2008 RITA® Winners

The following authors and books were finalists in the 2008 RITA contest. Over 1,000 novels and novellas were judged in 12 categories. Winners of the awards were announced August 2nd at the RITA and Golden Heart Awards Ceremony at the RWA’s 28th Annual National Conference in San Francisco, California. Awards master of ceremonies was Suzanne Brockmann.

Interestingly, two books called Untouched, by Anna Campbell and Samantha Hunter, were finalists in the 2008 RITA® contest in the RITA®: Regency Historical Romance and RITA®: Contemporary Series Romance: Suspense/Adventure categories, respectively.

Several 2008 finalists -- Diana Holquist, Susan Andersen, Leslie Kelly, and Kristan Higgins (with a special appearance by Rachel Gibson's publicist produced a trash talking video to highlight the important stakes behind the RITA.

Best First Book

• Dead Girls Are Easy by Terri Garey, HarperCollins Publishers, Avon Books - Erika Tsang, editor

• Finalists:
  • Graffiti Girl by Kelly Parra Simon & Schuster, MTV Books/Pocket - Jennifer Heddle, editor
  • Prime Time by Hank Phillippi Ryan, Harlequin Enterprises, Harlequin Next- Ann Leslie Tuttle, editor
  • Prom Dates From Hell by Rosemary Clement-Moore, Random House Publishing, Delacorte Press - Krista Marino, editor
  • Silent In The Grave by Deanna Raybourn, Harlequin Enterprises, MIRA - Valerie Gray, editor
  • Snow Angel by Jamie Carie, B&H Publishing Group, B&H Fiction - Thomas Walters, David Webb, editor
  • Thief With No Shadow by Emily Gee, BL Publishing, Solaris - Mark Newton, editor
  • Treasure by Helen Brenna, Harlequin Enterprises, Harlequin Superromance - Johanna Raisanen, editor

Best Contemporary Single Romance

• Snowbound by Janice Kay Johnson, Harlequin Enterprises, Harlequin Superromance - Laura Shin, editor

• Finalists:
  • Always A Bridesmaid by Kristin Hardy, Harlequin Enterprises, Silhouette Special Edition - Gail Chasan, editor
  • Fall From Grace by Kristi Gold, Harlequin Enterprises, Harlequin Everlasting Love - Beverley Sotolov, editor
  • Make-Believe Mom by Elaine Grant, Harlequin Enterprises, Harlequin Superromance - Victoria Curran, editor
  • Night Mischief by Nina Bruhns, Harlequin Enterprises, Silhouette Nocturne - Natahsya Wilson and Tara Parsons, editor
  • Sleeping Partner by Kelly Hunter, Harlequin Enterprises, Sexy Sensation/Presents Collections - Joanne Carr, editor
  • The Mile High Club by Heidi Rice, Harlequin Enterprises, Harlequin Mills & Boon Modern Extra - Bryony Green, editor
  • The Tycoon's Princess Bride by Natasha Oakley, Harlequin Enterprises, Harlequin Presents - Jenny Hutton, editor

Best Contemporary Series Romance: Suspense/Adventure

• Treasure by Helen Brenna, Harlequin Enterprises, Harlequin Superromance - Johanna Raisanen, editor

• Finalists:
  • High-Risk Affair by RaeAnne Thayne, Harlequin Enterprises, Silhouette Romantic Suspense - Gail Chasan, editor
  • Midnight Prince by Dani Sinclair, Harlequin Enterprises, Harlequin Intrigue - Natashya Wilson, editor
  • Sara's Son by Tara Taylor Quinn, Harlequin Enterprises, Harlequin Superromance - Paula Eykelhof, editor
  • Stranded With A Spy by Merline Lovelace, Harlequin Enterprises, Silhouette Romantic Suspense - Gail Chasan, editor
  • The Medusa Affair by Cindy Dees, Harlequin Enterprises, Silhouette Romantic Suspense - Patience Smith, editor
  • The Medusa Seduction by Cindy Dees, Harlequin Enterprises, Silhouette Romantic Suspense - Patience Smith, editor
  • Untouched by Samantha Hunter, Harlequin Enterprises, Blaze Extreme - Birgit Davis Todd, editor

