Congrats to Jody, who won the Not Quite Wicked ebooks! Rumor has it there may be another contest starting tomorrow… 😉
Contests
- Dear Author’s giving away ten copies (five paper, five digital) of Jennifer Estep’s paranormal romance, Spider Bite. Not sure when this closes, but you can also download a free story from Estep (Spider’s Bargain) while you wait to see if you’ve won the contest. Marta of Vampire Wire’s giving away two copies of Spider Bite and you have until January 27 to enter that one.
- Blodeuedd’s having a contest for a copy of Caridad Pineiro’s book Sins of the Flesh, plus a t-shirt (open worldwide). The contest ends January 22.
- Lea’s giving away Demonica books and demon ducks! Check out the details and enter before January 23 for your chance to win.
- Anna’s giving away two copies of MJ Smith’s new World War II romance, Forever Yours. Winner will be announced January 23.
- SciFiGuy’s giving away signed copies of Helen Scott Taylor’s paranormal romances, The Magic Knot and The Phoenix Charm. Contest closes midnight EST, January 25.
- Donna Fantasy Dreamer’s giving away a copy of Alison Brennan’s paranormal romance, Original Sin. Contest closes 8 pm CST, January 25. She’s also giving away a copy of Erica Hayes’ paranormal romances, Shadowglass and Shadowfae. Contest closes 8 pm CST, January 27.
- Abigail at All Things Urban Fantasy does a weekly Win on Wednesday post. When last I peeked, yesterday’s post had links to 75 contests!
Book and Reading News
- SciFiGuy’s weekend urban fantasy/paranormal romance report is, as usual, chock full of information. Literary Escapism has several good summaries of interviews and book news.
- Where does reading rank in the activities of readers? Dear Author reports.
- Ebook piracy’s been a hot topic this week. Nicole Peeler wrote a very thoughtful blog post, sharing an author’s perspective. TeleRead commented on (and linked to) a Publisher’s Weekly article about how much ebook piracy costs the publishing industry. TeddyPig highlighted a tongue-in-cheek report (written in response to the PW report) about how much library “piracy” cost the publishing industry.
- Gizmodo’s posted their ultimate guide to the ebook readers that they care about.
- The Writer’s Evolution blog had some interesting posts about book covers: learning (as an author) how to get the cover you were hoping for, but pick your battles.
- I really enjoyed Renee’s post about classic urban fantasy – make sure you check out the comments for more books and authors.
Neato Cool
- Should I confess that I only read a few sentences of this post? I spent most of the time admiring the infographic of Crayola’s Law.
- Booklover1335 explains how to make a lovely photo ribbon bookmark (great gift potential, minimal craftiness required).
- Lifehacker points you to directions for making spiral-ring notebooks from old VHS tapes covers.
- Stuck for blog ideas? Check out Lynn Viehl’s ideas for breaking out of your blog block.
Stuff That Didn’t Fit Anywhere Else
- Make sure you avoid scams when donating to help Haiti, ok?
- Yikes – if you’re into staying fully connected, it costs you. A lot. (And the chart doesn’t even include ebook purchases…)
- How to knit garter stitch in the round, without seams or jogs or purling.
- Marsha dares cat owners to knit a cat hoody and take pictures. No. Way. In. Hell. I’m not sure I’d survive the blood loss!
Well, I Was Amused
- Rush over to Awful Library Books and check out the pictures from a 1973 book about careers with the police department.
- *hoping that Chaos doesn’t order a grow your own chicken kit*
- Grad students and authors should breathe deeply before clicking on this link.
- Famous knots of the world, illustrated in earbuds – because who hasn’t inadvertently tied some of these?!
Reading Update
Fatal Shadows, A Dangerous Thing, 
The Hell You Say, 
Death of a Pirate King, and 
The Dark Tide (The Adrien English Mysteries, Books 1-5) by Josh Lanyon. ebooks. I read books one through four last August and was amazed at how much emotional impact this m/m mystery series had on me. As I reread the first four books last week, preparing to read the fifth (and final) book, I was amazed again, because the books affected me just as much this time. When I wasn’t reading, I’d find myself thinking about Adrien, about Jake, about their complicated history. I was both looking forward to reading The Dark Tide and afraid to read it, knowing that it would most likely take me through the emotional wringer yet again. It did. I cried a few times. But at the end of the fifth book? I smiled.
Love Dot Come by Julia Talbot. ebook short. Absolutely adorable short about two geeky, klutzy guys who meet via an online personals site.
Aquamarine by Sara Bell. ebook. After a college football player is seriously injured during a game and learns that his publicity loving boyfriend won’t stick around, his life changes in unexpected ways in this sweet m/m romance.
The Manny by Sara Bell. ebook. Another sweet m/m romance from Sara Bell. This one’s about a male nanny/custom motorcycle designer and his evil landlord.
Crimson Regret, A Taste of Darkness, A Glimpse Inside, and Windows and Walls (Inches of Trust, Books 1-4) by A.R. Moler. ebook shorts. These m/m shorts are about an architect and a cop who meet as a devil and Zorro at a Halloween costume party. I enjoyed these, but found them frustrating at the same time – they read as sort of serial novel. I’d rather read the novel or collection.
Knowing Caleb (Hawkins Ranch, Book 4) by Cameron Dane. ebook. Pretty good m/m that I guess I’d categorize as a very steamy paranormal Western romance. (Hot demon cowboys!) I haven’t read the others in this series, but I’m sure I’ll read at least a few others.
You Were Always On My Mind by Deirdre O’Dare. ebook. Um. Yeah. I think I damaged my eyeballs from rolling them so much while reading this m/m romance. *shakes head at self for finishing this book*
A Promise Kept by Stormy Glenn. ebook. What is it about Stormy Glenn’s m/m romances? This one was about miscommunication and misunderstanding (with a stalker thrown in for good measure) – I was alternately sniffling, then rolling my eyes at the hokey bits. (My eyeball muscles are strong! Strong! after reading this story.) But I kept reading (er, skimming)… even though this book should have been about 1/3 the length it was, based on the amount of actual story.
Beautiful Viking by Steve Sampson. ebook. Well, the cover’s nice… Unfortunately, the writing in this m/m romance was clumsy and choppy and the characters unrealistic and gushing.
In the Rough (By Degrees, Book 2) by J. B. McDonald. ebook. Pretty good m/m romance about two guys, longtime friends who are both survivors of childhood abuse and who slowly realize that even 20 years later, they’ve been allowing their pasts to control them.
Bastards and Pretty Boys by K. Z. Snow. ebook. Well done m/m romantic suspense about a guy who buys a cabin on a quiet Wisconsin lake, hoping to work through his hydrophobia. Alas, I’ve never stayed at a cabin that had such a scenic next door neighbor!
The Night Sky Man by Mallory Path. ebook. Nicely done dreamlike m/m romance about a model and a modeling agent.
As Serious as the Grave by Kiernan Kelly. ebook short. Well. Yes, I read an m/m zombie romance and liked it. (Anyone who knows how I feel about zombie stories probably just spit the beverage of their choice on their screens.) Both Jenre and Tam have said far more eloquent things about this short than I will ever manage, but don’t let the zombie aspect squick you out. As Tam kept reiterating, “He’s not a zombie, he’s reanimated.”
“If you really loved me, Mom, you’d buy me a super-fancy kitty house instead of making me live in this plastic tub.” -Mayhem