It's been quite a long time since I've done a book pimpin post...I bet you've all missed them. (right? RIGHT?)

So yesterday started out like any other day. I had some things to do, some scenes I wanted to add to my current WiP. Out of curiosity I hopped on over to the Loose Id site to see what new releases were out and I noticed a new m/m author I'd never heard of before, Ethan Day. My curiosity knows no bounds when it comes to new authors, so I read the excerpt. And laughed. So then of course I googled the author, found his website and blog and read those. And laughed. And before I knew it I was ignoring my plans for the day--and my towering TBR pile--and laughing so hard I got dirty looks from the people in Starbucks.

What a flippin' blast this book was. So. Funny.

The blurbage for Self Preservation:


Davis always assumed they would wind up back together, until Jack calls and invites Davis to his wedding to Tadd Austin, a prominentarchitect in Chicago. Jack's only known Tadd for two weeks, so whatever Jack feels for Tadd couldn't possibly compare to what he shared with Davis. There's no way in hell Davis can stand by and watch the life he always expected to get back slip away to some guy Jack barely knows. Tadd Austin, indeed…more like Toad Ass-ton, Davis thinks.

With his best friend, fashion designer Deseree Wildwood in tow, Davis has to shed his sweet, guy-next-door persona, and re-vamp his image into a self-confident, hot piece of eye candy. He's going to the wedding with only one goal in mind: to do whatever it takes to win back Jack. The Toad is toast!

Once in Chicago, Davis discovers it isn't going to be as easy as he thought. Not only is Tadd very un-Toad-like, but a mysterious British playboy named Alex Parker manages to interject himself into the mix. Only true love will survive as the tug of war ensues in this Bermuda love triangle from hell.



Most of you who have read my book recs or "non-reviews" probably know this, but for anyone new reading I thought I should warn you. I don't usually give a summation of the book. Or any useful information either. Juuuuuust kidding. I give buy links don't I?

Basically, the number one reason to buy this book? It's hysterical. Srsly.

It starts off...mildly amusing, and I was smiling a lot and thinking, "What a great, lighthearted way to spend an afternoon." And then Day must have hit his stride, because I started laughing out loud. When I wasn't laughing, I had this goofy smile on my face. I'm not kidding when I say the peeps at Starbucks gave me dirty looks. The stressed out suit types and the pseudo-intellectuals looked uncomfortable. There was happiness going on at my table.

I didn't care though. And by the time I had made it halfway through the book? I didn't even care where the author was taking the story. Kind of like crack, those laughs, and I needed the hit, so I wouldn't have particularly cared if 3/4 through the book all the characters had donned capes and started unleashing their super powers. As long as the laughs kept coming.

Which is not to say I think the author took this story places it shouldn't have gone. The opposite in fact. I think Day delivered every step of the way. It was all very over the top--in the BEST possible way--so if you're looking for angsty drama or reams of internal, gut-wrenching conflict...this ain't it. This is a very funny romp with some very endearing characters.

So some other reasons why I loved this book:

The cast of characters was great. I think just about every one of them could be one of my friends in real life. They're so funny, and fun, and like all the best characters, they're far from perfect. The main character Davis? He cries waaay too much--which in RL would make me roll my eyes--but I just LOVED him. Full stop, I thought he was a great character. Kind of neurotic, loyal, determined, good-natured, a little self-absorbed, emotional, stubborn, and so darn funny. Did I mention that I LOVED him?

Davis's best friend, Deseree? Priceless. She has some of the best lines and I can totally relate to her. She's spunky, determined, also very loyal, a total foodie, and knows the power of good fashion sense. What's not to love?

And Alex...oh my. I LOVED him too. He's called things in the story by various people like, "scamp" or "scalawag" and that's soooo...him. I loved his style, the fact that he makes a joke of everything, his interaction with the other characters. He's very funny, and I loved the crap he got away with saying. Hee. Loved. This. Guy. And, of course, the interaction with Davis was probably my favorite part. Here's a tiny sample (I don't want to spoil anything!) from their first meeting:

I realize that today is not Friday, which is my official day for pimping, but I already have something picked out for this Friday and...well, I want to pimp this now.

I realized something last night....If we all were in grade school, in gym class, and Josh Lanyon was one of the kids in charge of selecting other kids for his kickball team...well, I'd be trampling Susie Q. and Bobby Joe while shrieking "Pick me! Oh please, pick me!" It's true. 'Cause let's face it, his team would win. And I like to win. Who doesn't?

