2025 Carol Awards Finalists – Historical Romance

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 2025 finalists are books published in 2024. 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 6 2025 at the ACFW Gala in Springfield, Missouri (wouldn’t you love to be there?!)

How does this giveaway work?

You select which of the Carol Award finalists 2025 – Historical Romance 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.

Historical Romance Finalists

The Girl from the Hidden Forest by Hannah Linder – Barbour Publishing – Editor: Becky Fish -Giveaway options: US: paperback or ebook, Canada: paperback, ebook or audible, International: ebook with US Kindle account.

The nightmares may free her…but destroy the man she loves

Eliza Ellis has stayed hidden in Balfour Forest for as long as she can remember. Perhaps her only friends are the trees, or her little dog, or her story-telling father called Captain. But at least she is safe from the cruel world outside, a world Captain has warned her against and protected her from.
 
That is, until a handsome stranger named Felton Northwood invades her quiet forest and steals her away. Why does he tell such lies? Why does he insist that her name is Miss Eliza Gillingham, daughter of a viscount, who disappeared fourteen years ago after the murder of her own mother? A murder Eliza is said to have witnessed.
 
When Felton returns Eliza to Monbury Manor and reunites her with a man who is told to be her father, all she remembers are the strange nightmares that have plagued her since childhood. Why have they suddenly grown worse? Are the answers hidden inside her own mind?
 
As danger mounts and lethal attempts are made on her life, Eliza and Felton must work together to uncover the identity of a killer who has stayed silent for fourteen years. When she finally uncovers the horrendous memories trapped in her mind, will divulging the truth cost her the man she loves―and both of their lives?

Of Love and Treason by Jamie Ogle – Tyndale House – Editors: Elizabeth Jackson and Sarah Rische – Giveaway options: US: paperback or ebook, Canada: ebook or audible, International: ebook with US Kindle account.

Valentine defies the emperor and becomes a hero . . . and the most wanted man in the empire. Compelled by his faith, he has nothing to lose, until a chance encounter with the daughter of a Roman jailor changes everything.

Rome, AD 270. In the wake of the emperor’s marriage ban, rumors swirl that there is one man brave enough to perform wedding ceremonies in secret. A public notarius and leader of an underground church, Valentine believes the emperor’s edict unjust and risks his own life for the sake of his convictions. But as his fame grows, so do fears for his safety.

Iris, the daughter of a Roman jailor, believes regaining her sight will ease the mounting troubles at home. Her last hope rests in searching out Valentine and his church, but the danger of associating with people labeled a threat to the empire is great. Still, as Iris’s new friends lead her to faith in God, Iris is drawn to Valentine and they both begin to hope for a future together beyond the treacherous empire.

But when a past debt and a staggering betrayal collide, Valentine, Iris, and everyone they love must fight for their lives . . . and wrestle with trusting a God who can restore sight yet does not always keep His followers from peril.

My Review: https://kavsbestreads.ca/2024/01/22/of-love-and-treason-giveaway/

Above All Dreams by Naomi Rawlings – Indie – Editor: Erin Healy – ebook giveaway for US, Canada and International with US Kindle account.

Ever since she was a girl, Kate Amos wanted to be a doctor, a dream that made her leave Alaska and travel clear to Boston for medical school. The problem is, there aren’t too many female doctors in 1886, and there are even fewer people who will let a female doctor treat them.

Fortunately for Kate, the only other doctor in the growing town of Juneau Alaska is drunk more than he’s sober, and he doesn’t know the first thing about medicine. So even though the townsfolk might not want a woman doctor to treat them, they don’t have much choice.

Until Dr. Nathan Reid arrives in town.

Nathan has been tasked by the Marine Hospital Service to start a hospital in the gold rush town of Juneau, and he’s excited to get started. His research on the area showed him the town was desperately in need of a competent doctor. But Nathan is only in town for a few minutes before discovering that Juneau already has a competent doctor. She just happens to be a woman.

A rather beautiful woman—who’s worried he’s going to take away her patients.

But when trying to save a man’s life leaves them in a compromising situation, Nathan finds himself standing at the front of a church while Kate walks down the aisle toward him.

Draw will be held and winner announced on Saturday June 14 2024. REMEMBER TO CHECK EDITION AVAILABILITY FOR EACH BOOK

39 thoughts on “2025 Carol Awards Finalists – Historical Romance”

  1. I’ve only read a couple ofHannah Linder novels and it’s been a few years since I’ve dipped into one.  The Girl from the Hidden Forest would be my choice.   It really sounds fantastic, and plot seems mysterious and torturous.  I think that I would thoroughly enjoy reading this!

    perrianne (DOT) askew (AT) me (DOT) com

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  2. I would love to win The Girl from the Forest in paperback. I’ve been slowly collecting Hannah’s books and I haven’t read that one.

    Blessedmommy3x AT gmail DOT com

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  3. Naomi’s Above All Dreams sounds HILARIOUS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I NEEEEEEEEEED to read it now!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I’ve read one of hers before (blanking on the title), and it was really good!!!!!!! I also like Hannah’s books, but the blurb for Naomi’s sounds more intriguing! I don’t think I’ve read any of Jamie’s books yet, but that one sounds so good, too!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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  4. If I were the very fortunate one selected, I would LOVE the opportunity to read THE GIRL FROM THE HIDDEN FOREST by Hannah Linder. Reading the description of the book made me want to keep reading the find the answers and to see where the relationship between Eliza and Felton may go.

    Thank you so much for the chance to win a copy!

    Springfield, MO is about 3 hours from us. I may have to do some research on this event. Would LOVE to go!

    2clowns at arkansas dot net

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  5. These all sound like really great choices. I bought a kindle copy of Of Love and Treason yesterday because it’s been on my list and the price was awesome. It’s just really out of my comfort zone so I will still have to convince myself to read it.
    Both other books are new to me authors and are going to go on my TBR list.

    My choice is The Girl From the Hidden Forest. Sandyavery at comcast dot net

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    1. Of Love and Treason was way out of my comfort zone too. It was my first audio Net Galley review and I was amazed at how immersed I became in the story. Hope you enjoy it too. I’m with you on The Girl From the Hidden Forest. Definitely a must read for me too. Good luck, Sandy!

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  7. Such great book choices today! I really enjoy Hannah Linder, and I missed reading this for some reason. Thanks for the chance to win!

    The Girl from the Hidden Forest

    teamob4 (at) gmail (dot) com

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