Chris Kluwe photo by David Bowman
What’s up this week? A picture of Chris Kluwe whose writing has been featured on this site for a few weeks. He looks hot enough to be one of the Friday Guys. 
It’s the Canadian Thanksgiving on Monday and I would like to wish all Canadians a happy Thanksgiving. We have a lot for which to be thankful and I hope you will remember those less fortunate and donate either to your local food bank or an organization like The Yonge Street Mission if you live in Toronto, which feeds individuals who are homeless, or a similar charitable organization in the city/town where you live.
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On Wednesday, I’m posting a profile of author Isabelle Rowan. Please check it out and ask Izzy as many questions as you like. She’s looking forward to them.
Just over a week to go before GRL 2012 and I’ll be writing a post on Friday giving you a few highlights of what attendees can expect in Albuquerque, New Mexico starting Thursday, October 18. The excitement is building. To those of you who can’t make it this year – 2013 will be here before Ethan Day can tear out his curly locks. :)
Next month author P.D. Singer will be interviewed on the site.
Because I love you guys I’m giving you a link to a review on Amazon.com (which may have gone viral) that had me laughing hysterically 
No, this is not a
review about a book, it’s for a hair removal product called Veet for Men that started like this:
“After having been told my danglies looked like an elderly rastafarian I decided to take the plunge and buy some of this as previous shaving attempts had only been mildly successful and I nearly put my back out trying to reach the more difficult bits. Being a bit of a romantic I thought I would do the deed on the missus’s birthday as a bit of a treat.”
Please do not have sharp objects around or drink anything hot while reading this or you may injure yourself. I’m not sure if the review is meant to be taken seriously since the reviewer gave the product 5 stars despite his injuries, but the rest of it can be found here:
http://tinyurl.com/9b2o6vz
You may remember I posted an article a few weeks ago that San Francisco Supervisor Scott Weiner wanted to ban public nudity – here’s a link to that article:
http://tinyurl.com/9ye3l8y
Today Tj sent me this article from the Wall Street Journal which indicates that Supervisor Weiner did indeed propose such a law this past week and here’s a link to the article as well as a picture of a couple of the protestors who want to be able to give you the big picture. Aren’t they cute? Tj’s favourite line from the article “If only they looked better, it would be great.” There is now a play about this called The Buck Naked Church of Truth. Only in San Francisco!!
http://tinyurl.com/9uz5c38
On a more serious note, author Stephen Fry made a video about why churches should be Out 4 Marriage, and here it is.
I was very pleased to read that last week California outlawed the practice of conversion therapy for GBLTQ youth under 18 and I hope that other US states will follow suit. I’m also hoping that those “ex gay” organizations (pray away the gay) that practice this therapy in Canada will have their charitable status revoked. Why do these bible thumpers think they have a right to impose their will on everyone and why is Revenue Canada giving them a free pass?
On another topic, I have been noticing a trend that has been around for a couple years but is getting worse recently and that is, a lot of M/M romances are not funny. I know that many readers love angst by the bucket loads, but it seems that the majority of the gay romances released are downright depressing. Isn’t RL depressing enough?
Do you like romantic comedies? I love them, and at least one publisher must have read my mind – Amber Allure released two romantic comedies last Sunday and I’ll be picking them up for review. The names of the books are: The Friendly Werewolf and the (Almost) Friendly Vampire by Helen Louise Carroll and Sex and the Single Zombie by Cassandra Gold. Also, To Catch A Fox by Ethan Day and Geoff Knight is side splitting funny and you’ll be missing out on a treat if you don’t pick it up. Have you read Ethan Stone’s Bartender P.I. released about a year ago? I absolutely adored this book (some of you wanted more sex but I thought it was perfect). I wish Ethan would write another funny story but maybe this assignment is too tough. (Hi Ethan!). If you have read a romantic comedy lately, or just a funny story, please leave a comment on this post for those of us who would like a few recommendations.
This is turning out to be a very long post.
