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:
The Circle
Stephen J Galgon
2020 Honorable Mention
426 Pages
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Fiction - General
When I was in high school we had to read a short story titled The Most Dangerous Game. The premise of the story, which suggested that man was the most dangerous animal, is somewhat similar to that presented in The Circle by Stephen J. Galgon. Now, decades later, with a different plot and setting but an equally sinister subject, Calgon re-fired my imagination as I feared and panicked for the protagonist, Doug Goodwin. Doug has been unwillingly recruited into a deadly circle of wealthy people who have a unique and horrible way of keeping themselves amused: hunting down and killing other members of the group before one of them kills you. The opening chapter of The Circle grabs you immediately as you witness a wealthy father killed by a sniper’s bullet while he and his daughter enjoy lunch together in a fancy restaurant. Finding out just who the sniper is, why this man was targeted and how his daughter handled the tragedy won’t become clear till very much later in the story when the new, unwanted life Doug has fallen into intersects with that of the daughter. As he learns, once in, there’s no way out except death.
Can you imagine what it must be like living and watching for your potential killer around every corner, behind every bush, in every crowd of people? Terrifying is putting it mildly. Does Doug survive this most dangerous game and if so, how? Who can he turn to for help when disclosure endangers the lives of family and friends? Doug’s panic is real; keeping one's wits ever on alert is essential and a cool head and clear thinking are paramount. Only the best survive. For a first novel, Stephen J. Galgon checks all the boxes when it comes to creating and keeping the suspense at an all-time high. His characters are captivating. Well-rendered dialogue keeps the pace moving quickly to its logical and deadly conclusion. Readers connect emotionally and mentally with Doug Goodwin, even when the entire situation seems utterly bizarre, even unrealistic. But is it truly unrealistic? Read The Circle and decide for yourself. A real gripper with an intricate and refreshing twist on an old theme.
Recommend this book:
The Destiny
Book III of The Prophecy
Jerena Tobiasen
2020 Bronze Medal
357 Pages
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Fiction - General
The Destiny is Book III of The Prophecy by Jerena Tobiasen, a historical tale featuring compelling characters and strong themes. The story begins with the birth of Miriam in post-war Amsterdam in 1952, and all that Mina Kota and her mother want is to protect the child and preserve her innocence. But as she grows up, she wants her grandmother, Punita, to teach her how to read tarot cards. The grandmother obliges. Miriam soon meets Hart Lange, born into a family of soldiers; a young man who has learned resilience and the value of loyalty from his family. Hart wants a child and Miriam sees a future with him, so she gives in. Mina has warned Hart never to leave Miriam idle but he quickly forgets. Too late, he remembers the warning when Miriam disappears with the child, Matthew. Can Hart find his wife and son?
This is a powerful tale that explores themes of war, love, family, parenting, and heartbreak. It features compelling characters. I particularly enjoyed the way the author writes the character of Miriam. Since her birth, there seem to be external circumstances from which the family wants to protect her. Keeping her innocent is all they want but the involvement with tarot cards spells doom. The Destiny is a twisty tale that is emotionally rich with sophisticated characters. The post-war setting is intelligently depicted and I loved how the author writes the backgrounds of the characters, which makes the reader feel as though they are interacting with real people. The writing is strong and the descriptions are arresting. The story is suspenseful with hints of mystery. I am a fan of Jerena Tobiasen’s gift for storytelling and character.
Recommend this book:
The Best People
A Tale of Trials and Errors
Marc Grossberg
2020 Gold Medal
432 Pages
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Fiction - General
The Best People: A Tale of Trials and Errors by Marc Grossberg is a spellbinding thriller with exceptional characters. The first thing that gripped me and kept me turning the pages is the way the author uses the subplot to create suspense. The narrative builds on two distinct and compelling characters. Paddy Moran is a thirty-six-year-old former cop from Brooklyn, a street-smart and a newly licensed divorce lawyer hankering to create a great reputation in the courtroom. As the narrative begins, he is fired up after witnessing a great win in the courtroom. But after few successes, he faces a moment of choice and must determine if fame is everything about the legal game or if there could be more. Pilar Galt is a smart and beautiful single mother who has had her share of success and pain. Now her path intersects with Paddy. The outcome builds the climax that will have readers savoring every page.
Marc Grossberg has written a captivating story and it feels real as the reader navigates the emotions and the hearts of the characters. The characters are genuinely flawed and easy to identify with. Paddy’s quest for success as an attorney reflects the struggle that many people experience in order to get into the limelight but what is even more interesting about the narrative is how the author unveils the pitfalls in the path of the protagonist. The Best People: A Tale of Trials and Errors is written in beautiful prose, well-plotted, and balanced; a compelling story that invites the reader to reflect on their choices.
