I’m going to experiment with this post and I’d like your opinions – is it easier to read linkity posts with or without bullets? Discuss. (And thank you for your input!)
- Congrats to Johanna, who won the ebook of Wren Boudreau’s Ice Cream on the Side! Many thanks to Wren for donating a copy of her book – hopefully she’ll be back with her next release.
- The Book Binge is giving away three copies of Moira Rogers’ newest paranormal romance, The Crux (Southern Arcana, Book 1). Contest closes 11:59 pm, January 7.
- Romance Reviews Today is giving away a copy of Untamed by Crystal Jordan. Contest runs until the evening of January 7.
- Seductive Musings is giving away a signed copy Stephanie Tyler’s new Navy SEALS romance, Hot To Hold. Contest closes 11:59 PM EST, January 9. You also have up to three chances to win an ARC of Hold on Tight at Desert Island Keepers while Stephanie Tyler’s visiting the island. A winner will be selected January 11.
- Smexy Books is giving away a copy of Nancy Holzner’s new urban fantasy, Deadtown. Winner will be announced January 9. Literary Escapism’s giving away a copy, too. This contest runs until January 12.
- Pat’s Fantasy Hotlist is giving away five copies of Kitty’s House of Horrors by Carrie Vaughn, plus one winner will receive an entire set of the Kitty Norville novels. Not sure when this one ends, but it was just posted yesterday.
- MrsPao’s having a caption contest to celebrate her 1000th post! Contest runs until 9 am GMT, January 23, and the prize will depend on whether you’re a knitter or muggle (non-knitter). You can enter as many times as you can come up with clever captions.
- J, Kaye’s giving away a $25 US Amazon gift certificate or up to $25 at the Book Depository in three separate contests: Canada, US, and outside the US/Canada. Read the rules carefully! Winners will be announced January 30 and are responsible for checking the blog to see if they’ve won.
- Moderncat’s giving away another nifty cat bed this month.
- If you sign up for the 2010 M/M Romance Challenge by January 31, you’ll be entered for a chance to win $15 ebook bucks from All Romance eBooks!
- I really have no idea how the SciFiGuy puts out his amazing Urban Fantasy Weekend Report every week! Chock full of news, contest info, and more.
- Jackie at Literary Escapism has some fun interview and contest links, plus a link to the Top 100 Quotes Every Geek Should Know. (Um, will there be a test?!) She has more book news and contests in her monthly Escapist Newsletter.
- Donna discovered lots of urban fantasy and paranormal releases this week!
- Anastasia always comes up with some intriguing book and reading related links at Birdbrain(ed) Book Blog and this week is no exception.
- Some good publishing industry info (and a link to the periodic table of fonts) in Dear Author’s Wednesday news post.
- Author Marta Acosta has all sorts of fun blog sidebar badges, such as for the Naked David Boreanz Club, the Association for the Admiration of Edward Cullen, the Gerard Butler Is Hawt Society, and the Jacob Black Society for Werewolf Acceptance.
- Author Lynn Viehl has links to some nifty free tools for writers and readers, such as a program to help increase your reading speed.
- Do not click this link if you are easily offended by graphic ice sculpture. Please. I implore you. Yes, I took the featured photo, but you’ll notice I haven’t featured it on my blog. Consider the various book covers I have featured before you click, ok? (It is not a cat picture, if that helps.)
- Check out Limecello’s thoughts on social media, books, and authors over at The Good, the Bad, and the Unread. Wave (of m/m romance review site Reviews by Jessewave) talks about how authors have requested that their books not be reviewed (because they weren’t happy with previous reviews) and how that’s a disservice to readers. Katiebabs also posts about about when authors don’t want you to review their books. And m/m author Amy Lane writes about censorship.
- Curious about how to convert ebooks to different formats? TeleRead’s ABCs article looks like a good place to start.
- A reader calculates the total cost of ebooks.
- Although the experience of reading a physical book is different than that of reading an ebook, does it really matter to readers? (I gotta say that I’m liking reading ebooks more than physical books these days.)
- Remember when we weren’t sure whether B&N’s Nook would make it to market because of an infringement lawsuit? Well, the company that started that lawsuit, Spring Design, has unveiled their Android-based ebook reader, the Alex, and it looks a lot cooler than the Nook – plus it won’t be locked into a single store.
- TeleRead reports on the most pirated books of 2009 – The Kamasutra and Adobe Photoshop Secrets held the top spots. The only best-selling authors to make it into the top 25 were Dan Brown, Stephen King, Stephenie Meyer, and J. K. Rowling. None of Rowling’s books have even been released as ebooks, which instead of protecting them seems to be a lost revenue opportunity.
- TeleRead also has a thoughtful post about not ignoring readers when developing those ebook pricing models.
- Even though I told Trek that I suck at guessing contests, I won not only her guessing contest of some months ago (dollar value of an unknown number of quarters that fit into a particular tea tin), but also Nicole’s recent contest (how many books she’d read by the end of the year). Hmm. Perhaps I don’t suck at guessing contests after all? (Thanks to Nicole and Trek!)
- This DIY magnetized coffee cozy is very cool and very clever! Heck, I can see the potential for sticking my coffee to my car when I’m rummaging for my keys. (And, wait, I already have a coffee cozy from Caribou Coffee with a mysterious zipper pocket on it – this might actually make the pocket useful!)
- I can see potential for the cellphone bean bag chair to be a decent book stand for ebook readers. (Since my no-longer-available ReadUpon is basically a bean bag with some plexiglass on it.)
- I don’t think you can help but feel hopeful after watching this amazing video of “All You Need Is Love” being sung in 156 different countries simultaneously.
- The year in adorable photos from itty bitty kitty committee – awww!
- No cute burn yet? This’ll take care of that.
- Cold? Throw on another cat!
- Many thanks to Jeanne for this one – wifi for passive-aggressives.
Reading Update
Chicken Soup for the Soul, and All That Crap: A Tigers & Devils Short by Sean Kennedy. free ebook short. Very sweet short that takes place while Declan’s recuperating from his surgery.
Warrior’s Cross by Madeleine Urban and Abigail Roux. ebook. Very good m/m romantic suspense about about a waiter and the mysterious guy who sits in his section every Tuesday evening. I cried more than once while reading this. My only complaint is that I wanted just a little more substance (or maybe detail or maybe time) at the ending.
The One That Got Away (Second Edition) by Rhianne Aile and Madeleine Urban. ebook. Excellent m/m romance – I’d read the original version, but who could resist the new version with added scenes? (Although, sad to say, the second edition still has inconsistencies about David’s age – he fusses about how awful his 45th birthday was, but then is referred to as 42 for the rest of the book.) One of the differences I noticed was that Trace’s cat was now named Mabel instead of Gail and and she had an entire enjoyable subplot devoted to her. (Plus she’s a black kitty. Really, what’s not to like?)
Rules of Engagement by L. A. Witt. ebook. Very good m/m romance (that I had a hard time putting down) about a recently divorced guy who finds himself powerfully drawn to a guy he meets playing pool in a bar. Yes, I got sniffly, so you know there was some angst. I think my only complaint was the abruptness of the ending. I really liked this quote from one of the other characters: “If I knew how a lot of my relationships would have turned out, I never would have gotten involved in them…. And I would have missed out on some of the best times in my life.” (Of course, for me, I would also have missed out on some of the worst times in my life – you?)
Uncorked by Andrew Grey. ebook. This m/m romance is set several years after Bottled Up; Sam and Sean of Bottled Up play more of a peripheral role in this one. I’ll confess that while the beginning of this story didn’t really grab me, the middle did, but then I just wanted to smack heads together at the end. Make of that what you will. 🙂
Just Like Scrooge by Clare London. ebook short. Imagine The Christmas Carol redone (and redone well) as an m/m romance set in modern times.
In the Closet by Clare London. ebook short. Cute m/m romance about two feuding guys whose coworkers lock them in the cleaning closet to work out their differences… although maybe the coworkers didn’t expect the form that process would take…
Special Delivery by Cassandra Gold. ebook short. Sweet m/m romance short about a secretary and a delivery guy.
Fantasies: Independence Day by Cassandra Gold. ebook. Good m/m romance about a guy who’s finally had enough of his father running every aspect of his life, so he escapes to work as a waiter at a Hawaiian resort. (Total points for style on that one.)
Reunion by Vic Winter. ebook short. In this enjoyable m/m romance, the ostracized high school nerd returns for his ten-year reunion as a fit, handsome millionaire ready to shove his success in his former classmates’ faces.
Christmas for Gary by Vic Winter. ebook short. Gary’s spending some time with his very active grandmother and her friends, who are determined to find a boyfriend for him, no matter how much they embarrass him in the process.
A-Viking by Kiernan Kelly. ebook short. Ok time travel m/m romance about a Viking who mysteriously washes up on a contemporary Florida beach after his longboat capsizes.
Re-Ignition by A.R. Moler. ebook short. Good m/m romance about a former FBI agent who’s not doing so well after a career-ending injury, until he wakes up hungover, in bed with someone he doesn’t recognize.
When Work Is a Pleasure by Alix Blevins. ebook. While this m/m romance was well done, I had a problem (my very own problem and not necessarily that of the book) with how relatively easily a reporter dealt with his new boyfriend’s career as a pr0n star.
InDescent by K.Z. Snow. ebook. Another very good m/m romance that I had trouble with – this time, it was because of one of the main character being emotionally and physically involved with two other people. Not a menage (which I hate), but still – I kept getting stuck there. However! This was still a very cool story about a wizard/woodworker living in Milwaukee who notices that there’s suddenly an awful lot of paranormal activity in the city… (And really, what’s not to like about a story that has Baba Yaga’s hut in a Milwaukee city park?)
“My life sucks.” -Chaos
Bullets, but then I guilty of using them any time I can!
All the links are exhausting. You win more contests than anyone else, amazing.
Chaos, your life can’t be sucky if you can sleep all day.
.-= margene´s last blog ..Melt Down Day =-.
Every snowfall in college, we’d end up with similar sculptures on the soccer field that ran through the center of campus. I do wonder now how the tour guides dealt with tours of prospective students and theie parents those days…
.-= sprite´s last blog ..booking through thursday: gifts =-.
I personally prefer bullets they are easier to read and follow.
Love all the linkage, thanks! So much to find and do here.
Ok now on to the ice sculptor…I LOVE IT! For some reason Chef’s song Salty Balls from South Park popped into head. No correlation, sort of… 😉
Song.Is.Now.Stuck.In.My.Head!
.-= Donna-FantasyDreamer´s last blog ..Review: Shadowfae by Erica Hayes =-.
I like the bullets.
.-= Kat with a K´s last blog ..Knitting for a raffle? =-.
Love the bullets!
.-= Wendy´s last blog ..Bird’s Eye =-.
Bullets are good! And it’s probably easier on you too.
Chaos, your like does not “suck”. Quite your moping.
.-= Brigitte´s last blog ..Happy New Year! =-.
Whoops, that should be QUIT your moping!
.-= Brigitte´s last blog ..Happy New Year! =-.
I am a fan of abs and bullets.
Your link posts are taking me half of the day to get through 🙂 I can only imagine how much time it costs you to write them… Thanks for that! The itty bitty kitties were adorable and your Chaos is a cute pouter (is that a word?). You gave me again a few books to check out, I wonder if I ever will be reading m/f again… 🙂
.-= ErotRomReader (Janna´s last blog ..Todays Man Candy & Reminder of My Giveaway of Cuffed and Dangerous =-.
this post needs more bullet points and man abs.
.-= furiousball´s last blog ..pictures from last night =-.
I like the bullets. They do a very nice job of breaking your blog into tasty bites!
.-= Miranda´s last blog ..Titillating Thursday Contests =-.
OH wow… I need another cup of coffee after all those links! Thanks honey for allll the heads up!
Awww, Chaos, tell Aunti Ceal what is wrong?
***Pats his back… It is okay.***
Hope you have a great day honey!
Bullets!
And congrats to Johanna, who seemed very happy to won the copy of Ice Cream on the Side! Thanks for running the contest, Chris!
Chris- Throw on another cat- that’s hysterical.
I don’t have a preference for bullets or non bullets.
My old computer had the itty bitty kitty politcal committee as a background, which was super adorable. I can’t imagine how someone doesn’t die of the cute in that link!
.-= Seanna Lea´s last blog ..back to work! =-.
With bullets.
I quite like that passive-aggressive wifi post.
And that’s an impressive snow sculpture.
.-= naomi´s last blog ..two things done =-.
Dude! Some serious abs happening in your house. So, do you think you could now recognize candy can guy just by his torso?
Also, is the snow “Sculpture” still up? I bet it has a lovely fluffy cap on it from all this new snow.
.-= Carolyn Crane´s last blog ..It’s still Tuesday in Hawaii, right? (Book trailers!) =-.
Wow – thanks for all the linkage – do you ever sleep?!
Love the kitty pics, especially the cereal box, and the wifi’s cracked me up!
Hmmm…In the closet – I think that would satisfy my m/m AND new author challenges!!!
I like the bullets!
As for the snow sculpture…well…you certainly do live in an interesting neighborhood!
.-= Marsha´s last blog ..American history =-.
I am -so- not digging for that prize.
Is that why Chaos wanted to get in the cabinets?
.-= Cheryl S.´s last blog ..2009 Recap =-.
Count one more vote for bullets. And Chaos,I’m sorry. If it’s any consolation, my boys feel the same way.
.-= Jennifer´s last blog ..New Sweater =-.
Bullets!
Poor Chaos, when will he grow those opposable thumbs?
1. I like the bullets.
2. I suspect that SciFy Guy does it much the same way that YOU bring together tons of information/links.
3. Chaos: Consider this a challenge from Mom to find something NEW to conquer. I know you can do it, Little Man!
.-= Marji´s last blog ..frustration, thy name is knitting =-.
I like the bullet points, it makes it easier to separate the pints in my head as I look at it.
I love Vic Winter’s shorts so I’ll have to check out the ones you’ve mntioned here. Reunion sounds like it might be quite funny – was it?
.-= Jenre´s last blog ..Review: Windows in Time by M Jules Aedin =-.
Always a plethora of blog reading from you when you post the linkity.
Now, here at my boy-filled house, I get a surfeit of the non-cute contingent. Check out the latest hit with my boys: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X6gr6ufM73o
I like the bullets. My scientist brain would like subclasses of the links, but I realize that is a lot to ask of the blogger.
Chaos, I think you are suffering from some winter blues. I would suggest hibernating, but my guess is that you would be unwilling to forgo dinner everyday.
.-= Brenda´s last blog ..FO: Glace Vest =-.
This morning we could have used one more cat on the bed! Great lolcatz.
.-= Jodi´s last blog ..tea and knitting =-.
I like the bullet points. 🙂
I liked the Sean Kennedy short as well. Just cute.
I’ll have to look into Warrior’s Cross, The One That Got Away and In the Closet. Thanks…I think! lol
Love the bullets
Thanks for the contest plug.
.-= mrspao´s last blog ..First FO of 10 =-.
C’mon Chaos. You know everyone loves you!
Tisk tisk Chaos, this is what you get for messing in Mom’s cupboards… Enjoy the good life man, and stay out of the cupboards!!
Thanks so much for the link to Steph’s post at DIK Chris, I really appreciate it. 🙂
The book being given away is an ARC of “Hold On Tight”. 😉
And, wow! Thanks for all the linkety info, lots going on..
I hope you are staying warm.
Best
L
.-= Lea´s last blog ..Stephanie Tyler And Her SEALs Have Landed – On The Beach At DIK! =-.
With Bullets. Yes.
.-= Mary Lou´s last blog ..Since You Asked =-.
Well, given my useage of bullets and numbering on my blog, I don’t think you really need to ask me which I prefer… 😉
Tell Chaos to suck it up. If he’s going to get caught, he’s going to get stopped. He just needs to be sneakier. (I thought black cats were supposed to be like ninjas?)
.-= Nicole´s last blog ..Driven to Distraction =-.
Thanks for the heads up about the Sean Kennedy short. I loved Tigers and Devils.
.-= Renee´s last blog ..21 Author discoveries in 2009 (well, at least they’re new to me) =-.
whenever I come here, my reading list grows exponentially. I REALLY need to figure out how to get more hours in a day
Definitely better with bullets. Thanks for the good blogging.
I like the bullets but I don’t know if that’s because they’re easier to read or because I just like bullets. 🙂
Aw so many cute kitty photos! And LOL at the passive-aggressive wifi!
.-= Sydney´s last blog ..Ah, that’s better =-.
Poor Chaos.
LOL at that wi-fi passive aggressive link! And the cute kitties.
ebooks will never replace paper for me. Yet.
.-= Carrie K´s last blog ..January 11, 1937 – November 28th, 2009 =-.
I don’t have a preference for either.
Message for Chaos – give up on the cupboards and find something else to open. The fridge is a good place to start.
.-= Dotty´s last blog ..last & first =-.
Yup the bullet points work for me… I love a sort of order in my pages, so that works…
As for the books…
Uncorked – I am feeling the same as you – I loved the two before and I will admit the I am a sucker for the candy kisses sort of character and plot – but that book was like three parts … and I really felt a little disappointed in it, especially after I enjoyed the other two so much…
Warrios Cross – I am going to read. I have the L.A. Witt – need to dig that out…
I find it so hard to get into re-issued books…Glad that one worked for you…
E.H>
.-= Erotic Horizon´s last blog ..January 07th – I Am A Thursday’s Child =-.
dots I’m seeing dots – no, spots.. I meant spots… no, big hairy… omgosh that was funny. (great photo)
And oh you poor dear Chaos.. sorry Mom spoiled all your fun this year.
Crappity Crap girl, too many books to comment on but I mostly agree with you. So I’m going to cry in Warrior’s Cross. Eep. It’s been in my TBR forever.
these lists are still dangerous.
I always understood the difference in David’s age (The one that got away) to be thus: He is 42, his dad had heart attack at 45, he is getting closer to d-day (so to speak).