Books I Loved in 2012

This post may be a tiny bit tardy, but I consider anything "2012 in retrospect"-ish fair game as long as it's done in January. Yes, yes I do.

And, well, 2012 was the year of m/m romance for me. A romance reader for all of my adult life, I read an overwhelmingly large proportion of m/m romance this year. In no particular order, here are the top romances that I read this year.

Muscling Through by J.L.Merrow - Oh, Al. *sighs a dreamy sigh* The best and most unique narrative voice I've read this year and perhaps even...ever. Wonderful contemporary m/m set in the UK with a gentle giant narrator.

Handyman by Claire Thompson - A coming out contemporary m/m story with a gay-for-you theme. The discovery of their feelings for each other was sweet and lovely.

Gambling Men: The Novel by Amy Lane - Smokin' hot contemporary m/m about two best friends who become the best of lovers. Really beautifully told story with lots of steamy sexytimes.

An Unexpected Gentleman by Alissa Johnson - Delightful, lighthearted historical romance. The practical heroine and the rough-around-the-edges hero who has loved her from afar. Just an all around sweet romance. My first read of 2012, and it was quite a wonderful way to start the year!








Drunk Text by seventhswan. - The best of the freebie online m/m fics that I read this year. Quite simply, I loved it and its cocky, sexy chameleon narrator, too.

Pillow Talk by J.H. Knight - The Goodreads M/M Romance group's Love is Always Write event produced some gems, and this was my favorite of the lot thus far. Really great and engaging characters in a contemporary m/m with a best friends-to-lovers/gay-for-you theme. This author is definitely one to watch!

Poison Princess by Kresley Cole - YA? Really? Yup, YA. And it was fantastic. Detailed worldbuilding in a postapocalyptic setting, interesting characters, and a hot Cajun. What more can you ask for?

Thief of Shadows and Scandalous Desires by Elizabeth Hoyt - Two historical romances from the Maiden Lane series. Really just beautiful and emotional romances with unique main characters and sensuous sexytimes.






Let's hope 2013 brings plenty of excellent reading, too!

Cheers,
NJ