Sunday, March 31, 2019

Coming Attractions







April is upon us and it's time for another Coming Attractions post.  Didn't we just do this? ;-)







We're off and running on Monday, April 1 with a tour review of The Disgraceful Lord Gray by Virginia Heath. This Harlequin Historical novel is the third book in Heath's The King's Elite series and my first book by this author. 









I love debut novels and on Tuesday, April 2, I'll be sharing my thoughts about The DNA of You and Me. This thought-provoking story by Andrea Rothman has a lot of people talking. 
Note: I've had to delay this review until later in the month. I'll post a new date as soon as I have it. 










If you enjoy sparkling Southern fiction, stop by the blog Wednesday, April 3 when I share my thoughts about Gimme Some Sugar by Molly Harper as part of the book's blog tour. This is the sixth book in Harper's Southern Eclectic series. 







On Thursday, April 4, I'll be participating in the cover reveal of Better Than Me by Kimberly Kincaid. This second book in Kincaid's Remington Medical contemporary romance series will be released May 7. After loving the first, Back to You (read my 5-Star review), I'm counting the days until book two!




The weekend of April 5-7, I'll be in Chicago for Avon's KissCon Weekend Affair. Watch my social media accounts (Facebook and Instagram) for photos. I'll also recap the weekend here at the Dish after I return and, of course, there will be giveaways! :)





Stop by Friday, April 12 to read an excerpt from Hide and Seek, the upcoming romantic suspense thriller by Mary Burton that releases April 23. 

On Wednesday, April 24, I'll post my review of Mary Burton's Hide and Seek, the follow-up to Burton's RITA® nominated Cut and Run







Anna Campbell returns Monday, April 29 with her third edition of On the Road with Anna: 2019. I'm excited to see where she takes us next. Coincidentally, April 29 is also the release date for Anna's next novel in her Laird's Most Likely series: The Highlander's Lost Lady. I'm so excited for Diarmid's story! 





That's it for April! Be sure to check back periodically for any additions or deletions to the schedule. You can do that by clicking the link in the right sidebar.

What books or events are you looking forward to in April? I have two packages of books to give away. (U.S. only) Winners will be chosen from all comments posted by 11:00 PM (Eastern), April 1, 2019. No joke! *grin*


Friday, March 29, 2019

Winner - - One the Road with Anna 2019 - Part 2







The winner of the e-book boxed set of 

The Dashing Widows novellas by Anna Campbell is:

Linda Watson

Congratulations!

Please send your email address to:

theromancedish (at) gmail (dot) com


Thursday, March 28, 2019

Review - - Forget Me Not


Forget Me Not
by Brenda Jackson
Catalina Cove - Book 2
Publisher: HQN
Release Date: March 26, 2019
Reviewed by PJ



Ashley Ryan never doubted that her husband, Devon, was the love of her life. Even now, three years after Devon died in a car wreck while on a business trip, Ashley can’t bring herself to move on. But when her girlfriends surprise her with a getaway to beautiful Catalina Cove, Louisiana, she gets the shock of her life when she encounters a man—bearded, more rugged than before, but unmistakably her Devon.

“Ray Sullivan” moved to this quiet coastal town after waking up in a hospital with amnesia. Haunted by a life he can’t remember, he’s built walls around his heart and a quiet life running boat tours—a life that includes no recollection of Ashley, a woman he suddenly finds himself irresistibly drawn to.

Doctors warn Ashley of the danger in forcing her husband to remember the past. Though she longs to tell him the truth, she finds herself falling all over again for a man she knows may never truly come back to her. In this place where healing and second chances are just a heartbeat away, can love take root once more?


My thoughts:

I have fallen in love with Brenda Jackson's Catalina Cove. I want to travel to Louisiana, book a room at Vashti's B&B, take a tour on Ray's boat, walk the beach, sample the fresh seafood, and get to know the intriguing people who populate this small southern town that Jackson's brought to life on the pages of this series. 

Though I would never want to experience it myself, I admit, I'm a pushover for an amnesia romance and Jackson has created one that pushed all my emotional buttons. My heart was with Ashley as, three years after her husband's death, she's still struggling to harness her grief and move on. Having her mother shove "new husband" candidates at her certainly isn't helping. Discovering her dead husband is very much alive but has no memory of his life before the accident creates a delicate line she must walk and I was with her every step of the way. Jackson kept my emotions bouncing as I was immersed into Ashley's thoughts, fears, and hopes during her gradual and realistically depicted journey as she begins to learn about this new version of the man she married. 

Ray's actions and reactions felt very real to me. I enjoyed his friendship with Sawyer and Kaegan. I understood his reluctance to get involved with a woman, not knowing what his life had been pre-amnesia. Jackson skillfully guides him through the ups and downs of his journey with Ashley with  heart-tugging emotion and realistic reticence. As Devon is slowly revealed through flashbacks and through Ashley's thoughts, we begin to know the man he once was. At the same time, through his present-day interactions with Ashley, both she and the reader come to know Ray as he is now. My heart ached for what Ray has, and continues, to go through. I can't imagine how difficult it must be to know you had a life, friends, family, but remember nothing about it. 

Will Devon regain his memory and return to the wife he once loved? Will Ashley fall in love with Ray, who is very different from Devon, and move forward in a new relationship with the man to whom she's already married? Or will the resolution of this story be something else entirely? You're going to have to travel to Catalina Cove through the pages Forget Me Not to discover the answers. It's a journey I enthusiastically recommend.


What setting (city, state, country) have you discovered in a romance novel that you'd love to visit in real life?

Forget Me Not is Brenda Jackson's 100th Harlequin novel. Have you read her books yet? Do you have a favorite?

One person who posts a comment before 11:00 PM, March 29 will receive a signed, print copy of a Brenda Jackson book. (I don't know which book yet as I'll be buying it at next week's Avon KissCon event.)  
U.S. addresses only.




Wednesday, March 27, 2019

On the Road with Anna Campbell: 2019 - Episode 2





Hi PJ! Hi Romance Dishers!

Back for another episode of On the Road with Anna Campbell. We last left our intrepid heroine halfway through her three weeks in Venice (you can read my first OTR post for 2019 here: https://www.theromancedish.com/2019/02/ ).

Our intrepid heroine was actually a bit of a naughty girl for those last 10 days or so in Italy. She was in town supposedly to edit The Highlander’s Lost Lady which is out at the end of April. But with the lure of so many beautiful places outside, she ended up being out more often than she was in. On the upside, she got some very nice photos!






As you can see, the weather continued glorious. It was even warm enough to sit outside and eat in the open air, which I certainly hadn’t expected to do in February. I walked for miles and got lost over and over. As PJ will tell you, that’s part of the fun of being in Venice.



I did a couple of museums, the Peggy Guggenheim Collection (http://www.guggenheim-venice.it/inglese/collections/index.html )which is full of wonderful modern art, and the Ca D’Oro (http://www.cadoro.org/?lang=en) which is full of medieval and renaissance pieces in the most spectacular palazzo. The picture of the Grand Canal from the colonnaded landing was taken from there.



I also caught up with a couple of friends and had a (very short) gondola ride across the Grand Canal. One of the highlights was a visit to the terrace of the Fondaco dei Tedeschi (https://www.dfs.com/en/venice/t-fondaco-rooftop-terrace)  with its panoramic views right across La Serenissima. You really do feel on top of the world there. If you’re planning a trip to Venice, I’d highly recommend doing this. It’s free but you have to book – they only give you 15 minutes up there!



The two pictures with the one of me in the gondola are from my last day in this beautiful city and are in the way of a promise to myself that I’ll get back there before too long. I shouted myself a rather extravagant lunch at a beautiful restaurant called Algiubaggio di Antonello. The moody picture next to it was my last shot from my last walk around the canals.


Venice continued to come up trumps for me the next day when I scored an upgrade on both legs of my flight to Dublin. This was just a quick visit to the fascinating capital of Ireland – I did a tour of Kilmainham Jail (http://kilmainhamgaolmuseum.ie/ )which has a tragic and dramatic history of convicts transported to Australia and the imprisonment of the heroes of the 1916 uprising, had a haircut, and did a lovely drive with a friend of mine, romance writer Abby Green (https://abby-green.com/), along the gorgeous sea coast not far from the city. The photo at the top of this column gives you an idea of both the scenery and the new coiffure!


Since then I’ve been settled in the lap of luxury at the Tyrone Guthrie Centre (http://www.tyroneguthrie.ie/) in Annaghmakerrig in Country Monaghan, up near the Northern Irish border. Because of my lack of achievement in Venice, I’ve had my head down but not so down that I haven’t taken a few nice photos in this gorgeous environment.

