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/Novella
- 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 - Science/Technology
- Non-Fiction - Self Help
- Non-Fiction - Short Story/Novella
- 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 Fugitive's Trail
Book One of The Sean Kruger Series
J.C. Fields
2018 Silver Medal
302 Pages
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Fiction - Suspense

The Fugitive's Trail is a stunning first entry in The Sean Kruger Series by J.C. Fields, a page-turner that is intelligently plotted and executed with great mastery. A man has been found dead in a Wall Street investment firm and another injured, and the man at whom fingers are pointing is on the run. Special Agent Sean Kruger is specifically tasked by his FBI Director to handle the case and to move to New York and locate the man responsible for the crimes.
When Kruger starts his investigation, he quickly learns that things may not be what they seem to be and that the man on the run might be the victim of a sinister intrigue involving powerful individuals in the firm. As he digs into the story, he draws the attention of some who would have everyone believe the story that is out, and who will stop at nothing to protect what Kruger is still to learn, if only he lives to complete the case.
This is the kind of book that fans of Sidney Sheldon will adore, well-plotted with a protagonist who is sculpted to perfectly reflect the world of his profession. The intrigue is beguiling and the plot perfectly paced to keep readers turning the pages. The red herrings are surprisingly breathtaking. J.C. Fields is a great writer and I enjoyed the fluidity in the prose, the intelligent dialogues, and the wonderful descriptions. The Fugitive's Trail is an absorbing tale that is exciting, a real page-turner.
Recommend this book:
The Girl Who Lived
Christopher Greyson
2018 Silver Medal
296 Pages
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Fiction - Suspense

In The Girl Who Lived by Christopher Greyson, the protagonist, young Faith Winters, finds herself living in a nightmare once she is released from the mental institution to which she was committed after witnessing a real nightmare many years prior: the bloody murders of her beloved sister, her father and several others who had come to celebrate her birthday in the family cabin in the woods.
Now trying to settle back into an apartment in her home town where it all happened, and where she is regarded as a crazy alcoholic, she just wants her physical body to die: she is already dead inside despite therapy and AA rehab. But she is haunted by the face of the man she believes was the killer. When she spots him in a car, she goes berserk trying to get police and others to believe her but it seems no one does. Strange, inexplicable events start to happen around Faith. Again, her sanity is questioned. She knows she’s right and can’t find anyone to help her. And when she finds someone she thinks she can trust, something they say or do unnerves her. As she runs from one horrid situation to another, and more people get their throats slashed, readers will hold their breaths as, like her, they try to find out who is really terrorizing her and why. The answer comes as a complete shock. If you figure out who hates Faith enough to put her through all this and why, you should write psychological thrillers yourself.
It feels good to read a book that lives up to the promise of its cover, the accuracy of the genre in which one finds it, and delivers what the jacket blurb describes. The Girl Who Lived by Christopher Greyson does all that. What a great read for fans of psychological thrillers. Christopher Greyson is a true master of intricate plotting and suspense-filled events. Realistic dialogue, smooth scene transitions, and interesting characters make The Girl Who Lived a must-read!
Recommend this book:
Broken Circle
A Gray Ghost Novel, Book 1
Amy McKinley
2018 Gold Medal
Kindle Edition
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Fiction - Suspense

