1997 RITA® Winners & Finalists

Contemporary Single Title Romance: Daniel's Gift by Barbara Freethy

Daring to Dream by Nora Roberts - PRH/Penguin, Berkley, Jove - Leslie Gelbman

Jackson Rule by Dinah McCall - HarperCollins, Harper, HarperTorch - Abigail Kamen-Holland

First Book: Stardust of Yesterday by Lynn Kurland - PRH/Penguin, Berkley, Jove - Gail Fortune

His Secret Side by Pamela Burford - HarperCollins, Harlequin, Intrigue - Huntley Fitzpatrick

Shadows in Velvet by Haywood Smith - Macmillan, St. Martin's - Jennifer Enderlin

Traveler by Elaine Fox - Dorchester, Love Spell - Joanna Cagan

Inspirational Romance: The Scarlet Thread by Francine Rivers - Tyndale House - Karen Ball

Dreamers - Angela Elwell Hunt - Baker, Bethany House - Sharon Asmus

Firestorm - Lisa Tawn Bergren - PRH/Crown, WaterBrook - Karen Ball

Long Contemporary Series Romance: Wild Blood by Naomi Horton - HarperCollins, Harlequin Silhouette, Intimate Moments - Leslie Wainger

Expectant Father by Leanne Banks - HarperCollins, Harlequin Silhouette, Special Edition - Lucia Macro

The Fall of Shane MacKade by Nora Roberts - HarperCollins, Harlequin Silhouette, Special Edition - Isabel Swift

Having His Baby by Karen Young - HarperCollins, Harlequin, Super Romance - Maureen Stonehouse

His Runaway Son by Dee Holmes - HarperCollins, Harlequin, Super Romance - Maureen Stonehouse

Mackenzie's Pleasure by Linda Howard - HarperCollins, Harlequin Silhouette, Intimate Moments - Leslie Wainger

Megan's Mate by Nora Roberts - HarperCollins, Harlequin Silhouette, Intimate Moments - Isabel Swift

My Fair Gentleman by Jan Freed - HarperCollins, Harlequin, Super Romance - Jane Robson

Long Historical Romance: Conor's Way - Laura Lee Guhrke - HarperCollins, Harper, HarperPrism - Abigail Kamen-Holland

The Bad Luck Wedding Dress by Geralyn Dawson - PRH/Random House, Bantam, Fanfare - Wendy McCurdy

Denim and Lace by Patricia Rice - PRH/Penguin, Berkley, NAL Topaz - Hilary Ross

Gold Dust by Emily Carmichael - Hachette, Grand Central (Warner), Forever - Claire Zion

The Love Charm by Pamela Morsi - HarperCollins, Avon - Carrie Feron

The Marshal and the Heiress by Patricia Potter - PRH/Random House, Bantam - Beth deGuzman

The Outsider by Penelope Williamson - Simon & Schuster, Pocket - Michael Korda

Shattered Rainbows by Mary Jo Putney - PRH/Penguin, Berkley, NAL Signet Regency - Hilary Ross

Paranormal Romance: Stardust of Yesterday by Lynn Kurland - PRH/Penguin, Berkley - Gail Fortune

Breath of Magic by Teresa Medeiros - PRH/Penguin, Berkley, Fanfare - Wendy McCurdy

Dreamcatcher by Dinah McCall - HarperCollins, Harper, HarperTorch - Abigail Kamen-Holland

The Faery Bride by Lisa Ann Verge - Kensington, Zebra - John Scognamiglio

Frankly, My Dear by Sandra Hill - Dorchester, Love Spell - Alicia Condon

A Ghost of a Chance by Casey Claybourne - PRH/Penguin, Berkley, Jove - Gail Fortune

Now and Forever by Kimberly Raye - HarperCollins, Harlequin Silhouette, Shadows - Karen Taylor-Richman

The Wolf and the Woman's Touch by Ingrid Weaver - HarperCollins, Harlequin Silhouette, Special Edition - Melissa Jeglinski

Regency Romance: The Lady's Companion by Carla Kelly - PRH/Penguin, Berkley, NAL Signet Regency - Hilary Ross

Miss Kendal Sets Her Cap by Marian Devon - PRH/Random House, Ballantine - Carolyn Nichols

Step in Time by Anne Barbour - PRH/Penguin, Berkley, NAL Signet Regency - Constance Martin

The Unromantic Lady by Penelope Stratton - Fawcett, Regency - Barbara Dicks

Romantic Suspense: See How They Run by Bethany Campbell - PRH/Random House, Bantam - Wendy McCurdy

Last Night by Meryl Sawyer - PRH/Random House, Dell - Mary Ellen O'Neill

Montana Sky by Nora Roberts - PRH/Penguin, Berkley - Leslie Gelbman

Reckless Lover by Carly Bishop - HarperCollins, Harlequin, Intrigue - Julianne Moore

Woman without a Name by Emilie Richards - HarperCollins, Harlequin Silhouette, Intimate Moments - Leslie Wainger

Short Contemporary Series Romance: Cowboy Pride by Anne McAllister - HarperCollins, Harlequin Silhouette, Desire - Tara Gavin

Angel on a Harley by Janis Reams Hudson - PRH/Random House, Bantam, Loveswept - Wendy McCurdy

Charlie All Night by Jennifer Crusie - HarperCollins, Harlequin, MIRA - Birgit Davis-Todd

Christmas with Eve by Elda Minger - HarperCollins, Harlequin, Temptation - Birgit Davis-Todd

The Cinderella Deal by Jennifer Crusie - PRH/Random House, Bantam, Loveswept - Beth deGuzman

Family First by Marcia Evanick - PRH/Random House, Bantam, Loveswept - Elizabeth Barrett

Spring Bride by Sandra Marton - HarperCollins, Harlequin, Presents, Sue Curran

Short Historical Romance: Always to Remember by Lorraine Heath - PRH/Penguin, Berkley, Jove - Melinda Metz & Gail Fortune

The Bartered Bride by Cheryl Reavis - HarperCollins, Harlequin, Historical - Tara Gavin

Carried Away by Jill Barnett - Simon & Schuster, Pocket - Linda Marrow

Heart of the Hawk by Justine Dare - PRH/Penguin, Berkley, NAL Topaz - Hilary Ross

Sometimes Forever by Catherine Palmer - PRH/Penguin, Berkley, Jove - Judith Stern Palais

Sparhawk's Angel by Miranda Jarrett - HarperCollins, Harlequin, Historical - Tracy Farrell

The Wedding Raffle by Geralyn Dawson - Simon & Schuster, Pocket - Caroline Tolley

Traditional Romance: Her Very Own Husband by Lauryn Chandler - HarperCollins, Harlequin Silhouette, Romance - Lynda Curnyn & Anne Canadeo

The Daddy Trap by Leigh Michaels - HarperCollins, Harlequin, Romance - Samantha Bell

"Ending in Marriage" in Midnight Sons Volume 3 by Debbie Macomber - HarperCollins, Harlequin, Romance - Paula Eykelhof

For the Love of Emma by Lucy Gordon - HarperCollins, Harlequin, Romance - Tessa Shapcott

The Honeymoon Quest by Dana Lindsey - HarperCollins, Harlequin Silhouette, Romance - Cristine Niessner

Temporary Husband by Day Leclaire - HarperCollins, Harlequin, Romance - Cathy Laing & Gillian Green

Undercover Daddy by Lindsay Longford - HarperCollins, Harlequin Silhouette, Romance - Lucia Macro