What do you think?
Rate this book
The Wild Sequence #2
Crash Lib/E
JJ Schneider has it all.
A high-octane career as a pro snowboarder. A ride-or-die crew. A seven-figure sponsorship deal.
None of it makes up for losing the love of his life.
It’s been a year since Raquel Sfeir walked away. From the man she loved. From the job of her dreams. She’s done with enabling extreme athletes to risk their lives for the next thrill… especially the one who chose his career—and its dangers—over her.
But when a life-threatening accident shatters JJ’s dreams as well as his spine, Raquel finds herself drawn back to the man who broke her heart.
This time, she’s not going to give him the chance. She’s going to get him whole and out of the house they bought together—and then she’s moving on for good.
Raquel won't be anyone's consolation prize. But JJ’s had a lifetime of pursuing impossible goals, and he’s determined to show the woman of his dreams that even hearts can heal.
A high-octane career as a pro snowboarder. A ride-or-die crew. A seven-figure sponsorship deal.
None of it makes up for losing the love of his life.
It’s been a year since Raquel Sfeir walked away. From the man she loved. From the job of her dreams. She’s done with enabling extreme athletes to risk their lives for the next thrill… especially the one who chose his career—and its dangers—over her.
But when a life-threatening accident shatters JJ’s dreams as well as his spine, Raquel finds herself drawn back to the man who broke her heart.
This time, she’s not going to give him the chance. She’s going to get him whole and out of the house they bought together—and then she’s moving on for good.
Raquel won't be anyone's consolation prize. But JJ’s had a lifetime of pursuing impossible goals, and he’s determined to show the woman of his dreams that even hearts can heal.
Audio CD
First published April 15, 2019
425 people are currently reading
1883 people want to read
About the author
Harper Dallas
4 books637 followersHarper Dallas writes romantic fiction. Her favorite stories are about true love, strong women, and the men who can handle them.
After exploring the world, Harper met her own tall, blond, and handsome stranger right back at home. She is now living her happy ever after in the wilderness of British Columbia.
When she's not writing love stories, you can probably find her in the mountains.
After exploring the world, Harper met her own tall, blond, and handsome stranger right back at home. She is now living her happy ever after in the wilderness of British Columbia.
When she's not writing love stories, you can probably find her in the mountains.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 155 reviews
July 11, 2020
This is second in a series and you really want to read the other one first because important events happen there that spill over into this one.
I can't stand Raquel. She's a heartless coward, but then I've never understood someone who would choose leaving the person you love because you might lose them later. It's a stupid motivation because, frankly, any of us can go at any time. So letting the fear of what might happen destroy the good things you have now is an idiocy I just can't stand. And that seems to be her entire character and lead her to destroy her promising career as well as her "love" for JJ. It isn't like what he does for a living and the risks involved was a surprise to her. The man deserves better and I really wish this book were about him growing past the coward who left and finding someone worth his attachment.
I can't stand Raquel. She's a heartless coward, but then I've never understood someone who would choose leaving the person you love because you might lose them later. It's a stupid motivation because, frankly, any of us can go at any time. So letting the fear of what might happen destroy the good things you have now is an idiocy I just can't stand. And that seems to be her entire character and lead her to destroy her promising career as well as her "love" for JJ. It isn't like what he does for a living and the risks involved was a surprise to her. The man deserves better and I really wish this book were about him growing past the coward who left and finding someone worth his attachment.
April 14, 2019
Crash was the second book in the Wild Sequence series by Harper Dallas.
We met James “JJ” Schneider in the first book, Ride. He was a professional extreme sports snowboarder. His crew, the False Kings, were world famous for performing and recording dangerous and exciting stunts. He was fun and gorgeous, but we knew he was pining away for his ex-fiancé, Raquel Sfeir, although we didn’t know any details. Ride ended with a serious accident where Raquel showed up at the hospital for JJ.
Crash began by the author backing us up a bit to cross over with parts of book one, Ride. I enjoyed the refresher and getting JJ’s perspective for some of the same scenes. Dallas also took the opportunity to catch us up with Raquel, providing details for her life prior to Crash.
It was well written, emotional and told from both POV’s. It was presented in four parts as seen through the four seasons. And with each part it was a journey into the past mixed with the present in order to face the future.
I loved JJ and everything about him. For me, his personality was a carry over from the first book, so although it could be read as a stand-alone, I appreciated JJ more having gotten to know him previously. And Dallas provided JJ’s thoughts in detail, which were a combination of a Jekyll and Hyde conflict, but it allowed me to “feel” JJ and his turmoil. No spoilers so no elaboration, but there was a point I was questioning JJ. As for Raquel, she had to grow on me. At first I didn’t understand her coldness but as the story progressed, I began to feel her anguish. The life of an extreme sports professional athlete had risks that were dangerous and real. It was an emotional and realistic journey.
And through it all, I loved the crew - the strong secondary cast of characters that provided additional depth and dimension to the storyline: Chase/Brooke, Hanne and Hunter. Dallas began to set the stage for the remaining stories. I’m not sure whether we’ll get Hanne or Hunter’s story next, but both had teasers to be just as emotional and spectacular as Ride and Crash. Bring it on!
*I received an Advanced Copy (ARC) for an honest review. As this ARC was in the final editing process, my review was based solely on the writing style and storyline versus the editing of grammar, structure and punctuation mechanics.
We met James “JJ” Schneider in the first book, Ride. He was a professional extreme sports snowboarder. His crew, the False Kings, were world famous for performing and recording dangerous and exciting stunts. He was fun and gorgeous, but we knew he was pining away for his ex-fiancé, Raquel Sfeir, although we didn’t know any details. Ride ended with a serious accident where Raquel showed up at the hospital for JJ.
Crash began by the author backing us up a bit to cross over with parts of book one, Ride. I enjoyed the refresher and getting JJ’s perspective for some of the same scenes. Dallas also took the opportunity to catch us up with Raquel, providing details for her life prior to Crash.
It was well written, emotional and told from both POV’s. It was presented in four parts as seen through the four seasons. And with each part it was a journey into the past mixed with the present in order to face the future.
I loved JJ and everything about him. For me, his personality was a carry over from the first book, so although it could be read as a stand-alone, I appreciated JJ more having gotten to know him previously. And Dallas provided JJ’s thoughts in detail, which were a combination of a Jekyll and Hyde conflict, but it allowed me to “feel” JJ and his turmoil. No spoilers so no elaboration, but there was a point I was questioning JJ. As for Raquel, she had to grow on me. At first I didn’t understand her coldness but as the story progressed, I began to feel her anguish. The life of an extreme sports professional athlete had risks that were dangerous and real. It was an emotional and realistic journey.
And through it all, I loved the crew - the strong secondary cast of characters that provided additional depth and dimension to the storyline: Chase/Brooke, Hanne and Hunter. Dallas began to set the stage for the remaining stories. I’m not sure whether we’ll get Hanne or Hunter’s story next, but both had teasers to be just as emotional and spectacular as Ride and Crash. Bring it on!
*I received an Advanced Copy (ARC) for an honest review. As this ARC was in the final editing process, my review was based solely on the writing style and storyline versus the editing of grammar, structure and punctuation mechanics.
April 19, 2019
Killer angst, beautiful style
I absolutely loved the first book and while this was gripping with a beautiful, poetic style prose, it was too angsty for my taste.
If you've read Ride (and I think you need to read that first) you'll know adrenalin junkie JJ is still suffering from the the breakdown of his engagement when he suffers terrible injuries in an accident.
It's gut wrenching and poignant and thought provoking but it's also relentlessly miserable through most of the book. As impressive and devastating as it was to read, it did begin to feel a little repetitive after a while and I was hankering for some happy glow times. Unfortunately they were few and far between.
And it might be me being old, but I struggled to empathise with Raquel 's dilemma; she falls in love with a wild risk taker then wants him to um, not be a risk taker anymore. Really? I spent a good part of this grinding my teeth and wanting to drag her head through the snow or something.
Anyway, I adored the language and the sense of camaraderie with a team in this, but it was a little too relentlessly angsty for my tastes. If angst is your thing though, you'll be able to wallow in its delicious misery for sure.
Complete story. I'd recommend reading Ride first. That one was much more my cuppa.
Available on ku.
**Thanks to the author for my arc.**
I absolutely loved the first book and while this was gripping with a beautiful, poetic style prose, it was too angsty for my taste.
If you've read Ride (and I think you need to read that first) you'll know adrenalin junkie JJ is still suffering from the the breakdown of his engagement when he suffers terrible injuries in an accident.
It's gut wrenching and poignant and thought provoking but it's also relentlessly miserable through most of the book. As impressive and devastating as it was to read, it did begin to feel a little repetitive after a while and I was hankering for some happy glow times. Unfortunately they were few and far between.
And it might be me being old, but I struggled to empathise with Raquel 's dilemma; she falls in love with a wild risk taker then wants him to um, not be a risk taker anymore. Really? I spent a good part of this grinding my teeth and wanting to drag her head through the snow or something.
Anyway, I adored the language and the sense of camaraderie with a team in this, but it was a little too relentlessly angsty for my tastes. If angst is your thing though, you'll be able to wallow in its delicious misery for sure.
Complete story. I'd recommend reading Ride first. That one was much more my cuppa.
Available on ku.
**Thanks to the author for my arc.**
August 10, 2019
THE BOTTOM LINE....THE CRUX OF THE MATTER...AT THE END OF THE DAY...WHEN ALL IS SAID AND DONE...IN SPITE OF EVERYTHING...
OR SIMPLY: no matter how it’s said, over no matter how many pages, in however many flowery words, this is it:
JJ the HERO - snowboarding is his life
Raquel the HEROINE - snowboarding shouldn't be his life
A year ago:
HEROINE - choose me
HERO - no
HEROINE - I'm leaving
HERO - I'm not following
Now:
HERO - has a fatal accident
HEROINE - goes to him
HERO - I love you
HEROINE - I love you
Some time later:
HERO - I'm almost better now
HEROINE - choose me
HERO - no
HEROINE - I'm leaving
HERO - I'm not following
Some time later:
HEROINE - I'm dying without you
HERO - I'm dying without you...but I'm gonna snowboard, YAY
HEROINE - my life is empty without you
HERO - my life is empty without my snowboard cos I still can't board
HEROINE -
*Gasp* my come-to-Jesus moment: I'm coming back to you...I don't mind being2nd 3rd...okay...4th in your life
HERO -
*Gasp* an epiphany: I want to share my love for boarding with my future kids...oh, you're back...guess what, I'm taking a year off snowboarding!!…
JJ is a sweet gentle guy, really; so what if he chooses his sport and friends instead of her. Leave the man be, for goodness sake. I felt he needed to move on and chalk her up to being “the one that got away.” He did okay while they were apart. Sure, he waxes lyrical about his love for Raquel. He adores and loves her to bits.
But it’s just thought and words.
While he's all action when it comes to his sport/life, he makes bugger all effort, until the end, to invest in their relationship.
Raquel is a tightly wound workaholic who comes across as an irritating nag with a stick up her ass. I like her. She's a worthy heroine. She's upfront about what she expects from a relationship. She loves her work, friends and family and her life would revolve around JJ if she allowed it. He’s it for her. She's broken without him but willing to give it a try if he will.
Then FINALLY, at 90% into the book:
HERO:
“I want to ride and come home to you. I want to ride and come back to our children. I want to ride because it makes my life better, not because it’s everything in my life. I want it to be part of something beautiful.” I swallow. “I want it to be part of the life I build with you. Forever.”
I was tempted to stop there because those were all the words I wanted to hear from him.
I could’ve done without the months of his sentimental rambling while he recuperated so that he could go back to boarding. I much prefer my heroes to love and fight for their heroines. Not so much this one who doesn’t care enough until he realises that he’s gonna lose out on a happy life with his future little snowboarders if he doesn’t pull finger and get his girl.
2 stars because I enoyed the detailed sport scenes and reading about the work she does.
OR SIMPLY: no matter how it’s said, over no matter how many pages, in however many flowery words, this is it:
JJ the HERO - snowboarding is his life
Raquel the HEROINE - snowboarding shouldn't be his life
A year ago:
HEROINE - choose me
HERO - no
HEROINE - I'm leaving
HERO - I'm not following
Now:
HERO - has a fatal accident
HEROINE - goes to him
HERO - I love you
HEROINE - I love you
Some time later:
HERO - I'm almost better now
HEROINE - choose me
HERO - no
HEROINE - I'm leaving
HERO - I'm not following
Some time later:
HEROINE - I'm dying without you
HERO - I'm dying without you...but I'm gonna snowboard, YAY
HEROINE - my life is empty without you
HERO - my life is empty without my snowboard cos I still can't board
HEROINE -
*Gasp* my come-to-Jesus moment: I'm coming back to you...I don't mind being
HERO -
*Gasp* an epiphany: I want to share my love for boarding with my future kids...oh, you're back...guess what, I'm taking a year off snowboarding!!…
JJ is a sweet gentle guy, really; so what if he chooses his sport and friends instead of her. Leave the man be, for goodness sake. I felt he needed to move on and chalk her up to being “the one that got away.” He did okay while they were apart. Sure, he waxes lyrical about his love for Raquel. He adores and loves her to bits.
But it’s just thought and words.
While he's all action when it comes to his sport/life, he makes bugger all effort, until the end, to invest in their relationship.
Raquel is a tightly wound workaholic who comes across as an irritating nag with a stick up her ass. I like her. She's a worthy heroine. She's upfront about what she expects from a relationship. She loves her work, friends and family and her life would revolve around JJ if she allowed it. He’s it for her. She's broken without him but willing to give it a try if he will.
Then FINALLY, at 90% into the book:
HERO:
“I want to ride and come home to you. I want to ride and come back to our children. I want to ride because it makes my life better, not because it’s everything in my life. I want it to be part of something beautiful.” I swallow. “I want it to be part of the life I build with you. Forever.”
I was tempted to stop there because those were all the words I wanted to hear from him.
I could’ve done without the months of his sentimental rambling while he recuperated so that he could go back to boarding. I much prefer my heroes to love and fight for their heroines. Not so much this one who doesn’t care enough until he realises that he’s gonna lose out on a happy life with his future little snowboarders if he doesn’t pull finger and get his girl.
2 stars because I enoyed the detailed sport scenes and reading about the work she does.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 23, 2019
3 Stars!
I’m sad I didn’t love this one as much as the first one. Raquel grated my nerves really bad and she ruined this book for me:(
Hope we get more of the others and they grab me up like book one did.
I’m sad I didn’t love this one as much as the first one. Raquel grated my nerves really bad and she ruined this book for me:(
Hope we get more of the others and they grab me up like book one did.
April 16, 2019
"Because here is the truth of it all: that a man can be kind, and he can be good, and he can be generous. But if he’s an athlete, one day all of that will end. Because he loves his sport more than he will ever love you."
Aaaahhhh!!!! Its JJ and Raquel's story!! If you follow my reviews, then you know I have been raving about 'Ride' by Harper Dallas ever since I picked up that gem of a book. Even if you are not a fan of sports romances, you will LOVE this series and 'Crash'! Harper Dallas offers a unique insight into the hearts and minds of professional athletes and the people who love them.
Told over the course of the four seasons, 'Crash' provides background on JJ and Raquel who we first met in 'Ride'. A member of the renowned False Kings extreme snowboarding team and Chase's best friend, JJ doesn't know any other life or any other way to feel truly happy. Until he meets the love of his life, Raquel.
"False Kings ride forever. And we do, the four of us: best friends and the world’s most prestigious snowboarding crew. We share each other’s highs and lows. Between us, it’s ride or die—the kind of friendship some people aren’t lucky enough ever to experience."
JJ is struggling to return to the sport that he is so passionate about but knows that his profession may drive away the only woman he has ever loved. Raquel is a former gymnast and works with professional athletes as part of her job - but she just can't accept JJ's dangerous and life-threaening lifestyle. Her heart is breaking for JJ but she just can't bring herself to commit to a life with JJ, knowing that any day he could be killed on the slopes. Will she turn her back on JJ and the true passion they shared together?
