R♥BY Results
The Romantic Book of the Year Award, affectionately known as The Ruby, is one of our premier awards and the only one of its kind in Australia. Voted on by Australian readers, this contest is open each year to any Australian or New Zealand romance author who has published a romance novel in a number of categories.
RWA congratulates the finalists in the Romantic Book of The Year and Romantic Novella of the Year 2020, for books published in 2019.
Contemporary Romance:
First Place: The Desert Midwife – Fiona McArthur
Second Place: Can’t Stop the Feeling – Janet Elizabeth Henderson
Third Place: Nothing But Trouble – Amy Andrews
Fourth Place: Capturing Love – Anna Penny
Fifth Place: Stowaway – Stella Quinn
The Legacies of Brigadier Station – Sarah Williams
Historical:
First Place: The Clothier’s Daughter – Bronwyn Parry
Second Place: Marry in Secret – Anne Gracie
Third Place: The Slum Angel – AnneMarie Brear
Romantic Elements:
First Place: Just One Wish – Rachael Johns
Second Place: House of Wishes – Jenn J McLeod
Third Place: The Silk Merchant of Sychar – Cindy Williams
Romantic Suspense:
First Place: Out Run the Night – Leah Ashton
Second Place: Shelter – Claire Boston
Third Place: Hide & Seek – Emma Lea
Nothing to Lose – Claire Boston
Speculative Fiction:
First Place: Heart of Eon – Anna Hackett
Second Place: Envy – Lana Pecherczyk
Third Place: Sloth – Lana Pecherczyk
Novella:
First Place: Whistler Wonderland – Georgia Tingley
Second Place: A Christmas Arrangement – Monique McDonnell
Third Place: Unwrapping her Heart – Marianne Bayliss
Contemporary Romance:
On the Right Track – Penelope Janu WINNER
The Wedding Obsession – Madeleine Ash
A Convenient Bride for the King – Kelly Hunter
The House at Flynn’s Crossing – Elisabeth Rose
Bittersweet – Jacquie Underdown
Historical:
The Devilish Duke – Maddison Michaels WINNER
Marry in Scandal – Anne Gracie
The King’s Obsession – Tanya Bird
Suspense:
Undercover Fighter – Aislinn Kearns WINNER
Mission: Her Protection – Anna Hackett
Glass Clouds – Suzanne Cass
Speculative:
Cursed – Keri Arthur WINNER
Edge of Eon – Anna Hackett
Moonbound – Liesl Leighton
Romantic Elements:
Tangled Vines – Megan Mayfair WINNER
Hearts of Resistance – Soraya M Nicholas
Happy Ever After – Joanne Tracey
- Ruining Miss Wrotham – Emily Larkin – WINNER
- Nineteen Letters – Jodi Perry
- True Refuge – Annabelle McInnes
- The Sicilian List – Robby Dennis
- Plight – KM Golland
- Unmapped – Anna Hackett
- Tempted By The Wrong Twin – Rachel Bailey
- Conveniently Wed To The Greek – Kandy Shepherd – WINNER
- Silk and Scholar – Cassandra Dean- WINNER
- Wedding Bells By The Creek – Janet Gover
- The Rise of Jaz – Tamara Martin
- Road Trip Baby – Fiona Marsden
- The Girl And The Ghost – Ebony McKenna – WINNER
- Unfathomed – Anna Hackett
- Combatting Fear – Sandy Vaile
- Daughter of Mine – Fiona Lowe
Nineteen Letters – Jodi Perry
Long Romance
- Escaping Mr Right by Avril Tremayne – Random Romance – WINNER
- The War Bride by Pamela Hart – Hachette Australia
- The Grazier’s Wife by Barbara Hannay – Penguin Michael Joseph
Romantic Elements
- Numbered by Amy Andrews and Ros Baxter – Harlequin MIRA – WINNER
- Mackenzie Crossing by Kaye Dobbie – Harlequin MIRA
- Legacy of Hunters Ridge by Sarah Barrie – Harlequin MIRA
