It’s almost Valentine’s Day, and you know what that means! Pretty soon we will all be eating way too much chocolate (just kidding, there’s no such thing as too much chocolate!). But it does mean that it’s time for the Second Annual Inspy Valentine’s Awards! You may remember that I totally made up instituted these awards last year as a fun way to bring you book recommendations award-show style. You can visit the First Annual Inspy Valetine’s Awards post to catch all the book recommendations from last year. This year, I’ve changed up the categories so we could bring you some new books! So without further ado, I present (in no particular order) the Second Annual Inspy Romance Awards! (cue applause)
BEST KID ON THE PAGE
An Unlikely Proposal by Toni Shiloh
A tie between Joy and Faith Young!
Love and Roses by Sally Bayless
Three-year-old Emma Kincaid, who plays a big role in bringing the hero and heroine together.
For the Love of Joy by Janet W. Ferguson
Hankie—the wild almost-three-year-old.
Give Me Another Chance, Cowboy by Valerie Comer
Four-year-old Toby Cavanagh, whose dad and mom will each fight for their child, but will they fight for a second chance at love?
Roadtrip to Redemption by Laurie Larsen
Little Stella, granddaughter to hero with a heart of gold, Hank. Loves to dig in the sand, make castles, and talk to all the guests at her parents’ oceanfront inn.
Not Until This Day by Valerie M. Bodden
Little Gabby steals the show with her sweet personality and funny turns of phrase.
MOST MEDDLING MATCHMAKER
Finding Love for the Loner by Laurie Larsen
In a series featuring three matchmaking moms, the most meddling is Dahlia, who served as a matchmaker for loner Winston and Type A personality animal lover Tina.
Not Until Forever by Valerie M. Bodden
Violet invites Sophie and Spencer mini golfing, then finds an excuse to leave them alone.
SWEETEST GIFT (from one character to another)
Tide to Atonement by Laurie Larsen
Custom furniture builder Jeremy wants to pick just the right gift for love of his life Emma. But he doesn’t want to scare her away with jewelry, or anything as humdrum as clothes. He decides to put his talent working wood to the test by creating a beautiful one-of-a-kind wooden box with contrasting wood colors of ash and purpleheart. It was a hit!
Not Until Forever by Valerie M. Bodden
Spencer makes Sophie a wooden park bench just like the one they loved in college.
MOST EMBARRASSING MOMENT
A Date for Daisy by Tara Grace Ericson
Daisy falls through the ceiling.
Not Until Someday by Valerie M. Bodden
Football star Levi sings the “I’m Sorry” song to Grace loudly—and out of tune—in the middle of a crowded airport.
MOST UNIQUE DATE
Love’s Redemption by Andrea Boyd
Holden Armstrong takes Izzy Tanner out on a luxury pontoon boat, complete with fire pit and a gourmet dinner, on Valentine’s night
Not Until Christmas Morning by Valerie M. Bodden
They take a sleigh ride to a private dinner in their very own gazebo.
BEST SECOND CHANCE AT FIRST LOVE
For the Love of Joy by Janet W. Ferguson
Davis and Joy accidentally reunite when Joy breaks her ankle at the moment Davis comes to try to get a copy of their divorce certificate.
Second Chance Love by Merrillee Whren
High school sweethearts who broke up when she left him at the altar have a second chance at love when she returns eight years later to care for her mother.
Love Once More by Sally Bayless
An uncle who’s suddenly parenting nine-month-old twins is in for even more surprises when his ex-fiancée moves in next door.
Finding Love for the Matchmaker by Laurie Larsen
Matchmaking Mom Dahlia always put work before love, but her son has now given her a second chance at love by tracking down kind Harry from her past. She wouldn’t blow it again would she?
Marry Me for Real, Cowboy by Valerie Comer
Will a fake engagement give Adam and Riley the leg up they each need, or will the cost to their hearts be too high? Because neither believes the other will want to marry them… for real.
Not Until This Moment by Valerie M. Bodden
Jared broke up with Peyton because he knew he could never give her what she wanted. But when he sees her with another man—one he knows can’t be trusted—will he realize the terrible mistake he’s made?
MOST CREATIVE PROPOSAL
Cadence of Cranberries by Valerie Comer
Swoonworthy proposal, but I can’t tell you why and spoil the surprise!
Summer to Remember by Tara Grace Ericson
Mark works it into a role-playing game (think Dungeons and Dragons).
Not Until This Day by Valerie M. Bodden
Their kids spell it out in the sand.
BEST ALMOST-KISS
Upon a Dream by Andrea Boyd
Philip’s kiss with Talia is interrupted by an intrusion on their private moment in this modern-day retelling of Sleeping Beauty that is part of the Once Upon a Christmas collection.
Not Until This Day by Valerie M. Bodden
Isabel’s daughter doesn’t understand why Tyler has his hands on her mom’s face.
