2017 Rainbow Awards Honorable Mention: Built for Pleasure Thursday Euclid

1) This was an engrossing and thought inducing tale from start to finish. The world building was first class and characterisation of Wolf in particular was excellent. I thoroughly enjoyed this book.
2) This story gripped me from the beginning and I read it though in one go.

Built for Pleasure Thursday Euclid
Gay - Sci-Fi / Futuristic
Paperback: 200 pages
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press (November 21, 2016)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1634779029
ISBN-13: 978-1634779029
Amazon: Built for Pleasure Thursday Euclid

Retired military officer Malcolm Torvik runs a rehabilitation facility for malfunctioning pleasure cyborgs. When WLF-6759—Wolf—arrives at Reboot Camp, the former battle cyborg presents problems Malcolm’s never faced before. Most pleasure cyborgs are sensation junkies, constantly high on the chemicals sex releases into their bloodstream, but Wolf’s faulty refit means it’s spent a decade suffering through unwanted encounters—and sometimes fighting back despite the consequences.

At first Wolf’s rebellion frustrates Malcolm even as Wolf’s undeniable physical perfection draws him. Then Wolf’s unexpected vulnerability and need open a whole new dynamic between them, and Malcolm finds himself feeling far too much for something that isn’t even human. Or is it? Could Homo sapiens technica be just as human as Malcolm is? And if it is, what’s Malcolm supposed to do about it? Malcolm’s been alone for so long…. Is it possible he’s found love with a cyborg? How far will he go to ensure Wolf’s freedom? Malcolm knows what he must do—for both of them—but it might cost him much more than his comfortable life.

2017 Rainbow Awards Honorable Mention: The Sorcerer's Guardian (Chronicles of Tournai #4)

1) A perfect score from me for this elegantly written tale of wizardry and enduring love. Savarin is a master wizard, Loriot, the captain of the royal guard - an unlikely and reluctant pairing when Lorriot is directed to guard Savarin on his quest to shore up the magical defenses of Tournai. At first irritated by the wizard's seeming arrogance, Loriot grows to admire Savarin's strength of character and bravery. Their relationship is beautifully written, slow to start then a tumult of passion and desire that heated up the pages to a delicious degree. I loved this story and recommend it to anyone who likes well-crafted tales of alternate worlds and magic.
2) The Sorcerer's Guardian was a touching, well-written, and absolutely solid fantasy. I settled into it easily, immersing myself in a believable world filled with complex characters, both main and supporting. I appreciated the internal struggles that the main characters went through to build their relationship, and that the plot was not dominated by a world-ending threat or violent conflict. I'd definitely recommend the Sorcerer's guardian to anyone who wants a good, and feel good, fantasy story.
3) Engrossing story of magic, romance, and love, and the care that must be taken to skillfully manage each one.

The Sorcerer's Guardian (Chronicles of Tournai #4) Antonia Aquilante
Bisexual - Fantasy Romance
Series: Chronicles of Tournai
Paperback: 310 pages
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press (November 28, 2016)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1634778510
ISBN-13: 978-1634778510
Amazon: The Sorcerer's Guardian (Chronicles of Tournai #4) Antonia Aquilante

A Tale of Tournai

Savarin, the most powerful sorcerer in Tournai, has honed his Talent through years of study and made magic his life. Among the wealthy and noble circles he moves in, no one would suspect the handsome, refined, and arrogant sorcerer’s humble beginnings, which is how Savarin prefers it. Tournai’s princes task Savarin with studying and strengthening the spells that protect the principality from magical attack. They are complex, centuries old, and exactly the type of puzzle Savarin is eager to solve. To his annoyance, the princes insist Loriot accompany him.

Loriot worked his way up the ranks of the royal guard to captain and takes pride in his service. He must obey the princes’ orders to protect Savarin, despite believing his skills would be best used elsewhere. And despite his wariness of magic. UnTalented himself, he has learned not only the benefits of magic but also its potential for harm—and how to counter it. Loriot and Savarin clash during their journey, but there’s another reason for the tension between them, and passion develops into feelings neither expected. But Savarin must still fortify Tournai’s magical barrier, and his only solution endangers both him and the royal family.

2017 Rainbow Awards Honorable Mention: True Colors Anyta Sunday

1) Well written story of love rekindled and old wounds as they heal. A real page-turner.

True Colors Anyta Sunday
Gay - Contemporary Romance
Series: True Love
Paperback: 222 pages
Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform (March 12, 2017)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1544098235
ISBN-13: 978-1544098234
Amazon: True Colors Anyta Sunday

Oskar used to be Marco’s best friend. His everything. His sunshine yellow.

But that was before. Before Marco stopped being a hot jock. Before he learned to live with scars and pain. And before Oskar tore their friendship apart.

Now the boy next door has returned home, determined to rekindle his friendship with Marco, and Marco’s more afraid than ever. Afraid of getting hurt. Afraid of being humiliated.

Afraid of falling in love.

Can Oskar find a way through Marco’s fear, back into his heart?

"True Colors" is an enemies to lovers, boy next door, first time, slow burn M/M romance with a generous helping of UST. This no-cliffhanger, HEA book can be read as a standalone.

2017 Rainbow Awards Honorable Mention: Undaunted Devin Harnois

1) The world building in this book was phenomenal. I was blown away and did not expect so much attention to detail. The main characters were well rounded and developed. I cared about both the plot and the characters, so this book was an all around win!
2) Solid character and alternative world building make this imaginative story of warring vampires and werewolves an instant page turner.
3) Wonderfully written story of vampires and werewolves, told with a definitive style that does not descend into mushy monster madness. Bravo!

Undaunted Devin Harnois
Bisexual - Fantasy Romance
File Size: 4095 KB
Print Length: 263 pages
Simultaneous Device Usage: Unlimited
Publisher: October Night Publishing (January 23, 2017)
Publication Date: January 23, 2017
Amazon: Undaunted Devin Harnois

A warrior’s broken soul.
A vampire’s kind heart.

Kelas Vartorvi escaped from one vampire only to find himself bound to another. Roshan saved his life and honor demands Kelas stays by his side until he repays the debt.

Roshan takes his broody new werewolf bodyguard in stride. Slowly, his relentless good nature begins to break down Kelas’s walls.

And their tentative friendship becomes something more.

An unexpected visitor from Roshan’s past throws them into a political plot and gives Kelas a chance for revenge. But are the gods blessing Kelas, or asking for a sacrifice?

Content warnings: Contains slavery, violence, body control, bottom shaming, misogyny, and rape mentioned in backstory. All sex between the heroes is clearly consensual.

2017 Rainbow Awards Honorable Mention: Survivor T.M. Smith

1) Well-paced and filled with lots of suspense, reasonable dealing with a possibly delicate subject. Good balance between romance and mystery plot. Vivid pictures and great sense of place. Descriptions felt a bit off sometimes; also, some of the character's actions felt out of character for them. My only complaint was the fact that some of the chraracters used aliases, and that their aliases and real names were used interchangeably which made following the storyline a bit tricky at times. Otherwise very well-written. I'd recommend this book.
2) A really good story about a young man who survived a harrowing episode as a teenager, was rescued by a well meaning police officer who saw to his immediate needs, and who is now returning home to the man he learned to love. They both face an uncertain future as some old demons spring up to haunt them again. Not a book that will be forgotten anytime soon by its readers.

Survivor T.M. Smith
Gay - Contemporary Romance
File Size: 5263 KB
Print Length: 186 pages
Publisher: TTC Publishing (August 22, 2017)
Publication Date: August 22, 2017
Amazon: Survivor T.M. Smith

Taylor Langford’s world is torn apart when he is only thirteen years old—his parents killed, leaving him alone and orphaned. With no living relatives, he’d certainly be another statistic if not for the intervention of the policeman who found Taylor in the crawl space where his mother hid him that fateful night. Despite the tragedy and resulting anguish in his life, Taylor knows how lucky he is.

Frank Moore is a rookie with the Dallas Police Department when he and his partner answer a call in Devonshire, one of the city’s more affluent neighborhoods. They think the young boy in various pictures throughout the home has been kidnapped until they find him, shaken but alive. Officer Moore recognizes the pain in the kid’s eyes, having lost his own mother to cancer when he was just a boy. He steps in, making sure Taylor is placed with a loving foster family. Over the years, Frank becomes a permanent fixture in Taylor’s life.

A decade later, the case remains unsolved and the once gangly, uncertain teenager is now a college graduate who knows exactly what he wants. He’s coming home to the man that helped mold and shape his life, the man he’s loved for as long as he can remember, Frank Moore. But Taylor isn’t the only person returning to Dallas, and while Frank is distracted by his own conflicting feelings and the new bond growing between the two, the past creeps up on them, determined to finish what was started ten years earlier.

2017 Rainbow Awards Honorable Mention: The Rake, The Rogue, and The Roué (Another England #1)

1) This is an exceptional tale of love and life. My only critique is that there were a couple parts that weren't strictly necessary in the depth they occurred to move the plot forward.

Eric Alan Westfall The Rake, The Rogue, and The Roué (Another England #1)
Gay - Historical Romance
File Size: 1872 KB
Print Length: 470 pages
Simultaneous Device Usage: Unlimited
Publication Date: February 25, 2017
Amazon: Eric Alan Westfall The Rake, The Rogue, and The Roué (Another England #1)

The scene is 1815-1816 in Another England, where men of a certain, ah, bent, are known as friends of Edward’s. Our heroes are nicknamed the “Three R’s.” Peregrine, our blond British viscount rake; Rory, our brawny, hairy, sometimes kilt-wearing, Scots rogue, and Michel, the languid, lethal English-born roué with the French name and French title. They’re close friends. Intimate you might say. Especially since Peregrine is having really great sex with both Rory and Michel. And neither of them knows about the other.

Besides his dear Mama trying to marry him off, Peregrine has a problem. He's given his word of honor to each of them he won’t disclose what’s going on. What’s a horny rake to do when he knows the three of them together would be incredible in so many ways, but can’t say anything to make it happen?

Even worse, what happens if his two men find out about all the secret sex Peregrine has been enjoying?

You’ll have to read to find out those answers. Along the way: a duel, mysterious inheritances, a nefarious bishop, a scheming lord, a love poem, some wit and humor, a frantic race home, a frolic by the sea, a portrait and...oh, yes...some great sex.

2017 Rainbow Awards Honorable Mention: You are not me ('90s Coming of Age series #2) Leta Blake

1) This was a touching coming of age story that had me crying more than I expected. Peter was a compelling and endearing protagonist, his lack of confidence, his conflicting feelings, and his attempts at figuring out his future while unable to let go of his past making him beautifully flawed and leaving room for him to grow throughout this books. You are not me felt as much a story about blending new and old in terms of friendship and accepting who one is as it was the story of a boy dealing with a toxic, lies-infested love. The supporting characters were an interesting and diverse cast of ages and interests and worked well in highlighting different aspects of Peter’s life.
2) I adored this book. Coming of age stories sometimes make me nervous. And any book with HIV/AIDS in the the storyline must be handled with utmost care. Leta Blake did a beautiful job with these characters. The story is told through Peter who is newly out and is just beginning to embrace his sexuality. The reader is very in tune with his fear, uncertainty and hope. I rooted for him in spite of his inability to see what his friends did because his journey struck me as very honest. I look forward to reading more installments in this series.
3) I did not read the first installment in this series, though this book covered enough for me to follow along and not get lost wondering what happened in book one. Wow. Really, Wow. Leta Blake did an awesome job of painting life for Peter, who reaches, grows, explores, makes decisions in real-life: sticky, messy, complicated. This book had me cheering and jeering in turn--cheering for Peter and Daniel, and jeering at Adam. I enjoyed reading Peter's continued journey on how to be an out gay man, the warm and robust secondary characters, and the growing pains of real life. 

You are not me ('90s Coming of Age series #2) Leta Blake
Bisexual - Young Adult
Series: '90's Coming of Age
Paperback: 352 pages
Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform (November 28, 2016)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1540699188
ISBN-13: 978-1540699183
Amazon: You are not me ('90s Coming of Age series #2) Leta Blake

Follow Peter into the summer following his senior year to face new beginnings, new friends, and old baggage. After a tumultuous final year of high school, Peter Mandel needs a break. It's the summer of 1991, and his secret relationship with his ‘best friend’ Adam Algedi is put on hold as Adam goes away to Italy for the summer. On the cusp of adulthood, Peter has a couple of months to explore who he is without Adam at his side. Enter Daniel McPeak, a slightly older, out, responsible college guy with a posse of gay friends and an attraction for Peter. Drawn into the brave new world of the local gay club, Peter embarks on a whirlwind of experiences—good and bad—which culminate in a hotel room where he has to make the ultimate choice. But Adam will come back eventually, and there are promises that have to be kept. As autumn draws near and college awaits, can Peter break free of the binds of twisted first love? And what exactly is Daniel's role in his life - a brief temptation, or something more? Join Peter in the second book of this four-part coming of age series as he struggles to love and be loved, and grow into a gay man worthy of his own respect.

2017 Rainbow Awards Honorable Mention: Tal Bauer Enemy Within (The Executive Office #3)

1) This story sucked me in. I really enjoyed the read.
2) Tal Bauer is the master of tight, taut, powerful, and adrenaline packed thrillers.
3) What an amazing story! This is packed full of intrigue, excitement, action and lots of thrill. As I read, I felt myself there, with all these wonderful people, laughed with them, cried with them, felt their pain, their loss, and their anguish. As the story progressed I was thrown into one of the most exciting rollercoaster rides EVER! Tal Bauer is an amazing storyteller who has done extensive research for his stories. An amazing author and one to keep an eye on. I highly recommend starting with book 1 of this series and to also read Hush. I wish this wonderful author all the success he deserves. It was a pleasure reading this series. Well done!

