reviews_and_ramblings | Rainbow Awards: Best Gay Paranormal / Horror

And the Rainbow Award goes to:

1) Viki Lyn - Last Chance (Loose id)

Last Chance is an appealing story with a fascinating plot. --Ro

Aric Christian is the wildly smart PhD candidate specializing in Molecular Biology. With a willowy body bordering on thin, slight hips, and even slighter waist, Aric's hard muscles and steel strength bends but doesn't break. Long blackish hair dips in his hazel eyes when he's not wearing his rimless glasses. At times, he turns into quite a different creature, and is working desperately to seek a cure. Stu Hamilton is the wildly popular college wide receiver, and big man on campus. He's tall, broad shouldered, finely tuned and has broad hands, perfect to jump and catch the ball. He's all muscle and grace and blue, blue eyes. Mussed blond hair layered and tapered down to his nape fuels his reputation as the guy who breezes through life. Hidden from his friends is his family's secret - he's from a long line of vampire-slayers. Turning away from that life, he wants nothing to do with blood feuds, men of the dark night and killing. Then Aric bumps into Stu, or rather his football, and their lives are forever intertwined. Will these born enemies find a way toward love?

2) Jenna Byrnes & Jude Mason - Alex's Appeal (Total-e-Bound)

Book three in the Kindred Spirits Series. A bear of a lawyer in mourning, a handsome young chef who falls head over heels, and a mystery that threatens their happiness are just the beginning of the events at Whisker’s Seaside Inn. Lawyer Alex Brookfield arrives at Whiskers’ Seaside Inn with a big decision weighing heavily on him. He’s been offered a judgeship, and while it’s an incredible promotion, it would mean leaving the house he shared with his late, long-time partner. Russ died of cancer eight months ago, and although Alex is ready to move on, he isn’t sure about such a big, permanent step. Logan Emerson is the inn’s chef, and wouldn’t mind cooking up something special with the handsome attorney. He’s not concerned about their fourteen year age difference. He just knows what he likes and isn’t afraid to go after the hunky bear of a man. Alex heard stories about the inn’s ghosts from its owner, his friend and former lover Ethan Roberts. But he’s totally unprepared for the spirit who shows up his first night there. Between futile attempts to fend off the frisky young cook, and his offer to help inn co-owner Cade Wyatt come up with a romantic marriage proposal for Ethan, Alex finds his hands, and his bed, quite full.

3) Marguerite Labbe - Our Sacred Balance (Dreamspinner Press)

I loved this story. I was pulled in from the beginning and had to stop so I could get the previous books to read first. --Lyne

This book is the third in a series and I was a little lost having not read the previous books. The writer’s style was enjoyable. --Kris

Lovers Kristair and Jacob believe they're done with the supernatural and on the road to a new life. But the supernatural isn't done with them. A stalker is targeting vampires, tearing them from their sanctuaries and leaving them to burn in the sun, and when the vampires of Pittsburgh call upon the ancient Kristair, he cannot refuse them aid despite Jacob's objections. While their quest becomes more dangerous, tempers flare when Jacob tries to make Kristair understand the limitations of being human again. As they struggle to reach a balance between them, the other vampires become restless, eager to find the person responsible for the deaths of their own so they can vent their rage. But the enemy is closer than they ever imagined and carries a personal grudge against them. Their mental link gone and spiritual strength halved, Jacob and Kristair must conquer Kristair's newfound helplessness and learn to communicate with each other before their enemy destroys everything they've fought so hard to win.

Honorable Mention:

4) Joely Skye - Lynx (Samhain Publishing)
5) R.J. Scott - Oracle (Silver Publishing)
6) Eden Winters - Duet (Torquere Books)
7) Jameson Currier - The Wolf at the Door (Chelsea Station Editions)
Marguerite Labbe - Haunted by Your Soul (Dreamspinner Press)
9) Vaughn R. Demont - House of Stone (Samhain Publishing)
10) Rick R. Reed - The Blue Moon Cafe (Amber Quill Press)

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