Yesterday the Romance Writers of America announced the finalists for the 2012 RITA and Golden Heart Awards.  The 2012 RITA honors romance fiction published in 2011.  The 2012 Golden Heart Award honors unpublished romance manuscripts in 2011.

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Winners of the awards will be announced July 28, 2012, at the RITA and Golden Heart Awards Ceremony to be held at the 2012 RWA Annual Conference in Anaheim, California.
Congratulations to all the nominees!

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2012 RITA Finalists

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2012 RITA Finalists for Best First Book

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Beautiful Disaster by Laura Spinella (Berkley Publishing Group; Leis Pederson, editor)
The Darling Strumpet by Gillian Bagwell (Berkley Publishing Group; Kate Seaver, editor)
The Devil in Disguise by Stefanie Sloane (Ballantine Bantam Dell; Junessa Viloria, editor)
First Grave on the Right by Darynda Jones (St. Martin’s Press; Jennifer Enderlin, editor)
Hourglass by Myra McEntire (Egmont USA; Regina Griffin, editor)
How to Marry a Duke by Vicky Dreilling (Grand Central Publishing Forever; Michele Bidelspach, editor)
I’m Not Her by Janet Gurtler (Sourcebooks Fire; Leah Hultenschmidt, editor)
Warped by Maurissa Guibord (Delacorte Press; Michelle Poploff, editor)

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2012 RITA Finalists for Contemporary Series Romance

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A Bravo Homecoming by Christine Rimmer (Harlequin Special Edition; Gail Chasan, editor)
Donovan’s Child by Christine Rimmer (Harlequin Special Edition; Gail Chasan, editor)
Doukakis’s Apprentice by Sarah Morgan (Harlequin Presents; Lucy Gilmour, editor)
How a Cowboy Stole Her Heart by Donna Alward (Harlequin Romance; Sally Williamson, editor)
I’ll Catch You by Farrah Rochon (Harlequin Kimani Romance; Glenda Howard, editor)
A Mother’s Homecoming by Tanya Michaels (Harlequin American Romance; Kathleen Scheibling, editor)
Rancher’s Twins: Mom Needed by Barbara Hannay (Harlequin Romance; Meg Lewis, editor)
The Texan’s Bride by Linda Warren (Harlequin Superromance; Kathleen Scheibling, editor)

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2012 RITA Finalists for Contemporary Series Romance: Suspense/Adventure

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Cooper Vengeance by Paula Graves (Harlequin Intrigue; Allison Lyons, editor)
The Doctor’s Deadly Affair by Stephanie Doyle (Harlequin Romantic Suspense; Wanda Ottewell, editor)
The Man from Gossamer Ridge by Paula Graves (Harlequin Intrigue; Allison Lyons, editor)
Nothing But the Truth by Kara Lennox (Harlequin Superromance; Johanna Raisanen, editor)
Soldier’s Last Stand by Cindy Dees (Harlequin Romantic Suspense; Patience Bloom, editor)
Stranded with Her Ex by Jill Sorenson (Harlequin Romantic Suspense; Stacy Boyd, editor)
Taken to the Edge by Kara Lennox (Harlequin Superromance; Johanna Raisanen, editor)

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2012 RITA Finalists for Contemporary Single Title Romance

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At Hidden Falls by Barbara Freethy (Pocket Books; Micki Nuding, editor)
Black Ties and Lullabies by Jane Graves (Grand Central Publishing Forever; Michele Bidelspach, editor)
Boomerang Bride by Fiona Lowe (Carina Press; Charlotte Herscher, editor)

Heartstrings and Diamond Rings by Jane Graves (Grand Central Publishing Forever; Michele Bidelspach, editor)
Silver Sparks by Starr Ambrose (Pocket Books; Abby Zidle, editor)
Slow Dancing on Price’s Pier by Lisa Dale (Berkley Publishing Group; Cindy Hwang, editor)
Summer at Seaside Cove by Jacquie D’Alessandro (Berkley Publishing Group; Cindy Hwang, editor)
The Welcome Home Garden Club by Lori Wilde (Avon Books; Lucia Macro, editor)

