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Willow Madison

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Willow Madison

Goodreads Author


Born
in The United States
Website

Genre

Member Since
November 2014


Willow writes contemporary dark romance for readers drawn to obsession, power, temptation, and the dangerous pull of a love that crosses the line.

With blurred boundaries, surrender is never as simple as it seems. Her stories explore the shadowed edges of desire, where secrets surface, control slips, and every choice comes at a cost.

There will be trigger warnings—what unsettles you may be exactly what keeps you reading.

Receive a FREE eBook by signing up for Willow Madison's Newsletter — Taken Back - A Dark Domesti-verse Novel

https://www.willowmadisonbooks.com

Obsessive & possessive heroes | Power imbalance | Domestic discipline | Complex consent | Explicit heat
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Popular Answered Questions

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…more
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?

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)
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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More books by Willow Madison…

What is Dark Domesti-verse?

Welcome to Willow Madison's Dark Domesti-verse

Relationships as consuming as they are complicated.


The Dark Domesti-verse is Willow Madison's brand of contemporary dark romance where rules, consequences, possession, and surrender go far beyond closed doors.

The men set the rules, expect obedience, punish defiance, make decisions for the women they claim, and consid Read more of this blog post »
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We Were One Once We Were One Once
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The Last Hour of ...
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Willow Madison 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 "

 

Willow’s Recent Updates

Willow Madison made a comment in the group Ticket to Stockholm Introductions topic
" Hi all,

It's been ages since this group was active. I'm hoping we can change that.

Welcome all - I've opened this group to be public.

Any suggestions for
...more "
" *clapping! I look forward to reading your review :) "
Taken Back - A Dark Domesti-verse Novel by Willow Madison
“Rafe: “My leaving hurt you. If I had it to do over … I’d make a different choice.”
Willow Madison
Taken Back - A Dark Domesti-verse Novel by Willow Madison
“Mara: “What is this? I say yes and, poof, I’m yours. What does that even really mean?”
Rafe: “You were always mine. I walked away to keep you safe, but I never promised to keep you safe from me.”
Willow Madison
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Taken Back - A Dark Domesti-verse Novel by Willow Madison
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Willow Madison answered Cécile Smits 's question: Willow Madison
My website - www.WillowMadisonBooks.com is Live! You can sign up and receive your FREE copy of Taken Back - a Dark Domesti-verse Novel now.

I hope you enjoy it, Cécile. I'd love to hear what you think :)

Hugs and sloppies,
~Willow
"Welcome to Willow Madison's Dark Domesti-verse Relationships as consuming as they are complicated. The Dark Domesti-verse is Willow Madison's brand of contemporary dark romance where rules, consequences, possession, and surrender go far beyond c..." Read more of this blog post »
The Immortal's Lie by Jade Christy
"3.5*

I have to get this off my chest because why?

I read chapter one (so far so good) then expecting chapter two (not an unreasonable assumption I would say). I get this…

About the author.

I hope you have enjoyed the story! Kindly leave a review if you d
" Read more of this review »
The Immortal's Lie by Jade Christy
" Ugh. Sounds like a new way for authors to game the Zon algo maybe?? I'm surprised this slipped through KDP review.

I'll be curious to see if the autho
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Taken Back - A Dark Domesti-verse Novel by Willow Madison
Rafe Savoca: “You’ve haunted me, girl.”
Willow Madison
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Quotes by Willow Madison  (?)
Quotes are added by the Goodreads community and are not verified by Goodreads. (Learn more)

“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

“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

“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

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 77 Nov 10, 2015 07:09AM  
“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

“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

“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

“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

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

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Comments (showing 1-7)    post a comment »
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Cécile Smits Hope you’re staying safe and healthy🥰❤️


Mirjam Hi Willow, just wanted to wish you a great




Willow Madison 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*


Willow Madison 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!


Willow Madison 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!


Willow Madison 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!


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


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