Bodice Rippers Without the Bodice: Ten Male-on-Male Romances for a Core Collection
By Devon Thomas, DevIndexing, Chelsea, MI Dec 16, 2010One of the hottest growing segments of the romance genre is male-on-male, or M/M romance—gay romantic fiction mostly written and read by straight women. Featuring traditional romance conventions, including mistaken identities, star-crossed lovers, and happy endings, these stories show both physical and emotional intimacy between men.
M/M builds on the popularity of recent television shows and movies like Queer as Folk and Brokeback Mountain, but its origins are in the slash fiction genre of the 1990s in which erotic fiction about television, book, and movie characters found a lively audience online. Like slash fiction, many M/M titles are available online only. If your library has an ebook program, fans of this genre will find a plethora of titles and imprints, including Harlequin's Carina. The titles listed below are all available in print; most are also available in an e format.
Libraries that have large graphic novels collections may also consider some yaoi titles. These graphic narratives are another influence on the M/M genre and feature tales of young Japanese men who fall in love with one another. In Japan, these tales have been popular with women since the 1980s.
Just like hetero romance, there's something for everyone in M/M, including a variety of historical and contemporary settings, as well as elements of other genres, such as mystery, Westerns, and sci-fi.
While titles vary in how frequently sex is described, be warned that almost all are sexually explicit, and distinguishing romances from cross-over erotica can be hard. Reader reviews on Amazon, goodreads.com, and some of the romance review sites, such as reviewsbyjessewave.com, can give a better sense of whether a book may be a problem for some collections.
So, if you are ready to be swept away by heady romance with a masculine twist, here are ten titles to get you started. See also Prepub Alert Editor Barbara Hoffert's "What Else Is Hot?" preview of spring 2011 romance authors and series.
Beecroft, Alex. False Colors. Running Pr. 2009. 333p. ISBN 9780762436583. pap. $12.95.
When John Cavendish is given command of a ship and sent on a suicide mission against the slave trade in 1872, he manages to lead his men into battle and survive with the help of Lt. Alfie Donwell, but that's just the beginning of his trials. Torn between his duty to the British navy and his growing affection for Alfie, John finds himself demoted and in more physical peril as he is reassigned to the West Indies. Alfie, meanwhile, moves back to his old ship and old captain, who is notorious for his flamboyant lifestyle. When Alfie and John meet again, each is unsure of the other; several naval adventures in the Caribbean and Arctic later, with near-death experiences, fights, and a trial, they finally come together on even ground. With battle scenes reminiscent of Patrick O'Brian, this is a fast-moving action romance.
Erastes. Transgressions. Running Pr. 2009. 381p. ISBN 9780762435739. pap. $12.95.
Blacksmith's son David Caverly is taken with his father's new apprentice, Jonathan Graie, but it takes Tobias, an army soldier separated from his troop during the early days of the English Civil War, to make David understand the nature of his attraction. Jonathan also feels for David. For a brief while, the young men are happy until they are forced apart by misunderstanding. Each enters the conflict, and each finds dangers and others of their kind. David becomes a hardened soldier and has a positive relationship with Tobias, but Jonathan becomes ensnared by Michael, who uses his position as a witch hunter to torture and kill. Period detail rounds out this tale of star-crossed lovers. Erastes is one of the best known M/M authors in the UK.
Hardy, Donald R. Lover's Knot. Running Pr. 2009. 364p. ISBN 9780762436859. pap. $13.95.
In this Edwardian romance, Jonathan Williams has just inherited a farm near Cornwall where he spent a pivotal summer in his youth. Accompanied by his best friend, Alayne Langsford, Jonathan tries to settle into a new life and a new social position, but he is plagued by memories of that fateful summer and his passionate relationship with local boy Nat, which ended in betrayal and tragedy. While Jonathan confronts his past, Alayne struggles with his feelings for Jonathan, wondering if they can ever be returned. But just as he braces himself to say how he feels, danger strikes. This is a sweet romance with cozy period details and a supernatural element.
Kennedy, Sean. Tigers and Devils. Dreamspinner Pr. 2009. 363p. ISBN 9781935192459. pap. $16.99.
Simon Murray is a film festival director in Melbourne. He has good friends, a passion for sports, and a complicated relationship with his family. What he doesn't have is a serious boyfriend. Declan Tyler is a football star and the last person Simon thinks he could attract. But when they meet at a party, there's a spark. The only snag is that Declan isn't out; Simon is willing to accommodate him, but soon the world finds out. Declan and Simon both have to learn how to communicate if they want their relationship to last. With a colorful background of Australian-rules football, this is a less sexually explicit romance that also has likable characters and flashes of Nick Hornby-like wit.
Langley, J.L. The Tin Star. Loose ID. 2006. 290p. ISBN 9781596323278. pap. $10.99.
When Jamie Killian is kicked off his father's ranch after coming out, his brother's best friend, Ethan Whitehall, takes him in as a hand on the Tin Star ranch. Jamie has always had a bit of crush on Ethan, so it's a dream come true when Ethan comes out to him. Their relationship, however, is threatened by the bigotry of Jamie's father and some disgruntled ranch workers. In a refreshing take for this genre, neither protagonist struggles with his sexuality, and their relationship is solid and healthy. This contemporary erotic romance has a lot of sex scenes, but there is also a realistic plot about the importance of family and community.
Lanyon, Josh. Fatal Shadows. MLR Pr. 2007. 222p. ISBN 9780979311048. pap. $10.99.
Lanyon's Adrien English mystery series follows a Los Angeles bookstore owner and his on-and-off-again relationship with closeted homicide detective Jake Riordan. This work begins with the death of Adrien's childhood friend and recent employee. Initially a suspect, Adrien might actually be the next target. Though perhaps more a mystery novel than a romance, this series is popular with M/M readers. Lanyon was also a 2007 Lambda Literary award finalist for the third book in the series, Hell You Say.
Michaels, Tere. Faith & Fidelity. Loose ID. 2009. 329p. ISBN 9781596328365. pap. $12.99.
Devastated by the death of his wife and childhood sweetheart, New York City detective Evan Cerelli finds a drinking buddy in former cop Matt Haight. As the two men drown their sorrows, they grow closer and soon find themselves making time for each other outside of the bar. Neither man knows how to negotiate this new relationship or how to handle the implications for their careers and Evan's children. This romance features two protagonists in midlife; each has regrets and sorrows that they must resolve if they want to accept this chance at love. Emotionally more resonant and complex than some offerings, this novel also has good supporting characters who help root this story in reality.
Pearson, M.J. Discreet Young Gentleman. Seventh Window Pbns. 2006. 194p. ISBN 9780971708952. pap. $13.95.
Dean Smith has just inherited an earldom, but he must marry his rich fiancée if he wants to keep the estate out of his creditors' hands. But someone sets Dean up to be found in the company of Rob, a handsome male prostitute, and the marriage is off. Dean is determined to find out who is against him and recruits Rob to travel to Bath and identify the perpetrator. On the way, the men become friends and soon, Dean finds himself wanting more than friendship. This Regency romance has a light touch, several ghost stories, and an affectionate romance between two equally sympathetic characters. Despite its lurid cover, this novel is less sex-focused than some other titles.
Price, Jordan Castillo. PsyCop: Partners. Torquere Pr. 2008. 256p. ISBN 9781934166567. pap. $13.95.
This urban fantasy series follows psychic detective Victor Bayne and partner Jacob Marks in a world where psychic ability is accepted, if still a bit creepy. Partners contains the first two books in the series: Among the Living and Criss Cross. In Among the Living, Victor and Jacob are partnered to catch a serial killer. Victor is the psychic-he can talk to dead people-or, rather, they talk to him and at length. Jacob is the nonpsychic part of the team, the one more comfortable being out, but neither man struggles with being gay. Fans of Laurell K. Hamilton's Anita Blake books would enjoy this series with paranormal activity as well as romance.
Rowan, Lee. Ransom. Cheyenne Pub. 2006. 298p. ISBN 9780979777332. pap. $15.99.
Pals Davy and Will are both serving on board the frigate Calypso, when they are kidnapped along with their captain and held for ransom. Fearing for Will's safety, Davy protects him from the attentions of the sadistic pirate captain Adrian, while hiding his feelings of love for Will, certain that the clergyman's son can never return his feelings. Davy's degradations with Captain Adrian are confined off stage, keeping Ransom on the less savage end of the spectrum, but love and attraction grow between the two sailors caught between what they want to do and what society allows. This Napoleonic-era romance has good adventure and intrigue, as well as a sweet romance, as the men plot their escape.
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