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Inside Out #3.1

His Secrets

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An Inside Out story, Chris's POV

In a world where my only escape has been my art, Sara has been the light in my darkness. And there is darkness, the kind of inky black that can bleed from my life to hers.

She doesn't see it. She doesn't understand what I've shown her. And my biggest fear is that soon...she will.

80 pages, Kindle Edition

First published February 24, 2014

111 people are currently reading
4958 people want to read

About the author

Lisa Renee Jones

372 books14.6k followers
New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Lisa Renee Jones is the author of the highly acclaimed INSIDE OUT series. Suzanne Todd (producer of Alice in Wonderland) on the INSIDE OUT series: Lisa has created a beautiful, complicated, and sensual world that is filled with intrigue and suspense. Sara’s character is strong, flawed, complex, and sexy - a modern girl we all can identify with.

In addition to the success of Lisa's INSIDE OUT series, she has published many successful titles. The TALL, DARK AND DEADLY series and THE SECRET LIFE OF AMY BENSEN series, both spent several months on a combination of the New York Times and USA Today bestselling lists. Lisa is presently working on a dark, edgy new series, Dirty Money, for St. Martin's Press.
Prior to publishing Lisa owned multi-state staffing agency that was recognized many times by The Austin Business Journal and also praised by the Dallas Women's Magazine. In 1998 Lisa was listed as the #7 growing women owned business in Entrepreneur Magazine.

Lisa loves to hear from her readers. You can reach her at www.lisareneejones.com and she is active on Twitter and Facebook daily.

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Displaying 1 - 30 of 372 reviews
Profile Image for Zandra .
318 reviews35 followers
February 2, 2014


Profile Image for Emily McGee.
392 reviews15 followers
February 24, 2014
This is an absolute MUST READ! If you love the Inside Out Series, you have to read this book. His Secrets picks up right before Chris and Sara head back to San Francisco. There is some time spent at the country home in Paris in which Sara and Chris finally get to spend some much needed time alone. All too quickly though, we are back in the world in which Chris must battle his demons at every turn. This is not a novella just to tide us over until the next book. This novella, told from Chris' POV, holds many key elements that will be present throughout the remainder of the series.

"The two of us are all kinds of fucked up that somehow equals perfect."
~Chris

Chris and Sara continue to battle with Chris' past in His Secrets. They flip back and forth between what is good for them and what they need, crave and desire. Amber, Isabel and Tristan all play a pivotal role in this story. We delve deeper into problems between all of the characters and hit breaking points for a few of them as well. There were parts where I wanted to smack someone, hug someone and cry for someone. His secrets was one of those books that stayed with me even after I was finished. I kept thinking about the characters and how what happened was going to effect them in the future. In true Inside Out style His Secrets was just as haunting and captivating as its predecessors.

"Then I pull back, praying I didn't just kiss her goodbye."
~Chris

For such a short read, this book is equal parts poignant and heart-warming. His Secrets opens up so many more roads that this story line can travel. I saw Chris finally have a breakthrough in making peace with his past but, he and Sara still have a very long road ahead of them. I'm not sure who was fooling themselves in this book. Was Sara being too naive about Chris' past? Or was Chris underestimating Sara's ability to handle the screwed-up not so distant past he had lead? Either way I am counting the days until my questions are answered, and I get more of Sara and Chris! I do have to stress that this book is a very vital part of what is to come in the Inside Out Series. What happens in Paris will probably not stay in Paris... Or maybe it will. Who knows? Ms. Jones creates new turns and twists with every word she writes so, there is no guessing what is to come from this magnificent series.
Happy Reading!
*ARC provided by the author/publisher in exchange for an honest review*
Profile Image for Lisa Jones.
Author 372 books14.6k followers
Read
April 25, 2022
Start the scorching and suspenseful Inside Out series for just $1.99 FOR A LIMITED TIME! Then binge read the entire series!

