2012 Golden Heart Winners

Winners & Finalists

Contemporary Series Romance

Winner: “Cyrano at Your Service” - Tamra Baumann

• Finalists:

“Bachelor: Baited, Hooked and Bedded” - Lexi Greene

“The Divorce Deal” - Kat Cantrell

“His Perfect Partner” - Priscilla Kissinger

“Mountain Cherries” - Kim Law

“A Perfect Wife” - Caro LaFever

“Second-Chance Bride” - Ami Weaver

“Tell Me Something Good” - Jamie Wesley

Contemporary Single Title Romance

Winner: “No Peeking” - Tamar Bihari

• Finalists:

“All Beautiful Things” - Nicki Salcedo

“Blackjack & Moonlight” - Magdalen Braden

“Cat on a Hot Steel Flight Deck” - Heather Nickodem

“Earning Wings” - Laurie Sanchez

“Meant to Be” - Terri Osburn

“Thrown” - Colette Auclair

“You Had Me at Habari” - Maggie McConnell

Historical Romance

Winner: “The Devil May Care” - Elisa Beatty

• Finalists:

“A Duke's Wicked Kiss” - Kathleen Bittner Roth

“A Hero to Hold” - Sheri Humphreys

“Highland Promise” - Tracy Brogan

“A Knight of Her Own” - Oberon Wonch

“Love in the Music Room” - Moriah Densley

“Notorious” - Alison Atwater

“A Private Affair” - Jennifer McQuiston

Inspirational Romance

Winner: “Love's Advocate” - Karen Fleming

• Finalists:

“Language of Love” - Kristen Ethridge

“Powerless Consent” - Jan Nash

“Whispers in the Night” - Carol Post

Novel with Strong Romantic Elements

Winner: “Song without Words” - Lisa Laing

• Finalists:

“Beulah Land and the Happy Hour Choir” - Sally Kirkpatrick

“The Devil She Knows” - Anna Stewart

“Faking It” - Nikki McIntosh

“The Lazarus Gambit” - Deborah Wright

“Lowcountry Boil” - Susan M. Boyer

“Mere Mortals” - Catherine Rull

“Taking Wall Street by Disguise” - Terri Bolyard

“A Tangled Season” - Natalie Meg Evans

Paranormal Romance

Winner: “Never Deal with Dragons” - Lorenda Christensen

• Finalists:

“Bathtub Jinn” - Kay Hudson

“Better Dead” - Pamela Kopfler

“Draxis” - Laurie A. Green

“Figs from Thistles” - A. J. Larrieu

“Flannigan's Grace” - Marni Donnelly Folsom

“Trouble in Mind” - Donna S. Frelick

“Unchained Memory” - Donna S. Frelick

Regency Romance

Winner: “The Perfect Heiress” - Kimberly Ohara

• Finalists:

“King of Swords” - Anne Kenny “The Last Light of Dusk” - Joanne Lockyer “Scandal in Spades” - Wendy LaCapra “A Whisper to the Wild” - Eileen Emerson

Romantic Suspense

Winner: “Edge of Deception” - Elizabeth Bemis

• Finalists:

“Body of Evidence” - Rachel Grant “Chemical Attraction” - Mary Oldham “Exposure” - Robena Grant “In Wolf's Clothing” - Sally Eggert “Rescuing Rembrandt” - Jean Willett “Rogue's Return” - Sharon Wray “Spy in the Harem” - Dianna Belchase

Young Adult Romance

Winner: “Wired” - Romily Bernard

• Finalists:

“Angel Academy” - Cecily White “Canvas Crossers” - Natalie Vawter “Forget Tomorrow” - Pintip Dunn “The Matter of Souls” - Stephanie Winkelhake “Pandora's Clock” - Natalie Vawter “The Silent Sister” - Megan Macijauskas “The Suspicions of Cairo Jones” - Mary Danielson

Scoring Criteria The top 10 percent of each category's entries (based on the number of qualified entries received), with a limit of eight (nine in the case of tie), will advance to the final round, provided that minimum total score for each finalist equals 80 percent of the total possible score. The 80 percent rule does not apply to the Best First Book category.

Category Descriptions Contemporary Series Romance Series romance novels that focus primarily on the romantic relationship. Judging guidelines: In this category, the love story is the main focus of the novel, and the end of the book is emotionally satisfying and optimistic. Contemporary Series Romance: Suspense/Adventure Series romance novels which focus primarily on the romantic relationship but may have more complex suspense or adventure subplots. Judging guidelines: In this category, the love story is the main focus of the novel, and the end of the book is emotionally satisfying and optimistic. Contemporary Single Title Romance Romance novels which focus primarily on the romantic relationship, released as individual titles, not as part of a series. Judging guidelines: In this category, the love story is the main focus of the novel, and the end of the book is emotionally satisfying and optimistic. Historical Romance Romance novels set in any time period prior to 1945, and taking place in any location. Judging guidelines: In this category, the love story is the main focus of the novel, and the end of the book is emotionally satisfying and optimistic. Inspirational Romance Romance novels in which religious or spiritual beliefs (in the context of any religion of spiritual belief system) are a major part of the romantic relationship. Judging guidelines: In this category, religious or spiritual beliefs (in the context of any religion or spiritual belief system) are blended with and form a significant part of the love story, and the end of the book is emotionally satisfying and optimistic. Novel with Strong Romantic Elements A work of fiction in which a romance plays a significant part in the story, but other themes or elements take the plot beyond the traditional romance boundaries. Judging guidelines: Novels of any tone or style, set in any place or time are eligible for this category. A romance must be an integral part of the plot or subplot, and the resolution of the romance is emotionally satisfying and optimistic. Paranormal Romance Romance novels in which the future, a fantasy world or paranormal happenings are an integral part of the plot, Judging guidelines: In this category, a futuristic, fantasy, or paranormal element is blended with the love story, which is the main focus of the novel, and the end of the book is emotionally satisfying and optimistic. Regency Historical Romance Romance novels in which the majority of the story is set against the Regency period of the British Empire. Judging guidelines: In this category, the love story is the main focus of the novel, and the end of the book is emotionally satisfying and optimistic. Romantic Suspense Romance novels in which suspense, mystery, or thriller elements constitute an integral part of the plot. Judging guidelines: In this category, a suspense/mystery/thriller plot is blended with a love story, which is the main focus of the novel, and the end of the book is emotionally satisfying and optimistic. Young Adult Romance Novels with a strong romantic theme geared toward young adult readers. Judging guidelines: In this category, the love story is an important element of the novel, and the end of the book is emotionally satisfying and optimistic.