Virtual Book Tour: Far Away Eyes by Megan Slayer

 Good morning everyone! Please welcome our friend Megan Slayer back to Full Moon Dreaming! Today she is going to talk about Far Away Eyes, and I know you're going to love it!  Megan will be awarding a prize packing that includes a necklace made by her to one randomly drawn commenter via Rafflecopter during the tour. The more you comment, the better your chances of winning. To find the other stops on Megan's tour, go here. Don't forget to look for the Rafflecopter at the end of this post!

 

Far Away Eyes

by Megan Slayer

 

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GENRE: Contemporary LGBTQ Erotic Paranormal Romance

 

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BLURB:

 

His lover died and Gage knows he's got to move on but what if there's a chance Rascal can come back?

 

Gage knows Rascal is dying. The gay cancer has taken over his life and is killing him more each day. Gage knows his love can’t save Rascal, but what if there is a chance to change the future?

 

Rascal isn’t done loving Gage. He’s not ready to die. If he’s willing to accept the magic from Darryl at Start Me Up, he can come back.

 

He’s going to return to his love and life, no matter the cost. Now if only Gage will accept him…

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

EXCERPT:

 

 

“Okay?” Gage asked. “So? Do I take it to the apartment? What do I do with it? Is it a sex doll or something?”

 

I’m not an it. I’m still me. Rascal wanted to cry. The faraway look in Gage’s eyes cut him to his marrow. He’d made this man sad. He’d hurt him by dying. Damn.

 

“Oh, honey, you touch him to bring him to life. Once you enact the magic that way, you can talk to him and do whatever you want. He’ll be in there,” Darryl said. “He is in there.”

 

“You’re serious?” Gage turned his attention to Rascal. “It doesn’t look like him. This has the same eyes and hair, but not the tattoos.”

 

“It won’t for now. You have to establish the connection to him. Once you do, and talk to him, he’ll take on the characteristics of Rascal. He’ll look like himself again,” Darryl said. “Think of this as a pristine version of Rascal, ready to be brought to life and marked by time, just like the other. Create new marks and scars and memories this time around.”

 

Please touch me. I want the good, the bad, the joy and tears… I want you. He couldn't say any of those things out loud to the man he loved.

 

“A touch?” Gage crooked his eyebrow. “And he’ll come to life if I do? Really?”

 

“Really.” Darryl nodded. “Try it.”

 

Gage shrank back. “No. I don’t believe this. The magic isn’t real. Magic is sleight of hand and all that jive.”

 

Gage. Rascal wasn’t sure how to reach his lover.

 

“Did you see Eric, Randall and Steve? They’re products of this magic,” Darryl said. “Ask them.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

AUTHOR Bio and Links:

 

Megan Slayer, aka Wendi Zwaduk, is a multi-published, award-winning author of more than one-hundred short stories and novels. She’s been writing since 2008 and published since 2009. Her stories range from the contemporary and paranormal to LGBTQ and white hot themes. No matter what the length, her works are always hot, but with a lot of heart. She enjoys giving her characters a second chance at love, no matter what the form. She’s been nominated at the LRC for Best Author, Best Contemporary, Best Ménage, Best BDSM and Best Anthology. Her books have made it to the bestseller lists on Amazon.com.

 

When she’s not writing, Megan spends time with her husband and son as well as three dogs and three cats. She enjoys art, music and racing, but football is her sport of choice. She’s an active member of the Friends of the Keystone-LaGrange Public library.

 

Find out more about Megan and Wendi at: http://wendizwaduk.com/indexMegan.htm

 

Sign up for the newsletter here: http://ymlp.com/xgjmjumygmgj

 

Website - http://wendizwaduk.com/indexMegan.htm

 

Blog - https://wendizwaduk.wordpress.com/

 

Fan Page - https://www.facebook.com/wendizwaduk.meganslayer/

 

Amazon Author Page - http://www.amazon.com/Megan-Slayer/e/B008BJCFSC

 

Bookbub - https://www.bookbub.com/authors/megan-slayer

 

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/wendizwaduk/

 

Goodreads - http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5330530.Megan_Slayer

 

Twitter  - https://twitter.com/#!/MeganSlayer

 

Buy Links:

 

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09CNWCV7J 

 

https://books.apple.com/us/book/id1581347308 

 

https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/far-away-eyes 

 

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/far-away-eyes-megan-slayer/1140020110

