The biggest night of the RWA Conference culminated with the awarding of the most prestigious awards given from RWA…The Rita’s and The Golden Hearts. Here’s a list of all the winners and congratulations to all the finalists. It was an amazing group. Keep reading to the bottom because I’ve also included the wonderful Daphne award winners.
Rita Award Winners
Best First Book
First Grave on the Right by Darynda Jones
Contemporary Series Romance
Doukakis’s Apprentice by Sarah Morgan
Contemporary Series Romance: Suspense/Adventure
Soldier’s Last Stand by Cindy Dees
Contemporary Single Title Romance
Boomerang Bride by Fiona Lowe
Historical Romance
The Black Hawk by Joanna Bourne
Inspirational Romance
The Measure of Katie Calloway by Serena Miller
Novel with Strong Romantic Elements
How to Bake a Perfect Life by Barbara O’Neal*
*This win gained O’Neal entrance into the RWA Hall of Fame
Paranormal Romance
Dragon Bound by Thea Harrison
Regency Historical Romance
A Night to Surrender by Tessa Dare
Romance Novella
I Love the Earl by Caroline Linden
Romantic Suspense
New York to Dallas by J.D. Robb
Young Adult Romance
Enclave by Ann Aguirre
Golden Heart Awards
Paranormal Romance
Never Deal with Dragons by Lorenda Christensen
Novel with Strong Romantic Elements
Song without Words by Lisa Laing
Historical Romance
The Devil May Care by Elisa Beatty
Inspirational Romance
Love’s Advocate by Karen Fleming
Contemporary Single
No Peeking by Talia Quinn Daniels
Regency Historical Romance
The Perfect Heiress by Kimberly Ohara (writing as April Bennet)
Young Adult Romance
Wired by Romily Bernard
Contemporary Series Romance
Cyrano at Your Service by Tamra Baumann
Romantic Suspense
Edge of Deception by Elizabeth Bemis
The list of winners (complete with author and book photos) can be found on the RWA website.
The results of the Kiss of Death Chapter’s Daphne Du Mauier Award 
for Excellence in Mystery/Suspense are in.
Category (Series) Romantic Mystery/Suspense
Finalist: HelenKay Dimon, The Big Guns
Finalist: Paula Graves, Major Nanny
Finalist: Angi Morgan, .38 Caliber Cover-Up
Finalist: Gayle Wilson, Flashback
WINNER: Julie Miller, Nanny 911
Historical Romantic Mystery/Suspsense
Finalist: Leanna Renee Hieber, Darker Still: A Novel of Magic Most Foul
Finalist: Elizabeth Loupas, The Second Duchess
Finalist: Sharon Page, Engaged in Sin
Finalist: Deborah Simmons, Glory and the Rake
WINNER: Katy Madison, Tainted by Temptation
Inspirational Romantic Mystery/Suspense
Finalist: Diane Burke, Bounty Hunter Guardian
Finalist: Debby Giusti, The Captain’s Mission
Finalist: Laura Scott, Lawman-In-Charge
Finalist: Susan Sleeman, The Christmas Witness
WINNER: Renee Ryan, Courting the Enemy
Mainstream Mystery/Suspense
Finalist: Linda Castillo, Breaking Silence
Finalist: W. S. Gager, A Case of Hometown Blues
Finalist: Elizabeth Voss, The Winslow Incident
Finalist: Lois Winston, Assault with a Deadly Glue Gun
WINNER: Julie Kramer, Killing Kate
Paranormal (Fantasy/Time Travel/Futuristic) Romantic Mystery/Suspense
Finalist: Kristin Miller, InterVamption
Finalist: Jana Oliver, The Demon Trapper’s Daughter
Finalist: Robin D. Owens, Heart Search
Finalist: Kristen Painter, Blood Rights
WINNER: Darynda Jones, Second Grave on the Left
Single Title Romantic Mystery/Suspense
Finalist: Donnell Ann Bell, The Past Came Hunting
Finalist: Allison Brennan, Kiss Me, Kill Me
Finalist: Cindy Gerard, With No Remorse
Finalist: Roxanne St. Claire, Face of Danger
WINNER: Christy Reece, Sweet Justice
THE OVERALL DAPHNE WINNER FOR THE 2012 PUBLISHED CONTEST IS:
DARYNDA JONES: SECOND GRAVE ON THE LEFT
Bottom Line: Tune in tomorrow for more RWA news, pictures and Drive By Videos.
