Kat’s picks for the 2013 Australian Romance Readers Awards for 2013.

Last week, the Australian Romance Readers Association published its shortlist for the Australian Romance Readers Awards. If you’re an ARRA member, make sure you vote for your favourites!

Here are my picks from the finalists and my winner predictions (though I have to warn you that my batting average for predicting award winners is piss-poor.)

Favourite paranormal romance

You can read my review of this book here.

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Winner prediction: If this book doesn’t win its category, I’ll be very surprised.

Favourite Sci Fi, Fantasy or Futuristic Romance

You can read my review of this book here.

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Winner prediction: Allegiance Sworn by Kylie Griffin

Favourite Short Category 

You can read my review of this book here.

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Winner prediction: Crossing my fingers for a Kelly Hunter win, but to be honest, it could be any of finalists

Favourite Historical Romance

You can read my review of this book here.

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Winner prediction: A Rake’s Midnight Kiss by Anna Campbell (in the Romance Buzz, I said I’d eat my feather boa if this book wasn’t an ARRA Awards finalist so I’m relieved that my digestive tract is safe), but The Autumn Bride by Anne Gracie has an outside chance, I reckon

Favourite Contemporary Romance

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Winner prediction: The Rosie Project by Graeme Simsion, and I’ll save my big genre whinge for later (that said, I enjoyed the book and can understand why people are voting for it—you can read my review here)

Favourite Erotic Romance

I didn’t vote in this category because I hadn’t read (or finished) any of the books listed.

Winner prediction: Skin by Kylie Scott or Rhythm of My Heart by Jess Dee

Favourite Romantic Suspense

I haven’t reviewed this book on Book Thingo, but I chose it as my book of the month in the October issue of the Romance Buzz.

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Winner prediction: Darkening Skies or Half Moon Bay by Helene Young

Favourite Continuing Romance Series

Psy/Changeling by Nalini Singh

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Winner prediction: One of the Nalini Singh series (and I hope having two series in the finals doesn’t split Singh’s votes)

Favourite Australian Romance Author 2013

For this category, I didn’t necessarily vote for the author whose books I love best but the author that I thought has shared her love of romance books the best (that said, A Rake’s Midnight Kiss—not reviewed here, but my featured book in the August issue of the Romance Buzz—was one of my favourite books in 2013).

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Winner prediction: Anna Campbell, Anne Gracie or Rachael Johns—but again, I think it could be any of the finalists, really

Favourite Cover

Okay, I’m biased because that’s our blurb on the cover—squee!—but I also love the colour and mood of this cover. I haven’t reviewed this book on Book Thingo, but I talked about it in the May issue of the Romance Buzz.

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Winner prediction: No idea! I’ll go with Allegiance Sworn for the naked man abs, and Lick for the rock star fantasy fulfilment.

The Sexiest Hero

Logan Black from The One that Got Away by Kelly Hunter

You can read my review of Logan’s book here.

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Winner prediction: Hello, I can’t believe Kaleb Krychek didn’t make the list. It’s just appalling, really. It will probably be Sir Richard Harmsworth or one of the paranormal blokes.

Favourite New Romance Author

Anna Cowan

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Winner prediction: Anna Cowan, if there’s any justice in the world, but Sandra Antonelli is a sentimental favourite of mine

Over to you, fellow readers! Which books and authors stood out for you in 2013?