price：$5.42
Bold Strokes Books
Usually ships in 24 hours Core2Duoノートレビュー 's review (Too Harlequin-like for me) 『I usually am riveted by Radclyffe's writing - the Ptowns are one of my favorite series. Unfortunately, I don't find this book to be anywhere near the quality of writing I've read in that series or any of the other books and stories of Rad's that I've read.
As others have said, I was left wondering what I'd missed in this novel. Why was Ardian so resistent to Rooke? What was up with the dreams? What was Melinda's deal? What the heck was Rooke's deal? And the paranormal intimations never moved beyond the hints and sequences - was that the secret, maybe? Nah.
The novel had the feel of an old time Harlequin Romance (hey, I grew up with them!), only with Lesbians. The powerless feelings of attraction, the naming conventions (I mean, come on - Rooke?!), the actions of Melinda and friends, the undercurrent of something going on between characters, but the reader never really knowing what that current is - all way too Harlequin Romancey for me. I felt vaguely squicky during the whole novel.
Since it was Rad and I adore her, I read the whole thing. The ending did pick up, but not enough to redeem the story. It really needs to go back to the editing room. Or, Rad, just write a new, better novel and leave this one be.
I hate to recommend a person not purchase a book, since we need all the sales we can get for this genre, but if you're on the fence, go with the other choice.』
(A Step Back) 『In general I am a fan of Radclyffe's work, and have purchased quite a number of them. However I was rather disappointed with this attempt. It felt like a short story that was stretched into a novel while not adding any depth. The characters never developed and the relationship didn't evolve. I've found compelling characters to be one of Radclyffe's strengths, however these were flat and one dimensional.
I enjoy paranormal stories, however it wasn't really explored here, only hinted at. This means that nothing was explained to the reader and it just left me wondering what the point was. It wasn't believable and was hard to get through.
I hate to say it, but I couldn't recommend this book to anyone. Instead, I'd be more than happy to recommend other works by her like Love's Masquerade, Shadowland, or Love's Melody Lost.』
(Great Characters) 『I had read some snoozers in this genre lately and I enjoyed this book a lot more than many I've read. The main characters were very believable and likeable and the eroticism was simmering below the surface even though it took a long time to become fact. I agree that the "psychic" undercurrent never did get fully developed and things were hinted that really were red herrings, which is annoying. Nevertheless I liked it, so if this is one of Radclyffe's weaker works, I'll have to read the rest of hers. I liked this one better than Night Call.』
(Confused) 『This one left me confused. Weird for a romance novel, I know, usually they're pretty straight forward. Either you like it or you don't.
This one had two 'rivaling' components that I can't quite get together. On the one hand the two main characters, very strong, independent women. Liked them immediately, and saw the attraction.
The second component is certain paranormal 'activity', that is just there and not further explained and manifests itself in an additional character. Now, I get that you can't necessarily explain paranormal activity, in this case hearing other people's thoughts, I guess you can describe it as. I don't really see how it enhances the story and think the story would have been just as good without it, maybe even better, but that's just cause paranormal apparently is just not my thing. Or if the paranormal part of the book would have been explored more fully. Now it just seems to hang there, open to interpretation. Not that interpretation is a bad thing, but this left the door so wide open that speculation seems kind of useless.
Other than that I like the setting, a small town in New York, and the mood that is set by the storm at the beginning of the book.
I did finish it in the span of 24 hours and really couldn't it put it down towards the end. So that's a good thing, but the ending left me feeling unsatisfied.』
(Disappointing) 『I have all of Radclyfee's novels and I am sure I will continue to purchase her works. However, I found this one very disappointing. I found myself skipping paragraphs to find out where this was going. She has written so many wonderful stories so I'll just chalk this up as a "bad day".』 『Rooke Tyler lives a solitary life in a small western Pennsylvania town, making a living by carving intricate headstones in an exclusive cemetery for the county's wealthy families. At night she sculpts stone, pouring her dreams and desires into the figures she chisels. Then two women enter life, one offering her passion, the other fame. Rooke's choice may expose her secrets and change her life...if she follows her heart.』
price：$3.64
Graphia
Usually ships in 24 hours Core2Duoノートレビュー 's review (Archaeology in Satire) 『Archaeologists play around in other people's garbage, destroy historical context, and then proclaim that centuries of serious historical scholarship is all wrong. They draw these conclusions without first looking at the possibility of their own errors. This short, classic satire has something familiar to the reader, a motel, excavated in the far future and seriously, hilariously misinterpreted by future archaeologists. This work, in the broadest sense, points out the dangers in all forms of academic research.』
(Interesting parody) 『This is a very short book. I would imagine it is supposed to be geared to a younger audience. It involves the interpretations of 41st century archeologist in excavating a Motel 6 type roadside Motel. The excavation begins as satire of the opening of King Tut's tomb, and also has a send up of Schleiman's discovery of Troy. There are many amusing scenes were common objects are interpreted as religious artifacts.
It reminds us that our knowledge of the past is always through the filter of the present, and therefore may not be as acurate as we think it is.』
(Funny but not no much for kids) 『I really enjoyed this when I read it years ago in school. I bought it for my 9 year old thinking he'd really enjoy it too, but now I realize that the humor is a bit over his head. Still, I can't wait to re-read it myself.』
(Brilliant Send-Up) 『I attended the premiere of this book at the University of Pennsylvania many, many years ago due to my parent's donations to the local public television station. As I was in junior high school at the time, I failed to appreciate this work in all its subtle humour and glory, but having since studied anthropology and sociology at the University level, I realise how great this book really is.
