Welcome to the Love Bytes Reviewers’ Best of 2022
Another year has passed in which books have brought all of us a much needed escape and sense of comfort. Our Love Bytes team reviewed approximately 1,300 LGBTQ+ books in 2022, from contemporary romance to fantasy, paranormal, historical, adventure, mystery, comedy and everything in between. Each day for the next few weeks, we will feature one of our reviewers’ top picks from books and audiobooks published in 2022. These lists highlight how diverse our tastes in reading are, and offer something for everyone. 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.
Taylin’s 2022 Favorites
College Days (Reagalos Prequel #5) by Rebecca Cohen
This 230-page prequel to the Reagalos Series was published after the last in the sequence. At college Lornyc meets the love of his life, Methian. However, both families are against the union. It’s on my fav list because despite knowing the ultimate ending, the anticipation of what was to come made it even better. Already familiar with the characters and the cultivated imagery, everything that happened enhanced my reading experience. I enjoyed seeing Tancorix in a fatherly role and the way a sheltered Lornyc coped, co-existing with a variation of people while remaining true to himself – and I have always loved Methian. The snark, throughout, was a pleasure to read and brought many smiles. Sex is minimal, as the story is how Lornyc and Methian found each other, not how good the sex is – though the more intimate scenes are lovely. College Days is a book that I will read and re-read – It was everything I hoped it would be, including the angsty bits. After turning the final page, I wanted to, firstly, read it again (and I did), then read the official first book in the series – Servitude, and probably go on from there.
Definitely Deacon (Belong To Me #2) by Vawn Cassidy
After years of loving his best friend, Jesse thinks it may be time to let go. After all, Deacon is a celebrity boat racer known worldwide, whose friends include societies elite. What could a veterinarian, happy in Cornwall, have to offer. But fate has other ideas starting with Deacon waking up in hospital after a near-fatal accident. The story is one of a series of interconnected standalones. Worldbuilding and imagery were superb, and I fully immersed myself in the British colloquialisms, sarcasm, and familiar phrases. The extended cast are a riot with varying agendas. There were plenty of places where I laughed, had palpitations, and cried. Deacon is a good man, but Jesse is someone special. Definitely Deacon is a well-timed, page-turner of a story. It deals with friendship, blood and chosen family, anxiety, depression, careers, ways of life, high-flyers – I could go on. It also contains plenty of drama, angst and is thought-provoking. I thoroughly enjoyed every word.
Real Risk (West Coast Forensics #3) by Elle Keaton
Devon is Chief fireman. Kimball is the CEO of West Coast Forensics. When arson becomes a problem on Piedras, the police bring in WCF to assist. Two middle-aged men, stuck in their ways, in forced proximity with an arsonist running about – genius or disaster. Either way, firefighters – sqweeeeee. This is book three of the West Coast Forensics series, set on the island of Piedras. As a series, it is awesome, but this is my favorite thus far, full of everything, from the gossips to the troublemakers, and lawmakers, that makes the island and its inhabitants special. The initial connection between Devon and Kimball is grudging attraction, and it was great that there was no sign of instant perfect fit. Theirs was a slow burn of gradual realization. Both men are good at what they do with appropriate egos. Then, there’s the common enemy, the arsonist, which made for some life-threatening situations and crackin’ reading. Drama isn’t restricted to burning buildings either, as there is mention of racism against Devon’s native heritage, nightmares of past events and some super sarcasm across the board from several parties. The fire may be Mother Nature’s heat, but there were burning embers elsewhere (cold showers required).
The Beautiful Moment by Kristoffer Gair
Feud and tragedy surrounds Westley’s past and present, so Westley leaves for what he hopes is a happier future and the life of a near recluse. But fate had other ideas that put Westley in the path of Dr Clark Matsuda. The good doctor wants to get to the bottom of the enigma known as Westley Traylor. Unfortunately, fear has a multitude of uses and inhibitors. When a story such as this crosses my path, and it captivates me so much that I have no intention of putting it down until it’s complete – I know I’m reading something special. The story contains dementia, alcoholism, COVID, bullying, paranormal experiences, torture, love, laughs, melting moments and, yes, a fair amount of crying. I experienced an emotional rollercoaster that I simultaneously did and didn’t want to end. I wanted to see Westley and Clark get their HEA, but I didn’t want to leave their world either. Everything was plausible and written with such sensitivity – I was awestruck.
Imitate The Dawn (Whitehorn Agency #3) by M.A. Grant
Imitate The Dawn is the stunning end to a the superb Whitehorn Agency series and the one where everything comes together. After a home invations and narrowly escaping to Romania to find answers, Christian and his lover/bodyguard Atlas are back in the USA to finish what someone else started. With evidence of betrayal and the vampire council ready to convict Christian’s father of crimes he didn’t commit, the two must create their own subterfuge so trick the actual bad buys out into the open. The relationship between Christian and Atlas evolves in beautiful ways, and Altas is a rock to Christian, which allows the vampire to do what he needs to save his father. The plot brought twists and turns that I couldn’t predict alongside characters that made me smile, rage and cry. Everyone gets involved, from leaders to the truly unfortunate featured in book one. I was treated to kick-ass action, disturbed beings, mind games, Strigoli origins, and friends and family that would die for one another. And oh damn – the ending!!!!! I found the story to be a masterpiece of page-turning writing.
Haunting With A Ghost by B. Ripley
Haunting With A Ghost is a beautifully atmospheric story covering physical and emotional spans of time. The Ghostly Bennett wants to cross over to the other side because his reasons for staying in this world have gone. That is until the very much alive Landon appears on a mission to find a ghost and ends up in a love story with arcs of betrayal and intrigue. This paranormal encounter is exquisitely different, looking at life from the viewpoint of the ghost. And Bennet is a gorgeous soul who wants to learn. Landon is happy to be the teacher, but there is so much more. Plots are hatched; there is hurt; angst, and other forces create a page-turning emotional experience that I’m sure I will read again.
Down But Not Out (The Pinkerton Man #5) by C.J. Baty
Down But Not Out is part of the Pinkerton Man series, and each episode contains a completed investigation. This installment see’s one of Stiles’ friends missing presumed dead, which makes him emotionally invested with all the ups and downs that it entails, especially since Michael, Stiles’ lover is separated from him. As well as the personal elements that are exquisitely written, what I love about this work, is that the plot is complex without being confusing. It delves into the seedier side of Chicago’s life of drugs, brothels, and criminals lording over the streets. It was delicious to read characters with ulterior motives and double-crossers mixed with those trying to do good – it made for a great web of deceit where the end was not foreseen nor could be predicted. It takes every ounce of Stiles’ intelligence and experience to solve the case. The story is a dark gritty page-turner whose main characters could melt hearts and blow your balls off with a derringer if necessary. The closer I came to the end, the faster I wanted to read, yet I didn’t want to miss a word.
Markov (Tangled Tentacles #4) by JP Sayle & Lisa Oliver
Markov is one of the novels in the Tangled Tentacles series that I salivated with anticipation at reading. I’ve loved them all, but this one was special – possibly because Markov and Cassius have military backgrounds, and I hoped the action would reflect this – I wasn’t disappointed. From the first page, I was riveted. After being rejected by his fated mate, Markov goes on a mission to save the family without a care for his own life. However, he isn’t aware of the reasons behind the rejection and when Cassius discovers what Markov has done, he drops everything – he can’t be in a world without Markov. I was treated to a well-written super action-packed story mixed with conflict, revelation, cuteness, and a hefty dose of rough-and-tumble tentacles. My heart rate had a range of beats from in the mouth to melted.
A Bridge to a Trolls Heart by Lee Colgin
After encountering a Troll and agreeing to become friends, the two embark on a sweet journey to something more. I was enchanted by this Christmassy tale of a troll who wants a family and by a story that highlights how the simple things in life provide the most joy. A hug, the colors in a leaf, a smile, cookies, and acts of kindness make a true difference. It’s a story that is utterly charming at any time of year and one that I will re-read when in need of that warm the cockles feeling. Perfect.