Fandom: WITHOUT A TRACE
Pairing: Danny/Martin
Author on LJ: nekosmuse
Author's website: nekosmuse.com
Why this must be read:

I've heard that people sometimes accuse the Danny/Martin subsidiary of Without a Trace fandom of being all about porn. It's true that there are a lot of R and NC17 stories focusing on the pairing, and it's also true that there are a lot of PWPs. But we all know that it's entirely possible for a story to have very hot sex without that being the main focus, and "Reverence" is one of those.

If you asked Neko she would probably try to tell you that this fic is just a long PWP. There was an actual plot at one time, but she killed as much of it as possible and 'focused on the sex' (I'm paraphrasing, but I'm pretty sure that's what she said as she was writing it). So the case-centric plot might be merely a backdrop to Danny and Martin's sexual adventures, but she never managed to kill the relationship-building they do in this fic.

It's an established relationship piece, but it reads like a first-time story because we watch as Danny and Martin make the journey from 'just sex' to 'what are we doing' to not quite saying 'I love you', and it's told so well that the journey itself becomes the focus of the story. There's definitely lots and lots of really hot sex -- it's practically impossible to write a Danny/Martin fic without hot sex, considering how much chemistry they have whenever they're onscreen together -- but in the end they also respect and care about each other, and that really shows through in this piece.

Also, it's really hot. And there's blasphemy, which is one of my favorite kinks.

Reverence

I suck! I suck! I suck! Sorry I so late this month for reccing. My only excuse is... um... I have a gay dad???

Fandom: The OC
Pairing: Ryan/Seth
Author on LJ: hyperfocused
Author's website: Poetry, Fics, and Random Obsessions
Why this must be read: I love all of HYPERfocused's OC stuff, so read them all, but this one sticks out to me for its simplicity and the way she write Seth just seems right on to me. I've noticed a tendency for people to overwrite Seth and Hyperfocused somehow manages to just let Seth by Seth. I also enjoy the shift in perspective between Seth and Ryan. They view the world in such different ways that its fun to get to see inside both of their heads.

The Shores of Freedom

Fandom: OZ
Pairing: Beecher/R O'Reilly
Author on LJ: lexa_c
Author Website: N/A
Why this must be read: I'm a Chris/Toby ho but I've always had a soft spot for Ryan. But I have never really bought into Ryan being slashed, he was too straight/too het that it seemed forced or highly unlikely. But with this AU - Solace - I could believe it.

After the mess of their own lovelives and with the responsibility of caring for Cyril, Ryan and Toby find themselves growing closer. It's far from the all-consuming passion they have for Gloria and Keller, but they've been burned. It's kinda sweet in a way that with each other, they find a quiet corner where they can be safe. To touch and be touched, to not hurt anymore. That's what they have to offer to one another.

It's full of angst, since both have to deal with the object of their affection as well as the source of their pain. But it's very interesting (and a bit endearing) how both Ryan and Toby negotiate the rocky path to a little bit of happiness in the hellhole that is Oz.

Solace

There's a sorta sequel if you want to see how it works out for these two: Gift: A Solace Interlude

Fandom: Gundam Wing
Pairing: Duo/Wufei, Heero/Duo/Wufei
Author on LJ: keelywolfe
Author Website: Keelywolfe's Fanfiction Shoppe
Why this must be read:

Because it's a really good threesome story that keeps everyone in character and has hot sex.

I love Keelywolfe's Duo (in all her stories), there aren't many people who can write him well.

From a Goodnight Kiss

Fandom: LORD OF THE RINGS
Pairing: various implied
Author on LJ: tyellas
Author Website: Ansereg (adult site)
Why this must be read:

Ever thought there was something missing from Tolkien's account of Middle-earth? Tyellas explains why in this hilarious yet plausible vignette. There's some great character voices too. Not to be missed!

Lost in the Translation

See the author's website for an excellent essay on the same topic, Warm Beds are Good (pdf format). The nervous or under-age should note that much of Tyellas' fiction is rated NC-17.

Fandom: DUE SOUTH
Pairing: Ray Kowalski/Benton Fraser
Authors' Websites:
      Kass - http://www.trickster.org/kass/
     Starfish - http://starfish.mrks.org/
Authors on LJ:
     Kass - kassrachel
     Starfish - the_star_fish


Why this must be read:

One could argue that the premise for this fic is a bit tired and overdone: the guys are shocked to discover that others assume they're a couple even though they're not, and though they at first vehemently deny it and claim that there's been a terrible misunderstanding, the gears have started turning. Eventually, usually after further denials and misunderstandings, they finally see - duh! - what everyone else already knew and what's been in front of their faces all along.

But there's a reason premises like these are tired and overdone - because we like them, they allow us to explore the themes we want to explore in slash - and when they're done well, they work! Parental Guidance is a perfect example. In this story it's Ray's parents who jump to conclusions. Ray doesn't realize what they're thinking at first, though he's vaguely baffled by their suddenly slightly odd behavior - his mother takes Fraser curtain shopping, he goes to dinner at his parents' trailer and sees a brand new rainbow sticker on the RV, his father makes an out-of-left-field comment about not judging people for how they choose to live their lives. Not really all that subtle - but this is a case of detective, detect thyself, and it takes Ray a while before his mind clicks into gear. Finally, though, he puts two and two together and clues in to what his parents really think. Of course, he's shocked and righteously indignant - but it's Fraser's reaction to his parents' assumption that floors Ray, turns him upside down, causes him to really look at himself and ask himself some hard questions that maybe he's been avoiding for a while.

Alanna, Kass, and Starfish take this premise and make it fresh again, with great writing, deft, clever touches of humor, fantastic characterization and dialogue, a terrific Ray voice, and underneath it all, a really appealing sweetness. It's a funny, light story, but there's a more serious undercurrent - self-discovery can be a very painful thing when you've been hiding from yourself, and Ray has to struggle a bit to come to terms with his true feelings and inclinations. This little bit of angst gives the story depth and substance and makes it more than just an entertaining bit of fluff, though it is undoubtedly entertaining.

Overall, Parental Guidance is a truly enjoyable read - a delightfully witty, clever, romantic - oh, and let's not forget hot (as if I ever could!) - fic.

Parental Guidance