Chanticleer Book Reviews

Tag: Young Adult

The SOMERSET 2014 AWARDS First Place Category Winners for Literary and Blended Genre Fiction
Chanticleer Book Reviews is honored to announce the First Place Category Winners for the SOMERSET AWARDS 2014 for Literary and Blended Genre Fiction, a division of Chanticleer Blue Ribbon Writing Competitions.

The SOMERSET Awards recognize emerging new talent and outstanding works in Literary and Blended Genre Fiction. The First Place Category Winners will be recognized at the Chanticleer Authors Conference and Awards Gala held in late September 2015.

Congratulations to The SOMERSET FIRST PLACE Category 2014 Award Winners:
- Social Issues: Thomas McNeely for Ghost Horse
- Satire: Steve Lundin for The Manipulator, a Private Life in Public Relations
- Literary: Tom Glenn for No-Accounts, Dare Mighty Things
- Contemporary: Judith Kirscht for Home Fires
- New Adult: Tanya Fife for Lost and Found in Missing Lake
- YA/Juvenile Fiction: E. F. Winters for Memeloose, The Island of the Dead
- Adventures/Suspense: Jim Hennigan for Recording a Kill
- International Intrigue: Rian Everest for The Tangerine Trio
- Mainstream: Nancy Adair for Soon Coming
- Women’s Fiction: Jessica H. Stone for The Last Outrageous Woman
- Blended Literary Fiction: Michael Olin-Hitt for The Homegoing
Honorary Mentions:
- Enid Harlow for Good to Her
- Thomas Whaley for Leaving Montana
- Kate McKenna for True Stories of Local Heroes
- Angela Brackeen for Lark, in Her Element
- Laurie Fitzpatrick for Niello
- Michael Hurley for The Vineyard
- Ken Swarmer for Family of the Year
CONGRATULATIONS!

To view the 2014 Somerset Finalists whose works made it to the short list, please click here.

Good Luck to the Somerset First Place Category Winners as they compete for the Somerset AWARDS 2014 GRAND PRIZE position!

The 1st Place Category Winners compete for the SOMERSET AWARDS 2014 GRAND PRIZE position. The 2014 SOMERSET category winner was announced at the Chanticleer Authors Conference and Awards Gala in September 2015. See the Grand Prize Winners.

The deadline for The SOMERSET Awards 2014 was November 30, 2014.
The deadline for The SOMERSET Awards 2015 is November 30, 2015.

GRAND PRIZE Overall SOMERSET Awards 2013 Winner was:

Jeremy Bullia for Individually Wrapped

The OVERALL CHANTICLEER GRAND PRIZE WINNER for 2013 came from the Somerset Awards: Michael Hurley for The Prodigal

To view the 2013 SOMERSET Award Winners, please click here.

To enter the 2015 SOMERSET Awards, please click here. The deadline is November 30, 2015.

To enter your work into a Chanticleer Writing Competition, please click here.

CBR’s rigorous writing competition standards are the reason literary agencies seek out our winning manuscripts and self-published novels. Our high standards are also another reason our reviews are trusted among booksellers and book distributors.Chanticleer Book Reviews & Media, L.L.C. retains the right to not declare “default winners.” Winning works are decided upon merit only. Please visit our Contest Details page for more information about our writing contest guidelines.

Please do not hesitate to contact Info@ChantiReviews.com with any questions, concerns, or suggestions about CBR writing competitions. Your input and suggestions are important to us.

Thank you for your interest in Chanticleer Book Reviews international writing competitions.
September 5, 2015
The PARANORMAL 2014 AWARDS First Place Category Winners for Paranormal and Supernatural Fiction
Chanticleer Book Reviews is honored to announce the First Place Category Winners for the PARANORMAL AWARDS 2014 for Supernatural Powers and Paranormal Fiction, a division of Chanticleer Blue Ribbon Writing Competitions.

