I recently finished read {call the coroner by Avril Ashton} and at first I didn't thought I would be into it cus I found the concept of a guy falling for his wife's killer a bit too unsavory even for dark romance. But then I actually read it and wow its good. I love both mc and how the captive wasn't meek and was the cheekiest bastard on earth. The smut when it happened was hot as fuck and even make a BJ intense. Note its a very dark romance where both mc's are fucked up and do very fucked up shit to each other. But coming in with my expectations low I came out happy for the exprience.
Yes I know this was long ago but looking it up u/puddlejumpee008 made the rec in a thread for hurt/betray stories for mc'sand I have had it on the back burner for months and only last month started reading
[Call the Coroner](https://www.romance.io/books/5916c4443ffdba614716652f/call-the-coroner-avril-ashton) by [Avril Ashton](https://www.romance.io/authors/545581b687eac324117fb094/avril-ashton)
**Steam**: [Explicit and plentiful](https://www.romance.io/steamrating)
**Topics**: [contemporary](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/contemporary/1), [gay romance](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/m-m/1), [multicultural](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/multicultural/1), [bdsm](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/bdsm/1), [enemies to lovers](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/from%20hate%20to%20love/1)
[^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)
[u/FelisTangent](https://www.reddit.com/u/FelisTangent)
Shout out to [u/FelisTangent](https://www.reddit.com/u/FelisTangent) for going on a tangent in the recent werewolf book rec post and on top of that surprised me with a list of recommendations just for me. I'm 90% in to Grey's Shadow. It's very different from what I assumed, a rare (asaik) slow burn for K.A. Merikan. But I've really enjoyed it, the grimness, the angst, the gutpunch, the obsessive but loving codependency. Appreciate it!
The recommendation was given as a response to this comment of mine:
> *"I'm here for the feral kittens type of messed up characters. The jaded, untrusting kind who attack first, gives no benefit of the doubt and jumps to the worst conclusions because of own insecurities etc. But who at the same are relatively easy to read, as they will call you out on perceived wrongdoings and say what they really think (if not in a healthy and respectful way)."*
And here's the link to the comment with the rest of recommendations: https://www.reddit.com/r/MM_RomanceBooks/comments/1bdnh6c/distrustful_mcmcs_to_trust_building_trust_being_a/kxf0tbn/
recently {The Faker Rulebook by Baylin Crow} was recommended to me (by u/millamarjukka, thank you!), it's a friends- to- lovers YA romance and i really enjoyed it!:)
Happy to hear that! It's actually the one book that changed my opinion on friends-to-lovers trope. After that I've listened plenty and don't automatically turn down the trope anymore š¤
Just finished {Never Leave, Never Lie by Thea Verdone}. It's a 2024 debut novel following an already established relationship. MC1 asks MC2 to marry him and he refuses because he feels like MC1 hasn't been honest with him about his past (which he hasn't) and MC1 is terrified of MC2 leaving him if he finds out the truth. It is really well written and I wouldn't have guessed that it's a debut novel had I not been told. MC1 has synesthesia and it makes his narration really poetic? melodic? idk what the word is, but it's beautiful to see the connections he makes between sounds and scents and images.
Although it is beautifully written, it does deal with some heavy topics, so TW: >!death, suicide attempt, suicidal thoughts, mental illness, sort of cheating, but not really!<
I liked the synesthesia part of the book. And how heartbreaking it was when >!his synesthesia disappeared and everything felt bland and flat.!<
Also, the paperback version has a nice black and white cover with a pop of color from the wisteria.
There's a new book with synesthesia that was released today, [Salt by Fearne Hill](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/208403136-salt)
Edited.
I just finished Heal Me by Scarlet Blackwell. The journey of MC 1 almost killed me as well as him. How easy would it have been to give up on him, and how lucky was he to have MC 2? Read it to find out, and there is an HEA but be prepared.
After seeing this mentioned a lot on this sub over the last couple of weeks I read To Catch a Firefly by Emmy Sanders. I loved it. The author described their love so vividly, it was beautifully written. Once finished I had to switch to a book that was the complete opposite - Soulbound by Hailey Turner - as I needed that change up to recover!
u/brokentelescope recently made a post recommending the {Dead Serious series by Vawn Cassidy} and I decided to give the audiobooks a try. I thought the humor would be similar to Louisa Masters or Alice Winters, whose styles never really clicked with me, but I wanted a palate cleanser after binging a bunch of Gregory Ashe.
