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:
Jenna Takes The Fall
A Novel
A. R. Taylor
2021 Bronze Medal
328 Pages
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Fiction - Intrigue
On the opening page of Jenna Takes The Fall by A R Taylor, we first meet her in the inner sanctum of her boss’s office, staring down at his dead body. Did she kill him? No, but she’s asked to pretend he died of a heart attack while in the throes of passion with her. As a young and naïve girl who recently arrived in New York, and very unsure of herself, she complies, partly as a result of a very generous incentive. But what was behind the promises she made and the papers she signed? The answers to these questions swirl around in her mind and haunt her for years. A new life and a new career beckon but this means exile from her home country and friends. The family has a secret to hide and they are not sharing it with Jenna. She is forbidden to contact the people who might be able to tell her, but as she reinvents herself, she cannot rid herself of the past.
When I read the opening to Jenna Takes The Fall by A R Taylor, I was so intrigued that I had to download this book. The scenario of wriggling beneath the dead body of your boss was one of the most eye-catching beginnings to any book I’ve ever picked up. While I liked Jenna and felt for her, I did get annoyed with her for feeling so sorry for herself. Although she could not understand why she had been substituted for the real culprit, her recompense would have kept me happy for decades. It was a laugh-out-loud book to begin with that then became deeper as Jenna became more introspective. I loved the quotations at the beginning of each chapter, especially the ones from Jenna’s late grandmother, not someone who ever became famous, but so apt. The flow was excellent, an easy book that kept me turning the pages, wanting to know what happened. The end was satisfactory and tied up all the loose ends. The author’s ability to ‘show and not tell’ is excellent, putting the reader right into the scene. I just wanted to get my hands on Jenna and give her one good shake to remind her there is a big wide world out there so she should enjoy it.
Recommend this book:
Transient
Book One of the Immortal Wake
Zachry Wheeler
2021 Silver Medal
169 Pages
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Fiction - Intrigue
Transient by Zachry Wheeler is set in a dark and distant future where death is obsolete. Jonas is a transient — a human spy living among immortals. His mission is simple: always learn, never get caught. In the year 2578, the planet is controlled by immortals and humanity struggles to survive in the mountains and forests, far away from the high-tech cities. Jonas has spent years in the lion’s den and he’s grown to admire the immortal civilization; he’s learned to love what he previously and blindly hated. A reckoning is coming. The fates of billions hang in the balance and when the ax falls, Jonas must choose between his species and the immortals he’s come to know as family.
I’m an absolute fan of authors, writing in any genre, who can create an entirely new environment and characterization from previously well-known characters—in this case, vampires who embody the noblest, equitable, and familial environment ever envisioned but never attained by humanity. Excerpts from historical articles and recon notes assimilated by Jonas over his years as a transient artfully fill in the blanks of his world and his purpose. Wheeler adeptly uses this plot tactic to add verisimilitude in building this strange new world without massive data dumps and simultaneously providing some breaks in the action. Transient is an exceptionally well-written, thought-provoking novel that ultimately carries a humanist message, contrasting feigned morality with perceived evil. The conclusion is, as usual in a series, a bit of a cliff-hangar. It’s not a steep cliff, just enough to leave the reader hungry for the next book, and an answer to the question, “did Jonas follow orders or not?” Fortunately for me, and I’m sure many readers to come, books two and three (Thursday Midnight and The Mortal Vestige) are readily available.