The PARANORMAL Awards recognize emerging new talent and outstanding works in the genre of Supernatural Powers and Paranormal Fiction. The First Place Category Winners will be recognized at the Chanticleer Authors Conference and Awards Gala held in late September 2015.

Congratulations to The PARANORMAL FIRST PLACE Category 2014 Award Winners:
- Blended Genre: Ann Charles for An Ex to Grind
- Urban/Edgy: Stephen Cost for The Fall
- Contemporary Gothic: Linda Watkins for Mateguas Island
- Time Travel/Shifts: Norman L. Johnson for Disappeared
- International Thriller: John Trudel for Raven’s Run
- YA: Alan Burke for Jesse
- New Adult: D.L. Koontz for Crossing into Mystic
- Angels and Demons: Lisa Voisin for The Angel Killer
- Legends and Lore: Nikki Broadwell for Just Another Sunset
- Adult Paranormal: Jennifer Kohout for Storm
- Supernatural/Mystery: Sara Stamey for Islands
CONGRATULATIONS!

To view the 2014 PARANORMAL Finalists whose works made it to the short list, please click here.

Good Luck to the PARANORMAL First Place Category Winners as they compete for the CLUE AWARDS 2014 GRAND PRIZE position!

The 1st Place Category Winners compete for the PARANORMAL AWARDS 2014 GRAND PRIZE position. The 2014 PARANORMAL category winner was announced at the Chanticleer Authors Conference and Awards Gala in September 2015. See the Grand Prize Winners.

The deadline for The PARANORMAL Awards 2014 was October 31, 2014.
The deadline for The PARANORMAL Awards 2015 is October 31, 2015.

GRAND PRIZE Overall PARANORMAL Awards 2013 Winner was:

Lisa Voisin for The Watcher

To view the 2013 PARANORMAL Award Winners, please click here.

To enter the 2015 PARANORMAL Awards, please click here. The deadline is October 31, 2015.

To enter your work into a Chanticleer Writing Competition, please click here.

CBR’s rigorous writing competition standards are the reason literary agencies seek out our winning manuscripts and self-published novels. Our high standards are also another reason our reviews are trusted among booksellers and book distributors.Chanticleer Book Reviews & Media, L.L.C. retains the right to not declare “default winners.” Winning works are decided upon merit only. Please visit our Contest Details page for more information about our writing contest guidelines.

Please do not hesitate to contact Info@ChantiReviews.com with any questions, concerns, or suggestions about CBR writing competitions. Your input and suggestions are important to us.

Thank you for your interest in Chanticleer Book Reviews international writing competitions.
August 30, 2015
The CHATELAINE 2014 AWARDS for Women’s Fiction and Romantic Fiction Finalists
The Chatelaine Awards recognizes emerging new talent and outstanding works in the genre of Women’s Fiction and Romantic Fiction Novels. The Chatelaine Awards is a division of the Chanticleer Awards International Writing Competitions.

We are pleased to announce the Chatelaine Awards Official Finalists List for 2014 Entries, otherwise known as the “Short List.” The Official Finalists Listing is comprised of entries that have passed the first three rounds of judging from the entire field of entrants. To pass the first three rounds of judging, more than sixty pages of the works below have been read and have deemed worthy by the CBR judges of continuing in competition for the Chatelaine FIRST IN CATEGORY positions and their prize packages.