The general plot line of this book is that due to a decrease in the charge to mail fourth-class (junk) mail, the American civilization is buried under flyers, pizza hut coupons, and copies of the Weekly World News. Thousands of years later, archaeologists stumble across what they believe to be a perfectly preserved mortuary complex... however, those in our time would recognize it as a no-tell motel. The book, clearly drawing from Lord Carnarvon's discovery of the tomb of Tut in 1922 ("I see wonderful things!...") chronicles the discovery, excavation, and extraordinary mis-characterization of the "artifacts" found within one of the motel rooms.
For anyone who loves Egyptology, this is simply a MUST read.』
(Motel of the Mysteries) 『It was recomended by a teacher friend. It's quirky, funny&full of imagination. I have read books by Elisabeth Peters on archeology&discovering Egyption tombs so I enjoyed this because it challenges the imagination on what future scientists might discover about our civilization.』 『It is the year 4022; all of the ancient country of Usa has been buried under many feet of detritus from a catastrophe that occurred back in 1985. Imagine, then, the excitement that Howard Carson, an amateur archeologist at best, experienced when in crossing the perimeter of an abandoned excavation site he felt the ground give way beneath him and found himself at the bottom of a shaft, which, judging from the DO NOT DISTURB sign hanging from an archaic doorknob, was clearly the entrance to a still-sealed burial chamber. Carson's incredible discoveries, including the remains of two bodies, one of then on a ceremonial bed facing an altar that appeared to be a means of communicating with the Gods and the other lying in a porcelain sarcophagus in the Inner Chamber, permitted him to piece together the whole fabric of that extraordinary civilization.』
price：$26.99
Adamant Media Corporation
Usually ships in 24 hours Core2Duoノートレビュー 's review (Outstanding Audio Book) 『This review is for the audio book narrated by Martin Jarvis. This is one of the better audio books I've listened to in a while from the perspective of the narrator doing excellent voice characterizations. Jarvis was able to make each character sound distinct and they each sounded just like I would have imagined. Bounderby was thunderous, Tom Gradgrind sounded like a whelp, and Blackpool sounded meek and humble. It made for an enjoyable listen that made it very easy to follow the characters.
I've always been a fan of Dickens and have read most of his books, but this was my first time through "Hard Times". As with most of Dickens novels, the characters are almost caricatures, but this method does a good job of pointing out human strengths and weaknesses. This is a short novel for Dickens, but still did a good job exploring the impact of what would happen if science is emphasized too much over emotional education.
He once again highlighted the problems with class distinctions in English society at that time. I like how his humble characters have more wisdom than those that are rich or of high social position.
I highly recommend this audio book as a great way to be introduced to Dicken's "Hard Times".』
(Zzzzzzz) 『I found Hard Times to be a particularly boring novel. I also purchased the matching audiobook which I listened to on a long drive. There should be a warning label! The darn thing puts you to sleep faster than listening to Stephen Hawking all day...anesthetized! Why not one star? I like Dickens, what can I say?』
(Better Reading Better Writing) 『To write an outline of Hard Times or Dickens' work would not be necessary. His writing has withstood the test of time, and is well know. To give encouragement to would-be Dickens' readers and Hard Times readers does seem like time well spent.
Hard Times ventures from other Dickens' books in the writing style lending a departure from Dickens' previous descriptive formats. In this particular book, Dickens lends skill, imagination, and panache to English language usage. He breathes life in to the language of the novel, and he remains a master of dramatic setting and story line. When people say, "Read good books, it will rub off on you." Hard Times comes first to my mind. Therefore, a reason to read Hard Times would be to improve your own reading and writing.
I admit some of the character's lives are depressing. When I looked back upon the entire book, and wondered if Hard Times would differ if set in present day with cell phones, PDAs, the Internet, electricity, airplanes, automobiles, and so many distractions. My guess would be - probably not. Would Louisa Gradgrind's life have taken a different course if she were living in today's world? My guess would be, perhaps, a slight shift on her circumstances, and, again, probably not. Dickens' charms include being able to put his finger on a character type and bring it to life. This is why I'd call certain present day figures, "A Mr. Bounderby" or "A Gradgrind". The Whelp or Tom Gradgrind remains alive and kicking; I've met him.
My recommendation: Read Hard Times. You will be a better reader and writer for it. 』
(Mr. Dickens slams industrial horror scenes.) 『Charles Dickens, as is his custom, slams into so-called civilized 19th century British industrial scenes in a smoky place called Coketown. He writes with a sharp knife about poverty, hunger, cruel management and lack of compassion. Humor here is on the grim side.』
(Not his best by a long shot but here's what I found fascinating:) 『This book has the feel of something thrown together to meet contractual agreements or to pay the bills. There is a passel of things in the book which are inconsistent or unsatisfactory. The continued presence of Ms. Sparsit on the payroll after she has been made redundant; Blackpool's reason for defying the union; and Sissy in her entirety, for instance. Still, this is not a bad tale and parts of it are enthralling. What I found intriguiging was the obliquely described opium session between the cad and the whelp; Dickens' use of the word 'noodle' as mid-1860's vernacular slang; the mention of walnut ketchup which is still being made today and is something that I should like to try; and an introduction to a pretty decent alcoholic drink, to wit warmed sherry with lemon peel and nutmeg. I used cream sherry to make a concoction very much like a smooth-edged hot toddy; it comes highly recommended to anyone in need of a hot toddy. What I find I like even more is plain, unheated, cheap cream sherry and lemon peel which is a surprisingly excellent combination. Having said that, this book did re-introduce me to the spice nutmeg which is heady indeed--the Chinese would call it 'heaty'--and deeply satisfying.』 『This Elibron Classics book is a facsimile reprint of a 1854 edition by Bernhard Tauchnitz, Leipzig.』
price：$3.75
Kensington
Usually ships in 24 hours Core2Duoノートレビュー 's review (really enjoyed reading frat boy will read it again) 『it's a warm feeling to read very good profilling of gay encounters and friend to a relationship, wished i had oppertunity had a relationship of the sorts, had a difficult time of gay in a relationship』
(Great Read.) 『This is a great book, it has Sex, Love, Sex, and Men!. Haha. A great read for the reader who is looking for a love story to read and enjoy. I really recomment this title.』
(This book was Amazing!) 『This is probably one of the best books I have read. It does a very good job of illustrating what a gay guy goes thru when he is just realizing that he is gay. On top of that, it just has an amazing story line that kept me on the edge of my seat. I couldn't hardly put the book down til I finished it. If you like romance novels, this is a pretty good one.』
(CATHYS REVIEW) 『GREAT BOOK ABOUT BOYS GROWING UP AND LEARNING THIER TRUE SEXUAL NATURE. THINGS THAT GO ON IN FRAT HOUSES AND MEETING NEW FRIENDS. I LOVE READING ABOUT MALE AND MALE LOVE STORIES AND THIS DIFFENTLY HAD THAT.』
(Poorly Written, But Still HOT!) 『I, like many others I assume, judged this book by its cover. For the expectations set by that, I was not disappointed. This book delivers if you're looking for a steamy, sultry, fantasies-come-true story involving the sexcapades of a fraternity pledge and its members. It's so hot, in fact, that I stayed up until 5am in the morning just so I could finish the book in one sitting.
I was disappointed by the "new" author's lack of literary skill, particularly the inability to tie a whole story's worth of loose strings up by the end of the book. Also, there was gratuitous use of hard drugs in the story that had practically no reason for being there. If a "Boogie Nights" level of drug usage offends you, then steer clear of this book. It only subtracts from the story.
I wasn't especially impressed with the author's sentence structure or grammar, and in many places, I had to re-read a paragraph to get the meaning. Even then, the author's intentions sometimes still eluded me.
I don't mean to sound harsh, perhaps I'm just a bit critical. There is the possibility that some or most people would not be bothered by the shortcomings I have described, and perhaps not even notice them.
If this truly is a new author, I would be proud to call it my first published work. I look forward to continued improvement and hotter stories, if that's even possible.』 『Jeff Morgan is about to get the education of a lifetime...
At eighteen, Jeff Morgan is the quintessential all-American boy--blond, blue-eyed, and a star jock at his small Kansas high school. Enrolling at California State University-Polk, Jeff plans to become a writer. He also hopes that the macho nature of fraternity life will help him get over his lifelong attraction to other men. The reality couldn't be more different...
Through Blair Blanchard, the drama major son of divorced movie stars, Jeff discovers the Beta Kappa fraternity, and enters a world where alcohol and drugs serve as an excuse for covert trysts between frat brothers...where the pledging process becomes a sensual, S&M-fueled bacchanal...where weekends in L.A. and Palm Springs are no-holds-barred adventures in sexual exploration...and where Spring Break is a boys-gone-wild porn movie come to life. Through every encounter, from intense couplings with older frat brothers to sizzling three-ways with hot new pledges, Jeff also deals with his increasingly complex feelings--for Blair, for a handsome new arrival, and for life within Beta Kappa itself.
Sexy, steamy, and incredibly erotic,Every Frat Boy Wants Itproves that when it comes to learning all there is to know about mind-blowing pleasure, nothing beats hands-on experience...』
price：$26.99
Adamant Media Corporation
Usually ships in 24 hours Core2Duoノートレビュー 's review (Entertaining to the last page) 『Trollope is addictive, but some of his books offer more nonstop entertainment than others, and this is one of those.』
(The Start of a Beautiful Friendship) 『It's hard to adequately describe my affection for "The Eustace Diamonds." This was the first Trollope I read, and I did so more out of a sense of obligation than anything else. (I had heard of Trollope, and thought that I SHOULD read him, much in the way one thinks one SHOULD get a yearly prostate exam.) I expected a dense, difficult read on the lines of Henry James or Thomas Hardy, but was completely surprised -- blown away, frankly -- by how entertaining and funny a writer Trollope is. This is the book that started my love affair with his works, one that has only deepened with each new book.
"The Eustace Diamonds," as you probably know, revolves around the vivacious Lizzie Greystock, who marries for money and goes to unimaginable lengths to hold on to it. She is a liar, a cheat, a wicked, wicked woman...and an utter delight. She ensnares every man she meets, and that seems to have included her creator, Trollope himself! I know that I find her irresistible, along with the novel in which she's the sun, moon and stars.