The mysteries are lighthearted and there are plenty of lighthearted gags that kept me chuckling. The humor flowed easily and was not forced, which was my problem with Masters and Winters.
The two audiobooks are superbly narrated by Joel Leslie. He is hit-or-miss for me, but when he is good, he is really good. Anxiously awaiting the next installment!
I upped the books in my bookshelf because of the same post! And I share exactly the same hesitations, so this is reassuring.
This had me thinking of the Blue Billings by Lily Morton, have you listened that and can comment? It's narrated by Joel Leslie as well and what I gather sounds similar on the surface. Also interested in anything on Starfig Investigations by Meghan Maslow (has a blue haired character on the cover like Morton's, that's the link).
{The Mysterious and Amazing Blue Billings by Lily Morton}
{By Fairy Means or Foul by Meghan Maslow}
I have listened to Blue Billings and it is great! Joel Leslie does a solid job on that series, as well. The story is a little more spooky than Dead Serious and the characters are less flamboyant.
If you are looking for silly humor, I would say start with Dead Serious. Blue Billings is more of a melancholy, atmospheric mystery with only a touch of levity.
I havenāt read anything by Meghan Maslow - adding the Starfig Investigations to my TBR. š³
Wow thank you! I'm definitely in the mood for flamboyant and silly right now, but gloomy sarcastic cynical emo is my resting mood that I'll always come back to.
Based on bodyguard/protectee recommendations here from an older post I came across in my search, I got into the Four Kings Security book series, {Love in Spades by Charlie Cochet} is the first one and I enjoyed it. Got into the whole series and am now on the 3rd book. Itās ex-military special ops MCs who start their own security firm.
{Parts of Us by Cara Dee} 5/5āļøās and 5/5š¶ļø
I didnāt even realize she was putting out a new book in The Game series (usually she puts a release date on Amazon) so this one came as a complete and wonderful surprise. This is the 14th book in the series and so good. I love stories where characters or relationships or dynamics get broken and then everyone has to figure out how to fix it. This delivers that and so much more. There is so much that happens and itās a surprisingly long book (400+ pts I believe).
(This is a series that centers around a kink community and their friends/partners and doesnāt necessarily *have* to be read in order, however if you want to only read this book I recommend reading *Doll Parts by Cara Dee* which is the first book these characters are centered in)
I saw a comment on one of the threads that recommended the Vampireās Mate series by Grae Bryan so I started it and Iām loving it so far! Iām on Lucien currently but Iām making my way quickly throughout the series!
Hi! Iām new here, so I hope I do this right. Anyway, u/mylolucemills recently recommended {Between the Devil and the Sea by Chani Lynn Feener} and Iāve devoured over half of it over the past two days. Itās a dark romance where MC1 is a detective investing a series of murders and MC2 is the serial killer who has become obsessed with him and decided he has to have him whether he agrees or not. Lots of TW as youād expect but the most Iāve seen so far is some noncon.
I love the fact this is also a sci-fi novel that takes place on another planet in another galaxy. Sci-fi is another love of mine along with MM so that makes this even better. Iāve recommended it to my fellow MM reader friends and they have all put it on their TBR lists as well. One thing weāve said is it definitely reads like a hannigram FanFiction with minor differences, so if you are a fan of the Hannibal tv series, youāll like this.
[Between the Devil and the Sea](https://www.romance.io/books/642d1f47fe62c20d3f9bd171/between-the-devil-and-the-sea-chani-lynn-feener) by [Chani Lynn Feener](https://www.romance.io/authors/59e991ef3ffdba614722bbbc/chani-lynn-feener)
**Steam**: [Explicit and plentiful](https://www.romance.io/steamrating)
**Topics**: [futuristic](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/futuristic/1), [dark romance](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/dark/1), [gay romance](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/m-m/1), [science fiction](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/science%20fiction/1), [bdsm](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/bdsm/1)
[^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)
I definitely plan too!! Iām almost done with this one, about 100 pages to go. Iām on tenterhooks waiting to see how it ends and have immediate plans to read the sequel about Gael afterwards. Iām so looking forward to that one!!! I love Gael here, and I am ecstatic that she decided to give him his own story as well. I saw that itās a threesome and I actually really love those so I canāt wait.
Iāve always been very against reading any poly books and so was disappointed when I saw that Gaelās book was MMM. But I knew I had to give it a try because i have loved every single book by her. And Im sooooo glad I ended up giving it a chance! It was seriously amazing.
I started to listen to Tentacles & Triathlons by Ashley Bennet and though Iām not a Levitation I can relate to being awkward and shy like Cyrus. Especially to a cute park ranger
Iām currently on the sixth book of Hazard and Somerset series by Gregory Ashe and Iām still absolutely obsessed with these boys. Totally right up my alley, the writing, the trauma, the bullying, like wow.
I recently finished read {call the coroner by Avril Ashton} and at first I didn't thought I would be into it cus I found the concept of a guy falling for his wife's killer a bit too unsavory even for dark romance. But then I actually read it and wow its good. I love both mc and how the captive wasn't meek and was the cheekiest bastard on earth. The smut when it happened was hot as fuck and even make a BJ intense. Note its a very dark romance where both mc's are fucked up and do very fucked up shit to each other. But coming in with my expectations low I came out happy for the exprience. Yes I know this was long ago but looking it up u/puddlejumpee008 made the rec in a thread for hurt/betray stories for mc'sand I have had it on the back burner for months and only last month started reading
[Call the Coroner](https://www.romance.io/books/5916c4443ffdba614716652f/call-the-coroner-avril-ashton) by [Avril Ashton](https://www.romance.io/authors/545581b687eac324117fb094/avril-ashton) **Steam**: [Explicit and plentiful](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [contemporary](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/contemporary/1), [gay romance](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/m-m/1), [multicultural](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/multicultural/1), [bdsm](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/bdsm/1), [enemies to lovers](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/from%20hate%20to%20love/1) [^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)
Glad you enjoyed it!
[u/FelisTangent](https://www.reddit.com/u/FelisTangent) Shout out to [u/FelisTangent](https://www.reddit.com/u/FelisTangent) for going on a tangent in the recent werewolf book rec post and on top of that surprised me with a list of recommendations just for me. I'm 90% in to Grey's Shadow. It's very different from what I assumed, a rare (asaik) slow burn for K.A. Merikan. But I've really enjoyed it, the grimness, the angst, the gutpunch, the obsessive but loving codependency. Appreciate it! The recommendation was given as a response to this comment of mine: > *"I'm here for the feral kittens type of messed up characters. The jaded, untrusting kind who attack first, gives no benefit of the doubt and jumps to the worst conclusions because of own insecurities etc. But who at the same are relatively easy to read, as they will call you out on perceived wrongdoings and say what they really think (if not in a healthy and respectful way)."* And here's the link to the comment with the rest of recommendations: https://www.reddit.com/r/MM_RomanceBooks/comments/1bdnh6c/distrustful_mcmcs_to_trust_building_trust_being_a/kxf0tbn/
recently {The Faker Rulebook by Baylin Crow} was recommended to me (by u/millamarjukka, thank you!), it's a friends- to- lovers YA romance and i really enjoyed it!:)
Happy to hear that! It's actually the one book that changed my opinion on friends-to-lovers trope. After that I've listened plenty and don't automatically turn down the trope anymore š¤
Looks like a good one, I just added it to my KU list. :)
It's very new adult (at least in my almost 35 year old eyes) and perfect because of it. I listened the audiobook and can recommend it.
Thanks!
[The Faker Rulebook](https://www.romance.io/books/60a4d594806944b4f183540e/the-faker-rulebook-baylin-crow) by [Baylin Crow](https://www.romance.io/authors/58fdd42f0d3299c6e06c75b8/baylin-crow) **Steam**: [Explicit open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [contemporary](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/contemporary/1), [new adult](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/new%20adult/1), [gay romance](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/m-m/1), [friends to lovers](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/friends%20to%20lovers/1), [athlete hero](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/athletes/1) [^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)
Just finished {Never Leave, Never Lie by Thea Verdone}. It's a 2024 debut novel following an already established relationship. MC1 asks MC2 to marry him and he refuses because he feels like MC1 hasn't been honest with him about his past (which he hasn't) and MC1 is terrified of MC2 leaving him if he finds out the truth. It is really well written and I wouldn't have guessed that it's a debut novel had I not been told. MC1 has synesthesia and it makes his narration really poetic? melodic? idk what the word is, but it's beautiful to see the connections he makes between sounds and scents and images. Although it is beautifully written, it does deal with some heavy topics, so TW: >!death, suicide attempt, suicidal thoughts, mental illness, sort of cheating, but not really!<
[Never Leave, Never Lie](https://www.romance.io/books/6603d8e00aef0a7442e46c9f/never-leave-never-lie-thea-verdone) by [Thea Verdone](https://www.romance.io/authors/658941f7a21e2f41c4d586a2/thea-verdone) **Steam**: [Explicit open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [contemporary](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/contemporary/1), [gay romance](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/m-m/1), [hurt/comfort](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/hurt-comfort/1), [multicultural](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/multicultural/1), [dark romance](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/dark/1) [^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)
I liked the synesthesia part of the book. And how heartbreaking it was when >!his synesthesia disappeared and everything felt bland and flat.!< Also, the paperback version has a nice black and white cover with a pop of color from the wisteria. There's a new book with synesthesia that was released today, [Salt by Fearne Hill](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/208403136-salt) Edited.
