Review: Crazy Love by Mel Bossa

Billy spends his evenings dreaming of love and excitement. His roommate Francis wonders why Billy would waste his time fantasizing about a straight mechanic he works with who won't even look his way.

But Xavier isn't straight, he's bisexual. And he's been stealing looks at Billy without getting caught. Billy's blue eyes make him feel proud, something he hasn't felt ever since his father left him to fend for himself. Part Mohawk, Xavier deals with racism both at work and at home, and is planning to hit the road and never return.

From their first kiss, the attraction between Billy and Xavier is undeniable, setting off a chain of events. Soon they're running off together, determine to start a new life in Mexico. But the open road, like their crazy love, is new, exciting, and at times ... dangerous.

This book! Gah. It was so sweet and I just hugged it out with my Nook because it was that kind of book.

Oh, Xavier,” Billy said, “I know what I’m doing. I’m not
scared at all. I just wanna be in this car, with you. Is that crazy?”

“No…I feel the same way.”

“Then let’s go. Let’s just drive.”

Billy Hart and Xavier Delisle meet when Billy is assigned to take Howie’s Garage into the new century by going paperless. Billy does what he needs to do, getting the job done and though he’s behind the computer, he loves coming into work for this particular job because he gets to stare at the dark haired gorgeous mechanic. On Billy’s last day at the garage, he gets the nerve to not only speak to the gorgeous dark haired man but after getting his name, he asks Xavier to hang out and play pool. Billy isn’t sure of Xavier’s sexual orientation, he just knows he needs to be around this boy in any way he can.

Told in the dual POV’s of both young men, we meet them as they meet one another in the summer of 1996. Billy has left the farm life he lived with his single mother after his father passed in an accident when he was young and came to Montreal to find a better life. He picks up on computer programming easy and works his way toward a promising career. His job led him to Xavier and Billy has one hell of a strong crush on the mysterious mechanic.

Xavier, oh my poor boy you broke my heart so many times. Xavier is living with his Aunt, his mother’s sister who took him in after his father who is part Mohawk Indian left Xavier at 13 to go live on the reservation. Xavier’s Aunt is a pretty volatile and racist human being who lets all her prejudices run wild and has zero filter when it comes to her hate. I forget sometimes that while current situations let people voice their hate, 21 years ago it was so much worse. 1996 is only a few years after I graduated high school and I can still remember hearing the racial jokes around school, the words that were used to describe someone who got a good deal on a sale or what people were called you gave something to you and took it back or the name of a burn given to someone’s forearm by quickly twisting their skin. It wasn’t a good time to be different and Xavier is lost with not only his heritage as a quarter Mohawk Indian he is confused about his sexuality. At 19 years old, Xavier appreciates girls but when he meets Billy he begins to recognize that he appreciates boys as well.

He liked girls. Could be with girls. Could get married maybe. Have kids. All of it.
He could do it all.
But he didn’t want to. He didn’t want any of it.
The realization hit him like a head-on collision. It wasn’t about him being gay. Straight. Bisexual. It was about Billy.
How he felt about him. That was his truth. All he needed to know.

As Billy and Xavier begin a friendship that blossoms into more, Billy knows what he wants and while Xavier has outside forces pushing him toward dating a girl, he is torn with doing what his soul tells him is right and what he truly wants. Though when he makes up his mind to leave it all behind and head to Mexico, the one thing he can’t leave is Billy.

Let me pause for station identification and say: OMFG and Dammit, Mel Bossa! You almost broke with me with that one scene but thank goodness it was all turned around. I think I held my breath for a few pages. Good lord.

Sorry, I had to get that out.

So, the young men decide to take a chance on what they feel and hop in Xavier’s Chevy Nova and head through the night to begin their journey to Mexico. Through the miles they make a plan that when they make it to New Orleans, they can find part time jobs and stay awhile but trusting strangers throws a wrench in their plans and when they make it to New Orleans, things get a bit dark.

