1996 RITA® Winners & Finalists

Contemporary Single Title Romance: Born in Ice by Nora Roberts - PRH/Penguin, Berkley, Jove - Leslie Gelbman Heaven, Texas by Susan Elizabeth Phillips - HarperCollins, Avon - Carrie Feron Kiss in the Dark by Meryl Sawyer - PRH/Random House, Dell - Damaris Rowland Reason to Believe by Kathleen Eagle - HarperCollins, Avon - Ellen Edwards

First Book: The Warlord by Elizabeth Elliott - PRH/Random House, Bantam, Fanfare - Shauna Summers All That Matters by Elizabeth Mayne - HarperCollins, Harlequin, Historical - Margaret Marbury Captured by Victoria Lynne - HarperCollins, Avon - Christina Zika Fancy-Free by Carrie Alexander - HarperCollins, Harlequin, Temptation - Laura Shin The Flirt by Rachelle Nelson - PRH/Penguin, Berkley, Jove - Melinda Metz & Gail Fortune Knight of a Trillion Stars by Dara Joy - Dorchester, Love Spell - Joanna Cagan Texas Outlaw by Adrienne deWolfe - PRH/Random House, Bantam, Fanfare - Elizabeth Barrett When Midnight Comes by Robin Burcell - HarperCollins, Harper, HarperMonogram - Abigail Kamen-Holland

Inspirational Romance: As Sure as the Dawn by Francine Rivers - Tyndale House - Karen Ball Like a River Glorious by Lawana Blackwell - Tyndale House - Karen Ball The Tempering Blaze by Sally Laity & Dianna Crawford - Tyndale House - Karen Ball

Long Contemporary Series Romance: The Morning Side of Dawn by Justine Davis - HarperCollins, Harlequin Silhouette, Intimate Moments - Leslie Wainger & Marcia Adirim The Adventurer by Diana Whitney - HarperCollins, Harlequin Silhouette, Special Edition - Cristine Niessner Her Secret, His Child by Paula Detmer Riggs - HarperCollins, Harlequin Silhouette, Intimate Moments - Leslie Wainger The Last Chance Ranch by Ruth Wind - HarperCollins, Harlequin Silhouette, Special Edition - Cathleen Treacy A Perfect Marriage by Laurey Bright - HarperCollins, Harlequin Silhouette, Intimate Moments - Melissa Senate The Pride of Jared MacKade by Nora Roberts - HarperCollins, Harlequin Silhouette, Special Edition - Isabel Swift The Return of Rafe MacKade by Nora Roberts - HarperCollins, Harlequin Silhouette, Intimate Moments - Isabel Swift The Soldier and the Baby by Anne Stuart - HarperCollins, Harlequin, American - Julianne Moore

Long Historical Romance: Something Shady by Pamela Morsi - PRH/Penguin, Berkley, Jove - Hillary Cige Bliss by Judy Cuevas - PRH/Penguin, Berkley, Jove - Judith Stern Palais Bride of the Lion by Elizabeth Stuart - Macmillan, St. Martin's - Jennifer Weis Heart of the West by Penelope Williamson - Simon & Schuster, Pocket - Michael Korda Stealing Heaven by Kimberly Cates - Simon & Schuster, Pocket - Linda Marrow To Love and to Cherish by Patricia Gaffney - PRH/Penguin, Berkley, NAL Topaz - Audrey LaFehr Waiting for the Moon by Kristin Hannah - PRH/Random House, Ballantine, Ivy - Elisa Wares The Warlord by Elizabeth Elliott - PRH/Random House, Bantam, Fanfare - Shauna Summers

Paranormal Romance: The Covenant by Modean Moon - HarperCollins, Harper, HarperMonogram - Carolyn Marino A Basket of Wishes by Rebecca Paisley - PRH/Random House, Dell - Mary Ellen O'Neill & Tina Moskow Duncan's Lady by Emilie Richards - HarperCollins, Harlequin Silhouette, Intimate Moments - Leslie Wainger Knight of a Trillion Stars by Dara Joy - Dorchester, Love Spell - Joanna Cagan Nightwing by Lynn Michaels - HarperCollins, Harlequin, Temptation - Malle Vallik Race against Time by Lynn Turner - Kensington, Pinnacle, Denise Little Presents - Denise Little Time without End by Linda Lael Miller - PRH/Penguin, Berkley - Judith Stern Palais A Window in Time by Carolyn Lampman - HarperCollins, Harper, HarperMonogram - Abigail Kamen-Holland

