2014 Rainbow Awards Honorable Mentions
Waiting for the list of finalists to be announced beginning of October, I will post daily the 2014 Rainbow Awards Honorable Mentions: an honorable mention means a judge gave a rate of 36 or above out of 40 to the book; an honorable mention doesn't mean the book is automatically among the finalists, could be could be not, but it's important to understand there are more than 500 books in the literary contests, all books are in the process of being read by the jury, but only half of them will go to finals. So please, congratulate with me this year honorable mentions:
Lesbian Romantic Comedy
Out Of Retirement by Erica Lawson
Paperback: 230 pages
Publisher: Affinity E-Book Press NZ; First edition (April 14, 2014)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1927282586
ISBN-13: 978-1927282588
Amazon: Out Of Retirement
Amazon Kindle: Out Of Retirement
"This book is truly unique and will make you laugh out loud, as I did many times! The main characters are unlike others in other books. Hopefully there will be a sequel!"
Gay Contemporary Romance
Because of Jade (Vasquez & James Series) by Lou Sylvre
Series: Vasquez and James
Paperback: 270 pages
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press (May 23, 2014)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1627989471
ISBN-13: 978-1627989473
Amazon: Because of Jade (Vasquez & James Series)
Amazon Kindle: Because of Jade (Vasquez & James Series)
"Such a beautiful story, very easy to read but not because of a simplicity of language or skimping on plot. Everything about this story flowed wonderfully, from the loving relationship between the main characters to them negotiating the tragedy that invades their lives to the eventual, and hard-won, happy ending. This is the first Luki and Sonny novel I’ve read, and it speaks well of the author’s deft handling of the world she’s created that I didn’t feel like anything was really missing for me when I read it. That being said, I definitely want to go back and start at the beginning now."
Gay Historical Romance
Masquerade (2 novellas as 1 submission) by Joy Lynn Fielding
Paperback: 216 pages
Publisher: Siren Publishing, Inc. (February 11, 2014)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1627407634
ISBN-13: 978-1627407632
Amazon: Masquerade [Carnevale: A Gilded Cage]
"This pair of short stories was written on a large canvass with vivid imagery. The sights, sounds, and smells of Venice of long ago, and the beautiful countryside vineyard are detailed and brief as to let the reader see what they will as the story progresses. What takes center stage is the true sexual awakening of Perry, a young gentleman from England, and his attachment to Jack, the former Englishman that cannot go home."
Gay Young Adult
Here’s to You, Zeb Pike by Johanna Parkhurst
Paperback: 180 pages
Publisher: Harmony Ink Press (November 7, 2013)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1627985247
ISBN-13: 978-1627985246
Amazon: Here's to You, Zeb Pike
Amazon Kindle: Here's to You, Zeb Pike
"I loved this book it had me sucked in from the first page…"
"Very moving, strong character development, fully realized."
Gay Young Adult
Every Inferno by Johanna Parkhurst
Paperback: 180 pages
Publisher: Harmony Ink Press (July 24, 2014)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1627987983
ISBN-13: 978-1627987981
Amazon: Every Inferno
Amazon Kindle: Every Inferno
"This is such a wonderful YA story with strong characters, especially JJ, who, although has his own flaws turns out to be a very strong young man who would wouldn't stop his search of the person who killed his parents and so many others at a theater ten years ago. Through his nightmares he starts putting pieces of that dreadful day together and with the help of his friend, McKinley, and a doctor he meets, his lost memories come to him little by little until the truth surfaces luring out the killer. Overall, I really liked this story. It covered a topic we deal with our children (teens) everywhere, alcoholism, or the fact that they drink at all."
Gay Contemporary Romance
After the Fall (A Tucker Springs Novel) by L.A. Witt
Series: A Tucker Springs Novel
Paperback: 184 pages
Publisher: Riptide Publishing (September 28, 2013)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1626490775
ISBN-13: 978-1626490772
Amazon: After the Fall (A Tucker Springs Novel)
Amazon Kindle: After the Fall (A Tucker Springs Novel)
"This was one those books you couldn't stop from reading. You could feel the physical ache of the characters, or maybe that was just my sympathy. Loved every page!"
Gay Erotic Romance
No Distance Left to Run by Aleksandr Voinov & L.A. Witt
Publisher: Samhain Publishing, Ltd. (May 13, 2014)
Amazon Kindle: No Distance Left to Run
"This is the first book in this series that I have read. Even though it's book 4 in the series I found it very easy to follow. I thought it was a solid read all the way around. I especially loved how the setting, including the Mormon religion, helped define the characters and plot."
Lesbian Mystery / Thriller
Tumbledown by Cari Hunter
Paperback: 264 pages
Publisher: Bold Strokes Books (February 18, 2014)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1626390851
ISBN-13: 978-1626390850
Amazon: Tumbledown
Amazon Kindle: Tumbledown
"This book is a sequel, but you do not to have read it to enjoy this book. (although I did read the first book). This book will keep you guessing until the very end what happens to the main characters. I loved this book."
"Great book, easy to read in one sitting! Loved it! Charac ters were real and likable."
Gay Young Adult
This Is Not a Love Story by Suki Fleet
Paperback: 270 pages
Publisher: Harmony Ink Press (May 22, 2014)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1632160404
ISBN-13: 978-1632160409
Amazon: This Is Not a Love Story
Amazon Kindle: This Is Not a Love Story
"Hard topic beautifully written. This is a love story that works on many levels--it's true to life, tough, harsh, and yet hopeful. It made me think, but most importantly it made me feel. A marvelous debut novel."
"This is truly a gripping story of teenagers---one mute with an artistic gift, one damaged inside but with a beautiful spirit---but this is NOT a teenage story. There are tears, abuse, homelessness, grief, loss, more loss, and then. . .well, it is not a love story, but it IS a story about love. And sacrifice. And where home really is."
"I just couldn't find anything that didn't deserve the highest rating. This is a book that will stay long with you after you finished reading it. Usually I am not such a happy end person, but for these characters I desperately needed a happy end - anything else would have been devastating. Luckily I have no experience with homelessness, but to me the descriptions of their struggles felt real and I was caring deeply for the characters - not only for the main characters Romeo and Julian, but also for the ones they meet on their way. Books like these are the reason why I love participating in the Jury of the Rainbow Awards so much, because I don't know if I would have otherwise found and read this book."
Gay Mystery / Thriller
Damaged (Uniformity Book 2) by Ethan Stone
Series: Uniformity
Paperback: 222 pages
Publisher: Totally Bound Publishing (January 24, 2014)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1781847037
ISBN-13: 978-1781847039
Amazon: Damaged (Uniformity Book 2)
Amazon Kindle: Damaged (Uniformity Book 2)
"This book is either a sequel or the second in a series. I have not read the earlier book, but I never felt at a loss in reading this installment, so the author has done a great job in making this story stand on its own. I loved the characters and thought the mystery that developed here was handled expertly. The writing was sharp and the personality of the narrator came through distinctly."
This journal is friends only. This entry was originally posted at http://reviews-and-ramblings.dreamwidth.org/4443015.html. If you are not friends on this journal, Please comment there using OpenID.
Lesbian Romantic Comedy
Out Of Retirement by Erica Lawson
Paperback: 230 pages
Publisher: Affinity E-Book Press NZ; First edition (April 14, 2014)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1927282586
ISBN-13: 978-1927282588
Amazon: Out Of Retirement
Amazon Kindle: Out Of Retirement
"This book is truly unique and will make you laugh out loud, as I did many times! The main characters are unlike others in other books. Hopefully there will be a sequel!"
Gay Contemporary Romance
Because of Jade (Vasquez & James Series) by Lou Sylvre
Series: Vasquez and James
Paperback: 270 pages
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press (May 23, 2014)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1627989471
ISBN-13: 978-1627989473
Amazon: Because of Jade (Vasquez & James Series)
Amazon Kindle: Because of Jade (Vasquez & James Series)
"Such a beautiful story, very easy to read but not because of a simplicity of language or skimping on plot. Everything about this story flowed wonderfully, from the loving relationship between the main characters to them negotiating the tragedy that invades their lives to the eventual, and hard-won, happy ending. This is the first Luki and Sonny novel I’ve read, and it speaks well of the author’s deft handling of the world she’s created that I didn’t feel like anything was really missing for me when I read it. That being said, I definitely want to go back and start at the beginning now."
Gay Historical Romance
Masquerade (2 novellas as 1 submission) by Joy Lynn Fielding
Paperback: 216 pages
Publisher: Siren Publishing, Inc. (February 11, 2014)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1627407634
ISBN-13: 978-1627407632
Amazon: Masquerade [Carnevale: A Gilded Cage]
"This pair of short stories was written on a large canvass with vivid imagery. The sights, sounds, and smells of Venice of long ago, and the beautiful countryside vineyard are detailed and brief as to let the reader see what they will as the story progresses. What takes center stage is the true sexual awakening of Perry, a young gentleman from England, and his attachment to Jack, the former Englishman that cannot go home."
Gay Young Adult
Here’s to You, Zeb Pike by Johanna Parkhurst
Paperback: 180 pages
Publisher: Harmony Ink Press (November 7, 2013)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1627985247
ISBN-13: 978-1627985246
Amazon: Here's to You, Zeb Pike
Amazon Kindle: Here's to You, Zeb Pike
"I loved this book it had me sucked in from the first page…"
"Very moving, strong character development, fully realized."
Gay Young Adult
Every Inferno by Johanna Parkhurst
Paperback: 180 pages
Publisher: Harmony Ink Press (July 24, 2014)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1627987983
ISBN-13: 978-1627987981
Amazon: Every Inferno
Amazon Kindle: Every Inferno
"This is such a wonderful YA story with strong characters, especially JJ, who, although has his own flaws turns out to be a very strong young man who would wouldn't stop his search of the person who killed his parents and so many others at a theater ten years ago. Through his nightmares he starts putting pieces of that dreadful day together and with the help of his friend, McKinley, and a doctor he meets, his lost memories come to him little by little until the truth surfaces luring out the killer. Overall, I really liked this story. It covered a topic we deal with our children (teens) everywhere, alcoholism, or the fact that they drink at all."
Gay Contemporary Romance
After the Fall (A Tucker Springs Novel) by L.A. Witt
Series: A Tucker Springs Novel
Paperback: 184 pages
Publisher: Riptide Publishing (September 28, 2013)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1626490775
ISBN-13: 978-1626490772
Amazon: After the Fall (A Tucker Springs Novel)
Amazon Kindle: After the Fall (A Tucker Springs Novel)
"This was one those books you couldn't stop from reading. You could feel the physical ache of the characters, or maybe that was just my sympathy. Loved every page!"
Gay Erotic Romance
No Distance Left to Run by Aleksandr Voinov & L.A. Witt
Publisher: Samhain Publishing, Ltd. (May 13, 2014)
Amazon Kindle: No Distance Left to Run
"This is the first book in this series that I have read. Even though it's book 4 in the series I found it very easy to follow. I thought it was a solid read all the way around. I especially loved how the setting, including the Mormon religion, helped define the characters and plot."
Lesbian Mystery / Thriller
Tumbledown by Cari Hunter
Paperback: 264 pages
Publisher: Bold Strokes Books (February 18, 2014)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1626390851
ISBN-13: 978-1626390850
Amazon: Tumbledown
Amazon Kindle: Tumbledown
"This book is a sequel, but you do not to have read it to enjoy this book. (although I did read the first book). This book will keep you guessing until the very end what happens to the main characters. I loved this book."
"Great book, easy to read in one sitting! Loved it! Charac ters were real and likable."
Gay Young Adult
This Is Not a Love Story by Suki Fleet
Paperback: 270 pages
Publisher: Harmony Ink Press (May 22, 2014)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1632160404
ISBN-13: 978-1632160409
Amazon: This Is Not a Love Story
Amazon Kindle: This Is Not a Love Story
"Hard topic beautifully written. This is a love story that works on many levels--it's true to life, tough, harsh, and yet hopeful. It made me think, but most importantly it made me feel. A marvelous debut novel."
"This is truly a gripping story of teenagers---one mute with an artistic gift, one damaged inside but with a beautiful spirit---but this is NOT a teenage story. There are tears, abuse, homelessness, grief, loss, more loss, and then. . .well, it is not a love story, but it IS a story about love. And sacrifice. And where home really is."
"I just couldn't find anything that didn't deserve the highest rating. This is a book that will stay long with you after you finished reading it. Usually I am not such a happy end person, but for these characters I desperately needed a happy end - anything else would have been devastating. Luckily I have no experience with homelessness, but to me the descriptions of their struggles felt real and I was caring deeply for the characters - not only for the main characters Romeo and Julian, but also for the ones they meet on their way. Books like these are the reason why I love participating in the Jury of the Rainbow Awards so much, because I don't know if I would have otherwise found and read this book."
Gay Mystery / Thriller
Damaged (Uniformity Book 2) by Ethan Stone
Series: Uniformity
Paperback: 222 pages
Publisher: Totally Bound Publishing (January 24, 2014)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1781847037
ISBN-13: 978-1781847039
Amazon: Damaged (Uniformity Book 2)
Amazon Kindle: Damaged (Uniformity Book 2)
"This book is either a sequel or the second in a series. I have not read the earlier book, but I never felt at a loss in reading this installment, so the author has done a great job in making this story stand on its own. I loved the characters and thought the mystery that developed here was handled expertly. The writing was sharp and the personality of the narrator came through distinctly."
This journal is friends only. This entry was originally posted at http://reviews-and-ramblings.dreamwidth.org/4443015.html. If you are not friends on this journal, Please comment there using OpenID.