Being Me by Lisa Renee Jones

Being Me (Inside Out #2)
by Lisa Renee Jones
Published: June 2013

The sexy second installment in the Inside Out erotic romance trilogy, following If I Were You—in the seductive tradition of Fifty Shades of Grey.

Fascinated by the dark fantasies in the journals she’s discovered, and the two men who have now found a place in her life, Sara McMillan finds herself torn between her new life and her past. Now, more than ever, Sara identifies with the lost journal writer, Rebecca, and is certain that something sinister has happened.

In the arms of the sexy, tormented artist Chris Merit, Sara seeks answers about Rebecca and ends up discovering things about herself she never knew existed. Chris forces Sara to reconsider who she is and what she truly wants from life, but not before his dark desires threaten to tear them apart. Her boss, Mark Compton, offers her the shelter to understand just what those needs mean to her, and what they might have meant to Rebecca, but can she trust him to lead her to a final conclusion to Rebecca’s story?

Goodreads * Amazon

My review:

Excellent second book in the Inside Out series. In Being Me, the story picks up right where it left off in If I Were You. Sara is still searching for answers about Rebecca while trying to secure a more than temporary position in her dream career in the art field. Sara continues to be unsure about her relationship with the sexy artist, Chris, and she still has conflicting vibes from her new boss, Mark. In searching for answers about Rebecca, she is leaving her old life behind and entering an unfamiliar world, and she soon learns that sometimes people are not what they appear to be on the outside.

In Being Me, a lot of the unanswered questions from If I Were You are finally discovered, but many more questions pop up. I typically don't appreciate cliffhanger books, but I think Lisa Renee Jones has done an excellent job of grabbing the reader's interest and pulling us along with Sara on her exploration of the new and unexpected. I have enjoyed both books so far, and I am excited to see what is going to happen next. If you enjoyed If I Were You (which you must read first to fully appreciate this one), you will definitely want to read Being Me.

A copy was provided for review.

About the author:

New York Times and USA Today Bestselling author Lisa Renee Jones is the author of the highly acclaimed INSIDE OUT SERIES, and is now in development by Suzanne Todd (Alice in Wonderland, Austin Powers, Must Love Dogs) for cable TV. In addition, her Tall, Dark and Deadly series and The Secret Life of Amy Bensen series, both spent several months on a combination of the NY Times and USA Today lists.

Since beginning her publishing career in 2007, Lisa has published more than 40 books translated around the world. Booklist says that Jones suspense truly sizzles with an energy similar to FBI tales with a paranormal twist by Julie Garwood or Suzanne Brockmann.

Prior to publishing, Lisa owned multi-state staffing agency that was recognized many times by The Austin Business Journal and also praised by Dallas Women Magazine. In 1998 LRJ was listed as the #7 growing women owned business in Entrepreneur Magazine.

  

Find out more at LisaReneeJones.com.

    

If I Were You by Lisa Renee Jones

If I Were You (Inside Out #1)
by Lisa Renee Jones
Published August 2012

How it all started…

One day I was a high school teacher on summer break, leading a relatively uneventful but happy life. Or so I told myself. Later, I’d question that, as I would question pretty much everything I knew about me, my relationships, and my desires. It all began when my neighbor thrust a key to a storage unit at me. She’d bought it to make extra money after watching some storage auction show. Now she was on her way to the airport to elope with a man she barely knew, and she needed me to clear out the unit before the lease expired.

Soon, I was standing inside a small room that held the intimate details of another woman’s life, feeling uncomfortable, as if I was invading her privacy. Why had she let these items so neatly packed, possessions that she clearly cared about deeply, be lost at an auction? Driven to find out by some unnamed force, I began to dig, to discover this woman’s life, and yes, read her journals—-dark, erotic journals that I had no business reading. Once I started, I couldn’t stop. I read on obsessively, living out fantasies through her words that I’d never dare experience on my own, compelled by the three men in her life, none of whom had names. I read onward until the last terrifying dark entry left me certain that something had happened to this woman. I had to find her and be sure she was okay.

Before long, I was taking her job for the summer at the art gallery, living her life, and she was nowhere to be found. I was becoming someone I didn’t know. I was becoming her.

The dark, passion it becomes…

Now, I am working at a prestigious gallery, where I have always dreamed of being, and I’ve been delivered to the doorstep of several men, all of which I envision as one I’ve read about in the journal. But there is one man that will call to me, that will awaken me in ways I never believed possible. That man is the ruggedly sexy artist, Chris Merit, who wants to paint me. He is rich and famous, and dark in ways I shouldn’t find intriguing, but I do. I so do. I don’t understand why his dark side appeals to me, but the attraction between us is rich with velvety promises of satisfaction. Chris is dark, and so are his desires, but I cannot turn away. He is damaged beneath his confident good looks and need for control, and in some way, I feel he needs me. I need him.

All I know for certain is that he knows me like I don’t even know me, and he says I know him. Still, I keep asking myself — do I know him? Did he know her, the journal writer, and where is she? And why doesn’t it seem to matter anymore? There is just him and me, and the burn for more.

Goodreads * Amazon

My review:

If I Were You is so hot it sizzles. When Sara begins reading journals that were found in a storage locker, she wants to find the woman who wrote them so she can return her things. However, in the process of trying to find Rebecca, Sara goes from a quiet, no-frills teacher to taking over Rebecca's job at a prestigious art gallery. She is finally living her dream of working in the art field, and making a huge income to go along with it. But Sara soon finds herself doing things she never thought she would.

If you like erotic romantic suspense, I highly recommend this book, but my recommendation comes with a warning. This has a huge cliffhanger ending. When purchasing If I Were You, you might as well pick up the next book at the same time because you will want to jump right in to continue the story.

A copy was provided for review.

About the author:

New York Times and USA Today Bestselling author Lisa Renee Jones is the author of the highly acclaimed INSIDE OUT SERIES, and is now in development by Suzanne Todd (Alice in Wonderland, Austin Powers, Must Love Dogs) for cable TV. In addition, her Tall, Dark and Deadly series and The Secret Life of Amy Bensen series, both spent several months on a combination of the NY Times and USA Today lists.

Since beginning her publishing career in 2007, Lisa has published more than 40 books translated around the world. Booklist says that Jones suspense truly sizzles with an energy similar to FBI tales with a paranormal twist by Julie Garwood or Suzanne Brockmann.

Prior to publishing, Lisa owned multi-state staffing agency that was recognized many times by The Austin Business Journal and also praised by Dallas Women Magazine. In 1998 LRJ was listed as the #7 growing women owned business in Entrepreneur Magazine.

  

Find out more at LisaReneeJones.com.

 

Holly's Wishes by Karen Pokras

Holly's Wishes by Karen Pokras
Published: July 1, 2014
by Grand Daisy Press

Holly Haines first met Ben Oakes when she was just sixteen years old. For Holly, it was love at first kiss—at least in her sixteen year old mind. Sadly though, Ben didn’t seem quite as interested. When a chance meeting reunites them ten years later, Holly discovers he had feelings for her all along. But not everything is as simple as it seems when she realizes they can’t be together. Was fate playing a cruel joke on them, or will Holly find a way to make all her wishes come true?

Goodreads * Amazon

My review:

Holly thinks her life is going along fine. Sure, her long time live-in boyfriend still hasn't proposed to her, but she is positive it is just a matter of time until he does. After her first love reappears, Holly begins to question her relationship with Jared and wonders if he is ever going to grow up and become more responsible. But Ben is unavailable anyway, so she thinks she has to settle for being friends and considering what could have been.

Holly's Wishes is an excellent example of a good series book. The focus is on Holly's story and the main story line is wrapped up nicely in the end; however, we still see details of both Ava and Tess sprinkled throughout which ties all the books together nicely in the Whispered Wishes series. Ms. Pokras showed with this book as well as Ava's Wishes that she is a natural at writing this genre. Her characters are well-developed and the plot lines are engaging.

If you like sweet romantic chick-lit/women's fiction, you will enjoy Holly's Wishes and the Whispered Wishes series.

Copy was provided by the author, but I was not required to write a review.

