Q&A with Josh Lanyon discussion
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What Are you Reading?
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"shit, I hope the kids don't wake up and walk in"
"why didn't I shave m..."
hahahahahah
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"shit, I hope the kids don't wake up and walk in"
"why d..."
Oh my God. Have we not all been there?
The Kama...OUCH!!!
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This really pleased me! I think th..."
Possibly. But with reason. :-)
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I definitely rely on friends. When a friend says, "You will love this book," I know there is a good chance I will.
Even if it takes me five years to get around to reading it!
Susinok wrote: "Hmm you know my book buying patterns have shifted a bit too. I am relying on authors I know rather than finding new ones.And right now I'm reading an urban fantasy again. I think some diversity i..."
My book buying patterns have shifted as well. I am reading much more non-fiction than I did last year, mostly on gay rights and experiences from the early days of the Aids pandemic. I have also returned to urban fantasy at the moment and I am listening to Rivers of London. I know some of us have read this. The audio is superb!! I just love all the different characters especially the Nigerian river goddess. I walk around listening to the book with a silly smile on my face because it is just so good. I like it more than i would have done had I read it.
Lou wrote: "What pulls me into a story is engaging characters and good prose. Those have to go hand in hand. Then comes plot--I love a good plot but will still enjoy a book with a completely crazy one if the f..."I agree with all of this. :)
I was just thinking about why my favorite authors are my favorites. I think a lot of it comes down to dialog. My favorites write great dialog. And nothing makes me lose interest faster than too long paragraphs of unnecessary and boring descriptions...
Anne wrote: "Sabine wrote: "Ame wrote: "Josh wrote: "Ame wrote: "Josh wrote: "Ame wrote: "Real sex in romance books? I don't know.... that would mean: "shit, I hope the kids don't wake up and walk in"
"why d..."
I LOL. :D
Lou wrote: "What pulls me into a story is engaging characters and good prose. Those have to go hand in hand. Then comes plot--I love a good plot but will still enjoy a book with a completely crazy one if the f..."I am quite in agreement with what everybody's saying about the sameness and boring-ness and skimmablility of most sex scenes. If you want to read lots of sex, there are usually better places to do that. I read romance because I love a good love story, with character development and a good plot and good writing. As you say, Lou, engaging characters and good prose are the key, and the dealbreaker. I have become quite good at not finishing books that don't engage me.
Like so many of you, my book-buying habits have also gotten to be quite fussy. I know now through plenty of trial and error that my reading tastes in terms of m/m tend to be pretty firmly in the minority, so I tend to be a bit wary in my book buying anyway. An interesting blurb can grab me, but if it's an author I don't know I'll usually try to find out more. And of course, recommendations from friends are always useful.
Ije the Devourer of Books wrote: "My book buying patterns have shifted as well. I am reading much more non-fiction than I did last year, mostly on gay rights and experiences from the early days of the Aids pandemic. I have also returned to urban fantasy at the moment and I am listening to Rivers of London. I know some of us have read this. The audio is superb!! I just love all the different characters especially the Nigerian river goddess. I walk around listening to the book with a silly smile on my face because it is just so good. I like it more than i would have done had I read it...."Reading Marshall Thornton's Boystown books has brought back memories of the early days of the Aids epidemic and may make me do some more reading about it. Though I lived during that time, and it did reach our state and town, I was far removed from the worst of it. I did not remember that it took so long for people to definitely know it was sexually transmitted. Or at least that the word was not spread very quickly to the communities (which is probably closer to the truth).
Lou wrote: "What pulls me into a story is engaging characters and good prose. Those have to go hand in hand. Then comes plot--I love a good plot but will still enjoy a book with a completely crazy one if the f..."Same here. I love good, interesting characters.
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In other news, I finished the Camp Hell audiobook the other day, and it was horrible. Horrible, I tell you. I have a deep need for more Psycop, but I don't feel like listening to the stuff I've already finished. I want NEW stuff! lol. It's rough. I know.
I'm also slowly making my way though Ray Bradbury's The Illustrated Man. I'm slowly remembering these short stories from when I was in high school. And they're still good!
And, at the same time, I'm reading Neil Plakcy's Natural Predators, and loving it. This one, I thought I wouldn't like as much as the past Mahu books, especially with all the talk about having kids. But, no, I'm still liking it quite a bit. And I'm really glad. It's doing a good job of distracting me from my Psycop need. lol.
Jordan wrote: "Finally. Aragorn has entered the picture in The Fellowship. Now things are starting to pick up and get more interesting!In other news, I finished the Camp Hell audiobook the other day, and it was..."
Funny because I find the first several chapters of Lord of the Rings really fascinating. Long before they get to Aragorn, even. There's so much going on to set up the rest of the story.
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In other news, I finished the Camp Hell audiobook the other ..."
I must have at one point, but this time around, not so much. I mean, it was good, but it was also kind of meandering and everything took forever. That's why I kept taking long breaks to listen to other audio books. I think I might be into this one now until the end. I've still got 11 hours to go!
Still catching up on a paranormal romance series. Two more books and I'm caught up. Reading Bear Attraction by Jennifer Ashley.This is one versatile author. Under Jennifer Ashely she has a paranormal romance series and a historical regency romance series (with one of my all-time favorite books The Madness of Lord Ian MacKenzie. And now I see she's added a contemporary romance series, the Riding Hard series.
Under Ashley Gardiner she writes a very good historical Captain Lacey mystery series.
Under Allyson James she writes a kick-ass heroine with a dragon shifter urban fantasy series. Stormwalker.
It sounds like she is cranking it out but she comes out with maybe 2 full size novels a year among her various pseudonyms. She's just been writing for a while now. All quality stuff.
I particularly enjoy the Captain Lacey mysteries -- good mysteries and even better character and relationships.
HJ wrote: "I particularly enjoy the Captain Lacey mysteries -- good mysteries and even better character and relationships."They are wonderful. I'm happy to find that anther one was published while I wasn't looking.
Started (finally!) Alexis Hall's For Real - i expected the unexpected and still find it quite different and refreshing, but also quite intense. In a good way. Like all his books.Also reading Don Strackey #8 - very good so far.
I just finished Captive Prince, the first volume, and now I'm stuck. I'm not sure if I should read the second one or wait until it's closer to the release date of the third one.
Kirsten wrote: "I just finished Captive Prince, the first volume, and now I'm stuck. I'm not sure if I should read the second one or wait until it's closer to the release date of the third one."I'm not sure if it helps at all, but the second one ends in a good stopping place. Looks promising that we'll be able to get our hot little hands on book three this year. :)
Alison wrote: "I'm not sure if it helps at all, but the second one ends in a good stopping place. Looks promising that we'll be able to get our hot little hands on book three this year. :) ..."Thank you! That helps a lot! I thought a couple reviews I read mentioned a cliffhanger, which is why I was waffling. :D
KC wrote: "Started (finally!) Alexis Hall's For Real - i expected the unexpected and still find it quite different and refreshing, but also quite intense. In a good way. Like all his books."I almost walked away. I loved his others, but was afraid I wouldn't enjoy this one. I did. Immensely.
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Yes, I agree with Alison that the second book ended with satisfying notes. But I do crave for more! Glad to hear the release date for the book #3 might be in sight.
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Glad to hear you enjoyed For Real, Karan. I've been a bit hesitant reading it after reading the blurb. But since so many of you seem to enjoy it, I'll definitely give it a try.
Johanna wrote: "Alison wrote: "Kirsten wrote: "I just finished Captive Prince, the first volume, and now I'm stuck. I'm not sure if I should read the second one or wait until it's closer to the rele..."Yeah, this fall?
Johanna wrote: "Karan wrote: "KC wrote: "Started (finally!) Alexis Hall's For Real - i expected the unexpected and still find it quite different and refreshing, but also quite intense. In a good wa..."Do it. I don't think you'll be sorry. Yeah, some might label it BDSM but for me it was all about characters, character building and story. Even the BDSM elements were tools in that. Amazing story.
Johanna wrote: "Glad to hear the release date for the book #3 might be in sight..."Thanks for the recommendation, Johanna. I liked the first one so much, but it had a good ending spot. I was so tempted to keep going anyway because I wanted to know what was happening next. It's good to know I can keep going without driving myself crazy. :)
There is a title and a cover for the third one! http://freece.livejournal.com/69524.html
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I think that this one requires some extra faith from reader. You have to be ready to leap with Harper. And if you do that it makes it all worth while. But... when reader throws herself into the story so trustfully it also makes the reading experience quite intense. I'm not sure if I make any sense here, but I think you guys see what I mean (knowing that you all do it with Josh's books).
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Don't know about the exact release date, but Alison mentioned this year...
Johanna wrote: "I'm still reading Harper Fox's Ring Around the Sun (currently at 60%). I'm enjoying it a lot. Once again, I'm in awe of Harper Fox's writing -- how beautiful and soulfull and flowi..."Do I need to read the prologue? It is sooo long and I'm just not interested in the parents...
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You absolutely need to read the beginning. And also pay close attention to it, I think. So, no skim, skim, skimming there, dear! ;-) There are some very important back ground facts told there. And anyway, I found the prologue very enjoyable indeed.
Johanna wrote: "Calathea wrote: "Johanna wrote: "I'm still reading Harper Fox's Ring Around the Sun (currently at 60%). I'm enjoying it a lot. Once again, I'm in awe of Harper Fox's writing -- how..."Okay... I trust you on this. :)
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:-)
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"Do it. I don't think you'll be sorry. Yeah, some might label it BDSM but for me it was all about characters, character building and story. Even the BDSM elements were tools in that. Amazing story."
I will, thank you for the encouragement. :-) It's not the BDSM that got me doubtful here, but maybe the combination of BDSM and that big of an age difference (and the book cover added to that mix)? I know it sounds stupid of me, but I can't explain my reaction to the blurb, really. I'm looking forward that the book itself proves me wrong. :-)
By the way, for people who want to totally avoid anything BDSM, there is BDSM(-ish?) rough sex in Ring Around the Sun -- the one I was just commenting on only a few posts back.
Johanna wrote: "Ame wrote: "Johanna wrote: "Karan wrote: "KC wrote: "Started (finally!) Alexis Hall's For Real - i expected the unexpected and still find it quite different and refreshing, but also..."I read the sample and it made me buy the books. So, it's a good start at least. ;-)
Johanna wrote: "Glad to hear you enjoyed For Real, Karan. I've been a bit hesitant reading it after reading the blurb. But since so many of you seem to enjoy it, I'll definitely give it a try. "
I guess this is an example of the importance of blurbs. I first read the blurb and passed as well. It wasn't until a friend recommended the book and sent me a loan that I decided to read. It is a complex story and to be fair, I don't know how a blurb can convey the heart of the story, which, for me anyhow, is the beautifully flawed and compelling characters. I don't care for bdsm usually, so reading that first and foremost in the blurb had me turning away without looking twice.
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I'm reading this very slowly (for me), interspersed with other shorter books. I need to savor Harper Fox's writing, spending more time with it, with her way of writing as well as the content. The content almost always hits me very deeply, often profoundly, and usually emotionally. Even though other books I read have emotional content, Harper's stories seem to hit on more of my personal triggers (not in a negative way, but not always easy).
BTW, I also highly recommend For Real. : )
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Thank you for sharing your thoughts on this, Karan. It's comforting to know you had a similar reaction to the book at first. So yeah, you guys have gotten me convinced that I definitely should give it a chance. :-D
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Yes. I can definitely relate to all what you said. It's exactly like that with Harper's books for me too.
Feeling puny and antibiotics kicking my butt. Grabbed some lighthearted, quirky books. Buzzed through Rob Colton's Galactic Conspiracies series and now I'm clamoring for book 4. Excellent MM space opera with HEA.
Bought a few Charlie Richards' books: "For a Dragon's Healing" and "Driving Borscht Batty". Cute, not the usual over-the-top gorgeous hunks, MCs well-developed. Downside: simple plot, predictable action; but it was what I needed.
I enjoyed "Quinn's Gambit" (AURA book 1) by Angel Martinez and Bellora Quinn. Book 2 "Flax's Pursuit" drops July 14. Reread Amber Kell's Moon Pack series and Lisa Oliver's Cloverleah Pack series. Also bought Lisa Oliver's "Uncaged" book 1 in the Shifter's Uprising series.
Read "The Martian" by Andy Weir, and joined Audible.com to get the audiobook. Hardcover and audiobook "Shards of Hope" by Nalini Singh.
Now I'm gonna flop down and read. And have a large beverage.
So I'm reading a contemporary het romance for the first time in a while. I keep wanting to ask "where's the condom??" "Where's the birth control?"I don't know if can do this...
Seriously guys. I was so SO SO paranoid about having kids when I was younger I never ventured out without birth control. Condom use was a bit more haphazard, sad to say, but the other? Never without it. Ever.
So when a romance heroine drops into the sack with a randy guy and they screw like macaques without ANY mention of the pill or an IUD or condoms, I start to wince. To cringe. Then I just start losing my respect for both hero and heroine.
I don't think I can read het romance anymore. Historical makes more sense since it wasn't very prevalent then. Fantasy is just that. But in contemporary romance? Lack of protection is a total turn-off.
I agree with you Susinok.I had a similar discussion on another thread. I find it a complete turn off and rather reckless. Heterosexuals do get HIV and in some countries (US included) the number of heterosexual transmissions are rising but beyond that what about other STDs? I remember a few years ago it was estimated that 10% of young people in London (approx aged 18-25) had chlamydia.
So whenever I read m/f romance (not often) my reading gets sidetracked by what I perceive to be as risky behaviour. It would be good if they could at least have a discussion but this is often ignored (it seems to me) in favour of throbbing cocks and fluttering vaginas. Bloody rubbish if you ask me!! But maybe thats what readers want?
I am reading a historical mf at the moment and the most times the other mf's i read are urban fantasy.
I had to skim the rest of the book to finish. I couldn't take it anymore. Our hero also did a big declaration and proposal in a bar at the end. Classy.But the lack of safety. Can't get around that.
So I guess that's the biggest difference in m/m and het for me. I know how I would react in certain situations and when the heroine is so far out of what I consider to be correct behavior, then I get techy. In m/m I can maintain distance. There are times I wonder where the condoms or lube are (less often these days) but the guys can do their thing without raising alarms.
In a fit of "nothing sounds good!" moment, I re-downloaded Stranger on the Shore to do my first re-read.
Susinok wrote: "In a fit of "nothing sounds good!" moment, I re-downloaded Stranger on the Shore to do my first re-read."Oh, now I want to re-read that, well, after my re-read of Crash & Burn. It's good to have time to read for fun again.
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Thank you for the heads-up, Kirsten.
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Q&A with Josh Lanyon
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"shit, I hope the kids don't wake up and walk in"
"why didn't I shave my legs and b..."
Yes!
Damn! I lost the ice cube in the sheets!