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Collide
Forced to choose between lust and life...
She'll take lust
A childhood accident left Emmaline vulnerable to disturbing fugue states that last only minutes, but feel like an eternity. The blackouts are unsettling but manageable... until she meets Johnny Dellasandro.
The reclusive painter gained notoriety in the '70s for his debauched lifestyle and raunchy art films. His naked body has achieved cult status, especially in Emm's mind — she's obsessed with the man, who's grown even sexier with age. Today Johnny shuns the spotlight and Emm in particular... until she falls into a fugue on his doorstep.
In that moment she's transported back thirty years, crashing a party at Johnny's place in his wild-man heyday — the night is a blur of flesh and heat that lingers on her skin long after she's woken to the present.
It happens again and again, each time-slip another mind-blowing orgy, and soon Emm can't stop, though every episode leaves her weaker and weaker. She's frightened by what's happening to her, but she's even more terrified of losing this portal to the Johnny she wants so badly. The one who wants her, too, and takes her — every chance he gets.
She'll take lust
A childhood accident left Emmaline vulnerable to disturbing fugue states that last only minutes, but feel like an eternity. The blackouts are unsettling but manageable... until she meets Johnny Dellasandro.
The reclusive painter gained notoriety in the '70s for his debauched lifestyle and raunchy art films. His naked body has achieved cult status, especially in Emm's mind — she's obsessed with the man, who's grown even sexier with age. Today Johnny shuns the spotlight and Emm in particular... until she falls into a fugue on his doorstep.
In that moment she's transported back thirty years, crashing a party at Johnny's place in his wild-man heyday — the night is a blur of flesh and heat that lingers on her skin long after she's woken to the present.
It happens again and again, each time-slip another mind-blowing orgy, and soon Emm can't stop, though every episode leaves her weaker and weaker. She's frightened by what's happening to her, but she's even more terrified of losing this portal to the Johnny she wants so badly. The one who wants her, too, and takes her — every chance he gets.
343 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2011
44 people are currently reading
1666 people want to read
About the author
Megan Hart
265 books4,057 followersMegan Hart has written in almost every genre of romantic fiction, including historical, contemporary, romantic suspense, romantic comedy, futuristic, fantasy and perhaps most notably, erotic. She also writes non-erotic fantasy and science fiction, as well as continuing to occasionally dabble in horror.
--from the author's website
Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name.
For Megan Hart, the nutritionist, click here
--from the author's website
Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name.
For Megan Hart, the nutritionist, click here
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 190 reviews
December 22, 2024
Re Read December 2024**
August 31, 2011
I've seen a lot of rave reviews for this author, so I thought I'd try out one of her books. Apparently this was not a good one to start with, though, because I really didn't enjoy this at all. Pretty much every aspect that it tried to cover was not well done, including:
* the paranormal stuff (weird, jerky, needed better transitions)
* the relationship (she is a FAN STALKER, no matter how you try to get past it, and is obsessed with him)
* the characters (why does he like her? she's so dull! He's not all that interesting, either. The age thing is also weird/not well done--she's in her early 30s, he's 57)
* she objectifies him (he used to be an "actor")
* the erotica (repetitive, unimaginative)
* hammering in the "collision" theme--we get it, we get it!
I thought overall, this book was pretty boring--and frankly, it's pretty sad when a book has so much explicit sex that just isn't sexy.
A review copy was provided by the publisher. I haven't had too much luck with Harlequin lately, but I swear there are a lot of titles I do like! Particularly looking forward to Rachel Vincent's If I Die, like the rest of the bloggerverse.
* the paranormal stuff (weird, jerky, needed better transitions)
* the relationship (she is a FAN STALKER, no matter how you try to get past it, and is obsessed with him)
* the characters (why does he like her? she's so dull! He's not all that interesting, either. The age thing is also weird/not well done--she's in her early 30s, he's 57)
* she objectifies him (he used to be an "actor")
* the erotica (repetitive, unimaginative)
* hammering in the "collision" theme--we get it, we get it!
I thought overall, this book was pretty boring--and frankly, it's pretty sad when a book has so much explicit sex that just isn't sexy.
A review copy was provided by the publisher. I haven't had too much luck with Harlequin lately, but I swear there are a lot of titles I do like! Particularly looking forward to Rachel Vincent's If I Die, like the rest of the bloggerverse.
February 3, 2014
I've actually read this story a few times, and each time I've read it, it's actually improved a little in my mind, though I have complicated emotions about it. I'll first say off the bat that I love Megan Hart's writing, as usual. She has a way of taking me straight into the character's mind and making me empathize with what the character experiences, even if I don't always see eye to eye. I love the depth of the character intimacy, and not just in the sensual scenes. This story hit a little closer to home with me than I thought it would, but not for the reason people might think.
Emma is a 32-year old woman who has fugues, which are a bit like seizures in that there's a disconnect from reality that tends to happen for a few seconds to a few minutes. It's controlled her life for a long time, ever since a childhood accident put her in a coma and she woke from it with lingering effects. When her fugue states finally seem to break for a time, she gets the chance to live on her own and for herself - driving, getting her own place, and working a job away from her parents. She meets a friend in Jen, and the two quickly bond, but especially over a former indie actor and artist named Johnny.
I identified with Emma on the level of her fugue states (I grew up with a similar condition, so I know the confusion, the fatigue, the disassociation, loss of time, all that jazz when she describes it. I think Hart did a good job with the portrayal - it felt realistic enough). Hart presents the states in an interesting time-travel/paranormal direction in this book, though, something similar to a paranormal measure that was in "Deeper". I ran with it, thought it was interesting, though a little weird at time because of Emma's growing fan obsession with Johnny. I understood parts of her attraction to him, but at the same time felt a bit put off by it. Especially when she seems to hold on to the identity of the old Johnny she knows in the fugue states than the one in the present - who is much older than her (he's in his fifties, about as old as her father. Johnny also has a daughter about two years older than Emma. Made for some awkwardness in the story, which is probably a give and take).
Emma and Johnny's chemistry is smoking hot in the fugue realm, and the level of description from Johnny's distinct accent and mannerisms to his lifestyle is interesting to see, especially in the division between the past and present. I liked his character development and the contrast of his character in the past and present day. It was odd to me as the story went along because I wasn't sure how or where the story would go for a time - whether it would ground itself in the reality or lend towards the fantasy. The narrative trades between Emma's present day and the reality she lives with Johnny in the fugue states.
I have to admit I haven't seen a novel take on this specific theme in this genre (and if there are others that work with it, I'd be interested in reading them), but I'll admit there were points where this narrative lost me and put me off. Some of it was on the level of Emma being obsessed with inserting herself into Johnny's life in the present. I could handle her fugue states with some disbelief, but going into the reality of the present and her trying to link up with him was awkward at best and borderline obsession at worst. But at the same time, there's a connection that builds into something solid, or in Emma and Johnny's words, they "collide" more often than not. At a certain point it did feel repetitious, and I wish it could've scaled back on that a bit. The way the story concludes did confirm my suspicions on where it would go, and I thought it tied up okay though it still left me wanting more from it (maybe with more resonation and building) than it provided.
This is a narrative I think will definitely strike people differently depending on suspension of disbelief for the elements it presents and theme (there were times it tested me). I don't think it's the best work I've read from Hart (not by a long shot), but I still appreciated the idea of the story as well as the parts of the narrative that drew me in.
Overall score: 2.5/5 stars
Emma is a 32-year old woman who has fugues, which are a bit like seizures in that there's a disconnect from reality that tends to happen for a few seconds to a few minutes. It's controlled her life for a long time, ever since a childhood accident put her in a coma and she woke from it with lingering effects. When her fugue states finally seem to break for a time, she gets the chance to live on her own and for herself - driving, getting her own place, and working a job away from her parents. She meets a friend in Jen, and the two quickly bond, but especially over a former indie actor and artist named Johnny.
I identified with Emma on the level of her fugue states (I grew up with a similar condition, so I know the confusion, the fatigue, the disassociation, loss of time, all that jazz when she describes it. I think Hart did a good job with the portrayal - it felt realistic enough). Hart presents the states in an interesting time-travel/paranormal direction in this book, though, something similar to a paranormal measure that was in "Deeper". I ran with it, thought it was interesting, though a little weird at time because of Emma's growing fan obsession with Johnny. I understood parts of her attraction to him, but at the same time felt a bit put off by it. Especially when she seems to hold on to the identity of the old Johnny she knows in the fugue states than the one in the present - who is much older than her (he's in his fifties, about as old as her father. Johnny also has a daughter about two years older than Emma. Made for some awkwardness in the story, which is probably a give and take).
Emma and Johnny's chemistry is smoking hot in the fugue realm, and the level of description from Johnny's distinct accent and mannerisms to his lifestyle is interesting to see, especially in the division between the past and present. I liked his character development and the contrast of his character in the past and present day. It was odd to me as the story went along because I wasn't sure how or where the story would go for a time - whether it would ground itself in the reality or lend towards the fantasy. The narrative trades between Emma's present day and the reality she lives with Johnny in the fugue states.
I have to admit I haven't seen a novel take on this specific theme in this genre (and if there are others that work with it, I'd be interested in reading them), but I'll admit there were points where this narrative lost me and put me off. Some of it was on the level of Emma being obsessed with inserting herself into Johnny's life in the present. I could handle her fugue states with some disbelief, but going into the reality of the present and her trying to link up with him was awkward at best and borderline obsession at worst. But at the same time, there's a connection that builds into something solid, or in Emma and Johnny's words, they "collide" more often than not. At a certain point it did feel repetitious, and I wish it could've scaled back on that a bit. The way the story concludes did confirm my suspicions on where it would go, and I thought it tied up okay though it still left me wanting more from it (maybe with more resonation and building) than it provided.
This is a narrative I think will definitely strike people differently depending on suspension of disbelief for the elements it presents and theme (there were times it tested me). I don't think it's the best work I've read from Hart (not by a long shot), but I still appreciated the idea of the story as well as the parts of the narrative that drew me in.
Overall score: 2.5/5 stars
June 28, 2011
I didn't really expect to like this book all that much. But it made me laugh. It made me feel. And boy, was it hot!
The story follows Emm, a 32 year-old woman, who has lived her life with the constant threat that she will go into a fugue state. She had a head injury in childhood, and ever since, she has had episodes where her mind leaves reality. In the past few years, though, she seems to have gotten it under control. Until she crosses paths with Johnny. She only sees him in a coffee shop, but she is instantly attracted. She learns that he was a star in some, er, artistic films in the 70s... which she promptly checks out. And before she knows it, she's blanking out again. Only this time, the place she goes in her mind is one where Johnny is the star. She meets him, in the 70s and hops into his bed. Of course, when she gets back to reality, that only fuels her desire to meet him for real.
To say the real Johnny is stand-offish would be an understatement. He is gruff, even rude to Emm. But when she goes into a fugue state right in front of him, he brings her into his home to help her out... beginning a dialogue between them. Emm is going dark, as she calls it, more and more. And every time, she is back in Johnny's past. She is becoming more invested in him --in his life and in his bed. She has trouble separating her growing feelings for the Johnny in her mind with the Johnny who is present in her real-life. This is especially true, when she finally breaks down the barriers he places between them and they become a real couple.
