The Crush Collision 

by Danielle Ellison

(Southern Charmed #2)

Publication Date: February 18, 2019

Publisher: Entangled Teen: Crush

Haley Howell has had a hopeless crush on her brother’s best friend, Jake Lexington, for as long as she can remember. Too bad to him, she’ll forever be off-limits. But with senior year and acceptance to a college outside their tiny southern town of Culler, South Carolina, comes new confidence. Haley’s ready to get Jake to notice her—whatever it takes.

No one in Culler notices the real Jake anymore—to them, he’s nothing more than the star football player or the kid with the family tragedy. When one mistake lands him in community service, he’s shocked to find his best friend’s little sister there, too, looking cute as hell and threatening all his no-friends-with-benefits rules. But Jake isn’t ready to take a chance, no matter how crafty Haley’s willing to get to prove him otherwise… 

 

Link to Goodreads:

 

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/43602666-the-crush-collision

 

Purchase Links:

 

Amazon | Amazon Australia | Amazon UK | Amazon Canada | B&N | iBooks | Kobo

Link to Tour Schedule:

http://www.chapter-by-chapter.com/blog-tour-the-crush-collision-southern-charmed-2-by-danielle-ellison/

 

 

 

 

The Crush Collision by Danielle Ellison
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is #2, in the Southern Charmed series. This can be read as a standalone novel. For reader enjoyment, and to avoid spoilers, I recommend reading this series in order.

Haley has been in love with her brother's best friend for years. When they have more in common during the school year - they end up spending time together. Can she keep it a secret from her own BFF who thinks she is in love with Jake?

Jake is finding this the worst year of his life. The only thing he looks forward to right now is spending time with his best friend's little sister. He wants to tell everyone but knows it will cut their time together short. Will he get the guts to tell all?

This series is so good. I love the couples and friendships. This is my favorite trope - no secret there - but I especially love when its done right. I loved the characters and how rich and deep they were. Considering all the touchy subjects touched on in the book this was a terrific way to read about them.


***This early copy was given by Netgalley and its publishers, in exchange for an honest review only.

View all my reviews

 

 

 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

 

Danielle Ellison is a nomad, always on the lookout for an adventure and the next story. In addition to writing, she’s the founder and coordinator of the NoVa TEEN Book Festival. When she’s not busy with books, she’s probably watching her favorite shows, drinking coffee, or fighting her nomadic urges. She is newly settled in Oklahoma (for now) with her cat, Simon, but you can always find her on twitter @DanielleEWrites.

 

Website • Twitter • Facebook • Instagram • Goodreads

 

 

Blog Tour and materials provided by:

 

 

 

This is #2, in the Southern Charmed series.  This can be read as a standalone novel.  For reader enjoyment, and to avoid spoilers, I recommend reading this series in order.

 

Haley has been in love with her brother's best friend for years.  When they have more in common during the school year - they end up spending time together.  Can she keep it a secret from her own BFF who thinks she is in love with Jake?

 

Jake is finding this the worst year of his life.  The only thing he looks forward to right now is spending time with his best friend's little sister.  He wants to tell everyone but knows it will cut their time together short.  Will he get the guts to tell all?

 

This series is so good.  I love the couples and friendships.  This is my favorite trope - no secret there - but I especially love when its done right.  I loved the characters and how rich and deep they were.  Considering all the touchy subjects touched on in the book this was a terrific way to read about them.  I give this story a 4/5 Kitty's Paws UP!

 

 

***This early copy was given by Netgalley and its publishers, in exchange for an honest review only.

The Sweetheart Sham (Southern Charmed) (...

Georgie was the only person who knew Will was gay. Will was Georgie’s best friend. Georgie had been telling Will to come out of the closet  for months but Will was the Golden Boy of the town and didn’t want a lot of drama about his sexuality. Will and Georgie had known each other since before birth. Will was a Montgomery whose ancestors were the founding family of Cullar. In Cullar everyone knows everything about everybody just the way it was in the small town. Everyone in town had been betting on  Georgie and Will eventually getting married. Georgie;s mom is the only party planner in Culler. She was now busy working on Drew Montgomery's wedding. Chloe had become her mother’s assistant. Then Georgie thought about how it used to always be the three of them. Georgie, Will, and Beau. Beau had been Georgie;s first kiss and kind of first boyfriend but then he broke Georgie’s heart. Beau was suppose to take Georgie to the Sweetheart’s dance and they would make it known they were a couple but he never showed up . Beau and his mom Kerri Ann left town and Beau didn’t even say goodbye to Georgie. Beau had called and tried to talk to Georgie after to explain to her  but all she said was you broke my heart Beau stopped trying after that. Beau was also the only secret Georgie had ever  kept from Will. The Night of The End Of the Year party Will said he had met someone but the other boy also hadn’t come out of the closet either. The young men both wanted to see each other again but they had to figure out how, Beau thought he would never be in Culler again but he would be for the whole summer as he was going to be a groomsman in his cousin Drew’s wedding. Georgie had always been Drew’s fantasy girl and he had screwed that up. Georgie was a tornado as far as Beau is concerned: unpredictable, fierce, and mesmerizing. Or she had been two years ago when Beau had last seen her. Will’s, Georgie;s and Beau’s mom Kerri Ann had been the Trio  they had been best friends forever, sorority sisters, neighbors, and partners in crime until Kerri Ann had left with Beau after Beau’s father had lied and cheated on Kerri Ann and then they had divorced. Georgie wants the best for Will and then Will comes up with Georgie being his pretend girlfriend so he could get away without being questioned to meet up with the guy he liked. Beau believes Georgie is seeing Will now. Also his relationship is strained with his father as he hadn’t forgave his father for what he had done that had forced his and his mom to leave. But Beau really wants Georgie to forgive him.

