Paris A to Z
April 5, 2011
42 Comments
/ 1,375 views
Title: Paris A to Z (Coda #6)
Author: Marie Sexton
Cover Artist: Anne Cain
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press
Genre: Contemporary M/M
Length: Novella (106 pages; word count unlisted)
Rating: 5+ out of 5 stars, DIK
A guest review by Buda
Summary Review: Possibly the last installment in the series has all three of the couples together in a hilarious and heartrending book that might have been subtitled The Guys Grow Up.
The Blurb:
Zach Mitchell and his lover Angelo Green are headed to Paris (along with their Coda friends Matt and Jared) to attend Jon and Cole’s wedding. Matt will have to face Jared’s former lover, and Angelo will have to spend an entire week with Zach’s ex-boyfriend.
Between Matt’s jealousy and Angelo’s temper, Zach thinks they’ll be lucky to get through the week without one of the grooms being punched. But Zach soon realizes he should worry less about Angelo and more about himself. Facing the bittersweet memories of his past and his own guilt over breaking Jon’s heart is harder than expected, but Zach will have to find a way to leave his past behind if he’s to have any hope of the future he wants with Angelo.
The Review:
The reviews for the previous books in the series can be found here: Promises, A to Z, The Letter Z, Strawberries for Dessert, Putting Out Fires.
The Coda-based couples, Matt & Jared and Angelo & Zach, are treated to an all-expenses paid trip to Paris to attend Cole & Jonathan’s wedding. Those of you who have read the series (and if you haven’t, you really should) can already guess what sort of madness and mayhem putting all six of these guys in close quarters could create. Matt cannot stand the thought of Cole, much less being in the same room with him. Zach has enormous guilt over the way his relationship with Jonathan ended a decade ago. Angelo has already had a bad experience with Jonathan (including punching him in Vegas). Did I mention the wedding takes place on Super Bowl Sunday and Matt’s Kansas City Chiefs are playing?
The scene in which Cole calls at some ungodly hour of the morning to invite the Coda boys to the wedding is utterly delicious and starts the whole crazy ball rolling. It is vintage Matt & Cole. Here’s a snippet to whet your appetite:
I should really learn to trust my instincts.
“Hello?”
“Well hello, lovey. How are you this morning?”
The voice was light. Feminine. Mocking. And just hearing it caused my hackles to rise.
Of course it was Cole.
“I’m fine,” I said through clenched teeth.
“I’m so glad to hear that, sweetie.”
“My name is Matt.”
“I know. Is Jared available?”
The book alternates between Zach and Matt’s first-person points of view, with the majority of the story told by Zach. Within this slim volume is a tremendous amount of character growth. Matt has to learn to deal with his jealousy of Cole. Zach has to release the guilt he’s been carrying about Jonathan. Angelo has grown so much from the fragile, even broken, young man we met in A to Z. The attention to the details of each individual relationship (romantic and not) is brilliantly and beautifully done. Each of the couples has their own special phrases, gestures and quirks that are uniquely theirs. Each is remembered and celebrated here, from Matt tugging on Jared’s curls to Angelo’s need for private space in his own bedroom to Cole’s defensive affectations. In the hands of a less talented writer, this could feel forced or hokey. Here, these special phrases and gestures are a genuine expressive extension of each man’s love for his partner.
Paris A to Z is the sixth and probably last installment in the Coda series, which means this is the last we’ll see of Matt & Jared and Zach & Angelo. There is a fleeting promise of a possibility for more Cole & Jonathan (you’ll have to see if your Scooby-senses are strong enough to sniff it out). When I asked Marie Sexton about it, she said that while she hopes to write it eventually, she has no plans at the moment. About half way through the first reading, I realized the bittersweet feeling I was experiencing was me preparing to say goodbye to these old friends. What I’m trying to say is this: give yourself a few uninterrupted hours with these six remarkable men and savor the experience–but make sure you have enough Kleenex.
Highly recommended.
