2010-11-30

reviews_and_ramblings: (Default)
2010-11-30 11:25 am

Paul Richmond: Rainbow Cheesecake Boy

Hi everyone!! I wanted to don my gay apparel and drop by to wish you a super-happy holiday season! Of course you can't see me at the moment, but I promise the apparel is plenty gay. :)

I also wanted to unveil the official Rainbow Awards Cheesecake Boy, inspired by the amazing work Elisa does to support gay fiction authors and artists throughout the year. Ms. Rolle, you make everyday feel like Christmas and Pride all rolled into one! And what more could any of us hope for on either of those occasions than a hunky, rainbow-flag toting Cheesecake Boy in the midst of a revealing wardrobe malfunction? 

 
Here's the link for Rainbow Cheesecake Boy prints: http://www.etsy.com/listing/63055083/print-of-cheesecake-boy-pin-up-painting

Elisa will be using our hunky, multi-hued ambassador as a special, limited-edition greeting card for those who have assisted her with the Rainbow Awards. And even though his pants may be falling down, I know he is beaming with PRIDE to be involved with such a wonderful program. Congratulations to everyone who has been nominated and/or involved with this fantastic project -- especially, of course, Elisa, to whom we raise our flags (and drop our pants!) in gratitude! :)

This year, I am also grateful to have the opportunity to share all of my Cheesecake Boys with the masses in a brand-spanking new book "Cheesecake Boys: The Pin-Up Art of Paul Richmond." 



The book contains a foreword by actor Jesse Archer, an afterword by Jason Driskill, and an entire section of process pics - including reference photos of my gaylebrity subjects, sketches, and pics of the paintings in progress. If you'd like to stuff some stockings with pantsless hunks, you can order the book here (and preview the first 15 pages): http://www.blurb.com/bookstore/detail/1693486

We're planning a fabulous event on December 2 in Columbus to celebrate the book's release. If you're anywhere near my neck of the woods, you're invited to our Cheesecake Boy Extravaganza, which will feature a display of my original paintings, sexy fashion shows with male models, and a special performance by drag queen Nina West. Visit http://www.columbusisgreat.com for info and tickets. 



And of course I'm ecstatic to continue seeing my artwork grace the covers of your amazing novels!! I've been a busy boy this year, and let me wrap up this little post with some of the latest and greatest cover illustrations I've made for Dreamspinner Press: 

more covers )

These great reads also make excellent stocking stuffers!

I can't wait to see what 2011 holds in store -- I have some really exciting projects in the works and I'm sure I'll be back here visiting my friend Elisa to tell you all about them! In the meantime, I invite you to stop by my website and pay me a visit any time: http://www.paulrichmondstudio.com.

Happy holidays!!

reviews_and_ramblings: (Default)
2010-11-30 11:25 am

Paul Richmond: Rainbow Cheesecake Boy

Hi everyone!! I wanted to don my gay apparel and drop by to wish you a super-happy holiday season! Of course you can't see me at the moment, but I promise the apparel is plenty gay. :)

I also wanted to unveil the official Rainbow Awards Cheesecake Boy, inspired by the amazing work Elisa does to support gay fiction authors and artists throughout the year. Ms. Rolle, you make everyday feel like Christmas and Pride all rolled into one! And what more could any of us hope for on either of those occasions than a hunky, rainbow-flag toting Cheesecake Boy in the midst of a revealing wardrobe malfunction? 

 
Here's the link for Rainbow Cheesecake Boy prints: http://www.etsy.com/listing/63055083/print-of-cheesecake-boy-pin-up-painting

Elisa will be using our hunky, multi-hued ambassador as a special, limited-edition greeting card for those who have assisted her with the Rainbow Awards. And even though his pants may be falling down, I know he is beaming with PRIDE to be involved with such a wonderful program. Congratulations to everyone who has been nominated and/or involved with this fantastic project -- especially, of course, Elisa, to whom we raise our flags (and drop our pants!) in gratitude! :)

This year, I am also grateful to have the opportunity to share all of my Cheesecake Boys with the masses in a brand-spanking new book "Cheesecake Boys: The Pin-Up Art of Paul Richmond." 



