RWA Announces 2019 RITA & Golden Heart Finalists
Romance Writers of America (RWA), the trade association for romance fiction authors, announces the finalists for the 2019 RITA® and Golden Heart® Awards. The RITA — the highest award of distinction in romance fiction — recognizes excellence in published romance novels and novellas. The Golden Heart recognizes excellence in unpublished romance manuscripts.
The winners will be announced at the 2019 RWA Annual Conference in New York City.
Congratulations to the finalists!
2019 RITA Finalists
Best First Book
Celebrity Spin Doctor by Celia Mulder
InkSpell Publishing
Audrey Bobak, editor
Lady in Waiting by Marie Tremayne
HarperCollins, Avon Impulse
Elle Keck, editor
The Last Wolf by Maria Vale
Sourcebooks, Casablanca
Deb Werksman, editor
A Wicked Kind of Husband by Mia Vincy
Self-published
With Love in Sight by Christina Britton
Diversion Books
Eliza Kirby and Mallory Soto, editors
Contemporary Romance: Long
Bad Bachelor by Stefanie London
Sourcebooks, Casablanca
Cat Clyne, editor
Best of Luck by Kate Clayborn
Kensington Publishing Corp., Lyrical Press, Shine
Esi Sogah, editor
The Heartless Boyfriend by Erika Kelly
Self-published
Sharon Pochron, editor
Long Shot by Kennedy Ryan
Self-published
Lauren Clarke, editor
Luck of the Draw by Kate Clayborn
Kensington Publishign Corp., Lyrical Press, Shine
Esi Sogah, editor
Melt for You by J. T. Geissinger
Amazon, Montlake Romance
Maria Gomez, editor
A Tall, Dark Cowboy Christmas by Maisey Yates
Harlequin, HQN
Allison Carroll, editor
Contemporary Romance: Mid-Length
Advanced Physical Chemistry by Susannah Nix
Self-published
Julia Ganis, editor
Celebrity Spin Doctor by Celia Mulder
InkSpell Publishing
Audrey Bobak, editor
Give and Take by Lee Kilraine
Kensington Publishing Corp., Lyrical Press, Caress
Esi Sogah, editor
Knocked-Up Cinderella by Julie Hammerle
Entangled Publishing, LLC, August
Stacy Abrams and Kate Brauning, editors
Lennon Reborn by Scarlett Cole
St. Martin's Press, Swerve
Alexandra Sehulster, editor
Loving a Warrior by Melanie Hansen
Harlequin, Carina Press
Alissa Davis, editor
Part-Time Husband by Noelle Adams
Self-published
Victory Editing, editor
Relay by Layla Reyne
Self-published
Kristi Yanta, editor
Sergeant Sexypants by Tawna Fenske
Self-published
Susan Bischoff, editor
Sleepover by Serena Bell
Penguin Random House, Loveswept
Sue Grimshaw, editor
Contemporary Romance: Short
A Baby to Bind His Bride by Caitlin Crews
Harlequin, Presents
Megan Haslam, editor
The Bachelor's Baby Surprise by Teri Wilson
Harlequin, Special Edition
Gail Chasan, editor
The Captain's Vegas Vows by Caro Carson
Harlequin, Special Edition
Gail Chasan, editor
Claim Me, Cowboy by Maisey Yates
Harlequin, Desire
Fair Game by Amy Andrews
Harlequin Escape Publishing
Kate Cuthbert, editor
A Fool and His Manny by Amy Lane
Dreamspinner Press, Dreamspun Desire
Anne Reagan, editor
The Million Pound Marriage Deal by Michelle Douglas
Harlequin Mills & Boon, Romance
Bryony Green, editor
A Safe Place to Land by Dee Ernst
235 Alexander Street
Tanner's Promise by Kaylie Newell
Tule Publishing, Montana Born
Sinclair Sawhney, editor
Erotic Romance
Picture Perfect Cowboy by Tiffany Reisz
8th Circle Press
Sinful Games by Shelly Alexander
Self-published
Three-Way Split by Elia Winters
Entangled Publishing, LLC, Scorched
Tera Cuskaden, editor
Total Exposure by JA Huss
Self-published
RJ Locksley, editor
Historical Romance: Long
An Earl Like You by Caroline Linden
HarperCollins, Avon Books
Lyssa Keusch, editor
Lady in Waiting by Marie Tremayne
HarperCollins, Avon Impulse
Elle Keck, editor
A Scandalous Deal by Joanna Shupe
HarperCollins, Avon Books
Tessa Woodward, editor
A Wicked Kind of Husband by Mia Vincy
Self-published
Historical Romance: Short
The Devil to Pay by K. C. Bateman
Self-published
A Duke in the Night by Kelly Bowen
Grand Central Publishing, Forever
Alex Logan, editor
Hell's Belle by Annabelle Anders
Self-published
Never Dare a Wicked Earl by Renee Ann Miller
Kensington Publishing Corp., Zebra Shout
Esi Sogah, editor
What Ales the Earl by Sally MacKenzie
Kensington Publishing Corp., Zebra
Esi Sogah, editor
With Love in Sight by Christina Britton
Diversion Books
Eliza Kirby and Mallory Soto, editors
Mainstream Fiction with a Central Romance
Five Years Gone by Marie Force
HTJB, Inc.
