2000 RITA® Winners & Finalists

Contemporary Single Title Romance

Body Guard by Suzanne Brockmann - PRH/Random House, Ballantine - Shauna Summers

Crazy for You by Jennifer Crusie - Macmillan, St. Martin's - Jennifer Enderlin

Father to Be by Marilyn Pappano - PRH/Random House, Bantam - Beth deGuzman

Inner Harbor by Nora Roberts - PRH/Penguin, Berkley, Jove - Leslie Gelbman

Lady Be Good by Susan Elizabeth Phillips - HarperCollins, Avon - Carrie Feron

Lost Highways by Curtiss Ann Matlock - HarperCollins, Harlequin, MIRA - Leslie Wainger

On Mystic Lake by Kristin Hannah - PRH/Random House, Ballantine - Ann Patty

First Book

The Maiden and the Unicorn by Isolde Martyn - PRH/Random House, Bantam - Stephanie Kip

Beyond the Highland Mist by Karen Marie Moning - PRH/Random House, Dell - Maggie Crawford & Wendy McCurdy

Border Crossings by Carole Bellacera - Macmillan, Tor, Forge - Stephanie Lane

Gallant Waif by Anne Gracie - HarperCollins, Harlequin, Historical - Elizabeth Johnson

Mixed Signals by Liz Curtis Higgs - PRH/Crown, Multnomah - Karen Ball

My Lord Protector by Deborah Hale - HarperCollins, Harlequin, Historical - Margaret Marbury

The Nobody by Diane Farr - PRH/Penguin, Berkley, NAL Signet Regency - Hilary Ross

An Officer and a Hero by Elizabeth Ashtree - HarperCollins, Harlequin, Super Romance - Paula Eykelhof

Futuristic/Fantasy/Paranormal Romance

Nell by Jeanette Baker - Simon & Schuster, Pocket - Kate Collins

Beyond the Highland Mist by Karen Marie Moning - PRH/Random House, Dell - Maggie Crawford & Lis Stone

Heart of the Dove by Tracy Fobes - Simon & Schuster, Pocket - Caroline Tolley

More Than Magic by Kathleen Nance - Dorchester, Love Spell - Alicia Condon

The Night Drifter by Susan Carroll - PRH/Random House, Ballantine, Ivy - Shauna Summers

The Truelove Bride by Shana Abe - PRH/Random House, Bantam - Stephanie Kip & Wendy McCurdy

Inspirational Romance

Danger in the Shadows by Dee Henderson - PRH/Crown, Multnomah - Julee Schwarzburg

Caroline and the Preacher by Anna Schmidt - HarperCollins, Harlequin Steeple Hill, Love Inspired - Ann Leslie Tuttle

Distant Bells by Diane Noble - PRH/Crown, Multnomah - Karen Ball

Mixed Signals by Liz Curtis Higgs - PRH/Crown, Multnomah - Karen Ball

Never Lie to an Angel by Kate Welsh - HarperCollins, Harlequin Steeple Hill, Love Inspired - Patience Smith

When the Far Hills Bloom by Diane Noble - PRH/Crown, Multnomah - Lisa Bergren

Whispers from Yesterday by Robin Lee Hatcher - PRH/Crown, Multnomah - Lisa Bergren & Traci DePree

Long Contemporary Romance

Undercover Princess by Suzanne Brockmann - HarperCollins, Harlequin Silhouette, Intimate Moments - Gail Chasan

The Admiral's Bride by Suzanne Brockmann - HarperCollins, Harlequin Silhouette, Intimate Moments - Gail Chasan

The Cowboy Is a Daddy by Mindy Neff - HarperCollins, Harlequin, American - Denise O'Sullivan

Don't Mess with Texans by Peggy Nicholson - HarperCollins, Harlequin, Super Romance - Beverley Sotolov

The Gal Who Took the West by Myrna Temte - HarperCollins, Harlequin Silhouette, Special Edition - Karen Taylor-Richman

An Officer and a Hero by Elizabeth Ashtree - HarperCollins, Harlequin, Super Romance - Paula Eykelhof

One Tough Texan by Jan Freed - HarperCollins, Harlequin, Super Romance - Laura Shin

The Passion of Patrick MacNeilby Virginia Kantra - HarperCollins, Harlequin Silhouette, Intimate Moments - Mary-Theresa Hussey

Rio Grande Wedding by Ruth Wind - HarperCollins, Harlequin Silhouette, Intimate Moments - Lynda Curnyn

Long Historical Romance

Silken Threads by Patricia Ryan - PRH/Penguin, Berkley, NAL Topaz - Cecilia Oh

His Stolen Bride by Judith Stanton - HarperCollins, Harper, HarperTorch - Leslie Stern

Hooked by Stef Ann Holm - Simon & Schuster, Pocket - Caroline Tolley

The Last Warrior by Kristen Kyle - PRH/Random House, Bantam, Fanfare - Kara Cesare

The Wild Child - Mary Jo Putney - PRH/Random House, Ballantine - Elisa Wares

Wishing by Miranda Jarrett - Simon & Schuster, Pocket - Kate Collins

Regency Romance

The Rake's Retreat by Nancy Butler - PRH/Penguin, Berkley, NAL Signet Regency - Hilary Ross

