Showing posts with label Tom Cardamone. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Tom Cardamone. Show all posts

Friday, November 15, 2013

Six Minis: Fabulous Erotica, Tales of Queer Villainy, A Tilted World & Murder

Now or Never (A Last Chance Romance #1) by Logan Belle (Moxie Books, 2013) Grade: A

Claire goes to the YMCA to attend a support group after having been diagnosed with breast cancer, instead she ends up at a group for erotica writers -- this is a fabulous beginning! She meets Justin, a younger man who tells her he's there attending the AA group, not because he's an alcoholic, but to pick up women. Claire is a 40 year-old, divorced woman who dedicated her whole life to raising her son Max who just left for college. She never made time for sex or herself, and now that she's ready to begin, feels that her body has betrayed her. Justin convinces Claire that before she goes through surgery, she needs to make a wish list of sexual fantasies and go through with it, ergo the "Now or Never List" is born. Now, let's get this straight, Justin doesn't plan on being part of Claire's sexual explorations, he is to be her wingman. He plans and helps with fantasies, and in the process they become friends.

Now or Never is short, but what a fantastic short it is! I've previously enjoyed Logan Belle's works, but this is different, it's more a combination of contemporary fiction with erotica than straight up erotica. There is depth in Claire's story, a 40 year woman who has been a "mother" for so long she has forgotten what it is to be a woman. She comes off as a woman with real fears, doubts and lacking in confidence -- all of this resonated with me, like part of a normal stage that women go through at some point in their lives. Justin is the mystery here. The male who you want to throttle one moment, but really makes you think the next. I cannot wait to see what happens next in Now and Forever (A Last Chance Romance, Part 2) coming out January 2014. Thanks to Wendy for the heads up on this one!

Crack Shot by Dale Chase (Bold Strokes Books, 2013) Grade: A-

When it comes to writing gay western erotica and Dale Chase the expression  "she ain't no daisy, she ain't no daisy at all" doesn't apply. In her hands, the American West comes alive as she mixes fine details and gritty characters with raw and downright dirty erotica. Crack Shot is one of Chase's latest releases (she has released a few new books lately), and in this collection I enjoyed all five stories: Brazen, Thyself a Man, Gandy Dancer, Crack Shot, and Picture Show. Favorites: "Gandy Dancer," and "Crack Shot."

Out of Dale's new releases, I'm in the process of reading Takedown (Bold Strokes Books, 2013) an erotic prison tale filled with outlaws and violence. So far it's an interesting read due mostly to Dale's exquisite research which makes the prison and men come alive for the reader. In October, I also read Lonely as God (self-published, 2013), a short story about two men who click on the trail through poetry, but don't get "at each other" until they reach the end of the trail at which time they ride off together. This story is hot, Chase style, a bit less raw than her usual pieces, but just as solid. (Grade B)

The Silent Hustler by Sean Meriwether (Lethe Press,2009) Grade: A-

I've had The Silent Hustler, a collection of twenty-six stories, in my TBR for a long, long time. I can't tell you how fantastic this collection is! It begins with two gorgeous stories about fathers and sons "Things I Can't Tell My Father," and "Ice Water." These two contemporary/lit fiction stories are brilliantly written with intimacy of thought and emotion. The collection is then divided into three sections: Frankenstein, Alone in the Country, Boys in the City, and Sax and Violins. Each section contains stories that take young gay men from early sexual discovery, through young adulthood and the discovery of the gay lifestyle, and on to adulthood.

There is nothing conventional or pedestrian about Meriwether's writing skills or the edgy, erotic, and emotional stories in this collection. Meriwether hooked me with the first two stories, but he kept me reading to the end by way of his talents, and by challenging comfort zones while making it all seem easy and fresh. A fantastic read (and a gorgeous, gorgeous cover)!

The Lavender Menace: Tales of Queer Villainy! ed. by Tom Cardamone (Northwest Press, 2013) Grade: B+

I enjoyed the stories in this anthology -- after all, it contains a favorite tale of queer villainy, Hal Duncan's "The Origin of the Fiend" -- but can I just say how much I absolutely loved the introduction by Tom Cardamone? We don't say enough about introductions and how they affect a reader (the "hook" they become), or what they mean to a collection or anthology. So to give you an idea of what this great collection is about, I will quote Cardamone:
"Queer kids identify with the monsters in the movies, empowered outcasts, bogeymen bursting out off the closet; villains are cool. They wear their shadows well and if you're going to be expelled into the darkness, you might as well flaunt it."

"We can't just be heroes and victims -- that would create a fictitious reality, one where we are more vigilant in our denials than in our quest for equality."
So yes, as an editor, Cardamone reached his goal in choosing writers with just the right tales of "queer villainy" for this collection.

The Tilted World by Tom Franklin and Beth Ann Fennelly (William Morrow, 2013) Grade: B

I picked up The Tilted World because of the setting and time period. The whole story takes place during the "Great Mississippi Flood of 1927" in the fictional town of Hobnob, by Greenville, Mississippi. It's really a love story (a romance with a happy ending) that takes place between a bootlegger and the government man who came to town to make an arrest. There's murder, betrayal, saboteurs, an orphaned baby, and a flood that would change the course of history.

What I loved and remember the most are the historical fiction details in this book. There were also times when I enjoyed the suspense and different characters, plus the joint writing by Franklin and Fennelly is quite good. However, there was a lack of plausibility to the story as a whole that kept it from becoming more than a solid read for me. On the other hand, the romance, for some reason, worked for me. It is one of those warm love stories that seem to fit with time and place. I recommend it if you're looking for something different that will keep you reading. I read it in one sitting. :)

Still Life With Murder by P.B. Ryan (Berkley, 2003) Grade: B

The first book in the Nell Sweeney historical mystery series turned out to be really good! I know I'm giving it a B (or solid), but that's only because well... it's the first of a series and I don't usually give first books higher grades unless they are fantabulous. Nell is an Irish governess working for a wealthy Bostonian family. The time is just after the American Civil War has ended and the mystery? Nell's employers, Augustus and Viola Hewitt are shocked and appalled when they are informed that one of two sons, William Hewitt, declared dead at Andersonville, is not only alive and in Boston, but is accused of committing a violent murder while under the influence of opium. While August wants Will to hang, Viola asks Nell to help Will in any way she can. The investigation takes Nell from Irish slums to Chinese opium dens, and worse. But, is Will really innocent? And will Nell be able to hold on to her job after all this is over?