Linda Ingmanson and Joyce Lamb, editors
A Girl Divided by Ellen Lindseth
Amazon, Lake Union
Christopher Werner, editor
How to Keep a Secret by Sarah Morgan
Harlequin, HQN
Flo Nicoll, editor
Mornings on Main by Jodi Thomas
Harlequin, HQN
Brittany Lavery, editor
Paranormal Romance
To Catch a Rogue by Bec McMaster
Self-published
Olivia Ventura, editor
Dearest Ivie by J. R. Ward
Ballantine Bantam Dell, Ballantine Books
Kara Walsh, editor
Debriefing the Dead by Kerry Blaisdell
The Wild Rose Press, Black Rose
Callie Lynn Wolfe, editor
Haunted Hearts by Kimberly Dean
Self-published
The Last Wolf by Maria Vale
Sourcebooks, Casablanca
Deb Werksman, editor
Out of Body by Suzanne Brockmann
Self-published
Wretched by Cara Crescent
Self-published
Theodora O'Brian, editor
Romance Novella
Bad Blood by M. Malone
Self-published
Angela Ramey, editor
Catching Irish by Katy Regnery
Self-published
Tessa Shapcott, editor
Dragon Lord by Dana Marton
Self-published
Diane Flindt and Linda Ingmanson, editors
"The Dragons of Summer" by Jeffe Kennedy
in
Seasons of Sorcery
Self-published
"Lead Counsel" by Aurora Rey
in
The Boss of Her: Office Romance Novellas
Bold Strokes Books, Inc.
Ashley Tillman, editor
Loving the Secret Billionaire by Adriana Anders
Self-published
Kim Cannon and Nancy Smay, editors
Saved by the Cowboy by A. J. Pine
Grand Central Publishing, Forever Yours
Madeleine Colavita, editor
Romance with Religious or Spiritual Elements
Home on Huckleberry Hill by Jennifer Beckstrand
Kensington Publishing Corp., Bouquet
John Scognamiglio, editor
A Mother for His Family by Susanne Dietze
Harlequin, Love Inspired Historical
Emily Rodmell, editor
The Saturday Night Supper Club by Carla Laureano
Tyndale House Publishers
Sarah Rische and Jan Stob, editors
Their Amish Reunion by Lenora Worth
Harlequin, Love Inspired
Patience Bloom, editor
Romantic Suspense
The Bastard's Bargain by Katee Robert
Grand Central Publishing, Forever
Leah Hultenschmidt, editor
Before We Were Strangers by Brenda Novak
Harlequin, MIRA
Emily Ohanjanians, editor
Consumed by J. R. Ward
Simon & Schuster, Gallery Books
Lauren McKenna, editor
Cut and Run by Mary Burton
Amazon, Montlake Romance
Alison Dasho and Charlotte Herscher, editors
Fearless by Elizabeth Dyer
Self-published
Reckless Honor by Tonya Burrows
Entangled Publishing, LLC, Amara
Heather Howland, editor
Relentless by Elizabeth Dyer
Amazon, Montlake Romance
Alison Dasho, editor
Young Adult Romance
Cry Baby by Ginger Scott
Self-published
Billijoy Carson, editor
My So-Called Bollywood Life by Nisha Sharma
Crown Books for Young Readers
Phoebe Yeh, editor
Not If I Save You First by Ally Carter
Scholastic
David Levithan, editor
2019 Golden Heart Finalists
Contemporary Romance
The Cinderella Factor by Elly Kate
Focused on a Cowboy by Makenna Lee
He Owns My Heart by Evie Drae
Home to You by Sandra Marine
Hot Raider by Joy Adare
Never Have I Ever by Rosie Danan
Page Six by Alexis De Girolami
Rough Around the Edges by Margot Pierce
Salt + Stilettos by Janet Walden-West
Tempting Talk by Sara Whitney
The To-Do List by Denise Williams
Contemporary Romance: Short
Billionaire for Hire by Melanie McCarthy
Chasing Home by Priscilla Cook
Love on the Books by Betsy Gray
Murphy's Debt by Becke Turner
Wounded Martyr by Courtney Maguire
You'll Never Love in This Town Again by McKinley Reed
Historical Romance
A Dangerous Affinity by Emily Sullivan
Dangerous Pursuit by Ann Chaney
Every Time You're Near by Shannon Gallagher
Intriguing the Irishman by Emily Sullivan
A Season for Scandal by Kate Pembrooke
Tempting the Heiress by Emily Sullivan
An Unloved Earl by Eileen Emerson
Wylde at Heart by Elizabeth King
Mainstream Fiction with a Central Romance
Broken White Lines by Melissa Wiesner
Everything Comes Back to You by Melissa Wiesner
Jane Darling's Rules of Inheritance by Megan McGee
Learning Curve by Sharon M. Peterson
Lolita's Muse by Claire DeWolf
Playing Nice by Evi Kline
Resurrecting Annie Wolff by Anna Collins
The Soda Fountain Sister and the Flower Lady by Sheri Taylor-Emery
Paranormal Romance
Bless Your Heart and Other Southern Curses by Heather Leonard
Inherent Lies by Alicia Anthony
Touch 3.3 by Valen Cox
The Transformation of Alexis Doe by Jilly Wood
Warrior of Eden by Fenley Grant
Witch Way Down by Chelly Pike
Romance with Religious or Spiritual Elements
Counterfeit Love by Crystal Caudill
The Inn at Mill Creek by Kellie Parker
The Promise of Spring by Martha Hutchens
Romantic Suspense
All Your Broken Pieces by Evie Drae
Deadly Aim by Tracy Brody
Dirty Money by Monique Headley
Free My Heart by Diane Wiggs
High Heels and Handguns by Lisa Heartman
The Hustler by Angie Hockman
Young Adult Romance
After I Bid You Adieu by Sammi Spizziri
Dragged! by Susan Lee
The Nascent Bloom by Janet Raye Stevens
Song of the Sophos by A. Y. Chao
The Walls Between by Christine Gunderson