Crush (Crash Book 3)

Do you remember when Crash first went live how it was supposed to be a stand-alone novel? We fell in love with Jude and Lucy and begged and pleaded for more, and we got Clash. Then that was supposed to be the end. And then we begged and pleaded for more, called ourselves greedy and said we needed more Jude Ryder (oh, wait... that was me!).Well, Nicole took Jude and Lucy's advice for her last books in this series, "Better make it a good one then." And she did! Now, I know I have never made it a secret that I am a huge Nicole Williams fan, so could I potentially be a little bias in my review... yup! But aren't we all when it comes to our favorites?What I can say for sure is, even though 3 years have passed since Clash ended and more since we met them in Crash, you are still getting the same Jude and Lucy you have come to know, and love. "Territorial Jude had a way of bringing out Temperamental Lucy."Does that mean there are still going to be plenty of times where you want to reach into the book and grab Lucy by her shirt collar and shake her around, abso-freakin-lutely! What is it this time you ask? Well, three years later, Jude and Lucy are still engaged... yup, still engaged. Now I know what you are thinking...they were young when they got engaged, so that's okay... NO! It's not okay, when Jude Ryder is begging...yes I said begging, you to marry him the answer should always be YES! Not soon, not in a little while, not when I'm more independent or whatever was going on in the crazy town of her head...the answer should be YES, Vegas here we come!So, while you think the distance between her still being in school (in New York) and Jude being drafted after his Junior year at Syracuse (to the San Diego Chargers) would be the problem (because they both have jealousy and trust issues), the problem is really Lucy (shocking, I know!). She was too worried the money would change him, or so she says. She wanted to make her own way and be able to take care of herself and not focus on the multi-million dollar contract Jude just signed.But enough about Lucy for now, let's talk about Jude...the many wonderful, amazing sides of Jude Ryder. We definitely still got to see the protective, possessive side of him (call it whatever you want, I call it hot!). The temper he has, especially when it comes to protecting Lucy (or fighting with her when she's being crazy). And the sweet romantic side of Jude, "I can't leave you like this," he said, swiping a tear with his thumb. "I've walked away from you too many times when I shouldn't have. When you needed me. I won't do it again." Was Jude perfect? No, he made mistakes, but that's part of their relationship, and they just love each other anyway and hold on for the ride.Nicole also takes the sexy a step higher in this third book, which I was more than pleased to read! Sexy Jude Ryder - yes, please...thank you very much! "We are putting French vanilla in its goddammed place, baby."I loved that we got to see more of Holly and little Jude and was happy with how her storyline worked out. I was also glad for new friend Sybill - the voice of reason in the world of insanity.While this story didn't take the path I thought it might, the story was still well told and kept my attention and interest through the end. I have to say, I think it was the perfect ending to a beautiful story. Not everything in life goes the way we expect it to, or as planned. There are always bumps along the way. It's how you deal with it that matters. This trilogy is all about how you deal with the things that happen in life, and realizing no one is perfect, but someone can be perfect for you.

This was a book I was super excited for. So excited that it arrived at my house on the day it released. But then it got here and well I just pretended it didn’t exist. I simply was not ready to say goodbye to Jude and Lucy. I pretty much went into denial and just kept putting this book off. There finally came a moment when I realized that I have to say goodbye to the characters. No matter how much I tried to prepare myself, it was still so hard to say goodbye to these characters. I have truly loved every single second of Jude and Lucy’s story, even the moments where I felt like my heart was being crushed, they were all wonderful.Lucy has come a long way since we first met her in Crash. I really like the girl she has become. It is no secret that I struggled with her a lot in Clash, but I was very happy with her in Crush. She has gotten past her insecurities and she trusts Jude and her relationship. She still has her moments, but she isn’t as crazy as she was in Clash. I liked that she wanted to spend her life with Jude, but still had her own hopes and dreams. You don’t have to sacrifice everything you want in life just for a guy and I liked that Lucy felt the same.Jude is, as always, a wonderful guy. He is still quick to temper but he thinks before he acts now. Jude has grown too and I love how successful he has become. I love that he is pretty much willing to do anything for Lucy. You never really doubt that he loves her, because it shines through in every single one of his actions.In this book we get to see a lot more of Holly and I absolutely loved that. She is such a great character and a truly great friend to both Jude and Lucy. I also adored LJ, but who wouldn’t; he is a three almost four year old ball of fun and awesome. One character that I could not stand was Anton. He was such a condescending jerk face in need of a giant kick to the groin. Gosh I hated him. He is the exact kind of guy I absolutely loathe. The kind of guy that thinks just because he wants it, he should be able to have it. The kind of guy who thinks everyone is beneath him and that the world should bow down to him. Ugh I just wanted Jude to punch him!The romance in Crush really kicks it up a notch. Jude and Lucy have so much chemistry! The steamy moments in this one were fantastic! But because this is Jude and Lucy they also had their fair share of fights. The difference in this one was that no matter how many times they fought or how hard they fought, both of them knew at the end of the day things would be okay. Both of them are very quick to temper, so of course disagreements are going to happen.I think my favorite thing about this was that the book picks up a few years after Clash. I liked seeing how their relationship had grown and see them faced with adult decisions. I also liked it because we see that Jude and Lucy really are in it for the long haul. When I closed the book there was no doubt in my mind that their relationship wouldn’t survive, because they have already come so far and been through so much. It is always hard to end a series, but I think Nicole did a fantastic job bringing the series to a close. Those last few sentences were absolutely perfect.Crush was a great end to this series. This will always be one of my favorite series and I hate that I had to say goodbye, but I couldn’t have asked for a better way to do so.

