Lovin' los libros

Girl on Tour (Kylie Ryans #2)
   by: Caisey Quinn

Publication Date: Aug. 27, 2013
Publisher: Self-Published
Genre: Romance
Age Group: New Adult (MA 17+ Content)
Source: e-ARC provided by the author in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Page Count: 207 pages
Order Links: Amazon | B&N | Kobo
Cover Design & Format: E.M. Tippetts Book Design
My Rating: 5/5 stars




My Review:

I honestly don't even know how to start this review. I came upon Caisey Quinn a few months ago and knew I had to read her debut novel Girl with Guitar. A new adult contemporary about a girl trying to make it big in country music? Um, yes! Being a Nashville girl myself, I was psyched to read about this girl from small town Oklahoma, who is dealing with the heartbreak of losing someone dear to her but still wanting to pursue her dreams. I also love how realistic it is- our MC Kylie Ryans doesn't just appear in Nashville with her guitar and instantly get recognized. Caisey does a great job of showing her readers just how difficult it was for Kylie and how frustrating it could be trying to get your name and sound out there. Getting involved in the music industry takes a lot of work and being able to handle rejection. Kylie ends up taking a job at a bar and begins waitressing so she can pay for a room and food. However, after getting up and performing at their amateur night, she comes face to face with country music star Trace Corbin. Trace has fallen into a bit of a bad way- he drinks too much and is on the verge of ruining his career with his choices.

I loved this book. It is completely a 5 star read for me. I had already fallen for these characters in book one and watching them continue to develop and grow and make mistakes is something I loved seeing. Caisey has also done a great job of developing her secondary characters and I feel Mia, Lily, and Gretchen play such pivotal roles in this novel.

Kylie ends up going on tour with Trace and slowly the two start to develop feelings for one another. I said in my first review that I didn't really like Trace and found him to be a rather difficult character to like. He ran very hot and cold with Kylie, and I felt he made some really bad choices when it came to her. However, I have to say: Trace really grew on me in this book. (I knew he would!) Kylie and Trace's relationship is sexy, steamy, but also really sweet at the same time. (Yeah, the prologue alone was enough to make a girl melt!) However, Kylie and Trace are really tested in this book, both as a couple and as individuals. Kylie is setting out to go on tour with a couple of other singers and Trace is set to go out on his own tour. They are finally at a good place together and starting a new relationship is a big step for both of them. However, the two must now see for themselves if their relationship can withstand the pressures of being apart so soon after reconnecting or if it will fall apart due to outside forces working against them.

Kylie is so new to the business- she's just getting her feet wet and starting out on her own. I feel like she really wants to make her own way, not being known only for her association with Trace. Kylie is very independent and is smart when it comes to making sound decisions for her career. However, as we learned in the first book, Kylie is driven by her emotions, thus earning the nickname 'Hothead' from Trace. She is much the same in this book and I've got to say: the girl has guts. There were a couple of scenes where she wasn't afraid to tell people what was up and I really liked that about her. However, she doesn't always think of the consequences to her actions until afterwards. She is forced to tour with Mia Montgomery (a former American Idol star who may or may not have history with Trace), as well as with Lily Taite (a 16 year old girl whose father is a big time producer) Mia seems to hold a grudge against Kylie and really shows her no love during the tour. Lily is self-centered and is used to getting her way. Kylie couldn't be more different than these two girls, but knows she must suck it up and get along with them for the sake of the tour.

Trace is also set to go on tour and finds out he will be touring with Gretchen Gibson, who is in pretty bad shape herself. She is basically the female equivalent of Trace- drunk, late to shows, etc. They are both paired up, as they are on their last chance with their record label. Trace wants to prove himself and turn his act around, but dealing with Gretchen, who is a ticking time bomb, is not going to be easy. Trace is also struggling with his drinking again- he lets himself believe a beer or two isn't a bad thing, and then lets it escalate to the point he was at before. He makes excuses for himself and doesn't handle it the way he should.

I won't lie: Trace definitely crushed me by the end of the book. I should be completely pissed at him, yet I can't bring myself to be. He truly believes he isn't good enough for someone like Kylie. He's afraid he will bog her down and ruin her career before she even starts it. She's young, she's talented, and he knows she has so many opportunities in front of her. He doesn't want to ruin that and drag her down. He knows she follows her heart and she would sacrifice her music to be with him. He doesn't want that for her. Trace's insecurities get the best of him and he makes some decisions that will greatly affect him and Kylie. I hate that he felt that way because Kylie would give it all up for him- she is crazy in love and he makes her happy. However, Trace doesn't feel worthy of her love I think he's secretly terrified he will end up like his jerk of a father.

I said above both Trace and Kylie would be tested individually and as a couple. Jealousy, distrust, and miscommunication are huge issues in this book. Trace has a history with women and as much as Kylie wants to trust him- the media sure does make that difficult for her, especially being so far away. The thing about the media is that they can spin even the most innocent picture to be something more. Both Kylie and Trace see pictures taken by the media and automatically assume the worst. As a young couple, the one thing they must learn is to trust one another, or their relationship will not survive, especially being in the business they are.

Overall, Girl on Tour is an awesome sophomore novel and Caisey really did an amazing job of continuing Kylie and Trace's story, showing us that sometimes you have to fight to hold on to what you love and sometimes you have to make the difficult decision of letting go....







About the Author:

Caisey Quinn lives in Birmingham, Alabama with her husband, daughter, and other assorted animals. She is the author of several New Adult Romance novels featuring country girls finding love in unexpected places. She is currently working on Girl in Love, the third and final book in the Kylie Ryans series.

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