HRM – Meteors and Menorahs, by @NessaClaugh


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Your dad invited your ex-boyfriend. Already committed to going home for Hanukkah, Leah panics at her mother’s text and invites her crush to come with her. The catch? They aren’t dating. The other catch? He isn’t Jewish. He isn’t even human.

Knar has been studying the physiology of humans for years in preparation to introduce Earth to the rest of the galaxy and present them as a species that can adapt to change well. Although he believes in his mission, he’s also had his eye on his coworker Leah, and her invitation to come home with her for the holidays is just the opportunity he’s been looking for.

Going home for Hanukkah is normally the least of Leah’s worries until her mom lets it slip that her dad invited her ex-boyfriend. Desperate to keep him at arm’s length, Leah invites her handsome coworker Kenneth Knar to be a buffer against her family. Having to pretend he’s her new boyfriend doesn’t hurt, and if it annoys her parents, all the better.

He just has to find some way to tell her that he’s more than just a gentile. He’s not even from this planet. And Leah hates liars.

The menorah isn’t the only thing getting hot this holiday season…

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If you’d like to buy a copy of this book, you can find it on:

Amazon

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About the Author:

Nessa grew up thriving on trips to natural history museums and Jurassic Park. Once adulthood was upon her, it was only a matter of time before she discovered dominant aliens and shifter romance. She enjoys titillating the Triassic and stargazing.

Find out more:

New Release: Starbreaker, by @AuthorABouchet

 

 

Starbreaker

THEY NEVER WANTED TO BE HEROES

Captain Tess Bailey and Shade Ganavan are still the galaxy’s Most Wanted, and with revolution in the wind and the universe on the brink of catastrophic war, the situation couldn’t be more desperate. Despite the Dark Watch scouring the known sectors for them, rebel leaders have handed the crew of the Endeavor a delicate and dangerous mission: break into Starbase 12 and free renowned scientist Reena Ahern. She’s the only one who stands a chance of tipping the odds in their favor for the first time in decades.

BUT PULLING OFF THE IMPOSSIBLE IS WHAT THEY DO BEST

The clock is ticking. But as their attraction builds and secrets are revealed, Tess and Shade must decide if they trust each other enough to execute this impossible prison break. They could change the course of history, but they’ll be risking everything… They’ll just have to tackle one crisis at a time.

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You can find this book on:

Amazon | B&N | Kobo | iBooks

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About the Author:

Amanda Bouchet grew up in New England where she spent much of her time tromping around in the woods and making up grand adventures in her head. It was inevitable that one day she would start writing them down. Drawing on her Greek heritage for the setting and on her love of all things daring and romantic for the rest, her debut trilogy, The Kingmaker Chronicles, took form. She writes what she loves to read: epic exploits, steamy romance, and characters that make you laugh and cry.

Her first novel, A Promise of Fire, won several Romance Writers of America chapter contests, including the Orange Rose Contest and the paranormal category of the prestigious Golden Pen.

Amanda is a French master’s graduate and former English teacher. She lives in Paris, France with her two bilingual children who will soon be correcting her French.

Find out more:

New Release: The 5th Gender, by @gailcarriger

A species that has no word for murder, has a murderer aboard their spaceship.

ALIEN

Tristol lives in exile. But he’s built a life for himself aboard a human space station. He’s even begun to understand the complex nuances of human courting rituals.

Detective Hastion is finally flirting back!

MURDER

Except that Tristol’s beloved space station is unexpectedly contacted by the galoi – a xenophobic species with five genders, purple skin, and serious attitude. They need the help of a human detective because there’s a murderer aboard their spaceship. Murder is so rare, the galoi don’t even have a word for it.

Tristol knows this because he is galoi.

ROMANCE

Which means that he and Detective Hastion are on the case… together.

Delicate Sensibilities?

Contains men who love other men in graphic detail, regardless of gender, biology, or skin color… and lots of emotively sexy tentacle hair.

