Rita Award - Inspirational Romance (Awarded by Romance Writers of America)

Awards List

2019

The Saturday Night Supper Club
(Winner)
Carla Laureano

A Mother for His Family
(Finalist)
Susanne Dietze

Their Amish Reunion
(Finalist)
Lenora Worth

Home on Huckleberry Hill
(Finalist)
Jennifer Beckstrand

2018

Then There Was You
(Winner)
Kara Isaac

One Simple Wish
(Finalist)
Katy Lee
  • / Contemporary Romance
  • Buy Buy

A Note Yet Unsung
(Finalist)
Tamera Alexander

Grounded Hearts
(Finalist)
Jeanne M. Dickson

A New Shade of Summer
(Finalist)
Nicole Deese

2017

My Hope Next Door
(Winner)
Tammy L. Gray

Keeper of the Stars
(Finalist)
Robin Lee Hatcher

Close to You
(Finalist)
Kara Isaac

Trust My Heart
(Finalist)
Carol J. Post

2016

A Noble Masquerade
(Winner)
Kristi Ann Hunter

A Love Like Ours
(Finalist)
Becky Wade

The Rescued
(Finalist)
Marta Perry

Mistletoe Justice
(Finalist)
Carol J. Post

The Mountain Midwife
(Finalist)
Laurie Alice Eakes

2015

Deceived
(Winner)
Irene Hannon

The Widow's Suitor
(Finalist)
Rose Ross Zediker

For Such a Time
(Finalist)
Kate Breslin

Hope at Dawn
(Finalist)
Stacy Henrie

Huckleberry Summer
(Finalist)
Jennifer Beckstrand

2014

Five Days in Skye
(Winner)
Carla Laureano

Promise to Return
(Finalist)
Elizabeth Byler Younts

2013

Against the Tide
(Winner)
Elizabeth Camden

A House Full of Hope
(Finalist)
Missy Tippens

The Wedding Dress
(Finalist)
Rachel Hauck

My Stubborn Heart
(Finalist)
Becky Wade

The Soldier's Wife
(Finalist)
Cheryl Reavis

Naomi's Christmas
(Finalist)
Marta Perry

Betrayal
(Finalist)
Robin Lee Hatcher

An Heiress at Heart
(Finalist)
Jennifer Delamere

2012

The Measure of Katie Calloway
(Winner)
Serena B. Miller

Save the Date
(Finalist)
Jenny B. Jones

My Foolish Heart
(Finalist)
Susan May Warren

To Win Her Heart
(Finalist)
Karen Witemeyer

Deadly Pursuit
(Finalist)
Irene Hannon

The Christmas Child // Winter of Redemption
(Finalist)
Linda Goodnight

The Ladies' Room
(Finalist)
Carolyn Brown

Love on the Line
(Finalist)
Deeanne Gist

Katie's Way
(Finalist)
Marta Perry

2011

In Harm's Way
(Winner)
Irene Hannon

Finding Her Way Home
(Finalist)
Linda Goodnight

A Convenient Wife
(Finalist)
Anna Schmidt

The Wedding Garden
(Finalist)
Linda Goodnight

Maid to Match
(Finalist)
Deeanne Gist

Shades of Morning
(Finalist)
Marlo Schalesky

Doctor in Petticoats
(Finalist)
Mary Connealy

Whisper on the Wind
(Finalist)
Maureen Lang

Within My Heart
(Finalist)
Tamera Alexander

2010

The Inheritance
(Winner)
Tamera Alexander

Breach of Trust
(Finalist)
DiAnn Mills

Entertaining Angels
(Finalist)
Judy Duarte

The Confidential Life of Eugenia Cooper
(Finalist)
Kathleen Y'Barbo

An Eye for an Eye
(Finalist)
Irene Hannon

The Gladiator
(Finalist)
Carla Capshaw

A Lady Like Sarah
(Finalist)
Margaret Brownley

The Silent Governess
(Finalist)
Julie Klassen

2009

Finding Stefanie
(Winner)
Susan May Warren

The Perfect Life
