Collide

Collide, Book 1

By: Gail McHugh

Narrated by: Mary Kowal

Length: 11 hrs and 42 mins

Publisher's summary

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.

©2013 Gail McHugh (P)2013 Brilliance Audio, all rights reserved.

Stormy Up and Down

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Yes; a great love story from the beginning to the end

What was one of the most memorable moments of Collide?

Well they were all great and I really don't want to give away anything but I think the part of the park and the NY baseball game

Which scene was your favorite?

There were so many that I could recall

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Yes finished it from the time I started it

Any additional comments?

Everything was great but I was a little disappointed at the end. Yes it says which way it is going but I would have actually liked to hear it and feel the ending that every person wants when reading this book

omg

This is the 20th time I listen or read this book. I just love it.

Narration makes a difference

I probably would have liked it better with different narrators. The book itself was fine but I just could not connect with it because of the narration.

Aggrivation, a heart attack, and the cliffhanger.

I honestly don't know what to type as I sit here and ponder the responses I just read over to this book. I just feel... slimy. Uncomfortable. Discombobulated.

And I'm gunna have a moment to Woosah. So. Spoilers.

Obviously.

There's something I failed to truly appreciate in Lizzy Bennet, despite loving her for years. Her backbone. She's sure of herself, and when confronted with security in the form of handsome Darcy, she'd rather stay single than deal with douchbaggery.

Not Emily. Emily is dating a creeper. All the signs are there. Like, waved in our face. He's like Mr. Wickham with money. And to make sure we notice them, the second voice of the story is the OTHER guy. So we know from the beginning Gavin and Emily will end up together. We just have to wait. And wait. And watch this girl make one bad move after another. It's like some cross between a boyfriend and Stockholm syndrome and she just CAN'T get away. Even after meeting her love-at-first-sight guy.

On top of it, there seems to be a lot of women who love answering doors in their underwear. This abnormal occurrence plays a role in this story. And to be honest. The whole "misunderstanding" could have been understood if homegirl had a backbone and simply stepped inside her recently claimed domain, and confronted the situation.

But she's a doe. A heart-bleeding doe. That's her spirit animal.

And when she finally gets what she wants - I knew something was up because there was too much book left. So enter the evil ex who is there just to be a drunken, panty-wearing, door-opening, plot device. Boom. "Shot thru the heart, and you're to blame.."

I was so off balance during my yoga class today because I was so ANGRY at this heroine. Laugh if you will, but yoga is that calm place. A happy place. Instead, I was stuck on pause while the last hour (like 8 hours in) of listening and my warrior pose sucked because I was pep-talking myself how I would NEVER let a guy abuse me like that. Or would I let things get so out of control like she did.

My heart is tight even now just thinking about it. Don't ever let a man treat you like that, reader, Christian Grey is better than this guy. Seriously.

Woosah.

I came here hoping the reviews would mention how broken this heroine is from the first minute of the book to the last. Nope. Everyone loved it. Apparently heartbreak for 11 hours is fun!

It's not. Nothing about this book is FUN. It's a heart attack. With bad narration. I love Elizabeth Bennet and that story has just as much heartbreak and mishaps and you ENJOY reading it. This book was a big bunch of frustration, aggravation, and to top it off, it ends right before the climax!

You want to know what happens? Me too. You have to get the second book because authors these days didn't listen to their English teachers. They listened to their pocketbooks. Luckily because of all the rave reviews, I bought both books while they were on sale so I can suffer through another 11 hours. I'm guessing these two will continue to have misunderstandings and heartbreaks - as if they aren't already puddles of goo on the floor.

I will say it's a decently written nightmare of an abusive relationship. I'm hoping she grows a backbone in the second book so I'll continue on. Tight heart and all.

Oh. And just because this review isn't long enough. The narration was a joke. She had half of them down okay but Fallon? Hah! She had a deeper voice than the guys! The accents are pretty terrible too. Still, not the worst I've heard... so... 2 stars.

Listen at your own risk. And you are a risk taker. Aren't you. Cause you read these spoilers.

Great Drama, Romance and Conflict!

Where does Collide rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

This was not the best performance but, I love the book. I actually purchased the book a couple years ago. I was curious if the book would translate the same through audiobook.

What did you like best about this story?

I really love the conflict of the story. I don't love that the Emily was still so indecisive. I think there is a great deal of truth in the emotional conflict we experience.

What does Mary Kowal bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Little voice inflections here and there, but I think it reads much better through an actual book. I have listened to audiobooks that put you right in the thick of the moment. This narrator didnt do it for me.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

The Ulitmate Emotional Tug of War

New to Author & Narrator

So this was my first listen from the narrator and first read from the author. Although I loved the story but I felt in some areas that there was over doing of too much.

Love Triangle

This story was romantic and it took Emily long enough to see the light, gosh we all need a Gavin. Narration of the guys was poor. Looking forward to the next instalment in Pulse.

Truly struggle with this one all because of the heroine!!!

This book had me rolling my eyes several times, I love the hero he was all in from the start with the heroine from the moment he lay eyes on her! But I just couldn’t stand the heroine she was Beyond week and annoying and straight up stupid which ruin the whole damn story!! the person who really loved her and would’ve done anything for her... she didn’t believe in!! But I constantly chose to believe that asshole who is obviously lying and cheating!!! It was Beyond ridiculous, I stopped listening to the book because of her for about a week picked it up again because I truly don’t like leaving a book on finish the rest of the book I struggled to finish it because of her I finally finished it but man oh man it was A struggle!!! The Voice performance of the other characters were horrible! 🙄🤨

Good book but left hanging when is the next ?????

If you could sum up Collide in three words, what would they be?

Roller coast ride

What about Mary Kowal’s performance did you like?

She did a good job had no problem getting into each character

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

Yes, I wanted to cry at the end when the story is left hanging and there is no next book for now

surprised how much I enjoyed this book.

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

yes ... it was a good story and well performed by the narrator .. well developed characters that I really cared about.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

yes ... and I will listen to it a few times more.