Asking for It by Lilah Pace

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“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. 

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How to review this book??? This is a well written book, but it also filled with taboo subjects and may not be for everyone.  (If you or someone you know has been sexually abused, do not read this book, as the main character does have a non consensual sexual fantasies.)

With that being said, Pace draws you into this story and makes you want to be part of the dark emotional roller coaster of both Vivienne Charles and Jonah Marks.   Did you notice the word DARK, when I use dark I’m not talking light grey, I am talking pitch black.  Know that the subject matter and the relationship is twisted and dark.  I happen to love twisted and dark, but be warned that this is not an easy read.  It is a gut wrenching and at times cringe worthy read, as the subject matter of the book is not an easy one.   This is not BDSM light, no shades of grey.

Both the main characters and the minor are all fleshed out, and the minor characters are not just a back drop for the plot.  In fact ever nuance of this book from the setting to the, texture of the scenes is rich, and fleshed out.   The sexual content is raw, and so are the emotions that lead both Vivienne and Jonah to need the type of sexual release they crave.  There are layers upon layers to these characters and Pace has mined the depths of their souls.

There were times when reading this book, I just wanted to stop and say I’m done, as the emotional and physical journey of the characters was exhausting.  I still think my mouth is hanging open, and my brain is thinking what the hell did I read.  Plus as I enjoyed the book, I might need to question my mental health.

Pace, according to her bio is a New York Times Bestselling author and this is her first adult fiction book.  I am not trying to out the author, but I think she deserved that title as Bestselling author as the writing is seamless. I assume she has written young adult prior as I can’t think of a reason to use a pseudonym for any other reason, if she was already an adult author.