RNA Awards

Today is the day that the RNA holds its awards lunch at the Royal Garden Hotel, Kensington. This is the first time in some years that I haven't been able to attend, but pressure of work and the fact that I have to be in London for the party to launch the start of Mills & Boon's Centenary Celebrations, sadly mean that I can't make it this year.

There are two awards presented today - firstly the one for Romantic Novel of the Year

The titles on the shortlist for this award are these:

One Last Summer
by Catrin Collier
(Orion)

Pillow Talk
by Freya North
(Harper Collins)

Silk and Steel
by Catherine King
(Little Brown)

Silver Bay
by Jojo Moyes
(Hodder & Stoughton)

The Leaving of Liverpool
by Maureen Lee
(Orion)

Young Wives' Tales
by Adele Parks
(Penguin)

As I said when I first talked about this list, lack of time has meant that I haven't (sadly) read a single one of these so I have no hope at all of being able to say who might win. But I'll be interested to see who does.

And then there is the Romance Prize which is for the shorter 'category romances' and this is the shortlist for this award.

Breakfast at Giovanni's
by Kate Hardy

Driving Him Wild
by Julie Cohen


English Lord, Ordinary Lady
by Fiona Harper

Her Parenthood Assignment
by Fiona Harper


The Mediterranean Rebel's Bride
by Lucy Gordon

The Secret Life of Lady Gabriella
by Liz Fielding

I'm not even going to try to predict a winner - or to choose a favourite of these because I know every one of the authors and they are all excellent writers. So it would be impossible to choose - and wrong to declare any sort of paritality. Except to say that they're all winners already, just to be nominated in this special Centenary Year.

And to send everyone on the list Congratulations for being there - and good luck wishes for the awards ceremony today.

In past years I've run a small contest on this award and this year is no exception. If you'd like to pick the two books you think will win - one from the Romantic Novel of the Year Award list, and one from the Romance Prize - the post your selections in the Comments section, if someone picks the right two then I'll send them their choice of a signed book as a prize.

And if more than one person gets it right - or no one - then I'll get Sid on the job and let him pick a winner from all the entries.