If you haven't yet read Trollope, I might work up to this book by reading its two predecessors in The Palliser Chronicles, but be forewarned that the first of them, "Can You Forgive Her?" is not Trollope at his best. Certainly read "Phineas Finn," though, as the characters introduced there will factor into "Phineas Redux," which, in part, continues Lizzie Greystock's dubious adventures. But regardless of the order in which you decide to proceed, don't miss out on "The Eustace Diamonds," one of the great, most pleasurable contributions to English literature.』
(The Eustace Diamonds is a glittering gem of a three decker Victorian classic by the pen of Anthony Trollope) 『Why are Victorian novels so long? Among other reasons one which stands out is that they were often serialized in popular magazines. This novel of 1873 was serialized in "The Fortnightly Review." It is one of the six novels comprising the Palliser Series which deals with the British upper crust and politcs as the fortunes of Prime Minister Platangenet Palisser and his feisty wife Glencora are examined. In this novel they play a minor role sharing gossip about Lizzie Eustace and nothing much else. Lizzie Eustace is the fetching and sexy young widow of Lord Eustace. She has given birth to a son. Lizzie is similar to the scheming Becky Sharp who proceeded her by fifty years and Scarlett O'Hara who came seventy years later and a continent away. Lizzie claims that a 10,000 necklace was given her by her late mate but the family wants it as an heirloom. That is the plot of this 800 page novel! Lizzie is courted by Lord George Carruthers; refuses marriage to the stupid and dull Lord Fawn and is infatuated with her cousin Frank Greystock. Frank has tied up with the good but colorless Lucy Morris who is a governess to the Fawn family featuring Lady Fawn and several of her daughters. The novel becomes a mystery story as the diamonds are stolen from Lizzie? Who took them and why? Check with Miss Crabstick her maid and rich but dishonest jewel dealers in London. Trollope goes to Scotland Yard to follow the case as Lizzie comes under a cloud. Lizzie is exonerated but she is a nefarious lady who cannot tell the truth always searching for a handsome Corsair to whisk her away on a stallion of her romantic imaginings. A good side tale is that of Mrs. Carbuncle and her ward Lucinda Roanoke who seek to wed a title and filthy lucre. Lucinda is to wed Sir Griffin but backs out as the man is an odious and offensive nonentity. Trollope includes a few chapters on fox hunting of which he was a clumsy but devoted adherent. The book is filled with humor, mystery, romance and closely observed English aristocratic life in the 1870s. Unlike other of his huge novels this one moves at a quicker pace though the reader is wearied with the umpteenth explanation of what happened to the jewels recounted by various characters. Anthony Trollope deserves high praise for his storytelling abilities which place him in the top rank of Victorian and British authors. This is one of the best of the Palliser novels. Enjoy the complex Lizzie Eustace as she will take you on a journey through many pages with her panache and deceitfully sly ways.』
(Too much fun for words!) 『Anthony Trollope was a writer well-known in Britain during the Victorian era, but until I was introduced to The Eustace Diamonds during a local book club, I had never heard of him. Trollope is famous for his lengthy "exposes" on middle class Victorian society, and this one is a real hoot! His prose is easy to read, and although the book is a bit lengthy, it is well worth the time. The Eustace Diamonds is essentially a Victorian "soap opera" but the characters and situations are so well-drawn that one can easily believe the same absurdities occurring in the modern world. What I like most about this novel is that the "heroine", if you can call her that, gets just what she deserves in a wonderfully ironic ending.』
(Hard to put down) 『I suspect that Anthony Trollope who knew the language so well and used it so nicely would have sneered at the adjective "exciting" to characterize this exquisite novel. So over-used, so vulgar, so trans-Atlantic an epithet! Well,maybe so. Nevertheless, that is the word that springs inevitably to my mind--vulgar though it may be!--when I think of Trollope's picaresque heroine in "The Eustace Diamonds." Trollope's plots are usually pretty formulaic; we read him for his wonderful characters. But, in this novel, the plot of more than usually intriguing and the anti-heroine is a triumph.』 『Revolves around the cunning but extremely beautiful Lizzie Greystock who, having entrapped Sir Florian Eustace in marriage, now finds herself widowed and uncommonly wealthy. Unperturbed by her loss she is determined to hold on to the Eustace family heirlooms, despite the legal opposition.』
price：$1.00
Loose Id LLC
Usually ships in 24 hours Core2Duoノートレビュー 's review (Blue Fire by Z.A. Maxfield) 『This book is different from the usual novels I was used to read by this author. First, it's shorter, a novella instead of a long novel; and second it has a bittersweet undertone that runs throughout from beginning to end, something that makes the novella less lighter, not sad, on the contrary there is even sometime when a smile spontaneously blossom on your face, but it's not a full laughter, it's more a warm slight rise up of the corner of the mouth. The main theme of the book is the research of the perfect blue, the same blue you can see in the inside of the flames, something you don't expect to see among all those reds; it's the same perfect blue of a mountain lake, and like the mountain lake, the book transpire peace and comfort, more than thrill and chaos, like the mountain streams that suddenly die in the peaceful water of the lake. The story is like that, a sudden moment of peace among the chaos that is the life of both characters.
Adam is a firefighter and he saves Jared from the fire that destroys his house. He is not able to save also the house, he is impotent since a big fire is roaring around and they are out of water. In a way, the impotence Adam is feeling is not heightened by Jared's reaction to the loss of his house: Jared is like fallen into a trance, in few words he explains to Adam that the house was the last project of his husband, a famous architecture, and losing the house is like losing once again his husband, died few months ago of cancer.
