It’s that time of year again people. The time where we, the voracious and obsessive readers of LGBTQ 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 2019 “To Read” list, but first, let’s share some of our favourite books from the year just gone.

Over the next few weeks 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.

One commenter from each of these posts will win a $5 store credit with Dreamspinner Press.

TAYLIN

Won’t Feel a Thing (St. Cross #1) by CF White

After always choosing the wrong person, Ollie’s new year’s resolution was to play the field and not feel a thing. That didn’t work out for him. Instead, he’s caught in, not so much a love triangle, but an emotionally fuelled square.

This is a hospital-based story with a well-rounded cast. Jacob’s daughter is in hospital, Oliver is a nurse. There is attraction between the swoon worthy men. A doctor who can’t accept it’s over and a scorned ex-wife.

The story worked the full range of my emotions. Parts were utterly heart wrenching, and there were a couple of surprises, too. For a relatively simple concept, the story was expertly written, an emotional minefield and a delight to read.

Surprise Delivery (Hearts and Health #5) DJ Jamison

Surprise Delivery has a medical footing, whose story moves outside the walls of the hospital into the lives of its inhabitants. Eric and Casper are middle-aged, and are adorable, but not in a sickly way. They are good people searching for something special, yet not always recognising it. They know the art of flirting, kissing, sex, and have experienced life.

There is a super range of contrasting characters and the touched my heart. It made me smile, get a little flushed (cough cough), shed tears and gave me just the right amount of drama to make me fall in love with it.

 

Shift’s End (Smoke & Bullets #3) by A.R. Barley

Just a few words here. Firemen, adrenaline rush, sizzle, drama. Hot hot hot.

 

The Medium by Bonnie Dee

This is an historical romance with a hefty dose of the paranormal. Tall, brooding and sceptical meets the truly talented.

This story tackles, the class-divide, unvoiced feelings, sexual enlightening, abuse, justice for the dead, and supernatural elements. It was a combination that worked well and was a joy to read.

 

Any Given Lifetime by Leta Blake

This is a story of reincarnation that gave me a lump in the throat from chapter one.

Baby Neil is born with dead Neil’s memories, is a genius and from an early age, acts more like an adult. Joshua is left everything by dead Neil, including a family fortune dedicated to nanite research. The new Neil believes he will never have the chance to be with Joshua. The extended cast brought love, humour and reality checks. Despite being 70k, before long I was reading the final chapters. I just had to know what happened with these guys.

 

Nova Pretorian by N.R. Walker

What can I say – Gladiators.

Nova Pretorian is more than brawn, sex and politics. It is exceptionally sexual, though it is balanced with other elements, including investigating who is plotting what inside and outside the Roman Senate. Determining who is good, astute or cleverly scheming, kept me guessing for much of the story. Add to the tale, the gradual movement from lust to love between two men of such differing backgrounds was a pleasure to read. And their loyalty to one another when danger from all angle’s looms, was lump in the throat time.

 

The Librarian’s Ghost (The Super #2) by Sean Michael

Second in The Super’s Series, it inspired me to read the first. Payne, a librarian – owner of the family home has a problem with ghosts. The Super’s are called in. The ghosts in the basement are becoming deadly. Blaine can sense them, but it’s Payne they’re after.

It is not an airy-fairy ghost story. It is down to earth in all respects, including the toilet humour. And the sizzle factor is hot as hell.

The Librarian’s Ghost had just the right level of scary for me. I liked the characters. It was believable, scary in the right places, had my heart pumping, delivered a good dose of drama and it had something that made me need a cold shower.

 

Only Love by Garrett Leigh

Jed is ex-military, emotionally and physically broken. Max also has secrets. Both men had a journey to take, heartache to experience and re-experience. The relationship between Max and Jed is beautiful, tastefully done and their intimate times complimented the arc. The ending was … well, let’s say – I ignored my favourite program to read it.

Only Love has depth, drama, angst, heartache, love, compassion and in places, made me cry. It ticked all the boxes I have for a super story.