Ask For It (Georgian)

After struggling to finish this book (and admittedly skimming through the last 100 pages or so), all I can say is, "What?!" This book is all over the place. It starts off fairly promising, and we think "Oho, a challenge for our gorgeous hero," but unfortunately the chase lasts about 4 seconds and then it's all downhill from there.

I really wanted to like Elizabeth but she unerringly manages to fall into that too-stupid-to-live territory that I detest in heroines. Rather than simply draw her as a complex person, the author can't seem to decide what Elizabeth is. One moment she's calmly firing a weapon at an attacker, the next throwing a hissy fit over some perceived slight, the next acting like an ice queen, the next running away from some Big Misunderstanding like a middle schooler.

As for Marcus, he is a typically gorgeous, arrogant hero who is verbally neutered by Elizabeth at nearly every turn and reduced to near violence, yet we're not supposed to love him any less.

The plot is a joke--some business with a journal that gets old quickly, a stolen brooch, a stolen (and unkindly returned) knife, a long-dead mother whose memory nonetheless affects everything, a Robin Hood pirate, some sort of wager that's not explained, blah blah blah. In addition, the secondary characters are mostly weak and annoying, such as a meddlesome brother who deserves a poke in the eye, former mistresses who...what? I could go on, but I've lost interest.

The only reason I gave this two stars instead of one was for the frequent sex scenes. Not quite decent erotica, they do rise slightly above the normal bodice ripper herd, so at least there's a minimum of the usual cheesy euphemisms.

All in all, if you're looking for a coherent plot and/or steamy erotica, save your dollars and look elsewhere.

I bought the book based upon the store reviews, but I'm afraid I have a different opinion than many readers. There was nothing the characters did or said that kept me particularly interested, not even in the bedroom scenes. I guess there was a story, but despite the fact that I finished the book just recently, I no longer have a clue what it was. Not a good sign.

Great erotica! The story takes place in England during the 1700's. So the language reflects that time period. Initially I found it tedious but I actually came to enjoy it. The sex scenes were fantastic. And there was just enough violence humor and chivalry. Well done

The hot in handcuffs was damaged during delivery. Plus I love the larger paperbacks and was not paying attention to the size of the books when I ordered these. Received two smaller versions and two larger versions this shipment.

I normally love Sylvia Day, and I have never encountered a novel of hers that I did not immediately love. However, the characters in this novel irked me considerably, and I could not bring myself to like this novel.

*SPOILERS AHEAD*

First, lets begin with Marcus. He is a brutish man, and his behavior towards Elizabeth borders on harassment, and there are even times that I would say the sex they partake in is almost rape, which instantly turned me away from this novel. He is mean to Elizabeth, even though the problems they had in their relationship were the fault of both parties. He blames her entirely, and uses her explicitly, as well as physically manipulating her. He uses sex to make her do what he wants, and its just ugly.

Elizabeth is annoying in her stubbornness, and I constantly wanted to smack her for her inability to just relax. She, in turn, is also mean to Marcus, and is constantly holding the past against him, regardless of his explanation of what happened.

Overall, their relationship was extremely toxic on both ends, and they should have never been put together. All they do is hurt one another emotionally and almost physically. The only chemistry they have was in the bedroom, and even then I would argue that there were times that there was no chemistry there either. All in all, I was extremely disappointed in this book, because I love all the other novels I have ever read by Sylvia Day, and even loved the other Georgian novels, but this one was terrible, brutish, and bordered on rape too many times for my comfort. Definitely would not recommend.

I borrowed this Kindle book from my local library.

I think Sylvia Day is a wonderful writer, in another author's hands this probably would have been a one star read for me.

Marcus and Elizabeth were engaged 4 years prior, until a misunderstanding drove Elizabeth to run and marry someone else. Now she is a widow, and Marcus vows to stop at nothing until he seduces her. This is where I have a problem with this book. Elizabeth is still attracted to Marcus, but doesn't want to have an affair with him, wants him to leave her be. Marcus will not take no for an answer. When he decides he wants her now, he throws her on the bed, spanks her to keep her from getting up and then ties her up so she can't get away. Didn't this sort of "forced seduction" go out with Luke and Laura in the early 80's? It was not sexy AT ALL, just uncomfortable to read.

