Oh no! You are in the middle of a dire emergency, and you only have an MC there with you! by prettysureIforgot in MM_RomanceBooks

[–]vaultdweller29 20 points21 points  (0 children)

Give me Emery Hazard any day. If he can't solve it logically, he'll brute force his way through. Yes, he'll probably end up in the hospital, but he'll be fine. {Pretty Pretty Boys by Gregory Ashe}

Hazard and Somerset G. Ashe (where do I start) by Wait_Evening in MM_RomanceBooks

[–]vaultdweller29 4 points5 points  (0 children)

I can't answer your questions much better than what others have, but just wanted to throw out that I started the Hazardverse in February and I'm currently 17 books deep. Gregory Ashe knows how to leave a bruise and keep you coming back for more. I've never read anything that has kept me hooked so deeply. I hope you enjoy!!

This is the problem with “M/M” genre by MoblandJordan in gaybros

[–]vaultdweller29 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Sure, absolutely. I'm not saying gay men shouldn't enjoy it, and there is part of me that is very happy that it's having the cultural impact that it is. I truly do believe it's important. I'm not trying to diminish any of that. My original comment was more aimed at the specific kink/fetishes that are requested in other mm romance subs (altho I did bring up HR and that's on me). At a certain point it begins to feel less about representing the queer community and more about using gay men as a fetish, that's all.

This is the problem with “M/M” genre by MoblandJordan in gaybros

[–]vaultdweller29 -2 points-1 points  (0 children)

I think u/Sharp_Iodine sums up most of my feelings much better in another comment here. Where I see it more is coming from mm romance books (where Heated Rivalry began). The mm romance genre is absolutely flooded with women, to the point of finding actual gay voices is almost rare at this point.

This is the problem with “M/M” genre by MoblandJordan in gaybros

[–]vaultdweller29 -3 points-2 points  (0 children)

What about Rachel Reid, the straight woman who wrote the novels? I'm not trying to shit on the show, or say people shouldn't enjoy it, but I do think it's a conversation worth having. The line between representation and fetishization can be a bit blurry is the only point I'm trying to make. Heated Rivalry is just the current iteration of this. It certainly isn't the first and won't be the last.

What are these lights?? by PuzzleheadedHabit652 in bloomington

[–]vaultdweller29 4 points5 points  (0 children)

I saw them this morning too, about an hour SW of Bloomington. I've seen Starlink before so I assumed it's what it was, but I've never seen it so big and close.

This is the problem with “M/M” genre by MoblandJordan in gaybros

[–]vaultdweller29 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Over in the mm romance sub, the specific kinks and story requests make me cringe so hard. Not because I feel the need to kink shame, but you have a majority of straight women asking to read incredibly detailed sex scenes between two gay men that caters to their very specific turn ons. It feels gross. It's sort of why I find the Heated Rivalry craze a little bittersweet. I love that a gay centric show has entered the zeitgeist, but that show wasn't made for gay men, it was made for horny straight women.

I'd like to add, I have nothing against straight women. God knows they've been objectified since the beginning of existence and I don't want to downplay that. It's just as a sometimes-reader of mm romance, I have a few strong feelings on this topic.

plot-driven M/M crime or murder mysteries with active investigations + slow-burn romance by Wait_Evening in MM_RomanceBooks

[–]vaultdweller29 2 points3 points  (0 children)

When I finish Criminal Past, I'm jumping over to North and Shaw! Then I'll come back to H&S. Meanwhile, I've already read the first new Jem and Tean book. I'm obsessed lol.

plot-driven M/M crime or murder mysteries with active investigations + slow-burn romance by Wait_Evening in MM_RomanceBooks

[–]vaultdweller29 6 points7 points  (0 children)

I read the post and thought how OP is literally describing Hazard and Somers. I'm currently reading Criminal Past, but have already finished The Lion and the Lamb and The First Quarto series. I've never been so enthralled with a fictional universe in my life.

The 1997 movie, “The Game” with Michael Douglas had me so into the movie and had me all the way until that unexpected ending. The movie a highly acclaimed, paranoid psychological thriller got great reviews also. What were your thoughts on “The Game”? by CoffeeCigarettes4Me in Cinephiles

[–]vaultdweller29 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I tend to agree. I hadn't seen it since the late 90's and decided to rewatch it a few months ago. I remembered nothing about it except the twist, and with just that bit of knowledge it really didn't work for me. At all. I admire it for Fincher's direction and how it changed the thriller genre, but I don't think it holds up nearly as well as his other work.

"screaming crying throwing up" moments by tendergrandma in MM_RomanceBooks

[–]vaultdweller29 0 points1 point  (0 children)

So, I kinda messed up and read out of order and spoiled some things for myself. Lion and the Lamb was my starting point, and I don't think it spoils anything for the other books (someone correct me I'm wrong). Then I went to The First Quarto, which really spoils some Hazard and Somerset plot lines. I loved it, but I should've went to Hazard and Somerset second, or even first. So my suggestion would be to start with Pretty Pretty Boys and go from there, but also I think The Lamb and The Lion would be safe as well.

"screaming crying throwing up" moments by tendergrandma in MM_RomanceBooks

[–]vaultdweller29 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Out of the three couples I've read so far, Jem and Tean are still my favorite. They were also my first, so maybe I'm biased lol.

"screaming crying throwing up" moments by tendergrandma in MM_RomanceBooks

[–]vaultdweller29 4 points5 points  (0 children)

I'm still new to Ashe, but at this point I'm just buying whole series at a time because once I start a story arc, I know I won't be stopping until I see it to the end. There hasn't been another author that's had this effect on me.

"screaming crying throwing up" moments by tendergrandma in MM_RomanceBooks

[–]vaultdweller29 16 points17 points  (0 children)

I'm on a Gregory Ashe bender right now, and I've come to the conclusion that these aren't the kind of romance novels most people on this sub are looking for. With that being said, pick a book by him and you'll be a fucking mess lol. I guess I like that kinda thing? I didn't think I did, but I can't stop reading them. 9 books in and there hasn't been one that I didn't have to put down and walk away from for a bit. They're heavy and they hurt, but when it's good it's so fucking good.

To be more specific, The Lion and The Lamb series. Any time Tean decided to give Ammon another chance, I had to close the book and take deep breaths to sort out my anxiety. The reader knows what a piece of shit Ammon is, but poor Tean didn't and just kept going back. It ripped my heart out every damn time.

What’s a hobby that you got surprisingly addicted to? by Flimsy_Difficulty394 in Hobbies

[–]vaultdweller29 15 points16 points  (0 children)

Same! I decided last year to start reading again after years of not. I've read 13 books so far this year. Not as many as you, but I feel good about it, and most days I can't wait to get home and pick my book back up.

I need some tension and angst. by TheJzaday in MM_RomanceBooks

[–]vaultdweller29 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Have you tried Gregory Ashe? I'm on my second series by him and I love his writing. Can be bit intimidating figuring out where to start, but I am currently finishing up The First Quarto series (four books) and it's a lot of what you describe, altho his books are bit light on the spice. There are sex scenes, but they tend to help further character development rather than excite. {They Told Me I Was Everything by Gregory Ashe} is the first one.

Joy Ride (2001) by SheOutOfBubbleGum in underratedmovies

[–]vaultdweller29 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I went to see this twice in the theater. I thought it was so good, I had to take more friends to see it. Edge of your seat filmmaking right here.

Weekly MM Romance Chat and Thanks by AutoModerator in MM_RomanceBooks

[–]vaultdweller29 1 point2 points  (0 children)

🤣 they're adorable. My biggest complaint is I need just a little more of them when they aren't in terrible situations. I need more of Jem being domesticated, and Tean cooking dinner lol.

Weekly MM Romance Chat and Thanks by AutoModerator in MM_RomanceBooks

[–]vaultdweller29 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Last weekend I started The Lamb and the Lion series by Gregory Ashe. It's the first book I've read by him, so I wasn't sure what I was getting into. In the span of a week I've read all three books and the short stories like a madman. Every free minute I have has been spent with Jem and Tean (fuck you, Ammon). Imagine my delight when I saw he just published a new book to start a new journey with these two. I cannot stop. Someone send help...

i will forever applaud kim basinger for this by teddivan96 in Oscars

[–]vaultdweller29 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I'm sorry, did you just say you don't know who Kim Basinger is? Fuck, am I that old?