As you know, this month, we’ve been highlighting the 2010 Rita nominees. One of the most popular categories is Paranormal Romance. The competition in this category is hot! The descriptions I’ve posted are from BN.com.

First up, Laurie Brown with What Would Jane Austen Do? Laurie is a fellow Sourcebooks author.
When a modern woman goes back to Jane Austen’s time, she needs to know how to tell a villain from a rake. Otherwise, she could fall into a most shocking scandal…

Kresley Cole is a double finalist with Untouchable and Kiss of a Demon King.

In Untouchable, Kresley Cole brings us the story of Murdoch Wroth, a brutal vampire soldier who will stop at nothing to claim Daniela the Ice Maiden—the delicate Valkyrie who makes his heart beat for the first time in 300 years. But Danii is part ice fey, and her freezing skin can only be touched by her own kind.

Here’s the synopsis for Kiss of a Demon King. From New York Times bestselling author Kresley Cole comes this spellbinding story of a demon king trapped by an enchantress for her wanton purposes—and the scorching aftermath that follows when he turns the tables and claims her as his captive.

Carolyn Jewel is a nominee for her novel My Forbidden Desire.

TORN BETWEEN…
Alexandrine Marit is a witch in mortal danger. An evil mage craves the powerful, mysterious talisman that supplies her magic, and the only person who can keep her safe is a dark and dangerous fiend called Xia. With his fierce animosity toward witches, he’s hardly the ideal bodyguard. Yet as days turn into nights, she can’t deny the white-hot passion between them.

DESIRE AND TEMPTATION
Xia hates witches. They enslave and mercilessly kill his kind. But he’s been ordered to protect Alexandrine, who, to his surprise, has a spirit he admires and a body he longs to possess. With the mage and his henchmen closing in, Alexandrine and her protector must trust the passion that can unite them…or risk losing everything to the enemies who can destroy them both.

Marjorie M. Liu is nominated for her novel The Fire King.

The world has yet to learn the power of the tortured Chimera shape-shifter prince-and the scarred yet brilliant Soria has yet to know his love.

Former Jaunty Quill, Anne Mallory is a nominee for her novel For the Earl’s Pleasure.

Beneath every scornful smile . . .

They were once cherished childhood companions, until a scandalous secret tore them apart. Now Valerian Rainewood and Abigail Smart are the fiercest of enemies. To Abigail, Rainewood is a notorious rake, hell-bent on mischief and not fit for polite society. So what if it seems as if he can seduce her with nothing but his eyes? She will not succumb. But when the earl is viciously attacked, Abigail’s distress tells her that something still binds her to the wild Rainewood.

Lies an unquenchable desire . . .

Though the ton believes there is nothing between them, Rainewood knows the truth. Abigail tempts him the way no other woman has. Wanton lust overwhelms him whenever she is near. But keeping her too close may put her precious life in danger. He must destroy his enemies—so that with every touch he may prove to Abigail that though their past was filled with trouble, their future will be nothing but pleasure.

Darkness Unknown by Alexis Morgan is the next nominee. Alexis Morgan’s seductive Paladin series continues with a red-hot romance between a powerful warrior sworn to secrecy and the irresistible woman who makes him lose control….

Gwen Mosely’s life changes forever when she stumbles across a handsome stranger, bleeding and left for dead in the woods behind her farm. But the real shock is how his wounds heal overnight — a trait he shares with Gwen’s teenaged half-brother Chase.

Jarvis Donahue can’t keep his eyes — or his hands — off the sexy redhead who rescued him. Gwen’s warm smile and lust-filled eyes are impossible to resist…but Jarvis immediately recognizes Chase as a fellow Paladin, a warrior born to defend mankind in the relentless battle against the Others. Although Gwen may hate Jarvis for it, he is dutybound to introduce Chase to the Paladins’ dangerous lifestyle.

As the barrier between the two worlds weakens, the threat grows perilously close to Gwen’s farm. Jarvis is determined to protect his lover — but if he reveals his identity, he not only betrays his people’s secret, he risks losing her forever….


J.R. Ward is once again a nominee with Covet. Redemption isn’t a word Jim Heron knows much about — his specialty is revenge, and to him, sin is all relative. But everything changes when he becomes a fallen angel and is charged with saving the souls of seven people from the seven deadly sins. And failure is not an option.

Vin diPietro has surrendered himself to his business—until fate intervenes in the form of a tough-talking, Harley-riding, self-professed savior, and a woman who makes him question his destiny. With an ancient evil ready to claim him, Vin has to work with a fallen angel not only to win his beloved over…but to redeem his very soul.

And lastly, but only because I’m highlighting these in alphabetical order, is Eileen Wilks with Mortal Sins.

FBI Agent Lily Yu and her werewolf lover are embroiled in a series of murders, each linked to a form of dangerous “death magic.”

Any of your favorite authors nominated this year? Who are you hoping takes home that coveted Rita?