This month is Domestic Violence Awareness Month, along with Breast Cancer Awareness Month and many others. However, domestic violence, while a virulent disease, receives very little attention and is pushed under the rug.

Some years ago when I first moved to Los Angeles, I dated a man briefly whom I’d met salsa dancing. He was intelligent, attractive, and an amazing dancer. He was also abusive. On our first date, we met at a dance club where he and some of his salsa friends liked to go. We were having a great time until he said something that made me pause: “I would never allow one of my friends to dance with you. They might steal you away.” A little voice in my head whispered: “Wait a minute, weren’t these people his friends? And when did I become his property?” But I ignored that voice and gave him the benefit of the doubt.

By the second date, he had insulted me several times, but in an insidious manner that had me questioning myself. (The insults seemed to have a kernel of truth, but only enough to make the insults seem plausible and start the questions.) When I realized what was happening and that my self-esteem was spiraling, that little voice grew louder, more insistent. I listened--because whenever I don’t, I usually end up in trouble. That’s when the answer hit me: this man was an abuser. I felt in my bones. If someone is attracted to you and supposedly likes you, they don’t insult you and they certainly don’t treat you like property. If someone likes you, they praise you, they respect you, and they support your dreams.

In any case, we were supposed to see each other again the next day, but I decided that he was not good for me. The following phone call confirmed my suspicions. He belittled me in an attempt to get me to see him again. I refused. I am so thankful that I did and consider myself lucky to have escaped with very little damage.

I encourage every person who has ever heard that little voice warning them to get out… do it. That voice will never lie to you. It is protecting you. It is never wrong and it is never too late to listen. And you deserve better. You deserve to be emotionally supported, to be loved, to be praised, to be respected.

Most of us don’t realize what constitutes abuse. Here is a list of behaviors that can be found in the foreword of Dreams & Desires: A Collection of Romance and Erotic Tales, published by Freya’s Bower – http://www.freyasbower.com/content/v....

1. Jeckel and Hyde behavior: Your partner is wonderful and caring for a while and then will do an about face and be angry about things that they thought were fine at an earlier time. They switch back and forth between behaviors for no apparent reason.

2. Life Would be so Good If: You frequently think that your relationship would be perfect if not for his or her emotional storms. The storms seem to be coming more and more frequently. Between times, life is wonderful, but when a storm is coming, you can often tell by that Walking on Eggs Feeling.

3. That Walking On Eggs Feeling: You feel at times that any action on your part will cause your partner to erupt into anger. You try to do everything you can think of to avoid it, but the longer the feeling goes on, the more likely the blowup will happen, no matter what you do.

4. I Can’t Stand You, But You Better Not Leave: Your partner keeps telling you that you aren’t worth having a relationship with, but will not consider breaking off the relationship and acts more outrageously when he or she finds out you are attempting to leave the relationship.

5. So Much, So Fast: Your partner just met you and doesn’t know much about you, but he or she has to have you, so you must commit now.

6. It’s You That’s the Problem: Your partner never seems to consider his or her own part in your domestic disputes. You get blamed for all problems because of the most ridiculous things.

7. This Happened to Me and It’s All Your Fault: Y

Congratulations, F.R.R. Mallory, Emily Ryan-Davis, and Debbie Mumford!

Of Lilies by F.R.R. Mallory
http://www.freyasbower.com/content/v...

"a unique twist and very vivid descriptions...a gripping short story..."


4 Moons from Marlene Breakfield
Reviewer for Mystique Books
Read entire review: http://mystiquebooks.com/Book%20Revi...

Read an excerpt: http://www.freyasbower.com/excerpts/...

Buy now: http://www.freyasbower.com/store/ind..."

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Dragon Queen: Book Two: Dragon Dance by Emily Ryan-Davis
http://www.freyasbower.com/content/v...

"a very good read...a superb twist...very well written with excellent visuals... I am positively on pins...to read book three. I shall pray to the Muse of Emily Ryan-Davis that my wait should not be too long."


5 Champagne Flutes from Wilga Hill-Boomerang
Reviewer for Cocktail Reviews
Read entire review: http://cocktailreviews.wordpress.com...

Read an excerpt: http://www.freyasbower.com/excerpts/...

Available May 29th!

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Second Sight by Debbie Mumford
http://www.freyasbower.com/content/v...

"an absorbing paranormal tale filled with suspense and passion... The characters were strong and well developed... Paranormal and erotica readers alike will not be able to put this one down."


4 Stars from Inez Daylong
Reviewer for Affaire de Coeur, May Issue 2007

Read an excerpt: http://www.freyasbower.com/excerpts/...

Buy now: http://www.freyasbower.com/store/ind...

Congratulations, F.R.R. Mallory, Emily Ryan-Davis, and Debbie Mumford!

Marci Baun
Editor-in-Chief
Freya's Bower: http://www.freyasbower.com/