A New Year's Gift from Paul G. Bens Jr.

I'm a bit late with this one, but since I read that the author decided to prolong the initiative until January 15, you have enough time.

Paul G. Bens Jr., author of Mahape a ale Wala'au with Torquere Press, wrote a short story about a couple of nice guys, Me ka Hau‘oli Makahiki Hou. The story his up for free on his website. If you read it and email him at makahikihou(at)gmail(dot)com or comment on his LJ gwailowrite that you did it (loved, hated or were indifferent), he will donate $2.00 for each response he gets to Ka 'Ohana O' Kalaupapa
Names Memorial Project.
 
The story will only be up until January 15 or so and it's only about 7,500 words. Feel free to tell others or post this message on your blog or website.

A New Year's Gift from Paul G. Bens Jr.

I'm a bit late with this one, but since I read that the author decided to prolong the initiative until January 15, you have enough time.

Paul G. Bens Jr., author of Mahape a ale Wala'au with Torquere Press, wrote a short story about a couple of nice guys, Me ka Hau‘oli Makahiki Hou. The story his up for free on his website. If you read it and email him at makahikihou(at)gmail(dot)com or comment on his LJ gwailowrite that you did it (loved, hated or were indifferent), he will donate $2.00 for each response he gets to Ka 'Ohana O' Kalaupapa
Names Memorial Project.
 
The story will only be up until January 15 or so and it's only about 7,500 words. Feel free to tell others or post this message on your blog or website.

The Ghost Wore Yellow Socks by Josh Lanyon

Don't change something that is good. Josh Lanyon probably knows the lesson and so in this new book, he re-invent the pair that made famous the Adrien English series.

Perry is a 23 years old struggling artist with a penchant for mystery novels and the eyes full of unlikely romance. He is not at all the type to live alone, asthmatic and without the means to take care for himself, he was kicked out of home when he came out to his parents. Probably they would see some reason sooner or later, but Perry thought well to leave the city and banish himself in a creepy country manor turned boarding house. While trying to survive selling his paintings he also entertained an online romance with Mr Right, a romance which burst like a soap bubble the first time they met.

Running home with the tail between his leg, Perry has the unpleasant surprise to find a dead body in his bathtub; the only thing he can do is searching help and the only man available at the moment is his grumpy neighbor, a reserved ex marine, Nick. Reluctant, Nick searches out Perry's small apartment, where he doesn't find any corpse, but only some clues that a body could be there. Clues that, when the police arrives, are missing.

Nick has no intention to be involved, he is moving in another city in few weeks, but the puppy eyes of Perry are too irresistible. Even if Nick is a divorced man, and Perry the openly gay artist, it soon appears clear that Nick is the one with the sexual experience that should be of Perry. And not only, even if Perry has some good idea on the why of the dead body, it's Nick who has field experience to conduct an impromptu and domestic investigation. As in every worthy mystery, all the tenants of the manor could be the culprit, for different reasons: I had my idea, and this time, it wasn't the right one. As always when I read a mystery, I can't say much on the story, since I don't want to spoil the story: enough to say that usually I'm quite good in single out the right ipothesis among the various the author features. This is a classical mystery, where the author opens various possible paths, and the game is to single out the right one.

More interesting for me was the relationship between Perry and Nick. Nick was so cold and controlled that I almost feared that they would arrive to the end of the story without doing nothing; I consoled myself with the warning the publisher enclosed to the blurb, of possible situations that readers could find objectionable... and that I would find objectionable if I hadn't find them! Anyway, after establishing that Perry didn't have any experience, Nick, instead of behave like a stoic man, and leave the kid untouched and unknowing, thought well to seduce him, probably thinking to do him a favor. Tsk, tsk Nick, not at all a good behavior for an hero, above all since he hasn't any intention to stay around and take care of the kid afterward... doesn't he know that a knight in shining armor who debauch a virgin is expected to do the right thing? Truth be told, Perry didn't object, and then he was a 23 years old virgin! maybe he thought that it was his last chance...

http://www.loose-id.net/detail.aspx?ID=826

Amazon Kindle: The Ghost Wore Yellow Socks

Amazon: The Ghost Wore Yellow Socks

Reading List:

http://www.librarything.com/catalog_bottom.php?tag=reading list&view=elisa.rolle

The Ghost Wore Yellow Socks by Josh Lanyon

Don't change something that is good. Josh Lanyon probably knows the lesson and so in this new book, he re-invent the pair that made famous the Adrien English series.

