Tuesday, 9 September 2014

More tea, vicar?

.
Join me for a Traditional Afternoon Tea at this year's Festival of Romantic Fiction. The event takes place in top tea shop The Green House, Market Square, Leighton Buzzard.

Also pouring tea, buttering scones, slicing cake and chatting about their books will be Christina Courtenay, Talli Roland, Sue Moorcroft, Jean Fullerton, Terri Nixon and Laura Purcell.

It's going to be a great afternoon. Tickets available online here.

Oh, and as a little extra to celebrate FAIRLIGHTS being shortlisted for a Reader Award,  there will be biscuits from Botham's of Whitby for everyone attending. Just stop me and ask...

See you there!


Tuesday, 2 September 2014

FAIRLIGHTS Shortlisted!

.
I am delighted to announce that FAIRLIGHTS has been shortlisted for Best Author-Published book in the Festival of Romantic Fiction Reader Awards!

Lost of my writing pals are also deservedly scattered around the lists, so good luck to all.

The winners will be announced on Saturday Sept 13th at a gala evening do at Leighton Buzzard Theatre, complete with sparkles, heels, canapes and wine.

The full list of shortlistees is...

Best Romantic Read (sponsored by Headline Eternal)

Two Weddings and a Baby by Scarlett Bailey (Ebury)
The Memory Book by Rowan Coleman (Ebury)
The Cornish Stranger by Liz Fenwick (Orion)
After The Honeymoon by Janey Fraser (Arrow)
The Unpredictable Consequences of Love by Jill Mansell (Headline Review)
One Hundred Proposals by Holly Martin (Carina)
The Wedding Proposal by Sue Moorcroft (Choc Lit)
The Proposal by Tasmina Perry (Headline Review)
One Step Closer to You by Alice Peterson (Quercus)


Best Historical Read

The Downstairs Maid by Rosie Clarke (Ebury)
Monsoon Mists by Christina Courtenay (Choc Lit)
The Maid of Milan by Beverley Eikili (Choc Lit)
The Dress Thief by Natalie Meg Evans (Quercus)
Crosscurrents by Jane Jackson (Accent Press)
Home For Christmas by Lizzie Lane (Ebury)
A Rose in Flanders Fields by Terri Nixon (Carina)
Queen of Bedlam by Laura Purcell (Myrmidon)


Best Short Romance

Don't Tell Penny by Anna Bell (Quercus)
Taming Her Italian Boss by Fiona Harper (Mills and Boon Cherish)
A Western Heart by Liz Harris (Choc Lit Lite)
Just You by Jane Lark (Harper Impulse)
The Right Side of Mr Wrong by Jane Linfoot (Harper Impulse)
Grand Designs by Linda Mitchelmore (Choc Lit Lite)
The Bookshop on the Corner by Rebecca Raisin (Carina)


Best E-Book

The Second Time I Saw You by Pippa Croft (Penguin)
The Wedding Cake Tree by Melanie Hudson (Choc Lit)
Summer at Castle Stone by Lynn-Marie Hulsmann (Harper Impulse)
Dear Lizzie by Annie Lyons (Carina)
The Guestbook by Holly Martin (Carina)
Room For Love by Sophie Pembroke (Carina)
The Oyster Catcher by Jo Thomas (Headline)
Doubting Abbey by Samantha Tonge (Carina)


Best Author Published

Mary Bennet by Kate Allan
Sweet Occasions by Linn B Halton
Drumbeats by Julia Ibbotson
Fairlights by Jan Jones
Christmas Yves by Nicola May
A Change of Heart by Adrienne Vaughan


New Talent Award Shortlist

An Infamous Seduction by Glenda Cooper
Country Strife by Debbie Fuller-White
Fancy Cakes and Skinny Lattes by Melanie Griffiths
For One Last Time by Louise Hall
The Gossamer Trail by Brenda Hawkey
Who Does He Think He Is? by Emily Kerr
Hats Off To Love by Susan Jones
Meeting Halfway by Mairibeth MacMillan
The Perfect Blend by Catherine Meadows
True Colours by Caroline Rayner
Maggie's Child by Glynis Smy

Sarah Taylor, the Awards Organiser said, "With the highest number of entries the awards have had in their four year history, the standard this year was exceptionally high with many highly rated novels not making the shortlists. The breath and depth of quality writing in romantic fiction should be celebrated and that's what these awards are all about."
.