My Hunger (Inside Out Series)

Mark Compton doesn't "do" spontaneous sex. He doesn't do spontaneous anything. He's a Master of control and domination. His women are submissive...dealt with through contracts. Except for Crystal Smith...she's the opposite of his standard female attraction - - so why does he want her? She's blond, outspoken, direct and completely not submissive (wasn't this already covered in "THE MASTER UNDONE"??). In fact, much of this "teaser" was more of the same from THE MASTER UNDONE except for the court drama with Ava and numerous attorneys etc.

This brief portion of our continuous soap opera was told well as per usual with Ms. Jones' talent...and it gives a tiny bit of insight to Marks turmoil as everything comes crashing down around him and he still is able to keep his cool. However, I've never been a fan of Soap Opera's and that's what this story has become. No matter how entertaining it once was, it's become tedious and I find myself anxious for it to be over.

I really enjoy these looks into Mark Compton. He’s such an interesting, dynamic man with a lot of crap surrounding him. While I really want to get on with the rest of the story, I don’t mind the interludes with Mark because it gives us a whole new way to look at him. It’s interesting to see who he really is, how he interacts with someone like Crystal, who is as far from submissive as you can get, and how he deals with the murder of a woman he can now admit that he loved.

I’m very interested to see how things progress between Mark and Crystal. I like what she does for him. I’m also eager to get the trial on the road. I want everyone back in one place and I want to find out what truly happened to Rebecca. Where is her body? Is anyone else involved or was it just Ava? I’m hoping that we’ll get more answers in No in Between.

Arc provided by the publisher via Netgalley for an honest review

Mark is facing a great tragedy and loosing everything.
I am rooting for him and his family. He doesn't deserve
what's happening to him. While he is lost, he is actually
about to find himself.

GREAT SERIES!!! Start at the beginning of this series because you don't want to miss one word of it. Wonderfully crafted story, keeps you engaged with every book. These books have everything...mystery, romance, drama, steamy erotica and more. A MUST READ!!!

Mark is filled with guilt. Guilt for losing Rebecca because he didn't love her or her never told her before she was killed by Ava. Ava was jealous of Rebecca because she had Mark and Ava knew she would never have him as long as Rebecca was around. When control is what drives Mark and he loses it and his world is falling apart, can he recover with the help of Crystal? Crystal works for his mother and is helping him the business and to get through his mother's cancer. But when they are pulled together, he can not accept her because Crystal is clearly not submissive. When the attraction gets too much, Crystal tells him to stop thinking and just feel. He does and really likes it. Can he accept Crystal and make a relationship with her? Will Ava ever tell the truth about what really happened with Rebecca? And just how bad is his mother's cancer? This is the first for me in this series and I loved it. I love Lisa Renee Jones' writing style and can't wait to read more from this series.
**Copy provided from the publisher through Netgalley in exchange for my honest review**

My Hunger is the parallel story to His Secrets. In His Secrets, we get to see things from Chris's POV. In My Hunger, we get to see things from Mark's perspective while Chris is in Paris. Mark has a lot on his plate in this book. He is dealing with everything that he has discovered about Rebecca and what has happened to her. He is being investigated and the investigation will put his club in danger. On top of that, he is trying to cope with his mother in the hospital. She has cancer and he doesn't know what to do. Everything is out of control and he never lets anything get out of control.

Mark has always been an interesting character in the Inside Out series. He is quite full of himself, but he is a really strong character. But with everything going on, we see Mark actually vulnerable and not himself. His assistant, Crystal, is not helping him though. He has been with her and it is driving him nuts. She is not a submissive woman and he doesn't go for her type. But if there is anything he will control, it is her. I did like the connection between them. They had an understanding of each other. Whenever Mark needed something, Crystal had his back. She is clearly a strong woman and is able to take Mark on.

Mark definitely feels things are falling apart. I love how even when things seem like they won't go smoothly, he will find a way. He knows things are going to get worse if he doesn't fight back. I love how tough Mark is. He is definitely a man that doesn't break easily. It is great getting into his head. Like I said, Mark is an interesting character. He can come off cold and a bit of a pompous a**, but seeing things through his eyes puts things in perspective.

I am curious about what Jones will do about Crystal and Mark. Can Mark go for a strong woman who into the lifestyle? Not to mention Jones is throwing a bit of curveball about Rebecca. You are killing me, woman! But I love it. I know this is set to be a show on Starz and I can't wait for it. This is one romantic suspense that will look amazing on TV.

