OUTSIDER is book two in Olivia Cunning's "Exodus End" rock star-themed series. OUTSIDER is the spin-off of Olivia Cunning's book DOUBLE TIME, from the "Sinners on Tour" series, in which Trey Mills first meets and falls in love with Reagan Elliot and her ex- boyfriend Ethan Conner. Reading these two books in the correct order is imperative. DOUBLE TIME introduces Ethan and Reagan and shows the start of a grand love affair between three people, but OUTSIDER digs deep and explores the complexities of three amazing characters and their capacity to love. Olivia Cunning does a fantastic job of giving each of the three main characters a unique voice while showing what a unique bond they develop.

Like with many rock star themed romances, the manager in OUTSIDER is a clear villain and one of the roadblocks to the main characters finding happiness. OUTSIDER is also a lot more complicated than that, and the characters also struggle with some inner demons. Ethan becomes a much more interesting and multifaceted character in this book than when he was first introduced. In OUTSIDER, readers see Ethan's family and get a feel for what drives him and what he fears. Ethan is a source of strength and support for both Reagan and Trey in different ways. Trey has had almost an idyllic family life compared to Reagan and Ethan. It's great getting to know Trey's mom and dad, and the relationships they form with both of Trey's lovers are very uplifting, sweet, and a ray of sunshine in a story full of emotional turmoil at times. Trey's heart- to-hearts with his amazing brother, and fellow rock star, Dare are some of my favorite scenes in OUTSIDER, and have me chomping at the bit to read Dare's story. Olivia Cunning does a superb job of describing the ways in which Reagan is deeply conflicted in OUTSIDER. Part of her wants to do what she wants, and what she believes is best for her, and just concentrate on the music. Reagan is being attacked on several fronts. Apart from struggling with the need to gain her father's approval, as wells as facing her innermost feelings of self-doubt, Reagan has to deal with the artificiality that comes with celebrity, and the scrutiny and daily lambasting by the press for having a polyamorous relationship with two men.

I normally don't read romances with sex scenes involving more than two people, and the idea of a romantic love relationship between three people would normally strike me as absurd and a contradiction in terms. Despite my initial reservations, the relationship between Trey, Reagan, and Ethan that started in DOUBLE TIME and flourishes in OUTSIDER blows me away. The combination of eroticism and commitment by the characters is a heady mix. As I was reading OUTSIDER, I was rooting for all three characters to settle their issues and to triumph over their naysayers. OUTSIDER is not a book for readers who are squeamish about sex scenes, as there are many and they are very detailed. For those who love good erotica, Olivia Cunning skillfully weaves together sensual touches to create extremely hot love scenes. Part of what makes these scenes so fabulous and able to keep the reader's interest, is the way they are tailored so specifically for the characters and the mood they are feeling at that given moment.

OUTSIDER by Olivia Cunning is an incredibly compelling and outstanding character-driven drama with a decadent and delicious erotic love story. The more I got glimpses of Reagan's band mates, Max and Steve, the more I found myself intrigued and look forward to their stories in the near future. Hooray for OUTSIDER and hooray for Exodus End!