Monday, April 30, 2012

Gabriel's Inferno

Started 4/29/12
Ended 4/30/12


I started this based on a recommendation on a blog. I was doing some research behind the Shades of Grey series and I came across this review. I think if I had not read The Shades of Grey this book would have been a great read. I enjoyed this book but it felt as if the story took a very long time to develop. The references to Dante and Beatrice at first were romantic and towards the end it just seemed redundant. The lost soul looking for love was so pleasing. Some of the things he says just don't seem like what a true romantic would say no matter how much in love a man is.




http://www.sylvainreynard.com

Summary:
Enigmatic and sexy, Professor Gabriel Emerson is a well respected Dante specialist by day, but by night he devotes himself to an uninhibited life of pleasure. He uses his notorious good looks and sophisticated charm to gratify his every whim, but is secretly tortured by his dark past and consumed by the profound belief that he is beyond all hope of redemption.

When the sweet and innocent Julia Mitchell enrolls as his graduate student, his attraction and mysterious connection to her not only jeopardizes his career, but sends him on a journey in which his past and his present collide.

An intriguing and sinful exploration of seduction, forbidden love and redemption, “Gabriel's Inferno” is a captivating and wildly passionate tale of one man's escape from his own personal hell as he tries to earn the impossible...forgiveness and love.



Sunday, April 29, 2012

Circle of Friends

Started 4/24/12
Ended 4/29/12

I think I read this book to early in life. It took me forever to read this book, not because of the content, because I could not get into the story. The only reason I finished reading it was because I started it. If I had saved this book for when I am 60 then I believe I would have enjoyed it. I remember there was a older woman I worked with when I was 25, she used to swap books with her friends and this book would have been a part of their reader's circle. The story just did not captivate me. No wonder it took me forever to read it!



It began with Benny Hogan and Eve Malone, growing up, inseparable, in the village of Knockglen. Benny—the only child, yearning to break free from her adoring parents...Eve—the orphaned offspring of a convent handyman and a rebellious blueblood, abandoned by her mother's wealthy family to be raised by nuns. Eve and Benny—they knew the sins and secrets behind every villager's lace curtains...except their own.

It widened at Dublin, at the university where Benny and Eve met beautiful Nan Mahlon and Jack Foley, a doctor's handsome son. But heartbreak and betrayal would bring the worlds of Knockglen and Dublin into explosive collision. Long-hidden lies would emerge to test the meaning of love and the strength of ties held within the fragile gold bands of a...Circle Of Friends.



Sunday, April 15, 2012

Fifty Shades Freed

Started 4/14/12
Ended 4/15/12

After reading this book I realized I should have stopped at Book 1. James did a great job captivating my attention with the plot of Book 1 but the technique and style of writing was lost in the next two books. It had potential and then it just seemed like a really, really long story that took close to 1000 pages to end. I saw great potential with the beginning of the trilogy. It just seemed to drag with little bits of action and adventure. Book 1 was very intense and if James had kept up the intensity in the next two books this would have been a great trilogy. Book 3 seemed like a Harlequin novel to me.

Take reading this book to a whole new level, listen to the soundtrack while reading. All the songs referenced in the book are in this playlist.
Fifty Shades Freed Soundtrack


Overview

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, wealth, 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, tragedy, malice and fate combine to make Ana’s worst nightmares come true.

Friday, April 13, 2012

Fifty Shades Darker

Started 4/11/12
Ended 4/13/12

5/12 
I have to update my first criticism of this book. Since I first read it, I feel this has grown on me. I have read this book 3 times now and I LOVE IT. At first glance it did not have the same affect on me as it did the second time I read them. I can not stop raving about this love story. 


Book one captivated me this book bored me. The development of their relationship is great, but it got to a point in the middle where I found myself wondering where the story was going. there were small occurrences but it in actuality it just seemed like a romance novel which revealed the true reason for Christian's issues. It just seemed to drag to me, but I needed to read this so i could get to the third book. I have higher hopes for the end of this trilogy. I hope the author goes somewhere with this story and that is not just more of the same with them exploring sex like a couple of teenagers. I get it, he does not want to leave, she loves him, really how many times in a novel can this be said over and over?

Take reading this book to a whole new level listening to the soundtrack while reading the book. It has all the song referenced in the book. I wish I had seen this before I finished the book. Fifty Shades Darker Soundtrack



Overview

Daunted by the singular 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.

Wednesday, April 11, 2012

Fifty Shades of Grey

Started 4/09/12
Ended  4/11/12

This book was recommend to me by my friend's mother and I saw it across my Twitter feed a few weeks ago. I was hesitant about reading this book at first but  I am so glad I decided to read it.  What did i think about this book? I thought it was extremely well written. It has been some time since I have been captivated by a book like this. Taking the over the top references to S&M out of the equation, the author did a fantastic job captivating my attention. I found my self blushing through out this whole book!
There are instances in the book where the Dominant tells the Submissive to "breathe" and I find that I, myself, was holding my breath. Another instance that comes to mind is when he asked her to stop biting her lower lip, the sexual chemistry is so good that I found that I was also biting my lower lip. Most people people this is "mommy porn," but if you read beyond that you can see there is a beautiful story of an innocent young woman and a lost young man who are both looking for their first love. 
They see this in each other.  I am anxiously looking forward to reading the next two book in this trilogy.

http://www.eljamesauthor.com/

Take reading this book to another level and listen to the soundtrack while reading.
Fifty Shades of Grey Soundtrack



Overview:
When literature student Anastasia Steele goes to interview young entrepreneur Christian Grey, she encounters a man who is beautiful, brilliant, and intimidating. The unworldly, innocent Ana is startled to realize she wants this man and, despite his enigmatic reserve, finds she is desperate to get close to him. Unable to resist Ana’s quiet beauty, wit, and independent spirit, Grey admits he wants her, too—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 family—Grey is a man tormented by demons and consumed by the need to control. When the couple embarks on a daring, passionately physical affair, Ana discovers Christian Grey’s secrets and explores her own dark desires.

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