Broken Circle: A Gray Ghost Novel, Book 1 is a suspense novel written by Amy McKinley. Liv’s life had been just about perfect, despite the tragic loss of her parents some months before. Her marriage to Alex, a police detective, who was on the verge of running for the Senate with the backing of the right people, was a fairytale affair; their romance still hot and heady, but lately she’d noticed some tension in him, things he seemed to be hiding from her. Liv was, herself, hiding something, something that engendered mixed feelings of excitement and dread. She was pregnant. She knew Alex was against their starting a family at least at this point in time, but it had happened, and she was determined to have this child. When she finally did tell him, Alex was furious, leaving her stunned by the ferocity of his reaction to her news. And while he did manage to get hold of his emotions and seemed willing to embrace their future as a family, Liv couldn’t help but wonder how she’d not seen this darker side of him before. His impromptu decision to take her on their long-postponed honeymoon so she could finally meet his mother was an exciting and unexpected development, but Liv was still cautious after his reaction to her news.
Amy McKinley’s contemporary suspense novel, Broken Circle: A Gray Ghost Novel, Book 1, is a taut and well-written tale that takes the reader down to Barbados, Venezuela and Colombia as Liv and Alex finally go on their honeymoon. Liv is a fascinating character, whose love of art is a joy to read about. I enjoyed following as she went through the creative process when sculpting, and I particularly appreciated how she grows strong and self-reliant in response to the threats and perils that come her way. It’s a grand contrast from when we first meet her; a woman who seems sheltered, a product of her privileged background. Broken Circle is a steamy novel containing poignant and moving erotic scenes, which may be a bit too intense for readers who prefer sweet romance. That said, McKinley’s plot is suspenseful, and her story is fast-paced and exciting. Broken Circle: A Gray Ghost Novel, Book 1 is most highly recommended.
Recommend this book:
The Fixer
The Naked Man (The Fixer - Katerina Mills Book 1)
Jill Amy Rosenblatt
2017 Finalist
180 Pages
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Fiction - Suspense

The Fixer: The Naked Man (The Fixer - Katerina Mills Book 1) by Jill Amy Rosenblatt is a tale of suspense. Katerina Mills needs to find $14,000 in two weeks, otherwise she will lose everything – her home, her place in school, and the last of her luck. Then she gets an offer she should refuse but can’t. New York is full of rich, privileged men who have problems that need to be fixed. Katerina’s new job is The Fixer, and all she has to do is get the money and fix their problems – easy, right? Her first job is easy, but the next one isn’t. She needs some help and turns to the handsome thief, Alexander Winter. But things aren’t quite so straightforward and Kat is heading for danger. There are no rules for Fixers and, as Kat is about to learn, there is no getting out. Can Katerina escape with her life intact? Can she fix her own problems or is it all about to go very wrong for her?
The Fixer: The Naked Man (The Fixer - Katerina Mills Book 1) by Jill Amy Rosenblatt is a book that I would recommend to anyone who wants a good juicy tale of suspense with a bit of humor thrown in for good measure. This is a fast book, moving at a steady pace with plenty of action and lots of twists and turns that kept me on the edge of my seat, not wanting to put the book down. The story is an original idea with a well-written plot, one that has been well developed and, with the addition of the obligatory romance, a winning story. The characters have been written perfectly for the story and the development is such that it is easy to identify with them, to feel as though you know them personally, especially Kat, the main protagonist. This has been written in an incredibly engaging style, hard to put down and with an ending that leads neatly on to the second book in the series.
Recommend this book:
Pigeon-Blood Red
Thrilogy
Ed Duncan
2017 Finalist
250 Pages
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Fiction - Suspense

Pigeon-Blood Red by Ed Duncan is a suspenseful and thrilling story of a hit man, Richard Sanders, who receives a simple assignment from his gangster boss to retrieve a necklace of rubies and bring it back to him. It’s a simple job for the likes of Rico, indeed. But things get quickly complicated when he loses the gems to a double-dealing cheater. Now he finds himself pursuing the gambler and his estranged wife through the dirty Chicago streets to Honolulu. Watch as Rico grows to respect the gambler and his wife. But when he finally hits his target, the necklace is nowhere to be found and the worse thing is that the local cops are after him. As time runs out, Rico is faced with a dilemma and his life hangs in the balance. Can he locate the necklace fast enough to avoid a more sinister outcome?
Ed Duncan’s writing is entertaining and readers, especially fans of dark thrillers, will enjoy this. Rico is a well-developed character and the reader will enjoy watching him through sticky situations. The prose is tight and crisp, and it offers vivid descriptions of prolific scenes, intense action, and the characters. The dialogues are created to read naturally and they constitute a great element of entertainment for the reader. Pigeon-Blood Red has its unique twists and surprises and readers will enjoy the pace, which is fast with complex moments. Overall, this was a splendid and an exhilarating ride for me, a novel I’d gladly recommend to anyone looking for an interesting read.
Recommend this book:
Broken Dolls
Tyrolin Puxty
2017 Honorable Mention
176 Pages
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Fiction - Suspense

