1985 Golden Medallion Winners & Finalists
From its introduction in 1982 until 1989, the RITA® was known as The Golden Medallion. As with previous years, 1985 saw changes to the award categories for the Golden Medallion. Two new categories, Inspirational and Regency, made their debut. The previous year's attempt to break down romances by word count was simplified, creating "long" and "short" contemporary categories.
Contents
Historical Romance
Twice Loved by LaVyrle Spencer
- Highland Flame by Kathleen Fraser
- Our Lives, Our Fortunes by Janice Young Brooks
- Risen Glory (aka Just Imagine) by Susan Elizabeth Phillips
- Summerfield by Lynda Trent
- Willow by Linda Lael Miller
Inspirational Romance
For The Love Of Mike by Charlotte Nichols - HarperCollins, Harlequin Silhouette, Inspirations - Roz Noonan
- Greengold Autumn by Donna Fletcher Crow - HarperCollins, Zondervan, Serenade - Anne Severance
- A Mountain to Stand Strong by Peggy Darty - HarperCollins, Zondervan, Serenade - Anne Severance
- A Promise Once Made by Barbara Bartholomew - HarperCollins, Harlequin Silhouette, Inspirations - Roz Noonan
- Thanksgiving Prayer by Debbie Macomber - HarperCollins, Harlequin Silhouette, Inspirations - Roz Noonan
Long Contemporary Romance
A Matter Of Choice by Nora Roberts - HarperCollins, Harlequin Silhouette, Intimate Moments - Isabel Swift
- Come Lie with Me by Linda Howard - HarperCollins, Harlequin, MIRA - Leslie Wainger
- The Hellion by LaVyrle Spencer - HarperCollins, Harlequin, Super Romance - Margaret Learn
- Little by Little by Georgia Bockoven - HarperCollins, Harlequin, Super Romance - Lisa Boyes
- Love on the Line by Anna James - HarperCollins, Harlequin Silhouette, Intimate Moments - Isabel Swift
- Mirrors and Mistakes - Kathleen Gilles Seidel - HarperCollins, Harlequin, American - Hilari Cohen
- Never Strangers by Lynda Ward - HarperCollins, Harlequin, Super Romance - Lisa Boyes
- Red Midnight by Heather Graham - PRH/Random House, Dell, Candlelight Ecstasy - Lydia Paglio
- Tangled Lies by Anne Stuart - HarperCollins, Harlequin, Intrigue - Hilari Cohen
- When Morning Comes by Judith Duncan - HarperCollins, Harlequin, Super Romance - Margaret Learn
Mainstream Romance
After All These Years by Kathleen Gilles Seidel - HarperCollins, Harlequin, American Premier Edition - Hilari Cohen
- Country Love Songs, City Lies by Irma Walker - PRH/Random House, Ballantine - Pamela Strickler
- Lovedance by Madeline Harper - PRH/Penguin, Berkley, Jove - Damaris Rowland
- Power Play by Andrea Edwards - HarperCollins, Avon - Judith Riven
- Promise Me Tomorrow by Nora Roberts - Simon & Schuster, Pocket - Nancy Jackson
- The Scots by Jane Toombs - PRH/Random House, Dell, Emerald - Ed Claflin
- Vulnerable by Shirley Parenteau - PRH/Random House, Ballantine - Cheryl Woodruff
Regency Romance
The Lurid Lady Lockport by Kasey Michaels
Short Contemporary Romance
Opposites Attract by Nora Roberts - HarperCollins, Harlequin Silhouette, Special Edition - Isabel Swift
- Promise Me Sunshine by Vicki Lewis Thompson - HarperCollins, Harlequin, Temptation - Claire Gerus
- Remedies of the Heart by Ariel Berk - HarperCollins, Harlequin Silhouette, Desire - Isabel Swift
- Silver and Spice by Jeanne Grant - PRH/Penguin, Berkely, Jove Second Chance at Love - Joan Marlow
- Suddenly the Magic by Karen Keast - PRH/Penguin, Berkley, Jove Second Chance at Love - Margaret Learn
- Wilderness Passion by Lindsay McKenna - HarperCollins, Harlequin Silhouette, Desire - Alicia Condon
Traditional Romance
The Karas Cup by Brittany Young - HarperCollins, Harlequin Silhouette, Romance - Patricia Smith
- Challenge the Devil by Rita Rainville - HarperCollins, Harlequin Silhouette, Romance - Patricia Smith
- The Mockingbird Suite by Glenda Sands - HarperCollins, Harlequin Silhouette, Romance - Patricia Smith
- The Perfect Match by Ginna Gray - HarperCollins, Harlequin Silhouette, Romance - Patricia Smith
- Sullivan's Woman by Nora Roberts - HarperCollins, Harlequin Silhouette, Romance - Nancy Jackson
- A Tangle of Rainbows by Laurie Paige - HarperCollins, Harlequin Silhouette, Romance - Patricia Smith
- The Wyomian by Betsy Page - HarperCollins, Harlequin, Romance - Jacqui Bianchi
Young Adult Romance
The Frog Princess by Cheryl Zach - HarperCollins, Harlequin Silhouette, First Love - Nancy Jackson
- First Impression by Harriette S. Abels - PRH/Penguin, Berkley, Ace Caprice - Marilyn Poe
- The Girl Inside by Judy Baer - HarperCollins, Harlequin Silhouette, First Love - Nancy Jackson
- Just the Right Age by Louise Chatterton - HarperCollins, Harlequin Silhouette, First Love - Nancy Jackson
- The Love Vote by Jo Stewart - PRH/Penguin, Berkley, NAL Magic Moments - Cindy Kane
- Never Say Never by Ann Boyle - PRH/Penguin, Berkley, Ace Caprice - Marilyn Poe
