Collide

Off-Limits #2

by Piper Lawson

I fell hard and fast for Sawyer. But my professor’s past tore us apart.

Olivia thought she knew who Sawyer Redmond was. She was wrong.

But he’s fiercely determined to keep her, and she can’t avoid him. He’s everywhere—in class, at events, in her head.

Even as she vows to forget him, he stops her.

He forces her to discover a side of herself she never knew. One that terrifies her almost as much as it excites her.

But there’s no way she can love the man she’s discovered…

Is there?

COLLIDE is an illicit, forbidden full-length novel and book 2 in the OFF-LIMITS romance trilogy.

Genres: Romance, Audiobook, Forbidden Romance, New Adult, College, Contemporary Romance, Contemporary

1 pages, Audio CD

Published September 13, 2023

About the author

Piper Lawson is a Wall Street Journal and USA Today bestselling author of smart, steamy romance! She writes about women who follow their dreams (even the scary ones), best friends who know your dirty secrets (and love you anyway), and complex heroes you’ll fall hard for (especially after talking with them). Brains or brawn? She’ll never make you choose. Piper lives in Canada with her tall, dark and brilliant husband. She believes peanut butter is a protein, rose gold is a neutral, and love is ALWAYS the answer.

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Books by Piper Lawson:

DENVER KODIAKS SERIES

Hard to Fake
Hard to Take
Hard to Break
Rookie Season

KING OF THE COURT SERIES

Game Changer
Shot Taker
Play Maker
Game Day

WICKED SERIES

Good Girl
Bad Girl
Wicked Girl
Forever Wicked

RIVALS SERIES

A Love Song for Liars
A Love Song for Rebels
A Love Song for Dreamers
A Love Song for Always

ENEMIES SERIES

Beautiful Enemy
Beautiful Sins
Beautiful Ruin
Beautiful Salvation

OFF-LIMITS SERIES

Crave
Collide
Claim
Tempt

TRAVESTY SERIES

Schooled
Stripped
Sealed
Styled
Satisfaction

PLAY SERIES

PLAY
NSFW
RISE

MODERN ROMANCE SERIES

Easy Love
Bad Love
Twisted Love

Reviews

[The Romantic Rush Blog · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a delicious return to the Off Limits trilogy and the illicit love story between sexy professor Sawyer Redmond and his devoted student Olivia Barclay. After the cliffhanger that left us desperate for more, Piper heightens the sexy, the feelings, the drama, and the chemistry.

Age gap forbidden romance is basically my reader catnip, and throw in the taboo of a student teacher and I AM HERE FOR IT. Sawyer is just the age gap hero you’ll like- a man with secrets, a dominant alpha, a broken soul. A man whose cold and detached facade only retreats in the wake of his attachment to his love- the sweet, vibrant, and determined Olivia. She’s the ideal heroine- fierce yet gentle, young but not naive, strong but vulnerable. Both of them have their own challenges that bleed into their romance- one that is far more complicated than just the danger of its taboo. And both seem to be in battle with parts of themselves. Olivia is trying to figure out her life directionality and is exploring parts of herself she’s yet to tapped into, and not just sexually, in her relationship with Sawyer. And Sawyer is facing the risk of letting down his walls as Olivia persists in pushing them - forcing him to confront his own pain, his own history.

The emotional connectivity deepens in this second installment, giving us more depth, and the sexy times are super hot. Of course, we have more unexpected turns to confront and another cliffy leaving you desperate for the finale and for their HEA. Can these two lovers find it? Looking forward to finding out just how this ends.

[Angels · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was one heck of a hot ready down and dirty forbidden. Romance read. This age gap romance had tons of up and downs, and sometimes you felt like you were on a rollercoaster ride. Olivia and Sawyer have awesome chemistry they sizzle and have both fire and passion but, one thing they are missing is trust, and it's something they need to fix.

Sawyer was a character that was possessive and protective and down right filthy and kinky when it comes to sex in his profession he is successful but, when it comes to his personal life, he is a bit of a mess. I loved the man he always seemed to be out of sorts as Olivia made him feel all off kilter, it was fun to watch. Reminded me of a caveman at times lol aka a hot one at that as well as swoon-worthy.

Olivia still carries the hurt from her previous relationship, and in doing so it becomes a complication between this couple. This being said, this couple cannot deny the chemistry between them, and they are playing a very dangerous game but, for them, it just makes things hotter! Tons of hot sexy scenes that scorched the pages.

I have to say I was rooting for this couple as their lives are complicated. The characters were enjoyable. This story is full of tons of messy bits but, one thing for sure is that this couple have what others crave they just need to find a way to make it work but, Olivia hit the nail on the head when it comes to Sawyer she has his number so to speak problem is will she be there when he figures it all out or will it be too late for them...

[Cat · Rating 5 out of 5]

What the Hell am I going to do until the next book comes out !!!!!!!!!!
As you can see Collide is NOT a stand alone story and the Queen of Cliff hangers Piper Lawson has done it again and left me wanting more.
Collide continues with the fall out of book one's revelations that were revealed in Crave.
Olivia and Sawyer begin at odds,then decide to continue their forbidden relationship but this time with conditions.
It will be Just Sex and NO Feelings,because they can't be permanent,this thing between them was only temporary ,as Sawyer would be leaving at the end of the semester.
But nothing seems to go easily for them between Olivia dealing with her family's problems and Sawyer dealing with selling his fathers house.The Odds are really stacked against them,trying to stay under the radar is becoming difficult as the need for one another just increases with each passing day,and feelings begin to change.
They are even hotter and ravishing in this book,but their relationship is still very much a secret and they don't seem to know what they are to eachother,all they know is that they hate being away from one another.
Piper Lawson had me panting with anticipation and eagerness and I lapped up every word of this story.I don't know how she does it but I always read her books with a little bit of trepidation waiting for something bad to happen...lol..because I know she doesnt make it easy for her characters to fall in love.
Collide is just the perfect title to book 2 in this series because Sawyer and Olivia's romance is conflicted,sexy,steamy and emotional and when they come together they are a perfect clash of mind,body and soul.
I really enjoyed this story and cannot wait for book 3.
Loved it to pieces
I highly recommend this series.
5 Stars.

