2013 HOLT Medallion Winners

2013 Winners and Awards of Merit of the Virginia Romance Writers' HOLT Medallion Award

Best First Book

Winner: Submerged – Dani Pettrey

• Finalists:

An Heiress At Heart – Jennifer Delamere

The King’s Black Dragon – Martha Murray Moore

Real Virtue – Katy Lee

Sweet Enemy – Heather Snow

Best Book by a Virginia Author

Winner: Trinity: Military War Dog – Ronie Kendig

• Finalists:

Fix You – Mari Carr

Mona Lisa’s Room – Vonnie Davis

The Promise – Kate Worth

Western Ties – Mari Carr & Jayne Rylon

Extra Spicy/Erotic Romance

Winner: The Dirty Girls Book Club – Savanna Fox

• Finalists:

Tangled Web – Crista McHugh

Unbridled And Unjustified – Elle Saint James

Unbridled And Untethered – Elle Saint James

Western Ties – Mari Carr & Jayne Rylon

Historical Romance

Winner: Wild Texas Rose – Jodi Thomas

• Finalists:

Duke Of Deception – Stephie Smith

Keowee Valley – Katherine Scott Crawford

The King’s Black Dragon – Martha Murray Moore

Sweet Enemy – Heather Snow

Long Contemporary Romance

Winner: The Vineyard Of Hopes And Dreams – Kathleen O’Brien

• Finalists:

Rescuing Lacey – Rebecca Heflin

A Safe Place – Margaret Watson

A Soldier’s Secret – Linda Style

Something To Prove – Cathryn Parry

Long Inspirational Romance

Winner: Lethal Legacy – Irene Hannon

• Finalists:

After All – Deborah Raney

Heart Of Gold – Robin Lee Hatcher

An Heiress At Heart – Jennifer Delamere

Submerged – Dani Pettrey

Mainstream/Single Title Romance

Winner: Far From Perfect – Barbara Longley

• Finalists:

Bridge Of Scarlet Leaves – Kristina McMorris

Hot Under Pressure – Louisa Edwards

No Foolin’ – Lisa Scott

Sweet Laurel Falls – RaeAnne Thayne

Novel with Strong Romantic Elements

Winner: Rules Of The Game – Sandy James

• Finalists:

Christmas On Mimosa Lane – Anna DeStefano

Fault Lines – Rebecca Rogers Maher

Horses And Heroin – Bev Pettersen

Repossessed – Sandy Parks

Paranormal/Time Travel/Futuristic Romance

Winner: Absolution – Susannah Sandlin

• Finalists:

A Hint Of Frost – Hailey Edwards

Of Eternal Life – Micah Persell

The Scent Of A Soul – Jennifer Thompson

Waning Moon – PJ Sharon

Romance Novella

Winner: “A Recipe For Hope” in An Amish Kitchen – Beth Wiseman

• Finalists:

“Last Minute Bride” in Brides Of The West – Janet Dean

Little Red Riding Wolf – Jessica Aspen

The Secret Christmas Ciphers – Carolynn Carey

“The Valentine Curse” in Be My Texas Valentine – Jodi Thomas

Romantic Suspense

Winner: Savage Cinderella – PJ Sharon

• Finalists:

Fatal Deception – Marie Force

Mona Lisa’s Room – Vonnie Davis

Razing Kayne – Julieanne Reeves

Truth And Humility – J.A. Dennam

Short Contemporary Romance

Winner: Shattered Identity – Sandra Robbins

• Finalists:

Fix You – Mari Carr

The Nurse He Shouldn’t Notice – Susan Carlisle

Rules Of Negotiation – Inara Scott

Summer Rose – Elizabeth Sinclair

Short Inspirational Romance

Winner: Fatal Disclosure – Sandra Robbins

• Finalists:

The Colonel’s Daughter – Debby Giusti

Dangerous Impostor – Virginia Smith

Finding Home – Irene Hannon

Twin Peril – Laura Scott