Romance Writers of America® (RWA) is pleased to announce the winners for the 2012 RITA^®  Awards. The 2012 RITA honors romance fiction published in 2011. More than 1,200 novels and novellas were judged in 12 categories. T

Winners of the awards were announced July 28, 2012, at the RITA Awards Ceremony held at the 2012 RWA Annual Conference in Anaheim, Calif.

The Romance Writers of America RITA^® contest promotes excellence in the romance genre by recognizing outstanding published romance novels and novellas. The purpose of the Golden Heart^® contest is to promote excellence in the romance genre by recognizing outstanding romance manuscripts.

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

2012 Winners

Best First Book
FIRST GRAVE ON THE RIGHT by Darynda Jones (St. Martin's Press; Jennifer Enderlin, editor)

Best Contemporary Series Romance
DOUKAKIS'S APPRENTICE by Sarah Morgan (Harlequin Presents; Lucy Gilmour, editor)

Best Contemporary Series Romance Suspense / Adventure
THE BLACK HAWK by Joanna Bourne (Berkley Publishing Group; Wendy McCurdy, editor)

Best Contemporary Single Title Romance
BOOMERANG BRIDE by Fiona Lowe (Carina Press; Charlotte Herscher, editor)

Best Historical Romance
THE BLACK HAWK by Joanna Bourne (Berkley Publishing Group; Wendy McCurdy, editor)

Best Inspirational Romance
THE MEASURE OF KATIE CALLOWAY by Serena Miller (Revell; Vicki Crumpton, editor)

Best Novel With Strong Romantic Elements
HOW TO BAKE A PERFECT LIFE by Barbara O'Neal (Ballantine Bantam Dell; Shauna Summers, editor)

Best Paranormal Romance
DRAGON BOUND by Thea Harrison (Berkley Publishing Group Sensation; Cindy Hwang, editor)

Best Regency Historical Romance
A NIGHT TO SURRENDER by Tessa Dare (Avon Books; Tessa Woodward, editor)

Best Romance Novella
I LOVE THE EARL by Caroline Linden (Avon Impulse; Lyssa Keusch, editor)

Best Romantic Suspense
NEW YORK TO DALLAS by J.D. Robb (Penguin Putnam; Leslie Gelbman, editor)

Best Young Adult Romance
ENCLAVE by Ann Aguirre (Macmillan Feiwel & Freinds; Liz Szabla, editor)

2012 Finalists

Best Young Adult Romance
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)

Best Inspirational Romance
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
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 Romance Novella
"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 Contemporary Series Romance
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
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 Historical Romance
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 Regency Historical Romance
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 Paranormal Romance
ARCHANGEL'S BLADE by Nalini Singh (Berkley Publishing Group Sensation; Cindy Hwang, editor)
CHANGELING MOON by Dani Harper (Kensington Brava; Alicia Condon, editor)
DRAGON BOUND by Thea Harrison (Berkley Publishing Group Sensation; Cindy Hwang, 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 (Berkley Publishing Group Sensation; Cindy Hwang, editor)
THE RESTORER by Amanda Stevens (Harlequin MIRA; Denise Zaza, editor)

Best Romantic Suspense
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 First Book
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 Single Title Romance
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)

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Contemporary Series Romance - Golden Heart
“A Perfect Wife” by Caro LaFever
“Bachelor: Baited, Hooked and Bedded” by Lexi Greene
“Cyrano at Your Service” by Tamra Baumann
“The Divorce Deal” by Kat Cantrell
“His Perfect Partner” by Priscilla Kissinger
“Montana Cherries” by Kim Law
“Second-Chance Bride” by Ami Weaver
“Tell Me Something Good” by Jamie Wesley

Contemporary Single Title - Golden Heart
ALL BEAUTIFUL THINGS by Nicki Salcedo
BLACKJACK & MOONLIGHT by Magdalen Braden
CAT ON A HOT STEEL FLIGHT DECK by Heather Nickodem
EARNING WINGS by Laurie Sanchez
MEANT TO BE by Terri Osburn
NO PEEKING by Talia Quinn Daniels
THROWN BY COLETTE AUCLAIR
YOU HAD ME AT HABARI by Maggie McConnell

Historical Romance - Golden Heart
THE DEVIL MAY CARE by Elisa Beatty
A DUKE’S WICKED KISS by Kathleen Bittner Roth
A HERO TO HOLD by Sheri Humphreys
HIGHLAND PROMISE by Tracy Brogan
A KNIGHT OF HER OWN by Oberon Wonch
LOVE IN THE MUSIC ROOM by Moriah Densley
NOTORIOUS by Alison Atwater
A PRIVATE AFFAIR by Jennifer McQuiston

Inspirational Romance - Golden Heart
LANGUAGE OF LOVE by Kristen Ethridge
LOVE’S ADVOCATE by Karen Fleming
POWERLESS CONSENT by Jan Nash
WHISPERS IN THE NIGHT by Carol Post

Novel with Strong Romantic Elements - Golden Heart
BEULAH LAND AND THE HAPPY HOUR CHOIR by Sally Kilpatrick
THE DEVIL SHE KNOWS by Anna Stewart (writing as AJ Stewart)
FAKING IT by Nikki Figueiredo
THE LAZARUS GAMBIT by Deborah Wright
LOWCOUNTRY BOIL by Susan M. Boyer
MERE MORTALS by Catherine Rull
SONG WITHOUT WORDS by Lisa Laing
TAKING WALL STREET BY DISGUISE by Terri Bolyard
A TANGLED SEASON by Natalie Meg Evans

Paranormal Romance - Golden Heart
BATHTUB JINN by Kay Hudson
BETTER DEAD by Pamela Kopfler
DRAXIS by Laurie A. Green
FIGS FROM THISTLES by A.J. Larrieu
FLANNIGAN’S GRACE by Marni Donnelly
NEVER DEAL WITH DRAGONS by Lorenda Christensen
TROUBLE IN MIND by Donna Frelick
UNCHAINED MEMORY by Donna Frelick

Regency Historical Romance - Golden Heart
KING OF SWORDS by Anne Kenny
THE LAST LIGHT OF DUSK by Joanne Lockyer
THE PERFECT HEIRESS by Kimberly Ohara
SCANDAL IN SPADES by Wendy LaCapra
A WHISPER TO THE WILD by Eileen Emerson

Romantic Suspense - Golden Heart
BODY OF EVIDENCE by Rachel Grant
CHEMICAL ATTRACTION by Mary Oldham
EDGE OF DECEPTION by Elizabeth Bemis
EXPOSURE by Robena Grant
IN WOLF’S CLOTHING by Sally Eggert
RESCUING REMBRANDT by Jean Willett
ROGUE’S RETURN by Sharon Wray
SPY IN THE HAREM by Diana Belchase

Young Adult Romance - Golden Heart
ANGEL ACADEMY by Cecily White
CANVAS CROSSERS by Natalie Vawter
FORGET TOMORROW by Pintip Dunn
THE MATTER OF SOULS by Stephanie Winkelhake
PANDORA’S CLOCK by Natalie Vawter
THE SILENT SISTER by Megan Macijauskas (writing as M. Kassel)
THE SUSPICIONS OF CAIRO JONES by Mary Danielson
WIRED by Romily Bernard

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RITA^® Award winners and finalists on Bookreporter.com: 2011, 2010, 2009