The Rainbow Awards: Ebooks Giveaway 16

To each vote I assigned a number and then drew them from an electronic basket. The winner is:

Robyn_michaels (robyn_michaels)

Please contact me with a private message or tell me how I can reach you.



The assigned ebook is:

A Promise Kept by Stormy Glenn
Publisher: Torquere Books
ISBN: 978-1-60370-652-0
Buy Link: http://www.torquerebooks.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=1840

Mason is in love with his brother’s best friend, Jack. It’s been ten years of secret fantasies, hidden glances, and forbidden yearnings. Just when Mason decides to give up on Jack and move away, his friends step in to get them together.
Even with the most determined matchmakers, new love is not always easy. Especially when a serial killer who has his sights set on Mason being his next victim will destroy anyone who gets in his way. Can Jack keep Mason safe, or will their new love be over before it gets going?

The Rainbow Awards: Ebooks Giveaway 16

To each vote I assigned a number and then drew them from an electronic basket. The winner is:

Robyn_michaels (robyn_michaels)

Please contact me with a private message or tell me how I can reach you.



The assigned ebook is:

A Promise Kept by Stormy Glenn
Publisher: Torquere Books
ISBN: 978-1-60370-652-0
Buy Link: http://www.torquerebooks.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=1840

Mason is in love with his brother’s best friend, Jack. It’s been ten years of secret fantasies, hidden glances, and forbidden yearnings. Just when Mason decides to give up on Jack and move away, his friends step in to get them together.
Even with the most determined matchmakers, new love is not always easy. Especially when a serial killer who has his sights set on Mason being his next victim will destroy anyone who gets in his way. Can Jack keep Mason safe, or will their new love be over before it gets going?

The Rainbow Awards: Ebooks Giveaway 17

To each vote I assigned a number and then drew them from an electronic basket. The winner is:

Shadownyc (shadownyc)

Please contact me with a private message or tell me how I can reach you.



The assigned ebook is:

Conventional Wisdom by TC Blue
Publisher: Torquere Books
ISBN: 978-1-60370-769-5
Buy Link: http://www.torquerebooks.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&manufacturers_id=205&products_id=2093

When B-list syndicated TV star Lucas runs into Gaming-goth-geek Trent in the hotel bar the night before the convention starts, he isn't expecting to become attached. And since Trent is obviously out of touch with television, Lucas figures he's safe using his 'con name', Bill Speare. When Trent-- Mainstream Video clerk and goth with big dreams--meets a stellar hottie who seems to be into him, he goes with it, happy to be free of his recent dry spell.

But one night turns into so much more, and when he finds out that his very temporary lover has been lying to him about something as unimportant yet vital as his name, he gets... miffed. Thanks to a new acquaintance, Cindy Lou, Trent works through his anger in a drunken evening, and when he finally goes to see Bill --Lucas-- he's figured it all out.

So has Lucas, and the two men do what comes naturally to them, but can they come to an explosive and enjoyable conclusion?

The Rainbow Awards: Ebooks Giveaway 17

To each vote I assigned a number and then drew them from an electronic basket. The winner is:

Shadownyc (shadownyc)

Please contact me with a private message or tell me how I can reach you.



The assigned ebook is:

Conventional Wisdom by TC Blue
Publisher: Torquere Books
ISBN: 978-1-60370-769-5
Buy Link: http://www.torquerebooks.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&manufacturers_id=205&products_id=2093

When B-list syndicated TV star Lucas runs into Gaming-goth-geek Trent in the hotel bar the night before the convention starts, he isn't expecting to become attached. And since Trent is obviously out of touch with television, Lucas figures he's safe using his 'con name', Bill Speare. When Trent-- Mainstream Video clerk and goth with big dreams--meets a stellar hottie who seems to be into him, he goes with it, happy to be free of his recent dry spell.

But one night turns into so much more, and when he finds out that his very temporary lover has been lying to him about something as unimportant yet vital as his name, he gets... miffed. Thanks to a new acquaintance, Cindy Lou, Trent works through his anger in a drunken evening, and when he finally goes to see Bill --Lucas-- he's figured it all out.

