Monthly Archives: August 2013

Linkity linkity link

Linkity looking forward to a long weekend

8 Comments

Congrats to Melanie, who won the Summer Lovin’ m/m romance anthology by Clare London, Chrissy Munder, JL Merrow, Josephine Myles, & Lou Harper!

Congrats to Karen R, who won A Heart without Borders by Andrew Grey! A Heart without Borders is being released today by Dreamspinner Press.

Congrats to Avalie, who won Strong Enough (Family #2) by Cardeno C! Strong Enough is also being released today by Dreamspinner Press.

Randonymity

  • Minnesota allows citizens to carry guns around, which leads to all sorts of places having “[name] bans guns on these premises” signs. Few are as good as this (click to embiggen):

  • No Misadventures post on Monday because it’s a holiday in the US! A much-needed holiday for me. 🙂

Contest(s)

  • Jenre’s celebrating her 1000th post with a giveaway – prizes include a $10 ARe voucher and chocolate! Read the rules before you comment, because you have to answer a question. Closes 11:59 pm GMT, September 1.

Bookity

  • What’s your bookshelf type? (Thanks, Experiment BL26!) I have a couple of IKEA BILLY bookcases and a couple of boring old bookcases that my dad made many, many, many years ago. I’m not sure what type that makes me. 🙂

Ebookity

Think, Do, Learn, Make

Cookity

Gluten Free

Cool

Cool or Wha…?

Wha…?

LOL

Teh Cute

Reading Update
New Complete Do-It-Yourself Manual by Reader’s Digest. This book isn’t very helpful for those of us who are completely unhandy and unfamiliar with the basics – I think caulking got a couple sentences at most. I’ve had far better luck getting the sort of detailed info I need from googling. (Apparently painters tape is the secret to professional looking caulking – I’m glad I found that tip, or I’d probably be sitting in my disastrously caulked tub in tears right now.)
A Fine and Private Place by Peter S Beagle. Ok story about a man who’s lived in a graveyard in the Bronx for the past 20 years, keeping newly arrived ghosts company and eating food brought to him by a talking raven. It was also a story about the lies we tell ourselves and how hard it can be to face the truth. I felt it suffered from head hopping in the first half (probably due to some sort of omniscient narration, which I never do well with). At times it all seemed rather overwrought – but was that simply a product of being written in 1960? Anyway, since it took me over a month to get through, obviously I didn’t find it a particularly compelling read.

“I like this rug a lot. Jeanne knit it for us! I suppose I shouldn’t have hissed at her the other night because she touched my tail, huh?” -Mayhem

Contests, Reading

Ebook giveaway: Learning Curve (Life Lessons #4) by Kaje Harper [CONTEST CLOSED]

130 Comments

Many thanks to Kaje Harper for donating an ebook copy of her forthcoming m/m romance, Learning Curve (Life Lessons #4), for a lucky commenter to win! Learning Curve will be released by MLR Press on September 6. (We hit 100 comments, so Kaje has donated a second copy! Thanks, Kaje!)

Mac is afraid he’ll never recover enough to go back to being a cop, while Tony is afraid that he will.

Three months after being shot, Detective Jared MacLean is healing, but he’s afraid it may not be enough to go back on the job. He won’t give up, though. Being a cop is written deep in Mac’s bones, and he’ll do whatever it takes to carry his badge again.

Tony used to wish he could have Mac safely home, but watching his strong husband battle disabilities is far from Tony’s dream come true. When Mac is asked to consult on a case involving one of Tony’s students, both men will have to face old demons and new fears to find a way to move forward together.

Other Books

About Kaje

I live in Minnesota (where the two seasons are snow removal and road-repair, and the mosquito is the state bird, and where sometimes in winter it is so beautiful you can’t breathe for gazing at it). I have been writing for longer than I care to admit, and currently am focused on writing m/m romance. I have an interview on the BookWenches site that is more biographical, for those who are interested.

My first professionally published book, Life Lessons, came out from MLR Press in May 2011. This was the first thing I had submitted anywhere and I was thrilled when it was accepted. And now I have other work in print, both free and professionally published. This writing thing is addictive. So read, comment, tell me what you like and what you don’t, and help me make the upcoming books even better.

You can find out more about Kaje and her books on her blog and at Goodreads.

Contest Rules

  • To enter, leave a comment stating that you are entering the contest. Contest closes 7 pm CDT, Thursday, September 5.
  • 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!

“I wish Mom would open the windows again…” -Chaos

After the heatwave breaks…

Contests, Reading

Ebook giveaway: This Little Whatever by Nicole Forcine [CONTEST CLOSED]

53 Comments

Many thanks to Nicole Forcine for donating an ebook copy of her forthcoming m/m romance, This Little Whatever, for a lucky commenter to win! This Little Whatever will be released by Dreamspinner Press on September 6.

Jonathan Mendoza used to live an even crazier life, partying with his tight-knit traveling performance troupe whenever he wasn’t on stage belly dancing. When his sick mother begged him to change his lifestyle, he agreed to try to live sober, but that change is hard. Neither is it easy to stop staring at Dean Winters after he nearly knocks the man over before a performance.

A former recluse, prone to panic attacks after surviving a traumatic accident, Dean isn’t Jonathan’s usual type. Still, Jonathan is irresistibly attracted to him, and decides to cure the itch with a one-night stand. But that night, he’s shaken by Dean’s kindness and consideration – something he’s not used to in a lover or a friend. His best friend, Rachel, who co-owns the troupe with Jonathan, sees Dean as a threat to their friendship and to the troupe – the dream they’ve worked together to build. She reveals a cruel and possessive streak that could do much greater damage on both fronts, and Jonathan realizes he will have to choose between the nomadic life he’s lived and the man who is stealing his heart.

Also by Nicole

About Nicole

Nicole Forcine was born a strange child and former Georgia peach. When she was younger, she was never far from a composition book, a pen in hand, and way too many people in her head (she’s even been known to talk back to them). When two or more of them talk loud enough to overshadow the rest, a story is born. After years of writing and storing her tales in those books, she had a revelation: man, there are a lot of dudes kissing in these stories.

Her stories include themes of creating families of choice, how love can come in all forms and supersede all boundaries, and the joys and sorrows of earning a happily-ever-after.

Currently, she resides in Minneapolis with one of the most laid-back men in history and his even more laid-back cat. When she’s not writing (ha!), she’s saving the world/galaxy/humanity as we know it in the world of video games and general geekiness and opening other people’s mail for a living. You can find out more about Nicole and her writing at her website, Twitter, and Goodreads.

Contest Rules

  • To enter, leave a comment stating that you are entering the contest. Contest closes 7 pm CDT, Thursday, September 5.
  • 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!

“I wish Mom would open the windows again…” -Mayhem

(Not going to until the heatwave is over!)

Contests, Reading

Ebook giveaway: Different by Kim Dare [CONTEST CLOSED]

55 Comments

Many thanks to Kim Dare for donating an ebook copy of her freshly released kinky m/m romance, Different, for a lucky commenter to win!

Matthew and Stuart have been dating for more than five months and Stuart thinks things are going well – right up until the moment Matthew suggests they try something different, the kind of different that involves bondage, spanking and leather.

Matthew’s been building up to making this suggestion for weeks, dropping subtle hints and hoping Stuart won’t completely freak out at the mention of kink. Now, with Matthew’s desires out in the open, all he can do is hope that introducing something different will make their relationship perfect rather than destroy it completely…

Excerpt (scroll down)

Kim’s Other Books

About Kim

Kim Dare is a full time writer from Wales (UK).

First published in December 2008, Kim has since released 75 BDSM erotic romances. That means that well over one hundred characters have chattered away inside her head during that time – and that’s not even taking into account the fact that there are over three times that number of people clamouring in the wings for a chance to tell their stories. It’s no wonder she loses track of what’s happening in the “real” world at times…

While Kim’s stories range over male/male, male/female and all kinds of menage relationships and have included vampires, time travellers, shape-shifters and fairytale re-tellings, they all have three things in common – kink, love and a happy ending.

You can visit Kim at her website and her blog.

Contest Rules

  • To enter, leave a comment stating that you are entering the contest. Contest closes 7 pm CDT, Thursday, September 5.
  • 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!

“…zzzzzzzzz…” -Chaos

Covers, Reading

Surprise Misadventures Vacation!

7 Comments

Congrats to Beth, who won Training Cats (2nd ed) by PD Singer! (A book title completely not endorsed by Chaos.)

Congrats to sere, who won The Battle for Galerir (The Galerir Saga #2) byAnna Lee!

Congrats to Megan W, who won Unbreak My Heart by K-Lee Klein! Unbreak My Heart will be released by Amber Allure on August 25.

Sorry, no Misadventures in Stock Photography today! (Surely there must be one from a couple years ago you haven’t seen yet?!!) I waited until too late Sunday to start working on it, and by then I was cranky about my washing machine’s spin cycle going out, plus vaguely migrainey (a theme throughout the weekend) on top of that. On the plus side, I did get the place cleaned and even grouted the tub over the weekend…

Think cool thoughts – Minneapolis and environs are going to be in an excessive heat/humidity warning for much of the week.

“I’m the complaints department. I’m guess there aren’t any complaints now?” -Chaos

Linkity linkity link

Linkity’ll be hiding from the heatwave

7 Comments

Congrats to Beth, who won Training Cats (2nd ed) by PD Singer! (A book title completely not endorsed by Chaos.)

Congrats to sere, who won The Battle for Galerir (The Galerir Saga #2) byAnna Lee!

Congrats to Megan W, who won Unbreak My Heart by K-Lee Klein! Unbreak My Heart will be released by Amber Allure on August 25.

Randonymity

  • It’s amazing how exciting it is to have overhead light in the kitchen again, after the old, crappy, dangerous, burned out fixture was replaced last weekend.

Contest(s)

Bookity

Ebookity

Think, Do, Make, Learn

Cookity

Gluten Free

Crafty

Cool

Cool or Wha…?

Wha…?

  • Butter sculptures. Somewhere I’m sure I still have a photo of the Butter Palm (Pilot) from the Minnesota State Fair a while back…

LOL

Teh Cute

Reading Update

  • You’ll never guess… 😉

“‘Draw me like one of your French girls’? What does that even mean, Mom?” -Mayhem

Contests, Reading

Ebook giveaway: Strong Enough (Family #2) by Cardeno C [CONTEST CLOSED]

82 Comments

Many thanks to Cardeno C for donating an ebook copy of the forthcoming m/m romance, Strong Enough (Family #2), for a lucky commenter to win! Strong Enough will be released on August 30 by Dreamspinner Press.

When twenty-two-year-old Emilio Sanchez sees handsome Spencer Derdinger walking by his construction site, Emilio makes it his goal to seduce the shy professor. Getting Spencer into bed isn’t difficult, but Emilio soon learns that earning the trust of a man deeply hurt will take time and patience. With a prize like brilliant, sweet Spencer on the line, Emilio decides he is strong enough to face the challenge.

Spencer is surprised when he’s approached by the gorgeous construction worker he’s admired from the safety of his office window. Acting spontaneously for the first time in his thirty-eight years, Spencer takes Emilio home. When the casual hookup turns into the potential for love, Spencer realizes that if he wants to build a life with Emilio, he’ll need to be strong enough to slay his personal demons and learn to trust again.

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 CDT, Thursday, August 29.
  • 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!

“Feedmefeedmefeedmefeedmefeedme!” -Chaos

Contests, Reading

Ebook giveaway: A Heart without Borders by Andrew Grey [CONTEST CLOSED]

70 Comments

Many thanks to Andrew Grey for donating an ebook copy of his forthcoming m/m romance, A Heart without Borders, for a lucky commenter to win! A Heart without Borders will be released by Dreamspinner Press on August 30.

Pediatrician Wes Gordon will do just about anything to escape his grief. When opportunity knocks, he signs on to work at a hospital in a tent camp in Haiti. One night while returning to his quarters, he comes across a gang of kids attempting to set fire to an underage rentboy and intervenes, taking the injured Rene under his wing. At the hospital, diplomat Anthony Crowley tells Wes that the kids involved in the attack are from prominent families and trying to hold them responsible will cause a firestorm.

In spite of the official position Anthony must take, Wes’s compassion captures his attention. Anthony pursues him, and they grow closer during the stolen moments between Anthony’s assignments. Escaping earthquake destruction for glimpses of Caribbean paradise. When Wes realizes the only way to save Rene is to adopt him, Anthony is supportive, but time is running out: Wes must leave the country, and Anthony is called out on a dangerous secret mission. Now Wes must face adopting a boy from Haiti who has no papers without the support of the one person he’s come to rely on most and may never see again.

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 CDT, Thursday, August 29.
  • 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!

Behold the Panther Princess prowling her territory!

“You’re so weird, Mom.” -Mayhem

Contests, Reading

Ebook giveaway: Summer Lovin’ Anthology by Clare London, Chrissy Munder, JL Merrow, Josephine Myles, & Lou Harper [CONTEST CLOSED]

56 Comments

Congrats to Kim W, who won the entire College Fun & Gays series by Erica Pike!

Many thanks to the authors of Pink Squirrel Press for donating an ebook copy of their freshly released Summer Lovin’ m/m romance anthology!

Summer is here, and the loving is easy! Slake your thirst for romance with Summer Lovin’ – an anthology for lazy days and summer sunshine.

The stories are all m/m contemporary romances with a smattering of smut, but there’s a real range of locations and atmospheres here. Travel from Venice Beach in LA, via Lake Michigan, to the traditional British resort of Brighton, a remote holy island, and a small lake in deepest, darkest Somerset. Go skinny-dipping in a disused quarry. Hang out with the boys in the band. Meet a bad boy made good, and one with a shy smile that hides a dark secret. Or maybe get your heart pillaged by a Viking re-enactor.

With gentle humour, hot sauce and a hefty scoop of romance, enjoy a quintet of sultry stories of men loving men from Clare London, Chrissy Munder, JL Merrow, Josephine Myles, and Lou Harper.

The mercury’s not the only thing that’s rising!

Summer Hire by Chrissy Munder
It’s a scene right out of Jim’s porn-fuelled fantasies: the tool-strewn workshop and the hunky, tattooed mechanic with his coveralls unzipped to the waist. But Aaron’s not just Jim’s dream guy – he-s his new employer.

In the sweltering Michigan heat, Jim struggles to control his libido in the face of endless provocation. But Aaron’s determined not to be Jim’s summer fling. This bad boy made good isn’t looking for a short-lived romance.

If he wants Aaron to take him on as more than an employee, Jim’s going to have to do what doesn’t come naturally – and think seriously about his future.

Lost & Found on Lindisfarne by JL Merrow
It was a hot summer’s day on the Holy Island of Lindisfarne. The lanes were dusty underfoot, the languid breeze was heavy with the scent of the North Sea, and a Viking had just offered to buy my daughter…

When single father Chris meets a Viking re-enactor on Lindisfarne, he thinks it’s the perfect recipe for a holiday fling – and nothing more. Chris had a relationship with a free spirit like Ian before, and it didn’t end well for him or for his daughter Kelis. But Chris hasn’t reckoned with the Viking way of taking all you’re willing to give – and coming back for more.

Salt ‘n’ Vinegar by Clare London
Brighton in the summer is a great place to be for a young gay man looking for a good time with no strings. Psychology student Joe’s spending his uni vacation working in a chip shop with a succession of ever-worse punning names and picking up guys on the beach for casual hook-ups – but something makes him want to take it slow with gorgeous chip shop regular Steven.

The trouble is, Steven’s shy smile hides a dark secret, and his past is about to come back to bite them both.

Werewolves of Venice Beach by Lou Harper
The naked man came out of nowhere…

Bryan’s an over-achieving, self-confessed nerdy student, who’s taken a summer job house-sitting in Venice Beach. He’s out of his depth when it comes to a guy from the wrong side of the tracks like Slade.

Covered in tribal tattoos and with a penchant for skinny-dipping, Slade’s the lead singer in a band. He’s way out of Bryan’s league. But he’s sending out all kinds of mixed signals. And after a pot-fuelled afternoon, Bryan thinks he’s found the astonishing reason why Slade’s giving so little away.

By Quarry Lake by Josephine Myles
Tommy’s been away from his home in rural Somerset for three years. Long enough to sort out who he is, and to get over the feelings of confusion and shame that blighted his lifelong friendship with farmer’s boy Rob. He’s out and proud, now – and he’s coming home to claim back what he lost.

Rob’s the one who stayed behind, working on the farm with little time for a social life. With Tommy coming back into his life, he could have a lot to gain – and everything to lose.

He’s going to have to take a leap of faith. Straight into the ice cold waters of Quarry Lake.

Contest Rules

  • To enter, leave a comment stating that you are entering the contest. Contest closes 7 pm CDT, Thursday, August 29.
  • 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!

“…zzzzzzzzzzz…” -Mayhem

*glaring* -Chaos

Covers, Reading

Misadventures in Stock Photography: Part the 169th (The Return of The Return of Tie Guy)

9 Comments

Congrats to Juliana, who won Love’s Nest (Tempting Tales #3) by Keira Andrews and Leta Blake!

Congrats to engese31, who won Thorns by Feliz Faber!

Welcome to another edition of the Misadventures in Stock Photography! Today we’ll be catching up with Tie Guy, last seen here 28 months ago. 🙂

was interrupted by

, who roared, “

and I might grant you

!” Rian wasn’t so sure he could trust

(there had to be a

somewhere), but he was weary – in

– of

and

at the end of the evening, instead of being able to indulge his

‘s love of

such as

.

Well. *blink blink blink*

“My abs are much cuter than the naughty boy’s abs!!” -Mayhem