SERIES TOUR
Boys' Love Series by Rebecca James
SERIES DESCRIPTION
Falling for his costar wasn’t in the script.
This series is based on the boys’ love genre popular in Asian countries such as Thailand, Korea, Japan, Taiwan, the Phillipines, and Vietnam. My books are set in Thailand, where “fanservice” is very popular, and center around the premise of two male costars falling for each other while filming a boys’ love series.
Books one and two go together. Books three and four can each be read on their own.
Genres: Contemporary MM Romance, New Adult
Overall Heat Rating for the series: 3 out of 5 flames
Cover Artist: Feddefar
The ebooks are available only through the author's website.
Paperbacks available soon.
BOOK DETAILS
BOOK 1
Considering Rama's ex-girlfriends nicknamed him "iceman," fanservice with his male partner in a bl series might be a challenge.
Book Title: Boys’ Love
Length: 185 pages
Release Date: January 1, 2022
Tense/POV: first person present tense/alternating POV with occasional other character pov
Tropes: Forbidden love, actors romance, slow burn
Themes: Coming out, bisexual awakening, past abuse from family member, love
Book 2 is the sequel to book 1. This book does not end on a cliffhanger.
Blurb
Rama’s dream is to be an actor, so when he's offered an audition for an upcoming Boys’ Love drama, he jumps at the chance. Due to the popularity of bl dramas, a lead part in one is considered the quickest route to fame for young male actors. Rama isn't worried about playing opposite a man; he's more concerned about the outward affection that fanservice in the bl industry demands from its actors--his past girlfriends didn’t dub him "iceman" for nothing.
Recently outed in an industry that prefers their actors to be straight, Pravat feels lucky when he wins a lead role in a new series. The phenomenal chemistry between him and his co-star launches them to top fan popularity. By the time Pravat realizes he's falling for Rama, it's too late to turn back.
EXCERPT from Boys’ Love, book 1
“Tell me all about Pravat,” my sister demands, plopping down on the gold sofa and pulling a fringed throw pillow onto her lap.
“You probably already know more about him than I do.”
“Did he say anything about your audition?”
“Just that I did well.”
Chinda grins. “You really did. It surprised me. Did you talk about anything personal?”
“Thanks, and you’re being silly,” I scoff. “We talked about the job.”
“Come on, Rama, there must be something. Please tell me.” She pouts. My sister and I have always been close, and I admit I cave to her wiles most of the time.
“He told me he’s still in university and that he’s gay but doesn’t have a boyfriend right now. He said boyfriends tend to get jealous of what he does. This is just between us,” I belatedly warn her.
“It’s not a secret that he’s gay. That came out sometime last year when he was outed by his co-star.”
I frown. “He was outed? That’s awful.”
Chinda nods. “Yeah. Especially since it’s preferred that bl actors be straight. His co-star claimed Pravat came onto him, which makes Pravat sound like a troublemaker. I think the guy lied because he was jealous of Pravat’s popularity.”
My mind snags on the first thing she said. “Why do they prefer the actors to be straight? I would think gay actors would do better in a gay romance.”
Chinda shrugs. “Less drama, I guess. Easier if there’s no chance of feelings getting into the way. I think, too, that viewers like the idea of two men falling in love against their natural inclinations. What else did you and Pravat talk about?”
I’m digesting the information and take a moment to respond. “He mentioned Y-couples, and I told him you’d bring me up to speed on them.”
“I can definitely do that.” Jumping up from her seat, my sister runs for her room, returning seconds later with her iPad. “As I’ve already explained to you, the term Y-couple comes from Yaoi, a popular genre in Japan that pairs two men together.” She pulls up a video. “This is the most popular Y-couple right now. ChaoFinn.”
I frown, looking at the thumbnail of two guys smiling at the camera. “What kind of name is that?”
“It’s their ship name. Their two names together, Chao and Finn. You and Pravat have already been dubbed Pravma.”
I watch the video, taken at a fan meeting, of Chao and Finn holding hands, wrapping their arms around each other, and doing other romantic things that have their fans screaming and clapping for them. When Chao sits down and pulls Finn onto his lap, the cheers and applause get even louder.
“This is what you have to look forward to,” my sister says, smiling.
Alarmed, I look from the screen to her and back again. “Do you really think so?”
“Yes. Believe me, the two of you are hot together. I mean, from an outsider’s standpoint. You’re my brother and not hot to me.”
I chuckle. “Thanks for clearing that up. But can you really imagine me sitting on someone’s lap like this?” I ask. Imagining doing that with Pravat Benjawan has my face heating.
“If you allow yourself to relax, maybe. You have to play the game if you want the fame. That reminds me. You need a manager.”
I groan. “They’ve already started calling me. I have no idea who to pick.”
“Ask Pravat. I’m sure he can help you with that. You’re going to have to put yourself out there, Rama.”
Annoyed at being lectured by my younger sister, I harrumph and go back to watching the video.
Ornery Owl's Review
Rating: Five out of Five Stars
Although I am familiar with Yaoi as a specific type of m/m romance written by women for women, and with Thai Lakorns, I was not familiar with the Thai Boys Love genre. Nevertheless, these books sounded like I would enjoy them, and they certainly didn't disappoint. Although there is ample drama, Boys Love is not as melodramatic as Lakorns are.
As well as providing plenty of will they or won't they angst and slow burn romance, this story addresses the hypocrisy of audiences enjoying watching two attractive men being sexy and romantic with each other but expecting them to be straight in real life even while speculating that they can't resist each other. The pragmatist in me said, "Stop with the foolishness and let them be together!"
Rama and Pravat are drawn to each other from the start. Even though Rama has previously only dated women, the more time he spends with Pravat, the more he realizes he doesn't want to be with anyone else. Even though Rama and Pravat have powerful chemistry both onscreen and off, they need to hide the truth about their attraction or they risk losing their hard-earned position in the Boys Love industry.
Pravat also helps Rama deal with a serious situation that will come up again in the second book.
This story is perfect for the reader who enjoys a strong connection that is there from the beginning. Due to explicit intimate scenes, it is suitable only for adult audiences.
BOOK 2
Rama considered himself to be straight until he fell for his male costar in a Thai boys' love series.
Book Title: In Love
Length: 197 pages
Release Date: February 27, 2022
Tropes: friends to lovers, coworkers, actors, hurt/comfort
Themes: bisexual awakening, coming out, childhood trauma
This is a sequel to book 1. It does not end on a cliffhanger.
Blurb
It sounds like a TV romance, but for Rama Sathianthai, it's reality. The chemistry between the two young actors and their popularity as a couple has won them a second season of their series, which means they'll have to keep their budding relationship a secret. The bl industry frowns on gay actors, particularly those who want to date each other. But the couple is determined to make things work. Meanwhile, the upcoming wedding of his favorite cousin threatens to throw Rama into family drama due to his recent confession that his aunt molested him when he was an adolescent. With the cards stacked against them, Rama and Pravat worry that love might not be enough to keep them together.
BOOK 3
It's difficult to remain professional when your new BL partner is your old crush.
Book Title: Baby Love
Length: 260 pages
Release Date: January 1, 2023
Tropes: Co-workers romance, actors romance, hurt/comfort
Themes: Coming out, childhood trauma, family loyalty, love
It is a standalone story and does not end on a cliffhanger.
Blurb
When Spin--or "Baby," as his friends nicknamed him due to his affectionate and clingy nature--joins a new Boys' Love production company, he never expects to be coupled with his old crush from university, Park Rardchawat. He knows from experience how easy it is to get too attached to your partner in this business, and, with his sister's tuition to pay for, he can't afford to get lost in his feelings. But with competitive fanservice blurring the lines, it isn't long before Spin finds himself falling hard for his handsome costar. Now, it's his heart as well as his job he has to worry about.
Ornery Owl's Review
Five out of Five Stars
Spin starred as Baby in a University production of Dirty Dancing which re-imagined the story as a gay romance. He never expected to work with Park again, but when they are cast together in a Boys Love drama, the sparks fly.
Spin has had to be a father to his younger sister ever since their parents were killed in an accident. He often feels guilty about the amount of time he has to spend away from her to earn a living. He is delighted when he sees that Park seems to actually care about his sister too.
The interactions between the characters are believable. Daw is spectacularly awful as the controlling girlfriend of Park's friend Kiet. This book is perfect for the reader who enjoys high drama with a happy resolution. As with the other books in the series, the story is suitable only for adult readers due to explicit intimate scenes.
BOOK 4
Can two best friends play lovers for the camera?
Book Title: Friend Ship
Length: 285 pages
Release Date: August 1, 2025
Tropes: best friends to lovers, hurt/comfort, extravert/intravert
Themes: found family, parental rejection, responsibility, love
It is a standalone story and does not end on a cliffhanger.
Blurb
The only reason Mee Noi agrees to help Sud with his video exam for theater arts is because Sud insists Mee Noi is the only guy he can convincingly do a love scene with. Neither of them expect the project to turn into an offer to play a couple in a boys' love series, but that's exactly what happens. Since it's Sud's big chance to make his dream of being an actor a reality, Mee Noi is determined to make it work. But although acting is surprisingly fun, it's also stressful and exhausting, especially when you don't know what you're doing, and soon it begins to take both a physical and a psychological toll on Mee Noi as painful memories from the past begin to surface.
When Sud's video project wins him and Mee Noi an audition for a bl series, it's a dream come true. But he's pretty sure it's more of a nightmare for his introverted friend, who only got into this to help Sud out. Yet Mee Noi accepts the part when it's offered, and the gesture adds to the budding feelings Sud's starting to have for his best friend. When Mee Noi has a frightening panic attack at work, Sud tells himself that he must bury those feelings. Mee Noi hasn't had an easy life; the last thing Sud wants to do is put more pressure on him.
The worst irony would be for them to play friends-to-lovers in the series only to have their real friendship end because of it.
About the Author
Rebecca James grew up escaping into books because book people were more interesting than real-life people. This naturally led to creating her own book people and the worlds they live in. Somewhere during all this, Rebecca found herself captivated with the tender side of relationships between men, which eventually led her to write "slash" (M/M) fanfiction and later to brave the world of M/M romance publishing. If she could write full time, all the time, she would be happiest. Whether she's writing about tough bikers, hot shifters, aliens, or Thai actors falling in love on the job, Rebecca puts passion into all her characters.
Author Links
Website | Facebook | Facebook group: Rebecca’s Romantic Readers
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