MH Strom, $0.99, ISBN 978-1452301679
Contemporary Romance, 2011
Our hero Zach is 18, so I guess technically it’s not too bad that he’s developed the hots for 15-year old Joanna. However, MH Strom is not doing Arousing Love any favors with that title and the following opening scene:
“You wanna play?”
“Yeah, okay.” I didn’t really but these girls were pretty cute, especially the blonde one.
“Throw the rings over the Eiffel tower.” The blonde girl pointed to the miniature Eiffel behind her. “You get a French treat for each one you get over.”
Her hand brushed mine as she handed me the rings and I glanced up into stunning blue eyes. She turned away and I traced the shape of her sleek, young body, my eyes lingering on the gentle curve of her hips. I blinked and concentrated on the model Eiffel. I didn’t want to make a fool of myself in front of these girls.
Will an 18-year old describe a 15-year old body’s as “young”? I feel like I need a shower after reading the above because it feels more like a ped…uh, your average Reddit administrator talking.
All those Reddit administrators out there have better don’t get too excited, though. This is a Christian romance, so there’s no hanky panky here.
That night when I got ready for bed, I found her bikini on my bathroom floor. It was dry now, and touching the two pieces stirred feelings in me all over again.
Okay, so maybe they can get excited.
What is the author doing? No, really, what is this?
This story is told from Zach’s point of view, so the creepy-cringe factor is upped each time the character talks about how Joanna looks at him in appreciation or how she just can’t stop herself from touching him or letting him paint her in the nude because he is just too irresistible. Is the author a man trying to justify why a 15-year old, sorry, almost 16-year old would throw herself at him Zach?
Also, everyone here acting like Joanna is such a hot kid that is so mature for her age, and how she is Zach’s young girlfriend… hello, he’s 18. The age difference is not so big that he will see her as a some overgrown child. I doubt his friends will do the same, although they probably should do well to remember that he can get arrested and “Jesus says to me that it’s okay to sleep with her!” may not hold up in court.
Really, this story is written from an adult’s point of view, an adult that is very well aware that Joanna being almost 16 but still relishes in putting this young lady into scenes of getting naked and leaving her bikini bottom at a guy’s place.
Insisting that this is a God-ordained and God-approved romance only makes me groan even harder. These are kids. This is the present day. Let them live a little before forcing them into a relationship at such a young age!
Christian romance or not, Arousing Love just creeps me out to no end. Clearly I am not the target audience of whatever this thing is, and a big part of me is forever grateful for that.
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