This is a great addition to the series. It is impossible not to love it. It is great getting back into this world again and diving deeper into this story. The characters are so well put together and complex. I already have No In Between safely tucked away in my ereader already. Thank you Jones for these amazing novellas. You really shouldn't miss these. They are just as important to the story as the main books. Highly recommended.

Overall Rating: 4.5 Rockin’ ★★★★☆

Mark is a man that is always in control. Control is the thing that keeps him sane in a world of insane pressures and demands. He is faced with the possible terminal illness of his mother, the death of his submissive, and betrayal of an employee that may ruin his family’s businesses. With all of these pressures he does not need to react to the fire that Crystal Smith ignites in him. He doesn’t ever give up control and that is what he did the one night he let go with her.

Returning to San Francisco to run damage control for his business he finds himself being questioned as a possible suspect in her murder. He knows that he must protect his businesses and his family from the damage of an investigation. Mark works to quickly remove all ties he has to his Club and to get things settled with his Art Gallery. It seems that since it is an election year someone will need to take the fall for the death of Rebecca and it just may be him even though he had nothing to do with it. The body has not been found and the person responsible for the murder is trying to say he made her do it. Everything seems to be tied to his role as the ‘Master’.

When he left his parents in New York, he also left Crystal in charge of the family business. Crystal has worked as his mother’s assistant for the past few years and comes from an affluent family. Can Mark let her in to his world of BDSM? Is he willing to train another submissive? Is Crystal a submissive? Will he be able to prove himself innocent? Will they find Rebecca? Can Mark face the loneliness that is tearing him apart?

Hero –Mark Compton: 4.5 stars
Heroine –Crystal Smith: 4.5 stars
Steam: 4.5 stars
Plot: 4.5 stars
Cliffhanger: Yes

Would I recommend this book: Yes! This is a look at Mark the man and not Mark the Master. It shows him as a man that doesn’t believe that he can love while the truth is that he is a man that does love and deeply. I love the way this gives his perspective of things that have transpired in previous books, it is illuminating.

Would I read other books by this author: Yes! I have enjoyed all of Ms. Jones books and look forward to the next addition in the “Inside Out Series”.

***Received an ARC of this book from the Publisher in exchange for an honest review***

I just LOVE the Inside Out series, this novella is Marks point of view. This is part of a series, and is best if you have read the other books first because each book builds up to the next. Mark is trying to deal with the death of Rebecca who was murdered by his lover, his mother is fighting cancer, and he is trying to stay in control. He is attracted to Crystal who works closely with his mother, and they end up having hot sex. Mark has to always be in control as master, but Crystal is definitely not the submissive type. It is interesting seeing how Mark and Crystal work together, and I look forward to reading the next book to see what happens with Mark and Crystal’s relationship. This series is a must read, but they leave you with a lot of unanswered questions that will keep you guessing until the next book.
A Review copy was provided to me in exchange for a fair and honest review. The free book held no determination on my personal review.

Before you start reading this review - please read the whole
Inside Out Series up until My Hunger!
If you haven't yet - you're missing out on some of the best books EVER ☺
(and of course my review might spoil some things for you!!!)

My Hunger is a !!!!!short Novella!!!!! about Mark - it's starting right after we left him in The Master Undone. He's in New York - at the hospital with his mom. And of course there's Crystal again - his mother's assistant. Remember? Mark and Crystal spent a very sexy night together before she left him in bed with only a little note telling him it didn't mean anything.

And the worst thing? Crystal is SO not the submissive girl that Mark usually goes for - NEEDS to go for.

But he just can't forget her.

Added to all his confusion about Crystal, and the worry about his mom are the things that happened back home in San Francisco: Ava killed Rebecca to have Mark for herself.

Now that Ava retracted her confession, the police need to find someone who they can blame this whole mess on. And it's either Mark oder Chris and Sara who are still in Paris.

Mark is trying his best to get through all of this - to be there for everybody and to prevent even worse things from happening - but he can't be everywhere at once.....

What will happen to Mark & Crystal?
Will there be a HEA?
Will everybody die at the end? ☺
Or will there be a horrible Cliffhanger?

