2006 RITA® Winners

The 2006 RITA awards were held in Atlanta on July 29, 2006. Nora Roberts hosted the ceremony.

• Best First Book - Show Her The Money - Stephanie Feagan, Silhouette Books, Natashya Wilson, editor
  • Other nominees were: The Good, The Bad, And The Ugly Men I've Dated - Shane Bolks, Avon Books, Erika Tsang, editor; A Texas State Of Mind - Ann DeFee, Harlequin Books, Paula Eykelhof, editor; Charmed & Dangerous - Candace Havens, Berkley Books, Gail Fortune and Anne Sowards, editors; Spirited Away - Pamela Labud, Kensington Books, Hilary Sares, editor; Worth Every Risk - Dianna Love Snell, Silhouette Books, Allison Lyons, editor; Finders Keepers - Linnea Sinclair, Bantam Books, Anne Groell, editor; Poison Study - Maria V. Snyder, Luna Books, Mary-Theresa Hussey, editor

• Best Contemporary Single Title - Lakeside Cottage - Susan Wiggs, MIRA Books, Margaret Marbury and Dianne Moggy, editors
  • Other nominees were: You've Got Male - Elizabeth Bevarly, HQN Books, Wanda Ottewell, editor; Picket Fence - Kimberly Cates, HQN Books - Melissa Endlich, editor; A Crazy Kind Of Love - Maureen Child, St. Martin's Press, Jennifer Enderlin, editor; Turn My World Upside Down - Maureen Child, St. Martin's Press, Jennifer Enderlin, editor; Heartbreak Hotel - Jill Marie Landis, Ballantine Books, Charlotte Herscher, editor; Wedding Survivor - Julia London, Berkley Books, Christine Zika, editor; Almost Perfect - Julie Ortolon, NAL, Laura Cifelli, editor

• Best Inspirational Romance - Heavens To Betsy - Beth Pattillo, WaterBrook Press, Dudley Delffs, editor
  • Other nominees were: Pocketful Of Pearls - Shelley Bates, Warner Books, Leslie Peterson, editor; Remember Me - Deborah Bedford, Warner Books, Leslie Peterson and Lisa Town Bergren, editors; Chloe - Lyn Cote, Warner Books, Leslie Peterson, editor; A Sheltering Love - Terri Reed, Steeple Hill Books - Diane Dietz, editor

• Best Long Contemporary Romance - Worth Every Risk - Dianna Love Snell[[]], Silhouette Books, Allison Lyons, editor
  • Other nominees were: The Business Of Strangers - Kylie Brant, Silhouette Books, Shannon Godwin, editor; The Father Factor - Lilian Darcy, Silhouette Books, Bryony Green, editor; A Texas State Of Mind - Ann Defee, Harlequin Books, Paula Eykelhof, editor; Under The Mistletoe - Kristin Hardy, Silhouette Books, Gail Chasan, editor; Blackberry Winter - Cheryl Reavis, Harlequin Books, Tara Gavin, editor; Her Last Defense - Vickie Taylor, Silhouette Books, Ann Leslie Tuttle, editor; Hometown Girl - Margaret Watson, Harlequin Books, Laura Shin, editor; The Secret Wife - Carrie Weaver, Harlequin Books, Laura Shin, editor

• Best Long Historical Romance - The Devil To Pay - Liz Carlyle, Pocket Books, Lauren McKenna, editor
  • Other nominees were: A Most Unsuitable Man - Jo Beverley, NAL, Claire Zion, editor; This Rake Of Mine - Elizabeth Boyle, Avon Books, Lyssa Keusch, editor; The Dark Queen - Susan Carroll, Ballantine Books, Charlotte Herscher, editor; Mr. Impossible - Loretta Chase, Berkley Books, Gail Fortune and Ellen Edwards, editors; Sin And Sensibility - Suzanne Enoch, Avon Books, Erika Tsang, editor; The Perfect Rake - Anne Gracie, Berkley Books, Christine Zika, editor; To Pleasure A Prince - Sabrina Jeffries, Pocket Books, Micki Nuding, editor

• Best Novella - “The Naked Truth about Guys” in The Naked Truth - Alesia Holliday, Berkley Books, Cindy Hwang, editor
  • Other nominees were: “Playing for Keeps” in Dare Me - Cherry Adair, NAL, Laura Cifelli, editor; “Glad Rags” in The True Love Wedding Dress - Constance Brockway; NA, Claire Zion, editor; “A Proper Englishwoman” in Talk Of The Ton - Eloisa James, Berkley Books, Christine Zika, editor; “Highland Handfast” in The Betrothal - Joanne Rock, Harlequin Books, Ann Leslie Tuttle; “Blood Lust” in Bite - Vickie Taylor, Berkley Books, Cindy Hwang, editor; “Simon Says” in Secrets, Volume 15 - Jane Thompson, Red Sage - Judith Pich, editor

