m/m book recs
as I promised weeks ago, here are some more m/m book recs. Some historical, some contemporary. Some amazing, some passably good fun, but in a genre with some real atrocities, they're worth mentioning.
sorry, I bought most of them on amazon this time, so there's only one download link. but most of them are loan-able, if you've got a kindle app.
[Historical]
Historical
A Private Gentleman
Painfully introverted and rendered nearly mute by a heavy stammer, Lord George Albert Westin rarely ventures any farther than the club or his beloved gardens. Michael climbed out of an adolescent hell as a courtesan’s bastard to become successful and independent-minded, seeing men on his own terms, protected by a powerful friend. He is master of his own world-until Wes. Not only because, for once, the sex is for pleasure and not for profit. They are joined by tendrils of a shameful, unspoken history. The closer his shy, poppy-addicted lover lures him to the light of love, the harder his past works to drag him back into the dark. There’s only one way out of this tangle. Help Wes face the fears that cripple him-right after Michael finds the courage to reveal the devastating truth that binds them.
Two very flawed characters come together and end up healing each other. I liked this book, though it takes some rather ridiculous turns towards the end, and sometimes tends to be a little too dramatic, almost gothic-novel-esque. But the writing is nice, and both characters are well written and interesting. Not my favorite Regency story, but a nice little find.
Brook Street: Thief by Ava March
It was only supposed to be one night. One night to determine once and for all if he truly preferred men. But the last thing Lord Benjamin Parker expected to find in a questionable gambling hall in Cheapside is a gorgeous young man who steals his heart. It was only supposed to be a job. Cavin Fox has done it many times-select a prime mark, distract him with lust, and leave his pockets empty. Yet when Cavin slips away under the cover of darkness, the only part of Benjamin he leaves untouched is his pockets. With a taste of his fantasies fulfilled, Benjamin wants more than one night with Cavin. But convincing the elusive young man to give them a chance proves difficult.
I've already mentioned my adoration for Ava March before, and this little series is much in the same vein as her other stories: interesting set up, scorching hot porn, plenty of angsting and manfeelings, and a happy ending.
Brook Street: Fortune Hunter by Ava March
Impoverished Julian Parker returns to London with one goal: marry an heiress. He'll do whatever it takes, even if it means denying his desire for men.The only things a vast fortune has brought Oscar Woodhaven are greedy relatives and loneliness. At twenty-one years of age, he has everything a man could possibly want-except someone to love him. When he meets devastatingly handsome Julian Parker, he believes his luck has turned. Between Oscar's lavish gifts and their searing-hot nights, Julian is caught between what he thinks he needs and what his heart truly desires. But when a betrayal threatens to tear them apart, Julian discovers he'll do whatever it takes to convince Oscar the greatest fortune of all is love.
I can't decide if I liked this more than the first in the series or not. One of the characters was completely loveable and adorable, and the other was, well, quite a dick, though in the end you kinda have to love him anyway. You can also spot the conflict coming a mile away, and you just wanna yell at them not to be so stupid. Another angst-ridden set up, and satisfying outcome. The third in the series comes out in May, I've already got it pre-ordered.
Protection by S.A. Reid
When Gabriel MacKenna enters Wentworth Prison in 1931, he promises himself two things: never to be buggered and never to turn prison queer. Tough, smart, and ruthless in a fight, he quickly makes a name for himself inside. But life is a very long time to survive endless days without the touch of another human being...Five years after Gabriel's incarceration, Joey Cooper arrives at Wentworth. Every convict claims imprisonment through a miscarriage of justice, but Joey is truly blameless. Facing eighteen years behind Wentworth's towering gates, Joey cannot hope to survive without protection. And protection is just what Gabriel MacKenna offers. At a price...
This book...has some issues, but it's also sort of sweet. Ok, my main issue (SPOILER): so one character is brutally raped by the other, prison style. and not only does he eventually forgive him, he falls in love with his rapist. idk, guys, that just bothered me. Even my overly-romantic sensibilities couldn't make that one right.
BUT, if you can get past that, their romance is actually rather sweet and beautiful, saving them from their dark surroundings. But the end is completely rushed and unsatisfying and just left me blindsided and angry. So...yeah. I don't know if I'm actually enticing you to read this at all. But it was an interesting premise, and nice characters, and some forbidden prison love, if that's your kink.