The story of my heart and soul is on sale! IF I WERE YOU, the first book in my Inside Out series is just $1.99 for a few days - if you haven't started the series yet, now is the perfect time to do so! The entire series is available now and complete! For those of you wondering about the Hollywood update, this has been what I call a champagne and roller coaster ride. We've been at Starz, Paramount, and more. We've been ready to cast. We were about to film a pilot when covid hit. So if you still want to see it made, remind everyone how much! Tell the world about the sale and share, share, share! Remind them this project is still important! TEN YEARS it's been in Hollywood with so many almost-there stories. I'd need a big drink to tell you all the ways it's ALMOST been done. I believe this series is the best I ever wrote and ever will write again because it's that special to me.

GET IF I WERE YOU FOR $1.99
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Audio: https://adbl.co/37ZS21h
Print: http://mybook.to/IOIfIWereYouP

Series page: https://www.lisareneejones.com/the-in...

ABOUT IF I WERE YOU
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.
Profile Image for Jessica Brandon.
202 reviews14 followers
January 31, 2014
His Secrets
Lisa Renee Jones

I give His Secrets 5 stars.

This ARC was given by Lisa Renee Jones in exchange for an honest review.

Chris and Sara met because of another woman's secrets. Rebecca's journals and secret thoughts are what intrigued Sara into the art world and led her to the love of her life, Chris. However, he has his own secrets and he is not sure if he can completely share them before they marry. Protecting those secrets are not to keep her from fearing him, but to protect her from who he really is and leaving him. He knows she is too good for him and he knows he is selfish for wanting to keep her. But will she stay??

Paris is how Chris is supposed to reveal all of his dark secrets thar are hidden in his dark soul. Sara thought they were all in the open after she learned about his involvement with Amber's parent's murder. He then proposes and Sara thought she knew everything about him. That is until hours they are to leave for the states, Tristan calls Chris and demands him to save Amber from Isabel's whippings. Like Chris, Amber must punish herself with pain for the loss of her parents. Only Chris can save Amber, and while saving her, he will probably lose Sara.

Sara insists that she rescue Amber too and to let her see his dark past. He knows he must let Sara into the past in order to keep her in the future. Before entering the club and revealing even more secrets that Sara did not know existed, Chris warns her, "But if you run, run fast. Because I’m going to come after you. That’s just the kind of bastard I can’t seem to help being.”

Chris's secrets, thoughts, and emotions are captured perfectly in his POV. He is ready to claim Sara and keep her even if she runs. Another well done story that begins to unwind all of the tangled pieces of the Inside Out Series. I loved reading this novella and enjoyed the epilogue that peeked into Mark's crazy world. Can't wait for His Hunger.......
Profile Image for KatLynne.
547 reviews596 followers
July 23, 2016
3.5 Hot Stars!

This novella is told from Chris' POV and gives the reader deeper insight concerning his fears. His true motive for bringing Sara to Paris is much more than what was revealed in the last installment, Revealing Us, and a few key elements presented will continue throughout the remainder of the series.

The reader is taken back to Paris where Chris and Sara are enjoying the last few days of bliss before returning home. A plot twist involving Amber throws a major kink in their plans and brings Chris' darkest concerns to the surface.

This is a very short read, yet Lisa’s trademark heat continues to blaze. And while the ending leaves a feeling of contentment, the appetite certainly wants more:)


Thank you Netgalley and Lisa Renee Jones for the ARC. It was a pleasure!
Profile Image for Carvanz.
2,384 reviews898 followers
October 8, 2019
This is a quick story of what happens right after Chris has proposed to Sarah. There is still moments of wavering between this couple, despite him asking her to marry him and her saying yes. I must admit that’s getting a bit old. Amber causes some huge drama here but it’s exactly what was needed for this couple to face the past and decide what they want for the future.

This is pretty angsty for such a short story, with lots of steam and plenty of drama. I was going to skip this, and while I didn’t really get a chance to see/feel completely, deeply, how Chris thinks/reacts to Sarah, it was enough to satisfy my hero POV loving heart.

Hero POV
Safe
Triggers
Profile Image for Natalie  ~ The Biblioholic.
2,713 reviews1,419 followers
June 13, 2016
I loved Chris. I wish the entire series was in his POV alone!!

