Rita Award - First Book (Awarded by Romance Writers of America)

Awards List

2019

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

2018

Take the Lead
(Winner)
Alexis Daria

Waltzing with the Earl
(Finalist)
Catherine Tinley

Black Bird of the Gallows
(Finalist)
Meg Kassel

The Thing with Feathers
(Finalist)
McCall Hoyle

His Perfect Partner
(Finalist)
Priscilla Oliveras

2017

Once and For All
(Winner)
Cheryl Etchison

Before Goodbye
(Finalist)
Mimi Cross

The Distance from A to Z
(Finalist)
Natalie Blitt

Close to You
(Finalist)
Kara Isaac

Summer of Supernovas
(Finalist)
Darcy Woods

Alterations
(Finalist)
Stephanie Scott

2016

Forget Tomorrow
(Winner)
Pintip Dunn

Night Hush
(Finalist)
Leslie Jones

Pairing Off
(Finalist)
Elizabeth Harmon

No Better Man
(Finalist)
Sara Richardson

A Noble Masquerade
(Finalist)
Kristi Ann Hunter

Altered
(Finalist)
Marnee Blake

The Strongest Steel
(Finalist)
Scarlett Cole

Viking Warrior Rising
(Finalist)
Asa Maria Bradley

2015

Deception So Deadly
(Winner)
Clara Kensie

The Dress Thief
(Finalist)
Natalie Meg Evans

Purely Professional
(Finalist)
Elia Winters

The Smuggler Wore Silk
(Finalist)
Alyssa Alexander

For Such a Time
(Finalist)
Kate Breslin

To Scotland with Love
(Finalist)
Patience Griffin

Fake
(Finalist)
Beck Nicholas

Mind Sweeper
(Finalist)
A.E. Jones

A Bollywood Affair
(Finalist)
Sonali Dev

2014

The Sweet Spot
(Winner)
Laura Drake

Private Practice
(Finalist)
Samanthe Beck

Five Days in Skye
(Finalist)
Carla Laureano

Fix You
(Finalist)
Beck Anderson

Promise to Return
(Finalist)
Elizabeth Byler Younts

2013

The Haunting of Maddy Claire
(Winner)
Simone St. James

Firelight
(Finalist)
Kristen Callihan

My Life Next Door
(Finalist)
Huntley Fitzpatrick

Forged in Fire
(Finalist)
Trish McCallan

Crazy Little Thing
(Finalist)
Tracy Brogan

The Anatomist's Wife
(Finalist)
Anna Lee Huber

Ghost Planet
(Finalist)
Sharon Lynn Fisher

The Haunting of Maddy Clare
(Finalist)
Simone St. James

2012

First Grave on the Right
(Winner)
Darynda Jones

Beautiful Disaster
(Finalist)
Laura Spinella

The Darling Strumpet
(Finalist)
Gillian Bagwell

How to Marry a Duke
(Finalist)
Vicky Dreiling

Warped
(Finalist)
Maurissa Guibord

The Devil in Disguise
(Finalist)
Stefanie Sloane

I'm Not Her
(Finalist)
Janet Gurtler

Hourglass
(Finalist)
Myra McEntire

2011

Pieces of Sky
(Winner)
Kaki Warner

The Iron King
(Finalist)
Julie Kagawa

I Now Pronounce You Someone Else
(Finalist)
Erin McCahan

The Summer of Skinny Dipping
(Finalist)
Amanda Howells

A Tailor-Made Bride
(Finalist)
Karen Witemeyer

Firestorm
(Finalist)
Kelly Ann Riley

Enemy Within
(Finalist)
Marcella Burnard

When Harry Met Molly
(Finalist)
Kieran Kramer

2010

One Scream Away
(Winner)
Kate Brady

Stolen Fury
(Finalist)
Elisabeth Naughton

He Calls Her Doc
(Finalist)
Mary Brady

The Last Will of Moira Leahy
(Finalist)
Therese Walsh

Nothing Like You
(Finalist)
Lauren Strasnick

The Better Part of Darkness
(Finalist)
Kelly Gay

The Gladiator
(Finalist)
Carla Capshaw

Angel Vindicated
(Finalist)
Viola Estrella

2009

Oh. My. Gods.
(Winner)
Tera Lynn Childs

No Good Girls
(Finalist)
Jean Marie Pierson

Private Arrangements
(Finalist)
Sherry Thomas

Strangers In The Night
(Finalist)
Kerry Connor

Her One Desire
(Finalist)
Kimberly Killion

The Secret Soldier
