The 2020 Carol Award winners were announced over a week ago, but it is never too late to talk about great books! If you haven’t already read any of these award-winning books, be sure to check them out. I know there is one to fit any one’s reading tastes. BTW — congrats to all the winners!
2020 Carol Award Winners
Contemporary
The Death of Mungo Blackwell by Lauren H. Brandenburg
Historical
Memories of Glass by Melanie Dobson
Historical Romance
The Sky Above Us by Sarah Sundin
Mystery/Suspense/Thriller
The Gryphon Heist by James R. Hannibal
Novella
The Groom She Thought She’d Left Behind from The Runaway Brides Collection by Darlene Panzera
A big congratulations to the talented authors who make up this year’s Carol Award Finalists. No matter what genre you prefer, you will find a winner of a read! I have read a few of these books — more are on the TBR list. Hope you find an award winning book to enjoy!
A Reluctant Bride by Jody Hedlund A Pursuit of Home by Kristi Ann Hunter The Sky Above Us by Sarah Sundin
Mystery/Suspense/Thriller
The Gryphon Heist by James R. Hannibal Laynie Portland, Retired Spy by Vikki Kestell Midnight on the River Grey by Abigail Wilson
Novella
Always by Jody Hedlund The Groom She’d Thought She Left Behind from The Runaway Brides Collection by Darlene Panzera The Baggage Handler by David Rawlings
Romance
Driftwood Bay by Irene Hannon A Glitter of Gold by Liz Johnson Love You, Truly by Susan L. Tuttle
Romantic Suspense
The Killing Tide by Dani Pettrey Living Lies by Natalie Walters Knox by Susan May Warren
Short Novel
A Rancher to Trust by Laurel Blount The Rancher’s Unexpected Baby by Jill Lynn Lioness: Mahlah’s Journey by Barbara M. Britton
Speculative
Flight of the Raven by Morgan L. Busse The Story Raider by Lindsay A. Franklin Brand of Light by Ronie Kendig
Young Adult
Romanov by Nadine Brandes Coral by Sara Ella Something I Am Not by Cher Gatto
Debut
A Cross to Kill by Andrew Huff Above the Fold by Rachel Scott McDaniel Shadow Among Sheaves by Naomi Stephens
Congratulations to the 2020 Inspy Award Nominees! What a great bunch of authors and books. So if you are wondering what to read next, here’s your list!
Recognizing the need for a new kind of book award, the INSPYs were created by bloggers to discover and highlight the very best in literature that grapples with expressions of the Christian faith. (Inspy.com)
A big congratulations to all the talented authors whose books are represented on the 2019 Inspy Award Shortlists! So many great books Now you have your summer reading list! 😉
The Inspy Awards, the blogger-based awards program for inspirational books, has announced their 2018 shortlists. Whew! What a great bunch of books! Now it’s in the judges hands, and what a tough job they have. Congrats to all the authors! For more info, check out inspy.com.
Contemporary Romance/Romantic Suspense
A New Shade of Summer (Waterfall Press) by Nicole Deese
Then There Was You (Bellbird Press) by Kara Isaac
Jane of Austin (Waterbrook) by Hillary Manton Lodge
Special Forces operator Salvatore “Falcon” Russo vowed to never again speak to or trust Lieutenant Cassandra Walker after a tragedy four years ago. But as Raptor closes in on the cyber terrorists responsible for killing two of their own, Sal must put his life—and the lives of his teammates—in her hands. Despite his anger, Cassie is ill-prepared for his resistance and the fallout when she must protect the one asset who can end the attacks. As allies become enemies and hostiles become unlikely partners, Raptor fights for its very existence.
Ronie Kendig is an award-winning, bestselling author of a dozen novels. She grew up an Army brat. Now, she and her husband, an Army veteran, have an adventurous life in Northern Virginia with their children and two dogs — a Maltese Menace and a retired military working dog, VVolt N629. Ronie’s degree in Psychology has helped her pen novels of intense, raw characters.
Action-packed suspense is the hallmark of Falcon by Ronie Kendig, book 3 in her Quiet Professionals series. With explosions, sniper fire and ambushes, this book is a good choice for those who love military-based fiction. It also has a romance thread to keep fans happy. The novel continues the stories of several characters, so I would recommend that you read the previous books first.
Warrant officer Salvatore Falcon Russo is a member of an elite special forces team based in Afghanistan. As the team comes under attack from enemies on several fronts, he is thrown together with the last person he would choose to join in investigating. Lt. Cassandra Walker proved untrustworthy in the past, and he wants no part of her in his future. But events conspire to bring them together one more time. And this time their hearts may be changed.
Falcon plunges the reader right in the middle of military action. Characters are tough and determined. And while there hardness keeps them on task in their missions, they do have a soft side for those who are vulnerable. Main characters Falcon and Cassandra battle grief, guilt and feelings of betrayal. They have to overcome many obstacles before they can trust each other again. The novel is fast-paced and Ronie keeps you guessing as the investigation into the traitor progresses. I never saw the ending coming. I was a bit lost for the first half of the book — I didn’t have enough back story to understand the dynamics of the team and the context of the story. This series definitely needs to be read in order.
If you like romantic suspense with a military focus and non-stop action, then check out Falcon.
A year ago in Afghanistan, Green Beret Heath Daniel’s career was destroyed. Along with his faith. Now he and his military war dog, Trinity, train other dogs and their handlers. Though his passion is to be back in action, the medical discharge has forced Heath-and Trinity-to the sidelines. Military intelligence officer Darci Kintz is captured while secretly tracking the Taliban. Only one dog can handle the extreme conditions to save her. Trinity. Only one man can handle Trinity. Time is running out on the greatest-and most dangerous-mission of their lives.
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An Army brat,Ronie Kendig grew up in the classic military family, with her father often TDY and her mother holding down the proverbial fort. Their family moved often, which left Ronie attending six schools by the time she’d entered fourth grade. Her only respite and “friends” during this time were the characters she created.
It was no surprise when she married a military veteran—her real-life hero—in June 1990. Married more than twenty years, Ronie and her husband, Brian, homeschool their children, the first of whom graduated in 2011. Despite the craziness of life, Ronie finds balance and peace with her faith, family and their two dogs in Northern Virginia.
Ronie has a deep love and passion for people, especially hurting people, which is why she pursued and obtained a B.S. in Psychology from Liberty University. Ronie speaks nationally, volunteers with writer’s organizations, including American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW) and My Book Therapy, and mentors other writers.
Since launching onto the publishing scene in 2010, Ronie and her books have hit bestseller lists and garnered awards and critical acclaim, including:
2012 Christy Award Winner – Wolfsbane (Contemporary Romance)
2013 Selah Award Winner – Firethorn (Fiction – Suspense)
2013 Inspirational Reader’s Choice Award Finalist– Trinity: Military War Dog (Romantic Suspense)
2012 Lime Award Winner – Firethorn (Suspense)
2012 Carol Award Finalist – Wolfsbane (Romantic Suspense)
Christian Retailing’s 2011 Readers’ Choice Awards Finalist – Nightshade
Named one of the Top 25 Christian Fiction Suspense, Mystery, and Thriller Writers by FamilyFiction (Sept 2011)
2011 FamilyFiction Readers’ Choice Awards – 3rd place as New Favorite Author, 8th place with Nightshade for Novel of the Year.
INSPY Award Shortlist final in Mystery/Thriller (Dead Reckoning)
The Christian Manifesto’s 2010 Lime Award for Excellence in Christian Fiction (Nightshade)
My Impressions:
Trinity: Military War Dog is the first book in Ronie Kendig’s new series, A Breed Apart. Featured are former U.S. military working dogs that have been declared excess. Unfortunately, Trinity’s handler has had his own excess designation following a traumatic brain injury in Afghanistan. Trinity was unable to work with any other handler, so Heath Daniels now has her full time. They come to a ranch in Texas to find healing and maybe a new purpose in their lives with the A Breed Apart program. On a PR tour back in Afghanistan, Heath meets Jia aka Darci an intriguing geologist, or is she?
Trinity was on the shortlist of books nominated for the mystery/thriller category of the Inspy Awards. I had the great privilege to read and judge this book. A romantic suspense novel, Trinity combines military maneuvers, international intrigue, espionage and a love story or two. Yes, Heath and Jia fall in love despite great odds, but it is also the love story between Heath and the dog that has become much more of a partner through tough field experiences and the threat of death. It is this bond between handler and dog that makes this book special.
If you like romantic suspense with lots of action and danger you will like Trinity: Military War Dog. But if you love animals and are a believer in the bonds between them and humans, you will love this one.
Recommended.
(I received this novel from the publisher for judging purposes. The opinions expressed are mine alone.)
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