Double Time by Olivia Cunning

OCunning-Double Time

OCunning-Double TimeThe third novel in Olivia Cunning’s Sinners series has left me a little conflicted.  I loved finally seeing Trey being center staged in Double Time, but I will be honest (as I always am)…I was a little confused.  While Double Time was a fantastic read and kept me glued to its digital pages, there was a few times where I felt like I was missing something.

Trey Mills, the notoriously sexy Sinners rhythm guitarist, gives up his bisexual lifestyle and is swept into a hot, heady romance with Reagan Elliot, a female rock star sensation. But when Trey encounters Reagan’s sexy bisexual roommate, Ethan Conner, he can no longer deny who he is or what he wants. Reagan heartily agrees to a solution that opens up a hot new world of sexual experience—and love—with the two men she wants the most.

For those who are unfamiliar with Cunning’s Sinners series, you first need to go out and get the first novel, Backstage Pass, ASAP.  The series focuses on a heavy metal rock band called Sinners and features four deliciously hot sexy men, who are all fascinating. Brian, Sed, Eric, Jace and Trey all have this great chemistry together and it’s been awesome seeing how the group interacts with each other through the various band members. With that said, my first moment of confusion came when Eric and Jace are all of a sudden married (or in committed relationships).  At the start of Backstage Pass, none of the guys are with anyone and in fact they are all enjoying the rock star life.  Then comes Rock Hard and now Brian is married and Sed’s dream girl appears on the page.  During this process, Jace does meet a girl, Aggie, but we’re really never given the idea that it’s anything more than a tour stop one night stand.  That’s more than Eric has, who isn’t even remotely connected to anyone. Now comes Double Time and all that changes. Jace and his girl are not only committed to each other, but marriage is approaching and Eric is married married. I really feel like I missed a lot of the story here. Now granted, Jace isn’t married and his relationship with Aggie is simply solid, but I feel like I’ve missed the courtship of these two.  Did they have troubles like Brian and Sed had with their respective girls? Given the fact that Eric is married to one of the bands sound technicians, I would assume there’s some kind of story to tell there.

And the one thing that really blew my mind was the old bassist coming back into the story.  Granted, he’s not there a lot, but his being gone was the whole point in making Jace a part of Sinners in the first place.  His reappearance is not explained and considering his past with the band, it couldn’t have been a simple thing of having him fill in. At least I would have expected there to be some begging or groveling or something worth reading.

These two elements of Double Time just left me feeling a bit out of touch with the story.  I remembered reading Brian/Myrna and Sed/Jessica’s stories and liked see how they got to be where there were. But then seeing everyone else just hooked up and taken care of…I feel left out. What happened? How did they get together? Why weren’t we there to see it happened? These questions just popped up for me.

I do have to say, aside from all of that, I really enjoyed Double Time.  I will admit that I felt it was a little predictable, but then it wasn’t. During the first half of the story, I could see where Reagan and Trey were going to end up; but then Cunnings threw in a curve ball.  I don’t want to spoil or give anything away, but I have to say that even though the story of Double Time seems a little predictable, you’re not going to feel that way at the end.  There are still some surprises left and I’m glad for that. I’ve really enjoyed the Sinners series and I would have been heartbroken if the series ended (as I think it has with Double Time) on a predictable note.

I really can’t have a review about a romance novel without talking about the two main characters, can I? Right, I didn’t think so.  Trey and Reagan were a blast to read about. They complement each other so perfectly and yet there is still enough secrets between the two that it was nice to see them sweat a little with each other. Their chemistry was good, but there was times where I felt that it was a little forced at times too.  Okay, forced may be the wrong word. Either Reagan gave in a little too easily or there was times it was just too easy.  If that makes sense. Regardless, watching these two individuals try to make their relationship work made for one hot explosive story.

Overall, Double Time was a fantastic romance that brought a lot of the steamy wickedness that I love in a good trashy novel. If this is the end of the Sinners series, I’m going to be sad because I was looking forward to seeing Eric and Jace get their girls. However, I can’t say I’m disappointed in the end. Every character in this series has not only been memorable, but there was this easy connection between all of them.  The story of Double Time was definitely engaging and kept me returning to the story whenever I could.  If you’re looking for a good romance with a bunch of great characters, then you really need to get your hands on this series.

While Double Time is the third book in a series, you do not need to read the previous novels in order to enjoy it. However that does not stop me from telling you to go out and get the previous two books because they are just as fantastic as Double Time. What I’m saying is, pretend you have to read them because you won’t regret it. *grin*

Read Order:
Backstage Pass
Rock Hard
Double Time

About Jackie 3282 Articles
I am a 30-something SAHM with two adorable boys and a supportive husband who is very tolerant of my reading addiction. I love to read and easily go through about a dozen books a month – well I did before I had kids. Now, not so much. After my first son was born, I began to take my hobby of reviewing a little more serious and started Literary Escapism to help with my sanity. I love to discuss the fabulous novels I’ve read and meeting all the wonderful people in the book blogging community has been amazing.

5 Comments

  1. I really liked this one, but I was also confused, then I read in an interview somwhere that the author wrote Double Time as the last story in the series, but the publisher wanted it released third. So Jace and Eric’s stories are coming, eventually ;)

  2. The publisher changed the order of the books which is why it seemed confusing. I felt the same way. However, Jace’s story is next, so then things will start to make sense.

  3. I am just starting Rock Hard and was looking at Olivia Cunnings website and saw that that Double Time was listed as Book 5 but coming out 3rd. I was all excited to read Double Time too but now after reading your review I’m going to have to wait till after the other two are released. It drives me crazy when books aren’t released in the proper order and it gives away details of books I haven’t read yet!

    • I don’t know Laura. I’m thinking Jace and Eric’s books are going to have to be a bit different. I mean, we already know how they end (granted that’s not a surprise), but it does take a little away from the stories I think.

      I know TBL! I was looking towards Jace and Eric’s books too.

  4. Jackie–yep, a lot of us discussed that issue (of releasing Double Time prior to the other 2). It’s frustrating ;).

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