I feel safe in pronouncing Lanyon a sure thing. So no surprise, I Spy Something Bloody is a win.

Where to start, where to start...well, let's start with the cover. Am I the only one who thinks of that song "I'm Blue, I'm in need a guy, I'm in need a guy"? Oh wait, I think the actual song went something like "I'm blue, da ba de da ba di" or something. Personally, I like the first version better. *g*

So Mark...he's a spy, he's British...have we hit your HAWTness meter yet? 'Cause, let's face it...Josh had me at espionage. It's like my kryptonite or something...all the dancing around things better left unsaid that's inherent in spy novels, calling the boss "The Old Man." Baby, I got goosebumps. So we've established that Mark is all types of sexy, even though he describes himself as average or non-descript or something. Pshaw!

Then we have Dr. Stephen...old money, high class, into healing...making love, not war, baby. I'm sold. (Well, actually maybe someone could clarify something for me...at what age exactly differentiates prematurely gray hair from just gray hair?)

And then of course, JL actually makes you think (disgusting isn't it?) by throwing in all these Dickens references and meaning, and gosh, I wish I were made of sheer awesome like Josh is.

Speaking of being crazy awesome, how does Lanyon manage to insert funnies into serious, angsty moments? There you are feeling all emotionally, er, gripped, and then BAM, he hits you with the funny.

I have very few complaints about this story, other than it felt like the storyline could have supported a longer work...but it's probably not Lanyon's fault that he always leaves you wanting more of his awesome prose, lovable characters, gripping emotions, and witticisms. *g*

So to be a little more *gasp*  serious for a minute here, let's break it down folks:

The magic is in the details in this book...Lanyon's gift for description and rooting me in the scene is superb. I'm right there with his characters every step of the way, all my senses engaged. Gosh, at one point I swear I could hear the birds a-twittering and smell the magnolias. And the little details that highlight how aware, how alert Mark is, how he never quite turns "off" just adds a layer of authenticity to this read that had me just jonesin' on this story.

To make my next point, I'm actually going to quote myself (hee, just b/c I can!). I said last thursday on my weekly Thematic Thursday LJ post : "It takes a very talented writer, IMHO, to write a character that betrays their partner, and that readers can still sympathize with." I was talking about infidelity specifically, but it applies here in the broader sense, and we all know Josh is super talented so it's no surprise that he brings this off with aplomb. I'm not spoiling anything here, I don't think, when I say that Mark gave his lover the shaft-and not in the fun spanky way-two years before this story opens. He betrayed Stephen, and for very human reasons.

I think in novels. movies, etc about spies, there's the tendency to make them super-human, give them the ability to accomplish incredible feats, but they're not allowed to show what might be perceived as weakness. Lanyon doesn't fall into this trap.  He gives Mark hurts and fears and pain, and I loved Mark all the more for it. As usual, Lanyon hits a home run with characterization.

I also like that Lanyon doesn't shortchange the readers with the emotional wrap up....it's like JL has this divining rod--tsk, tsk, tsk...mind out of the gutter peoples!--for "sap" content. His stories always hit just the right amount with me, dinging my emotional satisfaction button every time, without leaving me feeling ripped off at the lack of emotional resolution or rolling my eyes at a mush fest. Just further evidence that Lanyon has such a tight grasp on human emotions, and what the characters need as well as the reader.

My next point is kind of directed at the writers who read this... Listen up, class. I think we could all learn something from Lanyon's dialogue and erotic scenes. Both advance the story and the relationship development with every word, and trust me, Lanyon never wastes a word. NEVER. It's so obviously very carefully crafted. And I used the word "erotic" instead of "sex" scene deliberately because that's exactly what he gives you. Eroticism with or without straight sexin' if ya know what I mean. I find that far more satisfying and sexy than if the characters just get to bumpin' uglies any old way. It's almost like Lanyon thinks about what best fits the story or something. Go figure. *g*

There's a ton of stuff I could still say about this story, but really...you're probably sick of my blathering and you should all just read and find out for yourself.  I will just add that I've made a lot of light comments about this read, but it has very complex and moving, very poignant emotions and themes, in addition to gun toting spies and flying bullets. So I suggest you buy I Spy Something Bloody from Loose-Id and then sit back, put up your feet, and prepare to enjoy.

And on a semi-related note...am I right in thinking the next Lanyon release will be Death of a Pirate King? Aka Adrien 4? Be still my beating heart. I should do a countdown or something because words can just not describe how much I'm looking forward to that release. I'll have to check the Josh Lanyon calendar or his website.