Inside Out by Lauren Dane (Brown Siblings #3)
Contemporary Romance
November 2, 2010
Trade Paperback, 320 Pages
Berkley Trade
Reviewed by Mandi
Favorite Quote: Then there was quiet as she met his eyes and smiled, and Christ, he just sort of fell all the way into balls-out love for Ella Tipton.
Andrew Copeland, or “Cope” is a security specialist and has had his eye on Ella Tipton for some time now. He is known as a playboy, never having one woman for very long, and having lots and lots of women in his time. He hasn’t pursued Ella because she was in an extremely abusive relationship, and hasn’t wanted to push her for a relationship. But now she is almost done school, and seems to have put her past somewhat behind her so Cope does what he does best – puts on that charm and flirtatious smile, and Ella melts all over it.
Ella cannot believe the man she has been lusting after for years is actually, seriously flirting with her – with intention of dating. He overwhelms her, makes her nervous and just outright scares her – but oh does she want him. Although her past won’t totally be forgotten, Cope has ways of helping overcome her fears, and showing her what it is really like to be in a loving relationship.
This is my first Lauren Dane book. I know, I know what has taken me so long? I have been deliciously tortured on Twitter with every – “omg this Lauren Dane book is so hot” tweet for so long now. In a sense, I wish I would have started back with Laid Bare and Coming Undone before I had read this one. While this reads well as a stand alone, the couples from the previous books play a prominent role in this one, and I am sure I would have enjoyed revisiting them if I had started with book one. With that being said, I very much now want to go back and meet them!
Lauren Dane writes hot dirty talk. That right there is a fact. Not only is the sex hot, but Cope and Ella have no problem talking through it – and that just makes the romance dirty. Need an example?
Reaching back, she divested herself of her bra.
“Wow.” He whistled with wolfish appreciation. “Those are fucking magnificent. You have no idea how many times I jerked off thinking of them.”
Do we need one more with a reference to Cope pleasuring himself? Oh I think we do:
This time she nipped his bottom lip, sucking it into the heat of her mouth, and his cock wanted to burst through the front of his sweats. He’d be masturbating about three seconds after he got through his front door at this rate. Again. His cock would fall off at this rate.
Don’t worry – his cock stays firmly in place.
Cope is so concerned with making sure Ella knows she is just not another fling, that he takes things mighty slow. Which means we get lots of slow, sensual tension, before the big show.
Ella is a strong heroine who is still fighting internal and external scars from her abusive relationship. She is really cute when she can’t believe the sexy Cope wants her. She gets flustered and blushes so easily – I really enjoyed those traits in her. But what she has found is this wonderful family – Cope, Todd, Ben, Erin, Brody, Elise and Adrian. These people surround one another, almost to a stifling degree. The amount of times we are told how wonderful each of the friends are does become repetitive at times. But I love how all the friends interact, and support each other. The guys can sit around talking about boobs, but they are also there for each other for the more serious moments.
I enjoyed the conflict Cope has with his father, which I assume started in the previous book. His father does not approve of his other son Ben, being in a ménage relationship with Ben and Erin, and I felt like their confrontation was done really well.
I had a blast reading this book. I enjoyed Cope and Ella’s relationship very much. Inside Out is very hot, and very fun and I will definitely be checking out her previous Brown Siblings books!
Rating: B
Recent Reviews
Love to Read for Fun – 3.5/5
Fiction Vixen – 4/5
Pearl’s World of Romance – 8.1/10
Goodreads
This Series Includes
Laid Bare
Coming Undone
Inside Out
Never Enough – September 2011 (Adrian’s Book)
Katiebabs/ KB says
His cock stays firmly in place. Snicker. You slay me Xmexy.
I guess it makes sense that a parent would be less than pleased that their child is in a menage. How do you tell your parents that and why would you?
Mandi says
I would hope the parents would eventually be okay with your life..since it is your life. And let's face it…they are having mighty good sexy times ;) I liked the conflict…it is written very real.
Can't have the smexy parts falling off, can we Xabs? ;p
Katiebabs/ KB says
The song Detachable Penis comes into mind.
;P
Mandi says
of course it does! LOLOLOL
Leontine says
Laid Bare is one of my all time favorites by LD but those quotes of Cope sizzle! If I didn't already have enough books yanking my chain I hope to squeeze in Inside Out too. I'm going to have such a hard time picking just 12 books from my TBR pile for December *eek*
Natascha says
Comments like "Do we need one more with a reference to Cope pleasuring himself? Oh I think we do" is why I enjoy reading your blog and reviews.
Hilarious.
Bells says
Great review! I loved this book and had to put Cope on the Book Boyfriend list!
Mandi says
Leontine – I NEED to read first two books..maybe over the holidays!
Natascha – LOL…:)
Bells – Cope is very worthy of a boyfriend….ps – Dying for Adrian's book!
Mary G says
Mandi
You'e so lucky. You have a whole backlist of awesome books to read.
Lauren Dane is one of my absolute faves. She writes amazing series & has awesome secondary characters.
tori aka ggs_closet says
I loved this book. So much I bought the other 2 for my TBR. Cope and Ella were perfect for each other. And the Dad-OMG it sucks there are parents like that out there. Great review Mandi.
Anonymous says
At the risk of sounding like an idiot… can I ask a totally unrelated question to this book? You've given a DNF to some books in the past. What does that stand for? I know your answer is going to make me say, "DUH!" But I just can't figure it out for the life of me and believe me, I've been trying.
Mandi says
Mary G – I know..I'm so excited to go back!
Tori – LOL..I went out and bought them too…we will have to read them together :)
Anon – Oh Sorry! DNF = Did Not Finish.
Fiction Vixen says
Nice review Mandi. Based on your feelings about this book, you are going to love the first two. :)
Blodeuedd says
Your first one, well then you certainly have many more to look forward too
Jenny says
Good to know his cock stays where it needs to be, it would be a disappointing read if it didn't rise to the occasion;) I'm a Lauren Dane virgin as well, but I fully intend to change that after reading this review! Thanks Mandi:)
Paranormal Haven says
I'm behind on Lauren Dane too :-( Those quotes alone are worth going to the book store for. Thanks for the review Mandi.
Stephanie G
Paranormal Haven
Aria says
Oh…you make me giggle! I loved Cope. I just gave LB to a friend. She gave it back with a blush demanding the other two! Love your review…
Smokinhotbooks says
Probably shouldn't have read this at work – oh well now my IT guy knows I read blogs about dirty talk ;)
Looooove Laid Bare – I'll have to pick this one up as well.
Julie says
You are a funny, funny gal! It's official – I'm reading this one starting this afternoon! So excited! And when I read about Cole pleasuring himself, I'll think of you. (Um…you know what I mean ;)
Mandi says
FV – Yay!
Blodeuedd – I do!
Jenny – I hope you do..it was a fun read
PH – LOL..soo many good quotes in this book
Aria – Cope is pretty awesome..I'm so excited for Adrian too
KC – I don't think this is the first time you have read naughty words at work *ahem* ;)
Julie – Cool!! Keep me updated!
Mary G says
Mandi
When you are done with this series,
read the 4 Chasse Brothers books.
Sooo good. You'll fall in love with each one.
Anonymous says
Yeah, while I'd rank the first two in the series "A" material, this was definitely a "B." While I love the family relationships, it was almost TOO much going on outside of their growing relationship. And I felt that the sex wasn't all that steamy. Cope's thoughts were steamier than what was actually happening. I expected a bit more of him. That said, their relationship itself is swoon-worthy. I can't wait to see what she does with Adrian's story.
Mandi says
Thanks for the rec Mary
I've actually heard that from several people..that this book isn't quite as good as her previous…we shall see :) Adrian seems like a fun character…
Patti (Book Addict) says
I just read this over the weekend – while Laid Bare is my all time fave, I liked this one better than Coming Undone. Can't wait for Adrian's book!
Mary G says
Hi Mandi
I can't say that these aren't as good as previous. Both series are different. All I know is that you won't be disappointed. Her books are keepers for me.
ms bookjunkie says
I love love love Lauren Dane's books, my only complaint about them is that they are so addicting I periodically binge reread a series of hers and forgo sleep… 8) I love the way she writes families.
Any Lauren Dane virgins need to pop their cherry, stat!
Pamela {Spaz} says
Aaaaaaaaah! I've only read the first book in this series and I have GOT to catch up. I remember Lauren Dane making a reference a while back when she was writing this book she made a comment about Cope making time with himself and this has been on my radar ever since. On a side note, how awesome are the freaking covers to the books in this series???? Someone in the art department LOVES LD :D Great review, cannot WAIT to get to this.