Book #26 Week #22, Fifty Shades Freed by E. L. James

So here we are at the end... I had to buy a copy of Fifty Shades Freed because I just couldn't wait! (now I have to buy the first two can't have an incomplete collection).

Freed begins on Ana and Christian's honeymoon. Everything starts off well and happy maybe too happy. You know something is going to go wrong eventually. Someone wants Christian dead but who and why?

Let's just skip to my thoughts, being the third book in the series if you haven't read it I doubt you'd be reading my post about it. So here we go:

I was disappointed that the book opened on the honeymoon and not the wedding. It was nice to read the memories of the event but I rather have read the events in order instead of going back and forth.

It annoyed me to read articles or reviews complaining that Fifty Shades is not a BD/S&M book. Obviously it is not, it's about a man who lives that lifestyle but is trying to adjust to a woman who is not into that lifestyle. Of course the sex scenes are going to be toned down.

I didn't like the Twilight character similarities however I loved that Ana was a strong, independent woman who can handle herself and didn't need someone to save her so unlike Bella.

I really loved the epilogues. I love getting a glimpse into life after the main story is done.

On a funny note I did notice that Christian does mention having anal sex with Ana a few times but they never get there. I was cringing towards the end thinking it might come up when Ana is pregnant but thankfully it didn't. 

I'll add more if I can think of anything.

Quote:
“He makes me graceful, that's his skill. He makes me sexy, because that's what he is. He makes me feel loved, because in spite of his fifty shades, he has a wealth of love to give.”

Book #25 Week #22, Fifty Shades Darker by E. L. James

Okay blog I am trying not to neglect you! I have been keeping up with my reading but not with my writing, been having a hard time concentrating since my mother passed. Moving on, I lent my library copy of Fifty Shades of Grey to my reading buddy since I finished it so fast before it was due and she ended up buying the Fifty Shades Darker and I got to skip the library waiting list! Wohoo.

About the book: Darker starts off right were Grey left off with the separation of the unlikely lovebirds. However that separation doesn't last long and Christian comes up with a new plan on how to make a relationship work with Ana and they both decide to give it a try. But something new stands in their way, someone from Christian's past has show up in a creepy, stalking manor. Can Ana deal with Christian's past? Can Christian relinquish some control to make a real relationship work?

My thoughts: I'll have to add these later as I left my notebook in the car.

Quote:
“This is me, Ana. All of me...and I'm all yours. What do I have to do to make you realize that? To make you see that I want you any way I can get you. That I love you.”

Book #23 Week #20, Fifty Shades of Grey by E. L. James

After waiting for what seems like forever on the library waiting list (in reality maybe 4 weeks) I finally got my hands on Fifty Shades of Grey by E. L. James. I had to read it to see what all the fuss was about and I can't say I was disappointed! It was a nice distraction from the emotional roller coaster I've been on this past week.

There were somethings that bugged me in Fifty Shades but we'll get to those in a moment. The story starts off with the last week at college for twenty-one year old innocent Anastasia Steele. She has been commissioned to conduct an interview for the school paper by her best friend and flu ridden roommate. Ana goes into the interview completely unprepared and finds herself drawn to the handsome, young entrepreneur Christian Grey. The pair are drawn to each other but despite repeated warnings from Mr. Grey to stay away Ana just can't do that and neither can he.

Although he is charming and handsome, Mr. Grey is an emotionally damaged man and he is hiding his seriously kinky sexual life from Ana because of her lack of experience. After learning of this side of Christian, Ana must choose between going on with her life alone or submitting to Christians demands which comes with emotional and physical tolls.

I really liked Fifty Shades of Grey so much so that I can't wait to get the next book (of which I am currently #67 on the waiting list out of three copies, but only #38 out of five copies for book three how odd!). It wasn't as bad as I was expecting from a first time author of fan fiction and all. I know the author had Twilight in mind when writing this series but the similarities got on my nerves personally. Ana was too clumsy, self-conscious, innocent just like Bella. Christian was a secret keeping, ladies man just like Edward. And surprise, surprise Ana has a best friend, Jose, who is way more into her than she to him just like Bella and Jacob. But that would be easy to look past if you haven't read Twilight : )

My other issue (and this might have only come to light because someone else mentioned to me) was the use of the term "inner goddess". I understand why it is there and so often, to show the difference between the "inner goddess" and Ana's regular conscious, but still! I hate terms like goddess and diva and the like. But the story line was decent and there was a lot of "action" so I can look past that. Besides I, like a lot of women, have developed a thing for Mr. Grey.

Quote:
“This is a man in need. His fear is naked and obvious, but he's lost. . . Somewhere in his darkness.
His eyes wide and bleak and tortured. I can soothe him. Join him briefly in the darkness and bring him into the light.”