2017 Winners!

--PERMISSION TO FORWARD GRANTED AND ENCOURAGED--

The North Texas Chapter

of Romance Writers of America is proud to announce …

The 2017

Great Expectations Contest Winners!

Denotes Request for Partial Manuscript *

Denotes Request for Full Manuscript **

CONTEMPORARY SERIES ROMANCE

Final Editor:  Brittany Lavery, Assistant Editor, HQN

First Place:                    Take Me Away by Jessie Gussman     

Second Place:                How a Heart Beats by Stacie Kaye   

Third Place:                   Discovering Serenity by Haley Burke

Honorable Mention:      What He Wants by Jessie Gussman

HISTORICAL ROMANCE

Final Editor:  Elle Keck, Assistant Editor, Avon Books

First Place:                    The Runaway Bride by Elizabeth King

Second Place:                Love’s Redemption by Jeanine Englert

Third Place:                  The Art of the Deal by Suzanne Turner

Honorable Mention:     The Seduction of Mrs. Smith 

                                      by Elizabeth Everett

                                   

INSPIRATIONAL  ROMANCE

Final Editor:  Raela Schoenherr, Acquisitions Editor, Bethany House

First Place:                    Fresh Brewed Love by Amanda Wen

Second Place:                At Bealtaine's Bidding 

                                      by Mary-Teresa Heath

Third Place:                   Stolen Vows by Darlene L Turner

Honorable Mention:      A Texas Lady by Elizabeth Lukinuk

MAINSTREAM WITH ROMANTIC ELEMENTS

Final Editor:  Marla Daniels, Assistant Editor, Simon and Schuster

First Place:                     Simple Acts of Grace by Adriana Allegri 

Second Place:                What Would Ginger Do? 

                                       by Kimberly MacCarron 

Third Place:                   The Nine Lives of Eric Merry 

                                       by Aubrey Wynne 

Honorable Mention:      Soul Song by Rayn Ellis

ROMANTIC SUSPENSE

Final Editor:  Lexi Smail, Assistant Editor, Grand Central Publishing

First Place:                    Lovely Digits by Jeanine Englert *

Second Place:                Hit and Run by Lori Matthews

Third Place:                   Forbidden Paradise by Barbara Forlenza *

Honorable Mention:      Emerald:  Drone by Alan Chaput

SINGLE TITLE ROMANCE

Final Editor:  Madeleine Colavita, Associate Editor, Hachette Book Group

First Place:                    Take the Lead by Alexis Daria

Second Place:                Hit Me with Your Best Shot by PJ Ryley

Third Place:                   Tame My Racing Heart by Kelly Duff

Honorable Mention:      Miracle on Tenth Avenue 

                                       by Gabrielle Luthy

SPECIALIZED ROMANCE

(Alternate Earth, Dystopian, Fantasy, Futuristic, Paranormal, Time Travel)

Final Editor: Kristine Swartz, Associate Editor, The Berkley Publishing Group

First Place:                    Bless Your Heart, 

                                      and Other Southern Curses 

                                       by Heather Leonard *      

Second Place:                Praetorian Rising by Lisa Knight *

Third Place:                  Burn for Me by Christal Murphy

Honorable Mention:     Leap of Fate by Kimberly MacCarron

YOUNG ADULT

Final Editor:  Alice Jerman, Associate Editor, HarperCollins

First Place:                    Loving Outside the Lines 

                                      by Kimberly MacCarron        

Second Place:               Mouthful by C.R. Grissom

Third Place (tied):        All the Feels by Kimberly MacCarron

                                     Unconditional by Kimberly MacCarron     

Honorable Mention:    Covenant Park by Christine Gunderson

Congratulations to our winners and good luck on your road to publication!