Jan
29
12:30 PM12:30
Free Love Now Available In Audiobook Format
Free Love – True Stories of Love and Lust on the Internet is now available in audiobook format through Audible.com, Amazon and iTunes. If you are a new subscriber to Audible you can get the book FREE during your one month trial via Audible and Amazon.
Free Love Named Best Book of the Year for 2013 by Red City Review
Free Love – True Stories of Love and Lust on the Internet was named Best Book of the Year for 2013 by Red City Review. The book was selected from the sixty books they reviewed over the past year, and also won Best Book of the Month 2013 honors.
To purchase a copy of Free Love, click here to find it on Amazon.
This is the book about free online personals.
– Red City Review
☆☆☆☆☆
A compelling and entertaining read that delves deeply within the sexual psyche of people from all different walks of life through the filtered lens of internet personal ads, Free Love: True Stories of Love and Lust on the Internet by Thomas Kelleher is a revealing book that underscores how the search for affection affects everyone differently. This non-fiction book is set up into six different sections, every combination of the two genders (both heterosexual and homosexual), missed connections, and casual encounters. Within each section the original ad is displayed upon the page, followed by frank and honest interviews featuring the person who posted the ad, discussing what resulted from their foray into online personals, as well as various relationship advice and private disclosures. The ads themselves are brief, with usually only a paragraph or a few sentences of text, while the interviews afterwards run from one page to several. Regardless, all of the interviews featured have the power to affect the reader, whether it is due the illustrative sex described, or the harrowing accounts of rejection and the fear of being alone. While some of the stories detailed are emotional, others are amusing and humorous.
This is a great book for many reasons, not only is the content highly engaging and relatable, but the layout and organization that Kelleher has employed in putting this work together is also exceptional. In the print edition, the graphics, text, and spacing all fit appropriately with the material that is explored. Blurred images are placed as backdrops, emojis litter the pages, and large quotes frame each individual section. The internet has changed a lot of things, but what it has arguably changed the most is how people interact with other. This is an idea that is ever present in this book, as people from all different walks of life discuss the reasons for posting personal ads, whether it be for companionship, sex, friendship, or love. The book has a good balance of lighthearted and deep material for anyone interested in online dating. It also approaches a wide variety of different situations, therefore containing an interesting story for any reader. Free Love is the kind of book you can revisit again and again, reading portions at a time, talking with your friends about what you’ve discovered, which in turn will only cause you to wonder if you would ever do anything listed within the book’s pages. This is the book about free online personals.
Read the review at Red City Review.
For additional book reviews on Amazon.com.
To purchase a copy of Free Love, click here to find it on Amazon.
Thomas Kelleher is hosting a “Hump Day” Happy Hour / Book Signing in Walnut Creek, CA on Wednesday, September 4th at Laptop Lounge from 5:30 - 6:30pm. It’s invitation only so if you’d like to attend send an email in order to be added to the guest list. Hope to see you there!
Whether you’re familiar with the world of online dating and personal ads or not, Free Love is at once fascinating, funny, insanely compelling, and at times, even sad.
– Gillian Telling, Author and Sex Columnist for Maxim Magazine
Whether you're familiar with the world of online dating and personal ads or not, Free Love, True Stories of Love and Lust on the Internet is at once fascinating, funny, insanely compelling, and at times, even sad. We've all wondered who the person behind a personal ad really is (do they honestly love cats and long walks on the beach, or are they just pretending to be a woman in order to collect naked pics of straight guys?), and this book reveals the truth, reasonings and complexities of those writing them. The most fascinating aspect of the book? It turns out that most people, men and women, truly are on the quest to find great love and companionship at the end of the day. While reading this, you can't help but root for every single one of them. And it doesn't hurt that some of them are just entertaining weirdos.
For additional book reviews on Amazon.com.
To purchase a copy of Free Love, click here to find it on Amazon.
If you are planning on trying online dating, or know someone who is, “Free Love” is a must read!
– Paige Lovitt for Rebecca’s Reads
I tried Internet dating once, several years ago. I quickly discovered it wasn’t for me. I was totally honest about my profile, but the majority of the men who contacted me were not. They were incorrect about their height, athletic physiques and their employment status. I decided this wasn’t a good avenue to find a mate. I ended up having to go the old fashioned blind date route!
I do have to admit that out of pure fascination I still find myself lurking on Internet dating sites. I have a student that belongs to just about every free and paid online dating site out there, so I get to access them through her. I am looking for a date? No. Am I looking for a casual intimate encounter? No. I just find the ads absolutely fascinating. Well, some of them are downright entertaining, but I will admit that quite a few are boring and need some work. This is especially true in the area of photographs. People should never try to post a picture of themselves that they took on their own.
