I will be meeting Mary at Yaoi-Con. *chair bouncing* I am so fangirl-squeey excited!
*****
Yummy Goodness
Two hot men together has always been my idea of yummy goodness, just the biggest turn on ever. One of the first stories I ever wrote had two knights who were best friends and traveled around together. I was twelve, and there were no women in the story and my family asked where the heck the damsels in distress were. Sorry, no girl-cooties needed or wanted, just the boys was hotter. As I got older and discovered Yaoi, it was like finding heaven.
Everyone is gorgeous in yaoi, there is clearly the big, strong handsome alpha guy, or seme, and the other guy, even more beautiful than the first, the uke, with big eyes and feminine features who is pursued, sometimes relentlessly, by the stoic, smaller eyed, seme. There are definitely yaoi influences in my own writing and the cover for my first book from Dreamspinner Press, Change of Heart, done by the amazing Anne Cain, is clearly done in the “yaoi” style.
Wild Rock by Kazuza Takashima has a nice story where the prettier Yuen thinks he is fooling the more masculine Emba into falling for him so that their two tribes can co-exist in peace. Man’s Best Friend by the same author has Ukyo finding a dog that, when he gets excited, turns into a very hot guy with cute ears and a tail. It sounds weird but when you read it, it just works. The second story called Summer’s Here Again has Kasumi in it who has “thee” most beautiful hair you have ever seen bar none. They all have great hair but his is a masterpiece. There’s also a third story about a goldfish that turns into a really feminine looking boy. It’s all a pleasure to look at.
U Don’t Know Me by Rakun is also beautifully illustrated but does have the seme attacking his uke, here because Yoojin thinks that Seyun has been sleeping around already and that he won’t really hurt him. Little does he know that his friend is a virgin. But he is forgiven and all ends well.
I have many, many more shelves of yaoi in my house but these are my favorites, the ones I will schlep to Yaoi-Con in hopes of getting them signed.
*****
Thanks Mare!
So, do any of Mary’s favourites tempt you?
Kris + Books = Good. *Sometimes*. 
Some great recommendations Mary. I only read Crimson Spell recently and totally fell in love with it. Want. More. Now. 🙂
You Will Fall in Love and You Will Drown in Love were two recent ones that also passed through my house that I really enjoyed. I'd like to read the third one as they were quite good.
I also loved U Don't Know Me.
I can live with the dub-con (non-con sometimes) as long as it doesn't go on forever. A couple of “no no no … arrggh yes” are okay, but when it goes on for months and months it gets annoying. Mostly because the guy just refuses to admit he likes it. Get over it already. (I am thin on the patience front.)
Will definitely look for some of the other ones you recommended and maybe we'll meet in SF. 🙂
Oh and I think on the blurbs for your books it should say “written by awsomesauce author Mary Calmes”. LOL
Who wouldn't be tempted by those covers?
I agree with Tam about the book blurbs, 🙂
I'm bookmarking these posts so that when I'm in a yaoi mood, I'll have a place to start! Thanks, Mary!
LOL, Tam. You were like me. I was nodding along while I was reading Mary's post.
I need to get my hands on Love Control. That looks like something I will really enjoy. Oh, and Wild Rock looks like a total hoot. 🙂
Thanks again, awesomesauce author Mary Calmes! 😉
I think from now on Awesomesauce will have to go on my books. I'm liking it a lot.
Tam, I can handle the non-con in small doses like at the beginning of U Don't Know Me especially because later we find out that if Seyun wanted to kick Yoojin's ass he could have. And I hope to see you in SF!
Eyre, You should see the cover for Rose of the Rhine by Megumi Minami, that's pretty.
Chris, glad I could offer some suggestions. Wild Rock is really fun. Emba is hot.
Kris, get Love Control, you will like Kei, he's such a pain in the ass and love Takashi who learns that what started as fun and games for him ends up being anything but. And the whole they're both grown-ups thing is nice.
