2002 RITA® Winners

The Romance Writers of America award the RITA each year. 2002 saw the reconfiguring of many of the category names.

The Romance Writers of America award the RITA each year.

Best First Book

• The Border Bride by Elizabeth English, BerkleyJove

• Finalists:
  • Fallen by Celeste Bradley, Dorchester
  • HeartMate by Robin D. Owens, Jove
  • Hide-And-Sheikh by Gail Dayton, Silhouette Desire
  • The Nightingale's Song by Kathleen Eschenburg, HarperCollins
  • Secret Vows by Mary Reed McCall, Avon

Best Traditional Romance

• Quinn's Complete Seduction by Sandra Steffen

• Finalists:
  • Accidental Fiancee by Renee Roszel, Harlequin Romance
  • Adopted: Twins! by Marion Lennox
  • The Bachelor's Baby by Liz Fielding
  • Doctor On Loan by Marion Lennox
  • His Baby, Her Heart by Sue Swift
  • Just One Kiss by Carla Cassidy

Best Short Contemporary Series

• A Long Hot Christmas by Barbara Daly, Harlequin Temptation

• Finalists:
  • Fortune's Secret Daughter by Barbara McCauley
  • The Inconvenient Bride by Anne McAllister
  • In Dante's Debt by Jane Porter
  • Jingle Bell Bride by Jennifer LaBrecque
  • The Matchmaker's Mistake by Jane Sullivan
  • Sinclair's Surprise Baby by Barbara McCauley
  • Under The Covers by Jamie Denton

Best Long Contemporary Series

• Coming Home To You by Fay Robinson, Harlequin Superromance

• Finalists:
  • In Close Quarters by Candace Irvin, Silhouette Intimate Moments
  • Madigan's Wife by Linda Winstead Jones, Silhouette Intimate Moments
  • Magic In A Jelly Jar by Sally Tyler Hayes, Silhouette Special Edition
  • The Money Man by Carolyn McSparren, Harlequin Superromance
  • Notorious by Vicki Lewis Thompson, Harlequin Blaze
  • Plain-Jane Princess by Karen Templeton, Silhouette Intimate Moments
  • The World Of A Child by Janice Kay Johnson, Harlequin Superromance

Best Paranormal Romance

HeartMate by Robin D. Owens, Jove

• Finalists:
  • Aphrodite's Kiss by Julie Kenner, Dorchester
  • Dance Upon The Air by Nora Roberts, Jove
  • Destiny by Maggie Shayne, Jove
  • Heaven And Earth by Nora Roberts, Jove
  • To Charm A Knight by Linda Kay, Zebra

Best Inspirational Romance

• Beneath A Southern Sky by Deborah Raney, WaterBrook Press

• Finalists:
  • The Guardian by Dee Henderson, Multnomah
  • The Protector by Dee Henderson, Multnomah
  • Ribbon Of Years by Robin Lee Hatcher, Tyndale House

Best Romantic Novella

• "I Will" by Lisa Kleypas from Wish List, Dorchester

• Finalists:
  • "The Demon's Mistress" by Jo Beverley from In Praise Of Younger Men, NAL
  • "Night" by Anne Stuart from Night And Day, Harlequin Intrigue
  • "The Rose And The Sword" by Jill Gregory from Once Upon A Rose, Berkley/Jove
  • "Santa Baby" by Patricia Ryan from Naughty Or Nice, St. Martin's Press
  • "Winter Rose" by Nora Roberts from Once Upon A Rose, Jove

Best Regency Romance

• Much Obliged by Jessica Benson

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Best Short Historical Romance

• Tempt Me Twice by Barbara Dawson Smith

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Best Long Historical Romance

• The Bridal Season by Connie Brockway

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Best Romantic Suspense

• The Surgeon by Tess Gerritsen

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Best Contemporary Single Title

• True Confessions by Rachel Gibson

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