The sexy and compelling bandmates of Oblivion are back in this tale of big personal changes amidst attempts to resurrect their past glory in the face of self-doubts. Keep reading to get a tantalizing taste of the rockstar romance Owned by Cari Quinn and Taryn Elliott, along with my impressions of it, and learn even more about it by visiting the other sites hosting this tour. In honor of this fifth installment in the Lost in Oblivion series make sure to fill out the form below for the chance to win a $25 Amazon GC and an e-copy of Manaconda, the first book in the author's new rockstar series, too!
Music kept them going. Now it's torn them apart...
Guitarist Nick Crandall lost the most important thing in his life—his band—just as he was falling in love. A year has passed, and Oblivion is returning from hiatus. And Nick is ready to ask Lila to spend forever with him, even if he won't have his best friend at his side for the ceremony.
Simon has spent the past year trying to find his way back to the thing that sustained him in his darkest hours, then grew to be his biggest demon. Margo has been at his side, but she's tired of him denying his dreams. With her help, he’s ready to admit it’s showtime.
Perhaps he's even ready to stand up for his best friend…and face him on the stage that united them so long ago.
It’s do or die, one more time.
EXCERPT:
Simon’s chest constricted. The crash of piano and soaring blend of Margo’s strings was as powerful as it was haunting. He’d been expecting a lively jaunt. Jazz had demanded Frank Turner for more than half the ride up from the city.
But no. It was a passionate and sweeping song that had more in common with an epic battle of man and nature. In his head it felt like there should be a piano on top of a cliff a la 90’s Bon Jovi videos in MTv’s heyday.
Jazz’s fingers dove up and down the keys and Margo followed her as if she was tethered to every note. The song got bigger and bigger and he itched to match it.
He couldn’t remember the last time he’d found the urge to sing. He sang lately out of spite. To prove that he could. But the actuality of the pull had him so out of sorts that he had his hand on the doorknob to the room before he knew what he was doing.
Jazz looked over her shoulder when the door opened. Her purple tipped lashes fluttered so wide they touched her eyebrows. He quietly sat on the stool with the winding arm. Tension fried the edges of every nerve. Why the hell did his fingers ache? He looked down at the white of his skin under his nails from the death grip he had on the arm.
He could do this.
He released the chair arm.
It wasn’t the box.
The room he’d practiced in before.
He was used to the closet in Ripper Records. It gave him cold sweats, but he was used to it.
Here he was in front of Jazz. Sitting right beside her.
In front of strangers.
In front of Margo. He kept the music separate from her for so long, it was odd to have her in his space.
Jazz handed him her notebook.
He took it with shaking fingers. He cleared his throat. “Play it through from the top?"
Jazz nodded. He hummed his way through it once, scanning her lyrics as he followed along. When they went through it a second time his brain was on fire to join in. He wanted his voice to match that sound.
Around the last quarter of the song, he let the words out in a whisper. Margo brought down the power of her strings to account for his sheer cowardice.
He cleared his throat. “Again."
He closed his eyes and let the music take him. This time there was a guitar added into the lilting opening of the song. His voice was rough with disuse.
No, don’t concentrate on that.
He needed to find the heart of the song.
Jazz’s words were heartfelt, but they weren’t quite his. He followed instincts that had never steered him wrong before. He changed the bridge and let his voice soar up with the epic battle of violin and piano.
His voice evened and went bell clear as he climbed up an octave he hadn’t touched in two full years. He bowed his head as Gray came in with the guitar solo that hadn’t been there the first few times through.
But it was right.
Logan piped it in from the main studio.
Gray and Margo merged until there was nothing but a breathtaking crescendo. He stepped in. His voice ached with the loss that was burned into the lyrics. His head fell back as he brought it full circle with the final verse, and finally…the bridge.
The room was silent.
He was terrified to open his eyes. He avoided both of the girls as he twisted in the chair and went out the door and past a stunned Gray. He couldn’t look at Margo. Not now. He couldn’t watch when the disappointment filled her big brown eyes.
