Awards and Finalists

connierandel

Christy award finalists.

The FINALISTS in nine fiction categories are:

CONTEMPORARY ROMANCE
Just Like Home, Courtney Walsh
Some Bright Someday, Melissa Tagg
Stay with Me, Becky Wade

FIRST NOVEL – tie
A Noble Calling, Rhona Weaver
The Edge of Belonging, Amanda Cox
Rain, Dana McNeely - have
Roots of Wood and Stone, Amanda Wen

GENERAL FICTION
Set the Stars Alight, Amanda *kitten*
The Water Keeper, Charles Martin - have libby
The Way It Should Be, Christina Suzann Nelson

HISTORICAL
Like Flames in the Night, Connilyn Cossette
Under the Tulip Tree, Michelle Shocklee
The White Rose Resists, Amanda Barratt

HISTORICAL ROMANCE
A Portrait of Loyalty, Roseanna M. White
The Prince of Spies, Elizabeth Camden
When Twilight Breaks, Sarah Sundin

MYSTERY/SUSPENSE/THRILLER
Port of Origin, Lisa Harris and Lynne Gentry
Relative Silence, Carrie Stuart Parks
Unknown Threat, Lynn H. Blackburn

SHORT FORM
A Match Made at Christmas, Courtney Walsh
Joy to the World: Far as the Curse is Found
Joy to the World: Wonders of His Love, Erica Vetsch

SPECULATIVE
Extinction Island, Janice Boekhoff
Forsaken Island, Sharon Hinck
The Story Hunter, Lindsay A. Franklin

YOUNG ADULT
Dust, Kara Swanson
Mortal Sight, Sandra Fernandez Rhoads
Rebel Daughter, Lori Banov Kaufmann

connierandel

Carol Award Finalists - winners bold

CONTEMPORARY
The Promised Land by Elizabeth Musser
If For Any Reason by Courtney Walsh
On a Coastal Breeze by Suzanne Woods Fisher

HISTORICAL
Things We Didn’t Say by Amy Lynn Green (historical)
In High Cotton by Ane Mulligan
The Right Kind of Fool by Sarah Loudin Thomas

HISTORICAL ROMANCE
Daughter of Rome by Tessa Afshar
Like Flames in the Night by Connilyn Cossette
The Runaway Bride by Jody Hedlund

MYSTERY/SUSPENSE/THRILLER
Dead End by Nancy Mehl
Relative Silence by Carrie Stuart Parks
A Baby’s Right to Choose by David L. Winters

NOVELLA
Far as the Curse is Found, from the collection Joy to the World: A Regency Christmas Collection by Amanda Barratt
Christmas in Galway, in the collection Christmas Lights and Romance by Elizabeth Ludwig
A New Hope for Christmas by Erin Stevenson

ROMANCE
Love and a Little White Lie by Tammy L. Gray
Starfish Pier by Irene Hannon
Carolina Breeze by Denise Hunter

ROMANTIC SUSPENSE
Lost Down Deep by Sara Davison
Point of Danger by Irene Hannon
Airborne by DiAnn Mills

SHORT NOVEL
The Christmas Bargain by Lisa Carter
Killer Insight by Virginia Vaughan
Texas Holiday Hideout by Virginia Vaughan

SPECULATIVE
Cry of the Raven (Book 3, The Ravenwood Saga) by Morgan L. Busse
Stealing Embers by Julie Hall
The Vault Between Spaces by Chawna Schroeder

YOUNG ADULT
Victoria Grace the Jerkface by S.E. Clancy
The Story Hunter by Lindsay A. Franklin
Mortal Sight by Sandra Fernandez Rhoads

DEBUT
Things We Didn’t Say by Amy Lynn Green (historical)
The Edge of Everywhen by A.S. Mackey
Mortal Sight by Sandra Fernandez Rhoads (YA)

pianolady831

Thanks for starting this thread, Connie. I will check back often. Finalists are usually as good, or even better in some cases, than the winner.

connierandel

HaHa. I just looked through the first post and saw *kitten* instead of Amanda's last name. I forgot that they wouldn't allow her name. D y k e s.

