Illness and discounts

Life News:

I've been ill for about 3 weeks with a flu-type virus and it's not been terribly pleasant, so probably best not to revisit it. Suffice it to say I've recovered now and am eating again, hurrah. As a result of watching mindless TV all day, I'm also now addicted to property programmes and can't get enough of them, hey ho.

Yesterday, I went back to baking, and think I'm on to something of a winner with these Cherry and Brandy cupcakes. Definitely not for the children, and they taste amazing, so will be making those again for sure.

This morning, I've had a haircut so am now looking really quite stylish for the Christmas dinner at K's new workplace. The first turkey of the season, here I come ...


Book News:

A couple of nice reviews for gay erotic romance Taking A Chance have turned up this week. There's a 4-star review at MM Good Book Reviews:

"This is the first book I've read by Anne Brooke. It will not be the last! The author captures the essence of sensuality in so few pages. The way David dominated Benjamin with zero cruelty and played his body in ways Benjamin had never been played was just oh so sexy. I tore through this book on my lunch break. If you're looking for something quick and sexy that will leave a huge smile on your face, take a chance on this one!"

And another 4-star review at Pants Off Reviews, though they didn't like the ending much, ah well:

"David is very upfront and clear about his intentions for Benjamin, so much that he surprises me too. On the other hand, Benjamin is totally unprepared for David's questions about his sexual activity. However, Benjamin is straightforward and honest with his answers that it's refreshing to read the dialogue. It all makes this book a fun read."

Many thanks to both reviewers for their comments.

Finally, until 3 December, there's a 30% discount on all my Wilde City Press books (including Taking A Chance) - just add the code WILDETURKEY at the checkout. Happy reading!

Anne Brooke
Gay Reads UK
Free Fiction
Gathandrian Fantasy Trilogy
Biblical Fiction UK

Chance, Danger and cake

Book News:

Gay erotic romance Taking a Chance gained three reviews this week, which was a great thrill. Firstly, it received a Bad Ass Boots review at 3 Chicks After Dark Reviews:

"After finishing this book all I can say is wow, that ended up being so much more than I expected. I knew it was a short – only 11,500 words – but I’m amazed at just how much Anne Brooke gets across in those 11,500 words. She takes us from two strangers meeting, under false pretenses at that, to two guys making a real connection."

Secondly, it gained a 4-star review at Boy Meets Boy Reviews:

"Taking a Chance was a quick, fun, sexy, surprisingly thoughtful read about a young man who didn't know he had a submissive side he wanted to explore...until he met the man who brought it out in him. I really enjoyed taking that exploratory journey with Benjamin."

Thirdly and lastly it received a few nice comments from Sandra at BookLikes. Many thanks to all readers and reviewers. And don't forget there's a chance (ha! See what I did there, eh ...) of winning a FREE copy at the current BookLikes giveaway which ends on 1 December. Nineteen people have already entered the competition, and I hope I might be able to gain 25 interested people - with a bit of luck and the wind behind me.

Meanwhile, gay thriller A Dangerous Man gained a 5-star review at Amazon UK:

"The author has written an excellent book with a lot more to it than most other books. Not a book to forget in a hurry."

Not to be outdone, the Gathandrian gay-themed fantasy series has had a very brief moment of popularity at Amazon UK. The Gifting (Gathandria *1) was No 71 in the Sword and Sorcery charts, Hallsfoot's Battle (Gathandria *2) was No 87, and The Executioner's Cane (Gathandria *3) came in at No 68. And don't forget they're all FREE at Amazon and everywhere else too, so you can't go far wrong if you give them a go.

Life News:

I've been ill again most of this week with my usual catarrh/bad cold horrors. That's the third bout since September, so maybe it's my new hobby? Or possibly a sure-fire way to keep Mr Lemsip and Mr Lucozade in business. Never say I do nothing for the UK economy, eh ... Anyway, I managed to keep going at work, which was a good thing as there were a shed-load of key meetings I just had to do the minutes for, so that saved a lot of hassle. But once I'd left for the week on Thursday afternoon, it all went to hell in a hand basket, as they say. Hey ho. Suffice it to say there was no visit to the theatre to see A Midsummer Night's Dream on Thursday, no golf on Friday, and a hell of a lot of snorting, groaning and sleeping for the rest of the weekend.

I did manage to rally for long enough to bake Brazilian Stout Cake on Saturday morning though, which is proving very tasty - though certainly not the easiest cake in the world to make. If I feel strong enough ever, I might make it again at some point.

Anne Brooke
Gay Reads UK
Gathandrian Fantasy Trilogy
Biblical Fiction UK
Free Fiction UK

Danger, Chances and a Giveaway Competition!

Book News:

Gay erotic romance Taking a Chance is now published at Wilde City Press, and has also received its first, 4-star review from On Top Down Under Reviews:

"A good coupling with a sure, sophisticated, caring lover and passionate, willing partner. I also like that it was a forty something and a thirty something in the lead. Not that I suppose it matters, but it's just good for a change. There is a very slight twist at the end, I knew there would be, but not what I was thinking … so go, Anne Brooke. Terrific, sexy and quick reading with a couple of nice characters and a good ending."

Many thanks indeed, Karen.

