2011 RITA Winners

Congratulations to all of tonight's winners!  Winners are highlighted.

2011 RITA Finalists: Best First Book

• Enemy Within by Marcella Burnard (Berkley; Leis Pederson, editor)
• Firestorm by Kelly Ann Riley (Steeple Hill Love Inspired Suspense; Tina James, editor)
• I Now Pronounce You Someone Else by Erin McCahan (Scholastic; Cheryl Klein, editor)
• The Iron King by Julie Kagawa (Harlequin Teen; Natashya Wilson, editor)
• Pieces of Sky by Kaki Warner (Berkley Sensation; Wendy McCurdy, editor) 
• The Summer of Skinny Dipping by Amanda Howells (Sourcebooks Fire; Deb Werksman, editor)
• A Tailor-Made Bride by Karen Witemeyer (Bethany House Publishers; Karen Schurrer, editor)
• Wanna Get Lucky? by Deborah Coonts (Tor/Forge; Bob Gleason, editor)
• When Harry Met Molly by Kieran Kramer (St. Martin’s Press; Jennifer Enderlin, editor)

2011 RITA: Contemporary Series Romance

• Breaking the Sheikh’s Rules in the Summer Sheikhs anthology by Abby Green (Mills & Boon; Meg Lewis, editor)
• Christmas Magic on the Mountain by Melissa McClone (Harlequin Romance; Joanne Grant, editor)
• Christmas with Her Boss by Marion Lennox (Harlequin Romance; Sheila Hodgson, editor) recommended by DA
• Dare She Date the Dreamy Doc? by Sarah Morgan (Mills & Boon Medical Romance; Kimberley Young, editor) recommended by DA
• Red-Hot Renegade by Kelly Hunter (Mills & Boon Modern Heat; Joanne Grant, editor) recommended by DA
• An Unexpected Father by Lisa Ruff (Harlequin American Romance; Johanna Raisanen, editor) recommended by DA
• Welcome Home, Cowboy by Karen Templeton (Silhouette Special Edition; Gail Chasan, editor)
• Zoe and the Tormented Tycoon by Kate Hewitt (Harlequin Presents; Meg Lewis, editor) recommended by DA

2011 RITA: Contemporary Series Romance: Suspense/Adventure

• The Baby’s Guardian by Delores Fossen (Harlequin Intrigue; Allison Lyons, editor)
• Case File: Canyon Creek, Wyoming by Paula Graves (Harlequin Intrigue; Allison Lyons, editor)
• To Catch a Killer by Kimberly Van Meter (Silhouette Romantic Suspense; Johanna Raisanen, editor)
• A Cop in Her Stocking by Ann Voss Peterson (Harlequin Intrigue; Allison Lyons, editor)
• Meltdown by Gail Barrett (Silhouette Romantic Suspense; Susan Litman, editor)
• The Moon That Night by Helen Brenna (Harlequin Superromance; Johanna Raisanen, editor)
• Perfect Partners? by C.J. Carmichael (Harlequin Superromance; Johanna Raisanen, editor)
• Renegade Angel by Kendra Leigh Castle (Harlequin Nocturne; Ann Leslie Tuttle, editor)

2011 RITA: Contemporary Single Title Romance

• And One Last Thing by Molly Harper (Gallery Books; Jennifer Heddle, editor)
• Happy Ever After by Nora Roberts (Berkley Trade; Leslie Gelbman, editor)
• Lead Me On by Victoria Dahl (HQN Books; Tara Parsons, editor)
• Not That Kind of Girl by Susan Donovan (St. Martin’s Press; Monique Patterson, editor)
• Nothing But Trouble by Rachel Gibson (Avon Books; Lucia Macro, editor)
• One Fine Cowboy by Joanne Kennedy (Sourcebooks Casablanca; Deb Werksman, editor)
• Simply Irresistible by Jill Shalvis (Forever; Alex Logan, editor)
• Still the One by Robin Wells (Forever; Selina McLemore, editor)

2011 RITA: Historical Romance

• Countess of Scandal by Laurel McKee (Forever; Alex Logan, editor)
• The Forbidden Rose by Joanne Bourne (Berkley Trade; Wendy McCurdy, editor) recommended by DA
• His at Night by Sherry Thomas (Bantam Books; Caitlin Alexander, editor)
• A Kiss at Midnight by Eloisa James (Avon Books; Carrie Feron, editor)
• Last Night’s Scandal by Loretta Chase (Avon; May Chen, editor) recommended by DA
• A Little Bit Wild by Victoria Dahl (Zebra Books; John Scognamiglio, editor)
• One Wicked Sin by Nicola Cornick (HQN Books; Kimberley Young, editor)
• Open Country by Kaki Warner (Berkley Trade; Wendy McCurdy, editor)

2011 RITA: Inspirational Romance

• A Convenient Wife by Anna Schmidt (Steeple Hill Love Inspired Historical; Tina James, editor)
• Doctor in Petticoats by Mary Connealy (Barbour Publishing; Rebecca Germany, editor)
• Finding Her Way Home by Linda Goodnight (Steeple Hill Love Inspired; Allison Lyons, editor)
• In Harm’s Way by Irene Hannon (Revell; Jennifer Leep, editor)
• Maid to Match by Deeanne Gist (Bethany House Publishers; David Long and Julie Klassen, editors)
• Shades of Morning by Marlo M. Schalesky (WaterBrook Multnomah; Shannon Marchese, editor)
• The Wedding Garden by Linda Goodnight (Steeple Hill Love Inspired; Allison Lyons, editor)
• Whisper on the Wind by Maureen Lang (Tyndale House Publishers; Stephanie Broene, editor)
• Within My Heart by Tamera Alexander (Bethany House Publishers; Karen Schurrer and Charlene Patterson, editors)

2011 RITA: Novel With Strong Romantic Elements

• Blood Vines by Erica Spindler (St. Martin’s Press; Jennifer Weis, editor)
• The Dead Travel Fast by Deanna Raybourn (MIRA; Valerie Gray, editor)
• Killbox by Ann Aguirre (Ace Books; Anne Sowards, editor)
• On Folly Beach by Karen White (NAL Accent; Cindy Hwang, editor)
• The Search by Nora Roberts (G.P. Putnam’s Sons; Leslie Gelbman, editor)
• Stormwalker by Allyson James (Berkley Sensation; Kate Seaver, editor)
• Wanna Get Lucky? by Deborah Coonts (Tor/Forge; Bob Gleason, editor)
• Welcome to Harmony by Jodi Thomas (Berkley; Wendy McCurdy, editor)

2011 RITA: Paranormal Romance

• Enemy Within by Marcella Burnard (Berkley; Leis Pederson, editor)
• A Highlander’s Homecoming by Melissa Mayhue (Pocket Books; Megan McKeever, editor)
• Immortal Sea by Virginia Kantra (Berkley Trade; Cindy Hwang, editor)
• Marked by the Moon by Lori Handeland (St. Martin’s Press; Jennifer Enderlin, editor)
• Rebel by Zoe Archer (Zebra Books; Megan Records, editor)
• Sins of the Heart by Eve Silver (HQN Books; Tara Parsons, editor)
• Unchained: the Dark Forgotten by Sharon Ashwood (NAL/Signet Eclipse; Laura Cifelli, editor)
• Water Bound by Christine Feehan (Jove; Cindy Hwang, editor)

2011 RITA: Regency Historical Romance

• His Christmas Pleasure by Cathy Maxwell (Avon Books; Lucia Macro, editor)
• The Mischief of the Mistletoe by Lauren Willig (Dutton; Erika Imranyi, editor)
• Nine Rules to Break When Romancing a Rake by Sarah MacLean (Avon Books; Carrie Feron, editor)
• Provocative in Pearls by Madeline Hunter (Jove; Wendy McCurdy, editor)
• To Surrender to a Rogue by Cara Elliott (Forever; Frances Jalet-Miller, editor)
• Twice Tempted by a Rogue by Tessa Dare (Ballantine Books; Kate Collins, editor)
• When Harry Met Molly by Kieran Kramer (St. Martin’s Press; Jennifer Enderlin, editor)
• The Wicked Wyckerly by Patricia Rice (NAL/Signet; Ellen Edwards, editor)

2011 RITA: Romance Novella

• “Blame It on the Blizzard” by Jennifer Greene in Baby, It’s Cold Outside (Harlequin; Marsha Zinberg, editor)
• “A Dundee Christmas” by Brenda Novak in That Christmas Feeling (Harlequin Superromance; Paula Eykelhof, editor)
• “Friendly Fire” by Jill Shalvis in Born on the 4th of July (Harlequin Blaze; Brenda Chin, editor)
• “Love Me to Death” by Maggie Shayne in Heart of Darkness (HQN Books; Leslie Wainger, editor)
• “Mistletoe Magic” by Sandra Hyatt in Under the Millionaire’s Mistletoe (Silhouette Desire; Krista Stroever, editor)
• “Mountain Rose” by Cheryl St. John in To Be a Mother (Steeple Hill Love Inspired Historical; Patience Smith, editor)
• “Shifting Sea” by Virginia Kantra in Burning Up (Berkley Sensation; Cindy Hwang, editor)
• “The Wrong Brother” by Maureen Child in Under the Millionaire’s Mistletoe (Silhouette Desire; Krista Stroever, editor)

2011 RITA: Romantic Suspense

• The Darkest Hour by Maya Banks (Berkley; Cindy Hwang, editor)
• Deadly Fear by Cynthia Eden (Forever; Alex Logan, editor)
• Edge of Sight by Roxanne St. Claire (Forever; Amy Pierpont, editor)
• Indulgence in Death by J.D. Robb (G.P. Putnam’s Sons; Leslie Gelbman, editor)
• Kill Me Again by Maggie Shayne (MIRA; Leslie Wainger, editor)
• Love Me to Death by Allison Brennan (Ballantine Books; Charlotte Herscher & Kate Collins, editors)
• Silent Scream by Karen Rose (Grand Central; Karen Kosztolnyik, editor)
• Two Lethal Lies by Annie Solomon (Forever; Michele Bidelspach, editor)

2011 RITA: Young Adult Romance

• Chasing Brooklyn by Lisa Schroeder (Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing; Annette Pollert, editor)
• The Clearing by Heather Davis (Houghton Mifflin Graphia; Julie Tibbott, editor)
• Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare (Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing; Karen Wojtyla, editor)
• I Now Pronounce You Someone Else by Erin McCahan (Scholastic; Cheryl Klein, editor)
• The Iron King by Julie Kagawa (Harlequin Teen; Natashya Wilson, editor)
• Rules of Attraction by Simone Elkeles (Walker Publishing; Emily Easton, editor)
• The Summer of Skinny Dipping by Amanda Howells (Sourcebooks Fire; Deb Werksman)

2011 Golden Heart Finalists for Contemporary Series Romance

• Beauty and the Ballplayer by Arlene Hittle
• Legacy of Love by Anna Sugden
• Lost and Found by Jo Anne Banker
• Loving Ellie by Lindsey Brookes
• Savannah Sighs by Nan Dixon
• The Nanny’s Secret by Ami Weaver
• The Tycoon and the Nature Girl by Nola Cross
• Willing to Learn by Maria Connor

2011 Golden Heart Finalists for Contemporary Series Romance – Suspense/Adventure

• Good Guy in Disguise by Charis Calhoon
• In Her Sights by Robin Lynn Perini
• Stolen Lullaby by Robin Lynn Perini

2011 Golden Heart Finalists for Contemporary Single Title

• Fatal Trust by Donna L. Meier
• Getting Even by Terri Lynn Backhus
• Island Healing by Virginia E. McCullough
• Love and Football by Julie Brannagh
• Sail Away by Chris Campillo
• The Moment of Impossible Movement by Kimberly Kincaid
• The Sinners by Lisa Connelly
• Tin Angel by Alexa Loran

2011 Golden Heart Finalists for Historical Romance

• Bound by Honor by Nancy Northcott
• Changing Fortunes by Victoria Morgan
• The Dark Lady by Maire Shelley 
• In My Lady’s Sight by Gwynlyn MacKenzie
• Never Deceive a Lady by Kate Parker
• Paper Hearts by Kay Hudson
• The Runaway Countess by Leigh LaValle
• The Widow Anabilla by Jennifer McQuiston

2011 Golden Heart Finalists for Inspirational Romance

• At His Command by Ruth Kaufman 
• Love Thy Neighbor by Cheryl Nagro
• Pinch-Hit Dad by Laurie Kellogg
• Stealing Jake by Pam Hillman

2011 Golden Heart Finalists for Novel With Strong Romantic Elements

• Driving Without A License by Laurel Warren
• Five O’Clock Whistle by Nancy A. Lytle
• From Baghdad with Love by Clarissa Southwick
• Murder, Curlers and Canes by Arlene McFarlane
• Nearly Departed in Deadwood by Ann Charles
• Season to Taste by Lia DeAngelo
• Solace by Anna K. Steffl
• Totally Dody by Tracy Brogan

2011 Golden Heart Finalists for Paranormal Romance

• Assassin’s Gambit by Amy Raby
• The Blood Sworn King by Trisza Ray
• Dreaming of You by Babette de Jongh
• Echo 8 by Sharon Lynn Fisher
• Guardian Devil by Karyn S. Mendoza
• The Outer Planets by Laurie A. Green
• P2PC by Laurie A. Green
• The Soldier by Anna Richland

2011 Golden Heart Finalists for Regency Historical Romance

A Tale of Two Sisters by Aislinn MacNamara

How to Reform a Rake by Anne Barton

More Than A Stranger by Erin Kelly

The Proper Miss’s Guide to Bad Behavior by Anne Barton

One Night to Scandal by Sara Ramsey

Secrets of a Wedding Night by Valerie Bowman 

2011 Golden Heart Finalists for Romantic Suspense

Blind Fury by Gwen Hernandez

Body of Evidence by Rachel Grant

Borderlands by Krista Reynolds

Concrete Evidence by Rachel Grant

Closure by Death by Donna Meier

Juliet’s Rogue by Sharon Wray

Locked, Loaded and Lying by Sarah Andre

Spy in the Mirror by Diana Van Dyke

2011 Golden Heart Finalists for Young Adult Romance

Irresistible by Suzanne Kaufman Kalb 

The Dead Guy Downstairs by Sheri Adkins

The Lies that Bind by Shelley Coriell

Maids of Honor by Jennifer Stark w/a Jennifer McGowan

Piper’s Kiss by Sheryl Carpenter

Secret Life by Bria Quinlan

Spark by Darcy Woods

Underhanded by Shoshana Brown