Pure Passion 2011 : Romantic Novel of the Year Long List

Pure Passion 2011 : Romantic Novel of the Year Long List


The longlist for the 51st Romantic Novel of the Year Award covers the whole gamut of romantic fiction: historicals, romantic comedy, sagas, chick lit and contemporary are all represented. The settings are as varied as the sub-genres with both the Magna Carta and Facebook acting as backdrops along with revolutionary Russia, North Africa, Paris and Yorkshire.

The long list of twenty novels, announced today, includes an impressive selection of best sellers, among them Erica James, Elizabeth Chadwick, Katie Fforde, Jenny Colgan, Lindsey Kelk, Jojo Moyes and Sarah Duncan. They share the list with some exciting new names in romantic fiction, and the only male to make the long list, Tom Gamble.

A shortlist of six titles (to be announced on February 10th 2011) will be selected and sent to the final judges.

This year’s judges are Amanda Craig, novelist and children’s book critic for the Sunday Times, actor Jay Benedict who is perhaps best know for the role of John Kieffer – the US Army officer and friend of Christopher Foyle in Foyle’s War and Janine Cook, fiction buyer for Waterstones

The winner will be named on Monday, March 7th 2011 at a champagne reception at The Royal Horseguards, Whitehall Place London

The full list - in alphabetical order of author

To Defy a King by Elizabeth Chadwick (Little, Brown - Sphere)

The Good, the Bad and the Dumped by Jenny Colgan (Little, Brown - Sphere)

The Golden Prince by Rebecca Dean (HarperCollins)

Sons & Daughters by Margaret Dickinson (Pan MacMillan)

Kissing Mr. Wrong by Sarah Duncan (Headline)

A Perfect Proposal by Katie Fforde (Random House)

The Jewel of St. Petersburg by Kate Furnivall (Little, Brown - Sphere)

Amazir by Tom Gamble (Beautiful Books)

The Island by Elin Hilderbrand (Hodder & Stoughton)

The Queen of New Beginnings by Erica James (Orion)

The Way to a Woman’s Heart by Christina Jones (Little, Brown - Piatkus)

I Heart Paris by Lindsey Kelk (HarperCollins)

His Last Duchess by Gabrielle Kimm (Little, Brown - Sphere)

Christmas Eve at Friday Harbour by Lisa Kleypas (Little, Brown - Piatkus)

The Last Letter from Your Lover by Jojo Moyes (Hodder & Stoughton)

Virgin Widow by Anne O’Brien (Mira)

Ten Things I Love About You by Julia Quinn (Little, Brown - Piatkus)

The Search by Nora Roberts (Little, Brown - Piatkus)

The Legacy by Katherine Webb (Orion)

Hope Against Hope by Sally Zigmond (Myrmidon)