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Sex and Skateboards
Sex and skateboards and surfing on the California coast. What more could anyone want?
Alden McKenna has spent her entire life not growing up. Being an adult is tedious, not to mention totally boring. And requires less skateboarding. So why bother? Moving to a small beach town seems like an awesome idea. The skateboarding is good, the sun is always shining, and no one moves very fast. She even meets a hot chick like five minutes after moving there. Life is good. Except young Weston Duvall has already grown up and her reasons for doing so surprise Alden even more because she didn’t see them coming. Weston can’t trust Alden, and Alden isn’t sure she wants to be trusted. So why can’t they seem to stay away from each other?
Alden McKenna has spent her entire life not growing up. Being an adult is tedious, not to mention totally boring. And requires less skateboarding. So why bother? Moving to a small beach town seems like an awesome idea. The skateboarding is good, the sun is always shining, and no one moves very fast. She even meets a hot chick like five minutes after moving there. Life is good. Except young Weston Duvall has already grown up and her reasons for doing so surprise Alden even more because she didn’t see them coming. Weston can’t trust Alden, and Alden isn’t sure she wants to be trusted. So why can’t they seem to stay away from each other?
264 pages, Paperback
First published September 1, 2011
1 person is currently reading
80 people want to read
About the author
Ashley Bartlett
15 books43 followersAshley Bartlett was born and raised in California. Her life consists of reading and writing. Most of the time Ashley engages in these pursuits while sitting in front of a coffee shop with her girlfriend and smoking cigarettes. It’s a glamorous life. She is an obnoxious, sarcastic, punk-ass, but her friends don’t hold that against her. She currently lives in Sacramento. (from the author's website)
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
May 2, 2018
2.5 stars
July 17, 2022
Loved this story, so well told, it flows beautifully. Excellent characters surrounded by reality. Highly recommended.
May 10, 2017
This book was not exactly what I expected - a lot more interesting and fun than expected.
Not sure what else to say.
An immature skater-loving woman of 26 moves to SoCal from NoCal (this is important *nods* because of the words used, like Alden keeps saying 'Hella' which is, apparently, a quick marker for indicating that she isn't from SoCal; specifically the part of No(rthern)Cal(ifornia) that Alden is from is San Francisco (or an hour out from there). The book is somewhat sketchy on some of the details. Like, why Alden is suddenly down there helping her friend Olie (Olivia) open a restaurant - maybe it was stated and it flew over my head (I did notice people kept slipping in and out of my ability to comprehend them (as in, there's this Lauren woman - she's Olie's sister and always seems to be hugging, touching, or otherwise being super close to Alden, but they are not lovers or together and don't wish to be - she is meet in passing, the second time she turns up, I had to think a second to remember who she was - that is what I mean by people entering and exiting my ability to remember them).
So, Alden is this 26 year old who doesn't want to grow up and likes to skateboard. At the same time she somehow or another got the skill set to be a head chef at a restaurant. Alden is described by others and by herself as being one of those kinds of women that others lust over and go out of the way to 'make time with'. Alden doesn't chase women, they chase her. Apparently because she looks like a 12 year old boy and women love that. Or something. Personally I've never been 'into' 12 year old boys, but whatever.
A 23 year old woman named Weston has caught Alden's eye, though. And they kind of fall into some kind of undefined relationship (which actually ends up being a point of contention later on, which I liked because I'd noticed how 'loose' everything seemed to be, and was vaguely curious if I'd missed some steps along the way, but I hadn't - there were/are 'issues' that kept them from taking those steps, which, as noted, ended up being a point of contention/conflict).
I'm not exactly sure what Weston's job might be - I know she makes some money as a photographer, but she also apparently has some connection to a surf-shop. I think. At least there was a joke along the way that people normally pay her $20 (a lesson or an hour, I missed that part) for surf lessons. No matter, Weston exists and may or may not have more than one job and may or may not have inherited some money. It's not exactly nailed down, but you don't always know everything about everyone so that kind of actually works here since Alden kind of just slide into a relationship, loose, undefined, relationship.