Regency Romance: Gwen's Christmas Ghost by Lynn Kerstan & Alicia Rasley - Kensington, Zebra, Regency - Jennifer Sawyer The Bumblebroth by Patricia Wynn - PRH/Random House, Bantam, Ivy - Barbara Dicks Deck the Halls by Marian Devon - PRH/Random House, Bantam, Ivy - Barbara Dicks Lord Carew's Bride by Mary Balogh - PRH/Penguin, Berkley, NAL Signet Regency - Hilary Ross Reforming Lord Ragsdale by Carla Kelly - PRH/Penguin, Berkley, NAL Signet Regency - Constance Martin

Romantic Suspense/Gothic Romance: Winter's Edge by Anne Stuart - HarperCollins, Harlequin, Intrigue - Julianne Moore Dark Knight by Sheryl Lynn - HarperCollins, Harlequin, Intrigue - Barbara White-Rayczek Iain Ross's Woman by Emilie Richards - HarperCollins, Harlequin Silhouette, Intimate Moments - Leslie Wainger The Only Way Out by Susan Mallery - HarperCollins, Harlequin Silhouette, Intimate Moments - Karen Taylor-Richman

Short Contemporary Series Romance: Single Dad by Jennifer Greene - HarperCollins, Harlequin Silhouette, Desire - Lucia Macro Almost a Honeymoon by Susan Crosby - HarperCollins, Harlequin Silhouette, Desire - Melissa Jeglinski Caught in the Act by Janis Reams Hudson - PRH/Random House, Bantam, Loveswept - Wendy McCurdy The Disobedient Bride by Joan Johnston - HarperCollins, Harlequin Silhouette, Desire - Melissa Senate In Praise of Younger Men by Lyn Ellis - HarperCollins, Harlequin, Temptation - Laura Shin Operation Mommy by Caroline Cross - HarperCollins, Harlequin Silhouette, Desire - Melissa Senate Passion and Scandal by Candace Schuler - HarperCollins, Harlequin, Temptation - Susan Sopcek Single Female (Reluctantly) Seeks... by Dixie Browning - HarperCollins, Harlequin Silhouette, Yours Truly - Melissa Senate

Short Historical Romance: Lord of Scoundrels by Loretta Chase - HarperCollins, Avon - Ellen Edwards Captured by Victoria Lynne - HarperCollins, Avon - Christina Zika Imagine by Jill Barnett - Simon & Schuster, Pocket - Linda Marrow Lucien's Fall by Barbara Samuel - HarperCollins, Harper, HarperMonogram - Carolyn Marino Slow Surrender by Bronwyn Williams - PRH/Penguin, Berkley, NAL Topaz - Jennifer Sawyer Sparhawk's Lady by Miranda Jarrett - HarperCollins, Harlequin, Historical - Tracy Farrell Tempt Me Not by Eve Byron - HarperCollins, Avon - Carrie Feron Texas Outlaw by Adrienne deWolfe - PRH/Random House, Bantam, Fanfare - Elizabeth Barrett

Traditional Romance: Stranger in Her Arms by Elizabeth Sites - HarperCollins, Harlequin Silhouette, Romance - Mary-Theresa Hussey The Cowboy, the Baby & the Runaway Bride by Lindsay Longford - HarperCollins, Harlequin Silhouette, Romance - Lucia Macro Daddy Was a Cowboy by Jodi O'Donnell - HarperCollins, Harlequin Silhouette, Romance - Mary-Theresa Hussey The Rogue Who Came to Stay by Arlene James - HarperCollins, Harlequin Silhouette, Romance - Anne Canadeo The Unlikely Santa by Leigh Michaels - HarperCollins, Harlequin, Romance - Samantha Bell Wife Most Unlikely by Linda Varner - HarperCollins, Harlequin Silhouette, Romance - Cathleen Treacy Wildcat Wedding by Patricia Thayer - HarperCollins, Harlequin Silhouette, Romance - Karen Taylor-Richman

Young Adult Romance: Runaway by Cheryl Zach - PRH/Penguin, Berkley, Dear Diary - Patty Benford Don't Die, My Love by Lurlene McDaniel - PRH/Random House, Bantam, Starfire - Beverly Horowitz Mystery Date: Heart's Desire by Cameron Dokey - Kensington, Z*Fave - Elise Donner