Paradise Road (The Paradise, #2) (Paradise City)

by C.J. Duggan

From the author of the bestselling Summer series, comes a sexy Australian new-adult romance full of sun, surf and steamy summer nights. For fans of Abbi Glines, Sarah Dessen and Colleen Hoover.


Readers are raving about C.J. Duggan's Paradise City:

'I loved every moment . . . C.J. is a born storyteller that breathes a realism into her characters and situations that we've all found ourselves in.' - Diva Book Nerd

'Duggan's writing is addictive, and I really didn't want to put this book down.' - Escape Into Words

'Paradise City is the same brand of feel good, fun and sexy romance that I have come to love from this author' - Book Briefs

'I love Duggan's writing and Paradise City was a hoot. I cannot wait for the next book! Is it August yet?' - Reading With ABC

'I loved this book - it's the perfect beach read.' - Flying Through Pages

'Paradise City is going to be on my mind until I can get my greedy eyes on Paradise Road. I need that book yesterday!' - Book Cat Pin

'A fast paced fun read with so many steamy situations.' - Dreamy Addictions

'Guaranteed her readers will come back for more.' - My Guilty Obsession

'Drama, deception, love and a little mystery . . . the ending left me hungry for the next book! I can't wait for Paradise Road!' - Paranormal Tendencies on Goodreads

'A bit of Home and Away meets Puberty Blues feel about the novel makes is a great read for older teens and YA. I will be desperately waiting for part 2 in September.' - Samantha on Goodreads

'Again Ms Duggan had created a winner. Paradise City was a perfect introduction to the series and characters. I was left needing more and it had so much laugh-out-loud fun. This really did have everything from intrigue to addiction, realism of high school antics, steamy sizzles and fast paced readability. I am certainly hooked and desperately want more of all these characters. I highly recommend this to all new adult readers, fan-bloody-tastic!' - Turner's Antics

'This is my first taste of Duggan's work and it won't be the last ... It's a story that will have you coming back for more.' - Sassy Book Lovers

'convincing and authentic ... Perfect for fans of Abbi Glines and Anna Todd, Paradise City is a fun and exciting read about love, family and surviving high school.' - Fictional Thoughts


The road back to Paradise was never going to be easy . . .

After returning to Red Hill, 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 that to move forward she has to go back - back to face the guy who stole her heart.

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, and, before long, 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. Someone's going to end up with a broken heart - will it be Luke, Dean . . . or Lexie?

• ISBN10: 0733633889
• ISBN13: 9780733633881
• Publish Date: 22 November 2015
• Publish Status: Withdrawn
• Publish Country: AU
• Imprint: Hachette Australia
• Format: eBook (EPUB)
• Pages: 336
• Language: English

Reviews

[Kelly]

Lexie Atkinson is back in her sleepy home town of Red Hill for the summer, grieving for the relationship what could have been. With the bright lights of Paradise City in her sights, Lexie plans to return to the city. I adored Paradise City. A small town, home schooled Lexie Atkinson was a breath of fresh air as she navigated her new life in the city. In Paradise Road, unfortunately Lexie now is under the illusion that with her aunt and uncle unable to offer her accommodation, she'll be able to find work, complete her education and become independent. The one condition that will allow her to stay.

Conveniently, the Wipe Out Bar is looking for employees and with a small room available for lodgings, Lexie is now reluctantly employed by Dean Saville. Lexie is determined and begins to assert her dominance, believing she has the authority to transform the bar into a family friendly atmosphere. Her vision was innovative but ultimately, she is a young woman who knows nothing about small business management and infringed on her employment boundaries. While Lexie is coming to terms with her relationship falling apart, Luke is consistently in her thoughts even while beginning to pursue Dean as a romantic interest.

I found the romance between Lexie and Dean improbable unfortunately due to Lexie's demeanor, interchanging one brother for another. The pleasant, country charm is replaced by a determined and arrogant young woman, naive and frustrating. Although wonderfully written, Lexie was incredibly unpleasant and hindered my enjoyment of the duology finale.

[Leah]

THIS BOOK BLEW MY SOCKS OFF

Back in April I read this really amazing book. Paradise City. I met Lexie, and Ballantine, and wrote a pretty freaking awesome fangirl-y review. I REALLY DID. It literally blew my socks off, and did I believe the sequel could do the same? DID I HECK. BUT IT WAS BETTER. IT WAS ONLY BLOODY BETTER. I can honestly say that Paradise City and Paradise Road are two of the best freaking books I've ever read in my life. UTTERLY amazing and I bow down to the altar of CJ Duggan's writing because she SLAYS ME.

I READ THIS IN ONE SITTING!!!!

ONE BLOODY SITTING. I am writing this at 1.08am because I am that hyped up about how good this bloody book was. I mean BONKERS good. AMAZING good. BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR GOOD. CAPS LOCK GOOD!!!!!!!!! I am honestly amazed, after reading Paradise City, I never would have thought the sequel would go where it went and I'm literally the happiest person alive right now (which is true, because every body else is ASLEEP). I loved Lexie in Paradise City, but I loved her EVEN MORE in Paradise Road. I LOVED that she was doing her own thing, getting herself a job and a place, and growing up. I loved the decisions she made regarding her love life (OH YOU'RE IN FOR SUCH A SURPRISE). I loved that she didn't just collapse under the weight of her Ballantine grief (I'M LOOKING AT YOU, BELLA!!!!). It was just mind-bogglingly good. I raced through this book, barely believing my eyes at just how amazing it was. Have I mentioned this book was AMAZING yet?

#TEAMDEAN #TEAMDEAN #TEAMDEAN

Back in Paradise City, I loved Ballantine. I LOVED HIM. But there was very, very much a spark between Lexie and Dean, Ballantine's sexy, dangerous, tattooed (!!!!) half-brother. There was just something about him that made me feel all warm and fuzzy inside, even if he was a bit dangerous with a stare you really want looking at you. You really do. He just had that spark, and he and Lexie have this amazing banter, Lexie is one of the only people who actually puts Dean in his place and the sparks FLY. THEY FLY. I saw it in Paradise City, but here in Paradise Road it's off the bleeding charts. It's INSANE. It's heady, special, magical, and you know you're witnessing something great. I said in my Paradise City review I wanted my own Ballantine. Screw that, I want my own Dean, please.

READ THESE BOOKS!!!

I honestly can't get over how much I loved this book. It was INSANE. It made me excited to come and fangirl all over it at 1am with my review. It made me so excited to read again, after some drab books. I so, so wish there were more exciting New Adult books like this, more exciting Chick Lit books like this, with spark and wit and humour and a brooding bar owner or surfer. It just grabbed me and wouldn't let me go and made me a very, very happy clam. As if all the capslock and exclamation marks didn't tell you, eh? This was a seriously good duology. AMAZING. Mind-blowing, I want-more amazing. Sigh. I can't believe it's over. I want to just hide in my room for a week, because how do I pick up my next book after THIS? Talk about #bookhangover.