Tag Archives: new adult

Review: Crush by Nicole Williams

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Clash by Nicole Williams

Crush by Nicole Williams
Series: Crash #3 (full reading order below)
Publication Date: April 23rd 2013
Purchase: Ebook • Paperback

Football glory. A giant diamond. A wandering eye.

Jude and Lucy are happily engaged . . . but that doesn’t mean life’s a bed of roses.

Once again, Jude and Lucy are torn apart by football training and a summer job that creates new tensions. This time Jude’s the one with trust issues. Will Lucy’s life-changing news bring them back together or end their relationship for good? Can love triumph forever?

God, Nicole Williams. I love you so much. Not only for writing one of my favorite series ever, but for giving me Jude Ryder. I seriously love that boy so, so much. I keep falling in love with him again and again each time I read a book in this series. And alas, Crush is the third and final book in this incredible series featuring Luce and Jude and their sweet, heartwarming romance.

I don’t really like how Goodreads gives the summary for Crush, so here’s my take: Luce and Jude still have problems in their relationship, but hey, not every relationship is perfect, right? Jude is on his way to becoming an all-star football player, and the money he’s making is getting to his head. Luce wants everything to stay the same because she’s happy with their relationship, so she’s getting pretty worried with how money will affect Jude and their relationship.

AH! Nicole Williams does an incredible job bringing the Crash series to its conclusion. Though Crush isn’t my favorite book in this series (Clash is), I still loved it. It was so nice to see how Luce and Jude deal with life in college, and how they decide on what they want in the future. I love that they’re taking their relationship seriously, questioning how they can make their relationship work and last forever. Because Luce and Jude are definitely a forever thing. They’re one of my absolute favorite couples ever, because their relationship is just so sweet, loving, passionate, and just down-to-earth and genuine. Throughout the entire series, I was just waiting for Luce and Jude to finally have the happily-ever-after they’ve been waiting for since they first met in high school, and Crush did not disappoint me. I was smiling so hard in the end, because Crush ends beautifully, leaving no doubt that the happy couple finally got their HEA.

I don’t really have much more to say, other than repeating myself over and over again how amazing this series is. I am now a huge fan of Nicole Williams and am willing to read anything she writes. I highly recommend the Crash series. It’s sweet, it’s fun, it’s romantic, and it’s got the best couple ever! The Crash series is for sure a favorite of mine, so go and get started if you haven’t already!

Since I’ve ended my reviews for both Crash and Clash with quotes from my darling Jude, here is one final quote showing just how incredibly sweet and absolutely swoon-worthy he is:

“That it doesn’t matter why I ran,” he said, staring at me without blinking, “because I came back. I’ll always come back, Luce. No matter how many rip-roaring fights we have and no matter how many miscommunications we have. I’ll always come back because you’re where I belong.”

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: My Review • Ebook • Paperback • Goodreads
#3 ~ Crush: Ebook • Paperback • Goodreads

Review: Clash by Nicole Williams

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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

Review: Crash by Nicole Williams

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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

Review: Sins & Needles by Karina Halle

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Sins & Needles by Karina Halle

Sins & Needles by Karina Halle
Series: The Artists Trilogy #1 (full reading order below)
Publication Date: January 25th 2013
Purchase: Ebook • Paperback

There’s a Fine Line Between Sin and Salvation . . .

Ellie Watt is a woman on the run. Raised by a pair of thieves who taught her the art of the grift-and pursued by a mobster who fell for her con-she hopes to find refuge at her uncle’s farm in quiet Palm Valley, California. Ellie swears she’s through with her life of crime. But before she knows it, she’s right back in the game when she meets an easy mark who’s too good-and too hot-to be true.

His name is Camden McQueen. A master tattoo artist and a total inked stud, Camden is nothing like the awkward kid who crushed on Ellie back in high school. Now, as owner of the wildly successful Sins & Needles, he’s got tats to kill for, muscles to die for, and money to burn. Ellie can’t believe the transformation-and can’t resist pulling off one last con. But when Camden catches Ellie red-handed, the tables are turned. The mark becomes the master. And when the ultimate player gets played, you never know who’s going to end up on top . . .

Holy crap. I’m not even sure what I just read. This book. Is. CRAZY. It goes all out, holds nothing back. And I loved it.