“Free Love” covers just about every avenue that a person might be seeking to meet someone. This includes men seeking women, women seeking men, men seeking men, women seeking women, singles seeking couples, casual encounters and missed connections. As I read each ad, and the story behind it, I was absolutely entertained and grateful that I am not single! I personally have known people to hire marketing people to spruce up their ads, and people who have used this forum for casual encounters. The casual encounters usually have had more success with getting replies
Behind each online ad is always true story. I always wonder, “Does the real truth match the ad?” In “Free Love: True Stories of Love and Lust on the Internet,” I had the opportunity to go behind the scenes and find out what was really going on. The real stories varied greatly; however, there are a lot of married people who anonymously admit that they use the online dating sites to seek sexual encounters outside of their relationships. To me, this is the sad part. While many of the ads openly admitted their marital statuses, I found it sad that these people are being more honest with strangers than people that they’ve committed themselves to.
Other than an entertaining read, “Free Love” also teaches some valuable lessons. One of the biggest one is that a person who is seeking a mate on a dating site, should proceed with caution. The potential replies might be from people who are not who they represent themselves to be. Should this be a deterrent? No, I don’t think so, because there are genuinely good people seeking real commitment. That is how the author met his wife. It is also how my sister met her wonderful fiancé. If you are planning on trying online dating, or know someone who is, “Free Love” is a must read! For the rest of us who are happy with our lives, it is a great book to curl up with!
For additional book reviews on Amazon.com.
To purchase a copy of Free Love, click here to find it on Amazon.
A fascinating and very much recommended read for anyone who wants to understand the carnal value of the Internet.
– Midwest Book Review
Shortly after it was created, people began to use the Internet to pursue love. “Free Love – True Stories of Love and Lust on the Internet” is a spin of the pursuit of love on the online personals and what has resulted from them, the good, the bad, and the tragic that all have spun out from people using the world wide web for love. Many people present their own stories, and make “Free Love” a fascinating and very much recommended read for anyone who wants to understand the carnal value of the Internet.
For additional book reviews on Amazon.com.
To purchase a copy of Free Love, click here to find it on Amazon.
An honest look at Love on the Internet
– What’s on the Bookshelf
Nearly 40 million singles in America share a personal little secret. They’re using the Internet to look for true love and/or lust online, but aren’t necessarily admitting it.
The truth is that online dating has grown immensely popular over the past decade, due, in part, to continuing advances of the Internet and the proliferation of dating sites. Yet, for many people online dating carries the same stigma that used to be associated with printed personal ads in newspapers: that you must be some kind of desperate loser to have to resort to placing a classified ad in order to get a date.
But despite their shortcomings and somewhat risky nature, personal ads actually worked. It wasn’t long before these classified ads migrated online, and soon gave rise to more structured “socially acceptable” commercial dating sites. Many of these have become profitable by charging fees for identifying candidates who match personal profiles and preferences, and offering the promise of fewer frightening surprises and disastrous first dates and an express lane to Mr. or Ms. Right. But shouldn’t love be free? A lot of people seem to think so. Many continue to shun the paid sites and opt instead for the wild and wooly approach to online dating – free personals.
FREE LOVE – True Stories of Love and Lust on the Internet documents this increasingly popular trend and presents a collection of actual online ad postings as they originally appeared and the stories behind them – all told in the posters’ own words, triumphs, disasters, warts and all. These stories take you into the mental and actual bedrooms of a diverse range of people with a variety of backgrounds, personal needs, wants and desires, sexual orientations, preferences and lifestyle choices.
I don't usually read or review non-fiction books, but this one had an appeal to me because well...who hasn't read the classifieds once or twice. Whether for humor or just curiosity it's not uncommon. So I received this from the author for an honest review.
The individual stories range from humorous to sweet. Not only do you get the story and personal ads, but you get the reasoning behind the postings. Why were they looking for someone? Did they find that special person for them? I personally like the ones where the poster does it just out of curiosity. One author put what they believed no one would answer to. You'll have to read it to find out how that ended up.
Online dating sites and finding someone via the internet is certainly more common now than it was even ten years ago. I would say Kelleher has compiled an accurate representation of the diversity of people using social networking to find their true love. If you are considering it and want to know how others fared I'd check out this book.
For additional book reviews on Amazon.com.
To purchase a copy of Free Love, click here to find it on Amazon.
Free Love
– Book Reviews Weekly
Free Love is a collection of stories about people seeking relationships online using various dating services and websites. The book is fascinating to read simply because it seems that all the people who submitted their story were quite honest about their own experiences. It is fun and interesting to see how these different people worded their online personal ad, and what the response was. Some share dating experiences as well, which can be interesting too.
If you are looking for love on the Internet, Free Love may help you understand how to create your personal ad to get the best response. If you just want to read fascinating stories about finding love online, or want to feel a bit voyeuristic in your reading, Free Love is entertaining as well.
Finding Love in All The Right Places
– San Francisco Book Review
The Internet is full of interesting people with interesting stories. Free Love - True Stories of Love and Lust on the Internet explores some of these. Specifically, it explores the personal ads section and why people post there. It explores all of the basic connections, be they heterosexual, homosexual, looking for Mr. Right, looking for Mr. Right Now. This book is a fascinating story of what people are looking for and why they are looking for it.
Kelleher found some interesting personal ads and then interviewed the posters, letting the people talk for themselves; that the original ad is followed by commentary from the person who wrote it helps. Although some of those interviewed are far too brief in their comments, the most interesting ones are those that go on for a little bit. A wide variety of people have been interviewed, from those that have lost their virginity thanks to personal ads to those that have been burned. It is especially fascinating, in this age of jaded cynicism, to see how many approach the personal ads section as a place to find romance, and found it.
