… you know how I was rabbiting on about the weird things that strike you when you’re reading??
Since I’m taking a break from any kind of decision making — as well as spending my entire Monday morning reading Matthew Haldeman-Time free shorts *Thank you sooo much for giving me that link and stopping me from doing any work, Sara. You hate me, don’t you.* — I have chosen to pass the buck to let you guys decide who gets the $5 Loose Id voucher for the best line for the limerick.
Will it be Tam:
There was a Young Man whose titty,
Graced many a cover – so pretty.
Nommy, golden and pert.
A nipple ring wouldn’t hurt!
To not lick it would be such a pity.
Or Emmy:
There was a Young Man whose titty,
Graced many a cover – so pretty.
Nommy, golden and pert.
A nipple ring wouldn’t hurt!
Too bad he belongs to teh kitty!
The choice is yours!
Consider it practice for the upcoming game of ‘guess who Kris suckered into writing a short for her peeps’? *Mwahahaha!*
Oh, c’mon. Will this help??
… say that you had a, umm, friend, who astonishingly passed a rigorous application process *WTF were they thinking?!* and was allowed on to a desert island where books and heroes reigned supreme.
I said I would tell you more about the other “type” that catches my eye in m/m and here I am. Following my exposé on some favourite food books I decided to move on to my other love, guys with tattoos/piercings and/or eyeliner. Nothing like a Goth boy with a few tattoos or piercings. (Few, let’s not get mutant here.)
Why? Ummm, maybe it’s the bad boy thing. I do have a couple of tattoos so there is there is the personal connection and while I enjoy looking at some piercings I am way too freaked to get anything beyond my ears. Call me a chicken, I’m okay with that.
So in no particular order, some of the books in my library which include this archetype are:
Catching a Buzz by Ally Blue – This is one of my all-time favourite short reads. Straight laced college student Adam and Goth boy Buzz meet at the waterpark where they are working for the summer. No tattoos but lots of guyliner.
Hot Ticket by K.A. Mitchell – Okay, another fave, reread many times. Straight laced young travel agent Elliott meets older waiter Cade who has 15 facial piercings and an amazing back tattoo.
Under My Skin 1 and 2 by M.L. Rhodes – Travel book store owner Sebastian and Dylan the owner of a tattoo parlor next door in the strip mall. I really liked these books a lot, well, this author in general.
Favor by Alex Draven – This is a Torquere Halloween Sip set in a university dorm in the UK. Athlete Rhys asks Goth boy Mickey if he can hang out with his friends on Halloween rather than go to the local club. How many Goth points do you get for being blown by a vampire in a graveyard on Halloween?
Win or Lose by TC Blue – Winston (Win) a tattoo artist literally drags rock musician Luz out of the freezing cold when his bus breaks down and they are stranded by the storm.
Affair in Paradise by Matthew Haldemann-Time – Vacationing with his friend Adam meets Brett. When they finally hook up on the almost the last night Adam finds some VERY interesting penile piercings and a perfect submissive. (When I say piercings freak me out, penile ones more than any other. Ouch.)
In the Strangest Places by Willa Okati – Brit tattoo artist Rack meets Daniel, the carpenter hired to fix up his new shop. When I am talking penile piercings these guys take it to the extreme and to be honest I’m not sure you could even have anal sex with that much metal without doing serious damage. Well you probably can, I just don’t want to experience it myself. (Double ouch.) There is also a series of three shorts that follow Rack and Daniel as they go on a tattoo tour.
‘Nevermore’ by Addision Albright – Raven is a Goth boy who regularly hooks up with Caeser but won’t tell him his real name. Guess who he runs into on the beach when he’s there with his kids. Oops. This is part of the A Day at the Beach anthology.
Facets by Rob McKnight – This is a trio of shorts about recent college grad Paul who meets tattoo artist Six and Six’s live-in musician love Jules. Threesome fun ensues.
Passion and Satisfaction by M.L. Rhodes – Businessman Robert and tattooed bartender Jesse finally hook-up. Satisfaction is the continuation of their story. While tattoos aren’t the main focus of the story, Robert is very attracted to all of Jesse’s ink.
So tell me, have I missed any stories in this genre that I should be checking out? Sometimes the fact that someone is a tattoo artist is not the main point of the story like in Under My Skin but other times as in In the Strangest Places the act of tattooing and piercing plays a big part in the relationship. I’m not fussy, I can go either way. J
For some reason I’ve been sleeping like poo lately and, as a result, my brain has turned to complete mush. *I fear the oozing out of the ears will begin soon.*
C’mon. Admit it. No matter what we might say, we readers do love a good flash of the man titty on our book covers.
