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A Lost in Oblivion Outtake — Nick & Lila
 
All he wants for Christmas is his girl…and a strand of pearls.

Rockstar Nick Crandall is determined to make this Christmas the best of his life. So what if his beloved band, Oblivion, may be on the rocks? So what if his girl, Lila Shawcross, the band’s manager, has been freezing him out for days without telling him why? And hey, who needs snow anyway? In Southern California, it’s always hot. 
  
Especially when the band gets back together for their kind of misfit family Christmas, and Nick and Lila reunite for one steamy night…

**Outtakes are short stories set in the world of the Lost in Oblivion series.**

82 pages, Kindle Edition

First published December 16, 2015

79 people are currently reading
552 people want to read

About the author

Cari Quinn

124 books2,151 followers
USA Today bestselling author Cari Quinn grew up wanting to be a singer more than anything else. When she realized she probably wouldn’t be hired as the opening act for the Foo Fighters, she stopped singing and started writing. Now she happily writes about rock stars, MMA fighters, suited heroes, bodyguards and everything in between. And she blasts her music as loud as the neighbors can stand, because hey, she’ll always be a rock star in her own head.

She's also half of the duo Cari Quinn & Taryn Elliott, as well as one half of the USA Today bestselling author Taryn Quinn, who writes steamy small town romantic comedies (among other things.)

Visit Cari at www.quinnandelliott.com to sign up for her newsletter and visit the Word Wenches on Facebook, her fun, sexy reader group with Taryn Elliott! https://www.facebook.com/groups/34642...

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5 stars
207 (47%)
4 stars
141 (32%)
3 stars
74 (16%)
2 stars
13 (2%)
1 star
3 (<1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 47 reviews
Profile Image for XxTainaxX Curvy and Nerdy.
1,564 reviews506 followers
August 28, 2016
Cute little snippet of Nick's perspective when shopping for Lila's gift and their little holiday gathering. I didn't think I'd warm to Nick as much as I have and this is a good reason why. There's more to him than meets the eye. Short and sweet. Like this review lol Safety: Although there are no OW/OM for either, No rape or abuse.
Profile Image for Simply Love Book Reviews.
7,046 reviews870 followers
January 7, 2016
Slick's review posted at Guilty Pleasures Book Reviews

I have been a fan of Cari Quinn and Taryn Elliott's Lost in Oblivion series from the start and I have been through all the trials and tribulations this band has encountered from playing bad clubs to superstardom and I have watched the band members meet their significant others, fall in love and in some case reproduce and with each story I get more and more caught up in their lives and I love every minute of it even the minutes that these two very talented authors make me scream in frustration. That all being said (and yes, I know I'm a long winded person) Gifted was a perfect novella for the holiday season for readers of this series and even for new readers as it gives you a great look into the dynamics of this special group.

While this is a continuation of Nick and Lila's story and told from both their points of view we see all of the band members, their significant others and their offspring. We get to watch as Nick realizes on Christmas Eve he hasn't shopped and heads to a mall with Jazz in tow. We see special gifts exchanged, lots of music, good times, good food and the promise of something to come.

I couldn't have asked for a better gift that Gifted; seeing the band all together and enjoying each other's company, their good natured teasing and Nick and Lila reuniting for a very special time made this book absolutely perfect.

Review copy provided for an honest review.
Profile Image for Kim.
378 reviews10 followers
December 20, 2015
GIFTED is a brief glimpse into the Lost in Oblivion gang as they celebrate Christmas as the blended family they’ve grown to be. It’s the softer, lighter side of the band, free of angst, heavy on banter, friendship, love, and–as always–sexy times. Told from Nick and Lila’s POV, it’s a bridge between Shattered and Fused, where hopefully those two will finally get their HEA. It shows the squishy, tenderhearted side of Nick that he keeps well hidden from all except those dearest to him.

GIFTED is an unexpected yet greatly appreciated surprise gift from the authors. One that makes the overwhelming need and two month wait for Fused just that much harder.
Profile Image for Heather in FL.
2,063 reviews
December 24, 2015
A really cute interlude in the Oblivion series. This one occurs right after the disastrous last performance of Oblivion as well as when Lila realizes someone's been following her. It's also after she thinks he may have been screwing around on her (but she hasn't asked him, and us readers know he's totally gone for her). Christmas Eve is the first time Lila and Nick will be in the same place since then, and Nick doesn't have plans of letting her leave... he misses her a lot and, turns out, she misses him just as much. I'm still looking forward to the next book and what's "next" for both the band and Nick & Lila.
Profile Image for Danielle Petersen.
84 reviews5 followers
December 19, 2015
Gifted amazing

I love the oblivion series! Can't wait for the final book! A must read and definitely re- read series. Cari and Taryn have done it again!!!
Profile Image for Tia.
119 reviews1 follower
December 19, 2015
5 Stars

I absolutely floved this story! Nick and Jazz's bantering had me laughing! This is a hot, sexy and funny Nick, Lila and the band Christmas story!
Profile Image for Sandy S.
8,341 reviews204 followers
December 28, 2015
3.75 stars---


GIFTED: Lost in Oblivion Christmas

ABOUT THE BOOK Release Date December 16, 2015


All he wants is Christmas with his band and his girl...and a strand of pearls.


Rock star Nick Crandall is determined to make this Christmas the best of his life. So what if his beloved band, Oblivion, may be on the rocks? So what if his girl, Lila Shawcross, the band’s manager, has been freezing him out for days without telling him why? And hey, who needs snow anyway? In Southern California, it’s always hot.

Especially when the band gets back together for their kind of misfit family Christmas, and Nick and Lila reunite for one steamy night...

•••••

REVIEW: 3.75 stars--GIFTED is a short Christmas story from Cari Quinn and Taryn Elliott that focuses on Nick and Lila’s tumultuous relationship during the Christmas holidays. The timeline falls between SHATTERED November 2015) and FUSED (February 2016).

It is Christmas time. The members of Oblivion have gathered for a family celebration, and Nick has yet to buy gifts so he embarks on a Christmas Eve shopping spree with Jazz, in the hopes of finding the perfect gift for Lila Shawcross-the band’s manager- and the other members of the band. Told from dual close third person perspectives (Lila and Nick) GIFTED is a sweet story line that follows Nick and Lila several days after the events and cliff hanger ending of SHATTERED wherein Nick is unaware of the events that transpired to push Lila in another direction. Nick’s gift to Lila will play an intricate role in tying Lila to his heart-a string of pearls that is representative of their relationship.

All the members of the band Oblivion play secondary and supporting roles; there is a new introduction to the Oblivion family; and Lila leaves Nick to believe in a future with the woman that he loves. The $ex scenes are erotic and inventive.

GIFTED is a sweet story about the joy and magic of Christmas; a glimpse into the dynamics of the band; the family of your heart; and friendships that will last a lifetime

Own a copy
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Profile Image for Judy Robertson.
543 reviews4 followers
June 30, 2016
Awesome read, I love nick Crandall, he is hot and sexy I can't wait to read more about nick and lila, and the rest of our favorite sexy rockers. Loved this book and thank you for giving us sexy nick for Christmas.
Profile Image for Marie Vasquez.
1,598 reviews78 followers
January 22, 2016
This was a wonderfully quick read to ease some of the tension left behind at the end of Shattered. Having Nick Christmas shop was great comic relief. Too funny and so cute to see them all get together for Christmas as the crazy rock star family they have become.

Looking forward to the release of Fused.

This is such an amazing series.

I definitely recommend checking out their stories...


Coming Feb 2, 2016...the rest of Nick & Lila's story. Fused is available for preorder now
1,834 reviews3 followers
May 27, 2017
Fun short story

This book is a fun short story. Even though it revolves around a some times foul mouth rock star, it's about the spirit Christmas.
Profile Image for Cindy Wiste.
168 reviews
April 3, 2018
Another great story for the Oblivion series. I eagerly await the next story for the band. These 2 authors really know how to keep you reading.
Profile Image for LaDonna.
511 reviews19 followers
December 27, 2015
I have had this series on my TBR for quite some time, but I couldn't resist this Christmss edition to jump in with, since it is that time of year. I had planned to do a 12 Rocking Days of Christmas on the Backstage Books blog, but somehow December snuck up on me before I got it done. At least I have a jump start on it for next year. ;-) So that is how I jumped into the middle of this series. I will definitely be sinking further into it, though I think I will start with the other books focusing on Nick and Lila first, as they captured my heart and left me incredibly curious as to what I had missed in their past, and what the future holds for them. So, this can be read as a standalone, but I am pretty sure everyone who reads this will feel as I do - that they need, to quote Paul Harvey, "the rest of the story."

The focus of this book is on Oblivion's guitarist, Nick, and their manager, Lila, but the rest of the band, their spouses and kids, all make quite an impression as well. The story starts with a very clueless Nick deciding to do his Christmas shopping for his "family" - the aforementioned band members, spouses amd kids - at the mall on Christmas Eve. Poor Jazz, the band's drummer and mother of infant Dylan, gets roped into helping with his delusional cluelessness anout shopping in general, and especially doing so at a mall on December 24th. Their friendship and bantering are adorable in the most non-nauseating way. Then there is the hilarity of wrapping the presents involved (run out of tissue paper for gift bags, who doesn't like the comics? But the political pages and obituaries might be inappropriate. Classic!)

