Fifty Shades of Cray – Exploring the World of BDSM

As you may or may not know, I have an intense interest in BDSM. So imagine my delight when browsing on Amazon, I happened to come across, twist that if you dare, a book by authors Dom & Ina Trix, called ‘Fifty Shades of Cray’. I had been beating myself up, looking for that perfect BDSM title, and there, as if by magic, it appeared before my eyes. It was as if a blindfold had been removed and my vision returned to me. I had spent hours, and it had been like flogging a dead horse.

Now, generally I tend to look at Amazon Marketplace to see if I can get a battered copy, but this was a brand spanking new one. An ebook, on the kindle store. This title was a little different. I could just see myself whipping through that in no time at all. I reached for my wallet and managed to get completely tied up in knots extricating it from its captivity. It felt like I had been handcuffed to my own pants. So eventually I manage to release myself from my bonds and have the offending card in my hand.

I returned to my browser and blow me if the connection hadn’t timed out and I had to start again. This pursuit was dominating a lot of my time. In fact I almost submitted, and gave in. It was torture. But no. This meant too much to me. I had to have it. I would do this. And I did. Despite my restraint, I was now the proud owner of my very own perfect BDSM book.

If you too would like to experiment you can check out my purchase. It is this tasty cookbook filled with Beautiful, Delicious, Shellfish Meals. It is filled to the brim with amazing looking recipes, designed to titillate the appetite and leave you panting in desire for these mouthwatering treats.

In all seriousness this is an awesome book of stunning recipes, all with a slightly different slant to the usual pedestrian instruction provided by most cookbooks. Good, tasteful fun, quite literally. Handy recipes that do not leave you chained to the kitchen, unless of course that is your bent.

I got my copy here at Fifty Shades of Cray at amazon.co.uk but apparently it is available in the Fifty Shades of Cray at amazon.com.

Here is the cover. That is one pretty funky looking Crayfish.

Channeling Harrison by David Young

Description from Goodreads

This book is a true account of the ongoing and mind-blowing experiences between David Young, a multi-talented musician/producer artist, and former Beatle George Harrison. What David Young, who plays two flutes at one time and has sold over a million CDs, has documented is verifiable, real, and astounding. Every time he questioned his direction, he was (is) guided by one of the most loved, respected, and spiritual musicians of all time. The story abounds with seemingly impossible synchronicities, lined up one after the other in perfect time, all of them helping him to rise above his life s challenges, and not only evolve as a musician, but as a spiritual being as well. George entered David s life during a time of devastating heartbreak. This intervention was just the beginning of over forty incredible experiences. George s musical genius began to channel through David s own music. After recording forty instrumental CDs, David spontaneously wrote and recorded twenty-five vocal songs in thirty days! Songs with depth and rich production values like the Beatles, in a rock-with-soul style he had never done before. What is George trying to communicate, and why has he chosen David? This incredible story proves there is life after death or better yet, life after life.

The book comes with a free download of three of these songs as well as three spiritual instrumental tracks.”

Four stars out of five

As a longtime fan of George Harrison I was very interested in reading this book and learning of the author’s experiences.

I liked the way in which this book was written and structured. The format made it an easy book to read and the topic was extremely absorbing.

This book was an account of the author’s personal life experiences, and in particular how he related these moments in his life to his spiritual connection with former Beatle Harrison. I especially liked hearing how Mr Young continually experienced these episodes of concurrence.

The author presented an interesting life story, even without the association with Harrison. The obvious spirituality of the author was apparent throughout.

This book will appeal to many diverse readers, in particular those with an interest in George Harrison, or with an interest in matters of a deeply spiritual nature. I found this to be a thoroughly enjoyable read.

This review was based on a complimentary copy of the book.

A Poetic Proposal by Julian Froment Book Review

Wow. What an incredible review from Pam. Thank you so much, Pam.
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Poetry by Pamela

http://www.amazon.com/Poetic-Proposal-Julian-Froment-ebook/dp/B00QAYLLH6/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1417231000&sr=8-2&keywords=A+Poetic+Proposal
From Amazon Book Description:
A poetic journey of love in the face of enforced separation. A collection of love poetry, and verse reflecting the angst felt when two are destined to be one, then forced to live a half-life constantly traversing the ocean. A roller coaster ride of emotional highs and lows.

