2023 HOLT Medallion Winners

2023 Winners and Finalists for the Virginia Romance Writers' HOLT Medallion Award

Best First Book

Winner: No Regrets - Andrea Jenelle

• Finalists:

Flickering Heart - Tricia T LaRochelle

Montana Legacy - Katie Frey

A Nanny For The Rancher's Twins - Heidi Main

Spears And Shadows - SC Grayson

Best Book by a Virginia Author

Winner: Gemini Queen - Laura Navarre

• Finalists:

The Dark Guest - Sarah Hamaker

Jake - Toni Denise

My Darkest Night - Linda J White

Vanished Without A Trace - Sarah Hamaker

Extra Spicy/Erotic Romance

Winner: Hooked On A Feeling - Ashley Bostock

• Finalists:

Electric Idol - Katee Robert

The Frat Boy - Nikki Sloane

Gemini Queen - Laura Navarre

Savage Princess - Jennilyn Wyer

Historical Romance

Winner: Unmasking The Thief - Mary Lancaster

• Finalists:

Escaping With Her Saxon Enemy - Sarah Rodi

Master Of The Dawn - Kathryn LeVeque

Matching Miss Moon - K Lyn Smith

Winning Her Highland Warrior - Maeve Greyson

Long Contemporary Romance

Winner: Wild At Heart - Stacy Gold

• Finalists:

All The Way Home - Liza Jonathan

Breathless - Roz Lee

The View From Coral Cove - Amy Clipston

Wanderlust - Jennilyn Wyer

Long Inspirational Romance

Winner: Sea Glass Cottage - Irene Hannon

• Finalists:

Body Of Evidence - Irene Hannon

Critical Alliance - Elizabeth Goddard

I'll Be Seeing You - Robin Lee Hatcher

The Rancher's Want Ad Mix-Up - Megan Besing

Mid-Length Contemporary Romance

Winner: Hot Set - Leslie O'Sullivan

• Finalists:

How Snowball Stole Christmas - [[Kristen McKanagh]

Lake Bride - Shanna Hatfield

Lessons In Fatherhood - Makenna Lee

The Perfect Flaw - Lynn Kellan

Novel with Strong Romantic Elements

Winner: A White Christmas On Winter Street - Sue Moorcroft

• Finalists:

The Banned Bookshop Of Maggie Banks - Shauna Robinson

Fragments That Fit - Aria Glazki

My Darkest Night - Linda J. White

Spears And Shadows - SC Grayson

Romance Novella

Winner: Dark Waves - Amanda Uhl

• Finalists:

Blinded Me With Science - Tara September

Gavin - Last Man Standing - Kathryn Hills

Star Of Wonder - K Lyn Smith

The Wondrous Gift - Deborah Raney

Romantic Suspense

Winner: Killer In The Heartland - Carla Cassidy

• Finalists:

Her Delta Force Protector - Sandra Owens

Honor 'N' Duty - Tee O'Fallon

Honor's Refuge - Hallee Bridgeman

Into The Storm - Rachel Grant

Short Contemporary Romance

Winner: Texas Cowgirl - Eve Gaddy

• Finalists:

Fine Tuned - Annmarie Boyle

Jake - Toni Denise

Monterey King - Claire Marti

Staking A Claim - Janice Maynard

Short Inspirational Romance

Winner: Safe House Exposed - Darlene L. Turner

• Finalists:

A Christmas Bargain - Mindy Obenhaus

Midnight Blue - Suzie Waltner

Sabotaged Mission - Tina Radcliffe

Vanished Without A Trace - Sarah Hamaker

Speculative Romance

Winner: Ancient Venegeance - Katie Reus

• Finalists:

Ancient Retribution - Katie Reus

Enchant The Dawn - Amanda Ashley

The Pink House - Cindy Kirk

Saving Her Highland Traitor - Maeve Greyson

Young Adult Romance

Winner: The Boyfriend List - Jennilyn Wyer

• Finalists:

Dragonrider Academy - AJ Flowers

The Liar's Crown - Abigail Owen

My Dearest Darkest - Kayla Cottingham

Wild Is The Witch - Rachel Griffin