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1990
Rooms of the Heart by Donna Hill
Referenced in LaQuette's speech
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1991
Redeeming Love by Francine Rivers
Seminal inspirational text
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1992
Season of Light by Lorna Michaels
First own voices Jewish contemporary romance
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1992
Unforgivable by Joyce McGill
First own voices Silhouette Intimate Moments
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1993
The Last Cavalier by Heather Graham Pozzessere
Silhouette Shadows #1
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1993
Stone Butch Blues by Leslie Feinberg
First genderqueer mainstream fiction with romantic elements
|
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1993
Dreaming of You by Lisa Kleypas
Popularization of the non-aristocratic hero in historical romance
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1994
Invisible Life by E Lynn Harris
Seminal own voices black gay romance
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1994
Serenade by Sandra Kitt
Arabesque #1
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1994
Forever Yours by Francis Ray
Arabesque #2
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1994
Night Song by Beverly Jenkins
First black own voices historical
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1995
The Fictitious Marquis by Alina Adams
First own voices Jewish historical
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1995
The Color of Love by Sandra Kitt
Referenced in LaQuette's speech
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1998
Addicted by Zane
The first black erotic romance to receive mainstream success
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1999
Forever True / Solo Tuya by Elaine Alberro
Encanto First Class; published by Kensington, these titles were published in both English and Spanish in the same book
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1999
Summer Dreams / Suenos De Verano by Hebby Roman
Encanto First Class; published by Kensington, these titles were published in both English and Spanish in the same book
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1999
Desert Kiss / Besos En El Desierto by Gloria Alvarez
Encanto First Class; published by Kensington, these titles were published in both English and Spanish in the same book
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1999
Now And Always / Para Siempre by Caridad Scordato
Encanto First Class; published by Kensington, these titles were published in both English and Spanish in the same book
|
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1999
Beyond Desire by Gwynne Forster
Referenced in LaQuette's speech
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2000
Passing By Samaria by Sharon Foster
The first black own voices inspriational; double RITA finalist
|
2000
The Forsaken by LA Banks
Early own voices black paranormal romance
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|
2001
Safe Harbor by Radclyffe
Lesbian romance
|
2001
Notorious by Vicki Lewis Thompson
Harlequin Blaze #1
|
2001
Suddenly You by Lisa Kleypas
Early historical fat representation
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|
2001
Exposed by Julie Leto
Harlequin Blaze #2
|
2002
Born Confused by Tanuja Desai Hidier
First South Asian young adult romance
|
2002
The Surgeon by Tess Gerritsen
Chinese American author and RITA winner
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|
2003
Never Again Once More by Mary B. Morrison
Referenced in LaQuette's speech
|
2004
A Night to Remember by Eve Vaughn
Referenced in LaQuette's speech
|
2004
Bet Me by Jennifer Crusie
Early contemporary fat representation
|
|
2005
Desperate Tigress by Jade Lee
Early own voices historical
|
2006
Solid Soul by Brenda Jackson
Harlequin Kimani #1
|
2006
Unforgiven by Lindsay McKenna
Harlequin Nocturne #1
|
|
2007
Adiós to My Old Life by Caridad Ferrer
Cuban American author and RITA winner
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2008
Charmed by Koko Brown
Referenced in LaQuette's speech
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2008
Irresistible Forces by Brenda Jackson
The first black romance to hit the New York Times list
|
|
2010
Butterfly Swords by Jeannie Lin
Early own-voices Asian historical
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2011
Hot Head by Damon Suede
First own voices M/M romance to be named to Goodreads Best of the Year list
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2013
Your Happy End by E.E. Ottoman
First own voices transgender romance
|
|
2012
Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe by Benjamin Alire Saenz
Seminal own voices Latinx queer romance
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2013
On A Night Like This by Barbara Freethy
Amazon's Bestselling Author of All Time
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2015
The Saint by Tiffany Reisz
First own voices queer author to win a RITA Award
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2017
The Moon in the Palace by Weina Dai Randel
First own voices Chinese RITA Award winner
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2018
Total Bravery by Piper J. Drake
First own voices Thai (Southeast Asian) romance
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2019
Bad Blood by M. Malone
First black author to win a RITA Award. Shares milestone with Kennedy Ryan
|
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2019
Long Shot by Kennedy Ryan
First black author to win a RITA Award. Shares milestone with M. Malone
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2019
My So-Called Bollywood Life by Nisha Sharma
First South Asian author to win a RITA Award
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