So, in honour of that fact, I’ve decided to hold me a little competition where the best line completing the below will win a $5 voucher to Loose Id *It is NOT skin flinty! You can buy a Josh Lanyon for that!*:
There was a Young Man whose titty,
Graced many a cover – so pretty.
Nommy, golden and pert.
A nipple ring wouldn’t hurt!
(Your line) __________________________________________!
Some inspiration:
You have until 4pm Saturday 11 July my time to leave a comment with your line.
BTW, trash talk will see you instantly disqualified. *You know who I’m talking to!!* This is a serious competition after all.
… the rest of the blogging world was relatively safe from me, for some reason Wave comes along and thinks I’d make an interesting interviewee.
… do you think
Okay, I contacted some of you by e-mail but I thought I’d get Kris to post stuff here so we can make sure no one is left out. I have the following books in my possession (along with The Back Passage) which I am happy to pass on. All you have to do is leave a post here (or e-mail me tammy.amesATrogers.com) and let me know which ones you would like to read. I will then package the book with mailing labels as before and send them off on their journeys, you might get a packet or single books, depending on how it all works out. I’ve put in brackets the names of people I’ve heard from so far. If I’ve got it wrong correct me here.
I’ve put the blurbs about the books if you are wondering what they are about. If you are really curious, Kris or I can tell you more about specific ones.
Sensitive Pornograph (Jenre, Ingrid, Ozakie)
Seiji-kun is a novice manga artist. A long time fan of the works of Sono-san, a famous manga-ka, he’s surprised to learn that Sono-san is a guy! A chance meeting leads to a night in bed and Seiji-kun becomes completely addicted to the body of the incredibly beautiful Sono-san. Is this love or is Seiji-kun taking his admiration for Sono’s work just a little too far?
(Two other shorts are included)
Love Quest (Jenre, Ingrid, Ozakie)
An unexpected collision warps high schooler Kazunori and his rival Moiya to a magical realm full of wizards, princesses and monsters! But much to Akabane’s chagrin, the key to the classmates’ survival in this world is … the exchange of their bodily fluids! Can Akabane ever get used to the idea of swapping spit with a guy?!
I Want to Be Naughty (Jenre, Ingrid, Ozakie)
The Student Council has their eye on Towa Aikawa, the school delinquent. He hides out on the rooftop, it shis special illegal place. He finds Mikado Shirahane on the roof oe day. He’s the hottest, smartest guy in school, and now he’s in Towa’s Xanadu … why would Towa find himself falling for him?
A couple of other shorts are included.
Barefoot Waltz (Jenre, Ingrid, Ozakie)
This is a series of tender stories that teach the lonely and lost the simple moves necessary for the tricky dance of romance! Whether a relationship builds from a frustrating friendship, the return of a long-lost ex or even a surprise meeting in an empty classroom there’s no way to guarantee a perfect coupling unless the rhythm is just right. Will these men make the sweetest music of their lives together? Practice definitely makes perfect when it comes to the quickstep of love.
Gentle Cage (novel – not manga) (Jenre, Ingrid, Ozakie)
Gentle Cage is an involving love story that spans the lives of two aspiring artists, separated by tragedy and gross misunderstandings, reunited to either rediscover their love for one another or forever seal the tragedy that has kept them both apart.
The Back Passage (not yaoi, not manga) (Jenre, Lily)
A seaside village, an English country house, a family of wealthy eccentrics and their equally peculiar servants and a determined detective – all the ingredients are here for a cosy Agatha Christie-style whodunnit. But, Edward “Mitch” Mitchell is no Hercule Poirot, and The Back Passage is no Murder on the Orient Express. Mitch is a handsome, insatiable 22-year-old hunk who never lets a clue stand in the way of a steamy encounter, whether it’s with the local constabulary, the house secretary, or his school chum and fellow athlete Boy Morgan, who becomes his Watson when they’re not busy boffing each other.
Please let me know by Friday, July 10th so I can get them off that weekend before I leave on vacation on the 16th. Looking forward to passing on the love. 😉
Kris’ PS – Can you also let me know who has what so I can update the list on the sidebar? Ta binks, lovies.
I hit the YA jackpot this week with 3 wonderful books which I’ve decided to share with you all (including blurbs this time round so I can REALLY tempt you ;):
Once Dead, Twice Shy by Kim Harrison
The Blurb:
Madison’s prom was killer—literally. For some reason she’s been targeted by a dark reaper—yeah, that kind of reaper—intent on getting rid of her, body and soul. But before the reaper could finish the job, Madison was able to snag his strange, glowing amulet and get away.
Now she’s stuck on Earth—dead but not gone. Somehow the amulet gives her the illusion of a body, allowing her to toe the line between life and death. She still doesn’t know why the dark reaper is after her, but she’s not about to just sit around and let fate take its course.
With a little ingenuity, some light-bending, and the help of a light reaper (one of the good guys! Maybe . . . ), her cute crush, and oh yeah, her guardian angel, Madison’s ready to take control of her own destiny once and for all, before it takes control of her.
Well, if she believed in that stuff.
Why I bought it: I like this author’s The Hollow series and I thought I’d try her foray into YA. (Hey, that rhymes.)
Mini-chomp:
Dislike~ I think my only gripe with this story is the use of the traditional teenage fiction tropes such as alternative, semi-bad girl crushes on popular but nice guy, etc, etc. Let’s face it, though, high school is definitely a caste system and, quite frankly, who doesn’t love it when the geeky girl gets the guy. I certainly don’t. *GRIN*
Like~ This is a great, hip twist on the reaper myth. One of the things this author does extremely well is blur the lines between good and evil to create a wonderful murkiness where allegiances are drawn – and not always in the way you expect. Great stuff.
So, what I think: A must for fans of this author and recommended for those who enjoy YA paranormals, yet are sick to death of sappy vampires.
Strange Angels by Lili St. Crow
Why I bought it: Another author whose adult fiction I enjoy and is now trying her hand at YA.
The Blurb:
Dru Anderson has been “strange” for as long as she can remember. She travels from town to town with her father, hunting the things that go bump in the night and eat the unwary. It’s a weird life, but a good one–until it all explodes and a zombie busts into her new house.
Alone, terrified, and trapped in an icy town, Dru’s going to need every inch of her wit and training to stay alive. Can she trust the boy who is just a little too adult–and just happens to get bit by a werwulf? Or the strange blue-eyed boy who tells her she’s heir to a long-forgotten power? Can she even trust her own instincts?
Because Dru is not the first in her family to be killed by the darkness of the Real World. The monsters have decided to hunt back–and now Dru has to figure out who to trust, who to fight, and when to run. And not incidentally, she has to figure out how she’s going to get out of this alive.
And she has to do it by sundown, or it’s all over…
Mini-chomp:
Dislike~ This is scary. A girl. Her father dead. Alone and terrified. Things are hunting her and these are NOT the kind of vampires that sparkle in the sunlight. Really my imagination so doesn’t need this kind of help.
Like~ This is scary. Contrary I know, but Good Lord this author raises the bar on the standard ‘aren’t you a cute vampire’ crap we’ve been getting lately. This is delicious dark urban fantasy/paranormal at it’s best. I devoured this action-packed book.
So, what I think: Tam, you’ve been wanting to give your daughter something different to the normal vampire stories… get her this. It is bloody good. I reckon fans of the author will love this as well.
Life as we knew it by Susan Pfeffer
The Blurb:
No shops. No TV. No Electricity. No Daylight. No idea if your family is alive or dead. Could you survive? When a freak asteroid knocks the moon from its orbit, horrific tides engulf parts of the globe, and life on earth changes overnight. For 15-year-old Miranda, a desperate battle for her family’s survival begins.
Why I bought it: Thea @ The Book Smugglers reviewed this (here) and I had to have it. Had. To.
Mini-chomp:
Dislike~ Warning: It’s the “I” thing. Life as we knew it is told through the journal entries of 16 year old Miranda. As you know I have, umm, issues with first POV; however, Miranda’s voice and her story are extraordinarily compelling. Any hesitation I had at the beginning of the book was swept away by the sheer experience of it.
Like~ If you are thinking that because it is YA it will be ‘lite’, think again. This has to be one of the most realistic post/apocalyptic works I have ever read. It is confronting. It is haunting. It is heart wrenching. It is absofrigginlutely fabulous.
So, what I think: Get this book. This is an absolute MUST read for those who like this genre and for those who just enjoy damned fine stories.
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‘Tasting’ is my version of a mini-review where I talk a (very) little about what I liked and disliked about a book as well as who I think the story will appeal to. Oh, and I’ve added a bit about why I picked up the book in the first place – sometimes this can be interesting to know.
 | Kayla on tasting ‘a note in the… |
 | Marcus Roche on maybe it’s me, but… |
 | ouaqquwcgk on my confession |
 | dkmhwgijnw on random awesomeness |
 | Kris on maybe it’s me, but… |
Kris + Books = Good. *Sometimes*. 