Book Review: The Mistress by Tiffany Reisz

From Amazon.com:

There's punishment—and then there's vengeance. 

Nora Sutherlin is in handcuffs, held captive by two men. . Under different circumstances, she would enjoy the situation immensely, but her captors aren't interested in play. Or pity. 

As the reality of her impending peril unfolds, Nora becomes Scheherazade, buying each hour of her life with stories—sensual tales of Søren, Kingsley and Wesley, each of whom has tempted and tested and tortured her in his own way. This, Nora realizes, is her life: nothing so simple, so vanilla, as a mere love triangle for her. It's a knot in a silken cord, a tangled mass of longings of the body and the heart and the mind. And it may unravel at any moment. 

But in Nora's world, no one is ever truly powerless—a cadre of her friends, protectors and lovers stands ready to do anything to save her, even when the only certainty seems to be sacrifice and heartbreak….

Last summer I discovered Tiffany Reisz and her Original Sinners books.  I read and adored all three previous books, The Siren, The Angel and The Prince and was waiting impatiently for the release of The Mistress in July.  

The book did not disappoint.  

I could not fathom how Reisz would tie up all of the loose ends of the series, and miraculously, she did.  The tales of the characters in these books are remarkable and they are so woven within one another that it virtually takes my breath away.  

I love Nora Sutherlin.  I love her wit and her charisma and the beauty and power she exudes.  She is such an amazingly strong character and I loved her retelling of the juicy tales of her past.  Kingsley.  What to say about this man?  His strength and the love he holds in his heart are astonishing at times.  I love learning more and more about this man.  And his scenes with Soren?  Wow.  We learn so much more about Soren in this book.  He comes across as such a...SCARY individual in The Siren, but by the end, I really believe that he is a great man.  Nora claims that he is the best man she has ever known...and I think he comes close.

I don't want to reveal much, but I will say that many reviewers and readers were not happy with the ending of the novel.  I am honestly not 100% sure on how I felt about the final events of the story.  I was a little sad to see that perhaps one character was not the perfect specimen we were led to believe.  It shocks me that this was the ending that Reisz had in mind because, holy shit, I never saw THAT coming.

I truly enjoyed The Red Years quartet of The Original Sinners and I absolutely can not wait for The Priest, the first of four prequels labeled The White Years. This series is so much MORE than just novels about BDSM and Dom/sub relationships and whips and chains and canes and riding crops.  At first, I think the subject matter and some of the relationships between the characters may scare people off.  And yes, there are moments that are definitely not for the faint of heart.  But you can not help but fall in love with these characters and their stories.  I did not expect a happy ending.  But I was definitely happy with what Tiffany Reisz gave her readers.  

Book Review: The Angel by Tiffany Reisz

From Goodreads:
No safe word can protect the heart
Infamous erotica author and accomplished dominatrix Nora Sutherlin is doing something utterly out of character: hiding. While her longtime lover, Søren—whose fetishes, if exposed, would be his ruin—is under scrutiny pending a major promotion, Nora's lying low and away from temptation in the lap of luxury.

Her host, the wealthy and uninhibited Griffin Fiske, is thrilled to have Nora stay at his country estate, especially once he meets her traveling companion. Young, inexperienced and angelically beautiful, Michael has become Nora's protégé, and this summer with Griffin is going to be his training, where the hazing never ends.

But while her flesh is willing, Nora's mind is wandering. To thoughts of Søren, her master, under investigation by a journalist with an ax to grind. And to another man from Nora's past, whose hold on her is less bruising, but whose secrets are no less painful. It's a summer that will prove the old adage: love hurts.

The Angel is the second in Tiffany Reisz's Original Sinners series, and a much darker one than The Siren.  I felt that, although Nora and Zach both struggled with their own issues  in the first book, it was had a much lighter tone.    The Angel is much different.  And I will warn you.  The worlds of Catholicism and BDSM cross paths and many people will probably find this to be offensive.  At first, it really bothered me.  And Søren is not at all likeable in The Siren, but the more we discover about him...the harder it is to dislike him.  He is a very respected priest and a handsome sadist, as well as The 8th Circle's most feared Dominant.  And the man who has captured Nora's soul.  In this book, we learn more and more about his past and who he really is...but we are still left with many questions about who he TRULY is.

