You can plan your life, but sometimes life has a mind of its own… her secret. She lives a life of solitude and hides behind her days of monotony. And then James storms into her life.
After James helps a young girl in a car accident, he sets his life course—determined that nothing will stand in his way. Once he accomplishes his dreams, one unforeseen event changes his orderly existence into one of chaos. He spirals downward and can’t summon the strength to pull himself from the edge of despair. Until Lisa becomes a beautiful distraction.
Familiarity and a sense of peace draw them to one another. They soon discover they lived parallel lives that intertwined at the most crucial points. Can their revelations help them face their fears and move forward, or will history repeat itself?
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Great story with a lot of gut-wrenching moments. I cried a few times. It was really easy to love Lisa and James. Kristina Beck did an amazing job creating subplots that matter into a story that created a page turner. I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves romance!
Lisa has a near death experience as a young teen and a young man rescues her. It shapes the rest of her life.
Later down the road, Lisa is on a ski trip and passes on that feeling as she steps in to rescue a man. His life is then altered forever.
Years later they have fallen in love and moved on with their lives only to face obstacles we hope to never see.
This is a beautifully tragic story of lives intertwined and the effects they have. You can plan but life gets in the way.Things don’t turn out how you hoped.This story takes you on journey of a couple peoples lives and draws you in as if you’re watching it play out in front of you. There is romance, tragedy, heartbreak, and eventually a HEA- more realistic than most.
“I like it when you smile.”
“You’re the only one that makes me smile.”
This was such a good read!! An amazing story of Fate, hope, and destiny!!
James Kramer had dreams of being a surgeon. Ever since helping that young girl after the car accident that took the life of her mother, he knew that’s what he wanted to do. But a skiing accident took that dream from him – the angel that came to his rescue never left his mind. After completing his residency, finding the girl of his dreams, and planning for the future, his world crumbles, sending James in to a downward spiral of destruction and self-pity. A chance meeting with a stranger will lead him on a path of healing. He’ll soon discover that their meeting may not have been coincidence after all.
Lisa Schmitt is broken. The accident took more than her mother away from her. She’ll never be whole – never be able to have a happy ever after. After all, who would want her? Because of what she went through, she decided she wanted to do something to help others cope with their losses as well. Become a psychiatrist seemed the logical thing to do. In her personal life, however, she’s not having as much success. Several failed relationships under her belt, the last one being the straw that broke the camel’s back, she just wanted to drown her sorrows for the night. Meeting James changes her life forever. As they get to know each other, they realize how their lives have intertwined, leading them to each other at the right time.
I loved how this story unfolded. Two virtual strangers, thrown together by tragic happenstance, until Fate decided it was time. Time for them to find each other and heal each other. It just goes to show you – time isn’t linear. It’s not one long straight line with tally marks at the important events. It’s a beautiful, delicious, salty twisted pretzel – turning back on itself over and over. Enjoy the ride – the highs and the lows. You never know where a twist might lead you.
Great story!
An emotional and beautiful story! This story and wonderful characters gripped me from the first chapter and I didn’t want to stop reading! The universe works in mysterious ways and I love the way Kristina portrays these deeply emotive, parallel lives and circumstances with such compassion. I lost count how many times I cried! I can’t wait to move on to book two!
I will admit to being drawn to this book because of its cover. I needed a break from the pitch black dark books I usually gravitate to and took a chance on it. I’m so glad I did. Lives Collide is told from both James and Lisa’s point of view. I loved how the author wove the main characters pasts together. All the connections and near misses leading up to them “officially” meeting. SO MANY MISSES but oh so tangled up with each other. So much freaking chemistry between the two you could feel it every time they were together. I fell in love with the characters immediately – and James…swoon worthy book boyfriend material all the way. His story absolutely broke my heart. The secondary characters played a big role in the book, but didn’t detract from the main characters story at all. I’m so glad that Tina and Avery got their own books and I don’t have to wait to read them. Nothing better than getting to pick up the next book in a series right away 🙂
I was gifted this book by the author. I absolutely loved this story. You will be taken on a emotional roller coaster ride. You will cry, laugh and get mad but in the end you will feel joy with how their lives collided. I will defiantly be reading the next book in this series. I would recommend this book and author.
5 stars for Lives Collide by Kristina Beck. This is book one in the Collide Series. This is my first book from this author, and it will for sure not be my last. All I can say about Beck’s writing is Wow. The romance and fate in this book is unlike any other I have read. I would consider this book a second chance, fate , contemporary romance. Lisa and James have played a part in each other’s lived for a long time even if they were unaware of this. “It’s as if you’ve been living parallel lives with near chances to meet but something always interfered. Until now.”
These two have both suffered extreme losses and are at a time in their lives when they are not coping well with these loses. “There are days when I feel like I can’t breathe, or gravity is pulling me even closer to the ground.” Will these two learn about the past they share and what will happen when they do. Their lives have been filled with moments that have been unexpected encounters between these two. “How did we not recognize each other right away? It’s all so frustrating, so frightening. I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. Why are our lives so intertwined like this? Why have we only reconnected now? I thought things like this only happened in books and movies.” This books main focus to me is fate and how it affects those involved. It is also about how we don’t notice the things around us and how they effect are day to day lives. Its about a single moment that can change lives.
