2010 RITA® Winners

The following authors and books are finalists in the 2010 RITA contest. Over 1,000 novels and novellas were judged in 12 categories. Winners of the awards will be announced in July at the RITA and Golden Heart Awards Ceremony at the RWA's 30th Annual National Conference in Nashville, TN.

Best First Book

• Finalists:
  • One Scream Away by Kate Brady, Grand Central Publishing, Forever - Celia Johnson, editor
  • He Calls Her Doc by Mary Brady, Harlequin Enterprises, Harlequin Superromance - Kathryn Lye, editor
  • The Gladiator by Carla Capshaw, Harlequin Enterprises, Steeple Hill Love Inspired Historical - Melissa Endlich, editor
  • Angel Vindicated by Viola Estrella, Ellora's Cave, Cerridwen Press - Helen Woodall, editor
  • The Better Part Of Darkness by Kelly Gay, Simon & Schuster, Pocket Books - Ed Schlesinger, editor
  • Stolen Fury by Elisabeth Naughton, Dorchester Publishing, Love Spell - Leah Hultenschmidt, editor
  • Nothing Like You by Lauren Strasnick, Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing - Anica Rissi, editor
  • The Last Will Of Moira Leahy by Therese Walsh, Random House Group, Shaye Areheart Books - Sarah Knight, editor

Best Contemporary Series Romance

• Finalists:

Best Contemporary Series Romance: Suspense/Adventure

• Finalists:

Best Contemporary Single Title

• Finalists:
  • Talk Me Down by Victoria Dahl, Harlequin Enterprises, HQN - Tara Parsons, editor
  • True Love And Other Disasters by Rachel Gibson, HarperCollins Publishers, Avon Books - Lucia Macro, editor
  • For The Love Of Pete by Julia Harper, Grand Central Publishing, Forever - Amy Pierpont, editor
  • Too Good To Be True by Kristan Higgins, Harlequin Enterprises, HQN - Keyren Gerlach and Tracy Farrell, editors
  • A Little Night Magic by Joy Nash, Dorchester Publishing, Leisure Fiction - Alicia Condon, editor
  • Dirty Sexy Knitting by Christie Ridgway, Penguin Group USA, Berkley - Cindy Hwang, editor
  • Instant Attraction by Jill Shalvis, Kensington Publishing Corp., Brava - Kate Duffy, editor
  • Fireside by Susan Wiggs, Harlequin Enterprises, MIRA Books - Margaret O'Neill Marbury, editor

Best Historical Romance

• Finalists:
  • Wicked All Day by Liz Carlyle, Simon & Schuster, Pocket Books Romance - Lauren McKenna, editor
  • With Seduction In Mind by Laura Lee Guhrke, HarperCollins Publishers, Avon Books - Erika Tsang, editor
  • To Beguile A Beast by Elizabeth Hoyt, Grand Central Publishing, Forever - Amy Pierpont, editor
  • Make Me Yours by Betina Krahn, Harlequin Enterprises, Harlequin Blaze, Brenda Chin, editor
  • Knight Of Pleasure by Margaret Mallory, Grand Central Publishing, Forever - Alex Logan, editor
  • The Lone Texan by Jodi Thomas, Penguin Group USA, Berkley - Wendy McCurdy, editor
  • Not Quite A Husband by Sherry Thomas, Bantam Dell Publishing Group - Caitlin Alexander, editor
  • Taming Her Irish Warrior by Michelle Willingham, Harlequin Enterprises, Harlequin Historical - Joanne Grant, editor

Best Inspirational Romance

• Finalists:
  • The Inheritance by Tamera Alexander, Thomas Nelson, Inc., Women of Faith Fiction - Ami McConnell and Natalie Hanemann, editors
  • A Lady Like Sarah by Margaret Brownley, Thomas Nelson, Inc. - Natalie Hanemann, editor
  • The Gladiator by Carla Capshaw, Harlequin Enterprises, Steeple Hill Love Inspired Historical - Melissa Endlich, editor
  • Entertaining Angels by Judy Duarte, Kensington Publishing Corp. - John Scognamiglio, editor
  • An Eye For An Eye by Irene Hannon, Baker Publishing Group, Revell Books - Jennifer Leep, editor
  • The Silent Governess by Julie Klassen, Bethany House Publishers - Karen Schurrer, editor
  • Breach Of Trust by Diann Mills, Tyndale House Publishers - Stephanie Boerne, editor
  • The Confidential Life Of Eugenia Cooper by Kathleen Y'Barbo, Random House Publishing, WaterBrook Multnomah - Jessica Barnes, editor

Best Novel With Strong Romantic Elements

• Finalists:
  • The Better Part Of Darkness by Kelly Gay, Simon & Schuster, Pocket Books - Ed Schlesinger, editor
  • Scandal Sheet by Gemma Halliday, Dorchester Publishing - Leah Hultenschmidt, editor
  • Red's Hot Honky Tonk Bar by Pamela Morsi, Harlequin Enterprises, MIRA Books - Valerie Gray, editor
  • The Lost Recipe For Happiness by Barbara O'Neal, Bantam Dell Publishing Group, Discovery - Shauna Summers, editor
  • Silent On The Moor by Deanna Raybourn, Harlequin Enterprises, MIRA Books - Valerie Gray, editor
  • The Accidental Bestseller by Wendy Wax, Penguin Group USA, Berkley - Wendy McCurdy, editor
  • The Virgin's Daughters: In the Court of Elizabeth I by Jeane Westin, Penguin Group, USA, NAL Trade - Ellen Edwards, editor
  • Lakeshore Christmas by Susan Wiggs, Harlequin Enterprises, MIRA Books - Margaret O'Neill Marbury, editor

Best Paranormal Romance

• Finalists:
  • What Would Jane Austen Do? by Laurie Brown, Sourcebooks, Inc., Casablanca - Deb Werksman, editor
  • Untouchable in Deep Kiss Of Winter by Kresley Cole, Simon & Schuster, Pocket Books - Lauren McKenna, editor
  • Kiss Of A Demon King by Kresley Cole, Simon & Schuster, Pocket Books - Lauren McKenna, editor
  • My Forbidden Desire by Carolyn Jewel, Grand Central Publishing, Forever - Michele Bidelspach, editor
  • The Fire King by Marjorie M. Liu, Dorchester Publishing, Leisure Books - Chris Keeslar, editor
  • For The Earl's Pleasure by Anne Mallory, HarperCollins Publishers, Avon Books - May Chen, editor
  • Darkness Unknown by Alexis Morgan, Simon & Schuster, Pocket Books, Pocket Star - Micki Nuding, editor
  • Covet by J.R. Ward, Penguin Group USA, Signet - Kara Cesare, editor
  • Mortal Sins by Eileen Wilks, Penguin Group USA, Berkley Sensation - Cindy Hwang, editor

Best Regency Historical Romance

• Finalists:

Best Romantic Novella

• Finalists:

Best Romantic Suspense

• Finalists:

Best Young Adult Romance

• Finalists: