Crash Into You (Pushing the Limits, #3)

by Katie McGarry

[kimbacaffeinate]

Crash into You by Katie McGarry shares with us Isaiah Walker’s story and one I was anxious to read. I have loved Isaiah since the beginning of the Pushing the Limits series and like many was slightly disappointed that he didn’t get his happily ever after with Beth. McGarry had Rachel Young waiting in the wings and the tale that unfolded was an enjoyable and kept me turning the pages. Mini review: sweet, well paced and engaging.

Isaiah needs money to help pay the rent for the dive he shares with Noah and ends up at a street race. He is looking to work for Eric the local street king and thug. Rachel Young is a child of privilege, a misfit and the pressure to be perfect sometimes becomes too much. Her love of fast cars keeps her from going over the edge. A chance encounter at a gas station has her racing that night. When cops arrive Isaiah steps in and helps her escape. The tale that unfolds is romantic, sweet, suspenseful, and has heart-stopping moments.

Isaiah is such a walking contradiction. If you saw him walking down the street, you would see tattoos, piercings and an overall bad-ass. Which is exactly what he wants you to see, but on the inside he is filled with determination, sweetness, heartbreak and such loyalty it’s heartbreaking. He may be a child of the system with a chip on his shoulder, but he is also smart, motivated and resourceful. You would expect to open up his juvey file and see arrests but you will find nothing because Isaiah has a plan. Rachel Young is also seventeen, and has a household full of brothers who have kept her from getting to know the opposite sex. She comes from a upper-class nuclear family, and she too is a walking contradiction. The interaction, banter and romantic moments between them are sweet, tender, and hopeful. I felt their connection and understood their pain. Both of them are flawed and have secrets, fears, desires, and it was wonderful that they found someone they could open up to. Eric the local king thud and villain created tension. I just wanted to meet him in a dark alley and go all ninja on his ass. Let me know if you want to join me. Noah, Echo, Ryan and Beth all make appearances. Abby, Isaiah’s friend, proved to be a very enjoyable character, and I am hoping McGarry shares her story because the girl has spunk.

Crash into You was low on the romantic angst and eased into the romance. McGarry shared this tale from Isaiah’s point of view, and I loved getting inside his head. Car racing legal and illegal are a part of this tale, as well as the inner workings of street gangs. It also touches on stress, family pressure, dysfunctional families and preconceived prejudice. McGarry only skimmed the surface of these issues keeping the focus on the romance. She did, however, add in concerned adults; family members and all of them recommended professional help..Hallelujah. The plot was well paced, and while the romance had moments of “insta-love” it slowly developed and I appreciated that. The tale itself didn’t have the emotionally draining relationship drama we saw with Ryan and Beth and for that I was grateful. The conflicts, and twists throughout the tale kept me searching for my HEA.

Fans of the series, flawed characters and swoon-worthy romances will enjoy Crash into You. While I totally recommend, you start with book one of the Pushing the Limits series but each is designed to work as a standalone. Take Me On the fourth book will feature West Young.

Copy received in exchange for unbiased review and originally published @ Caffeinated Book Reviewer