The thing is, Emm is starting to question whether the past events are really just in her mind. Johnny is hard to read, but keeps giving off vibes that he knows more than he's saying. And the proof just keeps growing.
I couldn't put this book down. Yeah, it's got some similarities to other stories, but it acknowledges them openly. Even Emm gives shouts to Dr Who and The Time Traveler's Wife. There are so many cultural references that clicked for me --and the way Emm talks-- it made her so relatable for me. And it was funny. Some of passages had me laughing out loud.
Of course, aside from the whole time travel element, the biggest thing going on in the book is the sex. And wow! We're talking hot. I'm not a big fan of using the "c-word" to refer to lady-bits, but even that didn't cut in to the megga-watt hot factor going on in this book. Believe me, by the time it was over, I was ready to have sex with Johnny and I don't much care whether it was the 24 year-old version or the 57 year-old one.
I did feel kind of sorry for him, once everything was revealed. I'm glad we got the ending we did, but the poor guy really had a rough road. And I can see why Emm got the initial reaction he gave her at the beginning of the book.
I'll definitely read more Megan Hart in the future. And I'll never look at the word "hooah" the same way. 4 1/2 stars.
*ARC Provided by NetGalley
The story follows Emm, a 32 year-old woman, who has lived her life with the constant threat that she will go into a fugue state. She had a head injury in childhood, and ever since, she has had episodes where her mind leaves reality. In the past few years, though, she seems to have gotten it under control. Until she crosses paths with Johnny. She only sees him in a coffee shop, but she is instantly attracted. She learns that he was a star in some, er, artistic films in the 70s... which she promptly checks out. And before she knows it, she's blanking out again. Only this time, the place she goes in her mind is one where Johnny is the star. She meets him, in the 70s and hops into his bed. Of course, when she gets back to reality, that only fuels her desire to meet him for real.
To say the real Johnny is stand-offish would be an understatement. He is gruff, even rude to Emm. But when she goes into a fugue state right in front of him, he brings her into his home to help her out... beginning a dialogue between them. Emm is going dark, as she calls it, more and more. And every time, she is back in Johnny's past. She is becoming more invested in him --in his life and in his bed. She has trouble separating her growing feelings for the Johnny in her mind with the Johnny who is present in her real-life. This is especially true, when she finally breaks down the barriers he places between them and they become a real couple.
The thing is, Emm is starting to question whether the past events are really just in her mind. Johnny is hard to read, but keeps giving off vibes that he knows more than he's saying. And the proof just keeps growing.
I couldn't put this book down. Yeah, it's got some similarities to other stories, but it acknowledges them openly. Even Emm gives shouts to Dr Who and The Time Traveler's Wife. There are so many cultural references that clicked for me --and the way Emm talks-- it made her so relatable for me. And it was funny. Some of passages had me laughing out loud.
"I haven't been this excited about an erection since my first boy-girl party in the eighth grade..."
"I made it through dinner without embarrasing myself, although everytime he wiped his mouth I wanted my cunt to be the napkin."
Of course, aside from the whole time travel element, the biggest thing going on in the book is the sex. And wow! We're talking hot. I'm not a big fan of using the "c-word" to refer to lady-bits, but even that didn't cut in to the megga-watt hot factor going on in this book. Believe me, by the time it was over, I was ready to have sex with Johnny and I don't much care whether it was the 24 year-old version or the 57 year-old one.
I did feel kind of sorry for him, once everything was revealed. I'm glad we got the ending we did, but the poor guy really had a rough road. And I can see why Emm got the initial reaction he gave her at the beginning of the book.
I'll definitely read more Megan Hart in the future. And I'll never look at the word "hooah" the same way. 4 1/2 stars.
*ARC Provided by NetGalley
April 26, 2011
Many people are going to dislike this book because of it's similarity to another (and sadly less racy) book. I predicted what was happening early on in the book but that didn't stop the enjoyment. I enjoyed every single page, every single second, and every single hot scene in this whole book. I loved it so much I immediately wanted to re-read it when I finished it. I know if you read the book that is similar (and there is a mention to this similar book in the book) you know which book everyone is going to compare it to, I don't want to give to much away so I won't tell you what it is.
I guess I will go into detail about why I love this book. It has a slow romantic build up but keeps you satisfied the way an erotic novel is supposed to. I love the sheer sensuality of Ms. Hart's writing, every single scene, from drinking coffee, to making love, is a decadent and sensual experience for not only the characters but the readers.
The characters also are top notch. Ms. Hart has a trend of giving you at least one, slightly out of the norm, character in every book she writes, but this one both the main characters are slightly off. Johnny is older than I would imagine any of my book heroes but she doesn't make it a big deal and I find myself falling in love with a man that is thirty-ish years my senior, wierd but...it works. I love Emm, she knows exaclty what she wants and she uses any, and you will see...any...means to get it.
This book also had a suprising ending. Ms. Hart has a trend of giving you an ending that may or may not be happy. Sometimes they are sort of pick you own, or they can be happy for now and she leaves the readers to speculate on what happens. This one was a suprise from her norm and I really liked it. I loved this book. LOVED LOVED LOVED LOVED LOVED. Can't wait to read another by Ms. Hart, hopefully soon.
I guess I will go into detail about why I love this book. It has a slow romantic build up but keeps you satisfied the way an erotic novel is supposed to. I love the sheer sensuality of Ms. Hart's writing, every single scene, from drinking coffee, to making love, is a decadent and sensual experience for not only the characters but the readers.
The characters also are top notch. Ms. Hart has a trend of giving you at least one, slightly out of the norm, character in every book she writes, but this one both the main characters are slightly off. Johnny is older than I would imagine any of my book heroes but she doesn't make it a big deal and I find myself falling in love with a man that is thirty-ish years my senior, wierd but...it works. I love Emm, she knows exaclty what she wants and she uses any, and you will see...any...means to get it.
This book also had a suprising ending. Ms. Hart has a trend of giving you an ending that may or may not be happy. Sometimes they are sort of pick you own, or they can be happy for now and she leaves the readers to speculate on what happens. This one was a suprise from her norm and I really liked it. I loved this book. LOVED LOVED LOVED LOVED LOVED. Can't wait to read another by Ms. Hart, hopefully soon.
May 20, 2011
This book was provided to me via NetGalley
Stemming from a childhood accident on a playground, Emmaline experiences fugues where she completely blanks out from reality for moments, but really feeling much longer than that. For a while, Emm has learned how to manage her fugue’s, not experiencing them in over a year. She’s able to get her driver’s license, obtain a great job at a bank, and finally live independently from her parent’s. Everything is going great for Emm until she notices Johnny Dellasandro
Johnny is a former seventies adult film star who still has quite the following, including Emm’s best friend Jen. Jen introduces Emm to all of Johnny’s movies, pictures, and many fan sites dedicated to him. Soon, Emm becomes infatuated with Johnny, purchasing older movies, even buying a used t-shirt with his picture on the front of it. Johnny, if it’s possible, is even more handsome and appealing now, and it doesn’t help Emm’s attraction for him that he lives in the same neighborhood as she does. He even visits the same coffee shop that she does on a daily basis, making it impossible to not see him. To make matters worse, Johnny does everything he can to avoid people, especially Emm¸ which of course, only makes Emm want him more.
Emm falls into a fugue right infront of Johnny’s house and when she does, she’s transported back to thirty years prior where she’s with the incredibly sexy Johnny Dellasandro from the movies. The time she spends with him in her fugue marks her memory, and her body, in a way that is impossible to forget.
Everytime Emm is in Johnny’s presence, she experiences one of these mind-blowing fugues and shortly after, her family and friends start to notice. Her independence she’d fought so hard for, are slowly taken away from her. Even as devastating as losing her liberties is to her, she’s more frightened to not experience moments with Johnny again. Especially when the moments she’s with him, their desire for one another is unimaginable.
I struggled with this book at first, especially within the first 100 pages. Just as I was ready to throw in the towel, it became necessary for me to finish this book in one seating, which I did.
Megan Hart is my favorite author. I have praised her work time and time again for the same reasons over and over again. Her writing makes me experience emotions right along with characters in her book. In one scene, Emm is back home at her parent’s home visiting and notices that her mom and dad are making plans for a vacation; without her. Emm experiences an array of feelings, but mainly she feels almost abandoned. In this scene, I was crying with Emm, not because I had similar events happen in my life, but because the writing was so real. The emotion so raw. Megan touches on every sense from taste to scent and I swear while I was reading this, I could smell oranges every time Emm did. Even now if I smell oranges, I have no doubt I will think about this book.
Everything is so…sensual. The conversation, the taste of coffee, the still images of photography, and obviously, the sex.
While reading this, I envision Johnny as Robert Redford. Don’t know if that’s what Megan had in mind when she was writing this, but that’s certainly the image I had and I found myself falling in love with Johnny as Emm did; present day and fugue-state included.
I will not divulge the ending of this as I think it’s one of the best endings I’ve ever read. All I will say is that it took me by surprise, and I was not expecting it at all. So props to Megan for keeping me guessing the whole time!
What makes me positive that this book will have a space on my bookshelf (with almost ALL of Megan Hart’s other books), is that the more I think about this book, the more I love it. As I’m writing this review, it’s been a full 24 hours since I finished it, and I cannot stop thinking about it. Collide is intensely romantic, full of drama, humor, and, in my opinion, magic. Five stars.
Stemming from a childhood accident on a playground, Emmaline experiences fugues where she completely blanks out from reality for moments, but really feeling much longer than that. For a while, Emm has learned how to manage her fugue’s, not experiencing them in over a year. She’s able to get her driver’s license, obtain a great job at a bank, and finally live independently from her parent’s. Everything is going great for Emm until she notices Johnny Dellasandro
Johnny is a former seventies adult film star who still has quite the following, including Emm’s best friend Jen. Jen introduces Emm to all of Johnny’s movies, pictures, and many fan sites dedicated to him. Soon, Emm becomes infatuated with Johnny, purchasing older movies, even buying a used t-shirt with his picture on the front of it. Johnny, if it’s possible, is even more handsome and appealing now, and it doesn’t help Emm’s attraction for him that he lives in the same neighborhood as she does. He even visits the same coffee shop that she does on a daily basis, making it impossible to not see him. To make matters worse, Johnny does everything he can to avoid people, especially Emm¸ which of course, only makes Emm want him more.
Emm falls into a fugue right infront of Johnny’s house and when she does, she’s transported back to thirty years prior where she’s with the incredibly sexy Johnny Dellasandro from the movies. The time she spends with him in her fugue marks her memory, and her body, in a way that is impossible to forget.
Everytime Emm is in Johnny’s presence, she experiences one of these mind-blowing fugues and shortly after, her family and friends start to notice. Her independence she’d fought so hard for, are slowly taken away from her. Even as devastating as losing her liberties is to her, she’s more frightened to not experience moments with Johnny again. Especially when the moments she’s with him, their desire for one another is unimaginable.
I struggled with this book at first, especially within the first 100 pages. Just as I was ready to throw in the towel, it became necessary for me to finish this book in one seating, which I did.
Megan Hart is my favorite author. I have praised her work time and time again for the same reasons over and over again. Her writing makes me experience emotions right along with characters in her book. In one scene, Emm is back home at her parent’s home visiting and notices that her mom and dad are making plans for a vacation; without her. Emm experiences an array of feelings, but mainly she feels almost abandoned. In this scene, I was crying with Emm, not because I had similar events happen in my life, but because the writing was so real. The emotion so raw. Megan touches on every sense from taste to scent and I swear while I was reading this, I could smell oranges every time Emm did. Even now if I smell oranges, I have no doubt I will think about this book.
Everything is so…sensual. The conversation, the taste of coffee, the still images of photography, and obviously, the sex.
While reading this, I envision Johnny as Robert Redford. Don’t know if that’s what Megan had in mind when she was writing this, but that’s certainly the image I had and I found myself falling in love with Johnny as Emm did; present day and fugue-state included.
I will not divulge the ending of this as I think it’s one of the best endings I’ve ever read. All I will say is that it took me by surprise, and I was not expecting it at all. So props to Megan for keeping me guessing the whole time!
What makes me positive that this book will have a space on my bookshelf (with almost ALL of Megan Hart’s other books), is that the more I think about this book, the more I love it. As I’m writing this review, it’s been a full 24 hours since I finished it, and I cannot stop thinking about it. Collide is intensely romantic, full of drama, humor, and, in my opinion, magic. Five stars.
September 13, 2011
No character development. No relationship development. I did not enjoy this. I wanted it to be over.
STORY BRIEF:
When Emm was six she fell, hit her head, and was in a coma. After that, periodically she would go into an unconscious state, each one lasting a few minutes or longer. She called these “fugues.” She could not get a driver’s license until she had been fugue free for a year. This finally happened when she was 31. She then moved out of her parents’ home to a city. She sees Johnny for the first time at the neighborhood coffee shop. He is the most beautiful man she has ever seen. He is 52, old enough to be her father. He is rude, dismissive, and cold to her each time she sees him. Through her girlfriend and the internet, Emm learns that Johnny starred in independent art films 30 years ago with full nudity. His naked body achieved cult status. Now he has an art gallery where he shows his own work as well as art done by others.
Emm had been fugue free for a year, but once she meets Johnny she begins having frequent fugues. In each fugue she time travels to Johnny’s home in 1978. In most of these visits they immediately have sex.
REVIEWER’S OPINION:
Johnny is cold and distant to Emm for vague and illogical reasons. Later, after they get together, Emm is unhappy with her condition in life so she acts like a bitch to Johnny. When they first meet (in her backward time travel) there is no meeting, talking, or getting to know each other. She just appears and says lets go upstairs. They have sex, and then she disappears. The few times he asks her where she comes from or why she leaves, she doesn’t answer him. She believes these are dreams, so she doesn’t need to explain anything. That was unsatisfying. Most of the book is someone being frustrated at desiring the other but not having them. Because I didn’t care about the characters I didn’t care about the sex. There are many explicit sex scenes.
I was tired of hearing how beautiful Johnny was. That’s the only thing I knew about him. I was also tired of one character who said “girl” too much. For example: “Girl, I will introduce you…” “Girl, if that makes you…” I don’t know why it bothered me, maybe because there was nothing else to go with that personality.
The plot concept was good. I liked the author’s explanation for why Emm time traveled. I’m glad the couple had a happy ending, but I did not “feel” good about it. I was just glad to be done reading.
DATA:
Story length: 337 pages. Swearing language: strong, including religious swear words. Sexual language: strong/erotic. Number of sex scenes: 12. Estimated number of sex scene pages: 25. Setting: current day Harrisburg and Annville, Pennsylvania, and 1978 New York City. Copyright: 2011. Genre: time travel contemporary romance, older man younger woman.
STORY BRIEF:
When Emm was six she fell, hit her head, and was in a coma. After that, periodically she would go into an unconscious state, each one lasting a few minutes or longer. She called these “fugues.” She could not get a driver’s license until she had been fugue free for a year. This finally happened when she was 31. She then moved out of her parents’ home to a city. She sees Johnny for the first time at the neighborhood coffee shop. He is the most beautiful man she has ever seen. He is 52, old enough to be her father. He is rude, dismissive, and cold to her each time she sees him. Through her girlfriend and the internet, Emm learns that Johnny starred in independent art films 30 years ago with full nudity. His naked body achieved cult status. Now he has an art gallery where he shows his own work as well as art done by others.
Emm had been fugue free for a year, but once she meets Johnny she begins having frequent fugues. In each fugue she time travels to Johnny’s home in 1978. In most of these visits they immediately have sex.
REVIEWER’S OPINION:
Johnny is cold and distant to Emm for vague and illogical reasons. Later, after they get together, Emm is unhappy with her condition in life so she acts like a bitch to Johnny. When they first meet (in her backward time travel) there is no meeting, talking, or getting to know each other. She just appears and says lets go upstairs. They have sex, and then she disappears. The few times he asks her where she comes from or why she leaves, she doesn’t answer him. She believes these are dreams, so she doesn’t need to explain anything. That was unsatisfying. Most of the book is someone being frustrated at desiring the other but not having them. Because I didn’t care about the characters I didn’t care about the sex. There are many explicit sex scenes.
I was tired of hearing how beautiful Johnny was. That’s the only thing I knew about him. I was also tired of one character who said “girl” too much. For example: “Girl, I will introduce you…” “Girl, if that makes you…” I don’t know why it bothered me, maybe because there was nothing else to go with that personality.
The plot concept was good. I liked the author’s explanation for why Emm time traveled. I’m glad the couple had a happy ending, but I did not “feel” good about it. I was just glad to be done reading.
DATA:
Story length: 337 pages. Swearing language: strong, including religious swear words. Sexual language: strong/erotic. Number of sex scenes: 12. Estimated number of sex scene pages: 25. Setting: current day Harrisburg and Annville, Pennsylvania, and 1978 New York City. Copyright: 2011. Genre: time travel contemporary romance, older man younger woman.
May 3, 2011
There are some things that make no sense. Love is one of them. Falling in love is jumping face first into a vast-abyss, hoping the person you love will be there to catch you. Love is a connection.
This book was Freakin' Awesome!!
I think I am most excited about the fact that I loved this book because I didn't think I would, I thought the premise sounded kind of silly, but being a huge Megan Hart fan I requested it anyway and WOW! am I glad I did! I don't want to give any thing away, particularly since this book hasn't released yet, but the characters were wonderful! I loved Emm from the very beginning(and her BFF Jen who made me laugh right out loud several times), I wasn't so sure about Johnny but I grew to absolutely love him.
As with most MH books you seem to get ALL of your emotions involved, I think that's what makes her books so incredible to me. I will suggest that if you begin this book and find yourself unsure for the first 75 pages or so, hang in there! Ms. Hart, IMO is famous for the emotional buildup, which is what I believe is taking place in the beginning. We are getting to know everyone and at times it's a little confusing but absolutely worth it!
To me, this book is a testament to the fact that true love knows no bounds, not even time!! Hope you all enjoy as much as I did!!
***This book was provided to me as and ARC by Netgalley
This book was Freakin' Awesome!!
I think I am most excited about the fact that I loved this book because I didn't think I would, I thought the premise sounded kind of silly, but being a huge Megan Hart fan I requested it anyway and WOW! am I glad I did! I don't want to give any thing away, particularly since this book hasn't released yet, but the characters were wonderful! I loved Emm from the very beginning(and her BFF Jen who made me laugh right out loud several times), I wasn't so sure about Johnny but I grew to absolutely love him.
As with most MH books you seem to get ALL of your emotions involved, I think that's what makes her books so incredible to me. I will suggest that if you begin this book and find yourself unsure for the first 75 pages or so, hang in there! Ms. Hart, IMO is famous for the emotional buildup, which is what I believe is taking place in the beginning. We are getting to know everyone and at times it's a little confusing but absolutely worth it!
To me, this book is a testament to the fact that true love knows no bounds, not even time!! Hope you all enjoy as much as I did!!
***This book was provided to me as and ARC by Netgalley
June 20, 2020
June, 2020
4.5 stars
Liked it even better on the second read. YAY!
Collide is a book that raised questions about its story, a book with a twist, and answers given at the end. I was quite puzzled the first time I read it. This time was different. Better.
Already knowing the twist, knowing the answers, I was able to just let myself be immersed in the story, so much so I felt Emm's dizziness, saw what she described through fog she saw, almost feel the wind she felt. It's been a while since I was that drawn in a story.
Knowing the answers, I was able to enjoy it without questioning it, have fun with picking up clues for the twist to come, that I'd missed the first time around, and get to know the characters all over again.
Emmaline I remembered quite well, of course. This time I made sure to focus on Johnny too. Both Johnny-now, and Johnny-then.
During my first read, Johnny Dellasandro was an enigma that Emm obsessed over. Afterwards, he was a pretty face and a hot body. This time I gave my full attention to him, and I have to admit, I was quite smitten with him, both with his young and older self.
I'm still not gonna go into the paranormal aspect of the story. That's just a headache waiting to happen. When it comes to paranormal romance, I choose to focus on the romance.
This romance developed in different times, decades apart. Past and present, in a complicated timeline. The important part is it developed, and I enjoyed reading it twice.
June, 2017
4 stars
Nothing scarier than getting to the last third of Megan Hart's book, and reading that the main characters are just fine.
As I've already said a thousand times, I am a huge Megan Hart fan. For good reason. With her books, it's not a question whether or not I'll like the book, but how much I'll like it. Collide is one of those I really liked.
This is Emmaline's story. Emm is a new resident in Harrisburg, a familiar place in Hart's novels. A lot of her fictional characters live there and cross paths with whoever it is I'm reading about at the time. I love those cameos, but back to Emm. When she was a child she suffered an accident which left her vulnerable to fugue states. In reality she'd black out while in her mind she was experiencing something else. At almost thirty-two, after being free from fugue states for a longer time, she's finally living independently. New town, new job, new friend, and then a new crush: Johnny Dellasandro.
Johnny is an artist and an art gallery owner who likes to keep to himself, but in the seventies he was a famous movie star with a famous body often on display in his films. Jen, Emm's friend, is already a fan who knows a lot about him. Emm becomes one soon afterwards. She's attracted to and intrigued by him. Her internet searches become more Johnny-oriented, as do her film choices. She became a bit obsessed by him, I'd say. Well, more than a bit, actually. I found it a little odd, her sudden intense interest in him. But, I went along with it in the hopes it would all make sense after a while.
Crossing paths with Johnny has another effect on Emm -- her fugues return, and this time in all of them he's there. The young Johnny with whom Emm is more free, more brave, and who is more into Emm than the present Johnny seems to be. Though she has more luck with the dream Johnny than the real one, she wasn't giving up until she wore him down, so to speak. At that time, I still had my doubts about this couple. They were one big question mark. There was just something not quite clear.