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2012 RITA Finalists for Historical Romance

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Always a Temptress by Eileen Dreyer (Grand Central Publishing Forever; Amy Pierpont, editor)
The Black Hawk by Joanna Bourne (Berkley Publishing Group; Wendy McCurdy, editor)
The Danger of Desire by Elizabeth Essex (Kensington Brava; Megan Records, editor)
Heartbreak Creek by Kaki Warner (Berkley Publishing Group Sensation; Wendy McCurdy, editor)
The Many Sins of Lord Cameron by Jennifer Ashley (Berkley Publishing Group Sensation; Kate Seaver, editor)
Scandalous Desires by Elizabeth Hoyt (Grand Central Publishing; Amy Pierpont, editor)
Silk Is for Seduction by Loretta Chase (Avon Books; May Chen, editor)
Unveiled by Courtney Milan (HQN Books; Margo Lipschultz, editor)

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2012 RITA Finalists for Inspirational Romance

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The Christmas Child by Linda Goodnight (Harlequin Love Inspired; Allison Lyons, editor)
Deadly Pursuit by Irene Hannon (Revell; Jennifer Leep, editor)
Katie’s Way by Marta Perry (Berkley Publishing Group; Ellen Edwards, editor)
The Ladies’ Room by Carolyn Brown (Avalon Books; Lia Brown, editor)
Love on the Line by Deeanne Gist (Bethany House Publishers; David Long and Julie Klassen, editors)
The Measure of Katie Calloway by Serena Miller (Revell; Vicki Crumpton, editor)
My Foolish Heart by Susan May Warren (Tyndale House Publishers; Karen Watson, editor)
Save the Date by Jenny B. Jones (Thomas Nelson; Natalie Hanemann and Jamie Chavez, editors)
To Win Her Heart by Karen Witemeyer (Bethany House Publishers; Karen Schurrer, editor)

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2012 RITA Finalists for Novel with Strong Romantic Elements

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The Dark Enquiry by Deanna Raybourn (Harlequin MIRA; Valerie Gray, editor)
Death Magic by Eileen Wilks (Berkley Publishing Group Sensation; Cindy Hwang, editor)
First Grave on the Right by Darynda Jones (St. Martin’s Press; Jennifer Enderlin, editor)
Goodnight Tweetheart by Teresa Medeiros (Gallery Books; Lauren McKenna, editor)
How to Bake a Perfect Life by Barbara O’Neal (Ballantine Bantam Dell; Shauna Summers, editor)
The Rose Garden by Susanna Kearsley (Sourcebooks Landmark; Deb Werksman, editor)
Shadow Walker by Allyson James (Berkley Publishing Group Sensation; Kate Seaver, editor)
Song of the Nile by Stephanie Dray (Berkley Publishing Group; Cindy Hwang, editor)
Spider’s Revenge by Jennifer Estep (Pocket Books; Megan McKeever, editor)
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2012 RITA Finalists for Paranormal Romance

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Archangel’s Blade by Nalini Singh (Berkley Publishing Group Sensation; Cindy Hwang, editor)
Changeling Moon by Dani Harper (Kensington Brava; Alicia Condon, editor)
Dragon Bound by Thea Harrison (Berkley Publishing Group Sensation; Cindy Hwang, editor)
Envy by J.R. Ward (NAL Signet; Kara Welsh, editor)
Lord of the Abyss by Nalini Singh (Harlequin Nocture; Tara Gavin, editor)
The Lost by Caridad Piñeiro (Grand Central Publishing Forever; Selina McLemore, editor)
Nightfall by Ellen Connor (Berkley Publishing Group Sensation; Cindy Hwang, editor)
The Restorer by Amanda Stevens (Harlequin MIRA; Denise Zaza, editor)

