1. Callan and David – the two heroes from the book A Strong and Sudden Thaw by R. W. Day. This in a way is a very gentle love story, despite the violence that occurs elsewhere in the tale. Recommended if you’ve never read m/m before but are interested. The love scenes are sensual but not graphic and the main plot of the story is just as strong as the interaction between characters.
2. Belimai and Harper from the book Wicked Gentlemen by Ginn Hale. I wasn’t sure what to expect when I started to read this as steampunk is not a genre I’m familiar with. But I was quickly drawn into the world of Hells Below and the forbidden love between Belimai – a Prodigal, and Harper – an Inquisitor.
3. Kevin and Scotty from the show Brothers & Sisters. Kevin is by far and away my favourite B&S character. He’s very witty and sharp. Though my favourite B&S scene remains the food fight between Patricia Wettig and Sally Field. lol
4. Giles and Alim from the movie A Touch of Pink. Maybe slightly controversial? I know some people don’t like the fact that Giles is a bit of a man-slut and sleeps with someone other than Alim. But check out the quotes page for the film at the IMDB. The film is packed full of snappy dialogue and stands up well to multiple viewings. Well for me anyway. 
5. Zach and Shaun from the movie Shelter. Recommended on the mmromance yahoo group. I loved this film. It’s a sweet romance without being saccharine and has a happy ending.
6. The same cannot be said of the next couple. The main reason I stuck with Season 1 of The Tudors was because of the relationship between Compton and Tallis. So there was really no reason to carry on watching after episode 7. LOL – I would include a clip here, but my favourite scene is only on Youtube dubbed in Italian. :sigh:
7. Jules Cassidy and Robin Chadwick from Suzanne Brockmann’s Troubleshooter/Team 16 series – which is about 20 books long by now – or getting there. Jules and Robin’s notable appearances are in Hot Target, Force of Nature and All Through the Night. I think most people have Jules as their favourite but I have a soft spot for Robin.
8. Val Toreth and Keir Warrick from the Administration Series by Manna Francis. Set in a dystopian future, the Administration series follows the developing relationship between Toreth an interrogator for the Administration and Warrick, a corporate developer of simulated realities technology. Not for the faint-hearted, Toreth is a sadistic sociopath and Warrick is a masochist. Manna Francis makes no concession for the reader as far as Toreth is concerned, but she also makes it clear that Warrick is no victim.
9. Adrien and Jake from the Adrien English mystery series by Josh Lanyon. I like Adrien because although he could be considered a beta male, this doesn’t mean he takes crap off anybody. The relationship between him and Jake progresses slowly over the course of the series, sometimes taking massive steps backward and sometimes apparently disappearing altogether. But even when Jake isn’t there you can still feel his presence on the page.
10. Aiden and Nate fomr My Fair Captain by J. L. Langley. No list would be complete without a mention of Aiden (who I keep wanting to call Adrien because of the previous entry lol) and Nate from the Sci-Regency series. Very erotic and beautifully written. My favourite scene remains the one where Aiden hides in Nate’s bedroom.
11. Payton and Simon from The Englor Affair by J.L.Langley. Second in the SciRegency series and a little more earthy than My Fair Captain – or maybe that’s just the way I’m imagining them . I hope it’s not too long a wait before another book in this series appears.
12. Dominic and Adam from the Morgan Kingsley series by Jenna Black. A little confusing as they are a human couple possessed by a demon couple. When Dominic is exorcized early in the first book, he stays with Adam and provides a human connection between his somewhat surly lover and the protagonist of the series.
13. Last but not least Donald Strachey and Timmy Callahan from the Strachey mystery films. Another recommendation from the yahoo group. And although I like mysteries, my favourite bits are the time spent with Donald and Tim.
If anyone has other favourites please share.
November 28, 2008 at 3:24 am |
I’d add Chay and Keaton from Without Reservations by JL Langley, Tyler and Johnnie from Heaven by Jet Mykles, and Ethan and Jamie from The Tin Star by JL Langley.
November 28, 2008 at 10:09 am |
You know, I’m not big on m/m (or f/f) couples in lit or film. I think it’s because I like to like the pairing because the characters are developed in a way that I can see why they like each other, and most instances I’ve seen of m/m or f/f it almost seems done for the shock value and not because it’s a part of who that character is. I’d be interested to take a look at some done “right.”
November 28, 2008 at 2:34 pm |
Hi Sarah
Definitely Aiden and Nate, Belimai and Harper, Adrien and Jake (especially Jake) and Payton and Simon – ALL M/M couples. Guess you know what I read
In response to the previous commenter, all of the above 4 couples were “done right” i.e. these were romances – the only difference is that they are not het couples.
November 28, 2008 at 7:06 pm |
JenB – I love J.L.Langley lol – Have The Tin Star on my TBR pile as soon as I can find time to read it.
Nicole – I’d recommend A Strong and Sudden Thaw for someone who’s never read m/m. It’s a beautifully written story in which the romance plays a very important part, but it’s also about the change from child to adult and how sometimes you have to stand for what you believe in even when everyone else is standing against you. It’s one of my favourites from 2008.
Also Wicked Gentlemen is very good. Written about the descendents of demons who rose up from Hell seeking absolution – these descendents are known as Prodigals. The Prodigals are policed by the Inquisition. I don’t think in either of these stories is the sexuality of the characters only used to shock readers.
In ASAST it is an intrinsic part of the story as it’s part of David coming to terms with who he is. In Wicked Gentlemen I think the two protagonists come together and because of the lives they lead, in the time that they live and the situation they’re in, they have only got each other for comfort. That is probably an overly simplistic interpretation but I don’t want to give too much away if you decide to pick WG up.
November 28, 2008 at 7:12 pm |
LOL – Hi Wave,
I’d just add that in the Sci-Regency series – My Fair Captain and The Englor Affair – there is more graphic sex than in Wicked Gentlemen and A Strong and Sudden Thaw. So if you were a first time reader and weren’t sure I’d start with WG and ASAST.
In fact I’d probably say for someone who’s new to m/m and wanted to test the waters – A Strong and Sudden Thaw, The Adrien English series and then Sci-Regency, if you didn’t just want to plunge straight in.
November 28, 2008 at 7:15 pm |
For f/f on film I’d recommend Bound (Wachowski Brothers). (If I’m honest I can only recommend the second half as that’s when I always seem to tune in. Doesn’t seem to matter when it’s scheduled I always miss the first half).
November 29, 2008 at 2:48 pm |
Hi Sarah
I would love to read A Strong and Sudden Thaw but it’s not available. I have had it in my amazon cart for at least a few months and I heard recently that the athor is rewriting and updating parts of the book before re-releasing it. Loved your review, btw.
Among my first M/M books was The Assignment which I think would be a good first book for anyone who was looking for an introduction to the genre and although it was not my favourite theme (straight to gay) Evangeline did an incredible job with the sex.
You have to read The Tin Star – when you do you’ll wonder why you waited so long *g* Re Wicked Gentlemen – Ginn Hale is writing a sequel to be released sometime next year!
November 29, 2008 at 10:42 pm |
Wave – I forgot it’s being re-released in December. I was lucky enough to be able to pick up a copy before it was no longer available.
LOL – will definitely be reading Tin Star, and am so looking forward to the sequel to Wicked Gentlemen. I think without doubt WG was one of my favourite books of the year.
December 8, 2008 at 7:23 am |
Wow, this is so cool and you’ve totally added to my TBR pile! Thanks sweetie!
December 8, 2008 at 6:11 pm |
Sarah – always happy to increase the size of anyone’s TBR pile.