I loved Broken Dolls by Tyrolin Puxty! I was first drawn by the strange cover; it had a sci fi-ish look, yet an innocence hidden in the form of a partial ballerina—a broken doll. Hmm, I thought. What could this be about? I was very excited to find that the doll was a real doll with a real human part to her. The action went from page to page quickly with a sweet pull, and I had difficulty putting it down. Ella is the heroine in this bizarre treatment of a seemingly nice but unusual “professor” taking care of dolls that were somehow really human. How does that happen? Why does it happen? This can’t be right. It's unfortunate that Ella, with significant memory loss, can’t figure out the mystery, and she’s not sure she wants to know the answers anyway. She only wants to dance and to be unbroken. More and more obstacles (in the way of other dolls and even a human child) come to her home in the unkempt attic, deepening the secrecy that seems to be clouding the truth. Can she be saved? Can any of them escape? Do they even want to? Well, there’s more than meets the eye here—or doll, in this case.
Tyrolin Puxty has a comfortable style of writing that makes you cozy right into the plot from page one and especially connect to the characters. Suddenly, it doesn’t matter that Ella and Lisa are dolls—they are so much more. There are layers and layers of mystery, and I didn’t see the creative outcome arriving. It’s a good one. Broken Dolls can also have a deeper psychological meaning if you care to ponder it once you’re done reading. I didn’t expect that either. I was compelled to learn more about the author and visited her site and read the couple-page offering at the back of the book as a sample for the next doll book. Yay! A next one! You may ask yourself once you’ve completed Puxty’s Broken Dolls what you would do if you found yourself in such a circumstance. Trust me, it won’t be an easy answer. Of course, not everyone can pull off wearing a tutu anyway! An excellent read and the layout of the book is fabulous!
Recommend this book:
Cachibache
Book two of the Director series
Zach Fortier
2017 Bronze Medal
Kindle Edition
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Fiction - Suspense

Cachibache is the second book in the Director series by Zach Fortier, a quick, suspenseful story that is as entertaining as it is intense, a story with a setting that excites readers as much as the exhilarating plot. After admitting that Camp Baroota has been a failed project, the Director gets back to work, masterminding the creation of Camp Cachibache, strategically located and hidden. But before things get exciting for the camp, a dangerous enemy resurfaces from the Director’s past, the psychotic known as the Wild Card, who is poised for revenge and will stop at nothing to see to it that the Director is completely destroyed. Will Nick Hudson and his accomplice from Camp Baroota, Nõnkos Zia, get their revenge on the Director or could things work out differently? It is interesting to follow these compelling characters as they engage in a powerful conflict, taking readers on a rollercoaster, pulsating ride that will get them emotionally involved and utterly intrigued.
The story starts with Nick, bored and irritated, waiting at the bus stop, and the reader quickly gets an idea of the kind of character he is: sick and unstable. He is a person with zero tolerance for tardiness and the reader already knows that it will be easy to get this character to reveal “his surly personality.” The plot is fast, unpredictable, and readers will be thrilled by the surprises that come as exquisite treats for them. The writing is great, and the balance between dialogue and descriptive prose is measured and masterfully accomplished. Cachibache is a breezy read, the kind of book readers complete in few hours, but one of those rare thrillers whose characters stay in the reader’s mind long after the book is shelved. Zach Fortier may be a master of the genre for he has created a thriller that readers will find hard to put down.
Recommend this book:
Moscow Venture
A. K. Celer
2017 Silver Medal
344 Pages
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Fiction - Suspense

In an exciting and highly engaging new read by author A.K. Celer, Moscow Venture is a true thriller that will keep readers on the edge of their seats and obsessively turning the pages from the start all the way through until the very end. Follow the story of John Baran, a man determined to find out the truth behind the death of his best friend. John is convinced he didn't die from a stroke caused by natural causes, but from something much more nefarious. He heads to Moscow to find answers, and gets much more than he bargained for, including espionage, a bio-terror plot, and the middle of hard-line communists' attempt to reverse history, plus the opportunity to save countless American lives and help derail a second Bolshevik revolution. But he'll only be able to do that if he can stay alive. Will he? You'll need to read the book to find out!
I very much enjoyed Moscow Venture. Author A.K. Celer has done an amazing job in creating a real roller coaster of a read, as well as in creating characters that his readers will relate to, connect with, and truly come to care about. If those aren't hallmarks of a great author, I'm not sure what are. Any reader that loves spy thrillers with realistic drama and action adventure should absolutely read this book. I am so pleased to be able to highly recommend Moscow Venture and look forward to reading more from author A.K. Celer as soon as I possibly can!
Recommend this book:
Pink Slips
Beth Aldrich
2017 Gold Medal
266 Pages
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Fiction - Suspense

Pink Slips by Beth Aldrich is a suspense thriller. Betsy is expecting her third child and has suddenly started receiving threatening notes, notes that force her to go back to the past and face memories she would rather forget. Betsy joins forces with her dog, Barney, to help her find out who is behind the notes. When her husband has to go out of town, Betsy must keep her cool as the notes continue and she must keep her sons safe. The only people she trusts are her best friend Misty, her parents and, of course, Barney. Who is the stalker? How do they know so much information about Betsy? Is it the person who changed her life forever with one vile act ten years before? Betsy must stay strong and she must face her fears if she is to get to the bottom of the mystery.
Pink Slips by Beth Aldrich is a gripping tale of suspense. Packed with action, this is a rollercoaster story; once it reaches the top, which is very quick, it is full scream ahead on an unstoppable journey of suspense and terror, a journey that has plenty of twists and unexpected turns in it so that you simply won’t guess the ending until it hits you right in the face. The psychological aspect of this story is incredibly well written; Beth Aldrich will have you gasping in terror, and examining your own mind as you wind your way through this incredibly well-written novel, a masterpiece that is up there with many of the big authors of the day. She has developed the characters so well that you really can identify with them and you feel as though you are living their lives through them, especially the main character, Betsy. I can’t recommend this book enough for anyone who wants a gripping read that they simply won’t be able to put down.
Recommend this book:
The Blow-up Man
Nina Blakeman
2016 Finalist
428 Pages
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Fiction - Suspense

In a great new story by debut author Nina Blakeman, The Blow-up Man is a thriller that will keep readers obsessively turning the pages from the very start all the way through until the very end, determined to find out what happens. Follow the story of Faye Brady, a woman who thinks she may have found love with Dr. Todd Davis, her mentor, as she is preparing for her PhD. His life definitely comes with complications, however, including the mother of his twin daughters, Annette. Faye has little experience in the world of love, and certainly none of the dangerous manipulations and vengefulness of a person like Annette. Will Faye survive to be with the man she loves? You'll need to read the book to find out!
I very much enjoyed The Blow-up Man. Author Nina Blakeman has done a great job in creating characters that her readers will connect with, relate to, and truly come to care about, thinking about long after the story is done. If that isn't a hallmark of a great author, I'm not sure what is. The story is one that kept me on the edge of my seat. It is quite the psychological thriller and was full of twists and turns I truly did not expect. For a person who reads a great deal, and can usually figure out the ending of books well in advance, this was quite a treat! I am pleased to be able to recommend this book, and look forward to reading more from the promising author, Nina Blakeman, as soon as she has something else available.