The Only Gold by Tamara Allen
Jonah Woolner's life is as prudently regulated as the bank where he works. It's a satisfying life until he's passed over for promotion in favor of newcomer Reid Hylliard. Brash and enterprising, Reid beguiles everyone except Jonah, who's convinced Reid's progressive ideas will be the bank's ruin. When Jonah begins to discover there's more to Reid than meets the eye, he risks succumbing to Reid's charms-but unlocking the vault to all of Reid's secrets could lead him down a dangerous path.
rufflefeather rec-ed me this one, and I'm glad she did, because it was sitting on my kindle for months, and I don't know if I ever would have gotten around to it. The plot summary just seemed kind of bland and never really caught my interest. But it's so well written and the characters are both lovely. It's a hate-turns-to-love story, which is one of my FAVORITE romantic set ups, and watching them slowly thaw towards one another is very satisfying (though you only get one perspective, so when they finally come together, it caught me completely off guard. a minor gripe, really.) There's some events towards the end that get drawn out too long, but the ending is sweet and satisfying. A very nice read if you're looking for romance, rather than porn.
DOWNLOAD LINK (password: narwhals)
[Contemporary]
Contemporary
Chase in Shadow by Amy Lane
Chase Summers has a razor blade to his wrist and the smell of his lover’s goodbye clinging to his skin. He has a door in his heart so frightening he’d rather die than open it, and the lies he’s used to block it shut are thinning with every forbidden touch. Chase has spent his entire life unraveling, and his decision to set his sexuality free in secret has only torn his mind apart faster.
Chase has one chance for true love and salvation. He may have met Tommy Halloran in the world of gay-for-pay, but if he wants the healing that Tommy’s love has to offer, he’ll need the courage to leave the shadows for the sunlight. That may be too much to ask from a man who’s spent his entire life hiding his true self.
this one is SUPER heavy on the angst, and deals with some pretty dark issues (eating disorders, suicide, emotional abuse). I'm not usually one for the angst, but I fell so in love with the characters. It broke my heart to watch them be hurt again and again, but I couldn't stop rooting for them. Also, it's set in the world of gay porn, which kind of fascinates me, to see things behind the scenes. A difficult read, but worth it.
Scrap Metal by Harper Fox
One year ago, before Fate took a wrecking ball to his life, Nichol was happily working on his doctorate in linguistics. Now he’s hip deep in sheep, mud and collies. As lambing season progresses in the teeth of an icy north wind, the last straw is the intruder Nichol catches in the barn. He says his name is Cam, and he’s on the run from a Glasgow gang. Something about the young man’s tired resignation touches Nichol deeply, and instead of giving him the business end of a shotgun, he offers Cam a blanket and a place to stay. Somehow, Cam quickly charms his way through Nichol’s defenses and into his heart. As the cold Scottish springtime melts into summer, Nichol finds himself falling in love. When tragedy strikes, Cam’s resolutely held secret is finally revealed and Nichol must face the truth. He’s given his heart away, and it’s time to pay the price.
Ok, I have to admit: I haven't finished this one yet. I'm at the happy part of the book, and I know there's going to be conflict, and I just can't bring myself to ruin the glow yet. BUT IT'S FLIPPING PHENOMENAL SO FAR. It's set on a small Scottish Island, and it just has so much atmosphere. The story is sort of slow and quiet and mostly day-to-day type stuff, but it's so gorgeous, and the two main boys are full of such longing and sweetness. I hope the end lives up to the beginning, because it may very well be one of my very favorites in the genre.
The Winter Courtship Rituals of Fur-Bearing Critters by Amy Lane
Rance Crawford is an alpaca rancher, fiber mill owner, and self-proclaimed grumpy bastard. When sweet, charming tenderfoot Ben McCutcheon moves onto Crawford’s rural road, Rance is very aware that Ben makes it a grand total of two gay men in their tiny town, and even though he is instantly, painfully smitten, any move he makes could be simply chalked up to being hard up. Using his best weapon and favorite skill, Crawford launches an awkward, wordless effort to make sure Ben is kept warm during the cold Colorado winter, every last piece of him-especially his heart.
Ok, not an amazing story, but it involves MEN KNITTING, so I couldn't resist. Rance is sort of a burly touch guy on the outside, but he spins and knits for a living. And he knits things as a way of courting his love interest! HOW CUTE IS THAT?! of course it won my heart. Sweet, cute, typical Amy Lane fare.
sorry, I bought most of them on amazon this time, so there's only one download link. but most of them are loan-able, if you've got a kindle app.
[Historical]
Historical
A Private Gentleman
Painfully introverted and rendered nearly mute by a heavy stammer, Lord George Albert Westin rarely ventures any farther than the club or his beloved gardens. Michael climbed out of an adolescent hell as a courtesan’s bastard to become successful and independent-minded, seeing men on his own terms, protected by a powerful friend. He is master of his own world-until Wes. Not only because, for once, the sex is for pleasure and not for profit. They are joined by tendrils of a shameful, unspoken history. The closer his shy, poppy-addicted lover lures him to the light of love, the harder his past works to drag him back into the dark. There’s only one way out of this tangle. Help Wes face the fears that cripple him-right after Michael finds the courage to reveal the devastating truth that binds them.
Two very flawed characters come together and end up healing each other. I liked this book, though it takes some rather ridiculous turns towards the end, and sometimes tends to be a little too dramatic, almost gothic-novel-esque. But the writing is nice, and both characters are well written and interesting. Not my favorite Regency story, but a nice little find.
Brook Street: Thief by Ava March
It was only supposed to be one night. One night to determine once and for all if he truly preferred men. But the last thing Lord Benjamin Parker expected to find in a questionable gambling hall in Cheapside is a gorgeous young man who steals his heart. It was only supposed to be a job. Cavin Fox has done it many times-select a prime mark, distract him with lust, and leave his pockets empty. Yet when Cavin slips away under the cover of darkness, the only part of Benjamin he leaves untouched is his pockets. With a taste of his fantasies fulfilled, Benjamin wants more than one night with Cavin. But convincing the elusive young man to give them a chance proves difficult.
I've already mentioned my adoration for Ava March before, and this little series is much in the same vein as her other stories: interesting set up, scorching hot porn, plenty of angsting and manfeelings, and a happy ending.
Brook Street: Fortune Hunter by Ava March
Impoverished Julian Parker returns to London with one goal: marry an heiress. He'll do whatever it takes, even if it means denying his desire for men.The only things a vast fortune has brought Oscar Woodhaven are greedy relatives and loneliness. At twenty-one years of age, he has everything a man could possibly want-except someone to love him. When he meets devastatingly handsome Julian Parker, he believes his luck has turned. Between Oscar's lavish gifts and their searing-hot nights, Julian is caught between what he thinks he needs and what his heart truly desires. But when a betrayal threatens to tear them apart, Julian discovers he'll do whatever it takes to convince Oscar the greatest fortune of all is love.
I can't decide if I liked this more than the first in the series or not. One of the characters was completely loveable and adorable, and the other was, well, quite a dick, though in the end you kinda have to love him anyway. You can also spot the conflict coming a mile away, and you just wanna yell at them not to be so stupid. Another angst-ridden set up, and satisfying outcome. The third in the series comes out in May, I've already got it pre-ordered.
Protection by S.A. Reid
When Gabriel MacKenna enters Wentworth Prison in 1931, he promises himself two things: never to be buggered and never to turn prison queer. Tough, smart, and ruthless in a fight, he quickly makes a name for himself inside. But life is a very long time to survive endless days without the touch of another human being...Five years after Gabriel's incarceration, Joey Cooper arrives at Wentworth. Every convict claims imprisonment through a miscarriage of justice, but Joey is truly blameless. Facing eighteen years behind Wentworth's towering gates, Joey cannot hope to survive without protection. And protection is just what Gabriel MacKenna offers. At a price...
This book...has some issues, but it's also sort of sweet. Ok, my main issue (SPOILER): so one character is brutally raped by the other, prison style. and not only does he eventually forgive him, he falls in love with his rapist. idk, guys, that just bothered me. Even my overly-romantic sensibilities couldn't make that one right.
BUT, if you can get past that, their romance is actually rather sweet and beautiful, saving them from their dark surroundings. But the end is completely rushed and unsatisfying and just left me blindsided and angry. So...yeah. I don't know if I'm actually enticing you to read this at all. But it was an interesting premise, and nice characters, and some forbidden prison love, if that's your kink.
