Showing posts with label Gay Erotica. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Gay Erotica. Show all posts

Saturday, May 24, 2014

New Release: The Full Ride: Bottom Boys Get Play by Gavin Atlas

Does the idea of a naïve young buck who can't stop himself from losing his ass turn you on? Or would you rather experience life as a bottom who is every top's fantasy? Through unquenchable lust or uncontrollable need, these are bottom boys who live to please and wouldn't have it any other way. Gavin Atlas, author of the best selling collection, The Boy Can't Help It, offers a second dose of porn stars, college boys, strippers, acrobats, and athletes taken body and soul by business tycoons, cops, mischievous professors, and other dominant men who won't take no for an answer. Your journey through these stories will offer humor, affection, and true devotion, but please stay seated as you're taken deep into the psychology of sexual mischief. If you enjoy the dazed confusion of youthful studs helpless to escape the penetration of aggressive, powerful tops, come meet a few who will always grant you the Full Ride.
The Boy Can't Help It by Gavin Atlas is one of my favorite gay erotica anthologies. I have been waiting for a follow-up book since I first read those stories in 2010 -- that's a long time to wait! Well, the time has come and Atlas is finally releasing his second collection The Full Ride: Bottom Boys Get Play (Lethe Press).

Releasing: June 7, 2014
230 pages
Print and Digital editions available here and here.


Sunday, December 2, 2012

Mini: Wyatt: Doc Holliday's Account of an Intimate Friendship by Dale Chase

Wyatt: Doc Holliday's Account
of an Intimate Friendship
Wyatt Earp and Doc Holliday are best known for their gunplay at the OK Corral, but there is far more to their story. The remarkable friendship between upright lawman and southern gentleman turned gambler and killer ignites when Doc saves Wyatt's life in Dodge City and escalates into passion as the two move west to Tombstone where lawlessness reigns. As they work toward bringing to justice a band of rustlers terrorizing the area, they are drawn into the infamous gunfight at the OK Corral and are jailed for murder.

They are cleared of the charges, but the murder of Morgan Earp sets Wyatt on a vendetta where, with Doc at his side, he turns killer not only to avenge his brother but to rid the region of the outlaw menace. The price is high, however. Now wanted men, Doc and Wyatt are forced to flee Arizona, and it is while on the run that they find their relationship deepening into what is ultimately a tragic love.
I seem to love almost everything Dale Chase writes. At this point I think I may have read almost all her short stories set in the West. The key word is "almost" because I'm still searching through Chase's backlist to find them, and that includes her short stories published in Bear erotic anthologies which are usually set in the West. But, an erotic novel by Dale Chase queering Wyatt Earp and Doc Holliday? I just knew it was going to be a winner for me!

Chase has such talent for writing historical westerns and that talent is in full display in Wyatt: Doc Holliday's Account of an Intimate Friendship. She weaves the whole history of what happens in Tombstone so well with her own fictional account of Doc and Wyatt's intimate relationship that by the end, the reader wants to believe Chase's version. There are plenty of erotic scenes (with enough spit and poke to please the crowds), just as there are violent scenes on the streets of Tombstone, desperate chases on horseback, and mean, cold gunfights between our heroes and the Cowboys. The sexy scenes after the killing and the chasing are always the best ones!

I love Wyatt and Doc, and Chase brings them and the secondary characters to life in this erotic piece. I love the details she incorporates into her story, the characterization and excellent western atmosphere. Expect lots of erotic scenes to accompany all the cocky posturing and spare macho dialog. If you like westerns, good historical details, great writing, and erotica, you'll love this one. (November 6, 2012, Bold Strokes Books) Grade: B+

Collections by Dale Chase
:
If The Spirit Moves You: Ghostly Gay Erotica
The Company He Keeps: Victorian Gentlemen's Erotica

Friday, March 30, 2012

Review: History's Passion: Stories of Sex Before Stonewall edited by Richard Labonté

Richard Labonté is one of my favorite editors of gay erotica for good reasons, he has "the touch" when it comes to gathering the best gay erotica writers out there. I consider myself fortunate in that my early introduction to gay erotica was through some of Labonté's excellent anthologies. To date some of my favorite writers in this category are those I found through his collections. 

With History's Passion: Stories of Sex Before Stonewall, Richard Labonté approached the anthology differently. Instead of quick erotic short stories with 10 to 15 writers, he chose four writers who were then given the opportunity of expanding their stories into erotic novellas. The novellas are all set before Stonewall, giving the writers certain freedoms and restrictions not found in contemporary erotica.

Jeff Mann's novella is an erotic romance focused on one of his favorite subjects, the Civil War. In "Camp Allegheny" Rebel soldiers Shep Sumter and Brendan Botkin conduct a passionate love affair as they survive the Battle of Allegheny in 1861, the Battle of McDowell in 1862, illnesses, and a soldier's terrible existence during war. It's obvious that Mann researched these battles and a soldier's life during that time, however the historical information is integrated seamlessly with Mann's signature erotic scenes and the romance. There's the passion, warmth, love and connection between the characters (older Shep and his boy Brendan) that I've come to expect from Mann. The end is quite appropriate for a war story, and it leaves the reader with a feeling that he/she has just read an epic-romantic war tale.

Simon Sheppard's "Heaven and Earth" is a Depression-era tale reminiscent of Bonnie and Clyde or as his main character claims in the story, Leopold and Loeb. The setting is Wichita and the main characters are the bored rich kid Eli and the poor, often filthy, gas attendant Jake. Eli goes on a crime spree and eventually Jake goes along with him. It all turns bloody, lusty, and ends with a gorgeous twist! Sheppard captures those dark times in America quite well in this short novella. There's a desperation and an atmosphere of hopelessness in this story that is carried throughout. His erotic scenes are graphic with an edge of violence. He's in his element in his description of lust with tastes and smells making the scenes come alive.

In "Tender Mercies," Dale Chase focuses her story on Luke Farrow, a failed prospector whose role in an 1800's mining camp becomes that of a 'camp boy.' His fortunes flourish unexpectedly when he sells his body to lonely miners for nuggets and bags of gold dust, while longing for a real touch and true intimacy. He finds both, plus passion, with a stranger who brings trouble to the camp. Luke is the main character and his adventures as 'camp boy' are erotic in some cases and detached in others, but with Luke as the recipient of pleasure or pain these scenes further the character's development. Cullen serves almost as Luke's much deserved reward. Chase is a favorite writer in this category, and in my opinion this is an excellent example of a Chase erotic tale.

David Holly is a new-to-me author, and in "The Valley of Salt" he goes back 3,000 years to the city of Gomorrah to relate a story that takes a young man from a virginal life to lusty desires after he is summoned by the Priests to serve as a sexual sacrifice to the city's male warriors. The story goes on to feature some Biblical characters, although Holly changes names and the chronology of events. Erotic scenes range from a one-on-one with voyeurism included, to multiple partners and even includes an orgy. The erotic scenes are well done and the story is engaging. Unfortunately due to contemporary use of language or terminology, which begins early on and does not mesh well with the setting or characters, there were many distracting instances for me while reading this story. Having said that, Holly's manipulation of historical events and characters are quite creative.

In conclusion, three of the four novellas in this anthology really worked for me. The fact that all four stories, as chosen by the editor, fit the title and the purpose for this collection is a big plus. If you enjoy gay erotica, there is no question that History's Passion: Stories of Sex Before Stonewall is worth reading. Of course now this book is a finalist for the Lambda Literary Award under the Gay Erotica category, so there you go, another good reason to read it. :)

Category: LGBT - Gay Erotica
Publisher/Release Date: Bold Strokes Books/November 2011
Grade: B+

My Reviews of Other Labonté Anthologies:
Country Boys: Wild Gay Erotica edited by Richard Labonté
Best Gay Erotica 2010 edited by Richard Labonté and Blair Mastbaum

Wednesday, February 22, 2012

Cover/Author Spotlight: Purgatory by Jeff Mann



During the Civil War, two young soldiers on opposite sides find themselves drawn together. One is a war-weary but scholarly Southerner who has seen too much bloodshed, especially the tortures inflicted upon the enemy by his vicious commanding officer, his uncle. The other is a Herculean Yankee captured by the rag-tag Confederate band and forced to become a martyr for all the sins of General Sheridan's fires. When these two find themselves admiring more than one another's spirit and demeanor, when passions erupt between captor and captive, will this new romance survive the arduous trek to Purgatory Mountain?
Purgatory: A Novel of the Civil War by Jeff Mann

I know... I just posted a review and it has been a looong time since I highlighted one book or a cover in this blog, but I couldn't help myself after receiving a newsletter announcing that this book is releasing in March. I've been keeping an eye out for it ever since I first saw the cover highlighted at Lethe's website.

