Ofelia Gränd's Blog, page 76
August 13, 2016
For when the poor sod needs to die
I’m assuming most of you associate me with lumberjack porn…erm, sorry romance, I mean lumberjack romance. But the thing is most often when I write people end up dead—the more gruesome the better. As a result of this, my search history on google often lead to body farms and more or less reliable sources about the stages of death and the decaying process a body goes through.
Contrary to what some may think I don’t like ending up on those sites. Body farms show pictures and while I might feel a sick kind of pleasure painting a ghastly scene I don’t want to see the reality. So what I did was to put together a little list for future references. I thought I’d share, who knows you might find it useful.
The Stages of Death
The moment of Death
Quite a lot happens in the moment of death—the heart stops, the body convulses, and the person gasps. The cough reflex goes away and in some cases, mucus builds up, a gurgling sound called the death rattle may occur when air passes through. After this, the lungs shut down and the brain stops functioning.
Clinical Death
The brain isn’t getting any oxygen and gives up on bodily functions. Circulation stops and the body turns pale, bladder and bowels empty, the pupils gets a glassy appearance, and the body temperature begins to drop.
A coffee break later
Blood pools at the lowest parts of the body leaving dark purple stains, the skin is discoloured and waxy, hands and feet turn blue. Finger and toe nails turn white as the blood leaves. The eyeballs flatten and sink into the skull.
Dead for a day
Rigor mortis starts setting in about 4 hours after the moment of death and the muscles will continue to tighten for about 24 hours before the body will start to turn limp. The pooled blood will turn the skin into a blackish colour, the liver will shut down, and after 8 hours the body will start cooling more rapidly. Up until 6 hours after the moment of death, muscle spasm may occur.
Second day
The body is now the temperature of the surroundings. The head and neck is a greenish-blue colour that spreads through the body. The intestines melt and the smell of rotting meat is strong. Prince Charming is no longer recognisable.
On the third day…
That’s when the magic happens, right? Not really. The body gets covered in blisters and starts to bloat. If it’s found in water or in a warm environment it’s grotesquely swelled at this time. Fluids are leaking from all openings, a bloody froth leaks from ear and mouth.
A week or so later
Bacteria feed on the dead tissue and give off gas. The tongue will stick out of the mouth due to swelling. The gases forces out remaining faeces and liquids and the skin turn green.
Two weeks
Hair, nails and teeth can easily fall off, the skin can easily slip off the decaying muscles underneath. Moving a body at this stage can turn out to be hard…or sticky, I guess.
A Month
The skin cracks open and liquefies due to gases underneath or it may dry out depending on the environment. Insects will feed on the body. If the circumstances are right and the body dries instead of liquefies it’s considered mummified when the insects have eaten all the organs.
The one year anniversary
Depending on the surrounding environment and on how many scavengers you’ve entertained a dental record might be the only way to be identified.
There, I think we can all agree that Snow White and Sleeping Beauty would be less than pleasant to kiss when they finally saw it fit to wake up, but each to their own, right?
Contrary to what some may think I don’t like ending up on those sites. Body farms show pictures and while I might feel a sick kind of pleasure painting a ghastly scene I don’t want to see the reality. So what I did was to put together a little list for future references. I thought I’d share, who knows you might find it useful.
The Stages of Death
The moment of Death Quite a lot happens in the moment of death—the heart stops, the body convulses, and the person gasps. The cough reflex goes away and in some cases, mucus builds up, a gurgling sound called the death rattle may occur when air passes through. After this, the lungs shut down and the brain stops functioning.
Clinical Death
The brain isn’t getting any oxygen and gives up on bodily functions. Circulation stops and the body turns pale, bladder and bowels empty, the pupils gets a glassy appearance, and the body temperature begins to drop.
A coffee break later
Blood pools at the lowest parts of the body leaving dark purple stains, the skin is discoloured and waxy, hands and feet turn blue. Finger and toe nails turn white as the blood leaves. The eyeballs flatten and sink into the skull.
Dead for a day
Rigor mortis starts setting in about 4 hours after the moment of death and the muscles will continue to tighten for about 24 hours before the body will start to turn limp. The pooled blood will turn the skin into a blackish colour, the liver will shut down, and after 8 hours the body will start cooling more rapidly. Up until 6 hours after the moment of death, muscle spasm may occur.
