2016 Rainbow Awards Honorable Mention: Eight Seconds by William Davrick (212-07-26-2016)

This book was very heavy and full of deep trauma. It hurt to read. The writing was solid, the execution was well done. I found myself scoffing at some of the proposed treatments for Dustin and some of the trouble he landed himself in--I don't see such alternatives to the trouble he landed in being actually viable in real life. That nudged me out of the story often, and I had to push on. Maybe I'm far too critical. I can say that the emotions were on high, the pain and past trauma were terrifying, and the second-chance old friends to lovers theme helped balance out the darkness.

Eight Seconds by William Davrick
Gay Contemporary Romance
Paperback: 384 pages
Publisher: Less Than Three Press (July 11, 2016)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1620048345
ISBN-13: 978-1620048344
Amazon: Eight Seconds

Dustin Marston, wannabe professional bull rider, cannot stay on a bull for the required eight seconds. Suffering from sinister flashes of suppressed memories from his childhood, Dusty has a panic attack during a hazardous sexual encounter that lands him in serious legal trouble. When he proves to be uncooperative, his health counselor, Diana, turns to a colleague for assistance—only to learn that Joe was once the boy Dusty loved when they were kids, and who was lost to him twenty years ago. Then Joe proposes a highly unorthodox treatment to save Dusty, a treatment that wakes old nightmares and threatens any chance they have of a future.

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

2016 Rainbow Awards Honorable Mention: We Go Forward by Alison Evans (224-07-26-2016)

An all right debut story. Great setting but I was not to into either of the mc's.

We Go Forward by Alison Evans
Bisexual Contemporary Romance
Paperback: 166 pages
Publisher: Less Than Three Press (March 16, 2016)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1620047268
ISBN-13: 978-1620047262
Amazon: We Go Forward
Amazon Kindle: We Go Forward

Christie travels to run, to forget. She has no place to call home, but desperately wishes she did. Roslyn has never been overseas and fears getting stuck in one place. If she's never left Melbourne, how does she know that's home? A crossing of paths in Berlin, wine, and wifi leads to the two traveling together, and as they travel the two find some things they were looking for, and maybe something they weren't...

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

2016 Rainbow Awards Honorable Mention: The Man on Top of the World by Vanessa Clark (231-07-29-2016)

Vivid writing, great details, lurid, up and down ride, definitely memorable.

The Man on Top of the World by Vanessa Clark
Bisexual Historical Romance
Paperback: 266 pages
Publisher: Bold Strokes Books (August 16, 2016)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 162639699X
ISBN-13: 978-1626396999
Amazon: The Man on Top of the World
Amazon Kindle: The Man on Top of the World

Jonathan Maxwell's life can't get any better as the drummer of the world's hottest glam rock superstar, Izzy Rich. Despite the money, the nonstop excitement of touring, and the groupies, Jonathan wants something more. He wants Izzy to be his lover. Unbeknownst to his team, his fans, and the world, for fun, Izzy transforms in drag for Jonathan, becoming a songwriter/songstress called Holly. Though meant to happen for only one day, Jonathan and Holly's relationship lasts for weeks. Until one day, Izzy rids himself of Holly forever. Transitioning from boyfriend and girlfriend to boyfriends, Jonathan and Izzy are on cloud nine. Their love is still a secret, but they couldn't be happier. Until the tour jumps across the pond to America, where a bold, teenaged fan-girl, Roxanne Shengyi, will impact their relationship-and their lives-in ways that none of them can imagine.

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

2016 Rainbow Awards Honorable Mention: Arrival by H.J. Perry (243-08-02-2016)

This books sucked me in from the very beginning… I want to now go back and read book 1: Deviant.

Arrival (Matriarchy & Corruption #2) by H.J. Perry
Bisexual Sci-fi / Futuristic
Publisher: The Pandemic Press; 2 edition (November 30, 2015)
Amazon Kindle: Arrival (Matriarchy & Corruption #2)

A dystopian, post-apocalyptic story of forbidden love. A gay romance.

