Best Transgender Romance

Best Western, 2013 International Book Awards. 2013 National Indie Excellence Awards winner, Western fiction category. Award-Winner in the 'Fiction: Historical' category of The 2012 USA Best Book Awards. Gold Prize in Historical Fiction & Best Western Fiction - 2013 Global Ebook Awards. THE WHIP is inspired by the true story of a woman, Charlotte "Charley" Parkhurst (1812-1879) who lived most of her extraordinary life as a man. Her background as an actress helps her to convincingly render Charlotte’s transformation.…An engaging and authentic depiction of life in the California Gold Rush–era. In addition to Charlotte’s inner struggles and gender switches, the story hints of other women in the Old West who could not be self-reliant, respected, and independent as females. – AudioFile Magazine Karen Kondazian has allowed her imagination to weave Charley’s life into an intriguing pattern and done so in a fast-moving tale that quite possibly could be true. – Historical Novel Society Review by John Manhold A gripping page-turner explores themes of self-identity, forgiveness, and survival, and captivates the reader from multiple perspectives. Kondazian’s fascinating portrayal of Charlotte 'Charley' Parkhurst delves into the complex character of a tough woman combating old-school tradition and unhealthy stereotypes. The cinematic style utilizes all the senses; the world in which she survived unimaginable tragedy can be felt as well as seen in the mind’s eye. – Julia Ann Charpentier, Foreword Reviews, April 23, 2014 Kondazian leaves the complexities of Charley Parkhurst’s life of adventure and secrecy to the reader’s imagination. While the setting of “The Whip” takes place over a century ago, the questions raised about the choices we make and their consequences on our lives remain pressing and relevant today….Kondazian weaves fiction and fact together seamlessly into a poignant and profound read. The Whip is very well researched (I loved all the historical tid-bits about piano legs, cat-hauling, and the stagecoach business itself), and Kondazian’s novel unfolds cinematically; you can almost feel the sun’s rays and smell the horse sweat. – Reader’s Favorite, Review by Kayti Nika Raet A new novel takes one back to the legendary days of the American West based on a true story of Charley Darkey Parkhurst who died in 1880 and was celebrated as a one-eyed, tobacco-spitting, gold-rush era Wells Fargo driver, a famed California stage coach driver and outlaw killer. — Thomas Fleming, New York Times best-selling author of Conquerors of the Sky Like a nugget of gold pulled from the riffles is Karen Kondazian's debut novel The Whip. The opportunity to miss school during tapings was allit took for Karen to abandon her life's goal of becoming a CIA spy andfocus on acting. She was born in Boston, completing her education at The University of Vienna and The London Academy of Music andDramatic Arts, after which she began her acting career in New York. Herfirst professional work was in the Off Broadway, award-winningproduction of Michael Cacoyannis' "The Trojan Women," later winning theLos Angeles Drama Critics Circle Award for Best Actress in "The RoseTattoo." Other award-winning performances include "Sweet Bird of Youth" (with Ed Harris), "Vieux Carre" (with Ray Stricklyn) and Maria Callasin "Master Class."

Gideon Jane earned the name Ghost for his reclusive nature when he joined a group of guys in Powers, Georgia in a band called Executioners. It would’ve been easier to hop in her car to find safety and anonymity, but Harper stayed to prove she was stronger than hurled fists and bruising prejudice.

How could anybody understand a college guy like me - feminine as I may be - wanting to slip into a pair of silks and strut around the room, pretending I'm a bombshell college girl? But I never in a million years expected them to invite some of their guy friends to the party.

When Steve returns to his little old hometown for his uncle’s wedding, and he decides to venture out to his old childhood tree fort, he doesn’t expect to find it occupied by a beautiful, sun-tanning vixen—nor does he expect her to be quite so flirty and seductive.

Fifty-six-year-old Samuel Phipps is all alone on his small farm in the Ozarks, with nothing but a menagerie of chickens, pheasants, turkeys, and other birds as company—which is just the way he likes it.

Now a Major Motion Picture from Director Luca Guadagnino, Starring Armie Hammer and Timothée Chalamet, and Written by Three Time Academy Award Nominee James Ivory. A New York Times Bestseller. A USA Today Bestseller. A Los Angeles Times Bestseller. A Vulture Book Club Pick. Elio—17, extremely well-read, sensitive and the son of a prominent expatriate professor—finds himself troublingly attracted to this year's visiting resident scholar, recruited by his father from an American university. Their shared literary interests and Jewishness help impart a sense of intimacy, and when they do consummate their passion in Oliver's room, they call each other by the other's name. What begins as a casual friendship develops into a passionate yet clandestine affair, and the last chapters fast-forward through Elio's life to a reunion with Oliver decades later.

Australian crime reporter Maddie Grey is out of her depth in New York, miserable, and secretly drawn to her powerful, twice-married, media mogul boss, Elena Bartell, who eats failing newspapers for breakfast.

Opening Last Call together, a bar tucked away in the small town of Heartsville, PA seemed a natural progression—even if it makes it harder to live with the secret longing they’ve always had for each other. Hoping to score an easy buck and a place to sleep, unemployed circus roadie Emery Woods chooses Last Call to run a few bets and enjoy a decent beer before moving on.