Second day
The body is now the temperature of the surroundings. The head and neck is a greenish-blue colour that spreads through the body. The intestines melt and the smell of rotting meat is strong. Prince Charming is no longer recognisable.
On the third day…
That’s when the magic happens, right? Not really. The body gets covered in blisters and starts to bloat. If it’s found in water or in a warm environment it’s grotesquely swelled at this time. Fluids are leaking from all openings, a bloody froth leaks from ear and mouth.
A week or so later
Bacteria feed on the dead tissue and give off gas. The tongue will stick out of the mouth due to swelling. The gases forces out remaining faeces and liquids and the skin turn green.
Two weeks
Hair, nails and teeth can easily fall off, the skin can easily slip off the decaying muscles underneath. Moving a body at this stage can turn out to be hard…or sticky, I guess.
A Month
The skin cracks open and liquefies due to gases underneath or it may dry out depending on the environment. Insects will feed on the body. If the circumstances are right and the body dries instead of liquefies it’s considered mummified when the insects have eaten all the organs.
The one year anniversary
Depending on the surrounding environment and on how many scavengers you’ve entertained a dental record might be the only way to be identified.
There, I think we can all agree that Snow White and Sleeping Beauty would be less than pleasant to kiss when they finally saw it fit to wake up, but each to their own, right?
August 12, 2016
Friday Reads | unexpected Homecoming
In the mode for some fluff?
Unexpected Homecoming
by A.J. Henderson is a cute short story about Ben who gets thrown out by his boyfriend and has to go back home to live with his dad. Matt is the local veterinarian and Ben's high school crush. When they meet after all these years sparks are flying but Ben is being careful, not sure he wants to date again. This is a story filled with small-town charm, nosy relatives, and dogs.
Unexpected Homecoming was written for last year's Don't Read in the Closet event, Love is an Open Road. If you're a member of Goodreads M/M Romance Group you know what it is, if not it's a yearly event put together by the group where 200 authors donate one story each (or in some cases more than one). Readers send in a prompt including a photo and text about what kind of story they want and an author writes it. This means that there are hundred upon hundred of free M/M stories out there. They vary from sweet-no-sex to tentacle smut or graphic violence, all depending on what the readers have suggested. I have written in the event twice and it's really fun.
Dear Author,
After being dumped by his boss-lover and losing his job, Ben is forced to pack his stuff and his beloved dog and return home to stay with his Dad and grandmother. Ben is not too happy going back to the small-town since it has been his dream to get out of there.
Until Ben finds out that his high-school crush, Matt, is still around, now working as a town veterinarian. And to his surprise Matt is out and currently single. Now it seems that his own dog, his supporting Dad, and the rest of the nosy town residents, especially the elderly bingo-gang lead by his own grandma, are playing matchmaker for Ben and Matt. Guess going back to his home town might be the best decision for Ben after all.
Photo Description:
Two men in a pool, one man sitting on the other’s shoulders. A golden retriever stands in the water next to them. A house and trees are visible in the background.
This story was written as a part of the M/M Romance Group's"Love is an Open Road" event. Group members were asked to write a story prompt inspired by a photo of their choice. Authors of the group selected a photo and prompt that spoke to them and wrote a short story.
This story may contain sexually explicit content and is intended for adult readers. It may contain content that is disagreeable or distressing to some readers. The M/M Romance Group strongly recommends that each reader review the General Information section before each story for story tags as well as for content warnings.
Unexpected Homecoming was written for last year's Don't Read in the Closet event, Love is an Open Road. If you're a member of Goodreads M/M Romance Group you know what it is, if not it's a yearly event put together by the group where 200 authors donate one story each (or in some cases more than one). Readers send in a prompt including a photo and text about what kind of story they want and an author writes it. This means that there are hundred upon hundred of free M/M stories out there. They vary from sweet-no-sex to tentacle smut or graphic violence, all depending on what the readers have suggested. I have written in the event twice and it's really fun.
Dear Author,
After being dumped by his boss-lover and losing his job, Ben is forced to pack his stuff and his beloved dog and return home to stay with his Dad and grandmother. Ben is not too happy going back to the small-town since it has been his dream to get out of there.
