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RITA Awards 2011

Awards

RITA Awards 2011

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/


2011 Winners

 

Best Young Adult Romance
THE IRON KING by Julie Kagawa (Harlequin Teen)

Best Inspirational Romance
IN HARM'S WAY by Irene Hannon (Revell)

Best Novel With Strong Romantic Elements
WELCOME TO HARMONY by Jodi Thomas (Berkley)

Best Romance Novella
"Shifting Sea" by Virginia Kantra in BURNING UP (Berkley Sensation)

Best Contemporary Series Romance
WELCOME HOME, COWBOY by Karen Templeton (Silhouette Special Edition)

Best Contemporary Series Romance Suspense / Adventure
THE MOON THAT NIGHT by Helen Brenna (Harlequin Superromance)

Best Historical Romance
HIS AT NIGHT by Sherry Thomas (Bantam Books)

Best Regency Historical Romance
THE MISCHIEF OF THE MISTLETOE by Lauren Willig (Dutton)

Best Paranormal Romance
UNCHAINED: The Dark Forgotten by Sharon Ashwood (NAL/Signet Eclipse)

Best Romantic Suspense
SILENT SCREAM by Karen Rose (Grand Central)

Best First Book
PIECES OF SKY by Kaki Warner (Berkley Sensation)

Best Contemporary Single Title Romance
SIMPLY IRRESISTIBLE by Jill Shalvis (Forever)


2011 Finalists

 

Best Young Adult Romance
CHASING BROOKLYN by Lisa Schroeder (Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing)
THE CLEARING by Heather Davis (Houghton Mifflin Graphia)
CLOCKWORK ANGEL by Cassandra Clare (Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing)
I NOW PRONOUNCE YOU SOMEONE ELSE by Erin McCahan (Scholastic)
THE IRON KING by Julie Kagawa (Harlequin Teen)
RULES OF ATTRACTION by Simone Elkeles (Walker Publishing)
THE SUMMER OF SKINNY DIPPING by Amanda Howells (Sourcebooks Fire)

Best Inspirational Romance
A CONVENIENT WIFE by Anna Schmidt (Steeple Hill Love Inspired Historical)
DOCTOR IN PETTICOATS by Mary Connealy (Barbour Publishing)
FINDING HER WAY HOME by Linda Goodnight (Steeple Hill Love Inspired)
IN HARM'S WAY by Irene Hannon (Revell)
MAID TO MATCH by Deeanne Gist (Bethany House Publishers)
SHADES OF MORNING by Marlo M. Schalesky (WaterBrook Multnomah)
THE WEDDING GARDEN by Linda Goodnight (Steeple Hill Love Inspired)
WHISPER ON THE WIND by Maureen Lang (Tyndale House Publishers)
WITHIN MY HEART by Tamera Alexander (Bethany House Publishers)

Best Novel With Strong Romantic Elements
BLOOD VINES by Erica Spindler (St. Martin's Press)
THE DEAD TRAVEL FAST by Deanna Raybourn (MIRA)
KILLBOX by Ann Aguirre (Ace Books)
ON FOLLY BEACH by Karen White (NAL Accent)
THE SEARCH by Nora Roberts (G.P. Putnam's Sons)
STORMWALKER by Allyson James (Berkley Sensation)
WANNA GET LUCKY? by Deborah Coonts (Tor/Forge)
WELCOME TO HARMONY by Jodi Thomas (Berkley)

Best Romance Novella
"Blame It on the Blizzard" by Jennifer Greene in BABY, IT'S COLD OUTSIDE (Harlequin)
"A Dundee Christmas" by Brenda Novak in THAT CHRISTMAS FELLING (Harlequin Superromance)
"Friendly Fire" by Jill Shalvis in BORN ON THE 4TH OF JULY (Harlequin Blaze)
"Love Me to Death" by Maggie Shayne in HEART OF DARKNESS (HQN Books)
"Mistletoe Magic" by Sandra Hyatt in UNDER THE MILLIONAIRE'S MISTLETOE (Silhouette Desire)
"Mountain Rose" by Cheryl St. John in TO BE A MOTHER (Steeple Hill Love Inspired Historical)
"Shifting Sea" by Virginia Kantra in BURNING UP (Berkley Sensation)
"The Wrong Brother" by Maureen Child in UNDER THE MILLIONAIRE'S MISTLETOE (Silhouette Desire)

Best Contemporary Series Romance
BREAKING THE SHEIKH'S RULES in SUMMER SHEIKHS anthology by Abby Green (Mills & Boon)
CHRISTMAS MAGIC ON THE MOUNTAIN by Melissa McClone (Harlequin Romance)
CHRISTMAS WITH HER BOSS by Marion Lennox (Harlequin Romance)
DARE SHE DATE THE DREAMY DOC? by Sarah Morgan (Mills & Boon Medical Romance)
RED-HOT RENEGADE by Kelly Hunter (Mills & Boon Modern Heat)
AN UNEXPECTED FATHER by Lisa Ruff (Harlequin American Romance)
WELCOME HOME, COWBOY by Karen Templeton (Silhouette Special Edition)
ZOE AND THE TORMENTED TYCOON by Kate Hewitt (Harlequin Presents)