- A Kiss from Mr Fitzgerald by Natasha Lester – Hachette Australia
Short Romance
- Breaking Good by Madeline Ash – Tule Publishing – WINNER
- The Most Scandalous Ravensdale by Melanie Milburne – HM&B Sexy
- Unwrapping His Convenient Fiancee by Melanie Milburne – HM&B Sexy
Novella
- Unexplored by Anna Hackett – WINNER
- Swept Away by Fiona Marsden
- Santa and the Saddler by Cathryn Hein
Overall Ruby
- Escaping Mr Right by Avril Tremayne – Random Romance
Long Romance
- Rise by Karina Bliss – self-published
- The Spring Bride by Anne Gracie – Berkley/Penguin Random House
- Kakadu Sunset by Annie Seaton – Pan Macmillan Australia
- Lethal in Love by Michelle Somers – Random House Australia – WINNER
Romantic Elements
- A Dangerous Arrangement by Lee Christine – Escape Publishing
- The Patterson Girls by Rachael Johns – Harlequin MIRA – WINNER
- Pay The Piper by Mary Brock Jones – self-published
- Between the Vines by Tricia Stringer – Harlequin MIRA
Short Sexy
- Tribal Law by Shannon Curtis – Australian Romance Readers Association
- The Wedding Bargain by Yvonne Lindsay – Harlequin Desire
- Pretend It’s Love by Stefanie London – Entangled Lovestruck
- Never Surrender by Rosie Miles – Entangled Ignite – WINNER
- Seducing His Enemy’s Daughter by Annie West – HM&B Sexy
Short Sweet
- You For Christmas by Madeline Ash – Tule Publishing
- Still Married To Her Ex! by Lucy Clark – HM&B Medical
- Home to Bindarra Creek by Juanita Kees – self-published
- The Secret Son by Joan Kilby – Tule Publishing – WINNER
- Reach For The Stars by Kerrie Paterson – self-published
Novella
- Mistletoe Maverick by Shannon Curtis – self-published
- Silk & Scars by Cassandra Dean – Decadent Publishing
- Pursued By The Rogue by Kelly Hunter – Tule Publishing
- What A Bachelor Needs by Kelly Hunter – Tule Publishing – WINNER
Ruby
Long Romance:
Risky Business – Amy Andrews – Escape Publishing – WINNER
Deadly Secrets, republished as Secrets of Whitewater Creek – Sarah Barrie – Escape Publishing and Harlequin MIRA
Moonlight Plains – Barbara Hannay – Penguin Australia
Attraction – K.M. Golland – Harlequin MIRA
Romantic Elements:
Flight to Coorah Creek – Janet Gover – Choc Lit
The Trader’s Reward – Anna Jacobs – Hodder UK
Outback Ghost – Rachael Johns – Harlequin MIRA
The Lace Balcony – Johanna Nicholls – Simon and Schuster – WINNER
Riverboat Point – Tricia Stringer – Harlequin MIRA
Short Sweet:
Dr. Perfect On Her Doorstep – Lucy Clark – HM&B Medical
Waves of Temptation – Marion Lennox – HM&B Medical – WINNER
A Little Christmas Magic – Alison Roberts – HM&B Medical
The Maverick Millionaire – Alison Roberts – HM&B Sweet
The Tycoon and the Wedding Planner – Kandy Shepherd – HM&B Sweet
Short Sexy:
Wanting What She Can’t Have – Yvonne Lindsay – HM&B Desire
Romance For Cynics – Nicola Marsh – HM&B Sexy
Tycoon’s Temptation – Trish Morey – M&B Special Release
Damaso Claims His Heir – Annie West – HM&B Sexy – WINNER
Ella
Anna Hackett – Beneath a Trojan Moon – self-published – EQUAL WINNER
Anna Campbell – Her Christmas Earl – self-published – EQUAL WINNER
Fiona Greene – Home for Christmas – Escape Publishing
Kelly Hunter – Sympathy for the Devil – Tule Publishing
The winners were announced at the Awards Night at National Conference, Melbourne, Saturday 22nd August 2015.
