Title: Smash Into You
By: Shelly Crane
My Copy: Ebook for Review Tour
BookWhisperer Rating:
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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.
Shelley Crane is a well known to The BookWhisperer for her Significance series.
This was quite a different path from what I have learned to expect. It was quickly noticed that this book seemed quite a bit more mature of a read, but it was creative and enticing from page one. Unfortunately, to accurate rate this story I must touch on all aspects and I found some disturbing moments in this journey. To jump right in and get them out of the way my first and largest complaint about this story was with Jude. This young man has been on the run from the time he was ten years old; now I know this was to add to the suspense of the story and an interesting idea, but we are striving for a realistic storyline this was far from it. What ten year old could run away, and find ways to survive. No one is going to hire them, and it would be utterly impossible for them to find ways to feed himself no matter how smart he is. In the same token, Marley is living in her car while attending school. I understand that it was pointed out that she gives a fake address, but with all the hoops we jump through everyday how is that even possible. I don't see this as being another realistic situation. So, other than a few moments of far fetched thinking it was easy to absorb into this story, and ride the thrill of their suspense. I loved the creative storyline, and noticed the lack of tight conclusion that has left me with the anticipation of more to come. Smash Into You is not a mind binder, but is easily enjoyable and captivating without the exhaustion of a deep and tedious story.
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:
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.
Don't miss out on the giveaway for your chance to end up with a copy of Smash Into You!
Julie is a high school teacher by day, and a writer by night. She writes both young adult and adult romances. When she's not writing, she can be found out and about with her family, reading, and watching football. As a reading intervention teacher, she prides herself on matching her students with great books to encourage them to become life-long readers. Visit Julie at her website http://juliepbooks.com/ Follow Julie on Twitter @juliepbooks 
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