Review and Giveaway: Collide by Gail McHugh

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Blurb
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.

****

Phew, wow, what a rollercoaster!

Emily Cooper, a recent college graduate, is trying to get over the death of her mother as she moves to New York to be near her boyfriend, Dillon, and to move in with her best friend, Olivia. While she searches for a teaching job, she takes a position as a waitress at a local Italian restaurant. After a delivery boy quits, she's sent on a order run to Blake Enterprises where she encounters Gavin Blake, with whom she has an instant connection.

Take-your-breath-away good looking. Want-to-strip-your-body-naked-and-let-him-devour-you-alive good looking. Certified-eye-candy good looking.

The next day Mr. Tall, Dark, and Fuckable Handsome, the more than appropriate moniker Emily's bestowed upon Gavin, shows up at her restaurant. Although in love with Dillon, she's drawn to Gavin and his sexy smile, beautiful blue eyes, and incessant charm. After a flirtacious exchange, in which Gavin expresses his definite interest, Emily gives him a fake name and sends him on his way, but she can't stop thinking about him all the while.

Several nights later, Dillon talks her into meeting his at a club to meet some of his buddies. Little does she know that Gavin happens to be one of those buddies. As she approaches the table, she's shocked to find him there: Mr. Tall, Dark, and Fuckable Handsome.

Situations continue to push Gavin and Emily together, while Dillon becomes increasingly controlling, possessive, and begins working extremely late nights. As Dillon's neglect continues, Gavin's always right there to lavish Emily with the attention he knows she deserves. He promises to just be looking for friendship, but he can't seem to stay away, can't seem to keep his hands to himself, and can't help falling for her. Emily is not far behind. As she begins to realize that Dillon is not the man she thought he was, she finds herself wanting Gavin more and more with each passing day.

Will Emily realize that Gavin's the man she's meant to be with, or will she make the biggest mistake of her life and stay with Dillon?

I loved this book and the incredible, intense, passionate chemistry between Emily and Gavin. From the beginning, it's clear that Dillon has a few screws loose, but Emily has a misguided notion that she owes him and loves him because of how caring he was during her mother's illness. Unfortunately, the further we get into the story, the more unraveled, erratic, and creepy Dillon becomes. At the same time, Emily's struggling to fight the gravitational pull she feels whenever Gavin is around. It was so abundantly clear which man was perfect for her, which man found love, cherish, and protect her, and you find yourself rooting for him from the very first encounter.

Gavin. I absolutely adored Gavin. He treated Emily with more passion, love, and respect that her boyfriend of the last year. There wasn't a single second that I questioned his motives. He knew what he wanted, no qualms about it.

I'd never hurt you, Emily. Stop fighting me. Stop fighting what you already know.

I want to take my time with you, brushing my fingers over the sports he's neglected. He's never loved you the way you need to be loved.

Say it with me now...Dillon Who?!

And Emily. Oh, Emily, I love to hate you. Honestly, I liked Emily and her interactions with Gavin, but there were so many times I wanted to smack her over the damn head. The girl drove me nuts!!

There were so many signs and indications that Dillon was so wrong for her, but she either ignored them or rationalized them. I couldn't imagine being Olivia, having to sit back and watch your best friend in such a destructive relationship.

I won't say much more because I don't want to give anything away, but it really bothered me that Emily couldn't see Dillon for the lying bastard that he was, but she was so quick to believe that absolute worst of Gavin without a second thought.

Again, I loved this book, finished it in a day. I can't stop thinking about this story and what's going to happen next. I'm on pins and needles until Pulse comes out!!

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