Author Information
Wave
Madonna196
Bogusia
Larissa
Sirius
Buda, you can´t complain about the books you have to review this week
You know I will be reading this soon
Let´s hope we will get more of Cole and Jon in the future, any tiny bit will be welcome
Thank you for your review
Helena
You got that right. If he complains about the books he’s reviewing in the future I’ll punch him in the mouth, similar to what Angelo did to Jon. LOL.
Wave
No, poor Buda, he gets some tough reviews too, the only thing he can do is complain… and it seems to work
Hi, Helena! You will hear no complaints out of my mouth this week! Not least of which is because I’m scared of Wave! lol Thanks for the comment. Hope you can read this one soon.
It doesn’t matter what else is happening. I will be sitting down with this book, Kleenex in hand. I’m both excited and sad. I can’t believe I’m only 106 short pages away from having to say goodbye to our boys. But I have certainly loved these books. And it’s not like they’re dying. They will be there anytime I open the Nook and invite them out to play. Thanks for the great review, Buda, and for encouraging me to read them in the first place.
Thank you, Marilyn! I’m so glad you listened to that whisper. Or was it all the nudging on your shoulder that made you hit the BUY button?
These 106 pages are packed with brilliance. You will so love this book.
Oh.My.Gosh! I just finished this book. You kind of underplayed how good it was!
Words like, wonderful, brilliant, hysterically funny, and perfect should have been used in excess! This was just the best way to wrap things up for these guys I’ve come to love and hate and love again. And, did I mention, I just loved this book! Please excuse the excessive use of exclamations, but that’s just how good it was. 
Buda, you have my undying gratitude for introducing me to the Coda boys. 
OMG, I can’t wait. Thank you Buda. I love these series and these guys, I mean I do not love them all equally, but I will certainly be sad about saying to Cole and Jon and Matt and Jared.
I know, Sirius. Matt is my man. I only put up with Jared because he makes Matt happy, the bastard.
I know you’ll love the book. Let me know! Thanks for the comment.
loved the series – strawberries is my favourite – looking forward to reading this one – good review – thanks
Thank you, Minnie. Promises is still my favorite because that’s where it all begins. Let me know what you think of it.
Buda
Excellent review. You hit all the high points and even though I know it took a lot of restraint, you stayed away from you know what. LOL
I think this is one of your best reviews Buda, which is fitting since you love the guys so much, and I’m pleased that I wasn’t selfish *halo* and gave this book to you to review. Strawberries for Dessert is my #1 favourite in the series with Promises next but they are all wonderful stories.
PS You’re going to have a hard time deciding on your top book for 2011.
*off to find some really crappy books for Buda to review*
Wave, have I told you lately you’re my favorite? Even though the game you tried to play was cruel, you lived up to your word and let me have the book. You deserve that halo. I’ll even spit-shine it for ya!
Somehow I knew Cole’s book would be your favorite. But you know, for me, Matt is almost better than Jake.
How did our fortunes get so reversed? You’re usually the one with great books and I get…well, others. Maybe I should play Powerball tomorrow!
Great review Buda, best thing is Marie makes it so easy, she is a brilliant writer. Oh my boys, I don’t wanna say goodbye, you think if we pressure her enough we can get another
Maybe some bribery 
Loved reading the boys together Marie 
Hey, Laura. You know, as much as I thought I would never say it, I’m pretty much okay with this being the last. Although it might be the potential of a brief glimpse into Jon & Cole’s world that makes me say that. Whatever it is, I’m just glad Matt & Jared’s story didn’t end with Promises.
I agree Buda, I’ll miss them
Without question or doubt, Laura. I know I’ll continue to re-read this series at least once a year. Probably much more often!
Thanks for the review Buda. This is an obvious must read due to the wonderful characters. And now I am extra curios thanks to Wave mentioning a “you know what
“. I’ll have to put aside some uninterrupted reading time (which means from 10pm on into the night!)for it.
Thanks, Dianne! Well, I’m not mentioning the “you know what” or the other one. Or even the other one. Let’s just say two of them made me laugh so hard I scared the dog! Let me know what you think of the book–and if you can figure out all the mysteries we’re building! lol
SO looking forward to this one!
It’s brilliant, Amy! You’ll love it!