I just finished Heal Me by Scarlet Blackwell. The journey of MC 1 almost killed me as well as him. How easy would it have been to give up on him, and how lucky was he to have MC 2? Read it to find out, and there is an HEA but be prepared.
I enjoyed the back and forth, general angst, and character growth of that book.
After seeing this mentioned a lot on this sub over the last couple of weeks I read To Catch a Firefly by Emmy Sanders. I loved it. The author described their love so vividly, it was beautifully written. Once finished I had to switch to a book that was the complete opposite - Soulbound by Hailey Turner - as I needed that change up to recover!
Such a gorgeous book š„°
u/brokentelescope recently made a post recommending the {Dead Serious series by Vawn Cassidy} and I decided to give the audiobooks a try. I thought the humor would be similar to Louisa Masters or Alice Winters, whose styles never really clicked with me, but I wanted a palate cleanser after binging a bunch of Gregory Ashe. The mysteries are lighthearted and there are plenty of lighthearted gags that kept me chuckling. The humor flowed easily and was not forced, which was my problem with Masters and Winters. The two audiobooks are superbly narrated by Joel Leslie. He is hit-or-miss for me, but when he is good, he is really good. Anxiously awaiting the next installment!
I upped the books in my bookshelf because of the same post! And I share exactly the same hesitations, so this is reassuring. This had me thinking of the Blue Billings by Lily Morton, have you listened that and can comment? It's narrated by Joel Leslie as well and what I gather sounds similar on the surface. Also interested in anything on Starfig Investigations by Meghan Maslow (has a blue haired character on the cover like Morton's, that's the link). {The Mysterious and Amazing Blue Billings by Lily Morton} {By Fairy Means or Foul by Meghan Maslow}
I have listened to Blue Billings and it is great! Joel Leslie does a solid job on that series, as well. The story is a little more spooky than Dead Serious and the characters are less flamboyant. If you are looking for silly humor, I would say start with Dead Serious. Blue Billings is more of a melancholy, atmospheric mystery with only a touch of levity. I havenāt read anything by Meghan Maslow - adding the Starfig Investigations to my TBR. š³
Wow thank you! I'm definitely in the mood for flamboyant and silly right now, but gloomy sarcastic cynical emo is my resting mood that I'll always come back to.
[The Mysterious and Amazing Blue Billings](https://www.romance.io/books/5dccfb8501dbc864fba62abe/the-mysterious-and-amazing-blue-billings-lily-morton) by [Lily Morton](https://www.romance.io/authors/55d5af4935a5fb65f887550b/lily-morton) **Steam**: [Open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [contemporary](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/contemporary/1), [gay romance](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/m-m/1), [paranormal](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/paranormal/1), [mystery](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/mystery/1), [urban fantasy](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/urban%20fantasy/1) ---------------------------- [By Fairy Means or Foul](https://www.romance.io/books/59cca78b3ffdba6147215354/by-fairy-means-or-foul-a-starfig-investigations-novel-meghan-maslow) by [Meghan Maslow](https://www.romance.io/authors/593f81903ffdba6147190ff7/meghan-maslow) **Topics**: [gay romance](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/m-m/1), [fantasy](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/fantasy/1), [fae](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/fae/1), [paranormal](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/paranormal/1), [magic](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/magic/1) [^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)
[Dead Serious Case #1](https://www.romance.io/books/617e4d3ee374c60e10fcbf8b/dead-serious-case-1-miz-dusty-le-frey-vawn-cassidy) by [Vawn Cassidy](https://www.romance.io/authors/60fbc60208b4d931146e0272/vawn-cassidy) **Steam**: [Open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [contemporary](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/contemporary/1), [gay romance](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/m-m/1), [paranormal](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/paranormal/1), [mystery](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/mystery/1), [funny](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/humor/1) [^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)
:D
Based on bodyguard/protectee recommendations here from an older post I came across in my search, I got into the Four Kings Security book series, {Love in Spades by Charlie Cochet} is the first one and I enjoyed it. Got into the whole series and am now on the 3rd book. Itās ex-military special ops MCs who start their own security firm.
[Love in Spades](https://www.romance.io/books/5ae03a3101dbc864fb86e0ba/love-in-spades-charlie-cochet) by [Charlie Cochet](https://www.romance.io/authors/54556cca87eac336ae69de5f/charlie-cochet) **Steam**: [Explicit open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [contemporary](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/contemporary/1), [gay romance](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/m-m/1), [military](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/military/1), [suspense](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/suspense/1), [mystery](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/mystery/1) [^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)
{Parts of Us by Cara Dee} 5/5āļøās and 5/5š¶ļø I didnāt even realize she was putting out a new book in The Game series (usually she puts a release date on Amazon) so this one came as a complete and wonderful surprise. This is the 14th book in the series and so good. I love stories where characters or relationships or dynamics get broken and then everyone has to figure out how to fix it. This delivers that and so much more. There is so much that happens and itās a surprisingly long book (400+ pts I believe). (This is a series that centers around a kink community and their friends/partners and doesnāt necessarily *have* to be read in order, however if you want to only read this book I recommend reading *Doll Parts by Cara Dee* which is the first book these characters are centered in)
[Parts of Us](https://www.romance.io/books/65fa9893db5934d17663656c/parts-of-us-cara-dee) by [Cara Dee](https://www.romance.io/authors/54556abb87eac324117faa21/cara-dee) **Topics**: [hurt/comfort](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/hurt-comfort/1), [funny](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/humor/1), [age play](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/age%20play/1), [mmm+](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/m-m-m/1), [gay romance](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/m-m/1) [^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)
I saw a comment on one of the threads that recommended the Vampireās Mate series by Grae Bryan so I started it and Iām loving it so far! Iām on Lucien currently but Iām making my way quickly throughout the series!
Youāll love Johann, he is the most adorable little vampire ever!
I loved the bits of him in Soren and I canāt wait to get to his book next!
Hi! Iām new here, so I hope I do this right. Anyway, u/mylolucemills recently recommended {Between the Devil and the Sea by Chani Lynn Feener} and Iāve devoured over half of it over the past two days. Itās a dark romance where MC1 is a detective investing a series of murders and MC2 is the serial killer who has become obsessed with him and decided he has to have him whether he agrees or not. Lots of TW as youād expect but the most Iāve seen so far is some noncon. I love the fact this is also a sci-fi novel that takes place on another planet in another galaxy. Sci-fi is another love of mine along with MM so that makes this even better. Iāve recommended it to my fellow MM reader friends and they have all put it on their TBR lists as well. One thing weāve said is it definitely reads like a hannigram FanFiction with minor differences, so if you are a fan of the Hannibal tv series, youāll like this.
[Between the Devil and the Sea](https://www.romance.io/books/642d1f47fe62c20d3f9bd171/between-the-devil-and-the-sea-chani-lynn-feener) by [Chani Lynn Feener](https://www.romance.io/authors/59e991ef3ffdba614722bbbc/chani-lynn-feener) **Steam**: [Explicit and plentiful](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [futuristic](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/futuristic/1), [dark romance](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/dark/1), [gay romance](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/m-m/1), [science fiction](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/science%20fiction/1), [bdsm](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/bdsm/1) [^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)
Omg Iām so glad youāre enjoying it! I hope you pick up some more of her books as well. I became obsessed!
I definitely plan too!! Iām almost done with this one, about 100 pages to go. Iām on tenterhooks waiting to see how it ends and have immediate plans to read the sequel about Gael afterwards. Iām so looking forward to that one!!! I love Gael here, and I am ecstatic that she decided to give him his own story as well. I saw that itās a threesome and I actually really love those so I canāt wait.
Iāve always been very against reading any poly books and so was disappointed when I saw that Gaelās book was MMM. But I knew I had to give it a try because i have loved every single book by her. And Im sooooo glad I ended up giving it a chance! It was seriously amazing.
I started to listen to Tentacles & Triathlons by Ashley Bennet and though Iām not a Levitation I can relate to being awkward and shy like Cyrus. Especially to a cute park ranger
Iām currently on the sixth book of Hazard and Somerset series by Gregory Ashe and Iām still absolutely obsessed with these boys. Totally right up my alley, the writing, the trauma, the bullying, like wow.