Here are the reviews posted this weekend:
Who We Are by T.J. Klune reviewed by Raine; Bear, Otter & The Kid by T.J. Klune reviewed by Raine; Above All by Jane Elliot reviewed by Jeayci; Conduct Unbecoming by L.A. Witt reviewed by Lasha; The Man Who Wouldn’t Wear Leather by Aaron Michaels reviewed by Cryselle; Nothing Better than Leather by Katherine Halle reviewed by Cryselle; Kale’s Spirit by Jackie Nacht reviewed by Larissa; Stained Glass by Jaime Samms reviewed by Andrea; Holbrook Academy by Dean Ocean reviewed by Sirius; The Prince of Winds by Tali Spencer reviewed by Larissa; and I reviewed To Catch A Fox by Geoff Knight and Ethan Day. Feliz also reviewed the movie Ciao (director Yen Tan). If you haven’t checked out these reviews this would be a good time to do so.
Free Books This Week:
Home Work by Kaje Harper – MLR Press
Pine Tar & Sweet Tea by Kerry Freeman – Loose Id
The Party Boy’s Guide to Dating a Geek by Piper Vaughn and Xara X Xankas
The Road to Byron by Isabelle Rowan – Dreamspinner Press
All Alone in a Sea of Romance by B.G. Thomas- Dreamspinner Press
The Hot Floor by Josephine Myles – Samhain Publishing
Don’t Try This At Home Dreamspinner anthology
Reviews This Week:
Lady M: Home Work by Kaje Harper
Sirius: The One That Gave by T.C. Blue; Chasing Gold by Stephen Graham King
Jenre: Beyond The Edge by Elizabeth Lister
Feliz: The Psychic’s Tale by Chris Quinton; The Soldier’s Tale by R.J. Scott; The Lord’s Tale by Sue Brown
Raine: Power Exchange by A.J. Rose
Aunt Lynn: Appearances Matter by Jeff Erno
Sammy: Hoarse Play by Sean Michael
Cryselle: Melting Wax and Burning Feathers by Jennifer Ciera
Andrea: Letting Go by M.J. O’Shea
Jeayci: Above All by Jane Elliot
Wave: My Regelence Rake by J.L. Langley; Tigerland by Sean Kennedy; Pine Tar and Sweet Tea by Kerry Freeman
The Friday Guys will be here as usual.
Till next week that’s a wrap.
Do Tigerland first, please. I want to see if I should buy it!
I will be reviewing Hard Pressed this week. I think. *g*
BTW, can you ask Ethan and GRL organizers if maybe they could do the convention next year in Florida? Come on, we have sunny beaches, warm weather and if we go to Miami, extremely good looking men (and women.) I have made my pitch.
Hi Lasha
I can’t do Tigerland first because the book doesn’t release until October 15 and DSP has no pre ordering so they don’t like their books reviewed before the release dates. The earliest I can do it is a week from now, assuming I get the book in time.
I suspect that next year GRL will be in the east since they seem to be alternating east and west. However I’ll pass on your request but I think you’re already too late – I suspect they have already chosen the site for next year and it’s a closely guarded sekkrit.
Any place but New York City.
New York city would be fantastic lol.
Hmm, Dreamspinner may not like their books to be reviewed before publication but they certainly allow pre-orders. I pre-order their books all the time and sometimes one of their books appears on my bookshelf for download even before the publication date.
And I just pre-ordered Tigerland!
I was told that they didn’t have pre ordering so they must have changed. Thanks for this information Liade. I guess I can review the book early.
…..and I’m rooting for Kansas City or Chicago!
Chicago would work for me but the date might be tricky as I was planning on going to Europe in early September next year and I may not be able to afford both so close together.
Wasn’t that the best ever review?
I’m still laughing and hope that no one buys this product. 
See how I take care of you guys.
Thanks for bringing up humor. None of the books I read so far had it and was wondering whether it was verboten. I enjoy quenching an overdose of angst with a humorous book now and then.
Many authors tell me humour is difficult to write, but that’s why they’re called writers. They can’t just do the easy angst filled stuff to make readers either furious at the characters or cry.
I read for relaxation and enjoyment and a funny book is a sure way to achieve both objectives. I’m on a mission to find as many funny books as possible.
Well, you just saw my review for Above All; there was quite a bit of humor in that one.
Thanks for all the news and links, Wave, it’s going to take me a little while to check them all out. In the meantime, Happy Thanksgiving!
Hi Jess
I think a lot of authors cop out and write angst filled stories because they know that many readers love them and wouldn’t complain. When an author keeps giving me the same stories over and over again that’s when I step reading her books.
Humour is something that lifts one’s spirits, which is why I have been trying to include a few funny stories in these weekly updates.
Thanks for the review of Above All – I will definitely be taking this book with me to GRL to read on the plane since I hate flying.
