Book Review: Twisted Summer by Lucy V Morgan

Reviewed By: Siobhán
Format: Kindle Ebook
Pages: 168
Published: 29th March 2013
Publisher: Self-Published
Source: Author for Review
Genre: New Adult, Dark Romance
Buy: Amazon UK I Amazon US

Description:

Eighteen-year-old Danni Warren has big plans for her last summer before college: a cool job, a concert she wouldn’t miss for the world, and spending time with her beautiful girlfriend, Esme. But after one hell of an argument, Danni’s mother packs her off to stay with her estranged step-uncle, Gabe, in his lodge on the English coast. So begins a weekend of the worst punishment imaginable: no phone signal. With his sun kissed good looks and sarcastic manner, twenty-nine-year-old Gabe Asher isn’t anything like Danni expected. She wants to hate him—he’s her punishment for standing up to her mother—but between surfing lessons and beach hikes, Gabe and Danni grow close. Maybe too close. Now Danni’s questioning everything: old family secrets, her future, her strained relationship with Esme. One sun stained afternoon, Gabe and Danni go too far. And then everything else falls apart… Warning: mature content

Twisted Summer, what can I really say about Twisted Summer?? I have so many thoughts in my head about this book and I have no idea how to convey them for this review. It was oh so good. Dark but funny, cute but twisted. Sometimes I felt like the story was rushed but overall, I adored it.

After yet another fight with her mother, Danni is sent away for the weekend to stay with Gabe who her mother hopes can sort Danni out. However, Danni hasn't seen Gabe since she was child and even though she has been sent there as a punishment she can't help the attraction and with a weekend filled with surfing, alcohol and relaxing, Danni and Gabe grow closer. However, Danni has a girlfriend, Esme and Gabe just happens to be her Step-Uncle. "They Can't Be Together. No One Can Know"

Danni is an 18 year girl with an attitude. I adored it her snarky attitude. And witty comments. I think the readers will connect easily with her. She has a girlfriend, Esma who OMG is just horrible!! She has no redeeming qualities at all. So it wasn't surprising that Danni fell for Gabe. Danni is flawed, which I think makes her more real. She makes bad descision about her love life, she cheats and use Esme and even though I don't agree with it I think it makes her who she is and makes her more relatable. She isn't some damsel who is in need to saving. All the bad things just make me like her more. Now Gabe? Oh sweetness. Yes, he is her step-uncle, yes there is a an 11year age gap. But as the story develops and the two characters develop genuine feelings for each not just some hot sexy lusting for each other it is easy to see how perfect they are for each other. I found myself rooting for these characters and hoping they would somehow work things out.

Twisted Summer won't be for everyone. I think you need to be pretty opened minded and get passed the taboo psuedo-incest relationship because the plot is simply wonderful. The author has managed to create something different to the usual NEW ADULT books I have read. Enjoyed the taboo subject and I think they author has did it in such a way that wasn't creepy. At least I didn't think it was. I am not one to judge and I have always been pretty opened minded about most things. And they way I see is "You don't choice who you fall in with, it just happens" I love my stories to have a darker element to them and this fits the bill just nicely. It has a good mix of romance and cuteness but a plot that is a darker and hard going.

However, while I really did love the story and the main characters I felt that at times the story was rushed. It could have done with a few more chapters especially at the end. I have no idea if this is a stand alone or if there will be a sequel but I just felt that the way it ended, there was a lot of unresolved issues and I wanted to see how things played, I felt like it was left on a mini cliffhanger.

Overall, I highly recommend this novel. It is something a little bit different that I hope more people will read. If you like "New Adult" books than give this a try. It is "New Adult" but with a darker theme. It also has some pretty hot and steamy scenes that made me blush :)

How cute is that cover?? It is so summery but I don't think it really fits the darker plot. It captures the romance and summer feel but I would have loved to see a darker cover. Although saying that it does work. On the outside it looks all sweet and innocent but with those pages it is anything but innocent.