I love the setting and time period for this mystery. Nell is a wonderful main character and Will and Detective Cook both serve as great foils for her. Ryan takes a chance with this series, I think, as she begins to build a series with a woman who has a bit of a mysterious, but checkered past, and includes the beginning of a romance (?) with someone who is a long way from perfect. There is less of the "upstairs/downstairs" atmosphere to this first novel than I expected, but there is a marked difference between the clean, wealthy life that Nell leads with the Hewitts, and the life of those she encounters while investigating the murder. Ryan's descriptions of life in the impoverished sides of Boston are riveting. I can't wait for more. The end to the mystery was a total surprise for me and I really loved how it turned out. And yes, I bought the second book to the series, Murder in a Mill Town, as soon as I finished this one. :) Thanks to Li for the recommendation.

Friday, July 26, 2013

LGBTQ: Upcoming & Recent Releases

There are SO many upcoming LGBTQ releases or books already released that I want to read! Some of the books on my ever growing, greedy list are already in my Kindle and others will be as soon as they release. Here are just a few:

UPCOMING:

RED CAPS by Steve Berman (Lethe Press, October 2013)



Red Caps might be a rock band. Or they might be something more sinister, a fey source of sounds that are but the backdrop to thrills and misadventures. These thirteen stories provide readers jaded with the traditional, Old World fairy tales and tempts them with new stories that will engage bored readers from their suburban ennui. Closets are waiting to be explored. Escape from work camp leads to a dangerous encounter on a wet road. That high school year book is magical and might be mocking you...or helping you find love. And isn't love one of the central premises of the fairy tale? These teenage boys and girls need not fear that their love has no worth, because Steve Berman has written for them princesses who love maidens and adorkable students who have wondrous and smart boyfriends. Readers can be assured that, if the tale does not end happy, it ends most memorably.
This is a new gay Young Adult speculative fiction collection written by Steve Berman. Berman wrote Vintage: A Ghost Story, a book that is loved by many and considered a classic LGBTQ YA read. I'm really looking forward to reading this one!

FOOLISH HEARTS: NEW GAY FICTION by Timothy J. Lambert & R. D. Cochrane (Cleis Press, January 14, 2014)


Okay, I don't have a blurb for Foolish Hearts yet. But, I couldn't wait to highlight it because this is a sequel to one of my favorite anthologies, Fool for Love: New Gay Fiction. I have been stalking Becky Cochrane's blog ever since I found out this anthology was on the planning stages. Well, it's going to happen. There's a cover, a release date, and finally, a list of the contributing authors:
Tony Calvert, David Puterbaugh, Trebor Healey, Steven Reigns, Erik Orrantia, Paul Lisicky, Jeffrey Ricker, Taylor McGrath, ‘Nathan Burgoine, Greg Herren, Timothy Forry, Felice Picano, Mark G. Harris, Craig Cotter, Rob Williams, Timothy J. Lambert, Andrew Holleran.
I am really psyched about this anthology! It's all about the lurv...

ALREADY IN MY KINDLE:

PACIFIC RIMMING by Tom Cardamone (Chelsea Station Editions, March 2013)

Lambda Literary finalist Tom Cardamone’s novella, Pacific Rimming, is a dazzling narrative of obsession.

Set in New York City in the late 1990s, a young gay man wanders from bed to bed, creating a life of drug use and sexual conquest to avoid emotional intimacy, his desire focused exclusively on Asian men.
Cardamone is a favorite speculative fiction writer, but with this book he goes into a totally different direction. There is a review in amazon that calls it "filthy/gorgeous" and another one at the Lambda Literary site that makes it sound like an outstanding read. Just what I have come to expect from Cardamone.

CRACK SHOT, WESTERN EROTICA by Dale Chase (Bold Strokes, Books, April 15, 2013)

Men of the Wild West indulge in far more than drinking and gunplay. Cattle drovers, gamblers, miners, outlaws, and the lawmen who chase them rub up against each other in towns where law is thin and a saloon occupies every corner. How could they not indulge in sex? This collection of Western erotica brings to life the intensely masculine Old West in stories such as “Brazen,” in which a man indulging in sexual gratification beside his campfire welcomes a stranger to further indulge; “Thyself A Man,” in which a preacher attempting to save souls in a gold rush camp loses his own through sexual indulgence; “Gandy Dancer,” which shows building the transcontinental railroad involves more than laying track; “Crack Shot,” in which a lawman cannot resist his prisoner; and “Picture Show,” in which the past comes alive as two former lawmen who were once lovers reunite on a silent movie set.
Lovely Ms. Chase whose western gay erotica I absolutely adore! Of course I picked up this collection immediately. I'm so glad I'll have so many of her great stories in one volume and hope to find new favorites to reread over and over again. :D

THE DUST OF WONDERLAND by Lee Thomas (Lethe Press, June 3, 2013)

A panicked call from his ex-wife summons Ken Nicholson back to New Orleans, where his son has been attacked and left for dead. While his child's life hangs in the balance, Ken endures visions connected to a terrifying time from his past. As a teenager, he witnessed the brutal deaths of several young men, an act orchestrated by his benefactor, Travis Brugier. Following the shocking spectacle, Brugier kills himself before Ken's eyes. Now, decades later, someone wants Ken to remember, wants Ken to return to those violent days.