Best Contemporary Single Title

• Catch Of The Day by Kristan Higgins, Harlequin Enterprises, HQN - Tracy Farrell and Keyren Gerlach, editors

• Finalists:
  • Blame It On Cupid by Jennifer Greene, Harlequin Enterprises, HQN - Melissa Jeglinski, editor
  • Coming Undone by Susan Andersen, Harlequin Enterprises, HQN - Margo Lipschultz, editor
  • Sexiest Man Alive by Diana Holquist, Grand Central Publishing, Forever - Michele Bidelspach, editor
  • She's No Angel by Leslie Kelly, Harlequin Enterprises, HQN - Brenda Chin, editor
  • Tangled Up In You by Rachel Gibson, HarperCollins Publishers, Avon Books - Lucia Macro, editor
  • Tempt Me Tonight by Toni Blake, HarperCollins Publishers,Avon Red - Lucia Macro, editor
  • The Sleeping Beauty Proposal by Sarah Strohmeyer, Penguin Group USA, Dutton - Julie Doughty, editor

Best Historical Romance

• Lessons Of Desire by Madeline Hunter, Bantam Dell Publishing Group, - Shauna Summers, editor

• Finalists:
  • And Then He Kissed Her by Laura Lee Guhrke, HarperCollins Publishers, Avon Books - Erika Tsang, editor
  • Beloved Warrior by Patricia Potter, Penguin Group USA, Berkley Sensation - Wendy McCurdy and Christine Zika, editors
  • Mine Till Midnight by Lisa Kleypas, St. Martin's Press - Jennifer Enderlin, editor
  • Surrender To A Scoundrel by Julianne MacLean, HarperCollins Publishers, Avon Books - Erika Tsang, editor
  • Tempted Tigress by Jade Lee, Dorchester Publishing, Leisure Books - Chris Keeslar, editor
  • The Leopard Prince by Elizabeth Hoyt, Grand Central Publishing, Forever - Melanie Murray, editor
  • The Perfect Kiss by Anne Gracie, Penguin Group USA, Berkley Sensation - Wendy McCurdy and Christine Zika, editors

Best Inspirational Romance

• A Touch Of Grace by Linda Goodnight, Harlequin Enterprises, Steeple Hill Love Inspired - Allison Lyons, editor
• Finalists:
  • Autumn Blue by Karen Harter, Center Street - Christina Boys, editor
  • Pursuit Of Justice by Pamela Tracy, Harlequin Enterprises, Steeple Hill Love Inspired Suspense - Krista Stroever, editor
  • Rainbow's End by Irene Hannon, Harlequin Enterprises, Steeple Hill Love Inspired - Melissa Endlich, editor
  • Ransomed Dreams by Amy Wallace, Random House Publishing, Waterbrook Multnomah - Julee Schwarzburg, editor
  • Splitting Harriet by Tamara Leigh, Random House Publishing, Waterbrook Multnomah - Julee Schwarzburg, editor
  • Taming Rafe by Susan May Warren, Tyndale House Publishers, Karen Watson, editor
  • When The Morning Comes by Cindy Woodsmall, Random House Publishing, Waterbrook Multnomah - Shannon Hill, editor

Best Novel With Strong Romantic Elements

• Silent In The Grave by Deanna Raybourn, Harlequin Enterprises, MIRA - Valerie Gray, editor

• Finalists:
  • A Gentle Rain by Deborah Smith, BelleBooks - Debra Dixon, editor
  • High Noon by Nora Roberts, Penguin Group USA, Putnam - Leslie Gelbman, editor
  • Learning To Breathe by Karen White, Penguin Group USA, NAL Accent - Cindy Hwang, editor
  • Odd Mom Out by Jane Porter, Grand Central Publishing, 5 Spot - Karen Kosztolnyik, editor
  • See No Evil by Allison Brennan, Ballantine - Charlotte Herscher, editor
  • Sugar Daddy by Lisa Kleypas, St. Martin's Press - Jennifer Enderlin, editor
  • Thief With No Shadow by Emily Gee, BL Publishing, Solaris - Mark Newton, editor

Best Paranormal Romance

• Lover Revealed by J.R. Ward, Penguin Group USA, Signet, Onyx - Kara Ceseare, editor