This book was straight drama. It felt like Chris couldn't catch a damn break from his demons. Especially not with both Amber and Isabel trying to manipulate him. In this installment, Sara was really just along for the ride. I did feel bad for Amber because it was obvious that she was suffering, but she made her own choices. She was grown. Chris may not have been the best influence, but she chose to follow him. The consequences of her actions are hers alone and she needs to stop blaming him for everything!

Enjoy! xo
Profile Image for Renee Entress.
5,593 reviews78 followers
January 6, 2014
Lisa does not disappoint. Have to say when I looked at the amount of the pages I was upset it is very short....But you know Lisa she still manages to deliver spicy and passionite stories even on a few pages...

This is told in Chris's POV. You get a little more indepth look into Chris. You learn a little more about Amber and her pain. You still feel the pull with Chris and Sarah. You can feel Sarah's pain during parts of the story. You also feel Chris trying to shut her out at points. In the end will the love they have for each other really be enough to overcome the secrets that Chris has now revealed?

I wanted to smack Amber in this story and have a feeling Tristan wanted to also.
Profile Image for Vanessa.
Author 5 books110 followers
July 21, 2014
**FULL REVIEW**

“She’s the woman I love, whom I asked to marry me only hours before. I would have sworn I would never love like this, never risk loss, but I can no longer imagine life without Sara. I don’t even want to try.”

Sara has agreed to spend the rest of her life with Chris…but there are conditions. He has to finally open up to her and show her who he really is. And that means delving into the demons of his past that have somehow resurfaced in the worst possible way.

Now, Sara is going to see and witness far more than Chris had ever planned on her seeing…and he fears it will be just too much and push Sara over the edge. Problem is, he knows he doesn’t deserve her…but he just can’t let her go.

“I promised you that you’d understand me if you came to Paris. Tonight, I’m going to make sure you do.”

And what Sara learns could ultimately tear them apart…

“She steps to the window, hugging herself, the self-blame radiating off her, and I know I was right. Rebecca, and even the Ella situation, have influenced every interaction with Amber. She wants to save the world. I need to save her, right after I save Amber.”

Ahhhh, Amber. The one Chris harbors a guilt that cannot be extinguished…and the one he can no longer help. But he can help Sara, he can save her, keep her from the darkness that envelopes the ‘lifestyle’.

Little does he know, Sara is so much stronger than he ever thought. Ultimately it’s Sara who has to do the saving…

“Nothing I have shown her has made her withdraw or become anxious…I do see her. I see the fighter in her, the big heart. I see the woman I love.”

***

“’No in-between, Chris. You told me that. And I’m telling you that now.’ ‘No in-between, baby.’ I’m all in with Sara—and we’re about to find out where that leads us.”


Oh hell yeah! You know this is the perfect set up to the next installment of the Inside Out Series…we are finally, FINALLY going to get some answers! Of course, catching up with all the loose ends is part of the anticipation of the culmination I feel we will see in Book Four, No In Between. I just know, in true LRJ fashion, I will be kept guessing till the very end. I cannot wait!

**4 Covered in You Stars**
Profile Image for Rebecca Blankenship.
20 reviews1 follower
January 6, 2014
I was given this to read and give my honest review.

This book is apart of an amazing series called "Inside Out", must read all of the books first before reading Chris'POV.