With the lives of his estranged family and his lover, David, threatened, Ken has no choice but to follow his nightmares back to their origin. There he will battle a corrupt and powerful being that believes every life is a story to be captured and rewritten, a being that doesn't believe in happy endings.

Welcome back to Wonderland.
My expectations of a Lee Thomas novel or novella are rather high at this point. He is such a talented writer. The Dust of Wonderland is Lee Thomas's latest novel and I'm hoping to sink my teeth into it soon, soon, soon!

Also added to my Kindle: What Comes Around by Jameson Currier (Chelsea Station Editions, 2012), Love, Christopher Street: Reflections of New York City ed. by Thomas Keith (Vantage Point, 2012) , and On the Clock by Chris Owen (Torquere Press, July 17, 2013).

Saturday, June 8, 2013

May 2013 Recap: Books Read + Mini & Updates


Is May over? It is! I'm afraid that time-wise, I paid a high price for my little vacation. I'm hoping that this next week I will be able to catch up with some reviews and posts.

Oh... first. I finally went through Feedly and realize that I missed out on lots of news including the results of the Lambda Awards. Although as always with these awards I suffered disappointments, -- Hello! Slow Lightning by Eduardo C. Corral in poetry or at least Looking for the Gulf Motel by Richard Blanco! And, what about A Horse Named Sorrow by Trebor Healy in Gay Fiction? What?! -- to be fair, I will have to read the books by the winners in these categories to compare and decide for myself. But, and this is a big but, I was quite happy to at least see one book that I loved in there. I am late, but better late than never:

Congratulations to Tom Cardamone! Winner of Lambda's LGBT Science Fiction/Fantasy/Horror (in other words, Speculative Fiction) for his fantastic and creative, Green Thumb! This book was one of my favorite of 2012 and I pimped it to death last year for good reason. The recognition is well-deserved.

Second, due to my problematic schedule, I was unable to attend the Nalini Singh signing for Heart of Obsidian in NYC on June 6th. I rushed and read the book ahead of time to prepare too! Needless to say, I was upset and disappointed! Mariana went without me, had a great time, and was nice enough to sent me her notes and little tidbits of information. Thank you. :)

Now going back to the regularly scheduled program, here is my summary of books read for the month of May:

Total books read: 9
 Contemporary: 2
 Paranormal Romance: 2
 Mystery/Western: 1
 Classic Lit: 1
 Speculative Fiction: 1
 LGBT: 2 (1 Speculative Fiction; 1 Fiction)

Wallbanger by Alice Clayton: A-
Following is my short comment about Wallbanger from Goodreads:
Loved this book! What an insanely funny, sexy, contemporary romance... Such an unexpected and refreshing read! Lurved Sexy Simon, Crazy Caroline, and Conniving Clive. I will have to read this again. *g*
By the way, Clive is Caroline's cat. A few extras I would like to say about Wallbanger. First, the cover is deceiving, this is not an erotic romance per se, it is a sexy, comedic, contemporary romance. Why do I say that? Well, even though Caroline spends about half of the book bemoaning the loss of her "O"(and she bemoans it for a long time), the relationship that ensues is based on an established friendship and attraction. Second, this book is a blast, it's so funny. Sexual innuendos abound from beginning to end, and there is even a bit of slapstick that takes place -- just read the first over-the-top sex scene. And last, I found out after I read the book that this novel is a result of fanfic based on the Twilight novels. Since I never read Twilight, I did not, and would not, recognize the similarities unless (from what I've heard) there was a sparkly vampire stalking an underaged girl included, (there is not). If this matters to you as a reader, then take it into consideration before picking up the book. Regardless, I enjoyed the heck out of myself while reading this story and still say that Wallbanger is a fun contemporary with insane characters and even more insane circumstances. I needed that...

Wilde Stories 2013: The Best Gay Speculative Fiction ed. by Steve Berman: B+
With a combination of gay young adult and adult speculative fiction, this year's Wilde Stories volume is a wonderful addition to Berman's yearly collections. You will find adventure, camp, humor, horror, and stories that will make you think and wonder. I thoroughly enjoyed this anthology.

The Resurrectionist: The Lost Work of Dr. Spencer Black by E. B. Hudspeth: B+
Talk about a unique book! This is a book that I loved because the illustrations are not only beautiful and give the book a great look, but once you stop admiring them and read the short biography-style story, they become a key element to the whole. A great debut for the multi-talented Hudspeth.

The Cold Dish (Walt Longmire #1) by Craig Johnson: B+
Have you read a western mystery by Craig Johnson? If you haven't you should try one. Actually if you don't want to get addicted, maybe you should not. I became addicted after reading this excellent first book in the 9 book series and ended up reading FIVE books in a row, including the latest release! (Upcoming Post)

Hearts of Shadow (Deadglass #2) by Kira Brady: B-
I follow few paranormal romance series these days, but I really enjoyed the first book of Brady's Deadglass Novel trilogy. As the second book, Hearts of Shadow is not as gripping as that first book, however, it turned out to be a very good follow-up read for me and I'm looking forward to reading the last book of the trilogy.

Unexpected Family by Molly O'Keefe: B-
This book was my pick for May's TBR Challenge read. It was my first Molly O'Keefe read and as it turned out a very good one. I like how the author approached and developed her characters, and most of all how I came to care about them all by the end of the story. I will definitely read more books by Ms. O'Keefe!

Hearts of Fire (Deadglass novella) by Kira Brady: C+
This novella was included at the end of Hearts of Shadow. I enjoyed the extra information and background that it provides about Brady's world-building, even if the romance is too quickly executed.

Best Gay Stories 2013 ed. by Steve Berman (Upcoming Review)
This anthology released on June 1, 2013 and is an absolute winner! I can tell you that much right now. It is gay fiction and includes some magnificent writing and stories. More to come.