New York Times best selling author Gail Carriger (writing as G.L. Carriger) brings you a light-hearted romantic cozy mystery featuring an adorable lavender alien and his human crush.

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You can find this book on:

Direct from Author | Amazon | B&N | Kobo | iBooks

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About the Author:

Gail Carriger writes comedies of manners mixed with steampunk and urban fantasy (plus sexy queer romance as G. L. Carriger). Her books include the Parasol Protectorate, Custard Protocol, and San Andreas Shifter series for adults, and the Finishing School series for young adults. She is published in many languages, has over a million books in print, over a dozen New York Times and USA Today bestsellers, and starred reviews in Publishers Weekly, Booklist, Kirkus, and Romantic Times.

Her debut made Audible’s Best list, was a Publishers Weekly Best Book, an IndieBound Notable, and a Locus Recommended Read. She has received the ALA’s Alex Award, the Prix Julia Verlanger, the Elbakin Award, the Steampunk Chronicle’s Reader’s Choice Award, and a Starburner Award. She was once an archaeologist and is fond of shoes, cephalopods, and tea.

Find out more:

2015 Recap: #ShortStories Read

SHORT STORIES READ IN 2015

That’s right. Here is the list of short stories I read in 2015. It took me too long to put this post together, so I hope you all get some use out of the list. It’s not easy to copy and paste this much data and the table itself…then search the internet for all the stories to link. Most are linked, and the authors’ websites are linked too. A few are not linked because it seems stories have been unpublished/taken down since the time I read them. Not exactly sure what’s up with that, but I’m not those authors, so I can’t tell you the reasoning.

Either way, there are 203 total stories listed and probably around 190 you can go out and read. 90% (estimate) are free to read. Many of them were also audio-reads found on Librivox. I could have linked to the free audio, but instead I stuck with ebook links. It was a little faster that way. Definitely check out Librivox anyway. Thousands of free audiobooks of public domain work. No reason to stay away from that!

I might do a Best of 2015 sort of post soon. I’m still not sure about that. At the very least, I’ll be posting on Facebook/Twitter to highlight some of the more memorable reads from 2015. Without a clear plan in mind, I figured getting you this list would be somewhat helpful in the year to come. Single short stories tend to go unappreciated in the grand scheme. I’ll always try to keep up short story awareness (should I hashtag that?).

Enjoy, if you check some out. And enjoy 2016!

P.S – Don’t forget about the bottom of the post. There’s a question down there…

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Number

Read

Title Author Name Genre
Last First
1 When You’re Gone Summers Eli LGBT
2 The Ideal Weinbaum Stanley G. Sci-fi
3 Moxon’s Master Bierce Ambrose Sci-fi
4 What Was It? O’Brien Fitz-James Sci-fi
5 The 4-D Doodler Waldeyer Graph Sci-fi
6 The Toy Shop Harrison Harry Sci-fi
7 Martian V.F.W. Vandenburg G.L. Sci-fi
8 The Repairman Harrison Harry Sci-fi
9 Bread Overhead Leiber Fritz Sci-fi
10 The Banshee Anonymous   Horror
11 Accessory Before the Fact Blackwood Algernon Horror
12 The Worlds of If Weinbaum Stanley G. Sci-fi
13 Vicarious Fate Prioleau R.M. Fantasy
14 The Point of View Weinbaum Stanley G. Sci-fi
15 A Martian Odyssey Weinbaum Stanley G. Sci-fi
16 Accidental Death Baily Peter Sci-fi
17 The Good Neighbors Pangborn Edgar Sci-fi
18 Advanced Chemistry Huekels Jack G. Sci-fi
19 And All the Earth a Grave MacApp C.C. Sci-fi
20 The Image of the Gods Nourse Alan E. Sci-fi
21 The Selfish Giant Wilde Oscar Fairy Tale
22 The Horla Maupassant Guy de Horror
23 Oh, Whistle and I’ll Come to You, My Lad James M.R. Horror
24 Mandy Cain Agee Jamie Erotica
25 The Mage of Dunnyduff Hill Findlay Louise Poetry
26 Lost Hearts James M.R. Horror
27 The Mezzotint James M.R. Horror
28 The Ash-Tree James M.R. Horror
29 The End Zwain Maxwell Horror
30 By the Waters of Babylon Benet Steven Vincent Sci-fi
31 Hermit Brown-Hobson JJ Literary
32 A Twisted Fairytale Urquhart Anna Horror
33 Night Surf King Stephen Horror
34 Trucks King Stephen Horror
35 The End of the Whole Mess King Stephen Horror
36 Vampire Story Byrnes Gary J. Horror
37 The Lawnmower Man King Stephen Horror
38 Number 13 James M.R. Horror
39 Brea’s Brand New Breasts Nichon Aimee Erotica
40 The Valley of the Spiders Wells H.G. Fantasy
41 Valley of Dreams Weinbaum Stanley G. Sci-fi
42 Pygmalion’s Spectacles Weinbaum Stanley G. Sci-fi
43 Sherlock Holmes: Discovering the Border Burghs and, by Deduction, the Brig Bazaar Anonymous   Mystery
44 The Hairbrush Raimbault Tom Horror
45 Dumbass Barton S.A. Sci-fi
46 Beside Still Waters Sheckley Robert Sci-fi
47 In a Far-Off World Schreiner Olive Literary
48 How Old Man Above Created the World Judson Katharine Berry Mythology
49 Conjured Lover Raimbault Tom Fantasy
50 Spider Stephenson Richard Dystopian
51 Boundless Warren D Lee Thriller
52 Roadside Assistance Winship Thomas Literary
53 Finis Pollack Frank K. Sci-fi
54 Nice Weather We’re Having Today Barton S.A. Fantasy
55 Song in A Minor Key Moore C.L. Sci-fi
56 Spacemen Never Die! Hersman Morris Sci-fi
57 Benefactor Smith George H. Sci-fi
58 Collector’s Item Young Robert F. Sci-fi
59 Compatible Smith Richard R. Sci-fi
60 Planet of Dreams McKimmey James Sci-fi
61 Native Son Hamm T.D. Sci-fi
62 One Martian Afternoon Leahy Tom Sci-fi
63 I’ll Kill You Tomorrow Huber Helen Sci-fi
64 Ask a Foolish Question Sheckley Robert Sci-fi
65 Games MacClean Katherine Sci-fi
66 The Delegate From Venus Slesar Henry Sci-fi
67 The Marooner Sterns Charles A. Sci-fi
68 Silence of the Heart Ducey Natalie Poetry
69 Nobody’s Fool Ducey Natalie Poetry
70 A Life For Sale Boyce S.M. Poetry
71 The War Within Ducey Natalie Poetry
72 Love’s Illusion Ducey Natalie Poetry
73 Notes of a War-Torn Childhood Novic Sara Literary
74 Cam Girl Prevot Gabrielle Erotica
75 Ride Me Hard Slade Shari Erotica
76 No Hiding Place Smith Richard R. Sci-fi
77 The Boscombe Valley Mystery Doyle Arthur Conan Mystery
78 The Five Orange Pips Doyle Arthur Conan Mystery
79 A Sexual Awakening I Desmond P.R. Erotica
80 A Sexual Awakening II Desmond P.R. Erotica
81 The Man with the Twisted Lip Doyle Arthur Conan Mystery
82 Jurassic Jane Eyre Sessarego Carrie Erotica
83 Galatea Miller Madeline Literary
84 A Life in a Year Connor Shae LGBTQ
85 The Hazel Branch Grimm Brothers Fairy Tale
86 The Ear of Corn Grimm Brothers Fairy Tale
87 The Aged Mother Grimm Brothers Fairy Tale
88 Eating the Moon Kos Eleanor Paranormal
89 Asteroid P.S. Brett Sci-fi
90 The Carmichael Mystery Garcia Jeanine A. Mystery
91 Notes Sapp Danika Mystery
92 Death in the Wilderness von Stoller Drac Horror
93 The First Notch Salvatore R.A. Fantasy
94 Dark Mirror Salvatore R.A. Fantasy
95 The Third Level Salvatore R.A. Fantasy
96 Guenhyvar Salvatore R.A. Fantasy
97 That Curious Sword Salvatore R.A. Fantasy
98 Wickles in the Nether Salvatore R.A. Fantasy
99 The Dowry Salvatore R.A. Fantasy
100 First Kiss Thomas J. YA/LGBT
101 Conrades at Odds Salvatore R.A. Fantasy
102 If Ever They Happened Upon My Lair Salvatore R.A. Fantasy
103 Iruladoon Salvatore R.A. Fantasy
104 To Legend He Goes Salvatore R.A. Fantasy
105 The Summer Dress Armstrong W.R. Mystery
106 Unfinished Coopa Arla Erotica
107 The Prom Kids Kaye Verity YA/LGBT
108 Lady of Steel Zelazny Roger Fantasy
109 Origins Erwine J Alan Sci-fi
110 Empathy Scribner Joshua Horror
111 Fly Away Scribner Joshua Horror
112 Foreign Objects Scribner Joshua Horror
113 Life After Connor Shae LGBTQ
114 Craving Scribner Joshua Horror
115 100 Scribner Joshua Horror
116 Come Out Scribner Joshua Horror
117 New World Justice Scribner Joshua Horror
118 Terrible Noise Scribner Joshua Horror
119 Very Short Very Wicked Scribner Joshua Horror
120 The Last Question Asimov Isaac Sci-fi
121 Mike and Jack McComie Li Comedy
122 Baltic Dent Shane Horror
123 The Adventure of the Blue Carbuncle Doyle Arthur Conan Mystery
124 Two Timer Brown Fredric Sci-fi
125 Shard Rucker Brandon L. Thriller
126 Dagon Lovecraft H.P. Horror
127 Complicated Poetry! Roche Stephane Poetry
128 I Left My Heart in New York Roche Stephane Poetry
129 Engaged 3×12 Masterson Daniel Sci-fi
130 Sunny Day Connor Shae LGBTQ
131 In the Shadow Mouvia Nikolas Horror
132 The End of the World Mouvia Nikolas Sci-fi
133 Ghost Rewards Coopa Arla Erotica
134 Possessive Love Coopa Arla Erotica
135 Ghost Seed Coopa Arla Erotica
136 Gone Grey Shane Thriller
137 Summer (and after) James L. Jordan Poetry
138 Sarah’s Short Travel Blog Fulton Tiffany YA
139 The Righteous Government Kaye Verity Sci-fi
140 Not Alone Coopa Arla Erotica
141 The Time of the Nephilim Ellis Tara Sci-fi
142 An Unexpected Date Hatler Susan Romance
143 An Unexpected Kiss Hatler Susan Romance
144 The Time Being Honeywell Antonia Dystopian
145 The Viscount and the Witch Sullivan Michael J. Fantasy
146 The Homecoming Bradbury Ray Horror
147 Professional Integrity Sullivan Michael J. Fantasy
148 Love Bites Edward Lacey Paranormal
149 During the Dance Lawrence Mark Paranormal
150 The Morning Rempfer Derek Literary
151 Good Bones Erickson Megan LGBT
152 Chance Encounter Warren Nancy Romance
153 Serendipity: Not So Sweet Sahgal Vasudha Romance
154 Tale of Sir Red Embers Dan Historical
155 The Sunshine Club Campbell Ramsey Horror
156 Nine Ladies Dancing Barbosa Jackie Romance
157 Strawberries & Cream Tyler Shyreen Mystery
158 An Unexpected Love Hatler Susan Romance
159 It Doesn’t Snow in November Semtex Jimmy Boom Erotica
