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Under the Gulf Coast Sun
The last thing on Kassie Hernandez’s mind is falling in love, but when she meets surfer Connor O’Reilly at one of Port Aransas’s famous Pod House parties in 1978, everything changes.
Kassie and Connor can’t keep their hands off each other, and Kassie senses a growing threat to her lifelong dream of working in the space program. Connor is falling for her fast, but Kassie is attracting the attention of every man on the Island – is Connor Mr. Right or just Mr. Right Now?
Unsure of themselves, the inexperienced couple navigates their feelings and passions, struggle through conflict and jealousy against a backdrop of wild parties, comical bar episodes, epic surf sessions, and family dynamics that have formed their most sensitive vulnerabilities. Kassie can’t handle a jealous man with no self-confidence who wants her to stay home in the kitchen. Her uncle did that to her aunt, who was so brilliant that she got a scholarship to study math at MIT, but she never went to college. Connor fears being dumped by a woman he loves – a fear caused by his mother abandoning him and his father when she ran off with another man.
Kassie’s end-of-summer party turns disastrous, as both believe their worst fears about each other are true. Separated by alcohol-fueled anger and questionable decisions, they both have deep regrets. After talking it over with her Mom and most trusted friend, Kassie decides to make amends. Connor discovers he completely misinterpreted what he saw happen at the party. But before they let each other know they want to give themselves a second chance, Connor is lost at sea in a freak accident. Their determination to reunite is pitted against the awesome, deep, and indifferent power of the Gulf.
Port Aransas, Texas has been a beloved vacation destination for millions of Texans for decades. This story of second chances, ambition, and heartfelt love will appeal to everyone who has fond memories and a tinge of nostalgia for summers past, wild spring break parties, and all those chill times spent gazing out at the beauty and mystery of the sea.
Kassie and Connor can’t keep their hands off each other, and Kassie senses a growing threat to her lifelong dream of working in the space program. Connor is falling for her fast, but Kassie is attracting the attention of every man on the Island – is Connor Mr. Right or just Mr. Right Now?
Unsure of themselves, the inexperienced couple navigates their feelings and passions, struggle through conflict and jealousy against a backdrop of wild parties, comical bar episodes, epic surf sessions, and family dynamics that have formed their most sensitive vulnerabilities. Kassie can’t handle a jealous man with no self-confidence who wants her to stay home in the kitchen. Her uncle did that to her aunt, who was so brilliant that she got a scholarship to study math at MIT, but she never went to college. Connor fears being dumped by a woman he loves – a fear caused by his mother abandoning him and his father when she ran off with another man.
Kassie’s end-of-summer party turns disastrous, as both believe their worst fears about each other are true. Separated by alcohol-fueled anger and questionable decisions, they both have deep regrets. After talking it over with her Mom and most trusted friend, Kassie decides to make amends. Connor discovers he completely misinterpreted what he saw happen at the party. But before they let each other know they want to give themselves a second chance, Connor is lost at sea in a freak accident. Their determination to reunite is pitted against the awesome, deep, and indifferent power of the Gulf.
Port Aransas, Texas has been a beloved vacation destination for millions of Texans for decades. This story of second chances, ambition, and heartfelt love will appeal to everyone who has fond memories and a tinge of nostalgia for summers past, wild spring break parties, and all those chill times spent gazing out at the beauty and mystery of the sea.
- GenresRomance
258 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 11, 2025
3 people are currently reading
3378 people want to read
About the author
Skip Rhudy
3 books17 followersUnder The Gulf Coast Sun, Skip's new adult, midcentury historical romance will be published by Stoney Creek Publishing in Spring of 2025.
Skip Rhudy grew up surfing in Port Aransas, Texas.
He has translated poetry and prose from the German and translated Wolfgang Hilbig’s novella Die Weiber for his master’s thesis in 1990 at UT Austin. His short stories were published in numerous small press magazines in the mid 1990s, and his novella One Punk Summer was published in 1993 and reprinted in 2021.
Skip works as a software developer. He holds a patent in TCP/IP acceleration and is building an airplane. He and his wife live in Tulsa, Oklahoma, have two daughters, three dogs, and a horse named Pierre.
https://www.underthegulfcoastsun.com
https://www.skiprhudy.com
https://www.stoneycreekpublishing.com
Skip Rhudy grew up surfing in Port Aransas, Texas.
