Sandy M’s review of The Last Letter by Rebecca Yarros
Contemporary Romance published by Entangled: Amara 26 Feb 19

My heavens, this book punches you in the gut and doesn’t let up until the end. Loss, grief, guilt, deception, lust, and yes, love is entwined in every page of this story. I picked it up because I like the cover. There’s something quite poignant about those dog tags alone in the sand, all the while letting you know there’s more to the story when you finally see the couple in the background. I had no idea, however, of everything that would be thrown at Ella and Beckett – and me.

Ella has suffered plenty of loss in her young life – her parents, though that wasn’t as devastating as the loss of her grandparents; then her brother went into the military where he’s worlds away and her husband of very short duration walked out when he learned she was having twins. Neither one of them ever looked back. Ella got the better end of the deal, of course, with Colt and Maisie, her endearing and entertaining children. Ryan, her brother, has hooked her up as a pen pal to one of his brothers-in-arms. And this is how they get to know one another from the beginning of the story, writing letters and revealing more and more little by little.

Chaos – his call sign – at first doesn’t really want anything to do with a pen pal, even if it is his best bud’s little sister. But eventually he answers her first letter and the world begins to change for him. He’s never been a people person, never been loved, always moved from foster home to foster home as a kid, so the service has been a blessing for him. When his world really does explode and he knows he can’t stay in the Middle East any longer, Chaos gets out. He’s emotionally spent and feels he can’t face Ella, despite the fact she’s the one who would help him most. He just has too many secrets.

But one day a soldier shows up on her doorstep, when she’s still dealing with her new loss, someone who served with her brother. She tries to take Beckett with a grain of salt, but the man says he’s there to stay, to help in any way he can. But as far as Ella is concerned, men don’t stay. So Beckett is out to prove her wrong. And he does an admirable job of that vow. So much so you can see the love blossom between them. Especially when tragic circumstances hit Ella again. This time it’s little Maisie who will pull your heart strings so you end up misty-eyed. Through it all, Beckett stays by Ella’s side, giving her miracle after miracle.

Until it all falls part, because his deception has to come to light, of course. What I love the most about him is, even then, he doesn’t leave. Which is the best thing that could ever happen to Ella, because the hits keep on coming, and the last one is the worst of them all, and I couldn’t believe it happened. Of course, the human spirit survives even the worst, and this part of the story is lovely and wonderful despite the world changing for them all once again.

I love Ella and Beckett. And Colt and Maisie. They’re all wonderfully written.  The story is heart-wrenching and full of hope at the same time. And even though you feel like happy will never make a visit again, that’s when these characters show you honor and resilience no matter what. And in the middle of that is love. To me, Beckett is the one who epitomizes love in this book.

I hope you will read this one.

Grade: A

Summary:

Beckett,

If you’re reading this, well, you know the last-letter drill. You made it. I didn’t. Get off the guilt train, because I know if there was any chance you could have saved me, you would have.

I need one thing from you: get out of the army and get to Telluride.

My little sister Ella’s raising the twins alone. She’s too independent and won’t accept help easily, but she has lost our grandmother, our parents, and now me. It’s too much for anyone to endure. It’s not fair.

And here’s the kicker: there’s something else you don’t know that’s tearing her family apart. She’s going to need help.

So if I’m gone, that means I can’t be there for Ella. I can’t help them through this. But you can. So I’m begging you, as my best friend, go take care of my sister, my family.

Please don’t make her go through it alone.

Ryan

Read an excerpt.