Clash by Nicole Williams

Title: Clash (Crash #2)

Author: Nicole Williams

Publication: September 2012

When I read it: September 2012

My Rating: 4 Stars

Series / Stand Alone: Series

Crash
Clash
Crush

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The only easy thing about Jude and Lucy’s relationship is their love for one another. Everything else is hard.

Especially when it comes to reining in Jude’s trigger touch temper and Lucy’s increasing jealousy of Jude’s Spirit Sister on the cheer squad who’s attached herself to him in just about every way a girl could. Feeling the stress of trying to hang on to her quintessential bad boy while becoming the foremost dancer in her class, Lucy knows something’s going to break. She wants both. She needs both. But if she doesn’t make a choice, she risks losing everything.

For Lucy Larson and Jude Ryder, love might be the thing that just isn’t enough.

I loved Crash by Nicole Williams. It was the perfect mix of YA, sweet romance, and lots of angst. So you can imagine how tickled I was to learn that she was writing a sequel! What?! More Jude Ryder?! And soon! It wasn’t long after she announced the sequel and it was here! I was pumped!

Clash was everything I hoped for in a sequel, although at times it had me nervous. I’m definitely a fan of a HEA (happily ever after), and after reading The Opportunist as well this weekend, I needed some “love conquers all” after so much angst. Don’t get me wrong, there was lots of angst in Clash. LOTS. And from every which way. Internal, self doubts, outside sources, etc. It was there. But Lucy and Jude continue to power through against all odds.

Nothing was easy about our relationship. Well, nothing but falling hard for each other. Everything else was like trying to swim against a current. You never quite felt like you were making much headway, but the journey made up for the lack of real estate.

In the first book I felt like more of the issues were on Jude’s shoulders. He took the blame; pushed her away and kept secrets. This time around, while I thought he was going to be the cause of the drama, but oh no, it was Lucy. I felt like yelling at her for a large chunk of page turning there. She was really frustrating me and stressing me out.

I knew I couldn’t go, but I also knew I couldn’t stay. And this, the cruel irony, was the paramount of Jude’s and my time together. I loved him, but I shouldn’t. I trusted him, but it wasn’t natural. I wanted him, but I couldn’t have him…I had to be the one to get up, turn my back on this man, and never stop walking.

Jude was so sweet and she just wanted to keep pushing and pushing. I’m not sure why she was suddenly so scared of loving him, but she was. And her running was making me nervous for their future. I did love, though, that he was persistent to her strength. He wasn’t backing down.

“I’ll be here when you’re ready. No matter how long it takes. I’ll always be here, Luce. I’m yours,” he breathed, squeezing my hands “forever.”

Seems a lot more lately that I read titles where the main girl can’t make a decision to save her life – pushing away the smoking hot guy that is in love with her. Makes me have an ulcer. But I loved that aspect of this story, and of all the other stories I read like it. It’s real. And it gives the guys a break. There are Jude Ryders out there – loving, protecting and oh so sexy! :)

I give this book 4 stars and recommend to readers looking for a New Adult / Mature YA read with lots of sweet moments, but still chock full of angst. Oh, and another thing I loved about this one – definitely a bit more steam. I loved the sexual tension in this one. Much more amped up than in Crash. So that always wins big in my book. I’m not sure if this is the end for Jude & Lucy’s story, and I don’t want to give away anything about what may or may not have happened in Clash but I will say that I would not be opposed to reading more about them and what their future might hold :). Or maybe even something from Jude’s POV. I’d love to see any of this through his eyes.

About the Author

I have a husband, two kids, a dog, and a fish. Aside from that, I'm a self-proclaimed book nerd, obsessed with coffee, blogs, and proper sentence structure. I thrive under pressure, and working in the editorial scene (as in, at my house, with my kids staring at me, almost never wearing a bra) has provided lots of that ... in the best way! When I'm not reviewing books here, chasing after the little people who share my DNA, I'm trying to make a dent in my never-ending to-read list. I'm always changing and trying to do something bigger and better. There's really nothing I won't read. Combining my love for books with my super nerdy love of the English language has been such a natural step, and being able to work with so many talented authors has been fun and inspiring. I'm an over-sharer, and I like to talk and think ... and talk about thinking. Happy Reading! Madison