Congrats to Kaetrin, who won Beyond Reckless by Ava March! Beyond Reckless will be released by Amber Quill Press on Sunday, November 28.
Freebies
- If you have an Amazon account, you can get $3 worth of mp3s free through November 29.
- All Romance eBooks (ARe) just released three free paranormal romance ebook collections. Just One Bite (Volume 1) is m/m and the other two volumes are m/f.
- Atlas Sound has four free albums (Bedroom Databank, Volumes 1-4) you can download at their blog. (The links to Volumes 3 & 4 are in the comments of the link.)
Contests
- Blodeudd’s giving away a copy of Christy English’s historical romance, The Queen’s Pawn. Contest ends November 28.
- Mandi’s giving away three sets of the following romances: It Happened One Night, Montana Legacy, Tall Tales & Wedding Veils, and Talk of the Town. Contest open through November 28.
- Patti’s giving away a set of Lydia Dare’s paranormal romances (A Certain Wolfish Charm; Tall, Dark & Wolfish; The Wolf Next Door; The Taming of the Wolf) to someone who comments by December 3.
- Patti’s giving away a signed copy of Shelley Workinger’s young adult novel, Solid. Comment by December 8 for your chance to win.
Bookity
- New releases and more: Lily (m/m romance), Smexy Books (upcoming UF/PNR), and Literary Escapism (UF/PNR new releases, contests, news).
- Author and publisher news and more from Dear Author and ReadReactReview (including a link to the very expensive official Dark-Hunter dolls).
- ReadReactReview contemplates the penis size of romance novel heroes and the reactions that heroines have.
- At DIK (Desert Island Keepers), Lea wonders whether or not book reviews have a limited shelf life.
- Meljean Brook has a great short post about how writing can be hard on one’s possessions.
- Yikes! Talk about an inexplicable cover for The Princess Bride!
- Are you familiar with the Nine Circles of Writing Hell? (Thanks, Amy Lane!)
Ebookity
- Sweet Vernal Zephyr has some thoughts on which ereader might be best for the ereader newbie. TeleRead has some thoughts on that, too. Dear Author has the second part of their ebook reader holiday buying guide, including links to Black Friday deals.
- TeleRead reports that Wired posted a tablet shopping guide.
- A classic xkcd about ebooks and the Kindle – make sure you hover your mouse over the comic for additional text.
Think, Do, Learn, Make
- Did you check Gizmodo’s Black Friday Cheat Sheet before you headed out today? (Plus some Black Friday humor from Gizmodo.) If you’re hiding from the insanity, Lifehacker has a guide to and tips for finding great online deals… and recommends that you wait until after the holidays to really get good deals on electronics.
- I hadn’t heard about this fascinating 1980 event in which Texaco, drilling in a Louisiana lake, accidentally drained the lake and created a huge whirlpool.
- You might want to stop drinking from decorative drinking glasses (the kind with enamel on them), since some have been found to contain about 1000 times more lead the recommended daily allowance…
- Bruce Schneier has a nice round up of some of the recent articles about the TSA backscatter x-ray controversy.
- A recent study of which scents men find most arousing discovered that the winner was a combination of lavender and pumpkin pie.
- Another recent study discovered that each of our brains has more connections than all the computers on the planet!
- If you’re looking for a new notebook computer, Gizmodo’s guide to the best notebooks of 2010 is worth a look.
- I’m a huge fan of dustless under-the-bed storage – I have a storage futon frame (built by my brother, with a little help from me) that has space for 20 copy paper boxes, plus a layer of wrapping paper, luggage, and more on top of the boxes. Here’s how to modify an IKEA bed to get your own additional storage.
- Popular Mechanics did some research to figure out who treats your packages best: FedEx, UPS, or the USPS.
- Flying snakes. Ack!
Linkity Peeps
- Craft, photography, food, and natural living links from Fiber Fool.
- NSFW WTFery from Katiebabs.
Gift Ideas
- Perhaps the frequent flier in your life would like underwear with the Fourth Amendment printed on them?
- For the martini drinker, you could make an Altoid tin martini kit!
- CRAFT has a gift guide for knitters and crocheters and another for kids.
Cool
- Traditional fair isle knitting and robot mashup… Lorraine, I bet you could do a fair isle/Dr. Who mashup! 🙂
- I can’t believe we didn’t get a chance to see this awesome mural while we were in San Francisco.
- Crocheted amigurumi like you’ve not seen before, including scenes from The Exorcist and Sid and Nancy… (via the Bloggess)
Huh
- Sippycup FAIL. (Thanks, Lea!)
- Vibrator FAIL. (Obviously NSFW…)
- Adam Savage of Mythbusters made it through airport security with two 12″ long razorblades he’d forgotten were in his laptop bag…
LOL
- Unusual security measures employed by the TSA… (I had a hard time deciding whether this belonged in “Huh” or “LOL”…)
Teh Cute
- Tiger cubs! Kitten! Kittens! Purring cougar kitten! Penguin! Baby hedgehog! Kittens! Kitten! Cartoon tiger! Kitten! Baby otter! Red panda! Kitten does not want to be carried! Panda rolling down hill! Tree kangaroo!
Reading Update
Breathe by Sloan Parker. ebook. Very good m/m romantic suspense about a guy who’s just spent six months in prison and is returning to his home town. I don’t want to say more about it, because part of this book’s strength is how what happened in the past and what’s happening in the present unfold together. Every time I was sure I had things all figured out, I was wrong. 🙂
Last Call Europe: Black Wolf by Belinda McBride. ebook. Very good kinky m/m paranormal romance about a lone wolf shifter and detective who’s been following the trail of a killer around the world. He ends up in London, at the paranormal bar Last Call Europe, where he’s teased by a saucy Siberian Husky shifter…
Caught by Surprise by L.D. Madison. ebook. Good m/m romance (from Loose Id’s Coming Out Day series) about two FBI agents who wake up naked in bed together with no memory of how they got there… My only complaint about this book was a plot thread that seemed to be going somewhere but was dropped.
Hit and Run by Cassidy Ryan. ebook . Good m/m romantic suspense about a guy who witnesses a crime, then ends up on the run, trying to stay alive long enough to testify.
After Hours by Cassandra Gold. ebook short. Cute steamy short m/m story about a guy closing at a bakery, who’s kind of impatient when a customer rushes in at the last minute…
The Hitcher and His Ride by Misty Malone (according to ARe, even though that doesn’t match the cover…). ebook short. Ok short paranormal m/m story about a lost driver who sees a wrecked motorcycle on the road and picks up the injured rider. This was a variation of a pretty traditional hitchhiker ghost story, with a few twists.
Nature’s Own by Nica Berry. ebook. Meh m/m urban fantasy about the fae, with a menagey bit. Alas, this story never drew me in, nor did I particularly care about any of the characters by the end.
Beg for More by A.J. Hardcourt. ebook short. So-so short m/m encounter between an architect and the owner of a construction company when they’re working late one evening.
The Club at Cool Harbor by Christiane France. ebook. Meh m/m romance about two guys who are trying to figure out who’s leaking secrets from an exclusive gay mens’ club. My major problems with the book were a plot based on a big misunderstanding, stalkerish tendencies (after a single date that didn’t actually happen, one guy called, sent letters, etc, for months?! Really??), instalove, and a lack of dramatic tension.
Sleepless in San Francisco by Ryan Field. ebook. PWP based on the movie Sleepless in Seattle. I knew this wasn’t going to be a good book, but it was worse than I expected.
“Everything looks so upside down. I wonder why?” -Mayhem
Lol that corn vibrator is just so so wrong
A recent post from blodeuedd..Review- The Ex-Boyfriends handbook – Matt Dunn
Fizzing bacon tablets … and I had thought that chocolate and bacon sounded weird…
A recent post from mrspao..All grown up now
OK, so I had to look at the vibrator fail! I was more astounded by the Hello Kitty vibrators in the comments underneath! Which just goes to show that you can by anything in the Hello Kitty design.
I’m wavering over the Sloan Parker book. I’ve heard that it’s really great but also quite hard on the emotions. Hmmmmmm…..
Why is the sound that the corn vibrator makes ‘wryyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy’? and what exactly is super wank mode?
Flying.snakes. OMG. I think it’s going to take a lot to get that out of my head. No. I did not go and look.
That baby cougar makes up for it though!
(I hope you had a good Thanksgiving!)
A recent post from Brigitte..Its The Little Things
Hey Chris!
Thanks for the double mention! You are so very kind..
LOL I think everyone is “bug eyed” over the vibrator FAIL… Yikes..
I hope you enjoyed a lovely Thanksgiving Chris and your extra long weekend.. 😉
Thanks for the ARe freebie.
Love the circles of writing hell. Ohh, Farmville, must harvest potatoes. That’s me. LOL
But if the lead is on the outside of the glasses, how do you get it in your system. I don’t lick the picture on my glass. Just curious.
Kristen showed me those flag pizzas. Kind of cool although purple just looks wrong on a pizza.
Effervescent bacon? *gag reflex kicks in*
Only Adam Savage (and terrorists) would HAVE 12 inch razor blades in their luggage. Sigh. The stories you hear make you wonder how inept these people are.
Ha! Love the Area 51 reviews.
I’m going to Chicago in 2 weeks. I better brush up on what I can and can’t carry on since I’m not checking any baggage. Razor blade – okay, gel inserts for my shoes – not okay. Got it.
Yeah, I think Sloan’s is too sad for me. I’m wimpy lately. Even non-sad books make me cry. LOL I will get Belinda’s and read After Hours. I think I’ll pass on the rest and really honey, why did you buy that last one. Tell me you didn’t. LOL
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I love Nancy’s fishnet stockings.
A recent post from Cheryl S…After the Feast
*off to buy I rub my duckie*
A recent post from katiebabs..Guest Author Post- Wanda Brunstetter On Why She Writes Amish Romance
The Area 51 bit made me chuckle.
College-boy flew home from Vancouver yesterday, reported nothing horrible happened with the TSA.
Chris- LOL! That robot fair isle makes my head hurt.
The Buzz Lightyear sippy cup- no wonder kids are messed up. Does he say “to infinity and beyond?”
A recent post from Lorraine..Lack of Progress Report
Bruce Schneier rocks.
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Hey honey, I hope you had a great Thanksgiving day and enjoy your turkey! I hope you were surrounded by your family and those you love! Especially your kitties!!! Hugs to you honey!!!
A recent post from cecile..Happy Thanksgiving To All
Hi *waves* –
no time to link, just wanted to say hello 🙂
Great linkity! I’m still working my way through the Bookity part, ha, ha!
A recent post from Val Kovalin..Elisa reviews Trinity Trespass!
That Princess Bride cover is a trip!
Yikes! While I’ve never had anything against snakes, that feeling totally depended on them not flying.
I like the scent of lavender and the scent of pumpkin but I can’t quite imagine the combination.
I’m trying to decide which is worse, the Buzz Lightyear sippy cup or the corn vibrator. LOL!
LOL at the Area 51 reviews!
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Loved the 9 circles of writing hell and the shot/pint glasses. LOL on the tombstone, looks like it’s time for an upgrade there. 🙂
The 12 ridiculous vibrators was fun. But I can’t believe what they’ve done to the poor duckie. And really, a scorpion??? Umm, absolutely freaking no way!! 😀
And wow, who knew Buzz was hiding something so impressive/scary under his suit.
Breathe sounds really good but also so very angsty. I can’t decide on it. I read a few others on your list and pretty much agree with you.
Thanks for the mention! 🙂
A recent post from Lily..Happy Thanksgiving!
Lavender and pumpkin pie?? I would have never guessed that scent combo would turn men on. And I loved the researcher’s conclusion. LOL
A recent post from Ava March..Giveaway for Beyond Reckless
I’m glad you liked Breathe as much as I did. Btw, have you read Dark Geist? I almost didn’t because of the Train Wreck in Stock Photography but it’s really, really good. Another book I enjoyed was Rescue Me by Scarlet Blackwell.
She’s in a turkey coma?
A recent post from lisa..chicken and anachronisms
I just read the penis size story and all of the comments. Hilarious. Now I want to reread all of the m/m I have and see if the same things are played out between the hero and his partner(s).
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As always, thanks for a couple of hours wandering the web! Hope you had a good Thanksgiving. Not looking at fizzy bacon. No.
A recent post from Mary Lou..Risers Cowl
Just finished catchin up… That scorpian vibrator is still a mystery to me…
Good book haul this week as well… added a few to my list…
Congrats to Kaetrin on the win…
Cute pic of May..
🙂
The cover for The Princess Bride? Clearly SOMEONE was smoking SOMETHING when that was drawn…
OMG, those vibrators are a hoot! And, totally scary.
A recent post from Renee..Fantasy casting Island at DIK
Ohhhhh I need a Tardis Quilt. I think I should paint my house like a tardis. Too bad its only one story and a ranch. But then, maybe I could just paint it on the side of the garage and then everyone will know how wacky I am.
May, I think the world is upside down all the time.
A recent post from Rebekah..Arts and Crafts Weekend
Thanks for the mention. I am just now trying to catch up from my Holiday absence!
A recent post from Miranda..VIRTUALLY HIS- Spy Romance Review
Thanks again! 🙂
I’m gonna have to send Drew to a few of those as we’re contemplating an e-reader for his folks.
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