Louisa Edwards's Blog

The dog days of summer are officially here! Are you looking for a fun, romantic read to keep you cool and smiling through the heat? If so, I've got just the thing! My good friend, Maria Geraci, has a new book out that RT Book Reviews called "a great, easy breezy summer read that will keep you captivated until the end." And I'm going to give you a shot at your very own autographed copy! See below for details.

From the author of the The Boyfriend of the Month Club, A Girl Like You promises humor, entertainment, sympathetic characters and a heartwarming romance.
What if you found out you were the ugly friend?Emma Frazier is smart, hardworking, and loves her job as a journalist for a Florida lifestyle magazine. Emma knows she’s no great beauty, but she’s pretty certain she has a shot with her handsome new boss, Ben Gallagher—until Emma overhears a mutual acquaintance refer to her as the “ugly friend.” In an effort to reclaim her battered self-esteem, Emma decides to impress Ben at work by promising an exclusive interview with NASCAR legend, Trip Monroe.
Emma and Trip went to high school together and although it’s been fourteen years since they’ve spoken, Emma is certain she can score an interview with the elusive super star. But connecting with Trip turns out to be harder than Emma imagined. Her quest for the interview leads her back to her tiny hometown of Catfish Cove, where old secrets and a new romantic interest shake up Emma’s views on life and teach her that maybe the key to finding true love is as simple as accepting yourself for the person you were always meant to be.  Still want more? Here's an excerpt! Now I know you want to enter the giveaway...

So answer me this: Which would you rather be--beautiful, smart, or lucky? ; )

THE RULESSo here's what's going to happen. Pay attention, this is how you win!1. Answer the question posted on my Facebook wall. Just put your comment right under my post on my fan page here. OR if you don't have an FB account, answer the question on this blog, in the comments below.2. If you haven't already, you can feel free to "Like" my Facebook Fan Page, but it's not a requirement to enter the contest! I'd also love it if you followed me on Twitter @LouisaEdwards. Because then we can chat!3. Check back tomorrow morning on my Facebook Fan Page to see if you’ve won–I’ll post the winner’s name here on the blog, too, so make sure to come back and look for it. You’ve got one week to claim your prize, or I’ll have to give it to someone else. So be sure to check back!4. This contest is open to international residents, but the prize for an int'l winner will be an unsigned copy of the book. 

Join me and the darling, talented, funny, wonderful Roxanne St. Claire tonight at the Forever Romance Book Club Chat! We'll be online from 8:00 EST to 9:00 EST, chatting up a storm and talking about motherhood, friendships, and second chances. And we'll be giving away lots of signed books as prizes! If you haven't read BAREFOOT IN THE SAND yet, a) you should, you'll love it. And b) it's okay, because we'll be talking about HOT UNDER PRESSURE too!

If you want to see how Rocki persuaded me to host the chat, check out this real, accurate transcript from our conversation.

Hope to see all of you on the Forever Romance Facebook page at 8:00 tonight! Just click the link, kick off your shoes, and dive into the fun...

The Rules:

Go to page 77 of your current MS.Go to line 7.Copy down the next 7 lines/sentences, and post them as they're written. No cheating.Tag 7 other victims …er, authors.
Fun! Okay, here goes:
"But I want you to know, that's not why I came here. I'm not looking for a handout. I've got a decent job at the Empire Arms, even if my boss is kind of a dick. I can take care of myself and my kid."Jo didn't doubt that. But she was also aware that the timing of this long-awaited visit was no coincidence. No matter what Maddie said, a big part of her reasons for coming to Sanctuary now were pretty close to the reasons Jo had first come here to live with Aunt Dottie when she hit rock bottom all those years ago.