The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald (Re-read)
Ahh, The Great Gatsby by Fitzgerald! I re-read this book for my Internet Book Club for June! It's so short that I finished it too soon (in May)... I may, or may not, write my thoughts on this book here later. I can tell you that I had some very strong feelings about it the first I read it long ago, and have some pretty strong feelings about it now.
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That is it for my May reads! Of the books already graded, four of them stand out as favorites: Wallbanger, the Wilde Stories 2013 anthology, The Resurrectionist, and The Cold Dish. I will remember May 2013 for quality vs. quantity. That's a pretty good reading month in my book!

Wednesday, December 26, 2012

2012 Top Reads



This year my top 10 reads were gathered from different categories of books released in 2012 and graded A at Impressions of a Reader or given 5 stars at Goodreads. My top ten favorite books of 2012 are numbered, but due to the fact that I read many different categories this year (and love them all) they are listed in no particular order. Please note that I've included books already listed in my *2012 LGBT Favorite Books & Authors post (read a separate list here). You will also find a list of 2012 Honorable Mention reads that I thoroughly enjoyed this year, and three Grade A 2012 favorite reprint/re-releases.

2012 TOP 10 FAVORITE READS: (Click on titles to read reviews) 

1.   The Witness by Nora Roberts: Contemporary Romance Suspense
2.   Green Thumb by Tom Cardamone: Speculative Fiction*
3.   Slow Lightning by Eduardo C. Corral: Poetry*
4.   Range of Ghosts (Eternal Sky #1) by Elizabeth Bear: Fantasy
5.   Purgatory: A Novel of the Civil War by Jeff Mann: Erotic Historical Romance*
6.   The Last Renegade by Jo Goodman: Western Historical Romance
7.   A Horse Named Sorrow: A Novel by Trebor Healey: Fiction**
8.   The Snow Child by Eowyn Ivey: Historical Fantasy Fiction
9.   Captain Harding and His Men, #2 by Elliott Mackle: Historical Fiction/Mystery*
10. Thief of Shadows (Maiden Lane #4) by Elizabeth Hoyt: Historical Romance

**Book read, reviewed after this post. Read in late December and unfortunately not included with my LGBT list of favorites! 




2012 HONORABLE MENTION LIST OF HIGHLY RECOMMENDED READS
1.   Torn by Lee Thomas: Horror*
2.   Caliban's War (The Expanse #2) by James S.A. Corey: Science Fiction
3.   Riveted (Iron Seas #3) by Meljean Brook: Science Fiction Romance/Steampunk
4.   Her Best Worst Mistake by Sarah Mayberry: Contemporary Romance
5.   Immobility by Brian Evenson: Post Apocalyptic Science Fiction/Fantasy
6.   The Last Policeman: A Novel by Ben H. Winters: Science Fiction/Mystery
7.   The Heart's History by Lewis DeSimone: Fiction*
8.   This Is How You Lose Her by Junot Díaz: Literary Fiction
9.   Hearts of Darkness (Deadglass #1) by Kira Brady: Paranormal Romance
10. The Boy Kings of Texas: A Memoir by Domingo Martinez: Non-Fiction

2012 FAVORITE REPRINT/RE-RELEASE:
1.  The Temporary Wife by Mary Balogh (2012 Dell): Historical Romance
2.  It Takes Two, #1 by Elliott Mackle (2012 Lethe Press): Historical Fiction/Mystery*
3.  The Rake by Mary Jo Putney (2012 Kensington Publishing): Historical Romance

Saturday, December 22, 2012

2012 LGBT: Favorite Books & Authors

If you read Impressions of a Reader, then you know that I absolutely love my LGBT books. Every year I wish that I had more time to read and review all the great books released, but due to time restrictions and other commitments I can never read everything I purchase or in some cases review everything I read. There is never enough time!

From the list of books read and reviewed during 2012, I have chosen 9 top books and authors representing my favorite within each category. They are listed below in no particular order. And because I read so many short stories, this year as my number 10 I'm including a short list of favorite short stories chosen from anthologies and collections read and reviewed in 2012. (Click on book titles to read reviews) 


TOM CARDAMONE: Queer Speculative Fiction
Green Thumb  (2012 print & digital ed.,BrazenHead)
Green Thumb by Tom Cardamone is an original, creative, queer speculative fiction novella that takes a curve and ends up in that space we refer to as the Weird. It's a favorite combination that Cardamone handles first with subtlety and then with grand beauty, making this novella my favorite speculative fiction read of 2012. In Leaf, Cardamone created an unforgettable character and in Green Thumb a magnificent story.

EDUARDO C. CORRAL: Poetry
Slow Lightning (2012 print ed., Yale University Press)
Slow Lightning won The Yale's Young Poet's Prize in 2012. In the foreword Carl Phillips says: "Corral resists reductivism. Gay, Chicano, 'Illegal-American,' that's all just language, and part of Corral's point is that language, like sex, is fluid and dangerous and thrilling, now a cage, now a window out. In Corral's refusal to think in reductive terms lies his great authority." I don't think anyone can describe Mr. Corral's point better than that! This is one of my favorite books of 2012.  I've re-read it and will continue to do so.

JEFF MANN: Erotic Historical Romance
Purgatory: A Novel of the Civil War (2012 print & digital ed., Bear Bones Books)
One of the most memorable reads of 2012 for me, Purgatory: A Novel of the Civil War is an erotic historical romance that reads more like an erotic historical fiction novel containing gorgeous research about the Civil War and a distinct Southern flavor. The talented Jeff Mann integrates graphic violent situations yet shows a loving BDSM relationship in progress between captive and captor. A fantastic love story. 


ELLIOTT MACKLE: Historical Fiction/Mystery
Captain Harding and His Men (Captain Harding #2) (2012 print & digital ed., Lethe Press)
Elliott Mackle has become one of my favorite writers within a very short period of time. I absolutely adored Captain Harding and His Men and can't deny that I'm in love with the main character. All of his books (all of them) are worth reading. I'm including the three books I read by Elliott Mackle in 2012 in my favorite list, making him one of my favorite authors this year. That includes: It Takes Two, Book #1, (reprint digital ed., 2012, Lethe Press) and *Only Make Believe (It Takes Two, Book #2) (2012 digital ed., Lethe Press), two magnificent historical fiction/mystery romances set in the South during WWII.