"We never get to go back. That’s just a truth of life. You can’t step in the same river twice. Once it’s gone, it’s gone, and there’s no bringing it back."
This is a sexy, slow-burn romance filled with real characters who struggle with their choices. The sports scenes feel so real that Harper Dallas must either be a former athlete or work with athletes in some way. The detail is fantastic. While this could be read as a complete standalone, I highly recommend you grab 'Ride' and read these two fantastic romances together. I hope this indie author receives wide acclaim for her writing because she is one of the most talented romance writers around right now! And the Epilogue of 'Crash' was everything I could have hoped for. I am only sorry this book is over! I need more from Harper Dallas!
"But in the end it comes down to this:
Are you in?"
(ARC was provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.)
Aaaahhhh!!!! Its JJ and Raquel's story!! If you follow my reviews, then you know I have been raving about 'Ride' by Harper Dallas ever since I picked up that gem of a book. Even if you are not a fan of sports romances, you will LOVE this series and 'Crash'! Harper Dallas offers a unique insight into the hearts and minds of professional athletes and the people who love them.
Told over the course of the four seasons, 'Crash' provides background on JJ and Raquel who we first met in 'Ride'. A member of the renowned False Kings extreme snowboarding team and Chase's best friend, JJ doesn't know any other life or any other way to feel truly happy. Until he meets the love of his life, Raquel.
"False Kings ride forever. And we do, the four of us: best friends and the world’s most prestigious snowboarding crew. We share each other’s highs and lows. Between us, it’s ride or die—the kind of friendship some people aren’t lucky enough ever to experience."
JJ is struggling to return to the sport that he is so passionate about but knows that his profession may drive away the only woman he has ever loved. Raquel is a former gymnast and works with professional athletes as part of her job - but she just can't accept JJ's dangerous and life-threaening lifestyle. Her heart is breaking for JJ but she just can't bring herself to commit to a life with JJ, knowing that any day he could be killed on the slopes. Will she turn her back on JJ and the true passion they shared together?
"We never get to go back. That’s just a truth of life. You can’t step in the same river twice. Once it’s gone, it’s gone, and there’s no bringing it back."
This is a sexy, slow-burn romance filled with real characters who struggle with their choices. The sports scenes feel so real that Harper Dallas must either be a former athlete or work with athletes in some way. The detail is fantastic. While this could be read as a complete standalone, I highly recommend you grab 'Ride' and read these two fantastic romances together. I hope this indie author receives wide acclaim for her writing because she is one of the most talented romance writers around right now! And the Epilogue of 'Crash' was everything I could have hoped for. I am only sorry this book is over! I need more from Harper Dallas!
"But in the end it comes down to this:
Are you in?"
(ARC was provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.)
April 29, 2019
1.5 stars
I liked Harper Dallas's first book so much! I even have it on my favorite shelf. Through this two years span I was checking when second book is going to be out and I can't deny I was very enthusiastic about it. But now I don't know what happened to it; it's not even similar to first book.
I am not a fan of cheesy and corny stories and stories where nothing happen. On my disappointment this book had a lot of cheesy moments with repeating corny statements.
I don't want to be too critical, but it seems like author wanted to wrote perfect deep story, but she forgot to write an actual story. Through 400+ pages you only read about repeating love declarations and abrupt change of minds.
The struggle was real!
I liked Harper Dallas's first book so much! I even have it on my favorite shelf. Through this two years span I was checking when second book is going to be out and I can't deny I was very enthusiastic about it. But now I don't know what happened to it; it's not even similar to first book.
I am not a fan of cheesy and corny stories and stories where nothing happen. On my disappointment this book had a lot of cheesy moments with repeating corny statements.
I don't want to be too critical, but it seems like author wanted to wrote perfect deep story, but she forgot to write an actual story. Through 400+ pages you only read about repeating love declarations and abrupt change of minds.
The struggle was real!
April 25, 2019
"There’s nothing I want more than to go in there and be with him. There’s nothing I want less.”
4.5 stars for this one. This series was a complete shock to me for how great it was. So much depth in these books. Both tugged at my heart strings and good lord, Harper Dallas knows how to give you a slow burn. JJ holds a special place in my heart. I can’t imagine going through what he went through. Highly recommend. Harper Dallas, you’ve got a fan in me. ❤️
4.5 stars for this one. This series was a complete shock to me for how great it was. So much depth in these books. Both tugged at my heart strings and good lord, Harper Dallas knows how to give you a slow burn. JJ holds a special place in my heart. I can’t imagine going through what he went through. Highly recommend. Harper Dallas, you’ve got a fan in me. ❤️
July 6, 2019
4.5 star review up on the blog here.
"I take a deep breath. Is it falling, if you decide to jump?"
First Harper Dallas gave us RIDE and then CRASH landed on my kindle. This book sucked me into it's vortex and gave me that wonderful experience of devouring words that RIDE also delivered on. CRASH was a second chance romance but it wasn't beautiful, it was painful, raw and hard fought for.
CRASH is set in the world of elite sports, with top athletes in the snowboarding world. I was already familiar with the protagonists from book one, particularly JJ. The laid-back JJ we saw in RIDE was not present here. JJ was a broken man both physically and psychologically and it was difficult to witness his struggle and circumstances. Raquel, his ex, found herself intertwined with his life again and it wasn't a comfortable fit. The hurt between these two just rippled through the pages; I felt it all.
What was different about this second chance romance was that their love for one another was not the issue, I'll leave the pages to tell you what was. I felt churned up and in turmoil with these two as they navigated the present, considered the future and remembered their shared past.
"Hope. It's painful. It's beautiful. It's so much and God knows, it's never enough. Because you always want more. Want to know what's going to happen."
If you loved Chase, Brooke, Hanne and Hunter from book one, there's plenty of these characters to satisfy your need for more but it was Chase and JJ's relationship that made this book extra special. Chase's character development continued in CRASH and I soaked up these moments; this friendship was everything.
Harper Dallas has shown that her debut in RIDE was no fluke, this woman has talent and she can capture emotion, spinning it beautifully onto the page. I rarely cry at happy endings but I did with this one (that's not a spoiler, this is romance, you guys, HEA guaranteed). Go click book one, if you've not read it and if you have, don't hold back on CRASH.
"I take a deep breath. Is it falling, if you decide to jump?"
First Harper Dallas gave us RIDE and then CRASH landed on my kindle. This book sucked me into it's vortex and gave me that wonderful experience of devouring words that RIDE also delivered on. CRASH was a second chance romance but it wasn't beautiful, it was painful, raw and hard fought for.
CRASH is set in the world of elite sports, with top athletes in the snowboarding world. I was already familiar with the protagonists from book one, particularly JJ. The laid-back JJ we saw in RIDE was not present here. JJ was a broken man both physically and psychologically and it was difficult to witness his struggle and circumstances. Raquel, his ex, found herself intertwined with his life again and it wasn't a comfortable fit. The hurt between these two just rippled through the pages; I felt it all.
What was different about this second chance romance was that their love for one another was not the issue, I'll leave the pages to tell you what was. I felt churned up and in turmoil with these two as they navigated the present, considered the future and remembered their shared past.
"Hope. It's painful. It's beautiful. It's so much and God knows, it's never enough. Because you always want more. Want to know what's going to happen."
If you loved Chase, Brooke, Hanne and Hunter from book one, there's plenty of these characters to satisfy your need for more but it was Chase and JJ's relationship that made this book extra special. Chase's character development continued in CRASH and I soaked up these moments; this friendship was everything.
Harper Dallas has shown that her debut in RIDE was no fluke, this woman has talent and she can capture emotion, spinning it beautifully onto the page. I rarely cry at happy endings but I did with this one (that's not a spoiler, this is romance, you guys, HEA guaranteed). Go click book one, if you've not read it and if you have, don't hold back on CRASH.
August 4, 2019
3.75 Big Love Stars
“Crash,” is the second book in, The Wild Sequence series, written in duel first person narrative, sectioned in five parts. This stirring slow-burn sets the scene for JJ, and Raquel’s relationship, which was mentioned, but not elaborated on in book one, “Ride.” These relatable characters have a complicated history, that’s made more difficult by tough choices, and a love that hadn’t faded through time apart.