The dating scene really does take all types, and Free Love explores a wide variety of them. Those that tried a basic, honest approach received as much, if not more, response as the humorous ads. It is interesting to hear from the veterans, so as to compare the old versus the new, and that the new is more freeing, as you don't need to go wait for a response to come through. This is a book for those who are afraid that the Internet removes the personality from the person, as it shows that people will always be people; the medium may change, but the message that we all need someone doesn't.
Link to the San Francisco Book Review:
Embark on an Online Adventure to Find Your Future Love!
– Lois Henderson; BookPleasures.com
Ever been frustrated with your dating experiences and wondered whether you should consider going online to seek out a potential partner, but been too wary to go down that path? No need to wonder about the pitfalls of embarking on such an online adventure—you can now read all about it in Thomas Kelleher’s Free Love – True Stories of Love and Lust on the Internet. The range of personal encounters, all told in first person, filling the pages of this book is as varied as are those who relate them.
With most people having at least one computer in their own homes, or at least access to one in their local Internet café, what easier way to gain access to the almost 40 million singles in America alone, never mind in other countries of the world, than by posting an ad in the widely available free personals? That is precisely what the over 80 contributors to this volume have done. Each contribution consists of the online ad that was posted by the person seeking a partner, followed by his or her analysis of the response (or lack thereof) that the ad elicited. In some instances the accounts are only a paragraph or two long, whereas others run to a few pages. The sincerity of the contributors permeates the work—after all, with their contributions remaining anonymous, what do they have to lose by sharing what they truly thought of their experiences?
Free Love – True Stories of Love and Lust on the Internet is divided into the usual categories that typify the online dating sites: Men Seeking Women, Women Seeking Men, Women Seeking Women, Men Seeking Men, as well as Missed Connections and Casual Encounters. The ages of the contributors range from the 20’s to the 50’s, with most of them being middle class. However, the cultural range is wide, with some contributors making the race of the respondents a very real issue as to whether they will be interested in pursuing a relationship, no matter of what duration, with them. Many have had their fingers (let alone other parts of their anatomy!) burned by being unwise in their selection of potential partners, but many have also found worthwhile relationships emerging from their online contacts.
So, if the idea of advertising online for a possible mate has ever crossed your mind, why not buy yourself a copy of Free Love – True Stories of Love and Lust on the Internet and start reading all about it today? You’re bound to get loads of pointers on how to word your own ads in order to attract the attention of the most desirable partners. And even if you’re not interested in going down that particular path yourself, the stories of loves and lusts lost and gained are likely to arouse your curiosity (and perhaps even other parts of your libido!).
Link to the Book Pleasures Review:
Free Love – True Stories of Love and Lust on the Internet is being featured this month on the highly popular Kindle in the Wind blog. The blog showcases Kindle best sellers, hot new releases, the best Kindle accessories and free reading apps.
They say, everyone pays for sex -- one way or another...and some will argue that we ALL have a price. But what about love? Is love so sacred that it should be free? Join us today on Naked Talk Radio as Thomas Kelleher, dating aficionado and author of FREE LOVE -- True Stories of Love and Lust on the Internet shares on this topic and more. Listen live on WKRPradio.com.
FREE LOVE – True Stories of Love and Lust on the Internet helps people find the like-minded man, woman, couple or DOM of their dreams through online personals.
For anyone who’s ever considered placing or responding to an online personal ad, or just starting out, this book is the place to start.
(Oakland, CA – December 1, 2010) Nearly 40 million singles in America share a personal little secret. they’re using the Internet to look for true love and/or lust online. And they’re not exclusively using the commercial, paid dating sites that have become so prevalent in recent years. A lot of people think that love should be free and opt instead for the wild and wooly approach to online dating – free personals.
FREE LOVE – True Stories of Love and Lust on the Internet documents this increasingly popular trend and presents a collection of actual online ad postings as they originally appeared, along with the intimate stories behind them – all told in the posters’ own words, triumphs, disasters, warts and all. Women Seeking Men, Women Seeking Women, Men Seeking Women, Men Seeking Men, Missed Connections, Casual Encounters... they’re all here and their stories range from the entertaining to the astonishing.
Experience is the best teacher, and thanks to the candid revelations of the people in this book, newbies and seasoned online dating veterans alike can learn a great deal from these real-world experiences, commiserate, draw their own conclusions and decide if online dating is right for them.
For more information please contact publicity@eastbaypress.com or the author direct tom@thomasakelleher.com. Author website: www.tomkelleher.com.
Nonfiction / Paperback / $19.95. Publication December 2010. ISBN: 978-0-9844329-1-2
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About the Author: For over twenty years Thomas Kelleher worked as an advertising executive in Europe and the United States. FREE LOVE – True Stories of Love and Lust on the Internet is his first book. Thomas lives in Northern California with his wife Laura (who he met on the Internet), son William, feral cats Millie & Daisy, and Super Dave The Wonder Dog.