Review: Clash by Nicole Williams

Clash by Nicole Williams

Clash by Nicole Williams
Series: Crash #2 (full reading order below)
Publication Date: December 18th 2012
Purchase: Ebook • Paperback

Their Romeo-and-Juliet-level passion is the only thing Jude and Lucy agree on. That, and fighting all the time . . .Also not helping? Lucy’s raging jealousy of the cheerleader who’s wormed her way into Jude’s life.While trying to hang on to her quintessential bad boy and also training to be the top ballet dancer in her class, Lucy knows something’s going to give . . . soon.

How can she live without the boy she loves? How can she live with herself if she gives up on her dreams? If Lucy doesn’t make the right choice, she could lose everything.

I immediately started reading Clash the day after I had finished Crash, book #1. And guess what? I finished Clash in a day. Because it was so. good. I don’t know how Nicole Williams did it, but she brought the romance and the angst to the max in Clash. And I loved every second of it.

So. Angst. You know that feeling of dread in the pit of your stomach when you know something bad is going to happen, or something bad is already happening? Well… I absolutely LOVE when a book makes me feel that way. Yes, it’s not exactly a good feeling, but when a book makes me feel that way? Or at least makes me feel something? Then that’s a damn good book. And that’s exactly what Clash did. It made me feel so much. I went from happy to anxious, from angry to giddy, from shocked to sad. God, just remembering how crazy I felt while reading this is reminding me of how much I loved this book.

Lucy and Jude are now in college, and with college comes some major drama. I’m not exactly a particular fan of drama (especially high school drama-bleh), but Nicole Williams worked it. She was able to bring out the best of the drama, the kind where you actually care what happens to the characters and hope they get their happily ever after. But there is SO much getting in the way of Jude and Lucy getting their HEA. The main focus of Clash is the jealousies and insecurities Lucy has. We already know that Jude is completely, over-the-top in love with her, so there really is no doubt about how he feels about Lucy, and yet she still can’t seem to trust that he loves her. Especially when a new girl tries to steal Jude away from her.

Unfortunately, Lucy lets her jealousies and insecurities get the best of her, and that’s where the angst comes in. And the angst is just unbelievably well done. Lucy’s feelings are all over the place, my feelings were all over the place. Practically the entire book, I was going, Oh my god Lucy, stop trying to find ways to not be together! You and Jude are MEANT TO BE. MTB. Jude and Lucy are one of my favorite couples ever, and they go through such a hard time in Clash, with tensions straining their relationship and themselves. And of course, something MAJOR happens. Actually, a couple MAJOR things happen, both good and bad. And AAHHHHH it’s just too exciting!

Jude is still his incredible, sweet, lovable self. He’s toned down the bad boy in Clash. And I fell completely in love with him all over again. If it’s even possible, he becomes even more swoon-worthy in Clash, because the things he says and does… Just… damn. It’s good stuff. Made me feel all giddy and cutesy and girly inside, because you can just feel the love he has for Lucy.

“I know I’m one royal screw up, and god knows there’s nothing I could ever do to deserve you… But I want you, Lucy Larson. Bad. I want you forever. The kind of bad I have for you isn’t the kind that goes away.”

And if you HAVE read Clash, you know what Jude says after this. And OH MY GOD. It is just the best. I was smiling so much towards the end of the book. It is such a sweet ending. And Jude is just major swoon material.

I just loved this book so much. Maybe even more than Crash. Clash just brought so many emotions out of me, and it is just the most amazing book. It’s a favorite, for sure. This entire series is a favorite. And ack, I can’t wait to start reading Crush! And if you haven’t started this series, get to it!

5 hearts!

