HARDEN author Lisa Firth has been shortlisted in the Romantic Novel Awards for the second year in a row.

Lisa, who writes as Mary Jayne Baker and Lisa Swift, has again been named in the Romantic Comedy of the Year category.

Lisa was nominated for her 2019 novel A Question of Us, set in the fictional town of Denworth which was inspired by her hometown of Bingley.

The book even has a tongue-in-cheek dedication to the town's fondly-remembered Porky’s nightclub.

The novel centres around a twentysomething pub quiz team, the Mighty Morphin Flower Arrangers, as they compete in their town’s inter-pub quiz league.

The stakes are raised when team captain Clarrie accepts a bet from her best friend Simon that if they win, she’ll go on a date with him.

As victory looks increasingly likely, Clarrie is forced to question what she really wants out of life – and love.

Novels make the Romantic Comedy of the Year shortlist only if they are consistently funny, and A Question of Us has won through from 500 entries.

The awards ceremony will take place at the Leonardo Royal London City Hotel on March 2, with the awards presented by comedian Jenny Eclair.

Other authors nominated in the Romantic Novel Awards this year include bestselling novelists Jojo Moyes and Sophie Kinsella, and Strictly Come Dancing star Anton du Beke. Previous winners have included fiction heavyweights Milly Johnson, Jenny Colgan and Jill Mansell.

Lisa said: "I’m thrilled and honoured to see my name on the shortlist alongside so many talented people.

"I loved attending the awards ceremony last year when my Tour de France-inspired novel A Bicycle Made for Two was shortlisted, and can’t wait to be there again this year to raise a glass to the diamond anniversary of the Romantic Novelists’ Association.

"The RNA is a wonderfully supportive organisation for members and I’m proud to be a part of it."

Since its inception in 1960, the RNA has promoted excellence in romantic fiction.

RNA chairman Alison May said this year's shortlist showed the fantastic range of romantic fiction being produced by hugely-talented authors.

She added: "In the RNA’s 60th year it’s heartening to see the genre in such good health, and to see such an exciting mix of established and up-and-coming writers taking romantic fiction forward into the next 60 years."

A Question of Us was published by Aria Fiction, an imprint of Head of Zeus, in September last year.

Visit maryjaynebaker.co.uk for further information about Lisa's novels.