What I read: June 2019

What did I read during June? Here you go…

Million Dollar Devil by Katy Evans

Somehow, I *think* this was my first Katy Evans read! A fun, slow burn romance with a reverse My Fair Lady storyline.

Trust by Kylie Scott

Great mature YA dealing with the aftermath of gun violence and drug use, yet it doesn't stay heavy throughout. This is one I wished I'd read sooner.

Written with Regret by Aly Martinez

That ending!
This story hit checked every single mark on my "what I love in a read" list. Characters I can sympathize with regardless of their actions, a hero I can love, a well-rounded plot, side characters who add to the story, moments of laughter and tears. All the feels.

Written with You by Aly Martinez

Loved.
I could not wait to dive into Written with You after that crazy plot twist/cliffhanger ending in book one. This one didn't disappoint at all. This is a duet I will happily reread.

Tell Me To Stay by Willow Winters

This is a novella that feels like a novella. A longer story would serve the plot and these characters better, but it is an entertaining bedtime read.

On the Rocks by Kandi Steiner

I totally forgot to write any notes on this one but I read the entire book in one day. I think that says enough...

Flow by Kennedy Ryan

This is a prequel with an ocean's worth of depth. Typically, prequels tend to offer us but a small glimpse into the character's story before their "main" novel. Flow isn't like that. This story is heavy with political and race-related conversations that build up the characters of Bris and Grip and give a good insight into a few side characters that I imagine take up more room in the future.

I walk away from Flow knowing who these characters were and look forward to seeing who they are in eight years when the conclusion to their story picks up.

Grip by Kennedy Ryan

Once again Kennedy uses her platform for good. Love that Grip and Bristol's story tackles the reality of everyday life for POC. This is a romance with meat.

View all my reviews

HUGE SALE on the Paper Planes series!

Did you know that the Paper Planes series co-written with Mindy Hayes is currently on sale for 99¢ each? That’s over 300 thousand words for $3
Available on Kindle, Nook, Apple Books, and Kobo. Get your summer read on today!

**A Young Adult Contemporary Sweet Romance, Paper Planes is the first book in the Paper Planes Standalone series and CAN be read on its own.**

On June 18, 1992, Flight 397 crashed off the coast of Long Island. But this story isn’t about the crash. Not completely.

This is a story about two high school seniors living very different lives, who share one connection: they both lost parents on that fateful flight.

Slowly, letters bridge the gap between California and Pennsylvania as Ruby Kaminski and Brett Pratt find a way to remember the past while looking toward the future.

This is a story about hope, paper planes, and the other things they lost.

**An Adult Contemporary Sweet Romance, Subway Stops is the second book in the Paper Planes Standalone series. It CAN be read on its own.

On June 18, 1992, Flight 397 crashed off the coast of Long Island. Meet Cole and Samantha, two workaholics who randomly meet one year later at a memorial for the crash. Both lost loved ones that day.

Cole Rossner is a twenty-five-year-old med student dealing with the grief of his orphaned seventeen-year-old half-siblings. He doesn’t have time for dating.

Determined to kick life in the face after her loss, Samantha Cooper opens a kickboxing studio with her best friend. She’s not looking for a man, but Cole Rossner keeps popping up and screwing with her plans.

There are over seven million people in New York City. 
One random encounter is called chance. 
Two is coincidence.
Three? Well, baby, we call that fate.

**A New Adult Contemporary Sweet Romance, Chasing Cars is the third book in the Paper Planes Standalone series and CAN be read on its own.**

On June 18, 1992, Flight 397 crashed off the coast of Long Island. 

After Amber Pratt lost her parents, her life turned into a downward spiral. So, she did what any twenty-one-year-old would do; she quit her life to backpack across Europe.

Olle Holström was supposed to be a fling in the wilds of Finland. A detour. That is all it should have been. 

It was so much more.

---

Click on the titles above for the Amazon US links. Click below for all store links:
Paper Planes: books2read.com/PaperPlanes
Subway Stops: books2read.com/SubwayStops
Chasing Cars: books2read.com/ChasingCars

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What I read: May 2019

Funny enough, as a writer I am NOT a very stingy reader. So many authors struggle with reading because they disagree with plots or the book isn’t “smart enough.” Sorry friends, I am totally in love with guilty pleasure reads. I get wrapped up in characters even if the writing is so-so or the plots are ridiculous. This month I finished A LOT of out there, crazy plot books. It was delicious!!!

View Goodreads page to see all my reads and reviews

The Rebel of Raleigh High by Callie Hart

Ohhhh, how I love a good juicy, guilty pleasure, bad boy read.
Beware of triggers.

Filthy Rich Boys by C.M. Stunich

The plot is so ridiculously far fetched that you can't help but hang on every single word. I'm a sucker for rich kids and bad boys/girls series.

Bad, Bad Blue Bloods by C.M. Stunich

Yup, I'm still drinking the kool-aid. Sue me.

The Envy Of Idols by C.M. Stunich

I am so confused. Who do I love?
I cannot tell a lie, I am such a sucker for these freaking books. It's a train wreck you can't look away from.

More of You by A.L. Jackson

Here's a case of the blurb not matching the plot. At all. However, I liked the book in the end so whatevsss...
Be prepared for a mystery and questioning the iffy timing of this romance.

Her Defiant Heart by Monica Murphy

Holy cliffhanger! I'm up in the air on this one—invested enough to want to read on and see what happens but not sure when I'll grab book 2
Jens bugged me with the way she used Rhett after he was so nice, but I have a feeling Rhett isn't what he seems either.

