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:
Awaken, Shadows of a Forgotten Past
Marcia Maidana
2018 Bronze Medal
374 Pages
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Fiction - Mystery - Historical
Awaken, Shadows of a Forgotten Past by Marcia Maidana is a beautiful blend of mystery and romance, with enticing elements of the supernatural, a book that will appeal to fans of time travel and romance. Set against the backdrop of the Great Depression, the reader meets a nineteen-year-old girl, Florence, who has to leave behind her work at the monastery to look for a job. She is employed by a loner, the rich General Alexander Sterling. Her boss is a troubled man, with very dark secrets, haunted by a past he wishes never existed. General Alexander feels strangely connected to his employee and as though he were seeing his dead wife in her. The reader follows these two compelling characters as they brave all obstacles, fast falling in love with each other. But their romance won’t last long when the past catches up with their present. Thanks to a stranger, Florence must travel back in time to reconnect with her destiny, but can she return in time to the present to save their relationship from grave danger?
I was pulled in from the very beginning of the story and I enjoyed how the author portrayed elements of the setting, immediately drawing the reader’s attention to the hardship Florence experienced. Character development is top-notch and the reader can’t fail to connect with the characters. The plot is well-imagined and constructed to move fast. The story is told in excellent prose, filled with emotionally rich text and powerful descriptions that capture elements of the plot. Awaken, Shadows of a Forgotten Past is a work of great entertainment, a tale with deep characters and an emotional intensity that will keep readers focused. Marcia Maidana has the gift of sustaining the reader’s curiosity for as long as her story lasts. She is a mistress in the art of entertainment.
Recommend this book:
The Empress Holds The Key
A historical mystery thriller (Jack Rogan Mysteries Book 1)
Gabriel Farago
2018 Honorable Mention
604 Pages
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Fiction - Mystery - Historical
The Empress Holds the Key begins in 1944 with the scene where two Jewish boys were taken and murdered by high-ranking Nazi officers. A picture of this gruesome event falls into the hands of Jack Rogan and this ignites a quest to identify and prosecute this war criminal... and something else... but nobody knows exactly what yet. Clue upon clue is uncovered as they go deeper into the mystery of the unknown officer in the picture, who carried a most strange violin. From Nazis to the Holocaust to Egypt, back to the legend of King Solomon and the Knights Templar, we are taken on this quest to find something that will not be clear until the last part of the story. A relic that could ruin Christianity and the Roman Catholic Church? Something the Templars protected and died for...
Gabriel Farago is a fine writer who can weave several story lines and make them come together in a satisfying conclusion. The history satisfied my fascination with forbidden and hidden knowledge. In The Empress Holds the Key, we are given clues and trivia galore, and you must not try to make sense of it all right away, but instead allow the author to take you on an adventure until all the answers are found. Characterization is wonderful. Jack Rogan does not dominate the story, and I thoroughly enjoyed Jana Gonski and the other supporting characters. Farago will take you inside the minds of terrorists and criminals and the mystery underlying everything will keep you turning pages to see where it's all leading. And you won't be disappointed. This is a well-written book that you can look forward to reading every time you put it down... if you can put it down. Highly recommended.
Recommend this book:
The Hollows
A Midnight Gunn Novel
C.L. Monaghan
2018 Finalist
329 Pages
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Fiction - Mystery - Historical
The Hollows: A Midnight Gunn Novel is an historical mystery novel written by C.L. Monaghan. Detective Inspector Arthur Gredge had a serial assailant on his hands. The circumstances surrounding the latest victim, a Miss Emmeline Rowbotham, were particularly troublesome due to her being a member of a prominent family and to the fact that she had not survived the attack. The assailant’s other victims were from the lower classes of society and had been found alive, if barely so, and, while conscious, strangely devoid of volition. The case was bizarre and troubling enough that Gredge felt compelled to bring in Midnight Gunn, a paranormal investigator whose familiarity with the dark shadows made Gredge decidedly uncomfortable. But he was convinced that only Midnight would be able to resolve the situation.
C.L. Monaghan’s historical mystery novel, The Hollows: A Midnight Gunn Novel, had me hooked from the first page. Any Sherlock Holmes fan will delight in watching the two detectives look for clues in 1860s London and risk life and limb tracking down a diabolical miscreant. Midnight Gunn is one of the most exciting new detective characters to come around in some time. As I read this book, I began hoping that Monaghan comes up with any number of new and extraordinary cases to occupy the fine minds of Gunn and Dredge. This author makes her historical setting come alive, and watching as this finely plotted detective yarn unfolds is sheer joy. More Midnight Gunn adventures, please. The Hollows: A Midnight Gunn Novel is most highly recommended.
Recommend this book:
A Slave of the Shadows
Naomi Finley
2018 Gold Medal
329 Pages
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Fiction - Mystery - Historical
A Slave of the Shadows by Naomi Finley tells the story of Willow Hendricks and her life at the Livingstone Plantation in Charleston, South Carolina during the mid 1800s. Willow finds herself increasingly disturbed by the treatment of the slaves on not only her own plantation, but on neighbouring ones too. She is raised by Mammy, a black slave, and Mammy’s daughter becomes her best friend. Willow is tormented by the little knowledge she has of her own mother, and resentful of her father who is strict and uncompromising. Willow makes friends with Whitney Barry from a neighbouring plantation and together they set out to try to make life better for the slaves, and to fight against the slaves’ oppression. However, the actions of Willow and Whitney threaten to get out of hand and when Willow finally finds out the truth of her past, she realises that life will never be the same again.
The author, Naomi Finley, has skilfully crafted an epic story of oppression and obsession set in the deep south during a time when equality was unheard of and slavery was the norm. The characters of Willow and Whitney are perfectly developed, and the descriptions of life in these times is both upsetting and awe-inspiring. This is absolutely a book that has to be read if possible in one sitting, because it is impossible to put down. Each chapter leaves the reader hanging and consistent reading is compelling. Well done to an author that not only has a message to portray, but has done so in a professional and incredible way. An amazing book, and I, for one, can’t wait for the sequel. I enjoyed it immensely.
Recommend this book:
Sherlock Holmes and the Dance of the Tiger
The Great Detective in Love Book 2
Suzette Hollingsworth
2017 Finalist
259 Pages
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Fiction - Mystery - Historical
Sherlock Holmes and the Dance of the Tiger (The Great Detective in Love Book 2) by Suzette Hollingsworth is a historical mystery fiction novel that takes place after Sherlock Holmes and the Case of the Sword Princess. This is a book that would appeal most to a diverse audience of adults and young adults who enjoy Sherlock Holmes stories, as well as those who have enjoyed the previous book in The Great Detective in Love series. An undercover British agent becomes the victim of a tiger attack and the Queen’s cousin, the Commander-in-Chief of the British army, begins to romance a circus rider in the middle of a spy ring. Sherlock Holmes is brought in to handle the situation, but finds himself unable to infiltrate the Cirque d'Hiver due to his gender. That leaves only one choice; to send in his laboratory assistant, Mirabella Hudson. Will Mirabella have what it takes to be a tiger trainer’s assistant, and will she be able to investigate the espionage, murder, secrets, and the lost princess without being caught?
Sherlock Holmes and the Dance of the Tiger (The Great Detective in Love Book 2) by Suzette Hollingsworth was a very well written story that set itself apart from the large number of Sherlock Holmes books with the addition of Mirabella Hudson. I really liked the fact that Mirabella Hudson added a female element to the book; it was nice to read a Sherlock Holmes story with a main female protagonist. I personally found Mirabella to be my favorite character as she was able to think on her feet, roll with the punches, and somehow come out on top. I greatly enjoyed reading this novel and I hope to see more books featuring Mirabella from this author!
Recommend this book:
Corrigans' Pool
Dot Ryan
2017 Finalist
430 Pages
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Fiction - Mystery - Historical
Corrigans’ Pool is an historical fiction drama that will transport you back to the 1860s of southern plantation days. The Civil War is about to begin and life will soon change for Ella Corrigan and her family. Ella meets and falls in love with Gentry Garland. Gentry is far from his Texas home and hoping to find some good horses to add to his herd. Victor Faircloth is the owner of a nearby plantation and hopes to win the hand of Ella, even though he knows she has no interest in him and tries to avoid him at all costs.
Events follow that change the lives of many, but mostly Ella's. She soon finds it necessary to marry Victor and give up the life she has always dreamed of. Victor is a mean man, who shows his cruelty to all; his new wife, his slaves and anyone who gets in his way. Gentry has left and gone back to Texas. Ella soon gives birth to a son that is the only light in her life. We are drawn into the events, adventures and actions that mold each of these characters and we cry, laugh and hope right along with them for the answers.
Corrigans’ Pool by Dot Ryan will remind you of Scarlet O’Hara and her precious Tara and if you enjoy this kind of history then you must read this book. I was hooked on the first page and never disappointed. I so wanted it all to work out for Ella and see justice against Victor. The supporting cast was equally as entertaining and they too had me totally involved in the story. Corrigans’ Pool is definitely a winner and Dot Ryan is a master writer on matters of the “Old South.”
Recommend this book:
The Scattered Flock
The Flock Trilogy Book 2
Jana Petken
2017 Finalist
450 Pages
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Fiction - Mystery - Historical
The Scattered Flock is the second novel in The Flock Trilogy by Jana Petken. Set in Spain during the Spanish Inquisition, the book immediately struck me as incredibly well researched and thought out in terms of the historical elements built into the story. The author has a very natural writing style as she develops her characters and the plot itself. David Sanz is the lead character, who is re-introduced following the first book, and is a Spanish Jew who has endured many tragedies in his life to date. We are then introduced to a second protagonist, Rafael Perato, leading a much more regal existence, who gives the reader a definite contrast to the life and times during this era. Both, however, are on their own quest for justice during what is evidently a cruel and torturous period of history.
Jana Petken writes a real page turner in The Scattered Flock, and I didn’t feel that I had missed out by not reading the first book in this series. This is the art and quality of a good writer, one who allows a reader to pick up any novel in any order, but at the same time, leaving me, as the reader, wanting to go back to the start and read the first book in this intriguing and cleverly written trilogy. I congratulate Jana on her style, poise and passion, and whilst the story line can be graphic at times, she does this with grace, making me feel like I was there watching every moment in her characters’ lives. Truly deserving of its five star rating, The Scattered Flock is a fantastic read! Really excellent story - I literally could not put it down, reading from cover to cover!
Recommend this book:
A Ring of Truth
A Henrietta and Inspector Howard novel
Michelle Cox
2017 Honorable Mention
320 Pages
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Fiction - Mystery - Historical
It’s somewhat disconcerting to be all caught up in the latest plot twist which has come suddenly toward the end of a book, to turn the page and suddenly find yourself reading the “Acknowledgements”. What happened after the protagonist put a letter in her pocket and decided she knew what she must now do? Then it dawns on you: of course! A Ring of Truth is the second book in a series set in Chicago in the mid 1930s, starring the beautiful Henrietta and her handsome, rich fiance, police inspector Clive Howard. We have been so caught up following the romantic love story of these two, who have just had an elaborate engagement party and have set their wedding date for three months away, that we’ve forgotten A Ring of Truth is part of a series that began with Michelle Cox’s first book, A Girl Like You. How clever of the author to hook us like that. Will we be able to wait to find out what Henrietta’s decision was in book three, A Promise Given?
While the primary focus in A Ring of Truth is the beautiful love story of Henrietta and Clive, which reminds us of classics like Pride and Prejudice or the movies My Fair Lady and Pretty Woman, it comes with a sinister sub plot involving criminals, violence against women, theft and murder. This subplot is what first brought Henrietta and Inspector Clive Howard together. It leaves Clive worried what danger may befall his beloved Henrietta in the months ahead, while she and his high society mother, Antonia, plan the wedding of the year. Simultaneously, it leaves the reader anticipating the upcoming book. Where will Michelle Cox take us, her protagonists and their immediate families?
Michelle Cox is wonderful at creating characters who come alive on the page. As Henrietta, who comes from a very humble, lower class part of Chicago, wonders how she can possibly fit in at Highbury Estate, where she feels more at home with the servants than with Clive’s often very proper parents, her struggle is so real that readers feel her every emotion and doubt. The same applies to Clive, who, while he never questions his love for his bride-to-be, is also dogged by questions about his future as a police inspector and/or, one day, the master of Highbury Estate and taking over his father’s business. Cox weaves a rich tapestry of characters into the primary plot of A Ring of Truth and keeps her readers guessing till the end…and then even after the last page is read! If you enjoy series of this kind, love touching romantic stories, well defined characters, and just enough nastiness to keep you turning pages, you’ll love A Ring of Truth.
Recommend this book:
Deadly Peril
Alec Halsey Mystery Book 3, A Georgian Historical Mystery
Lucinda Brant
2017 Honorable Mention
342 Pages
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Fiction - Mystery - Historical
Set in the glitzy atmosphere of eighteenth century England, Deadly Peril: A Georgian Historical Mystery by Lucinda Brant is book 3 in the Alec Halsey mysteries. When Alec Halsey escaped from Midanich for the first time, he vowed never to return there again. But now, Emily St. Neots and Sir Cosmo Mahon are imprisoned in this place that holds many dark secrets and their lives are in grave danger. This time, Alec has no choice but to go back to the place where the Margrave and his sister await him, not as an old friend, but with deadly intent. What was it he did to draw the anger of the Margrave and can Alec, with the English delegation, outwit the enemy and save their friends?
Lucinda Brant is a gifted storyteller and she has the gift of recreating history, making readers relive a historical era with vividness. This is a book with well-explored themes, like love and romance, kidnapping, war, and much more. The author lets these themes come across beautifully through the narrative. The book is laced with action and I enjoyed the fact that Alec and his companions have to brave many odds, including the inclement weather and a solid army as they journey to the rescue of their friends. The romance featuring Alec and Selina that is introduced in the story beefs up the plot and helps in adding to the powerful suspense. The setting is nothing short of glorious, with the rough landscapes, the people in a culture of war, and fascinating landscapes captured in elegant prose. From plot to character, Deadly Peril: A Georgian Historical Mystery is an intriguing, beguiling, and utterly entertaining story.
Recommend this book:
Constant Guests
Patricia Nedelea
2017 Bronze Medal
517 Pages
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Fiction - Mystery - Historical
Constant Guests by Patricia Nedelea is a complex story with multiple themes, and, as a debut novel, it is little short of a masterpiece. Isa’s story covers so many centuries, involving a tarot deck from 1389. It isn’t until the time of her real mother’s death that Isa finds out that the person she’d thought to be her mother isn’t her real mother. She doesn’t even know who her father is. When she discovers the truth about her parents, she sets out on a very dangerous journey to uncover her real identity, but little does she know that things have been kept hidden from her for a reason. She’s in for the most disturbing discovery of her life, if only she can live long enough to find out what it is.
Constant Guests combines different elements of storytelling to deliver a literary treat that readers will find irresistible, the kind of work that will appeal to lovers of fantasy, thriller, and mystery. Patricia Nedelea seems to have done her homework and her work features compelling historical elements, a bubbling imagination, and characters that are hard to let go. The reader is hooked from the opening lines of this interesting novel. The girl wakes up behind bars and has a hard time determining why she’s locked up. Her recollections of the previous night offer readers a powerful glimpse of her personality and set the tone for the entire story. The writing is polished and reads smoothly. I was most impressed by the powerful plot lines and the seamless integration of different historic moments into an absorbing story.