An American Editor considers whether agency pricing has been good or bad for him as a consumer. He did what I did – simply stopped purchasing books from agency publishers – although part of my reason was deciding not to purchase any ebooks with DRM.

People who read ebooks tend to read more than do those who read print books. Here’s a summary of theÂ report. (via TeleRead)

Think, Do, Learn, Make

Ack! The US Social Security Administration was hacked and they didn’t bother to tell people?! (Thanks, Jeanne!)

Up to 1.5 million credit card numbers were stolen from a company that processes payments for the major credit card companies.

“How do ordinary Americans spend their money?”

Um, letting the chicken industry to take over inspections at poultry plants sounds like a really bad idea…

A gallery of women in science.

NASA’s 3D model of the Texas tornadoes.

Transgender terms and concepts.

“Living without your daily bread” from the Gluten-Free Goddess.

If you have a Mac, you should check to see if it’s been infected by a new trojan.

World paper consumption has increased by half in the last 30 years. Paperless society FAIL.

Worldwide vanilla shortage?!

Cookity

Marshmallow Peeps.

Nutella no-bake bars. (via Bron’s Pinterest)

Macaroni & cheese muffins. (via The Kitchn)

Chickpea flour steamed savory snack cakes (gluten-free/vegan). (via The Kitchn)

15 appetizers to amaze.

15 fabulous appetizers.

15 appetizerish flatbreads and pizzas.

10 quick appetizers.

10 pretty appetizers. (Why, yes, it was appetizer week at The Kitchn, why do you ask?)

3 spinach dip variations.

Crafty

Zombie socks… (Thanks, Bron!)

Knit a rag rug. (via CRAFT)

Chalkboard paint jars. (via The Kitchn) (I really need to make a couple of these from Mason jars to help me remember to drink enough water!)

Cool

Coming out, geek style. (Thanks, Jeanne!)

50 amazing photos. (Thanks, Jeanne!)

Free iPad app from National Geographic on the building of the Titanic.

Rainbow winged unicorn cake.

Unicorn silhouette shower curtain.

Dalek egg.

President Obama and Nichelle Nichols giving a Vulcan salute.

Cool or Wha…?

Inflatable Star Trek captain’s chair.

Wha…?

A pop-up tent that you pull behind your bicycle.

Someone is putting felt vulvas on statues in Nova Scotia…

Pants with a built-in… picnic table?

Indeed – why is the safety vest model shirtless?!

Ear-shaped earbud storage…

Bacon coffin.

Worst album covers ever.

A priest was planning to make a PowerPoint presentation to members of his congregation, but instead gay porn played when the flash drive was inserted… (aka AutoPlay is dangerous)

LOL

Jeanne thinks Chaos needs this charm for his collar…

If you’re amused by vintage ads that have homoerotic overtones, you must check out Kate Roman’s tumblr.

March’s funniest autocorrects.

Creative (attempted) tax deductions.

Shopping with the dubious help of online reviews.

Game of Ponies.

It’s not easy being a clown.

Scary/humorous “fortune”…

This percentage seems low to me.

Interpreting dog language.

Les chats ninjas.

Oh oh…

Kitties do know!

This is May, sometimes.

Teh Cute

Baby otters! Baby otter! Sitatunga and baby! Baby royal antelope! Baby polar bear! Kittens! Panther and baby! Kitty paws! Lioness and baby! Lioness and baby! Baby lion! Baby cheetah! Dog and baby tigers! Tiger and baby! Tiger and baby! Cat and kitten! Baby zebra! Baby tapir! Sandhill crane and baby! Cat and kittens! Kitten! Red panda!

Reading Update
Scrap Metal by Harper Fox. ebook. Excellent m/m romance about a linguistics student who returns to his family’s sheep farm after his mother and brother are killed, leaving his grandfather to work the farm alone. When someone breaks into one of the barns, he has no idea that things are about to take a turn for the better. Make sure you have tissues handy for this one!
The Rare Event by PD Singer. ebook. Very good m/m romance about two radically different hedge fund traders before the subprime mortgage meltdown: one takes too many risks in both his personal and professional lives, while the other is far more careful in both. He finally realizes that loving the risktaker, who scoffs at monogamy, is tearing him apart… The heavy focus on the stock market and stock trading details very nearly lost me in the early part of the book, but I persevered and got sucked into the rest of the story.
Handle with Care by Josephine Myles. ebook arc. Very good m/m romance about a diabetic computer programmer who works from home because he’s on dialysis, and the high point of his days is when the cute purple-haired skatepunk stops by to deliver a package. Bonding over a shared love of the X-Men, they become friends… and then everything changes in a day. I must confess that there was something I really felt needed to happen that didn’t, which was what prevented this from being a five-star read for me.
Face Value (Sanctuary #3) by RJ Scott. ebook arc. Very good m/m romantic suspense picking up where the second book left off – the guy they rescued is safe… for now. But will his doctor be able to keep him safe?
Ambush (True Colors #2) by Clare London. ebook short. Steamy short m/m scene between Zeke and Miles that will leave Miles with some distracting memories of his office.
Crooked by Missouri Dalton. ebook short. Good short m/m paranormal romance about a cop who goes astray after killing the monster who killed his partner. This could easily have been much longer (so much plot! So few words!) and had an extremely open ending (not really even HFN) that makes me fear one of those Torquere serials.
On the Other Hand, Death (Donald Strachey #2) by Richard Stevenson. Good gay mystery in which Don’s hired by a sly developer to find out who vandalized a lesbian couple’s barn, in the hope that they’ll be more willing to sell their property out of gratitude.
On the Dotted Line by Alexa Snow. ebook. Good m/m romance about a guy who’s deep in debt and falling further behind, but none of his friends have any idea; neither does the doctor he starts to date. Something about the writing style felt really awkward to me.
Drowning in You by AR Moler. ebook. Ok m/m romantic suspense about two DEA agents who become much closer after one of them nearly dies… This felt really choppy – it jumped from scene to scene instead of transitioning. Also, the ending leaves it open to become a series.
View from the Top by Carson Shepherd. free online. Very short steamy m/m scene that just doesn’t have enough context to really work.
Not That Type of Guy by Sara York. ebook. Meh m/m romance about a CIA assassin who’s been in denial that he’s gay until something happens on the job that makes him reevaluate things. The plot was over-the-top implausible and the relationship between the two MCs had me rolling my eyes.

“I’m sure I can come up with something to be crabby about…” -Chaos

Linkity linkity link, Reading, Reviewettes

Limber linkity learns better

August 5, 2011 Chris 25 Comments

Congrats to Jennifer, who won Packing Leather (Sun, Sea & Submission #1) by Kim Dare! (I never heard back from the original winner, so…)

Congrats to Maya, who won Ashton and Justice by Stephani Hecht! Ashton and Justice will be released by Amber Allure on August 7.

Contests

Book Lovers Inc is giving away a copy of Only Mine by Susan Mallery. Contest closes August 6.

Desert Island Keepers is giving away an ebook copy of a book from the backlist of Sandy James. Comment by 7 pm PDT, August 6, for your chance to win.

You can win PT Michelle’s Brightest Kind of Darkness at Desert Island Keepers. Contest runs through August 6.

Tracy’s giving away an ebook copy of A Good Prospect (Going for the Gold #3) by Karen Mercury. Comment by 7 pm PDT, August 12, for your chance to win.

Bookity

New releases and more: Rarely Dusty Books (August m/m romance releases), Elisa (LGBT), AAR (romance audiobooks), Book Lovers Inc (romance and more), and Literary Escapism (UF/PNR).

A professor in Missouri got Kurt Vonnegut’s Slaughterhouse Five banned from the school curriculum in his town.

How authors and authorial personas are blurring online.

Kris shares some thoughts on the slippery slope of saying het women shouldn’t be writing m/m romance.

How to skim text with decent comprehension.

Bookshelf and bike rack…

What do authors like to snack on? (via The Kitchn)

The story of a pencil unhappy with its lot writing romantic fiction. (via Paperback Writer)

Love a library with a sense of humor! (Thanks, Seanna!)

Ebookity

Two major publishers have reported that ebook sales make up about 15% of their total sales.

Some more thoughts on how “DRM only impedes the honest”.

Self-publishing and invisibility.

Lifehacker readers voted on their five favorite ebook readers.

Humor about the demise of the physical bookstore.

Think, Do, Learn, Make

Infographic of LGBT demographics in the US.

Energy-saving myths.

If your mom was stressed during pregnancy, you could experience “accelerated aging”…

A discovery that could improve the lives of people living with chronic illness.

It will be at least another year before any gluten-free labeling law goes into effect in the US.

I would love it if our food labels looked like this!

What does CNN think the world’s 50 most delicious foods are? (via The Kitchn)

Was our moon formed when two moons smashed into each other?

Cookity

S’Mores Pop Tart S’Mores…

Bacon strip pancakes…

Turn a loaf of bread into cinnamon roll pulls. (via The Kitchn)

Ice cream sandwich recipes.

Uses for lemons.

Drinkity

Elderberry shrub.

Clever way to chill beverages without diluting them as ice would.

Crafty

A TARDIS that holds sewing supplies.

If you’ve been lacking kraken craft inspiration…

Steampunk softies.

Knit a lacy swimsuit cover-up.

Cool

Three LEGO minifigs are going to Jupiter.

Doctor Who inspired crafts. (via The Mary Sue)

Quilled Starry Night.

Starry Night cake. (via The Mary Sue)

Amazing storm photo.

Tiny worlds in tiny bottles.

Linkity from MrsPao.

I want a treehouse office! (via Lifehacker)

Cartoon character color wheel. (via The Mary Sue)

Harry Potter characters done Disney style.

Tiny steampunk minions.

Cool or Wha…?

Dalek dress.

TARDIS dresses.

Death Star dress.

Duct tape Princess Leia dress.

Chainmail gear bag.

Leopard print house.

If you’ve ever wondered how Disney princesses or Abe Lincoln would look with tattoos…

iPad stylus shaped like a match.

You can buy cereal marshmallows in bulk…

Stay cool with… frozen baby food?

Wha…?

Urinal dress.

Worst bedhead ever.

Glow-in-the-dark jeans.

Completely NSFW ladyparts bag.

Castle made of human hair.

Faucet iPad stand.

Creepiest iPhone case ever.

Taxidermy dioramas.

Angry Birds bra.

Beer ring.

Digital dating emotional abuse simulator…

Mayor drives tank over car parked in bike lane.

LOL

The Justice League, with the boys sans pants… (via The Mary Sue)

What meds should the Winnie-the-Pooh characters be taking? (via The Mary Sue)

An amusing Ben & Jerry’s flavor that doesn’t exist. (via The Mary Sue)

Spock is not impressed. (via Marsha)

Are your bananas talking to you?

How cats see things.

Basement Cat’s film career starts slowly. (And beware!)

Basement Cat helps around the farm…

Order carefully if you suspect your waiter is Basement Cat…

Basement Cat and fuzzy dice.

Teh Cute

Kittens! Awwww! Baby penguins! Kitten! Cygnet! Kitten! Cheetah and cheetah tot! Kitten! Jaguars! Baby mouse! Baby penguin! Baby tiger! Owlet! White lion cub! Otter!

Reading Update
His Faithful Servant (Knight Errant #2) by KD Sarge. ebook. Excellent m/m scifi romance continuing the story of Taro and Rafe as they leave Taro’s sister’s ship in order to make their own way. While Knight Errant was told from Taro’s point-of-view, this one’s told from Rafe’s… and he’s not quite as focused as Taro. 🙂
Gathering Storm by Lyn Gala. ebook. Excellent kinky m/m romance about the submissive son of a wealthy man who’s been fascinated by one of his instructors since he was in military school several years before. But in his insecurity and neediness after not getting what he wants, he makes a very poor decision… that could cost him his life.
Swept Away by Sloan Parker. free ebook short. Excellent free short m/m romance about lawyer, part of a couple who’ve celebrated their anniversary the same way for 15 years, who’s dreading this year’s anniversary celebration.
Surrender by K. Piet. ebook short. Very good kinky m/m short about a Dom who finds himself very drawn to another Dom doing a public scene at a club party… and then finds his core assumptions about himself challenged. If you’ve ever been annoyed by a smug Dom story, you’ll appreciate this chance to see a smug Dom shaken to his core. 🙂
Blind Items by Kate McMurray. ebook. Very good m/m romance about a liberal gay journalist who finds himself attracted to and then involved with the deeply closeted son of an ultra-conservative, anti-gay Senator running for President. Since he’s not willing to go back into the closet and the Senator’s son is too terrified to come out… The only thing I didn’t like about this one was the somewhat abrupt ending, although I appreciated that there wasn’t an epilogue. Perhaps a sequel? 🙂
Wanting by Piper Vaughn. free ebook short. Very good free short m/m romance about college student Laurie who’s taken by surprise when his best friend’s younger (18-year old) brother informs him that he wants Laurie to take his virginity.
Hourglass by Jane Davitt. ebook. Very good m/m romance about a Hollywood producer whose 11-year old daughter falls in love with his tv series Hourglass, which only lasted two seasons, ten years ago. Under pressure, he agrees to make a follow-up movie, then has to get the estranged stars to agree to be in it… and hope that they’ll get over hating each other and recapture some of their previous chemistry.
Prise de Fer by AR Moler. ebook short. Very good short m/m paranormal romance about a chemistry professor who’s attracted to one of his former students, with no clue that the student is a werewolf. And there’s fencing in this story, which was a fun flashback.
Hanging Loose by Lou Harper. ebook. Good m/m romance about a straight guy from the Midwest who moves to LA after college to escape winter. When he ends up stranded overnight at Venice Beach, a friendly surfer gives him a place to sleep for the night and changes his life.
Appearing Knightly by JM Cartwright. free ebook short. Fun short free m/m story about Batman rescuing a naked guy and being strangely excited by him…
Packing Leather (Sun, Sea & Submission #1) by Kim Dare. ebook short. Good kinky short m/m romance about a guy who wins a weekend away at an exclusive resort and invites his office mate to join him.
Modeling Death (Hidden Magic #2) by Amber Kell. ebook. Good paranormal m/m romance about a centuries-old wizard who runs into a model at a club and realizes the model is his fated mate. Too bad someone’s out there, killing models…
Hitting It Big by Shawn Lane. ebook short. Good short m/m romance about Billy, whose brother drags him to a party celebrating his brother’s friend Mitch winning the lottery… Mitch, the guy to whom Billy lost his virginity to years ago in a one night stand. I had a couple of niggles about this one.
CatNap (Middlemarch Mates #8) by Shelley Munro. ebook. Good paranormal m/m romance about an amnesiac tiger shifter who’s rescued by two other tiger shifters (brother and sister) and becomes part of their family. But what if his bloody, fragmented dreams are actual memories?
Del Fantasma: Toasted Almond by Sharon Maria Bidwell. ebook short. Ok short paranormal m/m romance about a guy who always feels cold arriving at the bar Del Fantasma and running into a guy who suddenly makes him feel warm. I found the writing frustratingly dense.

“Why do you say I have anime eyes, Mom? I have Mayhem eyes!!” -Mayhem

Linkity linkity link, Reading, Reviewettes

Should auld lang linkity be forgot…

December 30, 2010 Chris 34 Comments

Yup, linkity’s on Thursday because there won’t be a post on Friday this week. Happy New Year to all of you!

Congrats to Tj, who won The Stroke of Twelve (Perfect Timing, Book 6) by Kim Dare! The Stroke of Twelve will be released by Total-E-Bound on January 3, 2011.

Congrats to Susmita, who won Offside Pass by Stephani Hecht! Offside Pass is the first book in Stephaniâ€™s new hockey series and will be released by eXtasy Books on January 1, 2011.

Contest

Tracy’s giving away a pdf copy of Karen Mercury’s m/m/f Western historical romance, Working the Lode, to someone who comments by 11:59 pm (PST), January 4.

Bookity

New releases and more: Elisa (GLBT); SciFiGuy (UF/PNR, YA); Tor.com (UF/PNR, fantasy, scifi); and Literary Escapism (UF/PNR).

Book linkity from Dear Author and ReadReactReview.

Does the Library Journal article that listed some m/m romances to get libraries started on an m/m romance collection mean that the genre is gaining mainstream acceptance?

Sign ups are now open for the 2011 M/M Romance Challenge.

An American Editor wonders if Amazon has too much power.

Aw, a lamp for your nightstand that’s shaped like a little house and your book becomes the house’s roof when you’re done reading for the night. Not quite so cute if you’re reading an ebook. 🙂

Ebookity

The state of ebooks at the end of 2010. Some ebook publishing predictions for 2011 from Smashwords. The Electronic Frontier Foundation reviews its predictions from the beginning of 2010.

Ebook readers are putting classics on best-selling (free) ebook lists.

How to use your new ebook reader or iPad.Â Helpful tips for new Kindle owners.

How to do more with your Kindle.

Make your own inexpensive iPad or ebook reader stand.

Think, Do, Learn, Make

Gluten-free cookie recipes.

Amazing bee facts! (Thanks, Jase!)

Build a magnet-free compass from Legos.

Two no-sew techniques for inserting a zipper into knitwear.

Dealing with the compulsively neat person in your life.

Turn the Christmas cards you received this year into Christmas postcards you can send next year.

Some ideas for keeping the holiday spirit alive throughout the year.

If you got a new gadget for Christmas, check out Gizmodo’s handy setup guides.

You might be able to get rid of your texting plan by using one of these eight applications.

Why one Gizmodo writer ditched iTunes for mp3s from Amazon.

Idling your car for longer than 30 seconds isn’t a good thing.

Are gift cards good gifts? Some tips on how not to waste gift cards.

An infographic on the personal economics behind holiday gift giving.

Is it better to “self insure” your pets than to buy pet insurance?

Even if you know you’re getting a placebo, it can still work.

Ack! The Nintendo 3DS can actually mess up kids’ eyes! 🙁

Best Of

Craft 2010: Knitting & Crochet

Craft 2010: Geek Crafts

Doctor Who crafting

Belated Gift Idea

Recreate your classic family photos.

Cool

Fallingwater… in gingerbread.

A rainbow making machine.

A coffee table that splits in half to reveal storage.

Amazing photo of running horses.

Twenty hours of blizzard compressed into 38 seconds.

Turn your crappy old kitchen cupboards into chalkboards.

A Clockwork Orange Chucks!

Nothing says geek quite like percentile dice hanging from your rearview mirror…

Cheryl continues to outfit her Barbies in high style. (The kitty is my favorite addition to Barbieland!)

If you’re having trouble coming up with New Year’s resolutions, this handy generator might help. (via Paperback Writer)

Huh

2010’s silliest sales taxes.

Um. If it’s cold enough that you’re using the Nose Dialer instead of taking off your gloves to dial the phone, you’re probably going to get snot all over your phone…

Male/female plug rings (not as dirty as you’re thinking)…

CDs that look like lunch meat…

Panther paw/claw boots…

Pink “shoehawk” heels…

LOL

The secret beind bad GPS directions.

Pets and the Christmas tree…

Poor Ceiling Cat!

Woe the unladen swallow!

Teh Cute

Kitties! Baby bun! Baby cougars! Kitten! Squirrels! Tiger cub! Bunny! Charlene Butterbean! Kitten! Cheetah! Kittens! Baby reindeer! Baby penguins! Kitten! Baby chinchilla!

Reading Update
Ummm… So I’ve been on vacation since last Friday and have gotten rather a lot of reading done… and I read a lot of shorts. Don’t freak. 🙂

Life Changes Everything (Life, Book 2) by T.C. Blue. ebook. Very good m/m romance mostly about Ben from Life or Something Scary Like That as he goes on with, well, life after the events of that book. This book does a nice job tying up the loose ends, even if I was kind of cranky about one of them while it was in process.
Sno Ho by Ethan Day. ebook. Reread. Very good m/m romance about a guy staying at a ski resort whose boyfriend was supposed to join him there, but instead dumped him over the phone. Funny, yet touching.
Life in Fusion (Sno Ho, Book 2) by Ethan Day. ebook. Very good m/m romance that picks up exactly where the first book left off and continues the story of Boone and Wade during the six months Boone said needed to pass before he would move in with Wade. And like the first book, this manages to be both funny and touching.
Big Balls and Trouble by Sarah Black. ebook short. Good short m/m romance about a pro football player who’s in Boise for the summer and ready to admit that he’s always loved the childhood friend he hasn’t seen for years. I found this story frustrating because it was so short – it felt more like a fragment from a longer story than something that could stand on its own.
Tooth and Nail (His Hearth, Book 2) by Mary Calmes. ebook. Very good paranormal m/m romance about a big, tough warder who takes too many chances because, according to the other warders, he doesn’t have a hearth (i.e., a mate). And then he rescues an angel…
Just One Bite (Volume 1) by Scarlett Blackwell, J.L. Merrow, Josephine Myles, Erik Orrantia, Nix Winter, & Stevie Woods. free ebook collection. Scarlett Blackwell: Very good, want more! Vampire. :: J.L. Merrow: Very good. Stone circle. :: Josephine Myles: Very good. Genie. :: Erik Orrantia: Pretty good. Mayan. :: Nix Winter: Ok. Fantasy. :: Stevie Woods: Pretty good. Vampire.
Delany’s Catch by Diana DeRicci. ebook short. Pretty good short paranormal m/m romance about a wolf shifter who walks into a bookstore to ask for directions and realizes that the proprietor is his mate.
Same Time Next Year by Eden Winters. ebook short. I’m not usually a fan of ghost stories, but this one, about a guy whose true love died when they were in college, worked pretty well, although I found it to be very sad.
Vanilla: The Dominant Ingredient by Andy Slayde & Ali Wilde. ebook. Very good m/m romance about a sub-for-hire, escaped from a bad situation, who is desperately trying to convince the man he’s staying with while he sorts out his life that he’d be the perfect sub. I want to read more about these characters!
Commanding Acquisitions (1-800-DOM-HELP, Book 2) by Christine d’Abo. ebook. Good kinky m/m romance about a dom, struggling not to lose his bookstore, who’s also lonely and needing something more than just casual encounters. He finds the mysterious 1-800-DOM-HELP business card in his office…
Floggers’ Holiday Sale by Stormy Glenn & H.C. Brown. ebook. Meh two-story kinky m/m holiday romance collection. The two stories were supposed to be about two different doms, each of whom purchased a sub at the Floggers’ (bdsm club) holiday auction, but things weren’t consistent between the two stories: in one, the dom’s not allowed to take possession of the sub until they both negotiate contracts; in the other, the club owner sends the virginal sub with the notoriously brutal dom and just tells the dom to bring the sub back to the club at the end of the week. Editing was consistently horrible across both stories, although perhaps a bit worse in the Stormy Glenn story – for the first part, “dominate” was substituted for “dominant” and “dominant” was substituted for “dominate”…
Hang a Shining Star by Ashlyn Kane. ebook short. Very good m/m holiday romance about a high school teacher who runs into a former student working at a Christmas tree lot and, discovering that the former student has no one to spend the holiday with, impulsively invites him over. My only complaint with this one was that the main characters were named Evan and Eric – I kept getting the names mixed up, as did the editor/proofer at least once! 🙂
Snow and Mistletoe by T.C. Blue. ebook short. Very good short m/m holiday romance about a guy with a really bad self-image who hasn’t had any luck finding journalism work. He starts finding mysterious presents outside his apartment door – he’s sure they’re from his friends, trying to cheer him up, because no way could he have a secret admirer…
Christmas with Danny Fit by Amy Lane. ebook. Very good m/m holiday romance about a guy who’s still living with his mother at 30, not really living his life, until his burgeoning friendship with his sexy assistant at work inspires him to start making changes.
You Can’t Choose Your Family by Zahra Owens. ebook. Very good holiday m/m romance about a couple who’s been together for 20 years. One guy’s family is fabulously accepting; the other’s was controlled by his fire and brimstone father. Now that his father is dead, will anything change?
Christmas Bells by Andi Deacon. ebook short. Very good short m/m holiday romance about an assistant professor, staying at his parents’ house for Christmas, whose brother brings home a very attractive friend from grad school who doesn’t have anywhere to go for the holidays.
Silver Thaw by Nora Catherine Price. ebook short. Very good short m/m holiday romance about next door neighbors who get the chance to know each other a bit better because of an ice storm.
Sharing Christmas by Shae Connor. ebook short. Steamy short m/m holiday romance about a guy, recently moved to Atlanta for work, whose next door neighbor invites him over to help put together packages for the homeless shelter.
The Santa Mug by Patric Michael. ebook. Very good m/m holiday romance about a guy whose boyfriend died four years ago and who’s basically retreated from the world since then, until a friend drags him along to a family Thanksgiving celebration.
A Very D Christmas by Jane Seville. ebook short. Very good short m/m holiday romance about D and Jack from Zero at the Bone, reconnecting with family, and being a bullied teenager. (Through 1/31/2011, a portion of the purchase price will be donated to the Trevor Project.)
The Christmas Visit by Marshall Thornton. ebook short. Good short m/m holiday romance about a guy returning to the small town he grew up in to see his dad at Christmas. He keeps running into the deputy who he’d had a crush on and who is now married…
Secret Santa by Deanna Wadsworth. ebook short. Steamy short m/m holiday romance about a guy waiting naked, blindfolded, and wrapped up with a bow as a present for his boyfriend, hoping to revitalize their fading relationship.
Well-Hung by the Chimney by E.M. Lynley, Ryan Field, & Chloe Stowe. ebook. Pretty good m/m holiday romance collection. I really liked EM Lynley’s story about the difficulties involved in mixing business with pleasure. Ryan Field’s story about a couple dealing with career changes and meeting family was ok. I found Chloe Stowe’s story about an Air Force colonel and a doctor at the Air Force base to be sort of confusing. I might’ve enjoyed Field and Stowe’s stories more had I realized they were about characters from a previous collection and read it first.
A Little Something for Santa by J.M. Snyder. ebook short. Ok short m/m holiday encounter about a guy waiting tables at an all-night diner who confesses to the cook that he has the hots for Santa.
A Christmas Eve Wish by Nicole Dennis. ebook short. So-so m/m holiday romance about a celebrity chef, planning to escape to his mountain cabin for a few days, who gets caught in a blizzard and discovers his cabin is trashed. This one didn’t work for me because of instalove and awkward writing.
All I Want for Christmas by Aeryn Traxx. ebook short. So-so short holiday m/m romance about a guy dreading his friends’ holiday party because his cheating ex will be there.
It’s a Calling by Mara Ismine. ebook short. Ok short paranormal m/m romance that I actually read in October, but I somehow managed to not write down the dates I read it or what I thought about it beyond “Huh.”
My Life in Your Hands by A.R. Moler. ebook short. Very good short m/m romance about an ER doctor and an undercover detective who get together.
Eyes Wide Shut by Meredith Shayne. ebook short. Very good short m/m romance about a doctor and a miner who care deeply for each other, but that’s not enough, because the miner doesn’t want anyone to know they’re together. Part of this takes place in Perth!
Of Sound Mind by Elizabeth Brooks. ebook short. Good short futuristic m/m romance about a guy who has cancer and doesn’t want to telepathically bond with his destined mate because if he dies, his mate would die with him.

This is definitely a picture you need to click on to embiggen. 🙂

“Have a Happy New Year. Or else.” -Chaos

http://squee.icanhascheezburger.com/2010/12/28/cute-baby-animals-when-worlds-collide/

Contests, Linkity linkity link, Reading, Reviewettes

La-la-la-la-la-linkity!

January 21, 2010 Chris 41 Comments

Congrats to Jody, who won the Not Quite Wicked ebooks! Rumor has it there may be another contest starting tomorrow… 😉

Contests

Dear Author’s giving away ten copies (five paper, five digital) of Jennifer Estep’s paranormal romance, Spider Bite. Not sure when this closes, but you can also download a free story from Estep (Spider’s Bargain) while you wait to see if you’ve won the contest. Marta of Vampire Wire’s giving away two copies of Spider Bite and you have until January 27 to enter that one.

Blodeuedd’s having a contest for a copy of Caridad Pineiro’s book Sins of the Flesh, plus a t-shirt (open worldwide). The contest ends January 22.

Lea’s giving away Demonica books and demon ducks! Check out the details and enter before January 23 for your chance to win.

Anna’s giving away two copies of MJ Smith’s new World War II romance, Forever Yours. Winner will be announced January 23.

SciFiGuy’s giving away signed copies of Helen Scott Taylor’s paranormal romances, The Magic Knot and The Phoenix Charm. Contest closes midnight EST, January 25.

Donna Fantasy Dreamer’s giving away a copy of Alison Brennan’s paranormal romance, Original Sin. Contest closes 8 pm CST, January 25. She’s also giving away a copy of Erica Hayes’ paranormal romances, Shadowglass and Shadowfae. Contest closes 8 pm CST, January 27.

Abigail at All Things Urban Fantasy does a weekly Win on Wednesday post. When last I peeked, yesterday’s post had links to 75 contests!

Book and Reading News

SciFiGuy’s weekend urban fantasy/paranormal romance report is, as usual, chock full of information. Literary Escapism has several good summaries of interviews and book news.

Where does reading rank in the activities of readers? Dear Author reports.

Ebook piracy’s been a hot topic this week. Nicole Peeler wrote a very thoughtful blog post, sharing an author’s perspective. TeleRead commented on (and linked to) a Publisher’s Weekly article about how much ebook piracy costs the publishing industry. TeddyPig highlighted a tongue-in-cheek report (written in response to the PW report) about how much library “piracy” cost the publishing industry.

Dear Author talks about the most interesting ebook hardware at CES 2010.

Gizmodo’s posted their ultimate guide to the ebook readers that they care about.

The Writer’s Evolution blog had some interesting posts about book covers: learning (as an author) how to get the cover you were hoping for, but pick your battles.

I really enjoyed Renee’s post about classic urban fantasy – make sure you check out the comments for more books and authors.

Take a survery and/or leave a comment explaining how you hear about books.

Neato Cool

A LiteBrite tapestry!

Should I confess that I only read a few sentences of this post? I spent most of the time admiring the infographic of Crayola’s Law.

Booklover1335 explains how to make a lovely photo ribbon bookmark (great gift potential, minimal craftiness required).

Lifehacker points you to directions for making spiral-ring notebooks from old VHS tapes covers.

Stuck for blog ideas? Check out Lynn Viehl’s ideas for breaking out of your blog block.

Stuff That Didn’t Fit Anywhere Else

Make sure you avoid scams when donating to help Haiti, ok?

The Tylenol recall now includes Motrin, Benadryl, Rolaids, Simply Sleep, and St. Joseph aspirin.

Yikes – if you’re into staying fully connected, it costs you. A lot. (And the chart doesn’t even include ebook purchases…)

How to knit garter stitch in the round, without seams or jogs or purling.

Marsha dares cat owners to knit a cat hoody and take pictures. No. Way. In. Hell. I’m not sure I’d survive the blood loss!

Well, I Was Amused

Black cats and knitting…

Pride and Prejudice emoticons and Facebook conversations.

Rush over to Awful Library Books and check out the pictures from a 1973 book about careers with the police department.

What would God’s computer look like?

*hoping that Chaos doesn’t order a grow your own chicken kit*

Grad students and authors should breathe deeply before clicking on this link.

Famous knots of the world, illustrated in earbuds – because who hasn’t inadvertently tied some of these?!

Awww! And more awww!

Reading Update
Fatal Shadows, A Dangerous Thing, The Hell You Say, Death of a Pirate King, and The Dark Tide (The Adrien English Mysteries, Books 1-5) by Josh Lanyon. ebooks. I read books one through four last August and was amazed at how much emotional impact this m/m mystery series had on me. As I reread the first four books last week, preparing to read the fifth (and final) book, I was amazed again, because the books affected me just as much this time. When I wasn’t reading, I’d find myself thinking about Adrien, about Jake, about their complicated history. I was both looking forward to reading The Dark Tide and afraid to read it, knowing that it would most likely take me through the emotional wringer yet again. It did. I cried a few times. But at the end of the fifth book? I smiled.
Love Dot Come by Julia Talbot. ebook short. Absolutely adorable short about two geeky, klutzy guys who meet via an online personals site.
Aquamarine by Sara Bell. ebook. After a college football player is seriously injured during a game and learns that his publicity loving boyfriend won’t stick around, his life changes in unexpected ways in this sweet m/m romance.
The Manny by Sara Bell. ebook. Another sweet m/m romance from Sara Bell. This one’s about a male nanny/custom motorcycle designer and his evil landlord.
Crimson Regret, A Taste of Darkness, A Glimpse Inside, and Windows and Walls (Inches of Trust, Books 1-4) by A.R. Moler. ebook shorts. These m/m shorts are about an architect and a cop who meet as a devil and Zorro at a Halloween costume party. I enjoyed these, but found them frustrating at the same time – they read as sort of serial novel. I’d rather read the novel or collection.
Knowing Caleb (Hawkins Ranch, Book 4) by Cameron Dane. ebook. Pretty good m/m that I guess I’d categorize as a very steamy paranormal Western romance. (Hot demon cowboys!) I haven’t read the others in this series, but I’m sure I’ll read at least a few others.
You Were Always On My Mind by Deirdre O’Dare. ebook. Um. Yeah. I think I damaged my eyeballs from rolling them so much while reading this m/m romance. *shakes head at self for finishing this book*
A Promise Kept by Stormy Glenn. ebook. What is it about Stormy Glenn’s m/m romances? This one was about miscommunication and misunderstanding (with a stalker thrown in for good measure) – I was alternately sniffling, then rolling my eyes at the hokey bits. (My eyeball muscles are strong! Strong! after reading this story.) But I kept reading (er, skimming)… even though this book should have been about 1/3 the length it was, based on the amount of actual story.
Beautiful Viking by Steve Sampson. ebook. Well, the cover’s nice… Unfortunately, the writing in this m/m romance was clumsy and choppy and the characters unrealistic and gushing.
In the Rough (By Degrees, Book 2) by J. B. McDonald. ebook. Pretty good m/m romance about two guys, longtime friends who are both survivors of childhood abuse and who slowly realize that even 20 years later, they’ve been allowing their pasts to control them.
Bastards and Pretty Boys by K. Z. Snow. ebook. Well done m/m romantic suspense about a guy who buys a cabin on a quiet Wisconsin lake, hoping to work through his hydrophobia. Alas, I’ve never stayed at a cabin that had such a scenic next door neighbor!
The Night Sky Man by Mallory Path. ebook. Nicely done dreamlike m/m romance about a model and a modeling agent.
As Serious as the Grave by Kiernan Kelly. ebook short. Well. Yes, I read an m/m zombie romance and liked it. (Anyone who knows how I feel about zombie stories probably just spit the beverage of their choice on their screens.) Both Jenre and Tam have said far more eloquent things about this short than I will ever manage, but don’t let the zombie aspect squick you out. As Tam kept reiterating, “He’s not a zombie, he’s reanimated.”