HomeOrange Rose Contest

The Orange Rose Contest for Emerging Writers

History & Past Winners

The Orange Rose Contest is entering its 36th year! This storied contest has in its roster many finalists who are now published, such as Rita Winners Laura Drake and Tessa Dare and New York Times best-selling authors Allison Brennan, Judy Duarte, Susan Squires and Deborah Holland to name just a few.

Why has the ORC enjoyed this level of success? It’s in large part due to the exceptional judges, both first round published author and final editor/agent judges, and our comprehensive score sheets.

Our top prize, the coveted Charlotte Award, is given in honor of long-time OCC member Charlotte Lobb, who passed away in 2013. Charlotte was a tireless volunteer and supporter of this chapter and its members, as well as a multi-published author of over 60 books. She was known for her generosity of spirit and great sense of humor. It is fitting that we present this top award to an unpublished writer in honor of Charlotte’s mentorship and encouragement of fledgling writers. One more thing, Charlotte herself was an Orange Rose finalist back in the day.

* Denotes a finalist who has become a published author

2022 Winners

Historical Romance

1st Place
The Skull & The Lute
by Jennifer Travis

2nd Place
How to Ditch a Duke*
Victoria Elliot

3rd Place
The Prodigal Countess
Alexa Santi

Contemporary Romance

1st Place
Mountains of Dough
Jana Vandelaar

2nd Place
Missed Opportunity
C.S. Smith

3rd Place
The Price of Revenge
Mandi McGuire

Paranormal Romance

1st Place
Impossible Tasks
Alexa Santi

2nd Place
2033: Ancestor Resurrection
Deborah DeHaemer

3rd Place
The Shadow of Death
Trisza Ay

*Full Ms Request from Editor Erin Molta, Entangled Publishing

2020 Winners

The Charlotte

1st Place

Historical Romance
The Lady Detective
by Ava January

2nd Place

Contemporary Romance
Planting Hope
by Jennifer Raines

3rd Place

Romantic Suspense
West Texas Heat
by Denise Diana Huddle

4th Place

Mainstream Fiction with Central Romance
Legend of the Purple Orchid
by Remy LaCosta

2019 Orange Rose Winners

The Charlotte
1st Place
Pride and Perfection
by Catherine Scott

2nd Place
Daphne’s Hero
by Katie Grant

3rd Place
Stand Up Guy
by Miranda Darrow

4th Place
Bear Necessities
by Victoria Luce

2019 FINALISTS

Contemporary Romance
1st– Daphne’s Hero by Katie Grant
2nd—Mirror Image by B.L. Unkel
3rd– On the Brink by Lynn Harris

Mainstream Fiction with a Central Romance
1st—Stand Up Guy by Miranda Darrow
2nd—Casserole by Amey Zeigler
3rd—The Only One by Kathy Strobos

Paranormal Romance
1st—Bear Necessities by Victoria Luce
2nd—A Child Eden by Laralyn Doran
3rd—Don’t Follow In These Footsteps by Apryl Schwab

Historical Romance
1st—Pride and Perfection by Catherine Scott
2nd—The King’s Secret by Blake Ferre
3rd—The Earl’s Secret Garden by Emilia Luckett

Romantic Suspense
1st—I Promise Yuo by Sandi Van Lieu
2nd—Sin and Sinister by Amey Ziegler
3rd —Hardwired by R.R. Taylor

Young Adult
1st—Butterflies & Characters by Liz Hsu
2nd—Intaglio by Katie Grant
3rd—Pink Ribbons by Riley Darkes

2018 Orange Rose Winners

The Charlotte
1st Place
Star Knight Errant
by Shelley Blackley

2nd Place
House of Ash and Brimstone
by Megan Starks

3rd Place
High Heels and Handguns
by Lisa Heartman

4th Place
Talk of the Town
by Tanya Agler

2018 FINALISTS

(* OCC RWA Members)

Contemporary Romance
1st– The Map with No Names by Kristin Judy
1st—Talk of the Town by Tanya Agler
2nd—Just a Taste of You by Lana Sloan*
3rd– Drawn to Love by Amie Charney*

Women’s Fiction
1st—The Mars Strain by Alexia Chantel
2nd—Willing by Leslie Noyes
3rd—Circle in Time by Susan J. Bickford

Paranormal Romance
1st—House of Ash and Brimstone by Megan Starks
2nd—The Traveler by Charissa Weaks
3rd—The Dark Queen’s Daughter by Alexia Chantel
3rd—The Pawn by Frances Amati

Historical Romance
1st—Miss Lonely Hearts by Margrethe Martin
2nd—To Catch a Marquess’ Murderer by Felicia Grossman
3rd—The Protector by Justine Covington

Romantic Suspense
1st—High Heels and Handguns by Lisa Heartman
2nd—Under Lock and Key by Tanya Agler
3rd—Zapata by Harper McDavid

Erotic Romance
1st—Star Knight Errant by Shelley Blackley*
2nd—On the Brink by Lynn Harris
3rd—Heart of Stone of Ellie Morgan
3rd—Show Me How to Live by Helene Soper

Inspirational Romance
1st—Remember Not by Barbara Ellin Fox
2nd—Engaging by Barbara Ellin Fox
3rd—Developing Their Love by Alison Mary

Young Adult
1st—Now Is Everything by Lani Forbes
2nd—Below the Surface by Arel Jansen
3rd—Mercy Killers by Jessica Grace Kelley

Romance Novella
1st—Jesse’s Girl by Tara September

2017 Winners

First Place and Winner of The Charlotte: Leslie Marshman Goode Over Evil
Second Place: Sara L. Hudson Houston, We Have a Hottie
Third Place (tie): Riley Darkes Serving Time
Third Place (tie): Carolina Prentice The Moon and Stars
Fourth Place: Jenny Hansen A Sister In Need

2016 Winners

First Place and Winner of The Charlotte: Gabbi Grey The Woman with the Amber Eyes
Second Place: Aimee Holland Little Rooms
Third Place: Christine Gunderson Soren’s Resistance
Fourth Place: Dianna Wilkes Providence Island: Main Street

2015 Winners

First place and winner of The Charlotte: Isley Robson The First Word
Second place: Kristin Rockaway Risky
Third place: Mary Sullivan The Expedition
Fourth place: Tracy Brody In the Wrong Sights

2014 Winners

The Charlotte Winner & First Place: Barb DeLong Charm’d
Second Place: Claire Davon Fire Danger
Third Place: T. L. Rosanti The Dacia Chronicles (The Zadex Trilogy. Book 1: Revelations)
Fourth Place: Ottilia Scherschel Daring the Dragon
Honorable Mention: Lynne Lueders All That Shimmers
Honorable Mention: Irene Vartanoff A Daughter’s a Daughter

2013 Winners

The Charlotte Winner & First Place: Ainsley Winter Oracle (The Kingmaker #1)
Second Place: Lynn Kellan Clear as Glass
Third Place: Anne Gresley Ruled by Desire
Fourth Place: McCall Hoyle Sink or Swim
Carol James Heartsongs
Jacqueline Jayne Hearts in Hell
Allison Morse Dancing by Proxy
Jane Nichols Once in a Lifetime
A.E. Noble The Key to Magica
Susan Scott Shelley Shielded Hearts
Kady Winter Golden Apples

2012 Winners

First Place – The Parachutist Dora Mekouar
Second Place – Genie in a Bottle Tracy Mecca
Third Place – Keeping Athena Rowena Hacker
Fourth Place – Sail Away Chris Campillo
Unwritten Rachel Bates
The Agreement Angela Blount
Mesmerized in Madagascar George Guthridge
First Aid for a Broken Heart Kat Latham
Tempting Bella Dora Mekouar
Burnout Tee O’Fallon
Flood and Fire Amy Raby

2011 Winners

First Place
Jacqui Nelson
“The Shadow Hour” – Historical

Second Place (tie)
Laura Drake * (OCC Member)
“The Sweet Spot” – Mainstream

Second Place (tie)
Caroline Phipps (w/a Caro Carson)
“Saving Captain Marsh” – Single Title

Second Place (tie)
Sandy Wright
“Song of the Ancients” – Paranormal

Third Place
Averil Reisman
“To Cuba with Love” – Historical

Fourth Place
Janis Thereault * (OCC Member)
“The Way You Love Me” – Romantic Suspense

Fifth Place
Carolyn LaFever
“Mistress by Blackmail” – Contemporary

Sixth Place
Joy Hancock
“The Inquisitor” – Paranormal

Seventh Place
Elizabeth Roadifer
“Oracle” – Mainstream

Eighth Place
Phyllis Laatsch
“Memoirs of a Fox” – Paranormal

Ninth Place
Janis McCurry
“Tangled Hearts” – Paranormal

2010 Winners

Dora Mekouar
Kathy Bennett *
Tracy Mastaler
Laura Templeton
Kendel Flaum
Deborah O’Neill Cordes & Cary Morgan Frates
Beth Yarnall *
Amy Raby
Ciara Stewart
Aimee Carper

2009 Winners

Cheryl Nagro
Laurie Thompson
Gabrielle Luthy
Kate Frieman*
Lecia Cotton Cornwall
Pamela Kopfler
Kathy Bennett *
Gayle Link
Alison Pritchard
Jo Anne Banker

2008 Winners

Regan Loyd
Anne Marsh-Flores
Susanne Frost
Cathy Leming
Melanie Dickerson
Lunda Jensen
Nancy Northcott
Suzanne Shanken
Julie Whitby
Laura Williams

2007 Winners

Lorrie Kruse
Cathy Lemming
Deborah Holland * – 3rd
Louise Knott Ahern
Eve Ortega*
Dona Meier
Heidi Shannon
DeAnne Wildes-Mickelson
Jodi Redford
Nicole Collins

2006 Winners

Bev Peterson
Christie Craig *
Sharla Rae
Gillian Doyle (double finalist)
Katheleen Beaver*
Deborah Boone
Randi Jorgensen
Donna Kowalczky
JL Wilson

2003 Winners

First Place
Caroline Phipps
American Idol – Single Title

Second Place
Lora Lee Bale
“The Heart’s Warrior” – Historical

Third Place
Barbara DeLong
“Fooling Mommy Nature” – Short Contemporary

Fourth Place
Lisa Valdez *
"Silver Dragon, Scarlet Sword” – “Historical

Kathleen Beaver *
“Alias Smith & Jones” – Short Contemporary

Rebecca Clark
“Oops! Wrong Sister” – Short Contemporary

Suzanne Kaufman
“Just Say the Word” – Single Title

Beverly R. Long
“Lies of the Heart” – Single Title

Allison Brennan *
“Hot Latte” – Romantic Suspense

Theresa Ragan
“A Knight in Central Park” – Paranormal

2000 Winners

First Place
Judy Duarte*
“To Tame A Lady” – Historical

Second Place (tie)
Pam Poulsen
“Sapphire Dreams” – Paranormal

Second Place (tie)
Cindy Proctor-King
“The Best Man Takes A Wife” – Short Contemporary

Third Place
Susan Squires *
“Danegeld” – Paranormal

Fourth Place
Joanne Rock *
“Lady Ivy” – Historical

Nola Cross
“Black Lace and Promises” – Short Contemporary

Barbara DeLong
“Mommy Nature” – Short Contemporary

Jenny Low
“Big Bad Wolf” – Short Contemporary

Jennie Manlick
“Distant Thunder” – Romantic Suspense

Barbara White-Rayczek
“A Trace of Love” – Romantic Suspense

1998 Winners

First Place
Ekaterine Terlinden – “The Divided Child”

Second Place
Shannon Donnelly * – “A Compromising Situation”

Third Place
Luann Erickson – “Of Mist & Shadow”

Fourth Place
Stacia R. Skoog – “Deception & Dreams”

1997 Winners

First Place
Patricia O’Dea Rosen – “Pilgrim Souls”

Second Place
Linda Style * – “The Long Goodbye”

Third Place
Jannine Petska – “Surrender to Honor”

Fourth Place
Kayla Westra – “Crusader’s Lady”

Nina Bruhns *
“Stop in the Name of Love”

Nina Bruhns *
“High Seas Renegade”

Barbara J. Clark
“Road to Rainbow”

Rebecca J. Clark
“Deliver the Moon”

Adelaide Ferguson
“Lover Come Back”

Candice Terry
“Once More for Love”

1996 Winners

First Place
Virginia Kantra Richey*
“To Protect and Serve” – Long Contemporary

Second Place
Nina Bruhns*
“Renegade Daddy” – Long Contemporary

Third Place
Michelle Oakes
“Rachel’s Bargain” – Historical

Fourth Place
Laurie Brown
“To Kiss Kate” – Paranormal

Susan Alverson
“One Man’s Honor” – Historical

Lorrie Farrelly
“Terms of Surrender” – Historical

Helen Haddad
“Twice A Fool” – Romantic Suspense

Ellen Leidenthal
“Strange Document” – Historical

Glynna Sirpless
“Black Ice” – Romantic Suspense

Catherine Snodgrass *
“Feather on the Wind” – Time Travel

Other Published Romance Authors who are Past Orange Rose Finalists

Rebecca Anderson
Debbie Bailey
Annette Blair
Wendy Burge
Glynnis Campbell
Maureen Caudill
Annee Chartier
Maureen Child
Janet Corelow
Jacquie D’Alessandro
Donna Davidson
Jamie Ann Denton
Vicky Dreiling
Erin Grady
Joleen James
Linda O. Johnston
Lynn Kerstan
Charlotte Lobb
Lindsay Longford
Susan Macias
Linda McLaughlin
Mindy Neff
Maryann O’Brien
Diane Pershing
Linda Prine
Angie Ray
Jackie Radoumis
Linda Sandoval
Theresa Southwick
Connie Vines