Previous Years' Finalists and Winners of the New England Readers' Choice/Beanpot Contest
The New England Readers' Choice Award Contest did not run in 2021 or 2022. Through 2020, the award year represented the year in which the awards were given out--the books in a particular year's contest were published in the previous year, e.g., the 2020 awards were given out in April 2020 for books published in 2019. After a two-year hiatus for the contest, the 2022 awards will be given out in April 2023 for books published in 2021 or 2022.
2020 New England Readers' Choice Award Finalists and Winners:
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 (6 weeks of author coaching with Mel Jolly)
Jo McNally, It Started at Christmas
2019 New England Readers' Choice Award Finalists and Winners:
ROMANCE SHORT STORY
Third place: Elizabeth Chatsworth, Ten Minutes Past Teatime
Second place Charissa Weaks, “Silver Heart” in Once Upon the Longest Night
First place: Piper Malone, Fabulously Tanked
ROMANCE NOVELLA
Third place: L. A. Witt, Christmas Homecoming
Second place: Barbara Lohr, Christmas Dreams and Santa Schemes
First place: Jess Vonn, The Summer I Saw You
ROMANTIC SUSPENSE:
Third place: Toni Anderson, Cold Blooded
Second Place: Bev Pettersen, Along Came a Cowboy
First place: Cari Z. and *L. A. Witt, Double or Nothing
SHORT CONTEMPORARY ROMANCE
Third place: Radclyffe, Dangerous Waters
Second Place: Marie Johnston, Rancher in Training
First place: Heather Novak, Headlights, Dipsticks, and My Ex’s Brother
EROTIC ROMANCE
Third place: L. A. Witt, Sink or Swim
Second lace: L. A. Witt, Once Burned
First place: V. H. Luis, Fading to Black
ROMANCE WITH RELIGIOUS/SPIRITUAL ELEMENTS
Third place: Laura Scott, Primary Suspect
Second place: Sherri Shackelford, No Safe Place
First place: Oliva Rae, Adoration
HISTORICAL ROMANCE
Third place: Grace Callaway, Enter the Duke
Second place: Margaret Mallory, Kidnapped by a Rogue
First place: Margaret Locke, The Legendary Duke
YOUNG ADULT ROMANCE
Third place: Julia Day, Fade to Us
Second place: Marissa Doyle, Between Silk and Sand
First place: Kilby Blades, Friended
PARANORMAL/FANTASY/SF/TT ROMANCE
Third place: Allie Marie, Hands of the Healer
Second place: Cara Crescent, Wretched
First place: Marie Johnston, A Shifter’s Second Chance
LONG CONTEMPORARY ROMANCE
Third place: Peggy Jaeger, Dearly Beloved
Second place: J. N. Welsh, In Tune
First place: Sandra Owens, Just Jenny
GRAND PRIZE ($250 prize publicity package from Author Marketing Services)
Margaret Locke, The Legendary Duke
2018 New England Readers' Choice Award Finalists and Winners:
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)
2017 New England Readers' Choice Award Finalists and Winners:
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 (tie): 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
2016 New England Readers’ Choice Awards Finalists and Winners:
Erotic
First Place (tie): Lauren Smith, The Gilded Cage and Lauren Smith, The Gilded Cuff
Second Place: V. L. Locey, Clean Sweep
Third Place (tie): **Christina James, Desire Me and Renea Mason, Curing 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
First Book
First Place: Katrina Snow, Forbidden
Second Place: Joanna Shupe, The Courtesan Duchess
Third Place (tie): Brooke Newton, Letting Myself Go and 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 and Holly Jacobs, Carry Her Heart
Romantic Suspense
First Place: 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 and 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 and 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 and Katrina Snow, Forbidden
2015 New England Readers’ Choice Awards Finalists and Winners:
Erotic
First Place: Kate Baum, Funny Girl
Second Place: Mia Gabriel, Lord Savage
Third Place (tie): Anna Jeffrey, The Cattleman and Teresa Noelle Roberts, Out of Control
Paranormal
First Place: Lauren Smith, Shadows of Stormclyffe Hall
Second Place: Stephanie Feagan, Crazy for You
Third Place: Lisa Belcastro, Shenandoah Dreams
First Book
First Place: Patience Griffin, To Scotland with Love
Second Place: Janie Crouch, Primal Instinct
Third Place: Maria Imbalzano, Unchained Memories
Romantic Suspense
First Place: Toni Anderson, A Cold Dark Place
Second Place: Tiffany Snow, In His Shadow
Third Place: Dana Marton, Forced Disappearance
Short Contemporary
First Place: Emily Harper, My Sort-of, Kind-of Love
Second Place (tie): Jean Joachim, To Love or Not to Love and Amanda Renee, Blame it on the Rodeo
Third Place: Leigh Duncan, Second Chance Family
Long Contemporary
First Place: Kim Sanders, The Ex-Lottery
Second Place (tie): Terri Osburn, More to Give and Nancy Herkness, The Place I Belong
Third Place (tie): Patience Griffin, To Scotland with Love and Sophie Moss, The Wind Chime Cafe
Historical
First Place: Darlene Marshall, The Pirate’s Secret Baby
Second Place (tie): Isabella Bradford, A Wicked Pursuit and Megan Frampton, The Duke’s Guide to Correct Behavior
Third Place: Lauren Smith, Wicked Designs
2014 Bean Pot Finalists and Winners:
Contemporary:
First Place: Bev Pettersen, Studs and Stilettos
Second Place: Elle Saint James, Unbridled Temptation
Third Place: Siri Caldwell, Earth Angel
Romantic Suspense:
First Place: Laura Kaye, Hard as It Gets
Second Place: Colette Ballard, Running on Empty
Third Place: Robin Perini, Behind the Lies
Historical:
First Place: Jeanne Lin, The Lotus Palace
Second Place: Caroline Linden, Love & Other Scandals
Third Place: Margaret Mallory, The Chieftain
Futuristic, Fantasy, Paranormal & Time Travel:
First Place: Lisa Belcastro, Shenandoah Nights
Second Place: Lisa Belcastro, Shenandoah Crossings
Third Place: Anthea Sharp, Spark (Feyguard Book 1)
2013 Bean Pot Finalists and Winners:
Contemporary
First Place: Radclyffe, Crossroads
Second Place: Elise K Ackers, The Man Plan
Third Place: Laura Kaye, One Night with a Hero
Romantic Suspense
First Place: Marie Force, Fatal Deception
Second Place: Casey Clifford, An Island No More
Third Place: Radclyffe, Oath of Honor
Historical
First Place: Michelle Marcos, Lessons in Loving a Laird
Second Place: Heather Snow, Sweet Deception
Third Place: Margaret Mallory, The Warrior
Erotic Romance
First Place: Karen Stivali, Marry Me
Second Place: Elle Saint James, Unbridled and Unsaddled
Third Place: Lauren Gallagher, Who’s Your Daddy?