3 stars I hate to say this, but this book seriously peed me off..I have loved this series but I think that perhaps it was one book too many..the book started out really slow and whilst I was glad they got their HEA (which they also got in the last book) what I had to read to get there just seriously irritated me beyond belief...Lucy just totally morphed into a different person and one that I did not recognise and one that I disliked...This book carries on from book 2..Jude gets drafted into the NFL and is now a millionaire...so what would a man that has always had nothing..not two dimes to rub together want to do...he is going to want to spend...and who would he want to spend it on...yes his fiancé of 3 years (yes 3 years but that is another thing I will rant about in a minute)...* He buys her a new phone - she moans* He buys a new house - she moans* He buys a new car - she moans* He keeps asking her to marry him - she moans* He treats her to fancy restaurants - she moansIt is just one big moan fest from Lucy for a majority of the book...these two absolutely adore each other, you can still see that to some extent...she still has her aspirations of becoming a dancer and he knows that..she knew that he wanted to become a pro footballer, he gets his wish and she just seems to resent that..I appreciate her fears and worries that money can change people, but seriously, give the guy a break..how he put up with that is beyond me. To keep asking to get married and constantly being told soon...I would have given up...and the reasons for not getting married were very feeble..too young, I want to be a pro-dancer blah blah blah...if you love someone that much to agree to marry them, you should at least be prepared to get married!!Jude was a bit caveman in this book which was a bit overpowering at times, but then he says to Lucy, so you can be a pro-dancer I will give up my career as a footballer once my 3 year contract is up..I will have made enough money to keep us forever in those 3 years...that is what I call love!!! He was prepared to give up everything to keep her happy..then something happens and she does not tell him WTF!!!! I can appreciate it can be daunting to say, hell I have been there 3 times..but I could never keep it a secret that long..OK his reaction in the car park was not the best but he did not realise that it had already happened, he was just talking from a long term view...however, his reaction when it did finally come out was totally inexcusable and I for one do not believe that the "old Jude" would have said it...them 3 words...so hurtful, he never would have said it!Anton just peed me off, I do not condone cheating and for him to even try and pry Lucy away from Jude was just wrong..especially knowing she was his sisters best friend, but also, Lucy should have taken herself out of that situation once she knew what his intentions were.Was lovely to see Holly and little Jude in this book and glad that they were there for Lucy.Overall, disappointed but loved the ending...communication between the two of them was extremely lacking in this book..Jude just did everything he could for them, to give them a better life, Lucy just turned into some selfish moo that seriously got on my nerves..Holly and little Jude cheered the book up a bit and the ending made me happy...but other than that..not much more to say.[...]

