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Willow Madison

Goodreads Author

Born

in The United States

Website

http://willowmadisonbooks.com

Twitter

willowcmadison

Genre

Romance, Suspense, Contemporary

Member Since

November 2014

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Willow Madison enjoys writing in a variety of genres including dark psychological suspense, contemporary romance, and dark romance. All her books have one thing in common: an unflinching, unapologetic, uncompromising exploration into what dark corners our desires can take us.

Find yourself in Willow Madison Books

More About Willow . . .

Willow came into this world hand first, clutching a No 2 pencil between her chubby baby fingers. Coming up with ways to twist the lives of her Barbies and Kens was a favorite pastime from her towheaded youth.

In the wilds of the Windy City, her imagination really took off, resulting in all sorts of dramas, big and ...more

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Popular Answered Questions

This isn't really a question? Hi, Willow. I just finished reviewing a book and started scrolling through reviews when I read the one you left for the same book. Sometimes I do that to find new authors or to get book recommendations.I must confess that I read the comments and though I was a bit sad, I was shocked when I discovered you yourself are an author. I can appreciate that we are all entitled to our own opi

Willow Madison Hi, Kimmi. Your full comment was cut off (probably a limit set by GR??). It would help our discussion if I knew to which book you are referring?

updat…moreHi, Kimmi. Your full comment was cut off (probably a limit set by GR??). It would help our discussion if I knew to which book you are referring?

updated with full response:

Kimmi, I can tell that you’ve given this a good deal of thought and I can feel how upset you are. I’ll include your message in full at the bottom, because I can’t abide censorship, even by a limit in characters on GR. I’ll also address your comment in full with an equally thought out reply and hope that you can feel what I wish to convey as well, in its entirety.

The details:
I now understand that you are referring to a friend’s review of King, book 1: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
My comments on that review were for book 2.
For the sake of full disclosure – here’s my own 3* review of book 1 which pre-dates the one to which you refer: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show.... There are no comments posted to this one, only 5 likes at the time of this post. This was not something that I would expect you to know as it wasn’t a part of my review, but I only chose to read this book based on a summer-long team reading challenge. King fit the bill for a pop up for extra points for my team + on a teammate’s TBR + a hot cover. That cover is HAWT.

My reply to your post:
Prior to joining the team reading challenge over the summer, I was reticent to post negative or even neutral reviews. I felt (almost) the same as you – as a fellow author, I should refrain from posting my opinions publicly. I’m not shy or sweet – I write dark erotica after all, but I was being “nice.” Or as I instruct my pets (bubbies) to be – I was being as nice as I can be.
I joined the challenge with a childlike naiveté. I only saw it as an opportunity to be forced out of my dark erotica corner of comfiness. I didn’t think about the necessity of reading books that weren’t my cuppa and then being forced to write a review or leave my teammates hanging in the wind. There were weeks when a book of my chosen tastes was not to be in the cards. I read a good deal of crappa (to me) over the summer frankly. I know we don’t know each other at all; but suffice it to say, I’d never leave a teammate sucking hind tit. Bad form. Bad karma. As a result, over the summer, I left some scathing reviews, all heartfelt and honest.
So the challenge “popped my cherry” on writing “bad” reviews.
King was a book that does fall into my chosen tastes. As my review says, I ended up “in like” with it, so I was curious enough to pick up book 2 (I believe it’s on another friend’s review of book 1 that I curse her for enticing me to read 2 actually). I’ll admit, I was tempted by Mr. Cliff Hanger.
I read book 2. I hated it. It stunk. It sucked. It was lousy. I stand behind my comments on my friend’s review. My comments weren’t based on anyone else’s reviews or comments however. (I would never, another “bad form/karma” point that I wouldn’t expect that you’d know about me though). They were solely my own opinion, formed from having actually read the book.
However, I didn’t rate nor review book 2 on GR. Like so many other readers on here, I was busy and never got to it. And – this is most important for you to understand for the next part of my reply – I didn’t post anything on Amazon.
You may not be aware of this as a reader, but I am as an author. Amazon is “king.” It’s the largest retailer of online book sales. It has this crazily mysterious algorithm that calculates a book’s rating based on sales and reviews. Negative reviews hurt more than positive ones help. As a fellow author, I only post my positive reviews to Amazon. I think of this as playing fair. I don’t post my negative reviews on Amazon. Never. Not once. I won’t. Ever.
GR, although owned by Amazon, is a different animal entirely. This is a forum for readers. Authors walk these halls at their own risk. I’ve been to the Coliseum in Rome. GR is just that. Books are gladiators. Readers are ravenous citizens awaiting their next bite of entertainment, all Caesars with thumbs readied for judgement. Even champions fall prey to sword now and then. And you know what they say about the pen and the sword…the analogy is a bit muddled, but it’s in there somewhere.

Conclusion:
My opinion disagrees with yours on this series and on this point. I am an author. Some could argue that I should be held to a higher standard of public opinion because of that. Others might say I should pander to a more affable public image at least and avoid speaking up. As much as I can, I choose to ignore those lines of thinking. I enjoy GR for what it is – a free space for reader interaction. In an opinion that I have shared with others on here before – authors are welcome, but they should wear steeltoes to avoid getting crushed.
If a reader chooses to judge me based on my reviews or comments, not my books, so be it. I’m not being flippant here. I mean no disrespect. I of course want more readers to enjoy my books. I won’t bite my tongue to make that happen though.
My own books are now scarred and seasoned gladiators themselves. I’ve had my share of negative reviews and comments on here, you can rest assured. My personal favorite so far is Nikki’s for my first Spartacus: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show.... Man did she ever hate that book. Funny gifs though.

(Kimmi’s original question in full)
Willow, here is my message in its entirety.

Hi, Willow. I just finished reviewing a book and started scrolling through reviews when I read the one you left for the same book. Sometimes I do that to find new authors or to get book recommendations. I must confess that I read the comments and though I was a bit sad, I was shocked when I discovered you yourself are an author. I can appreciate that we are all entitled to our own opinion and while I respect that, as a reader I can't support an author who tears down their own colleague. It is one thing to not like a book because you didn't like the storyline but to blatantly rip apart another author is ridiculous.

"Book 2 really stunk - not much plot and even less that made sense. I think there's a book 3 coming out soon, but I will be passing on it. I also think it feels like an after thought. Here's why: (Donna don't read unless you're finished ;)
[I think all the reviews of book 1 that said they loved Preppy and Bear had the author thinking of ways to include them more in book 2. King and Doe both have imaginary conversations with Preppy and there's some bs insinuation that he's a ghost at the end?? Book 3 is supposed to be about Bear since King and Doe have their HEA (lame btw) with book 2 already. Such dumb bullsh!t!"

^ Although I am not currently a published author, I think the above is in very poor taste and may cost you readers that would have otherwise given you a chance. You don't know me from Adam and I'm sure you could not care less what I think but I'm sure you want to increase your readership and in my humble opinion statements like the above have the opposite effect. Just for the record Preppy isn't a really a ghost in the way one would think and drawing conclusions on the speculation of other reviewers is in poor taste. (less)

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'we were one once': Please tell me you are busy writing the next part LOL :) Loved it!?

Willow Madison Thanks for the love! I loved your review too! Did you end up re-reading the book? I am working on book 2. There will only be 2 books to this story and…moreThanks for the love! I loved your review too! Did you end up re-reading the book? I am working on book 2. There will only be 2 books to this story and I'm hopeful to have it published May 1 (fingers n toes twisted tight).

As a side note - I know you liked my other series "True" also -- I have an add on book that is nibbling at my brain...centers around Lucy's friend, Laura. But I can't decide if I should just leave that series alone and continue on with the other books in my head or give it a go...what do you think?(less)

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See all 14 answers from Willow Madison…

Combine Editions
Willow Madison’s books

Average rating: 3.53 · 2,423 ratings · 416 reviews · 10 distinct works • Similar authors

	True Nature (True, #1) 3.30 avg rating — 564 ratings — published 2014 — 3 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	We Were One Once (We Were One Once, #1) 3.84 avg rating — 303 ratings — published 2015 — 3 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	True Beginnings (True, #2) 3.73 avg rating — 298 ratings — published 2014 — 3 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	True Control (True, #4.1) 3.07 avg rating — 339 ratings — published 2015 — 2 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	True Choices (True, #3) 3.70 avg rating — 264 ratings — published 2014 — 3 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	What Lies (Existential Angst, #1) 3.62 avg rating — 206 ratings — published 2021 — 2 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	We Were One Once (We Were One Once #2) 3.92 avg rating — 170 ratings — published 2015 — 3 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	True Control (True, #4.2) 3.43 avg rating — 183 ratings — published 2015 — 2 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	What Love (Existential Angst #2) 3.85 avg rating — 95 ratings	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	What Love: Dark Romance Thriller it was ok 2.00 avg rating — 1 rating — 2 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

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13 posts
Willow Madison's Blog: Random Sh!t

2 New ARCS Available Now

Have you heard? Willow Madison has 2 new ARCs (Advanced Review Copies) coming out!

What Lies & What Love – the long-awaited Existential Angst duet – will be released soon on pre-order, but a select group of readers will have the chance to download the books before anyone else.

All you have to do to be included is sign up for the ARC team now:
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Published on August 12, 2021 12:57 • Tags: advanced-review-copies, arc, arcs, existential-angst, existential-angst-duet, free-book, free-reads, what-lies, what-love, willow-madison

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Series by Willow Madison

True (3 books)
by

Willow Madison (Goodreads Author)

3.41 avg rating — 1,648 ratings

We Were One Once (2 books)
by

Willow Madison (Goodreads Author)

3.87 avg rating — 473 ratings

Existential Angst (2 books)
by

Willow Madison (Goodreads Author)

3.69 avg rating — 301 ratings

Willow is Currently Reading

Willow Madison is currently reading

The Last Hour of Gann

by R. Lee Smith (Goodreads Author)

bookshelves: currently-reading

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Willow Madison said: " I've read this book 5 times. I've not read any other book as many times. I'm guessing I will read it 5 more times. Why? Because...

On first reading, it's a classic SciFi space-opera-esque tale. It's a girl struggling to survive a harsh new reality wit ...more "

Mar 26, 2020 05:56AM · see review

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Willow Madison is now friends with LuciJoy
May 26, 2025 08:12AM · like
Willow Madison has read Interview with the Vampire (The Vampire Chronicles, #1) by Anne Rice	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Apr 27, 2025 11:31AM · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Interview with the Vampire by Anne Rice. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Interview with the Vampire by Anne Rice <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Willow Madison has read The Scream Behind Her Smile by Athena Daniels (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Sep 24, 2024 12:32AM · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of The Scream Behind Her Smile by Athena Daniels. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — The Scream Behind Her Smile by Athena Daniels <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Willow Madison has read Kraken by M. Caspian (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Sep 21, 2024 08:29AM · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Kraken by M. Caspian. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Kraken by M. Caspian <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Willow Madison rated a book it was ok Priest (Priest, #1) by Sierra Simone (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
A fantastic beginning that disappointed me in the end. The writing is superb! The tease of the forbidden fruit and titillating taboos was perfect. Even the mix of religious dogma was the right balance and only added to the steaminess somehow. I'm in ...more
Apr 28, 2024 09:45AM · 12 likes · like · see review · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Priest by Sierra Simone. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Priest by Sierra Simone <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">

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Quotes by Willow Madison (?)

“He gets hard seeing his marks on me. I get wet knowing this. I don't try to analyze it. It's just us.”
― Willow Madison, True Choices

tags: alpha, alpha-male, alpha-male-romance, domestic-discipline, dominant, punishment, submission, submissive, tpe

22 likes

“This is a forum for readers. Authors walk these halls at their own risk. I’ve been to the Coliseum in Rome. GR is just that. Books are gladiators. Readers are ravenous citizens awaiting their next bite of entertainment, all Caesars with thumbs readied for judgement. Even champions fall prey to sword now and then. And you know what they say about the pen and the sword…the analogy is a bit muddled, but it’s in there somewhere.”
― Willow Madison

tags: authors-on-authors, free-speech, gladiators, goodreads, pen-and-sword, readership, reviews, writers-on-writing

21 likes

“Men need to hunt. She obviously understands this. She’s offering herself as prey. Not easy prey. But willing.”
― Willow Madison, We Were One Once

tags: bdsm, domination, erotic-romance, hunting, men-and-women, relationships

11 likes

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Topics Mentioning This Author

topics	posts	views	last activity
I love Alpha Male...: Dark romance	23	149	Jan 05, 2015 10:12AM
Erotic Recommenda...: New Release - 2nd Dark Erotica Series	1	8	Apr 13, 2015 06:56AM
Masochist Readers: Mind F*ck Dark Romance	1	52	Jul 31, 2015 01:17PM
♥♥ Serious About ...: DD/Ds Romance Series	2	16	Jul 31, 2015 07:19PM
Turning Pages At ...: Mob Books	46	76	Nov 10, 2015 07:09AM

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Willow’s Quotes

“Men need to hunt. She obviously understands this. She’s offering herself as prey. Not easy prey. But willing.”
― Willow Madison, We Were One Once

tags: bdsm, domination, erotic-romance, hunting, men-and-women, relationships

11 likes

“He gets hard seeing his marks on me. I get wet knowing this. I don't try to analyze it. It's just us.”
― Willow Madison, True Choices

tags: alpha, alpha-male, alpha-male-romance, domestic-discipline, dominant, punishment, submission, submissive, tpe

22 likes

“I no longer fear the pain...I fear no release from this torture...knowing that I've hurt him and he can't forgive me...that he won't be able to make me his good girl again.”
― Willow Madison, True Beginnings

tags: alpha, alpha-male, alpha-male-romance, bdsm, controlling, discipline, possessive, punishment, spanking, submission, submissive, tpe

9 likes

tags: authors-on-authors, free-speech, gladiators, goodreads, pen-and-sword, readership, reviews, writers-on-writing

21 likes

“Some men just can’t stomach the necessary steps it takes to make a good girl great.”
― Willow Madison, We Were One Once

tags: bdsm, domination, erotic-romance, men-and-women, relationships

4 likes

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Willow’s Friend Comments

Comments (showing 1-9) post a comment »

date

newest »

message 9: by Cécile

Mar 22, 2020 06:21AM

Hope you’re staying safe and healthy🥰❤️

reply | flag

message 8: by Mirjam

Jul 04, 2016 02:28AM

Hi Willow, just wanted to wish you a great

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message 7: by Willow

Apr 05, 2016 04:48PM

Thanks, Jess! So glad you loved wwoo :)) And you are not alone in the desire for a follow up book. I'm thinking about it *eyebrow wiggles*

reply | flag

message 6: by Willow

Mar 02, 2016 05:28PM

Jessica wrote: "Hello Willow, *waving* Thanks for accepting my friend invite! Take Care & Happy Reading.
"

Hugs n sloppies to you, Jessica!!! Thanks for the FR!

reply | flag

message 5: by Gio

Feb 06, 2016 06:44PM

Willow wrote: "Gio wrote: "Thanks for the Friend Accept!
"

I'm woman enough to say, I'd trade my everything to be Leeloo. Multipass!

And I'm gonna pretend that I would've looked as good in a white bandage outf..."

LMBO!

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message 4: by Willow

Feb 06, 2016 05:57PM

Gio wrote: "Thanks for the Friend Accept!
"

I'm woman enough to say, I'd trade my everything to be Leeloo. Multipass!

And I'm gonna pretend that I would've looked as good in a white bandage outfit. Yep. Don't sass me...I would've been killer in that shit!

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message 3: by Gio

Feb 06, 2016 05:42PM

Thanks for the Friend Accept!

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message 2: by Willow

Nov 06, 2015 02:19PM

Nikki wrote: "Thanks for adding me as a friend Willow! I'm SUPER enjoying your "We Were One Once" series."

Thank you, Nikki. I'm glad you're liking wwoo so much!

reply | flag

message 1: by Nikki "The Crazie Betty" V.

Nov 06, 2015 01:45PM

Thanks for adding me as a friend Willow! I'm SUPER enjoying your "We Were One Once" series.

reply | flag

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