Happy Book Birthday - Taken & Crowned

Hello,

As I mentioned last week, my book under Michael Mandrake, Taken & Crowned was released on Dec 22nd, 2018. That makes the book seven years old! So hard to believe, but time has waited for no one.

My first scifi gay romance features a young waiter just trying to wait tables as their job requires, but an insistent customer wants more than the waiter is willing to give.

The book also features my first time writing a non-binary character. I really hope I brought Max justice.

Blurb

Ambrose’s family tradition destroys his plan to be a forever bachelor.

Although Ambrose doesn’t wish to be with anyone long term, he must find a spouse immediately. According to the rules, no one inherits the throne unless they’re married. Additionally, his father wishes for Ambrose to seek a human. Despite not being elated with the decision, Ambrose figures doing the necessary requirement of mating and impregnating will be enough.

Max, who identifies as non-binary, is tired of being shamed and manhandled. They wish to make a living off their “hobby” but it’s not in the cards. Relationships aren’t even on their list of things to strive for, and they don’t want to change. Unless the person is a certain Hollywood star they have a crush on, Max isn’t interested.

When Ambrose meets Max at their place of employment, Max refuses to give the alien king-in-waiting the time of day.

Little does Max know Ambrose’s calm exterior is a cover up for the monster willing to go great lengths to claim them for a partner.

This title is a standalone dark romance with forced mating, dub-con, MPreg, and smartass aliens who hate to be wrong. On page violence, rough sex, and knotting are included.

Excerpt

“What’s up?” Derrick the shift manager, walked out of the small freezer, holding bags of meat.

“Bert is bothering me. If you or someone else doesn’t take care of him now, I will open a can of whoopa** on him!”

Derrick shook his head. “Now, now, settle down, Queen.”

Max’s nostrils flared, and their eyebrows fused together. “Stop f**king calling me that!”

“Well damn, man, you’re queer, right?” Derrick put down the bags. “I thought that was a compliment.”

“Not to me. I ask you to call me by name, or the correct pronoun. They, their, or them. That’s all.”

“Ugh, you gay people! Fine, I’ll go talk to him.” Derrick stomped out.

Max huffed, wondering why they continued to take this abuse from their current boss and co-workers.

Oh, that’s right, I’m not selling enough art and need to pay my rent!

Max cursed under their breath and stomped away to the locker room to collect themselves. They plopped on the bench and smoothed out their slacks, then dropped their head.

“Way past time to quit this bullsh**.” Max pulled their cellphone from their pocket and checked their social media messages. Plenty of Facebook alerts from artist friends spending all their time creating while they worked this dead-end job. Max was sick and tired of seeing others succeed. They wanted the accolades, the big sale that would finally take them away from waiting on tables for people who couldn’t keep their hands to themselves. If it wasn’t Bert, it was Wilma, who visited almost every Tuesday to gawk and touch Max... or the professor, Jeffrey, who claimed to have new tricks to show Max in bed.

Truthfully, Max wanted nothing to do with any of them. They’d long given up on relationships and didn’t want anybody in their life for an extended period of time.

Book Link