Reviewed by Sadonna
TITLE: Walking on Broken Paths
AUTHOR: Amy Aislin
PUBLISHER: Self-published
LENGTH: 217 pages
RELEASE DATE: July 22, 2025
BLURB:
Desperate to escape the pain of his brother’s death, Jesse Melnik ran—but he couldn’t outrun the grief, no matter how much distance he put between himself and his past. Now, after fifteen years of trying, he’s finally ready to face his hometown of Charlottetown again.
He expects the memories of his brother to hover in every corner of his family’s sailboat and whisper in every sea-tinged breeze.
What he doesn’t expect is Parker Willis, the best friend he left behind without a word the day he fled.
And he certainly doesn’t expect old feelings to resurface.
Parker’s been stuck in a rut since his father died three months ago. Every day is the try to keep his father’s dinner cruise business afloat so he can chip away at Dad’s debts, all while working a job that leaves him more frustrated than satisfied.
Then Parker’s routine shatters in the best way Jesse Melnik returns to Prince Edward Island for the summer, all six feet three inches of gorgeous hockey player.
Now, that’s different.
Jesse kickstarts Parker’s heart.
Parker makes Jesse feel again.
And although both men are a little bit damaged from struggling down the broken path of loss, maybe—just maybe—if they can lean on each other, they’ll learn to move forward at last.
Content warnings: themes of grief, discussions of a parent’s death from cancer, descriptions/discussions of a sibling’s death by suicide.
REVIEW:
Jesse Melnik is an NHL player based in Vancouver. He returns home after 15 years for the first time since he left after his brother’s death. He’s been through a lot. But he’s ready to face some things and his parents are thrilled to see him when he arrives with no warning.
Parker Willis, Jesse’s childhood best friend, is back in Charlottetown also. His father has recently passed and he’s trying to keep his business afloat while deciding what his next move is. He’s been a sports reporter in Montreal, so returning to PEI has been a change. Also he hasn’t seen Jesse since he left town 15 years before. Oh and they have had zero communication. But despite this, their first conversation is like old times.
Except a lot has happened in the intervening years. Parker is at a crossroads. Jesse is trying to get closure and deal with things that have been an issue with him for years. Parker isn’t sure what he wants to do. But he knows he doesn’t want to lose his best friend again. But what if they can actually be more?? Can they help each other get the life that they want and deserve?
This was such a good story! From what I understand, Jesse is a character who has appeared in this author’s Stick Side series. I haven’t read far enough into that series to encounter him, but I can honestly say that did not detract from my enjoyment of this story. This is a story told with such humanity and care. Both Jesse and Parker were dealing with grief. Parker’s is fresher and he has different responsibilities to deal with and contend with. Jesse’s grief is pretty old – 15 years – and he’s been running from it for a long time. He’s not just dealing with grief, but with guilt and anger. He’s incredibly patient parents are thrilled to see him though 🙂 He and Parker pick up almost as if they hadn’t been out of contact for so long. But they both have a lot to work through. There are tough moments and conversations, but it was really nice to see two men communicate with each other. Parker was NOT going to lose his friend again 😉 I loved the prose in those story and the way the author describes these two as filling in the blank spaces/cracks for each other. Jesse has done a lot of work already, but he’s there for Parker and also to finish some of the tasks he’s left undone. Honestly this is just a really well written love story in which the ups and downs of life are addressed head on. Both men are ready to move forward WITH their losses. They aren’t running. They aren’t ignoring. They are accepting and moving forward together. Just beautifully done. And I loved the little spiritual/unexplained touches as well 😉 I sure hope there will be an audio of this book (hint, hint). Highly recommended.
RATING: 
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