This is one of those books in that 'Matinee' imprint, which, based more on the covers than anything else, seems to be or have been (I've the idea that the imprint is no more) a more erotic version of Bold Strokes Books (or something like 'BSB, after dark'). I mention because that's both one of the reasons I was somewhat reluctant to try this book, and I mention because I was vaguely curious where the sex was hiding until finally at 49% or so Alden and Wes began a longish period where they couldn't keep their hands off each other (I don't mean an extended scene, the actual sexually explicit scenes tended to be short, there just seemed to keep reoccurring at unexpected moments (there's one quite interesting scene in which Wes is showing Alden her photos in a gallery - I'm expecting some pictures to be looked at, I got that . . . I also got, before they even got off the stairs, a rather graphic groping session that was intensified by being where people walk and . . . with sounds that at least one person was in fact getting closer)).
So - romance. Sex. Sand everywhere. Some skating, surfing, a kid. Characters grapping with the idea of whether or not they actually want to grow up or not. As noted, I liked the book more than I expected to. I keep fluctuating between rating this something close to 4.5 or closer to 4.75. I'll have to think about it. Not sure I really want to mark this, on Goodreads, 5 stars (and placing on 4.75 shelf). I'll put it on 4.5 for now.
On a side note - tongue piercings and nipple rings are fun. Or - interesting to read a story where a character actually has those piercings/rings instead of just having that be a, either 'strange', or 'interesting' side character.
Rating: 4.55
May 10 2017
Not sure what else to say.
An immature skater-loving woman of 26 moves to SoCal from NoCal (this is important *nods* because of the words used, like Alden keeps saying 'Hella' which is, apparently, a quick marker for indicating that she isn't from SoCal; specifically the part of No(rthern)Cal(ifornia) that Alden is from is San Francisco (or an hour out from there). The book is somewhat sketchy on some of the details. Like, why Alden is suddenly down there helping her friend Olie (Olivia) open a restaurant - maybe it was stated and it flew over my head (I did notice people kept slipping in and out of my ability to comprehend them (as in, there's this Lauren woman - she's Olie's sister and always seems to be hugging, touching, or otherwise being super close to Alden, but they are not lovers or together and don't wish to be - she is meet in passing, the second time she turns up, I had to think a second to remember who she was - that is what I mean by people entering and exiting my ability to remember them).
So, Alden is this 26 year old who doesn't want to grow up and likes to skateboard. At the same time she somehow or another got the skill set to be a head chef at a restaurant. Alden is described by others and by herself as being one of those kinds of women that others lust over and go out of the way to 'make time with'. Alden doesn't chase women, they chase her. Apparently because she looks like a 12 year old boy and women love that. Or something. Personally I've never been 'into' 12 year old boys, but whatever.
A 23 year old woman named Weston has caught Alden's eye, though. And they kind of fall into some kind of undefined relationship (which actually ends up being a point of contention later on, which I liked because I'd noticed how 'loose' everything seemed to be, and was vaguely curious if I'd missed some steps along the way, but I hadn't - there were/are 'issues' that kept them from taking those steps, which, as noted, ended up being a point of contention/conflict).
I'm not exactly sure what Weston's job might be - I know she makes some money as a photographer, but she also apparently has some connection to a surf-shop. I think. At least there was a joke along the way that people normally pay her $20 (a lesson or an hour, I missed that part) for surf lessons. No matter, Weston exists and may or may not have more than one job and may or may not have inherited some money. It's not exactly nailed down, but you don't always know everything about everyone so that kind of actually works here since Alden kind of just slide into a relationship, loose, undefined, relationship.
This is one of those books in that 'Matinee' imprint, which, based more on the covers than anything else, seems to be or have been (I've the idea that the imprint is no more) a more erotic version of Bold Strokes Books (or something like 'BSB, after dark'). I mention because that's both one of the reasons I was somewhat reluctant to try this book, and I mention because I was vaguely curious where the sex was hiding until finally at 49% or so Alden and Wes began a longish period where they couldn't keep their hands off each other (I don't mean an extended scene, the actual sexually explicit scenes tended to be short, there just seemed to keep reoccurring at unexpected moments (there's one quite interesting scene in which Wes is showing Alden her photos in a gallery - I'm expecting some pictures to be looked at, I got that . . . I also got, before they even got off the stairs, a rather graphic groping session that was intensified by being where people walk and . . . with sounds that at least one person was in fact getting closer)).
