Like most readers, I have a TBR list, one that seems to have a life of its own. The books multiply like bunnies. For every one I read, three more take its place. (I blame Dreamspinner Press and their ridiculously amazing sales!) I have eBooks from 2010 and 2011 which I don't know that I'll get around to as 2012 and 2013 have produced twice as many eBooks that need reading. Sadly, 2013 was not a good year of reading for me. I read quite a bit, but mostly books on writing or for research.

This year, I've decided to try and tackle my ever growing TBR list. Over the weekend, I spent a few hours sorting through my eBook folders. There are A LOT of them. Here's how I organize them, in case anyone fancies doing something similar. I have an 'eBooks' folder in my SkyDrive, and inside that folder, every author who I have at least 3 or more books for gets their own folder. All other eBooks go into a folder labelled 'Authors'. Then I have a 'Favorite Authors' folder, a '2012', and '2013' folder, plus a 'TBR' folder. Inside my 'TBR' folder is a 'Priority' folder. As I read books in my 'TBR', they get moved to their respective folders. It's the only way I can keep track of things. Any non-LGBTQ fiction goes into a separate folder labeled accordingly: Research, Crime Fiction, M/F Romance etc.

I hope to read a lot more fiction than I did last year, and catch up on some books I meant to read ages ago. I'm off to a pretty good start. Here's what I read this week. All of which I highly recommend!

Piper Vaughn's - Love Rising Shira Anthony's - Stealing the Wind (Mermen of Ea #1) KJ Charles's - The Magpie Lord (A Charm of Magpies #1) KJ Charles's - Interlude with Tattoos (A Charm of Magpies #1.5)

I'll probably be adding more of my thoughts on books I enjoyed. I guess you could call them reviews, but I don't consider myself a reviewer. Despite being a writer, reviews are freakin' hard, and there's a lot more to them than just saying I liked or didn't like something, because I'd consider that more an opinion. My reviews are really more along the lines of fangirl ramblings.

I also don't give M/M Romance books star ratings. It's one of those topics that can be debated until everyone's blue in the face, but personally, I think folks should do whatever feels comfortable for them, and in my case, I don't feel comfortable rating my fellow authors, so I don't. I'm not saying authors should or shouldn't rate/review other authors, I'm just saying I won't. Now if I like, or love a book, I'm not shy about shouting it from the mountain top. When I read, I read for the sheer enjoyment of it. I read for me.

It's funny, how despite now being an author, I pretty much still approach books the same way I have all my life. I don't pick up a book, start reading, and suddenly become its editor. I'm there to enjoy it. I have enough editing to worry about in my own stories without worrying about what was missed in someone else's. I may notice things I hadn't noticed before, or have names for all the structural elements that compose a story, but when I pick up a book, the author stays behind, and the reader takes over. I want to be swept away by the story, the characters, the world, and the emotions. If the story succeeds in that respect, I'd call it a winner. As long as it piques my interest, I'll read any genre. I do however, need coherency. If I'm reading a book, and something in the writing jars me out of the story every other paragraph, I'm not likely to continue. It's been a long time since I've come across a book that's done that.

Right now I'm reading Jordan L Hawk's - Stormhaven (Whyborne & Griffin #3), which I LOVED the first two by the way, and I have a couple of eBooks lined up after that. I'm aiming for at least three eBooks a week, depending on schedules and length of books. There's also a few new releases coming out this month which I'm looking forward to: Hayley B. James's - Polyester Prince (ABQ Heat #2), and KJ Charles's - A Case of Possession (A Charm of Magpies #2)

What are you reading at the moment?

Some time ago, I sadly fell very behind on my reading, but a conversation with the lovely Poppy Dennison reminded me of how important it is for an author to read. There really was no excuse for me not to be getting any reading done, and "haven't had time" was just not good enough. I schedule most everything in my planner, from edits, to pet grooming appointments, to blot tours and everything in between, so why not schedule reading time? Over the last few weeks, I've gotten back into the swing of things and realize how much I missed it. I'd been meaning to read the Matter of Times series by Mary Calmes for a long time, and by book 2 I was kicking myself that I hadn't.

