Having Her

Lies We Tell #2

by Jackie Ashenden

Behind every heroine is the pain that binds her. Lies We Tell, Book 2 Manga café owner Kara Sinclair has one burden she’s been carrying around so long it’s bordering on pathetic. Her virginity. Getting rid of it, though, means doing the one thing that scares her the most—letting down her guard with a relative stranger. Which makes her best friend’s older brother Vin Fox’s offer too tempting to refuse. Vin barely has room in his schedule to turn around, much less worry about Kara and her crazy quest. When she insists on going ahead with a plan that he considers unsafe, though, enough is enough. If she wants to lose it, she can lose it with him. he gets to play out his darkest fantasies, slave collar and all. Kara thought dealing with a known entity like sexy-as-sin, controlling-as-hell Vin would smooth the way. But when it comes right down to doing the deed, not even the safety of a costume can fool her demons. By then the game has gone too far…and the consequences could bind them together forever. Or tear them apart at the seams. Contains a sexy, brooding “fix you” hero and a heroine who isn’t afraid of anything…except “normal.” More kinky cosplay losts-and-founds than you can shake a riding crop at. WTF Infirmary is booked up; please make an appointment before you read.

Genres: Contemporary, Contemporary Romance, Romance, Erotica, BDSM, Erotic Romance, New Adult

266 pages, Kindle Edition

First published February 11, 2014

About the author

Jackie has been writing fiction since she was eleven years old. Mild mannered fantasy/SF/pseudo-literary writer by day, obsessive romance writer by night, she used to balance her writing with the more serious job of librarianship until a chance meeting with another romance writer prompted her to throw off the shackles of her day job and devote herself to the true love of her heart – writing romance. She particularly likes to write dark, emotional stories with alpha heroes who've just got the world to their liking only to have it blown wide apart by their kick-ass heroines.

She lives in Auckland, New Zealand with her husband, the inimitable Dr Jax, two kids, two cats and some guppies (possibly dead guppies by the time you read this). When she's not torturing alpha males and their stroppy heroines, she can be found drinking chocolate martinis, reading anything she can lay her hands on, posting random crap on her blog, or being forced to go mountain biking with her husband.

Reviews

[Vashti · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow for me this was a very intense read,darker in nature than i normally read in my romances.Herione turns out to be a cutter in her teen years and the hero is all kinds of screwed up,add in a schizophrenic parent of the hero and you wonder how this guy manages ,he does,but barely.

[Emiliya Bozhilova · Rating 4 out of 5]

Покрай “Рапсодия” пак свърнах към ъгълчето с любовните романи под 250 страници, за да си оправя вкуса от смехотворните превземки с феи и нелепите твърдения, че историята била “мрачна”. Това тук определено си е супер откачено и ултра дарк, но толкова добре поднесено! Така че да - всичко е до начин на писане. Който го може, прави и боклуците интересни, който не го може - съсипва всеки приличен сюжет…

3,5⭐️

[Simply Love Book Reviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

Slick‘s review posted on Guilty Pleasures Book Reviews

Review copy provided for an honest review

4.5 STARS

I swear I don’t know what it says about me that I HAD to read this book by author Jackie Ashenden purestdelightawardwhen the first book in this series left me mentally exhausted and a little bit crazy, but I had to and I did and let’s just say once again I’m mentally exhausted and a little bit crazy. It’s even in the “warning” on the book; “WTF Infirmary is booked up: please make an appointment before you read.” They aren’t kidding; this is another book that was arousing as it was confusing, it was sweet as it was hard core, and it was as honest as it was ‘effed up. But who will be standing in line when the next one comes out? Yep…that would be me, so I think I deserve a freakin’ wing named after me at the WTF Infirmary!

We met both Kara Sinclair and Vincent Fox in the first book in this series. Kara is Ellie’s best friend and Vin is her older brother. There were enough hints in the last book that something was going on between them but holy hell; nothing prepared me for everything these two were dealing with. These two characters have some seriously messed up baggage and so putting them together quadruple their issues. But, I couldn’t leave it alone. I could not put this book down; it had me from the first chapter and despite a few parts where I wanted to strangle one or both of the main characters, so help me I loved this ugly, brutal, crazy messed up love story.

