Announcing the 2023 N. N. Light Book Awards - Finalists #books #bestbooks2023 #bookawards #bookish

The staff at N. N. Light's Book Heaven review a wide variety of books and 2023 was no different. We read and reviewed 1,200 books this year. As the year draws to a close, we award the best books of the year (December 2022 - November 2023). Each of these books was given a 5 star or 5+ or 5++ star review by the reviewers at N. N. Light's Book Heaven and they are highly recommended reads. Narrowing down to these finalists was a rigorous process for the staff of N. N. Light's Book Heaven debating which books deserved the coveted finalist and winner awards. These are the finalists:

Action/Adventure Fiction/Romance:

Rescuing Freedom by Ellis Summers

Audiobooks:

Cobra Pose by Susan Rogers and John Roosen

Haunted Water by Jo A. Hiestand

The Last Descendant by Shirley McCoy

Children’s Books:

Nina Loves the Forest by Heider Broisler

The Little Boy Who Craved Thanksgiving Leftovers by Shani T. Night

Contemporary Romance:

Twice Baked by Katrina Coll

How to Spot a Fake by Rachelle Paige Campbell

Any Fin for Love by Petie McCarty

Cozy Mystery:

Trip the Light Phantasmic by Judith Sterling

Tea and Trouble by Lucinda Race

Death by Cutting Table by Susie Black

Dark Fantasy:

Rotten Apple by Marilyn Barr

Crystal Moth Conspiracy by Konn Lavery

Dark Romance/Romantic Suspense:

Royal Caleva: Gabriel: Duke of Bencalor by Nancy Herkness

Reign Of Loyalty by AG Kirkham

Wildcard by AG Kirkham

Erotic Romance/Romantic Suspense:

Tempt by Marie Tuhart

Blue Steel Hearts by Eve Lyn

Unwrapped in Røros by Hanna Park

Fantasy Romance/Romantic Fantasy:

Taking Medusa by SM McCoy

For Love of Medusa by Lianne Kelly

Sea Hunter by D.V. Stone

Fiction:

Remnants of Fire by Alana Lorens

Towers of the Hungry Ghosts by Lee Kaiser

Historical Fiction:

Outcast Artist in Bretagne by Diane Scott Lewis

The Starlet in Cabin Number Seven by Chrysteen Braun

Censored Angel by Joan Koster

Historical Romance:

If I Loved You by Cerise DeLand

Minuet at Midnight by Collette Cameron

The Scottish Selkie by Cornelia Amiri

Holiday Romance:

Holiday Queen by Claire Marti

Lights of Love: A Dickens Holiday Romance by Morgan Malone

Sugar Plum Inn by Lucinda Race  

Horror:

The Helios Syndrome by Vivian Shaw

The Boy in the Bubble by Stephen B. King

Spine Chilling by Michelle Godard Richer

Inspirational Fiction/Romance:

Audrey: Christmas Quilt Brides by Nancy Fraser

Painted with Good Intentions by Dorothy Robey

Later in Life Romance/Romantic Suspense:

Vulnerable by Marsha R West

The Last Enemy by Pauline Baird Jones

Literary Fiction:

Where the Ocean Meets the Sky by AR Hadley

Wild Asses of the Mojave Desert by Lis Anna-Langston

Enfant Terrible: Opening Acts by Gwydhar Gebien

Medieval Romance:

The Emerald Fairy and the Dragon Knight by Jennifer Ivy Walker

Shadows in the Mist by Virginie Marconato

Promise Me Christmas by Gini Rifkin

Memoir:

The Italian Dance Quest by Anna Harsh

Thank Goliath by Domenic Aversa

Mystery:

Chasing Favors by Mark Love

Cruel Lessons by Randy Overbeck

The Cottage by Jo A. Hiestand

Nonfiction:

How to Construct Chat AI prompts to Help you Write your Novel: a manual with sample prompts for writers by Ashley Parker Owens

Paranormal/Paranormal Fantasy:

A Flock of Vampires by Everlyn Thompson

Witch Ever Way You Go: A Seattle Coven Tale by Robert Herold

Raising Hell: How to Survive the Terrible Twos by Katie Zaber

Paranormal Mystery:

Manatee Soul by Terry Segan

Paranormal Romance:

Rewrites of the Heart by Terry Newman

Ghosts of New England: Last Light Point by Nancy Fraser, Kathryn Hills, Peggy Jaeger and Lisa A. Olech

The Vampire Billionaire’s Secret Baby by Sharon Buchbinder

Post-apocalyptic Fiction/Romance:

Saffron by PL Parker

Poppy by PL Parker

Regency Romance:

Captivated by His Countess by Kathy L Wheeler

Wolf in Duke’s Clothing by Debra Elizabeth

The Creole Duchess by Rue Allyn

Rockstar Romance:

Lead Me On by MJ Schiller

True Stars Collide by Claire Marti

Romantic Suspense/Thriller:

Key of Silence by Judy Kentrus

Gullible by Rosemary Kubli

Chasing the Diamonds by Mary Martinez

Science Fiction/Romantic Science Fiction:

AzumC by Pauline Baird Jones

The Surge by Monica Abbott

Steamy Romance:

Snowfire by Charlotte O’Shay

Simon by Dania Voss

Just You and Me by Evelyn Jeannine Hall

Suspense:

Sound and Deception by Nancy E. Polin

Tangled Lies by Sue Jaskula

Sweet Romance:

Sophia’s Magic Beans by DV Stone

Meet Me in River’s Edge by Nan Reinhardt

Thriller:

Into the Fog by Michelle Godard-Richer

Fatal Witness by Michelle Godard

Sea of Shadows (USS Towers Trilogy Book 1) by Jeff Edwards

Time Travel/Time Travel Romance:

A Tryst in Paris by Anne Armistead

Rise Like a Phoenix by Tammy Lowe

Time Swept by Casi McLean

Urban Fantasy:

The Cane, The Puzzle, and Magic by Vicky Burkholder

Flame & Shadow by AK Nevermore

Raven Crosses the Line by JB Dane

Western Fantasy/Romance:

Moonlight Over Montana by Lucinda Race

Smoke, And Other Storms by J.L. Delavega

Leaving Noah by Maddie James

Women’s Fiction:

Rag Lady by Susie Black

Reinventing Rita by Nancy Christie

The Key to Circus Mom Highway by Allyson Rice

Young Adult:

Griselda Rella by Lee Renwick Steele

The Blood of Faeries by Dan Rice

Best Audiobook Narrator of the Year:

Cobra Pose by Susan Rogers and John Roosen

Haunted Water by Jo A. Hiestand

The Last Descendant by Shirley McCoy

Best Book Cover of the Year:

The Italian Dance Quest by Anna Harsh

A Gentleman Will Never Forget a Lady by Emily Windsor

Bonded for Life by Sharon Buchbinder

Best Book of the Year:

The Helios Syndrome by Vivian Shaw

Key of Silence by Judy Kentrus

A Flock of Vampires by Everlyn Thompson

Best Indie Book of the Year:

Trip the Light Phantasmic by Judith Sterling

Saffron by P.L. Parker

Snowfire by Charlotte O’Shay

Best US Author of the Year

Lucinda Race

Judy Kentrus

Nicki Pascarella

Best Canada Author of the Year

Everlyn Thompson

Michelle Godard-Richer

Konn Lavery

Best International Author of the Year

Susan Rogers and John Roosen

Emily Windsor

Stephen B. King

Congratulations to all the finalists.

The winners will be announced on Friday, December 22, 2023.