Day Two: More 2014 RITA Award Finalists

Congratulations to RITA finalists in the Erotic, Historical, and Inspirational Romance categories!  

As many of you know, it is quite an honor to be a Romance Writers of America RITA finalist. We encourage all GLIAS readers to peruse the list of nominated authors and titles. See anything below you would love to read? Leave the title and your comment, along with your email contact info for a chance to win the RITA finalist book of your choice! 

Erotic Romance

Claim Me

by J. Kenner

Random House Group, Bantam

Shauna Summers, editor

Private Practice

by Samanthe Beck

Entangled Publishing, Brazen

Heather Howland, editor

When I’m Bad I’m Better in It Stings So Sweet

by Stephanie Draven

Berkley Publishing Group, Berkley Sensation

Cindy Hwang, editor

Historical Romance

Any Duchess Will Do

by Tessa Dare

HarperCollins Publishers, Avon Books

Tessa Woodward

The Autumn Bride

by Anne Gracie

Berkley Publishing Group, Berkley Sensation

Wendy McCurdy, editor

The Chieftain’s Curse

by Frances Housden

Harlequin, MIRA

Kate Cuthbert, editor

The Countess Conspiracy

by Courtney Milan

Self-published

Robin Harders and Keira Soleore, editors

Darius

by Grace Burrowes

Sourcebooks, Casablanca

Deb Werksman, editor

Dark Angel: A Gothic Fairy Tale

by T J Bennett

Entangled Publishing, Edge

Liz Pelletier and Shannon Godwin, editors

Duke of Midnight

by Elizabeth Hoyt

Grand Central Publishing

Amy Pierpont, editor

The Lady and the Laird

by Nicola Cornick

Harlequin, HQN

Ann Leslie Tuttle, editor

Love and Other Scandals

by Caroline Linden

HarperCollins Publishers, Avon Books

Lyssa Keusch, editor

The Luckiest Lady in London

by Sherry Thomas

Berkley Publishing Group

Wendy McCurdy, editor

Never Desire a Duke

by Lily Dalton

Grand Central Publishing, Forever

Michele Bidelspach, editor

No Good Duke Goes Unpunished

by Sarah MacLean

HarperCollins Publishers, Avon Books

Carrie Feron, editor

Plaid Tidings

by Mia Marlowe

Kensington Publishing Corp., Zebra

Alicia Condon, editor

A Rake’s Midnight Kiss

by Anna Campbell

Grand Central Publishing, Forever

Amy Pierpont, editor

The Rogue’s Proposal

by Jennifer Haymore

Grand Central Publishing, Forever

Selina McLemore, editor

Sins of a Ruthless Rogue

by Anna Randol

HarperCollins Publishers, Avon Books

Tessa Woodward, editor

Sonata for a Scoundrel

by Anthea Lawson

Self-published

Inspirational Romance

Five Days in Skye

by Carla Laureano

David C. Cook

John Blase and Tonya Osterhouse, editors

Promise to Return

by Elizabeth Byler Younts

Simon & Schuster, Howard Books

Beth Adams and Amanda Demastus, editors


Commenters: See anything above you'd love to read? Leave the title, your comment, along with your email contact info for a chance to win the RITA finalist book of your choice! 


***Note: Offer void where prohibited. Prizes will be mailed to North America  addresses only. If an Advanced Reading Copy (ARC) is available, the author may utilize that option for International participants. Odds of winning vary due to the number of entrants.

AND THE WINNER IS . . .

CONGRATULATIONS to the 2012 RITA® WINNERS. And a HUGE THANK YOU to all the authors who have donated books for our readers.

