… have you noticed lately how every other m/m blurb has one of the characters either trying to escape his past or having his past come back to haunt him?
I know that it makes for insta-plot conflict, but why does he always have to be ‘saved’ by his twu wuv??
Why can’t he say ‘You know what… fuck this. I love you, but if I’m ever going to be a healthy partner in this relationship I’ve got to work this shit out for myself.’
T’would make for a nice change, don’t you think?
Kris + Books = Good. *Sometimes*. 
Can't say that I have
Hmm, I guess I've encountered a few like that. But I've actually encountered one where the guy did say he had to work stuff out first. Um, yeah, like I have a clue what book it was.
But it's BOOOOORRRRING when they work stuff out for themselves. That entails going off into the forest to angst all by their lonesome. Blah. Get saved, it works for me. I think. I have no freaking clue what I'm talking about. Ignore me.
But no, I didn't notice but maybe that's why my life is boring. I need more skeletons in my closet to come back and haunt me. Actually I have a few but I've managed to weld that sucker shut so I'm good.
nothing is sexier than that special man coming along and saving you! being swept off your feet by that special person is what romance is and twu wuv.
Ingrid: So you're saying it is me then. Well, hell.
Chris: Thank fuck! I only vaguely recall one myself, but one of the reasons the guy went away to get his shit together is because the other dude wanted a BDSM lifestyle. I can't remember what that was either. Think we need to read less….
NO WAY IN HELL!!
Tam: It doesn't have to be boring. There can be angst and then resolution = readerly satisfaction in a guy 'finding himself'. Why does he always have to be saved?!
“Actually I have a few but I've managed to weld that sucker shut so I'm good.”
Email me!!!!
Katiebabs chook: Yeah, yeah. Twu wuv, blah, blah.
One of the reasons I started reading UF is because – finally! – a heroine who didn't wait around for the sexy hero to come along and sweep her off her feet.
With m/m I also got more of a balanced relationship, but with the whole dreaded past thing… 😦 Makes me yearn for a 'real' reason for the rescue. Bring back the days of the stalker I say. 🙂
“NO WAY IN HELL!!”
Word.
Ok, I just finished Cheek to Cheek by Chris Owen and nope, nobody saved anyone. In fact, when there were major miscommunications, they mostly just talked about it instead of going forth and doing stupid reactionary things and nearly dying and needing to be rescued, etc.
It was refreshing. 🙂
I love it when the heroes help each other — each other. Reciprocity is a big thing with me. Doesn't matter what it is they're dealing with.
If one were no help whatsoever and did nothing but whine or brood and wait for deliverance, then I'd be turned off.
Actually, I think inner conflict, which might include issues from a character's past, is more fascinating than external conflict. Characters can be pretty freaking shallow and still battle criminals and monsters. BO-RING.
Chris: See everyone. It can be refreshing. 🙂
KZ: “I love it when the heroes help each other — each other. Reciprocity is a big thing with me. Doesn't matter what it is they're dealing with.”
Holy crap. We agree, KZ. Whoddathunkit. 😉
I do like a mix of internal and external conflict; however, for me, it is the stories with internal conflict and there resolution or steps toward their resolution that are the more powerful for me. Characterisation whore has spoken. LOL.
Gotta go. Gotta go in country and try and survive 35 degree weather. Yippee!!
Have you read Bones of Summer by Anne Brooke? It has a nice twist on this scenario and it's a lovely novel.
Romance readers can't escape the Damsel in Distress plot. It's EVERYWHERE.
And no, I don't think it's sexy.
If it comes down to one 'saving' the other versus going away to solve his problems on his own, I'd go with the first.
Merwan: I haven't because I got the impression that I had to read another book first and I wasn't sure how invested or upset I would get because the two protags don't get together in the first book. (If that makes sense) Is that right??
JenB: *sigh* Yeah. Nup, it's not sexy. As I said earlier, give me the balance that I hope to get with a m/m relationship. Maybe I'm being too idealistic about this??
Lily: I don't think you're the only one. I guess I just want more books to at least have some sort of attempt at internal resolution as opposed to the guy being emotionally 'saved' by the other. The other guy as a catalyst – yes, but 'saviour' to me seems more like a hero worship thing than any kind of lasting feelings/relationship.
I read Bones of Summer without having read Maloney's Law and really enjoyed it. It's not a true sequel, but others have said that if you read ML first you'll understand Paul's character better. BoS stood well on its own though; it's Craig's story, and he only appeared briefly (I think it's just one scene) in the other book. There were references to past events which I guessed happened in the ML, but all the information needed for the story were there.
BoS is about Paul/Craig. ML (from the reviews I read, because I've yet to read it) is Paul (Maloney)'s story, and it's not really a romance, more like a drama/mystery.
Not sure all that made sense, but when I read your post, I automatically thought of BoS. I don't want to spoil it, but it fits well with your post and it's really good. 😉
Thanks for that info, Merwan! Good to know that I can read it as a stand alone because what I have heard about it has really interested me. Cool. 🙂