The title of this is Crazy Love and trust me, things get crazy with Xavier and Billy. When you fall so hard, fast and deep for someone it’s easy to get lost in them to the point of codependency and boy howdy, do these boys have it in spades. I’m not doubting their love for one another but both Xavier and Billy have issues, daddy issues for starters, and both young men are searching for where they belong. Billy is innocent, flamboyant and out and Xavier is reserved, questioning his bisexuality and struggling with is racial identity. Xavier also has a bit of a temper and Billy is quite the enabler. And yet, they both recognize all of these things but this love they have, this fierce and crazy love they have for one another that is all consuming, it’s what’s barely holding them together.

Billy, whatever happens from now on, whatever roads we take, we’ll always have this. This. The trip. New Orleans. You and me. That’s our history. Where we started.

I adored Billy. He reminds me a lot of myself at that age with his love for music and being a hopeless romantic. I remember what it felt like to find that first love, to feel those first emotions as you acknowledge that someone wants you in the same way you want them and the total fear of being lost without them but being consumed when you are with them. Love is scary and it’s not always rational but when you find a love that is worth fighting for, you fight. Billy has the fight in him and the patience it takes to be with someone as complicated as Xavier.

This was one hell of a road trip and just one hell of a trip in itself. There is such turmoil that goes inside each young man as they fight for the new love they found and simultaneously fight for their independence. They learn harsh lessons along the way but the most important one is about love and acceptance even when it seems to be nothing but crazy.

Okay, I’m going to go listen to some Van Morrison now and process my feelings.

A review copy was provided.

Anniversary Shenanigans: Less Than Three Press AMAZING GIVEAWAY!

The remaining books of the Intertwined collection, a group of 11 poly stories, is the giveaway of the day today. 

SIX WHOLE BOOKS FOR ONE LUCKY WINNER!

Prince Ben and Princess Cecily are dragonborn. Since birth, the brother and sister have shared a body, shapeshifting from one form to the other each sunset. In exchange for this magic, they have been promised from birth to a mysterious dragon, who is set to collect on their twentieth birthday, which is now just weeks away.

With the help of two tutors, a bodyguard, and a foreign princess, they must find a way out of the betrothal, delving into their kingdom's history and learning to harness their magic—all the while challenging the kingdom's laws and restrictions on love.

Condemned for witchcraft and about to swing for the abduction of half a dozen children, Irene is bewildered when her noose breaks. Her only hope lies in the forests that have protected the women of her family for generations. But when a young man fleeing abuse ventures into her safe haven, Irene's plans are suddenly thrown into disarray.

Too pretty for his own good, Simon Bonnay has been on the receiving end of unwanted attention for years. And though she may be a witch, Simon would sooner earn his keep with Irene than any of the men in town.

As a night of passion gives way to brutal morning, leaving a man dead and a witch hunter wounded on their doorstep, Irene's secluded home soon becomes a pressure cooker of volatile emotions and sweltering passion. Old enemies may have no choice but to work together to prevent a greater evil—or die trying.

Declan spends most of his life trying to forget his violent past, but now that his brother Valens is out of jail his efforts at a quiet existence are about to be turned upside down. On top of that, his best friend Rhys is leaving for Poland—right as Declan was ready to confess his feelings.

Overwhelmed, he turns to his friend Felix for support, only to find himself falling for Felix while still being in love with Rhys—who also happens to have feelings for Felix, leaving Declan with a present at least as complicated as his past, and a highly uncertain future.

Provoked by yet another argument with his rival, Ian sets out to prove he's capable of serious black magic by summoning a demon. Instead of a hulking, red-skinned brute, however, he winds up with the handsome incubus Alistair. Now, Ian must cope with a wily and seductive matchmaker who insists his rival may be more than just an adversary.

Brent shows up on Corey and Shane's doorstep in the dead of winter needing a place to stay—and hopeful his mates will provide it, and not mind he's a frog shifter.

Being a shifter is nothing new to Corey and Shane, but neither is being mates. They've been together since before they first met Brent ten years ago—back when Brent was Brenda. Bringing a third into their relationship is more than a little complicated, but they're willing to try.

But change is always easier said than done, and Brent wonders if he ever really stood a chance at being happy with the men he has always loved and admired.

Jamie and Mez are in love—with each other, and also maybe a little bit with their housemate, Beth. When one housemate dies and the last leaves with no warning, the tentative relationship between the three begins to shift.

But life and love are easier behind the safety of four walls than beyond them, and hostile coworkers and an interfering, but well-meaning succubus may be more than the triad can handle. It's a good thing they never actually expected this to be easy.

Less Than Three Press is a strong rising presence in the LGBTQ romance community. Together with a network of highly talented editors, artists, and writers, LT3 provides quality fiction, priding itself on stories that put substance first.

LT3 can be found wherever romance writers linger, advertising across the internet and at various conventions. The company is committed to professional integrity, offering strong editorial support to its talented writers, and excellent customer service.

LT3 is a labor of love between three women who wanted to write and publish books, but wanted to do it their way—with other people who love what they do, for people who love to read great romance, with high-quality, well-edited stories that are also affordable, engaging, and always come with that famous happy end.

To enter to win these SIX ebooks, please leave a comment with a name and some means of contacting you (e.g. email, Twitter handle, link to Goodreads account, etc.)

The giveaway is open until 10 PM PST December 6, 2015. Shortly thereafter, we will contact a winner whom we will select using a highly scientific "names in a hat" method (or, you know, an internet randomizer). Please respond to the winning notification within 48 hrs or we will choose another winner.

Anniversary Shenanigans: Author Visit & Giveaway - Mel Bossa

Mel Bossa is partying with the unicorns today! And if you've never heard of her, stop reading this (actually read this first, check out her visit and then go run to Split) It's been CANDYLAND THUNDERDOME approved! We honored to welcome Mel to the stable! So stick around to learn about her talents (someone is like a famous character of theirs) or love of dragons and much more.

BMBR: What are your favorite M/M themes?

I do love those books that are character driven. Stories with simple plot lines featuring complex relationships between the main characters will keep my attention. Now, as far as genre goes, I have a slight preference for contemporary romances, but I'll read horror, historical, and fantasy MM stories too. 
 

BMBR: What books do you consider Desert Island Keepers?

Dream Boy by Jim Grimsley. That was the book that inspired me to write gay romances. It's haunting, stark, sensual and unforgettable. I'd love to have a copy of The Outsiders with me because, hey, Sodapop Curtis was my first crush. I'd need a little something to remind me of home, so why not pack my first great love, Au nom du père et du fils by Francine Ouellet. (In the name of the father and the son), which tells the epic love story of a French Canadian doctor who falls for an Algonquin woman during the time of Quebec's colonization. I'd need a little humor too, so I'd have to have A Confederacy of Dunces by John Kennedy Toole with me, and lastly, for erotica, I'd need me some of that Special Forces juice by Aleksandr Voinov.

BMBR: What's your go-to tasty beverage?

I'm a wine drinker. Californian Cabernet Sauvignon wines being my favorite. If that doesn't do it, I'll have a little brandy and for those special nights, a shot of Jameson whiskey will do just fine, thank you.

BMBR: Do you have any secret talents? Inquiring minds want to know.

I'm a good singer. I used to be in bands when I was younger and left for New Orleans to pursue that career, but life had other plans for me. These days I just karaoke my heart out when I can. I do a mean Janis Joplin. Also, I was a chef before I started writing full time. Thus the Nick Lund character in my debut novel Split. I was actually in pro cooking school when I was writing Split.:-)

BMBR: If you had to choose to be one magical beast, what would it be and why? (you don't have to say unicorn...but we won't say neigh either)

In Chinese astrology I'm a Dragon. So I think I'd be comfortable with that. But I'd be the Dragon who spends her days in her cave reading books and who doesn't have to blow fire because people don't mess with her much anymore. A Dragon with a reputation:-) Of course I'd be having an affair with the cute elf boy who lives in the forest and be the lover of the Queen of Shadows too. I'd be the bisexual dragon with the great wine and book collection, yeah.

