Laydown Lowdown

I hope everyone had a wonderful weekend and took a moment to remember the true meaning of Memorial Day and honor those who sacrificed for our freedoms.  Now that we've had unofficial start of summer, you may want to spend your days laying out reading in the wonderful weather.

"Summer Days," the latest romance by Susan Mallery sounds like the perfect summer read.  You may also enjoy "Hot for Fireman," by Jennifer Bernard, "Along Came a Duke," by Elizabeth Boyle, or "Against the Sun," by Kat Martin.

Mystery fans may want to take "Tattooed" by Pamela Callow or "The Yard," by Alex Grecian to the beach with them.

Meanwhile Sci-Fi/Fantasy fans may enjoy "Tangle of Need" by Nalini Singh or "All Spell Breaks Loose," by Lisa Sherman.

YA buffs will want to tote the latest novel by Susanne Colasanti, "Keep Holding On," or "Dark Frost," by Jennifer Esteep.

Happy Reading !  We're also pleased to announce a winner in our "Fifty Shades," giveaway.  Congratulations to Eva T.  You've won a copy of "Fifty Shades of Grey," signed by the author, E L James.  You should receive an email from us shortly.  We'd also like to thank all those who participated in the raffle.  Please stay tuned this blog for more chances to win great books. 

As you being to load up your summer reads, remember to support your local bookstores whenever possible. 

Darker and Freed

A few weeks ago, I reviewed the New York Times Bestseller and the most buzzed about book of the moment, "Fifty Shades of Grey."  The sequels were just as entertaining if not more so than the first.

"Fifty Shades Darker" begins just a few days after "Grey" left off.  Ana is determined to stay away from Christian but he's just as determined to win her back.  I don't think it's a spoiler to confirm that they reunite.  This wouldn't be much of an erotic romance if you didn't have a romantic couple.  However, new complications threaten and deepen their relationship.  I actually think a better title for this book would've been Fifty Shades Deeper as it took you deeper into Ana and Christian's personal lives, family backgrounds, and the structure of their relationship.  And of course, being an erotic romance, there are a ton of fun, frisky sex scenes. As well as the continued, unintentional humor I found with the terms "inner goddess" and the one I can't write here, but I'll just abbreviate it as KF.

"Fifty Shades Freed," is the conclusion to the trilogy and just when Ana and Christian seem to have found their happily ever after, unexpected complications jeopardize their relationship and their lives.  This book really upped the ante on dramatic events and the sex.  I wasn't really pleased with one of the obstacles Ana and Christian faced and I found the conclusion a little too neat.  However, I really enjoyed the edgier sex scenes in this book and the dramatic events moved at such a frenetic pace, that it was hard to put this book down.

This is honestly the most entertaining and fun series I've read in a long time.  It's no fine work of literature and it's not extremely well written but if you're just looking for a good time, give them a read you won't be sorry.  I read through "Darker" and "Freed" in just a matter of days.

I recently had the privilege, to meet the author E.L. James.  My awesome dad agreed to take May 8th off of work to take me and our friend to meet E.L. James at a signing at the Barnes & Noble in Paramus, NJ.  Paramus isn't too far away from where we live in NY and the event didn't start until 7:30PM.  However, Barnes & Noble began handing out wristbands at 9AM that day to the first 300 guests.  So to ensure we got in, we embarked on our adventure early that morning.  We arrived at the store a little after 9AM and about 100 ladies were already waiting to get in the store to buy the book and obtain a wristband.

The line moved pretty quickly and one woman, who had already gotten her wristband, was passing out coupons for her store.  She said, "everything that is in the book is in my store."  I appreciate her marketing skills but unfortunately her shop, which we visited later, did not include everything mentioned in the book.  For example, there was no Charlie Tango and even sadder, no Christian Grey.

Anyways, back to the line, we got in around 9:30 and got our books and our wristbands. We spent the rest of the day cruising around the Paramus area.  My dad took me and our friend to IKEA for awhile because we had both never been to one.  It was pretty awesome.  I considered moving into the one mock apartment.