• Finalists:
  • Dead Girls Are Easy by Terri Garey, HarperCollins Publishers, Avon Books - Erika Tsang, editor
  • Demon's Kiss by Maggie Shayne, Harlequin Enterprises, MIRA - Leslie Wainger, editor
  • Games Of Command by Linnea Sinclair, Bantam Dell Publishing Group, Spectra - Anne Groell, editor
  • He Loves Me, He Loves Me Hot by Stephanie Rowe, Grand Central Publishing, Forever - Melanie Murray, editor
  • Prince Of Magic by Linda Winstead Jones, Penguin Group USA, Berkley Sensation - Christine Zika/ Wendy McCurdy, editor
  • Raintree: Haunted by Linda Winstead Jones, Harlequin Enterprises, Silhouette Nocturne - Leslie Wainger, editor
  • Touch Of Darkness by Christina Dodd, Penguin Group USA, NAL - Kara Cesare, editor

Best Regency Historical Romance

• The Secret Diaries Of Miss Miranda Cheever by Julia Quinn, HarperCollins Publishers, Avon Books - Lyssa Keusch, editor

• Finalists:
  • Blackthorne's Bride by Shana Galen, HarperCollins Publishers, Avon Books - May Chen, editor
  • Claiming The Courtesan by Anna Campbell, HarperCollins Publishers, Avon Books - Lucia Macro, editor
  • Lord Of Scandal by Nicola Cornick, Harlequin Enterprises, HQN - Kimberley Young, editor
  • Untouched by Anna Campbell, HarperCollins Publishers, Avon Books - Lucia Macro, editor

Best Romantic Novella

• “Born In My Heart” by Jennifer Greene in Like Mother, Like Daughter, Harlequin Enterprises, Harlequin Next - Melissa Jeglinski, editor

• Finalists:
  • “Angel And The Hellraiser” by Vickie Taylor in Demon’s Delight, Penguin Group USA, Berkley Sensation - Cindy Hwang, editor
  • “Christmas Cravings” by Maureen Child in Holiday With A Vampire , Harlequin Enterprises, Silhouette Nocturne - Melissa Jeglinski, editor
  • “Christmas Day Family” by Cheryl St.John in A Western Winter Wonderland, Harlequin Enterprises, Harlequin Historical - Ann Leslie Tuttle, editor
  • “Eternity In Death” by Nora Roberts in Dead Of Night, Penguin Group USA, Putnam - Leslie Gelbman, editor
  • “Fallen Angel” by Jenna Kernan in A Western Winter Wonderland, Harlequin Enterprises, Harlequin Historical - Ann Leslie Tuttle, editor
  • “Mischief And The Marquess” by Sylvia Day in Perfect Kisses, Kensington Publishing Corp., Brava - Kate Duffy, editor
  • “On The Fringe” by Mary Kay McComas in Dead Of Night, Penguin Group USA, Berkley Jove - Cindy Hwang, editor

Best Romantic Suspense

• Ice Blue by Anne Stuart, Harlequin Enterprises, MIRA - Margaret O'Neil Marbury, editor

• Finalists:
  • Die For Me by Karen Rose, Grand Central Publishing, Vision - Karen Kosztolnyik, editor
  • Ice Storm by Anne Stuart, Harlequin Enterprises, MIRA - Margaret O'Neil Marbury, editor
  • Prime Time by Hank Phillippi Ryan, Harlequin Enterprises, Harlequin Next - Ann Leslie Tuttle, editor
  • Speak No Evil by Allison Brennan, Ballantine - Charlotte Herscher, editor
  • Traceless by Debra Webb, St. Martin's Press - Jennifer Weis, editor
  • White Heat by Cherry Adair, Ballantine/Ivy - Charlotte Herscher, editor

Best Young Adult Romance

• Wicked Lovely by Melissa Marr, HarperCollins Publishers, HarperTeen - Anne Hoppe and Nick Lake, editors

• Finalists:
  • Girl At Sea by Maureen Johnson, HarperCollins Publishers, HarperTeen
  • Graffiti Girl by Kelly Parra, Simon & Schuster, MTV Books/Pocket - Jennifer Heddle, editor
  • Leaving Paradise by Simone Elkeles, Llewellyn Worldwide, Flux - Andrew Karre, editor