I started with Adrien English, and almost didn’t continue because Adrien annoyed me, but somehow decided to go on and fell in love with the character. He still kinda irritates sometimes, but adorably so. Surprised to read that another commentator doesn’t like the fourth book. I personally liked the fourth book best.

Mexican Heat: I’m just wild guessing but I think Lanyon simply wrote the first part, Laura wrote the second part. That’s because I enjoyed the book less once I got to the second part, almost immediately.

I’m now reading J.P. Bowie’s novels. Not in the same league as Lanyon, however there’s *something* there – I think maybe it’s the characters. His “Portrait” novels and the Nick Fallon mysteries include recurring characters – all good friends and/or lovers. His writing can be…quite mushy at times and the characters just a little *too* perfect, yet I still find the characters kinda endearing. He needs, imo, a good editor to catch things that made this reader wince (i.e., in one novel he uses the word “clever” to describe the main ‘bad guy’ constantly). The sex is quite mild – very nice.

I haven’t read anything by Charlie Cochrane yet, however, I have two of her novels set aside to read when time allows.

Thanks for those recommendations. I have Ann Somerville’s Encounter series (book 1& 2) in my TBR pile. I’ve heard great things about her writing. I’ve think I’ve seen Charlie Cochrane mentioned, so will give him a try. I really want to read less erotic m-m.

Meant to include Rowan and Rhodes in the list of authors I have on my radar.

If you are looking for sweet and sexy m/m without the yuck factors that commonly squick you, I recommend authors Charlie Cochrane, Ann Somerville, Max Pierce, Ruth Sims, and Mark Probst. Their stories have strong plots, fully realized characters with believable relationships, and erotic moments that are intrinsic to the story without leaving behind that sense of TMI. =)

The thing I particularly remembered not liking about the writing was the body parts that seemed to act of their own volition. That is a real pet peeve of mine. Just say “He entered the room and everyone looked up.” Don’t tell me that “Four Pairs of eyes fastened on him when he entered the room.”

Used once or twice, something like this probably wouldn’t bother me too much. But if it’s a common feature throughout the book, it is the kind of thing that would eventually reduce me to hysterical giggling then make me pissy. Thanks for the warning.

Where does Marquesate publish books?

The thing I particularly remembered not liking about the writing was the body parts that seemed to act of their own volition. That is a real pet peeve of mine. Just say “He entered the room and everyone looked up.” Don’t tell me that “Four Pairs of eyes fastened on him when he entered the room.” And there was a plait of hair that got a lot of mention. I got very tired of the plait.

If you don’t like “Willows Bend” then you’re better off checking someone else in the genre. Her plots do vary a lot, but her writing doesn’t (in my eyes anyway, and not necessarily a bad thing either). So I don’t think you’ll be missing anything spectacular if you figure her style isn’t for you.

Josh Lanyon is an obvious recommendation from everyone. For me his first three novels in his Mysteries series were good. The new book and most of his novellas have not worked for me at all. I hope people recommend you out with the obvious, because there are a number of talented author’s in this genre.

I can also recommend you one more author, who I gather self-publishes (but I read his/her story in an anthology) name is Marquesate. The short story I read was stellar and the reviews by in large are in favour of the author’s writing. So there is another one.

In m/m fiction most of the time I find the sex can be very kinky, heavy on the bdsm or just plain dirty. Have no idea why? Maybe there’s a stereotype there. But it takes a lot for an author to make me love their sex scenes, most of the time m-m fiction writers just use the same methods over and over, and something you’ll figure out as you read more m-m fiction.

I feel the same way. Take one of the more formulaic M/F category romances, replace the vagina with another wiener, and voila, a Carol Lynne story. I used her name as kind of a joke.

But her books are certainly…um…tame. And, though I don’t understand it at all, her books have converted lots of readers that were reluctant to try m/m.

M. L. Rhodes is good, too. And I am really into Laney Cairo right now. Though, they both tend to be a bit explicit.

You should try some historical m/m: Alex Beecroft (Captain’s Surrender) or Lee Rowan (Ransom)– both very well written and not too graphic.

Anyway, those are my many cents worth.

Are you fairly new to m/m? A lot of the things you mentioned not liking are very common in m/m romance. There’s lots of rimming, sharing of cum-flavored kisses, sniffing of sweaty armpits and ass cracks, etc. And men–even gay ones–don’t participate in a lot of dainty after-sex cleanup. I’m not trying to be flip, but that’s just the way it is in most of the good m/m romance. If you want to see the “prettier” (sweeter and less realistic) side of m/m romance, you might be better off reading Carol Lynne or G. A. Hauser.

Yes, I am fairly new to m/m. I don’t get into wild sex from any genre so perhaps this is something I need to watch for in descriptions of books. As for dainty clean up, what I’m talking about is the morning after an all night, full on, no holds barred, tons of sweat and body fluids all over the place encounter between the two leads. And all one of them does is barely wipe off with a washcloth before he heads out for the day. I would find this disgusting for anyone, male or female, het or GLBT. After a night of non stop sex, take a fucking shower before inflicting your smelly body on the rest of us.

I use to like Ms. Blue’s stories. I liked Willow’s Bend, Love’s Evolution (though I doubt you’ll like that book, because of sex reasons you mentioned in this book) and the first two Bay City Paranormal Investigations books were good. Other than that her books have been such disappointments for me. I haven’t liked any of her recent releases, and I was actually excited for this book, because I liked Dean in the books beforehand. But…eh.

You could try Willow’s Bend, and see if that does anything for you. If not then I doubt you’ll enjoy anything else of the author’s. The author’s style and writing is pretty much standard in all her novels.

Tory Temple and Angela Fiddler are two of my favourite m/m authors. Mainly because they write very well, and they’re characters are real with all faults. Kit Zheng is another good storyteller and Sharon Maria Bidwell’s “Snow Angel” and sequel “Angel Heart” are one of my favourite contemporary novels in the m/m genre (in e-pub).

Hope that helps.