One letter. That was all it took for Beckett Gentry to fall for Ella MacKenzie, his buddy Ryan’s sister. Through her letters, Ella spoke to his heart, fueled his dreams, and made his days in Afghanistan bearable. Until Ryan’s life ends and so do the letters.
Leaving the military, Beckett heads to Colorado with one destination in mind - Ella. Despite the guilt Beckett feels over his friend’s death, he’s determined to carry out his promise to watch over Ryan’s sister and never tell Ella he’s the one she’d been writing to.
At twenty-six, Ella has lost almost everyone she loves - and now one of her precious twins is battling cancer. When Beckett walks into her tiny town - all six-feet-plus of dark, brooding, gorgeous man - Ella barely takes notice. Okay, fine, of course she takes notice. He’s come with the last of Ryan’s letters and the promise that he’d made to watch over her, but he’s insanely tight-lipped about everything else. Now Beckett is everywhere - and the most irritating part is that she likes him, despite his tough-as-nails exterior.
He didn't want a pen-pal, so it took time for Beckett 'Chaos' Gentry to read the first letter from Ella, his best friend's little sister. So, he surprised himself when he not only enjoyed receiving her letters but liked writing back too. As a result, he wants to meet this cheery single mom, so finally accepts his friends offer to go to his home in Telluride. Only, that trip never happens...until fate steps in to change that.
With enticing blurb, I didn't hesitate to buy this novel. However, by chapter twelve, I was already emotionally drained in a way I just wanted to see a little ray of sunshine through the heartbreaking, grey cloudy narrative.
'No, you gave me something to lose. Other married guys … Love for them was the monorail. You are the first person I've ever loved, and the first woman who has ever loved me. You're the roller coaster.'
Beckett likens Ella to a roller coaster. For a reader, this novel mirrors his observation. The narrative includes some sunny, uplifting high points but equally darker, emotionally challenging ones will have you grabbing tissues to wipe away your tears.
The writing quality is top notch, with relatable protagonists and supporting characters. Yet I can't rate this higher than I have. The narrative overall is too much. There's an unnecessary, gut-wrenching twist near to the end. What happens before that point is angst-ridden enough. Adding to it is a step too far. It's a shame. The ending is satisfying in a way the loose ends are tied. That aspect I'm happy with and as a conclusion, the story has stayed with me.
