Still, it’s sad that it went down the way it did.

Shymen is hilarious and so is the story behind it. Although I have to vote for Raiders of the Lost Hymen because that’s just clever. But let’s hope when it’s discovered it doesn’t actually melt the hero’s face off.

While I’m there, I’ll add that several of my books contain teen romance subplots with frank (and often fumbling) sex scenes between teenagers. I don’t think it’s a crime to depict teens experiencing sexual pleasure.

Awesome.

I think about f/f vs. m/m a lot, and why romance readers are so hard on female characters. It’s because we relate to and identify with women. Male characters get more leeway because we don’t have to think “I would never do that” when we read the male POV.

Another thing I’ve considered is the number of times my husband has acted like a jerk. Many times! He’s a great guy and I love him, but no man is perfect. So it doesn’t make me *as* uncomfortable to read about bad/questionable hero behavior. When I read about a bitchy heroine, however…it can remind me of my own bad behavior. I’m bitchy enough in real life, and maybe don’t want to face that in my pleasure reading.

That got a little off topic.

Anyway, I think most romance readers will not read a brother/sister story because they can’t relate to a woman who would have sex anywhere near her brother. Not that two brothers is any different, but we don’t have to relate to the male thought processes that would precede such an encounter. The idea that men are less emotionally engaged during sex comes into play also. I don’t know how, exactly. I guess I find it believable that two guys could focus on the woman and the sex acts, not each other. I can’t imagine that in an f/f/m scenario.

And yes, pedophilia is prepubescent. It’s kind of a tiring misconception to correct all the time.

You’ve nailed it. Yours is the very first theory which exactly and completely fits the bill.

And to all those so horrified about teenagers having sex (which means also 18 and 19 year old adults as we can read), in half of the USA and in practically all of Europe the age of consent is somewhere between 14 and 16. Officially. Meaning if a 16 y/o and a 60 y/o fall in love or have sex in the UK or in certain states of the USA that would be certainly legitimate and quite okay. In real life.

It’s also no pedophilia, because – wake-up call here! – the definition of pedophilia is sex with a prepubescent child of someone who is 16 or older. Prepubescent means prior to 11-12 these days averagely. Lolita and Cie. is hebephilia. Just to get for once straight what everyone and sundry mixes up.

However, what really has me angry is that it is quite okay to publish books in which teenagers are raped and sexually abused or get pregnant until teenaged readers scream before you can spell s.e.x., but a self-publishing writer may not write something sex-positive involving teens. Those so agreeable about these rules please wrap your brains around THAT message.

Here is a link to the cached “Indie Author Page” at BS:
http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:a1caU_Gh0VUJ:www.bookstrand.com/indie+&cd=2&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=us

You can also search “Indie Authors Bookstrand” via Google to find it.

Look at that page.. and tell me excactly where you see Bestiality, Incest, Necrophila, etc.. I see NONE (and in the past never saw any). These books are all standard “fantasy erotica” fare. Werewolves, Vamps, Menage a trois, etc..
(*Gangbanged by Wolves is a WEREWOLF story.. not actual bestiality…)

Also, the books listed here rival Siren’s in quality of cover, blurb, etc..

I just wanted to clear the air, as some pretty hefty claims about Indie work has been leveled out by Bookstrand.

So yes what I am trying to say is that at least some Jews could not even imagine the horror that was coming, despite the war blooming already. I do not see the portrayal of somebody who does not want to leave as implausible at all, although it is of course a different country, I would imagine the unwilligness to leave the family has the similar roots.

You don’t ever plan on falling in love and I was concerned about the “ick” factor. We are happy, our kids know are are fine with it, her parents know and are happy about it as are all our friends.

Actually, the only issue we have is the fact my brother still feels the need to tell me and her how to live our lives. Weird as he had the affairs and left for another woman.

I am not looking forward to family reunions, but my brother is a jerk and always made any reunions an ugly scene. I realize this can be hard on him, but if she married anyone it could still be difficult for him. Everyone is happy for us and I am honestly surprised after reading all the posts about this, how supportive all our friends are.

As for the stories, I think unrequitted romance and desire make for a great story. I do think it a bit creepy to covet someone who is married, but afterward, let life start fresh.

(So others in my situation can spot this post, I am adding in this stuff:
Should I marry my brother’s ex?
Can I marry my brother’s ex?
marry your ex
marrying your ex sister-in-law)

Of course, Amazon says this is the last update of Stanza…