This year I have gotten a chance to read so many fabulous books. It was my first full year of reviewing and I was lucky enough to get my hands on so many wonderful stories and be exposed to a whole range of books in so many genres. Over the course of the year, I have read about 215 books and have reviewed most of them here. So lots of fabulous things to choose from and I had a hard time narrowing down my list. But here are my favorites of the year in a bunch of different categories, including my four top picks of the year.  P.S. All lists are in alpha order

Favorite Books of 2012

Calling the Show by J.A. Rock
This is a funny one, because it sort of grew on my over the course of the year. I loved it from the moment I read it, but I had just read Rock’s amazing Wacky Wednesday and on first read, I liked that one a bit better. But I found over the year I have reached for this one over and over again, even just to read short snippets (and not just the part where they have hula hoop sex, I swear!). I love they way Simeck and Jesse are learning so much about themselves throughout the book, how they are exploring their dominant and submissive tendencies and trying to figure out where they fit into that world. And I love how in the end they decide they don’t need to fit into anyone else’s labels, that they can create what they want between just the two of them. I love dorky Jesse and Simeck with his hula hooping and they are just so sweet and cute and hot as hell together. And yes, there is hula hoop sex.  That is really all you need to know.


Ethan, Who Loved Carter by Ryan Loveless
If you follow me on Twitter or Facebook you know this book blew me out of the water. I was so crazy for it I immediately demanded that everyone else read it right away. This book moved me so much and I literally could not put it down. So sweet and romantic and lovely.  I enjoyed how Ethan and Carter’s relationship is on one hand so different than most, but on the other hand, their love and feelings are so similar to what everyone goes through. Loveless does an amazing job with this book and I have yet to meet anyone who didn’t love it. Grab it up and read it immediately!


King Perry by Edmond Manning
I still tease Edmond that this book made me buy a tomato at the grocery store just because it was so beautiful and perfect and I was inspired to recognize the lovely things in life after reading King Perry. This story is so intricate and detailed, the amount of research alone is mind boggling. Details are interwoven and breadcrumbs are dropped that pick up in different places throughout the book in an amazing feat of writing. But despite the complexity of the story, it never gets bogged down and we sail along with Perry and Vic through their amazing weekend journey. I still can’t forget that scene captured on the cover where Perry stands exultant on the mountain top at sunrise. Even months later it makes me tear up. Loved, loved this book and can’t wait for more (write faster Edmond!).


Riot Boy by Katey Hawthorne
I will admit I first picked this book up primarily for the cover. Isn’t it unbelievably gorgeous? (PL Nunn is a genius) I read a great review of the story and decided to give it a shot for Rock Star Week. I can’t tell you how quickly I feel in love with Brady and Etienne. Seriously, Brady is such a fabulous punk, irreverant and wild and totally unashamed about his many bad qualities. We shouldn’t love him, but I adore him beyond reason. And I love Etienne, who falls so completely for this guy that he knows is probably terrible for him but can’t help himself. I seriously love everything about this story and have reread it a ridiculous number of times over the course of the year. And I swear, I need a pink “Fuck Me, Etienne” shirt in the worst way!


So those were my absolute overall favorites this year. But I read so many amazing books there was no way I could leave it at that. So here are more of the wonderful books I read this year. I urge you to give them all a try.

Favorite Contemporary
Aaron by J.P. Barnaby
Afflicted  and Afflicted II by Brandon Shire
Chase in Shadow by Amy Lane
Ethan, Who Loved Carter by Ryan Loveless
Frat Boy & Toppy by Anne Tenino
Handle with Care by Josephine Myles
King Perry by Edmond Manning
Riot Boy by Katey Hawthorne
Scrap Metal by Harper Fox
Sno Ho by Ethan Day


Favorite Historical
Auspicious Troubles of Chance by Charlie Cochet
The Red King by Rosemary O’Malley
What Binds Us by Larry Benjamin


Favorite BDSM
Calling the Show by J.A. Rock
In the Red by Kari Gregg
Power Play: Awakening by Cat Grant and Rachel Haimowitz
Wacky Wednesday by J.A. Rock


Favorite Paranormal
Body Magic and Mind Magic by Poppy Dennison
Blood Howl and Blood in the Sand by Robin Saxon and Alex Kidwell
Gravedigger’s Brawl by Abigail Roux


Favorite Couples
Etienne and Brady (Riot Boy by Katey Hawthorne)
Jed and Redford (Blood Howl/Blood in the Sand by Robin Saxon and Alex Kidwell)
Simeck and Jesse (Calling the Show by J.A. Rock)


Favorite Mystery/Detective
Cut & Run series by Madeline Urban and Abigail Roux
Dirty Secret by Rhys Ford
To Catch a Fox by Geoffrey Knight and Ethan Day


Favorite Series (read all this year)
Little Boy Lost series by J.P. Barnaby


Favorite Futuristic or Science Fiction
Blind Space by Marie Sexton
My Fair Captain by J.L. Langley
Zero Hour by Jordan Castillo Price


Favorite Menage
The Hot Floor by Josephine Myles
What We Deserve by Kerry Freeman (this one I actually read in 2011 but I did my annual list before I reviewed it so I had to save it for 2012)


Favorite Fantasy
Betrayed by D.C. Juris


Favorite Anthology
O Come All Ye Kinky (Riptide Publishing)


Favorite Alternate World
Counterpunch by Aleksandr Voinov


Favorite Young Love Stories
Aaron by J.P. Barnaby
Calling the Show by J.A. Rock
Enlightened by J.P. Barnaby
Wes & Toren by J.M. Colail
Your Biggest FAN by Missy Welsh


Favorite New (to me) Authors
Katey Hawthorne
J.A. Rock