A Year in Review... sort of 1996

1996 RRA-L Romance Awards Nominees and Winners The winner in each category is denoted by an asterisk and click on a category to expand the list. Best Short Series Romance: *Anyone But You by Jennifer Crusie A Nice Girl Like You by Alexandra Sellers Don't Fence Me In by Kathleen Korbel The Loner and the Lady by Eileen Wilks The Cinderella Deal by Jennifer Crusie ------------------------------------------- new name here... Alexandra Sellers Best Long Series Romance: *When You Call My Name by Sharon Sala Expectant Father by Leanne Banks The Bartered Bride by Cheryl Reavis Lion's Legacy by Suzanne Barclay Bad to the Bone by Debra Dixon -------------------------------------------- Loved Cheryl Reavis story... think I have Suzanne Barclay tbr. But hey look, new names :) Best Contemporary Single Title Romance: *Kiss an Angel by Susan Elizabeth Phillips Jackson Rule by Dinah McCall Home Again by Kristin Hannah Iron Lace by Emilie Richards Shades of Twilight by Linda Howard --------------------------------------------- Dinah McCall and Emilie Richards... never read and I don't recall them being on 94 95 Best Historical Single Title Romance: *The Shattered Rose by Jo Beverley Dance by Judy Cuevas Day Dreamer by Jill Marie Landis Annie's Song by Catherine Anderson The Thief's Mistress by Gayle Feyrer Always to Remember by Lorraine Heath ---------------------------------------------- never read Dance or Annie's Song... didn't care for The Thief's Mistress and just recently found Always to Remember Best Regency Romance: *River of Fire by Mary Jo Putney An Affair of Honor by Candice Hern The Lady's Campanion by Carla Kelly The Irish Rake by Emma Lange The Famous Heroine by Mary Balogh ------------------------------------------------ almost bought The Famous Heroine but put it back. Never heard of Emma Lange. Never read MJP and would like to try some of Hern's backlist. Best Romantic Suspense/Mystery/Adventure: *Rapture in Death by J. D. Robb See How They Run by Bethany Campbell Don't Talk to Strangers by Bethany Campbell Two for the Dough by Janet Evanovich Guilty as Sin by Tami Hoag ------------------------------------------------- never read any of these authors Best Alternative Realities Romance: *Amaryllis by Jayne Castle Prince of Shadows by Susan Krinard Home Again by Kristin Hannah Wrapped in Wishes by Olga Bicos Rapture in Death by J. D. Robb ---------------------------------------------------- haven't read JC(or quick or krentz) Didn't realize HA was AR. Who is Olga Bicos? Best Time Travel Romance: *Once Upon a Rose by Judith O'Brien Just in Time by Marilyn Campbell Miracle of Love by Victoria Chancellor Dance through Time by Lynn Kurland Enslaved by Virginia Henley ------------------------------------------------------- have a few Henley keepers never read Enslaved... didn't like the kurland I read never heard of the others Best Love and Laughter Romance: *Anyone But You by Jennifer Crusie High Energy by Dara Joy Carried Away by Jill Barnett The Cinderella Deal by Jennifer Crusie Last Night by Meryl Sawyer -------------------------------------------------------- High Energy is on the TBR soon shelf (typing up list lucky you ;) ) I might have Carried Away. Oh look Jennifer Crusie... who knew ;) Never read Sawyer. Best Multicultural Romance: *Bed of Roses by Rebecca Paisley Sunrise Song by Kathleen Eagle Dancing Moon by Barbara Samuels Night Passage by Anita Bunkley White Diamonds by Shirley Hailstock ---------------------------------------------------------- new category here but I don't think they had it this year never read RP but have this one down to get. Never read BS or KS. Never heard of AB or SH - although Hailstock sound familar... Best All-Around Romance: *Kiss an Angel by Susan Elizabeth Phillips Jackson Rule by Dinah McCall Home Again by Kristin Hannah Always to Remember by Lorraine Heath The Cinderella Deal by Jennifer Crusie ---------------------------------------------------------- Is SEP that good? BEST 1996 AUTHORS Best Contemporary Author: *Nora Roberts Linda Howard Suzanne Forster Jayne Ann Krentz Anne Stuart Best Historical Romance Author: *Mary Jo Putney Mary Balogh Christina Dodd Kathleen Eagle Patricia Gaffney Best Series/Category Romance Author: *Jennifer Crusie Modean Moon Cheryl Reavis Emilie Richards Justine Davis ---------------------------------------------------- never read Suzanne Forster... any recs? Who is Modean Moon? What book would you rec? BEST ROMANCE CLASSICS Best All-Time Romance Author: *Nora Roberts Dinah McCall/Sharon Sala Julie Garwood Susan Elizabeth Phillips Jayne Ann Krentz Best All-Time Historical Romance: *Outlander by Diana Gabaldon Lord of Scoundrels by Loretta Chase Twice Loved by LaVryle Spncer Whitney, My Love by Judith McNaught Flowers from the Storm by Laura Kinsale Best All-Time Contemporary Romance: *It Had to Be You by Susan Elizabeth Phillips A Soldier's Heart by Kathleen Korbel, Sil. Intimate Moments Carnal Innocence by Nora Roberts Bittersweet by LaVyrle Spencer Dream Man by Linda Howard Best All-Time Favorite Romance: *Flowers from the Storm by Laura Kinsale Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte It Had to Be You by Susan Elizabeth Phillips Again by Kathleen Seidel A Rose in Winter by Kathleen Woodiwiss Best All-Time Favorite Regency Romance: *The Rake and the Reformer by Mary Jo Putney Dancing with Clara by Mary Balogh Devil's Cub by Georgette Heyer Persuasion by Jane Austen Reforming Lord Ragsdale by Carla Kelly ----------------------------------------------- ooooohhhhhhhh, look, a hero that cheats! Best All-Time Series Romance: *Mackenzie's Mountain by Linda Howard Lightning That Lingers by Tom and Sharon Curtis All the Possibilities by Nora Roberts Lord of the Island by Kimberli Wagner A Rose for Maggie by Kathleen Korbel Best All-Time Classic Romance Author: *Nora Roberts Jayne Ann Krentz Judith McNaught Jo Beverley Mary Balogh Best Romance Cover: *Dream Man by Linda Howard Forbidden by Jo Beverley The Love Charm by Pamela Morsi Untamed by Elizabeth Lowell The Dream Hunter by Laura Kinsale --------------------------------------- hee a cover category! Romance with Best Sweet Love Scene: *The Bride by Julie Garwood *Outlander by Diana Gabaldon Years by LaVyrle Spencer Always to Remember by Lorraine Heath Something Shady by Pamela Morsi Romance with Best Spicy Love Scene: *Untamed by Elizabeth Lowell Blush by Suzanne Forster Silver Flame by Susan Johnson Forbidden by Jo Beverley Forbidden Fantasy by Tiffany White ------------------------------------------- SEX is was hot even in '96 but took a while for spicy hit mainstream ;) Nice to see LaVyrle on the list... does she make many classic list now days? Do we lose 'classic reads' with time or does this reflect lists today? I will have to look later...