Congrats to Lucy Beugeling-Ramos, who won 72 Hours by Clare London! 72 Hours is being released by Dreamspinner Press today.
Congrats to Leni and Sarah M, who each won copies of Wicked Cool by Val Kovalin! Wicked Cool will be available from Amber Quill Press on September 19.
Contests
- Smokin’ Hot Books is giving away a copy of The Beast Within, which contains stories by Erin McCarthy, Bianca D’Arc, and Jennifer Lyon. Comment by September 20 for your chance to win.
- Let Lea and Fiona Jayde know what else you’d add to their kickass heroine mixture for your chance to win a $10 Samhain gift certificate. Contest closes 6 pm CDT, September 21.
- Katiebabs is celebrating her blogiversary with a contest. For your chance to win some pretty cool bookity prizes, leave a comment by September 22 and let her know which blogs you’ve particularly enjoyed during the past year.
- Katiebabs is giving away a copy of Kazua Ishiguro’s novel, Never Let Me Go. Comment by September 26 for your chance to win. (US only)
- Penguin Girl’s having a contest in which you need to caption photos of her black cat for your chance to win some handmade goodies. Contest closes 11:59 pm EDT, October 31.
- Author LA Witt is holding a NaNoWriMo contest – if you successfully complete NaNoWriMo this November and submit your validated word count by December 10, you’ll have the chance to win a signed paperback or ebooks.
Bookity
- Lily rounds up this week’s m/m romance new releases.
- Book linkity: Dear Author and the ReadReactReview Monday Stepback.
- ReadReactReview looks at Amazon, Border, B&N, LibraryThing, and GoodReads and notes that GoodReads has far, far more ratings and reviews than the other sites.
- Watch out for these commonly misheard expressions in your writing.
- Jessewave wonders whether an m/m author’s gender matters.
- A very cool library reference desk made from old books. (Thanks, mrspao!)
- Besides making a library reference desk, there are all sorts of other things you can do with pbooks that you can’t do with ebooks.
- Check out Carolyn Crane’s shiny new book trailer!
- Carolyn Crane wonders why all men aren’t like Jamie Fraser of Outlander.
Ebookity
- Dear Author on the 2010 Sony Readers.
- What’s the current state of color ebook technology?
- Will tablet computers take the place of netbooks or even laptops? Best Buy’s CEO says that the iPad has cut laptop sales dramatically.
- An American Editor wonders if ebooks are a bargain or not and describes how ebooks lured him in.
- A nifty infographic about ebooks vs print books. (Thanks, Limedragon!)
- Did a federal appeals court just gut the first sale doctrine?
- How your iPad is not like a newspaper… (Thanks, Kris!)
Learn, Make, Think, Do
- What things should you buy new and what are fine to buy used?
- I’m going to have to try this carpet stain removal trick that involves vinegar, water, a towel, and a steam iron.
- If you’re changing your car’s oil every 3000 miles and your car was made during the last eight years, you’re likely getting the oil changed too frequently.
- Have you ever used a bath towel to keep salad greens fresh in your refrigerator?
- These mini-caramel apples look like fun for parties!
Gluten-Free
- Download an ebook with 42 free gluten-free recipes in it – although a giant splash screen tried to get me to sign up for the linked site, I was able to download the book without signing up. (Thanks, Jase!)
- If you need to toast gluten-free bread in a non-gf toaster and you don’t have a toaster bag handy, parchment paper may do the trick.
Linkity Peeps
- Kristi has links to craft, food, photography, and more.
- Katiebabs has NSFW WTFery links.
Cool
- Very cool looking LEGO-esque camera.
- Don’t you wish you had a LEGO Tardis?
- Jordan Castillo-Price found a Misadventure in the wild and took a picture for me! (True, true, I haven’t posted Slave Boy’s Misadventures yet, but I do have two posts drafted…)
Huh
- As someone who gets motion sick very easily, the movie theater bus doesn’t sound like much fun.
- You could find self-serve wine tanks in your local grocery story within the year.
- The adventures of cat urine?! (Thanks, Jeanne!)
- Banana shoes! (Thanks, Jase!)
- No, thank you, I do not want to sit in a saddle during an airplane trip.
- NSFW crocheted drink holders. (Thanks, Amy Lane!)
- Female sea snails in the waters near Western Australia are growing penises on their foreheads due to a chemical used in boat paint 20 years ago.
- Nearly a quarter of US residents think it’s ok to be online during sex?! Gizmodo is trying to clarify that statistic – does watching internet pron count? etc…
LOL
- Hyperbole & a Half reflects on a childhood dental visit.
- Do you ever read the terms of service?
- If you’ve ever had a garage sale, you’ll enjoy trek’s garage sale log (glog).
- Make sure you carefully evaluate advice you get from the internetz…
- Basement Cat has stealth technology.
Teh Cute
- Kittens! A cute pink animal! Baby otters! Hungry kitty! Pesky leopard cub! Sugar gliders! Baby penguin! Kittens! Baby skunks! Meta kitten! Panda! Kitten! Sloth wristwarmer! Tiger cub! Basement Kitten and Ceiling Kitten! Koalas! Cleaning a kitten! Cat village!
Reading Update
In the Flesh by Ethan Stone. ebook. Very good m/m romantic suspense about an out cop who lives according to a list of rules that protect him from getting close to anyone. When he’s accused of a crime he didn’t commit, his rules slowly start to fail him.
Cover Me by L. A. Witt. ebook. Very good m/m romantic suspense about a paramedic who is consumed by guilt over a judgment call that left someone dead and put his own life in danger. Maybe. If he’s not just being paranoid.
Twice in a Lifetime (Sutter’s Bay, Book 2) by Shawn Lane. ebook. Very good m/m romance about Jude from Sweet Reunion, who hasn’t gotten past his lover being murdered five years earlier. He surrounds himself with color in his small flower shop and doesn’t get involved… until he meets the new vet in town.
The Swap by Devon Rhodes. ebook. Very good m/m romance about two machinists who’ve become good friends over the several years they’ve worked together. When one is laid off at the same time the other buys a house that needs fixing up, things start to get a bit complicated.
Tommy’s Blind Date by Anne Brooke. ebook short. Very good short m/m romance about a guy who’s been on a series of spectacularly unsuccessful blind dates when his actor best friend suggests that they go out on a blind date together, so he can evaluate his friend’s blind date technique… Something that was nice about this story is that the guys were very average blokes – no amazing bodies or model looks to be seen.
In the Crease by Stephani Hecht. ebook short. Good short m/m romance about a guy who’s back in town for his sister’s wedding, trying to figure out how to stop her from marrying one of the two brothers who terrorized him in high school.
Resistance by L. M. Turner. ebook. Really good m/m romance about a bouncer who never hooks up with the same guy twice as part of not feeling and not getting close… until he does hook up with the same guy more than once, which scares him and sends him running. This had me sniffling more than once and I would’ve rated it higher, but… it’s (slightly inconsistently) in third person present (my least favorite tense), which kept pulling me out of the story.
Seasons of Change by Carolyn LeVine Topol. ebook. So-so Jewish inspirational m/m romance (my categorization) about a rabbinical student whose boyfriend dies in a subway accident just a few months before their planned wedding. I felt like this was a story with potential, but as written, I never connected with the characters.
Revenge Is a Dish by Stevie Woods. ebook. So-so m/m romantic suspense about two coworkers and friends who are kidnapped for an unknown reason by an unknown person. The writing was choppy, the timeline didn’t feel plausible, and I never connected with the main characters.
He Scores by D. J. Manly. ebook. Meh m/m romance about a young guy who gets together with a pro hockey player in town for the summer. I still haven’t recovered from sorting out all the unclear pronoun references.
“What?” -Mayhem
“We don’t really like each other. It’s just getting cold here.” -Chaos
I just love cats, hihi those are my fav links today
A recent post from blodeuedd..Review- Never a Bride – Amelia Grey
I’ve not read a single one of the books you’ve read this week. Probably because I’ve been catching up with some missed oldies.
I must get the Ethan Stone book, because all the reviews so far have been good.
I really like basement cat’s stealth technology Chris.. lol
Thank you so much for the mention Chris, much appreciated.
Mayhem and Chaos, looks like a great way to keep warm!
TGIF! I am SO, glad it’s the weekend. 😉
Excellent, thanks for the g/f recipe links.
Heh, still haven’t seen that commercial for the electronics. Methinks it’s only a YouTubey commercial; City Hall is far too cheap to put out that long of an add!
A recent post from Brigitte..In Which Malcolm Files A Complaint
So was the cookbook worth the download? I’m a little bit upset about Bloglines. Times change…
What big eyes you have, kids!
A recent post from margene..More About Twist and Knit
That piece on Jamie Fraser was brilliant. And so true.
I love binder clips although I mostly use them for paper or fiddling around with while bored in meetings and during conference calls and seeing how much it hurts when you clip various parts of your skin.
I don’t care for truffles or gold leaf so I’ll just have a regular cheddar with a slice of tomato for $3.50 please.
Banana shoes – cool but weird.
I was playing that video in the sea snail link and the kid goes “WHAT are you watching?” Umm. Nothing.
I’ve never read a terms of service in my life. I’ve probably sold my soul a few times over along with various sexual favours and I’m oblivious.
I wish the Toronto would come and haul that old TV in my garage away. I’m going to have to ask my neighbor who has a truck.
I’m passing If Cats Could Talk onto someone. Ha!
I must get to In the Flesh, so many people have said good things. Really. I will, once I get back on my reading bicycle. Did read Twice in a Lifetime and enjoyed and want to get Tommy’s Blind Date. It sounded fun. I’ll definitely get Stephani’s and Resistence sounds good but the present tense …. That’s a toughie for me. I read the blurb on the Revenge one and though, no, doesn’t really sound like my thing, nearly being beaten to death = not sexy.
A recent post from Tam..Yaoi Update
Yeah, I just don’t get that knitted mile thing…
LOL so many Great links! Are kitties psychopathic: that was hilarious. And thanks for the shouts!
A recent post from Carolyn Crane..My new trailer!
Chris- A Lego Tardis- you’re killing me. We have boatloads of Lego in the crawlspace.
Tho Alex might be angry if I dismantle his Sith Fighter.
A recent post from Lorraine..Peaches and Pussycats
I think I have only read the last book on your list …
Too many books I have to get through…
Thanks for the ebooks links..
Mayhem and Chaos- am I seeing right – the twin trouble are curled up together..
E.H>
Of course I focused on commonly misheard expressions to avoid, and lo and behold there in the comments was my personal albatross, “could care less.” Glad I’m not the only one annoyed by that!
I was alarmed at the library desk till I found out the books were being recycled, so to speak. They looked like old textbooks, so I went with it.
And those airplane seats? Gah. I probably wouldn’t even fit in one!
A recent post from wren..Back To Normal- an excerpt
You’ll know it’s cold enough to turn the heat on when they snuggle up close – or if my Benny snuggles with my dog…that means hell has frozen over.
I picking a daisy in my mind: should I visit Lily….should I not…should I visit Lily 😉
I’ve got In The Flesh on my e-reader and between you and Janna I’m glad I’ve got this one awaiting on my e-reader! And can I give in to the impulse to lick the cover of The Swap?? Awh, Can I? *puppy dog eyes*
A recent post from Leontine..Review- Sometimes the magic isnt happening Eliza March – Any Way West
I use damp flour-sack-type towels to keep my greens fresh. It definitely works.
Best carpet cleaner I’ve used is straight Windex. Spray it on the spot and blot it up with a clean cloth or paper towel.
Good to see that Kikkoman got the girl.
Purple and yellow dried up cat poop at the opera?! Priceless!
A recent post from katiebabs..Guest Post- Monica Burns Talks Men and Book Giveaway
The knitted mile makes my huge pile of icord look tiny!
A recent post from Seanna Lea..no knitting to see here
Whoa, girl, those are some links you’ve got up today! I could spend hours here!
Awwww… cute lovin’ kitties in denial.
A recent post from Miranda..Fantasy Contest Bar with Paul Richmond
Thanks for another fun Friday morning! And for the mention. 🙂
I loved In the Flesh and Resistance. Twice In A Lifetime and The Swap were also very good. Seasons was a bit disappointing and I haven’t read any of the others although there are a couple I do want to get son.
A recent post from Lily..Weekly Update 37 and The Friday 56
Aaaw, such cute kittehs!
Those stats on Google are amazing. And a little scary. But not nearly as scary as the thought of being on the internet during sex. (Um guys? If you need to be online while making out, you’re doing it wrong.)
A recent post from Nicole..Furry Friday
Awww…. Chaos and May really love each other…
A recent post from janna..Again
I have a tardis cookie jar. of coruse we keep twizzlers in it.
The knitted mile is cool.
those airline seats scare me. I may never fly again.
Have you seen the lego video camera, its on think geek.
Don’t worry guys, we know you are just tolerating each other for warmth. uh-huh.
A recent post from Rebekah..Its A Bizarre World
Awww… I love the Lego Tardis and the cut out paper Tardis + all 11 Doctors! Sadly I don’t have a color printer or I’d be ALL over those!
BTW… I agree with you on the movie theater bus- Just thinking about it made me a little nauseated.
May and Chaos look so homely. 🙂
A recent post from Janna ErotRomReader..Happy Gay Friday & Heaven Sent series
“Pee books”? ewww…. never heard them called that.
and I had a very good laugh over those mis-heard statements. You should hear some of the ones my clients come up with… maybe someone will track them on some website. truly. it’s funny.
A recent post from Teyani..Blanket – Finish and Photo
And riding 8 hours in a saddle you can move your legs and adjust your position, which obviously is not possible in those bizarre seats. Lets just stand up and hang on to straps on a pole like on the subway.
A recent post from Mary Lou..End of Summer Contest
There’s something really scary about being chased by poop. 😉
The binder clip, a multipurpose tool. I mostly use them to close bags of chips or cookies.
The knitted mile is cool!
I going to try out the vinegar and iron carpet cleaning suggestion.
A recent post from Sydney..What I was doing when I should have been posting here
hey honey, just popping in. ohhh i love my kitties! they are so adorable! and the links.. thank you….
Wow – thanks for all the great GF recipes! And that ebbok – woohoo!
I’ll have to try those steps for getting stains out. Even with my couch being treated before purchasing it the kids still manage to get stains on it. 🙂 Yes, even after telling them not to eat or drink on the couch!
Oh, good books! *Scribbles wildly*
A recent post from Tracy..Saturday Song
I just laughed until I cried about the kid’s dentist story. Hilarious! Excellent linkity as always! It’s getting cold here too…I can usually tell it’s getting that way when I start waking up at 2 in the morning with cat butt in my face. If only she would sleep on my chest facing me, rather than giving me the brown eye:(
A recent post from Melanie..Recipe- Cat-Quirks- Smelly Office Fish- Insanity- and Panini
Thanks for the shout out for In the Crease!
May and Chaos, I think you two look so cute together.
Ha! I knew I wasn’t just being cheap and lazy by waiting until I was over 5000 miles (…and sometimes more). Those oil change guys were lying to me all along.
I had no idea binder clips were 100 yrs old. I *heart* them – so very handy. It’s really no wonder the design has never changed.
A recent post from Ava March..Basking- Laziness- & a Balding Prince
Ah, we all know the cold only brings out their true nature, LOL!
Loved the excerpt from Zombies of Lake Woebegotten!
A recent post from Kristi aka FiberFool..ECF- Kiss of Autumn
Ohhh, links! Love the recycled desk! And Resistance sounds interesting 🙂
May/Chaos – you so like each other!
A recent post from orannia..Clearing The Decks
zomg! I KNOW that guy!!! (*waves* Hi, May– you know , if you keep your mouth like that, a mouse will run in!)