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:
Furious
Sailing into Terror
Jeffrey James Higgins
2021 Gold Medal
250 Pages
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Fiction - Thriller - Medical
Dagny and Brad are trying to work through their grief after their baby girl, Emma, died. Dagny is struggling to make sense of things, feeling raw with grief and confused about her relationship with Brad. Brad is trying to forget the bad feelings and wants very much to renew his relationship with Dagny. He suggests they go away for a while to gain some perspective on their lives and bring them closer together again. He hires a yacht to sail from enchanting Indonesia to the beautiful Maldives. He believes the time on the ocean might help them both find peace and wholeness again. Brad is excited to go on this trip. Dagny is quite reluctant, her feelings being tainted by her recent trauma of having lost her baby girl, and also by past experiences that leave her only with feelings of dread about being on the water for so long and away from humanity other than Brad. In Furious: Sailing Into Terror by Jeffrey James Higgins, Dagny’s reluctant feelings end up being far from paranoic. From the moment they leave the harbor in Bali, and their yacht glides away from civilization, a terrifying and perilous journey awaits them. All of Dagny’s initial feelings of dread and anxiety become a real nightmare when she finds herself alone on a yacht she hardly knows how to sail, with Brad who has suddenly fallen ill and turns into a predator hunting for his prey in the middle of nowhere.
Jeffrey James Higgins’s Furious: Sailing Into Terror very skillfully drew me into a nightmarish place where his characters struggle to understand each other’s essential selves. The mood remains desperate from the very beginning until the absolute last page, as the fates of both Brad and Dagny remain uncertain. Jeffrey cleverly paints Brad’s transformation into an unrecognizable beast threatening the very existence of Dagny who has no place to hide or escape. You end up asking yourself whether you really know a person’s very essence. You also wonder to what extent one must react and respond to survive in the most extreme moments of dread, uncertainty, and aloneness. Jeffrey had me in suspense throughout as he painted an abysmal picture, where the predicaments of both Brad and Dagny become emotionally intense. I could not shake this feeling of dread, as both of their lives are threatened by some unknown, terrifying, furious transformation, where neither character recognizes the other, and where it eventually seems that the only way through the terror might be that one character must perish if the other is to survive. A real page-turner for horror fans!
Recommend this book:
Bad Medicine
A Medical Thriller
Geoffrey M Cooper
2021 Silver Medal
259 Pages
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Fiction - Thriller - Medical
Bad Medicine: A Medical Thriller by Geoffrey M Cooper is a taut ride of suspense that won't let you go. Professor Brad Parker thinks he's living an average life among academics in his new position as a temporary director at a research institute. But there is nothing routine about the deaths that occur during clinical trials. As suspicions rise, Brad is knee-deep in blackmail, sabotage, and possibly murder. He and Karen Richmond, FBI agent and partner, are in a race against time to solve the mystery, ending up in the crosshairs of a hired killer.
Cooper is a master at the medical thriller, cleverly weaving medicine into a dramatic conspiracy plot. Some novels go over the top in their attempts and end up being unconvincing, but this author has the perfect balance. Not only are the plot, characters, and dialogue believable, they would be quite chilling if true. From the first page, you are drawn like a magnet into the story. Brad Parker is a well-realized character and plays off Karen in a believable way. You are completely entrenched in this mystery, and you're compelled to ride it out to its conclusion. I love the science combined with the action, and the author's background and expertise in research lend authenticity. I enjoy Cooper's style, which is explanatory, but not overly so. He gets to the point and keeps moving forward, which makes for a perfect pace. Fans of Robin Cook medical thrillers will love Bad Medicine: A Medical Thriller by Geoffrey M Cooper.
Recommend this book:
Condition Black
Gareth Worthington, Stu Jones
2021 Bronze Medal
346 Pages
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Fiction - Thriller - Medical
Condition Black by Stu Jones and Gareth Worthington is an action thriller with a bucketful of romance. Set in the future, the story revolves around two men who have a huge burden to bear, and only one of them can do the right thing. A war correspondent in Syria, Marie comes back to the USA with a bacterial disease that is slowly killing her. Now that she is in a coma, her brilliant scientist husband Evan Weyland is ready to do whatever it takes to find a cure for the unknown disease. Criminal Investigation Commander Captain Billy Vicks gets wind of Marie’s condition and a suspicious attack sanctioned on Syria. He believes something is wrong and wants to get to the bottom of it before it is too late. Both men are hellbent on achieving their goals, and only one can be the winner. Who will win this race against time?
I love it when authors do their due diligence in research, and it shows. You can tell that Stu Jones and Gareth Worthington read up on the autism spectrum, studied people who fall into this spectrum, and then wrote Evan’s character. His mannerisms and quirks are scarily accurate. Condition Black is an action-packed thriller with a fast pace and incredible development. All the characters are given a background that readers can explore. Billy’s character is my favorite (although Eva comes in at a close second). He has demons in the closet that rattle hard to come out, but he keeps his focus on the task at hand and does not let his personal life get in the way of duty. The authors add twists and turns at the right moments, introduce action to keep the story moving forward, and above all, they keep the story real!
Recommend this book:
Unethical
A Psychological Thriller
Marla L. Anderson
2021 Honorable Mention
296 Pages
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Fiction - Thriller - Medical
Unethical: A Psychological Thriller by Marla L. Anderson is a powerful medical thriller that will have you turning pages until the jarring conclusion. Josephine "Jo" Rinaldi has her hands full with her legal career and an elderly father with a dementia diagnosis. At her boss's suggestion, she grabs an opportunity that helps her father and herself: a research study that he can participate in. A win-win. Her father will receive good medical care from Dr. Kessler at the residential facility. She can continue her career, which helps fund his care. Little do they know that both of their lives are now in jeopardy. When Dr. Kessler doesn't give her answers, she turns to Scott Benson, a private investigator, for help, hoping he can look into the facility for the answers she needs. Scott finds out about a chain of deaths that don't add up, and Jo suspects something unethical is going on. Hence, she attempts to reclaim custody of her father. She thinks she has an ally in Scott but does she? Tensions multiply when the doctor won't allow Jo to have custody of her own father again.
Anderson lays out a taut medical drama that has all the trimmings. A perfect plot, engrossing characters that don't always fit the expected good guy/bad guy mold, some surprises, and writing that pulls you in and holds you captive until the final scene. This author has a real talent for characterization and builds it well through backstory, relationships, and a relatable plot. A lot of working adult children today grapple with the same issues Jo does. Her family history isn't perfect, but she's trying to do right by her father and hopes their relationship can improve before it's too late. These things help connect readers to the story and to the characters. It makes you care that much more when danger enters the picture. Some medical thrillers seem farfetched, but this one is quite convincing. The aspect of Jo trying to win her father's respect, and live up to the memory of her deceased older brother, is moving, so there is a level of pathos and personal struggle that you don't always find in a thriller. Their relationship feels real, not contrived, and the ending will bring tears to your eyes. Unethical: A Psychological Thriller by Marla L. Anderson is a medical roller coaster you don't want to miss.
Recommend this book:
Guardian of Deceit
William H Coles
2021 Finalist
316 Pages
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Fiction - Thriller - Medical
Guardian of Deceit by William H Coles is an entertaining literary novel with well developed and rock solid characters. Darwin Hastings is an orphan and has been under the care of his aunt until she can’t take care of him any longer. Now, he boards a plane from Pittsburgh to New York to join his cousin, a football star, Luther Pinnelli. But things aren’t what he’d expected to find. His cousin is a self-serving and arrogant guy who lives luxuriously and does everything to make life miserable for Darwin, including cutting his access to an inheritance that is rightfully his. Darwin is determined to win and to pursue his dreams of studying medicine. Read on to find out how he learns to be shrewd, to connect with people that matter, and to get the help he needs to achieve his goals.
William H Coles is a terrific writer and he creates a story in Guardian of Deceit that will both entertain and inspire readers. The characters are believable and readers can easily connect to them. I enjoyed the portrait of Darwin Hastings, a young, energetic, determined, and resourceful personality. The conflict in this story is well developed, and while the reader watches with keen attention as the relationship between the protagonist and his cousin gets tenser, they also enjoy the psychological and personal conflicts in the characters. I loved the writing and the author’s unique signature phraseology. Here is a compelling story woven with great characters, a gripping plot, and a conflict that escalates quickly and with a perfect and satisfying finish.
Recommend this book:
Forever
A Medical Thriller
Geoffrey M Cooper
2020 Gold Medal
184 Pages
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Fiction - Thriller - Medical
When two FBI agents showed up in the research laboratory at Harvard’s Institute for Genomic Engineering, professor Brad Parker was irritated and skeptical. His goal was to use his sabbatical year for his own research while being relieved from his teaching duties at Boston Technological Institute. He was surprised when the agents asked for his assistance regarding the possibility of a Chinese spy in the laboratory. Brad’s almost live-in partner, Karen Richmond, was also an FBI agent, and he asked her advice before agreeing to become involved. In Forever: A Medical Thriller, written by Geoffrey M. Cooper, a riveting adventure unfolds. While Karen is immersed in tracking down a serial killer, Brad becomes enmeshed in a treacherous scheme.
One of the most compelling aspects of this book is the depiction of medical research. Brad’s continual search for grant funding, competitiveness, and cooperation among researchers and the quest for life-changing treatments illustrate the complex realities of medical progress. It is an interesting, behind-the-scenes look at how medical advances are made. Additionally, there is a large cast of fascinating characters, and it takes time to determine which ones are the criminals. The plot is well-crafted and easy to read. The story is balanced well, moving smoothly from the research lab to the personal relationship between Brad and Karen. Author Geoffrey M. Cooper has written a chilling page-turner in Forever: A Medical Thriller. This gripping tale has many unexpected twists and turns, and the ending is unforeseen. It is a captivating read!
Recommend this book:
Night Zero
Rob Horner
2020 Silver Medal
374 Pages
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Fiction - Thriller - Medical
Night Zero is a work of zombie fiction with science fiction themes, horror elements, and small-town terror, and was penned by author Rob Horner. In this story set in contemporary times, scientists have discovered a mass-vaccination method, but the inevitable disaster occurs and a dangerous contagion is suddenly out on the loose. It results in an illness that creates hyper-aggressive monsters who spread their illness through violence, dead or alive. The central action takes place in the hospital of a tight-knit community where survival is key. So begins a thrilling and exciting page-turner with plenty of sudden scares and clever plot devices at play.
As a huge fan of the zombie horror genre, it was a great experience to encounter such an intimate and psychological take on classic ideas. Author Rob Horner delivers a highly original narrative to add flavor to this popular genre, allowing us close insight into the lives of his characters, and indeed some of their afterlives too. The effect is chilling as if one is losing friends in the process, and this creates a highly emotive plot arc and the suspense of wondering who will be next. The plot works on several levels with some politically minded themes working away in the background too, switching perspectives to deliver terror from all angles as the story unfolds. There is also a unique quality of believability to the work which makes it all the eerier, especially from the scientific and governmental points of view. I would highly recommend Night Zero for zombie, horror and sci-fi fans alike.
Recommend this book:
A Cure For Deceit
Margie Miklas
2020 Bronze Medal
360 Pages
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Fiction - Thriller - Medical
When San Francesco travel nurse Allison Jamison becomes concerned with the surgical failings of medical colleague Dr. Gary Tamarino, she is not prepared for the disastrous outcome. Fortunately, Allison is the creator and owner of Critical Cover-Up, a private business that investigates the faulty actions of medical professionals. Dr. T. is famous for his God Complex and cavalier attitude toward others as well as a monstrous ego, but his credentials are impeccable as a cardiothoracic surgeon. Or at least that is the public opinion until Dr. T loses two patients in one week to excessive post-surgery bleeding. Initially, Dr. T. finds an alibi in a vision problem and is relieved to “fix” the issue with medication, temporarily assuaging Allison’s concerns. But when Mark Derning, a Cover-Up employed private investigator discovers an even darker side to Gary Tamarino, Allison’s fears are validated.
Filled with fascinating medical terminology and procedure descriptions, A Cure for Deceit by Margie Miklas is a disturbing, fast-paced novel that plants unfortunate suspicion in the medical world. For conspiracy theorists, this is the perfect conversation starter. As a romance grows between main characters Allison and Mark, much needed reading tension is sporadically placed to balance a mix of suspense and surprise. Author Margie Miklas successfully uses her knowledge of the medical profession to give adequate reality to this story. A nicely placed balance of good and evil between medical partners Tamarino and Dr. Kumar Chanrami furthers the believability of A Cure for Deceit.
Recommend this book:
Fatal Limit
Inge-Lise Goss
2020 Honorable Mention
209 Pages
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Fiction - Thriller - Medical
Fatal Limit is a work of thriller fiction on a medical theme, penned by author Inge-Lise Goss. To most people, the death of a nurse named Sheila looks very much like a tragic accident when the woman walks out of the hospital and perishes in traffic. But to her best friend, Dora, the truth is far from simple. Searching for answers amid her grief, Dora discovers a devious world of crime and betrayal that leads her back to the star surgery staff of the very hospital where Sheila worked. Could the hidden secrets, affairs, and drama in the shadows of the hospital itself be the very reason that her friend is no longer alive?
This short and pacey thriller novel rockets through different layers of intrigue, crime, lies and interpersonal drama like a soap opera on steroids, giving readers a quick read that’s literally to die for. Author Inge-Lise Goss writes snappy dialogue and quick discovery moments that are sure to shock from page to page, presenting well-defined characters who we can relate to instantly, yet make deeper judgments on as the novel progresses. From chapter to chapter, the structure keeps you reading and guessing, producing a true page-turner with new discoveries and never a dull moment in between. The conclusion of the mystery is also dangerous and satisfying, as Dora gets far too close for comfort to the nasty truth of what happened to her friend. Overall, Fatal Limit is an excellent mystery that is sure to satisfy fans of all ages.
Recommend this book:
Toxic Spirits
Inderjeet Mani
2020 Finalist
266 Pages
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Fiction - Thriller - Medical
Toxic Spirits by Inderjeet Mani is the story of a man who tries to make the best of the situation he is in, but it seems like powerful forces around him have other plans. Benton moved away from his country to Thailand when his wife died. He used to be an intelligence analyst in Washington D.C, but racism and the harsh realities of his life pushed him to take this step. Living in Thailand, he realizes that finding the peace he was looking for is not possible. Sooner than he realized, he gets involved in the shady world of human trials and experiments that he tries to get out of it. Stuck in the world of human genetic manipulation, he has to fight for his rights and for the rights of other people while trying to survive. Does Benton have what it takes to do what is expected of him?
Exceptionally crafted and impactful, this novel took me on a journey that I wanted to continue. The author described Thailand in such vivid detail that I could easily imagine myself living in the moment with Benton. Benton’s character is very complex, he takes you on a journey, he makes you live his troubles with him and allows you to get up close and personal with him. The pace is fast, the suspense is magical and the narrative impactful. The story is very well-crafted, the author connected the dots in a manner that left me amazed. This is an exceptional novel, one that had me riveted from the very beginning until the very end. It was simply fantastic!