Book Blast: Georgia Knights by Julia Talbot

Georgia Knights by Julia Talbot
Publisher: Torquere Press, Inc. (September 16, 2014)
Amazon Kindle: Georgia Knights

When anthropologist Georgia Cortez heads to rural Georgia from New Mexico, she’s on the trail of a juicy old legend. Haley Falls seems like just the place for old-time ghost stories and spooky hauntings, but she’s on the hunt for something far rarer, a survival of an old sect of medieval knights.

Caid and Alton are Haley Fall natives, and they used to be best friends. A falling out years ago ended in them not speaking, even after Alt left town and returned older, if not wiser. They unite when it comes to a nosy scholar like Georgia picking apart their heritage, and putting their whole town in danger. When boys meet girl, though, they decide wooing is far better than scaring the lady off, and they set about distracting Georgia in the best way.

While their three way romance heats up, so does the intrigue in Haley Falls, until the three of them are facing a danger far worse than falling in love with each other.



( Excerpt )

Author Bio: Julia Talbot lives in the great Southwest, where there is hot and cold running rodeo, cowboys, and everything from meat and potatoes to the best Tex-Mex. A full time author, Julia has been published by Torquere Press, Dreamspinner Press, and Changeling Press. She believes that everyone deserves a happy ending, so she writes about love without limits, where boys love boys, girls love girls, and boys and girls get together to get wild, especially when her crazy paranormal characters are involved
Author Contact:
Find Julia at @juliatalbot on Twitter, or at www.juliatalbot.com



Tour Dates: September 29th, 2014
Tour Stops: Parker Williams, Love Bytes, Inked Rainbow Reads, Rainbow Gold Reviews, Andrew Q. Gordon, Prism Book Alliance, Elisa - My Reviews and Ramblings, MM Good Book Reviews, Scattered Thoughts & Rogue Words, Fallen Angel Reviews, Iyana Jenna, Amanda C. Stone, Velvet Panic, Havan Fellows

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Rafflecopter Prize: 25.00 Torquere Press gift

2014 Rainbow Awards Honorable Mentions

Waiting for the list of finalists to be announced beginning of October, I will post daily the 2014 Rainbow Awards Honorable Mentions: an honorable mention means a judge gave a rate of 36 or above out of 40 to the book; an honorable mention doesn't mean the book is automatically among the finalists, could be could be not, but it's important to understand there are more than 500 books in the literary contests, all books are in the process of being read by the jury, but only half of them will go to finals. So please, congratulate with me this year honorable mentions:



Lesbian Biography / Memoir
Time Fries! Aging Gracelessly in Rehoboth Beach by Fay Jacobs
Paperback: 226 pages
Publisher: A&M Books; First edition (December 12, 2013)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0983796157
ISBN-13: 978-0983796152
Amazon: Time Fries! Aging Gracelessly in Rehoboth Beach
Amazon Kindle: Time Fries! Aging Gracelessly in Rehoboth Beach

"While this is a chronicle of a lesbian couple growing older, with or without grace, this collection of humorous essays is so much more. The glimpses into Ms. Jacobs life are full of humor and insight and provide a first-person account of a vital point in Delaware's history - the evolution of state law from civil union to marriage for same-gender couples. While her observations are often hilarious, especially for anyone growing older, the stories are told on such a relatable level, a human level, that they contain just as much compassion and poignancy."

Gay Mystery / Thriller
Corruption by Eden Winters
Series: Diversion
Paperback: 224 pages
Publisher: Rocky Ridge Books; 1 edition (October 1, 2013)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1626220050
ISBN-13: 978-1626220058
Amazon: Corruption (Diversion)
Amazon Kindle: Corruption (Diversion)

"These two men continue to be an interesting, hot, and unique couple. This book has to be read in series order, but the first two books are also very worth reading - fans of sexy, complex men, and romance with a well-developed law-enforcement plot will want to start at the beginning. There is more relationship depth and development in this book, and some new facets of both men are revealed. In a couple of places the plot was a bit of a stretch, but I enjoy thriller-style stories and am willing to make some allowances. A personal twist for Lucky near the end makes it clear there will be a fourth book, which I will very happily read."

"Bo was given the undercover assignment of going deep into a drug running biker gang. Lucky had to stand on the sidelines and watch the man he loves go it alone. He had every confidence in Bo’s abilities, but the total lack of control was enough to drive him crazy with worry. The investigation itself was compelling. I really got into it in a way I haven’t in the past books. Corruption is a perfect mix of investigation, adventure, romance, and hot sex. I loved this book!"

