1997 Rita Award Winners

Awards List

Contemporary Single Title

Daniel's Gift (Winner)
Barbara Freethy

Mar-1996
/ Paranormal Romance

First Book

Stardust of Yesterday (Winner)
Lynn Kurland

Apr-1996
/ Paranormal Romance

Futuristic/Fantasy/Paranormal

Stardust of Yesterday (Winner)
Lynn Kurland

Apr-1996
/ Paranormal Romance

Inspirational Romance

The Scarlet Thread (Winner)
Francine Rivers

May-1997
/ Historical Romance

Long Contemporary Romance

Wild Blood (Winner)
Naomi Horton

Jul-1996
/ Contemporary Romance

Long Historical Romance

Conor's Way (Winner)
Laura Lee Guhrke

Apr-1996
/ Historical Romance

Regency Romance

The Lady's Companion (Winner)
Carla Kelly

Jun-1996
/ Traditional Regency

Romantic Suspense

See How They Run (Winner)
Bethany Campbell

Feb-1996
/ Romantic Suspense

Short Contemporary Romance

Cowboy Pride (Winner)
Anne McAllister

Nov-1996
/ Contemporary Romance

Short Historical Romance

Always to Remember (Winner)
Lorraine Heath

Feb-1996
/ Historical Romance

Traditional Romance

Her Very Own Husband (Winner)
Lauryn Chandler

Apr-1996
/ Contemporary Romance

Contemporary Single Title

Jackson Rule (Finalist)
Dinah McCall

May-1996
/ Contemporary Romance

Daring To Dream (Finalist)
Nora Roberts

Aug-1996
/ Contemporary Romance

First Book

Traveler (Finalist)
Elaine Fox

Jan-1996
/ Paranormal Romance

His Secret Side (Finalist)
Pamela Burford

Feb-1996
/ Romantic Suspense

Shadows in Velvet (Finalist)
Haywood Smith

Jul-1996
/ Historical Romance

Inspirational Romance

Dreamers (Finalist)
Angela Elwell Hunt

Jan-1996
/ Suspense

Firestorm (Finalist)
Lisa Tawn Bergren

1996
/ Romance

Long Contemporary Series

Having His Baby (Finalist)
Karen Young

Feb-1996
/ Contemporary Romance

Mackenzie's Pleasure (Finalist)
Linda Howard

Feb-1996
/ Contemporary Romance

The Fall of Shane MacKade (Finalist)
Nora Roberts

Apr-1996
/ Contemporary Romance

Expectant Father (Finalist)
Leanne Banks

May-1996
/ Contemporary Romance

His Runaway Son (Finalist)
Dee Holmes

Jul-1996
/ Contemporary Romance

My Fair Gentleman (Finalist)
Jan Freed

Oct-1996
/ Contemporary Romance

Megan's Mate (Finalist)
Nora Roberts

Nov-1996
/ Contemporary Romance

Long Historical Romance

Shattered Rainbows (Finalist)
Mary Jo Putney

Feb-1996
/ Historical Romance

The Bad Luck Wedding Dress (Finalist)
Geralyn Dawson

Apr-1996
/ Historical Romance

Gold Dust (Finalist)
Emily Carmichael

Jun-1996
/ Historical Romance

Denim & Lace (Finalist)
Patricia Rice

Jul-1996
/ Historical Romance

The Outsider (Finalist)
Penelope Williamson

Jul-1996
/ Historical Romance

The Marshal and the Heiress (Finalist)
Patricia Potter

Sep-1996
/ Historical Romance

The Love Charm (Finalist)
Pamela Morsi

Nov-1996
/ Historical Romance

Paranormal Romance

Dreamcatcher (Finalist)
Dinah McCall

Jan-1996
/ Paranormal Romance

Breath of Magic (Finalist)
Teresa Medeiros

Feb-1996
/ Paranormal Romance

The Faery Bride (Finalist)
Lisa Ann Verge

Mar-1996
/ Historical Romance

Now and Forever (Finalist)
Kimberly Raye

Jun-1996
/ Gothic

Frankly, My Dear... (Finalist)
Sandra Hill

Jul-1996
/ Paranormal Romance

A Ghost of a Chance (Finalist)
Casey Claybourne

Aug-1996
/ Paranormal Romance

The Wolf and the Woman's Touch (Finalist)
Ingrid Weaver

Sep-1996
/ Paranormal Romance

Regency Romance

Step in Time (Finalist)
Anne Barbour

Mar-1996
/ Paranormal Romance

The Unromantic Lady (Finalist)
Penelope Stratton

Mar-1996
/ Traditional Regency

Miss Kendal Sets Her Cap (Finalist)
Marian Devon

Dec-1996
/ Traditional Regency

Romantic Suspense

Last Night (Finalist)
Meryl Sawyer

Jan-1996
/ Contemporary Romance

Reckless Lover (Finalist)
Carly Bishop

Feb-1996
/ Romantic Suspense

Montana Sky (Finalist)
Nora Roberts

Mar-1996
/ Romantic Suspense

Woman Without a Name (Finalist)
Emilie Richards

Dec-1996
/ Contemporary Romance

Short Contemporary Series Romance

Charlie All Night (Finalist)
Jennifer Crusie

Jan-1996
/ Contemporary Romance

Angel on a Harley (Finalist)
Janis Reams Hudson

Feb-1996
/ Contemporary Romance

Family First (Finalist)
Marcia Evanick

Mar-1996
/ Contemporary Romance

Spring Bride (Finalist)
Sandra Marton

Jul-1996
/ Contemporary Romance

The Cinderella Deal (Finalist)
Jennifer Crusie

Oct-1996
/ Contemporary Romance

Christmas with Eve (Finalist)
Elda Minger

Dec-1996
/ Contemporary Romance

Short Historical Romance

Sparhawk's Angel (Finalist)
Miranda Jarrett

May-1996
/ Historical Romance

The Bartered Bride (Finalist)
Cheryl Reavis

Jun-1996
/ Historical Romance

Sometimes Forever (Finalist)
Catherine Palmer

Aug-1996
/ Historical Romance

Carried Away (Finalist)
Jill Barnett

Sep-1996
/ Historical Romance

Heart of the Hawk (Finalist)
Justine Dare

Oct-1996
/ Historical Romance

The Wedding Raffle (Finalist)
Geralyn Dawson

Nov-1996
/ Historical Romance

Traditional Romance

Ending in Marriage (Finalist)
Debbie Macomber

Apr-1996
/ Contemporary Romance

For the Love of Emma (Finalist)
Lucy Gordon

May-1996
/ Contemporary Romance

The Daddy Trap (Finalist)
Leigh Michaels

Jun-1996
/ Contemporary Romance

The Honeymoon Quest (Finalist)
Dana Lindsey

Aug-1996
/ Contemporary Romance

Undercover Daddy (Finalist)
Lindsay Longford

Aug-1996
/ Contemporary Romance

Temporary Husband (Finalist)
Day Leclaire

Nov-1996
/ Contemporary Romance

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

Award Years

Romance

Mystery/Thriller

Speculative

Younger Readers

1997 Rita Award (Awarded by Romance Writers of America)

Awards List

Award Categories

Award Years