Recommend this book:
Two Hearts' Reconnaissance
Hearts Wounded Warrior Romance Book 13
Tamara Ferguson
2021 Gold Medal
257 Pages
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Fiction - Intrigue
Two Hearts’ Reconnaissance (Two Hearts Wounded Warrior Romance Book 13) by Tamara Ferguson is a continuation of her fantastic romantic adventure series that centers around “wounded warriors”, returnees from war who are suffering from physical, mental, and emotional wounds in their service to the nation. The stories, based around Crystal Rock, the Dragonfly Pointe Inn, and FBI Agent Jake Loughlin are full of adventure, romance, and most importantly, hope. Thirteen-year-old Harry had been through a number of foster homes in his short lifetime, some good, some bad, and some positively evil. At present, he is with the Hamlins where his main task is to protect his six-year-old fellow foster child Amy from the Hamlins’ brutal and often violent treatment. When Harry realizes Ed Hamlin has discovered Harry’s secret -- a little dog, Millie, and her puppies -- he understands that Ed intends to drown the dog and her puppies in Crystal Lake. In desperation, Harry searches for a boat on the dock to rescue his beloved animals when he meets thirteen-year-old Eve, daughter of Tony and Danielle Loughlin, whose background and circumstances are eerily similar to Harry’s. It is apparent that a child-trafficking ring is still operating around Crystal Lake and Jake and his friend Gabe are determined to smash it once and for all, not to mention saving the lives of two little foster kids, Harry and Amy.
I’ve read a number of author Tamara Ferguson’s books both in this series and in other series. She is an author who has the wonderful knack of developing endearing, relatable characters and combining them in an exciting, often danger-packed adventure. The underlying thread of love, romance, and compassion runs through her stories, seamlessly and beautifully. Ferguson is a master of this genre. Two Hearts’ Reconnaissance (Two Hearts Wounded Warrior Romance Book 13) is another winner that captures readers’ hearts from the very beginning. The horrific nature of child abuse and exploitation is handled with care and great skill without dwelling on the actual gory details, which makes this and other works of hers so readable by such a large audience. The romance, the teenage angst, and the longing for acceptance and a home where he feels loved are screaming from Harry in every line of this story. A recurring theme of many of Ferguson’s works is this desire for the character to “give back” in some way for everything they’ve received, as part of their rescue and rehabilitation from the horrors of their past. In many ways, it is this desire that makes her characters so likable and so easy to empathize with for a reader. Her stories flow beautifully and her conversational writing style means most of her books are easily read in one concentrated sitting, perhaps in front of the fire on a cold afternoon. I love this author’s work and can highly recommend this iteration of the Wounded Warrior series.
Recommend this book:
Missing
Extraordinary Relation of Ordinary People
Mian Mohsin Zia
2020 Finalist
285 Pages
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Fiction - Intrigue
Missing by Mian Mohsin Zia is a novel of mystery and crime inspired by true events. It centers on the main character Zia, also known as Z, a man who suffers the heartache of losing his wife and daughter, but whose strong character leads him to recover. Once back on his feet and needing a distraction to take his mind off things, he goes online and meets a woman named Lena, forming a friendship with her by sharing cultures. She says she is a Russian grad student in need of finances for a conference but is she really? Worse, she goes missing, and when Z tries to help her, he goes missing too. What's going on? You'll have to read this intriguing tale to find out. But circumstances aren't always what they seem.
Zia has created a compelling story of mystery and crime. Z is the perfect character for the situation as he is sort of a fish out of water and doesn't always understand what's going on, or why. Has his generosity and goodwill been taken advantage of? I like Z's character very much. He seems like a real person and actually so does Lena, but I wish more had been said about her and her background. I enjoyed reading about how the cultures interacted. The beginning of the book is a slow burn, and then it ramps up into a roller coaster of events that will leave you guessing. If you like books that have shifting points of view from past to present, and enjoy a gripping mystery that has you hooked until the end, you don't want to miss out on Missing by Mian Mohsin Zia.
Recommend this book:
Heather and the Jabberwocky
An Amorous Journey into the Mythical Antiquity of Now
Peter Kelton
2020 Honorable Mention
284 Pages
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Fiction - Intrigue
Heather and the Jabberwocky: An Amorous Journey into the Mythical Antiquity of Now by Peter Kelton is the story of a married couple just trying to enjoy a good holiday, but MI6 and the Italian Mafia have other plans. Heather never had a good life until she met Paul. She might have killed a man or chased a mailman with an ax, but she had her reasons. Tried and pardoned for the murder, she was put under psychiatric care, but she and her husband found that she was most stable when she was near water. They were enjoying their holiday at the Straits of Messina when she was kidnapped while swimming in the ocean and her husband was left baffled by what was happening. She had been kidnapped in a crazy scheme to trade her for a Mexican criminal being held in Brazil before being sent to the USA. Now Paul has to come up with an obscene amount of money to get Heather out of the clutches of her kidnappers, while Heather is trying to make sense of what is happening.
