150 Award Genres
Children
- Children - Action
- Children - Adventure
- Children - Animals
- Children - Audiobook
- Children - Christian
- Children - Coming of Age
- Children - Concept
- Children - Educational
- Children - Fable
- Children - Fantasy/Sci-Fi
- Children - General
- Children - Grade 4th-6th
- Children - Grade K-3rd
- Children - Mystery
- Children - Mythology/Fairy Tale
- Children - Non-Fiction
- Children - Picture Book
- Children - Preschool
- Children - Preteen
- Children - Religious Theme
- Children - Social Issues
Christian
- Christian - Amish
- Christian - Biblical Counseling
- Christian - Devotion/Study
- Christian - Fantasy/Sci-Fi
- Christian - Fiction
- Christian - General
- Christian - Historical Fiction
- Christian - Living
- Christian - Non-Fiction
- Christian - Romance - Contemporary
- Christian - Romance - General
- Christian - Romance - Historical
- Christian - Thriller
Fiction
- Fiction - Action
- Fiction - Adventure
- Fiction - Animals
- Fiction - Anthology
- Fiction - Audiobook
- Fiction - Chick Lit
- Fiction - Crime
- Fiction - Cultural
- Fiction - Drama
- Fiction - Dystopia
- Fiction - Fantasy - Epic
- Fiction - Fantasy - General
- Fiction - Fantasy - Urban
- Fiction - General
- Fiction - Graphic Novel/Comic
- Fiction - Historical - Event/Era
- Fiction - Historical - Personage
- Fiction - Holiday
- Fiction - Horror
- Fiction - Humor/Comedy
- Fiction - Inspirational
- Fiction - Intrigue
- Fiction - LGBTQ
- Fiction - Literary
- Fiction - Magic/Wizardry
- Fiction - Military
- Fiction - Mystery - General
- Fiction - Mystery - Historical
- Fiction - Mystery - Legal
- Fiction - Mystery - Murder
- Fiction - Mystery - Sleuth
- Fiction - Mythology
- Fiction - New Adult
- Fiction - Paranormal
- Fiction - Realistic
- Fiction - Religious Theme
- Fiction - Science Fiction
- Fiction - Short Story/Novela
- Fiction - Social Issues
- Fiction - Southern
- Fiction - Sports
- Fiction - Supernatural
- Fiction - Suspense
- Fiction - Tall Tale
- Fiction - Thriller - Conspiracy
- Fiction - Thriller - Environmental
- Fiction - Thriller - Espionage
- Fiction - Thriller - General
- Fiction - Thriller - Legal
- Fiction - Thriller - Medical
- Fiction - Thriller - Political
- Fiction - Thriller - Psychological
- Fiction - Thriller - Terrorist
- Fiction - Time Travel
- Fiction - Urban
- Fiction - Visionary
- Fiction - Western
- Fiction - Womens
Non-Fiction
- Non-Fiction - Adventure
- Non-Fiction - Animals
- Non-Fiction - Anthology
- Non-Fiction - Art/Photography
- Non-Fiction - Audiobook
- Non-Fiction - Autobiography
- Non-Fiction - Biography
- Non-Fiction - Business/Finance
- Non-Fiction - Cooking/Food
- Non-Fiction - Cultural
- Non-Fiction - Drama
- Non-Fiction - Education
- Non-Fiction - Environment
- Non-Fiction - Genealogy
- Non-Fiction - General
- Non-Fiction - Gov/Politics
- Non-Fiction - Grief/Hardship
- Non-Fiction - Health - Fitness
- Non-Fiction - Health - Medical
- Non-Fiction - Historical
- Non-Fiction - Hobby
- Non-Fiction - Home/Crafts
- Non-Fiction - Humor/Comedy
- Non-Fiction - Inspirational
- Non-Fiction - LGBTQ
- Non-Fiction - Marketing
- Non-Fiction - Memoir
- Non-Fiction - Military
- Non-Fiction - Motivational
- Non-Fiction - Music/Entertainment
- Non-Fiction - New Age
- Non-Fiction - Occupational
- Non-Fiction - Parenting
- Non-Fiction - Relationships
- Non-Fiction - Religion/Philosophy
- Non-Fiction - Retirement
- Non-Fiction - Self Help
- Non-Fiction - Short Story/Novela
- Non-Fiction - Social Issues
- Non-Fiction - Spiritual/Supernatural
- Non-Fiction - Sports
- Non-Fiction - Travel
- Non-Fiction - True Crime
- Non-Fiction - Womens
- Non-Fiction - Writing/Publishing
Poetry
Romance
Young Adult
- Young Adult - Action
- Young Adult - Adventure
- Young Adult - Coming of Age
- Young Adult - Fantasy - Epic
- Young Adult - Fantasy - General
- Young Adult - Fantasy - Urban
- Young Adult - General
- Young Adult - Horror
- Young Adult - Mystery
- Young Adult - Mythology/Fairy Tale
- Young Adult - Non-Fiction
- Young Adult - Paranormal
- Young Adult - Religious Theme
- Young Adult - Romance
- Young Adult - Sci-Fi
- Young Adult - Social Issues
- Young Adult - Thriller
Illustration Award
Recommend this book:
The Faithful
S. M. Freedman
2016 Bronze Medal
Audio Book
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Fiction - Audiobook
There has been a slew of kidnapped and missing children that is stumping the FBI. The Faithful by S.M. Freedman is an audio book narrated by Tanya Eby. Dr. Rowan Wilson is beginning to experience some strange dreams that are keeping her off course. She seems to be blacking out and unable to remember things about her current life, but is beginning to remember things about her childhood. She recalls a children’s chant, which means Remember Return. She doesn’t understand what this chant means and why this is happening. Her friendship with Agent Sumner is helping her to recall the past that was once lost to her. Now as Sumner gets deeper into helping Dr. Wilson understand her past, he is beginning to revisit his past as well. Sumner discovers later that the missing children are a part of his past. These kidnapped and missing children are special. These special children are housed at a camp for children with psychic abilities. These psychic abilities are being honed for the world’s destruction. Will Dr. Wilson's and Agent Sumner’s pasts change the course of things?
I always enjoy listening to an audio book. The Faithful by S.M. Freedman allowed me to just relax and let the story take over. It was interesting to see how all of the elements of the characters - from the missing children and Agents Metcalf and Sumner to Dr. Wilson - all gelled together. What a small world! While I enjoyed listening to this story, it got a little edgy due to its sexual overtones and choice words, but yet it's a great story. If you want to kick back and listen an audio book that will keep you engrossed and engaged, The Faithful by S.M. Freedman is ideal.
Recommend this book:
Midnight Marriage
A Georgian Historical Romance
Lucinda Brant
2016 Silver Medal
Audio Book
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Fiction - Audiobook
Midnight Marriage: A Georgian Historical Romance by Lucinda Brant is a historical romance inspired by actual events in history. It is set during the extravagant and beautiful times of the 18th century aristocracy. Deb, a twelve-year-old girl, is drugged and whisked away to marry Julian, a rebellious youth, in the middle of the night. Deb remembers nothing of the night and grows up without the knowledge that she is actually married. When Julian returns to the scene nine years later, he plans to reclaims his first love before his rival seduces Deb and attempts to marry her. But how can Julian impress Deb and earn her trust with the knowledge of their past looming over their head? Worse, how can he explain the deception that mars their marriage and subsequent love?
Lucinda Brant did an excellent job of writing a sweeping family saga that showcases her talent in this genre and that will appeal to all fans of historical romance. This story has tons of lies, deceit, and manipulation that create well-written subplots intertwined in the story. The story is interesting, will keep the reader's attention, and is authentically written. The story moves along at a nice pace and will keep readers interested in the characters' sagas. The dialogue is authentic for the time period, and the historical aspect is written splendidly. The characters, outfits, settings, and customs are so fascinating that readers will find themselves falling in love with these characters and this novel in one fell swoop.