5-hearts

lacey

Reading Order: Crash series

Crash 2 by Nicole Williams Clash by Nicole Williams Crush by Nicole Williams

#1 ~ Crash: My Review • Ebook • Paperback • Goodreads
#2 ~ Clash: Ebook • Paperback • Goodreads
#3 ~ Crush: My Review • Ebook • Paperback • Goodreads

Cover Reveal: Crash Into You by Katie McGarry

Crash Into You by Katie McGarry

Crash Into You by Katie McGarry
Series: Pushing the Limits #3
Publication Date: November 26th 2013

From acclaimed author Katie McGarry comes an explosive new tale of a good girl with a reckless streak, a street-smart guy with nothing to lose, and a romance forged in the fast lane

The girl with straight As, designer clothes and the perfect life-that’s who people expect Rachel Young to be. So the private-school junior keeps secrets from her wealthy parents and overbearing brothers…and she’s just added two more to the list. One involves racing strangers down dark country roads in her Mustang GT. The other? Seventeen-year-old Isaiah Walker-a guy she has no business even talking to. But when the foster kid with the tattoos and intense gray eyes comes to her rescue, she can’t get him out of her mind.

Isaiah has secrets, too. About where he lives, and how he really feels about Rachel. The last thing he needs is to get tangled up with a rich girl who wants to slum it on the south side for kicks-no matter how angelic she might look.

But when their shared love of street racing puts both their lives in jeopardy, they have six weeks to come up with a way out. Six weeks to discover just how far they’ll go to save each other.

Oh gosh, oh gosh, so I have just finished Dare You To today, and what a surprise to see that the cover for Crash Into You has also been revealed! Dare You To was fantastic by the way, and be sure to be on the lookout for my review soon. There will be some major gushing.

I am SO unbelievably excited for Crash Into You. We get a 2-chapter excerpt at the end of Dare You To, and IT SO WASN’T ENOUGH. But I’m so happy that we’re so close to finally reading Isaiah’s book. God, I really, really love Isaiah and am DYING for his happily ever after. November cannot get here fast enough!

Sigh. The Pushing the Limits series is one of my favorites. I just cannot get enough of it!

Reading Order: Pushing the Limits series

Pushing the Limits by Katie McGarry Crossing the Line by Katie McGarry Dare You To by Katie McGarry Crash Into You by Katie McGarry

#1 ~ Pushing the Limits | Ebook | Hardcover | Paperback | Goodreads
#1.1 ~ Crossing the Line | Ebook | Goodreads
#2 ~ Dare You To | Ebook | Hardcover | Paperback | Goodreads
#3 ~ Crash into You | Ebook | Hardcover | Paperback | Goodreads

Review: Crash by Nicole Williams

Crash 2 by Nicole Williams

Crash by Nicole Williams
Series: Crash #1 (full reading order below)
Publication Date: July 19th 2012
Purchase: Ebook • Paperback

Southpointe High is the last place Lucy wanted to wind up her senior year of school. Right up until she stumbles into Jude Ryder, a guy whose name has become its own verb, and synonymous with trouble. He’s got a rap sheet that runs longer than a senior thesis, has had his name sighed, shouted, and cursed by more women than Lucy dares to ask, and lives at the local boys home where disturbed seems to be the status quo for the residents. Lucy had a stable at best, quirky at worst, upbringing. She lives for wearing the satin down on her ballet shoes, has her sights set on Juilliard, and has been careful to keep trouble out of her life. Up until now.

Jude’s everything she needs to stay away from if she wants to separate her past from her future. Staying away, she’s about to find out, is the only thing she’s incapable of.

For Lucy Larson and Jude Ryder, love’s about to become the thing that tears them apart.

I LOVED this book. Crash is hilarious, cute, sweet, and intense all at once! I am SO glad that a friend recommended me this book. I had this series waiting for me on my kindle app for the longest time, and I’m a bit miffed at myself for not reading it sooner.

This book is PERFECT for those who love a good romance, a bad boy, a hilarious heroine, and huge plot twists. Yes, there is a freaking plot twist that you NEVER ever see coming, and oh gosh, it was great. Really, really great.

