XO Romance Prize (2016-2017)
Subcategory of Awards Australian Awards
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History

Inaugurated in August 2016 by Xoum Publishing, to mark the beginning of their new imprint, XO Romance.

The prize does not appear to have survived Xoum's rebranding as Brio Books and Brio's subsequent purchase by Booktopia.

Latest Winners / Recipients

Year: 2017

winner y separately published work icon On the Same Page Penelope Janu , Sydney : XO Romance , 2018 14171312 2018 single work novel romance

'Sometimes a girl just has to do what’s in her heart …

'By day Miles Franklin, named after the famous author, is a successful lawyer. But by night she writes historical romance novels under the pen name Emma Browning. When Miles’s assistant covertly enters her boss's novel in one of Australia’s biggest literary awards—and it wins—Miles’s perfectly ordered world is torn apart.

'Lars Kristensen smells a rat. As the CEO of Iconic International, the company publishing Miles’s prize-winning novel, he’s determined to meet the author and uncover her true identity.

'But Miles is equally determined to protect her privacy—and to keep writing—even if it means mastering pole dancing, and choreographing a love scene in the back of a horse-drawn carriage … Well, she is a romance writer, after all.

'Miles has the grit to keep her secret, but Lars has the smouldering looks and arrogance of any romantic hero she has ever imagined.

'Hmm. Sometimes a girl just has to turn the page …'

Source: Publisher's blurb.

Year: 2016

inaugural winner y separately published work icon Lovesick Jean Flynn , Sydney : XO Romance , 2017 11560941 2017 single work novel romance

'Beth is an absolute wreck. She is certain that she has some kind of disease -- a fatal one, most likely. She is also very single and quite keen on her boss colleague, Dr Brendan Roberts. He seems to fancy her, too -- well, until The Morning After.

'Beth knows it's time to sort out her messy life, but she has no idea where to start. Enter Shane -- a slightly dishevelled forklift driver. He may not be suave or wealthy, but he does laugh at Beth's jokes and remember how she likes her coffee. Plus, the more they hang out, the healthier she feels.

'But when Shane suddenly cuts off all communication, Beth starts to think there's no such thing as The One, and she decides to stop being slapdash and move on. Only life is never that simple, and Beth must take a chance if she hopes to find the cure to her ills.

'Lovesick is a light-hearted romance about getting sick, getting better and taking risks.' (Publication summary)

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