 

https://www.changelingpress.com/far-away-eyes-a-start-me-up-story-set-in-stone-multi-author-13-b-3231 https://books2read.com/u/m2laq1

           

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a Rafflecopter giveaway

Virtual Book Tour: Kilty Pleasures

Please welcome author Nancy Fraser, who is here to tell us about her new release, Kilty Pleasures. Nancy will be awarding a $15 Amazon/BN GC to one randomly drawn commenter via Rafflecopter, and a set of three erotic novellas (autographed in print for a winner in the US or Canada, digital copies for international winners). The more you comment, the better your chances of winning. To find the other stops on her tour, go here. Don't forget to look for the Rafflecopter at the end of this post.

Kilty Pleasures

by Nancy Fraser

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GENRE: Erotic Romance

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BLURB:

Ronan MacAlister’s return to Glencoe, Maine reignites every one of Aileen MacDougall’s adolescent fantasies.

Ronan is drawn to the beautiful Aileen, who now serves as the manager for his late uncle’s business ventures. However, it’s not her business acumen he’s after.

Will being trapped in a remote cabin lead to a happily-ever-after? Or, will they discover they have differences even kilty pleasures can’t overcome?

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EXCERPT:

Ronan retrieved the bottle of cabernet from his uncle’s stash and pulled the cork. Aileen was giving him some enticing signals...at least it seemed like it. Given his body’s immediate reaction, he hoped he wasn’t reading her wrong.

He busied himself with building a fire from the logs and kindling in the basket beside the hearth. Once he’d finished, he crossed the great room and drew the curtains closed.

Setting a romantic mood, are you? Ronan gave his pesky conscience a nudge and turned the lock on the cabin door.

The soft ‘ding’ of the microwave proceeded the heavenly aroma of pungent spices. Aileen reached for dishes on the shelf above her head, the stretch of her arms outlining her curvy figure, lifting her lush bottom. His stomach growled with an appreciation that had little to do with food.

“So,” he asked, “what’s for lunch?”

“Beef stew, salad, and homemade biscuits with butter and honey. I put the kettle on for tea and there are sodas and bottled water in the fridge.”

“I’ve decanted the wine. It should go nice with the stew.”

She graced him with another of her smiles. “We can eat here at the table or over by the fire whichever you prefer.”

He nodded toward the low table and pillows in front of the fireplace. “Why don’t you take the food over? I’ll pour us some wine and be right behind you.”

They enjoyed their meal in a companionable silence. Like Aileen, the stew was complex with many layers of flavor. The simple salad was all business and the biscuits and honey a sweet ending. The meal, like the woman who’d made it, stirred his senses and begged to be tasted over and over again.

He set his dishes aside and pushed the table a few feet to the left. Relaxing back against the pillows, he pressed the wine glass to his lips and turned his attention to the sexy beauty sitting across from him.

The glow from the fireplace played off Aileen’s silken hair, turning the reddish blonde highlights to pure gold. He wanted nothing more than to wrap the gossamer strands around their naked bodies.

She took a sip of her wine and closed her eyes. When she darted her tongue out to catch an errant droplet on her lip he nearly lost the last increment of his composure. Not having her...all of her...was no longer an option.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

AUTHOR Bio and Links:

Like most authors, Nancy Fraser began writing at an early age, usually on the walls and with crayons or, heaven forbid, permanent markers. Her love of writing often made her the English teacher’s pet, which, of course, resulted in a whole lot of teasing. Still, it was worth it.

Published in multiple genres, Nancy currently writes for four publishers. She has published twenty-two books in both full-length and novella format. In November 2016 Nancy will be celebrating twenty years as a published author and will release her 25th book in mid-2017.

When not writing (which is almost never), Nancy splits her free time between her five grandchildren. She’s also an avid traveler with Las Vegas being her favorite destination. Nancy lives in Atlantic Canada where she enjoys the relaxed pace and colorful people.

Media Links:

Website: www.nancyfraser.ca

Blog: http://nancyfraser.ca/wordpress/

Facebook: http://facebook.com/nancyfraserauthor

Twitter: https://twitter.com/nfraserauthor  @nfraserauthor

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7206382.Nancy_Fraser

Amazon Author Page: http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B004AOL61Y

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Virtual Book Tour: Ariel and Ray Uncensored

Please welcome back author Candy Caine, who is going to tell us about her new release, Ariel and Ray Uncensored. Candy will be awarding a Hot pink beach tote bag (US only) to one randomly drawn winner via Rafflecopter. The more you comment, the better your chances of winning. To find the other stops on her tour, go here. Don't forget to look for the Rafflecopter at the end of this post.

Ariel and Ray Uncensored (The Life and Loves of Ariel Jones, Vol 2)

by Candy Caine

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GENRE: Erotic Romance

               (IR, BWWM)

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BLURB:

Sometimes Ariel Jones gets a little bored with her love life. It's not that she doesn't love her partner, hunky Ray Meyers. But lately, things have been a bit blah. But "blah" suddenly seems desirable when Ariel's sexual curiosity gets her into trouble. Then Ray steps in to not only protect what is his, but to show her the dark side of his sexuality he has hidden from her all this time...

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EXCERPT:

As I lunged for the gun he kicked me. His boot caught me in my side, but luckily it didn’t incapacitate me, though it hurt like hell. Even though he peered at me through red, runny eyes, he was still on his feet, trying to nab me. The gun was no longer in view. I wasted no time searching for it and bolted for the door.

Only he lunged for me, managing to grab onto my ankle, causing me to fall hard. I tried to kick at him with my other foot, but he grabbed that one, too, and pulled me back into the room. I was frantic at this point. The guy was unbelievably strong and there seemed to be nothing that I could do to stop him.

As he pulled me toward the bed, I saw the wire for the lamp that was perched on the night table. I yanked it with all my might and it fell down. He turned to see what had happened and I slammed the lamp into his face. It didn’t stop him for more than a moment, but it gave me time to get up. It also enraged him.

Clutching his bloodied face, he came after me. I was halfway down the steps when he sailed past me. He must’ve missed a step. He hit headfirst on the marble tile in the center hall. I didn’t wait around to find out if he was really hurt or not and pulled open the front door.

I ran smack into Ray.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

AUTHOR Bio and Links:

Whether she’s writing a short story or novel, Candy Caine will make her interracial romances hot and spicy. Always striving to entertain her readers, Candy tries to breathe life into her characters by running them past her husband, Robert--which often makes life interesting in their new home in Arizona.

Candy loves to hear from her readers. You can reach her at candy@candycaine.com.

Visit her website at www.candycaine.com and find her books on Amazon, B&N, MyRomanceStory.com and wherever books are sold.

https://www.facebook.com/CandyCaineAuthor

https://twitter.com/CandyCaine2

https://www.goodreads.com/author/list/2974928.Candy_Caine

http://www.pinterest.com/candycaine2/

Ariel and Ray Uncensored:

https://www.amazon.com/Ariel-Uncensored-Life-Loves-Jones-ebook/dp/B01N1F0I79/ref=sr_1_sc_1

I, Erogenous Jones:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01N752RG2

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  a Rafflecopter giveaway

Virtual Book Tour: I, Erogenous Jones

Please welcome author Candy Caine, here to tell us about her new release, I, Erogenous Jones. Candy will be awarding a Hot pink Beach tote bag (US only) to one randomly drawn commenter via Rafflecopter. The more you comment, the better your chances of winning. To find the other stops on her tour, go here. Don't forget to look for the Rafflecopter at the end of this post!

I, Erogenous Jones: (The Life and Loves of Ariel Jones. Vol 1)

by Candy Caine

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GENRE: Erotic Romance

   (IR & BWWM)

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BLURB:

Sometimes Ariel Jones' sexual adventures get her into trouble. Real trouble. But she determines to just chalk this up to experience and move on down the road to the next adventure. She will not be tied down by marriage. Too much heartache. Too little freedom. But when she meets her match, she has to reassess. Because he's to die for and he's got his own agenda.

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EXCERPT :

“It’s true you know, and I had to confess,” he said, “you are such a beautiful woman.”

I could feel the heat rising into my face as his words made me feel a little uncomfortable. It should be Ray sitting with me and telling me that.

“I just love looking at you.”

I took another long sip of my wine, wishing the piano player would return. I felt guiltier and guiltier the longer I sat there. He did a few minutes later and I had just about drained my glass. The pianist began to play romantic songs and a few couples got up to dance.

Jozef took my hand in his. “Come. Now we dance.”

