Your Weekend Reading Inspiration: Announcing the Winners of the 2023 RUBY Awards

Over the weekend, Cheryl and Jane were lucky enough to attend the Romance Writers of Australia 2023 Conference in Sydney! The event saw the unveiling of the 2023 RUBY Award Winners, and now we’re thrilled to share them with you.

Scroll on for some reading inspiration, just in time for you to cancel all your weekend plans…

Ruby Novella Winner: The Portrait Sitting by Alivia Fleur

A heartbroken photographer. An overlooked widow. One photographic plate. The Portrait Sitting is a slow burn steamy novelette for fans of romantic historical fiction between consenting adults.

Buy a copy of The Portrait Sitting here.

Speculative Fiction Winner: Kingdom Of Chains by Tanya Bird

She was trained to please. He was trained to kill. Kingdom of Chains is a standalone medieval dystopian romance. If you like a dark setting, heart-pounding action, and witty dialogue, then this epic love story is for you.

Buy a copy of Kingdom of Chains here.

Romantic Suspense Winner: Jackson by Nyssa Kathryn

Sometimes it’s the oldest wounds that cut deepest. River Harp fell in love with her brother’s best friend… Sixteen years later, he’s back for her brother’s funeral. And River wants nothing to do with the man. Right?

Buy a copy of Jackson here.

Romantic Elements Winner: The Library At Wagtail Ridge by Janet Gover

An unexpected and unusual inheritance sets a young woman on the road to discover her mother’s deepest secret. A charming and heartfelt rural romance perfect for readers of Rachael Johns and Karly Lane.

Buy a copy of The Library At Wagtail Ridge here.

Historical Romance Winner: Under The Dark Moon by Susanne Bellamy

Meg Dorset escapes Darwin after the city is bombed by the Japanese. On arrival in Townsville, Meg is dismayed to find she is pregnant. As her pregnancy develops Meg is torn. How can she continue with the nursing career she is passionate about, and keep her pregnancy a secret?

Buy a copy of Under The Dark Moon here.

Contemporary Short Winner: Hometown Cowboy by Dakota Harrison

Anything that can go wrong will… Darby Jameson knows that spending the night with groomsman Ryan Thomas after her twin brother’s wedding is a big mistake. But what’s she to do when his smile melts her heart?

Buy a copy of Hometown Cowboy here.

Contemporary Long Winner: Larapinta by Annie Seaton

At a crossroads in her life, Sandra Porter knows she must dig deep for the courage to find her true self. Deciding it’s time to push her boundaries, she makes a booking to trek the Larapinta Walk across the Red Centre of the remote Northern Territory…

Buy a copy of Larapinta here.