LEE THOMAS: Horror
Torn (2012 hardcover print ed., Cemetery Dance Productions)
Lee Thomas has the ability to make me visualize both the subtle and horrific situations described in his books. I love the way he juxtapositions prosaic events from everyday life with moments of desperation and horror that leave the reader bug-eyed, but always saying more and adding depth to the plot. I loved this horror novella by Mr. Thomas, as well other short stories included in different anthologies. Example: "The House By The Park"(Wilde Stories 2012 Anthology).

MELISSA SCOTT: Fantasy
Point of Knives: A Novella of Astreiant (2012 print & digital ed., Lethe Press)
Point of Knives flawlessly bridges the gap between the two classic fantasy novels Point of Hopes and Point of Dreams originally written by Melissa Scott and Lisa A. Barnett. Ms. Scott further develops the romantic relationship between the two main characters and also gives fans and new readers a fantastic new mystery to solve within a magnificent pseudo-Renaissance fantasy world. I absolutely loved this novella.


MEL BOSSA: Romance
Split  (2011 digital ed., Bold Strokes Books)
Split was released in 2011. I am including it with this list because I read it in 2012 and it is also my favorite gay romance. Split has excellent characterization and plotting, plus the emotional connection I need in my romance. This is an author whose other works I followed throughout the year and whose talent I learned to appreciate even more after reading her second novel, also recommended, Franky Gets Real (2012 digital ed., Bold Strokes Books).

LEWIS DESIMONE: Gay Fiction
The Heart's History (2012 print ed., Lethe Press)
Lewis DeSimone's The Heart's History is a story that stayed with me for a long time after I read it. In this novel DeSimone displays a talent for delving into his individual characters so that their portrayals become three-dimensional. The connection DeSimone establishes between those amazing characters is extended to the reader, and that makes them and their inner struggles, unforgettable. I know Edward is the center of this story, but who can read this novel and forget Harlan? I still can't. 

ERIK ORRANTIA: Gay Fiction with Romantic Elements
Taxi Rojo (2012 digital ed., Cheyenne Publishing)
Taxi Rojo by Erik Orrantia is a novel where the characters, portrayed as survivors of everyday struggles, are placed in extraordinary circumstances. Their individual stories are so gripping that I couldn't stop talking about them for weeks after I finished the book. Additionally, I found Orrantia's depiction and incorporation of Tijuana, Mexico as almost a secondary character, brilliant. A story that stayed with me.

FAVORITE SHORT STORIES: Miscellaneous categories from Anthologies & Collections

ARTHUR WOOTEN: The "Dear Henry Letters"
(Arthur Wooten's Shorts, 2012 digital ed. Galaxias Prod)
SIMON SHEPPARD: Heaven and Earth
(History's Passion, Richard Labonté, 2011 print ed. Bold Strokes Books)
JOEL LANE & MATT JOINER: Ashes in the Water
(Wilde Stories 2012, Steve Berman, 2012 print ed. Lethe Press)
CHAZ BRECHLEY: Keep the Aspidochelone Floating & VINCENT KOVAR: Wave Boys
(The Touch of the Sea, Steve Berman, 2012 print ed. Lethe Press)
'NATHAN BURGOINE: Leap
(Boys of Summer, Steve Berman, 2012 digital ed. Lethe Press)

That is it for my favorite LGBT reads of the year. What about you? Do you have a favorite LGBT book that you would like to recommend?


Monday, October 15, 2012

2012 Halloween Reads: Steampunk/PNR/LGBT Spec Fic/Horror

October means Halloween! So it is time vampires, zombies, evil-doers, the strange and the weird to give us chills and thrills. For the past month I've been in the mood for the chills, thrills and the strange, so I've been reading and accumulating recommendations for you -- both recent releases and back list books. Here are some of my favorite reads:

STEAMPUNK & PNR: (Click on titles to read reviews)



Riveted (Iron Seas #3) by Meljean Brook (Steampunk/Adventure/Romance)
If you like romance with great world building and amazing steampunk details that do not get in the way of the story, then Riveted is for you. This third book is the latest release in Meljean Brook's Iron Seas series and it was a favorite for me because of the sweet romance between the main characters, as well as for all those great details I mentioned above. 
New Amsterdam Series by Elizabeth Bear (Fantasy/Mystery/Steampunk)
The New Amsterdam series by Elizabeth Bear is not a new release, as a matter of fact the first book was released in 2007 and the last in the trilogy in 2010. But this wonderful series with its excellent writing, vampire detective and a forensic female sorcerer as central characters, alternate world, unique format, and subtle steampunk details is worth reading. My favorite two pieces of the trilogy were New Amsterdam and The White City, but believe me... Seven For A Secret is no slouch either. A moody, atmospheric and different kind of mystery solving read. 
Hearts of Darkness: A Deadglass Novel by Kira Brady (Paranormal Romance) 
Of the paranormal romances I've read recently, Hearts of Darkness by Kira Brady is the darkest one, and the one I recommend be read during this time of the year. It has vampires, dragons, werewolves and other pretty unique beings, but I think what I loved the most about this novel was the way that Brady fused the dark, moody atmosphere usually found in an urban fantasy book with the romance found in PNR. There's a combination of dark and light that I enjoyed about this book, so yes... I recommend it.

