he shortlist for this year’s Romantic Novel of the Year Award given by the Romantic Novelists’ Association in the UK has been announced:

· The Ex-boyfriend’s Handbook by Matt Dunn (Simon & Schuster)
· Beyond the Blue Hills by Katie Flynn (Wm. Heinemann)
· A Step in the Dark by Judith Lennox (Headline Review)
· Welcome to the Real World by Carole Matthews (Headline Review)
· Learning by Heart by Elizabeth McGregor (Bantam)
· Iris & Ruby by Rosie Thomas (HarperCollins)

The winning title will be chosen from the shortlist by a distinguished panel of judges under the chairmanship of athlete Tanni Grey-Thompson, aided by writer and blogger Michael Allen and librarian Liz Brain. The winner of the 2007 Romantic Novel of the Year Award will receive an engraved glass trophy and a cheque for 5,000 pounds at the Award Luncheon, to be held on Friday April 27th at London’s Savoy Hotel.