Well it's almost June...Half of the year is almost gone, and we thought it was good time to look at what we've read this year and make a list of our favorites so far.
The LL's Word BIG MID-YEAR REVIEW
LA's Favorite books so far this year...
This is my Top 15 Books that were released this year...In order of when they were read/released:
The Island by Lisa Henry
This book was a hard read, and it had some really crazy twists and turns, and I absolutely loved it.
The Decisions we Make by RJ Scott
This is a lovelyYA story about two boys who grow up as brothers, but still fall in love. Very very sweet. One of my all time favorite YA stories.
Marlowe's Ghost by Sarah Black
Sarah Black is a word magician, her stories are powerful because she writes them so simply and beautifully. This might be her best one yet. Loved it completely.
Fall Into The Sun by Val Kovalin
This book was GREAT. It was on point with the Latino culture and how family and church can have such a deep effect on our lives. This story felt epic and it was beautifully written.
Dark Soul Series by Aleksandr Voinov
I read all five this year so will count them all as a read for this year, even though the first three were released last year. This was an exquisite read. Loved every single story.
Zero to Hero Shorts by Kyle Adams
There are two stories so far in this series of shorts with Wyatt and Brian Dirty Zero and Dirty Hero. I LOVE the Superhero stuff in these stories, and all of their antics. Funny, sweet, hot and AWESOME. They're like great little bites of deliciousness and they're free!
Shattered Glass by Dani Alexander
One of the best books I've read EVER in this genre. Dani Alexander has a gift for timing and writes First Person POV like it's meant to be written. Loved it.
Chase in Shadow by Amy Lane
Amy Lane is a FOR SURE read for me, so like all her other books I loved this one. It was heartbreaking and it was powerful. Mighty love these boys had.
The Starving Years by Jordan Castillo Price
Absolutely FAB speculative fiction, JCP at her best making this world a little more twisted and a little more interesting while providing us with fantastically layered characters. GREAT read.
Stroke! by MJ O'Shea
Sweet little short YA that I LOVED LOVED LOVED!!! A perfect little read.
A Hole In God's Pocket by KZ Snow
A fallen Amish boy and an ex Catholic Monk, in the words of KZ Snow. Need I say more?
Scrap Metal by Harper Fox
BEAUTIFUL, proabably one of the finest set stories I've read. Scotland was just as much a character as the men in this book, and they were quite something. Angsty and poetic. In my Top Five this year.
Out in the Field by Kate McMurray
Baseball players, one Dominican, in NYC. It's like Kate wrote this for me. *whispers* This might be the top fave for this year....Shhhhh...
Frog by Mary Calmes
Web and Cy were like a fairy tale romance. Sooooo lovely.
Acrobat by Mary Calmes
OMG Drrrrrreeeeoooo...I love thee. This book made me a Mary Calmes fan FOR LIFE!
Gambling Men by Amy Lane
High Quality Erotica people. Amy Lane upped the game in this one and DAMN. Have a cold drink handy!
Top Five "Older" Books Read this Year
Chulito by Charles Rice Gonzalez
I don't think I've read a better look at the Neuyorrican/Dominican York subculture. Gorgeous story.
Sins of the Father by DW Marchwell
There are a couple of niggles in this one, but if you can roll with it, it's one of the best second chances books I've read this year.
Cop Out by KC Burn
Great book! Just awesome second chances/coming out story. LOVED it.
Heart in Hand by salifiable
One of my fave sports books and for sure one of the best slash stories I've read.
Split by Mel Bossa
Friends to lovers, soulmate story with a twist. LOVED.
Here is Laddie's Favorites list...There are a few we have in common!
Shattered Glass by Dani Alexander
So far, this has been the best book I've read this year and it's made
even more impressive because it's a self-published offering. Awesome,
awesome book.
Gambling Men by Amy Lane
When it comes to Amy Lane's low angst stories her work hits all of the
right notes with me. I fell in love with these guys and they're also
on my Super Reread list.
Frog by Mary Calmes
Mary Calmes stepped up her game in the month of April and this was the
first book she released. I adored Weber Yates and want a Weber of my
own.
Acrobat by Mary Calmes
Mary Calmes' second book released in April and just as good as Frog.
Dreo is one sexy beast and just look at that gorgeous cover.
The Hanged Man's Ghost by Missouri Dalton:
I stumble upon Missouri's Dalton's work and immediately fell in love
with her imagination. She's not imsanely well known but she should be
because her stuff rocks.
Written In The Stars by Alix Bekins:
I was told that I would love this book and I absolutely did. Snarky,
cantankerous geniuses have never been so funny and adorable.
Cinder by Marie Sexton
A gay fairytale for the ages. I loved this reworking of a classic.
I've never read any Marie Sexton beofre but I'm glad I picked this one
up.
Stroke! by M.J. O'Shea
There's no other word for this story but CUTE. Was it predictable?
Yeah a bit but it was just so charming that I didn't care.
Bartender, PI by Ethan Stone
This story had me giggling like a fiend. The bumbling narrator was a
hoot to read about and this story was an entertaining way to spend a
few hours.
So that's all for our BIG LIST. We hope that you've had a chance to read some of these, and those that you haven't seem interesting enough to try out. We loved every single one of these stories and hope you find some that you love as well!
Hurrah for Summer!
The LL's Word BIG MID-YEAR REVIEW
LA's Favorite books so far this year...
This is my Top 15 Books that were released this year...In order of when they were read/released:
The Island by Lisa Henry
This book was a hard read, and it had some really crazy twists and turns, and I absolutely loved it.
The Decisions we Make by RJ Scott
This is a lovelyYA story about two boys who grow up as brothers, but still fall in love. Very very sweet. One of my all time favorite YA stories.