Restfinder

That's funny! I'm glad their algorithm keeps out bad language, unfortunately anything close gets booted too!

Thanks for the list, Connie. I have the Connilyn Cossett book. I read the first book in her other series but couldn't get into book two so ended up just not going on with it. The first book was very good, the second seemed to just drag.

I loved the Story Hunter series by Lindsay Franklin. This girl could produce items when she told a story so that at the end of the story someone could take away a small statue of the story, but as it turns out, she could do so much more with her storytelling especially when combined with others who had special gifts in that area.

I did read THE VAULT BETWEEN SPACES and really liked it as well. I've read other things by Chawna Shroeder as well and really like her stuff.

I love Morgan Busse and read the first two books in her Raven series, but the last book, the one mentioned, was slow for me and I didn't finish it. I want to re-read the whole series straight through.

connierandel

Christy Award Winners - 2021

BOOK OF THE YEAR
The Edge of Belonging, Amanda Cox

CONTEMPORARY ROMANCE
Stay with Me, Becky Wade

FIRST NOVEL
The Edge of Belonging, Amanda Cox

GENERAL FICTION
The Way It Should Be, Christina Suzann Nelson

HISTORICAL
The White Rose Resists, Amanda Barratt

HISTORICAL ROMANCE
A Portrait of Loyalty, Roseanna M. White

MYSTERY/SUSPENSE/THRILLER
Relative Silence, Carrie Stuart Parks

SHORT FORM
Joy to the World: Far as the Curse is Found by Amanda Barratt

SPECULATIVE
Forsaken Island, Sharon Hinck

YOUNG ADULT
Mortal Sight, Sandra Fernandez Rhoads

Restfinder

Mortal Sight is on my wish list. I checked at Hoopla, but it's not there.
I want to read that series by Sharon Hinck, but again, not on Hoopla or KU or cheap.
I did read A PORTRAIT OF LOYALTY, wow, that whole series was really good.
THE WHITE ROSE RESISTS sounds very intense, I put it on my wish list; and I just saw that Hoopla has it both in audio and e-book!
Hoopla also has THE EDGE OF BELONGING!

connierandel

Kim - I have The White Rose Resists checked out on hoopla. I have kind of put off reading it, because of the subject matter...sounds intense. I have read the others except YA and speculative.

Restfinder

Of course, the YA and speculative are the ones I have read or want to read! LOL! Let me know what you think of The White Rose Resists - you know what I like so you'd know if this would be something I'd like to read - the intensity may make it an enjoyable read though!

connierandel

2022 - Congratulations to the finalists for the Faith, Hope and Love Awards! Winners will be announced in June.

Historical

Between the Wild Branches by Connilyn Cossette (Bethany House)

A Life Redeemed by Olivia Rae (HopeKnight Press)

No Journey Too Far by Carrie Turansky (Waterbrook Multnomah)

Short Contemporary (5 finalists, due to ties)

Hidden in Her Heart by Milla Holt (Independently Published)

The Father He Deserves by Lisa Jordan (Harlequin/Love Inspired)

The Marine’s Mission by Deb Kastner (Harlequin/Love Inspired)

A Brother’s Promise by Mindy Obenhaus (Harlequin/Love Inspired)

Their Yuletide Healing by Mindy Obenhaus (Harlequin/Love Inspired)

Long Contemporary

All That Really Matters by Nicole Deese (Bethany House)

Healing Skye by Janet Ferguson (Southern Sun Press LLC)

Let it Be Me by Becky Wade (Baker (Bethany House)

Romantic Suspense (4 finalists, due to ties)

Crosshairs by Patricia Bradley (Revell)

Breach of Honor by Janice Cantore (Tyndale)

