Friskbiskit

Sensual Reads Review of Rust Belt

Just found this lovely review of Rust Belt by Kimberly at Sensual Reads. 

Rust Belt is the type of erotic suspense novel that makes you stand up and take notice.  Passion, drama and danger all make for a combustible story...  The emotion and sensuality that develop with the characters add so much depth to this novel that it feels like you are intruding in the real lives of people you want to know more about.

Here's a link to the full text of the review.

More Reviews for Rust Belt

Two nice reviews of Rust Belt this week.

Scandalous Minx at Literary Nymphs gave it 4.5 nymphs and said:

Jessica Freely has written a fantastic tale about survival and love in Rust Belt.

Here's the full review.

And Craig at The Romance Studio gave Rust Belt 5 hearts!  He said:

This is a serious, skillfully written, gritty story of two hurting men who find warmth and love surrounded by the threat of danger and empty buildings in a cold city whose economy is dying.

Here's the full review.

Thank you, Craig and Ms. Minx!

Rust Belt is on the Ballot!

The ballot for Best Book of the Week on the Whipped Cream review site, that is.  Woo hoo!  It's an honor to be nominated. :D

Here's how it works: Each week the lovely WC folks post the books that got 4.5 and 5 cherry reviews and you vote for your favorite book, based on the review. The winner gets a button to proudly display on their website and their book is featured at the top of the contest page all the following week. Pretty swell, huh?

The contest runs until Sunday. Please go take a look and cast your vote today!

http://www.longandshortreviews.com/WC/recentrev.htm

Reviews of Rust Belt

Rust Belt's been getting some nice attention lately. Fern at Whipped Cream Erotic Romance gave Rust Belt four and a half cherries. Meanwhile, Val Kovalin of Obsidian Bookshelf not only gave Rust Belt a favorable review, but also made it her top pick for January on All Romance eBooks' Wildfire newsletter.  I'm so proud. Thank you, Val and Fern!

Rainbow Reviews on Rust Belt

Rust Belt received 4.5 stars from Rainbow Reviews.  Reviewer Lydia had this to say about the story:

"Rust Belt is a very intense story from the beginning and one that will have readers pulling for the characters the whole time."

Here's the link to the full review:

http://www.rainbow-reviews.com/?p=1902

Stan, Gus, and I Finally Get What We Deserve

Well, it was bound to happen.  Sooner or later, someone was going to take me to task for the Stan and Gus stories (if nothing else) and now they have.  I'm getting a solid ass-kicking for my transgressions over on a LiveJournal community called Weeping Cock (this is what it sounds like when penises cry). 

But I don't mind.  Nobody should be allowed to get away with the line: "Yes. Yesss. Fuck me with it, Gus. Fuck me with the honeycomb! I’m a bumblebee!"  I'll take my punishment like the Kevin Smith-obsessed slash perv I am.  It's worth it. Especially when, in the midst of all the well-deserved ire, comes a gem such as this:

Indiana Jones and the Molten Core of Stan's Ass, coming to a cinema near you.

Oh, thank you, thank you skew_whiff, for your comment and your original post. You rock. 

Now, if I can just get someone to design a book cover for me for that title.  (Nix?)  It's a perfect Stan and Gus story.  It demands to be written!

Nice Review of Still Life with Boobs

This is from about a year ago, but it's new to me.  The Subterranean Press review of Nebula Awards Showcase 2007 includes a nice writup on my story, Still LIfe With Boobs.  I particularly appreciate the reference to slapstick comedy, because that was a big part of the the fun in that story for me.  I'm a huge Marx Brothers fan.

Hero Reviewed

Hero, my short story for Torquere, got a nice review from Teresa at Fallen Angel Reviews.

"David is a mixture of contrary emotions, wanting security while still
yearning for adventure."

Thanks Teresa!

Here's a link to the full review:
http://fallenangelreviews.com/2008/March/Teresa-Hero.htm

And to celebrate, here's a tiny snippet from the story:

David retrieved his wallet from the ground nearby. He was shaking so bad he could barely get it stuffed back into his back pocket. He took one more look at the dead guy, and then at the retreating figure of his savior. Was he really going to let him just go off to sleep under the freeway overpass? In his mind, Scaramouche shook his head at him in mute disgust. No. He might not be a hero, but he didn't have to be a wretched bitch either. "Wait!" he yelled.

Bishonen Review

My review of Yon Fan's award-winning live-action boys love film BISHONEN is up over at Uniquely Pleasurable.

Fun Romance Review Site

Link: Romance Novel Reviews - Smart Bitches: Come for the Dominican Bitches, Stay for the Man Titty.

Words and Music

For Valentines Day, Steve and I went to see Words and Music with Hugh Grant and Drew Barrymore. It was sweet, and cute, and we love both Hugh and Drew. It was nice that the film focused on the writing aspect (lyrics) of music, which you don't often see. We both felt that there was something missing from this film, however, and we can't put our fingers on it. I'd totally recommend it as a rental, and I wish I could be more specific about where it fell slightly short. Maybe it had something to do with the energy. Maybe the stakes for Grant's character didn't feel all that vital. I don't know.

I've been a fan of Hugh Grant ever since he appeard on The Actor's Studio and totally mocked James Lipburn the entire time. He seems like a very dirty boy, with a great sense of humor, who doesn't take anything very seriously. Just my type.

Hey, maybe I should base a character on him...

P.S. Maybe I just diagnosed the prob. w/ Music and Lyrics. Maybe Grant's devll may care persona didn't fit his role so well after all. Hmm.

Inventing Memory Reviewed

Shara Saunsaucie, a Seton Hill student, reviews my third novel, INVENTING MEMORY, on her blog, Calico Reaction.

Thanks Shara!

Review: SUSPENDED IN LANGUAGE

SUSPENDED IN LANGUAGE: Niels Bohr's life, discoveries, and the century he shaped
by Jim Ottaviani and Leland Purvis

A comic book about physics -- it just doesn't get geekier than this. I'm a physics enthusiast, and quantum theory is my most recent obsession, so I leapt at this volume. I didn't know much about Niels Bohr before I read it, and what I found was a fascinating portrait of a man with a peaceful nature and a meticulous dedication to elusive truths both scientific and political. This is a very thorough exploration of the development of quantum theory, World War II, and the development of the atomic bomb, and how all of these things were intricately entwined with Bohr's life and views. And there's even a little bonus pamphlet in the back that gets into quantum entanglement, spooky action at a distance, and teleportation. Highly recommended.

REVIEW: A STRONG AND SUDDEN THAW

A STRONG AND SUDDEN THAW is Iris Print's first novel-length prose publication. It's a science fiction romance about a young man in a rural community who discovers that he's gay when he falls in love with the town's new healer. The story takes place about a generation after the advent of a new ice-age which has all but destroyed modern, technological society. Author R.W. Day combines issues such as intolerance, governmental corruption and environmentalism with action, mystery and genetically engineered dragons.

It's a mix that works because the author takes the time to develop all of her themes. At first I found the pace slow, but before long I was involved in main character David's inner life and enjoying the slow build-up of his feelings for Callan. When the trouble starts, I was fully invested and dreadfully afraid for both of them. At one point, near the end, Day hits a false note with a bit of unnecessary author convenience, and the story could have been even stronger if a couple of minor characters had been combined into one. The ending may indulge in a bit too much wish-fullfillment, but on the whole this one is well worth your while. It's the thinking woman's yaoi.