The rest of their made family is more thoroughly introduced in the next section. As this was the first book in the series for me, I'm not going to try to explain them all, but they all have great chemisrty and cameraderie. There was enough to let even the first tie reader really feel that they have made a true family and not just a band. For me, that may have been the best part of this one - the message that it is perfectly acceptable to form a family of loved ones who are not blood related. Let's face it - a large number of us didn't hit the family lottery - the message is very welcome for those fitting that definition this time of year.

Then we get to Lila's POV on the events of the evening. I don't know how anyone's heart won't melt seeing things through this sweetie's eyes. There is just something about the way she in written that makes her simply enchanting, but also mysterious to those of us who have no other reference of her. She both broke and warmed my heart. She is definitely one of the reasons I will be reading the books before and after this one before I get into the rest of the series. I am generally pretty anal about reading a series in order, but sometimes even self imposed rules are made to be broken.

I don't feel there is much more I can add without getting into spoiler territory. For mature audiences only for fairly explicit sexual scenes. Very highly recommended for anyone loking for a literal rocking around the Christmss tree. I won't be waiting long to get the rest of this series read - this book/novella convinced me that I will definitely like the stories and characters. Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night ( this was well worth any sleep lost staying up to finish!)
Profile Image for litljen.
1,239 reviews41 followers
February 3, 2016
A Christmas novella about my favorite LIO rockers? Yes, please! I LOVED this story! It is written in two parts---one from Nick's pov and one from Lila's pov. It has all of the Lost in Oblivion snark and sexiness neatly packaged up with a holiday bow. It was great to read about the band celebrating Christmas together. The highlight of course is Nick and Lila reconnecting and igniting some seriously sexy flames! I can't wait to see what happens with these two amazing characters in Fused. This could be read as a stand alone but really......the entire serious is a MUST read! Cari Quinn and Taryn Elliott are two of the greatest storytellers out there. Read this novella, read the entire series but whatever you do, don't miss out on the amazingness of Lost in Oblivion! 5+ fan-freaking-tastic stars!
Profile Image for Morilyn.
1,056 reviews31 followers
December 16, 2016
Gifted is Cari Quinn & Taryn Elliot's Christmas offering for Lost in Oblivion' short story. The band & their partners plus children gather together for Christmas day and Lila is invited to attend. Nick hasn't been with her since the problems over the photos her husband sent to cause trouble - over 2 weeks ago. He's desperate for whatever she'll offer him, even if it's just one day & night.
The others are revelling in family life but Nick is charged with being the last single man in the band because the record company insists that the fans need that of him. Such pressure to keep his real feelings hidden.
This is a beautiful, passionate interlude with heartwarming moments. Interspersed with the reality of Christmas shopping, wrapping gifts, cleaning up after dinner and changing babies. Loved it!
Profile Image for Michelle Quintana.
1,862 reviews7 followers
January 3, 2016
I received this book for free from the authors. My heart just breaks for Nick because it seems like nothing good can ever go his way. He is giving Lila the space she requested, even though he doesn't know what is going on. Lila can't risk her heart and career and doesn't know what to do. She keeps thinking about how honest Nick has always been with her, even if it has been crude at times. I just don't understand why she doesn't tell him about the pictures she received. If she did, then she wouldn't have to face everything alone. The gift Nick have Lila is a thoughtful gift and it should show her that he really was thinking of her. The way she left Nick at the end was heartbreaking and left me wondering what her gift was to him.
Profile Image for Staphysagria.
581 reviews4 followers
March 15, 2016
IT left me hanging in mid-air. although the idea of the band's christmas preparations and Party was very detailed and written With a keen eye for sweet little moments and funny dialogues, the Plot was a bit Static. all These pages just because lila Has the unreasonable urge to go for a romp between the sheets, and both Protagonists unable to clarify their differences and instand habe Sex....it's Not as authentic as Cari's characters usually act. There are a couple more typos, too. so although it's a must-have for every oblivionite, it feels live this Bookmarks received less Tlc than the others
Profile Image for Jennifer.
158 reviews2 followers
December 18, 2015
Received and devoured INSTANTLY! "Gifted" is a small glimpse (novella) into Nick and Lila's Christmas.

You don't have to read the rest of the LIO series to enjoy this story, but the series is definitely HIGHLY recommended. Cari and Taryn write characters you come to love and want to call your own.

While the story focused on Nick and Lila, all the guys (and gals...and kidlets) from the series were there. If you haven't read the other books, seeing these characters will make you want to pick up the rest of the series.