Miracle in Milan by MaryAnn Diorio (TopNotch Press)

Deadly Target by Elizabeth Goddard (Revell)

Sweet Romance

The Soldier’s Unexpected Family by Tanya Agler (Harlequin Heartwarming)

An Amish Flower Farm by Mindy Steele (Hallmark Publishing)

Karmyn by Lisa Washington (Washington Way Publishing)

Speculative

A Time to Seek by Tracy Higley (Stonewater Books LLC)

A Castle for Christmas by Stephenia McGee (By The Vine Press)

The Promise of Deception by Jessica Sly (Mountain Brook Fire)

Women’s Fiction

The Finder of Forgotten Things by Sarah Loudin Thomas (Bethany House)

Facing the Dawn by Cynthia Ruchti (Revell)

A Picture of Hope by Liz Tolsma (Barbour Publishing)

Novella

A Groom for Ruby by Laura Ashwood (Self-Published)

Worthy of Redemption by Krystina Renae Rankin (Quirky Bullpen Press)

You and Me by Becky Wade (Self-Published)

Restfinder

Wow, I don't believe I've read any of those books!

connierandel

I have read a few. I thought I kept up with new books fairly well, but several I had never heard of.

connierandel

Finalists for the CAROL awards 2022

Carol Award Finalists
Contemporary
Where Grace Appears by Heidi Chiavaroli
A Piece of the Moon by Chris Fabry
Roots of Wood and Stone by Amanda Wen

Historical
The Orchard House by Heidi Chiavaroli
A Tapestry of Light by Kimberly Duffy
Rain by Dana McNeely

Historical Romance
The Paris Dressmaker by Kristy Cambron
The Prince of Spies by Elizabeth Camden
The Thief of Blackfriars Lane by Michelle Griep

Mystery/Suspense/Thriller
Right Cross by Andrew Huff
Manna Reign by Neena Roth – aka Dineen Miller
Dark Intercept by Andrews and Wilson (Brian Andrews and Jeffrey Wilson)

Novella
Star Light (part of The Heart of Christmas Anthology) by Sara Davison
Believing the Hero by Tara Grace Ericson
A Texas Christmas Carol (from Under the Texas Mistletoe) by Karen Witemeyer

Romance
The Amish Quiltmaker’s Unexpected Baby by Jennifer Beckstrand
All That Really Matters by Nicole Deese
Provenance by Carla Laureno

Romantic Suspense
Driven by Sara Davison
Danger on the Loch by Paige Edwards
Labyrinth of Lies by Irene Hannon

Short Novel
Choosing His Family by Jill Lynn
A Mother’s Strength by Allie Pleiter
Texas Baby Cover-up by Virginia Vaughn

Speculative
Secrets in the Mist by Morgan L. Busse
Windward Shore by Sharon Hinck
Cast the First Stone by David James Warren

Young Adult
Traitor by Laurie Lucking
Realms of Light by Sandra Fernandez Rhoads
Mountain of Flame by Diane E. Samson

Debut
Sugar Birds by Cheryl Grey Bostrom
Solomon’s Porch by Janet Morris Grimes
Into the Room by Steven Rogers

Restfinder

I have some of those but have only read one, that I can remember! LOL! Several are on my wish list, they just have to come down in price or I have to look on Hoopla to see if they are there! I just keep forgetting about Hoopla.

connierandel

There are a lot if them that I had never heard of. I think I have read 9 or 10.

connierandel

2022 Carol Award Winners:

Contemporary: a Piece of the Moon by Chris Fabry
Historical: The Orchard House by Heidi Chiavaroli
Historical Romance: The Prince of Spies by Elizabeth Camden
Mystery/Suspense/Thriller: Dark Intercept: Andrew’s and Wilson
Novella: A Texas Christmas Carol by Karen Witemeyer
Romance: All That Really Matters by Nicole Deese
Romantic Suspense: Driven by Sarah Davison
Short Novel: Choosing His Family by Jill Lynn
Speculative: Windward Shore by Sharon Hinck
Young Adult: Realms of Light by Sandra Fernandez Rhoads
Debut Novel: Sugar Birds by Cheryl Grey Bostrum

pianolady831

Thanks, Connie. I've found some great reads by checking out award finalists and winners, so I'll work through that list. Have you read most of them?

