2009 RITA® Winners

The following authors and books are finalists in the 2009 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 29th Annual National Conference in Washington, D.C.

Best First Book

• Finalists:
  • No Good Girls by Jean Marie Pierson, Dorchester Publishing, Love Spell - Alicia Condon, editor
  • Oh. My. Gods. by Tera Lynn Childs, Penguin Group USA, Dutton - Sarah Shumway, editor
  • Passionate by Anthea Lawson, Kensington Publishing Corp., Zebra Debut - Hilary Sares, editor
  • Private Arrangements by Sherry Thomas, Bantam Dell Publishing Group - Caitlin Alexander, editor
  • Strangers In The Night by Kerry Connor, Harlequin Enterprises, Harlequin Intrigue - Sean Mackiewicz, editor
  • The Secret Soldier by Jennifer Morey, Harlequin Enterprises, Silhouette Romantic Suspense - Natashya Wilson, editor
  • Your Roots Are Showing by Elise Chidley, Grand Central Publishing, 5 Spot - Alex Logan, editor

Best Contemporary Series Romance

• Finalists:
  • A Mother's Wish by Karen Templeton, Harlequin Enterprises, Silhouette Special Edition - Gail Chasan, editor
  • Adopted: Outback Baby by Barbara Hannay, Harlequin Enterprises, Harlequin Romance - Meg Lewis, editor
  • Antonides' Forbidden Wife by Anne McAllister, Harlequin Enterprises, Mills and Boon Modern - Jenny Hutton, editor
  • Falling For The Lone Wolf by Crystal Green, Harlequin Enterprises, Silhouette Special Edition - Susan Litman, editor
  • Last-Minute Proposal by Jessica Hart, Harlequin Enterprises, Harlequin Romance - Maddie Rowe, editor
  • Texas Heir by Linda Warren, Harlequin Enterprises, Harlequin American Romance - Kathleen Scheibling, editor
  • The Children's Doctor And The Single Mum by Lilian Darcy, Harlequin Enterprises, Harlequin Medical Romance - Bryony Green, editor
  • The Cowboy's Christmas Miracle by RaeAnne Thayne, Harlequin Enterprises, Silhouette Special Edition - Gail Chasan, editor
  • The Right Mr. Wrong by Cindi Myers, Harlequin Enterprises, Harlequin American Romance - Wanda Ottewell, editor

Best Contemporary Series Romance: Suspense/Adventure

• Finalists:
  • A Sexy Time Of It by Cara Summers, Harlequin Enterprises, Harlequin Blaze - Brenda Chin, editor
  • Cold Case Connection by Kathleen Long, Harlequin Enterprises, Harlequin Intrigue - Allison Lyons, editor
  • Danger Signals by Kathleen Creighton, Harlequin Enterprises, Silhouette Romantic Suspense - Gail Chasan, editor
  • Lethal Attraction by Diana Duncan, Harlequin Enterprises, Silhouette Romantic Suspense - Susan Litman, editor
  • Strangers In The Night by Kerry Connor, Harlequin Enterprises, Harlequin Intrigue - Sean Mackiewicz, editor
  • Tall, Dark And Lethal by Dana Marton, Harlequin Enterprises, Harlequin Intrigue - Allison Lyons, editor
  • The Man Behind The Cop by Janice Kay Johnson, Harlequin Enterprises, Harlequin Superromance - Wanda Ottewell, editor
  • The Secret Soldier by Jennifer Morey, Harlequin Enterprises, Silhouette Romantic Suspense - Natashya Wilson, editor
  • Twin Targets by Jessica Anderson, Harlequin Enterprises, Harlequin Intrigue - Allison Lyons, editor

Best Contemporary Single Title

• Finalists:
  • No Good Girls by Jean Marie Pierson, Dorchester Publishing, Love Spell - Alicia Condon, editor
  • Not Another Bad Date by Rachel Gibson, HarperCollins Publishers, Avon Books - Lucia Macro, editor
  • Out of Time by Samantha Graves, Grand Central Publishing, Forever - Frances Jalet-Miller, editor
  • Snowfall at Willow Lake by Susan Wiggs, Harlequin Enterprises, MIRA Books - Margaret O'Neill Marbury, editor
  • Sweet Talk by Susan Mallery, Harlequin Enterprises, HQN - Tara Parsons, editors
  • Tall Tales and Wedding Veils by Jane Graves, Grand Central Publishing, Forever - Michele Bidelspach, editor
  • Twenty Wishes by Debbie Macomber, Harlequin Enterprises, MIRA Books - Paula Eykelhof, editor
  • Your Roots Are Showing by Elise Chidley, Grand Central Publishing, 5 Spot - Alex Logan, editor

Best Historical Romance

• Finalists:
  • Duchess By Night by Eloisa James, HarperCollins Publishers, Avon Books - Carrie Feron, editor
  • In Bed With The Devil by Lorraine Heath, HarperCollins Publishers, Avon Books - Lucia Macro and May Chen, editors
  • Private Arrangements by Sherry Thomas, Bantam Dell Publishing Group - Caitlin Alexander, editor
  • Seduce Me At Sunrise by Lisa Kleypas, St. Martin's Press - Jennifer Enderlin, editor
  • The Edge Of Impropriety by Pam Rosenthal, Penguin Group USA, NAL, Signet Eclipse - Laura Cifelli, editor
  • The Spymaster's Lady by Joanna Bourne, Penguin Group USA, Berkley Sensation - Wendy McCurdy, editor
  • To Seduce a Sinner by Elizabeth Hoyt, Grand Central Publishing, Forever - Amy Pierpont, editor
  • Where the Heart Leads by Stephanie Laurens, HarperCollins Publishers, Morrow Books - Lucia Macro, editor

Best Inspirational Romance

• Finalists:

Best Novel With Strong Romantic Elements

• Finalists:

Best Paranormal Romance

• Finalists:

Best Regency Historical Romance

• Finalists:

Best Romantic Novella

• Finalists:

Best Romantic Suspense

• Finalists:

Best Young Adult Romance

• Finalists: