nicole williams

HARD KNOX BY NICOLE WILLIAMS RELEASE HOP

Happy Release to HARD KNOX by NYT Bestselling Author Nicole Williams! This is the first book in a new standalone series. Fans of Nicole’s Crash Series will be interested in this new series.

You can find HARD KNOX on Amazon | Barnes and Noble
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Knox Jagger. The name inspires resent in every male at Sinclair University, want in every female, and contempt in Charlie Chase.
Charlie can be summed up in three words: independent, independent, and independent. To Charlie, Knox epitomizes everything that’s wrong with college males: prolific one-night stands, drunken senseless fights, and a body that hints at prioritizing gym time over study time.
As an up-and-coming writer for Sinclair University’s newspaper, Charlie’s tasked with getting to the bottom of who’s been dropping little white pills into girls’ drinks at parties. In an ocean of All-American boys sporting polo shirts and innocent smiles, Knox is the obvious suspect. As evidence piles up against the bad boy of Sinclair, Charlie becomes more and more certain it isn’t Knox. But when her drink is dosed at a party and she wakes up on Knox’s couch the next morning, Charlie’s left with more questions than answers when it comes to Knox Jagger.
How can Charlie ever hope to uncover the truth behind a guy so closed off he’s become . . .
Hard Knox.

Nicole is offering a Release Grand Prize! Visit her Facebook page to enter to win (1) Signed copy of HARD KNOX and (1) $50 USD Amazon Gift Card – International
Don’t forget to stop by the other Release Hop stops and enter their giveaways too!!

I’m the New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling author of the LOST & FOUND series, the CRASH series, and a handful of others. Basically, I get to do what I love. Every single day. I write romance because I’m a sucker for a good love story, and I write happy endings because there are too few of them in real life.

Book Review: Crossing Stars by Nicole Williams


Title: Crossing Stars
Author: Nicole Williams 
Released: May 6th, 2014
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Rating: ★★★★
The Story: While the city of Chicago sleeps, a war wages in the streets between two powerful families. While the public assumes organized crime is nothing more than a chapter torn out of America’s history, the Costa and Moran families battle for territory and domination.
Caught up in the middle of this sinister world is Josette, the only child of Salvatore Costa, the ringleader and notorious godfather of Chicago’s Italian mafia. After the Irish Morans attempted to assassinate her when she was a child, Josette’s parents hid her behind the walls of their sprawling estate and kept her contact with outsiders to a minimum. But now Josette’s eighteen, and she’s questioning if a long life behind walls is worth trading for a potentially short one filled with excitement and adventure and all the things she’s only lived in her dreams.
On the night she decides to risk becoming just an anonymous face in the crowd, Josette realizes that death isn’t only a possibility—it’s a certainty. Yet when a young man comes to her rescue, the turbulent waters between life and death are further muddied.

The mere mention of (modern day) Romeo and Juliet with its own flair plus Nicole Williams had me sold. There’s so much I’d like to say about this book, but I’m having to choose my words with extra care. The element of the plot that most appealed to me was how it kept twisting in unexpected directions, and the last thing I want is to give too much away.

Crossing Stars is an incredibly powerful story about love, friendship, and the potentially destructive nature of secrets.

The romantical element was brilliant and refreshing. I have always loved forbidden romance type stories but they really need to have some real depth in them and consequences I can feel. This isn’t some predictable kind of love story but this forbidden slow dance that just leaves you breathless and your heart pounding especially at the end. It’s not simple or easy or even really a “romance” but more of these forbidden feelings that are just starting to really be explored before the SHIT HITS THE FAN.

Josette, our heroine is the only child of Salvatore Costa, the ringleader and notorious godfather of Chicago’s Italian mafia and one of the most powerful organized crime leaders. Because of the danger that lurks within their community, her family has tried to keep her out of the eyes of both the public and the other reigning mob family in Chicago, the Heat.

But the sheltered life she has known for 18 years turned 360 degrees the night she met Rylan.

Rylan let her feel emotions she wasn’t used to experiencing. He made her feel nervous and excited. Scared and strong. Apprehensive and eager. Love. That is! They barely know each other but the sensation they feel is strong enough to defy their families. And because fate is not on their side, they make secret plan to run away.

Everything in this story is written so brilliantly. And while, initially it took me about 20 pages to really get into it, the way the story is told it’s just so hard not to be absorbed into this new world and its political structure, the character and the romance. And the plot just moved along at a great pace that kept me engaged and at times on the edge of my seat. Nicole Williams knows how to tell a good story!

Josette is a fantastic heroine that really stood out to me. She is very smart, determined and strong-minded. There was something about Rylan that she sensed and she wanted to know. I think it’s because they both had this rebellious sort of kindred spirit thing going on but I equally loved Josette and Rylan and who they were and what they fought for.

The story starts a bit slow but like a good chess game the pieces are being moved in a subtle manner until SHIT HAPPENS and oh does it happen. I was gasping for breath when I realized what was going on and what it meant for our heroine and the story and then the action just kept coming at me and was relentless until the very emotional ending. The story just kept beating the hell out of me as all my emotions and FEELS (anger, sadness, shock, betrayal, triumph) exploded out. So HOLD ON TO YOUR PANTS! This action got quite intense.

Nicole Williams kept me guessing about the ending right up until the last page, and I came away feeling rather tearful, but immensely satisfied. Though not your typical romance novel, this book has enough of the crucial components—heartache, suspense, sexual tension—to entice many fans of this genre. I thoroughly enjoyed it!

I’m the New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling author of the LOST & FOUND series, the CRASH series, and a handful of others. Basically, I get to do what I love. Every single day. I write romance because I’m a sucker for a good love story, and I write happy endings because there are too few of them in real life.

Book Review: Finders Keepers by Nicole Williams

Title: Finders Keepers (Lost & Found, #3) 
Author: Nicole Williams 
Age Group: Mature Young Adult/New Adult 
Genre: Contemporary Romance 

**NEW YORK TIMES and USATODAY Bestselling Series**
There’s tortured. And there’s Garth Black. 
His life has been a constant carousel of tragedy and disappointment, including his love life. Of course, applying the term “love” to Garth’s conquests is a gross misuse of the word. Some people were made to give and accept love, and others weren’t. Garth Black redefines the “others” category. He’s made a vow that the day he meets a woman who could sucker him into falling in love will be the day he runs away. 
Garth’s plan has one flaw. What happens when he’s already fallen hard for a girl before the warning signs and red flags go up? What happens when the love he’s avoided his entire life brings him to his knees? What happens when Garth Black lets the dirtiest four letter word he’s ever known into his dark, lonely life?
This cowboy’s about to find out he can control some things, and he can’t control others. Number one on the what he can’t control list? 
Love.
**Recommended for mature readers due to moderate content and language**
I’m pretty much convinced that in some past life I was in love with a cowboy. Because I find them so attractive. (Like, I may drool a little bit.) With the way they carry themselves, the outfit, the accent, the confidence! Ohhh, I’m a goner.
Finders Keepers has been sitting on my kindle for quite sometime, waiting to be read. I really have no idea what took me so long to pick it up but glad I finally did! It is utterly refreshing! I’m constantly reminded of why I love Nicole William’s characters so much. Each one is so different and so unique in their own ways and there’s never mistaking one for another.
I’ve always been a fan of this series and I adored Garth even from the start. Yeah, he was the douchebag in previous books but I knew that behind the mask of a macho man is a vulnerable guy who is deeply in love with a girl, only he doesn’t know how to say it. Even if he acts without thinking sometimes, he truly means well. He’s not the best person at showing his feelings, but reading from his perspective is a delight. 

“Me? It didn’t matter what age I was or how much I thought I loved the wman. Marriage, rings, and vows were not created with people like me in mind.”

The same goes to Josie without a doubt. She is honestly the sweetest girl. She’s so kind, and constantly thinking of others. She always go waaay beyond what’s expected. Through every hardship and problem, she’s always focused and ready for anything. That being said, she’s got a backbone, that’s for sure. She doesn’t deal with Garth’s shit. She sees right through him. Together, they’ve got this explicable chemistry that is to die for. But Garth denies himself that there is even a slight chance that Josie is feeling the same way. Especially that he made something in the past that is truly unforgivable.
But damn it Garth! How could you not see it?!?! She’s so head over heels in love with you and really doesn’t try to hide it, at all. 

“The only reason why I paint you as misunderstood good guy is because  that’s who you are. You’re the guy who shows up on his friend’s doorstep in the  middle of the night if they call. You’re the guy who plays Cupid when his best friend almost lost the woman he loved. You’re the guy, Garth. You know it. And I’ve known it for  a hell of a lot longer.”

Josie’s constantly making up these excuses just to see him, talk to him, and just to spend time with him. And even she cares a lot for him whether he realizes it or not. Even she does things for him that shocks him, that makes him surprised to think that anybody would ever bother. That’s what I love about their relationship. They do things that are unexpected to each other and they make exceptions to their usual rules for each other. They’ve got each other’s backs and watching them grow and slowly develop their relationship is incredible. 

“Choose me. Be mine. Be happy  and find love with me.”

“Let’s touch. let’s make out. Let’s do all of those things you’ve held back from us doing.”

But love doesn’t always come easy. It’s not always a fairytale; not always perfect. Love is overcoming obstacles, facing challenges, fighting to be together, holding on and never letting go. But will they? 

“But I wasn’t the best for her. How could I be she the only roof I had over my head was the cab of my old truck? How could I be what was best for her when I didn’t even know what was best for myself? How could I love her the way she deserved to be loved when my parents hadn’t shown me an ounce of it?

The answer to those and the other questions streaming through my head was simple – I couldn’t.”

