Leo Marsh is having a bad day. He just caught his boyfriend cheating on him, and not for the first time, then he falls, quite literally, for a man who has to be too good to be true....
When Leo slips and falls on some ice in front of Jack, Jack sees something all too familiar in Leo's eyes. For over fifty years, Jack has existed in a solitary life of ice and bitterness. Just like Leo, he was betrayed by a man he loved, and swore no one would ever break his heart again: he gave up on love, and it seemed love had given up on him.
But if by fate or magic, Jack and Leo find their paths crossing for a second time, and with a little guidance from friends, dare to take a chance on each other. The problem is, Jack isn't the charming and uncomplicated guy Leo thinks he is. When Jack gave away his ability to love, he became something else, someone cold and unloving. He became Jack Frost.
As Jack and Leo get closer, Jack is left torn and confused. Jack yearns for anything that reminds him of his humanity, but the truth is, he feels nothing, not warmth, not love, and he knows he might never be able to love Leo the way he deserves to be loved.
Books that blur the lines between fantasy and reality are a favourite of mine. Reading is my number one for of escapism and I like the fact that worlds created are not restricted by what we know about this world but only by an author's imagination.
In Just Jack, Meredith Russell creates just such a world. Jack - a real life Jack Frost - had his heart broken years ago and he vowed to never love again.The supernatural took that vow and turned him into one of many Jack Frosts, cold hearted mischief makers. For Leo Frost the day he wants to vow to never love again is the day that he meets Jack and for both of these men life is about to change.
Though this book is on the light-hearted side of writing it explores the love we share with fellow humans, as friends, as lovers and how it is an integral part of being human. A heart is easily broken but is it really better to close ones self of from all hope of love? In a world where Jack has wondrous abilities with ice but a cold heart we share his venture into trusting again.
Is it possible for him to trust again? And how much of a hand does fate have in Jack and Leo's interactions? I enjoyed this story, it was just different enough to catch my interest with the age old debate of love and love lost at its heart.
It's a funny thing, the year started slowly for me and I thought "oh I might actually have money this year" - as I said, that was the start of the year. Now I'm no longer thinking along those lines....just added it, haven't read a fairy tale this year and feel the urge coming on strong.
ReplyDeleteToo many books, too little time! (And I've just discovered that I actually do housework if I have an audio book and they're hella expensive!!)
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