Ruby Past Winners:
Note: Due to incomplete records, some finalists may be missing. If you can provide us with additional information, please contact us and let us know!
Year | Placing | Author | Title |
2014 | |||
Long Romance | |||
Finalist | Amy Andrews | Holding Out for a Hero | |
Finalist | Karina Bliss | A Prior Engagement | |
Finalist | Sasha Cottman | Letter from a Rake | |
Finalist | Sophia James | The Dissolute Duke | |
Finalist | Sophia James | Mistress at Midnight | |
WINNER | Sarah Mayberry | Her Favourite Rival | |
Romantic Elements | |||
Finalist | Juanita Kees | Under the Hood | |
Finalist | Victoria Purman | Nobody But Him | |
Finalist | Jennifer Scoullar | Currawong Creek | |
WINNER | Kendall Talbot | Lost in Kakadu | |
Short Sexy | |||
WINNER | Kelly Hunter | What the Bride Didn’t Know | |
Finalist | Yvonne Lindsay | One Secret Night | |
Finalist | Melanie Milburne | Never Say No to a Caffarelli | |
Finalist | Trish Morey | A Price Worth Paying | |
Short Sweet | |||
WINNER | Lucy Clark | One Life Changing Moment | |
Finalist | Fiona Lowe | Gold Coast Angels: Bundle of Trouble | |
Finalist | Julie Mac | A Father at Last | |
Finalist | Carol Marinelli | Secrets of a Career Girl |
Year | Placing | Author | Title |
2013 | |||
Long Romance | |||
Finalist | Anne Gracie | Bride by Mistake | |
Finalist | Helen Lacey | Marriage Under The Mistletoe | |
Finalist | Sarah Mayberry | More Than One Night | |
WINNER | Stephanie Laurens | The Lady Risks All |
|
Romantic Elements | |||
Finalist | Elise K Ackers | Small Town Storm | |
Finalist | Fiona McCallum | Wattle Creek | |
Finalist | Helene Young | Burning Lies | |
WINNER | Tricia Stringer | Queen of the Road |
|
Short Sexy | |||
Finalist | Anne Oliver | The Morning After The Wedding Before | |
Finalist | Melanie Milburne | Enemies at the Altar | |
WINNER | Nicola Marsh | Marrying the Enemy |
|
Finalist | Yvonne Lindsay | A Forbidden Affair | |
Short Sweet | |||
Finalist | Alison Roberts | Sydney Harbour Hospital: Zoe’s Baby | |
WINNER | Emily Forbes | Sydney Harbour Hospital: Bella’s Wishlist |
|
Finalist | Fiona Lowe | Newborn Baby For Christmas | |
Finalist | Madeline Ash | Uncovered by Love | |
2012 | |||
Short Sweet | |||
WINNER | Barbara Hannay | Molly Cooper’s Dream Date | |
Finalist | Leonie Knight | How To Save a Marriage In a Million | |
Finalist | Marion Lennox | Abby and The Bachelor Cop | |
Finalist | Fiona Lowe | Single Dad’s Triple Trouble | |
Short Sexy | |||
WINNER | Robyn Grady | The Fearless Maverick | |
Finalist | Kelly Hunter | The Man She Loves to Hate | |
Finalist | Melanie Milburne | The Wedding Charade | |
Finalist | Anne Oliver | Her Not-So-Secret-Diary | |
Long Romance | |||
WINNER | Fiona Lowe | Boomerang Bride | |
Finalist | Anna Campbell | Midnight’s Wild Passion | |
Finalist | Sarah Mayberry | The Best Laid Plans | |
Finalist | Mardi McConnochie | The Voyagers | |
Romantic Elements | |||
WINNER | Helene Young | Shattered Sky | |
Finalist | Anna Jacobs | The Trader’s Wife | |
Finalist | June Loves | The Shelly Beach Writers’ Group | |
Finalist | Nicola Marsh | Busted In Bollywood | |
2011 | |||
Short Sweet | |||
WINNER | Melanie Milburne | The Doctor’s Rebel Knight | |
Finalist | Margaret Way | Outback Bachelor | |
Finalist | Marion Lennox | Cinderella: Hired by The Prince | |
Finalist | Michelle Douglas | The Cattleman, the baby and me | |
Short Sexy | |||
WINNER | Lindsay Armstrong | The Socialite and the Cattle King | |
Finalist | Emma Darcy | The Billionaire’s Housekeeper Mistress | |
Finalist | Melanie Milburne | Scandal: Unclaimed Love Child | |
Finalist | Natalie Anderson | Hot Boss, Boardroom Mistress | |
Long Romance | |||
WINNER | Sophia James | One Unashamed Night | |
Finalist | Anne Gracie | The Accidental Wedding | |
Finalist | Elisabeth Rose | Instant Family | |
Finalist | Emily May | The Unmasking of a Lady | |
Romantic Elements | |||
WINNER | Helene Young | Wings of Fear (formerly Border Watch) | |
Finalist | Dianne Blacklock | The Right Time | |
Finalist | Monica McInerney | At Home with the Templetons | |
2010 | |||
Short Sweet | |||
WINNER | Sharon Archer | Marriage Reunited: Baby On The Way | |
Finalist | Sharon Archer | Single Father: Wife And Mother Wanted | |
Finalist | CC Coburn | Colorado Christmas | |
Finalist | Emily Forbes | Wanted: A Father For Her Twins | |
Short Sexy | |||
WINNER | Amy Andrews | A Doctor, A Nurse: A Christmas Baby | |
Finalist | Robyn Grady | Bedded By Blackmail | |
Finalist | Kelly Hunter | Playboy Boss, Live-in Mistress | |
Finalist | Tessa Radley | Billion-Dollar Baby Bargain | |
Long Romance | |||
WINNER | Sophia James | Mistletoe Magic | |
Finalist | Stephanie Laurens | Mastered By Love | |
Finalist | Stephanie Laurens | Temptation And Surrender | |
Finalist | Christine Wells | Wicked Little Game | |
Romantic Elements | |||
WINNER | Tracey O’hara | Night’s Cold Kiss | |
Finalist | Fleur McDonald | Red Dust | |
Finalist | Bronwyn Parry | Dark Country | |
Finalist | Katherine Scholes | The Hunter’s Wife | |
2009 | |||
Short Sweet | |||
WINNER | Marion Lennox | His Island Bride | |
Finalist | Claire Baxter | The Single Dad’s Patchwork Family | |
Finalist | Melissa James | A Mother in a Million | |
Finalist | Fiona McArthur | The Midwife’s Baby | |
Short Sexy | |||
WINNER | Trish Morey | The Italian Boss’s Mistress of Revenge | |
Finalist | Miranda Lee | The Millionaire’s Inexperienced Love-Slave | |
Finalist | Carol Marinelli | Expecting His Love-Child | |
Finalist | Paula Roe | Boardrooms & a Billionaire Heir | |
Long Romance | |||
WINNER | Anne Gracie | The Stolen Princess | |
Finalist | Karina Bliss | Second Chance Family | |
Finalist | Anna Campbell | Untouched | |
Finalist | Elizabeth Rolls | A Compromised Lady | |
Romantic Elements | |||
WINNER | Suzanne Perazzini | Beneath The Surface | |
Finalist | Maggie Alderson | How to Break Your Own Heart | |
Finalist | Bronwyn Parry | As Darkness Falls | |
Finalist | Suzanne Perazzini | Crash into Darkness | |
2008 | |||
Long Category | |||
WINNER | Kimberley Freeman | Duet | |
Finalist | Anna Campbell | Claiming the Courtesan | |
Finalist | Melanie La’Brooy | Serendipity | |
Finalist | Sophia James | Ashblane’s Lad | |
Finalist | Anna Jacobs | Tomorrow’s Promises | |
Finalist | Tamara McKinley | Lands Beyond the Sea | |
Short Category | |||
WINNER | Anne Oliver | One Night Before Marriage | |
Finalist | Robyn Donald | The Prince’s Forbidden Virgin | |
Finalist | Marion Lennox | Their Lost and Found Family | |
Finalist | Carol Marinelli | The Single Dad’s Marriage Wish | |
Finalist | Sarah Mayberry | Island Heat | |
Finalist | Margaret Way | Outback Man Seeks Wife | |
2007 | |||
Long Novel | |||
WINNER | Karina Bliss | Mr Imperfect | |
Finalist | Love Child | ||
Finalist | Anna Jacobs | Bright Day Dawning | |
Finalist | Anna Jacobs | The Corrigan Legacy | |
Finalist | Helen Kirkman | ||
Finalist | Margaret Way | ||
Short Novel | |||
WINNER | Anne Oliver | Behind Closed Doors | |
Finalist | Marion Lennox | The Doctor’s Proposal | |
Finalist | Marion Lennox | Rescue At Cradle Lake | |
Finalist | Yvonne Lindsay | The Boss’s Christmas Seduction | |
Finalist | Fiona Lowe | Her Miracle Baby | |
Finalist | Carol Marinelli | Needed: Full-Time Father | |
2006 | |||
Mainstream | |||
WINNER | Anna Jacobs | Pride of Lancashire | |
Finalist | Anne Gracie | The Perfect Rake | |
Finalist | Anne Gracie | The Perfect Waltz | |
Finalist | Melanie La’Brooy | The Wish List | |
Finalist | Juliet Marillier | Blade of Fortriu | |
Finalist | Elizabeth Rolls | His Lady Mistress | |
Category | |||
WINNER | Trish Morey | The Italian Boss’s Secret Child | |
Finalist | Marion Lennox | Bride by Accident | |
Finalist | Marion Lennox | Rescued by the Millionaire | |
Finalist | Carol Marinelli | Christmas on the Children’s Ward | |
Finalist | Tricia McGill | Shrinking Violet | |
Finalist | Meredith Webber | The Children’s Heart Surgeon | |
2005 | |||
Mainstream | |||
WINNER | Dianne Blacklock | Almost Perfect | |
Finalist | Sandy Curtis | Until Death | |
Finalist | Juliet Marillier | The Dark Mirror | |
Finalist | Isolde Martyn | Fleur-de-Lis | |
Finalist | Rachael Treasure | The Stockmen | |
Category | |||
WINNER | Barbara Hannay | Her Playboy Challenge | |
Finalist | Emma Darcy | The Outback Bridal Rescue | |
Finalist | Miranda Lee | The Passion Price | |
Finalist | Marion Lennox | Her Royal Baby | |
Finalist | Carol Marinelli | The Baby Emergency | |
Finalist | Alison Roberts | The Recovery Assignment | |
2004 | |||
Mainstream | |||
WINNER | Ashleigh Bingham | Palace of the Winds | |
Finalist | Keri Arthur | Circle of Desire | |
Finalist | Dianne Blacklock | Wife for Hire | |
Finalist | Lucinda Brant | A Deadly Engagement | |
Finalist | Joanna Challis | Silverthorn | |
Finalist | Posie Graeme-Evans | The Innocent | |
Category | |||
WINNER | Marion Lennox | Dr Blake’s Angel | |
Finalist | Laurey Bright | Shadowing Shahna | |
Finalist | Barbara Hannay | A Bride At Birralee | |
Finalist | Marion Lennox | To the Doctor: A Daughter | |
Finalist | Marion Lennox | A Millionaire For Molly | |
Finalist | Marion Lennox | Stormbound Surgeon | |
2003 | |||
Mainstream | |||
WINNER | Tricia McGill | Traces of Dreams | |
Finalist | Dianne Blacklock | Call Waiting | |
Finalist | David Crookes | Children of the Sun | |
Finalist | Julie D’Arcy | Silverdawn | |
Finalist | Cory Daniells | The Shadow Kingdom | |
Finalist | Isolde Martyn | The Silver Bride | |
Category | |||
WINNER | Fiona Brand | Marrying McCabe | |
