Lilah Pace

Jonah and Vivienne's erotic bond began as no-strings sex between strangers. Now their intimacy is turning into love, but it's built on fantasies so extreme that exploring them makes guilt inescapable. But the risks they're taking are far more dangerous than they'd imagined. A stalker is terrorizing the city, and one of Jonah's ex-lovers names him as a potential suspect to the police. Standing by a man under suspicion could cost Vivienne everything. But only when she's drawn into her lover's twisted family past will she learn how dark the truth really is.

Begging for It

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Lilah Pace absolutely blew my mind with Asking for It. It pushed me to think differently and gave me one of the toughest book hangovers I've had to date. The ending kind of wrecked me and I was really nervous (but eager) to find out what would happen with Vivienne and Jonah. Needless to say, I jumped right into Begging for It the minute I got access to the review copy. This book had a different feel for me than Asking for It did. I knew it would be difficult to recreate the magic of the first book, but I had high hopes. I wasn't disappointed. 

Where, to me, the first book was more focused on the physical connection between Vivienne and Jonah, and her coming to terms with what she really desired, this book was more about the after.There are a lot of unanswered questions going into this book – and, honestly, for a good portion of the book. Is it possible for Vivienne and Jonah to have a real relationship? There's no doubt they have a connection that's stronger than their shared kink, but can they make it work? Can they both come to terms with the events of their pasts to share a future together? What's the truth behind the ugly incidents happening around the campus? 

I won't get spoilery in my review. What I will say is that I liked the character growth of both Vivienne and Jonah during this book. This book is focused more on the mental than the physical – not to say there weren't some incredibly hot scenes – as both Vivienne and Jonah continue to come to terms with the parts of their pasts that make them who they are today. They're both broken, and despite the fear that being together will weaken them, I actually found the opposite. They were stronger together and I was rooting for them to let go and make a real go of it. 

This series was incredible. The characters were complex and amazing. I loved the honest look at consent and desire and the strength it took for each of these characters to step up and declare their needs. I loved the growth and the challenges. It made me think, it made me feel and took me by surprise in a lot of ways. I don't know what Lilah's plans are for future books, but I'm already ridiculously excited to find out. I'm a big fan. 

I received a copy of this book from the publisher, via NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review.

Lacey

Originally posted at Booklovers For Life

After loving Asking for It, I’d been eagerly awaiting to read Begging for It, but I never got the chance to until now. Sadly, Begging for It didn’t live up to its incredible predecessor. I was blown away by Vivienne and Jonah in the first book, but there was just something missing when I read about them in this sequel. I grew bored most of the time while reading, mainly because I was waiting for something to happen, some development to show, but nothing ever did. I’m sad to say I’m pretty disappointed with Begging for It, and even the stunning writing wasn’t enough to make me love it.

I’m ashamed of what I want.
I want it anyway.

Begging for It picks up right where Asking for It leaves off, with Vivienne and Jonah separated and unhappy. Vivienne tries to make Jonah see that what they have together is special, even if it is messed up. The rape fantasies they have and play out are a dark, essential part of them, but Jonah can’t reconcile playing their ‘games’ with an actual rape victim, understandably. But Vivienne leaves him with an ultimatum – either they’re together and they have to play their fantasies, or it’s completely over between them.

Our problem isn’t a lack of attraction. Merely being in the same room together sets us each on fire.
Our problem is that this fire could burn us both down.

Vivienne comes off as selfish and manipulative, and it’s not just because of the ultimatum. I didn’t like her AT ALL in this book, which was disappointing because I adored her in Asking for It. She’s continually selfish and only wants things her way throughout the novel, completely disregarding Jonah’s feelings most of the time. I didn’t like that she couldn’t see Jonah’s side of things, that she couldn’t accept him not wanting to act out their fantasies anymore because she has it so into her head that they NEED their ‘games.’ I also found myself skimming a lot of the introspective parts of the book that were repetitive – while I understand Vivienne’s shame and guilt over needing the fantasies, it got tiring to read about that over and over.

Vivienne and Jonah are messed up people. But the thing is, they never really try to resolve their problems. Jonah gives it a go, since he’s not the one who can’t orgasm without acting out the fantasy, but he gives in easily to Vivienne. I liked Jonah more than Vivienne in Begging for It, but I can’t say that I liked him as much as I did in Asking for It. He just wasn’t as appealing or compelling in this sequel, sadly. But I did enjoy the way his and Vivienne’s love and romance progressed – it was everything else I had problems with.

“You and I, what we have together, it’s more than this. And yet this is a part of us. It always will be.”

There are a ton of things going on in this novel, but the things that I wanted the story to focus on never really get a concise ending. Vivienne doesn’t receive closure with her family or her rapist. The plot involving Jonah and his sadistic, evil stepfather felt incomplete. The stalker/rapist terrorizing the school campus plot was predictable. With the way things ended, this book could’ve been so much shorter – there was just too much filler and secondary character plots that felt unnecessary.

I probably would’ve given this 2-2.5 hearts, if not for the gorgeous writing. I didn’t hate this book, but it didn’t live up to my expectations. That being said, I still did love the first book and all its brilliant intensity and grittiness. And because I adore the writing, I’ll more than likely read more of Lilah Pace’s upcoming books. Hopefully if you loved Asking for It, you’ll enjoy Begging for It more than I did.

Amazon Ebook: http://amzn.to/1HEUYiL
Amazon Paperback: http://amzn.to/1Hk83O6

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azliana aziz

Vesselina

Ashley Janssen

The provocative author of Asking for It once again explores the dark side of erotic obsession, and the secrets that make it as dangerous as it is irresistible. Some secrets should only be shared in the dark. Jonah and Vivienne’s erotic bond—living out raw scenarios of captivity and force—began as no-strings sex between strangers who shared the same desires. Now the intimacy between them is turning into love, but it’s a love built on fantasies so extreme that exploring them makes guilt inescapable. But the risks they're taking are far more dangerous than they'd imagined. A stalker is terrorizing the city, and one of Jonah’s ex-lovers names him as a potential suspect to the police. Standing by a man under suspicion could cost Vivienne everything. But when Jonah’s stepfather takes advantage of the scandal to seize control of the Marks family fortune, Vivienne is drawn into her lover’s broken family and twisted past. Only then will she learn how dark the truth really is...

Begging for It

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