Lisa was in a car accident that took her mothers life when she was 15 years old. She was saved by a stranger. James was in a tragic ski accident that took his ability away to be a surgeon. James has loved and lot already in his life. Lisa has never really loved and feels broken. “Maybe Lisa is your guardian angel, sent to you when you needed her the most.”
I honestly do not even know how to say how fabulous this book is. The cover does not give away what he book is about. The blub is what pulls the reader in. That is what hooked me and made me dive into this story. This is great work and I look forward to reading the rest of this series. Great work.
I was intrigued by the storyline but not really convinced by the coincidences. The dialogue was very clumsy – do people really talk like that? It sagged in the middle but I’m pleased I stuck with it. On the whole it was an enjoyable read, if a bit predictable. Not hooked enough to read the sequels, though.
WOW !!!! This was an absolutely beautiful story about the lives of Lisa Schmitt and James Kramer and how there lives collide, in the most heartbreaking of circumstances. Destiny…. Written in a way that draws you into there lives and has you mesmerised from the very start of the story to the end. Loved it!
3.5 stars
“We are mental cases. A match made in heaven.”
It’s funny how I ended up wit Lives Collide as my Quirky Blind Date With A Book for October, knowing that I’ve already read Dreams Collide (and psssss…t – Souls Collide) already but never had the time/chance to read the first book by Kristina Beck.
Lives Collide is full of deep emotions like love, loss, grief, acceptance, hope, faith. And if you believe in fate, this story is right up your alley. So I’m certainly a fan of James and Lisa’s love story and how it developed through the book.
“Somehow our lives have collided and brought us to this point. This is where we are supposed to be.”
Lisa and James are truly marked by life. Until they could finally meet – like for real and get a chance to share their lives – they had to endure some life alternating events that left them scarred in more ways than one. But then, when their lives finally collided for good, they were able to help each other, to grow to the persons they always wanted to be.
The story has some really tragically elements that shatter your heart and you feel the fight of their inner demons. But the character development along the story development is really great and you can’t help but turn one page after the other until the book is finished.
“Loving you isn’t wrong. It’s absolutely right.”
Lives Collide is a great debut novel by Kristina Beck. It’s an emotional captivating story about sorrow and loss in life and shows us that the way we react on those feelings is what will shapes us.
From the book, when James is talking: “Every moment, every memory is a gift.” Truer words have never been spoken. Lives Collide is a beautiful tale of Lisa and James, and how their lives have intertwined throughout the years with neither of them knowing it. Those moments shaped their lives in ways they weren’t yet aware of. So when fate finally decides to play her hand, their story unfolds together. Beck does a wonderful job of creating beautiful characters, both main and supporting, that are rich and profound. Both James and Lisa come with their share of baggage, but they might just be able to heal each other if they can learn to let go.
I read this story as part of “Quirky Blind Date With a Book” and was surprised it was already on my Kindle. I cannot believe I purchased this book in 2017 and am JUST now getting to it.
This is one of those books that I read the first page and COULD NOT put down until the very last word.
Structurally it is perfection. It ebbs and flows and has highs and lows. It has very clear timelines and is well plotted. Emotionally, OMG there were times I wanted to throw my Kindle across the room in frustration. Other times I wanted to hug characters and let them know it would be ok. I liked and disliked each character in this story at different times. That’s powerful writing.
I absolutely recommend this book.
Lisa survived a horrific car accident that took the life of her mother because of the kindness of a mysterious stranger with sparkling green eyes . That is all she remembers about him, except that she still has his leather jacket, which he had gently placed around her shoulders to keep her warm. She covets the jacket and she feels safe when she wears it. That day changed LIsa’s life and the life of her hero forever.
A few years later, James was skiing in Vermont when he was hit by an out of control skier. He was in so much pain that he thought he was dreaming when he heard a soft voice telling him he would be all right. The angel with the melodic voice helped him out of his skis and put his head in her lap while they waited for help to arrive. James grabbed her hand , placed it on his cheek , and said, “thank you.” All he remembers from that day is her name, her dreamy voice and her beautiful blue eyes.
Many years go by and Lisa and James have experienced happiness and heartache. Even though they live near each and share many of the same friends, they have never met. James has always wondered if Lisa still has his jacket and she would love to thank the man who saved her life. One lonely night, their paths crossed at a bar where James was drinking heavily and Lisa just happened to sit next to him. Fate brought them together at this point in their lives, and it is up to them to see where it will lead.
When will Lisa and James realize that they have met before and what circumstances will trigger their memories?
Can Lisa and James put aside their loneliness and emerge has a couple who was destined to be together?
“Lives Collide” is the debut novel by new author Kristina Beck. I am in love with this book. Lisa and James’s journey to happiness grabs ahold of your heart and never lets go. Kristina is an imaginative and compassionate author and I am looking forward to reading the next book in the series, “Dreams Collide.”
Short review. Emotionally beautiful story about love, loss and destiny. There are parts that will make you smile and there are parts that will make you cry but at the end you’ll feel touch and happy that you took the journey with these characters. I am looking forward to reading the second book and more this arthur.