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:
Beautiful Evil Winter
Kelly K. Lavender

2014 Honorable Mention
254 Pages
Check current price
Fiction - Suspense

Beautiful Evil Winter by Kelly K. Lavender speaks about international adoption and the complications that can arise if it is done from an unsafe country like Russia. Ethan and Sophia go to Russia to adopt a baby boy. When they arrive, they realize that they are the targets of the Russian Mafia. We see the story unfolding with a lot of twists and turns. The story is a revelation of the traumas and hardships we undergo to achieve something in our lives. The story is thrilling and exciting though we find the protagonists holed up in an apartment most of the time. It is a good book for parents who are looking for adopting outside the United States.
The story is fast paced and will keep readers glued till the last page. It is a good theme that has been handled very well. The mix of love, excitement, suspense and a healthy dose of politics make it a compelling story. Readers feel sympathetic towards Sophie and Ethan and it opens your eyes more towards adoptive parents, adoption outside your country, and the violence in Russia. All characters, including Ethan and Sophie, have been portrayed well to make the story great reading. Apart from the story, the book also opens your eyes on the complications that can arise while adopting from a foreign country.
The book has a little bit of everything, giving it that emotional edge. Will Sophie and Ethan be freed by the Russian Mafia and will they be able to adopt a baby boy?
Recommend this book:
Favors and Lies
Mark Gilleo

2014 Bronze Medal
368 Pages
Check current price
Fiction - Suspense

Mark Gilleo's latest mystery novel Favors and Lies is an attention-grabbing and fast-paced mystery that just might tease the sleuth-mind of any reader. Private Detective Dan Lord has had a series of losses in his life, the latest being two relatives which were both ruled suicides, but Dan has an inside track on family members and he is determined to prove they were intentionally placed in harm's way. Sue is Dan's new intern and she has her own set of peculiar talents. Together, they run hot and cold on the trail of personal mystery and government intrigue. Dan Lord has an unseemly collection of informants and accomplices as he hits the trail to places and people who commit misdeeds in high places.
Favors and Lies is one of those books that starts out logically and then author Gilleo takes off at a tangent which leads to unpredictable situations with unforgettable characters. There is a diplomat, a barber, a computer hacker and a woman of questionable character, all of whom provide valuable leads as well as an education of their own. Because of his intriguing plots, quirky characters and a mind that just keeps racing, Gilleo is becoming one of the favorite new American mystery writers. Most people won't have the slightest bit of trouble deciding to put aside chores while they try to outwit the author and save the good guys in the process.
Recommend this book:
When His Dreams Take Flight
Andy Holloman

2014 Silver Medal
244 Pages
Check current price
Fiction - Suspense

When His Dreams Take Flight by Andy Holloman is a story based on the actual events of the shooting at Sandy Hook, although none of the events in the story are real. Nick is a High School Principle battling with an alcohol problem. Following an incident at the school, he is suspended and falls off the wagon – not for the first time. While he is in an alcohol-induced coma, he dreams he is flying over a different school each time and, at each one, he sees a gunman getting ready to wreak havoc. With the help of his sponsor Gene, he manages to thwart 2 attempts, never revealing his identity. With the arrival of an ex-wife, a new girlfriend on the scene, and the release from prison of a town troublemaker, things get a little heated. His third vision happens after his sponsor dies in an apparently alcohol-related accident and leads him right to his own school where he is unable to prevent the tragedy unfolding before him.
Andy Holloman has given us the right mix of love, laughter, and horror in When His Dreams Take Flight. I found it an easy yet thrilling read; this is one of those books where you won’t guess the ending. Andy makes sure to give the reader enough background on each of the main characters so that the reader understands where and how they fit into the story. I thoroughly enjoyed When His Dreams Take Flight and would love to read more from the same author.
Recommend this book:
Exile Hunter
Preston Fleming

2014 Gold Medal
426 Pages
Check current price
Fiction - Suspense

Exile Hunter by Preston Fleming is the third book in the Kamas Trilogy and begins in 2023, the near future for us and one year before the revolt. America is a dystopian society ruled by a tyrannical President for life, a Dictator. Warren Linder has become a scapegoat for the regime and is sent to an Arctic labor camp. He is determined, however, and manages to escape and make his move to take the woman he cares about most away from the reach of the regime.
Nothing like a good spy novel to get your blood pumping while you’re reading a book. I am always a little leery about books that have dystopian societies, but I couldn’t resist reading this one after I saw the jacket for it. While part of a series, Exile Hunter is certainly also able to stand on its own and is a fantastic read, with a main character to whom I felt very connected. You are rooting for Linder the whole time and you feel for his journey; you want him to win; he is the hero. For me, while the story was completely different, I was rooting for Linder as much as I rooted for Jason Bourne. Preston Fleming has a skill with his writing that makes it vivid and entertaining to the reader. You get a sense of adventure, suspense and urgency all rolled into the words of this book. I would highly recommend this book for anyone who loves spy novels. I will be going back to read the others in the series.
Recommend this book:
After Midnight
Denver After Dark Suspense, Book #1
Kathy Clark

2013 Bronze Medal
321 Pages
Check current price
Fiction - Suspense

So what do two cops, two actors and a reporter have to do with each other? Absolutely everything. In this fast-paced crime drama (with plenty of romance thrown in) you'll find all five and they will definitely surprise you with their antics. The story of a struggling actress desperate to make it no matter what and a cop who gives his all for the job has many strange twists you wouldn't see coming. Not only that but the action is enough to keep you turning pages for as long as it takes you to finish the book.
I really liked the way the author was able to make the characters come alive. With so much happening throughout the book the author still managed to make each character have their own personality and their own thoughts. The lead-ins from one point-of-view to the other were very smooth so that it was easy to understand who was talking and who was thinking what at any given time. I thought that Kate and Sam definitely made a great impression and they were very relatable characters. In this story not everyone is who you thought they were and they do not fall into the stereotypes either. Each character is distinctly different from what probably popped into your mind when I rattled off the career paths. In fact, the bad guy is someone you would never suspect. But of course I don't want to give too much away. Suffice it to say that I'm definitely interested in reading the next book in this series.
Recommend this book:
Number Seventy-Five
Ashley Fontainne

2013 Bronze Medal
72 Pages
Check current price
Fiction - Suspense

“Number Seventy-Five” by Ashley Fontainne is a chilling suspense from the moment you learn the reasoning behind the title. Seconds after meeting Mandy Russell you discover that she is slapped with the realization she is about to become the seventy-fifth victim in an eerie killing rampage. Mandy recovers from a bitter divorce with the courage to test the waters of internet dating that ultimately seals her fate in ways she never imagined possible. Licking the old wounds of heartache, Mandy learns that only her two close friends, Shawna and Samuel, were not likely enough to inform of her decision to forge into the world of finding new love in such a low-key manner. Rendezvousing out of the spotlight may have saved her from the embarrassment of failed romantic success, but may just contribute to Mandy’s lack of chance in escaping death.
Think you don’t have time to read a book? Each page of this short work pulls you towards the end like a magnet! Anyone looking to compile stories about God-fearing women should get a hold of Ashley Fontainne. Fontainne has created a new genre of scary stories to tell in the dark…and on vacation. The most creative use of description I have read in nearly any work of fiction, “Number Seventy-Five” is guaranteed to pull you into the characters’ senses. There are more emotions and action in these seventy-two pages than one may find in works twice as long. If you think Lifetime Movie Network women are scary, then check out “Number Seventy-Five”. This could happen in your small town, so read this book and be prepared!
Recommend this book:
First Night of Summer
Landon Parham

2013 Finalist
328 Pages
Check current price
Fiction - Suspense

Freckle-faced four year old Jason Smith sits on the rooftop of his Craftsman-style home in Ruidoso, New Mexico. Jason has a lisp, a wild imagination and a knack for mischief and now he is pretending he is Batman. He jumps off the roof, a twenty-two foot drop, but he is saved by blonde and bright Caroline and Josie Snow, his eight year old twin neighbors who hold out a tablecloth and break Jason's fall. Caroline and Josie get lots of media coverage for their brave rescue. Their father Isaac is a pilot for New Mexico's forest fire patrol. Isaac and the girls' mother Sarah have a good life together. They enjoy having Isaac's longtime friend, Ruidoso's Chief of Police Charlie Biddle, for Wednesday night meals. Isaac and Sarah also enjoy having Caroline and Josie watched by Jason's mother so that they can have a night to themselves. But someone is watching Caroline and Josie, dreaming dementedly of kidnapping them. That someone is Ricky Doors who watches the girls through his binoculars as their neighborhood has lots of trees, ridges to hide in and mountains in which people can disappear. Psychotic Ricky longs to be loved by somebody and always asks his victims, "Do you like red?"
"First Night of Summer" by Landon Parham is a brilliant, suspenseful story of a pedophile and his sick, twisted desires as he targets a family whose members have only known a life that is good and has been kind to them. The suspense starts at the opening pages of this novel and continues without flaws throughout the entire story. The characters of Isaac, Sarah, Josie, Isaac's parents Tom and Helen, Charlie Biddle, and all the other major and minor characters in "First Night of Summer" contribute significantly from the moment they are introduced into the storyline. The author uses original mechanics in his writing: for instance, Ricky has himself wheelchair bound to entice one of his victims. There are stories of suspense galore but "First Night of Summer" is head and shoulders above them all. It is a must read for anyone and everyone!
Recommend this book:
Unintended Consequences
Marti Green

2013 Silver Medal
285 Pages
Check current price
Fiction - Suspense

"Unintended Consequences" by Marti Green is an excellent read. Dani Trumball is drawn into solving an old murder case. One man, George Calhoun, is in death row, and maintains he is innocent of killing his daughter, Angelina. There is a body, but it is badly burned, so identification is difficult. George is adamant it is not his daughter; but he will not reveal where she is. His wife is just as adamant in telling anyone who will listen that he killed their baby. Another young girl, Stacy Conklin, went missing at the same time. Could there be a connection, or is Dani being led along a goose trail? The story develops smoothly and at a rapid rate. You'll need to stay calm through the whole tortuous legal journey, as Dani seeks to free what she deems to be an innocent man. Time is against him, and her. You'll need tissues too, as the tales of the struggles of two families are revealed.
I loved this book. It kept me turning pages, wanting to know what comes next. I wanted resolution - but had to wait in line, as step by step, lawyer Dani Trumball seeks justice not only for George Calhoun's rights, but for his freedom as well. I couldn't wait to find out if she found the missing link and was able to solve the mystery.
Recommend this book:
Shadow Dragon
Lance Horton

2013 Gold Medal
424 Pages
Check current price
Fiction - Suspense

It was a bitter cold snowy night. The power lines were down throughout the area. Jake grabbed his tool belt and flashlight as he exited the cab of his snow cat. He was checking the meter when he first heard the sound. Gong. Gong. He saw the open door and entered the house; what he saw inside was so gruesome he could barely believe it. Screaming hysterically he ran from the cabin. FBI Agent Lewis Edwards and Victim Specialist Kyle Andrews were called to Montana to investigate the gruesome murders. The Sheriff’s department had discovered body parts of at least three victims. Oddly the torsos were carried off but the head and arms were left. Photo Journalist Carrie Daniels was investigating her grandparents’ murder when she stumbled across some clues that could be the key to the murders. But exactly how the information fits in is the question. Carrie and Kyle were just beginning to discover feelings for each other but if they were to have a future together they must first face the evil that lurks deep in the forest.
Shadow Dragon is a mystery suspense thriller. Author Lance Horton kept the suspense at its peak from beginning to the end. There was a constant feeling that I needed to look behind me to make sure no evil creature was lurking. I was so caught up in this tale that I felt as if I were part of the story. Horton skillfully developed the characters, with each of the secondary characters playing an important supporting role. This book has it all, mystery, chills, thrills, suspense and just a touch of romance. Don’t miss Shadow Dragon.
Recommend this book:
The Book of James
Ellen Green

2013 Honorable Mention
378 Pages
Check current price
Fiction - Suspense

"The Book of James" begins with Nick dead, killed in a car wreck while Mackenzie was driving. It was not her fault, but that did not stop the guilt she felt. As Nick lay dying, his last request to her was to "find James". The suspenseful book starts with the search for James and she has no idea who she is looking for and why. Mackenzie is led to an old house full of tunnels under the house, locked doors, and a woman, the mother of Nick, who is cold eyed and would have made me turn and run, but Mackenzie is driven to find answers. She has help from Dylan, the handsome young lawyer and her friend Samantha. Dylan calls her Nancy Drew because of her digging for clues and for what has happened in years past that must be kept secret by Cora, Nick's mother. So many questions to ask, so many clues to dig up. Mackenzie finds herself in hot water because of the information she "digs" up.
What a book! I found this book to be very scary because of its realism. "The Book of James" is full of events that can seem logical when mind control and degradation of people are at play. This is a read-all-night book, and has a bit of romance but the ongoing premise is the question; will our heroine come out alive? She is driven by her husband's dying request to "find James."
