It’s that time of year again people. The time when we, the voracious and obsessive readers of LGBT romance, look back and reflect on what an amazing year of books it’s been. If you’re anything like us then you’re already compiling your 2016 “To Read” list, but first, let’s share some of our favourite books from the year just gone.
Over the next seven days we’ll be posting our top reads of the year. Please feel free to tell us your own favourites, or simply comment on our choices.
Love Bytes is giving away 2 x $10 AllRomance Giftcards to two readers. Just tell us your favourites and why in one of these posts over the next week!
Chris , Vicki and Jenna are kicking of with
Day One
CHRIS
The Lightning-Struck Heart by T.J. Klune: There is no doubt that Klune can write a funny story, but it is the way that the wookie-tears come out of nowhere and take you prisoner that really blew me away with this story. T.J. Klune has written a lot of my favorite books over the years, but this one was by far the one I loved the best.
Breakaway by Avon Gale: I don’t know how to say how much I loved this book (but if you want to see me in all my rambling glory try to, just check out my review). This almost didn’t make the list by the sheer fact that it is so late in the year when it came out, but to not have it here would be a crime. Best hockey book I have ever read.
The Firebird and Other Stories by R. Cooper: This collection of short stories blew me away. I loved how they were each a slow progression thru the years in this unique alternative history of earth. The Firebird was truly R. Cooper at her best.
Get Your Shine On by Nick Wilgus: 2015 seems to be the year I was forced to rethink how I view books set in the southern states of America. I had several books like this that could make this list, but this one was by far my favorite. The honest way that Nick Wilgus writes blew me away and I now a devout fan.
A Boy Called Cin by Cecil Wilde: 2-3 sentences are not nearly enough to sum up my love of this book. It helped me out when I was at my wits-end and not sure what to do. For that, if for no other reason, I will always be thankful that this book was written.
Carry the Ocean by Heidi Cullinan: Even after all these months I am still in love with how real this book was. The characters were both so unique and so well crafted. It didn’t flinch from some rather painful topics and it really brought the story home.
Jackdaw by K.J. Charles: I’ve been a fan of K.J. Charles for a while, and I really love her varying series, but with Jackdaw I was entranced. How she took a character that I kinda hated in a previous book and turned him into one of my all time favorite MCs was amazing. I adore this book.
VICKI
A Fortunate Blizzard by LC Chase: This story seems like it’s going to be a fluffy Christmas story, but it really isn’t. It had some depth, not an obvious solution, and it made me cry.
Dogwood Days by Poppy Dennison: I loved this sweet story! Fun and fluffy with great characters
One Marine Hero by EM Lynley: I have a personal connection with this story, and EM got the details just right. This made me a happy girl!
Balls Up by Kate Aaron: Another tear-jerker! This one is about a very deep issue, testicular cancer. Kate handled it in a very realistic and careful way.
Carry the Ocean by Heidi Cullinan: Wow… this one made me uncomfortable to read, which is such a good thing. Really opened my eyes!
Quinn’s Gambit by Angel Martinez and Bellora Quinn: I love some urban fantasy, this one and the sequel are my favorites of the year!
Kick at the Darkness by Keira Andrews: As a fan of The Walking Dead, this one was right up my alley. Very well done, the plot made sense to me, and I loved the ending.
Immortal by Amy Lane: Dark fantasy by Amy Lane, how can you go wrong! This one is bittersweet and lovely.
Red Dirt Heart 4 by N.R. Walker: This is the final book in the series, and it ended at such a perfect time. I have loved this series from the start, and this is such a sweet ending.
Deep of the Sound by Amy Lane: Amy goes angsty with this addition to the Bluewater Bay series… I know, not a surprise! It’s so good, and also made me uncomfortable with a character.
JENNA
Sunset Park by Santino Hassell
Caged: Love and Treachery on the High Seas by Bey Deckard
A Shooting Star by Joe Cosentino
It’s hard to pick a favorite. Like Chris, I loved The Lightening Struck Heart and Breakaway. Another favorite was 24-Karat Conspiracy by EM Lynley. I love stories about established couples. This book gave a fresh look into the continuing relationship.
It is really hard to narrow down, but a few of my favs from 2015 were:
Carry the Ocean by Heidi Cullinan
Hoarfrost and Maelstrom by Jordan L Hawk
A Way Home and A Clean Break by Keira Andrews
Guardians of the Haunted Moor and Third Solstice by Harper Fox
The Chaos Station series by Jenn Burke & Kelly Jensen
Loving Jay by Renae Kaye
Dark Space series by Lisa Henry
Red Dirt Heart series by NR Walker
Champion of the Scarlet Wolf series by Ginn Hale
The Lodestar of Ys by Amy Rae Durreson
(These are books I read in 2015, some were published earlier. Hope that is OK.)
Happy 2016!
I was really impressed by Aidee Ladnier’s THE KLOCKWERK KRAKEN (and I normally don’t read sci-fi)! Jeff Adams’ HAT TRICK 3: PENALTY SHOT was great, too…
All these book recs to look through!
Some of my highlights:
Hoarfrost and Whyborne & Grifiin in general!
Pretty much anything by KJ Charles!
Rattlesnake by Kim Fielding
The Cronin’s Key books by NR Walker
Desdemona Darkly by Matthew Ortiz
Guardians of the Haunted Moor by Harper Fox
The Last Yeti by Tully Vincent
Shawn’s Law by Renae Kaye
Tigers on the Run by Sean Kennedy
The Intersection of Purgatory and Paradise by AJ Thomas
Playing the Fool series by JA Rock & Lisa Henry
The Great Sex Olympics of 221b by XistentialAngst
I love Rock and Henry’s Playing the fool series. Those books were just a lot of fun.
Trust by Ella Frank
Cronin’s Key series by NR Walker
Hoarfrost, Maelstrom and Mocker of Ravens by Jordan L Hawk
Wolves of Black Pine by SJ Himes
Crash & Burn and Part & Parcel by Abigail Roux
Double Back and Double Down by Lissa Ford
Knights of Ocean Avenue and Winter’s Wolf by Tara Lain
The Altered by Annabelle Jacobs
The Rogue Alpha series by Lissa Ford
I know I’m probably forgetting a bunch of books, but here are the ones I can think of right away:
Immortal by Amy Lane
Knight of Ocean Avenue by Tara Lain
Dom of Ages by K.C. Wells and Parker Williams
Desdemona Darkly by Matthew Ortiz
I’ve only read one from all the list. So many books to look into =)
Here are my picks:
Victim of Love by Darien Cox
Double Back and Double Down by Lissa Ford
Forging the Future by Mary Calmes
Against the Grain by Charlie Cochet
All I Believe by Alexa Land
Thirty Things by Cate Ashwood
Truth and Consequences by Sarah Madison
One of my favorites of 2015 was from a new author…In the Middle of Somewhere by Roan Parrish. Can’t wait to read more of that series. I also really enjoyed Riley Hart’s Crossroads and Rock Solid.
Dance with Me by Heidi Cullinan (new edition), Red Hot: Coffin Nails MC California (Sex & Mayhem, #5) and One Step Too Close: Coffin Nails MC Louisiana (Sex & Mayhem #6) by K.A. Merikan. K.J. Charles’ books are a must, Dangerous Spirits (Spirits #2) by Jordan L. Hawk,
love to see these lists 🙂