Release Day Review: The Last Kiss by Sally Malcolm

26 March of 2020 by ButtonsMom2003

Reviewer's Rating: 5

5.0Overall score

Such a wonderful love story!

The Last Kiss By Sally Malcolm

Genre: Historical Romance, WW-1, GLBTQ, MM

Released: March 26,2020

Length: 88,000 words approx.March 26,2020

Publisher: Self-Published

Synopsis

A tender and triumphant story of forbidden love in the aftermath of war.

When Captain Ashleigh Dalton went to war in 1914, he never expected to fall in love. Yet, over three long years at the front, his dashing batman, Private West, became his reason for fighting—and his reason for living.

For Harry West, an ostler from London’s East End, it was love at first sight when he met complex, compassionate Captain Dalton. Harry knew their friendship wouldn’t survive in the class-bound world back home, but in the trenches there was no point in worrying about tomorrow…

Now, gravely wounded, Ash has been evacuated home to Highcliffe House, his father’s Hampshire estate. Bereft of Harry, angry and alone, Ash struggles to fit into the unchanging world he left behind. Meanwhile, Harry, broken-hearted, doubts he’ll ever see his beloved captain again.

But when the guns fall silent and Harry finds himself adrift in London, a desperate hope carries him to Highcliffe House in search of work—and of the officer he can’t forget…

Review

Reviewed by ButtonsMom2003

Such a wonderful love story!

I first became acquainted with Sally Malcolm’s writing when I saw Perfect Day available for request on NetGalley back in the summer of 2018. I fell in love with her stories and have purchased and read all of the romance books she’s published since then. While her other books have been contemporary romances, The Last Kiss is set during, and right after, WW-I; it’s the first romance I’ve read from this era.

This book engaged me so much right from the start. A historical romance series titled Brothers in Arms, by Samantha Kane, got me started reading MM romance (that series features MMF and MM books) and ever since then I’ve loved reading MM stories set in earlier times. I think it’s because the love between the characters seems more intense, probably due to the fact that love between same sex couples was a crime with severe punishment if caught.

Back to The Last Kiss… Captain Ashleigh Dalton and Harry West were close during the war but nothing was acknowledged between them. They were simply comrades, brothers-in-arms, who spent a lot of time together due to the ravages of their situation. When his Captain is gravely wounded Harry is beside himself.

It’s hard for me to write about this book and not give too much away. When they are reunited after the war, Harry is given work by Ash’s father, albeit reluctantly. Being so close to Ash is both wonderful and difficult. They soon acknowledge their passion for each other and give into it. Of course, this leads to being discovered and other bad things.

I don’t feel like those are spoilers as this is kind of the normal thing for the historical MM romances I’ve read. What kept me engaged is how Sally Malcolm’s wonderful writing told the story. I’m not good enough at writing to adequately convey how this story moved me. There were many sad, heartfelt tears and then joyful ones as things resolved.

I would describe The Last Kiss as a slow-burn romance that never goes much beyond spicy. It proves to me, once again, how a story doesn’t have to include a lot of on-page sexy time to be a wonderful book. (Note: don’t get me wrong, I love hot stories, too, but ones like The Last Kiss are also refreshing to read.)

I can’t recommend this book highly enough and I very much look forward to reading Sally Malcolm’s next book.