Cursed by Rhianne Aile

Cursed is a very original werewolf romance, since the werewolf is not the usual Alpha male all action and no words, he needs the help of his mate, and of his other friends, to arrive at the right conclusion of his story.

Tristan and his twin William are the direct descendants of a witch who cursed the Sterling family more than 500 years before. Now Tristan feels the need to put an end to that curse, and for this reason he meets the heir of the Sterling family, Benjamin, an american businessman. Benjamin has lost the hope to see the curse broken, and he has set his life to accomodate both his human than his wolf form. He lives part of the month in New York, and part in a huge estate in the country, where he can shift without problems. All his employees know about him being a werewolf, and protect and love him nevertheless.

When Benjamin smells Tristan's scent, he knows that the young britishman is his chosen mate. And Tristan has no problem to accept both the man than the wolf. But when, and if, he will manage to break the curse, the man Benjamin will love Tristan as much as the werewolf?

As in the other books by Rhianne Aile I read, the man on man relationship in the story doesn't arise any trouble in the people around. It seems like the author describes a utopic world, even more when Benjamin is a divorced man with a son, and we don't know if he is bisexual or only gay (he has had other gay relationships before Tristan). True there is the mate's matter: Benjamin clearly said that his ex wife wasn't his chosen mate, and that werewolves mate for life and Tristan is his true mate.

Tristan is an almost funny character. He behaves almost like a teenager sometime, all innocence and naivite, but he has the desire and the reaction of an adult man. Even if it is not clearly highlighted, I think he is younger than Benjamin, and so it's almost natural that Benjamin takes the dominant position in the relationship. But Benjamin is not the classical alpha male: he has the jelaousy issues of every real mated werewolf, but if necessary he can argue without growling.

Cursed starts a little on the quiet pace, but grews on a fastest rhytm in the second part of the story, that I found very well plotted. Also the curse's resolution is very original, and there is also a bit of humor in it. Cursed reminds me of other werewolf romance, where humor and paranormal are well mixed.

http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=958

Amazon: Cursed

Amazon Kindle: Cursed

Reading List:

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


Cover Art by Anne Cain

Cursed by Rhianne Aile

Cursed is a very original werewolf romance, since the werewolf is not the usual Alpha male all action and no words, he needs the help of his mate, and of his other friends, to arrive at the right conclusion of his story.

Tristan and his twin William are the direct descendants of a witch who cursed the Sterling family more than 500 years before. Now Tristan feels the need to put an end to that curse, and for this reason he meets the heir of the Sterling family, Benjamin, an american businessman. Benjamin has lost the hope to see the curse broken, and he has set his life to accomodate both his human than his wolf form. He lives part of the month in New York, and part in a huge estate in the country, where he can shift without problems. All his employees know about him being a werewolf, and protect and love him nevertheless.

When Benjamin smells Tristan's scent, he knows that the young britishman is his chosen mate. And Tristan has no problem to accept both the man than the wolf. But when, and if, he will manage to break the curse, the man Benjamin will love Tristan as much as the werewolf?

As in the other books by Rhianne Aile I read, the man on man relationship in the story doesn't arise any trouble in the people around. It seems like the author describes a utopic world, even more when Benjamin is a divorced man with a son, and we don't know if he is bisexual or only gay (he has had other gay relationships before Tristan). True there is the mate's matter: Benjamin clearly said that his ex wife wasn't his chosen mate, and that werewolves mate for life and Tristan is his true mate.

Tristan is an almost funny character. He behaves almost like a teenager sometime, all innocence and naivite, but he has the desire and the reaction of an adult man. Even if it is not clearly highlighted, I think he is younger than Benjamin, and so it's almost natural that Benjamin takes the dominant position in the relationship. But Benjamin is not the classical alpha male: he has the jelaousy issues of every real mated werewolf, but if necessary he can argue without growling.

Cursed starts a little on the quiet pace, but grews on a fastest rhytm in the second part of the story, that I found very well plotted. Also the curse's resolution is very original, and there is also a bit of humor in it. Cursed reminds me of other werewolf romance, where humor and paranormal are well mixed.

http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=958

Amazon: Cursed

Amazon Kindle: Cursed

Reading List:

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


Cover Art by Anne Cain

Betrayed by Rhianne Aile

Like in Cursed, also in Betrayed there is a bit of contraposition between a non shifter partner, Will, who is also small and pretty, and the big bad wolf, Richard, the Alpha of his pack, the one in command, but who, in the end needs his mate to solve his trouble. More, Richard is under the spell of an evil witch, and she is a woman, a petite and beautiful china doll, who, nevertheless, is able to chain Richard under his clutches.

