2016 Rainbow Awards Honorable Mention: The Tenth Muse by Belinda McBride (124-06-03-2016)

1) I very much enjoyed the placement of petulant Greek Gods in a modern day environment, with all their strengths, flaws and weaknesses on show. Loved the concept of The Aphrodite Project to bring rogue gods and demigods to heel and I look forward to more developments as the series continues. The writing is engaging and the plot has numerous twists and surprises to keep the reader enthralled. Although it isn't essential to be up to date on who is who in Greek mythology, the author has made me want to revisit some of the classic myths mentioned in the book.

2) A perfect story balancing mythology with an original plot. It kept me riveted as the story unfolded - the mythology was served in easily digested portions - just enough to deepen the plot without overwhelming the story in minutia. The writing itself flowed easily - almost lyrical in style, with a nice unexpected plot twist. So well done.

3) Really the book was engaging and I read it overnight. Sometimes I wanted some more setting details, some more flavour, color. But good overall. You take the journey of personal development not only with the main characters, the secondary ones are magnificent also. Liked the writing style. It fit the story, the characters. Maybe with another topi cit wouldnt have worked as well as here but in this story it was perfect. I started it with misgivings. I really hate reading about the fashion world or show biz, as usually it's portrayed so empty or without depth. Well, not this time. THe background (fashion  world) was flawlessly chosen to show the duality of humans, the glamour and beauty with more than a hint of putrid and rotten. THe book is in part a play on inner and outer beauty and personal development. Its a story about love, love lost and love discovered and I loved it.

The Tenth Muse (The Aphrodite Project #1) by Belinda McBride
Gay Paranormal Romance
Series: The Aphrodite Project
Paperback: 272 pages
Publisher: Pride Publishing (May 17, 2016)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1786513382
ISBN-13: 978-1786513380
Amazon: The Tenth Muse (The Aphrodite Project #1)
Amazon Kindle: The Tenth Muse (The Aphrodite Project #1)

In a wicked game, the God of Love falls to his own arrow, and a gentle scholar learns how dangerous knowledge can be.

Aphrodite has had it.

It was bad enough that her son Eros walked a fashion show in drag, but did he really have to show the entire world his wings? Desperate to rein in the impulsive young god, she recruits the scholarly muse Rees to lure him back to Olympus until the scandal dies down.

After hundreds of years, Eros has finally located the reincarnation of his former love, Psyche. The only way to her heart is through fame, so the God of Love plans a daring campaign to win her back. Yet the closer he gets to Psyche, the more he’s drawn to a geeky young professor who came crashing into his life.

Eros drags Rees into his wicked world of high fashion and risqué parties, only to expose him to danger from an unexpected source. When Rees’ secrets come out, they threaten to destroy Eros’ love for him. Yet when Rees is kidnapped, Eros is forced to turn to the woman who set this catastrophe in motion—his mother, Aphrodite.

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

2016 Rainbow Awards Honorable Mention: For Promise Yet Unbroken by Tygati (213-07-26-2016)

1) This book was gorgeous, entertaining and threw enough twists and turns to keep me on my toes.

2) A thoroughly satisfying, sweet, funny, exciting Western-Sci-Fi romp of a novel, with quiet undertones of coming-of-age, discovering who you are and finding your place. Lovely, and I for one will definitely look for more of this author to come.

3) I enjoyed getting to know Jeremy as the man he grew into. He isn’t the bratty trouble-maker anymore. I also enjoyed getting to see him grow into his role as a rider. While there are some inevitable parallels between his relationship with Sapphire and the one between Charlie and Zorevan from Darkness, their story and relationship are all their own.

For Promise Yet Unbroken (No Man's Land #2) by Tygati
Asexual Fantasy Romance
Series: No Man's Land
Paperback: 284 pages
Publisher: Less Than Three Press (October 21, 2015)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1620046792
ISBN-13: 978-1620046791
Amazon: For Promise Yet Unbroken (No Man's Land #2)
Amazon Kindle: For Promise Yet Unbroken (No Man's Land #2)

In the Hours of Darkness On the frontier planet No Man's Land, Sheriff Charlie Colcord upholds the law and protects the people of Deadwood Gulch. His job is difficult and often dangerous due to the vicious native creatures which inhabit the plains and mountains of Noman, but Charlie and his riders have one advantage: dragons. But the dragons come with their own difficulties in the way of a secret known only to a few. Charlie is a man used to keeping secrets, and it's not the dragons' secret that keeps him up at night. His secret is known to only one other, and keeping it makes their lives complicated enough that hunting monsters on the plains of Noman is almost relaxing. For Promise Yet Unbroken Jeremey has been an unrepentant troublemaker since the day he learned to walk, with no intention of slowing down—until the day tragedy struck. Now a young man, Jeremey seeks to make amends for his wild youth and fulfill an unspoken promise he once made years ago to the people of Noman. All he needs is a dragon and a chance to prove himself, which is easier said than done in the face of a crashed spaceship, hostile aliens, a deadly plague, and interstellar war. Still, if there's anyone up to the task, it's Jeremey Jasper, troublemaker extraordinaire.

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