Pure Passion

The Results are in! Christina Jones' "Love Potions" was voted the best romantic read in the North West Libraries' Pure Passion event. In a glittering ceremony at Manchester's Town Hall on Thursday 21st February, members of the Time to Read Team, the Romantic Novelists' Association, publishers, booksellers, librarians and readers gathered to hear the results announced. Scriptwriter Jan Etherington gave a wonderfully entertaining, witty and thought-provoking speech pointing out the differences between romance and passion: Mills & Boon Marketing Director Clare Somerville was on hand to present the trophy to the winner and to congratulate the runners' up, Elizabeth Chadwick (The Scarlet Lion) and Linda Gillard (Emotional Geology). You can find full details at www.time-to-read.co.uk but I have put a few pictures on here to give you a taster of the glitzy evening.....

The beautiful room in Manchester's grand Victorian Town Hall was ours for the evening - a wonderful venue for the Pure Passion Finale.

IF I AM LOOKING VERY SMUG HERE, it is because I have just been enjoying a good natter with the Chair of the Romantic Novelists Association, Catherine Jones - talking shop, of course! Catherine also writes for Little Black Dress as Kate Lace.

Clare Somerville, Marketing Director of M&B, and Jan Etherington, our main speaker.

PURE PASSION winner Chrstina Jones (sorry, Christina, not a great photo but I am sure better ones will appear on the RNA and Time to Read websites)

Jane Mathieson, the Regional Reader Development Co-ordinator for the North West who master-minded the event. Thanks, Jane.

And thse are just randon snaps........

Melinda Hammond, author

Romantic Historical Novelist