Christy Awards Finalists 2023 – Short Form + Speculative

What are the Christy Awards?

The Christy Award is destined to nurture creativity and quality in the writing and publishing of fiction written from a Christian worldview and showcase the diversity of genres. These 2023 finalists are books published in 2022. 

How does this giveaway work?

You select ONE of the Short Form or Speculative finalists you would like to receive if your name is drawn. Mention the title in a comment. If you win that’s the book that will be sent to you. Easy Peasy. Here are the finalists. (I have provided links to my reviews of the books I have read.)

SHORT FORM

Always a Lady (in Return to Hawthorne House) by Kristi Ann Hunter (Oholiab Creations LLC)

Always a Lady

Despite the fact that her daughter is not cooperating, Caroline, Duchess of Riverton is determined to ensure every one of her children marries someone they love as much as she loved their late father. William, the widowered Earl of Blackstone, is delighted to have his days of escorting daughters approaching an end. The last thing he expects is to find himself drawn to a woman who is just starting such a journey. Are they each too set in their ways to grasp this chance to have a second love?

The Lady’s Maid

When Lydia Smith began her career as a parlor maid, she knew love and marriage wasn’t likely in her future. Dreaming about the boy next door as she dusted seemed harmless until he started working as the new valet under the same roof. When Finch needs her help with a special project, will it give them a chance to defy expectations and find love or ruin their happiness forever?

BONUS – PRINT ONLY – A Lady of Esteem

Hopes and Fears (In O Little Town) by Amanda Wen (Kregel)

Stories of small-town Christmas and the enduring love of God from three critically acclaimed authors In the sleepy small town of Mapleview, Michigan, Christmas is always something special. In this charming collection of romance novellas, join three generations of Mapleview residents longing for love–and finding it–on the most wonderful night of the year.

Hopes and Fears by Amanda Wen

Emma Trowbridge is determined to give her students the Christmas pageant of a lifetime. The last person she expected, or wanted, to encounter in her two-room classroom is her childhood rival, Frederick Oberstein. He would rather be far away himself. He wants no part of cheer, Christmas or otherwise. Can they learn to see each other in a new light–and embrace a new season of hope and faith together?

While Mortals Sleep by Janyre Tromp

While World War II rages overseas, news reporter Eleanor Sweers returns home to Mapleview to face the repercussions of the death of her sister and her nightmare of Christmases past. But the homefront isn’t as far from the war as she thought: a bomb has landed in the middle of the U.S. Now Eleanor and family friend Gideon Braum may have to choose between the scoop of a lifetime and the love of a lifetime.

The Wondrous Gift by Deborah Raney

High school football coach Caleb Janssen and music teacher Rachel Hamblin bond when they both lose their jobs at a Christian school. But when they discover their plans for the future are mutually exclusive, the fallout threatens to tear them apart.

My Review: https://bestreads-kav.blogspot.com/2022/10/o-little-town.html

Kiss Me On Christmas by Sarah Monzon (Independent)

Single mom Kaitlyn Stafford has never considered Christmas a balancing act, but when her sister calls with the news that she’s getting married in less than two weeks — on Christmas Day — that’s exactly what the holiday looks like becoming.

Helping with the out-of-state wedding will be fun. The challenge will be doing so while accommodating her neurodivergent son’s need to keep every single one of their Christmas traditions while they’re away from home.

It will be tricky, but she can do it. At least, that’s what she thinks before her son’s favorite YouTuber, Beckett Walsh, shows up on the scene, knocking her world off-kilter with his speaking glances and knowing smiles. How on earth is she supposed to pull off her balancing act when her world’s just tilted on its axis?

SPECULATIVE

Drawn in Ash by John W. Otte (Independent)

A Legacy of Ink #1

The Dynasty claims to be a veritable paradise where a multitude of races live in peace and harmony. Everys knows better. The Dynasty has been broken since it was founded, with the human nobility oppressing many of the peoples they’ve brutally conquered, including her own. As an illegal mage, for Everys to stand up to the injustice would mean risking her life, so she hides in a rundown corner of the capital city, content to live in obscurity. But then she is brought to the palace and forced to marry Kind Narius, the descendant of the tyrant who destroyed her people’s homeland. Maybe this is the chance she’s been waiting for to make things right.

Due to sacred law, Narius has to be married for his reign to be legitimate. He can’t marry the woman he actually loves, so he has to settle for another. Unfortunately, the young woman he chose seems determined to cause him nothing but trouble. 

Thrown together by circumstances they can’t control, Everys and Narius must set aside old grudges and painful legacies to forge an uneasy partnership before the Dynasty’s enemies destroy everything they hold dear.

Dream of Kings by Sharon Hinck (Enclave)

The Future Never Sleeps

In the glacial nation of Norgard, Jolan the Dream Teller serves every seeker, whether peasant or high lord. Though she loves using her gift, she struggles to navigate the corrupt and dangerous court and the jealousies of the Guildagard.

When an old man’s nightmare imparts a dire warning, Jolan realizes her entire nation is in danger. But before she can sound the alarm, she is betrayed by the guilds and sold into slavery in a rival kingdom far to the south. As a slave in a foreign land, at first Jolan can’t see beyond her singular focus: return home to warn Norgard of the coming calamity. After facing new dangers, making new friends, and forgiving old wrongs, she must fulfill the purposes the Provider has set before her.

