Fifty Shades of Grey Chapter Nine

Good morning Anastasia! Look at her little hooker self waking up all thoroughly devirginized (a few times).

Then comes the stereotypical stare into the mirror and see if anything looks different about herself. Did you do this after losing your virginity? I really don’t remember checking for changes in the mirror…it’s such a silly thing to do. It’s like checking in the mirror to see if you look different after you’ve had your first beer, or run your first marathon. Not gonna reflect on the outside people! Sorry, I digress.

But, with this reflection in the mirror comes a shift in the book. There has been some mention of Ana’s subconscious, but now three parts of Ana begin to take shape and actually get like little forms. There is Ana, there is Ana’s subconscious, which from what I can tell dresses like a librarian and wears glasses, then there is Ana’s Inner Goddess who is the slut version of Ana, is very athletic, since she seems to like to do gymnastics a lot. I understand that James created these characters to perpetuate Ana’s struggle to find herself, but it’s straight-up over the top…

My subconscious has weaken. She’s staring at me with pursed lips, tapping her foot. So you’ve just slept with him, given him your virginity, a man who doesn’t love you. IN fact, he has very odd ideas about you, wants to make you some sort of kinky sex slave.

ARE YOU CRAZY? She’s shouting at me.

Indeed.

But after her inner whatever lectured her, Ana decides it’s time for breakfast, so time to cook for Christian. They have breakfast and there is a lot of innuendos in their dialogue that I found funny and even after all this, they continue to call each other, Ms. Steele and Mr. Grey.

Yet, soon the talk returns to the whole agreement, the NDA and Christians predilection for a little slap and tickle. We find out that Christian’s family has no idea about his hobbies, he doesn’t want her talking to her best friend at all about their arrangements, especially now that she is “making the beast with two backs” with his brother. I have never heard that before — oh yeah, British slang term. No wonder.

We also find out that he considers the nookie they had last night “vanilla” and it’s a first for him. Seems Christian has been a bit freaky since the get-go.

So what do they do next? Let’s have a bath…and he wants her to:

“…become well acquainted, on first name terms if you will, with my favorite and most cherished part of my body. I’m very attached to this.”

Boys and their wieners. I’m surprised it doesn’t have a name, Like Mr. Spanky…

Ana’s reaction is again, priceless…

It’s so big and growing.

Alright. That’s something. Now on to Ana’s first Blow Job…dun dun duh…and low and behold she doesn’t have a gag reflex. And this of course, would make any man fall head over heels in love with a girl, so he is instantly begging her to seal the deal:

“Say yes,” he whispers fervently.
I frown, not understanding.
“To what?”
“Yes to our arrangement. To being mine. Please, Ana,” he whispers pleading…

Proves the point that men are easy…but Ana is not agreeing to that so easily, she needs a little more prodding. So, let’s have more oral sex…

What does Ana do when confronted with her first time??

“Aargh!” I moan as my body bows and convulses at the touch of his tongue.

They are just getting done and Christian is still trying to talk her into submitting to him when there is a commotion in the hall…the chapter ends with this line:

“Shit! It’s my mother.”

I was snickering all over the pages…too funny.

Chapter Ten of Fifty Shades of Grey

Ana is gonna meet Christian’s mother! With hardly any appropriate clothes and looking like she just, well had sex with her son…isn’t that fun? The screwed up thing about the whole mess is that Christian actually seems excited about it. A man that hasn’t introduced a single woman to his mother is pretty much demanding that she dress in HIS clothes and present herself.

Again, mixed signals Christian.

The mom seems pleasant. And during all this Ana accepts a phone call from Jose, who solidifies himself as a whiny ass from the way he acts. Any man that is described as whining at someone looses a big estimation in my book. I think the sole purpose of this character is to bring out Christian’s jealous streak. Which it does.

“I don’t like to share, Miss Steele. Remember that.”

And then back to Portland with a few memorable quotables along the way.

In the elevator:

“Stop biting your lip, or I will fuck you in the elevator, and I don’t care who gets in with us.”

Yes please.

On the way to Portland they stop at a restaurant and Ana continues to grill Christian. She is intent to find out more information from him. What she finds out:

Is this what Mommy thought Christian was doing on the weekends?

1. His mother thought he was gay
2. He never introduced her to anyone, even 1 of the 15 relationships he’s had that were BDSM agreements
3. He was fifteen when he had his first encounter, it was one of his mother’s friends who lured him into the BDSM lifestyle
4. He was actually the woman’s submissive for six years
5. He’s never really dated anyone
6. He actually is still in touch with the “older woman” and considers her a good friend

This opens up all kinds of thoughts with Ana. She now considers Christian abused, which is true. If I were to find that my friend was sleeping with my fifteen year old son I would have her arrested and if it would come to light that she was using instruments of torture on my child I would push for a predatory sexual charge or sexual abuse. That’s just me. If it was a man doing it to a 15 year old girl, people would freak out…why is it different for a 15 year old boy? Because they want to have sex more than 15 year old girls?

Bah!

Let’s get back to the story though. Ana has had a lot to digest in her little trip. She know, well kinda knows how bossy Christian will be if she submits to him, but she also has hopes that she can maybe change him, mend his wounds or whatever. She finds out he’s always monogamous, but he expects full obedience from her. Ana is going to have to do a lot of thinking until they meet again on Wednesday. But, now she has to confront Kate as she does the walk-of-shame back into her apartment.

Of course, she is immediately jumped by the ever inquisitive Kate. Ana manages to elude to what they did without giving out details. It’s not very hard, Kate seems to like to talk about herself.

Jose makes an appearance again also, whining and apologizing at the same time. Gah! What a horrendous character. He sort of insults her, but then grovels, it’s rather ridiculous.

We close the Chapter in a blissful, post-coital reverie…with Ana. She comes to the conclusion that even though Christian is a little messed up, she still wants more and doesn’t want to end their “relationship”.

My mind drifts to last night and this morning…and the incredible, sensual sexuality I’d experienced. Do I want to say good-bye to that? No! screams my subconscious…my inner goddess nods in silent Zen-like agreement with her.

You know you want to buy the book and support the cause!!

Content copyright 2011 Parajunkee's View. Original content taken from > Parajunkee's View> Fifty Shades of Grey Read Along Chapter 9 & 10

A few special publisher offers have come out that you need to know about! Click on images to be taken to the Buy pages.

Content copyright 2011 Parajunkee's View. Original content taken from > Parajunkee's View> Super Hot Kindle Deals You Gotta Know About!

There is one book that I’ve been waiting for that I would probably commit some sort of heinous crime to get my hands upon. In fact when Ms. Ann Aguirre gave out an ARC at her RT panel the girl that got a copy — well let’s just say, she’s lucky that I lost site of her in the hallway…

Deuce’s whole world has changed. Now living topside in a community called Salvation, she has a whole new set of problems. Down below, she was considered an adult, and she contributed to the whole. Now, topside, the people of Salvation think she’s a brat in need of training. She hates school, and she doesn’t fit in with the other girls. They’ve spent their lives learning to cook and sew–suitable woman’s work. Deuce only knows how to fight. To make matters worse, Fade keeps her at a distance, and the band of four has broken into fragments.

Stalker presses for a closer relationship, but Deuce sees him as a training partner, and she’s busy trying to find her place in Salvation. She refuses to accept that she’s wrong for being who she is, but tensions rise as she struggles against the status quo. Her feelings for Fade haven’t changed, but he seems not to want her around anymore. Confused and lonely, she starts looking for a way out.