Perry is a 23 years old struggling artist with a penchant for mystery novels and the eyes full of unlikely romance. He is not at all the type to live alone, asthmatic and without the means to take care for himself, he was kicked out of home when he came out to his parents. Probably they would see some reason sooner or later, but Perry thought well to leave the city and banish himself in a creepy country manor turned boarding house. While trying to survive selling his paintings he also entertained an online romance with Mr Right, a romance which burst like a soap bubble the first time they met.

Running home with the tail between his leg, Perry has the unpleasant surprise to find a dead body in his bathtub; the only thing he can do is searching help and the only man available at the moment is his grumpy neighbor, a reserved ex marine, Nick. Reluctant, Nick searches out Perry's small apartment, where he doesn't find any corpse, but only some clues that a body could be there. Clues that, when the police arrives, are missing.

Nick has no intention to be involved, he is moving in another city in few weeks, but the puppy eyes of Perry are too irresistible. Even if Nick is a divorced man, and Perry the openly gay artist, it soon appears clear that Nick is the one with the sexual experience that should be of Perry. And not only, even if Perry has some good idea on the why of the dead body, it's Nick who has field experience to conduct an impromptu and domestic investigation. As in every worthy mystery, all the tenants of the manor could be the culprit, for different reasons: I had my idea, and this time, it wasn't the right one. As always when I read a mystery, I can't say much on the story, since I don't want to spoil the story: enough to say that usually I'm quite good in single out the right ipothesis among the various the author features. This is a classical mystery, where the author opens various possible paths, and the game is to single out the right one.

More interesting for me was the relationship between Perry and Nick. Nick was so cold and controlled that I almost feared that they would arrive to the end of the story without doing nothing; I consoled myself with the warning the publisher enclosed to the blurb, of possible situations that readers could find objectionable... and that I would find objectionable if I hadn't find them! Anyway, after establishing that Perry didn't have any experience, Nick, instead of behave like a stoic man, and leave the kid untouched and unknowing, thought well to seduce him, probably thinking to do him a favor. Tsk, tsk Nick, not at all a good behavior for an hero, above all since he hasn't any intention to stay around and take care of the kid afterward... doesn't he know that a knight in shining armor who debauch a virgin is expected to do the right thing? Truth be told, Perry didn't object, and then he was a 23 years old virgin! maybe he thought that it was his last chance...

http://www.loose-id.net/detail.aspx?ID=826

Amazon Kindle: The Ghost Wore Yellow Socks

Amazon: The Ghost Wore Yellow Socks

Reading List:

http://www.librarything.com/catalog_bottom.php?tag=reading list&view=elisa.rolle

In memory of Joan Aiken

Joan Delano Aiken (September 4, 1924 – January 4, 2004) was an English novelist. She was born in Rye, East Sussex, into a family of writers, including her father, Conrad Aiken (who won a Pulitzer Prize for his poetry), and her sister, Jane Aiken Hodge.

She worked for the BBC and the UNIC, before she started writing professionally, mainly children's books and thrillers. For her books she received the Guardian Award (1969) and the Edgar Allan Poe Award (1972).

Many of her most popular books, including the Wolves Chronicles, were set in an elaborate alternate history of Britain in which James II is never deposed in the Glorious Revolution, but supporters of the House of Hanover continually agitate against the monarchy. These books also toy with the geography of London, adding a Canal District among other features.

Her many novels for adults include several that continue or complement novels by Jane Austen. These include Mansfield Revisited and Jane Fairfax.

To read more:

http://rosaromance.splinder.com/post/19487159/

In memory of Joan Aiken

Joan Delano Aiken (September 4, 1924 – January 4, 2004) was an English novelist. She was born in Rye, East Sussex, into a family of writers, including her father, Conrad Aiken (who won a Pulitzer Prize for his poetry), and her sister, Jane Aiken Hodge.

She worked for the BBC and the UNIC, before she started writing professionally, mainly children's books and thrillers. For her books she received the Guardian Award (1969) and the Edgar Allan Poe Award (1972).

Many of her most popular books, including the Wolves Chronicles, were set in an elaborate alternate history of Britain in which James II is never deposed in the Glorious Revolution, but supporters of the House of Hanover continually agitate against the monarchy. These books also toy with the geography of London, adding a Canal District among other features.

Her many novels for adults include several that continue or complement novels by Jane Austen. These include Mansfield Revisited and Jane Fairfax.

To read more:

http://rosaromance.splinder.com/post/19487159/

Around the World: Jerónimos Monastery

Portugal was one of the best travel I made. We spent more than three weeks hopping around all the country, every night a different place to sleep, every day a different place to see. For me Portugal is a dream since it's full of history, most of all of the medieval time, a period I love. As you just know I love closters, if I read that a monastery or a church has a closter, you can be sure that I will be there.

 
by Elisa, Lisbona, Portugal, 2002
http://www.elisarolle.com/travel/2002Portogallo.htm

Portugal has three of the most wonderful closter you can find: Belem (above), Batalha and Alcobaca. Belem is the most visited since it's outside Lisbona, very near to the city; it's probably also the more ornated of the three. It's difficult to do a bad picture in this closter since everytime you click there is something beatiful to see.

( Jerónimos Monastery )

Around the World: Jerónimos Monastery

Portugal was one of the best travel I made. We spent more than three weeks hopping around all the country, every night a different place to sleep, every day a different place to see. For me Portugal is a dream since it's full of history, most of all of the medieval time, a period I love. As you just know I love closters, if I read that a monastery or a church has a closter, you can be sure that I will be there.

 
by Elisa, Lisbona, Portugal, 2002
http://www.elisarolle.com/travel/2002Portogallo.htm

Portugal has three of the most wonderful closter you can find: Belem (above), Batalha and Alcobaca. Belem is the most visited since it's outside Lisbona, very near to the city; it's probably also the more ornated of the three. It's difficult to do a bad picture in this closter since everytime you click there is something beatiful to see.

( Jerónimos Monastery )

Masks: Evolution by Hayden Thorne

The second book in the Masks series starts with Eric and Peter in an almost teen comedy relationship. They are young, they are in love, they haven't any problem in their life... well, this is not exactly true. Peter is still learning to mastering his powers and sometime he feels the weight of a responsibility that maybe is too much for a teen. But instead of talking with Eric, he hides behind a cool exterior, making Eric doubts of his love. On the other hand Eric is having financial problem at home, and he would like to help, but he doesn't know how. He would need more than before the comfort that only Peter can give him, but from that side there is no help.

The feeling of the book, as the previous one, is more of a young adult novel than a superhero novel. Maybe since all the superheroes are more like kid with a new toy than real man with a mission. The problem both Peter than Eric face are those of teenagers in love, in a moment in their life when they realize that there is something more than school and their own desires; plus they start to feel something that can really explain, a desire to be with the one you love (even if, in this novel, Peter and Eric spend more time arguing than loving...).

Since neither of those superheroes is adult enough to understand that something is strange, Eric finds himself to face a difficult situation, with his body and his mind that are changing, and he doesn't know if it's the puberty which is hitting or if it's real something abnormal. I feel for Eric, since he has no one to support him: truth be told, I think that Peter is a snob, with a big problem in the communication field, and most of what happened is his fault, to not trying to put aside his own problem and open to Eric; he wants for Eric to be his boyfriend, but then he does nothing for him, not like a superhero but neither like a normal boyfriend. If there is something he can make bad, you are sure that he will do that, like when he takes another girl to dinner at home with his parents, when it's weeks that Eric asks him to do that.

As I said I don't find Peter to be a nice character: he is always in a bad mood with Eric, and I didn't find that Eric deserves to be treated like that; all right Peter could have his own problems, but this is not a reason to be cold with Eric. I hope he will change in the third volume.

http://www.prizmbooks.com/zen/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=11&products_id=38

Amazon: Masks: Evolution

Series: Masks
1) Rise of Heroes: http://elisa-rolle.livejournal.com/430966.html
2) Evolution

Reading List:

http://www.librarything.com/catalog_bottom.php?tag=reading list&view=elisa.rolle


Cover Art by Pluto

Masks: Evolution by Hayden Thorne

The second book in the Masks series starts with Eric and Peter in an almost teen comedy relationship. They are young, they are in love, they haven't any problem in their life... well, this is not exactly true. Peter is still learning to mastering his powers and sometime he feels the weight of a responsibility that maybe is too much for a teen. But instead of talking with Eric, he hides behind a cool exterior, making Eric doubts of his love. On the other hand Eric is having financial problem at home, and he would like to help, but he doesn't know how. He would need more than before the comfort that only Peter can give him, but from that side there is no help.

The feeling of the book, as the previous one, is more of a young adult novel than a superhero novel. Maybe since all the superheroes are more like kid with a new toy than real man with a mission. The problem both Peter than Eric face are those of teenagers in love, in a moment in their life when they realize that there is something more than school and their own desires; plus they start to feel something that can really explain, a desire to be with the one you love (even if, in this novel, Peter and Eric spend more time arguing than loving...).

Since neither of those superheroes is adult enough to understand that something is strange, Eric finds himself to face a difficult situation, with his body and his mind that are changing, and he doesn't know if it's the puberty which is hitting or if it's real something abnormal. I feel for Eric, since he has no one to support him: truth be told, I think that Peter is a snob, with a big problem in the communication field, and most of what happened is his fault, to not trying to put aside his own problem and open to Eric; he wants for Eric to be his boyfriend, but then he does nothing for him, not like a superhero but neither like a normal boyfriend. If there is something he can make bad, you are sure that he will do that, like when he takes another girl to dinner at home with his parents, when it's weeks that Eric asks him to do that.

As I said I don't find Peter to be a nice character: he is always in a bad mood with Eric, and I didn't find that Eric deserves to be treated like that; all right Peter could have his own problems, but this is not a reason to be cold with Eric. I hope he will change in the third volume.

http://www.prizmbooks.com/zen/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=11&products_id=38

Amazon: Masks: Evolution

Series: Masks
1) Rise of Heroes: http://elisa-rolle.livejournal.com/430966.html
2) Evolution

Reading List:

http://www.librarything.com/catalog_bottom.php?tag=reading list&view=elisa.rolle


Cover Art by Pluto

Snowed In by Rhianne Aile & Madeleine Urban

Kasey, Mitch and Warren are colleague and best friend, of different age and predisposition: Kasey is 25 years old and bi-curious, Mitch is 30 years and bisexual (even if it came out to me more as gay) and Warren is 38 years old and straight. They plan to spend a weekend in a mountain cabin and a snowstorm forces them to stay inside the cabin and in near quarter. Kasey is an erotic romance in disguise, and when they are forced to find a way to spend the afternoon, he decides to write a bit: Mitch and Warren realize that he is writing a gay sex scene, but Mitch questions the reality of that scene. Kasey dares him to show how it should be done, but not on the paper, but for real. Mitch is willing, but he is worried for Warren, who seems a bit flustered to have an impromptu porn movie acted in front of him. But then the stupor turns in excitement and also straight Warren falls in the trap of curiosity.

The story is not very long, 66 pages, and it spans for only a night, so there are no clear answer at the end of it. Anyway, I like very much Mitch's character, so open and friendly; just in the past he was a bit interested in both his friends, but he probably never thought to have a chance with them. I don't  believe that in this moment he is searching the true love, maybe he is willing to play and if something follows, he is not against the idea. Kasey on the other hand sees a chance to try his hand in something he probably was interested before, and the possibility to play with two men he trusts is too good to let go. Warren is the more puzzling character... he should be the one that never in the past thought about such a thing, but, truth be told, he is not so skittish to the idea.

We don't know what it will happen next, they could stay good friends (with benefits) or they could build something more, and, maybe, the one who was the less likely, is the one who would be something more for the three of them.

http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/novellas.htm#Snowed_In_

Amazon Kindle: Snowed In

Reading List:

http://www.librarything.com/catalog_bottom.php?tag=reading list&view=elisa.rolle

Snowed In by Rhianne Aile & Madeleine Urban

Kasey, Mitch and Warren are colleague and best friend, of different age and predisposition: Kasey is 25 years old and bi-curious, Mitch is 30 years and bisexual (even if it came out to me more as gay) and Warren is 38 years old and straight. They plan to spend a weekend in a mountain cabin and a snowstorm forces them to stay inside the cabin and in near quarter. Kasey is an erotic romance in disguise, and when they are forced to find a way to spend the afternoon, he decides to write a bit: Mitch and Warren realize that he is writing a gay sex scene, but Mitch questions the reality of that scene. Kasey dares him to show how it should be done, but not on the paper, but for real. Mitch is willing, but he is worried for Warren, who seems a bit flustered to have an impromptu porn movie acted in front of him. But then the stupor turns in excitement and also straight Warren falls in the trap of curiosity.

The story is not very long, 66 pages, and it spans for only a night, so there are no clear answer at the end of it. Anyway, I like very much Mitch's character, so open and friendly; just in the past he was a bit interested in both his friends, but he probably never thought to have a chance with them. I don't  believe that in this moment he is searching the true love, maybe he is willing to play and if something follows, he is not against the idea. Kasey on the other hand sees a chance to try his hand in something he probably was interested before, and the possibility to play with two men he trusts is too good to let go. Warren is the more puzzling character... he should be the one that never in the past thought about such a thing, but, truth be told, he is not so skittish to the idea.

We don't know what it will happen next, they could stay good friends (with benefits) or they could build something more, and, maybe, the one who was the less likely, is the one who would be something more for the three of them.

http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/novellas.htm#Snowed_In_

Amazon Kindle: Snowed In

Reading List:

http://www.librarything.com/catalog_bottom.php?tag=reading list&view=elisa.rolle