[Emily Kurosawa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Collide is book #2 in the Off the Limits trilogy. From the very beginning up until the very end, it was a raw emotional bumpy ride. As Olivia navigated her forbidden relationship with Sawyer, she was also trying to find her footing in the world, making her own way. Olivia is a determined, bright and driven female MC; she's passionate about her field of study. And Sawyer encouraged and motivated her every step of the way, he boosted her confidence and cheered her on. Ahh!! I was so happy to see, Harrison and Rae are one of my favourite fictional couples (The Enemies series' main characters) making a cameo appearance.

Phew! The steam in this book hit the roof! I mean, Sawyer did continue on with his "private lessons" with Olivia. He pushed Olivia to the limits pushing her outside of her comfort zone, and this terrified and excited her at the same time. Sawyer, Sawyer! He slowly opened up to Olivia; he finally told her that he wanted so much more, revealing his feelings for her. He truly cares about her and wants Olivia to succeed, to reach for the stars. Olivia has strong feelings for Sawyer, but she was scared to acknowledge them or more like to say them out loud. Piper!! The ending! My gosh! It was so unexpected!! Can't wait to read the final installment "Crave".

A shocking revelation from Sawyer's past tore their relationship apart. Feeling hurt and confused, Olivia doesn't know what to believe or do. She's conflicted, and despite everything, she still wants Sawyer, but he won't let his guard down and let her in. Sawyer realized the *big* mistake he made, and he wants Olivia's forgiveness; he misses what they had; he misses Olivia. So, Olivia and Sawyer decided on a different approach to their "secret relationship": "no feelings" involved for Olivia and "exclusive" for Sawyer. Olivia's family/home life is a constant battle. And she turns to the one person who can ease her pain: Sawyer. Sawyer is the only person who understands her; he believes in her. Just as everything started going in the right direction, it took a wrong turn. Now, Olivia's and Sawyer's future hangs in the balance.

**I received an ARC in exchange for my honest review

[B. C. Booklover · Rating 5 out of 5]

After the wild ending in the first book in Piper Lawson's Off Limits series, Crave, who wouldn't be clamoring for more of what she's got in store for the unlikely pairing of Sawyer Redmond and Olivia Barclay in this next book? Well, I sure was and thankfully, it picked up right where the other left off.

With the captivating, forbidden, steamy as hell, on and off again connection  between the hard working star student, Olivia/Liv and her super sexy engineering professor, your kindle might spontaneously combust as you read along here in Collide. What a fitting name for book 2 and what's happening behind the closed doors of Russell U's campus. 

If taboo, student/professor relationships are your thing, this series was created just for you. Try as they may, there is no stopping this undercover liason- it's like two magnets so attracted to each other, they're almost impossible to pull apart. Olivia and Sawyer were made for each other- if they can just get past those hurdles that life and other people keep putting in their way.

Sawyer has his own reasons for the walls he's built so high around himself and Olivia wants nothing more than to knock them all down. He is darkness, she is light and they complement each so perfectly. There are obstacles working against them- secrets, lies, sabotage and betrayals- one too many and everything Olivia has sacrificed for her future will come tumbling down around her. The question is who and what will be left standing if that happens?

This 3 book series is full of twists, turns and sneaky surprises that are meant to be read in order. Olivia and Sawyer's continuing dual POV story is intense, sexy, flirty and will take you on a heartstopping ride as they try to work through what's
happening between them. Keep your eye out for the final book- Claim, coming in March 2022...it's going to be amazing!! I was given an early copy to read and this is my honest review of it.

[Jessica Alcazar · Rating 5 out of 5]

🎧🎧 AUDIO REVIEW🎧🎧

PERFORMANCE REVIEW & RATING: 5 Stars

Connor Crais and Vanessa Edwin continue to surpass my expectations with their performance in Collide! They make and incredible Sawyer & Olivia and have done an impeccable job of continuing to bring this story to life for me! Well done!

STORY REVIEW & RATING: 5+ Stars

So, we all know how trilogies work, right? In my experience, almost always, the first book sets the storyline and the H/h up and then something happens in the end that blows everything up, then the second book resolves whatever blew the first book up, but again, something happens at the end that blows everything up, and then the third book is a constant uphill battle to fix all of that and then BAM, HEA. That’s just a formula, but what really drives the who/what/where of all three parts is the trope of the trilogy. This trilogy is a student-teacher trope at its core. There are expectations we all have as readers on certain plot-points and circumstances that will happen in a student-teacher situation and if you read enough of them (like I do), you tend to not be surprised when they happen. Because I’m rarely surprised by this trope’s “formula”, I rely heavily on other aspects of the story to wow me. I could go into detail about all those aspects, but this paragraph is already longwinded enough so that’s that on that. ALL OF THIS rambling is to simply tell you … Well played Piper Lawson! 👏👏👏👏 That’s how you turn a story on a dime and wow & awe a reader! Seriously, well done! You, Piper, managed to make me think you were going to be all formulaic in this story and then BAM, you forged an unexpected path that quite frankly makes me (a seasoned reader) seriously question where this story is actually going and how it’s going to get there and GAH, the utter giddiness of it all has me spinning!

