The Last Letter blew me away. It’s a story of love, lust, courage and heartbreak. It's about how love can heal and how loss and challenge make us stronger and more resilient. I really liked both the main characters in this, Beckett's got the tough guy attitude but there's also a really loving side to him that had me swooning a little. Ella is a great strong female lead, with everything she's been through; the fight in her is far from lost.
The author has such a way with words. It was interesting how she created a link between the past and present using the letters. I also loved the pace of the story telling. It allowed for great character development for Beckett and Ella and a good build up of the relationship between them. The story is very rich and layered with a complicated plot. I would definitely recommend it.

In short:
Hero 5/5 | Heroine 5/5 | Plot (Point, Originality) 5/5 | Writing Style 4/5 | Steam 3/5 | Romance 5/5 | Angst-Suspense 4/5 | Darkness 4/5 | Humor 0/5 | Secondary Characters 4/5 | Drama-Conflict 5/5 | Mystery 4/5 | Twists 4/5 | Pacing Steady | Action 3/5

The Last Letter is definitely not a traditional romance story and is not a light read. There are beautifully romantic elements that keep the story from becoming as sad and dark as it could be.

“This isn’t one of your Christmas romance movies where they fake-marriage themselves out of a conundrum, break into snowball fights, and fall in love. There’s no happy-ever-after here.”
Of course that knowledge hadn’t stopped me from falling for him, anyway.”

I don’t know what to say about this story. I absolutely loved it but at the same time hated it. It was the first book by this author that I’ve read and I will 100% surely be reading more books by this author immediately.

“Don’t you dare lie to me. The men in my life have a habit of promising with one hand and packing with the other.”

If you prefer a nice tidy happily ever after, my only suggestion would be to read about three quarters or so of this book and then stop and make up your own HEA. This book stabs you in the back and then hands you a little bandaid!!! Have LOTS of tissues at the ready!
-4 Stars!-

This is such an emotional and very touching story, This story is one that will stay with me for a very long time, Rebecca has written something truly amazing and very powerful. It's a 5 star read from me.

The Last Letter is a military romance with so much more. It is about love, family, and strength. While reading this selection, I could not put it done. Upon completion, it stayed on my mind. This is an emotional read so you should have tissues available. The love story is wonderful. The characters are endearing. The conflicts are realistic and understandable (not a standard trope).
I am a new fan of Rebecca Yarros. I already added her backlist books to my TBR. Thanks Entangled:Amara and NetGalley for the ARC of this title for review.

It’s been hours since I finished this book and I swear it is all that I can think about. I’ve messaged friends, talked to myself repeatedly and shouted from the rooftops about it. This was my first Rebecca Yarros book and I’m simply blown away. I’m sitting at my daughter’s gymnastics practice and I’m tearing up…stop looking at me judgey cheer moms!

There is so much to this book. The synopsis pulled me and but let me tell you…it’s so much deeper than that. The relationships and bonds are so strong, the emotions are real and raw. The characters are so beautifully built, down to earth, real life, this could be any of us type of beautiful.

I have so much to say but I’m at a loss for how to tell you about it. Chaos, Ryan, Ella, Beckett, Colt, Maisie….I could go on and on but you need to discover all about them on your own. I know that’s cruel but I can tell you that you will NOT REGRET IT. Go in blind, don’t ask what the book is about…just click it and read it.

You will get a love story of epic proportions…and not just a guy and a girl. Brothers, family, friends. Two people that hold each other together almost effortlessly but with everything they have at the same time…UGH I can’t even explain it. And here come the tears again! Grab the tissues, you will need them.

Omg this book was absolutely amazing, beautiful but also heartbreaking. I swear I could barely put this book down once I started reading it even though sometimes I had to read through a lot of tear. This quote definitely hit me hard in the feels this is one books that made me cry a lot. Seriously if you are in need of an ugly cry one click this book ASAP. It was such a beautiful story and the author definitely hit me in the feels with her words. I really didn't want this journey to be over. I want more of these characters.

Without giving anything away this book is amazing. 5 stars for sure.

This military romance was out of my normal reads I was skeptical but I am sooo glad I read this book. Through most of this story I had a lump in my throat, my stomach was in knots and tears in my eyes. Despite having cried all my make-up off this was a truly amazing story.

God I havent read a book from Rebecca in soooo long!!!

So when I saw the cover and blurb for this book I was like this sounds right up my street.

It was heartwarming but also heartbreaking.