As easily as the water flows, the story moves up of some weeks, and we find Adam visiting Jared in a private clinic; Jared is depressed and he has not found a reason to come out of his trance. Adam understands that Jared needs a shock, and practically forces the man to come with him in Colorado, in the mountain cabin his family own there. The main reason is to show Jared the mountain lake with the perfect blue water the same color apparently Jared is searching. The real reason is that Adam is fallen in love with the man and wants to shake him off from the prison of his memories.
Even if Adam has all the good intentions of this life, unfortunately he is not doing the right thing. Jared fell in love with his very much older husband when he was still a teenager, and from that moment on he lived in the shadow of the bigger than life man beside him. Even if Jared was talented, his light was obscured by his husband's genius and little by little, Jared disappeared. When his husband died, apparently also Jared died. The fire was not a trauma, probably instead was a way to freedom. Inside the fire and in the eyes of the man who saved him, Jared finds something that pushed him a little more out from his self-imposed prison. The journey in Colorado helped some more, but if Jared accepts the love offered by Adam, it would be only like falling in another prison: where his husband was older and genius, Adam is younger and full of life, but both of them are men that can obscure Jared if he first doesn't find his way in the world. To be happy with Adam, Jared has to finish his growing process, the one that was interrupted by his husband when he took Jared with him. Even if Jared is 37 years old, he is still more or less a teenager if compared to Adam.』
(Beautiful short story, interesting characters) 『Another beautifully written M/M love story that fans of Z.A. Maxfield will enjoy. "Blue Fire" tells the story of Adam, a dedicated firefighter, and Jared, a troubled man who has lost everything he values when his house burns to the ground. In helping each other, the two men discover a love that cannot be denied or erased with time.
As with other Z.A. Maxfield books, I loved these carefully drawn characters who, through the help and love of each other, must overcome their own difficult problems. The sex scenes are beautiful, hot, and in unique settings.
The only real drawback to the book is its short length; it would have been better if it was longer (especially after Jared's return to California). (It took me 2 hours to read it.) This would be a great read for a day at the beach or a flight/layover.
Although this book is not available for purchase in the U.S. on Amazon (at this time), you can find it on [...] in e-book format in the U.S. (although I would have preferred to buy it here.)』 『
Genre:LGBT Erotic Contemporary
Fire cost Jared Kenny his home and all his memories of the man he-d loved for over half his life.- But it also brought him firefighter Adam Collins and the purest blue eyes Jared had ever seen.
Despite the best efforts of his department, Adam had to watch with Jared while Jared-s house burned to the ground. Something about the man touched Adam and made him want to follow up and protect him. Later, when the two of them gave in to their passion, it burnt and bared them both.
So Jared ran-from Adam, from his past, and from everything their future together could hold. He tried to start a new life, taking only his newfound passion for glass and his obsession for a finding a particular shade of blue, the blue of the heart of a flame. It took a near-tragedy to teach him that the blue he sought, he'd had all along-in his firefighter's eyes.
Publisher-s Note:this book contains explicit sexual content, graphic language, and situations some readers may find objectionable: Anal play/intercourse, male/male sexual practices.
price：$7.99
Tricycle Press
Usually ships in 24 hours Core2Duoノートレビュー 's review (More than just a token glance) 『What is the purpose of your average everyday board book? It's not really a crazy question. In the history of printed literature, board books are relative newcomers. I mean, books for babies and toddlers? A radical notion! Yet parents who start reading to their kids early find that their children are better readers later on down the road. As a result, sometimes board books are simplified adaptations of already existing picture books, and sometimes they are written with the intention of beginning and ending their lives as board books (though if you're Sandra Boynton, sometimes you'll see the rare board book to picture book crossover). Topics cover everything from animal sounds to colors, peek-a-boo, letters, numbers, and families. Always with the families. Small children like to see children like themselves in books just as parents like to see their family situations reflected in the literature their kids read. The problem is that there really isn't a lot to pick and choose from if you're a modern gay or lesbian couple. On the picture book side of things you can sometimes find a sweet story in the midst of all the pabulum ("Mini Mia and her Darling Uncle" perhaps), but it's relatively rare. And on the board book side of things? Essentially you can either find translated/bilingual editions of Moreno Velo and Termenón Delgado's charming "Manu" series, but that's almost entirely it. Now Tricycle Press is taking a chance and producing some quality baby board book fare for the busy single sex family. What is the purpose of your average everyday board book? To teach children about the world, of course. Creditto author Leslea Newman and illustrator Carol Thompson for producing not one but two titles ("Mommy, Mama, and Me" and "Daddy, Papa, and Me") for new families.
In "Mommy, Mama, and Me" a small child (Boy? Girl? Unclear) discusses the activities that make up a day with Mommy and Mama. Gentle rhymes describe everything from "Mommy lets me help her cook" to "Mama helps me read a book." No matter what this family does, however, they do it together until at the end of the day, "Now I'm tucked in nice and tight. Mommy and Mama kiss me goodnight." Similarly the book "Daddy, Papa, and Me" covers similar ground. Only in that book a slightly older toddler runs, plays, and eventually tuckers out an exhausted Daddy and Papa. Accompanied by bright and lively illustrations, these board books are keepers from page one onward. The art itself is a mixture of mixed media and what looks to be watercolors.
