Fighting for Control (Dominion, #2) by J.J. Arias

Fighting for Control (Dominion, #2) Reviews

• 
  currentlyreadingbynat

  Fighting for Control is a tempest of raw emotions and intense dynamics.
  
  J.J. Arias doesn't just write tension; she embodies it, and this is evident right from the get-go with the fiery relationship between Carmen and Lola. While Losing Control hinted at their chemistry, it was merely a prelude to the full-blown, high-octane antagonism that unfolds in this book. The banter between them is not just good; it's electric, pulsating with an undercurrent of passion so palpable, it leaves you breathless – particularly in that unforgettable closet scene.
  
  Lola is a character who tests your patience. Her stubbornness is off the charts, making her one of the most formidable characters I've come across. Carmen deserves commendation for piercing through Lola's almost impenetrable exterior. Arias masterfully peels back the layers of Lola, revealing that beneath the hard-edged facade lies a vulnerable, wounded soul. This was were this book killed me and I may have shed a few tears. My heart broke for Lola but it was good to see why she was incredibly stubborn and not quite sure of Carmen's intensions.
  
  Her character evolution is a journey from a life of constant vigilance and mere survival to one of gradual vulnerability. It's a transformation that's both heart-wrenching and gratifying to witness. The shift from a conflicted relationship to one of patience and protection is beautifully executed, offering a much-needed respite and warmth. One of my favourite quotes is "To love at all is to be vulnerable" by C.S. Lewis and I kept reflecting how true this was while reading Fighting for Control.
  
  Fortune's role adds a delightful mix of humor and eccentricity, balancing the intensity of the main storyline. Fighting for Control stands out with its blend of tension, spice, humour, and vulnerability. It's a stellar addition to the Dominion series, and the anticipation for Natalia's story is already high. Arias has once again proven her prowess in crafting characters and stories that resonate deeply and linger long after the last page is turned. A great sequel to Losing Control. I can't wait to read Natalia's story next!
  
  Many thanks to J.J. Arias for providing me a copy of this novel. ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.
• 
  gloria .☆ﾟ.

  ➥ 1 Star *:･ﾟ✧
  
  

  “Tell me you want me,” Lola replied, fingers tugging at the edge of Carmen’s underwear.
  Carmen’s response was a kiss. Hard and rough and mocking Lola for even entertaining weakness. “How fragile is that ego, baby?”
  
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  I rarely encounter books so painfully bland and uninspired. Ironic, considering I picked this up on a whim because the synopsis tempted me. Who doesn't want to read an explosive rivals-to-lovers steamy sapphic romance?
  
  Both these women work office jobs and often even argue at each others workplace. There was no consideration given to the professional expectations and the atmosphere of the workplace.
  
  I was ready for a tense, professionally taunting, challenging dynamic between the characters. That is not what this is. No, these women crash their cars into each other, go into credit card debt to prank, and mess with each others work affairs.
  
  I think that in romance and in fiction women are sometimes written to be too docile and ditsy. But that's exactly what these characters were.
  
  It was a fucking cat fight. Immature, petty and annoying.
  
  The characters are so cookie cutter, distinguished only by their backgrounds of being either poor or rich. The plotline revolving around the crazed spiritual cult guide was so contrived and uncompelling.
  
  This entire book was just so goofy and lame.
  
  Because of the characters being so one-dimensional, it's really impossible for them to have chemistry with each other.
  
  The sex scenes were bland and yet frustratingly recurring. Everything was over exaggerated. The sex scenes, the body language descriptors, the dialogue. It all felt so cheap and shallow.
  
  These girls went from screeching at each other to turning into a gross sappy mess. Suddenly it was "I'm all yours, Lola", blah blah blah.
  
  It's also frustrating how characters never doubt or think through anything. They just crush their lips together and go. No hesitation, no tension, no softness. God, it was tiring. Even the writing was as childish and exaggerated as the romance.
  
  The quote I featured is the singular example of something close to what I wanted from this book. When executing a rivals/enemies-to-lovers book, you play with the fact that the characters are intensely familiar with each other. They know what provokes them, they know what they're good at, and they know their weaknesses. Sometimes, in a way no one else knows. That is what makes for good character interaction and relationship development. It establishes a base. Sure, like Arias knew to do, it works well when they suddenly have to work together, and turn out to have great chemistry because they know each other like that.
  
  I was hoping to see the characters challenge each other. In a composed manner, until their composure only slightly cracks. The build up!!
  
  Here? There was never an ounce of composure or suave from either character.
  
  The family dynamics were also very surface level. Of course the rich girl has parents who she always has to prove herself to and ignore her. Of course, the poor girl has an alcoholic mother. Of course the talent agent's true dream is to be a singer. I'm not saying these things cannot be done tastefully. I'm saying they weren't.
  
  I was also sad to notice that this book is written by a latinamerican author and features latinamerican characters. How were the family dynamics and customs so unexplored despite that?
  
  Everything about this book was so hollow and cliché, I couldn't bring myself to care about any of it. And I'm sorry to say that, because I've heard such great things about Arias, but I don't think she's the author for me.
  
  This book doesn't have a singular 1 or 2 star review. I guess I'll do the honours.
  
  

  ━━━━━━━━━━━ ♡ ━━━━━━━━━━━
• 
  Clara Addicted to sapphic books

  This one was explosive.
  Arias doesn’t pretend when she writes tension. The first scene just drop you right in the enemies relationship between Carmen and Lola. Sure, you got a glimpse if you read Losing control but it was just tension for beginners. I didn’t expect their antagonism to be so strong with the first back and forth situations between them, but the banter was so good and entertaining to read. In Carmen and Lola’s case, tension clearly means passion…don’t even get me started on that closet scene...
  Lola was so infuriating sometimes. She is one of the most stubborn character I have ever read and that it was sometimes hard to read, especially with Adriana. Seriously, Carmen needs a medal for seeing through her armor. I don’t even know if armor is the right word for Lola...what is more thick and strong that iron ? As a marvel geek I would say it’s vibranium. It must have been a reel challenge for Arias to show that behind that pitbull who is biting everyone daring going near her, was a vulnerable hurt puppy.
  She grew up and spent her adulthood, conditioned to be wary of everyone. Her life is a constant battle and she is more surviving than living. When she starts to be vulnerable, I knew Arias did the trick on me, that Lola would grow on me and made me understand her; though I was a bit mad at Arias for making me wait so long. Seeing Lola struggling and still trying to hold to her old reflexes was both touching and frustrating. When Arias turned that conflicted relationship into a protective, patient one, my heart was finally able to relax and get the warm I needed.
  Fortune’s character brought a lot of fun and crazyness, since it tickled my down to earth brain.
  Roxy and Adriana keep the medal in my heart, but with tension, spice, humor and vulnerability, Fighting for control is a great addition to the Dominion world. I can’t wait for Natalia’s story
• 
  Laura

  Lola, you absolutely adorable hot mess! I knew while reading Losing Control, Lola's story was going to be a doozy and I was not wrong. Lola is one of my new favorite J.J. Aria's characters. She has so many layers and has so many reasons to doubt people's sincerity and intentions.
  The combative relationship she has with "hot lawyer" Carmen is riddled with animosity and sizzling chemistry. The animosity between the two causes them to be forced to attend anger management classes together and hilarity ensues when they encounter the bizarro woman leading the class.
  I loved everything about this book and would protect Lola at all costs. Her behavior is outrageous, but so clearly a defense mechanism, that I couldn't wait to uncover all of the things that caused her to build her walls so high.
  Fighting for Control is book 2 in the Dominion Series and I have no idea how I will be able to wait until April for book 3, Natalia's story. It is sure to be another hit from J.J. Arias, not that she can seem to write anything else.
  
  
  An ARC was received from the author for an honest review.
• 
  Sky.

  4.25 ⭐️
  
  This book left me with so much emotions
  Full RTC
• 
  ;)

  5.0 ⭐🤍 (Let the light In - Lana Del Rey.)
  
  “The only certainty was that everything had irrevocably changed. A new day was dawning, and she could no longer fight the light.”
  -
  I was working up the courage to write a review that summed up at least 10% of how this book, these characters and the story made me feel.
  
  Ever since the first book in this series came out, I found myself drawn to Lola and when the release date for her book was announced, I was practically counting the days until I could read about her and Carmen's story.
  
  I can't say that I've read them all, but I've read a good enough number of JJ Aria's books to get to know her way of writing and to be able to name her as one of my favorite authors. I love the way she writes and I knew I wouldn't be disappointed with this book, but something I didn't know was that I would love one of her books as much as I loved this one, a book that made me want to reread it the second I finished the last page.
  
  We don't see much of Lola in the first book but what I did see was enough to captivate me (You should know two things about me... I absolutely love ice queen characters and I love sec characters even more). But finally meeting her, knowing her story and everything she's been through made me love her even more. Lola was certainly one of the best characters I've read in a while. She is so strong, always trying to be the best, never giving up & being sweet without meaning it :( Lola I wanna be like YOU when I grow up! In the end of it all she just wanted to be loved. She became one of my fav characters and I'll protect her to death!
  
  With Carmen it was no different, she was soooo surprisingly lovely and just like Lola she always gave her best in everything she did. A captivating and fun character that I loved getting to know. My mother <3333
  
  The book itself had me gripped from start to finish, Aria's writing never let me down.
  
  I have no words to describe how much I loved them. Their dynamic, their development and the way they loved each other, absolutely EVERYTHING about them! At this point you probably figured it out that this book is definitely my fav one from Aria's and one of my fav ones from the year. I'll keep them in my heart forever. (Already miss them... Come back home to meeeeee.)
  
  p.s. The fact that there was some "cult" stuff happening... Damn I just love this book.
• 
  Teddy

  This book didn’t simmer it exploded. JJ Arias is so good at show don’t tell, and conflict and tension - writers, take notes! As usual, couldn’t put it down. Great banter, great chemistry, lots of steam. I preferred book 1 in this series. The stuff with Fortune went a little too far, there was something at the end I didn’t think fit the women (no spoilers!), and Lola was tough to read for a while- I wanted her to unclench! But, to me, the way Arias handled Lola’s arc, and her relationship with her family in the end was a breath of fresh air for not shying away from some people’s reality. I love all the female empowerment in this series, and can’t wait for Natalia’s story.
  
  Short summary: Lola and Carmen can’t get within 20feet of each other without fighting. So when they’re forced into anger management together it doesn’t go well, until things take a weird turn, they’re forced to work together and those feelings they’ve attributed to anger start to look a lot more like attraction.
• 
  Amy Marsden

  Wow. There wasn't a single thing I didn't like about this. I read the ebook but I loved it that much I'm going to buy the paperback version too. It's definitely up there amongst my favourite romances!
  
  I loved Lola, I loved Carmen, I loved their enemies phase at the start and I loved how that evolved into mutual love and respect by the end. I loved that they grew together and that there wasn't some stupid 3rd act break up. I loved seeing Adriana and Roxy. I honestly can't think of a single thing I disliked.
  
  They seemed like real people with full lives. Normally in romances you get the main romance plot 'A', and a side plot 'B'. But in this, you get Lola's and Carmen's love story, as well as the lawsuit against them, but we also see Lola dealing with several other things like her awful mother, Kiki, Starla, and Martina. And Carmen also has her own side plots (although to a lesser extent) with Ellie, her job and how much work she has, and her mother too. It was just such a full, well-rounded book.
  
  Read this if you haven't already!
• 
  SunshineReads23

  Seriously. These just keep. Getting. Better!
  
  Lola & Carmen... no Spoilers BUT wow the chemistry! It was 🥵 and had me laughing yet cursing Lola out with her little fiery a$$! 😂
  
  Ok but forreal, the writing was incredible. These are genuine characters with real lives, real obstacles, and real emotions. Their relationship from start to the "end", it was captivating. I label it as "unputdownable". The side characters are so well done, I'm sitting and hoping we learn more about Bamford and even Martina! (Iykyk).
  
  I've never been more excited about a final book in a trilogy, but I honestly am waiting on Natalia's story like i'm waiting on my vacation days to reset on Jan 1st at work! I don't want this series to end, but damn it's hard to not want to see who thaws the Queen of Dominion.
• 
  Sterling Sapphic Reads

  Ohhhhhmylanta. It's taken me a bit to simmer down to write this review. JJ didn't come to play with this one - she came to win. And let me confirm, she won. OMG. This was an EXPLOSIVE enemies to lovers that had me on the edge of my seat. The tension. The banter. The payback. The pranks. The CHEMISTRY - all of it was utter perfection, in a way that only Arias can deliver. I had a hook in me for my lovely Lola from book one and I just KNEW that she was going to bring me to my knees. Lola is closed up tight- my poor firecracker's been through it and she hides her scars behind beautiful glares and sneers. She claps back and when she does, it's a standing ovation, baby. Carmen was everything I could have wanted for Lola, once she showed her true colors. The development of both of these characters and the realness of their histories and the evolution of their characters was done so well. It made their union all the more sweet. The communication (once it started) between these characters was so endearing and vulnerable. I loved it.
  
  I love - and I will scream it from the rooftops - love that there was no third-act breakup for these two. Everything about their story just grabbed my heart and didn't let go.
  
  JJ writes it - it's going to be amazing.
  Read Losing Control first for the best experience.
  So good. I can't wait for the next installment of the Dominion ladies. I love these powerhouse women!
• 
  Nadine Bok

  Two strong women who stood up, struggled through and soared. You don't have to play masculine to be a strong woman. Great read! Can't wait for book 3!!
• 
  anita

  lola barros <3 🧸❤️☃️
  
  simplesmente apaixonada. acredito que a lola saiba o quão obcecada eu ainda estou, porque ela definitivamente me acompanhou desde o começo com os meu um milhão de surtos, tendo a noção de que ela me arruinou para mais um casal que ela me indicou. mas não tem como. não havia como não ama-las, não se cativar pela história, não se envolver em cada capítulo, se apegando cada vez mais em duas das personagens mais cativantes que eu já li.
  
  elas são extremamente lindas. do começo ao fim. nunca tinha lido um livro da jj arias antes, mas me surpreendi muito, desde o primeiro capítulo. o livro é ótimo, com personagens e uma história extremamente cativante, com capítulos que te faziam querer gritar por conter cenas tão fofas quando no começo, lola & carmen eram apenas o mais puro ódio. não me arrependi nem um pouco de ter começo e estou muito feliz (e triste) de ter acabado esse livro, porque me apeguei muito.
  
  gostei muito da carmen, mesmo que a minha favorita definitivamente foi a lola, desde o começo. ela é fofa, gentil, e tão extremamente amável de um jeito leve e descontraído que é impossível não gostar dela. acho que uma das coisas que mais me fizeram me apaixonar por ela foi o fato de que, mesmo com toda a animosidade que havia entre as duas, ela sempre esteve disposta a estar ali para a lola quando ela mais precisou. e isso foi absurdamente especial, porque é lindo ver como a carmen foi e sempre seria a primeira pessoa que a lola recorreria quando precisasse de conforto, confiando cegamente em carmen para não machucá-la.
  
  e lola……… ela é a princesa mais linda do mundo, fala sério. sou extremamente doida por personagens ice queens, mas não esperava gostar tanto da lola quanto eu gostei, me apegar tanto quanto me apeguei. nunca terá uma personagem tão linda, querida, determinada, durona, com os seus problemas de confiança mesmo que por dentro estava desesperada para poder confiar em alguém, como lola barros. me encontrei apaixonada por cada uma de suas cenas, momentos em que ela se abriu para carmen, momentos em que ela disse que ninguém nunca havia feito o mínimo por ela, momentos em que ela admitiu que ela não conseguia acreditar que era suficiente para estar ao lado de uma pessoa como carmen, momentos em que ela contou como era difícil para ela deixar uma pessoa entrar quando ela sempre havia sido desprovida de carinho e confiança, fazendo com que fosse difícil lidar com a atenção e cuidado de carmen.
  
  ela é uma das personagens mais lindas que eu já li. fiquei extremamente feliz quando conheci um pouco mais do passado da lola, conhecendo um pouco sobre ela e em como a falta de cuidado que ela nunca havia recebido de sua mãe e a tamanha culpa que ela carregava nos ombros em função da responsabilidade de outras pessoas pesava em sua vida e em sua atitude fria de distanciar quem se aproximava demais. porque era exatamente isso que a lola fazia. ela afastava, erguia suas barreiras, tentava demonstrar o quão não afetada ela ficava quando uma pessoa demonstrava o mínimo de carinho e preocupação, acreditando que todas as pessoas que se interessavam o suficiente para querer algo com ela era para bens maiores, para se aproveitar do que ela tinha.
  
  “nobody just thought about lola like that. thought about whether she’d be hungry and not have anything to eat. considered whether she’d be thirsty later. thought about her future or present needs at all.” saber que um gesto tão pequeno e simples afetou a lola de uma forma sem comparações porque ela nunca havia tido isso em sua vida desde criança fez meu coração doer.
  
  “no one has ever given me anything, carmen.” her voice cracked. “no one has ever thought about me in my life, and i’m not sure that I know how to accept how thoughtful you are. how not dysfunctional you are.“ e saber que a lola passou a vida acreditando que ela não era merecedora desse cuidado e que ela não sabia lidar quando alguém dava isso a ela… é não estou nada bem.
  
  lola barros, você tem meu coração, para sempre. sempre tive algo por personagens ice queens, mas esta em específico? conquistou o meu coração desde o primeiro capítulo, mesmo quando ela estava xingando e batendo no carro do amor de sua vida, porque sem isso, não seria um romance de verdade!
  
  enfim, tiveram tantas cenas de lola & carmen que eu amei que eu não poderia colocar tudo aqui, mas sério, elas são as mais amáveis e especiais do mundo. os momentos que elas compartilharam na viagem :( as cenas em que a lola buscou a proximidade de carmen mesmo quando ela se negava a aceitar isso :( os momentos em que a carmen buscou a proximidade de lola e se declarou para ela, implorando para que ela acreditasse que carmen a queria :( a lola dizendo que a amava pela primeira vez :( a lola não conseguindo lidar com o cuidado e carinho imensos de carmen e a carmen dizendo que ela era merecedora daquilo e muito mais que suficiente para estar ao seu lado :( estamos muito, muito mal por aqui.
  
  e lola, obrigada por ouvir meus surtos, como sempre. você é a metade da minha laranja e nunca vou deixar de te agradecer por me fazer ler mais uma das suas favoritas, mesmo que me faça querer morrer e te matar junto durante a leitura. eu te amo <3
  
  “And I love you. Not because of some garbage a Stevie Nicks wannabe said, but because of this.… because you show up for me and I show up for you, and I promise to keep doing that until you don’t want me anymore.”
• 
  julia

  This series is such an unexpected fun fest. Ridiculous, unserious, hot, with just enough amount of drama to keep you invested but never going overboard with it.
  
  Can't wait for book 3 with that epilogue.
• 
  Hanna

  4 stars. This book really could've been 5 stars, but there was a part that just didn't resonate with me, I felt bored. I loved the initial love-hate attraction between the MCs, but then it seemed too easy for me that they just confessed and that was it, it was all happy, there wasn't too much of a transition period. All in all, it was a pretty good read, and overall I'm glad I powered through the part that didn't resonate with me, because the end was great.
• 
  Cam Bautista

  Lola and Carmen’s story was absolutely buck wild. And I loved every second of it.
  
  I felt like this one did very well with delving into the character’s motivations and why they are the way they are. As much as some parts of this book were absolutely bonkers, I appreciated the character development we got to see. Mainly on Lola’s side. Not to reveal too much but Lola’s fiery nature wasn’t just a personality thing, she had very real and tender reasons for why she was a 0-100, I’ll bite your head off and enjoy every moment of it kind of girl. It was so gratifying to see her open up to Carmen and the folks at Dominion. That scene at the very end where everyone - Natalia, Adriana, Carmen, and even Martina - rallied together to protect Lola and shoo her mom away was amazing. Also, that scene right after where Natalia reaffirmed how she saw Lola was a tearjerker - can you imagine feeling bottom of the barrel and fearing for your job because your mom decided to make a scene at a job you love and worked really hard at being good at for the boss that you admire to basically tell you that you’re deserving of good things and good people? Yeah, I was sobbing.
  
