Jaime Samms's Blog: Stories Between Men, page 17

My Weekend of Dreamspinner win

So, this weekend, there is a sale at Dreamspinner: 25% off while you're shopping. Woot!

But wait. It gets better.

Halloween Howl from Dreamspinner Press

To celebrate Halloween, Dreamspinner is inviting people to come trick-or-treating at our web site. Thirty-one of our fantastic authors have donated free short stories. Search through the different pages on the web site for Gary the gargoyle. Each time you find him, click on him for a free download by the author whose page he's hiding on! And make sure to check out the end of each story for a discount code good any time in the next year.

Links to the short stories go live October first.

But wait! There's more! lol. Yes, that's right, folks, more good news. Maybe for me more than anyone else, but today I signed a contract for my first Dreamspinner novel. Not short Story. Not Novella or Day dream or anything else. Novel. WOOT!

So yes, my we eked = Dreamspinner win. I'm going to search for Gary and some free reding. How about you?

Enjoy!

Book Talk: Rob Rosen's Southern Fried

Book Talk: Karenna Colcroft's Salad on the Side

 I'm going to admit, this book is not what I expected. And now that I'm into it, I honestly can't really tell you what I did expect. I guess, mostly, it's Tobias who is nothing like the typical Alpha I expected. Understand, I don't read a lot of werewolf or other shifter books, so I'm going mostly by what I hear people say about them, or the few I have read. Even still. Tobias is not very typical, I don't think.

Not that there's anything wrong with his character as a character. So far, I quite like him, actually. He's sensitive, kindhearted, and compassionate, logical and thoughtful. As an Alpha Werewolf, I'm not quite seeing him being strong enough, though. From what I've read so far, the main POV character, newly turned Kyle has a lot more forceful a personality that Tobias, and yet, Tobias is supposed to be an unusually strong Alpha, given he's so young and a local pack leader, much older and wiser than he has accepted a truce with him. I actually quite like the idea he's as strong as he is because of these unexpected qualities in him, and there's lots of room yet for his character to develop and the author to sell me on why all these unexpectedly softer qualities in what, in any other hero might be considered beta attributes, will make him a true leader. I bet she can do it.

Another strange and inexplicable plot point is Tobia's inability to control his newest wolf as he does the rest of his pack That control  is partly due to any Alpha's ability to compel his pack members with his geas. Well, it doesn't work on Kyle. Why? Curious, but given newly-turned wolves are supposed to be unpredictable and possibly dangerous, I thought this lack of ability to control Kyle should be causing more worry than it does. Tobias doesn't seem particularly bothered by it, so long as Kyle agrees to pretend he's under Tobias' control. And since Kyle seems to care for Tobias, I'm willing to buy that he agrees and fully means it. (despite the fact he's made it perfectly clear he doesn't take well to authority of any kind) And also, since I'm less than half way through, I'm guessing that the lack of compulsion is due to the fact that Kyle and Tobias are mates (just a guess, mind you), and in my very personal opinion, it would be all kinds of wrong if one mate had the ability to compel the other to do anything against their will, so I like that the compulsion doesn't work on Kyle. I just wish Tobias had a better understanding of why, or more concern over it.. One or the other.
In any case, this is shaping up to be a really interesting read, and the fact I have questions isn't a point of detraction at all. It's making me really want to get back to the story and find the answers. So far, very much enjoying this story.

radio Interview

promotion

So today has been a busy day. First it's a release day, and I'll give you the link for that in a minute. More interesting for me today is that a local radio host contacted me and asked for an interview about my stories. Now, he did contact me two weeks ago, but since he got busy and I heard nothing more from him after I pointed him to my website, I supposed he'd found someone more interesting than li'l old me to talk to.

Imagine my surprise to hear from him this morning and him asking if I could make it in for a radio interview this afternoon. Of course, I swallowed my hopeless nerves and said yes. Mostly, we talked about why. Why a straight girl from suburbia writes man on man erotic romance. Wish I had found a better answer for him than 'because' but there it is. I write the stories how they come to me. If you want to hear the interview and you're in an area where it airs, try this link: http://www.cbc.ca/video/radio-popup.h...

It airs on Sudbury CBC one, Points North at 4:40 Eastern. My huge thanks to Jason Turnbull for this chance to talk about something so important to me.

Now. The new release: New Linen http://www.cbc.ca/video/radio-popup.h...

Four Strong Women: What Did I Miss?

Four Strong Women: What Did I Miss?

Stop by today and share your thoughts with me on the double standard that is the boy/girl dichotomy. What is so wrong with being a girl, anyway? (Guys, I would especially love your thoughts here. Help me understand)

Book Talk: Kennedy and Ford's Dash and Dingo

Before you tell me I'm behind, I know. Should have read this one a long time ago. Oh well. Here I am now, on page 54, and how can you not love these guys? They should feel more cliche than they do, but somehow, they just touch the edge of trope and each time you think they'll fall in, they back away. Dash shows an unexpected glimmer of daring-do or mouthiness or wit, and Dingo goes a bit soft, a bit uncertain, a bit, well, a bit sweet.

And there's no denying these two are sweet on each other. You can't not see it, even this early.

Truth be told, though on pg 54 of about, what? 300? I'm kind of hankering for the action to start. And I'm not just talking about the follow through on the flirting and heavy sighing. I'm talking about the wild animal hunt, the jungles of Australia, and the Indiana Jones excitement. Not that I'm not enjoying the interaction between the two immensely. I definitely am. Just sayin' When does the adventure really start?

book Talk: T.A. Chase's Why I Love Geeks

I'm almost done this one. my big question; how many authors can get away with a protagonist named Herbert in a romance? I guess it helps that it's a comedy, but Herbert? I wasn't convinced. Then Herb opened his mouth. wow. I cannot even begin to imagine how T.A. Came up with that stream of consciousness. the things the character comes out with, most of the time, really should get hike strangled just to shut him up. I'm not quite done yet, but I do want to know what.s up with Burke and McKinley. If it isn't fixed in this book, I hope they get a story of their own, because that's got me intrigued.

it's been an entertaining read, that's for sure.

Book Talk: Damon Suede's Hot Head

 Not even a third of the way into this book and I have that love/hate thing going on that I relish.

There is angst aplenty, so there's that to love.

There is also that fine line between mis-communication and TSTL. (Too stupid to love) I know. I changed that last word. Did that on purpose.

Take two firends: both firefighters, both dancing the edge of PTSD and a death wish, and clearly (to me) in love with each other. Also, both straight. Whatever. That's relative.

So the story is told from Griff's POV and he has come to terms with the idea he's in love with his best friend, even if he has no idea what to do about it. So we get to watch things unfold from his POV, and wonder why he doesn't see. Dante needs to talk to him, tried to get him out of the bar, only to give in the moment Griff has an annoying chick hanging off him. That turns into a no-go, Dante tries A) get him into a threesome (Griff declines, horrified Dante will notice he doesn't give a rat's ass about the girl between them) B) get him drunk and take him home and talk to him. (brilliant plan, dimwit. Griff doesn't remember what happened and is horrified to find himself waking up naked in Dant's bed with the other man's arm across his chest and Griff's morning wood tenting the sheets) C) talk him into porn for money. (Griff just thinks this is bad, bad, bad idea and is, though he does't say do, heart-stopping jelous. (And fascinated that now he can see Dante beat his meat any time he wants, and that is more pervy and tempting than Griff can handle))All classic "I'm-in-love-with-you-and-can't-say-it-dumbass schemes. All doomed to failure.I don't see this getting better for either of them any time soon.Add to all this the zingingly fast prose, the raunchy voice, the down and dirty need oozing out of every thought Griff has, and smeared all over the page in gritty dialogue and plain, no-muss language, and I know  I should be writing my own shit right now. I know I should. But it's so hard to not want to keep reading....

Book talk: Amy Lane's Talker

I'm...what? less than half way through this book, and holy hell. Really? I am amazed

Ms. Lane has caught my attention, for sure with (Please note, this might spoil the book for you if you haven't read it, which, really, you should)
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one hero who's parent's died when he was six, he's been home schololed since then, high school was a trial for him, lonely, difficult, and desperate. He's awkward, shy, not very good at socializing, and oh, can i relate. So he's burried all that in a lot of meaningless, passionless sex with girls who just think he's cute.

The other hero was almost burned alive as an infant in a fire that killed his mother, was raised by a bastard of a father and spent his entire life hiding his scars behind tattoos, mowhawks and far out there gayness, yet never letting a single guy close enough to him to actually touch him, never mind love him.

Then she let him get hurt real bad.

It's clear they love each other. Clear they are in love with each other. Clear they are right for each other.

But Ms. Lane has keptt hem apart, as any good romance writer would, but not by just putting a barrier between them. She's put the fucking Berlin Wall between them, and each brick in that wall is made from all the kindness and care they've shown each other since they met.

How does one create conflict for characters out of the very feelings you actually want them to feel for each other? I have no idea. I'm not Amy Lane. But I do want be a writer of her
caliber some day.

Now. Back to the book.

Jambrea Jo Jones Visits!!

