5th Annual SFR Galaxy Awards: Round One by Riley Moreland

Best Zombie Book for People Who Don't Read Zombie Books

Nobody's Hero (The Burned Lands #1) by Bec McMaster

Okay, it's not really a zombie book but there are zombies in it. 

This post-apocalyptic tale of humans, wargs and zombies is such a great story that even someone who does not read zombie books (me) can really get into it. I even shy away from post-apocalyptic stories, but this is one well-imagined story. I sympathized with the heroine, Riley and cheered for the not quite human hero Luc as they fought their way through the wasteland and monsters. Bec McMaster is an awesome storyteller.

This book also gets special recognition for the heroine's most engaging character name.

Best New Series

The Rule of Luck (Felicia Sevigny #1) by Catherine Cerveny

The best thing about The Rule of Luck is Alexei. You can call him the hero, the Russian, a business tycoon or maybe even top ranking family member of an organized, er, crime family. Is he a good guy?  Is he a bad guy?  I don't really know. He has many aspects, and I feel there is much more to him that was not laid out in the first book of this new series.

Also, there is that luck thing. Word is, that it is in the genes. Very interesting.....

Another cool thing about this series:  Book 2, The Chaos of Luck, just came out. 

Best Anthology

Pets in Space by Cara Bristol, Susan Grant, Laurie A. Green, Pauline Baird Jones, Lea Kirk, Alexis Glynn Latner, Carysa Locke, Veronica Scott, and S.E. Smith

Pets in Space would also qualify as the most highly anticipated book for me. From the moment I heard about it, I knew I would love it. Every story in the collection is a good one. Why? Well, scifi romance. Duh!

But really, the fact that every story also had a pet - cat, dog, robot, dragon, or otherworldly creature - is the true appeal to me and likely to anyone who is an animal lover. If you have had one or more of these special creatures in your life, Pets in Space will appeal to you. There may have been a pet-centric passage or two that caused my vision to blur. 

Early proceeds from the sale of this book supported the charity Hero-Dogs.org, which provides service animals to veterans. Just another reason to put this book in the 'remarkable' category.

This Series Just Keeps Getting Better Award

Fools Rush In (Interstellar Rescue Series #3) by Donna S. Frelick

Aliens are abducting people of earth for slave labor. But luckily there are people who are working to save them. Rayna and Sam are great characters that showed up in the first two books of the series. Book three takes a step back and tells the story that brought them together.  

There is something about this couple. They are two very different people, but they make a connection. And let me just say that connection is hot!  Rayna and Sam also get my vote for best SFR couple!

Best Series Finale

Prodigal (Maelstrom #3) by Jody Wallace

Whew! That is the feeling I got when I finished reading Prodigal. Maelstrom is a great series and each book has a unique flavor to it. But the finale - well, think human that sometimes has super-powers (ala Marvel/DC) and takes on the biggest baddest monster out there to

            a) prove he is not a wimp,

            b) impress the girl,

            c) get the big bad out of the way so he can go to dinner or

            d) save the world.

I decided to make this multiple choice to avoid spoilers. Multiple answers may be correct.