Until Ben finds out that his high-school crush, Matt, is still around, now working as a town veterinarian. And to his surprise Matt is out and currently single. Now it seems that his own dog, his supporting Dad, and the rest of the nosy town residents, especially the elderly bingo-gang lead by his own grandma, are playing matchmaker for Ben and Matt. Guess going back to his home town might be the best decision for Ben after all.
Photo Description:
Two men in a pool, one man sitting on the other’s shoulders. A golden retriever stands in the water next to them. A house and trees are visible in the background.
This story was written as a part of the M/M Romance Group's"Love is an Open Road" event. Group members were asked to write a story prompt inspired by a photo of their choice. Authors of the group selected a photo and prompt that spoke to them and wrote a short story.
This story may contain sexually explicit content and is intended for adult readers. It may contain content that is disagreeable or distressing to some readers. The M/M Romance Group strongly recommends that each reader review the General Information section before each story for story tags as well as for content warnings.
August 5, 2016
Friday Reads | Spoils of War
Last week I forgot it was Friday, yes forgot. You might not think it's possible but it is. Today, however, I remember and I am reading Spoils of War by Aleksandr Voinov and Raev Gray. It's been out for a few years but I haven't seen it before, that I'm aware of at least. Yesterday, I stumbled upon it and decided to give it a try.
This is not my typical read. It's erotica so not much plot and I'm not really a fan of gods—while writing that my inner voices screamed The God Eaters , so okay I do like gods sometimes. The reason I chose to read it despite the gods is that I do enjoy Mr Voinov. I like dark and gritty and no one does dubious consent like he does, and this story is mostly that.
Spoils of War is about Achilleus and Ares, and Achilleus fight to get back to Partoklos. So if you're into Greek mythology give it a try. It's short (and free on Smashwords), a snippet of a great warrior's life but well worth the time.
When Achilleus, the greatest warrior who ever lived, falls before Troy (or Ilion, as it was known), Ares, God of War, stands ready to take his spirit with him to his palace. There, Ares demands that Achilleus yield to him. But can the embrace of a god and the offer of immortality make Achilleus forget his one true love, Patroklos?
This is not my typical read. It's erotica so not much plot and I'm not really a fan of gods—while writing that my inner voices screamed The God Eaters , so okay I do like gods sometimes. The reason I chose to read it despite the gods is that I do enjoy Mr Voinov. I like dark and gritty and no one does dubious consent like he does, and this story is mostly that.
Spoils of War is about Achilleus and Ares, and Achilleus fight to get back to Partoklos. So if you're into Greek mythology give it a try. It's short (and free on Smashwords), a snippet of a great warrior's life but well worth the time.
When Achilleus, the greatest warrior who ever lived, falls before Troy (or Ilion, as it was known), Ares, God of War, stands ready to take his spirit with him to his palace. There, Ares demands that Achilleus yield to him. But can the embrace of a god and the offer of immortality make Achilleus forget his one true love, Patroklos?
July 22, 2016
Friday Reads | The Universe Doesn't Give a Flying Fuck About You
I think I'm among few who choked on their morning coffee this morning because they realised it's Friday. I did, there I was sitting on the sofa, rocking my youngest while trying to sneak in a sip every now and then when it hit me that I should get in front of the computer and write a few lines about what I'm reading. What I was reading was my own writing and there's no way I'm doing a Friday post about that.
The emergency solution was to go to Amazon and look at the 15 min read list. The first title that got my attention was You're Dying, and Your World is a Lie by J. Truant, only I saw it was Book 2 in a series. I didn't read the description, didn't check what kind of book it was or what categories it was listed in, I just went looking for Book 1.
The Universe Doesn't Give a Flying Fuck About You (Epic Series Book 1) sounded good to me. I haven't read anything by Johnny B. Truant before but I'm listening to his podcast, The Self-Publishing Podcast, quite often. Had it been any other author I might have looked at the blurb or at least checked what genre it was, but I didn't.
The Universe Doesn't Give a Flying Fuck About You is actually #1 in both Motivational and Entrepreneurship on Amazon...I thought it was fiction. That's what you get for not reading up on what you download, but with almost 1.700 reviews I thought it must be good.
But, no matter how much I like listening to Johnny and how awesome the title is, this wasn't really for me. It's about how short your life is and that you shouldn't dream about things, you should do them. And I agree, you should. This could be the last day in your life and worrying about what others will think it quite pointless. They will have opinions whether you do something or not...but the universe doesn't give a flying fuck. So get to it, people! Be awesome!
If you walk around every day on eggshells, nervous about making a mistake or looking stupid, then you should read this.
If you have a "next big thing" in mind you want to do because you know it will be awesome (starting the business, making the big move, launching the nonprofit, writing the book) but are afraid of doing what it would take to make that thing happen, then you should read this.
The universe is very big. You are very small. In fact, you're so small and so insignificant in the big picture that you don't even register to the eye of the cosmos. The universe was here before you were born and will be here long after you're gone, and your life is but a blip on its vast, vast radar. If your life is to matter, it's not going to matter to the universe. It's up to you make your life matter in the only way you can: by doing things that make a difference to you, to those around you, and to those whose lives you touch. Time is short. You have exactly NOW to do whatever it is you're here to do, or to let the inexorable passage of hours and days and years kill your potential like fruit left to die on a vine.
The universe doesn’t hate you, but it doesn’t love you, either. You’re just an atom in its infinite workings. The universe doesn’t care if you live, die, suffer, or thrive. Whatever your life here will mean is up to you.
Stop worrying so much about what others think and start being who you're supposed to be. It's time to do some epic shit.
The emergency solution was to go to Amazon and look at the 15 min read list. The first title that got my attention was You're Dying, and Your World is a Lie by J. Truant, only I saw it was Book 2 in a series. I didn't read the description, didn't check what kind of book it was or what categories it was listed in, I just went looking for Book 1.
The Universe Doesn't Give a Flying Fuck About You (Epic Series Book 1) sounded good to me. I haven't read anything by Johnny B. Truant before but I'm listening to his podcast, The Self-Publishing Podcast, quite often. Had it been any other author I might have looked at the blurb or at least checked what genre it was, but I didn't.
The Universe Doesn't Give a Flying Fuck About You is actually #1 in both Motivational and Entrepreneurship on Amazon...I thought it was fiction. That's what you get for not reading up on what you download, but with almost 1.700 reviews I thought it must be good.
But, no matter how much I like listening to Johnny and how awesome the title is, this wasn't really for me. It's about how short your life is and that you shouldn't dream about things, you should do them. And I agree, you should. This could be the last day in your life and worrying about what others will think it quite pointless. They will have opinions whether you do something or not...but the universe doesn't give a flying fuck. So get to it, people! Be awesome!
If you walk around every day on eggshells, nervous about making a mistake or looking stupid, then you should read this.If you have a "next big thing" in mind you want to do because you know it will be awesome (starting the business, making the big move, launching the nonprofit, writing the book) but are afraid of doing what it would take to make that thing happen, then you should read this.
The universe is very big. You are very small. In fact, you're so small and so insignificant in the big picture that you don't even register to the eye of the cosmos. The universe was here before you were born and will be here long after you're gone, and your life is but a blip on its vast, vast radar. If your life is to matter, it's not going to matter to the universe. It's up to you make your life matter in the only way you can: by doing things that make a difference to you, to those around you, and to those whose lives you touch. Time is short. You have exactly NOW to do whatever it is you're here to do, or to let the inexorable passage of hours and days and years kill your potential like fruit left to die on a vine.
The universe doesn’t hate you, but it doesn’t love you, either. You’re just an atom in its infinite workings. The universe doesn’t care if you live, die, suffer, or thrive. Whatever your life here will mean is up to you.
Stop worrying so much about what others think and start being who you're supposed to be. It's time to do some epic shit.
July 15, 2016
Friday Reads | The Break-In
It's NaNo times people, I don't have time to read! That's not entirely true because I haven't been writing either, but there haven't been many pages read on my part this week. Since my attentions span isn't up to its normal level I picked a short read for this Friday.
The Break-In
by Sloan Parker is an erotic short story about Billy, Dough, and Roger.
Billy used to be a part of their relationship but after having been in prison he doesn't feel he has the right to come back. That doesn't stop him from breaking into what once was his home every Friday night when Dough and Roger are out eating. This Friday, however, they happen to come home a little early...
I enjoyed it, it's a short, hot read, and being a little crazy like I am I found it quite funny when Billy hid under the bed. Check it out if you're in the mood for a short M/M/M.
Heartbroken and lonely, Billy’s been breaking into his ex-lover’s apartment every Friday night for a little solo sex in the bed they used to share. One night he almost gets caught. Now he has only seconds to decide if he should stay or run from the most erotic encounter of his life—and maybe a chance at love again.
This story includes m/m/m sexual content and was originally published via the author's website.
Contemporary Erotic
Short Story
includes m/m/m sexual content
16 pages (in PDF)
Word Count: 6,000
Author’s Note
This story was inspired by the Alanis Morissette song “Your House” where she walks into her former lover’s house, puts on his robe, listens to his music, and lies in his bed, all while he’s seeing someone else. I wanted to write a story with a similar theme, but give it a romantic twist. “The Break In” is the result of that personal challenge.
Billy used to be a part of their relationship but after having been in prison he doesn't feel he has the right to come back. That doesn't stop him from breaking into what once was his home every Friday night when Dough and Roger are out eating. This Friday, however, they happen to come home a little early...
I enjoyed it, it's a short, hot read, and being a little crazy like I am I found it quite funny when Billy hid under the bed. Check it out if you're in the mood for a short M/M/M.
Heartbroken and lonely, Billy’s been breaking into his ex-lover’s apartment every Friday night for a little solo sex in the bed they used to share. One night he almost gets caught. Now he has only seconds to decide if he should stay or run from the most erotic encounter of his life—and maybe a chance at love again.This story includes m/m/m sexual content and was originally published via the author's website.
Contemporary Erotic
Short Story
includes m/m/m sexual content
16 pages (in PDF)
Word Count: 6,000
Author’s Note
This story was inspired by the Alanis Morissette song “Your House” where she walks into her former lover’s house, puts on his robe, listens to his music, and lies in his bed, all while he’s seeing someone else. I wanted to write a story with a similar theme, but give it a romantic twist. “The Break In” is the result of that personal challenge.
July 8, 2016
Friday Reads | Cherry Pop Valentine
Friday!!! Have you been reading anything good this week? I had me some
Cherry Pop Valentine
by Debbie McGowan with my morning coffee today—a lovely distraction for the fact that my mother is coming and the house looks like crap. But I favour coffee and a good book over cleaning every day of the week so I decided to read...and soon I'll have to clean *sigh*.
If you've read Debbie McGowan before you know the writing is good, and it is here too, but the plot isn't really what I associate with Ms McGowan. This is a rather short, steamy read, and for a Swedish girl like me, it's always fun to see Swedish characters in books. We meet Sven and Flavier who has been together for ten years. The story is told in Flavier's POV, and there is no mistaking how much he loves Sven, but one stupid little slip-up, and he risks losing Sven forever.
This is the kind of story you read in one sitting (or two if you have kids who interrupt you), and lucky for all of you who haven't read it it is free on Smashwords this month. Head over to Cherry Pop Valentine click buy and then enter SFREE as coupon code and it'll be yours! All Beaten Track Publishing's books over 0.99 are in Smashwords's Summer Sale, type in SSW50 and get 50% off. So hop on over there!
Their band’s new single is due to be released in four days’ time, and lovers Sven and Flavier are beyond excited. It’s tipped to be a big hit, and Flav can’t wait to see the online reaction to the promo film he’s made.
But when he joins Sven in bed, he can’t even begin to imagine the fallout that will ensue when he awakes, and all his dreams are shattered with just one click of an upload button.
Can he fix the damage caused by that one careless click, or will he be condemned to endure Valentine’s Day alone?
- - -
WARNING: this story contains sex acts between consenting male adults.
If you've read Debbie McGowan before you know the writing is good, and it is here too, but the plot isn't really what I associate with Ms McGowan. This is a rather short, steamy read, and for a Swedish girl like me, it's always fun to see Swedish characters in books. We meet Sven and Flavier who has been together for ten years. The story is told in Flavier's POV, and there is no mistaking how much he loves Sven, but one stupid little slip-up, and he risks losing Sven forever.
