Category Archives: Reading

Ebook giveaway: Stripped Away (Stripped Clean #2) by Ellis Carrington [CONTEST CLOSED]

Many thanks to Ellis Carrington for donating an ebook copy of her freshly released m/m romance, Stripped Away (Stripped Clean #2), for a lucky commenter to win!

He doesn’t recognize himself.
David Moorehouse has spent his life hiding behind masks. Nice guy. Best friend. Reverend” kid. After finding his father dead on the floor, he’s been stripped of his job at the family church and his identity as the quiet, nice guy. The life he knew is over, and he doesn’t know what to do next.

He knows anger better than anyone.
Ricky Slade is itching for a fight. By the time he meets David, he’s struggling to save his business, his best friend, his drug-addict brother, and his own sanity. He’s got no patience for his business partner’s judgmental sibling showing up and getting in his face.

Their furious heat turns into a fiery inferno, but Ricky’s fresh off a bad breakup, and David is getting guilt-tripped by his family and his ex. Every time they fight, they fall into bed, but will that be enough when things around them come apart?

Be advised, this book contains: two small town, blue-collar men with big egos and bigger trucks, more emotional baggage than they can carry, and highly-charged man on man action.

Excerpt (scroll down)

Also by Ellis

About Ellis

Romance requires a hopeful ending and that is why Ellis Carrington is driven to write it. She loves to create original stories that are gritty, witty, and a little unexpected, just like the heroes who inhabit them. Her guys come in both human and non-human form because spirit guides and vampires deserve love too. Her favorite things are great friends, great music, and books that make her laugh and cry like there’s no tomorrow. You can find out more about Ellis at her website, Twitter, Goodreads, or Facebook.

Contest Rules

  • To enter, leave a comment below stating that you are entering the contest. Contest closes 7 pm CDT, Friday, August 22.
  • By entering the contest, you’re confirming that you are at least 18 years old.
  • If you haven’t commented before, your comment will not be visible until after I moderate it. Please do not leave a second comment because your first doesn’t show up! The blog gnomes will decide your comments are spam and then only luck and counterintuitive espionage will salvage your entry…
  • If your comment is actually an advertisement or if your CommentLuv link turns it into an advertisement, your comment will be deleted. (Most of you do not need to worry – this refers to some pretty clever comment spam.)
  • Winner will be selected by random number.
  • You must leave a valid email address in the “Email” portion of the comment form.
  • Please make sure that your spam filter allows email from stumblingoverchaos.com!
  • If a winner doesn’t respond to my congratulations email within 48 hours, I will select another winner.
  • If you win, please respect the author’s intellectual property and don’t make copies of the ebook for anyone else.
  • This contest is open worldwide!

“We demand more snacks!” -Chaos

“Yeah! More snacks! And not just after you trim our claws, either!” -Mayhem

Misadventures in Stock Photography: Part the 207th (The return of Curly Blond Bangs Guy [CBBG])

Welcome to another edition of the Misadventures in Stock Photography! Today we’ll be catching up with Curly Blond Bangs Guy (CBBG).

The

was held in

(under the

on the back wall), leading to plenty of

, but

held fast, even though several of the initiates were heard to protest, “But I’m

!”

Short but not sweet today. 😉


“Lalalalalalalala, I can’t see those naughty boys.” -Mayhem

Linkity for a surprisingly pleasant (so far) early August

Randonymity

The neighbors across the hall recently had a baby, so I knit some bibs for a baby gift.

Bookity

Think, Make, Do, Learn

Cookity

Drinkity

Gluten Free

Crafty

Cool

Cool or Wha…?

Wha…?

LOL

Teh Cute

Reading Update
The Kid: A Season with Sidney Crosby and the New NHL by Shawna Richer. Very good account of Sidney Crosby’s rookie season with the Pittsburgh Penguins in 2005-2006. I’m pretty sure that any use of the phrase “beestung lips” is too many – this book used it three times! As a Pens’ fan, it was fascinating to discover the origin of the much-repeated taunt about Crosby diving (blame the Flyers) and disheartening to realize that several of the things Crosby knew he needed to work on during his rookie season (such as letting rival teams get him wound up to put him off his game) remain problems for him today.


Ok, it wasn’t that long ago that I took this picture, but I can’t tell exactly how much of Mayhem is there on the right. You can see one of her back paws sticking straight up in the middle, but anything to the right of that… (Sorry, Cheryl.) Anyway! It’s possible they wouldn’t feel quite so done in by the (moderate) heat if they weren’t on a fleecy blanket…

Ebook giveaway: Caught! (The Shamwell Tales #1) by JL Merrow [CONTEST CLOSED]

Many thanks to JL Merrow for donating an ebook copy of her forthcoming m/m romance, Caught! (The Shamwell Tales #1), for a lucky commenter to win! Caught! will be released by Samhain Publishing on August 19.

You can run from the past…but the past runs faster.

Behind Robert’s cheerfully eccentric exterior lies a young heart battered and bruised by his past. He’s taken a job teaching in a village primary school to make a fresh start, and love isn’t part of his plans. But he’s knocked for six – literally – by a chance encounter with the uncle of two of his pupils.

Sean works in pest control, rides a motorbike, and lives on a council estate. On the face of it, he shouldn’t have anything in common with Robert’s bow-tie, classic-car style and posh family background. Yet Robert is helpless to resist Sean’s roguish grin, and a rocky, excruciatingly embarrassing start doesn’t keep the sparks between them from flaring.

Despite Robert’s increasingly ludicrous attempts to keep his past where it belongs, his past hasn’t read the memo. And soon his secrets could be the very things that drive Sean away for good…

Warning: Contains the alarming misadventures of a pest control technician, a stepsister with a truly unfortunate name, and a young man who may have more bow ties than sense.

Excerpt (scroll down and select tab)

Other Books

About JL

JL Merrow is that rare beast: an English person who refuses to drink tea.  Having grown up by the seaside, she also loathes fish and chips.  She read Natural Sciences at Cambridge, where she learned many things, chief amongst which was that she never wanted to see the inside of a lab ever again.  Her one regret is that she never mastered the ability of punting one-handed whilst holding a glass of champagne. She writes across genres, with a preference for contemporaries and the paranormal, and is frequently accused of humour. You can find out more about JL at her website, blog, Facebook, Goodreads, and Amazon.

Contest Rules

  • To enter, leave a comment stating that you are entering the contest. Contest closes 7 pm CDT, Monday, August 18.
  • By entering the contest, you’re confirming that you are at least 18 years old.
  • If you haven’t commented before, your comment will not be visible until after I moderate it. Please do not leave a second comment because your first doesn’t show up! The blog gnomes will decide your comments are spam and then only ritual dust bunny sacrifice will salvage your entry…
  • If your comment is actually an advertisement or if your CommentLuv link turns it into an advertisement, your comment will be deleted. (Most of you do not need to worry – this refers to some pretty clever comment spam.)
  • Winners will be selected by random number.
  • You must leave a valid email address in the “Email” portion of the comment form.
  • Please make sure that your spam filter allows email from stumblingoverchaos.com!
  • If a winner doesn’t respond to my congratulations email within 48 hours, I will select another winner.
  • If you win, please respect the author’s intellectual property and don’t make copies of the ebook for anyone else.
  • This contest is open worldwide!

*upside down sunshine stupor* -Chaos

“You look completely ridiculous, big kitty.” -Mayhem

Misadventures in Stock Photography: Part the 206th (The return of the return of Prison Stripes Guy)



Congrats to MarMight, who was lucky commenter #100,000!



Welcome to another edition of the Misadventures in Stock Photography! Today we’ll be catching up with Prison Stripes Guy… again. Thanks to everyone who sent covers!

, one of

living out

, looked

, but

can be deceiving – people did

when they discovered he was also

, the infamous

who would still be terrifying

, especially to those

with the

s he was willing to make as he destroyed their

and crossed the

.

Doesn’t sound like a very nice guy, does he?


“Maybe it’s time to get a new hobby, Mom. There are just too many naught boys!” -Mayhem

Ebook giveaway: Upside Down (Inside Out #2) by Andrew Grey [CONTEST CLOSED]

Many thanks to Andrew Grey for donating an ebook copy of his forthcoming m/m romance, Upside Down (Inside Out #2), for a lucky commenter to win! Upside Down will be released by Dreamspinner Press on August 15.

Lowell Cartwright’s life as a mercenary problem solver has taken its toll, and after one more difficult job, he wants out. For help, he turns to Bull, a soldier of fortune turned club owner – not exactly a friend, but the best chance Lowell has. He visits Bull’s club to scope it out and meets Jeremy Hodgson. The twink captures his attention in a big way. Bull tells Lowell to stay away from the club until he decides whether he can help, so Lowell stays in town. When he spots Jeremy passed out on the floor of a convenience store, he goes to Jeremy’s aid.

Lowell piques Jeremy’s interest immediately, pushing all the right buttons. Then, when Jeremy needs help, Lowell’s kindness turns interest into something more.

But trouble comes knocking when Jeremy’s place is bugged. Maybe Lowell’s past is catching up to him, or maybe the danger centers on Jeremy’s roommate Tristan’s mysterious boyfriend. Whatever the source of the problem, the future Lowell and Jeremy hope for doesn’t stand a chance unless they can find a way to protect themselves.

Other Books

About Andrew

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

Contest Rules

  • To enter, leave a comment stating that you are entering the contest. Contest closes 7 pm CDT, Thursday, August 14.
  • By entering the contest, you’re confirming that you are at least 18 years old.
  • If you haven’t commented before, your comment will not be visible until after I moderate it. Please do not leave a second comment because your first doesn’t show up! The blog gnomes will decide your comments are spam and then only ritual dust bunny sacrifice will salvage your entry…
  • If your comment is actually an advertisement or if your CommentLuv link turns it into an advertisement, your comment will be deleted. (Most of you do not need to worry – this refers to some pretty clever comment spam.)
  • Winners will be selected by random number.
  • You must leave a valid email address in the “Email” portion of the comment form.
  • Please make sure that your spam filter allows email from stumblingoverchaos.com!
  • If a winner doesn’t respond to my congratulations email within 48 hours, I will select another winner.
  • If you win, please respect the author’s intellectual property and don’t make copies of the ebook for anyone else.
  • This contest is open worldwide!

“…zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz…” -Chaos and Mayhem

Ebook giveaway: Dream for Me by Becky Black [CONTEST CLOSED]

Many thanks to Becky Black for donating an ebook copy of her freshly released m/m science fiction romance, Dream for Me, for a lucky commenter to win!

In a society awake for twenty-four hours a day a man who sleeps is a freak. But not to neurobiologist Shay Mistry. Jacob Garcia, the last known sleeper in America, is the test subject whose brain Shay has been dying to get his hands on for years. When they meet, Shay discovers the sleeper’s brain comes accompanied by a gorgeous body and a hostile attitude. As Jacob sleeps night after night in his lab it’s harder and harder for Shay to resist their mutual attraction.

Jacob is tired of being a lab rat, but he’s got his reasons to be in Shay’s lab – one of them he’s not going to tell anyone about – and his plan is to do what he came to do and leave. So falling in love with Shay is like adding a hand grenade to all the other balls he’s juggling. He doesn’t need this added complication, but his desire for Shay is too strong to resist. When Jacob’s secret comes out it triggers a chain of events leaving Shay irrevocably changed and forcing Jacob to choose where his loyalties lie.

Read Chapter 1

Other Books

About Becky

A long time science fiction fan, Becky thinks there are few story ideas that can’t be improved by the addition of the words “in space”. If the story also includes two gorgeous men unable to keep their hands off each other then so much the better. She’d happily go into space herself, but being English would insist on there being a reliable supply of tea available.

She likes nothing more than trapping her characters in tricky no-win situations and watching them figure a way out. When not chasing her characters up trees and throwing rocks at them Becky can be found working in an office – where she’s usually thinking about the next rock to throw.

You can find out more about Becky and her books at her blog, Twitter, Facebook, and Goodreads.

Contest Rules

  • To enter, leave a comment stating that you are entering the contest. Contest closes 7 pm CDT, Thursday, August 14.
  • By entering the contest, you’re confirming that you are at least 18 years old.
  • If you haven’t commented before, your comment will not be visible until after I moderate it. Please do not leave a second comment because your first doesn’t show up! The blog gnomes will decide your comments are spam and then only ritual dust bunny sacrifice will salvage your entry…
  • If your comment is actually an advertisement or if your CommentLuv link turns it into an advertisement, your comment will be deleted. (Most of you do not need to worry – this refers to some pretty clever comment spam.)
  • Winners will be selected by random number.
  • You must leave a valid email address in the “Email” portion of the comment form.
  • Please make sure that your spam filter allows email from stumblingoverchaos.com!
  • If a winner doesn’t respond to my congratulations email within 48 hours, I will select another winner.
  • If you win, please respect the author’s intellectual property and don’t make copies of the ebook for anyone else.
  • This contest is open worldwide!

“Don’t you think you’re a little too close, Mom??” -Mayhem

Misadventures in Stock Photography: Part the 205th (The return of Holding on to His Hat Guy [HotHHG])



Two contests this week – stop back Tuesday and Thursday. 🙂



Welcome to another edition of the Misadventures in Stock Photography! Today we’ll be catching up with Holding on to His Hat Guy (HotHHG).

One hot

,

(who preferred to be known as the

due to the unfortunate ‘T’ for ‘R’ switcheroo in his nickname) was tired of playing

at

with the other

as they waited for

to sweep in with the

and

, wearing

while

, and whisk them away on a

to

and

.

Well. You’ll probably have to read that more than once for it to make any sense at all.


“These must be the naughtiest cowboys ever!!!!” -Mayhem

Misadventures in Stock Photography: Part the 204th (The return of the return of the Staring Contest Guys)

Welcome to another edition of the Misadventures in Stock Photography! Today we’ll be catching up with the Staring Contest Guys.

(every

or so),

wished he could wear

in

(and that fit less

) before making

that he suspected would be

someday, but he needed their

to stay free of the

some that would break

like

.

The end! Poor Mister Romance, huh?


“I don’t know why you even bother with those naughty boys, Mom, when I am so much cuter!” -Mayhem

Leeward linkity

Randoynmity

  • Less than 100 comments away from 100,000 non-spam comments! Whoever is lucky commenter #100,000 will get a prize of some sort. (It won’t be a cat, promise.)

Contest(s)

Bookity

  • Book and publishing news from Dear Author. (They didn’t stop doing news – for some reason, the particular feed I was following stopped updating. Fixed!)

Do, Think, Make, Learn

Cookity

Gluten Free

Crafty

Cool

Cool or Wha…?

Wha…?

LOL

Teh Cute

Reading Update
Hockey Abstract by Rob Vollman. reread. This time I took a few notes – hopefully that helps me remember some of the key terms in hockey statistics.


It was a little cool here earlier in the week, which led to a run on lap real estate.

“I was here first, May.” -Chaos

*purring* -Mayhem