The Fifty Shades Series by E. L. James

Synopsis:

FIFTY SHADES OF GREY: When college student Anastasia Steele goes to interview young entrepreneur Christian Grey, she encounters a man who is beautiful, brilliant, and intimidating.  The unworldly Ana realizes she wants this man, and Grey admits he wants her, too—but on his own terms. When the couple embarks on a daring, passionately physical affair, Ana discovers Christian’s secrets and explores her own desires.

FIFTY SHADES DARKER: Daunted by Christian’s dark secrets and singular tastes, Ana has broken off their relationship to start a new career. But desire for Christian still dominates her every waking thought. They rekindle their searing sensual affair, and while Christian wrestles with his inner demons, Ana is forced to make the most important decision of her life.

FIFTY SHADES FREED: Now, Ana and Christian have it all—love, passion, intimacy, wealth, and a world of possibilities for their future. But Ana knows that loving her Fifty Shades will not be easy, and that being together will pose challenges that neither of them would anticipate. Just when it seems that their strength together will eclipse any obstacle, misfortune, malice, and fate conspire to turn Ana’s deepest fears into reality.

This book is intended for mature audiences.

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I was very skeptical when I first heard of the Fifty Shades of Grey. I thought to myself, hmm. YA erotica. How? WHY WASN'T THIS AROUND WHEN I WAS IN HIGH SCHOOL! Haha. I would have ate this shit up! I am by no means a prude, or a whore. I like to think of myself as the exception. I like to read about fairytales and love stories, but I also like the rawness of such stories. I truly believe The Fifty Shades series succesfully achieved what I am looking for in books. The sex could have a bit much, I mean, let a girl catch her barrings! I had to put it down and find my boyfriend a few times to cool off! Not that he was complaining much!

"Fuck the paperwork"

I had a few problems with Christian's attitude and a few of his actions. At one point in the second book I had to throw the book across the room and throw stuff to show just how upset I was with him and his actions. That, for me, would have the "make it0or break it" clause. I would have thrown in the towel and told him to go screw himself. If you read Fifty Shades Darker, you will understand why I am so upset. Of coarse, you cannot stay mad at Christain for too long, that's impossible! After a few heated words at the book, I picked it back up, apologized and continued reading. I blew through the first two like it was nothing and my boyfriend, Jay was surprised I could go through books like I did! I astounded him! These books are very raw and they show reality along with fantasy. Mostly fantasy because there is no way in a hell a man can produce that much, if you know what I mean!

I was surprised that I enjoyed these books, and I don't even give a shit that it was fan fic. If I wouldn't have been told this, I would have had no idea. These characters worked together and tested each other through out all three books. It is worth the sex and the drama, because the end is truly happy. The happiest I ever felt towards characters.

Anna Dressed in Blood by Kendare Blake

Synopsis:

Just your average boy-meets-girl, girl-kills-people story...

Cas Lowood has inherited an unusual vocation: He kills the dead.

So did his father before him, until his gruesome murder by a ghost he sought to kill. Now, armed with his father’s mysterious and deadly athame, Cas travels the country with his kitchen-witch mother and their spirit-sniffing cat. Together they follow legends and local lore, trying to keep up with the murderous dead—keeping pesky things like the future and friends at bay.

When they arrive in a new town in search of a ghost the locals call Anna Dressed in Blood, Cas doesn’t expect anything outside of the ordinary: move, hunt, kill. What he finds instead is a girl entangled in curses and rage, a ghost like he’s never faced before. She still wears the dress she wore on the day of her brutal murder in 1958: once white, but now stained red and dripping blood. Since her death, Anna has killed any and every person who has dared to step into the deserted Victorian she used to call home.

And she, for whatever reason, spares his life.

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When I first read the synopsis for Anna Dressed in Blood, I about died from so much swooning over the cover and how it just caught my attention. Left me partially dizzy and a high I never wanted to come down from. I begged and pleaded with my work for overtime just so I could buy this book and devour it! (I recently just bought a brand new 2011 Toyato Corolla, dubbed Cora. We are in love.) I recently just moved in with my boyfriend and on one of our many amazing motorcycle rides I noticed we lived right down the street from a library! I NEVER LIVED SO CLOSE A LIBRARY BEFORE! I was in panic to hurry and check out their book selections! Man! Did they have a lot of amazing books! They also had Anna Dressed in Blood. I checked it out and got to reading! Man, I couldn't put it down!

At first it irrated me that his name is Cas. My name is Cassandra and a lot of people call me Cass. I don't really mind it, but reading about a guy named Cas really bugged me. Then, I realized how sexist that was and decided not to give a flying hoot. Right from the beginning Cas' charm, and wit won me over and I realized why Anna fell so hard! Though, there isn't a lot of LOVE as in swooning, kissing, and carressing like in so many YA's these days so it was a breath of fresh air. The originallity of this story was what did me in along with how funny the characters were! Even Anna, who died a horrible, tragic death. Poor thing. The only parts that bugged me is how there isn't a lot of information given to you. Why didn't Anna kill Cas, why was he the chosen one, what is with that british guy, and what in the world does some stupid cross make everyone all of a sudden really mean towards Cas. Hopefully these questions get answered in the next book, Girl of Nightmartes.

I sugguest you read this, it was original and funny. Kept me interested long enough to make me feel bad about neglecting my dogs!