Welcome to the Best of 2020 Love Bytes Reviewers’ Choices
Here at Love Bytes, we reviewed everything from contemporary romance to fantasy, paranormal, historical, adventure, mystery, comedy and everything in between in 2020. Each day for the next few weeks, we will feature one of our reviewer’s top picks from books and audio books published in 2020. With thousands of fantastic new books each year, written by hundreds of creative and talented authors, it’s so difficult to narrow our lists down. We all have many favorite authors not featured here and wish we could acknowledge them all.
Becca’s 2020 Favorites
As usual, most of my books have a running theme. They usually are not to judge a book by its cover, never give up, and never underestimate someone by how they look or seem to be. I want everyone to remember, I can’t pick every book. I wish I could. There are some I’ve read that will leave a mark on me forever. And I’m happy I got the pleasure to read them. Authors, don’t give up. You never know who out there might want or need to hear your story.
Waiting on Life by Parker Williams
This is one of those. Never judge a book by it’s cover, never underestimate someone. It got one MC in trouble for thinking the wrong thing and almost ruined something before it started. But resulted in something beautiful.
The Chosen One series volumes 1-3 by Macy Blake
Although I’m just posting this last box set, to not read this series would be a crime. It’s not only paranormal, but it’s polyamorous. That doesn’t matter so much to me as the plot of this story. One MC one a journey he knows nothing of, at first, in order to save a world from pure evil. And the journey is full of twists and turns you never see coming.
How to Forgive (LOVESTRONG #6) by Susan Hawke
This one has an important message. Sometimes we are so busy holding on to anger or grief, not saying it’s not justified in some ways, but because of it we often miss what’s happening that’s good in front of us. And sometimes it takes something drastic to wake us up. Don’t let it get that far. Forgive. Not for them, if you can’t, but for yourself. Free yourself.and of you can free the other person. But ONLY if they are truly regretful.
Too Close to the Flame by Ryan Taylor & Joshua Harwood
Another one that deals with triggers and lots of issues. But it’s worth in the end. Because one MC refuses to be anything but patience, loving, kind and understanding and the other goes through a mix of so much to get to the point he finally doesn’t feel broken and feels loved and at home.
To Be Alive by B. RourkeAnother with triggers. But another with a somewhat happy ending. And I say somewhat because the MC has a daily journey that he has to overcome. One that doesn’t have a magic pill or anything. But one that has a support system and love down the road. Life isn’t easy at first for the MC and he has a lot to overcome, but he gets it eventually and learns that there is someone who really cares and it’s not because they want something. They just care.
Kamari’s (Takoda Outreach Center) by Sammi Cee
I’m just adding this one, which I think is book #4. It shows different on GR and Amazon. At least for me. But the whole series is so good. It’s about not giving up, learning to rely on people and that there are truly good people out there who want to help. It’s also a story of learning not to be too prideful. Which is hard as heck. But trust that the people who truly love you, have your back.
The Foreign Affair (Delingpole Mysteries #3) by David C. Dawson
I had to add a mystery to this one because the whole series deals with some very personal struggles and learning how to compromise. But this one is more powerful because it deals with major grief and learning to move on. Only you can know when it’s time. No one else can make you. But overcoming grief can be freeing in a way. If you let yourself. Because you think of the good in things instead of the melancholy.
Falling Awake III: Requiem by Kristoffer Gair
This series goes through kind of a horror story, but it does have its happy endings, to a point. There’s a lot to deal with in these books and some might not be able to deal with it but I had to recognize this series because it was so phenomenally written.
A Body on the Hill (A Mitch O’Reilly Mystery #2) by Brad Shreve
Another mystery series you can’t not read. It’s so impacted with action and angst. It is everything a mystery should be with a little twist or two added in. I’m anxiously waiting for #3.
Far Away by Bryan T. ClarkThis one hit so hard with me. As a parent of an lgbt child, it resonated with me. It made me hurt and ashamed of other parents for the way they act. An although things seem grim at times in this book, there is a happy ending. But it’s not an easy one. It involves a lot of forgiveness, a lot of letting go, a lot of love and patience, and finally standing up for who you are. It’s one hell of a book.
Forever (Spy vs. Spook #3) by Tinnean
Finally, I had to pick this series. It is one of the funniest I have read in a while and so action packed. It is a story about spies and spooks and the intertwining tale they tell. The journeys they go through and finally to the point where certain things become more important than others. It’s an amazing series and I’m so happy I’ve gotten to read it.
Thank you for sharing your faves!
You’re welcome!
I must recognise all these are new to me…I’ve added several to my TBR list, they sound really good. Thank you for sharing 😉
They are very good. Some are parts of series and need to be read in order. But they are all worth it!
We are very honored to be included here. Thank you so much!
Very much deserved! You’re welcome!
picked up a few of these from your reviews but still to read yet