FOR MORE REVIEWS LIKE THIS ONE, CHECK OUT MY BLOG ~ BLAME IT ON THE RAIN ~ LAURA'S BOOK BLOG!I cannot. believe. it took me this long to get round to reading this book! The funny banter, the electric connection between the characters, with a little bit of angsty drama mixed in there. It reminded me of why I like this series so much in the first place!This was such a nice final book to the CRASH series. Although it didn't have the same `kind' of drama which is in the first two, it feels like the story has grown up with the characters, as there is still drama there, but it's much more tame as the dramatics of teenage life is completely gone as Jude and Lucy have grown up together within their relationship, and come to trust each other, and more importantly, control their tempers...well at least a little bit..."...I've always been with you, Ryder" - I kissed one corner of his mouth, and then the other - "and I always will be."Picking up a few years after CLASH ended, Lucy and Jude are living the fairy tale life together, sharing a flat every weekend, and checking through the sofa for change to pay their electric bill. However, when Jude gets grafted in to the NFL, the pair suddenly find themselves facing a long distance relationship, as Jude moves across county to California to live his dream, and spend his millions.Lucy's really seemed to shine for me in this book. I just felt that she was such a `real' character, even more so than in the first two books. Although she liked to look nice, she also didn't mind going out looking simple, she cared more about love and happiness rather than money, and this was a big thing for her throughout, as Jude struggled to understand why she wouldn't want to share his money. She was happy with her simple life, and wanted nothing more than to be with Jude, which I found completely adorable!If it's possible, I loved Jude more in this book than I did in the first two. He was so charismatic, funny, and sweet, that I really wish that he was a real person because he is my ideal book boyfriend and when I'm reading about him, it really feels like he is. He always treated Lucy as if she was the most precious thing in his life, and it was always clear that he would give up everything he had for her...*sigh**swoon* He was just perfect!My favorite thing about this book was the relationship between Jude and Lucy. There back and forward banter met new levels of hilarious, and truly showed how comfortable they were as a couple."I'd say our sex life was more in line with French vanilla, if I had to assign it a flavor.""That's it," he said, determination blossoming in his voice. "I'm introducing you to French vanilla's naughty cousin, rocky road."Although they were living thousands of miles apart, and they missed each other, and it was incredibly difficult, they made it work because they loved each other more than anything else. This book saw them tackle much more adult situations than looked at previously, and although at times the couple fought because of this, I never once doubted that they were going to stay together, which they always did."...I'll always come back because you're where I belong."In this book you can really feel that both Jude and Lucy have gown up immensely! Seeming to come to a happy place in their lives, the demons that they struggled with in the first two books, are much more in the background as they finally see the bigger picture and focus on their future together. Both of them have learned to control their anger and be less impulsive emotionally, that's not to say that they don't still argue and blow things a little out of proportion, but they are now both able to step back and take control of their emotions before it spirals out of control.I could not put this book down, and if I wasn't reading it, I was thinking about it, which is something I haven't felt with a book for a while! CRUSH was the perfect ending to the series, and I am so sad that it is the final book. These books have had me on the best kind of edge all the way through from the angst and drama that this series contains, they were all completely addictive and if you haven't read this series yet I couldn't recommend it enough! Two words...JUDE RYDER! <36 HUMONGOUS stars!

Please bear in mind that this is the third and final book in the series and the review may therefore contain spoilers for the previous books.Set 2/3 years after the end of Clash told once again from Lucy's perspective, a lot of the narrative has a reflective tone to it, making it appear as if Lucy is looking back at events. I have to admit I would love to see some of the pivotal scenes from Jude's point of view.Lucy and Jude have settled into a comfortable relationship during their college years, filled with an all consuming love and passion. To the casual observer their relationship can be misconstrued as unhealthy. Yet it works for Lucy and Jude who have been through far more together than most couples will ever face. They've grown a lot together as a couple and as individuals due to the security of their relationship. Their unwavering love for each other is the foundation on which they can build the rest of their lives.Lucy's determination to be independent blinds her to the bigger picture sometimes, even she isn't fully aware of the reasons behind her need to be independent and it causes friction in her life not just with Jude. It's as if Lucy has a set plan in her head and she is rigid in her attempt to achieve it. Regardless of Lucy's plan, it's as if fate/destiny steps in throwing Lucy off course but ultimately leading her to exactly where she should be.There is a continued sense of anticipation while reading Crush making it a heart racing/stomach clenching read to see if events would lead to the ending I desperately craved.The peripheral characters have more of a central role in Crush than the previous 2 books. Providing a colorful support network for Lucy (as this is more her story than Jude's). The narrative has some amazing one-liners that add both humor and tender touches to the story.I loved how the story proved that in life you may not necessarily get what you think you want but ultimately you get what you need. A stunning conclusion to the Crash series.

Brilliant closeout, yup one of those trilogy thingies but so worth it. The lives of Jude and Luce shuffle forward. She is still desperate to hold onto her independence. Jude meanwhile picks up his football career.Jude tries flashing the cash but finally understands what Luce is really trying to tell him.In this book we meet India`s brother who is convinced Luce should be with him with slapping results.An explosive twist where tissues are needed rolls carefully and gently to the only conclusion possible.Do I recommend this book, he'll yeh!

Item description:The item came in perfect condition and safely packaged. The quality of the cover is not very strong, it is thin and bent easily. The paper inside is thin but okay quality. The writing size and font is easy to read and overall the item is good.Story rating: I – unfortunately - could not find myself enjoying CRUSH as much as I enjoyed the last two books. so for that i am giving this a 3 star rating