The RITA Awards The purpose of the RITA contest is to promote excellence in the romance genre by recognizing outstanding published romance novels and novellas. Visit the official RITA Awards site for more information. 2017 Best First Book Once and For All by Cheryl Etchison Best Contemporary Romance Carolina Dreaming by Virginia Kantra Best Historical Romance No Mistress of Mine by Laura Lee Guhrke Best Paranormal Romance The Pages of the Mind by Jeffe Kennedy Best Romantic Suspense Repressed by Elisabeth Naughton 2016 Best First Book Forget Tomorrow by Pintip Dunn Best Contemporary Romance Him by Sarina Bowen and Elle Kennedy Best Historical Romance Tiffany Girl by Deeanne Gist Best Inspirational Romance A Noble Masquerade by Kristi Ann Hunter Best Paranormal Romance Must Love Chainmail by Angela Quarles Best Romantic Suspense Flash Fire by Dana Marton 2015 Best Contemporary Romance One in a Million by Jill Shalvis Best Historical Romance Fool Me Twice by Meredith Duran Best Inspirational Romance Deceived by Irene Hannon Best Paranormal Romance Evernight by Kristen Callihan Best Romantic Suspense Concealed in Death by J.D. Robb 2014 Best First Book The Sweet Spot by Laura Drake Best Contemporary Romance Crazy Thing Called Love by Molly O'Keefe Best Historical Romance No Good Duke Goes Unpunished by Sarah MacLean Best Inspirational Romance Five Days in Skye by Carla Laureano Best Paranormal Romance The Firebird by Susanna Kearsley Best Romantic Suspense Off the Edge by Carolyn Crane 2013 Best First Book The Haunting of Maddy Clare by Simone St. James Best Historical Romance A Rogue by Any Other Name by Sarah MacLean Best Inspirational Romance Against the Tide by Elizabeth Camden Best Novel with Strong Romantic Elements The Haunting of Maddy Clare by Simone St. James Best Paranormal Romance Shadow's Claim by Kresley Cole Best Romantic Suspense Scorched by Laura Griffin Best Young Adult Romance The Farm by Emily McKay 2012 Best First Book First Grave on the Right by Darynda Jones Best Historical Romance The Black Hawk by Joanna Bourne Best Inspirational Romance The Measure of Katie Calloway by Serena Miller Best Novel with Strong Romantic Elements How to Bake a Perfect Life by Barbara O'Neal Best Paranormal Romance Dragon Bound by Thea Harrison Best Regency Historical Romance A Night to Surrender by Tessa Dare Best Romantic Suspense New York to Dallas by J.D. Robb Best Young Adult Romance Enclave by Ann Aguirre 2011 Best First Book Pieces of Sky by Kaki Warner Best Contemporary Single Title Romance Simply Irresistible by Jill Shalvis Best Historical Romance His at Night by Sherry Thomas Best Inspirational Romance In Harm's Way by Irene Hannon Best Novel with Strong Romantic Elements Welcome to Harmony by Jodi Thomas Best Paranormal Romance Unchained: The Dark Forgotten by Sharon Ashwood Best Regency Historical Romance The Mischief of the Mistletoe by Lauren Willig Best Romantic Suspense Silent Scream by Karen Rose Best Young Adult Romance The Iron King by Julie Kagawa 2010 Best First Book One Scream Away by Kate Brady Best Contemporary Single Title Romance Too Good to Be True by Kristan Higgins Best Historical Romance Not Quite a Husband by Sherry Thomas Best Inspirational Romance The Inheritance by Tamera Alexander Best Novel with Strong Romantic Elements The Lost Recipe for Happiness by Barbara O'Neal Best Paranormal Romance Kiss of a Demon King by Kresley Cole Best Regency Historical Romance What Happens in London by Julia Quinn Best Romantic Suspense Whisper of Warning by Laura Griffin Best Young Adult Romance Perfect Chemistry by Simone Elkeles 2009 Best First Book Oh. My. Gods. by Tera Lynn Childs Best Contemporary Single Title Romance Not Another Bad Date by Rachel Gibson Best Historical Romance The Edge of Impropriety by Pam Rosenthal Best Inspirational Romance Finding Stefanie by Susan May Warren Best Novel with Strong Romantic Elements Tribute by Nora Roberts Best Paranormal Romance Seducing Mr. Darcy by Gwyn Cready Best Regency Historical Romance My Lord and Spymaster by Joanna Bourne Best Romantic Suspense Take No Prisoners by Cindy Gerard Best Young Adult Romance Hell Week by Rosemary Clement-Moore 