Monthly Archives: April 2010

Covers, Reading

Misadventures in Stock Photography (Part the Nineteenth: Another Guy in a Tie)

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Kris was actually the first to find this guy on a few covers, but she has graciously given me permission to expand on her post. Thanks, Kris!

Meet Tie Guy Two (or Tie Guy, Too, if you prefer). iStockphoto had many different photos of TGT, with and without his tie. Here are several examples, although so far I haven’t seen any covers using that second photo, for some reason. 😉

“Don’t make me mad. You won’t like it when I’m mad.”

As our story begins, TGT says, “

. When we hang out together at

, I insist that you

.” Yeah, whatever – spiffy red tie you have there, TGT. And the tail… well. You really, really should have horns with that tail. Just sayin’.

Alas, the red tie and tail must’ve clashed with his aviator goggles, since he switched back to the grey.

And now, back to our incoherent little story. TGT hired a

with whom to share some

. But

didn’t tell poor TGT about certain… complications in his life, such as his girlfriend. Realizing that he was now stuck in the thankless role of

and all around

, TGT abandoned his dreams of

and called his now ex an

as he went forth to start his new life. Having been

in the arts of financial management as well as in the arts of pleasure, TGT found a nice banking job

that didn’t require him to wear a shirt with his tie. The end. Thankfully! 🙂

“Oh, no! Another wicked, wicked boy! I can’t bear to look.” -Mayhem

Contests, Linkity linkity link, Reading, Reviewettes

In which the linkity thing gets incredibly out of hand (yes, even more so than usual)

39 Comments

Congrats to Nancy, who won the copy of Stephani Hecht’s Man Down (which was released today)!

Contests

Reading & Books & Lions, Oh My! (Ok, I made up the lions bit)

  • All sorts of book news, interview links, new release info, and more: Lily (m/m romance), SciFiGuy (urban fantasy, paranormal romance, etc),  Literary Escapism (urban fantasy, paranormal romance), Smexy Books (contemporary & paranormal romance), and Katiebabs (assorted romance genres).

Learn Things, Make Things, Do Things

  • Have you voted in the Webbys yet? Goodreads is nominated in Websites – Connections – Social Networking… and voting closes April 29. Thanks for the heads up, Ralph!

Things That Made Me Happy or Amused Me

  • Colin. Really. You must read it.
  • Oh, Hyberbole and a Half, how I do love thee! Favorite recent quote: “As a grammatically conscientious person who frequents internet forums and YouTube, I have found it necessary to develop a few coping mechanisms.”

Ewww

Squee!

Reading Update
The Prayer Waltz by K.Z. Snow. ebook. Very good m/m romance about a writer who returns to the Wisconsin town in which his lover had been a priest (before he left the church), looking for understanding and closure, but finding so much more. A gorgeous and highly recommended read.
The Darkling Thrush by Josh Lanyon. ebook. Very good m/m fantasy romance about a finder of magickal books who’s interning in England from the American Confederation and gets drawn into something more complex than he realizes. I did spend the first quarter of the book with my usual “I am reading a fantasy” frustration of trying to remember all the specialized details, but I enjoyed the story enough that I got beyond that. Recommended.
Colliding in Free Fall by Vivien Dean. ebook. Good m/m romance about a closeted Midwestern firefighter who, in his early 40s, wants to keep doing his job, no matter what the doctor thinks.
Of the Clan O’Grady by A.M. Riley. ebook. Good m/m urban fantasy about the (male) banshee of the Clan O’Grady who befriends a naive young fae lost in New York City.
Son of a Gun by A.M. Riley. ebook. Very good m/m romantic suspense about a writer who returns to the small Texas town where he grew up. He’s there for the funeral of his best friend, but why won’t anyone give him a straight answer about what happened? Highly recommended.
The Nest by G.S. Wiley. ebook. Good m/m romance about a young man struggling to take care of his three younger siblings and keep them out of the hands of Social Services while living on the wrong side of the tracks.
Mightier (The Seven of Swords) by G.S. Wiley. ebook short. Good m/m romance about a writer who’s staying at a friend’s Irish cottage trying to get past his writer’s block.
Heart Song by Sara Bell. ebook short. Nicely done m/m romance about a guitar player who’s forcibly outed and the impact it has on the rest of the band. What I really like about Sara Bell? She can write a sweet story without making it sappy.
The Lovers by Sara Bell. Another good m/m romance from Sara Bell about a soap opera star whose drug addict mother threatens to out him unless he pays her off (again).
Making Lemonade by T.C. Blue. ebook. A sweet m/m romance about a guy whose partner just died, but whose blossoming friendship with his partner’s nephew helps ease his grief.
In Hot Pursuit by Kate McMurray. ebook. Good m/m romantic suspense about a closeted NYPD cop, whose boyfriend was killed by a shot meant for him and who has been working too much in the years since then, is sent by his captain to a timeshare in Tampa on vacation to avoid burnout. Oh, the excitement he finds on his vacation…
Lynx by Joely Skye. ebook. Pretty good paranormal m/m romance about Trey, a werewolf who hides his nature and works for a blacks ops group in the US government. When running as a wolf in the Canadian Shield, he encounters a giant lynx shifter, and life will never be the same for either of them. While I enjoyed this book, I had trouble with how large, critical parts of it occurred offsides… and it distanced me from the story. The author’s note at the end of Lynx actually explains the offsides bit. Trey has been in Skye’s books Monster, Zombie, Minder, Marked, Feral, and The Strength of the Wolf and it was finally time for his story. Since Lynx was occurring at the same time as those books, with much of the critical stuff happening in other books, it ends up being sort of an odd read.
Bi Now, Gay Later (Perfect Timing, Book 5) by Kim Dare. ebook. Good m/m romance about a dominant who doesn’t believe that bisexuality exists, which causes a problem for his bisexual submissive.
Sandalwood and a Potato by Andy Slayde & Ali Wilde. Enjoyable m/m romance about two guys who work at a mall – one owns a New Age shop and the other’s a banker who’s sworn off relationships. The best part? Finding out how the potato fit into the story!
Finding Chandler (free), A Test of Love, Switching Gears, and Stardust (The Solitary Knights of Pelham Bay, Books 1-4) by Claire Thompson. ebooks. These m/m romances are decent reads and remind me quite a bit of a Carol Lynne series. The Solitary Knights of Pelham Bay are a group of extremely cynical guys who’d given up on love and get together to bitch and moan about fools who believe in love. Then the bartender issues them a challenge…
Balance by Zahra Owens. ebook. So-so m/m romance about a desk jockey whose fascination for being tied up leads him to an introductory session at a kinky club, at which he meets a very intriguing tattoo artist.
Devil and the Deep Blue Sea by M. King. ebook. Interesting m/m romance about a guy working in advertising who becomes involved with a guy who works in the adult film industry. Usually this particular dynamic feels completely unrealistic to me, but in this book, it felt more plausible because it addressed the emotional complexity of the situation.
The Perfect Pumpkin Pie by Aaron Michaels. ebook. Cute m/m romance about a guy whose obsessive roommate keeps sending him to the store for very specific items – good thing the assistant manager of the store is so helpful, hmm?
Finding the Words by Terry O’Reilly. ebook. Ok m/m romance about a speech therapist who finds himself increasingly drawn to one of his patients.
One Good Turn (Turner & Turner, Book 1) by Amber Green. ebook. M/m romantic suspense that’s really too complicated for me to even attempt summing up. Not sure if it was my state of mind while I was reading or what, but this felt disjointed. Plus I really disliked the abrupt ending – I think this book needed to be longer or more tightly edited or both. (Yes, very good, that is Candy Cane Guy with the smiley face!)
Never Say Goodbye (Slippery When Wet, Book 3) by Jenna Byrnes. ebook. Ok m/m romance about an ex-con who’s been hired as a live-in lover by a wealthy and unscrupulous man. Had the insta-love thing, which is never a favorite of mine.

*bathing in the sunshine sounds* -Chaos

Contests, Reading

Ebook Giveaway: Son of a Gun by A. M. Riley [CONTEST CLOSED]

42 Comments

Many thanks to author A. M. Riley for donating a copy of her newly released m/m romantic suspense, Son of a Gun, for one lucky reader to win!

Politics, drugs, and secrets from the past collide in the town of Boerne, Texas, and end in a chase across the Devil’s Backbone.

Stefan Sanchez’s number one reason to leave Texas was closeted deputy Chet Blain. When Stefan returns for the funeral of his best friend, he is confronted by painful memories, Chet’s recriminations, and a hunky Secret Service agent who seems determined to make Stefan’s business his business.

Read an excerpt.
Read a review of Son of a Gun at Reviews by Jessewave.

About A. M.

A. M. Riley is a film editor and sometime poet, living and working in Los Angeles, with an interest in paranormal, erotica, and anything that tests established boundaries.

Other Books

Contest Rules

  • To enter, leave a comment stating that you are entering the contest. Contest closes 7 pm CDT, Wednesday, April 21.
  • If you haven’t commented before, your comment will not be visible until after I moderate it. Please do not leave a second comment because your first doesn’t show up! The blog gnomes will decide your comments are spam and then only ritual dust bunny sacrifice will salvage your entry…
  • If your comment is actually an advertisement or if your CommentLuv link turns it into an advertisement, your comment will be deleted. (Most of you do not need to worry – this refers to some pretty clever comment spam.)
  • Winners will be selected by random number.
  • You must leave a valid email address in the “Email” portion of the comment form.
  • Please make sure that your spam filter allows email from stumblingoverchaos.com!
  • If a winner doesn’t respond to my congratulations email within 48 hours, I will select another winner.
  • If you win, please respect the author’s intellectual property and don’t make copies of the ebook for anyone else.
  • This contest is open worldwide!

“I hope you aren’t taking my picture, Mom… how’s a Panther Princess supposed to get any…zzzzzzzzzzz…” -Mayhem

Contests, Reading

Ebook Giveaway: The Prayer Waltz by KZ Snow [CONTEST CLOSED]

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Congrats to Joder, who won the copy of Like Coffee and Doughnuts by Elle Parker!

Many thanks to author KZ Snow for donating an ebook copy of her recently released m/m romance, The Prayer Waltz, for one lucky reader to win!

For eight months, the peculiar circumstances surrounding the sudden death of Steven Brandwein’s lover, an enigmatic ex-priest, have weighted his mourning with mystery. Desperate for emotional closure, Steve makes a journey he’s put off for years: he travels to the town that was once an integral part of his late lover’s life. Steve hopes his pilgrimage will help him better understand Frank, serve as a final farewell, and allow him to move on.

His visit to St. Jerome’s Church one snowy, silent night proves more consequential than he’d ever anticipated. Evan McAllister, an unassuming man still grieving over the death of his son, befriends Steve. As their bond grows, they both make startling discoveries – not the least of which, for Steve, is that he’s ready to love again.

From Reviewers

  • Recommended Read and Top Pick of the Month, Helen, Dark Diva Reviews
  • Five Star Read, Aunt Lynn, Reviews by Jessewave
  • Excellent rating, Jenre, Well Read

M/M Romances Also Available or Soon To Be Released

About K. Z.:

K. Z. Snow has published close to thirty shorts, novellas, and novels in a variety of genres and with a variety of publishers, including Ellora’s Cave, Cerridwen Press, Loose Id, Liquid Silver Books, Dreamspinner Press, Changeling Press, Samhain Publishing (under a different name), and Double Dragon Publishing. At the urging of two headstrong characters, she began writing m/m romance about three years ago and fell in love with it. Her work has since been exclusively in that genre.

K. Z. lives with her boyfriend of nine years in rural Wisconsin, where she still loves all creatures great and small… except wood ticks, mosquitoes, and chicken-killing raccoons.

You can visit KZ at her blog, where you’ll find more information about all of her books, including her m/f and menage titles.

Contest Rules

  • To enter, leave a comment stating that you are entering the contest. Contest closes 7 pm CDT, Monday, April 19.
  • If you haven’t commented before, your comment will not be visible until after I moderate it. Please do not leave a second comment because your first doesn’t show up! The blog gnomes will decide your comments are spam and then only luck and ritual dust bunny sacrifice will salvage your entry…
  • If your comment is actually an advertisement or if your CommentLuv link turns it into an advertisement, your comment will be deleted. (Most of you do not need to worry – this refers to some pretty clever comment spam.)
  • Winners will be selected by random number.
  • You must leave a valid email address in the “Email” portion of the comment form.
  • Please make sure that your spam filter allows email from stumblingoverchaos.com!
  • If a winner doesn’t respond to my congratulations email within 48 hours, I will select another winner.
  • If you win, please respect the author’s intellectual property and don’t make copies of the ebook for anyone else.
  • This contest is open worldwide!

“If a bird chirps in the tree outside, but the window isn’t open for me to hear the bird, does the bird make a sound?” -Mayhem

Covers, Reading

Misadventures in Stock Photography: Part the Eighteenth (Boys on the Beach)

42 Comments

Thanks for all of your cheering comments on Friday! Congrats to Nikki, who won the mix cd! (She selected the Coffee Mix.) We had a lovely sunny weekend here, perfect for taking a walk or two. 🙂

Allow me to introduce you to the Boys on the Beach. I like the one on the right. You?

Alas, the poor Boys on the Beach ended up

and the guy on the left was so traumatized by the experience that he bleached his hair blond.

Bad, bad choice. So he had to hide his head in shame for a while, but

the guy on the right convinced him that beauty was in the

and the guy on the left started to feel better about himself again. (Hey, wait, where did the beach go?!)

Finally his hair grew out, so they returned to the beach and walked on together.

The end. Until I find more pictures of them, of course.

Friday night, I caught Mayhem napping in one of the cat carriers – I’d say she doesn’t blame it for taking her to the vet, huh?

 

“What? Why is it a big deal to nap in this portable kitty cave?” -Mayhem

Personal history, Randonymity

Shhh! Sleeping Kitty Zone!

58 Comments
  • I have no idea why the CommentLuv plugin is reduced to a single sad checkbox without text below the comment box. If you have some idea, please do share.
    • Last night, I was harmlessly sitting in my bathroom when Chaos, apparently attempting to leap out of the tub and chase after May, got tangled in the shower curtain and fell into the water dish.
    • What? You don’t have a kitty water dish in your bathroom? What happens when they lock themselves into the bathroom when you’re not home? (The toilet is kept closed to keep kitties from playing in it, so it’s not available as a water source.)
    • The kitty treat trick worked very well on Chaos (aka Mr. Food Motivated).
    • He started to get a clue as he was zipped in, but it was too late! *bwahaha*
    • May suspected something was amiss and didn’t jump into the other carrier, but she was too slow to flee the scene. *bwahaha*
    • Verdict #1 from the vet: tartar! Both kitties will need to go back to get their teeth cleaned.
    • Verdict #2 from the vet: May continues to maintain her perfect self (quote from the vet on a prior visit: “She poops rainbows!”), but Chaos…
    • Chaos needs to lose a pound and… has an ear wax issue.
    • Back on the prescription vitamin D, hi-ho, hi-ho.
    • Still waiting on the official test results letter from my doctor to see what else might be awry.
    • Hmm. Not hiding that I’m in a bit of a mood very well, am I?
    • So… Tell me something that will cheer me up! Anyone who leaves a cheering comment on this post by 6 pm CDT, April 11, will have the chance to win their choice of one of the following mix cds: Coffee, Everybody Wants To Be a Cat, Eh Canada, Werewolf Moon, Vampire Life, Books, or ManLove. Winner will be selected by random number. [CONTEST CLOSED]

    *…zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz…* -Chaos

    Contests, Linkity linkity link, Reading, Reviewettes

    In which Mayhem taunts all of you and I include a few links

    39 Comments

    Contests

    • Karen’s trying whip her knitting WIPs into shape. Answer the questions (how many WIPs will she have left at the end of April and will she be able to resist starting any new projects during the month) in her comments by midnight (Danish time), April 20, for your chance to win two skeins of Malabrigo worsted.

    Books & Reading

    • Nicole found some great links – make sure you follow the one to Librarysarie’s post about her new favorite Dewey number.

    Learn & Do

    Things I Found Amusing

    Cute!

    Reading Update
    Admit One by Jenna Hilary Sinclair. ebook. Wow. This m/m romance gutted me, because it was such a powerful read. And yet… I can’t tell you much about it, because part of its power and impact is in how the story develops and in how things are revealed. At the most simple level, it’s the story of a deeply closeted high school teacher in conservative rural Texas, who very occasionally drives to Houston to hook up with someone – but never the same someone twice. It’s a story of being afraid, of having extremely valid reasons to be afraid, and of living a life so constrained by those fears as to barely be alive. Definitely recommended.
    Give and Take by Anne Brooke. ebook short. Good m/m romance about a guy who, two years after his partner of 13 years died, is out at a bar trying to connect with another guy for the first time in a very long time – and he so doesn’t want to have to make all the decisions…
    Journey to Compromise by Mara Ismine. ebook short. Good paranormal m/m romance about a guy following an itch to travel. He’s had a bad year (lost love, lost job), but maybe things are starting to look up…
    Healthy Obsession by Carolyn LeVine Topol. ebook short. Meh m/m romance about a player who’s finally decided he needs more out of life than one-night stands. While he’s at the gym, he meets a guy in the process of getting divorced and coming out and it’s twue wuv. (Hmm. Kinda snarky there. Possibly because I wanted to slap characters while I was reading.)
    A Promise Given by Stormy Glenn. ebook. The usual m/m romance fare from Stormy Glenn in this follow-up to A Promise Kept. Can Alec possibly have a good reason for vanishing from Cooper’s life ten years ago? And if they have that pesky serial killer behind bars, who’s killing guys that fit the same profile now?
    Blue Skye and Ryan’s Harbor by Viki Lyn. ebooks. After reading and enjoying Viki Lyn’s paranormal m/m romance, Last Chance, I decided to try this pair of m/m contemporary romances. Meh. Blue Skye was about an out artist and a closeted architect who meet again as adults. They were friends in high school, until they acted on their attraction and the architect fearfully rushed back into his closet. Ryan’s Harbor was about the architect’s gay assistant and the architect’s straight brother – this was a better read than Blue Skye, but be warned that the HFN ending suggests there could be more books in the future… *sigh*
    Rescue by Sean Michael. ebook short. A quick little m/m about a guy who lost everything in a fire going home with one of the firefighters.
    Purple Pen Diaries by Julia Talbot. ebook short. Fun m/m short about a mystery writer on a cruise who hooks up with a security guy trying to solve a mystery.
    Landing with Both Feet (Thatcher Brothers, Book 2) by Julia Talbot. ebook. So-so m/m romance that had way too many flashbacks, between the Jed/Eli and Ross/Kevin stories. Too confusing. And I spent a fair amount of time being upset at people. Hmph. This felt like “Hey, that other Thatcher Brothers book did well – how about another one? Let’s mess up their lives to justify this sequel!”
    Taking the Leap (Thatcher Brothers, Book 3) by Julia Talbot. ebook. Ok m/m romance tying up the last bit of the mess from the second book. After that angstfest, this book has no angst whatsoever.
    Turguoise: Something’s Gotta Give by Kiernan Kelly. ebook short. Ack! Another stalker! Other than that, this was an ok romance about a guy who gets involved with a cop that he met when giving a statement about his ex stealing all of his stuff.
    Texas Hold ‘Em, Slow Play, Pocket Pair, and Different Suits (Poker Night, Books 1-4) by Carol Lynne. ebooks. Decent m/m romance series about a group of guys who play poker together every other Saturday night. Each book focuses on one of the poker players as he finds love. As EH has commented, while you always know what you’re going to get with a Carol Lynne book, sometimes that works just fine.
    Wild Raspberries by Jane Davitt. ebook. Very good m/m romance about a young man who runs away from home, then heads into the woods after some bad experiences on the road, where he runs into a cranky landowner.
    Artistically Yours by Z.A. Maxfield, Andy Slayde & Ali Wilde, and C.T. Piatt. ebook collection. I enjoyed each of the three short stories in this collection of m/m romances about artists getting much, much closer to their models.
    Rock Bottom by Celia Kyle. ebook short. Lyrically written m/m romance short about a guy whose partner died in a car crash and who’s been drinking to forget, until he hits rock bottom.
    Night at the Office by Drew Zachary. ebook short. Nicely done, steamy short m/m encounter between a night watchman and a guy working late.
    Playing the Market by Drew Zachary. ebook. Good m/m romance about a workaholic stockbroker and a footloose construction worker who find unexpected common ground.

    “You know you want to rub my very soft and fluffy tummy! But you can’t! *neener neener neener*” -Mayhem

    Contests, Reading

    Ebook Giveaway: Man Down by Stephani Hecht [CONTEST CLOSED]

    51 Comments

    Congrats to Tracey D, who won the copy of Dangerous Distractions by Mia Watts!

    Many thanks to author Stephani Hecht for donating a copy of her forthcoming m/m romance, Man Down, for me to give away! (Man Down will be available April 15 from eXtasy Books.)

    All Jessie Goodson wants to do is put the past behind him and focus on his dreams of becoming a paramedic. Broken and scarred in more ways than one, he yearns to prove to everyone who’s ever doubted him that he can make something of himself. Determined to succeed, the last thing he wants is anything or anyone to distract him from his goal.

    Randal Connors’s job is to train new medics; it sure as hell isn’t to mess around them. Especially a certain blond, who’s not only way too young for him, but haunted by a secret past. Forbidden or not, Randal still finds himself becoming more attracted to Jessie with each passing day.

    Then the explosive details of Jessie’s secrets come out and Randal knows he can’t turn his back on the man. But in helping Jessie, will Randal lose everything he has?

    About Stephani:

    Stephani Hecht is a happily married mother of two. Born and raised in Michigan, she loves all things about the state, from the frigid winters to the Detroit Red Wings hockey team. Go Wings! You can usually find her snuggled up to her laptop, creating her next book or gorging on caffeine at her favorite coffee shop.

    When she’s not running around like crazy, trying to get her kids to their various activities, she’s currently working on numerous projects. In the coming months, she has several books coming out with eXtasy Books in both The Lost Shifter Series and Drone Vampire Chronicles, plus a few additional projects that are still in the development stages.

    Contest Rules

    • To enter, leave a comment stating that you are entering the contest. Contest closes 7 pm CDT, Wednesday, April 14.
    • If you haven’t commented before, your comment will not be visible until after I moderate it. Please do not leave a second comment because your first doesn’t show up! The blog gnomes will decide your comments are spam and then only luck and counterintuitive espionage will salvage your entry…
    • If your comment is actually an advertisement or if your CommentLuv link turns it into an advertisement, your comment will be deleted. (Most of you do not need to worry – this refers to some pretty clever comment spam.)
    • Winners will be selected by random number.
    • You must leave a valid email address in the “Email” portion of the comment form.
    • Please make sure that your spam filter allows email from stumblingoverchaos.com!
    • If a winner doesn’t respond to my congratulations email within 48 hours, I will select another winner.
    • If you win, please respect the author’s intellectual property and don’t make copies of the ebook for anyone else.
    • This contest is open worldwide!

    *ahem* “I am still waiting for my doughnut, Mom.” -Chaos

    Make sure you enter the contest to win a copy of Elle Parker’s m/m romantic suspense, Like Coffee and Doughnuts! Contest closes 7 pm CDT, April 12.

    Contests, Reading

    Ebook Giveaway: Like Coffee and Doughnuts by Elle Parker [CONTEST CLOSED]

    46 Comments

    Congrats to Sandy Jay, who won the copy of Kim Dare’s Bi Now, Gay Later!

    Many thanks to author Elle Parker, who has graciously donated an ebook copy of her wonderful romantic m/m suspense, Like Coffee and Doughnuts, for me to give away! Like Coffee and Doughnuts was recently released in print (click on the cover below for more info), and the ebook sequel, Like Beer and Pizza, will be out later this year. (Like Coffee and Doughnuts is one of my comfort rereads…)

    Florida P.I., Dino Martini, is as old school as he can be in the modern age. He may do much of his work on a computer these days, but he carries a gun, he drives a convertible, and he lives on the beach. Well, close to the beach. He’s got his best friend and mechanic, Seth Donnelly, to back him up in a fight, and there’s not a lot more he could ask from life.

    That is, until his world is turned upside down. In the space of a few days, Dino moves into a new apartment, gets tangled up in a dangerous case, and finds himself with a new boyfriend. The snag is, he’s never had a boyfriend before, and the one in question is Seth. Dino’s got to figure out if he can handle this new twist of fate. Just as he’s thinking maybe he can, the shit hits the fan and he stands to lose Seth in more ways than one.

    About Elle:

    Elle Parker likes her heroes snarky and human, and she writes with a realism that incorporates humor and everyday detail into steamy and exciting stories. Although she writes a few forms of erotica, her first love and primary focus is M/M Erotic Romance. She works hard to create characters you can’t help but fall in love with.

    Most of the time, Elle can be found in her home in the north woods of Wisconsin, working on her latest novel, or spending time with her husband and teenaged kids. When not writing, she likes reading, brewing beer and swimming with the loons. Unless it’s winter. In that case she grabs a book and drinks the beer.

    She’s also a great fan of country bars, and can often be found in one, plugging the jukebox and getting ready to shoot a game of pool. It’s often during these times that she gets some of her best inspiration.

    Contest Rules

    • To enter, leave a comment stating that you are entering the contest. Contest closes 7 pm CDT, Monday, April 12.
    • If you haven’t commented before, your comment will not be visible until after I moderate it. Please do not leave a second comment because your first doesn’t show up! The blog gnomes will decide your comments are spam and then only luck and counterintuitive espionage will salvage your entry…
    • If your comment is actually an advertisement or if your CommentLuv link turns it into an advertisement, your comment will be deleted. (Most of you do not need to worry – this refers to some pretty clever comment spam.)
    • Winners will be selected by random number.
    • You must leave a valid email address in the “Email” portion of the comment form.
    • Please make sure that your spam filter allows email from stumblingoverchaos.com!
    • If a winner doesn’t respond to my congratulations email within 48 hours, I will select another winner.
    • If you win, please respect the author’s intellectual property and don’t make copies of the ebook for anyone else.
    • This contest is open worldwide!

    “Did someone say doughnuts?!” -Chaos