There was a time (and I like to think that it's past) when if an author or illustrator chose to write a story with a family in it that wasn't white, people would start tsking and murmuring under their breath that no white family would ever consider purchasing books about anything but similarly white families. The fact that black, Asian, Hispanic, and other ethnic groups readily purchased stories about all kinds of families that weren't their own race never really seemed to change their minds on the matter. As a children's librarian I do occasionally have to deal with parents who look at the books I recommend to them and then say, "Do you have anything less . . . urban?" *sigh* Still, it's less common than it used to be. Now in the case of these two books, I can almost anticipate people readying their arguments that no straight family would ever buy board books about gay folks. And again, the fact that gay families have little choice BUT to buy stories about straight family units doesn't seem to make much of a difference. To my mind, I don't think you're giving people enough credit. Are there people out there who will exhibit shock and horror at these loving little portraits and forbid them from their homes? Undoubtedly. Such are the times in which we live. But by the same token, I have faith that there are lots of forward thinking, intelligent people out there who recognize that if you want to build tolerance in your youngster, why not start sooner rather than later? Why not indeed.
I think one of the things I like the most about this book is the fact that like that delightful "And Tango Makes Three", the whole point of the book isn't wrapped up in the fact that these families have homosexual parents. I've been waiting for good books where the parents just happen to be gay to come out, and so far I've been routinely disappointed. In the case of these Newman/Thompson titles, what you're dealing with here is just your standard I-love-my-mommies / I-love-my-daddies fare. No different really from a million other board books out there today. And yes, the point behind writing the books may have been to write something for those same families, but its themes are universal; Toddlers and parents loving one another. And I think we've plenty of room on our bookstore and library shelves for that.
In terms of the art, I've seen Carol Thompson's illustrations for books like Frieda Wishinsky's "Oonga Boonga" and Toby Forward's "What Did You Do Today?" before. In this book she has managed to walk that fine line between being realistic and being stereotypical. She could have flamboyanted up the gay dads and butched to the nines the moms if she wanted to. So her job here was to create believable families that didn't reek of faux values. So, for example, while you won't see the dads sporting moustaches and earrings, at the same time these don't look like two businessmen who happen to be living in the same space. Similarly, Mommy and Mama make up a believable lesbian couple that doesn't resemble television's vision of what lesbians look like (long-haired models, etc.).
Yup. Pretty nice from top to toe. I urge you, however, to consider these books as more than just merely token lit. Sure, I'd love to see publishers taking a chance and creating more books of this type out there, but the stories really stand on their own merits and deserve to be considered as just great little board books in and of themselves. Cute and touching by turns, it's the lucky baby that gets to have these read to them. No matter what your family looks like, if you have an anklebiter on your hands, these are fine literature for tiny tots. More than just the sum of their parts. 』
(Great book) 『We found this book at our local library and my 20-month old daughter loves it, wants to read it every night now and we will buy a copy soon for her to have. Simple rhymes, vibrant pictures, and seeing her favorite toddler activities (e.g., helping to cook, reading a book, taking a bath) depicted seem to make this a winner. When we reach the last page, where the baby is tucked into bed, she leans down to kiss the page. I love that she can see something which resembles her own family life in print.』
(Wonderful Gift for Any New Parent!) 『Just like their book Daddy, Papa, and Me, Newman and Thompson have created a charming board book that depicts the gentle, loving relationship between a child and her/his parents. Simple rhyme and vibrant mixed-media illustrations are perfect for care-givers to share with their young children. Tricycle Press, Newman, and Thompson should all be highly commended for creating the first board-books representing same-sex families in a non-didactic way. Highly Recommended!』
(Nice LGBT-friendly board-book) 『The L-word counterpart to Leslea Newman's cheerful gay-daddies boardbook "Daddy, Papa, And Me," this is equally charming and lighthearted, with a happy couple taking their toddler out for a fun day in the park, then back home for some cooking, dinner, a bath, and the inevitable toddler-book good night. Lots of cuddling, love, tenderness and smiles. As with the other book, no apologies are made for the nontraditional couple, and no speeches are made either: the pictures speak for themselves. Also, the gender of the child isn't made explicit and the couple seems like it could be of mixed ethnicity, so it's a great gift for any number of family or friends. (Joe Sixpack, ReadThatAgain children's book reviews)』 『Mommy picks me up, up, up. Mama pours juice in my cup.
Rhythmic text and illustrations with universal appeal show a toddler spending the day with its mommies. From hide-and-seek to dress-up, then bath time and a kiss goodnight, there's no limit to what a loving family can do together.』
price：$1.50
Dreamspinner Press
Usually ships in 24 hours Core2Duoノートレビュー 's review (A Strong Hand) 『This is a page turner. I could not put it down for the story was poignant. Each individual had to work things out themselves. It shows the caring between the photographer and his model/assistant and the confidence from being paid attention to. For the photographer is was acceptance of love.』
(A Strong Hand) 『Damian Wolfe is a successful photographer specializing in BDSM shots. He calls England home after getting some grief in his native US for provocative photos he's taken. The lifestyle Damian chooses is that of a Dom although these days he is alone, by his own choice.
He is a struggling artist going to school and filling his free time with a job to make ends meet. Nicholas Sayers is finding out what life is all about.
There is something about Damian that makes Nick nervous, makes him screw up at work. It will take Damian's good friend Ashley Winthrop to point out that Nick would make a great subject for their latest photo shoot on kink wear and the perfect sub for Damian. Something special is about to happen if Nick and Damian allow it.