When we first meet Will in this second book, the first image we have of him is of a pretty boy: long dark curls, lithe body, and a behaviour that his almost childlike, he gossips with his twin brother on the sexual exploits of his mate, Benjamin. But as soon as the brother is not in the room, we also realize that Will is hoping to find the same happiness Tristan has with Benjamin, and he knows that he will not find it in Benjamin’s house.

So when he is asked to go help Raul’s brother (Raul and Alex are another mated pair, and Alex is the Alpha of Benjamin’s pack), Will heartedly agrees. Richard is vanished, but to Raul and Will don’t take too much time to find him suffering of amnesia, but with one only sure thing in mind: Will is his mate and he will not let anyone else near him. Truth be told, Will is more than willing to spend almost two days in bed with Richard, to help him going free of his wife’s spell, the witch (witch not b….), and if someone else doubts his reasons… well probably he is not wrong. This is probably where the light feeling of the story emerges, even if in danger, even if under a spell, when Will and Richard are in bed together nothing else is important.

There is a lot of sex, very tactic feeling; there are absolutely not sex scenes in shifted form, but the werewolves in the book like to be in their wolf form, and their mates like to stroke them (no pun intended); on the other hand, the werewolves like to let their wolf go out and play, and there is an heavy use of smell sense and bodily fluids to mark the territory. But when it’s the time to play on a more sexual level, there is always a man on man action.

http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=1686

Amazon: Betrayed

Amazon Kindle: Betrayed

Series:
1) Cursed: http://elisa-rolle.livejournal.com/243888.html
2) Betrayed

Reading List:

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


Cover Art by Anne Cain

Betrayed by Rhianne Aile

Like in Cursed, also in Betrayed there is a bit of contraposition between a non shifter partner, Will, who is also small and pretty, and the big bad wolf, Richard, the Alpha of his pack, the one in command, but who, in the end needs his mate to solve his trouble. More, Richard is under the spell of an evil witch, and she is a woman, a petite and beautiful china doll, who, nevertheless, is able to chain Richard under his clutches.

When we first meet Will in this second book, the first image we have of him is of a pretty boy: long dark curls, lithe body, and a behaviour that his almost childlike, he gossips with his twin brother on the sexual exploits of his mate, Benjamin. But as soon as the brother is not in the room, we also realize that Will is hoping to find the same happiness Tristan has with Benjamin, and he knows that he will not find it in Benjamin’s house.

So when he is asked to go help Raul’s brother (Raul and Alex are another mated pair, and Alex is the Alpha of Benjamin’s pack), Will heartedly agrees. Richard is vanished, but to Raul and Will don’t take too much time to find him suffering of amnesia, but with one only sure thing in mind: Will is his mate and he will not let anyone else near him. Truth be told, Will is more than willing to spend almost two days in bed with Richard, to help him going free of his wife’s spell, the witch (witch not b….), and if someone else doubts his reasons… well probably he is not wrong. This is probably where the light feeling of the story emerges, even if in danger, even if under a spell, when Will and Richard are in bed together nothing else is important.

There is a lot of sex, very tactic feeling; there are absolutely not sex scenes in shifted form, but the werewolves in the book like to be in their wolf form, and their mates like to stroke them (no pun intended); on the other hand, the werewolves like to let their wolf go out and play, and there is an heavy use of smell sense and bodily fluids to mark the territory. But when it’s the time to play on a more sexual level, there is always a man on man action.

http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=1686

Amazon: Betrayed

Amazon Kindle: Betrayed

Series:
1) Cursed: http://elisa-rolle.livejournal.com/243888.html
2) Betrayed

Reading List:

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


Cover Art by Anne Cain

Excerpt: Home Sweet Home by Clare London

Home Sweet Home by Clare London
Release Date: 02/2009
Publisher: Amber Allure
Publisher Link: http://www.amberquill.com/AmberAllure/HomeSweetHome.html
Amazon Kindle: Home Sweet Home

Blurb: The attraction between Chaz and Ryan is as strong as ever, but they’ve taken a relationship break, frustrated by each other’s lifestyle. Chaz is a drifter, casual to the point of carelessness. Ryan is a control freak, preferring order and organization. It just wasn’t working between them.