I'M NOT TELLING YOU THAT OF COURSE... ☺

l don't want to spoil anything ☺

OK - I might tell you that Mark & Crystal will get their own full length novel with:

I BELONG TO YOU

so - we'll see them again☺☺☺ and of course we'll probably hear from them again in No In Between and My Control ☺
_____________________________________

AMAZING NOVELLA!!!

It was wayyyy too short though :( but I know that I will see Mark & Crystal again ☺ *happydance*

I LOVED this tiny little Novella - I was so sad when I finished The Master Undone - I needed to know if there was a future for Mark & Crystal - and now there might be...I can't wait for the next books in the series!!

This novella - short as it was - had EVERYTHING a great book needs:

SEXY SCENES
SUSPENSY SCENES
MOVING SCENES
FUNNY SCENES

Other than the shortness of it I have NOTHING to complain about ☺

If you loved every book of the Inside Out series - just like I did - you will LOVE this one too ----->>>

GO GET IT ☺

Now I can't wait for the next books!!!!!!!

This was a short novella, however a lot of exciting things happen. My Hunger continues the story of revealing secrets of Mark Compton, who is a Gallery owner and a BDSM Master of a club, from the series If I Were You. It was great seeing Mark’s point of view and thoughts while he is losing control due to everything going on in his world. He is upset from the loss of someone dear to him, worried about his sick mother who doesn’t live near him, and a scandal is exposed in his gallery causing him to struggle with control when Mark NEVER loses control. The hot steamy connection he has with Crystal is nothing like the normal for him, but yet he finds himself being drawn to her. It is intriguing to read his struggles and I really enjoyed the read. I have been a fan from the moment I picked up her first book in this series and I cannot wait to read Lisa Renee Jones newest book No In Between. A Review copy was provided to me in exchange for a fair and honest review. The free book held no determination on my personal review.

This ARC was given by Lisa Renee Jones and Gallery, Threshold, Pocket Books via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

My Hunger continues the story of revealing more secrets of Mark Compton and gives little glimpses into other characters from the If I Were You series. Mark is use to being in control of his world, his needs, and his life. He is quickly losing control when his mother is diagnosed with cancer, a major scandal is exposed in his gallery, and Rebecca is gone because of him. Through his loss of control, he realizes he ruined Rebecca by making her his submissive. He also discovers he might have loved Rebecca. This is a feeling he does not allow when it comes to women and submissives.

He finds it difficult to face the future and all of his problems alone. Crystal Smith is perhaps the only woman that sees his pain and loneliness when she looks into his eyes. He knows that he sees the same sense of feelings in her eyes as well. It is then that he realizes the only way to gain back his control is to give up the control he vindicates is necessary.

Both Crystal and Mark know loneliness and have a hunger to stop feeling lonely in their chaotic lives. Their hunger for one another let them understand that Mark will never be the man she deserves and Crystal will never be the submissive that he desires and needs. However, this hunger allows them to forget their desires and needs in order to dissolve the pain that consumes their own lives.

Lisa Renee Jones delivers yet another story that sheds light on the mystery of Rebecca and what may have happened to her. This particular story gives more insight into the powerful Mark Compton and allows the reader to understand why a man of his power desires control in all aspects of his life. It is also gives hope to Mark Compton fans that there might be hope that control is not a way to eliminate loneliness and pain.
My Hunger continues the story of revealing more secrets of Mark Compton and gives little glimpses into other characters from the If I Were You series. Mark is use to being in control of his world, his needs, and his life. He is quickly losing control when his mother is diagnosed with cancer, a major scandal is exposed in his gallery, and Rebecca is gone because of him. Through his loss of control, he realizes he ruined Rebecca by making her his submissive. He also discovers he might have loved Rebecca. This is a feeling he does not allow when it comes to women and submissives.

He finds it difficult to face the future and all of his problems alone. Crystal Smith is perhaps the only woman that sees his pain and loneliness when she looks into his eyes. He knows that he sees the same sense of feelings in her eyes as well. It is then that he realizes the only way to gain back his control is to give up the control he vindicates is necessary.

Both Crystal and Mark know loneliness and have a hunger to stop feeling lonely in their chaotic lives. Their hunger for one another let them understand that Mark will never be the man she deserves and Crystal will never be the submissive that he desires and needs. However, this hunger allows them to forget their desires and needs in order to dissolve the pain that consumes their own lives.