Ella & Beckett I love these two. How she was with him in the beginning for only being there because of Ryan. But really he was always there for himself. Because along the way whilst writing the letters they fell for eachother.

Maisie & Colt god I seriously loved these two so damn much. My heart ached so much with these two.

I was sent on such an emotional rollercoaster with this book. I really did love it.

I bloody ugly cried towards the end. Like full on fat monster tears... I wont say why but everyone who's read it will know why.

My poor bloody heart!!!!

I seriously need to read more from Rebecca. Her words are just so amazing xx

Yarros has consistently written great stories but The Last Letter is something all together different and stunning. I didn’t know what I was getting into when I read this book. I understood it would be emotional due to the obvious subject matter when I read the synopsis but I never anticipated the raw tragic story that is brimming with hope, love, and pain.
This book is not for the faint of heart. It is a roller coaster of every human emotion you could possibly feel. It is a powerful story that digs deep and refuses to let go. When I finished this book I thought about it for days. I thought I knew what to expect, but Yarros threw me for a loop. The characters are deep, the storyline is so well developed and the relationships within the story spark something in the reader. The romance was well paced and realistic. It was hard but worth it. Nothing for these characters was easy and the flaws and mistakes make them more tangible and relatable. I was so engrossed in what was happening that I never saw the plot twist coming. And I broke. Man, I cried. Any author who can coax out an emotional response from me is someone I will always admire and never get enough of. Rebecca Yarros, this was well worth the wait. The Last Latter is a story that will stay with you long after it is over.

Before you settle in to read this book make sure you have two things: 1. lots of tissues and 2. a book friend (or two) to message (A big shout out to Gina & Cindi! Y'all are the best!) who have already read it or is reading it at the same time. Buddy reads can be a fantastic thing!

I had this ARC in my possession for a long time and I put off reading it because I saw so many amazing early reviews. I was also getting the feeling that this book was going to emotionally destroy me. (Spoiler alert: it did.) Rebecca's books always make me emotional, but there was something about about this one that made me think things would be a little different. And it was.

This story is an emotional roller coaster. No really. I cried a lot. At one point I was sobbing and went through one of those little travel tissue things. You know, the ones people keep in their purse. I opened a new one and before I knew it, it was gone. I can't remember ever doing that while reading. So, well done Rebecca!

In my opinion, this is Rebecca's best book to date. I loved all the characters, but I really loved Ella's children. They had some of the best insight to the events of the book and more than once I found myself thinking "Good lord. These kids are smart!" They also play a big part in some of the most poignant moments in the book and they dug out a little place in my heart.

I feel like I haven't really said much about this book and I've just been rambling. I always have a hard time writing reviews for books that I absolutely love. All I know is that it was days before I could even think about reading anything else. Thankfully I did not have to because it just would not have been fair to that author/book.

It's now weeks later and I am STILL thinking about The Last Letter and getting emotional as I write this. If that does not say how amazing this book is, then I don't know what does.

I enjoyed this book for the most part. It had a strong start, it had me balling my eyes out within a few chapters. I was scared to go on as I didn’t know where the author would take the story.
And I have to say I’m disappointed and angry that the author ended the story the way she did.
The connection between Beckett and the twins was amazing and I loved for the chapters they had together. But I didn’t feel the connection with Ella and Beckett. They didn’t do it for me.
With this story being a romance, I was expecting a happy ending. I know all romance books don’t end with HEA but I was expecting the ending we got and it ruined to whole story for me.

The Last Letter by Rebecca Yarros was my first book by this author and I cannot wait to read more. Ella is alone, raising her twins when she receives a request to become a pen pal with her brother’s best friend in the military. Chaos is in the military and has no personal connections with anyone giving him no real reason to ever come home. They develop a connection which involves Ella’s twins, Maisie and Colton, and when things go south they find comfort in each other’s letters. This story had so much depth and I developed such a connection to the characters, so many emotions were felt and I definitely shed a tear or a million. I highly recommend this story to anyone looking for an emotional read.

5 Stars / 4 Steam Fans

An emotional rollercoaster ride that needs to just be ingested, experienced, and absorbed blindly. The few things that I can say is that if you have any connection to the military and/or are a parent have a box of tissues ready for this journey!! I cried, like ugly cried in the beginning and ugly cried by the end for very different reasons. It is beautiful, heartfelt, heartbreaking, and an all around journey of love.

This specific video review will be included in the February 2019 wrap-up.

For other video book reviews check out my YouTube Channel: Steph's Romance Book Talk.

