content guidance

Nowadays, as we become more aware of the impacts of trauma on the human psyche, an argument has begun to rage about whether romance authors should provide “trigger” warnings on their books, how in-depth these warnings should be, and whether they are actually spoilers and the “snowflakes” among us should just suck it up and DNF if they come across something they don’t like in a story.

As a survivor of sexual assault, child abuse, and other trauma, I fall firmly into the “provide trigger warnings” camp, however I prefer to call them content guidance or content warnings as the word trigger actually triggers me (I’m joking – I just feel that they’re more a content guide than a trigger warning as triggers are incredibly person specific and the word has a tendency to make people believe that any reaction below a panic attack isn’t valid). Romance especially is a genre built on trust, whereby authors have made an implicit promise to readers that our stories may put them and our characters through the wringer, but we guarantee a happily-ever-after (or, at the very least, a happy-for-now) at the conclusion of each standalone novel, duology, trilogy, or series.

Since I’m conscious that some readers don’t like spoilers (not that I can relate because my anxiety doesn’t allow me to even contemplate entering a romance book blindly), I decided that I would add a generic content guidance at the start of each book then offer the link to this webpage to readers who prefer to drill down into specifics. While I have tried my hardest to list everything I can think of, I have probably missed some things, so if you come across something that you feel should be added to this list, please email me at reader@bellafaust.com with the book title and the specific event that needs to be added.

Now, before you scroll any further, I want to warn you that the lists below contain spoilers for key events in each story. These content warnings WILL spoil aspects of the story, so if you’re not good with that, then I advise you to heed the generic guidance at the start of the book you’re about to read, and make an educated decision as to whether you want to proceed without knowing specifics.

Craving Control, Black Shamrocks MC (Australia), The Villans P.O.V

Coercive control
Sexual assault against women (present day, on page, descriptive)
Violence against women (off page and on page, present day, descriptive)
Profanity
Child abuse (off page, main character alludes to events)
Death of a parent (off page, mentioned in passing)
Abortion (mentioned in passing)
Blackmail
Drug use (present day, on page)
Murder (present day, on page, descriptive)
Primal/abuse kink (mentioned in passing, off and on page, descriptive)
Sexual assault against men (present day, off page, mentioned in passing)
Stalking
Alcoholism
Homophobic language
Bullying

Inciting Carnage, Black Shamrocks MC (Australia), Bonus Story

Torture (present day, on page, descriptive)
Taboo (age gap/underage sexual contact without penetration)
Death of a parent (off page, mentioned in passing)
Emotional manipulation
Slut shaming
Sexism
Murder (present day, on page, descriptive)

Tempting Fate, Black Shamrocks MC (Australia), Duplicity Trilogy #1

Death of a parent (off page, mentioned in passing)
Sexual assault against women (present day, on page, descriptive)
BDSM elements (consensual non-consent)
Self-harm (off and on page)
Drug use (past, off page)
Violence against women (off page and on page, present day, descriptive)
Emotional manipulation/emotional abuse
Miscarriage/pregnancy loss (present day, on page, descriptive)
Stalking
Love triangle (readers may feel some events constitute cheating)
Abduction
Addiction
Mental health issues (undiagonsed and diagnosed)

Making Choices, Black Shamrocks MC (Australia), Duplicity Trilogy #2

Death of a main character
Pregnancy after miscarriage
Death of a newborn (not stillbirth)
Death of a parent (off page, mentioned in passing)
BDSM elements
Drug use
Profanity
Violence
Emotional manipulation
Torture (on page, descriptive)
Non-consensual sex (under coersion)
Love triangle (readers may feel some events constitute cheating)

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