Ann Somerville’s Uniquely Pleasurable review site has some recommendations for non-explicit m/m romance here:

http://unique.logophilos.net/?p=1949

http://www.likesbooks.com/onefoot.html

It’s incredibly difficult to find non-explicit romance these days – especially if you’re not looking for “inspirational” or “spiritual” ones. And then I dislike reading open book series where the couple still isn’t together yet (I like my happily ever after already written, damn it!).. so I’m doubly screwed!

oh, Romance Genre… It’s not you, it’s ME.

Kind of hilarious that my favorite romantic tv series of all time is Showtime’s Queer as Folk, and yet I’m looking for chaste novels… but the way sex scenes are written generally doesn’t work for me. On screen, no problems! lol

(And yet I admit that I do love Poppy Z. Brite’s Drawing Blood, but that’s mostly because it’s a gore drenched horror/splatter-punk romance novel set in the 90′s goth scene of my youth. I’m resigned to the unsexy sex in exchange for gratuitous blood letting + goth melodrama + and HEA.)

I’m trying to learn to appreciate graphic novels. If I don’t like this, there’s probably no hope for me. :)

Yep, “Homecoming” is a short prequel in comic book form. There were a zillion complaints about it at Amazon lol, but as long as you understand what you’re getting… I’d pick it up on sale or used somewhere and enjoy if you’re an uber fangirl. :)

It covers when Mercy has just got to town, trying to find a job, meeting several of the key supporting characters in the ‘verse. Since I’m a big Adam/Mercy fan and also really enjoy the Stefan&Mercy relationship, I found myself really enjoying a few of their initial interactions.

@Lorraine: Glad to hear of another reader who enjoyed Private Arrangements. Sherry Thomas is one of my very favorite new authors.

I read and enjoyed all three stories in The Heart Of Christmas — I’m going to be reading more Nicola Cornick now, and I eagerly anticipate Courtney Milan’s first full-length book early next year. (I was already big on Mary Balogh, needless to say!)

I also finally read Judith Ivory’s Black Silk — hello? what rock was I under?? Just loved it. I’m glad it has been re-released.

Over the semester break, which can’t come soon enough, I plan to finally read The Windflower, Gabaldon’s Echo In the Bone, and several steampunk novels that have been awaiting my attention. Long books and books with complex world building are not good when I’m in that end-of-semester frenzy.

I am way behind on my print books though and am just about to place an order for an Annette Blair I missed. A Denise Rosetti and Shiloh Walker’s new hunter book.

-Carrie Vaughn’s Kitty Norville werewolf series. The romance develops slowly over the course of 3 or 4 books, much like the Mercy Thompson books and the sex is never in your face. In fact, the first book has no romance at all.

-The Jill Kismet series by Lilith St. Crow has a very low-key, but sweet romance. However, this series is hard-core urban fantasy. The heroine is seriously kick-ass and there’s lots of pretty graphic violence in it so if that bothers you also, then I wouldn’t recommend it.

Another series with no sex and a very slow developing romance is Jennifer Rardin’s Jaz Parks series. I stopped after book 3 or so because the romance was so slow to develop but that might be what you are looking for. Again, this one is more urban fantasy with lots of action, but not as graphic as Jill Kismet.

I recently really enjoyed the comic book prequel to the Mercy Thompson series, “Homecoming”. Not much plot, not much really going on at all… but as a big fan of the series it was fun to read how Mercy's relationships with Stefan, Adam, and Zee began.

Homecoming is a prequel? I didn’t realize that; I’ll have to check it out.

@Silvia, I’d consider this book to be more on the fade side regarding sex…it’s certainly among the tamest books I’ve read all year.

Loved “Darcy’s Story” by Janet Aylmer. I’m a die hard Pride and Prejudice fan who’s read the novel probably 10 times over the years & owns a copy of 4 different tv/film productions of the book, and I found it to a believable version of the book’s events from Darcy’s eyes. Definitely a keeper! I know I’ll re-read it several times.

Speaking of Jane Austen… “Sense and Sensiblity and Sea Monsters” is insane but brilliant. I shrieked with laughter. Loads of fun.

Another recent winner for me was Stephanie Meyer’s “The Host”. I’m not a Twilight fan, so I’m really glad I gave the author another chance with this very unusual sci-fi romance. Alien parasite with a soul… Really takes the concept “loving who you are on the inside” to a whole new level! I’m a sucker for h/h who come to care for each other because of deeper reasons than a sexy body, and this story hit a lot of buttons for me. (also introduces some interesting questions about self-identity [how do I know who I am, what makes me who I am?] and about the relationship between the body, love & desire)

Side note:
Can any fellow readers recommend to me recent, good Regencies, Contemporaries, or Supernatural/Urban Fantasy Romances with no sex scenes and no religious angle? (I love the romance, just prefer the ‘fade to black’). F/F, M/M, and M/F romance is all interesting to me.

@KeriM Thank you! “Remains of the Dead” is now down on my buy/borrow list.

And a shameful confession. Jessica Hart’s “Under the Boss’s Mistletoe” was bought and read in one day–so much for saving it for the holidays. But it was a good read.

Of paranormal romantic suspense I really like Kay Hooper, and since I can’t afford hardcovers, and can’t wait (no way and foot stamp) I’ll be borrowing the latest in the “Blood” trilogy from the library early in the New Year. I really, really want to know what happens with Hollis.

Hmm. Well, I’m looking forward to the book because I’m hooked on Cole’s Immortals series. I haven’t read any books in Showalter’s Lords of the Underworld series, although I have read some of her other books and enjoyed those.

You would think that publishers would at least let e-readers pick and choose what stories out of an anthology they’d like to buy. I would think that it would be easy to do in an e-book format, just like downloading certain songs off an album …

I’m on a Western kick, any recommendations for some good Western e-books?

Which reminds me to ask, does anyone have any suggestions of authors writing like Elizabeth Peters/Barbara Michaels? I adore Summer of the Dragon, Legend in Green Velvet, Smoke and Mirrors, etc. Is there a category for cosy romantic suspense?

I also loved Summer of the Dragon. I’m glad to see you’ve listed Legend in Green Velvet because I bought that one, too. I just ordered the second book in Elizabeth Peters’ Jacqueline Kirby series. The last two have just gone out of print! I noticed a few of her other stand alone Peters books have gone out of print before I had a chance to buy them.

I’m always searching for someone similar to Peters/Michaels. Have you tried Mary Stewart? I prefer Peters/Michaels, but she’s very enjoyable. I’ve only read Nine Coaches Waiting, The Gabriel Hounds and Wildfire at Midnight. From what I’ve heard, all of the others are pretty great, too. (The Ivy Tree, Madam Will You Talk?, Airs Above the Ground.)

Deanna Raybourn’s Julia Grey series is terrific. She reads Elizabeth Peters, I’m sure, because there’s a hint of Peters in her work, in my opinion. (Silent in the Grave, Silent in the Sanctuary, Silent on the Moor – should read in order.)

I’ve also started buying the Victoria Holt reissues. I guess they are gothic romantic suspense? I liked Mistress of Mellyn, but still prefer Peters/Michaels.

If you find anything else I hope you will post here. I keep moving my Peters/Michaels stash to the back of the TBR pile because I don’t want to finally get to the last book.

On the contemporary front, I’m hoping we’ll see Julia Spencer-Fleming’s next book before too long.