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RITA Awards

Award for English-language romance fiction, presented by the Romance Writers of America (RWA). Named for the RWA's first president, Rita Clay Estrada.

Title Box

The RITA Awards
Contemporary Romance
Awarded since 1982

1980-1989

Category Contemporary: Winner Take All by Brooke Hastings

Mainstream Contemporary: The Sun Dancers by Barbara Faith

Contemporary Mainstream: Opal Fires by Lynda Trent

Contemporary Sensual: The Heart’s Victory by Nora Roberts

Contemporary Sweet: Renegade Player by Dixie Browning

Contemporary Under 65,000 words: Memory and Desire by Eileen Bryan

Contemporary 65-80,000 words: This Magic Moment by Nora Roberts & Destiny's Sweet Errand by Deirdre Mardon

Traditional: Untamed by Nora Roberts

Long Contemporary Series: A Matter of Choice by Nora Roberts

Mainstream: After All These Years by Kathleen Gilles Seidel

Short Contemporary: Opposites Attract by Nora Roberts

Traditional: The Karas Cup by Brittany Young

Long Contemporary Series: Today, Tomorrow and Always by Georgia Bockoven

Short Contemporary: Much Needed Holiday by Joan Hohl

Single Title: Banish Misfortune by Anne Stuart

Traditional: The Crystal Unicorn by Doreen Malek

Long Contemporary Series: One Summer by Nora Roberts

Short Contemporary: Still Waters by Kathleen Creighton

Single Title: Sunshine and Shadow by Tom and Sharon Curtis

Traditional: Opal Fire by Sandy Dengler

Long Contemporary Series: In the Defense of Love by Kathleen Creighton

Short Contemporary: Stolen Moments by Terri Herrington

Single Title: Twilight Whispers by Barbara Delinsky

Traditional: It Takes a Thief by Rita Rainville

Long Contemporary Series: A Crime of the Heart by Cheryl Reavis

Short Contemporary: Winter’s Daughter by Kathleen Creighton

Single Title: Leaves of Fortune by Linda Barlow

Traditional: Flirtation River by Bethany Campbell

1990-1999

Long Contemporary Series: The Ice Cream Man by Kathleen Korbel

Short Contemporary Series: Night of the Hunter by Jennifer Greene

Single Title Contemporary: Private Relations by Diane Chamberlain

Traditional: Rhapsody in Bloom by Mona Van Wieren

Long Contemporary Series: Patrick Gallagher’s Widow by Cheryl Reavis

Short Contemporary Series: Step Into My Parlor by Jan Hudson

Traditional: Song of the Lorelei by Lucy Gordon

Long Contemporary Series: A Rose for Maggie by Kathleen Korbel

Short Contemporary Series: A Human Touch by Glenda Sanders

Single Title Contemporary: A Man to Die For by Eileen Dreyer

Traditional: Every Kind of Heaven by Bethany Campbell

Long Contemporary Series: The Silence of Midnight by Karen Young

Short Contemporary Series: Navarrone by Helen R. Myers

Single Title Contemporary: This Time Forever by Kathleen Eagle

Traditional: Father Goose by Marie Ferrarella

Long Contemporary Series: Dragonslayer by Emilie Richards

Short Contemporary Series: Avenging Angel by Glenna McReynolds

Contemporary Single Title: Private Scandals by Nora Roberts

Traditional: Annie and the Wise Men by Lindsay Longford

Contemporary Single Title: Again by Kathleen Gilles Seidel

Long Contemporary Series: A Soldier’s Heart by Kathleen Korbel

Short Contemporary Series: Getting Rid of Bradley by Jennifer Crusie

Traditional: Oh Baby! by Lauryn Chandler

Contemporary Single Title: Born in Ice by Nora Roberts

Long Contemporary Series: The Morning Side of Dawn by Justine Davis

Short Contemporary Series: Single Dad by Jennifer Greene

Traditional: Stranger in Her Arms by Elizabeth Sites

Contemporary Single Title: Daniel’s Gift by Barbara Freethy

Long Contemporary Series: Wild Blood by Naomi Horton

Short Contemporary Series: Cowboy Pride by Anne McAllister

Traditional: Her Very Own Husband by Lauryn Chandler

Contemporary Single Title: Nobody's Baby But Mine by Susan Elizabeth Phillips

Long Contemporary Series: Reckless by Ruth Wind

Short Contemporary Series: Nobody's Princess by Jennifer Greene

Traditional: His Brother's Child by Lucy Gordon

Contemporary Single Title: Dream A Little Dream by Susan Elizabeth Phillips

Long Contemporary: Meant to Be Married by Ruth Wind

Short Contemporary: The Notorious Groom by Caroline Cross

