Romance Reading Month February2020

The Romantic Novelists' Association launch their inaugural

Romance Reading Month

February 2020 sees the first Romance Reading Month for the Romantic Novelists' Association. The aim of the initiative is to encourage people to buy, borrow and read Romantic Fiction. Here is a calendar of events to show what’s happening when and how you can get involved;

1^st-7^th Feb

Love My Library Week, we all know the good work our libraries do, so we want to encourage everybody to borrow a library book and fall in love with a love story. So you can do the same, borrow as many romance novels as you can and tweet a picture of you and them to @RNAtweets using the following hashtags #LoveMyLibraryWeek #RNA60  Whilst you are there why not introduce yourself if you haven’t already, maybe let them know you are available for signings and talks. Just remember though libraries are for life and not just for Romance Reading Month.

3rd Feb

Announcement of Shortlistees for the Romantic Novel of the Year Awards. It’s always an exciting time of the year so congratulate our contenders and spread the word across social media.

8^th Feb

Talk with Tracy Chevalier at the Leonardo London City Hotel. Buy your tickets here and share any pictures to @RNAtweets https://romanticnovelistsassociation.org/event/general-meeting-2/edate/2020-02-08/

9^th Feb

Celebration of LGBQTIA+ Books. Show support for our Rainbow Chapter by sharing your favourite LGBQTIA+ books, characters and authors. Please tag @RNAtweets using the #LoveIsLove #RNA60

14^th Feb

Launch of new Facebook Group – Romantic Fiction Book Club. Buy a Romance Novel and share your thoughts on this brand new platform, invite your readers to join in the fun.

15^th Feb

Love Writing Manchester Event at Manchester University, RNA Author Debbie Johnson is Headlining, buy your tickets here and share any photo’s to @RNAtweets http://www.manchesterwritingschool.co.uk/events/the-love-writing-manchester-series-launch-event-with-special-guest-author-d.

17^th Feb

Challenge crime authors to read a romance novel and feed back their thoughts. Ask your friendly neighbourhood crime authors if they would like to read your novel and post their review to @RNAtweets on the 17^th, maybe you could do a review swap and you review one of theirs too. #CrimeAuthorsLoveRomance

20^th Feb

Review a romance novel day. We all must have books that we’ve read and loved but maybe it was before reviewing became a ‘thing.’ Think of an old favourite and post a review on all the usual platforms. Post a link to @RNAtweets #DiamondReviews #RNA60

23^rd Feb Post a video

Join celebrities like Marian Keyes by videoing a short clip (approx. 1 minute) telling us your favourite romance novel and wishing the RNA a Happy 60^th Anniversary. Or if you prefer a photo and a message would be good too.

Here’s a short script to help you out

“Hi, my name is ??? And I am (insert occupation here)

My favourite romance novel is ??

Written by ??

The reason I love it is because (a couple of sentences about why it’s your favourite.)

I would like to wish the RNA a very Happy 60th Anniversary”

29^th Feb

LeapIntoA LoveStory Get together with friends to talk about books or maybe start a book club. Some of the chapters are opening their doors for the day to bloggers, readers and industry professionals. Whatever you decide to do, don’t forget to post any pictures to @RNAtweets using #LeapIntoALoveStory #RomanceReadingMonth

Throughout the month we will be celebrating underrepresented authors and invite readers and authors to share diverse stories and characters across social media platforms using #RNADiverseRomance #RNA60

Kelly Lacey from @LoveBooksGroup blog is hosting many of our authors every day in February so please look out for those posts and share them far and wide.

For further details about Romance Reading Month please contact annettehannah@romanticnovelistsassociation.org

The Fall and Rise of Sadie McQueen by Juliet Ashton

About the Book

It doesn't look like much from the outside, but Cherry Blossom Mews is a miraculous place. It's somewhere that finds you, rather than the other way around.

