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.
Valerie’s 2022 Favorites
These are the best of the best books I read this past year, the books in which their authors spoke to me and evoked the strongest emotions, be it passion, suspense, humor, heartbreak, joy, and so much more. My descriptions here relay my feelings and the impact I felt from each read. For the authors’ blurbs and more about the storylines, please click on the review links. In no particular order:
If There’s a Way (Lost Boys #2)
by Jessie Walker
This book is powerful and phenomenal!
This was my most anticipated book of the year. I impatiently waited for If There’s a Way since finishing the extraordinary first half of the Lost Boys duet, Where There’s a Will, in 2021. It was so worth the wait. The conclusion to Will and Way’s hurt/comfort love story is exceptional. These boys completely stole my heart (again); they endured so much pain, breaking my heart over and over again, making it the angstiest book I read in 2022.
This is a second chance romance where love and desire might not be enough to bridge the chasm between Waylon and Will because of how damaged they are. Way deals with addiction, grief over a friend’s presumed death, internalized homophobia, child abuse at the hands of a parent, and the resulting PTSD. Any one of these things could break a person; Way survives it all. Barely. This book is all about healing. Jessie Walker is masterful in taking her boys on a journey of self acceptance, letting go of guilt, and casting off fear, all for love. I can’t articulate how spectacular this book is.
Audiobook – The One That Got Away by Nicky James (author) and Nick J. Russo (narrator)
Charlie and Takoda are like oil and water, orange juice and toothpaste, or bathtubs and toasters. Things that definitely don’t go together. The magic in this superb romantic suspense novel is the relationship that blooms between these diametrically opposed men, amid terror and what appears to be insurmountable circumstances, mainly Charlie’s mental health challenges. Their love takes time to develop and it’s a beautiful thing. Nicky James does a masterful job of turning a wholly unlikable character into a hero.
Nicky and Nick J. Russo are a powerhouse storytelling duo – one with her words, the other with his voice. Both are phenomenal with The One That Got Away. Nick is nothing short of brilliant, especially in his portrayal of Takoda who had become one of my favorite MM characters.
Audiobook – This is Not a Love Story by Suki Fleet (author) and Hamish Long (narrator)
Don’t let the title fool you. This is an exceptional love story of two homeless teenagers struggling to stay safe, stay alive, and stay together. It’s one of the most beautiful books I’ve read and the audiobook, narrated by the gifted Hamish Long, makes the book all the more wonderful. I read the book years ago and was thrilled when the audiobook was released this year. If you haven’t read Suki Fleet before, you are in for a treat. She is a consummate storyteller, a master of young adult angst. The rawness is visceral. The audiobook is definitely worth the time for how it brings the boys to life. Kudos to the pairing of Suki Fleet and Hamish Long. I couldn’t possibly love this story more. Romeo and Julian own a piece of my heart. This is definitely a love story of great magnitude.
His Last Christmas in London by Con Riley
Oh my, this book! It’s e.v.e.r.y.t.h.i.n.g! I love it so, so much. It hits all the right notes for an enchanting Christmas book although it’s so much more than a “holiday” read. This is a sweet, lighthearted novella chock full of adoration, humor, and warm fuzzies. What makes Con’s story so special, though, is the deeper meaning to her words. Beneath the gorgeous romance is a lesson on first impressions and honesty. It made me feel like I was snuggled into a warm cocoon as I read. I just can’t get enough of Ian and Guy…I love these men so, so much! And as usual with Con, this cover is to die for.
Rebel Kings MC Series (Devil’s Dance, Saint’s Song, Forgive Me Father) by Garrett Leigh
This outstanding series combines steamy romance with engaging, suspenseful plots about an outlaw motorcycle club in Devon, England. There’s a profusion of angst (because Garrett Leigh), plus brotherhood, fraternal affection, hurt/comfort themes, murder and mayhem with mafia and cartels, and of course, romance between deeply complex, compelling men. (And uber-sexy!)
The first two books in the series, Devil’s Dance and Saint’s Song, are comprised of the MMM love story between Rebel Kings president, Cam, Russian mob hitman, Alexei, and then with Saint. As he and Cam grow closer, Alexei recognizes the unexplored love Cam and Saint, his Sergeant-at-Arms, feel for each other. I’m not usually a fan of trouples but this is a story, first and foremost, about committed love and the ability for it to expand beyond one partner. Book three, Forgive Me Father, is the story of Embry, the MC’s chaplain, and Mateo, the enforcer. They are viscerally attracted to each other, but each harbors a dark secret which prevents them from moving forward into a romantic, sexual relationship. This is a not-to-be-missed series which will continue in 2023. On a side note, the cover of Saint’s Song is another of my favorites this year.
Hold Me Under (Water, Air, Earth, Fire #1) by Riley Nash
OMG, what a freaking phenomenal book! This enemies-to-lovers, hurt/comfort novel is deeply profound. It’s the tale of “two fucked up boys against the world” causing each other soul scorching pain but ultimately giving themselves to each other so they can heal. The more damaged a character, the more he touches my heart; Victor broke me. The pain, the hostility, the cravings for each other are all palpable. The exploration of the dichotomy of love and hate is intriguing. And the truly happy ending is perfect. I just can’t recommend this powerful book highly enough.
The Glow Up (Franklin U #5) by A.M. Johnson
This might be the swooniest book I read this year: “And for the record,” I said, brushing my thumb over his lips. “My life…I started living it when I met you.” Chris and Aiden are the sweetest, most adorbs MCs. Nobody does intimacy between their leading men quite like A.M. Johnson does and it’s the reason she’s one of my favorite authors. Yes, I like uber-hot, passionate, steamy scenes, but I prefer them with deep feeling, too, and Amanda delivers. For me, that’s what spells romance. She hits all the emotional notes as she creates an intense bond between Chris and Aiden. This truly heartwarming novel will be a comfort read that I’ll return to again and again. It’s a magnificent addition to the Franklin U series.
Valor and Doyle series (Temporary Partner, Elusive Relations, Unstable Connections) by Nicky James
Yup, more Nicky James books made it onto my best of list.
Quaid Valor and Aslan Doyle are fantastic!! The Valor and Doyle series is a same couple series as it’s very best. We get to know the heroes gradually and in more depth as their stories unfurl book after book. Each mystery/suspense book presents a new homicide or missing persons case while Nicky builds increasingly complex, multi-dimensional characters and a deepening relationship between them.
Quaid is a missing persons detective and has a reputation of being cold, standoffish, and following the rules too closely. He’s the grumpy one in this pair. His opposite – the sunshine – is arrogant, hot, playboy Aslan, a detective in the homicide department. (Check out his inspiration with the sexy lips on the cover of Elusive Relation…gah!) His favorite pastime is tormenting Quaid, much to my delight. As they work together, an undeniable chemistry builds between them but they are wildly incompatible. As the series progresses, though, you’ll see how well they compliment each other as they fall in love. I hope there are many more books in the future. I had the pleasure of reading book four, Inevitable Disclosure, and it’s the best one yet!
Audiobook – Playing Games (Franklin U #1) by Riley Hart (author) and J.F. Harding (narrator)
I looooove these boys so much! Playing Games is an absolutely fantastic book and even better in audio form. It’s a masterpiece of snark and banter. Voice actor J.F. Harding takes Riley Hart’s clever and witty narrative and knocks it out of the park. He acts out the dialogue – with all its attitude – flawlessly, creating one of the best audiobooks I’ve listened to this year. It’s the battle of sarcasm and banter among quasi enemies that elevate this novel into its own class. The dialogue is top-notch and kept me smiling and chuckling the entire time. Mostly, it’s the charming, growing romance between two massively lovable, engaging men won me over. If you enjoy a showdown of enemies to lovers, and the interplay of strong opposites, you’ll love Playing Games. It is, without question, my favorite Riley Hart book ever.
The Sunny Side (The Model Agency #1) by Lily Morton
There’s one word to sum up The Sunny Side: Fabulous! It’s yet another outstanding book by the inimitable Lily Morton. It’s so much fun because it’s Dean, of course. We met Dean in Deal Maker as Asa’s stepbrother and Jude’s brother-in-law/hook up. Dean was outrageous as a “pretty airhead”, words he might use to describe himself. Low self-esteem, that one. Reading Deal Maker, I never thought I’d fall in love with Dean. *sigh* Yes, he was utterly entertaining but in The Sunny Side we see he’s SO much more. I challenge you not to fall in love with him, too. And Jonas! These two men are perfect for each other, exactly what they both need, filling a void in each other’s life. The men are opposites in many ways, however it’s one commonality in particular that binds them together: they’re both caretakers who seek to nurture the other’s emotional and physical well-being. They make each other better men and bring joy to each other. You could say they’re like two unlikely puzzle pieces fitting together perfectly. This book is brilliant.
BONUS SHORT STORY RECOMMENDATION
Keeping Him in Cornwall (Heart2Heart Anthology #6) by Con Riley
This is a wonderful, heartwarming romance starring two smitten kittens who I want to hug the stuffing out of. These two have loved each other for ages but Stefan hasn’t pursued anything because Marc is his brother’s best friend. This book has the swooniest, most loving gesture ever. Seriously, it’ll make your heart skip a beat. With a fully developed plot, endearing leading men, and a happily ever after you can be confident they’ll achieve, this highly romantic short story is my favorite of the year, hands down. (This charity anthology is only available for a limited time.)