2008 Best First Book Dead Girls Are Easy by Terri Garey Best Contemporary Single Title Romance Catch of the Day by Kristan Higgins Best Historical Romance Lessons of Desire by Madeline Hunter Best Inspirational Romance A Touch of Grace by Linda Goodnight Best Novel with Strong Romantic Elements Silent in the Grave by Deanna Raybourn Best Paranormal Romance Lover Revealed by J.R. Ward Best Regency Historical Romance The Secret Diaries of Miss Miranda Cheever by Julia Quinn Best Romantic Suspense Ice Blue by Anne Stuart Best Young Adult Romance Wicked Lovely by Melissa Marr 2007 Best First Book The Husband Trap by Tracy Anne Warren Best Contemporary Single Title Adios To My Old Life by Caridad Ferrer Best Inspirational Romance Revealed by Tamera Alexander Best Paranormal Romance A Hunger Like No Other by Kresley Cole Best Romantic Suspense Blackout by Annie Solomon Best Novel With Strong Romantic Elements A Lady Raised High by Jennifer Ashley w/a Laurien Gardner Best Traditional Romance Claiming His Family by Barbara Hannay 2006 Best First Book Show Her The Money by Stephanie Feagan Best Contemporary Single Title Lakeside Cottage by Susan Wiggs Best Inspirational Romance Heavens To Betsy by Beth Pattillo Best Paranormal Romance Gabriel's Ghost by Linnea Sinclair Best Regency Romance A Reputable Rake by Diane Gaston Best Romantic Suspense Survivor in Death by J.D. Robb Best Novel With Strong Romantic Elements Lady Luck's Map of Vegas by Barbara Samuel Best Traditional Romance Princess of Convenience by Marion Lennox 2005 Best First Book Time Off For Good Behavior by Lani Diane Rich Best Contemporary Single Title Bet Me by Jennifer Crusie Best Inspirational Romance Grounds To Believe by Shelley Bates Best Paranormal Romance Blue Moon by Lori Handeland Best Regency Romance A Passionate Endeavor by Sophia Nash Best Romantic Suspense I'm Watching You by Karen Rose Best Novel With Strong Romantic Elements A.K.A. Goddess by Evelyn Vaughn Best Traditional Romance Christmas Eve Marriage by Jessica Hart 2004 Best First Book Back Roads by Susan Crandall Best Contemporary Single Title Birthright by Nora Roberts Best Inspirational Romance Autumn Dreams by Gayle Roper Best Paranormal Romance Shades of Midnight by Linda Fallon Best Regency Romance Prospero's Daughter by Nancy Butler Best Romantic Suspense Remember When - Part 1 by Nora Roberts Best Novel With Strong Romantic Elements Between Sisters by Kristin Hannah Best Traditional Romance Her Royal Baby by Marion Lennox 2003 Best First Book Shades of Honor by Wendy Lindstrom Best Contemporary Single Title No Place Like Home by Barbara Samuel Best Inspirational Romance Never Say Goodbye by Irene Hannon Best Paranormal Romance Contact by Susan Grant Best Regency Romance A Debt To Delia by Barbara Metzger Best Romantic Suspense Three Fates by Nora Roberts Best Traditional Romance The Christmas Basket by Debbie Macomber 2002 Best First Book The Border Bride by Elizabeth English Best Contemporary Single Title True Confessions by Rachel Gibson Best Inspirational Romance Beneath a Southern Sky by Deborah Raney Best Paranormal Romance Heart Mate by Robin D. Owens Best Regency Romance Much Obliged by Jessica Benson Best Romantic Suspense The Surgeon by Tess Gerritsen Best Traditional Romance Quinn's Complete Seduction by Sandra Steffen 2001 Best First Book A Man Like Mac by Fay Robinson Best Contemporary Single Title First Lady by Susan Elizabeth Phillips Best Inspirational Romance The Shepherd's Voice by Robin Lee Hatcher Best Paranormal Romance The Highlander's Touch by Karen Marie Moning Best Regency Romance A Grand Design by Emma Jensen Best Romantic Suspense Carolina Moon by Nora Roberts Best Traditional Romance The Best Man & The Bridesmaid by Liz Fielding 2000 Best First Book The Maiden and The Unicorn by Isolde Martyn Best Contemporary Single Title Body Guard by Suzanne Brockmann Best Inspirational Romance Danger in the Shadows by Dee Henderson Best Paranormal Romance Nell by Jeanette Baker Best Regency Romance The Rake's Retreat by Nancy Butler Best Romantic Suspense The Bride's Protector by Gayle Wilson Best Traditional Romance Annie, Get Your Groom by Kristin Gabriel