Tyrone Guthrie was an internationally renowned director, producer and writer from the 1920s through to the 1960s. After his death, he bequeathed his beautiful family estate to the Irish nation as a retreat for artists. I’ve been meeting the most amazing people here, painters and dancers and theatre types, and a whole stack of writers. Ireland seems to grow writers the way my lawn grows dandelions! I feel very lucky to be here.



I’m in the late Lady Guthrie’s room – which is definitely feeding into my fantasies of being the lady of the manor! Look at that lovely view from my desk out over the lake. If you look at the photo of the house, my room is upstairs on the far right-hand side above the main entrance. Very la-di-dah! The other pictures are from my walks along the lake where I go when I need to clear my head after spending all that time steaming up Scotland with my hero and heroine!

Check back next month for the next lot of adventures. I’ve got another two weeks here in Ireland, then I’m heading to Scotland. I’m visiting a new island, Bute, and also returning to the beautiful Isle of Eigg which many of you will remember from last year’s posts.

I’m finishing up with a photo that makes me smile. The day I went to Peggy Guggenheim, I walked for miles. It turns out Google maps are unreliable (to say the least!) amidst the twists and turns of Venice. Starving and dead tired, I stumbled into a restaurant called the Trattoria ai Cugnai. Very old and atmospheric and traditional, as you can see. And it turns out, the gondoliers’ choice for where to have lunch. I suspected I was in good hands—and I was.



I’ve got a download of the bestselling boxed set of my Dashing Widows stories to go to someone today. 



No geographical restrictions. Tell me about your favorite restaurant/café to be in the draw. Good luck and see you next month!




Tuesday, March 26, 2019

Tour Review, Giveaway & Excerpt - - In Her Sights





In Her Sights
by Katie Ruggle
Rocky Mountain Bounty Hunters - Book 1
Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca
Release Date: March 26, 2019
Reviewed by PJ
 


Five bounty-hunting sisters 
Deep in the heart of the Rockies 
Fighting to save each other 
...and the men who steal their hearts 

Bounty hunter Molly Pax fought hard for everything she has, turning the bail recovery business she shares with her sisters into an unqualified success. So when their sticky-fingered mother jumps bail and puts the childhood home up as collateral, Molly's horrified. To make matters worse, every two-bit criminal in the Rockies now sees her family's misfortune as their next big break. 

She needs help, stat. 

Enter rival bounty hunter John Carmondy: six feet of pure trouble, with a cocky grin to match. John's the most cheerfully, annoyingly gorgeous frenemy Molly's ever had the pleasure of defeating...and he may be her only hope of making it out of this mess alive. 


My thoughts: 

I have yet to meet a Katie Ruggle story that I didn't like and In Her Sights is no exception. Being the first in a series with an overarching mystery, this book naturally sets the stage for future books as well as introducing the cast of main characters yet at no time did I ever feel overwhelmed or confused by the number of characters in the book. Also, while Molly's sisters all have roles in this book and we begin to know each one's individual personalities and quirks within the family dynamic, the primary focus remains consistently on Molly and John. 

Did I mention how much I adored Molly and John? These two are so much fun. I loved their chemistry, their banter, and how they oh so slowly move from rivals to temporary bounty hunting partners to friends and then more. Molly is independent, sarcastic, and a protective mama bear to her younger sisters. Her take-charge attitude has been ingrained since she was a young girl and it's not about to change now. But who takes care of Molly? Enter John Carmondy, a mountain of a man with a sweet smile, protective nature, and a marshmallow heart, at least when it comes to Molly. 

"He's in loooove," Felicity cooed, and Molly jabbed her sister in the side with her elbow. "How have you not realized this? He basically has cartoon hearts where his pupils should be whenever he looks at  you." 

He's head over heels and, of course, Molly is the only one who doesn't see it. She thinks the only reason he seems to be around when things go sideways is because he's trying to steal her skips. 
Nope. John's motivation is something else entirely. Watching these two strike sparks off one another was pure pleasure. Watching them finally come together was even better!

While the tone of this book is lighter than Ruggle's previous books, there's still plenty of action and a mystery at its core. Get ready for lots of twists and turns as Molly, John, and Molly's sisters all work together to discover what their criminal mother has actually done this time and where she's fled. Pieces of the mystery will be solved in this book but there are still questions to be answered in future ones. As for Molly and John, you can expect a smile-inducing, happy ending for those two and, undoubtedly, more shenanigans in the future. 


