Lost at the Crossing: Rail Riders, Book 2

Wow! I absolutely loved Tyler and Elian’s story. This was one of those books that from the first page I was drawn in, and invested until the last word. Their story was emotionally charged, with fantastic character chemistry that jumped off the page. I was already intrigued heading into their story, and couldn’t wait to find out how Elian and Tyler would find their way back to each other. I loved the emotions that were conveyed between the two of them as they find their way back together. Tyler was an amazing support system for Elian as he battled his struggles with selective mutism. As always Nicky James handles mental health with the perfect touch. My heart went out to Elian as he faced challenges while he tried to be who he thought Tyler wanted and to be part of Tyler’s family in Willow, Dodger, Killer and Leo. The connection that Tyler and Elian shared was the highlight of the book for me. They were so in tune with each other and you could feel the love between them coming off the pages as you absorbed their story. Their were parts that really got me in the feels and a tissue or two are recommended! As with the first rail riders book, there was heart-stopping action of freight hopping throughout. It was so fascinating learning more about this dangerous and thrilling way of life! I know that Tyler and Elian are two characters that will stick with me for a long time. I finished their story with such a smile on my face and a strong desire to be able to jump right into…

I started reading this series quite a while ago with the intention to continue right away, but of course other books came in between and only now, after seeing Nicky James's announcement she will be releasing this series on audio, narrated by the wonderful Nick J. Russo, that I was reminded that I still needed to read books 2 and 3 (-not sure yet if I will read the 4th book). This book was, as I've come to expect from this author, a great read, though I didn't love it as much as I loved the first book. This one was much slower, and both mc's had quite some issues going on. Mental health is a subject Nicky James's really thrives at, and this book was no exception. Elian's struggles were heartbreaking and it was even more heartbreaking that nobody but Tyler seemed to understand that he wasn't the way he was by choice. It was his severe anxiety and fears that kept him from speaking, not something he just didn't want to, like his parents accused him of. Tyler was very patient, comforting Elian and understanding that he struggled. Elian was also some sort of distraction for his own sad life with no family or nobody in particular who cared about him. Having grown up in the system because his parents didn't want him, he hasn't had a safe childhood, left to be on his own by choice when he turned eighteen, but it still eats at him that he has no family. It takes a while for him to understand that these people he was riding trains with, were his new found family. They cared about…

Oh my Heart, this book was just wonderful!!! I am absolutely loving this series about a group of found family that ride the rails together, part ways at times, but always find there way back to each other. This is Tyler and Elian's story and it was simply marvelous. We met Tyler in book 1 and he had been looking for Elian for years, convinced he was ok but just running scared. Before they even reunite in this book I was already feeling their connection so deeply. Nicky James just knows how to tell a story so completely and with so much feeling. Elian has struggled his whole life with anxiety and selective mutism, having very few people he could rely on. Tyler becomes his strength and the rail riders his friends in this glorious story of trust, love, friendship, and family. Tyler and Elian's love just touched my heart. They experienced all their firsts together and those scenes were just amazing--full of honesty, passion, and so much love. I felt like I was with them as they shared a tent, rode the rails, star-gazed, read books out loud together and moved toward a future as they fell so completely in love. They navigated so much together as Tyler struggled with finding where he belonged and Elian battled his mental health issues. One of the most touching scenes in the book for me was with Elian as he reconnected with someone from his past in a life altering moment for them both--it had me reaching for my tissues! This book has it all--complex characters, a rich and…

This author is just..so good. I love MM romance novels and I have grown to accept that for the most part, the plot and storytelling will likely take a backseat to the romance. I'm ok with that trade-off. But somehow this author is able to do both excellently. The characters are well rounded and feel like real people. Not just a generic "group of friends" to act as background for the main couple. They're real people who you care about. The dynamics within the group of friends in this book is so full of love and so real. They are a family and you can feel how much they love and care about each other. Elian and Tyler were the main couple in this book. Elians anxiety and struggles to speak were so well written that at times I could literally feel the desperation and frustration he felt, trying to communicate. I could feel how overwhelmed he was at times. There were times I got a bit exasperated at him, although I'd immediately feel guilty for feeling that way. But mostly I just felt sad for him. I wanted to help him. He is such a sweet person and his love for Tyler was beautiful. Tyler was the most sympathetic character I've read in a long time. I don't know what it's like to be abandoned but I do know what it's like to lose my mom and have no concept of home anymore. It's an extremely isolating and lonely feeling. I wanted to reach through the pages and just take care of Tyler. Take all his sadness away. He is such an amazing person and friend. He was so good to Elian and…

Before I had kids I worked as a teaching assistant in an elementary school. There was a tiny boy I never forgot. He had the saddest, most anxious eyes ever. He lived in a bad area filled with drugs and crime. And his older brother was in prison. He struggled every day to speak. He mostly just nodded or shook his head. He didn’t even speak to the other kindergartners. I knew the words were there, but he couldn’t push them out of his throat. Eventually I was able to get him to whisper to me if I was patient and subtle. Everyone else thought he was just shy. I only knew a little bit about selective mutism back then, and I mentioned it to the teacher. However, I left to take another job before I knew whether or not she brought it up with his mom. I never stopped wondering if he ever found his voice. I just remember how scared he looked every time he was asked to speak. It was heartbreaking. This story was so emotional and captured my attention. I have to say, though…..the person who left me a mess was Jace. He’s going to haunt me.