Melissa Gorga, of "Real Housewives of New Jersey," and author of "Love Italian Style: The Secrets of My Hot and Happy Marriage," is taking a lot of heat for the content in her new book -- and it's not the kind of heat this passionate Italian would prefer.

Reporter Tracie Egan Morrissey of the feminist blog, Jezebel.com reviewed the book and it didn't sit so well with her. She referred to the book as "misogynistic and promotes double standards" and "caveman logic," according to the Star Ledger.

The spark that set the controversy ablaze is a passage written in the book by Melissa's husband, Joe Gorga. In it he wrote "Men, I know you think your woman isn't the type who wants to be taken. But trust me, she is. Every girl wants to get her hair pulled once in a while. If your wife says 'no,' turn her around, and rip her clothes off. She wants to be dominated."

While Joe Gorga may think he's taking a cue from "Fifty Shades of Grey," he should think again.

"That is rape and it is insane that it got past the publisher," Morrissey added. What does the saucy couple have to say about this? The Star-Ledger caught up with Joe Gorga on Thursday afternoon while he was on his way out of out of the Ridgewood Municipal Court (for an alleged boutique brawl) where he said the claims by feminist blog were "ridiculous."

Melissa responded via Twitter: "If you've read my book, you know that I am promoting mutual love, respect, honesty, and loyalty. #TRUTH."

What constitutes martial rape?

"Marital rape occurs when your spouse forces you to take part in certain sex acts without your consent. It is a form of intimate partner violence, i.e., an abuse of power by which one spouse attempts to establish dominance and control over the other. Research shows that it can be equally, if not more, emotionally and physically traumatizing than rape by a stranger," according to the Rape, Abuse and Incest National Network (RAINN).

Sadly many wives don't take a stand when it comes to protecting their rights. RAINN adds that "while marital rape has been illegal in every state and the District of Columbia since 1993, it is infrequently prosecuted." Also, every state has its own laws on the matter.

In the state of New Jersey, spousal rape is treated the same as rape of other victims, RAINN reported.