1998 RITA® Winners

The Romance Writers of America award the RITA each year.

Best First Book

• Brazen Angel by Elizabeth Boyle, Dell, Laura Cifelli, Editor

• Finalists:
  • Lost Yesterday by Jenny Lykins, Berkley Jove, Jessica Faust, Editor
  • The Only Child by Carolyn McSparren, Harlequin Superromance, Zilla Soriano, Editor
  • Remember The Time by Annette Reynolds, Bantam Romance, Shauna Summers, Editor
  • Winter Hearts by Maureen McKade, Avon, Micki Nuding, Editor

Best Traditional Romance

• His Brother's Child by Lucy Gordon, Harlequin Romance, Tessa Shapcott, Editor

• Finalists:
  • Her Secret Santa by Day Leclaire, Harlequin Romance, Gillian Green, Editor
  • Mommy And The Policeman Next Door by Marie Ferrarella, Silhouette Yours Truly, Leslie Wainger/Marcia Adirim, Editors
  • My Baby, Your Son by Anne Peters by Silhouette Romance, Mary Theresa Hussey, Editor
  • Porcupine Ranch by Sally Carleen by Silhouette Romance, Mary Theresa Hussey, Editor
  • Pregnant With His Child by Carla Cassidy, Silhouette Romance, Karen Taylor Richman, Editor
  • The Secret Baby by Day Leclaire, Harlequin Romance, Gillian Green, Editor
  • Wife Without a Past by Elizabeth Harbison, Silhouette Romance, Cristine Grace, Editor

Best Short Contemporary Series

• Nobody's Princess by Jennifer Greene, Silhouette Desire, Lucia Macro/Melissa Jeglinski, Editors

• Finalists:
  • Bride Overboard by Heather MacAllister, Harlequin Temptation, Brenda Chin, Editor
  • Daddy By Accident by Paula Detmer Riggs, Silhouette Desire, Leslie Wainger, Editor
  • A Hard-Hearted Hero by Pamela Burford, Harlequin Temptation, Susan Sheppard, Editor
  • Finn's Twins! by Anne McAllister, Harlequin Presents, Samantha Bell, Editor
  • Look What The Stork Brought by Dixie Browning, Silhouette Desire, Melissa Senate
  • Mr. Valentine by Vicki Lewis Thompson, Harlequin Temptation, Brenda Chin, Editor

Best Long Contemporary Series

• Reckless by Ruth Wind , Silhouette Intimate Moments, Cathleen Treacy, Editor

• Finalists:
  • The 14th And Forever by Merline Lovelace, Silhouette Intimate Moments, Gail Chasan, Editor
  • Adam's Kiss by Mindy Neff, Harlequin American Romance, Denise O'Sullivan, Editor
  • Her Ideal Man by Ruth Wind, Silhouette Intimate Moments, Cathleen Treacy, Editor
  • MacNamara's Woman by Alicia Scott, Silhouette Intimate Moments, Leslie Wainger, Editor
  • Nighthawk by Rachel Lee, Silhouette Intimate Moments, Leslie Wainger, Editor
  • Saving Susannah by Beverly Bird, Silhouette Intimate Moments, Cristine Grace, Editor
  • The Twenty-third Man by Peggy Nicholson, Harlequin Superromance, Jane Robson/Maureen Stonehouse, Editors

Best Paranormal Romance

• Fire Hawk by Justine Dare, Signet/Topaz, Hilary Ross, Editor

• Finalists:
  • Dangerous Waters by Amy J. Fetzer, Zebra, John Scognamigio, Editor
  • Heaven In West Texas by Susan Kay Law, Harper Monogram, Abigail Kamen Holland, Editor
  • Lost Yesterday by Jenny Lykins, Berkley/Jove, Jessica Faust, Editor
  • Somewhere My Love by Karen Fox, Dorchester/Lovespell, Joanna Cagan, Editor
  • Time Enough For Love by Suzanne Brockmann, Bantam Loveswept, Shauna Summers/Joy Abella, Editors
  • Twice Upon A Time by Emilie Richards, Avon, Ellen Edwards, Editor

Best Inspirational Romance

• Homeward by Melody Carlson , Multnomah, Karen Ball, Editor

• Finalists:
  • Brothers by Angela Elwell Hunt, Bethany House, Sharon Asmus, Editor
  • Presumption Of Guilt by Terri Blackstock, Zondervan, Dave Lambert/Lori Walburg, Editors

Best Regency Romance

• Love's Reward by Jean R. Ewing, Zebra Regency, Kate Duffy, Editor

Best Short Historical Romance

• Heart Of A Knight by Barbara Samuel , HarperPaperbacks, Abigail Holland, Editor

• Finalists:
  • All But The Queen Of Hearts by Rae Muir, Harlequin Historicals, Margaret Marbury, Editor
  • The Cowboys: Jake by Leigh Greenwood, Dorchester Leisure, Alicia Condon, Editor
  • A Knight To Remember by Christina Dodd, Harper Monogram, Carolyn Marino, Editor
  • The Lady And The Knight by Lois Greiman, Avon, Christine Zika, Editor
  • Once Upon A Scandal by Barbara Dawson Smith, St. Martin's Press, Jennifer Enderlin, Editor
  • Wonderful by Jill Barnett, Pocket Books, Linda Marrow, Editor

Best Long Historical Romance

• Promise Of Jenny Jones by Maggie Osborne , Warner, Claire Zion, Editor

• Finalists:
  • As You Desire by Connie Brockway, Dell, Marjorie Braman, Editor
  • Brazen Angel by Elizabeth Boyle, Dell, Laura Cifelli, Editor
  • The Guardian by Joan Wolf, Warner, Claire Zion, Editor
  • My Sweet Folly by Laura Kinsale, Berkley, Leslie Gelbman, Editor
  • One Perfect Rose by Mary Jo Putney, Ballantine, Carolyn Nichols, Editor
  • The Randolph Legacy by Eileen Charbonneau, Tor/Forge, Natalia Aponte, Editor
  • Wild At Heart by Patricia Gaffney, Penguin/Dutton Signet/Topaz, Audrey LaFehr, Editor

Best Romantic Suspense

• On the Way to a Wedding by Ingrid Weaver, Silhouette Intimate Moments, Melissa Jeglinski, Editor

• Finalists:
  • Better Watch Out by Dani Sinclair, Harlequin Intrigue
  • For Your Eyes Only by Rebecca York, Harlequin Intrigue, Debra Matteucci, Editor
  • Framed by Karen Leabo, Silhouette Intimate Moments, Gail Chasan, Editor
  • Night Whispers by Lynn Erickson, MIRA, Maureen Stonehouse/Amy Moore, Editors
  • Secret Sins by Jasmine Cresswell , MIRA, Jane Robson/Amy Moore, Editors
  • Until You by Sandra Marton, Kensington, Denise Little, Editor

Best Contemporary Single Title

• Nobody's Baby But Mine by Susan Elizabeth Phillips , Avon, Carrie Feron, Editor

• Finalists:
  • Ask Mariah by Barbara Freethy, Avon, Ellen Edwards, Editor
  • Finding The Dream by Nora Roberts, Berkley/Jove, Leslie Gelbman, Editor
  • The Night Remembers by Kathleen Eagle, Avon, Ellen Edwards, Editor

Favorite Book Of 1997

• Nobody's Baby But Mine by Susan Elizabeth Phillips