Best of the Year 2022

Since The Hope Chest Reviews is not dedicated to the latest book releases, the majority of the books on this list were not published in 2022. Instead the list is compiled from the books that were read and reviewed during the 2022 calendar year. If you would like to view our picks from past years, please visit the archive.

Author of the Year - Winner

Nalini Singh (3 - 5 star reads in a row)

Author of the Year - Runner-Up

Larissa Ione (3 - 5 star reads this year)

Best Overall Romance

Passion by Lisa Valdez (5 stars)

Best Alternate Reality Romances

Azagoth by Larissa Ione (5 stars)

Play of Passion by Nalini Singh (5 stars)

Lord of the Fading Lands by C. L. Wilson (5 stars)

Midnight Rising by Lara Adrian (4 ½ stars)

Can't Get Enough by G. A. Aiken (4 ½ stars)

Dragon Actually by G. A. Aiken (4 ½ stars)

Immortal by J. R. Ward (4 ½ stars)

Lover Arisen by J. R. Ward (4 ½ stars)*

The Viper by J. R. Ward (4 ½ stars)*

Best Contemporary Romances

A Princess in Theory by Alyssa Cole (5 stars)

Falling for Love by Marie Force (5 stars)

Best Erotic Romances

Trust by Sherri Hayes (5 stars)

Breaking Free by Cherise Sinclair (5 stars)

Passion by Lisa Valdez (5 stars)

Best Historical Romance (American)

A Texan's Luck by Jodi Thomas (4 ½ stars) 

Best Historical Romances (Britain & Other Countries)

One Night of Sin by Gaelen Foley (5 stars)

To Seduce a Sinner by Elizabeth Hoyt (5 stars)

Lady Isabella's Scandalous Marriage by Jennifer Ashley (4½ stars)

Best LGBTQ Romance

Base Instincts by Larissa Ione (5 stars)

Best New Adult Romance

Trust by Sherri Hayes (5 stars)

Best Romance Novellas

Declaration of Courtship by Nalini Singh (5 stars)

Christmas Day Family by Cheryl St. John (5 stars)

Chains & Flames by G. A. Aiken (4 ½ stars)

Best Romance Novelettes & Short Stories

Revenant: Epilogue by Larissa Ione (5 stars)

Home by Nalini Singh (5 stars)

Quid Pro Quo by L. A. Witt, Aleksandr Voinov (5 stars)

An On Dublin Street Halloween by Samantha Young (5 stars)

Game Night by Darah Lace (4 ½ stars)

His at Last by Brenna Zinn (4 ½ stars)

Best Young Adult Fiction

Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson (4 ½ stars)

The Chosen One by Carol Lynch Williams (4 ½ stars)

Best Children's Fiction Picture Books

Where's My Teddy? by Jez Alborough (5 stars)

Bear and Fred: A World War II Story by Iris Argaman, Avi Ofer (4 ½ stars)

Best Children's Non-Fiction Picture Book

Sometimes People March by Tessa Allen (5 stars)

Best Children's Middle-Grade Fiction

The Return Of Santa Paws by Nicholas Edwards (5 stars)

Holes by Louis Sachar (5 stars)

Best Fantasy Novellas & Short Stories

Bombshells by Jim Butcher (5 stars)

Distressed Travelers by Nina Kiriki Hoffman (4 ½ stars)

Best Historical Fiction

Go Tell the Bees That I Am Gone by Diana Gabaldon (5 stars)

Best Historical Fiction Novella

A Leaf on the Wind of All Hallows by Diana Gabaldon (4 ½ stars)

Best Biographies/Memoirs

Hope: A Memoir of Survival in Cleveland by Amanda Berry, Gina DeJesus, Kevin Sullivan, Mary Jordan (5 stars)

A Street Cat Named Bob: And How He Saved My Life by James Bowen (4 ½ stars)

Best Non-Fiction Books

Dead Man Walking: The Eyewitness Account of the Death Penalty That Sparked a National Debate by Helen Prejean (5 stars)

