Wednesday, March 26, 2014

And the Finalists are...

For romance authors and those of us who love reading their books, today is the day!  Today, Romance Writers of America® (RWA) will announce the finalists for best books and best unpublished manuscripts of 2013. Writers wait nervously by their phones while readers hover over their computers, all waiting to find out which books make the finals...and which don't.  We'll be following the announcements here at The Romance Dish, talking about all the great books of 2013.  And, because today is all about favorite romance books, we'll be giving away some books too.  So come on in, choose a comfy chair, grab a drink and let's talk books!

We'll fill in the finalists for each of the categories below as they are announced but I'm sure we all have our own thoughts about what books published in 2013 should be in those slots. 

Tell us about your favorite books of 2013 and which of them you'd like to see listed below. 

Tell us about the books you think will be listed below. 

Share your thoughts about the books that are announced today as finalists.  Which ones do you think will win? 

The more comments you leave, the more chances to win!  

 


RITA® FINALISTS


Contemporary Romance

Homecoming Ranch by Julia London
Along Came Trouble by Ruthie Knox
Sleigh Bells in the Snow By Sarah Morgan
Home to Whiskey Creek by Brenda Novak
Whiskey Beach by Nora Roberts
Country Roads by Nancy Herkness
The Second Chance Cafe by Alison Kent
Beach House No. 9 by Christie Ridgway
Fix You by Beck Anderson
Half Moon Hill by Toni Blake
It Had to Be You by Jill Shalvis
Rumor Has It by Jill Shalvis
The Sweet Spot by Laura Drake
Letters to Nowhere by Julie Cross
The Way You Look Tonight by Bella Andre
Crazy Thing Called Love by Molly O'Keefe
Rescued by a Stranger by Liz Selvig
Talk of the Town by Beth Andrews




Erotic Romance 

Claim Me by J. Kenner
When I'm Bad I'm Better in It Stings so Sweet by Stephanie Draven
Private Practice by Samanthe Beck




Historical Romance

A Rake's Midnight Kiss by Anna Campbell
The Chieftain's Curse by Frances Housden
Love and Other Scandals by Caroline Linden
The Countess Conspiracy by Courtney Milan
Duke of Midnight by Elizabeth Holt
Never Desire a Duke by Lily Dalton
The Lady and the Laird by Nicola Cornick
Sonata for a Scoundrel by Anthea Lawson
No Good Duke Goes Unpunished by Sarah MacLean
Darius by Grace Burrowes
Dark Angel: A Gothic Fairy Tale by T J Bennett
The Luckiest Lady in London by Sherry Thomas
Any Duchess Will Do by Tessa Dare
The Rogue's Proposal by Jennifer Haymore
Sins of a Ruthless Rogue by Anna Randol
The Autumn Bride by Anne Gracie
Plaid Tidings by Mia Marlowe





Inspirational Romance

Five Days in Skye by Carla Laureano
Promise to Return by Elizabeth Byler Younts



Paranormal Romance

The Devil's Heart by Cathy Maxwell
Immortally Ever After by Angie Fox
Skies of Gold: The Ether Chronicles by Zoe Archer
Shadowdance by Kristen Callihan
His Clockwork Canary by Beth Ciotta
Diamond Dust by Vivian Arend
Caged Warrior by Lindsey Piper
Witch Bound by Eleri Stone
The Burning Sky by Sherry Thomas
The Firebird by Susanna Kearsley
Demon Hunting in a Dive Bar by Lexi George
Heart of Obsidian by Nalini Singh
Teardrop by Lauren Kate




Romance Novella

The Bridesmaid by Julia London
How to Misbehave by Ruthie Knox
How to Marry a Highlander by Katharine Ashe
Take What you Want by Jeanette Grey
"Defending Truth" by Shannon McNear (in A Pioneer Christmas)
"Imagine Me and You" by Maisey Yates (in Animal Attraction)
"Too Fast to Fall" by Victoria Dahl (in Be Mine)
Mine Under the Mistletoe by Kat Latham
Take Me, Cowboy by Jane Porter




Romantic Suspense

The Killing Game by Toni Anderson
Off the Edge by Carolyn Crane
Thrill Ride by Julie Anne Walker
Justice for Sara by Erica Spindler




Short Contemporary Romance

Her Secret, His Baby by Tanya Michaels
Why Resist a Rebel? by Leah Ashton
A Conflict of Interest by Barbara Dunlop
A Royal without Rules by Caitlin Crews
Her Accidental Boyfriend by Robin Bielman
Free Fall by Karen Foley


Best First Book

Five Days in Skye by Carla Laureano
Fix You by Beck Anderson
The Sweet Spot by Laura Drake

Private Practice by Samanthe Beck
Promise to Return by Elizabeth Byler Younts




GOLDEN HEART® FINALISTS



Contemporary Romance

"Too Good to be True" by Suzanne Kaufman Kalb
"Love in Living Color" by Shelly C. Alexander
"Fearless" by Brynley Bush



Historical Romance


"Charlene and the Duchess Factory" by Lenore Bell
"Wicked Things" by Laura Trentham
"A Wild and Wicked Wind" by Laura Trentham
"The Seer" by Gwynlyn MacKenzie
"A Soldier's Serenade" by Ellen Lindseth
"The Earl Next Door" by Charis Calhoon
"A Haunting Desire" by Julie Mulhern
"Much Ado about Scandal" by Jillian Lark
"The Unseducible Earl" by Sheri Humphreys 


Inspirational Romance

"Better Than a Movie" by Sara Tompkins
"My Lord Valet" by Kristi Ann Hunter
"A Virtuous Ruby" by Piper Huguley
"Against the Peace" by Carrie Padgett



Paranormal Romance

"Fit to Die" by Pintip Dunn
"Hidden Magic" by Shelly Chalmers
"Beyond the Fire" by Marni Folsom
"Valhalla's King" by Asa Maria Bradley




Romantic Suspense

"Chasing Damn" by Denny S. Bryce
"Dangerous Dreams" by Abbie Roads
"Secrets that Kill" by Sarah Andre
"Fatal Fragrances" by Connie Taxdal
"In a Sea of Change" by Deborah Wilding
"See Her No More" by Sharon Wray



Short Contemporary Romance

"Poetic Justice" by Nan Dixon
"Bringing Delaney Home" by Lee Kilraine
"Yesterday's Promise" by Sarah Cannon




Young Adult Romance

"Altered" by Marnee Bailey
"Chasing Fireworks" by Kimberly MacCarron
"Letting Go" by Jessica Ruddick
"To Feel or Not to Feel" by Kimberly MacCarron
"Carlie in Crisis" by Pintip Dunn
"Carma Always" by Stephanie Winkelhake
"Four Bullets" by Amy DeLuca
"Macha and the River Blue" by Barbara Gerry
"The Thing with Feathers" by McCall Hoyle
"This Is Your Afterlife" by Vanessa Barneveld










79 comments:

  1. I would love to see LOVE IRRESISTIBLY by Julie James and RUMOR HAS IT by Jill Shalvis nominated in the contemporary category, and DUKE OF MIDNIGHT by Elizabeth Hoyt, ONCE UPON A TOWER by Eloisa James, and ONE GOOD EARL DESERVES A LOVER and/or NO GOOD DUKE GOES UNPUNISHED by Sarah MacLean nominated in the historical category!

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    1. All good books, Andrea! There are so many great books from 2013. I sure wouldn't want to have to judge!

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    2. Me, too, PJ! And WOOHOO for Hoyt and MacLean!!!

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    3. WOOHOO!! Jill Shalvis nominated twice!!

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    4. Andrea, look like your wish come true! :)

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  2. Crossing my fingers for Eloisa James

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  3. Still waiting for the first announcement to come through!

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  4. Regencygirl, you're the first reader to leave a comment today. You get a book from our prize stash! Send us an email and let us know if you prefer historical, contemporary, paranormal or romantic suspense.

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  5. I am rooting for my favorite book of the year -- Tessa Dare's Any Duchess Will Do. (fingers crossed).

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    1. Right there with you, Diane. I loved that book!

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    2. I agree Diane! The whole series was good, but Any Duchess Will Do was FANTASTIC! :)

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  6. Trying to think of other books. There were so many good books this year

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  7. So glad to see Duke of Midnight, No Good Duke Goes Unpunished and A Rake's Midnight Kiss on the list of finalists. Loved all three.

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    1. Yes, there are so many good books, but only so many spots

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    2. I completely agree with you, PJ. I really enjoyed all three of those. Sorry for the late response. I have to drive out of town today and missed a lot of the excitement. Shucks!

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  8. Oh, yeah, Cathy Maxwell's THE DEVIL'S HEART, is nominated for Paranormal Romance. Known for her historical romances, Cathy hit a home run with Book 3 in the Chattan Curse series that features Scotland's magic! So excited for Cathy!

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  9. I have read The Second Chance Cafe it was a really good book

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    1. I haven't read it yet. It's on my list though!

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  10. Hope they start posting Inspirationals I have read some good ones this year, as well as some god romantic suspense

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    1. I'm surprised that there are only two Inspirationals listed. I wonder why so few?

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  11. I really liked Love and Other Scandals by Caroline Linden

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    Replies
    1. I like Linden's writing. Glad to see her get a nod.

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  12. Congratulations to Anna Campbell!!!!

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  13. I was hoping to see That Scandalous Summer by Meredith Duran and Love Irresistibly by Julie James nominated. I'm surprised that Julie James has never been nominated for a RITA. Annie West's Harlequin, Imprisoned By a Vow is deserving a nomination, too.

    I'm glad to see Sherry Thomas got two nominations. I have both of Ruthie Knox's nominated books in my TBR pile, so I'll have to get to them soon. I also have Courtney Milan's book in my TBR pile.

    I didn't care for the heroine in Sarah Maclean's book, No Good Duke Goes Unpunished. The character never really expressed remorse for her actions, so for me, the book didn't work. RITA disagrees. :)

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    1. "I'm surprised that Julie James has never been nominated for a RITA."

      I am, too, Kim. I think she is one of the best contemporary writers today.

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  14. On the road. Be back in a couple hours. Just heard Tessa Dare's Any Duchess Will Do nominated for historical.

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    1. YES! I'm so glad Tessa got nominated!! She's such a good writer :)

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  15. I've read eight of the finalists on the contemp list and eight historicals--all good reads. I'm delighted to see Anna Campbell's name among the finalists and to see one of Cathy Maxwell's Chattan Curse books recognized. Names I miss on the historicals list that I think deserve to be there include Anne Gracie, Eloisa James, and Julie Anne Long. And Terri Osburn's Meant to Be belongs on the Best First Book list IMO. I also really miss the novel with romantic elements category.

    I am super excited for Marnee Bailey's Golden Heart nod for YA. Hearty cheers for her and congratulations to all the finalists!

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    1. have read 17 all together so far. I have read a lot of inspirational ones but they haven't posted many of those

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    2. Totally agree with Janga's list of those who should be on these lists!!!

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    3. I agree on all counts, Janga!

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  16. Wow, there are a lot in the historical and Contemp category. Sadly, my Eloisa is still not on the list

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  17. Secrets of a Scandalous Marriage Valerie Bowman Theresa Romain Season for Temptation, A Rake's Midnight Kiss Anna Campbell Historicals
    Jill Shalvis It Had To Be You, Julie James Love Irrisistably and Kristan Higgins The Best Man- Contemps
    Forged in Steel Maya Banks Romantic Suspense

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  18. Wonderful lists of historicals and contemporaries all of which are great. Julia London, Kristan Higgins.

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    1. Happy to see Julia London on the list. Love everything Kristan Higgins writes!

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  19. Sherry Thomas and so many others deserving of this honor.

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  20. I am so excited about the GHs! I know two of the people who finaled in the YA--and both of their manuscripts are so FABULOUS! (Which I suppose is a given to final in the GH, but I know them!!)

    Eloisa is always robbed. Reading her Lady X now...and she better win for that one. SO FANTASTIC!

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    1. just finished Lady X it is tied with Pleasure for Pleasure as favorite Eloisa book

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    2. EXACTLY what I'm thinking! I don't think I've laughed this hard or loved these characters so much since PFP! And I was way invested in the PFP characters after 4 books...this one had somewhat less investment, you could say, though we do get the sexy Villiers to sketch the background but otherwise...they're just alive characters all on their own!

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    3. That's exactly how I feel, too!! Can't wait for Vander....

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    4. I agree, Hellie! Lady X is my favorite EJ book. Even beats out Pleasure for Pleasure and that's saying something! lol

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  21. I know there are more to add but PJ is on the road and I am in the car line waiting to pick up my kids so I will update soon! Thanks!

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  22. I can't believe there are not more inspirational books I read many this year

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  23. Still on the road. Stopped for gas and saw Anne Gracie got a nomination for The Autumn Bride. Very happy about this one!

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  24. Okay, the list should be updated!

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  25. Wow! I can see a few, no! more like a few dozens of my fave authors's names on there, in both HR and CR lists already!!! WooHoo..!!!!

    In Historical Romance, I have about a dozen names there w/ two recently RWA winners: Tessa Dare and Sarah MacLean.... this is going to be a tough competition!!! Now, I'll have to round up all the rest of these finalists's books I haven't read yet. ;)

    CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL THE FINALISTS!!!

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  26. I would have voted for Catherine's Pursuit for inspirational. Can't believe there is only 2. craziness

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  27. And another half dozen of my fave authors on CR list...I am t.o.r.n..!!! But I hope one of Jill Shalvis would win this yr, she had a double finalists (but didn't win) last yr too, hadn't she?

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    1. You're right, dotland. She was a double finalist last year but Molly O'Keefe won. Molly is a finalist this year too.

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    2. I read Molly O'Keefe's book that got to the finalist also... Love it. That's why I am t.o.r.n.!!!!! Same goes with the HR category. Lots of good books/authors to decide. :(

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  28. The Story Guy by Mary Ann Rivers. Best debut, best romance, best novella!!!! hands down :)

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  29. I hope the finalists are still coming in....bec I want to see that name, you know... "Terri Osburn" on that Temporary Romance list. :)

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    1. I mean CONtemporary list, not temporary!!! Arrgghh..!!! Sorry, Terri. :P

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    2. I would have like to see Meant to Be on the First Book list. :(

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  30. Wish Terri Osburn would have got nod for new author. I like Homecoming Ranch for Contemp. Were there no young adult in RITA's

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  31. Shame on me - I've not read any of these as yet although I recognize and have read many of these authors. The one author I would suggest that is not up there is Grace Burrowes.

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    1. You're right. I somehow missed it when I looked over the list. I'm so glad and I just finished reading Darius and loved it!!

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  32. Love Jill shalvis books, thanks
    Kimh

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  33. I'm so tickled that Jill Shalvis got two noms!

    I'm also happy to see Grace Burrowes, Mia Marlowe, Sarah MacLean, Anna Campbell, Anne Gracie, Julia London, Jane Porter, Katharine Ashe, Robin Bielman and Samanthe Beck made the cut!

    Marcy Shuler

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    1. I am also tickled for her, Marcy! I loved both books, but I hope RUMOR HAS IT wins. It is

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    2. Sorry! As I was saying... RUMOR HAS IT is one of my top reads from last year. :)

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  34. How would you vote? How could you? So many favorites nominated. I know "they" say it's an honor to be nominated, well in such company it would be.

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    1. I know, Mary! And there are sooooo many in the historical an contemporary categories. Wow.

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  35. Many of these books are still on my TBR list so I've got to get busy. I did enjoy Duke of Midnight and Any Duchess will Do as well as Katherine Ashe's novella. I'm always disappointed when Eloisa James doesn't make the list. Love her books and Julie James' books too. Was pleased to see Sherry Thomas, Courtney Milan, Anne Gracie, Grace Burrowes, Sarah MacLean, Anna Campbell, and Caroline Linden on the list -- all favorites.

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  36. Congrats to all the finalists. In my very favorite reads for the year for historicals were Tessa Dare, Sherry Thomas, Courtney Milan (loved the whole series), Sarah MacLean, Anna Campbell and Caroline Linden. Two others not listed I loved were What a Lady Needs by Kasey Michaels and Sweet Madness by Heather Snow (an underrated author I think). Runnerups for mer were Julie Anne Long and Kate Noble's Let it Be Me, Shana Galen If You Give a Rake a Ruby.. Happy to see Grace Burrowes make the list, I very much enjoy her stories. Very happy to see Anna Campbell on the list, special congrats to her, she's always promoting other great authors and I really enjoyed this one. My favorite paranormals were Singh Heart of Obsidian, Chimes at Midnight by Seanan Macguire, Kinked by Thea Harrison and Magic Rises by Ilona Andrews, with Guardian Demon by Meljean Brook my runner up.
    I really hope to see Caroline Linden a winner, I went back and forth with several here for my top read and finally decided on her Love and Other Scandals, Tristan and Joan were such a great, fun couple. Don't get to read many contemps, but also surprised not to see Julie James, one of the few in that genre I never miss.

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  37. (Before seeing the nominations) I would LOVE to see Tessa Dare, Katherine Ashe, Gena Showalter and Kresley Cole win!! They are my FAVORITE authors, especially Cole, and it's always nice when your favorite books get some lovin'! Tessa Dare's Spindle Cove series is wondering, and I adore all of Cole's Immortals After Dark books. Pretty much anything of Showalter's and Ashe's are fantastic too! :)

    After looking at the list, I saw that Any Duchess Will Do by Tessa Dare is on the list! YES! And How to Marry a Highlander by Katharine Ashe, I'm so excited!! Two out of four isn't bad, haha!

    I bought Plaid Tidings by Mia Marlowe but haven't got a chance to read it yet, so I'm glad it's been nominated too! And Heart of Obsidian by Nalini Singh is another that's been on my to-read list. I've also read one of Lauren Kate's books, so congrats to her too!

    I am really sad that Cole and Showalter didn't get nominated, but they'll get their chances next year!! I was just hoping to see some MacRieve love up there...

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  38. Oh, I forgot to add - my favorite (romance) books of 2013:

    - The Wicked Wallflower by Maya Rodale
    - Any Duchess Will Do by Tessa Dare
    - The Last Hour of Gann by R. Lee Smith
    - I Married the Duke by Katherine Ashe
    - Bound by Night by Larissa Ione
    - How to Lose a Bride in One Night by Sophie Jordan
    - Entity Within by Cat Devon
    - MacRieve by Kresley Cole
    - Beauty and the Blacksmith by Tessa Dare
    - Beauty Awakened by Gena Showalter

    Ah, Sophie Jordan was another I was hoping would get nominated! I guess that's 2 out of 5...

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