A New Direction

You may have noticed some changes to the content of this blog over the past year.  When Blogging become more of a job than a joy, I had to step back and look at what I really wanted out of the blog.  Somehow I fell into the product reviewer Blog Cycle.  While it is very exciting getting free stuff to try, more and more I realized that free stuff just ended up as junk cluttering my house because it may or may not be something I would use in my every day life.  While I have adopted many of the items I have reviewed here into my household (TruKid, Novica and SodaStream all come to mind), many have fallen to the wayside (or more specifically into a pile on the floor of my office... but I digress).

The Flesh Cartle #3: Choices ~ Book Review ~ @RiptideBooks

Title: The Flesh Cartel Episode 3: Choices

Author: Rachel Haimowitz and Heidi Belleau

Publisher: Riptide Publishing

Publication Status: Available 7 Jan 2013

Genre: Erotica, Fiction

Sub Genre: GLBT, Taboo, Male/Male

ISBN: 9781937551711

My Rating: 5 of 5 stars

From the Publisher:

The Flesh Cartel returns for a compelling second season with "Choices." Brothers Mat and Dougie Carmichael thought nothing could be worse than being snatched from their home and brutally dehumanized in preparation for sale as sex slaves. But they learn their suffering has only just begun when they’re shipped to their new master’s home.

Professional trainer Nikolai Petrovic is a master of his trade. His ultra-rich clientele pay him to create perfectly tailored playthings, and Mat and Dougie are the latest in a long line of men who have walked into his remote mountain home as terrified victims and left it permanently altered: subdued and obedient, ready and even eager for a life of service.

To achieve this, Nikolai must take a drastically different tack with each brother. Dougie, manipulated with affection and denial. Mat, controlled by pain and fear. The one thread in common for both men is choice. Nikolai prides himself on never forcing, but will Mat and Dougie submit willingly to his vision, or will they first need to learn the price of disobedience?

Reader discretion advised. This title contains the following sensitive themes: Explicit violence & Non-consent

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Brindisi Bedfellows by Jamie Craig ~ Book Review ~

Title: Brindisi Bedfellows

Author: Jamie Craig

Publisher: INscribe Digital

Publication Status: Available

Genre: Romance

Sub Genre: MM, LGBT

ISBN: 9781595783806

My Rating: 4 of 5 stars

From the Publisher:

Getting dumped is never fun.

Getting dumped by your boyfriend on the eve of your first vacation in six years because he decides to reconcile with his ex-wife is agony.

Heartbroken Christian Davis is drowning his sorrows when his ex-lover’s best friend swoops in and throws his world into chaos. Trip Watson is gorgeous and gregarious and everything Chris doesn’t need right now. But none of that seems to matter when Trip finds out what Andrew did to him. Appalled by Andrew’s callous treatment, Trip announces the best way to get over the break-up – and to rub Andrew’s face in it – is to go to Italy as planned and spend the next three weeks having the time of his life. With Trip.

Mutual lust drives them together. Andrew could very well push them apart. Especially if the truth about Trip’s relationship with him ever comes to light.

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Where You Are by JH Trumble ~ Book Review ~

Title: Where You Are

Author: JH Trumble

Publisher: Kensington Publishing Corp.

Publication Status: Available 24 December 2012

Genre: Young Adult, MM Romance

Sub Genre: GLBT, Coming of Age

ISBN: 9780758277169

My Rating: 5 of 5 Stars

From the Publisher:

Robert Westfall's life is falling apart-everywhere but in math class.  That's the one place where problems always have a solution. But in the world beyond high school, his father is terminally ill, his mother is squabbling with his interfering aunts, his boyfriend is unsupportive, and the career path that's been planned for him feels less appealing by the day.

Robert's math teacher, Andrew McNelis, watches his best student floundering, concerned but wary of crossing the line between professional and personal. Gradually, Andrew becomes Robert's friend, then his confidante. As the year progresses, their relationship-in school and out of it-deepens and changes. And as hard as he tries to resist, Andrew knows that he and Robert are edging into territory that holds incalculable risks for both of them.

J.H. Trumble, author of the acclaimed Don't Let Me Go, explores a controversial subject with extraordinary sensitivity and grace, creating a deeply human and honest story of love, longing, and unexpected connection.