Recommend this book:
A Matter of Time
Steven Craig
2019 Finalist
650 Pages
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Fiction - General
An exciting, delightful, exhilarating tale, A Matter of Time by Steven Craig is a gorgeous meld of time travel and science fiction, a story that follows Nathan Hawke’s adventures in time. Nathan is obsessed with the concept of time. His lifelong dream has always been to conquer time and master its secrets, a dream that has accompanied the exiled and disgraced Quantum Physicist from his youth. He had always “Dreamed of breaking it like a cowboy would a wild bronco that had bucked all who tried to ride it before him.” So when he is offered an opportunity by a mysterious man to research a time travel theory, he isn’t just happy to put aside teaching a high school physics class, but sees it as an opportunity to redeem himself and realize his life’s work.
His work successfully completed, he finds himself in a small Georgia farm in 1862. He is trapped here for three years, three years of waiting for the time splice to reopen, and three years in which he falls in love. When the time comes for him to escape the era that is plagued with war, he is thrust into yet another era. Now he is learning that he has no control of what timeline to exit into. Can it be his dream had been a trap; can he reset time and save history? And how about the woman he loves? Follow this well-imagined and well-developed character in adventures he never signed up for, bounced from one era to another through time and history.
The author did a wonderful job with the setting, taking readers through different historical moments, including the Civil War in the US, the Renaissance period in Italy, and many others. The historical underpinnings of the plot make it a compulsive read and this element of the narrative combines with the sense of adventure that permeates the story to offer readers great satisfaction. The characters are well developed and readers will love to follow Nathan, his despair as real as his moments of excitement. A Matter of Time has a complex, unpredictable plot, which keeps readers turning the pages, guessing where the next adventure will be. The tight spots, the dangers, and the uncertainty that accompany the protagonist’s adventures make this novel hard to put down. This is a stellar work in the genre, a hugely satisfying read.
Recommend this book:
Guardian of Deceit
William H Coles
2019 Finalist
316 Pages
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Fiction - General
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:
No Greater Freedom
Tom Edwards
2019 Honorable Mention
292 Pages
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Fiction - General
No Greater Freedom is a page turning thriller set in Africa. From South Africa to Kenya, unscrupulous characters involved in gun running and animal poaching are intertwined and cross paths with the good guys who are investigating their goings on via land and water. Add unexpected romance to the pot, and you have drama and suspense. The author draws the reader into each plot line and incorporates the plight of the African dealing with government corruption, their hopes and dreams, the lows that people will stoop to in the name of money and power, and the highs of being in love.
Tom Edwards is a very talented wordsmith. No Greater Freedom is captivating; you will not be able to put it down as there is just no stopping point until the last word on the last page. Mr. Edwards writes of the lengths people go to for money and power, the sacrifices they will make in the name of love and the people of a land that has a history of war and famine. This story is believable and easy to fall into. The description of the landscapes, the scenes and characters are so vivid and real that the reader will find themselves easily able to visualize each page's words right down to the clink of a beer glass being set upon the ship's bar or the thud of the body as it finds its final fate...
Recommend this book:
Addicted to Hate
Lucia Mann
2019 Honorable Mention
328 Pages
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Fiction - General
Lucia Mann says, 'Parents abused by adult children suffer silently, shamed to the marrow by words, moods, acts, and blows that pierce through their imagined bubble of safety and kidnap any notions they had of sharing a mutually loving relationship with their children.' In Addicted to Hate, Lucia Mann relates a heart-wrenching tale of a woman who, after suffering hideous ongoing abuse and injustice, loves her three 'miracle' daughters unconditionally. Endlessly forgiving and excessively indulging, she feeds their sociopathic expectations and tolerates their shocking abuse, destroying relationships that might have finally brought her peace and happiness, and making her own life a living hell. And yet, she survives. Here and there, she reaps little rewards. She enjoys little victories. Ultimately, she finds the strength to defend her own right to happiness, and she builds a world in which she finds peace. Ultimately, her limitless capacity to love is rewarded.
Addicted to Hate is a challenging read in some respects, because it highlights a tragedy that causes indescribable pain for some parents. It shines a light on the frailty of humans and the appalling inhumanity of some of our species. But throughout a tale of suffering, there are glimmers of hope and reassurances of goodness and love. Whenever Maddie is at rock bottom, an angel appears and extends the kindnesses that reassure us of the inherent goodness in most of our kind. Maddie is a survivor. We can't help being in awe of her strength and courage. She richly deserves the admiration and gifts of love she receives at times of greatest need. Her innate intelligence and amazing capabilities might make it difficult for us to believe that people could treat her with such contempt, and impossible to comprehend the hatred and cruelty of the daughters she fought so fiercely to protect and showered with so much love. But if you have ever known a true sociopath intimately... if you have suffered the pain of being seriously abused by someone you love... you will relate to Maddie's flawed response to cruelty and ingratitude. You will recognize her abusers and understand her world. Hopefully, you will be inspired and reassured by her final victory, however hollow it may seem to some.
Addicted to Hate plumbs the depths of human psychology. Lucia Mann is a humanitarian and activist who has clearly seen and studied, in depth, the sociopathic psyche and the workings of the minds of survivors of the sociopath's torment. She offers us insight that is both shocking and inspiring. Lucia says her mission is to give voice to sufferers of brutalities and captivity. In Addicted to Hate, she gives voice to the Maddies of this world, whose undeserved sufferings seem never to destroy the inner strength and goodness that sociopathic partners and offspring so cruelly exploit. Hopefully, she brings wisdom, understanding, strength and hope to some of those who need it, and to so many of us who too often stand on the sidelines when we have the opportunity to help. It's a challenging read, but one that I am confident will leave you richer in understanding and empathy and greatly enriched in strength, courage, and capacity to love.
Recommend this book:
Seashells, Gator Bones, and the Church of Everlasting Liability
Stories from a small Florida town in the 1930s
Susan Adger
2019 Bronze Medal
194 Pages
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Fiction - General
Seashells, Gator Bones, and the Church of Everlasting Liability: Stories from a Small Florida Town in the 1930s is a book that will make you laugh and want to move right into the fictional town of Toad Springs, Florida as soon as possible. Sixteen individual stories make up this book and they all connect together through the same wonderful characters. We are privileged to share in many of their everyday events and attend the county fair, go to church and the women’s sewing circle; spend time in school with the teacher and students; deal with neighbors; experience heartache and love and bingo games. There is a very unusual gator ranch, fights between cats and dogs and their owners, and so much more hilarity. We are introduced to Hester, Gladys, Sweetie, the Stroudamores and other unforgettable townspeople.
As I read each story, I thought 'this one is my favorite' until I finished the next one. I particularly enjoyed seeing so many real people I know in the pages of Seashells, Gator Bones, and the Church of Everlasting Liability. Susan Adger has written a gem and each short story is a work of art. This would be a perfect TV series concentrating on a different story but featuring the same people each week. This book is a wonderful summer read while sitting on the porch or at the pool and sipping a refreshing iced tea. Please do not pass up this extraordinary book. A must-read!
Recommend this book:
Six Months
Mona Sedrak
2019 Silver Medal
236 Pages
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Fiction - General
Six Months by Mona Sedrak is an emotional tale of a woman who must find her strength within to survive and rise from the ashes that was once her life. To say that this is an emotional roller coaster would be an understatement, considering that the author had me on the verge of tears multiple times. The struggles of Mikala Jacobson felt so real at times and I had to pause and stop myself before reading further. This is an intense read with many emotional turns and longing for love that just bleed onto the pages.
This is the story of Mikala Jacobson, a woman who is left to rebuild her life once it was torn down by death, betrayal and lies. There was a time when she had everything; a loving husband, a beautiful daughter and the best friends any person could ask for. However, when her daughter passes away and she finds out bitter truths about her husband, she finds that she never really had the life she thought she did. When the façade broke down, she was left with the ashes of a life she wished she'd had. At her lowest, her friends came to her rescue. When Jake comes forward to help her rebuild her life and make some space for love in her life once again, Mikala finds it hard to let Jake in. Will she give Jake the chance to prove that she can love once again?
This is a brilliant novel that I took time reading. I didn’t want to rush it and I wanted to savor every single word. Mikala’s struggle felt real and as if it was my own. The multiple points of view and the fragmented narrative was enough to make me read on. I enjoyed how the author let Mikala grow and become her own person. She breathed and become a real person in my mind and I could almost imagine her face in my mind. I loved this novel! This is one of the best novels I have read this year.
Recommend this book:
Beneath the Flames
Gregory Lee Renz
2019 Gold Medal
338 Pages
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Fiction - General
Beneath the Flames by Gregory Lee Renz is a mesmerizing story that brims with life and humanity, a story that explores themes of race, love, family, and an adventure within the firefighting department that evokes hope and personal transformation. Mitch Garner is a young farmer and volunteer firefighter who experiences a tragic event and, driven by guilt, leaves his small town in Wisconsin for Milwaukee, seeking to prove his worth and redeem himself. But new challenges await him, including a challenging firefighting assignment in the heart of a busy and dangerous city. When he meets Jasmine Richardson through the mentoring program where he is assigned to teach her younger sister, a new path opens before him. Follow his story as he navigates a delicate dilemma, torn between moving back home to life with his high school sweetheart or risking his life trying to protect Jasmine from a dangerous gang.
Told in a voice that is strong and filled with compassion, Gregory Lee Renz's story demonstrates characters with depth. They are richly developed and with deep psychological and emotional layers. The internal conflict is so brilliantly handled, reflecting the struggle of the protagonist with guilt and his quest for redemption. The prose is gorgeous and, from the very beginning, the author had me captivated by the wonderful imagery and the lyrical nature of the story. “Mitch Garner had been mowing row after mind-numbing row of hay since early morning…” is one of the phrases that offer insight into the life of the protagonist and this manner of expression deepens the narrative and builds the connection between readers and the characters.