READING: Arouse by Nina Lane

Publication date: May 2 2013
Published by: Snow Queen Publishing
Genre: Adult, Romance, Contemporary, Erotica
Rating: 

Brilliant, handsome professor Dean West is everything I've ever wanted, but didn't think I would have. My troubled past left me wary and guarded. But when Dean rescued me from mix-up with college courses, the spark between us turned into a firestorm. As he taught me about desire and trust, this warm, sexy man always kept me safe.

And for three years, our hot, loving marriage has been unbreakable.

Or so I thought.

Then one simple question provokes an alarming chain of events that threatens to tear us apart forever.

Not once have I believed Dean would lie to me...until he does.
Not once have I believed I would betray him...until I do.
Not once have I believed we would ever be apart...until we are.

Arouse is about a married couple that sees their relationship unravel when past secrets get dredged up, while having lots of sex. Lots and lots of sex. It is told by 2 perspectives, Liv's and Dean's, predominantly Liv's.

This book had its ups and downs. I loved the first half but I started to lose interest on the second half and my mind constantly wondered. Even though I tried to get myself in both characters' shoes, I felt like some of their problems where just there to create drama and they were overly exaggerated. 

Liv for me is a very weak female character who depends on "her man" for everything. She is always described as this precious little flower who met her husband when she was young (it's mentioned that he is quite older than her) and she looks up to him and he's her hero. Not that there is anything wrong with that, if you're into that kind of thing, but her attempt to become her own self and stand on her own two feet is almost laughable. Her not so great upbringing is mentioned as, I am guessing, an excuse of her behaviour but not in enough depth to justify it. When they are having sex she is obviously the submissive one, and is often told what to do and what to say. Again, nothing wrong with that if that's what you like, if it wasn't for the fact that throughout the whole book you get the feeling that Liv doesn't really want this life. Her indecisiveness about what the hell she wants was unbelievably frustrating. It seemed like she was depending on Dean for that as well, to make all the decisions for her so she wouldn't have to. As a result, she ends up settling for a life that is familiar and comfortable, even though not necessarily what she really wants.

I am not saying that she doesn't love Dean because she does with all her heart. But what happened between them is obviously unresolved and will continue to be until they have a real discussion and they both either decide to forget about everything that happened and move forward, or decide they cannot move past it and as a result, separate. People who love each other still get separated because of something bigger than them, something they find impossible to resolve. It's unfortunate, but it happens. So when problems are unresolved and still remain at the back of your mind buried deep, but you knowingly decide to be together burying your head in the sand, you have to realise it is only a matter of time until something happens to trigger said problems and they emerge again, uglier and nastier than before.

In my opinion, neither of them was mature enough to handle the situation- Liv depended on Dean to fix everything and Dean was paralysed emotionally from having the same situation happen to him again from the person he least expected it. He thought Liv worshipped him (which she kinda did) and when he realised that could very easliy change, he became mean and possessive. Liv seemed to be fine with that (!) because the thought of being alone terrified her so much that she went back to him, because they love each other so much. Ugh.

Also, I have to mention ⬇

how easily she believed the student's accusation of Dean hitting on her. If that's what it takes to start suspecting your husband of cheating, and with a student no less, then there is definitely something awfully wrong there.

Sex scenes were very hot, I have to admit, albeit way more than necessary. What was missing was a good, emotionally raw scene which would have the characters face their problems head on and hash it all out and actually talk to each other. Instead we got a sex scene where Dean demands Liv not to say no to him. Hm. I doubt the 2nd book is going to be any better, but I will give it a try. (Just saw there are 6 books in the series. Really?? I think one would have been more than enough...)