Unofficial 2017 Swoony Award Winners

I just realized, we never did a post of the 2017 Swoony Award winners. I believe that year, we were taking a bit of a break. We had the voting up on Goodreads, but didn't really do much other than that. Since I was updating the Swoony Award blog with a break down of each years winners, I thought I'd do a little post and spotlight the books that did win in 2017. 

Best Novel of the Year
and
Best Contemporary Novel of the Year

When Fireflies Sing by Christine Houston

Best Historical Romance

A Note Yet Unsung by Tamera Alexander

Best Mystery/Suspense Romance

Rescue Me by Susan May Warren

Best YA Contemporary

By Your Side by Kasie West

Best Western Historical Romance

Worth the Wait by Karen Witemeyer

Best Christmas Romance

Wrong Brother, Right Match by Jennifer Shirk

Best Anthology

A Timeless Romance: Valentine's Day Collection 

Best High Fantasy Romance

Keeping Kinley by Annette Larsen

Best Sports Romance

Delay of the Game by Lucy McConnell

Best Regency Romance

Romancing Daphne by Sarah Eden 

Kathy's Choice Award

The Pursuit of Lady Harriett by Rachael Anderson 

Kathy Jo's Choice Award

Statistically Improbably by Jennifer Peel 

2020 Swoony Awards

 Welcome to the 2020 Swoony Awards! 

The Swoony Awards are a Reader’s Choice Award recognizing excellence in clean secular, wholesome romance. We wanted a way to show our appreciation to these awesome authors who write the kind of books that we love. It’s also a great way to find new books and a good go-to when looking for something fun to read.

As you may know, last year we switched up the voting process. Some loved it, while others did not. Now, don't hate us, but the voting is going to be different again this year. We've loved that it's been a surprise the last couple of years and we wanted to continue having it be a surprise. We think we've figured out a way to engage everyone from our Goodreads list as well as our Google list.

How are we going to do that? Well, we are going to be doing TWO voting rounds this year.

For the FIRST round, if you're on Goodreads you can vote for your favorite books on our 2020 Swoony Award list. Here's the link: tinyurl.com/2020SwoonyAwards. You can vote for up to 100 books. 

If you're not on Goodreads, you can vote through our Google Form. Here's the link: tinyurl.com/2020SwoonyAwardsGoogle. If you're using the Google Form, all you'll need to do is enter in the title and author. There's no limit to the amount of books you can vote for.

For the SECOND round, we will be taking the top FIVE books from each category and adding them to a NEW Google Form. You will be able to vote for up to THREE books in each category. We know some of you did not like voting via the Google Form last year, but we think it was because you had to physically type in your votes under specific categories, which was probably overwhelming. This year, we're trying to make it easier for everyone. All you'll need to do is choose from the books already listed.

Voting for ROUND 1 is OPEN and will END on December 5, 2020. Voting for ROUND 2 will START on December 12, 2020 and END on December 31, 2020. 

Winners will be announced the first part of January 2021.

The eligibility has not changed. But to refresh your memory...

Eligibility
-ONLY books PUBLISHED January 1, 2020 – December 31, 2020 are eligible.
-Books must be published OR have arc reviews before nomination. Since the award is based on readers having actually read and enjoyed the book(s) they are voting for, the book has to have been published or arcs read in order to receive votes.
-Intimacy: No sex, no/low closed door/fade-to-black, no/low innuendo, nothing crude or crass. G-PG13.
-Language: None/mild (No F words or other explicit language) nothing overly crude.
-Violence: Mild/low.
-Page Count: 100 pages or higher, anthologies are okay. No short stories. No collections.
-Age: Only Young Adult, New Adult and Adult. NO children’s or middle grade.
-Religious: No Christian fiction, some *very mild* religious elements may be allowed.

We're all looking forward to the Swoony Awards this year and hope you are as well! If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to reach out to us.

Happy voting Book Dragons!

