Tuesday, August 20, 2019

Review: The Last Post by Renee Carlino

See you on the other side.

Laya Marston’s husband, Cameron, a daredevil enthusiast, always said this before heading off on his next adventure. He was the complete opposite of her, ready and willing to dive off a cliff-face, or parachute across a canyon—and Laya loved him for it. But she was different: pragmatic, regimented, devoted to her career and to supporting Cameron from the sidelines of his death-defying feats.

Opposites attract, right?

But when Cameron dies suddenly and tragically, all the stages of grief go out the window. Laya becomes lost in denial, living in the delusion that Cameron will come back to her. She begins posting on his Facebook page, reminiscing about their life together, and imagining new adventures for the two of them.

Micah Evans, a young and handsome architect at Laya’s father’s firm, is also stuck––paralyzed by the banal details of his career, his friendships, and his love life. He doesn’t know what he’s looking for, only that there is someone out there who can bring energy and spirit to the humdrum of his life.

When Micah discovers Laya’s tragic and bizarre Facebook posts, he’s determined to show Laya her life is still worth living. Leaving her anonymous gifts and notes, trying to recreate the sense of adventure she once shared with her late husband, Micah finds a new passion watching Laya come out of the darkness. And Laya finds a new joy in the experiences Micah has created for her.

But for Laya, letting another man in still feels like a betrayal to her late husband. Even though Micah may be everything she could wish for, she wonders if she deserves to find happiness again.


Christy's Review: 

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The Last Post is a story about grief, moving on, and finding a second chance at love.

Laya is a newlywed who is finishing up her fellowship to become an orthopedic surgeon. Her life is on track, even though she's married to someone who is her opposite in so many ways. Cameron is a professional daredevil and even though it terrified Laya, she supports him. They have a whirlwind romance until one stunt doesn't go right and her world is forever changed. Laya never thought she would be widowed before thirty. She doesn't know what to do with herself, so she comes home to NYC.

Micah works for Laya's dad's architectural firm and from the moment he first sees her, there is something about her that draws him in. He knows she's widowed and going through a lot, and even though they don't know each other, he feels a pull. He wants to help her, wants to know her.
 
   
“There’s something about her. Something I can’t stay away from.”
 

I wanted to love Micah and Laya together, and maybe by the last 20% I did, but it took me quite a while to connect to the two of them and their story. There were things with the posts and the reaction to all that I didn't jive with. I don't know if it was my mood, or the book itself but this book didn't evoke the emotion or the feels I wanted it to. There were parts I really enjoyed, but overall it was just alright for me.

As always, Renee Carlino's writing is superb. This is true with every single book she writes. Although The Last Post isn't my favorite of her books (primarily because I didn't personally connect with the characters or become invested in their story) I still enjoyed parts of it, and her writing style and story-telling are two things that made this book enjoyable for me. If you're looking for a romance that focuses on overcoming loss and finding yourself and love again, give this one a go. It might just be the book for you.

                               ABOUT THE AUTHOR 

Renée Carlino is a bestselling author of contemporary women's novels and new adult fiction. Her books have been featured in national publications, including Cosmopolitan Magazine, InStyle Magazine, USA TODAY, Huffington Post, Latina magazine, Publisher's Weekly, Redbook, Sunset Magazine, Coastal Living and the Union Tribune. She lives in Southern California with her husband and two sons. When she's not at the beach with her boys or working on her next project, she likes to spend her time reading, going to concerts, and eating dark chocolate. Learn more at www.reneecarlino.com

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