Reviewed by Amber
SERIES: Bend or Break #2
TITLE: Nothing Like Paris
AUTHOR: Amy Jo Cousins
PUBLISHER: Samhain Publishing
LENGTH: 249 pages
BLURB:
Jack Tarkington’s life is in the toilet. He was supposed to be spending his junior year studying someplace cool like Paris or Rome. Instead, after taking out his anger on the campus “golden boy”, whose dad ripped off his parents, Jack is facing possible expulsion.
Sure, it’s all his own fault, but coming back to the small Iowa town he thought he’d escaped, after crowing about his admission to a prestigious school, has been a humbling experience.
When he runs into Miguel, Jack braces for backlash over the way he lorded it over his old friend and flame. Instead, Miguel offers him friendship—and a job at his growing farm-to-table store and café.
Against the odds, both guys bond over broken dreams and find common ground in music. But when Jack’s college gives him a second chance, he’s torn between achieving a dream that will take him far from home, and a love that strikes a chord he’ll never find anywhere else.
REVIEW:
This story was bittersweet for me. I knew when I read the blurb and realized it was about Jack that it’d be hard for me to love him due to how completely awful he was to Tom. Then add in the fact that he left Mike behind to pursue his own selfish dreams…well let’s just say I knew this author would have her work cut out for her. Needless to say even with those significant strikes against it, I did actually like this book. It was pretty good and the writing as always was exceptional but like I mentioned previously the biggest flaw for me were the characters. Unfortunately I never really connected with Jack or Mike.
After being kicked out of Carlisle for harassing another student, Jack finds himself back in his hometown. Somewhere he hoped and prayed he’d never be again. Procrastinating, not wanting to see his parents he finds himself at the store bearing his ex’s name. Standing at the locked front door he’s assaulted with tons of memories involving those two. He’s torn between massive guilt, anger, hurt, sadness, failure, and loneliness.
The last thing Mike ever expected to see was Jack at his store. The moment he recognizes him all the hurt and anger come back. But under the surface the attraction and fire are still simmering. Knowing Jack is down on his luck Mike offers him a job singing at the restaurant which allows them to spend more time together.
Being back home is like torture to Jack. Dealing with his mom’s issues again are pushing him further and further back. In Mike, Jack finds the peace and solace he’s been missing for so long.
What transpires between these two heals them both. And they able to recapture a lot of that spark they thought they lost. With Mike, Jack is able to revisit his past and right some wrongs. Without giving too much away, they both are faced with some tough decisions about the future which make them look deep within themselves.
I loved the peace Mike and his father were able to find. I don’t think their situation could have ended better. It may have been my favorite part in the book.
Like I said, I enjoyed this addition to the series. It’ll be interesting to see what’s next for both couples. For some reason I feel like there will be more…
RATING: 
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