2019 Golden Heart FinalistsGolden Heart necklace

The Golden Heart® contest seeks to showcase the next great generation of romance writers by recognizing outstanding manuscripts from never-before-published Romance Writers of America members. Winners will be announced at the Golden Heart Awards Luncheon on Thursday, July 25, at RWA2019 in New York City.

Contemporary Romance

Elly Kate
The Cinderella Factor by Elly Kate
Sandra Marine
Home to You by Sandra Marine
Alexis De Girolami
Page Six by Alexis De Girolami
Sara Whitney
Tempting Talk by Sara Whitney
Makenna Lee
Focused on a Cowboy by Makenna Lee
Joy Adare
Hot Raider by Joy Adare
Margot Pierce
Rough Around the Edges by Margot Pierce
Denise Williams
The To-Do List by Denise Williams
Evie Drae
He Owns My Heart by Evie Drae
Rosie Danan
Never Have I Ever by Rosie Danan
Janet Walden-West
Salt + Stilettos by Janet Walden-West

 


 

Contemporary Romance: Short

Melanie McCarthy
Billionaire for Hire by Melanie McCarthy
Becke Turner
Murphy's Debt by Becke Turner
Priscilla Cook
Chasing Home by Priscilla Cook
Courtney Maguire
Wounded Martyr by Courtney Maguire
Betsy Gray
Love on the Books by Betsy Gray
McKinley Reed
You'll Never Love in This Town Again by McKinley Reed

 


 

Historical Romance

Emily Sullivan
A Dangerous Affinity by Emily Sullivan
Emily Sullivan
Intriguing the Irishman by Emily Sullivan
Eileen Emerson
An Unloved Earl by Eileen Emerson
Ann Chaney
Dangerous Pursuit by Ann Chaney
Kate Pembrooke
A Season for Scandal by Kate Pembrooke
Elizabeth King
Wylde at Heart by Elizabeth King
Shannon Gallagher
Every Time You're Near by Shannon Gallagher
Emily Sullivan
Tempting the Heiress by Emily Sullivan

 


 

Mainstream Fiction with a Central Romance

Melissa Wiesner
Broken White Lines by Melissa Wiesner
Sharon M Peterson
Learning Curve by Sharon M Peterson
Anna Collins
Resurrecting Annie Wolff by Anna Collins
Melissa Wiesner
Everything Comes Back to You by Melissa Wiesner
Claire DeWolf
Lolita's Muse by Claire DeWolf
Sheri Taylor-Emery
The Soda Fountain Sister and the Flower Lady by Sheri Taylor-Emery
Megan McGee
Jane Darling's Rules of Inheritance by Megan McGee
Evi Kline
Playing Nice by Evi Kline

 


 

Paranormal Romance

Heather Leonard
Bless Your Heart and Other Southern Curses by Heather Leonard
Jilly Wood
The Transformation of Alexis Doe by Jilly Wood
Alicia Anthony
Inherent Lies by Alicia Anthony
  
Fenley Grant
Warrior of Eden by Fenley Grant
Valen Cox
Touch 3.3 by Valen Cox
  
Chelly Pike
Witch Way Down by Chelly Pike

 


 

Romance with Religious or Spiritual Elements

Crystal Caudill
Counterfeit Love by Crystal Caudill
Kellie Parker
The Inn at Mill Creek by Kellie Parker
Martha Hutchens
The Promise of Spring by Martha Hutchens

 


 

Romantic Suspense

Evie Drae
All Your Broken Pieces by Evie Drae
Diane Wiggs
Free My Heart by Diane Wiggs
Tracy Brody
Deadly Aim by Tracy Brody
Lisa Heartman
High Heels and Handguns by Lisa Heartman
Monique Headley
Dirty Money by Monique Headley
Angie Hockman
The Hustler by Angie Hockman

 


 

Young Adult Romance

Sammi Spizziri
After I Bid You Adieu by Sammi Spizziri
A.Y. Chao
Song of the Sophos by A.Y. Chao
Susan Lee
Dragged! by Susan Lee
Christine Gunderson
The Walls Between by Christine Gunderson
Janet Raye Stevens
The Nascent Bloom by Janet Raye Stevens