“Your whole life has been about doing what other people call “too much.” Their rules have never applied to you. Not then, and not now.”
JJ, being a professional extreme snowboarder, his love for his career was never a question, it was simple as breathing—the core of who he is . Raquel, a former gymnast that took to working with professional athletes, knows and has seen first hand the risks involved in extreme sports. She just could no longer allow herself to take the risk! Talk about two sides of the coin— I completely empathized with both of these characters!
“Because here is the truth of it all: that a man can be kind, and he can be good, and he can be generous. But if he’s an athlete, one day all of that will end.
Because he loves his sport more than he will ever love you.”
This was a well written story that was missing some of the excitement book one had, as there was a more leaden, emotional feel to this one. It felt like it drug on a bit, but aside from that, I enjoyed seeing the friendships, the healing growth, and resilience of these characters! I’m looking forward to continuing on with this series, as a few of the side character’s stories have my interest peaked!
“My life has been defined by crashes. None of them hit as hard as her.
In the darkness, my love for her is all that’s left.”
“Crash,” is the second book in, The Wild Sequence series, written in duel first person narrative, sectioned in five parts. This stirring slow-burn sets the scene for JJ, and Raquel’s relationship, which was mentioned, but not elaborated on in book one, “Ride.” These relatable characters have a complicated history, that’s made more difficult by tough choices, and a love that hadn’t faded through time apart.
“Your whole life has been about doing what other people call “too much.” Their rules have never applied to you. Not then, and not now.”
JJ, being a professional extreme snowboarder, his love for his career was never a question, it was simple as breathing—the core of who he is . Raquel, a former gymnast that took to working with professional athletes, knows and has seen first hand the risks involved in extreme sports. She just could no longer allow herself to take the risk! Talk about two sides of the coin— I completely empathized with both of these characters!
“Because here is the truth of it all: that a man can be kind, and he can be good, and he can be generous. But if he’s an athlete, one day all of that will end.
Because he loves his sport more than he will ever love you.”
This was a well written story that was missing some of the excitement book one had, as there was a more leaden, emotional feel to this one. It felt like it drug on a bit, but aside from that, I enjoyed seeing the friendships, the healing growth, and resilience of these characters! I’m looking forward to continuing on with this series, as a few of the side character’s stories have my interest peaked!
“My life has been defined by crashes. None of them hit as hard as her.
In the darkness, my love for her is all that’s left.”
April 19, 2019
I have been waiting for this book since the second I finished Ride last year!! I fell in love with JJ and his big heart. I couldn't wait to meet Raquel and learn what went wrong between them.
There was never any doubts for me that JJ and Raquel loved each other in a way that most people can only imagine but I can't pretend that, as I learned more about their relationship and their reason for breaking up, the more I wondered if that love was really enough for them to make it.
I found myself annoyed at JJ's behavior and how, at times, it seemed like he was intentionally saying or doing things to see how far he could push Raquel and how he never seemed to want to actually sit down and discuss their issues. Instead, he just hoped that they would just get over them eventually.
"We did this for years. It's okay. We'll get over it."
Then there was Raquel, I know that a lot of readers will be upset with her for the role she plays in their problems and I completely understand how what she asked of JJ wasn't fair but that doesn't invalidate her feelings or make her the bad guy. Ignoring her worries and fears wouldn't have made anything better. This just felt like a no-win situation for them and that's why I questioned if their love for each other would be enough.
This was a story where a lack of communication and compromise came into play. Not that either of them kept their feelings to themselves, their issues were clear as day, but their ability to sit down and discuss them without getting defensive and angry made the situation feel rather hopeless. If it weren't for Chase and Hanne stepping up to put things in perspective for them and getting them to see how each of them were prolonging their issues, I'm not sure we would've seen these two work it out.
Once again, I find myself thoroughly impressed with Harper Dallas' writing and ability to build a world with characters and situations that I can't help but feel totally immersed in. Even though I didn't love Raquel and JJ in the same way that I loved Chase and Brooke, I'm totally enamored with this group of friends and look forward to reading more about them!!!
There was never any doubts for me that JJ and Raquel loved each other in a way that most people can only imagine but I can't pretend that, as I learned more about their relationship and their reason for breaking up, the more I wondered if that love was really enough for them to make it.
I found myself annoyed at JJ's behavior and how, at times, it seemed like he was intentionally saying or doing things to see how far he could push Raquel and how he never seemed to want to actually sit down and discuss their issues. Instead, he just hoped that they would just get over them eventually.
"We did this for years. It's okay. We'll get over it."
Then there was Raquel, I know that a lot of readers will be upset with her for the role she plays in their problems and I completely understand how what she asked of JJ wasn't fair but that doesn't invalidate her feelings or make her the bad guy. Ignoring her worries and fears wouldn't have made anything better. This just felt like a no-win situation for them and that's why I questioned if their love for each other would be enough.
This was a story where a lack of communication and compromise came into play. Not that either of them kept their feelings to themselves, their issues were clear as day, but their ability to sit down and discuss them without getting defensive and angry made the situation feel rather hopeless. If it weren't for Chase and Hanne stepping up to put things in perspective for them and getting them to see how each of them were prolonging their issues, I'm not sure we would've seen these two work it out.
Once again, I find myself thoroughly impressed with Harper Dallas' writing and ability to build a world with characters and situations that I can't help but feel totally immersed in. Even though I didn't love Raquel and JJ in the same way that I loved Chase and Brooke, I'm totally enamored with this group of friends and look forward to reading more about them!!!
April 22, 2019
This book didn't really do it for me, book 1 was WAY better. There wasn't a lot of dialogue in it and I feel like it fell short and why nothing got resolved until like the 95% mark.
May 8, 2019
Review to come
December 3, 2020
I’m a little disappointed that the second installment in this series didn’t quite reach those extra-special vibes that RIDE provided. There was a lot of what I felt was repetition throughout CRASH. JJ does need to have a little talk with the author about the sloppy editing problems throughout his story. Chase earned far better care, and he didn’t even get hurt! Made me sad for an otherwise solid and satisfying read.
Much ado has been made of Raquel’s character. Her hang-up about losing JJ to his risky and dangerous snowboarding career could definitely be considered a little overdone. You could work in a funeral home and drop dead the moment you walked in the door. Nobody knows when or where you’ll draw your last breath. Okay, covered that side of the matter. Turnabout is fair play, so giving Raquel a fair shake here – the chances for JJ meeting his Maker earlier than funeral home personnel is probably far greater. He is jumping out of helicopters high in the mountains, flipping and zooming down said mountains with huge drop-offs below him -- yep, definitely taking all sorts of risks. And there are those avalanches that have proven to be gotcha moments! But it does seem a bit unreasonable to walk away from true love, a lifetime of happiness and a topnotch career because of some fear playing mind games with your head. There is help available for people like that. Otherwise, Raquel wasn’t a bad person. She came back to help JJ during his recovery after all. So, she left again – and came back again willing to listen to reason. Relationships have their ups and downs, but real love can survive as was proven once JJ and Raquel really communicated. Ahhhh – that lovely and positive word “communicate.”
JJ has the best heart – and the type of guy who’ll snatch yours away without much effort. He’s an all-around good guy. He takes the lead and moves this emotionally charged story forward in such a positive and dynamic manner. I love how he’s unafraid of putting his emotions on the line for all to see when it comes to Raquel, his family and friends. He’s generous, romantic, tender, kind and loyal. Not many faults I find with him. But the man does enjoy his snow boards and extreme sports and is determined to have it all.
I love this group of friends – and they all came together in such a supportive way for JJ as he suffered and recovered. Each one brings something a little different into the story. Chase shows up more in this book than the others, and we get to see the difference having Brooke in his life has made. Crash doesn’t spend a lot of time flying down mountains on a piece of wood risking bodily harm. Nope, it is more up close and personal and into the psyche of our characters. There’s more sharing and caring. More heart and soul and more depth into the bonds of friendship that the Crew share. The group is beginning to face futures filled with partners, kids and happily-ever-afters – maybe without snowboarding.
