Congrats to Laura M, who won Blind Items by Kate McMurray! Blind Items is being released today by Dreamspinner Press.
Contests
- Nicole’s giving away some of her lovely handmade cards. You can enter daily and the winner will be announced on August 1. To enter, leave a comment with a song to lift Nicole’s spirits, or let everyone know that you need your spirits lifted, too.
- Blodeuedd’s giving away winner’s choice of a paper or ebook copy of Helen Hollick’s Sea Witch. She’s also giving away a copy of A Weekend with Mr. Darcy by Victoria Connelly (US & Canada only). Both contests close August 4.
- Patti’s giving away two copies of Love Story by Jennifer Echols. Contest closes August 5. US only.
- Leontine’s giving away one of JP Barnaby’s Little Boy Lost ebooks – make sure you answer her question in your comment for your chance to win! Winner will be announced August 6.
- Book Lovers Inc is giving away two copies of The Perfect Play by Jaci Burton, and one copy is signed. Contest closes August 6.
Bookity
- New releases and more: Lily (m/m romance), Tor.com (YA paranormal, UF/PNR, fantasy, scifi), Book Lovers Inc (UF/PNR, romance), and Literary Escapism (UF/PNR).
- Book and publishing news from Dear Author.
Ebookity
Do, Learn, Think, Make
- Summer’s Eve pulled its obnoxious new ads after they were mocked by Stephen Colbert. (That Colbert link is completely NSFW.) (First link via The Mary Sue.)
- Completely different theory about cancer – cancer as parasitic species.
- Curious which 50 words from the NYT’s online version were looked up the most this year? (I knew 32 of the words on the list! Woot!)
- Test your vocab. (via Paperback Writer) (Apparently, I know 34,200 words. I knew that obsessive reading would pay off!)
Cookity
Crafty
- If you have one of those massive bags of zip ties lying around, you could make some baskets.
Cool
- TARDIS cafe. (via The Mary Sue)
- LEGO TARDIS. (via The Mary Sue)
Cool or Wha…?
Wha…?
- Google’s What Do You Love? site doesn’t allow you to search for an extensive list of banned words; instead, it will return kittens. (NSFW!)
LOL
- Conan shares some Harry/Draco fanart with Tom Felton (aka Draco)…
- I can only imagine if there was a hummingbird outside the windows here…
Teh Cute
- Kitten! Lion cubs! Cat and lion cub! Kittens! Baby hamster! Kitten! Koala! Kitten! Lion cub! Tiger! A litter of 16 dalmatians! Lion cub! Jaguar and baby! Fox kits!
Reading Update
Dance With Me by Heidi Cullinan. ebook. Excellent m/m romance about two men who’ve both lost (or given up) something they cared about and been living half lives ever since. It’s also about learning to accept and deal with chronic pain/injury/illness. Plus the story takes place in the Twin Cities; in fact, Laurie’s condo would be a ten-minute walk from mine. 🙂 Recommended.
A Matter of Time, Volume 1 and 
A Matter of Time, Volume 2 by Mary Calmes. ebook. Very good m/m romantic suspense about an architectural assistant who inadvertently witnesses a organized crime-related murder and then meets a straight police detective who keeps turning up in the oddest places. I read this story when it was released a few years ago, in its original and unedited ebook form. It was a delight to reread it all without the editing issues detracting from the story.
Bridges by M.J. O’Shea. free ebook short. Very good free short m/m romance about two guys who got off on the wrong foot with each other in grade school and remain enemies throughout high school. Then they end up working together at the grocery store as overnight stockers…
Breaking Point by S.L. Armstrong & K. Piet. free ebook short. Very steamy free kinky short m/m scene between two lovers.
Shadowed (Treasured #2) by Cari Z. ebook. Very good paranormal m/m romance in which Arcane Studies PhD student Daniel and his occasional lover Rhys head to Venice for Daniel’s winter break. Things start out well for them…
Family Unit by ZA Maxfield. ebook. Good m/m romance about two very different guys in their mid-40s (one a retired marine, the other a liberal raising his grandson) who get off to an awkward start, but then slowly grow to know each other better. While I enjoyed this one more than the other ZAM titles I read this week, I felt it suffered from a similar problem with the ending – the story stops, with many questions left unanswered, and then an epilogue is tacked on… an epilogue that doesn’t answer the questions. 🙁
Rhapsody for Piano and Ghost by ZA Maxfield. ebook. Good paranormal m/m romance about a 19-year old pianist who’s brilliant musically, but very naive interpersonally. Then some well-meaning ghosts move in and start “helping” him with his social life…
All Stirred Up (Stir #2) by ZA Maxfield. ebook. Good m/m romance about the “evil” twin brother of one of the main characters from Stirring Up Trouble, who’s struggling with escalating PTSD. An intervention by his board of directors and his twin have him heading for rehab in the company of a very unusual doctor. I found the ending of this one very frustrating – it felt as if it just stopped, rather than providing closure, and the epilogue did nothing to assuage that.
What Child Is This? (Crossing Borders #2) by ZA Maxfield. ebook. Good holiday m/m romance about how getting away from it all for a relaxing holiday weekend doesn’t always turn out as one might hope.
The Truth About Al (Rocky Mountain High: Campus Hearts #2) by ML Rhodes. ebook. Good m/m romance about the son of a conservative politician whose family is pressuring him to present a “suitable” (i.e., straight) image so as not to damage his mother’s run for Senate.
“No, I’m not stuck. I’m just… thinking.” -Mayhem
Lol, I want a HP wedding
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I love the novel posters! I need those for my classroom.
A recent post from Eyre..You See It, Don’t You?
Oh, I so want to read Dance With Me and…A Matter of Time sounds right up my alley. GFY? *crossing fingers hopefully*
May – thinking with a view works for me too 🙂
A recent post from orannia..Just One Word
where is May? Is that a window? Also, is it just me, or do the two guys on the *Family Unit* cover look like they’re the same person?
Does she get herself into odd places like that on a regular basis? I kinda liked all the plaid, odd, but interesting.
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Oh Mayhem, you look contemplative and so smart!
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Chris- That Toronto politician has been in the news for flipping the bird to a six year old child when the kid gave him the thumbs down for being on the cell phone while driving.
Never a dull moment in T.O.
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Good to know you are not stuck May, I was about to call the fire department.
Looks like you’ve had a great reading week.
Looks like you went on a bit of a ZA Maxfield kick this week. I love her work and haven’t gotten a couple of these so thanks.
I really like Mary Calmes’s work as well – really very good.
That iphone cover with the bottle opener is funny.
I love the action librarian link!
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So much linkity abundance! I love the deviled eggs and the knitted octopus and the LEGO stuff and the toilet paper earrings (that’s some seriously cool beadwork). And, as always, I admire how much you read. 🙂
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All I can say is thank god that politician was from Toronto and not near me. I can distance myself from the embarrassment. He’s probably a Leafs fan.
Oh, my vocabulation is 32,800, you win. 🙂 They didn’t have enough government beaurocratic terms in there. I would have aced it.
Nice anti-rant rant. 🙂
I’m not sure I could eat a fuschia egg. I don’t like deviled eggs to start with but that seems rather frightening.
Kristen sent me that Rubik’s cube cake link.
Okay, I like HP as much as the next person but I think that wedding was just a shade too much.
I don’t even like mini-donuts. That’s sacrilege I know.
That monkey was scary.
If anyone would take a goat into a store it would be Kristen. Don’t tell her.
Holy shit, you and Kristen are suffering mind-meld. She also sent me that plaid picture about two days after the cake picture. Stop it, stop it, you’re freaking me out!
I had to foward that tongs video to some people. BWAHAHAHA
I WANT that boat.
Wow, you were on a ZAM binge. Read most of those I think, not too many of the others. The freebie didn’t work for me. Too ouchy.
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I loved the PSAs from the 80s (well, that’s when I remember seeing them). R2D2, you found a cigarette!
A recent post from Seanna Lea..wanna unsee this?
Dang. That’s the second time I’ve seen a yummy-looking recipe using cinnamon chips. Wish I could find them.
A recent post from Cheryl S…Remodeling, Continued
Loved the novel poster idea although doesn’t seem like a comfy way to read.
OMG, I loved the Colbert clip. Since I don’t watch TV I had totally missed the vagina ads. Pretty ridiculous but his response was awesome! 😀
The vocab test was pretty neat. I’m just a bit under your word count.
Bottle-opener phone case, glow-in-the-dark dog and toilet paper earrings… what’s this world coming to? 🙂
The only one I’ve read so far is Family Unit which was nice except for the cover. I’m looking forward to reading Dance with Me when I finish the series I’m reading now.
Thanks for the mention. Have a fabulous weekend!
A recent post from Lily..The latest releases in M/M books…
Good to see Mayhem on the list to test my vocab too!
Definitely a ZAM binge :).
I should get that Heidi Cullinan book. It sounds really good.
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The article on the ebook errors was interesting. i have been particularly annoyed with such things lately. Though much of my ebook reading has not been from big publishers. Those deviled eggs look fantastic too!
As a Doctor Who fanatic I very much Thank You for the two DW tidbits. I already have my own sonic screwdriver but would love to get the LEGO set.
Awkward? Whatever can she be talking about, Mayhem?
Time Travel CAN TOO HAPPEN!!!!!!! It can! It can! lalalalalalalala
I barely beat you on the vocab – it must be all those ancient novels I read. Finally, finally, I don’t have to look up calumny.
OMG, that Steven Colbert & Conan O’Brien clips were fabulous! And the cute kitties – channeling Pete Townsend, the darling thing.
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I will rescue you, May!
I was going to say the same thing after two glasses of wine… I am not stuck… I am just finking!
Hugs to you honey and TGIF!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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omg, that monkey is SO awesome! LOL
Lots of great links this week, Chris! 🙂
A recent post from Renee..My Real-Life Hero
I am such a dolt. I’ve been over here how many times and not noticed the book reviews? Although now my wallet hates you. 🙂
I’ve been wanting to know where to start with Mary Calmes, and I am such a sucker for m/m mysteries.
…How does a glow-in-the-dark dog lead to curing Alzheimer’s?
And unf unf unf, you make me want to spend my paycheck on that Heidi Cullinan book as well as AMoT. Chris, you’re a bad lady; you make me want to spend. :<
Have a great weekend! <3
I can’t believe what an idiot Doug Ford is. I am no idiot, though, the only word I didn’t know was immiscible. However, I do subscribe to Word A Day, so I get lots of practice. And that monkey – Seriously Creepy.
A recent post from Mary Lou..Coquille now in Spanish
A cloned glow in the dark pooch? 🙁 I’m not too sure about this! I hope he’s okay!
Awesome lego this week Chris – love the fire breathing dragon – the inventor must have treated the lego or something so it doesn’t melt!
That bike stand shaped like a comb is uber cool!
Yeah, the brother of our illustrious mayor is a real piece of work. It’s the Rob and Doug Gong Show at City Hall. It’s like, ga-dah “I’m Daryl and this is my brother Daryl.” *rolling eyes* Thing is “Doug”, the Neanderthal who made the Margaret Atwood comment is supposed to be the ‘smart one’, and he can’t even pronounce libraries – he says “lie-berries”. The whole situation is embarrassing not to mention scary because they are talking about closing lie-berries because there are more of them then Tim Horton’s don’t you know? My only consolation is that I didn’t vote for the freak! Gah….
I know, I’m ranting! However, there is more…much more!
Thanks so much once again for the mention Chris! You ROCK!
Hey May – Good spot to contemplate life! 😉
A recent post from Lea..Come Join Tori & I for a Giveaway over at the Island!
I love wands for the guests, and bet they worked very hard on perfecting “Expantiarmus.”
A recent post from PD Singer..Who slipped the plot bunny crack?
LOL at the Colbert clip!
Mmmm… cinnamon.
But why would anyone want a glow in the dog?!
I think I keep the bird feeders as much for Katie’s entertainment as I do my entertainment.
I love Chemistry Cat.
May, as long as you’re not stuck, think away.
First, love the deviled eggs! VERY pretty to look at but not sure what they’d taste like. Too much like beets or just enough to add the color and the rest of the ingredients take over…..
Second love the article on how Apple has more cash than the US Govt. Yet the comments are more along the lines of Microsoft vs Apple as opposed to a company IN the US has more money THAN the US!!!! LOL Steve Jobs for prez???
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I think 26,400 words is not bad for a non native speaker 🙂