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:
Evening Wolves
Luke Taylor

2015 Finalist
724 Pages
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Fiction - Thriller - Terrorist

Evening Wolves by Luke Taylor is an intense political crime thriller. Detective Mike Erland is called to a mysterious murder scene at Fircrest Mansion, where the previous evening a Libertarian Party fundraiser was held. The only victim, a stunningly beautiful young woman, is found with a puncture wound to the neck. Their only suspect is the man who was in the room with the woman, but he has fled the scene. Before Erland can even begin to investigate, Homeland Security is called in and shuts down the scene. Placed on administrative leave, Erland is shocked when Agent Sierra Marland pulls him back into the investigation. Tangled together with a meddling journalist, a man with amnesia, a kidnapped party member, and a highly intelligent hacker, code named Jupiter, dark conspiracies begin to unfold, putting everyone with a connection to the case at risk.
Mr. Taylor has put a great deal of thought into this brilliant, gripping, tense thriller. Although the reader is exposed to many characters, each are unique enough to keep track of throughout the novel. I felt Agent Sierra Marland was exceptionally written, with multi-faceted layers. She kept so much inside, not allowing herself to feel much. The moments where she broke down her walls in front of Erland were very moving. I loved the interplay between the different agencies of the government as well. I enjoyed trying to figure out all the little details. Evening Wolves by Luke Taylor is sure to keep your attention and mind riveted from page one.
Recommend this book:
Tunnel Visions
Kurt Kamm

2015 Honorable Mention
214 Pages
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Fiction - Thriller - Terrorist

Author Kurt Kamm brings together the facts surrounding an actual explosion that took place in 1971 during the construction of a water tunnel that runs through Sylmar, California. The author blends those facts with several real people involved in that explosion, two very likeable leading characters, the FBI, the ATF, the Los Angeles police departments and the county fire departments, a couple of terrorists and the Metropolitan Water Department to tell us one heck of a story. Nick Carter, a fire captain with the Urban Search and Rescue Task Force of the Los Angeles County Fire Department, and Cindi, an ATF agent, are awakened on a Sunday morning by a phone call. Cindi learns from the caller that her team has lost track of two potential terrorists. She has to go to work. Not long after that, Nick receives a similar call. What promised to be a relaxing Sunday, where Nick had plans to propose marriage to Cindi, becomes a nightmare. Their individual investigations bring them together to face the threat of death, but neither of them will back down from what they were born to do.
Tunnel Visions by Kurt Kamm is one of the most fast paced and exciting books I have read this year. The author weaves fact with fiction and tells a story that puts the reader right in the middle of the action. His knowledge of police, fire and ATF operations will teach you about what is going on behind the scenes when a terror threat unfolds. I would recommend this book to a broad audience, especially those who live in Southern California where the story takes place.
Recommend this book:
Chaysing Destiny
Book 3
Jalpa Williby

2015 Bronze Medal
342 Pages
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Fiction - Thriller - Terrorist

Chaysing Destiny: Book 3 by Jalpa Williby is the entrancing finale of this series. We are thrust into suspense as Tess is gripped by one of her prophetic, yet vague, nightmares. She awakes to find the Iraqi village she is working in administering medical aid is on fire, and gunshots ringing out. It's under attack by rebels from a group known a FILO. While she rushes to save as many of the villagers as she can, we learn that she's not just there for medical purposes. She's there to find information on Saheim, the man she feels is responsible for Chayse's death. Having secured the escape of many, she attracts the attention of the rebels to draw them away from the direction of the fleeing villagers. It's here that she finds her man – literally finds her man. I had to hang on tight because the roller coaster ride Tess starts on from here on out was deftly portrayed. I highly recommend reading books 1 and 2 before starting this book. Author Jalpa Williby saved the very best for last in Chaysing Destiny. It moved me like no other book has in many years. If I could give this book 10 stars, I would!
Never has any book dragged me through so many emotions in just 4 and a half short hours. I was gripped with suspense from the first line, and just when I thought I could relax, I was outraged and wanted to strangle a certain someone. Indignation crept up on me from somewhere, and suddenly I found myself crying - yes, me, I was crying. Then, I gasped audibly and startled my husband by proclaiming, "No! You better not have!" I held my breath, horrified and fearful, for the next 5 minutes as a certain scene played out. I wasn't sure at this point that my heart could take anymore. I almost cried with relief when the scene ended, but yipped in triumph instead. After all, everyone likes to see the devil get his due, yes? Almost exhausted, I was able to relax a bit before sadness overwhelmed me. And then the tears. Good God, I'm crying again. Darn you, Jalpa! Then came the cautious hope...then the tentative smile, and finally those darn tears again. But, as with all great stories, however wretched they may be, I shut my Kindle down, smiling and at peace. This series did exactly what all great series should. Thank you, Jalpa!
Recommend this book:
Lily of Peru
David C. Edmonds

2015 Silver Medal
402 Pages
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Fiction - Thriller - Terrorist

Sigh. That was my reaction when I finished David C. Edmonds’ new work, Lily of Peru. You know, the type of sigh you emit after you’ve finished a book that has left you with a deeply satisfying feeling of having read a really, really great book. Both a sigh of satisfaction and a sigh of regret that the book is done. This epic novel follows the story of university professor Markus Thorsen as he receives a message from his beloved Marissa that she is ready to leave her Peruvian husband and move to the United States. And to Markus. Dropping everything to rush to her side, Markus is ecstatic, and hopeful that what he has wished for, for so long, might actually be coming true. But once he reaches her, he finds that all may not be what he thought. Marissa has connections to an insurgent group called The Shining Path, and those connections lead the couple on a journey fraught with danger and intrigue. By seeking what he truly wants in life, will Markus end up losing it all?
Lily of Peru is a fantastic read. Romance, action, adventure, thrills and excitement are all wrapped up in this book. David C. Edmonds’ descriptive prose brings the whole of Peru, including Lima, the Andes and the jungle to life. The main characters, Markus and Marissa, as well as a whole host of minor characters, come to life on the page. Anyone who loves to read thrillers, political intrigue, or romance novels will enjoy this book. I was sad when I finished this book, and look very much forward to reading more by this author in the future.
Recommend this book:
Beyond Top Secret
Rob Lubitz

2015 Gold Medal
328 Pages
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Fiction - Thriller - Terrorist

Beyond Top Secret by Rob Lubitz combines mystery, romance, espionage, and drama in a fast-paced action thriller. Ryan is an attorney with a mysterious secret past that no one in his current life, not even his live-in girlfriend, Maya, knows about. He has been living a perfectly respectable, normal life in Phoenix, Arizona, for 15 years without anyone suspecting that he has a deeply hidden and secret past. Then, things start happening when Ryan learns of a series of murders that he may have some clues about. Things get even more complicated after the September 11, 2009 terrorist attacks. Meanwhile, news arrives that Alana, his ex-lover and the only woman he still loves, has accidentally killed her husband, Steve, and may be accused of murder. Ryan realizes he needs to step in because the secrets buried in his past may be the only thing that can save Alana from her fate. What he does not know is that his secret may also be in use at the same time in counter-terrorism missions against Osama bin Laden and Al-Qaeda. What happens next in this action-packed thriller as secret government forces vie for victory, while Ryan and Alana are drawn to each other again, forms the basis of the plot.
Beyond Top Secret is a delightful and exciting read. Written by Rob Lubitz, who has a background in the military and government himself, Beyond Top Secret draws you in and makes the story believable. I enjoyed the suspense and mystery elements in it, and found this to be a page-turner. Although this book is the second one in a series, each book can be read independently, and prior knowledge from other books is not necessary. This is definitely one of the most enjoyable thriller/mystery books I have read in a while, and makes for great armchair reading.
Recommend this book:
Shadow of the Automaton
I Am Automaton Book 3
Edward P. Cardillo

2014 Honorable Mention
292 Pages
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Fiction - Thriller - Terrorist

Shadow of the Automaton by Edward P. Cardillo is a complex novel that manages to satisfy on every level. It is the story of two brothers who love each other but are on opposite sides in a battle for the future of humanity. Actually, to say they are the key players in a battle for the very soul of humanity would not be an understatement. The protagonist, Peter, is a well developed character with all the traits a good hero should have. He is smart, likable, and willing to make the sacrifices a hero often must in order to secure a safer world for all. His younger brother Kafka is the other side of that coin, diabolical and relentless in his quest to change humanity into something at once more and less than human. He has unimaginable power and knowledge and his only apparent weakness is his desire to recruit his big brother to his cause, thus securing the only approval that is really important to him.
Edward P. Cardillo is a name to watch out for. In Shadow of the Automaton he deftly handles complicated themes while moving the plot to a satisfying conclusion. While the book is a thriller complete with a healthy dose of sibling rivalry on one level, on another it is a sharp, and at times humorous look at modern American society. The satire is pointed and stinging and the emotions this book evoke run from hilarious to horrifying. It is a well written roller coaster ride.
Recommend this book:
The Grid
An International Thriller
Carlton Winnfield