(Finalist)
Jennifer Morey

Passionate
(Finalist)
Anthea Lawson

Your Roots Are Showing
(Finalist)
Elise Chidley

2008

Dead Girls Are Easy
(Winner)
Terri Garey

Silent in the Grave
(Finalist)
Deanna Raybourn

Treasure
(Finalist)
Helen Brenna

Prom Dates from Hell
(Finalist)
Rosemary Clement-Moore

Thief With No Shadow
(Finalist)
Emily Gee

Graffiti Girl
(Finalist)
Kelly Parra

Prime Time
(Finalist)
Hank Phillippi Ryan

Snow Angel
(Finalist)
Jamie Carie

2007

The Husband Trap
(Winner)
Tracy Anne Warren

Rekindled
(Finalist)
Tamera Alexander

Ten Thousand Charms
(Finalist)
Allison K. Pittman

Adios to My Old Life
(Finalist)
Caridad Ferrer

Spying in High Heels
(Finalist)
Gemma Halliday

Eyes of Crow
(Finalist)
Jeri Smith-Ready

A Killing Tide
(Finalist)
P.J. Alderman

Blind-Date Marriage
(Finalist)
Fiona Harper

2006

Show Her the Money
(Winner)
Stephanie Feagan

Finders Keepers
(Finalist)
Linnea Sinclair

Worth Every Risk
(Finalist)
Diana Love Snell

Spirited Away
(Finalist)
Pamela Labud

The Good, the Bad and the Ugly Men I've Dated
(Finalist)
Shane Bolks

A Texas State Of Mind
(Finalist)
Ann DeFee

Charmed & Dangerous
(Finalist)
Candace Havens

Poison Study
(Finalist)
Maria V. Snyder

2005

Time Off for Good Behavior
(Winner)
Lani Diane Rich

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

2004

Back Roads
(Winner)
Susan Crandall

Baby, Be Mine
(Finalist)
Emily McKay

Some Like It Sizzling
(Finalist)
Jamie Sobrato

Charming the Highlander
(Finalist)
Janet Chapman

The Maid of Dishonor
(Finalist)
Tanya Michaels

Winter Woman
(Finalist)
Jenna Kernan

The Ideal Bride
(Finalist)
Nonnie St. George

2003

Shades of Honor
(Winner)
Wendy Lindstrom

Danger's Promise
(Finalist)
Marliss Moon

Wedding at White Sands
(Finalist)
Catherine Mann

Falling Star
(Finalist)
Diana Dempsey

A Perilous Attraction
(Finalist)
Patricia Frances Rowell

Silver Dagger
(Finalist)
T.L. Sinclare

The Baby Plan
(Finalist)
Susan Gable

2002

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

2001

A Man Like Mac
(Winner)
Fay Robinson

Passing by Samaria
(Finalist)
Sharon Ewell Foster

Ties of Love
(Finalist)
Anita Wall

Remember the Night
(Finalist)
Linda Castillo

By Arrangement
(Finalist)
Madeline Hunter

Cowboy for Keeps
(Finalist)
Kristi Gold

Reilly's Law
(Finalist)
Elizabeth Keys

In the Shadow of the Moon
(Finalist)
Karen White

My Champion
(Finalist)
Glynnis Campbell

2000

The Maiden and the Unicorn
(Winner)
Isolde Martyn

Beyond the Highland Mist
(Finalist)
Karen Marie Moning

1999

My Darling Caroline
(Winner)
Adele Ashworth

1998

Brazen Angel
(Winner)
Elizabeth Boyle

The Only Child
(Finalist)
Carolyn McSparren

Winter Hearts
(Finalist)
Maureen McKade

Lost Yesterday
(Finalist)
Jenny Lykins

Remember the Time
(Finalist)
Annette Reynolds

1997

Stardust of Yesterday
(Winner)
Lynn Kurland

Traveler
(Finalist)
Elaine Fox

His Secret Side
(Finalist)
Pamela Burford

Shadows in Velvet
(Finalist)
Haywood Smith

1996

The Warlord
(Winner)
Elizabeth Elliott

1995

Ghostly Enchantment
(Winner)
Angie Ray

1994

A Candle in the Dark
(Winner)
Megan Chance

1993

Trust Me
(Winner)
Jeane Renick

1992

Candle in the Window
(Winner)
Christina Dodd

1991

Black Horse Island
(Winner)
Dee Holmes

1990

Out of the Blue
(Winner)
Alaina Hawthorne

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