Rape in Romance Novels...Yes, I'm gonna go there!

*****Before I begin, I in NO way shape or form condone rape at all. It is morally wrong to force sex on any person******

Hey y'all, this post has been stewing in my brain for some time now so I decided to suck it up, put on my big girl panties and write a post about it. 

Rape (I know most of you are cringing right now) has been a theme that the romance novel has shied away from for a long time, and those who don't shy away from it get hung out to dry. 

So, in this post I want to express my feelings on what is considered rape in the romance novel.

The first time I encountered rape between the hero and heroine was in Prisoner of My Desire by Johanna Lindsey.

I read this book back in 2007, which was when I first started getting into romance novels. I loved this book. Seriously, I've read it like fifty times. I was completely shocked when I read reviews that said things like, "There is nothing romantic about rape, revenge and cruelty." and "There were too many violent and sexual scenes." I was flabbergasted by this. Those scenes are what made it so hot! I started to question if I was just sick for enjoying the book, or if those people were just stuffy farts. 

So, let's define rape. 

According to the Oxford English Dictionary rape is...

Originally and chiefly: the act or crime, committed by a man, of forcing a woman to have sexual intercourse with him against her will, esp. by means of threats or violence. In later use more generally: the act of forced, non-consenting, or illegal sexual intercourse with another person; sexual violation or assault.

In Prisoner of My Desire the heroine ties up the hero and forces him to have sex with her so she can conceive a child. This doesn't exactly fit in with this definition, but I will let the OED slide on this one. ;) Once the hero escapes he captures the heroine and ties her to his bed, where he exacts revenge for the "sexual torture" she put him through. 

I didn't find any of this to be offensive or to be rape in my mind. Neither character was truly forced. The reader saw inside of both characters heads and neither of them were totally repulsed, or against having sex with the other. While the sex wasn't something they intended originally, both of them enjoyed it immensely and if anything, they only regretted the fact that they liked it so much in spite of the situation. 

People are still flabbergasted by this, and others have said..."but Megan, it is still rape!"

My response -- "It's still a book."

This isn't real life. As much as we can emotionally connect with characters, they are still just characters. These situations they are put into were written by someone sitting behind a computer, they weren't composed by a rapist, fornicating on unsuspecting women in public (hahaha at least I hope not). 

Dark romances are meant for entertainment. It is a safe way to read about dark twisted relationships that spawn from something that isn't innocent at all, which in itself is very real. This opposite side of the argument. Relationships in real life don't always start with the innocent meeting of eyes on a train. Real life invokes relationships that start in behind backs, in dark corners, and for all the wrong reasons. Hearts are ripped apart, lives are destroyed by it. It's reality and it's harsh. A lot of the time relationships like those don't work out, people who are severely flawed don't always find that happy ending...and that's where books come in. This is where those ruined people can find their match, the happy ending in spite of their darkness. 

A newer example of this would be Wanderlust by Skye Warren.

This book is one that seriously messes with your mind. Most of the sex in this book could be considered rape, though I argue, like the Lindsey novel, that it isn't. The lines where rape is concerned are severely blurred. 

Where I draw the line:

While I am am all for a dark, edgy, borderline non-consensual romance, I also have limits. I don't like to read books where there are long descriptive scenes where women are violently gang-raped by strange men. (I'm not a complete animal, lol.) I enjoy books where women and men are slaves to their desires--which ultimately ends up in books that a lot of people do accuse of having rape.

There is--and will continue to be--a great divide in opinions on this matter.

As for whether or not I am sick in the head for liking this stuff, I have to say, that yes, I definitely am. I don't mind it though. :-)

What do you think about rape in the romance novel? What is too much for you?? I'd love to hear your thoughts!

Review: Whiskey and a Gun by Jade Eby

Y'all, I am SO excited to be writing this review SOOO excited! eeek! I hosted the cover reveal for this book last week and since the moment I read the description and saw the cover, I have been salivating over it. 

Here's a little about the book...

I only meant to love her...
Tawny Owens was going to help me escape my past. She was going to change my future.
But that's not what happened.

I don't know if I can control it much longer. This insatiable need to kill the only good thing in my life.
But this isn't her story - it's mine.

Add to Goodreads

Review:

Okay, before I say anything about the book itself, let's talk about that beautiful cover. It was that coupled with the freakin' awesome blurb that caught my attention. I think Eby is genius in the way she crafted the blurb. It is really evasive and yet compelling all at once. Definitely makes me want more!

Now, onto the book. I came into this story not really knowing what to expect, and man, was I surprised. 

Y'all know I love fucked up characters. I love it when they are flawed beyond all reason--to point where they seem unredeemable. Jade definitely tackles this in Whiskey. 

Carter is SO flawed that there were times that I wanted to stab him, literally. 

I wanted to hate him. I wanted to add him to the long list of heroes who suck butt, but I couldn't. There was something so compelling about his character, even when he was doing horrendous things that I didn't agree with, I still loved him. I still wanted better for him because I believed that it was in him. Jade weaves this complicated dynamic of characters that makes you question what is right and wrong how far someone can go before they become unredeemable. 

In other words: Mind=Fucked. 

Now keep in mind, this is a short story, a companion to the upcoming novel The Finish, so there are a lot of things left unanswered in this story, and to be desired. I struggled with this a little as how I would rate the book, but ultimately I base my ratings on how the book makes me feel after I finish. The one's that keep me thinking WTF just happened? Those are the kind of books I love. This is definitely one of those. I read part of it in between classes at school and hated that I had to stop reading. I ended up finishing it in my car because I couldn't wait until I got home to see what happened.

I can't wait for the next book. I need to know. I NEED to! Seriously you need to check this out. Add it to the top of your TBR pile NOW. :)

I will leave you with this image of Tyler Durden. This sums up a lot of my feels in the story. 

5 FRICKIN ' AWESOME STARS!

Review: Captive in the Dark by CJ Roberts

Caleb is a man with a singular interest in revenge. Kidnapped as a young boy and sold into slavery by a power-hungry mobster, he has thought of nothing but vengeance. For twelve years he has immersed himself in the world of pleasure slaves searching for the one man he holds ultimately responsible. Finally, the architect of his suffering has emerged with a new identity, but not a new nature. If Caleb is to get close enough to strike, he must become the very thing he abhors and kidnap a beautiful girl to train her to be all that he once was.
Eighteen-year-old Olivia Ruiz has just woken up in a strange place. Blindfolded and bound, there is only a calm male voice to welcome her. His name is Caleb, though he demands to be called Master. Olivia is young, beautiful, naïve and willful to a fault. She has a dark sensuality that cannot be hidden or denied, though she tries to accomplish both. Although she is frightened by the strong, sadistic, and arrogant man who holds her prisoner, what keeps Olivia awake in the dark is her unwelcome attraction to him.

Review:

K so... when I bought this book, I knew it was going to be dark && it is no secret that I love book with dark effed up characters. 

It didn't disappoint. In fact, it was more than I expected. I've read a lot of books that were just hardcore slave/master situations that were full of rape. 

This wasn't so much like that. The line between what is right and wrong is severely blurred in this novel. There were moments when I hated Caleb so much I cried. 

There were others when I loved him, when I wanted to pull him close and never let him go. (Apparently I'm just as crazy as Livvie, lol) I struggled the entire book with my feelings for both characters. 
Livvie is the victim, but she is strong, and I believe she is very honest in her feelings. She doesn't want to feel anything but hate for Caleb, but she finds that the line between love and hate isn't as easy to define as she thought. 

Overall, I really loved this book and I would recommend to anyone who likes dark effed up romance, like me. :-)

Five Stars!

Broken Fences by Kelly Gendron Book Blast & Giveaway!

Hey y'all! I am so excited to be hosting this book. Seriously, it is super steamy. I love bad boys, especially Texas men! Woo wee!! I'm a little over half-way finished reading this baby, so make sure you visit next week for my review! Check out the excerpt and then leave some love in the comments. Kelly is giving away $25 Amazon/B&N GC to one lucky commenter on the tour. Also, follow the tour, the more blogs you comment, the better your chances of winning are! 

Tour Links

BLURB:

Colden Saint James, Dusty Owens, and a single night of passion had equaled to poor old Mr. McAllister’s broken fence. Add six years, a troublemaking photo, and there’s not a fence in Texas that’s gonna be safe.
It took Dusty Owens two years to land Colden “Saint” James, even if it was for only one night, but the very next day, he was gone. Now, years later, the “Saint” has returned, but he’s no longer the do-gooder rookie cop Dusty remembers.
Dusty Owens always had a way of making every single one of Colden’s man parts go all hard. He’d been so close to falling for the girl before he’d left Odessa. Now, due to a troublemaking photo, Colden must return to his hometown to keep her safe. Trouble is, he’s a different man—not to mention the change. Well, it’s gonna cause all kinds of problems where Dusty Owens and all of his man parts are concerned.

Buy Links:

Amazon ~ http://amzn.to/17AxWnb
B&N ~ http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/broken-fences-kelly-gendron/1116968966?ean=2940045281348
Smashword ~ https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/358923
Kobo ~ http://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/broken-fences-a-troublemaker-novel-book-1
iTunes ~ https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/broken-fences-troublemaker/id711732027?mt=11

EXCERPT:

“No,” he said in a harsh whisper. Barely touching her, his large form hovered over her body.

She couldn’t move or say anything. Immobilized by the fear induced by the man who pinned her to the bed, her panting carried on in the shadowy room.

“No, don’t do this.” He cradled her face gently with large hands. “Don’t be afraid of me. Not like this. You hear me?” The moonlight illuminated his eyes. They glistened with affection. “You be frightened when I kiss you.” His mouth brushed over hers.

Her breath caught in her throat from the brief kiss and from the way he passionately gazed down at her.

“Be afraid of the feeling you get between your legs when I touch you.” The weight of his body lowered on hers, his thick hardness imbedding her flesh. “Fear me when I’m finally deep inside of you.” He pressed closer.

She let out a cry of desire, not from fear. Her hips moved as she tried to rock against him.

A smile touched his strong lips, and his tempting mouth lay suspended over hers. “You fear what we will become when I again make you mine, sweetheart.”

The warmth of his words cascaded her flushed face. The tenderness in his voice and the soft pressure of his palms upon her cheeks added need to her already desirous want.

“And what you should really be afraid of… what you need to fear,” his eyes dropped to her mouth, a rough thumb passed over her quivering lip, “is what you mean to me in here.” Colden tapped his chest as dark eyes lifted back to hers. “Because being trapped in here, Dusty girl…” He pointed to his heart. “Well, that should scare you a lot more than being safe out here with only your arms around me.”

Author Bio:

Kelly resides in a quiet suburb somewhere between Buffalo and Niagara Falls, NY. Her day job? Kelly works in health care representing a group of nursing facilities in the WNY area. She’s been faithfully writing for three years but did write her first book ten years ago. She put it down to raise her son as a single mom and then picked it back up when she and her son finally grew up. That's when she settled into her newly married adult life and started to seriously write again. She's dabbled with Romantic Suspense stories, but recently she's been on an Adult Contemporary Romance kick. 
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Book Trailer Reveal: Few are Angels by Inger Iversen

Few Are Angels by Inger Iversen(Few Are Angels #1)
Publication date: May 28th 2012
Genres: New Adult, Paranormal Romance
After a fatal hit and run accident, Ella Monroe fears that she’s lost more than her beloved parents. Horrifying visions of a past life and a disturbing voice in her head have psychiatric professionals convinced that she’s lost her sanity as well. But when Kale–a dark and handsome stranger with a mysterious past–reveals the true meaning of her visions and the tremendous power she wields through them, Ella must come to terms with the devastating truths of her own past, while eluding an ancient Dark Prince who seeks to control not only her future, but all of mankind’s, by means of abilities that Ella is only beginning to understand.

Add on Goodreads

Book Trailer:

About the Author:

Inger Iversen lives in Virginia Beach with her tree-hugging boyfriend Joshua and her overweight lap cat Max. When not reading or writing she spends her time watching reruns of True Blood or killing zombies in Call Of Duty.





Author Links:
Website: http://www.ingeriversen.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Inger-Iversen/187900437937819
Twitter: https://twitter.com/kris10inger
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5829788.Inger_Iversen

Cover Reveal: Tell me When by Stina Lindenblatt

Hey y'all! Check out this sexy new cover from Stina Lindenblatt! I am a love of New Adult Romance and I can't wait for this to come out! 

Tell Me When by Stina Lindenblatt 

Published by: Carina Press (HQN)

Publication date: January 20th 2014

Genres: Contemporary, New Adult, Romance

Blurb: Amber Scott should be enjoying life as a college freshman. She should be pursuing her dream of becoming a veterinarian. She should be working hard to make sense of her precalculus math class.
She shouldn’t be waking up her college roommate with screaming nightmares. She shouldn’t be flashing back, reliving the three weeks of hell she barely survived last year. And she definitely shouldn’t be spending time with sexy player Marcus Reid.
But engineering student Marcus is the only one keeping Amber from failing her math course, so she grudgingly lets him into her life. She never expects the king of hookups will share his painful past. Or that she’ll tell him her secrets in return, opening up and trusting him in a way she thought she’d never be able to again.
When their fragile future together is threatened by a stalker Amber thought was locked away for good, Marcus is determined to protect her. And Amber is determined to protect Marcus…even if that means pushing him away.

Add to Goodreads

AUTHOR BIO:
Born in England, Stina loves to travel, and has lived in England, the US, Canada, and Finland. She spent a semester in graduate school living in central Finland, and a summer during her undergrad degree working in Helsinki. She has a Master’s of Science degree in exercise physiologyand has worked with elite athletes. In her free time, Stina is a photographer, mother of three adorable kids, and devoted wife. She currently lives in Calgary, Canada.

Author links:
Website: http://stinalindenblattauthor.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/StinaLindenblattAuthor
Twitter: https://twitter.com/StinaLL
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7333747.Stina_Lindenblatt

Cover Reveal & Giveaway: Alive by Megan D. Martin

So yesterday I got to host the freakin' awesome Gemma Blaze...and today... I get to host myself! I am so pumped to reveal the cover of Alive. I had so much fun writing this novel. Seriously, I love zombies. (I want to be one when I grow up.) 

The amazing Najla at http://www.najlaqamberdesigns.com made my cover and I am so excited about it I could crap. Oh, wait, I think I just did!...whoops. 

Anywhooo Najla really captured what I was looking for, so check her out, and be sure to enter in the giveaway at the bottom of this post!

Cover Reveal: Heart Stopper by Gemma Blaze

I'm so excited to share this cover with y'all! Gemma Blaze is a crazy chick and good friend of mine. I can't wait to read her upcoming book! Look at the pretties!!! 

Title: Heart Stopper

Author: Gemma Blaze

Genre: Romance/Horror

Cover Designer: White Rabbit Designs

Review: Bad For You by Kenya Wright

Eeeek! I am so excited to be reviewing this bad boy!! 

"It's Quentin Tarantino meets Love Jones"- K. Wright, Author

This chess board is different than a normal one. Instead of a king and queen, we have a Killer and Survivor. Where knights and bishops should be, there are Strippers and Gangsters. Yet, in this game of sex and deception, blood stains and life, an intense love grows in the most unusual places, leaving all of the players to consider dropping their guns and rethink why they started the battle in the first place. Bad for You is an erotic romance serial novel that progresses over several volumes and are 85 pages each.

Buy on Amazon

Review:

I had the pleasure of editing the freakin' awesome novella. I always look forward to getting something new to edit from Kenya for several reasons... 1. It's always freakin' hot 2. I never know what to expect. 

She didn't disappoint with this one. She isn't kidding when she says it's Quentin Tarantino. This plot-line is dark, so dark! With characters that are incredibly flawed and unlikeable at times, which in turn makes me love them because they are so real. Both Melody and Kane are bad with a twist I never saw coming! I can't wait to see what Kenya does with the next book! 

5 stars!!!

Wheel Wolf by January Valentine Book Blitz!

Title: Wheel Wolf (Werewolf Horror)

Author: January Valentine

Genre: Horror/Suspense/Thriller

Release date: August 20, 2013

 

Blurb:

Jack Bailey is just a few weeks away from beginning his dream career as Forest Ranger in the upstate New York town of Angel's Bend. Jenny Rudea, veterinarian in training, is madly in love with Jack, and the animals she cares for.


