​
2020 Golden Leaf Contest for Published Authors
​Winners

At our Virtual End-of-Year Party on December 12, New Jersey Romance Writers was thrilled to announce the winners of our 2020 Golden Leaf Awards for published books. Please join us in congratulating our winners and finalists!

***Permission to forward granted and encouraged ****

​* Denotes NJRW members
Best First Book
WINNER:
A Lady's Revenge, by Edie Cay

FINALISTS:
Crushing on You, by Jen Trinh
High Heels and Handguns, by Lisa Heartman
​Long Contemporary
WINNER:
Wish Upon a Cowboy, by Jennie Marts

FINALISTS:
A Timeless Kiss, by Judy Kentrus*
Love Me Not, by Lisa McLuckie
Mid-Length Contemporary
WINNER:
Nobody Else But You, by Claire Marti

FINALISTS:
For The Love of You, by Claire Marti
Crushing on You, by Jen Trinh
Short Contemporary
WINNER:
Swipe Right for a Cowboy, by Karen Foley*

FINALISTS:
Harvest Hideaway, by Christina James 
Want Me Always, by Lea Nolan
Erotica
WINNER:
Winter's List, by Jordyn Kross

FINALISTS:
Alaska Bound, by Margaret Frank
Yours… Mine… Always, by Cadence Vonn
Historical
WINNER:
The Duke Redemption, by Grace Callaway

FINALISTS:
Return of the Fox, by Pamela Gibson
The Work of Art, by Mimi Matthews
Novella
WINNER:
Reluctant Billionaire, by Deborah Garland

​FINALISTS:
A Perfect Grey Christmas, by Anna Sugden
Tides of Desire, by Tracy Sumner
Paranormal
WINNER: 
The Rogue King, by Abigail Owen

​FINALISTS:
Evergreen, by Marissa Doyle
Bloodborn, by Sydney Winward
 
Romantic Suspense
WINNER:
Spooning Leads to Forking, by Kilby Blades

FINALISTS:
Break and Enter, by Lori Matthews*
Trap ’N' Trace, by Tee O'Fallon
Best Book by an NJ Author
WINNER:
Smash and Grab, by Lori Matthews*

FINALISTS:
The Money Man, by Nancy Herkness*
Beyond Redemption, by Barbara Nolan*

Categories

  • Best First Book: any romance novel from a first-time author not previously published in book ­length romantic fiction, regardless of publishing medium.
  • Contemporary Romance: Short: Novels that are set from 1950 to the present that focus primarily on the romantic relationship and that are between 40,000 and 56,000 words in length.
  • Contemporary Romance: Mid-Length: Novels that are set from 1950 to the present that focus primarily on the romantic relationship and that are between 56,000 and 84,000 words in length.
  • Contemporary Romance: Long: Novels that are set from 1950 to the present that focus primarily on the romantic relationship and that are 84,000 or more words.
  • Historical Romance: Novels set prior to 1950. Includes Regency romances. 40,000 word minimum.
  • Novella: short pieces of romantic fiction between 20-40,000 words. (Trade magazines do not normally fall under the proper word count; however, if your novella does, the acceptability of such work will be the decision of the contest chairperson.)
  • Paranormal Romance: Any romance novel in which either time travel, futuristic, fantasy world or paranormal happenings are a major element of the plot. 40,000 word minimum.
  • Romantic Suspense: Any romance novel in which suspense, mystery, or thriller elements constitute a major part of the plot. 40,000 word minimum.
  • Erotic Romance: Novels in which strong, often explicit, sexual interaction is an inherent part of the love story, character growth and relationship development and could not be removed without damaging the storyline. These novels may contain elements of other romance subgenres (such as paranormal, historical, etc.).