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 2020 “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.

 

DONNA

 

Tallowwood by N.R. Walker

I guess it’s a bit unfair, but I’ve read and enjoyed so many N.R. Walker books now that it takes a lot for this author to make me sit up and take notice that one of her books has totally wowed me beyond the usual. Obviously all readers preferences are different, but for me, Tallowwood was pretty much perfect. Murder mysteries are kinda my thing at the moment, and this one was awesome. I loved that one of the main characters was an Aboriginal man, because I don’t think I’ve come across that before.

 

The Hitman’s Guide to Making Friends and Finding Love by Alice Winters

I resisted reading this one at first. I tend to find books that have been hyped up by dozens of readers disappointing, because I end up expecting too much. But hell, this book was too much and then some. It earned its place on this list for being the funniest thing I’ve read for a long time, with the sequel offering just as many laughs.

 

Heal (Save the Kids #3) by E.M. Leya

Choosing my favourite from this series was the hardest thing I’ve done all week! Honestly, I think my fave will always be Pain (Save the Kids #1) but since Heal (STK #3) was published in 2019, and because it’s a very close second favourite, that is the one I’m sticking on my list. For anyone who hasn’t tried this series, if you can deal with mentions of child sexual abuse, then reading about paedophiles being castrated by a mishmash team of vigilantes is absolutely satisfying. No joke, these books are both horrifyingly upsetting and satisfyingly vengeful, and it’s one of my all time favourite series.

 

Boy Shattered by Eli Easton

 I guess this one is kind of cheating, because I had it on my list last year too. But as it was re-released this year through a new publisher, I feel like I can get away with adding it to my 2019 list. This remains one of my very favourite books, and I applaud the author for tackling the subject of school shootings in such a confronting manner, without letting the story feel exploitive.

 

The Scarecrow & George C by Mia Kerick

Mia Kerick is my go-to author for young adult/ new adult stories, and I usually end up with one of her books on my list each year. Ms. Kerick has a way of creating characters that are almost magically heart stealing, at least as far as I’m concerned, yet not one of them is ever perfect or trouble free. With this story, Van or “The Scarecrow” took this author’s usual level of fascinating to a whole new level, and I couldn’t have loved him more. This is also one of my fave covers of 2019.

 

Jon’s Downright Ridiculous Shooting Case (Jon’s Mysteries Case #1) by AJ Sherwood

This series is easily my favourite new series of 2019. If anyone hasn’t read these books yet then I urge you to give them a try. AJ Sherwood has a way of writing that can be hilarious and sweet and murderish all at the same time. Jon and Donovan are such a perfectly amazing couple that I was addicted from their first meeting.

 

Something Wicked This Way Comes by Amy Rae Durreson

This was a book that I reviewed for the blog and I loved it. It was more murderous ghosts than romance, although that was definitely there, but just the setting of the Scottish Borders made this story an engrossing read. Although technically this book’s release date was only a week ago, it was originally released through DSP Pub last year so it’s going on the list!

 

The Things That Come by Dan Ackerman

 As usual with a Dan Ackerman book, I finished The Things That Come and wondered what the hell I’d just read!? Honestly, this book cannot be explained and must be read to be experienced. Easily one of my favourite books this year!

 

The Enchanter’s Soul: The Ellwood Chronicles #2) by Michele Notaro

 I never use to be keen on fantasy or paranormal, but these days, I hear there’s a dragon involved and I’m there! Consequently, I’ve read a lot of this genre in 2019 and this series is the one I enjoyed the most. This is the second book of the series, and they do have to be read in order.

 

Flash Rip by Keira Andrews

  2019 was the year of the Keira Andrews binge for me, and Flash Rip was my pick of them all. Has everyone here seen Bondi Rescue? Well this was the m/m version of hot shirtless lifeguards and their beachy heroics. It was authentically Australian, and you can tell that Ms. Andrews has a love of Australian beaches.