I don’t even know what words to use to convey how ridiculously excited I am to read Claim (the final book in this trilogy) not just because I really love both Sawyer and Olivia and quite frankly most of the secondary characters as well, but because it’s a whole new world now for me and I just know, deep in my bones, that Piper is going to turn this story on a dime again and maybe again before she rights it back up and we get that sweet spot we all crave in our romance fiction. Bring it!

I realize I’ve told you nothing of this story in this review and that’s on purpose. If you don’t understand why (lol) then you have to start at the beginning of this review and read it again *wink*

[Amanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just…. I can’t…. Gahhhh!!!! Someone give me all the chocolate and all the wine because I can’t even stop crying right now.

Collide- to hit with force when moving… To crash together or crash into something.

Sure… if it’s my heart. It broke it into a million tiny pieces. These characters collided into my heart and broke me. BROKE ME.

I’m done. Finished. Dead. That ending left me gasping for air.

Olivia is such a force. She’s determined. So determined to make her own way and not be what everyone expects.
Sawyer sees her. Who she is deep down. Who she wants to be. Who she can be. He’s the only one who sees her. Really really sees her. He’s damaged as heck. But Olivia makes him see parts of himself he didn’t want to see either. She makes him see what life could be. What he never knew he wanted. What he’s always avoided like the plague.

Insert a ton of people and odds stacking against them, trying to force them apart even though they collided in a way their pieces melded together and became one. In such a way that when one breaks the other feels it deeply.

Love stories are always epic… but when literally everyone tries to tear it apart and the bloodshed spans time, distance, and war to come out the other side… those are truly epic. Olivia and Sawyer are epic.

I can’t wait to see how they come out of this. Because no one is left unscathed. Not a single person. This fire burnt the whole world down with it. And only a phoenix can rise from these ashes to rebirth something new and whole and epically wonderful.

My favorite part is one single sentence that Olivia says to Adam in a hallway at the end. Girl found her strength and FINALLY used it for good. Used it for herself and only herself. Spoke her truth and the consequences… well let those chips fall where they may. It was a long time coming.

I demolished this book in half a day. It was so good I couldn’t stop reading. I’m mad as heck I have to wait for the next one because dannnnnngggg I need to know what happens next like I need air to breathe.

Piper Lawson is great at getting you. Pulling those heart strings and making you want to deny every responsibility you have and daily life for just one more word. One more chapter. Then you find yourself at the end and you’re cursing her and her witchy writing powers as you realize you have to wait for more but knowing that the wait even though it kills you is worth it in the end because the story, the ride, is epic and beautiful and worth every tear. Because not only do her stories break you, but they put you back together in a way you didn’t even know you needed until it’s done. They leave you on the edge of your seat clinging to it with white knuckled hands and a smile on your face as it all comes to a brilliant end.

If you haven’t yet read the first book in this series, go and read it now. It’s the start of this epic journey, and it will take you on a ride that’s all risk and well worth the reward.

[PP's Bookshelf · Rating 5 out of 5]

You are not ready for this sexy, emotional, filthy, heart stopping forbidden age gap romance from Piper Lawson. Collide was everything I need from a perfect romance. Jaw dropping chemistry and heartaching feels with unforgettable characters. The writing of Piper Lawson was just too brilliant and I am obsessed with Sawyer and Olivia's epic love story.
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Collide is book 2 of the trilogy and must be read in order. Professor Sawyer Redmond ( and tech nerd businessman) and his student in Russell University, Olivia Barclay are tempting fate with their scorching hot story. They know they are doing something dangerous but they cannot stay away from each other. This story is all about exploring their emotional connection beyond the physical chemistry. But there are so many challenges. Olivia's career. Sawyer's pain. Their hearts are colliding.
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I have a weakness for forbidden romance and professor-student is a trope that is extra favourite if done right. And Piper Lawson did it justice. Sawyer is just the best kind of broken brooding alpha. He has a cold heart with walls and everyone thinks he is this c0cky merciless teacher. But Olivia has cracked his walls. This girl is amazing. Sweet. Fierce. Colourful. A bit reckless but with a beautiful heart and sharp mind. Stubborn and soft.Life is testing her from every side. Her family's financial trouble. Her engineering career facing challenges. And her heart is at war. She is falling for the man who pushes her to be better, to be more confident, to be special and also pushes her body to limits by exposing her filthy fantasies. Sawyer doesn't want to open himself but whenever he distances himself, Olivia just pushes back. This story is incredibly hot and I mean super dirty! The best part is the storyline that constantly changes course with massive twists and I feel I have gone through emotional hell. I am feeling a bit crazy for that cliffy and I cannot wait for the last book. This story established Sawyer and Olivia as soulmates through heartbreak, ecstasy and swoony moments. But their happily ever after isn't here yet.

Collide by Piper Lawson was an exciting journey with steamy and emotional perfection. The author made me feel every extreme emotion vividly and vibrantly.
.
I reviewed an early copy voluntarily

[Cait Ireen | caitireenreads · Rating 4 out of 5]

4/5⭐️
3/5🌶️

Man this series is fun! Spicy, taboo, a bad ass FMC and an MMC I Judy want to fix! Piper is such a master of the cliffhanger lite which I absolute love. Cannot wait to read the final in this trilogy next!

