Congrats to Tracey D, who won the ebook copy of Keeping Promise Rock by Amy Lane! And thanks again to Amy for donating the book. 🙂
Contests
- If you take this short survey on ebooks and ebook readers, you’ll be entered for a chance to win $250 toward ebooks or an ebook reader.
- Both Renee and Lea are giving away copies of Carolyn Jewel’s new historical romance, Indiscreet. Renee’s contest closes at midnight PST, February 5, and Lea’s contest closes early morning, February 6.
- Seductive Musing’s giving away a copy of Beth Kery’s new erotic romance, Release. Contest closes 11:59 pm EST, February 6.
- Donna (Fantasy Dreamer) is giving away a copy of Jennifer Estep’s Spider Bite. Contest closes midnight CST, February 6.
- Anna’s giving away five copies of Larissa Ione’s newest Demonica novel, Ecstasy Unveiled. Leave a comment by February 9 for your chance to win one.
- CursingMama’s giving away a copy of Liza Palmer’s novel, A Field Guide To Burying Your Parents. Answer CM’s question in the comments by 10 am CST, February 10, for your chance to win.
- Book Junkie’s giving away a signed copy of Vampire Vacation by CJ Ellison – leave a comment by February 15 to enter the contest.
- SciFiGuy’s giving away a copy of Rachel Vincent’s new young adult paranormal, My Soul To Save. Contest closes midnight EST, February 15.
- If you mention Julie James’ forthcoming romance, Something About You, on your blog before 1o pm CST, February 28, you could win a $100 gift card or signed books. I really enjoyed her first two books and am looking forward to this one!
- Abigail of All Things Urban Fantasy has her list of 75+ urban fantasy/paranormal romance contests posted for the week.
Book & Reading News & Views
- The February edition of Jackie’s Escapist Newsletter is out and as full of information and contests as ever. Donna (Fantasy Dreamer) lists this week’s new urban fantasy and paranormal releases, along with assorted contests. And of course,SciFiGuy’s Urban Fantasy Weekend Report has all sorts of good tidbits in it, plus his overview of February releases will help you plan your book budget for the month.
- Janet at Dear Author wondered whether authors have ethical responsibilities beyond their books.
- The Amazon/MacMillan debacle distracted much of online booklandia over the weekend and beyond. As a result of that, Smart Bitches wonders whether you have brand loyalty to a publisher, or to the author?
- TeleRead has a discussion of the pluses and minuses of giving away free ebooks.
- Interesting comparison of six much-hyped ereaders.
- Does the iPad cost too much, compared to other options?
- These clever bookcases make me wish I had some rafters!
- I’m a big fan of the journals that Oberon Designs makes, but I only recently realized that they make gorgeous ebook reader covers. They’re specifically sized for Kindles, Sonys, and the Nook. I’ve sent them an email to see which cover they think might work for my Hanlin V3/Astak EZReader…
- Kris has tossed out a challenge to m/m readers who might be in a reading rut to try an m/m style or sub-genre outside of your comfort zone, then write a review. The challenge ends March 17 and everyone who participates will be eligible to win a $20 All Romance eBooks voucher.
Learn
- Learn how to make your very own three-pendulum rotary harmonograph! (Remember spirographs? We had the Kenner version.)
- Is lack of computer access keeping you off your exercise equipment? Check out the DIY PVC laptop stand.
Things That Amused Me
- Want to cash in on the current craze for mashing up classic novels and paranormal elements? Paperback Writer introduces the Mash-O-Matic. (Am I the only one who thinks that maybe things have gone too far with Little Women and Werewolves?)
- The book on modern camping (1971) that Awful Library Books found gave me way too many flashbacks to childhood camping trips, although we were a lot lower tech.
- Technically humour, but I sure felt sad after reading this depiction of Spirit’s last days.
Cats
- Chaos would definitely do this to Mayhem.
- And I wish Chaos would heed this advice.
- Aw, the Knitting Princess’ kitty reminds me of Mayhem.
Reading Update
Keeping Promise Rock by Amy Lane. ebook. The only reason I didn’t spend half of this m/m romance sobbing my eyes out is because I took frequent breaks when I started to get wound up. 🙂 Parts of it were gut-wrenching. And parts weren’t. As a whole, this was a powerful, excellent read that I highly recommend.
Quinn’s Hart by Cassandra Gold. ebook. Why, yes, this is the ebook I just won at Jessewave’s. 🙂 This was a really nicely done m/m romance about two wildly dissimilar guys who get to know each other on a singles’ trip to Disney World.
Why, Why, Zed? by Leigh Ellwood. ebook short. Ok, having never flown into Toronto, I totally didn’t get the pun of this title until I read the quote from Neal Pert at the beginning. (Toronto’s airport being YYZ.) This was a so-so m/m romance, although I will confess that the ending surprised the heck out of me.
Footprints and 
Just Like in the Movies by Clare London. ebook shorts. For some reason, these short m/m romances (the first about two guys who are part of a counter-terrorism team and the second about two hostage negotiators) never fully engaged me – maybe it was the somewhat reserved first person narrative?
A Stranger’s Touch by Anne Brook. ebook short. I have to confess that this m/m tale about a prostitute and a mysterious stranger who delves into his psyche mostly just confused me.
Healing Doctor Ryan by Carol Lynne. ebook. Ok m/m romance about a cancer patient who asks his doctor out after completing treatment.
Lift Me Up by Rayne Auster. ebook. Cute m/m romance about an IT geek who ends up with a broken ankle when his cute neighbor trips over him in the hallway. I got a little frustrated with the dense language now and then, mostly because my brain was in the mood for fluff. 🙂
Thaw in Winter and 
Darling Brat by Kate Steele. ebook and ebook short. Thaw in Winter was agood m/m romance about Mark, an architect who saves Joe’s life when he’s injured while camping. Joe and Mark are attracted to each other… but Joe can’t remember why exactly he’s wearing that mysterious wedding band on his ring finger. I liked this one a lot, until the point at which the first book stopped abruptly, leaving unresolved a plot point that had been played up quite a bit. I then discovered that there was a short second book, which resolves that plot point. Grrr. I would’ve been happier for it to all be in one book… and maybe it was at one point.
Out of My Mind by M. L. Rhodes. ebook (reread). Well-done m/m romance in which a recently divorced police officer struggles with his growing attraction to his (work) partner/best friend.
Promises by Marie Sexton. ebook. Very good m/m romance about two guys, one gay and one not, in a small Colorado town who become close friends – this was all about letting your fears constrain your life and how good it can feel when you finally stop doing so. Recommended.
JackMagic by Jillian Snyder. ebook short. Nicely done short m/m romance about a guy who gets dragged to a sexy magic show (part of his sister’s bachelorette party) and bumps into the magician outside between acts.
Private Property by Chloe West & Audra Beagle. ebook. So-so m/m romance about an author with writer’s block who takes a hate to a guy who shows up on his doorstep, claiming the house is his. I found the three main characters annoying and wanted to slap them all. That never makes for a happy reading experience… for me, at least!
“That was really mean of Mayhem. This box doesn’t make my butt look big! This box rocks!” -Chaos