The book contains a foreword by actor Jesse Archer, an afterword by Jason Driskill, and an entire section of process pics - including reference photos of my gaylebrity subjects, sketches, and pics of the paintings in progress. If you'd like to stuff some stockings with pantsless hunks, you can order the book here (and preview the first 15 pages): http://www.blurb.com/bookstore/detail/1693486

We're planning a fabulous event on December 2 in Columbus to celebrate the book's release. If you're anywhere near my neck of the woods, you're invited to our Cheesecake Boy Extravaganza, which will feature a display of my original paintings, sexy fashion shows with male models, and a special performance by drag queen Nina West. Visit http://www.columbusisgreat.com for info and tickets. 



And of course I'm ecstatic to continue seeing my artwork grace the covers of your amazing novels!! I've been a busy boy this year, and let me wrap up this little post with some of the latest and greatest cover illustrations I've made for Dreamspinner Press: 

more covers )

These great reads also make excellent stocking stuffers!

I can't wait to see what 2011 holds in store -- I have some really exciting projects in the works and I'm sure I'll be back here visiting my friend Elisa to tell you all about them! In the meantime, I invite you to stop by my website and pay me a visit any time: http://www.paulrichmondstudio.com.

Happy holidays!!

reviews_and_ramblings: (Default)
2010-11-30 01:35 pm

Burn by H.C. Brown

The story starts in a very “glossy” way, 37 years old Harper is cruised in a gay club by 22 years old Sax: both firemen, Sax saw Harper’s picture in the local Firemen Calendar and he himself was in the one for Sidney, and instead of sharing field wounds and stories they share the common experience of being the forbidden fantasy of many gay men around the world. At first impression, Sax is not exactly a “nice” guy: sure he is hot and easy, but he is also quite rude, Harper is with another friend and colleague, Grant, but Sax doesn’t like him, and he treats the pure guy like he was trash, an attitude that he will maintain for all the story even if, sincerely, Grant did nothing to deserve it, if not some light pun.

In any case it’s very clear that Sax is very interested in a sex relationship with Harper, more on the level of a buddy friends than lovers, and Harper, maybe since Sax is hot and younger, or maybe since he was on a long dry spell, doesn’t put up much resistance. Again Sax doesn’t make a good impression: first time they have sex, Harper is on the receiving end, and it’s his first time; Sax doesn’t bother to ask (and maybe this is justifiable, 37 years old is not exactly a newbie), but when he finds out, instead of being contrite, or maybe pleased, he is like, “well, I was in an hurry, sorry if I was rushed…”. Despite this attitude Sax is a force of nature, and in a way he conquers Harper so much that he becomes reckless: they are “discovered” and blackmailed and the output is not of the most nice. In a way, Sax is faithful to his character, and in this case, I don’t agree with Harper’s reaction, that is almost of betrayal: they don’t have a long-term relationship, it was only Harper who used the word “love”, and Sax has never said anything else.

What surprised me was the end: for all the story the pace was sex, sex and again sex, the characters were good, really good, at least they were not the usual hot firemen, good and well-behaved; when things between them went a little out of track, I thought, well, that is a challenge for the author, how will she manage to mend the relationship? Of course it was in the classical way, a dangerous situation that proved to both Harper and Sam that nothing is important if not love. And by the way, there was also a tender kitty that really contribuited to the imagine of the hot fireman with a tender thing in his hands… kittens, babies, soft things to soften up an hard imagine.