This book is about Chris and the dark secrets he holds, his feelings, and you will learn about his pain. He takes the love of his life Sara to Paris to show her his painful dark secret but his fear is that it will tear them apart. He fears that Sara is not strong enough to hold what she is going thru plus what he is about to show her on her shoulders and still love him just as much as he loves her. Amber once again starts playing head games with Chris and Tristan but will her games get her what she wants, which is CHRIS? Will he finally say enough and choose Sara all the way and put his past behind him as he starts a new chapter of his life with Sara? Will the marriage proposal and the love between Chris and Sara be what saves them from his own hell? Or will what Sara sees and deals with be the last drawl and she leaves Chris for good? Buy the book and read it and you will find out the answers soon enough.
Profile Image for Christi Lofton.
408 reviews
March 4, 2014
Thanks to Lisa Renee Jones, I was able to read an ARC of this novella. I must say it was an awesome read! Being able to see inside that beautiful, troubled mind of Chris was amazing. The love between Chris and Sara was shown in even more detail. This is a great novella and I can't wait to read more of not only Chris & Sara, but also Mark. Great series! If you haven't read the series, then start with If I Were You now. If you are reading the series, then grab this one as soon as it comes out! You won't be disappointed!
Profile Image for Esra.
Author 50 books86 followers
December 29, 2017
Serinin devamında hikayeyi ve elbette ki kendisiyle ilgili bazı gerçekleri bu sefer de Chris'in ağzından dinliyoruz.
Fransa'da yaptığı teklifin ardından her şeyden uzak mutlu mesut yaşarlarken aldıkları telefonla işler yine sarpa sarıyor. Ve yine o gereksiz, saçma sapan kuruntular ortaya çıkıyor!

Rebecca'nın günlüklerini de okuyayım, ondan sonra Mark var! Çok heyecanlıyım!
Profile Image for Paris        (kerbytejas).
815 reviews160 followers
January 1, 2015


I've read all of the Inside out books, read all of Rebecca’s lost journals, and now I've read
His Secrets (Inside Out #3.1) by Lisa Renee Jones
. Unfortunately, I have to say this novella (page count unknown, but its short) was my least favorite.

I found the story line disjointed, the flow of the writing stiff and mechanical, and the character portrayal disappointing. These are character’s I've spent time with, they are far from perfect, they have problems, some more than others, but if this was my first exposure to them – I’d run. Even moments that should have or could have been touching between Chris and Sara had no feeling. I found the little snippets of sex between the couple very mechanical and unconvincing. The novella was just plain boring. The level of drama was high though, Chris feeling like he’s responsible for Amber’s need for the whip, Tristan not being able to control Amber, Isabel claiming Chris still needs to punish himself and will never escape that need, and Sara saying that she and Chris will overcome it all together.

I seriously can’t say much about this novella except it was disappointing. For me a 1 star read.

My thanks to NetGalley who provided the ARC on behalf of Gallery, Threshold, Pocket Books , Pocket Star, for an honest review.

Sold by:Simon and Schuster Digital Sales Inc with expected publication date of Pub Date Feb 24 2014
Profile Image for SammiesBookBlog.
543 reviews8 followers
January 4, 2014
I was given a copy for an honest review.

I've read this entire series and I loved it! to get to read some of the story from Chris's eyes. I loved! he is so complex and one of my favorite male characters, I just loved getting inside his head and seeing how he sees, feeling what he feels. How he takes care of and protects the people around him, Amber, Sara, I just love. He is one of the most amazing, intense and complex men out there. Of course he has many demons and past issues and Sara tries to break down those walls and it isn't easy to love Chris.
Sara is strong and I love her and commend her for all she has to go through. But she is always there for Chris and I love her to pieces. This part was intense, took you on a crazy ride of emotions, hurt, drama, suspense, it had it all! Lisa did not disappoint. You will have to read it to see what all goes down ;-) a great, short read. <3.

Some quotes I enjoyed.


"You aren't the this whip. We are not this whip."

"You, you make me stronger. You make me fight for me, and when I don't, you do it for me, and when I don't, you do it for me, the way I try to fight for you."

"I'm begging you to see me now. I love us and you. And I love where you take me, and what you make me feel."

"No in-between, baby."

Profile Image for Grace.
2,315 reviews114 followers
February 12, 2014
3 stars

STOP: Don't read this novella until you've read Revealing Us. This is Chris' secrets and his POV. It starts off where Revealing Us ends.

The bulk of this novella takes place over 1 night, the night before Chris & Sara leave Paris. Amber is back (grrrr) and Isabel (GRRRRRRRR). Chris reveals more about himself, and while his secrets are sad and worrisome, I feel like they were revealed before. There's a lot going on, but what I took away most from this book was how messed up both Amber & Isabel are. I hope we never see or hear from them again.

I think I didn't love this book like the rest of the series because I recently finished a BDSM book and I couldn't help but compare the two.

If you loved Revealed Us, then you'll love this one. If you didn't like that book, you can probably skip this novella.

But, there is a special reward at the end of the book. Looks like Mark is getting a novella, My Hunger, coming out in July!!!

*An ARC was received from the publisher via NetGalley for an honest review.
Profile Image for Elaine.
735 reviews7 followers
January 6, 2014
Of course Lisa wrote an amazing POV for Chris Merit. When he decided to take Sara to Paris he wanted to show her, his deepest, darkest secrets from his past because he wants to marry her, he has never loved like is before, never risk loss, but he can no longer live without her. He can't help but feel that his proposal was about his selfish need to have Sara in his life whether its good for her or not. With only hours before their flight, he gets a phone call about Amber from Tristan. She is at the club that is owned by Isabel, having the crap beaten out of her, WITH THE WHIP. Sara insisted on going with Chis, she ends up finding out his deepest, darkest secret's Keep up the good work Lisa. I think you are amazing.....
Profile Image for Joy Whiteside.
4,864 reviews112 followers
January 5, 2014
This was an amazing read. I could not stop reading it once I started and it took me away from my everyday life, and then when it was done it was back to reality.

It moved along at an amazing pace, has awesome characters and a story that keeps you entertained from the very first word all the way till the very last.

Lisa Renee Jones is an amazing author who I cannot get enough of. I am hooked on her writing and cannot get enough. I am really looking forward to reading more books by this exciting and amazing author.

Way to go.
Profile Image for Jennifer.
2,512 reviews86 followers
March 5, 2014
So good. I really enjoyed hearing Chris's voice. But what is with her and the last two pages being a cliff hanger. Again, really?!?!?!
Profile Image for Amy Collins.
153 reviews8 followers
January 5, 2014
#HisSecrets ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
#SexyAsHell #ChrisMerit
Another Hot Read!
Keep doing what U do!
Profile Image for Maureen.
121 reviews
November 9, 2019
I felt a bit like this book was Sara and Chris arguing. If Sara thought that she knew Chris's secrets when she found out his involvement in Amber's parent's murder she was deluded. Chris needs to save Amber, but by doing so he might lose Sara. Decisions.
Profile Image for ✰ Bianca ✰ BJ's Book Blog ✰ .
2,337 reviews1,340 followers
February 24, 2014

description

• Book #3.2 - My Hunger - will be out July 7
• Book #3.3 - My Control - September 8
• Book #4 - No in Between - August 19
• Book #5 - I Belong to You - no date yet

description

MY THOUGHTS

Chris is finally telling us his side of the story in this new Novella from the INSIDE OUT SERIES!


description

The book starts right where Revealing Us left off.
Remember? Chris just proposed to Sara in Paris. After he tried to keep his demons locked away - the demons that want to come out every year on the anniversary of Amber's parents' and his mother's deaths.
He didn't really kill those demons yet - maybe the proposal happened a bit too soon. But he just can't stand the thought of losing Sara too...of not being with her forever...

"The problem is I'm pretty damn sure that I'm not good for her. I'm just too fucking selfish and in love to walk away."


Everything could go back to as normal as possible - with the trial waiting back in California...but then they get a phone call about Tristan, Amber & Isabel...
and everything Chris hoped for is threatened again...

"Everything is fine - except it's not."


Will Sara still want him, once she knows the REAL Chris?
The Chris he tries to hide from the world?


I'm not telling you that of course ☺ it would totally spoil your reading pleasure ;)

description

I LOVED THE NOVELLA!!!

It was soooo horribly short :(
it's a novella - I knew that! But still :( it was Chris - I wish Lisa had written a 800-pages book in Chris's POV ☺

The novella was perfect though!

I have no idea how Lisa managed to write sooo much feelings and angst and suspense and emotions and sparkly erotic moments into such a short book!!!!?!