BMBR: Who's your favorite porn star?

I don't watch porn. But my favorite erotic scene in a movie is definitely when Lestat sucks Louis's neck in Interview with the Vampire. Hey, I'm a 90s girl.

BMBR: Do you have author envy? Whose words do you read and think, "GAH, I wish I wrote that!"?

I wish I'd written Bastard out of Carolina by Dorothy Allison. Anything by William Burroughs always makes me think, "Wow, this guy can murder language in one sentence and then resurrect it in the next." But in the MM genre, I'd have to say that Eric Arvin has my admiration, among many others of course.

BMBR: Any new projects you're currently working on?

I'm always working on something because if I don't write I make everybody nuts, including myself. Right now I'm writing a novel about two best friends who move in together after one of them gets dumped. Of course Sebastian and Jack are both confident that they can have sex together and keep their hearts out of the equation, until a third beautiful stranger is thrown in the mix and forces the two friends to confront their true feelings about each other. Contrary to most of my novels, this one will be lighter and showcase a side of me I rarely show in my work; my dark and caustic sense of humor. The novel will be called You don't know Jack! 

 

Thank you for this chance to talk a little about myself. And thanks to all my readers—you're the best out there! I love you guys!

BMBR thanks Mel Bossa for stopping by! Anyone who loves dragons, wine, can cook and sings Janis Joplin is always invited to the stable anytime!

Mel Bossa's Website
Goodreads

Would you like a chance to win Mel Bossa's latest, Sawdust and Berries?

To others, Liam Stokes is a confirmed bachelor, content with his job as a foreman and satisfied with his quiet life. Liam's friends and family don't suspect that under his calm surface a storm is gathering.

Liam has had it with living a lie, but can't summon the courage to come out as gay until faith takes charge of that. One morning, his back gives out and Liam is forced into getting a massage.

Inked and pierced, Kieran is a young massage therapist with a healing touch and audacious smile. From the moment he sets his hands on Liam, Liam knows this will be unstoppable. But as their relationship evolves, both men are surprised at how much they have in common despite their age difference.

Could this be more than a physical connection? And if so, how far can they take this love before someone else tries to end it?


To enter to win an ebook copy of Sawdust and Berries, please leave a comment on this blog post and let us know your name and a means of contacting you (e.g., email, Twitter handle, link to Goodreads account, etc.)

The giveaway is open until 10:00PM (Pacific time) on 11/26/15. Shortly thereafter, we will contact a winner whom we will select using a highly scientific "names in a hat" method (or, you know, an internet randomizer). Please respond to the winning notification within 48 hours or we will choose another winner.

Review: Linhart's Beautiful Beast by Mel Bossa

The Great North, Quebec, 1934. Joe Vega, the Beast, has been locked up in Linhart Prison for three years. The brutish guards harass him because of his size, but Joe remains cool.

Until Christophe Dubois, the disowned son of an affluent politician, is led into Joe's cell. From the moment Joe sees him, he suspects the ginger-head is trouble. Christophe is bold, curious, and feisty, and Joe can't resist the temptation of climbing into the man's bunk for long. However, the beautiful spoiled Christophe is a furnace to which both guards and convicts want to warm their hands, and Joe must fight to keep Christophe safe.

Linhart Prison may be a cruel place, but when the two men are released from its walls, they find an even tougher world out there.

Is the flame burning between Joe and Chris enough to keep them together?

Passionate. Idealistic. Ugly. Crazy. Beautiful.

"Every morning, he woke up hoping this was Dubois's last day in here, but then, when the night came, he'd lie there, praying Dubois stayed another day.He wanted him. Wanted him until he thought he'd lose his mind. "

Prison romances. I love them something fierce. Why? Having to be caged and mentally (sometimes physically) broken down to a bare bones level can make a great read. You thought I was going to say the sex? It can be great too, but I'm looking for the emotion from the inmates. If there is going to be romance, I want broken souls coming together. I want to read and experience their journey.

Mel Bossa accomplishes this with the protagonists in "Linhart's Beautiful Beast".

