My Credo?

A new friend on this LiveJournal, I will not say who to preserve the privacy but if she agrees I will do, asked me if I ever voice my likes and dislikes on books. She was very kind (and if you are wondering I was not at all bothered by the questions, I love that you made them) and she seemed really interested in my answer. She also told me that she can understand when I liked a movie, but not the same with books. She for example didn't understand my prefercenes on Genre. She asked if I'm available to discuss my reviews.

Well I decided to post my reply here since she was not the first to ask it; to some question I already posted in the past, to some other probably not.

I don't rate books and that is a choice I will not change. Other blogs do that, and I have the feeling that sometime the rating is used with other purposes. Just an example, I read a book, it was particular, sure, but I thought it was very very good. Then I read a review by another blog, it gave 1 on a rate 1 to 5. I wondered, since I'm not English and it wasn't really my genre, if I wasn't wrong in my thought. Then a very important reviewer, university professor and expert in Mystery (it was a Mystery) said to me that the book was wonderful... mmm, I still don't understand that 1.

Anyway I'm always up to discuss one of my review if people ask or leave a comment. But people don't leave comment. I'm sure people read them, I also see the outgoing clicks to buy the book (or at least to further browse it), and some publishers/authors told me that when I post a review the sells go up. So why people don't comment? I don't know. But I prefer no comment to some flaming fights/wanking feast or to have 40 comments from 5 people, I hate the long threads where the same people add something only to raise the number of comments.

I don't like all the books, only that, if I really don't like a book, I prefer to not post about it. If I liked it so and so, I try to list the positive things, but people who know me said that they can understand when the book was not exactly my liking. Same as when I love a book, my friends said that it comes clear from what I wrote.

I love historical romance, but not if they are too heavy. I like contemporary, I prefer comedy to drama, I don't like very much fantasy and even less sci-fic. I like Young Adult. But basically, I read almost all, the important thing is to capture my interest long enough.

And now, I'm ready if you want to discuss all of above ;-)

My Credo?

A new friend on this LiveJournal, I will not say who to preserve the privacy but if she agrees I will do, asked me if I ever voice my likes and dislikes on books. She was very kind (and if you are wondering I was not at all bothered by the questions, I love that you made them) and she seemed really interested in my answer. She also told me that she can understand when I liked a movie, but not the same with books. She for example didn't understand my prefercenes on Genre. She asked if I'm available to discuss my reviews.

Well I decided to post my reply here since she was not the first to ask it; to some question I already posted in the past, to some other probably not.

I don't rate books and that is a choice I will not change. Other blogs do that, and I have the feeling that sometime the rating is used with other purposes. Just an example, I read a book, it was particular, sure, but I thought it was very very good. Then I read a review by another blog, it gave 1 on a rate 1 to 5. I wondered, since I'm not English and it wasn't really my genre, if I wasn't wrong in my thought. Then a very important reviewer, university professor and expert in Mystery (it was a Mystery) said to me that the book was wonderful... mmm, I still don't understand that 1.

Anyway I'm always up to discuss one of my review if people ask or leave a comment. But people don't leave comment. I'm sure people read them, I also see the outgoing clicks to buy the book (or at least to further browse it), and some publishers/authors told me that when I post a review the sells go up. So why people don't comment? I don't know. But I prefer no comment to some flaming fights/wanking feast or to have 40 comments from 5 people, I hate the long threads where the same people add something only to raise the number of comments.

I don't like all the books, only that, if I really don't like a book, I prefer to not post about it. If I liked it so and so, I try to list the positive things, but people who know me said that they can understand when the book was not exactly my liking. Same as when I love a book, my friends said that it comes clear from what I wrote.

I love historical romance, but not if they are too heavy. I like contemporary, I prefer comedy to drama, I don't like very much fantasy and even less sci-fic. I like Young Adult. But basically, I read almost all, the important thing is to capture my interest long enough.

And now, I'm ready if you want to discuss all of above ;-)

The Mark of an Alpha by Kim Dare

This was quite an original paranormal M/M romance, a comparison between the D/s relationships and the strict pack order of the traditional shapeshifter romance. In a Dom/sub relationship the roles are quite clear, the Master is the Dom and the pet is the sub, there is no blurry line; the same clear is the structure of a pack, the Alpha is the leaser, the beta and gamma are the enforcerers and the omega is the weaker member, the one who has to be cherished and protected, like a lucky mascotte. So the sub is the same of an omega? That is the dilemma.