The book centers around a journalist who is investigating Søren's church, and who seems to be a threat to his position as well as Nora's reputation.    She is sent away with a young submissive in training, Michael, to spend time at Griffin Fiske's estate.  Griffin is a trust-fund baby and a Dominant, a former lover of Nora's and I just love him.  I mean, he wears a kilt and Doc Martin's and is covered in ink.  How sexy is that?  

I think my favorite relationship in the novel is Michael and Griffin's.  I won't go into details because I don't want to spoil it, but you can not help but love these two and want them to be together.  Griffin is so protective of Michael and I love the fact that Michael, who is so damaged in The Siren and the beginning of The Angel, has found someone to love him FOR HIM.

Of course, we also spend time with Kingsley Edge and he is another one that I just love.  There is definitely many layers to him and slowly, those layers are being peeled away.  And who doesn't love the fact that he prances around in Victorian dress coats and riding boots??

I love these characters and each book reveals something new...without revealing much at a time.  Tiffany Reisz has admit that she LOVES to mindfuck her readers.  And she is damn good at the mindfuck.

Book Review: The Siren by Tiffany Reisz

From Goodreads:
Notorious Nora Sutherlin is famous for her delicious works of erotica, each one more popular with readers than the last. But her latest manuscript is different—more serious, more personal—and she's sure it'll be her breakout book...if it ever sees the light of day.

Zachary Easton holds Nora's fate in his well-manicured hands. The demanding British editor agrees to handle the book on one condition: he wants complete control. Nora must rewrite the entire novel to his exacting standards—in six weeks—or it's no deal.

Nora's grueling writing sessions with Zach are draining…and shockingly arousing. And a dangerous former lover has her wondering which is more torturous—staying away from him...or returning to his bed?
Nora thought she knew everything about being pushed to your limits. But in a world where passion is pain, nothing is ever that simple.

This summer, post-Fifty Shades and Gabriel's Inferno/Rapture, I was scouring the internet, looking for my next read.  I spend quite a bit of time during Logan's naps on the patio with my Kindle and it is necessary I read before bed.  While looking through my Twitter feed, I saw that The Siren was recommended for those who had read Fifty Shades.    I did not shy away from the fact that it was labeled BDSM/erotica, so decided to give it a whirl.

Let me tell you.

I was speechless.   

I thought this was truly going to be a love story between Nora and Zach.  But I think it is a love story between the reader and Nora.  We meet her as she NEEDS her next erotic novel to be a hit, and Zach is there to try and help her get there, albeit reluctantly.  The sexual tension is there between the two of them, but it just is not the focus of the book, which is the difference between The Siren and Fifty Shades.  We are given a look into the world of BDSM and to be honest, it was really eye-opening.  Reisz truly knows what the lifestyle is like, and she treats it with respect and uses the format of her beautiful novel to tell the reader what it really is all about.  What it is like to be who you truly are without being ashamed (which is a running theme throughout the next two novels in the series as well).  

As for the novel being erotica, this about sums it up:
     "I know people think erotica is just a romance novel with rougher sex.  It's not.  If it's a subgenre of     
     anything, it's horror." 
     "Horror?  Really?"
     "Romance is sex plus love.  Erotica is sex plus fear."

And I think this is truthful.  People may be afraid of this book because of the BDSM subject matter.  But Tiffany Reisz pulls you in with her characters, her story, and her words.  You fall in love with Nora and truly want her to be HAPPY.  Reisz sheds a whole new light on this lifestyle.  Her writing strips you bare and leaves you wanting more.   And the other characters?  There is an ache to find out their histories, as well as what is to come for them.  

The story will leave you breathless and heartbroken and wanting more.  Step out of your comfort zone, because you won't regret it.

Book Review: Wallbanger by Alice Clayton

Summary from Amazon.com: Caroline Reynolds has a fantastic new apartment in San Francisco, a KitchenAid mixer, and no O (and we're not talking Oprah here, folks). She has a flourishing design career, an office overlooking the bay, a killer zucchini bread recipe, and no O. She has Clive (the best cat ever), great friends, a great rack, and no O. Adding insult to O-less, since her move, she has an oversexed neighbor with the loudest late-night wallbanging she's ever heard. Each moan, spank, and--was that a meow?--punctuates the fact that not only is she losing sleep, she still has, yep, you guessed it, no O. Enter Simon Parker. (No, really, Simon, please enter.) When the wallbanging threatens to literally bounce her out of bed, Caroline, clad in sexual frustration and a pink baby-doll nightie, confronts her heard-but-never-seen neighbor. Their late-night hallway encounter has, well, mixed results. Ahem. With walls this thin, the tension's gonna be thick... In her third novel, Alice Clayton returns to dish her trademark mix of silly and steamy. Banter, barbs, and strutting pussycats, plus the sexiest apple pie ever made, are dunked in a hot tub and set against the gorgeous San Francisco skyline in this hot and hilarious tale of exasperation at first sight.

My Review:  Seriously, I love Alice Clayton.  I read her books The Unidentified Redhead and The Redhead Revealed over the summer and they are definitely books that kept me laughing.  And Wallbanger did not disappoint.  Clayton's books are witty and Caroline Reynolds is my kind of girl. No-nonsense and she bakes constantly.  Caroline and Simon's relationship clearly starts off rocky and I love the way the sexual tension builds along with their friendship.  Their romance is not something that happens instantly and it leaves the reader waiting at the edge of their seat.  The best part about the book is the witty banter between Caroline and Simon, as well as Caroline's inner dialogue about her lost O, which is hilarious.  And the nicknames she gives Simon's "harem"...Spanx, Purina, Giggles.  I die.  And how can you not love Clive the cat?  This was a wonderfully quick read that will have you laughing out loud!

Book Review: Bared to You

From Goodreads:

Gideon Cross came into my life like lightning in the darkness—beautiful and brilliant, jagged and white-hot. I was drawn to him as I'd never been to anything or anyone in my life. I craved his touch like a drug, even knowing it would weaken me. I was flawed and damaged, and he opened those cracks in me so easily...

Gideon knew. He had demons of his own. And we would become the mirrors that reflected each other's most private wounds... and desires.

The bonds of his love transformed me, even as I prayed that the torment of our pasts didn't tear us apart..

This summer, post-Christian Grey, I found Gabriel Emerson. And then I found Gideon Cross in Sylvia Day's novel, Bared to You.  Many people will compare this novel to 50 Shades, but really, I didn't find much of a comparison.    The story is told from the perspective of Eva Trammel, a 24-year old blonde bombshell who is trying to make it on her own and away from her over-protective mother.  Enter Gideon Cross, the young, handsome billionaire who wants Eva immediately.  As the story unfolds, we discover that these two BOTH have had very traumatic pasts and it is something that they will need to face in order for their relationship to survive.  Gideon is obsessive, controlling, and dominating; Eva has major trust issues and runs at the first hint of trouble in the relationship.  Day's writing is more polished and mature than EL James; there is no real "BDSM" but the sex scenes are definitely raw and sensual.  I became invested in the characters and their stories and for some reason, even though they are both so screwed up (way beyond even Christian Grey), I truly hope they are able to have their happy ending.  I really can not wait until Day releases the last of the Crossfire Trilogy (stay tuned for my review of the second in the series, Reflected in You!).  WARNING: Very explicit sex scenes, so if you are weirded out by 50 Shades, steer clear of this one, even though it definitely has MUCH more of a plot!

4/5 Stars 

Book Review: Gabriel's Inferno

At the end of last school year (and yes, again at the beginning of the summer), I indulged in the reading of the 50 Shades trilogy.  I regarded it as a quick read, fluff, poor writing...but I wasn't looking for anything intellectual to read after a very long school year.  Gabriel's Inferno by Sylvain Reynard was recommended on Twitter from someone I was following, so I dove right in.

Gabriel's Inferno is the story of Professor Gabriel Emerson, a Dante expert teaching at the University of Toronto, and one of his graduate students, Julia Mitchell.  Gabriel Emerson is not a likable character in the beginning of the novel, and his harsh treatment of timid Julia Mitchell takes you aback at first.  Slowly, the story of their individual troubled pasts unravels, and their ties to one another are revealed.  Their love is forbidden because of the University's strict non-fraternization policy, but the two are unable to remain apart.  They are drawn to one another and it is apparent that their love runs deep and true.

This is a story of love and redemption.  Gabriel is deeply flawed and believes himself to be a soulless and doomed man, unworthy of the love of "his Beatrice."  Julianne has loved Gabriel from afar for so long that she can not seem to imagine her life with anyone else.  The lovers (but keep in mind, there was really no sex throughout the book) have to overcome so many obstacles within their relationship, as well as their own dark pasts, and you can not help but grow to love these two characters.  I was so drawn into this book that I stayed up until WAY too late in order to finish it.  She was his light and his goodness, and Gabriel seemed to find the forgiveness he was looking for through his love for Julianne.

Gabriel's Inferno does not compare in any way to 50 Shades of Grey.  Gabriel, although he has a torrid past, is gentle towards Julianne, and simply worships her.  As an English teacher, I loved the way Reynard (WHO IS A MAN!) wove the tales of Dante and Beatrice, as well as Dante's literature, throughout the entire novel.  It is sensual, seductive, and sexy without that much sex.  It was truly a wonderfully written novel that is sure to keep you entranced.

Book Review: Thirteen Reasons Why

This year, Jamie and I were in a mother/daughter book club together at her school and we read several excellent Young Adult novels. And because I am on summer break and because I have more time to blog, I am going to be reviewing these as well as some of my other summer reads! Without further ado, here is the first:

Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher

from Goodreads: Jay Asher's brilliant first novel is a moving, highly original story that focuses on a set of audiotapes made by a girl before she committed suicide, and which explain to 13 people the reasons why she decided to end her life. Told in a highly effective duel narrative -- alternating between the girl s voice and the thoughts of a boy who is listening -- this honest, poignant story reveals how other people's actions shape, and by extension can ruin, an individual's faith in people. Intensely powerful and painfully real, Thirteen Reasons Why reveals how brutal high school can be, the consequences of spreading rumors, and the lasting effects of suicide on those left behind


I absolutely, 100% adored this book.   This book appeals to young readers because it is told from both the male and female perspective.  The audiotapes made by Hannah take us through the events leading up to her suicide and what led to her death.  The male reader is drawn in because the narrator is Clay, a boy who crossed paths with Hannah and is unaware of what role he played in her death and how he has the tapes.  I think this should be a required reading for all eighth/ninth graders to show the impact of how YOUR ACTIONS and WHAT YOU SAY can impact others.  Even things that you don't think are a big deal...well, to others they might be.  Might be such a huge, enormous deal that it effects them in ways that will forever scar them.  


I think this book meant so much to me because this year, I lost a student to suicide.  I was close to his sister, knew his parents, had him in my Honors class last year.  And suddenly, he was gone.  Life is short and what we say or do impacts those around us.  Thirteen Reasons Why shows those young adults that we must be accountable for our actions, no matter the consequence.

Tomorrow: An Evening with Elie Wiesel

Have you ever read this book?
If you haven't, you need to. Elie Wiesel's novel, Night, is not just a story about the Holocaust, but it is his account of the deportation of Jews from his hometown of Sighet, Transylvania, and of the main character, Eliezer's (based on himself) journey to and stay at the concentration camp, Auschwitz. It is the story of a father and son and their changing relationship. It is the story of those the "character" Eliezer met while in the camp. It is the story of his changing faith; how could God abandon His people? How could the world stand by and watch 6 million Jews be destroyed? It is the story of death as well as survival. A compelling novel that sucks you in and engages you from the first page until the last page, when Eliezer gazes into a mirror and sees "a corpse" staring back.

