What I Read In 2018

I’ve read 66 books this year. This is the pick of those I gave 5/5 stars to. I’ve restricted myself to only including one of these per author.
This year I’ve read:

• 5 gay / male male romances
  
• 3 literary fiction / romantic fiction
• 1 non-fiction
  

The rest were male female category romances – some retro from as far back as the seventies, right up to contemporary. This has definitely been the year of the category romance. These books were ones I would dismiss out of hand, thinking them simple, easy, not very interesting to read. Until I actually read one. And then I discovered why they’re so popular. Escapism, romance, travelling to exotic locations and lots of heart. What’s not to like?

There were lots of 4 and 4.5 star ones too, but here’s my 5 star reads.

The Ruthless Greek’s Return – Sharon Kendrick
Imperious hero, strong heroine to win him over. Glamorous location, buckets of sexual tension. Plot that zips along. Perfect.

The Lone Rancher – Andrew Grey
Secrets, stripping, cowboys, family secrets, fun in the back of a pickup truck. This was just so damned much fun!

The World is Full of Married Men – Jackie Collins
Not a romance, but full of glitzy wit and fun you expect from JC. So. Much. Fun.

The Socialite and the Cattle King – Lyndsay Armstrong
Opposites attract. Glamour. Sizzle. Fun. Perfect.

The Billionaire Takes a Bride – Liz Fielding
I’ve read many of this author’s books and they never disappoint. Simply a perfect category romance.

Tempted by the Bridesmaid – Annie O’Neil
A hospital made in a deserted village in Italy. Clever, sassy heroine. Smouldering handsome hero. Perfect unresolved sexual tension hovering throughout. Great sensuality scenes. Fabulous

A Kiss, A Dance, A Diamond – Helen Lacey
Second chance love, old friends. Hurt hero. Small town. Slow burn. All. The. Romance.

Romancing the Ugly Duckling – Clare London
I loved the city-living sparkly loud fashion stylist and how he contrasted with the gruff quite guy who lives in the middle of nowhere in the Scottish Highlands. Perfect amount of sensuality. So much humour and wit. Loved loved loved it.

Tin Man – Sarah Winman
Unrequited love between two men who grew up together. One turns out to be straight, the other makes a life as a gay man in the eighties. Cried buckets. Romantic, but not a romance. Sad ending. But beautiful.

The New Guy In Town – Teresa Southwick
Florist who knows the banker’s dating history due to providing all his first date flowers. A natural disaster throws them together. Sassy heroine. Imperious hero. I. Loved. It.

A Spanish Christmas – Penny Jordan
Penny is something of an institution in Mills and Boon circles. I’m trying to collect all 187 of her category romances plus her longer romantic novels. A doctor, a nurse, a large house over Christmas in Spain. Wonderful.

I hope some of these may help with your reading list in 2019. Here's to next year filled with wonderful books!

Love and light,

Liam Livings xx