LGBT SPECULATIVE FICTION & HORROR:(Click on titles to read reviews)



Green Thumb by Tom Cardamone (Queer Speculative Fiction) 
When it comes to speculative fiction if you're going to read one book this year, I recommend that you pick up Tom Cardamone's Green Thumb. If you are a spec fic fan, you'll appreciate the amazing characters, the atmosphere and worldbuilding, and most of all the creative twists and turns Cardamone uses to take this story from beautiful beginning to amazing end. 
Wilde Stories 2012: The Best Gay Speculative Fiction edited by Steve Berman (Gay Speculative Fiction
I recommended last year's edition Wilde Stories 2011 because I loved it. This year's edition is also recommended. There are excellent speculative fiction stories and wonderful variety in this anthology with themes to please tastes all around. It's filled with quality stories and excellent writers. Some of my favorite LGBT writers are included, but there are new great writers in there whose stories are not to be missed.
Torn by Lee Thomas (Horror/Speculative Fiction)
I read a few straight up horror books, but of those only one had all the ingredients that worked for me, Torn by Lee Thomas. This novella was relentless in action, kept me at the edge of my seat from beginning to end, and gave me all the chills and thrills that I expect from horror. Lee Thomas' skills are in full display in this novella and I highly recommend it to horror fans.

I didn't list any romance suspense reads or straight mysteries in this list. I just read a wonderful book from my TBR that I really enjoyed, Anne Stuart's 2005 romantic suspense thriller, "Black Ice." Are there any books in those categories that you would recommend? What books have you read lately that you would recommend as a great Halloween/October read?  

Sunday, August 5, 2012

Review: Green Thumb: A Novella by Tom Cardamone

Mutability blooms in the Florida Keys after the Red War and the genie boxes. King Pelicans with the brains of scientists and a single human hand in place of one webbed foot rule the ruins of half-drowned Miami. Slavers roam the deep waters offshore, taking captives to feed the voracious Kudzu Army and the human aqueduct bearing fresh water from Lake Okeechobee. On the last stretch of the Overseas Highway still standing, an albino seeress slowly becomes her name: White Flamingo. ''You,'' she says. ''You will reach for the sun while staying rooted to the ground. But I fear your shadow will be much too long.''

Transformed by his father's genie box in the late days of the Red War, Leaf has lived for decades or centuries alone in a collapsing Victorian house on a desolate sandy key, misunderstanding time, feeding on sunlight and dew. When at last he meets a boy like--but so unlike!--himself, Leaf understands he has met destiny and sets out on a long, strange journey. A post-apocalyptic, psychoactive, polymorphous-perverse pastorale, Green Thumb will startle you with its utter strangeness and break your heart with its fragile beauty.
After the Red Wars are over and scientists used their genie boxes, what is left of earth's inhabitants have mutated in different and unexpected ways. In a sliver of sand in the middle of the ocean by what was once known as the Florida Keys, a boy of undetermined age lies on a sandy beach as his emerald color skin soaks the run rays that give him life. Nanny died long ago and Leaf's only companion is his friend Skate, a two-dimensional sting-ray-like boy who dwells in the sea. He is Leaf's only friend until Scallop arrives on the island and thereafter visits him daily.

When Scallop's father is taken by slaver ships to forcibly join the Kudzu Army, Scallop is determined to save him and Leaf joins him on his adventure. Their journey will take them through overcrowded islands where Leaf will encounter what is left of humanity and the surviving culture for the first time. He'll meet Hardy, a strong, hard skinned green boy, the Albino White Flamingo, a seeress who will foretell his future, and along the way the boys will encounter hardship, betrayal, heartbreak, love and their ultimate destiny.

Cardamone is slow to reveal details of his world while initially focusing on Leaf and the immediate world around him, taking the reader on a journey of discovery and adventure by slow increments as he reveals the wider world and the full scope of his world building.

His characters balance each other out. Leaf is the main character and it is through his perspective that the story is narrated. There is a certain sense of detachment from the world about Leaf, yet he very much wants to be of the world and particularly yearns for Scallop. Leaf is both knowledgeable and naïve. His introspection gives his narrative voice an almost lulling quality that contrasts heavily with the progressively desperate and violent scenes in the story making those moments pop and linger.

Scallop is very much a part of the world and brings life and energy to Leaf's life and to the story, but Scallop gives only a small part of himself and seeks the impossible. Skate, the constant in Leaf's life, represents the unreachable. And then there's Hardy, who entrenched and thriving in the world of dive boys, becomes a teacher of pleasures, guide, enforcer, and bodyguard for Leaf and Scallop as their adventure takes them closer to slaver ships, the Kudsu Army, the ruined shores of what was once Miami and the world ruled by Pelican Kings.

This is speculative fiction, so the story takes some unexpected twists and turns from what initially seems like a boys' adventure into a progressively darker, complex world and into the weird. I particularly liked that Cardamone's characters are not set in stone and that they are not just mutants, but mutable. The queer themes in the story are part of the overall story arc with some dark, grand scenes, and also part of the lovely and intimate connection that Cardamone creates between his main characters.

In his post-apocalyptic novella Green Thumb, Tom Cardamone explores the darker side of humanity, as well as the environment, through a delicate character filled with beauty and a dense world building with heavy narrative and introspection. Cardamone's imagination and talent for the unusual are in full display as he combines incredibly tender moments, raw desperation, and violence with a delicate touch that at times become breathtaking. With an excellent story, memorable characters, and an ending that lingered with me for a quite while, this creative novella is most definitely highly recommended.

Category: LGBT - Queer Speculative Fiction
Series: None
Publisher/Release Date: BrazenHead/August 2, 2012
Source: eARC Lethe Press
Grade: A

Visit Tom Cardamone here.

About the Author: Tom Cardamone writes queer speculative fiction. His short story collection, Pumpkin Teeth, was a finalist for the Lambda Literary Award. He is the editor of The Lost Library: Gay Fiction Rediscovered, and author of the erotic fantasy novel, The Werewolves of Central Park.

Wednesday, July 25, 2012

New Releases: August 2012

Here are a few releases scheduled for early August. The first two releases highlighted have been on my "to be read" list for a while. Green Thumb is a gay speculative fiction (post-apocalyptic) novella from favorite writer Tom Cardamone. And, Wild Texas Rose, the 6th installment in the Whispering Mountain western romance series is from another favorite writer, Jodi Thomas. So, these two books are not only definite reads, but expect reviews soon!


