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.
During 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!
Tammy and Susan are here for
Day Four
TAMMY
Memories of the Heart by Felice Stevens: I loved this book, the way Josh helps Micah to deal with his past as well as showing him how to love and then there are the grandmothers!
Defined by Deceit by A. E. Via: There is nothing about this story from start to end that isn’t well researched and written even better! The storyline is something you hope to God never happens to you or yours but you know it happens too often. The main characters are so sweet and loveable you can’t help but fall in love with them.
Secret by Kindle Alexander: This story is different in the fact that one of the main characters is still living with his wife so that their children aren’t disrupted by the fact that their parents are actually divorced,their father is gay and their mother is pregnant to her boyfriend!
Beyond the Surface by Felice Stevens: This book is a beautiful second chance love story.
Betting on Forever by Felice Stevens: This story is all about forgiveness. Forgiving yourself and accepting that you’re only human!
Promises by A. E. Via: This story is all about acknowledging the fact that you’ve been in love with someone you think is wrong but turns out to be soo right!
Don’t Judge by A. E. Via: This book proves the line between love and hate is very thin, so be careful, you might realise you don’t actually hate him but love him.
Crossroads by Riley Hart: This story is all about the realisation that sometimes love is all about the person not that they’re a man or woman. And not backing away when the person you fall in love with is another man but jumping in feet first!
Rock Solid by Riley Hart: This one is all about second chances, the ones you give yourself. It’s also about opposites attracting.
The Greatest Gift by Felice Stevens: This story is about love coming in different ways, in different forms and making you realise that you never had anything to worry about. It also made me cry bucket loads!! I loved it.
SUSAN
Darker Space by Lisa Henry: Built the most incredible sense of foreboding – it was brilliant!
Fever Pitch by Heidi Cullinan: This book was so much fun! It was like you could hear the music.
Crash & Burn by Abi Roux: The perfect ending to the series. No matter who or what was your favourite in the series, they all got a nod in the finale.
Carry The Ocean by Heidi Cullinan: I love stories where the main character(s) have to overcome a personal challenge that they cannot control to find their HEA. This is a beautiful example.
You Are The Reason by Renae Kaye: This took an everyday average Joe and made him learn the ultimate truth. There is no right or wrong way to be gay.
Sutphin Boulevard by Santino Hassell: Dark and angsty and real. This is a journey of discovery and pain that resonates.
Rise & Fall by Charlie Cochet: I love ensemble stories with unforgettable characters and Dexter J Daley is one of the most fun and unforgettable characters ever.
I did enjoy Abi Roux’s Cut & Run series this year. I have Crash & Burn but haven’t read it – I want to but it would mean ending the adventure we have been on with these men.
None of the above titles I’ve read except for Rise and Fall. Some of Susan’s list already on my TBR, just have fit them into my queueing line! 😀
My favorite read for 2015 was (I’m beginning to sound like a recording here) the Glasgow Lads series by Avery Cockburn. They had men in kilt, footballers, and man on man romance. Trully love at the first sight for me.
Susan. You and I have similar taste. I’ve read most of the books in your list and have to agree. Now I’ve got to read the others.
You just listed so many of my favorite books?
Only read one from each list – but then lots of new year recommendations!!!
I also loved Riley Hart’s Crosswords. Nick & Bryce are a great, sexy couple!
I haven’t read any of these yet.
Carry the Ocean is one of my favorites too from last year. I loved that the topic wasn’t the usual fare, and I think these two people came together so beautifully through all their roadblocks. Plus, it tackled the issues they faced so honestly but with care. I also loved Liberty & Other Stories and For Real, both by Alexis Hall. Prosperity was one of my favorite 2014 reads and the continuation of the lives of those wonderful characters In L&OS just blew me away. Such a great steampunk adventure with so much originality and heart. Again with the originality, For Real took BDSM and just turned it on its head. It was smart and heartfelt, and I loved all its nuances so much. I can’t even mention For Real without thinking of A Boy Called Cin by Cecil Wilde, another one that took the older/younger dynamic and flipped it on its head while also featuring trans characters. Again, the originality of the characters leads me to think of another favorite, The Harem Master. This is such a large cast of characters, and usually I don’t do well at all with those, but it was so wonderfully managed that I never felt lost. Great fantasy that had every facet of gender and sexual identity in a plot that was marvelous. I have so many great reads from last year, but I’ll stop here before I write a book. Thanks for sharing your favorite reads with us.
Great list! Defined by Deceit by A. E. Via is my fav book by thhis author. It was got me into her world as a writer and now I can’t wait for her next books. <3
I loved Dark Space, Carry the Ocean, Fever Pitch. I will have to check out many of the books on Tammy’s list.
Great lists! I’ve read many of these and some are on my Kindle waiting for me to get to them. 🙂 I really enjoyed Crossroads, Rock Solid, Promises, Don’t Judge, and Crash & Burn.