BEST FIRST BOOK
FIRST GRAVE ON THE RIGHT
by Darynda Jones
St. Martin's Press
Jennifer Enderlin, editor

BEST CONTEMPORARY SERIES ROMANCE
BOOMERANG BRIDE
by Fiona Lowe
Carina Press
Charlotte Herscher, editor

BEST CONTEMPORARY SERIES ROMANCE
ACTION/ADVENTURE
SOLDIER'S LAST STAND
by Cindy Dees
Harlequin Romantic Suspense
Patience Bloom, editor

BEST CONTEMPORARY SINGLE TITLE
DOUKAKIS'S APPRENTICE
by Sarah Morgan
Harlequin Presents
Lucy Gilmour, editor

BEST HISTORICAL ROMANCE
THE BLACK HAWK
by Joanna Bourne
Berkley Publishing Group
Wendy McCurdy, editor

BEST INSPIRATIONAL ROMANCE
THE MEASURE OF KATIE CALLOWAY
by Serena Miller
Revell
Vicki Crumpton, editor

BEST NOVEL WITH STRONG ROMANTIC ELEMENTS
HOW TO BAKE A PERFECT LIFE
by Barbara O'Neal
Ballantine Bantam Dell
Shauna Summers, editor

BEST PARANORMAL ROMANCE:
DRAGON BOUND
by Thea Harrison
Berkley Publishing Group
Cindy Hwang, editor

BEST REGENCY HISTORICAL ROMANCE
A NIGHT TO SURRENDER
by Tessa Dare
Avon Books
Tessa Woodward, editor

BEST ROMANCE NOVELLA
I LOVE THE EARL
by Caroline Linden
Avon Impulse
Lyssa Keusch, editor

BEST ROMANTIC SUSPENSE
NEW YORK TO DALLAS
by J.D. Robb
Penguin Putnam
Leslie Gelbman, editor

BEST YOUNG ADULT
ENCLAVE
by Ann Aguirre
Macmillan Feiwel & Friends
Liz Szabla, editor

AND OUR WINNERS OF OUR RITA® CELEBRATION ARE . . .
A SEASON FOR GRACE/THE HEART OF GRACE by Linda Goodnight
WON BY: Lil Miss Molly

ALMOST A SCANDAL by Elizabeth Essez
WON BY: Jennifer L. Bielman   autumnflower6@aol.com

ALWAYS A TEMPTRESS & Romance Trading Cards by Eileen Dryer
WON BY: Maureen  mce1011@aol.com

ANGELS OF DARKNESS by Nalini Singh 
WON BY: Kathleen O

ARCHANGEL'S BLADES by Nalini Singh
WON BY:  Tammy Jackson tammyjackson75@yahoo.com
 
BEAUTIFUL DISASTER by Laura Spinella
WON BY: Na Cambonified@yahoo.com

BLACKSTONE'S BRIDE by Kate Moore
WON BY: Eli Yanti

BRIDE OF THE HIGH COUNTRY by Kaki Warner 
WON BY: Laurie G johnslake@usa.com

CHANGELING MOON by Dani Harper  
WON BY: Sienny smile_1773@yahoo.com

DANGER OF DESIRE by Elizabeth Essez 
WON BY: Tammy Y

DARK AGE DAWNING Trilogy by Ellen Connor
WON BY: Quilt Lady

DARLING STRUMPET by Gillian Bagwell 
WON BY: Jane

ENCLAVE by Ann Aguirre
WON BY: Elisa Beatty

FLAWLESS by Lara Chapman
WON BY: Sharon Stogner

GOODNIGHT TWEETHEART by Teresa Medeiros  
WON BY: BN100  bn100candg@Hotmail.com

HOURGLASS by Myra McEntire
WON BY: Donna S bacchus76@myself.com

HOW TO MARRY A DUKE or HOW TO SEDUCE A SCOUNDREL by Vicky Dreiling (winner’s choice)  WON BY: Maureen  mce1011@aol.com

I’M NOT HER Janet Gurtler
WON BY: Ruth   Ruthacmom@aol.com

LORD OF THE ABYSSS by Nalini Singh 
WON BY: May

SPIDER'S REVENGE  by Jennifer Estep (US only)
WON BY: Denise Z  dz59001@gmail.com

THE ANGEL IN MY ARMS by Stefanie Sloane 
WON BY: Lexi H

THE DEVIL IN DISGUISE by Stefanie Sloane
WON BY: Diane dsadler53@yahoo.ca

THE DOCTOR’S DEADLY AFFAIR by Stephanie Doyle 
WON BY: Squires J  jrs362@hotmail.com

THE CLAIMED by Caridad Piñeir
WON BY: Laney 4 seytype@hotmail.com

THE DARK ENQUIRY by Deanna Raybourn  
WON BY: Loves 2 Read - Laura

THE LADIES' ROOM by Carolyn Brown
WON BY: Ingeborg   Kit3247@aol.com

THE SAINT WHO STOLE MY HEART by Stefanie Sloane
WON BY: Christina Lasswell  cmlass@sbcglobal.net

THE SEPTEMBER QUEEN by Gillian Bagwell 
WON BY: Brenda Rumsey grandmabkr@yahoo.com

THE SINNER WHO SEDUCED ME by Stefanie Sloane
WON BY: Ilona felinewyvern@googlemail.com

TIMEPIECE by Myra McEntire 
WON BY: Gamistress66

TIMEPIECE Poster by Myra McEntire
WON BY: Terri Zinchiak

TO WIN HER HEART by Karen Witemeyer 
WON BY:  Miss_Spell  ahui55@gmail.com

TOUCH OF FROST by Jennifer Estep
WON BY: Debra Simning-Chapman omahablack@yahoo.com
 

WARPED by Maurissa Guibord

WON BY: Cssndr Mks  cssndrmks@gmail.com
 

WHO I KISSED by Janet Gurtler (advanced reading copy)

WON BY: Suzi 1811  suzi1811@fsmail.net
 

Winner’s Backlist Choice by Serena Miller

WON BY: Winnie P  winnie968@yahoo.com

THREE ADDITIONAL WINNERS:
WILD TEXAS ROSE by Jodi Thomas
WON BY: Girly Girl Hoosier 52

I LOVE THE EARL by Caroline Linden
WON BY: Gram

Winner’s Backlist Choice by Trish Morey
WON BY: Erin

The Romantic Suspense drawings will be announced separately by Jillian Stone.

Winners should send an email with contact information to:  GetLostInAStory@gmail.com
Winners have until August 15th to send contact information or a new name will be drawn.

If an international commenter is drawn, the donation may be in the form of an ebook.

Note: Offer void where prohibited. Prizes will be mailed to North America addresses only unless specifically mentioned in the post. If an INTERNATIONAL name is drawn, mailing the book or supplying an electronic version will be the decision of the donator. Odds of winning vary due to the number of entrants. Winners of drawings are responsible for checking this site in a timely manner. If prizes are not claimed in a timely manner, the author may not have a prize available. Get Lost In A Story cannot be responsible for an author's failure to mail the listed prize. GLIAS does not automatically pass email addresses to guest authors unless the commenter publicly posts their email address.

THANK YOU for joining us during our RITA® celebration. Don’t forget to FOLLOW us on Twitter #GetLostStories or LIKE us on Facebook.  Join us tomorrow when Susan hosts Terri L. Austin.  ~Ang

Regency Historical RITA® Nominees!

STEFANIE SLOANE
Ballantine Bantam Dell; Junessa Viloria, editor

Lord William Randall, the Duke of Clairemont, is a wicked rake with little regard for society—a most unlikely suitor for the prim and proper Lady Lucinda Gray. But his latest assignment for the Young Corinthians, an elite spy organization, involves protecting her from a kidnapping plot and to do this, the notorious “Iron Will” must get close to Lucinda, and convince her that he’s a man worthy of her attention. It is a simple enough task to use his devilish charm to seduce her, but William never would have guessed that he’d become enthralled by the lovely Lady Grey—or that he’d lose his own heart in the bargain.

Beautiful and fiercely intelligent, Lucinda has managed to gracefully sidestep even the most persistent suitors. Until the Duke of Clairemont, that is. His rugged features, sinfully sensuous mouth, and piercing eyes are as alluring as the champion thoroughbred he tantalizingly offers in exchange for the honor of courting her, and she finds it hard to resist either temptation. The feelings he stirs in her both excite and arouse, urging her on despite the very real danger he represents. But when the truth is revealed, will Lucinda risk her heart and her life for a chance at everlasting love?

Excerpt from The Devil in Disguise
Website
GLIAS RITA® Best First Book Nominee July 17th
Stefanie is donating four books to the RITA® celebration drawing.

~ ~ ~
CHRISTINA BROOKE
St. Martin's Press; Monique Patterson, editor

A Convenient Marriage
Jane, Lady Roxdale, has endured one marriage of convenience decreed by the Ministry of Marriage. While she deeply regrets her late husband’s death, she is relieved to be free at last. But when a dissolute rake threatens everything Jane holds dear, she must contemplate marrying a second time…

An Inconvenient Passion
Disgraced libertine Constantine Black inherits his cousin Roxdale’s land and title–while Roxdale’s prim widow is left all the wealth. Constantine is not a marrying man, but wedding Jane is the only way to save the estate from ruin. Jane resists the smoldering heat between them, desperate not to fall in love with an unrepentant rake. But for the first time ever, Constantine wants more than seduction. He wants all of her–body, heart, and soul…

Excerpt from Heiress in Love
Website

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VICKY DREILING
Grand Central Publishing Forever; Michele Bidelspach, editor

Tristan, the Duke of Shelbourne is a man with a mission: find a wife he can tolerate as long as they both shall live. No love is necessary—nor desired. But how to choose amid a dizzying array of wealthy-yet-witless candidates? Hire London’s infamously prim and proper matchmaker. Then pretend she’s not the most captivating woman he’s ever met...

Helping a devilish Duke create a contest to pick his perfect mate is the kind of challenge Tessa Mansfield relishes. Her methods may be scandalous, but she’s determined to find the notorious bachelor more than a wife—she’ll bring him true love. Yet when Tessa watches the women vie for the Duke’s affections, she longs to win his heart herself. And after a stolen kiss confirms Tristan’s desire, Tessa knows she has broken a matchmaker’s number one rule: never fall in love with the groom.

Excerpt from How to Marry a Duke

VICKY DREILING
Grand Central Publishing Forever; Michele Bidelspach, editor

Lady Julianne Gatewick is in a pickle. It started when her brother’s best friend—for whom she’s long nursed a secret tendre—agreed to act as her guardian for the Season, only to seduce her with a risqué waltz.

But when the music stopped and the expectant ton waited for the Earl of Hawkfield to claim her as his own, he made his disinterest clear. Rather than succumb to humiliation, Julianne does what any recently discarded, wickedly witty young miss would do. She secretly pens a lady’s guide to enticing unrepentant rakes . . . and it becomes the hottest scandal in London.

Every honorable rake knows that friends’ sisters are forbidden. But suddenly Julianne has a spark of mischief in her eyes that Hawk can’t resist. Try as he might to push her away, he spends his days listening for her laughter and his nights dreaming of her kisses. He’s always avoided innocents and their marriage-minded mothers, but has the man least likely to wed finally met his match?

Excerpt from How to Seduce a Scoundrel
Website
GLIAS RITA® Best First Book Nominee July 17th
GLIAS interview

~ ~ ~
GRACE BURROWES
Sourcebooks Casablanca; Deb Werksman, editor

All Sophie Windham wants is peace, quiet and the novelty of a little solitude in the Duke of Moreland's London mansion before she joins her family for Christmas at the family seat in Kent. In the middle of a very inconvenient London snowstorm, Sophie finds herself stuck with an abandoned baby, and only the assistance of handsome stranger Vim Charpentier standing between her and complete disaster...

Vim Charpentier's worst memories are of Christmases spent with family in Kent, so when he has an excuse to tarry for a few days in London, he willingly lends a hand helping Sophie and her new little charge become acquainted. The growing attraction he shares with Sophie warms both their spirits, but when Sophie's three brothers arrive (from the East) to whisk her away, Vim has to decide between facing his memories, or letting the Christmas gift of a lifetime slip through his fingers.

Excerpt from Lady Sophie's Christmas Wish
Website

~ ~ ~
TESSA DARE
Avon Books; Tessa Woodward, editor

Spindle Cove is the destination of choice for certain types of well-bred young ladies: the painfully shy, young wives disenchanted with matrimony, and young girls too enchanted with the wrong men. It is a haven for those who live there.

Victor Bramwell, the new Earl of Rycliff, knows he doesn’t belong here. So far as he can tell, there’s nothing in this place but spinsters…and sheep. But he has no choice, he has orders to gather a militia. It’s a simple mission, made complicated by the spirited, exquisite Susanna Finch—a woman who is determined to save her personal utopia from the invasion of Bram’s makeshift army.

