Undercover Sins: 5-Stars

This was brought to my attention this morning. I love when reviews give the good and bad from a book. Thank you, Chris Castle "Readiculous." Next book, there's lube and I'll be sure to have enough foreplay to satisfy as well. ;)

Chris Castle "Readiculous" gave Undercover Sins 5 stars:
I really enjoyed this story. It's not the best I've ever read, but it's among the few I would say are truly original and inspired. Here are some pro's and con's
(Spoilers ahead):

The bad news:
1. I was a little put off by the characters' use of proper English. Some people might not care, but I found it distracting and unrealistic to have each of the mobsters, whores, and uneducated meatheads speak in full, descriptive sentences free of contractions.

2. There were a few plot divots. Nothing major, but sometimes the actions of the character didn't match what the reader knows about them. Especially when it comes to the way Demetrius treats Ty and vice versa.

3. I wanted a little more out of the sex scenes (call me greedy if u must). There just wasn't enough foreplay, creativity or lube to make me happy. Still, I DID enjoy them; I just wanted more.

The good news:
1. I REALLY enjoyed the plot. I have a ridiculous amount of m/m fiction on my Kindle and after a while it all gets mundane, and unoriginal. But in this case I really had no idea what was going to happen next and I enjoyed that immensely. I've read it all, so that's really saying something. The author even had me going at the end about certain things (I'll let you read). I was like, 'No. No way. Nah...really? OMG! Awww.'

2. I love, love, love grit! Sometimes I like a nice sweet story about two people who fall in love, but most of the time, I'm a hardcore grit fan. I don't shy away from reading something distasteful or morally bankrupt. I really like the fact that this author wasn't afraid to make the main character do horrible, horrible things and then be cute afterward. The guy is a human trafficker; he's not full of rainbows and anyone expecting that should read another book.

3. Despite it all, I wanted the two leads to come together. I connected to Ty and his struggle between loving someone evil and hating him at the same time. There were times I felt the same way about Demetrius and any time I can 'fall in love' with a human traffiker, I call it good writing.

No One Reads

I found this interesting article. I’m not sure how true the facts are, but if they are true...yikes. I can’t believe 80% of families don’t read a single book over a full year. That’s just frightening.

For a while after high school I didn’t read. I remember only a handful of books borrowed or purchased for my reading pleasure. I was probably reading two a year. But in 2010, that spark finally came back and I became a reading fiend. 

When I was actively seeking a relationship, I ran into many non-readers, and it began to bother me. The excuse was always, “I don’t have time to read.” How can someone not find time to read 300 - 500 pages over 365 days? If you don’t have time to read one page a day, how will you have time for a girlfriend? And most of these men were college grads with geeky computer jobs. They were socially awkward nerds with no interest in books. It was then when I made a decision to only become interested in a man who knows Sherlock Holmes is a fictional character from a set of stories, not from a movie. (Seriously!)

Where have all the readers gone? Are they lost in a sea of iTouches, laptops, PS3s, and Xboxes? Has gadgets taken over reading? Has FaceBook replaced casual reading?

Maybe the forced reading from high school and college courses murdered the desire to read for fun. I can see that point. I love to read, but I hate to read what I’m told I have to read, and I hate more to analyze every nuance in a novel. That takes the joy from reading.

Perhaps the stigma of being a “reader” in your twenties and beyond is so negative that no one dares pick up a book. I’ve been teased for reading. I’ve been called a “bookworm” in a loving tone but faced with a pitiful smile.

Oddest thing: I don’t think I read enough to be considered a bookworm.

I’m fortunate enough to have a group of nerdy friends. We might not read the same sort of books, but at least I have fellow readers in my social circle. Some of my other friends don’t understand why I’d choose to sit at home with a book over going to a bar to get shitfaced drunk. I don’t see fun in their activity like they find mine boring.

Do you have reading buddies? How many books do you usually read in a year?

Six Sentence Sunday

It might not be Sunday for me just yet but that doesn't mean I can't post this.
This is from a WIP.

“You kissed me,” Efren stated in awe.

“I did.”

“Do it again.”

Devlin laughed, relieved the redhead had relaxed. Their lips came together once again, lingering longer and parting to become more intimate. Tongues touched tentatively and bodies gravitated closer.

If you're interested in more 6SS visit the blog: Six Sentence Sunday

I love my ereader

Two years ago if someone had told me I’d be reading my books with e-ink and buttons, I would have laughed. Now I can’t imagine going back to books. Sure, the paper feel is nice, and it is a lot easier to skim back through read pages for that one quote you just have to jot down, but I wouldn’t give up my e-reader. No way. For the books I want to collect, I buy them a second time in paperback or hardback format. For the novels I just want to read (or the classics I want to reread but not clutter my bookshelves with) I am more than happy to download onto my PC and transfer into my electronic bookshelf for anytime use.

Now I admit it isn’t always rainbows and puppies. This relationship is a trying one sometimes. Especially in the early days when I hadn’t grown accustomed to my reader and we were still learning about each other. It wanted constant updates, and I just didn’t always have a WiFi connection to appease that need. There were no shouting matches, but my reader shut me out like a cold shoulder shuts out a needy lover. I lost my e-books on the damn thing at the end of a vacation during a very long layover in an airport with no PC to transfer the books back.

It won that round. I update ASAP now. Anything to make my baby happy and giving me unrestricted reading time.

I’m the sort of reader who will have five books on my plate at one time. If I travel, (even just my Monday to Friday 9-5 job counts) I can take all those books with me now instead of deciding which one I want to read more...just to find out my interest in that one dwindled and I want book #3 instead.

I’m also the sort who doesn’t like to advertise what I’m reading. It isn’t always a romance novel, but let’s face it: do you want every person to see that racy cover with two naked men strategically placed to cover the naughty bits? I sure don’t. I don’t want to hear the comments, good or bad, while I’m submerged in my book on my lunch break or on an airplane. Even if it isn’t romance, I still don’t want a conversation starter. Maybe I’m just too private or paranoid, but I don’t want strangers talking to me and I know a book is a great way to “ice break” with people. (In certain circumstances I do love discussing books with strangers, but not during my usual public place readings—lunches and air travel)

I’m not the only one who loves e-books and e-readers. I wonder if the publishing industry will step up to this trend and adjust accordingly. The music industry refuses to see e-content as the future and has given itself a horrible reputation in recent years. I don’t see myself ever completely ignoring paperback books over electronic, but the tides are changing in the overall market for books. Personally, I only buy the paper format when I want to collect the novel or I can’t find it on e-format.

I worry about the local book stores that are suffering. There isn’t really a way for the mom & pop stores to transfer into the e-book trade. (Or is there?) So now I try to buy that novel for my collection at a local store. But buying two or three books a year won’t pay their bills. It makes me wonder how the world will look in ten years. Ten years ago, I think I was still rocking my pager, and I know I had no clue just how much electronics would change my life. We’ve come a long way.

New Facebook

I've changed my Facebook into a Page instead of a profile. I think I'll use it more this way.
So wander on over and "like" my new page ;)

Reviews for Undercover Sins

Undercover Sins has received some fantastic feedback over on Amazon.com!
I'm flattered and happy to see such nice thoughts. Thank you, dear readers. You've brightened my day!


Amanda J. Kroha gave 5 stars:
The mark of a great book, to me, is not being able to tell what will happen next. This story not only does that, but had me on the edge of my couch/bed/chair(I just couldn't put it down!) till literally, the very end. I feel like I was right there with the main character through every twist. Laughing, crying, raging, and at one point near sick with anxiety. I know I will be re-reading this book again soon.


Mårten H gave 5 stars:
Excellent plot with a lot of unexpected twists and turns without being unbelievable. The charaters were hot and very much alive. One of the best gay romance novels to date. Highly recommended.