Halfway through book one, I knew I'd be reading the rest of the series. The more I read, the more I wanted. First let me say that the way I approach reading a book hasn't changed since I was a kid. I read because I love stories. Love getting lost in the world and the characters. I'm not looking for the next award winning book, I'm not looking out for plot holes or grammar errors--unless they're so great that I can't even read the thing. I'm not looking for how it could have been improved or how I would have done it different because when I pick up a book, I'm reading for the pure enjoyment of it. Lucky for me, I can still separate myself from the technical side of things. It's not my job to edit. I'm not saying this because any of the books I'll be chatting about have issues, but to let you know that it's not what I'm looking at when I read, and that's just me. Everyone approaches reading differently. The romance genre is one of my favorite genres, and Gay Romance is especially a love of mine. So for me, it's all about love.

However books that really make me feel something, whose characters stick with me long after I've finished reading, who comfort me when I need to escape, those make it to my favorites list, and they're the ones I revisit time and time again. Like a favorite movie. Matter of Time is one of those series. I just adored it. I'd read Mary before and love every story, but I had some catching up to do. I read all eight books straight through, thrilled they were all there waiting for me to gobble up like a little greedy bunny. And boy did these books make me feel. I'm not a huge fan of  a lot of angst, so I tend not to look for books that try to crush my soul with pain. Real life can be tough enough, so I need my happily ever after, or at least know what I'm getting into. That's just me. With this series, I laughed, cried, and oh my God, I wanted to punch Sam in his dangly bits. Seriously, the man drove me nuts. One minute I wanted to cuddle him, the next I wanted to strangle him. I stayed up way past my bedtime reading these. But who needs sleep, right?

There were moments when I could feel Jory's pain deep in my chest because I'd been there. The heartache was excruciating. Yes, Jory is a trouble magnet, but that just made the whole thing more fun, and his character fascinating. I had moments where I gasped, burst out laughing, and on more than one occasion woke up poor Olly. I loved watching Jory and Sam grow, not just as a couple but individuals. The supporting characters were fantastic. On the surface it may seem like many of the characters are perfect, but beneath it all they're far from it. Each has their own flaws, their own heartaches, and secrets. Then in Parting Shot we got Duncan Stiel. I LOVE that man. I loved seeing things from Aaron's point of view, how different Duncan was to Jory. This was just such a good read. Duncan and Aaron are just smoking hot together.

Overall, this series had everything I wanted and loved. <3 Happy reading!

Jory Keyes leads a normal life as an architect’s assistant until he is witness to a brutal murder. Though initially saved by police Detective Sam Kage, Jory refuses protective custody—he has a life he loves that he won’t give up no matter who is after him. But Jory’s life is in real jeopardy, especially after he agrees to testify about what he saw.

While dealing with attempts on his life, well-meaning friends who want to see him happy, an overly protective boss, and a slowly unfolding mystery that is much more sinister than he could ever imagine, the young gay man finds himself getting involved with Sam, the conflicted and closeted detective. And though Jory may survive the danger, he may not survive a broken heart.

Three years ago, Jory Harcourt changed his name and shut the door on a past full of pain, only to emerge stronger on the other side. He has a new career, a great working partner, and a satisfying life—except for the hole in his chest left behind when police Detective Sam Kage walked out with his heart.

Now Sam's back and he knows what he wants... and what he wants is Jory. Jory, who doesn't know if he can survive another break up or losing Sam to his dangerous job, resists returning to the arms of the only man he has ever truly loved. But when a serial killer with a score to settle targets Jory, he will have to decide if love is worth the danger as he tries to solve the case and keep Sam safe.

Dreamspinner Press

Jory Harcourt doesn't have to go looking for trouble. Wherever he goes, it seems to find him—particularly when his partner, Sam Kage, is working undercover on a federal task force.

After the recession forces him to close his business, Jory goes to work as a matchmaker and event planner. From there, it's only a matter of time before his big mouth and up-front attitude make him the rope in a tug-of-war between a trust fund baby and a drug-smuggling criminal. Then, as if that situation weren't delicate enough, Jory's undercover lover shows up working for the smuggler.