Thanks again for letting me be here, it was awesomesauce.
The ones that tempt me are the Crimson Spell books and the series from Hinako Takanaga. Ah hell, they ALL tempt me! *grin*
Great post and like Chris I'm going to bookmark it. 🙂
Mary, I read Wild Rock yesterday. It was great. I loved the dads' stories. That was terrific too.
I will definitely give Love Control a read. One of the reasons why I liked Embracing Love so much was because it featured older characters who worked at the relationship so this one really appeals for its similar theme.
Fantastic post Mary – thank you so much! I can't wait to read Crimson Spell – the cover looks gorgeous – and I also love the look of Wild Rock!
Oh, and slightly OT, but…Mary are you planning to write any sequels to Change of Heart? I found the world-building fascinating so am so hoping you say yes 🙂 *madly crossing fingers*
Kris~
You're gonna enjoy Love Control, I've re-read it tons of times and Love Control 2 has a new couple in it as the secondary story. Weren't the illustrations in Wild Rock gorgeous?
🙂 Mare
Orannia~
You will love Crimson Spell both 1 & 2 and end up being just as in love with Vald & Havi as I am. And yes to your question, I am about a chapter away from finishing my sequel to Change of Heart.
🙂 Mary
Mary: I think I was mesmerised by the hair in Wild Rock. LOL. Gorgeous artwork.
I've now read Love Control. It was terrific as was the story of the second couple.
Since you're on a roll, Mare, tell me what else you would recommend. 🙂
Did you read A Foreign Love Affair by Yamane yet, it's awesome. And Two of Hearts by Kano Miyamoto is really different, it shows an entire relationship progressing over a few years. Also Shy Intentions by Syouko Takaku. Both that one and Two of Hearts are departures, they are about relationships that span long time periods. Both are sweeter, with real life sort of ups and downs. They don't have the same level of illustration but the stories are rich. For fun you can't beat Ruff Love which has a cheesy title and pets who come back as men to be able to talk and be with former owners only to realize that those men are gone but their ancestors are alive. You'll see, it's good. Kirishima is the author of Ruff Love. You're gonna fall in love with Shiba, he's adorable.
🙂 Mare
A Foreign Love Affair (I picked up this one the last time you made recs on the blog 🙂 ) and Shy Intentions I've both read. Two of Hearts looks like something right up my alley and Ruff Love looks like sheer fun.
Thanks again Mare! 😀
Fantastic post, Mary! I have to agree with all your recommendations, they are all great stories. The only one i have yet to read is U Don't Know Me, but i guess i'll have to get it sooner than i thought.
I know it bothers some readers, but i don't have a problem with non/dub-con in yaoi. Though it drives me nuts after a few books, and the uke is still not able to admit he enjoys it.
Rossy
It's absolutely no wonder now why I like Change of Heart so much. (It's currently my 2nd favorite M/M story, and definitely my favorite M/M paranormal story, shifter or otherwise.) My roots in M/M are through yaoi, and that's why I love Logan's character so much. But I also love the world-building in Change of Heart. It's such a unique shifter universe that I couldn't help but fall in love with it. I would ADORE to see a continuation of Jin and Logan's story.
Crimson Spell is also one of my favorite yaoi of all time, and I agree on the artwork. She can make even tentacles super sexy.
As soon as I saw the cover of Change of Heart, it screamed yaoi to me. I buy every yaoi release as soon as it's published in English (a very expensive habit) and I've enjoyed all the titles you've mentioned.
One of my all-time favourite series is Love Mode by Shimizu Yuki, which is filled with many different couples for all different tastes as well as one of my favourite ever OTPs.
U don't know me is superb and is definitely one of my favourite one volume titles.
Another favourite (and still going after 14 volumes) is Junjou Romantica by Nakamura Shungiku, which is funny and hot.
I'm only a recent discoverer of Mary Calmes's stories but I have to say that I love them as much as I love yaoi.