18 & Over Book Blogger Follow #11

18 & Over Book Blogger Follow is a weekly feature that runs over the weekend, hosted by Crystal from one of my favourite blog sites, Reading Between the Wines.

Question of the Week: Is there a super hawt & smexy book that you’ve read and loved but would die if you ever caught your mom reading?

My mother is quite elderly, so I would have to say there are a lot of books I wouldn’t recommend to her, purely because I don’t think her heart could take it! The first one that comes to mind, though, is Fifty – of course – and my embarrassment goes a bit further than usual with that one because I was part of the editing team on the second and third books. The series got huge publicity here as a book to buy mums for Mother’s Day, but no way would I buy that for mine! And even though my name is in the front acknowledgements of Fifty Shades Darker and Fifty Shades Freed, I’m not admitting that to my mum either!

What would shock your mother? Leave a comment below or link up HERE to follow the meme.

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18 & Over Book Blogger Follow #8

18 & Over Book Blogger Follow is a weekly feature that runs over the weekend, hosted by Crystal from one of my favourite blog sites, Reading Between the Wines.

Question of the Week: This week’s question comes courtesy of Shannon from Cocktails and Books.  Which song reminds you of a favorite book or character?

For me, this kind of falls into three categories. Firstly, there are songs which are mentioned in books. One which comes immediately to mind is Besame Mucho from Gabriel’s Inferno by Sylvain Reynard. In the book, Gabriel and Julia dance to the Diana Krall version of the song when they go to Lobby, but I much prefer the Andrea Bocelli version. After all, he’s a man, and it just seems wrong having a woman sing that song to me!

Secondly, we have songs which come from the soundtrack of the movie, or which have been used for book trailers made by fans. I can’t hear Closer by Nine Inch Nails without thinking of Christian and Ana from Fifty Shades of Grey. Without an R18 warning on my blog I’m not going to post it here, but a link to the song is HERE.

Finally, and the first song I thought of when I saw this week’s question, is a song which perfectly encapsulates the whole book without being directly associated with it. Bring Me to Life by Evanescence is the song that screams Twilight to me every time it comes on the radio. The words are just perfect for the story, and I was amazed they never used it for the movie soundtracks. I believe Stephenie Meyer listened to Evanescence, among other bands, when she wrote the books, and it really shows. And I love the song!

So, what about you? Leave a comment below or link up HERE to follow the meme.

Fifty Shades Freed, by E.L. James

Format: ebook

Published: January 19, 2012

Publisher: The Writer’s Coffee Shop Publishing House

Back cover blurb:

When unworldly student Ana Steele first encountered the driven, damaged young entrepreneur Christian Grey it sparked a sensual affair that changed both their lives irrevocably. Shocked, intrigued, and ultimately repelled by Christian’s singular sexual tastes, Ana demanded a deeper commitment; determined to keep her, Christian agreed.

Now, together, they have more – love, passion, intimacy, and a world of infinite possibilities. But Ana always knew that loving her Fifty Shades would not be easy, and being together poses challenges neither of them ever anticipated. Ana must somehow learn to share Christian’s opulent lifestyle without sacrificing her own integrity, identity or independence; Christian must somehow overcome his compulsion to control, and lay to rest the horrors that blighted his past and haunt his present.

Just when it seems that together their love can conquer any obstacle, misfortune, malice and fate combine to make Ana’s worst nightmares come true. Alone and desperate, she must face down the poisoned legacy of Christian’s past.

Seductive, shocking, sad and funny, Fifty Shades Freed is the compelling final volume in the Fifty Shades trilogy.

My review:

I’m really going to miss Fifty and Ana. Especially Fifty. *sigh*

The third book in the trilogy is a rollercoaster ride, from the highs of a wedding and honeymoon, to the lows of jealousy, mistrust and betrayal. There is some serious heartfail when Christian believes Ana has done the unthinkable, but I don’t want to spoil anything here. Suffice to say there is a happy ending, and it’s amazing to see how much Ana and Christian have grown by the end.

James also treats readers to some added extras in this edition: the beginning of the story, when Ana first came to interview Christian and his subsequent meeting with her at the sporting goods store, told from Fifty’s point of view. Being in his head for just a few pages is wonderful and gives us a great insight into that first fateful meeting. I loved it!

This trilogy is sexy, smart and very addictive, and the third installment rounds it off nicely. I have found myself blushing in the supermarket when the sound system has played “Nothing Sweet About Me”, and it’s all E.L. James’s fault. She is certainly an author to watch, and if the rumoured movie deal ever comes to fruition, I know who would make a perfect Fifty. Anyone else would be a hard limit 😉

My rating: 5/5

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Fifty Shades Darker, by E.L. James

Format: ebook

Published: September 15, 2011

Publisher: The Writer’s Coffee Shop Publishing House

Back cover blurb:

Daunted by the singular sexual tastes and dark secrets of the beautiful, tormented young entrepreneur Christian Grey, Anastasia Steele has broken off their relationship to start a new career with a Seattle publishing house.

But desire for Christian still dominates her every waking thought, and when he proposes a new arrangement, Anastasia cannot resist. They rekindle their searing sensual affair, and Anastasia learns more about the harrowing past of her damaged, driven and demanding Fifty Shades.

While Christian wrestles with his inner demons, Anastasia must confront the anger and envy of the women who came before her, and make the most important decision of her life.

My review:

Christian Grey is so addictive, it is no wonder Ana Steele can’t stay away from him for long. The man is sex on a finely tailored stick, and reading about him should come with a warning about the likelihood of becoming excessively hot and bothered. And desperately in need of ice cream.

Fifty Shades Darker begins just where E.L. James’s first novel, Fifty Shades of Grey, left off, with Ana and her Fifty apart and miserable. Thankfully, they don’t stay that way for long.

Ana opens her eyes to the possible pleasures awaiting her in the Red Room of Pain, but the darkness of the title places numerous obstacles in the couple’s way. One of these obstacles comes from an unexpected quarter, leading to a truly shocking ending for the book.

James’s writing is fast-paced and descriptive, and she infuses her characters with a lot of humor. As with the first book, some of my favorite exchanges were the e-mails Ana and Fifty fired back and forth, which epitomized the flirty, fun side of their relationship.

I could not put this down and, after that cliffhanger ending, cannot wait for book three.

My rating: 5/5

Fifty Shades of Grey, by E.L. James

Format: ebook, 356 pages

Published: May 25, 2011

Publisher: The Writer’s Coffee Shop Publishing House

Back cover blurb:

When literature student Anastasia Steele is drafted to interview the successful young entrepreneur Christian Grey for her campus magazine, she finds him attractive, enigmatic and intimidating. Convinced their meeting went badly, she tries to put Grey out of her mind – until he happens to turn up at the out-of-town hardware store where she works part-time.

The unworldly, innocent Ana is shocked to realize she wants this man, and when he warns her to keep her distance it only makes her more desperate to get close to him. Unable to resist Ana’s quiet beauty, wit, and independent spirit, Grey admits he wants her – but on his own terms.
Shocked yet thrilled by Grey’s singular erotic tastes, Ana hesitates. For all the trappings of success – his multinational businesses, his vast wealth, his loving adoptive family – Grey is man tormented by demons and consumed by the need to control. When the couple embarks on a passionate, physical and daring affair, Ana learns more about her own dark desires, as well as the Christian Grey hidden away from public scrutiny.
Can their relationship transcend physical passion? Will Ana find it in herself to submit to the self-indulgent Master? And if she does, will she still love what she finds?

Erotic, amusing, and deeply moving, the Fifty Shades Trilogy is a tale that will obsess you, possess you, and stay with you forever.

My review:

Holy cow… *fans self*

Honestly, I don’t know where to start. The story is ridiculously hot. Squirming in your seat hot. Knowing who Christian is based on makes this book even hotter, if that is possible. I can just picture him doing those things, and that turns my knees to jelly.

I guess I have to make another confession: I never read this when it was free online. I read the first few chapters, then the odd bit here and there, but the length of it daunted me because I was so late to the partay. Anyhoodle, as a result, reading the book has been somewhat of a revelation for me.

One of the reasons I was a bit slow to read the online version was that I never thought I would enjoy a book in which the heroine gets her ass handed to her – literally – as Ana does. But in the context of the overall story it is somewhat necessary. This volume – the first in what I think will be a trilogy – ends with her making a very grown-up decision, which I applauded because she needed to grow a pair. And not THOSE kind of balls… Oh, see, I have to fan myself again now… 😉

Yes, there are a few typos but they will be fixed (by me!) for a second edition. The upshot of all this is: Go. Read. This. Now. You won’t regret it. I can’t wait for book two.

My rating: 5/5