Elizabeth and Marcus are constantly going back and forth, treating each other horribly, and whenever Marcus is displeased with her, he just decides that they need to have sex wether she wants to or not. I never got the sense that they liked each other, let alone were in love. I couldn't connect with either of them.

The best parts of the book were the parts that dealt with the mystery/danger aspect of their lives. This is the first book from the Georgian series and I read the second one (Passion for the Game) first. So Christopher St. John from that book makes a (welcome) appearance in this book. Passion for the Game was a 4.5 star read for me. It's sexy, witty and adventurous. Everything this book is not.

An agent for the Crown, Marcus Ashford, Earl of Westfield has just been assigned to protect widow Lady Elizabeth Hawthorne, who is in the possession of a mysterious notebook left by her dead husband. Elizabeth is stunned to find that Marcus is her contact, for they share a complicated past. Four years ago she was engaged to the Earl, but Elizabeth jilted him and ran off and wedded another. Marcus cannot forget the beauty and the misery she had caused him and vows to make her his lover. Meanwhile, someone is attempting to gain the notebook and its secrets. Marcus and Elizabeth embark on an affair amidst the attempted kidnapping and murders.

Beware, this is not 'lite' romance. First of all there is some use of foul language (F and C words mostly). Secondly the love scenes are many and very intense and graphic (seem to involve a power-struggle of sorts between the H/H). And lastly the emotional turmoil going on between these two keeps up until almost the end of the book. Both indulge in the carnal aspect of their relationship but vehemently guard their hearts. Their power struggles and lack of mutual trust leads to many confrontations and ultimately the realization of their true feelings for one another.

The only thing that prevented me from giving this one five stars is that in some of the love scenes the hero was a little too demanding and dominant for my taste -not that it was rape/forced, but it still gave me the willies to have the herione that vulnerable. The mystery wasn't bad, but took a back seat to the melodrama and the love scenes.

Basically a pretty good historical romance with LOTS (really no exaggeration!) of erotic love scenes.

If you like this types of erotic historical book I also recommend:

The Raven Prince -Elizabeth Hoyt

Passion -Lisa Valdez

A Lady's Pleasure -Renee Bernard

In 1770 England Lady Elizabeth Hawthorne fears for her life as someone killed her husband because she believes they wanted control of his espionage secrets in his diary in which he claims a conspiracy to harm the throne exists. Elizabeth needs a protector, but the only man she trusts to do the job loathes her because she jilted him four years earlier to marry Hawthorne when she caught him in a compromising position. Still these are desperate times for Elizabeth so if she wants to survive she must swallow her pride.

Marcus Westfield has survived many an adversary except one, his former fiancée Elizabeth. Now the unthinkable dream he has had for four torturous years of rage has happened; she has come to him begging for his help. He wants to say no, but cannot as he still desires her, but this time he plans to hide his heart from her treachery, not understanding why she dumped him. Besides he rationalizes that his undercover assignment to protect the royals should enable him to enjoy some under cover assignments.

Georgian romance fans will be asking for more works like this delightful historical romantic suspense that hooks the audience from the onset into a one sitting read. The action-packed story line is filled with suspense and tension as antagonists are willing to kill again to obtain the journal. The heat between Elizabeth and Marcus will burn fingers though one might ask why she did not confront her lover when she caught him in an apparent tryst. Eighteenth century romance readers will have a wonderful day with this fine historical.

Harriet Klausner

First the positive: Most of the love scenes were pretty hot.

The negatives: Both characters got on my nerves

Marcus was too insistent in the first love scene and that got a little uncomfortable for me. At one point, I was a little confused if this was really what she wanted or not. Since this is a romance and she was the lead, I figured it must be, but I did not like the idea that he might be forcing her. She was saying "no" enough times.

Elizabeth kept judging his for his former lifestyle as if she was not married to some other guy at the same time. It was not as if he was a monk. She needed to get over it.

And there were times when Marcus was acting like a douche for no apparent reason. I wondered did he really want/love her or not.

This might bother some people- the F-word was used a lot and the love scenes were very explicit.