All my questions flew out of my head when I was two thirds into the book, and Emm said everything was fine. It was a terrifying sentence. This is Megan Hart we're talking about: creator of worlds, destroyer of worlds. Up until that point I took my time reading Collide, but that sentence freaked me out so much that I read and I read until I got to the end. Sure, it was five o'clock in the morning when I finished reading it, but at least I was able to sleep in peace afterwards. That was the part where it all clicked into place. Everything that didn't make a lot of sense, everything I found weird, I saw in a new light, and I understood.
This is one of Megan Hart's paranormal romances. Truth be told, the romance was a lot more important to me than the paranormal aspect of the story. I didn't want to overthink the paranormal stuff. You could say I adopted the heroine's take on what was happening: None of this made sense, yet it made perfect sense. All I had to do was suspend my disbelief. So I did, because in the end I all cared about was that Emm and Johnny got an ending belonging in a romance novel.
August 22, 2011
COLLIDE - I don’t know how I am going to review this book without giving away too much! Megan Hart has twisted and weaved the elements of time in this new book – My opinions on time travel are hit and miss. If it’s done well, then it’s usually great, but if it’s done poorly then it’s a miss. This is most defiantly a hit.
I love the style of Harts writing. It’s so sensual; every little thing is made to be erotic even without it meaning to be. I love the subjects that she touches and the intimate details about everything from making love, to watching a video, drinking a cup of coffee or getting yourself off.
The characters in this book are beautiful. Johnny Dellasandro is a 57yr old ex movie star, now artist. And Emm is a 32 yr old banker who for her entire life has suffered from Fagues –
DEFINITION - A state or period of loss of awareness of one's identity, often coupled with flight from one's usual environment, associated with certain forms of hysteria and epilepsy. –
After first coming in contact with Johnny, Emm becomes almost obsessed with him - buying ridiculous memorabilia, researching him on the net etc. And all of a sudden her fugues start happening more and more often, but now her fugues seem to be taking her back to a time when Johnny Dellasandro is in his 20’s and living in the 70’s. But things become even more peculiar when it becomes more obvious that these ’fugues’ are not in fact a dream but in fact reality.
Emm starts a relationship with Johnny in the 70’s when he is at his most yumfuckalbe, but also starts seeing the Johnny of now - the 57yr old version. Lines become blurred when Emm sometimes can’t tell the difference between the then Johnny and the now Johnny. And not only that, Johnny seems to be slipping up and saying things that make Emm think that maybe he knows something but isn’t saying it.
This is the first story I have ever read, where it’s a love story between a young woman and an older man. I did have moments when I couldn’t imagine ever thinking that a relationship with someone 30 yrs my elder would be an okay thing, but it wasn’t made as issue in the book – so it wasn’t an issue for me. I mean, there are some really hot movie stars out there that are in their 50’s, and hell I wouldn’t turn down the opportunity if I had a chance. Hart is a badass for writing sordid tales and I feel compelled to read everything this woman writes.
The only thing I could have asked more of – the ending left me with some loose ends and a lot of questions. I think a lot of people are going to find this book controversial but I FREAKING loved it!
I love the style of Harts writing. It’s so sensual; every little thing is made to be erotic even without it meaning to be. I love the subjects that she touches and the intimate details about everything from making love, to watching a video, drinking a cup of coffee or getting yourself off.
The characters in this book are beautiful. Johnny Dellasandro is a 57yr old ex movie star, now artist. And Emm is a 32 yr old banker who for her entire life has suffered from Fagues –
DEFINITION - A state or period of loss of awareness of one's identity, often coupled with flight from one's usual environment, associated with certain forms of hysteria and epilepsy. –
After first coming in contact with Johnny, Emm becomes almost obsessed with him - buying ridiculous memorabilia, researching him on the net etc. And all of a sudden her fugues start happening more and more often, but now her fugues seem to be taking her back to a time when Johnny Dellasandro is in his 20’s and living in the 70’s. But things become even more peculiar when it becomes more obvious that these ’fugues’ are not in fact a dream but in fact reality.
Emm starts a relationship with Johnny in the 70’s when he is at his most yumfuckalbe, but also starts seeing the Johnny of now - the 57yr old version. Lines become blurred when Emm sometimes can’t tell the difference between the then Johnny and the now Johnny. And not only that, Johnny seems to be slipping up and saying things that make Emm think that maybe he knows something but isn’t saying it.
This is the first story I have ever read, where it’s a love story between a young woman and an older man. I did have moments when I couldn’t imagine ever thinking that a relationship with someone 30 yrs my elder would be an okay thing, but it wasn’t made as issue in the book – so it wasn’t an issue for me. I mean, there are some really hot movie stars out there that are in their 50’s, and hell I wouldn’t turn down the opportunity if I had a chance. Hart is a badass for writing sordid tales and I feel compelled to read everything this woman writes.
The only thing I could have asked more of – the ending left me with some loose ends and a lot of questions. I think a lot of people are going to find this book controversial but I FREAKING loved it!
May 22, 2011
Have you ever read a book where, when finished, you seriously couldn't decide if you liked it or not? While trying to make my decision (and I'm not sure that will ever happen), I'm having a big 'WTF' moment after reading this book. Let me just say that I
LOVED
the premise of this story. It was a fresh plot idea (at least for me) and I was excited to see where she would take it.
Emm is a 32 yr old woman who suffered from a traumatic brain injury while in elementary school. Since then she has suffered from seizures & fugues (blackouts) that have debilitated her life. She has been episode free for 2 yrs and finally decides to leave home and venture out on her own. While frequenting a local coffee shop she is acquainted with Johnny and immediately starts having episodes again. However, these are nothing like she has ever experienced. Her mind is re-creating events from 1978 that seem so real she wonders if they could actually be. See now, wouldn't you be interested?
Now, here is where, for me, it gets complicated. I was SO frustrated & confused throughout most of the book. The scenes jumped from one to another so fast that I felt like I had whiplash. Re-reads of scenes were often necessary just to understand what I was reading. She has fugues that deliver her to 1978 to present so quickly, it is often only 1 sentence that seperates the two. I'm hoping that this was done on purpose as a means to represent how Emm was feeling. If not then I'm even more confused. Johnny didn't come on scene until I was 20%, or more, into the book and, even though he was discussed by other characters, I just don't count those conversations as being part of his dialogue. Call me crazy *shoulder shrug*.
I think this story would have been better suited in a short story or novella format, and that's the first time I've ever said that. For me, it just lacked the content to sustain an entire novel. I felt that a lot of filler was used that we didn't even need & it just confused the story. Emm & Johhny-now deserved more page time and by the time we get it, the book ended.
Signed,
Confused in Megan Hart-land
Emm is a 32 yr old woman who suffered from a traumatic brain injury while in elementary school. Since then she has suffered from seizures & fugues (blackouts) that have debilitated her life. She has been episode free for 2 yrs and finally decides to leave home and venture out on her own. While frequenting a local coffee shop she is acquainted with Johnny and immediately starts having episodes again. However, these are nothing like she has ever experienced. Her mind is re-creating events from 1978 that seem so real she wonders if they could actually be. See now, wouldn't you be interested?
Now, here is where, for me, it gets complicated. I was SO frustrated & confused throughout most of the book. The scenes jumped from one to another so fast that I felt like I had whiplash. Re-reads of scenes were often necessary just to understand what I was reading. She has fugues that deliver her to 1978 to present so quickly, it is often only 1 sentence that seperates the two. I'm hoping that this was done on purpose as a means to represent how Emm was feeling. If not then I'm even more confused. Johnny didn't come on scene until I was 20%, or more, into the book and, even though he was discussed by other characters, I just don't count those conversations as being part of his dialogue. Call me crazy *shoulder shrug*.
I think this story would have been better suited in a short story or novella format, and that's the first time I've ever said that. For me, it just lacked the content to sustain an entire novel. I felt that a lot of filler was used that we didn't even need & it just confused the story. Emm & Johhny-now deserved more page time and by the time we get it, the book ended.
Signed,
Confused in Megan Hart-land
September 27, 2017
Loved this book so much. I really felt like it had a haunting quality. It is time travel and I could really see the scenes set back in time in an almost cinematic way. And I was super glad that the finally got to be together in the present.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 3, 2011
Collide was a book I wasn't sure about reading because it did have a sense of The Time Traveler's Wife about it in the description. But another reviewer said it was really good, so I gave it a go. I'm really glad that I did because this was a really engaging read.
Let me get the unpleasant part of the review over first, because really, it isn't a bad thing. Not for me at least. If you are one who does not want to read a book that has any resemblance to another book that has received a lot of attention, I would not recommend this book to you. However, if you realize there is nothing new under the sun, and that more than likely, books that have similarities were written without knowledge of the other books, then you will be fine reading this. Many people make references about a book being much like "Twilight", but when you realize those books were written before Twilight (just not published); it really isn't fair to hold that against a good story. Collide is a good story, but it does have many similarities to The Time Traveler's Wife. The writer even mentions the other book in this one, but my personal take is it may have been added later as an afterthought, knowing readers would make a connection and hoo-ha over it being a rip-off. :) (My speculation only, but a good idea if it is accurate. Acknowledge and move on.)
Now, the good parts. This story has the most likable characters I've read in awhile. I was completely invested in the main characters, their journey, their faults, their emotions, their outcomes, that I read the book in one night. The writing style is fluid and easy to follow. The love story that evolves within the pages is sweet and sad at the same time. If you love emotion and like rooting for star-crossed lovers, this book won't disappoint. Characterization? Never in my life have I considered a thick New York accent as being sexy, but low and behold if Johnny didn't make me pine to hear him speak.
I did have a few questions while reading that may be more editing issues than anything. I get the sense there was more to the story and with some editing, scenes were deleted, but pieces that allude to those missing scenes still remain. It isn't enough to take away from the story in the least, but I did notice. Granted, I am very much a "why" reader, and I will "why" a book to death if it doesn't fit together for me. ;) There is also one minor character that is a bit icky and disturbed that I felt there had been more to his story at one point, but in this final version, nothing is ever really resolved about him. I have my theories about why he did certain things in the book, but nothing was actually written about it (at least in the final version.) I think if my theories are correct, it would have been an interesting piece to the puzzle. Again, I do tend to be fussy, but this did not take away from the overall read at all. (These are my assumptions and feelings, not fact.)
My last "why" deals with the actual time travel aspect in this particular book. Without too much of a spoiler, how does the physical body stay in one place, but also another physical body in another time, and how did that fit while growing up? She blanks out in her "real" life, but also has a physical body wherever she goes. That didn't add up for me, but maybe I missed something in translation? In The Time Traveler's Wife, it added up and the physical body went wherever the character went, while the "real" time body went on normally. Not the case in Collide. The actual science fiction and attempt at understanding is missing, written off as unexplainable by doctors. This part was murky for me.
In a nutshell, if you can get past the plot similarities to another well known book and the "whys" I presented, you will more than likely really enjoy Collide. It has a sweet love story, tragic characters, hot love scenes, and a satisfying ending. I know I've presented a lot of possible negatives to the book, but I'm just being thorough. I'm almost treating this review like a book club discussion. I truly did enjoy the characters and the overall story. If I miss a character after finishing a book, I know a writer did a nice job with development. Being a character driven reader, this was very important to me.
