2019 Rita Award (Awarded by Romance Writers of America)

Awards List

Best First Book

Lady in Waiting
(Winner)
Marie Tremayne

The Last Wolf
(Finalist)
Maria Vale

With Love in Sight
(Finalist)
Christina Britton

Celebrity Spin Doctor
(Finalist)
Celia Mulder

A Wicked Kind of Husband
(Finalist)
Mia Vincy

Contemporary Romance: Long

Long Shot
(Winner)
Kennedy Ryan

Bad Bachelor
(Finalist)
Stefanie London

Luck of the Draw
(Finalist)
Kate Clayborn

Melt for You
(Finalist)
J.T. Geissinger

The Heartless Boyfriend // We Belong Together
(Finalist)
Erika Kelly

A Tall, Dark Cowboy Christmas
(Finalist)
Maisey Yates

Best of Luck
(Finalist)
Kate Clayborn

Contemporary Romance: Mid-Length

Advanced Physical Chemistry
(Winner)
Susannah Nix

Relay
(Finalist)
Layla Reyne

Lennon Reborn
(Finalist)
Scarlett Cole

Part-Time Husband
(Finalist)
Noelle Adams

Celebrity Spin Doctor
(Finalist)
Celia Mulder

Give and Take
(Finalist)
Lee Kilraine

Sergeant Sexypants
(Finalist)
Tawna Fenske

Knocked-Up Cinderella
(Finalist)
Julie Hammerle

Loving a Warrior
(Finalist)
Melanie Hansen

Sleepover
(Finalist)
Serena Bell

Contemporary Romance: Short

The Bachelor's Baby Surprise
(Winner)
Teri Wilson

A Baby to Bind His Bride
(Finalist)
Caitlin Crews

Fair Game
(Finalist)
Amy Andrews

A Safe Place to Land
(Finalist)
Dee Ernst

Claim Me, Cowboy
(Finalist)
Maisey Yates

A Fool and His Manny
(Finalist)
Amy Lane

Tanner's Promise
(Finalist)
Kaylie Newell

The Million Pound Marriage Deal
(Finalist)
Michelle Douglas

The Captains' Vegas Vows
(Finalist)
Caro Carson

Erotic Romance

Three-Way Split
(Winner)
Elia Winters

Total Exposure
(Finalist)
J.A. Huss

Sinful Games
(Finalist)
Shelly Alexander

Picture Perfect Cowboy
(Finalist)
Tiffany Reisz

Historical Romance: Long

A Wicked Kind of Husband
(Winner)
Mia Vincy

Lady in Waiting
(Finalist)
Marie Tremayne

A Scandalous Deal
(Finalist)
Joanna Shupe

An Earl Like You
(Finalist)
Caroline Linden

Historical Romance: Short

A Duke in the Night
(Winner)
Kelly Bowen

Never Dare a Wicked Earl
(Finalist)
Renee Ann Miller

With Love in Sight
(Finalist)
Christina Britton

What Ales the Earl
(Finalist)
Sally MacKenzie

The Devil to Pay
(Finalist)
K.C. Bateman

Hell's Belle
(Finalist)
Annabelle Anders

Mainstream Fiction with a Central Romance

How to Keep a Secret
(Winner)
Sarah Morgan

Mornings on Main
(Finalist)
Jodi Thomas

A Girl Divided
(Finalist)
Ellen Lindseth

Five Years Gone
(Finalist)
Marie Force

Paranormal Romance

Dearest Ivie: A Novella
(Winner)
J.R. Ward

The Last Wolf
(Finalist)
Maria Vale

Debriefing the Dead
(Finalist)
Kerry Blaisdell

Out of Body
(Finalist)
Suzanne Brockmann

Haunted Hearts
(Finalist)
Kimberly Dean

To Catch A Rogue
(Finalist)
Bec McMaster

Wretched
(Finalist)
Cara Crescent

Romance Novella

Bad Blood
(Winner)
M. Malone

Loving the Secret Billionaire: A Novella
(Finalist)
Adriana Anders

Lead Counsel
(Finalist)
Aurora Rey
  • / Contemporary Romance
  • Buy

Catching Irish
(Finalist)
Katy Regnery

Saved by the Cowboy
(Finalist)
A.J. Pine

Dragon Lord
(Finalist)
Dana Marton

The Dragons of Summer: A Novella
(Finalist)
Jeffe Kennedy

Romance with Religious or Spiritual Elements

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

Romantic Suspense

Fearless
(Winner)
Elizabeth Dyer

The Bastard's Bargain
(Finalist)
Katee Robert

Reckless Honor
(Finalist)
Tonya Burrows

Relentless
(Finalist)
Elizabeth Dyer

Consumed
(Finalist)
J.R. Ward

Cut and Run
(Finalist)
Mary Burton

Before We Were Strangers
(Finalist)
Brenda Novak

Young Adult Romance

My So-Called Bollywood Life
(Winner)
Nisha Sharma

Not If I Save You First
(Finalist)
Ally Carter

Cry Baby
(Finalist)
Ginger Scott

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