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Mac And Cheese Please ~ Cookbook Review and Recipe ~

Title: Mac & Cheese Please

Author: Laura Werlin

Publisher: Andrews McMeel Publishing

Publication Status: Available

Genre: Cookbook

ISBN:

My Rating:

 

 

From the Publisher:

No one knows cheese better than Laura Werlin, and now she's applying her expertise to everyone's favorite macaroni dish. Inside, you'll find 50 recipes organized by fun topics, such as Classic and Almost-Classic Mac & Cheese, Porky Mac & Cheese, Decadent Mac & Cheese, Lighten Up Mac & Cheese, Veggie Mac & Cheese, Party Time Mac & Cheese, and Breakfast for Dinner Mac & Cheese. The 50 recipes are presented in a fun format, like her previous title, Grilled Cheese Please! She even includes an appendix that includes info on all the food trucks and restaurants that specialize in mac & cheese.

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Fearless by Cat Grant ~ Book Review ~ @RiptideBooks

 

Title: Fearless

Author: Cat Grant

Publisher: Riptide Publishing

Publication Status: Available

Genre: MM Romance

Sub Genre: Contemporary

ISBN: 978-1-937551-18-6

My Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

From the Publisher:

After over a year together, Connor Morrison and Wes Martin decide to tie the knot. But an ethics complaint regarding their deeply non-traditional relationship threatens Connor’s job and Wes’s Ph.D. The fact that Connor tried to keep it from Wes—even with the best of intentions—makes the situation even worse and casts a pall over their plans for a Christmas wedding in New York.

It doesn’t help that Connor still treats Wes like glass, though Wes insists he’s recovered from the brutal assault he suffered a year and a half earlier. Wes may be okay, but Connor isn’t. Memories of taking a battered, terrified Wes to the emergency room that night still haunt him, and he can’t let go of the need to protect Wes from any and everything life might throw at him.

But Wes has had enough. Between the specter of the ethics complaint and Connor’s overprotectiveness, he’s already beginning to question their plans. Add in a family ashamed of and angered by his choices, and Wes might just leave Connor standing at the altar.

(Publisher's note: This title is a sequel to Priceless. For maximum enjoyment, we highly recommend reading Priceless first.)

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December Reading Challenge #4

My 4th and final reading challenge for December was the monthly reading challenge set forth by the M/M Romance Group on Goodreads.  Here are the rules this month:

1. Happy Birthday! - Read a book that you have chosen from the shelves of one of our December B-day Celebrants.
2. World Aids Awareness Day (12/1) – Read a book in which one of the MCs has HIV/AIDS. Best Gay Romance with Characters Who are HIV+
3. Letter Writing Day (12/7) – Read an epistolary story or one that includes back and forth communication via letters/email. Or, read a book with a letter on the cover or that features an MC that works for the postal service or in a mailroom.
4. National Ding-a-Ling Day (12/12) – I can’t make this stuff up, folks. I’m not going to put constraints on this one, just pick a book that has…ding-a-lings…
5. National Chocolate Covered Anything Day (12/16) - Read a book that has chocolate on the cover or has the word chocolate in the title. Bonus: Include a picture of something delicious, covered in chocolate.
6. Look for an Evergreen Day (12/19) – Read a book that has a pine tree on the cover or has a pine green cover.
7. Christmas (12/25) – Read a holiday themed story! Yay, Christmas!
8. New Year’s Eve (12/31) – Read a New Year’s book or one that has champagne on the cover or the word resolution in the title. If you’re desperate, you can read a book with fireworks on the cover.
9. Group Hug - Read a book written by one of our group members Group Member Authors.
10. Book of Your Choice - (BOM selection, Pick it for Me book, other challenge book, etc…)

Bonus: OMG! It’s Bingo Month! I kid you not. Read a book from one of this month’s bingo categories. (another fun challenge in M/M Romance)

 

My Picks:

Doc Holiday ~ Book Review ~

Book Review Template:

Title: Doc Holiday

Author: Debra Dixon

Publisher: Random House Publishing Group - Loveswept

Publication Status: Available

Genre: Romance

Sub Genre: Christmas

ISBN: 9780307804570

My Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

 

From the Publisher:

With poignant humor and sizzling romance, Debra Dixon presents a story about the magic of Christmas and promises made under a starry winter sky.

Drew Haywood needs a feminine touch to help give his young son a holiday to remember—and no one does Christmas better than Taylor Bishop. She knows how to transform a house into a home that sparkles. But when Drew lets his guard down, he finds that Taylor has much more to offer. Kissing her is like coming in out of the cold—and Drew doesn’t want to go back out.

