Thanks so much for stopping by to check out today’s book review! Rustic Memory by Nic Starr is a sweet, low angst love story between Mac and Ty.  Ty has had a tragic past and is afraid to lose his heart again.  Mac is looking for love, but tries to pretend he isn’t.  This is a tender romance that will have you smiling when they finally get their happily ever after.

I received one copy of this book at no charge in exchange for my honest reviews but all opinions expressed here are my own.  This post contains affiliate links.

Rustic Memory by Nic Starr

Purchase Links: Amazon

Title:   Rustic Memory

Series:   Rustic Book 2

Author:      Nic Starr

Publisher:  Nic Starr; 1 edition (February 26, 2016)

ASIN:  B01BXQCQT2

Genre:     M/M, Contemporary

Length/Format:  2796 KB/159 pages

Heat Rating:   3

Star Rating:   4

 

About the Author:  To learn more about the author you can check out her website or follow along on Facebook or Twitter.

 

Book 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?

Rustic Memory by Nic Starr Review:

Tyler (Ty) has had a tragic past. He leaves home after school and spends time in the big city but has returned to small town Armidale to heal his broken heart.  He has a strained relationship with his parents and isn’t looking to ever fall in love again.

Mac has lived in Armidale all his life and is running the family electrical business. He was the ‘annoying little brother’ of a friend of Ty’s many years ago and admired Ty from afar when they were younger.  He is hoping that now that Ty is home, maybe something can come of his attraction.  But, Mac’s heart is involved and Ty is trying not to get hearts involved in their interactions.

I loved both these characters.  Ty is hesitant about love and is struggling to settle back into his home town without people digging into his past.  Small town people, however, are always nosy! He tries to be evasive, he gets defensive, but eventually details start unfolding as the story progresses about his life in the city.  As the reader, you are also left in the dark as to a lot of his past until the story moves along a bit. This really helps keep the reader interested in turning the pages!

Rustic Memory starts out with a prologue featuring Ty’s final year in high school.  You witness the tragic death of his secret boyfriend and the absolutely heart wrenching emotions that are experienced as a result.  You can feel his grief and unfortunately it makes it blatantly obvious to the town that he is gay.  I loved having this insight but it left me a bit confused when we moved into the actual beginning of ‘grownup Ty’s’ story.  I would have maybe liked to see a bit more of a transition between the prologue and the story itself….maybe a chapter or two of Ty’s life in the city, just to tie them together a little.

Mac is friendly and outgoing.  A great friend and loving son.  He denies it but really wants to settle into a relationship and get his happily ever after.  He is completely confused by Ty’s hot and cold behavior.  Just when he thinks they are starting to connect, Ty pulls away and gives him the cold shoulder.  I think he put up with WAY too much from Ty.  I know his heart was involved but Ty was a total jerk occasionally and deserved a good smack upside the head.

You get both main characters points of view in this story, although I felt like I got to know Ty better than I did Mac. Many of the secondary characteristics from book one (Rustic Melody) make another appearance here as well.   Overall, this is a sweet story that reminds us that the heart wants what the heart wants, no matter what the head tries to tell it.  It takes time but these two guys do get their happily ever after.