Romance Readers Reading Challenges discussion

I'd like to propose a "Dare to Read" the book "The Lotus Keeper" by Leeann Mays and mostly, because I would like some thoughts, or ideally to start a conversation.

https://www.amazon.com/Lotus-Keeper-B...

This book reminds me of a cross between "Fifty Shades of Grey" and "The Handmaid's Tale" because while it has a building romance, it also strikes the cord of realistic problems in society: human trafficking and drug smuggling.

My opening discussion is: Do you think it is appropriate to use such a terrifying issue such as human trafficking for the basis of a novel? Human trafficking, and drug dealing are very serious problems in many countries. Do you think the author is being insensitive to the people out there who have gone through something traumatic like that before or do you think the author should have the freedom to use creativity however he/she feels?

Don't get me wrong, I'm not bashing on the book; it was amazing and had me consumed for the entire weekend, but I couldn't help but think how it was so different than all of the other romance books I've read. I actually started researching human trafficking statistics because of it and am now more informed.

Just curious if anyone has read this and what others are thinking.

I just finished this book not too long ago :) I was extremely weary of the book when I started it because I thought it was going to be like a Stockholm situation, but It became more palatable for me as I went along. When I finished it I decided I liked it. I stayed intrigued throughout the book. I don't see anything wrong with her writing about such dark topics. I feel like you proved the point of why she should she shed light on to a situation. Which caused you to do research and become more aware of it. I think that's the point of novels like this. Not just entertainment but that might just be me...Have you read book two yet I haven't gotten to it.