Review ~ Shameless ~ Lisa Renee Jones #ShelfLove

Shameless by Lisa Renee Jones
White Lies Duet #2
Release Date: July 11, 2017
Genre: Adult, Contemporary Romance, Romantic Suspense
Source: Purchased on Kindle
Rating: 4 Bookworms
Challenges: #ShelfLove, #TravelingtotheTerminus
Goodreads

Synopsis
Nick "Tiger" Rogers, sought out Faith Winter with revenge as his agenda. He made her his obsession. He seduced her. He made her want him. He made her trust him. And then he trusted her. He wanted her. He loved her.
But now, the lies will be exposed, the truth revealed.
Hearts will be broken. Lives shattered.
Nick. Faith.
The truth. The passion.
The SHAMELESS obsession.

This final installment in the White Lies Duet was exciting, suspenseful, and steamy...things LRJ excels at! =) The reveal wasn't quite what I was expecting but I still enjoyed Faith and Nick's story.

Shameless picks up where Provocative left off with Nick trying to unravel the connection between his father and Faith's mother, Faith trying to hang on to the winery while also focusing on her painting, and both Nick and Faith trying to earn and give the trust needed to build a lasting relationship. Add to that the possible danger posed by whomever is trying to push Faith out of the winery and you can see where suspense and excitement abound!

My favorite part was watching as the romance blossomed between Nick and Faith though. They each fell pretty quickly and certainly weren't planning on it. But they each had some baggage to attend to in order to reach the place they were headed. Nick had the hardest time since he was asking Faith for trust and honesty while keeping a secret from her. Granted it was necessary but he knew once he revealed it, it might cause irrevocable damage. Faith didn't want to give up control and that, of course, caused many sparks since Nick is an alpha male. I was grateful for the dual POV because it allowed me to be privy to the thoughts of both Faith and Nick and getting Nick's thoughts was often illuminating. And, of course, there's the steam factor. LRJ writes some fabulous steam but also balances it with a meaty story. 

My second favorite thing was the art. LRJ wonderfully conveyed the detail, color, etc., of the art - both Faith's and Chris's. That I got to spend some time with Chris and Sara (from the Inside Out series) was also a bonus. 

The reveal was the only thing that didn't make me squee. I was expecting more I guess and it all was revealed rather quickly and it fizzled a little. Overall though, I was wholly satisfied with Shameless. And I'm trying to figure out how to incorporate more LRJ into my reading diet. :)

Review ~ Forsaken ~ Lisa Renee Jones #COYER #TravelingtotheTerminus

Forsaken by Lisa Renee Jones
The Secret Life of Amy Benson #3
Release Date: August 18, 2015
Genre: Adult, Contemporary Romance, Romantic Suspense
Source: Library
Rating: 4.5 Bookworms
Challenges: #COYER
Goodreads

Synopsis
In this third book in the sexy, suspenseful "The Secret Life of Amy Bensen" series from New York Times bestselling author Lisa Renee Jones, we meet Amy's brother Chad--and the woman who either loves him or wants him dead.

Six years ago, Chad's hunt for a dangerous treasure turned deadly when his family home was set on fire, his parents killed. Faking his and his sister Amy's death to protect her from further retaliation, he set her up in a new life with a friend's help, letting her believe he'd died.

But now the men who hired Chad to find the treasure have found him, imprisoning and torturing him to learn where it's hidden. A dark-haired beauty named Gia helps him escape, promising him access to his worst enemy. And as he tries to unravel the deep secrets of the past, he starts falling for her...only to discover she's not what she seems.

Unable to trust anyone, Chad focuses on only two things: protecting his sister Amy and getting revenge. Is love even possible in the midst of heartache?

I admit I was worried going into this installment because of the POV change. I needn't have worried though. LRJ pulled me right into the story with a tight grip on my throat.

Forsaken stars Chad, Amy's brother, whom Amy believed was dead. When we meet him, he's being held captive by the very people who've been hunting Amy. Chad may or may not have something these bad people want very badly. He's resigned himself to dying when help arrives in the form of one gorgeous woman.

I quite enjoyed the action and suspense of Forsaken. It was a thrill ride not knowing whom Chad could trust, the revelations of all that'd happened to lead up to Amy's having to be on the run, what'd happened since, and how Gia, Chad's savior, fit into it all.

That LRJ could make me root for Chad after the things he'd gotten into was something but I realized at some point that he'd been just a kid really and had gotten in over his head. Gia, I adored. She's smart, witty, and it was exciting to watch her, as well as Chad, put pieces of the puzzle together and find a way to keep everyone safe.