connierandel

I have read 5 of them and have two of them checked out from hoopla (Dark intercept and Sugar Birds). I tried to find a free way to read the Jill Lynn book, but haven't found it except on hoopla ebook, and I don't like using it.

connierandel

2022 Christy Award Finalists

Contemporary
All That Really Matters by Nicole Deese
Bookshop by the Sea by Denise Hunter
Husband Auditions by Angela Ruth Strong

First Novel
All That Is Secret by Patricia Raybon
Recorder by Cathy McCrumb
Sugar Birds by Cheryl Grey Bostrom

General
The Letter Keeper by Charles Martin
The Secret Keepers of Old Depot Grocery by Amanda Cox
Under the Magnolias by T. I. Lowe

Historical
Between the Wild Branches by Connilyn Cossette
Drawn by The Current by Jocelyn Green
The Widows of Champagne by Renee Ryan
Yours is the Night by Amanda D-ykes

Historical Romance
As The Dawn Breaks by Kate Breslin
Hope Between the Pages by Pepper Basham
Shadows of Swanford Abbey by Julie Klassen
Until Leaves Fall in Paris by Sarah Sundin

Mystery/ Suspense/ Thriller
Aftermath by Terri Blackstock
The Barrister and the Letter of Marque by Todd M. Johnson
On the Cliffs of Foxglove Manor by Jaime Jo Wright

Short Form
A Texas Christmas Carol (in Under the Texas Mistletoe) by Karen Witemeyer
Mr. Nicholas: A Magical Christmas Tale by Christopher de Vinck
False Pretense by Heather Day Gilbert

Speculative
A Time To Seek by Tracy Higley
Dark Intercept by Brian Andrews & Jeffrey Wilson
Recorder by Cathy McCrumb
Windward Shore by Sharon Hinck

Young Adult
A Gently Tyranny by Jess Corban
Realms of Light by Sandra Fernandez Rhoads
Shadow by Kara Swanson

Restfinder

Shadows of Swanford Abbey by Julie Klassen - I started this one but didn't get very far in it. It is one that I want to go back to.

I have this whole series but never got into it: A Time To Seek by Tracy Higley

Recorder by Cathy McCrumb: read this one, loved it and can't wait for the next book

Realms of Light by Sandra Fernandez Rhoads: I've wanted to read this one, but the blurb makes me hesitant.

Shadow by Kara Swanson - this is another series I'd like to read.

connierandel

I have read most of the books in my comfort range. I will bold what I have read.
Contemporary
All That Really Matters by Nicole Deese
Bookshop by the Sea by Denise Hunter
Husband Auditions by Angela Ruth Strong

First Novel
All That Is Secret by Patricia Raybon
Recorder by Cathy McCrumb
Sugar Birds by Cheryl Grey Bostrom

General
The Letter Keeper by Charles Martin
The Secret Keepers of Old Depot Grocery by Amanda Cox
Under the Magnolias by T. I. Lowe

Historical
Between the Wild Branches by Connilyn Cossette
Drawn by The Current by Jocelyn Green
The Widows of Champagne by Renee Ryan
Yours is the Night by Amanda D-ykes

Historical Romance
As The Dawn Breaks by Kate Breslin
Hope Between the Pages by Pepper Basham
Shadows of Swanford Abbey by Julie Klassen
Until Leaves Fall in Paris by Sarah Sundin

Mystery/ Suspense/ Thriller
Aftermath by Terri Blackstock
The Barrister and the Letter of Marque by Todd M. Johnson Contemporary (I have this one checked out)
On the Cliffs of Foxglove Manor by Jaime Jo Wright

Short Form
A Texas Christmas Carol (in Under the Texas Mistletoe) by Karen Witemeyer
Mr. Nicholas: A Magical Christmas Tale by Christopher de Vinck
False Pretense by Heather Day Gilbert - This is available KU and part of a series that I started, but didn't finish for some reason.

