Rating 3.75 stars out of 5
All James wanted was a little solitude at his favourite resort: bright sunshine overhead, soft, white sand underfoot, and a hammock to read in while the warm breeze rustles through the coconut palms and almond trees. However, when an old acquaintance shows up, and James is obliged to share “his” beach, a profound exchange over a bottle of rum leads to a lust-fuelled encounter in the dark.
Reeling from the intensity of the drunken tryst, James decides to cut his vacation short rather than face what he’s kept hidden under mountains of denial.
However, his escape is thwarted when Rudie, handsome and plainspoken, calls him out on his behaviour and makes him see that life needn’t be spent running away from his desires.
Set at a rundown old resort on a small Caribbean island, The Last Nights of The Frangipani Hotel is a story about letting go of fear and learning that passion and love can be found in the most unexpected of places.
I heard a lot of this new to me author, Bey Deckard, but I honestly was a little scared by some of his books (like the Baal’s Heart series or the newest one, Better the Devil You Know). When I saw The Last Nights of the Frangipani Hotel, I soon thought it could have been my first. I didn’t even realize it was the second one in a series but at the end it wasn’t a problem because it can be totally read as a standalone.
The Frangipani Hotel is at its last days but James is in love with this place, so he keeps coming here, but this year his quiet is broken by an old friend who takes place next to James. James and Rudie are both famous actors, stressed out by their acting jobs, looking for an escape in the Caribbean Sea. Destiny (not really!) chooses them to be hut’s neighbor. After some drinks, they share a night together (having some really boring sex, let me tell you!). Rudie is gay, but James is not, in fact he has an ex wife and two daughters. But the attraction and the magic of the place is too strong to be ignored…
I was really happy to pick this story, it was quick and light and so well written I was able to read it in a one standing, because it was easy to follow. All the story and the dialogues felt very real and normal, I could sympathize with the MCs and their fears. I especially liked the writing style in the descriptive parts. I was able to picture the beach, the shabby hotel and later in the book, the hot sex (it wasn’t boring at all!).
In my opinion The Last Nights of the Frangipani Hotel needs a sequel because the ending wasn’t really how I usually like mine to be, it was more a HFN and I need to see James and Rudie to have their HEA. Still I think Bey Deckard really did a great job at gathering a lot of elements (emotions, life crisis, the enlightenment of James) in a so short a story. I’m not sure I’m ready for his other more dark works, but I’m sure I’m going to read the The Complications of T (read BJ’s review here ).
Highly recommended if you’re looking for a short contemporary story that will let you evade your routine and bring you on a holiday even on a rainy October.
Cover design by Bey Deckard
Cover photo by Strangeland Photography
Both the covers of The Actor’s Circle series are really hot and eye catching. Well done!
Sales Links: Smashwords | All Romance (ARe) | Amazon | 
Book Details:
Published September 12th 2015 by Bey Deckard
Kindle Edition, 78 pages
ASIN B014RZQ54I
Edition Language English
The Actor’s Circle series
- The Complications of T #1
- The Last Nights of the Frangipani Hotel #2
Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words 