Follower Lurrrrvvvvvv

I love my followers almost as much as I love free e-books. 

You know what else I love. NEW followers.

I'm very excited to do my very first blog hop. Thanks to I'm a Reader, Not a Writer and Rachael Renee Anderson for hosting the blog hop. This one is HUGE and I'm so glad you made it all the way down to little number 196 (or where ever my blog is listed now - pretty far down the list. Phew!)

Click here for the linky to all the other hippity hoppity blogs. 

--> Hop Hop Hop to another blog

For most of you this is your first visit to Amy Denim's 365 days, 365 Free E-books. So here's the gist.

I'm poor. 

I'm a reading addict. 

I got a Kindle for Christmas. 

I download free e-books for it.

But there are A LOT of free ebooks available, not only from Amazon, but other places too.How is one to choose which books to get and which to skip?

That's where I come in.

Almost everyday, I download around ten-ish e-books from various sources. I read one and put up a review letting you know whether to One-Click it (which is the fast and easy way to download from Amazon) or to skip it. 

I pepper these posts with advice for authors, recommendation on whether to check out other books, and my own personal rants.

The days I don't review a free book I post resources to find free e-book (Did you know you can get them from your local neighborhood library too) or my own downloads of the day. 

I'm a Romance writer (proud member of RWA, my local Colorado chapter and Rainbow Romance Writers), so most of the books featured are my favorite genre. I like to throw in some YA, general fiction and even a couple of non-fiction books just for fun every once in a while.

I also try to do at least one giveaway a month.

The nature of free ebooks is here today gone tomorrow, so a majority of my giveaways are spur of the moment. Best way to find out about them...subscribe. (surprised aren't you?)

The giveaways so far were:

A paperback copy of Jean M. Auel's Clan of the Cave Bear 

(I'm and Earth's Children Ambassador)

5 Kindle copy of SEAL of my Dreams by a truckload of Romance Authors 

(proceeds benefit Veterans Research Corporation, a non-profit fundraiser for veterans' medical research)

A Kindle Copy of Marie Sexton's Cinder -  

A CinderFella story--it's all fun and games until somebody loses a shoe...  

For the Follower Love Blog hop giveaway I'm offering you, my lovely new readers, a choice of one of the newest releases from some of my favorite Romance authors (who all happen to be chapter mates of mine)

PRIZE: Your choice of one of the following Kindle books/two pack:

Click on the book covers to go straight to Amazon for description (or if you can't wait and wanna buy it right now!) 

An Illustrated Time Travel Regency Historical

The Rake and the Recluse two pack from Jenn LeBlanc

Contemporary Paranormal

Finding Ms Wright, an anthology by ML Guida, Hillary Seidl and Lori Corsentino

Futuristic Fantasy

Centauri Midnight by Cynthia Woolf

A Contemporary Cowboy

Rodeo Queen by Helen Hardt

A Secret Baby Contemporary (I love me a secret baby...)

Cart Before the Horse by Bernadette Marie

A Friends of Animals Contemporary

Starlight Rescue by Leslee Breene

A Contemporary Cowboy

A Sexy Cowboy Two pack from Joanne Kennedy

Romantic Suspense

Breaking Point (I-Team) by Pamela Clare
**Update** Breaking Point has just been awarded AAR's Reader Poll for Best Romantic Suspense. Congrats Pam!

A Scottish Historical Time Travel (Whew, that's a mouthful)

Warrior's Redemption by Melissa Mayhue

And just because I loved it, I'm offering this one again.

A Fairytale Retelling

Cinder by Marie Sexton

Oh my! You say. What do I have to do to win one of these books?  Tick the boxes on the Rafflecopter below and do what it tells you to, silly.

#ManCandyMonday - Hawt Cuisine

Squeee!
I'm the host of the ever fun and never safe for work, #ManCandyMonday. Started by author Vicky Dreiling and supported by Romancing Rakes, this fun event takes place every Monday from 7-9 (Mountain Time) on twitter. Just search for the hashtag and find yourself privy to all the hotties you can imagine.
My theme for this week's event is Hawt Cuisine. Men in the kitchen, men eating, men drinking, men cooking. All of it Yumm.
See the my post on the Man Candy blog here-->Man Candy Monday 2.0

I'll give you a little taste of the drool worthy men and recipes I'm serving up.
I'm mixing up a favorite cocktail to awaken your senses, but alleviate your inhibitions.

