Awake with Jason Isaacs? Yes, please!

Last week NBC premiered their new series, Awake, starring Jason Isaacs, who is one of the hottest actors ever to come out of Great Britain, one of the hotties from the Harry Potter film series, among other things. He was the sexiest Captain Hook, and he played in Showtime's series Brotherhood as a gangster with a heart, Michael Caffee.  I would have watched the show anyway, for Jason, but the premise hooked me from the start.

Michael Britten is a policeman who's been in a car accident, along with his wife and son. When he awakens afte the accident... well, there's the problem. It appears that he has two realities. In one, his wife survived, and he has one partner, and one psychiatrist, but when he closes his eyes, he opens them to a different reality. One where his son survived, and he has a different partner and psychiatrist. As a consequence, he never knows if he's awake or dreaming. And right now, he doesn't want to change a thing, because he has the best of both worlds.

Each psychiatrist tells him that the other reality is just a dream, so who is he to believe? The pilot was really very good, I'm looking forward to seeing more of it. Jason looks fantastic, as always. It was interesting to see Wilmer Valdertama as his partner in one reality. B.D. Wong, of Law and Order plays one of the psychiatrist. NBC now has two shows that I find interesting enough to watch - this, and Grimm. Keep up the good work!

Last week, Top Chef Texas concluded with the finale, which was between Paul and Sara. It was a close battle, down to the finish, but a foregone conclusion, and I'm happy to say that Paul won. He was consistently a better chef than Sara. The only other person I would have rather seen win was Edward. All in all, this will not go down as my favorite Top Chef season, and I really hated the Last Chance Kitchen. I hope they don't do that again. That's as bad as the wild card spots in professional sports. I wish they'd bring back Master Chef or Hells Kitchen, I need me some Gordon Ramsay!

The Walking Dead has only two episodes left this season.  **SPOILERS AHEAD** This season has certainly gotten darker in many ways, not least of which was the discover of the missing Sophia as a walker, and her subsequent death.  The revelation of Shane and Lori's affair. Shane's growing belief that he should be in charge. Hershel's distancing himself from the group. Carl's increasing hardness, as he becomes inured to the brutality of the new world - and welcomes it. The last episode dealt with some thorny issues. They end up with a young man on their hands, part of a larger group that tried to hurt them. They fear if they let him go, he'll lead his group to them, with dire consequences. Shane wants to put him to death, but Dale fights the idea, and it's decided to put it to a vote. Carl discovers a walker stuck in the mud and taunts him, but in doing so he  accidentally unleashes an unfortunate sequence of events which results in tragedy and death. I'm wondering if he's going to confess to his part in what happened. Right now, I don't like this kid much. I never did like his mother. I like Rick, and I like Glenn. Something I didn't realize until it was pointed out to me - the girl who plays Maggie was in Vampire Diaries as Rose. Makes me wonder what is coming up in the last two episodes, and for next season.

This week on Sandwich King, Jeff showed us how to make his versions of two classics - a reuben, and a  roast beef. Both looked delicious, although I confess to not being a fan of horseradish. Jeff is exuding a great deal more confidence now, and is doing well. I'd love to have him cook for me - he has a lucky family!






That's it for now, more about Californication, Once Upon a Time, Alcatraz and Grimm later.

Until next time, take care!

♥ Julie

Guest Blogger Michael Mandrake

Welcome back my friend and fellow author, Michael Mandrake, aka Rawiya, who is going to talk to us today about what it feels like to be different, to be the only one. I'm sure a lot of us can relate to that, I know I can. Michael and I are in our Scottish Highland getaway, so join us there, won't you? I'm going to get us something to drink, I just spotted a handsome fellow in a tartan kilt pass by, why don't you get started? I might be a few, I'm curious to see what's not under his skirt. Right back!

Being the Only One

Michael Mandrake

Quote from the Highlander. “There can be only one!”

You remember that quote right? Where Adrian Paul’s character Duncan MacLeod says that and then he chops off the other immortal’s head? God, I loved that show and erm, I love Adrian Paul.

*swoons*

Oh yeah, my point.

How do I feel about being the only one in some instances? Well, we could take this in a negative way and say, oh well you were the oddball and maybe no one really wanted you so they left you alone or you can take it positively and say, oh that person found me unique and so different from the others, he or she had to choose me.

Again, you may ask, what does this have to do with my blogpost? Well, I’ll tell you. In the book Bound for Romance, which is the latest anthology from Sascha Illyvich through Sizzler Intoxications, E-Renaissance’s romance line, my story “Binding Justice” is the only gay tale.

Ah, you say. SO how do you feel about this?

In all honesty, I felt at first it would be an issue. I thought, maybe I’d get lost in the shuffle or get ignored and actually, that might still happen but because I do like to see the bright side of things, I thought this to be a prime opportunity.

Before I get to the rest of my point, let me just say that I’m surrounded by huge talent. Em Petrova, Clarice Clique, and Sarah Bella. I read the antho and it’s a great mix, much like the last one I did for Sascha, My Sexy Valentine. However, in there, I had Ike Rose as the other m/m writer in the collection. This time I’m the lone ranger. *grins*

If I can take a moment to give my editor props, I really love writing for him. He doesn’t bullshit me, he cares about me and my career, and I listen to everything he tells me. Still working on doing everything exactly right but…

When I first said to him—and this was recently—how I felt swallowed by being the only gay author in Bound for Romance, he said, in short, to look at it as an opportunity to showcase my work in a mainstream setting. If people want to follow Michael Mandrake, they will buy it regardless of the fact it’s in a hetero antho and well, I had to think, yeah he’s right. Then I also started thinking how I could possibly turn someone on to m/m that hasn’t read it or, as he said, get someone interested in finding out more about Michael Mandrake. I also thought this means, I’m the unique one in this bunch, not slamming my fellow authors, but it does set me apart and maybe it means my editor saw the potential in my work and needed to add me along with this awesome collection.

Now, there are the negatives that gay fiction purists will point out. The cover doesn’t denote an m/m story. I said that too so believe me, I did think about it, but again, it is the opportunity to open the eyes of someone who only reads het romance and let him or her get to know MM’s writing and hopefully seek out his growing backlist. *grins*

So the great thing about being the only one? The one that stands out like a sore thumb? The one m/m story where people will still appreciate the erotic romance with all the tension you can handle, and the one that breaks the mold of most bondage or BDSM stories. Again, Michael accentuates the flaws of his characters and this means, his Dom, Sire Jacobs isn’t experienced. Neither is sub, Jarvis Densley. Hopefully, you’ll love the tale and see why I signed the contract to be the lone gay romance tale.

I’d like to thank Julie for allowing me to be here today!

Here is where you can find me and the muses.

The Literary Triad - http://www.thelitriad.com/#!
Michael Mandrake - http://tabooindeed.blogspot.com

Rawiya - http://rawiyaserotica.blogspot.com

Twitter - http://twitter.com/#!/rawiyamikembl

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorSharitaLira
Goodreads - http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/3542690

Its Raining Men Blog - http://rainingmenamen.blogspot.com

Now, here is the blurb and excerpt from my story, Binding Justice

Blurb: Binding Justice, the only gay fiction romance story in the anthology, is a tale of an older man seeking assistance after losing his wife to cancer. Throughout his life, he has had the desire to be with another man, but due to his strict upbringing as well as his time in the armed forces, Sire Jacobs has suppressed those feelings. At the insistence of his gay friend Gabe, he decides to attend a party to find someone home who can bring this side out. Enter in Jarvis Densley, a twenty-three-year-old gay male, shunned by his parents and looking for someone to mentor and love him. Apparently, both have similar interests but will Sire's darker desire be what keeps them apart?

Excerpt PG

Sire felt like an old man amongst so many young people. It had been years since he’d been in a place like this. 

I’m only here in support of Gabriel.

He reminded himself of that several times. Sire was pretty sure no one coming through that door would catch his eye. By the looks of things he was spot on since the clientele looked to be exactly what he wasn’t looking for.

Did he even know what kind of man he wanted? A young, strong, and pretty one. Not a drag queen or flamer.  

It amazed him he was going over this in his mind as he downed the last of his scotch while still taking in the sights. He never thought he’d get the chance to experience another man.

Still gazing, he noticed Gabe pulling someone’s hand through a crowd. When Sire locked eyes with Gabe, his friend nodded with a smile as the young man with him was turned to the right. After a couple of seconds, Sire got a glimpse of the guy. He was dressed in leather, looking very appealing even from a distance.

Whoa

Sire sat up on his stool, angling his neck trying to get a good look as the twosome threaded through small throngs of people. Before he knew it, Gabe made his way over with a tall, lanky, gentleman with burgundy hair, brown eyes, chiseled features, and a wry smile. He looked a lot like one of the men on the flyer Gabe had earlier; almost the same outfit, his makeup perfect.

His look was just what Sire wanted.

Gabe grinned, “Sire, this is Jarvis Densley. I been talking with him a few minutes about his choice of clothing. He looks a lot like you asked about, right?”

Sire drew up his lips, stroking his beard.

Jarvis Densley, ugly name for a beautiful man.

 And I'm back! Here you go, hon, I have a drink for each of us. And I managed to find out what was under that lovely man's kilt! Ah, the things we do for research. Guess I need to create my own Highlander now, eh?

Thanks for coming with me, Michael, this has been a fab trip!  Readers, don't be shy, tell us what you think - any comments, any questions, anything at all!

We'd love to hear from you!

Until next time, take care!

♥ Julie