“Under the Gulf Coast Sun will enchant you as it follows a group of young-adult surfers coming of age on the Texas coast in the late 1970s. This book captures it all, from junk surf frustration to the joy of seeing storm swells arrive, all amidst the ever-present scents of salt air, coconut tanning oil and romance.”

—Dan Parker, editor of the Port Aransas South Jetty newspaper and co-author of Surfing Corpus Christi and Port Aransas

“Under the Gulf Coast Sun is not just a story; it's a heartfelt journey of love, ambition, and second chances that will stay with you long after the last page is turned.”

—Sherri Shackelford, Bestselling author and professional editor 

“Kassie, the math whiz daughter of a NASA scientist, is dealing with feelings of womanhood and leaving home for college. What better way to sort all this out than to have a summer fling with surfer boy Connor at an iconic beach destination on the Texas Coast? Here, Kassie and Connor get to know each other better while navigating boorish beach crowds, tiger sharks and storm-driven surf. 

It's tourist season on the Texas Coast and readers better bring some strong sunblock because the Kassie and Connor romance heats up like a Mustang Island sand dune at high noon in July.”

—Phil Shook, author of author of Flyfishing The Texas Coast

“The Texas Gulf Coast in the late seventies is a nonstop beach party until Kassie, a tourist who can ride the barrel like a pro, becomes the obsession of a cluster of young surfers. Every gathering is a jockey for a position near her, but she singles out Connor, who actually listens to her talk of a future in aeronautics. The rolling surf with its fickle waves and ever-present danger serves as both the backdrop and the catalyst in this sharp coming-of-age story about two young people trying to savor their last carefree days before facing the inevitable transition to adults.”

—USA Today bestselling author Deanna Roy

"Under the Gulf Coast Sun is a sunlit cocktail of surf, budding romance, and self-discovery. In this slice-of-life novel, Rhudy invites the reader to escape into the nostalgic charm of 1970s Port Aransas and explore the challenges of finding one’s voice amidst the clamor of ambition, young love, and life’s unpredictable tides."

—Ari Honarvar, author of the award-winning novel A Girl Called Rumi