Tal Bauer Enemy Within (The Executive Office #3)
Gay - Contemporary Romance
Series: The Executive Office (Book 3)
Paperback: 483 pages
Publisher: Independently published (March 27, 2017)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1520907931
ISBN-13: 978-1520907932
Amazon: Tal Bauer Enemy Within (The Executive Office #3)

The White House, infiltrated. The president, running for his life. A traitorous general, intent on burning the world to the ground. When everything falls apart, who do you trust? President Jack Spiers fled Washington DC on the heels of a devastating attack on CIA headquarters, masterminded by one of America’s own, former General Porter Madigan. While the world believes Jack was killed in the bombing, he embarks on a wild infiltration mission, smuggling himself into occupied Russia to rescue the love of his life: former Secret Service Agent and First Gentleman Ethan Reichenbach. Reunited, Jack, Ethan, and deposed Russian president Sergey Puchkov, along with President Elizabeth Wall—the only person left in Washington DC who Jack trusts—must work together. They piece together a desperate plan, hunting Madigan to the ends of the earth and the bitter frigidity of the Arctic, where Madigan’s world-shattering doomsday plan comes together. Outnumbered, outmaneuvered, and outgunned, Jack, Ethan, Sergey, and the rest of the team struggle to put a stop to Madigan and his army. In the desolate extremes of the Arctic, their resolve, their strength, and even their love is tested, pushed to the absolute limits as choices must be made: choices that pit the fate of the world against the love in their hearts, and the loves of their life. As the world crumbles around them, Jack and Ethan find themselves waging a war on two fronts—against an enemy they can see, and another, hiding within their ranks. Who can be trusted when the enemy is within you?

2017 Rainbow Awards Honorable Mention: Home Before Sundown Tinnean

1) One of the best reads in this year's lot. Good characterization and an interesting historical era.

Home Before Sundown Tinnean
Gay - Historical Romance
Paperback: 350 pages
Publisher: JMS Books (April 22, 2017)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1544634277
ISBN-13: 978-1544634272
Amazon: Home Before Sundown Tinnean

George Pettigrew and his papa must leave the California rancho they'd lived on since his birth. They end up in New York City, where Papa marries and George gets a new beloved mama. George also meets Frank and Bart who become fast friends, and in Bart's case, even more.

The start of the Civil War leaves George the man of the family, but although he’s found a job, it’s difficult to pay the ever-increasing rent. Then Papa dies at Appomattox and Mama falls ill.

After Mama dies, her father takes George’s siblings. When George learns his younger sister is being abused, he rescues the three children. But will dressing his sisters as boys and himself as a woman be enough of a disguise to keep them safe until they can reach the valley he’s dreamed of? Will Bart leave behind his own family and go with the man he loves?

2017 Rainbow Awards Honorable Mention: Blades of Justice Jess Faraday, Helen Angove & Rachel Green

1) Complex characters, wonderfully crafted, with an intriguing connection story to story. 

Blades of Justice Jess Faraday, Helen Angove & Rachel Green
Lesbian - Anthology / Collection / Historical
Paperback: 272 pages
Publisher: Blind Eye Books (March 7, 2017)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1935560468
ISBN-13: 978-1935560463
Amazon: Blades of Justice Jess Faraday, Helen Angove & Rachel Green

The scissors are blacksmith worked, crude and blackened. They’ve always hung there at the door of Treagove. For three-hundred years they have played a part in murders and mysteries surrounding the women of the old house. Who says the tool of justice can’t be domestic?

Three Novellas Spanning Three Centuries of Mystery

1798 ◆Despite the danger, the abandoned tin mine had always been the place where Eseld and Rosie felt safest. But that was years ago. Eseld’s beloved Rosie is dead, and the place where they used to meet now holds a deadly significance to someone else.

1888 ◆ If anyone deserved to be murdered, it was Davy Sowden. So, Miss Eliza Bell is not surprised that someone has finally killed him. But when she and her lover, Alice, become suspects in his murder Eliza won’t just need to prove who did it but also who didn’t.

1977 ◆ Melanie’s first teaching job brings her to a seemingly dull Cornish village. But after meeting Bernadette Merrick she’s inspired to dig into the villiage’s past. Unfortunately for both women, someone is dangerously determined to keep old secrets buried.

2017 Rainbow Awards Honorable Mention: Arrows Through Archer Nash Summers

1) Strong story, well developed characters, my only qualm was with the last 1/3 of the book not being as strong as the first 2/3.
2) This story is rich, vivid, emotionally charged, and left me thinking about it long after I finished.
3) Heartfelt and never less than engaging, peopled with realistically drawn characters, this novel makes for some very satisfying reading.
4) A superb storyteller, Nash Summers gives us characters who enthrall, and a soft-spoken story that speaks to the reader's heart. This is a must read romance, full of emotion, well-developed arcs, and a happy, satisfying ending.
5) I loved everything about this story. The writing was excellent and tight. It has everything one could want in a story, the feels, the hope, the romance, even the age gap was done with care. I love reading about a broken man being put back together with love and care, but two? Even better! I loved how their story was built slowly and carefully. This.Was.Good!

Arrows Through Archer Nash Summers
Gay - Contemporary Romance
Paperback: 308 pages
Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform; 1 edition (June 13, 2017)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1547280700
ISBN-13: 978-1547280704
Amazon: Arrows Through Archer Nash Summers

After the loss of his parents, Archer Hart is consumed by grief. Each day, he struggles his way through classes, parties, and trying to put on a good front for the sake of his best friend. But at night, he falls asleep to the sound of gunshots ringing in his ears. Mallory is a man fighting a war of emotions all his own. When his son invites his best friend back home to Banff over a college break, he’s happy for the company. Some time during the late-night talks, subtle smiles, and long, long silences, the two men begin to find solace in one another. But love isn’t always easy, especially when it strikes you straight through the heart.

2017 Rainbow Awards Honorable Mention: Eric Alan Westfall A Rollerblade Day, and Other Gay Poems

1) I quite enjoyed these poems. They were a nice read.
2) I enjoyed this work and hearing origins behind it. It doesnt follow iambic pentameter but thats part of the draw. I thought the imagery was very profound and the heart of each piece  all encompassing.

Eric Alan Westfall A Rollerblade Day, and Other Gay Poems
Gay - Poetry
File Size: 808 KB
Print Length: 149 pages
Simultaneous Device Usage: Unlimited
Publication Date: May 27, 2017
Amazon: Eric Alan Westfall A Rollerblade Day, and Other Gay Poems

I’m not sure what to say to entice you into buying a collection of mostly gay-themed poems. Some are from my own life, some are not. Some will hopefully give you a joyful smile, and an “Ah, yes.” Others I hope will have a different effect on your emotions.

There are some humorous ones (“quantumchromodynamics”—which is, by the way, a real word), some are happy, some are not, some are fantasies (“the dragon painting,” “dining with the Anhkang king”), and some deal with the real world.

“whispers in a promised land” is my personal favorite, and is unfortunately as true today as when it was written in 2000.

2017 Rainbow Awards Honorable Mention: One-Man Show: The Life and Art of Bernard Perlin

1) I always find books like this fascinating as they give an in-depth into a person. For me it was a great read… and I know I’ll read it again.
2) Biography is hard to evaluate; this is a very good one, very lively due to pictures and sort of interview with the protagonist.
3) The art and historical background is AMAZING.