Susanna has no use for aggravating men; Bram has sworn off interfering women. The scene is set for an epic battle…but who can be named the winner when both have so much to lose?

Excerpt from A Night to Surrender
Website
GLIAS interview

~ ~ ~
KATE MOORE
Berkley Publishing Group Sensation; Wendy McCurdy, editor

As a boy Kit Jones thought himself a bastard, not knowing that his parents were secretly married. When his powerful grandfather, the Duke of Wenlocke, discovered that Kit had a legitimate claim on his title, he arranged for Kit to disappear. Kidnapped, Kit spent two years in captivity to a strange and brutal man in London’s darkest rookery. When his captor died, he escaped. Fearing for the safety of his family, he did not return home, but made a life for himself with a band of urchins in London. Only when his brothers proved their extraordinary love for him, did he return home to discover the truth of his birth. Three years later the courts have recognized his claim to be his father’s son, and he becomes Marquess Daventry, his grandfather’s heir, but the aging duke continues to plot Kit’s destruction.

In book three Kit has become Daventry, a warrior angel trapped in a gilded cage who wants to free his family with a decisive defeat of the old duke. In a daring move that breaks all the rules of his safe life, he hires Emma Portland. Everything about Emma is a lie except her love. Alone, pursued by spies, falsely accused of a murder she didn’t commit, Emma must spy for the Duke of Wenlocke against Daventry. If she doesn’t play by Wenlocke’s rules, she dies. Emma passes herself off as a tutor to Daventry’s lost boys as she plans her next escape. What she doesn’t plan on is falling in love.

To Seduce an Angel is the story of two lovers caught between the deadly pull of their past lives and the demands of the future.

Excerpt from To Seduce an Angel
Website

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ELOISA JAMES
Avon Books; Carrie Feron, editor 

Piers Yelverton, Earl of Marchant, lives in a castle in Wales where, it is rumored, his bad temper flays everyone he crosses. He's a Beast. Miss Linnet Thynne is one of the most exquisite young ladies ever to grace London's ballrooms. She's a Beauty. But wait—there's more! Piers is a doctor: brilliant, lame, and impossible to get along with. There's a version of him on Fox TV, named after a habitation. Linnet has been involved in a scandalous flirtation with a prince, and everyone in the ton thinks she's carrying a royal child: she needs a husband.

Linnet estimates it will take two weeks—at the outside—to bring the earl to his knees. Piers knows that he will never fall in love, and definitely never marry.

Excerpt from When Beauty Tamed the Beast

Website

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JOIN THE RITA® CELEBRATION by leaving a comment for each category between July 11th and 28th (multiple comments = multiple entries). GLIAS will be drawing for winners on Sunday, July 29th and posting along with all the RITA® winners announced Saturday evening in Anaheim, California.

Note: Offer void where prohibited. Prizes will be mailed to North America addresses only unless specifically mentioned in the post. If an INTERNATIONAL name is drawn, mailing the book or supplying an electronic version will be the decision of the donator. Odds of winning vary due to the number of entrants. Winners of drawings are responsible for checking this site in a timely manner. If prizes are not claimed in a timely manner, the author may not have a prize available. Get Lost In A Story cannot be responsible for an author's failure to mail the listed prize. GLIAS does not automatically pass email addresses to guest authors unless the commenter publicly posts their email address.

CONGRATULATIONS, LADIES!!! BEST OF LUCK! Join us tomorrow as RITA® week continues with the best NOVELLA category. Don’t forget to FOLLOW us on Twitter (#GetLostStories) or LIKE us on Facebook.  Heather

Get Lost in a New Spindle Cove Novella from Tessa Dare.

Once Upon a Winter’s Eve

Tessa Dare

Samhain Publishing

Some wallflowers bloom at night...

Violet Winterbottom is a quiet girl. She speaks six languages, but seldom raises her voice. She endured bitter heartbreak in perfect silence. The gentlemen aren't beating down her door.

Until the night of the Spindle Cove Christmas ball, when a mysterious stranger crashes into the ballroom and collapses at Violet's feet. His coarse attire and near-criminal good looks would put any sensible young lady on her guard. He's wet, chilled, bleeding, and speaking in an unfamiliar tongue.

Only Violet understands him. And she knows he's not what he seems.

