2019 RITA Finalists

Romance Writers of America (RWA), the trade association for romance fiction authors, announces the finalists for the 2019 RITA® Awards. The RITA — the highest award of distinction in romance fiction — recognizes excellence in published romance novels and novellas. Winners will be announced at the RITA Awards Ceremony on Friday, July 26, at RWA2019 in New York City.

 

Best First Book

Celebrity Spin DoctorCelia Mulder
Celebrity Spin Doctor by Celia Mulder
InkSpell Publishing
Audrey Bobak, editor
A Wicked Kind of HusbandMia Vincy
A Wicked Kind of Husband by Mia Vincy
Self-published

 

Lady in WaitingMarie Tremayne
Lady in Waiting by Marie Tremayne
HarperCollins, Avon Impulse
Elle Keck, editor
With Love in SightChristina Britton
With Love in Sight by Christina Britton
Diversion Books
Eliza Kirby and Mallory Soto, editors
The Last WolfMaria Vale
The Last Wolf by Maria Vale
Sourcebooks, Casablanca
Deb Werksman, editor

 


 

Contemporary Romance: Long

Bad BachelorStefanie London
Bad Bachelor by Stefanie London
Sourcebooks, Casablanca
Cat Clyne, editor
Long ShotKennedy Ryan
Long Shot by Kennedy Ryan
Self-published
Lauren Clarke, editor
A Tall, Dark Cowboy ChristmasMaisey Yates
A Tall, Dark Cowboy Christmas by Maisey Yates
Harlequin, HQN
Allison Carroll, editor
Best of Luckno photo provided
Best of Luck by Kate Clayborn
Kensington Publishing Corp., Lyrical Press, Shine
Esi Sogah, editor
Luck of the Drawno photo provided
Luck of the Draw by Kate Clayborn
Kensington Publishing Corp., Lyrical Press, Shine
Esi Sogah, editor
The Heartless BoyfriendErika Kelly
The Heartless Boyfriend by Erika Kelly
Self-published
Sharon Pochron, editor
Melt for YouJT Geissinger
Melt for You by J. T. Geissinger
Amazon, Montlake Romance
Maria Gomez, editor

 


 

Contemporary Romance: Mid-Length

Advanced Physical ChemistrySusannah Nix
Advanced Physical Chemistry by Susannah Nix
Self-published
Julia Ganis, editor
Knocked-Up CinderellaJulie Hammerle
Knocked-Up Cinderella by Julie Hammerle
Entangled Publishing, LLC, August
Stacy Abrams and Kate Brauning, editors
Part-Time HusbandNoelle Adams
Part-Time Husband by Noelle Adams
Self-published
Victory Editing, editor
SleepoverSerena Bell
Sleepover by Serena Bell
Penguin Random House, Loveswept
Sue Grimshaw, editor
Celebrity Spin DoctorCelia Mulder
Celebrity Spin Doctor by Celia Mulder
InkSpell Publishing
Audrey Bobak, editor
Lennon RebornScarlett Cole
Lennon Reborn by Scarlett Cole
St. Martin's Press, Swerve
Alexandra Sehulster, editor
RelayLayla Reyne
Relay by Layla Reyne
Self-published
Kristi Yanta, editor
Lee KilraineLee Kilraine
Give and Take by Lee Kilraine
Kensington, Lyrical Press, Caress
Esi Sogah, editor
Loving a WarriorMelanie Hansen
Loving a Warrior by Melanie Hansen
Harlequin, Carina Press
Alissa Davis, editor
Sergeant SexypantsTawna Fenske
Sergeant Sexypants by Tawna Fenske
Self-published
Susan Bischoff, editor

 


 

Contemporary Romance: Short

A Baby to Bind His BrideCaitlin Crews
A Baby to Bind His Bride by Caitlin Crews
Harlequin, Presents
Megan Haslam, editor
Claim Me, CowboyMaisey Yates
Claim Me, Cowboy by Maisey Yates
Harlequin, Desire
Stacy Boyd, editor
  
The Million Pound Marriage DealMichelle Douglas
The Million Pound Marriage Deal by Michelle Douglas
Harlequin Mills & Boon, Romance
Bryony Green, editor
The Bachelor's Baby SurpriseTeri Wilson
The Bachelor's Baby Surprise by Teri Wilson
Harlequin, Special Edition
Gail Chasan, editor
Fair GameAmy Andrews
Fair Game by Amy Andrews
Harlequin Escape Publishing
Kate Cuthbert, editor
A Safe Place to LandDee Ernst
A Safe Place to Land by Dee Ernst
235 Alexander Street
Shirley Jump, editor
  
The Captain's Vegas VowCaro Carson
The Captain's Vegas Vow by Caro Carson
Harlequin, Special Edition
Gail Chasan, editor
A Fool and His MannyAmy Lane
A Fool and His Manny by Amy Lane
Dreamspinner Press, Dreamspun Desire
Anne Reagan, editor
Tanner's PromiseKaylie Newell
Tanner's Promise by Kaylie Newell
Tule Publishing, Montana Born
Sinclair Sawhney, editor

 


 

Erotic Romance

Picture Perfect CowboyTiffany Reisz
Picture Perfect Cowboy by Tiffany Reisz
8th Circle Press
  
Total ExposureJA Huss
Total Exposure by JA Huss
Self-published
RJ Locksley, editor
Sinful GamesShelly Alexander
Sinful Games by Shelly Alexander
Self-published
   
Three-Way SplitElia Winters
Three-Way Split by Elia Winters
Entangled Publishing, LLC, Scorched
Tera Cuskaden, editor

 


 

Historical Romance: Long

An Earl Like YouCaroline Linden
An Earl Like You by Caroline Linden
HarperCollins, Avon Books
Lyssa Keusch, editor
A Wicked Kind of HusbandMia Vincy
A Wicked Kind of Husband by Mia Vincy
Self-published

 

Lady in WaitingMarie Tremayne
Lady in Waiting by Marie Tremayne
HarperCollins, Avon Impulse
Elle Keck, editor
A Scandalous DealJoanna Shupe
A Scandalous Deal by Joanna Shupe
HarperCollins, Avon Books
Tessa Woodward, editor

 


 

Historical Romance: Short

The Devil to PayKC Bateman
The Devil to Pay by K. C. Bateman
Self-published
  
Never Dare a Wicked EarlRenee Ann Miller
Never Dare a Wicked Earl by Renee Ann Miller
Kensington Publishing Corp., Shout
Esi Sogah, editor
A Duke in the NightKelly Bowen
A Duke in the Night by Kelly Bowen
Grand Central Publishing, Forever
Alex Logan, editor
What Ales the EarlSally MacKenzie
What Ales the Earl by Sally MacKenzie
Kensington Publishing Corp., Zebra
Esi Sogah, editor
Hell's BelleAnnabelle Anders
Hell's Belle by Annabelle Anders
Self-published
  
With Love in SightChristina Britton
With Love in Sight by Christina Britton
Diversion Books
Eliza Kirby and Mallory Soto, editors

 


 

Mainstream Fiction with a Central Romance

Five Years GoneMarie Force
Five Years Gone by Marie Force
HTJB, Inc.
Linda Ingmanson and Joyce Lamb, editors
Mornings on MainJodi Thomas
Mornings on Main by Jodi Thomas
Harlequin, HQN
Brittany Lavery, editor
A Girl DividedEllen Lindseth
A Girl Divided by Ellen Lindseth
Amazon, Lake Union
Christopher Werner, editor
How to Keep a SecretSarah Morgan
How to Keep a Secret by Sarah Morgan
Harlequin, HQN
Flo Nicoll, editor

 


 