Rebecca Yarros was one of the first New Adult and Adult romance author that I really loved and devoured their books. So, of course, I had to pick up her newest edition. And gosh this one got me when I finished reading The Last Letter, I just cried. It was an emotional rollercoaster for sure, but oh so good. 

The Last Letter follows protagonists Ella and Beckett as they write to one another while he is off fighting for his country. But then tragedy strikes in so many different ways and Ella and Beckett are brought together. But after all this time can Beckett tell Ella who he really is, or will it hide it from her forever. Ella has already been pulled through the blender, but nothing matters more to her than her children, but when things starting falling apart, she doesn't know if she can stay together anymore. 

Ella was such a fabulous protagonist and I fell in love with her right from the start.  She is such a strong female character that it was so easy to fall into her life. From the very start, the reader is able to see how much Ella cares about those around, especially her two children. She will do anything for them. But she will also do heaps for her brother. So when he asks to write to a fellow teammate, she does and everything starts from there. Ella is put through a lot during The Last Letter, especially with Maisie and her health. But I also think it added to Ella's character arc, she isn't the same person at the end of the novel as she was at the start. And although Rebecca Yarros put her through, hell, Ella was pretty amazing at the end. 

Beckett was a really interesting protagonist. I could see a lot of Rebecca Yarros other characters in him, but he also stood very strong on his own. Like Ella, he has been through a lot, and while the reader doesn't know anything at the start, as the novel goes, everything starts to fall into place. I really liked getting to know Beckett, not only through this point of view but also through the letters between him and Ella.

I think that the letters enabled the reader to see Beckett in a different way as there wasn't a filter. My heart broke with how much he cared about Ella and her two kids, he took everything head on and wanted to give them the best he could. The thing that I liked best about Beckett was that he was a character on his own, he didn't fall as a love interest or a side character. He had his own story, his own past and his own character arc.

The romance was everything. When I pick up romance novels, I am normally expecting a fast-paced romance. But the romance in The Last Letter was slow and perfect. The reader is able to see Ella and Beckett fall in love, not only in real life but also through their letters. Rebecca Yarros was able to really utilised her life experiences with the military to really capture the essence of these letters and everything that happens while at war and on leave. I adored that they just slowly fell for each other and built lives together.

And while it is slow, it's not snail slow. It's done in such a way that the reader falls into the story and keeps egging them both to get together. It also wasn't perfect. They had their ups and downs, but that made The Last Letter so much more real. The characters were leaping off the page and had substance. 

Something else that stood out to me in The Last Letter was the family dynamics between Beckett and Ella as well as her children; Maisie and Colt. My heart was so full and I couldn't stop smiling with how much they all cared for one another. Maisie and Colt are adorable and just made the novel so much better. Their innocence, but resilence just shone through. The reader is not able to see the relationship between Ella and Beckett grow, but also Beckett's relationship with Maisie and Colt.  He really took them under his wing and it was such a nice thing to see. Both Maisie and Cold adored Beckett and he returned it as well. There is a line that Maisie days to Ella that just broke me towards the end of the book about Beckett and Colt and gosh I couldn't handle it. 

I am not going to lie, it doesn't take much to make me cry. Really I cry at things most people don't. But I haven't cried like I did while reading The Last Letter by Rebecca Yarros, in such a long time. It was a full sob cry, like a hurt in my chest kind of cry. Yarros was able to create so many emotions throughout the whole book, but the last couple of chapters torn me apart. My heart felt like it was being ripped out of my chest over and over again. I don't want to say too much about what exactly made me cry so hard, but when you read, I think you will know. As I am writing this review, I am thinking about everything that happened, and I want to cry again. 

Overall, The Last Letter is a very emotional read. I cried so much in this book. But that is also what made it so good. Both Ella and Beckett have incredible character arcs that really captured me from the start. The reader is not only able to see them grow as individuals, but also together. The Last Letter explores childhood illness, war, family and everything that comes along with life. There are many surprised in store when reading, but it's also a beautiful story of love and family. If you are looking for a new romance or contemporary read, then please pick this one up.

⭐´¨) ¸.•⭐'¨)
(¸.•´ (¸.•`
❤~🌟~❤ 4 UGLY CRY STARS! ❤~🌟~❤

“I would take on armies for her, kill for her…die for her. There was no truth greater than that.”

OH MY POOR PULVERIZED HEART!!!! I have been a huge admirer of Rebecca Yarros’s work since her emotionally wrenching Flight and Glory series, so I knew going in that this military romance could be a sobfest of grandiose proportions. That said, I still had NO FREAKING CLUE what I was in for!

From start to finish, THE LAST LETTER’s masterfully woven plot is teeming with angst, drama, passion and shell shocking twists and turns! So, you better brace yourself for some MAJOR emotional whiplash. Equal parts heartbreaking, heartwarming, hopeful, healing, life-affirming and SOUL DESTROYING, this book cut me to the core. Stole my breath. Made me swoon. Shiver. And gave me an EPIC ugly cry! I am talking “curl myself up in a ball, curse at the gods, and heave huge wracking sobs” kind of cry that left me so emotionally drained I was not sure how I would survive. But guess what? I did. Because, at its essence, this brilliant novel is ABOUT survival even when you feel your world caving in!

To avoid divulging any plot spoilers, I am not going to summarize this gorgeously penned, gloriously angsty storyline —the book blurb tells you all you need to know—so this review is just going to encapsulate my feelings for this book.

And, holy moly, I have MANY!!

First, let me say that Rebecca’s Yarros’s writing is captivating—her narrative flows beautifully and her vibrant, stirringly emotional and breathtakingly atmospheric prose has a way of transporting us viscerally into her characters’ worlds. And as a real-life military spouse, Ms. Yarros writes from a uniquely personal vantage point that enables her to capture the joys and the sorrows, tragedies and triumphs, of the military experience with stunning depth and raw emotion that resonates deeply.

Second, you will be AWESTRUCK by the heroine’s strength and resilience. Ella MacKenzie is a beautiful, hardworking, fiercely overprotective and loving single mom who had to grow up quick when she wound up pregnant and deserted at 19 and had to raise her young twins, Colt and Maisie, all by her lonesome. And she has done so with a backbone of steel and infinite grace. And just like our brave-hearted heroine, you will fall head over heels for Beckett Gentry, the tall, stoic and gruffly handsome special ops soldier who leads a solitary existence but lives by a strict code of honor.

Beckett and Ella’s tumultuous love story, which unfolds at a torturous slow burn, gave me giddy butterflies and gut punching feels from page one! And against all odds, these two virtual strangers' lives intersect in powerful and profound ways. Their bond is initially forged thousands of miles apart, on opposite sides of the world, as anonymous pen pals while Beckett is deployed overseas. Through a series of 24 achingly personal letters, they bare their hearts and souls to each other, give each other “gravity” when everything goes sideways,” and along the way a rare and precious friendship is born . But then Ella’s brother, Ryan, dies in action and a guilt-ridden Beckett has one last promise to fulfill to his fallen comrade, which will change the trajectory of both their lives.

One thing that makes THE LAST LETTER truly stand out is that this is SO MUCH MORE than a passion-fueled romance. It’s the story of a struggling mother’s quest to keep her head above water while tirelessly trying to protect her kids at all costs. It’s the story of a rootless soldier’s search for peace, redemption…and a place to call home. And it’s the story of two kindred spirits who fight valiantly to obliterate every hurdle and to prove to each other…and themselves…that they “are enough.”

As far as military book boyfriends go…sighhh…Beckett MADE MY HEART RACE! He’s ruggedly sexy, strong and stalwart, a bit of a lost, tortured soul,, and CHIVALROUS TO THE CORE. And while growing up in foster care has conditioned this moody broody lone wolf not to form attachments, he can’t botch his mission to watch over Ryan's sister. However, Beckett is not infallible, and the secrets he keeps locked deep inside drives him to make some woefully misguided choices. But his intentions are always honorable! Especially in regard to Ella and her kids...gah his tender devotion to them just SLAYED ME!

And Ella? Sob! You know the biblical proverb: “God will never give us more than we can handle?” Well, that poor beleaguered woman has had enough hardship to last SEVERAL LIFETIMES! But she faces each and every obstacle with strength, courage, and an abundance of love. I was truly AWESTRUCK by this warrior mom’s unfaltering faith and grit and sheer determination, especially when confronted with a life and death battle on the homefront. That said, like Beckett, she’s far from perfect. She’s immensely distrustful and guarded, incredibly obstinate...and wowza can she hold a grudge! All of which did admittedly grate on my nerves at times, but her unparalleled loyalty and true integrity always shines through.

I love how, despite everything, the MCs become one another’s lifeline and help sustain each other through their darkest hours. However, in many ways they are their own worst enemies. And while at times I wanted to shake some sense into this bullheaded duo who allow secrets and lies and stubborn pride to stand between them for far too long, there was never a question that Beckett, Ella and the kids always belonged together.

