Reviewed by Donna
TITLE: Rustic Memory
SERIES: Rustic #2
AUTHOR: Nic Starr
PUBLISHER: Self Published
LENGTH: 159 Pages
PUBLISHED: February 26 2016
BLURB:
Tyler Samuels had his reasons for leaving the country town where he grew up. He moved to the city, established a home and a career, and found love. Now Ty is in his early thirties, and as his life takes another tragic turn, he finds himself returning to the place he first ran from.
Mac McGrath has lived in Armidale all his life. He loves his family and his job as an electrician, running the family business. The only thing missing in his life is a relationship. When Ty, his teenage crush, arrives back in town, maybe he has found someone to love at last.
What starts as friends with benefits quickly turns to more for Mac, but Ty will need to let go of his memories if he is to learn to love again. But can Mac wait that long?
REVIEW:
Our story begins with Adam and Joey (Rustic #1) driving off into the sunset to begin living their dream which leaves Tyler Samuels in possession of the Central Hotel. Ty grew up in Armidale but left for the city at the first opportunity. Now he’s back to hopefully start a new life (again) for himself.
As soon as Mac hears that Ty has returned he heads straight over to the pub to check out his old crush. Growing up Mac was just the little brother who tagged along everywhere, but now he’s all grown up, and definitely hot enough to catch Tyler’s attention.
I’ve seen a couple of other reviews of this book that claim Rustic Memory is angstier than Nic Starr’s other books. Obviously certain situations create varying levels of angst in different people, but for me at least, there was nothing angsty about this story. This was typical Nic Starr sweetness (which is not a criticism btw) albeit with a little more emotional drama thrown in between the characters.
Although this is not a critique of the author’s writing, I get not every reader can like every character, I feel the need to mention that I wanted to scream at Tyler to sort his shit out, hit him in the head with a big stick, and deliver his unconscious body to Mac. Actually, it’s more a case of I loved Mac so much that I wanted him to have better than the confused bullshit he was getting from Tyler. Tyler annoyed me, and Mac forgave him way too easily…but for all of that, I can’t deny that Tyler had a good reason to be scared. Two dead “true” loves! Seriously Nic Starr!? (And yes, I actually said those words out loud while reading). That’s just some evil authoring right there.
I loved that the story was once again based around the old Central Hotel, and I assume that that location will be popping up in most of this series. It was great to see all the same secondary characters, and again, I’m guessing they’ll continue to make appearances in the Rustic series.
This story could definitely be read as a standalone, but I recommend that you give the whole series a shot. I always enjoy reading Nic Starr’s books when I want my happiness guaranteed throughout most of the story, rather than just at the end.
RATING: 
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