Eli Easton's Blog, page 26
December 22, 2013
Eli’s Favorite M/M Romances Read in 2013 — Humor
Humorous M/M Romances
I love witty writing in romance. LOVE IT. I will always choose it over angst or a thriller plotline. Of course, many romances incorporate some humor, but these books/writers are particularly known for it.
Fire Balls by Tara Lain – Flamboyant, petite artist Rodney falls for hunky fireman Hunter, but ends up helping his best friend try to woo him in a Cyrano twist. Awesome.
Hard Tail by JL Merrow – Closeted Tim leaves London to take over his brother’s bike shop while he’s in the hospital and falls for Matt, a lovable klutz with an abusive boyfriend. Funny, sparkling writing.
Pricks and Pragmatism by JL Merrow — A beautiful boy who’s used to being kept by sugar daddies ends up rooming with a geeky nerd when he’s kicked out of his most recent place. Merrow at her witty best.
Too Stupid to Live by Anne Tenino – A delightful rom com about two men who are sure they don’t belong together. They’re wrong.
Tell Me It’s Real by TJ Klune – Self-deprecating Paul can’t believe it when good-looking Vince woos him. Hilarious writing throughout.
NEXT: Favorite M/M Romances with sexy tropes & BDSM
PREV: Favorite M/M Romances with Mystery/Cop/Military themes
Eli’s Favorite M/M Romances Read in 2013 — Mystery/Cops/Military
Books featuring Mystery/Thriller plotlines, Cops or Military Men
Gotta love an alpha male, right? These books all feature a cop, miliary man, detective, bodyguard, hitman, etc.
Basic Training by Marquesate – A closeted drill sergeant who has never allowed himself to be with a man falls for an openly gay recruit who is much abused on base. Fantastic.
Every Move He Makes by Barbara Elsborg – Wonderfully written, action-packed story about a bodyguard and a spoiled rich kid whose life is in danger.
The General and the Horse-Lord by Sarah Black – A lovely romance featuring two older, retired military men.
Latakia by JF Smith – Matthew is a push-over with a rather worthless boyfriend who gets kidnapped while overseas. He’s rescued by a US Special Forces team and ends up stuck with them for awhile. He learns self-worth and falls in love with a hot alpha male. Oh, yeah.
A Matter of Time by Mary Calmes – A detective tries to protect the witness to a murder who refuses protection. This classic series is just as good as everyone says it is — very funny and hot. I rolled through the first four books in this series without coming up for air.
You Get Full Credit for Being Alive by Cari Z (LHNB free story) – A reclusive ex-mercenary rescues a young man beaten and left for dead. Exciting and sexy.
Zero At The Bone by Jane Seville – A hitman hired to off a witness to a crime instead goes on the lam with him. A sexy and an exciting thriller.
NEXT: Favorite M/M Romances with Humor
Eli’s Favorite M/M Romances Read in 2013 — Young Adult
Books that are YA (Young Adult)
I love m/m romances set in high school and college, particularly when they don’t shy away from sexuality. Here are my favorites from this year:
By The Creek by Geoff Laughton – A high school boy who moves to the country meets an Amish boy at the local watering hole. They become friends and then more. Interesting setting/theme.
#First Impressions #Second Chances by Heidi Belleau (free story from the LHNB event) – Set in college so it’s going in my YA bucket. Introverted, online fashionista Jonah is courted by an athletic jock. Very funny.
Play Me, I’m Yours by Madison Parker – Lucas is a brilliant, sensitive musician who is picked on in high school. His mom and best friend are determined to set him up. Lovely writing and characters.
Silent by Sara Alva – Heart-wrenching story of love blossoming in a group home between an abused latino youth and a boy who is mute and believed to be mentally deficient. Lovely writing.
Social Skills by Sara Alva – Set in college. Connor is a sensitive violinist with no social skills. Jared is a football player who’s in the closet. Lots of sparks and angst and excellent writing.
NEXT: Favorite M/M Romances with Thriller/Mystery/Cop/Millitay themes
Eli’s Favorite M/M Romances Read in 2013 — GFY / Gay Virgin
My love of GFY (gay for you) romance is a guilty pleasure. The spectrum of GFY can run from straight-and-gay-only-for-you, to has-been-in-denial, to closeted, but the key is that at least one MC resists the relationship due to his sexual identity and has never been with a man before. Good sexual tension is all about resisting temptation, and GFY is just one good reason why a man would resist. Here are my favorites read this year.
Books with Gay-For-You / Gay Virgin Themes
The Backup Boyfriend by River Jaymes – Straight guy Dylan pretends to be the boyfriend of gay Alec so Alec can show-up his obnoxious ex.
A Betting Man by Sandrine Gasq-Dion – A man makes a bet to get the ‘next person who walks in the door’ to fall in love with him. Of course, it happens to be a male which is a challenge since the betting man is straight.
Edward Unconditionally by Lynn Lorenz – A flamboyant young gay man is stopped for speeding by a straight sheriff—or at least one very much in denial. They’re both stuck in the same small town and desire overcomes prudence. This series has paranormal elements.
Handyman by Claire Thompson – Gay stockbroker hires an older, widowed handyman to fix up his new house. Major sexual attraction follows, much to the surprise of the widower.
My Cowboy Heart by Z.A. Maxfield – A gorgeous young cowboy stirs up all kinds of feelings when he starts working on a ranch with three older men. Just gorgeous writing and dialogue.
My Hero by Max Vos – A gay diver and a straight football player form a friendship that blossoms into love after the football player saves the diver’s life.
Taboo for You by Anyta Sunday – (also kids) – A friends-to-lovers story about two neighbors. Sam is raising a son alone (and is straight) and Luke is a closeted gay man who is in secretly love with Sam. When Sam makes a bucket list and taboo sex is on it, Luke sees his chance to test the waters. Sexy and sweet.
Where the Allegheny Meets the Monongahela by Felicia Watson – A social worker who works with women who are victims of domestic abuse falls for a mechanic who abused his wife because he’s deeply in denial about his sexuality. Serious issues are handled well in this story and there’s lots of UST.
NEXT: Favorite YA M/M Romances
Eli’s Favorite M/M Romances Read in 2013 — Kids/Pets/Families
Books with Kids/Pets/Famillies
Another favorite sub-genre of mine are romances that feature men with kids, pets, or stories with family drama. These were my favorite this year:
Love Comes Silently by Andrew Grey – My favorite Andrew Grey. Ken is caring for his gravely ill young daughter and his neighbor, Patrick, who is mute due to an injury, becomes their knight in shining armor. Has so many elements I love in a good romance – hurt/comfort, disability, kids… Lovely book.
Family Man by Heidi Cullinan – Vince, at 40, is just figuring out he’s gay. With his big Italian family, it’s not going to be easy to admit, even after he falls in love with Trey.
Family Unit by Z.A. Maxfield – Lovely love story between two mature men – one is a liberal gay artist raising his grandson and the other is his new neighbor, a recently retired marine who is now free to be out of the closet.
Hairy Harry’s Car Seat by Sue Brown – Divorced straight man Peter loses his beloved dog Harry and it tempted into a relationship with the gay vet who helps him heal. Dogs and gfy!
DILF by twentysomething – This is actually free fan fiction, but since I don’t know the TV series, I just read it as straight romance. Wonderful slow build, USTy relationship between a man who is guardian to his two young nephews and one of their teachers.
Mannies Incorporated by Sean Michael – I’ve read a few books featuring gay male nannies this year and this was my favorite. Sladye is nanny to 3 small kids while their mother is overseas in the military. When her cop brother decides to move in and ‘help’ tempers are frayed and sparks fly.
Nothing Ever Happens by Sue Brown – Andrew is a gay man married and with a kid. He falls for his straight neighbor. An angsy, realistic, and well-written family gfy drama.
NEXT: Favorite M/M Romances that are GFY or have ‘gay virgins’
Eli’s Favorite M/M Romances read in 2013 — hurt/comfort
It turns out I read around 450 books in 2013. Crazy. Let’s say it was a stressful year, and I found myself better able to relax with a cup of hot tea and my iPad than with TV or anything else. Losing myself in romance works for me!
I went through all the books I rated 5 stars this past year and pulled out my favorites. I loved all these books and highly recommend them. Note these books were not necessarily published in 2013, that’ s just the year I read them.
Books with Hurt/Comfort or Disability Theme
I love books in which love comforts and heals. These were my favorite this year:
Billy’s Bones by Jamie Fessenden – One MC is a therapist and the other is man with a deeply abusive childhood he’s buried but not gotten over.
Blind Faith by NR Walker – Acerbic, reclusive blind Isaac is wooed by the vet who cares for his guide dog.
The Boy Who Came In From The Cold by BG Thomas – A homeless youth is rescued by an older man. This trope has been done before, but I particularly liked this story.
Clear Water by Amy Lane – Patrick is a sort of ADHD spaz who is rescued from drowning by a marine biologist and is taught to love and accept himself. Brilliant Amy Lane writing.
Hidden Away by JW Kilhey – One of my favorites of the year. Kurt is a holocaust survivor, a gay musician who was in a concentration camp and now is a janitor at Berkely. The other MC, John, is a student there. A secondary storyline tells Kurt’s story as he went through the holocaust—educational and deeply moving.
How to Raise an Honest Rabbit by Amy Lane – Drifter and grifter Jeremy has never had a stable home until he finds one at an alpaca farm and fiber mill. Co-worker Aiden wants a relationship with Jeremy but will Jeremy stay?
Never A Hero by Marie Sexton – My favorite Tucker Springs novel. Two rather underdog MCs – one who is missing part of an arm due to a birth defect and one with a dark secret – find love. Wonderful.
The Tin Box by Kim Fielding – A man in denial of his sexuality takes over custodianship of an abandoned asylum and meets a local gay shopkeeper. There’s a heart-wrenching story-within-a-story of a young man sent to a mental asylum in the 30’s for being gay that underlines how our current ‘freedoms’ should not be taken for granted.