Between the men who want him and the men who just want him dead, Chicago is getting a little crowded for Jory, so on the advice of his brother, his boyfriend, and the FBI task force, he heads for Hawaii... where a serious accident threatens his quality of life. Can Sam and Jory keep the faith and prove that their relationship really is bulletproof?

Dreamspinner Press

Just Jory - A Sam & Jory Ficlet (Book 5.5)

Jory Harcourt is finally living the dream. Being married to US Marshal Sam Kage has changed him—it’s settled the tumult of their past and changed Jory from a guy who bails at the first sign of trouble to a man who stays and weathers the storm. He and Sam have two kids, a house in the burbs, and a badass minivan. Jory’s days of being an epicenter for disaster are over. Domestic life is good.

Which means it's exactly the right time for a shakeup on the home front. Sam’s ex turns up in an unexpected place. A hit man climbs up their balcony at a family reunion. And maybe both of those things have something to do with a witness who disappeared a year ago. Marital bliss just got a kick in the pants, but Jory won’t let anyone take his family away from him. Before he knew what it felt like to have a home, he would have run. Not anymore. He knows he and Sam need to handle things together, because that’s the only way they’re going to make it.

Life has never been easy for Duncan Stiel. His childhood was the stuff of nightmares, and his day job as an undercover police officer forces him to hide his true self and occasionally lands him in the hospital. So when he finally meets the perfect man, it comes as no surprise that everything falls apart around him. What Duncan doesn’t expect is that the hardest hurdle to get over before he can make a life with Aaron Sutter is the one inside himself.

Everyone thinks Aaron has it all—looks, money, fame, and success beyond measure. Everyone, that is, except Aaron. At the end of the day, the cameras stop flashing, friends go back to their own lives, company business is handled, and Aaron is always alone. The moment he meets Duncan Stiel, Aaron knows he’ll do anything to hold onto the larger-than-life detective. But when he realizes money won’t buy him the ultimate happiness, Aaron needs to find the strength to give Duncan something much more important—his heart.

After years of domestic partnership, Jory Harcourt and Sam Kage are finally going to make it official in their home state of Illinois. It’s been a long and rocky road, and nothing—not disasters at work, not the weather, not a possible stalker, not even getting beat up and having to attend the ceremony looking like he just got mugged—will make Jory wait one more day to make an honest man of the love of his life.

Should be a piece of cake, right?

Yes, I went on a Mary Calmes binge. Yes, I enjoyed every minute of it. After reading and loving the Matter of Time series, I went straight into the Marshals series. I really hope there are going to be more books in this series because they're just so good. I haven't read enough gay romance with Marshals so that was a delightful bonus. Ian Doyle made me swoon. The perfect combination of strong, and vulnerable. The sexual tension is amazing, but it was Ian's little gestures, the small intimate moments he initiated that had me giddy as a school girl. Moments like when he'd step up to Miro and put his head on Miro's shoulder. When he'd get in Miro's personal space, the questions he'd ask while poor Miro was oblivious.

There was action, suspense, romance, laugh out loud moments, and seriously hot sexy times. There were plenty of great characters in this book, those I loved and those I loved to hate. Miro was such a sweetheart. I felt for him, trying to keep his hotheaded partner out of trouble, but mostly the way he was crazy about Ian. I loved their partnership and their friendship almost as much as their romance. I couldn't get enough of these two.

<3 Happy reading!

Deputy US Marshal Miro Jones has a reputation for being calm and collected under fire. These traits serve him well with his hotshot partner, Ian Doyle, the kind of guy who can start a fight in an empty room. In the past three years of their life-and-death job, they've gone from strangers to professional coworkers to devoted teammates and best friends. Miro’s cultivated blind faith in the man who has his back… faith and something more.

As a marshal and a soldier, Ian’s expected to lead. But the power and control that brings Ian success and fulfillment in the field isn't working anywhere else. Ian’s always resisted all kinds of tied down, but having no home—and no one to come home to—is slowly eating him up inside. Over time, Ian has grudgingly accepted that going anywhere without his partner simply doesn't work. Now Miro just has to convince him that getting tangled up in heartstrings isn't being tied down at all.

