Nom, Nom, Nom: Some of the 2011 RITA Finalists

This isn't breaking news, but I'm especially excited about this year's RITA nominations. This award recognizes outstanding romance books and novellas from the previous year, and the awards are given out at the annual Romance Writers of America convention.

This year, I actually know two of the finalists! Cheryl St. John is nominated in the Romantic Novella category for 'Mountain Rose', from the anthology  To be a Mother. And Mary Connealy's Doctor in Petticoats is nominated for Inspirational Romance.

Second, some of my favorite books of last year are in the running. Below are the categories I'll be watching most closely. Check out this link to the Romance Writers of America website for the complete list of 2011 finalists. Which books would you like to win?

2011 RITA Finalists for Historical Romance

Countess of Scandal by Laurel McKee (Forever; Alex Logan, editor)
The Forbidden Rose by Joanne Bourne (Berkley Trade; Wendy McCurdy, editor)
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)
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 Finalists for 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 Finalists for Historical Regency 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 Finalists for 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)

Related Articles

The RITA Reading Challenge 2011 (smartbitchestrashybooks.com)


Tagged: Cheryl St. John, Mary Connealy, Postaweek 2011, romance novels, Romance Writers of America, Sarah MacLean