Reviewed by Sammy
TITLE: The Last One to Let You Down
AUTHOR: K.L. Hiers
PUBLISHER: Self-Published
LENGTH: 390 pgs.
RELEASE DATE: November 13, 2020
BLURB:
Thomas Hill is a lonely embalmer who’s in some big trouble – his ex-boyfriend has
been forcing him to illegally sell dangerous chemicals with no signs of stopping, and Tom
doesn’t know what to do. His situation gets even more complicated when Cypress Holmes, a smoking hot local florist, walks in on Tom making a deal. Cypress agrees to keep quiet, but his
silence comes at a price.
Dinner and watching movies together is a strange price to pay, but Tom loves spending time with Cypress. As they grow closer and feelings begin to blossom, they discover that Tom’s ex-boyfriend might be into more than just drugs – he might also be a murderer.
Author’s Note: This book includes intense sexual scenes, rough spankings, and depictions of death and embalming as they relate to the funeral industry. If this material offends or may upset you, please don’t read this book.
REVIEW:
Before I begin the main body of my review for The Last One to Let you Down I want to add something to the author’s caution in regards to the funeral industry scenes. K.L. Hiers could not have been more thorough or take a more even handed, nearly clinical, approach to the aspects of exactly what an embalmer and restorative make-up artist must do when the deceased is physically injured. I am very impressed with the high degree of professionalism used when describing the various steps of Tom’s job and of the great sympathy and care he takes with each person who comes to his room. Due to the author creating a character like Tom with such empathy and respect for each person that comes to his table to be prepared for viewing by the grieving, I was not only able to read those passages more smoothly but also understand the depth of strength it takes for a mortician to do their job. This aspect of the novel may not be for everyone but I will say it was fascinating and not at all macabre as it could well have been in less careful hands. Not to the review.
Tom loves his job but it is also a source of great grief for him. While he understands the job he does—preparing the dead to be viewed by their loved ones—he also deeply feels the grief they endure at the passing of their relative or friend. Tom is so careful to treat each person he prepares with respect and care and can get so wrapped up in his job that he often takes little time for himself. It is this and his own belief of his unworthiness at love that led him to make the mistake of dating Junior—the son of the second in command at the funeral home where he works.
Little did Tom know that after breaking up with Junior his one misguided attempt to help him by stealing formaldehyde for him would lead to big trouble. Junior kept coming back again and again, using that initial time as blackmail to force Tom to repeat the theft so Junior could sell it on the black market to get drug money. Then Tom gets caught in the act by the flower guy—the gorgeous flower guy who Tom has been secretly crushing on for a long time.
Cypress Holmes isn’t just the delivery man, he owns the flower shop business that supplies the funeral home where Tom works. He has had his eye on Tom for quite some time and when he discovers him doing the illegal exchange he creates his own form of blackmail except this time its sexual and Tom needs to be his “good boy” or Cypress may just tell the police. What begins as a bit of a joke and a sexy good time morphs into a new found D/s relationship with Cypress showing Tom the exciting and wonderful world of BDSM.
Tom is a natural but as things progress he wants more—he wants Cypress as his boyfriend. However until he fully trusts Cypress with the truth of who he’s selling the chemical for and why, Cypress refuses to move their status to more than just a consensual good time. Then the robberies start and a murder is committed and things become very dangerous for the sensitive mortician and his dom.
First I want to say that the way in which Cypress guides and teaches Tom about the world of dominant and submissive and introduces him to different elements of the BDSM world is done extremely well by this author. Again the speed taken and detail given in mapping out the progression of Cypress and Tom’s relationship is written so beautifully. Cypress takes extraordinary care to introduce Tom gradually to new toys, new forms of punishment and reward and follows through with tender aftercare. This is how a new BDSM relationship should be written in my opinion.
When I add that to the mystery of who exactly is doing the robbery and murder and how they eventually come after Tom I must say that Hiers does an outstanding job with this story. The Last One to Let you Down is a lovely romance, a fast-paced mystery and a great view of the BDSM word all rolled into one. Cypress and Tom make a wonderful couple. More importantly, Tom morphs into a man who begins to love and respect himself, all with Cypress leading the way and encouraging him as one who loves him should.
RATING: 
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