Fifty Shades of Grey by E.L. James

After much resistance to join the masses of women around the world who held the dark cover of the  Fifty Shades trilogy written by E.L. James to their faces, I caved. I told myself as I listened to the casting scandal on an entertainment news show that I would simply download a sample using the Barnes & Noble NOOK app on my new Samsung Galaxy 10.1. I had already made up in my mind that this story was a hot steamy mess that could not be worth all of the excitement that had warranted a worldwide phenomenon where women of all walks of life were now openly talking about sex. So, on Sunday, October 13, 2013, I did it. I downloaded a sample and about 15 minutes later I had purchased an electronic copy of Fifty Shades of Grey.  I know what you are thinking and you are right but slightly wrong.  Although the book has been out since 2011, there are some folks out there who have yet to take the plunge, however, I hope that my unique review critique will allow some of those other folks to take the dare and allow their curiosity to take over and they will step into the Grey side.

Surprisingly what intrigued me the most about this book was the build-up and underneath the kinkiness was actually a a pretty decent story. For those of you who have only heard about the steamy sex scenes, Christian Grey, the "hero" of the series is all kinds of cooky. Like dude REALLY?!?! But before I get on to his tom foolery, let me tell you about Ana, ...WAIT! Before I tell you about Ana, did I mention that this trilogy began as a fanfare to the popular Twilight series. So, if you liked Twilight, even just a little bit... you will more than likely LO-OVE Fifty Shades.

Now, let me tell you about Ana. Anatassia Steele, the heroine in the book, is a graduating student at Washington State University in Vancouver, Washington. As a favor for her best friend and roommate she agrees to interview Christian Grey, who is a young wealthy benefactor of research and STUFF at their college. He is also scheduled to be the commencement speaker during their upcoming graduation. So Ana, who is just plain ole everyday awkward interviews this Mr. Grey and as you guessed it, one thing leads to another and in a matter of 3 weeks or less Ana has lost her virginity, has been gifted with a series of expensive gifts including an Audi A4, introduced to BDSM, has fallen head over heels in love with this Christian Grey, and has yet to even touch this fool. CREEPY!!!

Fifty Shades Darker by E.L. James

So, as I leaned a little closer to peek down the rabbit hole, I continued to read the second book of the Fifty Shades Trilogy entitled Fifty Shades Darker. This book picked up right where Fifty Shades of Grey left off where Ana has left Christian and has begun her post-college life in Seattle, WA with a new job, a new condo (thanks to the generous parents of her BFF Kate), and a broken heart. Yep, she  finally realized that the man she had been engaging in all kinds of kinkery was cray cray and could not give her what she needed
in terms of "normalcy" when it came to a relationship. That "Thang", as in Ana, has cried and gone days without eating. But don't you cry for her Argen-Tina, after three days, Christian has sent her flowers to congratulate her on her first day of work and after a few more days he reminds her of a date they had set to go to Portland to see her friend Jose's photography exhibit. And as you guessed it, they reconcile and the shenanigans begin yet again but this time around Christian offers Ana "normal" because he thinks that's what she needs but Ana encourages kink-freakiness because that is what she thinks he needs. Basically, they are both just crazy in love.

Fifty Shades Freed by E.L. James

So, as I leaned a little closer to peek down the rabbit hole, I continued to read the second book of the Fifty Shades Trilogy entitled Fifty Shades Darker. This book picked up right where Fifty Shades of Grey left off where Ana has left Christian and has begun her post-college life in Seattle, WA with a new job, a new condo (thanks to the generous parents of her BFF Kate), and a broken heart. Yep, she  finally realized that the man she had been engaging in all kinds of kinkery was cray cray and could not give her what she needed
in terms of "normalcy" when it came to a relationship. That "Thang", as in Ana, has cried and gone days without eating. But don't you cry for her Argen-Tina, after three days, Christian has sent her flowers to congratulate her on her first day of work and after a few more days he reminds her of a date they had set to go to Portland to see her friend Jose's photography exhibit. And as you guessed it, they reconcile and the shenanigans begin yet again but this time around Christian offers Ana "normal" because he thinks that's what she needs but Ana encourages kink-freakiness because that is what she thinks he needs. Basically, they are both just crazy in love.