Guest Post & Giveaway with Michael Mandrake

I have Sharita Lira aka Michael Mandrake on the blog today, sharing a very exciting post. Help me in welcoming Sharita to Pants Off.

Why I Love Writing M/M

Sharita Lira 

Greetings readers! My post is a bit of an update from the first few posts I made about the same subject. Since I’ve been around the past year I’ve learned a lot and I wanted to restate the reasons I love it!

In the beginning, it was about it being taboo, it made me hot, etc but now, it’s more about the fact I love writing romance. I discover with every story I write, I’m putting a little bit of myself in every character, whether it’s my snarky side, my long winded, my love for the overdramatic. Notice I said, overdramatic, doesn’t make me a drama queen! *snicker* I do love the tension but occasionally, I love a story without all the heartache. I like the fluff as my favorite fellow writer put it.

Ever since I was a teen, I loved reading stories about romance and two people falling for one another. It started with the cutesy Harlequins or my grandma’s Barbara Cortland novels and then I wanted to know more about the steamy with Fern Michaels and Jackie Collins. In many people’s eyes, those writers put together smut but hey, it had a romantic element, or tried to. *grins* The bottom line is, it opened the door for what we know now as erotic romance.

Then I started getting into Anne Rice and much later, Zane, who writes erotica as well. The common thread? In those stories there was something about two people connecting, finding a common ground, and maybe love somewhere along the way. Perhaps it wasn’t clearly stated, but reading between the lines, you saw something in those characters that made you enjoy that book.

And so, that spurred me into wanting to write my own but it wasn’t until I gained the confidence through encouragement from friends and the fanfic community did I get the courage to publish. It took me a while but here I am. Now, just like the writers before me, I enjoy writing about two people connecting. Most of the time, I just like them to be two men. Other than the genitalia, what’s the big difference? Men have feelings, desires; they have their ultimate partner just like women do. They have hang-ups, fears, some express their feelings openly, some do not. Why should writing m/m be singled out?

Sure, a lot of men might fit what society calls a “real man” but in Shar’s world, the characters may not always fit that mold. They’re unique, most of the time imperfect, not always what America considers as everyday males. They debunk stereotypes, cross over boundaries, they’re human to me and they connect. I love that the most and as much as I am a feminist, I love writing about the opposite sex.

So my ideas are better defined. Yeah it still makes me hot, I love the taboo, but most important, I just love writing romance and the fact that it’s between two men, shouldn’t be a big deal. It is after all about human interaction. I enjoy it, and God willing, I’ll continue to do to for years to come.

Thanks for listening

This book blurb and excerpt is by my most successful pseudo, Michael Mandrake 

Booktrailer

Buylink 


After losing his lover to mental disorder, Dr. Hayden Curry throws himself into work, silently wishing he could experience something extraordinary in love. He finds his match in David, a creature Hayden revives after discovering him and hauling him back to his lab. Upon awakening, David asks Dr. Hayden’s help in discovering more about himself. Hayden agrees but senses secrets in David. Will he get to the bottom of things and be able to continue the special relationship he and David have, or will the secrets that come forward tear them apart?


