There is a gaping hole in the middle of Lonna’s memories of the worst night of her life. Her body told her how it ended, but the details leading up to her lying hurt and sobbing on the bathroom floor have been lost.How do you move forward when you’re not sure what you have to move on from?How do you get your life back on track when you don’t know what happened to send it off the rails?She makes a … the rails?
She makes a connection in the unlikeliest of places. Their bond is immediate—their pain similar and, at the same time, vastly different. As they work independently to recover from invisible wounds they are not ready to share with each other, they find their path to healing may leave a fiery trail across the landscape of what used to be their lives.
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How does one move forward when they are not sure what exactly they are trying to move on from?
What was supposed to be a night of celebration becomes a living nightmare for Lonna. She desperately wants to move on and put the worst night of her life behind her; but how can she overcome something so traumatic, so life altering, something that has left her completely broken inside, when she can’t even remember the details of that horrific night?
Despite having friends who love her and want nothing more than to help her heal and overcome that tragic night, it’s just not enough. Lonna must find the support she needs elsewhere.
Gavin is young, successful and dare I say easy on the eyes. Upon their first meeting, although skittish and hesitant, Lonna feels oddly drawn to him. Even though he is battling his own inner demons and trauma, Gavin feels compelled to help Lonna, to pull her back out of the shell that she has buried herself in. Can these two broken souls save one another?
This emotionally charged story is raw, gritty, heart wrenching and exceptionally beautiful. Having read her other works, I can attest to the fact that Evans has never shied away from tackling what most would consider an extremely delicate subject matter. Evans is never afraid to dive right in; yet she always manages to do so with tact, sensitivity and grace, the way only exceptional authors can do.
The characters are well developed and although I have said this before about this author in other reviews, I will say it again, her secondary characters are just as significant to her stories as the main characters. No one is ever there just to be there. Every character has a purpose in the story and that is relevant here with characters such as Pearl and Bat.
Evans has a true gift when it comes to writing dialogue in her stories. It is some of the best I have ever seen. It comes out flawlessly and has a way of pulling the reader right into the scene as if they were a main character in the story themselves.
BLACKOUT is a beautiful story about survival and overcoming trauma. It is a story about love, heartache and moving on, but most importantly It is a story about hope.
BLACKOUT is a story that needed to be told. A must read for everyone. I cannot recommend it enough. BLACKOUT will make you feel all the feels, and you will find yourself not able to put it down. My top read for 2020 thus far.
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Olivia Evans
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Pulling herself out of the darkness took a great deal of support and bravery. At a party Lonna wakes up with no memories from the the night before other than she knows something bad happened. As she tries to piece together those dark memories she comes across a support group. After spending a few nights at this support group she befriends a guy there. This guy Gavin makes her feel safe and after that night she needs someone who makes her feel comfortable.
Overall:
I liked Olivia’s approach with Lonna’s character. Rather than delve deep into a dark situation she took the approach of moving forward. It’s a refreshing change of tactic to move forward from this point.
It’s the lingering question many of us have. How does one move forward after being raped? Lonna is here to show you how she moved forward rather than letting it consume her. Lonna has a life before the rape and she has a life after the rape. While the rape altered her course for a few months she persevered by letting people in who were supportive.
Olivia focused on the violation of ones body and how that person feels helpless against a judgmental society. She also broached the topic about Being emotionally ready for a relationship after being raped.
Olivia wrote a compelling story. It was very thought provoking. I felt Lonna’s shame, guilt, and fear when trying to piece together that night while also trying to move forward. With the help of great and memorable supporting characters Olivia pulled off a heartbreaking and meaningful story about rape and the many ways it affects individuals and the many ways they cope and heal.
Rape is a trigger for many individuals but the way Olivia approached this topic was smart and sensitive.
5 STARS
Blackout was the first book by Olivia Evans that I’ve read. I wasn’t sure what to expect as I did not read the synopsis prior to reading the story. I was sorely absorbed in the story and had no issues connecting with the main character, Lonna, as well as the feelings she evoked in me with how she dealt with her circumstances. I highly recommend going in blind when reading this story, as the journey from beginning to end is EPIC.
Blackout by Olivia Evans will join the ranks of the BIBLIO-ARISTOCRACY!!!
* A review copy was provided by the author *
I knew this book was going to be tough to read going into it, but I also knew this was a book I had to read and I was going to love. And I did….I LOVED this book. I was totally captivated by these characters and the story they all had to tell.
This book was thought provoking, emotional, heartbreaking, and heartwarming all in one. This is a storyline that we have seen before, but Olivia created something special with this book and made it all her own.
I will give 1 warning to readers and that is if sexual assault is something that would be trigger in a story, then this book might not be one to read. Although Olivia did an excellent job writing and telling this story, nothing is overly graphic, but there still could be things that could trigger some readers. Just pick this one up with caution.
Blackout is a standalone novel told solely from Lonna’s POV. It is based on a tough subject matter, but was so eloquently written. Olivia made this story real and raw. I thought the struggles and regret and growth that Lonna goes through in this book was so believable. I thought the flow and pace of this story was spot on!!
In this book we follow the journey of Lonna. Several months ago Lonna suffered an assault that she can’t remember. So filled with regret and pain, she is determined to find out what happened that fateful night and who was to blame. But she is also on a journey to getting her life back. One day on her way home she stumbles on a diner and a building that offers meetings….little did she know that walk home would change her life for the better. While going to these meetings, she finds an unlikely ally is Gavin. Gavin is also suffer his own guilt and is harboring a secret, but is he willing to let Lonna in and tell his truth?? Will she still feel the same way about him?? What happens when Lonna’s life comes crashing down around her again?? Can these two find their way to a HEA?? Read this book to find out.
I LOVED the secondary characters in this book. Krista, Bat, Pearl, Bill and Brett were all amazing people. They were such a support system for Lonna and eventually Gavin as well. I know I wouldn’t mind getting a book about Bat or Krista….I think those ladies would have amazing stories as well.
I would 100% recommend this book. As I have said before, I don’t think my review can do this story justice. So just take my word for it and READ this book. You won’t be sorry!!!
Loved this story, it made mad, laugh, cry, i really wnet in a turmoil of emotions, it was a different kind of book and I love it because of that, I didn’t expect the secrets, the turns and the suprises that the author had in this one, you’ll fall in love with the characters and how they interact, this one is a must, and is going to leave you like we can overcome anything and everything that life troughs at us.
While it does cover a sensitive topic, Olivia doesn’t it perfectly. Be ready for a rollercoaster of emotions. A great support system goes a long way in helping someone heal even when it seems all is lost.
***I received an ebook copy from the author at no cost***
Olivia Evans is back (can I get a hell yeah!?) with another emotional story filled with angst, friendship, and silver linings.
Blackout is somewhat outside the norm for Evans, at least in my opinion. She’s crafted a story that’s unique, moving, and realistic. Lonna’s … not really living. She’s existing, moving from day to day in this sort of haze as the result of a traumatic event she went through months earlier. She’s got a lot of shame and guilt resting on her shoulders, making it hard for her to do day-to-day things like go to work and socialize with her friends. One day when she’s out, Lonna stumbles across a cozy little diner, and a support group for people who have experienced what she has. These two events change her life forever.
I loved the characters in this story. Especially Pearl and her husband. They may be secondary characters, but they have lots of life, big personalities, and they play a big role in Lonna’s life and the plot. from the minute Lonna went into the diner, Pearl made it feel like home. She’s sweet, funny, sassy, and throughout the course of the book, it was obvious just how much she cared for Lonna. It was like finding a mother and grandmother mixed together and really, Lonna needed that in a way.
Gavin is a beautiful soul, but he’s broken. There was a lot of mystery surrounding him and his past circumstances. I spent a large portion of the story trying to figure out how he came to be where he is and I loved that Evans didn’t just reveal this from the get go.
There was a lot of angst in this book but, it wasn’t heavy the whole way through. My heart hurt for Lonna and Gavin both. Evans gives readers a thread of hope to hold onto throughout the story and, even when things got rough, that thread was still there. I was taken aback at the events toward the end of the book but completely satisfied with how things ended.
This story contains a lot of tough subject matter and Evans did a terrific job handling it. It’s clear that she took her time with this and was careful to be sensitive to the topics when writing.
As always, the writing is great. Evans is detailed and vivid, captures the emotions wonderfully, and made the book easy to read and the characters even easier to become invested in and relate to.
Five stars to this novel!
WOW. Olivia Evans just gets better and better with each book she produces. This was written spectacularly. I normally gravitate towards darker romances but when I want to go out of my comfort zone with something that will gut me and make me FEEL emotions, this author is the one to choose. From the beginning I knew I would feel something deep for Lonna. And surprisingly enough, I felt something deep for Gavin too!!!
But dont let the sugary sweet words confuse you. This book might be a trigger for some people when it comes to sexual assault. I just wanted to wrap Lonna in a hug the entire duration of my read. Having something so horrible and life altering happen to you and not being able to remember it is anyone’s worst nightmare. But with the help of the meetings she goes to and Gavin himself, she learns to rebuild her life all over again.
Olivia Evans is an author that is totally underrated and needs to come out of the shadows because everyone needs to read her words. She and this book will bring out ALL the emotions you have inside your soul
Wow!!!!! Olivia writes about an Amazing and delicate story that will have your feelings all over the board!
What a different way to look at a horrible situation and the healing that comes in it’s wake.
I absolutely loved all the advice that is given throughout this book.
This is a heavy book because of the subject, but I felt like the way Olivia wrote it was just perfect. Shedding light on this is never easy but this is a book I would DEFINITELY recommend!!!!!
Without giving spoilers, you’ll want to read Lonna’s story. And you want to find out, just as bad as she does, what happened that night.
Lonna can’t remember the events surrounding one night where she woke up knowing she had been violated and now she suffers from constant nightmares and is falling apart. Her roommates Krista and Gavin do what they can for her but Lonna knows that she may really need so help, although is very reluctant to get any.
One day Lonna finds herself at a diner and there she meets the owner Pearl who lets Lonna know about some meetings across the street and Lonna gets up the courage to go. There she meets Gavin Lewis and the two form a friendship and both begin to get strength from the meetings.
Yet as both Lonna and Gavin come to terms with their respective pasts events occur and the two realize that nothing is as it seems.
This was such an amazing book and I must admit that I had some guesses from the beginning and I was actually right although there was a twist that momentarily made me doubt myself!
My heart broke for Lonna with everything that she went through and how the past was taking away her whole future. I kept hoping that eventually she would get help and I loved that Pearl steered her towards the group meetings. Pearl was an amazing character and I loved how much she helped Lonna and took care of her with her different desserts! Although I hated that I was hungry through so much of the book!
Gavin was dealing with his own pain but was very closed off about his past experiences and we never got a glimpse of why he was there. I loved how much he cared about Lonna and how their friendship slowly developed into more but nothing was rushed at all.
It was interesting to watch changes in other characters as the story went on and jealousy seemed to play a big role! I felt terrible for Lonna as she tried to put certain pieces together but everything was always a little out of reach.
When Lonna tells Gavin about her past everything changes and the effect is huge! I was so mad at Gavin until you heard from him on how everything affected him and I never really believed it and I was sad at how Gavin just gave up everything.
I was so happy when Lonna finally learned the truth and I knew it but I was shocked at how she discovered it.
The very end was awesome and I was so happy for both Gavin and Lonna and how Lonna was able to turn everything around!
This is a fantastic book. It’s raw and real and will give you all the feels! It’s a story of two people struggling who find solace in each other. It’s a story of hope and strength and Olivia Evans did a wonderful job with conveying all the emotions that come during the aftermath of a tragic event and how each person handles it differently. I commend the author for taking such a sensitive subject and shedding light on it. Gavin and Lonna’s relationship is built hesitantly, softly and sweetly, but their chemistry is strong and undeniable. And the cast of secondary characters are a perfect addition to the story, and I hope we’ll get more from this world.
If you’re looking for a thought provoking, inspiring story that will drag you down and then you build back up right alongside these amazing characters, then give this book a read. I’m a huge fan of Olivia Evans and I think this might be her best book to date. A top read of the year for me and a must read!
There are no words how incredible this book is. Olivia Evans writes about a subject that is so sensitive in nature but her words will have you understanding that each persons story is their own and how they deal with it is beyond strength.
We meet Lonna she is a young woman struggling with what has happened to her and the support of her friends and family might not be enough but when she comes upon a support group she finds just what she needs. She will meet people that will understand in a way that she needs, but when she meets Gavin there is just a something about him that makes her feel almost like herself again.
We will watch Lonna struggle along the way and question herself on so many things but you will also see that the inner strength she has and can’t help admire her.
As I was reading this book you can’t help all the different emotions you feel for Lonna, there is sadness, anger, love but most of all strength and when you see the words The End you not only say way to go Lonna you say bravo Olivia because your words were amazing.
WOW THIS BOOK – unexpected but obsessed! Lonna is reeling with the aftermath of an event that has forever changed her life, and really leans on the support of her few friends/roommates that know what happened. Spiraling quickly, she somehow finds herself at a support group that changes her life and helps her to cope with what happened and start to move on from it and be a functioning adult. At this group, she meets Gavin, who while she’s attracted to him is unsure of how to proceed after what happened to her. As they continue to break the walls down that were built from what happened, she finally feels like she is moving on but something continues to hold her back, and Gavin hasn’t revealed what happened to him to cause him to be in the group. But when it comes out, it’s explosive and something I never saw coming, although something with it didn’t sit with me and as we keep reading, we realize what truly happened and hope that the relationship between Lonna and Gavin is able to be fixed. I truly became obsessed with this book and trying to figure out what exactly happened that I read this in one sitting, and when I figured it out and it came out I was shocked yet so proud of how much Lonna had changed from the beginning of the book to the end. I absolutely loved this book and I can’t wait for the next one from this author, who is starting to become one of my favorites!
I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book.
Lonna needs help to get her through a tough time and goes to a support group. She meets Gavin there and they slowly become friends and than more. Than the unthinkable happens. Great characters and storyline Highly recommended. This book was excellent lots of twists and turns and coming through a tragedy stronger than before. Excellent Book
I read this back in November/December for Olivia. It’s been on my mind ever since. There was something about this story that would not let me go. I would be going about my day, and then something would hit me, and I was thinking about it again. I connected with these characters, mainly Lonna, and I think that’s why this book will always be in my heart.
“I don’t want to remember you as the girl who broke my heart.”
“I have no intention of being the girl who broke your heart. If I’m being honest, I want to be the exact opposite. I want to be the girl who stole it.”
Olivia’s writing is so skilled that she can pen a story that becomes a part of you. It’s in your heart, on your mind, and always a part of you. She only has a few books out, but each one she poured her heart into it. When you read her stories you can tell she gave everything to it. I love her work, and I can’t wait for the next book.
I can’t recommend this book enough. This is in my top ten for the year, and I hope you check it out soon.
Storyline: 5 stars
Characters: 5 stars
Heat Factor: 4 stars
Overall Rating: 5 stars
“Things are never just black and white, there’s always a gray area.” -Blackout
Blackout by Olivia Evans is a riveting and tragically beautiful story about finding hope though darkness. This story packs a whirlwind of emotion on every page immersing the readers into the life of Lonna on her journey to remember.
While her life is in a tailspin, consumed by the events from graduation night, she soon finds herself in a support group for victims of sexual assault. It’s in this support group that she meets Gavin, a young and handsome man with his own story to tell.
As always, Olivia continues to amaze me with her storytelling. Her writing is so good and her idea so vivid that’s it hard not to become completely consumed in her stories.
This story is gripping. It’s emotional and deep. The subject matter is at times difficult and should be taken into consider if you are sensitive to triggers. Olivia handles the subject matter with respect and tact.
This story is about more than just tragic event. It’s about healing. It’s about growing. It’s about living even through the darkest storms.
Get ready for a rollercoaster of a ride with this one. My emotions were up and down and all tied up the entire journey. Olivia has captured what its like to try and pick up the pieces after a trauma when you’re missing key memories. She wrote this story with so much grace and respect. The characters are human with flaws, but it just makes you love them more. It’s hard to write all my feelings without giving any spoilers, but just know that you’ll never be the same after you spend time with Lonna and Gavin.
Also, if anyone has a Pearl that they could share with me, I desperately need her in my life. And not only for her cakes 😉
Wow what an emotionally amazing story.
I couldn’t put it down!!!
The characters and plot are written as if you right there beside them going through everything with them.
This raw and detailed story will take you on a rollercoaster of emotions.
I could go on and on about it but I don’t want to ruin a second of the journey you’ll go on…
…So all I’ll say is one click immediately you won’t regret it.
This book will stick with you for years to come.
HOLY CRAP!! This book and my mind and just omg! Ms. Evans keeps getting better and better with every book she releases. I’m still trying to wrap my mind about what I just read and what I just finished. Twists and turns and things I totally didn’t see coming. Lonna, that girl, she’s a fighter and strong and just, I kinda really adore that girl! I don’t want to give much away but seriously, still trying to wrap my head around this book!
In BLACKOUT Olivia Evans writes about a sensitive subject, but does it with a touch like no other.
Lonna and Gavin’s journey of survival, strength and courage. It’s raw and emotional, you’re going to feel ALL THE FEELS.
BLACKOUT is full of pain and beauty, its going to break you, but will put back together by the end.
An easy 5 STAR read.