Congratulations to the CHATELAINE AWARDS 2014 FINALISTS:
- Isabella Hargreaves for The Persuasion of Miss Jane Brody
- Kathy Bryson for Feeling Lucky
- Sarah Katz for Hidden Miracles
- Catherine A. Wilson and Catherine T. Wilson for The Order of the Lily
- Danica Winters for Montana Mustangs
- Jennifer Snow for The Trouble with Mistletoe
- Dr. Evan Mahoney for Nongae of Love and Courage
- Kaylin McFarren for Buried Threads
- Deborah Hining for A Sinner in Paradise
- Kerryn Reid for Learning to Waltz
- Peggy Patrick for Surrendered II
- K.C. Simos for Ambrosia Chronicles: The Discovery
- Donna Barker for Mother Teresa’s Advice for Jilted Lovers
- Diane Green for Dragon Wife
- Nadine Christine for Quintal’s Return; Home Again, Home Again; and Remembering Love
- Ashlinn Craven for Maybe Baby
- A. Clarke Scott for A Dissimulation of Doves
- Noelle Clark for Rosamanti
- Jamie A. Waters for The Two Towers
- Martha Rather for Kismet or Kamasutra
- Nancy Marie Bell for Christmas Storm
- Janet K. Shawgo for Find Me Again
- Betty Codd for Eleanor Grace
- Julie LeMense for Once Upon a Wager
- Kristine Cayne for Deadly Betrayal
- K.C. Berg for Fallen Angel
- E.E. Burke for Her Bodyguard
- Debra Pickett for Reporting Lives
- Gita Simic and G.T. Symms for As for Costanza
- Eleanor Tatum for Swamp Home
- Cauleen Noël for The Changes Within Us
- Lisa Souza for Beauty and the Bridesmaid
- Patricia Sands for The Promise of Provence
- Callie James for Innocent
- Kim Sanders for The Ex Lottery
- Jianna Higgins for Just Going and Just Wondering
- Sharon Struth for Share the Moon
- Kate Vale for Destiny’s Second Chance
- Colette Saucier for Viuda
Good luck to all the Chatelaine Awards Finalists who made the Short List as they compete for the First In Category Positions!

More than $30,000 dollars in cash and prizes will be awarded to Chanticleer International Blue Ribbon Awards Winners annually.

The Chatelaine First in Category award winners will compete for the Chatelaine Grand Prize Award for Women’s/Romance Book 2014. Grand Prize winners, blue ribbons, and prizes will be announced and awarded on September 29th at the Chanticleer Authors Conference and Awards Gala, Bellingham, Wash.

The First In Category award winners will receive an award package including a complimentary book review, digital award badges, shelf talkers, book stickers, and more.

We are now accepting entries into the 2015 Chatelaine Awards. The deadline is August 31, 2015. Click here for more information or to enter.

More than $30,000 worth of cash and prizes will be awarded to the 2015 Chanticleer Novel Writing Competition winners! Ten genres to enter your novels and compete on an international level.

Who will take home the $1,000 purse this September at the Chanticleer Awards Gala and Banquet?

Last year’s Chanticleer Grand Prize winner was Michael Hurley for The Prodigal.

Last year’s Chatelaine winner was Kate Vale for Choices.
August 10, 2015
The DANTE ROSSETTI 2014 AWARDS for Young Adult Fiction Official First Category Winners
Chanticleer Book Reviews is honored to announce the First Place Category Winners for the DANTE ROSSETTI AWARDS 2014 for Young Adult Fiction, a division of Chanticleer Blue Ribbon Writing Competitions.

The Dante Rossetti Awards recognize emerging new talent and outstanding works in the genre of Young Adult, T’weens, New Adult, & Children’s fiction. The First Place Category Winners will be recognized at the Chanticleer Authors Conference and Awards Gala held in late September 2015.

The DANTE ROSSETTI FIRST PLACE 2014 Award Winners are:
- Steampunk: Padgett Lively for Odette Speex: Time Traitors, Book 1
- Contemporary: Gretchen Wing for The Flying Burgowski
- CyberPunk: Jesikah Sundin for Legacy: The Biodome Chronicles, Book 1
- Romance: Roni Teson for Twist
- High Fantasy: S.A. Hunter for Elanraigh: The Vow
- Blended Genre: Nely Cab for Fruit of Misfortune: Creatura Book 2
- Science Fiction: Chris Pawlukiewicz for Dreams of a Red Horizon
- Dystopian: Scott Smith for An Outcast State
- Mythological: Stephanie Keyes for The Star Catcher
- Lighthearted/Humorous: Elizabeth Barlo: Ruth 66
- New Adult: Tiana Warner for Ice Massacre
- Teen Fantasy: Elisabeth Hamill for Song Magick
- Tweens : Mark Murphy for The Curse of the Thrax
- Children’s: Kirsten Pulioff for The Escape of Princess Madeline
- Manuscript: Ben Hutchins for The Lackawanna Prophecies: Black Shadow
- Honorable Mentions: P. J. Martin for Riding with Crazy Horse (manuscript)
CONGRATULATIONS!

To view the Dante Rossetti 2014 Finalists whose works made it to the short least.

Good Luck to the Dante Rossetti First Place Category Winners as they compete for the Dante Rossetti Awards 2014 GRAND PRIZE position!

The 1st Place Category Winners compete for the DANTE ROSSETTI AWARDS 2014 GRAND PRIZE position. The 2014 DANTE ROSSETTI category winner was announced at the Chanticleer Authors Conference and Awards Gala in September 2015. See the Grand Prize Winners.

The deadline for entry submissions into the Dante Rossetti Awards 2014 was April 30, 2014.
The deadline for entry submissions into the the Dante Rossetti Awards 2015 was April 30, 2015.

GRAND PRIZE Overall Dante Rossetti Awards 2013 Winner was:

Tom and Nancy Wise for Borealis Genome

To view the 2013 Dante Rossetti Award Winners, please click here.

To enter the 2016 Dante Rossetti Awards, please click here. The deadline is April 30, 2016.

CBR’s rigorous writing competition standards are the reason literary agencies seek out our winning manuscripts and self-published novels. Our high standards are also another reason our reviews are trusted among booksellers and book distributors. Chanticleer Book Reviews & Media, L.L.C. retains the right to not declare “default winners.” Winning works are decided upon merit only. Please visit our Contest Details page for more information about our writing contest guidelines.

Please do not hesitate to contact Info@ChantiReviews.com with any questions, concerns, or suggestions about CBR writing competitions. Your input and suggestions are important to us.

Thank you for your interest in Chanticleer Book Reviews international writing competitions.
August 4, 2015
BLACK CROW WHITE LIE by Candi Sary

After years of moving from motel to motel with his alcoholic mother, Carson Calley has grown old enough to start questioning his gypsy life. The stories he’s been told – father died a war hero, a past life as a medicine man – slowly unravel as the 13-year-old begins to spread his wings.

However, of all his mother’s stories (I’d wouldn’t lie,” she assures him, “the gods … plant things in my head”), Carson knew one was true – he did possess the gift of healing. Since his earliest days, his hands would fill with heat and then emit tiny “stars” that soothe his mother’s tortured heart and frequent hangovers. Yet despite this power, Carson also experienced rages that he can’t control, an anger seated in his mother’s frequent long absences. To distract himself, he grabs his skateboard and wanders the streets of Hollywood.

Author Sary adroitly captures the real Hollywood: streetwalkers, grit and grime, tattoo parlors and head shops and gangs of idle youth. She also portrays its denizens free of stereotype and with a lyric eye: Carson’s mother “had a worn-out kind of beauty – like a thirsty flower.” Of Carson’s few friends, tattoo artist Faris “looked like a live page from a comic book,” while Casper, the albino owner of a local head shop, “looked like he had a light bulb inside of him.”

Faris gives Carson gruff, fatherly advice, world-weary insight into his mother’s issues and stories, and the boy’s first tattoo: a small black crow to remind him of his father, who, he’s told, killed a crow with his bare hands. Casper offers something else: when Carson heals his deaf ear, the head shop proprietor sets up a back room where the boy can practice healing.

