Contests
- Jackie at Literary Escapism is celebrating her blogiversary by giving away some very cool PNR/UF prize packs. Contest open until February 26. (Make sure you check back to see if you’ve won.)
- Patti’s giving away three m/m books as part of her M/M Romance Month celebration: College Boys (anthology), Inland Empire (Taking the Odds #2) by James Buchanan, and Love & Loyalty (Faith, Love & Devotion #2) by Tere Michaels. Contest ends February 28.
Bookity
- New releases and more: Lily (m/m romance), Book Lovers Inc (PNR, UF, more), Literary Escapism (UF/PNR), and Smexy Books (various sorts of romance).
- The news that Borders filed for bankruptcy spurred all sorts of commentary: Smart Bitches, Dear Author, and An American Editor.
- Bookity linkity from ReadReactReview.
- Kris shared a great quote that reminded her of the reviews/reviewers brouhaha recently.
- Kassa wondered whether reviews were professional and got some great discussion going.
- A very cool literacy project: The Ministry of Stories (via The Kitchn).
- An artist turns old books into art via 3-D typography. (Not for those sensitive to book maiming.)
Ebookity
- Head over to Kris’n’Good Books to pick up Ally Blue’s unforgettable free paranormal m/m romance, Dead Men Don’t Wash. Um, you might have me to blame for the corpse soap…
- The excellent paranormal m/m romance Without Reservations (With or Without #2) by J.L. Langley is currently free for Kindle and Nook.
- Some thoughts from An American Editor on citing sources from the internet and ebooks.
- Apparently, Borders going bankrupt does not affect Kobo customers or books purchased through Borders.com.
- Are you ready for Read an Ebook Week, which is March 6-12?
Do, Learn, Think, Make
- Global map of alcohol consumption. (Thanks, CursingMama!)
- If red wine or chardonnay usually gives you headaches or migraines, a new yeast could mean you can drink them again (via The Kitchn).
- How good is the internet connectivity in your area? (US only)
- Improve your memory by tapping into your spatial memory sense. (I’m having a flashback to Aristotle here…)
- Sleep can help you commit things to long-term memory. (I figured that out in college – no all-night studying sessions for me!)
Crafty
- Knit headphone cozies. (Although I only seem to know people with earbuds… hmm.)
- Check out Kristi’s free Infinite Scrunch scarf pattern.
- Crochet an amiurumi doll for the Chinese New Year.
- Love this basket woven from paper – the sample is woven from old maps.
Cool
- Seanna Lea put together a simple and delicious looking gluten-free ice cream cake recipe.
Huh
- I bet you’re all going to make cookie-stuffed cookies for dinner tonight (via The Kitchn). 😉
- Can’t decide if this is cool or huh, but a guy took pictures of everything he ate for a year.
- I’ll pass on the giant toasted snacking ants, thanks….
- Bacon toothpaste?! (Thanks, Jeanne!)
LOL
- This might be my favorite Valentine’s comic ever. (Thanks, Jeanne!)
- Although this knitting-themed Valentine’s comic from Franklin is pretty great, too.
- A flowchart to help you decide whether or not you should shave your legs. (Thanks, Jeanne!)
- Are you the insomniac they’re looking for?
- When May did something similar, she fell onto my head. Eeep!
- You’d be surprised (or maybe you wouldn’t) how often this happens around here… 😉
- And probably surprised that this never happens around here.
Teh Cute
- Baby albino sugar glider! Black kittens! Baby polar bear! Ducklings! Pudu! Kittens! Foxes! Kittens! Ferrets! Kitten! Black kitten! Tiger cub!
Reading Update
My Summer of Wes by Missy Welsh. ebook. Really sweet story about figuring out what you want, coming out, first love, and dealing with bullies. (Although I don’t like this cover at all…)
Lessons in Love (Cambridge Fellows Mysteries, Book 1) by Charlie Cochrane. ebook. Very good historical m/m mystery/romance set at a small Cambridge college in the early 20th century. The newest English fellow at the college starts to get under the skin of a repressed mathematics fellow… and then they find themselves working together to help the police try to figure out who is murdering students.
Lessons in Desire (Cambridge Fellows Mysteries, Book 2) by Charlie Cochrane. ebook. Very good historical m/m mystery/romance in which Jonty drags Orlando off to Jersey for the first holiday Orlando’s ever taken.
Lessons in Discovery (Cambridge Fellows Mysteries, Book 3) by Charlie Cochrane. ebook. Very good historical m/m romance/mystery – influenza and amnesia and a centuries-old murder, oh my!
The Back Passage (Mitch Mitchell Mysteries, Book 1) by James Lear. Delightfully raunchy m/m mystery in the best 1920s English country house style. Protagonist Edward “Mitch” Mitchell manages to be endearing as he attempts to solve the mystery… when he’s not distracted by sex.
Hot in Here (Time To Do, Book 2) by Kim Dare. free ebook short. Steamy short m/m interlude that takes place as Brennan and Rigby move into a flat together after graduating from university.
A Thread of Deepest Black by Finn Marlowe. ebook. Very good kinky paranormal m/m romance about a werewolf and a shifter who become involved with each other in a very complicated fashion, even though their people are mortal enemies. Some pacing issues in the first half of the story prevented me from rating this higher.
Dead Men Don’t Wash by Ally Blue. free ebook short. Completely insane (and fun!) short paranormal m/m romance about an octopus shifter and his soap thief lover.
Oscar’s Soul by Missy Welsh. free ebook short. Wickedly funny free short paranormal m/m romance about the devil collecting a soul and realizing he’s fallen in love.
Dinner and a Movie by Alex Marcus-Jacobs. free ebook short. Sweet short m/m romance about a straight guy who’s more than little surprised that the blind date his coworker set him up on is with a guy.
The Queen of Wands by Jenna Jones. ebook short. Good short May-December m/m romance about a guy who’s spent the last 15+ years working as the behind-the-scenes problem fixer for his vast family, atoning for a night he can’t quite remember – the night his best friend drowned. The ending felt a bit too quick and tidy for me.
Whatever It Costs (Whatever You Want, Book 2) by Taylor Lochland. ebook short. Ok short holiday m/m romance about a guy who loses his job, which makes it seem impossible that he’ll be able to afford to take his boyfriend to Ireland for Christmas so his boyfriend can see his grandfather before he dies.
Keeping Secrets by L.D. Madison. ebook short. Ok short m/m romance about an injured police officer who won’t take off his shirt and reveal his dark secret.
A Fated Love by Diana DeRicci. ebook short. Ok short m/m romance about a guy whose vintage car is damaged in a hit-and-run. Fortunately, an attractive stranger was able to snap a few pictures of the accident… I think I would’ve liked this one a bit better if it hadn’t been for all the unclear pronoun references and ongoing editing/writing oddities.
Raising Seth (First Time, Book 1) by Eden Cole. ebook short. So-so short m/m romance about a straight guy whose foster sister dumps her 18-year old ex-stepson on him for a month…
Lemon Kisses: A Yaoi Anthology edited by Augusta Li; A. Steele, Eon de Beaumont, Imari Jade, & B.J. Franklin. ebook collection. So-so collection of yaoi-inspired short stories.
“Oooooooh, shiny!” -Mayhem
I read The Summer Of Wes a few weeks ago and thought it to be an enjoyable read too. A bit predictable but I liked the two main protags 😉
Now what really caught my attention was the link to knitting a flying pig 😀 As a newbie knitter I just had to find out how I could make my own flying pig, my world isn’t right anymore without one…
A recent post from Leontine..Review- A M-M YA has wow-ed me again! Andrew Ashling – A Dish Served Cold
You’ve had a good reading week this week :). I must get onto reading those Charlie Cochrane historicals. I know I will like them but I’m wary of starting a new series in case I get sucked in.
A recent post from Jenre..Review- A Rose is a Rose by Jet Mykles
I have to admit I was a little nervous when I heard about the Borders bankruptcy even though I know full well that bankruptcy does not mean a business is going out of business. I buy most of my print and ebook titles from there (hello gift cards), so I was a little concerned!
Thanks for the cake shout out. I will probably try an updated version this weekend.
A recent post from Seanna Lea..oh wollmeise
I think our house needs a Pudu. I wonder if they can be litterbox trained;)…
A recent post from Melanie..Frustrated
That drinking map was interesting. Those lushes in Europe. 🙂
If sleep helps you get smarter and learn things, my daughter should be freaking brilliant by now.
Loved the flying pig and O.M.G., I am so making heart shaped boiled eggs. Coolest thing ever.
Bacon toothpaste, just no. Yay for long pants. 🙂
You were very British in your reading this week with Charlie Cochrane and James Lear. 🙂 I did enjoy them. Haven’t read some of the others but I’ll have to pick up some of the freebies. 🙂
A recent post from Tam..10 points of Friday randomocity
Mayhem looks scared. ;P
A recent post from katiebabs/KT Grant..You Help Me Pick What Buzzworthy YA I Should Read Next
Some people have too much time on their hands and I don’t mean you, Chris.
Mayhem the magpie.
A recent post from margene..All is Not Lost
I always need to ensure I have a spare couple of hours before clicking your damn linkity! And yes, cookie-stuffed cookies for dinner!
Thanks for the mention! :o)
Chris- Do people still use flow charts? I need to shave my legs.
Have a good weekend.
A recent post from Lorraine..A Day Late
I have to say I love the linkity 🙂 There’s always great stuff to be found there.
This time the headphone cozies made my day. The foamy stuff on mine disintegrated recently so I’ll be making a pair.
And a Time To Do short story. Didn’t even know about that one. Loved the original story, so I’ll be sure to read this.
Raising Seth has the guy from my She’s Got Balls cover.
By the way, my cat totally chases the pointer on my computer screen. LOL. I’m surprised there are cats that don’t.
Whiskey is still my favorite cold preventative.
I promise not to make any cookies-in-a-cookie. The heart-shaped eggs might make an appearance, though.
A recent post from Cheryl S…Together Again
Yea, and I’ll skip the toothpaste.
We’re going to end tomorrow morning. Whenever I get up and get my shit together.
I love, love, LOVE the knitted giant plastic squid! How would someone knit something out of plastic bags? Would you cut the bags into strips and then glue or knot them into long strands? How big would the knitting needles be, I wonder?
A recent post from Val Kovalin..Review Rinse and Repeat by Amberly Smith
LOL! Loved the post and the penis thing 😉
A recent post from blodeuedd..Guest review- My soul to take – Rachel Vincent
Very good linkity!
What’s wrong with explanation points!!!!!! I Like them!!!!! I use them entirely too much!!!!! But I don’t care!!!! I’m very excieable.!!!! Especially about that gian knit squid!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I mean who wouldn’t like that!!!!!!!!
A recent post from Rebekah..No Worries
Thanks for another great linkity Friday! Lots of cool stuff today. My favorite was the leg shaving chart. LOL…
The only one of these I’ve read was The Back Passage which I loved. I’ve got a few others on my TBR. Thanks for the mention.
Happy Friday!!
A recent post from Lily..Whats new this week
I think I like the plush iphone/ipod case better than the Fisher Price one- though it might be easier to find in my purse than my current yellow/black Otterbox.. lol.
A recent post from mouse..3rd Annual Thankfulness Tea
A Fisher Price iPhone case??? Really? I’m waiting for the day when some parent pulls that out to answer a phone.
And the penis reduction pills post totally made me LOL. Damn, that was a good laugh.
A recent post from Ava March..Release Date News
Shiny is fun!
A recent post from trek..In which it is all about the choir
Lots of great linkity today!
Thanks for the knitted hearts link – I have several knitted hearts patterns in my queue – now I should knit some! And that heart-shaped hardboiled egg — you could use a knitting needle instead of a chopstick.
I get migraines from red wine, so until I can be sure which ones are using the new magic yeast, I’m sticking to white.
And finally – the cover on that first book is just creepy!
A recent post from janna..Ripley
Lots to share in this. I have a friend with her”beatle birthday” coming up soon who has a thing about flying pigs. I may have to knit one. And several recipients for the cupid cartoon.
A recent post from Mary Lou..Coquille Italiano
Fantastic linkity Chris! What do you do in your spare time?!
Oh, linkity! Thank you! And I think next weekend I need to try me some Charlie Cochrane 🙂
Chris – whatever May is after is a gonna!
A recent post from orannia..Imposing Contemporary Standards
I’m so sad about Borders. I thought it was a nice chain of bookstores – we only had a few here in the UK but they were so nice to visit and had a great load of American craft magazines which would have been quite inaccessible normally (yes, I know you can get them online but it is nice to look inside :))
I love the kitties expression with the big ball of yarn! I had to laugh at the heart-shaped boiled egg!! And I’m looking forward to making some cookies in cookies to surprise people.
May is so cute!!!!
A recent post from mrspao..Gratuitous Saturday Kitten
I don’t care if the snacking ants do taste like bacon, I’ll pass.
I love that first Valentine’s comic!
The flowchart for shaving legs looks a lot like my thought process. 🙂
Katie doesn’t chase the mouse cursor but she used to bat at the TV when she was younger.
A recent post from Sydney..And then it was spring
Are you on a historical fest at the moment – I have so many of them, but they are mood read for me so I may get to them at some point…
I really love the cover on “The Back Passage”
Gone to ccheck out some of those contest….
🙂
Forgot to say, personally, I feel one can always overindulge in exclamation points 🙂
A recent post from orannia..I Am Here
Saw this and thought of you 🙂 There’s something about those bunnies.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lwM92P8aT64&feature=player_embedded
Get that shiny stuff, May!
Thanks for the heads up on read an ebook week.
A recent post from Nicole..March Already