2024 RTTA Contest Winners

Following are the winners of the 2024 Romance Through the Ages Contest in the Pre-published and Published Categories:

Prepublished

Ancient – Medieval – Renaissance

1. Precious by Susan Chapek*
2. Mask of Fortune by Annemarie Schiavi Pedersen
3. Destined Hearts Dangerous Secrets by Anthea Laurelton

Final Round Judge: Kathryn LeVeque, CEO/Editor with Dragonblade Publishing

Colonial – Western – Civil War

1. Haunted Heart by Deb Ransburg MS
2. The Love Debts by Truest Carter*

Final Round Judge:  Melanie Billings, Editor with The Wild Rose Press

Georgian – Victorian

1. Of Salt & Sugarcane by Natalie Cross MS
2. The Earl Meets His Match by Lynn Blanton* MS
3. Serenity & The Marquess by Iris Matthews

Final Round Judge:  Erin Molta, Editor with Entangled Publishing

Post-Victorian – World Wars – Modern

1. Savannah Royals by Lindsay Barrett MS
2. Hard Boiled by Peyton Reese*

Final Round Judge:  Erin Niumata, Agent with Folio Literary Management

Regency

1. Margaret & the Marquess by Martha O’Carroll* MS
2. Ash & The Butterfly by Lark Maitland MS
3. A Price Above Rubies by Alice VonKannon*

Final Round Judge:   Alethea Spiridon, Editor with Entangled Publishing

Time-Travel – Paranormal Historical

1. The Dravenhearst Brides by Lindsay Barrett MS
2. Main Character Energy by Matilda Madison
3. The Malice of Circe by Susan Chapek*

Final Round Judge:  Sandy Lu, Agent with Book Wyrm Literary Agency

The Legend Award (most memorable leading character out of all entries)

1. Major Ashton DeWare from A Price Above Rubies by Alice VonKannon*
2. Lord Max Kenilworth from Serenity & the Marquess by Iris Matthews (2nd Place tie)
3. Nathaniel Blackmore from An Unexpected Sweetness by Lea Hollis*  (2nd Place tie)
4. Hailey Monroe from Main Character Energy by Matilda Madison

Final Round Judge:  Carrie Feron, Editor with Simon & Schuster/Gallery Books

* = HHRW member

MS = full MS request

Published

Ancient – Medieval – Renaissance

1. Highland Beastby Heather McCollum*
2. Highland Echo by Willa Blair

Final Round Judges: PJ Ausdenmore of The Romance Dish & Yelena Casale of City Owl Press

Colonial – Western – Civil War

1. Courting Fireby Tamara Hughes
2. Sweet Vengeance by Pamela Gibson

Final Round Judge: Anita Colliere with Turn the Page Bookstore

Georgian – Victorian

1. Adding up to Loveby Ginny B. Moore
2. By Sword & Fanby Kathleen Buckley

Final Round Judge:  Frannie Strober, Librarian of the year/reviewer & Caitlin O’Neil with Tropes & Trifles Bookstore

Post-Victorian – World Wars – Modern

1. A Rose Blooms in Brooklynby Ginny B. Moore
2. Second Chances in Hollywoodby Serah Hendess*

Final Round Judge:  Jennifer Udden with Laura Dail Lit Agency & John Charles with The Poisoned Pen Bookstore

Regency

1. Painting the Dukeby Georgina North
2. The Disgraced Dukeby Vivienne Baudlaire*

Final Round Judge:   Katie Streit with The Ripped Bodice Bookstore LA & Jane Porter with Tule Publishing

Time-Travel – Paranormal Historical

1. The Solitary Rose by Anne Rollins
2. A Tryst in Parisby Anne Armistead

Final Round Judge:  Erica Horton with A Novel Romance Bookstore & Sinclair Sawhney with Tule Publishing

The Legend Award (most memorable leading character out of all entries)

1. Highland Beast by Heather McCollum*
2. Highland Echo by Willa Blair

Final Round Judge:  Mary Wallace Moore, Librarian of the Year & Katie Garaby with Parnassus Books

* chapter member