Sadie McQueen has leased a double fronted space in this small cul de sac in a culturally diverse corner of central London. The cobbles muffle the noise of double-deckers roaring past the arched gates. Turn right and you are in a futuristic maze of corporate glass monoliths. Turn left and you see a wide street with many different houses. Towering above the mews are the degenerating tower blocks of an infamous estate. The old folks home and the nearby school are both in need of TLC; the private members' club that set up shop in a listed Georgian building has been discreetly refurbished at huge expense.

Into this confusion comes Sadie. She fell in love with the street the moment she first twisted her ankle on its cobbles. Her double-fronted unit is now a spa. She has sunk all her money into the lease and refurbishment. She's sunk all her hope into the carefully designed treatment rooms, the calm white reception space, the bijou flat carved out of the floor above.

Sadie has a mission to connect. To heal herself from tragedy. Sadie has wrapped the mews around her like a warm blanket, after unimaginable loss and unimaginable guilt. Her hard-won peace is threatened, not only by the prospect of the mews going under but by a man aptly named Hero who wakes up her comatose heart.

Sadie has a lot to give, and a lot to learn, not least that some ghosts aren't ghosts at all.

Title: The Fall and Rise of Sadie McQueen

Author: Juliet Ashton

Published By: Simon & Schuster

Publication date: 26th December 2019

Links:  UK:   Amazon       US:   Amazon

WHSmith

Our Review

I really feel as though I've become part of the neighbourhood of Cherry Blossom Mews, it is the sort of place that I imagine would feel like a warm hug as soon as you set foot in it. Cherry Blossom Mews is where Sadie McQueen escaped to when her life went so disastrously wrong.

Feeling full of guilt and self doubt she set up home there and opened up a beauty salon in the premises below her flat. Every chapter begins with an email invitation for the Residents meeting for Cherry Blossom Mews.

The neighbours are such an eclectic bunch, some would say misfits, each with their own personal problems and individual charm. They may not get on with each other all the time but they are completely protective of each other when push comes to shove.

The characters' stories were full of unexpected twists and turns and shocking revelations which managed to tug on every emotion and I can honestly say I didn't see any of them coming.

The writing flows gracefully at a relaxed pace and I felt was incredibly poetic. The general feel of the book was one of warmth, cosiness, love and friendship.

Addiction was a very strong theme throughout the book and brought up some very raw moments but was dealt with sensitively.

Sadie McQueen has had a tough battle to face but with the characters from Cherry Blossom Mews helping her fight her corner, you just know she will get there in the end because they leave no one behind.

This book faces hard issues but has an uplifting finish and all the love, warmth and humour of Juliet's previous book The Sunday Lunch Club.

Sincerely

Book Angel x

About the Author

I enjoy writing almost as much as I love reading. Books are constant friends; no fall-outs about borrowed shoes, no lusting after the same man. The books I write are about love in all its colours. Romantic love, of course - it makes the world go round, after all - but also family love, the way we feel about our friends and children and colleagues and the woman we see every day on the bus but never say 'hello' to.
There's no end of inspiration. Most authors are baffled by that commonly asked question, "Where do you get your ideas from?" The answer is simple: YOU. People are inspiring, with all their niggling faults and shimmering virtues. The tangles we get ourselves into, and the ludicrous ways we attempt to untangle ourselves, are a never ending source of material. In fact, most authors daren't use too much real life in their books because it would sound too much like fiction.
I've just remembered that this is supposed to be a biog, so here's some info about me. I live just outside London with my daughter, Niamh, who's 12, and my husband, Matthew, who's considerably older than that. The house hums with creativity, as I scribble downstairs and Matthew composes music for theatre and TV upstairs. We have two dogs, one of whom is wildly energetic, one of whom was born an old lady and prefers to sleep all day.
Hmm, what else? I'm Irish, but you wouldn't know that from my accent. I can't sing. My favourite crisp flavour is Roast Chicken, but I reserve the right to change that at short notice.

I hope you enjoy my books. They are the way I speak to the world.