Once she’s free from school for the year, Deuce pursues a chance to serve in the summer patrols–those responsible for making sure the growers and planters can work the fields without danger of Freak attack. It should have been routine, little fighting, but things have been changing on surface, just as they did below ground. The Freaks are smarter. They’re watching. Waiting. Planning. The monsters don’t intend to let Salvation survive, and it will take a girl like Deuce to turn the tide.

What book would you STEAL to get your hands on a copy?

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Content copyright 2011 Parajunkee's View. Original content taken from > Parajunkee's View> Desperatly Wanting Wednesday: The Book I would Commit a Crime for…

Fifty Shades of Grey Chapter Seven

We now stand with Ana as she is rendered speechless by the Red Room of Pain.  We’ve got … well first we have ambient glow ?? and a womb-like effect ??? and then a big wooden cross on the wall ?? Not impressed yet, I’m thinking Church?

You can purchase this bad boy at www.leatherbeaten.com

Ok, no sorry, there seems to be restraining cuffs on the cross, iron grid system suspended from the ceiling, ropes, chains, even some glinting shackles. Poles, spindles, paddles, whips, riding crops and feathery implements.

“It’s called a flogger.”

I’m in shock. What is the appropriate response to finding out a potential lover is a complete freaky sadist or masochist?

So, what should she do, run, walk, or jump into those shackles? You would think at this point he would give her a good excuse that she should slip into some leather and bind her hands behind her back…maybe a little sweet talk? But, no, not Christian…

    “It means I want you to willingly surrender yourself to me, in all things.”
I frown at him as I try to assimilate this idea.
“Why would I do that?”
“To please me,” he whispers as he cocks his head to one side and I see a ghost of a smile.

And that seems to be what she wants. She wants to please Christian Grey. I would have told him where he could stick his flogger…

    “In very simple terms, I want you to want to please me,” he says softly. His voice is hypnotic.
“How do I do that?” My mouth is dry, and I wish I had more wine. Okay, I understand the pleasing bit, but I am puzzled by the soft-boudoir Elizabethan-torture setup.

"Quiet Submissive" Image courtesy of Doomsday Dawn via Deviant Art

And then the scene is set and Christian shows her exactly what he expects of her. He brings her around and points out fun things like where her room will be (Friday through Sunday), where his room will be and the fact that the won’t have any sort of relationship out of the whole dominant submissive routine. It really is such a bummer, but through the whole thing, he gives her little tidbits…makes her think that he might want more even though he’s saying that he only wants a certain thing.

Typical male…so while he is mentioning contracts, separate sleeping arrangements, fucking only, he also says other things to confuse Ana and make her HOPE:

“Anastasia, I’ve told you. There’s something about you. I can’t leave you alone.” He smiles ironically. “I’m like a moth to a flame.”

But, of course, before they can go any further…they have to go over the Rules. I’m not going to go into them in detail. But it’s a lot of Dominant does this, Submissive does that…Dominant says this, submissive, wears this, eats this, exercises this way…we are introduced to Hard Limits and Soft Limits.

It’s quite an eye opener, especially for a girl of Ana’s experience and then Christian is so clinical about it. That is until the revelation comes out, when he asks her details about what she likes and doesn’t like:

“You’re a virgin?” he breathes. I nod, flushing again. He closes his eyes and looks to be counting to ten. When he opens them again, he’s angry, glaring at me.

Ready to move on to Chapter 8 of Fifty Shades of Grey?

Right off the bat it is obvious he’s going to drag her away and boink her…but of course we have to find out why she’s a virgin…and get another S.A.T. word!

My subconscious has reared her somnambulant head.

And that subconscious of hers has decided to come up for air just in time for Christian to so romantically sweep Ana off her feet:

“Come,” he murmurs.

“What?”

“We’re going to rectify the situation right now.”

“What do you mean? What situation?”

“Your situation. Ana, I’m going to make love to you, now.”

Now isn’t that romantic?

Well, there goes the fact that he doesn’t make love. Christian, you sure know how to give a girl mixed signals! But, of course Ana is ready and willing and full of her usual:

I flush…oh my…wishes do come true.

And what follows is a sexy, but rather tame love scene that you can read in most romance novels. With a startling revelation for Ana at the end of it that, well, more of her usual absurdity…

Oh my. That was extraordinary. Now I know what all the fuss is about.

Light Bulb! <– sound effects

And more sex…and some more. It’s like quick bursts of multiple orgasms….

Ana wakes to find him playing the piano, another ‘Twilight’ companion scene and there is a very warm exchange between the two of them. Christian has just given Ana the biggest lead on that she could ever hope for. Even after that he joins her in bed…something that he also said he never does. It gives Ana the impression that he cares more for her than the other women he’s had as his subs. She’s also glimpsed a part of him that he keeps hidden and bottled up, its one of the first clues that Christian Grey is not a happy person, no matter how much wealth or toys he has. Granted from his lifestyle, most could probably guess that happiness was few and far between in his life, but Ana and her inexperience will take awhile to figure it out.

I still haven’t figured out why I like these books. Especially as I do these recaps. Even the parts that I’ve marked as my own little “oh mys” on reread, I’m all like “huh?” It is crack. You know it’s bad for you…but you keep sucking on that glass pipe. *Sigh*

You know you want to buy the book and support the cause!!

Content copyright 2011 Parajunkee's View. Original content taken from > Parajunkee's View> Fifty Shades of Grey Read Along Chapter 7 & 8

New Fiction Releasing May 15, 2012

Because none of us have enough books to read! It looks like it’s a YA kind of day…

A Confusion of Princes by Garth Nix Publisher: HarperCollins YA Fantasy	Bad Girls Don’t Die: As Dead as It Gets by Katie Alender Publisher: Hyperion Book CH YA Fantasy	The Mask of Destiny by Newsome & Duddle (illustrations) Publisher: Walden Pond Press Middle Grade Fantasy

Content copyright 2011 Parajunkee's View. Original content taken from > Parajunkee's View> Books Releasing May 15, 2012

PJV Quickie: This little paranormal romance reader is not faring well by reading the classics.

Review

My experiment is over. I think I shall just stick to current reads, because going back and hitting all the first in the series is not working well for me. I know I’m going to have to duck for this one, but Gena Showalter’s first Lords of the Underworld book, ‘The Darkest Night’ just left me confused and in need of a shower.

The hero, the overbearing, Maddox, is our first Lord and a bit on the tragic side. Left to die every night by being stabbed by his buddies, he goes to Hell each night and then rises in the morning to start again. His curse, placed on him by the gods, because he killed Pandora. The heroine, the also somewhat tragic Ashlyn has a curse of her own, she can hear everything that people have said in one spot at any given time. With the masses of people, you can see where that gets a bit on the insanity inducing side.

Marvelous plot set-up and world creation, fabulous writing as only Showalter can do, but the characters were horrendous. All of these boys were just straight up beasts, beating and breaking and screwing and then rather ignorant, expect the Plague guy, he seemed to have a bit of smarts. They would just barrel through scenes, ripping a part things as they went. No wonder they had a league of crazies trying to kill them. Even though I didn’t get the point of that either, since if they killed these men their demons would get out and wreak havoc on the world. Did they not get that memo?

Then there was Ashlynn, who was like this little child, she spent the majority of the book either clinging to Maddox or vomiting. Really, two-thirds of the book she is in his room, waiting for Tylenol to cure her poisoning (yup) and clinging to him when he is there — until finally something happens and she shifts into this strong character and the book goes to it’s sudden climax. Literally and figuratively.

Look, this book is loved by most that read it, so obviously I’m in the minority on this, but there is so much better more well-rounded characters out there. This is what I consider the old-school take on PNR. That Alpha man that is six-foot ten, huge everything, busting skulls, but still making-love like a gentle giant, who meets the delicate flower, virginal heroine, who at first cowers at her big supernatural mate — but then succumbs to his straight-up sex-appeal and forgives him for murdering the whole village where she grew up. Sorry, I’m ranting, but stuff like this isn’t for me. I’m more of an Alpha meets Alpha and they beat each other senseless until they end up having sex sort of PNR fan. Bring that on, any suggestions folks?

Recommendations:

Recommended for fans of paranormal romance and Showalter’s writing. There are some very steamy scenes, along with violence and language so adults only.

Like This, Like That

Night Pleasures by Sherrilyn Kenyon
A Hunger Like No Other (Immortals After Dark, Book 1) by Kresley Cole

Content copyright 2011 Parajunkee's View. Original content taken from > Parajunkee's View> Review: ‘The Darkest Night’ by Gena Showalter

We have now made it to Christian Grey’s Bed!

Hallelujah!

Well his hotel room. And we now begin the slow descent into Christian Grey’s fucked up world.

Odd Obsession #1: His preoccupation with eating.

Christian gives Ana hell for not eating the night before, and actually gets rather mad about it.

     “Are you going to continue to scold me?”
“Is that what I’m doing?”
“I think so.”
“You’re lucky I’m just scolding you.”
“What do you mean?”
“Well, if you were mine, you wouldn’t be able to sit down for a week after the stunt you pulled yesterday. You didn’t eat, you got drunk, you put yourself at risk.”

The food obsessions are everywhere — especially in the beginning, that first breakfast when he orders her the whole breakfast menu!

Also, now I’m going to start a new thing called spot “S.A.T. WORD”, because from this point on they pop up everywhere:

Ana: “That’s very profligate of you,” I murmur, bewildered by the choice, though I am hungry.

Profligate – recklessly extravagant…hmm learn a new word every chapter.

During breakfast, the anxiety is now amped up to the max, you know they just want to tear their clothes off and boink right on the counter. But — we can’t play that game with controlling Christian. Because of this Ana and Christian make a date for that night after she goes to work and there is some references to paperwork. Yup, paperwork and the fact that they can’t progress until she’s signed the paperwork! He’s actually going to fly her in a helicopter to Seattle, just so she can sign said paperwork. And then they can boink. Speaking of extravagant. This makes Ana even more self-conscious about the difference between the two of them. But, she is very excited now and I believe she has made up her mind that it is time to pop her cherry and Christian is going to be Mr. Lucky (after the paperwork of course). She hasn’t quite picked up on all of his possessive and controlling behavior and how it will translate into a relationship, or from what I can tell she just doesn’t care. Ladies…if your potential dates act the way Christian is acting with Ana — run for the hills! But, like anything, stuff like this is learned through dating different people and finding out what is GOOD and what is BAD. That is my dating advice 101…

Even with the oodles of warning signs, Christian is so damned sexy, which is probably why Ana is very much looking past his crazy behavior…especially with all the tension and the anxiety, especially in elevators.

Let’s talk about Christian’s next obsession now, Ana and her habit of biting her bottom lip:

I bite my lip.

“Oh, fuck the paperwork,” he growls. He lunges at me, pushing me against the wall of the elevator. Before I know it, he’s got both of my hands in one of his in a viselike grip above my head, and he’s pinning me to the wall using his hips. Holy shit.

But, this display of affection leads to more WOWs from Ana, like she just can’t believe that a man like him would want a reject like herself. I’m starting to realize this girl has a bit of self-esteem issue and a crazy penchant for saying Oh my. Being of sound self-esteem and mind I usually lack respect for characters of this sort, but I’ll give Ana some cred and hope that she gains it through the book:

Oh my…He wants me. Christian Grey, Greek god, wants me, and I want him, here…now, in the elevator.

And while the critic in me is screaming to rip it to shreds, I have to admit the whole thing was certainly very hot.

Moving on to Chapter Six of Fifty Shades of Grey

Exiting the elevator and entering into another ‘Twilight’ reference, which is Christian Grey’s obsession with Audis, he has like five of them. He drives her back to her home and in the midst of the drive makes more cryptic comments to the fact that he has weird relationship issues.

“What happened in the elevator—it won’t happen again, well, not unless it’s premeditated.”

Talk about control issues!

Then, he takes her directly to her house, without her showing him the way, so it’s obvious he has her completely stalked. WARNING SIGNS (click here for vague humorous associations). Between the cell-phone trace from the bar and now the fact he knows where she lives…something like this would worry me. But, our dear Ana is all-obsessing over if he will kiss her again, not if he has her house bugged.

I forgot to mention that there is also a side romance playing out with Kate and Elliot, Christian’s brother. He seems to be a Grey that has his head on straight – from what you can tell. Ana returns to her apartment and finds that Elliot has made himself comfortable and hooked up with Kate. They are quite engrossed in each other and Ana becomes immediately jealous of their behavior as a couple. And it’s true, her thoughts, why can’t Christian kiss her like Elliot kisses Kate? Why must everything be premeditated and off the wall?

Yet, as he leaves he does copy his brother and shows a little bit of humanness…

He tucks a stray strand of my hair that has worked it’s way free from my ponytail…

… “Laters, baby,” he murmurs.

That would be a swoon moment.

But, then off to more mundane work and anticipation of the night, with much preparation by Kate and Ana to be perfectly shaved and prepped in case they will be doing the deed.

Personally I was thinking, she’s going to work a whole shift in a hardware store, how prepped can she get? Talk about crotch sweat, on your feet all day long in a hot hardware store! But, whatevs that is just in my head. I guess she wet-whiped in the bathroom before he picked her up promptly at eight and then whisked her to his BIG BIRD, then even BIGGER apartment.

Again Ana is in awe of his wealth and extravagance. Crystal glasses, baby grand piano and sweeping views of the city. It’s like Pretty Woman, but instead of a whore, she’s a virgin.

Ana finally asks him about the books and why he sent her two copies of Tess.

   “It seemed appropriate. I could hold you to some impossibly high ideal like Angel Clare or debase you completely like Alec d’Urberville,” he murmurs, and his eyes flash dark and dangerous.

“If there are only two choices, I’ll take the debasement.” I whisper, gazing at him.

This is where my subconscious screams with her own, because if I’m not mistaken, didn’t Alec d’Urberville rape the heroine? Fun! We can all aspire to get raped (sarcasm).

Yet, Ana is all about Christian. She is even willing to sign his nondisclosure agreement, without even reading it. She knows what he is going to reveal is bad, but she’s ready for it. She is craving it. This whole time, I’m rebelling against Ana doing all this, but the book is still compelling me on, wanting to know what happens next, making me read and I’m still all into the Christian/Ana dynamic, it works, even though I think she is making a BIG mistake. DON’T do it chick! No, he is like Psycho 101! Ok fine, he’s hot! Have sex so I can read about it…I’m like a walking advertisement for bipolar, I can imagine what our little virgin would be feeling.

After she signs she literally looks him in the eye and asks if he is going to make love to her tonight, which he horrendously replies:

“No, Anastasia, it doesn’t. First, I don’t make love. I fuck…hard. Second, there’s a lot more paperwork to do. And third, you don’t yet know what you’re in for. You could still run for the hills. Come, I want to show you my playroom.”

After that there is some dumb comment from her, which literally had me rolling my eyes:

“You want me to play on your Xbox?”

WTF? I kind of lost any remaining respect for her character right there…but I want to see the playroom. C’mon…show me the playroom. *chanting* Playroom…playroom…playroom…

“Just open the damn door, Christian.”

My sentiments, exactly.

Taking a deep breath I walk in.

And it feels like I’ve time-traveled back to the sixteenth century and the Spanish Inquisition.

Holy fuck.

And to see visual representation – there are people that actually create The Sims pictures to correlate with the scenes. Yes, I know. Check it out.

But, other than the fact that I’m all agog over the fact that people take pictures of their Sim lives and post on Tumblr, I’m actually rather pleased with the book. I’m in that happy pre-coital moment in a romance where I know it is just about to happen…I hope it’s good! Even though I still have reservations about Christian’s issues.  Because let’s face it, you come to the realization after dating for a bit, that you can’t really change a man. Only a man can change himself and it usually comes with age or prescription meds, maybe a traumatic event….those sort of things. But, a woman alone, might get a man to stop boinking every girl that moves, or he might stop only stocking his fridge with Pabst Blue Ribbon, but their base nature will remain intake and it might get even worse as they become more comfortable in a relationship. But, I guess that is why women like romance, because even though they know it’s probably not true, one can only fucking hope that maybe some girl out there will stumble into THAT man…that man that we all only dream about.

Christian Grey is going to need a lot of prescription meds to work through his control issues and become THAT man.

XOXO Laters, baby…

Support this Junkee — if you are thinking about buying Fifty or another book, click my associate links. No books will be harmed, only purchased with the money made…

Content copyright 2011 Parajunkee's View. Original content taken from > Parajunkee's View> Fifty Shades of Grey Read Along Chapter 5 & 6

PJV Quickie: You can’t get any better than this! Apocalypse, shifters, magic, sexy-time…

Review

Written by the powerhouse author team Ann Aguirre and Carrie Lofty, Ellen Connor is the combination of Ellen Ripley and Sarah Connor, two of the most powerful women of science fiction. Lofty and Aguirre strove to embody these strong women in their Dark Age Dawning novels and … They Achieved It.

Darkly compelling, ‘Nightfall’ begins with a sudden onslaught of adrenaline and doesn’t let go. The hero, Mason is larger than life and his heroine is ten times more.  I was in love with both of them from the beginning and their transition, fight for survival and fall into love didn’t disappoint. I can’t stop shouting about this book. It’s a must read and warmed my end-of-the-world loving heart.

Apocalypse, Demon Dogs, Shifters, Magic – it’s like a paranormal junkees cup-o-tea.

It all begins with a promise. A promise made by Mason, to protect Jenna when the apocalypse strikes. The promise leads to him kidnapping her and bringing Jenna to a cabin in the woods, where they are almost immediately inundated with dogs that stink of death and their eyes hold a canny intelligence.  They are intent to feed, to destroy and kill anything that they come across. A new age has come, a Dark Age, one where those that don’t shift turn inside out and magic has a new foundation in people’s lives.

‘Nightfall’ is a must read in my estimation and one of the best books I’ve read all year.

Recommendations:

Recommended for fans of apocalypse fiction and paranormal romance. There are some very steamy scenes, so adults only.

Like This, Like That

‘Aftertime’ by Sophie Littefield
‘Darkfever’ by Karen Marie Moning

Content copyright 2011 Parajunkee's View. Original content taken from > Parajunkee's View> Review: Nightfall by Ellen Connor

Here is my gift to you…a laugh.

Content copyright 2011 Parajunkee's View. Original content taken from > Parajunkee's View> Happy Mother’s Day – A Video To Brighten Yours!

EL James left me in sort of a tizzy at the end of Chapter 3.  Ana was all like “Kiss me” and Christian was all like — “are all your limbs in place?”

Will they kiss?? **waiting with bated breath***

Then I’m all like disappointed with Christian’s evil teasingness and then his cryptic phrases:

“Anastasia, you should steer clear of me. I’m not the man for you,” he whispers.

Puh-lease Christian…thanks for dashing our dear heroines hope and left her feeling insecure. Men! Ana rushes home, tear-a-pouring and has to deal with Kate the Inquisitor, which leads to some Ana side-stepping and lying. The guy already has her lying to her friends and they haven’t even kissed yet! Kate does try to talk her into the fact that Christian is hot for Ana but she is just not feeling it and we are left with a lot of self-doubting and weird dreams.

Tess of the d’Urbevilles, First Edition. There were 1000 printed and copies in good condition are estimated at about 4K

The next day is Ana’s final exam and the end of her college career. It is also the day she receives Christian’s first extravagant present. Ana has quite an obsession with classic English literature, especially, Tess of the d’Urbevilles, which James “sort of” uses as a road map for Christian and Ana’s relationship. Much like ‘Twilight’ used ‘Wuthering Heights’ references.

The first editions are charming for Ana, but she knows she can’t accept such gifts. But, not tonight. Tonight is for celebrating — so Kate and Ana venture out to do some drinking for a college career well-done. Drinking, does lead to a loss of inhibitions and a bit of drunk dialing…

Ana: I giggle. I have no idea what the time is; maybe I’ll wake him. Perhaps he can tell me why he sent me those books and the cryptic message. If he wants me to stay away, he should leave me alone. I suppress a drunken grin and hit the “call” button. He answers on the second ring.

“Anastasia?” he’s surprised to hear from me.

But drunk Ana didn’t realize the scope of Christians protective streak and her drunk dialing ends with him rushing to the bar to her rescue. Can’t be drunk in public because it might lead to frisky friends name Jose trying to put the moves on her outside the bar just in time for him to witness it.

“Jose, no,” I plead. I don’t want this. You are my friend, and I think I’m going to throw up.

“I think the lady said no,” a voice in the dark says quietly. Holy shit! Christian Grey , he’s here. How? Jose releases me.

“Grey,” he says tersely. I glance anxiously up at Christian. He’s glowering at Jose, and he’s furious. Crap. My stomach heaves, and I double over, my body no longer able to tolerate the alcohol, and I vomit spectacularly on to the ground.

It was a strangely crafted scene, but it did have a fab outcome of Ana puking all over the place and Christian holding her hair — now that is love. Then some dancing…which really after a bout of spectacularly vomit, every girl feels like getting her boogie on. Dance dance, Christian can dance — whooh.

Then she passes out.

I’m a bout to pass out… and there was one quote in there, something about Ana’s mom telling her don’t trust a man who can dance — well I think mommy is wrong, unless of course you want to end up with some guy who is really terrible in bed. Rhythm really has a lot to do with it *snicker*

Laters, babe. It’s the weekend, we’ll check back in with Chapter five tomorrow.

Content copyright 2011 Parajunkee's View. Original content taken from > Parajunkee's View> Fifty Shades of Grey Read Along Chapter 4

Since the massive amount of influx because of RT, my book buying and receiving is at a minimum but, heck — I’ll do a vlog — you know you want to see me again!

Check out Tynga’s Meme at Tyngasreviews.com and join in…

Content copyright 2011 Parajunkee's View. Original content taken from > Parajunkee's View> Stacking The Shelves #2

PJV QUICKIE: A very dark read with a difficult premise; not for easily offended readers.

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Review

Kiera and Denny have been dating for two years.  Now that Denny has graduated college, he’s gotten a dream job in Seattle and Kiera is transferring schools so she can finish her last two years there.  They move in with one of Denny’s best friends, Kellan.  Kellan is a musician in a popular local band, and a notorious womanizer.

All seems well at first, until Denny’s job sends him out to Arizona for a few months and he leaves Kiera behind.  While Denny is gone, Kellan and Kiera start spending time together, and there is an attraction and some flirting, but no lines have been crossed.  Denny’s calls are getting further and further apart, and then one evening Denny calls to say he’s staying in Arizona and when Kiera graduates in two years she can come out to be with him.  Kiera freaks out and breaks up with Denny on the spot.  Then, she pours her broken heart out to Kellan.  After a few drinks, they act on their attraction to each other and it’s absolutely amazing… until Denny shows up the next morning and tells Kiera he loves her and gave up the job for her.

__________________

WARNING – SPOILERS:  This book is not for the faint at heart – it’s dark and angsty and the hero/heroine cheat on the heroine’s boyfriend.  If you don’t think you would enjoy this type of story, I’m not going to encourage you to try it.  BUT, if you’re looking for something a little different, a story that tests your own personal reading boundaries, this might be the book for you.  By the very nature of their deception, it felt wrong to want a HEA for this couple, but I did.

You know how much I love stories with an internal conflict – no bombs or mysteries, only character interaction creating the conflict, so Thoughtless fit that niche for me.  I liked the setting and secondary characters, especially the band.  I felt like I was sitting in class with Kiera, or  hanging out in the smoky bar with the band.  It’s good storytelling, if a bit long.

As much as I’d like to hate them, Kiera’s boyfriend Denny was not without his own issues. He had a tendency to make decisions without talking to Kiera first and expecting her to accommodate him, which led to the turning point in the story.  Would Kiera and Kellan have embarked on a physical relationship if Denny hadn’t made that decision?  Was the relationship Kiera and Kellan had before that cheating if there was no sex?

For as much as I liked this book, there were a few negatives – I found Kiera to be annoying and wishy-washy a lot.  She’s also a crier.  (I told you – lots of angst in this one, lol).  Kellan is pretty much a man-whore but I really liked him *winks*.  The way he handled himself after Denny came back was painful to read.

I have to add, that for some reason, this book kind of reminded me of Twilight – if you added a band, sex, and infidelity, and took out the sparkles and fangs.  Why?  It’s set in Washington State, Kiera was so ‘innocent’, she blushed a lot, didn’t know her own beauty, and didn’t see what Kellen or Denny saw in her.  Kellan chuckled a lot, had a perfectly sculpted body, and women of all ages could not help staring at him and hitting on him.

I recently finished the follow-up to this book, Effortless.  I really enjoyed it, and think after you finish Thoughtless you’ll be wanting to know what happens next.

Recommendations:

Romance readers who enjoy reading high emotions, college-aged characters, some pretty good “angry sex” scenes, and who don’t give up on heroes/heroines with serious faults.

Like This, Like That:

Beautiful Disaster by Jamie McGuire

Rock Hard by Olivia Cunning

Content copyright 2011 Parajunkee's View. Original content taken from > Parajunkee's View> Romancing the Weekends – Thoughtless by S.C. Stephens

This is a ‘Fifty Shades of Grey’ read along, posted as I read the book. There will be tons of spoilers…and a lot of naughty talk…if you’ve read the book, please join the discussion, if you haven’t read it already, be warned.

Chapter 2 is broken up into weird choppy scenes, which are rather unnecessary. They could have just been eluded to. I can understand now why people were thrown off by the time they made it this far, since Chapter 1 started off so strong.  Makes me wonder how many times James rewrote the first chapter. I can already imagine how Christian and Ana will be reacquainted – will he be visiting her hardware store for some pulleys and leather straps??

On a personal note, Ana’s mother reminds me of my own mother, which is fun. Latest money making schemes and husbands/boyfriends. “Hi mom! XOXO” Then off to seeing how man times James can use besieged…

What happened? Chapter One was great, where did that flow go? I feel like I’m in a Sookie book and she won’t leave the damn garden..c’mon you know what I’m talking about.

Oh. Oh! Ouch!

Ok, I’ll stop my complaining – they meet again at the end when he shows up in her Hardware store. I guess it’s not pulleys (which is what I predicted earlier) but cable ties – I have to go Google what that is!

From all the finger zapping is one of them going to turn out to be a vampire or witch? I hadn’t heard that, but you never know, right? Would explain his need for dominance, those pesky vampires are always trying to exert their control over the lesser species.

By the end of the chapter I think I have it figured out. It’s the interaction between Christian and Ana that is so very powerful, that when they are not in a scene together the book just flounders. In the last part of the chapter it is all anxiety filled and I’m holding my breath because I have no idea what is going to happen.

“What is your thing, Anastasia?” he asks, his voice soft, and his secret smile is back. I gaze at him, unable to express myself. I’m on shifting tectonic plates. Try to be cool, Ana, my tortured subconscious begs on bended knee.

“Books,” I whisper, but inside, my subconscious is screaming: You! You are my thing! I slap it down instantly, mortified that my psyche is having ideas way out of its league.

Maybe he was hoping she wore this to work?

So, I’m wondering, did he come to that hardware store because he knows she worked there?  And now with the looming photo shoot and third meeting, we know why James introduced us to Jose – which I’m guessing will be the photographer and the reason for Christian to maybe get a bit possessive. This is all me speculating though because it would be obvious plot devices.

“Good. Until tomorrow, perhaps.” He turns to leave, then pauses. “Oh–and Anastasia, I’m glad Miss Kavanagh couldn’t do the interview.” He smiles, then strides with renewed purpose out of the store, slinging the plastic bag over his shoulder, leaving me a quivering mass of raging female hormones. I spend several minutes staring at the closed door through which he’s just left before I return to planet Earth.

   Okay–I like him.

We are now entering Chapter 3..

While James has this odd habit of breaking up a chapter into weird scenes, which I don’t like, what I do like is that she sure does know how to leave you hanging at the end of one.

I’m still wondering if Grey is stalking her…probably. Kate is smart too…

Kate: “But what was he doing at Clayton’s?” Her curiosity oozes through the phone. I’m in the depths of the stockroom, trying to keep my voice casual.

“He was in the area.”

Yeah right…(that’s my thoughts LOL)

Yet, by this point I’ve kind of had enough of the flushing/blushing…the girl is going to need to beef up on her iron pills if all the blood stays in her cheeks.

Ana: “Oh, kate, you know I blush all the time. It’s an occupational hazard with me. Don’t be ridiculous,” I snap. She blinks at me with surprise–I very rarely have hissy fits–and I briefly relent. “I just find him … intimidating, that’s all.”

For the photo-shoot, I did hit the nail on the head with the Jose photographer gig, but they didn’t get all testosteronie filled in a boy standoff, that is probably just me reading too many paranormal romances. But, a girl can hope. Nothing sexier than two men growling over each other. So, I’m assuming Jose is supposed to be Jacob at this point?

In chapter 3, instead of the usual anxiety, James has returned us to a clipped style of writing again with little explanation. That telling instead of showing technique which can get very bothersome in novels. I’ve also realized that Ana is trading in a dominant female (Kate) for a dominant male (Christian). Not a big Kate fan.  There is not a lot of the inner monologue that I liked so much in regards to Ana in these chapters. It has gone from more of a witty, self-deprecating humor to, “OMG I can’t believe he’s looking at me, OMG I can’t believe I’m having coffee with him, OMG he smells like expensive stuff…Christian Grey, Christian Grey, Christian Grey”

Ana: I am going to have coffee with Christian Grey…and I hate coffee.

As far as things that stand out in these chapters …the fact that she used “Keen” in a sentence.

Ana: “I’m not keen on coffee.”

He got a leaf in his coffee which distracted me and made me think of the Green Hornet movie and the fact that I always wanted someone to make me a cappuccino with a leaf in it, so I must investigate local coffee shops…and then she almost gets run over by a wayward bicyclist. Cue the ‘Twilight’ comparisons again in my head. But these comparisons are so slight it’s only because I’m looking for them.