He took the stairs two at a time and scanned the area for the nearest exit.
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MY IMPRESSIONS OF THIS BOOK:
After combusting in spectacular fashion, the future of Oblivion is in doubt. With personal demons weighing on former best friends Nick and Simon it's unclear if they can ever recreate the magic that once took them to the top of the charts. Will they be able to work past emotional hurts and inner fears to once again become the formidable force that guides the band to success? From the first page to the last there's lots of ups and downs, lots of uncertainty, that tugs at reader's heartstrings as we root for them to rise above all the noise. It all leads to an ending that's uplifting, rousing, and results in an unforgettable crescendo.
Nick grew up doubtful of love as those he loved walked away which affects him still today and has him conflicted regarding his future with Lila. His confusion is endearing though as he desperately wants to do right by the woman who puts up with him, foibles and all. To fully claim her he's willing to go outside his comfort zone and make major changes he once laughed about. As if the chaos of his personal life weren't enough, he's having to deal with the band reuniting to talk music which has him fearful of their ability to make music and leads him to alienating his band mates through his need to overly control things. As Nick defines himself by his music he'll do anything though to make things right with Simon. Simon's walking away harkened to Nick's fear of loved ones leaving and results in bruises, bloody noises, and deep-seated emotions that brought a tear to my eye. Through it all, and despite his occasional pigheadedness, I adored Nick and his unfiltered comments. He's sexy, honest, and boyish when it comes to interactions with his band mates. With Lila he's caring and supportive with their sexual interludes scorching and showing flashes of playfulness which had me blushing one moment and smirking the next. He's charming too, the quintessential book boyfriend, and I loved every moment he was on the scene.
Simon was once a man totally in control of his life and his talent but the after-affects of his vocal injury have left him lost and uncertain, a blow to his self-esteem. When he walked away from the band though he also walked away from Nick who saw it as a personal affront to their lifelong friendship. It's left their friendship in tatters, leaving both of them angry and lost, which has their band's future hanging in the balance. Simon's personal life is also in chaos over his fear of returning to the stage which has him alienating Margo and stifling her career. With everything around him in chaos the one thing he's certain of is his love for Margo which has him wanting to fully commit to her, but her familial issues have their HEA looking a bit murky. It only takes a moment though, when one of their own has a crisis, to realize what's important and return him to the rockstar god he once was who lets nothing stand in his way in an empowering scene that had me cheering. Simon's a sexy man who oozes sex appeal whose current uncertainties had me aching for him. He was stuck doing modeling to make money but found no satisfaction from it and felt as if he was losing himself in his choices which made me even more sympathetic towards his struggle, despite his pigheadedness. The connection between Simon and Nick was powerful with interactions that were intense, both good and bad, and I was completely caught up in their bromance which was just as satisfying as their romances with their ladies. It was a vital part of the story and brought out the best and worst in these two strong-willed men.
This series has captivated me from the very beginning, weaving an emotional and sensuous web around my heart that has now left me in tears with this being the final installment. Though this story went on just a tad too long things finally come full circle in this intensely emotional story about healing and the powerful affects of friendship. The men in Oblivion have never been ashamed to show their feelings, have fought tooth and nail for the women they love, and each one has a special place in my heart. The women are equally strong-willed and just as vital to the success of the band. The romance was beautifully balanced with the vividly depicted realities of being a rockstar keeping me further immersed in the story and banging my head along with the music. It's been a deliciously decadent journey for the band mates of Oblivion and I feel lucky to have seen all the ups and downs that kept me on the edge of my seat and cheering for the richly rewarding conclusion seen here. With this series this dynamic writing duo has proven themselves masters at rockstar storytelling and I look forward to the other series that take place within this world and that have already given me hours of naughty delights. If you haven't yet read this series now's the time to start as you'll enjoy every step they take, every move they make in this addictive and sexy series with larger than life characters!
