how the temporary split was going to happen (like a train wreck you know that can’t be stopped), I found it easier to like Theo more than Luca precisely because of the latter’s waffling through his own indecision, self-righteous attitude and self-recrimination…and not quite doing anything about it when he needed to be the braver and more sacrificial of the two it seemed.

‘Between the Lines’ is nonetheless, an easy read mostly because Malcolm’s way with words—evocative yet stylish and less explicit than I expected—paves the way for it. Regardless of my own waffling review of this book however, I’m just glad Malcolm’s back on my reading radar.

"Between the lines" est un roman qui nous permet de faire un nouveau petit tour dans la ville balnéaire de New Milton que nous avions découverte dans Perfect Day. Si les deux romans peuvent parfaitement se lire en tant que standalone, ce serait dommage de ne pas respecter l’ordre de lecture car l’auteure nous une très belle surprise !

Ce roman confirme mon faible pour l’écriture délicate de Sally Malcolm qui donne vie à une histoire aux ingrédients simples mais qui parvient malgré tout à nous emporter. Ici, pas de rebondissements et de drames excessifs, les sentiments des héros sont bien mis à l’épreuve mais cela se fait de façon crédible sans exagération. Je suis très rapidement tombée sous le charme désuet du Majestic, un bel hôtel héros du temps en bord de mer, bref un écrin parfait pour une belle histoire d'amour.

Theo Wishart arrive à New Milton avec une mission à accomplir : acheter Luca Moretti est un homme qui souhaite ne pas avoir d’attaches, il revient pourtant dans la ville de son enfance afin de persuader sa mère de ne pas vendre l’hôtel familial, le Majestic, à une Lux properties, une grande chaîne hôtelière qui a comme projet de détruire le bâtiment pour y bâtir un complexe plus moderne. Mais cela ne sera pas pour plaire à Luca Moretti, le fils très sexy de la propriétaire.

Luca est borné, il se comporte parfois comme un sale gosse immature, colérique et parfois cruel, je lui en ai voulu mais malgré tout, ses tiraillements, ses blessures et son insécurité restent compréhensibles. Et même si je dépeins un portrait peu reluisant de lui, j’ai aimé ce personnage imparfait qui a finalement un cœur tendre.
Theo, voici un homme qui a capturé mon cœur, je ne veux pas en dévoiler trop à son sujet (et je trouve dommage que le résumé en dise trop) mais je l’ai trouvé terriblement attendrissant et j’ai beaucoup aimé la façon dont l’auteur traite un certain thème à travers ce personnage, je n’en dirai pas plus car je trouve intéressant de le découvrir au fil des pages.

Leur rencontre laisse présager un combat de coqs, vu que l’avenir du Majestic est en jeu, pourtant l’attraction au petit goût d’interdit qui les pousse l’un vers l’autre semble irrépressible. Bien malgré eux et en quelques jours à peine, les deux hommes ne pourront pas s’empêcher de développer de tendres sentiments. Habituellement, je ne suis pas une fan des romances « insta-love » mais étonnamment cela ne m’a absolument pas gênée dans "Between the lines" tant ce qu’éprouve les personnages semble naturel, leurs émotions m’ont paru authentiques , je suis incapable d’expliquer pourquoi mais mon âme de romantique y a cru, tout simplement .


Sally Malcolm est une auteure que je continuerai à suivre assidûment 💗

2.5 Stars

“Between the Lines” brought us (readers) back to New Milton (where Perfet Day set). I was fond of Sally Malcolm’s character in “Perfect Day” despite him making douche-like mistake in the past so I was rather optimist with “Between the Lines” as well. One of the character - Theo - had dyspraxia which affected his (body) coordination as well as judgement of people and I’m a sucker for unusual protagonist in a story. Unfortunately somehow “Between the Lines” didn’t work so well for me. Probably it had to do with the subdued atmosphere throughout the telling with Theo as the sole winning aspect, making (this book) hard to like.

I get the complex impediment between the family, the lasting effect it left on everyone involved. But I guess I just lost patience over - for want of better words - their (creating and) prolonging their own misery. What a bunch of stubborn dunderheads!! And don’t get me started on Luca’s self-righteous, judgmental attitudes...

Of course, this is my personal take on the book. I’m sure many (readers) would be taken to this opposites attract, enemies to lovers romance between Luca and Theo. In all fairness, there were adorable moments between these guys and I applauded Luca for his patience with Theo once he understand Theo’s issues. There’s also Theo’s grand gesture (in a literal sense) that was just remarkable. Although they really couldn’t lift-up my feeling of the story as a whole.


Advanced copy of this book is kindly given by the author/publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

*I received an Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) from NetGalley and Harlequin – Carina Press as the publisher in exchange for an honest review*

Book title        : Between the Lines

Author             : Sally Malcolm

Release Date   : 10 December 2018

Met our first hero – Luca Moretti, an Italian breed, sexy hunk, able to cook, surfer coach, a devoted son who has a problem with his step-father and is willing to do anything for the Majestic, a family mansion used as a seaside hotel.

Greet our second hero – Theodore Wishart, a guy with dyspraxia who dressed in formal suit, not into outdoor activities yet super smart and witty.