[One Loves Reading · Rating 5 out of 5]

FINALLY ITS HERE!!
There are some many emotional scenes in this book and inspirational quotes that I love

"She wear a nearly white dress, like a damned angel. And I'm the devil who made her fall."

Sawyer & Olivia's love story broke me & healed me THEN a cliffhanger, is it March yet!?😭🥰

We finally learn more about Sawyer past in the foster system and, I love that he collected rocks for every home he went to. Reminds him that rocks are important just like him just becuase they a dirty they are still special

Olivia we learn more about her father company and I have a theory about her dad especially with that cliffhanger...no spoilers
Her team is improving slightly just Adam & Madison are begin pains.

I was so happy for Olivia & Sawyer towards the end. Both found their ways towards each other THEN there was challenge that got fixed. The fix was that Sawyer finally sees people care about him...no spoilers. Olivia however has got more burden on her shoulder which I hope will finally leave her but she has Sawyer there to hold her 🥰

☆MUST READ & FAV☆

[Gió Giò · Rating 4 out of 5]

Continua la storia tra il professor Redmond e Miss Barclay. Tra alti e bassi, nascosti agli occhi degli altri, Sawyer e Olivia cercano di portare avanti la relazione. Per lui i sentimenti stanno diventando sempre più forti, contrastarli non è più possibile, sebbene i rischi sono alti, soprattutto professionalmente.
Olivia, non ce la fa a fidarsi: il passato di lui gioca contro di lei. Però, in più occasioni ha sentito in Sawyer una protezione e un affetto, lontani da una semplice avventura, o capriccio, di un uomo che lo fa solo perché attratto da quello che non dovrebbe volere.
C'è in questa seconda parte la voglia dell'uno e dell'altra di lasciarsi andare, ma anche i dubbi e le paure, generate dal pensiero degli altri una volta venuti allo scoperto.
Lei è stata plagiata? È stata costretta? Lui ha sfruttato il suo ruolo per averla? Ne ha favorito la carriera universitaria?
Tanti nodi che arrivano al pettine nel modo più brutale.
Liv combatte, ma Sawyer sembra lasciarla sola...chissà.
4🌟

[Amy [Book Addict Reviews] · Rating 5 out of 5]

Olivia and Sawyer’s story continues right where things left off at the end of Crave. Sawyer’s past has torn them apart, yet they can’t avoid each other. Sawyer also isn’t about to just give up when it comes to Olivia, however, he does have a lot to prove.

I loved everything about this story and the continuation of Olivia and Sawyer’s journey. There is a TON of chemistry between them and no shortage of spice when it comes to this story. I love Olivia and how driven she is and how determined she is when it comes to everything. I loved the growth of their relationship and the deeper connection that the two of them are beginning to form.

Can we talk about that cliffhanger of an ending though!? Seriously, how can things just end with that bombshell. But I am DYING to see how Sawyer and Olivia’s story continues in book 3.

If you’re looking for a forbidden, student/teacher, age gap romance check out this one, after reading book 1, Crave!

[Ellie · Rating 4 out of 5]

these cliffhanger endings are shortening my lifespan 😭 pls 😭 i just want them to be happy lmao

[Shelly Diguer · Rating 5 out of 5]

WOWZA 🤩 what a freaking read , this book 📕 blew my mind 🤯 completely held me captive from beginning to end 🥺 it was an emotional rollercoaster 🎢 off a ride …one minute I was laughing 😂, then I was crying 😢 then I was wanting to throat punch 🥊 someone, seriously and I loved 🥰 it… I want to climb sawyer like a tree 🌲 and jump all over his branch 🍆😏😋he is just yummy 🤤 and Liv is just an amazing character who puts up with so much ….the chemistry between them is fire 🔥 and hot 🥵 as fxxk and then that ending whoooooo wasn’t expecting that it is definitely worth 5 stars ⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️love 🥰 love 🥰 love 🥰 it ❤️🙌👍👏

[B. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sawyer & Olivia Try To Define What They Mean To One Another In This Angsty Forbidden Romance! Some Of Sawyer’s Secret Past Comes To Light In This Explosive Addition To The Trilogy. He Stands To Lose His Career As A Professor, & She Could Destroy Her Academic Career. Fans Of Ivy Smoak’s The Hunted Series May Enjoy This Book.


This is book two in the Off-Limits trilogy. It is Sawyer and Olivia’s forbidden romance, age gap story. Their story began in Crave. Claim, book three, is the conclusion.

FROM CRAVE, BOOK ONE:

Olivia Barclay, twenty, comes from a good family. The oldest of two girls, she always tries to please her parents who have certain expectations. To most, she leads a perfect life. She has the perfect boyfriend from the perfect family, and her parents look forward to an engagement that will join the two families. Oliva had devoted her life to ballet until about sixteen when the twelve years of her hard work had all been for nothing. It left her feeling a little lost. She chose to follow her boyfriend of three years, Adam, to Russell University and into engineering, a field dominated by men. But her years of hard work in ballet helped her to develop a determination to achieve the impossible, and two years later, she is glad for her choice. She finds the idea of creating something to be personally satisfying. Professor Lancaster had become something of a mentor to her, and she looks forward to working on a design project under his brilliant direction this year. She, Adam, Royce, and Madison are a team, for better or worse, and if they win, they get funding and national recognition that will give them the chance to jumpstart their new careers.

