2017 Rainbow Awards Honorable Mention: Coils Barbara Ann Wright

1) A breezy adventure story with a rather abrupt start and slightly underdeveloped characterization, but a tight, engaging plot and lots of imaginative ideas. Delving into the deeper aspects of Greek myth, and contrasting that with the pop culture versions of same, added some much-needed depth. In all, a fun book.
2) Barbara Ann Wright is a reliable author, changing genres and heroines but consistently delivering something unique and worth the read. Coils is no exception. The main character is instantly relatable, and the plot as it develops gains in complexity in weird and wonderful ways. A fun romp through the Greco-Roman afterlife with all but forgotten gods and goddesses...and monsters you might grow to love. I loved the unusual takes on mythology and the writing style was, as ever, compulsively readable.

Coils Barbara Ann Wright
Lesbian - Fantasy Romance
Paperback: 312 pages
Publisher: Bold Strokes Books (September 13, 2016)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1626395985
ISBN-13: 978-1626395985
Amazon: Coils Barbara Ann Wright

Cressida loves Greek mythology, tales of gods and monsters, but she knows they aren’t real no matter how awesome it would be to meet the beautiful women of myth. When her aunt June disappears, Cressida realizes the other members of her family aren’t so rational. June’s notes point to a possible entrance to the fabled Underworld before they cut off completely.

Following June’s footsteps leads Cressida into a world she knew only as legend, a place of marvels and danger, where the living are highly prized by the dead. Desperate, Cressida turns to Medusa, a demigoddess who’s been maligned by myth, but everything in the Underworld comes with a price. Medusa is more than willing to help find June, and all it will cost Cressida is one little murder.

2017 Rainbow Awards Honorable Mention: Trust Trade Ki Brightly

1) This book was an engrossing read. Ki Brightly has created a well paced story with a carefully crafted plot and believable romance. I look forward to reading more by this author.

Trust Trade Ki Brightly
Gay - Romantic Suspence
Paperback: 340 pages
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press (January 27, 2017)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1635332419
ISBN-13: 978-1635332414
Amazon: Trust Trade Ki Brightly

Life hasn’t been good to Jeb Birchman. When he attempted to escape his abusive, zealot father, he found himself on the streets, making a living the only way he knew how, the victim of more violent men—one of whom orchestrates a series of vicious attacks that leave Jeb deaf. Now that he’s aged beyond his latest client’s interest, Jeb knows he needs to escape his risky lifestyle before it’s too late. Seeing one last chance for himself, he earns a GED and enrolls in college.

Freddy Williams enjoys a life that couldn’t be more different from what Jeb has survived. He loves sports, being a personal trainer, and hanging out with friends. The son of deaf parents, Freddy is an outspoken advocate of the Deaf community and works as an interpreter at his college. When he meets Jeb at the bookstore, he’s struck by how attractive he is, and as they get to know each other, he finds Jeb’s good heart just as appealing. By the time he learns of Jeb’s past, it’s only a few steps behind them, and Freddy must make a choice between school and his familiar routine and protecting the man he’s falling in love with.

2017 Rainbow Awards Honorable Mention: Depth of Return (Another Healing #2) M. Raiya

1)  I got hooked on the first page and now need the first book in the series, although I followed this one okay without having read it.  The descriptive style made it very easy to visualise the setting.  The characters are engaging, and the plot is exciting and intriguing—a real page turner.  I loved the world building, and in particularly the magic system.
2) I found this book to be a joy to read with its engaging plot, interesting MCs and cast of supporting characters. Easy to follow, despite having not read book 1, which I will be doing very soon, and full of suspense, atmosphere and plot, plot, plot.
3) This was a great read and an excellent follow up of book one in the Another Healing series. I really liked the main characters from the beginning and could not help but cheer them on as they searched for their HEA.

Depth of Return M. Raiya
Gay - Paranormal Romance
Series: Another Healing (Book 2)
Paperback: 216 pages
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press (September 5, 2016)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1634775384
ISBN-13: 978-1634775380
Amazon: Depth of Return M. Raiya

Another Healing: Book Two

Betrayed and left for dead by his lover, North has retreated to a secluded island to nurture his coven of witches and their demon partners. His group uses the magic of starlight to bring as much peace to the world as they can. It’s enough. North has no desire to look for love again.

When an accident on a carpentry job reveals that he is a demon, Alan Holsen is sent to North for training. Alan possesses a rare healing ability—one he might be able to use to close the old wounds in North’s heart. While North teaches Alan magic, Alan teaches North to love again, and they both struggle with the leftover resonance of their haunted pasts.

Just when they dare to relax, North’s old enemy returns—and sets his sights on Alan. To save him, North must enlist the aid of neighboring covens, and he learns he isn’t as alone as he thought. But in the end, only North’s love for Alan and the power of the stars have any chance of saving them.

2017 Rainbow Awards Honorable Mention: Sink or Swim: The Search for Aveline

1) A fun mix of LGBTQ characters and quasi-historical paranormal pirate adventure, with a few more serious themes given attention, but not angst.
2) Well crafted descriptions. Witty, snappy dialogue. Perfectly timed jokes and double entendres. Evocative and engaging writing style. Swift pace with tight scenes. An intriguing ensemble cast of characters. Was this the best pirate adventure with romance elements I've read? No. But it's pretty damn good. Like I mentioned, there is no one particular main couple, but several pairings form along the way. Lesbian, gay, straight, so be forewarned. Backstories are given, and we learn enough about everyone. Had some trouble keeping up with who was who, and the plot was a tad convoluted at times, but I take all the blame for that. Sometimes the language and people's level of knowledge also seem a bit too modern. But overall, not bad at all.

Sink or Swim: The Search for Aveline Angie Bee & Stephanie Rabig
Asexual - Historical Romance
Series: Sink or Swim
Paperback: 376 pages
Publisher: Less Than Three Press (January 31, 2017)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 162004921X
ISBN-13: 978-1620049211
Amazon: Sink or Swim: The Search for Aveline Angie Bee & Stephanie Rabig

Captain Harriet "Harry" Roberts and the daring crew of The Sappho are not for the faint of heart. A ship of strays unlike any other, they're not afraid to face whatever the world throws at them—be it mermaids, kidnappings, sirens, plague, clashes with their mortal enemy Captain Wrath Drew of The Charon, a handsome merman, or good old-fashioned love.