2018 ARR Awards: finalists announced

Voting has opened today for the 2018 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 will now vote for their favourite in each category. (The voting link is available to members in the January newsletter.) Voting will close on 12 February.

Here are the finalists:

Favourite Paranormal Romance – proudly sponsored by Hachette Australia

• Clash of Storms by Bec McMaster
• Hot and Badgered by Shelly Laurenston
• Hunt: Red Riding Hood Retold by Demelza Carlton
• Lionheart by Thea Harrison
• Ocean Light by Nalini Singh
• The Chosen by Thea Harrison
• When Darkness Follows by Athena Daniels

Favourite Sci Fi, Fantasy or Futuristic Romance

• Almost Perfect by Tamara Martin
• Breakeven by Michelle Diener
• Cursed by Keri Arthur
• Diamond Fire by Ilona Andrews

Favourite Short or Category Romance

• A Baby in His In-Tray by Michelle Douglas
• Destroyed by Jackie Ashenden
• Getting Lucky by Avril Tremayne
• Inherited for the Royal Bed by Annie West
• Maggie’s Run by Kelly Hunter
• Playing Dirty by Amy Andrews
• Shock Heir for the Crown Prince by Kelly Hunter
• Stranded with Her Greek Tycoon by Kandy Shepherd
• The Million Pound Marriage Deal by Michelle Douglas
• Tikka Chance on Me by Suleikha Snyder

Favourite Historical Romance – proudly sponsored by Hachette Australia

• Lord Garson’s Bride by Anna Campbell
• Marry in Scandal by Anne Gracie
• The Desert Nurse by Pamela Hart
• The Devilish Duke by Maddison Michaels
• The Juliet Code by Christine Wells
• The Laird’s Christmas Kiss by Anna Campbell
• The Laird’s Willful Lass by Anna Campbell

Favourite Contemporary Romance – proudly sponsored by Allen & Unwin

• A Duke by Default by Alyssa Cole
• Bad Bachelor by Stefanie London
• Bittersweet by Jacquie Underdown
• Captivated by Tessa Bailey and Eve Dangerfield
• Chaser by Kylie Scott
• Cinderella and the Geek by Christina Phillips
• Resurrection by Karina Bliss
• Snatched by Cathleen Ross
• The Lost Pearl by Emily Madden

Favourite Romantic Suspense

• At Your Service by Sandra Antonelli
• Bloodtree River by Sarah Barrie
• Dark in Death by JD Robb
• Retribution by Diane Demetre
• The Secrets of Palmerston House by Phillipa Nefri Clark
• The Woman Left Behind by Linda Howard
• Whitsunday Dawn by Annie Seaton

Favourite Continuing Romance Series

• Bad Bachelors by Stefanie London
• Dashing Widows by Anna Campbell
• Marriage of Convenience by Anne Gracie
• Outback Brides by Kelly Hunter, Victoria Purman, Cathryn Hein and Fiona McArthur
• Sydney Smoke Rugby by Amy Andrews
• The Lairds Most Likely by Anna Campbell
• True North by Sarina Bowen

Favourite Debut Romance Author – proudly sponsored by Booktopia

• Georgia Tingley
• Helen Hoang
• Laura Boon
• Maddison Michaels
• Marianne Delaforce
• Marie Tremayne
• Megan Mayfair
• MV Ellis
• Sandie Docker

Favourite Australian Romance Author 2018 – proudly sponsored by Booktopia

• Amy Andrews
• Anna Campbell
• Anne Gracie
• Annie West
• Christina Phillips
• Kandy Shepherd
• Kelly Hunter
• Kylie Scott
• Michelle Douglas
• Penelope Janu
• Phillipa Nefri Clark
• Sarah Williams

And the finalists for the Members’ Choice categories are …

Favourite 2018 romance that made me cry

• Bittersweet by Jacquie Underdown
• The Lost Pearl by Emily Madden
• Burning Fields by Alli Sinclair
• Maggie’s Run by Kelly Hunter
• Photos of You Tammy Robinson

Favourite 2018 romance with laugh-out-loud moment

• Bad Bachelor by Stefanie London
• Captivated by Tessa Bailey and Eve Dangerfield
• Chaser by Kylie Scott
• On the Right Track by Penelope Janu
• Playing Dirty by Amy Andrews
• The Love Coupon by Ainslie Paton
• The Single Ladies of Jacaranda Retirement Village by Joanna Nell

Favourite Australian romance of 2018

• Burning Fields by Alli Sinclair
• Elsa’s Stand by Cathryn Hein
• It Seemed Like a Good Idea at the Time by Kylie Scott
• King’s Reign by Nina Levine
• Maggie’s Run by Kelly Hunter
• On the Right Track by Penelope Janu
• Playing Dirty by Amy Andrews
• Playing House by Amy Andrews
• So Wild by by Eve Dangerfield
• The Dairy Farmer’s Daughter by Sarah Williams
• The Lost Pearl by Emily Madden
• The Red Dirt Road by Alissa Callen

Congratulations to all the finalists!

Winners will be announced at the Awards Dinner, which will be held at Cello’s Restaurant in Sydney on Saturday 23 February 2019. If you would like to attend the awards dinner, you can buy your ticket here.