Let me get the unpleasant part of the review over first, because really, it isn't a bad thing. Not for me at least. If you are one who does not want to read a book that has any resemblance to another book that has received a lot of attention, I would not recommend this book to you. However, if you realize there is nothing new under the sun, and that more than likely, books that have similarities were written without knowledge of the other books, then you will be fine reading this. Many people make references about a book being much like "Twilight", but when you realize those books were written before Twilight (just not published); it really isn't fair to hold that against a good story. Collide is a good story, but it does have many similarities to The Time Traveler's Wife. The writer even mentions the other book in this one, but my personal take is it may have been added later as an afterthought, knowing readers would make a connection and hoo-ha over it being a rip-off. :) (My speculation only, but a good idea if it is accurate. Acknowledge and move on.)
Now, the good parts. This story has the most likable characters I've read in awhile. I was completely invested in the main characters, their journey, their faults, their emotions, their outcomes, that I read the book in one night. The writing style is fluid and easy to follow. The love story that evolves within the pages is sweet and sad at the same time. If you love emotion and like rooting for star-crossed lovers, this book won't disappoint. Characterization? Never in my life have I considered a thick New York accent as being sexy, but low and behold if Johnny didn't make me pine to hear him speak.
I did have a few questions while reading that may be more editing issues than anything. I get the sense there was more to the story and with some editing, scenes were deleted, but pieces that allude to those missing scenes still remain. It isn't enough to take away from the story in the least, but I did notice. Granted, I am very much a "why" reader, and I will "why" a book to death if it doesn't fit together for me. ;) There is also one minor character that is a bit icky and disturbed that I felt there had been more to his story at one point, but in this final version, nothing is ever really resolved about him. I have my theories about why he did certain things in the book, but nothing was actually written about it (at least in the final version.) I think if my theories are correct, it would have been an interesting piece to the puzzle. Again, I do tend to be fussy, but this did not take away from the overall read at all. (These are my assumptions and feelings, not fact.)
My last "why" deals with the actual time travel aspect in this particular book. Without too much of a spoiler, how does the physical body stay in one place, but also another physical body in another time, and how did that fit while growing up? She blanks out in her "real" life, but also has a physical body wherever she goes. That didn't add up for me, but maybe I missed something in translation? In The Time Traveler's Wife, it added up and the physical body went wherever the character went, while the "real" time body went on normally. Not the case in Collide. The actual science fiction and attempt at understanding is missing, written off as unexplainable by doctors. This part was murky for me.
In a nutshell, if you can get past the plot similarities to another well known book and the "whys" I presented, you will more than likely really enjoy Collide. It has a sweet love story, tragic characters, hot love scenes, and a satisfying ending. I know I've presented a lot of possible negatives to the book, but I'm just being thorough. I'm almost treating this review like a book club discussion. I truly did enjoy the characters and the overall story. If I miss a character after finishing a book, I know a writer did a nice job with development. Being a character driven reader, this was very important to me.
September 5, 2011
This was different.
The characters were well developed but the fact that the main character suffered a mental illness (or whatever it was), was off putting. Emmaline was in her 30's before she finally moved out of her parents home due to the fact she fell and hit her head as a kid, and went into a coma. She never thought she would lead a normal life because of her fugues, but then she slowly got through them and got her license to drive. That bit of Independence gave her the motivation to get her own place and move closer to where she worked.
The story takes a twist when she, Emm, starts going into these fugues more and more. The feature in these dream like states is a real life man named Johnny. An actor/artist that visits a local coffee shop. Her and her friend take turns discussing him and checking him out whenever he enters the shop but neither oe actually talks to him at first.
Megan Hart is an excellent author. While I did not get completely wrapped up in this book I did enjoy reading about Emm, Johnny and their story. If you are a Hart fan you will enjoy this story too. If you have not read Megan Hart I would not suggest this as a first read. Its not as engaging as Broken, Dirty or Stranger. It is erotic and worth the read if you have already read her other works.
The characters were well developed but the fact that the main character suffered a mental illness (or whatever it was), was off putting. Emmaline was in her 30's before she finally moved out of her parents home due to the fact she fell and hit her head as a kid, and went into a coma. She never thought she would lead a normal life because of her fugues, but then she slowly got through them and got her license to drive. That bit of Independence gave her the motivation to get her own place and move closer to where she worked.
The story takes a twist when she, Emm, starts going into these fugues more and more. The feature in these dream like states is a real life man named Johnny. An actor/artist that visits a local coffee shop. Her and her friend take turns discussing him and checking him out whenever he enters the shop but neither oe actually talks to him at first.
Megan Hart is an excellent author. While I did not get completely wrapped up in this book I did enjoy reading about Emm, Johnny and their story. If you are a Hart fan you will enjoy this story too. If you have not read Megan Hart I would not suggest this as a first read. Its not as engaging as Broken, Dirty or Stranger. It is erotic and worth the read if you have already read her other works.
July 14, 2011
4 stars,a similar tone to switch, which is not the same as stranger, dirty or broken which are more emotional reads. Never the less i enjoyed this. I think though that if you've never read megan hart this is not the book to start with, please please start with stranger and work your way through th e books as published to get a better feel for her work....
July 19, 2018
Another great read by MH. I needed a HEA after some of my other reads.
November 16, 2017
Rating: 4.5
Quick Take: Absolutely loved this story; it has a speculative element to it but really focuses on the emotion of the characters. Aside from taking some exception to certain plot points, I feel that this book is a unique, touching, intense, and sexy contemporary romance.
Review:
I'll start with the punchline: this book is one awesome piece of romantic fiction. It is intensely sweet, but it somehow avoids being sacharine. It's so very sexy, yet it is not one random smex fest. It's got speculative elements, but they do not overpower the fantastic emotional development of the characters. Really, none of the aforementioned aspects overpowers the book; it's got a balanced blend of the three, one that kept my nose glued to the pages (or screen, whatever ^_^).
I don't know how to classify this book. One might call it a time-travel romance, but it's not quite, even though there is an element of time travel. The more understandable stuggles of illness, recklessness, fame, and inner demons are key in this story. The time travel, really, is just a vehicle to move the two main characters closer; and I love that. This is the type of book that would appeal to moviemakers because of the very attractive themes. But then, it would probably never be as good on a screen due to the original material's wonderful use of language and its (delightfully) complicated web of plot.
Hot diggity, main character Johnny Dellasandro was smexy as hell in both iterations: his 70s self and his present-day self. The self-confidence and overt sexuality in his younger days is highly magnetic, and the more profound, quietly artistic nature found in his later years is subtly intriguing. One of the most biggest questions that persisted while reading this story was, "what in the world caused such a profound shift in character?" It made for a very compelling reading experience, watching protagonist Emmaline attempt to figure that out.
Now, I can't ignore that there were some small bits that rankled or at least confused me. It didn't really have to do with continuity, but rather one minor-ish character. This person seemed to have a plot thread of sorts, which looked to be progressing at certain points in the overall story, before kind of dropping off unceremoniously at the end. Looking back at the element, I feel as though some of these scenes with this character might as well have been dropped altogether in favor of a superficial cameo or two. Heck, there was even a bit that Why introduce that and then sort of lead it nowhere? Ah, well. That would pretty much be the extent of my issues with the book.
I will so be rereading this at some point in the future. It's such a beautiful, romantic, complex story, and I would easily recommend it to both spec fic lovers and romance lovers interested in something a bit different.
Quick Take: Absolutely loved this story; it has a speculative element to it but really focuses on the emotion of the characters. Aside from taking some exception to certain plot points, I feel that this book is a unique, touching, intense, and sexy contemporary romance.
Review:
I'll start with the punchline: this book is one awesome piece of romantic fiction. It is intensely sweet, but it somehow avoids being sacharine. It's so very sexy, yet it is not one random smex fest. It's got speculative elements, but they do not overpower the fantastic emotional development of the characters. Really, none of the aforementioned aspects overpowers the book; it's got a balanced blend of the three, one that kept my nose glued to the pages (or screen, whatever ^_^).
I don't know how to classify this book. One might call it a time-travel romance, but it's not quite, even though there is an element of time travel. The more understandable stuggles of illness, recklessness, fame, and inner demons are key in this story. The time travel, really, is just a vehicle to move the two main characters closer; and I love that. This is the type of book that would appeal to moviemakers because of the very attractive themes. But then, it would probably never be as good on a screen due to the original material's wonderful use of language and its (delightfully) complicated web of plot.
Hot diggity, main character Johnny Dellasandro was smexy as hell in both iterations: his 70s self and his present-day self. The self-confidence and overt sexuality in his younger days is highly magnetic, and the more profound, quietly artistic nature found in his later years is subtly intriguing. One of the most biggest questions that persisted while reading this story was, "what in the world caused such a profound shift in character?" It made for a very compelling reading experience, watching protagonist Emmaline attempt to figure that out.
Now, I can't ignore that there were some small bits that rankled or at least confused me. It didn't really have to do with continuity, but rather one minor-ish character. This person seemed to have a plot thread of sorts, which looked to be progressing at certain points in the overall story, before kind of dropping off unceremoniously at the end. Looking back at the element, I feel as though some of these scenes with this character might as well have been dropped altogether in favor of a superficial cameo or two. Heck, there was even a bit that Why introduce that and then sort of lead it nowhere? Ah, well. That would pretty much be the extent of my issues with the book.
I will so be rereading this at some point in the future. It's such a beautiful, romantic, complex story, and I would easily recommend it to both spec fic lovers and romance lovers interested in something a bit different.
May 15, 2012
I almost didn't request this book from NetGalley, because the premise sounded so silly, and not at all like something I am into. But I did anyway, and I started reading it because I thought it would be something light and silly for me to read while I also read a book of short stories. A few hours later, I was so deeply involved that I wouldn't go to bed.
I knew Megan Hart was a pretty big name, and have had several of her books on my radar, but hadn't gotten around to reading them. I'm glad that this is the first, though, so I had no ideas going in. There's a lot about this book that is literary fiction, the erotica bits are very good, and necessary in many ways, but if the publisher wanted to, they could probably easily be toned down and have this sell to a larger audience. It shows the commitment to the genre that it wasn't (or maybe just shows that romance sales continue to skyrocket even when other genres sales plummet). There are some clear ties to other major works, most of these ideas aren't new at all, but the book acknowledges that and moves past it in an enjoyable way. I don't read much erotica compared to the amount of romance I read, so I do love when there is still a clear focus on the relationship and the romance. Emm and Johnny were a good couple with real problems and real reactions. He seemed like a genuinely good guy who worried about being too old for her and worried about his newly connected family.
I think I may have liked Emm as much as I did because of the way she talks, just like me. It became almost embarrassing that we say so many of the same phrases, "for realsies" and other cutesy crap. This sort of realistic speech can often get to be too damn much, but it stayed on a reasonable level for me, again possibly just because it is how my friends and I talk. The only issue I had was with how often Jen said "girl". And not even just "hay gurl hay", which is another thing that everyone I know says, but "GIRL" all the time in a way that made me feel like she was a stereotype, even though her skin color is never mentioned and there is a good chance that me assuming that Jen is black and therefore all of this is offensive probably just makes me racist.
