“The Heart of Sugarcreek” Takes Top Honor in Romance Category at Annual Gala in Springfield, Missouri

MINFORD, Ohio — USA Today bestselling author Serena B. Miller’s “The Heart of Sugarcreek” has been awarded the 2025 Carol Award in the Romance category, announced Saturday, September 6th at the American Christian Fiction Writers annual gala in Springfield, Missouri.

The Carol Awards represent the American Christian Fiction Writers’ recognition for the best Christian fiction published in the previous calendar year. Published by L. J. Emory Publishing under the editorial guidance of Brenda Kallner, “The Heart of Sugarcreek” competed against top-tier Christian romance novels to claim the coveted honor.

“I was genuinely surprised,” Miller says of the moment her name was announced. “The Romance genre brings in so many excellent authors, so I was absolutely thrilled when they called my name.”

Set during the holiday season in picturesque Sugarcreek, Ohio, “The Heart of Sugarcreek” weaves together the love stories of two couples finding second chances at happiness. When Amish widow Lydia Troyer meets kindly widower Malachi during an unexpected winter storm, neither expects to discover love again. Meanwhile, her sister Bertha finds her heart rekindled with Anthony, a Mennonite doctor from her past, leading to life-changing decisions that forever alter the close-knit Troyer family.

The awards ceremony held special significance for Miller beyond her own recognition. “There was an author there, Robin Jones Gunn, who won the Lifetime Achievement Award, and when I came down off the stage with my award, she reached up and gave me the biggest hug,” Miller recalls. “That’s one of the great things about the ACFW group—they’re so encouraging to one another, and it really meant a lot to me.”

This marks Miller’s second Carol Award win, having previously received the honor in 2013 for “A Promise to Love.” The recognition places “The Heart of Sugarcreek” among the finest examples of contemporary Christian romance fiction, celebrating Miller’s continued excellence in capturing authentic Amish-English cultural dynamics.

American Christian Fiction Writers is a professional organization devoted to the craft of Christian fiction and helping writers expand their knowledge of the publishing industry. The organization’s annual conference brings together Christian fiction writers, publishers, editors, and agents from across the nation.

When asked how she plans to celebrate this achievement, Miller’s response was characteristic of her dedication to the craft: “By writing another book, of course!” She reveals that the win has already influenced her current work. “I’m already working on the next book, and it’s given me a lot of motivation to continue this series. I’m not quite finished with the Love’s Journey in Sugarcreek world yet.”

In early 2025, Miller launched an exciting new mystery series set in the same beloved geographic area. “Secrets of Sugarcreek,” with books one and two already available and book three, “The Quiet Soldier,” releasing November 7th, explores the darker corners of this peaceful community through Amish-English romance mysteries.

Miller is a USA Today bestselling author and winner of the Romance Writers of America “RITA,” the American Christian Fiction Writers “CAROL,” and a finalist for the “CHRISTY.” Her signature storytelling has leaped from page to screen multiple times, with “The Sugar Haus Inn” becoming the award-winning UPTV movie “Love Finds You in Sugarcreek,” which captured the coveted “Templeton Epiphany Award.” Her mastery of heartfelt narratives has since inspired acclaimed Hallmark Channel features “An Uncommon Grace” (2017) and “Moriah’s Lighthouse” (2022).