On the way home from her house one night, Jack takes an unanticipated detour to Hosner Lake. While there, he encounters something that raises the hair on the back of his neck. What is out there, on the other side of the lake? Is it a shadow, a hunter, a wolf? Without a weapon or a flashlight, he is not about to stick around to find out.


He hops on his bike and heads for the main road where something leaps onto his back, causing the accident that steals his mobility, threatens his sanity. As if this isn't bad enough, when he wakes up in the hospital, paralyzed from the waist down, he has no idea what occurred on the lonely road, but is now a prime suspect in a murder investigation because of what was found almost pinned to his body: a naked girl whose throat has been slit. 


In his comatose state, Jack hears detectives interview Jenny at his bedside. He eventually regains consciousness and is transferred to a rehab where he hopes to recover the use of his legs. The police are searching for a serial killer, mutilated bodies have been piling up across the country, as well as in Angel's Bend. While Jack struggles with his physical injuries, he must also defend his innocence.


Jack manages to slip in and out of the window of his room mysteriously, at will, even though he's in a wheelchair. The only one who notices his disappearing acts is his physical therapist, Rachel Huntress, who is almost as weird as the predicament Jack has found himself in; Jack's extraordinary abilities and hairy appearance don't seem to faze her at all. 


There are tense scenes which include violence and raw emotion in this werewolf whodunit. Who is the murderous werewolf? Jack? Or could it be his high school rival, Detective Don Delgado. It's anyone's guess. Along with mangled corpses, there are several possible suspects. This killer is not part of a pack. He's a ruthless rogue. 


Wheel Wolf is a stunningly intense chiller, with gripping internalization from Jack's and Jenny's points of view. Packed with romance, suspense, twists and turns, this bestselling, unpredictable psychological thriller will have you on the edge of your seat from page one until the bittersweet conclusion.

Cover Reveal & GIVEAWAY: Whiskey and a Gun by Jade Eby

Hey y'all! I have the privilege of being one of the first to share this cover for Jade Eby! Look at the sexiness!! Forget the whiskey and the gun, give me that sexy man!!! Lol, but in all seriousness, this books sounds badass. I will totally be checking it out (cause you know I TOTALLY heart NA) and, until then, twitching over the amazing cover. SO check it out, add it to goodreads, and enter to contest. <3

Host my cover reveal?

The amazing Ren Reidy from A Little Bit of R&R is setting up a cover reveal for my upcoming release ALIVE (Crave #1). The reveal is set for October 20th. Two randomly drawn hosts will win an Amazon GC. 

If you're interested, sign up here.

A little bit about the book...
Title: Alive (Crave, #1)
Genre: New Adult Post-Apocalyptic Interracial Romance Release Date: January 3, 2014

Flesh-eating zombies

dirty sex

 and a shattered past… 

What’s more dangerous—the man who broke her heart or those trying to eat it?

Fighting to survive, Eve finds herself alone in the world after the Crave—the only parallel of her former life. On the hunt for her sister, she runs into Gage—the first and only boy to have her heart and break it. It’s been four years and he isn’t a boy anymore, nor is he the same person he used to be.  Against her better judgment, Eve agrees to stay with him when he divulges information on a safe haven near the small town they grew up in—but that doesn’t mean she has to like it…

Returning home elicits a myriad of emotions that both Eve and Gage thought they had buried. The past and present collide and they are forced to the face bitter deceits that ruined them in the before and threaten to destroy them now…

If you're interested in hosting me, please sign up! I'll heart you forever! 

Beautiful Experiment Book Blitz

Hey y'all! Today I'm hosting Beautiful Experiment (Island of Defiance #1). I haven't personally read this book, but the cover is gorgeous! Definitely something I'm gonna check out. You should too! :-)

Title:  Beautiful Experiment  (Book One of Island of Defiance Trilogy)
Author: January Valentine
Genre:  Teen  Paranormal Fantasy
Release date: June 1, 2013

Blurb:
Six unruly teens are abducted on their way to a juvie home. Dumped onto an uncharted island. Could things get any worse? Hell, yeah. Hostility and envy run rampant. Throw in some alphas, divas and demons, and what do you have? Beautiful Experiment. Book One of the Island of Defiance Trilogy.

