I've finished them. I slogged my way through. And it's left a bitter taste in my mouth.

I've criticized it before for the writing, the flushing/blushing, the stupid inner goddess, the "holy"s and the sex scenes.

But now that I've "read" all three, excluding the sex scenes in the last two books (skimmed past them), I find myself really unhappy about it for another reason - I am terrified that some woman out there is going to read them and think that it is some sort of normal relationship.

We all agree how messed up he is. But she still thinks she can save him. She wants to save him. We all keep reading, hoping she will save him and they will live happily ever after.

And they do. I won't say what it is, as this isn't the spoiler thread, but they do. And it is so unrealistic.

I just kept reading it shaking my head and wanting to say "run, Ana, get out of there!" How he treats her is not normal. It is not ok. And it is not acceptable. And yet she does accept it. Again and again and again.

His reaction to her big bombshell in book 3 is heartbreaking. He calls her stupid and asks if it is about the money. I'm sorry but does he not understand the birds and bees? If my DH had spoken to me like that, I'd be furious. And she is, but at the same time she is worried about how SHE has made HIM feel. She is worried for him, upset for him, etc. Every time he treats her like doggy do, she chastises herself for the situation, when most of the time he is completely overreacting to something, like her not changing her name the MINUTE she walks back into work after the honeymoon or the fact that she chose to go OUT (gasp!) with her girlfriend for a drink. She gets guilty. She is embarrassed and shame faced. She is terrified of his reaction, which is always monumentally out of proportion and generally involves some sort of abuse - verbal or sexual. How did he react when we went out? He flew home from interstate to yell at her and the cripple her, sexually. Over-reaction much?? Hello... That is not ok.

I just feel like its set women's lib back about 100 years.

Off my soapbox now...