Best Christmas Stories

The Return Of Santa Paws by Nicholas Edwards (5 stars)

Christmas Day Family by Cheryl St. John (5 stars)

Most Surprising Winner

Lord of the Fading Lands by C. L. Wilson (5 stars)

Funniest Read

Where's My Teddy? by Jez Alborough (5 stars)

Biggest Tearjerker

Hope: A Memoir of Survival in Cleveland by Amanda Berry, Gina DeJesus, Kevin Sullivan, Mary Jordan (5 stars)

Sweetest Romance

The best romance I read this year that has milder content.

Christmas Day Family by Cheryl St. John (5 stars) 

Steamiest Romances

For me, the steamiest romance doesn't necessarily have the most erotic content (although this time they do). Instead it's the book(s) that best combine hot, sexy scenes with a deep emotional connection that really make the pages sizzle.

Breaking Free by Cherise Sinclair (5 stars)

Passion by Lisa Valdez (5 stars)

Most Impressive Debuts

These weren't 2022 releases, but they were the debut books for these authors and quite impressive for a first effort.

Sometimes People March by Tessa Allen (5 stars)

Hope: A Memoir of Survival in Cleveland by Amanda Berry, Gina DeJesus, Kevin Sullivan, Mary Jordan (5 stars)

Dead Man Walking: The Eyewitness Account of the Death Penalty That Sparked a National Debate by Helen Prejean (5 stars)

Passion by Lisa Valdez (5 stars)

Lord of the Fading Lands by C.L. Wilson (5 stars)

Dragon Actually by G.A. Aiken (4 ½ stars)

Bear and Fred: A World War II Story by Iris Argaman, Avi Ofer (4 ½ stars)

A Street Cat Named Bob: And How He Saved My Life by James Bowen (4 ½ stars)

Best Overall Hero

Mark Randolph Hawkmore (Passion by Lisa Valdez)

Best Overall Heroine

Passion Elizabeth Dare (Passion by Lisa Valdez)

Most Tortured Heroes

Kane (The Viper by J. R. Ward*)

Rio (Midnight Rising by Lara Adrian)

Most Tortured Heroines

Beth Stanton (Breaking Free by Cherise Sinclair)

Melinda Sordino (Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson)

Hottest Hero

Nolan King (Breaking Free by Cherise Sinclair) 

Most Perfect Couple

Mark Randolph Hawkmore & Passion Elizabeth Dare (Passion by Lisa Valdez)

Most Evil Villains

Prince Mikhail Kurkov (One Night of Sin by Gaelen Foley)

Ian Pierce (Trust by Sherri Hayes)

Devina (Lover Arisen by J. R. Ward*)

Most Memorable Supporting Characters

Mr. Pynch & Suchlike (To Seduce a Sinner by Elizabeth Hoyt)

Regina & Nya (A Princess in Theory by Alyssa Cole)

Belliard vel Jelani & the Quintet of Fey warriors (Lord of the Fading Lands by C. L. Wilson)

Master Cullen (Breaking Free by Cherise Sinclair)

Morfyd & Brastias (Dragon Actually by G. A. Aiken)

Lassiter (Lover Arisen by J. R. Ward*)

Callum & Apex (The Viper by J. R. Ward*)

Molly, Butters, Bob, & Morty (Ghost Story by Jim Butcher)

Bobby Higgins, Silvia Hardman & John Cinnamon (Go Tell the Bees That I Am Gone by Diana Gabaldon)

Laura McCarthy, Owen Lawry & Old Ned (Falling for Love by Marie Force)

Most Memorable Child Characters

Jem, Mandy, Germain, Lizard, & Oggy (Go Tell the Bees That I Am Gone by Diana Gabaldon)

Alanna (Getting Lucky by Marilyn Pappano)

Beau Lattimer (One Magic Eve by Pam Crooks)

Nate & Tessa Paxton (Christmas Day Family by Cheryl St. John)

Gregory & Patricia Callahan (The Return Of Santa Paws by Nicholas Edwards)

Most Memorable Animal Characters

Bob (A Street Cat Named Bob: And How He Saved My Life by James Bowen)

Santa Paws (The Return Of Santa Paws by Nicholas Edwards)

Gram-P & Gram-M (A Princess in Theory by Alyssa Cole)

Bluebell (Go Tell the Bees That I Am Gone by Diana Gabaldon)

Otis, Lady & Tux (Return to Virgin River by Robyn Carr) 

Most Unique/Unusual Romance Leads

Characters with occupations or circumstances you don't often see in romance.

Rain Tairen Soul (Lord of the Fading Lands by C.L. Wilson) - Fey king who can shift into a huge, cat dragon.

Naledi Smith (A Princess in Theory by Alyssa Cole) - Epidemiology student

Thabiso Moshoeshoe (A Princess in Theory by Alyssa Cole) - African prince

Grant McCarthy (Falling for Love by Marie Force) - Oscar-winning screenwriter

Most Unique/Unusual Romance Plots

Lord of the Fading Lands by C.L. Wilson - Both the Fey and the Tairen are dying out and King Rain is at a loss as to how to save them. When he asks the Eye of Truth what to do, he receives the image of a young woman of Celieria, the human realm, so begins a journey there to find her. Elysetta is the daughter of a woodcarver, who is fascinated by stories of the Fey. Before he ever reaches Celieria, Rain hears Ellie's soul cry out to him and now knows that she's his truemate, so after seeing her in the crowd, he saves her from being trampled and claims her as his own. However, overturning her previous betrothal nearly causes an international political incident. And there are also enemies everywhere who are out to destroy them. Together they have to fight off the Elden Mages' dark sorcery, while Ellie battles the darkness inside her in order to find true happiness and peace.

A Princess in Theory by Alyssa Cole - When they were very young children, the goddess decreed that Prince Thabiso of Thesolo and Naledi were to be betrothed, but not long after, Naledi's parents fled the country, leaving everyone thinking that they'd betrayed the throne. Ledi's parents died in a car accident shortly after they moved to America and she was raised in a series of foster homes. Now she's working two jobs while attending grad school, studying epidemiology. Thabiso still remembers Naledi and has never quite given up on finding her. When it looks like his assistant has finally succeeded, Thabiso goes to the restaurant where Ledi works. After she mistakes him for the new waiter, he decides to play along, hoping to get to know her as a commoner before dropping a bombshell on her about her heritage and her being a future princess. Much later, when Ledi finds out, she no longer wants anything to do with Thabiso, but when a potential novel illness breaks out in Thesolo, they'll need Ledi's skills to figure it out, leaving more opportunities for Thabiso to earn her forgiveness.

His Mistress By Morning by Elizabeth Boyle - Charlotte is a shy spinster who has loved her best friend's brother, Sebastian, from afar for a long time, but he never seems to even notice her. Then she inherits a ring from a great-aunt who passed away. Little does she know that it's a magic ring and when she makes a wish while wearing it that Sebastian would love her, she's transported to a parallel world where she's now Lottie, a sought-after courtesan, and Sebastian is her current lover. In this fantasy world, Charlotte learns from her alter-ego how to be more confident and basks in Sebastian's love for her. But at the same time, she's disconcerted to learn just how many people and things have changed. Eventually she's faced with a choice between staying in this fantasy world permanently or renouncing her wish and going back to the real world. But if she goes back to her old life, she'll have to figure out a way to get Sebastian to love her all over again, which could prove challenging. 

Best Opening Lines

There are few things more unfortunate in a man's life than being thrown over by one's prospective bride on one's wedding day, Jasper Renshaw, Viscount Vale, reflected. - To Seduce a Sinner by Elizabeth Hoyt

Best Overall Quotes

"It is far better to remain silent and be thought aloof, than to speak and be proven a fool." - Lord of the Fading Lands by C.L. Wilson

"It was never too late to learn something. The past is unalterable in any event. The future is the only thing we can change. Learning the lessons of the past is the only way to shape the present and the future." - Ghost Story by Jim Butcher

"What's that thing people always say about history? Unless we know our history, we're doomed to repeat it? Never forget? Isn't that the lesson? But we always forget. Forgetting is in the American grain." - Internment by Samira Ahmed

"Nothing in life is easy. But that's no reason to give up. You'll be surprised what you can accomplish if you set your mind to it. After all, you only have one life, so you should try to make the most of it." - Holes by Louis Sachar

Funniest Quotes

"This is ridiculous. You've climbed Kilimanjaro. You've told the Prime Minister of Belgium to get stuffed. You will not be defeated by a chocolate fondue!" - Prince Thabiso (A Princess in Theory by Alyssa Cole)

"Your Highness. While I admit that you are a fine specimen of a man, being a lesbian is not the only possible reason a woman wouldn't respond to your attentions." - Likotsi (A Princess in Theory by Alyssa Cole)

He held up his index finger. "Rule one: in any dispute between mates, the male is always to blame, even when he is clearly blameless. Rule two"-his middle finger joined the first-"whenever in doubt, refer to rule one." - Lord of the Fading Lands by C. L. Wilson 

Most Emotional Quotes

"Lassiter, where do you go?"

He stopped. "You know my name."

"I... yes, I do. Of course, I do." She wrung her hands, an anxiety striking her. "Oh, Lassiter."

Riding a sudden surge of emotion, she jumped into the space between them, and the instant she did, he caught her, his arms wrapping around her and drawing her flush against his strong body. With his great strength, he lifted her easily from the wild flowers he had created for her, holding her so tight that they nearly became one. And in response, she attempted to encircle his shoulders. They were far too large, so she settled for his neck to hold him back. She had the sense this was a beginning for them. But also an end." - Lassiter & Rahvyn (Lover Arisen by J. R. Ward*)

My beloved is the sun

And I am the earth that thrives only in her warmth. My beloved is the rain

And I am the grass that thirsts for her quenching kiss. My beloved is the wind

And I am the wings that soar when she fills me with her gentle strength.

My beloved is the rock

Upon which rests the happiness of all my days.

-The Elements of Love, a poem by Aileron v'En Kavali of the Fey - Lord of the Fading Lands by C. L. Wilson

Most Romantic Quotes

Mac's friends had viewed his celibacy as a joke, and his brothers had thought he'd been trying to prove himself to Isabella. Proving himself had been part of it, but the truth was that Mac had not wanted another woman. Going to someone else wouldn't have been comfort, or even forgetting. Mac had lost himself when he'd married Isabella, and that was that. - Lady Isabella's Scandalous Marriage by Jennifer Ashley

He must prove himself strong enough to protect her, gentle enough to win her heart, and worthy of the great gift of her love and her unconditional trust. She must find the courage to embrace the darkest shadows of his soul, and the even greater courage to bare the shadows of her own soul to him. When all barriers are sundered, all secrets revealed and accepted, she can complete the bond; and they will no longer be two separate people, but rather one person, one soul, complete for eternity, stronger together than either could ever be apart. - Lord of the Fading Lands by C. L. Wilson

Sexiest Quotes

His smile became downright wicked. "I can make you beg for the mere whisper of my breath on your skin. I can do things with my tongue that will make you scream with the exquisite intensity of it. And I can make you come so hard, for so long, that you'll pass out from pleasure." - Azagoth (Azagoth by Larissa Ione)

Polite applause punctuated the end of the clockmaker's speech. But Passion continued to stare. Her words came before she thought to hold them back. "Your profile ought to be pressed upon a coin."

He bent his blue gaze upon her. "Your body ought to be pressed upon mine." - Mark Randolph Hawkmore & Passion Elizabeth Dare (Passion by Lisa Valdez) 

Prettiest Covers

Sexiest Covers

Most Interesting/Unusual Covers

*This book was published in 2022. 

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