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:
I, Jetebais
Robert Martin Bishop

2018 Honorable Mention
Kindle Edition
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Christian - Fiction

I, Jetebais is a work of Christian fiction by author Robert Martin Bishop. Focusing on the deep philosophical questions that plague mankind about the nature of good and evil, the story kicks into gear with central character Jetebais’s descent from Heaven. The story develops into an overall world view focusing especially on the leaders of mankind who we expect to be pillars of good in the community, along with the grim reality that this is not always the case. The influence of evil on humanity points out the modern human race’s central flaws, prompting a debate about forgiveness and the power of Satan.
Robert Martin Bishop writes exceedingly well with a complex and literary vocabulary that will appeal to select audiences searching for an intellectual read. I believe it would also be highly beneficial for readers to be more familiar with the dogma of Christianity and the Bible because there are numerous references that would be more rewarding to the story if they are understood in a biblical context. That said, I found that I was still able to enjoy the central story line and the questions it raised about human nature, and especially the temptation of evil in the corruptions of politicians and other important leaders of the world. I, Jetebais is much more a considered work than a character or plot-driven piece, but the winding story line definitely results in a fascinating and unexpected conclusion that’s well worth reading to reach. Overall, I, Jetebais is a worthy read for its intended audience.
Recommend this book:
The Heavenly Oak
Philip Bauer

2018 Finalist
202 Pages
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Christian - Fiction

What happens when we die? Find out in The Heavenly Oak by Philip Bauer. The story finds several individuals—from varying times and spaces—all at the end of their physical lives on earth. Each of them—a televangelist, superstar performer, Confederate soldier, explorer, and more—find themselves under an idyllic oak tree in another realm of the universe. When they arrive, all find someone is there to greet them. Who is this person and what is the book he has with him? Each person soon discovers that it’s their own book of life and how they react to what they find there determines what happens next. Is death an end or the beginning of something new?
The Heavenly Oak by Philip Bauer presents a picture of heaven that many readers will find familiar and comforting. There is something very reassuring in the way that Bauer writes about the moment of death and one’s arrival at the heavenly oak. And if what comes next seems a bit too easy, the novel makes the definitive point that heaven is available and attainable, but not automatic. In The Heavenly Oak, Philip Bauer presents a lovely picture of heaven and appropriately demonstrates that God is the perfect judge of our lives, taking into account all of our choices and circumstances.
The Heavenly Oak is written as a series of vignettes—one for each individual making the journey to heaven. Each of these people has a unique path and circumstances to appreciate and reckon with. I especially enjoyed the final vignette—one that brings you directly in the path of and to the point of Jesus’s ultimate sacrifice for all sinners. Recommended.
Recommend this book:
Whisper
A Christian Romantic Suspense (The Pete Zendel Series)
Joy Ohagwu

2018 Honorable Mention
Kindle Edition
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Christian - Fiction

What is The New Rulebook? And why is it so powerful? What is it about The New Rulebook that makes life an exercise of deadly suspense and drama and threatens to destroy those close to it? Violet thinks she knows and she wants to make sure that it never sees the light of day. But her twin brother, now CEO of her parents' company, has different ideas. And he has become a threat to Violet’s well-being. Others are caught in the cross-fire: Angel, a police officer, Tim, a close friend of both Angel and Violet, and Angel’s brother, John. There are others, too, whose lives are threatened. Will their faith sustain them and protect them from harm?
Joy Ohagwu’s Christian suspense novel, Whisper: A Christian Romantic Suspense (The Pete Zendel Series), not only has the reader grasping the arm rests as the plot thickens, but also challenging and reasserting their own principals of faith and Christian fellowship. This book is a prequel to a very lengthy series of suspense novels. It introduces characters which will play important roles in the series. The characters are well developed with a key focus on their Christian faith, or lack of it, and how their beliefs project their lives forward as well as assist in the developing plot. The story is full of action-packed confrontations as the characters play out the suspense surrounding this mysterious invention known as The New Rulebook, an invention that has the potential to control the world – and not in a positive way. A powerful story with a very strong plot!
Recommend this book:
The Actress
A Christian Murder Mystery
Michael Hicks Thompson