At the end of the day, the back of the book blurb about a woman who has blackouts and is in the seventies is pretty inaccurate. There are big chunks of the book that are of the "I went to work. I came home and made some tea. Then I went to bed" variety, but I was interested and engaged the whole way through. The romance between now-Johnny and Emm was beautiful, but almost incidental to the story of a woman fighting her blackouts, feeling betrayed by her body, alternately wanting her parents to let go but still need her, etc. I will very likely buy this, and I would recommend this to people who don't like erotica as a great book anyway, provided that they aren't the type to faint at the word "cunt".
I knew Megan Hart was a pretty big name, and have had several of her books on my radar, but hadn't gotten around to reading them. I'm glad that this is the first, though, so I had no ideas going in. There's a lot about this book that is literary fiction, the erotica bits are very good, and necessary in many ways, but if the publisher wanted to, they could probably easily be toned down and have this sell to a larger audience. It shows the commitment to the genre that it wasn't (or maybe just shows that romance sales continue to skyrocket even when other genres sales plummet). There are some clear ties to other major works, most of these ideas aren't new at all, but the book acknowledges that and moves past it in an enjoyable way. I don't read much erotica compared to the amount of romance I read, so I do love when there is still a clear focus on the relationship and the romance. Emm and Johnny were a good couple with real problems and real reactions. He seemed like a genuinely good guy who worried about being too old for her and worried about his newly connected family.
I think I may have liked Emm as much as I did because of the way she talks, just like me. It became almost embarrassing that we say so many of the same phrases, "for realsies" and other cutesy crap. This sort of realistic speech can often get to be too damn much, but it stayed on a reasonable level for me, again possibly just because it is how my friends and I talk. The only issue I had was with how often Jen said "girl". And not even just "hay gurl hay", which is another thing that everyone I know says, but "GIRL" all the time in a way that made me feel like she was a stereotype, even though her skin color is never mentioned and there is a good chance that me assuming that Jen is black and therefore all of this is offensive probably just makes me racist.
At the end of the day, the back of the book blurb about a woman who has blackouts and is in the seventies is pretty inaccurate. There are big chunks of the book that are of the "I went to work. I came home and made some tea. Then I went to bed" variety, but I was interested and engaged the whole way through. The romance between now-Johnny and Emm was beautiful, but almost incidental to the story of a woman fighting her blackouts, feeling betrayed by her body, alternately wanting her parents to let go but still need her, etc. I will very likely buy this, and I would recommend this to people who don't like erotica as a great book anyway, provided that they aren't the type to faint at the word "cunt".
April 26, 2011
I wish Goodreads had a half-star rating so I could give this 3.5 stars, because this was one of those books that I tore through late at night, but ended up feeling conflicted about.
THAR BE MAJOR SPOILERS BENEATH!
The Good:
Megan Hart is a badass when it comes to writing ordinary people that still manage to be interesting. Her characters always feel vibrant because they have backstory, friends, hobbies, family, all the things that a lot of romance writers leave out. She's a compelling writer, and every book I've read by her has been a marathon session of NEED TO GET TO THE FINISH TO SEE WHAT HAPPENS NOW NOW NOW. She does an awesome job of leaving the reader guessing whether or not Emm's fugue states are real or all in her mind - signs throughout the book point to either, and so the reader can't really guess ahead of the characters.
The Okay:
The romance isn't the strongest of emotional pulls that I've felt while reading one of Hart's novels. While it makes sense why Johnny-now falls for Emm, based on their shared past, it's never really clear why Johnny-then falls for her. They have mind-blowing sex, sure (actually, this part should really belong in "The Good" - for a reader who is straight-up bored by most attempts at erotica, Megan Hart is a fucking revelation), but it's hard to see why Emm becomes the love of his lifetime.
The Bad:
I love that Emm has an actual best friend who appears in the novel and who talks to her about things other than just boys. HOWEVER, the fact that 2/3rds of her sentences start with "Girl" was the literary equivalent of nails down a chalkboard. Girl, I realize this may be a realistic characterization of someone's speech, but it seriously dragged my feelings toward the book down. Girl, this may be an unfair complaint. Girl, your mileage may of course vary.
The WTF:
TIME-TRAVEL PREGNANCY?!
At the end, while I enjoyed Collide, I was left kind of wondering about a lot of loose ends. Are Emm's fugues REALLY just for Johnny, and why would a fall from a playground trigger that? Isn't anyone going to be a little concerned that Emm is pregnant by a man who's had a vasectomy? What happens when Emm is 50, still vibrant, and Johnny is in his 80's? Again, these may be highly personal issues, and I realize another reader might not be as critical about these points, but they did bring my overall grade down.
THAR BE MAJOR SPOILERS BENEATH!
The Good:
Megan Hart is a badass when it comes to writing ordinary people that still manage to be interesting. Her characters always feel vibrant because they have backstory, friends, hobbies, family, all the things that a lot of romance writers leave out. She's a compelling writer, and every book I've read by her has been a marathon session of NEED TO GET TO THE FINISH TO SEE WHAT HAPPENS NOW NOW NOW. She does an awesome job of leaving the reader guessing whether or not Emm's fugue states are real or all in her mind - signs throughout the book point to either, and so the reader can't really guess ahead of the characters.
The Okay:
The romance isn't the strongest of emotional pulls that I've felt while reading one of Hart's novels. While it makes sense why Johnny-now falls for Emm, based on their shared past, it's never really clear why Johnny-then falls for her. They have mind-blowing sex, sure (actually, this part should really belong in "The Good" - for a reader who is straight-up bored by most attempts at erotica, Megan Hart is a fucking revelation), but it's hard to see why Emm becomes the love of his lifetime.
The Bad:
I love that Emm has an actual best friend who appears in the novel and who talks to her about things other than just boys. HOWEVER, the fact that 2/3rds of her sentences start with "Girl" was the literary equivalent of nails down a chalkboard. Girl, I realize this may be a realistic characterization of someone's speech, but it seriously dragged my feelings toward the book down. Girl, this may be an unfair complaint. Girl, your mileage may of course vary.
The WTF:
TIME-TRAVEL PREGNANCY?!
At the end, while I enjoyed Collide, I was left kind of wondering about a lot of loose ends. Are Emm's fugues REALLY just for Johnny, and why would a fall from a playground trigger that? Isn't anyone going to be a little concerned that Emm is pregnant by a man who's had a vasectomy? What happens when Emm is 50, still vibrant, and Johnny is in his 80's? Again, these may be highly personal issues, and I realize another reader might not be as critical about these points, but they did bring my overall grade down.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 1, 2011
I am really torn about rating this book. I found the first 100 or so pages to be weird, so weird in fact that I was contemplating quitting the book. What you as was weird, well it was Emm and her situation.
I really liked Emm from the start. She was fun and her friendship with Jen had me laughing. They had a great "girl" vibe going on, confiding in each other, meeting to chat, and having their own inside jokes. Them having a semi famous person in their midst was funny, especially when you realized what he was funny for. The girl's crush on him was even funny at first. But this is where things got weird for me.
Emm going into her fugue states I could understand, I could also understand why she would fantasize about Johnny when she went dark. He had become her secret obsession. It seemed like once Jen introduced the idea of Johnny to Emm it flipped a switch in her.
I really liked how Emm would bump into the "real" Johnny and things would become awkward and embarrassing. Johnny was so rude and arrogant. Initially I thought it was because over the years he had too many crazy fan groupies come after him, then his reactions made tons of sense.
As the 2 of them got to know each other things became even more weird. Sometimes it was hard to tell what was real and what wasn't. Was Emm with the real, old Johnny, or the fake, young Johnny. Sometimes Emm couldn't tell either.
After you are done reading the book you will have your answers, but you will have some more questions too. I think this is a book that will be better the second or third time that you read it. When you know exactly what is going on you will be able to see hidden clues much easier. Will you have all your answers answered after multiple reads, no, but you will understand things better and be able to come to some conclusions on your own.
I really liked Emm from the start. She was fun and her friendship with Jen had me laughing. They had a great "girl" vibe going on, confiding in each other, meeting to chat, and having their own inside jokes. Them having a semi famous person in their midst was funny, especially when you realized what he was funny for. The girl's crush on him was even funny at first. But this is where things got weird for me.
Emm going into her fugue states I could understand, I could also understand why she would fantasize about Johnny when she went dark. He had become her secret obsession. It seemed like once Jen introduced the idea of Johnny to Emm it flipped a switch in her.
I really liked how Emm would bump into the "real" Johnny and things would become awkward and embarrassing. Johnny was so rude and arrogant. Initially I thought it was because over the years he had too many crazy fan groupies come after him, then his reactions made tons of sense.
As the 2 of them got to know each other things became even more weird. Sometimes it was hard to tell what was real and what wasn't. Was Emm with the real, old Johnny, or the fake, young Johnny. Sometimes Emm couldn't tell either.
After you are done reading the book you will have your answers, but you will have some more questions too. I think this is a book that will be better the second or third time that you read it. When you know exactly what is going on you will be able to see hidden clues much easier. Will you have all your answers answered after multiple reads, no, but you will understand things better and be able to come to some conclusions on your own.
May 6, 2011
First, let me get this part out of the way:
I received this ARC from the publisher through NetGalley (thank you).
One thing I enjoy about Megan's books is that her characters are real and flawed. She manages to find unusual health issues or the damage from their pasts manifests in unusual ways, yet they still feel relatable.
Also, her writing is generally clean. (As a writer who does a lot of critiquing and editing, I often find myself pulled out of a story with the compulsion to mark up the book with red ink. This rarely happens when I read Ms. Hart's books) There were a couple little glitches in this one that I wanted to edit (ex: she takes his bandana off his head and runs her hands through his hair...then a couple sentences later, in the same love scene, she takes it off again.) and as I often find when reading a book involving time travel, there were a few holes.
But those are small nit-picks, and overall this is an enjoyable read.
I wish I could give 1/2 stars, because my 'real' rating here is a 3.5.
I am not going to summarize the plot because you can read the book blurb and get the gist. But I will tell you what I liked about this book.
What I liked:
The male romantic interest, Johnny. I adored him.
The MC's best friend...I enjoyed their girlfriend banter.
I like that Ms. Hart tried something new, a little different, with the time travel aspect. It mostly worked.
It was a fast, fun, romantic read. (Though not my favorite of Ms. Hart's books.)
I received this ARC from the publisher through NetGalley (thank you).
One thing I enjoy about Megan's books is that her characters are real and flawed. She manages to find unusual health issues or the damage from their pasts manifests in unusual ways, yet they still feel relatable.
Also, her writing is generally clean. (As a writer who does a lot of critiquing and editing, I often find myself pulled out of a story with the compulsion to mark up the book with red ink. This rarely happens when I read Ms. Hart's books) There were a couple little glitches in this one that I wanted to edit (ex: she takes his bandana off his head and runs her hands through his hair...then a couple sentences later, in the same love scene, she takes it off again.) and as I often find when reading a book involving time travel, there were a few holes.
But those are small nit-picks, and overall this is an enjoyable read.
I wish I could give 1/2 stars, because my 'real' rating here is a 3.5.
I am not going to summarize the plot because you can read the book blurb and get the gist. But I will tell you what I liked about this book.
