Gay/Bi-sexual Men in romance

Acorn · Guest

Hello! I'm looking for historical romance books, or just plain historical fiction, where the hero is either gay or bi-sexual. I don't really like contemporaries but you can include suggestions for those too. Please note that I am *not* looking for erotica or romantica.

Thanks very much! Very Happy

DeeD · Joined: 26 Mar 2007 Posts: 105

Samantha Kane has a series, Brothers In Arms, that are historicals featuring menage scenarios. I don't remember if the men are bi or not, by Ellora's Cave describes them as: "Regency-set / Menage a trois or More / Gay / 19th Century Historical ". I believe you can purchase them in ebook or TSP.

Susan/DC · Joined: 26 Mar 2007 Posts: 1602

It has a lesbian rather than a gay romance, but Michelle Martin's Pembroke Park has a very good reputation.

There is also a Regency I heard of years ago that had a M/M/F triangle, but I don't remember the name or author -- sorry.

KarenS · Joined: 23 Mar 2007 Posts: 861 Location: Florida

Diana Gabaldon of the Outlander series does a nice off-short with Lord John Gray who is gay. You meet him in the first book and he appears periodically in the subsequent books. Then Gabaldon featured him in his own book Lord John and the Private Matter and IIRC a second story was recently released.

Manda · Joined: 23 Apr 2007 Posts: 522

Ann Herendeen self published Phyllida and the Brotherhood of Philander a couple of years ago and it's coming out from Harper Collins in May. It is a regency-set historical that features a gay hero who falls in love with his wife, but also loves another man.

Acorn · Guest

Yulie · Joined: 22 Mar 2007 Posts: 1053 Location: Elsewhere

I'm not sure this is what you have in mind, but in The Tea Rose by Jennifer Donnelly (setting: 1880-90s, London & New York City), there is a major character who's gay. I'm not sure you can call him the hero of the book (well, probably not) but he plays a big role and is very much a part of the heroine's life, and in a very positive way.

Acorn · Guest

Coincidentally I'll be getting THE TEA ROSE pretty soon!

mlg · Joined: 26 May 2007 Posts: 88

I know you asked about historical romance and not fantasy, but Lynn Flewelling's fantasy Nightrunner series is very good. The first is Luck in the Shadows, then Stalking Darkness, Traitors Moon and she has Shadows Return coming out soon. The relationship between the two heros develops nicely. Very Happy

Susan/DC · Joined: 26 Mar 2007 Posts: 1602

styles31 · Joined: 20 Jun 2007 Posts: 43

Lee Rowen has one out called "Ransom," and it's about two men who are in the Navy. It takes place in the 1790's where being gay was punishable by death. I haven't read it yet but it sounded pretty good based on the descriptions given on amazon.com.

LFL · Joined: 05 May 2007 Posts: 630

If you don't mind reading a M/M romance, I recommend E.M. Forster's classic novel Maurice. It was written and set in the Edwardian era but not published until the 1970s. The novel follows the main character first in an unhappy relationship with one man and then as he finds happiness with another man.

Maysa · Joined: 07 Sep 2007 Posts: 66

I loved Maurice so, so much. I think my favorite thing about the book was how Maurice's sexuality ends up being a positive force in his life - despite how society views it.

Vellorine · Joined: 12 Oct 2007 Posts: 106

Sarah Waters' Fingersmith immediately comes to my mind.

MMcA · Joined: 26 Mar 2007 Posts: 625

I loved Mary Renault's 'The Charioteer'. It's not really historical or contemporary - it was written in the 50s, and set just after Dunkirk. Hero is recovering in hospital, and falls for one of the orderlies who is a conscientious objector. The orderly, while he's clearly attracted, is too innocent to be properly aware of the nature of the hero's interest.

It's not a straight romance, though it does have a HEA - the author looks at things like how it affects people when their sexuality is unacknowledged, unaccepted and illegal - it's just a beautifully written book.