Finalist | Lindsay Armstrong | Marriage on Command | |
Finalist | Daphne Clair | His Trophy Mistress | |
Finalist | Emma Darcy | The Hot-Blooded Groom | |
Finalist | Joan Kilby | Child of His Heart | |
Finalist | Marion Lennox | Their Baby Bargain | |
2002 | |||
Mainstream | |||
WINNER | Janet Woods | Daughter of Darkness | |
Finalist | Keri Arthur | Dancing With The Devil | |
Finalist | Ashleigh Bingham | The Dream Hunter | |
Finalist | Sandy Curtis | Dance With The Devil | |
Finalist | Beverley Harper | The Forgotten Sea | |
Finalist | Allison Rushby | Allmenarebastards.com | |
Category | |||
WINNER | Anne Gracie | Tallie’s Night | |
Finalist | Lindsay Armstrong | The Hired Fiancee | |
Finalist | Fiona Brand | Blade’s Lady | |
Finalist | Emma Darcy | The Pleasure King’s Bride | |
Finalist | Marion Lennox | A Child In Need | |
Finalist | Marion Lennox | Tom Bradley’s Babies | |
2001 | |||
Mainstream | |||
WINNER | Isolde Martyn | The Knight and the Rose | |
Finalist | Ann Clancy | Rebel Girl | |
Finalist | David Crookes | Someday Soon | |
Finalist | Julie D’Arcy | Time of the Wolf | |
Finalist | Anna Jacobs | Like No Other | |
Finalist | Linden Slater | The Lady and the Luddite | |
Category | |||
WINNER | Alison Kelly | The Baby Deal | |
Finalist | Emma Darcy | A Marriage Betrayed | |
Finalist | Miranda Lee | The Blackmailed Bridegroom | |
Finalist | Marion Lennox | Bachelor Cure | |
Finalist | Marion Lennox (w/as Trisha David) | Marriage for Maggie | |
Finalist | Alison Roberts | Definitely Daddy | |
2000 | |||
Mainstream | |||
WINNER | Cory Daniells | The Last T’En | |
Finalist | David Crookes | The Light Horseman’s Daughter | |
Finalist | Louise Grant | The Dangerous Game | |
Finalist | Anna Jacobs | Our Lizzie | |
Finalist | Juliet Marillier | Daughter of the Forest | |
Category | |||
WINNER | Fiona Brand | Cullen’s Bride | |
Finalist | Trisha David | Falling For Jack | |
Finalist | Trisha David | Marrying William | |
Finalist | Miranda Lee | The Boss’s Baby | |
Finalist | Marion Lennox | The Baby Affair | |
Finalist | Susan Napier | Honeymoon Baby | |
1999 | |||
Mainstream | |||
WINNER | Isolde Martyn | The Lady and the Unicorn | |
Finalist | Frances Burke | Hold High the Flame | |
Finalist | Astrid Cooper | Crystal Dreams | |
Finalist | Jennie Davis | Dear Heart | |
Finalist | Clarissa Garland | Return to Opal Reach | |
Category | |||
WINNER | Alison Kelly | Boots in the Bedroom | |
Finalist | Lucy Clark | Delectable Diagnosis | |
Finalist | Trisha David | McTavish and Twins | |
Finalist | Emma Darcy | Marriage Meltdown | |
Finalist | Miranda Lee | A Nanny Named Nick |
Anna Hackett – Beneath a Trojan Moon – self-published – EQUAL WINNER
Anna Campbell – Her Christmas Earl – self-published – EQUAL WINNER
Fiona Greene – Home for Christmas – Escape Publishing
Kelly Hunter – Sympathy for the Devil – Tule Publishing
Ask Me To Stay – Elise Ackers
Worth the Risk – Sarah Mayberry – WINNER
Christmas at the Gingerbread Cafe – Rebecca Raisin
Christmas Cinderella (in ‘A Sprinkling of Christmas Magic’ anthology) – Elizabeth Rolls
Wish – Kelly Hunter
The Rose’s Bloom – Danielle Lisle
A Bush Christmas – Margareta Osborn
Diplomat’s Daughter – Carolyn Wren – WINNER