2009 HOLT Medallion Winners

2009 Winners and Awards of Merit of the Virginia Romance Writers' HOLT Medallion Award

Best First Book

Winner: Chances - Pamela Nowak

• Finalists:

Her One Desire - Kimberly Killion

The Legacy - T.J. Bennett

A Passion Most Pure - Julie Lessman

Romeo, Romeo - Robin Kaye

Extra Spicy/Erotic Romance

Winner: Blame It On The Moon - Shara Lanel

• Finalists:

Blush - Opal Carew

Lyon - Elizabeth Amber

Seven Nights Of Sin - Lacey Alexander

Sex, Straight Up - Kathleen O'Reilly

Historical Romance

Winner: Passion And Pleasure In London - Melody Thomas

• Finalists:

Every Night I'm Yours - Christie Kelley

A Knight Well Spent - Jackie Ivie

The Mistress Diaries - Julianne MacLean

To Taste Temptation - Elizabeth Hoyt

Long Contemporary Romance

Winner: Return Of The Wild Son - Cynthia Thomason

• Finalists:

Be My Babies - Kathryn Shay

A Place Called Home - Margaret Watson

Same Time Next Summer - Holly Jacobs

Texas Bluff - Linda Warren

Long Inspirational Romance

Winner: Wagered Heart - Robin Lee Hatcher

• Finalists:

Deep In The Heart Of Trouble - Deeanne Gist

Fatal Deduction - Gayle Roper

A Passion Most Pure - Julie Lessman

Sweetwater Gap - Denise Hunter

Mainstream/Single Title Romance

Winner: Sweet Spot - Susan Mallery

• Finalists:

Between The Sheets - Robin Wells

Hot - Julia Harper

Letters To A Secret Lover - Toni Blake

Taking The Heat - Kathryn Shay

Paranormal/Time Travel/Futuristic/Fantasy Romance

Winner: Wicked Game - Jeri Smith-Ready

• Finalists:

Heart Fate - Robin D. Owens

Like A Charm - Candace Havens

Queen Of Dragons - Shana Abe

Red Fire - Deidre Knight

Wicked Game - Jeri Smith-Ready

Romantic Comedy

Winner: Romeo, Romeo - Robin Kaye

• Finalists:

Addicted To Love - Lori Wilde

Divorced, Desperate And Dating - Christie Craig

Simply The Best - Shirley Jump

Weddings Can Be Murder - Christie Craig

Romantic Suspense

Winner: Stop Me - Brenda Novak

• Finalists:

Night Secrets - Cherry Adair

Safe With A Stranger - Linda Conrad

Trial By Fire - Jo Davis

Victim - Gayle Wilson

Short Contemporary Romance

Winner: Come Toy With Me - Cara Summers

• Finalists:

Once Smitten, Twice Shy - Lori Wilde

Once Upon A Christmas - Holly Jacobs

The Pilot's Woman - Ann Roth

To Protect A Princess - Gail Barrett

Short Inspirational Romance

Winner: Family Ever After - Margaret Daley

• Finalists:

Almost Home - Carla Rossi

Broken Lullaby - Pamela Tracy

Forsaken Canyon - Margaret Daley

Nowhere To Run - Valerie Hansen

Southern Theme Romance

Winner: The Memory Of Water - Karen White

• Finalists:

The House On Tradd Street - Karen White

More Than A Memory - Roz Denny Fox

Shades Of Gray - Jessica James

Windswept - Ann Macela