160 The Falconry Castillo Angela Fantasy
161 Underground Pound: Ashley’s Bareback Subway Ride Sand Marisa Erotica
162 The Adventure of the Speckled Band Doyle Arthur Conan Mystery
163 An Unexpected Proposal Hatler Susan Romance
164 A Christmas Princess Gränd Ofelia LGBT
165 A Public Love Story Gränd Ofelia Thriller
166 Dreaming of a Silent Christmas Slaton Lawrence S. Mystery
167 Love Me, Punish Me Fox Caia Erotica
168 The Contest: Round 1 Mia Candace Erotica
169 The Contest: Round 2 Mia Candace Erotica
170 The Contest: Round 3 Mia Candace Erotica
171 The Contest: Round 4 Mia Candace Erotica
172 My Zombie Mate Kennedy Kevin J. Horror
173 The Night Before College Sones Sonya Literary
174 The Proposal Shea Lisa Romance
175 An Unexpected Wedding Hatler Susan Romance
176 Fragments of an Ancient God Thompson H.K. Mythology
177 Cowgirl Singer Jenna Erotica
178 Humanity Cook Samantha Sci-fi
179 The Sleeper Dreamed Carsen Sela Fantasy
180 Dance of the Shadows Huddlestone Michael Horror
181 Ivy League Loftis Janet L. Erotica
182 Satiated Elise Sadie Erotica
183 How to Feed a Meter Fortier A.E. Humor
184 Late Night Stroll Garnett Phill Horror
185 Peggy in the Valley Fortier A.E. Literary
186 A Heart’s Tale Hays J.L. Horror
187 The Reflection, Only Hers Lane Jeremy Mark Ghost
188 Totally Mine Lanmon Ann Romance
189 The Jester Sullivan Michael J. Fantasy
190 Reluctant Genius Slesar Henry Sci-fi
191 We Didn’t Do Anything Wrong, Hardly Kuykendall Roger Sci-fi
192 Moment of Truth Wells Basil Sci-fi
193 Spies Die Hard! Marmor Arnold Sci-fi
194 Prelude to Space Haseltime Robert W. Sci-fi
195 Earthmen Bearing Gifts Brown Fredric Sci-fi
196 Disqualified Fontenay Charles L. Sci-fi
197 Deceiving Shadows Songling Pu Sci-fi
198 Egocentric Orbit Cory John Sci-fi
199 The Untouchable Kallis Stephen A. Sci-fi
200 Quiet, Please Scott Kevin Sci-fi
201 Bringing Stan In Rochester Julia Literary
202 The Adventure of the Engineer’s Thumb Doyle Arthur Conan Mystery
203 A Breach of Security Hill Susan Crime

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Question: Have you read any of these? I read a WIDE variety of stories (ok, and technically single published poems, but I count those) in 2015. So many genres are present here. I’d love to hear about some of your favorite short stories you read in 2015. I’m always on the look-out for more. It’s a great way to get over a book slump or to kill a few minutes of the day when a novel can’t really be tackled.

Themed #Book Recommendations: #Dragons

It’s another Sunday and another theme recommendations post! So far in these posts, I’ve covered sports. First it was baseball. Then I went to hockey. I’ve been getting an ok amount of response to those, so I hope that means you’re finding great books to read through these Sunday posts.

For this week’s post, I wanted to change things up. I moved away from sports. This week, we’ll be focusing on DRAGONS! And by we, I mean that I’ve recruited some dragon lovers to help with the recommendations. Along with my recs, you’ll find recs from authors S.M. Boyce, Dionne Lister, and Ciara Ballintyne. I hope our recommendations of dragon books will add some to your TBR.

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Find something you might want to read? I hope so. Want to see another set of recommendations focused on a theme? Let me know what that theme is, and if you can help with some recs for it, include them in the message.

Happy reading!