Loved. It.
Profile Image for Janice Somers.
849 reviews35 followers
December 23, 2015
Lost in Oblivion continues with the Holidays.
Nick hasn't even started shopping for his gifts, so he makes Jazz go with him to the Mall.
The group is at the height of fun for Christmas. Nick and Lila have their sexy reconnection. I can't wait for the next book, Fused, in January. This is such a fun and sexy read.
Oh, and Santa even makes an appearance.
Cari and Taryn have made the Holiday reading list of "I have to read this now." So you can't go wrong with this book.
5 stars for a great read
Profile Image for Julie Barrett.
9,235 reviews206 followers
December 28, 2015
Gifted (Rockstar Christmas Romance) (Lost in Oblivion, 4.2
Adult language with each having their own chapter to talk about Christmas.
Nick starts out hoping this year will be different, maybe spend time with family or a girl.
He prepares by shopping for the band members and his girl-well she's not even divorced yet...
Next chapter is from Lila and she's so into Nick but can't lead him on....she knows where he was shopping for her gift...
Hot steamy sex and the next scenes will be in the next book.
Profile Image for Anita Byars.
1,437 reviews13 followers
January 20, 2016
A Fantastic novella for the Xmas season.
Thanks to Cari Quinn and Taryn Elliot for a great Xmas story that was Gifted to us all about the band Oblivion, their partners and children. This is written in dual POV from Nick and Lila. Really enjoyed Nick and Jazz's banter while doing Nick's last minute Christmas shopping. Lol moments with these two.
Loved the reconnect between Nick and Lila - so Sexy, Hot and Tender. Can't wait to see what happens with these two amazing characters in Fused. Anxiously awaiting !!!!
1,368 reviews
December 22, 2015
I really love this series by Cari Quinn and Taryn Elliott and they gave us a wonderful holiday story with Gifted. It was great to see Nick and Lila together again if only for one steamy night. These two have incredible chemistry and I'm really looking forward to seeing them get their happy ending. I also loved seeing everyone else as they celebrated Christmas especially Nick's gift giving which made me laugh. This is a must-read book and series for fans of rockstar romance.
Profile Image for lovestoread.
969 reviews12 followers
January 4, 2016
Nicky!!!! Such love. "Make him get his dick pierced!" Sums it up right there. Cari & Taryn have successfully kept the flow going in this LIO series. It is fantastic. If you have not read it...you have to! It is such a joy to read about this group of musicians and their significant others. There is always something to make you stop and Laugh Out Loud! I love Nick - have right from the start. I can't wait to see where it all ends. Taryn & Cari are authors who are gold writing together.
650 reviews1 follower
December 20, 2015
what a great little Christmas Lost in Oblivion novella. the gang is all together and funny as all get out. Lila and Nick's story continues, it's great that they got to spend Xmas together and that their bond is strong and their chemistry too. it's a good lead in to Fused which I cannot wait for. great job as usual ladies!
Profile Image for Book Snob Sue.
1,420 reviews137 followers
March 2, 2016
Love this entire series. Glad Nick & Lila spent Christmas together. Nick was originally my least favorite character of the band but I think at this point he has become one of my favorites. I love the way he is with Lila, his passion for her and his loyalty....they are definitely one of my 2 favorite couples in the series. Can't wait to read their final book in February.
Profile Image for Staci.
449 reviews8 followers
January 2, 2016
Another great Oblivion story! This story is set at Christmas and focuses on Nick and Lila, although everyone else shows up in there as well. I loved the whole story and enjoyed how there was a part from Nick's side and one from Lila's. I can't wait to see where the story between these two goes next.
Profile Image for Nancy.
1,141 reviews39 followers
February 9, 2016
Having been apart for days, both Lila and Nick are hoping for a Christmas miracle. Lila is joining the band for Christmas Eve at the band house. Gifted shows the band in a funny, light holiday mood. From the dinner, the gift giving, Nick's "logic", and Santa's visit you have one festive memorable evening with Oblivion.
Profile Image for Mairim Santos.
71 reviews4 followers
December 18, 2015
Good Ol' Saint Nick...I loved this tease for my Oblivion addiction! Oblivion's Christmas was filled with their humor, dirty words, & a very sexy gift exchange between Nick & Lila. I cannot wait to read Fused. I love the Oblivion series!
Profile Image for Elizabeth.
1,158 reviews1 follower
December 30, 2015
Awww so intimately beautiful. This was an awesome glimpse into what a Holiday celebration with the group is like. Especially when you let go of all the BS the bands been through. I also will never look at pearls the same way ;)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 47 reviews

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