2000 RITA® Winners & Finalists

Contemporary Single Title Romance

* Winner: Bodyguard by Suzanne Brockmann

• Finalists:

Crazy For You by Jennifer Crusie

Father To Be by Marilyn Pappano

Inner Harbor by Nora Roberts

Lady Be Good by Susan Elizabeth Phillips

Lost Highways by Curtiss Ann Matlock

On Mystic Lake by Kristin Hannah

First Book

* Winner: The Maiden And The Unicorn by Isolde Martyn

• Finalists:

Beyond The Highland Mist by Karen Marie Moning

Border Crossings by Carole Bellacera

Gallant Waif by Anne Gracie

Mixed Signals by Liz Curtis Higgs

My Lord Protector by Deborah Hale

The Nobody by Diane Farr

An Officer And A Hero by Elizabeth Ashtree

Futuristic/Fantasy/Paranormal Romance

* Winner: Nell by Jeanette Baker

• Finalists:

Beyond The Highland Mist by Karen Marie Moning

Heart Of The Dove by Tracy Fobes

More Than Magic by Kathleen Nance

The Night Drifter by Susan Carroll

The Truelove Bride by Shana Abe

Inspirational Romance

* Winner: Danger In The Shadows by Dee Henderson

• Finalists:

Caroline And The Preacher by Anna Schmidt

Distant Bells by Diane Noble

Mixed Signals by Liz Curtis Higgs

Never Lie To An Angel by Kate Welsh

When The Far Hills Bloom by Diane Noble

Whispers From Yesterday by Robin Lee Hatcher

Long Contemporary Romance

* Winner: Undercover Princess by Suzanne Brockmann

• Finalists:

The Admiral's Bride by Suzanne Brockmann

The Cowboy Is A Daddy by Mindy Neff

Don't Mess With Texans by Peggy Nicholson

The Gal Who Took The West by Myrna Temte

An Officer And A Hero by Elizabeth Ashtree

One Tough Texan by Jan Freed

The Passion Of Patrick MacNeil by Virginia Kantra

Rio Grande Wedding by Ruth Wind

Long Historical Romance

* Winner: Silken Threads by Patricia Ryan

• Finalists:

His Stolen Bride by Judith Stanton

Hooked by Stef Ann Holm

The Last Warrior by Kristen Kyle

The Wild Child - Mary Jo Putney

Wishing by Miranda Jarrett

Regency Romance

* Winner: The Rake's Retreat by Nancy Butler

• Finalists:

Annabella's Diamond by Judith A. Lansdowne

Fair Game by Diane Farr

The Nobody by Diane Farr

Romance Novella

* Winner: "Starry, Starry Night" in Once Upon A Star by Marianne Willman

• Finalists:

"Con And The Crusader" in Veils Of Time by Maggie Shayne

"Conyn's Bride" in Veils Of Time by Ingrid Weaver

"Dangerous Lover" in My Secret Admirer by Anne Stuart

"Day Of Wrath" in Star Of Wonder by Jo Beverley

"Heart's Desire" in Regency Christmas Present by Allison Lane

"Joy To The World" in Star Of Wonder by Kate Freiman

Romantic Suspense

* Winner: The Bride's Protector by Gayle Wilson

• Finalists:

The Baby Farm by Karen Harper

Border Crossings by Carole Bellacera

Conspiracy In Death by J.D. Robb

I'll Remember You by Barbara Ankrum

Murphy's Law by Marilyn Pappano

River's End by Nora Roberts

Strangers At Dawn by Elizabeth Thornton

Short Contemporary Romance

* Winner: The Stardust Cowboy by Anne McAllister

• Finalists:

Christmas Fantasy by Janelle Denison

Colonel Daddy by Maureen Child

Gibson's Girl by Anne McAllister

Lover's Reunion by Anne Marie Winston

The Outlaw Jesse James by Cindy Gerard

Proposition: Marriage by Eileen Wilks

Pure Temptation by Vicki Lewis Thompson

Secret Baby Santos by Barbara McCauley

Short Historical Romance

* Winner: The Proposition by Judith Ivory

• Finalists:

Breathless by Laura Lee Guhrke

Charming The Prince by Teresa Medeiros

Into The Sunset by Shelly Thacker

Lady Sarah's Son by Gayle Wilson

The Price Of Innocence by Susan Sizemore

Someone To Watch Over Me by Lisa Kleypas

Too Wicked To Love by Barbara Dawson Smith

Traditional Romance

* Winner: Annie, Get Your Groom by Kristin Gabriel

• Finalists:

The Boss And The Baby by Leigh Michaels

Bridegroom On Approval by Day Leclaire

Hand-Picked Husband by Heather MacAllister

His Little Girl by Liz Fielding

The Nine-Dollar Daddy by Day Leclaire

The One-Week Marriage by Renee Roszel

Trial Engagement by Barbara McMahon

The Way To A Cowboy's Heart by Teresa Southwick