Image showing a book with pages bent into a heart shape and a medallion for NERCA finalists

Congratulations to the 2022 New England Readers’ Choice Award Finalists!

Please join the New England Romance Writers in congratulating the finalists in the 2022 New England Readers’ Choice Awards contest! The 2022 contest is for books published in 2021 or 2022.

Romance Novella
A.E. Jones, Demons Just Want to Have Fun
*A.G. Meiers, Snow, Love, and Valentine
Tracy Sumner, The Governess Gamble
L.A. Witt, I Think We Missed Our Turn

Erotic Romance
Laura Navarre, Gemini Queen
Barbara Nolan, Beyond Revenge
L.A. Witt, The Right to Remain

Historical Romance
*Terri Brisbin, The Highlander’s Substitute Wife
Jeanine Englert, Eloping with the Laird
Pamela Gibson, Scandal’s Redemption
Jennie Goutet, Philippa Holds Court

Paranormal/Fantasy/TT/SF
A.E. Jones, Demons in the Rough
Annette Miller, A Spirited Romance
Tracy Sumner, The Duke is Wicked

Romance with Religious/Spiritual Elements
Belle Calhoune, Alaskan Christmas Promise
Cathy McDavid, Blizzard Refuge
Olivia Rae, A Life Redeemed

Romantic Suspense
Toni Anderson, Cold as Ice
Toni Anderson, Cold Deceit
Peggy Jaeger, A Pride of Brothers: Aiden

Short Contemporary Romance
Terri Osburn, Not You Again
*Janet Raye Stevens, Cole for Christmas
Paris Wynters, Assigned

Long Contemporary Romance
Kilby Blades, Forrest for the Trees
Kilby Blades, Looks Good on Paper
Stacy Gold, Wild at Heart

* Member, New England Romance Writers

A special thanks to our Contest Committee and particularly to our Contest Coordinator, Jackie Horne.

The winners of the 2022 New England Readers Choice Awards will be announced at the end of April 2023.

Congratulations to Winners of 2020 New England Readers’ Choice Awards!

The New England Chapter of Romance Writers of America® is pleased to announce the winners of the New England Readers’ Choice Awards:

ROMANCE NOVELLA
3rd: Bernadette Walsh, See Me
2nd: Juno Rushdan, No Way Out
1st: Sandra Owens, Caitlyn’s Christmas Wish

EROTIC ROMANCE
3rd: Jordyn Kross, Winter’s List
2nd: Mia London, Accidental Tryst
1st:L. A. Witt, Assist

HISTORICAL ROMANCE
3rd: Nancy Yeager, Third Husband’s the Charm
2nd: Elizabeth St. Michel, Lord of the Wilderness
1st: Karen Muir, Fated Beginnings

ROMANCE WITH RELIGIOUS/SPIRITUAL ELEMENTS
3rd: Dana R. Lynn, Hidden in Amish Country
2nd: Laurel Blount, Hometown Hope
1st: Laurel Blount, A Rancher to Trust

PARANORMAL/FANTASY/TT ROMANCE
3rd: Patricia Barletta, Moon Bright
2nd: Lisa Rae Roman, Fae Touched
1st: McKenna Dean, Bishop Takes Knight

ROMANTIC SUSPENSE
3rd: Jeanine Englert, Lovely Digits
2nd: Leslie Marshman, Goode Over Evil
1st: Kaylea Cross, Covert Vengeance

SHORT CONTEMPORARY ROMANCE
3rd: Susannah Erwin, Wanted: Billionaire’s Wife
2nd: Claire McEwen, After the Rodeo
1st: Jo McNally, It Started at Christmas…

LONG CONTEMPORARY ROMANCE
3rd: Miranda Liasson, All I Want for Christmas is You
2nd: Kilby Blades, The Secret Ingredient
1st: Ellie Finch, The Search for Prince Charming

GRAND PRIZE
And our grand prize winner, 6 weeks of author coaching with Mel Jolly, is: Jo McNally, It Started at Christmas… (short contemporary romance)

2020 New England Readers’ Choice Award Finalists

Please join the New England Chapter of Romance Writers of America® in congratulating the finalists in the 2020 New England Readers’ Choice Awards contest!

