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.
Sue’s 2022 Favorites
City of Blood (Godstone Saga #6) by Jocelynn Drake
The final book in the amazing Godstone Saga series there has been so many highs and lows in this series that I wondered how it was all going to end. The twists and turns and the machinations of all the Gods. It is action packed with Caelen finally saying enough is enough and following his own path rather than being at the whim of all the Gods. It was a fitting end to a great series and I really enjoyed all of the books.
Storm Warrior (The Weavers Circle #5) by Jocelynn Drake and Rinda Elliott
The final book in the Weavers Circle series. Every book saw a new warrior joining the circle and their ongoing battle with the Pestilants. This book is the culmination and features the final battle for earth. At its heart this is a romance between Hale and Harrison, where Hale struggles to use his Air powers with a clock ticking down to the final confrontation. Harrison has been groomed all his life for his role with the Weavers Circle but he didn’t suspect that his role would also include his feelings for Hale. All of the Weavers are prepared to sacrifice everything to overcome the pestilants, and happily love conquers all and saves the day. A brilliant series set in a contemporary setting with magic, goddesses and aliens from another world.
Without A Trace (Shadows of London #5) by Ariana Nash
The climatic conclusion to the awesome Shadows of London series. Secrets and lies, on the run, playing dead with new identities it should be the start of a new life for Alexander and Dom but instead it shatters their fragile trust and thrusts them both back into the melee. Alexander is a complex character with many secrets in his past, Dom thought he had uncovered them all but there is more to find out. Dom appeared to be simple and straightforward, but he is as complex in his own right. The love they both share should be enough to get them through the fight ahead but will the secrets and lies tear them apart forever. I loved that both these characters are complex and in some ways irritating. When Dom left Alexander I screamed at the book, no, don’t let this all to be in vain. It kept me on the edge of my seat, not so much the final battle but the real worry they wouldn’t find their way back to each other. I loved the different take on paranormal abilities and how society saw them. A truly wonderful series with a fantastic final book.
Alastair (Sons of the Fallen #7) by Jaclyn Osborn
The final book in the awesome Sons of the Fallen series. Alastair the aloof brother, always in control, keeps his emotions under wraps. Lazarus the angel who trained all the boys, who watches over them, but keeps away, with his emotions bottled up, comes over cold but is there a reason for his coldness. I enjoyed the whole series, based on the seven deadly sins being embodied by all of the brothers, locked in a battle to defeat the ultimate fallen angel Lucifer. The unlikely romance between Alastair and Lazarus, the feelings of betrayal and hurt and the realization of all the wasted years. I loved this book, it made me cry so much and surprised me as well. I thought it was all over and the brothers had triumphed but then there was twist in the tale. The romance between Alaistair and Lazarus was poignant and bittersweet but love overcomes all obstacles. A great series.
A Purpose That Restores Us : The Magi Accounts #3 by Michele Notaro
The world building and character development is outstanding and every book in the series brings more depth and richness. I loved the development of Mad and Cos’s relationship from that first flush of attraction to the richer deeper relationship that develops when you live together and really get to find out
about your other half. It was especially interesting because Mad was so distrusting and always expecting to be left and so self-sufficient holding on to his limited choices intently. The breaking of those barriers and the trust that has been built was truly lovely. Michelle’s in-depth examination of their relationship, not the insta-love, everything is rosy in the garden now you’ve found your mate, but the true depth and work they need to put into this relationship that means so much to them. Cos comes into his own not only as the caring Alpha of the pack but using his seat of the Council to campaign for rights for Magi, working with Jude which brings the two of them closer and was a joy to see. Michelle hits the right note showing how much time and effort goes into trying to effect change, but it gives me hope that Cos will be successful and improve the life of the Magi. The action is not very far away with the rifts getting bigger, more monsters coming through and the ever-present threat from the Red Cloth Witches. The twists keep coming, who is the mole? When will they strike next? Who is at risk? The plot is gripping and I can’t wait for the final book in this series.
Kelvin (Tangled Tentacles #5) by Lisa Oliver and J.P. Sayle
The final book in the fantastic series featuring Kraken Shifter brothers finding their mates. Magnus has been looking for his sister for years, an FBI Agent he keeps on searching even though his leads are cold. Kelvin has helped remotely using his computer genius. They meet and discover they are mates and go in search of an Yeti, which they realise is a shifter that has been experimented on. The book builds on the previous books of kidnapped shifters and experimentation. The development of their relationship, how Magnus leans on Kelvin when he discovers the fate of his sister and their determination to finally stop the evil, is a joy.
Fluke and the Fantastic Finale (The Fantastic Fluke #5) by Sam Burns
The final book in a fantastic series, after hiding his very special magic all his life, Sage finally goes public to thwart the Believers Cult who are still trying to kill him and his magic. This has been a truly wonderful series with many twists and turns in the plot. Obsession and jealously are what has been fueling the antagonism towards Sage’s Arcane Magic. Throughout all the trials and tribulations Sage and Gideon weather all the storms and are steadfast in their love for each other. I loved Fluke the fantastic fox familiar who was a total joy.
Harbinger (Fallen Messengers #5) by Ava Marie Salinger
Another fantastic book in this magnificent series, building up to the epic showdown I’m sure will come with the final book. This book has it all, action, suspense, emotionally charged, the will he, won’t he and you also find out about the past, what happened in the far distant past. The epic love story between Cassius and Morgan continues and they have some of the most emotionally charged scenes, hanky at the ready, I cried and cried. I really loved all the intricacies of the plot and meeting so many new characters as well as the characters from the previous books. There is redemption for past actions, when it becomes apparent that they had been manipulated and this had influenced their actions rather than their own insecurities. There are twists and turns along the way and the action scenes are very well crafted, I felt hope and trepidation in equal measures. Hoping they’d win and worry that once again they wouldn’t quite defeat the evil mastermind, that is Elios, bring on book 6, I can’t wait to see what happens in the end. This could have been very easily the final book, it was that good and built to a climatic finale, I can’t imagine what happens next but I am eager to find out. Through it all Morgan and Cassius hold fast to their love, no matter what befalls them they are destined to be together.
Night Treasures (Midnight Magic #5) by Richard Amos
The culmination of the awesome Midnight Magic series. There are so many twists and turns in this series, its difficult to keep up, with who are villans, who are the heroes and that they flip and flop across the good and evil boundaries. This is what made this series so interesting the flawed characters doing the best they can in the circumstances they find themselves in. The action is fast paced and the romance with Tae is complex and contradictory. However, in this final book the brothers put everything on the line to do the right thing. Tae finally realizes that Clay is his everything and will fight for him and their future life together. Clay makes the ultimate sacrifice and fights to the end to stop his Mother the Queen. A fabulous end to a truly epic series.