My TBR List Review ~ April #1 ~ Paradise Road ~ C.J. Duggan

My To-Be Read List is a meme hosted by Michelle @Because Reading. I think it's a fabulous idea because it gets y'all in the game and it helps me knock off some of the many, many books on my TBR list. You're more than welcome to join in the fun! I've included the basic rules below but you can click on the graphic above to hop over to Michelle's site where you can find all the details. 

My review of Paradise Road is below but my review of Changing Tides is going to be late. Sorry y'all!! I've had a lot going on and haven't quite finished it. But the review's coming, I promise!

***

Paradise Road by C.J. Duggan
Paradise #2
Release Date: November 22, 2015
Genre: New Adult Contemporary Romance
Source: Purchased on Nook
Rating: 4 Bookworms
Challenges: #ShelfLove, #TravelingtotheTerminus
Goodreads

Synopsis
The Road to Paradise is never easy

After a year on the coast, Lexie Atkinson can't settle back into country life. She's missing the glitzy, gritty nightlife of the big city and the group of misfit friends she'd loved to hate. She knows to move forward she has to go back - back to face the guy who stole her heart.

But when Lexie arrives in Paradise City to work out if her future includes bad-boy surfer, Luke Ballantine, he is nowhere to be found.

With no home, no money and no Luke, Lexie gets a job slinging drinks at the wild Wipe Out Bar. Soon her heartache is eased when broody bar owner, Dean Saville, starts taking an interest and stirs more than just her drinks. But nothing is ever as it seems in Paradise City and when Luke barrels back into town, Lexie has a choice to make. But who will end up with the broken heart: Luke, Dean... or Lexie?

It's been almost two years exactly since I first visited Paradise City and I was as eager to return to Paradise as Lexie. And like Lexie, my return had its ups-and-downs, but in the end I wanted to stay.

What Worked:

• Lexie's determination and tenacity to earn her way, to be responsible for achieving her goals and dreams.
• Dean *sigh* I'm not gonna lie. I was a Dean fangirl from the get-go. His mysterious air, his maturity...oh, and his dark looks and tattoos...it all appealed to me much more than Ballantine's (Luke) surfer-boy charm.
• Wipe Out Bar - I enjoyed spending my time here with Lexie and friends rather than at school. It helped give this a more mature "new adult" feel.

What Could Have Worked Better:

• For all Lexie's maturity, she had her moments of immature behavior and decisions. Of course, she's only just 18 so I give her some leniency here but while this was realistic, I would have liked a little more consistency. However, this was consistent with Lexie's character and luckily for her, a certain someone found it endearing even if it made steam come out of his ears at times. *wink*

I really like Duggan's writing style. She creates entertaining stories with engaging characters and I'm excited to start a new series from her.