When Chaz moves apartments yet again, the project is fraught with chaos and plenty of breakages. Despite Chaz’s determination to be independent, Ryan comes to help out. Chaz admits he’s grateful for the friendly support. Or at least, that's how it starts.

He realizes just how much he’s missed Ryan, just how much the other man’s care added to his life. Maybe it’s not too late to make some changes. Maybe there can be a middle ground for two such different men—because the reward is worth it.

( Excerpt )

Excerpt: Home Sweet Home by Clare London

Home Sweet Home by Clare London
Release Date: 02/2009
Publisher: Amber Allure
Publisher Link: http://www.amberquill.com/AmberAllure/HomeSweetHome.html
Amazon Kindle: Home Sweet Home

Blurb: The attraction between Chaz and Ryan is as strong as ever, but they’ve taken a relationship break, frustrated by each other’s lifestyle. Chaz is a drifter, casual to the point of carelessness. Ryan is a control freak, preferring order and organization. It just wasn’t working between them.

When Chaz moves apartments yet again, the project is fraught with chaos and plenty of breakages. Despite Chaz’s determination to be independent, Ryan comes to help out. Chaz admits he’s grateful for the friendly support. Or at least, that's how it starts.

He realizes just how much he’s missed Ryan, just how much the other man’s care added to his life. Maybe it’s not too late to make some changes. Maybe there can be a middle ground for two such different men—because the reward is worth it.

( Excerpt )

Excerpt: Dead Shot by J.L. Merrow

Taste Test: Shot Through the Heart edited by Lorna Hinson, with stories by Lenore Black, DC Juris, and JL Merrow
Release Date: 02/2009
Publisher: Torquere Books
Publisher Link: http://www.torquerebooks.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=2527

Blurb: Cupid's arrow finds even the most lovelorn guys, and that's never been more fun than in the Shot Through the Heart Taste Test. In Better than Cupcakes, by Lenore Black, Mitch thinks there has to be a better way to spend Valentine's Day than working, even if he does like his co-worker, Augie. Everyone thinks Augie is a little odd, but Mitch thinks Augie might be far better than a cupcake.

In Cupid Knows, by DC Juris, Jack has been dreaming about Alan ever since they met at a game. Can he convince Alan to take a chance on a Valentine's Day meeting when Alan has something to hide? Finally, in Dead Shot, by JL Merrow, a chance meeting brought about by a stray arrow brings Peter and Edward together, but will their pasts come between them before they even get started?

( Excerpt )

Excerpt: Dead Shot by J.L. Merrow

Taste Test: Shot Through the Heart edited by Lorna Hinson, with stories by Lenore Black, DC Juris, and JL Merrow
Release Date: 02/2009
Publisher: Torquere Books
Publisher Link: http://www.torquerebooks.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=2527

Blurb: Cupid's arrow finds even the most lovelorn guys, and that's never been more fun than in the Shot Through the Heart Taste Test. In Better than Cupcakes, by Lenore Black, Mitch thinks there has to be a better way to spend Valentine's Day than working, even if he does like his co-worker, Augie. Everyone thinks Augie is a little odd, but Mitch thinks Augie might be far better than a cupcake.

In Cupid Knows, by DC Juris, Jack has been dreaming about Alan ever since they met at a game. Can he convince Alan to take a chance on a Valentine's Day meeting when Alan has something to hide? Finally, in Dead Shot, by JL Merrow, a chance meeting brought about by a stray arrow brings Peter and Edward together, but will their pasts come between them before they even get started?

( Excerpt )

Excerpt: Silver Kiss by Naomi Clark

Silver Kiss by Naomi Clark
Release Date: 03/2009
Publisher: QueerEdFiction
Publisher Link: http://www.queeredfiction.com/silverkiss_buy.htm
Amazon Kindle: Silver Kiss

Blurb: Ayla Hammond has come home.

After years as a lone wolf in a self-imposed exile she’s rejoining the pack and trying to mend fences with her parents.

She’s convinced them to accept her girlfriend, but can a lone wolf change her ways?

As if homecoming wasn’t hard enough, Ayla also can’t help getting involved in a missing person case.
With pressure to solve the case mounting from the pack alphas, Ayla is starting to question where her loyalties lie – and if a return to the pack she left behind is really what she wants.