2014 Bronze Medal
190 Pages
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Fiction - Thriller - Terrorist

The Grid by Carlton Winnfield is an extraordinary tale of international intrigue and subversion, narrated by an unnamed agent of The Grid. With highly advanced nanotechnology, a super computer to guide him, and a multitude of satellites to be his eye in the sky at all times, we follow him on a mission to uncover and then stop the plans of Khan, a radical Jihadist leader from Pakistan. As he uncovers the plans, piece by piece, a horrific picture unfolds of an alliance with Gomez Soares, a Mexican drug cartel leader, and the smuggling of an atomic bomb to Mexico City. Soares and Khan are both certain that detonating this bomb will effectively upset the balance of power in the countries they both wish to take over. But The Grid has other plans.
The Grid by Carlton Winnfield is exciting and riveting. The narrator is never named so I felt as if I were following a shadowy figure through the whole story. Rather appropriate considering that's exactly how he was supposed to be. He leads you on an international romp through three continents to complete his mission, and author Carlton Winnfield did a superb job bringing every location to life in vivid detail. His character building is equally impressive. From the beautiful Controller of The Grid to the other exotic beauties and evil men we encounter, they are perfectly visualized through his writing. I highly recommend this book for better-than-Bond thrills and intrigue.
Recommend this book:
Measure of Danger
A Kade Sims Thriller
Jay Klages

2014 Silver Medal
379 Pages
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Fiction - Thriller - Terrorist

Measure of Danger: A Kade Sims Novel by Jay Klages is a thriller revolving around a young former intelligence officer, Kade Sims. Kade Sims finds himself removed from his job because of a behavior termed hypomania. Sitting at home he is bored, but at that time the FBI approaches him and asks him to go as an undercover agent to find out about The Chapter, a mysterious quasi-militia group. Kade finds himself on a different road altogether. What looked like an easy task is not as easy as he thought it would be. When his Jeep meets with an accident, he finds himself waking up in The Chapter's compound, strapped to a bed. His hypomania works to his advantage here because it helps him to resist the mind control methods of the brutal soldiers of The Chapter. He finds a way to connect with the FBI, his family and roommate. Will Kade be able to survive this assignment with mind and body intact or will there be no escaping from this network of The Chapter?
The plot will keep readers riveted with lots of twists, turns, action and thrills. The portrayal of Kade Sims is done well; he is just like any other guy and not the typical slick super hero. The sub plots have been woven into the main plot fluidly. It is a great book for those who are interested in reading action based stories. The plot comes up with a lot of surprises and spins that will enthrall readers.
Recommend this book:
Love Thy Neighbor
Mark Gilleo

2014 Gold Medal
438 Pages
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Fiction - Thriller - Terrorist

Love Thy Neighbor by author Mark Gilleo is truly a remarkable book that had me on the edge of my seat the entire time. Suspense, mystery and intrigue form the backbone of this book that enthralled my senses and imagination for four nights on end. The main character, Clark Hayden, is a student desperately trying to cope with the loss of his father. He goes home to Washington DC to help his mother, who in many ways is delusional and suffering with a mental condition. As the saying goes ‘when it rains it pours,’ and it certainly has begun to rain hard in Clark's life. In short, he is thrust deep into the world of terrorism where the end of his life and thousands of others is just a moment in time away.
If I have to pick words that best describe author Mark Gilleo’s writing style it would have to be gripping and captivating. Gilleo’s plot development is perfectly described with the right mix of tension and suspense that makes the pages turn effortlessly on your reading device. I personally enjoyed all of the correlations as they pertain to the different government agencies in the USA. This is definitely an end of days scenario that opens questions as to what if something like this would happen in a big city like Washington DC, or for that matter Miami, FL or NYC? Would we be ready? Would we have a solution? Or would we rely on people like Clark Hayden to come to our aid. This is certainly a thought- provoking read that is not for the faint of heart. If you’re looking for a thriller to sink your teeth into, then look no further. Love Thy Neighbor is the book for you.
Recommend this book:
Ironsides' Peril
A Zach Colt Adventure
Michael D. Urban

2013 Honorable Mention
393 Pages
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Fiction - Thriller - Terrorist

When old Ironsides turns 215, the 200th anniversary of the War of 1812 and the Fourth of July all happen to fall within the same time frame; it is obvious that the country will celebrate. After all, how often do such amazing things happen all at once? The city of Boston is poised to celebrate and they are determined that the celebration will be great. That is until a series of terrorist attacks strike the day of the big event. The bombings and the firefight are only the beginning of what will turn out to be one of the most terrifying and harrowing days in American history even counting the wars of our past.
There are not many authors who will take you inside the mind of a terrorist, but Urban takes us into the minds of three. Not only that, he provides captivating details about the history of Old Ironsides, the military and his main characters. Zach Colt, his girlfriend Eleni, the police, Coast Guard and several others are all the heroes of this story. And Urban was able to provide great details that made every single one of them come alive and seem extremely real. It was easy to relate to each character and easy to understand their motivation (even of the terrorists) because of the way they were described. I really enjoyed this book and will definitely be interested in finding any more by this author. I'm also happy that I found out there were more books about these same characters. I’ll definitely be looking into those as well.
