Haunted by Heather Graham

Haunted by Heather Graham - 592 pages

When she is hired by Matt Stone to examine the bizarre happenings at his historic Virginia estate, paranormal investigator Darcy Tremayne discovers that Melody House is filled with great evil, plunging her into a powerful battle between the living and the dead.

Very interesting.  Even fiction can present historical facts.

Kept by Maya Banks

Kept by Maya Banks- 310 pages

From the author of Mastered and Dominated comes the third Enforcers novel—the searing story of a woman who finds sanctuary in surrender...

He can’t change who he is...

A horrific childhood has made Silas the man he is today: dangerous, distrustful, and demanding. He’s lived in self-imposed solitude, convinced that no woman could ever accept his need for absolute control—in business and pleasure. That is, until a young violinist walks into one of his buildings and into his life.

She can’t change what she wants...

Haley has been struggling to fulfill her father’s dying wish: to attend a prestigious music school in New York City. But even working two jobs, she can’t afford the tiniest of apartments. Seeing her hopeless and near tears, Silas vows to help and protect her, no matter the cost to himself. But when Haley meets his every demand with unwavering acceptance and love, he is overwhelmed by her goodness and gentle spirit. He knows that the dark stain on his soul can never be erased—and rather than risk destroying the most beautiful thing he's ever experienced, he knows he'll have to do the hardest thing he's ever had to face. Let her go. But he's totally unprepared for the lengths Haley will go to fight for his love and a future brighter than the sun...

Reflected in You, by Sylvia Day

Reflected in You, by Sylvia Day, 338 pages

In book 2 of the Crossfire series, things are as hot and heavy as in the first novel, Bared to You.  Eva and Gideon have a pretty passionate relationship, but old jealousies and insecurities threaten to tear them apart.  What is Gideon hiding, who would attack Cary, and why can't Eva just chill out?  This is a pretty steamy read for fans of erotica, but it's also a pretty annoying read for fans of plot and sympathetic characters.

Naked Came the Stranger, by Penelope Ashe

Naked Came the Stranger, by Penelope Ashe, 255 pages

I heard about this book on NPR- it was an original book hoax.  "Penelope Ashe" was actually a group of Newsday writers who were so appalled at the bad writing in the 1960s that became bestseller just by containing sex, that they set out to write an awful book full of sex and see what would happen to it. And, naturally, it became a bestseller.

The actual story lives down to the hype- Gillian Blake is a radio personality with the perfect marriage.  But when she finds out her husband is cheating on her, she sets out to cheat on him with every man in the neighborhood- whom she also decides to ruin after conquering them.  The stories in this book were so ridiculous, and the writing so over-the-top, that it's hard to believe that anyone took it seriously.  It's fun for a laugh and for the background story, but it wasn't a book I would recommend anyone read.

Fifty Shades of Grey (series) by E.L. James

Fifty Shades of Grey - 514 pages
Fifty Shades Darker - 531 pages
Fifty Shades Freed - 579 pages

This trilogy is the story of Ana and Christian's relationship from first meeting right before Ana's college graduation to their marriage just a few months later to their first child a year later.  It includes arguments, stalking, sabotage, kidnapping, and lots of sex (kinky and vanilla).  I did not care for the first book.  I didn't think it was written very well and the characters annoyed me.  The fact that Ana thought domination and stalking were a good relationship seems creepy.  In fact, this annoyed me throughout the series.  I did however, think that the writing itself got a better as the series went.