We are thrilled that three of our talented authors have been shortlisted for the Romantic Novelists’ Association (RNA) awards for 2023.
Anita Faulkner’s delightful debut, A Colourful Country Escape, is shortlisted for the Katie Fforde Debut Romantic Novel Award.
Set in the breath-taking Cotswolds, A Colourful Country Escape follows the story of Lexie Summers, a vibrant but penniless social media manager whose world collides with that of her new, wealthy but seemingly dull boss “Beige Ben.” As they work together to save Ben’s failing paint business, will they discover that their feelings for each other aren’t so black and white?
Described by her agent Kate Nash as a ‘sparkling new voice,’ Anita’s debut was published by Sphere (Little, Brown) on Thursday 9th June 2022. Anita says it is a ‘complete honour’ to be a finalist for this award and is joined on the shortlist by CJ Connolly’s The Love of My Other Life (Joffe Books), Niamh Hargan’s Twelve Days in May (HarperCollins), Julie Haworth’s Always by Your Side (Simon and Schuster UK), and Laila Rafi’s From Fake to Forever (Orion Dash).
Jane Lovering’s heart-warming romance, A Cottage Full of Secrets, is shortlisted for the Contemporary Romantic Novel Award. In 2012 she won Romantic Novel of the Year for her romance Please Don’t Stop The Music, as well as The Fantasy Romantic Novel Award in 2019 for Living in the Past.
Nestled in the glorious Yorkshire moors sits Cottage Two, Bracken Ridge Farm. Just a simple two up, two down, the cottage holds the promise of a new start for two very different women, fifty years apart, but it is also full of secrets.
Described as ‘heartbreaking and heartwarming’ by Jessica Redland, this bestselling romance was published by Boldwood Books on Tuesday 15th February 2022. Jane is ‘beyond delighted’ to have been nominated for this award and is joined on the shortlist by Holly Hepburn’s The Little Shop of Hidden Treasures (Simon and Schuster UK), Ali McNamara’s Cornish Clouds and Silver Lining Skies (Sphere), Rebecca Raisin’s Elodie’s Library of Second Chances (HQ Digital), and Helen Rolfe’s Finding Happiness at Heritage View (Boldwood Books).
Bella Osborne’s feel-good summer rom com, A Wedding at Sandy Cove, is shortlisted for the Jane Wenham-Jones Award for Romantic Comedy. In 2022, Bella was the joint-winner of same award for The Promise of Summer.
Ella is in the business of making brides’ dreams come true with yards of white tulle, delicate lace and sparkly sequins; however, her own love life couldn’t be further from a fairy tale. Recently dumped by her boyfriend and with her best friend’s wedding only months away, Ella finally agrees to go on a blind date but a mix up throws her into the path of Kit, instead. Kit is most definitely not the man she was supposed to meet, but he could end up changing her life in ways she never thought possible…
Described by Phillipa Ashley as a ‘gorgeous, romantic read’, A Wedding at Sandy Cove was published by Avon (HarperCollins) originally as a four-part serial across June and July last year, before the full book was published on Thursday 21st July 2022. Bella is ‘completely delighted’ to have been shortlisted for this award and is joined by fellow shortlistees Kristen Bailey’s Great Sexpectations (Bookouture), Jeevani Charika’s Playing for Love (HQ Digital), Fiona Gibson’s The Woman Who Took a Chance (Avon), and Emily Kerr’s Take a Chance on Greece (One More Chapter).
The award ceremony will take place at the Leonardo Royal Hotel in London on Monday 6th March 2023 at 6.30pm where the winners of each category will be announced.
Huge congratulations to Anita, Jane and Bella!
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