ROMANCE NOVELLA
Sandra Owens, Caitlyn’s Christmas Wish
Juno Rushdan, No Way Out
Bernadette Walsh, See Me

EROTIC ROMANCE
Jordyn Kross, Winter’s List
Mia London, Accidental Tryst
L. A. Witt, Assist

HISTORICAL ROMANCE
*Karen Muir, Fated Beginnings
Elizabeth St. Michel, Lord of the Wilderness
Nancy Yeager, Third Husband’s the Charm

ROMANCE WITH RELIGIOUS/SPIRITUAL ELEMENTS
Laurel Blount, Hometown Hope
Laurel Blount, A Rancher to Trust
Dana R. Lynn, Hidden in Amish Country

PARANORMAL/FANTASY/SF/TT ROMANCE
*Patricia Barletta, Moon Bright
McKenna Dean, Bishop Takes Knight
Lisa Rae Roman, Fae Touched

ROMANTIC SUSPENSE
Kaylea Cross, Covert Vengeance
Jeanine Englert, Lovely Digits
Leslie Marshman, Goode Over Evil

SHORT CONTEMPORARY ROMANCE
Susannah Erwin, Wanted: Billionaire’s Wife
Claire McEwan, After the Rodeo
Jo McNally, It Started at Christmas…

LONG CONTEMPORARY ROMANCE
Kilby Blades, The Secret Ingredient
Ellie Finch, The Search for Prince Charming
Miranda Liasson, All I Want for Christmas

Be sure to join us at our annual Let Your Imagination Take Flight conference, April 25-26, at the Boston/Woburn Hilton, where the winners in each category will be announced, as well as the winner of the Grand Prize: Six weeks of author coaching by Mel Jolly ($600 value!)

A special thanks to our contest coordinator, Jackie Horne.

* denotes an NECRWA member

Congratulations to 2019 New England Readers’ Choice Finalists!

Please join the New England Chapter of Romance Writers of America® in congratulating the finalists in the 2019 New England Readers’ Choice contest! At the Let Your Imagination Take Flight Conference Awards Luncheon on Saturday, April 27, 2019 we will be announcing winners in each category, as well as the winner of our Grand Prize: a $250 gift certificate from Penny Sansevieri, CEO of Author Marketing Experts!

ROMANCE SHORT STORY

*Elizabeth Chatsworth, Ten Minutes Past Teatime

Piper Malone, Fabulously Tanked

Charissa Weaks, “Silver Heart” in Once Upon the Longest Night

ROMANCE NOVELLA

Barbara Lohr, Christmas Dreams and Santa Schemes

*Jess Vonn, The Summer I Saw You

*L. A. Witt, Christmas Homecoming

EROTIC ROMANCE

V. H. Luis, Fading to Black

*L. A. Witt, Once Burned

*L. A. Witt, Sink or Swim

HISTORICAL ROMANCE

Grace Callaway, Enter the Duke

Margaret Locke, The Legendary Duke

Margaret Mallory, Kidnapped by a Rogue

ROMANCE WITH RELIGIOUS/SPIRITUAL ELEMENTS

Oliva Rae, Adoration

Laura Scott, Primary Suspect

Sherri Shackelford, No Safe Place

PARANORMAL/FANTASY/SCIFI/TIME TRAVEL ROMANCE

Cara Crescent, Wretched

Marie Johnston, A Shifter’s Second Chance

Allie Marie, Hands of the Healer

ROMANTIC SUSPENSE

Toni Anderson, Cold Blooded

Bev Pettersen, Along Came a Cowboy

Cari Z. and *L. A. Witt, Double or Nothing

YOUNG ADULT ROMANCE

Kilby Blades, Friended

Julia Day, Fade to Us

*Marissa Doyle, Between Silk and Sand

SHORT CONTEMPORARY ROMANCE

Marie Johnston, Rancher in Training

Heather Novak, Headlights, Dipsticks, and My Ex’s Brother

Radclyffe, Dangerous Waters

LONG CONTEMPORARY ROMANCE

Penny Jaeger, Dearly Beloved

Sandra Owens, Just Jenny

J. N. Welsh, In Tune

* denotes a NECRWA member

Congratulations to the Winners of the 2018 New England Readers’ Choice Awards!

Please join the New England Chapter of Romance Writers of America® in congratulating the winners of this year’s New England Readers’ Choice Awards!

