Hello, Therians!
I'm super excited about the release of Smash Into You by
New York Times Bestselling Author, Shelly Crane!!
HAPPY BOOK BIRTHDAY
Enter the giveaway below to win an eCopy of Smash Into You, and there's even an exclusive excerpt for you to enjoy :)
Jude has spent the whole twenty one years of his
life running. From what, he wasn't quite sure. His mother tried to keep him
safe; a low profile, a constant move on the horizon, a week's pay always
stashed away. She tried to instill in him that he was special somehow, though
would never elaborate. He never felt different. He was so completely normal and
vanilla that he wondered if it had all been in her head. But then she was
murdered and all he saw was a running silhouette of a man as his mother said
three final words to him. Three words that changed his whole being.
Never stop running…
Now he's semi-settled into a big town. The college is huge and easy to blend
into. It's been three months since he had to move because 'Biloxi', as he calls
the man who killed his mother, found him once more.
Then Marley, an eighteen year old girl who is as infuriating as she is
blissfully ignorant of her gorgeousness, smashes into his car with hers. Then
smashes into his life as he realizes that whatever it is he has that Biloxi
wants, she has it, too. And now, they're after them both.
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EXCLUSIVE EXCERPT
I showed up to work with
exactly thirty-seven seconds to spare. I blamed gorgeous-crash-into-me-girl. I
swore my truck was acting funny and I had no cash to fix it.
I nodded to Pepe, the owner, and winked at Mesha, the
wife of the owner. She giggled behind her hand, and so our day began just like
every other day. Pepe owned a feed store and the guy had muscles the size of
tangerines. So, that was my job description. In fact, on occasion, he even
called me that instead of-
"Hey, we need muscle up here!"
I shook my head. "Yep!"
I trotted up front to help the dude in duds load thirteen
bags of chicken feed. It wasn't a glamorous job by any means, and the pay was caca, but it kept me fit and busy. That
was what I needed. If I had to up and leave, I wouldn't be leaving the guy in a
jam because guys like me were a dime a dozen.
The day wore on and at punch-out time, I felt a familiar
hand reach across my back. Slither was more like it. "Hey, Jude."
"Mesha," I mumbled back without turning and
rolled my annoyed eyes. Were all women the same? They never wanted me for
anything but a good time and then see ya later. Which was great for my life,
but dang did it get old. Especially since the tune never changed.
"Pepe's playing cards tonight." The insinuation
hissed from her lips in what I'm sure she thought was a sexy whisper. It made
my skin crawl.
"That's great for him." I grabbed my metal
lunchbox and turned the other way, the long way around the back, but it was
worth it to evade her.
"That's it?" she practically yelled. "I
thought you'd jump on it?"
I stopped. Dang. She just caught me on a wrong day. I
turned. "Why? Because of what you've got between your legs? Honey, there's
a hundred girls on speed dial. Sorry. I'm a busy guy."
And wait for it..."You're such an ass, Jude! I was
just testing you anyway!"
I waved above my head and kept going. Women. Typical.
I threw my lunchbox through the open truck window and
prayed the truck would start as I climbed in. She sputtered, but held out, I'll
give her that. I tapped and rubbed the dash. "Come on, girl. Come
on."
She cranked and I drove straight to the auto parts place.
I popped the hood and waved away the heated smoke. I sighed and closed my eyes.
Mother...this was going to cost a paycheck to fix, which I didn't have to
spare. I went inside and priced a radiator. I almost punched the man in his
teeth when he told me the price. "Are they made with titanium now and I'm
just out of the loop?"
"Economy's bad for everyone, son."
I held the counter with both hands and hung my head.
"Well...dang."
"Look, uh, I might need a little help here tomorrow.
If you come help me for the day, I'll take half off the radiator, all right?"
I looked up, unable to stop the incredulous look. People
didn't do good deeds for nothing. It just wasn't the world we lived in any
longer. But I looked up into the older man's eyes and saw that he was serious.
There was a story there. A son, maybe, a nephew, he was trying to make up for.
I didn't want to know. I didn't want to get attached.
"You serious?"
"Dead," he countered.
I spoke slowly, "OK. I can be here at around two
when I get off from my job. That all right?"
"Yep. I need some help stocking the shelves, so
that's perfect. I'll work you a full eight hours," he warned.
"It's worth it." I swallowed and hesitated.
"Thank you."
"Sure thing, son."
I nodded and turned to head back to my busted truck, not
real sure what to think. But for now, I'd take it.
REVIEW
This was quite a unique read that was entertaining
and held me captive from start to finish.
What had all the elements of being a normal
Contemporary Romance, turned into a much darker read as Jude and Marley’s
secrets were slowly revealed. Both MCs had shady pasts that left them broken,
and they were perfect for each other. The fact that they both just happen to
come from the same place, and they just happen to meet after all those years
was a little coincidental and I almost believed Biloxi when he twisted the
truth about Marley’s involvement.
There was never a predictable moment in this story
and the disastrous rollercoaster ride Crane sent her MCs on was thrilling.
Although I never connected on an emotional level with the characters I was
still right beside them from start to finish and I was cheering them on the
entire time. I cared enough that I wanted them to find what they were looking
for, I wanted them to defeat the bad guys, and most of all I wanted them to make
it to the end in one piece so that they could walk into the future without
having to constantly look over their shoulders.
I loved how Jude and Marley’s relationship blossomed
throughout the book. All the crazy things that happened to them only brought
them closer together and solidified their love. There was an incredible amount
of sexual tension between these characters but it wasn’t over the top. It was
believable. And it was beautiful to “watch”.
This was a fun read, even with all the drama, and it
didn’t take long for me to burn through the pages. This book is action-packed,
with plenty of mystery and intrigue. It will appeal to all types of readers.
It
gets…
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Shelly is a NEW YORK TIMES & USA TODAY
bestselling YA author from a small town in Georgia and loves everything about
the south. She is wife to a fantastical husband and stay at home mom to two
boisterous and mischievous boys who keep her on her toes. She loves paperbacks,
coffee, and candy corn, and to spend time with her family and friends, go out
to eat at new restaurants and site see in the new areas they travel to, listen
to music and also LOVES to read.
Her own books happen by accident and she revels in the writing and imagination
process. She doesn't go anywhere without her notepad for fear of an idea
creeping up and not being able to write it down immediately, even in the middle
of the night, where her best ideas are born.
LINKS:
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