1996 RITA® Winners & Finalists

Contemporary Single Title Romance

* Winner: Born In Ice - Nora Roberts

• Finalists:

Heaven, Texas - Susan Elizabeth Phillips

Kiss In The Dark - Meryl Sawyer

Reason To Believe - Kathleen Eagle

First Book

* Winner: The Warlord - Elizabeth Elliott

• Finalists:

All That Matters - Elizabeth Mayne

Captured - Victoria Lynne

Fancy-Free - Carrie Alexander

The Flirt - Rachelle Nelson

Knight Of A Trillion Stars - Dara Joy

Texas Outlaw - Adrienne deWolfe

When Midnight Comes - Robin Burcell

Inspirational Romance

* Winner: As Sure As The Dawn - Francine Rivers

• Finalists:

Like A River Glorious - Lawana Blackwell

The Tempering Blaze - Sally Laity, Dianna Crawford

Long Contemporary Series Romance

* Winner: The Morning Side Of Dawn - Justine Davis

• Finalists:

The Adventurer - Diana Whitney

Her Secret, His Child - Paula Detmer Riggs

The Last Chance Ranch - Ruth Wind

A Perfect Marriage - Laurey Bright

The Pride Of Jared MacKade - Nora Roberts

The Return Of Rafe MacKade - Nora Roberts

The Soldier And The Baby - Anne Stuart

Long Historical Romance

* Winner: Something Shady - Pamela Morsi

• Finalists:

Bliss - Judy Cuevas

Bride Of The Lion - Elizabeth Stuart

Heart Of The West - Penelope Williamson

Stealing Heaven - Kimberly Cates

To Love And To Cherish - Patricia Gaffney

Waiting For The Moon - Kristin Hannah

The Warlord - Elizabeth Elliott

Paranormal Romance

* Winner: The Covenant - Modean Moon

• Finalists:

A Basket Of Wishes - Rebecca Paisley

Duncan's Lady - Emilie Richards

Knight Of A Trillion Stars- Dara Joy

Nightwing - Lynn Michaels

Race Against Time - Lynn Turner

Time Without End - Linda Lael Miller

A Window In Time - Carolyn Lampman

Regency Romance

* Winner: Gwen's Christmas Ghost - Lynn Kerstan, Alicia Rasley

• Finalists:

The Bumblebroth - Patricia Wynn

Deck The Halls - Marian Devon

Lord Carew's Bride - Mary Balogh

Reforming Lord Ragsdale - Carla Kelly

Romantic Suspense/Gothic Romance

* Winner: Winter's Edge - Anne Stuart

• Finalists:

Dark Knight - Sheryl Lynn

Iain Ross's Woman - Emilie Richards

The Only Way Out - Susan Mallery

Short Contemporary Series Romance

* Winner: Single Dad - Jennifer Greene

• Finalists:

Almost A Honeymoon - Susan Crosby

Caught In The Act - Janis Reams Hudson

The Disobedient Bride - Joan Johnston

In Praise Of Younger Men - Lyn Ellis

Operation Mommy - Caroline Cross

Passion And Scandal - Candace Schuler

Single Female (Reluctantly) Seeks... - Dixie Browning

Short Historical Romance

* Winner: Lord Of Scoundrels - Loretta Chase

• Finalists:

Captured - Victoria Lynne

Imagine - Jill Barnett

Lucien's Fall - Barbara Samuel

Slow Surrender - Bronwyn Williams

Sparhawk's Lady - Miranda Jarrett

Tempt Me Not - Eve Byron

Texas Outlaw - Adrienne deWolfe

Traditional Romance

* Winner: Stranger In Her Arms - Elizabeth Sites

• Finalists"

The Cowboy, The Baby & The Runaway Bride - Lindsay Longford

Daddy Was A Cowboy - Jodi O'Donnell

The Rogue Who Came To Stay - Arlene James

The Unlikely Santa - Leigh Michaels

Wife Most Unlikely - Linda Varner

Wildcat Wedding - Patricia Thayer

Young Adult Romance

* Winner: Runaway - Cheryl Zach

• Finalists:

Don't Die, My Love - Lurlene McDaniel

Mystery Date: Heart's Desire - Cameron Dokey