2006 RITA® Winners

The 2006 RITA awards were held in Atlanta on July 29, 2006. Nora Roberts hosted the ceremony. During the ceremony, Jodi Thomas was inducted into the RWA Hall Of Fame and Susan Elizabeth Phillips received the organization's

Best First Book

• Show Her The Money - Stephanie Feagan, Silhouette Books, Natashya Wilson, editor

• Other finalists were:
  • The Good, The Bad, And The Ugly Men I've Dated - Shane Bolks, Avon Books, Erika Tsang, editor
  • A Texas State Of Mind - Ann DeFee, Harlequin Books, Paula Eykelhof, editor
  • Charmed & Dangerous - Candace Havens, Berkley Books, Gail Fortune and Anne Sowards, editors
  • Spirited Away - Pamela Labud, Kensington Books, Hilary Sares, editor
  • Worth Every Risk - Dianna Love Snell, Silhouette Books, Allison Lyons, editor
  • Finders Keepers - Linnea Sinclair, Bantam Books, Anne Groell, editor
  • Poison Study - Maria V. Snyder, Luna Books, Mary-Theresa Hussey, editor

Best Contemporary Single Title

• Lakeside Cottage - Susan Wiggs, MIRA Books, Margaret Marbury and Dianne Moggy, editors

• Other finalists were:
  • You've Got Male - Elizabeth Bevarly, HQN Books, Wanda Ottewell, editor
  • Picket Fence - Kimberly Cates, HQN Books - Melissa Endlich, editor
  • A Crazy Kind Of Love - Maureen Child, St. Martin's Press, Jennifer Enderlin, editor
  • Turn My World Upside Down - Maureen Child, St. Martin's Press, Jennifer Enderlin, editor
  • Heartbreak Hotel - Jill Marie Landis, Ballantine Books, Charlotte Herscher, editor
  • Wedding Survivor - Julia London, Berkley Books, Christine Zika, editor; Almost Perfect - Julie Ortolon, NAL, Laura Cifelli, editor

Best Inspirational Romance

• Heavens To Betsy - Beth Pattillo, WaterBrook Press, Dudley Delffs, editor

• Other finalists were:
  • Pocketful Of Pearls - Shelley Bates, Warner Books, Leslie Peterson, editor;
  • Remember Me - Deborah Bedford, Warner Books, Leslie Peterson and Lisa Town Bergren, editors
  • Chloe - Lyn Cote, Warner Books, Leslie Peterson, editor
  • A Sheltering Love - Terri Reed, Steeple Hill Books - Diane Dietz, editor

Best Long Contemporary Romance

• Worth Every Risk - Dianna Love Snell, Silhouette Books, Allison Lyons, editor

• Other finalists were:
  • The Business Of Strangers - Kylie Brant, Silhouette Books, Shannon Godwin, editor;
  • The Father Factor - Lilian Darcy, Silhouette Books, Bryony Green, editor
  • A Texas State Of Mind - Ann Defee, Harlequin Books, Paula Eykelhof, editor
  • Under The Mistletoe - Kristin Hardy, Silhouette Books, Gail Chasan, editor
  • Blackberry Winter - Cheryl Reavis, Harlequin Books, Tara Gavin, editor
  • Her Last Defense - Vickie Taylor, Silhouette Books, Ann Leslie Tuttle, editor
  • Hometown Girl - Margaret Watson, Harlequin Books, Laura Shin, editor
  • The Secret Wife - Carrie Weaver, Harlequin Books, Laura Shin, editor

Best Long Historical Romance

• The Devil To Pay - Liz Carlyle, Pocket Books, Lauren McKenna, editor

• Other finalists were:
  • A Most Unsuitable Man - Jo Beverley, NAL, Claire Zion, editor
  • This Rake Of Mine - Elizabeth Boyle, Avon Books, Lyssa Keusch, editor
  • The Dark Queen - Susan Carroll, Ballantine Books, Charlotte Herscher, editor
  • Mr. Impossible - Loretta Chase, Berkley Books, Gail Fortune and Ellen Edwards, editors
  • Sin And Sensibility - Suzanne Enoch, Avon Books, Erika Tsang, editor
  • The Perfect Rake - Anne Gracie, Berkley Books, Christine Zika, editor
  • To Pleasure A Prince - Sabrina Jeffries, Pocket Books, Micki Nuding, editor

Best Romantic Novella

• “The Naked Truth about Guys” in The Naked Truth - Alesia Holliday, Berkley Books, Cindy Hwang, editor

• Other finalists were:
  • “Playing for Keeps” in Dare Me - Cherry Adair, NAL, Laura Cifelli, editor
  • “Glad Rags” in The True Love Wedding Dress - Constance Brockway; NA, Claire Zion, editor
  • “A Proper Englishwoman” in Talk Of The Ton - Eloisa James, Berkley Books, Christine Zika, editor
  • “Highland Handfast” in The Betrothal - Joanne Rock, Harlequin Books, Ann Leslie Tuttle
  • “Blood Lust” in Bite - Vickie Taylor, Berkley Books, Cindy Hwang, editor
  • “Simon Says” in Secrets, Volume 15 - Jane Thompson, Red Sage - Judith Pich, editor