Before I went to my haven, I glanced outside my window. Outside, the rainfall reduced to a drizzle, coupled by slow moving clouds over the moonlight. The trees blew after only a few gusts of winds, ripped the leaves off and made quite a mess on the grass underneath.
      These would be the nights I would cherish with him most. After relishing in the afterglows of new inventions and glasses of wine, there were mind blowing affections to follow.
      Such a good lover… 
      Once I got to my place of work, I immediately began searching for the vials I had for the latest concoction. When I did not see them, I lost my head rather quickly.
      “Where on God’s green earth,” I screamed and walked from one end of my laboratory to the other. "Where are those samples I just had? Libertina!"
     Immediately, the pale and slim maiden with dark hair ran to my aid.
     "Yes sir, have you lost something again, sir?"
     "I have Libertina. The tubes I examined the night before. They seemed to…oh."
     Within moments, my dearest uncovered the missing necessities I searched for, right underneath my novel, The Bounded Scientist.
      I shrunk back and smiled wryly. "Thank you Libertina, ahem, that will be all my sweet."
      "Yes sir, if there is anything you need, I'll be tending to your clothes, sir." Quickly, she curtsied and scurried off, closing the door behind her.
       Ah, what a fine young maiden I have. If I were more attracted to the ladies, then I might give her go, but only gentlemen tickled my fancy these days.
       I could not be that upset even in this pitiful state. Not that many people understood me when they came to know me. Throughout the years, many thought they should have thrown me in the local mental ward because of the ideas I'd had.
      Nevertheless, my determination and visions had made me one of the most recognizable names in London, apart from the fact I inherited my father's large fortune.
      Still, even with all the money and notoriety, I had always felt something was missing from my life. I longed for something new to happen. Whether it was a new discovery or invention it had to be different from what I had already seen.
      I looked at the experiment I had been working on for seemingly weeks in disgust. Things hadn’t been the same anyway since Lawrence departed but I was determined to move on with my life’s work despite what happened to him. I had to hold on to the hope he would return.
      After around the fifteenth trial of not receiving my desired result, I retreated to my bedroom to sleep. Unlike times before, I decided not to read before bed but instead lay there until my eyes got too heavy.
      I hoped the nightmares would not start again since after they occurred I stayed awake staring at the ceilings of my room, often needing a drink of the alcoholic variety to put me to rest. I felt myself becoming rather dependent on the beverages. Certainly, doing this sort of thing would cloud my senses and not allow me to function properly. Many men of science I knew had become like this and I refused to become one of them.
      I’ll never.
      I always reassured myself that I wouldn’t continue to down this dangerous path, however, everyday, being alone with only yourself to talk with could be a detriment to one’s mental state.
      Although fully capable of doing everyday things, I’d come to accept that I was different. After all, for one, I wasn’t attracted to women. Two, I enjoyed reading more than being outside playing in games.
      In fact my mom would frequently say that she wished I’d be like “normal” boys and go play ball instead of reading. This from the same woman who didn’t know how to read until after she birthed me. With the help of my caregiver, I taught myself how to read the written word thus showed my mum in the process. Still, even afterwards, she didn’t consider it as an important skill. “I’ve always had people to do things like read for me,” she said, giving illiteracy credence. Totally absurd but true.
      If I wasn’t able to read and learn I might die. 
      Such is true of me, Doctor Hayden Curry. I preferred to have my mind stimulated before anything else. This isn’t saying that I didn’t enjoy the sins of the flesh because I did, but, books were like gold to me, more important than any penny I owned. I’d inherited most of it which allowed me to live the lavish lifestyle and work on experiments instead of seeing patients to cure their ailments. I wasn’t interested in short term solutions anyway. I wanted results that could change the world and mankind forever.




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OMFG! This Book #2

 Once again took on my TBR and this week was a good reading week. I read two books that have been on the TBR for a few years now, and I feel so happy I read them. I just anticipate the good reading that's coming! I can't wait to get into the meat of it all.

So here's the two books I read this week. Both were fun and light and had the hot man love flowing.

Duncan's World by T.A Chase

Amber Allure

Novella: 103pgs

Rating: 3.5/5

Thoughts: I really enjoyed reading this story, it was paced well and I feel like it delivered. Love the older man, younger guy trope, always makes me lose my pants. Also had some emotional elements, which touched a part of me. Overall, an enjoyable read and I look forward to more of Chase’s works.

3 1/2 Pants Off

 Under My Skin II by M.L Rhodes

Amber Allure

Novella: 127pgs

Rating: 4/5

Thoughts: I really liked the first book, and you can check out my review here. I liked this one too, the struggles were realistic, and it was still sexy as hell. Just didn’t enjoy the return of the ex that rather rubbed me the wrong way. Still digging the bookish nerd and the bad boy with the tats. Though ‘whose bad’ is pretty kick ass.

3 1/2 Pants Off

Guest Post & Giveaway with Andrea Speed

I have Andrea Speed today on the blog as a part of her Josh of the Damned virtual blog tour. I recently just read Josh of the Damn series, and reviewed the latest offering Triple Feature. Please give a warm welcome to Andrea!

This blog tour is an attempt to be different, and an attempt to go back to my serial roots. Each blog post will have a segment in a running story, pages from Josh's diary, about his first encounter with the tragic figure of Dan Fosse. Why is he tragic? Read on, and you will find out.

I hope you enjoy it, and I hope you check out the Josh of the Damned Triple Feature.


Part 3

The werepanda was sitting in the back corner, where the freezer case and the end of medicine aisle met. Since we had no bamboo – and no carrion – I decided to throw it another stick of beef jerky, 'cause that was close enough to a dead animal, right? It sniffed it, then managed to pick it up in his big paws and started gnawing it. The weird thing? Well, weirdest thing …. it was kinda adorable. I mean, a roly poly panda eating a Slim Jim! How is that not cute? I took a little film of it on my phone, or as much as the dimensional distortion would let me. A zombie came in and looked at me funny, but otherwise it ignored the panda, and the panda ignored it. I guess zombies and pandas weren't natural enemies.

The panda was still working on the beef jerky when Colin turned up, and I showed him the new store mascot. “Are there werepandas?” I asked, showing him the shredded remains of Dan's clothes in the back room.