TRICK will be the third book in the Wild Sequence Series is Hunter’s story. Harper Dallas has it showing a 2020 publication date, but I’m guessing that will be changed – hopefully, to an early 2021 date. And then I’ll be begging for Hanne to be soon after. That girl has me puzzled and anxious for more on her.
Much ado has been made of Raquel’s character. Her hang-up about losing JJ to his risky and dangerous snowboarding career could definitely be considered a little overdone. You could work in a funeral home and drop dead the moment you walked in the door. Nobody knows when or where you’ll draw your last breath. Okay, covered that side of the matter. Turnabout is fair play, so giving Raquel a fair shake here – the chances for JJ meeting his Maker earlier than funeral home personnel is probably far greater. He is jumping out of helicopters high in the mountains, flipping and zooming down said mountains with huge drop-offs below him -- yep, definitely taking all sorts of risks. And there are those avalanches that have proven to be gotcha moments! But it does seem a bit unreasonable to walk away from true love, a lifetime of happiness and a topnotch career because of some fear playing mind games with your head. There is help available for people like that. Otherwise, Raquel wasn’t a bad person. She came back to help JJ during his recovery after all. So, she left again – and came back again willing to listen to reason. Relationships have their ups and downs, but real love can survive as was proven once JJ and Raquel really communicated. Ahhhh – that lovely and positive word “communicate.”
JJ has the best heart – and the type of guy who’ll snatch yours away without much effort. He’s an all-around good guy. He takes the lead and moves this emotionally charged story forward in such a positive and dynamic manner. I love how he’s unafraid of putting his emotions on the line for all to see when it comes to Raquel, his family and friends. He’s generous, romantic, tender, kind and loyal. Not many faults I find with him. But the man does enjoy his snow boards and extreme sports and is determined to have it all.
I love this group of friends – and they all came together in such a supportive way for JJ as he suffered and recovered. Each one brings something a little different into the story. Chase shows up more in this book than the others, and we get to see the difference having Brooke in his life has made. Crash doesn’t spend a lot of time flying down mountains on a piece of wood risking bodily harm. Nope, it is more up close and personal and into the psyche of our characters. There’s more sharing and caring. More heart and soul and more depth into the bonds of friendship that the Crew share. The group is beginning to face futures filled with partners, kids and happily-ever-afters – maybe without snowboarding.
TRICK will be the third book in the Wild Sequence Series is Hunter’s story. Harper Dallas has it showing a 2020 publication date, but I’m guessing that will be changed – hopefully, to an early 2021 date. And then I’ll be begging for Hanne to be soon after. That girl has me puzzled and anxious for more on her.
April 16, 2019
I finished this one and then let it simmer for a little bit before I put together my thoughts. I'm just not sure how I feel about it.
Let me start by saying that Ride is one of my all time favorite books, so to say I was looking forward to this one would be an understatement. I was (and still am!) so excited to receive an ARC of this book. Unfortunately, this one didn't entirely do it for me.
First, I'll start with everything I loved about this book, because there was quite a bit.
JJ. I loved me some JJ. He was sweet, romantic, and boy was he determined. He wasn't going to let anyone tell him he couldn't snowboard again. I really liked going through his range of emotions from when he initially injured his spine to when it started to heal. I wish there was more details of that process and not so many time skips, but I did really enjoy what we got to see. My absolute favorite thing about JJ is his loyalty to his friends and loved ones. He plastered on smiles when he knew he shouldn't be upset with someone, but couldn't help it. He still helped out Chase despite having a broke heart himself and his excitement for seeing Hanne was just the best. JJ is probably one of my favorite H's.
The friendships are probably my favorite thing about this book. I loved how we got to really go into his friendship with Chase in particular. I especially liked it because we get to see how Chase grew as a person since the accident and since reconciling with Brooke. Unlike in Ride, this book had practically no actual snowboarding so it focused on the emotions and bonds that each character has with each other, which is something I loved. You really get a feel for just how close the crew truly is.
The writing, as usual, was great. Although I will say there are moments where the dialogue almost sounded British? Didn't bother me at all, though. Just interesting because it wasn't often. Harper Dallas has a really great way of describing emotions and really making you feel what the character is feeling. Sometimes it did get a little repetitive though and, I admit, that bothered me.
On to what I didn't like...
Raquel. I HATED her. I thought she was really selfish and the position she put JJ in was completely unfair. Especially given that she didn't even try to have a conversation with him and then she kept putting the blame on him. I honestly don't know how he wasn't resentful of her from the moment she popped back into her life. I mentioned earlier about time skips and I think that almost did a disservice to my feelings on Raquel and JJ's relationship because the bond between the two is supposed to have come back, but I never really saw it. It was more told in mentions of things they had done a month ago. I wanted more meaningful conversation and I think because we never get that that Raquel wasn't ever redeemed for me. I was really tired of her playing the victim card when she was the main cause of their strife and she just couldn't see it.
Honestly, Raquel is the only part of this book I didn't like. I would still recommend it though if you've read the first book. You can tell there are set ups for the next two books and it really was great seeing where they're all at now and just revisiting this world. Can Hanne be next, please!?
ARC provided by author in exchange for an honest review
Let me start by saying that Ride is one of my all time favorite books, so to say I was looking forward to this one would be an understatement. I was (and still am!) so excited to receive an ARC of this book. Unfortunately, this one didn't entirely do it for me.
First, I'll start with everything I loved about this book, because there was quite a bit.
JJ. I loved me some JJ. He was sweet, romantic, and boy was he determined. He wasn't going to let anyone tell him he couldn't snowboard again. I really liked going through his range of emotions from when he initially injured his spine to when it started to heal. I wish there was more details of that process and not so many time skips, but I did really enjoy what we got to see. My absolute favorite thing about JJ is his loyalty to his friends and loved ones. He plastered on smiles when he knew he shouldn't be upset with someone, but couldn't help it. He still helped out Chase despite having a broke heart himself and his excitement for seeing Hanne was just the best. JJ is probably one of my favorite H's.
The friendships are probably my favorite thing about this book. I loved how we got to really go into his friendship with Chase in particular. I especially liked it because we get to see how Chase grew as a person since the accident and since reconciling with Brooke. Unlike in Ride, this book had practically no actual snowboarding so it focused on the emotions and bonds that each character has with each other, which is something I loved. You really get a feel for just how close the crew truly is.
The writing, as usual, was great. Although I will say there are moments where the dialogue almost sounded British? Didn't bother me at all, though. Just interesting because it wasn't often. Harper Dallas has a really great way of describing emotions and really making you feel what the character is feeling. Sometimes it did get a little repetitive though and, I admit, that bothered me.
On to what I didn't like...
Raquel. I HATED her. I thought she was really selfish and the position she put JJ in was completely unfair. Especially given that she didn't even try to have a conversation with him and then she kept putting the blame on him. I honestly don't know how he wasn't resentful of her from the moment she popped back into her life. I mentioned earlier about time skips and I think that almost did a disservice to my feelings on Raquel and JJ's relationship because the bond between the two is supposed to have come back, but I never really saw it. It was more told in mentions of things they had done a month ago. I wanted more meaningful conversation and I think because we never get that that Raquel wasn't ever redeemed for me. I was really tired of her playing the victim card when she was the main cause of their strife and she just couldn't see it.
Honestly, Raquel is the only part of this book I didn't like. I would still recommend it though if you've read the first book. You can tell there are set ups for the next two books and it really was great seeing where they're all at now and just revisiting this world. Can Hanne be next, please!?
ARC provided by author in exchange for an honest review
January 8, 2022
Crash is book 2 of a set, a continuation of a storyline from book 1 but with a new couple. This one didn't quite wow me like book 1 but I still liked it! I really hope this author puts out that book 3 of this set as I am really not ready to let go of this group of snowboarders!!!
J.J and Raquel had a sweet situation but no where near the chemistry and fire of Chase and Brooke. The story in this book was told more in flashbacks which for me never quite gives the feels because it has that being told to you vibe. It really lacks a lot of the building that I enjoy - Plus the I still love you but we can't be together because of your job trope just didn't quite work for me. Some nice tender moments in the end though! And the audio once again is SOOOOO good, perfect narration matches!