Only then can she face a decision that could cost her the man she loves, her calling, and her freedom—all to save a people who abandoned her.

Yesterday’s Gone by Cindy Woodsmall and Erin Woodmall (Tyndale)

Eliza holds a secret that can rewrite the past.

Eliza Bontrager and Jesse Ebersol have fallen in love and are determined to marry, despite the belief of their Amish community and respective families that there’s a hidden curse―one that only shows up when an Ebersol and Bontrager marry.

Before the ceremony on the day of the wedding, Eliza’s great-aunt Rose gives her a family heirloom quilt and tells her that she may use it to change one event in the past. Eliza appreciates the woman’s heart, but she dismisses the strange conversation while keeping the beautiful quilt.

Several years later, mourning the loss of their third child, Eliza discovers her inability to deliver a healthy baby is genetic. Remembering her great-aunt’s strange words, she decides that if she can go back in time and reject Jesse’s proposal, she can save him the heartache of a childless marriage. Her sacrifice will allow him to marry someone else and raise a family. But once she puts her plan into action, she discovers the true impact of her decision―on Jesse and so many others within their community.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

Giveaway available to US and Canadian readers (book or ebook where available) as well as anyone who has a US Kindle account (Amazon.com) for ebook wins.

Christy Award book giveaways vary by title. Please check the list below for formats available.

All Short Form books are available in both paperback or ebook format. Winner’s choice (US and Canada). Only ebooks for International winners.

Speculative Formats:

Ash by John Otte — ebook only

Dream of Kings by Sharon Hinck – print or ebook

Yesterday’s Gone by Cindy Woosmall and Erin Woodsmall – paperback or ebook

If you would like a chance to win a copy of one of the  Short Form or Speculative finalists, leave a comment below (including the title you would like to win) or email me at kavluvstoreadATyahooDOTca. If you add an email to your comment, remember to use AT and DOT instead of @ and . in order to protect yourself from spammers. If you enter the draw via email, please add the title to the subject line so it’s easy to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winner announced on Saturday November 18 2023 .

59 thoughts on “Christy Awards Finalists 2023 – Short Form + Speculative”

  2. If fortunate enough to be selected, I would love the opportunity to read “In O Little Town” by Amanda Wen. I’ve wanted to read it since your review and now would be the perfect time to dive into a fabulous Christmas book. I would have loved to have read “Yesterday’s Gone”, which also sounds wonderful, but it’s not in paperback. We don’t realize how our lives reach and touch so many and it would be interesting to have seen how this one played out.

    Thank you for the chance to win a copy!
    2clowns at arkansas dot net

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    1. I updated the giveaway options for Yesterday’s Gone to either print or ebook. Way back when I made up this post the print pricing for that book was outrageous, but now I see it’s come down a lot. Strange how much a difference a month can make — especially since this is no longer a new release. Anyway, if you want to switch your choice let me know. Either way, you’d be in for a great read. Good luck, Kay!

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      1. Now you’ve done went and made the decision a hard one for me. Honest they both sound so amazing. Can we just say that IF I’m fortunate to be selected that you will surprise me with one or the other? 🙂 Thanks Kav!

        Liked by 1 person

  7. Kiss Me On Christmas by Sarah Monzon
    quilting dash lady at comcast dot net
    Oh my goodness, they all sound wonderful in such diverse ways.
    thanks for the chance

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  11. My choice is A Return to Hawthorne House. I loved Kristi’s series so much, it would be nice to revisit!

    I read O Little Town and am currently reading Kiss Me at Christmas… which so far is really good! Sarah’s “Book Nerds and Boyfriends” novellas were quite enjoyable so when I saw this was on Kindle Unlimited, I had to snag it. 😊 You should read it too Kav!

    teamob4 (at) gmail (dot) com

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      2. Yeppers, I have….review and giveaway coming up next week. 🙂 It’s a case of trying to post Christmas books closer to Christmas even though I read them earlier. I’m going to be Christmased out by December!

        Like

  14. I think you have multiple comments from me on this post. My iPad acts funky when I’m trying to comment on the site and makes me think the comments aren’t posting so I do it again and then they all show up🤦🏻‍♀️ if the Melissa Maples Glor Facebook comment shows up that’s me too. I’ll try to fix it so I don’t keep havimg this issue. Melmo

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  16. A Return to Hawthorne House by Kristi Hunter. Really enjoy her historical series. Thanks! And we will know the winners in a few days; that will be interesting as there are a number of very good books and authors that are finalists.

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  18. I’m a huge fan of Amanda Wen’s writing so I definitely choose that one. Somehow I don’t have it yet!

    Thanks so much,
    Tammy
    Obertam at Gmail dot com

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  23. I would choose Always a Lady/A Return to Hawthorne House because I do love Regency and Kristi Hunter.

    I’ve read O Little Town and have to say that it’s fabulous. I’m anxious to see who the winners are very soon!

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  27. I’m going to go with Always a Lady by Kristi Ann Hunter. I’m looking forward to this new addition to the Hawthorne House series!!

    Alison Boss
    nj(dot)bossman(at)gmail(dot)com

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