I will admit that Ms. Kim Tracy-Prince inspired this post with her "A month of reading" series she is currently doing. Back at Creative Alliance (what today seems AGES ago but was really only a few months ago) Kim and I talked a lot about how much consuming, rather than broadcasting, we had been doing. And it continues...for both of us apparently! Thanks to both my iPad with iBooks and a Kindle App and my Sony Reader, I'm a reading MACHINE. Seriously, I have books downloaded all over the place these days.
Today I threw my favorite question out to Twitter: "What book should I read next?" I love getting random suggestions. In fact, it was through one of these questions to the Internet that I first heard of The Hunger Games and 50 Shades of Grey. {Hey - you never know what the Internet will tell you to read.} But after throwing this out there, I realized my recommendation may lead someone else to a great read, either for yourself or as a gift. 'Tis the Season!
For the young reader / thinker:
The Giver by Lois Lowry
Jonas' world is perfect. Everything is under control. There is no war or fear or pain. There are no choices. Every person is assigned a role in the Community. When Jonas turns twelve, he is singled out to receive special training from The Giver. The Giver alone holds the memories of the true pain and pleasure of life. Now, it is time for Jonas to receive the truth. There is no turning back
So, I will admit that I didn't realize this was a YA book when I downloaded it. When I started it I did note that it was short in length, and that the main character is 11 years old - but that means nothing. The book was intriguing. It made me think. Made me wonder. It also left me with a lot of questions. So yeah, I felt really stupid when I realized it was written for 10 year olds. But it was a beautiful book, and one I can't wait for Lucas to read.
For A Girlfriend or Even Your Mother/Mother in Law:
Low Pressure by Sandra Brown
Bellamy Lyston Price was only 12 years old when her older sister Susan was killed on a stormy Memorial Day. Bellamy's fear of storms is a legacy of the tornado that destroyed the crime scene as well as her memory of one vital fact that still eludes her...
Now, 18 years later, Bellamy has written a novel based on Susan's murder. It's her first book, and it's an instant sensation. But because the novel is based on the most traumatic event of her life, she's published it under a pseudonym to protect herself and her family.
But when a sleazy reporter for a tabloid newspaper discovers that the book is based on a real crime, Bellamy's identity - and dark family secrets -- are exposed. Suddenly, she finds herself embroiled in a personal conflict and at the mercy of her sister's killer, who for almost two decades has gotten away with murder...and will stop at nothing to keep it that way
You all know that I've been on this smutty romance kick (more on that later) and I actually don't normally read mysteries, but when this book came across in a search I was doing I was excited to get my hands on it. Apparently Sandra Brown is a fairly popular fiction/mystery writer, also something I discovered after reading this book, but not knowing her previous work, my thoughts on this book are fresh with nothing to compare it to. I really enjoyed this book. It was a quick read that kept me going the whole time. The story unfolded in a few different ways, leaving me guessing until the end. Which honestly may not be saying much since I was surprised by the ending of M. Night Shamalan's The Village.
Now on to the smut!
For Your Friend Who Loved 50 Shades of Gray - a lot.
Release Me by J. Kenner
He was the one man I couldn’t avoid. And the one man I couldn’t resist.
Damien Stark could have his way with any woman. He was sexy, confident, and commanding: Anything he wanted, he got. And what he wanted was me.
Our attraction was unmistakable, almost beyond control, but as much as I ached to be his, I feared the pressures of his demands. Submitting to Damien meant I had to bare the darkest truth about my past—and risk breaking us apart.
But Damien was haunted, too. And as our passion came to obsess us both, his secrets threatened to destroy him—and us—forever.
Yes! Another young girl/young millionaire with control issues book! Better writing than FSOG but a similar story.. and very obviously going to be a multi-part book series. But an enjoyable read. Steamy sex scenes and interesting characters. Fans of 50 will eat it up.
For Your Friend Who Liked 50 Shades A Little Too Much... and Wants to Take Things to the Next Level.
Tiffany Reisz's The Original Sinners Series
Keep your friends close and your enemies closer...preferably in bed. That's always been Kingsley Edge's strategy with his associate, the notorious New York dominatrix Nora Sutherlin. But with Nora away in Kentucky, now it's Kingsley's chance to take her place at the feet of the only man he's ever wanted -- Søren, Nora's on-again, off-again lover -- until a new threat from an old enemy forces him to confront his past.
Wes Railey is still the object of Nora's tamest yet most maddening fantasies, and the one man she can't forget. He's young. He's wonderful. He's also thoroughbred royalty and she's in "his" world now. But Nora is no simpering Southern belle, and her dream of fitting into Wesley's world is perpetually at odds with her dear Søren's relentlessly seductive pull.
Two worlds of wealth and passion call to her and whichever one Nora chooses, it will be the hardest decision she will ever have to make... unless someone makes it for her..
GAH.
This sums up my feelings quite accurately. See, I didn't realize it was a series until the end. I also didn't realize that I started with book THREE in the series until quite after I finished reading The Prince. And OMG. This book? Well - GAH. Not for the squeamish. This book actually makes 50 Shades seem like a YA read. There were a few times that I almost put it down. There were a few scenes I couldn't read. There were a few times when I thought a lot about just how screwed up some people are sexually ... and I'm not even talking about our friends over on Showtime's Polyamory. Those people are just orgy loving kittens next to the BDSM freaks in this series.
I almost can't admit to having read this... but sigh, its a series. And the author did a good job of mixing up the hard core "WHAT THE FREAKING HELL" storyline with a mystery and an a much simpler, "Vanilla" romance. And the ending... well, now I HAVE to read book 4.
And apparently go back and read books 1-2.
GAH.
*disclosure: I was given e-copies of Low Pressure, Release Me and The Prince for review purposes from the publishers.
Thursday, December 13, 2012 at 2:43PM 