The Sexy Devil Martini

4 parts vodka

2 parts cranberry vodka

1 part dry vermouth

Fresh strawberry

Lemon peel

Combine liquid ingredients in a cocktail shaker with cracked ice and shake well. Strain into a chilled cocktail glass and garnish with lemon peel and fresh strawberry.

Want/need more? Read the blog and join us on twitter tonight.

To help celebrate I've got some small gifts for all of you.

Free books!

Click on the covers to link straight to Amazon, and remember to check prices if you aren't clicking on the day of the post.

Here are the man candy worthy Romances available for free today on Amazon.

Man Candy: Traveller Devereaux who goes to the mysterious Mystic Valley where the people are blue, the flora and fauna are decidedly odd, and the mating customs are definitely different.

Man Candy: Kincaid is the type of man that Lawless (our heroine) could lose herself in; kind, caring, tall, dark and handsome, and sexy as hell

Man Candy: Homicide Detective, J.J. Thomas, realizes Meagan is the key to finding the Sandman. Now not only must he protect her, but he must find the connection between Meagan and the killer before she becomes his next victim.

Man Candy: Billy Dalton, the Carolina’s leading ladies man and the perfect bad boy hero. With old school wrestlemania and an over protective father, this up and coming star has nothing to lose but his heart. 

Man Candy: Architect Ethan Caldwell, a loner with a threatened future. Plus I think he looks a bit like Man Candy Robert Pattinson on the cover. Don't you?

Man Candy: Two for the price of one! Joshua, the island caretaker, and his visiting friend, Marcus. Both men are beautiful. They'll fulfill every BDSM fantasy this heroine can dish out.

Man Candy: The mysterious boy,  Not only is he not human, he may have a link to her past. (Bet you can't guess what kind of being he is, can you?)

Man Candy: Richard, the gentle local with a wicked smile will steal your heart in this serial killer cliffhanger of a novel.

Click away for your free books and hopefully we'll see you tonight for #ManCandyMonday, where I'll have even more tasty treats for you.

Hey RWA, Discrimination & Censorship are not OK

Yesterday I joined Rainbow Romance Writers (RRW), the LGBT online special interest chapter of RWA (Romance Writers of America).
I'm not gay, no one in my family is either. In fact, I'm not even sure anyone in my immediate circle of friends is LGBTQ (That's Lesbian, Gay, Bi-sexual, Transgendered or Questioning) as far as I know, although it's possible.
I don't write M/M or F/F or even menage or polyamorous romance. Although I have a secondary character in my upcoming WIP that is gay, and I hope for him to get his own story someday. But, I'm years off from that.

I do sometimes read LGBT literature. (I also sometimes read graphic novels, and classics and non fiction and I even once read a Steven King short story)
I was first introduced to gay characters in Romance by Suzanne Brockmann's Troubleshooters series, where I, and about a gajillion other readers, fell in love with Jules, who fell in love with Robin (the hottest damn action hero to ever play a Navy SEAL in a movie, in my humble opinion).

So why did I join a group whose goals are:
"

• to promote excellence in gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender romances
• to help members become published in LGBT romances
• to be an advocate within the industry for our genre
• to be a resource to our members and others on writing and the publishing industry

We are career-focused writers, and what we love to write are passionate, sensual, sweet, and sometimes erotic glimpses of love between LGBT characters."

(That's straight from their website http://www.rainbowromancewriters.com/)

?

Because discrimination and censorship are not okay with me. And I will not stand for it in an organization I'm proud to be a member of. Namely RWA.

Oh, but where is this all coming from, you ask? 

Here's the sitch.

Romance Writers Ink, (RWI) a local RWA chapter out of Tulsa, OK (right around the corner from where my first book is set) has a published authors contest every year called More Than Magic. This year they added something extra to their rules. (which you can read for yourself here)

"– Note: MTM will no longer accept same-sex entries in any category."

**Update** On Feb 5, RWI cancelled their MTM contest. To see their statement click here

Now, RWI's About Us page says this:

"The purpose of RWI is to promote excellence in romantic fiction, to advance the professional interests of career-focused romance writers through networking and advocacy, to provide a general basis of mentorship to any writer who is actively, and seriously striving to become published and thus establish a career in the romance genre, as well as to provide a camaraderie for writers within the romance publishing industry."

Funny, didn't that say ANY writer?  

And didn't it also say one who is actively striving to become published and establish a career in the romance genre?