Gay thriller A Dangerous Man also received an interesting review at MM Good Book Reviews this week:

"I found it brilliant in a way, powerful as hell too, but above all, I found it saddening and depressive. The protagonist, Michael, is such a disturbing character … What I loved most though was the description of the artist and his mentality … Michael was brilliantly written."

And, bringing these two books together in a very exciting giveaway competition is my On Top Down Under interview - so enter today only to win 1 of 2 FREE gay fiction ebooks. Pop along early to avoid disappointment, and I hope you enjoy the interview also. Happy reading and good luck!

Other book news is that gay-themed fantasy novel The Gifting was briefly at No 95 in the Amazon US gay fiction chart, and at No 82 in the Amazon UK gay fiction charts, so that was rather jolly. It's also been downloaded over 2000 times at Free Ebooks, so maybe it's not that bad, after all. Hey, a writer can dream, eh. And it's FREE, so what could be nicer?

Not to be outdone, the second in the trilogy, Hallsfoot's Battle, has just been downloaded over 1000 times at Free Ebooks, so that's reassuring too. And that's FREE as well, of course, so never say I'm not a generous soul at heart, ho ho.


In terms of current work, I'm now well into my second edit of gay fantasy The Taming of The Hawk so hope to get that finalised and submitted somewhere by the end of November, all things being equal.

Life News:

I had a wonderful and sooo relaxing reflexology session during the week, and have already booked another one for next month. There's definitely time in life for more relaxation.

Yesterday, I tried my hand at Coffee and Mint Cream cake - which is an interesting combination but I'm not sure it quite works. It's pleasant enough though, so we'll be sure to eat it up at some point. In the evening, K and I had a marvellous time listening to Guildford Choral Society's performance of Handel's Israel in Egypt. I can never get enough Handel really - the music is always pure perfection. A special mention has to go to the wonderful contralto who looked like a fragile pixie you could knock down with a feather, and yet had a glorious humdinger of a voice which filled the whole cathedral and some. Amazing stuff.

Today has been the Remembrance Service at church and round the War Memorial. It always gets me when the names of local soldiers lost in both wars are read out, and there are four or five gone from the same families. A terrible memory indeed.

Anne Brooke
Gay Reads UK
Free Fiction UK
The Gathandria Fantasy Trilogy
Biblical Fiction UK

Chance, murder, and the importance of intersex folk

Book News:

My gay BDSM comedy, Taking a Chance, will be published by Wilde City Press on Wednesday 6 November, so I hope you enjoy the read. Here's the blurb:

The moment model and part-time actor Benjamin spots the sexually alluring Alan outside his local restaurant one night, he's determined to get to know him better. Much better. So he takes a chance and pretends to be Timothy, the blind date Alan is waiting for. 

When Alan asks him about submission, safe words and spanking, Benjamin knows the sensible thing to do is to make his apologies and leave. Funny then how his body keeps telling him something different, and instead he finds himself strangely eager to know more. Will it be a date to remember, and if Alan discovers his deceit, could he ever be persuaded to take any kind of a chance on Benjamin?

Turning to current work, gay thriller A Dangerous Man briefly found itself at the dizzy heights of No 87 in the Amazon UK Gay Fiction charts, so that was a pleasant surprise. And gay-themed fantasy novel, The Executioner's Cane, gained a very nice review at Amazon US:

"This series was nothing as I expected. I was drawn deeper with each chapter til I couldn't wait to pick up the book at every spare moment. It was beautifully written and I hope there will be more. Thank you Ms Brooke."

Why, thank you, Tx-N. Much appreciated.

Life News:

The storm last weekend left one front fence panel down and a large section of the farmer's tree across our back fence. K nobly went out first thing in the wind and the rain (what a hero!) and cut it into pieces small enough to take down. The back fence seems to have survived the experience, which is something of a miracle.

This week, I also got terribly confused during my Tesco online shop and instead of ordering two carrots, I seem to have ordered two tons (or almost!) of carrots. Cue a week of carrots with everything, carrot soup, and of course the carrot cake I actually bought the carrots for.

Anyone in the area who needs carrots is welcome to their selection of my carrot mountain, hey ho. Yesterday, there was Deep Trauma at the village shop when - horror of horrors! - the Daily Telegraph did not get delivered. My dears, the villagers were almost rioting. I had to send K into Godalming to get my copy as of course I cannot start my weekend without it.

Ooh, and there's fantastic news in Germany, which is the first European country to acknowledge the existence of intersex people. Quite right too! Being male or female is way too narrow a choice, and totally unrealistic - the whole thing is a sliding scale in my opinion, and those people who are born with features of both genders should definitely not be swept under the carpet by society. So good on Sarah Graham for her very sensible words here. I hope the UK can hurry up and catch up with the way things are too, and the sooner the better.

Meanwhile in the garden, the Durban canna is out in bloom, and the acer in the front garden is showing its autumn finery.

But the best news of the week is the totally amazing and very classy performance of Time, Murderer, Please by the ever-reliable Players of Elstead Theatre Society. A special mention of course for my lovely husband who took the role of the policeman George, and totally nailed it. A wonderful evening indeed!

Anne Brooke
Gay Reads UK
The Gathandria Fantasy Trilogy
Biblical Fiction UK
Free Fiction UK