Rosie Blake is our "New Girl"...plus a book giveaway

Not only is Rosie Blake new to the chick lit scene, but she also looks like Zooey Deschanel (at least in this picture, she does). Doppelgangers, anyone?!?

We are pleased to introduce you to Rosie today, as she is here to talk about a holiday we either dread or embrace (yes, we're talking Valentine's Day here) and share about her debut novel, How to Get a (Love) Life.

Rosie spent her university years writing pantomimes based on old classics, such as a successful showing in 2004 of Harry Potter: The Musical (complete with moving opening number, "In my Cupboard I will Stay"). She went on to write a winning short story in the La Senza/Little Black Dress Short Story Competition and was shortlisted in a few others including the 'Women and Home' annual competition and the Daily Mail 'Opening Paragraph' Competition. She started writing novels and after some false starts, and horrendous jobs that she wishes to keep a closely guarded secret (or write about in the future), she wrote How to Get a (Love) Life, which was published in January by Novelicious Books. (Bio adapted from Goodreads.)

Rosie likes baked items, taking long walks by the river and speaking about herself in the third person.

You can find her at Facebook and Twitter. Thanks to Novelicious, we have THREE e-books of How to Get a (Love) Life for some lucky readers anywhere in the world!

Making the Most of Valentine's Day

Valentine's Day ... oh it's a minefield, isn't it? But it isn't meant to be. It's meant to be fun, a bit of silliness, an excuse to focus on that part of your life. It is NOT to be taken that seriously.

If you're single and still searching, or not, it can still be a great day to get out, dress up all fancy and celebrate the relationships within your own life. It's love innit and everyone loves a bit of that. Take Nicola Brown's advice, main character in my novel How to Get A (Love) Life, and branch out this V Day.

Coupled up and want to celebrate? Fed up with the compulsory evening out staring at one another over the quintessential sad tea-light? Why don't you branch out from the usual romantic dinner route and do something a little different on February 14th?

I love a date where you get the chance to hang out together and share something. How about a spot of ice-skating? Wrap up all snuggly, hold his gloved hand in yours and spend a good half hour falling over each other on ice. It might get giggly, silly and will ALWAYS end in a hot dog and chips. Winner.

Loathe ice-skating? Why don't you both branch out and do something artsy together. Design yourself a teapot in one of those paint-your-own places. Every time you whip out the Earl Grey, you'll smile at the memory. Or make a photo collage of the last year together for your wall. Talk about those moments, remember the places you've been and celebrate a year of love and romance. Also, if the photos are thin on the ground, it will offer perfect excuse and motivator to book something in the future.

Bored of sitting inside and avoiding the heart strewn restaurants of February 14th? Call your friends and arrange a fancy dress themed dinner party at yours. Fancy dress is basically like magic, it makes everyone feel better. And there will be dinner (or takeaway). And friends. What’s not to love? End. Of.

How about making your own movie or music video? Once again, costumes are essential and lashings of makeup too. You could make your very own rom-com special (or recreate scenes from your favourite) and have a real giggle while doing so.

Or, get your girls all together and head to a bowling alley. You're allowed those cushions in the gutters if you're really bad and you can laugh at each other whilst doing your best Naked Gun impressions, "Strike One". This also ends in hot dog and chips, which (as we’ve already figured out) are the key to happiness.

Good luck my friends! Whether you’re single, attached or really, really bad at bowling, may your February 14th bring you much joy, laughter and loving.

Thanks to Rosie for a lovely guest post and to Novelicious for sharing her book with our readers.

~Introduction by Melissa Amster

How to win: Use Rafflecopter to enter the giveaway. If you have any questions, feel free to contact us.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Open worldwide. Giveaway ends February 18th at midnight EST.