Futuristic; Fantasy; Paranormal or Time Travel
First Place: Cristy Gibson, Tangled Web
Second Place: Kaylea Cross, Darkest Caress
Third Place: Sara Humphreys, Untamed
Mainstream with Romantic Elements
First Place: Anna Lee Huber, The Anatomist’s Wife
Second Place: Mary Ellis, Living in Harmony
Third Place: Barbara Claypole White, The Unfinished Garden
Young Adult
First Place: Katie McGarry, Pushing the Limits
Second Place: ** Marissa Doyle, Courtship and Curses
Third Place: Chloe Jacobs, Greta and the Goblin King
2012 Bean Pot Finalists and Winners:
Short Contemporary
1st Place: **Barbara Wallace, The Heart of a Hero
2nd Place: Barbara White Daille, A Rancher’s Pride
3rd Place: Leigh Duncan, The Daddy Catch
Historical
1st Place: **Diane Amos, Promise Me Forever
2nd Place: Tina Gabrielle, In the Barrister’s Chambers
3rd Place: Ann Lethbridge, More Than a Mistress
Romantic Suspense
1st Place: ** Marie Force, Fatal Consequences
2nd Place: Kaylea Cross, Deadly Descent
3rd Place: Jannifer Hoffman, Edge of Daybreak
Erotic
1st Place: L.A. Witt, The Closer You Get
2nd Place: Tina Donahue, Take Me Away
3rd Place: Elizabeth Amber, Bastian, The Lords of Satyr
Futuristic/Fantasy/Paranormal/Time Travel
1st Place: Lara Nance, Memories of Murder
2nd Place: Ann Hinnenkamp, Dyad Love
3rd Place: ** Karenna Colcroft, Salad on the Side
Inspirational
1st Place: Valerie Hansen, Nightwatch
2nd Place: Deeanne Gist, Love on the Line
3rd Place: Merrillee Whren, Hometown Dad
Mainstream with Romantic Elements
1st Place: Lisa Verge-Higgins, The Proper Care and Maintenance of Friendship
2nd Place: Kristen Painter, Blood Rights
3rd Place: Char Chaffin, Promises to Keep
Novella
1st Place: Dena de Paulo, Painted with Pleasure
2nd Place (tie): Kelli Scott, Drive-In and Kelli Scott, Stormy Wedding
3rd Place: ** Caroline Linden, I Love the Earl
Young Adult
1st Place: C. C. Hunter, Awake at Dawn
2nd Place: Jennifer Echols, Love Story
3rd Place: ** Shirley Ann Howard, Tales Out of the Psych Office
2011 Bean Pot Finalists and Winners:
Short Contemporary
1st Place: Kimberly Lang, Boardroom Rivals, Bedroom Fireworks!
2nd Place: Gail Barrett, The Royal Affair
3rd Place: Anna DePalo, His Black Sheep Bride
Historical
1st Place: Caroline Linden**, You Only Love Once
2nd Place: Valerie Hansen, The Doctor’s New Found Family
3rd Place: Miranda Neville, The Wild Marquis
Erotica
1st Place: AC Katt, Shattered Glass
2nd Place: Kimberly Gardner, Bound To Please
3rd Place: Sloan Parker, Breathe
Future/Time Travel/Paranormal
1st Place: Susan Squires, The Mists of Time
2nd Place: Stephanie Draven, Poisoned Kisses
3rd Place: Barbara Monejem, Sunrise In A Garden of Love and Evil
Romantic Suspense
1st Place: Meg Benjamin, Be My Baby
2nd Place: Brenda Novak, White Heat
3rd Place: K.M. Daughters, All’s Fair In Love and Law
Inspirational
1st Place: Anne Greene, Masquerade Marriage
2nd Place: Linda Windsor, Healer
3rd Place: Marta Perry, Anna’s Return
Mainstream with Romantic Elements
1st Place: Laura Moore**, Remember Me
2nd Place: Barbara Freethy, On Shadow Beach
3rd Place: Barbara Freethy, In Shelter Cove
**NECRWA Member