2002 RITA® Winners

The Romance Writers of America award the RITA each year. 2002 saw the reconfiguring of many of the category names.

Best First Book

• The Border Bride by Elizabeth English, Jove

• Finalists:
  • Fallen by Celeste Bradley, Dorchester
  • HeartMate by Robin D. Owens, Jove
  • Hide-And-Sheikh by Gail Dayton, Silhouette Desire
  • The Nightingale's Song by Kathleen Eschenburg, HarperCollins
  • Secret Vows by Mary Reed McCall, Avon

Best Traditional Romance

• Quinn's Complete Seduction by Sandra Steffen

• Finalists:
  • Accidental Fiancee by Renee Roszel, Harlequin Romance
  • Adopted: Twins! by Marion Lennox
  • The Bachelor's Baby by Liz Fielding
  • Doctor On Loan by Marion Lennox
  • His Baby, Her Heart by Sue Swift
  • Just One Kiss by Carla Cassidy

Best Short Contemporary Series

• A Long Hot Christmas by Barbara Daly, Harlequin Temptation

• Finalists:
  • Fortune's Secret Daughter by Barbara McCauley
  • The Inconvenient Bride by Anne McAllister
  • In Dante's Debt by Jane Porter
  • Jingle Bell Bride by Jennifer LaBrecque
  • The Matchmaker's Mistake by Jane Sullivan
  • Sinclair's Surprise Baby by Barbara McCauley
  • Under The Covers by Jamie Denton

Best Long Contemporary Series

• Coming Home To You by Fay Robinson, Harlequin Superromance

• Finalists:
  • In Close Quarters by Candace Irvin, Silhouette Intimate Moments
  • Madigan's Wife by Linda Winstead Jones, Silhouette Intimate Moments
  • Magic In A Jelly Jar by Sally Tyler Hayes, Silhouette Special Edition
  • The Money Man by Carolyn McSparren, Harlequin Superromance
  • Notorious by Vicki Lewis Thompson, Harlequin Blaze
  • Plain-Jane Princess by Karen Templeton, Silhouette Intimate Moments
  • The Word Of A Child by Janice Kay Johnson, Harlequin Superromance

Best Paranormal Romance

HeartMate by Robin D. Owens, Jove

• Finalists:
  • Aphrodite's Kiss by Julie Kenner, Dorchester
  • Dance Upon The Air by Nora Roberts, Jove
  • Destiny by Maggie Shayne, Jove
  • Heaven And Earth by Nora Roberts, Jove
  • To Charm A Knight by Linda Kay, Zebra

Best Inspirational Romance

• Beneath A Southern Sky by Deborah Raney, WaterBrook Press

• Finalists:
  • The Guardian by Dee Henderson, Multnomah
  • The Protector by Dee Henderson, Multnomah
  • Ribbon Of Years by Robin Lee Hatcher, Tyndale House

Best Romantic Novella

• "I Will" by Lisa Kleypas from Wish List, Dorchester

• Finalists:
  • "The Demon's Mistress" by Jo Beverley from In Praise Of Younger Men, NAL
  • "Night" by Anne Stuart from Night And Day, Harlequin Intrigue
  • "The Rose And The Sword" by Jill Gregory from Once Upon A Rose, Berkley/Jove
  • "Santa Baby" by Patricia Ryan from Naughty Or Nice, St. Martin's Press
  • "Winter Rose" by Nora Roberts from Once Upon A Rose, Jove

Best Regency Romance

• Much Obliged by Jessica Benson, Kensington

• Finalists:
  • One Good Turn by Carla Kelly, Signet
  • The Painted Lady by Barbara Metzger, Signet
  • Under The Kissing Bough by Shannon Donnelly, Kensington

Best Short Historical Romance

• Tempt Me Twice by Barbara Dawson Smith

• Finalists:
  • Halfway To Heaven by Susan Wiggs, Mira
  • The Horse Soldier by Merline Lovelace, Mira
  • Never Marry A Cowboy by Lorraine Heath, Avon
  • Once A Mistress by Rebecca Hagan Lee, Jove
  • Suddenly You by Lisa Kleypas, Avon
  • White Lion's Lady by Tina St. John, Ballantine

Best Long Historical Romance

• The Bridal Season by Connie Brockway, Dell

• Finalists:
  • The Border Bride by Elizabeth English, Jove
  • The Dragon's Bride by Jo Beverley, NAL
  • Enchanting Pleasures by Eloisa James, Dell
  • The Husband Test by Betina Krahn, Bantam
  • A Kiss To Remember by Teresa Medeiros, Bantam
  • Nightingale's Gate by Linda Francis Lee, Ballantine
  • The Secret Swan by Shana Abe, Dell
  • Summer Moon by Jill Marie Landis, Ballantine

Best Romantic Suspense

• The Surgeon by Tess Gerritsen, Ballantine

• Finalists:
  • Betrayal In Death by J.D. Robb, Jove
  • Blind Faith by Christiane Heggan, Mira
  • Darkling, I Listen by Katherine Sutcliffe, Jove
  • Dark Side Of Dawn by Merline Lovelace, NAL
  • Mercy by Julie Garwood, Pocket
  • The Perfect Princess by Elizabeth Thornton, Bantam
  • Princess Charming by Elizabeth Thornton, Bantam

Best Contemporary Single Title

• True Confessions by Rachel Gibson

• Finalists:
  • The Four Seasons by Mary Alice Monroe, Mira
  • I Got You, Babe by Jane Graves, Ballantine
  • Midnight Bayou by Nora Roberts
  • Some Kind Of Wonderful by Barbara Freethy