We are pleased to announce the finalists in the 2012 New England Readers’ Choice Bean Pot Award
(In alphabetical order)

**NEC Member

SHORT CONTEMPORARY
A Rancher’s Pride – Barbara White Daille
The Daddy Catch – Leigh Duncan
**The Heart of a Hero – Barbara Wallace

HISTORICAL
In the Barrister’s Chambers – Tina Gabrielle
More Than a Mistress – Ann Lethbridge
**Promise Me Forever – Diane Amos

ROMANTIC SUSPENSE
Deadly Descent – Kaylea Cross
Edge of Daybreak – Jannifer Hoffman
**Fatal Consequences – Marie Force

EROTIC
Bastian, The Lords of Satyr – Elizabeth Amber
The Closer You Get – LA Witt
Take Me Away – Tina Donahue

FUTURISTIC; FANTASY; PARANORMAL OR TIME TRAVEL
Dyad Love – Ann Hinnenkamp
Memories of Murder – Lara Nance
**Salad on the Side – Karenna Colcroft

INSPIRATIONAL
Hometown Dad – Merrillee Whren
Love on the Line – Deeanne Gist
Nightwatch – Valerie Hansen

MAINSTREAM W/ROMANTIC ELEMENTS
Blood Rights – Kristen Painter
Promises to Keep – Char Chaffin
The Proper Care and Maintenance of Friendship – Lisa Verge-Higgins

NOVELLA
Drive-In – Kelli Scott
**I Love the Earl – Caroline Linden
Painted with Pleasure – Dena de Paulo
Stormy Wedding – Kelli Scott

YOUNG ADULT
Awake at Dawn – C.C. Hunter
Love Story – Jennifer Echols
**Tales Out of the Psych Office – Shirley Ann Howard

We are pleased to announce the finalists in the First Kiss Contest!

Congratulations!

‘Til There Was You  by  Elle Twifold, Baltimore, MD

Nothing Left to Lose but Me by Lynn Lindquist, Batavia, IL

The Lavender Trail by Cindy Thompson, Thunder Bay, ON Canada

How to Divorce a Vampire by Mimi Jean, Pleasant Hill, CA

The Fire Walkers by Shelley N. Greene, Columbia, MD

Encore by Bobbi Ruggiero,  North Easton, MA

These entries will be sent along to Patience Smith from Harlequin by the first week in January for Judging!

Good Luck to all!

Send us the scene from your book where your couple first kisses. The scene should convey the emotion and romantic conflict between the characters, sparkle with creative dialogue, description, and characterization, and move the story forward. As one of our authors said, “Good kiss scenes are essentially emotional discoveries. The first kiss brings a new closeness… but also a new set of complications.”

First Kiss Contest now open and accepting entries. Click here for more information.