So - romance. Sex. Sand everywhere. Some skating, surfing, a kid. Characters grapping with the idea of whether or not they actually want to grow up or not. As noted, I liked the book more than I expected to. I keep fluctuating between rating this something close to 4.5 or closer to 4.75. I'll have to think about it. Not sure I really want to mark this, on Goodreads, 5 stars (and placing on 4.75 shelf). I'll put it on 4.5 for now.
On a side note - tongue piercings and nipple rings are fun. Or - interesting to read a story where a character actually has those piercings/rings instead of just having that be a, either 'strange', or 'interesting' side character.
Rating: 4.55
May 10 2017
September 29, 2011
It was the Skateboards in the title that caught my attention. It seemed to offer a different cast of characters than the usual lesfic fare.
I honestly didn't expect a lot from a book from the BSB Matinee Romance line. The only other one I've read was dreadfully flat.
Not so here. The Skateboards in the title did deliver and threw me into a world of surfer and skateboard chicks. The language was unlike anything I've ever read before and used what felt like appropriate slang for them, and used it consistently throughout the book, in both dialog and the 1st person narrative. I can see how that could be annoying, but I really enjoyed it.
The characters were very likable bordering on simply adorable, not just the main characters, but the secondary characters as well.
It was refreshingly different, quick, entertaining read on my commute today.
I honestly didn't expect a lot from a book from the BSB Matinee Romance line. The only other one I've read was dreadfully flat.
Not so here. The Skateboards in the title did deliver and threw me into a world of surfer and skateboard chicks. The language was unlike anything I've ever read before and used what felt like appropriate slang for them, and used it consistently throughout the book, in both dialog and the 1st person narrative. I can see how that could be annoying, but I really enjoyed it.
The characters were very likable bordering on simply adorable, not just the main characters, but the secondary characters as well.
It was refreshingly different, quick, entertaining read on my commute today.
December 12, 2017
2.5 stars. I looked at the title and the cover and the synopsis and wondered if this was going to feel too young to me. And it did, but not necessarily for the reasons I was expecting. The actual writing is what makes this feel juvenile. Short, simple sentences and the first person narrative combined with the main character having the type of swagger that always makes you feel like the author is injecting their favorite parts of their own personality into the character make this feel more like fan fiction than an actual novel. (Not that there’s anything wrong with fanfic - I love it. But it definitely has its own style.) I’m curious to read something else by this author to see if that juvenile tone to the writing is specific to this plot and these characters, or if it’s her usual style.
January 22, 2018
Didn't really like it. The whole push pull / cold hot thing is boring and repetitive. Wes isn't a very likable MC IMO, constantly stringing Alden along. Then the massive break up and didn't care after that, not like they were even really together before that to begin with. Same old tired formula. Coulda DNF'd it 20 times but had nothing better to do.
November 9, 2011
it was okay if you ignored the outdated slang. which was just sad representation of skaters. or it could just be that i'm from east coast so and we are just more radical.
August 21, 2015
Alden, the kidult, meets the responsible Weston. Sparks ensue. Angst, drama, comic relief, sports, family, and romance. Cute read.
September 4, 2019
Really enjoyed this tale - a very easy read that took me though a long wait at the Airport as in coming plane delayed. (Let's not even mention car park fees!!) May be over starred but suited the mood and soothed my bored mind and weeping at an airport is fine!
February 20, 2013
Does exactly what it says on the tin - a sharp, funny, sexy tale of sex and skateboards. Loved it!
March 29, 2019
Loved it!
I recently discovered some blogs by this author, enjoyed them and decided to check out her books. I started with this one because it was her first. I barely put the book down. I loved the characters and the way the story was told. I will definitely be reading more by this author.
I recently discovered some blogs by this author, enjoyed them and decided to check out her books. I started with this one because it was her first. I barely put the book down. I loved the characters and the way the story was told. I will definitely be reading more by this author.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews