Rainbow Awards: Best Gay Contemporary Romance

[reviews_and_ramblings]

And the Rainbow Award goes to:



1) Sloan Parker - More (Loose Id)

Another perfect story, although I'm not too much into permanent threesomes, this one worked for me somehow, maybe because the men were talking a lot and supporting each other. --Caroline

For fifteen years Luke Moore has lived by three rules: stay off his father's radar, never spend more than a single night with any man, and never fall in love again. But one night of explosive sex and two men whom he can’t get out of his head have Luke breaking them all. Richard and Matthew push him past all his boundaries—both sexually and personally—and now he’s no longer hiding from his senator father; he’s taking him on. And he isn’t just falling for one man; he’s falling for two. If you're going to break the rules, might as well break them big. But Luke’s father has his reasons for hating how his son lives, and he’ll do whatever he can and use all his power to keep Luke away from Richard and Matthew. Can this threesome find a way to make their unconventional relationship last with the world around them trying to pull them apart? And will Luke be able to keep breaking his rules for Richard and Matthew, or will he head back to his familiar way of life just when his new lovers want to bind him tighter?

2) Marie Sexton - Strawberries for Dessert (Dreamspinner Press)

This one was an amazing romance, with a lot of depth.  The author put a lot of effort into building the relationship and fully developing the characters. Overall, this was an excellent romance that I highly recommend. --Jem

When Jonathan Kechter agrees to a blind date with Cole Fenton, he expects nothing more than dinner and a one-night stand... but he gets more than he bargained for in Cole. Cole is arrogant, flamboyant, and definitely not Jon’s type. Still, when Cole suggests an arrangement of getting together for casual sex whenever they're both in town, Jon readily agrees. Their arrangement may be casual, but Jonathan soon learns that when it comes to Cole Fenton, nothing is easy. Between Cole’s fear of intimacy and his wandering lifestyle, Jonathan wonders if their relationship may be doomed from the start—but the more Cole pushes him away, the more determined Jon is to make it work.

3) Eden Winters - The Wish (Torquere Books)

Main characters were well-defined --Bethann

Alex Martin is arrogant, wealthy, spoiled and loney. His never-ending stream of lovers sees only his wallet. Hiding behind a mask of aloof indifference, he really wants someone who can see past the money, someone who'll stand up to him as an equal. Down-to-earth bookstore owner Paul Sinclair insists on making his own way in life. He longs for someone who thinks, works, and doesn’t ask for hand outs: a true partner in every sense of the word. After years of avoidance they finally meet, and neither is impressed. Though worlds apart they share a common bond: their uncles, Alfred and Byron, are long-term partners. And when the uncles conspire to match-make, a little thing like Byron’s being a ghost isn’t going to stop them.

Honorable Mention:



4-tie) Angelia Sparrow & Naomi Brooks - Shell Shocked (Pink Petal Books)
Mickie B. Ashling - Loving Edits (Dreamspinner Press) 
6-tie) Eden Winters - The Angel of 13th Street (Torquere Books)
P.A. Brown - Lynx Woods (Amber Quill Press) 
8) Tere Michaels - Love and Loyalty (Loose Id)
9-tie) Anne Brooke - The Hit List (Amber Quill Press)
Mickie B. Ashling - Cutting Cords (Dreamspinner Press)

Comments

[mickieashling.livejournal.com]

Hi Elisa,

What a lovely surprise and honor to see my two entries making honorable mention in this category. I'm beyond thrilled! Thank you for all your hard work and dedication to this contest. You and your guest judges are to be commended for this huge endeavor.

Best,
Mickie

[pd-singer.livejournal.com]

I am so delighted to see that two of Eden Winters' books ranked so highly! She's one of my Must Read authors!

[edenwinters.livejournal.com]

I'm so delightfully surprised to see my books here, ranked so highly. And what good company they're keeping! Congrats to Sloan Parker and Marie Sexton, and the other authors listed here, and thank you, Elisa, and the judges, who worked so hard to pull this off.

[annebrooke.livejournal.com]

Lovely to have an Honorable Mention for The Hit List in this category (or um, list!) - thank you so much!

Anne
xxx

[elisa-rolle.livejournal.com]

I have to read them Mickie you know that, but I'm glad the judges picked both of them for a top position, the competition was hard, top 10 is a very good result.

[elisa-rolle.livejournal.com]

I haven't read all she published but I want to

[elisa-rolle.livejournal.com]

As I told to Mickie the competition was hard and aving 2 books in the top 10 (and a third in another category) is a VERY good result

[elisa-rolle.livejournal.com]

You are welcome Anne, it's my plan to read all the books in the top positions now.

[mickieashling.livejournal.com]

Yes, I know. It's a huge accomplishment and I'm very honored, Elisa.

Are we allowed to use the Honorable Mention banner from last year or do you have a new one?

Mickie

[elisa-rolle.livejournal.com]

ops I forgot I had a banner ;-) yes you can, and I'm adding it to the post.

[mickieashling.livejournal.com]

Thank you!

Mickie