Two of them met under an unexpected circumstance when Jane, Luca’s mother needs an advice to beautify their family mansion. Luca firstly hates Theodore because he is thinking that Theodore and his property business will only make profit in renovating and selling the Majestic without even thinking the sentimental and emotional values in it. I know it is a little bit cliché but as the hatred turns into little sparks and they end up making a commitment for a summer steamy romance.

“Hands clasped, fingers locked, Luca nipped at Theo’s lips, deepening the kiss. Theo’s cock began to fill and Luca must have felt it because he made a soft approving noise in the back of his throat, urging his hips closer still – close enough for Theo to feel Luca’s hard length nudging against his stomach. He groaned, he could not help it.”

Sally Malcolm is brilliant in portraying the steamy scenes to her readers. She is also able to provide the readers with the problems that most LGBTQ people often face: lack self-confident, questioning one’s love along, the feeling of being unwanted by someone along with several other issues. An example is when Luca and Theo are about to say goodbye. They know they like each other and want to give a chance to whatever they have. Instead of expressing it, they think

“Better the grief of this silent parting than the shame of confessing feeling unwanted and unreturned”

In my personal opinion, even though the plot of this novel is pretty much predictable Between the Lines is a sweet and entertaining same-sex love story. The story itself is beautifully written and is filled with cuteness, sweetness, joys, sadness, and passion that may also feel by the LGBTQ people in the real world. I also love the part when the writer hooks the readers with the family story. Those reasons are what make this book as an entertaining book to read.

Full review is available at https://literatureisliving.wordpress.com/2018/11/20/between-the-lines-by-sally-malcolm/

*~~*ARC kindly provided by the author to me in exchange for an honest review *~~*

- Review to come

<a href="">Review</a> originally posted on my blog with added content <a href="https://mikkuchan.wordpress.com/">Mikku-chan / A world full of words</a>

I’ve been reading new to me authors lately. And some have been hits and some have been misses. I would say this one wasn’t fully a miss for me. But definitely not something that just blew me away.

This book cover. I love it! It’s what got my attention. I couldn’t wait to dive right into it. But... early on in this book it just wasn’t grabbing my attention fully. It took me days to read! And still... it wasn’t fully grabbing me.

I wasn’t fully into Luca or Theo. I didn’t like how the mother didn’t fight for Luca more. I mean Luca spent years away because of what the mothers husband said to him. I didn’t like that. And I wasn't feeling the love connection between Theo or Luca.

Overall this wasn’t a bad read. It was an ok read for me.

This is the first book I've read by Sally Malcolm, and it will not be the last. I read this book in a couple of days, couldn't put it down and still wanted more. A lovely story.


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 read 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 the 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, its 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 each other?

“And its so easy to make mistakes, to think you know what someone wants when the truth is they don't want you at all."

This is a sweet, charming, classic yet modern love story. The two main characters begin a slow-burn romance that is a pleasure to read. The love story is beautifully written, it's filled with sweetness, laughs and passion. Also, the family dynamics are really well written, you get just as involved with the tumultuous relationships each main characters has with their parents, as they do with each other, which makes it an interesting read.

Now, when it comes to the plot I have to say, it's pretty predictable. You can guess from the beginning what story is going to unfold. This doesn't make the book any less enjoyable, it's just means there aren't many surprises to come. I loved the ending though, it was cinematic and I could easily see it on the big screen. I didn't want their love story to end.

I will always enjoy a book that has great representation of the LGBT community and this book does just that. I believe it will give young teens reading it hope for the future to read a love story like this. It also has great presentation of dyspraxia, which I had never heard of, it handles it in a delicate and truthful way.

So if you like a good LGBT romance, love story, or a light read with a lot of heart then this is the book for you. I hope there's more from Sally Malcolm to follow.

This book was given to me by Netgalley and Carina Press in return for an honest review.

Confession time: Characters who start off completely against love and relationships, and then have an epiphany because of the main love interest usually aren't my cup of tea. I'm cynical and jaded. It takes a lot to convince me one person can completely change someone so drastically. In Between the Lines, Malcolm knocks this trope out of the ballpark. I was rooting for Luca and Theo with every fiber of my being.

If you've read Perfect Day by Malcolm, you may remember Luca being very briefly mentioned as the summer lifeguard/surf instructor and son of the owner of the bed and breakfast on the bay. He's travels all over the country, taking jobs in different states for each season. He's the anti-relationship, anti-love MC. He's up for fun and zero attachments. Until...

...dear Theo. Oh, how he stole my heart. I learned a lot about dyspraxia through Malcolm's portrayal of Theo. He's sensitive and proud and passionate and trusting, and I just loved him. That's not to say I didn't love Luca. I did, just in a different way.

These two were so sweet together when they finally got their heads out of the sand. I adored the grand gesture and the mention of "The Luckiest" by Ben Folds, my favorite song by one of my favorite artists.

Without a doubt, I am looking forward to Malcolm's next offering in the M/M romance genre.

Utterly charming. Nuanced characters, an engaging plot, and deft writing. Sally Malcolm is an author to watch and I look forward to reading her next release