“I loved this book. It’s a reading highlight of this past year…gentle and lyrical but also engrossing and sexy.” —Cat Sebastian, author of A Gentleman Never Keeps ScoreTheo Wishart has given up on finding love.Luca Moretti doesn’t want to find it.A handful of summer days may change their lives forever—if they’re brave enough to look between the lines. Eyes might be windows to the soul, but for … forever—if they’re brave enough to look between the lines.
Eyes might be windows to the soul, but for Theo Wishart they’re all shuttered. His dyspraxia makes it hard to read people. He doesn’t do relationships and he certainly doesn’t do the great outdoors. Two weeks spent “embracing beach life” while he tries to close the deal on a once great, now fading seaside hotel is a special kind of hell.
Until Luca. Gorgeous, unreachable Luca.
Luca Moretti travels light, avoiding all romantic entanglements. Estranged from his parents, he vows this will be his last trip home to New Milton. His family’s hotel is on the verge of ruin and there’s nothing Luca can do to save it. He’s given up on the Majestic, he’s given up on his family and he’s given up on his future.
Until Theo. Prickly, captivating Theo.
No mushy feelings, no expectations, and no drama—that’s the deal. A simple summer fling. And it suits them both just fine. But as the summer wanes and their feelings deepen, it’s clear to everyone around them that Theo and Luca are falling in love. What will it take for them to admit it to themselves—and to each other?
This book is approximately 73,000 words
One-click with confidence. This title is part of the Carina Press Romance Promise: all the romance you’re looking for with an HEA/HFN. It’s a promise!
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The best description I have for Sally Malcolm’s writing is charming. I discovered one of her books this past weekend (Twice Shy, also good), and went on to binge read all four of her MM romances. She writes sympathetic characters and sweet, emotional stories that had me in tears. These characters all had one thing in common: They really wanted, perhaps needed, a loving partner.
Of the four, I think Between the Lines was my favorite (though I also loved Perfect Day and Love Around the Corner. Let’s face it: I love them all).
Between The Lines has a plot that pits the characters against one another, and yet somehow, they build a kind, loving friendship. There’s conflict, both internal and external, that they must overcome, and both characters have to grow and see past their hangups in order to make the leap of faith that love requires.
Theo has apraxia, and it’s handled well, with just enough presence in the story to show how it affects him without dwelling or making the story about his disorder instead of about him. Because he can’t always read a person’s tone or facial expression, love and trust and especially challenging. Luca has been hurt by his loved ones in the past, and he nurses his resentment a bit much, but it’s a very human thing to do. He has to come around to the reality that he’s holding himself back from happiness.
Overall, this is just a splendid read. I highly recommend this and Sally’s other MM romances.
So wonderful, so emotional, I loved it!
After I read Perfect Day, my first book by Sally Malcolm, I wasn’t sure the next one could live up to how much I loved the first. Not only did Between the Lines live up to Perfect Day for me but it may have tipped over the top just a bit. Both of these are wonderful love stories.
One of the MCs (main characters) in Between the Lines has a condition that I’ve never heard of before, Dyspraxia. A neurological disorder that results in life-long impaired motor, memory, judgement, processing, and other cognitive skills.– Dyspraxia Foundation USA Because I wasn’t familiar with this disorder I read up a bit on it. From the way that Ms. Malcolm writes Theo’s reaction to things and his behavior around people I wasn’t surprised at all to learn that she has personal experience with this condition.
Theo has come to New Milton to buy the hotel owned by Luca’s family. When the two of them make a connection, they agree to enjoy a two-week fling while Theo is there – no strings attached. Too bad neither of them told their hearts not to get involved.
Both Theo and Luca have serious trust issues when it comes to personal relationships. Luca thinks that getting close to someone isn’t worth the risk because they’ll always let you down. Theo doesn’t think that he’ll ever have the kind of committed loving relationship that he wants. His last relationship ended in public humiliation and he can’t risk that ever happening again.
I thought this story was so romantic. Yes, there were unpleasant things that happened and some moments that had me nearly bawling my eyes out, but it was ultimately such a wonderful story about overcoming obstacles, both business and personal.
As I said in my review for Perfect Day, if you’ve never read an M/M romance before, but have thought about it, I highly recommend Between the Lines (or Perfect Day) as a perfect one to start with. There is no explicit on-page sex, it’s just a really wonderful romance.
Sally Malcolm’s writing flows so smoothly and had me so engrossed in the story, I didn’t want to put this book down once I started it. I’m looking forward to reading more book by Ms. Malcolm.
A review copy was provided by the publisher via NetGalley but this did not influence my opinion or rating of the book.
***Reviewed for Xtreme-Delusions dot com***
My first read by Sally Malcolm and it certainly won’t be my last, this author has proved that she can hold her own in amongst the very talented selection of M/M authors that I love. A stand-alone romance that I throughly enjoyed and I will be checking out her other books as soon as time permits.
Theo in is New Milton on a mission he needs to prove to his father that he is worthy of the job given to him and he needs to close the deal on The Majestic Hotel owned by the Moretti family.
Luca is back in town for the summer and he is not happy at the thought of the family hotel being sold to a large company who will just tear it down but it’s not just the thought of losing the hotel that is making Luca angry he is angry with his family and with the world and that means he has no time for the uptight Theo with his snotty British accent…….
This love story is an emotional roller coaster ride, the anger and the love are a big part of it but this author also covers the subject of Theo’s dyspraxia with compassion it’s not in your face but you know it’s there you know it’s the reason for some of the things Theo struggles with. What can I say about the ending it was inspirational it was heartwarming and it was the perfect HEA so please if you love M/M romance one click this book you won’t be disappointed.