1997 RITA® Winners & Finalists

Contemporary Single Title Romance: Daniel's Gift by Barbara Freethy - HarperCollins, Avon - Ellen Edwards Daring to Dream by Nora Roberts - PRH/Penguin, Berkley, Jove - Leslie Gelbman Jackson Rule by Dinah McCall - HarperCollins, Harper, HarperTorch - Abigail Kamen-Holland

First Book: Stardust of Yesterday by Lynn Kurland - PRH/Penguin, Berkley, Jove - Gail Fortune His Secret Side by Pamela Burford - HarperCollins, Harlequin, Intrigue - Huntley Fitzpatrick Shadows in Velvet by Haywood Smith - Macmillan, St. Martin's - Jennifer Enderlin Traveler by Elaine Fox - Dorchester, Love Spell - Joanna Cagan

Inspirational Romance: The Scarlet Thread by Francine Rivers - Tyndale House - Karen Ball Dreamers - Angela Elwell Hunt - Baker, Bethany House - Sharon Asmus Firestorm - Lisa Tawn Bergren - PRH/Crown, WaterBrook - Karen Ball

Long Contemporary Series Romance: Wild Blood by Naomi Horton - HarperCollins, Harlequin Silhouette, Intimate Moments - Leslie Wainger Expectant Father by Leanne Banks - HarperCollins, Harlequin Silhouette, Special Edition - Lucia Macro The Fall of Shane MacKade by Nora Roberts - HarperCollins, Harlequin Silhouette, Special Edition - Isabel Swift Having His Baby by Karen Young - HarperCollins, Harlequin, Super Romance - Maureen Stonehouse His Runaway Son by Dee Holmes - HarperCollins, Harlequin, Super Romance - Maureen Stonehouse Mackenzie's Pleasure by Linda Howard - HarperCollins, Harlequin Silhouette, Intimate Moments - Leslie Wainger Megan's Mate by Nora Roberts - HarperCollins, Harlequin Silhouette, Intimate Moments - Isabel Swift My Fair Gentleman by Jan Freed - HarperCollins, Harlequin, Super Romance - Jane Robson

Long Historical Romance: Conor's Way - Laura Lee Guhrke - HarperCollins, Harper, HarperPrism - Abigail Kamen-Holland The Bad Luck Wedding Dress by Geralyn Dawson - PRH/Random House, Bantam, Fanfare - Wendy McCurdy Denim and Lace by Patricia Rice - PRH/Penguin, Berkley, NAL Topaz - Hilary Ross Gold Dust by Emily Carmichael - Hachette, Grand Central (Warner), Forever - Claire Zion The Love Charm by Pamela Morsi - HarperCollins, Avon - Carrie Feron The Marshal and the Heiress by Patricia Potter - PRH/Random House, Bantam - Beth deGuzman The Outsider by Penelope Williamson - Simon & Schuster, Pocket - Michael Korda Shattered Rainbows by Mary Jo Putney - PRH/Penguin, Berkley, NAL Signet Regency - Hilary Ross

Paranormal Romance: Stardust of Yesterday by Lynn Kurland - PRH/Penguin, Berkley - Gail Fortune Breath of Magic by Teresa Medeiros - PRH/Penguin, Berkley, Fanfare - Wendy McCurdy Dreamcatcher by Dinah McCall - HarperCollins, Harper, HarperTorch - Abigail Kamen-Holland The Faery Bride by Lisa Ann Verge - Kensington, Zebra - John Scognamiglio Frankly, My Dear by Sandra Hill - Dorchester, Love Spell - Alicia Condon A Ghost of a Chance by Casey Claybourne - PRH/Penguin, Berkley, Jove - Gail Fortune Now and Forever by Kimberly Raye - HarperCollins, Harlequin Silhouette, Shadows - Karen Taylor-Richman The Wolf and the Woman's Touch by Ingrid Weaver - HarperCollins, Harlequin Silhouette, Special Edition - Melissa Jeglinski

Regency Romance: The Lady's Companion by Carla Kelly - PRH/Penguin, Berkley, NAL Signet Regency - Hilary Ross Miss Kendal Sets Her Cap by Marian Devon - PRH/Random House, Ballantine - Carolyn Nichols Step in Time by Anne Barbour - PRH/Penguin, Berkley, NAL Signet Regency - Constance Martin The Unromantic Lady by Penelope Stratton - Fawcett, Regency - Barbara Dicks

Romantic Suspense: See How They Run by Bethany Campbell - PRH/Random House, Bantam - Wendy McCurdy Last Night by Meryl Sawyer - PRH/Random House, Dell - Mary Ellen O'Neill Montana Sky by Nora Roberts - PRH/Penguin, Berkley - Leslie Gelbman Reckless Lover by Carly Bishop - HarperCollins, Harlequin, Intrigue - Julianne Moore Woman without a Name by Emilie Richards - HarperCollins, Harlequin Silhouette, Intimate Moments - Leslie Wainger

Short Contemporary Series Romance: Cowboy Pride by Anne McAllister - HarperCollins, Harlequin Silhouette, Desire - Tara Gavin Angel on a Harley by Janis Reams Hudson - PRH/Random House, Bantam, Loveswept - Wendy McCurdy Charlie All Night by Jennifer Crusie - HarperCollins, Harlequin, MIRA - Birgit Davis-Todd Christmas with Eve by Elda Minger - HarperCollins, Harlequin, Temptation - Birgit Davis-Todd The Cinderella Deal by Jennifer Crusie - PRH/Random House, Bantam, Loveswept - Beth deGuzman Family First by Marcia Evanick - PRH/Random House, Bantam, Loveswept - Elizabeth Barrett Spring Bride by Sandra Marton - HarperCollins, Harlequin, Presents, Sue Curran

Short Historical Romance: Always to Remember by Lorraine Heath - PRH/Penguin, Berkley, Jove - Melinda Metz & Gail Fortune The Bartered Bride by Cheryl Reavis - HarperCollins, Harlequin, Historical - Tara Gavin Carried Away by Jill Barnett - Simon & Schuster, Pocket - Linda Marrow Heart of the Hawk by Justine Dare - PRH/Penguin, Berkley, NAL Topaz - Hilary Ross Sometimes Forever by Catherine Palmer - PRH/Penguin, Berkley, Jove - Judith Stern Palais Sparhawk's Angel by Miranda Jarrett - HarperCollins, Harlequin, Historical - Tracy Farrell The Wedding Raffle by Geralyn Dawson - Simon & Schuster, Pocket - Caroline Tolley

Traditional Romance: Her Very Own Husband by Lauryn Chandler - HarperCollins, Harlequin Silhouette, Romance - Lynda Curnyn & Anne Canadeo The Daddy Trap by Leigh Michaels - HarperCollins, Harlequin, Romance - Samantha Bell "Ending in Marriage" in Midnight Sons Volume 3 by Debbie Macomber - HarperCollins, Harlequin, Romance - Paula Eykelhof For the Love of Emma by Lucy Gordon - HarperCollins, Harlequin, Romance - Tessa Shapcott The Honeymoon Quest by Dana Lindsey - HarperCollins, Harlequin Silhouette, Romance - Cristine Niessner Temporary Husband by Day Leclaire - HarperCollins, Harlequin, Romance - Cathy Laing & Gillian Green Undercover Daddy by Lindsay Longford - HarperCollins, Harlequin Silhouette, Romance - Lucia Macro