2012 RITA® Winners

The following authors and books are finalists in the 2012 RITA contest. Over 1,000 novels and novellas were judged in 12 categories. Winners of the awards were announced in July 2012 at the RITA and Golden Heart Awards Ceremony at the RWA's 32th Annual National Conference in Anaheim, California.

Best First Book

• Finalists:
  • [[Beautiful Disaster by Laura Spinella

Berkley Publishing Group; Leis Pederson, editor

• • [[The Darling Strumpet by Gillian Bagwell

Berkley Publishing Group; Kate Seaver, editor

• • [[The Devil in Disguise by Stefanie Sloane Ballantine Bantam Dell; Junessa Viloria, editor

• • [[First Grave on the Right by Darynda Jones

St. Martin's Press; Jennifer Enderlin, editor

• • [[Hourglass by Myra McEntire

Egmont USA; Regina Griffin, editor

• • [[How to Marry a Duke by Vicky Dreilling

Grand Central Publishing Forever; Michele Bidelspach, editor

• • [[I'm Not Her by Janet Gurtler

Sourcebooks Fire; Leah Hultenschmidt, editor

• • [[Warped by Maurissa Guibord

Delacorte Press; Michelle Poploff, editor

Best Contemporary Series Romance

• Finalists:
  • [[A Bravo Homecoming by Christine Rimmer

Harlequin Special Edition; Gail Chasan, editor

• • [[Donovan's Child by Christine Rimmer

Harlequin Special Edition; Gail Chasan, editor

• • [[Doukakis's Apprentice by Sarah Morgan

Harlequin Presents; Lucy Gilmour, editor

• • [[How a Cowboy Stole Her Heart by Donna Alward

Harlequin Romance; Sally Williamson, editor

• • [[I'll Catch You by Farrah Rochon

Harlequin Kimani Romance; Glenda Howard, editor

• • [[A Mother's Homecoming by Tanya Michaels

Harlequin American Romance; Kathleen Scheibling, editor

• • [[Rancher's Twins: Mom Needed by Barbara Hannay

Harlequin Romance; Meg Lewis, editor

• • [[The Texan's Bride by Linda Warren

Harlequin Superromance; Kathleen Scheibling, editor

Best Contemporary Series Romance: Suspense/Adventure

• Finalists:
  • [[Cooper Vengeance by Paula Graves

Harlequin Intrigue; Allison Lyons, editor

• • [[The Doctor’s Deadly Affair by Stephanie Doyle

Harlequin Romantic Suspense; Wanda Ottewell, editor

• • [[The Man from Gossamer Ridge by Paula Graves

Harlequin Intrigue; Allison Lyons, editor

• • [[Nothing But the Truth by Kara Lennox

Harlequin Superromance; Johanna Raisanen, editor

• • [[Soldier's Last Stand by Cindy Dees

Harlequin Romantic Suspense; Patience Bloom, editor

• • [[Stranded with Her Ex by Jill Sorenson

Harlequin Romantic Suspense; Stacy Boyd, editor

• • [[Taken to the Edge by Kara Lennox

Harlequin Superromance; Johanna Raisanen, editor

Best Contemporary Single Title

• Simply Irresistible by Jill Shalvis (Forever; Alex Logan, editor)

• Finalists:

At Hidden Falls by Barbara Freethy Pocket Books; Micki Nuding, editor Black Ties and Lullabies by Jane Graves Grand Central Publishing Forever; Michele Bidelspach, editor Boomerang Bride by Fiona Lowe Carina Press; Charlotte Herscher, editor Heartstrings and Diamond Rings by Jane Graves Grand Central Publishing Forever; Michele Bidelspach, editor Silver Sparks by Starr Ambrose Pocket Books; Abby Zidle, editor Slow Dancing on Price's Pier by Lisa Dale Berkley Publishing Group; Cindy Hwang, editor Summer at Seaside Cove by Jacquie D’Alessandro Berkley Publishing Group; Cindy Hwang, editor The Welcome Home Garden Club by Lori Wilde Avon Books; Lucia Macro, editor

Best Historical Romance

• His At Night by Sherry Thomas (Bantam Books; Caitlin Alexander, editor)

• Finalists:

Always a Temptress by Eileen Dreyer Grand Central Publishing Forever; Amy Pierpont, editor The Black Hawk by Joanna Bourne Berkley Publishing Group; Wendy McCurdy, editor The Danger of Desire by Elizabeth Essex Kensington Brava; Megan Records, editor Heartbreak Creek by Kaki Warner Berkley Publishing Group Sensation; Wendy McCurdy, editor The Many Sins of Lord Cameron by Jennifer Ashley Berkley Publishing Group Sensation; Kate Seaver, editor Scandalous Desires by Elizabeth Hoyt Grand Central Publishing; Amy Pierpont, editor Silk Is for Seduction by Loretta Chase Avon Books; May Chen, editor Unveiled by Courtney Milan HQN Books; Margo Lipschultz, editor

Best Inspirational Romance

• Finalists:

The Christmas Child by Linda Goodnight Harlequin Love Inspired; Allison Lyons, editor Deadly Pursuit by Irene Hannon Revell; Jennifer Leep, editor Katie's Way by Marta Perry Berkley Publishing Group; Ellen Edwards, editor The Ladies' Room by Carolyn Brown Avalon Books; Lia Brown, editor Love on the Line by Deeanne Gist Bethany House Publishers; David Long and Julie Klassen, editors The Measure of Katie Calloway by Serena Miller Revell; Vicki Crumpton, editor My Foolish Heart by Susan May Warren Tyndale House Publishers; Karen Watson, editor Save the Date by Jenny B. Jones Thomas Nelson; Natalie Hanemann and Jamie Chavez, editors To Win Her Heart by Karen Witemeyer Bethany House Publishers; Karen Schurrer, editor