Annabella's Diamond by Judith A. Lansdowne - Kensington, Zebra, Regency - Kate Duffy

Fair Game by Diane Farr - PRH/Penguin, Berkley, NAL Signet Regency - Hilary Ross

The Nobody by Diane Farr - PRH/Penguin, Berkley, NAL Signet Regency - Hilary Ross

Romance Novella

"Starry, Starry Night" in Once Upon a Star by Marianne Willman - PRH/Penguin, Berkley, Jove - Judith Stern Palais

"Con and the Crusader" in Veils of Time by Maggie Shayne - PRH/Penguin, Berkley - Cindy Hwang

"Conyn's Bride" in Veils of Time by Ingrid Weaver - PRH/Penguin, Berkley - Cindy Hwang

"Dangerous Lover" in My Secret Admirer by Anne Stuart - HarperCollins, Harlequin, Special Releases - Marsha Zinberg

"Day of Wrath" in Star of Wonder by Jo Beverley - PRH/Penguin, Berkley, Jove - Cindy Hwang

"Heart's Desire" in Regency Christmas Present by Allison Lane - PRH/Penguin, Berkley, NAL Signet Regency - Hilary Ross

"Joy to the World" in Star of Wonder by Kate Freiman - PRH/Penguin, Berkley, Jove - Judith Stern Palais

Romantic Suspense

The Bride's Protector by Gayle Wilson - HarperCollins, Harlequin, Intrigue - Angela Catalano

The Baby Farm by Karen Harper - HarperCollins, Harlequin, MIRA - Amy Moore-Benson

Border Crossings by Carole Bellacera - Macmillan, Tor, Forge - Stephanie Lane

Conspiracy in Death by J. D. Robb - PRH/Penguin, Berkley - Leslie Gelbman

I'll Remember You by Barbara Ankrum - HarperCollins, Harlequin Silhouette, Intimate Moments - Margaret Marbury

Murphy's Law by Marilyn Pappano - HarperCollins, Harlequin Silhouette, Intimate Moments - Melissa Jeglinski

River's End by Nora Roberts - PRH/Penguin, Berkley, Jove - Leslie Gelbman

Strangers at Dawn by Elizabeth Thornton - PRH/Random House, Bantam - Wendy McCurdy

Short Contemporary Romance

The Stardust Cowboy by Anne McAllister - HarperCollins, Harlequin Silhouette, Desire - Ann Leslie Tuttle

Christmas Fantasy by Janelle Denison - HarperCollins, Harlequin, Temptation - Brenda Chin

Colonel Daddy by Maureen Child - HarperCollins, Harlequin Silhouette Desire - Karen Taylor-Richman

Gibson's Girl by Anne McAllister - HarperCollins, Harlequin, Presents - Samantha Bell

Lover's Reunion by Anne Marie Winston - HarperCollins, Harlequin Silhouette, Desire - Karen Kosztolnyik

The Outlaw Jesse James by Cindy Gerard - HarperCollins, Harlequin Silhouette, Desire - Karen Kosztolnyik

Proposition: Marriage by Eileen Wilks - HarperCollins, Harlequin Silhouette, Desire - Janet Tanka

Pure Temptation by Vicki Lewis Thompson - HarperCollins, Harlequin, Temptation - Brenda Chin

Secret Baby Santos by Barbara McCauley - HarperCollins, Harlequin Silhouette, Desire - Melissa Jeglinski

Short Historical Romance

The Proposition by Judith Ivory - HarperCollins, Avon - Carrie Feron

Breathless by Laura Lee Guhrke - Simon & Schuster, Pocket - Caroline Tolley

Charming the Prince by Teresa Medeiros - PRH/Random House, Bantam

Into the Sunset by Shelly Thacker - PRH/Random House, Dell - Christine Zika

Lady Sarah's Son by Gayle Wilson - HarperCollins, Harlequin, Historical - Tracy Farrell

The Price of Innocence by Susan Sizemore - HarperCollins, Avon - Lucia Macro

Someone to Watch over Me by Lisa Kleypas - HarperCollins, Avon - Lucia Macro

Too Wicked to Love by Barbara Dawson Smith - Macmillan, St. Martin's - Jennifer Enderlin

Traditional Romance

Annie, Get Your Groom by Kristin Gabriel - HarperCollins, Harlequin, Duets - Malle Vallik

The Boss and the Baby by Leigh Michaels - HarperCollins, Harlequin, Romance - Samantha Bell

Bridegroom on Approval by Day Leclaire - HarperCollins, Harlequin, Romance - Samantha Bell

Hand-Picked Husband by Heather MacAllister - HarperCollins, Harlequin, Romance - Gillian Green

His Little Girl by Liz Fielding - HarperCollins, Harlequin, Romance - Gillian Green

The Nine-Dollar Daddy by Day Leclaire - HarperCollins, Harlequin, Romance - Samantha Bell

The One-Week Marriage by Renee Roszel - HarperCollins, Harlequin, Romance - Linda Fildew

Trial Engagement by Barbara McMahon - HarperCollins, Harlequin, Romance - Ceri Tomlins

The Way to a Cowboy's Heart by Teresa Southwick - HarperCollins, Harlequin, Romance - Karen Taylor-Richman