1985 Golden Medallion Winners & Finalists

From its introduction in 1982 until 1989, the RITA® was known as The Golden Medallion. As with previous years, 1985 saw changes to the award categories for the Golden Medallion. Two new categories, Inspirational and Regency, made their debut. The previous year's attempt to break down romances by word count was simplified, creating "long" and "short" contemporary categories.

Historical Romance

* Winner: Twice Loved - LaVyrle Spencer

• Finalists:

Highland Flame - Kathleen Fraser

Our Lives, Our Fortunes - Janice Young Brooks

Risen Glory (aka Just Imagine) - Susan Elizabeth Phillips

Summerfield - Lynda Trent

Willow - Linda Lael Miller

Inspirational Romance

* Winner: For The Love Of Mike - Charlotte Nichols

• Finalists:

Greengold Autumn - Donna Fletcher Crow

A Mountain To Stand Strong - Peggy Darty

A Promise Once Made - Barbara Bartholomew

Thanksgiving Prayer - Debbie Macomber

Long Contemporary Romance

* Winner: A Matter Of Choice - Nora Roberts

• Finalists:

Come Lie With Me - Linda Howard

The Hellion - LaVyrle Spencer

Little By Little - Georgia Bockoven

Love On The Line - Anna James

Mirrors And Mistakes - Kathleen Gilles Seidel

Never Strangers - Lynda Ward

Red Midnight - Heather Graham

Tangled Lies - Anne Stuart

When Morning Comes - Judith Duncan

Mainstream Romance

* Winner: After All These Years - Kathleen Gilles Seidel

• Finalists:

Country Love Songs, City Lies - Irma Walker

Lovedance - Madeline Harper

Power Play - Andrea Edwards

Promise Me Tomorrow - Nora Roberts

The Scots - Jane Toombs

Vulnerable - Shirley Parenteau

Regency Romance

* Winner: The Lurid Lady Lockport - Kasey Michaels

• Finalists:

The Forgetful Lady - Jacqueline Diamond

Lady Sheila's Groom - Monette Cummings

Short Contemporary Romance

* Winner: Opposites Attract - Nora Roberts

• Finalists:

Promise Me Sunshine - Vicki Lewis Thompson

Remedies Of The Heart - Ariel Berk

Silver And Spice - Jeanne Grant

Suddenly The Magic - Karen Keast

Wilderness Passion - Lindsay McKenna

Traditional Romance

* Winner: The Karas Cup - Brittany Young

• Finalists:

Challenge The Devil - Rita Rainville

The Mockingbird Suite - Glenda Sands

The Perfect Match - Ginna Gray

Sullivan's Woman - Nora Roberts

A Tangle Of Rainbows - Laurie Paige

The Wyomian - Betsy Page

Young Adult Romance

* Winner: The Frog Princess - Cheryl Zach

• Finalists:

First Impression - Harriette S. Abels

The Girl Inside - Judy Baer

Just The Right Age - Louise Chatterton

The Love Vote - Jo Stewart

Never Say Never - Ann Boyle