Recommended Reads: RITA Award Winners

February may be cold and snowy but it also has one of the most romantic days of the year... Valentines Day.

In North America, romance novels are the most popular genre in modern literature, comprising almost 55% of all paperback books sold in 2008. The genre is also popular in Europe and Australia, and romance novels appear in 90 languages.

The modern romance genre was born in 1972 with Avon's publication of Kathleen Woodiwiss's The Flame and the Flower, the first single-title romance novel to be published as an original paperback. The genre boomed in the 1980s, with the addition of many category romance lines and an increased number of single-title romances. Popular authors began pushing the boundaries of the genre and plots and characters began to modernize.

The Romance Writers of America (RWA) is the national association for published and unpublished romance writers. The Association supports the professional interests of more than 10,000 members and has over 145 chapters nationally.

The RITA Awards is RWA's highest award of distinction, presented annually to the best published romance novels of the year. The award is named after RWA's first president, Rita Clay Estrada and has become the symbol for the best in published romance fiction.

Recorded cassette (RC), braille (BR), and large print (LT) copies of these books are available from the Perkins Braille & Talking Book Library. Please contact the Library to order any of these books.

Prepared by Vicki Vogt, Reader Advisor
Perkins Braille & Talking Book Library

2008 Rita Winners

Snowbound by Janice Johnson.
RC-In Process
Best Comtemporary Series Romance. Harlequin. Living through the winter months often means being at the mercy of the elements. In these three cozy novels, three reluctant heroines find themselves in a blizzard, stranded together with three irresistible heroes. But our heroines soon discover that the coldest weather can sometimes spark the warmest heat of passion.

Treasure by Helen Brenna.
RC-In Process
Best Comtemporary Series Romance: Suspense/Adventure. Harlequin. Jake Rawlings has been searching for the Spanish galleon Concha his whole life, and he's paid a heavy price. Suddenly he's saddled with Annie Miller, a marine archaeologist who claims she can take him to it.

Catch of the Day by Kristan Higgins.
RC-In Process
Best Contemporary Single Title Romance. Maine. Thirty-two-year-old Maggie Beaumont, who has been single since her high school boyfriend dumped her, keeps busy by running a diner, volunteering, and helping with her twin sister's family. Maggie doesn't notice her brother's colleague, lobsterman Malone, although Malone is acutely aware of her. Some strong language.

Lessons of Desire by Madeline Hunter.
RC-In Process
Best Historical Romance. Handsome, suave, and carnal as the devil, Lord Elliot Rothwell awaits readers in Lessons of Desire, bestselling author Madeline Hunter's latest book in the Rothwell series and her most provocative novel to date. A man used to getting what he wants, Elliot is every woman's most secret fantasy in the living flesh.

A Touch of Grace by Linda Goodnight.
RC-In Process
Best Inspirational Romance. The moment her sister's body was discovered near Ian Carpenter's New Orleans mission, crusading journalist Gretchen Barker was torn between devastating grief and a desire for revenge. She mourned her sister's drug problems and the family trouble that had started them, but the minister's professions of help made her suspicious.

Silent in the Grave by Deanna Raybourn.
RC-In Process
Best Novel with Strong Romantic Elements. "Let the wicked be ashamed, and let them be silent in the grave."

The Secret Diaries of Miss Miranda Cheever by Julia Quinn.
RC 65036
Best Regency Historical Romance. England, 1810. Ten-year-old Miranda begins keeping a journal at the suggestion of her friend Olivia's older brother Nigel "Turner" Bevelstoke, whom she adores. Nine years later Miranda is still in love with Turner--now a widower with no desire to remarry. Some explicit descriptions of sex.

Ice Blue by Anne Stuart.
LT 7655
Best Romantic Suspense. When an attempt is made on her life, museum curator Summer Hawthorne discovers that the beautiful ice-blue ceramic bowl given to her by her Japanese nanny is a priceless relic that ignites a global power struggle, trapping her in a war between the Japanese mafia and the neo-imperialists.

Wicked Lovely by Melissa Marr.
BR 17597
Best Young Adult Romance. Seventeen-year-old Aislinn and her grandmother are fey--they can see faeries, who are nasty folk. Keenan, the Summer King, wants Aislinn to be his queen and takes human form to woo her. But Aislinn prefers fellow student Seth and resists joining Keenan. Some strong language. For senior high readers. 2007.

2007 Rita Winners

The Husband Trap by Tracy Anne Warren.
RC 66196
Best First Book. London, 1816. For sundry reasons, shy Jannette Violet Brantford agrees to change places with her identical twin, vivacious Jeannette Rose, just before Rose's wedding to Adrian Winter, the duke of Raeburn. But Violet truly loves Adrian and he grows to love her--the imposter. Explicit descriptions of sex.

Adios to My Old Life by Caridad Ferrer.
RC 65488
Best Comtemporary Single Title. Seventeen-year-old Cuban American Ali Montero from Miami enters a Latin American singing contest and wins a chance to compete on television. Her father, a music professor, reluctantly allows her to continue. Ali learns about the business -- and falls in love. Some descriptions of sex and some strong language.

Revealed by Tamera Alexander.
RC 66384
Best Inspirational Romance. Willow Springs, Colorado Territory; 1870. Former prostitute Annabelle Grayson's husband Jonathan dies on their way to his Idaho land, leaving her alone and pregnant. Jonathan's half-brother Matthew Taylor, who despises Annabelle, reluctantly agrees to escort her to the homestead. Unexpectedly, the two fall in love.

