Whiskey and Weddings #2, First off the cover does not match the story. It just seems way to conventional for the free spirited Jen with her dyed hair and tattoos. The story was okay it was entertaining, I loved Jen, in high school we probably would have been friends and grown up to be even better friends. I don't think I would have liked TJ in high school especially after what he did to Jen. But people grow up and TJ and Jen meet again a couple of years down the line after she gets a job bartending at Stag, the boutique whiskey distillery and wedding venue that TJ and his friends Dean and Jake own and operate. Jen was just doing the bartending jig part time while she acted and coached kids in acting and vocal but when the theatre closed down due to lack of funding Jen was left without a stable income not to mention her mother has been battling cancer and even though they may not have had the best relationship Jen feels it's her responsibility to take care of her mother. Jen's luck finally changes when the main receptionist at Stag has to go into maternity leave early and they ask Jen to fill in for her.
Jen is bartending the night of Stag's big Uncasking Night, after five years they are "opening" up the first barrels of their aged whiskey. It's a big success but part way through the night Jen accidentally cuts her finger and TJ drives her to the hospital. While there they talk more honestly then they ever had and Jen confides in him that her Mom's cancer is back and refusing chemo. Usually Jen and TJ can't go five seconds without some kind of insult but that night starts anew chapter for both of them TJ breaks up with his girlfriend because he realizes everything Jen said about her was right and TJ finally feels confident enough to try and pursue Jen. TJ and Jen are just starting things when the apartment she lives in catches on fire and her and her Mom are homeless. Jen hates having to need anybody she's always done things on her own and she feels like she will have to repay TJ back for his generosity of letting her stay with him. TJ doesn't want to be repaid he likes taking care of Jen and after everything Jen has done for herself and her mother he thinks it's about time some took care of her for a change. But everything is moving to fast for Jen just starting a relationship and then moving in with him she's feeling overwhelmed. When she gets a call from a woman in Chicago about a teaching job at a prestigious art school she's conflicted about leaving.
Jen and TJ go from prickly to lukewarm to red hot in the matter of pages. Jen's defense mechanism ranges anywhere from a self deprecating comment to an insult. TJ always brought out the worst in her because she always felt that he was judging her and finding her not worthy which just made her feel worse that she was still attracted to him. TJ always liked Jen but her almost constant onslaught of insults kept him away. When Jen finally let TJ in he was full speed ahead no stops runaway train.
Overall, it was a good read. TJ had some family issues he had to deal with so it wasn't an all about Jen book. In the end everything was wrapped up in a pretty little bow with their conflict with their families. The writing was well paced and the dialogue was witty at times. I like that this took place in Kansas City it was a nice change for me.
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