2003 Rita Award (Awarded by Romance Writers of America)

Awards List

Contemporary Single Title

No Place Like Home
(Winner)
Barbara Samuel

The Beach House
(Finalist)
Mary Alice Monroe

Love in Bloom's
(Finalist)
Judith Arnold

Once upon a Wedding
(Finalist)
Kathleen Eagle

Twice Burned
(Finalist)
Jan Coffey

The Boy Next Door
(Finalist)
Meg Cabot

Chesapeake Blue
(Finalist)
Nora Roberts

First Book

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

Futuristic/Fantasy/Paranormal

Contact
(Winner)
Susan Grant

Twilight Hunger
(Finalist)
Maggie Shayne

The Charm Stone
(Finalist)
Donna Kauffman

The Forest Lord
(Finalist)
Susan Krinard

Inspirational Romance

Never Say Goodbye
(Winner)
Irene Hannon

Whirlpool
(Finalist)
Lorena McCourtney

Gifts of Love
(Finalist)
Crystal Stovall

Summer Shadows
(Finalist)
Gayle Roper

Firstborn
(Finalist)
Robin Lee Hatcher

Ruth
(Finalist)
Lori Copeland

Long Contemporary Series

Taking Cover
(Winner)
Catherine Mann

Babes in Arms
(Finalist)
Kathleen O'Brien

Capturing Cleo
(Finalist)
Linda Winstead Jones

The Secret Son
(Finalist)
Tara Taylor Quinn

Seduced by the Enemy
(Finalist)
Jamie Denton

Wedding at White Sands
(Finalist)
Catherine Mann

What the Heart Wants
(Finalist)
Jean Brashear

What a Woman Wants
(Finalist)
Tori Carrington

Long Historical Romance

Stealing Heaven
(Winner)
Madeline Hunter

Tempted by Your Touch
(Finalist)
Jen Holling

Lost in Your Arms
(Finalist)
Christina Dodd

Romancing Mister Bridgerton
(Finalist)
Julia Quinn

A Summer to Remember
(Finalist)
Mary Balogh

Magnolia Creek
(Finalist)
Jill Marie Landis

Prairie Moon
(Finalist)
Maggie Osborne

Regency Romance

A Debt to Delia
(Winner)
Barbara Metzger

Kissing Cousins
(Finalist)
Nadine Miller

The Errant Earl
(Finalist)
Amanda McCabe

The Former Fiance
(Finalist)
Teresa DesJardien

The Storybook Hero
(Finalist)
Andrea Pickens

Romantic Novella

To Kiss in the Shadows
(Winner)
Lynn Kurland
in Tapestry

Breeding Season
(Finalist)
Lisa Cach
in A Mother's Way

The Bed Is Made
(Finalist)
Connie Brockway
in Once upon a Pillow

The Bed Is Unmade
(Finalist)
Christina Dodd
in Once upon a Pillow

Kismet
(Finalist)
Fiona Brand
in Sheiks of Summer

An Interrupted Tapestry
(Finalist)
Madeline Hunter
in Tapestry

A Rancher in Her Stocking
(Finalist)
Leanne Banks
in So This Is Christmas

Romantic Suspense

Three Fates
(Winner)
Nora Roberts

Reunion in Death
(Finalist)
J.D. Robb

Someone Knows
(Finalist)
Karen Young

Hush
(Finalist)
Anne Frasier

Purity in Death
(Finalist)
J.D. Robb

Wild at Heart
(Finalist)
Jane Graves

Short Contemporary Series Romance

Taming the Outlaw
(Winner)
Cindy Gerard

Good Time Girl
(Finalist)
Candace Schuler

Private Investigations
(Finalist)
Tori Carrington

Taming Blackhawk
(Finalist)
Barbara McCauley

Two Catch a Fox
(Finalist)
Isabel Sharpe

Two to Tangle
(Finalist)
Leslie Kelly / Leslie A. Kelly

The Doctor's Mistress
(Finalist)
Lilian Darcy

Take Me
(Finalist)
Cherry Adair

Lazaro's Revenge
(Finalist)
Jane Porter

Short Historical Romance

The Bride Fair
(Winner)
Cheryl Reavis

The Colonel's Daughter
(Finalist)
Merline Lovelace

Shades of Honor
(Finalist)
Wendy Lindstrom

Tess and the Highlander
(Finalist)
May McGoldrick

The Willing Wife
(Finalist)
Claudia Dain

Embrace the Sun
(Finalist)
Linda Lea Castle

The Texan's Wager
(Finalist)
Jodi Thomas

Diamond in the Rough
(Finalist)
Patricia Waddell

Traditional Romance

The Christmas Basket
(Winner)
Debbie Macomber

Finding Her Prince
(Finalist)
Lilian Darcy

True Love, Inc
(Finalist)
Jackie Braun

The Tycoon's Takeover
(Finalist)
Liz Fielding

A Royal Proposition
(Finalist)
Marion Lennox

City Girl in Training
(Finalist)
Liz Fielding

A Millionaire for Molly
(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

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2005

2004

2003

2002

2001

2000

1999

1998

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1996

1995