That ‘Carrier of the Mark’ book wasn’t fanfic and you could line it up with ‘Twilight’ and the only differences you would find would be the character names…

It all happens so fast –one minute I’m falling, the next I’m in his arms and hes’ holding me tightly against his chest. I inhale his clean, wholesome scent. He smells of freshly laundered line and some expensive body wash. It’s intoxicating. I inhale deeply.

Content copyright 2011 Parajunkee's View. Original content taken from > Parajunkee's View> Fifty Shades of Grey Read Along Chapter 2 & 3

Welcome to the Twitter & Facebook Hop on Parajunkee’s View.

Today we are linking up our Facebook Fan Pages & our Twitter accounts so we can earn more followers and likes. Social networks are an integral way to get more exposure for your blog, so click away!

Rules To Participate

• As a courtesy please follow & like your host — me Parajunkee!
• When you follow or like someone @ them and let them know so they can follow back
• Be nice about it! Don’t just send the same message over and over again!
• Leave a comment and tell me if this meme is a keeper.
• As a courtesy if someone follows you be sure to follow back.
• You can use the icon above for your Facebook fan page. This is a place people can commend and Like so you know to follow back.
• Have fun!

********** Please Remember *********

1. This is for Facebook FAN pages – not your friend account, like with your Friend account, but list your Fan pages!
2. This is also not for your Blogs – if you want to add your blog – please join the #FF Hop

Content copyright 2011 Parajunkee's View. Original content taken from > Parajunkee's View> Social Hop #21

Welcome to the Feature & Follow

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Gain new followers and make new friends with the Book Blogger Feature & Follow! If this is your first time here, welcome! You are about to make some new friends and gain new followers — but you have to know — the point of this hop is to follow other bloggers also. I follow you, you follow me.

The Feature & Follow is hosted by TWO hosts, Parajunkee of Parajunkee’s View and Alison of Alison Can Read. Each host will have their own Feature Blog and this way it’ll allow us to show off more new blogs!

How does this work? First you leave your name here on this post, (using the linky tools — keep scrolling!) then you create a post on your own blog that links back to this post (easiest way is to just grab the code under the #FF picture and put it in your post) and then you visit as many blogs as you can and tell them “hi” in their comments (on the post that has the #FF image). You follow them, they follow you. Win. Win. Just make sure to follow back if someone follows you!

What sets this Hop apart from others, is our Feature. Each week we will showcase a Featured Blogger, from all different genres and areas. Who is our Feature today? Find out below. Just remember it is required, if you participate, to follow our Features and you must follow the hosts (Parajunkee & Alison Can Read) as a courtesy. How do you follow someone? Well, if you have a preference, state it in your #FF post. A lot of blogs are transitioning to WordPress in which they do not have the luxury of GFC, so an RSS subscription is appreciated or if you choose an email subscription. If you don’t have GFC please state in your post how you would like to be followed.

This week starts the first week of the Random Feature Choice…and with the new set-up we’ll be doing something different with mini interviews. Keeping things fresh.

Our Feature – The Fake Steph Dot Com

When did you start blogging?
My blog has been around since 2008, but I started posting semi-regularly in 2010 and it wasn’t until 2011 that I found the book blogging community.  2012 is really when I fell in love with blogging, so even though my blog has been around for a while, most of the time I still feel like a new blogger.

What is your favorite part of book blogging?
Easily the best part of book blogging has been meeting other bloggers.  It’s amazing to know people who love books as much as I do and I’ve been able to translate a few of those blogging connections into real world friendships.  A close second is that I’m now more willing to read outside my comfort zone.  I’ve read and loved so many books that I might have completely missed if it weren’t for other book bloggers.

What is your favorite book(s)?
Right now my favorite book is The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater.  I seriously can’t stop talking about it.  Other than that, I love: The Great Gatsby, Harry Potter, Paper Towns, and The Confessions of Georgia Nicholson.

What has been the best thing that has happened to you because of book blogging?
The best thing that has happened to me because of book blogging is meeting other bloggers.  I actually got together with two other Virginia bloggers for Dewey’s 24 hour readathon this year and it was so much fun.  It was a completely different experience from doing the readathon alone and only interacting online.

Q: This Sunday in the U.S. is Mother’s Day, in celebration, what are some of your favorite books with strong mother/child relationships?

Justine & Cat, from the Night Huntress series (if you haven’t figured it out yet, this has to be one of my favorite series) — makes me laugh. That is like the sickest mother and daughter relationship in print. Or at least the one that I can remember. I don’t read a lot of heart warming, bondy type books — so I’m going with the most demented and Justine takes the cake.First, she forces Cat to hunt down vampires and tells her she is evil all the time. But, still Cat stands by her mother even though she semi-hates her.

 

Also, if you want more hop madness, Jen over at Crazy for Books restarted her Book Blogger Hop!

We have a new button, so update your blogs if you are used to doing this meme!

<a href="http://parajunkee.com/category/ff" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7053/6778552714_5a75be99b4_o.jpg" /></a>

RULES

To join the fun and make new book blogger friends, just follow these simple rules:

• (Required) Follow the Follow My Book Blog Friday Hosts {Parajunkee & Alison Can Read}
• (Required) Follow our Featured Bloggers
• Put your Blog name & URL in the Linky thing. You can also grab the code if you would like to insert it into your posts.
• Grab the button up there and place it in a post, this post is for people to find a place to say “hi” in your comments and that they are now following you.
• If you are using WordPress or another CMS that doesn’t have GFC (Google Friends Connect) state in your posts how you would like to be followed
• Follow Follow Follow as many as you can, as many as you want, or just follow a few. The whole point is to make new friends and find new blogs. Also, don’t just follow, comment and say hi. Another blogger might not know you are a new follower if you don’t say “HI”
• If someone comments and says they are following you, be a dear and follow back. Spread the Love…and the followers
• If you’re new to the follow friday hop, comment and let me know, so I can stop by and check out your blog!

Happy Follow Friday! Come back at midnight CST for the Facebook & Twitter hop!!

Content copyright 2011 Parajunkee's View. Original content taken from > Parajunkee's View> Feature & Follow #96

This post will contain spoilers.

My preconceived  thoughts before even reading a page of this books are that one, this is a very naughty novel. Two, it supposed to be ‘Twilight’ fan-fiction according to this GalleyCat article. Three, the editing is supposed to be poor and four, there are supposed to be a lot of Brit sayings even though it is based in the States. I’m willing to look past all those…

My first thought is that the speech and writing is very formal.  Here is an example on the 2nd page, where Ana is thinking about her friend Kate, “She’s articulate, strong, persuasive, argumentative, beautiful – and she’s my dearest, dearest friend.” But I’m instantly taken in by the inner struggle with Anastasia’s fear of doing the interview but the loyalty she has for her friend.

Besides the locale the first bit of Twihard culpability rears its head with the fact that Ana is quite clumsy. She literally tumbles into Grey’s office and curses her clumsiness.

“I push open the door and stumble through, tripping over my own feet and failling headfirst into the office.
Double crap–me and my two left feet!”

I already find Ana likeable because of this though. She’s rather hard on herself, a loner and not one to fit in well, but I seem to be enjoying her inner snark. The Blonde One & Blonde Two references crack me up, even though it is rather banal, but corporate drones crack me up.

