NEST 2024 Contest Winners and Finalists #NESTWinner2024 #CROWGroupOK

Congratulations to the winners and finalists in the fifth annual National Excellence in Story Telling (NEST) Contest, sponsored by Central Region Oklahoma Writers (CROW)…

Contemporary Novel

First Place

Too Late for Goodbye by Jean C. Joachim

Publisher: Moonlight Books

Second Place

Operation Ethan by Laurie Ryan

Publisher: Silver Sage Press

Third Place

Breathless – Nightingale Vineyard #1 by Roz Lee

Publisher: State of Mind Publishing

Third Place

Royal Caleva: Gabriel by Nancy Herkness

Publisher: Tabby Brothers Press

Fourth Place (tie)

The Light at Corriveau Crossing by Amber Cross

Publisher: Indie Published

and

Timeless – Nightingale Vineyard #2 by Roz Lee

Publisher: State of Mind Publishing

Fifth Place

Sea Glass Summer by Miranda Liasson

Publisher: Forever

Contemporary Short

First Place (tie)

Autumn Deception by N. Jade Gray

Publisher: The Wild Rose Press

and

Ghosted by Nancy Fraser

Publisher: Indie Published

Second Place

Christmas at Crazy Woman Creek by Ryan Jo Summers

Publisher: Satin Romance/Melange Books

Third Place

Sable (Always a Bridesmaid) by Peggy Jaeger

Publisher: Indie Published

Fourth Place

On the Way to Us by Carolyn Brown

Publisher: Sourcebooks/Casablanca

Fifth Place

Reunited with the Children’s Doc by Susan Carlisle

Publisher: Harlequin Mills and Boon

Cozy Mystery

First Place

Death by Cutting Table by Susie Black

Publisher: The Wild Rose Press

Second Place

Reading, Writing, and Murder (A Chocolate Martini Sisters Mystery)

by Brenda Whiteside and Joyce Whiteside Proell

Publisher: Indie Published

Third Place (tie)

Sapphires in Snow by Amy Schisler

and

Sazerac, Sleuth & Slay, An Andi Anna Jones Mystery, Book 2

by Mary Cunningham

Publisher: The Wild Rose Press

Fourth Place

Rogue the Durum by Steven J. Kolbe

Publisher: The Wild Rose Press

Fifth Place (tie)

Black Magic Murder by Polly Holmes

Publisher: Gumnut Press

and

Do You Take This Man? by Jacquie May Miller

Publisher: The Wild Rose Press

Erotic Novel

First Place

A Pointed End by Kit McKenna

Publisher: Indie Published

Second Place

Leopold, The Lion’s Den series by Dania Voss

Publisher: Indie Published

Third Place

The Handler by Jordyn Kross

Publisher: Scarlet Parlor Press, LLC

Erotic Short

First Place

Our Fugitive Bride by Lacey Davis

Publisher: Virtual Bookseller

Second Place

Come Home to the Cowboys by Lacey Davis

Publisher: Virtual Bookseller

Third Place

Flames of Flamenco by Jennifer Ivy Walker

Publisher: The Wild Rose Press

Fourth Place

The Simple Art of Lust by Mandy Valentine

Publisher: Secret Self Books

Fifth Place

The Story of Q by Mandy Valentine

Publisher: Secret Self Books

Historical Novel

First Place

By Sword and Fan by Kathleen Buckley

Publisher: The Wild Rose Press

Second Place (tie)

Gamble of Hearts by Virginia Barlow

Publisher: The Wild Rose Press

and

Highland Echo by Willa Blair

Publisher: Oliver-Heber Books

Third Place

Forgiven Never Forgotten by Susan Leigh Furlong

Publisher: The Wild Rose Press

Fourth Place

Thumb Fire Desire by Carol Nickles

Publisher: The Wild Rose Press

Fifth Place

Captivated By His Countess by Kathy L Wheeler

Publisher: Chisel Imprint

Historical Short

First Place

A Snowlit Christmas Kiss by Larissa Lyons

Publisher: Literary Madness

Second Place

One of These Wylder Nights by Roni Denholtz

Publisher: The Wild Rose Press

Third Place

Promise Me Christmas by Gini Rifkin

Publisher: Dragon Song

Fourth Place

Jambalaya by Jesse by Nancy Fraser

Publisher: Indie Published

Fifth Place

Davis’s Debt by Marisa Masterson

Publisher: Indie Published

Horror

First Place

Totem of Terror by Robert Herold

Publisher: Wild Rose Press

Second Place

Dark Reflections by Raven Lee

Publisher: LilyBear House, LLC

Third Place

The Widower by Krysta Scott

Publisher: Indie Published

Fourth Place

Tormented Whispers by Krysta Scott

Publisher: Indie Published

Fifth Place

Kiss Me Deadly by Tamela Miles

Publisher: Indie Published

Inspirational Novel

First Place

Claiming Her Legacy by Linda Goodnight

Publisher: Love Inspired Trade

Second Place

Jordan Valley Roundup by Susan Spess

Publisher: Pelican Books

Third Place

Christmas at Whispering Creek by Barbara M. Britton

Publisher: Pelican Book Group

Fourth Place

Seeking Sugar and Spice by Amy Schisler

Publisher:

Fifth Place (tie)

Her One In a Million by Paige Campbell

Publisher: Anaiah Press

and

The Fragrance of Violets by Susan K. Beatty

Publisher: Celebrate Lit Publishing

Inspirational Short

First Place

Her Christmas Wish by Barbara Lohr

Publisher: Purple Egret Press

Second Place

A Heart for News by Susan Beatty

Publisher: Celebrate Lit Publishing

Third Place

Sarah (Christmas Quilt Brides) by Nancy Fraser

Publisher: Indie Published

Paranormal Novel

First Place

Fallen by Susan Person

Publisher: Indie Published (Person Publishing, LLC.)

Second Place

Wolf’s Keep: The Wolves of Langeais, Book 1 by K.E. Turner

Publisher: Totally Bound Publishing

Third Place

Healing Kiss by Amanda Uhl

Publisher: Amanda Uhl LLC

Fourth Place

The Solitary Rose by Anne Rollins

Publisher: The Wild Rose Press

Fifth Place

The Taken by Donnette Smith

Publisher: The Wild Rose Press

Paranormal Short

First Place

The Surrogate by Brenda Clark Thomas

Publisher: Indie Published

Second Place

When the Hope Rose Blooms by Annette Miller

Publisher: The Wild Rose Press

Third Place

For The Love of Grace by Nancy Fraser

Publisher: Indie Published

Fourth Place

Departmental Relations by Danni Line

Publisher: Indie Published

Fifth Place (tie)

A Wicked Fate by Mark Edward Jones

Publisher: MEJ Books, LLC

and

Raven’s Hollow Spring Magic by Tena Stetler

Publisher: The Wild Rose

Suspense Novel

First Place

Lethal Reprisal by Kaylea Cross

Publisher: Kaylea Cross Inc.

Second Place

A Pride of Brothers: Dylan by Peggy jaeger

Publisher: The Wild Rose Press

Third Place

The Unexpected Hostage by Allison McKenzie

Publisher: The Wild Rose Press

Fourth Place

Above ‘N’ Beyond by Tee O’Fallon

Publisher: Entangled

Fifth Place

Lost in the Dark by Gail Chianese

Publisher: Indie Published by Gail Chianese

Suspense Short

First Place

Deadly Illusions by Anna Kittrell

Publisher: Indie Published

Second Place

The New Guy by Dex Rivers

Publisher: Indie Published

Third Place

The Axe by Linda Griffin

Publisher: The Wild Rose Press

Women’s Fiction

First Place

Maggie’s Story by Jean C. Joachim

Publisher: Moonlight Books

Second Place (tie)

Secrets of a Runaway Bride by Sylvia McDaniel

Publisher: Virtual Bookseller

and

Devine Doughunt by Carolyn Brown

Third Place

Bewept by Colleen Coyne

Publisher: The Wild Rose Press

Fourth Place

The Lucky Shamrock by Carolyn Brown

Fifth Place

Enduring the Waves by Jill Ocone

Publisher: The Wild Rose Press

Young Adult

First Place

Beautiful One by Mary Cope

Publisher: The Wild Rose Press

Second Place

Crushing by TR Simmons

Publisher: The Wild Rose Press

Third Place

The Blood of Faeries by Dan Rice

Publisher: The Wild Rose Press

Fourth Place

The Disappearing Names by Avis Adams

Publisher: The Wild Rose Press

Fifth Place

Griselda Rella by Lee Renwick Steele

Publisher: The Wild Rose Press