 

CONTEMPORARY – LONG

1st place: Shelly Alexander, It’s In His Arms (Red River Valley #4)

2nd place: Rose Grey*, Waiting for You (Durrell Brothers #1)

3rd place: Maria K. Alexander, Awaken My Heart (Tangled Hearts #3) and Jo McNally, She’s Far from Hollywood

 

CONTEMPORARY – SHORT

1st place: Jen Doyle*, Holiday House Call (Calling It series)

2nd place: Kate James, Home to Stay (San Diego K-9 Unit #4)

3rd place: Angela Quarles, Earning It

 

EROTIC ROMANCE

1st place: Kilby Blades, Snapdragon

2nd place: Marie Johnston, Unmistaken Identity

3rd place: Karen Stivali, Moment of Fate (Moments in Time #5)

 

HISTORICAL ROMANCE

1st place: Patricia Barletta*, Moon Shadow (Book #2 Auriano Curse series)

2nd place: Abigail Dane, The Viscount and the Valet

3rd place (tie): Lisa Berne, The Laird Takes a Bride (The Penhallow Dynasty #2) and Michelle Sinclair, Never Kiss a Highlander

 

NOVELLA

1st place: Miranda Liasson, Can’t Miss Christmas (Mirror Lake Christmas series)

2nd place: Nancy Herkness, Second To None (Second Glances series)

3rd place: Maria K. Alexander, Believe In My Heart (Tangled Hearts #4)

 

PARANORMAL/FANTASY/SCIFI/TIME TRAVEL

1st place: Nadine Mutas, To Enthrall the Demon Lord (Love and Magic #4)

2nd place: Gabi Stevens, Mystic

3rd place: Saharra K. Sandhu, Fire in Ice: Tale of the Dragon Rider

 

ROMANCE WITH RELIGIOUS/SPIRITUAL ELEMENTS

1st place: Dana R. Lynn, Plain Target (Amish Country Justice #1)

2nd place: Dana R. Lynn, Amish Christmas Abduction (Amish Country Justice #3)

3rd place: Karen Foley, A Hummingbird Christmas (Glacier Creek #1)

 

ROMANTIC SUSPENSE

1st place: Abbie Roads, Saving Mercy (Fatal Truth #1)

2nd place: Sarah Andre, Capturing the Queen

3rd place: Katie Reus, Resurrection (Redemption Harbor #1)

 

SHORT STORY

1st place: Gina Conkle, To Steal a Viking Bride

2nd place: Sionna Fox*, Etudes, in Symphony Amore: Erotic Stories of Love and Music

3rd place (tie): Jean C. Joachim, The House-Sitter’s Christmas and Madame de Boudoir, King of the Sea

 

YOUNG ADULT

1st place: Ann Gallagher, Having Her Back

2nd place: Meg Kassel, Black Bird of the Gallows

3rd place: C. C. Hunter, The Mortician’s Daughter

 

GRAND PRIZE ($250 certificate from Barclay Publicity)

Dana R. Lynn, Plain Target (Amish Country Justice #1)

 

* denotes a NECRWA member

Congratulations to 2018 New England Readers’ Choice Finalists!

Please join the New England Chapter of Romance Writers of America® in congratulating the finalists in the 2018 New England Readers’ Choice contest! At the Let Your Imagination Take Flight Conference Awards Luncheon on Saturday, April 29, 2018 we will be announcing winners in each category, as well as the winner of our Grand Prize: a $250 gift certificate from Barclay Publicity!

ROMANCE SHORT STORY

Madame de Boudoir, King of the Sea

Gina Conkle, To Steal a Viking Bride

Sionna Fox*, Etudes, in Symphony Amore: Erotic Stories of Love and Music

ROMANCE NOVELLA

Maria K. Alexander, Believe In My Heart (Tangled Hearts #4)

Nancy Herkness, Second To None (Second Glances series)

Jean C. Joachim, The House-Sitter’s Christmas

Miranda Liasson, Can’t Miss Christmas (Mirror Lake Christmas series)

EROTIC ROMANCE

Kilby Blades, Snapdragon

Marie Johnston, Unmistaken Identity

Karen Stivali, Moment of Fate (Moments in Time #5)

HISTORICAL ROMANCE

Patricia Barletta*, Moon Shadow (Book #2 Auriano Curse series)

Lisa Berne, The Laird Takes a Bride (The Penhallow Dynasty #2)

Abigail Dane, The Viscount and the Valet

Michelle Sinclair, Never Kiss a Highlander

ROMANCE WITH RELIGIOUS/SPIRITUAL ELEMENTS

Karen Foley, A Hummingbird Christmas (Glacier Creek #1)

Dana R. Lynn, Amish Christmas Abduction (Amish Country Justice #3)