One-Man Show: The Life and Art of Bernard Perlin Michael Schreiber
Gay - Biography / Memoir
Paperback: 298 pages
Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform (July 21, 2017)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 197371888X
ISBN-13: 978-1973718888
Amazon: One-Man Show: The Life and Art of Bernard Perlin Michael Schreiber

A 2017 STONEWALL HONOR BOOK (THE AMERICAN LIBRARY ASSOCIATION)
AND LAMBDA LITERARY AWARD FINALIST

Bernard Perlin (1918-2014) was an extraordinary figure in twentieth century American art and gay cultural history, an acclaimed artist and sexual renegade who reveled in pushing social, political, and artistic boundaries. His work regularly appeared in popular magazines of the 1940s, fifties, and sixties; was collected by Rockefellers, Whitneys, and Astors; and was acquired by major museums, including the Smithsonian, the Museum of Modern Art, and the Tate Modern. His portrait clients included well-known literary, artistic, theatrical, political, and high society figures. As a government propaganda artist and war artist-correspondent, he produced many now-iconic images of World War II. From the 1930s on, he also daringly committed to canvas and paper scenes of underground gay bars and nude studies of street hustlers, among other aspects of his active and dedicated gay life.
Socially, he moved in the upper echelons of New York gay society, a glittering "cufflink crowd" that included George Platt Lynes, Lincoln Kirstein, Glenway Wescott, Monroe Wheeler, Paul Cadmus, Jared French, George Tooker, Pavel Tchelitchew, Truman Capote, Leonard Bernstein, Arthur Laurents, and Jerome Robbins. He also counted among his most intimate companions such luminaries in the arts as Vincent Price, Clifton Webb, Ben Shahn, Samuel Barber, Gian Carlo Menotti, Aaron Copland, Christopher Isherwood, Don Bachardy, Martha Gellhorn, Betsy Drake, Muriel Rukeyser, Carson McCullers, Philip Johnson, and E.M. Forster. Yet he was equally at home in the gay underworlds of New York and Rome, where his unbridled sexual escapades put him in competition with the likes of Jean Genet and Tennessee Williams.

In One-Man Show, Michael Schreiber chronicles the storied life, illustrious friends and lovers, and astounding adventures of Bernard Perlin through no-holds-barred interviews with the artist, candid excerpts from Perlin's unpublished memoirs, never-before-seen photos, and an extensive selection of Bernard Perlin's incredible public and private art.

2017 Rainbow Awards Honorable Mention: It Could Happen Mia Kerick

1) I may be a bit biased since I am a big fan of this author, and not everyone may agree with the high score on this story but I really loved the characters. I was pulled into the story from the beginning and think that it will be a big hit for the author.
2) It is rare that I read a threesome story that I find to be completely enjoyable, but Ms. Kerick pulled this one perfectly. No, the characters are not perfect, far from it, but the writing is so good it works and I got to appreciate, love and admire these three young men. We get to feel and enjoy each character separately as each has their own POV. This was well-written and I'll definitely come back for more of Kerick's stories. 

It Could Happen Mia Kerick
Gay - Young Adult
Paperback: 200 pages
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press (June 5, 2017)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1635336880
ISBN-13: 978-1635336887
Amazon: It Could Happen Mia Kerick

Three misfits, mismatched in every way—Henry Perkins, Brody Decker, and Danny Denisco—have been friends throughout high school. Now in their senior year, the boys realize their relationship is changing, that they’re falling in love. But they face opposition at every turn—from outside and from within themselves. Moving to the next level will take all the courage, understanding, and commitment they can muster. But it could happen.

Henry is a star athlete and the son of religious parents who have little concern for the future he wants. Brody is a quirky dreamer and adrenaline junkie, and Danny is an emo artist and the target of bullies. Despite their differences, they’ve always had each other’s backs, and with each of them facing a new and unique set of challenges, that support is more important than ever. Is it worth risking the friendship they all depend on for the physical and romantic relationship they all desire?

In this unconventional new adult romance, three gay teens brave societal backlash—as well as the chance that they might lose their treasured friendship—to embark on a committed polyamorous relationship.

2017 Rainbow Awards Honorable Mention: The Bravest Thing Laura Lascarso

1) This was one of those rare books which made me care about the characters. They jumped off the page and became real in my mind.  I felt their pain, their frustration, and their happiness.
2) The prose is solid, the characterization is spot-on, and the pacing of the story is great.
3) An excellent storyteller, Laura Lascarso brings us a wonderful story of strife in first love with a happy ending founded in self-actualization, acceptance, and hope for the future. A highly recommended read for new adults.
4) I Loved, Loved, Loved reading this story! The pain and anguish are so palpable I felt it in my heart. That's what a story is supposed to do, to make the reader 'feel' what the characters are going through and identify with them. I wanted to reach into the screen and give these two a huge, tight hug. Most definitely will read more of Ms. Lascarso's books. Well done!

The Bravest Thing Laura Lascarso
Gay - Contemporary Romance
Paperback: 226 pages
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press (April 17, 2017)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 163533635X
ISBN-13: 978-1635336351
Amazon: The Bravest Thing Laura Lascarso

High school junior Berlin Webber is about to reap the fruits of his hard work and land a football scholarship—if he can keep his sexuality a secret from his best friend, Trent, and their homophobic coach. Then Hiroku Hayashi swerves into the high school parking lot on his tricked-out motorcycle like some sexy comic book villain, and Berlin knows he doesn’t stand a chance.

Hiroku is fleeing his sophisticated urban scene to recover from drug addiction and an abusive relationship when he arrives in Berlin’s small Texas ranch town. Initially sarcastic and aloof, Hiroku finds in Berlin a steady, supportive friend who soon becomes more. As Hiroku and Berlin’s romance blossoms, they take greater risks to be together. But when a horrific act of violence tears them apart, they both must look bigotry in the face. While Berlin has always turned to his faith for strength, Hiroku dives into increasingly dangerous ways of coping, pushing them in opposite directions just when they need each other most.

Two very different young men search for the bravery to be true to themselves, the courage to heal, and the strength to go on when things seem darkest. But is it enough to bring them back together?

2017 Rainbow Awards Honorable Mention: Silken Isobel Starling

1) This was hot, sexy and sultry. I enjoyed this story completely, even though we know the risks Matthew took of taking pictures at someone else's properties to then post them at an online blog. I really liked the slow development of Matthews and his Dom. The end was exciting to read, the sex scenes totally Hot. This is my first Starling book and will definitely come back for more. Well done!

Silken Isobel Starling
Gay - Erotic Romance
File Size: 927 KB
Print Length: 61 pages
Publication Date: February 17, 2017
Amazon: Silken Isobel Starling

Matthew Fisher loved being a dancer, but his ten-year ballet career came to an abrupt end with a knee injury. He had to find a new way to make a living, and luckily, his sister was friends with Annabelle Ramsay-Aiken, only daughter of property magnate Sir James Aiken. She arranged an interview, and six months on the job training saw Matthew stepping out as a real estate agent for Aiken Luxury Lettings. Now, instead of stretching at the barre, Matthew spends his days inspecting the vacant London homes of their rich and famous clients.
Losing his dance career had left a huge hole in Matthew’s heart, and to fill it Matthew began a Tumblr blog dedicated to his fetish for wearing lingerie. He wanted to give his followers the impression he lived a charmed life, so decided to use A.L.L properties as locations for erotic photo shoots.
One of his online followers presses all of Matthew's buttons, and a long distance, online Dom/sub relationship develops between them. But when the relationship suddenly moves from online fantasy to real life... can Matthew really submit?

N.B - This story contains graphic descriptions of gay sex, BDSM, and cross-dressing,

2017 Rainbow Awards Honorable Mention: Moment Of Fate (Moments In Time #5) Karen Stivali

1) Bryan and Oliver don't need each other. At least they want to act that way, until life, and the undeniable chemistry forces them to realize that they love each other and can't live without each other.
2) I'll start by saying that even though toward the end of the book Bryan into my last nerve, the rest of the book was so good I didn't care that I wanted to strangle him. This was an amazing, well written story and now I want to read the rest of the series. Luckily this is a stand-alone book so I wasn't confused about not knowing what happened before, in previous books. I've read a couple of Karen's books and they have always been satisfying. Well written, and well done!

Moment Of Fate (Moments In Time #5) Karen Stivali
Gay - Contemporary Romance
Series: Moments In Time
Paperback: 244 pages
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press (February 24, 2017)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1627981446
ISBN-13: 978-1627981446
Amazon: Moment Of Fate (Moments In Time #5) Karen Stivali

A Moments In Time Novel
Bryan Dane's been living the dream-photography student by day, up-and-coming rocker by night. His summer goals are to earn his last few credits, graduate from NYU, spend as much time in the recording studio as possible, and survive the next few months without sex so he can complete his yearlong goal of self-imposed celibacy. Everything is on track, until he meets Oliver Newcastle.
For years Oliver planned a marriage of convenience with his high school BFF, but now that she's fallen in love for real, with someone else, it's no longer convenient. So Oliver came out to his family, quit his job, and left small-town New England for NYC, an intensive summer study program, and a chance to find his own happiness.
From the moment they meet the sexual tension between Bryan and Oliver sizzles. But Bryan wants no part of a relationship, and Oliver wants to sew his wild oats-he just isn't sure how. Oliver seeks Bryan's help navigating the NYC gay scene, which throws them together in increasingly more sexual situations until they can no longer deny they're hot for each other. Bryan is desperate to keep things simple, but fate might have other plans.

This is a standalone novel set in the Moments In Time world. You do not need to have read the other books in the series prior to reading this book.

2017 Rainbow Awards Honorable Mention: Wolf of the Northern Star (The Wolfkin Saga #2) S.J. Himes

1) 5 stars for this one! The intertwining stories were awesome and I couldn’t help but cling to the hope that Kane & Ghost (Luca) could survive the trails and save what was left of the missing/kidnapped Wolfkin and Hybrid. Need to go back and read the first book as I wait for the next release.
2) An involved and complex tale that kept me wanting more.

Wolf of the Northern Star (The Wolfkin Saga #2) S.J. Himes
Gay - Paranormal Romance
Series: The Wolfkin Saga
Paperback: 428 pages
Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform; 1 edition (June 14, 2017)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1548168750
ISBN-13: 978-1548168759
Amazon: Wolf of the Northern Star (The Wolfkin Saga #2) S.J. Himes

Ghost, once known as the cub Luca, is finally home. Back among his kind and learning what it means to be both a man and a shaman, Ghost battles the expectations of his people, his family, and the pressures of a society that is both foreign and familiar. His power is greater than any seen before, dwarfing that of even the legendary Shaman Gray Shadow—and his union with Kane places him in the center of a controversy that rattles wolfkin society around the world. Kane, greater alpha and Heir to Black Pine Clan, has finally defeated the traitor and murderer that destroyed the heart of Black Pine years before. Freed at last from guilt and pain, Kane has a new enemy to face: his own people. Placed on trial for violation of Law and blasphemy, Kane will have to fight to the death to preserve his bond with Ghost and keep his mate and people safe. The soulbond between Ghost and Kane is forged by the creator and Goddess of the wolfkin. Usually, a sacred and treasured union that honors the pair and their clans, this soulbond is seen not as a gift, but a threat to eons of tradition and Clan Law. The union of a Shaman and Alpha is anathema—but how to reconcile that belief when it is the wolfkin Goddess who forged it? Can Ghost and Kane save themselves, preserve their bond, and find a new future when the laws of the ancient past threaten to tear them apart?

2017 Rainbow Awards Honorable Mention: Fried & Convicted: Rehoboth Beach Uncorked Fay Jacobs

1) I loved her humorous style. Also, I think this book has great market potential for two reasons. First, it's hilarious, and second, it fits nicely in a popular and neglected genre: bathroom reading. As some character (don't remember who) said in "The Big Chill," she writes the perfect length for the "average reader to read during the average crap." That is not to demean her talent. She has real skill, and in a genre that, frankly, may be the only literature that far too many people ever read.
2) Superb!  Except for her wife's bout with cancer, I wish I had written this book!
3) Come along for the ride—you’ll be happy you did! -- this tag line is very true!  This book was a delightful humorous (and at times, a bit somber) memoir.  I enjoyed the book from the very first, and it kept me laughing, snorting, and giggling thorough the subsequent situations and stories. I love Fay Jacob's story telling--it's on point and makes the time fly by.

Fried & Convicted: Rehoboth Beach Uncorked Fay Jacobs
LGBT - Biography / Memoir
Series: Tales from Rehoboth Beach
Paperback: 250 pages
Publisher: Bywater Books (April 11, 2017)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1612940935
ISBN-13: 978-1612940939
Amazon: Fried & Convicted: Rehoboth Beach Uncorked Fay Jacobs

As the author of four humorous memoirs, activist and comedian Fay Jacobs returns with her newest tall tales, Fried & Convicted, Rehoboth Beach Uncorked. And, as you’d expect, It’s chock-full of Fay’s signature witty, wise, and often laugh-out-loud commentary about the craziness of contemporary life in the diverse and welcoming resort town of Rehoboth Beach on the Delaware Coast.

This time, though, everyone’s favorite “Sit-Down Comic” grapples with the insanity of a high-tech bra, cartoon bladders in prescription advertising, and refusing to act her age . . .

Fried & Convicted was written over the last few years and culminates with Election Day, 2016. It chronicles the joy of gaining equal marriage rights for same-sex couples, tales of Icelandic lagoons, Provincetown adventures, and much ado about lesbians of a certain age. It tells a few harrowing personal stories, such as Bonnie’s unnerving medical diagnosis, the time Fay went kayaking with alligators, and how she came up with a public relations scheme to rescue her pal’s purloined pooch. And through it all, she finds a way to make it provocative, political, occasionally heartwarming, and reliably hilarious.

Featuring Fay’s latest magazine columns plus new, never before published material, Fried & Convicted is a pleasure for longtime fans and new readers alike.

Come along for the ride—you’ll be happy you did!

