The Cut & Run series by Abigail Roux (with Madeleine Urban on the first four books.) These are my #1 with-a-bullet series that I recommend for anyone getting started with M/M Romance. A few things to know:
- Ignore the head-hopping POV issues in the first book. Clearly they had a terrible editor, because by the second book, someone had taken them in hand and told them to knock that shit off, and from there on, each book just got better and better.
- The first five books were published by a publisher who no longer has the rights to them. So they're not available for purchase anywhere. I posted them here a few years ago but I don't think I still have those same files anymore (I edited the metadata) so if it's not seeded, let me know.
- Stop and read "Warrior's Cross" (never available in audio, no longer available in print, so if you can't find it, let me know and I'lll hook you up)
- You may wish to consider holding off a few months or so, and see how the progress is going on the re-release of the first five books (hopefully WITH "Warriors Cross" through the publisher that released books 6-9 and the spin-off series, "Sidewinder". When that happens, the POV issues from the first book WILL be fixed, because that publisher always has top-notch editing.
The Whyborne & Griffin series, by Jordan L. Hawk.
Absolutely terrific, turn-of-the-20th century historical, paranormal romance with a touch of semi-Lovecraftian horror in the mix. Amazing characters, amazing storytelling. Can't recommend it highly enough, and its spin-off series ("Rath & Rune") looks like it will be more of the same sort of good stuff, plus tentacles.
Pretty much anything Rhys Ford has ever written. She spins great mysteries, even if she has a couple writing tics that become apparent after time.
Charlie Cochet has a truly unique and interesting mythology behind her therianthrope/shapeshifter characters in her THIRDS universe. You may not find yourself as emotionally invested in these characters as in other series, but they're always a really good time.
Amy Lane excels at two things: Light, fluffy romance, and omg-where-are-those-ninja-onion-cutters-hiding? stories about broken people who make you cry (a lot!) as they heal their damage to move on to a better life.
Fluffy recs:
Granby Knitters series
The Mannies series
A bunch of stand-alones
Anything else published as part of the Dreamspun Desires line of releases
Angsty recs (in order):
Johnnies #1-5
Racing for the Sun
Fish Out of Water #1-3
Hiding the Moon (Racing for the Sun#2/Fish #4)
**not available in audio from this point on, though I've written to the publisher and let them know the audio-readers of these series have been left hanging**
Fish on a Bicycle (Fish #5 with guest appearances from Johnnies characters)
Shades of Henry (The Flophouse #1, which also involves Fish characters)
School of Fish (Fish #6, where the Fishiverse and the Racing-verse and the Flophouse/Johnnies-verse all mingle)
Constantly Cotton (The Flophouse #2)
Fish in a Barrel (Fish #7)
C.S. Pacat's "Captive Prince" trilogy.
Riptide Publishing's Bluewater Bay universe (multi-author)
Anne Tenino's "Theta Alpha Gamma" series and "Too Stupid to Live." HILARIOUS author.
I haven't caught up with all her books yet, but so far I've really enjoyed Alice Winters, particularly her "In Darkness" series and her "Medium Trouble" series.
Leta Blake. Full stop. Leta is an AMAZING author, all around.
Those are my top picks.
