2024 Carol Award Finalists – Debut + Giveaway

Photo by Rahul Pandit on Pexels.com

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 —Debut 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.

Steal Fire From the Gods by Clint Hall – Enclave Publishing – Editor: Lisa Laube – Winner’s Choice of paperback or ebook – The Human Alliance knew the war was over when the machines started using magic to cast fire, shake the ground, conjure storms, and part the seas.

We fought back anyway.

22-year-old soldier Gunnar Graves lost his faith and his family when a platoon of AI-driven war machines—led by an android fire mage—destroyed his unit. Forced to live in a machine-controlled village and hiding a dark secret, he spends his days trying to learn elemental power so he can take his revenge. After years of failure, his ability ignites when he least expects it.

On the run and hunted by the war machines, Gunnar discovers that an ancient, life-based strength has awakened to help humanity fight back. Joined by the other life mages, Gunnar is thrust into a mad world of android overlords, cyborg clans, and evil forces bent on his destruction.

To protect his newfound family, Gunnar must discover the truth behind a power he doesn’t understand and wage a war he doesn’t believe they can win.

Dear Henry, Love Edith by Becca Kinzer – Tyndale House – Editor: Kathy Olson – Winner’s choice of paperback or ebook – After a short and difficult marriage, recently widowed Edith Sherman has learned her lesson. Forget love. Forget marriage. She plans to fill her thirties with adventure. As she awaits the final paperwork for a humanitarian trip to South Africa, she accepts a short-term nursing position in a small Midwestern town. The last thing she needs is a handsome local catching her eye. How inconvenient is that?

Henry Hobbes isn’t exactly thrilled to have Edith, who he assumes is an elderly widow, dumped on him as a houseguest for the summer. But he’d do almost anything for his niece, who is practically like a sister to him given how close they are in age. Especially since Edith will be working nights and Henry works most days. When he and Edith keep missing each other in person, they begin exchanging notes–short messages at first, then longer letters, sharing increasingly personal parts of their lives.

By the time Henry realizes his mistake–that Edith is actually the brown-eyed beauty he keeps bumping into around town–their hearts are so intertwined he hopes they never unravel. But with her departure date rapidly approaching, and Henry’s roots firmly planted at home, Edith must ultimately decide if the adventure of her dreams is the one right in front of her.

Show Me Betrayal by Ellen E. Withers – Scrivenings Press – Editors: Susan Page Davis and Elena Hill – Winner’s Choice of paperback or ebook – Two deaths occur decades apart. Is it possible these deaths are related? What motivates a killer, who got away with murder sixty years ago, to kill again? Was it uncontrollable rage or the hope of silencing someone who fit all the puzzle pieces together and deduced who committed the crime?

Set in the picturesque town of Mexico, Missouri, Show Me Betrayal takes flight in words and emotions of rich characters woven together into a story you won’t want to put down.

Draw will be held and winner announced on Saturday August 24 2024. REMEMBER TO CHECK GIVEAWAY EDITION AVAILABILITY FOR EACH TITLE!

45 thoughts on “2024 Carol Award Finalists – Debut + Giveaway”

  2. Happy Monday, Kav! I enjoyed Dear Henry, Love Edith.

    Show Me Betrayal by Ellen Withers sounds good. Love those dual timelines!

    dianalflowers at aol dot com

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

      1. Yes — Show Me Betrayal is ticking some boxes for me too. I hadn’t heard a thing about it until these finalists were announced. And now she has a second book out too? Yikes, best get caught up. I guess it’s harder for the small presses to compete for online notice. Must pay more attention to that in the future. Good luck, Diane!

        Like

      2. I agree, Kav. There are so many fabulous indie authors out there I’d never even heard of until I joined Avid Readers of Christian Fiction group. Of course you’ll hear about the good CF authors we all know & love, but I had never heard of Everlasting Mercy by Latisha Sexton (which was amazing!) or Driving Timmy’s Car by Barbara Ketchum (unputdownable!) til I started spending a little time lurking in this group. lol Love reading debut or little known authors who often write outside the box!

        Liked by 1 person

  8. Show Me Betrayal by Eileen E. Withers would be my choice because it really sounds intriguing! The staircase on the cover also reminds me of Jaime Jo Wright’s debut, The House on Foster Hill (highly recommended!). Some coincidence on debut novels? Who knows?

    You piqued my interest with Dear Henry, Love Edith and the library has it , so it’s a win anyway. I’m kind of in a reading slump, so maybe I need something light hearted like that. Usually I’ve surpassed my Goodreads goal by now, but not this year. I always love your recommendations!

    I’m glad you are doing all right, I was concerned about you when you didn’t post as usual on Saturday since you had the flu. I did see that you had replied to my comment and figured it was in internet issue.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    1. I do love a spooky staircase book cover. 🙂 Yes, the pesky internet was having fits this morning too. It’s raining again and it seems to act up when it’s wet — ha, maybe it’s the tech version of an old router feeling an ache in it’s bones when it’s wet outside. 🙂 Good luck, Perrianne!

      Like

      Reply

  9. Show Me Betrayal sounds interesting and hopefully it wouldn’t be too creepy! I am familiar with one of the editors, Susan Page Davis, as I have several of her books. My library luckily had the Kinzer book, which the group has discussed in the past. Thanks!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  13. If fortnate enough to be selected, I would love the opportunity to read SHOW ME BETRAYAL by Ellen E. Withers. Sounds absolutely marvelous and a book I would love to read.

    Thank you for the chance!

    2clowns at arkansas dot net

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  17. Dear Henry, Love Edith, sounds like a very good read with some mystery, I would love to read this book.

    cenyatwoathotmaildotcom

    Like

    Reply

  18. I would like to read Show Me Betrayal by Ellen E. Withers. It sounds very intriguing and suspenseful! Thanks for the chance to win a copy of this book, Kav!

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

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  20. ohhh! This reminds me that I read the sample chapters of Dear Henry, Love Edith on my kindle awhile ago and loved it. And then promptly dove into another book and never read the full story.lol So that is my pick This week!

    ladepooh at hotmail dot com

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

Leave a comment