I got a precious few advance copies of Hot Under Pressure , hot off the presses! It looks so pretty in person, you guys. I'm a little obsessed. And I want to spread the obsession, so I'm giving one away this week! One lucky person won't have to wait until March 27th to get their hands on Beck. Rowr!
And in case you're on the fence about entering this contest (although I don't know why you would be, since it's all completely free and super easy) here's what a few reviewers have had to say about HUP:
"San Francisco scenery, delicious menus, and warm relationships finish Edwards's Recipe for Love trilogy on a high note...A warm and authentic tearjerker." --Publishers Weekly
"Edwards’ funny, lovable characters slice, dice and julienne fry their way to a satisfying conclusion. Délicieux!”--Reader to Reader Reviews
“Edwards brings her Rising Star Chef trilogy to an extraordinarily entertaining conclusion with a captivating second chance-at-romance story that is expertly leavened with a delicious wit and generously spiced with sensuality.” --Booklist

THE RULESSo here's what's going to happen. Pay attention, this is how you win!1. Answer the question posted on my Facebook wall. Just put your comment right under my post on my fan page here. OR if you don't have an FB account, answer the question on this blog, in the comments below.2. If you haven't already, you can feel free to "Like" my Facebook Fan Page, but it's not a requirement to enter the contest! I'd also love it if you followed me on Twitter @LouisaEdwards. Because then we can chat!3. Check back tomorrow morning on my Facebook Fan Page to see if you’ve won–I’ll post the winner’s name here on the blog, too, so make sure to come back and look for it. You’ve got one week to claim your prize, or I’ll have to give it to someone else. So be sure to check back!4. This contest is open to international residents, but the prize for an int'l winner will be an unsigned copy of the book. 

Is there a kid in your life who doesn't like to read? Check out this handy Top Ten list from the Young Adult Library Services Assoc of quick picks for reluctant readers. And look who's #1 on the list! My friend, and truly fabulous author, Ann Aguirre, with the first book in her dark, addictive, post-apocalyptic YA series, Enclave.

In honor of her inclusion on this very cool list, I'm giving away a signed copy of Enclave today! So if you've got a reluctant OR an eager reader of YA books in your life (or if you are one, yourself) this is definitely the giveaway for you. And in case you need more convincing about how awesome Enclave is, check out the extremely cool book trailer:




THE RULESSo here's what's going to happen. Pay attention, this is how you win!1. Answer the question posted on my Facebook wall. Just put your comment right under my post on my fan page here. OR if you don't have an FB account, answer the question on this blog, in the comments below.2. If you haven't already, you can feel free to "Like" my Facebook Fan Page, but it's not a requirement to enter the contest! I'd also love it if you followed me on Twitter @LouisaEdwards. Because then we can chat!3. Check back tomorrow morning on my Facebook Fan Page to see if you've won–I'll post the winner's name here on the blog, too, so make sure to come back and look for it. You've got one week to claim your prize, or I'll have to give it to someone else. So be sure to check back!4. This contest is open to international residents, but the prize for an int'l winner will be an unsigned copy of the book. 

It's Wednesday, and I feel like giving something away. And have I ever got a treat for y'all! Two, count them, TWO, signed copies of Zoe Archer's Devil's Kiss--the very first book in her brand new, scorching hot, fast-paced historical romantic adventure Hell Raisers series.
The Hell Raisers are the ultimate bad boys: a group of 18th century rakes who will stop at nothing in the pursuit of pleasure--even if it costs them their souls! In the first book, which got the coveted Top Pick rating from RT Book Reviews, we meet... 
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1762. James Sherbourne, Earl of Whitney, is a gambling man. Not for the money. But for the thrill, the danger—and the company: Whit has become one of the infamous Hellraisers, losing himself in the chase for adventure and pleasure with his four closest friends.
Which is how Whit finds himself in a gypsy encampment, betting against a lovely Romani girl. Zora Grey's smoky voice and sharp tongue entrance Whit nearly as much as her clever hands—watching them handle cards inspires thoughts of another kind...
Zora can't explain her attraction to the careless blue-eyed Whit. She also can't stop him and his Hellraisers from a fiendish curse: the power to grant their own hearts' desires, to chase their pleasures from the merely debauched to the truly diabolical. And if Zora can't save Whit, she still has to escape him…


In addition to the fabulous signed copies of the book, I've also got two sets of Zoe's gorgeous Hell Raisers romance trading cards to give away! Keep reading to find out how to enter:
THE RULESSo here's what's going to happen. Pay attention, this is how you win!1. Answer the question posted on my Facebook wall. Just put your comment right under my post on my fan page here. OR if you don't have an FB account, answer the question on this blog, in the comments below.2. If you haven't already, you can feel free to "Like" my Facebook Fan Page, but it's not a requirement to enter the contest! I'd also love it if you followed me on Twitter @LouisaEdwards. Because then we can chat!3. Check back tomorrow morning on my Facebook Fan Page to see if you've won–I'll post the winner's name here on the blog, too, so make sure to come back and look for it. You've got one week to claim your prize, or I'll have to give it to someone else. So be sure to check back!4. This contest is open to international residents, but the prize for an int'l winner will be an unsigned copy of the book. 