Later we headed back to the store and my dad patiently waited with us and a few hundred other woman and only a couple other guys.  Seriously, if there are single guys out there looking to meet women, an E.L. James signing is good place to look.   We were able to enter the "event space" at 6:30 and they had 300 chairs for the wristband folks.  Anyone who did not have a wristband could line up outside the event space.  They weren't guaranteed a signature but odds were good Ms. James would stick around until she had signed everyone's book(s).

Needless to say E.L. James is the one signing my book.

Finally, at 7:30, Ms. James came out and greeted the crowd with the sweetest english accent I've ever heard.  Due to the size of the crowd, you couldn't pose for photos but someone, like your awesome dad, could try and snap a picture while you got your book signed.

I didn't just get a book signed for myself, I got another copy of "Fifty Shades of Grey," to give away, right here on our blog !

So, if you haven't read the book yet, here is your chance to get find out what all the fuss is about.  Or, if you've already devoured the book, here is your opportunity to have a copy of a book signed by the author herself.  This giveaway is open to US residents who are 18 or older as of today's date. Now to Charlie Tango, I mean the Rafflecopter we go !






a Rafflecopter giveaway

Laydown Lowdown

Are you as burnt out by taxes as I am ?  Today is the due date for filing your income taxes.  I took it down to the wire and just finished my paperwork last night.  Hopefully, you can relax now with some of today's new releases.

First up in YA is "The Last Echo," the latest in "The Body Finder," series by Kimberly Derting.  Fortunately for fans, the title is deceiving and this is not the last story about teenaged Violet and her uncanny ability to sense dead bodies.  In this installment Violet advances from helping her local police department to working for a FBI style investigation team to stop a serial killer.  This series mixes a lot of heart with thrilling mystery.  The previous installment, "Desires of the Dead," is new in paperback today. 

Meanwhile, over in Romance you'll find "Fifty Shades Darker," and "Fifty Shades Freed," the second and third novels in EL James', best-selling "Fifty Shades" trilogy.  In case you missed it, check out my review of the first installment here and for and alternative review, check out my best friend's review on her site, Chicks Dig Books.  Best-selling author, Nora Roberts' latest novel, "The Witness is available today along with "An Accidental Afffair," by Eric Jerome Dickey.

Moving over to the Mystery section, you'll see "Unnatural Acts," the 23rd "Stone Barrington" novel by Stuart Woods, "Pirate King," the 11th entry in Laurie R. King's  "Mary Russell" series and "The Snowman," by Jo Nesbo now in paperback.

Head on over to Sci-Fi and you'll find that the entire "Acacia" trilogy by David Anthony Durham has been released in paperback.  This includes "Acacia," "Other Lands," and "Sacred Band."  "Roboapoclaypse" by Daniel H. Wilson is also new in paperback today.

Chick Lit fans will want to check out "More Like Her," by Liza Palmer and "Garden of Happy Endings," by Barbara O'Neal which are new today.

That's your Laydown Lowdown for the week of April 17th !  Happy Reading !  Remember to support your local bookstore whenever possible.  Just because our blog is online, it doesn't mean your shopping has to be :)  Also, please check back tomorrow for details on an exciting GIVEAWAY !

Fifty Shades of Grey

"Fifty Shades of Grey" has been getting a lot of buzz lately. What initially started out as a "Twilight" fan fiction by EL James has become somewhat of a literary phenomenon.  The fan fiction morphed into a totally new, adult's only, concept and James self-published her full length novel as an e-book.  The book went on to top e-book bestseller lists.  On April 3, 2012 the book was released in print by Vintage Publishing and currently tops The New York Times Bestsellers List, The Barnes and Noble Bestsellers List, among many others.  The book landed a cover story on a recent issue of "Entertainment Weekly."  The rights to the novel have even been purchased by Universal Studios Focus Films Division.  All this buzz made me wonder if this novel was truly worth its hype.  I was also a little confused by all the record sales and hype as "Fifty Shades of Grey," is an erotic novel and the genre is nothing new and rarely generates the kind of sales "Fifty Shades of Grey" is getting.  I had to see what all the fuss was about.

 

I flew through the book in two days.  The plot was definitely intriguing, "Fifty Shades of Grey," details the romance and explicit sexual relationship of the sweet, innocent 21-year-old Anastasia Steele and Christian Grey a billionaire business man in his late 20's.  Anastasia is finishing her senior year of college when she meets Mr. Grey while interviewing him for her college newspaper.  Their relationship grows slowly and Mr. Grey soon invites Anastasia into his private world of BDSM.  As there relationship grows, they both find themselves doing things they never thought they'd do.  Anastasia grows more uninhibited while Christian grows more sensitive.  

The writing is pretty good but not excellent.  The descriptions of their sexual activities definitely get your heart racing and you'll probably insert the paramour of your choice into your visualization of the scenes. My lips are sealed as to who I pictured as my own Mr. Grey.  However, some phrases were overused to the point of being annoying.  Every time Ana wants to assert herself she "summons" her "inner goddess."  She also continually refers to her vagina as her "sex."  Mr. Grey also repeatedly asks Ana "what are you doing to me?" when he lets his guard down around her.  I was also perplexed why Ana felt uncomfortable letting the wealthy Mr. Grey lavish her with gifts but didn't see any problem living rent free in her wealthy roommate's condo or wearing her roommates designer clothes.

While this was a very entertaining read and I am hooked enough to read the subsequent sequels, I really don't understand the fuss.  I am also very curious how a the future filmmakers plan on transforming this novel to a feature film that won't be starring someone like Jenna Jameson or Sasha Grey. (On second thought, Sasha Grey may be perfect for "Fifty Shades of Grey," lol)

This novel isn't straight up erotica, it's a romance with heavy erotic scenes which is precisely what Ellora's Cave Publishing has been doing for years.  Ellora's Cave describes themselves as "The world's first & foremost publisher of erotic romance for women." They specialize in, what they call, Romantica, a blend of romance and erotica (for specifics, read their definition here.)  They offer short stories, novellas and novels in both print and e-book form by various authors.  I have read many of them.  The website allows you to select your fetish of choice and you can even choose tales from wild to mild depending on how hot you like your romance.  If you enjoyed "Fifty Shades of Grey," please check out Ellora's Cave, they've been doing erotic romance a lot longer and in my opinion a lot better.


Please share your opinion.  Did you read "Fifty Shades of Grey"?  If so, what did you think of it?  What do you think or erotic novels/erotic romance in general?

Laydown Lowdown

Happy April !  Easter is almost here.  Perhaps you'll find some of today's new releases in your basket on Sunday?

Mystery fans will have a full basket to look forward to.  New releases today include the 15th Regan Reilly novel, "Gypped," by Carol Higgins Clark and "Limpopo Academy of the Private Detection," the 13th "Ladies Detective Agency," novel by Alexander McCall Smith.  "Beastly Things," the 21st "Guido Brunetti," novel by Donna Leon, "Dorchester Terrace" by Anne Perry, "Miss Julia to the Rescue," by Ann B. Ross, and "Harbor Nocturne," by Joseph Wambaugh are also available today.

Bunny hop over to Romance and you'll find the latest by Amanda Ashley, "A Darker Dream," as well as "Eternal Craving," by Nina Bangs, "The Wolf Who Loved Me," by Lydia Dare, and "Enraptured," by Elizabeth Naughton.

Shake your tail over to Sci-Fi and you'll discover "Plague Town," by Dana Fredsti, "The Star Wars Essential Guide to Warfare," by Jason Fry and "Nocturnal," by Scott Sigler."

Twitch your whiskers and head on over to YA to find "Radiate," by Marley Gibson, "Grave Mercy," by Robin LaFevers, "I Hunt Killers," by Barry Lyga, and "Immortal City," by Scott Spear.
 

Finally, one of the hottest (both literally and figuratively) new releases today is a book that has already gotten tremendous publicity and was previously published as an e-book and then in print by a small publisher to wild success.  This erotic novel, geared for women, reportedly flew off the shelves in its initial printing.  Now, "Fifty Shades of Grey," by E.L. James, the first in a trilogy gets a wide release today by Knopf Publishing.  Look for a review and more on this novel next Thursday.

In the meantime, I hope you enjoyed this weeks Laydown Lowdown !  Happy Easter and Happy Passover to those who celebrate. 

As always, remember to support your local bookstores whenever possible.  Just because our blog is online, it doesn't mean your shopping has to be.