Gay closeted action-hero stud caught on video!

My Lucky Star by Joe Keenan

Closeted action-hero hunks, aging diva icons, scathing tell-all memoirs, male prostitutes, and sex-on-videotape are at least everyday occurrences in this hilarious gay romp inspired by all those rumors whispered (or shouted) by the gossip mills that we just can't get enough of.

The story opens as struggling writer Philip Cavanaugh and his hag Claire are flown to La-la land by Gilbert Selwyn, a devious Hollywood power broker who is also Philip's ex-boyfriend, to write for aging diva Diana Malenfant and her son, Stephen Donato, a closeted action-hero stud who has a yen for male prostitutes and policemen's uniforms (and catching it all on video).

Everyone seems to be surviving the madness until Diana's washed-up, has-been sister Lily threatens to expose Stephen's secret to the world.

Although Keenan is the writer of not-all-that-funny TV series Fraiser, this book is hilarious, fast-paced, and accessible. Madcap, zany adventure in the greatest tradition that is sure to thrill anyone with even a small fascination with today's celebrity culture. A great summer read.

Kinky 3-way man sex in the Victorian countryside

An Agreement Among Gentlemen by Chris Owen

Ned Munrow has a serious dilemma. Should he give in to a blackmailing Duke who is trying to manipulate him into a heterosexual marriage (he would thus become a wealthy land owner), or should he stay true to his own gay-sex-aholic nature?

The answer to the question becomes a whole lot easier when the hot young Viscount Henri Langton arrives at Ned's estate. Henri is the blond hottie son of Lady Jane, Ned's prospective fiancee. 18 y/o stud Henri is interested in Ned for something more than a mere father figure, and is also hot for Ned's ex-boyfriend and occasional companion, Truitt.

When Ned catches Henri in the library browsing naughty picture books full of nude men performing "unspeakable" acts , Henri knows his desire is exposed (along with his throbbing penis, which just happens to be in his hand).

A fantastic and hilarious romp, peppered with right-on sex scenes. Chris Owen is perhaps more widely known for his other novel, which is just as good, Bareback.

Drama and Drippin' Swimmers at Ballena Beach High

Strings Attached by Nick Nolan

Hot 17 y/o Jeremy is going through some serious drama. His father is murdered and his alcoholic mother is carted off to rehab, so Jeremy is sent from his ghetto Fresno home to live with his wealthy relatives in posh Ballena Beach.

As far as Jeremy is concerned, life has just taken a turn for the better, or at least it seems to until he begins trying to fit his tight swimmer's body into the jaded social circles of the exclusive community.

Hounded about how he doesn't fit in, Jeremy moves further toward the back of the closet by dating a socialite, and his life becomes less and less authentic. And to make matters worse, two popular jocks have taken a disliking to Jeremy . . . Help comes from (an entirely expected source) the family butler, who guides Jeremy through the intricacies of his new life, and, as it turns out, is living a secret life of his own.

This is a fantastic and engaging page-turner. The story is arranged sort of as an allegory to the tale of Pinnochio -- the puppet who longed to be a "real boy." (Get it? "Strings attached" . . .)

Cute boy scarred by small town blossoms in the big city

When You Don't See Me by Timothy James Beck

19 y/o Nick believes that life is safe when you're invisible. "Out of sight, out of mind" is Nick's philosophy for dealing with his disapproving parents and terrible life growing up in Eau Claire, Wisconsin -- the quintessential Midwestern small town.

But when Nick moves to New York City, he finds that all of his life's lessons up to this point don't apply in the crowded metropolis where he shares a tiny apartment with three roommates. At first, the anonymity of the crowded streets draws Nick, but eventually he finds himself engaging with life whether he wants to or not, as he finds himself exploring sex and relationships.

A wonderful, sensitive coming of age novel that is ultimately about how humans forge connections with the world they inhabit and other people.

Madcap rich gayboy runs from arranged marriage

Alex in Wonderland by Michel LaCroix

Fast-paced and hilarious, this book tells the story of Alex, wealthy carefree son of Randolph, an homophobic oil tycoon, who insists that Alex settle down and marry the girl of his father's choice, in order to merge the two family companies.

With the help of understanding Mom, Alex runs away to live in the French Quarter with his only-gay-friend-in-the-world Jolie, while Daddy alerts the media and calls out the National Guard. Alex and his friend must take to the road, because they are afraid that Alex will be turned in at any moment, on account of the sizable reward Daddy is publicizing. What follows is truly madcap fun.

Follow Alex's further adventures down the rabbit hole in the recently published sequel, Through with the Looking Glass, in which Alex is still living in the wonderland of New Orleans, but danger approaches in the form of that bitch, Hurricane Katrina.

'Nother Gay take on bitch-queen Anne Boleyn

The Queen of Subtleties: A Novel of Anne Boleyn by Suzannah Dunn

Anne Boleyn and the Tudors are everywhere lately, with Showtime's series featuring the yummily and frequently naked Jonathan Rhys Meyers as Henry VIII, the movie version of The Other Boleyn Girl soon to be released on DVD, and copies of Elizabeth: The Golden Age finally reduced in price.

This masterfully crafted novel gives us a much better view of the tragic, beheaded diva than any of the aforementioned film adaptations.

Essentially split into two interwoven sections, the first is a letter Dunn imagines Anne writing to her daughter Elizabeth from the Tower of London on the eve of her execution, so we get to imagine the hindsight with which Anne must reflected upon her life and diva-esque behavior.

The second half of the novel tells the story of Anne's rise and fall through the eyes of Lucy, a chef who is in charge of making the elaborate confectioneries that adorn the lavish dinners at the Tudor court. Lucy is the adopted mother of Richard, her out young kitchen assistant who is in on all of the palace gossip (as well as many of the hot, studly lords' beds). [Richard, a supporting character, is the only gay character in the book.]

Very satisfying and richly imagined. This novel may not change your mind about how much Anne deserved to have her head chopped off, but it will give you a lot of insight into why she did the things she did and made the mistakes she made. And it will teach you a lot about Tudor kitchens! What could be better?

Sex in the City but w/ better Gay characters

The Emperor's Children by Claire Messud

Named a "Best Book of the Year" by the New York Times Review of Books, Claire Messud's latest novel is a very Sex in the City comedy of New York manners, but with a much better cast of supporting gay characters.

The novel tells the story of the intersecting lives of three thirty-somethings living in New York City, after having been college chums at Brown. Danielle produces television documentaries, while insecure, queeny neurotic Julius, a freelance writer, is the gay point of the triangle. And Marina is the beautiful daughter of a famous, power-brokering journalist who is the "Emperor" referenced in the book's title, who remains a powerful force in the three friends' lives.

The three friends negotiate their sex lives, their profound senses of entitlement, and their growing realizations about the ultimate futility of superficial pursuits.

Romantic tale of the elusive HGN (Hot Gay Nerd)

Every Man for Himself by Orland Outland

Sexy intellectual Harrison has the perfect life: He is a professor of history, so his summers are free, lives in beautiful San Francisco, and he has a hot younger boyfriend, John.

However, problems arise in Harrison's ideal existence when fun-loving John decides he cannot face another tour of Civil War battlefields for the couple's holiday. So, after agreeing to a trial separation, Harrison decides he is in desperate need of a makeover.

So, after many workouts at the gym, a new haircut and wardrobe, and a new set of trendy, club-hopping friends, Harrison discovers that he is a real catch. So after a couple of hot hook-ups and one too many all-nighters at the club, Harrison decides that he wants to fight to win John back . . .

A very entertaining story in which all young mos even remotely connected to "the scene" will recognize some aspect of themselves.

Achingly romantic WWII saga

The Charioteer by Mary Renault

British soldier Laurie Odell is convalescing in a hospital in rural England after he is injured at the front. There he befriends smart, young Andrew, who is a conscientious objector to military service, and their friendship slowly blossoms into a fragile romance.

Then, Ralph Lanyon, a man from Laurie's school days, pops back up in Laurie's life and introduces him to a circle of disillusioned gay men who make up a kind of secret social circle in the midst of the homophobic 1940s world.

Laurie must choose whether he wants to travel down the path that has left these men so jaded and disillusioned, or to remain idealistic and innocent, and thus inexperienced in the full and honest love of another man.

Renault is perhaps the finest historical novelist that has ever put pen to paper. Her stories are beautiful and poetic in style, and The Charioteer is no exception. The novel's title refers to the strong and unique bond that develops between a warrior and his charioteer in the context of classical warfare.

If you believe Frodo & Sam snogged

Kirith Kirin by Jim Grimsley

This is the very best fantasy book ever written, and the main characters are homos! An epic, sweeping story with a rich, compelling mythology, this story will keep you interested and excited up to the very last page (and misting up at several points).

In the ancient land of Aeryn, young Jessex is taken from his family farm at age 14 to the magical forest of Arthen, where the immortal kings and queens go to renew their eternal life force. There Jessex meets Kirith Kirin, the rightful king of the land who is in exile within the magical forest, because the Blue Queen has usurped the rightful succession of the throne and claimed it for herself forever. Swayed by the promises and manipulations of a dark wizard, the Blue Queen is perverting the magical nature that sustains the land of Aeryn.

While at the court of Kirith Kirin-in-exile, Jessex finds that he is uniquely drawn to the older king. And soon, he is frequently being spirited out of the forest by a mysterious trio of powerful white witches, and prepared for a destiny that cannot yet be revealed . . .

There are two sequels that are set in the world of Kirith Kirin, but they take place much, much later in the history of that land: The Ordinary and The Last Green Tree.

Secret passages, hardcore boffing, and a whodunnit

The Back Passage by James Lear

James Lear is simply one of the best new writers around. An English seaside estate, secret passages, queeny perverts, hardcore orgies, and watersports combine with an Agatha Christie-style murder to create a hilarious gay romp.

Mitch Mitchell is a 22 y/o hunk who dreams of being Sherlock Holmes or Hercule Poirot, but his insatiable sex drive often gets in the way of chasing clues. As Mitch tags along on a visit home with hot schoolpal athlete 'Boy' Morgan, mystery and mayhem ensue when a dead body is found stashed in a cabinet.

Mitch and Boy play Holmes and Watson as they try to unravel the mystery, and place themselves in mortal danger along the way . . . And they get busy in every room of the estate, and in every position imaginable for some of the hottest sex scenes in print.

Hot, steamy man love and dusty cowboys

The Tin Star by J. L. Langley

When young, sexy cowboy Jamie comes out to his father, everything falls apart: he loses his job and is kicked out of the house.

Help is soon on the way, though, in rugged, masculine, slightly older Ethan, who is the best friend of James's older brother John, who has always known that Ethan is gay. Ethan has always had a soft spot for young Jamie, and Ethan vows to do whatever it takes to keep Jamie safe through the challenges Jamie faces with his family, work, and society.

Hot, steamy sex scenes frequent a nicely constructed plot with believable characters. Heart-warming romance. The main characters of Tin Star make a guest appearance in Langley's follow-up novel, The Broken H, which is just as good.

Gay thriller w/ straight military jock

Blind Fall by Christopher Rice

Dishy cutie gay son of vampire-maven Anne Rice has just published his fourth novel, and it his maturest work to date, though slightly less sexily dark as Rice's previous three novels.

Straight ex-Marine John Houck has returned to America after the war in Iraq, and seeks to make amends with Captain Mike, John's commanding officer who was injured during the war due do John's negligence, only to stumble onto the scene of Mike's murder.

What follows is part whodunnit, part thriller, as John joins forces with Mike's boyfriend Alex in order to find the killer. (John had no idea Mike was gay, and John is something of a homophobe.)

The novel takes on important social issues prominent in today's headlines, such as homophobia in law enforcement, gays in the military, and the eternally changing issue of social acceptance.

High fantasy and magic, and a great gay love story

Magic's Pawn by Mercedes Lackey

This is a very fine fantasy novel of magic, danger, suspense, and a wonderful love story. Don't let the cover fool you: the writing is quite good, and the plot is compelling and will certainly bring you to tears at several points in the story at least!

Magic's Pawn is the first in a series of three books that tell the story of the life of Vanyel, called a herald-mage in the terminology of the author's mythology. Raised in a noble house by a cruel, alpha-male father, Vanyel is near suicidal until he discovers his magical powers and is swept off to a new, ideal life, where he faces danger, develops his magical powers, and meets sexy young Tylendel, with whom he falls in love and becomes life-bonded (a magical connection between soul mates).

Set in the magical realm of Valdemar, peopled with talking horses, and with a convincingly rich mythology. Suspend your disbelief and enjoy a great, entertaining escape! Then, pick up the tale where this one leaves off with the sequels, Magic's Promise and Magic's Price.