Romantic Times Magazine’s 2010 Reviewers’ Choice Nominees

by Amy Wilkins, Harlequin Digital

The nominees for Romantic Times magazine’s 2010 Reviewer’s Choice awards and Career Achievement awards are in! And Harlequin has quite a number for paranormal books. And they have categories for just about every paranormal-related genre from straight paranormal romance, to paranormal erotica, and even a category just for Harlequin Nocturne. For nominees in all other categories, visit RT’s website for the full list of finalists.

So what are all the paranormal books singled out? Let’s take a look at the categories….

Harlequin Nocturne
LORD OF THE DESERT by Nina Bruhns
RENEGADE ANGEL by Kendra Leigh Castle
THE KEEPERS by Heather Graham
THE SHIFTERS by Alexandra Sokoloff
THE WOLVEN by Deborah LeBlanc

Futuristic Romance
BEYOND THE NIGHT byJoss Ware
REBELS AND LOVERS by Linnea Sinclair
CLOSE CONTACT by Katherine Allred
MIDNIGHT CRYSTAL by Jayne Castle
ENEMY WITHIN by Marcella Burnard

Vampire Romance
BLOOD BORN by Linda Howard and Linda Jones
LOVER MINE by J.R. Ward
ETERNAL KISS OF DARKNESS by Jeaniene Frost
CROSS YOUR HEART by Michele Bardsley
DEVOURED BY DARKNESS by Alexandra Ivy

Shapeshifter Romance
SERPENT MOON by C.T. Adams and Cathy Clamp
TOUCH OF SEDUCTION by Rhyannon Byrd
WHISPER KISS by Deborah Cooke
PLAY OF PASSION by Nalini Singh
IN THE DARK OF DREAMS by Marjorie M. Liu
DAY OF THE DRAGON by Rebecca York

Paranormal Romance
LION’S HEAT by Lora Leigh
BONDS OF JUSTICE by Nalini Singh
WATER BOUND by Christine Feehan
BAYOU MOON by Ilona Andrews
THE IRON DUKE by Meljean Brook
LIVING NIGHTMARE by Shannon K. Butcher

Paranormal Fiction
NICE GIRLS DON’T LIVE FOREVER by Molly Harper
TRULY, MADLY by Heather Webber
UNDEAD AND UNFINISHED by MaryJanice Davidson
MY WAY TO HELL by Dakota Cassidy
SOMETHING WICKED by Michelle Rowen
HAUNTED HONEYMOON by Marta Acosta

Urban Fantasy Novel
MAGIC BLEEDS by Ilona Andrews
TOTAL ECLIPSE by Rachel Caine
CHOSEN by Jeanne C. Stein
DUST by Joan Frances Turner
MOB RULES by Cameron Haley
DOUBLE CROSS by Carolyn Crane

Urban Fantasy Protagonist
ARCHANGEL’S KISS by Nalini Singh
SPIDER’S BITE by Jennifer Estep
BATTLE OF THE NETWORK ZOMBIES by Mark Henry,
DEATH BLOWS by DD Barant
STORMWALKER by Allyson James
RED HOT FURY by Kasey Mackenzie

Paranormal Romantic Suspense
FIRED UP by Jayne Ann Krentz
BLOOD TIES by Kay Hooper
FADE TO MIDNIGHT by Shannon McKenna
SKIN TIGHT by Ava Gray

Epic Fantasy Novel
THE HUNDRED THOUSAND KINGDOMS by N.K. Jemisin
ARMS-COMMANDER by L.E. Modesitt Jr.
STEALING FIRE by Jo Graham
TROUBLED WATERS by Sharon Shinn
PASSION PLAY by Beth Bernobich

Science Fiction Novel
BLACKOUT by Connie Willis
FEED by Mira Grant
WHO FEARS DEATH by Nnedi Okorafor
THE FULLER MEMORANDUM by Charles Stross
OMNITOPIA DAWN by Diane Duane
ALL CLEAR by Connie Willis

Fantasy Novel
UNDER HEAVEN by Guy Gavriel Kay
THE BIRD OF THE RIVER by Kage Baker
SHADES OF MILK AND HONEY by Mary Robinette Kowal
THE BROKEN KINGDOMS by N.K. Jemisin
THE BONE PALACE byAmanda Downum

Small Press Paranormal/Fantasy/Futuristic
JABRIL by D.B. Reynolds
A GHOST OF A CHANCE by Carolan Ivey
DYAD QUEST by Ann Hinnenkamp
GIRL GONE NOVA by Pauline Baird Jones
THE MIDNIGHT EFFECT by Pamela Fryer

Young Adult Paranormal/Fantasy Novel
BEFORE I FALL by Lauren Oliver
RADIANT SHADOWS by Melissa Marr
SHIP BREAKER by Paolo Bacigalupi
RAISED BY WOLVES by Jennifer Lynn Barnes
CLOCKWORK ANGEL by Cassandra Clare

Paranormal/Fantasy/Sci-Fi Erotic Romance
RAMPANT by Saskia Walker
VELVET HAVEN by Sophie Renwick
VAMPIRE MISTRESS by Joey W. Hill
DANE by Elizabeth Amber

Historical Fantasy/Paranormal
A HIGHLANDER’S HOMECOMING by Melissa Mayhue
AMETHYST DESTINY by Pamela Montgomerie
THE TIME WEAVER by Shana Abe
IF HE’S WILD by Hannah Howell
FORBIDDEN HIGHLANDER by Donna Grant
THE FIRE LORD’S LOVER by Kathryne Kennedy
A BEWITCHING BRIDE by Elizabeth Thornton

Career Achievement Award – Urban Fantasy
Laurell K. Hamilton
Simon R. Green
Rachel Caine
Kim Harrison
P.N. Elrod

Career Achievement Award – Paranormal
Amanda Ashley
Rebecca York
Maggie Shayne
MaryJanice Davidson
L.A. Banks

There are also two Nocturne authors nominated in the best First Series Romance category:

HEIRESS TO A CURSE by Zandria Munson
POISONED KISSES by Stephanie Draven

Phew! That’s quite the list isn’t it?  Congratulations to all the finalists!

Did your favorite books of 2010 make the nominations? Which novels would you select as your top picks of the year?