Vixen gave 5 stars: This book is terrific. After reading the synopsis and the other reviews, I didn't even bother with the sample, I just purchased the book and I'm REALLY glad I did! The story here is superb. There are twists and turns all the way to the end, effectively keeping the reader on the edge of their seat. It's not angst - it's suspense and intrigue. This is the first book by this author that I have read and I will be looking for more. The pace was set early on and just kept going without ever dropping off or getting boring. I loved the characters in the book, even when I was still trying to figure out who the "bad guys" really were!! The story is absolutely complete in and of itself; it doesn't leave you hanging with a bunch of loose ends that would require a sequel. This is one you should not miss - HIGHLY recommended.

Dear Blank Please Blank

Does anyone else love this site? I can waste hours on here. Literally. Hours. Wasted. Poof!
Here's a favorite from today's update:


Dear uptight homophobic people,

Charlie Sheen can make a "porn family," Kelsey Grammar can end a 15 year marriage over the phone, Larry King can be on divorce number nine, Britney Spears had a 55 hour marriage, and Jesse James and Tiger Woods, while married, were having sex with EVERYONE. Yet, the idea of same-sex marriage is going to destroy the institution of marriage? Really?

Sincerely, Get over yourselves.
source: dear blank

Cop Lobster

Funny thing.

One evening, not so long ago, my friends went shopping at thrift stores and found a GI Joe cop. They of course purchased said Joe and gave him to me. It is insanely silly to have but I love it. (I just need to pull a Ken doll from the attic for him to...'protect' now) That same night, the same friend made me a lobster doll out of felt. During the course of the evening the lobster was named "Cop Lobster" and his theme song is set to the tune of Rock Lobster. (the dinner was brilliant.)

So when my other friend (who does not know the above two) gives me a cop lobster toy...I cannot help but laugh. Cops & Lobsters. What IS that? She didn't know either but picked it up for me to enjoy.

Last night I graduated from my Citizen Police Academy. I met the full line of command (minus the Chief who is out of the country) and signed up for the advance course, the Alumni Association, and to volunteer with the PD. (There is a lot of paperwork for volunteering.) I thought I'd get a lot of information to use in my next stories, but I picked up more inspiration from the people than the course work. I also learned what I did wrong in Undercover Sins. I purposely skewed some facts, but others I just didn't know. I know now though.

I have a story I'm in the process of editing and another I'm nearly finished with. Both I'll submit to publishers. One is suspense with a PI instead of police. The other is, well, more or less fantasy. I'm not quite sure where to classify it just yet. The process is slow going, but I'm back into the groove and writing again so we'll see how fast I can finish both projects.

go gay park your car




 

The end of CPA

My Citizen Police Academy is ending on Thursday. It's been a long 13 week course and I have loved 90% of it. I had respect for officers before, but this course has tripled that respect. I won't get on my soap box about police and the public, but I will say that too many don't see police as human...I didn't even realize how I disconnected them from Average Joe until after this course.

Anyway. I think getting some free time will help me get my writing flow back. I'm already writing again but I need to get some sex scenes down! I'll get on that soon. Soon. I have one in the works that is a rewrite of an unpublished work that I hold close to my heart and want to finish it with the love it deserves. I would love to see it published. We'll see.

Yaoi-Con 2011

I have registered and booked my hotel room. I'm ready for this year's Yaoi Con in San Francisco.

http://www.yaoicon.com/

If you'll be attending, you might just find me there!

April Fool's Day

Who says police have no humor?

The first April foolery article got me. Good job, PoliceOne, good job.
*golf applause*


I can't seem to lift my writer's block. I write. I have ideas. I can't stop the characters from conversing in my mind while I'm trying to sleep. But everything I manage to get down, I find a strong desire to erase completely. I've salvaged a few documents from the electronic shredder, but not most. I thought I needed to stop planning and just write, so I started a side thing to just write and ignore anything that might be considered planning. It worked for a day.
I’m confident I’ll get out of this funk once I have time and room to breathe in life again. Ah hurry up, April, let’s go!