Romance Writers of America Announces 2016 Contest Finalists
Romance Writers of America (RWA), the trade association for aspiring and published romance fiction authors, announces the finalists for the 2016 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 The Golden Heart recognizes excellence in unpublished romance manuscripts.
Up to 2,000 romance novels are entered in the RITA competition. A novel may be entered either by the author or by the book's publisher in one of the contest categories. After the first round of judging by published romance authors, entries that meet the qualifications to become a finalist then advance to the final round.
The 2016 winners will be announced at a black-tie awards ceremony on July 16 at the 2016 RWA Annual Conference in San Diego, California.
Congratulations to the 2016 finalists!
RITA Finalists |
Golden Heart Finalists |
RITA Finalists
Best First Book |
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Entangled Publishing, Embrace Candace Havens, editor |
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Forget Tomorrow by Pintip Dunn Entangled Publishing, Teen Liz Pelletier, editor |
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HarperCollins, Witness Impulse Nicole Fischer, editor |
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No Better Man by Sara Richardson Grand Central Publishing, Forever Megha Parekh, editor |
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A Noble Masquerade by Kristi Ann Hunter Baker Publishing Group, Bethany House Raela Schoenherr, editor |
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Pairing Off by Elizabeth Harmon Harlequin, Carina Press Kerri Buckley, editor |
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The Strongest Steel by Scarlett Cole St. Martin’s Press Elizabeth Poteet, editor |
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Viking Warrior Rising by Asa Maria Bradley Sourcebooks, Casablanca Cat Clyne, editor |
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Contemporary Romance: Long |
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Brokedown Cowboy by Maisey Yates Harlequin, HQN Margo Lipschultz, editor |
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Fire Me Up by Kimberly Kincaid Kensington Publishing Corp., Zebra Alicia Condon, editor |
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Amazon, Montlake Kelli Martin, editor |
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Love Somebody Like You by Susan Fox Kensington Publishing Corp., Zebra Martin Biro, editor |
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Penguin Random House, Loveswept Sue Grimshaw, editor |
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Harlequin, HQN Susan Swinwood, editor |
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Redemption Bay by RaeAnne Thayne Harlequin, HQN Gail Chasan, editor |
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Searching for Beautiful by Jennifer Probst Simon & Schuster, Gallery Books Lauren McKenna, editor |
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Second Chance Summer by Jill Shalvis Grand Central Publishing Leah Hultenschmidt, editor |
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The Secret Sister by Brenda Novak Harlequin, MIRA Paula Eykelhof, editor |
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Contemporary Romance: Mid-Length |
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A Cold Creek Christmas Story by RaeAnne Thayne Harlequin, Special Edition Gail Chasan, editor |
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Dances Under the Harvest Moon by Joanne Rock Harlequin, Superromance Adrienne Macintosh, editor |
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Falling for Mister Wrong by Lizzie Shane Self-published Kristan Andrews, editor |
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Him by Sarina Bowen and Elle Kennedy Self-published Edie Danford, editor |
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Just Say Yes by Elizabeth Hayley Penguin Random House, NAL Laura Fazio, editor |
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Penguin Random House, Berkley Kate Seaver, editor |
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The Marriage Contract by Katee Robert Grand Central Publishing, Forever Leah Hultenschmidt, editor |
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Not a Fairy Tale by Romy Sommer HarperCollins, HarperImpulse Charlotte Ledger, editor |
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Penguin Random House, Loveswept Sue Grimshaw, editor |
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Romancing Miss Right by Lizzie Shane Self-published Kristan Andrews, editor |
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Contemporary Romance: Short |
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A Bramble House Christmas by CJ Carmichael Tule Publishing Sinclair Sawhney, editor |
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Carter Bravo’s Christmas Bride by Christine Rimmer Harlequin, Special Edition Gail Chasan, editor |
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Chance of a Lifetime by Marissa Clarke Entangled Publishing, Lovestruck Liz Pelletier, editor |
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Heated Moments by Phyllis Bourne Harlequin, Kimani Romance Glenda Howard, editor |
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His Lost-and-Found Bride by Scarlet Wilson Harlequin, Mills & Boon Romance Carly Byrne, editor |
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The Nanny Plan by Sarah M. Anderson Harlequin, Desire Stacy Boyd, editor |
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One Night with Her Bachelor by Kat Latham Tule Publishing, Montana Born Books Sinclair Sawhney, editor |
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The Prince She Never Forgot by Scarlet Wilson Harlequin, Mills & Boon Romance Carly Byrne, editor |
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Tempting the Knight by Heidi Rice Tule Publishing Kelly Hunter, editor |
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Three Nights Before Christmas by Kat Latham Tule Publishing Sinclair Sawhney, editor |