He has translated poetry and prose from the German and translated Wolfgang Hilbig’s novella Die Weiber for his master’s thesis in 1990 at UT Austin. His short stories were published in numerous small press magazines in the mid 1990s, and his novella One Punk Summer was published in 1993 and reprinted in 2021.
Skip works as a software developer. He holds a patent in TCP/IP acceleration and is building an airplane. He and his wife live in Tulsa, Oklahoma, have two daughters, three dogs, and a horse named Pierre.
https://www.underthegulfcoastsun.com
https://www.skiprhudy.com
https://www.stoneycreekpublishing.com
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
April 26, 2025
Surfing and the Texas coast do not usually go together, but apparently, it does happen at times.
Set in the 1970s, this book covers new love, decisions, women's rights, and dreams. Kassie is a young woman who has dreams that might be commonplace today, but could be considered out of reach in this decade. Connor is adrift and not sure what he wants from life, except for Kassie. While the budding romance is fraught with miscommunication, these two are meant for each other and encourage one another to reach for the stars. That nothing is unattainable if you want it badly enough.
This novel reminds me a little bit of my high school years (although a decade later). There are no cell phones or social media, just friends hanging out and enjoying life. This also reminds me that all teenagers do some silly and stupid things. It is like a rite of passage. However, this novel is also filled with life lessons, hopes, dreams, and much more.
While the book is told primarily from Kassie and Connor's viewpoints, there is also Stamford's perspective. He wasn't one of my favorite characters, and I wondered if his bluster was more for show than reality. However, he does come through in the end for a particular situation.
This story is lovingly told and is for you if you enjoy surfing or books that include surfing; this is one not to miss.
We give the book 4 paws up.
Set in the 1970s, this book covers new love, decisions, women's rights, and dreams. Kassie is a young woman who has dreams that might be commonplace today, but could be considered out of reach in this decade. Connor is adrift and not sure what he wants from life, except for Kassie. While the budding romance is fraught with miscommunication, these two are meant for each other and encourage one another to reach for the stars. That nothing is unattainable if you want it badly enough.
This novel reminds me a little bit of my high school years (although a decade later). There are no cell phones or social media, just friends hanging out and enjoying life. This also reminds me that all teenagers do some silly and stupid things. It is like a rite of passage. However, this novel is also filled with life lessons, hopes, dreams, and much more.
While the book is told primarily from Kassie and Connor's viewpoints, there is also Stamford's perspective. He wasn't one of my favorite characters, and I wondered if his bluster was more for show than reality. However, he does come through in the end for a particular situation.
This story is lovingly told and is for you if you enjoy surfing or books that include surfing; this is one not to miss.
We give the book 4 paws up.
April 21, 2025
A quick and enjoyable read
What an entertaining read! A true destination romance, Under The Gulf Coast Sun took me to Port Aransas, a place I haven’t been, and to the nineteen seventies, a time not-too-far gone yet a whole lifetime ago. I am equally delighted and aghast that this book is considered a historical romance. I was already alive during the time setting of the story, so I’m feeling old. But I’m also not old enough to say I could relate to the characters in this coming-of-age love story.
Skip Rhudy did a wonderful job of infusing his characters with a balance of confidence, confusion, and insecurity that typifies teenagers of every generation yet placing them in distinct situations that could only have been experienced by the youth in the seventies and early eighties. The younger drinking age, the loose parental controls, and the existing media and technological selections are some examples that place this book in the past. Connor and Kassie are fully fleshed-out characters who acted true to their ages. They are sympathetic and easy to root for, having virtues and flaws that make them real.
Usually, I don’t like the main conflict in romance caused by a misunderstanding and lack of communication, but I understood why it happened here. I appreciate how Mr. Rhudy laid it out, so it came out organic and a natural offshoot of Connor and Kassie’s backgrounds.
The surfing scenes and the locations are described incredibly well, a testament to the author’s talent and lived experience. The dialogues flowed naturally. The language was plain, easily understood, and true to the time. My only critique is the head-hopping and unnecessary points of view from a couple of secondary characters.
