Someone mentioned finding these icky in the Lora Leigh thread, which reminds me that I had been thinking about it when I read Tanner's Scheme.  I'm always a little surprised when these seem to be just casually mentioned in books - like there are minor characters in one of Susan Mallery's books who are twins who like to have sex with the same man together. Apparently the vast majority of readers don't consider this incest.  I'm not going to assert that it necessarily is, it just surprises me to see it so seemingly acceptable.

What do you think? Incest? Not incest but still icky? Fine? My husband's opinion was that it wasn't incest if they weren't doing anything to each other. I can't decide if I agree.

I wouldnt call it incest if their not doing each other. What is the book by susan mallery called?

Um... I think it was Sizzling.  There are no actual menage scenes, it's just mentioned.

In Tanner's Scheme it's twin brother who apparently do menage so often, they expected to "mate" (a biological imperative, not just falling in love) with the same woman.

I think I read that. There are about 3 in the series right?  When you mentioned  Susan Mallary and threesomes I thought I never seen her write erotic before but I remember it  now. It was just a brief  mention. I thought i missed a book. LOL

I am a twin, and believe me that my sister and I recieved many propositions in our day. Not that we considered any. We both very much consider it incest ;)

well I consider it sexual and if that's the definition of incest then guess technically it is...I consider 'sexual' anytime 2 or more people are together, naked or partially naked, touching in a sexual way, kissing, oral, etc. If it 'feels' sexual or is meant to be sexual then to me it IS sexual because I think sex is partly in the brain anyways :-)

I used to be really icked reading about menage but now it doesnt' seem to bother me so long as no one's being forced and everyone seems to be enjoying themselves and everyone getting what they want/need out of the relationship.  But a brother/sister makes me puke and not sure I'd ever be able to handle that. even the same sex sibling I can't see actually 'doing' each other but just sharing a another partner doesnt' necessarily mean they're 'together'..not sure how to explain it.

I agree with you Susanna, Its one of those things thats hard to explain . The thought of siblings being together that way is very ICKY,.

**looking around with a sour look on my face**   It would have to be assessed by each situation.... the context of it, etc.  But uhm, no. I wouldn't get naked with my sister!!  (Unless I was stoned or something..... then, still probably wouldn't)!

Well, the only book I've read like that was Colters' Woman (3 brothers with 1 woman), and I didn't really consider it incest, because they weren't getting off on each other.  It was still a bit strange to me to read, though I think that for what it was, it was pretty well done.  Not the kind of thing I necessarily want to read all the time though.

Sarah, it's interesting to hear from a twin's perspective. My mom is a twin too - but I don't think I'll ask her. ;-)

It's funny how my husband is so much more relaxed about this concept than me, because he is totally grossed out by the idea of first cousins getting together, which doesn't bother me at all. Two of my favorite relatives were married first cousins and I guess that's why I never acquired that particular taboo.

yes, I read colters woman  also  and Lora Leighs men of august ,and I guess  I didnt  think of that  as incest because they didnt touch each other sexually. I  dont think I would want to read about  that. Although when I was younger I did read Flowers in the attic if that counts.

I don't consider it incest but it is gross to me.  find your own man!  (or woman)

What is twitter? Ive been wondering that.

it hadn't ever occurred to me to think of that as incest in fiction.  i recently read Wicked Pleasure (Bound Hearts, Bk 9) by Lora Leigh, which was not only really freaking hot, but extremely emotional, and the whole thing is about her wanting one twin - and the other one being part of the package.

but hey, i'm a lot more relaxed about a lot of things happening in fiction than i would be if they were happening around me.  getting naked with either of my sisters?  totally eww.  accidently seeing the sexy pictures my sister's boyfriend shot of her when she was showing me some other pictures?  definitely TMI.

It's a little too icky for me, I think:P

I"m not big on them being relatives.  Maybe cousins like in Decadent by Shayla Black. But the twins/siblings thing just screams incest to me even if they aren't doing anything directly to each other.

I prefer my menages to between friends.

so Wicked Pleasure is good? I liked 'forbidden pleasure' a lot by the same author but havne't read of this..not sure I've even heard of it :-( s he has a lot of books!

Susanna- I liked the 'other' brother better than the main male in Wicked Pleasure, but it's a good story.

As a mother of twin boys, the first time I read one of those 'twins-who-are-driven-to-share-the-same-woman' plot lines I was kind of squicked out.  I thought about it for a long time and decided that as long as it is just fiction I am okay with it, but if my kids ever decide to try this lifestyle they had better not let me in on the secret!!!

That said, I can see why the whole twin plotline gets so much play.  The public at large is absolutely fascinated with twins (and higher order multiples).  We get so much attention when we go out.  My boys are five now and a couple of months ago a woman started a conversation with them and asked their names, they replied and added, "We must be twins, right?"  They hear it everywhere we go.  I hear it everywhere we go.  I have noticed a lot of romance writers use twins as a plot device, not just erotic writers, they just use them in different ways.  Has anyone ever noticed just how many regency novels have the epilogue where the H/h are blissfully gazing at their newborn twins!

I think the whole sibling thing, be it twins or single birth sibs, is just another way for the author to bring a sense of the forbidden into their writing.  Righ or wrong?  I honestly don't know, but as long as it sells we will continue to see it.  The only thing that bothers me is when it is not disclosed in the book blurb and all of a sudden, as you are reading, it is just thrown at you.  I would like to know before I start the book so I can make an educated choice.