I absolutely loved Day's spin on a historical romance! This was absolutely nothing like the historical romances that I cut my teeth on back in high school. The steamy scenes are definitely on the erotic side, however they fit in and add to the overall story. The tumultuous relationship between Marcus and Elizabeth provided enough tension and conflict to keep the story from becoming stagnant and boring. There's a touch of intrigue and espionage that provided a simple but enjoyable mystery to carry the heated attraction between Marcus and Elizabeth that I really enjoyed. This would be the perfect vacation read. Pure entertainment and a great example of escapist reading! I will definitely be giving Day's other Georgian stories a try.

You can find me at Monlatable Book Reviews

In 1770, Marcus Ashford, the Earl of Westfield is an agent for the crown. His job is to hunt down England's enemies and he does it superbly, dodging bullets and danger all the while. Four years ago he was in love with a woman who made his heart race, and when she left him for another man, Marcus believed that he would never get another chance with her--until now.

Elizabeth Hawthorne was madly in love with Marcus once. Until the night that she went to him for help and found him with someone else. Not allowing him the chance to explain and already fearful of her desires for him, she ran straight into the arms of Lord Hawthorne, a man who would never be as dangerous to her heart as Marcus. Elizabeth believed she would be happy, until her husband was killed.

Now, three years after his death and finally out of her mourning period, Elizabeth has received a journal. It is written in her husband's hand, in an unbreakable code, and sought after by a mysterious man. But, the only one that can protect her is the man that is most dangerous to her.

Marcus has finally gotten his chance at Elizabeth but he refuses to believe in love again. This time, he only wants Elizabeth to sate his lust. When they fall in bed, and Elizabeth runs again, Marcus chases her down with a proposal. Live with him for a fortnight, without sex, and consider his offer of marriage. If she doesn't want him afterwards, he will leave forever.

Now, when an enemy with an agenda of his own is breathing down their necks, and when Elizabeth's life is in danger, the two must discover whether they can trust each other enough to be together. And they must decide whether they can overcome the obstacles in their path to realize their love.

Ask For It is a fabulous combination of intrigue, breathtaking passion and a fabulous hero willing to do anything to satisfy his woman. I absolutely loved Marcus. He is incredibly patient, and after everything he has gone through he is willing to do almost anything to ensure Elizabeth remains in his life. At times I was so frustrated with Elizabeth's behavior that I wanted to strangle her, but that is a testament to Sylvia Day's skill at drawing me into the story. I loved the atmosphere within Ask For It. From the bedrooms and ballrooms of Georgian London to the beaches of Essex, Sylvia Day is able to make this world come alive.

Shannon
Reviewed for Joyfully Reviewed

Once upon a time, gut-wrenching betrayal at the hands of the man she loved drove Elizabeth to accept the wedding proposal of another man, the Lord Hawthorne. Now widowed, Elizabeth finds herself besieged by Marcus Ashford's attentions, whether she likes it or not. The real problem is, she likes her once wayward love's attention all too much, a fact which makes it more difficult to resist the libertine by the day.

As an agent to the Crown, it is Marcus' duty to protect Elizabeth from suffering a similar fate as her husband, whilst investigating that man's murder. If that duty keeps him in close proximity to the lovely widow, then all the better. He is not a man to bypass a golden opportunity when it presents itself, and this most certainly qualifies.

Marcus is determined to finally have his way with his ex, but the tricky part will be keeping his heart out of the equation long enough to satisfy his thirst for her passion.

I am a huge fan of author Sylvia Day, and of her historical series, THE GEORGIAN SERIES. I confess, however, I had no idea how much I would enjoy these stories until I read the second in the saga, PASSION FOR THE GAME. That book fed my hunger for more, and I have since devoured all of these wonderful books. Although ASK FOR IT is actually the first book in the series, I read it fourth. I had absolutely no trouble understanding any part of the series, even though I read them out of order. Actually, this is the easiest story to read out of sequence, as the characters in this book don't have quite as large a part to play in the later books. While the stories are definitely connected, they aren't dependent on each other.

Sylvia Day is a writer who knows how to turn the heat up and keep it there, and that is certainly true of ASK FOR IT! Watching Marcus seduce Elizabeth is enough to make anyone hot under the collar. But the story is a lot more than just bedroom antics. No, this romance is rife with emotion ranging from hurt and distrust to love and deep caring.

On top of that, Ms. Day gives us a hefty dose of suspense as our characters delve into the mystery surrounding Lord Hawthorne's death and the danger that currently threatens Elizabeth.

If you love sensual historical romances with suspenseful plots, you will not want to miss either ASK FOR IT, or the rest of the stories in the delicious THE GEORGIAN SERIES!

Series Order:
Ask For It
Passion for the Game
A Passion For Him
Don't Tempt Me (Brava Historical Romance)

**Courtesy of Wild on Books**

England, 1770

Loyal to the Crown, Marcus Ashford is part of an exclusive organization of spies. Four years ago, his fiancée, Elizabeth, ran out on him and eloped that very same night. Now she's a widow and in possession of a book that he's been assigned to decipher, which puts him in her company much of the time. Revenge is sweet. Marcus intends to collect on the promises she'd once made and never delivered.

Elizabeth eloped with Viscount Hawthorne after discovering her fiancé, Marcus, in his room with another woman. She never even gave him a chance to explain. Four years later her husband's been killed and she's learned that he was a spy. In her possession, she has a book that he kept which contains encrypted codes, and there's already been one unsavory demand for her to relinquish the book. Now Marcus has been assigned to decode the book and protect her, but who is going to protect her from Marcus's desires? And how will she protect her heart from the only man whom she's ever truly loved.

Eldridge, head of the organization of spies, only wanted to exploit Marcus's cryptology skills to decode the book. He hadn't considered that Marcus would want to manage the case. For Marcus, this is the perfect opportunity. He's patiently waited for Elizabeth's period of mourning to end and is planning to pursue her within a few days' time. She'll have no excuse to avoid him now. Since Elizabeth's husband, Viscount Hawthorne, was investigating the pirate Christopher St. John when he died, Marcus is hopeful that by deciphering the code, he'll finally have damning information on the infamous pirate. Ah yes, the woman who's plagued his every waking thought and the pirate who has plundered his holdings are finally within his reach. Things are not always what they appear, and revenge isn't nearly as sweet as he thought it would be.

Sylvia Day once again proves that there's nothing she can't write that isn't simply breathtaking. ASK FOR IT will sweep readers back in time and surround you with fascinating characters, a thrilling plot, and intense sex scenes. While the sex itself is smoldering, it's actually the build up to those scenes that will leave readers hot and bothered. I adored both Elizabeth and Marcus and loved getting the opportunity to know them and share a small part of their lives. This is one of those stories where the more you read, the more you need to know and then there's that incredible feeling of awe once all the pieces come together and suddenly everything makes sense. I'm hopeful that the pirate, Christopher St. John, will get his own story in the future. He's a thrilling character with a charisma that drew me to him. As always, beautifully done, Ms. Day! Look forward to reading more of your writings in the future. I see several on the coming soon page on Sylvia Day's website that I've already added to my "must read" pile.

Chrissy Dionne (courtesy of Romance Junkies)

I have never been a huge fan of historical genres and at first glance had no idea it was. But once committed, unless it is horrid I will finish what I start. With that said the storyline, characters and research put into this book was intense. I continually used the dictionary, which of course is always a good thing. Conflict was emotional yet easy, the level of intimacy and arousal always intrigue me. Oh how we love to be taken and/or allowed to explore our partners/mates is truly proof words sometimes need not be spoken. Your sharpness at detail and descriptions are well done. Thank you for sharing your imagination with me.

The Earl of Westfield, Marcus Ashford, has been obsessed with Lady Elizabeth Hawthorn since she left him high and dry to elope with another. Now four years later, her spouse has been murdered and Marcus is determined to scratch that itch for Elizabeth so he can stop obsessing over her. Little does he know that one taste isn't enough to quench his need, it only leaves him wanting more. The love that develops between Marcus and Elizabeth is quite intense, especially when they try to deny the magnetism.

This love story had action, murder, angst, and love scenes far too hot for a historical romance! This is the third book I have read by Sylvia Day and I can never put them down. Though I do not usually read historical romance novels, I found myself re-reading passages and absolutely fell in love with this couple.

I only have one complaint about the kindle version of this book, who ever edited it didn't leave spaces between different scenes within a chapter. One second you are reading about her brother thinking about a duel and the next paragraph, with no gap between is about them being at a ball. My other complaint has nothing to do with the writing, just that I had no idea that it was a historical romance. I thought it was set in modern times when I read the jacket. Otherwise, the book and story are quite well written.