Be warned: there is non-consensual sex and also an extra-relationship “affair” (but since the second is related to the first, I don’t think it’s a different warning, only the consolation that at least the non-con sex wasn’t between the main characters); I think it’s in the story, and the scene contributes to the characters later actions, so it’s not gratuituos, but I’m sure it’s not for everyone either.

https://www.nobleromance.com/ItemDisplay.aspx?i=158

Buy Here

Amazon Kindle: Burn

Reading List:

http://www.librarything.com/catalog_bottom.php?tag=reading_list&view=elisa.rolle
reviews_and_ramblings: (Default)
2010-11-30 01:35 pm

Burn by H.C. Brown

The story starts in a very “glossy” way, 37 years old Harper is cruised in a gay club by 22 years old Sax: both firemen, Sax saw Harper’s picture in the local Firemen Calendar and he himself was in the one for Sidney, and instead of sharing field wounds and stories they share the common experience of being the forbidden fantasy of many gay men around the world. At first impression, Sax is not exactly a “nice” guy: sure he is hot and easy, but he is also quite rude, Harper is with another friend and colleague, Grant, but Sax doesn’t like him, and he treats the pure guy like he was trash, an attitude that he will maintain for all the story even if, sincerely, Grant did nothing to deserve it, if not some light pun.

In any case it’s very clear that Sax is very interested in a sex relationship with Harper, more on the level of a buddy friends than lovers, and Harper, maybe since Sax is hot and younger, or maybe since he was on a long dry spell, doesn’t put up much resistance. Again Sax doesn’t make a good impression: first time they have sex, Harper is on the receiving end, and it’s his first time; Sax doesn’t bother to ask (and maybe this is justifiable, 37 years old is not exactly a newbie), but when he finds out, instead of being contrite, or maybe pleased, he is like, “well, I was in an hurry, sorry if I was rushed…”. Despite this attitude Sax is a force of nature, and in a way he conquers Harper so much that he becomes reckless: they are “discovered” and blackmailed and the output is not of the most nice. In a way, Sax is faithful to his character, and in this case, I don’t agree with Harper’s reaction, that is almost of betrayal: they don’t have a long-term relationship, it was only Harper who used the word “love”, and Sax has never said anything else.

What surprised me was the end: for all the story the pace was sex, sex and again sex, the characters were good, really good, at least they were not the usual hot firemen, good and well-behaved; when things between them went a little out of track, I thought, well, that is a challenge for the author, how will she manage to mend the relationship? Of course it was in the classical way, a dangerous situation that proved to both Harper and Sam that nothing is important if not love. And by the way, there was also a tender kitty that really contribuited to the imagine of the hot fireman with a tender thing in his hands… kittens, babies, soft things to soften up an hard imagine.

Be warned: there is non-consensual sex and also an extra-relationship “affair” (but since the second is related to the first, I don’t think it’s a different warning, only the consolation that at least the non-con sex wasn’t between the main characters); I think it’s in the story, and the scene contributes to the characters later actions, so it’s not gratuituos, but I’m sure it’s not for everyone either.

https://www.nobleromance.com/ItemDisplay.aspx?i=158

Buy Here

Amazon Kindle: Burn

Reading List:

http://www.librarything.com/catalog_bottom.php?tag=reading_list&view=elisa.rolle
reviews_and_ramblings: (Default)
2010-11-30 11:24 pm

A Prophecy of Destiny by Leiland Dale

A Prophecy of Destiny is a pretty classic shafeshifter paranormal romance, very much like the Silhouette Nocturne the author says was reading before discovering M/M romance. If you have a check list of “must have” factor, this novel will respect all of them: cute young man with a romantic heart? Checked. Strong werewolf in search of his mate? Checked. Strong mate binding between the two of them, so strong they cannot avoid to be over each other? Checked. Sexy lovemaking scene with just that touch of kinky (read the knot…) to make them a bit paranormal? Checked. That is probably the most distinctive sign of this novel, that even if it’s a paranormal story, and the events in the story are upturning Will’s life, he is in a way more interested in his love story with Eric, than the “little” detail that he is the answer to an ancient prophecy and that he has to same all the werewolves in the world, starting from Eric’s pack.

