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.

FRUSTRATING. THIS IS A 2 BOOK STORY!!!

It is REALLY frustrating when it is not disclosed upfront that the story is a 2 parter.

There were definitely gaps in the beginning of book 2, but I kept thinking it was the writing style and there would be a "flashback " type scene to explain it.

I liked book 2 more than book 1. over all enjoyed the story although i do not like cheating.

Lots of back and forth and trials for these 2. Way more than a normal couple.

i would probably have enjoyed it more if done in order. it would not have been difficult to disclose this was a2 part book.

Sexy Yumminess

Thank goodness I could listen to Collide and Pulse one after the other right away. There's a cliffhanger in Collide - you are warned.

Its a love-at-first-sight story. Solid plot, easy flow but a few strange transitions. Characters were well fleshed out and secondary characters added to overall interest. Add in the delicious sexiness too!

The narrator was not so great but not terrible. Too many mispro ounced words and starnge NY accent. Also glitches and poor sound quality were disappointing. A final listen in production would've helped.

Overall, together, this series was yummy.

I review for the Guilty Indulgence Review Site.

Great Story; Blah Narration

Loved the story, but had a hard time with the narration - she mostly sounded like she was reading from a script, but she made Emily, the main character sound ditzy, her BFF Olivia, sound like an annoying valley girl....and the men's voices were the WORST! She does not do a man's voice well AT ALL.

Good listen

This was a good listen. The narrator was ok, but some of her voices I found to be annoying. It was worth a credit and I look forward to seeing how things play out in book 2.

weak female lead

Really really annoying main female character. She needs to be rescued by everyone and never believes the truth.

want more

Loved it. Would love to have more of Gaven and Emily. Wonderfully wrote to keep you guessing. Drew me in, I felt everything that they felt.

Angnst and Emotional

Never have I ever listened a book with more emotional angsty goodness than Collide. From the very beginning, I bought every single word Gail McHugh was selling and then some. And, you know what's weird? I'm usually not a fan of love triangles. Or cheating. Collide has the love triangle to beat all love triangles, as well as some cheating. And, I just could not get enough. So, bravo to Ms. McHugh for doing what few authors have been able to do.

Emily moves to New York to be near her boyfriend Dillon and her BFF Olivia after her mother passes away in her home state of Colorado. After only a few days in the city, Emily meets Gavin completely by chance. And, it's sorta love at first sight. Except Emily's already in love with someone else. As time moves on and Dillon and Gavin both show their true colors, Emily has to decide what is more important - the past or the future.

I'd heard nothing but amazing things about Collide from many other new adult fans. I bought the audio version from Audible and it sat there. For months. I'm not sure why. I just didn't get to it. Then, I started listening And, I was like, WHOA. I am such an idiot for not reading this sooner!

Initially, I wasn't a big fan of Emily's. It was glaringly obvious who the right guy was, and yet she spent the entire span of the book denying it, even in the face of some pretty convincing evidence. This was one of those books for which a padded Kindle cover is a good thing - you know - for the times you want to throw it across the room because you're so damn frustrated. On one hand I wanted Emily to realize what was doing from the beginning. On the other hand, her self-denial made for some pretty amazing sexual tension between she and Gavin.

OMG - it was beyond delicious. Gail McHugh knows how to write the heat. I'd classify Collide as a mature NA book. And the heated tension between Emily and Gavin is the best part of the book. It was palpable on every single page. It doesn't hurt that McHugh made Gavin this amazingly perfect specimen of a man. I think any encounter between him and a woman would overheat my senses. But with Emily - the woman he loves more than his next breath - swoon city, baby.

Dillon is the biggest jerk EVER - I kept waiting for the moment when Emily realized what the reader had known for awhile. It was a very long wait. Gail McHugh was able to weave a powerful message into her epic love story - a message about finding your inner strength and beauty when someone all but rips it away from you. Other reviewers called it "stupidity" or Emily being a door mat. But, I get what Gail McHugh was trying to say. Sometimes, especially in the face of a tragedy when you're at your weakest, others are able to convince you that you need them and are not able to make it on your own. It sucks, but it happens all the time. This book was very real in that aspect. By the end of Collide, Emily has finally started reclaiming her voice and her life, and although you don't get to see Dillon's comeuppance, you know it's coming.

Collide ends on one of those good kinds of cliffhangers. Most of the loose ends are tied up and the story comes to a close, but there's one big thing left undone that absolutely compels you to read the next book in the series. By the time the end rolled around, I was very glad that I had had the foresight to purchase the audio version of Pulse (Collide #2) and had it waiting for me. Because, although the ending was good, I was left wanting to know what came next.

The banter between Emily and Gavin is many times lighthearted and sweet. Olivia's and Emily's restaurant is funny and real and amazing. Those moments were the lightest of the book. For the most part, Collide is angsty with a capital A. It's perfect for when you want one of those super emo romantic books. Just, trust me when I say, have Pulse ready to go before you finish. You'll thank me for that bit of advice.

Mary Kowal was fanastic with the delivery of the story.

The narrator... ughhhh no

This is a great story and I probably would have given it a 5 star rating if there were a better narrator. Her voice makes these characters sound ridiculous. I’m dying to know the rest of the story but I don’t think I can handle listening to the narration!

Great love story

What was one of the most memorable moments of Collide?

The ending

Have you listened to any of Mary Kowal’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

This was her first for me.

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

I love you------I'm in love with you

Any additional comments?

This was a surprise , this was a great story. I was wonderful to see M open her eyes and her heart to the right person. If you listen to this one you have to listen to her second one to see how it all ends.

Pretty good story

It was way better than I thought it would be. Definitely worth a listen. The only bad thing was the narrator. She was quite ridiculous at times.