In his Nobel Peace Prize acceptance speech, Wiesel states that he wrote so the world will never forget. His novel was one that haunted me for weeks after reading it the first time, and it is a moving experience every year when I teach it to my students.

And tomorrow, I have the great pleasure of being able to hear Elie Wiesel speak. I truly can not wait and believe this will be a life-changing experience. I can't wait to report back tomorrow with details.

Book Review: The Sugar Queen

Sarah Addison Allen's The Sugar Queen was a book left in my mailbox at school from a dear friend with a note saying, "To my friend, a 'sweet' little story." And it truly is a sweet story. The Sugar Queen is a fast read, so if you are looking for something to finish over a long weekend, this is your book. We meet Josey Cirrini, plump, predictable, shy, who hides in her closet and eats the mountains of candy she has stored there while reading travel magazines and dreaming of escape. Her life is controlled by her miserable mother, Margaret, who longs for the beauty and life she has lost, or in fact, never completely had. One random day, Della Lee, dangerous and sassy, shows up in her closet to hide from the outside world, looking as if she has just swam through the river to get there. It is Della Lee who takes on the role of Josey's fairy godmother, pushing her to take control of her life and not be afraid to love (in particular, Adam, the blonde mailman whom Josey has been in love with for years and whom she meets at their mailbox daily).

Josey is oppressed by her mother, who at one time was the town beauty but who has seen her beauty fade. Josey's conscience is weighed down by her behavior as a child, and feels as if she owes her mother, and has resigned herself to living with her mother forever. Unfortunately, Margaret will do everything in her power to bring Josey down, even telling her that wearing makeup will make her look cheap and that red does nothing for her color, when in fact, it is fantastic on her. Della Lee begins as a nuisance, pushing Josey to run errands for her and Josey agrees in order to be rid of her. On one of these errands, Josey meets and befriends Chloe, a broken-hearted girl who has the vibrancy that Josey lacks. And through Della Lee, Josey is able to discover the family secrets that have been kept buried by her mother and we see Josey beginning to discover who she truly is as she begins to break out of her mother's steel grip.

I found the ending only slightly predictable but the author was still able to throw a few things at me that caught me off guard. It was heartwarming to see Josey find herself and finally free herself of her mother's negative influence. We learn why Della Lee has chosen to hide out in Josey's closet and the connections our characters share. It is a book full of magic and heartache, with wonderful characters. Allen has a magical way of storytelling and I look forward to reading more books by her.

Book Review: Julie and Julia

I am 29. I have been diagnosed with a "syndrome" called PCOS, I can literally hear my biological clock ticking, I am a wannabe foodie snob, and I started writing a blog to discuss my trials and tribulations about cooking, cleaning, organizing and at times, parenting. In other words, I find myself a kindred spirit to author Julie Powell. In Julie and Julia, Powell describes her quest to cook her way through The Art of French Cooking by the great Julia Child.

Julie Powell embraces all that Julia Child has to offer, and does not shrink in the face of the scariest recipes in the book (marrow would freak the shit out of me; I am not that adventurous) and even becomes the murdered of several innocent lobsters. She chronicles her entire adventure on a blog, and describes how she handles each recipe.

I truly loved this book. Powell is witty, sarcastic, and very relatable. Struggling to find her place in a world and unhappy in her cubicle, she finds herself in the kitchen and in Julia Child's cookbook. At times I felt the book was muddled, interspersed with stories of Powell's friends as well as fictional letters about Paul and Julia Child. I felt that one of the most enjoyable parts of the novel was Julie's relationship with her husband, Eric. He stood by her throughout everything (even lack of sex), and was always there to try a creepy recipe (aspic, anyone?) or wash dishes for her. He was her cheerleader and biggest support system, and it was refreshing to see their marriage succeed throughout The Project. At times, I felt like Julie Powell lost her voice as a writer, and became confused with where she was going with her book, but she would quickly recover and give us another entertaining recipe recap.

Even with the occasional confusing bit, I enjoyed Powell's adventures in French cuisine. It was an entertaining book, showing that you can be successful at anything if you put your heart and soul into it.

Overall Rating: B-

PS: I also watched the movie. Meryl Streep is amazing as Julia Child, and we see more of her life in France than we do in Powell's book, which I really liked! I wish there had been more of that in the book.

The Great Twilight Debate

I will start this out by stating that I teach high school English. I teach the classics (To Kill a Mockingbird, Romeo and Juliet, Gatsby, Huck Finn, The Crucible) and toss in more contemporary, modern fiction and nonfiction (Night by Elie Wiesel, F451, Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian) and every time I teach a book or read with my class, I hope that they will enjoy and appreciate it. I have read all of the Twilight books. I saw (and own) the movie and enjoy the FLUFF that it is. I DID NOT stand in line for the midnight showing, and am fully prepared for this movie to SUCK like the first one. I will fully admit to waiting in like for the midnight showing of Harry Potter though, and that is an admission without shame.

Here are my thoughts.

Kids in high school (the vast majority) HATE TO READ.

This is a concept I used to not believe because I devoured books as a kid. I would take out the limit at the library and be done with them in two days. And sadly, not many of my students enjoy reading. Stephanie Meyers has created a phenomenon that has been compared to the Harry Potter series, although the writing is in no way comparable to that of J.K. Rowling. Meyers' storylines do not carry the depth of character and emotion that Rowling's books do. But the subject of teen love and teen angst is what draws people to this book. Perhaps for those of us obsessed with the books, it allows us to go back to our teen years and the days of our first love and first broken heart. And of wanting a boy to look at us with the kind of longing that Edward gazes at Bella with.

Do I think it is weird that adult women are OBSESSED with the main character? Yes. Do I think that Bella Swan is a horrific role model for young women, that instead of wallowing in self-pity and teaching girls that life is nothing without a boy she should create a life for herself? Yes. DO I think that ANY BOOK that can get a kid to read a 400 page book is okay in my mind? Yes. Is it high-quality writing? No, but it has a storyline that allows you to become engrossed and at times, truly feel Bella's pain and longing. Is it cheap entertainment and fluffy writing? Yes.

Will I go see the movie this weekend? Hell yes.

Look what I just got?

I came home to find this waiting for me! Congratulations, Ree, on an amazing book! The pictures are beautiful and even C was going through and looking at your recipes!

I love vampires

It began with this:

I have read all of the Vampire Chronicles by Anne Rice. I adored them. I waited every year for Christmas and would get the newest release. When she closed the tale of our beloved "Brat Prince" vampire Lestat with Blackwood Farm in 2004, I was devastated. There would be no more tales of Lestat. It left an emptiness inside of me. This hole became even greater when the suckiest movie ever made was released, called Queen of the Damned. I literally waited for years for this stupid movie to come out and it was a travesty. If Anne Rice was not appalled by what they did to her amazing novel, something is wrong with her.

I found this same type of love with the Harry Potter books. When that series ended, I was once again saddened (not to mention I cried for basically the entire book) and felt empty.

Along came Twilight by Stephanie Meyers.

My students had been seen toting around her books for a few years and I had to give in to the temptation. It was a story about vampires combined with the same teen angst I see daily as a high school teacher. Little did I know I would eat the books up and fall in love.
Tonight I went to see the movie. It was decent; definitely not my favorite. Kind of like the Harry Potter movies, it will hopefully get better as they go along. I adored Robert Pattinson. His longing for Bella and inner turmoil was delicious. Kristen Stewart was decent as klutzy Bella, but I think the character could have been played better by a different young actress. Overall, I enjoyed the movie, and was glad we waited until today to go, as the theatre was basically empty. The last thing I wanted to deal with was screaming teenagers (like we did during Baz Luhrman's Romeo + Juliet, when Leonardo DiCaprio walked onto the screen for the first time.). It is obvious they have plans to make the rest of the books into movies, and I hope the next two are better (I HATED the fourth book with a passion, so it has nowhere to go but up). I could definitely go see it again though...any chance to stare at yummy Edward once again.