2015 Rainbow Awards Honorable Mention: Smoky Mountain Dreams by Leta Blake

Smoky Mountain Dreams by Leta Blake
Bisexual Contemporary Romance
Paperback: 424 pages
Publisher: Leta Blake Books (November 12, 2014)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1626227268
ISBN-13: 978-1626227262
Amazon: Smoky Mountain Dreams
Amazon Kindle: Smoky Mountain Dreams

Sometimes holding on means letting go.

After giving up on his career as a country singer in Nashville, Christopher Ryder is happy enough performing at the Smoky Mountain Dreams theme park in Tennessee. But while his beloved Gran loves him the way he is, Christopher feels painfully invisible to everyone else. Even when he's center stage he aches for someone to see the real him.

Bisexual Jesse Birch has no room in his life for dating. Raising two kids and fighting with family after a tragic accident took his children's mother, he doesn't want more than an occasional hook-up. He sure as hell doesn't want to fall hard for his favorite local singer, but when Christopher walks into his jewelry studio, Jesse hears a new song in his heart.


First story by this author and I couldn't put it down.  Very well written, with great plot line and very well developed characters.  I am a sucker for any story with angst!!!

Wow. This story. This story. First of all let me say that the scene between Christopher and Jesse in Jesse's office that starts off with them kissing with the fake pearl necklace between them? H-O-T. Seriously. The whole scene made me hard and hot. But then again there were a LOT of really hot scenes in this book, interspersed between a magnificent plot that while it had a number of editing mistakes, we're not enough to throw me out of the story. The setting was magically described, not just by the characters' awareness of their surroundings or giving a basic layout, but the setting was developed to the point where every place, and even inanimate objects held a memory, an emotion, a deep emotive power that resonated not only within the characters but within the reader as well. The same can be said for the characters. For while not every gay/bi man's story is the same, there is a air of familiarity within these characters. The desire to be able to let go, be one's true self, to love again after tragedy, to live one's truth, to love someone in spite of the adversity you may face, to long for a significant other even if it costs you relationships you thought were essential to your happiness, to stand up for oneself or someone else, and most importantly the desire to be seen by someone, anyone, who finds us worthy enough to want us to be a part of their family. The biggest issue(s) I had with this book could be greed on my part, although it sort of stuck in my craw for a bit: 1)What happened with Marcy? We know what DIDN'T happen, but inevitably, what occurred? It seemed like such a big buildup only to sort of stall out. 2)-here comes my greed- What happened with Gareth? He turned his attitude and personality around and really redeemed himself. He deserves a HEA. So where is it? 3)What does Christopher decide to do with the money left to him by his Gran that is "crazy"? If he has settled on the recording studio how does that go? Essentially, the story was. Right. There.

2015 Rainbow Awards Honorable Mention: Burning Intuition by Makenzi Fisk

Burning Intuition (Book 2 in the Intuition Series) by Makenzi Fisk
Lesbian Mystery / Thriller
Series: Intuition Series
Paperback: 268 pages
Publisher: Mischievous Books; 1 edition (January 14, 2015)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0993808743
ISBN-13: 978-0993808746
Amazon: Burning Intuition (Book 2 in the Intuition Series)
Amazon Kindle: Burning Intuition (Book 2 in the Intuition Series)

A man is behind bars while a manipulative killer walks free Rural Minnesota police officer Erin Ericsson has been on the trail of this elusive criminal before. She knows there will be more crimes, and more victims. This time, she will follow her own rules. At her side is her girlfriend, Allie, who has been blessed, or cursed, with a gift. It might lead them to the murderer, if she can learn to control it, and if the volatile connection doesn't shatter them both. Their pursuit takes them across the Canadian border into Allie's comfort zone, but the bustling city of Winnipeg is a challenge for Erin. They must overcome their obstacles and work together to stop the killer. Can anyone survive this kind of evil? “Chilling” “Explosive” “Engaging” Burning Intuition is the second novel in the Intuition Series, from award-winning author Makenzi Fisk


Well-written and plotted. Kept the suspense going until the end. Characters believable and the young girl sociopath was especially well done.

2015 Rainbow Awards Honorable Mention: Dirty Dining by EM Lynley

Dirty Dining by EM Lynley
Gay Erotic Romance
Paperback: 230 pages
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press (January 19, 2015)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1632166259
ISBN-13: 978-1632166258
Amazon: Dirty Dining
Amazon Kindle: Dirty Dining

Jeremy Linden’s a PhD student researching an HIV vaccine. He’s always short of money, and when biotech startup PharmaTek reduces funding for his fellowship, he’s tempted to take a job at a men’s dining club as a serving boy. The uniforms are skimpy, and he’s expected to remove an item of clothing after each course. He can handle that, but he soon discovers there’s more on the menu here than fine cuisine. How far will he go to pay his tuition, and will money get in the way when he realizes he’s interested in more from one of his gentlemen?

Brice Martin is an attorney for a Silicon Valley venture capital firm. When he’s asked to take a client to the infamous Dinner Club, he finds himself unexpectedly turned on by the atmosphere and especially by his server, Remy. He senses there’s more to the sexy young man than meets the eye. The paradox fascinates him, and he can’t get enough of Remy.

Their relationship quickly extends beyond the club and sex. But the trust and affection they’ve worked to achieve may crumble when Jeremy discovers Brice’s VC firm is the one that pulled the plug on PharmaTek—and Jeremy’s research grant.


Excellent sex and deft character development. 

2015 Rainbow Awards Honorable Mention: The Witch's Daughter (Amendyr Series Book 3) by Rae D. Magdon

The Witch's Daughter (Amendyr Series Book 3) by Rae D. Magdon
Lesbian Fantasy
Series: Amendyr
Paperback: 206 pages
Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform; 1 edition (April 1, 2015)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1508596956
ISBN-13: 978-1508596950
Amazon: The Witch's Daughter (Amendyr Series Book 3)
Amazon Kindle: The Witch's Daughter (Amendyr Series Book 3)

Ailynn Gothel has always been the perfect daughter. Thanks to her mother's teachings, she knows how to heal the sick, conjure the elements, and take care of Raisa, her closest and dearest friend. But when Ailynn's feelings for Raisa grow deeper, her simple life falls apart. Her mother hides Raisa deep in a cave to shield her from the world, and Ailynn must leave home in search of a spell to free her. While the kingdom beyond the forest is full of dangers, Ailynn’s greatest fear is that Raisa will no longer want her when she returns. She is a witch’s daughter, after all—and witches never get their happily ever after.


Anyone who loves fantasies about witches, woods, and magic should find this story quite engaging, but a word of caution. This is not your typical childhood fairytale. Jae D Magdon has created a rich world filled with all the elements one would expect in a fantasy and tells it in a style that keeps the reader turning pages.  I would compare it to one of Grimm's fairytales with and adult edginess.

2015 Rainbow Awards Honorable Mention: The Bells of Times Square by Amy Lane

The Bells of Times Square by Amy Lane
Gay Historical Romance
Paperback: 204 pages
Publisher: Riptide Publishing (July 5, 2014)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1626491860
ISBN-13: 978-1626491861
Amazon: The Bells of Times Square
Amazon Kindle: The Bells of Times Square

Every New Year’s Eve since 1946, Nate Meyer has ventured alone to Times Square to listen for the ghostly church bells he and his long-lost wartime lover vowed to hear together. This year, however, his grandson Blaine is pushing Nate through the Manhattan streets, revealing his secrets to his silent, stroke-stricken grandfather.

When Blaine introduces his boyfriend to his beloved grandfather, he has no idea that Nate holds a similar secret. As they endure the chilly death of the old year, Nate is drawn back in memory to a much earlier time . . . and to Walter.

Long before, in a peace carefully crafted in the heart of wartime tumult, Nate and Walter forged a loving home in the midst of violence and chaos. But nothing in war is permanent, and now all Nate has is memories of a man his family never knew existed. And a hope that he’ll finally hear the church bells that will unite everybody—including the lovers who hid the best and most sacred parts of their hearts.


Polished writing, excellent use of historical World War II detail, and an engaging storyline. Easy to read and follow. Straightforward character and plot development make for a very strong category book.

Very bittersweet. Painful and frustrating but sweet. Walter's death was so needless. Nate was so faithful to his memory. Their relationship albeit short travelled a long way.

2015 Rainbow Awards Honorable Mention: Under Glass by Rebecca Cohen

Under Glass by Rebecca Cohen
Gay Sci-Fi / Futuristic
Paperback: 306 pages
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press (April 10, 2015)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1634760409
ISBN-13: 978-1634760409
Amazon: Under Glass
Amazon Kindle: Under Glass

Creating planets and guarding the stars leaves novice planet builder Kai Faewiva lonely. For members of Kai’s species who are born with an organ called a caerellon, their true love, their Sun or Moon, is identified at birth. But the novices are people who have lost their perfect love, and Kai’s Sun is long dead, killed in an accident when he was five years old. Or so everyone thought.

After recovering from another bout of the unidentified illness he has battled for years, Kai returns to work. But his quiet day at the planetarium is thrown into chaos when scans of Goka Prime, one of the planets in the Sol-Alpha2 system, picks up a life-form that shouldn’t be there. Kai’s Sun, Oliver Gyin, is alive and well, but how he got to be on Goka Prime, no one knows. Now he needs to be brought home.

Ollie has lived most of his life in the City of Harrea, never guessing he is from another planet. Surprised to find a stranger means the world to him, Ollie wrestles with his loyalties and the drive to return with Kai. To leave Goka Prime, he must give up everything and everyone he knows. But twenty years apart means Kai and Ollie face a fight to secure their destined future.


Highly imaginative plot that kept me enthralled from beginning to end.

2015 Rainbow Awards Honorable Mention: Axel's Pup by Kim Dare

Axel's Pup (Werewolves & Dragons Book 1) by Kim Dare
Gay Paranormal Romance
Series: Werewolves & Dragons
Paperback: 616 pages
Publisher: Kim Dare; 1 edition (March 11, 2015)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 191008106X
ISBN-13: 978-1910081068
Amazon: Axel's Pup (Werewolves & Dragons Book 1)
Amazon Kindle: Axel's Pup (Werewolves & Dragons Book 1)

As the landlord of The Dragon’s Lair and leader of The Black Dragons Motorcycle Club, Axel Carmichael has seen it all and done it all. He’s a respected and experienced dom. Nothing shocks him any more, and nobody catches him off guard. When Bayden rides up to The Dragon’s Lair on a bike worth more than most men earn in a year, and immediately demonstrates that he has far more attitude than sense, it’s easy for Axel to write him off as a silly little rich boy who’s about to get himself killed. But, there’s more to Bayden than meets the eye. He’s no silly little boy, rich or otherwise, and werewolves aren’t easy to kill.


A little repetitive, a little slow at times but overall totally captivating. I couldn't put it down. Place and time were merely hinted at (somewhere in England, perhaps Wales?) but the worldbuilding, the Werewolf lore, was impressive. Really woke my compassion for the werewolves as a species and for the history and society of this AU reality. Characterization same as with the wordlbuilding, even better still. The characters grew impressively from being very well drawn to begin with. Enjoyable and consistent.

I really liked this story.  This is a shifter story with a little BDSM thrown in and it will hold your interest until the very last page.  Fans of this author are sure to love the book.

“Real submission isn’t about faking how you feel. It’s not about hiding things. It’s about offering up your every thought, your every emotion and trusting me to use them wisely. It’s one thing to pretend there’s nothing you want off me. Admitting everything you want and then accepting that I might not grant you any of it? That’s far harder.” This. This book right here epitomizes what a BDSM should be when there is a sub who doesn't know what it truly means to give his true submission because of abuse or trauma. There were so many beautiful lines in the book, that as someone in the Lifestyle, and someone who is a Dom, I kept wanting to stop and applaud or wanting to highlight them: "Subs get to state their limits. A collared sub gets to state his preferences in a lot more things than anyone else. But, when it comes down to it, a dom does what he wants without worrying about things like what some idiot considers to be subs’ work—or what his family thinks makes him look gay.” While there were editing mistakes in the book they weren't enough to completely throw me out of the story. The plot was fresh and new, a twist on the normal wolf shifter meets his mate story with the BDSM aspect thrown in. What it meant to be a true Dom and what true submission was ran throughout the entirety of this novel. There was also the gripping angst of wolf shifters being treated as second-class citizens. I could see the similarities between the way Bayden and other wolf shifters were treated and the way many minorities and even LGBTQ members are treated. This made the story even more gripping and personable. Ms. Dare's writing style made the scenes come to life, every scene was stark and real, each conversation and confrontation was almost as if it were taking place right in my home, and the sex scenes? Wow. So hot. But it was joining Bayden on his journey as he learned to trust Axe, a human, as he saw Axe as his Dom, then his Alpha, then his mate, that was the most beautiful. And it was reading Axe as he settled into his role as the Alpha of a "pack" and assumed the role of a "wolf", even though he is a human, in Bayden's eyes that was so heartwarming. And as these two characters developed fully, done amazingly well by Kim Dare it only served to make for a delightful story.