The Work of Art by Mimi Matthews

The Work of Art by Mimi Matthews
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I've been seeing Mimi Matthew books making the rounds for awhile now, everyone seems to just love her books! So, I finally decided to give her a try and I was not disappointed. I thought this was a well-written and engaging story.

I always enjoy a good marriage of convenience story and I thought this one was handled well. Phyllida Satterthwaite comes to London to try and make a match, not realizing her Uncle already has a man in mind. The notorious Duke of Moreland. One meeting with the Duke and Phyllida knows she cannot marry him. When things get more serious, she turns to her new friend Captain Arthur Heywood for help.

Arthur and Phyllida have a sweet relationship, I love stories where the H/h truly become friends and like one another. It's always nice to watch a couple fall in love, but its a bonus to me, when they really like one another as well. If that makes sense? Anyway, they have good chemistry, some sweet moments between them. I liked Phyllida quite a bit, she was a strong and caring character.

There is a light mystery running throughout and I thought it was handled well. The overall pacing was good and just found it an enjoyable read. Makes me want to check out more books by Ms. Matthews!

Content rated PG13 for mild sexual content and mild violence
Romance: Intimacy between married couple, closed door, one fade-to-black, some kissing
Language: Mild
Violence: Talk of war and battles, a kidnapping and shooting

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Royal Decoy by Heather Frost

Royal Decoy by Heather Frost
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

4.5

This was not quite what I expected, but ended up being really good!

The story follows Clare, a kitchen maid who becomes the royal decoy for the princess. Clare is a fun character to follow, very likable and her motivations (protecting her brothers) rang true, over time she begins to enjoy her role. Even though her life is put in danger time and again. There is a a fun cast of characters surrounding her, particularly her handsome bodyguard. I look forward to following her story in future books.

Meanwhile, a parallel story is taking place, following Prince Grayson. He lives in a neighboring kingdom. His story is quite a bit darker, when we switch to his POV the story does become heavier. His parents are simply put, wicked. His brothers equally evil. Grayson has become feared throughout his kingdom, having to carry out any deed his father commands, and although he hates his role, he does it to protect the one person he loves. I actually really enjoyed when we'd jump back into Graysons world and seeing what was going on with him. I'm really looking forward to seeing where his story will lead.

I thought the worldbuilding was well done, despite following two different storylines, they take place in the same world and it helps to build an overall feel for the world. Normally, I am not the biggest fan of so many different POV in a book, but I thought it was handled well here. I am very much looking forward to these characters, Clare and her crew, meeting Grayson and seeing how that all plays out.

I also learned that this is the start of a six-part series. I normally shy away from long series, and typically don't start a series until the whole thing is complete. But, something about this one called to me and I am glad that I jumped in. I really enjoyed Royal Decoy and I am looking forward to reading the rest of the books in the series. Crossing my fingers the rest of the series will be as captivating as this first book!

Content
Romance: Clean, slow-burn type romance(s), just kissing
Language: None, made-up curses
Violence: Moderate - quite a bit of fighting and death. Graysons side of the story was a bit more violent

Fate of Eyrinthia Series


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Loving a Lady by Nichole Van

Loving a Lady by Nichole Van

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Once again, Ms. Van has written a truly wonderful story. She really has a gift for storytelling and bringing her characters to life. Even the supporting cast felt alive and unique. I enjoyed the fun Scottish setting (which only made my desire to visit there one day grow stronger) and the overall feel of the book.

I will say, the prologue was just superb! I can't remember a better prologue, seeing the first meeting of Ewan and Violet, it really leaves you antsy to get into the rest of the book to find out what happens next. I've been on a kick lately, where I don't read the book synopsis, preferring to just jump right in (I can only do this with trusted authors), so I wasn't sure where this story would go. I was pleasantly surprised by the unique storyline, our giant of a hero being a master painter, while our strong, but gentle heroine was an Earl! She inherited the title, under Scottish law, and was basically the Big Boss, as my kids would say. They come from very different walks of life, but are drawn to each others goodness. I loved Ewan and Violet and was rooting for them to figure out a way to be together, it seems impossible.

I loved seeing Ewan's friends from the Brotherhood, one scene particular had my laughing out loud. I really love friendship storylines like this in books, that unshakable connection friends have for each other, how they would do anything for each other. We also get to learn a few more secrets from the ongoing mystery that was established in the first book, although it doesn't play too large a role in this story.

Overall, it was just a fantastic read. I thoroughly enjoyed every page. I cannot wait to read the rest of the series! (And perhaps, we could have a spin-off book or novella for Violet's twin sisters?? I would love to see what mischief they get into when they make their debut into society!)

Content
Romance: Clean, passionate kisses
Language: Very very mild, maybe one curse word?
Violence: Mild, talk of prizefighting
Series: Part of a series, could stand on its own, but would give away parts of the mystery, would recommend reading in order


Brotherhood of the Black Tartan Series


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The Cottage by Coniston by Deborah M Hathaway

The Cottage by Coniston by Deborah M. Hathaway
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I really enjoyed this one, delightful!

I thought this was a fun story with an endearing plot. Miss Amy Paxton had a hard time keeping her opinions to herself, her blunt manner tends to scare off potential suitors. She resorts to asking her brother to make all her decisions for her in an attempt to finally find a husband! I liked Amy, even if she can be a bit harsh at times. I liked that our hero wasn't intimidated by her and could dish it out and keep her on her toes. I thought they had good chemistry.

The story was well-written and kept me glued to the pages. I enjoyed the side characters and the charming setting. I love that Ms. Hathaway always introduces us to new and beautiful parts of England. Ms. Hathaway is such a gifted writer, you can tell she really puts a lot of effort into her books. I love that she stays true to the time period she is writing in, which helps me as a reader get immersed into the setting and characters.

Overall, a very charming regency and one I would easily recommend to any fan of the genre.


Seasons of Change Series


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A Lily in Disguise by Jessica Scarlett

A Lily in Disguise by Jessica Scarlett
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

4.5

This was a great debut novel by Ms. Scarlett. I'm so glad my friend Deb, recommended it to me. I enjoyed Lily as a character, she is trying so hard to reunite with her sister, and in order to do so she has found herself in a sticky situation. Playing an heiress at a summer house party. As the days go on and the lies get bigger she is getting more desperate as things seem to be falling apart.

I thought this was a fun read, well written and kept me up late reading to see what would happen with the truth came out! The romance was sweet, lots of nice moments between our leads. I did think the "bad guy" could have been flushed out a little more, and maybe played a bigger part in the story. But, overall I really enjoyed this one and look forward to reading more from Ms. Scarlett.

Content
Romance: Clean, mild kissing
Language: None
Violence: Mild


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The Enemy by Sarah Adams

The Enemy by Sarah Adams
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Y'all, have you discovered the wonderfulness of Ms Sarah Adams yet? She can write historical. She can write contemporary. I'm pretty sure she could make a medical textbook seem swoony.

I admit, I skipped the first book (I totally plan on reading it) because I have a soft-spot for enemies-to-lover tropes. I love them. Like a lot. And it was handled just perfectly in this book! Seriously, June and Ryan have pretty epic chemistry, a love-hate relationship that started in high school and hasn't let up in the twelve years since they last saw each other. I loved their banter, pranks and mixed in sweetness and swoon-worthy tension.

This was a fun lighthearted read, I had a permagrin on my face throughout. It also has some nice moments of character growth and just was a really well-rounded story. I loved June and Ryan, and I loved them together. I thought it was well written and had a great flow to it. I loved that it didnt have that "instalove" feel to it, but that their feelings developed at a believable pace.

Loved it!

Content
Romance: Clean
Language: None
Violence: None

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Sea of Starlight by Shari L Tapscott

Sea of Starlight by Shari L. Tapscott
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I've been eagerly awaiting this books release and counting down the days until I could read it. I love finding new series to obsess over. Is it hard for anyone else to write reviews for a middle book? I dont want to give anything away!

The story continues to follow Amalia and Rhys on their journey, they're growing closer, but Rhys is still keeping secrets that he worries will tear them apart, so he has his guard up. Amalia is still a likable lead, she only knows part of the story and so that puts her in interesting situations. The story also introduces us to Cassia and Braeton, so we're lucky to get two stories! I really enjoyed Cassie and Braeton and the perspective they added to the story.

Yes, this does end on a cliffhanger! Grrrrr! But, luckily the last book is scheduled to come out in November, so not too long to wait. Which I REALLY appreciate. While I did enjoy this book, I think I liked the first one a bit more. This did have that middle-book-feel to it, but still kept my attention and had lots of swoony moments and likable characters. I look forward to reading the next book!

Content
Romance: Clean
Language: None
Violence: Mild

The Riven Kingdoms Series


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Forest of Firelight by Shari L Tapscott

Forest of Firelight by Shari L. Tapscott
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

*happy sigh* *frustrated sigh*

I picked this one up late last night, just wanting to give it a quick peek to see what it was like. Before I knew it I was sucked in, totally invested and up way past my bedtime. Luckily, it was a nice rainy day here and I was able to curl up and finish reading. I really enjoyed this one, it reminded me how much I just love the High Fantasy genre.

I'm kind of glad I didn't read the synopsis before diving in. I like the mystery of it all, especially where the Huntsman Rhys is concerned. Is he a friend or foe? He's certainly swoony as all get out. Broody in one moment and a big softy in the next. But always a protector. Or is he? He will keep you guessing for sure. Princess Amalia was charming, endearing and just very likable. She's a bit clueless and I'm not sure if she'd ever be able to survive on her own (which sounds a lot like me), but you can't help but like her. Amalia has different kind of strength, which I liked. She is loyal, kind and brave. The sparks just leap off the pages whenever Amalia and Rhys share a scene, which thankfully is most of the book.

I typically wait for a series to be complete before reading, but I'm glad I went ahead and read this one even though the next installment isn't out for a couple months. I really loved it, it's easily one of my favorite books I've read this year, or in a long time. I love the world Ms. Tapscott has created, wasn't over the top, just a wonderful place I'd like to visit. I obviously loved the main characters, but also enjoyed the supporting cast.

I am really looking forward to this new series, highly recommend to anyone who likes to read. Seriously, if you've never read a high fantasy before, this is a great one to start with. And if you are a fan of the genre, you'll want to add this to your collection.

Content
Romance: Swoony clean.
Language: None
Violence: Mild-Moderate. Attempted kidnappings, death. Nothing graphic.

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Rating System

I have tried to include content advisories for all my reviews and thought I'd provide a little guideline that I try and follow. I really appreciate it when other reviewers do this and maybe one day there will be a universal rating used for books. Until then... 

Sensuality Rating Scale

Squeaky Clean(G) No sex, chaste kissing if any

Clean (PG) No sex or behind closed doors

Pretty Clean (PG-PG13) No sex or "fade to black," mild innuendo, more descriptive kissing

Sketchy Clean (PG13) Implied intimacy, more descriptive fade to black, innuendo or crude

Not Clean (R) Open door sex scenes, descriptive innuendo or crude content

Violence Rating 

Mild- non-descriptive 

Moderate: more detailed

Heavy: graphic or detailed violence 

Language Content

Mild: less than ten, more mild words

Moderate: more than ten swearwords

Heavey: lots of swearing or more offensive words 

Religious Content

Mild: very subtle religious elements, no preaching

Moderate: more of a focus on religious themes

Heavy: main theme is religion or lots of praying, etc. 

Other Content

If there is drinking or other type content then I will usually list it in the review

I also have shelves on Goodreads marked Green, Yellow or Red based on content. Green would be more of the G-PG type books, Yellow is more of the PG13+ type books and Red are the not clean read, rated R type stories. Sadly, I didnt start doing this when I first started reviewing, but I do try and keep it updated as I finish a book now. 

For anyone looking for more clean readers/reviewers to follow come check out our Happily Ever After Book Club on Goodreads. 

Happy Reading!