Already, from the blurb, you know that this book is going to be very interesting. The main character is a con artist! (Actually, a series I’m a huge fan of, the Curse Workers series, also has characters who are con artists, so go check that out if you’re interested in that kind of thing.) Ellie is a tough chick. All she’s ever known is conning people, having different identities, and being on the run. And you might think, what kind of life is that? Well, the thing is, Ellie’s life is entirely fueled by revenge. So she has no real friends, no real boyfriend, no normal relationships at all. All she wants is revenge on the man who ruined her life. And unfortunately, you can’t have a happy ending if all you have is revenge.

Oh, by the way, this is an ADULT book, so if you’re planning on reading this, beware that there is definitely some mature content in this book!

So. Sins & Needles. This is such an amazing book that I don’t even know where to begin. Well, first off, I guess I should say that it just blew my mind. The story is so unique and intriguing, and I couldn’t stop reading! I was so absorbed in Ellie’s story. She is a fantastic heroine. She’s cool and badass, but underneath it all, you know she has her insecurities and vulnerabilities. She had such a horrible childhood that I couldn’t help but feel sorry for her. But I loved the fact that she grew so much stronger because of her difficult childhood. I thought it would be hard to connect with a character who has little morals, but it was actually easy to like Ellie. She steals, cheats, lies, and cons, but somehow she manages to her way into your heart and make you care for her. Especially since you know that it can’t possibly end well for Ellie and her quest for revenge.

Enter Camden McQueen. (I am so totally in love with his name. It’s. So. Hot.) He’s covered in tattoos (YUM), and once upon a time, was best friends with Ellie in high school and completely in love with her. Now a professional tattoo artist, Camden’s not exactly in love with Ellie anymore. In fact, he kind of hates her guts. But he needs her help with something only she can do. I LOVE Camden. He’s rough, sexy, and sometimes wears glasses! (which I didn’t know I liked in a guy until now lol). He’s hard on Ellie, but only because she was a total bitch to him back in high school and a bit of a bitch to him even now. But oh. my. god. When he is in love, he is the sweetest, most caring guy in the world. Swoon. And when he wants Ellie, he fights for her, and doesn’t let anything get in his way.

Sins & Needles doesn’t exactly have a love triangle, but it kind of does. It’s a bit complicated. One of the people Ellie is on the run from is Javier, her ex-boyfriend, who is also the right-hand man of a powerful drug lord. Yup. The people Ellie gets involved with are crazy. And Javier is certifiably insane, I swear he is. He takes ‘fighting for what he wants’ to a WHOLE other level. Because he wants Ellie back. And not just as in Oh, I still love you Ellie, please come back to me. Nope, Javier is more of a You ran away from me even though you’re mine, so I’m taking you back now kind of man. And he will do ANYTHING to take her back. Javier is mainly the reason why the book was so exciting. There were car chases, shootings, fighting, and tons of other crazy stuff going on, all thanks to Javier.

I don’t quite know what to make of Sins & Needles, since I’ve never read anything like it, but all I know is that I loved every minute of it. This book was SO MUCH FUN. It’s exciting and entertaining, and yet there are deep and heartfelt moments too. So I totally recommend reading this book.

5 hearts
lacey

Reading Order: The Artists Trilogy

On Every Street by Karina Halle Sins & Needles by Karina Halle Shooting Scars by Karina Halle Bold Tricks by Karina Halle

#0.5 ~ On Every Street: Ebook • Goodreads
#1 ~ Sins & Needles: Ebook • Paperback • Goodreads
#2 ~ Shooting Scars: My Review • Ebook • Paperback • Goodreads
#3 ~ Bold Tricks: Ebook • Paperback • Goodreads

Joint Review: This Girl by Colleen Hoover

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This Girl by Colleen Hoover

This Girl by Colleen Hoover
Series: Slammed #3 (full reading order below)
Publication Date: April 30th 2013
Purchase: Ebook • Paperback

There are two sides to every love story. Now hear Will’s.

Colleen Hoover’s New York Times bestselling Slammed series has brought countless readers to their knees with a whirlwind of love, passion, and heartache. 

Layken and Will’s love has managed to withstand the toughest of circumstances and the young lovers, now married, are beginning to feel safe and secure in their union. As much as Layken relishes their new life together, she finds herself wanting to know everything there is to know about her husband, even though Will makes it clear he prefers to keep the painful memories of the past where they belong. Still, he can’t resist his wife’s pleas and so he begins to untangle his side of the story, revealing for the first time his most intimate feelings and thoughts, retelling both the good and bad moments, and sharing a few shocking confessions of his own from the time when they first met.

In This Girl, Will tells the story of their complicated relationship from his point of view. Their future rests on how well they deal with the past in this final installment of the beloved Slammed series.