The second obvious Edwardness rears it’s head right after Ana’s clumsiness with the description of “long-fingered” “copper-colored hair”(ed), Christian Grey. Yet, that is where the ‘Twilight’ comparisons really end for me. Christian while enigmatic like our favorite sparkly vampire is much more, well Alpha. This is the powerful version of that particular character, if this is how he was meant to be crafted. If Edward were a man, so-to-speak instead of a 17/100 year old virgin, I’m guessing he could might be Christian Grey.

Overall I liked the interaction between the two characters. Anastasia was a bit awkward, but it was endearing to me instead of aggravating and pitying. And I loved how they called each other by their first names in goodbyes at the end. Almost like a challenge. Can’t wait for Chapter Two…

My favorite parts:

Grey: “I have varied interests, Miss Steele.” A ghost of a smile touches his lips. “Very varied.” And for some reason, I’m confounded and heated by his steady gaze. His eyes are alight with some wicked thought.

Anastasia: “I really need to get out of here. When I turn to look at him, he’s gazing at me and leaning against the doorway beside the elevator with one hand on the wall. He really is very, very good-looking. It’s unnerving.

“‘Anastasia,’ he says as a farewell.
“‘Christian,’ I reply. And mercifully, the doors close.”

As you can tell from the quotes, not the best of writing, but the character interplay is well done. And Chapter One was a keeper.

Content copyright 2011 Parajunkee's View. Original content taken from > Parajunkee's View> Fifty Shades of Grey Read Along Chapter One

Topic #1: Copying & Pasting another bloggers policies

Topic #2: Meme Mockery is it Plagiarism or an Etiquette Issue?

How about it readers? What would you do if you found your Review Policy copied word for word on another blogger’s blog? This happened to a friend of mine and she asked me if it was something that she should worry about.

My response. “Um yeah.”

Let us go over what is not protected under copyright law, I actually gathered this information from plagiarism.org¹:

1. Widely known facts and figures, i.e. Earth is a planet, seven seas, etc.
2. Mass distributed compilations of information
3. U.S. Government published information
4. Public Domain with proper citation

Your personal review policy, FTC disclaimer, giveaway/privacy policy, is it public domain? It’s not widely known facts (your review policy is not common knowledge to me!), it’s not published in a compilation, like a phone book or something and unless you are redistributing government policy info it wouldn’t fall within those lines. Therefor those words that you wrote out for your policies are your own and as such, protected under copyright. Technically. You might not care as much, but if it’s your own words, it should not be redistributed and painted as their own.

After a very heated discussion with the blogger that had her policy ripped we came to the conclusion, that 1) the blogger that copy and pasted her review policy was foolish, especially in light of recent events and 2) it was the offending blogger’s responsibility to remove the policy and replace it with her own original text

It, luckily, was removed, with of course some lame excuse in lines of “The Dog actually posted it instead of me, because he knows HTML and I don’t.” But, the end result was a desired one and now we can all learn from this.

What did I learn? To check my own policy. Guess what? Google was stock full of my words all over the place. It was so much that I doubted myself. Did I inadvertently rewrite something common? It does make you think, because yes it is POLICY and there are going to be a ton of similar phrases. There is only so many ways you can say “I accept books in exchange for an honest review”.

But, it was my writing. It had my OWN spin on a common thought. The FTC Disclaimer was the big one, so much so, that I had to email multiple recipients…because it was the whole thing, not just parts…and you can’t claim coincidence on a whole paragraph.

“On checking my blog for possible discrepancies, it has come to my attention that we all seem to have the same exact FTC Disclaimer…”

I thought hard before I sent that email, I really did. It’s an FTC Disclaimer! Again — what is the big deal? And really everyone has something similar. Yet, again though, I had my own spin on. My bit of humor that I like to weave into everything I write. I used big words like “bribery or cajoling” (I was proud of it). It might not be as dastardly as taking someone’s review…but to copy and paste anything is really not a good practice to participate in.

My main reaction from the bloggers, besides the one that claimed pure innocence and coincidence, was that they didn’t think taking Policy and Disclaimers was wrong. They figured it is just policies, it’s like re-posting Pool Rules or something. Which can be true if they were common facts and rules. Say, if you were reciting copyright laws or the FTCs actual rule.

The main rule of thumb when crafting anything for your blog, no matter how small – put it into your own words and if you are gathering information from somewhere, cite that information. The only times you don’t have to cite your sources is if it’s a compilation of works — like say new releases that you gathered from publisher’s sites.

Just say no to Copy & Paste

Use other blogs as inspiration not as your actual source. If you use their policies as a go-by – email them and let them know, as their permission – because even if you rewrite their words, but have it set up similar you might be stepping into an etiquette issue if they stumble upon it and make assumptions. In this case it is not easier to act first and ask forgiveness later.

The memes that have popped up as alternatives to IMM (In My Mailbox) are all plagiarizing IMM, right? Hypocrites*.

This is fueled by the same argument as topic number one. But, in this argument we are talking about a concept or idea, whereas with policy it was actual copy and pasting of words and sentences.

It breaks down to one question. Can you plagiarize an idea?

You can plagiarize an expression of an idea. Technical, I know! But concepts can not be copyrighted, if not we would be stuck in the courts for everything. There would only be one fast-food chain that could sell hamburgers, or one PC. There would ever only be one vampire story. Superman would be in litigation with Wonder Woman for taking his colors, cape and hero status…

Makes sense right? So, how do you know when the expression is too close for comfort? If a claim were to be made in the courts about copyright, the courts would look at all the elements. If you couldn’t distinguish between the two, then yes, this is a plagiarized idea. Superman being a man — and Wonder woman being a woman are similar yet you can distinguish them. (They are members of the same comic family so who knows how this would go in court — but roll with me people).

The fact that people are claiming IMM is being plagiarized, well for one IMM wasn’t an original idea to begin with. The whole time IMM ran, Mailbox Monday was also running. So, that throws the whole “Original Thought or Concept” status out the window.

But, hey, let’s give IMM the benefit of the doubt. The name of “In My Mailbox” is the original part of the equation and the graphic that you display in the meme is original content.

If others were coming up with memes like My Mailbox or similar titles, with a similar graphic, yes I would claim that as plagiarism…but if they have original graphics, original titles…the claim of plagiarism is only to distract from the real issues. The real issue being it’s a matter of etiquette.

So, know the difference and it’ll make us all happier people. There is bad behavior and etiquette and there is actual plagiarism.

In a happy, cohesive book blogger world, if I were to create a meme called Mailbox Mayhem and pass it off as a Book Brag meme, I would probably be called on the table for being rude and thoughtless and someone already has a similar meme, but I probably would not be called a degenerate perpetrator of plagiarism (say that ten times fast!).

Yet, in light of the recent events that have led to these new creations of memes … the creators have chosen to breach the usual blog etiquette, forgoing usual niceties because their trust has been broken. Respect is lost and etiquette goes out the window. It is what it is and what it is not is theft.

And in a final summation, touting that a certain meme belongs to you is fine — “Mailbox Mayhem is hosted by Parajunkee” etc — that is your original idea. The name is the original part…the expression of the concept. If someone takes the name, then that is theft.

Burger King touts that their Whopper Jr. is a Burger King specialty. They are not claiming that they came up with the hamburger. If someone made a hamburger and sold it Burger King could care less. If someone made a hamburger and sold it is a Whopper Sr. the lawyers would descend.

It would be like me claiming that everyone that has Book Blogger Tips (no matter what they called them) on their blogs were plagiarizing my Book Blogging 101s. Would that be fair?

Also, if you think I’m just taking this stance because of my thoughts on the degenerate perpetrator of plagiarism that runs the popular meme in question — think again. Don’t believe me, check out this older BB101 on a similar topic.

