2004 RITA® Winners

The Romance Writers of America award the RITA each year.

Best First Book

• Back Roads by Susan Crandall, Warner

• Finalists:
  • Charming the Highlander by Janet Chapman, Pocket Books
  • Winter Woman by Jenna Kernan, Harlequin Historical
  • Baby, Be Mine by Emily McKay, Harlequin
  • The Maid Of Dishonor by Tanya Michaels, Harlequin
  • Some Like It Sizzling by Jamie Sobrato, Harlequin
  • The Ideal Bride by Nonnie St. George, Kensington

Best Traditional Romance

• Her Royal Baby by Marion Lennox, Harlequin Romance

• Finalists:
  • The Wish-List Wife by Barbara Dunlop, Harlequin Romance
  • Her Playboy Challenge by Barbara Hannay, Harlequin Romance
  • The Snow Bride by Debbie Macomber, Harlequin
  • The Boss's Convenient Proposal by Barbara McMahon, Harlequin Romance
  • The Wish by Diane Pershing, Silhouette Romance
  • A Cradle For Caroline by Nancy Warren, Harlequin Duets

Best Short Contemporary Series

• The Knight's Kiss by Nicole Burnham, Silhouette Romance

• Finalists:
  • Mistletoe Over Manhattan by Barbara Daly, Harlequin Temptation
  • Wicked & Willing by Leslie Kelly, Harlequin Temptation
  • A Wolf River Summer by Barbara McCauley, Silhouette
  • Baby, Be Mine by Emily McKay, Harlequin Temptation
  • Show And Tell by Rhonda Nelson, Harlequin Blaze
  • One Naughty Night by Joanne Rock, Harlequin Temptation
  • Fringe Benefits by Nancy Warren, Harlequin Temptation

Best Long Contemporary Series

• The Top Gun's Return by Kathleen Creighton, Silhouette Intimate Moments

• Finalists:
  • Entrapment by Kylie Brant, Silhouette Intimate Moments
  • Night Watch by Suzanne Brockmann, Silhouette Intimate Moments
  • All A Man Can Be by Virginia Kantra, Silhouette Intimate Moments
  • Keeping Faith by Day Leclaire, Harlequin
  • Strategic Engagement by Catherine Mann, Silhouette Intimate Moments
  • Ring Of Deception by Sandra Marton, Harlequin
  • The One Safe Place by Kathleen O'Brien, Harlequin Superromance
  • The Last Honorable Man by Vickie Taylor, Silhouette Intimate Moments

Best Paranormal Romance

• Shades Of Midnight by Linda Fallon, Kensington

• Finalists:
  • Skyfall by Catherine Asaro, TOR
  • Wedding The Highlander by Janet Chapman, Pocket
  • Night Fires by Karen Harbaugh, Dell
  • Hunting Midnight by Emma Holly, Berkley
  • Portrait In Death by J. D. Robb, Berkley
  • No More Lies by Susan Squires, Dorchester

Best Inspirational Romance

• Autumn Dreams by Gayle Roper, Multnomah

• Finalists:
  • When You Believe by Deborah Bedford, Warner
  • Without A Trace by Colleen Coble, Thomas Nelson
  • One Tuesday Morning by Karen Kingsbury, Zondervan

Best Romantic Novella

• "Prisoner of the Tower" by Gayle Wilson from The Wedding Chase, Harlequin

• Finalists:
  • "Run from Twilight" by Maggie Shayne from Two By Twilight, Silhouette
  • "Two Hearts" by Karen Hawkins from The Further Observations Of Lady Whistledown, Avon
  • "The Yearning" by Hannah Howell from His Immortal Embrace, Kensington
  • "Against the Odds" by Lisa Kleypas from Where's My Hero?, Avon
  • "A Tale of Two Sisters" by Julia Quinn from Where's My Hero?, Avon
  • "36 Valentines" by Julia Quinn from The Further Observations Of Lady Whistledown, Avon
  • "Seven Days" by Ruth Wind from Lakota Legacy, Silhouette

Best Regency Romance

• Prospero's Daughter by Nancy Butler, Signet

• Finalists:
  • The Indifferent Earl by Blair Bancroft, Signet
  • The Reluctant Rogue by Elizabeth Powell, Signet
  • The Ideal Bride by Nonnie St. George, Kensington

Best Short Historical Romance

• Worth Any Price by Lisa Kleypas, Avon

• Finalists:
  • Love With The Proper Husband by Victoria Alexander, Avon
  • The Angel Of Devil's Camp by Lynna Banning, Harlequin
  • Wayward Widow by Nicola Cornick , Harlequin
  • Confessions Of A Scoundrel by Karen Hawkins, Avon
  • Adam's Promise by Julianne MacLean , Harlequin Historical
  • One Night Of Scandal by Teresa Medeiros , Avon

Best Long Historical Romance

• The Destiny by Kathleen Givens, Warner

• Finalists:
  • A Kiss To Die For by Claudia Dain , Dorchester
  • London's Perfect Scoundrel by Suzanne Enoch, HarperCollins
  • The Saint by Madeline Hunter, Bantam
  • Fool For Love by Eloisa James, HarperCollins
  • The Silver Lion by Lynn Kerstan, NAL
  • To Marry The Duke by Julianne MacLean, HarperCollins

Best Romantic Suspense

• Remember When - Part I by Nora Roberts

• Finalists:
  • Kill The Competition by Stephanie Bond, Avon
  • While She Was Sleeping by Suzanne Forster, Berkley
  • Caught In The Act by Joyce Lamb, Five Star
  • Cold Ridge by Carla Neggers, Mira
  • Remember When - Part II by J.D. Robb, Putnam
  • Thicker Than Water by Maggie Shayne, Mira

Best Contemporary Single Title

• Birthright by Nora Roberts, Putnam

• Finalists:
  • Only By Your Touch by Catherine Anderson, NAL
  • Back Roads by Susan Crandall, Warner
  • The Last Bride In Ballymuir by Dorien Kelly, Pocket
  • Lover's Lane by Jill Marie Landis, Ballantine
  • Fallen From Grace by Laura Leone, Five Star
  • Small Wonders by Marilyn Pappano, Dell
  • The Secret Gift by Jaclyn Reding, NAL
  • Key Of Light by Nora Roberts, Berkley

Best Novel with Strong Romantic Elements

• Between Sisters by Kristin Hannah, Ballantine

• Finalists:
  • Shore Lights by Barbara Bretton, Berkley
  • A Piece Of Heaven by Barbara Samuel, Ballantine