A Strong Hand is an amazing example of a BDSM love story. Damian and Nick are both fascinating, complex characters exploring a relationship while secretly hoping for love. Although the opening communication is a little bumpy, A Strong Hand quickly smoothes out into something special. Some readers will shy away from the M/M plotline and others will be uncomfortable with the very explicit D/s scenes and that's really too bad because bottom line, A Strong Hand is a sensuous, emotional romance not to be missed.
Lisa Reviewed for Joyfully Reviewed 』
(Loved it.....) 『I bought this book out of blindness because like few of my previous book purchases I based on the cover of the book. I didn't read the reviews or such and just bought it on a whim. Well I read the description but not all of it. I just finished it and I was surprised, I could barely part with it! It was a wonderful book, and I never thought that the kind of relationship that Nick and Damian had could ever be so tender and loving. However, I got frustrated sometimes when it does get a little wordy at some parts and not wordy in some needed scenes (Nick talk abut his scar). Otherwise I really love this book, my first book from Ms. Ford and I am not disappointed. I love the characters but I was hoping that she went a little more in-depth with Nick. In the book it did mention that he was a Art student in sculpting but there were no showing of his work. I also wished that she went with an Epilogue of Damian and Nick visiting Nick family and Damian's. Like I said, loved it! A great buy. :D ~~~4.5』
(3.75 Stars) 『A very hot and surprisingly tender m/m BDSM erotic romance. Interesting characters, nice pacing, believable angst. Lovely D/s dynamic that goes beyond play acting in the bedroom. Ms. Ford presents BDSM in a manner that is neither excessive nor preachy. Minor points deducted for head hopping, a slight case of wordiness, and some sappy melodrama that struck me as out of character, but these are small complaints. I'll probably re-read several scenes from this book. ~ 3.75 Stars』
(Not the best BDSM story I've read, but entertaining) 『Warning: This review might contain what some people consider SPOILERS.
Rating: 8/10
PROS: - Convincing story about a guy who thinks he's straight getting into a gay relationship. I often find that "straight guy turned gay" storylines either move too quickly or don't contain guys I think of as straight. I believed that Nick truly was clueless about his latent attraction to men, and I felt that the progression of his and Damian's relationship moved just at the right pace. - A top who struggles with the realistic human emotion of self-doubt. I don't hang around many people who are into the lifestyle, but when I see the public bravado of most Doms, I always wonder whether they have moments of weariness and/or insecurity, if only in private. - Cute secondary love story that I almost wished Ford hadn't told us as much about so that she could write a second volume about those characters' story. - Sexy love scenes that progress beautifully from simple sex to loving expressions of affection. - Lovely descriptions of Damian's photography. Ford must either be a photographer herself or have studied erotic photography in depth before writing this book.
CONS: - The big "I love you and you love me back" scene was anti-climactic for me. I guess it's more realistic than many such scenes, but after the emotional roller coaster the characters had been through, I wanted a dramatic, fairy tale scene rather than the straightforward, practical one I got. - Some depictions of more extreme BDSM lifestyles that made Nick (and thus me) uncomfortable and skittish. I struggled a little bit with understanding why Nick would agree to some of the things he does when witnessing others' versions of the lifestyle made him so uneasy. - Both characters are rather standoffish emotionally. This makes their eventual attachment more poignant, but they experience several "he's tired of me [or mad at me or disappointed in me or whatever] and I don't know it but he thinks I'm tired of him too" moments that made me want to smack them both.
Overall comments: A sweet read, but not without its uncomfortable moments. Nick's natural submission is described well, but some of the things he witnesses at other Doms' hands are cringe-worthy when viewed through his eyes. If you like or don't mind BDSM, I recommend this one; there's nothing terribly graphic or heavy in it--some bondage and spanking, but no blood play and few visible marks from the main characters' encounters.』 『Nicholas Sayers, needing money for college, takes a job as assistant to infamous photographer Damian Wolfe. It's just taking pictures, right? Wrong. While Nick has never questioned what kind of man he is or what he truly wants in life, working for Damian during a BDSM photo shoot opens his eyes to all sorts of sexual possibilities, and many of them include the handsome Mr. Wolfe. Damian has serious doubts about getting involved with a younger man who knows nothing about the BDSM lifestyle, but Nick's adventurous and humorous approach to new experiences is far too alluring to resist. Although he knows it might be a mistake, Damian takes Nick into his life. Flirting on the edges of control, submission, and pain excites Nick more than he would have ever dreamed possible. With Damian, Nick learns about his own deeply hidden desires and finds out that relinquishing control doesn't make him weak-having someone else in control of his sexual pleasure simply heightens it. And the reverse is true for Damian: Control turns him on. So they set out to explore these sensual boundaries together, neither expecting to find love along the way.』
price：$4.78
Spinsters Ink
Usually ships in 24 hours Core2Duoノートレビュー 's review (GOOD BOOK) 『This was the first book by Blayne Cooper that I've read and I definately enjoyed it. There were some holes in the plot, but it was an interesting premise and enjoyable to read. I'm planning on reading more from her!』
(A WONDERFUL read!) 『I have not been an avid reader, but this book caught my attention and I am glad it did. I LOVED it. It has made me a reader again! Great characters - great story. As I was reading, I would sometimes read the same passage over because I enjoyed it so much. Wonderful development and sexual tension. I found it difficult to put this book down as I read into the wee morning hours. There were some editing errors, but I was able to move past those. Going back to order more Blayne Cooper - I want more!!』
(Stranded with some pleasure) 『Good read, not erotic overload. Story is well written with some added humor which works for this tale. A growing soccer team has recruited a venezuelan younster and a broadcaster for a special series of interviews. The characters are laid out pretty well, though it is the typical, lesbian falls for straight woman, straight woman falls for lesbian scenario, which can get old. But it is enjoyable despite this. Cooper keeps it plausible and fun at times. If you like lesbian fiction, you will enjoy this.』
(A "FUN" and adventurous READ!!) 『Fun, fast-paced, and well-developed characters. Truly a treat. 3-dimensional and richly described scenarios..and subtlely comedic, you'll find yourselves chuckling. Well worth the $ and time spent. I will have to purchase other Blayne Cooper books now!』
(An Entertaining Read) 『I found this book to be amusing, captivating, humorous, and downright fun. I'm a huge fan of this author's ability to inject humor in unexpected ways. I'd highly recommend this book if you're looking for something that sucks you in and makes you regret putting it down.』 『Rachel Michaels is at the top of her profession, but she's grown tired of trading barbs with her co-host/ex-husband on their popular morning radio talk show. Eager to stretch her wings, she takes a second job as the color commentator for Denver's new professional women's soccer team.
