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:
A Different Plan
Johannes Adendorff
2017 Honorable Mention
308 Pages
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Christian - Living
Some autobiographies are so inspiring that readers can feel strongly connected with the protagonist. A Different Plan by Johannes Adendorff is one of those. It’s a story of faith, of hope, and personal transformation. In the very early years of his life and just after returning from the military, Johannes proclaimed that he’d never set foot in a church anymore, distraught and disappointed by the hypocrisy he witnessed in church leaders. Traveling from South Africa to Colorado Plains, his life became a roller coaster as he indulged in different skills, including sky-diving and software programming. Although he lived through an adrenaline-charged lifestyle, he suffered an emptiness within, a kind of restlessness that resulted from his conviction that something was really missing to make life meaningful. He needed God. This memoir documents his journey back to faith and how it sustained him through the incredible odds life threw at him, including cancer.
There is a lot to enjoy in this memoir. It isn’t just an autobiography that seeks to present a series of events. It’s an inspiring story of how one man lost and found God, a story that will motivate and encourage readers to allow God to guide them. The narrative voice is beautiful and clear, and it comes across as powerful in the crisp and enticing prose. There are many dramatic moments in the story and the reader can see God’s hand in the events of the life of the protagonist. For instance, he writes: “I had cancer. The reality of it sunk in, but I did not make any move to answer the doctor. He looked at me, waiting for a reaction. I did not panic or even feel tears filling my eyes. I knew that there had to have been a reason for God to allow this illness.” A Different Plan is a gift of faith, a story that has the potential to inspire, motivate, and empower readers on their spiritual journey and in their search for meaning.
Recommend this book:
Addicted to His Presence
Beth Stewart
2017 Finalist
112 Pages
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Christian - Living
Addicted to His Presence by Beth Stewart is a fantastic read and she writes in the voice of someone I'd like to sit down and have a conversation with. Stewart wants to help people fill the emptiness in their lives with God instead of drugs, work, alcohol or any other type of unhealthy relationship. While addiction is normally considered to be a bad thing, Stewart invites us all to become addicted to God's presence. This different approach to addiction is carefully laid out in chapters including those defining "His Presence," defining addictions, exploring the benefits of being addicted to His Presence, and how to become addicted to and remain in His Presence.
The cover of Addicted to His Presence by Beth Stewart is very eye-catching and is what drove me to want to read this book. It depicts a person craving God so badly that he is indeed "Addicted to His Presence." I could relate to the introduction to the book indicating that we often fill our emptiness with things that are bad for us - mine tends to be chocolate - but that if we would only fill that hole with God, we would be healed from unhealthy addiction and filled with a health addiction to His Presence. Reading Addicted to His Presence by Beth Stewart is like talking to a Christian friend who is explaining all of the love God has in store for you, if you will allow His Presence into your life.
Recommend this book:
Stand
Staying Balanced With Answers for Real Teen Life
Shannon Perry
2017 Bronze Medal
160 Pages
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Christian - Living
Author Shannon Perry defines the word “stand” as: A. An attitude toward a particular issue; a position taken in an argument. B. Have or maintain an upright position, supported by one’s feet. C. Withstand an experience or test without being damaged. In her nonfiction book Stand: Staying Balanced With Answers for Real Teen Life, Perry offers advice on real life issues plaguing today’s teen girls. With a liberal, but not overbearing sprinkling of Biblical scripture, the advice given in this guide book is both refreshing and useful. As she relays stories from her own life, Shannon Perry draws in her young readers with assurances that they are not alone in this journey called life. She states that her goal is “to offer practical answers to situations you may face as a teen,” and I believe that she has thoroughly accomplished her goal. With the assistance of her Study Group Girls, Shannon Perry proves that she is a true teacher with a vested interest in her teen students.
I sincerely believe that Stand: Staying Balanced With Answers for Real Teen Life is a necessary addition to every girl’s personal library. It is an easy, yet compelling book that inspires the reader to re-read and highlight passages for further review and affirmation that God and life accept us, no matter what. Perry’s advice and suggestions offer comfort and common sense instruction for the very real issues of sex, bullying, friendship, and self-affirmation that are sorely needed in the life of every young girl. I wish this book had been around when I needed it most.
Recommend this book:
Ask God
My 30-Day Experiment with Prayer and Its Potential to Answer Yours
Kyle L.B. Morey
2017 Silver Medal
428 Pages
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Christian - Living
Ask God by Kyle L.B. Morey includes a writing per day over a 30-day period that this reader found to be enlightening and most helpful on how to grow in devotion to our Creator and make the most of life “while we are here visiting this wonderful planet we call Earth.” Morey shares his formula with us on how to grow our relationship with God: 1) Begin by praying to God and thanking Him for His word found in the Scriptures; 2) Ask God your most important question that day; and 3) Read randomly in the Scriptures, “pleading for the Spirit to guide us,” continuing to read until we get our answer.