I am so glad Buda gave this a five+ stars because it would break my heart to see Marie is slipping on the last one. I’m disappointed that it is only 106 pages long. Thank you Buda for a wonderful review and you didn’t give away any juicy details:)
Oh, Anna, you will so not be disappointed with this book if you love the series. Thank you for the comment. Please let me know what you think of Paris A to Z.
Great review, Buda. *sniff* Not quite sure I’m realy do say goodbye to these guys either. Cole is my absolute favorite, so even though it’s not yet confirmed, I’m glad to learn that this might not be the last we hear from him and Jonathan OR Matt/Jared *hopes*.
Can’t wait to read this book.
Hi, Grace. I understand how you feel. But hopefully you’ll get the same sense of “okay, this is a good place” that I did. Can’t wait to hear your thoughts. Thanks for the comment!
I just love these guys and will probably put off reading this because I don’t want to say bye
Aww, Angelica, it’s a beautiful goodbye, if that makes you feel better!
Awesome review. Cannot wait to read this book, though I don’t want the series to end. Hmm, is Marie Sexton susceptible to bribes?
Cole is my total fave with Angelo a close second. Can I just say: that boy on the cover 
Thank you, Luci.
Yes, our Angelo looks pretty hunky on the cover, doesn’t he? His hair has grown out again. Zach is always brushing it out of his face. They’re so cute. Thanks for the comment! Be sure to let me know what you think of the book!
Great review Buda.
I’m ashamed to admit that I haven’t read any of these books….off to add more books to the TBR pile.
Oh, Jaime, there’s no shame in admitting you haven’t read them yet. It just means there is a wonderful new series out there for you to discover.
I hope you end up loving these guys as much as I do! Thanks for the comment.
Oh looking forward to this one! I think I’m going to re-read the main books in the series first, I’ve been feeling the urge for weeks now.
Hi, DM! If you can hold off on this until you get the previous books re-read, you’re a better fan than me! I dove right in as soon as that bad boy hit the inbox! Thanks for the comment. Hope you enjoy the book!
Thanks to Buda for a great review, and thanks to all of you who commented! You totally made my day!
Now, I must admit, even I am curious about the
Wave is referring to (although I do have a guess).
Thank you for such an amazing book, Marie. I was looking forward to reading it, but it surpassed my expectations. That equalizer scene? And the cup with the butter? Hilarious stuff. I’m glad you liked the review.
The thing Wave mentioned I didn’t mention? Well, it’s a mystery.
Nah, I’ll tell ya off-screen.
Excellent review, Buda. It’s really well-written. I’m soooo far behind in my reading! Why are there so many good books out there and more released every day? I can’t keep up!
Thank you, Patty!
I completely understand how you feel! I have 3 or 4 weeks worth of review books to read, plus 80-odd books in my Unread folder. 
I think we need to declare ourselves on vacation with pay and just read for a while!
i. cannot. wait. and then there’s an interview tomorrow…
yay!
It’s a great week! Thanks for the comment, KKM. You’ll love the book.
On a somewhat unrelated note…why is this book not in Amazon’s Kindle store??
I have noticed Dreamspinner books are not going on Amazon as timely as they used to. I remember Dreamspinner books being on Amazon the same day they are released. Is this an intentional delay?
Yes. I know I can go to dreamspinner or ARe but I have a credit with Amazon.
Anyone have an answer?
Aquina – I don’t know the exact details of how it works, but what DSP has told me is that it has to do with Amazon’s upload schedule, so it actually depends on the day of the release. My understanding (could be wrong) is that Amazon “uploads” the new digital releases twice per week, and so depending on when those uploads are, the release could be there the same day, or it could be several days later.
Again, only my understanding of it, which could be totally wrong. It will definitely be there in the very near future, but I don’t know the exact date. Sorry!
Hope you do enjoy it!
Fantastic review Buda – thank you! I can’t wait to read this book. And yet…at the same time…I know it is the last (or likely the last) and that breaks my heart. I fell in love with Matt & Jared and thought nothing could surplant Promises…until I read Strawberried for Dessert (I adore Cole). To have all of them in a book – and with Angelo & Zach… *SIGH*