Awards & Honors

2024

  • Into the Fire HOLT Medallion

2023

  • Body of Evidence HOLT Medallion Finalist
  • Sea Glass Cottage HOLT Medallion

2022

  • Labyrinth of Lies Carol Award Finalist HOLT Medallion Finalist
  • Blackberry Beach HOLT Medallion Finalist

2021

  • Point of Danger HOLT Medallion Booksellers’ Best Award Suspense Magazine Best Books of 2020 Carol Award Finalist
  • Starfish Pier Carol Award Finalist Booksellers’ Best Award Finalist

2020

  • Dark Ambitions Booksellers’ Best Award Finalist
  • Driftwood Bay Carol Award Booksellers’ Best Award HOLT Medallion Finalist National Readers’ Choice Award Finalist (2019)

2019

  • Hidden Peril Carol Award Booksellers’ Best Award HOLT Medallion Finalist

2018

  • Dangerous Illusions National Readers’ Choice Award HOLT Medallion Finalist RT Book Reviews Reviewers’ Choice Award Finalist
  • Sandpiper Cove Booksellers’ Best Award

2017

  • Thin Ice Booksellers’ Best Award
  • Sea Rose Lane HOLT Medallion Finalist

2015

  • Deceived RITA Award Booksellers’ Best Award Carol Award Finalist Daphne du Maurier Award Finalist
  • One Perfect Spring Booksellers’ Best Award Finalist
  • Second Chance Summer Carol Award

2014

  • Trapped Booksellers’ Best Award Finalist Carol Award Finalist Daphne du Maurier Award Finalist
  • Vanished Booksellers’ Best Award HOLT Medallion Finalist Christy Award Finalist Carol Award Finalist Retailers Choice Award Finalist National Readers’ Choice Award Finalist (2013)
  • Only You HOLT Medallion Carol Award Finalist

2013

  • Lethal Legacy HOLT Medallion Christy Award Finalist National Readers’ Choice Award Finalist (2012)
  • That Certain Summer National Readers’ Choice Award Finalist
  • Finding Home HOLT Medallion Finalist
  • Seaside Reunion Carol Award Finalist

2012

  • Deadly Pursuit Retailers Choice Award Booklist Top 10 Inspirational Fiction (2011) Carol Award Finalist RITA Award Finalist
  • Fatal Judgment National Readers’ Choice Award (2011) HOLT Medallion Finalist Retailers’ Choice Award Finalist

2011

  • In Harm's Way RITA Award Daphne du Maurier Award Finalist
  • A Father for Zach Carol Award RT Book Reviews Reviewers’ Choice Award Finalist

2010

  • An Eye for an Eye RITA Award Finalist Daphne du Maurier Award Finalist Booksellers’ Best Award Finalist
  • Against All Odds RT Book Reviews Reviewer’s Choice Award Daphne du Maurier Award
  • Apprentice Father HOLT Medallion Finalist

2009

  • Where Love Abides RITA Award Finalist

2008

  • From This Day Forward HOLT Medallion
  • Rainbow's End RITA Award Finalist National Readers’ Choice Award Finalist (2007)

2007

  • All Our Tomorrows HOLT Medallion Finalist

2006

  • The Unexpected Gift RT Book Reviews Reviewers’ Choice Award Finalist
  • Gift from the Heart HOLT Medallion Finalist

2003

  • Never Say Goodbye RITA Award

2000

  • The Way Home RT Book Reviews Reviewers’ Choice Award

1999

  • Seasons of the Heart RT Book Reviews Reviewers’ Choice Award Finalist

Career Milestones

In addition to her many other achievements, Irene has received two very special honors.

After winning her third RITA Award (the “Oscar” of romance fiction) from Romance Writers of America in 2015, she was inducted into RWA’s Hall of Fame—a feat achieved by only sixteen authors since the organization was founded in 1980. During the glitzy ceremony in New York, she joined the ranks of literary luminaries like Nora Roberts, Julia Quinn, Francine Rivers, and Susan Elizabeth Phillips in the Hall of Fame.

Stepping onto the stage in Las Vegas in front of hundreds of readers and authors to receive a Career Achievement Award from RT Book Reviews for her entire body of work was also a night to remember.

Here are a few photos from those memorable occasions.