September 2016 Book of the Month & Giveaway #2

October 9, 2016 05:06 PM Posted by juliannadouglas

I had two five-star reads in September, and OMG, what reads they were! Normally when I have multiple five-star reads, one stands out a little above the other, so I would choose that one to highlight and give away. But this month, I simply couldn’t. Each of my favorite reads couldn’t be more different from one another if they tried, but each touched me in a deep and indelible way that I couldn’t ignore. That’s probably why I couldn’t make up my mind between them. That’s great news for you, my readers, though, because my indecision means you get a chance to win two incredible books this month.

My second choice is a wildly popular erotic romance novel that has been controversial to say the least. For this reason and a few others, I went into reading it a bit wary, but within a few chapters, it had already sucked me. I kept waiting for something to happen that would make me change my mind, but it never did. It just kept getting better and better for me. It took me on an emotional roller coaster ride, and when it was over, I didn’t want it to stop. So I’m incredibly pleased that there are more installments to come, and I can’t wait to read them.

The entire book is told from Anastasia’s first-person POV, and she’s now my favorite romance heroine of all time. Every single thing she said, thought, or did made perfect sense to me, which is a rarity in romance novels for me. She’s also so much like me personality-wise, it isn’t even funny. Hopeless romantic? Check. Bookworm? Check. Clumsy and has a tendency to over-think things? Check and check again. Communicates better in the written word than verbally? Check!!  Shy, sweet, kindhearted? Check, check, and check. Not very good sub material? Double, triple, quadruple check.:-) She’s an intelligent girl who does her research, takes the time to think things over, and shrewdly negotiates. She’s strong and not a pushover, but she’s also very loving, intuitive, and willing to compromise. I’m not sure I’ve ever read a romance heroine I related to more fully.

Then there’s her hero, Christian, and all I can say is sign me up to swoon at this guy’s feet. He’s a highly intelligent and talented man both in the business world and out. He’s an overachiever filled with torment and self-loathing. He’s emotionally buttoned up and completely in control of himself and everything around him, yet he never pushed my buttons or IMHO acted like a jerk. If anything, he shows glimmers of vulnerability in his responses to Ana from the very start and those chinks in his armor only reveal themselves more over time. It’s what makes him so lovable in spite of his sexual deviance. He can also have a lighter more playful side and it’s Ana who brings it out of him. I’m head over heels for this sexy hero and can’t wait to uncover more of his closely held secrets.

Christian and Ana’s relationship is a thing of beauty. It’s by turns sweet, sensual, romantic, sexy, and downright scorching hot. But it’s not all about the sex. There’s a lot of tenderness in their romance too, and I was downright surprised by how many times I smiled or even laughed at their banter. I didn’t expect that kind of humor in such an emotionally taut book, and I think it gave their relationship a lot of depth and range. I’m as enthralled by these two and their romance as they are by each other. It’s a beautifully written book filled with deep emotions and expertly rendered characterizations. I know it isn’t for everyone, but I personally loved it! That’s why I'm naming E. L. James’s Fifty Shades of Grey as my second September Book of the Month. If you enjoy heart-stopping love stories filled with sizzling hot erotic love scenes then you should definitely give this book a try. Keep reading to learn how you can win a copy for your own library.

Fifty Shades of Grey

Cover Blurb-

When literature student Anastasia Steele goes to interview young entrepreneur Christian Grey, she encounters a man who is beautiful, brilliant, and intimidating. The unworldly, innocent Ana is startled to realize she wants this man and, despite his enigmatic reserve, finds she is desperate to get close to him. Unable to resist Ana’s quiet beauty, wit, and independent spirit, Grey admits he wants her, too—but on his own terms.
 
Shocked yet thrilled by Grey’s singular erotic tastes, Ana hesitates. For all the trappings of success—his multinational businesses, his vast wealth, his loving family—Grey is a man tormented by demons and consumed by the need to control. When the couple embarks on a daring, passionately physical affair, Ana discovers Christian Grey’s secrets and explores her own dark desires.

Erotic, amusing, and deeply moving, the Fifty Shades Trilogy is a tale that will obsess you, possess you, and stay with you forever.

This book is intended for mature audiences.

Read my complete review of Fifty Shades of Grey.

Giveaway
If you would like to win a copy of Fifty Shades of Grey to see how wonderful it is for yourself, just enter the Rafflecopter giveaway below. One lucky winner will receive their choice of an eBook or print copy of the book. If the winner chooses an eBook, I will gift it to them via the eBook retailer of their choice (Amazon, B & N, or AllRomance). If the winner chooses a print copy, I will have it mailed directly to them via Amazon. Good luck!

International Entrants: You are welcome to enter my contest, but please note that not all eBooks are available in all countries due to copyright restrictions. If this is the case, Amazon does offer an option to trade for a gift card (I'm not sure about B & N or AllRomance). If you choose print, I can mail it to you via the Amazon website that services your country, pending availability and cost. Otherwise I will mail it to you via U. S. Amazon's standard international shipping, but it may take up to 6-8 weeks to arrive, and I may not have the capability of tracking the package.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Categories: Book of the Month, Giveaways

Tags: E. L. James