Book Review: Nothing Like Paris by Amy Jo Cousins

Title: Nothing Like Paris
Series: Bend or Break, Book 2
Author: Amy Jo Cousins
Genre: Contemporary Romance, M/M Romance
Sensuality Rating: Erotic
Source: review copy provided via NetGalley
Published: March 3, 2015 by Samhain Publishing

Humble pie wasn’t supposed to taste this sweet.

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.

Warning: This book contains a humbled guy who’s on the brink of losing it all, a determined entrepreneur who seems to have it all together, apologies issued through banjo-picking duets, and two lovers who can play each other’s bodies like virtuosos.

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Reviewed by: Crissy

Why I Read This Book: After reading the first book in this series (my review), the fact that Jack was getting a story was intriguing. Reading it was a given, though I wasn’t sure what I was getting myself into.

In A Nutshell: This book is not a disappointment really, at least not Mikes’ side, but Jack, I could have used a little more from.

The Setup: After his family’s life was ruined by Tom’s father, Jack took it upon himself to make Tom pay for his father’s mistakes. And then it backfired. Suspended, Jack goes back home to Iowa and seeks out his ex-best friend and ex-boyfriend, Miguel. Mike, or Miguel as Jack likes to call him, has been stung by Jack before and he refuses to be again. Except, it’s always been difficult to say no to Jack.

What I Liked: As far as tropes go, second chances is pretty high up there for me. Jack and Miguel have a history so the struggle to find their way back to friendship much less a relationship is intriguing. I have to say these two guys are wonderful together (read: hot). Miguel is maybe the best part of this book—loyal to a fault, forgiving, and strong. He’s patient with Jack in a way most people aren’t and he understands where Jack is coming from whether he approves or not. To be honest, I wasn’t sure if I would like Jack or not. He caused hell in the last book. But I got to see his history, his family life, and all the reasons he was who he was. It made up for a lot.

What I Also Liked: The journey back together and to remain together is not easy for Jack and Miguel. If it’s not family, it’s themselves standing in the way. There’s a nice balance of story and heat. In addition, the way Jack works through his problems, and in turn, Miguel helping him, all the while building a relationship is the loveliest part of this story.

What I Didn’t Like: There were a few things, Jack has his back sliding moments, but I had a hard time believing in his reformation in the end. And just like with the last book, this one had a slow start to the point of losing me at times. Last are the issues between Miguel and his father. It felt contrived and far too easy to resolve. I expected something bigger and didn’t get it.

In My Opinion: For the most part, I liked this story and I especially liked Miguel. But it’s not without its issues. That being said, I’m definitely looking forward to what is coming next.

 

Crissy’s Rating: