REVIEW+ Excerpt + Giveaway: Forsaken by Lisa Renee Jones

           

Meet Chad in the newest addition to The Secret Life of Amy Bensen series by Lisa Renee Jones!

Now available for Pre-order!

Amazon US: http://amzn.to/1IckAVe

Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/1GxDQXI

Barnes & Noble: http://bit.ly/1FzklNE

iBooks: http://apple.co/1SHmQqH

Pre-order Forsaken and Unbroken and receive exclusive content leading up to the release and super special bonus content after the release of Unbroken as well. You can find the form here - http://lisareneejones.com/pre-order-promotion/

Blurb

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?

This series--the Amy Benson series was the very first thing I'd read by Lisa Renee Jones and I was so intrigued by this these characters and the mystery of what the hell was going on. When I saw that Forsaken was available to review I knew I couldn't pass up the chance to continue with Amy's story; you can imagine my surprise when I saw that this was about her brother, Chad. It's in this third book of the series that we get more of the information about why and how he's been missing for 6 years. It's also in this third book that I became increasingly frustrated. Chad's character was so freaking frustrating. For the first 40% I felt like he couldn't make up his mind--I felt like he was giving poor Gia so many mixed signals she was going to have emotional whiplash trying to keep up. It was a game of "trust me/don't trust me", "come closer/get away", "listen/don't listen", "fuck me/what just happened" and ughhhhh. Seriously, while there was some action and some helpful information, there was a lot of that push and pull too. Eventually, though, we got more action, more story, more Amy + Liam, and more of a resolution. 

I like to think that LRJ (Lisa Renee Jones) has mastered the art of making us painfully frustrated in our characters...while also still keeping us invested in them. We have to know what happens, even when we want to pummel them for 99.9% of the book. So, I felt here, as I have felt through every other book we've read...that there will eventually be a means to an end. I remember reading the first book in this series, and we loved it even though we didn't know a single thing about what was happening! And this story is no different. The beginning is quite the action sequence, and hooks you early. I found Gia to be an interesting character and I love that this series has continued. There is some action, some emotion, and the writing...the writing never disappoints me, and I am stoked for the next installment.
For those following this series, this book definitely gives answers and resolution to some aspects of this story and for that, I'm grateful. From what I understand, Amy and Liam's story ends in the last book of this series coming out very soon. And glad for that being soon we are! I really love when Lisa Renee Jones releases a book...because you are guaranteed to enjoy! 

Happy reading.

Excerpt

It’s nearly eight in the evening when I take the elevator to our secure, key-coded floor and enter the suite, where I immediately hear, “Chad! Is that you?”

Angry, I grab the chair in front of the door and shove it aside.

“Oh, thank God,” Gia gushes, flinging her arms around my neck. “You’re in one piece.”

Stunned by her greeting, by the way her sweet curves meld against me, I fight the heat rushes through me, untangling her grip and pressing her hands against the wall. “Tell me what you know about my sister,” I demand.

“Nothing, Chad. I told you that. Is she—was she—”

“You know I didn’t find her.”

“I wanted you to find her. I was terrified for you.”

Anger expands in me, seeping into my veins, and on some level, I know it’s not about Gia at all, or maybe I just fear it will be about her. I don’t want to trust her and be wrong. “You barely know me.”

“I know you’re in pain. I know what being alone feels like, and I know that’s what you feel right now.”

Alone.

It’s a word that pierces my heart with guilt. It’s what I know my sister has felt for six long years. I was all she had, the only one she could count on, even if she didn’t know I was there—and I failed her. The pain is a seed that grows and expands inside me in an instant, and suddenly, or maybe not so suddenly, the idea of being betrayed by Gia is not as biting as the idea of failing her as well. My hands come down on her face, and I stare at her. “I have money and resources to hide you, and I promise you, no one will find you. But I won’t be there with you. I’m poison to anyone near me. You can’t forget that. I can’t forget that.”

I don’t give her time to reply. My mouth closes down on hers, my tongue pressing past her lips, stroking and stroking again, in what is instantly an aggressive, searching kiss. She moans, and I swear the sound of her moan shatters a piece of my soul that is already bleeding for my sister. In this moment, it feels like all I have left is this woman.

Escaping Reality (book 1) is available to "Read Free" on NetGalley right now - https://s2.netgalley.com/catalog/book/62595

For More information on The Secret Life of Amy Bensen series page including: buy links, and excerpts for the previous two and also upcoming releases.  Visit Lisa’s website here: http://bit.ly/AmyBensen

About the Author:

New 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 HERE

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 on her website and she is active on twitter and facebook daily.

STALK HER:  Website | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Pinterest | Goodreads

GIVEAWAY

$25 Amazon Gift Card (2 Winners)

Signed Set of The Secret Life of Amy Bensen Series

GIVEAWAY Link:  http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/09964f03718/