Awards

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Award trophies

Each year ARRA holds awards for the best romance books in a number of categories. The ARR Awards recognise favourite romance fiction for the previous year as chosen by ARRA members.

The 2023 award winners were announced on 8 March. Runners-up are marked below with pink, and winners marked with bold pink.

Favourite Paranormal Romance 2023

  • A Relic of Magic and Frankincense by HM Hodgson
  • A Witch’s Guide to Fake Dating a Demon by Sarah Hawley
  • Lassiter by JR Ward
  • Love Potion No. 9 by Shannon Curtis
  • Resonance Surge by Nalini Singh
  • The Sinner and the Gunslinger by Lana Pecherczyk
  • The Sinner and the Scholar by Lana Pecherczyk

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Favourite Sci-Fi, Fantasy or Futuristic Romance 2023

  • Both Feet in the Grave by Jeanine Frost
  • Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros
  • How to Defy a Vampire by Alice Winters
  • Iron Flame by Rebecca Yarros
  • Magic Claims by Ilona Andrews
  • Magic Tides by Ilona Andrews
  • Ring of Ruin by Keri Arthur
  • The Finding by Angelica Grymm

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Favourite Historical Romance 2023

  • A Most Unsuitable Countess by Amy Rose Bennett
  • Curled Up with an Earl by Amy Rose Bennett
  • Her Worthy Rake by Charlotte Anne
  • Snapshots from Home by Sasha Wasley
  • Tall, Duke and Scandalous by Amy Rose Bennett
  • The Bride Wore White by Amanda Quick
  • The Heiress Swap by Maddison Michaels
  • The Homecoming by Alison Stuart
  • The Vagabond Viscount by Sasha Cottman
  • We’ll Meet Again by Cheryl Adnams

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Favourite Contemporary Romance 2023

  • A Country Vet Christmas by Alissa Callen, Pamela Cook, Penelope Janu, Lily Malone, Stella Quinn
  • A Home Among the Snow Gums by Stella Quinn
  • Breaking All the Rules by Amy Andrews
  • Confessions of a Canine Drama Queen by Stefanie London
  • Happy Place by Emily Henry
  • Romantic Comedy by Curtis Sittenfeld
  • Second Chance Love in Point Perry by Joanne Speirs
  • Talk to the Heart by Rachael Johns
  • The Colour of Winter by Michelle Montebello
  • The Doctor’s Homecoming by Fiona Marsden
  • The Grumpy Billionaire by Annika Martin
  • The Sister Trip by Mel A Rowe
  • With You in Wild Orchards by Rania Battany

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Favourite Short or Category Romance 2023

  • A Cattle Dog for Christmas by Stella Quinn (in A Country Vet Christmas)
  • Cinderella and the Outback Billionaire by Kelly Hunter
  • Cinderella’s Secret Fling by Michelle Douglas
  • Coffee is My Calling by Susan Mackie
  • Crowned for the King’s Secret by Kali Anthony
  • Harper and the Single Dad by Amy Andrews
  • Second Chance for the Prince by Darcie Morgan
  • The Best Man Next Door by Stefanie London (in Suddenly This Summer)
  • The Housekeeper and the Brooding Billionaire by Annie West
  • The Playboy Prince by Darcie Morgan
  • The Princess and the Alpha by Darcie Morgan
  • Unbuttoning the Tuscan Tycoon by Michelle Douglas
  • Waking Up Married to the Billionaire by Michelle Douglas

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Favourite Romantic Suspense 2023

  • Doctoring Dust by Mel A Rowe
  • Identity by Nora Roberts
  • Kakadu Dawn by Annie Seaton
  • Need You Tonight by Leisl Leighton
  • One in Vermillion by Jennifer Crusie and Bob Mayer
  • Rest in Pink by Jennifer Crusie and Bob Mayer
  • Shadow Mission by Kendall Talbot
  • Sleep No More by Jayne Ann Krentz
  • Tessa’s Trust by Rebecca Zanetti
  • The Cottage at Whisper Lake by Phillipa Nefri Clark
  • The Lonely Hearts Detective Agency by Megan Mayfair
  • The Protector’s Heart by Leah Ashton

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Favourite Continuing Romance Series 2023

