Monday, September 13, 2010

Guest Blog and Giveaway with Louisa Edwards

Please join me in welcoming Louisa Edwards author of the Recipe for Love series. Louisa is promoting her new book, Just One Taste, which I will be reviewing tomorrow. Nancy Berland promotions has been kind enough to offer an autographed copy of Just One Taste, to a lucky follower. Please see the Giveaway Details at the end of this post. Louisa will also be joining us on Thursday, September 16 to respond to your comments, please stop buy and make her feel welcome.

The Possibilities Posed by Recipes... and Romance

I love recipes. They are all about possibilities! When I crack the spine on an untried cookbook, I get a rush of excitement and anticipation that rivals the thrill of getting dressed for a first date. That moment contains all the potential for joy and pleasure in the world.

Now, we all know that just the same way every first date doesn't pan out into the romance of the ages, every recipe won't yield the centerpiece of the meal of your life. But, the potential is there.

I read cookbooks like novels. Every recipe gets my imagination simmering with exciting flavor combinations, new tastes and textures, and the simple satisfaction of creating something that will nourish the people I love.

I write culinary romance for the same reason. A new story is like an empty bowl waiting to be filled with fresh, delicious components that will come together in sexy, funny, sometimes surprising ways. Because chemistry between characters is a strange thing - I never know exactly what's going to happen between my hero and heroine until I get them on the page!

For instance, in my latest Recipe for Love novel, Just One Taste, I wasn't sure what the result would be when I mixed a con-artist-turned chef with a food chemistry genius. All I knew was that I wanted to find out! And I'm so glad I did. Wes and Rosemary are some of my favorite characters I've ever written - their combination of bad boy charm and shy, nerdy brilliance sparkled with fun from page one. By the end of the book, I felt the same way I do after cooking an elaborate five-course meal - exhausted and ecstatic. And I couldn't wait to share their story with my readers! That's a wonderful feeling for sure.

But really, the potential is what I'm addicted to, in recipes and in romance. Because sometimes, every now and then and with the help of the imagination, the ingredients come together in a way that is pure magic.

Have you ever had an unusual set of circumstances, translate into an unexpected romance? Or a refrigerator of stray ingredients become a great dish? Answer the question for a chance to win an autographed copy of Just One Taste.

GIVEAWAY DETAILS

Louisa is giving away an autographed copy of Just One Taste. All you have to do are follow these few simple rules:

1.) You must answer one of Louisa's two questions at the end of the post.
2.) You must be a follower of this blog to participate.
3.) You must leave your e-mail address with your comment.
4.) U.S. entries only! (The publisher will be sending this one out.)
5.) The giveaway deadline is Midnight EST, September 27th.

12 comments:

Kathy Habel said...

Most of my refrigerator concoctions are far from great dishes. And when I do create something wonderful I can never recreat it :(
bkhabel AT gmail DOT com
I am a follower

justpeachy36 said...

LOL... Kathy! I hear you on that, I'm the same way. I can't make the same thing twice.

Thanks for signing up for the giveaway, please come back on September 16th when the author, Louisa Edwards will be here to answer your questions.

StephTheBookworm said...

Yes, I have had unusual circumstances turn to romance. I met my boyfriend when we were both volunteering at an after school program 4 years ago. Maybe not strange, but very unexpected!

stephaniet117 at yahoo dot com

justpeachy36 said...

Steph,

I started working with a guy I knew 20 years ago in high school. My truck broke down and I needed a ride to work and the rest is history... LOL!

Try to come back on the 16th and talk with Louisa, I'm sure it's going to be great having her here.

Scorpio M. said...

My one unusual circumstance that turned to romance...On a flight from London to NY, the guy seated next to me & I really hit it off and we ended up dating even though we were in different cities. Short lived but memorable.

I am a follower.

jenma76 at hotmail dot com

Louisa Edwards said...

Inspired Kathy - That's the trick! Knowing when to write down what you're doing, in case you want to do it again. Very tough!

Steph - What a sweet story! I like that.

Scorpio - Wow, that sounds like the premise for a movie! What cool story.

Theresa N. said...

My refrigerator can thrill me or .. well lets just say some things should never be put in an omlelet. :) Blog follower, email subscriber.
Theresa N
weceno(at)yahoo(dot)com

Pain SUX said...

My unusual set of circumstances was when one day I woke up feeling I needed to do a good deed for someone annoynmous, so I looked up a pen pal and their interests and sent them a calendar they loved. we started talking all the time, and became great lovers.

I follow!

~Steph
soklad@hotmai.com

Book Loving Mommy said...

My unusual circumstance that turned into romance was when I decided to hike up a waterfall trail one day. I met a guy about half way up and we were instantly attracted to each other. We finished hiking up the trail together and back down and had lunch (about 5 hours). At the end of the day I was madly in love with him. We parted ways and sadly, I never saw him again but 10 years later I still remember that day like it was yesterday!

Jessica M.

manningjessicar(at)yahoo(dot)com

Pris said...

My random refrigerator ingredients become fantastic soup every few weeks!!!
I am a follower!
pbenterud@gmail.com

misskallie2000 said...

I also use my refrigerator leftovers for making soup. The colder the weather the more soup I make. I haven't tried fish soup but all the others were good. During the summer I freeze my leftovers and make soup on a cool day.

I love Louisa's books and look forward to reading Just One Taste.

I am a GFC follower

Twitter follower(@misskallie2000)
Tweet
http://twitter.com/misskallie2000/status/25562544281

misskallie2000 at yahoo dot com

Anonymous said...

I always seem to be one thing short of having the ingredients of a great tasting dish! No matter what it is or when it is! I always, always, always have to run to the store at the last minute!
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