• Best Paranormal Romance - “The Naked Truth about Guys” in The Naked Truth - Alesia Holliday, Berkley Books, Cindy Hwang, editor
  • Other nominees were: The Misted Cliffs - Catherine Asaro, Luna Books, Stacy Boyd, editor; Ghost Walk - Heather Graham, MIRA Books, Leslie Wainger, editor; My Shadow Warrior - Jen Holling, Pocket Books, Lauren McKenna, editor; Spirited Away - Pamela Labud, Kensington Books, Hilary Sares, editor; A Taste Of Crimson - Marjorie Liu, Dorchester Publishing, Chris Keeslar, editor; After Midnight - Teresa Medeiros, Avon Books, Carrie Feron, editor; Dark Lover - J.R. Ward, NAL - Kara Cesare, editor

• Best Regency Romance - A Reputable Rake - Diane Gaston, Harlequin Mills & Boon Limited, Linda Fildew, editor
  • Other nominees were: Miss Whitlow's Turn - Jenna Mindel, NAL, Rose Hilliard, editor; Just Say Yes - Myretta Robens, Kensington Books, Hilary Sares, editor; The House Party - Jeanne Savery, Kensington Books. John Scognamiglio, editor

• Best Romantic Suspense - Survivor In Death - J.D. Robb, Penguin Putnam, Leslie Gelbman, editor
  • Other nominees were: In Deep Voodoo - Stephanie Bond, Avon Books, Lyssa Keusch, editor; Close-Up - Virginia Kantra, Berkley Books, Cindy Hwang, editor; Crazy Hot - Tara Janzen, Bantam Books, Wendy McCurdy, editor; Tangle Of Lies - Patricia Potter, Berkley Books, Christine Zika, editor; Nothing To Fear - Karen Rose, Warner Books, Karen Kosztolnyik, editor; Darker Than Midnight - Maggie Shayne, MIRA Books, Leslie Wainger, editor; The Marriage Trap, Elizabeth Thornton, Bantam Books, Wendy McCurdy, editor

• Best Short Contemporary Romance - The Marriage Miracle - Liz Fielding, Harlequin Mills & Boon, Emma Dunford, editor
  • Other nominees were: Between Midnight And Morning - Cindy Gerard, Silhouette Books, Shannon Godwin, editor; Suspicious - Heather Graham, Silhouette Books, Leslie Wainger, editor; Hot To The Touch - Jennifer Greene, Silhouette Books, Melissa Jeglinski, editor; The Rich Stranger - Bronwyn Jameson, Silhouette Books, Stacy Boyd, editor; The Rugged Loner - Bronwyn Jameson, Silhouette Books, Stacy Boyd, editor; The Ruthless Groom - Bronwyn Jameson, Silhouette Books, Stacy Boyd, editor; Really Hot! - Jennifer LaBrecque, Harlequin Books, Brenda Chin, editor; One Night In Texas - Jane Sullivan, Harlequin Books, Jennifer Green, editor

• Best Short Historical Romance - The Texan's Reward - Jodi Thomas, Berkley Books, Christine Zika, editor
  • Other nominees were: When We Meet Again - Victoria Alexander, Avon Books, Lucia Macro, editor; The King's Mistress - Terri Brisbin, Harlequin Books, Melissa Endlich, editor; Abbie's Outlaw - Victoria Bylin, Harlequin Books, Kim Nadelson, editor; It Happened One Autumn - Lisa Kleypas, Avon Books, Lucia Macro, editor; Highlander In Love - Julia London, Pocket Books, Maggie Crawford, editor; To Love A Thief - Julie Ann Long, Warner Books, Melanie Murray, editor; His Secondhand Wife - Cheryl St. John, Harlequin Books, Ann Leslie Tuttle, editor

• Novel With Strong Romantic Elements - Lady Luck's Map Of Vegas - Barbara Samuel, Ballantine Books, Linda Morrow, editor
  • Other nominees were: The Me I Used To Be - Jennifer Archer, Harlequin Books, Gail Chasan, editor; The Tiara Club - Beverly Brandt, St. Martin's Press, Kimberly Cardascia, editor; Charmed & Dangerous - Candace Havens, Berkley Books, Gail Fortune and Anne Sowards, editors; Sweetgrass - Mary Alice Monroe, MIRA Books, Martha Keenan, editor; Ex And The Single Girl - Lani Diane Rich[[]], Warner Books, Beth de Guzman, editor; Blue Smoke - Nora Roberts, Penguin Putnam, Leslie Gelbman, editor; Table For Five - Susan Wiggs, MIRA Books, Margaret Marbury and Dianne Moggy, editor

• Best Traditional Romance - Princess Of Convenience - Marion Lennox, Harlequin Books, Sheila Hodgson, editor
  • Other nominees were: Smart Boys & Fast Girls - Stephie Davis, Dorchester Publishing, Kate Seaver, editor; Who Needs Boys? - Stephie Davis, Dorchester Publishing - Kate Seaver, editor; The Doctor's Rescue Mission - Marion Lennox, Harlequin Books, Kate Paice, editor