  • Behind the Palace Doors series by Kali Anthony
  • Black Dagger Brotherhood series by JR Ward
  • Bundilla series by Alissa Callen
  • Dirty Martini Running Club series by Claire Kingsley
  • Elsie Creek series by Mel A Rowe
  • Hockey Guys series by Sarina Bowen
  • Rose Hill series by Rachael Johns
  • Royal Redemption series by Darcie Morgan
  • Seasons of Belle series by Michelle Montebello
  • With Love, From Kurrajong Crossing series by Dakota Harrison and Fiona Marsden
Favourite Debut Romance Author 2023

  • AL Rojo
  • Carrie Clarke
  • Clarissa Morgan
  • Iola Goulton
  • Jade May
  • Jer’tarme Williams
  • Joanne Speirs
  • Julie Soto
  • Lucy Lever
  • Renae Black
  • Simone Kamfonas

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Favourite Australian Romance Author 2023

  • Alissa Callen
  • Amy Andrews
  • Anne Gracie
  • Kelly Hunter
  • Megan Mayfair
  • Mel A Rowe
  • Michelle Douglas
  • Michelle Montebello
  • Penelope Janu
  • Rachael Johns

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MEMBERS’ CHOICE AWARDS

Favourite couple in a romance 2023

  • Addison and Stefano (Mine to Promise by Natasha Madison)
  • Adeline and Holden (Talk to the Heart by Rachael Johns)
  • Belle and Andre (The Colour of Winter by Michelle Montebello)
  • Carter and Tommaso (I’m Your Guy by Sarina Bowen)
  • Claire and Jake (With or Without Panties by Karen Lieversz)
  • Cyn and Rohan (A Relic of Magic and Frankincense by HM Hodgson)
  • Erin and Gaharet (Wolf’s Keep by KE Turner)
  • Erin and Tom (Second Chance Love in Point Perry by Joanne Speirs)
  • Eve and Rourke (Payback in Death by JD Robb)
  • Gigi and Ryder (The Graham Effect by Elle Kennedy)
  • Harriet and Wyn (Happy Place by Emily Henry)
  • Jake and Sienna (The Station by Mel A Rowe)
  • Lexi and Daemon (Need You Tonight by Leisl Leighton)
  • Lulu and Nick (The Art of Falling in Love by Carrie Clarke)
  • Millie and Max (Be My Baby by Dakota Harrison)
  • Poppy and Adrastros (Twelve Nights in the Prince’s Bed by Clare Connelly)
  • Primrose and Blake (Sunshine through the Rain by Penelope Janu)
  • Ruby and Luis (Waking up Married to the Billionaire by Michelle Douglas)
  • Sam and Jonathan (10 Things That Never Happened by Alexis Hall)
  • Sloane and Lucian (Things We Left Behind by Lucy Score)
  • Tia and Lewis (Broken Bridges by Tania Joyce)
  • Violet and Xaden (Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros)

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Best banter in a romance 2023

  • 10 Things That Never Happened by Alexis Hall
  • After Tomorrow by Jacqueline Hayley
  • Cinderella Assistant to Boss’s Bride by Ally Blake
  • Doctoring Dust by Mel A Rowe
  • Dreadful Desires by Lucy Lark
  • Embers by Louisa Duval
  • Flirting with Forever by Claire Kingsley
  • Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros
  • Happy Place by Emily Henry
  • Iron Flame by Rebecca Yarros
  • Playing it Tough by Amy Andrews
  • Romantic Comedy by Curtis Sittenfeld
  • The Art of Falling in Love by Carrie Clarke
  • The Grumpy Billionaire by Annika Martin
  • Waking Up Married to the Billionaire by Michelle Douglas
  • With or Without Panties by Karen Lieversz

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Favourite romantic comedy 2023

  • 10 Things That Never Happened by Alexis Hall
  • Anger Bang by Avery Flynn
  • Breaking all the Rules by Amy Andrews
  • Confessions of a Canine Drama Queen by Stefanie London
  • Embers by Louisa Duval
  • Happy Place by Emily Henry
  • Love, Theoretically by Ali Hazelwood
  • Mail Order Minotaur by Lilith Stone
  • The Felix Factor by Davina Stone
  • The Grumpy Billionaire by Annika Martin
  • With or Without Panties by Karen Lieversz

Winners from previous years can be found here: