2016 ARR Awards: finalists announced

Voting has opened today for the 2016 Australian Romance Readers Awards. Below are the finalists in each of the nine categories, as well as finalists in our three special Members’ Choice categories. ARRA members can now vote for their favourite in each category. (The voting link is available to members in the January newsletter.) Voting will close on 5 February.

Here are the finalists:

Favourite Paranormal Romance

• Allegiance of Honor by Nalini Singh
• Bay of Sighs by Nora Roberts
• Blood Vow by JR Ward
• I Dream of Dragons by Ashlyn Chase
• Moonshadow by Thea Harrison
• The Undoing by Shelly Laurenston
• Wild Embrace by Nalini Singh

Favourite Sci Fi, Fantasy or Futuristic Romance

• A Promise of Fire by Amanda Bouchet
• Archangel’s Heart by Nalini Singh
• City of Light by Keri Arthur
• Feverborn by Karen Marie Moning
• Fire Touched by Patricia Briggs
• Kings Rising by CS Pacat
• Magic Binds by Ilona Andrews
• The Dirt on Ninth Grave by Darynda Jones
• Wickedly Powerful by Deborah Blake

Favourite Short or Category Romance – proudly sponsored by Harlequin Australia

• A Deal to Mend their Marriage by Michelle Douglas
• A Vow to Secure His Legacy by Annie West
• An Unlikely Bride for the Billionaire by Michelle Douglas
• Crown Prince’s Chosen Bride by Kandy Shepherd
• Down and Dusty: Casey by Rachael Johns
• Down and Dusty: Frankie by Jackie Ashenden
• Greek Tycoon’s Mistletoe Proposal by Kandy Shepherd
• It’s Not You, It’s Her by Rachael Johns
• Melting Mr Frosty’s Heart by Liz Fielding
• Playing by Her Rules by Amy Andrews
• Playing it Cool by Amy Andrews

Favourite Historical Romance – proudly sponsored by Hachette Australia

• A Match Made in Mistletoe by Anna Campbell
• Exile’s Return by Alison Stuart
• Marrying Winterborne by Lisa Kleypas
• Mistletoe and the Major by Anna Campbell
• My American Duchess by Eloisa James
• Pursuing Lord Pascal by Anna Campbell
• Stranded with the Scottish Earl by Anna Campbell
• Tempting Mr Townsend by Anna Campbell
• The Master of Strathburn by Amy Rose Bennett
• The Summer Bride by Anne Gracie
• Winning Lord West by Anna Campbell

Favourite Contemporary Romance – proudly sponsored by Hachette Australia

• Dirty by Kylie Scott
• Escaping Mr Right by Avril Tremayne
• From a Paris Balcony by Ella Carey
• Outback Sisters by Rachael Johns
• Santa and the Saddler by Cathryn Hein
• The Art of Keeping Secrets by Rachael Johns
• The House by the Lake by Ella Carey
• The Score by Elle Kennedy
• The Three Miss Allens by Victoria Purman
• The Wife’s Tale by Christine Wells
• Wayward Heart by Cathryn Hein
• Whispers at Wongan Creek by Juanita Kees

Favourite Erotic Romance – proudly sponsored by eXtasy Books

• Big Rock by Lauren Blakely
• Bossman by Vi Keeland
• Dirty Sexy Cuffed by Carly Phillips and Erika Wilde
• Dirty Sexy Inked by Carly Phillips and Erika Wilde
• Dirty Sexy Saint by Carly Phillips and Erika Wilde
• Husband Heel by Louise Cusack
• Husband Sit by Louise Cusack
• Husband Stay by Louise Cusack
• Mister O by Lauren Blakely
• The Sexy One by Lauren Blakely

Favourite Romantic Suspense

• Apprentice in Death by JD Robb
• Bound to the Bounty Hunter by Hayson Manning
• Brotherhood in Death by JD Robb
• Deep Under by Lisa Renee Jones
• Festive Deception by DB Tait
• Legacy of Hunters Ridge by Sarah Barrie
• Shadows of Hunters Ridge by Sarah Barrie
• Sunset Shadows by Bronwyn Parry
• The Obsession by Nora Roberts

Favourite Continuing Romance Series – proudly sponsored by Harlequin Australia

• Bunyip Bay by Rachael Johns
• Captive Prince by CS Pacat
• Chance Sisters by Anne Gracie
• Dark Mountain by DB Tait
• Dashing Widows by Anna Campbell
• Dive Bar by Kylie Scott
• In Death by JD Robb
• Mercy Thompson by Patricia Briggs
• Off-Campus by Elle Kennedy
• Secret Confessions: Down and Dusty by Various
• Sydney Brides by Kandy Shepherd
• Sydney Smoke Rugby by Amy Andrews

Favourite Australian Romance Author 2016 – proudly sponsored by Booktopia

• Amy Andrews
• Anna Campbell
• Anne Gracie
• Annie West
• Avril Tremayne
• Cathryn Hein
• Kandy Shepherd
• Kylie Scott
• Michelle Douglas
• Rachael Johns

And the finalists for the Members’ Choice categories are …

Favourite Cover from a romance published in 2016

• Allegiance of Honor by Nalini Singh (Berkley)
• Archangel’s Heart by Nalini Singh (Berkley)
• Circus Games by Lilliana Rose (Less Than Three Press)
• Every Breath You Take by Christina Phillips (Tule Publishing)
• Flash Burned by Calista Fox (St Martin’s Griffin)
• Idolize by Maggie Mundy (Evernight Publishing)
• Lady in Red by Mel Teshco (Tule Publishing)
• Make Me by Cathleen Ross (Self-published)
• Under the Spanish Stars by Alli Sinclair (Harlequin Mira)
• Wayward Heart by Cathryn Hein (Harlequin Mira)

Favourite Heroine from a romance published in 2016

• Annika in Bay of Sighs by Nora Roberts
• Cat Fisa in A Promise of Fire by Amanda Bouchet
• Daisy Chance in The Summer Bride by Anne Gracie
• Dina DeMille in One Fell Sweep by Ilona Andrews
• Elena in Archangel’s Heart by Nalini Singh
• Harper Nugent in Playing it Cool by Amy Andrews
• Kate Daniels in Magic Binds by Ilona Andrews
• Matilda Kent in Playing by Her Rules by Amy Andrews
• Piper Thomas in Every Breath You Take by Christina Phillips

Favourite Couple from a romance published in 2016

• Angelina and Haithem in Didn’t I Warn You? by Amber Bardan
• Cat and Griffin in A Promise of Fire by Amanda Bouchet
• Daisy and Flynn in The Summer Bride by Anne Gracie
• Damen and Laurent in Kings Rising by CS Pacat
• Elena and Raphael in Archangel’s Heart by Nalini Singh
• Harper and Dexter in Playing it Cool by Amy Andrews
• Kate and Curran in Magic Binds by Ilona Andrews
• Lucy and Joshua in The Hating Game by Sally Thorne
• Matilda and Tanner in Playing by Her Rules by Amy Andrews

Congratulations to all the finalists!

Winners will be announced at the Awards Dinner, which will be held at the Australian Romance Readers Convention on Saturday 25 February 2017. If you would like to attend the awards dinner, you can buy your ticket here.

(Due to the new nomination process used this year, some categories do not have 10 finalists; some have more than 10, others have less.)