Overall, a quick and enjoyable read.
What an entertaining read! A true destination romance, Under The Gulf Coast Sun took me to Port Aransas, a place I haven’t been, and to the nineteen seventies, a time not-too-far gone yet a whole lifetime ago. I am equally delighted and aghast that this book is considered a historical romance. I was already alive during the time setting of the story, so I’m feeling old. But I’m also not old enough to say I could relate to the characters in this coming-of-age love story.
Skip Rhudy did a wonderful job of infusing his characters with a balance of confidence, confusion, and insecurity that typifies teenagers of every generation yet placing them in distinct situations that could only have been experienced by the youth in the seventies and early eighties. The younger drinking age, the loose parental controls, and the existing media and technological selections are some examples that place this book in the past. Connor and Kassie are fully fleshed-out characters who acted true to their ages. They are sympathetic and easy to root for, having virtues and flaws that make them real.
Usually, I don’t like the main conflict in romance caused by a misunderstanding and lack of communication, but I understood why it happened here. I appreciate how Mr. Rhudy laid it out, so it came out organic and a natural offshoot of Connor and Kassie’s backgrounds.
The surfing scenes and the locations are described incredibly well, a testament to the author’s talent and lived experience. The dialogues flowed naturally. The language was plain, easily understood, and true to the time. My only critique is the head-hopping and unnecessary points of view from a couple of secondary characters.
Overall, a quick and enjoyable read.
February 21, 2025
I really liked this book! The characters were engaging and the plot kept me turning the pages. There were two things that hit me right: the characters and the setting.
The relationship between Kassie and Connor had all the exquisite anguish that comes with young love. I watched Kassie trying to decide if she really wanted this man (or a relationship) and how it was going to be. She seemed to weigh all her options and wondered if she should keep them open. And Connor was a lot like me at that age. A sucker for a pretty girl but with a pure heart and good intentions, who made a lot of stupid moves. When you throw in all the confusion and mistakes that comes with being a young adult, it all adds up to a romantic fun read. Made me think of my first bumbling attempts at a meaningful relationship.
The story is set in Port Arkansas, and even though I’ve never been there, I could picture it all in my head, from the Surf Shop to the condos, to the parties to the beaches. It all became real to me. When you factor in the music, cars, and magazines from the 70s, it all came back to me. I never was a surfer, but I could picture it all. Just like it could have happened. Even the Lone Star Beer tasted good to me.
I was fortunate enough to have an Advance Reader’s copy of the book. Maybe you’ll read this book by the pool of your summer rental and find the pleasure of a first love. Maybe you’ll read it on the beach, watching the kids play in the waves. Like surfing the perfect wave on a perfect Saturday.
The relationship between Kassie and Connor had all the exquisite anguish that comes with young love. I watched Kassie trying to decide if she really wanted this man (or a relationship) and how it was going to be. She seemed to weigh all her options and wondered if she should keep them open. And Connor was a lot like me at that age. A sucker for a pretty girl but with a pure heart and good intentions, who made a lot of stupid moves. When you throw in all the confusion and mistakes that comes with being a young adult, it all adds up to a romantic fun read. Made me think of my first bumbling attempts at a meaningful relationship.
The story is set in Port Arkansas, and even though I’ve never been there, I could picture it all in my head, from the Surf Shop to the condos, to the parties to the beaches. It all became real to me. When you factor in the music, cars, and magazines from the 70s, it all came back to me. I never was a surfer, but I could picture it all. Just like it could have happened. Even the Lone Star Beer tasted good to me.
I was fortunate enough to have an Advance Reader’s copy of the book. Maybe you’ll read this book by the pool of your summer rental and find the pleasure of a first love. Maybe you’ll read it on the beach, watching the kids play in the waves. Like surfing the perfect wave on a perfect Saturday.
June 27, 2025
Great summery book! I just want to head out to the beach and learn to surf! Amazing description!
April 25, 2025
A quick trip back in time to the beginning of a new young love.
Under the Gulf Coast Sun is a lovely historical romance by author Skip Rhudy and features the young adult surfing culture of mid-1970s Port Aransas on the Texas Gulf coast and the beginning of one made-for-each-other couple’s relationship. Connor O’Reilly and Kassie Hernandez had met the previous summer when she and her family were vacationing in his hometown of Port Aransas. Hitting it off, they’d kept in touch when she and her family had returned home to Midland through heartfelt letters, sharing their hopes and dreams as they completed their senior year in high school. When summer returned, so did Kassie, an event that the shy, inexperienced surfer boy Connor had dreamed about all year. Now faced with the reality, he’s filled with self-doubt that this beautiful girl whom every guy in town wants would want him, believing instead that she is out of his league.
What a good story! Connor is a genuinely nice guy and falls hard for Kassie. But with his recent history, the departure of his mother with a lover to pursue her own dreams, which didn’t include her only son, he’s got trust issues. Watching other guys hanging around and trying to catch Kassie’s eye is particularly difficult for him.Kassie, whip-smart and with a full-ride scholarship to UC San Diego in hand, is certain Connor is different from other guys, interested in her for their common interests and not just for her hot physical attributes. However, his differences could be a two-edged sword, and she worries that her interest in him could divert her from her plans for the future. Thankfully, they eventually talk about their concerns, but not before there is a BIG MISUNDERSTANDING that causes a course correction on their journey to a HEA.
Told from multiple points of view, readers are privy to the inside skinny on the characters’ thoughts, feelings, and true motives. There’s a bit of repetitive “is she really into me” thinking on Connor’s part, but that seems to be a result of the emotional fallout from his mother’s actions. Kassie both abhorred and enjoyed the attention her physical appearance attracted, but she was only 18 years old when navigating through this.The plot includes a lot of interesting descriptions and discussions of surfing, surfing legends of the era, and Connor and Kevin’s work aboard the crew boat. Connor’s time in the Gulf is suspenseful, and I thought the author did a great job of not telegraphing how this scenario was actually going to work out. I was on the edge of my seat the entire time. The story has a lot of humorous moments as well, many centered around Kevin Stamford, but the party at the very beginning of the book had me laughing out loud.
Set as it is in the mid-1970s, these characters would have been my contemporaries, so I could relate to a number of things mentioned. Women’s roles were still in transition, and Kassie’s father’s warnings about what she could expect as a woman in a university science program were accurate. Even the assumption that women would naturally consider higher education at that time would have been false. But other aspects of the “historical” (really?) setting were fun and nostalgic, such as the music, the lower drinking age, and no cell phones, to name a few.With its engaging characters, authentic descriptions, realistic dialogue, and suspenseful plot, I recommend UNDER THE GULF COAST SUN to readers of historical fiction and romance.
I voluntarily reviewed this after receiving an Advanced Review Copy from the author through Lone Star Literary Life Book Campaigns.April 28, 2025
Under the Gulf Coast Sun transported me back to my youth--to the world before the internet and cell phones, social media and instant access—and it was enchanting. As I experienced the love story of Kassie and Connor, I remembered the days of writing letters and having to wait weeks or months to talk to someone you missed. What a different time it was. This coming-of-age tale is a love letter to that life, but a realistic and eyes-wide-open story as well.
Connor lives in Port Aransas, Texas, a vacation town that explodes during spring break and summer. As the summer after his senior year arrives, he has big decisions to make about his future. However, he finds his thoughts turning more and more to Kassie, the girl he met the previous summer. After a year of letter writing, he feels drawn to her for far more than her beauty. Kassie returns to Port Aransas for the summer with trepidation. She has plans for her life and a scholarship to study engineering in California. Loving someone could derail everything.
It seems counter intuitive to praise a love story for being realistic, but I’m going to try and sell you on my perspective anyway. As a big fan of the romance genre, I must confess a comfort in the surety they promise. Despite the difficulties, it will all work out. It’s not realistic, and we don’t care. We come back time and again for another dose of that guaranteed happiness.
Under the Gulf Coast Sun is realistic, but in the best way. Some books feel almost cinematic when I read them, like I’m watching a movie as I experience the story. Movies are not real life. This book feels like I’m inside a memory, experiencing someone’s perfect summer in vivid detail. Skip Rhudy gives us two young people who are imperfect and relatable. They say and do things they don’t mean. They find it nearly impossible to say what they do mean. Rhudy breathes life into them and I’m so glad he did.