He led me to the dance floor and held me close. I could feel the heat from his body, which pleasantly warmed mine. The scent of his aftershave was pleasing, as well. We moved slowly to the music as he nuzzled my neck. I knew this was wrong and tried to rationalize my actions, but found it hard to string my thoughts together. I had my eyes closed for several moments while we danced, but when I opened them, the things around us began to go in and out of focus. I wondered if I’d downed the wine too quickly and it went to my head. I tried to talk, but had problems forming the words. Despite that, Jozef smiled and we continued to dance a little longer. However, when I could no longer follow him and began to trip over his feet, he said, “Time to leave.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

AUTHOR Bio and Links:

Whether she’s writing a short story or novel, Candy Caine will make her interracial romances hot and spicy. Always striving to entertain her readers, Candy tries to breathe life into her characters by running them past her husband, Robert--which often makes life interesting in their new home in Arizona.

Candy loves to hear from her readers. You can reach her at candy@candycaine.com.

Visit her website at www.candycaine.com and find her books on Amazon, B&N,

MyRomanceStory.com and wherever books are sold.

https://www.facebook.com/CandyCaineAuthor

https://twitter.com/CandyCaine2

https://www.goodreads.com/author/list/2974928.Candy_Caine

http://www.pinterest.com/candycaine2/

I, Erogenous Jones:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01N752RG2

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  a Rafflecopter giveaway

Virtual Book Tour: The Scorpion's Empress

Please welcome author Yoshiyuki Ly who is here to tell us about her new release, The Scorpion's Empress. The author will be awarding a $50 Amazon/BN GC to one randomly drawn commenter via Rafflecopter. The more you comment, the better your chances of winning. To see the other stops on her tour, go here. Don't forget to look for the Rafflecopter at the end of this post.

The Scorpion’s Empress

by Yoshiyuki Ly

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GENRE: Erotic Romance

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BLURB:

After years of serving a corrupt government, Ser Videl, an idealistic paladin, learns that her younger sister is tangled in a dark scheme against Raj Mangala, the compassionate yet troubled Empress of the city's oppressed lowtown; the two women meet and are deeply drawn to one another, finding a shared sanctuary in their violently-divided city. The Scorpion's Empress is intimately written through the eyes of both twenty-seven year old women.

Videl's loving devotion is just what Raj craves, but Raj is wary of letting her guard down while protecting her throne. Determined to prove her worth, Videl chases after Raj and works to unravel the mystery of the plots against the Empress. Raj wants Videl to serve her emotional and sexual needs, and the two explore a meaningful relationship of dominance and submission that delves fully into their deepest wants. When the conspiracy against Raj comes to a head, Videl's loyalties are tested when she is forced to choose between her past and her Empress.

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EXCERPT:

I stood up and slowly walked to one of the torches along the wall. That fire festival where we'd had our first time together… I took the torch and went back to her. Videl stared at me—expectant, anxious. I moved the fire closer to her face. She steeled her eyes and waited. She didn't protest. She didn't shirk away from me.

“Ain't you scared?” I wondered. Videl shook her head. “It's fire for fuck's sake! Any normal person would've told me to cut it out by now.”

“You wouldn't burn me with it. I know you like my face too much to do that.”

I laughed and said, “Oh, so it's all logic with you? Your imagination must be full of rocks.”

“This might have played out differently if I were in subspace,” she pointed out. “But, right now, I'm not bothered by it. I can reason myself out of most situations. It's hard to suspend my disbelief. I trust you to be logical, too. If you burned me, you wouldn't get to show me off to Nyte later on.”

“Show you off, huh?” I asked, putting the torch back. “You think that's what I wanna do?”

“I have a feeling you'll want to when the time comes.”

“We'll see about that. For now I wanna see more about suspendin' your disbelief.”

Videl was about to ask me what I meant—until I picked her up and threw her down onto the polished wood of the table. I straddled her, watching her pulse pick up along her neck. She bit down on her lip to keep from making a sound.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

INTERVIEW 

What are four things you can’t live without?
My laptop, my TV, my PlayStation 4 and the internet.

What is your favorite television show?
Damages.

If you could be any character, from any literary work, who would you choose to be? Why?
Penleigh from Consider What Becomes of the Ashes by Pixelnyx. He grows and sacrifices everything for Noah throughout the story. I admire that.

What have you got coming soon for us to look out for?
Not soon, but I am working on a spiritual successor to The Scorpion’s Empress. It features new characters and it’s set over 250 years after this book. We get to find out the consequences of Raj and Videl’s actions.

What books or authors have most influenced your own writing?
Pixelnyx’s work—both fanfiction and original.

AUTHOR Bio and Links:

Yoshiyuki Ly was born in San Diego, CA. She lived there until moving away to college. In high school, she began writing fanfiction as a serious hobby. Her pen name is representative of her multiracial heritage and a unique, diverse outlook that is reflective in her work. While pursuing an undergraduate degree in philosophy, she spent her free time reading the works of Virginia Woolf, Soren Kierkegaard and Simone de Beauvoir. She then spent the next years honing her craft to become a published author.

Links –

myBook.to/thescorpionsempress
Author.to/yoshiyuki_ly

https://twitter.com/LyLikeLee

http://yoshiyuki-ly.livejournal.com/

https://www.fanfiction.net/~yoshiyukily

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Virtual Book Tour: 26 Hours in Paris

Please welcome author Demi Alex, who is here to tell us aout her new release, 26 Hours in Paris. Demi will be awarding a digital copy of 26 Hours in Paris to a randomly drawn commenter via Rafflecopter. The more you comment, the better your chances of winning. To find the other stops on her tour, go here. Don't forget to look for the Rafflecopter at the end of this post!

26 Hours in Paris

by Demi Alex

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GENRE:  Erotic Romance

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BLURB:

One day to see the sights.

One night to change your life. .

.

Magazine writer Kathryn Taylor is traveling from New York to Paris for work. But the flirtatious Frenchman she left long ago is waiting at the airport--and he wants to play. . .

No one can guide Kat through the sensual city's delights like Marko Renard. He let her get away once, and now he's determined to make her stay--even if he has to tie her down. He will wrap her in cashmere, tease her tongue with chocolate, and take her to the peak of the Eiffel Tower . . . But can he convince the bohemian beauty she belongs with him, in his luxuriously decadent world? In business, he's the master--but it's Kat's body and soul he truly longs to rule. He has just enough time to show her the pleasures of the boulevards, the boulangeries--and the bedroom. To finally get her to just say oui, he'll have to seize the day--and the night. . .

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EXCERPT:

“You calling him?” Justin stepped out of his office and sidled up behind her. A woman couldn’t have a moment with her own thoughts in her own office when she worked with three of her best friends. Paul’s Justin, her Justin, with all his mathematical genius, was City Wing’s accounting department.

“No.”

“Why not?”

“Because,” she replied, pretending she was too absorbed in the printouts about the Eiffel Tower to give the question more merit, “this is about work. I need to prove that people find love in Paris, not recapture a lost possibility. I’ve worked my ass off to get to where I am. I’m not screwing it up by spinning my wheels over something, someone, that’s never going to happen.”

“Right. If that’s how you really feel, you need to get laid by a real man and let the overseas god go. Your man from the past is the reason nobody else is enough for you. You know you’re measuring these poor guys against a dream guy. Let him go, or invite him back.”

“Past,” Kathryn said, regret swelling in her chest. “It didn’t work then. It’s not going to work now.”

“He emailed you—”

“Stop, Justin. This isn’t about me and Marko. It really isn’t. Plus, we’re just friends.” It didn’t matter how she felt, because she knew she loved him, had always loved him, and would probably always love him. What mattered was that there was an ocean between them. “We’ve always been friends and will always be friends.”

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AUTHOR Bio and Links:

Demi Alex writes steamy romances, blending emotional fulfillments of the heart and carnal desires in her work. Born in Athens, Greece, and raised in her own version of a big fat Greek life in New York, Demi was infected with book and travel bugs early, and currently admits the only therapy for this condition is to combine the two in fictional stories that allow her characters to let loose and experience all they crave. She attended SUNY at Stony Brook, and after changing her major numerous times, graduated with a degree in Public Policy and International Studies. Her characters are loosely based on people she encounters while she travels or during the time she spends matching homes to owners as a Realtor. She simply has a passion for matchmaking that can’t be put to rest.

http://demialex.com/

https://twitter.com/demialex2u

https://www.facebook.com/demialexletsloose

Buy links:
amazonkindle: http://www.amazon.com/s/?field-keywords=9781601835994

Apple: http://itunes.apple.com/us/book/isbn9781601835994

Google: https://play.google.com/store/search?q=9781601835994&c=books

Kobo: http://www.kobobooks.com/search/search.html?q=9781601835994

Nook: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/9781601835994

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Proving Santa Exists Review

Proving Santa Exists  

Author: Victoria Blisse

American release date: November 13, 2012

Format/Genre/Length: Ebook/M/F Romance/58 pages

Publisher/Industry Age Rating: Mature/18+

Overall Personal Rating: ★★★★

There’s a new arrival in the UK offices of Computers, Incorporated. His name is Jonathan, and he has the tongues of the ladies wagging. But Jenny refuses to gossip about him with Susan. Instead, she is determined to make the Texas transplant feel at home in a strange place by extending the hand of friendship to him. It doesn’t hurt that he’s easy on the eyes, and his voice does things to her…

Synopsis:

Jenny invites Jonathan to lunch, her treat, and they bond over the Christmas special—thick, rich soup and turkey and dressing sandwiches. She is attracted to him, especially after he tells her his story of being an orphan. She was always prone to bringing him unwanted strays as a child, a habit which has not diminished over the years. She impulsively invites him to join her for Christmas, and to help her decorate her Christmas tree. He gladly accepts. What does it mean, though, when he kisses her? Does he find her simply convenient, or does he feel sorry for her because she’s plump and probably lonely?

Is she reading more into this than she should? Or will this become a Christmas she’ll never forget?

Commentary:

I really really enjoyed this short sweet Christmas story. It’s hot and sweet and sentimental, and frankly it had me wiping at my eyes. I love how it isn’t about two perfect people finding one another; it’s about two real people finding love. Jenny is an amply proportioned woman who feels inadequate, especially compared to Susan, whom she thinks is perfectly lovely. But love is in the eye of the beholder, and Jonathan prefers her curves and her warm and loving personality to anything Susan has to offer.

This is a great tale to curl up with on a cold winter night, with your favorite beverage, dreams of Christmas bouncing about your head. I’ve read it twice already. It’s a definite keeper, good for any time of the year. As a bonus, Victoria has included her recipes at the end of the book, although I warn American readers, you’ll need a translation.

Get a copy for yourself, and buy copies for the people you love who love a good romance!

Fifty Shades of Grey review

 Fifty Shades of Grey  

Author: E L James

Publisher: Vintage

American release date: April 3, 2012

Format/Genre/Length: Novel/Romance/528 pages

Publisher/Industry Age Rating: Mature Audience

Overall Personal Rating: ★★★★★

Frustrated that her best friend/college roommate has come down with the flu on the day of an important interview, Anastasia Steele—Ana, to friends and family—agrees to help her out, although that entails driving some 165 miles in order to do so. But what are friends for, right? So she drives to downtown Seattle to keep the bedridden Kate’s appointment with the CEO of Grey Enterprises Holdings , Inc., one Christian Grey, who is scheduled to be the commencement speaker at their graduation. What begins as simply an annoying favor for a sick friend becomes the catalyst to the biggest change imaginable in the innocent college student’s life.

Synopsis:

Technically, Ana is only the conduit for the interview. The questions are written out, all she needs to do is ask them, and record all the answers. Good thing, because when she meets Christian, she is so flustered by his amazing good looks, and his youth that she is a bit tongue-tied (and mentally curses Kate for not having prepared her for him).Of course, part of the fault is Ana’s for not having read the questions through, and blurting out, “Are you gay?”, before she wishes a hole would open up and swallow her. She barely makes it through the interview, and his slightest touch produces reactions she’s never experienced before.  All in all, Ana is greatly unnerved by Christian Grey.

Ana goes back to her life—her studies, her part-time job at the hardware store, her friends, including Jose, a photographer whom she suspects of liking her a bit too much in the wrong way—but she can’t stop thinking about Christian. When he turns up unexpectedly where she works, she is flustered as she helps him gather the things that he requests—cable ties, masking tape, rope—although she can’t begin to fathom why he should need these things, and he isn’t exactly forthcoming with details. When Ana mentions in passing that Kate wishes they had better pictures of the young CEO to go along with the interview, Christian offers to do a photo shoot, to her amazement. An ecstatic Kate strong-arms a reluctant Jose into taking the pictures, and the next day all three show up at Christian’s expensive hotel. After the photo shoot, he invites Ana for coffee, and she accepts—even though she doesn’t even like it.