Sawyer Redmond, roughly thirty, is returning home to bury his father. It had been years since his last visit, and there was no love lost between the two. They were not exactly close. His foster father loved Sawyer’s brilliant mind and incredible potential, but Sawyer craved something more. Serious relationships aren’t worth the hassle – seeing his friend Daniel suffer cemented that conviction. He always had a tendency to find trouble, and that hasn’t changed much today. He enjoys breaking the rules because life is worth living. He likes pushing boundaries more than winning, and sometimes his shenanigans catch up with him. He had made a life in Manhattan, where the company he helped found achieved great success, but now he is going home for a reason.

When Sawyer and Oliva meet in the parking lot outside of Velvet, their crazy chemistry cannot be denied. When they later come face to face in her mechanical engineering class, they are both taken aback. They feel an incredible connection, but a relationship between Olivia and Professor Redmond would be forbidden. They fight the pull, but neither seems to be able to forget. They face secrets and lies. Olivia must face her judgmental and controlling family, and Sawyer must come to terms with his recent loss. They find comfort in one another, but they both know what they have is a dead end. Their angsty story ends in a cliffhanger. It picks up again in book two, Collide.

IN THIS BOOK:

As book one came to a close, Olivia, her ex-boyfriend Adam, Madison, and Royce have just finished regionals and have qualified for the next step in the STARS engineering competition. This is good news for Russell University. But for the team, it means more. There is much at stake as the winning team wins one million dollars in R&D funding to help bring their invention to market. It will make their careers, and not all of them have a cushy job waiting for them. But the dean insisted Sawyer, as faculty supervisor of the team, attend the weekend competition in New York. He and Olivia had finally begun a relationship, and keeping it a secret for the weekend will be a challenge.

Tate, with whom Sawyer plans to partner in a new startup after his stint teaching at Russell concludes, shows up at the event and picks up on the couple’s vibe. Tate is nervous after what went down last summer with Sawyer. Meanwhile, Olivia overhears some of the rumors about last summer and is rocked by what she believes it means about her relationship with Sawyer. She concludes that she is his type – young – and the belief that they had something special dissipates into thin air. She lets Sawyer know how she feels, but her carelessness leads to Madison’s discovery of their secret. Sawyer and Olivia’s futures lie in Madison’s hands.

As this book opens, the team returns to Russell U. Madison easily secures Olivia’s promise to end things with Sawyer in exchange for keeping the secret to herself. This is good for everyone since reporting the affair would put the team’s future in doubt. Olivia is destroyed by what she learned about Sawyer and refuses to hear his explanation. Meanwhile, Sawyer has some deep-seated self-esteem issues dating back to his youth. He had thought Olivia was different, but she treated him like all the others by dismissing him outright and assuming the worst. Fall break commences, followed by midterms, and the team works tirelessly on their project. They must make a product justification presentation and pass a panel in order to continue on to finals. Needless to say, there is a lot of tension.

Jealousy and heated arguments eventually bring Sawyer and Olivia together again, but this time they are both guarding their hearts. Their delicate arrangement faces some very real challenges when Sawyer discovers that Olivia had not been forthcoming about her relationship with his father. Meanwhile, Olivia discovers that her family’s financial issues are worse than she had believed, and suddenly the life of privilege she had been accustomed to slowly begins to erode. Madison’s knowledge remains a ticking time bomb while Sawyer and Olivia continue to sneak around, tempting fate. The dean clearly has a problem with Sawyer, which is bad news for the STARS team. Tate’s actions are a little questionable, and his motives are unclear. Things seem to be coming together for Sawyer and Olivia, but a few explosive surprises leave everything in question.

The trilogy concludes in book three, Claim.

Sawyer and Olivia heat up the pages in this steamy college romance. This book begins to shed light on some of the unanswered questions about Sawyer’s past, yet there is still a lot to be learned. What has been uncovered to date, though, does much to make him a sympathetic character. Olivia is more of an open book, but there are some secrets that impact her nevertheless. She feels immense pressure from her family who seem to put the burden of the world on her shoulders. Here Olivia’s age becomes a big problem for the couple in addition to the forbidden nature of their professor-student relationship.

Fans of Ivy Smoak’s The Hunted series may enjoy this trilogy. While different, there are many parallels. In The Hunted series, Professor Hunter leaves his successful startup and New York behind for a simpler life working as a college professor. Penny Taylor, nineteen, is beginning her sophomore year when she runs into the professor at a coffee shop. When they come face to face again in his business communication class, their attraction for one another suddenly becomes forbidden. On top of the student-teacher relationship, Professor Hunter learns that Penny is younger than he had anticipated. If other students discover their on and off-again relationship, there will be a price to pay for both. Penny is dealing with a cheating ex, and Professor Hunter has a dark and mysterious past as well as an ex of his own. When Penny learns about his problem with addiction, she begins to wonder if what he feels for her is real or if she is just another addiction. This trilogy follows a similar pattern but is a little less angsty. Post-Adam Olivia is perhaps a stronger character than Penny, who wavers a lot as she grows as a person. Professor Hunter comes across as more sure of himself than Sawyer. If you like Crave, you will love reading about James and Penny, too. The Hunted series is complete and is told in Penny’s POV, while Obsessed is book one in a new series told from James’ POV. Crave, in contrast, is mostly in Olivia’s POV, but it includes several chapters from Sawyer’s POV as well.