But yikes…just when you think that they finally are out of the combat zone…KABOOM! One last bombshell is detonated that will SHATTER YOU TO SMITHEREENS. And to be frank? I am still trying to process it. On one hand, from an artistic perspective, that chilling plot twist was poetic and executed to sheer EXCRUCIATING perfection . But on the other? Well, after ALL the sorrow and heartache that Becks and Ella had already endured, this final catastrophic blow just felt horribly cruel and BRUTALLY UNFAIR, gutted me to the depths of my being, and paved the way for a bittersweet ending that left me feeling… hollow …inside.

But LOVE it or LOATHE it, that mind-bending climax sure did make an impact! Not only did it rip my heart to shreds and bring me to my knees, but it also propelled me to cuddle my kids and husband close and reaffirmed my belief that life is so very precious, and unpredictable. And my big, final takeaway? That we truly should “take our happy” wherever—and whenever--we can find it because who knows what the next sunrise will bring.

BOTTOM LINE:
THE LAST LETTER will forever be branded on my soul! It is a hauntingly beautiful story of hope and heartache, honor and sacrifice…and the triumphant power of love that ultimately withstands every torrential storm.

As early as last year, The Last Letter was already a much-anticipated read because Yarros’s last release was back in August of 2017, so fans and readers were more than eager to have something new from this gifted author. After reading this much-touted and already much-loved new military romance standalone, I can safely say that the year-and-a-half-long wait was more than worth it because this novel is, without a sliver of hesitance nor a shadow of a doubt, one of the most heartrending yet hauntingly inspiring reads you will ever experience. I know I just called The Last Letter a military romance, but it’s so much more than that. A word of warning, though: Have tissues on hand. Lots of them.

The Last Letter isn’t merely about Beckett and Ella’s journey as a couple; it’s also Beckett’s and Ella’s journeys as individuals trying to find their footing in a world that seems to keep eroding beneath them. It’s also about the journey that Ella’s twins, six-year-olds Colton and Margaret—aka Colt and Maisie—experience and the maturity and courage that these two have was awe-inspiring, reminding me of the most important thing I discovered when I was still a preschool teacher: adults can learn a thing or two (and much more) from children. My heart broke and mended and then shattered while reading this book, and by the end, it was slowly healing—and that’s what this story was about, at least in my eyes: healing. Beckett, Ella, Colt, and Maisie were tried and tested by things beyond their control, and while there were numerous things I took away from their story, the most notable is this: life is a journey and no matter where it takes you or how long it lasts, make the most out of it—make it count because you are enough.

Three final things about The Last Letter: it gets an infinity amount of stars, it’s one of the most remarkable stories you will ever read, and if you didn’t know this before, take note: Rebecca Yarros is one hell of a gifted storyteller. I may not be able to choose just one thing about this book that I loved most, but if I was asked to choose one book of any genre I’d encourage any reader to pick up this year, it would be this one. ♥

I have to say I'm wholly unsure how to write this review. This book was sob fest I knew that much but that unexpected ending threw me. I didn't read any reviews prior while I like that they got through the hard stuff then blindsided. I need a happy pill or a gallon of wine. So yes I will put out that warning this book is very Nicholas Sparks esque it is SAD with a love story, heart breaking. I didn't know if I could read till the end, not much of a HEA here that ending was the worst I usually don't mind the not happy but with positive lining but this honestly was a shock. I mean yes there were good parts, happy moments and then kablam. I love this Rebecca Yarros others works so I'm not sure what happened.

The premise was solid and the whole letter thing I loved. The love story was genuine and heartfelt. Beckett was a solid guy, even if he was all no attachment and no connection except to Ryan, Havoc and after writing to her Ella. But he proved himself with Ella, the kids. Ella had a tough time with her kid getting sick, she powered though ever since they were little her whole world. They exchanged letters got to know each other under Chaos Beckett's call sign. It was a dispute when he returned to Telluride and wanting to help Ella.

Beckett and the kids were precious and that just warmed your heart. Even with Maisie very sick he stood by and was steady. He did his all and went beyond. His love for Ella and kids was genuine, it developed slowly for Ella and Beckett. They went through the wringer for a lot of the story, the love story took a back seat. I was hopeful for a lot of this book, lot of heartfelt stuff and it proved important to keep that positive part. I loved their unique family setting and all, they were so happy. I must say I'm heart broken for Ella that was just cruel qnd unfair, she had so much pain and loss already.

