Author: Lisa Renee Jones
Series: Inside Out #3.2
Release Date: July 7, 2014
My Rating: 5 Stars
While Chris and Sara have traveled to Paris to avoid the chaos of press and police after the tragic night we’d shared, I have stayed to face the reality of what has happened. But there is no peace to be found in facing the truth, and no truth to be found in the confessions that have been made and retracted. I am a Master, all about control, and yet right now, facing great tragedy, I feel as if I have none. With my club and my relationships of the past in the spotlight, I find sanctuary in the one place I’ve promised I will never be again, but cannot seem to resist. Her arms.
***Mark and Crystal's story begins in the novella Master Undone
Can I just say how thrilled I am that Mark's story is continuing? He has been such an enigma. Such an elephant in the room. With this installment of his story, more puzzle pieces fall together, and even more show up. I can't explain why I'm so drawn to Mark. I have to know his story. The sooner, the better.
For being on the shorter end of a novella it felt like a novel to me. There was SO much to take in and enjoy and so many nuances to take note of. This story picks up the day after The Master Undone. The day after Mark had an encounter of the hottest degree. And a few days after Mark's life has changed irrevocably in many different ways.
Mark is slowly coming nose to nose with Chris Merit for my affection. Don't judge me! There's just something that became very apparent to me while I was reading this book. I feel Mark's pain and heartache like it's my own. Ms. Jones wrote him in such a way that he is both a mystery to me, and a character that, what I do know of him, is very relatable and understandable. So do I love this book? Heck yes! Do I urge you to read it? ABSOLUTELY! Just make sure you follow the reading order!! (down below) Fair warning, this may be a novella but it is imperative that you NOT skip it! In the end this whole series will be a very tightly woven web. Mark's story is a very big part of that. Everyone will be back together again in the fourth novel, No In Between (Aug. 19th!) and you'll need to know what Mark has been up to and what he's been through since we last saw him in Revealing Us.
Mark is slowly coming nose to nose with Chris Merit for my affection. Don't judge me! There's just something that became very apparent to me while I was reading this book. I feel Mark's pain and heartache like it's my own. Ms. Jones wrote him in such a way that he is both a mystery to me, and a character that, what I do know of him, is very relatable and understandable. So do I love this book? Heck yes! Do I urge you to read it? ABSOLUTELY! Just make sure you follow the reading order!! (down below) Fair warning, this may be a novella but it is imperative that you NOT skip it! In the end this whole series will be a very tightly woven web. Mark's story is a very big part of that. Everyone will be back together again in the fourth novel, No In Between (Aug. 19th!) and you'll need to know what Mark has been up to and what he's been through since we last saw him in Revealing Us.
======WARNING! These are afterthoughts that I really wanted to get out and vent about. Be warned: there are mild spoilers for the PREVIOUS books in the following paragraph. If you're all caught up, proceed.======
Time for brutal honesty: I FLOVE Mark and Crystal together. I know others have very different views on this, but just hear me out. If you've read the series you know that Mark is a master. He needs control, like he needs air to breathe. Yet, through a series of very unfortunate and traumatic events that control has been stripped from him. He is no longer the man he was, the man he built himself up to be to fight his demons. Right now, he's vulnerable. In comes Crystal. She's feisty. She's the opposite of any woman that Mark would be attracted to, and has no submissive qualities. Or so we think. Here's where I'm going to go out on a limb and hypothesize a bit. I think Crystal is exactly what Mark needs. I think there is SO much more to her than we see, even by the end of My Hunger. I have this gut feeling that she is going to surprise us all and not be at all what she seems. To me, she has the ability to tear away the last bit of torture that Mark is hanging onto and to help him build a more solid and open life. He will always be Mark, but the structure of his whole world is cracking. When it comes tumbling down, he needs someone with the ability to be versatile. Stubborn, yet submissive. Loving, yet strong. I truly believe that Crystal is that person. I know there is this big debate going on about Rebecca coming back and her being perfect for Mark. Here's my view on that: Rebecca was very scared and very unsure of herself. Yes, she grew into the lifestyle, but her hesitance would have slowly drained and ruined both herself and Mark. There is a difference between being shy and being submissive. You have to be strong to be a submissive. Rebecca just was not cut out for that life. She didn't have that defiance that Mark could play off of. Or that fire that pokes and prods until his true dom comes out. I think she tried to be someone she wasn't with him, and she was a ray of normalcy that he tried to strive for. I had my moments of wanting them to be together so badly. In the end, it never felt right with them. With Crystal I can just feel something coming that is going to be wonderful. I just hope I'm right!
Happy Reading!
*ARC provided by the author in exchange for an honest review*
Links to Buy:
THE INSIDE OUT SERIES
All Of Me (Book #6): COMING FEBRUARY 2015!
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.
Lisa loves to hear from her readers. You can reach her at www.lisareneejones.com and she is active on Twitter and Facebook daily.
Connect with Lisa Renee Jones:
All her books are awesome
ReplyDeleteAwesome giveaway! Thanks for the chance. I would love to win!
ReplyDeleteVampire Wardens Boxed Set is my favorite
ReplyDeleteI plan to start The Secret Life of Amy Bensen series soon. Thanks!
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