So has Lucas, and the two men do what comes naturally to them, but can they come to an explosive and enjoyable conclusion?

The Rainbow Awards: Ebooks Giveaway 18

To each vote I assigned a number and then drew them from an electronic basket. The winner is:

Akmmiles (akmmiles)

Please contact me with a private message or tell me how I can reach you.



The assigned ebook is:

Cooking With Ergot by Luisa Prieto
Publisher: Aspen Mountain Press
ISBN: 978-1-60168-191-1
Buy Link: http://www.aspenmountainpress.com/more-hot-reads/cooking-with-ergot/prod_220.html

Dominic is a witch, Carter is a descendent of infamous witch hunters. When Carter's cousin attacks him in a parking lot, Dominic comes to his aid. Just what can the two men expect from one another, especially when Cousin Simon is determined to eliminate another witch from the world?

The Rainbow Awards: Ebooks Giveaway 18

To each vote I assigned a number and then drew them from an electronic basket. The winner is:

Akmmiles (akmmiles)

Please contact me with a private message or tell me how I can reach you.



The assigned ebook is:

Cooking With Ergot by Luisa Prieto
Publisher: Aspen Mountain Press
ISBN: 978-1-60168-191-1
Buy Link: http://www.aspenmountainpress.com/more-hot-reads/cooking-with-ergot/prod_220.html

Dominic is a witch, Carter is a descendent of infamous witch hunters. When Carter's cousin attacks him in a parking lot, Dominic comes to his aid. Just what can the two men expect from one another, especially when Cousin Simon is determined to eliminate another witch from the world?

The Rainbow Awards: Ebooks Giveaways

Today winners are:

Ebook: A Promise Kept by Stormy Glenn
Winner: Robyn_michaels (robyn_michaels)
Go to post: http://elisa-rolle.livejournal.com/826467.html

Ebook: Conventional Wisdom by TC Blue
Winner: Shadownyc (shadownyc)
Go to post: http://elisa-rolle.livejournal.com/826685.html

Ebook: Cooking With Ergot by Luisa Prieto
Winner: Akmmiles (akmmiles)
Go to post: http://elisa-rolle.livejournal.com/826900.html

The Rainbow Awards: Ebooks Giveaways

Today winners are:

Ebook: A Promise Kept by Stormy Glenn
Winner: Robyn_michaels (robyn_michaels)
Go to post: http://elisa-rolle.livejournal.com/826467.html

Ebook: Conventional Wisdom by TC Blue
Winner: Shadownyc (shadownyc)
Go to post: http://elisa-rolle.livejournal.com/826685.html

Ebook: Cooking With Ergot by Luisa Prieto
Winner: Akmmiles (akmmiles)
Go to post: http://elisa-rolle.livejournal.com/826900.html

Client Privileges by Maia Strong

This was a strange book for me to read since it was a discovery after other. When I browsed my reading folder to pick up a book, my eyes caught the name of Maia Strong: it was not a new name for me, I read another book, a fantasy gay romance, and I remembered that I liked it, so I picked that one. Usually before starting I go to the publisher website to read the blurb (not reviews, I don't like to be even unwillingly lead on my judge): the blurb serves me to be mentally ready to the story, it's a contemporary, a paranormal, a fantasy, it's a romance, a thriller, it's angst, light... something like that. The blurb in this case was strange, it seemed an ordinary story about a man from a very religious jewish family who has not the courage to come out to them. Nothing strange or odd there. But then there was a word, brothel... I'm not so skilled in the matter to know if "brothels" are legal or not in every country of the world, I know they aren't in Italy, but I think they are in some northern European country, even if maybe they are not called brothel. So first question on my mind: where the book was set? and in which era? Then there was the issue of the law, a changing in love troubled the main character, a clear reference to homosexuality and prejudice... so again, my question was: I was starting a contemporary romance? or an historical? or something other? Knowing, if if slightly the author, I had an advantage point, I knew it was possible that the book was a fantasy. The cover didn't help, it was "neutral", even if, I don't know, that cover makes me thing to a contemporary romance... it's something in the men, the hair cut, even the physique.

