2008 HOLT Medallion Winners

2008 Winners and Awards of Merit of the Virginia Romance Writers' HOLT Medallion Award

Best First Book

Winner: Lord Of The Fading Lands - C.L. Wilson

• Finalists:

The Education Of Mrs. Brimley - Donna MacMeans

First, There Is A River - Kathy Steffen

Highlander Untamed - Monica McCarty

Thirty Nights With A Highland Husband - Melissa Mayhue

Extra Spicy Romance

Winner: The Fortune Hunter - Jasmine Haynes

• Finalists:

Double Dating With The Dead - Karen Kelley

Nicholas: The Lords Of Satyr - Elizabeth Amber

Swing - Opal Carew

Twin Fantasies - Opal Carew

Historical Romance

Winner: The Accidental Mistress - Tracy Anne Warren

• Finalists:

The Sense Of Honor - Ashley Kath-Bilsky

Surrender To A Scoundrel - Julianne MacLean

Touch Of Texas - Tracy Garrett

What A Lady Wants - Victoria Alexander

Long Contemporary Romance

Winner: Treasure - Helen Brenna

• Finalists:

Adopted Son - Linda Warren

Houseful Of Strangers - Linda Barrett

The Rancher Needs A Wife - Terry McLaughlin

Shadow Hunter - Linda Conrad

Long Inspirational Romance

Winner: Surrender Bay - Denise Hunter

• Finalists:

The Oak Leaves - Maureen Lang

Remember To Forget - Deborah Raney

Remembered - Tamera Alexander

Wedding Bell Blues - Linda Windsor

Mainstream/Single Title Romance

Winner: Tempting - Susan Mallery

• Finalists:

Close To You - Kathryn Shay

Learning To Breathe - Karen White

Necessary Arrangements - Tanya Michna

Who Wants To Be A Sex Goddess - Gemma Bruce

Paranormal/Time Travel/Futuristic/Fantasy Romance

Winner: Highland Guardian - Melissa Mayhue

• Finalists:

In The Midnight Hour - Patti O'Shea

Lord Of The Fading Lands - C.L. Wilson

Midnight Lover - Rosemary Laurey

Something Wicked - Catherine Mulvany

Romantic Comedy

Winner: The Rules Of Gentility - Janet Mullany

• Finalists:

Dream A Little Dream - Debra Clopton

Hocus Pocus - Teresa Roblin

The Quest For The Holy Veil - Kimberly Llewellyn

There Goes The Bride - Lori Wilde

Romantic Suspense

Winner: Die For Me - Karen Rose

• Finalists:

Arousing Suspicions - Marianne Stillings

Dead Giveaway - Brenda Novak

Overkill - Linda Castillo

The Spy Wore Silk - Andrea Pickens

Short Contemporary Romance

Winner: His Brother's Gift - Mary J. Forbes

• Finalists:

The CEO's Scandalous Affair - Roxanne St. Claire

The Forbidden Brother - Barbara McMahon

Georgia On His Mind - Ann DeFee

Once A Cowboy - Linda Warren

Short Inspirational Romance

Winner: From This Day Forward - Irene Hannon

• Finalists:

Caught Redhanded - Gayle Roper

A Christmas To Die For - Marta Perry

Cradle Of Secrets - Lisa Mondello

Mom In The Middle - Mae Nunn

Southern Theme Romance

Winner: Learning To Breathe - Karen White

• Finalists:

Georgia On His Mind - Ann DeFee

No Safe Place - JoAnn Ross

A Treasure Of The Heart - Valerie Hansen

Southern Seduction - Alexandria Scott