His Wasted Heart by Monica Murphy

I needed answers after that cliffy!

Damaged Hearts by Monica Murphy

Hmmmm. Didn't love it, didn't hate it.
Had this been one novel I think I would have been happier with it. Jens secret ended up being anti-climatic by the end.

The Perfect First by Maya Hughes

This sweet and sexy book is exactly what New Adult should be (IMO)

Switch Hitter by Sara Ney

Fun little novella.

Rebel Born by Amy A. Bartol
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Love.
Rebel Born was a bit more scientific than Secondborn or Traitor Born, but because Amy has a way of writing sci-fi plots for the non-sci-fi reader it didn't overwhelm the story or my simple brain ;)
After that cliffy from book two, readers are rewarded with a fast-paced, questions answered finale.

Also, this romance lover was totally happy with the romantic resolutions.

The Moth and the Flame by B.B. Reid

Good, bad boy fun but not as enjoyable as Ever and Four's story. This one felt repetitive, and a lot of the reveals (the ones that began as part of Ever and Four's story) were confusing bc everything was from Lou and Wren's POV.
The overarching storyline still has a lot of holes to fill which means Jamie and Bette's story is next... not sure how I feel about that, but I'm sure I'll be reading it.

Hidden Creek Secrets by Jaxson Kidman

As the cover alludes, there are a lot of secrets in Hidden Creek. Trouble is you won't find many answers in book one.
Typical rival bad boys and drama-ridden girls in this guilty pleasure read.

Punk 57 by Penelope Douglas

I hate that it took me so long to read this one. Loved Ryen and Misha's story.

BackroadsDuet moves to KindleUnlimited

Good news for Kindle Unlimited subscribers! You can now read Love in C Minor and Loss in A Major for #FREE through KU. Read on for a sneak peek…

LOVE IN C MINOR, VOLUME ONE

Seventeen-year-old Reagan seems like the perfect small-town girl. Dubbed a saint by her older brother, Lincoln, she serves the community, makes straight A’s, attends church, spends her summers working with special needs children, and is a piano playing prodigy.

When you’re the daughter of the mayor and the police chief in a sleepy Kansas town, toeing the line is easier than the alternative.

That is, until her brother’s best friend changes the rules.

Reagan’s been subject to Ridley’s antics her entire life. Growing up, he tormented and teased her, but he kept his distance—until now. When Ridley breaks a promise, late night phone calls and secret rendezvous in the haystacks quickly transform into a reckless, all-consuming love.

Some promises are meant to be broken. Some secrets will not be contained, and sometimes the consequences we render are more than we can bear.

ONE

Two realizations deprive my lungs of life-sustaining breath as I step onto my back patio for the first time in two months. First, the August air is abnormally stifling in Kansas today. And second, Ridley Goss—The Player, my brother’s best friend, my childhood tormentor, and star of my daydreams—is here. He’s also the guy who—judging by his current position—can’t keep his tongue out of Whitney Reisman’s throat. My chest aches. I’m sucking in my first deep breath since walking outside when a third realization punches me in the gut—life in Ellbury is exactly the way it was before I left.

Welcome home, Reagan Meeks.

It was foolish really, to assume anything here would change just because I had. I’ve spent the majority of the last three summers away. Nothing had ever changed when I returned to Ellbury. Well, nothing except for the start and demise of relationships. And the color of the Marshall’s house from beige to grey. So why did I expect this year to be different? Maybe because Wyatt Zimmerman opened his mouth and unraveled every decision I was once so sure of.

I should knock Whitney into the pool with my flip flop. Or maybe cannonball my body in the perfect direction sending an arc of water right where she stands. No, Reagan. That wouldn’t be very nice. But her bleached blonde hair should not cascade down her back so perfectly when she’s here to swim. Is she wearing makeup? Only Whitney, a self-proclaimed Queen Bee, would care that much. She should care a little less. My bonehead of a brother and his friends aren’t hard to impress.

My gaze strays to Ridley’s naked torso. His naturally tan skin is darker from the summer sun. When did he get here? Five minutes ago, I peeked out and it was Lincoln, Whitney, and her posse. How in the time I took to change did Ridley show up, get half-naked, and find himself mouth to mouth with Whitney? Plus, he has his guitar strapped around his back. Lucky piece of wood.

FIND THE BACKROADS DUET HERE
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Happy SIXTH birthday to Tyalbrook!

Happy SIXTH birthday to the book that changed my life.
I wrote Never Let You Fall as a dare from my husband. My youngest had started Kindergarten and I was thinking of going back to school. Hubby knew my passion was writing—he's loved me since I was 16. He knows everything!— so he said "write a book while you have the time. Just do it." Okay then...

It is dedicated to the four people who rule my world: 
To Grayson, Gabriel, and Isabelle - you inspire me daily. 
Always remember to hold fast to your dreams; they CAN come true.

To Jonathan -
Thank you for never letting me fall.
I love you with all my heart and soul.

The journey has changed many times. I'm still working on the final book (I know, I know). I've met the most precious people through writing—my tribe. I've traveled, had success and failures, and found myself again. I did all this because I was brave enough to try...

“You’re not a girl. You’re a princess, remember? You are so much stronger than you know. You’ll see.” --Xander to Skye.

I hope you know how strong you are. I hope you are brave enough to never give up on your dreams. And I pray you have someone who supports you and your passion relentlessly. If you need a tribe, let me know. I know people ;)

Thank you, friends, for sticking with me for six years. Cheers to six more!

Never Let You Fall: books2read.com/TyalbrookOne