Lacey here.

So I have finally, FINALLY finished This Girl by the amazing Colleen Hoover.

And I am just in awe right now because Colleen Hoover did it. Again. She has made me into complete mush thanks to a certain Will Cooper and I can’t even deal with life anymore. I had NO apprehensions before reading This Girl. I knew I would love every word from beginning to end, and Colleen did not disappoint. Everything about this book, the new slams, the way Will loves Layken, the angst, Will’s hardships, the EPILOGUE(!!!!), was SO SO incredibly emotional and touching. And at the end, I wanted nothing more than to keep reading about Will and Layken and their brothers and their story. I don’t think I can ever get enough of them. ESPECIALLY Will.

And speaking of the heart-melting Will Cooper. OH HO HO. Oh my. He is one FINE specimen if I do say so myself. Reading Will’s POV from what happened in Slammed was so wonderful, because Will is probably the sweetest, most selfless, self-sacrificing boy I’ve read. He gave up his whole life for his younger brother, even at the loss of his beloved parents. Probably one of my favorite scenes to read was when Will finally tells Layken the story of when his parents died. Will completely broke my heart when I read it, because it was so heart-wrenching and heart-breaking. And I literally teared up when Will was so happy that his little brother, Caulder, had survived. I B U T T E R F L Y I N G  L O V E this book (hehe This book, get it?). Actually, this entire series. This Girl was just an incredible end to one of the most amazing series I have ever read. The entire book is written in the most beautiful way that you can’t help but fall more in love with Will with every word he says.

Will. Butterflying. Cooper. I just swoon SO HARD because of him. (And Naughty Will was so sexy yet hilarious at the same time! I have no idea why!)

*wails because why isn’t Will Cooper real everything about this series is so beautiful*

 

I will never get tired of this series. I could read it over and over again. And I’m pretty sure I will, too. I’ve come to love and care so much for Will and Layken and everyone else, laughing and tearing up and smiling while reading this series. And when a book has that kind of power, you know that it’s an incredible book.

Absolutely positively 6 hearts!

6 hearts
lacey

Cathy here.

Okay, so I said before that I would wait until August to read this for the first time in paperback…WELL, I caved pretty early. AHH, I COULDN’T RESIST!! It was so amazing, and I’m going to miss Will, Layken, Caulder, Kel, Gavin, Eddie, and Kiersten so much! When I first started reading This Girl, I was so excited because I couldn’t wait to get to hear Slammed from Will’s POV, but when I finished the book, it felt so bittersweet. I was devastated when the story ended, only because I still want to know what’s going on in Will and Layken’s lives! BUT, on the bright side, there were some NEW SLAM POEMS!! WOO HOO!! (= I fell in love with Will even more, if that’s even humanly possible! He’s probably the CUTEST guy in the universe. honeymoon (YAY! SO HAPPY THEY’RE MARRIED! MR. AND MRS. COOPER!! ❤) So the flashbacks were WONDERFUL, since we get to see everything from Will and Vaughn’s breakup to Will and Layken’s wedding night! ^_^ There were some ups and downs, but Lake and Will are so cute together as husband and wife (YIPPEE!). They’re the best couple ever! Their conversations and interactions with each other made my heart melt, and I was so happy for them since they were finally together forever (!) after going through more tragedies than most people encounter in a lifetime! Not only that, but reading from Will’s POV helped me understand his thought process and why he made the decisions he did during Slammed better. And I also love Will for loving Lake so much, and how it was absolutely killing him every single day that they were apart. HE’S SO ADORABLE. I’m glad that we got to see Eddie, Gavin, Kel, Caulder, and Kiersten one more time before the series ended. It was great to see them all together as one big, happy family one last time! EPILOGUE? ABSOLUTELY PERFECT!Since I knew there was an epilogue, I kind of predicted the ending (and I was right!), but it was a butterflying amazing ending, nonetheless! I’m so sad that the series ended, but incredibly happy that I was able to see MR. AND MRS. COOPER’S happily ever after.

6 hearts!! (Because what other rating could we possibly give this book?)

6 hearts
Cathy

Reading Order: Slammed series

Slammed by Colleen Hoover Point of Retreat by Colleen Hoover This Girl by Colleen Hoover

#1 ~ Slammed: Ebook • Paperback • Goodreads
#2 ~ Point of Retreat: Ebook • Paperback • Goodreads
#3 ~ This Girl: Ebook • Paperback • Goodreads