Marlowe's Ghost by Sarah Black
Sarah Black is a word magician, her stories are powerful because she writes them so simply and beautifully. This might be her best one yet. Loved it completely.
Fall Into The Sun by Val Kovalin
This book was GREAT. It was on point with the Latino culture and how family and church can have such a deep effect on our lives. This story felt epic and it was beautifully written.
Dark Soul Series by Aleksandr Voinov
I read all five this year so will count them all as a read for this year, even though the first three were released last year. This was an exquisite read. Loved every single story.
Zero to Hero Shorts by Kyle Adams
There are two stories so far in this series of shorts with Wyatt and Brian Dirty Zero and Dirty Hero. I LOVE the Superhero stuff in these stories, and all of their antics. Funny, sweet, hot and AWESOME. They're like great little bites of deliciousness and they're free!
Shattered Glass by Dani Alexander
One of the best books I've read EVER in this genre. Dani Alexander has a gift for timing and writes First Person POV like it's meant to be written. Loved it.
Chase in Shadow by Amy Lane
Amy Lane is a FOR SURE read for me, so like all her other books I loved this one. It was heartbreaking and it was powerful. Mighty love these boys had.
The Starving Years by Jordan Castillo Price
Absolutely FAB speculative fiction, JCP at her best making this world a little more twisted and a little more interesting while providing us with fantastically layered characters. GREAT read.
Stroke! by MJ O'Shea
Sweet little short YA that I LOVED LOVED LOVED!!! A perfect little read.
A Hole In God's Pocket by KZ Snow
A fallen Amish boy and an ex Catholic Monk, in the words of KZ Snow. Need I say more?
Scrap Metal by Harper Fox
BEAUTIFUL, proabably one of the finest set stories I've read. Scotland was just as much a character as the men in this book, and they were quite something. Angsty and poetic. In my Top Five this year.
Out in the Field by Kate McMurray
Baseball players, one Dominican, in NYC. It's like Kate wrote this for me. *whispers* This might be the top fave for this year....Shhhhh...
Frog by Mary Calmes
Web and Cy were like a fairy tale romance. Sooooo lovely.
Acrobat by Mary Calmes
OMG Drrrrrreeeeoooo...I love thee. This book made me a Mary Calmes fan FOR LIFE!
Gambling Men by Amy Lane
High Quality Erotica people. Amy Lane upped the game in this one and DAMN. Have a cold drink handy!
Top Five "Older" Books Read this Year
Chulito by Charles Rice Gonzalez
I don't think I've read a better look at the Neuyorrican/Dominican York subculture. Gorgeous story.
Sins of the Father by DW Marchwell
There are a couple of niggles in this one, but if you can roll with it, it's one of the best second chances books I've read this year.
Cop Out by KC Burn
Great book! Just awesome second chances/coming out story. LOVED it.
Heart in Hand by salifiable
One of my fave sports books and for sure one of the best slash stories I've read.
Split by Mel Bossa
Friends to lovers, soulmate story with a twist. LOVED.
Here is Laddie's Favorites list...There are a few we have in common!
Shattered Glass by Dani Alexander
So far, this has been the best book I've read this year and it's made
even more impressive because it's a self-published offering. Awesome,
awesome book.
Gambling Men by Amy Lane
When it comes to Amy Lane's low angst stories her work hits all of the
right notes with me. I fell in love with these guys and they're also
on my Super Reread list.
Frog by Mary Calmes
Mary Calmes stepped up her game in the month of April and this was the
first book she released. I adored Weber Yates and want a Weber of my
own.
Acrobat by Mary Calmes
Mary Calmes' second book released in April and just as good as Frog.
Dreo is one sexy beast and just look at that gorgeous cover.
The Hanged Man's Ghost by Missouri Dalton:
I stumble upon Missouri's Dalton's work and immediately fell in love
with her imagination. She's not imsanely well known but she should be
because her stuff rocks.
Written In The Stars by Alix Bekins:
I was told that I would love this book and I absolutely did. Snarky,
cantankerous geniuses have never been so funny and adorable.
Cinder by Marie Sexton
A gay fairytale for the ages. I loved this reworking of a classic.
I've never read any Marie Sexton beofre but I'm glad I picked this one
up.
Stroke! by M.J. O'Shea
There's no other word for this story but CUTE. Was it predictable?
Yeah a bit but it was just so charming that I didn't care.
Bartender, PI by Ethan Stone
This story had me giggling like a fiend. The bumbling narrator was a
hoot to read about and this story was an entertaining way to spend a
few hours.
So that's all for our BIG LIST. We hope that you've had a chance to read some of these, and those that you haven't seem interesting enough to try out. We loved every single one of these stories and hope you find some that you love as well!
Hurrah for Summer!
What a great list guys! This definitely reminded me of a few that I've let slip through the net that I need to put on the kindle so I don't forget about them :)
ReplyDeleteI should check this Zero to Hero... I loved Fall into the sun too, as well as Chulito and Heart in hand and Shattered Glass. Chulito is my fav, I think. *sighs*
ReplyDeleteI discovered Missouri Dalton and Alex Bekins and for that my library is better place. The hanged man's ghost and Written in the stars are just fantastic!
It's been a good reading year already, hasn't it? Laddie, did you see that the sequel to The Hanged Man's Ghost came out this week? :)
ReplyDeleteOMG No I didn't see that the sequel came out!! YAAAYyY!
DeletePlus I got clarification from the author re: which of her shorts are in the series, and added the series in GRs so you should be able to find the shorts, too.
Delete*hug* Thank you, Laddie! I'm thrilled for WITS to have been included. (And now I have a handful to add to my own to-read list!)
ReplyDeleteThanks for writing it, Alix! Glad you find some books listed interesting :D
ReplyDelete