2014 Golden Heart Winners

Winners & Finalists

Contemporary Romance

Winner: “Too Good to Be True” - Suzanne Kaufman Kalb

• Finalists:

“Love in Living Color” - Shelly L. Alexander

Historical Romance

Winner: “Charlene and the Duchess Factory” - Lenora Bell

• Finalists:

“The Earl Next Door” - Charis Calhoon

“A Haunting Desire” - Julie Mulhern

“Much Ado about Scandal” - Jillian Lark

“The Seer” - Gwynlyn MacKenzie

“A Soldier's Serenade” - Ellen Lindseth

“The Unseducible Earl” - Sheri Humphreys

“Wicked Things” - Laura Trentham

“A Wild and Wicked Wind” - Laura Trentham

Inspirational Romance

Winner: “My Lord Valet” - Kristi Ann Hunter

• Finalists:

“Against the Peace” - Carrie Padgett

“Better Than a Movie” - Sara Tompkins

“A Virtuous Ruby” - Piper Huguley

Paranormal Romance

Winner: “Beyond the Fire” - Marni Folsom

• Finalists:

“Fit to Die” - Pintip Dunn

“Hidden Magic” - Shelly Chalmers

“Valhalla's King” - Asa Maria Bradley

Romantic Suspense

Winner: “Chasing Damn” - Denny S. Bryce

• Finalists:

“Dangerous Dreams” - Abbie Roads

“Fatal Fragrances” - Connie Taxdal

“In a Sea of Change” - Deborah Wilding

“Secrets That Kill” - Sarah Andre

“See Her No More” - Sharon Wray

Short Contemporary Romance

Winner: “Yesterday's Promise” - Sarah Cannon

• Finalists:

“Bringing Delaney Home” - Lee Kilraine

“Poetic Justice” - Nan Dixon

Young Adult Romance

Winner: “The Thing with Feathers” - McCall Hoyle

• Finalists:

“Altered” - Marnee Bailey

“Carlie in Crisis” - Pintip Dunn

“Carma Always” - Stephanie Winkelhake

“Four Bullets” - Amy DeLuca

“Letting Go” - Jessica Ruddick

“Macha and the River Blue” - Barbara Gerry

“This is Your Afterlife” - Vanessa Barneveld

“To Feel or Not to Feel” - Kimberly MacCarron

Category Descriptions All categories may have varying levels of sensuality. Contemporary Romance Manuscripts that focus primarily on the romantic relationship and that are greater than 65,000 words. Judging guidelines: In this category, the love story is the main focus of the novel, and the resolution of the romance is emotionally satisfying and optimistic. Entrants determine whether this is the appropriate category to enter based on their own calculation of word count, not publisher definitions. As authors cannot always be certain of the final word count after editing, a small amount of flexibility (5 percent of the total word count) over or under the word limit is permissible. Erotic Romance Manuscripts in which strong, often explicit, sexual interaction is an inherent part of the story, character growth and relationship development and could not be removed without damaging the storyline. These manuscripts may contain elements of other romance subgenres (such as paranormal, historical, etc.) Judging guidelines: In this category, the love story is the main focus of the manuscript, scenes of explicit sexual interaction are blended with and form a significant part of the love story, and the resolution of the romance is emotionally satisfying and optimistic. Historical Romance Manuscripts set in any historical time period. Judging guidelines: In this category, the love story is the main focus of the manuscript, and the resolution of the romance is emotionally satisfying and optimistic. Inspirational Romance Manuscripts in which religious or spiritual beliefs (in the context of any religion of spiritual belief system) are a major part of the romantic relationship. Judging guidelines: In this category, the love story is the main focus of the manuscript, religious or spiritual beliefs (in the context of any religion or spiritual belief system) are blended with and form a significant part of the love story, and the resolution of the romance is satisfying and optimistic. Paranormal Romance Manuscripts in which the future, a fantasy world or paranormal happenings are an integral part of the plot. Judging guidelines: In this category, the love story is the main focus of the manuscript, a futuristic, fantasy, or paranormal element is blended with the love story, and the end of the book is emotionally satisfying and optimistic. Romantic Suspense Manuscripts in which suspense, mystery, or thriller elements constitute an integral part of the plot. Judging guidelines: In this category, the love story is the main focus of the manuscript, a suspense/mystery/thriller plot is blended with a love story, and the resolution of the romance is emotionally satisfying and optimistic. Young Adult Romance Manuscripts that focus primarily on the romantic relationship between two adolescents. Judging guidelines: In this category, the love story is the main focus of the manuscript, and the resolution of the romance is emotionally satisfying and optimistic.