Anyway, long preface to say that Client Privileges is a fantasy romance; more, it's setting in the same universe of The Ballad of Jimothy Redwing, the previous fantasy romance I read by Maia Strong, and one secondary character, that has only a reference cameo here, is a main character in the other story, and an event that happens here is also a main event in there. The time span of the two story is in parallel, so they are both stand alone, but I think that, if your read the previous one, and you liked it, it will be nice for you to read this one, and viceversa.

There are common elements in the two stories, above all the way the author deals with the fantasy setting. It's actually an "ordinary" way, she seems so familiar with her universe that she feels like unnecessary to spend time in details, the city, the environment in which the characters live, is out there, plain and clear, without forced imaginary. It's a point of strength for me, I actually don't like very much fantasy or futuristic novel since usually I'm bothered by all the heavy set around: more the author build a complicated universe, more he needs to explain it to the readers, and more he risks to overdo. Maia Strong built a fantasy universe that is basically a feudalism society, each municipality is ordered by a town council or by guilds; the overall feeling is of something neat and pleasant to live, even with its trouble. There is poverty, there are difference in social status, there is prejudice.

There is also an hanging feeling, it's very hard for me to explain: it's like the setting is "ancient" but the characters are modern. People move in a town where houses, shops, and vehicle are "old", but they behave and think with a "modern" mind. It's not a criticism, I think it's a very difficult balance to maintain, and not an easy task to write a believable story, something I think the author reached. These words, balance, believable, are the essence of the story, this is not a "rollercoast" type of story, but more a pleasant travel in a coach along the country.

http://www.torquerebooks.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=2160

Series:
1) The Ballad of Jimothy Redwing: http://elisa-rolle.livejournal.com/317025.html
2) Client Privileges

The Rainbow Awards: Phase 2: http://elisa-rolle.livejournal.com/823682.html

Client Privileges by Maia Strong

This was a strange book for me to read since it was a discovery after other. When I browsed my reading folder to pick up a book, my eyes caught the name of Maia Strong: it was not a new name for me, I read another book, a fantasy gay romance, and I remembered that I liked it, so I picked that one. Usually before starting I go to the publisher website to read the blurb (not reviews, I don't like to be even unwillingly lead on my judge): the blurb serves me to be mentally ready to the story, it's a contemporary, a paranormal, a fantasy, it's a romance, a thriller, it's angst, light... something like that. The blurb in this case was strange, it seemed an ordinary story about a man from a very religious jewish family who has not the courage to come out to them. Nothing strange or odd there. But then there was a word, brothel... I'm not so skilled in the matter to know if "brothels" are legal or not in every country of the world, I know they aren't in Italy, but I think they are in some northern European country, even if maybe they are not called brothel. So first question on my mind: where the book was set? and in which era? Then there was the issue of the law, a changing in love troubled the main character, a clear reference to homosexuality and prejudice... so again, my question was: I was starting a contemporary romance? or an historical? or something other? Knowing, if if slightly the author, I had an advantage point, I knew it was possible that the book was a fantasy. The cover didn't help, it was "neutral", even if, I don't know, that cover makes me thing to a contemporary romance... it's something in the men, the hair cut, even the physique.

Anyway, long preface to say that Client Privileges is a fantasy romance; more, it's setting in the same universe of The Ballad of Jimothy Redwing, the previous fantasy romance I read by Maia Strong, and one secondary character, that has only a reference cameo here, is a main character in the other story, and an event that happens here is also a main event in there. The time span of the two story is in parallel, so they are both stand alone, but I think that, if your read the previous one, and you liked it, it will be nice for you to read this one, and viceversa.

There are common elements in the two stories, above all the way the author deals with the fantasy setting. It's actually an "ordinary" way, she seems so familiar with her universe that she feels like unnecessary to spend time in details, the city, the environment in which the characters live, is out there, plain and clear, without forced imaginary. It's a point of strength for me, I actually don't like very much fantasy or futuristic novel since usually I'm bothered by all the heavy set around: more the author build a complicated universe, more he needs to explain it to the readers, and more he risks to overdo. Maia Strong built a fantasy universe that is basically a feudalism society, each municipality is ordered by a town council or by guilds; the overall feeling is of something neat and pleasant to live, even with its trouble. There is poverty, there are difference in social status, there is prejudice.

There is also an hanging feeling, it's very hard for me to explain: it's like the setting is "ancient" but the characters are modern. People move in a town where houses, shops, and vehicle are "old", but they behave and think with a "modern" mind. It's not a criticism, I think it's a very difficult balance to maintain, and not an easy task to write a believable story, something I think the author reached. These words, balance, believable, are the essence of the story, this is not a "rollercoast" type of story, but more a pleasant travel in a coach along the country.

http://www.torquerebooks.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=2160

Series:
1) The Ballad of Jimothy Redwing: http://elisa-rolle.livejournal.com/317025.html
2) Client Privileges

The Rainbow Awards: Phase 2: http://elisa-rolle.livejournal.com/823682.html

The Rainbow Awards: My Pink Glasses Perspective

This is a post in defense of the people who is voting and the authors who are competing, not in defense of me or the Rainbow Awards. I'm living probably in a pink glasses bowl, but friends I read, don't worry I read all you wrote and I pondered.

I'm looking at how people is voting and it's true, there are some books that are having a lot of votes... but then, if you go to the author's page, or read around, you see that the author is loved, and people want to help him/her. This is popularity and so yes, it's right to have that votes... I had authors tell me to not consider some votes, since they were "strange".

The authors are asking to people to vote for them? And, sorry, but what is wrong with that? How different is it from all the contest out there? Why you have to lift you nose and look upon to them? I had an author who wrote in his blog to vote for him BUT also to vote for the books above him, since they are good books: he has a slim chance to win, asking to people to vote for other books was for him like a vote "suicide". I had another author be pleased to be second in Phase 2, with few votes to the first, so with a lot of chances to be first and going to Phase 3 and she asked to vote for another book!

Phase 1 and Phase 2 of the Rainbow Awards is a popularity contest. POPULARITY. Meaning that, if an author has a lot of fan, or he/she is able to arise votes posting in a blog or a forum of twitter or facebook, good for him/her. His/her book will be first in the popularity contest and then the book will be read by the Jury, and friends, MY jury is good. So no, no fat chance for a book that it's not worth to win the Rainbow Awards. Doesn't matter if it received 1000 votes in the popularity contest, the book has to be read and judge. All right the jury is not foolproof, but almost. I'm asking to the judges to state beforehand if they are not comfortable with something, I want them to judge the book, the writing style and the story, not the content.

Please note that ONLY the first book for each category will pass to Phase 3, we have 16 Categories/SubCategories, so 16 books from Phase 1 and 2 will pass to Phase 3. You are right, if there are socket puppy votes, one, two or even three of that books shouldn't rightly be there, but I have also 20 books the Jury is choosing right know, and they are choosing independently from the popularity contest. So don't worry, all the worthy books will be in Phase 3, and no, till the end of Phase 2 I'm not saying the Jury's Choices.

Yes, things could have be done in a different way, BUT this is the first year, we are trying to build something that will last, and we are learning how to do that. Next year, maybe we will use something better than my LJ to do that, for now, this is it.

So friends, be good, vote and be happy, and remember, I'm monitoring you ;-)

The Rainbow Awards: My Pink Glasses Perspective

This is a post in defense of the people who is voting and the authors who are competing, not in defense of me or the Rainbow Awards. I'm living probably in a pink glasses bowl, but friends I read, don't worry I read all you wrote and I pondered.

I'm looking at how people is voting and it's true, there are some books that are having a lot of votes... but then, if you go to the author's page, or read around, you see that the author is loved, and people want to help him/her. This is popularity and so yes, it's right to have that votes... I had authors tell me to not consider some votes, since they were "strange".

The authors are asking to people to vote for them? And, sorry, but what is wrong with that? How different is it from all the contest out there? Why you have to lift you nose and look upon to them? I had an author who wrote in his blog to vote for him BUT also to vote for the books above him, since they are good books: he has a slim chance to win, asking to people to vote for other books was for him like a vote "suicide". I had another author be pleased to be second in Phase 2, with few votes to the first, so with a lot of chances to be first and going to Phase 3 and she asked to vote for another book!

Phase 1 and Phase 2 of the Rainbow Awards is a popularity contest. POPULARITY. Meaning that, if an author has a lot of fan, or he/she is able to arise votes posting in a blog or a forum of twitter or facebook, good for him/her. His/her book will be first in the popularity contest and then the book will be read by the Jury, and friends, MY jury is good. So no, no fat chance for a book that it's not worth to win the Rainbow Awards. Doesn't matter if it received 1000 votes in the popularity contest, the book has to be read and judge. All right the jury is not foolproof, but almost. I'm asking to the judges to state beforehand if they are not comfortable with something, I want them to judge the book, the writing style and the story, not the content.

Please note that ONLY the first book for each category will pass to Phase 3, we have 16 Categories/SubCategories, so 16 books from Phase 1 and 2 will pass to Phase 3. You are right, if there are socket puppy votes, one, two or even three of that books shouldn't rightly be there, but I have also 20 books the Jury is choosing right know, and they are choosing independently from the popularity contest. So don't worry, all the worthy books will be in Phase 3, and no, till the end of Phase 2 I'm not saying the Jury's Choices.

Yes, things could have be done in a different way, BUT this is the first year, we are trying to build something that will last, and we are learning how to do that. Next year, maybe we will use something better than my LJ to do that, for now, this is it.

So friends, be good, vote and be happy, and remember, I'm monitoring you ;-)

Behind the Cover: Doreen Minuto

Doreen Minuto is one of today's leading illustrators whose work is published worldwide. She has been able to combine the skills of a successful fine art career in portraiture and award winning gallery work to becoming a digital visual communicator which has won her assignments with every major publishing company internationally. Publishers and authors rely on Doreen to help put their books on the best seller list.


The Prince's Bride by Victoria Alexander

( more pics )

A frequent exhibitor with the Society of Illustrators, Minuto is also represented in the permanent collection of the Museum of American Illustration. Her work has been included in many group shows around the country. She has most recently won the Historical Romance Writers Award for Best Cover.

A professor of Illustration Specialization and a frequent lecturer at Syracuse University, Brigham Young University, The Society of Illustrators, and many other art institutions, she has been involved in the program "Women Helping Girls", which introduces grammar school girls to varied career opportunities including the art of illustration.

An active member of the Society of Illustrators, she has served as member and chair person, as well as on the Board of Directors and executive committee of the Permanent Collection Committee.

http://doreenminuto.com/

Behind the Cover: Doreen Minuto

Doreen Minuto is one of today's leading illustrators whose work is published worldwide. She has been able to combine the skills of a successful fine art career in portraiture and award winning gallery work to becoming a digital visual communicator which has won her assignments with every major publishing company internationally. Publishers and authors rely on Doreen to help put their books on the best seller list.


The Prince's Bride by Victoria Alexander

( more pics )

A frequent exhibitor with the Society of Illustrators, Minuto is also represented in the permanent collection of the Museum of American Illustration. Her work has been included in many group shows around the country. She has most recently won the Historical Romance Writers Award for Best Cover.

A professor of Illustration Specialization and a frequent lecturer at Syracuse University, Brigham Young University, The Society of Illustrators, and many other art institutions, she has been involved in the program "Women Helping Girls", which introduces grammar school girls to varied career opportunities including the art of illustration.

An active member of the Society of Illustrators, she has served as member and chair person, as well as on the Board of Directors and executive committee of the Permanent Collection Committee.

http://doreenminuto.com/