**Update: Cooking Up Love is now available through Amazon  Barnes and Noble  and All Romance eBooks as an eBook.

I’m happy to announce I’ve been awarded the Lucky 7 Award by my friend and critique partner, Author Sharon C. Cooper. Check out her debut novel, Something New, a sweet contemporary romance at http://www.sharoncooper.net/

The Lucky 7 Award allows authors to showcase their work and then pass the award along to other authors to do the same. The excerpt can be from a published novel, short story, poem or a work in progress.

As a winner, you’re asked to do the following on your blog:

Go to page 77 of your manuscript

Go to line 7

Copy the next 7 lines, sentences, or paragraphs into your post (your choice)

Give the award to 7 more authors

So as I scrolled through my upcoming release, Cooking Up Love, I was hoping that page 77 wasn’t when Justin decided to give Shelbi a sample of the next course and thank goodness it wasn’t. I’m trying to keep my excerpts PG.

I’ve also selected seven authors I wish to give the Lucky 7 Award to. If you’ve already received this award, I’ll understand if you do not wish to participate again, unless of course you have a new book to promote.

Elise Marion

Kiru Taye   

Empi Baryeh

W. Lynn Chantale  

Deatri King-Bey

Phyllis Bourne   

LaTessa Montgomery

The excerpt below is taken from my upcoming novel, Cooking Up Love, which will be released on May 24^th.  Line 7 on page 77, begins in the middle of a conversation, but it shouldn’t be too hard to follow. Happy reading!

*****

“I made the red beans, rice, and corn bread. I didn’t sauté the sausage yet because you said you’d rather do it, but I cut up everything for you.” She pointed to the cutting board where the beef sausage, onions, and bell peppers were already diced.

“Thanks. But I like a little more onion. Have another one?”

“Yep. I’ll cut it for you. Go sit down and relax. You’ve been on your feet all day.”

She raked the ingredients she cut into a mixing bowl and placed the onion on the cutting board next to the knife.

Justin playfully bumped her out of the way with his hip and swatted her butt. “Let Big Daddy handle this,” he said, grabbing her in his arms and stooping down to eye level to give her a deep, tender kiss. “You’ve done everything else. I brought you some dessert. Grab the bag I set on the foyer table.”

“Is it a Memphis mud pie?” She jumped up and down in his arms. She had been begging him to make her one for over a week.

“You’ll just have to go see.” He kissed her again, and she rubbed her nose on his before leaving his warm embrace.

Copyrighted April 2012 by Candace Shaw

*****

Did Justin make Shelbi a Memphis mud pie? You’ll have to buy the book to find out! All Romance eBooks  Amazon and Barnes and Noble

You can read past excerpts below.

Excerpt #1

Excerpt #2