Lisa Renee Jones delivers yet another story that sheds light on the mystery of Rebecca and what may have happened to her. This particular story gives more insight into the powerful Mark Compton and allows the reader to understand why a man of his power desires control in all aspects of his life. It is also gives hope to Mark Compton fans that there might be hope that control is not a way to eliminate loneliness and pain.

Mark Compton, filled with remorse about Rebecca's murder, under the crushing weight of his mother's breast cancer operation and being labeled a person of interest by the police in Rebecca's death are too much for him. He has lost his control. This is a great in between book, full of hints on what is to come. Great addition to the Inside Out series

The story just keeps getting better! This is part of the Inside Out Series
Mark, oh Mark. He's in a bad situation. His mother has cancer, one of his employees was selling fake art, his ex-submissive Rebecca was murdered by his lover, well Ava is his ex-lover now. And we’re all wondering what he was thinking taking her to bed in the first place.
Ava totally flipped when she thought Mark was sleeping with Sarah, his new employee for his art gallery. Ava tried to kill Sarah and confessed to killing Rebecca. Now that everyone knows Ava’s true colors, she is retracting her confession and bringing hell on Mark. His world is falling apart and Ava seems to be doing everything for him to pay for her suffering.
Crystal, a New York employee for his family’s gallery Riptide, seems to be Mark’s light at the end of the tunnel. She is the total opposite of submissive but something about her draws to Mark.
The chemistry is high, the plot thickens, and I’m left NEEDING the next book!

My Hunger is Mark Compton’s Novella that takes place while Sara and Chris are still in Paris. While the Novella’s aren’t absolutely necessary to read, I highly recommend that you read them as they do answer some of the questions that you might have and they do add to the series. At the end of my review I’ve included a reading order to help keep track of all of the books and the novella’s to make it easier for you :)

I don’t want to give too much away to all the readers who are anxiously awaiting this book and if you’re anything like me, you are anxiously awaiting for another glimpse into Mark’s world. As I read through the series I always thought that there was more to Mark, something that we just weren’t seeing, and in this book we’re granted a glimpse of who he is. Crystal continues to fascinate and push boundaries and you never know what will happen when the two of them get together. Who will push who and who will end up giving in.

As with each book, this one continues to leave us wanting more. So we patiently/impatiently wait for No In Between, so we can get more answers and allow the plot twists and characters to drag us deeper into the journey that is the Inside Out Series.

The Inside Out series continues with My Hunger. This story takes the reader inside Mark Compton's head. Mark has always been in control with his business and personal life until he meets Crystal Smith. She turns his life upside down. Mark insinuates their sexual encounter was just a quickie with no meaning or attachments. He assumes it is sexual release with the pressures of ex-lover, Ava confessing to the murder of his great love, Rebecca and dealing with his mother's serious illness. The pressure is closing in on all sides. Ava has retracted her confession and his mother's health continues to decline. Crystal rushes to Mark's side offering her help. She discovers secrets in his past, but still continues to pursue him. Crystal knows Mark is used to being in control. She will not allow him to control her. But still Mark is drawn to Crystal. The sparks fly as their relationship heats up. Ms. Jones continues to entertain the reader, building the suspense; leaving us waiting anxiously for the next book in this series. If you are a fan of this series you must read this amazing story. You will not be disappointed.

This book continues the story of Mark and Crystal, which started in The Master Undone. I loved that it is in Mark’s POV. I enjoy learning about the internal struggles Mark faces as his encounters with Crystal continue. Mark is a character that I have always had a soft side for throughout the series, but this book makes me like him even more. There is more to Mark than meets the eye. It is very interesting to learn a little of Mark’s perspective on Rebecca, Chris and Sara.

This is a quick read! I couldn’t put it down. I read it all in one sitting. I really didn’t want it to end. Mark is a character that I just crave more information about. This book reveals more about him than we have known previously, especially about his relationship with his family, but he still has lots of secrets that I am yearning to learn.

My Hunger has several steamy scenes that make me want to know a man like Mr. Compton, but it also deals with Mark’s loss of Rebecca, his unexpected emotions over her, and how he copes with a sudden unexpected illness in his family. A lot of action is packed into this novella, yet it still leaves you wanting to know more. I can’t wait for the next installment and hope to read more in Mark’s POV.

A copy was provided by the Netgalley for an honest review.

Lisa Renee Jones novellas totally consumes me with all of the intensity, eroticism and mystery she writes so well. I had not been a fan of Mark prior to reading My Hunger. I am warming up to this very difficult, controlling man. Mark’s POV gives depth to a man who seemed so cold, unreachable and shallow. I am really liking Crystal and her ability to knock Mark off balance. More than the romance in My Hunger is the intrigue and fascination of another POV surrounding Rebecca’s disappearance and relationship with Mark. I am really looking forward to more of Mark’s POV.

This is amazing, the story keeps getting better and better. Mark's POV in the series,I highly recomment it. You should read Master Undone, which is where Mark and Crystal's story begins. My Hunger picks up where Master Undone left off. Mark lives with the guilt of Rebecca's death his ex-submissive who was killed by his ex-lover Ava. To add to his misery, his mother is sick so he also dealing with that. This is a short novella, but a very good one! Lisa Renee Jones you did it again!!!! I love how he tries so hard for control but when Crystal is around it just goes up in smoke.

This is a must read series!!!!

Mark finds himself haunted by the realization of what his past with Rebecca meant to him. The tragedy surrounding her death is slowly unraveling around him. While the fallout from Ava’s obsession with him has left his life turned upside down, Mark is struggling with other issues as well.

Riptide is under scrutiny for Ava’s involvement in trying to sell ’fake art’. Mark’s mother is trying to fight her battle with cancer and Mark is headed home to be with his family. There he meets Crystal. She was hired by Mark’s mother to work their family business. She is the opposite of everything that Mark desires in a woman. Yet - he finds himself attracted to her.

Finding that neither can escape the desire they have for one another, both Mark and Crystal succumb to their attraction. What should have been over that one night, Mark finds that he cannot escape the thought and desire he feels for Crystal. After her ’thanks for last night’ note - Mark cannot get her out of his mind. She is quickly becoming a light within his darkness.

This installment really sucked me into the plot. I have wanted to know more about Mark since the beginning of this saga. Reading about his struggle, thoughts, and desires just made me love his character all the more. I cannot wait to see where Lisa Renee Jones takes us next.

I continue to love the Inside Out Series. The novellas have just served to enhance my enjoyment by giving me what feels like behind the scenes commentary on my favorite characters and My Hunger is no exception.

With this Novella, we truly begin to see how vulnerable Mark is. He is hurting over the death of Rebecca, his mother's illness and we see how his once legendary control is falling apart, You can't help but sympathize with what all he is dealing with.

With each addition to the main story, I continue to see the brilliance of Lisa Renee Jones' writing.

After stopping myself endlessly on purchasing book one in this series since it first came on the market because I had too many other series to finish first I could not resist reading My Hunger when I was offered an arc of the book. Got to love starting a series halfway through, but despite that this was a great read. I didn't feel too out of sync with the story-line despite my lack of knowledge of what the characters had endure beforehand. I knew I had Rebecca's Lost Journals from netgalley so I went from 3.2 back to 1.1-1.4 and then 2.5! This novella (3.2) focuses on Mark's guilt over how things finished with Rebecca and the uncertainty of her whereabouts - is she dead or alive? It was this intrigue that made me stop My Hunger halfway through to read Rebecca's Lost Journals then back to My Hunger before finally making me purchase every single available book in the series already published. Rebecca's character and how the author wrote her single handedly dragged me kicking and screaming into another series. As likeable as Crystal was I prefer Rebecca so not overly enthused that Mark maybe diverting his attention to Crystal now. My next read in this series will be from the more traditional point, book one!

I received this ARC in exchange for an honest review. Lisa Renee Jones has never disappointed with this series. It's one of those that once you start it you cant put it down. Not looking forward to the end of the awesomeness that is Chris Merit. But then again Mark Compton grows on you.

SPOTLIGHT, Review & Giveaway: MY HUNGER (Inside Out Series Novella) by Lisa Renee Jones http://wp.me/p3d0RZ-1q0
Publication Date: July 7, 2014
Reviewed by: Reading in Pajamas/ Donna
Rated: 3.5 Stars

REVIEW:
If you’ve been following the Inside Out series, you will love this novella. Mr. Control shares his inner turmoil and guilt over things that have transpired and Crystal is the one woman strong enough to meet him head on. A short and sexy story that truly leaves you wanting more. I do wish it wasn’t so dark and emotional but there is no way around it at this point in the saga. I also get frustrated with cliffhanger endings unless the next installment is ready to be read.

*Review copy provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.