“If one cannot enjoy reading a book over and over again, there is no use in reading it at all.” – Oscar Wilde
A SIGNIFICANT milestone for me in 2024 was releasing my first Gay Paranormal Romance novel, The Night Belongs To Lovers, part of the ghost story-themed “Own-Voices” project: Haunted Hearts. This series features the following authors: Christian Baines, Seb L. Carter, Glenn Quigley, Finn Dixon, Tal Frost, Shane K. Morton, J.P. Jackson, Adam J. Ridley, Colin Dereham, and myself.
So, of course, my FAVOURITE book of 2024 was mine (haha), and since I cannot show favouritism toward any of my fellow authors, I applaud them all equally. Bravo, gentlemen, for being excellent storytellers who write from the (haunted) heart! I highly recommend that everyone read and collect each novel in the series! And who knows—perhaps in 2025, we may just see a beWITCHing continuation of this Own-Voices project.
At the beginning of 2024, just like I did in 2023, I set a personal goal: to immerse myself in books and make reading for pleasure my primary source of entertainment during my leisure time. While I’ll always enjoy the thrill of a good docuseries, cartoon or movie, I recognize the need to create balance. However, I still find myself ensnared in binge-watching.
There are many reasons for this. The biggest two? I’m either procrastinating from writing due to burnout (trying to make my work perfect) or escapism from the chaos of the world around me (far and near) through an immersive experience watching stuff on my big-screen TV. Scooby-Doo, Horror Documentaries, and Below Deck rarely stress me out. Admittedly, I do yell A LOT at people on TV. Sooo—there’s that.
Between writing, home responsibilities, and a plethora of other duties and passions, shifting my focus to reading—and not just traditional novels but various literary forms that captivate my imagination—still proves a challenge. But I won’t stop trying!
This year, I delved into long and short narratives, relishing the breadth of storytelling. I savoured novellas that offered quick yet profound tales and indulged in enchanting short stories and poetry that sparked my imagination. True to my interests, I explored comic books that blended visual artistry with compelling narratives and found excitement in graphic novels, each page overflowing with superhero adventures and fantastical worlds. Have I mentioned my obsession with Nightwing? Oh, I have? Nevermind then.
Reflecting on my 2024 reading journey, I feel a sense of mixed accomplishment. While I didn’t quite reach the ambitious heights I’d envisioned, knowing I could have embraced the printed page even more, I take pride in the progress I achieved with the new stories I encountered. Here, I’m highlighting several authors and their works that I read this year—those that particularly stood out and took me to wondrous, tantalizing, and even horrifying places. Some were chilling, others exhilarating, and several tugged at my romantic heartstrings.
Unsurprisingly, much of what I devoured in 2024 had significant LGBTQ+ content. I took a particular interest in work by Own Voices authors—specifically gay/queer men who write from a place of experience and authenticity. I also made a conscious choice to focus on reading horror, thriller, and gay paranormal romance that featured LGBTQ+ characters and queer experiences within these Genres, and they had to feel respectful and authentic. So, here we go!
Thom Collins – Show No Mercy [Published November 13, 2024]
A chance encounter brings Hector and Callum together in a world of danger. After a disastrous blind date, Hector spots Callum at a bar and feels an instant connection. Their night soon takes a dark turn when they are attacked by men with knives, thrusting Hector into a perilous world of vengeance. Faced with a difficult choice, Hector must decide if he’s willing to risk everything for a man he barely knows.
Matthew Dante – As I Say [Published May 17, 2023]
Caleb and Preston have been enemies for years, with a history of bullying and passive-aggressive retaliation. In a
cruel twist of fate, they find themselves kidnapped and forced into a deadly competition where their captor has made it clear: there can only be one victor in this game of brains vs brawn. Which of them will leave the game standing—and who will leave the game in a body bag. As they face nightmarish trials, the two men must decide whether to set aside their animosity and work together or succumb to the twisted game set by their captor.
Will they survive, or will one of them end up in a body bag? [Check out my review for this novel along with my interview with author Matthew Dante in earlier Blog Posts].
Matthew Dante – The Collector (Book of Sin #1) [Published May 2, 2024]
La Maison de M is a private gentlemen’s club where the rich and powerful come to relax, have a few drinks, and enjoy the company of hot young men. There’s no judgment here. Men can explore their fantasies and share in the pleasures that only a few lucky souls ever get the chance to experience. Within these walls, secrets are shared, and vulnerabilities are discovered. Author Matthew Dante once again gives us morally grey hunks, internationally dangerous liaisons, and scintillating erotic encounters.
Note: Matthew Dante’s The Chameleon (Book of Sin #3) [Published November 5, 2024] was to be on my list, but I didn’t want to go over 15. I’ll add it to my 2025 list! [Is a “reread” cheating? LOL]
Marcus Hawke – You Can’t Take It With You (Published November 26, 2024)
On Christmas Eve, 1984, Montgomery Nolan, at ninety years old, stands on the threshold of death. But this isn’t the end for him—it’s just the beginning. Discovering a shocking method to transcend mortality, he sheds the chains of time to become the ultimate predator.
This night will shatter the silence of the season as Hawke delivers a thrilling vampire tale bursting with tantalizing themes of greed, lust, power, and immortality. Brace yourself for a festive narrative of blood and horror—like you’ve never experienced!
[And can we talk about this cover?! It’s like 30 Days of Night meets Dickens’ A Christmas Carol. And I’m living for it!]
Brian B. Ewing – Brimstone: A Story From The Reels (The Reels #3) [Published December 2, 2021]
The flickering behind Tom Sisto’s eyes signals the return of The Reels, his psychic sidekick that emerged when he faced death years ago. Both a gift and a curse, the visions are crucial as a mysterious stranger plots revenge against Sisto, his target, and anyone who stands in the way. With a crew of hired mercenaries, the stranger aims to plunge Saratoga City into chaos.
After a break from their current case, Sisto has a chance to regroup while managing his evolving personal life. As everything shifts around him, a new threat looms. Armed with only his Glock, instincts, and The Reels, Sisto must utilize his training and Project: Corrine’s resources to battle for his city—and his life.
Brian B. Ewing – Legacy: A Story From The Reels (The Reels #4) [Published September 24, 2024]
Tom Sisto has done everything he can to protect his family. Eight months have passed since he learned he is about to become a father, and Ama is ready to give birth any day. While preparing for this life-altering event, Sisto finds himself deeply involved in a new case.
Weeks of collaboration with the FBI have led Sisto and Project: Corrine to a stakeout to take down a relentless killer. When an unexpected breakthrough in the case occurs, the task force believes that justice will finally be served that night.
Sisto is confident they are on the right track, but roadblocks within the government are causing everyone to question who can be trusted. As the hours go by, new details emerge, scattering the team across the city as they race against a ticking clock. Reluctant alliances will form, lines will be crossed, and if Sisto and his team fail, their survival will be the least of their worries. [Check out my interview with author Brian B. Ewing in an earlier Blog Post].
David-Jack Fletcher – The Count [Published April 9, 2024]
The Count is an unnerving story set in an ordinary house, making it all the more eerie. It begins with a gruesome display that shocks and perfectly establishes the dread throughout the book.
When Sam’s ex, Danny, is found eviscerated, Sam cannot remember where he was at the time of the murder. He only recalls the strange comfort of his new house—and the endless ticking of a clock he can’t find. Oh, and there’s the bloody knife he woke up holding the morning Danny was killed.
Sam’s growing desire to drink from the dead and anonymous GPS pings that lead to corpses empower his descent into a grotesquerie of dark, vile actions. Fueled by this deep lust to feed and compelled by the power of the ticking clock, how much will Sam give up his humanity, his morality, to get what he craves?
Nando Gray – Paleolithica (Paleolithica #1) [Published July 1, 2024]
Entin has never felt like he belonged anywhere; his tribe has never accepted him. When his village is raided and set ablaze, Entin is abducted. Taken far from home, he must confront his past to survive in a foreign culture. Relying on a young man of similar age, he faces choices he never expected as he fights for freedom.
Cascade knows duty all too well; his plans made the raids possible. But a sense of honour weighs on him as he drags his captive toward Mountainhome, dreading the impending arrival of the Wolves, who bring tales of terror.
Fall in love with history as two unlikely heroes rise to the challenge. Adventure awaits them across the Mastodon-filled plains and sacred mountaintops, forcing them to forge unexpected bonds in the fire of ancient survival. [Check out my review for this novel in an earlier Blog Post].
Mark Gulino – Upon the Pale Isle of Gloam: A Gothic Horror Novella [Published October 20, 2023]
On a deserted shoreline, Rue wakes up alone without any memory of her past. Decades of wreckage lay scattered across the beach. The days feel impossibly short, and the weather is ominous. Even more terrifying are the supernatural beings that haunt the landscape, leaving corpses in their wake.
Guided only by her instincts, Rue embarks on a journey to uncover her truth and find a way home, all while unravelling the island’s dark secret. A spooky novella filled with gothic themes and atmospheric horror. [Check out my review for this novella in an earlier Blog Post].
J.P. Jackson – The Magician’s Heart [Published August 19, 2024]
Patrick leads a quiet life at his lakeside cabin with his dog Argus and pet raven Kaos. As the area’s most powerful water witch and a member of the Mage’s Council, he occasionally assists the local police with magical situations. While it’s a serene existence, he feels a bit lonely and stuck in a rut.
Allan, on the other hand, struggles with a chaotic life, often influenced by others. After a disastrous camping trip with his abusive ex, he discovers he’s not fully human. Embracing his witchy side, Allan realizes he needs help to harness his abilities and to mend relationships with the local Fae he’s offended.
Though Patrick doesn’t want a student and Allan has no desire for a mentor, their unexpected connection sparks a new magic that could save them both from an impending danger.
This book, based on the major arcana card, The Magician, is part of the multi-author collaboration “Tales from the Tarot,” but is a standalone book. [Check out my interview with J.P. Jackson in an earlier Blog Post].
Brett Mitchell Kent – Whispers of Apple Blossoms [Published May 1, 2024]
A decades-spanning love story, Whispers of Apple Blossoms follows Edna Mann, a lonely widow grieving her husband and daughter. She finds companionship in an unexpected source: her late husband communicating through her houseplant. As people around her start disappearing, Edna must face a haunting reality of obsession and heartache.
This atmospheric tale intertwines her regrets with a past she longs to relive, drawing readers into a romantic yet sinister narrative that leads to an unforgettable finale. [Check out my review for this novel in an earlier Blog Post].
Michael Mullin – Gothic Revival [Published March 14, 2023]
Chris, Anne, Fiona, and Lauren were close friends during their MFAs in Creative Writing but have grown apart over the years. They are surprised to receive reunion invitations from Eric, a successful screenwriter, who brings them to a remote lake villa. He reveals his obsession with their group mirroring the famous Villa Diodati event of 1816, where Frankenstein was born, assigning each person a role based on the historical figures.
Eric proposes they write ghost stories as an homage. However, laughter soon turns to suspicion and fear. Fiona claims to have unsettling visions, while Eric’s deceit raises questions. As tensions escalate, they uncover a shocking secret behind Eric’s true intentions for the reunion.
A psychological thriller inspired by the creation of Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein.
Michael Nunn – Echoes of the Forgotten [Published January 15, 2024]
“‘Roll up, roll up,’ he sings, the tone unsettling. A chill runs down my arms as his twisted grin reveals gray teeth.”
It was supposed to be a memorable night; instead, it turned into a nightmare for Will Campbell. Five students vanish on the first night of their third year. Three days later, Will is found alone in the countryside, covered in blood and with no recollection of what happened—only the memory of a haunting fairground and a man with a crooked smile.
But—there was no fair that night!
Marc Ruvolo – Pieties [Published April 20, 2024]
In 1981, Andrew, diagnosed with GRID, leaves his hedonistic life in NYC to return to his estranged parents in religious Wheaton, Illinois. Sick and destitute, he feels trapped in a disturbing childhood home. His mother, always the center of their family, now appears ill, often found sleepwalking through darkened hallways, her body covered in unexplained sores and bruises.
His disapproving father retreats for hours into the secluded, picture-perfect Japanese garden behind the house. At night, there’s a scratching sound in the walls that may or may not be caused by rats.
After witnessing a late-night encounter in the garden between his father and—someone, Andrew uncovers ominous events suggesting something more dangerous than infidelity. As he investigates, he worries his mother might be the next victim. Is his descent into madness a side effect of his illness, or is there a dark secret hidden in the shadows of the garden? [Check out my review for this novel in an earlier Blog Post].
Mark Ward – Circumference [Published August 3, 2018]
As the 1950s come to an end, Tommy Martin receives a telegram informing him that his father is dying and that he should return home. Returning to Pepperell, Massachusetts, he is compelled to revisit his teenage years, remember Mike—the boy he loved—and confront the family he left behind. Circumference is a remarkable collection of poems exploring human life’s complex boundaries, particularly in times of emotional strife.
Now, at the end of my reading and review for 2024, I’m filled with excitement for what lies ahead. I can’t wait to immerse myself in a fresh array of literary works; my TBR list, like so many of you out there, is long. As the New Year begins, one book I eagerly anticipate is Simon Doyle’s This is Not a Vampire Story, coming January 7, 2025!
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