Speculative
A Time To Seek by Tracy Higley
Dark Intercept by Brian Andrews & Jeffrey Wilson - Very good, but some language
Recorder by Cathy McCrumb
Windward Shore by Sharon Hinck

Young Adult
A Gently Tyranny by Jess Corban
Realms of Light by Sandra Fernandez Rhoads
Shadow by Kara Swanson Totally loved the series. I read as part of a challenge.

Shadow by Kara Swanson

Restfinder

I can't remember if I read DUST by Kara Swanson. It sounds familiar, but I got the audio book from Hoopla and will listen to it tonight. It's a series I go back and forth on - not sure why.

cmsienk

I just downloaded All That Really Matters by Nicole Deese through KU. Since it was both a Carol and Christy award winner, it seemed like a good choice.

connierandel

Congratulations to The Christy Award winners!
CONTEMPORARY ROMANCE
All That Really Matters, Nicole Deese

FIRST NOVEL
All That Is Secret, Patricia Raybon

GENERAL FICTION
The Secret Keepers of Old Depot Grocery, Amanda Cox

HISTORICAL
Drawn by The Current, Jocelyn Green

HISTORICAL ROMANCE
Until Leaves Fall in Paris, Sarah Sundin

MYSTERY/SUSPENSE/THRILLER
Aftermath, Terri Blackstock

SHORT FORM
A Texas Christmas Carol (in Under the Texas Mistletoe), Karen Witemeyer

SPECULATIVE
Windward Shore, Sharon Hinck

YOUNG ADULT
Shadow, Kara Swanson

AMPLIFY
In Search of a Prince, Toni Shiloh

CHRISTY BOOK OF THE YEAR
The Secret Keepers of Old Depot Grocery, Amanda Cox

CHRISTY AWARD HALL OF FAME
Becky Wade

Restfinder

Here's a link to the winners of the Swoony Awards: https://theswoonyawards.blogspot.com/2022/12/2022-swoony-award-winners.html

connierandel

Well, I think I have read one of them....I did vote in a couple of rounds, but only for books/authors that I know.

Restfinder

I did the same thing. I voted some because I knew the author and others because I'd read the book. One of the winners was a book I'd read and voted for - Melanie Cellier's book. Very good series!

connierandel

Carol Award Winners:
SONGS THAT COULD HAVE BEEN by Amanda Wen - Contemporary

THE LOST MELODY by Joanna Davidson Politano - Historical

WRITTEN ON THE WIND by Elizabeth Camden - Historical Romance

FALLOUT by Carrie Stuart Parks - Mystery/Suspense

WHILE MORTALS SLEEP by Janyre Tromp (O LITTLE TOWN anthology) - novella

TURN TO ME by Becky Wade - romance

WORD OF HONOR by Hallee Bridgeman - romantic suspense

Hunted in the Wilderness by Kellie VanHorn - short novel

Dream of Kings by Sharon Hinck - Speculative

Wishtress by Nadine Brandes - YA

THE EXTRAORDINARY DEATHS OF MRS. KIP by Sara Brunsvold - Debut

Restfinder

OOO, I've read Wishtress. I've read the first book in that Hallee Bridgeman series. I also have Dream of Kings on my wish list. Thanks for posting it, Connie!

connierandel

Kim - All that are capitalized are the ones I have read.....We really are different in our tastes!

cmsienk

The only one I've read in that list is THE EXTRAORDINARY DEATHS OF MRS. KIP by Sara Brunsvold.