BEST THE-SPARKS-DID-NOT-FLY (at least not in a good way) MEET-CUTE
Falling on Main Street by Tara Grace Ericson
Luke assumes she is an intruder.
Not Until Someday by Valerie M. Bodden
He gives her his number. She gives it back.
I’d love to know: What category is your favorite? And I’m already thinking about the Third Annual Inspy Romance Awards, so if you have any suggestions for fun categories for next year, I’m all ears!
Valerie M. Bodden has three great loves: Jesus, her family, and books. And chocolate (okay, four great loves). She writes emotion-filled Christian fiction that weaves real-life problems, real-life people, and real-life faith. Her characters may (okay, will) experience some heartache along the way, but true to her tendencies as a hopeless romantic, she will always give them a happy ending. Valerie is living out her happily ever after in Wisconsin with her high-school-sweetheart-turned-husband and their four children. Visit her at www.valeriembodden.com to get a free story.
I like the Sweetest Gift and the best kid on the page.
How about best pet on the block?
Best scene stealer (who isn’t one of the main characters).
Oh, I like those! Writing them down for next year! :)
Embarrassing moments are always so memorable.
They really are! (And much more fun in the pages of a book than when they happen to you in real life, lol.)
I liked Best Almost Kiss and Most Meddling Matchmaker. :-)
Those are fun ones! I admit that I love to write the almost kiss. :)
Best Second Chance at First Love
That’s one of my favorite tropes too!
Hi Valerie! Love your Inspy Romance Valentine Awards. Went back and read last years. My favorite awards are: Kids, Gifts, Unique Date, and Creative Proposal. I missed the award for Pets, which you had last year. Maybe setting could be another category. Our small beach town on the shores of Lake Michigan is known for its romantic sunsets. Every year the weekend before Valentines Day is an Ice Carving Festival. The temperatures are frigid, in the teens. Last year was mild and the sculptures melted. Would be great to have somebody carve a proposal sculpture. Enjoy your weekend.
Thank you, Renate! Setting would be a great addition–writing that down for next year! And I love your idea for caring a proposal sculpture–that would be so fun and romantic at the same time!
Oh, I love this! I’ve read quite a few of the books you mentioned, too!! I’d like an additional category for pets, as some of those steal the show!
Yay! Glad you’ve read so many of these. :) Pets can make some of the greatest characters–definitely going to need some kind of animal/pet themed category for next year. :)
This was so fun! For the Creative Proposal category — fun category, btw — I had to share the role-playing game one with my teenage son. There is hope for him still! :D ha!
Lol! Wouldn’t that be fun if he actually proposes that way someday. :)
Love this. Thank you for sharing.
You’re welcome! I had fun with it. :)
I Love Sweetest Gift and I also love Best Kid on the Page! All these books sound so very good, Thank you for doing this. I’ll just have to be adding more books to my TBR list. Have a Great weekend and stay safe.
Oh, you’re welcome! I love to help people find books to add to their TBR list. :)
I like the idea of pets (I know Val, no surprise to you!) but how about the biggest disaster or mess made by a pet? Tracking in mud, knocking things over, stuff they are so good at doing! Even in a love story I can’t help but love kids and dogs! Kids are just so honest and dog, well they are just dogs!
I’m not surprised at all that you love pets in books, Deb! And I love the idea of biggest pet mess/disaster! Makes for some of the funniest scenes too (except when it happens in real life, lol!). :)
I think one of my favorite categories is The-Sparks-Did-Not-Fly (at least not in a good way) Meet-Cute. I’ve read many books with this theme and there’s just something about those first not-so-romantic sparks that’s so fun.
Then the other ones I like are: Second Chance at First Love and Most Meddling Matchmaker. I have to agree with the others on the pet angle, they just add an extra element to any story (matchmaking pets?) :-)
I love when the sparks don’t fly at first too! It’s so fun watch the characters then have to overcome that first impression. Matchmaking pets–love it!
BEST THE-SPARKS-DID-NOT-FLY (at least not in a good way) MEET-CUTE
I admit I love to write that one! It’s so fun to see two characters who didn’t hit it off at first eventually fall in love.
Hi Valerie,
Thanks for the post!
My favorites are the Best Kid on the Page and the Most Unique Date.
Hi Janet! I love trying to think of unique dates for my characters. :) And kids are always so fun to incorporate–they add a whole new dynamic.
A lot of these books are good or sound interesting!! I think embarrassing memories always make you laugh after.
Glad you enjoy the books! And I agree–you might not find them funny at the time, but those embarrassing moments make for some of the best laughs later.
All of them :)
Yay! Thanks, Natalya. :)
That’s a great list! I’ve saved it for reference.
Great idea! Always happy to expand someone’s TBR. :)