This is the kind of story you read in one sitting (or two if you have kids who interrupt you), and lucky for all of you who haven't read it it is free on Smashwords this month. Head over to Cherry Pop Valentine click buy and then enter SFREE as coupon code and it'll be yours! All Beaten Track Publishing's books over 0.99 are in Smashwords's Summer Sale, type in SSW50 and get 50% off. So hop on over there!
Their band’s new single is due to be released in four days’ time, and lovers Sven and Flavier are beyond excited. It’s tipped to be a big hit, and Flav can’t wait to see the online reaction to the promo film he’s made.But when he joins Sven in bed, he can’t even begin to imagine the fallout that will ensue when he awakes, and all his dreams are shattered with just one click of an upload button.
Can he fix the damage caused by that one careless click, or will he be condemned to endure Valentine’s Day alone?
- - -
WARNING: this story contains sex acts between consenting male adults.
July 1, 2016
Friday Reads | The Trash Collector
Sometimes you want long stories. You want to soak up a different world and disappear, but sometimes you just want something short. I was in the mood for something short. I wanted that feeling of having accomplished something at the same time as I was juggling kids, trying not to scald them with my coffee while answering emails and phone calls.
As always when I want a short story but don’t really know what kind I want, I go to Amazon and look at the short fiction lists. The Trash Collector by Monica Shaughnessy was what ended up being my escape from the wrestling children in my living room. It’s a seventeen pages long story about a widow watching the neighbourhood hoarder picking up things others have thrown away. There’ve been some thefts in the area and she’s set out to prove that he’s behind them. It’s a perfectly good story for a few minutes timeout, and that was what I needed.
Head on over to Smashwords and check out their Summer Sale! There are all kinds of books on sale. Enter SFREE as code by the checkout and my 0.99 stories becomes free, with SSW50 you get 50% off those that are more than a dollar. You'll find my titles here.
When objects begin to disappear from porches, Lydia Strichter suspects the neighborhood hoarder, Dale Kreplick. He's a strange man with an even stranger habit of digging through people's garbage. But when she sets out to prove the "Trash Collector" is behind these thefts, she discovers more than the culprit. She discovers some things can't easily be discarded. A heart-warming story of tolerance, grief, and the persistence of memory.
As always when I want a short story but don’t really know what kind I want, I go to Amazon and look at the short fiction lists. The Trash Collector by Monica Shaughnessy was what ended up being my escape from the wrestling children in my living room. It’s a seventeen pages long story about a widow watching the neighbourhood hoarder picking up things others have thrown away. There’ve been some thefts in the area and she’s set out to prove that he’s behind them. It’s a perfectly good story for a few minutes timeout, and that was what I needed.
Head on over to Smashwords and check out their Summer Sale! There are all kinds of books on sale. Enter SFREE as code by the checkout and my 0.99 stories becomes free, with SSW50 you get 50% off those that are more than a dollar. You'll find my titles here.
When objects begin to disappear from porches, Lydia Strichter suspects the neighborhood hoarder, Dale Kreplick. He's a strange man with an even stranger habit of digging through people's garbage. But when she sets out to prove the "Trash Collector" is behind these thefts, she discovers more than the culprit. She discovers some things can't easily be discarded. A heart-warming story of tolerance, grief, and the persistence of memory.
June 24, 2016
Friday Reads | Oleander House
Friday again! But it isn’t a normal Friday, I know that it is to most of you out there, but here in Sweden, it’s a holiday. It’s Midsummer Eve which means you’ll eat pickled herring, strawberries, have a nubbe (shot of vodka) or five, and then everyone will be dancing around a maypole. It’s just the way it is.Now to the reading! I’ve just started Oleander House (Bay City Paranormal Investigations #1) by Ally Blue. Ally Blue is one of those authors who doesn’t always work for me, and I’m afraid Oleander House has failed to hook me. I’m only three chapters in though so maybe it’ll change.
There is a warning of intense violence and there has already been some hinting at gruesome deaths happening in the house so I’m hoping some evil demon will reach out through the screen and grab hold of me as I go on reading. From what I can see on Goodreads there are 4,900 ratings on this series and most of those readers have enjoyed it, so I’ll keep at it for a bit longer.