Kara and Vin embark on a purely sexual relationship, one that benefits them both. However, it’s not a plain old vanilla relationship, oh hell no…it is one strange, mixed up, leave you inhibitions at the door and explore your kinky side relationship. I honestly think they were both a little shocked at how they dealt with being together but somehow it worked until it didn’t, and then wow some really interesting turn of events happen. They both have to deal with their past, what is going on right now, and the fallout from being together means for their future.
I’d love to say more really I would because this book is just stuck in my brain but I can’t without giving too much away. Let me repeat that author Jackie Ashenden is a superb writer; her stories are emotionally gripping, they make you think and feel, and they are not pretty.

However, Having Her will keep you entertained, it will more than likely have you saying WTF more than once, and it will definitely make you a fan. These books aren’t for people who want the fairy tale; these books are for people who know sometimes you’ve got to crawl through the trenches to come out on the other side alive, whole, and happy.

[Annabeth Albert · Rating 5 out of 5]

Warning! This is pretty much crack in book form. DO NOT START AFTER MIDNIGHT. Not unless 3 a.m and you are BFFs or unless you have more self-restraint than me. This is one of those books that had me stopping every so often to thump a pillow or bite my fist with how utterly perfect the narrative was. Not unsurprisingly, I doubt I'll be able to write for a week after this because I have serious, serious talent envy now.

The trope at play here is little sister's best friend--and I LOVE this trope so hard, but I'm very picky about seeing it done well. Here, it's perfect. BFF is mainly out of the picture, off dealing with her own stuff, so there's not a lot of friendship stuff stealing the focus from hero and heroine. Also, they both have really good internal conflict keeping them apart beyond just the "I don't sleep with my sibling's friends."

And the smex? If you want to know how to write Alpha RIGHT, this book must be on the list. Vin is unquestionably Alpha, but he's not an alphahole and his alpha-ness is very well motivated. Demanding, controlling, dominating smex with heroine enjoying her submissive side--it absolutely burns up the pages, but what's unique is how much he values her independence and freedom OUTSIDE of the bedroom. This is the safe-sane-consensual side of master/submissive and it's not so OTT as to be unbelievable--this is a pairing that's going to make it long-term for a whole variety of reasons beyond the kinky fun times .

[Laura (Kyahgirl) · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5/5; 3 stars; B-

Although this book felt a bit formulaic in the old fashioned Harlequin style, it had some modern touches. I did like the authors exploration of teen mental health issues as well as some of the ways adults carry all their childhood baggage around with them. Overall it was a decent contemporary romance, even though the trope was one I don't like. The trope I am referring to is where the main characters are hostile to each other, cover up their allegedly great personalities with prickly rudeness, and find true love after some sex, some fighting, and some misunderstandings.

[Britt Marczak · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. I ran to get dinner and read while I ate. I put my sheets in the wash and they're still sitting in the dryer right now because I had to finish reading this before I could do anything else.

I've read several titles by Jackie Ashenden, and I've enjoyed each one for different reasons. I thought I wasn't going to be able to like this more than the first book in the series, Taking Him, but I was wrong. As hot as Hunter and Ellie are together...Vin and Kara are off the charts.

The chemistry between them is just fantastic. I loved the Master/slave dynamic they created, and it felt real. Not just fabricated to add BDSM elements to a book. It was a real part of the characters, and it worked. The problems they faced, how they dealt with them, and the resolutions they came to were wonderfully written.

Thank you, Jackie, for yet another amazing book. You don't disappoint.

[Roz ~ My Written Romance · Rating 5 out of 5]

After a late night recommendation from Maisey Yates, and a copy of the book from Jackie Ashenden, I set out to explore the dark awesome of Vin and Kara.

HOLY. CRUST. I mean, oh my god. This was dark, it was harsh, these two were by no means perfect people, but I freaking loved every single word.

There was snarkiness, there was incredible sexual chemistry, there were moments of dark, heartbreaking emotion - I read this almost in one hit today, and I cannot express in words how much I loved it.

So I will express it through gif!!

[Sometime · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book had the perfect balance of sexy times/interesting plot/emotionally written characters. It was perfectly written with damaged characters but no manufactured drama. Stubborn Kara and Vin were both in an epic stare-down to see who would blink first and show any weakness or vulnerability. They both had pretty messed up childhoods and I really enjoyed the story as they worked through their issues and opened up to each other.

I don't want to give too much away about the plot, but I highly recommend this amazing book!

[Jess · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars

Oh, the angst! Had a few quibbles (e.g., cutting placement on wrists rather than upper arms, thighs, stomach) but overall enjoyed this quite a bit. There was actual interaction between the h/h beyond just sex, including fights and apologies and personal growth. (It's a sad comment on the genre when this is something worthy of note rather than just a given.)

Will definitely be looking for more by the author.

[Cristina · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 1/2 stars. I liked the heroine but the hero came off as a cold bastard till a chapter before the Epilogue.
It was an okay read, nothing extraordinary about this one.

[Cc · Rating 4 out of 5]

A personal fave.

[Bona Caballero · Rating 4 out of 5]

Una de las mejores novelas eróticas que he leído. Lo emocional y lo erótico se equilibran y complementan. Kara Sinclair lleva un bar manga en Auckland (NZL), y quiere perder la virginidad, pero le aterra la intimidad con otro ser humano. El hermano de su mejor amiga, Vin Fox, un tipo hiperresponsable, acaba ofreciéndose para que ella no corra riesgos con desconocidos. Desarrollan un juego de amo/esclava como una forma de quitarle presión a ella. Hay sexo raruno, pero no hay nada que incomode al lector medio de romántica. Lo fuerte son los personajes: un tipo controlador que se enfrenta a todos los problemas del mundo, y una chica con la autoestima tan por los suelos que de joven se autoinfligía dolor para tranquilizar su ansiedad. Como todas las historias de «solo sexo», acaban apareciendo el amor y las complicaciones....
Crítica más extensa, en mi blog.

[Carol · Rating 2 out of 5]

It all starts with Kara wanting to lose her virginity. She is 25 and is starting to pick up random guys at bars. When it's time to get busy she gets scared and runs away. Which leads to Vin saving her from some drunken men when she rushes out of her latest attempts house.
From there it just goes down hill. Vin offers his service in a Master/Slave situation. Of course she accepts but it just doesn't feel right. It seems fake and the way he talks to her is just wrong. They claim to only want one night so she can lose her virginity and then of course it leads to nightly visits. Of course there are consequences and Vin freaks out and runs.
The baggage that Vin carries around is huge but it stops him from really living his life. k
For me this book was a snooze fest. Couldn't really get into it and skimmed most of it and it still took me 3 days to read it.

[BJ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful book with a fabulously grumpy H, such a strong character, deeply responsible, head of his small family. The h is quirky, sweet, and isolated with no family. The H helps the h one night, and in return, she somewhat unwillingly, offers her submission. He is shocked at his actions and her response, but can't resist. He is a bit frightened and at first, they both deny an emotional connection.
They push each other and in doing so they both become stronger and face the reality of who they are and what they want. This is a really well written story, great character development and love scenes, and a little kink. Loved it.

[Traci Westling · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh my word ... this was such a beautiful story with so much crazy hurt & pain for both Kara & Vin in their past that truely makes this such an emotional story not to mention the best, the passion ! God I needed to be finishing this book right now as a necessary diversion away from life in general with hurricanes & evacuations! This book was one that will resonate with me for a long while!! The ending , the HEA for this had me in tears and loving it!! I adore flawed characters & medical illnesses /conditions worked into these stories ! Great job!! Bravo!!

[poppy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I just loved this series and Vin and Kara's book was just as good as hunters,i read these in one go fantastic reads would recommend

[Jenny · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars. What I liked about this book is that the characters hit it off (and, uh, got off) right away...though the angst escalates in the later half of the novel.

[Dabney · Rating 5 out of 5]

There are books I read once and there are books I read again and again. Having Her is one of the latter. I read it for the first time two months ago and, since then, have read it again... and again. It's sexy, unexpected, romantic, smart, and, in places, achingly sad. The novel meets my criteria for a superb erotic romance: the sex shared by the characters is integral to the plot and both are wonderfully done.

Kara Sinclair is twenty-five and not afraid to stand out in a crowd. She wears brightly colored contact lenses, dyes her long hair colors never found in nature, favors biker boots, unusual outfits, and facial piercings. She owns a manga/Internet cafe, has been living on her own since she was seventeen, and is a bit of a hot head. She's also a virgin, a state she'd like to change. But every time she tries, she ends up running away. There's something about sex that makes her feel awkward and insecure. She believes if she could just get laid, sex would become easy for her.

As the book begins, she's resorted to picking up a strange guy at a bar and going home with him. But, the minute it is time to get naked, she runs... and finds herself stranded in an iffy neighborhood at eleven o'clock at night. She calls her best friend Ellie Fox to ask for a ride but it's not Ellie who answers the phone. It's Ellie's older brother Vincent who is "a complete control-freak, arrogant, and the most patronizing bastard she’d ever had the misfortune to come across." He is also "possibly the most beautiful man she’d ever met."

It's true that Vincent is a control freak. He's had to be. His mother is a schizophrenic who, when violent, wants to kill his sister, and his father abandoned their family when Vince was young. Vincent is the one who has always had to be in charge. In his early thirties, he owns a successful construction business. For years, every choice he's made has been predicated at making sure his sister, mother, and business are safe. He's never applied to architecture school--his childhood dream-- and has never had time for a relationship. He can't remember ever doing anything that was just for himself.

Vince picks up Kara and is shocked to hear she's a virgin and appalled to hear she's planning to give herself to a stranger. He tells her she can do better, in fact, she damn well better do better. She says, unless he wants to be the one, he can damn well stop telling her what to do. At first Vince says he's not interested but after a few days of Kara sending him provocative texts of the guys she's considering, he makes her an offer.

You know what I’m offering, baby girl. You want to lose your virginity? Then it needs to be with someone who’ll keep you safe. With someone who knows what they’re doing and who’ll make it good for you. Who won’t take advantage of you.

Vince doesn't just make it good for Kara. He makes it extraordinary not only for Kara but for himself. He does so by setting up rules that are perfect for them both.

“You don’t have to do anything,” Vin went on, still quiet, still in charge. “All you have to do is follow my orders. Because you’re here for my pleasure and my pleasure alone. Do you understand?”

His pleasure alone? Shit. She should be protesting, shouldn’t she? Telling him where to stick his sexist bullshit? Yet the words stuck in her throat.

Because this is what you want. This is exactly what you want.

Kara struggled to take a breath. Yeah, God, it was what she’d fantasized about. Someone telling her what to do. Taking away the burden of her inexperience so she didn’t have to worry about it. And even more important than that, he was giving her a role to play. A mask to wear. Some extra armor to protect herself in a situation where she felt unprotected. A way to feel less vulnerable.

She didn’t have to be Kara, the freaky-ass chick with the weird hair who dressed funny. The girl nobody, not even her family, wanted. She could just be a slave girl.

Vin’s slave girl.

Kara and Vin enter into a sexual relationship that is twisted, complex, and powerful. Theirs isn't a typical dom/sub liaison. There's no violence, and, when Kara needs it, Vin gives her control. When they are not having sex, they are equals, each pushing the other to ask more from life. Their path is hard and both find it almost impossible to not be limited by their troubled pasts. Their HEA made me cry.

I loved their story and, if you like demanding erotic romance, you will too.

[The Romance Evangelist · Rating 5 out of 5]

A copy of this book was provided by the author for an honest review at The Romance Evangelist.

After experiencing one of my biggest book hangovers ever with Jackie Ashenden’s first book in the Lies We Tell series, TAKING HIM, I knew I would be in for it with HAVING HER, and boy howdy, was I ever right. In this second book, we get to see what happened after Kara, Ellie’s best friend, suddenly excused herself from the bar at the comic convention they were both attending in a scene from the previous book. We already know how things went down with Ellie and Hunter -- now it’s Kara’s turn with Ellie’s super hot but totally disapproving brother, Vin. And as wonderful as TAKING HIM was, HAVING HER manages to be even better.

Kara may put up an aggressive front against the world at large, but it’s all just to protect herself from more heartbreak after her trust in love and family was shattered at the hands of her alcoholic mother. Since then, it’s been easier for Kara to put others off than to let them close enough to reject her first. But that’s made it difficult for her to accomplish her new self-imposed task of finally losing her virginity, despite her multiple attempts to pick up a strange man for just that purpose. Picking up guys was easy; it’s what to do with one once she had him that still had Kara stumped. At least she knew that Ellie’s brother Vin would always be there to rescue her, even when she didn’t want him to. Especially then. But when Vin insists on picking Kara up at the door of yet another random guy who’d expected more than she was prepared to offer, she realizes that the answer to her problem is right in front of her. Vin.