Best Paranormal Romance

• Gabriel's Ghost - Linnea Sinclair, Bantam Books, Anne Groell, editor

• Other finalists were:
  • The Misted Cliffs - Catherine Asaro, Luna Books, Stacy Boyd, editor
  • Ghost Walk - Heather Graham, MIRA Books, Leslie Wainger, editor
  • My Shadow Warrior - Jen Holling, Pocket Books, Lauren McKenna, editor
  • Spirited Away - Pamela Labud, Kensington Books, Hilary Sares, editor
  • A Taste Of Crimson - Marjorie Liu, Dorchester Publishing, Chris Keeslar, editor
  • After Midnight - Teresa Medeiros, Avon Books, Carrie Feron, editor
  • Dark Lover - J.R. Ward, NAL - Kara Cesare, editor

Best Regency Romance

• A Reputable Rake - Diane Gaston, Harlequin Mills & Boon Limited, Linda Fildew, editor

• Other finalists were:
  • Miss Whitlow's Turn - Jenna Mindel, NAL, Rose Hilliard, editor
  • Just Say Yes - Myretta Robens, Kensington Books, Hilary Sares, editor
  • The House Party - Jeanne Savery, Kensington Books. John Scognamiglio, editor

Best Romantic Suspense

• Survivor In Death - J.D. Robb, Penguin Putnam, Leslie Gelbman, editor

• Other finalists were:
  • In Deep Voodoo - Stephanie Bond, Avon Books, Lyssa Keusch, editor
  • Close-Up - Virginia Kantra, Berkley Books, Cindy Hwang, editor
  • Crazy Hot - Tara Janzen, Bantam Books, Wendy McCurdy, editor
  • Tangle Of Lies - Patricia Potter, Berkley Books, Christine Zika, editor
  • Nothing To Fear - Karen Rose, Warner Books, Karen Kosztolnyik, editor
  • Darker Than Midnight - Maggie Shayne, MIRA Books, Leslie Wainger, editor
  • The Marriage Trap, Elizabeth Thornton, Bantam Books, Wendy McCurdy, editor

Best Short Contemporary Romance

• The Marriage Miracle - Liz Fielding, Harlequin Mills & Boon, Emma Dunford, editor

• Other finalists were:
  • Between Midnight And Morning - Cindy Gerard, Silhouette Books, Shannon Godwin, editor
  • Suspicious - Heather Graham, Silhouette Books, Leslie Wainger, editor
  • Hot To The Touch - Jennifer Greene, Silhouette Books, Melissa Jeglinski, editor
  • The Rich Stranger - Bronwyn Jameson, Silhouette Books, Stacy Boyd, editor
  • The Rugged Loner - Bronwyn Jameson, Silhouette Books, Stacy Boyd, editor
  • The Ruthless Groom - Bronwyn Jameson, Silhouette Books, Stacy Boyd, editor
  • Really Hot! - Jennifer LaBrecque, Harlequin Books, Brenda Chin, editor
  • One Night In Texas - Jane Sullivan, Harlequin Books, Jennifer Green, editor

Best Short Historical Romance

• The Texan's Reward - Jodi Thomas, Berkley Books, Christine Zika, editor

• Other finalists were:
  • When We Meet Again - Victoria Alexander, Avon Books, Lucia Macro, editor
  • The King's Mistress - Terri Brisbin, Harlequin Books, Melissa Endlich, editor
  • Abbie's Outlaw - Victoria Bylin, Harlequin Books, Kim Nadelson, editor
  • It Happened One Autumn - Lisa Kleypas, Avon Books, Lucia Macro, editor
  • Highlander In Love - Julia London, Pocket Books, Maggie Crawford, editor
  • To Love A Thief - Julie Ann Long, Warner Books, Melanie Murray, editor
  • His Secondhand Wife - Cheryl St. John, Harlequin Books, Ann Leslie Tuttle, editor

Novel With Strong Romantic Elements

• Lady Luck's Map of Vegas - Barbara Samuel, Ballantine Books, Linda Morrow, editor

• Other finalists were:
  • The Me I Used To Be - Jennifer Archer, Harlequin Books, Gail Chasan, editor
  • The Tiara Club - Beverly Brandt, St. Martin's Press, Kimberly Cardascia, editor
  • Charmed & Dangerous - Candace Havens, Berkley Books, Gail Fortune and Anne Sowards, editors
  • Sweetgrass - Mary Alice Monroe, MIRA Books, Martha Keenan, editor
  • Ex and the Single Girl - Lani Diane Rich, Warner Books, Beth de Guzman, editor
  • Blue Smoke - Nora Roberts, Penguin Putnam, Leslie Gelbman, editor
  • Table For Five - Susan Wiggs, MIRA Books, Margaret Marbury and Dianne Moggy, editor

Best Traditional Romance

• Princess Of Convenience - Marion Lennox, Harlequin Books, Sheila Hodgson, editor
• Other finalists were:
  • Smart Boys & Fast Girls - Stephie Davis, Dorchester Publishing, Kate Seaver, editor
  • Who Needs Boys? - Stephie Davis, Dorchester Publishing - Kate Seaver, editor
  • The Doctor's Rescue Mission - Marion Lennox, Harlequin Books, Kate Paice, editor