Accepting her son’s readiness to heal, his mother arranges for him to work with a mentor: Lolo, a healer and an actress. Unfortunately, Lolo digs a little too deep into her part. She puts the idea of raising the dead into the teen’s mind, and he immediately decides to fly to Washington, D.C., and bring his father back to life. He needs to earn some money first, though, so in the meantime, he heals people during the day and skateboards with a gang of stoner kids at night. At school, a classmate, Rose, torments his heart. It’s a tenuous existence, but it’s all life offers Carson.

And it doesn’t last. His mother’s drinking increases as her longtime boyfriend, Jackson, toys with her heart. When she goes into rehab, Carson questions the truth of all she’s told him. Lies begin to unravel. Carson makes the trip to D.C.’s Cemetery of Heroes, but what he finds is more painful truth, followed by an even greater shock when he returns home. Carson’s faith in all he knows is shaken to the core. Can the healer heal his own heart?

A writer with a casual but empathetic voice, Sary succeeds in portraying teen angst without melodrama, in depicting compassion without sentimentality, and in creating a world of characters on the margins of society whose depth and complexity outshine any Hollywood hero.

Black Crow White Lie by Candi Sary earned a First In Category position in the highly competitive Dante Rossetti Awards for Young Adult Fiction, a division of Chanticleer Reviews International Writing Competitions.

March 19, 2015
“I, Walter” by Mike Hartner

I, Walter is a captivating story of valor and chivalry. This classic grand adventure takes you on the high seas and to exotic ports-of-call during the Elizabethan era when a boy acknowledges that he must change his stars and expand his horizons if he is to live the life that he wants to live–one that is quite different than the one into which he was born.

The narrator is Walter, who at the age of 67 years and possibly dying of malaria – in sixteenth century England- begins his tale of how he, like other boys of that era who lacked social standing, were “earning coin” as soon as they could be put to work to earn money for their family and find food, too.

After his older brother suddenly leaves home without notice, Walter does his best to help his family. But in doing so, he learns the reality of what life has in store for him if he continues down the same path as his father, whom he considers lethargic. He has often felt as if he was born into the wrong family. He decides that he must leave his family (now living in a hovel near London) or succumb to a disappointing life. He decides to take a chance to change his stars. He finds himself in Bristol, where he is commandeered into the Royal Merchant Marines as a lowly sailor. It was then and there that his adventures began.

Young Walter learns how to use the stars to steer the way the ancient mariners did, but he also is taught how to work with the Davis Quadrant, the latest advancement in navigational technology at that time. Meanwhile, the crusty old salts taught him the survival skills that he would need to survive at sea; they took a special interest that the boy could hold his own if their ship was boarded. They teach the young boy to fight with knives, swords, muskets, and cannons. Trading merchant ships, like the one that Walter served on, were hunted by pirates who are always plying the waters in search of booty–making “sayling” a most dangerous endeavor.

Walter narrates his encounters with the scoundrels in a way that makes us feel as if we need to dodge a cutlass or thrust a sword in the heat of a battle. Walter cannot seem to escape the threat of peril even on dry land. A mysterious thin man with a hat pulled down over one eye seems to be following him. And even more dangerous to Walter, he falls in love with the beautiful, but to his heart, unattainable Marie.

Walter engages us with tales of his sea adventures that took him to strange lands and introduced him to new trading goods such as sugar and tobacco along with excellent new wines and exotic spices. As we read Walter’s memories, we smell the odors and aromas of foreign markets. We feel his strength and confidence building as he develops into a valiant, but humble, young man.

However, all is not glory and honor. Hartner, the author, also shares the brutishness and indifference of the times in the telling of I, Walter. The story nuances mature as Walter ages. We experience the travails of life at sea, the treacheries of traveling by land, the comforts of a familiar pub, and love’s longing.

This action packed novel is a tale of noble innocence with a most refreshing, charming slant. Romance, adventures, mysteries, rescues, deceptions, along with vivid descriptions make this novel an enjoyable and inspirational read that will leave you wanting more. This reviewer is happy to know that I, Walter is the first of the series from Mike Hartner.

June 27, 2013