Review: Asking for More - Lilah Pace

The incendiary author of Begging for It and Asking for It again plunges readers into the shadowy depths of love, pain, pleasure and peril...

How far is too far?

Finally sure of each other's strength and love, Jonah and Vivienne continue to explore their darkest fantasies together. However, what should be a night of ecstasy takes a dangerous turn, injuring Vivienne. She shrugs off the incident, but Jonah is haunted by it, particularly by the fear that others may believe he abuses her, or even glimpse the truth of their erotic obsession.

Then Jonah receives a call from his younger sister, Rebecca, who's dealing with trouble of her own in South America. When Vivienne travels with him to aid Rebecca, she learns yet more about his tortured history—and Jonah opens up to Vivienne as never before.

Can Vivienne help Jonah cast off the shadows of his past forever?

Asking for It Series:
Asking for It
Begging for It
Asking for More (Novella)

Visit Lilah Pace's website for more information

Review:
Asking for More was a lot shorter than I expected but it was nice to catch up with Vivienne and Jonah and see how they're getting on several months on from Begging for It. As a couple they've come such a long way and I really liked the changes we see in Vivienne and how she has started to pay attention to Jonah's needs as well as her own. I found her a little selfish in the previous books so this was a massive and welcome improvement.

I like the fact that even though they still enjoy playing out their darkest fantasies that isn't all their is to their relationship anymore, they also have normal intimacy and enjoy each other outside of their fantasies. Jonah in particular is still struggling with his desires and that was something that wasn't focused on as much in the main books so it was nice to see Vivienne support him for a change. They talk through his issues and Vivienne definitely gets a much better idea about why he likes to play their games but also why it worries him so much that he enjoys them.

I wouldn't recommend reading this if you've not read the previous books but if you're a fan of the series then I'm sure you'll enjoy this glimpse into Vivienne and Jonah's future. I feel much more confident about them lasting the distance as a couple now.

Source: Purchased

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Review: Begging for It - Lilah Pace

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 . . .

Asking for It Series:
Asking for It
Begging for It
Asking for More (Novella)

Visit Lilah Pace's website for more information

Review:
I loved Asking for It so I was really excited to read more of Vivienne and Jonah's story in Begging for It. I had such high hopes for them and I wanted to see them working through their issues both individually and as a couple. I wasn't expecting either of them to give up their kink, there's absolutely nothing wrong with two consenting adults enjoying whatever fantasy turns them on as long as nobody is getting hurt by it, but I did find it concerning that Vivienne couldn't enjoy sex in any other way. She has some deep rooted issues that she obviously needs to deal with for her own sake as well as for Jonah's.

I had such high hopes for this story that I can't help but come away feeling a little disappointed. Vivienne has no intention of changing, she doesn't want help and no matter how much she complains about hating herself for her desires she makes no effort to do anything about it. She's been in therapy for years and hasn't made even the tiniest bit of progress so either she's wasting her money on the world's most incompetent therapist or, much more likely in my opinion, she is pretending to pay attention and then blindly ignoring every piece of advice she's ever been given. It became so incredibly frustrating to see Jonah practically begging her to help him. He is desperate to change and working hard at dealing with his issues but whenever he asks her to bend even a little bit she gets resentful and starts acting like a child. She complains that Jonah won't give her what she needs but she never thinks about what Jonah needs. He doesn't want to give up their games altogether and he's not asking her to either but he doesn't want that to be all their relationship is about and she won't even try any other way.

Throw in the suspense of a serial rapist (and of course Jonah is the main suspect of the police investigation!) and the way Vivienne was acting made me dislike her even more. I didn't like her attitude and I found this book very frustrating to read. It felt like 90% of the story was Vivienne acting like a brat and then finally in the last 10% they had one couples session with the therapist and Vivienne was magically cured. The complete turn around she makes happens far too quickly to be believable and it all left me rolling my eyes. If I'm honest I can't for the life of me figure out why Jonah stuck it out for so long and I no longer care about them as a couple. This was such a disappointing sequel and it's made worse because I had such high expectations going in.

Source: Purchased

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Review: Asking for It - Lilah Pace

“This is who I am. This is what I want. Now I need a man dangerous enough to give it to me.”

