2002 Rita Award (Awarded by Romance Writers of America)

Awards List

Contemporary Single Title

True Confessions
(Winner)
Rachel Gibson

The Four Seasons
(Finalist)
Mary Alice Monroe

I Got You, Babe
(Finalist)
Jane Graves

Some Kind of Wonderful
(Finalist)
Barbara Freethy

Midnight Bayou
(Finalist)
Nora Roberts

First Book

The Border Bride
(Winner)
Elizabeth English

Fallen
(Finalist)
Celeste Bradley

Secret Vows
(Finalist)
Mary Reed McCall

HeartMate
(Finalist)
Robin D. Owens

Hide-and-Sheikh
(Finalist)
Gail Dayton

The Nightingale's Song
(Finalist)
Kathleen Eschenburg

Futuristic/Fantasy/Paranormal

HeartMate
(Winner)
Robin D. Owens

Destiny
(Finalist)
Maggie Shayne

Aphrodite's Kiss
(Finalist)
Julie Kenner

Dance Upon the Air
(Finalist)
Nora Roberts

To Charm a Knight
(Finalist)
Linda Kay

Heaven and Earth
(Finalist)
Nora Roberts

Inspirational Romance

Beneath a Southern Sky
(Winner)
Deborah Raney

The Guardian
(Finalist)
Dee Henderson

Ribbon of Years
(Finalist)
Robin Lee Hatcher

The Protector
(Finalist)
Dee Henderson

Long Contemporary Series

Coming Home to You
(Winner)
Fay Robinson

Madigan's Wife
(Finalist)
Linda Winstead Jones

Magic in a Jelly Jar
(Finalist)
Sally Tyler Hayes

In Close Quarters
(Finalist)
Candace Irvin

The Money Man
(Finalist)
Carolyn McSparren

Notorious
(Finalist)
Vicki Lewis Thompson

Plain-Jane Princess
(Finalist)
Karen Templeton

The Word of a Child
(Finalist)
Janice Kay Johnson

Long Historical Romance

The Bridal Season
(Winner)
Connie Brockway

The Secret Swan
(Finalist)
Shana Abe

The Dragon's Bride
(Finalist)
Jo Beverley

Enchanting Pleasures
(Finalist)
Eloisa James

Nightingale's Gate
(Finalist)
Linda Francis Lee

A Kiss to Remember
(Finalist)
Teresa Medeiros

Summer Moon
(Finalist)
Jill Marie Landis

The Border Bride
(Finalist)
Elizabeth English

The Husband Test
(Finalist)
Betina Krahn

Regency Romance

Much Obliged
(Winner)
Jessica Benson

The Painted Lady
(Finalist)
Barbara Metzger

Under the Kissing Bough
(Finalist)
Shannon Donnelly

One Good Turn
(Finalist)
Carla Kelly

Romantic Novella

I Will
(Winner)
Lisa Kleypas
in Wish List

The Demon's Mistress: A Novella
(Finalist)
Jo Beverley
in In Praise of Younger Men

The Rose and the Sword
(Finalist)
Jill Gregory
in Once Upon a Rose

Winter Rose
(Finalist)
Nora Roberts
in Once Upon a Rose

Night and Day: Night
(Finalist)
Anne Stuart

Santa Baby
(Finalist)
Patricia Ryan
in Naughty or Nice?

Romantic Suspense

The Surgeon
(Winner)
Tess Gerritsen

Blind Faith
(Finalist)
Christiane Heggan

Dark Side of Dawn
(Finalist)
Merline Lovelace

Princess Charming
(Finalist)
Elizabeth Thornton

Betrayal in Death
(Finalist)
J.D. Robb

Darkling, I Listen
(Finalist)
Katherine Sutcliffe

Mercy
(Finalist)
Julie Garwood

The Perfect Princess
(Finalist)
Elizabeth Thornton

Short Contemporary Series Romance

A Long Hot Christmas
(Winner)
Barbara Daly

The Matchmaker's Mistake
(Finalist)
Jane Sullivan

The Inconvenient Bride
(Finalist)
Anne McAllister

Fortune's Secret Daughter
(Finalist)
Barbara McCauley

Jingle Bell Bride?
(Finalist)
Jennifer LaBrecque

Sinclair's Surprise Baby
(Finalist)
Barbara McCauley

Under the Covers
(Finalist)
Jamie Denton

In Dante's Debt
(Finalist)
Jane Porter

Short Historical Romance

Tempt Me Twice
(Winner)
Barbara Dawson Smith

The Horse Soldier
(Finalist)
Merline Lovelace

Never Marry a Cowboy
(Finalist)
Lorraine Heath

Suddenly You
(Finalist)
Lisa Kleypas

White Lion's Lady
(Finalist)
Tina St. John

Once a Mistress
(Finalist)
Rebecca Hagan Lee

Halfway to Heaven
(Finalist)
Susan Wiggs

Traditional Romance

Quinn's Complete Seduction
(Winner)
Sandra Steffen

Just One Kiss
(Finalist)
Carla Cassidy

Accidental Fiancee
(Finalist)
Renee Roszel

Doctor on Loan
(Finalist)
Marion Lennox

The Bachelor's Baby
(Finalist)
Liz Fielding

His Baby, Her Heart
(Finalist)
Sue Swift

Adopted: Twins!
(Finalist)
Marion Lennox

Award Categories

Best Romance

Contemporary Romance: Long

Contemporary Romance: Mid-Length

Contemporary Romance: Short

Contemporary Series Romance

Contemporary Series Romance: Suspense/Adventure

Contemporary Single Title

Erotic Romance

Erotica

First Book

Futuristic/Fantasy/Paranormal

Historical Romance

Historical Romance: Long

Historical Romance: Short

Historical Series

Historical Single Title

Inspirational Romance

Long Contemporary Romance

Long Contemporary Series

Long Historical Romance

Novel with Strong Romantic Elements

Paranormal Romance

Regency Romance

Romance Novella

Romantic Novella

Award Years

2019

2018

2017

2016

2015

2014

2013

2012

2011

2010

2009

2008

2007

2006

2005

2004

2003

2002

2001

2000

1999

1998

1997

1996

1995