Twisted by Cari Quinn, Taryn Elliott Series: Lost in Oblivion #2
Genres: Contemporary Romance, Rock Band Romance
Published by Rainbow Rage Publishing on December 2, 2014
Pages: 402
Format: eBook
Source: Purchased 
I started off by reading book one in the Lost in Oblivion series since I got Rocked free on ARe during their Earth Day celebration. While that book was long, I was hooked on the band and how they all fall in love. These aren’t easy books that were created. The band doesn’t always get along and sometimes they do things that alienate each other so bad. With Twisted, they are trying to get back to being a band, writing and creating new material and dealing with a new record label.
When I met Gray Duffy in the first book, I didn’t get a great sense of who he was because he talked very little, and was involved very little. He states he just wants to play. In this story we get a lot of his backstory and what caused him to be in the place he is at the moment. We meet Gray as a 16 year old who’s family takes in foster children from time to time. Jasmine is the latest and right away Gray feels a connection to her through their music. Jazz’s mother gives her up to the system after she has another child and can’t raise them both. Her mom is a pill and says bad things about Jazz.
The story moves back and forth between current times and the past that come to a head in the future. Confusing? Just know that about every other chapter is one in the past with Jazz and Gray as teenagers and then another on in the current time as they are finally getting together.
So a fight breaks out in the band and the label executive decides to split the band to work on songs. Jazz, Deacon and Simon go to an exclusive resort to work together while Gray and Nick got to an upscale cabin. One, Gray and Nick have a lot to work through because Nick and Jazz were once an item. It doesn’t help that in book 1, Nick made a deal with the first record label that cut out the other members besides Simon from some profits. Nick has a pretty bad attitude, but as they work together, we see a side of Nick that isn’t one the public sees.
I was right in book one about Gray being on drugs. He wants to say something happened that drove him to it, but in the end I put the blame squarely on his shoulders that he started doing the drugs and kept saying he could stop. Jazz is kind of naive and sweet. She doesn’t see what the others know about Gray. Gray is just the man she loves that she thinks never sees her.
Through the story we watch Gray battle his addiction and the fact he owes his dealer a lot of money. We walk with Jazz as she takes the reins on her love for Gray, but naively not figure out what is going on with him. In the end, the two have some huge decisions to make, paths to walk and some hearts to break.
Again, there was way to much sex that drowned out the real problems these two had to deal with that they ignored. Gray likes eating out women and there is a lot of that. Throw in he uses sex to hide his addiction. I agreed with the decisions Gray ultimately makes even if it does hurt. I also agree with the decisions Jazz makes, but I found it hard to deal with as well.
This can be read as a standalone book, but you might get confused on the back history of the band. If so, you can read my review of Rocked to get a sense of who all the band players are and their personalities.
There is a sequel to Gray and Jazz’s love story in Untwisted, book #2.5. I immediately started that book to make it feel like one whole story. So I know much more than I can say in this review. Untwisted’s review will be up soon!
Challenge Info:
Literary Pickers: sunglasses
Pervvy Girl: Face sitting
Books ‘N Tunes: Life is Beautiful by Sixx:A.M.
Shari
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