There are tons of people to thank as always. I’m starting with my readers today. I have the greatest readers ever, and I have you to thank for each and every book that I write. I love you guys like crazy. Without you, this wouldn’t be possible.
My supportive family at home who’ve been my rock, I love you guys. You are my life, and I am grateful to have you all. My husband and kids always support me one hundred percent, and that makes me a very lucky gal.
My Royals!!! Gosh, I love you girls. My royal street team is the best. They have supported me from day one, and they mean the world to me. Not only are they badass book pimps, but also they’re also crown-wearing rock stars. Love you all.
Thank you Micalea Smeltzer. I know that I thank you in each and every book, and that you’re probably sick of hearing it, but I truly don’t know what I’d do without you. It’s because of your support and your mad sprinting skills that this book was even finished. I owe you. You’ll always be my most favorite partner in crime, and we’d look damn good in capes. Love you forever.
Beta Readers!!!! You know who you are. You’ve been by my side from the beginning and I can’t thank you enough. All your hard work and time never go unnoticed. You’re the best of the best. Thank you.
Last but not least, I have to thank my niece Kelsey Hellard. I dedicated this book to her, because she’s so special to me. She was my very first niece. I still remember the day she was born. I was only ten years old. I’ve watched you grow up, and you’ve taught me so much. Probably more then I’ve taught you. The way you view life is a truly amazing gift, and I hope that more people will do the same. You see beauty in everything, and you have a kind heart, much like Grace. I love you Kels, and I thank you for being not just my family, but my friend.
About the Author
Regina is a contemporary romance writer from Kentucky. She lives there with her husband, dog, and cat. You can find her behind her computer, a good book, or watching sports. She loves to hear from her readers. Find out what’s coming next by following her Facebook page!
More books by Regina Bartley
Standalones
Moonshine
Dirty Nails
15 years to life
The Unbroken Series
Escaping Heartbreak
Causing Heartbreak
The Rosen Brother’s Series
Klay
A home for Caroline
Kory
Continue reading for an excerpt of
The Road That Leads To Us
by Micalea Smeltzer
Things are about to get rocky for Dean Wentworth and Willow Wade.
Willow Wade is used to living in the spotlight, with her father a famous drummer in the band Willow Creek—her namesake—it’s been a lot to live up to and oftentimes she doesn’t feel she’s enough. But there has always been one person she could turn to.
Dean Wentworth knows a thing or two about how crippling a name can be. His family is worth billions after all. But Dean’s always been content to do his own thing. Play his guitar. Work on cars. And geek out to his various “nerdoms”.
But when Willow turns up unexpectedly, he realizes maybe there is more in life he wants.
Her.
One trip will change their lives forever.
Willow
Those bitches were gonna die.
That was a horrible thing to say about my so-called ‘friends’—and I used the word friends loosely, because true friends wouldn’t ditch you the day of your scheduled road trip because they’d rather be sunbathing in the Hamptons.
The fucking Hamptons.
Ew.
I mean, how clichéd could you get?
This was why I hated rich people.
It also sucked that I was one of those rich people.
Well, I wasn’t, but my dad was.
So by extension so was I.
When you grew up with a rock star for a dad, cameras and eyes followed you everywhere. It was exhausting.
I couldn’t just be Willow.
I was Willow Wade.
The daughter of the famous drummer Maddox Wade.
People expected greatness from me.
I just wanted to graduate college without slitting my wrists.
I fiddled with the radio, changing it to a country station—my dad would most definitely not approve—and let my blonde hair whip around my shoulders courtesy of the open windows.
The drive from NYU to my childhood home in Virginia was only about five hours, but it felt ten times longer thanks to the crazy traffic trying to get out of the city.
I might’ve yelled at a lot of people.
And waved my middle finger out the window.
My parents would be so proud.
Not.
My failed road trip might’ve been the reason I was headed home and not out west, but I was excited to be back where I grew up.
My freshman year of college had been trying, to say the least.
For most people college was their chance to spread their wings.
Me?
I found it oppressive.
That was probably due to the fact that I had no idea what I wanted to do with my life.
Did I want to act? Sing? Dance? Join a traveling circus?
I thought by going to NYU it would force me to finally decide what I wanted to do for the rest of my life.
If anything it only made me question everything that much more.
When the sprawling Victorian home came into view I couldn’t stop the smile that split my face if I wanted to.
For the first time since I left last August, I could finally breathe.
I was home.
I parked my car in the driveway and hopped out—pulling in a healthy lungful of clean mountain air.
So much better than the exhaust fume-filled air that littered New York City.
I grabbed my patchwork backpack from the passenger seat and slung it over my shoulder.
Slipping my sunglasses off my face and into my hair I headed for the front door.
I pulled the key from my pocket, rubbing my thumb against the worn hedgehog key cap.
I entered the home and nearly cried at the rush of familiarity.
I was still majorly bummed that my plans for a road trip hadn’t worked out, and I’d probably mope about it for a week in a bout of teenage angst, but being home wasn’t all that bad.
I’d missed my house.
My parents.
My siblings.
And even the hedgehogs.
My dad had a thing for hedgehogs, so by extension I guess I did too. They were pretty cute.
The house was eerily quiet as I stepped inside and I looked around for my brother Mascen and my sister Lylah.
Neither was anywhere to be seen.
I moved further into the house, skimming my fingers over the familiar pale yellow walls on my way to the kitchen.
No one appeared to be home and I needed food.
Humming softly under my breath I rounded the corner into the spacious kitchen and immediately regretted my destination.
“MY EYES!” I screamed, slapping a hand over my eyes. “My poor innocent eyes!” I gagged for added effect.
Catching my mom and dad making out in the kitchen like a couple of teenagers had not been on my to-do list for the day.
Neither had seeing my mom’s bra or my dad’s hand skimming up her skirt.
I turned around, walking away as fast as my feet would carry me. “I’m going to go throw up now!”