Books with cheating

I just finished this book, Bringing Emma Home, and its not a good book.

For me cheating is pretty much a no-go zone. I don't want to see it in my romance. There are some exceptions, which I will explain later.

When: Once the h and H could be considered a couple, then it becomes cheating. If they've met, but not formed any kind of relationship yet, then I don't really see it as cheating.

What: Cheating means the h or H actively participates in anything more than a peck on the cheek. WAIT, don't yell at me yet..... I accept that there are degrees of seriousness. I don't expect the injured party to blow a little snogging out of proportion, but it still deserves a serious set down and a serious apology. Removal of vital clothing is cheating, even if actual insertion of tab A into slot B doesn't occur. But in that case, I can accept sincere apology and forgiveness.

Rape is not cheating. Being the unwilling recipient of groping is not cheating.


There have been a couple of books in which "cheating" occurred and it did not bother me.

In both cases, the husband of the h was unable to "perform" and hence no child was possible. They asked another man to stand-in, just to provide a child. You might guess that these were both historical. The stand-in is the H of the story.


My views on cheating are probably more rigid than most. It's just not something that I want to read about. It ruins a romance for me.

I don’t consider it cheating if MCs especially H, just met and still having sexual relation with other people recently. Too many a times I read in review that MCs are consider cheating when they have sex with other people after the MCs just met. To me it just not realistic at all even in the romance novel world lol.

There are also instances where readers expect MCs to be celibate during separation or divorce. Once again, to me its unrealistic if they remain celibate as these are normal human beings, hot blooded and all, that have sexual needs. It has nothing to do with emotions. They may still have feelings for each other during separation but they are not dead so these needs still have to be ‘taken care of’.

For me, I feel as long as you are already committed or in love, be it married or not, it would be cheating if MCs gets involve with other people, emotional or physical.

So far, this is my opinion. If I have more thoughts on it, I will add on.

For some reason when I click quote on the secretromancejunkie post, it takes me to a screen that says it has been book marked but it wouldn't let me type in a response.
secretromancejunkie - I basically agree with your thoughts on cheating. For cheating to occur IMO, there must be some type of commitment between the two characters. It doesn't necessarily have to be marriage but they both must have agreed to make it a single relationship between the two.

I pretty much agree with SRJ on the definition of cheating; that's the trope I won't put up with. I agree, it spoils the romance. But yeah, if they just met & there's no commitment yet; doesn't bother me so much; even when the guy seems really took with the gal, but goes out with others; trying to convince himself he's not so attracted; I snicker that fate will get hime straightened out.

Did quirk an eyebrow at one instance in a KA title, tho'. Gamble. After the intervention with the gal, Nina is sitting on the gal's brother's lap, comforting him and Max gets very upset. Nothing sexual in what she's doing; but he gets all het up that she's sitting on another guy's lap in front of him. I thought that one was a bit extreme; even as much as I love Max!

I think she is writing a second book...