There’s really nothing more heart-breaking than two extremely close people slowly begin to fall apart…
Will they be able to overcome it?

“I couldn’t give her a chance because I didn’t have one to give. It’s too late.”

The story is well-paced. There are no times when I felt the plot was dragging it and while a few elements were as unsurprising as most NA plot twists usually are, I did find myself surprised a couple of times by where the story went. There’s enough of everything; action, romance, humor, and of course familial problems. I adore Nicole! I simply adore her writing. Not overly complicated but certainly worth the read. Finders Keepers is the perfect addition to a brilliant series. 5 stars!

Read my Review of Lost and Found (Book #1) and Near and Far ( Book #2)

I’m the New York Times and USATODAY bestselling author of the LOST & FOUND series, the CRASH series, and a handful of others. Basically, I get to do what I love. Every single day. I write romance because I’m a sucker for a good love story, and I write happy endings because there are too few of them in real life.

FINDERS KEEPERS (BOOK #3)
NEAR AND FAR (BOOK #2)
LOST AND FOUND (BOOK #1)

Clash (Crash #2)

“When are you going to stop looking at all the reasons you shouldn’t be together and start focusing on the reasons you should be?” 
― Nicole Williams, Clash

Love will always find you in the end!
Just look at the cover! Can you resist that? Oh, I don’t think so! Nicole Williams did it again! Playing the story so easy yet so irresistible. She definitely knows how to move her readers and she just gets better everytime! She puts us in an emotional roller coaster and keeps us through out the ride. She really is one of my favorites!
If you loved Crash then you will definitely fall head over heels with Clash! There were a lot of parts in the book where it will just hits you with reality. A lot about love and how to fight and stand for it.

“Love isn’t only love, sweetheart. It’s hard work, and trust, and tears, with even a few glimpses of devastation. But at the end of each day, if you can still look at the person at your side and can’t imagine anyone else you’d rather have there, the pain and heartache and the ups and downs of love are worth it.”

“Love isn’t easy. Especially the really good kind. It’s difficult, and you’ll want to rip your hair out just as many days as you’ll feel the wind at your back. But it’s worth it. It’s worth fighting for. Don’t let what isn’t real blind you from what is. Life isn’t perfect, we sure as shit aren’t perfect, so why should we expect love to be?”

“If you say you’re going to trust your man, then trust your man. Don’t revoke that privilege when he needs it most.”

A sucker for a happy ending? It isn’t easy though for Jude and Luce with all the highs and lows, their personal insecurities, the conflict between families as they tried to work through their relationship. But love always prevails no matter how hard you try to fight it. Love can penetrate even the barriers of hatred from each other’s past.

“I know I’m one royal screw up, and God knows there’s nothing I could ever do to deserve you,” he began, taking my hand in his after sliding the ring free from the chain.

“But I want you, Lucy Larson. Bad. I want you forever. The kind of bad I have for you isn’t the kind that goes away.” His forehead lined, his eyes washing silver. “Ease my suffering. Make me the happiest, most tortured man in the world. Marry me?”

Perfectly said…but will Luce finally give in and say yes? mmmm….
Rating: 


— going gaga over Nicole’s books?
wait till you read Fissure and Fusion 

Crash

“You’ve got all my firsts,” he said.  
All the ones that matter.” 
― Nicole Williams, Crash

You can’t choose love, love chooses you!

I love Nicole Williams! Not just as an amazing author but I love how she reaches out to her readers. I remember one time sending her a private message over facebook and she would reply with the sweetest message ever! I just love her!

This is the first book I have read in Nicole’s collection and after this one, I have exclusively spent the whole week reading the rest of her books. Not to mention the book covers! Wow!!! Is that a movie poster or what? I think Nicole has developed some fetish over book covers. All of her books are such head turners when it comes to the cover. And I tell you, it does a lot to catch the reader’s attention and interest.

This is not your usual “love at first sight” story. No instant love at all.

“The thing was, if staying away from him made me unsmart, I never wanted to be smart again.” 
Lucy is someone who is very outspoken and a one tough lady! She is very entertaining, funny and couldn’t care less what other people say and think of her. She has been through a lot lately and would not dare to add more complications to her life up until he met one of the most popular names in the local boys home.

“The name’s Jude Ryder, since I know you’re all but salivating like a rabid dog to know, and I don’t do girlfriends, relationships, flowers or regular phone calls. If that works for you, I think we could work out something special.” 
So everything has been summed up in one line. A bad ass to many, but if you see right through him, he’s more of a delicate person who had a very tough life growing up, but who is willing to try to change his perspectives for love…for Luce!

“How does a guy like you promise someone forever at eighteen?” 

“Easy,” he said, pressing a soft kiss into the corner of my mouth. “He finds a girl like you.”
Happily ever after? Not too fast, baby! A lot had happened on this book and expect a whole lot more on the next! This is one book you wouldn’t want to miss reading!

Rating: 

— salivating over Jude Ryder???
follow through with  Clash  (Crash #32)