1997 RRA Awards Winners

The following books and authors were honored for their work in 1997 by RRA-L, a listserv of devoted romance readers.

1997 RRA-L Book Awards

• Best Short Series Romance - Trust Me On This by Jennifer Crusie
  • Other nominees were: Irresistible? by Stephanie Bond, A Man In Demand by Cheryl Anne Porter, Shotgun Wedding by Alexandra Sellers, and You-Can't-Make-Me Bride by Leanne Banks
• Best Long Series Romance - Reckless by Ruth Wind
  • Other nominees were: Another Man's Child by Tara Taylor Quinn, A Dark And Stormy Night by Anne Stuart, Mommy By Surprise by Paula Detmer Riggs, Hidden Star by Nora Roberts
• Best Contemporary Single Title Romance - Nobody's Baby But Mine by Susan Elizabeth Phillips
  • Other nominees were: The Beach House by Georgia Bockoven, Finding The Dream by Nora Roberts, Kill And Tell by Linda Howard, and When Nick Returns by Dee Holmes
• Best Historical Single Title Romance - One Perfect Rose by Mary Jo Putney
  • Other nominees were: Night In Eden by Candice Proctor, Silent Melody by Mary Balogh, Texas Destiny by Lorraine Heath, and Wild At Heart by Patricia Gaffney
• Best Regency Romance - The Temporary Bride by Mary Balogh
  • Other nominees were: The Arrangement by Joan Wolf, The Primrose Path by Barbara Metzger, Rakehell's Reform by Elizabeth Fairchild, and With This Ring by Carla Kelly
• Best Romantic Suspense/Mystery/Adventure - Son Of The Morning by Linda Howard
  • Other nominees were: Deep Waters by Jayne Ann Krentz, Fat Tuesday by Sandra Brown, Sanctuary by Nora Roberts, and With Every Breath by Beverly Bird
• Best Alternative Realities Romance - Vengeance In Death by J.D. Robb
  • Other nominees were: Born In Twilight by Maggie Shayne, The Killing Dance by Laurel K. Hamilton, Maiden Voyage by Judith O'Brien, and Son Of The Morning by Linda Howard
• Best Time Travel Romance - Almost An Angel by Deb Stover
  • Other nominees were: Son Of The Morning by Linda Howard, Maiden Voyage by Judith O'Brien, and Rejar by Dara Joy
• Best Love and Laughter Romance - Nobody's Baby But Mine by Susan Elizabeth Phillips
  • Other nominees were: A Knight To Remember by Christina Dodd, Outlaw In Paradise by Patricia Gaffney, Trust Me On This by Jennifer Crusie, Wonderful by Jill Barnett
• Best Multicultural Romance - Not included for 1997 because of insufficient nominations.
• Best All-Around 1997 Romance - One Perfect Rose by Mary Jo Putney
  • Other nominees were: A Cherished Reward by Rachelle Nelson, Heavenly Bliss by Sara Jarrod, The Promise Of Jenny Jones by Maggie Osborne, Texas Destiny by Lorraine Heath

1997 RRA-L Author Awards

• Best Contemporary Author - Susan Elizabeth Phillips
  • Other nominees were: Georgia Bockoven, Justine Davis, Nora Roberts, Dee Holmes
• Best Historical Romance Author - Mary Jo Putney
  • Other nominees were: Patricia Gaffney, Lorraine Heath, Cheryl Anne Porter, Penelope Williamson
• Best Series/Category Author - Jennifer Crusie
  • Other nominees were: Leanne Banks, Cheryl Reavis, Paula Detmer Riggs, Ruth Wind
• Best Regency Author - Jo Beverley
  • Other nominees were: Mary Balogh, Elizabeth Fairchild, Carla Kelly, Joan Wolf
• Best All-Around Romance Author - Nora Roberts
  • Other nominees were: Patricia Gaffney, Kristin Hannah, Mary Jo Putney, Susan Elizabeth Phillips

1997 RRA-L Romance Classic Awards

• Best Classic Historical Romances - River Of Fire by Mary Jo Putney
  • Other nominees were: Carnal Innocence by Nora Roberts, Flowers From The Storm by Laura Kinsale, If You Believe by Kristin Hannah, To Love And To Cherish by Patricia Gaffney
• Best Classic Contemporary Romances - It Had to Be You by Susan Elizabeth Phillips
  • Other nominees were: The Morning Side Of Dawn by Justine Davis, Morning Glory by LaVyrle Spencer, Public Secrets by Nora Roberts, When Nick Returns by Dee Holmes
• Best Classic All-Around Favorite Romance - Outlander by Diana Gabladon
  • Other nominees were: Flowers From The Storm by Laura Kinsale, Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte, River Of Fire by Mary Jo Putney, To Love And To Cherish by Patricia Gaffney
• Best Classic Regency Romance - The Rake And The Reformer by Mary Jo Putney
  • Other nominees were: The Duke's Wager by Edith Layton, Miss Grimsley's Oxford Career by Carla Kelly, These Old Shades by Georgette Heyer, An Unwilling Bride by Jo Beverley
• Best Classic Series Romance - Getting Rid Of Bradley by Jennifer Crusie
  • Other nominees were: Another Man's Child by Tara Taylor Quinn, Lightning That Lingers by Tom and Sharon Curtis, The Morning Side of Dawn by Justine Davis, A Rose for Maggie by Kathleen Korbel
• Best All-Around Classic Romance Author - Mary Jo Putney
  • Other nominees were: Georgette Heyer, Laura Kinsale, Susan Elizabeth Phillips, Nora Roberts
• Best Romance Cover - Tallchief by Dinah McCall
  • Other nominees were: Shades Of Rose by Deb Stover, To Marry A British Lord by Judith O'Brien, Tonight Or Never by Dara Joy, You Belong To Me by Nan Ryan
• Romance with Best Sweet Love Scene - Cupid's Mistake by Karen Harbaugh
  • Other nominees were: A Cherished Reward by Rachelle Nelson, A Company Of Swans by Eva Ibbotson, Mariah by Sandra Canfield, Summer Fancy by Anne Avery
• Romances with Best Spicy Love Scene - After The Night by Linda Howard
  • Other nominees were: Heaven Above by Sara Jarrod, Lord Of Scoundrels by Loretta Chase, Silver Flame by Susan Johnson, You Belong To My Heart by Nan Ryan