Blog Tour and Giveaway: TOXIC: K.A. Robinson

by - Thursday, May 22, 2014


Toxic
Torn #4
K.A Robinson
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True love is forever. After years of chasing his best friend, Chloe, Logan finally managed to win her heart—or so he thought. His world crashes down around him when she confesses to cheating on him with a local rock star, Drake. Unable to let her go completely from his life, Logan reassumes his role of best friend while he watches Chloe find her happily ever after with another man. Each day, he sinks further and further into his depression, and the kind, caring Logan he once was dies. When Jade, a member of Drake’s band, inserts herself into his life, Logan never expects to fall for her. He’s too broken, too damaged.

Jade ran away from home when she was seventeen, desperate to escape her abusive stepfather and her controlling boyfriend, Mikey. The only regret she has is that she left behind her little sister, Bethaney. When Jade’s band, Breaking the Hunger, hits it big, she vows to go back to her hometown not only to reconnect with her little sister, but also to show her stepfather that she’s not worthless like he said.

The moment Jade saw Logan, she knew she wanted him. Unfortunately, he was with Chloe at the time. After his world falls apart, Jade steps in to comfort him, determined to bring back the Logan she once knew.

Sometimes, you find true love with the person you never least expect. Can Logan and Jade heal each other? Or will they forever be changed by their toxic pasts?




I raised an eyebrow. “Why are you so determined to make sure that Jade and I end up together?” 

       “Because I want you both to be happy, and after all of this sorted out, I think you two could be really happy with each other. You both care a lot about each other. I’ve never seen Jade act the way she did when Drake called her. She was really upset. And you’ve been Mopey McMoperpants since you came home. It’s obvious that you’re both miserable without one another.” 

      “Do you really think that we’d be happy together? Honestly, I’m not so sure. I don’t exactly fit in with the rest of her world.” 

      “Why do you think that?” 

      “She’s a rock star, Chloe, and I’m just…I’m not into that scene. I don’t like the same things you guys do. I don’t look like any of the other guys she hangs out with. I’m not pierced or tattooed. I’m not…I don’t know what the fuck I’m trying to say here.”

     Chloe started to say something, but Drake cut her off, “Look, Logan, I’ve known Jade for a long time. I’ve watched her get hit on by tons of guys, and she’s never paid attention to any of them. She didn’t care that they were part of our scene. Truthfully, most of the guys we hang out with are womanizing assholes.” 

      “True story,” Chloe cut in, giving Drake a dirty look.

     “Hey, I haven’t been that way in a long time. Don’t glare at me like that. Anyway, my point is, just because she lives a certain way and has a certain profession doesn’t mean that she’s going to want a certain type of guy. She obviously likes you, so just go with it.” 

      “He’s right. Don’t doubt yourself because you two have different lives. You’re a good-looking guy, Logan. You don’t need tattoos or piercings for girls to notice you. Jade obviously likes you just the way you are.” 

      “I feel like I should pull the car over, so we can all hug. This is getting awkward,” Drake muttered. 

      Chloe laughed. Don’t be jealous, Drake. I think you’re a goodlooking guy, too.”

     He rolled his eyes. “Thanks. I feel much more secure about our marriage now that you’ve admitted you’re attracted to me.


All my life, I'd tried to help people, and I'd been a good guy. And for what? So, I could watch the love of my life walk away from me.

We met these characters in Torn and saw their stories continue through Twisted and Tainted. But now we get to see some of the heartbreaking events with Logan, Chloe and Drake through Logan's eyes. How Chloe, the girl he had loved for years,  hurt and betrayed him with Drake.

The one person I'd thought would never hurt me was the one who had ripped my heart to pieces. 

After dealing with Chloe and Drake, Logan was depressed, angry, and  in need of a friend. And surprisingly, his new friend came in the form of the drummer from Drake's band, Jade. She is there for him even when he never expected it, and they begin to share their secrets, past, and pain. 

Logan really struggles after the loss of Chloe. He is lost. He numbs his pain with women, alcohol, and puts up armor. He does not want to let people see how damaged and hurt he really is. He has to let go of anger, rejection, regret and guilt before he has a chance of moving on. And that is not an easy task when he is constantly reminded of what he lost. This was his story of love, loss, pain, healing and renewal. His personality shifts over time and we see many sides to Logan: sad, destroyed, angry, sexy, confused, happy, and sweet. And he has major trust issues and fear of being broken again.

"I'm an asshole. I'm not the same guy you met when I was with Chloe. I'm bitter and angry and f***king self-destructive."

Jade was kind of quietly in the background as a friend and confidant. Their relationship developed over time and had some near misses, hurt feelings,  and separations. Their communication issues, denial, and confusion kept them from pursuing anything for quite a while. She was sassy, caring, tough, but also insecure. Her past forced her to put up barriers and fight for what she really wanted, but also did a number on her self esteem. She never really had a safe haven. She has some demons from her past that she needs to face to move on with her life. 

But when they finally get to a place of spending time together, they are sweet, fun,  playful, and passionate. I loved their interactions and natural flow of their burgeoning relationship. It was passionate, but not volatile and unhealthy. They fell into an easy rhythm that was refreshing. 

Sometimes fate steps in though. Sometimes we're meant to have our happily ever after even it it's not with who we expected. Sometimes the most toxic events and emotions lead us to where we belong.

But they both still have issues that affect them. And of course, there is drama and angst that finds its way into their happy bubble. And with two people that have been damaged in their past, it is hard to trust in themselves and the other one. 

Can they both go of their insecurities, fears, and  pasts to move on? And with their lives being so different, do they really have a chance to  move on together at all?

We get to spend more time with Chloe, Drake, Adam, Eric and see how their  band Breaking the Hunger is doing. Their friend Amber is also still part of their story. We also meet Jade's younger sister, Bethaney. This group has been through a lot personally and together. Despite their issues, they are a tight group that tries to support each other. This one was told in Logan and Jade's points of view but it did not alternate--instead it was in three parts with Logan starting and ending and Jade in the middle. This installment was heartbreaking, funny, healing, and happy.  I enjoyed seeing some parts of the story I knew from Logan's perspective as well as more of Logan's journey towards finding himself and a new future. I am looking forward to more stories in this series. We need more with Adam and Amber, Eric, and maybe even Bethaney.

I was gifted a copy in exchange for an honest review.

 
TORN
 Two people with battered souls are thrust together unexpectedly, leaving a profound impact on each other’s lives.
Purchase Links:
TWISTED
 Love has the power to break through even the most twisted of circumstances.
Purchase Links:
TAINTED
Will Drake’s fame get in the way of their happily ever after? Or is love enough to keep them together?
The epic conclusion to Drake and Chloe’s story.
 
Purchase Links: 



K.A. Robinson is the New York Times and USA Today Best Selling Author of The Torn Series and The Ties Series. She lives in a small town in West Virginia with her husband and toddler son. When she isn't writing, she is reading or listening to rock music.


Other books by K.A. Robinson:

Torn Series:
Torn   

Ties Series:
TwistedTies


Signed copy and ebook copy of Toxic 
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