Connor and Kassie’s supporting cast and environment is also fantastically rendered. Anyone who when to high school in the 70’s and 80’s knew a Stamford for sure. Although I was not cool enough to hang around with this crowd, I certainly heard their stories in the halls of my school on Monday mornings. Rhudy brings to life all the turmoil and excitement of living through that summer after high school when so much is ahead of you and the choices seem so simultaneously thrilling and frightening.
I appreciated the time Rhudy spends on the difficult choices women faced at this time. It is frustrating and uncomfortable to see a brilliant mind shackled by ridiculous societal norms, and a good reminder of how far we have come. Fair warning that as a realistic book about teenagers, there is a good bit of spice.
Under the Gulf Coast Sun is a love letter to youth in all its imperfect beauty, to the unhurried world before connectivity, and to having the bravery to reach out for what you want and hold on tightly.
Connor lives in Port Aransas, Texas, a vacation town that explodes during spring break and summer. As the summer after his senior year arrives, he has big decisions to make about his future. However, he finds his thoughts turning more and more to Kassie, the girl he met the previous summer. After a year of letter writing, he feels drawn to her for far more than her beauty. Kassie returns to Port Aransas for the summer with trepidation. She has plans for her life and a scholarship to study engineering in California. Loving someone could derail everything.
It seems counter intuitive to praise a love story for being realistic, but I’m going to try and sell you on my perspective anyway. As a big fan of the romance genre, I must confess a comfort in the surety they promise. Despite the difficulties, it will all work out. It’s not realistic, and we don’t care. We come back time and again for another dose of that guaranteed happiness.
Under the Gulf Coast Sun is realistic, but in the best way. Some books feel almost cinematic when I read them, like I’m watching a movie as I experience the story. Movies are not real life. This book feels like I’m inside a memory, experiencing someone’s perfect summer in vivid detail. Skip Rhudy gives us two young people who are imperfect and relatable. They say and do things they don’t mean. They find it nearly impossible to say what they do mean. Rhudy breathes life into them and I’m so glad he did.
Connor and Kassie’s supporting cast and environment is also fantastically rendered. Anyone who when to high school in the 70’s and 80’s knew a Stamford for sure. Although I was not cool enough to hang around with this crowd, I certainly heard their stories in the halls of my school on Monday mornings. Rhudy brings to life all the turmoil and excitement of living through that summer after high school when so much is ahead of you and the choices seem so simultaneously thrilling and frightening.
I appreciated the time Rhudy spends on the difficult choices women faced at this time. It is frustrating and uncomfortable to see a brilliant mind shackled by ridiculous societal norms, and a good reminder of how far we have come. Fair warning that as a realistic book about teenagers, there is a good bit of spice.
Under the Gulf Coast Sun is a love letter to youth in all its imperfect beauty, to the unhurried world before connectivity, and to having the bravery to reach out for what you want and hold on tightly.
April 20, 2025
I have to admit, I was attracted to Rhudy’s new novel, Under the Gulf Coast Sun, because it involved surfing on the gulf coast of Texas, something I didn’t think was possible. As I read it, I discovered that it’s the perfect summer read for people who like their romance a little bit gritty. Taking place over the course of one Texas summer this book has it all: sun, sand, surf, and survival at sea.
Okay, maybe the surf is a little flat. Connor and Kassie don’t really see any big waves in the gulf, but their budding romance makes waves in their social circle and in their community.
I really liked that Kassie was smart and mostly self-assured, but had moments of doubt, as any eighteen-year-old would. I also loved that her relationship with Connor pushed him to be a better person overall. Their romance, faltering at first, felt very real.
I also liked that the supporting characters, especially Stamford and Maxim, were as dimensional as the couple at the center of the story. I did feel that some of Stamford’s behavior was a bit predictable, but his actions were plausible, so I followed his story anyway.
Author Skip Rhudy shows off his adeptness at writing believable dialogue for young adults, without it sounding stagey or stupid. I appreciated the different parties, bars, parking lots and beachfronts represented in the story as well. All seemed familiar to me – as if they were places I might have frequented at that age, even though I didn’t live in Port Aransas. Rhudy clearly has a knack for creating compelling, almost cinematic scenes.
Overall, I felt this book was a solid entry into the summer romance genre, with a little bit more substance than most.
Goes well with: a burger and Lone Star beer.
Okay, maybe the surf is a little flat. Connor and Kassie don’t really see any big waves in the gulf, but their budding romance makes waves in their social circle and in their community.
I really liked that Kassie was smart and mostly self-assured, but had moments of doubt, as any eighteen-year-old would. I also loved that her relationship with Connor pushed him to be a better person overall. Their romance, faltering at first, felt very real.
I also liked that the supporting characters, especially Stamford and Maxim, were as dimensional as the couple at the center of the story. I did feel that some of Stamford’s behavior was a bit predictable, but his actions were plausible, so I followed his story anyway.
Author Skip Rhudy shows off his adeptness at writing believable dialogue for young adults, without it sounding stagey or stupid. I appreciated the different parties, bars, parking lots and beachfronts represented in the story as well. All seemed familiar to me – as if they were places I might have frequented at that age, even though I didn’t live in Port Aransas. Rhudy clearly has a knack for creating compelling, almost cinematic scenes.
Overall, I felt this book was a solid entry into the summer romance genre, with a little bit more substance than most.
Goes well with: a burger and Lone Star beer.
June 7, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ - 4
As a fellow Texan (now living in the Northeast) and someone who has family who works for NASA, this book was a must read for me!
I’m not a huge fan of the ‘misunderstanding’ trope, but I thought the author did a really good job making it make sense for this story. The nostalgia in this story was so strong, and I appreciated all of the details sprinkled throughout that captured a bygone time.
Overall, I enjoyed this read, and it’s making me want to take a trip back to the Lone Star State! Thank you, NetGalley and Stoney Creek Publishing, for the eARC in exchange for an honest review!
(Also reviewed on Fable)
As a fellow Texan (now living in the Northeast) and someone who has family who works for NASA, this book was a must read for me!
I’m not a huge fan of the ‘misunderstanding’ trope, but I thought the author did a really good job making it make sense for this story. The nostalgia in this story was so strong, and I appreciated all of the details sprinkled throughout that captured a bygone time.
Overall, I enjoyed this read, and it’s making me want to take a trip back to the Lone Star State! Thank you, NetGalley and Stoney Creek Publishing, for the eARC in exchange for an honest review!
(Also reviewed on Fable)
August 17, 2025
“Under the Gulf Coast Sun” takes place in 1978 Port Aransas, Texas, USA. The story introduces Connor O’Reilly, a young surfer-dreamer who falls for the beautiful and intelligent Kassie Hernandez.
Overall, I found this story entertaining. The story is told through the POVs of Connor and Kassie, two teenagers in the 70’s starting their lives on two very different paths. Connor’s not sure what to do with his life and Kassie has a very specific and driven goal to work for NASA. They’re on different paths, but their connection can’t be denied. Find the full blog post at heatherlbarksdale.com
I received a copy of this story in exchange of a full and honest review.
Overall, I found this story entertaining. The story is told through the POVs of Connor and Kassie, two teenagers in the 70’s starting their lives on two very different paths. Connor’s not sure what to do with his life and Kassie has a very specific and driven goal to work for NASA. They’re on different paths, but their connection can’t be denied. Find the full blog post at heatherlbarksdale.com
I received a copy of this story in exchange of a full and honest review.
August 3, 2025
This is a coming of age that most of us wish we could have had. You can live along with these characters and enjoy contrasting their adventures and dreams with your own. The emotions and hormones overflow from every page. But just as in real life, they are in constant competition with angst, insecurity and doubt. A fantastic summer read! It’s hard to put down.
March 10, 2025
Arc supplied from NetGalley for a fair and honest review
This was the perfect summer college romance.
I really loved the relationship between Kassie and Connor and I really liked the setting of the book and the pacing.
This is giving "Icebreaker" but if it was summery and no hockey
This was the perfect summer college romance.
I really loved the relationship between Kassie and Connor and I really liked the setting of the book and the pacing.
This is giving "Icebreaker" but if it was summery and no hockey
June 3, 2025
Barely okay. Contrived dialogue, overuse of irrelevant details, trite.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews