Hello all,
Gosh, has it been THAT long since I posted? This month just flew by! I'm am sort of glad though as I am super tired of winter. Bring on Spring!!
I have been writing blogs about different authors I have read. More specifically, the ones associated with the All Male Romance website. However, I have not read too many things lately. So I thought I would talk about that.
My "To Be Read" (TBR) pile is very long and contains more books that I have time to read. Does that happen to any of you? LOL. I am sure it has. When on Dreamspinner Press or Samhain Publishing or Extasy Books or Ravenous Romance etc.. It is easy to think, "Wow, I want to read that!" and add it to you cart. The cart then becomes several, if not more, books deep and you checkout with every intention of reading all of then ASAP! Then life happens. Dinner, laundry, job, showering, sleeping, eating, kids, spouses, and the list continues; everything to jump in the way of reading that favorite author or much desired book. At least this is what happens to me.
I have books from Ryan Field, Serena Yates, Chris Owen, Christina Loren, SJ Frost, DC Juris, Rachel Haimowitz, Chloe Stowe, Hal Bodner, Rick Reed, Andrea Speed, Ariel Trachna, Mark Alders, Mary Calmes, and Felicia Watson which are just sitting in my "books" folder waiting to be read. AND THESE ARE JUST THE ONES I'VE PURCHASED ALREADY! I have so many more that I see and think, "mmm I just don't have time right now..." Life goes so fast sometimes.
Here winter has been a pain. Lots of snow. I don't know about you but snow messes up my daily routine. I like routine. I need routine and a set time in my day when I can rad, write, or chill without having to go and do for someone else. I need "me time" and I rarely get it.
The only book I squeezed in lately is The Nourisher by Mark Alders. I already did a blog about Mark so I didn't want to play favorites :s I do love Mark though. He has such an imagination! Never in the world would I have thought reading spider sex could be hot! But when Mark writes it, anything can be hot. And not only that, but it can seem normal and endearing. Vernon is an awesome spider! So, my little plug for Mark is: GO READ THE NOURISHER! (sold though Extasy books)
Today like most days is a run run run day. Always. No time to read. So, think of me, Tristan, and go read one for me. Message me on Goodreads and let me know what you read! I have lots to recommend. I MAY even start writing short reviews about what I thought about the ones I already read and rated on goodreads.com
For now--CIAO!
Tristan ;)
xoxo
Sunday, February 27, 2011
Saturday, February 5, 2011
Braden Williams
I've been thinking about a book I recently read by Braden Williams. Originally I gave it a 3 star rating on goodreads. I had to re-rate it, and I'll tell you why.
I'll start with my weird-brain rating system. You'll probably notice I don't "review" the books I read and rate. Mostly this is because I feel I have very little intelligent sounding words to write a proper review. (I lack confidence I guess.) I think, "Should I have a formal 'scale' to assess books or should I go with my gut on placing a STAR on something I've read?" I find it hard to evaluate some and WAY easy for others. Most of the time I wish they had 1/2 star ratings as I think it would make the decision easier.
Like for instance... Light of the Body or Crossing Borders or With Caution... These I knew instantly they were 5 Stars! Why? They suck you in and keep you there; hanging on every word! When I can't get enough, or can't read fast enough that is a definite 5 Star! 4 is still an interesting read, I really liked it, but it just didn't sweep me away in a torrent like the "5 STAR" ones do. I tent to rate many books a 4 star mainly because I feel a 3 is saying something to the author that I didn't really like it. What SHOULD a 3 Star be? I liked it, but may not read it again? It was okay, but I hoped for better? I am not sure. 2 Star is probably a "I didn't like it much" rating; I don't think I have any of those. And a 1 Star? Well, if I just can't finish a book because it's that bad should I even rate it?
I know... I wrote a blurb on the AMR website about "rating books!" so I should give the 1 star if I have to.
So, Braden... Gone Stumping was a very fine read. I liked it. It was cute, it was interesting, and I like that a man wrote gay men. (So often straight women write about gay men, but that is another topic for another time.) I like that it is a man's prospective on men. I also liked the political elements, I was not expecting them. Nice. It was suspenseful enough with wondering how and why the vandalizing happened. (although this is NOT a suspense novella.) I liked the realistic pull of each man toward the other and how they get together finally. It was a very cute story :)
Why did I change my rating? 3 to a 4... Well, I liked it. But that was it. It was nice enough to keep me going and short enough I was not bored. Would I read it again? Maybe. So -- 3 Star. But then I kept THINKING about it! The story stuck with me. I think I even had a partial dream about something IN the story. When my brain kept revisiting the tale of Rafe and Aiden I had to reassess my feelings over it. 3 wasn't fair. I OBVIOUSLY liked it more than that. This is why I'd like the 1/2 rating because if I gave it 3.5 I probably would have been good with that. 4 stars I gave to Str8t Boys and Oleander House and Promises and Lies; does Gone Stumping's quality measure up to those? I'm not sure it does.
This is why I never review a book. Every review would sound the same. I liked it alot! I liked it. It was good. Not so good. etc... PLUS, I hate to sound like I am diss'ing the author!
I liked Braden's style. It was straight-forward and breezy. It carried me along very nicely. I would read something else by him any day!
This was Braden's first publication. Does he have another novel in him? Is he working on it NOW? I haven't heard from him in a long while. I hope he is deep in creating something wonderful. I encourage all of you readers out there, if you are looking for a sweet romantic tale between two realistically written men, go purchase Gone Stumping from Dreamspinner Press. It just might make you smile.
Ciao for now,
Tristan
I'll start with my weird-brain rating system. You'll probably notice I don't "review" the books I read and rate. Mostly this is because I feel I have very little intelligent sounding words to write a proper review. (I lack confidence I guess.) I think, "Should I have a formal 'scale' to assess books or should I go with my gut on placing a STAR on something I've read?" I find it hard to evaluate some and WAY easy for others. Most of the time I wish they had 1/2 star ratings as I think it would make the decision easier.
Like for instance... Light of the Body or Crossing Borders or With Caution... These I knew instantly they were 5 Stars! Why? They suck you in and keep you there; hanging on every word! When I can't get enough, or can't read fast enough that is a definite 5 Star! 4 is still an interesting read, I really liked it, but it just didn't sweep me away in a torrent like the "5 STAR" ones do. I tent to rate many books a 4 star mainly because I feel a 3 is saying something to the author that I didn't really like it. What SHOULD a 3 Star be? I liked it, but may not read it again? It was okay, but I hoped for better? I am not sure. 2 Star is probably a "I didn't like it much" rating; I don't think I have any of those. And a 1 Star? Well, if I just can't finish a book because it's that bad should I even rate it?
I know... I wrote a blurb on the AMR website about "rating books!" so I should give the 1 star if I have to.
So, Braden... Gone Stumping was a very fine read. I liked it. It was cute, it was interesting, and I like that a man wrote gay men. (So often straight women write about gay men, but that is another topic for another time.) I like that it is a man's prospective on men. I also liked the political elements, I was not expecting them. Nice. It was suspenseful enough with wondering how and why the vandalizing happened. (although this is NOT a suspense novella.) I liked the realistic pull of each man toward the other and how they get together finally. It was a very cute story :)
Why did I change my rating? 3 to a 4... Well, I liked it. But that was it. It was nice enough to keep me going and short enough I was not bored. Would I read it again? Maybe. So -- 3 Star. But then I kept THINKING about it! The story stuck with me. I think I even had a partial dream about something IN the story. When my brain kept revisiting the tale of Rafe and Aiden I had to reassess my feelings over it. 3 wasn't fair. I OBVIOUSLY liked it more than that. This is why I'd like the 1/2 rating because if I gave it 3.5 I probably would have been good with that. 4 stars I gave to Str8t Boys and Oleander House and Promises and Lies; does Gone Stumping's quality measure up to those? I'm not sure it does.
This is why I never review a book. Every review would sound the same. I liked it alot! I liked it. It was good. Not so good. etc... PLUS, I hate to sound like I am diss'ing the author!
I liked Braden's style. It was straight-forward and breezy. It carried me along very nicely. I would read something else by him any day!
This was Braden's first publication. Does he have another novel in him? Is he working on it NOW? I haven't heard from him in a long while. I hope he is deep in creating something wonderful. I encourage all of you readers out there, if you are looking for a sweet romantic tale between two realistically written men, go purchase Gone Stumping from Dreamspinner Press. It just might make you smile.
Ciao for now,
Tristan
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
J L Langley
Today I revisited an old favorite: Without Reservations by J L Langley.
It has been a number of years since I bought this book, and I have read it several times, but my enjoyment of the characters does not diminish. J L is a master at what she does. This was the first werewolf book I'd purchased and I did so in paperback because the description on Amazon was intriguing. (I mostly by eBook. Less cumbersome.) WELL WORTH THE $16.00 OR SO. I was sucked in from page one.
The characters of Chay and Keaton are very memorable. I love Keaton's pig-headed nature and the way Chay is just not going to take no for an answer (time and time again). There is also the way JL builds the anticipation of when these two will finally come together and work through their differences. You're dying for that second kiss and about on the edge just like they are until they "hook up". They want and need each other so bad it makes the readers mouth water.
And Without Reservations is just the beginning of it!!
WR introduces a guy named Remi. Remi is for all intensive purposes an ass. He's loud, obnoxious, judgmental, and doesn't treat Keaton very well at all. Leave it to JL to write the next novel about him: With Caution. THIS IS ANOTHER OF MY ALL TIME FAVORITES!
With Caution is awesome. Remi MAY have been a jerk initially but you fall hard for him in this novel. You can't help it. He's been through a LOT of shit in his life. And at the end of the other novel (WR) you see that things are going to get harder for the poor guy. Namely, his mate is a man and Remi was less than accepting of Chay's new lifestyle choice. (Although the mate situation is not exactly a choice any wolf makes.) I love love love the way Remi and Jake interact. Jake KNOWS they are meant for eachother but trys hard to break it to Remi gently. But Remi is a hot headed guy.
Remi ALSO has an amazing younger brother that plays just as much a role in With Caution as Remi. The two of them are very strong parts of the other. With Caution is a MUST READ!!!!
the younger brother though has to be my favorite character. Sterling has more personality then most characters I have ever read. I just love him! Funny, gutsy, energetic, this guy has everything. So it is no wonder that JL has a book thought out for him as well. Without Fear will be written eventually and for us die hard fans we will wait on the edge of our seats waiting.
JL will release her next book in this With or Without series in March. With Abandon is Matt's story. He was cute enough in WC and I will not mind at all taking a "Sterling detour" and reading about Matt first. I just love JL's werewolves!!!
So. That is all for now. I'll write again when the next muse hits me.
In the mean time, post this blog around, we have I think 4 followers :p
Tristan
It has been a number of years since I bought this book, and I have read it several times, but my enjoyment of the characters does not diminish. J L is a master at what she does. This was the first werewolf book I'd purchased and I did so in paperback because the description on Amazon was intriguing. (I mostly by eBook. Less cumbersome.) WELL WORTH THE $16.00 OR SO. I was sucked in from page one.
The characters of Chay and Keaton are very memorable. I love Keaton's pig-headed nature and the way Chay is just not going to take no for an answer (time and time again). There is also the way JL builds the anticipation of when these two will finally come together and work through their differences. You're dying for that second kiss and about on the edge just like they are until they "hook up". They want and need each other so bad it makes the readers mouth water.
And Without Reservations is just the beginning of it!!
WR introduces a guy named Remi. Remi is for all intensive purposes an ass. He's loud, obnoxious, judgmental, and doesn't treat Keaton very well at all. Leave it to JL to write the next novel about him: With Caution. THIS IS ANOTHER OF MY ALL TIME FAVORITES!
With Caution is awesome. Remi MAY have been a jerk initially but you fall hard for him in this novel. You can't help it. He's been through a LOT of shit in his life. And at the end of the other novel (WR) you see that things are going to get harder for the poor guy. Namely, his mate is a man and Remi was less than accepting of Chay's new lifestyle choice. (Although the mate situation is not exactly a choice any wolf makes.) I love love love the way Remi and Jake interact. Jake KNOWS they are meant for eachother but trys hard to break it to Remi gently. But Remi is a hot headed guy.
Remi ALSO has an amazing younger brother that plays just as much a role in With Caution as Remi. The two of them are very strong parts of the other. With Caution is a MUST READ!!!!
the younger brother though has to be my favorite character. Sterling has more personality then most characters I have ever read. I just love him! Funny, gutsy, energetic, this guy has everything. So it is no wonder that JL has a book thought out for him as well. Without Fear will be written eventually and for us die hard fans we will wait on the edge of our seats waiting.
JL will release her next book in this With or Without series in March. With Abandon is Matt's story. He was cute enough in WC and I will not mind at all taking a "Sterling detour" and reading about Matt first. I just love JL's werewolves!!!
So. That is all for now. I'll write again when the next muse hits me.
In the mean time, post this blog around, we have I think 4 followers :p
Tristan
Saturday, January 15, 2011
Mark Alders
Mark alders is a very imaginative man. I am not sure how many of you have read his books but you should! You are in for a treat.
His creativity knows no bounds. From cock-docking to unicorn sex you never know what you will find. However, it is all erotic and all absorbingly entertaining!
I "met" Mark online years ago. He was virtually unknown then, trying his hand on a writer's website to test the waters of possibility. Would the world like his humor and his out-of-the-ordinary plot-lines? He needed to see what kind of reception he would get. From ME he got platitudes of praise. I'd never imagined the things he wrote about. He was fresh and new and different! He brought exciting new ideas to the written world. And eXtasy books saw a gold mine.
Since his very first debut novel Call of the Hunted in January 2009, Mark has had immense success. The Pembroke Eve Chronicles, a five book series, was my personal favorite so far. Mark has wonderful characters! This is what makes his books so appealing. The reader is sucked into the minds and lives of each and every character and never wants the story to end.
Today he has yet another new release. Waves of Infinity
I encourage you all to visit eXtasy books and grab a copy now! It is already at the top of the charts for sales! This is just how good Mark is! The book comes out and soars to the top! He is an outstanding author, humorous creator, and all around wonderful man.
Do yourself a favor and buy Waves of Infinity. An experimental spaceship. An accident. The adventure of a lifetime...
ttfn,
Tristan
His creativity knows no bounds. From cock-docking to unicorn sex you never know what you will find. However, it is all erotic and all absorbingly entertaining!
I "met" Mark online years ago. He was virtually unknown then, trying his hand on a writer's website to test the waters of possibility. Would the world like his humor and his out-of-the-ordinary plot-lines? He needed to see what kind of reception he would get. From ME he got platitudes of praise. I'd never imagined the things he wrote about. He was fresh and new and different! He brought exciting new ideas to the written world. And eXtasy books saw a gold mine.
Since his very first debut novel Call of the Hunted in January 2009, Mark has had immense success. The Pembroke Eve Chronicles, a five book series, was my personal favorite so far. Mark has wonderful characters! This is what makes his books so appealing. The reader is sucked into the minds and lives of each and every character and never wants the story to end.
Today he has yet another new release. Waves of Infinity
I encourage you all to visit eXtasy books and grab a copy now! It is already at the top of the charts for sales! This is just how good Mark is! The book comes out and soars to the top! He is an outstanding author, humorous creator, and all around wonderful man.