My review: Five out of five stars

Reading this collection of poems made me feel like I was eavesdropping on the world’s most romantic marriage proposal. It was quite evident that they were written by plumbing the depths of Julian’s soul. The expression of emotions was tender and loving. And heartfelt. If you are looking for love poems to share with your own lover, these are just the poems.

The poems were arranged in such a way that they progressed over time with the time apart illustrating the agony. My favorite poem I think was “When…

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Tales of the Hidden World by Simon R. Green

Description from Goodreads

Seventeen delightfully unexpected stories from Simon R. Green-including a brand-new adventure of the Droods-take us deep into the Darkside, embroil us in the Secret Histories, and lead us into the shadowy places where monsters and demons roam Welcome to the worlds of Simon R. Green. In this wide-ranging collection, the New York Times-bestselling urban fantasist opens doors into hidden places: strange realms bordering our own mundane existence and prowled by creatures of fancy and nightmare. Here are the strange, frequently deadly-and sometimes even dead-things that lurk in garbage-strewn city alleyways and grimy subway stations after midnight, visible only to the most perceptive human or inhuman eye.

In these tales, Green revisits the ingenious worlds within worlds that he created for his wildly popular novels. Take a stroll on the Darkside with a jaded street wizard, an underpaid government functionary responsible for keeping demons, vamps, and aliens in line. Enter the hidden recesses of Drood Hall, where the aging family member who creates powerful weapons that protect humankind recalls his long and bloody career. Join a squad of no-longer-human soldiers dispatched to combat the all-consuming jungle on a distant planet. Visit a house at the intesection of two realities that serves as a sanctuary from the evil of all worlds. Confront the unstoppable zombie army of General Kurtz in a brilliant homage to Apocalypse Now. And whatever you do, never forget that there are monsters out there. Really. Each story includes a new afterword by the author.

“[In] a Simon R. Green book, everything is larger than life-the heroes extremely heroic, the villains astonishingly villainous, the choices between good and evil very clear-cut. Still, if the ultimate outcome is never really in doubt, there’s plenty of entertainment in the journey, and the engagingly-drawn characters.” -SFF.net

“If they’re making fantasy adventure much better than this, I don’t know about it.” -Science Fiction Chronicle on Beyond the Blue Moon.
Simon R. Green is the New York Times-bestselling author of Blue Moon Rising, Beyond the Blue Moon, the Adventures of Hawk & Fisher, the Novels of the Nightside, the Secret Histories Novels, and the Ghost Finders Novels. He is a resident of Bradford-on-Avon in England.

I gave this book four stars out of five

My thoughts:

I really enjoyed this book. I found it a great introduction to the work of this author and it left me wanting to explore his works further. I enjoyed the short story format and knowing that they related to existing series’ of books gave them further meaning and depth.

I found the variety of styles and the sheer creativity present in these stories incredible. It was fascinating to see and be able to compare and contrast recent work, particularly that associated with successful series’, with that of much earlier works, that had originally appeared in, for example, ezines.

The volume contains seventeen stories, of varying lengths, all extremely well written and imaginative.

I found it fascinating how the author created stories that could appear on the surface to be about one thing, but dig a little deeper, or wait until the big reveal, and you would find a whole different layer to it.

The inclusion of explanatory details following each story was very useful, especially to someone unfamiliar with the author’s canon of work. They provided that extra personal touch and a greater insight into the motivations, influences, and goals of the author.

I would certainly recommend this book to fans of Simon R. Green, and also to fans of sci-fi in general. As a relative newbie to the works of this author, I can certainly say that this volume has whet my appetite for a much greater exploration of his books.

This review is based on a complimentary copy provided by Netgalley and the publisher.

Mistworld by Simon R. Green

Description from Goodreads

Before Owen Deathstalker, there was the Twilight of the Empire…

Mistworld. The day would come when it would be a key world in Owen Deathstalker’s Rebellion. Now, it’s as it’s always been, a world on the edge of the Empire, a lawless one, shielded from the outside by powerful ESPers. A world where Leon Vertue can run his body bank, where a burglar like Cat has more to fear from other thieves than the Empress’ justice, a world where Investigator Topaz is determined to make her mark.

Mistworld. “Green moves his plot at top speed, and his characters are alive and his background solid.” Baird Searles in Asimov’s Science Fiction Magazine

Mistworld has previously been published singly, as well as in the omnibus editions Twilight of the Empire (US) and Deathstalker Prelude (UK). Be sure to enjoy the other Prelude/Twilight of the Empire novels Ghostworld and Hellworld, and the entire Deathstalker series, all from New York Times bestselling author Simon R. Green.

I gave this book four stars out of five

My thoughts:

I really enjoyed this book. This was an author that I had not come across before. I know. Shame on me. I do not generally read a great deal of sci-fi, but I found it to be an interesting, relatively easy book that was a pleasure to read.

The story was exciting and imaginative. I enjoyed the beautiful descriptions of the world that the author had created. Mistworld was picturesque and fascinating in its own prosaic fashion. It was a hard brutal place to live though.

The story was well paced, with plenty of action. There were many intriguing and engrossing characters. In particular I liked Investigator Topaz, and would have been very interested in hearing more of her back story, of which we only caught glimpses. I also liked many of the other characters, all of which I found to be well formed and believable.

This was a tale of intrigue, murder, mystery and technology. There was corruption and betrayal galore.

I would recommend this to anyone that enjoys books that inhabit different worlds, with a sci-fi slant, and that are easy to read and downright enjoyable.

This review is based on a complimentary copy provided by Netgalley and the publisher.

The Best Thing That Never Happened to Me by Laura Tait and Jimmy Rice

Description from Goodreads

Everyone remembers their first love.

Holly has learnt that life isn’t about seizing the moment. She might have harboured dreams about travelling the world as a teenager, but she let go of those – just as she let go of Alex.

But what if the feelings never really went away?

Alex wants to make every moment of his new job count. It’s a fresh start in a new city, and he knows that moving to London has nothing to do with Holly. Well, probably.
How do you know if it was meant to be. or never meant to happen at all?

A brilliantly funny, feel-good story of first love, second chances and everything inbetween, perfect for fans of romantic comedies like Love Actually, Notting Hill and Bridget Jones.

I gave this book four stars out of five

My thoughts:

This was a wonderful story about first love, written from the viewpoint of both of the protagonists, in alternating chapters. This made for an interesting perspective as the reader, since we could experience the inner most thoughts of each character, and knew what was going on in the mind of both, rather than being limited to the external actions and words of the other, as the characters were.

I really liked this narrative approach, although at times I did find the characters frustrating, knowing that things could be so different, if just one of them was able to show some courage and take a risk. They both had a fear of admitting their true feelings for one another. In spite of a dearth of evidence that the other liked them, they had that fear of ruining a friendship.

The writing was relaxed and funny, making it a very enjoyable read. It was well paced, in the present, with flashbacks to earlier days providing good back story that explained the characters thoughts and actions in the present. I was constantly wanting to know what happened next, and what new thing could get in the way. What would be the next misunderstanding or misconception that would crop up meaning that despite them each wanting to be with the other, they would assume the other didn’t want them.

The characters and plot were very believable as presented by the two authors. The dialogue was also very straightforward and down to earth. You could feel the rapport between Alex and Holly, something that wasn’t evident in their interactions with their current partners. It was interesting to see the type of relationships that both had pursued in the period they had been out of contact, and also their current partners.

I found it easy to like the protagonists and invest in them and their lives, willing them on. It was fascinating looking at how they had changed based upon their flawed belief of a situation years past, and also how when they reconnected how easily they fell into the old way of behaving and thinking around each other.

I really wanted this book to go on longer, which I often feel is an indication of a good story and/or characters. I wanted to know what happened next, even though the story didn’t feel incomplete in any way, or unfinished.

I would certainly recommend book this to anyone that is a fan of the romcom, and wants an easy to read story, filled with humour, and great, believable characters.

This review is based on a complimentary copy provided by Netgalley and the publisher.

Times New Romanian by Nigel Shakespear

Description from Goodreads

Times New Romanian provides a picture of Romania today through the individual first-person narratives of people who chose to go and make a life in this country. Each chapter a voice, each story in Times New Romanian provides readers with a look into the Romanian world – the way things work, the vitality of the people, the living heritage of rural traditions, ordinary life – sometimes dark, sometimes sublime, always interesting. In a land full of character and contradiction, there is a strong attraction for those with the spirit to meet the challenges, where the one thing you can be sure of is the unpredictable. Life is not always easy. These stories will tell you why… If you want to know more about Romanians and their country, the voices in Times New Romanian make for an enjoyable and lively read. Inspired by Studs Terkel and Tony Parker, Nigel used their oral history style and his own experience in Romania to guide him in recording these interviews.

I gave this book four stars out of five

My thoughts:

I very much enjoyed reading this book. I tend to read a lot more fiction than non-fiction these days, so it made a pleasant change for me.

I liked the format of the book, which consisted of many, short, real life stories from people that had moved into Romania, or worked there, generally as foreigners. This made it easy to read in a bitwise fashion. I don’t think I quite realised the extent of the cultural diversity of the country before. It was a great insight into life as a foreigner in a fascinating and exciting country.

Each story had a different viewpoint based upon where the person had originated from, how they had first visited the country, their motivations for being there, and ultimately what kept them there. For some they now viewed Romania as their home, whilst for others it was home for now, but their real home was elsewhere. Some of those spoken to divided their time between living in Romania, and living in another country.

I found it fascinating to hear about the multitude of different ways that these people approached life in Romania. For some it was just somewhere that they worked, either for themselves, for large multinationals, or as volunteer workers, for others it was because they had a Romanian partner.

It was interesting to see how people’s lives had changed and developed during the course of their time there, and as a result of the people that they met and their experiences.

I would recommend this to anyone wanting to gain a greater insight into life in Romania as a foreigner, or indeed just interested in learning more about the country. This was a most interesting read.

This review is based on a complimentary copy provided by Netgalley and the publisher.

Saffron and Brimstone by Elizabeth Hand

Description from Goodreads

Widely praised and widely read, Elizabeth Hand is regarded as one of America’s leading literary fantasists. This new collection (an expansion of the limited-release “Bibliomancy, ” which won the World Fantasy Award in 2005) showcases a wildly inventive author at the height of her powers. Included in this collection are “The Least Trumps,” in which a lonely women reaches out to the world through symbols, tattooing, and the Tarot, and “Pavane for a Prince of the Air,” where neo-pagan rituals bring a recently departed soul to something very different than eternal rest.

Written in the author’s characteristic poetic prose and rich with the details of traumatic lives that are luminously transformed, “Saffron and Brimstone” is a worthy addition to an outstanding career.
* Elizabeth Hand’s work has been selected as a “Washington Post” Notable Book and a “New York Times” Notable Book, and she has been awarded a Nebula Award and two World Fantasy Awards.

I gave this book four stars out of five

My thoughts:

I very much enjoyed this book. I liked the format a lot. It consisted of eight separate short stories, of varying lengths. It provided great variety, with each story being different from the others and covering an assortment of genres from supernatural to dystopian themes.

I thought that each of the stories were very well written, and the breadth of topics dealt with was impressive.

My favourite story was Cleopatra Brimstone, which was one of the longer stories. I found this to be remarkably clever and inventive story with a lot of surprises.

The stories all contained interesting and real characters, despite the limited length. It was easy to connect with and invest in the characters portrayed. I think that this is important in a short story, since the relationship that we have with the characters in a story is so very important, but is often one of those things neglected in short stories.

The plot and storyline of all of the stories were very creative and all of them were highly character based.

I think that this book provides a very good example of how to write captivating short stories. The stories all felt finished and fully formed. Even though I often wanted more, I was not left feeling that any of the stories were incomplete.

I would recommend this book to any fan of the short story, and of Elizabeth Hand’s work. This was a fascinating collection of stories that I enjoyed greatly.

This review is based on a complimentary copy provided by Netgalley and the publisher.

Unleashing Mr Darcy by Teri Wilson

Description from Goodreads

It is a truth universally acknowledged that a single woman teetering on the verge of thirty must be in want of a husband.

Not true for Manhattanite Elizabeth Scott. Instead of planning a walk down the aisle, she’s crossing the pond with the only companion she needs; her darling dog, Bliss. Caring for a pack of show dogs in England seems the perfect distraction from the scandal that ruined her teaching career, and her reputation, in New York. What she doesn’t count on is an unstoppable attraction to billionaire dog breeder Donovan Darcy. The London tycoon’s a little bit arrogant, a whole lot sexy, and the chemistry between them is disarming. When passion is finally unleashed, might Elizabeth hope to take home more than a blue ribbon?

I gave this book four stars out of five

My thoughts:

This was an extremely fun and enjoyable romance, cram packed with humour. As the title and cover art suggests, it was based upon Jane Austen’s, ‘Pride and Prejudice’, and set against the backdrop of the world of dog shows. This classic love story was given a makeover, updated, and transported to the 21^st Century.

I loved the two main characters, Elizabeth Scott, from the US, and Donovan Darcy, from the UK. It is always nice to read a story that understands that love knows no bounds and that distance can be overcome. These characters were very well developed and reminiscent of the original Elizabeth and Darcy. There was plenty of back story provided to allow us to understand the motivation and meaning behind how they acted, especially towards one another.

I liked how the two main characters showed some restraint and didn’t fall into bed, or the back of a car in a pub car park, at the earliest opportunity. It was nice to see that some respect and reserve still exists. This is not the case in far too many romances these days.

The descriptions of locations and places in England were very well crafted, and the plot moved swiftly enough to keep me always curious and eager to see what came next.

I know that some people are not fans of the reworking of classic literature, but I really enjoyed this and was very impressed with how it was accomplished. I like the fact that I had an idea of the plot in my head and that famous lines from Jane Austen’s novel were used. This made it all the more interesting and surprising when something happened that I wasn’t expecting. I think that enough of the original was used, but it was not a merely a simple retelling. Certain subplots of the original were treated differently or indeed not used at all. This kept me interested. Some of the original characters played different roles or were almost non-existent.

I thought that the misconceptions that Elizabeth had regarding Darcy and first Zara then Helena, worked well and sprang naturally from her character. I also found Elizabeth’s preconceptions and prejudices regarding the moneyed and noble fascinating.

My one complaint was the overuse of clichés about how the English behave and the way that we are. Whilst it is true that many of us are suave and debonair, putting James Bond to shame as we drive our Aston Martins up to the doors of our stately homes or castles, this is certainly not the norm. I felt that this overuse made some passages seem very tongue-in-cheek and ultimately lose some of their impact.

I would most definitely recommend this book to anyone that likes revamped classics, interpreted in a modern way, and also those that like fun, easy to read romances. An extremely enjoyable book.

This review is based on a complimentary copy provided by Netgalley and the publisher.

Netwars – The Code by M. Sean Coleman

Description from Goodreads

Netwars: The Code. A high-tech serial thriller from the dark side of the net. Episode 1.

Welcome to the Deep Web. Those parts of the internet no search engine explores. The place where you can buy anything. Drugs, children, weapons.
Anyone can do it. And get away free.

Anthony Prince, head of PrinceSec, a firm which provides high-tech security for the government and major corporations, dies in a plane crash when crossing the English Channel. Responsible for Prince’s death is a hacker named Strider. His real name is Scott Mitchell and in his day job at the National Cyber Crime Unit he uses legitimate means to get the bad guys. As Strider, his means are less legal. On the same night, PrinceSec is the target of a cyber-attack. When the NCCU is called to assess the damage, a link is found between Prince and a criminal hacker group called Black Flag. The race is on for Mitchell to protect his identity as Strider and to stop Black Flag before it’s too late.

I gave this book five stars out of five

My thoughts:

I really enjoyed this book. I like everything about it, with only one exception, which was that this was only episode one, and I will have to wait for the remaining episodes to find out what happens next.

This book contained so many things that I found fascinating, cyber-crime, cyber-terrorism, hi-tech gadgetry, black and white hat hackers, secret identities, murder, mystery and mayhem, and so much more.

I thought that the story was interesting and the author created suspense and ambiguity with ease. The characters were attention grabbing and exciting, especially the enigmatic Strider. I love the secrecy of the dual identity, and the idea of secret groups and societies.

The author has provided us with a creative and inventive plot that will delight fans of the thriller. I would recommend this book to anyone that likes clever, suspense laden plots full of thrills and mystery.

This review is based on a complimentary copy provided by Netgalley and the publisher.