CANDYLAND THUNDERDOME: The Stallion vs. Cupcake

Mark Cooper is angry, homesick, and about to take his stepdad’s dubious advice and rush Prescott College’s biggest party fraternity, Alpha Delta Phi. Greek life is as foreign to Aussie transplant Mark as Pennsylvania’s snowstorms and bear sightings. So, when the fraternity extends Mark a bid, Mark vows to get himself kicked out by the end of pledge period. But then he’s drawn into Alpha Delt’s feud with a neighboring fraternity.

Studious Deacon Holt is disappointed to learn Mark’s pledging Alpha Delt, his fraternity Phi Sigma Kappa’s sworn enemy. Mark is too beautiful for Deacon to pass up an invitation for sex, but beyond sex, Deacon’s not sure. He wants a relationship, but a difficult family situation prevents him from pursuing anything beyond his studies.

Mark and Deacon’s affair heats up as the war between their fraternities escalates. They explore kinks they didn’t know they had while keeping their liaison a secret from their brothers. But what Romeo and Juliet didn’t teach these star-crossed lovers is how to move beyond sex and into a place where they share more than a bed. That’s something they’ll have to figure out on their own—if the friction between their houses, and between Mark and America, doesn’t tear them apart.

Why did Cupcake choose this book for me? Because she knew I would love it if I would just get over my stubbornness and give it a chance. She was 100% correct. Did I have to step out of my comfort zone? Oh yeah! Did I enjoy every aspect of the book? No, I could have done without the big taboo, the reason I didn't want to read the book in the first place. But I will say that these two authors somehow managed to make it something I was ok reading about. It was tasteful if such an act can be called that. I'm not going to dwell on it, but it was talked about quite a bit in the book. I'll just tell you if that's your only reason for not wanting to give the a try, do yourself a favor and get over it. I'm so glad I did.

The characters made this book a hit more so than the story itself for me. Mark Cooper was such a lovable guy and needed someone like Deacon so badly. And Deacon adored Mark. He accepted him completely and didn't try to change him. 

I also loved the supporting characters especially Brandon and Blake. 

The book touched on some heavy subjects and the hazing was a bit much for me. I wanted to skim most of the frat stuff but I was afraid I'd miss something important so I didn't. 

This book has heart. This book has humor. It also has some major kink. But these guys prove that love is love and I'm so glad I accepted the challenge to read Mark Cooper versus America. 

Thank you, Cupcake! 

You're welcome, Stallion and… 

*assist for MANTIES*
My personal have from this book and just because.

Boots McHenry and his boyfriend Ryan are young superstars in the North American Paintball League, a high-stakes sport where losers face exile -- five full years of it, on an island so secret no one can be sure it even exists. After Ryan has a tragic collision with an opposing team's paintball, the rules of the game force the boyfriends apart.

Boots is shattered without Ryan, so when his best friend Clemente Santiago suggests a daring, high-seas mission to find the island and reunite the pair, Boots jumps at the chance. They assemble a crack team to join them, including fashion model and mixed-martial-arts champ Colby Kroft, hunky-but-shy sea-captain Marcus Tumble, and Piper Pernfors, the ex who's aching to make Boots forget Ryan ever existed.

HOMO ACTION LOVE STORY! is a lighthearted, sex-filled adventure from the author of THE CRANBERRY HUSH and THE PAINTING OF PORCUPINE CITY. It's a perfect storm of beautiful fishermen, murderous pirates, blossoming romances, and secrets that call almost everyone's motives into question. Land, ho! This page-turner is sure to float your boat. 

Silly Fun!

I don't even know what to say about this book. I'm going with tagging it as scfy, but it's kind of a satire as well as an adventure. There were some feels that added poignancy, but didn't tip the scales to overkill. All of it is farfetched and kept me entertained.

Boots McHenry is a professional paintballer along with his boyfriend, Ryan, when we first meet them. All of the story is told from Boots' perspective and let me tell you, Boots is a dude. He calls everyone dude, he thinks like a dude, he acts like a dude-not dumb, just a dude. A pretty entertaining dude at that. At any rate, paintball is like professional soccer in this society, so he and his boyfriend are under the microscope all the time. It's clear from the get-go that something is amiss with Ryan. Their team, Theban Warriors, are contenders for The Splatter Cup and during a big match Ryan gets "killed". When you get "killed" in professional paintball you are sent to exile island for 5 years. Immediately. 

What do you do when your boyfriend unexpectedly gets taken away from you for 5 years? Well, first you hook up with your straight best friend, Clemente, in an epic butt cherry popping event wherein the sheets got ripped because they were both so sweaty it was hard getting traction for the pounding.

"Honestly, it's not so different from these MMAC fights, except that there's jizz at the end."

Then, you charter a boat and set out to find exile island so you can have a powwow with your newly estranged boyfriend. This is the most ragtag bunch of rescuers I've ever come across. I mean, who organizes a team comprised of their ex-boyfriend who's still got it bad for Boots, their pound buddy who you shredded the sheets with, your boyfriend's brother and your boyfriend's replacement's brother on the team as the captain? Who does that? Boots McHenry, that's who. Technically, it was Clemente's idea, but still. It made for some high seas hijinks to be sure.

Piper, Colby, Marcus, Clemente and Boots make a good team when the "plastic" pirates hijack their yacht. The plastic pirates are a ill-kempt and stinky bunch who picked the wrong professional paintballers to fuck with. Eighteen hours in the Pacific and witnessing a shark attack can't stop these dudes! Waterproof smartphone will fix that deal. Suck it, plastic pirates!

Throughout the trip the tension between Boots and Clemente builds and builds but the specter of Ryan looms between them. 

Some guys are cute and you want to pinch their cheeks and make sure they get home OK. Some guys are hot and you want them to bend you over a barrel and pound heaven into you.

I will admit I was uncomfortable with what I interpreted as a quick rebound time initially, but Boots' and Clemente's chemistry cannot be denied. Truthfully, I liked all of these dudes, probably Colby the most because of his exuberance and joie de vivre or maybe his name… Even Piper I kept thinking his heart was in the right place even though it's clear Boots isn't returning to his fuck truck any time soon. Poor guy. Despite the cockamamie premise of Homo Action Love Story!, I found the characters authentic and the relational aspects between them very organic along with the dialogue only with speedboats, pirates, shark attacks and typical action hero antics thrown in to push the story forward.

In a word, popcorn entertainment. Oh wait, that's 2 words. Oops. 

A special thank you to Mr. Monopoli for 'BILF' and 'dudenheimer'. *pets new words*

Recommend for GFY and adventure fans. 

Many thanks to The Stallion for choosing this for me. I'm certain had he not pointed it out, I'd never have run across it.

CANDYLAND THUNDERDOME Part III-The Oddest One of Them All…

You know that saying the third time's the charm? Was this one of those times? You decide.

The Stallion was coaxed out of the stables. A rarity indeed.
The Stallion didn't quite adhere to the rules of CANDYLAND THUNDERDOME…  
Then again, he answers to no one and makes his own rules. 
It's his stable. We just work here. 'Work' being a relative term.

Our synchronicity wasn't up our usual exacting CANDYLAND THUNDERDOME standards… 

He took off out of the starting gate like they were giving away free cars at the finish line. I mean, he dusted me so bad! SO. BAD. 

Maybe he had a cougar in the car with him. I don't know. I do know I had to get all jacked up on Mt. Dew just to try to catch him. However, even though he Ricky Bobby'd the bejeezus out of me, there were no losers in CANDYLAND THUNDERDOME.

Naturally, he was a gentleman and waited an interminable amount of time at the finish line for me to answer some post-DOME questions. *cough* Like three months but who's counting?

The Interview

Actually I did, but The Stallion made it crystal clear that while he did enjoy popping his fisting reading cherry he has never and will never be fisted nor does he have any desire to engage in any fisting type activities. Ever.

*puts away gloves and lube with a heavy heart*

1.  How awesome was your CANDYLAND THUNDERDOME experience?

The Stallion:  I had a blast! Cupcake is a hoot so it was a party even though it was just the two of us. 

Cupcake:  I popped The Stallion's fisting reading cherry. *buffs nails* It doesn't get much better than that.

2.  Did your challenger choose well or miss the mark?

The Stallion:  Cupcake nailed it when she picked Mark Cooper for me. I don't think I would have read this book if I hadn't been challenged to read it. And that would have sucked for me because it was fantastic! I liked it so much I couldn't wait to read book 2 of the series and downloaded it as soon as it was released. 

Cupcake:  I'll admit to being skeptical when I started Homo Action Love Story!, but The Stallion knows I love dudes being dudes and good characters and pirates. This was a win on all fronts. AND I picked up new lingo from this thing. Amusing AND useful? The book practically paid for itself!

3.  Favorite scene from the book?

The Stallion:  There's just too many to list but this passage really hit home when I read it:

"Deacon smoothed Mark’s hair back from his forehead. Asleep, with all his attitude stripped away, there was no trace of angry bunny at all. Just tired bunny. Sweet bunny. Maybe lost bunny, who had looked up at the stars only to discover that they were wrong, that he didn’t recognize them anymore."

 Awwww, this was so sweet and romantic! 

Cupcake:  I have 2. The first time Boots and Clemente hooked up-the whole sequence from their banter at Yon's to the microphone usage to dissipate Clemente's nervousness to tearing the sheets-the whole thing was a win. The other was them clinging to the ice chest in the middle of the Pacific, thinking it was the end and Clemente stroking Boots' face. So romantic.
Honorable mention for the lube "wrestling" bit. *eyebrow waggle*

4.  Would you willingly enter THE DOME again?

The Stallion:  HELL YES! My unicorns know me well and haven't let me down yet. 

Cupcake:  I ❤ THE DOME! It's so glittery and has a candy center! Plus, who can resist lubed up dudes wrestling? You never know what sort of things you might find in THE DOME. It's always a good time.

5.  Any chance you'd don some MANTIES for promotional purposes or y'know science? 

The Stallion:  *blushes* I'll never tell! ;)

Cupcake:  Well, it was worth a shot. 

That's all for now. The Stallion & I thank you kindly for reading.

Look for more CANDYLAND THUNDERDOME battles soonish. Til then remember to picture Jesus in a tuxedo T-Shirt because it says I want to be formal, but I'm here to party.

Shake and Bake 4-ever!