Paranormal Romance

Dearest IvieJR Ward
Dearest Ivie by J. R. Ward
Ballantine Bantam Dell, Ballantine Books
Kara Welsh, editor
The Last WolfMaria Vale
The Last Wolf by Maria Vale
Sourcebooks, Casablanca
Deb Werksman, editor
WretchedCara Crescent
Wretched by Cara Crescent
Self-published
Theodora O'Brian, editor
Debriefing the DeadKerry Blaisdell
Debriefing the Dead by Kerry Blaisdell
The Wild Rose Press, Black Rose
Callie Lynn Wolfe, editor
Out of BodySuzanne Brockmann
Out of Body by Suzanne Brockmann
Self-published
 
Haunted HeartsKimberly Dean
Haunted Hearts by Kimberly Dean
Self-published
 
To Catch a RogueBec McMaster
To Catch a Rogue by Bec McMaster
Self-published
Olivia Ventura, editor

 


 

Romance Novella

Bad BloodM Malone
Bad Blood by M. Malone
Self-published
Angela Ramey, editor
The Dragons of SummerJeffe Kennedy
"The Dragons of Summer" by Jeffe Kennedy
in Seasons of Sorcery
Self-published
 
Saved by the CowboyAJ Pine
Saved by the Cowboy by A. J. Pine
Grand Central Publishing, Forever Yours
Madeleine Colavita, editor
Catching IrishKaty Regnery
Catching Irish by Katy Regnery
Self-published
Tessa Shapcott, editor
Lead CounselAurora Rey
"Lead Counsel" by Aurora Rey
in The Boss of Her: Office Romance Novellas
Bold Strokes Books, Inc.
Ashley Tillman, editor
Dragon Lordno photo
Dragon Lord by Dana Marton
Self-published
Diane Flindt and Linda Ingmanson, editors
Loving the Secret BillionaireAdriana Anders
Loving the Secret Billionaire by Adriana Anders
Self-published
Kim Cannon and Nancy Smay, editors
 

 


 

Romance with Religious or Spiritual Elements

Home on Huckleberry HillJennifer Beckstrand
 Home on Huckleberry Hill by Jennifer Beckstrand
Kensington Publishing Corp., Bouquet
John Scognamiglio, editor
Their Amish ReunionLenora Worth
Their Amish Reunion by Lenora Worth
Harlequin, Love Inspired
Patience Bloom, editor
A Mother for His FamilySusanne Dietze
A Mother for His Family by Susanne Dietze
Harlequin, Love Inspired Historical
Emily Rodmell, editor
The Saturday Night Supper ClubCarla Laureano
The Saturday Night Supper Club by Carla Laureano
Tyndale House Publishers
Sarah Rische and Jan Stob, editors

 


 

Romantic Suspense

The Bastard's BargainKatee Robert
The Bastard's Bargain by Katee Robert
Grand Central Publishing, Forever
Leah Hultenschmidt, editor
Cut and RunMary Burton
Cut and Run by Mary Burton
Amazon, Montlake Romance
Alison Dasho and Charlotte Herscher, editors
RelentlessElizabeth Dyer
Relentless by Elizabeth Dyer
Amazon, Montlake Romance
Alison Dasho, editor
Before We Were StrangersBrenda Novak
Before We Were Strangers by Brenda Novak
Harlequin, MIRA
Emily Ohanjanians, editor
FearlessElizabeth Dyer
Fearless by Elizabeth Dyer
Self-published
 
ConsumedJR Ward
Consumed by J. R. Ward
Simon & Schuster, Gallery Books
Lauren McKenna, editor
Reckless HonorTonya Burrows
Reckless Honor by Tonya Burrows
Entangled Publishing, LLC, Amara
Heather Howland, editor

 


 

Young Adult Romance

Cry BabyGinger Scott
Cry Baby by Ginger Scott
Self-published
Billijoy Carson, editor
My So-Called Bollywood LifeNisha Sharma
My So-Called Bollywood Life by Nisha Sharma
Crown Books for Young Readers
Phoebe Yeh, editor
Not If I Save You FirstAlly Carter
Not If I Save You First by Ally Carter
Scholastic
David Levithan, editor