1990 RITA® Winners & Finalists

In 1990, RWA changed the named of its premier award to the RITA® in honor of founding member Rita Clay Estrada. 1990 also saw other change to the award: the introduction of the best First Book category, the return of the Historical Series (formerly known as Category Historical), the new Historical Single Title (formerly Historical), and the changing of the name of a category from Suspense to Romantic Suspense. It was clearly a busy year.

First Book

* Winner: Out Of The Blue by Alaina Hawthorne

• Finalists:

The Color Of Love by Binnie Syril

Devil In Disguise by Ann Williams

Historical Series Romance

* Winner: Silver Noose by Patricia Gardner Evans

• Finalists:

Dandelion by Bronwyn Williams

Edin's Embrace by Nadine Crenshaw

Rose Red, Rose White by Marianne Willman

Scarlet Ribbons by Judith E. French

Historical Single Title Romance

* Winner: The Bride by Julie Garwood

• Finalists:

Fortune's Lady by Patricia Gaffney

Heartstorm by Elizabeth Stuart

A Kingdom Of Dreams - Judith E. McNaught

Seize The Fire by Laura Kinsale

Swept Away by Julie Tetel

Long Contemporary Romance

* Winner: The Ice Cream Man by Kathleen Korbel

• Finalists:

A Carol Christmas by Muriel Jensen

Devil's Night by Jennifer Greene

Mackenzie's Mountain by Linda Howard

Paintbox Morning by Kathleen Eagle

Saving Grace by Anne McAllister

Tiger Dawn by Kathleen Creighton

Regency Romance

* Winner: The Rake And The Reformer (aka The Rake) by Mary Jo Putney

• Finalists:

Lady With A Black Umbrella"" by Mary Balogh

The Perfect Fiancee by Martha Jean Powers

The Stanforth Secrets by Jo Beverley

Romantic Suspense

* Winner: Perchance To Dream by Kathleen Korbel

• Finalists:

Rainbow Fire by Emilie Richards

The Roses Of Constant by Bethany Campbell

Short Contemporary Romance

* Winner: Night Of The Hunter by Jennifer Greene

• Finalists:

Back To The Bedroom by Janet Evanovich

Be Mine, Valentine by Vicki Lewis Thompson

Chances Are by Erica Spindler

Face To Face by Julie Meyers

Poor Emily by Mary Kay McComas

Single Title Contemporary Romance

* Winner: Private Relations by Diane Chamberlain

• Finalists:

Minstrel's Fire by Carla Neggers

Sweet Revenge by Nora Roberts

Traditional Romance

* Winner: Rhapsody In Bloom by Mona Van Wieren

• Finalists:

Bed, Breakfast, And Bedlam by Marcella Thompson

A Gift For Tenderness by Peggy Webb

Island Glory by Emilie Richards

Mother For Hire by Marie Ferrarella

Young Adult Romance

* Winner: Renee by Vivian Schurfranz

• Finalists:

Lover Boy by Leila Davis

My Perfect Valentine by Judy Baer