LISA'S REVIEW: Encore (Lori Toland)

Book Title: Encore
Author: Lori Toland
Genre: Gay Romance
Release Date: September 2, 2014
Hosted by: Book Enthusiast Promotions

Blaze Shinozuka is a bonafide rockstar with his band, Razor's Edge. After his romance with music manager Jason Stockton crashed and burned, Blaze is free to live and love. It's been a wild and heady year that's been blissfully drama free until the one man he's been avoiding comes careening back in to wreak havoc on his heart once again.

Jason Stockton has become the superstar he never wanted to be. When his music reality show becomes an overnight success, he's thrust into the limelight against his will. He's coping with intrusions into his private life but then a chance encounter sends him right into the arms of the man he loved...and lost.

Their time apart has changed them, except the passion between them burns brighter than ever. With the media hounding them in the midst of multiple scandals, they find they can only depend on one person — each other. Will they learn to trust that their love is enough to see them through it all? Or will this be their final dance before calling it quits, this time for good?

REVIEW:

Well, I just don't know how to rate this book. It is not quite 4 stars but it is way more than 3! I loved and hated this book. I can't say it's not a good book because I read this thing straight through. I was that caught up in what was going on. 

Sometimes the POV got confusing and I felt like the characters repeated themselves some.  I like Blaze but, boy does he make so irrational decisions. Nothing like Jason though. I did not like Jason. At times I did, but most of the book I did not. Not because of writing but, because it was hard to get past his decisions regarding Blaze. Blaze is different though. Blaze walks away too easily from Jason but, I love Blazes passion. I really enjoyed the parts in his POV. I loved the band members especially Pete. I so wanted to see where Pete and Blaze would go but, then I didn't. I hope Pete gets his own book. Maybe the other band members as well.

I also did not like the part about Jason's Gram. When you read this you will know what I mean. It seemed unnecessary to the story. Also Derek, he did not need to be in the book at all. I didn't really get why he was there. I wish that would not have been in the book. As well as the strip club, didn't make sense to me either. This was meant to be an angsty rocker romance but, I really didn't feel the angst. At first yes, but after sex, break-up, sex break-up, and it just kept happening the angst go lost to annoyance for me. That there is what kept me from making this a 5 star read. I think one of my favorite parts is Jason in coach. That and him with his brother made me really enjoy his character after having some bad feelings for him. I did love it though. Overall a good book that was worth reading. I mean if I can pick it up and can't stop, it is a great book. I found myself laughing and teary in this book. When I can read a book straight through and have this much to emotion about it, I know it is an amazing book. I would say so much more but I fear giving away the book to much.

RATING:

    

“Hey bro.”

Blaze turned around and grinned at Tommy, the lead singer of their band. “Hey man,” he said and gave him a one arm hug.

“I’ve gotta talk to you real quick.”

“Blaze.”

Suddenly there were a dozen people on stage with them as they moved the set around. Zack’s drums were already set up on the stage and Blaze’s guitar rested in the stand from the tour. Blaze turned back to Tommy. “We’ll talk later, yeah?”

Tommy shook his head. “It’s important. You’re gonna freak the fuck out.”

Blaze frowned as he dug in his pocket for his guitar pick. “What’s wrong?”

An announcement that rang out drowned his answer and Tommy threw up his hands in exasperation. After the introduction ended, he yelled, “Really? We’re trying to have a conv—” Tommy froze midsentence and looked over Blaze’s shoulder.

When he turned, he saw the one person he hoped never to see again in his life. In a town as small as Hollywood, he knew that wasn’t realistic but he had hoped they would be able to continue keeping their distance from each other.

As he looked up into Jason Stockton’s narrowed dark brown eyes, his heart pounded. The sliver of trepidation was drowned in the instantaneous desire that surged within him. Even though Jason had nearly destroyed him, Blaze still wanted him.

Jason Stockton had been his first real relationship and they had been head-over-heels in love until one stupid moment when they threw it all away. Though their fight had seemed important at the time, it had been stupid. Blaze knew that now.

Their disagreement over Cassie had been fueled by lack of sleep; their argument had spiraled out of control until they called it quits. Their very public break-up left Blaze’s heart shattered. Somehow over the past year, he had managed to avoid Jason and Blaze would have given anything to continue that winning streak.

He glared at Jason. “What the hell are you doing here?”

CEO by day, erotic romance writer by night, Lori Toland somehow finds time to play video games and watch movies while taking care of her cats and husband.

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