Will in a way is only a young man, not a strong and courageous man; or yes, he is stubborn, and he doesn’t like to be ordered around, but that is again part of the above check list, the chosen mate for your typical strong Alpha man is almost always a little brat, who enjoys being cherished and cuddled by his personal teddy… wolf.

Who probably is not exactly “in” the role is Eric, and that is a good novelty; he is not the Alpha of his pack, he is actually the brother of the Alpha, near enough. In any case, in comparison to Will, he is even more than an Alpha; that is, Eric, among his peers, is an average wolf, that more than once has to be saved by other wolves, but to the eyes of Will, he is the strongest ever. What probably make Eric special, and right for Will, is that he is a tender and caring man, and Will, being the precious jewel of the pack, needs a man like him. An Alpha would probably have other obligations in respect of the pack, Eric instead can devote himself to the care of Will and only him.

A Prophecy of Destiny is a nice first attempt to a paranormal romance; there is maybe something that can be improved in the writing, sometime I felt like the author was repeating to the reader unnecessary details (like in this case, a sentence says “(…) the key were still
laying on the ground” and in the next sentence a character says “The key’s laying on the ground there”), but sincerely that was not something that distracted me too much from the reading.

http://silverpublishing.info/product_book_info/glbt-paranormal-c-82_53_56/a-prophecy-of-destiny-p-17

Buy Here

Amazon Kindle: A Prophecy of Destiny (Ancient Prophecy Series)

Reading List:

http://www.librarything.com/catalog_bottom.php?tag=reading_list&view=elisa.rolle
reviews_and_ramblings: (Default)
2010-11-30 11:24 pm

A Prophecy of Destiny by Leiland Dale

A Prophecy of Destiny is a pretty classic shafeshifter paranormal romance, very much like the Silhouette Nocturne the author says was reading before discovering M/M romance. If you have a check list of “must have” factor, this novel will respect all of them: cute young man with a romantic heart? Checked. Strong werewolf in search of his mate? Checked. Strong mate binding between the two of them, so strong they cannot avoid to be over each other? Checked. Sexy lovemaking scene with just that touch of kinky (read the knot…) to make them a bit paranormal? Checked. That is probably the most distinctive sign of this novel, that even if it’s a paranormal story, and the events in the story are upturning Will’s life, he is in a way more interested in his love story with Eric, than the “little” detail that he is the answer to an ancient prophecy and that he has to same all the werewolves in the world, starting from Eric’s pack.

Will in a way is only a young man, not a strong and courageous man; or yes, he is stubborn, and he doesn’t like to be ordered around, but that is again part of the above check list, the chosen mate for your typical strong Alpha man is almost always a little brat, who enjoys being cherished and cuddled by his personal teddy… wolf.

Who probably is not exactly “in” the role is Eric, and that is a good novelty; he is not the Alpha of his pack, he is actually the brother of the Alpha, near enough. In any case, in comparison to Will, he is even more than an Alpha; that is, Eric, among his peers, is an average wolf, that more than once has to be saved by other wolves, but to the eyes of Will, he is the strongest ever. What probably make Eric special, and right for Will, is that he is a tender and caring man, and Will, being the precious jewel of the pack, needs a man like him. An Alpha would probably have other obligations in respect of the pack, Eric instead can devote himself to the care of Will and only him.

A Prophecy of Destiny is a nice first attempt to a paranormal romance; there is maybe something that can be improved in the writing, sometime I felt like the author was repeating to the reader unnecessary details (like in this case, a sentence says “(…) the key were still
laying on the ground” and in the next sentence a character says “The key’s laying on the ground there”), but sincerely that was not something that distracted me too much from the reading.

http://silverpublishing.info/product_book_info/glbt-paranormal-c-82_53_56/a-prophecy-of-destiny-p-17

Buy Here

Amazon Kindle: A Prophecy of Destiny (Ancient Prophecy Series)

Reading List:

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