What I liked:
The male romantic interest, Johnny. I adored him.
The MC's best friend...I enjoyed their girlfriend banter.
I like that Ms. Hart tried something new, a little different, with the time travel aspect. It mostly worked.
It was a fast, fun, romantic read. (Though not my favorite of Ms. Hart's books.)
June 1, 2011
I liked this one, but not as much as I've liked some of Megan Hart's other books (I think Deeper is still my favorite). Her books, although erotic, are always so much more than the sex.
Emm suffered a traumatic brain injury when she was small and now suffers from fugue (add definition here). Doctor's can't explain them. So for 30 years, she lived with her parents and tried to live as normal a life as possible. Finally, after fighting very hard for it, she's able to gain her independence and move into her own place. Little does she know that her new neighborhood comes with a very famous (or infamous, depending on how you look at it) resident...artist Johnny Dellasandro. She develops a major crush (and I mean major) after seeing Johnny and then things change.
I’m not sure how I feel about Emm and Johnny. I thought Emm was strong and brave for fighting for her independence and trying to keep it. But then when she was really starting to worry about what was happening to her, she doesn’t want to go to the doctor because she’s afraid of losing her license. Hello!
Then there’s Johnny. He’s a jerk to her. He’s nice to her for a second, then back to being a jerk again. The whole time, I’m wondering does he know what’s going on or is she truly losing it.
If you like Megan Hart, you’ll pick this one up and enjoy it. It’s worth the read. Besides, you’ll learn a little something new in this one too. In training, I always teach that a session is good if you learn one new thing. Well, I didn't know what "fugue" was until this book. Yeah me!
Emm suffered a traumatic brain injury when she was small and now suffers from fugue (add definition here). Doctor's can't explain them. So for 30 years, she lived with her parents and tried to live as normal a life as possible. Finally, after fighting very hard for it, she's able to gain her independence and move into her own place. Little does she know that her new neighborhood comes with a very famous (or infamous, depending on how you look at it) resident...artist Johnny Dellasandro. She develops a major crush (and I mean major) after seeing Johnny and then things change.
I’m not sure how I feel about Emm and Johnny. I thought Emm was strong and brave for fighting for her independence and trying to keep it. But then when she was really starting to worry about what was happening to her, she doesn’t want to go to the doctor because she’s afraid of losing her license. Hello!
Then there’s Johnny. He’s a jerk to her. He’s nice to her for a second, then back to being a jerk again. The whole time, I’m wondering does he know what’s going on or is she truly losing it.
If you like Megan Hart, you’ll pick this one up and enjoy it. It’s worth the read. Besides, you’ll learn a little something new in this one too. In training, I always teach that a session is good if you learn one new thing. Well, I didn't know what "fugue" was until this book. Yeah me!
January 31, 2012
Emm moved to a new city, made a best friend, began a life of her own, and fell into instant lust with her best friend's movie crush: Johnny Dellasandro. Since her freak accident as a child, Emm has odd blackouts that left her feeling off centered and ill. She thought the episodes were gone for good but they came back with a vengeance. Will she ever have a normal life? Is it just her imagination or did she really find true love?
August 23, 2011
This book took me awhile to think about before I reviewed. About what my expectations were for the book, and whether or not it was anything that I was expecting. And the answer was…this was nothing like I could have expected.
I thought the idea of two lives “colliding,” and the lasting effects and the types of decisions to be made very interesting. I also appreciated that I wasn’t always certain where she was going to take the story. I was just as confused sometimes as Emmaline was when she went back in time.
I loved Johnny; a reclusive man, successful and having fought many battles, a man attempting to make family relationships better. Emmaline finds him fascinating.
I liked Emmaline a lot; with fugue states creating a lot of difficult in her daily life, she still works hard to create a normal life even when family and friends would like to wrap her up and keep her from living like everyone else.
I thought that their attraction was well-written, and I never felt like I couldn’t see why she would be so attracted to him, and vice versa. That said, that he was so much older was really the only thing that sometimes made the book (when it was in the present) a bit difficult to swallow.
I thought about this book for days afterwards, and I can’t help but wonder if that is exactly what she was hoping for.
I thought the idea of two lives “colliding,” and the lasting effects and the types of decisions to be made very interesting. I also appreciated that I wasn’t always certain where she was going to take the story. I was just as confused sometimes as Emmaline was when she went back in time.
I loved Johnny; a reclusive man, successful and having fought many battles, a man attempting to make family relationships better. Emmaline finds him fascinating.
I liked Emmaline a lot; with fugue states creating a lot of difficult in her daily life, she still works hard to create a normal life even when family and friends would like to wrap her up and keep her from living like everyone else.
I thought that their attraction was well-written, and I never felt like I couldn’t see why she would be so attracted to him, and vice versa. That said, that he was so much older was really the only thing that sometimes made the book (when it was in the present) a bit difficult to swallow.
I thought about this book for days afterwards, and I can’t help but wonder if that is exactly what she was hoping for.
June 2, 2019
Although this book wasn't absolutely spectacular, I did enjoy reading it.
What I really liked is that it had an interesting paranormal-tinged plot (Time Travel anyone?), seductive sex scenes that were well-played, and 2 very likeable characters. I especially loved the way that Ms.Hart developed the character of Johnny (who, btw, was seriously hawt...)
The only thing that I can complain about is that there was some considerable lag in the very beginning of the book, which inspired me to fast forward and skip around the book (at first).
Other than that, it was a fairly decent read.
Giving this one: 3.5 Solid Stars.
What I really liked is that it had an interesting paranormal-tinged plot (Time Travel anyone?), seductive sex scenes that were well-played, and 2 very likeable characters. I especially loved the way that Ms.Hart developed the character of Johnny (who, btw, was seriously hawt...)
The only thing that I can complain about is that there was some considerable lag in the very beginning of the book, which inspired me to fast forward and skip around the book (at first).
Other than that, it was a fairly decent read.
Giving this one: 3.5 Solid Stars.
September 7, 2018
This is one of my favorite Megan Hart books, aside from her literary erotica (that's what I like to call them, anyway, lol).
January 17, 2019
This is a story of two people. The girl who has some problems and the guy who is also carrying some baggage.
A childhood accident left Emmaline vulnerable to disturbing fugue states that last only minutes, but feel like an eternity. The blackouts are unsettling but manageable…until she meets Johnny Dellasandro.
The reclusive painter gained notoriety in the '70s for his debauched lifestyle and raunchy art films. His naked body has achieved cult status, especially in Emm's mind—she's obsessed with the man, who's grown even sexier with age. Today Johnny shuns the spotlight and Emm in particular…until she falls into a fugue on his doorstep.
In that moment she's transported back thirty years, crashing a party at Johnny's place in his wild-man heyday— the night is a blur of flesh and heat that lingers on her skin long after she's woken to the present.
It happens again and again, each time-slip another mind-blowing orgy, and soon Emm can't stop, though every episode leaves her weaker and weaker. She's frightened by what's happening to her, but she's even more terrified of losing this portal to the Johnny she wants so badly. The one who wants her, too, and takes her—every chance he gets.
A childhood accident left Emmaline vulnerable to disturbing fugue states that last only minutes, but feel like an eternity. The blackouts are unsettling but manageable…until she meets Johnny Dellasandro.
The reclusive painter gained notoriety in the '70s for his debauched lifestyle and raunchy art films. His naked body has achieved cult status, especially in Emm's mind—she's obsessed with the man, who's grown even sexier with age. Today Johnny shuns the spotlight and Emm in particular…until she falls into a fugue on his doorstep.
In that moment she's transported back thirty years, crashing a party at Johnny's place in his wild-man heyday— the night is a blur of flesh and heat that lingers on her skin long after she's woken to the present.
It happens again and again, each time-slip another mind-blowing orgy, and soon Emm can't stop, though every episode leaves her weaker and weaker. She's frightened by what's happening to her, but she's even more terrified of losing this portal to the Johnny she wants so badly. The one who wants her, too, and takes her—every chance he gets.
June 30, 2011
Ever since falling off a jungle gym as a child, Emmaline has had bouts of disorientation, fugue states. Up until her recent introduction to 70's blue movie acting icon and artist Johnny Dellasandro, the episodes were very infrequent, but they suddenly take over her life and the line between dream and reality becomes blurred. As Emmaline continues to spend time with Johnny will she ever be able to live a real life with real emotions or will the dream become her reality in this intriguing story with no easy answers.
This is an intriguing story full of intense emotions and hot sexual interludes. Through Hart's writing the reader becomes easily sucked into the time of now and time during the 70's. Emmaline's only sign that she's entering a fugue state is the smell of oranges, but the traveling back and forth is still very seamless through the incredibly accurate descriptions. Emmaline is just as confused as us as to what's happening to her and is scared. She fears for her health and for the loss of independence these recurring episodes mean. I felt truly sorry for her and understood how this disability could lead to loss of independence which is her greatest fear. I liked her for her desire to remain independent, but felt that her initial attraction to Johnny was immature. It was based on very superficial qualities and is like what teens have towards boy bands when putting up their posters. As she became truly involved with Johnny though, their relationship did become a bit more equal which made me hopeful for their future.
Johnny is seen as the proverbial older man who doesn't want to be with Emmaline at first. He's a hardened man now, but wasn't in his younger years. He was carefree, willing to try anything. An event happened to him that changed him and as the story progresses we learn what it is, which is heart-wrenching and puts a new and interesting spin on Emmaline's fugue episodes. For all his initial grumpiness, Johnny is a caring man full of creativity. He wants Emm to be safe, but not take away her independence, which makes me like him all the more.
The issue of age comes up frequently in the story and is handled in a reasonable way. It's not glossed over and doesn't resolve itself quickly. As a matter of fact, an incident happens towards the end of the story that will again bring up the age issue as well as other important truths. This incident really cast a shadow over the story for me and made me like it a bit less for the fact that it's not fully addressed and for the large ramifications that were left hanging. To truly enjoy this story you must suspend everything you know to be true and just enjoy the ride that Ms. Hart has created. As a reader who normally likes to have all questions answered, I had to come to the realization that this story wasn't going to end wrapped in a bow.
Ms. Hart has created a mind-boggling ride full of intense emotions, steamy sexual interludes, and metaphysical questions of time normally seen in sci-fi stories. It's a story that sucks you in and doesn't let go until long after the final page is turned. I do recommend this but don't expect clear cut answers. Just enjoy the journey.
This is an intriguing story full of intense emotions and hot sexual interludes. Through Hart's writing the reader becomes easily sucked into the time of now and time during the 70's. Emmaline's only sign that she's entering a fugue state is the smell of oranges, but the traveling back and forth is still very seamless through the incredibly accurate descriptions. Emmaline is just as confused as us as to what's happening to her and is scared. She fears for her health and for the loss of independence these recurring episodes mean. I felt truly sorry for her and understood how this disability could lead to loss of independence which is her greatest fear. I liked her for her desire to remain independent, but felt that her initial attraction to Johnny was immature. It was based on very superficial qualities and is like what teens have towards boy bands when putting up their posters. As she became truly involved with Johnny though, their relationship did become a bit more equal which made me hopeful for their future.
Johnny is seen as the proverbial older man who doesn't want to be with Emmaline at first. He's a hardened man now, but wasn't in his younger years. He was carefree, willing to try anything. An event happened to him that changed him and as the story progresses we learn what it is, which is heart-wrenching and puts a new and interesting spin on Emmaline's fugue episodes. For all his initial grumpiness, Johnny is a caring man full of creativity. He wants Emm to be safe, but not take away her independence, which makes me like him all the more.
The issue of age comes up frequently in the story and is handled in a reasonable way. It's not glossed over and doesn't resolve itself quickly. As a matter of fact, an incident happens towards the end of the story that will again bring up the age issue as well as other important truths. This incident really cast a shadow over the story for me and made me like it a bit less for the fact that it's not fully addressed and for the large ramifications that were left hanging. To truly enjoy this story you must suspend everything you know to be true and just enjoy the ride that Ms. Hart has created. As a reader who normally likes to have all questions answered, I had to come to the realization that this story wasn't going to end wrapped in a bow.
Ms. Hart has created a mind-boggling ride full of intense emotions, steamy sexual interludes, and metaphysical questions of time normally seen in sci-fi stories. It's a story that sucks you in and doesn't let go until long after the final page is turned. I do recommend this but don't expect clear cut answers. Just enjoy the journey.
June 14, 2011
Collide is the story of Emmaline, a thirty-something woman who has lived with a brain disorder since a childhood accident. She just got a place of her own, and for the first time is finally living her dream of being independent. Life has been pretty good and simple until Johnny Dellasandro walks into her daily coffee place and she finds herself inexplicably pulled to him. Johnny fucking Dellasandro is a star of the 70′s, the muse and model for many raunchy art pieces in the familiar style of Warhol. He is distant and cool to those around him, and at her friend’s urging, Emmaline dives into Johnny’s life by perusing his past work.
Suddenly, her fugues, or blackouts, start to get worse and less predictable. Worse, she finds she has no desire for them to end – she finds herself thrown into the 70′s world of Johnny Dellasandro. Inexplicably, she begins experiencing things with him that she comes to find actually happened in real life, not just in her mind, and she begins to wonder if there is something…supernatural…going on. In the real world, Emmaline and Johnny manage to come together, and the two begin a difficult trek of a relationship while Emmaline battles her increasing blackouts.
I very much enjoyed Collide. There are several subjective aspects of it that hit close to home for me. One, it’s set in Central Pennsylvania, where I myself am from. Two, Emmaline has a serious Doctor Who crush, which I can sympathize with. Ha.
I’ve read a few previous novels by Hart and have enjoyed all of them, so I was excited when I got my hands on this one. Hart’s writing style is casual, the tone of her novels tending to be very conversational, but without dating themselves. Emmaline’s conversations with her best friend are hilarious, at times, and had me smiling. Emm herself is a fiercely strong and stubborn woman, especially having to compensate for having a very nontraditional upbringing because of her health. I enjoyed watching her fascination with Johnny grow from guarded interest to outright obsession, especially when her blackouts threw her into an entirely different time and environment. It’s a reeling experience, and we can sympathize with Emmaline as she struggles to figure out what’s going on.
Johnny is an enjoyable character as well. He’s mature and somewhat brooding, your typical artist that lived through a hellish time in the 70′s. What makes him especially appealing is that fact that he is, at heart, a genuinely good guy, and he really comes through for Emmaline in her time of need.
What I’ve always enjoyed about Hart’s books are her near perfect fusion eroticism and romance. You’re guaranteed a good dose of toe-curling steam as well as a satisfied and, in most cases, realistic plot. Collide is a very steamy book, and the ending was incredibly heartwarming and endearing. I imagine Collide will draw some comparisons to The Time Traveler’s Wife, but undoubtedly I found this book to be an original and wonderful read.
Suddenly, her fugues, or blackouts, start to get worse and less predictable. Worse, she finds she has no desire for them to end – she finds herself thrown into the 70′s world of Johnny Dellasandro. Inexplicably, she begins experiencing things with him that she comes to find actually happened in real life, not just in her mind, and she begins to wonder if there is something…supernatural…going on. In the real world, Emmaline and Johnny manage to come together, and the two begin a difficult trek of a relationship while Emmaline battles her increasing blackouts.
I very much enjoyed Collide. There are several subjective aspects of it that hit close to home for me. One, it’s set in Central Pennsylvania, where I myself am from. Two, Emmaline has a serious Doctor Who crush, which I can sympathize with. Ha.
I’ve read a few previous novels by Hart and have enjoyed all of them, so I was excited when I got my hands on this one. Hart’s writing style is casual, the tone of her novels tending to be very conversational, but without dating themselves. Emmaline’s conversations with her best friend are hilarious, at times, and had me smiling. Emm herself is a fiercely strong and stubborn woman, especially having to compensate for having a very nontraditional upbringing because of her health. I enjoyed watching her fascination with Johnny grow from guarded interest to outright obsession, especially when her blackouts threw her into an entirely different time and environment. It’s a reeling experience, and we can sympathize with Emmaline as she struggles to figure out what’s going on.
Johnny is an enjoyable character as well. He’s mature and somewhat brooding, your typical artist that lived through a hellish time in the 70′s. What makes him especially appealing is that fact that he is, at heart, a genuinely good guy, and he really comes through for Emmaline in her time of need.
What I’ve always enjoyed about Hart’s books are her near perfect fusion eroticism and romance. You’re guaranteed a good dose of toe-curling steam as well as a satisfied and, in most cases, realistic plot. Collide is a very steamy book, and the ending was incredibly heartwarming and endearing. I imagine Collide will draw some comparisons to The Time Traveler’s Wife, but undoubtedly I found this book to be an original and wonderful read.
December 30, 2011
Emmaline atau biasa dipanggil Emm sewaktu kecil pernah mengalami kecelakaan di taman bermain sehingga kepalanya retak dan koma selama seminggu. Saat sadar ia sama sekali tidak mengalami kelainan pada fungsi tubuhnya, tetap normal seperti biasa walaupun ia kemudian sering mengalami tidak sadarkan diri. Bisa selama beberapa detik atau bahkan beberapa jam.
Pada umur 32 tahun, selama 2 tahun terakhir ia sama sekali tidak mendapatkan serangan sama sekali sehingga ia bisa keluar dari rumah orangtuanya dan menjalani hidupnya sendiri. Ia kemudian berteman dengan Jen dan hampir setiap hari mereka bertemu di Mocha, kedai kopi dekat rumah mereka. Disana Emm bertemu dengan Johny, mantan aktor dan sekarang adalah pemilik galery, yang digila-gilai oleh Jen. Jen hampir memiliki semua film Johny yang rata2 memperlihatkan “keindahan” tubuh Johny.
Sejak pertemuan itu Emm juga terobsesi dengan Johny. Ia bahkan kembali mengalami black out dan pada saat tidak sadarkan diri itu ia berfantasi sedang bersama dengan Johny yang masih muda (sekitar 30 tahun yang lalu). Kejadian ini sering kali terulang dimana kemudian Emm tidak bisa lagi membedakan apakah yang diimpikannya selama black out itu adalah fantasi atau kenyataan.
Sedangkan pada kenyataannya Johny selalu menghindari Emm. Tapi pada akhirnya iapun tidak bisa menolak kata hatinya sehingga merekapun berpacaran. Walaupun berbahagia, Emm tetap mengalami black out dimana ia bertemu dengan johny yang masih muda. Hal ini membuatnya bingung karena ia ingin memfokuskan diri pada hubungannya dengan Johny yang ada dimasa sekarang.
Setelah setengah baca buku ini jadi mikir, kok mirip-mirip time traveler’s wife ya? Setidaknya versi picisannya....
Ternyata emang ada adegan dalam buku ini yang persis banget ama di TTW dan juga secara tidak langsung diakui oleh si pengarang. Tapi lumayan jugalah.. walaupun waktu tau umur si pak gaek sempat pengen brenti baca. Untung aja kebanyakan cerita lebih banyak antara Emm dengan Johny muda sehingga tidak bikin ilfil. Sangat membantu sewaktu membaca dibayangkan Pierce Brosnan sebagai Johny masa sekarang. Hihihihihi....
Adegan-adegan yang bikin “merinding” :
“Grampa!” Charlie appeared in the hall, waving a Wii remote. “This one doesn’t work. It needs new batteries.” ^gedubrak!!!^
Dan juga ...
“I can’t believe you.” Mom hitched forward in her chair, voice lowered like we were talking about something filthy. “He’s got to be as old as your dad, at least!”
“He’s not,” I insisted. “Dad’s fifty-nine. Johnny’s only fifty-seven.” [image error]
Pada umur 32 tahun, selama 2 tahun terakhir ia sama sekali tidak mendapatkan serangan sama sekali sehingga ia bisa keluar dari rumah orangtuanya dan menjalani hidupnya sendiri. Ia kemudian berteman dengan Jen dan hampir setiap hari mereka bertemu di Mocha, kedai kopi dekat rumah mereka. Disana Emm bertemu dengan Johny, mantan aktor dan sekarang adalah pemilik galery, yang digila-gilai oleh Jen. Jen hampir memiliki semua film Johny yang rata2 memperlihatkan “keindahan” tubuh Johny.
Sejak pertemuan itu Emm juga terobsesi dengan Johny. Ia bahkan kembali mengalami black out dan pada saat tidak sadarkan diri itu ia berfantasi sedang bersama dengan Johny yang masih muda (sekitar 30 tahun yang lalu). Kejadian ini sering kali terulang dimana kemudian Emm tidak bisa lagi membedakan apakah yang diimpikannya selama black out itu adalah fantasi atau kenyataan.
Sedangkan pada kenyataannya Johny selalu menghindari Emm. Tapi pada akhirnya iapun tidak bisa menolak kata hatinya sehingga merekapun berpacaran. Walaupun berbahagia, Emm tetap mengalami black out dimana ia bertemu dengan johny yang masih muda. Hal ini membuatnya bingung karena ia ingin memfokuskan diri pada hubungannya dengan Johny yang ada dimasa sekarang.
Setelah setengah baca buku ini jadi mikir, kok mirip-mirip time traveler’s wife ya? Setidaknya versi picisannya....
Ternyata emang ada adegan dalam buku ini yang persis banget ama di TTW dan juga secara tidak langsung diakui oleh si pengarang. Tapi lumayan jugalah.. walaupun waktu tau umur si pak gaek sempat pengen brenti baca. Untung aja kebanyakan cerita lebih banyak antara Emm dengan Johny muda sehingga tidak bikin ilfil. Sangat membantu sewaktu membaca dibayangkan Pierce Brosnan sebagai Johny masa sekarang. Hihihihihi....
Adegan-adegan yang bikin “merinding” :
“Grampa!” Charlie appeared in the hall, waving a Wii remote. “This one doesn’t work. It needs new batteries.” ^gedubrak!!!^
Dan juga ...
“I can’t believe you.” Mom hitched forward in her chair, voice lowered like we were talking about something filthy. “He’s got to be as old as your dad, at least!”
“He’s not,” I insisted. “Dad’s fifty-nine. Johnny’s only fifty-seven.” [image error]
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