Nick grew up doubtful of love as those he loved walked away which affects him still today and has him conflicted regarding his future with Lila. His confusion is endearing though as he desperately wants to do right by the woman who puts up with him, foibles and all. To fully claim her he's willing to go outside his comfort zone and make major changes he once laughed about. As if the chaos of his personal life weren't enough, he's having to deal with the band reuniting to talk music which has him fearful of their ability to make music and leads him to alienating his band mates through his need to overly control things. As Nick defines himself by his music he'll do anything though to make things right with Simon. Simon's walking away harkened to Nick's fear of loved ones leaving and results in bruises, bloody noises, and deep-seated emotions that brought a tear to my eye. Through it all, and despite his occasional pigheadedness, I adored Nick and his unfiltered comments. He's sexy, honest, and boyish when it comes to interactions with his band mates. With Lila he's caring and supportive with their sexual interludes scorching and showing flashes of playfulness which had me blushing one moment and smirking the next. He's charming too, the quintessential book boyfriend, and I loved every moment he was on the scene.
Simon was once a man totally in control of his life and his talent but the after-affects of his vocal injury have left him lost and uncertain, a blow to his self-esteem. When he walked away from the band though he also walked away from Nick who saw it as a personal affront to their lifelong friendship. It's left their friendship in tatters, leaving both of them angry and lost, which has their band's future hanging in the balance. Simon's personal life is also in chaos over his fear of returning to the stage which has him alienating Margo and stifling her career. With everything around him in chaos the one thing he's certain of is his love for Margo which has him wanting to fully commit to her, but her familial issues have their HEA looking a bit murky. It only takes a moment though, when one of their own has a crisis, to realize what's important and return him to the rockstar god he once was who lets nothing stand in his way in an empowering scene that had me cheering. Simon's a sexy man who oozes sex appeal whose current uncertainties had me aching for him. He was stuck doing modeling to make money but found no satisfaction from it and felt as if he was losing himself in his choices which made me even more sympathetic towards his struggle, despite his pigheadedness. The connection between Simon and Nick was powerful with interactions that were intense, both good and bad, and I was completely caught up in their bromance which was just as satisfying as their romances with their ladies. It was a vital part of the story and brought out the best and worst in these two strong-willed men.
This series has captivated me from the very beginning, weaving an emotional and sensuous web around my heart that has now left me in tears with this being the final installment. Though this story went on just a tad too long things finally come full circle in this intensely emotional story about healing and the powerful affects of friendship. The men in Oblivion have never been ashamed to show their feelings, have fought tooth and nail for the women they love, and each one has a special place in my heart. The women are equally strong-willed and just as vital to the success of the band. The romance was beautifully balanced with the vividly depicted realities of being a rockstar keeping me further immersed in the story and banging my head along with the music. It's been a deliciously decadent journey for the band mates of Oblivion and I feel lucky to have seen all the ups and downs that kept me on the edge of my seat and cheering for the richly rewarding conclusion seen here. With this series this dynamic writing duo has proven themselves masters at rockstar storytelling and I look forward to the other series that take place within this world and that have already given me hours of naughty delights. If you haven't yet read this series now's the time to start as you'll enjoy every step they take, every move they make in this addictive and sexy series with larger than life characters!
My rating for this is an A-
*I got this book from the authors for review in exchange for my honest opinion.
GET THE BOX SET, ROCKED & TWISTED (Books 1-2.5), FOR FREE RIGHT NOW AT: AMAZON | BN | iBOOKS | KOBO | GOOGLE PLAY
AUTHOR INFO:
USA Today bestselling author Cari Quinn likes music and men, so she figured why not write about both? When she's not writing, she's screaming at men's college basketball games on TV, playing her music too loud or causing trouble. Sometimes simultaneously.
USA Today bestselling author Taryn Elliott is obsessed with rock stars, men, and her unending playlists--maximizing these things seemed like a very good idea. When she's not writing, she's losing hours to hot men on TV, and/or a graphic design project. Multitasking is her middle name.
They decided to combine forces and found that hey...this writing deal is even more awesome when you collaborate with your best friend.
And so Lost in Oblivion was born.
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