Blog Tour: Light Remains by Molly Church

Today I'm hosting Molly Church with her new F/F novella: Light Remains

Light Remains by Molly Church
Publisher: Torquere Press
Genre: f/f, magical realism/portal fantasy
Link to purchase: http://www.torquerebooks.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=68&products_id=4490

LIGHT REMAINS is a portal fantasy featuring Alora Ayoade, a thirty-something English librarian transported to a new world via a curious book she encounters the day after her mother's funeral. There, Alora must discovers she is a legend, her coming long foretold, fabled to rescue a kidnapped queen. A green-eyed, titan-maned queen with whom Alora had been dreaming about, back in London… Join Alora on her journey to do just that, as she races against time and treachery save the world.

( Excerpt )

2015 Rainbow Awards Honorable Mention: Song of the Lonesome Cowboy by Lynn Kelling

Song of the Lonesome Cowboy by Lynn Kelling
Gay Contemporary Romance
Paperback: 282 pages
Publisher: Fantastic Fiction Publishing (January 17, 2015)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1622342143
ISBN-13: 978-1622342143
Amazon: Song of the Lonesome Cowboy
Amazon Kindle: Song of the Lonesome Cowboy

Tucker Reynolds is a rising star in country music. The people from his record label tell him he's destined to be one of the greats—but only if he fits the "good ol' boy" image country fans expect from him. The trouble is, that's not the kind of man's man Tucker really wants to be. Forced into an unsavory relationship with a record executive and frustrated by his regrettably platonic relationship with his best friend and guitarist, Mags Palmer, Tucker turns to kinky sex with male prostitutes for release. Things hit Tucker's limit when one of Tucker's bandmates, Jess Grayville, begins to suspect what's going on, and puts himself in danger to protect Tucker. Desperate for a way out of his troubles, Tucker realizes only honesty, love, and a true song can save himself and the man who stands by him.


A very engaging story despite the dark themes of sexual manipulation and rape. The characters, especially the main pairing, were fully fleshed out and, as a reader, I came to care for them and rooted for their HEA. 

2015 Rainbow Awards Honorable Mention: Show Trans by Elliott DeLine

Show Trans by Elliott DeLine
Transgender Biography / Memoir
Paperback: 158 pages
Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform; 1 edition (August 14, 2014)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1500844497
ISBN-13: 978-1500844493
Amazon: Show Trans: A Nonfiction Novel
Amazon Kindle: Show Trans: A Nonfiction Novel

A nonfiction novel about sex addiction, sex work, navigating the MSM scene, a trip West, dissociative identity disorder, and the struggle to find love, connection, and self-actualization as a non-binary trans person.


I found Elliott to be a wonderful writer.  His prose was intriguing, direct, and a pleasure to read.  His dialogue was believable.  I sometimes struggled with this memoir in places were I found the storyline to be disconnected, or found gaps or transitional problems that left me somewhat puzzled as to where the story had taken me.  I found those issues to be fairly minor things that a good editor can help fix, and regardless, Elliott is a very strong writer. 

2015 Rainbow Awards Honorable Mention: Wedding Favors by Anne Tenino

Wedding Favors (Bluewater Bay 7) by Anne Tenino
Gay Romantic Comedy
Series: Bluewater Bay
Paperback: 276 pages
Publisher: Riptide Publishing (April 10, 2015)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 162649293X
ISBN-13: 978-1626492936
Amazon: Wedding Favors (Bluewater Bay 7)
Amazon Kindle: Wedding Favors (Bluewater Bay 7)

Lucas Wilder’s best friend is a traitor. First, Audrey moved back to their hick-infested hometown, Bluewater Bay, and now she’s marrying a local. His own brother, in fact. And as her man of honor, Lucas gets coerced into returning for an extended stay. Although, between his unfaithful ex-boyfriend and his artist’s block, going home isn’t the worst thing that could happen. Even if the best man is Gabriel Savage, Lucas’s first crush, first hookup, and first heartbreak.

The only reason Gabe hasn’t been waiting for Lucas to return to Bluewater Bay is because he never thought it’d happen. Not that it matters now that Lucas is back—Gabe’s still a logger who’s never been anywhere (Canada doesn’t count), and Lucas is now a famous sculptor who’s been everywhere twice. Plus, there’s that shared past.

When Audrey asks Lucas to make her wedding favors, the only place to set up a kiln is at Gabe’s tree farm. Soon, they pick up where they left off twelve years before, then blow past it, discovering why neither of them forgot the other. Now they have to choose how much of their history they’ll repeat, and what future they’ll make together.


