Congratulations--Great Books!

As some of you know, this past week is the time when many a romance author sits sweating at her computer, trying not to pick up her phone every few minutes to see if anyone called. That’s right, this is the week when the Rita^TM finalists are announced.

The Rita awards are akin to the Academy Awards for the romance writer’s world. Either an author or her publisher enters the book initially into the contest, where it is judged for its ability to beguile. Romance as a central theme and a satisfying ending are a must. Those books that score highest become finalists and undergo a second round of reviews before one is awarded the coveted prize at a red carpet ceremony at the Romance Writers of America® annual conference in July.

While there are a number of categories (and I congratulate all the finalists!), here are the novels most likely to be of interest to those who love the nineteenth century. One warning—I did not check level of sensuality, so some of these may be HOT:

A Noble Masquerade, Kristi Ann Hunter

Bella and the Beast, Olivia Drake

Earls Just Want to Have Fun, Shana Galen

Falling into Bed with a Duke, Lorraine Heath

If the Viscount Falls, Sabrina Jeffreys

It Started with a Scandal, Julie Anne Long

Say Yes to the Marquess, Tessa Dare

Secrets of a Scandalous Heiress, Theresa Romain

The Secrets of Sir Richard Kenworthy, Julia Quinn

Tiffany Girl, Deeanne Gist

Tremaine’s True Love, Grace Burrowes

While none of my books was a finalist (sob!), I am absolutely thrilled to report that Would-Be Wilderness Wife won a prize of its own. RT Book Reviews, the premiere review magazine for the fiction industry, bestowed upon it the Reviewers Choice Award for best book of its kind for 2015. What an honor!

Aren’t we fortunate there are so many wonderful books to read?