Gee, Wave, I have no idea which author(s) you might have in mind as you say that…
And I love the humor in your weekly updates! 
I’m glad you enjoyed the review of Above All, and I hope the book itself helps your flight pass quickly and pleasantly!
And thanks for responding to the publisher on my review, for some reason I can’t seem to open it today.
Other pages are loading slowly for me (hoping it’s just something wonky on my end and not more site issues!!), but at least they open eventually. So I’ll keep trying, but for some reason that page in particular really doesn’t like me today. 
I haven’t had any problems with the site loading so far today so I’m hoping (selfishly) that it’s only at your end.
No prob. re the response to the publisher. I was re-reading the review when I noticed her comment.
Now I have to finish my GRL post. This is going to be such fun.
I’m glad you haven’t had any problems with the site loading! I got so nervous when every page was loading slowly, and that one wasn’t loading at all. It seems better now though, so maybe there were just gremlins in my wires this morning.
Looking forward to your GRL post, and so wish I were going this year! I’m looking forward to enjoying it vicariously to the extent others are willing to share their experience.
Humor IS tough to write, and it is so subjective. What one person thinks is funny others think is stupid, offensive or at the mildest…huh??
I have J.L. Langley’s My Fair Captain on my humor shelf. I think it is ROFL funny.
But if people don’t like it, lots of negative reviews get generated…seems like a poor cost to benefit ratio, to me.
I put Man of Cave Bear on my humor shelf.
Okay, I take back every gracious thing I said. I just read that review. OMG Hilarious!!!! I haven’t laughed that hard in Forever!!! Nothing in genre to compare this too. Thanks for link… Priceless!
See, I made you laugh, and humour IS contagious.
Sometimes when I’m reading a funny book I have to put it down because my side hurts from laughing so much. 
Reggie
I know humour is tough to write but nothing good should be easy and I do understand that everyone’s sense of humour is different but some authors manage to write very funny books that are not slapstick but intelligent.
I recently reviewed a few humorous murder mysteries e.g. Scott Sherman’s First You Fall and Third You Die, as well as To Catch a Fox by Ethan Day and Geoff Knight. I have also reviewed many other fun books that I doubt would offend anyone.
Some authors are not willing to stretch their creative muscle and keep churning out the same drivel all the time because it sells and no one challenges them. I have stopped reading or reviewing books by certain writers because their stories don’t change, only the names of the characters or the locations. BTW none of these books was the least bit funny.
I do remember how funny My Fair Captain was. I’m now reading My Regelence Rake and I hope the same thread continues in this book.
I loved how Scott Sherman has heavy topics, but treats them without angst.
Lately I find that most books I come across have a character or two that has been abused, stalked, bashed, raped or what not. While they are common tropes, lately it has been overdone and I’d love to see something different, something lighter. Hell it doesn’t even have to be humor, though I love Mimi Riser’s books. Just look at those and J.L. Langley’s sci-fi series or M.L. Rhodes.
Larissa
I couldn’t agree with you more. I’m so sick of reading about everyone in the world who has been as you said “abused, stalked, bashed, raped or what not” that I have been avoiding reading many m/m books because they are too depressing. Whatever happened to making a story entertaining and enjoyable? I KNOW that bad things happen to good people but do we have to read about them in EVERY SINGLE BOOK?
BTW I, too, love Mimi Riser’s books as well as those by Langley and Rhodes who never hit you over the head with angst. As for Scott, he’s an excellent writer who doesn’t go for these common tropes and produces excellent work. A lot of our authors could learn a thing or two from writers like him.
That was hysterical amazon review, thanks Wave. Can’t wait when Tigerland is out
Neither you nor I would ever be able to write such a funny review Sirius.
Ain’t that the truth Wave. And I never knew that Dreamspinner allows preorders either.
Yeah, you can pre-order, but their is no benefit. You don’t get it early, nor do they e-mail it to you. If there’s a sale, well, lemon juice to you. Why let them have my $$ early? {shrugs}
Totally makes sense Reggie. I do not buy much directly from them either way. As I mentioned previously I never knew that they had preorder, but the conditions do not sound very enticing to me.
Happy Thanksgiving Wave.
Thank you so much Laura. I’ll send you some sweet potato pie.
Happy Thanksgiving Wave! Loved the links and the review
Much appreciated. You’re welcome – I’m framing that review.