Book #48 - Fifty Shades Freed (Fifty Shades #3)

Fifty Shades Freed (Fifty Shades #3), E. L. James
456 pages
romance, erotica
Started 4/23/12
Finished 4/25/12
5 STARS

The last book in the Fifty Shades series was equally as exciting, funny, sad, romantic and hot as the first two. I was so happy to see that James didn't fall off her game and botch the last book like Stephenie Meyer did with Breaking Dawn. As much as I enjoyed the Twilight books, I have to say it - this fan fict series is better than the original inspiration.

Again - I have to caution those that haven't read Freed that there WILL be spoilers below. It's impossible to talk about this book without giving away key plot points from the first and second books. Consider yourselves warned.

I was a bit bothered that the beginning starts six weeks after the conclusion of the second book. Although we do revisit much of that time through Ana's memories, it's just not the same as experiencing it firsthand. And I so enjoyed the masquerade ball in the second book - I would've loved to read more about Ana's and Christian's wedding as it happened. But, that doesn't make the fact that they actually bit the bullet and got married any less sweet.

And, thankfully, their being married didn't water down any of the tension between them. Christian is still trying to control every aspect of his life (including his wife), and Ana is still trying to maintain some semblance of self in the face of such intensity. I'm glad that the "I Dos" didn't magically fix the problems in their relationship. Anyone who's married knows that getting married sometimes complicates things even further. And, there's still a psycho out there trying to kill or kidnap Ana, Ana still has insecurities about Christian's many exes (and one, in particular), and Christian's past keeps getting in the way. Needless to say, these two have lots to work out.

But, the love they have for each other is palpable and exciting and real and utterly, heartbreakingly romantic. It's what kept me turning the pages long after I should've gone to bed. The last 50 pages or so are the absolute best of the entire book. I read them three times before I could consider myself "done." As a whole, this series is the most fulfilling one I've ever read. It's definitely one that will get read often. The writing is smart and funny. The characters are deep and complex and interesting. The sex is hot, yet not cheap and corny (and, that's really hard to do). I couldn't have asked for a better break from my life for a week.  

Book #47 - Fifty Shades Darker (Fifty Shades #2)

Fifty Shades Darker (Fifty Shades #2), E. L. James
532 pages
romance, erotica
Started 4/20/12
Finished 4/22/12
5 STARS

I have a new favorite book. I can't really say what might have been my favorite book pre-Fifty Shades - there were several I really loved. Several I loved enough to re-read several times (I'm not generally a re-reader). And then along came Fifty Shades Darker.

At the risk of sounding all gushy - WOW. I mean, wowwowwowwow.

I'll warn you now - it will be difficult to talk about this book without giving away some spoilers. So, if you haven't read this book and don't want to know certain things, please stop reading now. And, don't say I didn't warn you.

Ok, so Ana and Christian have had a tough time of it. Especially Christian. He's feeling all these...feelings. And, he has no idea what to do with them or how to act. But, he at least recognizes the fact that Ana is something new - something special. And, he's willing to make a lot of changes and sacrifices for her. Ana, on the other hand, is afraid of those changes. Afraid she will never be good enough for him, which makes her cautious and insecure. But, Christian has never shared anything with anyone before. And, as the depth of both of their feelings grow, they both realize that they can never be apart again.

In my humble opinion, this is the best of the three books in the series. A lot happens in these 530-odd pages. Ana and Christian redefine their relationship, share details of their lives, fall completely apart at the seams and build each other up again with their love. Oh, and they have sex. Lots and lots of sex. But, the sex, which is what has made everyone talk about these books, is so secondary. It's just background noise. What has taken center stage is the story of this damaged man who starts to claw his way back to a real, whole existence, one "first" at a time.

And the ending...oh, the ending is so epically satisfying, I read it three times before I could officially say I was "done." This was an amazing, astounding, shocking, romantic, sexy book. What more could I say about my most favorite book ever? 

Waiting on Wednesday

Waiting on Wednesday was started by Jill at Breaking the Spine to give we read-a-holic bloggers some real estate to devote to books we're pining away for.

Shadow of Night (All Souls Trilogy #2)

By:  Deborah Harkness

Due out:  July 10, 2012

I read A Discovery of Witches in November and loved the complex story that Harkness wove in it. It was a pretty long book, but there was lots to tell. When Diana and Matthew team up to find an ancient text, they also fall in love. These star-crossed lovers, though, are not supposed to be together - Diana is a witch and Matthew is a vampire. From my review that I wrote in November:

"I almost gave this book 5 stars. The only thing that stopped me was the fact that the author was sometimes so descriptive that I felt the need to skim. I'm a smart person and I was hopelessly lost in some places. Other than that, A Discovery of Witches was absolutely wonderful. It was romantic, suspenseful, sad, funny." I truly do look forward to reading the follow-up.