Tag Archives: Cassandra Gold

Linkity linkity link, Reading, Reviewettes

Linkity and a larch walk into a bar…

July 13, 2012 Chris 14 Comments

Congrats to Melinda, who won Owner of My Heart (Mending the Rift #2) by Valentina Heart!Â Owner of My Heart (Mending the Rift #2) will be released by Silver Publishing on July 14.

Contests

Keira Andrews is giving away an ebook copy of her recent Earthly Desires (with Leta Blake). Closes 12:01 am PDT, July 16.

Armchair Reader Cole is also giving away an ebook copy of The Wish (2nd ed) by Eden Winters. Closes 7 pm CDT, July 20.

Blodeuedd’s giving away a copy of Thunder on the Plains by Rosanne Bittner. Closes July 24. US & Canada.

Fetch Me My Fainting Couch is giving away an assortment of books in her TBR Reduction Giveaway #5. Closes July 31.

Bookity

New releases and more: Literary Escapism (UF/PNR) and Book Lovers Inc (romance etc).

Book and publishing news from Dear Author.

25 bad behaviors that writers should avoid.

I’m pretty sure that the 26th behavior to avoid should be “creating an ‘anti-bullying’ website that outs reviewers you don’t agree with”… Some eloquent words about that complete wtfery from Smart Bitches, Jennifer Armintrout, Stacia Kane, and Fangs for the Fantasy.

“Kurt Vonnegut’s rules for the short story“. (via Wil Wheaton)

“The difference between passive voice and using ‘was’.“

Paperback Writer applies LEGO logic to creating characters.

Some of the predictions Arthur C. Clarke made 50 years ago about technology have turned out to be very true.

Gary Oldman reading from R. Kelly’s autobiography.

Have you ever found reading to be dangerous? (Um, not that I can think of…)

Proofreading marks you might not see from your editor… but maybe you should. 😉

Smart Bitches with some completely “Wha…?” book covers. (NSFW)

Alternate title for A Midsummer Night’s Dream.

The lawyer who was suing The Oatmeal’s creator Matthew Inman has dropped his suit. The whole thing is so crazy, it’s completely worth a read.

Ebookity

HQBooks helps you find free pdf ebooks – looks like it leans heavily toward tutorials and manuals. (via Lifehacker)

“Using Calibre and sideloading to keep your reading private.“

Ways in which ebooks are not like paper books. (via TeleRead)

Curious which Avenger is getting the most fanfic action? (via The Mary Sue)

Think, Do, Learn, Make

If you’ve ever been curious how dinosaurs had sex… (via Tor.com) (NSFW?)

Check out the original logos from an assortment of tech companies.

Was your password among those leaked this week? Leaked passwords were from Yahoo, Gmail, Hotmail, AOL, Comcast.net, and MSN.com.

Tips on calling 911 in this mobile world.

Joyfully Jay explains how she moved her blog from Blogger to WordPress.

10 ways to repurpose old toys.

Use a mesh file box to store hair appliances in the bathroom.

How to use black cocoa powder.

Google’s new Legalize Love campaign predictably now has anti-gay conservatives talking Google boycott.

More on how bad sitting all day is for you. Exercises to help counter the negative effects of sitting all day.

New research suggests that it’s better to be obese (although not morbidly so) than to be underweight.

The world’s official kilogram is losing weight, which isn’t such a good thing for the metric system.

xkcd explains visual fields.

xkcd has a new blog called “What if?” that should seriously become a physics textbook because it makes physics WAY more interesting than I remember it being in school. To see what I mean, check out the post on Relativistic Baseball.

Scientists believe that many (but not all) recent extreme weather events haveÂ been caused by human-based climate change.

Cookity

Avocado chili brownies topped with avocado tequila ice cream. (via Wil Wheaton)

Gluten-free cherry almond crisp.

Four-ingredient strawberry-orange sorbet. (via Bron’s Pinterest)

Boozy red berry fruit salad. (via The Kitchn)

Polka dot cake using cake pops. (via The Kitchn)

Single-serving microwave peanut butter cake. (via The Kitchn)

Cream cheese filled snickerdoodles. (via Bron’s Pinterest)

Salmon moqueca.

Cheesy quinoa cakes. (via Bron’s Pinterest)

Many grilled cheese recipes. (via Bron’s Pinterest)

BLT with basil mayonnaise and avocado.

Toasted sesame and white bean hummus. (via The Kitchn)

Eight-ball zucchini with eggs baked inside.

Zucchini boats with mozzarella and olives.

Blue potato salad with lemon basil vinaigrette. (via The Kitchn)

Savory tomato salad. (via CRAFT)

Grilled kale salad with ricotta and plums. (via The Kitchn)

15 cold supper salads.

15 summer squash recipes.

Drinkity

5 non-alcoholic summer drinks.

Cappuccino chip frappe.

Blackberry gin fizz. (via Armchair Reader)

Blueberry lavender vodka spritzer.

Crafty

Make a kitty print t-shirt. (via CRAFT)

Turn handwritten recipes into tea towels. (via CRAFT)

Create a string art typography wall hanging. (via CRAFT)

Make mini bottle necklaces. (via CRAFT)

Cool

Quotes from fathers on how having daughters changed their views on what being a man means. (Thanks, Jase!)

Scrabble wall art. (via CRAFT)

A LEGO Rolls Royce engine – watch it in action.

The Hobbit LEGOs. (via The Mary Sue)

Woman in garden with TARDIS.

Very young Indiana Jones and the jungle spider.

Paper mache bust of Dragon Maleficent.

Batmen at the beach.

Batpenguins. (via The Mary Sue)

Scenes from scifi films done as Ottoman miniatures.

Rocket espresso cup.

Cool or Wha…?

Chair with a wolf’s shadow.

Batmobile golf cart.

Swimmable mermaid tails.

HUSH Pod.

Trap door colander.

The Walker Art Center (very near me) is having a film festival of the best internet cat videos…

New York City is going to turn payphone kiosks into wifi hotspots.

You can actually bake cookies in a hot car. (Probably smells a lot better than an air freshener, too.)

Wha…?

Starbucks in a funeral home…

A mayor in Germany has designated “easy” parking spots for women because “men are better at parking than women.” *must control fist of rage*

Insulated paper bag sleeve for drinking your classy beverages… Or maybe you’d prefer a bearded beer cozy?

Naked girl in a hot tub iPhone case… (strangely, SFW)

Gummy bear dress.

What if bananas were added to your favorite fantasy/scifi stories?

LOL

If you can’t decide whether you should knit or buy a gift, check Franklin’s handy infographic!

14 First World problems from the 90s. (Thanks, Jeanne!)

Bad gadget names.

One way to deal with the heat without air conditioning!

Truth in advertising names for junk food.

Choosing a secure name for your pet.

Do cat people have a higher tolerance for pain?

Very Chaos.

Cat lady obstacle course. (Although Chaos and Mayhem do more creative rearranging of the throw rugs here.)

The Simon’s Cat guide to boxes.

Yes!

Teh Cute

Videos: Squeaky black kitten! Baby tigers!

Tiger! Baby snow leopard! Cheetah and baby! Lioness and baby! Tigers! Cheetah and babies! Swan and cygnets! Swan and cygnets! Cheetah and baby! Baby cheetahs! Baby otter! Seal and baby! Kittens! Kittens! Baby lion! Cat! Baby red pandas! Lemurs! Victoria crowned pigeon and baby! Baby tiger! Cat! Baby lynx! Fennecs! Baby human!

Reading Update
Simple Justice (Benjamin Justice #1) by John Morgan Wilson. Very good gay mystery set in the mid-90s about a former newspaper reporter who’s been working the occasional freelance job to make ends meet since it came out he’d fabricated the story for which he won a Pulitzer. When his former editor tracks him down about working on a story, he doesn’t want to… but he slowly gets sucked in.
Revision of Justice (Benjamin Justice #2) by John Morgan Wilson. Very good gay mystery in which Ben gets pulled into researching a Hollywood story that turns out to be very convoluted, but gives him the chance to face some of his own demons… or flee again.
Justice at Risk (Benjamin Justice #3) by John Morgan Wilson. Very good, but very dark, gay mystery in which Ben meets two very different but compelling men, gets some work putting together a documentary on risky sex, and is drawn into investigating yet another convoluted and dangerous situation. This was dark enough that I need to take a bit of a break from the series…
Every Minute (Max & Skyler #3) by Acer Adamson. ebook short. Very good short m/m romance that manages to cover both Max and Skyler meeting, plus meeting each other’s parents.
One Day at a Time by Dawn Douglas. ebook short. Very good short m/m romance about a DEA agent on assignment to a small town police force who decides to help a cop depressed about having had to kill a teen gang member.
Making Camp by Clare London. free ebook short. Cute short m/m romance about two guys who work together and are attracted to each other, but don’t do anything about it until the Country Mouse asks the City Mouse to go camping with him.
Healer (The Institute #1) by Cassandra Gold. ebook. reread. Very good m/m paranormal romance about a doctor who can heal people with his mind. Bad guys who want to capture him and use his power for their own ends are closing in on him when a purportedly good guy offers him a way out.
Touch (The Institute #2) by Cassandra Gold. ebook. Good paranormal m/m romance about a member of the Delphic Institute who gets captured by a rival organization. When escaping, he takes a hostage and everything starts to change.
Phoenix Rising by Theo Fenraven. ebook. arc. Good m/m paranormal romance about an NYC cop and his partner who are investigating a series of mysterious deaths. When the evidence leads them toward a charismatic singer, things start to get really weird…
Au Bon Pain by Lee Patton. ebook short. Poignant short story about a guy who has the chance to reconnect with his first love – the first love who dumped him and vanished.
The Good Life by Diana DeRicci. ebook. Cute m/m romance about a guy who suddenly finds himself a single parent with a baby daughter when he’d just planned to be the sperm donor. When his best friend offers them a place to live and help with the baby, things get a bit complicated. This had some very oddly phrased bits that seemed to need more editorial attention.
Roadside Assistance by Heidi Champa. ebook short. Pretty good short m/m romance about a week in the life of two friends who carpool together…
Laurel Heights by Lisa Worrall. ebook. Ok m/m romantic suspense two closeted cops who have to go undercover as a gay couple in a small, exclusive gay community in order catch a killer. The plot was implausible, the writing was over-the-top at times, and the epilogue changed it from neatly tied up into a cliffhanger.

“This is my new kitty bed, not a shopping bag! Silly Mom.” -Mayhem

Linkity linkity link, Reading, Reviewettes

In which I can’t think of a clever title for linkity and so just ramble on in the title box for a while instead

November 11, 2011 Chris 16 Comments

If you’d like to learn a bit more about me, I’m featured on Coffee Time at Coffee and Porn in the morning today. Beware if you stray off that page, because most of the posts are NSFW.

Contests

Joder’s giving away an ebook copy of Forged in Fire by Trish MacCallan. Contest closes 11:59 pm, November 12.

Blodeuedd’s giving away two copies of Tall, Dark and Cowboy by Joanne Kennedy. Contest closes November 13. US & Canada.

Joyfully Jay is giving away a backlist title from Rachel Haimowoitz, Aleksandr Voinov, LA Witt, Brita Adams, or Cat Grant. Comment by 11:59 pm EST, November 15. (Post is NSFW!)

Blodeuedd’s giving away an ebook copy of Dragonfyre by Donna Grant. Contest closes November 18.

Joder’s giving away an ebook copy of Lead Me On by Lauren Hawkeye. Comment by 11:59 pm, November 18.

Bookity

New releases and more: Literary Escapism (UF/PNR) and Book Lovers Inc (a little of everything).

Ah, the AJ Llewelllyn kerfuffle! You can get the basics here, if you read the comments for additional links. Follow-up from Kris. All sorts of posts from Ann Sommerville. Dear Author (links and discussion in the comments). Vacuous Minx. Ars Marginal. Jessewave.

Sotheby’s will be auctioning off a tiny manuscript written by Charlotte Bronte when she was 14 years old.

“Nine books that made us terrified of puberty.“

Ebookity

Book Lovers Inc wonders whether you prefer reading print or ebooks.

The $79 Kindle cost $84 to make.

The eBook Reader Blog compares the Nook Tablet, Kobo Vox, and Kindle fire tables. So does Dear Author.

Lifehacker’s guide to loading your ebook reader with free ebooks.

Think, Make, Do, Learn

When I told people I was going to drive to New Orleans for vacation, nearly everyone asked if I had a GPS and seemed distressed to learn I do not have one. But it was ok! I have a pretty good sense of direction. Rediscover yours and wean yourself from your GPS. 😉

Did your car come with a spare tire? Are you absolutely sure? 🙂

Why American roads suck.

How to pick the right pillow based on how you sleep.

How to turn off your gag reflex.

What really works to prevent colds – and what doesn’t.

If you have celiac disease, vitamin A may increase gluten’s inflammatory effects.

Most of the honey sold in stores in the US doesn’t actually qualify as honey.

Lifehacker debunks ten (more) food myths.

The first actual photos of human ovulation. O.o (Thanks, Bron!)

Bron shares some links about Pinterest and how to use it.

A new type of star has been discovered.

Cookity

Almond Joy truffles. (Thanks, Margene!)

Coconut milk caramels. (Thanks, Margene!)

Use sprinkles to decorate a cake with “embroidery”. (via CRAFT)

Snickerdoodle cookie cupcakes. (via CRAFT)

Drunken ginger molasses cookies.

Sweet potato brownies.

Chai tea concentrate. (via The Kitchn)

Spaghetti squash salad. (via CRAFT)

Five stews.

Eight fruit-filled, crumb-topped desserts.

Fifteen different ways to eat salsa.

Fifteen Thanksgiving desserts.

Crafty

Nerdigurumi – geeky crochet. (via The Mary Sue)

Crochet a wreath. (via CRAFT)

Crochet a rope basket. (via CRAFT)

Doctor Who “Bowties are cool” cross stitch pattern.

Make a modern black cat quilt. (via CRAFT) (As someone who owns black cats, I wouldn’t recommend making the quilt in white if you actually have black cats…)

Gift recipients will definitely know you put a lot of work into their gift if you use these labels.

Cool

Steampunkish birds. (Thanks, Bron!)

Amazing “Joan of Arc” armor made from bicycle tubes and cardboard.

Star Trek meets Monty Python, LEGO-style.

LEGO Darth Vader and stormtroopers want some beer. (via The Mary Sue)

Fifteen famous movie scenes recreated in LEGO. (via The Mary Sue)

3-D LEGO minifig street art.

The Lost Boys meet Peter Pan. (via The Mary Sue)

Cool or Wha…?

Wonder Woman mixer?! (via The Mary Sue)

You can now have Bert and Ernie as your GPS voices…

Crochetdermy.

Lip balm flavored like Girl Scout cookies.

Wha…?

Check out this year’s worst toy of the year nominees.

Whoops. A million-dollar piece of art was scrubbed away by accident.

I can’t believe how hard it is to escape McDonald’s in the US! (Thanks, Donna!)

Caffeinated baked goods.

Pork roast shaped like a little pig.

You might be able to watch pr0n on your Ryanair flight in the not-too-distant future…

Yarnbombed music video. (via KnittyBlog)

Fashion continues to confuse me.

Supernatural registration. (Thanks, Jase!)

Rock’em Sock’em Robots you can ride in.

Rice that yields human blood.

LOL

16 funniest autocorrects for October from Damn You Autocorrect.

Daylight Savings Time autocorrect.

This is less of a problem when you wear a lot of black and have black kitties.

Kitty attack modes!

He’s too cute to be evil!

How can you resist that face?!

Teh Cute

Kittens! Lion cubs! Kitten! Swan and cygnets! Cat! Maned wolf! Cats! Pandas! Cats! Tiger and cub! Kittens! Black panther! Black panther and cub! Cuscus and baby! Red pandas! Puppy!

Reading Update
Missing Daughter, Shattered Family (David Lloyd Investigations #1) by Liz Strange. ebook. Very good m/m mystery (with a bit of romance) about a cop-turned-PI who’s hired to find a troubled young woman. The case becomes increasingly complex, and he finds himself dealing with unresolved issues from his own past. I’m really looking forward to the next book in this series!
His Last Resort by Devon Rhodes. free ebook short. Cute free short m/m romance about a college freshman who’s decided to come out when he arrives at college. It doesn’t go so smoothly at first…
One More Wish (Wish #2) by Devon Rhodes. ebook. Very good m/m paranormal romance that starts out in parallel with One Wild Wish, although from Benny’s point-of-view. Benny wants to spend time with the shifter he can’t get out of his mind, but why does Curtis keep making excuses not to see him?
In the Wild (Wish #2.5) by Devon Rhodes. free ebook short. Steamy free short paranormal m/m romance about Benny and Rory waiting for their guys to show up.
Healer (The Institute #1) by Cassandra Gold. ebook. Very good m/m paranormal romance about a doctor who can heal people with his mind. Bad guys who want to capture him and use his power for their own ends are closing in on him when a purportedly good guy offers him a way out.
Friction (Dominion #0.1) by Lissa Kasey. free ebook short. Good short paranormal m/m romance that introduces an unusual male witch and his sometimes vampire lover. Set in the Twin Cities of Minnesota! 🙂
Decadence (Dominion #0.2) by Lissa Kasey. free ebook short. Good short m/m paranormal romance about male witch Seiran, who’s preparing to bake a cake for his mother’s birthday when his sometimes lover stops by.
Resolute (Dominion #0.3) by Lissa Kasey. free ebook short. Good short m/m paranormal romance in which Sei starts to work at the bar his sometimes lover owns.
Inheritance (Dominion #1) by Lissa Kasey. ebook. Very good m/m paranormal romance in which someone is trying to make it appear that Sei is murdering other witches. Fortunately, his vampire boyfriend, Gabe, and the mysterious Jamie have Sei’s back. I’m really enjoying this series – the next book is already queued up on my ereader.
Chance’s Vindication (Lost Shifters #13) by Stephani Hecht. ebook. Good m/m paranormal romance about Raven shifter Chance, who feels extremely out of place staying with the Feline Coalition – a situation that his crabby Lion Shifter guardian doesn’t do anything to remedy. I did want to smack Chance for some TSTL behavior later in the story.
A Fix in Time by Jade Falconer. ebook. So-so scifi m/m romance about a guy who works for an organization charged with keeping people from tampering with the past. He’s sent back to the 1800s to fix major time tampering and capture those responsible. He doesn’t mean to get involved with a guy from the past… This had too much infodumping and the writing felt stilted to me.

“You are all in so, so, sooooo much trouble. I saw what you did there. I won’t tell if you give me kitty treats.” -Chaos

Linkity linkity link, Reading, Reviewettes

A very Potterity linkity

July 15, 2011 Chris 33 Comments

Congrats to SueM, who won Knight Errant by K.D. Sarge! Knight Errant is available for $0.99 through July 31 at Smashwords.

Congrats to Susmita, who won Rangerâ€™s Folly (Lost Shifters #12) by Stephani Hecht! Rangerâ€™s Folly is being released by eXtasy Books today.

Congrats to Renee, who won Dark Sun by M.J. Oâ€™Shea!

Congrats to Julie, who won In the Shadow of a Hero by Anna Mayle!

Congrats to Amy, who won the Tea and Crumpet anthology, donated by Clare London!

Contests

Jodi’s giving a $25 Fandango gift card to see the movie Larry Crowne, plus a Larry Crowne t-shirt and notebook. Comment through today (July 15) for your chance to win.

Leontine’s giving away a $30 gift certificate to an online store of your choice. This is part of Blogfest, so it might just be open today (July 15).

Tracy’s giving away a copy of The American Heiress by Daisy Goodwin. Contest closes 7 pm PDT, July 21. US & Canada.

Blodeuedd’s giving away a copy of Pillow Talk by Freya North. Contest runs through July 21. US & Canada.

Book Lovers Inc is giving away a copy of Liam’s Perfect Woman and a copy of The Hometown Hero Returns, both by Beth Kery. Contest closes July 23.

Book Lovers Inc is also giving away His Darkest Hunger and His Darkest Embrace by Julianna Stone. Contest closes July 23.

Joder’s giving away a signed paperback copy of Embraced by Blood by Laurie London. Comment by 11:59 pm, July 23. US only.

Patti’s giving away an ARC of Maggie Stiefvater’s Forever (Wolves of Mercy Falls #3). Contest closes July 31.

L.A. Witt/Lauren Gallagher is having a contest to celebrate having released 30 books. Winners will receive their choice of her backlist, and the number of winners will be determined by the number of commenters! Contest closes midnight EDT, August 5.

Bookity

New releases and more: Literary Escapism (UF/PNR), Book Lovers Inc (romance etc), All About Romance (romance audiobooks), and Katiebabs (various types of romance).

Book and publishing news from Dear Author.

KMont wonders how much we actually remember about the books we love.

Should authors reply to reviews? (via Eden Winters)

On being a beta reader.

A wise quote.

Smart Bitches has a funny post about a photoshop cover fail.

Strunk & White humor from xkcd. (Make sure you hover your cursor over the comic for additional text!)

The first in a three-part series about how reading has changed over time. (via TeleRead)

“The book is not dead, it’s just shapeshifting.” (Thanks, Lea!)

Covers of songs inspired by literature and poetry.

Ebookity

Kim Dare’s posted a free short m/m story based on a photo I took in San Francisco last fall. 🙂

Kris’s latest Choose Your Own M/M Story is Red Velvet by Angelia Sparrow.

Ebook reading is taking off in the Netherlands.

Read the reviews carefully before you even think about purchasing the new Google Books ereader.

A TeleRead contributor writes about how she lost access to her Kindle library after her Amazon account was hacked.

Do, Make, Learn, Think

See what’s connected to your wireless network with this portable Windows app. (Perhaps this article will inspire you to get the app…)

How to move all your stuff from your old computer to your new one.

55 million years ago, there was a continent off the coast of Scotland.

I did not know that a derecho was a type of storm.

Use “Jenny’s Number” to get discounts at stores without sharing your personal information.

Infographic of Netflix local favorites.

Infographic about sunscreen.

There’s a new strain of gonorrhea that’s resistant to all known antibiotics.

Celiac disease has been linked to cataracts.

If you had an endoscopy done to see if you had celiac disease and the results were negative, it could’ve been because the biopsy wasn’t sufficiently thorough.

If a monkey takes a photograph, who owns the copyright?

Although it looks like the Minnesota state government shutdown is over, it might’ve resulted in beer shortages!

Make frappuccinos at home for cheap.

Liven up your kitchen with a sparkly floor!

Potterity

Harry Potter fans hack a road sign. (Thanks, Jenre!)

Watch all the Harry Potter trailers made into one five-minute long uber-trailer.

The Mary Sue devoted yesterday’s “Things We Saw Today” post to Harry Potter.

Harry Potter, Jackie Chan style.

Gigantic Harry Potter tribute maze.

Harry Potter post from Cake Wrecks.

Things I am not allowed to do at Hogwarts.

A real life Patronus?

Make your own butter beer.

Make golden snitch butter beer cake pops. (via The Kitchn)

Butter beer glazed cookies.

Make your own Chocolate Frogs, Acid Pops, Cockroach Clusters, and Licorice Wands! (via The Kitchn)

Cookity

Cake batter pancakes.

Nutella cookie sandwiches. (via The Kitchn)

Granny square cookies.

Chocolate bean brownie cake.

Gluten-free cherry almond muffins.

Crafty

More subversive cross stitch.

Cross stitch an iPhone cover.

Turn a portrait into embroidery.

Sew a laptop bag.

Sew a yarn project bag.

Knit gerbera daisies.

A review of What Would Madame Defarge Knit? 21 Patterns and Essays Inspired by Classic Literature.

Cool

LEGO motorcycle helmet… (via The Mary Sue)

These LEGO-inspired concrete bricks would be cooler if they were big.

LEGO Bat Cave!

Fun crafting, food, and thought-provoking linkity from MrsPao.

Cutaway leaf art.

Confessions from your cat.

The Symphony of Science project.

Yoda toddler hat! (via The Mary Sue)

Darth takes a holiday.

The guide to shirtlessness in superhero movies… *ahem* (via The Mary Sue)

Cool or Wha…?

Steampunky animal head “trophies”. (via The Mary Sue)

Superhero garden gnomes.

Weird state foods. (via The Kitchn)

TARDIS soap. (via The Mary Sue)

Bouncy tomb tours.

Tiny tea ring.

Wha…?

So… you know how we get annoyed when people in romance novels stop to have sex at inopportune times, like when their lives are in danger? Apparently it happens in real life, too…

Vintage glove mold chandelier.

Hammock house overlooking boob tower.

Anatomy dress.

LOL

*snicker* (Thanks, Lea!) (Possibly NSFW, although it is from USA Today…)

Movie title autocorrect fails.

The secret of inner peace.

Pick your battles carefully. (Thanks, Bron!)

Little known facts about Minnesota.

Kitten vs. apples… (Thanks, Jase!)

Places cats sleep but shouldn’t.

Teh Cute

Bear napping with fish. (Thanks, Bron!)

Kittens! Lion and cub! Lion cub! Lioness and cubs! Cat and kitten! Koala! Eleanor (and the source video)! Hedgie! Kittens! Panda! Baby panda! Kittens! Tiger cubs! Tigers! Kittens! Fox and kits! Kitten! Baby cheetah! Kitten and baby otter!

Reading Update
Masochism 101 by Kim Dare. free ebook short, although you’ll need to be a member of the Goodreads M/M Romance Group to read it. The prompt for this excellent kinky short m/m romance was a guy photographed midway through falling in the bathtub…
Trust Me (Cover Me #2) by LA Witt. ebook. Very good m/m romantic suspense about a cop who’s ready to break up with his boyfriend because he suspects his boyfriend has been cheating on him, but what’s really been going on is a helluva lot more complicated. You also get to see how things are going with the guys from Cover Me.
And To All a Good Night (Life Lessons #1.5) by Kaje Harper. free ebook short. Very good short free holiday-themed m/m mystery that takes place a few months after Life Lessons, right before Christmas, as the out teacher continues to recover from his injuries and learns to deal with dating the deeply closeted cop.
Dirty Kiss by Rhys Ford. ebook. Very good m/m romantic suspense about a former cop, now PI, investigating the apparent suicide of a prominent Korean businessman when he becomes fascinated by the businessman’s disgraced cousin. Hopefully there’s a sequel… and I’d love to get more of Bobby’s story.
Again by Mary Calmes. ebook. Very good m/m romance about a guy who was devastated when the love of his life, a CIA agent, suddenly left him for someone else, without knowing that their surrogate was pregnant. It’s five years later when he runs into now-former CIA agent… I have to confess that I wanted to smack Dante more than once – he was such a steamroller! I wanted him to stop and actually listen. 🙂
Accidentally in Love by Jane Davitt & Alexa Snow. ebook. Very good m/m romance about a photographer who’s definitely a player, engaging in a non-stop string of one-night stands. When he rents part of a house from a goodhearted computer geek with crappy self-esteem, he decides to help the geek finally get a guy of his own. So why is he unhappy when his plan works? As others have mentioned, the first part of this book was excellent. The last part of it got bogged down by sex and lack of direction.
Tea and Crumpet by UK MAT. ebook collection. Very good collection of United Kingdom-themed GLBTQ short stories, from contemporary to paranormal to historical. I was delighted to discover that there was a Cambridge Fellows short from Charlie Cochrane! And I absolutely love the cover. 🙂
One Night by RJ Scott. ebook. Good m/m romance about a deeply closeted guy who’s convinced that two men can’t have a loving relationship, only a sexual one, so he’s engaged to be married to a woman so his adopted daughter will have a stable home.
Finding Forgiveness (Poconos Pack #1) by Dana Marie Bell. ebook. Good paranormal m/m romance about a wolf shifter who suffers from debilitating migraines and has no idea why the guy destined to be his mate avoids him at all costs.
Clay’s Challenge by Cassandra Gold. ebook. Good m/m romance about a guy going through a crisis in confidence about how he looks after someone he met online isn’t interested in dating him because he’s “too fem.” So he decides to go on a wilderness adventure and prove to himself that’s not the case. (Main character Clay was actually a minor character in Quinn’s Hart.)
Bicycle Built for Two by Jeff Adams. ebook short. Good short, completely angst- and conflict-free m/m romance about two guys who meet during a charity cycling event to raise money for HIV/AIDS research.
From Pack to Pride (Supernatural Mates #1) by Amber Kell. ebook. Good paranormal m/m romance about a wolf shifter whose alpha brother sends him to stay with a pride of lions in order to keep him safe from a hostile wolf who wants to kill him. (Ok, Tam, you were right – I liked it better than Hellbourne!)
A Prideful Mate (Supernatural Mates #2) by Amber Kell. ebook. Ok paranormal m/m romance about a lion shifter who sees a picture of jaguar shifter on a shifter dating website and knows the jaguar shifter is his mate. Now he just has to convince his mate to stay… and keep his mate alive.
Not in Kansas by R.G. Alexander. ebook short. Cute short m/m fantasy roughly based on the Wizard of Oz.
Salad on the Side by Karenna Colcroft. ebook. Ok paranormal m/m romance about a vegan who doesn’t realize he’s living among werewolves until he’s bitten and changed. These were probably the most long-winded werewolves ever – there needed to be a lot less talking in this book. Hopefully the obviously planned for sequel will be less chatty.
The Male Room by Carolyn Levine Topol. ebook. Ok m/m romance about two best friends, one who’s just been kicked out by his boyfriend and the other who’s just been fired, who decide to start an online GLBT dating service together. I need to remember that this author’s stories are too sugary for me…
Semi Precious Weapons by Clancy Nacht. ebook short. Ok short m/m romance about two models in New York City who hook up and hit it off, but then things get messed up between them. This book definitely needed a bit more editorial care – a couple spots were so tangled that I couldn’t sort out what exactly was happening.
Joy & Pain by Celia Kyle. free ebook short. Ok kinky short m/m romance about a stripper who meets and is attracted to an older big bear of a man. This book needed better proofing: “illicit” instead of “elicit”, “spurn” instead of “spur”, etc.

“You know what would hit the spot right now? A crunchy bug. Yum!” -Mayhem

Linkity linkity link, Reading, Reviewettes

Sometimes I absolutely cannot come up with a clever title for linkity… this would be one of those times

February 4, 2011 Chris 31 Comments

Congrats to Tam, who won Possession (Devlin Island, Book 1) by S. W. Vaughn!

Congrats to Natasha, who won Opposites Distract by Stephani Hecht! Opposites Distract was released yesterday by All Romance Ebooks as part of its Perfect Strangers series.

Congrats to Otter, who won How the Other Half Lives by Clare London! How the Other Half Lives will be released by Amber Allure on February 6.

Congrats to Carmel, who won Chocolate Dreams by Em Woods!Â Chocolate Dreams will be released by Total-E-Bound on February 7.

Contests

Cecile’s giving away a copy of Sins of the Flesh by Caridad Pineiro, an Aztec Gold t-shirt, and a Stronger Than Sin tote bag. Contest closes today (February 4).

Leontine’s giving away a copy of A Brush of Darkness by Allison Pang. Winner announced February 7.

Blodeuedd’s giving away two copies of Everyone Loves a Hero by Marie Force. Comment by February 8 for your chance to win. US & Canada.

Novel Addiction’s giving away five ebook copies of Spiral X by J.J. Westendarp. Contest closes 11:59 pm, February 10.

If you read Promises by Marie Sexton, you might be curious about Jared’s tattoo. Marie’s having a contest for you to submit drawings or photos of what you think his tattoo looks like. The winner will receive a copy of Marie’s forthcoming m/m romance (and sequel to Promises), Putting Out Fires. Contest closes February 11.

Amara’s giving away all sorts of romances (paranormal, historical, and more) in paper and ebook. Answer her question in your comment by 12 am PST, February 14.

Sweet Vernal Zephyr’s giving away four classic romances that she literally grew up with. Contest closes February 20.

Book Lovers Inc is giving away winner’s choice of one of Jaci Burton’s backlist titles (print or ebook). Contest closes February 20.

Bookity

New releases and more: Lily (m/m romance), Elisa (LGBT),Â Smexy Books (various types of romance), Literary Escapism (UF/PNR), and Book Lovers Inc (romance, UF/PNR)

Some great book linkity and commentary from Smart Bitches. More great linkity from ReadReactReview (worth it just to watch the video for “I’m Reading a Book”) and Sloan Parker.

Cool bookshelves and book quote. (Note that some site content is very NSFW.)

Dear Author explains how bestseller lists work.

Paperback Writer on ten ways writers can save money.

Marie Sexton shares her thoughts on women writing m/m romance. (Note that some site content is very NSFW.)

Book Addict Patti is celebrating M/M Romance Month on her blog.

Kim Dare has a free short m/m romance and a contest in her February newsletter.

Wren Boudreau has links to some of her free short m/m romances.

The Goodreads M/M Romance Group celebrates 2000 members with a big chat event today (February 4) from 1 pm to 10:30 pm EST. Chat participants will have the chance to win prizes!

Sentences that you won’t find in romance novels…

LoveRomancePassion identifies some male romance novel cover models… alas, none that we see in the Misadventures.

Ebookity

Dreamspinner Press and ManLoveRomance Press are offering a free anthology of m/m romance short stories, poems, and anecdotes celebrating author Patric Michael.

Lots of commentary on Apple’s enforcing some of the App Store fine print to reject the Sony Reader iPhone app.

Some info on ebook bestseller lists, including the forthcoming list from the New York Times.

TeleRead looks back at January in ebook news.

How could we create a National Digital Library and what would it contain?

Is obscurity a greater threat to authors than piracy?

Do, Think, Make, Learn

Heidi Cullinan writes eloquently against the proposed amendment to the Iowa State Constitution, which would restrict marriage to being between one man and one woman. You can donate to One Iowa to help fight for equality.

If you’re confused about the various tablet computers available, Lifehacker’s infographic might help. They also have an article about five ways they feel the Android-powered Google table is better than the iPad, along with some things they feel the iPad still wins. Gizmodo reviews the Dell Streak 7 Android tablet… it doesn’t fare well.

Do you have tech OCD?

Lifehacker has ten tips on improving your brain.

It’s Friday! Check out The Graphic Recipe Guide to Prepare Perfect Cocktails!

What are some of the options out there for unlimited online backups?

A statistician figured out how to beat scratch lottery tickets.

A game called BiblioBouts might help students learn to assess source reliability.

Use a beverage can tab to hang a picture.

Use office supplies to make a car mount for your cell phone.

How are cameras and eyes different?

Opt out of getting the Yellow Pages dropped on your doorstep.

An overview of gluten-free bread brands.

The 2010 Dietary Guidelines for Americans have been released. Summary? “Just eat less.“

Bake your own Samoas, Tagalongs, Trefoils, and Oreos.

Some eerie videos and photos from Snowpacalypse (the non-Minnesota version). Lifehacker has a useful checklist for staying productive during Snowpocalypse (or other events that cause widespread power outages). And Gizmodo has a list of gear to help you stay warm.

Valentine’s

Red Velvet Pancakes?!

Cute crocheted heart ornament.

Fun monster Valentine’s cards to make with kids.

Chocolate-covered pretzel sticks with a Valentine’s theme.

Tips for a gluten-free Valentine’s.

Cool

Insanely creative crochet. (Thanks, Juni!)

Baby monster amigurami.

Gorgeous garden.

Make your own mini colored pencils for doll houses or decoration.

LEGO Space minifig cufflinks.

A stormtrooper falls…

Pop Art Toasters.

2001: A Space Odyssey tribute.

The first photo in CRAFT’s Flickr pool roundup combines high heels and knitting in a clever way.

Super cute knit kitty hat! (Yes, I had to buy the pattern instantly.)

Gorgeous Beowulf sock pattern.

Darth Vader meets typography.

Whoa. Kraft has a 400,000 square foot underground cheese cave.

Via the Google Art Project, you can take virtual tours and zoom in on famous artworks.

It’s amazing that there’s still an uncontacted tribe living in the Amazon jungles.

Cool or huh? You can now buy camping chairs with not only cupholders, but also butt warmers.

Huh

An elderly woman was arrested because she’d been throwing condiments in library book drops…

Zero gravity prehensile footwear?!

Wearable planters…

Anatomy dresses.

Cake slippers.

My toes get really cold just looking at these boots.

LOL

Remember the Alot, as created by Hyperbole and a Half? Check out the Alot love! (Thanks, Wren!)

Sparkly Google autocomplete… (Thanks, Lea!)

When someone says Hogwarts isn’t real… (Note that some site content is very NSFW.)

TARDIS humor! (Note that some site content is very NSFW.)

xkcd on cooking at home. (Make sure you hover your mouse over the comic for additional text.)

The folks who brought you Damn You Autocorrect have a new blog: Parents Shouldn’t Text.

Laptop Kama Sutra…

Handy flowchart to help you decide what sort of Facebook comment you should leave.

Some panda humor…

One side effect of the snow this week…

“…little monkeys jumping on the bed…“

Be very afraid of snaking the toilet… (Not nearly as scary as it sounds.)

Prehistoric cat lady.

Go, mama cat!

Who knew that kittens attacked red blood cells?

Where’s Wendy when you need her?!

Oh, Frank, I’m not sure leopard print looks good on you.

Basement cat for geeks.

The lesser-known Fifth Horseman…

Teh Cute

Bunnies! Kitten! Kitten! Baby kangaroo! Foxes! Baby cheetah!! Baby lion!! Cat and kittens!! Kitten! Kittens! Matching dog and kitten! Muddy lioness! Stoat! Baby penguin! Civet! Tiger! Polar bear! Wee sugar glider!

Reading Update
Rubbing Vignettes: The Wrong Way and the Right Way by Wren Boudreau. free ebook short. Cute short m/m Valentine’s romance split into two scenes as Greg tries to figure out how to celebrate his first Valentine’s with Finn, and then as they celebrate. I really hope that the first scene was the set up for a sequel to Back to Normal, featuring a couple of guys who rub each other the wrong way…
One Night Stand by Cassandra Gold. ebook short. Very good short m/m romance about a guy whose friends drag him to a club to help him get back out there after a few years. He seems to have a real connection to the guy he brings home… until the guy freaks out about having stayed over night and leaves. (This short story was originally part of the Friction anthology.)
Love Ahead: Expect Delays by Astrid Amara. ebook. Very good m/m romance about two guys driving a 1989 Geo from Seattle to drop off in Boulder, hoping to get there for part of Hanukkah, until the drive turns into the roadtrip from hell.
Half Pass by Astrid Amara. ebook. Good m/m romance about a horse phobic guy who inherits his aunt’s boarding stable and moves back to the small town in which he grow up so he can get the stable ready to sell. Unfortunately, it felt like all the details about the horses and their training and care overshadowed the actual story.
Handcuffs & Spreader Bars (Rawlings Men, Book 5) by Kim Dare. ebook. Very good kinky m/m romance about a dom (and police officer) who’s had his eye on one of the newer constables for a while, but has only just learned that the constable equates submission with being taken advantage of due to a prior bad experience.
MIA Case Files 1: Wolfsbane by K.C. Burn. ebook. Very good paranormal m/m romance about a closeted agent who works in a secret government agency (MIA) that investigates dangerous paranormal activities. While he and his partner are trying to figure out what’s going on in the small town of Rothburg, he meets and becomes fascinated by a gorgeous young man working at a coffee shop.
MIA Case Files 2: Blood Relations by K.C. Burn. ebook. Ok paranormal m/m romance about another MIA agent who gets involved with a young man who seems too good to be true. I didn’t enjoy the second book in this series nearly as much as I did the first – it was just too predictable.
Del Fantasma: Duck Fart by Jade Buchanan. ebook. Good paranormal m/m romance about an innocent Siamese cat shifter who just tracked down the best friend he’s had a crush on for years, only to discover that his friend is now mated to someone else. He thinks his heart is broken – so why is he leaving with that duck shifter and that human?!
High Flow (EMS Heat, Book 7) by Stephani Hecht. ebook. Good m/m romance about a medic who was gay bashed and now can’t let anyone get close or touch him. But maybe the handsome doctor in the ER will be patient enough to past his defenses…
True Hollywood by James Buchanan. ebook short. Good short m/m romance about two stuntmen who haven’t seen each other since their breakup years before until they run in to each other at their former mentor’s wake.
Second Helpings (Table for Two, Book 2) by Scarlet Blackwell. ebook short. Ok short m/m romance continuing the story of Luc, the arrogant French chef, and Daniel, the closeted British food critic, as Daniel’s obnoxious mother (who doesn’t know he’s gay) arrives for a visit and ratchets up the tension.
Beach Reading (Book 1) by Mark Abramson. ebook. Ok m/m mystery about a waiter in the Castro who spends a lot of time wandering around stoned and picking up guys. I did enjoy being able to picture the various locations mentioned. I didn’t enjoy the rambling brain dumps from everyone in the story.
A Bid for Love by T.D. McKinney & Terry Wylis. ebook. Ok m/m romance about an FBI agent who participates in a charity auction and is “purchased” by an anonymous bidder he assumes to be a woman. Ah, the surprise that awaits him when he and the bidder meet up in Italy. Sadly, the language was too flowery and overwrought for my tastes.
Knight or Daye by Jude Mason. ebook short. Ok short kinky m/m/m romance about a guy who infiltrates a human slavery ring, hoping that he can reconnect with and rescue the lover he drove away.
Howl by Lacey-Anne Frye. ebook. Ok m/m paranormal romance about a couple who stays at an isolated B&B in the middle of the woods. The proprietor tells them not to go outside after dark… Why don’t people ever listen??
What You See by C.J. Black. ebook short. So-so short m/m encounter between a waiter and an older man who always sits in his section at the restaurant.

“I’m hiding in my Plastic Tub of Invisibility. You can’t see me.” -Mayhem

Linkity linkity link, Reading, Reviewettes

Worn to a little nub from a crazy week, I still attempt linkity!

December 3, 2010 Chris 43 Comments

Then go enter the contest for Chasing Alex by Em Woods and A Special Christmas by J.P. Bowie! Contest closes 10 pm CST, December 10.

Congrats to Courtney, who won Breathe by Sloan Parker!

Congrats to Marie, who won Mistletoe and Submission by Kim Dare!Â Mistletoe and Submission will be released by Total-E-Bound on December 6.

Congrats to Brenna and LadyM, who won His for the Holidays by LB Gregg, Harper Fox, ZA Maxfield, and Josh Lanyon. His for the Holidays will be released by Carina Press on Monday, December 6.

Contests

Lea’s giving away an advance ebook copy of Anne Rainey’s forthcoming short erotic romance, What She Craves. Comment by midnight EST, December 3 (today) for your chance to win.

Tracy’s giving away a copy of Lipstick in Afghanistan by Roberta Gately. Comment by 11:59 PST, December 8, for your chance to win.

Amora’s giving away an ebook copy of Raev Gray and Alexandr Voinov’s new m/m romance, Transit, to someone who answers her question in the comments by midnight PST, December 10.

Bookity

Author newsletters: Kim Dare (news, free story, and a contest) and Heidi Cullinan (I haven’t had a chance to read it yet, but I’m sure it’s filled with awesomesauce).

DIK (Desert Island Keepers) is looking for new team members to blog a few times a year. Hurry – you have to submit your application by December 4!

New releases and more: Lily (m/m romance), Elisa (GLBT), Tor.com (YA paranormal, SF, UF/PNR), and SciFiGuy (SF/SFR, fantasy, UF/PNR, YA).

The Monday Morning Stepback from ReadReactReview.

Check out Gizmodo’s guide to gifts for book lovers. Paperback Writer has ten gift ideas for writers or readers, all for under $10.

A very amusing “So you want to write a novel” video.

Go now and read some of Uncle Walter’s Bad Romance Novel Quotes! Hee hee. (Thanks, Stephani!)

Ebookity

Have you been to Brief Encounters yet? It’s a new blog from Tam and Jenre, devoted entirely to reviews of short m/m stories. Congrats, you two! Were you concocting this in San Francisco?!

Will Google actually launch its ebookstore by the end of the year?

Trek shares some thoughts on prices for ebooks from traditional publishers.

Ereader ownership has tripled in the past two years.

An American Editor with some things you should consider when deciding which ereader you should buy.

TeleRead shares the story of how a skeptical writer became an ebook convert.

Amazon’s been charging for Project Gutenberg books… which you can get for free in Kindle format from Project Gutenberg.

Think, Do, Learn, Make

Harvey Milk’s speech on hope is as relevant today as it was over 30 years ago. It gave me chills.

An engineer might have figured out how Stonehenge was built.

How many of history’s ten most dangerous cars can you name?

A recent study found that people were able to predict the future… and porn was one of the tools used in the study.

Without navigational aids and cues, humans walk in circles.

Umberto Eco muses on the history of lists.

Imagine – being ambitious and driven to learn matter more than a attending a prestigious (and expensive) college!

Look at your blog through an “outside eye.”

Gluten Free

Tips for a gluten–free Hanukkah.

Does your Walgreens carry Delish gluten-free snacks?

Gift Ideas

Refreshingly honest hand sanitizers for the OCD people in your life! (Thanks, Jase!)

Fear in a Can, anyone?

The Tor.com Zazzle store might have just the thing for your scifi/fantasy geek.

More geeky gift ideas from Tor.com, including stuffed animals.

Perhaps a bowl made of melted plastic toy soldiers for the child at heart?

Very cute felted cat hats (not hats for cats, just to be clear…).

Knit a Noro hat for a quick and colorful gift.

Sew a DSLR bag for the photographer.

Fourth Amendment underwear for the frequent flier?

CRAFT has a gift guide for chefs, plus links to several other gift guides.

Gift guides from Gizmodo: cyclists, booklovers, caffeine addicts, and the guy who never grew up.

Holiday

This rainbow felt ball garland looks pretty easy to make.

Build a LEGO Death Star ornament!

With “faker crochet”, you can make doily-covered soaps in five minutes or less!

Make a holiday wreath out of old books.

Cool

I can’t believe these are just made from thread!

Mega Man knit sneakers.

Transforming purple sneakers!

Typewriter waffle maker!

Klein Bottle opener…

Huh

Naked showering LEGO Santa?!

High-heeled Tevas…

Squid shoes…

Painting murals on toast with jam and Marmite?!

The Starship Meaterprise…

Very NSFW USB peripherals…

LOL

What really happens when a product is supposed to be easy to open?

Kudos to Chipotle for making the legal jargon on their gift cards amusing.

It’s obviously a spoof based on the van number, but what a fun thing to rename your wifi network!

I loved this emergency Thanksgiving pie recipe.

Daniel Radcliffe (aka Harry Potter) sings the Periodic Table of the Elements.

More adventures of Squirrel!Neo and friends…

Who would win in Hobbes vs. Pooh?! (Thanks, Jase!)

Whoa! Dramatic animal drama! (Thanks, MamaTulip!)

How to wrap a cat like a Christmas present. (Thanks, Kim!)

Only a little “ebil”…

Eeek!

Teh Cute

Cat and kitten! Red panda! Albino wallaby! Kittehs in sinks! Snow kittehs! Baby cheetah! Hummingbirds! Donkeys! Otter! Lemurs! Kittens!

Reading Update
Unspeakable Words by Sarah Madison. ebook. Excellent paranormal m/m romantic suspense about a very precise San Francisco-based FBI agent who’s been shuffled around a lot because he’s not easy to deal with. He gets assigned a temporary partner from Quantico because of a new lead in an old case. When his temporary partner ends up sleeping on his couch, his orderly world is disrupted and things start to get interesting. I’m definitely hoping for more books about these two!!
Beyond Reckless by Ava March. ebook short. Very good steamy short m/m Regency romance about two men who enjoy the thrill of nearly being discovered…
Idaho Battlegrounds by Sarah Black. ebook. Very good m/m romance about a small-town Idaho sheriff who’s also a lieutenant in a National Guard unit that’s been in Afghanistan for the past four years. He’s now up for reelection against the corrupt interim sheriff, while at the same time getting to know a local dairy farmer who has a few secrets of his own…

Pretty Ugly (Petit Morts #6) by Jordan Castillo Price. ebook short. Very good short paranormal m/m story about a photographer who describes himself as “plug ugly”. He’s shooting an event when he encounters the elusive chocolatier Chance, who gives him a very special chocolate…
Sort of Stranger than Fiction (Petit Morts #7) by Josh Lanyon. ebook short. Very good short paranormal m/m romance about a small-town bookstore owner who’s quite intrigued by the scarred guy who owns a nearby dojo.
One Less Stiff at the Funeral (Petit Morts #8) by Sean Kennedy. ebook short. Very good short m/m paranormal story about a guy who helps family members plan services for their freshly deceased relatives.
Critic’s Choice (Petit Morts #9) by Josh Lanyon. ebook short. Very good short m/m paranormal m/m romance about a film critic who gets the chance to work on a dream project and does so, even though he’ll be working with his cheating ex-boyfriend.
Wishink Well (Petit Morts #10) by Jordan Castillo Price. ebook short. Excellent short paranormal m/m romance about a man in a hospice, dying of COPD, who runs into the mysterious and alluring Chance stocking vending machines. This Petit Mort has sharper edge than the others.. and we find out a tiny bit more about Chance.
In a Wolf’s Eyes by Cassandra Gold. ebook short. Good short paranormal m/m romance about a guy who gets lost in the woods and found by a strangely intelligent wolf…
Copper Country Gold by Taylor Lochland. ebook. Good short paranormal m/m romance about a bobcat shifter in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula who’s been limiting himself to one-night stands because there aren’t any other gay shifters in the area and he knows his clan leader will never accept an outsider.
WHAT by Missy Welsh. free ebook short. Good free short paranormal m/m romance about a tattoo artist who has a crush on his straight boss.
Dinner and a Movie by Beth Wylde. ebook short. Steamy short m/m encounter about a couple out for dinner and a very unusual movie…
Strings Attached by Nick Nolan. ebook. Good but uneven m/m romance about a high school senior who discovers, after his alcoholic mother ends up in treatment, that his dead father’s family is wealthy. His transition to a life of privilege while he tries to figure out who he is and what he wants does not go smoothly. The author’s afterward reveals numerous references to the story of Pinocchio, only a few of which I caught. I’d suggest including a forward with an abbreviated version of that story to help the reader…
Double Bound (Strings Attached, Book 2) by Nick Nolan. ebook. Ok m/m romantic suspense that was all over the place. This book focused on the butler/bodyguard from the previous book. Unfortunately, especially the closer to the end of this book I got, it felt like the heir (the main character from the previous book) was back to being Pinocchio, with others deciding things for him.
The Christmas Wreath (Tales from the Bell End Cafe, Book 1) by Fabian Black. ebook short. So-so short m/m holiday romance about a young man who fancies himself in love with the older man who saved his life. I think this is the first installment in a serial story… and those drive me nuts. I’d rather read an entire story, not wait for it to be eked out.
The Perfect Tree (The Forbidden Room, Book 3) by J.P. Barnaby. ebook short. Steamy short kinky holiday m/m romance, after which reading you’ll not look at Christmas decorations the same again!
Twinkle, Twinkle by Josephine Myles. ebook short. DSP Advent Calendar. Good short holiday m/m romance about a doctor who, when treating an electrician shocked while checking the wiring for Christmas lights, realizes that the hunky electrician was the fat kid everyone beat up in school.
Biting the Christmas Biscuit (Broken, Book 1.2) by Dawn Kimberly Johnson. ebook short. So-so short holiday m/m romance in which the couple from Broken go to spend the holidays with one’s dead boyfriend’s family. The ending on this was odd – it just sort of stopped.
Storm on the Mountain (Mountain #7) by P.D. Singer. ebook short. Very good short m/m romance continuing the story of Mark and Allan, this time with a Valentine’s Day blizzard.
On Call: Crossroads (On Call #3) by P.D. Singer. ebook short. Doctors Without Borders Charity Sip Blitz. Very good short m/m romance continuing the story of veterinarian Dante and doctor Keith, as Keith tries to come to grips with losing a patient.
Housesitting by M. Durango. ebook short. Doctors Without Borders Charity Sip Blitz. Good short m/m romance about a guy who’s housesitting for his uncle for the summer, next door to the now-resident who was his teenaged crush.
Little Fishes by Syd McGynley. ebook short. Doctors Without Borders Charity Sip Blitz. Ok short kinky m/m romance about a master taking his slave to meet his family, who aren’t aware of the nature of their relationship.
How Did I Lose My Passport – And Find My Love by JM Cartwright. ebook short. Doctors Without Borders Charity Sip Blitz. So-so short m/m romance about an absent-minded medical researcher who misplaces his passport while traveling and is surprised when his nemesis, the hospital’s COO, turns up to get things sorted out.

“That was tasty. I’m glad Mom left those crackers near the edge of the counter while she was getting something out of the fridge!” -Chaos

Contests, Linkity linkity link, Reading, Reviewettes

Hmm. This was supposed to be a short linkity post, due to my long holiday weekend. FAIL.

November 26, 2010 Chris 29 Comments

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).

Social networking’s not necessarily going to help writers sell books.

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.

Some recent articles on piracy via TeleRead.

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 thatÂ 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.

To think about…

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.

GF news from Triumph Dining.

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,Â you could make an Altoid tin martini kit!

CRAFT has a gift guide for knitters and crocheters and another for kids.

Gizmodo’s guide to all all their gift guides.

Cool

Traditional fair isle knitting and robot mashup… Lorraine, I bet you could do a fair isle/Dr. Who mashup! 🙂

TARDIS quilt!

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)

World flags in pizza.

Huh

Sippycup FAIL. (Thanks, Lea!)

Vibrator FAIL. (Obviously NSFW…)

A tombstone shaped like a computer?!

A motorcycle hearse?!

Fizzing bacon tablets…

A combo shot glass and pint glass…

Adam Savage of Mythbusters made it through airport security with two 12″ long razorblades he’d forgotten were in his laptop bag…

LOL

O noes! Area 51 is receiving poor reviews from interstellar Google Maps users! 😉

Unusual security measures employed by the TSA… (I had a hard time deciding whether this belonged in “Huh” or “LOL”…)

Indexed on the TSA.

What the Statue of Liberty would look like to the TSA…

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

Contests, Linkity linkity link, Reading, Reviewettes

The Missing Link-ity found!

September 3, 2010 Chris 39 Comments

Congrats to arzu, who won Twice in a Lifetime by Shawn Lane! Twice in a Lifetime will be released on September 5 by Amber Allure.

Congrats to Tara, who won What To Do With Lore by Jade Archer! What To Do With Lore will be released by Total-E-Bound on September 6.

Congrats to kasjo_peja, who won Gay Day! Gay Day! (G-A-Y, Book 11) by Kim Dare! Gay Day! Gay Day! will be released on September 6 by Total-E-Bound.

Contests

Liquid Silver Books is having a Labor Day Weekend Author’s Blog Hop, which starts today.

Lea’s giving away any one of Jaci Burton’s Wild Riders romances! Leave a comment before midnight EDT, September 3 (aka today) – check back on the 4th to see if you won.

Mandi’s giving away five copies of Larissa Ione’s latest Demonica novel, Sin Undone. Contest is open (US/Canada only) through September 4.

Everyone who leaves a comment on Kim Dare’s newsletter post will have the chance to win an ebook from her backlist, or an IOU for a future release.

Blodeudd’s giving away two copies of Carolyn Brown’s new western romance, Hell, Yeah! – leave a comment by September 6 for your chance to win. (US and Canada only)

Devon Rhodes is giving away an ebook copy of her latest m/m romance, The Swap, to someone who leaves a comment about their least favorite job. Contest closes midnight PDT, September 6, and the winner will be announced on the 7th.

Go read Heidi Cullinan’s newsletter and find out how you can win a signed paperback (your choice) of one of her books. Winner will be selected September 11.

Torquere Press is celebrating seven years in business with a somewhat complicated contest… but you could win a Nook.

EH is running a contest open only to addresses outside the US and Canada, with three different book prize packs available. For your chance to win, leave a comment by midnight, September 30.

Patti has issued a football challenge – do you think your team can be the New Orleans Saints?

Bookity

New releases: Lily (m/m romance), Elisa (GLBT releases for August), All About Romance (romance audiobooks), Sidhe Vicious Reviews (UF/PNR), SciFiGuy (adult UF/PNR and young adult UF/SFF/PNR), Smokin’ Hot Books (UF/PNR they’re anticipating), and Katiebabs (things she’s looking forward to).

Excellent post on m/m romance, which does a superb job rebutting one of the crazy-making posts from a week or so ago.

A cute kid’s video called “It’s a Book.” I don’t think we’re quite there yet, but…

Jewelry made from books.

Turn an old book into a weaving loom.

The bookcase coffin?!

Dick and Jane and…. vampires?!

Interesting post about cat people in science fiction from Tor.com.

Patti reviewed the Hide-A-Cover book cover, for when you’re tired of people judging your books by their covers.

Bookity linkity posts from Dear Author and ReadReactReview.

Katiebabs is curious about your kryptonite books – the books that you mean to read, but that you keep putting off or putting down.

Ebookity

The GLBT Bookshelf is having a digital rummage sale during September, during which you can purchase all sorts of ebooks at great prices to help support the Bookshelf.

The University of Chicago Press is offering the 1906 edition of the Chicago Manual of Style as a free download this month. Make sure you use the link in the “Update” section of this post to get the DRM-free version! (Thanks, KZ!)

TeleRead has a nice list of where you can find free textbooks online.

The next edition of the Oxford English Dictionary might be online only, no print.

Gizmodo reports on the new Sony ereaders. So does Teleread.

TeleRead highlights some recent Kindle 3 reviews.

Although this is a humorous bit about how much thought people put into buying $0.99 apps for their phones, I wonder if it could be applied to, say, ebooks?

Make, Do, Learn, Think

If you have or are considering student loans, make sure you read this. Then go look at college tuition compared to the US home prices and the Consumer Price Index and wonder when that bubble’s going to burst.

August was the weakest month of car sales since 1983. Maybe people are realizing that they don’t need to replace their cars as often as the automobile industry keeps pushing us to? *sends happy longevity thoughts out to beloved 1997 car*

Curious what cities are “recession-proof”? More than one of them is in Iowa.

Patti wrote a powerful post about how she feels five years after Hurricane Katrina.

New York City’s water is full of invisible shrimp – how does that work out for people with shellfish allergies?!

Have an earworm? Unhearit will help you get rid of it… by possibly giving you a new one. 🙂

How to delete yourself from the internetz.

Batman – there should be only one!

The ultimate no-tangle headphone solution?

The Subway Map of Science is very cool.

Dry water exists.

If you’re a student looking for credible sources on the internetz, give SweetSearch a try.

Make a cheap laptop stand using some spare IKEA parts.

I wonder if I could make a gluten-free variation of these homemade Pop Tarts on a stick?

Linkity Peeps

Random stuff from Sidney, including a very funny spider video that you have to watch.

Kristi has craft, photography, food, and humor linkity.

NSFW WTFery from Katiebabs.

Cool

The Human Calendar. (Thanks, Jeanne!)

The Japanese Monster Kit.

The Star Wars cross-stitch baby blanket and pillow set is adorable!

Love the Caffeination Status Coffee Cozy!

Educational chemistry crayons.

Might there be a math geek in your life who’d love a necklace that has pi to the first 100 places?

Movie posters for the best movies you’ll never see…

Dr. Who fans can probably guess what that blue box on top of the Small Dome at MIT is…

The next time I’m in Chicago, I must go to the coffee shop that has a Delorean parked inside it.

Huh

Maybe shirtless jumping should be an Olympic sport…

How to traumatize a kid for life: a heat-seeking automated Nerf sentry gun that keeps firing once it “gets a lock.”

Deep-fried beer.

Buy a six-pack of beer, complete with tuned beer bottles.

Faux fur whiteboard.

A photo exhibit of hideous Las Vegas casino carpet.

An artist took pictures of the same McDonald’s hamburger and fries every day for four months… and they were remarkably unchanged.

Critters that smugglers tried to sneak onto planes in their luggage this week: a sedated tiger cub and 97 snakes.

LOL

Hyperbole & a Half on social entrapment. Love this quote: “One of the most difficult aspects of interacting with other people is figuring out how to extricate yourself from a conversation without appearing rude or mentally unstable.”

Check out this great Dancing in the Movies video – guaranteed to make you smile.

How to fight ignorance with humorous gay protest signs.

Hearing a random song – then and now.

Business cards for fictional companies.

Sex scene or murder scene… the game (I think there are five total games).

One of felinekind’s deep dark secrets revealed!

Seriously, he really is “the most inefficient drinker in the cat kingdom.”

I hope this kitty doesn’t hold a grudge…(Thanks, MamaTulip!)

This seems a bit ominous if you’re superstitious.

Hmm. Might not be wise to prop your ereader or iPad on your cat…

What happens when you try to put your cat in the carrier or give it a bath…

Zombie kitteh!

Teh Cute

Completely adorable mini fake DSLR cameras (1/6 scale), complete with interchangeable lenses.

Kitties in boxes! (Thanks, MamaTulip!)

Did you hear about the cat that got on a train and was eventually reunited with its owner via Twitter?

A macaque monkey adopts a kitten in the wild.

Melly belly floof! A Whatsit! Baby otter with attitude! Baby fox in a box (but no socks)! Red panda sticking out its tongue! Kitties on books! Dormouse! Tiger cubs nursing from a dog! Floofy kitten! Black fawn! Baby opossum! Kittens! Stoats! Very young kittens! Kittens! Kittens! Baby panda! Kittens! Hungry kittens!

Reading Update
Unconventional (Conventions, Book 3) by T.C. Blue. ebook. Very good m/m romance about a computer game programmer, not able to work due to a lawsuit, who moves to California to live with his deeply closeted actor boyfriend.
Duet by Eden Winters. ebook. Excellent m/m romance that’s a bit challenging for me to categorize. The first half takes place in the Scottish Highlands 200 years ago and the second half takes place in the present day. This is a story about an English tutor/violinist and about the Scottish heir who despises the English. It’s the story of a love that transcends the ages. Oh, whatever – it’s just a darn good love story. 🙂
Double or Nothing by Cassandra Gold. ebook short. Decent m/m romance about a casino owner whose con artist ex shows up, asking for a chance to prove that he’s changed.
Collared Hearts and Frosted Hearts by Angelia Sparrow & Naomi Brooks. ebook shorts. Very good kinky short m/m romances about an artist with a prissy boyfriend who not only owns the gallery at which the artist shows, but also gives him money for his rent and bills and leaves him feeling like a whore.
Submission Times Two by Claire Thompson. Good kinky m/m romance about a couple, deeply in love with each other, who are both submissive. Will they manage to keep their need to submit from destroying their relationship?
Masked Submission by Claire Thompson. ebook. So-so kinky m/m romance about a submissive PhD student who goes to a club and becomes fascinated by a cruel and mysterious masked dominant. I definitely like Claire Thompson’s more recent books better, because I found this one to be melodramatic and overwrought.
Dark Submission by Shayne Carmichael. ebook short. Ok short paranormal m/m romance about a young man, hired as a live-in secretary, who discovers several unusual and intriguing things about his employer.
Call Me Sir by Stormy Glenn. ebook. Um. Stormy Glenn does D/s. What else is there to say, really?! Well, ok, fine. So-so kinky m/m romance about a club owner who decides, after one look at a young man in his club, that the young man would be his forevermore.
Topping Timothy by Erin O’Niall. ebook short. So-so steamy m/m tale about a young man who’s fascinated by a dominant older man he keeps seeing at the bar he frequents, but who’s also sickened by the thought of bdsm. (And this is one of the ugliest stock photo covers I’ve ever seen.)
Catching a Second Wind by Sean Michael. ebook. This m/m romance about a vet who visits an appealing young psychologist as part of trying to get over the unexpected death of his long-term lover was so sweet and angst free that I confess to being bored… Ok, yeah, there was a titch of near-angst – but seriously, nothing that wasn’t resolved within a page or two.

“I want to sleep now, not be entertained. Go away.” -Mayhem

Contests, Linkity linkity link, Reading, Reviewettes

It’s far too late to come up with a remotely clever linkity title

May 6, 2010 Chris 38 Comments

Congrats to Jase, who won the copy of Gay Pride (G-A-Y, Book 7) by Kim Dare!

Contests

Largehearted Boy’s giving away a $100 Threadless gift certificate and assorted books and cds. For your chance to win, leave a comment by midnight CDT, May 7, namingÂ your favorite summertime drink.

Tracyâ€™s giving away an ARC of Diana Palmerâ€™s forthcoming romantic suspense, Dangerous. Leave a comment by midnight PDT , May 8, for your chance to win.

Smexy Books, CursingMama, the Book Binge, and many other blogs, helpfully listed at the Book Binge, are holding Mother’s Day romance novel giveaways. Make sure you read the rules so your comment counts! Contests close at various times on May 9.

SciFiGuy is giving away two copies of Jaime Rush’s new urban fantasy, Touching Darkness. Leave a comment by midnight EDT, May 10, for your chance to win.

Patti’s celebrating her birthday by giving away a signed copy of Maggie Stiefvater’s young adult novel, Shiver. Read her post for details before you leave your comment! Contest closes midnight CDT, May 10.

Ralph’s celebrating his birthday by giving away a copy of Kim Dare’s paranormal m/m romance, Ryland’s Sacrifice (Thrown To the Lions, Book 1). For your chance to win, leave a comment by midnight EDT, May 13.

Jackie of Literary Escapism is having a Race for the Cure fundraising contest. Check out her blog for the details and list of prizes.

Abigail of All Things Urban Fantasy lists over 100 urban fantasy-related contests in this week’s post. Book Junie lists assorted romance-related contests.

Books & Reading

New release info: Lily (m/m romance), Katiebabs (various romance genres), Blackraven (Samhain Publishing), All About Romance (audiobooks), Smokin’ Hot Books (paranormal romance/urban fantasy), SciFiGuy (urban fantasy, paranormal romance, and more – plus news and other goodies), and All Things Urban Fantasy (self-explanatory, no?).

Smart Bitches and Dear Author have released TBR, an iPhone app for romance readers.

ReadReactReview on feeling as if you’re a slow reader when everyone else is reading fast.

Google’s planning to open its own ebook store by early summer.

Beware iPad ebook scams…

The Kobo ereader arrives.

The Aluratek Libre is another inexpensive barebones ereader.

Why people still use DRM.

Publishers who pushed the new pricing model should perhaps start to worry…

If popular culture might be contributing to depression, what role does romance play in that?

Well-known m/m romance author Z.A. Maxfield now has a NY agent – but they don’t want her to write m/m.

Both Kris and Katiebabs have posts about the difference between comfort reads and rereads.

Hot guys who read. Could this be a dating service, please? 😉

Learn, Do, Make

If you’re not exactly sure how a cell phone call works, check out this infographic.

Lifehacker has some interesting ideas for establishing and maintaining your online identity.

What should you do if someone’s been scraping (ie, plagiarizing) your blog?

Make your own Pop-Tarts!

This has promise for hiding a litterbox in plain sight.

Serious lack of sleep is like being drunk? Makes sense to me!

If Facebook’s policies are starting to worry you and you don’t want to take the drastic step of deleting your account, try some apps that could help you fight back.

Lynn Viehl has a list of free alternatives to popular software.

Why do I always forget about the annual Beltane/May Day celebration at Powderhorn Park?!

It was sobering to read Eyre’s post and look at the Hate Map… If you’ve ever thought, “Oh, that wouldn’t happen here” – think again.

Wow

Some kitties are really destructive scratchers!

Huh

I’m glad that this alarm clock that wakes you up with woodpecker noises is only a concept.

White Castle Scented Candles…

Yin and yang bunk beds?!

Fortunately, the desktop microwave is still a concept, too.

LOL

Did you know that the internet is really made from cats? (Thanks, Karen!)

Heh. (Thanks, MamaTulip!)

Are you a nerd, geek, or dork?

Sometimes Indexed is more uncomfortably realistic than funny…

Kitty airbrushing scandal?!

Ouch!

Beware of Basement Cat’s mom!

Oh no! Something more evil than Basement Cat?!

No! Not the boiling oil!

Oh oh… If you’ve been following Brigitte’s quest to not alert Atticus that he’s going to the vet… there’s been a dark turn of events.

Teh Cute

Stripey kittens! (Shh, don’t tell May…)

Hugging kittens.

Pile o’ kittens.

Reading Update
Icing on the Cake by Shayla Kersten. ebook. Very good m/m romance about a guy who’s the man of honor for his best friend’s wedding. She puts him in charge of getting the cake… and oh, that baker is hot. (I wish Shayla Kersten wrote more m/m, because I’ve really enjoyed what she does have out… *hint hint*)
Gaps in Your Soul by Shayla Kersten. ebook reread. Um, yeah, so after reading the previous book, I felt the need to read some more Shayla Kersten. This is a pretty good m/m romance about… Hmm. Having trouble with a summary. At its most basic? I’d say it’s about how the US military’s Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell policy messes with people’s minds and ultimately messes them up.
The One That Broke Free (One, Book 4) by T.C. Blue. ebook. Very good m/m romance about a soldier who was discharged ten years ago after his leg was permanently damaged. Since then, he’s been living alone in the small, closed-minded Southern town where he grew up, but after being in Boston for his brother and brother-in-law’s wedding, he’s rethinking his life. (I was lucky enough to win this from the author! Thanks, TC! And hey, TC will be giving away an ebook here at SOC tomorrow…)
Out of Balance by Stephani Hecht. ebook. Pretty good m/m romance about a banker who’s been going through a rough time when a hunky customer asks him out.
Two Man Team (Team, Book 2) by Jet Mykles. ebook. Do I hear bodies hitting the floor out there?! 🙂 Sarah reviewed this book and I was intrigued. (No, it wasn’t because of the Candy Cane Guy cover!) It’s an m/m romance that starts as an m/f/m romance and I’m not a fan of menagey books. But this one managed to avoid the big issue I have with menagey books, so it actually worked pretty well.
Vindaloo and the T-Bird by Sarah Black. ebook short. Good m/m romance about an eye surgeon who buys an old T-Bird so he has an excuse to spend time with the mechanic he used to date. There’s one thing that bothered me about this, but it’s a spoiler – we can talk about it in email if you’ve read the book!
Object of His Desire by Ava March. ebook. Good m/m Regency romance (I’ll give you a minute to recover) about a young man who’s been at a debauched house party for a week. He hasn’t participated because he’s been pining for the lord who’s hosting the party. Alas, he knows his affections won’t be returned, as the lord is ostensibly using the week to audition for his next mistress… (And yes, that’s Underwear Guy on the cover!)
Convincing Arthur by Ava March. ebook. Another good m/m Regency romance! It turns out that I don’t mind (and actually enjoy) historicals if they aren’t overburdened with historical details. I know that some love reading elaborate details of the clothes, the furnishings, the food… but that’s what turned me off of historicals in the past. Anyway! Leopold’s been waiting for Arthur to be free from his long-term and unfaithful lover. Now that Arthur’s free, will Leopold’s own debauched reputation keep Arthur away?
Fantasies: Christmas by Cassandra Gold. ebook. Good m/m romance about a guy who’s had a really bad week (he gets laid off, his beloved old cat dies, and his boyfriend dumps him by email) until he wins a Hawaiian vacation at the liquor store and invites the helpful guy next in line to go with him.
Cutting Cords by Mickie B. Ashling. ebook. Good m/m romance about two young men who end up as roommates in NYC because their dads were pro baseball teammates once upon a time. One guy is going blind but in denial (about more than just going blind *ahem*). The other is dealing (not so well) with crippling self-esteem issues. This story is told in alternating first- and third-person point-of-view, but I think it would’ve worked better if it had been entirely in third-person.
Poker Night 5: Full House by Carol Lynne. ebook. Well, I had to know how it all ended, since the story of Kent and Marco has been building through the previous four books! I enjoyed it, but I’d recommend reading the rest of the series first.
Theron’s Return (Campus Cravings, Book 11) by Carol Lynne. ebook. Um, I sort of pick these m/m romances up randomly as the descriptions strike my fancy, so for me, this is a completely nonlinear series. This one’s about a guy living in BK House who’s had a really, really bad year and simply can’t deal with it any more. It was ok – exactly the sort of read I needed at the time.
Calendar Boys April: Out of the Storm by Jamie Craig. ebook. Good m/m romance about a meteorologist who’s just been dumped by his boyfriend on a weekend getaway when a hunky ranger shows up at his cabin door, stranded by a surprise storm. (Wait, just how many dumped boyfriend books did I read this week?!)
Calendar Boys August: Scorched by Jamie Craig. ebook. Another good m/m romance – this one’s about a NYC firefighter who returns to Utah to help fight an out-of-control wildfire and runs into his former best friend’s kid brother.
Apotrope by Chris Owen. ebook short. Huh. This paranormal m/m romance about a vampire trying to impress a guy just never came together for me. (It’s part of Torquere’s Spice It Up series and the spice in question was garlic.)
Murder by Design by Jade Falconer. ebook. Um. Well, this m/m romance about a cop investigating the murder of a slutty model’s sugar daddy might’ve been better if half of it was cut out – I’d recommend the extremely repetitive scenes in which our two heroes gushed lovingly at each other over and over and over, ad nauseum.

So my friend CJ went to RT and all I got was… dang. A lot of goodies! Thank you, CJ! And thanks to all the authors who signed stuff for me. 🙂

“Mom, I’m truly alarmed by the large number of naughty boys and utter lack of black kitties.” -Mayhem

Contests, Linkity linkity link, Reading, Reviewettes

Ya wanna know the funny part? I didn’t think I’d have enough links to do linkity….

March 4, 2010 Chris 44 Comments

Contests

Jenre’s giving away a copy of Janey Chapel’s m/m romance, Maritime Men. Answer her question in the comments by 11:59 pm GMT, March 5, for your chance to win.

The Book Smugglers are giving away a copy of Something About You, the new contemporary romance by Julie James. Contest closes 11:59 pm PST, March 6.

Donna Fantasy Dreamer’s giving away a signed ARC of Sean Cummings’ new urban fantasy, Shade Fright (Valerie Stevens, Book 1). Answer her question in the comments by 8 am CST, March 7, for your chance to win. SciFiGuy’s also giving away a signed copy to someone who comments by midnight EST, March 10.

SciFiGuy’s giving away a copy of Skyler White’s new vampire novel, and Falling, Fly, too. Leave a comment by midnight EST, March 10.

Blodeuedd’s giving away a copy of Beth Kery’s latest erotic romance, Release. Leave a comment by March 10 for your chance to win.

If you post or tweet about the Chicago author event at the Webster Place Barnes & Noble (featuring Julie James, Beth Kery, Shiloh Walker, and Joss Ware aka Colleen Gleason) on March 13, you’ll have a chance to win signed books and a $40 B&N gift card.

Oh, you lucky Canadians – you have a chance to win one of five copies of Shadowrise (Shadowmarch, Book 3) by Tad Williams from SciFiGuy if you leave a comment by midnight EST, March 17.

If you’re in the US, you have a chance to win one of three copies of Rachel Ward’s young adult paranormal thriller, Num8ers, from SciFiGuy – comment by midnight EST, March 17, to enter the contest.

Author Julia Barrett’s having a recipe contest this month to celebrate the upcoming release of her steamy romance, Beauty and the Feast. Head over to Julia’s blog to get the details!

Cecile’s giving away your choice of one of Beth Kery’s steamy romances – simply leave a comment by March 31 for your chance to win. Also at Cecile’s, if you can answer the question about Jenna Byrnes, you’ll have a chance to win one of her books. This one’s open until March 31, too.

Sweet Vernal Zephyr keeps a constantly updated list of book-related contests going in her blog sidebar. Book Junkie has a second blog (Book Junkie II) just for contest listings. And All Things Urban Fantasy puts out a weekly list of urban fantasy contests every Wednesday – the latest has nearly 100!

Books & Reading

SciFiGuy’s weekend report is, as always, chock full of info. So’s the March Escapist Newsletter from Literary Escapism.

For lists of of new and forthcoming books, check out Renee’s Book Addiction (romance, m/m, paranormal, urban fantasy, etc), Fantasy Dreamer’s Ramblings (fantasy, paranormal, urban fantasy, YA) (Donna’s got some contest listings, too), SciFiGuy (paranormal, urban fantasy, fantasy, scifi), and I Love Books (m/m).

Smart Bitches have an assortment of interesting links. So does author Kelly McCullough of Wyrdsmiths.

Not sure how well this art installation promoted reading, but it sure looked cool. These vintage typewriter keyboard stickers look pretty cool, too.

How much does it cost to publish an ebook versus a hardcover? Not everyone agrees with those numbers.

One TeleRead contributor’s thoughts on why to avoid ereaders… for now.

Some predictions for ebooks in 2010.

Does Apple’s removing racy applications from its iPhone App Store have implications for its proposed ebook store?

Author Marta Acosta shares some of her thoughts on ebook piracy.

Trek’s thoughts and observations from the ethics assignment on ebooks and ereaders that she gave her college students.

Are books still books if they’re electronic? If you’d like to think more deeply on the nature of the book, this might be the read for you.

Val of Obsidian Bookshelf discusses that most challenging question plaguing m/m romance authors – how to keep those pesky pronoun references straight.

Nicola at Alpha Heroes put together a very cool photo essay based on locations from Kat Richardson’s urban fantasy, Underground.

Kmkat found an interesting study on what those Harlequin titles such as The Brazilian Millionaire’s Love Child might have to say about evolution.

If you can bear to chop up old book covers, you can make some pretty cool postcards.

Trek reviewed an intriguing book about what might happen if all your private conversations went public.

If you’re a writer prone to procrastination, maybe you need to check out the tough love anti-procrastination application, Write or Die.

Many thanks to Keira of Love Romance Passion for including Stumbling Over Chaos in her list of 2010’s Top 50 Romance Novel Blogs.

Learn Stuff

How to make fakeuccinos at home instead of buying those bottled Starbucks drinks.

Find out about the man who created MacGyver.

Lifehacker celebrates duct tape.

There are now officially wraps or skins for everything – including an x-ray wrap for casts.

Gizmodo lists 15 plants that are good at purifying air.

Topeka, Kansas, changed its name to Google, Kansas, for the month of March.

Some psychologists theorize that the evolutionary purpose of depression is to enhance mental skills.

I didn’t realize that every earthquake affects the earth’s axis. Because of the Chilean earthquake, days are now 0.00000126 seconds shorter.

Gladys makes the most amazing pooling stoles from Wollmeise and shares her patterns.

MaryLou’s Kombu Cowl is a gorgeous way to use half a skein of Mini Mochi.

Knitblogger KarenB documented her transition from Blogger to WordPress, if you’ve been thinking about making the same move.

Erotic Horizon discusses the tools she uses to make blogging easier.

Thanks to CursingMama for highlighting this thought-provoking post about figure skater Johnny Weir and how he’s portrayed by the media.

ModernCat has some great pictures of a cat table (sort of an outdoor garden/platform for your cats to enjoy on your deck or patio), plus a link to how to make one.

Ugh. I’m not sure I’ll ever be able to eat bagged salad again…

As Jeanne noted when she sent me this link, who connects black peppercorn to salmonella?! (After all the recalls recently, I wasn’t too surprised to discover that food-borne illnesses cost the US $152 billion annually in medical care and quality of life.)

The National Institute of Health claims that lactose intolerance is nowhere near as prevalent as people think. (Since my gastroenterologist told me I was lactose intolerance, I’m pretty sure I really am…)

LOL

Limedragon sent me this great comic about why DRM doesn’t work… It could as easily go in the books section!

This iPad case was inevitable…

Dice storage is very important.

The real reason people want laser eye correction surgery.

Hmm. Looks a lot like Chaos to me.

Although… this could be Chaos, too.

SuperKitty to the rescue!

Teh Cute! It Burns!

Aww, a little angel.

Too cute to be fearsome.

But does it have sparkles?

Kmkat found a great post with pictures ofÂ celebrities and their cats.

Not getting enough kitten cuteness in your life with itty bitty kitty committee and pitter pats of baby cats? Give Two Mama Cats a try.

Reading Update
My Fair Captain (Sci-Regency, Book 1) by J.L. Langley. ebook. Another book for Kris’ m/m rut challenge. This was a scifi m/m romance, with a Regency flair to it… and I totally loved it. (I’m really glad I totally loved it, because if I hadn’t? I’d be afraid, as this is a very popular book.) I was a little frustrated during the prologue and first few chapters, as I tried to pull the bits and pieces together (that world-building stuff), but after I hit the breakthrough point (where you absorb the background and it doesn’t interfere with the story anymore), I was transfixed. Very steamy, yet very romantic and highly recommended read. (Kris is gloating. I can hear her.)
The Englor Affair (Sci-Regency, Book 2) by J.L. Langley. ebook. Not quite as good as My Fair Captain, but still a very good m/m scifi romance.
Friction by J.P. Bowie, Jenna Byrnes, Jude Mason, Kim Dare, Ashley Ladd, S.L. Majors, & Cassandra Gold. ebook collection. This was an enjoyable m/m romance collection. I thought of all the stories were, at the very least, decent, with one exception. And there were definitely a couple that were excellent.
Running Hot by Stephani Hecht. ebook short. Nicely done short m/m romance about a paramedic and an ER doctor.
GPS by Leigh Ellwood. ebook short. Cute m/m romance about a guy who gets a GPS for his birthday, but what the heck is up with the darn thing?! (Yes, you’re right – that is Candy Cane Guy in the background.)
Sea of Sin (Creatures of Sin, Book 3? Book 2.5?) by India Harper. ebook short. Ok m/m romance short about a police commander who lives a celibate, closeted life except for the one week during which he goes on a gay cruise vacation. Based on the sort of non-ending to this story, I suspect it’s part of the setup for the next book in the series.
629 Miles To Love by Fae Sutherland & Marguerite Labbe. ebook. Ok m/m romance about two former lovers on a drive, talking about what went wrong. (Lost points for lack of condoms and lack of discussion of same.)
Skin Deep by S. W. Vaughn. ebook. Quite good urban fantasy m/m romance that was a bit hard for me to read at points, due to graphic violence in a domestic abuse situation. I am glad I persevered. (No condoms here, either…)
Falling (Hawkins Ranch, Book 2) by Cameron Dane. ebook. Good paranormal m/m romance about two ranchers, one of whom happens to be a demon, which I would’ve enjoyed more if it had had a bit less torture. Those parts were hard for me to read and I definitely skimmed the more graphic violence.
ReneCade (Hawkins Ranch, Book 3) by Cameron Dane. ebook. Another good m/m romance (no paranormal this time) about a deeply closeted sheriff’s deputy who’s attracted to the sheriff’s son, but very afraid of the potential consequences of that attraction. I’m glad that this was less brutal than Falling, but the angst was flowing more freely and there was cheating, so maybe it was a draw.
Do You Believe in Magic by Drew Zachary. ebook short. Very steamy short m/m romance that was a good antidote to the brutality of Skin Deep and Falling.
Slap and Tickle by Drew Zachary. ebook. So-so m/m romance about a possessive cop and the stripper he’s in love with. I found the nicknames (“Big Daddy” and “Candy Pants”) annoying and the sex-to-story ratio was so skewed I skimmed a lot to find the tiny bits of plot scattered amongst the nudity. Plus a plot point that was played up throughout the book wasn’t resolved so much as dropped, which was odd and rather unsatisfying.

“Fine, Mayhem. Be that way. I was only trying to help. Now you will be shunned because your ears are dirty!” -Chaos

“Whatever, big kitty. I think you have OCD issues.” -Mayhem

Contests, Gluten Free, Linkity linkity link, Reading, Reviewettes, Tunes

Today’s forecast is for sunshine and linkity

February 18, 2010 Chris 34 Comments

Contest Update

JessaLu’s celebrating her blogiversary with a big contest – she’ll have five knitting related prizes, one for each year that she’s been blogging. The prizes are wonderful – some of her gorgeous box bags, socks knit for you on her sock knitting machine, or gorgeous sock yarn dyed by Scout. Contest closes midnight EST, February 19… and tell her I sent ya. 🙂

Closetwriter Lea’s giving away an ARC of Julie James’ forthcoming romance, Something About You. You only have until the morning of February 19 to leave a comment and enter!

Bronwyn Green’s celebrating, and to do so, she’s giving away a copy of Just Right, her scorching paranormal update of Goldilocks and the Three Bears. Leave a comment by 8 pm, February 19, for your chance to win.

Julie James is giving away a signed copy of Shiloh Walker’s forthcoming romantic suspense, Broken. Comment by 10 pm CST, February 19, for your chance to win.

Largehearted Boy is giving away a copy of Peter Straub’s new novel, Dark Matter, and Emma Straub’s novella, Fly-Over State, along with an assortment of books and cds. Contest closes midnight CST, February 19.

Jenre of Well Read is reviewing and giving away two of the Petit Morts (see Reading Update below for more details on the Petit Morts). Contest closes midnight GMT, February 20.

Tracy’s running a contest for a copy of L. B. Gregg’s forthcoming m/m romantic suspense, Catch Me If You Can (Romano & Albright, Book 1). Leave a comment by 11:59 pm PST, February 21, for your chance to win. (I highly recommend this one!)

Donna Fantasy Dreamer’s giving away a copy of the fifth Cal & Niko book, Roadkill, by Rob Thurman. Enter by midnight CST, February 25, for your chance to win.

SciFiGuy’s giving away two copies of Robin Hobb’s new fantasy, Dragon Keeper. To enter, leave your comment entry by midnight EST, March 1. He’s also giving away two copies of Kim Harrison’s new urban fantasy, Black Magic Sanction. That contest also closes midnight EST, March 1.

Answer a trivia question about Julia Rachel Barrett’s Captured for a chance to win $5.00 that you can use to purchase ebooks from Siren Publishing. Contest runs through March 31.

Abigail of All Things Urban Fantasy has an amazing 88 contests posted in this week’s roundup!

Reading & Beyond

You can get your book news and contest roundups from Donna Fantasy Dreamer, SciFiGuy, and Literary Escapism.

Jessica of Racy Romance Reviews has all sorts of linky goodness that’ll get you thinking.

Local bookstores Uncle Hugo and Uncle Edgar’s have posted their most recent newsletter, which is packed full of new and forthcoming release info for mysteries, science fiction, paranormals, urban fantasy, and more.

Be prepared for a very fun read as Wren Boudreau rises to the challenge of Kris’ “Choose Your Own M/M Story” challenge! (And then go vote for the choices that the next sucker author will have to write around. You must vote for the potato shaped like Bono’s head.)

What lessons might the publishing industry learn from the music and movie industries? And how come the publishing industry doesn’t seem interested in connecting with buyers, aka readers?

Are LCDs or ereaders worse for your eyes?

Dear Author has an interesting post about using Calibre and Dropbox to put your ebooks “in the cloud” so you can access them wherever you are.

Gizmodo found some interesting glasses that tilt your vision so you can read while lying flat in bed. (Hmm, I’m getting motion sick just thinking about tilted vision.)

Ugh, the situation with DRM and ebooks gets more and more discouraging.

What are your reading neuroses? A major one of mine is getting extremely anxious about what’s going to happen to characters in books, to the point that I need to put the book down and have a bit of a lie down.

MrsGiggles has an excellent list of issues she believes should be banned from romance novels.

Oh, Awful Library Books, how I do love you and the surreal things you find in circulation…

Members of Team Edward, you can buy your very own Edward Cullen body pillow… O_o alas for Team Jacob, as that pillow is sold out.

Yay, Minnesota!

Thanks to trek for alerting me to this important news about Minnesota: it’s the fourth happiest state in which to live! (Hawaii’s first.)

Must remember to pick up the The Minnesota Beatle Project cd…

Get Your Geek On

Thanks again to trek for the link to this lovely laptop cover, made from a thrift shop sweater.

You can make your own MagSafe connector to protect your laptop, so that when you trip over its cord, the cord snaps free instead of sending your laptop into oblivion.

After you’ve scanned all of your old slides, why not use them to make a gorgeous and colorful privacy screen for a window?

Conceptually, Computer Engineer Barbie is cool, but as TeddyPig asks – what’s up with the sparkly stretch pants?

Careful, this mouse (and the hysterical comments) is totally and completely NSFW.

Did you know there’s a Motorola Droid app that will emulate a tricorder and actually do some cool and useful things?!

McGuyver a light tent out of paper and binder clips!

Clever – there’s a website that will help you find that filler item on Amazon to get your purchase to $25 for free shipping. Or if it’s just a single book you want, maybe you should go to the Book Depository instead so you don’t end up buying a random item. 🙂

Hopefully you’ve been following the Google Buzz fiasco and have done what you need to do to make your Google account a bit safer? Update: You can now completely disable Google Buzz.

Eh, Canada

Music blog Star Maker Machine is focusing on Canadian songs this week in honor of the Olympics.

Yum

Don’t these gluten-free cinnamon rolls look delicious?!

Fun & Kitties & Goats, Oh My

Part 2 of the Simon’s Cat “Snow Business” episode is finally out!

Lovely calligraphy kitties.

Aww! How come my kitties have never slept in such a configuration?!

What your kitties are thinking when they’re sleeping with their heads in your shoes?!

Goats.

Reading Update
Thanks to jmc of Shuffling through a book-less desert, where I won a copy of the historical m/m romance, Seducing Stephen!

Love Ahead by Madeleine Urban & Abigail Roux. ebook collection. These two m/m romances were decent, but you can definitely tell that they were older stories from Urban and Roux. And, as Tam pointed out when she read them a week or two ago, how names are used in each story was definitely odd. In the first, both guys mostly used each others’ last names. That was ok, since they knew each other through their work at a construction site. Then, later in the story, when they started to use each others’ first names, it was obviously supposed to indicate their growing closeness and intimacy. I get that. But why the hell did they both have first and last names that could be first or last names?! It was so confusing. So very confusing. And in the next story? The name thing? Really? You never exchanged actual names after talking to each other on the phone for months? *headdesk*
Snow Plowed (Bay City Paranormal Investigations) by Ally Blue. free holiday short. This was a cute’n’steamy m/m Valentine’s short with the characters from Love, Like Ghosts. And if you haven’t read the Bay City Paranormal Investigations series, what are you waiting for?! It’s one of the series that sucked me into reading m/m romance. Hmm… Ok, maybe that’s why you haven’t. 😉
Petit Morts 1-5: Hue, Tint and Shade; Slings and Arrows; Moolah and Moonshine; Other People’s Weddings; Spanish Fly Guy (1, 3, 5 by Jordan Castillo Price; 2, 4 by Josh Lanyon). ebook shorts. These delightful little m/m romances are all loosely based around a mysterious chocolate shop and Chance, its equally mysterious proprietor. Although I enjoyed each and every one, I think that #4 (Other People’s Weddings by Josh Lanyon) was my favorite, with #1 (Hue, Tint and Shade by Jordan Castillo Price) following closely behind. Recommended. (Val at Obsidian Bookshelf has much more detailed reviews of the Petit Morts, as does Jenre of Well Read.)
Holiday Outing by Astrid Amara. ebook. Another delightful Hannukah m/m romance from Astrid Amara! A successful author of gay fiction, still closeted to his family, gets snowed in with his family (and a high school nemesis) for Hannukah.
Fantasies: Thanksgiving by Cassandra Gold. ebook. Enjoyable m/m romance about two guys, one gay, one straight, who have been friends for many years… and then something changes in their friendship. (We’ll be revisiting this cover image at some point in the future, too.)
True North (Lost Boys & Love Letters, Book 1) by Bethany Brown & Ashlyn Kane. ebook. Darn good m/m romance about a deeply closeted petroleum engineer and the new doctor in town, and about how limiting it can be to let your fears control you.
Picture Perfect (Lost Boys & Love Letters, Book 2) by Bethany Brown & Ashlyn Kane. ebook. Ok m/m romance that started out feeling like a freestanding story, but seemed as if, partway through, it suddenly needed to become part of a series (the few paragraphs that were apparently supposed to tie it to True North didn’t seem, to me, to fit)… probably right about the time it detoured into m/m/m for a bit. Very ambivalent about reading the third book.
Hero by Heidi Cullinan. ebook. This was another read for Kris’ m/m rut challenge. This was a fantasy (I guess sort of an urban fantasy, actually) based on the Japanese myth of the kitsune. Intellectually, I could tell it was a pretty good story, but I was fighting against the fantastical elements of the story the entire time. So, basically, I don’t think I can fairly rate this one.
Heart and Soul (The Assignment, Book 2) by Evangeline Anderson. ebook. Ah, this poor m/m romantic suspense got a bit caught in my expectations for it (sequel to The Assignment!) and my discomfort with parts of the story itself. Don’t get me wrong – it was a decent read and definitely worth reading if you enjoyed the previous book (and subsequent shorts) – but I had trouble reading around all the plot holes. *sigh*
Coach, In Bear’s Bed, Office Advances, and A Biker’s Vow (Campus Cravings, Books 1, 7, 8, & 9) by Carol Lynne. ebooks. Reading Carol Lynne is like eating potato chips – not very filling and you know they’re probably not good for you, but you just can’t stop. O_o As you might guess from the name of this series, it’s set on a college campus. (And yes, that is Candy Cane Guy In Bear’s Bed! That naughty boy…) Oddly, at the end of A Biker’s Vow, this series appears to be intersecting with Lynne’s Cattle Valley series.
Sonny’s Salvation (Good-Time Boys, Book 1) by Carol Lynne. ebook. See my comment on reading Carol Lynne books above. 🙂 Sonny quit the FBI to run the family ranch in Nebraska after his dad died. Too bad there aren’t many gay men in rural Nebraska… (And I already know I won’t be reading past the third book in this series, based on the subject matter of the fourth book.)
Rules Were Made To Be Broken by Lenore Black. ebook. Pretty good m/m romance about a guy who recently took over running the family sporting goods store and his (straight) best friend who’s feeling a bit jealous of the store and all the time it takes up. Very nice review of this and Lenore Black’s other works over at Dear Author.
Dead Men Get No Tail by Misty Malone. ebook short. Ok m/m romance about two college roommates, one of whom decides to have a fake funeral for himself. This one left me sort of “Huh?”
Fool for Love by Cassandra Gold. ebook. I’m not a big fan of May-December romances, but Cassandra Gold does a nice job with this m/m romance between a professor and his college student neighbor.