Book Review – Tangled Web by Jade C. Jamison

Tangled Web
Rock stars!!! I read this one back in July, when I first found all of these undiscovered “rock star” books out there on Amazon and this was fun enough. If I can remember correctly, I got “into” it, pretty much immediately. I do know it provided for a good enough angsty ride, and had a lot of “flashbacks” that helped build the issue that was troubling the characters today.

I thought, okay, this is good, not flipping me out or anything, but I like it enough that I’m happy to see how this turns out. And then BAM! Yup, this was another that went and smacked me hard! It hit me with a shocking part that I totally didn’t see coming. I was all…  “UGH!!!” over that part, but I have to confess. It’s because of the crazy unexpected *moment* that I decided I truly enjoyed the book.

You know those kinds of books… where they’re just “okay” or “pretty good” but they had that one moment that will forever be burned in your memory, and that very thing just suddenly puts it up there in the “gotta tell ya about this one part…” category? Well this was one of those for me.

I’m bringing it up now, because I found an old discussion I had with a friend about it. And then I realized, I hadn’t even reviewed it yet, and for that “part” alone, it was definitely worth mentioning. It just… wasn’t expected. And since this conversation pretty much captured me right in the middle of reading it, I thought, yup… this is appropriate. My reaction to that certain… moment. It’s all there. But, of course, I did edit out the spoiler-stuff. No worries. You get my shock and reaction, but you don’t get the actual reason behind it 😉

me: oh yesterday I read a short rock star story. Good, enjoyable, easy read, right? and then OMG something happened that my jaw dropped on which made the book AWESOME just for that one scene alone!

me:  ok, so girl (Katie Logan) and guy (Johnny Church) are best friends since middle school. Always together. But JUST friends!! He starts a rock band in highschool and suddenly, during a local show they’re playing, she sees him in a whole new light. Sexy rock star, the attitude, and he’s good. She sees him in a whole new light. She falls for him but never tells him.

Of course he’s got tons of girls on him all the time, and he’s taking full advantage of his new rock star status. She’s silently hurting, but continues to hang with him and the band, support him and all that. Then, she actually starts dating someone else… and some of the typical high school drama ensues… but THIS isn’t a high school book…

The band moves on gets famous, and they keep in touch (throughout the years). They don’t see each other much, as adults, but they don’t completely let go of their friendship either.

They are so close that even during some darker moments in his rock star career, she’s there for him. There are dark moments in this one, not depressingly dark, but the book certainly explores the usual rock star struggles. But she never tells him she loves him and has loved him for so long. Ever. So she moves on, gets engaged lives a boring life. She’s not in love but figures it’s time to get on with her own life and expectations.
He comes back one week, and throws a real monkey wrench in her easygoing life. First… elation… and then they have a serious misunderstanding. But it doesn’t end there.

Nope… it’s a whole lot more than what I’ve described in this conversation. It was a shorter book, but had enough description, emotional reflection, contemplation and actual “moments” that brought it to life.

Flashbacks, moments of realization, life changes… stuff happens.

And then…

*spoiler spoiler spoiler* (this part deleted from conversation 😉 Tee hee!!)

friend:  OMG

me:  YUP!!!! That was such a perfect scene – surprised me so much that it made me decide I really liked the book!! I mean, the book was good but you know – “regular” good… ‘cept for that part. Now I’m not saying that I AGREE, just that it gave me a good *jolt*.

friend:  hahahaha

me:  YUP!

friend:  so messed up!! so funny!

me:  heheheheh! See it doesn’t always have to be just love, flowers and butterflies for me, what it has to be is emotional in some way and that one freaked me out at that point. I mean the way that was written is WAY better than how I told you. That part really – I didn’t see it coming. Right then and there, I was all NO!!! WAY! UGH!!! and then, I squee’d with glee! I love the torture!!

And honestly, if only the book took it’s time during the “smack me hard” part, instead of ending so quickly soon after, this would have been a great find. Does that mean it doesn’t have a HEA? I can’t tell you. Maybe, maybe not… maybe sorta?

Just that… it was worth it. A good quick read between books. It gave me a touch of that rock star excitement (back stage anxiety and all that) and if I could ask for one thing, it would be that the book would have been longer, allowing us to “indulge” in that part, a bit more. I most certainly would have enjoyed a longer, more in-depth ending. Would have been great… ah well. Good enough!

3.5 stars