Sawyer and Olivia try to define what they mean to one another in this angsty forbidden romance. Some of Sawyer’s secret past comes to light in this explosive addition to the trilogy. They both have something to lose if they are discovered, and although they don’t take it lightly, they do behave recklessly. The plot is somewhat complex. The characters become a bit hard to follow here. Trying to keep up with Sawyer and Olivia’s fickle opinions of one another gave me whiplash. It was almost certainly meant to build the tension, but it only made the story feel tedious. The couple’s chemistry and their connection were well-developed in book one, and they fortunately carry over into this book in spite of the shortcoming. The story is written in first person. It is mostly in Olivia’s POV, with nine chapters in Sawyer’s POV. I rate this book 3.5 stars.

[Stital · Rating 5 out of 5]

Raw and real and so completely entrancing, Collide is a truly marvelous read.

Expertly written, with some amazing character development and a perfectly crafted storyline, this book if filled to the brim with feelings and so much emotional depth - ranging from hurt, love, self-doubt, perseverance, dejection and growth.
Sawyer and Liv balance each other perfectly, and the development of their relationship throughout the book is mesmerizing and captivating. Sawyer center shines through his darkness and he finally understand where his heart lies, and Liv smooths out some of his edges but sharpens others, bringing the worst and best out of them both and causing a visceral reaction in any reader's heart.

5 stars and a black ghost knifefish

[Suzanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh wow! Not the ending I was expecting! Obviously you will have to read the book to find out what that is.

Olivia and Sawyer continue their non-relationship in secret. All the while on the inside Olivia is struggling with what is happening in her family life. No one knows but matters are getting worse. Her escape with Sawyer is helping her cope.

The stars competition is going well, though the Dean clearly has other ideas and tries to make life difficult for Sawyer and the team. It's not clear what his motive is initially, but it starts to become clear.

There is then a revelation that rocks campus! This could have a knock on affect for so many lives, but will the outcome be what you expect - it certainly wasn't mine!

[Elizabeth Connor · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an ARC of this book from the author and I’m so thankful. I got sucked into this story in a way I didn’t with Crave. There was something about the pacing and the intensity of it that kept pulling me forward, uncontrollably. It was amazing.

As usual, there are some great quotes from this book. Harrison King and Raegan make an appearance and Harrison tells Sawyer: “The right woman doesn’t only soften your rough edges. She files a few of them into blades.”

Olivia describes Sawyer as a “dark god who casually brings mortals to their knees, benevolent enough to make sure they delight in their submission.” Later, she observes: “Sawyer’s going to kill Adam. He’ll rip him in half and hide the body parts in the gardens. Scratch that. The way he looks, he’s not going to bother hiding the body.”

And the banter between Sawyer and Olivia is priceless:
“Tell you what. Next Thursday night, I’ll find us a place. You’re mine all night long. You need to catch up on my lessons.”
“It’s midterms, Professor. Girl’s got to study.”
“I’ll drill you.”
I cock my head. “On my flashcards?”
“Anywhere you want, Cherry.”

Without spoiling anything, I feel like I have to point out a couple of things that bothered me. If I received a specific amount of money and was relying upon that money for something important, I wouldn’t offer the full amount immediately to get something else slightly less important. I’d negotiate something much smaller and work my way up, if necessary. It made me mad when Olivia just blurted out the entire amount. What if the other person had tried to negotiate for more? It was dumb.

I also found the foreshadowing for the cliffhanger ending a bit heavy-handed and unbelievable. Olivia actually has the audacity to think: “There’s no way Sawyer’s going to let me down.” Since she has been so worried about this all along and has only recently started to allow herself to trust him, I just shook my head in disbelief.

I know there’s a cliffhanger, and I’m fairly certain it involves Sawyer letting her down. The closer to the end I read, the more I felt the lurking presence of something that was going to crush me. I was getting uptight just thinking about it. Sometimes, I cannot handle the stress of a cliffhanger, especially one of Piper Lawson’s making. She is an evil genius in that regard. So, at the end of Chapter 26, when there was a point of calmness, I stopped. It’s a cheat, a hack, if you will. By stopping before the end, I’m avoiding the cliffhanger. Stupid as it sounds, I think it’s working for me. I feel unusually peaceful. And when book three is released, I’ll read the end of this one. :)

Meanwhile, I’m going to go ahead and recommend the entire series.

[Maddie (Bookaholic_Dreamer) · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5/5 ⭐️

Collide definitely collided with my mind, heart, body and soul in every way! Especially considering that cliffhanger ending!
Damn I was not expecting that cliffy AT ALL. I kid you not, it left me jaw dropped in surprise and shock when I read it.
You will not believe your eyes when you end up reading it for yourselves. Something I highly suggest you do.

If there’s one thing I can count on with Piper Lawson and her books, it’s the depth she always brings to her stories. Something she has done with Off-Limits series so far, especially when it comes to Collide and the storyline behind it.

Once again we are treated to an adventurous story when it comes to Liv and Sawyer and their Forbidden relationship.
Although the ending of Crave may have made you think that it’s all over between the two, reading Collide you learn that it's only just the beginning.
Following along Liv and Sawyer’s whirlwind romance journey led to some Spicy and Smoking Hot steam that is definitely NSFW! Alongside moments that had your heart racing and swooning on the inside because of the romantic-ness of it.
However that’s not to say there wasn’t a lot more going on, because there definitely was. Other than Liv and Sawyer having to be sneaky and secretive making sure no one finds out about their Taboo relationship. There was the case of everything else going on in their lives that they were trying to juggle simultaneously.
For instance Liv is trying to deal with issues within her family life that seems to be getting worse, some of which could possibly affect her future. Whilst trying to stay focused and succeed with The Stars competition, considering the hurdles that keep appearing causing issues.
As for Sawyer he is dealing with getting his new company to take off, trying to sell his father’s house and helping his students with the competition. All the while fighting off people causing him issues, whilst trying to deal with all the emotions that come along with everything.

