2016 Rainbow Awards Honorable Mention: Lock and Key by Z. Allora (192-07-21-2016)

This the best book I've read this year. I was drawn in from the first sentence and pulled through the story. The characters were like my siblings and I had a vested interest in their happily ever after. The BSDM was mild enough that I actually enjoyed it and just kept wanting to read more. I hope the author comes out with a story about Jordan and I'll have to see if the author wrote Dusty & Justine's story. I want to find more of this author's writing.

Lock and Key by Z. Allora
Gay Erotic Romance
Paperback: 300 pages
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press (July 15, 2016)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1634771680
ISBN-13: 978-1634771689
Amazon: Lock and Key
Amazon Kindle: Lock and Key

"Rejected. Heartbroken. Devastated. "

Zack Davis wanted to serve only one man, Andrew Nikeman. He was denied because Andrew thought he was too young and because their brothers were together. So Zack crushed his submissive tendencies and focused on being the perfect Dom, giving every sub he played with something he couldn t have.

After years of denying his submissive side, Entwined s charity auction Are you Dom Enough to be a sub? gives Zack an excuse to get a little of what he s always craved.

Andrew doesn t know when his infatuation turned into more, but it kills him to see Zack with a constant parade of submissives. He d refused to jeopardize his brother s relationship or become Zack s regret; however, Zack isn t a kid anymore, and his brother s relationship is unbreakable. Now Zack s popularity and success as a Dom might ruin Andrew s dreams of collaring him, but he can t wait any longer to confess his feelings or he risks losing the man he loves forever."

Rainbow Awards Guidelines: http://www.elisarolle.com/rainbowawards/rainbow_awards_2016.html

2016 Rainbow Awards Honorable Mention: Meridian by Kirby Crow (415-09-16-2016)

1) This is a very well written book about an interesting pair of potential lovers and an almost more interesting set of secondary characters. The setting was wonderfully laid out and used and useful in the story. The main characters' pasts were used well. This is probably my own failing as a guy but these characters really talked about their feelings more than most of the men I've ever known. Also the B/D aspect sort of limits it's appeal. But in the end they were believable.

2) I loved this book. Loved it! Crow has this enviable talent to make every phrase, every scene clear and vibrant. Characters jump off the page, emotions well up uncontrollably and with startling depths. This book has some serious underpinnings of some classic thriller and carries hints of evil. Grant is sexy, strong, and insightful, and poor Matty is left shellshocked and floundering by recent revelations. They way the dance around each other, coming together and facing things head on is fantastic. I am dearly hoping for a sequel, as I need more of these characters and this world! I was NOT expecting a Crow contemporary to compare to Crow's fantasy books! Well done!

Meridian (Mirror #1) by Kirby Crow
Gay Contemporary General Fiction
Series: Mirror
Paperback: 262 pages
Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform (September 1, 2016)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1537238205
ISBN-13: 978-1537238203
Amazon: Meridian (Mirror #1)
Amazon Kindle: Meridian (Mirror #1)

Grant Baines operates a specialty-tour company with his sister, Andie. The tour part is ushering frat boys around the Gulf of Mexico in his charter yacht. The specialty is that he's an ex-military psychologist who does favors for the government. When Grant is asked to spend a week evaluating traumatized FBI Advisor Matty Sawyer, he agrees, thinking it will be just another babysitting assignment. Grant is more relaxed in a bondage playroom than he is going on a date, so he's amazed by how strongly he’s attracted to the damaged but brilliant man who arrives in his town. Grant’s job is to assess Matty’s stability to return to the FBI after Jaeger Koning— Matty’s former lover— is charged with multiple assassinations. Knowing Matty's past poses a danger to his family, Grant is determined to keep his distance, until Matty reveals a submissive side that Grant finds impossible to resist.

Rainbow Awards Guidelines: http://www.elisarolle.com/rainbowawards/rainbow_awards_2016.html