When I read the first couple pages, I was already hooked. Because Lucy Larson is the most hilarious heroine ever! She’s such a lovable, tough, sometimes infuriating main character. I was laughing my butt off from the start, and I knew I was going to enjoy the book. But it turns out I didn’t just enjoy it; I loved it so, so much. Lucy is a fantastic main character. She’s a girly girl, a dancer, and the new girl at her school. Yes, she can be a bit of a jerk and a bit mean, but who isn’t when her family is completely dysfunctional (her mom’s the coldest mother in the world, and her dad is just out of it all the time) and her school sees her as the school slut (even though she’s never even had sex)? BUT she gets through the day thanks to a special someone named Jude Ryder.

Jude. Ryder. Oh my. Jude Jude Jude. Can you tell how much I love this boy? Because I do. So freaking much. I’m kind of a bit obsessed, to be honest. Jude is the epitome of a bad boy. Everything you can think of a bad boy doing, Jude’s probably done it. He’s been to jail over ten times, dealt drugs, done drugs, nailed nearly every girl who’s met him, and on and on. He has a temper problem and uses violence to solve answers. So WHY do I love Jude even after knowing all these things? Because deep down, he’s alone. He has no one. His mother ditched him and his father when he was younger, and his father is in jail. He lives in a home for orphaned boys, has been beaten and bullied there, and has never known love. Until he meets Lucy.

When Lucy and Jude meet, they’re very antagonistic towards each other. It’s actually quite funny how they act towards one another, with Lucy being, You’re a bad boy so I’m staying away from you and Jude being I’m not a relationship guy or a good guy, so stay away from me. Then, it turns out Jude does want Lucy in his life, as his girl (omg, ack, when he calls her his girl, I was just swooning so. freaking. hard.). And Jude has the sweetest, most loving heart when he’s in love, and he gives his entire heart to Lucy (lucky girl). He puts everything into making their relationship work, because he knows that he’s going to eventually do something to screw it all up. He thinks of himself as such a piece of shit, but Lucy KNOWS he’s not. He does love and he does care, and he puts his whole heart into everything he does, including love.

There are the usual insecurities running through the couple’s minds, like Jude believing Lucy deserves so much better than him, and Lucy being jealous of his past with other girls. The story played out very well, although there were times when Lucy acts immature and juvenile. And, of course, can’t forget that Plot Twist that had me reeling and going, “WTF?” (All I can say is, good job with that Plot Twist, Nicole Williams. Thumbs up.)

Even though some people might think that Jude is insane (I mean, he kind of is, at least a little, but I still love him!), I thought that Jude was the most incredible guy ever. Yes, he’s never going to be the good/nice guy or that boy-next-door type of guy, but he’s Jude Ryder. He gets jealous and possessive, but never in a way I thought was obsessive or over-the-top. He gets jealous and possessive because he’s completely in love with his girl, and there’s never going to be another girl for him. Lucy is it for him, and he tries to better himself for her, and if that’s not the sweetest, most romantic gesture ever, I don’t know what is.

Of all the things he says (and there are A LOT), I thought this was the romantic one of all:

“I’ll be here, each day and every day on, as long as you want me to be.”

5 hearts
lacey

Reading Order: Crash series

Crash 2 by Nicole Williams Clash by Nicole Williams Crush by Nicole Williams

#1 ~ Crash: Ebook • Paperback • Goodreads
#2 ~ Clash: My Review • Ebook • Paperback • Goodreads
#3 ~ Crush: My Review • Ebook • Paperback • Goodreads

Top Ten Tuesday {3}: Books Featuring Travel In Some Way

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Today’s Top Ten Tuesday, hosted by The Broke and the Bookish, is about…

Top Ten Books Featuring Travel In Some Way

Amy and Rogers Epic Detour

 

Amy & Roger’s Epic Detour was the FIRST book that popped into my head when I saw what this TTT’s theme was. Because the entire book is a road trip! I love this book. It’s so entertaining yet heartfelt, and it’s one of my favorite books. Definitely recommend this to fans of road trips or books in general.