I enjoyed reading this book. I liked how the author displayed Will’s torn feelings about being gay and letting everyone know. I loved how loyal Georgie was to Will. This did drag at little for me at times but not enough to not finish the book. I felt there was a lot of realism in this book. I liked that we got to see both Georgie’s and Beau’s POV s. I also liked how it showed growth in Beau as the book went on. I loved Beau’s determination to make things right with Georgie. I really enjoyed the small town atmosphere of this book. I really enjoyed all the characters and the ins and outs of this book and I recommend it

The Sweetheart Sham - Danielle Ellison I loved this so much!
The Sweetheart Sham is a beautiful coming of age story about love, faith and courage.
It's a story about moving on from past mistakes and accepting the people we love most. A story about a small southern town with all its charm and quirkiness.
Simply beautiful and heartwarming.

I am in love with the book. But actually, no that's not right. I am in love with the characters.
If we look at the storyline, it's nice. It was wonderful to read. But not something super exciting. It's paced just right, there were no big surprises. It doesn't need that, however. It was a love story alright. But the story isn't just about the love between Georgie and Beau. But it's about all kinds of different love. So the relationship dramas, while I liked the swoony parts a lot, it was secondary.

The writing style is simply on point. It's a bit soppy at times- (hello I am still me cold-hearted as ever! lol) - but just the right amount of it. It is an ode to having faith in love.
As Beau puts it:
"Something I'm learning is that love requires faith"
In a nutshell, that is what the book is about. A group of friends learning to have faith in each other and their family. Plus the super hot basketball player to swoon over

This thrives on the character-building. I want more of Culler and it's residents. soon, please? I have no idea where Ellison is going next with the series. I have some ideas.. but well, I don't even care. I just would like more of Culler.
The whole book is written from Beau and Georgie's POV, there are also back flashes thrown in. And it took the last interlude of the past to actually get why Georgie acted the way she did through half of the book. I kept thinking, she is so self-involved. And she was that and drama queen at times as well. But then who isn't at that age? In the beginning, I wasn't a huge fan of her. But she grew quickly on me. She is very loyal and honest. A strong female lead, learning to find balance and to see others situation. I love her relationship with Layla. By the way can we please get a book with Layla? She is such an interesting character (I would love to see her with Jack for some reason lol)
Beau is swoony. Like seriously. All broody, yet super sweet. He is so honest, so set to do the right thing. I could totally relate to his fears, his hurt and his insecurities. But he isn't just hot and all that. The best part is how he changes in this book, how he accepts that sometimes people make mistakes. It was heartbreaking and moving to see the change in his relationship with his dad.
The relationship between Will and Georgie is priceless. I love the trio and their bond. In fact, I liked the whole gang. I like the easy camaraderie, but more than that, their teasing and yet their support for each other.
Then there are the families... well I could go on. Let me just say, the character building is brilliant. Ellison brought interesting and intricate characters to life with her writing. I feel like I got to know Culler, it's quirky history and surroundings, but most of all its residents. And I want more!

So definitely a must read.
And when is the next book coming out?
4.5 I want so much more of this stars

The Sweetheart Sham - Danielle Ellison I loved this so much!
The Sweetheart Sham is a beautiful coming of age story about love, faith and courage.
It's a story about moving on from past mistakes and accepting the people we love most. A story about a small southern town with all its charm and quirkiness.
Simply beautiful and heartwarming.

I am in love with the book. But actually, no that's not right. I am in love with the characters.
If we look at the storyline, it's nice. It was wonderful to read. But not something super exciting. It's paced just right, there were no big surprises. It doesn't need that, however. It was a love story alright. But the story isn't just about the love between Georgie and Beau. But it's about all kinds of different love. So the relationship dramas, while I liked the swoony parts a lot, it was secondary.

The writing style is simply on point. It's a bit soppy at times- (hello I am still me cold-hearted as ever! lol) - but just the right amount of it. It is an ode to having faith in love.
As Beau puts it:
"Something I'm learning is that love requires faith"
In a nutshell, that is what the book is about. A group of friends learning to have faith in each other and their family. Plus the super hot basketball player to swoon over

This thrives on the character-building. I want more of Culler and it's residents. soon, please? I have no idea where Ellison is going next with the series. I have some ideas.. but well, I don't even care. I just would like more of Culler.
The whole book is written from Beau and Georgie's POV, there are also back flashes thrown in. And it took the last interlude of the past to actually get why Georgie acted the way she did through half of the book. I kept thinking, she is so self-involved. And she was that and drama queen at times as well. But then who isn't at that age? In the beginning, I wasn't a huge fan of her. But she grew quickly on me. She is very loyal and honest. A strong female lead, learning to find balance and to see others situation. I love her relationship with Layla. By the way can we please get a book with Layla? She is such an interesting character (I would love to see her with Jack for some reason lol)
Beau is swoony. Like seriously. All broody, yet super sweet. He is so honest, so set to do the right thing. I could totally relate to his fears, his hurt and his insecurities. But he isn't just hot and all that. The best part is how he changes in this book, how he accepts that sometimes people make mistakes. It was heartbreaking and moving to see the change in his relationship with his dad.
The relationship between Will and Georgie is priceless. I love the trio and their bond. In fact, I liked the whole gang. I like the easy camaraderie, but more than that, their teasing and yet their support for each other.
Then there are the families... well I could go on. Let me just say, the character building is brilliant. Ellison brought interesting and intricate characters to life with her writing. I feel like I got to know Culler, it's quirky history and surroundings, but most of all its residents. And I want more!

So definitely a must read.
And when is the next book coming out?
4.5 I want so much more of this stars