"The story isn't  entirely self-contained, since this is a serial book, but the plot builds logically, without any breaks or lose threads. And yet, there's enough tension left to carry over into the next book. Also, the unique subject matter makes this book interesting; I learned a lot while reading and still never felt overwhelmed with details."

"Part three - recharged. New crimes, new identities, new development in the relationship between Lucky and Bo: closer, harder, and more dangerous than before. Could Lucky allow Bo to breach the iron wall and build their happily ever after together? It was a really fun read. Thank you!"

Lesbian Contemporary Romance
Nightingale by Andrea Bramhall
Paperback: 264 pages
Publisher: Bold Strokes Books (May 13, 2014)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1626390592
ISBN-13: 978-1626390591
Amazon: Nightingale
Amazon Kindle: Nightingale

"Thought-provoking novel about forced marriages visited upon Muslim women who grew up in Western societies. The clash between cultures is superbly written."

"Amazing book, well written, strong story with a gritty theme. Couldn't put it down."

Lesbian Contemporary Romance
Clean Slate by Andrea Bramhall
Paperback: 312 pages
Publisher: Bold Strokes Books (September 17, 2013)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1602829438
ISBN-13: 978-1602829435
Amazon: Clean Slate
Amazon Kindle: Clean Slate

"Loved it. Even though it's clearly a sequel, everything was explained easily and was clear to follow. Characters were likable and believable."

Lesbian Contemporary Romance
Dudek by Taylor James
Paperback: 320 pages
Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform (April 24, 2014)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1494847221
ISBN-13: 978-1494847227
Amazon: Dudek
Amazon Kindle: Dudek

"Nearly a perfect rating here. At first I thought this was going to border on erotic romance but instead, I had a romance that was deliciously packed with intrigued and excitement. Loved this!"

Gay Contemporary General Fiction
Sex & Sourdough by A.J. Thomas
Paperback: 266 pages
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press (December 13, 2013)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1627983074
ISBN-13: 978-1627983075
Amazon: Sex & Sourdough
Amazon Kindle: Sex & Sourdough

"I loved both the MCs and the realistic situation they found themselves in as they followed the Appalachian trial together. I was immersed in their experience, and all the details both of the hike and of Kevin's situation felt realistic. My only issue with this book was the nasty ex-lover trope which I felt detracted from the rest of this lovely book."

"In the beginning, the plot moved along in a gentle, unhurried pace, perfectly in keeping with the subject matter of a hike through the mountains. Then followed an action twist, the plot took up space only to settle down towar the ending with a completely satisfying conclusion. My only niggle was with the somewhat over-the-top ex-boyfriend trope, but this was really minor. Beautiful pictures, transporting me right there. The writing engaged all senses, including taste and smell. Both characters were appealing from the start, flawed but not broken, and they grew as characters over the course of the story thanks to each other. "

Gay Biography / Memoir
True Stories Too: People and Places From My Past by Felice Picano
Paperback: 278 pages
Publisher: Chelsea Station Editions (June 19, 2014)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1937627152
ISBN-13: 978-1937627157
Amazon: True Stories Too: People and Places From My Past
Amazon Kindle: True Stories Too: People and Places From My Past

"Just finished reading Felice Picano’s “True Stories Too: People and Places From My Past.” I absolutely loved it. The memoir is a series of personal essays that range from interesting to poignant to laugh out loud funny. There’s even a Picano family mystery that is utterly fascinating at the end of the book. I couldn’t put it down and read it all the way through. Highest rating for this one."

Bisexual Poetry
Hibernation and Other Poems by Bear Bards, an anthology by Ron J. Suresha
Paperback: 218 pages
Publisher: Bear Bones Books (June 1, 2014)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1590212592
ISBN-13: 978-1590212592
Amazon: Hibernation and Other Poems by Bear Bards
Amazon Kindle: Hibernation and Other Poems by Bear Bards

"This work, this anthology is a gem. Full of unexpected surprises and delightful sallies into wholly foreign realms. A delight, a bucolic frolic, an earnest journey, a vigorous climb up the mountain of our own understanding, and a foggy glimpse into the glade of our own souls where bears in all their myriad forms dance beneath the stars. By turns funny and poignant, wry and crass, it’s a pocketful of honey drizzled goodness. None of the poems in and of themselves is perfect, for all poems are only ever abandoned in despair of their achieving the greatness we first saw in a flash of inspiration…yet the sum of their individual flaws is, in a word, perfection."

