February is the month for “following your heart” and what better way to do that than to read a great romance. So, to help you find just the right book, we’re featuring recent RITA Award Winners in a variety of categories. The Romance Writers of America bestow their RITA award each year to promote excellence in the romance genre by recognizing outstanding published romance novels. The award itself is a golden statuette named after the organization’s first president, Rita Clay Estrada, and has become the symbol for excellence in published romance fiction.

STAFF PICKS FOR ADULTS

Whether you like the paranormal, the suspenseful, the historical or the contemporary, these award winners are available now in the Wake County Public Library system.

FICTION

2012 RITA Winner for Best First Book

“First Grave on the Right” by Darynda Jones

Charley Davidson is a part-time private investigator and full-time Grim Reaper. Charley sees dead people. That’s right, she sees dead people. And it’s her job to convince them to “go into the light.” But when these very dead people have died under less than ideal circumstances, sometimes they want Charley to bring the bad guys to justice. Complicating matters are the intensely hot dreams she’s been having about an entity who has been following her all her life…and it turns out he might not be dead after all. In fact, he might be something else entirely.

2012 RITA Winner for Contemporary Series Romance

“Doukakis’ Apprentice” by Sarah Morgan

With her family business in crisis, Polly Prince does her best to keep calm and carry on. But hard work alone can’t save her London company from a takeover by the infamously ruthless Damon Doukakis. As his new apprentice, Polly accompanies Damon to Paris to negotiate the most challenging business deal of her life. Worse still, Polly must at all costs resist Damon in the most dangerously romantic city in the world.

2012 RITA Winner for Contemporary Single Title Romance

“Boomerang Bride” by Fiona Lowe (downloadable eBook)

Matilda Geoffrey risked it all for love. She left Australia to be with Barry, the man who had swept her off her virtual feet. Now, wearing a wedding dress, she’s alone on Main Street in small-town Wisconsin, and things aren’t working out exactly as planned. In town for his annual family visit, Marc Olsen had never seen a bride quite like Matilda, staring into a storefront window, holding a tottering wedding cake, and looking desperately in need of a groom. He may not have any warm feelings for his hometown, but meeting Matilda just as she discovers she’s been scammed by her online “fiancé” stirs something in him.

2012 RITA Winner for Historical Romance

“The Black Hawk” by Joanna Bourne

Attacked on a rainy London street, veteran spy Justine DeCabrillac knows only one man can help her: Hawker. The only problem is that he also happens to be the enemy. With London crawling with hidden assassins and someone out to frame Hawker for the assault, the two spies seek to find out who’s trying to destroy them.

2012 RITA Winner for Paranormal Romance

“Dragon Bound” by Thea Harrison

Half-human and half-wyr, Pia Giovanni spent her life keeping a low profile among the wyrkind and avoiding the continuing conflict between them and their dark Fae enemies. But after being blackmailed into stealing a coin from the hoard of a dragon, Pia finds herself targeted by one of the most powerful - and passionate- of the Elder races.

2012 RITA Winner for Regency Historical Romance

“A Night to Surrender” by Tessa Dare

This is a love story to remember - kicking off the author’s Spindle Cove series. This story is set in England’s Regency Era in a small seaside resort town that caters specifically to ladies “of good breeding and delicate constitution.” Passionate chaos ensues when a dashing British officer, under orders, “invades” this community of strong-willed “spinsters,” only to discover he’s met his match in Miss Susannah Finch!

2012 RITA Winner for Romantic Suspense

“New York to Dallas” by J.D. Robb

This story introduces an intense and terrifying new case for New York homicide cop Eve Dallas, one that will take her all the way to the city that gave her her name - and plunge her into the nightmares of her childhood. When a monster named Isaac McQueen -taken down by Eve back in her uniform days - escapes from Rikers, he has two things in mind. One is to pick up where he left off, abducting young victims. The other is to get revenge on the woman who stopped him all those years ago.

2012 RITA Winner for Young Adult Romance

“Enclave” by Ann Aguirre

In a post-apocalyptic future, 15-year-old Deuce, a loyal Huntress, brings back meat while avoiding the Freaks outside her enclave, but when she is partnered with the mysterious outsider, Fade, she begins to see that the strict ways of the elders may be wrong - and dangerous.

DID YOU KNOW? …

Wake County Public Libraries is sponsoring a series called “Meet the Authors” throughout the month of February. Check with the following Regional Libraries for details:

* A Visit with Erin Knightley, Deborah Fletcher Mello and Leceila Turnage

Feb. 16, 2:30 p.m. at the North Regional Library, 919-870-4000​.

* A Visit with Diane Chamberlain

Feb. 17, 2 p.m. at the West Regional Library, 919-463-8500​

* A Visit with Erin Knightley and Jenna Black

Feb. 21, 7 p.m. at the Cameron Village Regional Library, 919-856-6710