If I Were You (Inside Out, #1) in Lisa Renee Jones's INSIDERS BOOK GROUP

Jun 23, 2012 Lisa Jones added it · (Review from the author)

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 bee ...more

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Jul 18, 2012 Aemelia rated it it was amazing

I know that this is touted as 50 Shades of Gray meets Basic Instinct, I wouldn't know. I've never read 50SoG* nor have I watched BI. What I do know is that Lisa Renee Jones has composed a captivating tale of one woman's journey to discover the fate of another, only to find her own world shaken and turned on its head, as she starts to fulfill her own dreams in the process of uncovering a mystery.

I love the whole Storage Wars concept of this book. It ponders the very questions I always wonder when I know that this is touted as 50 Shades of Gray meets Basic Instinct, I wouldn't know. I've never read 50SoG* nor have I watched BI. What I do know is that Lisa Renee Jones has composed a captivating tale of one woman's journey to discover the fate of another, only to find her own world shaken and turned on its head, as she starts to fulfill her own dreams in the process of uncovering a mystery.

I love the whole Storage Wars concept of this book. It ponders the very questions I always wonder when I see that show: Why do people let their belongings go? What circumstances make people just abandon their things? You know that there has to be a story there, sure, maybe it's a simple story, but I love the spin Lisa Renee Jones has thrown on it.

The characters in IF I WERE YOU are so captivating and well fleshed out, these are people I felt like I knew as I read their tale. Sara isn't a timid person, but she's been hiding from herself. Finding these journals opens her up to discovering what she gave up, when she decided to choose a stable job instead of following her dreams and her love of art. There were other factors that played with her choices, and I love how her character grew from the beginning of this story to the end. Chris is HAWT, he has some control issues, his moods can flip in a heartbeat, and there is the dark secret that he uses to keep his distance from Sara, and I absolutely adored him. Sara and Chris scorched the pages with there sizzling passion, I had to turn the air up and eat a popsicle as I read their love scenes, as I'm fairly certain I was about to melt more than once! I think that Lisa Renee Jones has done a phenomenal job developing there relationship, there is no rush to love here, though you can see it as it takes shape.

Not only were the main characters well developed, but so where the side characters, Amanda was such a sweety, Ralph is a card, Ava has some spice, and Mark is a controlling dick—though he seems to be willing to help Sara, the question is why.

I can't wait to see where Lisa Renee Jones takes this series, and I can't believe I have to WAIT to see where it's going! But I will be EAGERLY awaiting the next installment, because there are so many unanswered questions I have.

*NOTE: I have started reading 50SoG and so far the only thing I can say, is that Ana and Sara are NOT that much alike, neither are Christian or Chris.

I'm finding Ana to be whiny, immature, weak, and ridiculously naive--all traits that I find extremely annoying. Sara starts out a bit shy, but we never mistake it for weakness, she has a backbone that she isn't afraid to use, and she grows out of her shell as the story moves on. There is no whining from her, she sets her course and is determined to follow it, and she isn't taking any crap from Chris or anyone else in her life.

Christian and Chris are both strong alpha characters who suffer from moodiness, but that is it. Chris wants control of Sara in the bedroom, but isn't afraid to allow her to live out her life the way she wants/needs to, while Christian isn't happy unless he can control EVERY aspect of Ana life--FAIL. ...more

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Jul 07, 2012 Donna rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: 2012-books-read, 2012-new-authors, 2012-ebooks-read

Oh my gosh. I almost dont even know what to say about this book other than you have to pick it up and read it as soon as possible. The ebook isnt out until Aug 24th. But you can order the paperback copy now from Amazon. I already knew I liked Lisa Renee Jones Zodius series. But I was not prepared to like this as much as those. You have your first favorite and it can be hard to find anything you like as much. But with this she has.

Its not just well written but its a great story as well. So many ...more

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Aug 18, 2014 Debbie rated it it was amazing

I've read two of Lisa Renee Jones' Zodius books and loved them so when I saw this book pop up on Netgalley I had to request it. I started it thinking I would just do a little bit of reading before going to bed and next thing you know hours later I had finished it and needed more. It's not often that I impulse buy but I immediately had to go look for the next book and bought it. While I was at it I also picked up book 3. That's how addicted I was to this series after finishing up If I Were You.

I ...more

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Aug 08, 2012 Cristal (Professional Book Procrastinator) rated it really liked it

Review: http://lifeasabookaddict.blogspot.com...

Sara McMillan is a high school English teacher on a summer break. Her friend Ella has been buying storage units to sell the items inside for profit. During one of these times, her friend comes across journals belonging to a Rebecca Mason, the person whose items where in the storage unit. In the journal they discover the dark and erotic life Rebecca was leading. With her friend eloping suddenly, she leaves the key and its contents with Sara. Instea Review: http://lifeasabookaddict.blogspot.com...

Sara McMillan is a high school English teacher on a summer break. Her friend Ella has been buying storage units to sell the items inside for profit. During one of these times, her friend comes across journals belonging to a Rebecca Mason, the person whose items where in the storage unit. In the journal they discover the dark and erotic life Rebecca was leading. With her friend eloping suddenly, she leaves the key and its contents with Sara. Instead of just selling of the items and being done with it, she decides to go through the unit and see if she can find any information to track Rebecca down and give her back her things. She is afraid something bad has happened to Rebecca or so she tells herself. Up until this point, Sara’s life might have been good, but she was bored with everything. She wasn’t feeling fulfilled with just being an English Teacher. Her true passion is art. And the fact that Rebecca was an artist, works at a very well know art museum in San Francisco, and lives this seductive and appealing lifestyle, Sara wants to be a part of it somehow. I think Sara wants a little adventure and passion to come into her life to reawaken her senses. Similar to the things Rebecca wrote of in her journal. Sara becomes obsessed with Rebecca and it makes me think, how far will her obsession take her? Inserting herself further into Rebecca’s life, Sara ends up with Rebecca’s job at Allure Art Gallery for the summer. This is where she meets Mark Compton, the owner of the gallery and Chris Merit, a famous artist, whose work is on display there. Chris and Sara hit it off pretty much instantly, which lead them down an exciting and unexpected road…
Their chemistry is electric. The draw these two feel for each other can be felt through the pages. They each struggle with their own personal issues as they try and navigate this new romance of theirs that is both intoxicating and a little unhealthy. I loved reading this book. I did not want the story to end!

**I received this ARC courtesy of NetGalley and the Author in exchange for an honest review**
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