2000 RITA® Winners & Finalists

Contemporary Single Title Romance

* Winner: Bodyguard - Suzanne Brockmann

• Finalists:

Crazy For You - Jennifer Crusie

Father To Be - Marilyn Pappano

Inner Harbor - Nora Roberts

Lady Be Good - Susan Elizabeth Phillips

Lost Highways - Curtiss Ann Matlock

On Mystic Lake - Kristin Hannah

First Book

* Winner: The Maiden And The Unicorn - Isolde Martyn

• Finalists:

Beyond The Highland Mist - Karen Marie Moning

Border Crossings - Carole Bellacera

Gallant Waif - Anne Gracie

Mixed Signals - Liz Curtis Higgs

My Lord Protector - Deborah Hale

The Nobody - Diane Farr

An Officer And A Hero - Elizabeth Ashtree

Futuristic/Fantasy/Paranormal Romance

* Winner: Nell - Jeanette Baker

• Finalists:

Beyond The Highland Mist - Karen Marie Moning

Heart Of The Dove - Tracy Fobes

More Than Magic - Kathleen Nance

The Night Drifter - Susan Carroll

The Truelove Bride - Shana Abe

Inspirational Romance

* Winner: Danger In The Shadows - Dee Henderson

• Finalists:

Caroline And The Preacher - Anna Schmidt

Distant Bells - Diane Noble

Mixed Signals - Liz Curtis Higgs

Never Lie To An Angel - Kate Welsh

When The Far Hills Bloom - Diane Noble

Whispers From Yesterday - Robin Lee Hatcher

Long Contemporary Romance

* Winner: Undercover Princess - Suzanne Brockmann

• Finalists:

The Admiral's Bride - Suzanne Brockmann

The Cowboy Is A Daddy - Mindy Neff

Don't Mess With Texans - Peggy Nicholson

The Gal Who Took The West - Myrna Temte

An Officer And A Hero - Elizabeth Ashtree

One Tough Texan - Jan Freed

The Passion Of Patrick MacNeil - Virginia Kantra

Rio Grande Wedding - Ruth Wind

Long Historical Romance

* Winner: Silken Threads - Patricia Ryan

• Finalists:

His Stolen Bride - Judith Stanton

Hooked - Stef Ann Holm

The Last Warrior - Kristen Kyle

The Wild Child - Mary Jo Putney

Wishing - Miranda Jarrett

Regency Romance

* Winner: The Rake's Retreat - Nancy Butler

• Finalists:

Annabella's Diamond - Judith A. Lansdowne

Fair Game - Diane Farr

The Nobody - Diane Farr

Romance Novella

* Winner: "Starry, Starry Night" in Once Upon A Star - Marianne Willman

• Finalists:

"Con And The Crusader" in Veils Of Time - Maggie Shayne

"Conyn's Bride" in Veils Of Time - Ingrid Weaver

"Dangerous Lover" in My Secret Admirer - Anne Stuart

"Day Of Wrath" in Star Of Wonder - Jo Beverley

"Heart's Desire" in Regency Christmas Present - Allison Lane

"Joy To The World" in Star Of Wonder - Kate Freiman

Romantic Suspense

* Winner: The Bride's Protector - Gayle Wilson

• Finalists:

The Baby Farm - Karen Harper

Border Crossings - Carole Bellacera

Conspiracy In Death - J.D. Robb

I'll Remember You - Barbara Ankrum

Murphy's Law - Marilyn Pappano

River's End - Nora Roberts

Strangers At Dawn - Elizabeth Thornton

Short Contemporary Romance

* Winner: The Stardust Cowboy - Anne McAllister

• Finalists:

Christmas Fantasy - Janelle Denison

Colonel Daddy - Maureen Child

Gibson's Girl - Anne McAllister

Lover's Reunion - Anne Marie Winston

The Outlaw Jesse James - Cindy Gerard

Proposition: Marriage - Eileen Wilks

Pure Temptation - Vicki Lewis Thompson

Secret Baby Santos - Barbara McCauley

Short Historical Romance

* Winner: The Proposition - Judith Ivory

• Finalists:

Breathless - Laura Lee Guhrke

Charming The Prince - Teresa Medeiros

Into The Sunset - Shelly Thacker

Lady Sarah's Son - Gayle Wilson

The Price Of Innocence - Susan Sizemore

Someone To Watch Over Me - Lisa Kleypas

Too Wicked To Love - Barbara Dawson Smith

Traditional Romance

* Winner: Annie, Get Your Groom - Kristin Gabriel

• Finalists:

The Boss And The Baby - Leigh Michaels

Bridegroom On Approval - Day Leclaire

Hand-Picked Husband - Heather MacAllister

His Little Girl - Liz Fielding

The Nine-Dollar Daddy - Day Leclaire

The One-Week Marriage - Renee Roszel

Trial Engagement - Barbara McMahon

The Way To A Cowboy's Heart - Teresa Southwick