Best Contemporary Series Romance Suspense / Adventure
THE BABY'S GUARDIAN by Delores Fossen (Harlequin Intrigue)
Case File: CANYON CREEK, WYOMING by Paula Graves (Harlequin Intrigue)
TO CATCH A KILLER by Kimberly Van Meter (Silhouette Romantic Suspense)
A COP IN HER STOCKING by Ann Voss Peterson (Harlequin Intrigue)
MELTDOWN by Gail Barrett (Silhouette Romantic Suspense)
THE MOON THAT NIGHT by Helen Brenna (Harlequin Superromance)
PERFECT PARTNERS? by C.J. Carmichael (Harlequin Superromance)
RENEGADE ANGEL by Kendra Leigh Castle (Harlequin Nocturne)

Best Historical Romance
COUNTESS OF SCANDAL by Laurel McKee (Forever)
THE FORBIDDEN ROSE by Joanne Bourne (Berkley Trade)
HIS AT NIGHT by Sherry Thomas (Bantam Books)
A KISS AT MIDNIGHT by Eloisa James (Avon Books)
LAST NIGHT'S SCANDAL by Loretta Chase (Avon)
A LITTLE BIT WILD by Victoria Dahl (Zebra Books)
ONE WICKED SIN by Nicola Cornick (HQN Books)
OPEN COUNTRY by Kaki Warner (Berkley Trade)

Best Regency Historical Romance
HIS CHRISTMAS PLEASURE by Cathy Maxwell (Avon Books)
THE MISCHIEF OF THE MISTLETOE by Lauren Willig (Dutton)
NINE RULES TO BREAK WHEN ROMANCING A RAKE by Sarah MacLean (Avon Books)
PROVOCATIVE IN PEARLS by Madeline Hunter (Jove)
TO SURRENDER TO A ROGUE by Cara Elliott (Forever)
TWICE TEMPTED by a Rogue by Tessa Dare (Ballantine Books)
WHEN HARRY MET MOLLY by Kieran Kramer (St. Martin's Press)
THE WICKED WYCKERLY by Patricia Rice (NAL/Signet)

Best Paranormal Romance
ENEMY WITHIN by Marcella Burnard (Berkley)
A HIGHLANDER'S HOMECOMING by Melissa Mayhue (Pocket Books)
IMMORTAL SEA by Virginia Kantra (berkley Trade)
MARKED BY THE MOON by Lori Handeland (St. Martin's Press)
REBEL by Zoe Archer (Zebra Books)
SINS OF THE HEART by Eve Silver (HQN Books)
UNCHAINED: The Dark Forgotten by Sharon Ashwood (NAL/Signet Eclipse)
WATER BOUND by Christine Feehan (Jove)

Best Romantic Suspense
THE DARKEST HOUR by Maya Banks (Berkley)
DEADLY FEAR by Cynthia Eden (Forever)
EDGE OF SIGHT by Roxanne St. Claire (Forever)
INDULGENCE IN DEATH by J.D. Robb (G.P. Putnam's Sons)
KILL ME AGAIN by Maggie Shayne (MIRA)
LOVE ME TO DEATH by Allison Brennan (Ballantine Books)
SILENT SCREAM by Karen Rose (Grand Central)
TWO LETHAL LIES by Annie Solomon (Forever)

Best First Book
ENEMY WITHIN by Marcella Burnard (Berkley)
FIRESTORM by Kelly Ann Riley (Steeple Hill Love Inspired Suspense)
I NOW PRONOUNCE YOU SOMEONE ELSE by Erin McCahan (Scholastic)
THE IRON KING by Julie Kagawa (Harlequin Teen)
PIECES OF SKY by Kaki Warner (Berkley Sensation)
THE SUMMER OF SKINNY DIPPING by Amanda Howells (Sourcebooks Fire)
A TAILOR-MADE BRIDE by Karen Witemeyer (Bethany House Publishers)
WANNA GET LUCKY? by Deborah Coonts (Tor/Forge)
WHEN HARRY MET MOLLY by Kieran Kramer (St. Martin's Press)

Best Contemporary Single Title Romance
AND ONE LAST THING by Molly Harper (Gallery Books)
HAPPY EVER AFTER by Nora Roberts (Berkley Trade)
LEAD ME ON by Victoria Dahl (HQN Books)
NOT THAT KIND OF GIRL by Susan Donovan (St. Martin's Press)
NOTHING BUT TROUBLE by Rachel Gibson (Avon Books)
ONE FINE COWBOY by Joanne Kennedy (Sourcebooks Casablanca)
SIMPLY IRRESISTIBLE by Jill Shalvis (Forever)
STILL THE ONE by Robin Wells (Forever)

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RITA® Award winners and finalists on Bookreporter.com: 2012, 2010, 2009