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:
  • A Not-So-Perfect Past by Beth Andrews, Harlequin Enterprises, Harlequin Superromance - Victoria Curran, editor
  • From The Outside by Helen Brenna, Harlequin Enterprises, NASCAR - Tina James, editor
  • The Snow-Kissed Bride by Linda Goodnight, Harlequin Enterprises, Harlequin Romance - Allison Lyons, editor
  • Single Mom Seeks... by Teresa Hill, Harlequin Enterprises, Silhouette Special Edition - Melissa Jeglinski, editor
  • Revealed: A Prince And A Pregnancy by Kelly Hunter, Harlequin Enterprises, Mills and Boon Modern Heat - Joanne Grant, editor
  • The Christmas Love-Child by Jennie Lucas, Harlequin Enterprises, Harlequin Presents - Kimberly Young, editor
  • One-Night Mistress...Convenient Wife by Anne McAllister, Harlequin Enterprises, Harlequin Presents - Jenny Hutton, editor
  • Duty, Desire, And The Desert King by Jane Porter, Harlequin Enterprises, Mills and Boon Modern - Kim Young, editor
  • I Still Do by Christie Ridgway, Harlequin Enterprises, Silhouette Special Edition - Patience Smith, editor

Best Contemporary Series Romance: Suspense/Adventure

• Finalists:
  • Mountain Investigation by Jessica Andersen, Harlequin Enterprises, Harlequin Intrigue - Allison Lyons, editor
  • The Christmas Stranger by Beth Cornelison, Harlequin Enterprises, Silhouette Romantic Suspense - Allison Lyons, editor
  • The Soldier's Secret Daughter by Cindy Dees, Harlequin Enterprises, Silhouette Romantic Suspense - Patience Smith, editor
  • In Care Of Sam Beaudry by Kathleen Eagle, Harlequin Enterprises, Silhouette Special Edition - Leslie Wainger and Charles Griemsman, editors
  • Silent Watch by Elle Kennedy, Harlequin Enterprises, Silhouette Romantic Suspense - Diana Ventimiglia, editor
  • Cold Case Affair by Loreth Anne White, Harlequin Enterprises, Silhouette Romantic Suspense - Susan Litman, editor
  • The Christmas Present by Tracy Wolff, Harlequin Enterprises, Harlequin Superromance - Wanda Ottewell, editor

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

• The Inheritance by Tamera Alexander, Thomas Nelson, Inc., Women of Faith Fiction - Ami McConnell and Natalie Hanemann, editors

• Finalists:
  • 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

• The Lost Recipe For Happiness by Barbara O'Neal, Bantam Dell Publishing Group, Discovery - Shauna Summers, editor

• 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
  • 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:
  • Surrender Of A Siren by Tessa Dare, Ballantine/Bantam Dell - Kate Collins, editor
  • Scandal by Carolyn Jewel, Penguin Group USA, Berkley Sensation - Kate Seaver, editor
  • Tempting Fate by Alissa Johnson, Dorchester Publishing, Leisure Books - Leah Hultenschmidt, editor
  • A View To A Kiss by Caroline Linden, HarperCollins Publishers, Avon Books - Lyssa Keusch, editor
  • Revealed by Kate Noble, Penguin Group USA, Berkley Sensation - Cindy Hwang, editor
  • What Happens In London by Julia Quinn, HarperCollins Publishers, Avon Books - Lyssa Keusch, editor
  • Lord Braybrook's Penniless Bride by Elizabeth Rolls, Harlequin Enterprises, Harlequin Historical - Linda Fildew

Best Romantic Novella

• "The Christmas Eve Promise" by Molly O'Keefe in The Night Before Christmas, Harlequin Enterprises, Silhouette Special Releases - Stacy Boyd, editor

• Finalists:
  • "A Little Night Magic" by Allyson James in Hot For The Holidays, Penguin Group USA, Berkley, Jove - Kate Seaver, editor
  • "The Robber Bride" by Marjorie M. Liu in Huntress, St. Martin's Press
  • "Annalise and the Scandalous Rake" by Deb Marlowe in The Diamonds Of Welbourne Manor, Harlequin Enterprises, Harlequin Historical - Linda Fildew, editor
  • "Charlotte and the Wicked Lord" by Amanda McCabe in The Diamonds Of Welbourne Manor, Harlequin Enterprises, Harlequin Historical - Joanne Grant, editor
  • "This Wicked Gift" by Courtney Milan in The Heart Of Christmas, Harlequin Enterprises, HQN - Ann Leslie Tuttle, editor
  • "On a Snowy Christmas" by Brenda Novak in The Night Before Christmas, Harlequin Enterprises - Paula Eykelhof, editor

Best Romantic Suspense

• Finalists:
  • One Scream Away by Kate Brady, Grand Central Publishing, Forever - Celia Johnson, editor
  • Waking The Dead by Kylie Brant, Penguin Group USA, Berkley Sensation - Cindy Hwang, editor
  • A Dark Love by Margaret Carroll, HarperCollins Publishers, Avon Books - Carrie Feron, editor
  • Whisper Of Warning by Laura Griffin, Simon & Schuster, Pocket Books, Pocket Star - Abby Zidle, editor
  • Stolen Fury by Elisabeth Naughton, Dorchester Publishing, Love Spell - Leah Hultenschmidt, editor
  • Dark Country by Bronwyn Parry, Hachette Livre, Hachette Australia - Bernadette Foley, editor
  • Promises In Death by J.D. Robb, Penguin Group USA, Putnam - Leslie Gelbman, editor
  • Kill For Me by Karen Rose, Grand Central Publishing, Vision - Karen Kosztolnyik, editor

Best Young Adult Romance

• Perfect Chemistry by Simone Elkeles, Walker Books for Young Readers - Emily Easton, editor

• Finalists:
  • Fairy Tale by Cyn Balog, Random House Group, Delacorte Press
  • Don't Judge A Girl By Her Cover by Ally Carter, Hyperion Books for Children - Jennifer Besser, editor
  • Going Too Far by Jennifer Echols, Simon & Schuster, Pocket Books, MTV Books - Jennifer Heddle, editor
  • The ABC's of Kissing Boys by Tina Ferraro, Random House Group, Delacorte Press - Krista Marino, editor
  • Nothing Like You by Lauren Strasnick, Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing - Anica Rissi, editor