Yeah, I thought so.

Now, I'm any writer, and I'm striving really hard to get published and establish a career in the romance genre. I'd like some camaraderie.  But according to their contest rules the story I mentioned above would not be allowed in.

Neither would Suzanne Brockmann's new book (which I have already pre-purchased and is awaiting her signature through the amazing virtual signing program she has)

Neither would any of the multi-published authors belonging to RRW.

You know what RWI.  That stinks like a big ole bigotted pile of poo.

And RWA...How in the world do we not have an anti-discrimination policy in our by laws?

Not to mention that besides the blantant discrimination there's also the issue of censorship.

Ack!  That's any writer's scare word.  Thank goodness for free speech!

Wait, we live in an oppressed dictator nazi regime, where they burn books and we all have to be very careful about what we say and write, you say?

No, no we don't so I and you, and that guy over there can all write whatever the hell we want! (sort of - read the first amendment and an explanation of it here)

I wrote to both RWA and RWI expressing my hope that they would reconsider this rule, as did a truckload of other readers and writers.

One member of RRW received a reply saying that they added this new rule because some of their members were "uncomfortable" reading LGBT romance.

Blurgh. 

So don't give the LGBT books to those members. Double Duh.  And if all your members feel that way, well call up RRW and see if some of them will guest judge for you. Don't just dismiss those books and their writers because you are uncomfortable.  That's discrimination and censorship.

Oh, and, I got back a canned response from RWA and nothing from RWI.

So, in a show of solidarity I joined Rainbow Romance Writers.

I'm a full flung member. I get a bio on their website and everything.  They're cool. (outraged, but nice)

But wait. This blog is all about free e-books.

Yeah, it is.

I've got in store for you today 25 free reads.

They come courtesy of Coffee and Porn in the Morning who just celebrated their first anniversary. 

Cupoporn.net is run by two of the members of RRW Heidi Cullinan and Marie Sexton. (Marie also happens to be in my local CRW chapter here in Colorado, so I got the hook up!)

As part of their celebration they featured stories by 25 different writers and have them up for FREE.

Here is the link to the birthday party page --> Free Fiction!

That is if you can get past the picture of the hottie at the top of the page.

Here, I'll give you a head start

He belongs to Marie and Heidi, I stole him, I freely admit it.

I'd love people to spread the word and say to RWA and RWI that discrimination and censorship are not okay. 

Email RWI at **Update** I've removed this email address, since RWI has cancelled their contest. If you are still interested in contacting RWI please go to their webpage http://romancewritersink.wordpress.com/

Email RWA at info@rwa.org 

Please leave me a comment on my blog letting me know how you've reacted to this. If you tweet about it, post about it on FB (try my FB page for a good link write a letter to either organization, write a blog about it, comment on any of the other RRW writer's blogs or FB pages in support of them or even join the Rainbow Romance Writers chapter like I did, tell me so, in a comment, right here on this little ole blog.

Here are links to other RRW member's blogs on this issue.

http://www.facebook.com/KateDouglas.authorpage?sk=wall

http://www.karigregg.com/?p=1226

http://heidicullinan.wordpress.com/2012/02/03/rwa-shouldnt-be-in-the-business-of-discrimination/

http://www.jadebuchananbooks.com/2012/02/rwa-and-same-sex-romances/

http://www.katemcmurray.com/2012/02/rwa-and-discrimination/

http://annetenino.com/2012/02/04/personal-taste-public-responsibilities-discrimination-rom4all-lgbt-rwa/

If you don't know what to write to RWI try this http://museampoule.wordpress.com/2012/02/03/letter-to-rwi-contest-about-their-discrimination/

I'll put all the names of my lovely commenters into a hat and the winner will receive a Kindle copy of Marie Sexton's latest release Cinder. 

A CinderFella story--it's all fun and games until somebody loses a shoe...

Eldon Cinder would give anything to see Prince Xavier one last time, but only women are invited to the royal ball. When the local witch offers to make Eldon female for just one night, he agrees.

One spell. One night. One dance.

What could possibly go wrong?

Make sure to leave me the email addy you use for your amazon account so I can get the winner their free e-book!

Use the secret sneaky spy way of leaving it - ie, amy at amydenim dot com.

Okay, get up on your soapboxes. React, change our world.

