2008 Golden Heart Winners

The following writers were the 2008 finalists in the Romance Writers of America annual Golden Heart contest. The winners were announced during the Awards Ceremony at the 28th RWA Annual Conference held in San Francisco. RWA's Golden Heart Award honors the best in unpublished romance manuscripts of 2007. Over 1,000 manuscripts were judged in 10 categories.

Contemporary Series

Winner: Under a Harvest Moon by Joleen Wieser

• Finalists:

"Borrowed Stilettos" - Rebecca Clark

"Hide and Seek Love" - Paula Keller

"Redefining Mr. Perfect" - Melissa Ann James

"Saving the Rich Man" - Greta MacEachern

"She's Just Right" - Diane Stoddard

"The Italian Solution]" - Greta MacEachern

"Too Late for Love?" - Jacqueline Floyd

"Trust in Me" - Priscilla Kissinger

Contemporary Series Romance: Suspense/Adventure

Winner: “The Midnight Effect” - Pamela Fryer

• Finalists:

“Hot Pursuit” - Lynn Harris

“Kitty's Fire” - Kelly Ann Riley

“Long Shadows” - Donna Meier

Contemporary Series: Suspense/Adventure

• The Midnight Effect by Pamela Fryer

Finalists:

• Hot Pursuit by Lynn Harris, Kitty's Fire by Kelly Ann Riley and Long Shadows by Donna Meier

Contemporary Single Title

• Money, Honey by Susan Seyfarth

Finalists:

• Beauty and the Geek by Sarah Castleberry, Better Late Than Never by Theresa Ragan, Love on the Rocks by Mary Sullivan, Public Relations by Amy Atwell, Summer Storm by Patricia Brayton-Winter, The Lost by Shelley Coriell and The Princess Project by Susan Seyfarth

Historical Romance

• Wanting Finian by Kris Kennedy

Finalists:

• Breath of Honor by Courtney Milan, Earth's Only Paradise by Cynthia Eernisse Chase, Lily's Outlaw by Tatia Totorica, Moss Square by Kathryn Parker, No Greater Glory by Cindy Nord, The Kinds Of Wanting by Kris Kennedy, The Lightkeeper's Wife by Christine Johnson and Through the Fire by Beth Trissel

Inspirational Romance

• Running from Trouble by Kit Wilkinson

Finalists:

• Addie's Choice by Keli Gwyn, Love in Bloom by Keli Gwyn, This Time Forever by Denise Meinstad and Wyndermere House by Susan Mason

Novel with Strong Romantic Elements

• The Devil You Know by Christa Selnick

Finalists:

• Alternate Ending by Julia Whitby, Evil Eye by Elizabeth Heiter, Flaherty's Crossing by Kristina Y. McMorris & Linda Yoshida, Heads Up, St. Anthony by Liese Sherwood-Fabre, In The Money by Bev Pettersen, Secrets of the Blackwood by Christine Johnson, The Professor by Cathy Perkins and To Dance With My Father by Constance Gillam

Paranormal Romance

• Soul Provider by Annette McCleave

Finalists:

• Bedknobs & Broomsticks by Kelly Gay, Haven by Donna Pruneau, Lilith's Child by Lee Roland, Night's Cold Kiss by Tracey Lee-Anne O'Hara, The Magic Knot by Helen Scott Taylor, The Sextant by Jennifer Satterfield and Wish List by Kerry Allen

Regency Historical

• Mistaken By Moonlight by Susan Gee Heino

Finalists:

• A Talent for Sin by Lavinia Klein, Glorious by Darcy Burke, Haunting James by Emily Dennis, Lost in Love by Pamela Bolton-Holifield and Midnight Promises by Anne Barton

Romantic Suspense

• Sweet Deceit by Julie Stevens

Finalists:

• Beyond the Borders by Helene Young, Dying To Remember by Cherilyn Redwine, Finding Kate Huntley by Theresa Ragan, Murder in Situ by Rachel Grant, One Shot, Two Kills by Kimberley Howe, Safe In Enemy Arms by Joan Swan, Truth and Consequences by Robin Perini

Young Adult Romance

• The Cinderella Society by Kay Cassidy

Finalists:

• Blighted by Kelly Gay, Party Like It's 1899 by Amanda Brice and Wishing You Were Here by Catherine Chant