Romance Writers of America is a nonprofit trade association for romance writers. Each year, RWA awards the RITA, for published fiction, and the Golden Heart, in unpublished fiction, to authors writing in a variety of genres.
The nominees for this year’s RITA finalists were announced today:
2012 RITA Finalists for Best First Book
Beautiful Disaster by Laura Spinella (Berkley Publishing Group; Leis Pederson, editor)
The Devil in Disguise by Stefanie Sloane (Ballantine Bantam Dell; Junessa Viloria, editor)
The Darling Strumpet by Gillian Bagwell (Berkley Publishing Group; Kate Seaver, editor)
First Grave on the Right by Darynda Jones (St. Martin’s Press; Jennifer Enderlin, editor)
Hourglass by Myra McEntire (Egmont USA; Regina Griffin, editor)
How to Marry a Duke by Vicky Dreilling (Grand Central Publishing Forever; Michele Bidelspach, editor)
I’m Not Her by Janet Gurtler (Sourcebooks Fire; Leah Hultenschmidt, editor)
Warped by Maurissa Guibord (Delacorte Press; Michelle Poploff, editor)
2012 RITA Finalists for Novel with Strong Romantic Elements
The Dark Enquiry by Deanna Raybourn (Harlequin MIRA; Valerie Gray, editor)
Death Magic by Eileen Wilks (Berkley Publishing Group Sensation; Cindy Hwang, editor)
First Grave on the Right by Darynda Jones (St. Martin’s Press; Jennifer Enderlin, editor)
Goodnight Tweetheart by Teresa Medeiros (Gallery Books; Lauren McKenna, editor)
How to Bake a Perfect Life by Barbara O’Neal (Ballantine Bantam Dell; Shauna Summers, editor)
The Rose Garden by Susanna Kearsley (Sourcebooks Landmark; Deb Werksman, editor)
Song of the Nile by Stephanie Dray (Berkley Publishing Group; Cindy Hwang, editor)
Spider’s Revenge by Jennifer Estep (Pocket Books; Megan McKeever, editor)
2012 RITA Finalists for Paranormal Romance
Archangel’s Blade by Nalini Singh (Berkley Publishing Group Sensation; Cindy Hwang, editor)
Changeling Moon by Dani Harper (Kensington Brava; Alicia Condon, editor)
Dragon Bound by Thea Harrison (Berkley Publishing Group Sensation; Cindy Hwang, editor)
Envy by J.R. Ward (NAL Signet; Kara Welsh, editor)
Lord of the Abyss by Nalini Singh (Harlequin Nocturne; Tara Gavin, editor)
The Lost by Caridad Piñeiro (Grand Central Publishing Forever; Selina McLemore, editor)
Nightfall by Ellen Connor (Berkley Publishing Group Sensation; Cindy Hwang, editor)
The Restorer by Amanda Stevens (Harlequin MIRA; Denise Zaza, editor)
2012 RITA Finalists for Historical Romance
Always a Temptress by Eileen Dreyer (Grand Central Publishing Forever; Amy Pierpont, editor)
The Black Hawk by Joanna Bourne (Berkley Publishing Group; Wendy McCurdy, editor)
The Danger of Desire by Elizabeth Essex (Kensington Brava; Megan Records, editor)
Heartbreak Creek by Kaki Warner (Berkley Publishing Group Sensation; Wendy McCurdy, editor)
Scandalous Desires by Elizabeth Hoyt (Grand Central Publishing; Amy Pierpont, editor)
Silk Is for Seduction by Loretta Chase (Avon Books; May Chen, editor)
Unveiled by Courtney Milan (HQN Books; Margo Lipschultz, editor)
2012 RITA Finalists for Contemporary Series Romance
A Bravo Homecoming by Christine Rimmer (Harlequin Special Edition; Gail Chasan, editor)
Donovan’s Child by Christine Rimmer (Harlequin Special Edition; Gail Chasan, editor)
Doukakis’s Apprentice by Sarah Morgan (Harlequin Presents; Lucy Gilmour, editor)
How a Cowboy Stole Her Heart by Donna Alward (Harlequin Romance; Sally Williamson, editor)
I’ll Catch You by Farrah Rochon (Harlequin Kimani Romance; Glenda Howard, editor)
A Mother’s Homecoming by Tanya Michaels (Harlequin American Romance; Kathleen Scheibling, editor)
Rancher’s Twins: Mom Needed by Barbara Hannay (Harlequin Romance; Meg Lewis, editor)
The Texan’s Bride by Linda Warren (Harlequin Superromance; Kathleen Scheibling, editor)
2012 RITA Finalists for Contemporary Series Romance: Suspense/Adventure
Cooper Vengeance by Paula Graves (Harlequin Intrigue; Allison Lyons, editor)
The Man from Gossamer Ridge by Paula Graves (Harlequin Intrigue; Allison Lyons, editor)
Nothing But the Truth by Kara Lennox (Harlequin Superromance; Johanna Raisanen, editor)
Soldier’s Last Stand by Cindy Dees (Harlequin Romantic Suspense; Patience Bloom, editor)
Stranded with Her Ex by Jill Sorenson (Harlequin Romantic Suspense; Stacy Boyd, editor)
Taken to the Edge by Kara Lennox (Harlequin Superromance; Johanna Raisanen, editor)
2012 RITA Finalists for Contemporary Single Title Romance
At Hidden Falls by Barbara Freethy (Pocket Books; Micki Nuding, editor)
Black Ties and Lullabies by Jane Graves (Grand Central Publishing Forever; Michele Bidelspach, editor)
Heartstrings and Diamond Rings by Jane Graves (Grand Central Publishing Forever; Michele Bidelspach, editor)
Silver Sparks by Starr Ambrose (Pocket Books; Abby Zidle, editor)
Slow Dancing on Price’s Pier by Lisa Dale (Berkley Publishing Group; Cindy Hwang, editor)
The Welcome Home Garden Club by Lori Wilde (Avon Books; Lucia Macro, editor)
2012 RITA Finalists for Inspirational Romance
The Christmas Child by Linda Goodnight (Harlequin Love Inspired; Allison Lyons, editor)
Deadly Pursuit by Irene Hannon (Revell; Jennifer Leep, editor)
Katie’s Way by Marta Perry (Berkley Publishing Group; Ellen Edwards, editor)
The Ladies’ Room by Carolyn Brown (Avalon Books; Lia Brown, editor)
Love on the Line by Deeanne Gist (Bethany House Publishers; David Long and Julie Klassen, editors)
The Measure of Katie Calloway by Serena Miller (Revell; Vicki Crumpton, editor)
My Foolish Heart by Susan May Warren (Tyndale House Publishers; Karen Watson, editor)
Save the Date by Jenny B. Jones (Thomas Nelson; Natalie Hanemann and Jamie Chavez, editors)
To Win Her Heart by Karen Witemeyer (Bethany House Publishers; Karen Schurrer, editor)
2012 RITA Finalists for Regency Historical Romance
The Devil in Disguise by Stefanie Sloane (Ballantine Bantam Dell; Junessa Viloria, editor)
Heiress in Love by Christina Brooke (St. Martin’s Press; Monique Patterson, editor)
How to Marry a Duke by Vicky Dreiling (Grand Central Publishing Forever; Michele Bidelspach, editor)
How to Seduce a Scoundrel by Vicky Dreiling (Grand Central Publishing Forever; Michele Bidelspach, editor)
Lady Sophie’s Christmas Wish by Grace Burrowes (Sourcebooks Casablanca; Deb Werksman, editor)
A Night to Surrender by Tessa Dare (Avon Books; Tessa Woodward, editor)
To Seduce an Angel by Kate Moore (Berkley Publishing Group Sensation; Wendy McCurdy, editor)
When Beauty Tamed the Beast by Eloisa James (Avon Books; Carrie Feron, editor)
2012 RITA Finalists for Romance Novella
“Angel’s Wolf” by Nalini Singh in Angels of Darkness (Berkley Publishing Group Sensation; Cindy Hwang, editor)
“Chaos in Death” by J.D. Robb in The Unquiet (Berkley Publishing Group; Leslie Gelbman, editor)
“Compassion Can’t Wait” by Carly Phillips in More Than Words, Vol. 7 (Harlequin Enterprises; Marsha Zinberg, editor)
“I Love the Earl” by Caroline Linden (Avon Impulse; Lyssa Keusch, editor)
“One Wish: a Christmas Story” by Jodi Thomas in A Texas Christmas (Kensington Zebra; Peter Senftleben, editor)
“Resolution” by Linda Winstead Jones in The Heart of Winter (Harlequin Enterprises; Stacy Boyd, editor)
“The Storm Within” by Trish Morey in A Royal Engagement (Harlequin Presents; Joanne Grant, editor)
“Unforgiven” by Ruth Ryan Langan in The Unquiet (Berkley Publishing Group; Cindy Hwang, editor)
2012 RITA Finalists for Romantic Suspense
Hidden Away by Maya Banks (Berkley Publishing Group Sensation; Cindy Hwang, editor)
Hot Zone by Catherine Mann (Sourcebooks Casablanca; Deb Werksman, editor)
Hush by Cherry Adair (Pocket Star; Lauren McKenna, editor)
New York to Dallas by J.D. Robb (Penguin Putnam; Leslie Gelbman, editor)
Secrets of Bella Terra by Christina Dodd (New American Library; Kerry Donovan, editor)
True Colors by Joyce Lamb (Berkley Publishing Group Sensation; Wendy McCurdy, editor)
True Shot by Joyce Lamb (Berkley Publishing Group Sensation; Wendy McCurdy, editor)
Where All the Dead Lie by J.T. Ellison (Harlequin MIRA; Adam Wilson and Miranda Indrigo, editors)
2012 RITA Finalists for Young Adult Romance
Enclave by Ann Aguirre (Macmillan Feiwel & Friends; Liz Szabla, editor)
Flawless by Lara Chapman (Bloomsbury Publishing; Caroline Abbey, editor)
Hourglass by Myra McEntire (Egmont USA; Regina Griffin, editor)
I’m Not Her by Janet Gurtler (Sourcebooks Fire; Leah Hultenschmidt, editor)
Touch of Frost by Jennifer Estep (Kensington Teen; Alicia Condon, editor)
Warped by Maurissa Guibord (Delacorte Press; Michelle Poploff, editor)
Congratulations to all the nominees!
