Thursday thoughts: Series that are better than 50 Shades

Welcome to Thursday Thoughts, a thing I'm going to aim to do weekly. Currently looking for a cohost who can handle the linky side of things and make this an official meme!

This week: What 50 Shades teaches us about relationships

I had a huge issue with 50 Shades of Gray for a couple reasons. Mainly, that it was a story of abuse disguising itself as a love story. I know the power of books and it made me scared for young girls. I'm actually writing this post in October (hello, people from the future! Hopefully the world hasn't ended yet!) which, as most know, is domestic violence awareness month. So, there are a few series that are better (read: less abusive) than 50 Shades.

Masters of the Shadowlands by Cherise Sinclair  Amazon

CLUB SHADOWLANDS Her car disabled during a tropical storm, Jessica Randall discovers the isolated house where she's sheltering is a private bondage club. At first shocked, she soon becomes aroused watching the interactions between the Doms and their subs. But she's a professional woman--an accountant--and surely isn't a submissive . . . is she?
DARK CITADEL After Kari breaks up with her date during Beginner's Night at Club Shadowlands, she's given the option to continue with an experienced dominant. Despite her steamy fantasies about BDSM, the inexperienced schoolteacher plans to simply observe. Yet under the unyielding hands of Master Dan, she not only participates, but gives him everything he asks for. There is nothing she can hide from him. Not her passion...or her love. 

The Gentlemen's Club (Noire series Book 1) by Emmanuelle de Maupassant

Amazon
Set in Victorian London, 'The Gentlemen's Club' explores the lure of the sensuous, entering a realm of elegant debauchery. 
We live in the wondrous here and now and it is here that our flesh must take its pleasure. Your body is yours and yours alone, but not for long, and never long enough. 
Take your seat. The curtain is rising. 

Bookbub - 8 Series That Take 50 Shades To The Next Level

It will light your Victorian lamps. Tasteful and scintillating. Highly recommended. 

Buzzfeed - Erotica Books That Should Be More Famous Than 50 Shades

Praise for its writing style and progressive heroine, who questions gender norms and dated social conventions.

Spin (A Mafia Romance): Corruption Series #1 by CD Reiss

Amazon

Theresa Drazen can have plenty of guys, but the one she can't keep away from....the one she's just about addicted to, is more than forbidden. With felony-black eyes and a mouth built for lies, loving him is one step away from illegal. 
But her body keeps overriding her brain. Maybe it's time to stop playing by the rules. 
------- 
Antonio is obsessed. Theresa's the last woman he should touch. She's going to get him killed. She's dangerous. Poison. The wrong woman. 
Except...she's perfect. 



Next week: How to recover from a book hangover