Contests
- LesleyW’s curious what your favorite characteristics are for hero(ines). Answer her question in a comment before August 28 for your chance to win a copy of Phenomenal Girl 5.
- Katiebabs is giving away five copies of The Devil Wears Plaid by Teresa Medeiros. To enter, leave a comment by August 28. (US only)
- Blodeudd’s giving away an ebook copy of KT Grant’s new romance, For the Love of Mollie. Comment by August 30 for your chance to win.
- Mandi’s giving away a copy of Zoe Archer’s forthcoming paranormal, Warrior (The Blades of the Rose, Book 1). Leave a comment by August 30 for your chance to win. (US & Canada)
- Cecile’s giving away a $60 CSN gift card. To enter, answer her question in your comment by September 1.
- Literary Escapism’s offering you a chance to win either Mind Games or Double Cross by Carolyn Crane – make sure you read the rules to enter! Contest is open until September 3.
Bookity
- New releases: Lily (m/m romance), Dear Author (romance), and Katiebabs (books with cool covers)
- Thoughtful post from Heidi Cullinan on why she writes gay romance.
- Dear Author doesn’t think much of cartoon book covers – do you agree?
- Lots of great book-related topics on the Monday Morning Stepback from ReadReactReview, from Dear Author, and from Wendy the Super Librarian.
- What’s the future of books, according to science fiction?
- Seattle libraries will be closed August 30 through September 6 to save money.
- The Book Garden is cool, but I keep thinking how mildewy it must be…
- Fry & Laurie on bookselling. (Language perhaps NSFW.)
Ebookity
- Test prep giant Kaplan is giving away free ebook study guides through August 30.
- A recent study found that people who use ereaders tend to read more than those who don’t.
- Some Kindle 3 reviews.
- No, no, no, no – I do not want product placement in my ebooks!
- Have you considered using glasses as a smart phone stand?
- Virgin Mobile’s offering an unlimited, no-contract data plan for $40/month and TeleRead explains how you could use that plan with your various devices.
Learn, Make, Think, Do
- How does your state measure up in support for same-sex marriage? (Thanks, Stephani!)
- Do you know what the ten greatest accidental inventions were?
- More discussion this week on the effect gadgets and connectivity have on our brains: Smart Bitches, Gizmodo, and TeleRead.
- Should you get health insurance for your pets?
- Did you know that the world will be out of helium within 25 years?
- Lifehacker has an extensive guide to color theory and photography.
- I like the Hierarchy of Cleaning.
- Love Consumerist’s list of guilty pleasures that do not require (much) guilt!
- Can you guess the four cleaning products that you really don’t need?
- If you’ve ever wondered how big something was compared to something else (such as the Moon compared to Australia), wonder no more.
- Do you have a plan for tidying up your virtual life after you die? (Beyond hoping that Jeanne remembers her password for my blog… um, no.)
Cool
- Dalek cake, anyone?
- Nighthawks at the Diner updated for the 21st century…
- I bet there’s someone on your holiday shopping list who would love the Keychain Multi-tool.
- Bowling balls are pretty hard on, well, everything when they’re bouncing down the street.
Huh
- Guys! Stashitware is like a man purse in your underwear! (No, chafing was not addressed in the video.)
- Do you know anyone who has a wooden necktie?
- You could crochet your very own faux-hawk zebra hat.
- I would not be playing the flamethrower trombone inside…
- You know you want a computer wire dress.
- This has to be the most confusing condom label ever.
- I wouldn’t watch it, but maybe you will – the video that combines the Macarena and Snuggies. (This link is totally Bron bait.)
LOL
- Crazy Aunt Purl immortalizes the evil colorway breaking Noro knot…
- Franklin has some words of knitting wisdom re: what not to say while you’re working in a coffee shop…
- If you’ve been considering working from home, you might want to check this infographic first…
- Check out the car phone of 1988!
- Just read a single page from this 1942 book on the dangers of petting… Wanna bet the author wouldn’t maintain his (dubious) sanity for more than five minutes if he’d been transplanted from then to now?
- We’re all familiar with the No. 2 Pencil… but what about the other numbers?
- Indexed on why spies are sexy and “a plague is upon you”.
- Of course, if you follow this link and laugh… how meta does that become?
- Do you recognize these kitty poses?
- I suppose black kitties head to Hogwarts to study the Dark Arts… and then hold skeery gatherings…
- Evil is available in trial sizes – how handy!
Teh Cute
- Cat and kitten. (Thanks, Jase!)
- Hundreds of really cute pet wallpapers for your computer!
- Soggy kitten! Hedgehog! Kittens! Kitten! Clean-pawed kitty! Sleepy kittens! Kittens! Brave kitten! Kitten! Kitten! Baby bears! Fist bump kitten! Baby chinchilla! Raccoon dog!
Reading Update
Shining in the Sun by Alex Beecroft. ebook. Very good m/m romance about a wealthy British businessman (so deeply closeted he’s never considered that he might be gay) who escapes on his yacht for a month every summer so he can get away from his mother, his fiance, and his other obligations. When he sees a gorgeous surfer on the beach, everything starts to change for him.
Life, Over Easy (Fragments, Book 1) by K.A. Mitchell. ebook. Very good paranormal m/m romance about an Olympic diver whose career ended in a near-death accident. Now he’s attending college and trying to deal with the odd aftereffects of his severe head injury.
Chasing Smoke by K.A. Mitchell. ebook. Very good m/m romantic suspense about a Homeland Security Agent who’s back in town helping get his mom’s house ready to sell when he runs into his high school crush. Will a mystery from their pasts bring them closer together or drive them further apart?
Slow Bloom by Anah Crow & Dianne Fox. ebook. Very good, very steamy m/m romance about a college student who’s taking care of the neighbor’s lawn while he’s home from college for the summer. He’s had a crush on the much older author neighbor for years and finally decides to act on his feelings.
Switch by Claire Thompson. ebook. Very good kinky m/m romance about a confident banker who’s a well-known and respected dominant. When he meets a scruffy artist, he has no idea that his whole world is about to be turned upside down.
Moving On by Fabian Black. ebook. Very good m/m romance about a young man who’s been escaping from his past via alcohol and staying on the move until a dominant older man gives him a ride.
Mist Gray: Falling Apart, Falling Together by Andy Slayde & Ali Wilde. ebook. Very good kinky paranormal m/m romance about a romance novelist staying at a lakeside cabin for the summer who becomes fascinated by his next-door neighbor. When he discovers that said next-door neighbor is a sub still grieving for the dom who died a year ago, the novelist is sure he can’t be what his neighbor needs.
Retribution in Blood (Drone Vampires #9) by Stephani Hecht. ebook. Good paranormal m/m romance about Drone Vampire Micah, a secret he’s keeping from everyone including his mate, and his human family, who are living with the Drones.
Enslaved by Blood (Drone Vampires #10) by Stephani Hecht. ebook. Good paranormal m/m romance about a Drone vampire who’s been imprisoned and tortured by the VRF for six months. Will the Drones be able to rescue him before it’s too late?
Wild Thing by Mia Watts. ebook short. Good short paranormal m/m romance about a Minnesota DNR agent who suspects that the guy he’s had a crush on for years is hiding information about the massive wolf sighted in the area.
The Quality of Mercy (Bonded) by Jay Lygon. ebook short. Good paranormal m/m romance short about a reclusive vampire romance novelist whose life is turned upside down when he finds a cute, freshly turned vampire at his front door.
Twice Blest (Bonded) by Jay Lygon. ebook short. Good paranormal m/m romance short about that reclusive vampire romance novelist and his attempt to hook up with a cute student.
Bonded by Jay Lygon. ebook. Good paranormal m/m romance about a surfer who inadvertently ingests some vampire (romance novelist) blood and then realizes he can feel what the vampire’s feeling… and vice versa.
A Vintage Affair by Josh Lanyon. ebook. Good m/m romantic suspense about a sommelier, hired to evaluate the extensive wine collection of a formerly moneyed Southern family, who discovers a corpse in the wine cellar. While this was well-written and engaging, the m/f/m scene took me by surprise and the ending seemed hasty and excessively tidy.
Soren’s Surrender (Incognito, Book 10) by Anna Leigh Keaton. ebook. Good kinky m/m romance about a guy who’s only recently realized he’s gay and has become fascinated by a dominant that he’s been watching at the club he frequents. (Yes, I randomly read this one book in the series because it’s the only m/m book.)
Dark Submission by A.J. Hardcourt. ebook short. Steamy, kinky short m/m scene about a guy who’s been participating in an online bdsm group because he’s sure his boyfriend wouldn’t understand his desire to submit. One night he wakes up to find two strangers with bondage gear in his bedroom… and they know his online identity.
“Why did you call me goofy, Mom? That’s not very nice.” -Mayhem
Actually, nobody else should enter for “Twice in a Lifetime”. It’s mine! Mine, I tells ya!
A recent post from Mel..Time with the Nieces
yep, gonna have to start setting aside Saturday for linkity examination.
Love May’s goofy glamour shot;).
Love the copy protection article on Gizmodo.
Seattle library shut down sucks. Our county library started having short hours on Sundays a couple/few years ago but this year they stopped for the summer. Not sure if it was cost saving measures or simply too few people visited or the staff revolted.
Certainly easier for people to tote their reading material with an ereader – probably a major factor in the increase in reading; people have books with them more.
Maybe the water drinking is part of the reason why it seems harder to lose weight in winter. I drink more water in summer months.
A recent post from trek..WWW – Really random edition
Aw, I just love those Furmans… That Curtis.
You need to link to the “Awesome and Horrible” working at home article on Gizmodo! I’m still giggling! Me peepee.
A recent post from Brigitte..Its Been a Year!!
Mmmmm. It’s a linkity buffet, all you can eat!
I nearly spewed tea all over my keyboard when I read Franklin’s post yesterday. And what about people like me, whose guilty pleasure is using paper towels? That’s real guilt.
Dark Submission sounds scary good!
Oh, and I love love love the stuff it commerical… lol
A recent post from Miranda..Review of Winning Angela
I love Fridays for these posts! Mayhem, Goofy can be a term of endearment!
A recent post from Jennifer..Planning and preparation
Cartoon covers: Not my fave but not a negative either. I’m not drawn to the PL Nunn covers the way some people are, but they don’t turn me off either.
Holy crap. Is there ANYONE I don’t tip? Salmon fishing guide? Thank god I know that now. *eye roll*
I NEED paper towels. You ever tried to wipe up cat vomit with a “non-linting cleaning cloth”? They make it sound like people ONLY use paper towels to clean windows. I like my sponge and Windex too. 😛
I’ve told the kid who to inform if I die, never thought about closing accounts. Arrgghh. Life, and death, are so complicated.
Books: KA Mitchell – agree, Jay Lyon – agree (I’m goign to read that series you read last week), Mist Gray – agree, I have A Vintage Affair m/f/m? Ack!, otherwise I haven’t read any of the others. I’m assuming in the last one the boyfriend knew more than he let on?
A recent post from Tam..Happy Boys
Gosh, maybe you need to consider to split your linkity to more posts spread out over a few days, lol. I have the feeling of getting lost in your post today. 🙂
I’m working at home a few days of the week and according to that link I’m very creative. 😉 You’d be amazed how pj’s have that effect, lol!
Since I started reading your post I already drank two glasses of water… *speeding process in work*
Aww, May looks adorably goofy! 😀
Good thing I have quite a few of these books already on my ereader, because all the ‘very good’ rates make me so greedy!
I actually read a few too, like Dark Submission, which I enjoyed a lot!
Awwwwww Chris, thanks for the mention honey!!!! And thanks to those of you who have come on over!
And how adorable is my kitty today!!!
Chris you simply blow me away with all the information and links you give us!! Thank you honey!!!
And ayayyayayayayay!! It is Friday!!!!!!
Hugs
A recent post from Cecile..Giveaway- How do you cook in your kitchen
Oh, Franklin!
My kitty is a meatloaf.
OMG, the linkity abundance!And the reviewettes! It sounds like you picked out a lot of good books. 🙂
A recent post from Val Kovalin..Trinity Trespass Excerpt
*adds Shining in the Sun to m/m to buy list*
Gah, so much linkity! I didn’t even try to get through half of them. Maybe I’ll try to do some more tonight (after popping lasagna in the oven).
Mayhem, she might call you goofy, but it is probably because she got tired of using the words adorable and cute!
A recent post from Seanna Lea..a new adventure
this could take me a while…. thats a darn lot of linkity!
How does it become more out of control? It is still quality though!
The product placement in e-books is highly disturbing. Even in print books I’ve been turned off of some favorite author’s more recent books due to excessive brandname dropping. We don’t need more advertising in our lives! *sigh*
A recent post from Kristi aka FiberFool..Spicy Slow Cooker Peach Butter
Great Links. Play-doh as a cleaner, now that is ironic. I want the Lego car. May — Goofy is code for absolutely gorgeous black goddess.
A recent post from Rebekah..The 400 Doily
Another fabulous linkity Friday!
Very interesting info on virtual life/death preparations, the 10 Facebook Fixes and Greatest (Accidental) Inventions.
Florida is only at 41% but it’s much better than the 26% of a few years back.
Product placement in ebooks? I hope not. LOL, I always wondered about the other pencils. And I loved the work from home horrors and the AARG. That was too funny!
Chasing Smoke, Switch and Mist Gray were all good reads and I loved Slow Bloom.
A recent post from Lily..Happy- Sexy Friday!
I visited Heidi at LJ, and her post made me think. Damn it, thinking is hard.
You can imagine my distress over the fact that some people don’t like cartoonish covers. 🙁
I need to have an accident so I can invent something.
And KA Mitchell: paranormal…severe head injury…ACK!!!
A recent post from wren..Music that makes me happy!
The post on color theory was very interesting! The list of not-so-guilty pleasures is great, too.
I would so eat those marshmallows… and in my coffee! Double the buzz, double the fun.
A recent post from katiebabs..Jonathan Frazen the Great American Novelist
Sadly enough.. I saw that macarana/snuggie infomercial on tv the other night- my husband and I both sat with our mouth hanging open for the whole thing. It wasn’t really funny.. just sort of horrifying.
LOL!! Omg that “Dangers of Petting” post and the book is hysterical! And, the confusing condom instructions? – I spewed my water on my keyboard..
I want one of those faux Hawk-Zebra hats! lol
Great linkety Chris, you truly went above and beyond the call this week.. lol
Hey May, you look like a vampiress! Vera cool…
I’m still giggling – have a great weekend Chris!
A recent post from Lea..Waiting On Wednesday – Night Haven- by Fiona Jayde
Love the medieval book warnings – I had no idea!
The Hogwarts kitty is cool. Also, my kids will want the sink fountain.
The pocket drawers are ross. Just like I don’t want money pulled from some woman’s bra, I definitely don’t want money pulled from some guys junk. Gross!
How sad that libraries have to close like that in order to save money!
Thanks for the Kaplan link! I know some folks who can definitely use those study guides.
A recent post from Eyre..Day 2 at School & Recent Reads
Whew! I was wondering how much I should tip my Sherpa. I didn’t want things to get awkward if I didn’t give him enough.
The whole concept of Stashitware, never mind the video with the guy who kept shoving stuff in his crotch, is…a bit disturbing. And what pair of pants have room for a 2-liter in the crotch??? Okay, maybe sweat pants, but that’s it.
A recent post from Ava March..Story Behind the Story – Bound to Him
You know me too well. Of course, I took the bait. For I am foolish…and impulsive. And now I have the song stuck in my head.
Still laughing at Franklin! I love that guy!
The bears!!! So sweet!!! And the petting book is hilarious!
And May is adorable. At our house we call that the Fangula look. 🙂
One of my perants cats love love the hug n bite, at least when it comes to me
A recent post from blodeuedd..Review- Sweet Anger – Erin St Claire
I guess I should be thankful that my state isn’t on the very bottom for same sex marriage.
Love the Star Wars silent film!
Oh, rainbow kitties!
A recent post from Sydney..While I was out
No! No product placement in my books. I hate thata!
That computer wire dress is…weird. The model doesn’t even look happy to be wearing it.
Wow – you read a lot of very good books this week. (I’m making notes).
That cover for Slow Bloom is freaky deaky! No head, right in the middle of the cover – with SLOW written where his head should be. Are they talking about his mind? lol
A recent post from Tracy..Saturday Song
I can’t believe we need to worry about our online presence even after we die! Scary!
A recent post from Elspeth..Deja Vu
I think that you have now successfully out-linked yourself. Do you stay up all night examining/posting/collating these? 🙂
Take it from a former trombonist, that flamethrower thingie would have made marching in parades a LOT more fun.
A recent post from kmkat..Ten on Tuesday- the college freshman edition
The linkity is breeding… *looks worried*
I enjoyed Switch, but I wanted a sequel 🙂 And oh I like the sound of Moving On 🙂
May – that’s a…very interesting pose 🙂
A recent post from orannia..Archangels Consort Nalini Singh
Aw, May, you’re not goofy. You’re cute!
A recent post from Nicole..Cant blog Knitting