Name the Island

I have been back for three days now and I still walk like a zombie, nap for four hours in the middle of the day and perk up at midnight. Briefly, I am still on Australian time, fourteen hours ahead of Florida. When I am awake I am not hungry. My stomach protests it's on Australian night time and refuses to absorb anything but water. I may lose the five pounds I loaded on during my trip. Wouldn't that be a nice side effect!!

I loved Sydney but we will talk about it in a few days. To reach Sydney, we traveled to Los Angelos (5 hours), spent ten hours waiting for our next flight, a huge 747 plane with an upper floor for the cockpit and first class.

My husband always books two seats next to the emergency door. That way we have as much leg room as if we were in business class and no close-by passengers.

So we traveled from Los Angelos to an Island

(YOU WILL HAVE TO GUESS THE

NAME OF THAT ISLAND TO WIN THE

MOTHER-OF-PEARL RING I BOUGHT IN THE ISLAND

FOR A LUCKY WINNER).

The flight took eleven hours. When we arrived to the Island (or rather islandS) we were sixteen hours ahead of eastern USA time and in the Southern hemisphere, which means it was winter there, avery mild winter with temperatures ranging from 60-80 F.

The flight attendants taught us two words. Bulah= hello and Vinaka=thank you.

We landed in the capital, Nadi. I never heard of it before but maybe those of you in California have already guessed the name of the Island.The food was scrumptious at the hotel. We spent only two days and two nights, slept on lounge chairs on the beach, read or walked. The water was not clear in that main island and nobody swam in the ocean.

When I related my disappointment about being unable to swim to my Australian relatives, they said we didn't go to the right place and should take a local cruise to explore the little islands.

I will tell you about our day cruise in my next post.

Meanwhile try to gues the name of the ISLAND for the chance to win a mother-of-pearl ring.

We will go back to the main contest in a few posts.

More about Monet

I am glad many readers had a chance to stop and enjoy the pictures of the site that inspired one of the greatest painters of all time.

Giverny is such an artistic mess of flowers, ponds, and bridges. One would think, it's a natural unspoiled place. But it's not natural. The garden was designed and planted the way it is by Claude Monet.

Inside his house, he has an incredible collection of blue and white porcelain from Japan, China, Holland and Russia.

In 1900, he wrote his own embelished biography for a newspaper and helped build his own fame. We should take a lesson in PR, promote your own work.

"I am not a great painter, great poet. I just know that I do what I can to express what I feel in front of nature." --Claude Monet

I promised you an extravaganza contest. Here are my questions:

1- In To Love A Hero: what is the name of the colonel who is Sergei's close friend?
2- What is the name of the American contract director who travels with Cecile?

3-In French Peril: what is the name of the Chateau's butler?
4- What is the name of François' former French girlfriend?

5-In Babies in the Bargain, what is the baby's name
6- What is Marc's brother's name?

Are you ready to play?I will post this until the end of July to give you the time to find the answers. I need all the answers for a winner and three runners up.

The prizes are: A bracelet in painted copper from Tunisia.

A bracelet and antique car brooch from Spain.

A silver pharaonic pendant from Egypt

A Golden Heart winner's autographed book by Beth Andrews.

I will be leaving on a long trip for two weeks. Although I am taking my laptop I may or may not have Internet connection.

Please stop by my blog and enter my contest. AND PLEASE REMEMBER TO SIGN MY MAILING LIST (the white box on the left of the blog) if you haven't done so already.

If I can't connect, then we will meet again at the end of the month and pull winners for the above contest.

I need an answer for the six questions.

Links to buy my books:

To Love A Hero: At Jasmine Jade
http://www.jasminejade.com/p-6651-to-love-a-hero.aspx?skinid=13

At Amazon.com:
http://www.amazon.com/Love-Hero-Mona-Risk/dp/1419958100/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1246660182&sr=1-1

FRENCH PERIL: At Jasmine Jade
http://www.jasminejade.com/pc-7354-35-french-peril.aspx

At Amazon.com

Babies in the Bargain: at TWRP
http://www.thewildrosepress.com/babies-in-the-bargain-p-1298.html

At Amazon.com
http://www.amazon.com/Babies-Bargain-Mona-Risk/dp/1601545142/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1246659781&sr=1-1

At Barnes and Noble:
http://search.barnesandnoble.com/Babies-In-The-Bargain/Mona-Risk/e/9781601545145/?itm=1

BABIES IN THE BARGAIN is Bestseller #1 in its category Champagne Roses (long contemporary) at The Wild Rose Press.

If you like to travel and love to read, come and enjoy my international romances. I will take you around the world through stories that simmer with emotion and sizzle with heat.

Giverny

[Click on pictures to enlarge].

Giverny is the country home of Claude Monet, the French impressionist painter.

Located 80 km West from Paris, France, in the village of Giverny, 4 km from the town of Vernon, Claude Monet House and Gardens are now open to visitors who can amble through the gardens that inspired his paintings: the water lily pond, Japanese bridge, Grande Allee, flower garden and more.

Above, you may recognize his most famous painting of the Bridge in the Japanese Garden.

Below, I am posing on that same bridge.

Impressionist painters have a specific way of using colors. Impressionist art is based on the use of color, which has to "draw" the motive without resorting to line.

At the beginning of his career, Monet used dark colors. From 1860 on, Monet abandonned dark colors and worked from a palette limited to pure light colors.

In 1905, answering a question about his colors, he wrote : "As for the colors I use, what's so interesting about that ? I don't think one could paint better or more brightly with another palette. The most important thing is to know how to use the colors. Their choice is a matter of habit. In short, I use white lead, cadmium yellow, vermilion, madder, cobalt blue, chrome green. That's all."

The color analysis enabled to identify the colors he used and the binder of the paintings : poppyseed oil and linseed oil. The former dries off slower and yellows less.

I promised you an extravaganza contest. Here are my questions:

1- In To Love A Hero: what is the name of the colonel who is Sergei's close friend?

2- What is the name of the American contract director who travels with Cecile?

3-In French Peril: what is the name of the Chateau's butler?

4- What is the name of François' former French girlfriend?

5-In Babies in the Bargain, what is the baby's name

6- What is Marc's brother's name?

Are you ready to play?I will post this until the end of July to give you the time to find the answers. I need all the answers for a winner and two runners up.

Tomorrow I will post the prizes

If you like to travel and love to read, come and enjoy my international romances. I will take you around the world through stories that simmer with emotion and sizzle with heat.

Announcing a Contest

My blog was so quiet after the Fourth of July. I hope we all had a chance to relax. Now many of you are back to work and I am back to writing.

I only have three more days and then I am leaving for two weeks to visit the in-laws who live far away. I'm taking my camera of course.

I promised you an extravaganza contest. Here are my questions:

1- In To Love A Hero: what is the name of the colonel who is Sergei's close friend.
2- What is the name of the American contract director who travels with Cecile?
3-In French Peril: what is the name of the Chateau's butler?
4- What is the name of François' former French girlfriend?
5-In Babies in the Bargain, what is the baby's name
6- What is Marc's brother's name?

Are you ready to play?

I will post this until the end of July to give you the time to find the answers. I need all the answers for a winner and two runners up.

Tomorrow I will post the prizes-- no books- along with pictures of Giverny, the house and garden of the famous painter Monet.

By the way, BABIES IN THE BARGAIN is bestseller #3 for Roses (long romances) and bestseller#2 for Champagne Roses (contemporary). I am smiling to my ears.

The Best Fourth of July

I hope you all had a joyful and relaxed Fourth of July.

Mine was the best.

In addition to spending the morning playing on the beach and swimming with my granddaughters in a crystal clear ocean, I spent the afternoon with my mother and then at eight-o’clock at night, my husband and I celebrated both the Fourth of July and my newly released book, BABIES IN THE BARGAIN, a sweet and spicy medical romance in the genre of Grey’s Anatomy and ER.

We had dinner in an overcrowded cafe on the beach, toasted my book and later sat on the sand to watch the fireworks. It was the most relaxing time I had in months.

Today I watched the Wimbledon and applauded Roger Federer as he made history with 15 grand slams and a fifth set of 15 games. He's so accurate and focused when he plays, so gracious and kind socially. A real hero.

I would like to share with you a funny excerpt from BABIES IN THE BARGAIN.

BABIES IN THE BARGAIN:

Contests wins: The Beacon; Launching A Star; The Suzannah;Great Expectations; Golden Gateway; Gotcha, Enchanted Words;Winter Rose; Duel on the Delta; Linda Howard Award of Excellence....

Short Synopsis: With only one year left to complete her medical training in Neonatology, Dr. Holly Collier vows not to let anyone mess up her sacrosanct schedule. Especially not the gorgeous Dr. Marc Suarez who broke her heart seven years ago.

When a tragic accident transforms the carefree playboy into a dedicated but novice father to his nephew, Holly gives in to her maternal instincts and turns her structured life upside down for the orphaned preemie. But can she learn to trust Marc again and believe in true love?

Excerpt:

• Abuelita covered Paulito’s face and hands with kisses. The baby started screaming but his great-grandmother laughed. “He looks like his father and uncle. And he has the same voice. Bueno. You did a good job, Marquito.”
  
• “Not me, Abuelita. The credit goes to Holly. She’d stayed on her feet many long nights to take care of him when he was colicky.”
• 
  The old lady handed Paulito back to Elena and raised a suspicious eyebrow. “Where?” she tersely inquired. “At your place?”


• Holly inwardly groaned. Her cheeks felt ten degrees warmer.


• “No.” Marc ignored her pleading gaze and looked at her with gratitude as he pushed her from the frying pan straight into the fire. “Dr. Collier was kind enough to invite us to live in her big house.”
• Holly wanted to become a mouse and disappear under the door. Couldn’t this man lie for once in his life?


• But now, she knew for sure Marc never lied. How could she have refused to trust him when he said he loved her?


• Abuelita frowned and gave Holly a once over. “This is acceptable in America? You two are married, Marquito?”


• “Not yet, Abuelita.” Marc wrapped a possessive arm around Holly’s waist. “I asked Holly to marry me but she said no. She needs time to think.”


• Holly’s eyes widened as she glared at his laughing face and stood up.


• “You refused my Marquito? A doctor? The most eligible man in San Juan?” The old lady almost choked on her questions.


• “Um, ah. No. I mean yes, but...”
• 
  
  “Abuelita, you need to rest,” Marc said as he led Holly out. “And we need to check on the baby. We’ll see you later.”
• 
  
  “Wait, Marquito. I need to talk to you.” Abuelita raised a hand as dry as her tone.
  
  BABIES IN THE BARGAIN is available for purchase in ebook and paperback at:
  The Wild Rose Press,
  
  Amazon.com,
  
  http://amazon.co.uk/
  
  Barnes& Noble
  
  You can click on one of these links to buy.
  
  So how did you spend your Fourth of July?

Today I am mailing your prizes.

I am still thinking about the next contest and will have it tomorrow or after.

If you like to travel and love to read, come and enjoy my international romances. I will take you around the world through stories that simmer with emotion and sizzle with heat.

D-DAY for BABIES IN THE BARGAIN

• 
  
  Oh My God, can you hear me sqeal!!!!!!!!!
  
  BABIES IN THE BARGAIN is already up at The Wild Rose Press as ebook for $6.00
  
  
  Click here to buy from
  
  The Wild Rose Press.
  
  And in paperback for $10.99 at Amazon.com
  
  
  
  With only one year left to complete her medical training in Neonatology, Dr. Holly Collier vows not to let anyone mess up her sacrosanct schedule. Especially not the drop-dead gorgeous Dr. Marc Suarez who broke her heart seven years ago.
  
  When a tragic accident transforms the carefree playboy into a dedicated but novice father to his nephew, Holly gives in to her maternal instincts and turns her structured life upside down for the orphaned preemie. But can she learn to trust Marc again and believe in true love?
  
  220 Pages,
  SpicyPrint
  ISBN: 1-60154-514-2
  
  
  Contests wins: The Beacon; Launching A Star; The Suzannah; Great Expectations;
  Golden Gateway; Gotcha, Enchanted Words; Winter Rose; Duel on the Delta;
  Linda Howard Award of Excellence....
  
  Chapter One:
  
  “Twin delivery. C-section. Stat.” Dr. Halsdale, the old obstetrician, bellowed. “Ready?”
  
  Being the senior fellow in Neonatology, Dr. Holly Collier was always ready for a difficult task.
  
  But she wasn’t ready to face Marc Suarez one more time.
  
  Eyeing the imposing back of the anesthesiologist, Holly chewed on her lip, a queasy feeling simmering in her stomach. In med school, falling for the athletic Marc had spread like a virus, resulting in an epidemic that no vaccination could eradicate. Holly had been contaminated too, seven years ago.
  
  The bright Puerto Rican resident had obviously fulfilled his professors’ expectations. He was back at Washington Children’s Hospital as a big-league doctor now and he’d already rattled the hospital’s serenity and her own comfort in the last five weeks.
  
  As usual Marc dominated the scene with his hundred-and-eighty pounds of well-distributed charm and his rugged confidence.
  
  “Twenty-eight-year-old patient. First pregnancy. Thirty-five-week gestation,” Dr. Halsdale said, his eyes scanning his team. One of the residents blinked, and his fingers trembled. Holly smiled with sympathy. She’d been there. Dr. Halsdale had once scared the bejeebers out of her, too.
  
  She turned on the two radiant warmers for the expected preemies. The delivery room bustled with a flurry of activity. Doctors and nurses in surgical garb and masks huddled around the operating table where the patient lay, moaning. Dressed as a medic, the soon-to-be dad hovered near by. His shaky fingers clutching a video camera, he bent and kissed his wife’s forehead.
  
  A few feet away, Marc raised his masked face. His chocolate eyes sparkling with golden flecks, he winked at Holly and resumed his task with unperturbed assurance.
  
  Under the mask, Holly’s mouth fell open. Marc had made it a disturbing habit to wink at her before starting his procedures. A good-luck sign, he’d called it while smiling his infectious grin.
  
  The man was drop-dead gorgeous and always displayed a cheerful smile. As if he didn’t have a single worry in his life.
  
  Maybe he didn’t. Holly suppressed a grimace of disgust as she struggled to control her breathing. Coping with Marc’s presence in the delivery room had doubled the stress of her difficult job.
  
  Resentment pursed Holly’s lips. Three months of crying and almost flunking her medical exams seven years ago had taught her a bitter lesson. One she wasn’t about to forget. But she had no time to dwell on the sizzling emotions only Marc could create in her heart.

One More Day / Polynesia

Ten years ago we flew to Tahiti and cruised the Polynesians Islands. [Click on the pictures to enlarge]

Tahiti has beautiful beaches and a lot of souvenirs (made in China) to offer.

These little uninhabited islands are called Mu-Mu.

We reached them by small boats and spent a few hours on the beach swimming before the native served us a delicious lunch.

• Bora-Bora is the most famous island. It was used as a USA base during WWII.

• The color of the Pacific Ocean is a deep indigo blue changing to turquoise near the shore.

• We were able to visit one the fancy straw houses that are built on pillars right in the water. In the middle of the living room, the floor has a glass square that allows a direct observation of the ocean life.




• Can you believe we swam in a natural pool among baby sharks and stingrays?

The rain forests and luxuriant vegetation are another attraction of the Polynesian Islands.

Back to reality:

Today is my mother's birthday. I bought a bouquet of roses and a chocolate cake and went to visit early in the morning. Later on, my granddaughters came, beaming in their new lovely dresses, their hair neatly pulled in ponytails. They brought their art work, sang happy birthday, Mémé, and we all ate the cake. After the girls left with their mother, I opened my laptop, answered emails, and posted comments on various blogs, then stopped at noon to grind Mom's food and feed her. In the afternoon I munched on pistachios as we were out of chocolate.

I made the resolution that next week-- when I am relaxed and happy--I will start a serious, very serious diet.

Tomorrow BABIES IN THE BARGAIN will be on the market. I will post the link as soon as I have it.

The winner of contest #7 about the baby's name is: Chey

Since I am in a celebrating mood, I went back and picked up winners from previous posts. These names came out: Patricia Barraclough-- Estella-- Cherylol-- Jane-- Silvermage--

All winners, please email me with your address and choice of prize. The prizes are in a previous post.

During the Fourth of July weekend I will have a big extravaganza contest to celebrate with you the release of BABIES IN THE BARGAIN.

Short Synopsis:

With only one year left to complete her medical training in Neonatology, Dr. Holly Collier vows not to let anyone mess up her sacrosanct schedule. Especially not the drop-dead gorgeous Dr. Marc Suarez who broke her heart seven years ago.

When a tragic accident transforms the carefree playboy into a dedicated but novice father to his nephew, Holly gives in to her maternal instincts and turns her structured life upside down for the orphaned preemie. But can she learn to trust Marc again and believe in true love?

Tomorrow I will be the featured author at www.myspace.com/bethtrissel

and at Lindsay's Romantics http://lindsaysromantics.blogspot.com/


If you like to travel and love to read, come and enjoy my international romances. I will take you around the world through stories that simmer with emotion and sizzle with heat.