Friday, March 26, 2010

The Envelope Please...

Congratulations to the finalists announced yesterday for the 2010 RWA (Romance Writers of America) RITA and Golden Heart awards!  The RITA awards are given annually to the books selected by a panel of judges as best in each of 12 published romance fiction categories for the previous year.  The Golden Heart award is given annually to the unpublished manuscripts judged as best in each of 10 categories.  The winners will be announced at a formal ceremony during the RWA National Conference in Nashville, TN this July.  Best wishes to all the finalists!








2010 RITA FINALISTS
(as published at the RWA Website)

Best First Book:

One Scream Away by Kate Brady
He Calls Her Doc by Mary Brady
The Gladiator by Carla Capshaw
Angel Vindicated by Viola Estrella
The Better Part of Darkness by Kelly Gay
Stolen Fury by Elisabeth Naughton
Nothing Like You by Lauren Strasnick
The Last Will of Moira Leahy by Therese Walsh


Contemporary Series Romance:

A Not-So-Perfect Past by Beth Andrews
From the Outside by Helen Brenna
The Snow-Kissed Bride by Linda Goodnight
Single Mom Seeks... by Teresa Hill
Revealed: A Prince and a Pregnancy by Kelly Hunter
The Christmas Love-Child by Jennie Lucas
One-Night Mistress...Convenient Wife by Anne McAllister
Duty, Desire and the Desert King by Jane Porter
I Still Do by Christie Ridgway


Contemporary Series Romance - Suspense/Adventure

Mountain Investigation by Jessica Andersen
The Christmas Stranger by Beth Cornelison
The Soldier's Secret Daughter by Cindy Dees
In Care of Sam Beaudry by Kathleen Eagle
Silent Watch by Elle Kennedy
Cold Case Affair by Loreth Anne White
The Christmas Present by Tracy Wolff



Contemporary Single Title Romance

Talk Me Down by Victoria Dahl
True Love and Other Disasters by Rachel Gibson
For the Love of Pete by Julia Harper
Too Good to Be True by Kristan Higgins
A Little Light Magic by Joy Nash
Dirty Sexy Knitting by Christie Ridgway
Instant Attraction by Jill Shalvis
Fireside by Susan Wiggs



Historical Romance

Wicked All Day by Liz Carlyle
With Seduction in Mind by Laura Lee Guhrke
To Beguile a Beast by Elizabeth Hoyt
Make Me Yours by Betina Krahn
Knight of Pleasure by Margaret Mallory
The Lone Texan by Jodi Thomas
Not Quite a Husband by Sherry Thomas
Taming Her Irish Warrior by Michelle Willingham




Inspirational Romance

The Inheritance by Tamera Alexander
A Lady like Sarah by Margaret Brownley
The Gladiator by Carla Capshaw
Entertaining Angels by Judy Duarte
An Eye for an Eye by Irene Hannon
The Silent Governess by Julie Klassen
Breach of Trust by Diann Mills
The Confidential Life of Eugenia Cooper by Kathleen Y'Barbo



Novel with Strong Romantic Elements

The Better Part of Darkness by Kelly Gay
Scandal Sheet by Gemma Halliday
Red's Hot Honky Tonk Bar by Pamela Morsi
The Lost Recipe for Happiness by Barbara O'Neal
Silent on the Moor by Deanna Raybourn
The Accidental Best Seller by Wendy Wax
The Virgin's Daughters: In the Court of Elizabeth by Jeane Westin
Lakeshore Christmas by Susan Wiggs

Paranormal Romance
What Would Jane Austen Do? by Laurie Brown
Untouchable in Deep Kiss of Winter by Kresley Cole
Kiss of a Demon King by Kresley Cole
My Forbidden Desire by Carolyn Jewel
The Fire King by Marjorie M. Liu
For the Earl's Pleasure by Anne Mallory
Darkness Unknown by Alexis Morgan
Covet by J.R. Ward
Mortal Sins by Eileen Wilks


Regency Historical

Surrender of a Siren by Tessa Dare
Scandal by Carolyn Jewel
Tempting Fate by Alissa Johnson
A View to a Kiss by Caroline Linden
Revealed by Kate Noble
What Happens in London by Julia Quinn
Lord Braybrook's Penniless Bride by Elizabeth Rolls


Romance Novella
"A Little Night Magic" by Allyson James in Hot for the Holidays
"The Robber's Bride" by Marjorie M. Liu in Huntress
"Annalise and the Scandalous Rake" by Deb Marlowe in The Diamonds of Welbourne Manor
"Charlotte and the Wicked Lord" by Amanda McCabe in The Diamonds of Welbourne Manor
"This Wicked Gift" by Courtney Milan in The Heart of Christmas
"On a Snowy Christmas" by Brenda Novak in The Night Before Christmas
"The Christmas Eve Promise" by Molly O'Keefe in The Night Before Christmas


Romantic Suspense

One Scream Away by Kate Brady
Waking the Dead by Kylie Brant
A Dark Love by Margaret Carroll
Whisper of Warning by Laura Griffin
Stolen Fury by Elisabeth Naughton
Dark Country by Bronwyn Parry
Promises in Death by J.D. Robb
Kill for Me by Karen Rose

Young Adult

Fairy Tale by Cyn Balog
Don't Judge a Girl by Her Cover by Ally Carter
Perfect Chemistry by Simone Elkeles
Going Too Far by Jennifer Echols
The ABC's of Kissing Boys by Tina Ferraro
Nothing Like You by Lauren Strasnick






You can access a complete list of the Golden Heart finalists here.  A special "Hip, Hip, Hooray!" to the following Romance dish pals for being 2010 Golden Heart finalists:

Romance Bandit, K.J. Howe for Breathless
Gillian Layne for To Seduce a Proper Rogue
Vanessa Barneveld for Ghost-Ridden


How many of this year's RITA nominated books have you read?  Do you have a favorite to win any of the categories?  Do you have any favorite books from 2009 that you think should have been on the list? 

Will you be in Nashville this summer to cheer on the finalists?  (Don't worry if you can't be there.  All of the Dishes will be at the conference, bringing you the latest news right here at The Romance Dish!)

10 comments:

  1. Congrats to all the finalists!!! I know they must all be so thrilled!!!

    I can't wait to cheer them on in Nashville. It is going to be a blast!

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  2. I'd hate to have to select the winners, Buffie. How can you possibly choose just one book per category from so many wonderful ones?

    It was nice to see some of my favorites from 2009 on the list but I have to admit to being surprised by a few that didn't make it.

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  3. Congrats to everyone! There are so many that I haven't read, and like you, PJ, a few that I'm surprised didn't make the cut.

    Can't wait for the fun in Nashville!

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  4. I do have favorites in many categories. Am surprised by a few that are missing, Jennifer Ashley's THE MADNESS OF LORD IAN MACKENZIE in the Regency Historicals for one and Lori Brighton's WILD HEART in the Best First book category, and SUMMER OF TWO WISHES by Julia London in the Contemporary Single title.
    For Novel with strong romantic element - SILENT ON THE MOOR by Deanna Raybourn
    For Inspirational Romance - A LADY LIKE SARAH by Margaret Brownley.
    For Regency Historical - WHAT HAPPENS IN LONDON by Julia Quinn.
    For Historical Romance - a tie - TO BEGUILE A BEAST by Elizabeth Hoyt and KNIGHT OF PLEASURE by Margaret Mallory.
    For Contemporary single title - A LITTLE LIGHT MAGIC by Joy Nash.
    For Contemporary series - Suspense -MOUNTAIN INVESTIGATION by Jessica Andersen

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  5. Congrats to all the finalists! That's a great list of books. I've read some of them, and loved them.Will not be attending in Nashville!!

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  6. Congrats to all the nominees. I read six of the books in the romantic suspense category, but only a few in the other categories. I wish I were going to Nashville. I'll definitely be visiting here for all the updates.

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  7. Hi, lovely Dishes! Thanks for the shout-out! I'm looking forward to meeting you in Nashville.

    I've read Tina Ferraro's fabulous ABC's of Kissing Boys, and I'm also a big fan of Simone Elkeles and Ally Carter. What Happens in London and Wicked All Day are on my TBR pile--they both look like fantastic reads.

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  8. Congrats to all the finalists!!!

    I am rooting for both LLG in historical romance (LOVED With Seduction in Mind and JQ in the Regency category for What Happens in London.

    In the novella category, I read The Diamonds of Welbourne Manor, and loved both Amanda and Deb's contributions.

    I admit, I was surprised and disappointed that Eloisa wasn't nominated for either This Duchess of Mine, or A Duke of Her Own, which were both fantastic!

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  9. Lots of great finalists!

    I completely agree with you, Patricia--where is THE MADNESS OF LORD IAN MACKENZIE??? Fantastic book.

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  10. I can't wait to see all of you in Nashville! :)

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