I could hardly drag myself out of my warm bed this morning. It's actually *cold* here in Austin! Like winter, almost! DO NOT LIKE. So to get myself revved up, I'm offering a sizzling hot read for our giveaway today: Model Marine by the fabulous Candace Havens!

Just take one look at that cover, and you will NEED to get your hands on it. Yum! And what's inside is just as sexy and delightful:

Subject: Captain Will Hughes, US Marine Corps
Current Status: On assignment in NYC-suddenly recruited to shed the uniform!
Mission: Serve as model, muse and man-toy without running afoul of the General.
Obstacle: Hannah Harrington, fashion world It Girl.

Hannah narrowly escaped Fashion Week disaster by hijacking gorgeous Will for her runway show: after all, rock-hard abs are the ultimate accessory. His good deed nearly lands him in the brig, but he'll risk anything to get back into her bed....Hannah can't figure out how this model Marine got under her skin-they're complete opposites! But sexy Will not only ignites her senses, he fuels her creativity: an irresistible combination, even if it can't last. Can two steamy weeks together satisfy their lust...or will they have to extend this mission?


If you've never read Candy's books before, or if you've never tried a Harlequin Blaze, this is the one to start with! Come and get it.
THE RULESSo here's what's going to happen. Pay attention, this is how you win!1. Answer the question posted on my Facebook wall. Just put your comment right under my post on my fan page here. OR if you don't have an FB account, answer the question on this blog, in the comments below.2. If you haven't already, you can feel free to "Like" my Facebook Fan Page, but it's not a requirement to enter the contest! I'd also love it if you followed me on Twitter @LouisaEdwards. Because then we can chat!3. Check back tomorrow morning on my Facebook Fan Page to see if you've won–I'll post the winner's name here on the blog, too, so make sure to come back and look for it. You've got one week to claim your prize, or I'll have to give it to someone else. So be sure to check back!4. This contest is open to international residents, but the prize for an int'l winner will be an unsigned copy of the book. 

Changing gears a little for today's giveaway! I've got award-winning author Lauren Willig's first book in her popular swashbuckling romantic mystery series. The Secret History of the Pink Carnation was called "a deftly hilarious, sexy novel" by Eloisa James; Meg Cabot pronounced it "pure fun!" You definitely don't want to miss the book that started it all.

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Nothing ever goes right for Eloise. The day she wears her new suede boots, it rains. When the subway stops short, she's the one thrown into some stranger's lap. And she's had her share of misfortune in the way of love. So, after deciding that romantic heroes must be a thing of the past, Eloise is ready for a fresh start.


Setting off for England, Eloise is determined to finish her dissertation on two spies, the Scarlet Pimpernel and the Purple Gentian. But what she discovers is something historians have missed: the secret history of the Pink Carnation-the most elusive spy of all time. As she works to unmask this obscure spy, Eloise has more and more questions. Like, how did the Pink Carnation save England from Napoleon? What became of the Scarlet Pimpernel and the Purple Gentian? And will Eloise Kelly escape her bad luck and find a living, breathing hero of her own?


I've got a signed copy right here, and this book would make the perfect holiday read!

THE RULESSo here's what's going to happen. Pay attention, this is how you win!1. Answer the question posted on my Facebook wall. Just put your comment right under my post on my fan page here. OR if you don't have an FB account, answer the question on this blog, in the comments below.2. If you haven't already, you can feel free to "Like" my Facebook Fan Page, but it's not a requirement to enter the contest! I'd also love it if you followed me on Twitter @LouisaEdwards. Because then we can chat!3. Check back tomorrow morning on my Facebook Fan Page to see if you've won–I'll post the winner's name here on the blog, too, so make sure to come back and look for it. You've got one week to claim your prize, or I'll have to give it to someone else. So be sure to check back!4. This contest is open to international residents, but the prize for an int'l winner will be an unsigned copy of the book. 

It's going to be another fabulous week of free books here on my blog and Facebook page, so let's get it started off right! Today, I have the fantastic, amazing, gorgeous Gena Showalter's Intertwined . It's the first book in her hugely popular young adult paranormal series, and if you haven't read her, this is a great book to start with. She's a #1 New York Times bestselling author for a reason, y'all!


Most sixteen-year-olds have friends. Aden Stone has four human souls living inside him:One can time-travel.One can raise the dead.One can tell the future.And one can possess another human.Everyone thinks he's crazy, which is why he's spent his entire life shuffled between mental institutions and juvie. All of that is about to change, however. For months Aden has been having visions of a beautiful girl - a girl who carries centuries old secrets. A girl who will either save him or destroy him.Together they'll enter a dark world of intrigue and danger . . . but not everyone will come out alive.


I know, right?! You want it. Here's the deal:
THE RULESSo here's what's going to happen. Pay attention, this is how you win!1. Answer the question posted on my Facebook wall. Just put your comment right under my post on my fan page here. OR if you don't have an FB account, answer the question on this blog, in the comments below.2. If you haven't already, you can feel free to "Like" my Facebook Fan Page, but it's not a requirement to enter the contest! I'd also love it if you followed me on Twitter @LouisaEdwards. Because then we can chat!3. Check back tomorrow morning on my Facebook Fan Page to see if you’ve won–I’ll post the winner’s name here on the blog, too, so make sure to come back and look for it. You’ve got one week to claim your prize, or I’ll have to give it to someone else. So be sure to check back!4. This contest is open to international residents, but the prize for an int'l winner will be an unsigned copy of the book. 

Today I'm feeling extra generous, so I'm giving away a signed copy of the lovely Marie Bostwick's absolutely GORGEOUS new book, Threading the Needle. It's a big, beautiful trade paperback with fancy edges to the pages, French flaps (sounds naughty, right?) and a stunning cover. What's inside isn't too shabby either! The book tells the heartwarming story of a woman who loses everything--only to discover a brand new sisterhood and a wonderful new life thanks to her long lost childhood best friend.
 To read an except, click here!
Here's the blurb:The economic downturn has hit New Bern, Connecticut, and Tessa Woodruff's herbal apothecary shop, For the Love of Lavender, is suffering. So is her once-happy thirty-four-year marriage to Lee. They'd given up everything to come back to New Bern from Boston and start their business, but now they're wondering if they made the right decision. To relieve the strain, Tessa signs up for a quilting class at the Cobbled Court Quilt Shop, and to her surprise, rediscovers the power of sisterhood - along with the childhood friend she thought she'd lost forever...Madelyn Beecher left New Bern twenty years ago and never looked back. But when her husband is convicted of running a Ponzi scheme and she's left with nothing but her late grandmother's cottage, she is forced to return to the town she fled. Unfortunately, the cottage is in terrible shape. Madelyn's only hope is to transform it into an inn. But to succeed, she'll need the help of her fellow quilters, including the one friend she never thought she'd see again - or forgive. Now Madelyn and Tessa will have to relive old memories, forge new ones, and realize it's possible to start over, one stitch at a time - as long as you're surrounded by friends...
I know you all want to win this one! What could be better than friendship, forgiveness, and a little quilting?  So check out the rules below:
THE RULESSo here's what's going to happen. Pay attention, this is how you win!1. Answer the question posted on my Facebook wall. Just put your comment right under my post on my fan page here. OR if you don't have an FB account, answer the question on this blog, in the comments below.2. If you haven't already, you can feel free to "Like" my Facebook Fan Page, but it's not a requirement to enter the contest! I'd also love it if you followed me on Twitter @LouisaEdwards. Because then we can chat!3. Check back tomorrow morning on my Facebook Fan Page to see if you've won–I'll post the winner's name here on the blog, too, so make sure to come back and look for it. You've got one week to claim your prize, or I'll have to give it to someone else. So be sure to check back!4. This contest is open to international residents, but the prize for an int'l winner will be an unsigned copy of the book.