When Vin and Ellie’s mother became seriously mentally ill and their father did his disappearing act, it was up to Vin to keep his baby sister safe. Now, years later, protection mode is all that Vin seems to know how to do well. He’s also convinced himself that he’s just like his rotten father, that he could never truly love another person. Despite all this, Vin still finds himself drawn to Kara, even as everything she does grates on him. The crazy clothes, the ever-changing hair colors, the insistence on constantly placing herself in what he considers dangerous situations...it’s enough to make a man insane. So when Kara sets her sights on him as the man to relieve her of her virginity, he refuses outright, only agreeing after she goads him beyond his otherwise iron control. Vin makes it clear that this will be on his terms only, and love should not be expected or given. But Kara needs someone to take charge, and Vin is just the guy to do it. Things between them seem to be progressing nicely, until the day when an unexpected event changes the nature of their relationship forever. That’s when Vin and Kara must each face what damaged them in the past if they want to embrace the happiness they both deserve in the future.

When I say this HAVING HER was an emotional read for me, I mean it was all cheering, laughing, yelling, swooning, and crying in large amounts. Jackie Ashenden knows how to make you feel for her characters in a way that pulls at your heart without piling on the drama in outrageous ways or unbelievable amounts. Yes, Kara and Vin both had traumatic childhoods, and yes, it’s messed them up in ways that kept them both from being able to reach out to anyone else until now. But the emotional moments in HAVING HER come from the intimate scenes where their hearts and souls are exposed to each other, not from wallowing in overwhelming grief at what’s already past. This book is a true erotic romance, in that the intimate scenes between its hero and heroine are essential to the plot and character development in every way. It’s only through kinky sex that Kara and Vin can even begin to learn to communicate with each other, and it’s the result of their sexual relationship that forces them into deciding whether to commit to each other fully, or to walk away from their first, and possibly last, chance at true love. I was so drained by the time they reached their happy ending that all I could do was grab a box of tissues and cry it all out. In a good way, mind you. In a very good way. I don’t know if Jackie Ashenden has other books planned for this series, but I know I’ll be the first in line to read one. I may have recovered from this book by then.

[Kristiej · Rating 5 out of 5]

Right off the bat I have to confess that this book made me uncomfortable to read. I’ve never read a BDSM/slave-master relationship book before and I can state categorically that it will never be my cup of tea. Not that I’m saying anything is wrong with it – hey we all have our fantasies and I can’t say that hasn’t been one of mine at one point or another in my lifetime, but I’m just uncomfortable reading with that being the sum total of the relationship. Which one would wonder why the high marks? I will explain *grin*

Vin Fox is a control freak. At least he comes across that way as in reality his life is completely out of control. His mother suffers from schizophrenia and when she is off, the voices tell her to kill her daughter, Vin’s sister Ellie and the heroine of the first book, Taking Him. His father left the family early, unable to handle Vin’s mother’s illness. Vin had to give up his dream of going to architectural school. Because he can’t control things, he overcompensates and anger seethes within him.

Kara Sinclair is Ellie’s best friend. While outwardly she is one strange young woman, she dresses oddly, constantly changes the colour of her hair, wears bright contact lenses, in fact she has a case of virginity she wants to rid herself of but whenever she gets close to it, she can’t – or rather can’t let whatever partner – go through with it. She also has issues though we don’t start seeing them until further on in the story.

So this is the set-up. Although they know each other through Ellie, Vin and Kara don’t have much interaction with each other until Vin picks Kara up after another failed attempt at getting rid of her pesky virginity. In a fit of pique, Kara asks Vin to do it. He refuses of course, but Kara seems to be set now on Vin being “The One” and sends him a series of emails and pictures, some at inopportune times. He finally loses his temper and takes her up on her offer, while she is wearing a Princess Lea costume she had donned for a Comi-con type convention.

Thus begins an erotic, somewhat unnerving role playing game of Vin being the Master and Kara being the Slave. There is no affection between the two; it’s strictly a sexual relationship at first though Vin is careful to be gentle and give Kara plenty of opportunity to call it off at any time. But in a twisted way, it suits both their needs; Vin’s need to control and Kara’s need to be absolved of any responsibility or intimacy and as we will find out later on, a kind of punishment. I’m not exactly sure what I was feeling reading this part of the book, but what I did find was that it was a compelling read and very difficult to put down. If the book had continued like this, I’m sure I still would have kept reading but not sure of my enjoyment level, but as Vin’s world spins more out of control, he slowly begins treating Kara differently, caringly, needing her outside the boundary of Master/Slave. Kara wants no part of this changing of the rules. That means facing her own tragic demons.