A Book Blogger Easter Egg, well not really, but something that I thought was freakin’ hilarious. The former BB101 article I linked above…take a look at the last last question. Guess what blog I deleted from that grumpy anon’s statement. You betcha — it was The Story Siren. I had completely forgotten about that. I wonder what they think of her Blogging Tips now?

I can’t get to all the questions, but please ask your BB101 Questions here…bring it on.

Content copyright 2011 Parajunkee's View. Original content taken from > Parajunkee's View> Book Blogging 101: Policy Writing & Meme Rip-Offs

Content copyright 2011 Parajunkee's View. Original content taken from > Parajunkee's View> Giving in to the Fifty Shades Hype

These are books that people told me I have to read…I’m still up in the air…

This one needs no introduction, I haven’t read it yet, should I succumb to the hype?

What books are other people insisting you read??

If you want to participate in a Desperately Wanting Wednesday, you are more then welcome to join in. Here are buttons and a link-up list to leave your post URL:

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Content copyright 2011 Parajunkee's View. Original content taken from > Parajunkee's View> Desperately Wanting Wednesday: Books People Want me to Want

Please stick around for the end of the interview where Jessica will be giving away a copy of her ‘Passion Awakened’ to one lucky commenter.

Welcome to Parajunkee’s View Jessica, can you please tell our readers a little bit about your book ‘Passion Awakened’?

‘Passion Awakened’ looks very sexy, can you tell us a little bit about the main man in the series and what makes him swoon worthy?

Have you used any famous people for inspiration in regards to your character?

What do YOU thinks makes a man sexy as hell?

What are some of your favorite authors?

Passion Awakened by Jessica Lee

In the far future, humans are forced to take government-issued drugs to control their sexual urges. Creed Donovan, drug enforcer for the Federation of Americas, is on the trail of a fugitive. The chase through time has landed him in the year 2012, six hundred years into the past and in the mountains of North Carolina.

Shayla Murphy is on hiatus, working on her latest novel when her peaceful retreat turns into a hostage scene straight out of a sci-fi flick—one complete with a knife at her throat and men zapping into thin air. But when the sexy man who saves her needs a little rescue of his own, Shayla can’t kick him out. Especially after he reveals he’s from the future, his ride home stolen, and his own supply of Sustain, the drug he enforces, gone with it.

Without Sustain, Creed’s suppressed lust will soon awaken, and he’s never experienced his libido untethered. Trapped with a beautiful new roommate and on the verge of detox, he struggles to suppress the raging desire in his blood. Only God can help him survive with his mind and heart intact.

 

Passion Awakened Excerpt

She finally dragged her gaze back to the information floating in the field of light. “Sustain?” Shayla tilted her head in Creed’s direction.

“Yes.” He nodded. “Read on.”

“A hormone-based drug developed in the year 2515 for the purpose of suppression of the human libido and resulting pleasure receptors.” She glanced up from under her lashes at the man on the sofa. He sat quietly, watching her as she consumed the info and its implications. “After multiple study trials, the government found that use of the medication decreased the individual’s tendency for criminal behavior, and with the urge for sexual activity repressed, the spread of disease within the population had a noticeable decrease. For the past century, the Federation of Americas has legally mandated that every citizen of its territories be implanted with the Sustain infusion system.” This couldn’t be for real. She swallowed hard at the lump forming in the back of her throat. Nausea bloomed in her gut, swelling with each sentence that unfolded in her mind.

“Typically the system is inserted into the upper arm of the individual with an injection port readily accessible for biweekly or monthly refills.” The image below the text resembled the very thing she’d seen in Creed’s arm. Oh my God. Is that what…? No… Without conscious thought, her head shook in denial. She jerked her gaze from the display. “Are you saying this is what was destroyed in your arm?”

“Yes.”

“You’re really…” She just couldn’t form the words. They felt too ridiculous on her tongue.
“From the twenty-seventh century.”

“And this drug makes it where no one wants to…” Her palm went to her mouth, covering her lips. When had she suddenly lost the ability to finish her sentences?

“Participate in sexual activity,” he said without a flinch, as if he were talking about the desire to or not to consume steak.

Wow. She‘d been struck back to monosyllables. Her head spun on the concept of what the future held. A world without intimacy.

“Umm…” It seemed so rude, but it would kill her if she didn’t ask. “So does this mean that you have never—”

“No.” He reached out, grabbed the display from her hand, and stowed it back inside his backpack. “I’ve never had sex if that’s what you were about to ask.” His head swung back in her direction. “My job is to enforce the law of the Federation, not break the very code I’m sworn to uphold.”

“Oh. I see.” God, it blew her mind that a whole society was celibate. And that Creed Donovan, the tough alpha male who would easily be the inspiration for one of her most erotic novel creations was a virgin. Her nipples went rock hard. Damn. Why did she find that tidbit of information one of the most provocative things she’d ever heard? Heat crept up her throat and into her cheeks. She needed a distraction. Fast.

“So there’s no kind of special equipment in that bag of yours that would help you to repair your implant?” Shayla indicated the pack beside him with a wave of her hand.

“No. And even if I could, I’m out of reserves.” A guttural sound emanated from the back of his throat. One that said he was one pissed off Double T, short for time traveler. Hey, why not? She’d already deemed herself a nutcase for believing this. “A damn rookie mistake,” he went on to say. “I’d been chasing Thomas for two weeks, and I’d finally zeroed in on him. I knew I’d be heading back yesterday with the rebel in custody, so I didn’t want to lose my lead by warping back for more Sustain supplies.” He shook his head and mumbled another curse under his breath. “Not a smart move.”

“You referred to the other man, Thomas, as a rebel. What kind of rebel?”

“A Sustain rebel. He and a woman we’d already retrieved by the time I located Thomas here, had removed their implants and fled. That type of rebellion isn’t tolerated. It would set our civilization back more than a century in progress, not to mention the damage that can be done by warping through timelines unchecked.”

“And your job is to ‘retrieve’ these rebels.”

He nodded. “Yes. An enforcer.”

Shayla slowly nodded. “I take it then that when Thomas did this to you, the chosen site for the stabbing was no accident?”

“He knew exactly what he was doing,” he nearly growled, teeth bared. “He also took my time piece. Wanted me trapped here, detoxing in the twenty-first century so I can ‘appreciate’ what I’m forcing our people to live without.” He pushed from the sofa cushions, marched over to the bar, and with his back to her, spread his hands wide on the surface.

“So the fever, dizziness, and when you passed out really isn’t related to any kind of infection from the stabbing, is it?”

“I’m in withdrawal.”

Shayla’s gut tightened. “How bad is it going to get? I mean, how long before help arrives?”
“A week. Maybe two.”

Her breath hitched. If he had already experienced withdrawal symptoms… She didn’t own a medical degree, but that didn’t sound good. “What does that mean for you and what your body will go through without Sustain while you wait?”

His words barely reached above a whisper, but she heard him nevertheless, and the answer lifted the hairs on her body.

“God only knows.”

Giveaway Time

• One Comment will win a copy of Jessica Lee’s ‘Passion Awakened’
• Answer the question below for a chance to win
• Open Internationally
• This is an 18 or older giveaway
• Please don’t leave your email in the text area of the comment section, fill out the form properly
• The usual Parajunkee’s View Contest Policy rules apply
• This giveaway will run until the 11th of May, winner will be announced on the blog shortly after the giveaway ends, digital files will be delivered via email

What do YOU thinks makes a man sexy as hell?

Content copyright 2011 Parajunkee's View. Original content taken from > Parajunkee's View> Jessica Lee Interview & Giveaway