2017 Rita Award (Awarded by Romance Writers of America)

Awards List

Contemporary Romance: Long

Miracle on 5th Avenue
(Winner)
Sarah Morgan

Make Me Sin
(Finalist)
J.T. Geissinger

Tender Is the Night
(Finalist)
Barbara Freethy

Hot in Hellcat Canyon
(Finalist)
Julie Anne Long

Always a Bridesmaid
(Finalist)
Lizzie Shane

Pansies
(Finalist)
Alexis Hall

Snowfall on Haven Point
(Finalist)
Raeanne Thayne

Contemporary Romance: Mid-Length

Carolina Dreaming
(Winner)
Virginia Kantra

The Turning Point
(Finalist)
Marie Meyer

Back in the Saddle
(Finalist)
Karen Templeton

Off the Hook
(Finalist)
Laura Drewry

Lone Heart Pass
(Finalist)
Jodi Thomas

Once and For All
(Finalist)
Cheryl Etchison

Wanderlust
(Finalist)
Roni Loren

Barefoot at Midnight
(Finalist)
Roxanne St. Claire

Fast Connection
(Finalist)
Megan Erickson; Santino Hassell

Tell Me How This Ends
(Finalist)
Victoria De La O

Contemporary Romance: Short

Christmas on Crimson Mountain
(Winner)
Michelle Major

Falling for the Rancher
(Finalist)
Tanya Michaels

Two Doctors & a Baby
(Finalist)
Brenda Harlen

APB: Baby // Criminal Evidence
(Finalist)
Julie Miller

His Stolen Bride
(Finalist)
Barbara Dunlop

Far from Home
(Finalist)
Lorelie Brown

A Malibu Kind of Romance
(Finalist)
Synithia Williams

Breaking Good
(Finalist)
Madeline Ash

Searching for Disaster
(Finalist)
Jennifer Probst

Overwhelming Force // Revenge
(Finalist)
Janie Crouch

Erotic Romance

Off the Clock
(Winner)
Roni Loren

The Master
(Finalist)
Tara Sue Me

The Dirty Secret
(Finalist)
Kira A. Gold

Ravenous
(Finalist)
M.S. Force

Three Sweet Nothings
(Finalist)
Nikki Sloane

First Book

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

Historical Romance: Long

No Mistress of Mine
(Winner)
Laura Lee Guhrke

Dukes Prefer Blondes
(Finalist)
Loretta Chase

Susana and the Scot
(Finalist)
Sabrina York

How I Married a Marquess
(Finalist)
Anna Harrington

Historical Romance: Short

A Duke to Remember
(Winner)
Kelly Bowen

The Study of Seduction
(Finalist)
Sabrina Jeffries

Duke of Sin
(Finalist)
Elizabeth Hoyt

Taming the Highlander
(Finalist)
May McGoldrick

Do You Want to Start a Scandal
(Finalist)
Tessa Dare

Left at the Altar
(Finalist)
Margaret Brownley

Inspirational Romance

My Hope Next Door
(Winner)
Tammy L. Gray

Keeper of the Stars
(Finalist)
Robin Lee Hatcher

Close to You
(Finalist)
Kara Isaac

Trust My Heart
(Finalist)
Carol J. Post

Novel with Strong Romantic Elements

The Moon in the Palace
(Winner)
Weina Dai Randel

The Depth of Beauty
(Finalist)
A.B. Michaels

The Color of a Promise
(Finalist)
Julianne MacLean

Now That It's You
(Finalist)
Tawna Fenske

Paranormal Romance

The Pages of the Mind
(Winner)
Jeffe Kennedy

Enchanted Warrior
(Finalist)
Sharon Ashwood

Bayou Shadow Hunter
(Finalist)
Debbie Herbert

Ghost Gifts
(Finalist)
Laura Spinella

The Beast
(Finalist)
J.R. Ward

The Champion of Baresh // Star Champion
(Finalist)
Susan Grant

Where the Wild Things Bite
(Finalist)
Molly Harper

The Leopard King
(Finalist)
Ann Aguirre

Romance Novella

Her Every Wish: A Novella
(Winner)
Courtney Milan

The Husband Maneuver
(Finalist)
Karen Witemeyer
in With This Ring?

Searching for Mine
(Finalist)
Jennifer Probst

Tycoon
(Finalist)
Joanna Shupe

Wild in Rio
(Finalist)
Lyssa Kay Adams

Let It Snow
(Finalist)
Jeanette Grey

Let Us Dream
(Finalist)
Alyssa Cole

Romantic Suspense

Repressed
(Winner)
Elisabeth Naughton

Atone
(Finalist)
Beth Yarnall

Mr. and Mr. Smith
(Finalist)
Helenkay Dimon

Field of Graves
(Finalist)
J.T. Ellison

Tall, Dark and Damaged
(Finalist)
Sarah Andre

One Minute to Midnight
(Finalist)
Nico Rosso

Killer Countdown
(Finalist)
Amelia Autin

All the Dead Girls
(Finalist)
Rita Herron

Young Adult Romance

The Problem with Forever
(Winner)
Jennifer L. Armentrout

The Distance from A to Z
(Finalist)
Natalie Blitt

Summer of Supernovas
(Finalist)
Darcy Woods

Affective Needs
(Finalist)
Rebecca Taylor

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