Monthly Archives: November 2012

Contests, Reading

Ebook giveaway: Eight Days by Cardeno C [CONTEST CLOSED]

87 Comments

Congrats to Sue, who won Simon, Sex, & the Solstice Stone by Kay Berrisford! Simon, Sex, & the Solstice Stone is being released today by Loose Id!

Many thanks to Cardeno C for donating an ebook copy of the forthcoming holiday m/m romance, Eight Days, for a lucky commenter to win! Eight Days will be released on December 1 by Dreamspinner Press as part of their 2012 Advent Calendar collection.

Maccabe Lieb and Josh Segal have nothing in common, but they’ve been friends forever. Maccabe is an athlete with dreams of playing professional baseball. Josh is a good student with dreams of being with Maccabe. Then both dreams come true.

Maccabe and Josh fall into a passionate long-distance romance, and after years of hiding from the world, Josh wants to bring their relationship into the open. When Maccabe refuses, Josh is faced with a tough decision: stay with the man he loves or live the life he deserves. Somebody’s bound to get hurt, but in the season of miracles, there’s always hope for a happy ending.

Other Books

About Cardeno

Cardeno C. is a hopeless romantic who wants to add a little happiness and a few “awwws” into a reader’s day. Writing is a nice break from real life as a corporate type and volunteer work with gay rights organizations. Cardeno often feels that characters write their own stories and just hopes to find enough time to get those stories on the page. And Cardeno loves to hear from readers so please drop a line to share your thoughts on a story. Find out more at Cardeno’s website, blog, Facebook, and Twitter.

Contest Rules

  • To enter, leave a comment stating that you are entering the contest. Contest closes 7 pm CST, Friday, November 30.
  • By entering the contest, you’re confirming that you are at least 18 years old.
  • 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!

A Mayhem picture from 2011!

“zOMG, you are just so silly, Mom!” -Mayhem

Contests, Reading

Ebook giveaway: Snowbound in Nowhere by Andrew Grey [CONTEST CLOSED]

77 Comments

Congrats to Sue, who won Simon, Sex, & the Solstice Stone by Kay Berrisford! Simon, Sex, & the Solstice Stone is being released today by Loose Id!

Many thanks to Andrew Grey for donating an ebook copy of his forthcoming holiday m/m romance, Snowbound in Nowhere, for a lucky commenter to win! Snowbound in Nowhere will be released on December 1 by Dreamspinner Press as part of their 2012 Advent Calendar collection.

When a funeral calls his friend Martin away, sunbelt resident Chris is left alone in Martin’s cabin in the dead of winter – and in a blizzard to boot. When the power goes out, Chris thinks he’s going to freeze to death. Luckily, Horace drops in to check on him – and then runs out after a few kisses, leaving Chris upset and feeling used. Horace does come back with explanations, but is their time together keeping each other warm enough for them see they belong together? Or are these sudden emotions the product of being snowbound?

Other Books

About Andrew

Andrew grew up in western Michigan with a father who loved to tell stories and a mother who loved to read them. Since then he has lived throughout the country and traveled throughout the world. He has a master’s degree from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and works in information systems for a large corporation. Andrew’s hobbies include collecting antiques, gardening, and leaving his dirty dishes anywhere but in the sink (particularly when writing). He considers himself blessed with an accepting family, fantastic friends, and the world’s most supportive and loving partner. Andrew currently lives in beautiful, historic Carlisle, Pennsylvania. You can find out more about Andrew and his books at his website and his blog.

Contest Rules

  • To enter, leave a comment stating that you are entering the contest. Contest closes 7 pm CST, Friday, November 30.
  • By entering the contest, you’re confirming that you are at least 18 years old.
  • 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!

A Chaos picture from 2008!

*thlurp* “I don’t know why Mom’s so mad – she’s the one who left her food unattended.” -Chaos

Contests, Reading

Ebook giveaway: An Isolated Range (Stories from the Range #5) by Andrew Grey [CONTEST CLOSED]

82 Comments

Congrats to Sue, who won Simon, Sex, & the Solstice Stone by Kay Berrisford! Simon, Sex, & the Solstice Stone is being released today by Loose Id!

Many thanks to Andrew Grey for donating an ebook copy of his forthcoming m/m romance, An Isolated Range (Stories from the Range #5), for a lucky commenter to win! An Isolated Range will be released on December 3 by Dreamspinner Press.

Marty Green has two loves in life: horses and basketball. But suffering a stroke during his first college game throws a wrench in his plans. After months spent in the hospital, recuperating under the zealous care of his overprotective parents, Marty realizes he needs to be on his own, so when he’s offered a job at a ranch owned by his doctor’s good friend, he takes it.

When veterinary assistant Quinn Knepper sees Marty for the first time, his heart nearly stops. He’s smitten, and Marty appears interested though shy. There are just two problems: Quinn’s father wants him to hide his sexuality from the world, and Marty’s Wyoming Senator father is a homophobe with no idea his son is gay – which Quinn learns when the senator proposes an amendment banning gay marriage.

Dealing with two unsupportive families is a heavy burden, but Quinn vows to make it work. Unfortunately, that may mean putting his life on hold while Marty overcomes his emotional isolation – unless, of course, Marty sacrifices his happiness to his father’s political ambition and ends the relationship before it gets started.

Other Books

About Andrew

Andrew grew up in western Michigan with a father who loved to tell stories and a mother who loved to read them. Since then he has lived throughout the country and traveled throughout the world. He has a master’s degree from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and works in information systems for a large corporation. Andrew’s hobbies include collecting antiques, gardening, and leaving his dirty dishes anywhere but in the sink (particularly when writing). He considers himself blessed with an accepting family, fantastic friends, and the world’s most supportive and loving partner. Andrew currently lives in beautiful, historic Carlisle, Pennsylvania. You can find out more about Andrew and his books at his website and his blog.

Contest Rules

  • To enter, leave a comment stating that you are entering the contest. Contest closes 7 pm CST, Friday, November 30.
  • By entering the contest, you’re confirming that you are at least 18 years old.
  • 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!

A Mayhem picture from 2007!

“I can’t believe you followed me under the ottoman to take my picture, Mom.” -Mayhem

Covers, Reading

Misadventures in Stock Photography: Part the 142nd (The return of the return of SHAGY)

13 Comments

Congrats to Dianna, who won Mayon by Mickie B. Ashling! Mayon is being released today by Dreamspinner Press.

Welcome to another edition of the Misadventures in Stock Photography! Today we’ll be catching up with Seventies HAir GuY, aka SHAGY.

laughed at

as he

with

at the

on

, even as he told Loco, “I’ll always be

, baby, because not even

can separate our

!”

Hmm. I think Ezekiel’s a dick. Yes? No? Discuss amongst yourselves.

“I am too suspicious of your intentions to pay any attention to naughty boys, Mom!” -Mayhem

Although this picture of Mayhem was taken before our big misadventure, it’s similar to how she looks right as she realizes I’m about to give her antibiotics and put in eye ointment – at which point she curls into a little ball and puts her front paws over her face. Awwww!

Linkity linkity link, Reading

A little linkity for a rough week

24 Comments

Congrats to Dianna, who won Mayon by Mickie B. Ashling! Mayon will be released by Dreamspinner Press on November 19.

May’s not as lively now that the anesthetic and analgesic have worn off, but I really can’t blame her for that. Still getting food into her at least – she had some turkey baby food for dinner last night (better than nothing, right?!). Having trouble believing tomorrow’s my birthday after this rough, rough week, y’know? On the plus side, it doesn’t look like any of my numerous cat bites have gotten infected. Maybe I should stop joking about Chaos being a house panther… (For the morbidly curious, here’s what my left ankle and right calf looked like on Tuesday.)

Contests

Bookity

Ebookity

Think, Make, Learn, Do

Cookity

Gluten-Freeity

Crafty

Cool

Cool or Wha…?

Wha…?

LOL

  • Logic boat. (Make sure you hover your cursor over the comic for additional text!)

Teh Cute

Reading Update
Heart in Hand by Salifiable. free online. reread. The hockey rpf that started it all. Very good m/m romance about two hockey players on rival teams who become friends – and more – through an unusual turn of events. I got sniffly more than once while I was reading this one. Also while rereading.
Plus lots of other hockey rpfs.

*thlurp* -Mayhem, as she cleaned her luxuriantly furred tummy on my lap last week before all the drama…

Contests, Reading

Ebook giveaway – Men of Smithfield: Adam & Holden by LB Gregg [CONTEST CLOSED]

60 Comments

Many thanks to LB Gregg for donating an ebook copy of her forthcoming m/m romance, Men of Smithfield: Adam & Holden, for a lucky commenter to win! Men of Smithfield: Adam & Holden will be released by Carina Press on November 26.

Holden Worthington’s globetrotting days are over. Once the host of a popular adventure show, he hasn’t ventured past his own front door in more than a year. Then the arrival of a sexy new gardener sparks something Holden hasn’t felt in a very long time – an interest in the world outside his window.

Holden tries to resist the attraction. But painfully shy yet definitely interested Adam Morgan has Holden longing to conquer his debilitating anxiety and live again. After a grisly discovery on the grounds of the estate, the town of Smithfield turns a suspicious eye on the reclusive Holden – and the two men must trust in each other to bring the truth out in the open.

Previously published as “In and Out,” newly revised by author.

Books by LB

About LB Gregg

LB Gregg (Lisabea) spends her days plotting and planning and her evenings with her family – three (well above average) teenagers, a smoking hot hubbie, a fat-ass beagle, and a smelly old dachshund. For fun, LB is passionate about skiing, hiking, travel, pedicures, fine wine, good music, and playing cards. She’s been known to read a bit too much.

For more info on LB, because surely one can never get too much of a good thing, you can find her at her blog, Nose in a Book, or at her website.

Contest Rules

  • To enter, leave a comment stating that you are entering the contest. Contest closes 7 pm CST, Friday, November 23.
  • By entering the contest, you’re confirming that you are at least 18 years old.
  • 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!

“Things have been far too stressful here.” -Mayhem

Definitely, May… Ok, yesterday May went back to the vet and had an abscess in the back of her mouth, which was also affecting her eye, drained. She’s doing better – eating soft food on her own, trying to escape from my bedroom when I go in or out, etc. I always joke that May’s superpower is her ability to turn anything into a dangerous toy… I just didn’t realize how apt that would turn out to be! So keep sending those healing and anti-infection thoughts our way! Thanks.

Contests, Reading

Ebook giveaway: Journal of Sanctuary One (Sanctuary #6) by RJ Scott [CONTEST CLOSED]

78 Comments

Congrats to Giselle, who won Knitter in His Natural Habitat (Knitting #4) by Amy Lane! Knitter in His Natural Habitat is being released today by Dreamspinner Press.

Mayhem update: Back to the vet yesterday for subcutaneous fluids, antibiotics, and some “critical care” cat food, which she’s actually been eating. Whew! Keep us in your thoughts. Thanks.

Oh, and when life gets this crazy for me, don’t worry if I don’t reply to your comments, ‘k? As long as you can see your comments (after they’ve been approved, if necessary), you’re entered in the contest.

Many thanks to RJ Scott for donating an ebook copy of her forthcoming m/m holiday romance, Journal of Sanctuary One (Sanctuary #6), for a lucky commenter to win! Journal of Sanctuary One will be released by Silver Publishing on November 24.

Jake spends every Christmas at Sanctuary 1. From a small child the cabin was home for his family in the special season, and with the third anniversary of his dad’s death approaching he arranges for Kayden, Beckett and himself to meet at the cabin a few days before Christmas. When a snowstorm means Kayden is blocked in NY with Beckett, Jake ends up in the cabin on his own.

Sean is being hunted and the only place he can run to is somewhere mentioned in an old journal – the original Sanctuary Cabin. The cabin is no longer in official use but it would be a good place to heal and take stock of just what the fuck is going on with his life.

Neither man is prepared for being stuck together for an entire week, nor for the secrets that threaten to get them both killed.

Other Books by RJ

About RJ

RJ Scott lives in the Chiltern hills just outside London, England. She loves reading anything from thrillers to sci-fi to horror; however, her first real love will always be the world of romance. Her goal is to write stories with a heart of romance, a troubled road to reach happiness, and more than a hint of happily ever after.

RJ writes across all the genres, but if pushed she says she enjoys writing contemporary romance over the rest. You can find out more about RJ and her books at her website, on Facebook, and via Twitter.

Contest Rules

  • To enter, leave a comment stating that you are entering the contest. Contest closes 7 pm CST, Friday, November 23.
  • By entering the contest, you’re confirming that you are at least 18 years old.
  • 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!

Flashback to May in my suitcase after I got home from New Mexico…

“Now Mom can’t go away again! It’s the perfect plan.” -Mayhem

Contests, Reading

Ebook giveaway: Crucible of Fate (Change of Heart #4) by Mary Calmes [CONTEST CLOSED]

130 Comments

Congrats to Becca, who won The One Who Saves Me (Home #4) by Cardeno C! The One Who Saves Me was released yesterday by Dreamspinner Press.

Many thanks to Mary Calmes for donating an ebook copy two ebook copies of her forthcoming paranormal m/m romance, Crucible of Fate (Change of Heart #4), for lucky commenters to win! Crucible of Fate will be released by Dreamspinner Press on November 21. (Thanks to Mary for donating a second copy after the contest broke 100 comments!)

In the secret city of Sobek, Domin Thorne is making his way as the newly chosen semel-aten, the leader of the werepanther world. He aspires to make sweeping changes – he’s set goals for himself and the people he chose to bring with him, modeling his reign after that of his friend, Logan Church. But Domin may have set too lofty a goal: his normal leadership style isn’t working.

While juggling a homesick Crane, a moody Mikhail, a bullwhip-wielding Taj, servants with murderous intentions, a visiting ex, and a mate on a dangerous goodwill mission, Domin has to figure out his new role alone. He also must determine how to deal with a conspiracy, all the while falling hard for a man who, for the first time in Domin’s life, reciprocates that love. Whether Domin is ready or not, Fate has stepped in to teach him a lesson: internal threats are just as dangerous as external ones.

Go read a Jin and Logan ficlet at Mary’s blog

Other Books

About Mary

My name is Mary Calmes and I have been writing since I was in the seventh grade. One of my first stories ever was about Demetrius and Konor, two big strapping gorgeous knights and while it was not historically accurate in any way, hello, seventh grade, the one thing that became glaringly obvious was that the guys liked each other more than the damsels in distress they were trying to save.

“Boys don’t sleep in the same bed when they’re grown-ups,” my mother said when I read it to her.

“Men don’t talk nice to each other like that,” my step-father said that night.

They do in m/m fiction which I was destined to write.

I tried really hard to write a female lead but it just left me flat. I read all kinds of different books and I have favorite writers in every genre but I can only write about men. The dynamics between two men are more interesting to me and as a woman, I like men and the idea of two men together, two beautiful men… I don’t understand the question.

When people tell you that they’ve enjoyed something you’ve written, there really is no greater feeling.

Contest Rules

  • To enter, leave a comment stating that you are entering the contest. Contest closes 7 pm CST, Tuesday, November 20.
  • By entering the contest, you’re confirming that you are at least 18 years old.
  • 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!

*purrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr* -Chaos (giving me the kitty eyes of love and looking completely harmless…)

Had to take May back to the vet yesterday – apparently Chaos managed to scratch her eye during the mess on Saturday. My poor miserable kitty girl! 🙁

Randonymity

Another Misadventure Monday Without a Misadventure

13 Comments

Congrats to SusieQ, who won That’s Entertainment! by Clare London! That’s Entertainment! was released on November 11 by JMS Books.

Yeah, so after our big misadventure on Saturday, I really wasn’t feeling up to putting together a Misadventures in Stock Photography post for today. Sorry. 🙁

Here’s a picture of May napping on my lap, just a few hours before everything happened Saturday… She’s living in my bedroom, while Chaos is living in the rest of the condo. At least she isn’t growling at me anymore and she’s been curling up next to me to sleep at night. Still growling at Chaos when she glimpses him through the door as I go in or out. *sigh*

“…zzzzzzzzzzzzz…” -Mayhem

Personal history, Those Cats

In which May goes to the emergency vet and I go to urgent care but we’re ok, so whew!

60 Comments

I was eating lunch when May started to scream – she was playing with the end of a bungee cord and got it wedged in her mouth. Chaos flipped and attacked her. I got the bungee free, but she was bleeding. And then Chaos attacked me. He got locked in the bathroom. Took May to the emergency vet – she’s fine (whew!), just has a bruise on her tongue and some cuts at the back of her mouth. Soft food for her for a few days.

While I was at the emergency vet, blood overflowed out of my shoes, so the vet tech slapped some pressure bandages on me and rinsed off my shoes. They held on to May while I went to urgent care. Got five stitches on the back of one calf. Punctures and scratches on both legs, my left hand, and both arms. Since Chaos managed to trip me, I twisted my knee and also seem to have jammed my right index finger. On antibiotics for 10 days.

All the dark spots in the photo above? My blood from earlier.

Home now. May is hiding between the head of my bed and the wall (Chaos can’t get there). She won’t let me near her, either. I let Chaos out and he was fine, but then he went into the bedroom and May started growling at him and he got all hissy growly poofy. I scruffed him and put him back in the bathroom for a few minutes. Now May’s shut in my bedroom and Chaos is out. I guess it’s good I grabbed some disposable litter boxes, just in case….

Send some cat calming, no infection thoughts our way, will ya? Much appreciated…

Update, evening of November 13: May’s been back to the vet twice since Saturday. First we got ointment for her eye, which apparently got scratched in the melee. Today she got subcutaneous fluids, antibiotics, and “critical care” cat food… which she actually ate some of (first food since all this started).