 

 

Anna and the French Kiss

 

Anna and the French Kiss is one of my FAVORITE books of all time, so it’s definitely gotta be here. This book takes place in PARIS! Or as they say, Pah-ree. Yeah, whatever, I’m a dork, but go read this book! It’s cute, fun, and just plain awesome.

 

 

meant to be

 

Meant to Be is probably one of the most adorable books we (Shirley and I) have ever read. The characters take a school trip to London (which I have always wanted to go to, sigh) and it’s so great that London is as big of a part of the book as the characters are. They visit so many places there that it made me want to visit London so bad!

 

 

Paper Towns by John Green

 

Paper Towns. Just freaking hilarious. The road trip part takes place in the last third of the book, and that part by far is my absolute favorite. It’s hilarious (um, hello, a black dude wearing a Confederate t-shirt?) and just so freaking fun. The boys in the book are absolutely crazy on their road trip, and it made me love them so much.

 

 

The Fault in Our Stars by John Green

 

Yes, of course I would put The Fault in Our Stars here! Hazel and my love Augustus travel to Amsterdam, and their entire trip was just the sweetest thing. Although… it ended up turning bittersweet after, didn’t it…. But no matter! TFiOS is an absolute favorite, so it’s in my top ten!

 

 

Perfect Scoundrels by Ally Carter

 

I’m just putting Perfect Scoundrels here, but basically, the entire Heist Society series is full of travels. Kat and the gang end up going all over Europe, from England to Italy to France, and then going back to the US. All thanks to Hale and his private jet, of course. Oh, and can’t forget to mention Ally Carter’s other series, the Gallagher Girls series, that also features a lot of traveling!

 

 

The Statistical Probability of Love at First SIght

 

Although not an absolute favorite, The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight was nice to read, and it also has another trip to London. It belongs here in my top ten though, because I think it’s just so adorable that she meets this wonderful guy at an airport and they end up on the same plane going to the same place!

 

 

The Edge of Never

 

The Edge of Never is insanely popular on Goodreads, and although I never loved it as much as many others, I really enjoyed reading the road trip aspect of the book. It starts off as a trip on a bus to anywhere, but then the characters take matters into their own hands and create their own fun road trip.

 

 

book for blog

 

This is Cathy’s choice! In Carpe Diem, Vassar Spore’s life is turned upside down when her aunt forces her to on a quest through SE Asia where she has crazy adventures and falls in love with a cowboy!

 

 

 

Don't Stop Now

 

Although I didn’t like the book, Shirley loved Don’t Stop Now.
I (Shirley) loved this book so so much! It’s obviously not everyone’s taste (as seen above -_-), but personally I thought it was a really fun read and I loved that it was contemporary too! Like okay come on. She’s going on a road trip to track down her missing friend with her best guy friend who she’s in love with. HOW CAN YOU NOT LOVE THAT.

So here are our Top Ten! Let us know some of your favorite books featuring travels, road trips, etc!

Best Book Ever Giveaway Hop

The Best Book Ever Hop

Hosted by The Best Books Ever 
June 4th to 10th

Welcome to the Best Book Ever giveaway hop! Here are the books we are are giving away. (Click on the covers to read the summaries!)

Siege and StormBloodlines by Richelle MeadThe Statistical Probability of Love at First SIght

Walking DisasterGrave MercyIced by Karen Marie MoningBeautiful CreaturesBeautiful Darkness

PRIZE: 1 winner can choose one of the following options:
an ARC of SIEGE AND STORM by Leigh Bardugo
BLOODLINES by Richelle Mead
THE STATISTICAL PROBABILITY OF LOVE AT FIRST SIGHT by Jennifer E. Smith
WALKING DISASTER by Jamie McGuire
GRAVE MERCY by Robin LaFevers
ICED by Karen Marie Moning
BEAUTIFUL CREATURES and BEAUTIFUL DARKNESS by Kami Garcia & Margaret Stohl

This giveaway is US only! Entrants must be 16 or older.

Ends June 10th.

Just click on the Rafflecopter link below and enter the giveaway!

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Click here to enter other giveaways on this hop!