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Erotic Romance |
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Penguin Random House, Berkley Intermix Kate Seaver, editor |
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For Real: A Spires Story by Alexis Hall Riptide Publishing Sarah Lyons, editor |
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Ballantine Bantam Dell, Bantam Books Shauna Summers, editor |
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Penguin Random House Cindy Hwang, editor |
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Three Little Mistakes by Nikki Sloane Self-published Lori Whitwam, editor |
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Historical Romance: Long |
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Bella and the Beast by Olivia Drake St. Martin’s Press Jennifer Enderlin, editor |
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Earls Just Want to Have Fun by Shana Galen Sourcebooks, Casablanca Deb Werksman, editor |
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If the Viscount Falls by Sabrina Jeffries Simon & Schuster, Pocket Books Micki Nuding, editor |
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Simon & Schuster, Howard Books Beth Adams, editor |
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Tremaine’s True Love by Grace Burrowes Sourcebooks, Casablanca Deb Werksman, editor |
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Historical Romance: Short |
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Falling into Bed with a Duke by Lorraine Heath HarperCollins, Avon Books May Chen, editor |
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It Started with a Scandal by Julie Anne Long HarperCollins, Avon Books May Chen, editor |
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Say Yes to the Marquess by Tessa Dare HarperCollins, Avon Books Tessa Woodward, editor |
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Secrets of a Scandalous Heiress by Theresa Romain Sourcebooks, Casablanca Deb Werksman, editor |
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The Secrets of Sir Richard Kenworthy by Julia Quinn HarperCollins, Avon Books Lyssa Keusch, editor |
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Sweetest Scoundrel by Elizabeth Hoyt Grand Central Publishing Amy Pierpont, editor |
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Inspirational Romance |
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A Love Like Ours by Becky Wade Baker Publishing Group, Bethany House Charlene Patterson and Raela Schoenherr, editors |
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Mistletoe Justice by Carol J. Post Harlequin, Love Inspired Suspense Rachel Burkot, editor |
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The Mountain Midwife by Laurie Alice Eakes HarperCollins, Zondervan Becky Phillpot, editor |
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A Noble Masquerade by Kristi Ann Hunter Baker Publishing Group, Bethany House Raela Schoenherr, editor |
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Penguin Random House, Berkley Ellen Edwards, editor |
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Paranormal Romance |
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Midnight’s Kiss by Thea Harrison Penguin Random House, Berkley Sensation Cindy Hwang, editor |
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Must Love Chainmail by Angela Quarles Self-published Erynn Newman and Jessa Slade, editors |
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Possessed by a Wolf by Sharon Ashwood Harlequin, Nocturne Ann Leslie Tuttle, editor |
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The Shattered Court by M. J. Scott Penguin Random House, NAL ROC Jessica Wade, editor |
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Grand Central Publishing, Forever Alex Logan, editor |
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Stars of Fortune by Nora Roberts Penguin Random House, Berkley Leslie Gelbman, editor |
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Viking Warrior Rising by Asa Maria Bradley Sourcebooks, Casablanca Cat Clyne, editor |
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Romance Novella |
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All’s Fair in Love and Scandal by Caroline Linden HarperCollins, Avon Impulse Lyssa Keusch, editor |
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Blue Streak: A Blue Series Novella by Jules Barnard Self-published Shelley Bates, editor |
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“Desert Heat” by Merline Lovelace in Course of Action: Crossfire Harlequin, Romantic Suspense Patience Bloom, editor |
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“Her Secret Prince” by Madeline Ash in Royal Holiday Tule Publishing Group Laurie Johnson and Kelly Hunter, editors |
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in The Brightest Day, a Juneteenth Historical Romance Anthology Self-published Arynn Nichols, editor |
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Nice Girls Don’t Ride by Roni Loren Penguin Random House, Berkley Intermix Kate Seaver, editor |
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One Little Kiss by Robin Covington Self-published Nicole Bailey, editor |
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The Resurrection of Sam Sloan by Erin Quinn Self-published LK Coulter, editor |
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Toward the Sunrise by Elizabeth Camden Baker Publishing Group, Bethany House Raela Schoenherr, editor |
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Romantic Suspense |
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Barefoot with a Bodyguard by Roxanne St. Claire Self-published Kristi Yanta, editor |
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Barefoot with a Stranger by Roxanne St. Claire Self-published Kristi Yanta, editor |
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HarperCollins, Avon Books May Chen, editor |
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Harlequin, Carina Press Alissa Davis, editor |