( Excerpt )

Excerpt: Silver Kiss by Naomi Clark

Silver Kiss by Naomi Clark
Release Date: 03/2009
Publisher: QueerEdFiction
Publisher Link: http://www.queeredfiction.com/silverkiss_buy.htm
Amazon Kindle: Silver Kiss

Blurb: Ayla Hammond has come home.

After years as a lone wolf in a self-imposed exile she’s rejoining the pack and trying to mend fences with her parents.

She’s convinced them to accept her girlfriend, but can a lone wolf change her ways?

As if homecoming wasn’t hard enough, Ayla also can’t help getting involved in a missing person case.
With pressure to solve the case mounting from the pack alphas, Ayla is starting to question where her loyalties lie – and if a return to the pack she left behind is really what she wants.

( Excerpt )

Excerpt: Angel by J.L. Merrow

Angel by J.L. Merrow
Release Date: 03/2009
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press
Publisher Link: http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/store/product_info.php?cPath=55_125&products_id=1725

Blurb: Having abandoned his childhood dream of becoming a priest, Don now tries to help people through his work as a parole officer. His latest assignment turns out to be Michael, a young man Don hasn’t seen since he took Michael to church as a child—and saw his parish priest cast Michael out of the church as a demon. Meeting Michael as an adult re-ignites the obsession Don had with the boy he couldn’t save—but can Michael be saved at all? Or is the demon with the compelling face as damned as he believes himself to be?

( Excerpt )

Excerpt: Angel by J.L. Merrow

Angel by J.L. Merrow
Release Date: 03/2009
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press
Publisher Link: http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/store/product_info.php?cPath=55_125&products_id=1725

Blurb: Having abandoned his childhood dream of becoming a priest, Don now tries to help people through his work as a parole officer. His latest assignment turns out to be Michael, a young man Don hasn’t seen since he took Michael to church as a child—and saw his parish priest cast Michael out of the church as a demon. Meeting Michael as an adult re-ignites the obsession Don had with the boy he couldn’t save—but can Michael be saved at all? Or is the demon with the compelling face as damned as he believes himself to be?

( Excerpt )

Excerpt: Special Delivery by Heidi Cullinan

Special Delivery by Heidi Cullinan
Release Date: 02/2009
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press
Publisher Link: http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/store/product_info.php?cPath=55_192&products_id=1712
Amazon: Special Delivery

Blurb: Sam Keller knows he’ll never find the excitement he craves in Middleton, Iowa—not while he’s busting his ass in nursing school and paying rent by slaving away in a pharmacy stockroom. But before his mother died, he promised her he’d grow up to be a good man, so he needs a stable career and a good husband, not a dead-end job and empty sex.

Then Sam meets Mitch Tedsoe, an independent trucker who makes a delivery to a shop across the alley. Innocent flirting quickly leads to an affair, and when Mitch offers to take Sam on a road trip west, Sam jumps at the chance for adventure with his fantasy man... but Mitch also comes with a past. A threesome with the other man in Mitch’s life would have been just another kinky ride, but somewhere between the Mississippi River and the Colorado Rockies, Sam falls in love.

But can a relationship born out of escape and indulgence become something that lasts? Will a fantasy man be willing to settle down into reality, or is the adventure and excitement Sam finds with Mitch just another stop on a delivery man’s journey? For better or for worse, eventually Sam is going to discover the answer, because no matter how far away he travels, eventually all roads lead home.

( Excerpt )

Excerpt: Special Delivery by Heidi Cullinan

Special Delivery by Heidi Cullinan
Release Date: 02/2009
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press
Publisher Link: http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/store/product_info.php?cPath=55_192&products_id=1712
Amazon: Special Delivery

Blurb: Sam Keller knows he’ll never find the excitement he craves in Middleton, Iowa—not while he’s busting his ass in nursing school and paying rent by slaving away in a pharmacy stockroom. But before his mother died, he promised her he’d grow up to be a good man, so he needs a stable career and a good husband, not a dead-end job and empty sex.

Then Sam meets Mitch Tedsoe, an independent trucker who makes a delivery to a shop across the alley. Innocent flirting quickly leads to an affair, and when Mitch offers to take Sam on a road trip west, Sam jumps at the chance for adventure with his fantasy man... but Mitch also comes with a past. A threesome with the other man in Mitch’s life would have been just another kinky ride, but somewhere between the Mississippi River and the Colorado Rockies, Sam falls in love.

But can a relationship born out of escape and indulgence become something that lasts? Will a fantasy man be willing to settle down into reality, or is the adventure and excitement Sam finds with Mitch just another stop on a delivery man’s journey? For better or for worse, eventually Sam is going to discover the answer, because no matter how far away he travels, eventually all roads lead home.

( Excerpt )

Excerpt: Healthy Obsession by Carolyn LeVine Topol

Healthy Obsession by Carolyn LeVine Topol
Release Date: 02/2009
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press
Publisher Link: http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/store/product_info.php?cPath=55_151&products_id=1714
Amazon Kindle: Healthy Obsession

Blurb: While Jack Randall relishes his free-spirited life, making no commitments and tricking with a variety of hot men, he also wants what his best friend Steve has: happiness with a husband. He doesn't realize that joining the health club in his building, Healthy Obsession, will lead him to Mr. Right; but there stands the muscular and extremely good-looking Rick Monroe.

Jack is immediately attracted to Rick, even though Rick is married, a father, and reluctantly in the closet. The reality of falling in love is much harder than the dream of finding Mr. Right, but Jack is willing to make the effort and help Rick, if Rick is willing to be true to himself.

( Excerpt )

Excerpt: Healthy Obsession by Carolyn LeVine Topol

Healthy Obsession by Carolyn LeVine Topol
Release Date: 02/2009
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press
Publisher Link: http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/store/product_info.php?cPath=55_151&products_id=1714
Amazon Kindle: Healthy Obsession

Blurb: While Jack Randall relishes his free-spirited life, making no commitments and tricking with a variety of hot men, he also wants what his best friend Steve has: happiness with a husband. He doesn't realize that joining the health club in his building, Healthy Obsession, will lead him to Mr. Right; but there stands the muscular and extremely good-looking Rick Monroe.

Jack is immediately attracted to Rick, even though Rick is married, a father, and reluctantly in the closet. The reality of falling in love is much harder than the dream of finding Mr. Right, but Jack is willing to make the effort and help Rick, if Rick is willing to be true to himself.

( Excerpt )

Excerpt: On Call: Afternoon by P.D. Singer

On Call: Afternoon by P.D. Singer
Release Date: 02/2009
Publisher: Torquere Books
Publisher Link: http://www.torquerebooks.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&manufacturers_id=275&products_id=2537

Blurb: A doctor doesn’t have much trouble finding partners, but Keith Hoyer, M.D. questions whether people like him, his credentials, or what they think is in his wallet. Since most of the men he’s meeting are patients and therefore off limits, he goes home to his big gray tabby cat, Harpo, and dreams.

Keith’s ready to relinquish care of Dr. Dante James, just as soon as he’s treated the nasty case of cat scratch fever. He’d love to ask Dante out, but first he needs the vet’s professional expertise for the injured Harpo. There might be trouble ahead for them in the form of mismatched expectations and racial differences, but at least Keith doesn’t have to wonder if Dante likes cats.

( Excerpt )

Excerpt: On Call: Afternoon by P.D. Singer

On Call: Afternoon by P.D. Singer
Release Date: 02/2009
Publisher: Torquere Books
Publisher Link: http://www.torquerebooks.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&manufacturers_id=275&products_id=2537

Blurb: A doctor doesn’t have much trouble finding partners, but Keith Hoyer, M.D. questions whether people like him, his credentials, or what they think is in his wallet. Since most of the men he’s meeting are patients and therefore off limits, he goes home to his big gray tabby cat, Harpo, and dreams.

Keith’s ready to relinquish care of Dr. Dante James, just as soon as he’s treated the nasty case of cat scratch fever. He’d love to ask Dante out, but first he needs the vet’s professional expertise for the injured Harpo. There might be trouble ahead for them in the form of mismatched expectations and racial differences, but at least Keith doesn’t have to wonder if Dante likes cats.

( Excerpt )

LGBT Ebook and Print Releases January 30 – February 26, 2010

ALYSON BOOKS (http://www.alyson.com/)
( Read more... )

AMBER ALLURE (http://www.amberquill.com/AmberAllure/)
( Read more... )

ASPEN MOUNTAIN PRESS (http://www.aspenmountainpress.com/)
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BELLA BOOKS (http://www.bellabooks.com/)
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BOLD STROKES BOOKS (http://www.boldstrokesbooks.com/)
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BREATHLESS PRESS (http://www.breathlesspress.com/)
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CHANGELING PRESS (http://www.changelingpress.com/)
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CIRCLET PRESS (http://www.circlet.com/)
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CLEIS PRESS (http://www.cleispress.com/)
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COBBLESTONE PRESS (http://www.cobblestone-press.com/)
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DREAMSPINNER PRESS (http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/)
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ELLORA’S CAVE (http://www.jasminejade.com/)
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EXCESSICA (http://excessica.com/)
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EXTASY BOOKS (http://www.extasybooks.net/)
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JCP BOOKS (http://jcpbooks.com/)
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LETHE PRESS (http://www.lethepressbooks.com/)
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LOOSE ID (http://www.loose-id.com/)
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LOVEYOUDIVINE (http://www.loveyoudivine.com/)
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MLR PRESS (http://www.mlrbooks.com/)
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NOBLE ROMANCE PUBLISHING (http://www.nobleromance.com/)
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PHAZE BOOKS (http://www.phaze.com/)
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RAVENOUS ROMANCE (http://www.ravenousromance.com/)
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RESPLENDENCE PUBLISHING (http://www.resplendencepublishing.com/)
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SAMHAIN PUBLISHING (http://www.samhainpublishing.com/)
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SHADOWFIRE PRESS (http://www.shadowfirepress.com/)
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SILVER PUBLISHING (http://silverpublishing.info/)
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SIREN PUBLISHING (http://www.sirenpublishing.com/)
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SMASHWORDS (http://www.smashwords.com/)
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TORQUERE BOOKS (http://www.torquerebooks.com/)
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TOTAL-E-BOUND (http://www.total-e-bound.com/)
( Read more... )

For Publishers: If you would like to be add to the weekly releases post, please contact me.
For Authors: If you would like to post an excerpt, please contact me.

LGBT Ebook and Print Releases January 30 – February 26, 2010

ALYSON BOOKS (http://www.alyson.com/)
( Read more... )

AMBER ALLURE (http://www.amberquill.com/AmberAllure/)
( Read more... )

ASPEN MOUNTAIN PRESS (http://www.aspenmountainpress.com/)
( Read more... )

BELLA BOOKS (http://www.bellabooks.com/)
( Read more... )

BOLD STROKES BOOKS (http://www.boldstrokesbooks.com/)
( Read more... )

BREATHLESS PRESS (http://www.breathlesspress.com/)
( Read more... )

CHANGELING PRESS (http://www.changelingpress.com/)
( Read more... )

CIRCLET PRESS (http://www.circlet.com/)
( Read more... )

CLEIS PRESS (http://www.cleispress.com/)
( Read more... )

COBBLESTONE PRESS (http://www.cobblestone-press.com/)
( Read more... )

DREAMSPINNER PRESS (http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/)
( Read more... )

ELLORA’S CAVE (http://www.jasminejade.com/)
( Read more... )

EXCESSICA (http://excessica.com/)
( Read more... )

EXTASY BOOKS (http://www.extasybooks.net/)
( Read more... )

JCP BOOKS (http://jcpbooks.com/)
( Read more... )

LETHE PRESS (http://www.lethepressbooks.com/)
( Read more... )

LOOSE ID (http://www.loose-id.com/)
( Read more... )

LOVEYOUDIVINE (http://www.loveyoudivine.com/)
( Read more... )

MLR PRESS (http://www.mlrbooks.com/)
( Read more... )

NOBLE ROMANCE PUBLISHING (http://www.nobleromance.com/)
( Read more... )

PHAZE BOOKS (http://www.phaze.com/)
( Read more... )

RAVENOUS ROMANCE (http://www.ravenousromance.com/)
( Read more... )

RESPLENDENCE PUBLISHING (http://www.resplendencepublishing.com/)
( Read more... )

SAMHAIN PUBLISHING (http://www.samhainpublishing.com/)
( Read more... )

SHADOWFIRE PRESS (http://www.shadowfirepress.com/)
( Read more... )

SILVER PUBLISHING (http://silverpublishing.info/)
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SIREN PUBLISHING (http://www.sirenpublishing.com/)
( Read more... )