Seven decades after the pandemic that changed us forever, the population is still teetering on the brink of extinction. Men and women live in entirely separate asexual communities. Most people are infertile, and male babies are rare. Adult males are generally impotent and lethargic, a consequence of altered DNA.

Does the Matriarchal society work in the interests of all citizens?

A minority of people still crave physical, sexual pleasure. The West Beach fertility unit doubles as a brothel for deviants, women who desire men. Alton and Paul are among the minority of men who are virile.

When Alton leaves his rural male community, he is shocked to discover he is expected to provide sexual services to wealthy women. He can't do it. He has someone special on his mind. Alton feels more than brotherly love for his lifelong friend. After five months apart they will be reunited but does Paul feel the same?

Contains hot, sexy men getting naked and sexy together. All characters in the book are over 18, and the book contains adult content.
Speculative fiction meets M/M romance in a post-apocalyptic dystopian Matriarchy.

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

2016 Rainbow Awards Honorable Mention: Winter Kills by J.P. Bowie (248-08-03-2016)

This is a good, fast-paced, entertaining story of murder and mayhem. From the beginning of the story, it keeps you wondering who the murderer is, twisting your views at every turn until the end when the culprit is revealed which, honestly, took me by surprise. Mr. Bowie has a way with words that keeps me glued to the stories he writes. Recommended to those who like a good 'whodunnit' story.

Winter Kills (Seasons of Murder #4) by J.P. Bowie
Gay Romantic Suspence
Publisher: MLR Press, LLC (May 25, 2016)
Amazon Kindle: Winter Kills (Seasons of Murder #4)

A dancer and a detective are thrown together by fate - and a murder - as New York City shivers in one of the coldest winters on record.

Simon Harris is down on his luck in New York City after a show he'd auditioned for and won a place in folds during rehearsals. Working as a stripper in a seedy club is not his idea of Broadway, but it keeps the wolf from the door -- even if it is the door of a homeless shelter.

When one of the strippers is murdered and his body found in a dumpster, Simon is questioned by handsome detective Tom Holt, and his partner Brenda Brennigan. Both Tom and Simon feel the pull of sexual attraction, and when Tom finds out that Simon is sleeping in a homeless shelter, he offers him a room in his apartment until he gets back on his feet.

It isn't long before they are sharing more than just kitchen duties.

During his investigation, Tom discovers that the murdered stripper, Andy Summers, was being paid large sums of money by an older man, Al Cohen. Al tells Tom that he blames Andy's death on the club owner Frank Costello, but Tom isn't convinced especially when he's told that Frank had the hots for Andy and considered him his best dancer.

When another stripper is brutally attacked and left for dead in a dumpster, Tom fears for Simon's safety -- a fear that is borne out when Simon is held hostage by the murderer during a faceoff with the police and a SWAT team.

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

2016 Rainbow Awards Honorable Mention: Believing Rory by S.C. Wynne (266-08-13-2016)

Heartbreaking and beautiful. Another winner from SC Wynne.

Believing Rory by S.C. Wynne
Gay Contemporary Romance
Paperback: 200 pages
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press (April 29, 2016)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1634772725
ISBN-13: 978-1634772723
Amazon: Believing Rory
Amazon Kindle: Believing Rory

Will Rory bring them together or stand between them?

Eighteen-year-old Lane Graham has always relied on his braver, more confident buddy, Rory. But Rory s sudden suicide blindsides Lane and sends him into an emotional tailspin. How s he supposed to start college in a few months feeling this damaged?

Baron MacDonald knew Rory from playing League of Legends together. He was always intrigued by Lane s online presence, and Rory had promised to set them up. Now that Rory s gone, Baron has to approach Lane on his own.

On the surface, Baron and Lane couldn t seem more different. Baron is confident and serious, and Lane is guarded and uncertain. But it s the pain beneath the flesh that binds these two souls together like barbed wire and cement."

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