2018 Bronze Medal
Kindle Edition
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Christian - Fiction

The Actress (A Christian Murder Mystery) by Michael Hicks Thompson is a murder mystery Christian novel that would appeal most to a diverse audience of young adults and adults who enjoy intrigue and detective stories. In the 1960s, a widow named Martha McRae found herself living in a small town located in Mississippi when a dead man is discovered with a note in his hand. Famous actress Tallulah Ivey traveled to Solo in order to film a movie; she never expected there to be a dead man outside of her bedroom window. Is Martha McRae up to the task of solving the murder or will it forever remain a mystery?
The Actress (A Christian Murder Mystery) by Michael Hicks Thompson has a captivating cover that hinted at a story with a woman as a main character. I felt that the cover mirrored the mystery elements of the plot by showing a female form, but hiding the identity of the woman. The book itself was an extremely well-written mystery that allowed me to place myself in the detective’s seat as I attempted to figure out the what, why, and how before Martha McRae. Martha McRae was easily my favorite character with her ability to look beyond the obvious to solve the mystery; it was Martha McRae that truly made the book stand out amongst all the other mystery books that I have read as she was simply a wonderful character. I loved the fact that the author kept the mystery realistic and included elements of Christianity while still staying in the realm of detective fiction.
Recommend this book:
Her Good Girl
Elaine Stock

2018 Silver Medal
330 Pages
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Christian - Fiction

In a sleepy small town in West Virginia, a child struggles to survive. Sadie Tremont feels trapped. She wishes she could be normal like other ordinary kids her age. With her guarded personality, there is little hope she will find the help she needs. Then there is Sky, a loving young lad who has finally gotten Sadie's attention. For once in her life, Sadie starts to feel wanted; she starts to realize that she matters. But can she trust Sky? Elaine Stock weaves in another character that will play a crucial role in Sadie’s life; her name is Callie. As Her Good Girl’s plot picks up pace, Sadie begins to understand that what she is going through is not normal. Despite her grandmother and father’s incomprehension, things start to take a hopeful turn.
Her Good Girl by Elaine Stock is enthralling and, in many ways, informative. For starters, the characters are very well crafted. Sadie, the main character, fits the theme. She is tight-lipped, barely wanting to speak about what she is experiencing. Even so, she is determined to live. This is initially portrayed when she plans a meet-up with Sky, defying Tara-Lynn’s instructions. Elaine Stock sheds light on a syndrome that few know much about. She writes about the symptoms of Munchhausen By Proxy (MBP). Further, she covers the environment in which the syndrome thrives so that it goes unnoticed and how healing and awareness can be achieved. Also included is the reading group guide which helped me put into perspective the main messages that the author wanted to communicate.
Recommend this book:
The Unannounced Christmas Visitor
Patrick Higgins

2018 Gold Medal
Kindle Edition
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Christian - Fiction

The Jensen family - Lydia, her husband John, and their two children, Matthew and Grace - are the main characters that help to teach us the true meaning of Christmas and the reasons for loving Yahweh. The Unannounced Christmas Visitor by Patrick Higgins begins three weeks before Christmas on a Sunday morning while the Jensens are attending church. A smelly homeless man enters and is directed to the last row amid many frowns, scowls and whispers. Lydia is intrigued by the old man and disturbed by the chilly reception from others. He returns the following Sunday and Lydia follows him to the city park, where she discovers that he and many more are living in cold and miserable conditions. She knows in her heart she must do something for these homeless people and decides to bring enough food to feed them all.
The old man’s name is Enoch and we, the readers, are led to believe that he is an angel and has been sent by God on a mission to save a lost soul. At this point John is struggling with life and is confused by his wife’s devotion to these strange, drug addicted homeless souls, but through circumstances he finds himself also taking a liking to Enoch and invites him to be a guest in their home. As the story progresses, Enoch shares the Bible in great detail and explains what it is that Yahweh expects from each of us here on earth. By the time Christmas Eve arrives, the family has changed, the homeless men and women have changed, and Enoch’s work is almost done.
The Unannounced Christmas Visitor is truly an amazing story for both the Christian and the non-Christian. I found myself as a saved Christian stopping to think about the message more than once and taking stock of my real thoughts and motives to be sure that I am indeed living a life pleasing to God. The “Word” cannot be denied because of the great descriptions, explanations and understanding that Patrick Higgins puts into each and every page. This is a must-read for all of us – it will touch your heart in a way few books do; you will laugh and cry; and most of all, you will be uplifted. Please do not pass this one up.
Recommend this book:
Murder for the Time Being
Joanie Bruce

2017 Finalist
322 Pages
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Christian - Fiction

Murder for the Time Being by Joanie Bruce is a fictional mystery suspense novel with a bit of romance that would appeal most to a mixed audience of young adults and adults who enjoy clean reads with no explicit language, sexual situations, or graphic violence. Lexi Wynn is a young computer expert who is terrified for her life after a bank robbery, knowing that someone is after her. Her life is heading downwards fast, with her only hope hinging on her computer skills being enough to help her bring a killer to light, but a car collision with handsome Drew Sheffield might just be enough to turn her life around. Drew Sheffield walks away from the collision with Lexi Wynn lingering in his mind, so when he sees the chance to help her, he seizes it with both hands. Amidst danger and mystery, will these two be able to seize the moment and allow their love to blossom or will it all go down the drain?
Murder for the Time Being by Joanie Bruce has a very vivid cover that hinted at the inner plot of the book without giving anything away; I really liked that Lexi was on the cover as it gave me a clear picture of what she looked like. I only wish Drew could have been on it as well. I personally felt that the author did a good job of balancing the elements of the plot with the attraction between Lexi and Drew. Lexi quickly became my favorite character as she had a sassy personality, good morals, and was willing to fight back instead of giving up. Overall, it was very pleasurable to read a book that had an enjoyable plot, with action that was not bogged down with needless violence and gore!
Recommend this book:
For No Apparent Reason
S.K. Derban

2017 Honorable Mention
252 Pages
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Christian - Fiction

For No Apparent Reason by SK Derban is a murder mystery. Madison is focused on her life as a law student, with no time for frivolous things like romance. Every stage of her life has been planned to precision and she has made peace with not having any real relationships until she has successfully passed the bar exam. Of course, fate always intervenes and when Madison shelters from a spring storm, her life is changed forever. Suddenly, she is on a different path, a path that takes her into a shady world of money laundering, greed, and murder, a path that teaches her how to choose her friends and what love can do for her. How will Madison’s perfectly planned life ever be the same again?
For No Apparent Reason by SK Derban was an interesting story, one that I found very difficult to put down. There is plenty of suspense and plenty of action, all designed to turn a perfect life completely on its head. This book has an intriguing plot with some colorful and well-developed characters living lives that you can’t help but be drawn into. The development of both the story and the characters was drawn out through the book and each chapter brought something new into the mix. This is a delightful combination of suspense, mystery, and romance all rolled into one, a bit more on the light-hearted side and not too much of the dark, heavy stuff you sometimes get in this genre. Highly recommended for anyone who wants a light read that they can’t put down.
Recommend this book:
Martin Hospitality
Martin Generations Volume 1
Abigayle Claire

2017 Honorable Mention
Kindle Edition
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Christian - Fiction

Martin Hospitality is book one in the Martin Generations series by Abigayle Claire, and is a great and inspiring read indeed. Meet eighteen-year-old Gemma Ebworthy, a lonely pregnant woman. She now sleeps in a barn, after being rendered homeless because of her condition, and she doesn’t think things will get better any time soon. But then she must adjust and find her own space within the large Martin family in rural Texas. The Martins seem to attract her in ways she could never have imagined, and when she has to face her past again, she must choose to reveal her entire life to this family animated with a strong Christian faith, and risk gaining their full trust or losing it entirely.
Abigayle Claire’s novel is an inspiring story that centers on hospitality, family, humanity, and faith. The reader is immediately drawn to the young pregnant girl, seeking a home at the beginning of the story, and her encounter with the Martins. The story captures the life of a Christian family living in the rural area; it’s the kind of family one would meet in a developing environment. The joyful and boisterous atmosphere within the family comes across clearly throughout the narrative. The writing is excellent and the prose features vivid descriptions and dialogues that combine humor and wit to enhance the plot. Character development is impeccable and surprises in the plot line are exciting enough to make for a great reading experience. Martin Hospitality is deftly and tightly written, a story with as much entertainment and lessons as anyone can hope for.
Recommend this book:
The Field Trip
Greg Elsasser

2017 Bronze Medal
Kindle Edition
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Christian - Fiction

There is very little that is as it appears to be in The Field Trip, making for a twisting and turning plot that pulls you in and doesn’t let go until the last word of the book. There are many characters in The Field Trip that are necessary to the suspense, but the main character is Chasen Derrick and his most annoying student, Eddie. Chasen is currently working at the Dysart Academy, receiving an unusually large salary that he appreciates but never questions. He halfheartedly agrees to take a class on a field trip to England, and he and the students set off to enjoy their sightseeing in London. The trip is off to a good start until they become bystanders in a fire and then everything is turned upside down and sideways. As they plan to board the bus to the next spot in Oxford, two students are missing and Chasen hurries off to find them. The students load onto the bus and are driven away without their teacher. Chasen then finds himself and Eddie (the missing student) stranded and they soon are being accused of terrible deeds. The two find themselves being the hunted and use all of their strength, wits and knowledge to move from scary situation to life threatening situation. No one is whom they think and everyone they come across may or may not be a friend or the enemy.
The Field Trip kept me up long past my bedtime and had me ignoring my daytime chores. I can honestly say that this is the best Christian fiction suspenseful book I have read in, well, forever. Greg Elsasser is brilliant in his combining of God, mystery, intrigue and fantastic characters. He brings in religion without it becoming overwhelming; suspense permeated throughout the story and believability was top notch. I was never 100% certain if it was all really fiction or if perhaps there was some truth in it; that is how well the story was presented. Please do not pass this one up; it is sooooo good.