Forsaken was a thrilling ending to the The Secret Life of Amy Bensen series. I know there's still a novella to read though and I'll make haste in getting to it. :)

Review ~Infinite Possibilities ~ Lisa Renee Jones #COYER

Infinite Possibilities by Lisa Renee Jones
The Secret Life of Amy Benson #2
Release Date: July 7, 2015
Genre: Adult, Contemporary Romance, Romantic Suspense
Source: Library
Rating: 4.5 Bookworms
Challenges: #COYER
Goodreads

Synopsis
Secrets and lies. They are everywhere: haunting her, tormenting her. In the midst of it all, he'd been her escape, her passion. The only person she'd trusted in six years. And then he'd made her doubt that trust, cutting her deeply. But as she'd once told him, she was damaged, not broken. She is ready to fight and not just for survival. She is fighting for the truth and she won't stop until she has it, not even for...him.

I couldn't wait to dive into book #2 of this series but I have to admit to being the slightest bit disappointed. It was only slight though.

Amy, after overhearing something that made her doubt, is on the run again. She wants to get all the answers she needs and deserves once and for all. Liam, however, isn't going to give her up without a fight. Luckily it's not a fight Amy's really interested in taking on because there are a few new players on the field and deciding who to trust - if anyone - is Amy's main goal, especially when it's revealed that something she's believed since she went into hiding may not be true.

Liam, for his part, is determined to show Amy he's the one to trust and put her faith in. He has the resources and connections to help Amy find her answers as well as keep her safe. If he can erase her doubt, that's exactly what he plans to do. 

LRJ delivers another smolderingly hot installment for Amy and Liam coupled with some nail-biting suspense. I was as eager to get answers as Amy was and the revelations made while getting them were shocking. My disappointment came as a result of how long it took for things to develop. Amy and Liam seemed to spin their wheels longer than I'd have liked but once they got traction, the story took off. I was also mildly let down at the ease in which a few things were resolved.

However, I'm chomping at the bit to continue the story!

Review ~ Escaping Reality ~ Lisa Renee Jones #BloggerShame #COYER #ShelfLove

Escaping Reality by Lisa Renee Jones
The Secret Life of Amy Benson #1
Release Date: May 5, 2015
Genre: Adult, Contemporary Romance, Romantic Suspense
Source: I received a complimentary copy from Gallery Books via Netgalley. This did not affect my rating and my review is provided voluntarily.
Rating: 5 Bookworms
Challenges: #BloggerShame, #COYER, #ShelfLove
Goodreads

Synopsis
Infinite possibilities...
Infinite passion...
Infinite danger...

His touch spirals through me, warm and sweet, wicked and hot. I shouldn't trust him. I shouldn't tell him my secrets. But how do I not when he is the reason I breathe? He is what I need.

At the young age of eighteen, tragedy and a dark secret force Lara to flee all she has known and loves to start a new life. Now years later, with a new identity as Amy, she's finally dared to believe she is forgotten--even if she cannot forget. But just when she lets down her guard, the ghosts of her past are quick to punish her, forcing her back on the run.

On a plane, struggling to face the devastation of losing everything again and starting over, Amy meets Liam Stone, a darkly entrancing recluse billionaire, who is also a brilliant, and famous, prodigy architect. A man who knows what he wants and goes after it. And what he wants is Amy. Refusing to take "no" as an answer, he sweeps her into a passionate affair, pushing her to her erotic limits. He wants to possess her. He makes her want to be possessed. Liam demands everything from her, accepting nothing less. But what if she is too devastated by tragedy to know when he wants more than she should give? And what if there is more to Liam that meets the eyes?

Why have I not read all of LRJ? Seriously!! She gives good romantic suspense - or however you want to classify her - and believe me when I tell you, I will be procuring the rest of this Amy Benson series. SOON! *wink*

The title is ironic for Amy since she's not always certain what her reality is...who she is. But I suppose that *is* her reality. She's a strong, capable young woman who's been running and hiding most of her life. She has someone helping her but she doesn't know or doesn't remember who. This latest run, that we witness, brings her into contact with someone she doesn't want to leave. It also has her asking questions and looking for answers.

Liam seems a good guy - genuine and compassionate. But I can't help but wonder about him and his motives. I want to believe in him though. 

I have so many questions - even now as I write this review several days after finishing, I'm wondering did this scene have more significance that I originally though. Is this character someone Amy should consider dangerous? Who is Amy really? And is she going to figure out what's been going on in her life? Who's been pulling her strings?

Escaping Reality was riveting. I couldn't read fast enough. LRJ kept me guessing all the while developing these characters that I'm completely invested in. I can't wait to find out what happens next!