On the Way To the Wedding by Julia Quinn.
RC 63137
Best Long Historical Romance. London, 1827. Gregory Bridgerton unexpectedly falls in love with Lady Lucinda "Lucy" Abernathy after being jilted by Lucy's best friend Hermione. Lucy, engaged since childhood, finally succumbs to Gregory's advances but still feels obligated to marry her fiance. Some explicit descriptions of sex.

Blackout by Annie Solomon.
RC 65437
Best Romantic Suspense. Washington, D.C. Accused of murdering top spy Frank Temple, bookseller Margo Scott cannot remember the past month. Undercover federal agent Jake Wise, sent by Frank to watch Margo, tries to confirm her identity. Violence, strong language, and some explicit descriptions of sex. 

The Book of True Desires by Batina Krahn.
RC 65597
Best Short Historical novel. 1898. Adventuress Cordelia O'Keefe seeks out her wealthy grandfather Samuel Blackburn for funds to finance her expeditions. But first Cordelia must find a Mayan treasure for him. Attractive butler Hartford Goodnight, sent along as an observer, becomes a temptation. Some explicit descriptions of sex and some violence.

2006 Rita Winners

Lakeside Cottage by Susan Wiggs.
RC 63442, LT 5537
Best Contemporary Single Title. Unemployed journalist Kate Livingston and her nine-year-old son are spending the summer at her family's Washington state cottage. Nearby, military medic J.D. Harris seeks refuge from the press after saving the president's life. The two meet and fall in love despite obstacles. Some strong language.

Heavens to Betsy by Beth Pattillo.
RC 63801
Best Inspirational Romance. Beautiful and single, the Reverend Betsy Blessing of Nashville tends to her flock while contemplating leaving the ministry. Betsy discovers she feels more than friendship for her former divinity school classmate David, but she refuses to marry a fellow minister -- even if he is perfect for her.

Survivor in Death by J.D. Robb.
RC 59821, LT 4832
Best Romantic Suspense. Bestseller. New York, 2059. Lieutenant Eve Dallas hides nine-year-old Nixie Swisher in her own secure mansion after the child witnessed her family's massacre. Eve seeks the killer while her husband Roarke and butler Summerset guard Nixie. Violence, strong language, and some explicit descriptions of sex.

The Texan's Reward by Jodi Thomas.
RC 61827, LT 5859
Best Short Historical. Sequel to A Texan Luck (RC 61638). Nell, the "wild child" from the Wife Lottery series, needs a husband to help run her ranch. Jacob Dalton, who keeps rescuing Nell, hopes to prevent her from making a big mistake, but instead falls in love. Some descriptions of sex.

Lady Luck's Map of Vegas by Barbara Samuel.
RC 63489
Best Novel with Strong Romantic Elements. India drives her mother, Eldora, from Colorado to Las Vegas to relive her youth after India's father dies. They also search for India's schizophrenic twin sister. Eldora burdens India with her sordid past, while India's pregnancy forces her to make decisions. Some descriptions of sex.

2005 Rita Winners

Bet Me by Jennifer Crusie.
DB/RC 58276
Best Contemporary Single Title. Thirty-three-year-old Minerva Dobbs's boyfriend not only dumps her right before her sister's wedding but also bets his buddy, Cal Morrisey, that Min will sleep with Cal. Min overhears them and although she plans revenge falls in love instead. Strong language and some explicit descriptions of sex.

2004 Rita Winners

Birthright by Nora Roberts.
RC 55869, BR 14700, LT 3661
Best Contemporary Single Title. Bestseller. Ancient bones are uncovered at a construction site in Maryland and archaeologist Callie Dunbrook and her ex-husband are asked to investigate. When a local woman claims that Callie is her long-lost daughter -- kidnapped twenty-nine years earlier -- Callie must search for the truth. Strong language and some descriptions of sex.

Remember When by Nora Roberts.
RC 56898
Best Romantic Suspense. Laine Tavish discovers that a man killed outside her Maryland shop helped her father steal millions in diamonds. Max Gannon, investigating the theft,  falls in love with Laine. Fifty years later, NYC police detective Eve Dallas assists their endangered granddaughter who unknowingly has the stones. Some explicit descriptions of sex and some strong language.

Worth Any Price by Lisa Kleypas.
RC 55731
Best Short Historical. Unable to face a future with Lord Radnor, to whom she was betrothed as a child, Charlotte Howard runs away. Bow Street runner Nick Gentry is hired to find her, but isn't ready for what he encounters. Companion to Lady Sophia's Lover (RC 54333). Some explicit descriptions of sex.

Between Sisters by Kristin Hannah.
RC 58727
Best Novel with Strong Romantic Elements. Time and differences have kept divorce lawyer Meghann Dontess, from Distant Shores (RC 56933), and her sister, Claire, from the closeness they shared during a difficult childhood. Reunited for Claire's wedding, they establish new bonds, and Meghann finds herself falling in love as well. Some explicit descriptions of sex and some strong language.

Her Royal Baby by Marion Lennox.
LT 4530
Best Traditional Romance. Tammy is surprised to learn she's become guardian of her orphaned nephew, Henry, who will one day be Crown prince of a Eurropean country. Marc, the darkly handsome Prince Regent, wants Henry brought up as royalty, and he's not used to hearing "no." But feisty Australian Tammy has no time for titles and she's determined to give her nephew all the love a baby needs, even if she has to move into the palace. But as Marc and Tammy clash over Henry's future the passionate charge between them is becoming impossible to resist.