"Love, love, love this. So many authors, so many emotions, in fact, if I may, I’ll call this a rainbow of emotions. From the sublime to the thought provoking; from innocent to ‘don’t tell anyone you’re reading this book.’ It’s all there, and I was left wanting more only because of the quality of the writing. In my years as a Rainbow Award judge, I have never given a perfect score, until now."

Lesbian Mystery / Thriller
Intuition by Jennis Slaughter
Paperback: 476 pages
Publisher: Shadoe Publishing (December 26, 2013)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1494455188
ISBN-13: 978-1494455187
Amazon: Intuition
Amazon Kindle: Intuition

"I think I would like to go back and read the first book in this series... you can read this by itself but I think I’d like the background... Other than that it was a good read."

Lesbian Contemporary Romance
Out at the Inn by K’Anne Meinel
Paperback: 456 pages
Publisher: Shadoe Publishing (January 16, 2014)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 149481966X
ISBN-13: 978-1494819668
Amazon: Out at the Inn
Amazon Kindle: Out at the Inn

"This was an awesome story. I will definitely read it again."

2014 Rainbow Awards Honorable Mentions

Waiting for the list of finalists to be announced beginning of October, I will post daily the 2014 Rainbow Awards Honorable Mentions: an honorable mention means a judge gave a rate of 36 or above out of 40 to the book; an honorable mention doesn't mean the book is automatically among the finalists, could be could be not, but it's important to understand there are more than 500 books in the literary contests, all books are in the process of being read by the jury, but only half of them will go to finals. So please, congratulate with me this year honorable mentions:



Lesbian Historical Romance
The Journey Home by K’Anne Meinel
Paperback: 418 pages
Publisher: Shadoe Publishing (December 19, 2013)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1494747928
ISBN-13: 978-1494747923
Amazon: The Journey Home
Amazon Kindle: The Journey Home

"This was an incredible book. I loved it! It brought me back to a different time period and made me feel as if I was a part of the characters. There were some spelling errors but overall it was simply WOW!"

Gay Historical Romance
Think of England by KJ Charles
Publisher: Samhain Publishing, Ltd. (July 1, 2014)
Amazon Kindle: Think of England

"This novella is a splendid example of the storyteller’s art, and probably the best book I’ve read in two years of judging for the Rainbow Awards. Its flaws are few and insignificant. I could easily overlook them, because I was riveted to the story from start to finish, relished its period feel, and was delighted by its humor (speaking of which, even the title is perfect!)"

"K.J. Charles is a very talented writer. You are drawn into her books so easily and you can picture everything in your mind like a movie. Great supporting characters. The plot flowed smoothly and had just enough description (of characters, setting, etc.) without overwhelming the reader with the unnecessary details."

"This classic story of opposites meeting, clashing and ultimately attracting - amid a dark atmosphere of political intrigue and base greed - has been one of my favorite reads of the year.  Archie Curtis, an Englishman with a capital "E", is a forthright man of action - who, by his own admission, has very little imagination - and he dislikes Daniel da Silva on sight.  And why not?  After all, da Silva is his polar opposite:  clever, imaginative, sharp-tongued and terribly, terribly effete.  Or is he?  The process by which these two men come together has been guaranteed to cause me to burn dinner, neglect my chores and keep me up past midnight.  "

Gay Fantasy Romance
A Case of Possession (A Charm of Magpies) by KJ Charles
Publisher: Samhain Publishing, Ltd. (January 28, 2014)
Amazon Kindle: A Case of Possession (A Charm of Magpies)

"KJ Charles has written an excellent continuation of this series. This book can be read as a standalone, however. The characters are developed well throughout, and layers are added right to the end. The plot is complex and exciting. The setting, being a historical, shows a lot of research was done and appears very accurate. The characters behave appropriately for the time period. KJ's writing style is very good. The prose flows seamlessly, the dialogue is great too. All in all, it's hard to see where she could improve this story. Maybe it took a little longer to get going than I expected. Otherwise, an excellent book all round."

"One of the best books I've read recently. The plot and characters held me captive until the early hours of the morning."

Lesbian Mystery / Thriller
Girls Don't Hit by Geonn Cannon
Publisher: Supposed Crimes LLC (February 27, 2014)
Amazon Kindle: Girls Don't Hit

"Exceptionally original, wonderfully dark and steady "voice" and intriguing treatment of the "girl-in-hiding-as-hired-killer" trope. Author has a steady hand with language and an astute appreciation of human nature."

Lesbian Contemporary General Fiction
What Matter Wounds (Claire Lance Book 5) by Geonn Cannon
Publisher: Supposed Crimes LLC (March 30, 2014)
Amazon Kindle: What Matter Wounds (Claire Lance Book 5)

"This was a fantastic story. Filled with action, adventure, and an intense criminal/legal aspect that immediately pulls the reader in. That the main character is a lesbian is more of an adjective rather than a plot point. Which makes it so much better. The setting was brilliantly described, to the point that I could practically taste the sand in my mouth, could feel the sweat rolling down my back, and feel the sun beating down on my skin, scorching my flesh. The characters were delightfully fleshed out. Everyone I was supposed to hate, I hated with a passion, and everyone I was supposed to love I loved fiercely, and the ones I was supposed to be on the fence about, like Faye, I waffled in my feelings over until the end. "

Gay Fantasy
Shirewode (The Wode Book 2) by J Tullos Hennig​
Paperback: 370 pages
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press (September 9, 2013)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1623806631
ISBN-13: 978-1623806637
Amazon: Shirewode (The Wode Book 2)
Amazon Kindle: Shirewode (The Wode Book 2)

"This story was, in a word, brilliant. Taking the tale of Robin Hood, and spinning it into a mysitcal epic and giving it the yearning of romance, it carries the reader on more than a journey. The language is precise, each word purposeful, evoking clear emiages and emotions. The way each character evolves, natural, smooth, and filled with emotion and power. The setting was as much a part of the story as thje characters themselves, and the love, deep rooted, as if drawn from the earth, sky, and water. This story was an experience, powerful and visceral. I found myself shivering physically throughout, touched by the strength of the story and the language. I truly can't say enough. One of the best books I've ever read."

Gay Fantasy
The Line (Witching Savannah Book 1) by J.D. Horn
Series: Witching Savannah Book 1
Paperback: 296 pages
Publisher: 47North (February 1, 2014)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1477809732
ISBN-13: 978-1477809730
Amazon: The Line (Witching Savannah Book 1)
Amazon Kindle: The Line (Witching Savannah Book 1)

"I cannot believe this book is a debut novel. I was totally hooked and couldn't put my kindle down. I will be buying the 2nd book. Plot Development was so deliciously twisty with several OMG! I didn't see that coming. Setting was perfect, thank god for Google earth so I could check out Savannah and the areas mentioned. Intelligent prose, no cliché phrases here, and a joy to read. Completely drew me in."

Gay Erotic Romance
Love and Salvage: Loving Emmett by Mathew Ortiz
Publisher: Mathew Ortiz (December 18, 2013)
Amazon Kindle: Love and Salvage: Loving Emmett

"This book was a treat to read from a newly published author. I totally enjoyed the way the story developed. The characters are very much likable. One of the characters I identified with was Mabel, Emmett's mom, who, to me, was the problem solver of the family, the glue that kept them all in line. It is a great romance written with a true southern drawl. The fact that Em's entire family are always there to defend him from scorn is a bonus, knowing how southern families are mostly tight knit. Living in a small southern town can be complicated for LGBT people since prejudice and bigotry are strong but this family doesn't see things that way. "

"Sweetly romantic, wonderfully realized, sympathetic characters and just the right amount of both heat and sap. AND FINALLY A WELL ADJUSTED FAMILY WITH A GAY SON."

Gay Erotic Romance
Splinters by Thorny Sterling
Paperback: 168 pages
Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform (July 12, 2014)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1500378550
ISBN-13: 978-1500378554
Amazon: Splinters
Amazon Kindle: Splinters

"This was a good little story that sucked me in... I’m sure I’ll read more of this authors work."

Lesbian Fantasy Romance
A Kingdom Lost by Barbara Ann Wright
Paperback: 264 pages
Publisher: Bold Strokes Books (April 15, 2014)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1626390533
ISBN-13: 978-1626390539
Amazon: A Kingdom Lost
Amazon Kindle: A Kingdom Lost

"I hadn’t read the previous books in this series, but I will be after this one. Wright’s world building made me feel as though I was right there with the characters. As is common with the fantasy genre, there are a lot of characters, but there aren’t so many that you lose track of who’s who. Honestly, the only complaint I have is the cliffhanger ending. Not nice, Ms. Wright, not nice at all."

"A wonderful story in a complex and fascinating world, though it didn't work well as a standalone. I hadn't read books 1 and 2 in the series, but Barbara Ann Wright is a fantastic writer and the characters engaging enough that I want to read it! Setting was incredible, engaging all five senses. I took off some points because I was lost for a while about the characters, and the cliffhanger ending. Otherwise, definitely recommend this author and series (if starting at book 1)."