She has one night to draw forth the secrets of this dangerously handsome rogue. Is he a smuggler? A fugitive? An enemy spy? She needs answers by sunrise, but her captive would rather seduce than confess. To learn his secrets, Violet must reveal hers—and open herself to adventure, passion, and the unthinkable... Love.

Excerpt available at: http://tessadare.com/bookshelf/once-upon-a-winters-eve/

Tessa Dare is the award-winning author of seven historical romance novels and two novellas.

She has twice been awarded the RT Book Reviews Reviewer’s Choice Award, and has twice been a finalist for Romance Writers of America’s prestigious RITA® award. Her books have been contracted for translation in nine languages. Recently, Booklist magazine named her one of the “new stars of historical romance.”

A librarian by training and a booklover at heart, Tessa takes great pride and pleasure in continuing to work part-part-time at her local public library. She makes her home in Southern California, where she shares a cozy, cluttered bungalow with her husband, their two children, and a big brown dog.

Q & A with Tessa

Jillian: What’s your favorite fairy tale?

Tessa: It’s not really a fairy tale, but it occupies a fairy-tale niche in my imagination: Alice in Wonderland (and Through the Looking Glass). My father bought me a secondhand copy when I was 6 or 7 years old, and I read it countless times. Alice appealed to me for her daring, her cleverness, and her curiosity.

Jillian: Describe your favorite kind of hero to read/write?

Tessa: My favorite hero to write is the sexy, charming rake. I just love to think up dialogue for those types of guys, so the writing is so much fun. However, the heroes who really get into my heart and stay there… they tend to be the strong, silent, tortured types.

Jillian: What was the first story you remember writing?

Tessa: It was a story I wrote over holiday vacation, while staying at my grandmother’s house. It was called “Martha the Cranberry.” She was a lonely, under appreciated cranberry, callously tossed aside by someone preparing a holiday meal. Then a little girl found her, saw her inner beauty, and they became best friends—until poor Martha got lost and nearly eaten by a squirrel. (I think my grandmother still has this story somewhere.)

Jillian: What’s the first thing you do when you finish writing a book?

Tessa: Sleep! And then I usually treat myself to a massage. Then, for the next week or so, I go on a romance reading binge (because when I’m nearing deadline, I try to avoid reading books that might mess with my own story.)

Jillian: If you were given a chance to travel to the past where would you go and specifically why?

Tessa: Gosh, that’s so hard to say. The easy answer would be the English Regency, so I could see for myself just what life was like during the time period. But another part of me thinks it would be great fun to go back in time and get answers to one of history’s unsolved mysteries. Just how were the pyramids built?, for example. What really did happen to the lost colony of Roanoke? And then some days, I look around my sunny homeland of Southern California and wish I could go back and time and see how it looked hundreds of years ago, before all the smog and urban development.

Jillian: What does it mean to love someone?

Tessa: My own little theory of romantic love is that we’re each looking for the person who accepts us for our worst self, but empowers us to be our best self.

Jillian: What’s your favorite kid joke?

Tessa: Q: What did the snail say when he rode on the turtle’s back? A: Wheeee!

Jill's got ask Tessa: You write the best, quirky, funny, outrageously hot love scenes! And they’re talky! I love talky love scenes, they seem more intimate to me. Is that weird? Love to hear your thoughts on this!

Tessa's Answer: Well first, thank you! I love talky love scenes, too. I really believe that dialogue is a big part of what makes a love scene “hot.” For me, it’s all about getting at the characters’ vulnerabilities—their deepest fears, desires, needs.

Tessa has a question for readers: My new novella, Once Upon a Winter’s Eve, starts out with a wounded stranger crashing into a Christmas ball. If you could crash someone’s holiday party (a fictional character, a celebrity, anyone!), whose would you choose? I have a print copy of A Night to Surrender and an e-copy of Once Upon a Winter’s Eve to one lucky commenter!

For more about Tessa Dare:

Tessadare.com

http://facebook.com/TessaDare

http://twitter.com/TessaDare

***Note: Offer void where prohibited. Prizes will be mailed to North America addresses only. If an Advanced Reading Copy (ARC) is available, the author may utilize that option for International participants. Odds of winning vary due to the number of entrants.