RITA and Golden Heart Finalists Announced
Get out your popcorn! It’s time for the Oscars of the Romance Industry, folks. I, for one, am quivering in anticipation.
Finalists for the best published romance novel of the year, the RITA, and the best manuscript by an unpublished author, the Golden Heart, were announced today. Winners will be announced at the RWA National Conference in San Francisco on August 2nd. I have only read 4 of the books on the list, but this gives me the opportunity to run out and buy more. (Like I needed an excuse?) I am disappointed that some of the books I LOVED this year did not make the list; I have no idea if their authors submitted them to the contest in the first place.
Full Golden Heart Finalist list
The beautiful Pacific Northwest is highly represented - no surprise! It must be something in the sparkling water, or the fresh air, or the friendly inhabitants. Who knows, but I will be rooting for the following books simply because I am highly prejudiced towards Cascadia (I have only read 3 of these):
2008 RITA for Contemporary Series Romance Finalists
- Snowbound by Janice Johnson
(What- no website??)
Harlequin Enterprises, Harlequin Superromance - (0-373-71454-
Laura Shin, editor
2008 RITA for Novel with Strong Romantic Elements Finalists
- Odd Mom Out by Jane Porter
Grand Central Publishing, 5 Spot - (0446699233)
Karen Kosztolnyik, editor
2008 RITA for Paranormal Romance Finalists
- He Loves Me, He Loves Me Hot by Stephanie Rowe
(Delightfully yummy - I blogged about it briefly here)
Grand Central Publishing, Forever - (0446619019)
Melanie Murray, editor - Prince of Magic by Linda Winstead Jones
(But wait - she doesn’t live in Cascadia! No, but she’s Mr. Wonderful’s cousin.)
Penguin Group USA, Berkley Sensation - (978-0-425-21448-0)
Christine Zika/ Wendy McCurdy, editor - Raintree: Haunted by Linda Winstead Jones
(But wait - she doesn’t live in Cascadia! No, but she’s Mr. Wonderful’s cousin.)
Harlequin Enterprises, Silhouette Nocturne - (0-373-61764-X)
Leslie Wainger, editor - Touch of Darkness by Christina Dodd
(Dark and rich - I reviewed the 1st book in the series, Scent of Darkness, here)
Penguin Group USA, NAL - (0451221842)
Kara Cesare, editor
2008 RITA for Regency Historical Romance Finalists
- The Secret Diaries of Miss Miranda Cheever by Julia Quinn
(Miranda is a hoot!)
HarperCollins Publishers, Avon Books - (0061230839)
Lyssa Keusch, editor
2008 RITA for Romantic Suspense Finalists
- White Heat by Cherry Adair
(Awesome website, by-the-way, very James Bond)
Ballantine/Ivy, - (978-0-345-47644-9)
Charlotte Herscher, editor
2008 Golden Heart for Contemporary Series Romance Finalists
- Borrowed Stilettos by Rebecca Clark
- Under a Harvest Moon by Joleen Wieser
Tags: "Stephanie Rowe", Cherry Adair, Christina Dodd, Golden Heart awards, Jane Porter, Janice Johnson, Joleen Wieser, Julia Quinn, Linda Winstead Jones, Rebecca Clark, RITA awards, RWA
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