Graduate student Vivienne Charles is afraid of her own desires—ashamed to admit that she fantasizes about being taken by force, by a man who will claim her completely and without mercy. When the magnetic, mysterious Jonah Marks learns her secret, he makes an offer that stuns her: they will remain near-strangers to each other, and meet in secret so that he can fulfill her fantasy.

Their arrangement is twisted. The sex is incredible. And—despite their attempts to stay apart—soon their emotions are bound together as tightly as the rope around Vivienne’s wrists. But the secrets in their pasts threaten to turn their affair even darker . . .

Reader Advisory: Asking for It deals explicitly with fantasies of non-consensual sex. Readers sensitive to portrayals of non-consensual sex should be advised.

Asking for It Series:
Asking for It
Begging for It
Asking for More (Novella)

Visit Lilah Pace's website for more information

Review:
Asking for It touches on a bit of a controversial subject and I'll warn you now that if you have triggers it's probably a book you need to stay well clear of. There are flashbacks to scenes of rape and abuse, not between the main characters but to things that have happened to them or that they witnessed, so that is understandably going to make some people uncomfortable. I don't tend to read many dark books but I like to step out of my comfort zone occasionally and I was intrigued by this one.

I'm not a fan of the term "rape fantasy" because I don't think things are that simple, there is a very big difference between a woman fantasising about rough, out of control, sex with a guy (even a stranger) that she finds attractive to her being forced into something against her will by someone that she may or may not be interested in sexually. I don't have a problem with someone wanting to give up control and experience a darker side to sex but I really don't think the word rape should be used to describe it. The very fact that Vivienne is fantasising about sex with Jonah, that everything they do is discussed in detail before it happens and that they have set rules in place to make sure everything is completely consensual meant I was able to enjoy reading the sex scenes between them. They definitely both like things on the rough side but there is no denying the chemistry between them or how mind-blowingly hot this story was.

What I really enjoyed about Asking for It was how well we got to know the main characters, even though the story is told from Vivienne's point of view I felt like I got to see a bit of what made Jonah tick and I really liked them both. They're both more than a little messed up thanks to things from their past but I enjoyed seeing them get to know each other and it was good to see Vivienne starting to accept her desires and realise that there was nothing wrong with her kink. They go into things determined to keep their relationship purely sexual, they will indulge in their wildest fantasies together but they have no plans to get to know each other or start dating. Of course now that they've both found the person who can give them everything they ever wanted it's not quite as simple as that and it doesn't take long before the lines begin to blur. It was fascinating to see the growing connection between them and I liked that it wasn't all about the sex.

This isn't the kind of story that gives you a happily ever after, or even really a happily for now, but I have extremely high hopes that they'll be able to make things work eventually and I can't wait to get my hands on a copy of the sequel Begging for It. Lilah Pace has tackled a difficult subject with sensitivity, she made me believe in both of these characters and want to see them get the love that they deserve. She's definitely an author to watch out for and her future books will be going to the top of my to read pile.

Source: Received from the author in exchange for an honest review

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Review: Molly's Lips: Club Mephisto Retold - Annabel Joseph

When Mephisto’s friend Clayton is called out of town on business, he agrees to look after his slave for the week. But Molly isn’t your average slave. She and Clayton share a serious, full time dynamic. Mephisto feels a weight of responsibility he isn’t used to, and worse, an intense attraction to Molly, the partner of his friend.

Mephisto is determined to sublimate his inappropriate desires and provide a challenging and instructive week for the devoted slave. He subjects Molly to orgasm denial, speech restriction, scenes of erotic torment, even an orgy where she is made to service his friends. Along the way, he experiences unfamiliar jealousy, and deep cravings to possess her himself.

Throughout the week, he is also haunted by persistent questions. Is she happy being a 24/7 slave? Or is there another Molly trapped beneath her submissive, surrendered gaze?

If you've read Club Mephisto, you know this story from Molly's perspective. Now, prepare to relive the experience from Mephisto's point of view...

Club Mephisto Series:
Club Mephisto
Molly's Lips: Club Mephisto Retold
Burn for You

Visit Annabel Joseph's website for more information.

Review:
Club Mephisto was both uncomfortable and fascinating to read, it took me to places I wasn't sure I wanted to go to but I found it impossible to put down once I'd started reading. The story was told completely from Molly's point of view though and I couldn't wait to get inside Mephisto's head to try and understand why he did some of the things he did. Whatever you do don't read Molly's Lips until after you've read Club Mephisto though - this is a retelling of the original book but from a different perspective and it really is best to hear Molly's side of things before you get Mephisto's.

I have to admit that Mephisto scares me half to death but in spite of that I'd developed a bit of a crush on him by the end of the first book. He's the kind of guy I'm drawn to pretty much against my will but there is no way on earth I'd want to get into a relationship with him, he's just way to hardcore for me! My little crush has only grown even deeper after reading the story from his POV though and I found it really interesting to see Molly through his eyes. He knew her before she met her husband and Master and he struggled to accept how dependent she has become on Clayton. He pushes her to the very edge of her boundaries and then well beyond them throughout the story but we now get to see that he did it because he cares about her. He wanted to make sure she really is happy with the life she has chosen and to show her that she had other options if she needed or wanted them. The way he goes about that was sometimes dubious to say the least but at least from his POV his motives are clearer. There is no doubt that Mephisto is a kinky bastard and he makes no apologies for it but oh boy is he hot!

After the revelations at the end of the book (that we didn't see from Molly's POV) I can't wait to pick up Burn for Me. I really need to know how things turn out for them both now that Molly has gone back to her Master. If you read Club Mephisto then Molly's Lips is a must read and I can't recommend it highly enough.

Source: I downloaded this ebook for free from Amazon

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Review: Club Mephisto - Annabel Joseph

Molly is a 24/7 slave dedicated to serving her Master. When her Master’s business calls him away on a weeklong trip, he arranges to leave her in the care of Mephisto, the owner of a thriving local BDSM club. Molly is both excited and scared to be given over to Master Mephisto. His power and mysterious intensity have long compelled her from afar.

Molly finds herself immersed in a world of strict commands, pervasive sex, and creative torments. Over the course of a week, Mephisto strips away privileges Molly took for granted, and forces her to understand and acknowledge the depths to which she can be made to submit. But a surprising conversation the last day threatens Molly’s worldview, as does the strange closeness that develops between them. As the time of Master’s return draws near, Molly finds herself deeply and inexorably changed.

Publisher's Note: this BDSM fantasy novel depicts "total power exchange" relationships that some readers may find objectionable. This work contains acts of sadism, objectification, orgasm denial and speech restriction, caging, anal play and double penetration, BDSM punishment and discipline, M/f, M/m/f, M/m, orgy and group sexual encounters, voyeurism, and limited circumstances of dubious consent.

Club Mephisto Series:
Club Mephisto
Molly's Lips: Club Mephisto Retold
Burn for You

Visit Annabel Joseph's website for more information.

Review:
Molly and her husband have a Master/slave relationship that includes total power exchange. Molly is a willing slave who happily follows her Master's bidding 24/7, she likes having the control taken out of her hands and she enjoys having a routine that she is made to stick to. When her Master has to go on a week long business trip he knows that Molly would be unhappy left on her own so he arranges for a friend of his to take over her care. Mephisto is the owner of a BDSM club, he lives the lifestyle but has never been interested in having a full time slave before. He has agreed to take on Molly as a favour for his friend but his desires are very different and Molly is going to have to learn a whole new set of rules while she is in his care.

I've read quite a few novels containing BDSM now and although it isn't a lifestyle I'm involved in I find it fascinating to read about. I've never really come across total power exchange before though, the few novels I've read that involved a 24/7 slave type relationship couldn't really be considered consensual so I was curious to find out why an intelligent young woman would willingly become a slave. As much as I don't envy Molly's lifestyle I did come to understand why it worked for her, there must be something quite appealing about leaving the decisions to someone else. It's probably liberating in a strange kind of way to give control to another person and it is obvious that Molly and her Master (and husband) have a very special relationship. They each offer the other something that the other needs and they both love each other deeply. I didn't feel that it was healthy for Molly to be so dependent on her Master for everything though, she wasn't capable of getting through a week without him on her own - even the thought of him leaving her for that long really upset her. I'd never really considered what a burden it must be for a Master to have someone so completely dependent on them all of the time, as much as they are the one who gets to make all the decisions they must also always have the slave's best interests at heart and make sure that they are safe and cared for. That is a huge responsibility to live up to!

The idea of loaning out your slave to someone else seems really odd to me but then again I'm not the kind of person who would want to be either a slave or a Master so I don't have a clue whether that is common practise or not. I happen to have a preference for exclusive relationships but that doesn't mean I don't enjoy reading about other alternatives. I could actually see why Molly's Master wanted to involve Mephisto though, he was worried that Molly would be completely lost if anything ever happened to him and he wanted to show her that she could survive without him and even be happy with someone else. Mephisto was an enigma, because the whole story is told from Molly's perspective we never really knew what his motivations were and he both fascinated and scared the crap out of me. I have since read the follow up to this story Molly's Lips which covers the same week in time but from Mephisto's perspective and I have to say I'd highly recommend reading both stories - it really makes a difference to how you see certain things when you get the chance to get inside Mephisto's head. I'm now looking forward to reading the final part of the story Burn for You and finding out what happens next.

At times Club Mephisto makes for uncomfortable reading, Mephisto takes Molly to some dark spaces and I certainly wouldn't want to swap places with her. In spite of that I thought it was a fantastic story. If you aren't afraid to push your boundaries, if you enjoy reading about the BDSM lifestyle or if you're even slightly curious about the idea of a total power exchange then I'd highly recommend reading this book. Do make sure you read Molly's Lips afterwards though - it won't even cost you anything because the author has published that story as a freebie (it can be downloaded free from Amazon for the kindle or in multiple formats via Smashwords).

Source: Purchased

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Review: Comfort Food - Kitty Thomas

Emily Vargas has been taken captive. As part of his conditioning methods, her captor refuses to speak to her, knowing how much she craves human contact. Told in the first person from Emily's perspective, Comfort Food explores what happens when all expectations of pleasure and pain are turned upside down, as whips become comfort and chicken soup becomes punishment.

Comfort food is currently available as an eBook but is coming soon in both hardback and paperback.  The eBook can be purchased from Smashwords, Scribd or on Kindle.  Scribd also has the first 100 pages available as a preview if you want to give it a try.

Check Kitty Thomas' website for more information.

Review:
Emily has been kidnapped, she has no idea where she is and very little hope of escape.  Kept in an empty grey cell with nothing to do and not even a bed to sleep on she quickly becomes desperate for human contact - ANY kind of human contact.  Although she is brought 3 meals a day (always chicken noodle soup) her captor refuses to answer her questions or even speak at all.  Her world has been turned upside down and she will soon willingly submit to anything just to feel the comfort of his touch.

Comfort Food is like nothing I've ever read before but WOW is it a powerful read!  Told in first person narrative by Emily you journey with her from the minute she wakes up tide to a chair and blindfolded.  I loved her voice and it was scarily easy to imagine you were in her place.  Given the situation she was in I'm not sure that anyone would have been able to handle things differently.  The worst thing for Emily is that she can see what he is doing to her but she is powerless to resist.

The book does include scenes of BDSM which I confess isn't something I've read a lot of.  It isn't a light hearted affair with what we would consider normal consent and there is no such thing as a safe word but Emily's captor doesn't do anything without her agreement.  Emily can choose to say no at any time but then she is left alone in her empty grey cell with food passed silently through the door.  Given the choice of nothingness or doing what her captor requests she finds herself accepting anything just to have his company and attention.

Although Comfort Food takes you on a dark and disturbing journey and isn't a book for the faint hearted it is an incredibly powerful story and one that I devoured in an afternoon.  We've all heard stories of women who have been captured and held prisoner for years but it tends to be something that society tries not to think about and rarely discusses.  It isn't something that should be pushed under the carpet though & I can't recommend reading this book strongly enough.  I'm still thinking about the story days after I finished reading it and I know it will effect me for a long time to come.  In my opinion that is the sign of a good story and if you're brave enough to give it a try I'm sure you won't regret it.

Source: Thanks Kitty for sending me this to review.

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