Along with her new job comes an exciting assignment, travel to Venezuela to profile the team's sizzling star recruit, Miranda Gutierrez. But Rachel begins to long for a little of her old routine when her boss forces her to extend her stay to accompany team big-wig, Nora Butler, and the headstrong player on a "bonding" adventure.
Their journey gets off to a bad start, and things go downhill from there. All three women are tested mentally and physically as they fight for their lives. They must learn to depend on each other, shape their own destinies, and, ultimately, risk everything for what matters most.
What would you do to survive? How much would you risk for love?』
price：$3.91
Harper Perennial
Usually ships in 24 hours Core2Duoノートレビュー 's review (Great Read) 『This was a very compelling story that really made you think about the way that life can take you. It helps make you appreciate the things you have in yhour life as well as those that you love and love you in return.』
(Funny and interesting) 『This book isn't a tough read, it flows very quickly and easily. Its great for the beach or travel. Its fun and fast paced.』
(fascinating and fun read) 『great peak into a new york life most of us will not experience ourselves, but have seen from the outside. Very entertaining, and enjoyable』
(What's it like being a gay Drag Queen in NYC?) 『This book is both a small trip of New York and an intimate and skewed look of a man looking for himself and his place in the world. His somewhat shocking job, his transformation, his partying and his relationships. It is an interesting read, and you will often feel as if you were peeking trough a window and looking at something that you probably weren't meant to see.
Overall a good read.』
(a world that is very far from my own, but very entertaining!) 『This book is a fast read, it is harsh, fun, sad, crazy and amazing. the writer's ability to take you into a world of drag queens, gay male escorts, crack addiction, S&M -- all with a sense of humor and honesty. The characters go through a lot in a short time, not even a year in NY and Josh had experienced tons of things.. good and not so good! I read the book in less than a week, it is a fast read, partly because you dont want to put it down, you just want to know what happens to these very flawed people. this is a great book, and one i'm very glad i was able to read.』 『
I Am Not Myself These Daysfollows a glittering journey through Manhattan's dark underbelly -- a shocking and surreal world where alter egos reign and subsist (barely) on dark wit and chemicals...a tragic romantic comedy where one begins by rooting for the survival of the relationship and ends by hoping someone simply survives. Kilmer-Purcell is a terrifically gifted new literary voice who straddles the divide between absurdity and normalcy, and stitches them together with surprising humor and lonely poignancy. As Booklist raved "as tart and funny as a Noel Coward play, for Kilmer-Purcell is especially good at dialogue, and, as in Coward's best plays, under the comedy lies the sad truth that even at our best, we are all weak, fallible fools. Again and again in this rich, adventure-filled book, Kilmer-Purcell illustrates the truth of Blake's proverb, 'The road of excess leads to the palace of wisdom.'"
』 『I Am Not Myself These Daysis Josh Kilmer-Purcell's outrageously intimate memoir of a young man living a double life in the heady days and nights of mid-'90s New York City. As we follow Kilmer-Purcell through alcohol-fueled nights and a love affair with Jack, a crack-addicted male escort, he offers up an alternative universe where normal is "a Normal Rockwell painting that, if you leaned in close, would discover is made up entirely of misfits."
By day, Josh drudges off to a Soho-based advertising firm where he creates ad campaigns for corporate clients. At night, he dons live goldfish to complete the look of Aqua, a 7-foot-tall award-winning drag queen who trolls gay clubs in search of her next drink/one night stand. In between, he spends his time trying to build a stable, loving relationship with someone whose beeping pager is a constant reminder of the pair's almost inevitable fate. Yet even as Josh's escapades get increasingly absurd, Kilmer-Purcell is always there to remind us that the story we're reading is real, and that fundamental human emotions and desires are essentially universal. In the end, everyone just wants to be loved and to fit in somewhere. And while the lesson may seem hokey at times, Kilmer-Purcell's sharp wit rescues the memoir from becoming an exaggerated sob story:
The night before any major holiday is always a blockbuster night at gay clubs. Thousands... across the city fortifying themselves for long trips home where they'll be met with awkward silences, stilted conversations and cousins with whom they'd experimented with decades ago.
From start to finish,I Am Not Myself These Daysis an extraordinary journey into an amazing life. To be a fly on the wall is an adventure that should not be missed.--Gisele Toueg』
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