Book Review: Smash Into You



Smash Into You by Shelly Crane
August 13, 2013
324 pages
Genre: New Adult
Source: Personal purchase

Book Blurb:

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

My Review:

I am a huge fan of Shelly Crane. The Significance series is one of my favorites. If you are familiar with Shelly's work, then you know she tends toward clean romances, and that is perfectly fine with me. She has a great way of developing sweet relationships, while also not neglecting their physical attraction to each other, but keeping it respectful.

As for Smash Into You, this is a standalone and written from Jude's POV. Jude and Marley are intriguing characters, both outsiders growing up either on-the-run or from home-to-home. The way then come together in this story is really well played, and I enjoyed watching their relationship develop, and especially how Jude grew as a person. They have some very sweet moments, some touching moments, work well together, borderlined on cheesy at times, but were still an entertaining couple to read about.

Along with the relationship is the mystery aspect of who Jude is running from and what the big secret is. For some reason, the way the story developed, the secrets and mysteries, and the eventual discovery and quick resolution, just didn't completely work for me. There were too many times I thought things went a little easier than I thought they should. I think it may have worked better for me as an expanded series, going into more depth. I liked the concept and understood where things were going, but there was just something missing.

This was a fun, sweet, quick read. I liked the eventual outcome, the ending, and the epilogue. This wasn't my favorite Shelly Crane novel, but it was still enjoyable.

 

3 STARS

 

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