The Only Gold by Tamara Allen
Jonah Woolner's life is as prudently regulated as the bank where he works. It's a satisfying life until he's passed over for promotion in favor of newcomer Reid Hylliard. Brash and enterprising, Reid beguiles everyone except Jonah, who's convinced Reid's progressive ideas will be the bank's ruin. When Jonah begins to discover there's more to Reid than meets the eye, he risks succumbing to Reid's charms-but unlocking the vault to all of Reid's secrets could lead him down a dangerous path.
rufflefeather rec-ed me this one, and I'm glad she did, because it was sitting on my kindle for months, and I don't know if I ever would have gotten around to it. The plot summary just seemed kind of bland and never really caught my interest. But it's so well written and the characters are both lovely. It's a hate-turns-to-love story, which is one of my FAVORITE romantic set ups, and watching them slowly thaw towards one another is very satisfying (though you only get one perspective, so when they finally come together, it caught me completely off guard. a minor gripe, really.) There's some events towards the end that get drawn out too long, but the ending is sweet and satisfying. A very nice read if you're looking for romance, rather than porn.
DOWNLOAD LINK (password: narwhals)
[Contemporary]
Contemporary
Chase in Shadow by Amy Lane
Chase Summers has a razor blade to his wrist and the smell of his lover’s goodbye clinging to his skin. He has a door in his heart so frightening he’d rather die than open it, and the lies he’s used to block it shut are thinning with every forbidden touch. Chase has spent his entire life unraveling, and his decision to set his sexuality free in secret has only torn his mind apart faster.
Chase has one chance for true love and salvation. He may have met Tommy Halloran in the world of gay-for-pay, but if he wants the healing that Tommy’s love has to offer, he’ll need the courage to leave the shadows for the sunlight. That may be too much to ask from a man who’s spent his entire life hiding his true self.
this one is SUPER heavy on the angst, and deals with some pretty dark issues (eating disorders, suicide, emotional abuse). I'm not usually one for the angst, but I fell so in love with the characters. It broke my heart to watch them be hurt again and again, but I couldn't stop rooting for them. Also, it's set in the world of gay porn, which kind of fascinates me, to see things behind the scenes. A difficult read, but worth it.
Scrap Metal by Harper Fox
One year ago, before Fate took a wrecking ball to his life, Nichol was happily working on his doctorate in linguistics. Now he’s hip deep in sheep, mud and collies. As lambing season progresses in the teeth of an icy north wind, the last straw is the intruder Nichol catches in the barn. He says his name is Cam, and he’s on the run from a Glasgow gang. Something about the young man’s tired resignation touches Nichol deeply, and instead of giving him the business end of a shotgun, he offers Cam a blanket and a place to stay. Somehow, Cam quickly charms his way through Nichol’s defenses and into his heart. As the cold Scottish springtime melts into summer, Nichol finds himself falling in love. When tragedy strikes, Cam’s resolutely held secret is finally revealed and Nichol must face the truth. He’s given his heart away, and it’s time to pay the price.
Ok, I have to admit: I haven't finished this one yet. I'm at the happy part of the book, and I know there's going to be conflict, and I just can't bring myself to ruin the glow yet. BUT IT'S FLIPPING PHENOMENAL SO FAR. It's set on a small Scottish Island, and it just has so much atmosphere. The story is sort of slow and quiet and mostly day-to-day type stuff, but it's so gorgeous, and the two main boys are full of such longing and sweetness. I hope the end lives up to the beginning, because it may very well be one of my very favorites in the genre.
The Winter Courtship Rituals of Fur-Bearing Critters by Amy Lane
Rance Crawford is an alpaca rancher, fiber mill owner, and self-proclaimed grumpy bastard. When sweet, charming tenderfoot Ben McCutcheon moves onto Crawford’s rural road, Rance is very aware that Ben makes it a grand total of two gay men in their tiny town, and even though he is instantly, painfully smitten, any move he makes could be simply chalked up to being hard up. Using his best weapon and favorite skill, Crawford launches an awkward, wordless effort to make sure Ben is kept warm during the cold Colorado winter, every last piece of him-especially his heart.
Ok, not an amazing story, but it involves MEN KNITTING, so I couldn't resist. Rance is sort of a burly touch guy on the outside, but he spins and knits for a living. And he knits things as a way of courting his love interest! HOW CUTE IS THAT?! of course it won my heart. Sweet, cute, typical Amy Lane fare.