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Self-published |
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In the Waning Light by Loreth Anne White Amazon, Montlake Romance Charlotte Herscher and JoVon Sotak, editors |
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Amazon, Montlake Romance Charlotte Herscher and Anh Schluep, editors |
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The Strongest Steel by Scarlett Cole St. Martin’s Press Elizabeth Poteet, editor |
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Target Engaged by M. L. Buchman Sourcebooks, Casablanca Deb Werksman, editor |
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Young Adult Romance |
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The Anatomical Shape of a Heart by Jenn Bennett Macmillan, Feiwel & Friends Anna Roberto, editor |
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Followed by Frost by Charlie N. Holmberg Amazon, 47North Jason Kirk, editor |
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Self-published |
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St. Martin’s Press, Griffin Rose Hilliard, editor |
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Golden Heart Finalists
Contemporary Romance |
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"An Education" by Brooke Salisbury writing as Brooke Salesky |
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“Façade” by Susan Bickford |
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“Off the Rails” by Monique Headley |
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“Shelter Me” by Gabrielle Luthy |
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“Smiling Underwater” by Sydney Carroll |
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“The Sniper’s Second Shot” by Tracy Brody |
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“Sometimes You Need a Sexy Scot” by Melonie Johnson |
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“Soul Song” by Rayn Ellis |
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“Surrender to the Movie Star” by Melanie McCarthy |
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“Volunteering Her Heart” by Erin O’Brien |
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“Welcome Home, Katie Gallagher” by Seana Kelly |
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Historical Romance |
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“Besotted with the Viscount” by Susanna Malcolm |
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“A Curious Correspondence” by Amelia Ridley |
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“The Earl and the Pussycat” by Elizabeth King |
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“The Impetuous Miss Milton” by Renee Ann Miller |
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“My Lord Mercenary” by Tracey Amey |
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“Saving Columbine Ranch” by Karen Miller |
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“Taming the Earl” by Elizabeth King |
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“An Unbridled Gentleman” by Eileen Emerson |
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“Undone” by Elizabeth Rue |
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“Wild Women and the Blues” by Denny S. Bryce |
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Inspirational Romance |
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“For the Love of Termites” by Kimberly MacCarron |
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“One More Breath” by Pamela Kopfler |
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Paranormal Romance |
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“Better Dead” by Pamela Kopfler |
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“Constant Craving” by Kari W. Cole |
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“Don’t Call Me Cupcake” by Tara Sheets |
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“Kissed at Midnight” by Ainsley Wynter |
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“The Mer Chronicles: A Duty Too Far” by Kate Ramirez |
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“Taxing Courtship” by Jaycee Jarvis |
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“WØLFF: Rise of the Valdyr” by Alison Pritchard writing as Alyson McLayne |
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Romantic Suspense |
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“Escape from the Harem” by Diana Belchase |
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“Four Tragedies” by Layla Reyne |
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“In the Wrong Sights” by Tracy Brody |
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“Love in Hiding” by Diane Holiday |
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“Ruby Red” by Melanie Novak |
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“The Truth Is in the Tango” by Arianna James |
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Short Contemporary Romance |
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“Back in the Saddle” by Susan Breeden |
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“Breaking Her Rules” by Sarah Hall |
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“In the Fast Lane” by Evie Anderson |
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“Rescuing Riley” by Carrie Nichols |
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Young Adult Romance |
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“The Accidental Boyfriend” by Lori Freeland |
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“The Beekeeper” by Meg Kassel |
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“Between Never & Always” by TL Sumner |
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“The Expedition” by Mary Sullivan |
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“Field Guide to a Girl” by Nicole Hohmann |
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“The Other Cheek” by McCall Hoyle |
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“Senior Tag: The Underwear Games” by Sheri Adkins |
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