It was so amazing to finally read how Chris sees his world - how much he loves Sara - how much he wants to spend the rest of his life with her.
How scared he is to lose her - afraid that she won't be able to handle the real him...

"The two of us are all kinds of fucked up that somehow equals perfect."


I really enjoyed reading it. And yes, it took me way longer to create this blogpost than to read the book - but it was SO worth it ☺

at the end we even get a tiny little preview of the next book - My Hunger - Mark's POV ☺ YAY

description



check out our complete blog-review:
http://bjsbookblog2.blogspot.de/2014/...
Profile Image for Marleen.
671 reviews67 followers
February 23, 2014

““The painting isn’t about you getting covered in tats. I lower my voice. “It’s about you being covered in me.””

I don’t know what it is about Lisa Renee Jones but she always manages to touch me. This woman has a way with words that reaches some place inside me and evokes emotions. And that’s the reason this review will probably end up being more about the quotes than the story-line or my thoughts on it.

Unlike the main books in the ‘Inside Out’ series, in which we follow the story from Sara’s perspective, this novella is told in Chris’ voice.

Sara and Chris are still in France but getting ready to travel back to America and the trail for Rebecca’s murder. It seems that they have dealt with everything Chris felt he had to share with Sara better than he feared they would and have found a balance. Chris needs to be in control of his life and those who share it with him. Just as Sara needs somebody to hand control over to.

“I need this control. She needs a safe place to give it away.”

And now that Chris has asked Sara to marry him, and she has accepted his proposal, it seems that they may be able to look forward to a less turbulent future together once the deal with the issues still waiting for them back in America.

“I told you once that if you stayed with me, I’d own your body. Every last inch of it. Marriage seals that deal.”

Sara has seen all the damage pain can cause. She’s witnessed the need it can create in people and the turmoil resulting from that. And yet, she can’t resist the lure of sensual pain when Chris introduces her to it. She trusts her man, and while Chris isn’t sure how he earned that trust or that he deserves it, he can’t resist using it to enhance their relationship.

“There are two kinds of pain, Sara. Pain meant to create pleasure, and pain meant to be just pain. You’ll never know that kind with me. Never.”

As far as Sara is concerned Chris has shared his dark secrets with her and she’s discovered she can deal with them and still love him. Chris knows better though; there are still levels to his darkness that she isn’t fully aware of and while he’s ready to leave France behind without sharing them, his past isn’t ready to leave them alone. When Chris’ past intrudes on their happiness yet again, Chris wants to confront it on his own but Sara won’t let him. Chris is sure that once this last secret has been revealed to the woman he loves, she’ll leave him.

“But if you run, run fast. Because I’m going to come after you. That’s just the kind of bastard I can’t seem to help being.”

The scenes Sara is forced to witness are dark and disturbing and yet she doesn’t run. The real problem, as far as Sara is concerned, is not that Chris has darkness in his past or even that life can still trigger a reaction and need in him. What bothers her is that he doesn’t trust her to use her own judgement and doesn’t believe in her strength when it comes to dealing with everything he and his past can throw at her

“You told me to see you once before, Chris. I’m begging you to see me now. I love us and you. And I love where you take me, and what you make me feel.”

If I’m perfectly honest I have to say that this book didn’t add a lot to the story so far. There are no new revelations about Chris’ past, and I was expecting something along those lines. Having said that, I did enjoy this story and loved the opportunity to hear Chris’ voice. In fact, I’m enjoying these views from other character’s perspective so much that I’m sorry we don’t get more of them, or longer versions. Still I’m completely invested in this story and can’t wait until I can read more of it. Regardless of whose perspective it will be told from I know I’ll find myself engrossed in the story and collecting another set of quotes.
Profile Image for Jammie.
121 reviews14 followers
January 29, 2014
Ok, I know I love a lot of books, I get that but here we are again, I’ve been waiting on this book. I went on a LRJ reading extravaganza after I read one of Lisa’s books called Escaping Reality (The Secret Life of Amy Bensen). And it just sort of fell into my lap (thank you Netgalley) After reading that one, it spurred me into the Inside Out series. From the first chapter of If I were you I knew I was hooked, 110%. I spent the next few days reading every book that was currently out in that series. Now I’ve spent a few months just waiting for His Secrets so when I saw it show up I though I was going to lose it. So it began —

It’s no secret that His Secret is all from Chris’s POV and man does it shed more light on his feelings. You knew he was broken and found his own source of healing but did you really know just exactly how unredeemable he thinks he is? I’m not sure I did, until I read this one. I mean yes you knew he didn’t think to highly of himself but in His Story, you find out just how deep the damage goes. How not only he feels responsible for himself but for what has become of Amber. And how truly terrified that he will do the same thing to Sara, he doesn’t want any part of her to touch the world he was once apart of. But no matter how he tries, it keeps showing up. Though this book only spans a short bit of time and its s short book it touches very deeply to what Chris is feeling during their time in Paris. This book is a MUST READ total 5-STAR BOOK. Yes I can tell you the standard line of if you liked FSOG or The Crossfire Series you will like this one too but to me The Inside Out Series, is so so so much more than the others. (Yes they are great to I’m not discounting that) But whew, in this series you get it all. Don’t’ miss out on Sara’s journey. If you haven’t started this series you are missing out!

★Jammie

PS Did you see that cover???

You can find this review and others at 2Bookaholics
Profile Image for Dianne.
6,815 reviews634 followers
February 4, 2014
Sometimes no matter how hard you try to keep those dark demons of your past a secret, they are going to come back to haunt you. Chris has a very dark and brutal side he is trying to protect Sara from, his fear of her rejection looming in his mind. Before her, he had his art, but she completes his life with her trusting nature. When his past rears its ugly head, what will Sara do, run or try to break down the last of his barriers between them?

Dark and intense, His Secrets by Lisa Renee Jones is the perfect side story to her Inside Out series, as Chris reveals his innermost fears and the depth of his love for Sara, as well as his feelings of being unworthy of her love and trust.

Once again, Lisa Renee Jones fills each page with emotion and turmoil, both mental and physical as takes into the world of both sides of BDSM, the light and the dark.

I received an ARC edition from Gallery, Threshold, Pocket Books in exchange for my honest review.

Series: Inside Out, Book 3.1
Publication Date: February 24, 2014
Publisher: Gallery, Threshold, Pocket Books
ISBN: 9781476772356
Genre: Adult Romance
Available from: Amazon |Barnes & Noble

Profile Image for Sandy S.
8,277 reviews207 followers
February 20, 2014
4.75 stars


HIS SECRETS (Inside Out Novella 3.1) by Lisa Renee Jones

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date February 24, 2014

An Inside Out story, Chris's POV

In a world where my only escape has been my art, Sara has been the light in my darkness. And there is darkness, the kind of inky black that can bleed from my life to hers.

She doesn't see it. She doesn't understand what I've shown her. And my biggest fear is that soon...she will.

REVIEW: HIS SECRETS is the latest novella in Lisa Renee Jones’s erotic, adult, contemporary INSIDE OUT series. The storyline is told from Chris’s POV and continues on the heels of Revealing Us where Chris brought Sara to Paris under the guise of revealing his darkest secrets. Chris is a man with a past so dark that he knows Sara will leave him if the truth were ever to come out.

The focus of His Secrets is Chris and his need and desire for the woman that he loves. As his secrets are slowly revealed to Sara, Chris fears that the realization will be too much and Sara will turn away and go home. Chris is no longer a part of the dark and dangerous world he once needed-it is in the past- but his connections and history remain a complicated part of his present and have affected his relationship with the woman that he loves.

HIS SECRETS is a revealing and intense look at one man’s life; a life he no longer wants but a life that he craves when the demons demand more. His inability to separate the two halves of his life may mean the death of his relationship if the woman that he loves is unable to accept both the man and the beast.

Lisa Renee Jones takes the reader on an emotional journey that will captivate and compel you into wanting more.

