Booky Ramblings...

COLLIDE

By Gail McHugh

(Collide is book one of a two part series)

A missed first encounter…

Colliding with a second chance…

On the heels of graduating college and trying to cope with her mother’s death, Emily Cooper moves to New York City for a fresh start.

While harboring secrets of his own, Dillon Parker takes care of Emily through her grief. Knowing he can’t live without her by his side, he’s sweet, thoughtful, and everything Emily has ever wanted in a man.

Until she meets Gavin Blake—a rich and notorious playboy who is dangerously sexy and charming as hell. Emily tries to deny the instant connection she feels, but Mr. Tall, Dark, and Handsome is not inclined to let go so easily. Recovering from his own painful past, Gavin will stop at nothing to win Emily over. 

This unexpected encounter compels Emily to question her decisions, forcing her to make a choice that will destroy friendships, shatter hearts, and forever change her life.

Swoon!!

This is a review for the ladies, whom I know will fall in love with this book.

Very much your typical boy meets girl, falls in love and lives happily ever after. Only add in another contender and we have ourselves an angsty love triangle alas a not so happy ever after.

We follow Emily, our likeable lead, who has just suffered the heartache of her mothers death. In a bid for a fresh new start she follows her boyfriend to New York where she will move in with her best pal, Olivia. She finds herself a small job through the holidays in a restaurant and ends up in an unforeseen situation. Covering a shift for the delivery guy has her catching her breath as she collides with the insatiable Gavin Blake.

The chemistry is instantaneous and you feel it as if you are there in the moment. Emily does her best to deny herself of the feelings bubbling beneath the surface.

“Doll, you're going to get me out of your system as much as I'm going to get you out of mine. It's impossible.” 

I was quick in agreeing with Olivia about Dillon AKA Douchebag, who quickly becomes a narcissist. I was instantly rooting for Emily to ditch him and fall in love with Gavin. This doesn't prove easy to her as she feels indebted to him over her mothers death.

Countless flights from New York to Colorado to be with her.  Beautiful gifts he sent to take her mind off the madness that consumed her life. Late night calls talking with her to make sure she was okay. Even down to arranging for the funeral, giving her advise on selling her childhood home and ultimately moving her out to New York. It was all part of why she adored him.

The tender moments that Gavin and Emily share as they become friends really had me smiling. WARNING ladies, you will feel that hot, fuzzy feeling inside! The chemistry between them is compelling. Two people this great together shouldn't be apart, only the friendships that surround them deny them of their surrender to each other.

There are moments throughout this book that had me smiling, gasping and holding my breath, not to mention my poor heart strings. A book that has that much power earns a pretty high place on my bookshelf. I love the style of 3^rd person narrative, it really tells the story from all angles.

Beware Gail McHugh really has the power to pull the rug right out from beneath your feet just when you think you are comfortable ;). The happy ending that we are rooting for all the way through doesn't come quite so easily. The ending left me reeling for more!

There are ups and downs throughout and its quite the emotional roller-coaster but I would definitely recommend this for a read. I would compare this to books such as 'Bared to You' and 'On Dublin Street', but I do believe that 'Collide' stands on its own.

Breathtaking, compelling and heart-breaking. Go read it!! (but not too fast, we have to wait until August 10^th for volume 2)