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Anyone got a recommendation for a good series with good characters, an actual plot (prefer supernatural), and some explicit sex? Preferably M/M? Most paranormal romances are just too porn-heavy for me. I’m not even sure if I should be asking in the Romance thread—because I’m not sure if it’s romance I’m describing—but I’m not sure else where to ask 
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Mar 4, 2022 01:04
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Thanks so much for the recs!  And, yes, that’s essentially what I’m after: urban fantasy with a m/m romance. I read (and mostly liked) the PsyCop series (in the list you provided). That’s basically what I’m looking for. Book 1 was a little rough, and the later books are a little too schmoopy for me. The Spectral Files Series (by S.E. Harmon) was decent too. I think I read most of the Anita Blake series back when I was a teenager (not sure how many I got to). They just got boring after a while, and the main character—I can’t believe I’m saying this—got way too much action. I’ll try The Last Sun. Looks interesting!
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Mar 4, 2022 02:21
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Food Guy posted:Lots of great recs. Thanks so much! I’ll check these out. I think I have the first Soulbound book. Not sure why I didn’t finish it, but maybe I’ll pick it up again. I wonder if the consent issues in paranormal romance are the same consent issues in traditional romance, just paranormal-ified? That’s kind of what it seems like to me.
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Mar 4, 2022 14:52
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big dyke energy posted:You want KJ Charles. Historical romances, sometimes supernatural, often with mystery or intrigue. Thank you for the recs! I vaguely remember reading the first Magpie book. I can’t remember liking it too much but I did finish it, which is a good sign. If I truly don’t like something, I usually drop it after the first chapter. I mostly recall thinking that the murderer reveal came out of nowhere. Maybe I’ll try the second one and see how I like it. I, too, have read about a lot of really weird dicks 
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Mar 22, 2022 22:57
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Picked up Salt Magic Skin Magic based on the rec in this thread. It’s surprisingly delightful so far and the actual writing is good-to-great for the quality that I’m used to in similar books. Fun characters who have a personality beyond ‘huge cock’, which is nice.
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Mar 25, 2022 19:30
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DreamingofRoses posted:For actual content: if you like romantic relationships developing as a part of the plot, but not a sole focus of the plot and you like medieval(ish) fantasy, I’d like to recommend Lois McMaster Bujold’s Paladin of Souls. I’ve read this and enjoyed. Any more recs like this? Where the romance is only part of a larger plot, but still done right? I’m always looking for books with a good romance as the B-plot.
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Apr 24, 2022 13:51
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Hey romance goons, I’m posting here today because I’ve finished the first book in an urban fantasy series and I’d love to find some beta readers to test drive it. This book features a m/m romance as the fairly substantial B-plot. That’s the aspect of the book I’m seeking your very insightful feedback on. Well, along with everything else. And that’s why I’m posting here and not in the Urban Fantasy Thread (and also because they feel icky feelings when they read about sex). The book has been fully edited and read by very discerning goons (my writing group). Full disclosure: I am not a gay man (I am a bi lady). I’ve written and self-published two novels so far. There is a lot of swearing in this book and some explicit sex. Not much violence because I’m not a fan, and hopefully not too many of the worst romance tropes. I’m basically just asking for reader impressions. Do you like the characters? Does the story work? Is the romance believable? Is the sex hot (or not)? Stuff like that. If you want something read in return, or some small art made for you (behold, my stuff: https://bluefootedb.tumblr.com/) I would be happy to provide. You’ll also be credited (or not, if you prefer) in the finished and published book. Le blurb: quote:Run away to a small coastal town. Leave your dark past behind. Start over. Sample chapters If you’re interested, just let me know and I’ll post (and then delete) a clean doc link for you (I don’t have dms). Thanks! newts fucked around with this message at 02:58 on Feb 1, 2023 |
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Feb 1, 2023 02:02
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dino. posted:Uh yeah. Sounds gay, I’m in. Sweet. Here’s a doc for you: deleted Let me know when you’ve got it and I’ll delete the link. And thanks! newts fucked around with this message at 15:29 on Feb 3, 2023 |
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Feb 1, 2023 02:57
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kurona_bright posted:Would it be all right if I took a look as well? The blurb sounds interesting to me. I would love to have more eyes on it! Let me know when you’ve got it and I’ll delete it. Thank you! newts fucked around with this message at 04:44 on Feb 4, 2023 |
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Feb 3, 2023 15:31
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dino. posted:Got it. I downloaded the ePub so I can read it on my phone during breaks and junk. Thank you! Really appreciate the help.
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Feb 3, 2023 15:32
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Thank you so much! All thoughts help.
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Feb 3, 2023 18:43
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dino. posted:Done reading. Wow, you’re fast! Thanks so much for the feedback. Pretty much agree with every weak point you’ve identified—I’ll see what I can do to cut those down or streamline them. I really suck at writing internal monologues, and it shows. Probably because I hate reading them. Sure, I’d love to get more eyes on it. The same link is fine, if your friends don’t mind a doc with your comments in it. Thanks! Also, to actually contribute a bit to the Romance Thread… I started reading A Marvelous Light after I’d already finished my book. And I’ve noticed that (1) it’s basically what I was trying to do, only so much better than I could ever achieve. And (2) there are a lot of weird parallels and coincidences that probably have to do with using very basic magic/urban fantasy tropes. Anyway, the internal monologuing in A Marvelous Light does not bother me nearly as much as it does in most books, probably because it feels really natural and not forced. And the characters are great. It’s good, recommended. newts fucked around with this message at 20:58 on Feb 3, 2023 |
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Feb 3, 2023 20:54
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run on sentience posted:There was a lot to like about your book. I enjoyed the main plot, world building, magic lore, and interesting minor characters. I didn't find it very romantic though. Thank you! Really appreciate the crits. All are valid. Yeah, so, not a romance novel, but I’m trying to write a ‘romance’ subplot. And this is the first in a series, so I wanted them to end up at the ‘do we like each other for real stage? Or are we just hooking up? I guess I’m trying (and failing) to depict their relationship changing? Richard starts out assuming (based on an arrest record) and the suspicious note, that Jack is one of those types of Black Mages (the evil kind). Which, yeah, he’s being a bigoted rear end. Also, he’s just lost his best friend and is being a general rear end. Yeah, I’ll see if I can make Richard less of a dick. Thanks! dino. posted:Friend began reading, and was like "Wait. So is Jack a girl?" Thank you!
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Feb 4, 2023 00:20
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Thank you for the really helpful crits. I really appreciate you taking the time to do that. Yeah, I’m still debating how much/what to change. I’ve also read a lot of ‘romance’ that is way less tame and I didn’t really want to go too far down that road. However, I know a lot of people have certain expectations about enemies-to-lovers tropes and they are easily disappointed.
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Feb 7, 2023 15:24
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Fru Fru posted:The Magic Between by Stephanie Hoyt Picked this book thanks to this rec. Haven’t started it yet, but it seems like my jam. My book that I’ve been spamming around the forums is out! Sort of… It’s available as a free ebook or pdf download on BookSirens: https://booksirens.com/book/B91TNWB/IVRB02D It’s an urban (more rural) fantasy with a big M/M romance plot (or the start of a romance). I am currently writing the sequel book. I got a ton of extremely helpful comments and advice from people on this thread (and adjacent people). Thanks so much for that—you know who you are! If you want to leave a review, feel free. Otherwise, it’s just a free book written and produced entirely by goons. Warnings: too much swearing, some on-the-page gay sex, a teeny bit of violence and death
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May 11, 2023 15:49
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Thank you, Fru Fru! Yeah, that’s a very fair crit. I was trying to kind of slow down their relationship because I actually prefer a slower (bumpier) burn to a happy ending in the first book. So I guess I’m trying to keep Richard a little bit of a cypher for now. Jack doesn’t know him well, yet, so we don’t know him. I don’t know if it’s working—maybe not. I’ve made Richard a lot ‘nicer’ since the first version thanks to feedback from readers. He was a lot more of an rear end in a top hat cop before.
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May 12, 2023 22:03
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