The Romance Writers of America RITA^® contest promotes excellence in the romance genre by recognizing outstanding published romance novels and novellas.

For more information about the RITA Awards and the Romance Writers of America, visit http://www.rwa.org/

2010 Winners

Best Young Adult Romance
PERFECT CHEMISTRY by Simone Elkeles (Bloomsbury / Walker Books for Young Readers)

Best Inspirational Romance
THE INHERITANCE by Tamera Alexander (Thomas Nelson / Women of Faith Fiction)

Best Novel With Strong Romantic Elements
THE LOST RECIPE FOR HAPPINESS by Barbara O’Neal (Bantam / Discovery)

Best Romance Novella
“The Christmas Eve Promise” from THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS by Molly O’Keefe (Harlequin / Silhouette Special Releases)

Best Contemporary Series Romance
A NOT SO PERFECT PAST by Beth Andrews (Harlequin / Harlequin Superromance)

Best Contemporary Series Romance Suspense / Adventure
THE SOLDIER’S SECRET DAUGHTER by Cindy Dees (Harlequin / Silhouette Romantic Suspense)

Best Historical Romance
NOT QUITE A HUSBAND by Sherry Thomas (Bantam)

Best Regency Historical Romance
WHAT HAPPENS IN LONDON by Julia Quinn (HarperCollins / Avon)

Best Paranormal Romance
KISS OF A DEMON KING by Kresley Cole (Simon & Schuster / Pocket)

Best Romantic Suspense
WHISPER OF WARNING by Laura Griffin (Simon & Schuster / Pocket Star)

Best First Book
ONE SCREAM AWAY by Kate Brady (Grand Central / Forever)

Best Contemporary Single Title Romance
TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE by Kristin Higgins (Harlequin / HQN)

2010 Finalists

Best First Book
ONE SCREAM AWAY by Kate Brady (Grand Central Publishing / Forever)
HE CALLS HER DOC by Mary Brady (Harlequin Superromance)
THE GLADIATOR by Carla Capshaw (Harlequin / Steeple Hill Love Inspired Historical)
ANGEL VINDICATED by Viola Estrella  (Ellora’s Cave / Cerridwen Press)
THE BETTER PART OF DARKNESS by Kelly Gay (Simon & Schuster / Pocket Books)
STOLEN FURY by Elisabeth Naughton (Dorchester Publishing / Love Spell)
NOTHING LIKE YOU  by Lauren Strasnick (Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing)
THE LAST WILL OF LOIRA LEAHY by Therese Walsh (Rndom House / Shaye Areheart Books)

Contemporary Series Romance
A NOT-SO-PERFECT PAST by Beth Andrews (Harlequin / Harlequin Superromance)
FROM THE OUTSIDE by Helen Brenna (Harlequin / NASCAR)
THE SNOW-KISSED BRIDE by Linda Goodnight (Harlequin Romance)
SINGLE MOM SEEKS... by Teresa Hill (Harlequin / Silhouette Special Edition)
REVEALED: A Prince and a Pregnancy by Kelly Hunter (Harlequin / Mills and Boon Modern Heat)
THE CHRISTMAS LOVE-CHILD by Jennie Lucas (Harlequin / Harlequin Presents Extra)
ONE-NIGHT MISTRESS…CONVENIENT WIFE by Anne McAllister (Harlequin Presents)
DUTY, DISIRE, AND THE DESERT KING by Jane Porter (Harlequin / Mills and Boon Modern)
I STILL DO by Christie Ridgway (Harlequin / Silhouette Special Edition)

Contemporary Series Romance: Suspense/Adventure
MOUNTAIN INVESTIGATION by Jessica Andersen (Harlequin Intrigue)
THE CHRISTMAS STRANGER by Beth Cornelison (Harlequin / Silhouette Romantic Suspense)
THE SOLDIER’S SECRET DAUGHTER by Cindy Dees (Harlequin / Silhouette Romantic Suspense)
IN CARE OF SAM BEAUDRY  by Kathleen Eagle (Harlequin / Silhouette Special Edition)
SILENT WATCH by Elle Kennedy (Harlequin / Silhouette Romantic Suspense)
COLD CASE AFFAIR by Loreth Anne White (Harlequin / Silhouette Romantic Suspense)
THE CHRISTMAS PRESENT by Tracy Wolff (Harlequin / Harlequin Superromance)

Contemporary Single Title Romance
TALK ME DOWN by Victoria Dahl (Harlequin / HQN)
TRUE LOVE AND OTHER DISASTERS by Rachel Gibson (HarperCollins / Avon)
FOR THE LOVE OF PETE by Julia Harper (Grand Central / Forever)
TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE by Kristan Higgins (Harlequin / HQN)
A LITTLE LIGHT MAGIC by Joy Nash (Dorchester / Leisure Fiction)
DIRTY SEXY KNITTING by Christie Ridgway (Penguin / Berkley)
INSTANT ATTRACTION  by Jill Shalvis (Kensington / Brava)
FIRESIDE by Susan Wiggs (Harlequin / MIRA)

Historical Romance
WICKED ALL DAY by Liz Carlyle (Simon & Schuster / Pocket)
WITH SEDUCTION IN MIND by Laura Lee Guhrke (HarperCollins / Avon)
TO BEGUILE A BEAST by Elizabeth Hoyt (Grand Central / Forever)
MAKE ME YOURS by Betina Krahn (Harlequin / Blaze)
KNIGHT OF PLEASURE by Margaret Mallory (Grand Central  / Forever)
THE LONE TEXAN by Jodi Thomas (Penguin / Berkley)
NOT QUITE A HUSBAND by Sherry Thomas (Bantam Dell)
TAMING HER IRISH WARRIOR  by Michelle Willingham (Harlequin Historical)

Inspirational Romance
THE INHERITANCE by Tamera Alexander (Thomas Nelson / Women of Faith Fiction)
A LADY LIKE SARAH by Margaret Brownley (Thomas Nelson)
THE GLADIATOR by Carla Capshaw (Halequin / Steeple Hill Love Inspired Historical)
ENTERTAINING ANGELS by Judy Duarte (Kensington)
AN EYE FOR AN EYE by Irene Hannon (Baker / Revell)
THE SILENT GOVERNESS by Julie Klassen (Bethany House)
BREACH OF TRUST by Diann Mills (Tyndale House)
THE CONFIDENTIAL LIFE OF EUGENIA COOPER by Kathleen Y'Barbo (Random House / WaterBrook Multnomah)

Novel with Strong Romantic Elements
THE BETTER PART OF DARKNESS by Kelly Gay (Simon & Schuster / Pocket)
SCANDAL SHEET by Gemma Halliday (Dorchester Publishing)
RED’S HOT HONKY TONK BAR by Pamela Morsi (Harlequin / MIRA)
THE LOST RECIPE FOR HAPPINESS by Barbara O'Neal (Bantam Dell / Discovery)
SILENT ON THE MOOR by Deanna Raybourn (Harlequin / MIRA)
THE ACCIDENTAL BESTSELLER by Wendy Wax (Penguin / Berkley)
THE VIRGIN’S DAUGHTERS: In the Court of Elizabeth I by Jeane Westin (Penguin / NAL Trade)
LAKESHORE CHRISTMAS by Susan Wiggs (Harlequin / MIRA)

Paranormal Romance
WHAT WOULD JANE AUSTEN DO? by Laurie Brown (Sourcebooks / Casablanca)
“Untouchable” in DEEP KISS OF WINTER by Kresley Cole (Simon & Schuster / Pocket)
KISS OF A DEMON KING by Kresley Cole (Simon & Schuster / Pocket)
MY FORBIDDEN DESIRE by Carolyn Jewel (Grand Central / Forever)
THE FIRE KING by Marjorie M. Liu (Dorchester / Leisure)
FOR THE EARL’S PLEASURE by Anne Mallory (HarperCollins / Avon)
DARKNESS UNKNOWN by Alexis Morgan (Simon & Schuster / Pocket Star)
COVET by J.R. Ward (Penguin / Signet)
MORTAL SINS by Eileen Wilks (Penguin / Berkley Sensation)

Regency Historical Romance Finalists
SURRENDER OF A SIREN by Tessa Dare (Ballantine/Bantam Dell)
SCANDAL by Carolyn Jewel (Penguin / Berkley Sensation)
TEMPTING FATE by Alissa Johnson (Dorchester / Leisure Books)
A VIEW TO A KISS by Caroline Linden (HarperCollins  / Avon Books)
REVEALED by Kate Noble (Penguin / Berkley Sensation)
WHAT HAPPENS IN LONDON by Julia Quinn (HarperCollins / Avon Books)
LORD BRAYBROOK’S PENNILESS BRIDE by Elizabeth Rolls (Harlequin Historical)

Romance Novella
"A Little Night Magic" by Allyson James in HOT FOR THE HOLIDAYS (Penguin / Berkley, Jove)
“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 Historical)
 "Charlotte and the Wicked Lord" by Amanda McCabe in THE DIAMONDS OF WELBOURNE MANOR (Harlequin Historical)
“This Wicked Gift” by Courtney Milan in THE HEART OF CHRISTMAS (Harlequin / HQN)
“On a Snowy Christmas” by Brenda Novak in THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS (Harlequin / Silhouette Special Releases)
“The Christmas Eve Promise” by Molly O'Keefe in THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS (Harlequin / Silhouette Special Releases)

Romantic Suspense
ONE SCREAM AWAY by Kate Brady (Grand Central / Forever)
WAKING THE DEAD by Kylie Brant (Penguin / Berkley Sensation)
A DARK LOVE by Margaret Carroll (HarperCollins / Avon)
WHISPER OF WARNING by Laura Griffin (Simon & Schuster / Pocket Star)
STOLEN FURY by Elisabeth Naughton (Dorchester / Love Spell)
DARK COUNTRY by Bronwyn Parry (Hachette Livre / Hachette Australia)
PROMISES IN DEATH by J.D. Robb (Penguin  / Putnam)
KILL FOR ME by Karen Rose (Grand Central / Vision)

Young Adult Romance
FAIRY TALE by Cyn Balog (Random House / Delacorte Press)
DON’T JUDGE A GIRL BY HER COVER by Ally Carter (Hyperion Books for Children)
PERFECT CHEMISTRY by Simone Elkeles (Walker Books for Young Readers)
GOING TOO FAR by Jennifer Echols (Simon & Schuster / Pocket, MTV Books)
THE ABC’s OF KISSING BOYS by Tina Ferraro (Random House / Delacorte)
NOTHING LIKE YOU by Lauren Strasnick (Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing)

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RITA^® Award winners and finalists on Bookreporter.com: 2012, 2011, 2009