Pulse

Collide, Book 2

By: Gail McHugh

Narrated by: Mary Kowal

Length: 13 hrs and 36 mins

Publisher's summary

How do you keep existing when your heart is so splintered, so completely torn to shreds, your pulse is fading? You're…broken. How do you move forward when every breath is nothing more than a constant ache? Living becomes an insidious reminder that you threw away the single largest part of yourself. Your…soul. No amount of distraction can pull you from the torture of losing your…life.

Now that Emily Cooper has walked away from her first love, she finds herself running toward her only love. Unraveling fast, but clinging to hope, Emily risks all she has left on the man that has consumed her every thought and dream since the day they met. Will Gavin take her back? And if so, will their reunion be a collision of two hearts destined to complete one another and rekindle a love that knew no boundaries? Or will scars from their past rip open, tearing slowly at what each of them was meant to be? Can fate, the ultimate game changer, mend the shattered road it laid out from the start? Only time will tell…Tick-Tock…

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

The ending was PERFECTION. Loved loved loved it. 

I can’t tell you how relieved I was to finally get my hands on Pulse after the gut-wrenching cliffhanger at the end of Collide. What a crazy, emotional rollercoaster ride this has been! In Collide, I was consumed by Emily and Gavin’s story. I hated and loved that book. I was struck speechless by the cliffhanger. I loved this book even more than the first one. I didn't know that would be possible considering that the first one was real great. It didn't have much angst (thank goodness) but I can say it was sweeter and more romantic. And the steam was over the moon. Believe me when I say there was a lot of “shmexy” scenes. Pulse started right were Collide ended, when Emily finally got some sense in her head and left Dillon. Emily goes after Gavin, but he wasn't so accessible, and she realizes that getting him back was going to be worth the fight. Emily & Gavin do find their way back to each other, but they don't have it easy. Major events happen throughout this book and so no spoilers here. I'm being vague because their love story needs to be savored. I really loved the progression of everything. It was well paced, the sex scenes very erotic and captivating. If you loved Gavin Blake in Collide, you will fall hopelessly and head over heels in love with him in Pulse. His words and his actions will make you melt. Gavin and Emily are not fighting against their feelings for one another, they’re fighting for their happiness together. Their journey is hard, complicated, challenging, breathtaking, and it smolders with passion. Emily and Gavin' face a lot of complications and challenges but, it’s an extraordinary conclusion to this story. Prepare to be enthralled, surprised, passionate, heart-mending, and deeply emotional …it’s all you can ask for and more!  So, I can honestly say that this was an amazing ending for a perfect series. I loved the conclusion, loved how the characters ending, loved everything. On a side note, this book tries to deliver a different message within. It's about moving forward. It's about fighting back. Basically the theme that every abused woman out there shouldn't blame herself! she should fight back, and get out! It was very powerful message. So the author really focuses on abuse and this subject in particular is very sensitive. I thought the author was sucessful in delivering her message in sensitive way. The love between Emily Cooper & Gavin Blake was even stronger if that was even possible, their lives kind of collides together. There has been so many things in the story, so many events. I guarantee that you will LOVE this book. 

Narrator almost ruined it for me

I am going to review Collide and Pulse together here since they are both available on Audible. I was glad for that because the cliffhanger in Collide was frustrating and sad.

As a love story, my heart resonated with this one because I, too, had a love at first sight experience that is now into its 40th year of marriage. That's about where the similarity between my life and Emily's life ends, but it was enough for me to know that while romance novels are generally escapism, sometimes there are some very real aspects to the stories they tell.

Overall, the story was satisfying because I like good to overcome evil and HEA's. Even though there were moments in this story that were frustrating or made me roll my eyes, there was enough realism to the story that made it a cut above the typical rich young billionaire hero falls in love with beautiful but broken heroine.

There were some details in the story that didn't make sense. Here a few examples. If Emily (who definitely did not come from money) lived in CO, why did she go to Ohio State for a teaching degree? Likewise, why did her wealthy roommate/friend Olivia from NYC go to Ohio State for a degree relating to art? Why did filthy rich Gavin live in a fabulous penthouse that didn't have security at the building entrance that would prevent people from just showing up at his front door? These are minor details (and there were more), but they bugged me nonetheless. Stuff like that detracts from my enjoyment of a story.

The story flowed fairly well, but when Emily had an awful nightmare, I thought the author dropped the ball by not transitioning into that scene. It was just dropped into the storyline in a way that felt very manipulative. I thought she could have handled it better. The story had enough emotional highs and lows without that particular flashback to the original TV series "Dallas" to be thrown in there.

As for character development, the hero (Gavin) was very well fleshed out. A reader would have to be brain dead not to fall in love with him. Likewise for the villain, which rhymes with his name, Dillon. Of course, there was nothing likable about him; it was very easy to hate him. Very black and white dynamic with the hero and villain. I have mixed feelings about Emily. I think her relationship with her mother needed more detail in order to make Emily more empathetic.

The narrator was pretty bad. She did a fairly good job when she was reading in the 3rd person or doing Emily's voice. But that's about the only praise I can give her. Almost all the other characters' voices were so annoying that it almost ruined the books for me. Her NY accent was absurd. I wanted to push pencils in my ears whenever Trevor or Fallon were speaking. There were also numerous mispronunciations of words and glitches in the sentence or dialogue flow that made her narration of the story less than enjoyable.

The sound quality was pretty bad, too. For example, I could hear the narrator inhaling deeply between sentences in many places. Somebody on the production team should have made sure that the sound was properly mixed.

Lastly, since these books are under $10 each, don't use credits to purchase them. Paying cash for them is more economical, and despite my criticisms, I think the books are worth the money.

TORTURE...

Any additional comments?

Collide was better; this book is overly sappy. It was like every fourth sentence was "I love you" to the point that it was getting on my nerves. I get it - you all are soul mates and you love each other can we please move on? There are about 8 chapters that didn't make my mind wander. I am so mad at myself for not just skipping to the end.

I had to force myself to finish listening

Collide in all fairness was a good book, However, the story of Emily Cooper and Gavin Blake could have been completed with two additional chapters at the end of Collide. I was really waiting for the new twist and turns in Pulse but it never came. With that said I was happy The baby was Gavin's, because Dillon did not want to be a father in the first place, but Pulse was really not necessary.

Narrator sucks

This book wasn’t for you, but who do you think might enjoy it more?

The story is good but the narration was so bad I quit listening to it.

How could the performance have been better?

Someone who knows how to do different character voices where they don't all sound alike or sound like they're in dire oain.

You didn’t love this book... but did it have any redeeming qualities?

It's a good story, but I'll read the book instead of listening to it.

Good 2nd book just drawn out

Was Pulse worth the listening time?

I really think it was a good book but I got a bit bored towards the end until the dream happened.

Almost 5 Bottlecaps!!!

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

Adorable yet heart-wrenching

What did you like best about this story?

Gavin, of course... Lol! Seriously, there are too many things to list; I loved almost all of it. There is one part of the book that I found distracting and I am still note sure why it was necessary... don't worry no spoilers, here - you will see what I mean when you listen/read it. But all in all, great follow up. Loved the characters, appreciated the nice and thorough ending - didn't feel rushed, provided just enough time to reflect and savor the story of the characters. I think one of the best conclusions I have heard/ read in quite some time.

How did the narrator detract from the book?

Male voices seemed to be an issue for narrator and outside of Gavin, it was sometimes difficult to distinguish the male voices, and it may have just been me, but they all sounded a bit "dopey." Also, I really disliked the voice used for Fallon. Was it just me or did Fallon and Trevor sound exactly the same??? Creepy.

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

Yes, and I almost did.

Any additional comments?

Great listen. Not sure what I was expecting, but a great surprise.

CLIFF HANGER - PART OF ANOTHER 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.

Awesome sequel

Great sequel to Collide! Loved all the ups and downs, although I must admit the "dream" pissed me off! What a roller coaster!

Swoon

So sweet and sexy at the same time. Realistic and believable. Couldn’t put it down.

"AMAZING"

Would you consider the audio edition of Pulse to be better than the print version?

already have it in print & kindle

Who was your favorite character and why?

Gavin hes just a great guy

What about Mary Kowal’s performance did you like?

shes not the best narrator but shes not the worst either

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

yes

Any additional comments?

loved it have listened to it several times now

love it

Would you consider the audio edition of Pulse to be better than the print version?

I have not read the print version however I loved the audio version I found myself giggling away to myself at times and feeling there pain at other times

What did you like best about this story?

I liked the way you felt you were there watching it all happen

Which character – as performed by Mary Kowal – was your favourite?

I must say I could relate more with Emily I understood at times how she's was feeling

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

Nothing at all loved it

Any additional comments?

A must read I have to say ladies heart breaking at times I loved bed times just so no could get my next fix of Emily and gavins dramas