The narrator of this audio book was Alex Wyndham. Mr. Wyndham is a British actor and has many acting credits to his name including the Emmy award-winning Little Dorrit, HBO's Rome, the BBC series The Crimson Field, and Kenneth Branagh's "As You Like It." I think his acting expertise shone brightly in this audio book because it wasn't just read to the audience it was performed. I love audio books where you can "hear" different character voices and forget that you are listening to one narrator. The different use of voice and accents, tone and depth was fantastic and makes this an awesome audio "read."
Recommend this book:
Deceptive Cadence
The Virtuosic Spy, Book 1
Kathryn Guare
2016 Gold Medal
Audio Book
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Fiction - Audiobook
Deceptive Cadence: The Virtuosic Spy, Book 1 by Kathryn Guare features Conor McBride, a talented musician who is recruited as an undercover agent to find his estranged brother, Thomas. Thomas was conned by the bad guys into a world of money laundering. Conor’s adventure takes him to India where he learns more about the criminal underworld than he ever wanted to know.
Imagine how Conor McBride’s life is turned upside down from country farmer to spy to infiltrating the criminal underground in such an exotic location as Mumbai. In a short time, he is urged to harden a big, open heart into that of a killer, but that part of his training never quite takes as fully as his handlers would like. Kathryn Guare’s Conor McBride is the compassionate cornerstone in a gem of a thriller. Deceptive Cadence is filled with memorable, unique characters who are not always what they seem. They are pulled together by circumstances and design, but the outcome is the wild card that grabbed me.
Conor’s strong sense of ethics and devotion to friends and family are what endeared him to me. He is the kind of man I would like on my side because I know he would look at the big picture before shooting the whole place up. He has a gentle side, but that doesn’t make him weak. On the contrary, the author has created a stubborn counterpart that frustrates his superiors and makes him hard to kill. I can’t wait to see him again in the next installment of the Virtuosic Spy Series.
This was the audio book version of Deceptive Cadence and it was expertly narrated by Wayne Farrell. His performance brought the characters to life and added the perfect amount of drama and angst to this well-written thriller. For me, he will always be the voice of hero Connor McBride. The pacing was appropriate and easy to follow. The production quality could not have been better.
Recommend this book:
Gadzooks!
A Comically Quirky Audio Book
Adele Park
2015 Finalist
Audio Book
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Fiction - Audiobook
What do you get when you mix a pot-smoking polygamist with a liberal dose of lesbians, homosexuals and rock star ass doctors rightfully named The Rectal Surgeons? Wonder no more. Gadzooks! A Comically Quirky Audio Book by Adele Park provides living proof that we can all get along, well, most of us anyway. Dissenters who encounter Nadine may end up taking a dirt nap while everyone else goes on to live happily ever after, or at least continues to breathe the air and smoke the dope.
While Gadzooks! A Comically Quirky Audio Book started off slowly, I eventually found myself pulled into the characters' world of so much craziness that it made my family look almost sane. Urban Dictionary would be proud of author Adele Park and her colorful turn of phrase for everything from sex and tender body parts to wacky weed. My absolute favorite was "purple-headed yogurt shaker." I also enjoyed the author's take on polygamy and how it compares to more conventionally accepted relationships with pluses and minuses on both sides. I appreciated how her characters were unique enough that I had no problem keeping them straight.
I was not as impressed with chapter after chapter of character building before the real plot became apparent. In fact the assisted suicide portion of the book is hardly touched upon. I keep asking myself what this diverse set of characters really had to do with one another beyond the family tree connections; however, the author managed to pull it all together and left me satisfied that all the pieces really did fit together.
Recommend this book:
K-9 Cop
Case#1 The Dreck Report
Erna Mueller
2015 Honorable Mention
Audio Book
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Fiction - Audiobook
In K-9 Cop: Case #1 – The Dreck Report by Erna Mueller, a selfish cop named Spencer comes up short when it is time to get into heaven. In order to make the cut, he must return to earth as a dog and help troubled boy Justin Andrews and his family pick up the pieces after the death of the boy’s mother. Meanwhile, Spencer must solve his own murder and come to terms with his relationship with his own father.
Erna Mueller does a terrific job with both the character development of canine Spencer and his human companions. In K-9 Cop: Case #1 – The Dreck Report, Mueller mixes mystery with humor as she allows the canine Spencer to retain many of his human habits, such as his addiction to coffee, when he comes back as a dog. Through patience and creative means, he manages to convey to Justin just how special a pet he really is. I enjoyed how Spencer came back from death to help the boy, but the boy does just as much to help the cop. In the end, their relationship is not the one-sided affair so often depicted in books. K-9 Cop will appeal to readers from the really young to the really old. It is the perfect audio book for sharing with the family, and it fills a real need for good boy-driven mysteries where a disability does not hinder a character from becoming a hero.
Recommend this book:
Sir Sydney Dinkum
World's Zaniest Koala Knight, Volume 1
Martha Gold,Marc Reilly
2015 Bronze Medal
160 Pages
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Fiction - Audiobook
Sir Sydney Dinkum by Martha Gold and Marc Reilly is a hilarious novel that was a joy to read – or hear in this case. I am not that big on audio books, but I made an exception for Sir Sydney Dinkum because I felt that the novel would be good, and I was right. We meet one wonderful koala bear named Sir Sydney Dinkum and, as his name suggests, he is not your garden variety koala bear. He can actually talk to all animals and that includes humans as well.
He believes that he can be the biggest hero in the history of the world, or at least one of them. He wants to save the world and, when given a challenge, he faces it head on and never looks back until he has conquered it. He is quite a character. Believe me; I had a smile on my face the whole time. He is charming, his demeanor is very refreshing and, of course, his imagination is quite something. You will know what I mean you hear about the personal life of Sydney, especially his house and the way he describes his dreams of becoming a super hero.
The novel is great and the voice for Sir Sydney is hilarious. The imagery was so vivid that I was transported to Australia. I have read many novels set in Australia, but this is the only one that made me feel like I was there with Sir Sydney. The best thing about this novel: people of every age can appreciate the fun and charming adventures of Sir Sydney and that, folks, is guaranteed!
Recommend this book:
Snailsworth
A Slow Little Story
Tina Field Howe
2013 Silver Medal
24 Pages
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Fiction - Audiobook
“Snailsworth: A Slow Little Story” written and illustrated by Tina Field Howe is an enchanting tale inspired by the author’s own courtyard, complete with her own stepping-stone path, ivy and garden gate. This is the story of one tiny but inquisitive snail setting out on a journey to discover sights unseen.
This tale rejoices in learning to depend on oneself. The little snail learned several valuable lessons while on her journey> Here are spome of them: always take journeys (if you don’t you will never know what you are missing), sometimes the best is right in front of you, never be afraid to explore, and don’t let disappointment get you down because for Snailsworth the amazing site was worth the wait. Within the illustrated area the reader will find an appealing poem. Children love the sound of rhymes as they are read to them. There is something about the rhythm that soothes and calms them. The story is told in the text in the white section along the side of the page, making this two stories in one. “Snailsworth: A Slow Little Story” is an endearing tale sure to please children and parents alike. The illustrations are beautifully done, hinting at night time in a tranquil garden. This will make a great bedtime story. The audio book will please children at nap or bed time. The words are soothing and peaceful, calming children as they settle in for rest. I believe the author is the narrator; her voice is very soothing and lends ambiance to the text.
Recommend this book:
World of Ryyah
Birth of the Half Elves
H. L. Watson
2012 Bronze Medal
192 Pages
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Fiction - Audiobook
This high fantasy tale is creative. Though elves are in it, it isn’t a copy of "Lord of the Rings" by any means. It is a fresh point of view about a race that is a favorite of many. This fantasy will take the reader to a new land where they will find battles, loyalty, traditions, and love.
Donovan is 12 years old when he and his best friend Akenji witness a slaver kill all the small children and men in his village. Their captors take him and all the young men in the area to be sold as slaves. They pass through a forest guarded by the wood elves. The elves kill the slavers and the elfin captain, a she-elf, and decide to keep them and help them through the horror they had witnessed. The High Lord of the Wood Elves hates humans and begrudgingly lets her train them in an outpost between human and elves lands.
When Donovan is a young man, Princess Brandela goes to choose her handmaidens in preparation for her upcoming marriage. Instead she is taken by a huge group of slavers. After they free all the slaves except Brandela, for reasons of his own, Donovan goes after the slavers and finds the princess. He has set a daunting task before him, a task that may take his young life.
This short story or novelette will be well received by all those who love elves, and young adults in general. It has a sex scene without going into great details. I found the scene very well done and congratulate the author for being tasteful. This is a fun book that really sparkles.
Recommend this book:
Trance Warriors
The Siege of Scarn
Robert C Auty
2011 Silver Medal
Audio Book
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Fiction - Audiobook
The Siege of Scarn is book one in the Trance Warriors series written by Robert C. Auty. This book has it all: thrills, adventure, action and entertainment. The lead character was Connor, an assassin who killed the wrong man. The evil Queen was furious; however, our hero managed to escape. Along his journey he met a dwarf, Cheryl, and Janice; they assisted him in his battle against evil demons. Connor struggled to develop his Trance Warrior powers; the fate of the world was in his hands. The evil is growing stronger and only Connor can stop him. Connor goes into a trance-like state when he is fighting. He ages while in the trance, and when he comes out of it, he is exhausted. While he's in the trance-like state he is powerful. He must battle the evil twin.
Auty skillfully developed the characters in The Siege of Scarn. He gave them depth and dimensions. Auty has developed an unusual warrior, one that readers will love. His companions add great dimension to this tale. I did not want this audio book to end. I can hardly wait to listen to the next book in this series. The plot is well done with enough twists to keep this reader eagerly turning the pages. Auty is a fantastic writer. His words paint a vivid picture. From the moment I began listening to this book I was enthralled. I hope this book is made into a movie; I will be the first one in line at our local box office!
Recommend this book:
Alysa of the Fields
Book One in the Tellings of Xunar-Kun
Tina Field Howe
2010 Gold Medal
320 Pages
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Fiction - Audiobook
This book begins with a description of the Cataclysm. Planet Xunar-kun was hit by meteor. The planet was devastated by the catastrophe. The next scene shifts to the death of Father Gordon the leader of the tribe. Father Gordon’s last words were instructions to teach the generations the things he had written. Three thousand cycles later the tribe is still living by his words.
We shift to the next scene where a slender girl, Alysa sits next to a stream crying. The girl has a new baby sister. She is angry that she will have to share with her new sister. Her clan was called the Field Folk. A young man from a tribe called the Trailman approached her. She knew she was not supposed to speak to a Trailman. Her tribe considered them savages.
The next scene returns us to the stream. Once again Alysa is crying. Her father has died of a mishap. Alysa had planned to join Orion and his tribe but now felt she needed to stay and help her mother.
Alysa’s father was a trader. Her clan needed another to take his place. A female had never served as a trader but Alysa volunteered. The matter was taken before the council and it was agreed she could serve as a trader to the Trailmen.
Alysa is a strong, brave character. She was willing to step out of the role tradition was forcing her into. There is a strong message in this tale for everyone including children. We should never force a stereotype on a person. Sometimes rules are to be broken. Tradition can be restricting. I quickly became caught up in Alysa’s tale. I found myself cheering her on. The different voices added much to the story. The narrator was very good. This story is strong in family and friends. It encourages adolescents to dream big, to take chances.