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:
Buh-Bye! Harry!
Brie Edison
2011 Silver Medal
208 Pages
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Fiction - Chick Lit
Buh-Bye! Harry by Brie Edison is what I would classify as being in the cozy mystery genre. Right at the very beginning, millionaire Harry Trumboll, owner of a Private Investigation business, is dying. Somebody laced his coffee to make it look like natural causes, and it's too late to do anything now except, with his final breath, leave a clue for his wife. Harry has his funeral all planned out in advance, who he wants to attend and what kind of send-off he will have. Now it falls into the hands of his wife, Frannie, and his secretary, Dawn, two individuals as different as night and day, to find out who murdered him. Frannie has the money and Dawn has some common sense, or does she? At the funeral, Frannie ends up with a dead body in her lap, and the deceased mentally lets her know that her husband was murdered. They say money is the root of all evil, and it seems every suspect in this case is after one thing: Frannie's money that Harry left her. Can Frannie and Dawn solve this mystery and catch the killer before they become victims?
This is a great who-done-it type mystery. The clues are there; it's just putting them together. When I thought I had it figured out, I was wrong and didn't learn the identity until the very end. It is a clean-written book with no coarse language or sexual episodes. The characters are great and so easy to become connected with. I like a book when the author writes in such a way that one feels they are right in the midst of all that is going on. This is one of those books. Recommended for a good afternoon mystery read.
Recommend this book:
Gumbeaux
Kimberly Vargas
2011 Gold Medal
176 Pages
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Fiction - Chick Lit
Her name was Mary Fait. She was the granddaughter of Jean-Luc Fait, one of the greatest artists of the twentieth century. So why was she in the office of Dr. Alicia Baldwin? Baldwin's first impression of Mary was that she was cold and rude. Mary gave the doctor her diaries to read. While most diaries are in chronological order, Mary color coded her diaries according to her mood. Mary told the doctor she had a fracture in her soul; it was as though a piece of her was missing. After reading the diaries the doctor knew where the to key to Mary's problems was hidden.
I've tried to be careful with this review not to give away too much. The author took a unique and a bit risky path to tell this tale. She allowed the reader to partake of Mary Veronica's diaries. Through Mary's thoughts the reader is transported back to 1989. Mary Veronica escaped to Louisiana for her education. Through the diary we are introduced to several characters and much of the culture of the area. At times life was an escape and at times it was an adventure. I found myself smiling at some of the scenes, and toward the end, I found myself in tears. Kudos to the author for taking such an original approach.
The more I read the more I wanted to read. The author successfully created characters that I cared about. I liked Mary, and I wanted to see her find happiness. Richard was not my favorite character; I thought he was rather pompous. Bubba, Lou and the other locals at the Gumbeaux had wonderful personalities. The plot has several twists and turns. This is not a high octane book, but it is easy to recommend it.
Recommend this book:
Death By Drowning
A Josiah Reynolds Mystery
Abigail Keam
2011 Gold Medal
298 Pages
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Fiction - Chick Lit
Death by Drowning by Abigail Keam is the second book of Ms. Keam's murder mystery series. Middle-aged Josiah Reynolds, a Kentucky beekeeper, falls forty feet off a cliff and is severely injured. After multiple surgeries and extensive rehabilitation, she is ready to begin the pursuit of her attacker as well as attempting to solve the mystery of the death of a local boy. In order to keep her from harm's way, Josiah's daughter hires two personal bodyguards, one a very handsome Native American physical therapist named Jake who awakens feelings Josiah has not felt in years. As Josiah struggles to heal her body and soul, her boarder Matt and his partner all rally around Josiah in order that she can resume her beekeeping activities and develop some sense of a normal life. The group is continually warned by threats to Josiah, and this spurs the woman to seek answers to the questions about her own "accident," as well as the real story surrounding the death of a teenage boy.
This book was a fun and exciting read. Humor is parceled out in just the right amount, as is friendship and loyalty. The characters are very well developed, each rich in his or her own idiosyncrasies. Ms. Keam writes such that readers want to know more of Josiah's life and the ending will not disappoint their need to know.
Recommend this book:
Spin the Plate
Donna Anastasi
2011 Silver Medal
198 Pages
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Fiction - Chick Lit
Spin The Plate is a book that sheds light on child abuse. I found myself wondering which parts were true. Our protagonist is Jo; she was abused repeatedly by her father.
Jo dressed in bib overalls, kept her hair short, and bulked up to over 220 pounds. Jo was strong and fit but she wore clothing that made her look obese. She was a very talented tattoo artist.
Francis knew the moment he saw her that she was the woman from his vision. He had dreamed about a warrior with rust colored stripes on her face. He was riding a bus when he witnessed a man saying something rude to a female passenger. The passenger had jumped up like a warrior and the man scurried toward the door. Yes she was a warrior.
Spin the Plate is a heart wrenching and heartwarming story. The reader watches as Jo is transformed from an angry, terrified woman to a woman able to love and be loved. Reading about Jo's abuse angered me. She was constantly taking in strays, probably because she saw herself in them abused and abandoned. She and Francis were the odd couple and yet they worked well together. Francis was orphaned at a young age and raised by his two aunts. He was a Christian unafraid to carry a Bible in his back pocket or to ask God to guide him in reaching out to Jo. Both characters blossomed when together.
The plot was well developed and edgy. The author successfully shows the long term affect of child abuse. There is strong Christian overtones in this book. I enjoyed Spin the Plate and did not want it to end.
Recommend this book:
Depression Cookies
Tia Silverthorne Bach & Angela Beach Silverthorne
2011 Silver Medal
554 Pages
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Fiction - Chick Lit
This read centers around the facets of a girl growing up and a mother who longs for more than just the mundane. Growing up can be tough and at times it seems to be too hard for those kids who feel that they don't have "roots." Such is the case of Krista. Thirteen, that "magical" age where every pimple, every hair out of place and every move makes life seem too tough.
Krista longs to be accepted and is trying to find her place in this world. Of course, teen age drama comes with girls at age thirteen. Krista feels that her two sisters get all the attention and that she comes in last...way last! She also feels that her parents are out of tune with life. How can they just pack up and move to another place when her life is just about to begin.
But Krista moves on with the family hoping that she will survive a new school and new friends. Then the mom voice comes in (to be honest at times I was slightly confused by the mom's views).
This is a lengthy book coming in at 553 pages. The gist of this read is about a girl growing up, family dynamics and a lot of views from a thirteen year-olds perspective. This book took me back to my teen years. Being a teen is never easy, this book does an excellent job expressing that sentiment.
Recommend this book:
Death By A HoneyBee
A Josiah Reynolds Mystery
Abigail Keam
2010 Gold Medal
223 Pages
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Fiction - Chick Lit
Josiah Reynolds, a former art history professor, was once a celebrity with wealth, social position, and a famous husband. Now all of that is gone. She finds her circumstances drastically altered. Retired, Josiah is now a full-time beekeeper, trying to stay afloat by selling honey at the local Farmers’ Market. She finds her world turned upside down when a man is found dead in her yard, only to discover that the victim is her competitor and nemesis. The police suspect Josiah; she is their primary suspect.
Josiah, along with her assistant, Matt (twenty years her junior and gay), and her lawyer, Shaneika (an African-American woman, rumored to be a descendant of a historically prominent Lexington family) try to find out who framed her. Josiah’s powerful, but secretive, daughter pops in and out of her mother’s life, pulling strings to protect her mother from danger.
Set in beautiful Bluegrass horse country, Josiah makes the rounds of quirky characters that can only be found in Kentucky. Fighting an unseen enemy, in the glamorous world of thoroughbreds, oak-cured bourbon, and ante-bellum plantation houses, Josiah struggles to uncover the truth in a city that keeps secrets well.
Ms. Keam has the makings of a very good mystery writer. By tweaking the suspense level, she will surely accomplish this goal. "Death by a Honey Bee" is an enjoyable read which will capture the interest of most die-hard mystery fans.