About the author:

Karen Pokras writes adult contemporary and middle grade fiction under the names Karen Pokras and Karen Pokras Toz. Her books have won several awards including two Readers’ Favorite Book Awards, the Grand Prize in the Purple Dragonfly Book Awards, as well as placing first for two Global E-Book Awards for Pre-Teen Literature. Karen is a member of the Society of the Children's Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI). For children, her books include the Nate Rocks series, Millicent Marie is Not My Name, and Pie and Other Brilliant Ideas. For adult readers, Karen’s books include Chasing Invisible, and her soon to be released, Whispered Wishes series. A native of Connecticut, Karen now lives outside of Philadelphia with her family.  

Find out more at KarenPokras.com.

      

Just Destiny by Theresa Rizzo

Just Destiny by Theresa Rizzo
Published: March 2014

What would you do if your whole world fell apart?

Jenny Harrison made some poor choices in the past, but marrying Gabe was the best thing she’d ever done. They had the perfect marriage, until a tragic accident leaves Gabe brain dead and her world in ruins.

Devastated by grief, she decides to preserve the best of their love by conceiving his child, but Gabe’s family is adamantly opposed, even willing to chance exposing long-held family secrets to stop her. Caught in a web of twisted motives and contentious legal issues, Jenny turns to best friend and attorney, Steve Grant. Steve wants to help Jenny, but he has reservations and secrets of his own.

When something so private and simple turns public and complicated, will Jenny relent? What is Steve willing to sacrifice to help Jenny?

Goodreads * Amazon

My Review:

Just Destiny is emotional and heartbreaking. Whether you agree with Jenny's choices are not, this story forces you to think about what you would do if your world was suddenly turned upside down and you lost just about everything. Jenny chooses the path that she feels she needs to piece her life back together, and thankfully, she has some great friends and family to help her. Theresa Rizzo has managed to effectively portray a devastating tragedy and the emotional aftermath, and my heart went out to Jenny more than once during some particularly heart-tugging scenes. If you like contemporary women's fiction that makes you reach for the tissues, I would definitely recommend this one.

Copy was provided for a review.

About the author:

Theresa Rizzo is an award-winning author who writes emotional stories that explore the complexity of relationships and families through real-life trials. Born and raised in Grosse Pointe, Michigan, she now lives outside of Boulder, Colorado with her husband of thirty years. 

Learn more at theresarizzo.com.    

Ava's Wishes by Karen Pokras

Ava's Wishes by Karen Pokras
Published May 26, 2014
by Grand Daisy Press

Ava Haines had big plans for her life. Her short-term goals included passing Statistics (on the third try), graduating college on time, and securing a job in the art gallery on Main Street. Her long-term goal was to one day own an art gallery of her very own. Oh sure, she would some day like to fall in love and get married, but all of that was secondary to making sure her other goals were in line. Fellow student Max Wallis and esteemed photographer Thomas Malloy were just minor distractions she was more than capable of handling. She was entitled to a little fun once in a while, right? However, as reality takes a tumble, Ava begins to wonder if she really can manage it all. Will all her wishes come true?

Goodreads * Amazon

My Review:

All Ava was worried about was passing her statistics class so that she could graduate and get a job. She wasn't looking for a relationship. But life had other plans for Ava because suddenly there are two men in her life. While I had a feeling early on that something was just not quite right with one of them, I was completely shocked at the plot twist. Sometimes things are not what they appear to be.   

Ava's Wishes is an excellent first book in a new series, Whispered Wishes. Karen Pokras, who has also published middle-grade books as Karen Pokras Toz, seems to be a natural at chick-lit. I was very impressed with how Ms. Pokras provided enough of a glimpse at Ava's two sisters to make readers already interested in reading their stories while still keeping the focus of this book on Ava. 

If you enjoy sweet chick-lit stories with clean romance then this book is a good choice, and I would definitely recommend it.

Copy was provided for review.

About the author:

Karen Pokras writes adult contemporary and middle grade fiction under the names Karen Pokras and Karen Pokras Toz. Her books have won several awards including two Readers’ Favorite Book Awards, the Grand Prize in the Purple Dragonfly Book Awards, as well as placing first for two Global E-Book Awards for Pre-Teen Literature. Karen is a member of the Society of the Children's Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI). For children, her books include the Nate Rocks series, Millicent Marie is Not My Name, and Pie and Other Brilliant Ideas. For adult readers, Karen’s books include Chasing Invisible, and her soon to be released, Whispered Wishes series. A native of Connecticut, Karen now lives outside of Philadelphia with her family.  

Find out more at KarenPokras.com.