J.J and Raquel had a sweet situation but no where near the chemistry and fire of Chase and Brooke. The story in this book was told more in flashbacks which for me never quite gives the feels because it has that being told to you vibe. It really lacks a lot of the building that I enjoy - Plus the I still love you but we can't be together because of your job trope just didn't quite work for me. Some nice tender moments in the end though! And the audio once again is SOOOOO good, perfect narration matches!
May 28, 2019
I don't even know what to say. This is an extremely well written and an amazing second chance romance. I wasn't sure if JJ and Raquel would be able to find their way back to one another even with the fact loving each other had never been the problem keeping them apart.
Crash is a masterpiece and I love how this story made me feel. I am very quickly fallen in love with Harper Dallas's writing style and her voice is fresh and unique. I can't wait to read Trick!
Crash is a masterpiece and I love how this story made me feel. I am very quickly fallen in love with Harper Dallas's writing style and her voice is fresh and unique. I can't wait to read Trick!
December 27, 2020
~ When is love over?
We like to pretend it’s as simple as dating the end of a relationship. We broke up on Christmas, on my birthday, on a Wednesday, on the fifth. But that’s the description of a machine’s process, not the human heart.
Love has roots, and they go deep. When they come up, it’s not without disturbing the earth about them.”
We like to pretend it’s as simple as dating the end of a relationship. We broke up on Christmas, on my birthday, on a Wednesday, on the fifth. But that’s the description of a machine’s process, not the human heart.
Love has roots, and they go deep. When they come up, it’s not without disturbing the earth about them.”
October 20, 2020
Okay, sure, it's not as good as the first book but I still thoroughly enjoyed it. JJ was a nice change from Chase. He's such a sweetheart. He's so passionate and when he loves, he loves hard.
I was reading through some other people's reviews and was quite shocked to see the amount of dislike for the heroine, Raquel. I personally found her very relatable. Her constant fear of someone she loved dying was a legitimate fear. I think I'd have a heart attack if my S/O did an extreme sport.
Like I said in my review of Ride, there's nothing new in this sports romance series. My only pet peeve about this book was how short the chapters were. I like dual perspective stories but it felt slightly disorienting constantly jumping back and forth. But that's just my own stylistic preference.
If you're looking for something similar, I highly recommend Revved by Samantha Towle.
Rating: 4/5
I was reading through some other people's reviews and was quite shocked to see the amount of dislike for the heroine, Raquel. I personally found her very relatable. Her constant fear of someone she loved dying was a legitimate fear. I think I'd have a heart attack if my S/O did an extreme sport.
Like I said in my review of Ride, there's nothing new in this sports romance series. My only pet peeve about this book was how short the chapters were. I like dual perspective stories but it felt slightly disorienting constantly jumping back and forth. But that's just my own stylistic preference.
If you're looking for something similar, I highly recommend Revved by Samantha Towle.
Rating: 4/5
April 19, 2019
This book overlaps a bit with the end of the last one, Ride, just enough to get the reader in the right frame. The writing is amazing, the story intense. I loved revisiting these characters.
November 5, 2022
This snowboarding sports romance series is CRIMINALLY underrated. I’m obsessed with book one in the series. And I loved book two and the second chance romance. Run and read both books RN 👏🏻
May 5, 2019
Crash
JJ killed me in this book. It overlaps with Ride, starting with the avalanche that injures JJ and brings Raquel back into his life. I’m pretty sure I had teary eyes through the first 50% of this book (and a lot of the second half as well). Their love was palpable but so was their pain. The angst in this one was off the charts. I didn’t think Chase and Brooke could be topped but JJ and Raquel may have. It’s very close. Plus I loved seeing the whole group together again. Nor the wait begins again for book 3
JJ killed me in this book. It overlaps with Ride, starting with the avalanche that injures JJ and brings Raquel back into his life. I’m pretty sure I had teary eyes through the first 50% of this book (and a lot of the second half as well). Their love was palpable but so was their pain. The angst in this one was off the charts. I didn’t think Chase and Brooke could be topped but JJ and Raquel may have. It’s very close. Plus I loved seeing the whole group together again. Nor the wait begins again for book 3
April 17, 2019
Okay ...ugh, this is KILLING ME, but I truly couldn’t stand Raquel. I LOVED RIDE and have been waiting MONTHS for this book. I hate to say I am so disappointed. It’s not the storyline that’s the problem. Being madly in love with an adrenaline junkie is hard and stressful but the way Raquel went about things and her ultimatum was unbelievable and immature. For one she met him when he was an established extreme sports snowboarder. It’s “who he is” and she expects him to give up his passion. Next, I don’t get WHY she went to live with him after the accident. She was AWFUL to him and so selfish. It was all about Raquel and her whiny poor me mantra. When you love someone that much and they are injured so horribly it’s okay to be there for them and show them compassion and kindness without being a pushover or a doormat. She was the exact opposite always there just reminding him of what he lost.
The first 50% of this book was PAINFUL to get through, the in-between was okay, but the last 20% which had Raquel showing how self-absorbed she is and was hard to take. I’m hoping the next books in the series are better.
Finally, this may be a bit persnickety, but I know you switched covers with RIDE, but I think you might need to do the same thing with Crash. Although the guy resembles JJ, the girl should look like someone of Lebanese decent not a blond surfer girl.
The first 50% of this book was PAINFUL to get through, the in-between was okay, but the last 20% which had Raquel showing how self-absorbed she is and was hard to take. I’m hoping the next books in the series are better.
Finally, this may be a bit persnickety, but I know you switched covers with RIDE, but I think you might need to do the same thing with Crash. Although the guy resembles JJ, the girl should look like someone of Lebanese decent not a blond surfer girl.
June 30, 2019
I love Harper Dallas! She is an amazingly talented author and this is only her second book! Her debut novel, Ride, blew me away! I was addicted and read it in two days. I was very eager for this second book in the series; however, I didn’t finish it. I gave it up at 65%. Crash just didn’t deliver. JJ is just as lovable as he is in Ride. It’s Raquel that kills it. She is very selfish and whiny and I just got sick of her. It never picked up, so the combination of disliking the heroine and being bored just ruined it for me. That being said, I expect to see many more must reads from Harper Dallas and am excited to follow her career and continuing reading her work!
April 16, 2019
I just finished Crash. I had to take a deep breath after that last page and allow it to run through me. Harper's first book, Ride absolutely took my breath away. I was beyond amazed that it was her debut novel. Her descriptive writing gave me the feeling I was right there with the crew jumping from helicopters and flying down that powdery mountain. Feelings I personally, never feel the urge to experience. But she gave me that feeling in the palm of my hands. It was full of adrenalin and action packed, it gave us the inside look at the extremes these people live for. Then came Crash. Crash is a different writing style. A different pace, a different mindset. The story is told poetically through past and present and everything in between. Crash is a complex journey of what happens after. What happens when the thing you love most can cause so much physical and emotional pain it's unfathomable. JJ is larger than life, full of life and pushing everything to the edge, until that one ride changes it all.This book is about the times no athlete wants to think about. It's about the repercussions of your lifes passion being so dangerous it can literally take everything from you. Harper provides a real, true and gritty look into the emotions and thoughts JJ experiences, along with the unique point of view of the person that loves him more than everything. Even more than their own happiness. Love is rarely simple, it's hard work and frustrating. Communicating and allowing the other person to see and feel what you feel is incredibly difficult. This book and the journey they find themselves on to find one another through loss and pain and love and light is beautiful. It's written as though they are letting you in on this secret only they can share. Their love and connection is true and right. It's not perfect, and it teaches us to love ourselves and the people we love as they are. I appreciate that while JJ maneuvers his new path, he slips at times, but his personality shines bright even through the pain.We can't change the things that live deep within our soul or change the one we love, because then, who would they truly be?
This book really resonated with me. It made me feel so incredibly connected to this story and these emotions.
