Rainbow Awards Honorable Mention: Leaning Into the Look by Lane Hayes

Leaning Into the Look (Leaning Into Series Book 6)

"Although this is part of a series, it can be read as a stand alone in my opinion. Sweet story with complex yet lovable characters who draw you into the story almost immediately. Grant Kostas has overbearing Greek parents who love to meddle in both his social and business lives. Miles is recently out of a long term relationship, not really looking for another and yet the two find themselves inexplicably drawn to each other. Their courtship is funny yet poignant and the realization that they do truly need each other is a beautiful thing. Thoroughly recommended."

Grant Kostas made a career based on his looks before joining his family’s real estate firm. He may not love his job but he’s better at sales than he thought. And when he’s poised to bring in the biggest account of the company’s history, even his father is impressed. Unfortunately, the extra attention highlights Grant’s personal life. His parents accept that he’s gay. They just wish he’d meet a nice Greek man.

Miles Harrison is a fabulous red head going through a rough patch. Between getting dumped by his long-term boyfriend and finding a new place to live in the city, he’s nearing his wits end. He’s not sure why he thought rooming with his boss’s friend was a good idea. Miles has had a crush on Grant for years. However, he knows attractive people aren’t always pretty on the inside. As the two men grapple with external problems, they form an unexpected bond of friendship and trust that feels like the real thing. The only way to know for certain is to let go of fear and lean into the look.

Rainbow Awards Honorable Mention: How Saeter Robbed the Underworld by Meredith Katz

How Saeter Robbed the Underworld

"How Saeter Robbed the Underworld was such a fun, sweet read. The Norse-esque setting was immersive, the characters were natural and interesting, the romance was yummy, and I found Katz's writing style to be highly polished. A true pleasure to read!"

" A story that is simultaneously familiar and thoroughly unique. Truly a well-spun yarn. Very difficult to put down, and left me with a huge grin. Very well done, author!"

The day before his coming-of-age ceremony, Eirik's fathers tell him a bedtime story about of the son of the god of Love and the son of the god of Envy—one beloved by all, who knows no pain; the other who lives in his shadow and feels nothing but.

Still fuming from a fight with a friend, Eirik is not in the mood for stories. However, he quickly becomes engrossed in the strangely relatable tale of love & betrayal and how Saeter and Skault trick the underworld out of a very special prize…

An M/M fantasy romance with bisexual protagonists. Full of found family, daring rescues, shape-shifting tricksters, and Norse-inspired mythology.

Rainbow Awards Honorable Mention: Knight's Fire by S.J. Himes

Knight's Fire (Scales of Honor Book 1)

"This story had me even before it began. The fact that the author consulted, and credited, a historical fact checker — and added a foreword about their research -- got my respect immediately. The characters are three-dimensional and rich. And I absolutely loved how the author managed to make a prince’s war retinue gender-diverse without effort or explanation. But enough about technical matters. This is, simply, a beautiful and well-told story. The setting is palpable without being too much. And I absolutely loved the characters and their relationships. So happy this is the first book in a series. I’ll definitely be back for more."

Stories tell of great fire-breathing beasts large as castles, fierce and deadly, capable of magicks that no human can match. The Kingdom of Kentaine once allied itself with the dragons of old, but eventually, the dragons were lost to time and fell into legend.

Sir Gawain, First Knight of the Realm, is tasked by his older sister the Queen to travel to the edges of their kingdom, where a beast is flaming villagers and has the locals ready to form a mob and hunt it down themselves. His mission is to find the dragon, stop the violence, and do what he needs to maintain the peace.

His journey puts him in the heart of a confrontation with the dragon, but instead of saving the villagers, it is the dragon that needs rescuing. Zephyr, a fire dragon and an escaped slave, needs protection, time to heal, and a chance at a life full of hope.
Gawain can do no less than offer his sword, his shield, and his heart. Evil is hunting Zephyr, and it will not stop until it has reclaimed its prize.

Beyond the legends lies the truth, and love, like fire, consumes everything it touches.