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, allof 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.
ANGY’S BOOK REVIEW: 4 STARS
Last year, I had the opportunity to listen to the fourth audiobook of this series, No In Between, and I loved it. I have to be honest, when I requested the audiobook I didn’t know it was part of a series, so I was a little confused about what was happening and all, but I finished it, and I LOVED IT, I wrote a five stars review and I bought all the books of the series without giving it a second thought. I knew I’d love all the books. And guess what? I was right! I totally loved If I Were You, and Chris Merit has secured one high spot in my personal collection of book boyfriends *smirk*
The first book of the series, If I Were You, is about Sara, a high school teacher, who finds herself obsessed about one missing woman, Rebecca, and her journals – which are pretty hot -. Sara starts living Rebecca’s life, she takes Rebecca’s job and becomes friends with Rebecca’s friends. While she’s trying to find information about Rebecca, she meets Chris, one gifted artist who Sara admired since she she was in college, and what they think is just a sexual affair, becomes something more meaningful. And there are so many secrets to be revealed, about Chris, about Rebecca, about Mark, who was Rebecca and and now is Sara’s boss.
I really enjoyed this book. It has everything I like in a book. The plot is very interesting, it is intriguing. The characters are well developed, and of course, it has super hot steamy sex. There is one thing I didn’t like, or not that I didn’t like, but it didn’t convince me much, and it was that their relationship got so intense so suddenly. I understand Chris is very dominant and he wants to control Sara and all, but I think that was too much, too soon in the storyline. For me, there needed to be more of a relationship development first before they jumped into that intensity. Even so, I did like how Sara was always able to stand up for herself, even though deep down, she wanted to submit to him.
Awesome book. I’m starting the second book right now.
AUDIOBOOK REVIEW: 5 STARS
Grace Grant is definitely my favorite narrator ever. She always transmits the characters emotions with her voice. I could totally see everything more clearly in my head because she made the experience of reading the book more real. The voices she makes for the male characters are flawless. I could even hear the differences between Chris’ and Mark’s voices. Amazing audiobook. I can’t wait for the next of the series.
Dream Cast
Jensen Ackles as Chris Merit
Ian Somerhalder as Mark Compton
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ew 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) 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.
Watch the video on casting for the INSIDE TV Show:
http://youtu.be/pj4NZLpeWQs
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.