Do yourself a favor and buy Waves of Infinity. An experimental spaceship. An accident. The adventure of a lifetime...
ttfn,
Tristan
Monday, January 10, 2011
Andrew Grey
Hello,
Back for a second blog. I am on a roll. a small kaiser roll maybe....
Anyway.
I recently read Love Means... No Fear by Andrew Grey. On goodreads.com I gave it 5 stars.
Andrew Grey is a phenomenal writer as well as a very sweet man. He has a lot of insight in his novels. I appreciate it. Fear is something so many people face. Of the 5 novels in this series I have a hard time picking a favorite. LM... No Shame, No Boundaries, No Fear are all special to me for different reasons.
No Shame puts out the question of having no shame in who you are and who you love. No Fear goes hand in hand with that; you should not be afraid of loving either. This is so hard for some to accept. (Sadly) Love is Love. I think Love is precious and very hard to find sometimes. If more people embraced love instead of acting out on hate this world would be a different place. Both of these stories are inspiring and beautifully written and I enjoyed every page.
LM... No Boundaries is a favorite for other reasons. Whereas I love the Robbie character, it is the WAY Andrew wrote this that got me. To me, the book was written without visuals. Robbie is blind. As I read No Boundaries I felt like I was not "seeing it" but "feeling" it. Andrew wrote this through a sense of blindness. I could be wrong. Maybe it was just me who felt this while reading it. No matter what, it will always be a special book in my mind because of his cleaver style.
Andrew is amazing.
Love Means... No Fear was wonderful and cute and sweet. I loved Jonah and his strong personality! So gutsy. He seized what he wanted. I need his fortitude at times.
All around this is a HUGE recommend to all who read m/m romance.
ttfn,
Tristan
http://www.allmaleromance.com/andrew-grey.php
Back for a second blog. I am on a roll. a small kaiser roll maybe....
Anyway.
I recently read Love Means... No Fear by Andrew Grey. On goodreads.com I gave it 5 stars.
Andrew Grey is a phenomenal writer as well as a very sweet man. He has a lot of insight in his novels. I appreciate it. Fear is something so many people face. Of the 5 novels in this series I have a hard time picking a favorite. LM... No Shame, No Boundaries, No Fear are all special to me for different reasons.
No Shame puts out the question of having no shame in who you are and who you love. No Fear goes hand in hand with that; you should not be afraid of loving either. This is so hard for some to accept. (Sadly) Love is Love. I think Love is precious and very hard to find sometimes. If more people embraced love instead of acting out on hate this world would be a different place. Both of these stories are inspiring and beautifully written and I enjoyed every page.
LM... No Boundaries is a favorite for other reasons. Whereas I love the Robbie character, it is the WAY Andrew wrote this that got me. To me, the book was written without visuals. Robbie is blind. As I read No Boundaries I felt like I was not "seeing it" but "feeling" it. Andrew wrote this through a sense of blindness. I could be wrong. Maybe it was just me who felt this while reading it. No matter what, it will always be a special book in my mind because of his cleaver style.
Andrew is amazing.
Love Means... No Fear was wonderful and cute and sweet. I loved Jonah and his strong personality! So gutsy. He seized what he wanted. I need his fortitude at times.
All around this is a HUGE recommend to all who read m/m romance.
ttfn,
Tristan
http://www.allmaleromance.com/andrew-grey.php
Thursday, January 6, 2011
A New Year
In thinking about all that has transpired in the past year, I have decided to blog. I tried last year but frankly, I rarely have anything interesting to say. I am, however, going to try to write something at least once a week. Perhaps these ramblings will end up being about the authors on this site? Perhaps they will be observances of mine? Time will tell. Check back often. Poke around the author pages.
Hugs to all and here is to a hopeful and bright new year!
Tristan
Hugs to all and here is to a hopeful and bright new year!
Tristan
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