2016 Rita Award (Awarded by Romance Writers of America)

Awards List

Contemporary Romance: Long

Brokedown Cowboy
(Winner)
Maisey Yates

Love Me Sweet
(Finalist)
Tracy Brogan

Fire Me Up
(Finalist)
Kimberly Kincaid

Searching for Beautiful
(Finalist)
Jennifer Probst

Redemption Bay
(Finalist)
Raeanne Thayne

Second Chance Summer
(Finalist)
Jill Shalvis

Ransom Canyon
(Finalist)
Jodi Thomas

The Secret Sister
(Finalist)
Brenda Novak

Love Somebody Like You
(Finalist)
Susan Fox

Once Kissed
(Finalist)
Cecy Robson

Contemporary Romance: Mid-Length

Him
(Winner)
Sarina Bowen; Elle Kennedy

Not a Fairy Tale
(Finalist)
Romy Sommer

Romancing Miss Right
(Finalist)
Lizzie Shane

Falling for Mister Wrong
(Finalist)
Lizzie Shane

Love After All
(Finalist)
Jaci Burton

Once Pure
(Finalist)
Cecy Robson

Dances Under the Harvest Moon
(Finalist)
Joanne Rock

A Cold Creek Christmas Story
(Finalist)
Raeanne Thayne

Just Say Yes
(Finalist)
Elizabeth Hayley

The Marriage Contract // Dark Succession
(Finalist)
Katee Robert

Contemporary Romance: Short

The Nanny Plan
(Winner)
Sarah M. Anderson

The Prince She Never Forgot
(Finalist)
Scarlet Wilson

One Night with Her Bachelor
(Finalist)
Kat Latham

Tempting the Knight
(Finalist)
Heidi Rice

Chance of a Lifetime
(Finalist)
Marissa Clarke

His Lost-And-Found Bride
(Finalist)
Scarlet Wilson

Three Nights before Christmas
(Finalist)
Kat Latham

A Bramble House Christmas
(Finalist)
C.J. Carmichael

Carter Bravo's Christmas Bride
(Finalist)
Christine Rimmer

Heated Moments
(Finalist)
Phyllis Bourne

Erotic Romance

For Real
(Winner)
Alexis Hall

Say My Name
(Finalist)
J. Kenner

Three Little Mistakes
(Finalist)
Nikki Sloane

Break Me Down
(Finalist)
Roni Loren

Sugar
(Finalist)
Seressia Glass

First Book

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

Historical Romance: Long

Tiffany Girl
(Winner)
Deeanne Gist

Earls Just Want to Have Fun
(Finalist)
Shana Galen

If the Viscount Falls
(Finalist)
Sabrina Jeffries

Tremaine's True Love
(Finalist)
Grace Burrowes

Bella and the Beast
(Finalist)
Olivia Drake

Historical Romance: Short

It Started with a Scandal
(Winner)
Julie Anne Long

Say Yes to the Marquess
(Finalist)
Tessa Dare

Secrets of a Scandalous Heiress
(Finalist)
Theresa Romain

The Secrets of Sir Richard Kenworthy
(Finalist)
Julia Quinn

Falling Into Bed with a Duke
(Finalist)
Lorraine Heath

Sweetest Scoundrel
(Finalist)
Elizabeth Hoyt

Inspirational Romance

A Noble Masquerade
(Winner)
Kristi Ann Hunter

A Love Like Ours
(Finalist)
Becky Wade

The Rescued
(Finalist)
Marta Perry

Mistletoe Justice
(Finalist)
Carol J. Post

The Mountain Midwife
(Finalist)
Laurie Alice Eakes

Paranormal Romance

Must Love Chainmail
(Winner)
Angela Quarles

Soulbound
(Finalist)
Kristen Callihan

Midnight's Kiss
(Finalist)
Thea Harrison

Possessed by a Wolf
(Finalist)
Sharon Ashwood

The Shattered Court
(Finalist)
M.J. Scott

Stars of Fortune
(Finalist)
Nora Roberts

Viking Warrior Rising
(Finalist)
Asa Maria Bradley

Romance Novella

Nice Girls Don't Ride
(Winner)
Roni Loren

All's Fair in Love and Scandal: A Novella
(Finalist)
Caroline Linden

Blue Streak // Hookup Master // Never Date Your Best Friend
(Finalist)
Jules Barnard

Her Secret Prince
(Finalist)
Madeline Ash

One Little Kiss
(Finalist)
Robin Covington

Course of Action: Desert Heat
(Finalist)
Merline Lovelace

The Resurrection of Sam Sloan
(Finalist)
Erin Quinn

Toward the Sunrise
(Finalist)
Elizabeth Camden

Let It Shine
(Finalist)
Alyssa Cole

Romantic Suspense

Flash Fire
(Winner)
Dana Marton

Barefoot with a Bodyguard
(Finalist)
Roxanne St. Claire

Fatal Frenzy
(Finalist)
Marie Force

Barefoot with a Stranger
(Finalist)
Roxanne St. Claire

Facing Fire
(Finalist)
Helenkay Dimon

In the Waning Light
(Finalist)
Loreth Anne White

The Strongest Steel
(Finalist)
Scarlett Cole

She Can Kill
(Finalist)
Melinda Leigh

Target Engaged
(Finalist)
M.L. Buchman / Matthew Lieber Buchman

Young Adult Romance

The Anatomical Shape of a Heart
(Winner)
Jenn Bennett

Followed by Frost
(Finalist)
Charlie N. Holmberg

Rikki
(Finalist)
Abigail Strom

Unspoken
(Finalist)
C.C. Hunter

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