Tag Archives: Piper Vaughn

The linkity post in which I realize I missed my sixth blogiversary



Congrats to elaing8, who won A Gift of Mistletoe, by Alex Whitehall!

Congrats to Wendy, who won Dreams of a Stolen Child (Stolen Child #3) by Anna Mayle!


D’oh! My sixth blogiversary was November 22. The blog now bears little resemblance to the blog then, other than regular cat photos. 🙂 Of course, it was just Chaos back in those days… Anyway! Thank you all so much for visiting and commenting – you make each day a little brighter for me.



Contests

Bookity

Ebookity

Do, Think, Learn, Make

Holidity

Cookity

Crafty

Cool

Cool or Wha…?

  • Hello Kitty toaster. (The comments on that post have other fascinating things, like a bubblewrappish waffle maker.)

Wha…?

LOL

Teh Cute

Reading Update
The Gift by Kim Dare. ebook. Sweet kinky m/m holiday romance about a dom who’s visited by the Ghost of Christmas Past and shown how his sub has interpreted their time together…
An Australian Christmas in New York by Sean Kennedy. ebook short. Very good short m/m holiday romance about an ex-pat Australian living in New York City with his American boyfriend and feeling homesick for a properly hot Christmas. Tim Minchin’s “White Wine in the Sun” made an excellent soundtrack for reading this.
Carol of the Bellskis (Bellskis #1) by Astrid Amara. ebook. reread. Very good m/m Hanukkah romance about a paralegal who breaks up with his boyfriend (also his boss) because his closeted boss is backing out of their vacation plans. The paralegal heads off on vacation to his aunt and uncle’s kosher B&B alone… and finds himself taking care of all the guests, with his aunt and uncle nowhere to be found.
Miracle of the Bellskis (Bellskis #2) by Astrid Amara. ebook. Very good m/m Hanukkah/Christmas romance that takes place several years after Carol of the Bellskis, as Seth meets Lars’ somewhat icy parents for the first time… because Lars’ parents are staying with Lars and Seth for the holidays.
Fire Thief by Jordan Castillo Price. ebook short. Very good steamy short m/m story about two guys who strike some sparks together in a bar.
Numbers by Theo Fenraven. ebook short. Very good, very short m/m romance about two guys who are acting together in the musical Grease and dancing around each other offstage.
The Housekeeper (Will Crawford) by Theo Fenraven. ebook short. Good short m/m romance about a housekeeper from Mexico who falls in love with his movie star employer.
Picture This (Will Crawford) by Theo Fenraven. ebook short. Good short m/m story about a discreet photographer who’s hired to take nude photos by a closeted movie star. I wish I had realized that this is a series of sorts, and that The Housekeeper was the most recent one – I read The Housekeeper first and kept wondering if Will was cheating scum as I read this one.
Love at First Sight (Will Crawford) by Theo Fenraven. ebook short. Pretty good short m/m romance about a closeted actor who pursues a bookstore owner who isn’t interested in one night stands. I’m still confused about these “Will Crawford” books. In this one and in Picture This, Will gets involved with a guy and the story ends with the sense that they’re in a relationship, trying to make things work. The Housekeeper begins with Will not involved with anyone and ends after Will makes a commitment to someone and follows through with it. Are the three books to be taken together as Will’s journey to finding love and coming out? Note: The author just posted the order of these yesterday, and I read them exactly backwards. 🙂
Zombie Wonderland by Piper Vaughn. ebook short. Very good short paranormal m/m holiday romance about a waiter who’s rescued from encroaching zombies by the customer he’s been crushing on for weeks. I’m not a fan of gruesome stories, but I am fan of Piper’s writing, so I braved it.
Christmas Baby by Johnny Miles. ebook short. This short story takes place right before Christmas in 1957 and is told from the perspective of a teenager whose parents drive off to a holiday party, never to return. Suddenly, an uncle he’s never met before is the only person he has in the world.
Secret Santa by Clare London. ebook short. Good short holiday m/m romance about two guys who are always fighting, including over the mysterious Secret Santa presents they received.
NYPD Christmas by Eden Cole. ebook short. Meh m/m romance about a guy whose sister sets him up with a cop. Although he ditches the cop after they screw, he can’t get seem to get the guy out of his mind. Near instalove and awkward writing make this one to miss.


“That was a very suspicious noise, big kitty!” -Mayhem

“I agree, May, I agree. Stay alert!” -Chaos

Linkity lapses



Congrats to Tracy W, who won In His Hero’s Shadow (EMS Heat #10) by Stephani Hecht! In His Hero’s Shadow will be released by eXtasy Books on August 15.

Congrats to Majken, who won the Cross Bones anthology, courtesy of Piper Vaughn and M.J. O’Shea! Cross Bones will be released on August 15 by Dreamspinner Press.



Contests

Bookity

Ebookity

Make, Do, Learn, Think

Gluten-Free

Cookity

Crafty

Cool

Cool or Wha…?

Wha…?

LOL

  • The sad thing about this? It’s totally true for me…

Teh Cute

Reading Update
Ashton and Justice by Stephani Hecht. ebook. Sweet m/m romance about the abused son of a prominent district attorney and the son of a notorious criminal. Their fathers hate each other – how can things possibly work out?
More Than Moonlight by MJ O’Shea & Piper Vaughn. free ebook collection. A collection of three sweet short m/m romances, about two of the band members of Luck in the band’s early days.
Moonlight Becomes You by Piper Vaughn & MJ O’Shea. ebook. Excellent m/m romance about two bands, Luck and Moonlight, going on tour together. The lead singer of Luck becomes fascinated by the lead singer of Moonlight, and is increasingly frustrated because Moonlight’s lead singer treats him coldly and keeps his distance.
A Change of Pace (Change #3) by JM Cartwright. ebook. Very good m/m romance about a guy who moves to North Carolina from Chicago with a chip on his shoulder about the whole thing and then meets a local carpenter he develops confusing feelings for.
Lucky by KM Mahoney. ebook. Good paranormal m/m romance about a bear shifter who moves to a small town in Wisconsin known to be paranormal friendly and meets an extremely unlucky (but cute!) fairy.
The Tower by Chris Owen. ebook. Good m/m romance, set in the indeterminate nearish future, about a guy who works in an office tower where career advancement literally involves moving up the tower/ladder. When the CEO’s administrative assistant (from the very top of the tower) takes an interest in him, he has no idea what to think.
Seeking Kokopelli by Shelley Munro. ebook. Good paranormal m/m romance about the lead singer of a band who’s subtly pursuing one of the roadies (a widower), not realizing that his own odd paranormal secret might need to come out.
Change in Attitude (Change of Heart #2) by Kiernan Kelly. ebook. Ok paranormal m/m romance in which veterinarian and werewolf Dae is called by his brother back to the pack that cast him out, and his human mate insists on going along despite the danger. This felt less polished than other work I’ve read by this author.
Only Yours by JR Patrick. ebook short. Ok short m/m romance about a guy who asks his boyfriend to move in with him… and when he wakes up in the morning, his boyfriend is gone.
The Attorney (The Male Room #2) by Carolyn LeVine Topol. ebook. Ok m/m romance about the lawyer from The Male Room, who’s now trying the gay dating site himself. He’s not doing so well with his picks, though, so one of the site’s owners sets him with someone he’d never have picked for himself.
To Love Again (Bound Hearts, Book 1) by Simone Anderson. ebook. Ok kinky m/m romance about a writer and dominant whose vanished ex-boyfriend turns up on his doorstep as an abused and escaped slave. While the storyline had potential, I never connected to the characters and felt, at times, as if I was reading parts of a research paper or something.
Buried Treasure by DC Juris. ebook short. Ok short m/m romance about a guy who visits his father at the nursing home and one of the orderlies from the nursing home. I just couldn’t suspend disbelief that six months of weekly platonic lunches would seamlessly flow into one dinner date and then moving in together…


Yes, they are built very differently! 🙂 And although you can’t tell from that picture, Chaos isn’t overweight.

Limber linkity learns better



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

Bookity

Ebookity

Think, Do, Learn, Make

Cookity

Drinkity

Crafty

Cool

Cool or Wha…?

Wha…?

LOL

Teh Cute

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

Ebook Giveaway: The Cross Bones Anthology [CONTEST CLOSED]



Congrats to Jennifer, who won Packing Leather (Sun, Sea & Submission #1) by Kim Dare!



Many thanks to Piper Vaughn and M.J. O’Shea for donating an ebook copy of the forthcoming m/m pirate romance anthology, Cross Bones, for a lucky commenter to win! Cross Bones will be released on August 15 by Dreamspinner Press.

Ahoy, me proud beauty, shiver me timbers! I ask ye to sail me jollyboat on the high seas, lubber, but will ye dare to accept? On offer be a pirate’s life full of danger and risk, and not just to yer neck, but to yer very virgin heart! There’s many a bodice to be ripped–or perhaps I should say many a codpiece to be snapped–and should ye be graced enough to cross bones with a corsair, don’t be an addlepate! Heave ho, lad, handsomely, and show him how ye bury yer treasure!

Pirates didn’t only sail the high seas in historical times. Modern-day renegades and futuristic rebels are just as ripe for adventure and plunder. No matter the time, place, or circumstances, bad boys steal affection as often as they salvage treasure, and in these stories of romance, a rogue’s black heart always conceals a center of gold.

Irish Red by M.J. O’Shea
Christopher, the barkeep at The Dagger, has always been wary of storms. Storms always bring trouble, washed in from the sea, right to his door. That night was no different. The rain and the wind brought with them Irish Red O’Malley – pirate king of the seas, captain of the famed Sargasso, a ruthless, cunning killer… and the love of Christopher’s life.

Black John by Piper Vaughn
Former pirate Juan “Black John” de Avila has found a home on Isla Sagrario, a safe haven for men who desire the touch of a man rather than a pretty woman. When Jacob, the lover he thought had died, washes ashore after a shipwreck, Juan believes he’s been given a second chance at love. But Jacob Bellamy thinks the safety of Sagrario is an illusion, one that will come to a brutal end should their enemies ever catch wind of their whereabouts.

Captain Merric by Rebecca Cohen
When British Navy Captain Daniel Horton, set adrift by mutineers, is rescued by a pirate vessel, the most he hopes for is a quicker end than dying of thirst – especially when he learns the ship belongs to the infamous Captain Merric. The last thing he expects is to recognize the pirate as a face from his past – a man he’s spent his career trying to forget. Daniel needs to get back to a British port to regain his command and salvage his reputation, but Captain Merric is not about to let him go again without a fight.

Touched by the West Wind by Ellen Holiday
Aboard the pirate ship Bandit, Thomas Bay and the orphan known only as Bren share an unlikely friendship. Bren was raised a sea rat from the moment he was old enough to hoist a rigging, while Thomas ran off to sea to escape his overprotective mother. Thomas loves to lose himself in books, while words to Bren are only so many impractical scratchings. But when Bren is injured during a raid, they both discover that just because something can’t be seen doesn’t mean it isn’t real.

The Golden Galleon by K.R. Foster
Lovers Jason Lane and Flynn Olson run The Golden Galleon, a successful pirate-themed restaurant. As much as he loves his job, Flynn is looking forward to a relaxing Sunday off and the chance to read a new novel he’s been anticipating. But that’s before “Captain” Jason summons “First Mate” Flynn back to the restaurant, where Flynn is about to discover that work is the last thing on Jason’s mind.

My Hand in Yours by Emily Moreton
Peacekeeper Jack Tanner doesn’t ask too many questions when a stranger introducing himself only as Captain Roberts offers him a tumble. Though he suspects the man is a pirate, it’s been so long since he’s felt such attraction that Jack prefers not to inquire too closely. Everyone knows the tales of pirates, of how they take to sea and never return to stay on land, and only a fool would try to keep them. As long as Roberts doesn’t try raiding his town, Jack can live with the situation… though that’s about to change.

Ghost of Jupiter by Jana Denardo
Privateer Alessandro Bellimo raids unlicensed cargo vessels under the authority of the Confederation military-until he captures a ship filled with cryo-units containing chimerae. The transgenic beings, created to fight for the enjoyment of the rich and depraved, are illegal, and Al has no idea what the military might do with his purloined cargo. But once Al gets to know Telek, one of the engineered beings, he isn’t about to give Telek up to either the military or to his creators.

Officer and a Gentleman Pirate by E.S. Douglas
Rheinallt Jones may be a successful pirate, but his luck seems to run out when he’s captured after literally stumbling over a British Navy lieutenant when leaving a dockside tavern. While not above taking advantage of the chance to arrest the blackguard, the lieutenant finds himself in danger of falling under the influence of Jones’s silver tongue and not inconsiderable charm. At least, until he hears the sound of gunfire outside the prison….

Objectivity by K.J. Johnson
American reporter Matthew has travelled to Africa to write a feature about modern piracy. There he meets the handsome pirate leader Achmed, who seems to enjoy putting him on the wrong foot at every opportunity. In the space of twenty-four hours, Matthew discovers there’s more to Achmed than meets the eye, and that the world may not be as black and white as he assumed.

Worth the Price by Cornelia Grey
Lieutenant Edward Moon has been chasing the infamous Captain O’Shea for longer than he can remember. When he falls into the pirate’s hands, however, things take a turn he’d never imagined. Edward finds himself torn between his duty and a dangerous loyalty to O’Shea. When the captain faces the gallows, Edward must take the hardest decision of his life-but will it be worth the price?

Peter and the Lost Boys by Juan Kenobi
Peter’s thinking of leaving his job working for a non-profit independent filmmaker when he runs into a colorful stranger named Kap at a local bar. As luck would have it, Kap runs a film company himself, and offers Peter a job-though he warns him the duties may be different than he’s used to. Once Peter sees the houseboat that doubles as Kap’s home and office, he’s sure this is the beginning of a whole new adventure for both of them.

Rough Trade by Cooper West
Audacity Gunner isn’t officially captain of the pirate vessel Carthage. As a fully-AI ship, Carthage doesn’t actually need a captain, but her human complement looks to Audacity’s leadership in their raids against the Colonial Federation. After a shore leave gone bad leaves a crewman locked up without bail, Audacity’s ready to take help wherever he can get it, even from a handsome but desperate-looking stranger who claims he can get their engineer out of the brig in exchange for passage off the spaceport. Dr. Sagittarius Diefenbaker ‘s credentials are far too impressive for a ship as disreputable as Carthage, but Sag will prove to have a surprising affinity for rough trade.

From a Simmer to a Burn by B. Snow
“We want something, we take it!” – That’s what pirates do, but even five years of getting what he wants hasn’t extinguished the spark of anger that constantly simmers in Sule, a former slave who escaped from a Dutch plantation. That anger threatens to burn out of control when Olaf, a Dutch-speaking carpenter, joins the crew. Olaf, used to coldness, finds himself drawn to Sule’s heat, but the fire that rages in Sule may end up destroying them both.

On the Wings of Lir by Riley Shane
In the time of Queen Victoria, the invention of airships has brought about a resurgence in piracy. Of all the buccaneers who sail the skies pillaging merchant airships, the worst is Patrick Kelly, captain of the Wings of Lir. When fate lands Captain Kelly in Hugh Edwards’s path, the young lieutenant can’t believe his luck. He’s determined to capture the pirate… but finds himself caught instead.

The Winds of Change by Maggie Lee
After weeks stuck in Nassau, watching their meager resources dwindle away, Theo Cook and Sebastiano Cortez are glad to sign on with the pirate captain Edward Teach, whose growing reputation seems to ensure a lucrative voyage. But sailing with the increasingly erratic Teach comes with a price, and the attentions of the Revenge’s master gunner, Philip Morton, challenge the assumptions Theo has always made about Seb. Their world is changing, and Seb and Theo will need to adapt or be swept under.

Contest Rules

  • To enter, leave a comment below stating that you are entering the contest. Leave your comments by 7 pm CDT, Friday, August 12.
  • 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!

“Arrrrgh, me mateys! Shiver me timbers!” -Mayhem

And… how about a musical pirate break, with Cosmo Jarvis’ song, Gay Pirates?

Ebook Giveaway: Moonlight Becomes You by Piper Vaughn & M.J. O’Shea [CONTEST CLOSED]

Many thanks to Piper Vaughn and M.J. O’Shea for donating an ebook copy of their forthcoming m/m romance, Moonlight Becomes You, for a lucky commenter to win! Moonlight Becomes You will be released on August 9 by Loose Id.

Eleven years ago Shane Ventura made the biggest mistake of his life when he caved in to pressure from his record label to kick his best friend Jesse Seider out of their band, Luck. Though he had a gorgeous voice, Jesse wasn’t beautiful, and didn’t fit the label’s ideal look. But Shane’s never wanted anyone else more, and all the sex and alcohol in the world can’t fill the void Jesse left behind.

As his thirty-second birthday approaches, Shane feels more miserable than ever. Even the prospect of teaming up with Britain’s hottest band, Moonlight, for an epic world tour can’t get him out of his depressive funk. Until he meets lead singer, Kayden Berlin, and falls into instant lust.

Though Kayden acts like he’s not interested, Shane knows he feels the spark between them. But the harder Shane pushes, the more Kayden pulls away. Then one explosive night things finally come to a head and Shane is left nursing a broken heart. That seems to be Shane’s lot – lucky at everything but love, the one thing that matters most. But there’s a lesson Shane still hasn’t learned: when it comes to love, you can’t always leave things to chance.

Book Trailer

More Than Moonlight: Free short story collection featuring the characters from Moonlight Becomes You.

About Piper

Piper Vaughn wrote her first love story at eleven and never looked back. Since then, she’s known that writing in some form was exactly what she wanted to do. A reader at the core, Piper loves nothing more than getting lost in a great book – fantasy, young adult, romance, she loves them all (and has a thousand book library to prove it!). She grew up in Chicago, in an ethnically diverse neighborhood, and loves to put faces and characters of every ethnicity in her stories, so her fictional worlds are as colorful as the real one. Above all, she believes that everyone needs a little true love in their life…even if it’s only in a book. You can find out more about Piper at her website, Facebook, Twitter, and joint blog with M.J.

About M.J.

M.J. O’Shea has been writing romance since algebra class in sixth grade (when most of her stories starred her and Leonardo DiCaprio). When she’s not writing, she loves listening to nearly all types of music, painting, reading great authors, and on those elusive sunny days in the Pacific Northwest, she loves driving on the freeway with her windows rolled down and her stereo on high.

You can find out more about M.J. at her website, Twitter, and joint blog with Piper.

Contest Rules

  • To enter, leave a comment below stating that you are entering the contest. Leave your comments by 7 pm CDT, Monday, August 8.
  • 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!

“Go away! Can’t a girl eat a plant in peace in this place?!” -Mayhem