Escaping Reality (The Secret Life of Amy Bensen #1): Lisa Renee Jones
Infinite possibilities….
Infinite passion…..
Infinite danger….
His touch spirals through me, warm and sweet, wicked and hot. I shouldn’t trust him. I shouldn’t tell him my secrets. But how do I not when he is the reason I breathe? He is what I need.
At the young age of eighteen, tragedy and a dark secret force Lara to flee all she has known and loves to start a new life. Now years later, with a new identity as Amy, she’s finally dared to believe she is forgotten–even if she cannot forget. But just when she lets down her guard down, the ghost’s of her past are quick to punish her, forcing her back on the run.
On a plane, struggling to face the devastation of losing everything again and starting over, Amy meets Liam Stone, a darkly entrancing recluse billionaire, who is also a brilliant, and famous, prodigy architect. A man who knows what he wants and goes after it. And what he wants is Amy. Refusing to take “no” as an answer, he sweeps her into a passionate affair, pushing her to her erotic limits. He wants to possess her. He makes her want to be possessed. Liam demands everything from her, accepting nothing less. But what if she is too devastated by tragedy to know when he wants more than she should give? And what if there is more to Liam than meets the eyes?
Warning this book will drive you absolutely mad; seriously you will lose your fricken mind trying to figure out all the damn twists and turns. Let me just say, good luck with that because nothing adds up, at least it didn't for me. If it has for you than I am begging you to please, please, please private message me to clear a few things up! I know I had to have driven Kim just as mad yesterday with my constant ranting about this book. My poor blog partner was even trying to help me make sense of it and she wasn't even reading the book. Anyway back on track, right now all I can think about after sitting through Amy and Liam's entire journey is that I learned absolutely nothing about the characters; they are a pure mystery with tons of secrets just oozing to be revealed, however that wasn't enough to make me actually like them or sympathize with the situation they found themselves in. Reason for this, as I state it again, there are a hell of a lot of unanswered questions (NONE OF YOUR QUESTIONS ARE ANSWERED IN THIS BOOK). Escaping had a great plot, but the execution felt lacking in depth and development. It pissed me off to no end, literally had me spewing some major cuss words, yet I couldn't stop turning the pages for the life of me! I was so obsessed with trying to figure out what in the world was going on that I just ate up the pages. Escaping Reality left me beyond frustrated; I don't think frustrated comes anywhere close to being a strong enough word to describe my emotions.
I wish I could say that the characters won me over and they were the reason I was so engaged, but unfortunately nope. I just didn't understand anything about either of them and each new added character just threw me off even more. All I could think about the entire time is what the hell is everyone hiding, because let me tell you they are all hiding something. Nothing was anywhere close to being what it seemed. Each word, action, and behavior was obviously leading up to something.
Liam, the "hero" was unbelievably demanding and dominant; sometimes too over the top and since the author didn't build on the personal side his character (no real current or back story) it made him feel very one dimensional, he often came off as creepy. I felt uncomfortable with his behaviors and reactions on more than one occasion. Amy had no backbone. Zilch...not even an ounce. Again, the lack of anything personal also left her lacking in the depth and development department. Due to this, I just found both characters not believable. I was never able to connect and relate with either of them, and relating to a character is vital in a good read to me. Not to mention these two lacked major emotional chemistry. I felt their relationship was solely all about the physical aspect. Liam and Amy solved all their issues with sex, verbal communication was next to none unless Liam was commanding Amy.
Liam, the "hero" was unbelievably demanding and dominant; sometimes too over the top and since the author didn't build on the personal side his character (no real current or back story) it made him feel very one dimensional, he often came off as creepy. I felt uncomfortable with his behaviors and reactions on more than one occasion. Amy had no backbone. Zilch...not even an ounce. Again, the lack of anything personal also left her lacking in the depth and development department. Due to this, I just found both characters not believable. I was never able to connect and relate with either of them, and relating to a character is vital in a good read to me. Not to mention these two lacked major emotional chemistry. I felt their relationship was solely all about the physical aspect. Liam and Amy solved all their issues with sex, verbal communication was next to none unless Liam was commanding Amy.
I HATE books that leave me hanging in more ways than one; Escaping Reality will do that to you. After this book, I realized without a doubt that I am in no shape or form a cliff hanger kind of girl and make no mistake this entire book equals cliff hangers, not just the end. I promise you will have so many WTF moments that your head will be spinning. I kind of felt like the chick from the Exorcist, without the spewing of vomit part of course although if I had gone much longer that may have come next just from the dizziness I received wracking my brain trying to figure it all out.
I can't help but think that while this story got on my last never that this writer truly is brilliant. My review is not a dig at the author in the least bit. She did exactly what she set out to do. Lisa made you wonder, think, second guess yourself, and she had you sticking all the way to the end demanding the next installment now. I mean I COULD NOT put the book down, there was no DNF in my sight and this book made me feel. Maybe my feels aren't all pretty like, but her writing made me feel SOMETHING. And that in its self is a task lately with the funk I am in. Most times if I am not feeling the book I will set it aside and walk away without looking back. Hell, there are way too many books out there too waste my time, so kudos to Lisa Rene Jones. Because not only did she keep me invested in turning the pages, she has also secured the fact that I will buy book two in the future. I NEED to know what the hell has gone down. I have some theories, but something tells me I am so far off.
The big question is, would I recommend this book. Hmm, I don't know. Sorry, I have to be honest. I wouldn't discourage it because as I have said before I am just one person and my opinion is just that, mine. No two people read the same books, so what doesn't work for me may be the best book you have ever read. Plus, there are tons of people out there who love books written in this type of style. I know a lot of other readers marked this with great star ratings.
Thank you, Julie Patra Publishing and NetGalley, for the opportunity to read and review Escaping Reality in exchange for my honest opinion.
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