When Sam Raintree goes to work for Bay City Paranormal Investigations, he expects his quiet life to change--he doesn't expect to put his life and sanity on the line, or to fall for a man he can never have.Book One in the Bay City Paranormal Investigation series.
Sam Raintree has never been normal. All his life, he's experienced things he can't explain. Things that have colored his view of the world and of himself. So taking a job as a paranormal investigator seems like a perfect fit. His new co-workers, he figures, don't have to know he's gay.
When Sam arrives at Oleander House, the site of his first assignment with Bay City Paranormal Investigations, nothing is what he expected. The repetitive yet exciting work, the unusual and violent history of the house, the intensely erotic and terrifying dreams which plague his sleep. But the most unexpected thing is Dr. Bo Broussard, the group's leader.
From the moment they meet, Sam is strongly attracted to his intelligent, alluring boss. It doesn't take Sam long to figure out that although Bo has led a heterosexual life, he is very much in the closet, and wants Sam as badly as Sam wants him.
As the investigation of Oleander House progresses and paranormal events in the house escalate, Sam and Bo circle warily around their mutual attraction, until a single night of bloodshed and revelation changes their lives forever.
Warning: this title contains explicit male/male sex, intense violence, and graphic language.
June 17, 2016
Friday Reads | The Disassembled Life of Duncan Cole
"A shop that would undoubtedly contain people or other equally horrible creatures."
What can I say, Mister Cole is a man I can relate to. For the last four days, I've spent every minute I've been able to spare with this copper-enhanced man who growls more than not, shoots first and clean up the blood later, and needs coffee like normal people need air. As I said, he's a man I can relate to.
I love The Disassembled Life of Duncan Cole by S. Hart. I can't believe I've had it for two years without reading it. I think it might have been pushed down on my to-read list because it's steampunk and I don't normally read that even though I have a thing for men with metal. And since I have a thing for dead men too I'm enjoying the heck out of this one. I don't know how it ends, have about 20% left, but how can you not love a man whose lover describes him as:
"A man so dense that train couldn't penetrate his skull, he even refuses to acknowledge that's he's attractive because he has some daddy issues, although his issues with his mother seem to be far worse. So stupid that he's trying to get a man pregnant, I mean, really."
In which we meet Duncan: professional nobody who presents himself to the public as a scowling, smoking pile of contempt. Against his will, he meets Sam: a less than professional coal miner who inspires the worst in men. Together they take on one malicious train and a most insidious re-animator, and along the way Duncan remembers a few things that he’d previously forgotten.
June 10, 2016
Friday Reads | Picture Us
There is something about cameras... I saw the cover of Picture Us by Shayla Mist and just had to read it. There really should be more photographers in our books, and more cameras on our covers. I can only think of two books apart from this with cameras on the cover -
Watching Elijah Fall
by Amy Spector and
Take My Picture
by Giselle Ellis, I loved both.
But now to the story! Picture Us is an M/M Romance novelette about Chance who has been in love with his neighbor forever and Terrance, the neighbour. Chance is a nature photographer who has been away for several years but after having lost the aunt and uncle who raised him in a car accident he arrives home and there is Terrance. It's a sweet story about overcoming hang-ups, dealing with grief, and daring to believe in a better future. Light and yet not.
Check it out if you're in the mood for some camera fun!
Chance has lost two things in the past year: his only remaining family and his passion for photography. He didn't expect to get any of them back or to gain anything new, until he finds out his childhood crush, Terrance, is gay. But either Terrance isn't interested in him or he has a real hang-up about dating younger men. Can Chance make him change his mind?
But now to the story! Picture Us is an M/M Romance novelette about Chance who has been in love with his neighbor forever and Terrance, the neighbour. Chance is a nature photographer who has been away for several years but after having lost the aunt and uncle who raised him in a car accident he arrives home and there is Terrance. It's a sweet story about overcoming hang-ups, dealing with grief, and daring to believe in a better future. Light and yet not.
Check it out if you're in the mood for some camera fun!
Chance has lost two things in the past year: his only remaining family and his passion for photography. He didn't expect to get any of them back or to gain anything new, until he finds out his childhood crush, Terrance, is gay. But either Terrance isn't interested in him or he has a real hang-up about dating younger men. Can Chance make him change his mind?
