Astonishingly good. The best treatment of the subject matter I can imagine. A heroine with a life, personality, and a therapist, who is clear about her boundaries and what she wants. An insightful exploration of a common (I think?) question: what, if anything, do our fantasies say about us? Unresolved, though--because the hero, while imperfect, is NOT a control-freak psychopath. He's a compassionate, if closed, man who has his own boundaries and concerns.

BONUS POINT: J is wealthy and uses it once--and really only once--to take V away for a week. A side character cautions her that what seems like generosity is really control in disguise. I don't think that's the problem here. But someone cared! (actually, heroine's friends don't get a ton of screen time, but they do have their own lives and problems. Geordie was particularly good--now I'd like to see if Kip is a person or plot device). ( )

I'm still a bit conflicted about this book. For a romance/erotica it was rather challenging to read, but that's probably because of my own history. What is interesting to me is the work the Pace is doing examing the sexual fantisies and sex life of a rape survivor. It's layered and complex.

I'm a little annoyed that the male protagonist gets to "one-up" her and play the "who had the worst experience" game. I don't think the book needs the added complexity - it has more than enough to play with. ( )

4.3 stars

This book was recommended to me and I went in pretty much blind. I knew the basics of the story but more than that I didn't know anything and I was glad about that. I wasn't sure how the author was going to be able to traverse the line of consensual non-consent without making it seem scripted or even cheesy. Not only did she not do that but she soared in a different direction with how much thought and care she put into the why's and how's of why this was even a thought to be had on not just Vivienne's part but also on Jonah's part.

I think that is what I appreciated the most. she gave me the opportunity to want to dive into the character's mind. At first, it just started with Vivienne. I wanted to, actually no, I needed, to understand why someone with the life and accolades that Vivienne had would have this be her fantasy. I found myself trying to be in her shoes, and in doing that I found that what I had always been trying to deny. As a victim myself, I mirrored some of the reasons that she sought the control because there IS power there. There is a desire to want to be in control of a situation that is not controllable. I applaud that the author took it in this direction, even if it is not popular. I appreciated and understand the years of therapy trying to make sense of a fantasy that many would shame. It is a hard pill to swallow. I did wish at times she would have grown from those years of therapy but also realize that isn't always as simple as waving a magic wand. I hope that in the next book I can see some growth from her as she processes her situation and maybe finds a little peace.

Once I understood that it was easier to then want to dive into Jonah's head and discover why he was wanting to be that person. I got my answers in the end but it was at the very end and that left me a little frustrated. I was unaware that this book was a duet. The cover when I bought it didn't say anything and it was only after seeing it on here that I noticed the #1. That is on me, but it still didn't change the fact that as the end was drawing near that it left me disjointed that I still didn't discover all the things that I had been wanting. I will gladly be diving into the next book to get my resolution. I did find myself drawn to him though. There was just something about him that even though he seemed distant and aloof at times, that he also seemed so centered and attentive. The little gestures that he did were truly beautiful and I found myself falling down the rabbit hole along with Vivienne.

There isn't a book that can dictate what turns us on or fuels our desires. Yet, people are quick to judge people on their likes and dislikes. This is a shame because sometimes there is a motivation to it. I would never condone actual rape. It is filthy, revolting, and degrading. However, this author helps give credence that not everything can or should be judged. She portrayed this consensual non-consent with grace as she showed their mindset and thoughts. Some of the scenes were HOT, and I am talking HOTTER than HOT. The times were not cheesy and the situations were well thought out in advance with all safety precautions in place. Vivienne had all the control, as it should have been all along. I appreciated that as the story went along, that there was a connection there and that ultimately, it was a 'stranger' that finally believed her and stood up for her. Powerful stuff.

The reason for not ranking higher is that I wasn't drawn to the story about her friends. I didn't understand how their struggles help me understand the story that was evolving between Vivienne and Jonah. I realize that they both need friends but I still didn't understand all of the details about them having a baby or the struggles that they faced or even why Carmen was even upset.

Looking forward to the next book. ( )

A few points felt a bit out of place. Overall though this was a really interesting read with a cliffhanger ending.

Obviously avoid this book if the subject matter is a trigger for you. For others it explores the subject matter in a really great way. ( )

A cliffhanger worth reading.

I have never knowingly started a book that ended in a cliffhanger. Been sucked into one unwittingly by vague book blurbs? Sure. Purposely started one? Never. I detest cliffhangers. Yet, even knowing everything would not be tied up neatly by the end of the book, the sample sucked me in and for the next four hours I devoured this book. Good thing I had nothing important to do today.

The story is written in first person from Vivienne's POV. I'm not a fan of first person narration to begin with, and I especially dislike first person narration when paired with only one character's point of view. So it surprised me to find that for this particular story, having only Vivienne's side of the story really worked. Because readers only know what Vivienne knows we are focused on her: her reasons for needing the fantasy, her secrets, her shame. Jonah's motivations for wanting the fantasy are largely ignored, mainly because Vivienne purposely ignores them in fear of what they might say about him. This choice in narration type actually worked for me in this book because it allowed Jonah to remain largely a mystery until almost the end.

The author filled out the book rather well, so it wasn't just one sex scene after another. Yes, the sex was violent but it was contained within their pre-approved agreements. I'm not sure how the author did it, but even when Jonah was "in character" he never creeped me out. I thought I would have a hard time liking Jonah the Nice Guy after reading their "play" scenes where he was Jonah the Rapist, but that didn't happen. Maybe this worked because Jonah the Nice Guy always showed up immediately at the end of their scene. Before either one could even catch their breathe it was back to just the two of them, the fantasy over. There was a clear start and end to each encounter so there was never any moment for the bad to leech into the good. But make no mistake, these were definitely rape fantasies, so like the warnings stated, if this is a trigger, please proceed responsibly when deciding to give this book a chance.

I think it is worth noting that Vivienne may have been taking a huge chance when she decided to indulge her fantasy with Jonah, a man she barely knew, but she was not some flighty, stupid young woman you find in so many books these days. She knew she was taking a risk, but it was a risk she desperately wanted to take. So she set up safeguards, which included a variety of ways to raise an alarm if she went missing. I think that by setting up the safe guards she was able to justify, to herself at least, her decision to do something most would find foolish. The safeguards she set up would not have been any use if she was in immediate danger but I was happy to see the writer include them.

And now I wait, rather impatiently, for September 1 when the next book, Begging for It, is released. Asking for It ended at a crossroads, so to speak, so it will be interesting to see what happens as their story continues... ( )