2024 Carol Award Finalists – Speculative + Giveaway

First off — what exactly are the Carol Awards?

They are awards given out by American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW) in recognition of outstanding Christian fiction in the previous calendar year. So these 2024 finalists are books published in 2023. You might have read them already, you might not. I’ll include links to books I’ve read and reviewed.

Carol Award Winners will be announced on September 7 2024 at the ACFW Gala in New Orleans, Louisiana (wouldn’t you love to be there?!)

How does this giveaway work?

You select which of the Carol Award finalists 2024 —Speculative Category you would like to receive. Mention the title in your comment (or an email if you’re entering that way) and if you win, that’s the book that will be sent to you. Easy Peasy. 

IMPORTANT TO NOTE:

Giveaway details may vary with each book (print, ebook only or winner’s choice of either, plus audible options for Canadians.) Edition availability will be noted in bold after the title/author/publisher of each entry. ALSO NOTE: Giveaway is for US and Canada OR ebook international if you have US Kindle account.

Speculative Finalists

Of Sea and Smoke by Gillian Bronte Adams –– Enclave — Editor: Lisa Laube — ebook giveaway

He rides a seablood, a steed of salt and spray, born to challenge the tides.

Six years ago, the wrong brother survived, and nothing will ever convince Rafi Tetrani otherwise. But he is done running from his past, and from the truth. As civil war threatens Ceridwen’s tenuous rule in Soldonia, Rafi vows to fight the usurper sitting on the imperial throne of Nadaar, even if it means shouldering his brother’s responsibilities as the empire’s lost heir.

The stolen shipload of magical warhorses offers just the edge he needs. But the steeds have been demanded in ransom by the emperor’s ruthless assassin, and if Rafi hopes to raise a band of riders, he must first outwit his brother’s murderer.

Yet when his best efforts end in disaster, and an audacious raid sparks an empire-wide manhunt, even forging an unexpected alliance might not be enough to help Rafi turn the tides, let alone outrace the wave of destruction intent on sweeping them all away.

Seas boil and jungles burn in this tempestuous second installment of The Fireborn Epic as the outcast queen, captive missionary, and royal rebel strive to unearth the mysterious power that hungers for their world.

Execution Island (Book Three in Jurassic Judgment) by Janice Boekhoff — Indie — Editor: Linda Yezak — ebook giveaway

Stalking dinosaurs. Dangerous convicts. A kidnapping.

No matter where she turns, death waits in her jungle prison …

Trapped on a dinosaur-infested island, Oakley Laveau is haunted by the she was created to kill. But after her latest assassination puts her brother at risk, she vows to end the body count. So when the kidnapper offers to trade her brother for two people she is protecting, she hatches a plan to outwit him without bloodshed.

After the exchange goes wrong, she reluctantly teams up with her vengeful sister, a woman whose deadly genetic ability equals her own. Unless they learn to become allies, Oakley stands to lose everyone she loves. Hunted by deadly predators, pursued by the FBI, and partnered with an assassin who wants her dead, she may be forced to use her enhanced genetics to eliminate her enemies.

She has the power to kill anyone. But can she find the strength to save everyone?

Execution Island is the tense final book in the Jurassic Judgment science fiction series.

The Wayward by Tabitha Caplinger — Blue Ink Press — Editors: Christa Dolan and Liz Sheth — ebook giveaway

Wilder James has spent her entire life in Beartooth, secluded from the Necanians and their domed cities where most of humanity resides. Content to keep her distance within the confines of her rustic community, she desires nothing more than to live out her years with her husband, Declan, in their simple mountain home. 
 
But when an unexpected tragedy rips apart her dreams, and intruders pull her from the safety of her camp and into a dark reality, she discovers the shocking truth. The Necanians are not bringers of peace. They’re harbingers of death. 
 
Now Wilder must decide if she will protect only herself and her people, or risk everything to try to free all of humanity. She is armed with the one thing her people have always had – faith. Will it be enough?

Draw will be held and winner announced on Saturday August 10 2024. REMEMBER TO CHECK GIVEAWAY EDITION AVAILABILITY FOR EACH TITLE!