Have you read any Katie Ruggle books yet? Do you have a favorite?

Do you enjoy your romantic suspense light and humorous or dark and twisty? Or perhaps, both?




In Her Sights (Rocky Mountain Bounty Hunters #1)
Excerpt 2

The chilly air brushed against her damp face, making her realize how warm the bar was. She peered down the dim alley, checking both directions. Except for the dumpster that she’d warned John about, the narrow lane was empty. Frustration rose in her chest, squeezing her lungs. Sonny’d had too much time to get away. The crowd had succeeded in giving him enough of a head start to escape. Without a direction, Molly knew they had no hope of finding him.
John made an irritated sound, and Molly turned to meet his gaze. “I know. It sucks. At least we know he hasn’t left town…yet. Should we go back and see what we can pry out of the zombies? Someone has to know where he’s been crashing.”
He looked unhappy about this idea. “That’s a pretty hostile bunch. You shouldn’t go back in there.”
Although a big part of her bristled at the implication that she couldn’t take care of herself, an even bigger part was relieved. She didn’t want to question the bar patrons, and John was giving her an out. She’d be an idiot to insist on endangering them for a slight chance that someone in the crowd was willing to talk.
Letting out a disappointed huff of air, she stepped into the alley. When John didn’t immediately follow, she turned to raise a questioning eyebrow. “You weren’t planning on staying, were you?” Her stomach churned with concern at the thought of him alone in Dutch’s. Sure, he was a strong guy, but even he couldn’t fight off dozens of people if they meant him harm. Who knew how many were armed, too. The bouncer hadn’t checked the two of them for weapons, and they weren’t even regulars.
“No.” John finally followed her out, and she released the door so it swung shut behind him. “I was just surprised you didn’t insist on staying.”
She shrugged, not wanting to admit that she’d considered it out of foolish pride, even though it had just been for a moment or two. “I have a greater sense of self-preservation than that.”
“I…” Whatever he had been about to say was lost when his voice trailed off, his eyes locked on the back of a neighboring building. Molly followed his gaze to a door that was cracked open just an inch or two. Turning her head, she exchanged a speaking look with John, and they both moved quietly toward the barely open door.
“You armed?” he asked so quietly that she could barely hear him.
“Depends how you define arms.” Slipping her Taser from her pants pocket, she held it at her side. “You?”
“No gun.” His gaze stayed fixed on the dark gap between the door and the frame as they moved closer to the building. “I do have arms, though.”
She was pretty sure he flexed, although her attention, like his, was focused on the slightly open door. A touch of amusement ran through her, but it was quickly swallowed by apprehension. Who knew what kind of danger hid in the shadows of the warehouse?
When they were just a few feet from the door, Molly reached her free hand toward the edge, intending to push it open, but there was suddenly a huge man in her way. With a glare at the broad back in front of her, blocking her way and even her view of the entry, she dodged around him, giving him a sharp elbow in the side. Even if he was just trying to be chivalrous, it was still a ridiculous thing to do.
Easing the door open, she took a cautious step inside, grateful for John’s watchful presence at her back. The murky ambient light illuminated the interior just enough to see shadows and forms. Dust and the lingering hint of old chemicals prickled her nose. Before she could take a second step, a darting movement caught her attention. Molly sucked in a startled breath and spun to face the threat, her entire focus was on who—or what—was in the dark space with them. Before she could race after whoever it was, the world behind them lit up, whiting out her vision. She didn’t have time to think or plan or even duck before a ferocious boom sounded, so loud that she felt it through her entire body.
John! her brain screamed, even as she knew it was too late to help him. The explosion had already sent her flying forward, weightless, from the force of the blast.








a Rafflecopter giveaway


a Rafflecopter giveaway


Purchase Links:   
Indieboundhttp://bit.ly/2I2u913 

Author Website: http://katieruggle.com/ 

Monday, March 25, 2019

Review - - Lady Derring Takes a Lover


Lady Derring Takes a Lover
by Julie Anne Long
Publisher: Avon
Release Date: February 26, 2019
Reviewed by Santa




Lady Derring Takes A Lover by Julie Anne Long is a five dish read for me. I can’t say enough about this book and, truth to tell, I am writing this review with a smile on my face. It’s the same smile I had while reading the book. Lady Derring Takes A Lover is the first book of Ms. Long’s newest The Palace of Rogues series. Coming off the wildly popular and successful Pennyroyal series and her Hellcat Canyon series, you gotta wonder if a new book can stand up to muster. The answer is a resounding YES! This book is chock full of unique personalities, witty dialog and an interesting mystery or two. 

