Paris is Always a Good Idea by Jenn McKinlay – a Review

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Description:
It’s been seven years since Chelsea Martin embarked on her yearlong post-college European adventure. Since then, she’s lost her mother to cancer and watched her sister marry twice, while Chelsea’s thrown herself into work, becoming one of the most talented fundraisers for the American Cancer Coalition, and with the exception of one annoyingly competent coworker, Jason Knightley, her status as most talented fundraiser is unquestioned.

When her introverted mathematician father announces he’s getting remarried, Chelsea is forced to acknowledge that her life stopped after her mother died, and that the last time she can remember being happy, in love, or enjoying her life was on her gap year. Inspired to retrace her steps–to find Colin in Ireland, Jean Claude in France, and Marcelino in Italy–Chelsea hopes that one of these three men who stole her heart so many years ago, can help her find it again.

From the start of her journey nothing goes as planned, but as Chelsea reconnects with her old self, she also finds love in the very last place she expected.

Review:

Paris is Always a Good Idea by Jenn McKinlay is a fun standalone novel.  We meet our heroine, Chelsea Martin, who is a workaholic, with a successful job, as her company’s top fundraiser for the American Cancer Coalition.  Even with her success, she has a co-worker, who annoys her to no end.  Jason Knightley, our hero, works with Chelsea and is always one step ahead of her with his annoying sarcastic comments that drive her crazy. 

Chelsea gets a surprise, when she learns that her widowed father is planning to remarry, and has only known his future bride for two weeks.  Chelsea’s sister is happy for her father, and tells Chelsea that she has stopped enjoying her life after their mother died 7 years ago.  When Chelsea learns that Jason is going to work with her on a big project, she decides it’s time for her to quit her job and take a trip to Europe to revisit her wonderful journey before her mother died. She plans to retrace her fun times, with visits to Ireland, France and Italy, trying to meet the three young men in each country that made her feel loved and joyous. Before she leaves, she learns that her boss is sick, and insists that she remain with the company to help Jason with the project, but allowing her to go on the journey.

 What follows is a wonderful fun story, as Chelsea looks to find happiness and love again.  With Ireland the first stop, she finds the man whom she fell for, and though he was happy to see her, things were not the same.  But most of all, Jason ends up surprising Chelsea by coming to Ireland to work with her, as they will be meeting the person who wants to build the new project, as well as donate a large sum to the fund.   In a short time, a friendship will build between Chelsea and Jason, with them getting past their work differences and spending time together getting to know each other better personally.  Their bantering and humor were fun, and we knew pretty quickly, despite Chelsea’s determination to find a romance with one of the three men, a slow built romance will eventually bring them together.

Though her Ireland ex-boyfriend, Colin, turned into a jerk, and her meeting her France ex, Jean Claude was not meant to be; but she was thrilled to see Marcelino in Italy. He ran a very successful vineyard, not to mention lived in a Castle and was a great guy; even Jason thought he was great.  Will Chelsea convince herself that she wanted to stay with Marcelino or does she fall in love with Jason?

Paris is Always Good Idea was a sweet, fun, enjoyable story, and I loved the travel in Ireland, France and Italy.  Lots of beauty, food and fun.  This was a different kind of book from Jenn McKinlay and I totally loved every moment.  I wholly suggest you read this wonderful romantic story.

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publisher