Title: Green Thumb: A Novella by Tom Cardamone
Release Date: August 2, 2012 (Brazenhead)

Mutability blooms in the Florida Keys after the Red War and the genie boxes. King Pelicans with the brains of scientists and a single human hand in place of one webbed foot rule the ruins of half-drowned Miami. Slavers roam the deep waters offshore, taking captives to feed the voracious Kudzu Army and the human aqueduct bearing fresh water from Lake Okeechobee. On the last stretch of the Overseas Highway still standing, an albino seeress slowly becomes her name: White Flamingo. ''You,'' she says. ''You will reach for the sun while staying rooted to the ground. But I fear your shadow will be much too long.''

Transformed by his father's genie box in the late days of the Red War, Leaf has lived for decades or centuries alone in a collapsing Victorian house on a desolate sandy key, misunderstanding time, feeding on sunlight and dew. When at last he meets a boy like--but so unlike!--himself, Leaf understands he has met destiny and sets out on a long, strange journey. A post-apocalyptic, psychoactive, polymorphous-perverse pastorale, Green Thumb will startle you with its utter strangeness and break your heart with its fragile beauty.
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Title: Wild Texas Rose (Whispering Mountain #6) by Jodi Thomas
Release Date: August 7, 2012 (Berkeley)
Twenty-five-year-old Rose McMurray may be beautiful, smart, and capable of running her family's ranch at Whispering Mountain, but she's backed away from marriage three times without giving anyone reasons. Everyone thinks she is a coward, afraid of any adventure, including falling in love. She's never done a single wild or reckless thing in her life...until now.

Duncan McMurray, like Rose, was adopted into the family. As a Texas Ranger, he swears he'll never settle down and marry. He's been Rose's guardian angel since they were kids but for the first time in their lives he's the one who has caused her to be in danger. Somehow, he has to protect her from an outlaw gang determined to kill her without letting Rose know of the danger she's in. He's convinced that her heart can't take the stress if she knows...the only question is can his heart take the nearness of her.

When opposites collide the adventure begins...
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And from Kensington Books the following three books releasing on August 1st all look good to me. I'm going with Naked Games, a hot erotic romance from Anne Rainey; Demon Hunting in the Deep South, what looks to be a funny, Southern paranormal romance by Lexi George, and Don't Say a Word, a romance suspense from Beverly Barton, a well-known writer who passed away on April 2011 but who left behind a legacy in books.


Title: Naked Games (Hard to Get #3) by Anne Rainey (Aphrodesia)
Dean enjoys women of all varieties, but unless they’re naked and in his bed he doesn’t have much use for them. He trusted his heart and soul to a woman before and he won’t let it happen again.

Then Dean meets curvy Catherine Michaels, the mouthy woman claiming to be Gracie Baron’s long lost baby sister. He’s immediately suspicious of the pretty redhead, but he can’t seem to keep his distance.

He aches to strip her bare so he can sip at her satiny skin. But once Dean’s had a taste of her succulent body, he wants more. In fact, he wants her for his own.


Title: Demon Hunting in the Deep South by Lexi George (Brava)
Shy, self-conscious Evie Douglass tries to stay under the radar, especially when petite socialite Meredith Starr Peterson, aka The Death Starr, is anywhere around. Meredith and her bitch posse of skinny girlfriends have tormented Evie about her size since seventh grade. Unfortunately, it's hard for a plus-sized gal to stay invisible in a small town like Hannah, Alabama. And then Evie finds Meredith brutally murdered. Suddenly, she's the number one suspect in a sensational murder case. Worse, Hannah is infested with demons, and the only thing standing between them and Evie is a hunky blond demon slayer named Ansgar.

Evie could swear, though, that Ansgar is interested in more than demons. She could swear that he's interested in her...


Title: Don't Say a Word by Beverly Barton (Zebra)
Cross Your Heart…

One by one, they will die. He has waited patiently, planning their final moments. Their tortured screams, their pleas for mercy—all will be in vain...

And Hope…

Homicide detective Julia Cass has witnessed plenty of crime scenes. But the murder of a Chattanooga judge is shocking in its brutality. Teamed with FBI agent Will Brannock, Julia delves into an investigation that soon unearths more bodies—all mutilated in the same way, all left with a gruesome souvenir of a killer’s ruthless rage…

To Die…

The only way to stop the slaughter is to predict the next victim. But when you’re dealing with vengeance at its most ruthless, one wrong move can make you a target…and the next word you utter could be your last…
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For a change of pace, these are ALL early releases. Any books you're looking forward to reading in August?

Saturday, April 28, 2012

New Releases: May 2012 + A Peek Ahead

April has been a good month for new releases, at least there were books that interested me, but May is looking excellent on that front too. There are new releases from quite a few of the different genres that I enjoy reading regularly.

Here are a few of them:

A couple of notes before I proceed: On a different post, I highlighted The Promise by Mary Balogh. This book releases on May 1, 2012 and I'm obviously looking forward to reading it! Check out the summary here.

Also releasing on May 15, 2012 is The Heart's History by Lewis DeSimone. I already read and reviewed this book, and as it turned out this was a great read! Check out the review here.

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The Last Boyfriend (Inn BoonsBoro #2) by Nora Roberts
Release Date: May 1, 2012
Owen is the organizer of the Montgomery clan, running the family’s construction business with an iron fist—and an even less flexible spreadsheet. And though his brothers bust on his compulsive list-making, the Inn BoonsBoro is about to open right on schedule. The only thing Owen didn’t plan for was Avery McTavish...

Avery’s popular pizza place is right across the street from the inn, giving her a first-hand look at its amazing renovation—and a newfound appreciation for Owen. Since he was her first boyfriend when they were kids, Owen has never been far from Avery’s thoughts. But the attraction she’s feeling for him now is far from innocent.

