Award Time!

Last week I introduced the finalists for the RITA and Christy Awards. This week I'm back with the finalists in the INSPYs.

The INSPY Awards are the newer kids on the awards block, and are organised by bloggers, not publishers or writers. I'm a judge for the General Fiction category this year - a new challenge I'm looking forward to! The finalists are:

CONTEMPORARY ROMANCE/ROMANTIC SUSPENSE

Beowolf: Explosives Detection Dog by Ronie Kendig
Somebody Like You by Beth K. Vogt
A Table by the Window by Hillary Manton Lodge
Meant to Be Mine by Becky Wade
A Broken Kind of Beautiful by Katie Ganshert

DEBUT FICTION

The Butterfly and the Violin by Kristy Cambron
Miracle in a Dry Season by Sarah Loudin Thomas
How Sweet the Sound by Amy K. Sorrells
Healer of Carthage by Lynne Gentry
For Such a Time by Kate Breslin

GENERAL FICTION

Thief of Glory by Sigmund Brouwer
All Right Here by Carre Armstrong Gardner
Saving Amelie by Cathy Gohlke
Lizzy & Jane by Katherine Reay
Keepers of the Covenant by Lynn Austin

HISTORICAL

A Beauty So Rare by Tamera Alexander
The Thief by Stephanie Landsem
Mark of Distinction by Jessica Dotta
Captured by Love by Jody Hedlund
With Every Breath by Elizabeth Camden

MYSTERY AND THRILLER

A.D. 30 by Ted Dekker
Checkmate by Steven James
Murder at the Mikado by Julianna Deering
Raptor 6 by Ronie Kendig
Playing Saint by Zachary Bartels

LITERATURE FOR YOUNG ADULTS

Remnants: Season of Wonder by Lisa T. Bergren
Storm Siren by Mary Weber
Blur by Steven James
Destined for Doon by Carey Corp & Lorie Langdon
Jupiter Winds by C.J. Darlington

SPECULATIVE FICTION

Spirit Bridge by James L. Rubart
Shadow Hand by Anne Elisabeth Stengl
Seek and Hide by Amanda G. Stevens
Healer of Carthage by Lynne Gentry
A Draw of Kings by Patrick W. Carr

As a judge, I can't say any more except that it's a great crop of books to read, and I'll be looking forward to sharing my findings and reviews with you after the winners are announced at the end of June.

Award Time!

It's coming up to award time, and several organisations have announced their lists of finalists over the last few weeks. Today I'm introducing the finalists for the 2015 RITA (Inspirational Fiction) and Christy Awards.

Romance Writers of America

RWA have five finalists in their Inspirational Romance Category:

Deceived by Irene Hannon (read and reviewed)
For Such a Time by Kate Breslin
Hope at Dawn by Stacy Henrie
Huckleberry Summer by Jennifer Beckstrand
The Widow's Suitor by Rose Ross Zediker

For Such a Time is also a finalist for First Novel - well done, Kate Breslin!

Christy Awards

The long-established Christy Awards are the premier awards in Christian fiction, and showcase novels in a variety of categories:

CONTEMPORARY

Farewell, Four Waters by Kate McCord
Somewhere Safe with Somebody Good by Jan Karon
The Story Keeper by Lisa Wingate

CONTEMPORARY ROMANCE

A Broken Kind of Beautiful by Katie Ganshert
Firewall by DiAnn Mills (read and reviewed)
Undetected by Dee Henderson (read and reviewed)

It's curious that Firewall and Undetected are in the Contemporary Romance category, as both are part of a series. 

CONTEMPORARY SERIES

The Amish Blacksmith by Mindy Starns Clark and Susan Meissner
Home to Chicory Lane by Deborah Raney (read and reviewed)
When I Fall in Love by Susan May Warren (read and reviewed - always a favourite author)

FIRST NOVEL

Feast for Thieves by Marcus Brotherton (this one's on my to-read list)
For Such a Time by Kate Breslin
House of Living Stones by Kate Schuermann

HISTORICAL

The Advocate by Randy Singer (another on my to-read list)
The Invention of Wings by Sue Monk Kidd (interesting choice, as not known as a CBA author)
The Sentinels of Andersonville by Tracy Groot (I've heard good things about this, but haven't read it)

HISTORICAL ROMANCE

A Beauty So Rare by Tamera Alexander
Thief of Glory by Sigmund Brouwer (and another on my to-read list!)
With Every Breath by Elizabeth Camden (read and reviewed)

SUSPENSE

The Color of Justice by Ace Collins
A Cry from the Dust by Carrie Stuart Parks (read and reviewed)
Sky Zone by Creston Mapes

VISIONARY

Once Beyond a Time by Ann Tatlock
Shadow Hand by Anne Elisabeth Stengl
A Time to Die by Nadine Brandes

YOUNG ADULT

Failstate: Nemesis by John W. Otte
This Quiet Sky by Joanne Bischof
Storm Siren by Mary Weber

I've read and reviewed a lot of books over the last year, and I'm surprised to see I've read so few of these. What have you read?