Fay Jacobs spent thirty years in Washington, DC working in journalism and public relations. Her latest project is a one-woman show, Aging Gracelessly: 50 Shades of Fay, which is being performed in theatres around the country. She lives in Rehoboth Beach with her wife of thirty-four years and a Miniature Schnauzer.

2017 Rainbow Awards Honorable Mention: Friends & Lovers (Enigma #3) Nephy Hart

1) Wow! What an emotional trip this little jewel was. I've read the previous books in this series and would suggest reading them first before reading this one. I Love Silver. Broken, abused, fragile, beautiful Silver. Silver and River's story will rip your heart right out of your chest and take you on a whirlwind, bringing your emotions up and down, then give you the satisfaction of knowing their Love is stronger than the hurt of their past. This is a fantastic story, one I highly recommend reading if you like stories about broken souls whom, at the end, find their bright star. Cheers, Nephy! You deserve so much success in your writing adventures! Well done!

Friends & Lovers (Enigma #3) Nephy Hart
Gay - Contemporary Romance
File Size: 2811 KB
Print Length: 386 pages
Publisher: Nephy Hart/Flying With Red Haircrow Productions (December 13, 2016)
Publication Date: December 13, 2016
Amazon: Friends & Lovers (Enigma #3) Nephy Hart

Silver is trying hard to settle down again with Ben and River after the events at the Theatre De La Vie, but he isn’t the same person anymore and River is having a hard time dealing with the changes. One of the hardest things he has to cope with is Ariel, Silver’s new best friend, who makes Silver act like a teenager and causes trouble wherever he goes. When that trouble touches Ben, it sparks off a chain reaction that almost ends in tragedy.
In the meantime, Ariel has his own fallout to deal with. After finally finding someone to whom he might give his heart, he very nearly loses him by…well by being Ariel.
With his family life in tatters and his best friend lurching from one disaster to the next, Silver needs to be stronger than he’s ever been. The problem is he’s not feeling very strong at all. In fact, there are times when he thinks it would be so much better if he just went back to that place inside his head where he was safely shut away from the world, and that place is getting closer all the time.

2017 Rainbow Awards Honorable Mention: Dusk Peterson Sweet Blood (The Eternal Dungeon #5)

1) The world-building in this story is phenomenal, and the fact that it’s inspired by historical events is even more exciting. Seeing as the story takes place over a number of years, plenty of attention is paid to the changes the Eternal Dungeon goes through, from the technology to the influence of outside cultures. Historical details about surrounding nations are provided naturally, differences such as language barriers come into play, and even the use of cocoa and stuffed animals become important touchstones in this world. The use of setting to help showcase character details and moods is also a strong component of this piece, even if it occasionally dips into the fantastical. Small details in the main relationship’s room shift over time and showcase their feelings towards another, while a character who resists change in the dungeon has the newly-installed electric lights flicker and explode around him with alarming frequency, and these details build up both the world and its inhabitants in natural yet evocative ways. Thanks to the use of different protagonists and timelines throughout the piece, each character is given a multifaceted development and characterization that evolves over the course of the book. While most of the characters begin the novel under some kind of duress, each one reaches their own kind of happy ending—interestingly, each of these resolutions is dependent on relating to others with understanding and compassion. No one is able to achieve their goals without realizing and accepting the love they have for others, be it the bonds of comradery or romance. This comes off as a natural result of the plot instead of how potentially confusing and bloated it could have been, though a couple side-plots did seem to end a bit early in order to give others their limelight. There are enough complex characters that I cannot take time to touch upon them all, so I will instead touch upon three notable PoV characters. Layle Smith was by all means antagonistic in the first section of the book, but once his internal contradictions and his force of will come to light, he became quite an intriguing character. To paraphrase another character, Layle might not be likeable, but he is worthy of respect. This was particularly struck home by his interactions with Zemas, who even in his own PoV sections remains a mystery to readers until a pivotal scene with Layle ensues. I found that my favorite PoV character was Elsdon Taylor, whose political and social maneuvering are fascinating to watch, especially when contrasted by his own emotions.
2) I feel like the author did a spectacular job at giving the reader little pieces of each character that made me want to keep reading. I appreciate character development that happens over time with “Easter eggs” dropped to introduce new possibilities about various characters and their backstories. I do feel like some of the backstory was unnecessary or verbose at times. I don’t feel like as much time was needed for Gurth/Or as was given.

Dusk Peterson Sweet Blood (The Eternal Dungeon #5)
Bisexual - Alternative Universe/Reality
File Size: 3222 KB
Print Length: 503 pages
Simultaneous Device Usage: Unlimited
Publication Date: August 31, 2017
Amazon: Dusk Peterson Sweet Blood (The Eternal Dungeon #5)

"Oh, Mercy and Hell. He would gladly allow himself to be flayed for eternity if he could thereby escape the responsibility of disciplining his love-mate for any future violations of the Code."

The Eternal Dungeon has been split by a civil war, with the division clearly marked by a quarrel between two Seekers (torturers) whose faithfulness to each other has already become legendary. Into this explosive situation arrives a new Seeker, one who is determined to see that past evils do not continue in the dungeon. But can he keep control of himself when assigned a prisoner who falls in love with him?

This tale of friendship, romance, and suspense can be read on its own or as the fifth volume in The Eternal Dungeon, an award-winning alternate history series set in a nineteenth-century prison where the psychologists wield whips.

The Eternal Dungeon series is part of Turn-of-the-Century Toughs, a cycle of diverse alternate history series (The Eternal Dungeon, Dungeon Guards, Michael's House, Life Prison, Commando, Waterman, Young Toughs, and Dark Light) about adults and youths on the margins of society, and the people who love them. Set in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, the novels and stories take place in an alternative version of America that was settled by inhabitants of the Old World in ancient times. As a result, the New World retains certain classical and medieval customs.

2017 Rainbow Awards Honorable Mention: Seoul Circuit Tamara Boyens

1) This nonstop, fast-paced cyberpunk thriller really knocks it out of the park. The main character is smart and bold, with just the right amount of concealed vulnerability. The story is original and well executed. The cyberpunk setting is well-thought-out and impeccably detailed. A joy from start to finish.
2) Although Seoul Circuit is billed by its publisher (Supposed Crimes), as Cyberpunk, this well-written book is written in that taut, tense, tender style that most resembles Scandinavian Noir, but with locales in Korea and Pasadena. The main character, a Technicolor lesbian named Jin, is a prize—her wry, mater-of- fact observations as the neural systems in her body begin to fail are classic cool. She’s in a race against time, and the reader is turning pages so fast, it leaves one breathless. Still, with all the challenges this casino-owner fashionista runs into, she has time for love. The author of this book, tragically, passed away early in 2017 after a failed surgical procedure, but this book rises as her testament to what we all hope for when the odds and fate are against us. Tamara Boyens’ family, friends and publisher can be proud of her abundant talent and that, even with all her own medical trauma, she was able to create great characters and a riveting story adventure that ends on the positive note Boyens herself tragically missed. One hope she knew her writing would be a memorably great legacy.
3) A great book but it needed more editing. The author passed away just before it came out (so sad)  so maybe the publisher printed it as it was. 

Seoul Circuit Tamara Boyens
Lesbian - Sci-Fi / Futuristic
eBook ISBN: 978-1-944591-37-3


Jin Song. Fashionista. Casino Mogul. Failed Medical Experiment. This cyberpunk thriller features Tamara Boyen’s futuristic Southwestern aesthetic, this time with a neon glow. Jin has to deal with her failing neural implants before she loses her life, but she’s got a lot going on in Koreatown, Pasadena—a.k.a. “Jin City.” She can have the world if she makes it to the finish line.

2017 Rainbow Awards Honorable Mention: A Quiet Death (Dark Peak #3) Cari Hunter

1) Really, this book is top notch -- great writing, characterization, and a realistic and endearing F/F relationship that is authentic and resonates emotionally and physically. The description of the rain, the cold, and the often bleak landscape is compelling and allowed me to be inside the world. A complete pleasure to read!
2) I found this story to be a real interesting. And enjoyed the book. It took me a little to get into it, but it was worth the read.
3) This was a riveting, heart pounding, extremely well-written suspense novel. Hunter is excellent at the slow development of the two main characters’ relationship over the course of the series. She was at the top of her game in this one.

A Quiet Death Cari Hunter
Lesbian - Mystery / Thriller
Series: Dark Peak (Book 3)
Paperback: 264 pages
Publisher: Bold Strokes Books (January 17, 2017)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1626398151
ISBN-13: 978-1626398153
Amazon: A Quiet Death Cari Hunter

In book three in the Dark Peak series, things are looking up for Detective Sanne
Jensen and Dr. Meg Fielding. Dating each other seems to be working, their families are behaving themselves, and the worst of the post-Christmas crime wave is over.

The discovery of a Pakistani girl’s body out on the moors changes all that. No one
knows who she is, who hurt her, or how she came to be there. As pressure mounts
on East Derbyshire Special Ops for a quick resolution, it becomes ever more apparent that the case won’t provide one.

With the Pakistani community closing ranks, and threads of suspicion reaching farther than anyone could have predicted, the investigation leaves Sanne facing an ordeal she may not survive.

2017 Rainbow Awards Honorable Mention: Every Breath You Take Robert Winter

1)Thrilling from the first page. The story develops at a swift pace, from the first blush of attraction, and more than a hint of danger, through the deepening of emotion as the stakes rise. I loved all the characters. The secondaries were more than stand-ins. They all had something interesting going on and a reason to be on the page. The heroes take center stage, though. Realistic and sympathetic, in all their moods. I really wanted a happy ever after for these guys--and for both of them to live to see the end of the book.
2) A beautifully written story with so much to recommend it. The setting of Washington, DC is realistic, and the plot has some wonderful surprises and interesting secondary threads. While the romantic leads follow familiar arcs they are well-drawn and always believably in character. The psychological portrait of the stalker is deep, complex and truly frightening. The writing is intelligent, clear, and elegantly paced -- so well-suited to the story.
3) This was a very solid, satisfying mystery. Excellent character development with a believable attraction between the MCs, and genuine suspense as the peril built and Zachary is threatened by Thomas' past. Well done.
4) Totally absorbing, from the first page to the last. The beginning sets the tone - this isn't going to be a sweet love story. Rather, it's a tale of obsession and denial. There is sweetness here, though, in both heroes as they examine what they truly want. How they are with each other, especially in their private moments.    

Every Breath You Take Robert Winter
Gay - Romantic Suspence
Series: Pride and Joy (Book 2)
Paperback: 240 pages
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press (May 5, 2017)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1635334950
ISBN-13: 978-1635334951
Amazon: Every Breath You Take Robert Winter

A Pride and Joy novel

When Zachary Hall leaves Utah for a job in Washington, it’s finally his chance to live as a gay man and maybe find someone special. In a bar he meets Thomas Scarborough, a man who seems perfect in and out of the bedroom. But Thomas never dates. He never even sleeps with the same man twice. Despite their instant connection, he can offer Zachary only his friendship, and Zachary is looking for more.

Thomas is tempted to break his own rules, but years before, he became the victim of a stalker who nearly destroyed his life. Even though his stalker died, Thomas obsessively keeps others at a distance. Despite his fascination with Zachary, he is unable to lower his barriers. Frustrated, Zachary accepts he will never have what he wants with Thomas and soon finds it with another man.

But young gay men in Washington, DC are being murdered, and the victims all have a connection to Thomas. Once again someone is watching Thomas’s every move. Can it be a coincidence? When the depraved killer turns his attention toward Zachary, Thomas must face the demons of his past—or lose his chance to open his heart to Zachary forever.

2017 Rainbow Awards Honorable Mention: Into the Mystic #1

1) This book had an amazing variety of voices and styles but they all meshed into a wonderful collection.

Into the Mystic #1 Brooklyn Ray. J.C. Long, Kara Race-Moore, Samantha Kate, Nicole Field, J.P. Jackson, Caitlin Ricci, L.J. Hamlin, Kayla Bashe, Charli Coty, Tay LaRoi
LGBT - Anthology / Collection / Paranormal Romance
Paperback
Publisher: Ninestar Press, LLC (July 31, 2017)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1947139495
ISBN-13: 978-1947139497
Amazon: Into the Mystic #1 Brooklyn Ray. J.C. Long, Kara Race-Moore, Samantha Kate, Nicole Field, J.P. Jackson, Caitlin Ricci, L.J. Hamlin, Kayla Bashe, Charli Coty, Tay LaRoi

Eleven lesbian/bisexual paranormal short stories...

Reborn by Brooklyn Ray - Dark magic, mystical bloodlines, a living forest, and two women fighting to reclaim a love they lost.

Zero Hour by J.C. Long - She can't outrun the full moon.

Dove in the Window by Kara Race-Moore - As if the Great Depression wasn't bad enough, Cissy's first love is back from the dead.

Bottom of the River by Samantha Kate - The demon isn't always the monster.

If You Want to Walk by Nicole Field - Follow Chess into the Underneath and meet the strange creatures she finds there.

A Tended Garden by J.P. Jackson - Immortality or humanity--which one will win out in the end?

Romancing the Healer by Caitlin Ricci - In a deadly snowstorm a werewolf needs all the help she can get, and the werebear coming to her aid is more than she appears to be.

Midnight Kisses by L.J. Hamlin - A local witch, a new-to-town werewolf, and a mystery to be solved.

Like a Bell through the Night by Kayla Bashe - Guarding a faerie princess? All in a day's work for a werewolf bodyguard. Avoiding falling in love with said princess? The hardest mission of Jaffa's life.

The Imp in the Rock by Charli Coty - The cure for a bad breakup might be magic.

Smile Like You Mean It by Tay LaRoi - Ingrid meets a terrifying Japanese legend, but the stories are all wrong.

2017 Rainbow Awards Honorable Mention: Permanent Jet Lag A.N. Casey

1) I have to admit this love story between Lukas and Chris had me tearing up several times. How often will you berate yourself for not saying those elusive words, "I love you" until it's too late? Wonderful characters, humor, and heartbreak make this beautiful novel a must read.
2) Wonderful story of a young man who left his hometown for college, and the problems he faced before leaving, only to have to come back and face them all over again. As peace is made with each one, a new chapter in life opens, and things will never be the same again. Excellent!
3) I was shocked at how much this book affected me and how attached I became to the characters. Wonderfully done.

Permanent Jet Lag A.N. Casey
Bisexual - Contemporary General Fiction
Paperback: 234 pages
Publisher: NineStar Press (May 25, 2017)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1947139118
ISBN-13: 978-1947139114
Amazon: Permanent Jet Lag A.N. Casey

Nineteen-year-old Lucas Burke prefers being alone. He likes the silence, and he loves not having to care about anyone else’s problems: the less he’s forced to feel, the better. But after a year of college-induced isolation from everyone he used to know, the wedding of a former classmate sends Lucas back home, and that means reconciling with a group of friends that now might as well be strangers. His sister hardly knows him, his “genius” best friend is nothing more than an addict, and his ex-boyfriend is still in a coma. All the while, wedding preparations send Lucas head first into a relationship with the groom’s best man—a recently cancer-free ex-Olympian who can’t stop talking. Lucas knows that if he wants to survive the summer, he’ll have to learn to be a friend again, but it doesn’t come easy, and it might already be too late.

2017 Rainbow Awards Honorable Mention: Restoring the Dream Robert L. Ramsay

1) Lots of details about the Canadian setting and also the conversion therapy center. The language flows smoothly, and there are virtually no awkward passages.

Restoring the Dream Robert L. Ramsay
Gay - Contemporary Romance
Paperback: 226 pages
Publisher: Booklocker.com, Inc. (January 10, 2017)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1634920473
ISBN-13: 978-1634920476
Amazon: Restoring the Dream Robert L. Ramsay

Marc meets Howard during his final year at graduate school. Howard is Marc’s dream of what a real man should look like: tall, dark and muscular. When Marc discovers that Howard shares his minority affectional orientation, the two men become lovers.

Upon graduation, they plan to escape prairie winters by moving from Winnipeg to Vancouver, British Columbia. They dream of their life on the coast: a house with an ocean view, skiing Grouse Mountain, and sailing the Salish Sea.

Marc successfully interviews for a teaching position on the coast. If Howard can land an engineering job, their dream will be realized.

Marc’s plans for a life with Howard are destroyed when Howard accepts an engineering position in Winnipeg. He cannot overcome the guilt instilled by his conservative religious upbringing, which tells him that men who love men will burn forever in hellfire.

Twenty-five years later, disillusioned with his lonely life on the coast, Marc returns to the prairies. He reconnects with his former lover, but learns that Howard, after recently undergoing reparative therapy, is about to marry a woman.


Will Marc win Howard back before he makes the biggest mistake of his life?

2017 Rainbow Awards Honorable Mention: G. Benson Pieces

1) An intense look at two very different teenage lives. Ollie, who lives comfortably with her parents and has a tightknit group of friends.  And Carmen, whose addict mother abandons her and her younger brother for weeks at a time leaving her to be the responsible parent when she's not either placed in a foster home or running away to live on the street.  The two come together during a brief time when Carmen goes back to school.  Their attraction is immediate and persistent.  The need they have for one another is palpable.  The writing for the most part is strong and detailed, getting us inside each of the two main characters.  Though a bit drawn out toward the end, and in parts over-written, the book is overall one of the best lesbian YA romances published dealing with real life issues at the same time that it explores first love amid difficult situations.
2) I have to just flat out say that I loved this book. The pacing is so good and the writing is solid, strong metaphor, strong imagery, great dialogue. The setting is so fleshed out. When they're at the warehouse. I can't even. It's just so vivid. Benson doesn't shy away from the reality of being essentially homeless. The characters were likable, but still flawed (although I'd be anxious to be a mother in Benson's world, they don't seem to last long). And just overall it's a damn good book with some writing that was clearly done by someone who knows their craft and knows it well.
3) This is a stunning piece of literary fiction that is both satisfying and devastating. With deep characterisation and rich descriptions of settings and emotions, there is so much to relish in this novel. It's wonderful to read real young adult bisexual romance AND with female protagonists.

G. Benson Pieces
Bisexual - Young Adult
Paperback: 312 pages
Publisher: Ylva Publishing; 1 edition (May 16, 2017)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 3955338053
ISBN-13: 978-3955338053
Amazon: G. Benson Pieces

Orphaned Carmen is sixteen, newly homeless and will do almost anything to survive and keep her and her kid brother safe, together, and out of foster care. Ollie, also sixteen, has a life that’s all about parents, school pressure, friends and dreams of summer. The two fall into each other’s orbit, and one kiss changes everything. Ollie is captivated … but then Carmen vanishes. When they cross paths months later, everything is different. A young adult queer romance that looks at what we’re prepared to sacrifice for those we care about.

2017 Rainbow Awards Honorable Mention: Flaunt (F-Word #1) E. Davies

1) E. Davies’ characters in Flaunt are “sticky,” and by this mean to say that their appearance, personalities, and quirks still stick in my mind months after I have read the book. I truly enjoyed walking step by step with the guys through a well-defined setting full of rich sensory detail, and staying with them as they fought to save the funding of an important HIV education resource for the whole community. “Flaunt,” the first book in the F-word series, sets a good foundation for the other two. 

Flaunt (F-Word #1) E. Davies
Transgender - Contemporary Romance
Series: F-Word
Paperback: 300 pages
Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform (January 18, 2017)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1542589894
ISBN-13: 978-1542589895
Amazon: Flaunt (F-Word #1) E. Davies

“He's waiting for me to ask, and I'm afraid.” “I'm just one more gay guy here.” Moving to the suburbs of L.A. was supposed to give Nic Montero a fresh start. After escaping his family, coming out as a gay trans man, and excelling in computer programming out of desperation to get financially stable or die, everything should be easy. But joining gay culture now, post-transition, feels impossible... until he runs into the force of nature that is Kyle. Everything Nic isn't, Kyle embodies. Green hair, garters and cut-off shorts, sports jerseys, and all, brash Kyle is the most gorgeous man he's ever laid eyes on, and he pulls Nic headlong into the center of his world. If only Nic felt like enough for a man like Kyle. “One-night stands are my only option.” Loud, loving, and too much for most men to handle, Kyle Everett catches eyes and occasionally scorn... even at his job at the local HIV charity, Plus. His days and nights are spent at work, his precious spare moments spent with his son, Kevin, when it's his turn to co-parent, or his best friend, drag queen River. He only has money or time for cheap flings, but the lanky otter who walks into his life makes Kyle want to hold him for longer than a night. He knows what it's like for Nic to be without a family, but he isn't brave enough to let this man into his life... until his charity is targeted by bigots, and Nic's there for him. “I'll stay with you if you're brave enough to be you.” Nic spent his twenties avoiding family and even his own femininity, but his yearning is impossible to ignore. Kyle's used to flying solo, but Nic offers him safety and fills gaps in his life he never realized existed and now can't stand. Living in close proximity, they can't run from their attraction, but they're each used to being rejected, with the emotional scars to prove it. Can two men who feel like they're not enough and too much find something just right? Flaunt is a standalone gay romance novel with a happily ever after ending.