Jaime is letting me come out to play! Lol I have a new release. It's an m/m/f story.  This is a sequel to Retribution, an m/m space story. The new one is called Salvation. The series is called Alliance.  I LOVE sci-fi. I love to read it, I love to watch it and I love to write it. You're mind can go just about anywhere. I love to create worlds. It's so much fun!
Thanks for stopping by, Jambrea.  You know I've been bugging you about this sequel for...well, since the first on came out. And it's finally here!!!!! WOOT!!!!
So here is the blurb and excerpt.
Salvation: Can three people save each other?Rock is a gun runner who was set in life. The only thing missing is a partner. He thinks it could be Sela, but he wants to be sure he isn't after her because she reminds him of an old crush. When Dr. Alexander d'Ado explodes onto the scene, he is a goner. Can he have his cake and eat it too?Zander is a scientist who lives for his work. He is usually oblivious to anything else. When his ship explodes around him can he find salvation in two roughened warriors? He has no idea why someone would be after him, but the three race to find out before someone kills him.Will the trio find love while on the run?Reader Advisory: This story contains m/m intimacy as part of a polyamorous relationship, non-consensual sex, sexual assault and graphic violence.
EXCERPT: By reading any further, you are stating that you are 18 years of age, or over.
If you are under the age of 18, it is necessary to exit this site.
Copyright © Jambrea Jo Jones, 2011
All Rights Reserved, Total-E-Ntwined Limited, T/A Total-E-Bound.Excerpt From: Salvation
"What the fuck?" Rock stumbled as the ship shuddered. He looked up as Sela ran onto the bridge. "Hold on to something. A ship just exploded in our path." He focussed on steering the Salvation out of the flames but something caught his eye. "Se, there's an emergency pod! See if you can find their frequency and hail them," Rock said over his shoulder, fully expecting her to jump to it. She was efficient that way. He scanned the area to see if there were any other emergency crafts, but didn't see any other pods in the aftermath of the explosion. "I'm supposed to be on vacation. I didn't sign up for this," Se grumbled. "You didn't have to come, you know." It came out more harshly than he'd intended, but they were in crisis mode right now. "Rave wouldn't have forgiven me if I'd let you go on a gun run on your own," she said clearly, then he thought he heard her mumble, "Stupid libido." "I've been doing this solo for a while. I don't need my hand held by Rave and your cousin. Or you for that matter. Shit. Someone's shooting at the pod. You get a frequency yet?" Rock threw back at her. "I'm going as fast as I can." "Go faster," he snapped. He wasn't irritated with her but he needed to get to the pilot of that pod. He'd apologise later. Maybe. "Damn it, Rock. If you don't like my speed, do it yourself." "Stop arguing with me. I'd like to find out why my gun sale went south." He didn't understand her need to fight him at every turn. Most days it was a turn-on, but this wasn't the time or the place for his cock to take charge. "What are you talking about?" Se sounded peevish. "That ship was my contact. Maybe whoever escaped in the pod has the answers I need." "Put more pressure on me, why don't you?" Se said under her breath. "Se!" He was about to lose what little sanity he had left. Didn't she know that? "It isn't the fate of the world. It's one gun sale." Se sighed, pushing her hair out of her face. "Those guns were going to a planet being overrun with marauders. The inhabitants need to protect themselves or they'll be enslaved. So, yeah, the fate of someone's world could be at stake. We need that pod." They were going to have to do something about the sexual tension between them soon because he couldn't take the fighting anymore. He'd rather be fucking. And now wasn't the time. Damn. "Stop it with the bleeding heart stuff. I've got them," Se mumbled almost to herself. "I'm the bleeding heart?" That made him smile. He'd never been known for his sympathy. Not that he wasn't sympathetic, but money was a bigger motivator. Se laughed. "Just talk to the pod. You're keyed in." And just like that, his sanity was back. They really did work well together.
"Emergency pod, this is the captain of the Salvation. Do you need assistance?" There was no response. Fuck. That couldn't be good. "Are you sure this is right?" He looked over at Se. "Yes. They probably don't know if we are friend or foe. They did just come off an exploding ship and who knows who's there or what shape they're in." Se shrugged. "This is the captain of the Salvation. We will shelter you. Please acknowledge," Rock tried again, realising that Se was correct—anyone could be in there and only a handful of people had known he was meeting up with the ship. "How do you use this thing? Hello? Hello?" A masculine voice floated over the airwaves. Rock bit back a shout of relief. "I hear you. Do you need us to bring you in?" On screen, another shot hit the pod. Rock couldn't look away—it was like a bad vid streaming in 3D, and he had front row seats. "Rock, you need to get that ship in here or it's going to fall apart." Se's worry coloured her voice. "Emergency pod, we've got a lock on you. Don't touch anything. We're bringing you in." Rock manipulated the controls and the pod slowly inched its way towards the Salvation. Come on, come on. It was taking forever. Or seemed to be. He needed to upgrade his fucking equipment.
http://www.total-e-bound.com/product.asp?strParents=&CAT_ID=&P_ID=1218