23 May 2012 01:19:36
The novel, published by tiny independent press Choc Lit, was named winner last night. It beat titles by more established authors including Katie Fforde and Rosie Thomas. Judges including the Daily Mail's Jane Mays, Foyles' Jonathan Ruppin and WH Smith's Matt Bates praised its humour. They said: "It was a narrow choice between Please Don't Stop the Music and The Kashmir Shawl [by Thomas] but Jane's voice was fresh and new with an unexpected hero. It was a romance with dark undertones and it engaged with issues a lot of people recognise."
Lovering is a mother of five and school science technician by day, and a romance writer by night. Please Don't Stop the Music tells of jewellery designer Jemima, whose attempts to keep her past a secret stumble when she runs into Ben, the former front man of indie rock band Willow Down. As she starts to uncover why he dropped out of celebrity life to run a guitar shop, her own secrets begin to unravel.
Former winners of the romantic novel of the year, awarded by the Romantic Novelists' Association, include Jojo Moyes, Philippa Gregory and Freya North. "Warmest congratulations to Jane and my personal thanks for making me hoot with laughter," said RNA chair and novelist Anne Ashurst. "What an achievement to become romantic novelist of the year with one's first novel for talent-spotting publishers Choc Lit. A great read and well-deserved success."