Everything that is going on and occurs throughout Collide lead to an adventuresome story that was emotionally charged at time, given the growth of Liv and Sawyer’s relationship on top of the drama as well. Plus given the detailed narrative and thorough character development, it had you sucked into the their story even more. Right to the point of where you couldn’t stop reading, wanting to know and see where Liv and Sawyer's journey would take them. Especially given the battles they face, leading to some intense and shocking moments.

Needless to say another great story from Piper Lawson! But then again that’s a given, since she always writes great stories. And Collide is another that testament to that.



*I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Joy Avery · Rating 5 out of 5]

☆☆☆☆☆
Collide gave me everything I was hoping for after the cliffhanger at the end of Crave which was book one in the Off Limits trilogy. Piper Lawson took two of my favorite tropes and weaved magic.
Collide picked up where Crave left off. Olivia Barclay’s engineering professor, Sawyer Redmond's past collided with their forbidden relationship and tore them apart. Sawyer refuses to let their fledgling connection go so easily. Olivia thought she knew who he was but she couldn’t have been more wrong. He’s adamant he won’t let her go and despite her desire to move on, he won’t let her forget him. Not only does he still take up residence in her mind but it seems he’s everywhere she goes. He shows her a side of herself she never knew existed. It scares her but also excites her in so many ways. Yet, she doesn’t know if she can love the real Sawyer but is she sure about that?
As they both decide to have a strictly physical relationship and no feelings, things get exponentially hotter. The angst gets more intense. They can’t seem to stay away from each other even though more and more gets stacked against them. I loved the growth seen in both characters. They will have to navigate where they want to go from here especially since he will no longer have a place at that university at the end of the semester. There is another breath-stealing, heart-stopping cliffhanger so be prepared. I know I’ll be counting down the days until the final book releases in March. I highly recommend this story but you need to start with Crave. This is my honest opinion, freely given.

[Kristina Maysonet · Rating 4 out of 5]

Collide is book #2 in the Off Limits trilogy and should be read after Crave. I have been so excited to get back into this world ever since finishing the first book and it did not disappoint.

This is an age gap forbidden romance between Professor Sawyer and his student Olivia. Crave ended on a cliffhanger with Olivia finding out that this is not Sawyer’s first relationship with someone much younger. Throughout the story Sawyer and Olivia try to work through their feelings they have for each other and also the reason that they should be staying apart. There is a lot to still be revealed about Sawyer’s past including his relationship with his father.

Olivia and Sawyer have a lot of drama going on through this story. There are lots of pieces to this puzzle to figure out. They also bring a lot of chemistry and feelings that have you routing so hard for this couple despite everything that is thrown at them.

The writing in this story is phenomenal. Nothing is predictable, there is also a new twist or turn to shock you. That has been the most exciting part about this read. And even at the very end where you think you see how this is going to work out for both Olivia and Sawyer, you are hit with another major shocker. Talk about a cliffhanger! I cannot wait until the third book to see how all of this wraps up.

[This_mum_reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

“She put rules on what this is. Her body is mine. Her heart, she keeps. It’s a lie”
She’s “The order to my chaos. The face of my downfall. The cause of my f**cking heartbeat in my chest”

Tropes
Student/Professor
Forbidden Love
Age gap

Collide is the second book in the Off Limits Series by Piper Lawson and begins where Crave left off following Olivia’s discover about Sawyer in New York

In my opinion this book is even better than the first. My only negative point from book 1 is that I would have liked more spice. And this one delivers. Two words. APPLE. SCENE. 🔥🥵🌶👌

In this book it is Sawyer who is no longer denying his feelings and is pursuing Olivia, making it clear that it is her that he wants. Olivia is however hesitant following the New York revelations. She can’t stay away for long however and agrees to a casual relationship. No feelings involved. And we all know how that normally turns out!

I’ve been invested in this couple since we got a teaser in the Hot Summer Night Anthology last year and they are prefect for each other. Sawyer is a dominant alpha male that is dealing with issues from the past and finds it hard to trust. But Olivia sees him for the man that he is. Olivia is a hard working, smart engineering student with family and ex boyfriend drama. No one sees Olivia’s potential like Sawyer. They both have issues going on but being together is the only thing that feels right. Added to this is the fact Sawyer is Olivia’s engineering professor. Throw in a lucrative engineer competition which forces these two in close proximity constantly among other students and a dodgy College Dean and you have load of drama

It wouldn’t be a Piper Lawson book without a cliffhanger that comes out of left field, makes you throw your kindle and be absolutely devastated that the book is finished!! And the result… I’m counting the days to the 3rd book and the conclusion to Olivia and Sawyers story and hoping for an amazing happily ever after.

[Jessica Wells · Rating 5 out of 5]

Consider this series redeemed. The review for the first book left me feeling not satisfied. I felt like things were being held back but I was guessing it was because it was setting up the next book and I was absolutely right. Olivia and Sawyer are back and hotter than ever. After picking up the pieces of heartbreak at the end of the first book, we see that Sawyer is all in.

This book was full of drama as they try to figure out what their relationship is, the pressure of the competition, the pressures of Liv's parents going broke, and another thing we were all fearing would happen.... It's so worth the read. I immediately pre-ordered the next book because this one left me with a cliffhanger that has me desperately needing this next book ASAP.