Lady Delilah Derring, a proper wife and daughter who knew her place in the world and what to do there finds herself a destitute widow thanks to her slightly neglectful husband with a penchant for statuary and cigars. The only bonus from his demise is the loss of those hideous statues, along with everything unentailed from larder to attic, except for the only thing he owned outright - a building on the docks. That was a surprise. Her second surprise came when Derring’s mistress, Mrs. Angelique Breedlove, barged in to see what pittance he had left her. As it turns out Derring, never generous in life, was equally so in death. Left destitute as well, she strongly advises Lady Derring to sew what jewels she may have into her clothes and leave the bare bones of her life and get away as fast as she can.

Lady Derring is astounded that Derring seemed to owe everyone but managed to secure a building and mistress. That seals it for her. No more the meek and mild one, Delilah takes her endearingly inept maid and goes to the docks to see about this building she now owns. Gently bred or not, whatever it holds is her future now. She ventures into the pub next door and finds Mrs. Breedlove in the back contemplating her own future which includes stones in her pockets and a walk into the Thames. Angelique went from innocent miss to a misled venture into ruin to becoming a mistress to Derring. Delilah convinces her to put whatever jewels she has into her pockets and join her in making the building next store a kind of boarding house where people can reside and join in evenings of music and conversation after being fed delicious meals from the chef she hopes to lure back into her employ.

Interest piqued, they join forces to make the building over from what seems to have been a brothel in years past but whose recent history remains a mystery. It turns out they are not the only ones interested in the building. Captain Tristin Hardy and his men have been tracking smuggling operations of a Blue Rock gang. This gang has been smuggling a number of items, among them cigars, but their trail lingers around that same building and at the same time runs to the ground at Derring’s death.

Determined to solve this mystery, Hardy finds himself renting a room at the building formerly known as The Palace of Rogues. However, the newly refurbished Grand Palace on the Thames requires that he follow a number of rules including mandatory nights in pleasant company in the parlor after dinner and frequent donations to a swear jar. The Grand Palace becomes the residence of an interesting assortment of guests, even the quiet sisters who take to sitting in the darker corners. Though none proves as intriguing to Captain Hardy as Lady Derring and the same could be said for her. Tired of being the gently bred nice girl the idea takes hold in her head to take a lover. Captain Tristan Hardy seems like just the ticket.

I loved this book. The dialog, the intrigue. I would have liked to rent a room there myself. And I look forward to her next book in the series which features Angelique and the mystery man whose man of business secured rooms he never came to occupy.

Saturday, March 23, 2019

Winners - - 2019 RITA Finalists Post







The two randomly chosen winners of a package of books are:

petite

and

emily

Congratulations!

Please send your full name and mailing address (U.S. only) to:

thromancedish (at) gmail (dot) com




Friday, March 22, 2019

Review - - When a Highlander Weds a Hellion


When a Highlander Weds a Hellion
by Julie Johnstone
Highlander Vows: Entangled Hearts - Book 8
Self-Published
Release Date: March 22, 2019
 




How far will he go to belong?

Fierce, famed Highland warrior Broch MacLeod has always been a bastard—until one day he isn’t. And now that he’s discovered his real family, he intends to do whatever it takes to carve a place for himself in it, including wedding the lass known as the Hellion of the Highlands.

What will she do for vengeance?

When strong-willed, independent Katreine Kinntoch is forced to wed her sworn enemy’s son, she vows never to surrender her body or heart to the wickedly handsome, too-cocky Scot. Instead, she intends to make him dislike her so much that he’ll gladly send her back to her home.

How long will it take them to see they are each other’s only hope?

Danger and treachery unexpectedly bring Broch and Katreine closer, but can they trust each other enough to choose love over the ties that bind and the revenge that burns all around them?


My thoughts:

When I'm in the mood to travel to Medieval Scotland through the pages of a book, Julie Johnstone is one of the first authors to whom I turn. Time and again, she creates intriguing, complex characters who capture my interest and my heart then skillfully guides them along a tumultuous, frequently dangerous, always emotional journey to the love and happiness they so richly deserve. Her ability to bring the Medieval era, Scottish countryside, and people of that time to life through her words never fails to immerse this reader deeply into the lives of her characters as they battle the forces standing in the way of their HEA. 

I adored Broch. My heart ached for the boy inside the man who had always stood just outside the circle of his chosen clan and rejoiced when he finally found his rightful place. I admired his tenacity, his loyalty, his sense of honor, and his patience. And I fell hard for his tender heart. He needed a strong woman to challenge him and, boy howdy, did Katreine fit that bill! She's more than earned her "hellion" status but the reasons for her fierceness are those to which anyone who has lost a loved one to tragedy can relate. And it's that very quality that draws Broch to her. The banter between these two is all that is wonderful but the tenderness, respect, and trust that slowly develops and gradually opens their hearts to the possibilities of love is all that and more. 

There's much more to this story involving clan feuds, deception and betrayal, mysterious murders, and sibling rivalry but going into detail would reveal spoilers that are better discovered within the pages of the book. I will just say that there are multiple secondary characters who I sincerely hope we'll be seeing more of in future stories. 

When a Highlander Weds a Hellion is the eighth book in Johnstone's Highlander Vows: Entangled Hearts series. While readers of the series will recognize Broch from appearances in previous books, this book stands completely on its own. However, if you're in the mood for a fast-paced, adventurous, and deeply emotionally Medieval romance, you can't go wrong with Julie Johnstone. I highly recommend all eight books in the series. 


Have you read any of Julie Johnstone's books?

Do you enjoy Medieval romance?

Who are some of your go-to Medieval romance authors?




Thursday, March 21, 2019

RWA: The 2019 RITA and GH Finalists Are...


2013 RITA Winners Sarah MacLean & Eloisa James


I look forward to this day every year. Today is the day Romance Writers of America® announces the finalists for the Rita® and Golden Heart® awards, honoring the best published books and unpublished manuscripts of 2018. Winners of the 2019 Golden Heart® will be announced at an awards luncheon Thursday, July 25, 2019 at the RWA national conference in New York City. Winners of the RITA® will be announced at an evening awards ceremony on Friday, July 26, 2019, also during the national conference.  

I'll be posting the names of the finalists as they are announced throughout today. All finalists will be revealed by 3:00 PM (Eastern).



What books do you hope to see on the 2019 list?

Which category or categories are your favorites?

Share your thoughts about the finalists. For which books will you be cheering this July?

Two randomly chosen people who post a comment before 11:00 PM (Eastern), March 22 will each receive a package of books. (U.S. addresses only)



2010 RITA Finalist Tessa Dare



RITA 

Contemporary Romance: Long

Novels that are set from 1950 to the present that are 84,000 or more words.  

A TALL, DARK COWBOY CHRISTMAS by Maisey Yates
BAD BACHELOR by Stefanie London
BEST OF LUCK by Kate Clayborn
LONG SHOT by Kennedy Ryan
MELT FOR YOU by J.T. Geissinger
THE HEARTLESS BOYFRIEND by Erika Kelly
LUCK OF THE DRAW by Kate Clayborn

Contemporary Romance: Mid-Length

Novels that are set from 1950 to the present that are between 56,000 and 84,000 words in length.

PART-TIME HUSBAND by Noelle Adams
GIVE AND TAKE by Lee Kilraine
LENNON REBORN by Scarlett Cole
KNOCKED-UP CINDERELLA by Julie Hammerle
LOVING A WARRIOR by Melanie Hansen
NOT QUITE CRAZY by Catherine Bybee
CELEBRITY SPIN DOCTOR by Celia Mulder
RELAY by Layla Reyne
SERGEANT SEXYPANTS by Tawna Fenske
SLEEPOVER by Serena Bell
ADVANCED PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY by Susannah Nix


Contemporary Romance: Short
Novels that are set from 1950 to the present that are between 40,000 and 56,000 words in length.


A BABY TO BIND HIS BRIDE by Caitlin Crews
CLAIM ME, COWBOY by Maisey Yates
FAIR GAME by Amy Andrews
TANNER'S PROMISE by Kaylie Newell
THE MILLION POUND MARRIAGE DEAL by Michelle Douglas
THE CAPTAINS' VEGAS VOWS by Caro Carson
THE BACHELOR'S BABY SURPRISE by Teri Wilson
A SAFE PLACE TO LAND by Dee Ernst
A FOOL AND HIS MANNY by Amy Lane
  


2014 Rita Finalist Courtney Milan


Erotic Romance

Novels in which strong, often explicit, sexual interaction is an inherent part of the love story, character growth and relationship development and could not be removed without damaging the storyline. These novels may contain elements of other romance subgenres (such as paranormal, historical, etc.).

THREE-WAY SPLIT by Elia Winters
PICTURE PERFECT COWBOY by Tiffany Reisz
SINFUL GAMES by Shelly Alexander
TOTAL EXPOSURE by JA Huss

Historical Romance: Long

Novels that are set prior to 1950 and that are longer than 89,000 words.

A WICKED KIND OF HUSBAND by Mia Vincy
AN EARL LIKE YOU by Caroline Linden
A SCANDALOUS DEAL by Joanna Shupe
LADY IN WAITING by Marie Tremayne


Historical Romance: Short

Novels that are set prior to 1950 and that are between 40,000 and 89,000 words.

HELL'S BELLE by Annabelle Anders
NEVER DARE A WICKED EARL by Renee Ann Miller
THE DEVIL TO PAY by K.C. Bateman
A DUKE IN THE NIGHT by Kelly Bowen
WHAT ALES THE EARL by Sally MacKenzie
WITH LOVE IN SIGHT by Christina Britton





2018 Rita Finalist Wendy LaCapra

  

Mainstream Fiction with a Central Romance

Mainstream Fiction novels in which themes or elements other than the romance are integral to the story even though a central love story and an emotionally satisfying and optimistic resolution to the romance are still present. This category is intended for romances that do not fit neatly into any other category due to their mainstream fiction nature but where the central romance could not be removed without damaging the storyline.

A GIRL DIVIDED by Ellen Lindseth MORNINGS ON MAIN by Jodi Thomas
BELLEWETHER by Susanna Kearsley
FIVE YEARS GONE by Marie Force 
HOW TO KEEP A SECRET by Sarah Morgan 
MORNINGS ON MAIN by Jodi Thomas 
  

Paranormal Romance

Novels in which fantasy worlds or paranormal or science fiction elements are an integral part of the plot.

DEBRIEFING THE DEAD by Kerry Blaisdell
TO CATCH A ROGUE by Bec McMaster
THE LAST WOLF by Maria Vale
HAUNTED HEARTS by Kimberly Dean
OUT OF BODY by Suzanne Brockmann
DEAREST IVIE by J.R. Ward
WRETCHED by Cara Crescent
  



Romance Novella

Novellas are between 20,000 and 40,000 words.

CATCHING IRISH by Katy Regnery
BAD BLOOD by M. Malone
DRAGON LORD by Dana Marton
"Lead Counsel" by Aurora Rey in THE BOSS OF HER:OFFICE ROMANCE NOVELLAS
LOVING THE SECRET BILLIONAIRE by Adriana Anders
SAVED BY THE COWBOY by A.J. Pine 
"The Dragons of Summer" by Jeffe Kennedy in SEASONS OF SORCERY 
  

Romance with Religious or Spiritual Elements

Novels in which religious or spiritual beliefs are an inherent part of the love story, character growth and relationship development and could not be removed without damaging the storyline. These novels may be set in the context of any religious or spiritual belief system of any culture.

A MOTHER FOR HIS FAMILY by Susanne Dietze
HOME ON HUCKLEBERRY HILL by Jennifer Beckstrand
THEIR AMISH REUNION by Lenora Worth 
THE SATURDAY NIGHT SUPPER CLUB by Carla Laureano
  

Romantic Suspense

Novels in which suspense, mystery, or thriller elements constitute an integral part of the plot.

BEFORE WE WERE STRANGERS by Brenda Novak

CUT AND RUN by Mary Burton
FEARLESS by Elizabeth Dyer
RELENTLESS by Elizabeth Dyer
RECKLESS HONOR by Tonya Burrows
CONSUMED by J.R. Ward
THE BASTARD'S BARGAIN by Katee Robert




2018 RITA Winner Kelly Bowen

  

Young Adult Romance

Novels in which young adult life is an integral part of the plot.

MY SO-CALLED BOLLYWOOD LIFE by Nisha Sharma
CRY BABY by Ginger Scott
LIKE NEVER AND ALWAYS by Ann Aguirre
NOT IF I SAVE YOU FIRST by Ally Carter
  

Best First Book

A Novel entered in another contest category. To be eligible, the author (or authors in the case of a writing team) shall not have had any other novel or novella previously commercially available in any format.