(Finalist)
Robin Lee Hatcher

The Convenient Groom
(Finalist)
Denise Hunter

Mulberry Park
(Finalist)
Judy Duarte

Where Love Abides
(Finalist)
Irene Hannon

Deep in the Heart of Trouble
(Finalist)
Deeanne Gist

Love Starts with Elle
(Finalist)
Rachel Hauck

Faking Grace
(Finalist)
Tamara Leigh

2008

A Touch of Grace
(Winner)
Linda Goodnight

Rainbow's End
(Finalist)
Irene Hannon

Autumn Blue
(Finalist)
Karen Harter

Pursuit of Justice
(Finalist)
Pamela Tracy

Ransomed Dreams
(Finalist)
Amy Wallace

When the Morning Comes
(Finalist)
Cindy Woodsmall

Splitting Harriet
(Finalist)
Tamara Leigh

Taming Rafe
(Finalist)
Susan May Warren

2007

Revealed
(Winner)
Tamera Alexander

A Family Forever
(Finalist)
Brenda Coulter

Rekindled
(Finalist)
Tamera Alexander

Be My Neat-Heart
(Finalist)
Judy Baer

Ten Thousand Charms
(Finalist)
Allison K. Pittman

Violette Between
(Finalist)
Alison Strobel

The Measure of a Lady
(Finalist)
Deeanne Gist

My So-Called Love Life
(Finalist)
Allie Pleiter

2006

Heavens to Betsy
(Winner)
Beth Pattillo

A Sheltering Love
(Finalist)
Terri Reed

Chloe
(Finalist)
Lyn Cote

Pocketful of Pearls
(Finalist)
Shelley Bates

Remember Me
(Finalist)
Deborah Bedford / Debbi Bedford

2005

Grounds to Believe
(Winner)
Shelley Bates

Hero In Her Heart
(Finalist)
Marta Perry

A Nest of Sparrows
(Finalist)
Deborah Raney

Gabriel's Discovery
(Finalist)
Felicia Mason

At the Scent of Water
(Finalist)
Linda Nichols

2004

Autumn Dreams
(Winner)
Gayle Roper

One Tuesday Morning
(Finalist)
Karen Kingsbury

When You Believe
(Finalist)
Deborah Bedford / Debbi Bedford

Without a Trace
(Finalist)
Colleen Coble

2003

Never Say Goodbye
(Winner)
Irene Hannon

Whirlpool
(Finalist)
Lorena McCourtney

Gifts of Love
(Finalist)
Crystal Stovall

Summer Shadows
(Finalist)
Gayle Roper

Firstborn
(Finalist)
Robin Lee Hatcher

Ruth
(Finalist)
Lori Copeland

2002

Beneath a Southern Sky
(Winner)
Deborah Raney

The Guardian
(Finalist)
Dee Henderson

Ribbon of Years
(Finalist)
Robin Lee Hatcher

The Protector
(Finalist)
Dee Henderson

2001

The Shepherd's Voice
(Winner)
Robin Lee Hatcher

Passing by Samaria
(Finalist)
Sharon Ewell Foster

The Negotiator
(Finalist)
Dee Henderson

True Devotion
(Finalist)
Dee Henderson

Awakening Mercy
(Finalist)
Angela Benson

When Joy Came to Stay
(Finalist)
Karen Kingsbury

2000

Danger in the Shadows
(Winner)
Dee Henderson

When the Far Hills Bloom
(Finalist)
Diane Noble

1999

Patterns of Love
(Winner)
Robin Lee Hatcher

1998

Homeward
(Winner)
Melody Carlson

Presumption of Guilt
(Finalist)
Terri Blackstock

Brothers
(Finalist)
Angela Elwell Hunt

1997

The Scarlet Thread
(Winner)
Francine Rivers

Dreamers
(Finalist)
Angela Elwell Hunt

Firestorm
(Finalist)
Lisa Tawn Bergren

1996

As Sure As the Dawn
(Winner)
Francine Rivers

1995

An Echo in the Darkness
(Winner)
Francine Rivers

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