On a much, much smaller scale, the emotions and the struggle JJ endures is very personal to me and my family. Almost exactly one year ago, May 1st at 1:13am to be exact, I got that call. That call that everyone dreads to receive. The car my husband was a passenger in flipped and rolled and landed upside down, 3 hours from our house. 3 hours away, in the middle of the night with our son sleeping down the hall from me, I heard my husband's terrified voice. I fell to the ground in tears the moment I received the picture of the wreck. How he and the others in the car made it out is astonishing to me. My husband pulled his friend from the wreckage, they were all transported to the hospital at which time it was determined my husband had a fractured spine. With the adrenalin pumping he didn't even realize how badly he was hurt. I drove 3 hours in the middle of the night to reach him, only to be informed they were transporting him back to the hospital only 30 mintues from my house. Those hours while we waited to hear the outcome. Waited to hear if surgery was required, waited to hear how this would impact every moment of our lives moving forward. Turns out we were lucky. So, incredibly lucky. With time, and wearing a neck and back brace 24 hours a day for 3 months, they said he would be okay. They said he would fine in time, and he would see our son grow up. His brace would be temporary, his pain would subside, but he would be here. With us.
His discomfort was a palpable feeling in our house. There are scenes and parts of this story and JJ's journey back that could have been plucked from my husband's head. There are parts that share the darkness, and the fear and the frustration he felt for so many weeks. The way I felt the need to hold every emotion, and every thought within myself to be strong for him because I saw that darkness swirling around him. Thankfully his fractures healed, and here we are 11 months later and while I still see the pain sweep across his face frequently, we made it through the light and I am so grateful that his day to day life doesn't present the constant fear Raquel feels in this book.
Thank you for this beautiful story, and the emotions it invoked from within my heart. I knew it would hit a little close to home, but I never expected it to hit me with the force it has.
Thank you for sharing your stunnung words . I can't wait to see what comes next.
This book really resonated with me. It made me feel so incredibly connected to this story and these emotions.
On a much, much smaller scale, the emotions and the struggle JJ endures is very personal to me and my family. Almost exactly one year ago, May 1st at 1:13am to be exact, I got that call. That call that everyone dreads to receive. The car my husband was a passenger in flipped and rolled and landed upside down, 3 hours from our house. 3 hours away, in the middle of the night with our son sleeping down the hall from me, I heard my husband's terrified voice. I fell to the ground in tears the moment I received the picture of the wreck. How he and the others in the car made it out is astonishing to me. My husband pulled his friend from the wreckage, they were all transported to the hospital at which time it was determined my husband had a fractured spine. With the adrenalin pumping he didn't even realize how badly he was hurt. I drove 3 hours in the middle of the night to reach him, only to be informed they were transporting him back to the hospital only 30 mintues from my house. Those hours while we waited to hear the outcome. Waited to hear if surgery was required, waited to hear how this would impact every moment of our lives moving forward. Turns out we were lucky. So, incredibly lucky. With time, and wearing a neck and back brace 24 hours a day for 3 months, they said he would be okay. They said he would fine in time, and he would see our son grow up. His brace would be temporary, his pain would subside, but he would be here. With us.
His discomfort was a palpable feeling in our house. There are scenes and parts of this story and JJ's journey back that could have been plucked from my husband's head. There are parts that share the darkness, and the fear and the frustration he felt for so many weeks. The way I felt the need to hold every emotion, and every thought within myself to be strong for him because I saw that darkness swirling around him. Thankfully his fractures healed, and here we are 11 months later and while I still see the pain sweep across his face frequently, we made it through the light and I am so grateful that his day to day life doesn't present the constant fear Raquel feels in this book.
Thank you for this beautiful story, and the emotions it invoked from within my heart. I knew it would hit a little close to home, but I never expected it to hit me with the force it has.
Thank you for sharing your stunnung words . I can't wait to see what comes next.
April 17, 2019
Told in four seasons, this is the story of JJ and Raquel. It is a slow burn second chance romance, featuring all of the gang from book one Ride. I highly recommend reading Ride first, since they overlap quite a bit! If you haven’t read Ride, this review and book will spoil some of the things that happen.
This story really delves into passion and whether our soul deep love of something is worth the ultimate sacrifice. Is taking the safe route in life worth it? Does passion make a person who they are?
Unlike the previous book, this one is a bit somber. The magic of snowboarding is reversed and snowboarding becomes a sort of antagonist between the main characters. I really identified with both of them when it came to their struggles and his healing process after the avalanche (seen in book one). Writing a physically broken hero is hard, but I personally love non-perfect heroes, they are my favorite!
I applaud the beautiful writing and efforts to show us both sides of this conundrum.
JJ’s side in a nutshell:
“The friendship. The sense of purpose. The sheer fucking joy of doing what I do. I guess that’s the fucked up thing. That even now, looking at the woman I love breaking into pieces, I can’t forget how much I love boarding, too. I can’t lose it. I can’t.”
Raquel’s side in a nutshell:
“There is the pain of not being enough. There is the pain of someone choosing something else over you. And then there is the pain of making your own choice. The cruelest choice of all. That you can’t be with someone precisely because of how much you love them.”
Around the 77% mark, the hero makes a choice that is not wise. I won’t go into details, but he puts his healing body through something that could have jeopardized the months of healing he has gone through.
They both get some sage advice from others. This is Raquel talking to her father:
“…But this is who he is. It always has been. You just didn’t face what that really meant. So now you have to think.” (says her Dad)
“I did think,” I protest weakly. “He’s the one who chose his sport over me.”
Dad’s mouth tugs down to the side. He looks away, thoughtful, every word considered. “Did you ever think that maybe he feels like you chose safety over him?”
JJ talking to Chase about Brooke and his fears (since she was also in the avalanche, but only broke her arm):
“I love her,” Chase says to me steadily. “And I will never, ever take away the thing that makes her smile like that. And if that means I have to be man enough to face losing her, then that’s what I’ll do. Because you don’t meet a woman like that every day. You don’t clip a bird’s wings.”
He smiles, as if that’s silly, but he’s deadly serious as he says, simply: “I love Brooke. I love her happy.”
This was a very character driven storyline, with wonderful side characters and great insight into future books. I am very excited to see what the future holds for the False Kings!
PS: I hope Hanne’s book addresses the equal pay situation that was mentioned. I think that is a very relevant and important topic, especially in sports!
This story really delves into passion and whether our soul deep love of something is worth the ultimate sacrifice. Is taking the safe route in life worth it? Does passion make a person who they are?
Unlike the previous book, this one is a bit somber. The magic of snowboarding is reversed and snowboarding becomes a sort of antagonist between the main characters. I really identified with both of them when it came to their struggles and his healing process after the avalanche (seen in book one). Writing a physically broken hero is hard, but I personally love non-perfect heroes, they are my favorite!
I applaud the beautiful writing and efforts to show us both sides of this conundrum.
JJ’s side in a nutshell:
“The friendship. The sense of purpose. The sheer fucking joy of doing what I do. I guess that’s the fucked up thing. That even now, looking at the woman I love breaking into pieces, I can’t forget how much I love boarding, too. I can’t lose it. I can’t.”
Raquel’s side in a nutshell:
“There is the pain of not being enough. There is the pain of someone choosing something else over you. And then there is the pain of making your own choice. The cruelest choice of all. That you can’t be with someone precisely because of how much you love them.”
Around the 77% mark, the hero makes a choice that is not wise. I won’t go into details, but he puts his healing body through something that could have jeopardized the months of healing he has gone through.
They both get some sage advice from others. This is Raquel talking to her father:
“…But this is who he is. It always has been. You just didn’t face what that really meant. So now you have to think.” (says her Dad)
“I did think,” I protest weakly. “He’s the one who chose his sport over me.”
Dad’s mouth tugs down to the side. He looks away, thoughtful, every word considered. “Did you ever think that maybe he feels like you chose safety over him?”
JJ talking to Chase about Brooke and his fears (since she was also in the avalanche, but only broke her arm):
“I love her,” Chase says to me steadily. “And I will never, ever take away the thing that makes her smile like that. And if that means I have to be man enough to face losing her, then that’s what I’ll do. Because you don’t meet a woman like that every day. You don’t clip a bird’s wings.”