He frowned in a sexy vampire way, and sniffed the air. “I've never heard of such a thing. But yes, it smells like he is.”

“How the hell did that happen?”

Colin just shrugged. “Got me. I don't know why werewolves exist either.”

Still, this just seemed weird to me Okay, weirder than most.. “You think he was bit by a panda?”

“Well, they are bears. Not the most active or vicious of the breed, but still.” After thinking about it a moment, he said, “I wonder if there's werepolarbears.”

Good question. How weird would that be? Actually, now that Colin put the idea in my head, I can't stop thinking about it. Are there werearmadillos? Weresquirrels? Werekoalas? Which would be the weirdest and yet most adorable thing you could be? Oh, and useless. There's no getting around the useless.

Luckily, Dan turned back into a human before Jorge came in for his morning shift. I guess the best thing you can say about being a werepanda are the effects don't last too long. Colin hung around, and helped me explain to Dan his new circumstances, and why he's been living over in the hell dimension. He didn't believe us at first, but then I showed him his shredded clothes and the video I shot of him in panda form, and he seemed to accept it. He also said something that sounded a lot like, “Oh Ling-Ling, how could you?” But when I asked what he said, he denied saying anything at all.

Since then, Dan has been coming by with some regularity, although I've yet to see him in his panda form again, as he usually gets out of here before he shifts. Which is a shame, 'cause my video of him as a panda eating beef jerky has a million hits on YouTube.

Come to think of it, maybe I shouldn't tell him about that. He might want a cut of the merchandising.



The End (Or is it ..?)


Andrea has brought a giveaway, so be sure to leave a comment on this post to win one of her backlist books *they are quite excellent*. Also be sure to check out the other blog stops for a greater chance to win.

Josh of the Damned Triple Feature by Andrea Speed

Josh of the Damned Triple Feature (JotD #3) by Andrea Speed
Riptide Publishing

Short Novella: 66pgs

Rating: 4/5

Blurb:
What most people call a hellish shift, Josh Caplan calls a normal evening. After all, he works nights at a convenience store beside the mouth of hell, selling snacks to zombies and lizard men.

Some monsters are odder—and more dangerous—than most. Like the rampaging, oversized mustache who skips the Pringles and eats the customers instead. Or Cthulhu’s half-brother Stan, who doesn't know how to take no for an answer . . . or where to put all those tentacles.

But killer facial hair and inept hentai beasts pale in comparison to the monster even other monsters fear. When hell’s big boss demands a sit-down with Josh, she reveals a destiny bigger than he’d ever imagined—or wanted. You'd think preventing the apocalypse would net Josh more than minimum wage and a hot vampire boyfriend, but it turns out saving the world can be a pretty thankless job.

Review:
I really enjoyed reading the third book in the Josh of the Damned series. I had to scamper off to read the first two stories, which wasn’t a hard feat because both stories were delightful and short. The series is about Josh an employee at the Quik-Mart doing the night shift, and has run ins with all sorts of paranormal creatures since a hell vortex opened near the store. Josh handles all the craziness with wit, and calm attitude that I’m sure no one in his position would be able to do (I know I couldn’t).

Josh of the Damn Triple Feature has three stories that offer a lot more of Josh’s world, and an exciting development in the plot. The combination of ordinary meeting extraordinary creates this wonderful balance, and will leave the reader with a smile on their face.

TF is broken down into three stories; the first two are just so absurd that it’s freaking brilliant. Night of the Mustache, we have this giant 70’s looking mountain of hair that’s out on a rampage. Throw in some bikers and Josh’s sexy vampire boyfriend Colin and you have a recipe for success. The development and world building starts with the Stache, and Josh learns that he might not be so ordinary after all.

I Was Cthulhu’s Love Slave has Josh working during the holidays. This story had answers to some of Josh’s questions and he finds out how the vortex came to be. Also, Josh might have some monster pheromones because they all seem to want to get a piece of him, judging by the crazy squid monster trying to put his tentacles everywhere. Once again sexy vampire boyfriend to the rescue, and Josh’s own personal love slave (Peek-a-Boo).

The final story is the icing on the cake, Interview with the Empire. It’s the most detailed story of the bunch and we get a deeper look into the world of the creatures. Josh learns some shocking truths, he gets drunk, and he might lose his job at the Quik-Mart. Enjoyed the development in the relationship when it comes to the hot vampire boyfriend. I feel like we know more about Colin, instead of him just being the pretty monster.

Overall, enjoyed reading this book. It’s a great fun filled read, good for just kicking back. I anticipate the creatures that author dishes out, the common and the uncommon. She totally owned this, and I look forward to more Josh and his monsters.

4 Pants Off

*Andrea Speed is stopping by, so be sure to check back and check out her post. She also brought a giveaway!*

Power Play: Resistance by Cat Grant & Rachel Haimowitz

Power Play: Resistance (Power Play #1) by Cat Grant & Rachel Haimowitz
Riptide Publishing

Novel: 267pgs

Rating: 5/5

Blurb:
Brandon McKinney has scraped and sacrificed for what little in life he’s ever had. Though it’s been fifteen years since he escaped his father’s abuse, the damage remains. Trust seems as far out of reach as his dream of becoming an architect, and though he’s come to accept being gay, he can’t deny the shame and confusion he feels at other urges—the deeply-repressed desire to submit.

Jonathan Watkins is a self-made Silicon Valley billionaire whose ex-wife took half his money and even more of his faith. Comfortable as a Dominant but wary of being hurt again, he resorts to anonymous pickups and occasional six-month contracts with subs seeking only a master, not a lover.

When a sizzling back-alley encounter cues Jonathan in to Brandon’s deep-seated submissive side, he makes the man an offer: Give me six months of your life, and I’ll open your eyes to a whole new world. Brandon doesn’t care about that; all he wants is the three million dollars Jonathan’s offering so he can buy the construction company he works for. But he soon learns that six months on his knees is no easy feat, and shame and pride may keep him from all he ever wanted—and all he never dreamed he had any right to have.

Review:
Let me begin by saying that this book was just surprises, rises, and falls. Cat and Rachel did something wonderful in this book, and left me in love with Power Play and its characters. Dynamics were switched, emotions put to the test, mistakes were made, and its one of the best BDSM novels I have read. What a pants losing this one caused.

Brandon McKinney has been on his own for a long time; he knows the meaning of a hard life and depends on no one but himself. He’s a ‘slam bam thank you man’ kinda guy when it comes to sexual encounters. He doesn’t want anyone to get too close, because that would involve a little trust, and trust isn’t really a Bran thing. When he’s approached by a man who clearly looks like he should be hanging uptown instead of Chinatown, Bran think he’s gonna get his dick wet and walk away. What transpires in the alley behind bar leaves Bran shaken, and the little man who literally brought him to his knees engraved in his mind.

Jonathan is a self-made billionaire, use to the finer things in life but he’s worked very hard for his things. As a Dom he’s able to recognize the sub in a person, and he’s getting that vibe from Bran, and he wants nothing more than to have him is his bed, and to play in his dungeons. He knows getting Bran to play will be difficult, but he’s willing to work on brining out the submissive in the man because he feels the payout will be worth it. So what does one offer a man that would make him his submissive? Something he wants above all else, in a shiny package and only 6months to get it.

It’s not hard to recognize that there will be disaster ahead, with Brandon’s past of being abused by his father and the things that Jonathan wants from him. Jonathan as a Dom is unrelenting and set in his ways and Bran though submissive to certain things is finding it hard to give up complete control. The men clash and cause more harm than good, and somehow along the way it becomes a battle of power with the seasoned Dom, losing the essence of what it truly means to Dom. I am no expert when it comes to D/s elements but Mr Jonathan Watkins makes some mistakes. It became more about breaking Brandon than nurturing him to his submissive nature.

Bran is not free of my wrath, he just became too stubborn and could have caused himself harm along the way, and his pigheadedness really got under Jonathans’ skin, which caused world war three in fancy apartment of Mr Watkins. Though Bran voice is the carrier in the book, I have yet to truly learn anything about him. I know enough but not nearly enough, because Jonathan was to be his voice and his carrier but he just became his enabler to nothing (if that makes sense). The line between hurt/harm was crossed, because both men were just not in the right headspace to be playing with whips, chains, and tasers. Which leads me to a realistic conclusion, that sometimes even the most knowing of individuals makes mistakes and it takes a strong person to come back from those mistakes.

As I much as I loved this book, I am also somewhat disappointed. I perturbed by Jonathan’s behaviour and thinks that he needs to do some serious apologizing. I am disappointed in Bran because he threw his safety out the window trying to stick it to Jonathan. I am disturbed by Jonathan’s cook; she probably has a dungeon of kinky delights in her own home. I am terrified that I found myself laughing aloud at the most shocking of times ‘Miss Grant and Haimowitz have a twisted sense of humour’. Also… I am seriously in love with Jonathan, though as Bran would say “he fucking terrifies me”.

Overall, Power Play: Resistance is splendid and fascinating. It’s gripping and pushes your boundaries, while remaining sensual and erotic. I do love Bran and John together, and they have like a Mount Everest worth of growing to do. At this point all I’m thinking is “Who am I gonna have to sleep with to speed up time?” I want it to be June already.

5 Pants Off