Book Reviews

Book Blurb

Frank Ross is ninety-eight years old, and he's come to the Navy Memorial in Washington, D.C. to pay his respects and remember his remarkable lover, Tom Willard, who died at sea during World War II while stationed on a battleship. Except that there's familiar music in the air, and Frank suddenly isn't as alone as he'd thought, standing amidst the granite sea of the memorial, with the bronzed metal of the Lone Sailor statue just an arm's distance away.

 

 

NOTE: All proceeds for the sale of this book will go to the OutServe charity organization, whose mission it is to assist those affected by "don't ask, don't tell, don't pursue."

 

Book Review

What a beautiful story! Told via the memories of a ninety-eight year old man, this is one of the most romantic and lovely short stories I have ever read. Despite the overwhelming sense of sadness about everything Frank has lost when Tommy died, alone and far away from him at sea, the fact that Frank still loves him more than half a lifetime later is undeniable and beautifully described here.

I got to see short glimpses of them growing up together as children, their decision to join the Navy after the attack on Pearl Harbor, and Tom's disappointment that the military rejected him based on some minor health issues. Then he hears a familiar song and he is granted a few moments of supreme happiness – moments which are so intense they made me cry. Saying good-bye to his life, after that, when he thought he'd made his peace already, becomes a delight.

If you like stories that feel bittersweet at first but are really all about the happy ending, if you enjoy reading about emotionally very intense situations and moments, and if you're looking for a sweet, romantic story that will pull at your heartstrings, then this is the one for you. I think it is well-written and fantastic, and worth more than its weight in gold.

 

 

 

 

DISCLAIMER: Books reviewed on this site were usually provided at no cost by the publisher or author. This book has been provided by Torquere Press for the purpose of a review.

Additional Information

Format	ebook
Length	Short Story, 14 pages/3900 words
Heat Level
Publication Date	18-September-2013
Price
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