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Mandi recs m/m romances 'Tigerland, 'Starfish & Coffee'

Mandi Schreiner, USA TODAY

While glancing through the books I've read this past week, I noticed several male/male romances, so I'll share a couple that I really enjoyed.

Tigerland by Sean Kennedy (male/male contemporary). The sequel to Tigers & Devils, Tigerland revisits Australian Football star Declan and his television producer boyfriend, Simon. Taking place three years later, the media hype of Declan coming out of the closet has died down and these two are in love and comfortable. But when another player comes out, and happens to be an ex-boyfriend of Declan's, the media circus starts up again. I adore these books, especially Simon's voice. Simon is cynical about the world, yet you can't help but fall in love with him. We not only get a nice romance but a cast of characters that will make you giggle all the way through the books. I encourage you to read Tigers & Devils first.

Starfish & Coffee by Kele Moon (erotic male/male contemporary). In this stand-alone contemporary, we meet Alex and Matt who were lovers before a nasty fight broke them up. We quickly go back six years to see how they met and fell in love. Alex is a cook in a diner on a small island and Matt is a wealthy college graduate on the island taking a year off. They have intense physical attraction that quickly turns into love. But they come from different backgrounds and their lives start to take different paths. This book is full of some very steamy romance scenes. A fun, quick read.

The Hot Floor by Josephine Myles (erotic male/male/male contemporary). I have yet to read this one, but my review partner gives it the thumbs-up. After breaking up with his boyfriend, glass-blower Josh moves into an attic apartment. Down below, Rai and Evan live together, and when there is an accident in Josh's apartment and he can't stay there, Rai and Evan invite him to crash at their place for a while. Josh is shy but interested when Rai and Evan approach him for a ménage. Multiple-partner relationships don't always work for me in romances, but this one sounds like it might. My review partner said they go through jealously and discussion of how the future might play out if they really commit to each other, something I like: ménage happy ever afters.

Romance news

J.R. Ward has given us an excerpt from her upcoming Black Dagger Brotherhood release, Lover at Last, on her Facebook page as well as the back cover copy. All I can say is, I can't wait for Blay and Qhuinn to finally find happiness together!

Kresley Cole has given us a five-chapter excerpt for Shadow's Claim, the first in her Dacian series. This is a spin-off from her Immortals After Dark series. For those who read Lothaire, we met the Dacians in his book. This one releases Nov. 27, and I can't wait!

I read the self-published contemporary On Dublin Street by Samantha Young recently and really enjoyed it. She just posted on her website that On Dublin Street has been picked up by Penguin, and a second book is planned. You can buy the e-book now with the print release coming this December.

Mandi Schreiner started romance review blog Smexy Books in 2009. She is obsessed with reading romance novels and collecting fictional boyfriends.

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