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:
Yukon Revenge
A C.E. Brody Novel
Ken Baird
2020 Finalist
506 Pages
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Fiction - Thriller - General
Yukon Revenge by Ken Baird is the second C. E. Brody novel. A year after surviving a chase down the Yukon River falls, Brody is just trying to get on with his life. He still has his dogs, his plane and his old pickup truck and he still lives in his old cabin on the river. He thought he was the only survivor from that chase but nothing stays dead and buried forever. A suspicious fire and two murders are just the start. Brody’s dogs have disappeared, his plane has been vandalized and murder at his cabin mean the RCMP are starting to look at Brody suspiciously. When he agrees to fly rock samples from a mine site, the FBI is all over him. They say it's all a scam but the undercover agent they send in with him is an ex-girlfriend – things are about to heat up. When the press ‘convicts’ Brody for three murders, he knows he is in a race against time to solve this, in spite of the RCMP and FBI getting in the way. Can he be lucky a second time?
Yukon Revenge: A C. E. Brody Novel by Ken Baird is a fantastic sequel to Yukon Audit. Once again, Ken Baird’s knowledge and experience in the Yukon shine through in this tense and exciting thriller. I read the first book and opening the sequel was like coming home. I slipped right back into the swing of things easily and was soon engrossed in another tight plot with plenty of action and adventure right from the word go. It was like meeting old friends and being introduced to new ones – a comfortable and exciting read. Once again, the descriptions were excellent as were the characters and, from page one, I was hooked and drawn in. Excellent sequel and excellent pacing; I really hope there will be more in this vein in the near future.
Recommend this book:
Shot Down
Steven Sheiner
2020 Honorable Mention
356 Pages
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Fiction - Thriller - General
Shooting in self-defense, the would-be victim has unexpected life-altering repercussions in the suspenseful thriller, Shot Down by Steven Sheiner. Learning about a mass shooting at a theater his family frequents, Dr. Simon Spero is worried about his and his family's safety. Buying a gun and learning to shoot, Simon takes his gun with him wherever he goes. One day, while conducting business at his bank, an armed robber starts shooting wildly around the room. Scared, Simon shoots back and kills the gunman. Unfortunately, the dead criminal is the brother of a dangerous Cuban mob leader. The FBI places Simon and his family in protective custody for two weeks, before leaving them to their own devices. On the day they are released, the media is standing outside their door. How did they know where Simon was located? Soon after he returns home, Simon is placed in custody for murder. This is just the beginning. Intimidation tactics, false accusations, and another arrest bring Simon to his tipping point. Who is behind his demoralization? How can Simon get his life back?
Shot Down by Steven Sheiner is a nail-biting thriller filled with fast-paced action and breathtaking intensity. Engaging from the start, suspense and anxiety run high in this exciting novel, making it impossible to put down. The intricate plot contains a straightforward and resourceful hero and more than one antagonist. Having their own agenda, each character is expertly woven into the storyline, creating a striking and complex conflict from which the protagonist has to extract himself. With more than one villain stirring the pot, the apprehension escalates until the explosive and unexpected conclusion. With extraordinary characters and a remarkably complex plot, this sensational story is sure to gratify those who are fans of thrilling suspense novels with an everyday hero.
Recommend this book:
Heart of a Warrior Angel
From Darkness to Light
Lali A. Love
2020 Bronze Medal
180 Pages
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Fiction - Thriller - General
Heart of a Warrior Angel: From Darkness to Light is a work of fiction in the thriller and supernatural fantasy sub-genres and was penned by author Lali A. Love. Recommended for mature audiences due to some sensitive subject matter such as childhood abuse, this well-told short novel takes us on an emotional journey as its many paranormal oddities unfold. Coming from a dark and traumatic background, our heroine Lilac goes on a journey of self-exploration to understand where the evil energies in her bloodline have come from, and how to vanquish them and move forward into the light. The quest is far from easy, spanning several generations in this excellent and emotive family saga.
Author Lali A. Love delivers a superb tale that encompasses a great many different lessons about the human spirit and the divine power to overcome darkness, and as such it will read as both realistic and inspirational despite its supernatural themes and settings. Lilac makes for a highly relatable central character, and I really enjoyed Love’s narrative style and how it brings us closer to the protagonist's most intimate thoughts and feelings. I felt that the subject matter of abuse was sensitively handled and given an empowering storyline as the plot moved forward, which grounds the piece in realism but also pushes towards hope rather than victimhood. Overall, I would definitely recommend Heart of a Warrior Angel: From Darkness to Light to readers who enjoy emotive family sagas but also want real inspiring messages which underpin the emotional adventures they read about.
Recommend this book:
Pretty Little Girls
Agent Victoria Heslin
Jenifer Ruff
2020 Silver Medal
308 Pages
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Fiction - Thriller - General
Pretty Little Girls by Jenifer Ruff is an Agent Victoria Heslin thriller. A prep school girl has disappeared and the investigation is about to lay bare secrets the family wanted to be kept hidden, secrets that will shock everyone. Victoria Heslin, FBI agent, joins the local police in the investigation but the more they dig, the more secrets they uncover and the mystery just gets deeper. The parents don’t seem to want to help and the authorities don’t want Victoria’s help – why not? As she digs into the mystery, a sex-trafficking ring is uncovered and she needs help. She and Agent Dante Riviera need to go rogue to get the girls out but can they do it in time? And where does her family fit into the operation?
Pretty Little Girls (Agent Victoria Heslin) by Jenifer Ruff is a compelling story. The subject is one that we hear so much about these days and Ruff has dealt with it in a compassionate yet tasteful and real way. This is a page-turner, grabbing you from the first and not letting you go until the very end. It is an exciting story with plenty of twists and turns that just keep you hanging on and guessing. The main characters are exciting, with their development continuing from the first book in the series but with sufficient detail that, if you read this as a standalone, you will understand them and you will find them easy to relate to. The subject is an eye-opener and the writing is descriptive enough to give you the picture without being graphic. A heart-breaking story, for sure, but a guaranteed thrilling, 'edge of your seat' story that you won't easily put down.
Recommend this book:
Privateers
Charlie Newton
2020 Gold Medal
426 Pages
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Fiction - Thriller - General
Privateers is a work of fiction in the crime drama, historical mystery, and contemporary thriller sub-genres, and was penned by author Charlie Newton. In this dangerous and very exciting tale, we discover the roots of hidden gold, stolen from the bank of Haiti during the First World War. In the modern day, three women with ties to the Caribbean return there in search of the gold, with the hope that it will buy them out of a terrible situation in which they find themselves. What results is a powerful story of mysterious government goings-on, modern-day piracy, and a question of what it truly takes to break away from the ties that bind and redeem ourselves in life.
Author Charlie Newton weaves a very gripping story that will keep readers entertained from cover to cover. In true thriller fashion, there are surprises around every corner, along with less-than-moral heroes and even more unscrupulous villains. One of the things which I found unique about the work is its strong female-led cast, with three distinct personalities who each have realistic emotional arcs, strengths, and weaknesses to add to the drama and plot. The settings were also vividly described with vibrant, atmospheric language, which gives the work a cinematic feel and enhances those dark and tense moments all the more. Overall, I would highly recommend Privateers to readers of realistic and gripping thriller fiction, both for its unique approach to character and setting and its accomplished writing style.
Recommend this book:
The Second Korean War
Ted Halstead
2019 Finalist
540 Pages
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Fiction - Thriller - General
I don’t know who Ted Halstead is, but I know one thing about him for sure. While writing The Second Korean War, he did his homework. I spent four years in the demilitarized zone in the 1980s. I've walked in a couple of tunnels big enough to roll an army through, a platoon at a time. Ted got it right. The only things he failed to mention are a couple of things that I’m pretty sure are classified top secret. It wouldn't be cool to talk about that stuff. I go out of my way to find books on Korea and the Korean War. I am usually disappointed by authors who don’t know anything about the real situation, or they just don’t know how to write about it in a style that appeals to me. In Ted Halstead, I have found someone who knows a lot and knows how to write about it in a very appealing style.
As I think about why I liked The Second Korean War so much, a few things come to mind. The setting is important, and I appreciated an author who took the time to get it right. Then there is the writing itself. As I read the passages which featured submarine warfare or the political ramifications of war on the Korean peninsula, I felt it was very realistic. As realistic as the discussions and observations with other American soldiers and South Korean nationals I had when I was in that arena. Then there are the characters. Their actions and emotions rang true to me, which is why I consider The Second Korean War to be one of the best books I have ever read on the subject.
Recommend this book:
A Scribe Dies In Brooklyn
Marvin J. Wolf
2019 Honorable Mention
430 Pages
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Fiction - Thriller - General
Marvin J. Wolf’s A Scribe Dies in Brooklyn is one of the finest mystery books I have read in recent times. With a wonderful blend of suspense, action, and humor, it has all the ingredients of the best-written stories. I have been waiting to find a book like this for a long time. Its plot revolves around the search for the missing third part of the Aleppo Codex, the oldest complete Hebrew Bible in the world. The President of Israel gives the job of finding it to Rabbi Ben during a secret meeting. Rabbi Ben’s research leads him to Brooklyn, where the old man who had allegedly taken the Codex out of Syria lived. Anyway, the old man died and the Codex disappeared again. Rabbi Ben will try to find it with the help of the deceased’s charming grandniece, Miryam.
We need more books like A Scribe Dies in Brooklyn. Its aura of mystery captivates the reader’s attention from the first page, and it keeps them reading the book until the end. Unexpected turns of events have one glued to the page, constantly waiting for what will happen next. Wolf creates the right atmosphere for this kind of story without neglecting wit and intelligence. I really enjoyed his essential but meaningful descriptions and his lively, often funny dialogues. The characters are remarkable for the humanity of their deeds and thoughts. It is easy to sympathize with them. A Scribe Dies in Brooklyn is the perfect book for anyone who enjoys excellent writing.
Recommend this book:
Fishermen's Court
Andrew Wolfendon
2019 Bronze Medal
355 Pages
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Fiction - Thriller - General
Fishermen's Court by Andrew Wolfendon is a thriller about how one mistake can change a whole life. Finn Carroll just about survives on his meager income. A failed artist and a failed human, at least in his eyes, the last thing Finn expected when he returned home was to be attacked and made to commit suicide. He survives but a fake suicide note reveals information that leaves him cold – information he thought only he knew about an event that took place eighteen years before. This starts Finn off on a journey back to Musqasset Island, once his home and now the home of Miles, his best friend. He needs to discover who is after him and why has it taken them so long? The island is shut down as a raging storm breaks, trapping Finn on the island with his would-be killers and his past. With his shaky mental state, an alcoholic sister and people he thought were his friends, Finn’s life is about to take a turn that he never dreamed of – but can he survive it? And will he ever be the same again?
Wow! Andrew Wolfendon is now one of my new favorite authors. Fishermen’s Court is his debut novel and it is fantastic. A thriller of epic proportions, this is one of the most suspenseful books I ever had the pleasure to read. And believe me when I say this, it really was a pleasure to read. The action kicks off on the first page in an exquisitely written story and the suspense continues to build all the way through. The twists and turns lead you on an amazing journey through the present and the past in a wonderful jigsaw; the pieces are there but it doesn’t fall into place until the very end. There are plenty of suspects and more than one story here that meld together at the very end. The characters are excellent; their stories come out through the book as you learn who they are, what makes them tick and what really happened all those years ago. With plenty of action and a great pace, this book will keep you guessing right to the very end and, like me, you won't want to put it down. Fabulous story, I really hope to read more like this from Andrew Wolfendon in the near future.
Recommend this book:
The Moving Blade
Michael Pronko
2019 Silver Medal
285 Pages
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Fiction - Thriller - General
Jamie hadn't seen her father, Bernard Mattson, for years. They had drifted apart, but things had been about to change. They had planned to reunite, but then his murder put a stop to the plan. But murder is not the only thing she finds in his wake. A robbery on the day of his funeral suggests there may be more to the murder of the renowned diplomat than meets the eye. Jamie is eager to discover the truth about what befell her father. On the case is Detective Hiroshi Shimizu, along with his motley crew of ex-Sumo wrestlers, rugby players, and private investigators. With nothing but a wiped computer, stolen statues, and erotic prints, it seems an impossible task. But the body count is rising and answers are demanded. Can they uncover the truth before more people fall to the blade?
Culturally rich and seductively compelling, The Moving Blade is a must-read for lovers of murder mystery novels and crime fiction fans. Great attention to detail in both setting, lifestyle, and characters has been applied to create an atmospheric, tense, and engaging read which is further enhanced by Michael Pronko's skilled narrative. Plots, protests, questions, and secrets fill the pages and drive the reader forward through the engaging and well constructed plot. The characters are rich, deep, and vibrant, each with their own very distinctive rules, personality, relationships, and objectives. I can honestly say I enjoyed every minute I spent reading this, and it gets something I save only for those special books I really connect with: my heartfelt recommendation! Whether you're looking for a suspenseful and engaging read, or just something to pass the time, you should give The Moving Blade a try.
Recommend this book:
The Deep Blue Crush
Mac Crow Thriller # 3
Clint Hollingsworth
2019 Gold Medal
218 Pages
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Fiction - Thriller - General
The Deep Blue Crush is a work of thriller fiction penned by author Clint Hollingsworth and is the third book in the series of Mac Crow Thrillers. In this action-packed new adventure, Mac and his bounty hunter associates are back to hunt down a charlatan who has been taking retirement savings from vulnerable senior citizens. The adventure turns tropical as the chase goes on, taking Mac to the beautiful but deadly shores of the Hawaiian islands to track down the culprits. From forest fires to deep sea diving, this is one vacation that Mac and his crew will wish they hadn’t taken.
I really enjoyed this zany, over the top action romp in the same way you’d enjoy movies of that nature. The crew surrounding Mac and Rosa are hilarious, a little like their own version of the A-Team, and each with their own abilities that help (or sometimes hinder) the investigation. Author Clint Hollingsworth really knows how to write zippy dialogue that makes the exposition scenes entertaining, and lightens the mood of the read even during tense sections where the thriller elements kick in. This is a mostly clean read that readers from around fifteen and up can happily enjoy. The plot is well constructed but not too complex, allowing for plenty of action, fighting and wild stunts from page to page. I also thought the survival aspect that crept in as the story progressed added another layer of interest, making The Deep Blue Crush a great read for action fiction fans everywhere.