Let's talk about the spice. We know Liv and Sawyer's relationship is hot, hot, HOT but Piper Lawson does a great job imagining scenes that are outside of the norm. One involves an apple and it's used in a way I've never seen before. I'm going to give it two chilis though because I could have used some more scenes.

[Nikki · Rating 5 out of 5]

A train wreck in the making and hearts are going to get broken, in the second book of the trilogy!

Olivia and Sawyer ended on a cliffhanger, with lies being spread and secrets from the past being brought back. Olivia and Sawyer both are struggling with their own downfall, Olivia with her family and Sawyer learning to move forward and understand his father. Tension heats up faster in this book, and with the sneaking around the angst is also raised! Sawyer character changes the most in this book, he opens up and slowly learns to trust Olivia, building something past their chemistry. Sawyer pushes Olivia to her reach her potential and will step out her way even if that mean sacrificing his own happiness. Olivia has matured she always played the perfect daughter dating the guy her parents picked and giving up on her dreams, this book she fights for her dreams with a wire wrapped around her heart. Ohh what a wild ride Collide took, points I found myself blushing but the end was gut wrenching and shocking! As far as cliffhangers this has to be the best of the year so far!

[Jennifer Pierson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Collide is the second book in Sawyer & Olivia's story, so you can't start out with this book, you have to read Crave (Book 1). I don't usually read student/teacher stories since it's a taboo that is almost a hard limit for me (probably because I have a daughter & would burn the world down if she had been in this situation LOL). Anyway, I have to say that I'm all in for their story, but it's probably because I'm a HUGE fan of Piper Lawson so I don't read the blurbs anymore which is why I ended up out of my comfort zone & loving it. There's a lot more going on in this book, as Olivia is trying to make her way in the world despite anything her parents throw at her. She can't stay away from Sawyer despite the fact he has some issues but he's starting to really open up with her. However, this is only the second book so there's more to come & I'll just be over here waiting impatiently on the next book because I HAVE to know it all pans out! I believe you'll feel the same way after you hit those one click buttons since I HIGHLY HIGHLY HIGHLY RECOMMEND!

[Miranda F.]

As I've written on other reviews, I'm a huge Piper Lawson fan. The Wicked trilogy that starts with Good Girl is one of my favorites, and I've read that trilogy and other books by Piper Lawson several times.

But this book really didn't do it for me. There were a lot of adult scenes that were supposed to be steamy and risque, but I was bored. I love angst and uncertainty in a romance novel, but their issues in this book of togetherness and commitment felt forced. I didn't feel the connection between the hero and heroine, and I kind of just didn't care... I usually preorder all of Lawson's books as soon as I can preorder them, but I don't know if I'll read the third here or wait for her next series instead.

[Amanda · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was decent! Just like book 1 parts of it were really bad but it still had some great quotes that make you really think. Like how engineering can help the world-but can it actually? Or do systemic inequalities prevent it from ever truly being able to. I’ve really enjoyed that aspect of this series so far!

I felt like Olivia and Sawyer’s relationship barely grew though-they just kept getting stuck in the same arguments/internal thoughts so that got a little repetitive. The cliffhanger on this one wasn’t as good as book 1’s either in my opinion.

Still enjoyable enough though! Plus the audiobook is super short so it’s still worth it!! I’m invested enough in the story and the characters to continue with the series and I’ll probably jump back into it whenever I need a quick easy audiobook again!!

[Sara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh my heart!! This book has had my heart racing, feeling like it’s being pulled out of my chest and my breath taken away. Collide is freaking HOT!!
Collide is the second book in Piper Lawson’s Off-limits series. It picks up where book 1, Crave ended. Olivia is picking herself up and trying to figure out how to keep moving forward. Sawyer is slowly uncovering things about his father that he never knew and dealing with his past. While they are sure they shouldn’t be together, neither one can truly let go of the other. The pull between both of them is too strong to ignore.
I absolutely love the woman Olivia is becoming in this story. She is gaining strength all while the world she knows around her is unraveling.
Sit down, buckle your seatbelts and hold on for dear life cause this book is going to take you on a wild ride and you will absolutely love it!!
But y’all hang on to those e-readers when you get to the end and pick your jaw back up off the floor!

[Mary Jo · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am loving this intense and passionate series. Will choices Sawyer made in his past keep this duo apart? Olivia is working so hard at finding her path between school and home pressures while trying to stay away from Sawyer. But Sawyer seems to realize that he needs Olivia in his life. But is this something he will really trust? Together, Olivia and Sawyer are combustible whether it’s through their shared passion for engineering or their intense chemistry. I love Olivia’s strength, especially as she builds her own path while her parents continue to try to derail her plans. The growth and journey Sawyer is on is still shaky as he works the father he knew and the man that he became. Can he find forgiveness in his heart to truly move forward with his life? Once again, we end on a shocking cliff hanger. How will their journey end? So excited for part 3. I voluntarily read an ARC of this book and this is my honest review.

[Stephanie S · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great read to start off 2022!! After being left hanging in Crave, now we have some answers but still more with Collide. Sawyer and Olivia are still hot as ever but kinda build up and get to know each other better in this installment.

I loved the secrecy for the most part these 2 have to go through and that make a forbidden love that much better. Now there are more questions as this one was a cliffy so if you don't like those types of endings, I would suggest you wait until the last book is out to read them all at the same time. I am just a glutton for punishment and love a good cliffy in a book even if I have to wait a year, hopefully less, for the next one. Piper Lawson is a go to author for me and I have loved each of her books I have had the joy of reading.