Most Helpful Customer Reviews
28 of 29 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
NOT a silly piece of sex fluff, June 3, 2005
This review is from: Asking for Trouble (Black Lace) (Mass Market Paperback)
The book starts when Beth (the heroine), moves into her new flat in the grungy working class, avant-garde, seaside neighborhood town of Brighton, England. While putting up curtains, she notices a strange man (Ilya, the hero of the story) in the flats across the street staring at her from his window mocking her every move. When the annoyed Beth decides to flash the stranger, she's surprised by his response. Scared and a bit shaken by his actions she decides it wasn't the best move for a woman living alone. Then the phone rings... Guess who?... Right from the start I knew I was going to like Beth and I was going to like this very realistic psychotically dark & dangerous, sexual thriller.
30 year old Beth, not looking for a serious relationship at the moment (she's busy managing a trendy, fashionable bar & enjoying a normal single life) finds her self attracted to the handsome, but mysterious Ilya. After their first intimate (and slightly scary) encounter Beth reveals her deepest darkest fantasies to Ilya. They both agree it might be fun to meet on occasions to fulfill Beth's fantasies with no strings attached. Beth's fantasies roughly have to do with being made to do sexually degrading things and treated like a sleazy slut - nasty, hot, hard sex that involves multiple male partners, being sexually dominated and sometimes rape. However, Beth makes it clear from the start that the rape fantasy wouldn't be part of the game as it should stay a fantasy... Will Ilya play fair? Beth and Ilya agree if they should find the game, at any point, boring or going too far, they are to say the safe word and the game ends immediately and the relationship stops. Beth believes she's the one in control in the beginning (remember, she can stop it any time with one word) but Beth becomes dangerously addicted to these games and especially addicted to Ilya. Beth knows Ilya also has the option to stop the madness and she finds her self less and less willing or unable to extricate her self. She keeps Ilya and their dirty little sex games a secret. Even her best friends and her work mates know nothing about either. Soon the games get more and more hazardous and degrading as Ilya's shadowy past catches up with him and he's determined to use Beth. There is one scene where Beth is called to Ilya's rundown bed & breakfast hotel - it was frightening and I wasn't sure I would be able to read it through...*panting* That was only one of many intense scene in this deliciously brilliant nervy novel. At times I wanted to reach into the book and take Beth by the shoulders and scream, stop it now before it's too late. But, how do you stop yourself when a gorgeous, complicated, mysterious man takes your most depraved sexual secret fantasies and makes them real, exciting and dangerous.
Kristina Lloyd had me believing these characters and their situations were REAL. I mean sometimes I wonder if it isn't based on someone's true experience. It certainly had that element of truth, and the characters could easily be people you meet everyday at work, on the street or in a pub. Beth's reactions were honest and true to most of the scenarios in the book. It's the reactions and emotions I'd expect from a real live woman to have - not like most Black Lace heroines. Ilya is more complicated, but that is what is so wonderful about his persona. He was the perfect bloke to carry out these bold acts. Lloyd had this reader (me) and Beth asking the question - who is Ilya. Is sexy, handsome, macho, working class Ilya involved in illegal activities? Is he running from something or someone? How dangerous is he, and why won't he tell Beth anything about his work, friends or life in general. The secrets, the fantasies, the lies, the danger and the often explosive sex scenes make this one great piece of exciting erotic literature - in fact I thought this book would work even in the mainstream, not just erotica. Yes, the sex scenes were explosive and HOT, but it's not just the sex that keeps this wonderful story going... It's the element of danger too. So far after reading, many, many Black Lace novels, "Asking For Trouble" is the one that stood out from the rest and in my opinion one of the best. It's not like the other Black Lace books... It's more intense, personal and believable. Kristina, give us more, pleeease...
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you? Yes
No
15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Confusing, May 31, 2007
This review is from: Asking for Trouble (Black Lace) (Mass Market Paperback)
I'm not really sure how to rate this. One one hand the author has amazing talent, the pacing is great, the characters feel real, and the plot moves fast. On the other hand the particular bent of the characters is difficult to grasp for me.
To be clear Beth's fantasies center entirely around her humiliation. From reading other reviews I assumed it was more dominance, but it's actually straight humiliation.
Hanging curtains she begins a strip-off with a man across the street who essentially begins stalking her. Confused and crazed with lust she exhanges phone fantasies with Ilya who makes it clear he doesn't care about last names, personal histories, or family.
Beth begins to make asignations with Ilya where she's used as a table, [...] on, videotaped without her knowledge, and driven to have sex with strangers. Admitedly the [...] scenes were so disinteresting I didn't read the last two where Beth is passed aroundd a group of thugs as payment for trouble Ilya is in and then she performs a sex act on stage at her club for some of those thugs.
Many people are disturbed by the "rape" scene (read attempted rape scene) but it's easy to see coming. Ilya is a man who truly doesn't respect Beth in the least, doesn't even like her, and he does ominously tell her earlier "One day I'm going to rape you."
So for the sex I'd say pass unless humilation is your thing, but for the plot and writing it was good. Just what Ilya does for a living is a good mystery, and you find yourself rooting for Beth to find some self-respect. However if you pay attention to Ilya and Beth's characters you'll know what the outcome will be.
Unless you're into humilaition I'd say skip this, but if that's your bent do not miss this book.
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you? Yes
No
15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
stylish, contemporary, and unpredictable, March 8, 2000
By A Customer
This review is from: Asking for Trouble (Black Lace) (Mass Market Paperback)
When Beth Bradshaw moves into a new flat she soon becomes aware she's being watched by a guy who lives across the street. Most people would call the police, but Beth gets involved with the guy - who turns out to be weirder and scarier than she could have imagined. This book is a breath of fresh air in the sometimes predictable world of erotic fiction. It's set in my town - an English seaside resort - and for me Kristina Lloyd has really captured the feel of the place: shabby and sleazy with a frisson of danger and excitement. It's a stylish, contemporary page-turner that kept me guessing till the end.
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you? Yes
No
|
|
Most Recent Customer Reviews
|