2018 HOLT Medallion Winners

2018 Winners and Awards of Merit of the Virginia Romance Writers' HOLT Medallion Award

Best First Book

Winner: Under Her Skin – Adriana Anders

• Finalists:

Hold Me Down – Sara Taylor Woods

Snapdragon – Kilby Blades

Some Kind Of Magic – Mary Ann Marlowe

Welcome Home, Katie Gallagher – Seana Kelly

Best Book by a Virginia Author

Winner: The Charmer – Avery Flynn

• Finalists:

Falling For The Right Brother – Kerri Carpenter

Some Kind Of Magic – Mary Ann Marlowe

Under Her Skin – Adriana Anders

The Viscount And The Valet - Abigail Dane

Extra Spicy Romance

Winner: Under Her Skin – Adriana Anders

• Finalists:

At His Mercy – Shelly Bell

Hold Me Down – Sara Taylor Woods

The Rivalry – Nikki Sloane

Snapdragon – Kilby Blades

Historical Romance

Winner: When The Scoundrel Sins – Anna Harrington

• Finalists:

Enchanted By The Highlander – Lecia Cornwall

Marry In Haste – Anne Gracie

The Scoundrel’s Honor – Christi Caldwell

The Unseducible Earl – Sheri Humphreys

Long Contemporary Romance

Winner: The Charmer – Avery Flynn

• Finalists:

Cooking With Kandy – Peggy Jaeger

Forever Mine – Erin Nicholas

Some Kind Of Magic – Mary Ann Marlowe

Welcome Home, Katie Gallagher – Seana Kelly

Long Inspirational Romance

Winner: A Stolen Heart – Amanda Cabot

• Finalists:

Deadly Proof – Rachel Dylan

On Love’s Gentle Shore – Liz Johnson

Shine Like The Dawn – Carrie Turansky

Then There Was You – Kara Isaac

Mainstream/Single Title Romance

Winner: If Ever – Angie Stanton

• Finalists:

The Lilac Bouquet – Carolyn Brown

Million Dollar Cowboy – Lori Wilde

Scandalous – L. J. Shen

Then Came You – Jeannie Moon

Novel with Strong Romantic Elements

Winner: Before The Rain Falls – Camille Di Maio

• Finalists:

Bless Her Heart – Sally Kilpatrick

Man Down – Tracy Tappan

Searching For Billy Shakespeare – Crista McHugh

Unloved, A Love Story – Katy Regnery

Paranormal/Time Travel/Futuristic Romance

Winner: To Have And To Howl – AE Jones

• Finalists:

Haunted – Shari Nichols

Saved By Darkness – Katie Reus

Saving Jace – Rebecca Rivard

To Enthrall The Demon Lord – Nadine Mutas

Romance Novella

Winner: A Scot For Christmas – Bronwen Evans

• Finalists:

The Art Of Worship – Kilby Blades

Bedding The Highlander – Sabrina York

Christmas At Carnton – Tamera Alexander

Mistletoe Me, Baby – Katie Reus

Romantic Suspense

:Winner: Saving Grace – Aubrey Wynne

• Finalists:

Dangerous Illusions – Irene Hannon

Rage – Janet Elizabeth Henderson

Resurrection – Katie Reus

Tinderbox – Rachel Grant

Short Contemporary Romance

Winner: Risking It – Angela Quarles

• Finalists:

All He Wants For Christmas – Lizzie Shane

Falling For The Right Brother – Kerri Carpenter

A Ring For The Greek’s Baby – Melanie Milburne

A Wedding And A White Christmas – Suzanne Stengl

Short Inspirational Romance

Winner: A Tempting Taste Of Mystery – Elizabeth Ludwig

• Finalists:

Gloria’s Song – Kathryn Albright

The Keeper Of Her Heart – Stacy Henrie

Secret Christmas Twins – Lee Tobin McClain

Sheriff – Laura Scott