So to sum it up, I'm kind taken by surprise by that last bit it felt like a sudden plot twist death at very end that I didn't think was necessary at all, maybe even done on purpose for shock value. Life can be unfair but just wow, they powered though all the hurdles and have it taken all away. I don't know what else to say, the hope I had throughout was extinguished I don't get that ending at all honestly. It was a good plot and it had good moments but that ending was depressing and devastating as heck. The writing is good accurate as the military part is accurate and it will definitely grab your heart strings and that final part just slays you. If your ok with a love story no happy ending this is for you, ugly cry book for sure. But I can't find beauty in this one. Hopefully I'll like the author's next one more.

"—I liked a little bit of tarnish. It gave depth to the lines and made the shiny parts all the more eye-catching. Ella was beyond beautiful for what she'd been through. Tragedy hadn't broken her, it had refined her."

Leave it to me to choose this novel as my introduction to the writing of Rebecca Yarros. Yes, I read the synopsis so I knew I was in for some sadness. I had my tissues nearby, ready for action. I thought I was prepared... I wasn't.

Beckett went into the Military broken, it wasn't something that happened as a result of his time in the army. He was raised in the system. He's a loner. He has nobody worried about him or waiting for him. He met his best friend in the worst of conditions, but they had years together to build trust between them. When Beckett read 'the last letter' from Ryan, he couldn't deny his request. He was going to Telluride to be there for Ella, whether she wanted him to or not.

Ella was dealt a shit hand in life. Nobody should have to bear the load she had to carry. When she lost her brother at the time she needed him most it was almost too much for her. But she had two kids depending on her and no backup so she does what she has to do like she always does. And when help shows up she doesn't trust it. Nope, he'll just leave her like everyone else has, right? It would be stupid to accept his help and come to depend on him.

"Broody Beckett, I adored. Protective, playful Beckett, I loved. But that Beckett who winked and kissed my palm? Yeh, I was lucky I hadn't spontaneously combusted and burned down my business."

Yup, you guessed it. The chemistry between them was explosive. But she resisted with everything she had for as long as she could. She pushed him away and denied herself, but how could she deny her kids? I'm sure you can imagine how irresistible it is to see a big, muscled, badass sexy military man with those adorable twins, right? Yeah, my ovaries exploded just reading about it.

But that's not all that happens. There so much between the covers of this amazing book that I can't tell you about. Things that you need to discover on your own. Things that will stay with you for a long time afterward. So many... things.

I’m finally writing my review for this book. Even after a month I’m not sure where to start. This book made me FEEL so much. It drew me in from the beginning. I absolutely loved the letters. And Beckett. And Ella too. I’m still thinking about the book frequently. It was also heartbreaking. But the story is beautifully written. And it IS and romance with an HEA for the couple. It also has a lot of other elements in it that you don’t always find in romance books. I considered dropping my rating down to 4 stars because I didn’t love some of the tragic events and I didn’t love the “secret” keeping. But I ultimately decided to go with 5 stars as that is what I felt right after reading it. And the book is one I will remember which also makes it special.

6 stars!!!

Once again Rebecca Yarros has written a tale that has so many epic, emotional twists and turns that my heart was by turns breaking and soaring.

Beckett Gentry lost his best friend, but gained a task at the same time: take care of the best friend’s sister and her twins in his stead. Beckett has never felt what it is like to be part of a family and doesn’t feel like he deserves that kind of happiness in his life. He is a bit of a loner and doesn’t make connections with people easily. The one connection he has that is easy is his dog, Havoc.

Ella’s world was rocked when she received news of her brother’s death. With no other family, she is alone with her kids, hanging on to the family legacy as best as she can. And she was barely keeping things together even before that news reached her.

There is a lot going on in this story to build tension and dramatic impact. For a while it felt like the hits just kept coming, for both Beckett and Ella. But I loved the journeys each of them walked toward trust, hope, and belonging. But as in the stories that stick with us the longest, this was not a straight line to those good things in life, and the challenges they face are beyond comprehension.

I loved Ella’s determination to be strong for her children. Her drive to provide was a light through even her most harrowing moments. Beckett’s survivors’ guilt was strong, but he is also loyal and the word he gave his buddy was all it took to guarantee he would fulfill the promise, even if he didn’t think he was the right man for the job.

Every time I thought I had my emotional reaction in hand, there was a new twist that had me at a high or low all over again. This was one of those reads that had me thinking and feeling long after I finished the last page. I couldn’t even sit down to write my review right away because I had so many emotions but no words to back them up. This was a story filled with the ups and downs of life and two people struggling to do what they need to do to be worthy of those around them.