2018 was a rough year in many ways but I had romance books to save me in the darkest times. Here is the list of the books that I enjoyed the most in 2018 - some backlist titles, some latest releases, some queer, some not, all around all of them affected me deeply.

Hurts to Love You by Alisha Rai is the final book in the Forbidden Hearts series and it completes this family saga kind of romance in a most moving and beautiful way. It's closely knit series working best if read in order - lots of drama and secrets, forbidden love and ultimately, carving one's own happiness despite the circumstances in a complex mix of family and friendship dynamics.. I loved the MCs and the side characters and appreciate the incidental queer rep. Goodreads / Amazon

Band Sinister by KJ Charles - historical m/m romance done in the style of Georgette Heyer's romances but queer. Light-hearted, fun, pure joy to read. Great side characters, an awesome female character in m/m novel which is still rare and I loved it. Review / Amazon

Tikka Chance on Me by Suleikha Snyder - a biker novella of sorts. Desi heroine. Cinnamon roll hero in disguise. High heat level with so much heart. It packs a punch in just a few pages. Review / Amazon

Never Sweeter by Charlotte Stein - backlist title, former bully hero, the girl he bullied is the heroine. Not an easy read but it worked for me. He does so much emotional labour and I bought his redemption. There was softness and unexpected vulnerability to this big man. it was the heroine who set the tone, who made teh decisions about them. Review / Amazon

Best of Luck and Luck of the Draw by Kate Clayborn, I just can't pick a favourite book in this series, they are all amazing, wonderful contemporary romance that deal with variety of issues - difficult family dynamics, close-knit female friendship, mental health and chronic illness, professional success and failure, grief, addiction, forgiveness. Review / Amazon

The Wolf at Bay by Charlie Adhara - debut murder mystery shifter m/m romance. This is not my typical subgenre but I found it very well written and engaging. Human MC with anxiety, his werewolf partner and lover. A gripping suspense/mystery plot, tender and heart-felt romance and interesting family dynamics. Review / Amazon

A Duke by Default by Alyssa Cole. Portia and Tavish are everything in this contemporary royal romance. Heroine with ADHD, older divorced hero (maintaining a friendly relationship with his ex!) who turns out to be the heir of a duke. Brilliant, fun with a serious edge. Wonderful heroine who is allowed to make mistakes, to act out, to be imperfect. Review / Amazon

A Conspiracy of Whispers by Ada Harper - dystopian sci-fi m/f romance. The prickliest assassin heroine, most caring aristocratic warrior, great incidental queer rep. Interesting world-building, some issues re fertility/reproduction came as a surprise for me but in the end, I'd say they were handled well. Review / Amazon

Thirsty by Mia Hopkins - first person present tense POV story of a ex-gang member is the romance I didn't know I needed in my life. Hero with anxiety, trying to get his life back on track. Single mother heroine working to get back to her dreams that somehow got derailed. Review / Amazon

Make Me Fall by Sara Rider - m/f contemporary with cinnamon roll hero and a heroine recovering from a break up upending her life. I felt so deeply her struggles to make new friends, to start anew both personally and professionally. Review / Amazon

Object of Desire by Dal Maclean - murder mystery m/m where romance is not front and central but the story ends with a strong HEA, so I'm definitely counting it as romance. Review / Amazon

Rebel Hard by Nalini Singh - m/f romance set in the Indian community in Australia, a sort of modern arranged marriage, only with real feelings. Review / Amazon

Saving Hearts by Rebecca Crowley - m/f football romance. hero is a goal keeper at the end of his career, using gambling to deal with anxiety and mental health issues. Heroine is former football player herself, now working the professional football association, also battling gambling addiction. They are as mismatched as they can be. Review / Amazon (on sale for $2.99 at the time of posting)

A Daring Arrangement by Joanna Shupe - gilded age historical set in New York. I love this time period with its inventions and changing moral code and ridiculous, over-the-top spending. Review / Amazon

The Henchmen of Zenda by KJ Charles - This is a wonderful adventure romance in the vein of Dumas's The Three Musketeers but queer. It's based on the Prisoner of Zenda by Anthony Hope (1894). It's fun and full of court intrigue and treason and sword fighting and an engaging romance between an older experienced gay man and a charming younger bi man. Review / Amazon