December 21, 2013
Eli’s Favorite Christmas M/M Romances
Originally posted on: ThePenMuse
I love Christmas stories. I often will dig into my backlog on my iPad around August and September, when my yearning for Fall and for an end to summer’s heat makes me crave icicles and fireside snuggles. And, of course, most of November and December are spent cracking the covers on holiday romances.
I have two Christmas stories out this year myself – “Blame It On The Mistletoe” and “A Prairie Dog’s Love Song”. You can read more about them on my blog at those links. But in this post I want to talk about some of my favorite holiday romances by other authors.
“Turkey In The Snow” by Amy Lane:
This was my favorite Christmas story last year. I adored the flamboyant character, Justin, and how he wove his way into the heart of the much more masculine and stoic Henry. Henry doesn’t think he could possibly be attracted to Justin at first—he’s *way* too over-the-top and it makes Henry very uncomfortable. But when Justin helps Henry with his unhappy niece, Josie, Henry realizes there is more to Justin than meets the eye. Really adorable.
Sock It To Me, Santa by Madison Parker
Also in the “adorable” category is Madison Parker’s “Sock It To Me, Santa”. This is a YA story set in high school. Ryan hasn’t told anyone yet that he’s gay, but he admires Jamie, a boy who is openly gay, and who unfortunately suffers a lot of teasing because of it. When Ryan gets Jamie’s name in the secret santa exchange he wants to make something really, really special. Super cute and sweet. Nothing explicit here, but so lovely it’s a must read.
The Christmas Throwaway by R.J. Scott
Zachary is homeless thanks to be tossed out by his parents for being gay. He’s going to end up spending Christmas eve on a freezing church yard bench until he’s rescued by a cop, Ben, who is moved by Zachary’s plight and takes him home. This is a longer, more developed romance and it’s a wonderful Christmas read.
This is a kind of crazy, Christmas-themed rom com. It involves a group of couples, all of whom are basically with the wrong person. Some magical mistletoe has the couples mixing up and finding their soul mates with someone else’s partner. The primary romance that develops is m/m but there are also other configurations in the mix. Very cute and fun and light, with some very sexy scenes—all things you can count on with Tara Lain!
Holiday Outing by Astrid Amara
Jonah is stuck in his family home over Hanukkah due to a blizzard. There are 3 problems with this. One, his family doesn’t know he’s gay. Two, a guy he’s wildly attracted to is trapped with them. And three, a family heirloom vanishes and Jonah is accused of stealing it. I love an author who can mix really clever humor, schmoopy sweetness and steamy sex in a romance, and I have to bow to Astrid Amara because she really did it here! I found myself highlighting a lot of lines on my ebook because they made me laugh out loud. The family characters in this story were just hilarious and the little mystery was fun. A perfect shorter read.
Merry Gentlemen by Josephine Myles
If you’re an Anglophile like me, you will love this Christmas story that revolves around the Bath Christmas market. Riley is the market manager and he is surprised to find that Stan, who is the ‘one who got away’ has a booth at the market. Sparks fly immediately between these two, but is there a Christmas miracle that can resolve the things that made them split up in the first place? The writing is delightful with lots of humor (the ‘#gaysanta’ scene is hilarious) and some steamy sex.
Sweet and Sour by Astrid Amara
If you’re a foodie, or just like reading about one, you’ll love this holiday romance. Miles is struggling to make a go of the pickle shop he took over from his parents. He’s in a pretty lifeless long-term relationship with a guy who is probably cheating on him. He’s rescued in both the shop and his love life by Dominic, a police detective who works in the pickle shop for a few weeks as part of a stake-out. The readers will get right away that Dominic and Miles are perfect for one another. But seeing how it all shakes out (and reading about all the delicious relishes and pickles and fermented veggies) is too much fun.
Also recommended:
“Christmas With Danny Fit” by Amy Lane
“The Winter Courtship Rituals fo Fur Bearing Critters” by Amy Lane
I hope you find some new favorites on this list. Merry, merry Christmas! May you find some hot boys in your stockings. J
Eli Easton
December 18, 2013
Release Day: The Enlightenment of Daniel
http://elieaston.com/release-day-the-...
I posted the first 2 chapters as an excerpt here:
http://elieaston.com/books-by-eli-eas...
Eli
Release day: The Enlightenment of Daniel
It’s out! ”The Enlightenment of Daniel” is the second book in my Sex in Seattle series (the first was “The Trouble With Tony”). It can be read as a stand-alone. This is my longest m/m romance yet at 53K words.
You can read a long excerpt here.
And here is my Desktop post about the book with lots of pictures and info on the story.
LINKS:
Buy from Dreamspinner (25% off right now)
I hope you enjoy the story.
Eli
December 17, 2013
Desktop: "The Enlightenment of Daniel"
I've posted my Desktop post for "The Enlightenment of Daniel", which releases tomorrow. The post shows a bunch of images I used for inspiration for the story and discusses what the story is about.
http://elieaston.com/desktop-the-enli...
GOODREADS ENTRY:
Pre-order link (currently on sale for 25% off at DSP): http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/stor...