Let is snow, let it snow, let it snow

Colorado got hammered by ole man winter last night, and it's still snowing today.  I stayed up reading till about three in the morning. I love those nights when it's dark out, but white. Like the world is glowing, but it's not, it's just snowing.
In the spirit of the white flaky stuff, I read a Christmas short story all through the night.  Made me want to go out and build a snowman. (Maybe after we go sledding and drink some hot cocoa. I love a good snow day.)

Title: Bah, Humbug!
Author: Heather Horrocks
Genre: Contemporary Romance/Christmas
Publisher: Word Garden Press
Length: Novella

Review:
Lexi Anderson, the new Martha Stewart (minus the jail time) helps her neighbor, Kyle and his family find their Christmas spirit and in the process finds love and family for herself.


I wanna be Lexi Anderson when I grow up. I also wish I were Kyle Miller. He is a best selling novelist.
Maybe they'll adopt me.


I had no problem suspending reality and believing that these two fell in love in six days. The range of well written emotions the characters threw at each other (along with snowballs) and the fingers of reality the author wove into the story did it for me.
Warning: If you've lost a parent the sharing memories of Mama scene will yank a couple of tears into your tissue.


I'm not normally a sweet romance reader. I get more frustrated than the characters at the lack of sex. It's hard to dislike an inviting story like this, even if they don't get busy. My imagination can go rampant later. 


The only bit of the story I didn't buy throughout was how incredibly well behaved and get alongable (yes, I made that word up just this second, and you totally understand what it means, I'm sure) her kids were. I mean, who has a teenager daughter that doesn't have at least a bit of strop from time to time?  Moving to a new house in a new state with a new climate and having your mom fall for the idolized guy next door is some stressful times. But everybody was happy go lucky the whole time.  I expected a little conflict there. Maybe if the story were longer I'd get what I want. (And we all know I always get what I want)


Recommendations: 
Yeah, one-click this one. Maybe even check out some of this author's other works. The Chick Flick Clique series looks cute.
I give this one four stars.

I lost my funny

I write Romance with humor. Well, most of the time. This last week, I've been doing tons of editing, had a roller coaster ride with my family, got a harsh critique from my group, got behind in the online writing workshop I'm taking, thought about running away to Turkey and somewhere in there, I lost my funny.

Not a damn word I wrote over the last seven days was worth a giggle, titter, guffaw or even a hoot.
I gotta fix that. Like ASAP.

Life can be stressful at times, and for a writer, where emotions are king, everything bleeds onto the page. Here's one author's take on it. Is Depression Lurking Between the Lines?
Yikes. Writers are one of the top ten careers with the highest rate of depression. Thanks for that Sylvia Plath.

I started thinking about how I deal with emotions.
1. Cry
I'm a cryer. Happy, sad, weddings, movies, books, touching commercials = tears
2. Clean
I had a fight with my teenager the other day. I hated it. I cried later standing in my walk-in. But my closet simply sparkles now.
3. Swear
I know naughty words in four different languages. I use them.
4. Read
The ultimate in escapism.

That's my short list. But where in there can I get my groove back? You got it. Big ole number four.
I'm striving to find my funny (and my happy) so I'm only reading laugh out loud books.
Top o' my list is my fav funny Romance author. Katie MacAlister.  (I even wrote her a fangirl email telling her I read her books when I'm sad to make me laugh.)
But, Katie's books aren't free. Although they are people-look-at-me-strangly-while-I-snort-reading-in-Starbucks funny.
Since this blog is currently dedicated to free reads, today I bring you some free laughs courtesy of Amazon and some guy named Mike.

Title: The Dictionary of Jokes
Author: Michael Oduah
Genre: Humor
Review:
This anthology of jokes definitely has all the classics. I love blond jokes and man jokes and dirty jokes and, oh, I like 'em all. It's good for some laughs. I hoped that I'd be embarrassingly laughing out loud while sitting in the public library, but I didn't happen. I smiled a lot. A few giggles here and there. Quite a few eye rolls. You've probably heard most of the ones in here. This little ebook tome is a little hint of nostalgia to the days we all sat around gulping down jello shots, sitting in a circle on someone's dorm room floor trying to get the cute guy from across the hall to smile.

Recommendations:
Sure, give this book a one-click, while it's free. If your feeling blue, you might even pay a couple of bucks for it (but not the digital list price of $9.99 - you could surf the internet and find all the same ones, but probably with pictures and have lunch for that much!)
I give it 4 stars, just cause it brightened my day.