Copy supplied by the author.


www.thereadingcafe.com
Profile Image for Julie.
1,445 reviews32 followers
January 17, 2014
The trip to Paris was to be for discovery. Chris has revealed his involvement with Amber’s parents to Sara. After a marriage proposal, Sara believe she knows all there is to understand about Chris’s past. Around the time they should be leaving to return to the US, a phone call may change everything.

The hauting reality of Chris’s past comes front and center with the phone call. Tristan calls for help. Amber has sought out Isabel and the punishment of her whip. Amber uses the whippings to escape her pain. However, this time Isabel can’t be controlled and the situation can be severe.

Sara joins Chris in his search for Amber. Sharing this part of his past will let Sara see who he really is, once and for all. The secrets of his past come crashing to the forefront of the situation, fueling the doubt that Chris harbors in his mind. Doubts and fears that Sara will leave him once she learns who he really is.
Will these revelations prove too much for Sara?

This was a wonderful companion book to the Inside Out series. This story is entirely from Chris’s point of view. Revealing more layers to the relationship between Sara and Chris. It is also a highlight to the journey that is yet to come for our characters.
Profile Image for Christi Snow.
Author 69 books738 followers
April 28, 2014
My Review:

Anyone that knows me knows that I prefer my stories from the guy's POV, so I loved this novella, especially since the full-length books are told entirely from Sara's POV.

This novella is also extremely important to the overall story just because it sheds some light onto Amber and Tristan and how they play into Chris's life. This novella picks up immediately where Revealing Us left off...and is Amber pulling more stunts to try to get Chris's attention. The thing that I loved about this novella was Sara...and her unwavering love for Chris. This is some hard-core stuff going down in this story and traditionally that would make both Sara and Chris waver in their commitment to each other.

Even though Chris expects that to happen, it never does with Sara. I hope this is signaling a new level in their relationship. That was my big complaint with book #3...that they say these things and commit, but when push comes to shove, they back away and get scared. There was NO SIGN of that with Sara in this segment and that made me VERY happy...FINALLY! I really hope that trend continues.

I definitely liked this one all the way around. Now bring on book #4...and I want to know more about what's happening with Mark and Crystal!
Profile Image for Larena.
441 reviews19 followers
January 15, 2014
Contemporary, Paris, France


Chris Merit has always found his art to be his escape until the day he met Sara McMillan. She has proven to be a light in the darkness of his life. Unfortunately that darkness bleeds from Chris’s life into Sara’s. Now Chris needs to show Sara everything about his life. He is afraid of what will happen once he does because he is sure that Sara doesn’t understand or really sees everything that he has shown her so far.



This is another great installment in the Inside Out series. This one is done from Chris’ point of view. With every novel or novella that is added to this series makes the series even better. It also gives readers more chances to visit some favorite characters and see just what else is happening. It also gives readers more to whet their appetite and keep them coming back for more. This is one series that once a reader is pulled in they will find it very hard to leave and will have them wanting more. While this series has flavors of Fifty Shades of Grey it has proven to be its own with a story line that keeps on building with each story.

Profile Image for Robin .
380 reviews10 followers
February 13, 2014
Yay we finally get Hottie Chris’s POV good lord I love me some Chris and I’ve been wanting to get in that gorgeous head of his since like forever. Even though this was a quick read, you get a lot of bang for your buck on these pages. You get to see how Chris truly torches himself inside out. Chris really wants to be happy and move forward with Sara but his demons continue to resurface. It also doesn’t help that they are still in Paris and Amber is still lurking for attention. I wanted to just slap the crap out of Amber. I mean I seriously get it ok maybe not completely but come on at some point in our lives we have to stop trying to blame others or taking our past’s and letting it dictate how we move forward. Moving on lets talk about the hotness from Chris and Sara ohhh Panting Goodness Hot. I wanted it to go on forever.

Overall, this was a great hot and steamy read. I can’t wait to get more from this series.

"ARC Provided by Gallery, Threshold, Pocket Books for an honest review"
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