  This series has steadily been gaining steam. Based on what I’ve read of Natalia’s story so far, I have a feeling there will be many laughs, tears, and all the good fuzzy feelings. Another banger of a novel by an author I’m quickly regarding as my favourite sapphic writer! 5/5 stars.
• 
  Kathryn Crowley

  Now the tension that’s comes with enemies to lovers is impeccable. The tension in the beginning can be cut with a knife. Or an axe, its so thick.
  
  Now… the hate that builds and then is transferred into the bedroom is making me BLUSH. My cheeks are pink. The tugging in my heart and soul. I actually shivered at one of these lines. SHIVERED.
  
  When their relationship starts changing is when I started liking Carmen and how perfectly she knows how to get to Lola. (Romantically and platonically). I think Carmen is the perfect partner for Lola.
  
  Lola is very closed off and hard to get to open up whereas carmen is intrigued. Lola might be the most untrusting person ive ever read. Luckily for her Carmen knows and understands, not pushing her.
  
  I think the development in their relationship was perfectly played out. Not rushed too fast and the balance between Carmen and Lola’s insecurities play off each other well.
  
  The only thing about this book I did not love was the epilogue.
• 
  Jen

  The chemistry between Lola and Carmen was off the charts. Loved this one.
• 
  ✵

  loved them so so much. they're new family. i suck at writing reviews but i needed to say something about them
• 
  Len

  Wew. Another page turner from the author. can’t wait for the 3rd one.
• 
  Yilian Herrera

  Book 1 was awesome. But there is something about this one that captivated my soul. I absolutely loved Lola and Carmen. Their relationship has been one of my favs from J.J. Arias. The complexity of their relationship, supporting characters and tease about Natalia’s upcoming story were cherries on top! Get reading friends..
• 
  bookster

  3.5 Stars
• 
  Patricia

  Second book from the Dominion series and it’s my fav one so far. love the fire between the two characters. i enjoyed how they developed and what transpired between them. good spice level, very enjoyable
• 
  Sarah

  Nice character arc!
• 
  Heather

  “You’re safe with me.”
  
  ::nodding:: Yep, that’s how I’ve always felt with Arias. This was steamy and lovely. Little hurricane Lola went through a lot of turmoil in this one, but god I loved watching her realize how lovable and amazing she actually is.
  
  Also, thank you Arias for writing some real family sh*t. It’s hard to read at times, but validating all the same. I appreciate you for taking the leap with that and opening up another layer of Lola to love. You know how to nurture through the pain and it’s always appreciated.
  
  Carmen gets the best girlfriend award. 🥇 😏
  
  Thank you to the author for the ARC. This is and always will be my honest heartfelt opinion. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
• 
  Misha

  I haven't read the first book in this series and still found it immensely enjoyable. The banter between the two main characters is organic and enjoyable and the trauma from their respective pasts and families is relatable, and when they finally open up to each other and support one another, the result is dazzling and touching. Highly recommend this one!
• 
  Olivia M

  loved loved loved it!! enemies to lovers stays being my favorite trope. the banter between these two, their personalities and the smut was the cherry on top
• 
  Rey Hawke

  4.5
• 
  tenthmuse ☆

  oh these two are my new favorite couple.
  
  this is becoming my favorite jj arias series, so good!
• 
  Hana Huskovic

  I have read over 200 Sapphic novels since 2020, and this is one of my all-time favourites. Ms. Arias has outdone herself again. This novel circles around two strong women - Lola and Carmen, and the tension that is always on the surface for these two. We had a quick introduction to these protagonists from the first book in this series, and I could feel the sexual tension between them. They have such amazing banter, with quick-witted insults being thrown by both women.
  
  Due to their "dislike" for one another, Lola and Carmen they had to partake in some anger management classes, and this sparks the attraction even more.
  
  Throughout the book, we see the two women get closer, and we learn more about Lola's past, and what makes you the way that she is. Carmen is her yin to her yang, and they tend to truly balance each other out. I had the honour of reading this book, and feeling for Lola. I can relate to Lola and her prickly persona, as she did not have a lot of things given to her.
  
  JJ is such an amazing author, and I am so humbled to have been given the opportunity to read this book.
  
  Thank you so much.