Review: Fifty Shades of Grey by EL James.

Fifty Shades of Grey by E.L. James
Published:May 26th, 2011
Acquired: Friend
Format: Kindle edition
Genre:Adult Erotica
Overall:
Recommend to: No one. Not. A. One.

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 a 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 thoughts:
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! No.


You're serious.
This is a New York Times number one best seller?
Why? Why are people STILL claiming how "good" it is how much they "loved" it. Have you never read a decent piece of literature in your life? Not to say this is literature, but come on
Okay, I'm abusing italics.
I was excited to read this book because I like a little romance & erotica every now and then, but I didn't expect this. This wasn't erotic nor was it romantic.
When Ana first meets Christian it's more than obvious that this is a fanfic of Twilight; Ana's clumsy, continuously bites her lip, doesn't understand why a guy--any guy--would be attracted to her and ridiculously naive. (Bella looks like f***ing Wonder Woman compared to Anna.)
There was a moment in the book where I put it down, and laughed. A good hearty laugh. I'm not exactly sure where it was, the whole thing is purely comedic. I wasn't going to continue reading it, but I kind of wanted to know how it ended so, I basically skimmed through. I mainly read their e-mails, though idiotic were still cute.
The actual writing in this book was poor at best. The repeating of sentences, phrases, thoughts, over and over and over again. I believe she mentioned her subconscious about 80 times (this is not an exaggeration but fact) and I wanted nothing more than for her "subconscious" to shut the hell up. And her inner goddess (mentioned about 60 times)? Ha. HA. HA! What a slut.
BDSM. I'm not one who is a fan of this. I don't want to be "controlled" and I don't want to "control" someone. So that whole aspect was bad enough in and of itself. And the fact that she was actually scared that if she did something wrong he'd hurt her wasn't a red flag to her? There's a difference between love and obsession.
For anyone who wants to read a romance or even erotica you can buy a $3 or $4 book from Blaze or Harlequin on a WalMart shelf. Why the f*ck would you want to pay ANYTHING more than $.01 for this book!? Seriously. WHY DO PEOPLE LIKE THIS!?
Christian was no where near sexy for me. No matter who I tried to picture playing him. It was completely pathetic.
And now they're making it a movie. That's completely unfair. And how will they even do it!?
I say Jack Black plays Christian and Busy Philips plays Ana. Heh. Now THAT would be interesting.

Please please please please stop buying this book & reading it. Just stop. Read books that deserve this attention.

Plot:
Characters:
Ending:  (because it ended not because it was "good")
Writing:--
Cover:

Author Info:
I didn't take the time to look.
website | twitter

Waiting on Wednesday - Personal Effects

Personal Effects by E.M. Kokie

YA Contemporary | Candlewick Press
Expected Publication: September 11, 2012

Ever since his brother, T.J., was killed in Iraq, seventeen-year-old Matt Foster feels like he’s been sleepwalking through life — failing classes, getting into fights, and avoiding his dad’s lectures about following in his brother’s footsteps. T.J.’s gone, and the worst part is, there’s nothing left of him to hold on to. Matt can’t shake the feeling that if only he could get his hands on T.J.’s stuff from Iraq, he’d be able to make sense of his death. He wasn’t expecting T.J.’s personal effects to raise even more questions about his life.
Now, even if it means pushing his dad over the edge …
even if it means losing his best friend …
even if it means getting expelled from school …
Matt will do whatever it takes to find out the truth about his brother’s past.

This book seems like it'll be a complete heart breaker. But I'm okay with that. I feel like the only books that have emotion to them are paranormal lately. And it drives me crazy. There are no where near enough contemporary books out now that pique my interest.
It's like authors fall into trends of what they feel will sell their book & they end up doing a poor job with it.
So, authors write what you want to write, not what you think others want you to write.

The release date of this book is September 11th, and I think it's pretty obvious why.
I can't wait to start reading reviews for this book and to read it myself closer to publication date!
This is also a debut author, so add it to your list if you're doing The Story Sirens' challenge.
What are you waiting on...?

Review: Pleasure Unbound by Larissa Ione

Pleasure Unbound by Larissa Ione

Published: July 1st, 2008
Acquired:Purchased from Barnes & Noble
Format: Mass Market Paperback | 391 pages
Genre: Adult Urban Fantasy
Overall: ½

  In a place where ecstasy can cost you your life . . .

She's a demon-slayer who hungers for sensual pleasure-but fears it will always be denied her. Until Tayla Mancuso lands in a hospital run by demons in disguise, and the head doctor, Eidolon, makes her body burn with unslakable desire. But to prove her ultimate loyalty to her peers, she must betray the surgeon who saved her life. Two lovers will dare to risk all.
Eidolon cannot resist this fiery, dangerous woman who fills him with both rage and passion. Not only is she his avowed enemy, but she could very well be the hunter who has been preying upon his people. Torn between his need for the truth and his quest to find his perfect mate before a horrific transformation claims him forever, Eidolon will dare the unthinkable-and let Tayla possess him, body and soul . . .

My Thoughts:
While I was rummaging through Barnes & Noble's extensive amount of books, I was at a loss of what to get next and texted a few blogger friends. Larissa Ione's name came up a few times, so I grabbed this one. And I'm glad I did.
I haven't a good adult Urban Fantasy book in a very long time.
Eidolon is a demon who just so happens to be a doctor. Working in a hospital specified in the supernatural, hidden beneath the streets of New York, cast so the humans leave it unnoticed. He's proud of his position in the hospital, taking pride in his work.
Then Tayla, a human who happens to slay demons for a living, ends up on his table.
When Tayla experiences the best sex of her life, she doesn't care that it's a dream... Until the dream begins to feel a little too real. And when she comes to the realization of where she is and who she happens to be screwing, her instincts kick in as a demon slayer. But not before she's knocked unconscious.
Throughout the book there's a constant battle with Tayla and what's right and wrong in a world that she wishes she wasn't apart of. And it isn't until gorgeous Eidolon let's her know just how apart of the world she is, that she begins to tune into her emotions. Buried ones and ones beginning to develop.
Tayla is a girl I wanted to cheer on most of the book, but then slap other times. It seemed she'd let her strong will become more of a burden than a positive trait, causing her and everyone around her to suffer from it.
She's held on to what's happened in the past for so long that it affects every single thing in the future.
Which is why I'm glad she met Eidolon. He helped her open up and broke her down and she could never tell why. Though she wanted to believe it was his demon side--incubus--that did it, she knew that wasn't the only reason. And feelings developed between the two.
Sex happens. A lot. Hot. Awkward. Endearing. All there.
The romance between the two had it's honest moments where they fought, cared, believed, struggled, in the end believed. And that was most important to me. Knowing that these two wouldn't end up together because I wanted it but because these two wanted it. (If that makes sense.)
Over all, this book had me intrigued from page 1. But I will say I kind of skimmed over the pages that weren't from Tayla or Eidolon's POV. Which, I kind of which I didn't because I was slightly confused by the end. So read it. All of it!
I can't wait to get my hands on the next book to see what happens with Tayla, Eidolon and everyone else!

Plot:
Characters:
Ending: ½
Writing: ½
Cover:



Author Info:
Larissa Ione traded in a career as a meteorologist to pursue her passion of writing. She now spends her days in pajamas with her computer, strong coffee, and supernatural worlds. She believes in celebrating everything, and would never be caught without a bottle of Champagne chilling in the fridge…just in case. She currently lives in Wisconsin with her U.S. Coast Guard husband, her teenage son, a rescue cat named Vegas, and her very own hellhound, a King Shepherd named Hexe.
More on her: website | twitter | facebook

Waiting on Wednesday (016) - Fated

Fated (Soul Seekers #1) by Alyson Noël

Expected publication: May 22nd, 2012 | St. Martin's Press
Pages: 368
Genre: YA Paranomal/Fantasy

Summary:  The first book in a magnificent new series about a girl who can navigate between the worlds of the living and the dead by #1 New York Times bestselling author Alyson Noël. 

Lately strange things have been happening to Daire Santos. Animals follow her, crows mock her, and glowing people appear out of nowhere. Worried that Daire is having a nervous breakdown, her mother packs her off to stay in the dusty plains of Enchantment, New Mexico with a grandmother she’s never met.

There she crosses paths with Dace, a gorgeous guy with unearthly blue eyes who she’s encountered before...but only in her dreams. And she’ll get to know her grandmother—a woman who recognizes Daire’s bizarre episodes for what they are. A call to her true destiny as a Soul Seeker, one who can navigate between the worlds of the living and the dead. Her grandmother immediately begins teaching her to harness her powers—but it’s an art that must be mastered quickly. Because Dace’s brother is an evil shape-shifter who’s out to steal her powers. Now Daire must embrace her fate as a Soul Seeker and find out if Dace is one guy she’s meant to be with...or if he’s allied with the enemy she’s destined to destroy.

Why I'm excited: I have been enjoying Alyson Noël's The Immortals series and can't wait to start a whole new series from her! If you've been lucky enough to get your hands on an early copy, what is your [completely honest & unbiased] opinion of this book!? And isn't the girl on the cover absolutely gorgeous!? Love her earrings and hair!

Check out more from Alyson Noël!

Leave a comment below with your WoW post!

This Week in Books (003)

1. Someone Else's Life by Katie Dale (review for GCR)
2. Silence by Michelle Sagara (review from publisher - 05.01.12)
3. Black Dawn by Rachel Caine (review from publisher - 05.01.12)
4. ReVamped by Ada Adams (review for GCR)
5. Gilt by Katherine Longshore (from netgalley - 05.15.12)
6. A Beautiful Dark by Jocelyn Davies (borrowed from friend)
7. Frost by Mariana Baer (borrowed from friend)
8. Lola and the Boy Next Door by Stephanie Perkins (borrowed from friend)

A little more:

-Sadly, I haven't read any of the books from the The Morganville Vampires series & Black Dawn is #12 in the series. It's a series I would like to read eventually. I wish I could read and review this before it's May 1st release date.

-I hadn't heard about Silence before it being sent to me. But it sounds good and I very well may read it once I finish Someone Else's Life. Which I am enjoying right now. A little twisted, but I like that! 

-I think, of all of these, I'm most excited about Gilt by Katherine Longshore!

"This Week in Books" is hosted by Alea at Pop Culture Junkie 

It's Monday! What Are You Reading?

Yay, it's Monday! What are you reading is hosted by One Persons Journey Through a World of Books. Each week we spotlight the books we are reading, planning on reading or just finished reading.

Recently finished:
• Fire Baptized by Kenya Wright (review here)
• Tomorrow Land by Mari Mancusi (review here)
• Pleasure Unbound by Larissa Ione (4/5 stars - review to come)
• Fifty Shades of Grey by E.L. James (1/5 stars - review may come)

Currently Reading:
• Someone Else's Life by Katie Dale

Up Next:
• Silence by Michelle Sagara
• Sweet Evil by Wendy Higgins
• Lola and the Boy Next Door by Stephanie Perkins
• Frost by Marianna Baer

**I will be posting "This Week in Books" tomorrow.