Blurb:

They call me Joyride because it’s what got me sent to prison. But it only reminds me of all the pain I’ve caused…

Two days after my eighteenth birthday I stole my parents car and went joyriding. I was mad at my dad, freaked out about my sexuality, and hurt that my best friend was dating someone who wasn’t me.

I was reckless. Driving too fast. Heedless of the rain. Crying.

The car spun out of control and crashed into another vehicle, changing the course of two lives forever.

Five years later, I’m out of prison and finally at peace with being gay. I’ve got a good group of guys at Redemption Road who are focused on moving forward. But I can’t. All I can see is Dakota Willis, the other driver, paralyzed because of my actions.

When I run into Kit, my hot hookup from Omaha—a physical therapist who seems interested—I think this might be my moment to look forward instead of back.

Then I discover he’s Dakota’s brother. It’s over before it started. But if I can’t be with him, I can at least face Dakota again. Tell her I’m sorry. Try to make amends.

If Kit hates me, I deserve it. If he uses me for his pleasure, I’ll serve as long as he wants. I’ve hurt these people, and I should hurt too.

Even if I’m starting to love them…

https://geni.us/RRJoyride

*****

Review:

This is my week for messy! I love these two, from the bottom of my heart, but they did not make things easy on themselves. Joey is carrying so SO so much guilt from the accident that sent him to prison. Living in a small town, one full of people with very long memories and no filter, means that he’s reminded of it all the time. It’s meant that he’s struggled since getting out of prison. Finding out that the first guy he’s really been into is Dakota’s brother is a gut punch. And it’s one for Kit too when he realizes who he hooked up with. And it just gets messier from there.

It’s steamy, but also so heartbreaking, as Kit works out some of his negative feelings on Joey and as Joey feels like he owes their family something to make up for what he did. Hoping to atone for his past. It’s a horrible dynamic for a “relationship” but of course there was a reason why they both were so excited to run into each other again … at first, before their worlds blew up. And that something isn’t going to go away just because Joey’s mistake caused so much damage.

But Dakota is a trip – strong, independent, stubborn, and mouthy. Once she gets to know Joey, she’s not going to let him spend all his time wallowing. And she’s going to make sure that they all come to terms with the past and learn to forgive & move on. Kit included. Gotta admire her spunk and fire, her upbeat personality, and her drive to live large. To make everyone embrace life fully.

The found family aspect of the Redemption Road crew makes for some of my favorite reads. And I feel like Dakota fits right in with them. They all love big, support each other, and step up when someone needs it. I love that for them, that they’ve found that foundation that helps them be the best that they can be. One full of loving, caring, forgiving people. Of all of them, Joey (and Kit) need it the most. This is not a pretty read but it is a satisfying one as Joey and Kit find a path through their pain, anger, and guilt to move forward.