SMASHWORDS (http://www.smashwords.com/)
( Read more... )

TORQUERE BOOKS (http://www.torquerebooks.com/)
( Read more... )

TOTAL-E-BOUND (http://www.total-e-bound.com/)
( Read more... )

For Publishers: If you would like to be add to the weekly releases post, please contact me.
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Gay Commercial: MTV

MTV did a lot of gay friendly ads, but I like this one for various reason: first, it's against stereotype, gay boys not always are twinks or nerds. Second, the colors, yes, the colors are deep and strong, and they gave th idea of youth. Last, the kiss, was nice but not over the line, it's a kiss that is simple and young like the boys who exchange it.

Two serious-looking young guys in baseball caps arrive with a big tool kit, blocks of wood and some blueprints. They begin sawing, drilling and hammering.

They build a half-pipe for skateboarding and, when it's complete, give each other a macho handshake and then pull each other forward for a sensual kiss. The text then offers, "You never know." The young audience of MTV of course respects the idea of skaters, but would not expect them to be gay. The kiss is an unexpected juxtaposition against the macho handshake, thus breaking stereotypes.

Commercial Closet Association

Company: Viacom
Brand: MTV/Take A Stand Against Discrimination
Ad Title: Skateboarders
Business Category: Media Outlets: Broadcasters-Publishers-Online-Games-Music
Media Outlets: Television
Country: United States
Region: North America
Agency: Public Interest Productions/Radical Media
Year: 2001
Target: Mainstream
Ad Spotter: Matthew Hilliard

MTV has set the gold standard among all advertisers for the most ads that refer to the community, more than 25 since 1996, in addition to carrying numerous gay ads from other companies and running its own supportive gay-inclusive programming. In particular this ad is for the campaign "Take a stand against discrimination" that is not specifically for gay or lesbian rights, but for all type of discrimination. For this MTV launched all a series of initiatives, and you can find more info here:

http://www.mtv.com/onair/ffyr/discrimination/

Gay Commercial: MTV

MTV did a lot of gay friendly ads, but I like this one for various reason: first, it's against stereotype, gay boys not always are twinks or nerds. Second, the colors, yes, the colors are deep and strong, and they gave th idea of youth. Last, the kiss, was nice but not over the line, it's a kiss that is simple and young like the boys who exchange it.

Two serious-looking young guys in baseball caps arrive with a big tool kit, blocks of wood and some blueprints. They begin sawing, drilling and hammering.

They build a half-pipe for skateboarding and, when it's complete, give each other a macho handshake and then pull each other forward for a sensual kiss. The text then offers, "You never know." The young audience of MTV of course respects the idea of skaters, but would not expect them to be gay. The kiss is an unexpected juxtaposition against the macho handshake, thus breaking stereotypes.

Commercial Closet Association

Company: Viacom
Brand: MTV/Take A Stand Against Discrimination
Ad Title: Skateboarders
Business Category: Media Outlets: Broadcasters-Publishers-Online-Games-Music
Media Outlets: Television
Country: United States
Region: North America
Agency: Public Interest Productions/Radical Media
Year: 2001
Target: Mainstream
Ad Spotter: Matthew Hilliard

MTV has set the gold standard among all advertisers for the most ads that refer to the community, more than 25 since 1996, in addition to carrying numerous gay ads from other companies and running its own supportive gay-inclusive programming. In particular this ad is for the campaign "Take a stand against discrimination" that is not specifically for gay or lesbian rights, but for all type of discrimination. For this MTV launched all a series of initiatives, and you can find more info here:

http://www.mtv.com/onair/ffyr/discrimination/

Best Bisexual/Transgender Contemporary (3° Place): Dee Dee Day by Mykola Dementiuk

If you know Mykola Dementiuk’s works, Times Queer, Holy Communion, you know that reading Dee Dee Day you will not find a classical romance. And how it could be? This is the story of a young man in the ‘70s who fall obsessed (obsessed not in love) with his elder landowner, a 72 years old woman called Dee Dee.

When Bill sees for the first time Dee Dee, he thinks she is an attractive woman of maybe 50 years, and he is not sexually attracted by her; but then he has the chance to discover Dee Dee’s secret, she is born as Richard, but she never looked like a boy and her own parents decided to let her dress and be like a girl. In those old time, Dee Dee was happy and in love with Billy, a same age boy who sadly died during the WWII. Now Dee Dee is living in an house full of Billy’s memories, mainly photos of that period, and I think she is only waiting for the time when she will be with him again.

If the reader thinks this is a sad story, he has also to think that, truly, Dee Dee is not in love with Bill; she is nice with him, and yes, maybe she is also attracted by him, who will be not? But at 72 years old she has not a second chance at love, she is only having a nice affair that maybe it will be useful to Bill. Bill is still uncomfortable with his body and desires, and Dee Dee helps him understand all better: Dee Dee knows that Bill is not for her, that Bill will go and find his true love, like Dee Dee did and found in Billy.

All the story is set in a past era, the ’70s and the ‘40s of Dee Dee’s memories; it’s strange how to see that Dee Dee considers the ‘70s not a good time for gay people, and instead she thinks that in the ‘40s they had a better life. It’s not the first time I read a story about gay lovers of the ‘40s and it’s not the first time that I have this feeling that, more or less, in the ‘40s they had no right, but simple since they were not recognized as existing, but in the end, they could love each other in the closet.

Again, if the reader thinks that this novella has not a happy ending, I think he is wrong. It has the only possibly happy ending and this experience serves to Bill to be able to build his life; the same Dee Dee I think was not expecting nothing else, and probably she was the first to push Bill to find his own path in life.

A note on the publisher: I think they dared a lot with this story that is not their usual trend, an historical novella (if ‘70s can be considered “historical”) and an out of romance rules story, and I think they should be awarded for it with readers taking notice of that.



http://www.extasybooks.com/ebjmsite/index.php?page=shop.product_details&flypage=ebook_flypage.tpl&product_id=7336&category_id=8&manufacturer_id=156&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=50

Amazon Kindle: Dee Dee Day

Reading List:

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

Best Bisexual/Transgender Contemporary (3° Place): Dee Dee Day by Mykola Dementiuk

If you know Mykola Dementiuk’s works, Times Queer, Holy Communion, you know that reading Dee Dee Day you will not find a classical romance. And how it could be? This is the story of a young man in the ‘70s who fall obsessed (obsessed not in love) with his elder landowner, a 72 years old woman called Dee Dee.

When Bill sees for the first time Dee Dee, he thinks she is an attractive woman of maybe 50 years, and he is not sexually attracted by her; but then he has the chance to discover Dee Dee’s secret, she is born as Richard, but she never looked like a boy and her own parents decided to let her dress and be like a girl. In those old time, Dee Dee was happy and in love with Billy, a same age boy who sadly died during the WWII. Now Dee Dee is living in an house full of Billy’s memories, mainly photos of that period, and I think she is only waiting for the time when she will be with him again.

If the reader thinks this is a sad story, he has also to think that, truly, Dee Dee is not in love with Bill; she is nice with him, and yes, maybe she is also attracted by him, who will be not? But at 72 years old she has not a second chance at love, she is only having a nice affair that maybe it will be useful to Bill. Bill is still uncomfortable with his body and desires, and Dee Dee helps him understand all better: Dee Dee knows that Bill is not for her, that Bill will go and find his true love, like Dee Dee did and found in Billy.

All the story is set in a past era, the ’70s and the ‘40s of Dee Dee’s memories; it’s strange how to see that Dee Dee considers the ‘70s not a good time for gay people, and instead she thinks that in the ‘40s they had a better life. It’s not the first time I read a story about gay lovers of the ‘40s and it’s not the first time that I have this feeling that, more or less, in the ‘40s they had no right, but simple since they were not recognized as existing, but in the end, they could love each other in the closet.

Again, if the reader thinks that this novella has not a happy ending, I think he is wrong. It has the only possibly happy ending and this experience serves to Bill to be able to build his life; the same Dee Dee I think was not expecting nothing else, and probably she was the first to push Bill to find his own path in life.

A note on the publisher: I think they dared a lot with this story that is not their usual trend, an historical novella (if ‘70s can be considered “historical”) and an out of romance rules story, and I think they should be awarded for it with readers taking notice of that.



http://www.extasybooks.com/ebjmsite/index.php?page=shop.product_details&flypage=ebook_flypage.tpl&product_id=7336&category_id=8&manufacturer_id=156&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=50

Amazon Kindle: Dee Dee Day

Reading List:

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