He smiles, as if that’s silly, but he’s deadly serious as he says, simply: “I love Brooke. I love her happy.”
This was a very character driven storyline, with wonderful side characters and great insight into future books. I am very excited to see what the future holds for the False Kings!
PS: I hope Hanne’s book addresses the equal pay situation that was mentioned. I think that is a very relevant and important topic, especially in sports!
May 7, 2019
3.5
Harper Dallas' second book in her The Wild Sequence series, Crash, brought the professional and personal struggles of her beloved character James "JJ" Schneider from book one Ride.
After a devastating accident on the slopes breaks JJ's spine he is forced to evaluate and deal with the repercussions of an injury that has taken away the sole focus of his life, his sports career, at the expense of all other aspects of his existence. After a series of miscommunications brings his former fiancé back into his life they now must acknowledge a love that never died but was previously unable to flourish because of their life choices.
This was an interesting and passionate read. JJ loved hard, both his snowboarding and Raquel, but because of her fears at the risk that he thrived on they parted ways. Apart they suffered even more than when they were together. JJ's life-changing accident caused Raquel to bring into question whether leaving JJ because of her fears was worth the loss of time that could have been spent living with and loving him. The dynamic between these two was tense. Raquel took a little getting used to but Ms. Dallas was successful in creating a character that made you see beyond her glaring faults and recognize their fear for what it was and the love underlying it. JJ was hard not to be drawn to, even when he showed his weaknesses he was still very likeable and commanded a real reader empathy.
This author was able to clearly interpret her portrayals personalities and guide this work's plot. Where this story got bogged down was in her balance of her characters introspection versus their actual interaction. At times this work felt like it was too much in the characters heads instead of moving them forward in their relationship. Crash adds a nice stepping-stone to her The Wild Sequence series that had an exceptional start with Ride. Great moments and significant writing talent offset much of this story's lag making Crash definitely worth reading.
*I was given an advanced copy. All opinions expressed are my own. *
*While this book can be read as a stand alone for your overall reading experience reading the previous book in this series is recommended.*
Harper Dallas' second book in her The Wild Sequence series, Crash, brought the professional and personal struggles of her beloved character James "JJ" Schneider from book one Ride.
After a devastating accident on the slopes breaks JJ's spine he is forced to evaluate and deal with the repercussions of an injury that has taken away the sole focus of his life, his sports career, at the expense of all other aspects of his existence. After a series of miscommunications brings his former fiancé back into his life they now must acknowledge a love that never died but was previously unable to flourish because of their life choices.
This was an interesting and passionate read. JJ loved hard, both his snowboarding and Raquel, but because of her fears at the risk that he thrived on they parted ways. Apart they suffered even more than when they were together. JJ's life-changing accident caused Raquel to bring into question whether leaving JJ because of her fears was worth the loss of time that could have been spent living with and loving him. The dynamic between these two was tense. Raquel took a little getting used to but Ms. Dallas was successful in creating a character that made you see beyond her glaring faults and recognize their fear for what it was and the love underlying it. JJ was hard not to be drawn to, even when he showed his weaknesses he was still very likeable and commanded a real reader empathy.
This author was able to clearly interpret her portrayals personalities and guide this work's plot. Where this story got bogged down was in her balance of her characters introspection versus their actual interaction. At times this work felt like it was too much in the characters heads instead of moving them forward in their relationship. Crash adds a nice stepping-stone to her The Wild Sequence series that had an exceptional start with Ride. Great moments and significant writing talent offset much of this story's lag making Crash definitely worth reading.
*I was given an advanced copy. All opinions expressed are my own. *
*While this book can be read as a stand alone for your overall reading experience reading the previous book in this series is recommended.*
May 19, 2020
3.5 stars. I really liked JJ in the previous book, Ride, and couldn’t wait to read his story. He and Raquel have history and now JJ is recovering from a horrible tragedy and Raquel is back in life. It had all the makings for the ultimate second chance. JJ is nothing like his best friend Chase. He’s affable, easy going, expressive and wears his heart on his sleeve. Raquel is hard working, reserved, stubborn and tender hearted. It’s not that I didn’t like either of them, but Raquel was hard to digest at times because she was so intent on how she felt, but didn’t do the best at communicating. Instead, she let her silence and fear take over and speak for her, down to ultimatums that gave JJ very little leeway or time to ponder. It was incredibly frustrating because as a result, there was hardly any dialogue between the characters. In that regard, the book dragged at times due to so much internal monologue on both characters’ behalf. I expected angst, but it wasn’t the kind I was hoping for because they never denied their feelings and were transparent about that. They simply didn’t address the white elephant in the room and continued to dance around it. JJ is trying to find his footing after his injury and there’s nothing like a long recovery process to give him an opportunity to reflect on what his life priorities are, but it’s humbling and depressing to any pro athlete. Compromise and conversation would’ve worked out in their favor and gone a long way had they done it sooner, yet they opted for the circuitous route because they both avoid conflict. I don’t know if Raquel could’ve been a patient listener given her hang ups. The highlights were the scenes with Chase, seeing how he has changed for the better because he’s happy and whenever Raquel talked to her dad. The writing was fluid, and usually I want to know exactly what the characters are thinking, and I got that in spades. This time, I preferred to have the characters do more talking to each other. Still, I look forward to the next book.
April 20, 2019
4.25 estrelas
Crash nos leva de volta ao mundo de snowboarder ao contar a história de JJ e Raquel, uma história de segundas chances contada em uma narrativa envolvente e que prende minha atenção .
Eu gostei de JJ e Raquel e o amor que ambos sentiam um pelo outro foi bem retratado no livro , onde esses personagens lentamente acham o caminho de volta um para o outro . Raquel é uma personagem forte , determinada e que tem seus medos e inseguranças que ao meu ver são compreensíveis . Eu admirei ela por voltar e ficar ao lado de JJ quando ele mais precisava. E JJ, se no livro anterior eu conheci por seu um personagem alegre, sempre sorrindo aqui vemos que tudo aquilo não passava de uma fachada para o mundo exterior. Aqui conhecemos um JJ vuneravel , com medo e apaixonado por Raquel .
O amor nunca foi o problema entre esses personagens e enquanto eu gostei da história de ambos eu achei que o motivo para a separação e que é o ponto central do conflito entre eles por tanto tempo foi solucionado de maneira superficial é muito rápido. Um dia o conflito estava lá e no outro tudo isso não importa mais .
Eu gostei dessa história , fui fatigada pela narrativa da autora e por boa parte da história , mas ainda gostei mais da história de Chase e Brooke .
Hunter e Hanne são personagens secundários que aparecem aqui , o que me faz torcer para que ambos ganhem sua própria história em breve .
Crash nos leva de volta ao mundo de snowboarder ao contar a história de JJ e Raquel, uma história de segundas chances contada em uma narrativa envolvente e que prende minha atenção .
Eu gostei de JJ e Raquel e o amor que ambos sentiam um pelo outro foi bem retratado no livro , onde esses personagens lentamente acham o caminho de volta um para o outro . Raquel é uma personagem forte , determinada e que tem seus medos e inseguranças que ao meu ver são compreensíveis . Eu admirei ela por voltar e ficar ao lado de JJ quando ele mais precisava. E JJ, se no livro anterior eu conheci por seu um personagem alegre, sempre sorrindo aqui vemos que tudo aquilo não passava de uma fachada para o mundo exterior. Aqui conhecemos um JJ vuneravel , com medo e apaixonado por Raquel .
O amor nunca foi o problema entre esses personagens e enquanto eu gostei da história de ambos eu achei que o motivo para a separação e que é o ponto central do conflito entre eles por tanto tempo foi solucionado de maneira superficial é muito rápido. Um dia o conflito estava lá e no outro tudo isso não importa mais .
Eu gostei dessa história , fui fatigada pela narrativa da autora e por boa parte da história , mas ainda gostei mais da história de Chase e Brooke .
Hunter e Hanne são personagens secundários que aparecem aqui , o que me faz torcer para que ambos ganhem sua própria história em breve .
Displaying 1 - 30 of 155 reviews