Traditional: Monday Man by Kristin Gabriel

2000-2009

Contemporary Single Title: Body Guard by Suzanne Brockmann

Long Contemporary: Undercover Princess by Suzanne Brockmann

Short Contemporary: The Stardust Cowboy by Anne McAllister

Traditional: Annie, Get Your Groom by Kristin Gabriel

Contemporary Single Title: First Lady by Susan Elizabeth Phillips

Long Contemporary: Rogue's Reform by Marilyn Pappano

Short Contemporary: It Takes A Rebel by Stephanie Bond

Traditional Romance: The Best Man & The Bridesmaid by Liz Fielding

Contemporary Single Title: True Confessions by Rachel Gibson

Long Contemporary: Coming Home To You by Fay Robinson

Short Contemporary: A Long Hot Christmas by Barbara Daly

Traditional: Quinn's Complete Seduction by Sandra Steffen

Contemporary Single Title: No Place Like Home by Barbara Samuel

Long Contemporary: Taking Cover by Catherine Mann

Short Contemporary: Taming The Outlaw by Cindy Kay Gerard

Traditional: The Christmas Basket by Debbie Macomber

Contemporary Single Title: Birthright by Nora Roberts

Long Contemporary: The Top Gun's Return by Kathleen Creighton

Short Contemporary: The Knight's Kiss by Nicole Burnham

Traditional: Her Royal Baby by Marion Lennox

Contemporary Single Title: Bet Me by Jennifer Crusie

Long Contemporary: John Riley's Girl by Inglath Cooper

Short Contemporary: Miss Pruitt's Private Life by Barbara McCauley

Traditional: Christmas Eve Marriage by Jessica Hart

Contemporary Single Title: Lakeside Cottage by Susan Wiggs

Long Contemporary: Worth Every Risk by Dianna Love Snell

Short Contemporary: The Marriage Miracle by Liz Fielding

Traditional: Princess of Convenience by Marion Lennox

Contemporary Single Title: Adios To My Old Life by Caridad Ferrer

Long Contemporary: The Mommy Quest by Lori Handeland

Short Contemporary: From the First by Jessica Bird

Traditional: Claiming His Family by Barbara Hannay

Contemporary Single Title: Catch of the Day by Kristan Higgins

Contemporary Series: Snowbound by Janice Johnson

Contemporary Series-Suspense/Adventure: Treasure by Helen Brenna

Contemporary Single Title: Not Another Bad Date by Rachel Gibson

Contemporary Series: A Mother's Wish by Karen Templeton

Contemporary Series-Suspense/Adventure: Danger Signals by Kathleen Creighton

2010-2019

Contemporary Single Title: Too Good To Be True by Kristan Higgins

Contemporary Series: A Not-So-Perfect Past by Beth Andrews

Contemporary Series-Suspense/Adventure: The Soldier's Secret Daughter by Cindy Dees

Contemporary Single Title: Simply Irresistible by Jill Shalvis

Contemporary Series: Welcome Home, Cowboy by Karen Templeton

Contemporary Series-Suspense/Adventure: The Moon That Night by Helen Brenna

Contemporary Single Title: Boomerang Bride by Fiona Lowe

Contemporary Series: Doukaki's Apprentice by Sarah Morgan

Contemporary Series-Suspense/Adventure: Soldier's Last Stand by Cindy Dees

Contemporary Single Title: The Way Back Home by Barbara Freethy

Long Contemporary Series: A Gift For All Season by Karen Templeton

Short Contemporary Series: A Night of No Return by Sarah Morgan

Contemporary Single Title: Crazy Thing Called Love by Molly O'Keefe

Short Contemporary Series: Why Resist a Rebel? by Leah Ashton

Long Contemporary Romance: Baby, It's You by Jane Graves

Mid-Length Contemporary Romance: One in a Million by Jill Shalvis

Short Contemporary Romance: A Texas Rescue Christmas by Caro Carson

Long Contemporary Romance: Brokedown Cowboy by Maisey Yates

Mid-Length Contemporary Romance: Him by Sarina Bowen and Elle Kennedy

Short Contemporary Romance: The Nanny Plan by Sarah M. Anderson

Long Contemporary Romance: Miracle on 5th Avenue by Sarah Morgan

Mid-Length Contemporary Romance: Carolina Dreaming by Virginia Kantra

Short Contemporary Romance: Christmas on Crimson Mountain by Michelle Major

Long Contemporary Romance: Falling Hard by Lexi Ryan

Mid-Length Contemporary Romance: Tell Me by Abigail Strom

Short Contemporary Romance: Second Chance Summer by Kait Nolan

Long Contemporary Romance: Long Shot by Kennedy Ryan

Mid-Length Contemporary Romance: Advanced Physical Chemistry by Susannah Nix

Short Contemporary Romance: The Bachelor’s Baby Surprise by Teri Wilson