Breaking Ryan Baylor
(debut novel)
I published my debut novel on Sunday, October 15, 2023 after working on it for over 8 months. Both Ryan and Tyler are based on my two favorite AHL players. I wrote the entire first draft of it on my iPhone, and every single aspect of the novel, from its conception to its publication, was done by me (writing, editing, proofreading, formatting, cover design, and uploading everything to Amazon/KDP). *NOTE: the cover was updated in April of 2025 by Pretty Indie Cover Designs, and I'm in LOVE!
Being on a tight budget and with writing being a hobby (I also have a full-time job and a family, which both demand much of my time), it was the best and only option for me to do everything myself.
I had a few beta readers who gave me some great feedback, and from there, I decided to go for it. I was originally planning on publishing on Wattpad, but I'm glad I decided to go the Kindle Unlimited/Amazon route instead. My book is by no means a best seller (FAR from it), but the fact that people were excited about its release, that people read it, and that people had positive things to say about it has been nothing short of astounding to me.
My book has reached audiences in the US, Canada, Poland, Spain, Germany, India, the UK, France, the Netherlands, and Australia, and it's kind of surreal, to be honest.
“I’m…kinda meeting myself for the first time ever. It’s weird, but it turns out, I don’t really know me.”
Assigned to the AHL affiliate for the New York Islanders after having just missed the cut out of training camp, 23-year-old Ryan Baylor finds himself in uncharted territory: sharing an apartment with the much older (and gorgeous) divorced cousin of his athletic trainer.
Realizing things have shifted, he struggles to navigate what his life has suddenly become: being the small fish in a big pond for the first time ever, his desire to have a meaningful relationship when all he’s ever known are one-night stands, his tumultuous relationship with his new teammate, and his crippling panic attacks.
His story is far from perfect; it’s real, it’s raw, it’s angsty, and it’s a downright mess at times.
But how do you fix yourself and figure out who you’re meant to be without first breaking through the shell of who you were?
Tropes and Trigger Warnings:
Tropes and Vibes:
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Sports romance (hockey)
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Rivals to friends to lovers
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Forced proximity
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Reverse age gap (older FMC by 18+ years)
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He falls first
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Witty banter
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Hybrid: love triangle/open relationship (it’s complicated)
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MFF
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MMF
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MM/bi-curious
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Mental health rep
Trigger and Content Warnings:
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Reference to sexual assault/abuse
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Reference to cheating
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Reference to divorce
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Reference to death of a parent
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Reference to abortion
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Physical assault
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Illicit drug use
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Alcohol use
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Sex addiction
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Strong language
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Explicit sexual content, including same-sex scenes and group
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Anxiety/panic attacks