New Release Review ~ Provocative ~ Lisa Renee Jones #2017NewRelease

Provocative by Lisa Renee Jones
White Lies Duet #1
Release Date: April 16, 2017
Genre: Adult, Contemporary Romance, Romantic Suspense
Source: I received a complimentary copy from the publisher via Netgalley. This did not affect my rating and my review is voluntarily provided.
Rating: 4.5 Bookworms
Challenges: #2017NewRelease
Goodreads

Synopsis
There are those moments in life that are provocative in their very existences, that embed in our minds forever, and sometimes our very souls. They change us, mold us, maybe even save us. But some are darker, dangerous. If we allow them to, they control us. Seduce us. Quite possibly even destroy us.

The moment I walked into Sonoma's Reid Winter Winery and Vineyard and made eye contact with Faith Winter for the first time was one of those moments. Provocative because I know at least one of her secrets, of which, I suspect she has many. Provocative because she believes I was a stranger to her when we met, but I am not. Provocative because I sought her out, with no intention of touching her. But now I have. Now I want her. Now I have to have her. But that changes nothing. It doesn't change why I came for her.

Wow. I'd forgotten how much I enjoy LRJ's writing. Why haven't I read more? Well, that's beside the point. She gives great contemporary romance with a side of mystery and suspense. Oh, and heat. My goodness the HEAT! After finishing Provocative, I immediately pre-ordered Shameless, book #2. Yep.

Nick Rogers and Faith Winter meet under conspicuous circumstances. He's come seeking her out and finds her in a rather embarrassing situation. This situation throws a wrench in Nick's plans - not only because he feels the need to help Faith but also because it makes him question his reasons for seeking her out in the first place. As these two become more and more entangled, more and more questions arise - for Nick, for Faith, and for the reader.

Both Nick and Faith are very compelling characters. Nick with his confidence and control, Faith in her vulnerability and vacillation between her dreams and what she feels is her duty. And the chemistry between them is electric!

The dual POV is the perfect format for this story. One of the things I found most riveting was that although Nick has his secrets - things he's hiding from Faith - we are privy to them. We get a glimpse inside his head and we see some of what's behind his motivations. Faith, on the other hand, has things she's hiding but I have no clue as to what her secrets are. And she's all the more interesting because of that. I'm also fascinated with how LRJ gets into their heads - the psychology behind their personalities. Nick and Faith have definitely been affected by their upbringing - their parents and their parents' relationships. This added so much depth to them both.

What can I say? I'm chomping at the bit for Shameless! I can't wait to have all my questions answered.

**Traveling to the Terminus Review ~ Being Me ~ Lisa Renee Jones**

***Traveling to the Terminus***

Ever since reading Twilight, I've been a series reader. I somehow got into too many series though and am behind on more than I count. One thing I challenged myself to do this year in reading is to catch up on some of them. I will be posting reviews of these books under the post title Traveling to the Terminus. (yes, I wracked my poor brain trying to come up with something bookworm-y and witty...my oldest daughter came up with the name!) 

Here's my first effort towards that self-challenge: The Inside Out Trilogy by Lisa Renee Jones. 

This is a series that I sooo wanted to keep up on, but, of course, haven't for whatever reason. I reviewed If I Were You over a year and a half ago (you can read my review here) and just now read Being Me. And then went to Lisa's website to see that she suggests reading two of Rebecca's novellas in between. *sigh* Well, I'll get back to those but here are my thoughts on Being Me. And by the way, I really hope to catch up on this series soon!

***

Being Me by Lisa Renee Jones
Inside Out Trilogy #2
Genre: Contemporary Romance/Suspense
Release Date: June 11, 2013
Source: I purchased a copy from Amazon
Rating: 4.5 Bookworms

Synopsis
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?

Being Me was a thrilling and satisfying sequel. Not only was I once again fascinated with Sara's story but I reveled in the storytelling. Ms. Jones' lush prose creates a visceral reading experience.

Sara and Chris continue growing closer even as Sara questions her continual avoidance of removing all secrets between them. Of course, Chris is doing some avoiding of his own. And I, believing honesty is the best policy, wished they'd both clear the air between them. Some revelations are made on each side and I was thankful for that. However, Chris is still hiding the darkest part of himself.

The disappearance of Rebecca is still a key element to Sara's story and Chris aids Sara in the investigation. Everything seems to lead to dead ends though. This mystery provides added tension to the story not only because of wondering over who and/or what happened to Rebecca, but also because of the danger posed to Sara for looking into it.

I think the underlying theme to Being Me is whether or not love is enough - enough to help people understand and accept flows, enough to allows such a trust that you'd be willing to make yourself vulnerable by exposing all parts of yourself. It's an intriguing question and one I'm enjoying reading about as Sara and Chris try to answer it for themselves.

Being Me was a beautifully written, well-paced, and enormously satisfying follow up. It's ending is a cliffhanger of sorts, although not as suspenseful as that of the first installment. And since I waited so long to read this one, the last of the trilogy has already been released. So no waiting to continue. :) I really do find myself hoping Sara and Chris find the answers they're looking for and that those answers lead them to one another.