Set in 1930's Quebec, 21 year old Joe Vega is over 6'6", considered nothing more than an ignorant, immigrant criminal beast. He was sent to Linhart prison aka the "Icebox" where the inmates are really being used for free manual labor. The social injustices outside the prison continues inside the prison: English vs. French in his homeland, civil unrest overseas and this mustachioed man who seems to be garnering attention.

But in Linhart prison, their world is contained by a lot of ice and trees. Joe is not stupid. In fact, he's very well read and full of ideals. He's read all but three books in the entire building, writes love letters for other inmates and though feared for his size and intimidating look, he is respected because he is a gentleman. Already three years in his seven year sentence for a trumped up charge, he gets a new cellmate. The rich, effeminate, ginger haired, twink French teen Christophe Dubois whose father is hated for his political machinations. Dubois happens to have ties to the mafia and all eyes are on him for his alluring presence.

"And do you know why I feel immune to the ugliness in here?" "'Cause you're leaving, and that gives you one thing we don't have...hope." "No, it's because I feel your presence with me at all times. You're that ship, Joseph. I've forsaken my spirit to you. It doesn't matter where you go, or I go. I'm bound to you now."

Captivated yet fighting his attraction, Joe tries to ignore the obviously gay younger man. No one can be trusted, the only person who seems to be honorable is Joe. The author tells the story through the gentle giant. It's sort of a beauty and the beast type of feel. The main characters have a lot of things going against them. It seems there are a lot of factions against them, more in the beginning once everyone notices Dubois is gay. He doesn't hide who he is. And I loved it.

"You could cut...all that out.""You mean the men. Perhaps I could. I'm quite sure I could. But you see, Joe, I don't want to. What you call unnatural is the very essence of my nature."

Trigger warnings: violence, a near non-con scene. The story was like a roller coaster once it started to get air under its sails, around 10-15%. Once it started getting into its pace, the story got more interesting. There were a lot of ideas thrown into this story, most of them worked.

But...there were times the story dragged or ended in an odd spot. Some of the characters acted a little erratic. And the beginning of the main character's relationship...something was too soon but after awhile, I got caught up in their grand declarations.

Things I loved:

The main characters - Joe the uneducated immigrant who thinks like a poet laureate, the "beautiful beast" covered in burn scars. I came to care for. Sometimes he could be a little too goody goody but overall I enjoyed him. I loved reading his internal struggle for loving another man, it read very believable. And Dubois, the passionate young rent boy who loves so crazily, so easily (I questioned the speed of his love in the beginning) he cut his finger off to prove a point to a past lover kind of passion. Dubois knew what he was, didn't hide who he was and that letter he wrote to the warden was everything. Though the boys are fairly young and could be technically be classified as new adult, the life experience they've had and the time period reads more adult. But their actions and trust me some of their choices especially when they are free of Linhart can be frustrating, but it could be blamed on their age. Still, they made quite a pair.

Historical Quebec - The Depression era and WWII aren't my favorite historical time periods to read in romance. There is something about the 1920's-40's that usually takes longer to get my attention. But the Canadian perspective was different and I really enjoyed this. The historical events were intertwined fluidly. You could feel the prison guards' frustration from having to work in the Icebox. The inmates we do meet through Joe are mostly his two friends, Levin and Novak, so their anger about their state of life was written very nicely. And the setting was rich. I really felt like I was in the cold, icy snow, chopping trees with inmates.

Things that were okay/ gave me pause:

Joe's mother - I tried to understand her. Her reactions read weird especially within the last 10%. Now I got to understand she tried to say things without overtly saying them to her son like, 'don't be a homosexual', 'what about your life', etc. But her reactions ping ponged from anger, happiness, lust(?), shame...I lost her character. She didn't like Christophe but she did, there was a birder in her house aka she didn't want the gay business in her house, I think. I don't know. I wish she came across more clearer or at least pick one side of the emotion spectrum when it came to her son so I could understand her more.

