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Karen Witemeyer,Denise Hunter, Susan May Warren, Jen Turano, Becky Wade,Melanie Dickerson,Julianne Donaldson, T.L. Gray (Mercys fight)are such incredible writers. They are the top writers in my world :O)(Including Jane Austin of course!)

T.L. Gray will have the second book in the set apart series out in 2015

Thanks for the nominations Das! I've read a couple of those authors, but most I haven't tried yet (although they're all on my personal TBR list for this year). This years Swoonys are focusing more on clean secular romances, with no/mild religious content. How would you rate their books on the religious scale? Thanks! :)

YW :O) I love the Swoony awards and enjoyed going thru 2014's book list!


I would give some a mild to a sprinkle :op

I loved the creation of the Swoony Awards in 2014. I like that this year the requirements were changed to include only secular romantic fiction. I am married to an regional ecclesiastic leader for my Christian denomination and serving in the church is a second full time job next to serving my family, so I am a strong active Christian. Yet I have to agree with your committee, it is very EASY to find Christian/Inspirational romances on online book seller web sites and at physical brick and mortar book seller stores. Plus you automatically know by context already that they are clean. On the other hand there isn't a seperate section available for clean secular romances at these same online book seller websites or physical brick and mortar book seller stores. Knowing if a secular romance is clean is difficult. Knowing about the NEWEST clean secular romances is also difficult as many authors write these independent of the major publishers, who don't think clean secular romance sells, so the advertising and book shelf space isn't great. So thank you for giving a place to recognize and find the latest clean secular romances. My to be read shelf is going to continue to burst.

Thanks Kim! I have always been on the lookout for clean secular romances and agree, they're hard to find. The thing is, I think it would be a more popular genre if people knew about them. I've wondered if one of the reasons the YA market is so popular is because of all the adults out there looking for something cleaner w/o the religion. I don't have anything against the Christian genre, I read from it all the time. I'd just love a place to go where you can find secular romances.

Kathy wrote: "Thanks Kim! I have always been on the lookout for clean secular romances and agree, they're hard to find. The thing is, I think it would be a more popular genre if people knew about them. I've wond..."

I definetly agree Kathy with both of your statements that it probably would be a more popular genre if more people knew about these books and also your reasoning why the YA market is so explosively popular even among readers who are not teens.

My novel A Way from Heart to Heart was published 18th November - just outside the range for this list :( It's a clean contemporary romance set in England and has had lovely reviews so far. It's on giveaway at the moment if you'd like to check it out
I'm looking forward to checking out the other books on this list!

I'm happy to see some Christian books on this year's list too. I voted for four!

Helena wrote: "My novel A Way from Heart to Heart was published 18th November - just outside the range for this list :( It's a clean contemporary romance set in England and has had lovely reviews so far. It's on ..."

Helena, I checked your book out on Amazon; it's not free anymore, but I'm putting it on my TBR list--it sounds like a good one!

CarolynB wrote: "Helena, I checked your book out on Amazon; it's not free anymore, but I'm putting it on my TBR list--it sounds like a good one! "

Thanks so much, Carolyn! :) I hope you enjoy it!

So is there a reason why The Fill-In Boyfriend is on the list twice? It might cause some confusion and cause changes to people's voting ...

Tiana wrote: "So is there a reason why The Fill-In Boyfriend is on the list twice? It might cause some confusion and cause changes to people's voting ..."


Thanks for the heads up, I didn't notice that and it's been awhile since if checked for duplicates! :)

Love Leon's Way by Sunniva Dee!!!!