Fifty Shades Freed (Fifty Shades, Book 3)

What an amazing ride! This final installment begins with Christian and Anastasia on their honeymoon, ever learning and discovering more and more about each other. For all of Ana's intelligence, her naivete' shines through with her passive aggressive attitude towards Christian. That is, she'll do or say something to make him relax and laugh and feel somewhat confident in himself, and then turn around and kill his mood with questions she know's he's unable to "handle"...(yet she needs to know the answers to those questions). She constantly forgets how unsure he is of himself - - how uncertain he is of their fragile relationship and other matters relating to Anastasia..(ie; controlling & dominating her etc.) He's an expert in hiding these feelings under an intimidating exterior.

Ever so slowly and without realizing it, Ana begins to expect more from her marriage and Christian in general. That is, she questions "why" she's not included or informed when decisions are made...(something hard for Christian to relent and give).

Ana still struggles with low self-esteem and inferiority issues as well as jealousy (and she is aware of these faults), although she's taking more initiative to control those feelings. As time progresses, she begins to be stronger and more secure in her marriage...more self-assured. In spite of all the hurdles they must leap over...in spite of the huge mountain(s) they must climb...they tackle them together.

This story is a learning game between these two strong-willed characters. It's basically about Christian and Anastasia's bond growing stronger as they deal with life's highs and lows, ups/downs...and dealing with all the drama and baggage of Christians' former lifestyle.

Superb ending to this trilogy. And the Epilogue.....all I can say is THANK GOD for EPILOGUES...and reading Christians early years is heart rending. Reading his thoughts and his POV upon meeting Anastasia was too, TOO delicious!!!

I enjoyed this story so much I immediately started the whole trilogy over as soon as I finished this third book in the series. It was that hard to let them go. Ok, so maybe I need a life. Don't frikkin' care! A phenomenal story with well developed characters. All I can say is MORE!!!! Bring on Mia and Ethan's story!!!!

Below is written by James A. Michener...his thoughts are exactly the way I feel about letting the characters of Christian and Anastasia go back on my bookshelf for awhile...read on:

"When I approach the closing pages of a great novel, a feeling of profound regret comes over me, for I realize I am about to sever a relationship with characters I have grown to love. And to abandon a corner of the world in which I have spent rewarding weeks, months and even years, for I read slowly and carefully.

I feel, when the pages dwindle, as if something good were being stolen from me, something precious that would not be replaced.

You may laugh at what I say next, but when I realize how few pages are left I ration myself, only so many each day, and when the final one looms, and I close the book, I stare at the back of the book for many minutes, aware that something precious has touched my life." - -James A Michener

Sometimes you just have to go for it for yourself. I had bought the first book of this series on 5/30/2012. I am a fast reader and knew that this book would be read by sometime Thursday night or Friday morning and I was right. I went to the reviews for Fifty Shades Darker and some people were just bashing the book and the series. I love classics just like anyone else but I had already read most of the first one and was trying to decide if I should buy the second and I was so put off by the bad reviews that I almost didn't purchase it.

Let me start off by saying that I have never read this type of book before ever and I am 42 years old. I am more the historical, documentary and criminal mystery type but seeing and hearing everyone talking about the book, I became intrigued. They asked Michelle Obama about it, they began pulling it from libraries because of the sexual content and it was also being displayed front and center in my favorite Japanese bookstore and I said to myself, "Self, see what all the fuss is about." Boy am I glad that I did!

Maybe it's because I am not a fantasy, love story type and, therefore, have never read a book like this before but I loved the series. It is now 6/4/2012 and I have read all three within 5 days. I have to tell you, I felt a lot for the characters, I was rooting for some, cursing at others, I teared up at other times and, quite frankly, I didn't want the books to end. I understood Christian Grey, I felt for Christian Grey and I loved the way these books showed his break down process and his progress. His humanity is what I connected to almost as much as being the naive wide eyed and bushy-tailed Anastasia. I've met Christian Greys and I was Anastasia. Sometimes two extreme types have to meet in order to take us from those extreme left or right sides and bring us to the middle or to strike a balance. Honestly, after a while, I didn't even care about the sexual scenes but about the characters and where they were headed.

Like I stated in the title, this is not a literary classic. It certainly could have been edited better and I would have preferred it to not be so repetitive but this is her style of writing. I don't read too many British authors so I have nothing to compare it to. I looked past the bad writing and looked to the story and I found it to be fabulously fun and quick paced. I truly didn't want this to end. Hopefully, she can make a series from Christian's perspective because I love the end of the book where she started to show his view. I hope she is just prepping us for what is to come.

Read all three books because it is a continuous storyline and just let yourself escape. Don't take it too seriously and have a good time. I found that I read too many serious things and this was a welcome break for me. I will try another fantasy/erotic/love story sometime in the future. Don't take it too seriously and take it for what it is (and I am quoting from other reviewers): Literary Crack!! I hope this helps!!

I read all three books in a very short time and could not put them down. This book made me think of Christian as the ideal romantic for my romantic heart. Aside from his problem I kept wishing I was the object of his passion--wishing there was such a man out there who would want me and love me the way he loves Anastasia. Here is a very handsome, generous, extremely rich man who, once he finds someone to love, loses all interest in every other woman but Anastasia. He wants her for himself only and wants to protect her. He could have most women but no, he wants this one girl. He is so unaware of his unbelievable beauty which of course is a draw for most women. How many women would not want such a man? I think many women would love that sort of man. Beauty is a big turnon. He had everything--looks, money, loyalty and he really was a very nice person regardless of his hangups.

He goes from being a dominant who hurts women with the whip, etc. without being intimate, to a man who is a fantastic lover and very erotic and very loving. He is constantly kissing, nuzzling, holding hands and doing everything to please his woman. He no longer wants to hurt--he wants to protect. Once he marries her he does not want a prenup because he feels everything that is his is hers. He is a little overboard in his jealousy and possessiveness but he is so endearing that I am sure a lot of women would love to have a man such as this. Oh what I would give to have such a man! I love it when he tells her she is his--"you are mine." For days I would simply close my eyes and daydream. His experimentation with eroticism is quite exciting.

A lot of the stuff is repetitive. At one point I did not want to go through the love scenes in detail again. What bothered me is that they fought too much. If people are always snapping at one another I would think it would eventually erode the passion. I was glad she backed off a little. Fighting for me personally is a turnoff. I did not want to see this romance go to the dogs. I hoped and prayed that they would stay together.

Another thing that was unreal was their having sex 2, 3 times a day. I kept wondering how they could keep this up year after year--unless of course she is a nymphomaniac. Eventually, this passion would wane--it is human. How long could this last. How many of us are as constantly willing as Anastasia? I think part of the appeal to Christian was that she was always ready, quite orgasmic and willing to experiment. That is great! It is a good way to keep the hubby at home since a lot of men would love this sort of thing but don't get it since their wives get tired and bored and then they stray.

All in all I think this author wrote her own fantasy down in words. I want her to make them happy forever even though it is unrealistic. So many relationships end badly, it is depressing. When I read these 3 books they made me happy, I quite frankly would love to have her produce a whole series of them until they are both old. (laugh) I do not want it to end. I do not care how repetitive or boring. She kept me reading, eager to see what happened next. I love television a lot, but I did not turn it on because I found it difficult to put these books down. In real life it rarely happens. What is wrong with daydreaming and feeling good about a love story--a never ending love story no matter how improbable?

I would love to say "thank you" to the author for writing such a "feel good" story. She took me into a world of wonder. Thank you.

There are life's guilty pleasures, and then there is the guiltiest spectacle of them all: the Fifty Shades of Grey spectacle. It's time to review this precious pearl of literary genius, so I'm going to dive on in. Hold me.

When we last left our romantic icons, Ana Steele and Christian Grey, they were newly engaged and facing (a) Ana's ex-boss, Jack Hyde, whom Christian fired in a fit of jealous pique when Jack made a pass at Ana and (b) Christian's "Mrs. Robinson," the woman who initiated him into his life of BDSM. Can these two crazy love birds find happiness and contentment? Thank goodness E. L. James doesn't keep us hanging and gives us the GIFT that is Fifty Shades Freed.

The tale opens just after Christian and Ana's wedding, as the two bask on their European honeymoon. They bicker, rock the headboard, bicker some more, and have make-up rocking of the headboard. While enjoying their romantic interlude, Christian learns that someone apparently tried to sabotage part of his building. Enter the "plot" portion of the festivities. The threat to Grey Enterprises increases, and we are meant to be on the edge of our seats in anticipation of how this AWFUL THING will transpire. There also continues to be friction in the Grey marriage. These two argue about the same damn thing all the time, followed by furious headboard rockin'.

So there's your story.

While this one shares certain similarities with Fifty Shades of Grey and Fifty Shades Darker, in Fifty Shades Freed, James actually attempts - gulp - style. There are flashbacks, seemingly set at even intervals, but then mysteriously dropped. Until, that is, the epilogue, where they show up again. Clearly E. L. James realized that we don't read these books for STYLE. I mean, really.

Let's get to the good stuff, shall we? Because, let's face it: we also do not read these books for their plot. Please. There are more important things to anticipate.

THE BUTT PLUG SHOWS UP!!!!!

I know some of you have waited in breathless anticipation, and you will not be denied! We also meet the flogger AND the cross is used AND the grid. Insert jumpy claps here. Christian and Ana continue to Know Each Other in the Biblical Sense in different locales, including - but not limited to - an airplane, a yacht, a couch, a shower, a bathtub, a picnic blanket and - thank GOD - the red satin bed in the Red Room of Pain.

But you know what is not used in any romantic situation whatsoever? The grey tie! I am bereft with grief. I got attached to that tie, and while it makes a brief appearance, it does not do so wrapped around anyone's appendages. It's a tease, and I am not amused.

Also missing: any sign of a competent, coherent editor. What IS present is the same repetitious writing. It takes less than three pages for the first smirk to appear. And this time? Christian and Ana aren't the only two who smirk. Other characters get in on the action. I suspect that E. L. James is f-ing with me. We also get bitten lips, rolled eyes, lips pressed into a hard line, frowns and sighs.

But a new play has entered the repertoire: Christian rubs his nose down the length of Ana's nose.

Naturally, this being E. L. James, he does that A LOT. Almost as often as one of them says, "Hmmm." Clearly the message is that in the absence of the ability to write dialogue, insert a breathy moan.

And now, an excerpt. Feel free to use this as an interpretive dialogue:

Hmm ... my Fifty wants to tumble.

"Don't bite your lip," he warns.

Compliantly, I release my lip. "I think you have me at a disadvantage, Mr. Grey." [They call each other Mr. and Mrs. Grey ALL THE TIME, as if they forgot their first names.] I bat my lashes and squirm provocatively beneath him. This could be fun. "Disadvantage?"

"Surely you've already got me where you want me?" He smirks [!!!!! - of course he does] and presses his groin into mine once more.

Ah, language. Its mellifluous use is a lost art, isn't it? Thank goodness E. L. James is here to reinvigorate writing.

As I typed that, I mistakenly wrote "goddess," rather than "goodness." That brings me to another repetition: Ana's subconscious, complete with the half moon glasses and disdain, shows up again. The inner goddess is not as present, but that subconscious school marm sure is. Oh, lucky us.

So is Fifty Shades Darker worth the read? OF COURSE IT IS. You can't stop at their engagement! You need to read about the wedding and the honeymoon and the corporate intrigue and the early months of their marriage and the in-laws and the Evil Ex-Employee and the Evil Ex-Dominatrix. You can't stop at the second one! You must read this!

Oh, it's awful. Don't get me wrong about that. It is just as badly written and edited as its predecessors. But, as I have said before, it is literary crack. So bad for you, but so addicting.

A plus: at the end, we get a brief glimpse of Christian's point of view. And then - AND THEN - E. L. James says, "That's all ... for now."

OH MY GOD - THERE WILL BE MORE! Please let it be. For the love of Mark Twain, PLEASE LET THERE BE MORE.

This review originally appeared on cupcake's book cupboard.