I am in awe of how this author tells a story. Kara’s life is so sad. She is so far from the person we think we know from the beginning of this book and the previous book when she was a secondary character. I ached for her. And it would be so easy to dislike Vin and his control issues, but I didn’t. I ached for him too. He never had a childhood and had to take on responsibilities far beyond what he should have had to. These two are perfectly suited, both filling a need the other one has. They are both so broken and it is through opening up, getting past the lines of their initial relationship, they begin to heal, as much as they are capable of. For both, the other is exactly what they need. It’s a complex connection they have and it’s dark, complicated story. And I loved it. Comfortable isn’t always best. This book proves it.

[Maria Rose · Rating 5 out of 5]

In this emotionally fraught erotic romance, we have the story of Kara and Vin. Kara wants to rid herself of her pesky virginity problem, and when her best friend's older brother offers himself for the job, she decides she trusts him enough to go the distance - and even more so, as the master/slave sexual role playing they engage in gives them both exactly what they desire in the bedroom. For Kara it's about letting go of any semblance of control - for Vin, it's about having control over one thing in his life. But soon events happen that spin that control away from Vin again, while at the same time Kara finds that she finally knows her heart's desire. Will they lose each other in the process of finding themselves?

I loved this story! The sexual tension is present from the first time we see Kara and Vin together, and quickly morphs into a hot and steamy relationship. But the sex can only last for so long without the intense emotions that both Vin and Kara keep bottled up boiling to the surface, and soon the cracks start to show. I thought both characters were really unique. Vin is a solid, dependable, and weary man, always trying to be in control of his situation and never quite succeeding until Kara offers him the ultimate in control and he seizes it like a lifeline. Kara is equally interesting as a quirky, going with the flow type of girl who has never tried to reach her potential as she's always believed she just isn't good enough to get what she wants. In both cases, their upbringings have had a lot to do with how they've turned out as adults. What was really interesting to me was how their characters changed over the course of the story, as Kara became more sure of herself and Vin started to lose that sense of self, questioning what his feelings for Kara really are. The second half of the story is full of tension as the sex leads Kara and Vin down the not so pretty garden path to love. The happy ending however added just the right touch of sweetness to make this romance a keeper. 5 stars!

Note: a copy of this story was provided by the author for review.

[Liz johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars.. I paid full price and did not regret it. I loved this book. Both leads were great. I loved Kara's feisty personality, the hair colours and clothes and her lifestyle, it was different than what other authors usually portray. At first I wondered how someone like her could remain a virgin, but after finding more about her I understood how difficult it was for her to give up any part of herself. I was totally sucked in to her reactions to Vin. I loved Vin, I liked the way he found a different, slightly kinky side to himself with Kara and his fight for control and the changes that took place in him throughout the story. They found something special in each other. I loved the master/slave fun, very hot/kinky fun. The author writes very well.
The relationship progressed past this as it moved into the more serious sides of the H/h reasons for being who they were. As they got to know each other more changes took place in their relationship, I was mad with how she treated him towards the end, (I guess I couldn't do it), however Kara did make the right decisions in the end.
The story did kind of change in the last third approx, and that part of the book was fabulous as well, but different from the earlier. I did miss the previous dynamic, the author did hint that it continued, but did not show it. What can I say I loved all the kinky bits. However she was dealing with very emotionalal issues so maybe thought she should concentrate on that. I wish there had been an epilogue about it though. It did not stop me loving this book and recommending it as a great read. Vin's sister and best friend's story sounds intriguing, if it is as good as this I will be reading it soon,

[Petra Grayson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ok, so I started this book ages ago. I love Jackie Ashenden's writing. Her style is awesome and when you need angst, this is the place to be. But...I over angsted myself right before I started this book. I got about half way through, saw a certain plot twist, and nearly threw my kindle against the wall. I had to take a break. But I knew I'd finish it eventually so I just put it aside for a while.

And it's true. I got back in the mood and I picked it right back up. There were tears and feelings and so much caring and angst. I liked the story a lot, even if you need the right mood for angst.

It's so rare to have a book that allow the heroine to dress however she likes, even if it's out of the norm, without trying to change her. Vin doesn't LIKE her clothes and makeup, but he's completely attracted to her even with all of it. He never asks her to change it even when he thinks it's weird.

The two of them were into BSDM a little bit, but it wasn't a “this is the only way we do it”, it was just “this is fun”. In some cases, it was letting each character hide behind a facade, but I never felt like it went into unhealthy territory.

Both characters grew and changed, even if it was a quick turn around. They tugged on my heartstrings and I really wanted them to work out. I'm still of the rational mind that “changing your attitude” or “true love” will not magically solve all your emotional issues, but I enjoy having an angsty book where everything is perfect in the end.

**This review is archived on my blog: The Theory of Lieto Fine

[Meetta · Rating 5 out of 5]

Talk about riding the emotional train. This book put me through the wringer! Jackie Ashenden wrote the characters in a way that makes you connect with them and experience emotions right along with them, whether it be frustration, angst, or lust. I’ll be honest…I was under the covers reading this book and crying my freaking eyes out a couple of times lol. Even after the book ended, it just left you hanging for more. I don’t experience too many book hangovers, but this is definitely left me with a huge one.

Both Kara and Vin have inner demons that they are dealing with. They find what they need in each other but end up with even bigger issues at hand. Jackie Ashenden did a phenomenal job of writing about Kara and Vin’s emotional needs that can only be satisfied by what the other can offer and provide. Getting together changes them in more ways than one and I enjoyed watching both characters grow and discover more about themselves.

This is the first book that I have read by this author. I had not realized that this was actually book 2 of this series. It can definitely be read as a standalone but it would be crazy to do so! I can’t wait to go back and read the first book Taking Him.

[SaturNalia · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 Kara is 25 and wants to lose her virginity. Vic is her best friend's overprotective brother who offers to help her. Kara is insecure and doesn't believe she deserves love. Vic is stressed and angry at the world. They enter into a master/slave type sexual relationship. The sex came first, then the development of their relationship and the reasons for their behavior. Vic felt like the wieght of the world was on his shoulders, raising his sister alone while his mother suffered frequent psychotic breaks. Kara felt alone because her mother didn't want any contact with her. Vic and Kara found comfort in each other. I should have liked this better and I'm not sure why I didn't. Story made sense and the characters were complex enough. The slave thing threw me for a loop I wasn'e expecting it, and Kara's need for pain wasn't really delt with, it was brought up and then dropped quickly.

[LJT · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review Posted on HarlequinJunkie.com

In Having Her (Lies We Tell #2) by Jackie Ashenden, twenty-five year old manga coffee shop owner Kara Sinclair still has her virginity, and she is finding it terribly difficult to lose it. She is so obsessed with the task, that she has resorted to picking up men in bars. Although a one night stand is not the best way to experience sex for the first time, she is at her wits end. To make her situation even worse, when the time comes to get naked, she gets scared and chickens out. She needs to find a man whom she can trust and whose appearance will send her into a tailspin. Read More

[Karla · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sometimes I like a book in spite of its writing where, the story is so interesting that I'll overlook other issues. Not the case here, where the author can tell a story well. Great pacing, interesting storyline and great characters who experience growth through the story.

I really liked the use of role-playing in Having Her. I starts out as a way for the heroine to let herself relax and lose inhibitions. But it also becomes a routine that the hero and heroine have to move past to develop a relationship. They only role-play, and when they have to stop that's when their relationship takes a serious turn.

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

Surprisingly Good

I didn't think I would like the whole master/slave dynamic and the manga heroine, but I did! I liked it. The author totally made it work. Don't be afraid to try read this book. It was totally worth the price. It is amazing how a good writer can take something so seemingly impossible and make it work. Two people come together carrying all their baggage and figure out how to stay true to themselves and lighten each other' load. I will be checking out Jackie Ashenden's backlist.

[Lyn Taylor · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just KNEW this was going to be a great read from the hints dropped in the first book of the series. Wow! These two have some serious chemistry (and yes quite a bit of baggage to get through) but Vin and Kara are made for each other. There's no denying it. I love this author's writing style. Very believable with interesting characters and story lines that have you angry at the character one minute and crying for them the next. Can't wait for more in this series!

[Bjaynes1220 · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's rare that you find a 25 year old virgin, however I think that is awesome! I liked the book, but sometimes I just had a hard time visioning a "pink or purple" haired 25 year old searching for someone to take her virginity.....and I found it very troubling that Vin had so much to carry on his shoulders at his age....but strong characters and broken characters fought to have what they both needed. I would recommend this book.