Taylor has already raised one family—she grew up with six brothers, after all—and she doesn’t need another. She may have fallen for Drew as a teenager, but he’s asking for a Christmas miracle that would break all her rules. Still, the chemistry she shares with this sexy, single father has nothing to do with the past. Perhaps the gift of a young boy’s smile, not to mention stolen kisses beneath the mistletoe, will point the way to the one thing on Taylor’s wish list.

Includes a special message from the editor, as well as excerpts from these Loveswept titles: About Last Night, Blaze of Winter, and Lana’s Lawman.

Debra Dixon is a writer of both fiction and nonfiction. She has written eight romances for the Loveswept imprint over the years. In 1995 she received the Career Achievement Award from Romantic Times magazine. She has served as vice president for the Romance Writers of America, and has received the national Emma Merritt Service Award for her contributions to writers and the RWA.

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There Were Dinosaurs Everywhere!: A Rhyming Romp Through Dinosaur History ~ Children's Book Review ~

 

Title: There Were Dinosaurs Everywhere!: A Rhyming Romp Through Dinosaur History

Author: Howard Temperley Illustrations by Michael Kline

Publisher: KWS Publishers

Publication Status: Availble

Genre: Children's non-fiction

ISBN: 9781937783167

My Rating:

 

 

From the Publisher:

The phenomenon of the dinosaur is one that continues to fascinate people of all ages. It is not hard to see why: these monstrous creatures dominated the earth in their day somewhat similarly to the way humans dominate the earth today. Certainly, the vast differences between dinosaurs and humans probably account for the enthrallment—we are amazed that such "mythical" creatures actually did exist.

There Were Dinosaurs Everywhere!: A Rhyming Romp Through Dinosaur History is a fun-filled history of the many species of dinosaurs, their eras, interesting facts about them, why the age of dinosaurs came to an end, and a dinosaur timeline—all told in an appealing verse form that children from ages 5 to 12 will find informative, funny and unforgettable.

This book contains much of the factual and historical information that a middle-school textbook on dinosaurs might contain, but the big difference between such textbooks and There Were Dinosaurs Everywhere! is that this is an instructional, educational book that no child (and perhaps many adults) will not want to put down.

Mr. Temperley's verse is captivating and catchy; Mr. Kline's illustrations are amusing and attractive. This is a unique addition to children's books on dinosaurs, and it is sure to stand out from the others—those that simply don't have the same flair for telling a very popular story.

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Frat Boy and Toppy ~ Book Review ~ @Riptidebooks

Title: Frat Boy and Toppy

Author: Anne Tenino

Publisher: Riptide Books

Genre: M/M Romance

Publication Status: Available

ISBN: 9781937551278

Pages: 186

My Rating: 4 of 5 Stars

 

From the publisher: A hilarious and heartwarming story of a college jock's coming-out. Brad is great at meeting other people’s expectations. But his own? Not so much. Take the gay thing. Okay, so yeah. It took a morning meeting with a frat brother’s hairy, naked ass for him to admit it, but he knows the truth about himself now. Let the gay life commence.
Unfortunately, it’s not that easy. He hasn’t quite determined how to come out to anyone, even Sebastian, the geeky-hot TA in his history class. Sebastian is everything Brad is not. Intellectual, suave, hairy. Out. And he doesn’t seem interested in Brad, even when Brad makes a fool of himself trying to catch his notice.
Score one for foolery: Sebastian does more than notice Brad; he takes him to bed. Brad’s been with plenty of girls, but with Sebastian, the sex is something else entirely—hot, mind-blowing, affirming, and a little domineering in a way that drives him wild. But when great sex turns into something more—dare he admit the “L” word?—Brad must face the crushing realization that Sebastian doesn’t feel the same. Unless, of course, he does. After all, even grad students can be idiots about matters of the heart. (Publisher's note: This title contains explicit sexual content.)

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Last Night I had a Laughmare ~ Children's Book Review ~

Title: Last Night I had a Laughmare Bedtime Adventures in Gigglyville

Author: J.E. Laufer

Illustrator: Jeff Yesh

Publisher: Smith Publicity

Publication Date: 20 Nov 2012

Pages: 32

ISBN: 9781881669012

 

 

From the Publisher:

Judy Laufer’s delightful new picture book, Last Night I Had a Laughmare!, takes sleepyheads of all ages to a magical world of bedtime adventure where nothing is EVER quite what it seems! Star-hung swings? Purple hair? Shoelaces made of spaghetti? These are just a few of the surprises in store for visitors to Gigglyville…and the town’s silly residents love to have company. Bring your own chair and join Liverlips, Smellyfeet, Purplepudding and Dishes on an exciting romp through a place where special wishes are granted, snowballs are made of ice cream, and readers will be laughing ‘til morning.

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December Reading Challenge #3

My third reading challenge for the month is a Monthly challenge put together by the Romance Reader Reading Challenges group on Goodreads.

1. 'D' is for December: Read a book that starts with 'D' or by an author whose first or last name begins with 'D'.
2. Happy Birthday!: Read a book from a December birthday celebrant's GR bookshelf whose name/nickname starts with the same letter as yours. If no one has the same letter, choose someone with the closest letter to yours alphabetically. RRRC December Birthday List
3. Geography: Read a book whose author, character or setting is from Wisconsin. Wisconsin is best known for the Green Bay Packers (the only non-profit, community-owned major league professional sports team in the United States), their Cheeseheads (Wisconsin is known as America's Dairyland) and all the beer they drink (Milwaukee was once home to four of the world's largest breweries). I may have stretched the truth there a bit, but for this category you can also read a sports related book or one in which food/alcohol plays a large part in the story.
4. Winter (Southern) Solstice, Dec.21: The solstice brings us the shortest day of the year, so read a short book - one under 200 pages.
5. Winter (Southern) Solstice, Dec.21: The solstice also brings us the longest night, so read a book over 300 pages.
For those of you on the south side of the equator, just reverse those! =)
6. Humbug Day, Dec.21: Read a book with an unhappy, cynical or Scrooge like character.
7. Look on the Bright Side Day, Dec. 21: Read a book that features a happy, optimistic or Pollyanna like character.
8. New Year's Eve, Dec. 31: Out with the old… Read a book that has been neglected on your TBR, one that gets you current in a series, or an old favorite either book, author, or series.
9. New Year's Eve, Dec. 31: And in with the new! Read something new to you - a new release, a new author or a new series.
10. Reader's Choice: Read any book of your choice.

 

My Picks:

Dinosaur Countdown ~ Children's Book Review ~

Title: Dinosaur Countdown

Author: Nicholas Oldland

Publisher: Kids Can Press

Publication Date: 1 Aug 2012

Pages: 28

ISBN: 9781554538348

 

 

From the Publisher:

Count down from ten striding velociraptors to a ferociously funny end in this counting book for dinosaur lovers of all ages!

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O Come All Ye Kinky ~ Book Review ~

Title: O Come All Ye Kinky

Authors: Ava March, Alexa Snow, Elyan Smith, Jane Davitt, Joey W. Hill, Katie Porter, Kim Dare, L.A. Witt

Publisher: Riptide Publishing

Publication Status: Available in eBook and Paperback.

Genre: MM Romance, Anthology

Sub Genre: BDSM, Menage

ISBN: 9781937551513

My Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

From the Publisher:

Christmas is a time of love and joy, and the New Year is a time of renewal. But they are also times of stress and strife, family drama, pressure and heartache—a potent mix of high expectations and conflicted emotions. Add in power exchange relationships, kinky gift swaps, and unconventional love in a sometimes unforgiving world, and you have a formula for a sizzling anthology of stories that tug at your heart.

From Ava March’s forbidden Regency love between men, to Katie Porter’s scorching hot contemporary tale of two women discovering holiday happiness, everyone will find a favorite here. Pervertible toys abound: Lambda Literary Award finalist L.A. Witt’s candy cane, Jane Davitt’s wrapping paper and tape, and Alexa Snow’s Christmas candles all please and delight. Newcomer Elyan Smith and fan favorite Kim Dare both celebrate New Year’s Eve with romantic flair and kinky fireworks, while bestselling author Joey W. Hill’s poignant story of discovery and commitment will lead you home.

Whatever your desires, we invite you to explore new fantasies and old with these eight kinky tales of holiday happy endings.

20% of all proceeds from O Come All Ye Kinky will be donated to the Domestic Violence Project of the National Leather Association–International.

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Hooligan Bear A Special Day ~ Children's Book Review ~

 

Title: Hooligan Bear A Special Day

Author: Ian Toynton

Illustrator: Andrea Dietrich

Publisher: Smith Publicity

Publication Date:

Pages: 32

ISBN: 9781601311313

 

From the Publisher:

When Hooligan Bear discovers that Little Louie has never had a birthday, he quickly comes up with a plan. He gathers the other bears together, and they set off for an exciting adventure at the bakery.



 

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Monkey of the Month ~ Children's Book Review ~

Title: Monkey of the Month

Author: Adam Kramer

Illustrator: David Kramer

Publisher: Schiffer Publishing Ltd.

Publication Date: Aug 31 2012

ISBN: 9780764341564

Pages: 39

 

 

 

Bored with mundane birthday gifts, a young boy unexpectedly receives a most peculiar gift on his birthday: a one year-membership to the “Monkey of the Month Club.” Though pleased it isn’t just a pair of socks, he is very confused by this odd gift, until, month-by-month, monkeys and their primate cousins start appearing at his door. As the year moves on, his house becomes full of chimpanzees, orangutans,   gorillas, and more, who begin turning his house into their own private playground. While a house full of monkeys, all unique in their own way, sounds like a lot of fun, membership in the “Monkey of the Month Club” does have some drawbacks. Find out what happens in this exciting and humorous adventure accompanied by bright illustrations. Grades Pre-K-3.

Adam Kramer is thrilled to enter the field of children's books. When he's not writing, he might be found catching a baseball game with his wife Lena. Stemming from his love of cartooning, David Kramer's whimsical, animated characters reflect his love of storytelling and a creative imagination.

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December Reading Challenge #2 ~ Spell it Out ~

My second reading challenge of the month is the monthly Spell-it-Out Challenge.  For December I am spelling the word CHRISTMAS (of course).  I am actually almost done with this challenge.  As of today I have 7 of the 9 books complete.

Here are my choices:

All About Boats ~ Children's Book Review ~

Title: All About Boats A to Z

Authors: David & Zoe Aiken

Illustrations: David Aiken

Pages: 32

Publication Date: 9 October 2012

ISBN: 9780764341847

Publisher: Schiffer Publishing Ltd.

 

Boating time is family time as everyone often shares both the work and the fun. Even young children are eager to help and, once their curiosity is aroused, they'll look for ways to learn more about boating. All About Boats: A to Z shows the youngest crew members the purpose of the many things they see while boating. Each letter appears on a separate page. The featured word is explained by a verse and an illustration, showing how it fits for boating. "B" is for bell. Though there are many types of bells, a ship's bell is used to send signals, which can be a safety factor in fog or rain. This book is a great conversational tool on the aspects of boating as families develop their onboard teamwork. For children in grades K-2.

Zora and David Aiken have collaborated on nine books, including five for children. They live on a sailboat and meander along coastal and inland waterways gathering material for their work.

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December Reading Challenge 1 ~ Over in a Flash ~

My first reading challenge for the month comes from the Goodreads Happily Ever After Cafe group.  It is a quick challenge with only 2 or 3 books.

Rules: Read 2 books with the following items found on their covers; choose 2 of the 3 options below. Be sure to post your book covers, dates read, and star ratings. If you want, you can do this at the end of the month after you reviewed your covers. Feel free to do all three if you want.

COLOR:Green & Gold - together or separately.

HOLIDAY: (1) Holiday Festive Season, Christmas or Hanukkah a time to celebrate with family and friends and for peace and good will on Earth. Read a holiday themed book or a book just celebrating family, friendship, love and compassion. (2) As Australia is on the other side of the world and Down Under read a book set in Australia or by an Australian author OR A book set in another country OR by an author of another nationality OR in a different time or place to where you live. (3) December is supposed to be the predicted date of the Mayan Apocalypse prophecy!. Read a book with the Mayan Apocalypse theme or any other end of days theme...

ITEMS: December Birthstone: Turquoise or Zircon. December Flowers: Narcissus, daffodil, holly, Ivy. December Horoscope: Sagittarius (Archer) and Capricorn (Goat). Festive Season Items, eg, Christmas Tree, pinecones, snow, angels, stables, farm animals, shepherds, star,candles, Menorah, tinsel, gifts or for Southern hemisphere Christmas, beach, BBQs*, swimming, backyard cricket or games. Family celebrating the birth of a baby. Family and friends celebrating a meal together.

My picks: