RITA Award Winners

Best First Book:

Winner: Oh. My. Gods. by Tera Lynn Childs

Finalists:
Her One Desire by Kimberly Killion
No Good Girls by Jean Marie Pierson
Passionate by Anthea Lawson
Private Arrangements by Sherry Thomas
Strangers in the Night by Kerry Connor
The Secret Soldier by Jennifer Morey
Your Roots Are Showing by Elise Chidley

Best Contemporary Series Romance:

Winner: A Mother's Wish by Karen Templeton

Finalists:
Adopted: Outback Baby by Barbara Hannay
Antonides' Forbidden Wife by Anne McAllister
Falling for the Lone Wolf by Crystal Green
Last-Minute Proposal by Jessica Hart
Texas Heir by Linda Warren
The Children's Doctor and the Single Mum by Lilian Darcy
The Cowboy's Christmas Miracle by RaeAnne Thayne
The Right Mr. Wrong by Cindi Myers

Best Contemporary Series Rimance: Romantic Suspense/Adventure

Winner: Danger Signals by Kathleen Creighton

Finalists:
A Sexy Time of It by Cara Summers
Cold Case Connection by Kathleen Long
Lethal Attraction by Diana Duncan
Strangers in the Night by Kerry Connor
Tall, Dark and Lethal by Dana Marton
The Man Behind the Cop by Janice Kay Johnson
The Secret Soldier by Jennifer Morey
Twin Targets by Jessica Andersen

Best Contemporary Single Title Romance

Winner: Not Another Bad Date by Rachel Gibson

Finalists:
No Good Girls by Jean Marie Pierson
Out of Time by Samantha Graves
Snowfall at Willow Lake by Susan Wiggs
Sweet Talk by Susan Mallery
Tall Tales and Wedding Veils by Jane Graves
Twenty Wishes by Debbie Macomber
Your Roots Are Showing by Elise Chidley


Best Historical Romance

Winner: The Edge of Impropriety by Pam Rosenthal

Finalists:
Duchess by Night by Eloisa James
In Bed with the Devil by Lorraine Heath
Private Arrangements by Sherry Thomas
Seduce Me at Sunrise by Lisa Kleypas
The Spymaster's Lady by Joanna Bourne
To Seduce a Sinner by Elizabeth Hoyt
Where the Heart Leads by Stephanie Laurens

Best Inspirational Romance

Winner: Finding Stefanie by Susan May Warren

Finalists:
Deep in the Heart of Trouble by Deeanne Gist
Faking Grace by Tamara Leigh
Love Starts with Elle by Rachel Hauck
Mulberry Park by Judy Duarte
The Convenient Groom by Denise Hunter
The Perfect Life by Robin Lee Hatcher
Where Love Abides by Irene Hannon

Best Novel with Strong Romantic Elements

Winner: Tribute by Nora Roberts

Finalists:
Last Dance at Jitterbug Lounge by Pamela Morsi
The House on Tradd Street by Karen White
The Paper Marriage by Susan Kay Law
The Shape of Mercy by Susan Meissner
The Winter Sea by Susanna Kearsley
Where Serpents Sleep by C. S. Harris

Best Paranormal Romance

Winner: Seducing Mr. Darcy by Gwyn Cready

Finalists:
Dragon Wytch by Yasmine Galenorn
Mine to Possess by Nalini Singh
Moonstruck by Susan Grant
The Darkest Night by Gena Showalter
The Healer by Sharon Sala
The Undead Next Door by Kerrelyn Sparks
Thunder Moon by Lori Handeland

Best Regency Historical Romance

Winner: My Lord and Spymaster by Joanna Bourne

Finalists:
Duke Most Wanted by Celeste Bradley
Mr. Cavendish, I Presume by Julia Quinn
The Dangerous Duke by Christine Wells
The Edge of Desire by Stephanie Laurens
Three Nights of Sin by Anne Mallory

Best Romance Novella

Winner: The Fall of Rogue Gerard by Stephanie Laurens in "It Happened One Night"

Finalists:
All He Wants for Christmas by Jill Shalvis in "Heating Up the Holidays"
Blame It on the Mistletoe by Terri Brisbin in "One Candlelit Christmas"
Only You by Jacquie D'Alessandro in "It Happened One Night"
Our Day by Jean Brashear in "The Valentine Gift"
Penance by Sharon Sala in "Aftershock"
Snowy Night with a Highlander by Julia London in "Snowy Night with a Stranger"
Thicker Than Blood by Meljean Brook in "First Blood"

Best Romantic Suspense

Winner: Take No Prisoners by Cindy Gerard

Finalists:
Killing Fear by Allison Brennan
Night Secrets by Cherry Adair
Now You Die by Roxanne St. Claire
Scream for Me by Karen Rose
Stop Me by Brenda Novak
The Angel by Carla Neggers
Triple Exposure by Colleen Thompson

Best Young Adult Romance

Winner: Hell Week by Rosemary Clement-Moore

Finalists:
How to Hook a Hottie by Tina Ferraro
O. My. Gods. by Tera Lynn Childs