M/M erotic fiction, for the uninitiated, is, in its strictest terms, romantic erotica written largely by women for women and born out of the slash fiction world. But publisher ManLoveRomance Press isn’t satisfied with that definitional origin. MLR Press believes that although M/M fiction isn’t traditional gay fiction and that it is erotica intended for the romance reader, it’s meant for male and female consumers. And male authors are as welcome in their stable of writers as women.

At BEA, I attended Laura Baumbach’s signing of her M/M action suspense novel, Mexican Heat. I’d visited the MLR Press booth earlier in the show and promised to stop by for the book — with every intention of putting it high on my reading list. Why? Because, coming from LGBT origins, I wanted to see what differences existed between queer erotic and M/M romances. And honestly? MLR Press nicely blurs the line, blending the best elements of erotica and romance together into, if Mexican Heat is any indication, an enjoyable read.

Consider Mexican Heat’s synopsis:

Tough, street-smart SFPD Detective Gabriel Sandalini is willing to do whatever it takes to bring down West Coast crime boss Ricco Botelli — including a dangerous, deep undercover gig as one of Botelli’s hired guns. But Gabriel’s best laid plans may come crashing down around him when he falls hard for the sexy, suave lieutenant of a rival Mexican drug lord. Turns out his new love interest may have a few secrets of his own: secrets that could destroy both men and the fragile bond between them.

Now, I gotta tell ya: If not for BEA and my interest in M/M, I probably would’ve overlooked Mexican Heat. Why? Because I’m not really into organized crime/cop/action dramas. It’s not my preferred cup of tea. But Baumbaugh and co-writer Josh Lanyon really pulled off a good one here. Mexican Heat’s hard-boiled, bare knuckled prose worked as well in its sex scenes as it did in the depicting the drug cartel crime world. And when the story turns to love, the authors pull off a proficient, subtle change in tenor, one so tempered that you’ll hardly noticed. And they know how to pace a story, whether it’s keeping the action plot moving, reveling on the romantic possibilities, or depicting hot man-on-man sex. Bravo.

And this exercise has taught me something, too. I’m overlooking a lot of good books if I don’t stretch my parameters. That, in general, I better not judge a book by its cover or copy because I’ll miss out on a lot of good reads. Note taken.