Ana cannot stop thinking about him. Especially after he makes an overly generous gift to her of some very expensive first editions. She goes out with Kate and Jose to celebrate their graduation, and consuming too many drinks makes her bold; while waiting in line for the ladies room, she places a drunken call to Christian. She won’t tell him where she is and hangs up on him, but the man has resources, and luckily so, saving her from an unfortunate situation, also introducing Kate to his brother Elliot. While they hit it off, Christian takes Ana with him to his hotel, where she passes out.

It’s obvious that this attraction between them is very mutual; although Christian continually tries to warn Ana away from him, telling her he’s no good for her, she cannot resist him. When innocent Ana says to him, “You’re quite the disciplinarian,” he responds with, “Oh Anastasia, you have no idea.” And when it reaches the point where it’s obvious that something’s got to give, then he reveals to her some of his nature, what he’s looking for in a relationship, and he gives her a contract to sign, outlining everything in black and white. You see, Christian is a Dominant in search of a Submissive—this is the type of relationship he has with women, albeit one at a time, for he is monogamous. Although there is something he hasn’t realized about Ana, which could be a deal breaker.

Loving Christian Grey will not be easy, but Ana cannot help herself. When she’s around him, she wants him so badly she can taste it. He does something to her, something very elemental, and being away from him is painful to her. But can she live with his very exacting rules? Does she even get a voice in this matter? And is there any wiggle room? Enquiring minds want to know.

Commentary:

There is no denying that Fifty Shades of Grey has become a phenomenon in the short time since its release. I became aware of the hoopla and wondered about it, especially after hearing that the story was originally a fanfiction penned by author EL James, based in the Twilight fandom. So I decided to see what the fuss was all about, and I was more than half prepared to find it unmitigated tripe, and highly questionable erotica. I’ve never read anything in the bdsm genre before, so I was also apprehensive that I would not like this aspect of the book either. All in all, I prepared to dislike this book.

But a strange thing happened. From the beginning, I found the author’s voice engaging, easy to read, and well developed. It flows very smoothly, and her narrator, Ana Steele, is easy to like, and I enjoyed watching her story unfold. As for Christian, well, that man is just hotter than hot, and incredibly sexy. Yet no cookie-cutter romance hero is he; he is multi-layered and multi-faceted, and very riveting as we peel away the layers, trying to find out what makes Christian tick.

While this book is definitely for mature audiences because of its dark themes and open sexuality, it is not what I consider to be erotica. To me, erotica is sex with a bit of plot thrown in, just a step above pure smut that makes no pretense at plot. In the world of fanfiction, this is often referred to as pwp—plot, what plot? But Fifty Shades is first and foremost a romance between Ana and Christian, a very sensual romance, and the sex enhances that romance but it isn’t everything, it’s a part of everything.

As for the fanfiction aspect, if I hadn’t been told that was the origin, I would never have guessed it. Even knowing it, I don’t really see it (and I have read the Twilight books, so I am familiar with the characters). You might make a case for Christian being the controlling Edward Cullen, while I can see a little bit, perhaps, of Bella in Ana Steele, mostly in her clumsiness and naivete, but honestly, these characters are their own, and very well developed. She basically took Twilight and reshaped it into her own story, in the same way that Leonard Bernstein took Romeo & Juliet and made it into West Side Story. Fifty Shades of Grey is its own story.

The question still remains as to why this book, the first in a trilogy, has gone so very viral, and for that I have no real answer. It’s a good book, and I like it, but there are others out there, I know. This isn’t the first bdsm romance, far from it. There are m/f and m/m books out there with the same theme. My only explanation is exposure. Those other books never gained the same sort of exposure. I can only speculate that some great promotional efforts took place before its release, and if so, more power to everyone involved. It worked. Perhaps it doesn’t hurt that EL James is a former TV executive, and probably has friends in high places. I should be so lucky.

While Fifty Shades is not erotica, in my opinion, it is erotic, sensual, and romantic. I understand there is a nickname for it—Mommy porn. Intrigued, I asked a friend what that was all about, and learned that it’s because the largest part of the audience that makes up the readership are women over thirty. Okay, I guess I fill that bill and then some. I think that anyone who enjoys romance will love this book, whether you’re into bdsm or not. I can’t say I’d read another one, outside of the trilogy. That wasn’t the part of the story I found the most satisfying. For me it was all about the romance, the love.

I’m looking forward to reading the second book in the trilogy.