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2012 RITA Finalists for Regency Historical Romance

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The Devil in Disguise by Stefanie Sloane (Ballantine Bantam Dell; Junessa Viloria, editor)
Heiress in Love by Christina Brooke (St. Martin’s Press; Monique Patterson, editor)
How to Marry a Duke by Vicky Dreiling (Grand Central Publishing Forever; Michele Bidelspach, editor)
How to Seduce a Scoundrel by Vicky Dreiling (Grand Central Publishing Forever; Michele Bidelspach, editor)
Lady Sophie’s Christmas Wish by Grace Burrowes (Sourcebooks Casablanca; Deb Werksman, editor)
A Night to Surrender by Tessa Dare (Avon Books; Tessa Woodward, editor)
To Seduce an Angel by Kate Moore (Berkley Publishing Group Sensation; Wendy McCurdy, editor)
When Beauty Tamed the Beast by Eloisa James (Avon Books; Carrie Feron, editor)

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2012 RITA Finalists for Romance Novella

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“Angel’s Wolf” by Nalini Singh in Angels of Darkness (Berkley Publishing Group Sensation; Cindy Hwang, editor)
“Chaos in Death” by J.D. Robb in The Unquiet (Berkley Publishing Group; Leslie Gelbman, editor)
“Compassion Can’t Wait” by Carly Phillips in More Than Words, Vol. 7 (Harlequin Enterprises; Marsha Zinberg, editor)
I Love the Earl by Caroline Linden (Avon Impulse; Lyssa Keusch, editor)
“One Wish: a Christmas Story” by Jodi Thomas in A Texas Christmas (Kensington Zebra; Peter Senftleben, editor)
“Resolution” by Linda Winstead Jones in The Heart of Winter (Harlequin Enterprises; Stacy Boyd, editor)
“The Storm Within” by Trish Morey in A Royal Engagement (Harlequin Presents; Joanne Grant, editor)
“Unforgiven” by Ruth Ryan Langan in The Unquiet (Berkley Publishing Group; Cindy Hwang, editor)

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2012 RITA Finalists for Romantic Suspense

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Hidden Away by Maya Banks (Berkley Publishing Group Sensation; Cindy Hwang, editor)
Hot Zone by Catherine Mann (Sourcebooks Casablanca; Deb Werksman, editor)
Hush by Cherry Adair (Pocket Star; Lauren McKenna, editor)
New York to Dallas by J.D. Robb (Penguin Putnam; Leslie Gelbman, editor)
Secrets of Bella Terra by Christina Dodd (New American Library; Kerry Donovan, editor)
True Colors by Joyce Lamb (Berkley Publishing Group Sensation; Wendy McCurdy, editor)
True Shot by Joyce Lamb (Berkley Publishing Group Sensation; Wendy McCurdy, editor)
Where All the Dead Lie by J.T. Ellison (Harlequin MIRA; Adam Wilson and Miranda Indrigo, editors)

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2012 RITA Finalists for Young Adult Romance

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Enclave by Ann Aguirre (Macmillan Feiwel & Freinds; Liz Szabla, editor)
Flawless by Lara Chapman (Bloomsbury Publishing; Caroline Abbey, editor)
Hourglass by Myra McEntire (Egmont USA; Regina Griffin, editor)
I’m Not Her by Janet Gurtler (Sourcebooks Fire; Leah Hultenschmidt, editor)
Touch of Frost by Jennifer Estep (Kensington Teen; Alicia Condon, editor)
Warped by Maurissa Guibord (Delacorte Press; Michelle Poploff, editor)
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2012 Golden Heart Finalists
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2012 Golden Heart Finalists for Contemporary Series Romance

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“A Perfect Wife” by Caro LaFever
“Bachelor: Baited, Hooked and Bedded” by Lexi Greene
“Cyrano at Your Service” by Tamra Baumann
“The Divorce Deal” by Kat Cantrell
“His Perfect Partner” by Priscilla Kissinger
“Montana Cherries” by Kim Law
“Second-Chance Bride” by Ami Weaver
“Tell Me Something Good” by Jamie Wesley

2012 Golden Heart Finalists for Contemporary Single Title

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“All Beautiful Things” by Nicki Salcedo
“Blackjack & Moonlight” by Magdalen Braden
“Cat on a Hot Steel Flight Deck” by Heather Nickodem
“Earning Wings” by Laurie Sanchez
“Meant to Be” by Terri Osborn
“No Peeking” by Talia Quinn Daniels
“Thrown” by Colette Auclair
“You Had Me at Habari” by Maggie McConnell

2012 Golden Heart Finalists for Historical Romance

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“The Devil May Care” by Elisa Beatty
“A Duke’s Wicked Kiss” by Kathleen Bittner Roth
“A Hero to Hold” by Sheri Humphreys
“Highland Promise” by Tracy Brogan
“A Knight of Her Own” by Oberon Wonch
“Love in the Music Room” by Moriah Densley
“Notorious” by Alison Atwater
“A Private Affair” by Jennifer McQuiston

2012 Golden Heart Finalists for Inspirational Romance

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“Language of Love” by Kristen Ethridge
“Love’s Advocate” by Karen Fleming
“Powerless Consent” by Jan Nash
“Whispers in the Night” by Carol Post

2012 Golden Heart Finalists for Novel with Strong Romantic Elements

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“Beulah Land and the Happy Hour Choir” by Sally Kirkpatrick
“The Devil She Knows” by Anna Stewart (writing as AJ Stewart)
“Faking It” by Nikki Figueiredo
“The Lazarus Gambit” by Deborah Wright
“Low Country Boil” by Susan Boyer
“Mere Mortals” by Catherine Villalobos
“Song without Words” by Lisa Laing
“Taking Wall Street by Disguise” by Terri Bolyard
“A Tangled Season” by Natalie Meg Evans

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2012 Golden Heart Finalists for Paranormal Romance

“Bathtub Jinn” by Kay Hudson
“Better Dead” by Pamela Kopfler
“Draxis” by Laurie A. Green
“Figs from Thistles” by A.J. Larrieu
“Flannigan’s Grace” by Marni Donnelly
“Never Deal with Dragons” by Lorenda Christensen
“Trouble in Mind” by Donna Frelick
“Unchained Memory” by Donna Frelick

2012 Golden Heart Finalists for Regency Historical Romance

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“King of Swords” by Anne Kenny
“The Last Light of Dusk” by Joanne Lockyer
“The Perfect Heiress” by Kimberly Ohara
“Scandal in Spades” by Wendy LaCapra
“A Whisper to the Wild” by Eileen Emerson

2012 Golden Heart Finalists for Romantic Suspense

.“Body of Evidence” by Rachel Grant
“Chemical Attraction” by Mary Oldham
“Edge of Deception” by Elizabeth Bemis
“Exposure” by Robena Grant
“In Wolf’s Clothing” by Sally Eggert
“Rescuing Rembrandt” by Jean Willett
“Rogue’s Return” by Sharon Wray
“Spy in the Harem” by Diana Belchase

2012 Golden Heart Finalists for Young Adult Romance

,“Angel Academy” by Cecily White
“Canvas Crossers” by Natalie Vawter
“Forget Tomorrow” by Pintip Dunn
“The Matter of Souls” by Stephanie Winkelhake
“Pandora’s Clock” by Natalie Vawter
“The Silent Sister” by Megan Macijauskas (writing as M. Kassel)
“The Suspicions of Cairo Jones” by Mary Danielson
“Wired” by Romily Bernard

Bottom Line:  I foresee an abundance of celebrating in Anaheim this year!