2005 Rita Award (Awarded by Romance Writers of America)

Awards List

Contemporary Single Title

Bet Me
(Winner)
Jennifer Crusie

First Book

Time Off for Good Behavior
(Winner)
Lani Diane Rich

Futuristic/Fantasy/Paranormal

Blue Moon
(Winner)
Lori Handeland

Inspirational Romance

Grounds to Believe
(Winner)
Shelley Bates

Long Contemporary Series

John Riley's Girl
(Winner)
Inglath Cooper

Long Historical Romance

Shadowheart
(Winner)
Laura Kinsale

Novel with Strong Romantic Elements

A.K.A. Goddess
(Winner)
Evelyn Vaughn

Regency Romance

A Passionate Endeavor
(Winner)
Sophia Nash

Romantic Novella

Her Best Enemy
(Winner)
Maggie Shayne
in Night's Edge

Romantic Suspense

I'm Watching You
(Winner)
Karen Rose

Short Contemporary Series Romance

Miss Pruitt's Private LIfe
(Winner)
Barbara McCauley

Short Historical Romance

A Wanted Man
(Winner)
Susan Kay Law

Traditional Romance

Christmas Eve Marriage
(Winner)
Jessica Hart

Contemporary Single Title

Daisy's Back in Town
(Finalist)
Rachel Gibson

Golden Lies
(Finalist)
Barbara Freethy

This Can't Be Love
(Finalist)
Kasey Michaels

An Irresistible Bachelor
(Finalist)
Jessica Bird

In the Mood
(Finalist)
Suzanne Macpherson

Street Smart
(Finalist)
Tara Taylor Quinn

Summer by the Sea
(Finalist)
Susan Wiggs

Blue Flame
(Finalist)
Jill Shalvis

First Book

Do Me, Do My Roots
(Finalist)
Eileen Rendahl

Rules of Engagement
(Finalist)
Kathryn Caskie

American Idle
(Finalist)
Alesia Holliday

The Runaway Duke
(Finalist)
Julie Anne Long

A Man in a Kilt
(Finalist)
Sandy Blair

Futuristic/Fantasy/Paranormal

Divided in Death
(Finalist)
J.D. Robb

Shadow Fires
(Finalist)
Catherine Spangler

Heart of the Hunter
(Finalist)
Tina St. John

The Immortal Highlander
(Finalist)
Karen Marie Moning

Visions in Death
(Finalist)
J.D. Robb

Come to Me
(Finalist)
Lisa Cach

Wet & Wild
(Finalist)
Sandra Hill

Inspirational Romance

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

Long Contemporary Series

Hidden Agenda
(Finalist)
Maggie Price

A Real Hero
(Finalist)
Jean Brashear

Joint Forces
(Finalist)
Catherine Mann

The Cop
(Finalist)
Jan Hudson

A Marriage of Majors
(Finalist)
Elizabeth Ashtree

A Family Christmas
(Finalist)
Carrie Alexander

Body Search
(Finalist)
Jessica Andersen

Long Historical Romance

The Linnet
(Finalist)
Elizabeth English

Highlander Unbound
(Finalist)
Julia London

Wedded Bliss
(Finalist)
Barbara Metzger

Moon in the Water
(Finalist)
Elizabeth Grayson

To Find You Again
(Finalist)
Maureen McKade

Beloved Impostor
(Finalist)
Patricia Potter

The Butler Did It
(Finalist)
Kasey Michaels

My Pleasure
(Finalist)
Connie Brockway

Novel with Strong Romantic Elements

Do Me, Do My Roots
(Finalist)
Eileen Rendahl

The Ocean Between Us
(Finalist)
Susan Wiggs

Novel With Strong Romantic Elements

American Idle
(Finalist)
Alesia Holliday

Novel with Strong Romantic Elements

Time Off for Good Behavior
(Finalist)
Lani Diane Rich

Regency Romance

The Rules of Love
(Finalist)
Amanda McCabe

Moonlight and Mischief
(Finalist)
Rhonda Woodward

Romantic Novella

The Best of Both Worlds
(Finalist)
Suzanne Enoch
in Lady Whistledown Strikes Back

Father and the Notorious Miss Newman
(Finalist)
Lynn Collum
in A Wife for Papa

The First Kiss
(Finalist)
Julia Quinn
in Lady Whistledown Strikes Back

Surrender
(Finalist)
Julie Elizabeth Leto / Julie Leto
in Essence of Midnight

The Edge of Memory
(Finalist)
Kathleen O'Brien
in Mysteries of Lost Angel Inn

Wolf Moon
(Finalist)
Nora Roberts
in Moon Shadows

Daydream Believer
(Finalist)
Maggie Shayne
in Man of My Dreams

Midsummer Night's Magic
(Finalist)
Virginia Kantra
in Man of My Dreams

Out on a Limb
(Finalist)
Christie Ridgway
in Mistletoe and Mayhem

Shocking Lucy
(Finalist)
Suzanne Forster
in Man of My Dreams

Romantic Suspense

Have You Seen Her?
(Finalist)
Karen Rose

Shady Lady
(Finalist)
Elizabeth Thornton

Mimosa Grove
(Finalist)
Dinah McCall

Body Double
(Finalist)
Vicki Hinze

Code Name: Princess
(Finalist)
Christina Skye

Just Past Midnight
(Finalist)
Amanda Stevens

Colder Than Ice
(Finalist)
Maggie Shayne

Fatal Error
(Finalist)
Colleen Thompson

Short Contemporary Series Romance

Tall, Dark and Texan
(Finalist)
Jane Sullivan

Hers for the Weekend
(Finalist)
Tanya Michaels

Like a Hurricane
(Finalist)
Roxanne St. Claire

A Family of His Own
(Finalist)
Liz Fielding

Meeting at Midnight
(Finalist)
Eileen Wilks

We've Got Tonight
(Finalist)
Jacquie D'Alessandro

When He Was Bad...
(Finalist)
Jane Sullivan

Short Historical Romance

My Favorite Thief
(Finalist)
Karyn Monk

The Princess Masquerade
(Finalist)
Lois Greiman

A Lady of Distinction
(Finalist)
Deborah Simmons

My Seduction
(Finalist)
Connie Brockway

Rules of Engagement
(Finalist)
Kathryn Caskie

The Countess Bride
(Finalist)
Terri Brisbin

The Unexpected Wife
(Finalist)
Mary Burton

Traditional Romance

Gino's Arranged Bride
(Finalist)
Lucy Gordon

The Bowen Bride
(Finalist)
Nicole Burnham

The Game Show Bride
(Finalist)
Jackie Braun

The Last Minute Marriage
(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