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:
Deadman's Fury
The Deadman Series Book 2
Linell Jeppsen
2015 Honorable Mention
312 Pages
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Fiction - Western
Deadman's Fury (The Deadman Series Book 2) by Linnell Jeppsen is the second book in a classical Western story. In this tale set in 1892, Amelia Winters is sent to live with her Aunt Iris. Before they can meet up with the rest of the family, Sheriff Matthew Wilcox, Iris’ husband, finds out that Amelia has been abducted, one of many hundreds of women who have been sold into slavery for sexual purposes. He learns that an auction of these girls is about to take place and he must get there before it happens. The sheriff and his men set off, making life difficult for the bandits who have the girls. The outlaws decide that they must get rid of the sheriff, but Matthew is not about to make things easy for them. Can Matthew get to the girls in time?
Deadman's Fury (The Deadman Series Book 2) by Linnell Jeppsen is a sequel to a book I didn’t get to read so I hope I haven’t given anything away. It was a gripping story, written in true Western style and full of drama and surprise at every turn. Each character has something to hide, a motive that could put them in the frame, and this makes the story into a 'can’t-put-down' book. Clearly, a great deal of thought has gone into this and it really shows in the way it has been written. This is a must-read for anyone who loves the Western genre, but I guarantee that even those who aren’t fans will enjoy this. I would like to have read the first one and definitely want to read any others in the series.
Recommend this book:
Yancy
The Landon Saga, Book 5
Tell Cotten
2015 Bronze Medal
164 Pages
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Fiction - Western
Yancy by Tell Cotten is the latest installment in The Landon Saga. This book focuses mainly on Yancy with a side spotlight on Cooper Landon. Yancy has been a lawman most of his life, with his latest job as peacekeeper being in Midway, Texas. Politics have changed though and now he finds himself forced to run for the office of sheriff, instead of just being appointed. When his older brother Cooper learns a young boy has been kidnapped by the Apache, he vows to rescue him and, of course, Yancy isn't going to let him go alone. Will Yancy be elected sheriff and how will he and Cooper ever outsmart an old Indian enemy?
It's no wonder Tell Cotten is an award winning author; his writing style is smooth and easy to read, and he always leaves me wanting to read more about his characters! His way with words easily gets me into the mindset of the time period, allowing me to imagine the dangers that seemed to lurk at each turn. He also captures the ideal that it took a special kind of man to be a lawman and he creates that special man with Yancy. The entire Landon clan seems to have a propensity for doing what's right, even though it's usually far from easy. I found it amusing that Yancy seemed to get tongue tied when he was around a certain female, and I can only hope that perhaps someday he will finally get his girl. Mr. Cotten does a wonderful job of balancing a tightly woven, sometimes tense plot with the right amount of witty banter between the characters to provide a bit of levity to lighten the mood, something that makes his writing seem very realistic. I found more than a few laugh out loud moments where Cooper and his wife Josie were concerned, especially when it came to her cooking and healing skills.The mention of the Texas Rangers really left me wanting to learn more about their inception, something I hadn't really thought about until reading Yancy.
I have read several of the books in the Landon series and have to say I love the recurring mention of Jug-Head. While the author provides enough background information that this book could be read alone, I highly recommend reading the series in order so that you get a greater understanding of the characters. I admit I somehow missed the last book, but plan on remedying that situation right away. Anyone looking for an engaging western read that provides great characters, more than a bit of danger and a plot that will pull you right back to the days when the west was still untamed should check out Tell Cotten's series, The Landon Saga.
Recommend this book:
Lantern in the Mist
Book One
Liliana Shelbrook
2015 Silver Medal
224 Pages
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Fiction - Western
Lantern in the Mist, Book One by Liliana Shelbrook is one of the best books I have read in an incredibly long time. I was pulled in and felt the joy and the sadness, and cried and laughed along with Kathleen from page one until the very last words. Kathleen Colby is a young woman living in the difficult times of 1899, having full responsibility for the care of Josie, her paralyzed sister. Kathleen has little knowledge of the real world, but lives through the romance of her books. Kathleen and Josie start in Alaska and the trek takes them to New York City before it is over. When Kathleen’s mother dies and she is forced to be on her own, it becomes a long and painful journey for the sisters. Kathleen makes some bad choices and picks some bad men and is forced to flee several times, always carrying Josie in her arms with their few meager belongings and an old horse named Joe. She finally vows to let no man ever get close to her again, but when Sam rescues her from several dangerous situations, the sisters are forced to have him accompany them on their travels as they finally reach New York City.
I cannot say enough good things about Lantern in the Mist. It was impossible to put it down and leave Kathleen, Josie and Sam behind even for a little while. My chores were left undone until I finished the book and I am anxiously awaiting the next one. Liliana Shelbrook has easily jumped to the top of my favorite authors list. Lantern in the Mist has it all; life in the old west, romance, heartache, happiness, a good plot, strong characters, a very likeable heroine and hero, and so much more. Lantern in the Mist is a Ten Star Winner. Lantern in the Mist is a must-read for everyone. Thank you, Liliana Shelbrook, for a few hours of total enjoyment.
Recommend this book:
New Frontier of Love
American Wilderness Series Romance Volume 2
Dorothy Wiley
2015 Gold Medal
316 Pages
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Fiction - Western
A challenging journey has led Captain Sam Wyllie, his family, and two lone women to Boonesborough, Kentucky, in search of new lands and a new life in New Frontier of Love: American Wilderness Series Romance Volume 2 by Dorothy Wiley. Full of pain after losing his first and only love to the horrors of the Revolutionary war, Sam distinguished himself with bravery and determination, fighting for the fledgling country. These same traits bring him into conflict with a disreputable bunch of buffalo hunters who promise to make Sam’s life difficult when he won’t give in to their demands. The family sticks together to face the various threats that come their way and Catherine, one the two women rescued along the trail, becomes more and more important to Sam, warming his frozen heart. Subject to complicated laws regarding the acquisition of land and legal issues arising from trumped up charges, Sam takes the lead in securing his family’s safety and future in the only way his warrior’s soul knows how – fighting for his beliefs like a man. Will the frontier prove to be too wild for the Wyllies to make a new life for themselves or will frontier justice work in their favor, allowing Sam to relax and let love in?
The American frontier of the late 1700s in nearly virgin Kentucky is the beautiful setting for New Frontier of Love: American Wilderness Series Romance Volume 2 by Dorothy Wiley. Vivid descriptions of the land, the people and the hardships create the historical background for this romance/adventure story full of action, emotion and excitement. The love story simmers slowly until near the end but the entire book is full of a wide range of feelings shared by family and close friends who have endured a tremendous amount of difficulty while looking hopefully toward a better future. Volume 2 stands well on its own merits although there are occasional references to events that occurred in Volume 1. The simple knowledge of these trials is all that is needed to relate to the action in Frontier of Love so further discussion is not warranted. More than just a romance, this book explores the challenges faced by pioneers of the American frontier. Excellent story! The characters really come alive and the experiences they face are deeply moving. Great action, wonderful historical insights and beautiful descriptions of a wild, virgin land.
Recommend this book:
Cooper
Tell Cotten
2014 Finalist
196 Pages
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Fiction - Western
Cooper by Tell Cotten opens in 1872 in New Mexico Territory. There are a few stories going on within the pages of this book. The author transitions so smoothly and ties them together so expertly that I was left satisfied, but his knack for storytelling left me wanting more! Cooper Landon and his brother Yancy set out to find the man that robbed a stagecoach and murdered several people. Along the way, they meet a woman named Josie who was raised by the Apache. When Cooper is shot in the hip, his brother leaves Cooper and Josie at the Midway trading post and continues the search. About this time, Josie spots several Apache Indians painted for war so she convinces Cooper to leave and head into the mountains. After a week, they decide to go home and that's when Cooper finds himself facing outlaws and what looks like certain death. Meanwhile Yancy gets his man and realizes that Cooper is missing and decides to search for him. With plenty of outlaws, Indians, and a few lawmen roaming around on the mountain, one can't help but wonder what's going to happen.
Tell Cotten certainly knows how to tell a story. His ability to create strong, well-fleshed characters and a page-turning, action-packed read kept me riveted from beginning to end! He truly portrays the way the west was, with gun fights, the good guy going after the bad guy, and of course stage coach robberies and Indians. With all this packed into the story there was never a dull moment. The descriptive prose really had me imagining the scenes as they unfolded. I found myself laughing on more than one occasion, but also totally surprised more than once as well. Plenty of well thought out action made the plot zoom along, allowing me to read this book in one sitting. I loved the character of Cooper; it seemed that something was always going on where he was concerned. While Cooper is the third book in the Landon saga, it can easily be read as a stand-alone work. The author provides a glimpse of Rondo, the next book in the Landon Saga and I can't wait to read it!
Recommend this book:
PUHA
Master of the Wild - Volume 1
J Bradley Van Tighem
2014 Honorable Mention
498 Pages
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Fiction - Western
J Bradley Van Tighem’s novel Puha, Master of the Wild, Volume 1, unravels in the late 1700s, when wolves, buffaloes, and grizzly bears freely wandered the southern plains of Texas. This was also the time when Comanche Indians roamed the land with their horses, spears, knives, bows and arrows, and puha or spiritual power. In this setting, a 12-year-old white boy, who will later earn the name Many Wolves, is adopted by Painted Wings and Red Arrow of the Lipan Comanche tribe. He is frequently bothered by memories of the murder of his real parents by men with painted faces. When his adopted tribe is attacked by the Nokoni Comanche, led by Laughing Crow, who wants to take him in exchange for peace, Many Wolves has to escape into the wilderness of the Texan desert and survive with the help of his animal friends. Laughing Crow is a cruel, ruthless, and powerful warrior while Many Wolves is a gangling little boy who has the gift of walking with the spirits of the animals. In the near future, the bloody paths of these two main protagonists will meet again.
Puha refers to an Indian word, which means spiritual power. This historical novel deals with the Comanche Indian tribe, America’s indigenous people who used to live freely and in harmony with nature. The author’s writing style is fast paced and descriptive. He is certainly able to capture the Comanche spirit. Feared by the colonizers and other Indian tribes, a Comanche warrior can ride his horse faster and farther than almost anyone, and is as skilled with his spears, bow and arrows, or bare hands. Puha, Masters of the Wild, is a well researched story that provides the reader with a lot of information about how the Comanches actually lived at that time. It is interesting to learn about their customs and traditions and their everyday life. The characters in this novel are so well developed and their adventures are described quite vividly that one can imagine how the great warrior Laughing Crow actually killed his enemies. Although it is hard to imagine the life and times of this Indian tribe in today’s modern world, J. Van Tighem succeeded in bringing them to life again in his reader’s imagination with this novel.
Recommend this book:
Terms of Surrender
Lorrie Farrelly
2014 Bronze Medal
347 Pages
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Fiction - Western
Captain Michael Cantrell of the Confederate Army leaves Virginia at the end of the Civil War, his entire life in shambles, his father and brother dead as a result of the war and his childhood home in ruins. His travels have taken him to the gold strike in Montana for a time, but are now carrying him back to his beloved South, his saddlebags full of gold and precious stones. Suddenly, he is sidetracked when he runs into an ambush in progress, where he saves the lives of a young woman and her even younger brother. He is critically injured by a rogue gunman. The target of the ambush is Annie Devlin, the owner of a small farm in Wind River Basin in Wyoming, a place surrounded by more raw beauty than Michael has ever seen. Annie nurses him back to health while trying to protect her land from being taken over by the evil Colonel Randolph, a land baron who wants to buy her out, the very man who hired the gunman to attack her. There is an immediate attraction between the rebel soldier and the beautiful young rancher, but those feelings have to be suppressed. There is no guarantee that Captain Cantrell will stick around.
Terms of Surrender is another beautifully crafted tale by Lorrie Farelly. This story, a mixture of passion and nail-biting suspense, will engage you and continue to hold on until you read the last page. Ms. Farrelly is an author who continues to come out with winners. I highly recommend Terms of Surrender to an audience who likes romantic fiction.
Recommend this book:
Deadman's Lament
Linell Jeppsen
2014 Silver Medal
344 Pages
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Fiction - Western
Settling an old score held Matthew Wilcox in a haunting grip that prevented him from love or finding peace in Deadman’s Lament. Linell Jeppsen unravels the story of a boy who lost his parents and his home at an early age and then found a new home and developed a strong bond with the daughter of the family that took him in. The French couple who had taken him in and loved him as their own were gunned down by a ruthless killer called Top Hat. His childhood sweetheart was stolen away by a Nez Perce chief who had been tracking down Top Hat and had run across the party and killed three men who had been decent to the young boy. Seeing strong medicine in the boy, Redbird let him live and Mattie continued forward, fighting to survive. Finally found by his uncle, Mattie grows to become Sheriff Matthew Wilcox and sets out on the trail to exact vengeance on Top Hat and put his haunting to rest.
Linell Jeppsen has followed along in the shadows of some of the great Western writers of the past and delivered a solid story in Deadman’s Lament. The classic themes of good overcoming evil and survival through enduring fortitude, as well as romance, are well formed in this action-filled story. Plenty of emotion and the sense of doing right draw the reader into a deep empathy with the hero and keep you on the edge of your seat as you watch the struggle unfold for a young man fighting overwhelming odds against a strong and cunning enemy. Full of action and tragedy, yet revealing the dogged fortitude of the western spirit, Deadman’s Lament will send you on a wild ride where guns are blazing and good men will stand straight and tall in the name of justice.
Recommend this book:
The Whip
Karen Kondazian
2014 Gold Medal
302 Pages
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Fiction - Western
The Whip by Karen Kondazian is a Western inspired by the true story of Charlotte “Charley” Parkhurst, an extraordinary woman who lived most of her life in the west as a man. In The Whip, Charley sets out West seeking revenge after falling in love with a runaway slave, then losing him and their family in a horrible way. Dressed as a man she's determined to track down the killer. Once out West, she becomes a stagecoach driver, “Whips”, and along the way to her revenge she kills a famous outlaw, becomes the first woman to vote, and has her housekeeper, unaware that she's a woman, fall in love with her. An extraordinary tale worthy of a movie, The Whip by Karen Kondazian is steeped in historical drama, action, and wonder.
Charley Parkhurst makes for a compelling main character, and especially since The Whip is inspired by a true story, it makes for a very compelling read. It was also very well researched (I loved all the historical tid-bits about piano legs, cat-hauling, and the stagecoach business itself), and Kondazian's novel unfolds cinematically; you can almost feel the sun's rays and smell the horse sweat. While the West has always provided a deep well of creative content, it is always the lesser known, but no less interesting stories that provide the most satisfaction. The Whip by Karen Kondazian is a truly fascinating novel of one woman's determination and grit in the heart of the Old West.
Recommend this book:
The Adventures of The Lone Jack Kid
Joe Corso
2013 Finalist
229 Pages
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Fiction - Western
It is the end of the Civil War and Frank and Jesse James and Cole Younger weren't as well known as Bloody Bill Anderson and Quantrill, yet. Then there was Charles Longstreet who was friends with the James’ and Youngers’. This is his story about a battle in the town of Lone Jack and meeting up with Ned Buntline. Buntline writes a dime novel and Charles unwittingly becomes The Lone Jack Kid. But, the story doesn't stop there. After leaving the Army, Longstreet sets out to help his brother in Virginia City who is having a spot of trouble. It is a long trip and along the way, the legend of the Lone Jack Kid grows as Longstreet meets several gunmen out to make a name for them by challenging him. As his travels continue, he helps out a wagon train and saves a mother and daughter from a group of Indians. Finally arriving in Virginia City he finds out the trouble waiting there. So, knowing he needs help, he sends for his old war friends to aid in his little war. And that is just the beginning.
"The Adventures of the Lone Jack Kid" is a well-written story. The author’s imagination sets a true tale of adventure in a raw land, only beginning to recuperate from a long deadly war. I found myself liking the Kid from the beginning as he unknowingly becomes a true western hero. With swagger and guns blazing, the Kid is determined to do what he thinks best, or else . . . Well done.