Best described as eclectic and fantastic, this is the perfect example of modern absurd literature where the reader has a grand time trying to solve the mystery and come up with their own conclusions. Even after spending a good amount of time thinking about it, I have not decided if Heather is delusional or if she is a genius. She and Paul are as bizarre and extraordinary as anyone could be; their adventures were filled with witty humor, impressively crafted scenarios and amazing ways through which this couple handled the situations. At first, I was confused but as the story continued, I knew that this was going to be a gem of a novel that I would love. The author is very good at building up a situation, taking it to epic heights and taking the reader there with it so that they experience the best literary adventure. Imperfectly perfect and simply a magical novel that I loved!
Recommend this book:
Death By Design
John Graves
2020 Bronze Medal
338 Pages
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Fiction - Intrigue
John Graves’ Death by Design is not a novel for the faint of heart. It tells one of the most detailed stories about humanity’s extinction as orchestrated by a resolute, cold-blooded, and indomitable woman, a field veteran named Tracker. Through a series of well-planned attacks, Tracker aims at eradicating humanity from Earth and the sooner the better. Her plan works and humanity is really on the verge of extinction. However, people reveal unexpected resilience while others are at work to stop the calamities. Dr. Sharon Blake and her team try to find a cure for leukemia and then to save humanity. Will they make it on time?
Death by Design is worthy of admiration from many points of view. On the whole, this is one of the most intelligently developed novels I have ever read. I praise Graves’ extensive knowledge, necessary to write the many scientific passages of the book. I also like the representation of the characters. Tracker is so brilliantly portrayed that she made me shudder with her speeches and actions. On the other hand, her “opponent,” Dr. Blake, is a straightforward person with admirable traits, also because she has her personal fight to win. Furthermore, the development of Tracker’s plan is praiseworthy. Through the increasingly destructive catastrophes, Graves keeps the reader in suspense. He also shows “personal” repercussions on common people, who make their entries just before Tracker’s attacks shatter their lives. This is a delicate and tragic touch of realism. Readers will not be disappointed by Death by Design.
Recommend this book:
Webs of Perception
Darlene Quinn
2020 Silver Medal
520 Pages
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Fiction - Intrigue
Webs of Perception is a work of general fiction and interpersonal drama penned by author Darlene Quinn. As the final novel in the Webs series, we return to the tumultuous lives of the Taylor family in a story which continues the dramas of some family members, but also introduces a new storyline for twins Callie and Marnie. Whilst their father Conrad struggles with work issues, mother Ashleigh works tirelessly for her three daughters, and sister Juliana bonds even more deeply with her sisters, the twins face separate and equally damning tragedies when the ship they are traveling on is hit by a rogue wave. So begins a torrid family drama with plenty of crests and troughs.
Life at sea has been anything but simple for the Taylor family, and author Darlene Quinn certainly doesn’t let them go out on anything but a high in this superb work of high drama at sea. The backstory is easy to catch up on, to see what most of the family members have been through, and now Callie and Marnie are caught up in a powerful story of forgetfulness, isolation, and loss as the family makes its way towards disembarkation at last. The dialogue between them is really realistic and relatable to a lot of families with grown-up children, and each person gets a dedicated treatment and development to feel very real indeed. The plotline switches between both sisters and is sure to hold the reader’s interest for its many twists, making Webs of Perception an essential read for fans of the series so far.
Recommend this book:
Two Hearts Unlikely Heroes
Two Hearts Wounded Warrior Romance Book 9
Tamara Ferguson
2020 Gold Medal
232 Pages
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Fiction - Intrigue
Two Hearts: Unlikely Heroes is a work of fiction in the romantic suspense sub-genre, and was penned by author Tamara Ferguson. The ninth book in the continuing series of Two Hearts Wounded Warrior Romances, the work is recommended for mature readers due to the depiction of sexual scenes, though they are not overly explicit. The pair of protagonists at the heart of the action and romance within this novel is Captain Samantha Caldwell and Captain Benjamin Nash, both of whom have served time in Iraq. After a chance meeting some years ago, the past reunited them, but also brings a terrible danger for Sam that Ben has been tasked to protect her from. So begins a tense and tentative romance on the edge of danger.
Author Tamara Ferguson knows her audience well, and she is able to amp up the suspense to keep them on the edge of their seats whilst reading this highly passionate and engaged romance novel. The wounded warrior theme gives a unique perspective to the character development, as both figures are hardened heroes who understand real consequences beyond their passions. What results is an emotionally down to earth and tuned in drama, with plenty of real plot interwoven between the tense romantic scenes. I also really enjoyed the dialogue between the central pair, which served to present a lot of emotion and withheld feelings to ramp that suspense up even more. Overall, I would certainly recommend Two Hearts: Unlikely Heroes to fans of the existing series and new readers seeking intense and believable romantic drama.
Recommend this book:
High Flying
Kaylin McFarren
2019 Finalist
277 Pages
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Fiction - Intrigue
High Flying is a work of intriguing drama and time travel fiction penned by author Kaylin McFarren. In a story written for adults due to its explicit language and depictions of violence, we find ourselves following the trials of Skylar Haines, who can’t seem to subdue the deep-rooted anxiety from her dark past. When she learns to be a stunt pilot, the danger and adrenaline take her out of herself and her worries, until a terrifying storm changes everything. With the help of a mysterious voice, Skylar weathers the storm, but finds herself in a time just before she was born, one week before her father was murdered. What follows is a gripping tale of choices, emotions and personal strife.
Mixing science fiction concepts with both mystery and suspense, Kaylin McFarren is an author whose work will span many different genres to entertain different reader types. Skylar’s tale of personal woe and the desire to reinvent herself rings true with genuine emotional depth, which is given plenty of space to be explored when she visits her own pre-birth past. Here, the danger level spikes too, developing into a psychological mystery surrounding her father’s death and what it means to trust and be loyal to people. The writing is solid and well paced for a suspenseful feel, whilst the plot has a fair few twists to keep the pages turning. Overall though, High Flying is most likely to entertain those seeking a deeply personal drama and a strong but damaged heroine whom you can root for to the bitter end.
Recommend this book:
The Paper Shepherd
Grace Everlasting Book One
Olivia Landis
2019 Honorable Mention
418 Pages
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Fiction - Intrigue
The Paper Shepherd is the first book in the Grace Everlasting series by Olivia Landis - a powerful meld of Christian romance and coming of age with a great exploration of the emotional and personal development of the characters. Max and Tiar meet in very unusual circumstances. In fact, Max rescues her from bullies who circle her and treat her like a terrorist. Tiar is an orphan who knows very little about her past. They’ve told her lies about her past, starting with her great-grand father who lied about who he was. While she struggles to make sense of why they abandoned her the way they did, Max has to become not just a friend, but her hero. And he is about to make a decision that will change both their lives.
We encounter characters that are young and broken. Tiar immediately draws the sympathy of the reader. The setting comes out vividly through the narrative, from apt and vivid descriptions of places like Hectortown to elements of the weather like the wind and the darkening skies. The author makes it easy for readers to imagine the setting and feel as though they know the places and the alleys the characters walk. The psychological aspect of the conflict just blew my mind. Olivia Landis writes about relevant themes — family, friendship, love, and religion — and she does so in a way that is intimate and that allows readers to think about the themes without losing any of the entertainment the narrative offers.
The writing is impeccably good, with dialogues written so they sound natural, and the plot structure is well thought out. The Paper Shepherd feels real and the characters are appealing. I enjoyed the journey the two key characters make and readers will appreciate the psychological implications of dysfunctional families. This book showcases the author’s great gift for character, a fast-paced, gripping plot, and awesome thematic development.