Transitioning - It could be a little rough. I think the point was for the reader to read between the lines during some of the pivotal scenes. But sometimes it was difficult to decipher.

Plot points - A lot of ideas, maybe just a little too many? I think some of the plot points could have been pushed further such as the reasoning behind Joe being arrested. It's a plot twist, explanations are given but I think it could have been explored. Maybe seeing the big bad guys in the flesh instead of being talked about secondhand? Maybe a flashback of Joe before being arrested to get a clearer picture on the set up? Some points were underdeveloped.

Though there were some issues, the romance was strong. If your reading for mostly for hot erotica, this had sex but it's secondary to the romance. Some of the scenes are implied/fade to black. There is a HEA. There are some heartbreaking and touching moments.

A passionate tale between two characters who I'd like to think would survive to love for a lifetime no matter what odds.

For more information on Goodreads or Booklikes!

CANDYLAND THUNDERDOME: Split by Mel Bossa

Quiet and imaginative, Derek O'Reilly spends a lot of time watching a movie in his head. His fiancé Nathan, aka "Mr. Alpha", wonders why Derek hasn't taken any interest in their wedding planning. Aunt Fran—his spiritual guru—would like to know when her guilt-tripping nephew became some kind of kept boy. One evening, she drops Derek's childhood journal on his lap, forcing him to remember the name he's been trying to forget since he was eleven years old. Nicolai Lund.

Nick was Derek's neighbor—and first love.

Weeks before Derek's engagement party, a chance meeting with Nick catapults Derek into the past. Nick could flood Derek’s stale existence like a blond tidal wave, but Nick isn't that sixteen-year-old rebel anymore. He's a man hardened by invisible scars.

As Derek reads through his diary, Nick and Derek’s powerful relationship sways between past and present, sweeping over their emotional landscape, revealing what they were, still are, and might yet be to each other.

I've got to get this off my chest.

I LOVE THE LUNDS!!!!!!!!!

I love Boone and that his insistence on being called Maverick. Because Top Gun. 
I love Lene. Because of her "baby" with Derek.
I love Johan and how paternal and loving he is.
I love Nico and his wildness and hot temper, but especially because of that dance and the eyeliner.
I even love stern Helga, though I do wonder why she's so hard on Nico and if his wildness drove her to ride him like Seabiscuit or if the wildness sprung from the sternness.
I also loved their Nordicness. Everything had beets and Aquavit! That's full of win right there!

You think they ever dressed up like this for Halloween? I bet they had the weird candy on the block.

Split is wildly romantic, but I had to stick with it to get there, though. I'll be honest, I struggled through the first 40ish%. So much pre-teen angst. I felt like I was drowning in it. YA and I are not friends. I also struggle with books where the MCs aren't interacting all that much AND *whispers* I don't really like Derek. *ducks* All of Split is told through Derek with time shifts between him at 11 and at 28. I think he's a complex character that's well fleshed out and I know he got dealt a shitastic parental unit hand. But, oy vey! He needs to use his words, speak up like his dear aunt Frannie and pretty much everyone who cares about him tells him to do. He's so snarky and witty and clever but it's all trapped inside his head. At one point, I found myself saying aloud, 'SAY SOMETHING! ANYTHING!' like a crazy train. 

Bravo, Ms. Bossa. You turned me into a one of those people. 

Nico helps him come out of his shell and in many ways their relationship is clearly symbiotic from early on. I loved that Nico never made fun of Derek and his stuttering, never didn't have time to be kind to him and was always patient as well as caring for both Derek and his siblings even though they're all at least 5 years younger than him. Derek seems to have a calming effect on Nico early on. Nico is Derek's everything. The sun, the moon, the stars and everything in between. Derek needs Nico like most people need water. He found his soul mate before he even hit puberty. I admit it. I'm a sucker for this destiny trope. Gets me every time.

I could barely hold my love inside my chest anymore. It expanded with every breath Nick took, until I could feel it on the very tip of my scalp and toes. There was darkness all around me. The only light I could see was the one in Nick's eyes. "I see," I whispered. 

And the light in his eyes swallowed the darkness. 

Like a blue vacuum. 

His face makes me want to cry.

Jump ahead to Derek at 28, who is in an unsatisfying relationship with a gregarious salesman named Nathan. Nathan is portrayed as "the villain", but I hold Derek just as culpable for the demise of their relationship due to his silence. He's a ghost in their relationship and it was painful to read. A chance meeting with Boone brings the Lunds back into his life and from that moment on, I was completely invested in this story and these characters. That dinner scene with the Lunds was a sucker punch straight to the feelz. The Lunds begin pushing Derek towards Nico as does aunt Frannie. It seems everyone knows Derek has been gaga over Nico since forever. I wonder if Nico had similar feelz for Derek, but held back because of the age difference.

"…happiness does eventually come, it just needs a lot of foreplay, that's all."

Needless to say, I ended up thoroughly enjoying Split. I loved how authentic all the chef parts were depicted. I loved how funny and poignant it was. I loved that both of them have come to a crossroads in their lives simultaneously and neither made impulsive decisions. The writing of Ms. Bossa is incredible. I was blown away to learn this was her first novel. I would've enjoyed some naughtiness, but… can't win em all.

Recommend for destiny trope saps like me. And fans of the color purple.

 

"'Because I like mixing the red and blue.'"

Lene set her fingers on her lips, but a small gasp escaped them.

"Red and Blue," she whispered.

Yes.

Red and Blue.

Find out more on Goodreads.

CANDYLAND THUNDERDOME - Baby vs. Cupcake: The Sequel

Hear that loud rumble, pumping in your gut?
It's that time again, CANDYLAND THUNDERDOME!

Take in the glitter, bright lights and eye candy.

Baby and Cupcake back for a second round with different contenders: Jill Knowles' "Concubine" vs. Mel Bossa's "Split".

Want to know who won? Both.
Both of us did. And for different reasons. Cupcake went with the smut. Baby went with the feels. We brought our A+ game to the DOME.

One more time for glitter crotch!

1. How awesome was your CANDYLAND THUNDERDOME experience?

Baby: It was fucking awesome. I had bejeweled butt plugs and raspberry semen! What else could a girl ask for? In all seriousness, I adore CANDYLAND THUNDERDOME! The challenging unicorns chose some really boss ass books. Each one has showcased different writing styles, some popular mainstays that need to be read by others, some hidden gems that need a little more shine. And I enjoy it every time, whether I participate or I'm reading other participants' reactions. It's so fun!

Cupcake:  I ❤ THE DOME! THE DOME treats me right. Not to get all sappy but it makes me feel special that the other unicorns know me well enough to choose really fantastic reads for me. Things I wouldn't have chosen for myself. Blame Split for making me take a ride on the sap train to Sapsville.

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

Baby: Oodles of pounding...demon/human sexing...sweet kinky "mine-ing"...lavender, raspberry flavored cum... *squints* Are you kidding me? Cupcake had a slam dunk, touchdown, home run and grand slam rolled into one with her choice. There was no way I wasn't going to like this. 
Imagine a bulls-eye. Guess who just bought property on that red dot? 
Cupcake. 

Cupcake:  At first I thought Baby was leading me astray what with all the pre-teen angst, but it turned out spectacular. Red and Blue gave me good feelz. I'll definitely look for other things from this author.

3. Favorite scene from the book?

Baby: ALL OF IT! DOWN TO THE QUOTATION MARKS! 
Oh alright...it's a toss up between Taren's bottoming scene, Kael's 'sacrifice' for Taren and Taren explaining to Kael the importance of whores, concubines and giving pleasure. 

Cupcake:  Geez! There were so many! If I had to pick one it would be the dancing scene between Nico and Derek when Derek was just a kid, but I really felt that dinner scene with the Lunds.

Thanks for checking out Cupcake & Baby's CANDYLAND THUNDERDOME: Part Deux. You can check out our reviews for Split-HERE and Concubine-HERE for more details and squeeage.

You know what the best part of THE DOME is?

The scenery! PINK! PINK! PINK!