The teens are referred to as waywards, informed their parents have sent them to the island for rehabilitation. While they struggle with their predicament, and each other, they come to a shocking realization ... for once in their lives, they have to follow rules.

Brook has lived on the Island of Defiance his entire life, with no choice but to believe everything he has been taught. As he approaches eighteen, the secret of who he is, and the ultimate fate he must face, begins to unfold. To complicate matters even more, Brook grows to experience something he has never known ... love.

How do you convince a stranger a dreadful mistake has been made? Gabriella Winslow is an honors student who has always helped others, but now has to fight for herself. Something unimaginable wants her as much as the beautiful island boy with whom she is falling in love.


Beautiful Experiment is Book One of The Island Of Defiance Trilogy (paranormal - fantasy - romance - for teens and adults) Mature 16+ for adult language, drugs & alcohol, mild sexual situations & mild violence.

Buy links:

Amazon

B&N

Kobo

Review: Endless Knight by Kresley Cole

Hey y'all! I am super excited to be reviewing Endless Knight. I love this series and wowza, look at that pretty cover! 

In the second book of the Arcana Chronicles Evie has now fully come into her powers as the tarot Empress. And Jackson was there to see it all. In the aftermath of killing Arthur, the tarot Alchemist, Evie realizes that a war is brewing between the other teens that, following the apocalypse, have been given powers and its kill or be killed.

Things get even more complicated when Evie meets Death, the mysterious, sexy Endless Knight. Somehow the Empress and Death share a romantic history - one that Evie can't remember, but Death can't forget. She is drawn to the Endless Knight, but is in love with Jack. Determined to discover why she's been granted these powers, Evie struggles to accept her place in a prophecy that will either save the world, or completely destroy it.

Review: The Babysitter by Kenya Wright

Hey y'all! Over the weekend I had the privilege of editing a really awesome erotic novella by Kenya Wright. Check out my review below. 

Blurb: "In my guest room, Blake caresses my neck and surrounds me with his scent, a haunting mixture of rosemary and lavender, so subtle, yet sure to sink into my sheets, so that I can smell him minutes after he leaves and goes to his sleeping wife."

Paige has a problem. She's in love with her married boss, Blake, the father of two kids that she watches. After his wife left him for another man, he hired on Paige as a live-in babysitter. For a year she not only got his household back in order, but helped heal the family's broken hearts.

But, now things have changed.

Before Paige can confess her feelings to Blake, his wife returns. She wants to repair their marriage. Blake thinks it would be good for the kids, but Paige doesn't believe his wife deserves forgiveness and she's tired of hanging in the shadows as the love of her life slips away.

No. Things have definitely changed and Paige is tired of being the good little babysitter. It's time to be very naughty, so wicked that Blake's length stirs in his pants when she strolls by him in thin sun dresses that taunt his view and make his throat go dry from heated lust pumping blood to his veins.

Can Blake stay loyal to his wife and kids or does he find himself in the babysitter's sensual grasp, spiraling down into all-consuming passion?

The Babysitter is an erotic novella at 15,000 words.

Kat Scratch Fever & Kat-napped Double Release Day!

Hey guys! I am so thrilled to share these two books with you. I have read them both, and have to say that they are seriously amazing. There are sexy men alpha men, burning hot scenes, and plenty of suspense to keep you hanging on until the very last page--on both books! 
You wanna know what else is awesome?!?!? Both books--1 & 2--released today AND they are 99 cents each!!! Such an awesome deal! One you definitely don't want to pass up! So check out these bad boys, you won't regret it!

Kat Scratch Fever (Kat Scratched Trilogy #1)
by D.T. Dyllin
Paranormal Romance Novella

It’s tough being a cat in a dog eat dog world. Something that Katrina Walker learned the hard way being a were-cat raised by a pack of werewolves. And after her taboo love affair with the future Alpha is discovered, Kat has no choice but to leave the only home and man she’s ever loved behind for good. Or so she thought…
Seven years later Kat is forced to return to pack lands and the man she left behind. But Jason Benson has changed, and so has she. Will she find her way back into the arms of her first love, or will James, the mysterious were-cat wriggle his way into her heart?

Buy Here: Amazon/ Smashwords