Welcome to the Love Bytes Reviewers’ Best of 2023
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 2023, 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 2023. 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.
Danielle’s Favorites
And the final list is done by me. Thanks to all the wonderful authors who give us so much joy in reading their arc’s and books. And to the readers who like to read our opinions here at Love Bytes 🙂
Let me start to say that I read a lot of amazing books this year and as always I find it hard to say why a certain book touched me in whatever way. I saw a few of my favorite ones appear in other reviewers lists so when I needed to cut down my own list to a reasonable number I decided I would focus on the authors that I discovered this year or author that made me with their release , go back and (re) read other books by them. so in random other here are a few 🙂
Dibs by Kimberly Knight & Rachel Adams
I stumbled upon this book by accident being unfamiliar with the books of these authors. I fell in love with it and it made me go to re read other books by these authors.
White Noise by Lark Taylor
A new to me author and it made me curious when she released a series with rockstars, and gosh this didn’t dissapoint. This was seriously an amazing read! The second book is out also and there is more coming, I cannot wait 🙂
Zero by Ana Night
When I mentioned that I was focussing on ( at least for me) lesser known authors, this is one of the main examples. Ana Night has been writing the Salvation Kings & Kings Disciples books and like often, I stumbled upon one of the books and decided to start the series from the beginning. Gosh I am so glad I did. I love the books, the writing and the characters. Zero is the latest edition to the Salvation Kings and I for one am waiting excitedly for any of the books coming out in either that or the King Disciples series.
Love Thy Brother by Garrett Leigh
Perhaps to me this is the best series running currently. Therefore one of the books needed to be on my best of list. Garrett Leigh created a world with their Rebel Kings which I honestly think you cannot not fall in love with these men and their club. I choose to highlight Love Thy Brother where I honestly could have picked any of the books in the series, but I was so waiting for River and Rubi to get their story, I remember the excitement and let’s face is anyone needs a Rubi 🙂
The Husband Game by Brigham Vaughn
I have read more books by Brigham Vaughn; I like her hockey books but this one was seriously wonderful. What it meant to me made me go back and re read the other series she has written.
The Game (Charleston Condors) by Beth Bolden
After the Miami Piranhas I was so curious for the Charleston Condors because well, I admit, I adore the Piranhas and their men, but author Beth Bolden made it work with this series again. I was curious because we needed to wait for book 2 to finally get Micah’s story, but it was all worth it. I think book 4, which is coming this year, might be in my top 2 of most anticipated reads.
Take the Plunge by Colette Davison
This release came as a surprise and after meeting the author I was excited to read it. Wow was I glad I did that
It’s a fabulous standalone story that, besides being easy to read, stays with me as a memory of a wonderful read 🙂
“Great standalone contemporary story by this author
I loved that she went this way!””
The Step Bro Situation by Jesse H Reign
“The premise sounded so exciting and that it turned out to be!, I am so happy that I picked up this book after hearing about it; so worth the read and I cannot wait for the next one!”
Johnson x 2 by Shae Michaels
Perfect example of what I said in the intro.
“LOVED this book and it made me read other books by this author as she was new to me before this one. GREAT read!”
Against the Rush by Susan Scott Shelley & Chantal Mer
From my review:
Let me start by saying what came to me after finishing reading this story. What a fabulous, wonderful, warmhearted book.
I picked up this book in a request because it just really spiked my interest and gosh am I glad I did. I absolutely loved reading about these two men but even more so their “family”.
I love a good sports romance and this seemed to fit the bill pefectly.
Hunter Security by Laura John:
Another new author for me and it made me want to read more !
A have a few favorite subjects to read about and one of those is security/bodyguard, etc, and this fit it perfectly.
I love the connection between these men and the company they all work for.
One of the books I am very excited to read is the 4th one in this series featuring Bennett.
The Lost Fiance Twist by Ana Ashley
This was an unexpected great read for me.
I have known this author from the beginning of her writing but this was seriously for me the best one yet!
I am so excited to read more in this series.
I also purchased the holiday read when it came out 🙂
Nicky by Willow Thomas A new to me author also.
I can honestly say I stumbled on Nicky and it made me go and read the Caught Off Guard books . I am very excited to read Echo’s story this year.
“I am sad to read that for the next book we have to wait quite some time. I have to say reading this made me want to read more books by the author. That I did !”
I want to make a special mention (surprise, Not 😉 )
This goes to the Christmas Falls series
I love a good holiday read but it has been a while that I so enjoyed a whole series with Christmas reads.
Each and every book of this series was a great read!
( I reviewed one of the books here)