There's something about this cover that just does SOMETHING for me. Maybe it's the eyes, the beard or the gorgeous eyebrows on that soldier (that face!), or maybe it's the composition of the picture, but I love, love this cover. It makes me want to hold the book in my hands.

Of course there's the most important part of it, the content! This book is by Jeff Mann. Just read the blurb. If anyone can do justice to a Civil War fiction yarn and make passions erupt convincingly between a Confederate and a Yankee soldier, it's Jeff Mann. Cant't wait!

Book releases March 15, 2012
Gay Historical Romance
Bear Bones Books

ETA: Read My Review Here

Sunday, May 16, 2010

M/M Review: The Boy Can't Help It: Sensual Stories of Young Bottoms by Gavin Atlas

At some point, hasn't every bottom yearned to be ravished by a powerful, inescapable top? What dominant hasn't fantasized about a gorgeous young sub with an incredible ass, so horny he could never say no? The Boy Can't Help It offers over a dozen such stories of beautiful young men: a gymnast, a diver, a surfer, a marine and many college boys submitting to construction workers, horny professors, butch jocks, corporate titans, insatiable miners, and even one's own psychiatrist. Whether you long to be the helpless bottom or the top nailing him...whether your wet dream is a bit of bondage, a gang bang, sex on the sand, or naughty voyeurism...author Gavin Atlas has the stories to satisfy your every need.
The Boy Can't Help It: Sensual Stories of Young Bottoms is a collection of Gavin Atlas' erotic and raw short stories.

As the title indicates, all are stories about bottoms and their erotic fantasies. For the most part these thirteen stories contain short, raw, sweaty, marathon-style sexual encounters. In other words, these are down and dirty, erotic fantasy-based "stroke" shorts, where in some cases the more the merrier applies and no is not a word often used. Gavin Atlas' talent for writing great slutty bottoms, dominant tops and their wet dream fantasies in a fast paced, clean and raw style is well showcased in this collection.

If you're looking for a hot bottom fantasy, you'll probably find it here. You'll find single hot encounters as in Wet Pass, the story of a polo player and a reporter. A short, hot, wet unexpected sexual encounter and the story that hooked me on Gavin Atlas' raw writing style. Or Blue Star Boy, the sexual fantasy of a man who while on a cross-country search for that perfect bottom finds him, and a bit more.

You'll also find stories involving multiple partners, interesting tricks, and slutty bottoms going on wild fantasy rides. Boy do they ever! In Claiming Danny, Simple and Easy, and Business with Pleasure all fantasies are fulfilled. Although I've only mentioned a few titles as examples, all the stories in this collection are well-written, sizzling reads. There's even what I'm calling a "bonus" story included in the book, an error by the printing press that gave the readers that extra hot read.

I love collections by single writers because usually their best work is compiled under one cover and I can take my time reading and savoring each story slowly, this is no exception. I took my time reading this book and can tell you without reservation that Gavin Atlas' The Boy Can't Help It: Sensual Stories of Young Bottoms (with a gorgeous cover I can't help but drool over) is now part of my permanent erotica print collection.

Genre: LGBT/ Gay Erotica
Series: None
Release Date: Lethe Press/February 14, 2010
Grade: B+

Visit Gavin Atlas here.

Anesthezea's M/M Romance Challenge 2010

Friday, March 12, 2010

M/M Mini Review: Best Gay Erotica 2010 edited by Richard Labonté selected by Blair Mastbaum

In Best Gay Erotica 2010, Richard Labonté together with Blair Mastbaum, again puts together an excellent anthology that gathers a wide range of perspectives from the gay community using the erotic and of course different writing styles.

Some of the stories tackle subjects that are not always comfortable: closeted married or engaged men who are on the "down low" and cheating on their wives or girlfriends; older men cruising and using younger men; men looking for sexual pleasure in seedy places. Then there are touching stories... stories of couples, of loss, of single encounters that make an impact on the reader. The writing and the content make it possible for both these types of stories to make that impact.

By the time I finished reading, I found that I did have favorites in this anthology: Smoke and Semen by Jeff Mann; Colin and Gregory: 1956 by Jonathan Kemp; Holiday from Love by Hank Fenwick; Better Late Than Never by Rachel Kramer Bussel; The Boy in the Middle by Thom Wolf; 8 Beautiful Boys 8: The Follies Revisited by Jamie Freeman.

The above are not in any particular order and represent the wide variety of stories that are included in this anthology. I must admit that Smoke and Semen by Jeff Mann is my favorite story. The plot has everything in it, from light BDSM, to love, to loss -- the characters are developed in this little story and by the time I finished I had thoroughly connected -- not an easy thing to accomplish in a 13 page short.

These are all excellent stories, all well written and well edited so there's no waste. I certainly enjoyed reading the entire book. This is an anthology I recommend if you like variety when reading your erotica.

Genre: LGBT - Gay Erotica
Series: None
Released: December 1, 2009
Grade: B+

Find it here and here

M/M Romance Challenge 2010 Review

Thursday, May 21, 2009

Review: Country Boys: Wild Gay Erotica by Richard Labonté


This anthology is a compilation of works by sixteen talented writers beginning with a beautiful Introduction written by its editor, Richard Labonté. Mr. Labonté, a long time city dweller who moved to a small town, wanted to showcase through these short stories, gay men's experiences of life and love in small, country towns. In the Introduction, which I enjoyed as much as the rest of the book, he gives us a bit of his own history and experiences in the small town where he lived openly with his husband Asa -- the book is dedicated to Asa, a touching and fitting tribute.

There are sixteen short stories in this anthology and every single one of them is worth reading. The writing is diverse, creative, and excellent all around. Some of the stories are very short, as in Bear Season by C.B. Potts, and some a bit longer as in Noel, for the Last Time by Wayne Courtois, but all are well developed.

There were quite a few stories where we are allowed a peek at some erotic, some tender and some wild first encounters between curious young men in the country who explore their sexuality together, and where we meet farms boys, good ole boys, and river boys.

Opening Day at The Fair by J.M. Snyder is worth mentioning in this category as you can almost hear the buzz of insects, feel the lazy summer day, the heat, the sweat and the yearning when reading it. Goodland Kansas by Jay Neal is a touching coming of age story about three boys set in a small town -- "know thyself," the beauty or the tragedy. I loved this story by Neal. These three friends know each other from childhood through adulthood. We share some of their adventures, moments of self-awareness and discoveries, their differences and in the end their choices.

Laying By written by Dale Chase where a young man traveling to California with his family, via a wagon train in 1846, experiences sexual awakening and love is a favorite. But I must say I was so surprised by River Boy written by Tom Cardamone that I had to read it twice. This was a unique piece set in the Florida river swamps featuring two unusual characters and even more unusual circumstances. Cardamone weaves D/s into the tale of River Boy and Skink in the most unexpected of settings. A story I'll remember.

Those pesky city dwellers also make appearances while they're visiting the country. The Farmer's Son by Karl Taggart was a favorite of mine, a story that somehow seemed plausible -- I wonder if our city boy will take his Harley out for a ride down that country road again...hmm. Vincent Diamond's Wrestling Gators is a fast paced erotic tale that proves once again that a man wearing a uniform and playing hero will work every single time, and in Hot Eats by Kal Cobalt, a cinematographer finds more than great fried chicken at the local Diner during that lonely third shift.

There are other stories, Goat Boy by Jack Fritscher is a celebration of manhood the likes of which I've never imagined--it made me laugh and gag at the same time. And there's the beautiful story of home coming by Dominic Santi titled Drum Stone about a Native American who while searching for his roots finds love.

I found this anthology while searching for works by Vincent Diamond, an author who has become a personal favorite. Not only did I find a wonderful story by Diamond I had not yet read, but I also found a slew of new-to-me authors whose stories I can't wait to research and read. Mr. Labonté certainly reached his goal with this anthology; it is a gorgeous celebration of life, love and experiences in the country. Great find!

Gay Erotica - Grade: A

You can find this book and other works by Richard Labonté here

Originally posted at Musings of a Bibliophile May 21, 2009