Marsdon and Bennett met in a dungeon, two strangers seeking for pleasure, and they have never exchanged names. They both know the other is a werewolf, but that was not part of the agreement and no one asked for an explanation. Marsdon assumed Bennett was an omega, still without a pack; Marsdon was also engaged with the son of an Alpha of another pack, a young Alpha man who will mate with him and help in building a new pack. Marsdon cannot fall in love with Bennett, he is not his chosen mate, he is not an Alpha.

But both Marsdon than Bennett will have a surprise, when they will recognize each other during the mating ceremony: only that now Bennett cannot hide the fact that he is a submissive, that he craves the touch of a Master, and as submissive he is not the right mate for an Alpha.

That is what Bennett has to learn: being a submissive doesn’t mean being an omega, he can be a sub for his Master in the intimacy of their bedroom, and at the same time being part of an Alpha pair and helping his mate in the day-to-day management of the pack. Being a sub doesn’t mean being weaker, being a submissive is a choice, or a need to fulfill your inner desire; instead an omega is born like that, you cannot teach or pretend from him to be an Alpha, or to be strong as an Alpha.

I liked both Marsdon than Bennett, for different reason, even if I found Bennett a bit too much stubborn; Marsdon on the other hand was almost perfect, perfect Master, just the right level of dominance without being violent, and perfect Alpha, willing to sacrifice his happiness for the well-being of the pack but without doubt more than glad when he discovers that he is already in love with his promised mate.

http://www.total-e-bound.com/product.asp?strParents=&CAT_ID=&P_ID=660

Amazon Kindle: The Mark of an Alpha (Pack Discipline)
Publisher: Total-E-Bound Publishing (January 4, 2010)

Reading List:

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

The Mark of an Alpha by Kim Dare

This was quite an original paranormal M/M romance, a comparison between the D/s relationships and the strict pack order of the traditional shapeshifter romance. In a Dom/sub relationship the roles are quite clear, the Master is the Dom and the pet is the sub, there is no blurry line; the same clear is the structure of a pack, the Alpha is the leaser, the beta and gamma are the enforcerers and the omega is the weaker member, the one who has to be cherished and protected, like a lucky mascotte. So the sub is the same of an omega? That is the dilemma.

Marsdon and Bennett met in a dungeon, two strangers seeking for pleasure, and they have never exchanged names. They both know the other is a werewolf, but that was not part of the agreement and no one asked for an explanation. Marsdon assumed Bennett was an omega, still without a pack; Marsdon was also engaged with the son of an Alpha of another pack, a young Alpha man who will mate with him and help in building a new pack. Marsdon cannot fall in love with Bennett, he is not his chosen mate, he is not an Alpha.

But both Marsdon than Bennett will have a surprise, when they will recognize each other during the mating ceremony: only that now Bennett cannot hide the fact that he is a submissive, that he craves the touch of a Master, and as submissive he is not the right mate for an Alpha.

That is what Bennett has to learn: being a submissive doesn’t mean being an omega, he can be a sub for his Master in the intimacy of their bedroom, and at the same time being part of an Alpha pair and helping his mate in the day-to-day management of the pack. Being a sub doesn’t mean being weaker, being a submissive is a choice, or a need to fulfill your inner desire; instead an omega is born like that, you cannot teach or pretend from him to be an Alpha, or to be strong as an Alpha.

I liked both Marsdon than Bennett, for different reason, even if I found Bennett a bit too much stubborn; Marsdon on the other hand was almost perfect, perfect Master, just the right level of dominance without being violent, and perfect Alpha, willing to sacrifice his happiness for the well-being of the pack but without doubt more than glad when he discovers that he is already in love with his promised mate.

http://www.total-e-bound.com/product.asp?strParents=&CAT_ID=&P_ID=660

Amazon Kindle: The Mark of an Alpha (Pack Discipline)
Publisher: Total-E-Bound Publishing (January 4, 2010)

Reading List:

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

Man Candy Day: Players by Rick Day

Like last week with Dylan Rosser, this week I'd like to feature a photographer that is often protagonist of this kind of posts, but not always his name is clearly stated. A Rick Day's work is clearly recognizable, at least for me, aside for the sports theme, that he collected in this new coffe table book, Players, there is also the use of cold colors (white, black, grey, cold red) that mixed together are all then cold.

Rick Day loves to play with the expectations of the contemplator. Superficially it’s all about sports, about immaculate and trained bodies in chunky rugby wear, tight trunks or simply naked. But Rick Day is not just taking pictures of masculine sex appeal. His work impresses with an almost corporeal tension.

'I wanted to blur the lines of sexuality with this project. Men and women should be able to turn the pages and lose themselves in beauty and lust' - Rick Day.

Amazon: Players

 

( Players by Rick Day )

 

A true Southerner, self-taught photographer Rick Day moved to New York City in 1994 and has become a noted name in Fashion Photography. His work has been published in numerous publications such as Elle, Details, Teen Vogue and GQ and shot advertising campaigns for Gap, Ritani and Rufskin. When not traveling, he spends his time in the East Village with his dogs Mila and Luna always shooting the hottest faces in the industry. In a generation where beauty is obsession and sex is a product, he seems to have flawlessly "cataloged the world's sexiest exhibitionists", in their most intimate moments, with his coffee table book Players.

And to complete the "sport" offer, there is not only one but two calendars. Players is the calendar version of the coffe table book:

Amazon: Players 2010 Calendar

And if haven't had enough of Players, you can have also some Athletes:

Amazon: Athletes 2010 Wall Calendar

And now, to complete the post, as usual a triplet of Men Candy. Obviously the selection is among the models who worked for Rick Day.

Jed Hill (born January 23, 1985), former All-Ohio selection from Struthers HS, has played defensive end and tackle during his career at Penn State for the Nittany Lions.

 

( Jed Hill )

Jed, full name Jedidiah James Hill, majored in crime, law and justice.

Today he decided to become a model and, here too, the results are arriving and his image is all around the world.

Jed was the man of the month for September 2008 on DNA Magazine, his agency is R&L Models in New York

---

Luke Guldan is a new face at R&L Models in New York, one of the country's premier fitness agencies. The “sport” pic is by Jon Malinwoski, the pics in which Luke Guldan wears that nice flowers shirt are by Rodney K. Folkert, the pics in which Luke has a metropolitan attire and the one in front of the mirror are by Rick Day.

 

( Luke Guldan )

 

Luke Guldan is one of the fastest-rising models working in fashion today, plus a fitness expert and dieting guru. Luke has competed in the 2007 INBF Natural Hercules Bodybuilding Competition held in New York City on June 30th.

@Luke Guldan: http://lukeguldan.com/

Jamie Dominic, born 22 years ago as Jamie Dominic Mason, is a successful model. He is signed by Silver Model Management in New York.

 

( Jamie Dominic )

 

Besides being a model Jamie Dominic has another big talent. He is a musician. And has been since he was 5 years old. At that young age he already entertained his family and friends with singing, and at the sweet age of 10 he got his first guitar, that he used to practice music for hours in a row in his bed room. Not without success. Over the years Jamie has played in a dozen different bands, one of them coming very close to landing a record contract. Now he is solo, and even though he likes the cooperation with others, he wouldn’t have it any other way.

“If I make it big awesome. If I don’t that’s awesome too. My main goal is to touch the hearts of a lot of people along whatever path I take.”

@Model Mayhem: http://www.modelmayhem.com/jamiedominic

Man Candy Day: Players by Rick Day

Like last week with Dylan Rosser, this week I'd like to feature a photographer that is often protagonist of this kind of posts, but not always his name is clearly stated. A Rick Day's work is clearly recognizable, at least for me, aside for the sports theme, that he collected in this new coffe table book, Players, there is also the use of cold colors (white, black, grey, cold red) that mixed together are all then cold.

Rick Day loves to play with the expectations of the contemplator. Superficially it’s all about sports, about immaculate and trained bodies in chunky rugby wear, tight trunks or simply naked. But Rick Day is not just taking pictures of masculine sex appeal. His work impresses with an almost corporeal tension.

'I wanted to blur the lines of sexuality with this project. Men and women should be able to turn the pages and lose themselves in beauty and lust' - Rick Day.

Amazon: Players

 

( Players by Rick Day )

 

A true Southerner, self-taught photographer Rick Day moved to New York City in 1994 and has become a noted name in Fashion Photography. His work has been published in numerous publications such as Elle, Details, Teen Vogue and GQ and shot advertising campaigns for Gap, Ritani and Rufskin. When not traveling, he spends his time in the East Village with his dogs Mila and Luna always shooting the hottest faces in the industry. In a generation where beauty is obsession and sex is a product, he seems to have flawlessly "cataloged the world's sexiest exhibitionists", in their most intimate moments, with his coffee table book Players.

And to complete the "sport" offer, there is not only one but two calendars. Players is the calendar version of the coffe table book:

Amazon: Players 2010 Calendar

And if haven't had enough of Players, you can have also some Athletes:

Amazon: Athletes 2010 Wall Calendar

And now, to complete the post, as usual a triplet of Men Candy. Obviously the selection is among the models who worked for Rick Day.

Jed Hill (born January 23, 1985), former All-Ohio selection from Struthers HS, has played defensive end and tackle during his career at Penn State for the Nittany Lions.

 

( Jed Hill )

Jed, full name Jedidiah James Hill, majored in crime, law and justice.

Today he decided to become a model and, here too, the results are arriving and his image is all around the world.

Jed was the man of the month for September 2008 on DNA Magazine, his agency is R&L Models in New York

---

Luke Guldan is a new face at R&L Models in New York, one of the country's premier fitness agencies. The “sport” pic is by Jon Malinwoski, the pics in which Luke Guldan wears that nice flowers shirt are by Rodney K. Folkert, the pics in which Luke has a metropolitan attire and the one in front of the mirror are by Rick Day.

 

( Luke Guldan )

 

Luke Guldan is one of the fastest-rising models working in fashion today, plus a fitness expert and dieting guru. Luke has competed in the 2007 INBF Natural Hercules Bodybuilding Competition held in New York City on June 30th.

@Luke Guldan: http://lukeguldan.com/

Jamie Dominic, born 22 years ago as Jamie Dominic Mason, is a successful model. He is signed by Silver Model Management in New York.

 

( Jamie Dominic )

 

Besides being a model Jamie Dominic has another big talent. He is a musician. And has been since he was 5 years old. At that young age he already entertained his family and friends with singing, and at the sweet age of 10 he got his first guitar, that he used to practice music for hours in a row in his bed room. Not without success. Over the years Jamie has played in a dozen different bands, one of them coming very close to landing a record contract. Now he is solo, and even though he likes the cooperation with others, he wouldn’t have it any other way.

“If I make it big awesome. If I don’t that’s awesome too. My main goal is to touch the hearts of a lot of people along whatever path I take.”

@Model Mayhem: http://www.modelmayhem.com/jamiedominic

Finding Chandler (The Solitary Knights of Pelham Bay 1) by Claire Thompson

A group of not so young friends meet in a pub once a week to mourn the loss of true love and to convince who is still hoping to find it that it’s a useless search. Then the bartender let it drop the bomb: are they sure that the one that got away is not there somewhere for them to find again?

One of them is sure that he did that mistake. Eric, 44 years old, has embraced the life of single for years, always saying that he has never found the right man, but he knew that he is a liar. True love he found, he was Chandler, the sweet guy three years younger than him that was his boyfriend in college. But Eric as a young boy was selfish and still unscathed by life, and when college ended, he didn’t look back twice after leaving Chandler. Not only that, he also behaved in a very cold way with him, surely breaking his heart. So now Eric is sure that trying to re-conquer Chandler’s heart will be an hard fight, but one that Eric is ready to face.

I like both men’s perspective: Eric for sure is trying to recapture his lost youth, but no more in the selfish way he had before; now it’s more a bittersweet hunt, I think he has really understood how fool it was. Anyway, he has not yet lost all his selfishness, since he is still ready to turn up Chandler’s life. Chandler on the other hand, was really in love with Eric, and probably he still is, but he is no more the trusting boy for whom Eric was the world. He is ready to loose Eric’s forever, he has already lost him, the most important thing is not losing his heart again, since this time he has no more all the life to mend the wound.

These two are not two young men with the star in the eyes, and I like also that they are not even desperate middle ages men; this is not their last chance at love, but for sure it’s their last chance to mend a more than 20 years old wound. Another thing that I noticed is that they are neither perfect beautiful gay hero: Eric’s strength is in his attitude, at least it was when they were young; to Chandler’s eyes he is beautiful, but from what I gathered, he is a slightly above the average handsome man, not model material. Chandler then is for sure not pretty, not in the face and not in the body, his strength is in his gentle soul. Probably 20 years before Eric noticed him since Chandler was so star struck that he pleased Eric’s ego; but this gave to Chandler the chance to show to Eric who he really was, behind the physical exterior.

The author didn’t either play the sometime easy sex card here: I was so heartwarmed by the story that I would have been glad to arrive to the end without sex. In the end there is also the sex, and it’s nice, but it’s not the main event of the story.

Buy at 1 Romance Ebooks

Amazon Kindle: Finding Chandler (The Solitary Knights of Pelham Bay)

Reading List:

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

Finding Chandler (The Solitary Knights of Pelham Bay 1) by Claire Thompson

A group of not so young friends meet in a pub once a week to mourn the loss of true love and to convince who is still hoping to find it that it’s a useless search. Then the bartender let it drop the bomb: are they sure that the one that got away is not there somewhere for them to find again?

One of them is sure that he did that mistake. Eric, 44 years old, has embraced the life of single for years, always saying that he has never found the right man, but he knew that he is a liar. True love he found, he was Chandler, the sweet guy three years younger than him that was his boyfriend in college. But Eric as a young boy was selfish and still unscathed by life, and when college ended, he didn’t look back twice after leaving Chandler. Not only that, he also behaved in a very cold way with him, surely breaking his heart. So now Eric is sure that trying to re-conquer Chandler’s heart will be an hard fight, but one that Eric is ready to face.

I like both men’s perspective: Eric for sure is trying to recapture his lost youth, but no more in the selfish way he had before; now it’s more a bittersweet hunt, I think he has really understood how fool it was. Anyway, he has not yet lost all his selfishness, since he is still ready to turn up Chandler’s life. Chandler on the other hand, was really in love with Eric, and probably he still is, but he is no more the trusting boy for whom Eric was the world. He is ready to loose Eric’s forever, he has already lost him, the most important thing is not losing his heart again, since this time he has no more all the life to mend the wound.

These two are not two young men with the star in the eyes, and I like also that they are not even desperate middle ages men; this is not their last chance at love, but for sure it’s their last chance to mend a more than 20 years old wound. Another thing that I noticed is that they are neither perfect beautiful gay hero: Eric’s strength is in his attitude, at least it was when they were young; to Chandler’s eyes he is beautiful, but from what I gathered, he is a slightly above the average handsome man, not model material. Chandler then is for sure not pretty, not in the face and not in the body, his strength is in his gentle soul. Probably 20 years before Eric noticed him since Chandler was so star struck that he pleased Eric’s ego; but this gave to Chandler the chance to show to Eric who he really was, behind the physical exterior.

The author didn’t either play the sometime easy sex card here: I was so heartwarmed by the story that I would have been glad to arrive to the end without sex. In the end there is also the sex, and it’s nice, but it’s not the main event of the story.

Buy at 1 Romance Ebooks

Amazon Kindle: Finding Chandler (The Solitary Knights of Pelham Bay)

Reading List:

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

Man Candy Day addendum: Christian Sancho

I don't know who Christian Sancho is, aside being an Argentinan actor/model, but I bet he is very good... yes, yes, I can say that, and no, it's not for the cute bum! (fingers crossed since I'm a liar...)

Joke aside it's really interesting to see what happens behind a photo shoot... wouldn't you have wanted to be the one to take of that towel or to wet that... all right, let the images speak: 

He's starring in the telenovela Las alas del amor... Ángel. He plays the role of an angel, who's looking for a heart that's pure. And he is very sexy as face for Carlo Pignatelli:

http://www.carlopignatelli.com/

Man Candy Day addendum: Christian Sancho

I don't know who Christian Sancho is, aside being an Argentinan actor/model, but I bet he is very good... yes, yes, I can say that, and no, it's not for the cute bum! (fingers crossed since I'm a liar...)

Joke aside it's really interesting to see what happens behind a photo shoot... wouldn't you have wanted to be the one to take of that towel or to wet that... all right, let the images speak: 

He's starring in the telenovela Las alas del amor... Ángel. He plays the role of an angel, who's looking for a heart that's pure. And he is very sexy as face for Carlo Pignatelli:

http://www.carlopignatelli.com/