Love is Respect

It's Domestic Violence Awareness Month and today I am helping Author Kristie Cook "Share the <3" by spreading awareness. You should know:

loveisrespect can help teens in abusive relationships.

Unfortunately, abusive relationships don't only plague adults. Teens, who often already have self-esteem issues, can just easily become involved and entrapped by such a relationship. The National Domestic Violence Hotline and Break the Cycle have partnered together to create loveisrespect, a resource for teens and those who love them. Check it out and learn how you can help a teen you care about know what a healthy relationship is.

I like many others was a victim of an abusive relationship as a teen but didn't know it. My boyfriend often coerced me into doing things sexually I didn't want to do and afterward felt guilty about. I'd tell him and beg him to respect my boundaries, but he never kept his promises in the moment. And when that wasn't going on, we were fighting. He told me I could never teach him anything new, never amount to anything other than having a nice body and anything I did learn was twisted up in my head and came out wrong. I knew I should break up, but didn't have the strength to do it. Only after he "pushed" me (what I thought was real abuse) did I make a change. 

If you want to know more, visit www.TheHotline.org. And while you're there, Kristie and I hope you'll help by making a donation. Even just $5 can ensure one more call gets answered at The Hotline - an answer that could save a life.

Then, email your receipt to publisher (at) angdora (dot) com for entries into Kristie's giveaway and you could win some cool prizes. Get more entries in the Rafflecopter below. For more details, head on over to Kristie's Share the <3 Giveaway.