Dana R. Lynn, Plain Target (Amish Country Justice #1)

PARANORMAL/FANTASY/SCIFI/TIME TRAVEL ROMANCE

Nadine Mutas, To Enthrall the Demon Lord (Love and Magic #4)

Saharra K. Sandhu, Fire in Ice: Tale of the Dragon Rider

Gabi Stevens, Mystic

ROMANTIC SUSPENSE

Sarah Andre, Capturing the Queen

Katie Reus, Resurrection (Redemption Harbor #1)

Abbie Roads, Saving Mercy (Fatal Truth #1)

YOUNG ADULT ROMANCE

Ann Gallagher, Having Her Back

C.C. Hunter, The Mortician’s Daughter

Meg Kassel, Black Bird of the Gallows

SHORT CONTEMPORARY ROMANCE

Jen Doyle*, Holiday House Call (Calling It series)

Kate James, Home to Stay (San Diego K-9 Unit #4)

Angela Quarles, Earning It

LONG CONTEMPORARY ROMANCE

Shelly Alexander, It’s In His Arms (Red River Valley #4)

Maria K. Alexander, Awaken My Heart (Tangled Hearts #3)

Rose Grey*, Waiting for You (Durrell Brothers #1)

Jo McNally, She’s Far from Hollywood

* denotes a NECRWA member

2018 New England Reader’s Choice contest is open for submissions!

The 2018 New England Readers’ Choice contest is now open for submissions!

The New England Readers’ Choice contest for published authors recognizes excellence in published romance fiction. Our contest is one of the few judged exclusively by fans: librarians, booksellers, and devoted romance readers.

This year, the grand-prize winner of the New England Readers’ Choice contest will receive a Publicity Package or an Author Coaching package (winner’s choice) worth $250! The first, second, and third place winners in each category will receive a web badge, as well as a printed award certificate. Winners will be announced on the NECRWA website, in RWR, on NECRWA’s social media accounts, and at the Let Your Imagination Take Flight conference, to be held April 27-28, 2018.

Visit the NECRWA web site contest page at https://www.nerw.org/blog1/contests/ for more information, including how to enter. Questions? Contact [email protected].

Warm Congratulations to the 2017 New England Readers’ Choice Winners!

NECRWA would like to congratulate the 2017 New England Readers’ Choice contest winners, who were announced at the Let Your Imagination Take Flight Conference awards luncheon on April 8, 2017. And the winners are…

SHORT CONTEMPORARY

First place: Anna DePalo, Second Chance with the CEO

Second place: Barbara Wallace, Winter Wedding for the Prince

Third place (three-way tie): Peggy Jaeger, A Kiss Under the Christmas Lights, Robin Perini, San Antonio Secret, and Barbara Wallace, Christmas Baby for the Princess

LONG CONTEMPORARY

First place: Babette deJongh, Angel Falls

Second place (tie): Melynda Price, Beneath the Surface and Melynda Price, Fighting for Control

Third place: Rissa Brahm, Catching Preeya

ROMANCE WITH RELIGIOUS or SPIRITUAL ELEMENTS

First place: Olivia Rae, Redemption

Second place: Laurel Blount, A Family for the Farmer and Dana R. Lynn, Interrupted Lullaby

Third place: Kat Brookes, His Holiday Matchmaker

ROMANTIC SUSPENSE

First place (tie): Tamra Lassiter, Guiding Fate and Tara Wyatt, Necessary Risk

Second place: Robin Perini, Forgotten Secrets

Third place (tie): Cate Beauman, Deceiving Bella and Katie Reus, Love Thy Enemy

HISTORICAL

First place: Loretta Chase, Dukes Prefer Blondes

Second place: Megan Frampton, One-Eyed Dukes Are Wild

Third place (tie): Linda Broday, To Love a Texas Ranger and Nicole Elizabeth Kelleher, Wild Lavender

EROTIC

First place: Laura Baumbach, The Dark Side

Second place: Shana Figueroa, Vengeance

Third place: Christina James, Operation Persuade Me

PARANORMAL

First place: Nadine Mutas, Blood, Breath, and Desire

Second place: Marissa Doyle, Skin Deep

Third place: Michelle Miles, In the Tower of the Wizard King

NOVELLA

First place: Tessa Gray, My Dearest Chloe

Second place (tie): Jessica Linden, Bodyguard and Debra Jess, A Secret Rose

Third place: Katie Reus, Merry Christmas, Baby

 

Thank you to our entrants and our judges for helping make our contest great!

Congratulations to 2017 New England Readers’ Choice Finalists!

NECRWA is pleased to announce the finalists in the 2017 New England Readers’ Choice contest! Winners will be announced at the Let Your Imagination Take Flight Conference Awards Luncheon on Saturday, April 8, 2017.

 

LONG CONTEMPORARY

Rissa Brahm, Catching Preeya

Babette deJongh, Angel Falls

Melynda Price, Beneath the Surface

Melynda Price, Fighting for Control

 

HISTORICAL

Linda Broday, To Love a Texas Ranger

Loretta Chase, Dukes Prefer Blondes

Megan Frampton, One-Eyed Dukes Are Wild

Nicole Elizabeth Kelleher, Wild Lavender

 

ROMANCE WITH RELIGIOUS or SPIRITUAL ELEMENTS

Laurel Blount, A Family for the Farmer

Kat Brookes, His Holiday Matchmaker

Dana R. Lynn, Interrupted Lullaby

Olivia Rae, Redemption

 

ROMANTIC SUSPENSE

Cate Beauman, Deceiving Bella

Tamra Lassiter, Guiding Fate

Robin Perini, Forgotten Secrets

Katie Reus, Love Thy Enemy

Tara Wyatt, Necessary Risk

 

PARANORMAL

Marissa Doyle, Skin Deep

Michelle Miles, In the Tower of the Wizard King

Nadine Mutas, Blood, Breath, and Desire

 

SHORT CONTEMPORARY

Anna DePalo, Second Chance with the CEO

Peggy Jaeger, A Kiss Under the Christmas Lights

Robin Perini, San Antonio Secret

Barbara Wallace, Christmas Baby for the Princess

Barbara Wallace, Winter Wedding for the Prince

 

EROTIC

Laura Baumbach, The Dark Side

Shana Figueroa, Vengeance

Christina James, Operation Persuade Me

 

NOVELLA

Tessa Gray, My Dearest Chloe

Jessica Linden, Bodyguard

Debra Jess, A Secret Rose

Katie Reus, Merry Christmas, Baby

 

Congratulations to all of the finalists!

2016 New England Readers’ Choice Award Winners

EROTIC 

First Place Tie: Lauren Smith – The Gilded Cage

First Place Tie: Lauren Smith – The Gilded Cuff

Second Place:  VL Locey: Clean Sweep                                               

Third Place Tie: Christina James – Desire Me

Third Place Tie: Renea Mason – Cursing Doctor Vincent

 

SHORT CONTEMPORARY

First Place: Tanya Michaels – Falling for the Sheriff

Second Place: Heidi Hormel – The Surgeon and the Cowgirl

Third Place: Kathy Lyons – The Player Next Door

 

1st BOOK

First Place: Katrina Snow – Forbidden

Second Place: Joanna Shupe – The Courtesan Duchess

Third Place Tie:Brooke Newton – Letting Myself Go

Third Place Tie:Nancy Raven Smith – Land Sharks: a Swindle in Sumatra

 

LONG CONTEMPORARY

First Place: Nancy Herkness – The CEO Buys In

Second Place: Cathryn Parry, The Secret Garden

Third Place Tie: Lauren Gallagher – The Saint’s Wife

Third Place Tie: Holly Jacobs – Carry Her Heart

 

ROMANTIC SUSPENSE

Leslie Jones – Night Hush

Second Place: Marta Perry – Where Secrets Sleep

Third Place: Cate Beauman – Reagan’s Redemption

 

NOVELLA

First Place: Crista McHugh – Tell Me True

Second Place: Tanya Michaels – New Year’s Resolution: Just a Fling

Third Place Tie: Karen Rock – Winter Wedding Bells: The Kiss

Third Place Tie: Marie Tuhart – Red Club Temptation

 

HISTORICAL

First Place: Joanna Shupe – The Lady Hellion

Second Place: Meg Hennessy – A Pirate’s Command

Third Place Tie: Anna Campbell – A Scoundrel by Moonlight

Third Place Tie: LR Olson – A Dangerous Temptation

 

PARANORMAL

First Place:  Angela Quarles – Must Love Chainmail

Second Place: Allie Marie – Teardrops of the Innocent: The White Diamond Story

Third Place Tie: Angela Quarles – Steam Me Up, Rawley

Third Place Tie: Katrina Snow – Forbidden