A new gem is revealed in each day’s reading of Ask God by Kyle L.B. Morey. Just some of the topics are: faith, hope, fear, strength, wisdom, prosperity, thankfulness, belief and action. We read about how to overcome depression – “When I choose to be negative and depressed, I am choosing to ignore God and his Blessings that surround me including the ability to breathe” - and how to find joy in the Sabbath, God’s special gift to us. Each daily reading closes with the author praying for his reader, or asking the reader to pray for both of us. You get the feeling that Morey really cares about his readers and wants us to grow with God as he has. The readings and interactive assignments inspired me to bring God into my daily life, not just at church on Sunday. Too many times I begin my days and my projects without asking for God’s guidance and blessing. This book is an excellent reminder to do just that.
Recommend this book:
Touching the Heart of God
Embracing the Calendar of the Kingdom
Paul Wilbur
2016 Finalist
140 Pages
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Christian - Living
Touching the Heart of God: Embracing the Calendar of the Kingdom by Paul Wilbur is one of the spiritual books that will awaken readers to the consciousness of God’s kingdom and His will for humanity. In this book, the preacher and musician Paul Wilbur leads readers to discover God in the celebration of the different feasts through which God opens His heart, communicating His love and grace. The message of this book is centered on the idea that celebrating the feasts of God with devotion and openness of spirit leads worshipers into the very heart of God where He so generously communicates His secrets.
Touching the Heart of God: Embracing the Calendar of the Kingdom by Paul Wilbur is written in a style that is accessible, a language that is gentle and beautiful, like the author’s music. Drawing from the authority of the Bible, Wilbur establishes the importance of celebrating God through the different seasons of God’s calendar, expounding on themes such as oneness with God, humility, the laws of God, the mercy and benevolence of God, God’s purpose for humankind, man’s ultimate freedom, and a lot, lot more.
Touching the Heart of God: Embracing the Calendar of the Kingdom is a powerful invitation to enter into a life of grace and ultimate union with God. It will be one of the important tools for a spiritual revival in a world where God is swiftly replaced by science and technology. Paul Wilbur writes with authority and conviction, offering a message that is as universal as it is timeless. His writing will forever allow readers to feel the heartbeat of God.
Recommend this book:
Faith Steps for Military Families
Spiritual Readiness Through the Psalms of Ascent
Lisa Nixon Phillips
2016 Finalist
200 Pages
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Christian - Living
Faith Steps for Military Families: Spiritual Readiness Through the Psalms of Ascent by author Lisa Nixon Phillips is a fantastic guide for families, military or otherwise. A well organized read in which each chapter focuses on one particular biblical reference in Psalms and applies it to modern day life, this read provides guidance for many who are going through struggles. Author Lisa Nixon Phillips is an experienced military wife, and her guidance coupled with the guidance from the Holy Bible make Faith Steps for Military Families an absolutely wonderful resource.
I very much enjoyed Faith Steps for Military Families: Spiritual Readiness Through the Psalms of Ascent. Author Lisa Nixon Phillips writes with a compassion for her readers that can only come with personal experience in what they are going through. Her writing style is clear, honest and heart felt, and her readers will be able to tell that her passion is helping military families through her Christian faith. Many will find insight and inspiration in her words. If that isn't a hallmark of a wonderful Christian writer, I guess I am not sure what is. Military families dealing with frequent moves, separation due to deployment, and other stresses that are simply part of the life of those living in the military will find special meaning in Lisa Nixon Phillips' words.
Any reader who enjoys books that help them to explore their Christianity, inspirational guides, or works that help them to grow their faith, and especially military families, will love this book. I highly recommend this book, and will certainly look for more from the very promising author, Lisa Nixon Phillips, in the future.
Recommend this book:
Warrior Wife
Overcoming the Unique Struggles of a Military Marriage
Hillary Sigrist
2016 Honorable Mention
112 Pages
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Christian - Living
What a fantastic book! Although I am not a Warrior Wife, as the wife of a police officer, I found a lot of relatable words of wisdom in Hillary Sigrist's Warrior Wife: Overcoming the Unique Struggles of a Military Marriage. It broke my heart when she wrote about having to move across country after one of her husband's eight-month deployments, only to have him re-deployed within a week. Sigrist covers topics like military brats, deployment, how important it is to have a good support system, and much more in this gem of a book. I laughed when she talked about the inability to plan anything in a military life and considers "plan" to be a four-letter word. While I had never thought of it this way, Sigrist makes a good point about military wives with children being single parents. She refers to them as "Mommy Warriors."
Hillary Sigrist's Warrior Wife: Overcoming the Unique Struggles of a Military Marriage is a comfort for military spouses. Not only does Sigrist talk about the unique struggles of a military marriage, but she also provides advice that can help any marriage. I appreciated the scripture quotes and interweaving of faith-based marriages contained in this book. Warrior Wife definitely provides insight, understanding, and tools to equip a new military spouse. Warrior Wife is a great book for anyone to read as it is inspiring and helps us better understand what our military families are sacrificing for us.
Recommend this book:
Monkeys in My Coconut Tree
Stories of Faith, Fun & Family
Ed Thompson
2016 Silver Medal
131 Pages
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Christian - Living
A title like Monkeys in My Coconut Tree: Stories of Faith, Fun & Family by Ed Thompson certainly grabbed my attention and had me hoping for some lighthearted humor, and I found that and so much more! Ed Thompson provides a fantastic compilation of short stories with Monkeys in My Coconut Tree that certainly deserves a second reading. I have to admit that when I first picked up this book I found myself hooked and read it as fast as I could because I wanted to know what humorous story Mr. Thompson might share next. Along with the humor, though, are little gems of inspirational insight that give this book a devotional type quality that allows the reader to understand God's wisdom and love.
Each story is told in a very relatable manner that easily draws you in, and the descriptions allowed me to feel like I was in the midst of each story, seeing it unfold through the author's eyes. There was often tongue in cheek humor, but sometimes laugh out loud moments as well. However, each story also shares a "God" moment too, and it's those moments that touch the heart and provide inspiration. From the story of the author getting a pedicure with his daughter to the one about the monkey breaking his arm, each one is unique and often tickles the funny bone. Some stories were a bit poignant, such as the one where he shares about his daughter being married. Mr. Thompson has a knack for pairing the perfect scripture with each story in order to provide a spiritual connection to how God often works in life. The author doesn't just share life lessons; he also shares God lessons. Monkeys in My Coconut Tree is a book that put a smile on my face and provided a spiritually refreshing boost for my heart.
Recommend this book:
Teach Your Child to Fish
Five Money Habits Every Child Should Master
Holly D. Reid
2016 Gold Medal
65 Pages
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Christian - Living
Teach Your Child to Fish: Five Money Habits Every Child Should Master by Holly D. Reid is a tool for parents to teach their children the value of money and how to make good financial decisions. She uses scripture quotes from the Bible to support each chapter, such as “Good planning and hard work lead to prosperity but hasty shortcuts lead to poverty.” (Proverbs 21:5 NLT) as well as the one that lends itself to the title of the book, “Give a man a fish and he will eat for a day. Teach a man to fish and he’ll eat for a lifetime.” (Chinese Proverb). The first few chapters teach lessons on the benefits of hard work and its rewards, and the difference between needs and wants. Each chapter is followed by activities that parents can use with their children to help enforce the habits that the lessons teach.
Teach Your Child to Fish: Five Money Habits Every Child Should Master by Holly D. Reid is a well-developed, structured, yet fun and easy approach for parents to teach financial lessons to their children. The five chapters cover spending wisely, saving, using credit responsibly, giving generously, and being rewarded for hard work – everything a parent should be teaching a child about money. You can tell that author Holly D. Reid is passionate about this subject and that passion is contagious once you start reading the book. Teach Your Child to Fish: Five Money Habits Every Child Should Master is a must-read for parents wishing to ensure the financial success of their children by giving them a foundation on how to handle money.
Recommend this book:
The Warrior's Bride
Biblical Strategies to Help the Military Spouse Thrive
Kathy Barnett, Carrie Daws
2015 Finalist
352 Pages
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Christian - Living
The Warrior’s Bride by Kathy Barnett and Carrie Daws is a Christ-centered, scripturally based training and support manual for military wives. In a series of alternating testimonials written in an easy-to-read, conversational style, Barnett and Daws offer encouragement and guidance tailored specifically to military wives and based on significant Bible verses and scriptural teachings, all infused with the overarching message that God must be in the mix for a marriage to survive the stresses and trials of military life.
Barnett and Daws freely share their own experiences and perspectives, offering hope, advice, and scripture-inspired spiritual guidance in equal measure. The Warrior’s Bride is chock-full of hard-won wisdom applicable to such diverse topics as helplessness, depression, crises of faith, infidelity, fear of death, coping with stress, the threat of divorce, and negative influences from pornography to peer pressure. By choosing to tell their own stories with complete candor and by relating each chapter to specific, time-tested verses of scripture, Barnett and Daws establish a solid ‘you can trust me’ foundation which allows the text to read like a privileged conversation rather than a run-of-the-mill self-help treatise. The Warrior’s Bride is aptly subtitled Biblical Strategies to Help the Military Spouse Survive. It is exactly what its apt title suggests: a no-nonsense, from-the-heart spiritual toolkit for military wives whose marriages are threatened daily by forces conventional spouses can only imagine.
The Warrior’s Bride is filled with the particular warmth and caring that only a manuscript written as a gift can engender. From first word to last, it is clear that the authors earnestly wish to bring hope and comfort to their readers. In keeping with this selfless dynamic, much of the text offers insight and inspiration applicable to civilian marriages as well. The Warrior’s Bride by Kathy Barnett and Carrie Daws is an uplifting, deeply nurturing gift for the soul-weary and faith challenged, offering hope and renewal for women - and men - from all walks of life.