As Avery and Owen cautiously take their relationship to another level, the opening of the inn gives the whole town of Boonsboro a reason to celebrate. But Owen’s hard work has only begun. Getting Avery to let down her guard is going to take longer than he expected—and so will getting her to realize that her first boyfriend is going to be her last…
The first book of this series wasn't an absolute winner for me, but this is a romance by Nora Roberts and there's no way I'm not reading the second book in this contemporary romance series. I always have high hopes. Besides, I just read and loved The Witness, so why not? 
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The Weird: A Compendium of Strange and Dark Stories edited by Ann and Jeff VanderMeer
Release Date: May 8, 2012
From Lovecraft to Borges to Gaiman, a century of intrepid literary experimentation has created a corpus of dark and strange stories that transcend all known genre boundaries. Together these stories form The Weird, and its practitioners include some of the greatest names in twentieth and twenty-first century literature.

Exotic and esoteric, The Weird plunges you into dark domains and brings you face to face with surreal monstrosities. You won’t find any elves or wizards here...but you will find the biggest, boldest, and downright most peculiar stories from the last hundred years bound together in the biggest Weird collection ever assembled.

The Weird features 110 stories by an all-star cast, from literary legends to international bestsellers to Booker Prize winners: including William Gibson, George R. R. Martin, Stephen King, Angela Carter, Kelly Link, Franz Kafka, China Miéville, Clive Barker, Haruki Murakami, M. R. James, Neil Gaiman, Mervyn Peake, and Michael Chabon.
Do I have to say anything about wanting to read this book? I love anything that has to do with the weird, and just look at that list of authors! So, what else is there to say? This is a must read for me. :D
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Railsea by China Miéville
Release Date: May 15, 2012
On board the moletrain Medes, Sham Yes ap Soorap watches in awe as he witnesses his first moldywarpe hunt: the giant mole bursting from the earth, the harpoonists targeting their prey, the battle resulting in one’s death and the other’s glory. But no matter how spectacular it is, Sham can't shake the sense that there is more to life than traveling the endless rails of the railsea–even if his captain can think only of the hunt for the ivory-coloured mole she’s been chasing since it took her arm all those years ago. When they come across a wrecked train, at first it's a welcome distraction. But what Sham finds in the derelict—a series of pictures hinting at something, somewhere, that should be impossible—leads to considerably more than he'd bargained for. Soon he's hunted on all sides, by pirates, trainsfolk, monsters and salvage-scrabblers. And it might not be just Sham's life that's about to change. It could be the whole of the rail sea.
Talking about the "weird," China Miéville excels at it. He has become a favorite writer after reading only a couple of his books (I still have a few of his earlier works in my TBR).  The thing about this author is that both of the books I've read managed to make it to my "best of" lists, so why would I not pick up his latest release? This story sounds like an earthbound Moby Dick, Miéville style. Let's see what weird, fantastic characters this author creates in this story. I can't wait to find out. :D

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Silver Moon by Catherine Lundoff
Release Date: May 20, 2012
Becca Thornton, divorced, middle-aged, and barely out of the closet, discovers that life can still hold some strange surprises, when she discovers that her body is changing; menopause turns her into a werewolf. Apparently she is not the only one, as a number of women in her town of Wolf's Point seem to have had the same experience. As the newest member of the pack, Becca learns her nights are not spent only protecting the town and running through the woods howling at the moon. There are werewolf hunters in town and they've got Becca in their sights.
This is Lundoff's first novel, however she has won various awards for her short stories, including the 2010 Gaylactic Spectrum Award Best Other Work. She's also the editor of various lesbian anthologies. I've never read Ms. Lundoff's work, but the blurb for this book had me at "menopause turns her into a werewolf." LOL! After reading that line, I KNEW this book was going on my list. Ohhh, I just need to know how the author handles this premise. [grin]

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A Night Like This (Smythe-Smith #2) by Julia Quinn
Release Date: May 29, 2012
Anne Wynter might not be who she says she is . . .

But she's managing quite well as a governess to three highborn young ladies. Her job can be a challenge—in a single week she finds herself hiding in a closet full of tubas, playing an evil queen in a play that might be a tragedy (or might be a comedy—no one is sure), and tending to the wounds of the oh-so-dashing Earl of Winstead. After years of dodging unwanted advances, he's the first man who has truly tempted her, and it's getting harder and harder to remind herself that a governess has no business flirting with a nobleman.

Daniel Smythe-Smith Might be in mortal danger . . .

But that's not going to stop the young earl from falling in love. And when he spies a mysterious woman at his family's annual musicale, he vows to pursue her, even if that means spending his days with a ten-year-old who thinks she's a unicorn. But Daniel has an enemy, one who has vowed to see him dead. And when Anne is thrown into peril, he will stop at nothing to ensure their happy ending . . .
I read but never reviewed the first book in this series although I enjoyed it. Actually I just noticed that I've never reviewed any of the books that I've read by Julia Quinn. I need to remedy that! I'm not missing this book. I love the infamous Smythe-Smith ladies. They're a hoot!
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A PEEK AHEAD:

Here is a look ahead to some future releases I can't wait to read from favorite authors:


Redshirts: A Novel with Three Codas by John Scalzi - Release Date: June 5, 2012
Scandal Wears Satin (Dressmakers #2) by Loretta Chase - Release Date: June 26, 2012
You Will Meet A Stranger Far From Home by Alex Jeffers - Release Date: July 14, 2012


Gunmetal Magic by Ilona Andrews - Release Date: July 31, 2012
Captain Harding and His Men by Elliott Mackle - Release Date: August 1, 2012
Green Thumb by Tom Cardamone - Release Date: August 2, 2012

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There you are, some of the books I can't wait to read! As always I tried to include a little bit of this and a little bit of that since so many different genres and sub-genres interest me. In this case I only highlighted one contemporary romance, so now I'm asking you... what contemporary books are you looking forward to reading in May? What about the other genres, anything that caught your eye?