Deputy US Marshals Miro Jones and Ian Doyle are now partners on and off the job: Miro’s calm professionalism provides an ideal balance to Ian’s passion and quick temper. In a job where one misstep can be the difference between life and death, trust means everything. But every relationship has growing pains, and sometimes Miro stews about where he stands with his fiery lover. Could the heartstrings that so recently tied them together be in danger of unraveling?

Those new bonds are constantly challenged by family intrusions, well-intentioned friends, their personal insecurities, and their dangerous careers—including a trial by fire when an old case of Miro’s comes back to haunt them. It might just be enough to make Ian rethink his decision to let himself be tied down, and Miro can only hope the links they’ve forged will be strong enough to hold.

Dreamspinner Press

Hello all! Welcome to another Recent Reads. This week I started the Change of Heart series by Mary Calmes. Truth be told, I can count on one hand the number of shifter books I've read, which I know may sound strange considering how many shifter stories I currently have published. Now that I'm catching up on my reading, I'm very much looking forward to reading the various takes on shifters in gay romance, so of course I started with one of my faves, Mary Calmes. From the very first chapter I was sucked into this world. I adore how creative it is, and am absolutely fascinated by the connection to ancient Egyptian culture and mythology.

The world building behind the werepanthers is wonderful, and so solidly put together. I love when there's just the right balance between the paranormal world and the real world, adding a fantastic layer of believability, even  where paranormal is concerned. There's a certain level of possessiveness and need which fits perfectly with this world. Logan is a mystery at first, this large, imposing sensual man determined to have what is rightfully his. I love the way Jin flusters him, drives him crazy.

Jin's fearful of this new life he's suddenly thrust into, and understandably so. I love his strength, how he always tries to see the good in people even if they've wronged him. I also love his friendship with Cane. I love Cane. That one person who knows Jin so well and can tell him off like no one can. I was enthralled by Jon and Logan's relationship, watching it grow from what they were to who they would be together as semel and reah. The secondary characters are wonderful and the more I read, the more I want to know about this world and the werepanther culture.

There is never a dull moment, with plenty of action, drama, thrills, and sexy-times, resulting in book hangovers over several mornings. Upon finishing I've quickly moved onto the second book Trusted Bond which was just as fabulous, and now I'm on Honored Vow but more on the rest of the series another day. Absolutely love it!

Change of Heart: Book One

As a young gay man—and a werepanther—all Jin Rayne yearns for is a normal life. Having fled his past, he wants nothing more than to start over, but Jin’s old life doesn’t want to let him go. When his travels bring him to a new city, he crosses paths with the leader of the local were-tribe. Logan Church is a shock and an enigma, and Jin fears that Logan is both the mate he fears and the love of his life. Jin doesn't want to go back to the old ways, and mating would irrevocably tie him to them.

But Jin is the mate Logan needs at his side to help him lead his tribe, and he won't give Jin up so easily. It will take time and trust for Jin to discover the joy in belonging to Logan and how to love without restraint.

Dreamspinner Press

Hello all! A few weeks ago I had myself an awesome little Eli Easton read-athon. I started with the Sex in Seattle series which I totally loved. Each book was better than the last. They were sweet, funny, heartbreaking, and heartwarming. After that I jumped right into the Howl at the Moon series which came highly recommended by a good friend. The first book in the series is How to Howl at the Moon. I absolutely loved it! Not only was it so much fun, it made me laugh, and I even got teary eyed in several spots. The series premise is unique to me, and the town of Mad Creek is wonderfully charming, as are its inhabitants. Sheriff Lance Beaufort is such a great character! I loved how his personality reflected traits of the Border Collie he shifted into. For such a serious guy, Lance had a habit of getting himself caught up in the funniest, most outrageous situations. I felt for poor Tim who just needed to catch a break.

And then of course when I met Roman Charsguard I fell in love with him too. When I found he had his own book How to Walk Like a Man, I was thrilled. Of course Roman broke my heart into tiny pieces learning about him as a military dog, and the events that lead to him turning human. I'm just in love with this whole series and can't wait for the release of the third book How to Wish Upon a Star.

Sheriff Lance Beaufort is not going to let trouble into his town, no sir. Tucked away in the California mountains, Mad Creek has secrets to keep, like the fact that half the town consists of ‘quickened’—dogs who have gained the ability to become human. Descended on both sides from Border Collies, Lance is as alert a guardian as they come.

Tim Weston is looking for a safe haven. After learning that his boss patented all of Tim’s work on vegetable hybrids in his own name, Tim quit his old job. A client offers him use of her cabin in Mad Creek, and Tim sees a chance for a new start. But the shy gardener has a way of fumbling and sounding like a liar around strangers, particularly gorgeous alpha men like Sheriff Beaufort.

Lance’s hackles are definitely raised by the lanky young stranger. He’s concerned about marijuana growers moving into Mad Creek, and he’s not satisfied with the boy’s story. Lance decides a bit of undercover work is called for. When Tim hits a beautiful black collie with his car and adopts the dog, its love at first sight for both Tim and Lance’s inner dog. Pretending to be a pet is about to get Sheriff Beaufort in very hot water.

Deputy Roman Charsguard survived Afghanistan where he lost his best friend—his K-9 handler James. Roman was a military dog until two years ago when he developed the ability to shift into a human. It’s not easy to learn how to be a man. He found a place to live in Mad Creek, a haven for the secret world of dog shifters. Finding a reason to live has been harder. That is, until a certain human walks into the Mad Creek Sheriff’s office and starts making trouble.

Matt Barclay has the worst luck. First he was shot in a SWAT drug raid, then he was sent as DEA investigator to Mad Creek, a little town in the California mountains. Matt’s job is to keep a lookout for illegal drug farms, but nobody in the town wants him there. And then there’s Roman, Matt’s erstwhile baby-sitter. He’s the hottest guy Matt’s ever seen, even if he is a bit peculiar. If the town doesn’t kill him, sexual frustration just might.

The town is counting on Roman to prevent Matt from learning about dog shifters, Matt’s counting on Roman to be his work partner and tell him the truth, and Roman’s trying to navigate love, sex, and a whole lot of messy human emotions. Who knew it was so complicated to walk like a man?

On the plane ride to RT last month I started to read In The Middle of Somewhere by Roan Parrish. It came highly recommended by a close friend. I usually don't read on planes because I get restless, and all I want is to get to my destination. Flying is not my favorite. This was one of those rare occasions I actually wanted the flight to be a bot longer so I could continue to read my book. I don't read very many first person present tense stories. Can't remember the last one I did, but this one had me hooked from the beginning. I loved Daniel and Rex, loved getting to know them, watching them fall in love. I felt for Daniel. His situation was a familiar one, and I wanted to see him succeed, wanted him to get his happily ever after.

The author did a fabulous job of slowly building the relationship between Daniel and Rex. She also did an amazing job slowly revealing their characters. Rex was a mystery at first. This big, handsome lumberjack of a guy who lived by himself in a cabin in the middle of snowy nowhere. We get to know him as Daniel does, learn little secrets, heartbreaking stories about his past as well as the challenges he faces at the present. Daniel's family infuriated me, and soon I started to suspect why Colin was such a jackass to his brother.

Which of course brings me to Out of Nowhere, Colin and Rafe's book. The more I read Colin, the more I felt for him. He was filled with so much anger and self-loathing. I loved that both he and Rafe had very real, very deep flaws, both battling their demons on a daily bases. I was exhausted for Colin, having to keep up with all the secrets and lies. Colin isn't good for Rafe. He's on a destructive path that Rafe needs to stay away from for his own good. Reading about these two men, their fight to just get by, to make it through another day without destroying themselves was heartbreaking, and I was rooting for them to get through it, to find a way to be together.

Both these stories were superb, and I absolutely loved them. I was up until the wee hours of the morning reading when I should have been sleeping, but you know, who needs sleep when you're in the middle of a good book? Highly recommend this series.

Middle of Somewhere: Book One

Daniel Mulligan is tough, snarky, and tattooed, hiding his self-consciousness behind sarcasm. Daniel has never fit in—not at home in Philadelphia with his auto mechanic father and brothers, and not at school where his Ivy League classmates looked down on him. Now, Daniel’s relieved to have a job at a small college in Holiday, Northern Michigan, but he’s a city boy through and through, and it’s clear that this small town is one more place he won’t fit in.

Rex Vale clings to routine to keep loneliness at bay: honing his muscular body, perfecting his recipes, and making custom furniture. Rex has lived in Holiday for years, but his shyness and imposing size have kept him from connecting with people.

When the two men meet, their chemistry is explosive, but Rex fears Daniel will be another in a long line of people to leave him, and Daniel has learned that letting anyone in can be a fatal weakness. Just as they begin to break down the walls keeping them apart, Daniel is called home to Philadelphia, where he discovers a secret that changes the way he understands everything.

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Middle of Somewhere: Book Two

The only thing in Colin Mulligan’s life that makes sense is taking cars apart and putting them back together. In the auto shop where he works with his father and brothers, he tries to get through the day without having a panic attack or flying into a rage. Drinking helps. So does running and lifting weights until he can hardly stand. But none of it can change the fact that he’s gay, a secret he has kept from everyone.

Rafael Guerrera has found ways to live with the past he’s ashamed of. He’s dedicated his life to social justice work and to helping youth who, like him, had very little growing up. He has no time for love. Hell, he barely has time for himself. Somehow, everything about miserable, self-destructive Colin cries out to him. But down that path lie the troubles Rafe has worked so hard to leave behind. And as their relationship intensifies, Rafe and Colin are forced to dredge up secrets that both men would prefer stay buried.

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Hello all! I was lucky enough to have received an ARC of How to Wish Upon a Star, the third How at the Moon book, and I think this might be my favorite so far, and that's saying something because I love Tim and Lance, and Matt and Roman, but OMG, Milo!! I just need to squee a little here because Milo is just the sweetest, most adorable guy who ever walked on four paws. He can break your heart with one look or a few words. Eli Easton was breaking my heart by the second chapter. I knew I was in for some major feels here.

Milo is a hospice comfort dog who's bonded with many patients, all of whom he's lost. Milo is very much an innocent. He's a newly turned quickened who's just learning to communicate and live as a man. Yet despite his confusion to many things, when it comes to seeing inside people, their sadness and pain, he's more intuitive than most, especially Dr. Jason Kunik, a quickened who's been researching the quickened and trying to figure out how the transformation or the "spark" happens. Jason isn't the most personable guy. In fact, during his research in Mad Creek, his interviews send several quickened off in tears. Jason is oblivious. Emotions and connections are not his thing. He's all logic and getting the work done. At least until he meets Milo.

When we get into Milo's POV, that about did me in. Hearing his thoughts on how desperately he wanted to show Jason he was worthy of being loved by him, ugh, bring out the tissues. Milo wants to be loved. He wants a forever home. Jason just wants to be left alone to do his research. There were several moments that made me laugh out loud. Milo is just too cute for words and watching Jason handling Milo was priceless. It's no secret I love this series. It's also no surprise that each book gets even better than the last. It is Eli Easton after all. If you enjoy sweet, heart-string-tugging reads, and shifters, I highly recommend the Howl at the Moon series, and most certainly How to Wish Upon a Star.

Dr. Jason Kunik is working on the most earth-shattering genetics project ever, DNA mapping of a new species, the quickened—dogs who can shift into human form. The problem is, no one knows the quickened exist and Jason can’t betray them by publishing his studies. When he moves to Mad Creek to continue his research in a town full of quickened, all he wants is peace, quiet, and to be allowed to bury himself in his work. Perhaps if he figures how out the mutation is activated, he can silence his own inner dog forever.

Milo is a hospice comfort dog who has bonded with, and lost, many beloved patients in his life. He intuitively understands sickness and pain on a spiritual level most can’t see. When he gains the ability to become a man, he thinks he finally has everything he ever wanted. But being a man isn’t the same thing as being loved, and taking shelter in Mad Creek isn’t the same thing as finding a home.

When a mysterious illness hits Mad Creek and threatens all the quickened in town, it’s up to the scientist and the comfort dog to figure out what it is and how to stop it. Along the way they might discover that true love is possible—if you wish upon a star.