Best Novel With Strong Romantic Elements

• Finalists:

The Dark Enquiry by Deanna Raybourn Harlequin MIRA; Valerie Gray, editor Death Magic by Eileen Wilks Berkley Publishing Group Sensation; Cindy Hwang, editor First Grave on the Right by Darynda Jones St. Martin's Press; Jennifer Enderlin, editor Goodnight Tweetheart by Teresa Medeiros Gallery Books; Lauren McKenna, editor How to Bake a Perfect Life by Barbara O'Neal Ballantine Bantam Dell; Shauna Summers, editor The Rose Garden by Susanna Kearsley Sourcebooks Landmark; Deb Werksman, editor Shadow Walker by Allyson James Berkley Publishing Group Sensation; Kate Seaver, editor Song of the Nile by Stephanie Dray Berkley Publishing Group; Cindy Hwang, editor Spider's Revenge by Jennifer Estep Pocket Books; Megan McKeever, editor

Best Paranormal Romance

Dragon Bound by Thea Harrison Berkley Publishing Group Sensation; Cindy Hwang, editor

• Finalists:

Archangel's Blade by Nalini Singh Berkley Publishing Group Sensation; Cindy Hwang, editor Changeling Moon by Dani Harper Kensington Brava; Alicia Condon, editor Envy by J.R. Ward NAL Signet; Kara Welsh, editor Lord of the Abyss by Nalini Singh Harlequin Nocture; Tara Gavin, editor The Lost by Caridad Piñeiro Grand Central Publishing Forever; Selina McLemore, editor Nightfall by Ellen Connor (writing team Ann Aguirre and Carrie Lofty) Berkley Publishing Group Sensation; Cindy Hwang, editor The Restorer by Amanda Stevens Harlequin MIRA; Denise Zaza, editor

Best Regency Historical Romance

• Finalists:

The Devil in Disguise by Stefanie Sloane Ballantine Bantam Dell; Junessa Viloria, editor Heiress in Love by Christina Brooke St. Martin's Press; Monique Patterson, editor How to Marry a Duke by Vicky Dreiling Grand Central Publishing Forever; Michele Bidelspach, editor How to Seduce a Scoundrel by Vicky Dreiling Grand Central Publishing Forever; Michele Bidelspach, editor Lady Sophie's Christmas Wish by Grace Burrowes Sourcebooks Casablanca; Deb Werksman, editor A Night to Surrender by Tessa Dare Avon Books; Tessa Woodward, editor To Seduce an Angel by Kate Moore Berkley Publishing Group Sensation; Wendy McCurdy, editor When Beauty Tamed the Beast by Eloisa James Avon Books; Carrie Feron, editor

Best Romantic Novella

• Finalists:

"Angel's Wolf" by Nalini Singh in Angels of Darkness Berkley Publishing Group Sensation; Cindy Hwang, editor "Chaos in Death" by J.D. Robb in The Unquiet Berkley Publishing Group; Leslie Gelbman, editor "Compassion Can't Wait" by Carly Phillips in More Than Words, Vol. 7 Harlequin Enterprises; Marsha Zinberg, editor I Love the Earl by Caroline Linden Avon Impulse; Lyssa Keusch, editor "One Wish: a Christmas Story" by Jodi Thomas in A Texas Christmas Kensington Zebra; Peter Senftleben, editor "Resolution" by Linda Winstead Jones in The Heart of Winter Harlequin Enterprises; Stacy Boyd, editor “The Storm Within” by Trish Morey in A Royal Engagement Harlequin Presents; Joanne Grant, editor "Unforgiven" by Ruth Ryan Langan in The Unquiet Berkley Publishing Group; Cindy Hwang, editor

Best Romantic Suspense

• Finalists:

Hidden Away by Maya Banks Berkley Publishing Group Sensation; Cindy Hwang, editor Hot Zone by Catherine Mann Sourcebooks Casablanca; Deb Werksman, editor Hush by Cherry Adair Pocket Star; Lauren McKenna, editor New York to Dallas by J.D. Robb Penguin Putnam; Leslie Gelbman, editor Secrets of Bella Terra by Christina Dodd New American Library; Kerry Donovan, editor True Colors by Joyce Lamb Berkley Publishing Group Sensation; Wendy McCurdy, editor True Shot by Joyce Lamb Berkley Publishing Group Sensation; Wendy McCurdy, editor Where All the Dead Lie by J.T. Ellison Harlequin MIRA; Adam Wilson and Miranda Indrigo, editors

Best Young Adult Romance

• Finalists:

Enclave by Ann Aguirre Macmillan Feiwel & Freinds; Liz Szabla, editor Flawless by Lara Chapman Bloomsbury Publishing; Caroline Abbey, editor Hourglass by Myra McEntire Egmont USA; Regina Griffin, editor I'm Not Her by Janet Gurtler Sourcebooks Fire; Leah Hultenschmidt, editor Touch of Frost by Jennifer Estep Kensington Teen; Alicia Condon, editor Warped by Maurissa Guibord Delacorte Press; Michelle Poploff, editor