A WICKED KIND OF HUSBAND by Mia Vincy
LADY IN WAITING by Marie Tremayne
THE LAST WOLF by Maria Vale
CELEBRITY SPIN DOCTOR by Celia Mulder
WITH LOVE IN SIGHT by Christina Britton





GOLDEN HEART

Contemporary Romance

Manuscripts that are set from 1950 to the present that are greater than 65,000 words.

THE CINDERELLA FACTOR by Elly Kate
FOCUSED ON A COWBOY by Makenna Lee
HE OWNS MY HEART by Evie Drae
HOME TO YOU by Sandra Marine
HOT RAIDER by Joy Adare 
NEVER HAVE I EVER by Rosie Donan
PAGE SIX by Alexis De Girolami
ROUGH AROUND THE EDGES by Margot Pierce
SALT + STILETTOS by Janet Walden-West
TEMPTING TALK by Sara Netzley
THE TO DO LIST by Denise Williams
 

Contemporary Romance: Short

Manuscripts that are set from 1950 to the present that are less than 65,000 words in length.

BILLIONAIRE FOR HIRE by Melanie McCarthy
CHASING HOME by Priscilla Cook
LOVE ON THE BOOKS by Betsy Gray
MURPHY'S DEBT by Becke Turner
WOUNDED MARTYR by Courtney Maguire
YOU'LL NEVER LOVE IN THIS TOWN AGAIN by McKinley Reed




Historical Romance 

Manuscripts that are set prior to 1950.

A DANGEROUS AFFINITY by Emily Sullivan
A SEASON FOR SCANDAL by Mary Baumhoer
DANGEROUS PURSUIT by Ann Cheney
INTRIGUING THE IRISHMAN by Emily Sullivan
TEMPTING THE HEIRESS by Emily Sullivan
AN UNLOVED EARL by Eileen Emerson
EVERY TIME YOU'RE NEAR by Shannon Gallagher 
WYLDE AT HEART by Elizabeth King


Mainstream Fiction with a Central Romance

Mainstream Fiction novels in which themes or elements other than the romance are integral to the story even though a central love story and an emotionally satisfying and optimistic resolution to the romance are still present. This category is intended for romances that do not fit neatly into any other category due to their mainstream fiction nature but where the central romance could not be removed without damaging the storyline.

BROKEN WHITE LINES by Melissa Wiesner
EVERYTHING COMES BACK TO YOU by Melissa Wiesner
JANE DARLING'S RULES OF INHERITANCE by Megan McGee
LEARNING CURVE by Sharon M. Peterson
LOLITA'S MUSE by Claire DeWolf
PLAYING NICE by Evi Kline
RESURRECTING ANNIE WOLFF by Anna Collins
THE SODA FOUNTAIN SISTER AND THE FLOWER LADY by Sheri Taylor-Emery


Paranormal Romance

Manuscripts in which fantasy worlds or paranormal or science fiction elements are an integral part of the plot.

BLESS YOUR HEART AND OTHER SOUTHERN CURSES by Heather Leonard
INHERENT LIES by Alicia Anthony
TOUCH 3.3 by Valen Cox
THE TRANSFORMATION OF ALEXIS DOE by Jilly Wood
WARRIOR OF EDEN by Fenley Grant
WITCH WAY DOWN by Chelly Pike


Romance with Religious or Spiritual Elements

Novels in which religious or spiritual beliefs are an inherent part of the love story, character growth and relationship development and could not be removed without damaging the storyline. These novels may be set in the context of any religious or spiritual belief system of any culture.

COUNTERFEIT LOVE by Crystal Caudill
THE INN AT MILL CREEK by Kellie Parker
THE PROMISE OF SPRING by Mary Hutchens
  

Romantic Suspense

Manuscripts in which suspense, mystery, or thriller elements constitute an integral part of the plot.

ALL YOUR BROKEN PIECES by Evie Drae
DIRTY MONEY by Monique Headley
FREE MY HEART by Diane Wiggs
HIGH HEELS AND HANDGUNS by Lisa Heartman
THE HUSTLER by Angie Hockman
DEADLY AIM by Tracy Brody
  

Young Adult Romance

Manuscripts in which young adult life is an integral part of the plot.

AFTER I BID YOU ADIEU by Sammi Spizziri
DRAGGED! by Susan Lee
SONG OF THE SOPHOS by A. Y. Chao
THE NASCENT BLOOM by Janet Raye Stevens
THE WALLS BETWEEN by Christine Gunderson