I thought the plot was great. Events seemed to flow seamlessly into each other right up to the wedding. Pretty much through the book I could SEE the setting. I think there was plenty of description. Actually just enough. The farm, the restaurant, the barn settings were wonderfully rendered. Loved the characters and fell in love with them almost from the first chapter. I think this was the best aspect of the book.  She did a great job with making ALL the characters seem real and endearing to the reader. If I could give more than ten points here, I would. She’s an assured writer and swiftly carried me along from start to finish. Overall this is a very well-written book with great characters, even the supporting ones, neat setting, and a plot that was believable and exciting. Loved it. I’m giving Wedding Favors by Anne Tenino full marks for a wonderful rom/comedy.

Very enjoyable read. Great setting, the author left me with a real feel for the place. Has a lot to do with horses and I didn't know anything about that, but the author was able to explain it without going into an info dump. Loved the characters, very well developed. 

2015 Rainbow Awards Honorable Mention: Barren by Anna Hedley

Barren by Anna Hedley
Gay Fantasy
Paperback: 578 pages
Publisher: Less Than Three Press (October 8, 2014)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1620044390
ISBN-13: 978-1620044391
Amazon: Barren
Amazon Kindle: Barren

All the women of Yarn have died. King Daniel sends out his twelfth best warrior, Blair. But having learned from the first eleven that warriors aren't to be trusted, he orders Ren, scholar and advisor, to go with him. Blair thinks the Amorphous, a race of formless and seemingly omniscient beings, know more about the death of the women than they're saying. Ren suspects Blair's prejudices are skewing his judgment, and they're looking in the wrong place. If they're going to solve the mystery and set Yarn right, it's going to take understanding on both their parts.


Huge plot, deftly handled. Imaginative yet real characters who grew as they faced the issues within the story. I wouldn't say it's a romance, per se, but a fantasy/paranormal with subplots of romance. Just what I like. I will watch out for more of Anna's writing.

Very creative and original. Twists and turns that kept the story moving clear arc to story with an unpredictable ending. The romance was clearly secondary to the plot but in this case it worked. Excellent detail in brings this fictional world to life
Very diverse with excellent development. I really cared for each character as the story progressed. I think my favorite was Eli. Only negative was that the story got a bit wordy. Good use of language, showing, and imagery.

2015 Rainbow Awards Honorable Mention: The Bohemian and the Banker by Bonnie Dee & Summer Devon

The Bohemian and the Banker by Bonnie Dee & Summer Devon
Gay Historical Romance
Paperback: 202 pages
Publisher: Samhain Publishing (March 31, 2015)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 161922836X
ISBN-13: 978-1619228368
Amazon: The Bohemian and the Banker
Amazon Kindle: The Bohemian and the Banker

A night lost in Paris finds two hearts changed-forever. Sent to Paris on business, Nigel Warren doesn't quite understand why his colleagues' eyes twinkle as they tell him to meet them at a local night spot. When he discovers it's a drag cabaret and his acquaintances aren't there, he realizes he's the butt of a joke. Yet he finds himself quite undone by a singer dressed in an elegant gown, crooning a spellbinding ballad. It's not unusual for Jay, a former Londoner, to bring a new "friend" home from the cabaret, but he's never had a guest quite like Nigel, whose straitlaced manner hides an unexpected passionate streak. One romantic night on a rooftop under starry skies, followed by an afternoon enjoying the excitement of the 1901 Paris Exposition, bonds these opposites in a way neither can forget-even after they part. Their spark reignites when Jay comes to London, but he's not sure he can go back to hiding his true self, not even for the sake of love...unless Nigel is willing to shed his cloak of staid respectability and take a leap of faith. Warning: Contains a virgin who doesn't speak French but is fluent in numbers, and a drag performer who is trilingual in English, French and Love. Not responsible for extra pounds brought on by the urge to dine on croissants au deux.


I really felt like I was in Paris and London of 1901. Lots of historic detail without explanation, almost as if it was written at that time and one would "know" the slang or what we would call antiquated words. Nice character development of the "jaded" MC falling in love and the "virgin/straight laced" MC learning to live life a little. The climax/major plot turning point was a wee over the top and a touch preachy for my taste. Historically I have no idea if the way it transpired would have been accurate. Would love to drop in on them 20 and 40 years later.

I really enjoyed the setting, particularly Paris of that era and its contrast to London. The cities, customs, and people were beautifully and atmospherically described, and felt authentic. Nigel and Jay worked well as a gradual, opposites-attract story, although Nigel seemed a bit unexpectedly open-minded for a man of his era and situation. Despite wishing a few off-page developments had been shown to me, I appreciated the story for its warm charm, and unique historical flavor.