Pierce Brosnan, my favorite actor and inspiration.

I can't describe a hero without a clear picture of him in front of me.

While writing my work in progress, a medical romance set in Belarus, Prescription in Russian, I placed Pierce Brosnan’s picture next to my computer. It stays there for three months squinting at me.

I asked Pierce to lend his heart-stopping smile and suave charm to my hero, Dr. Fyodor Vassilov. Can you understand now why the heroine, Dr. Jillian Burton, an American physician on a mission to Belarus, loses her heart to the gorgeous doctor in spite of her life-long pledge never to fall in love? Can you resist a Pierce Brosnan’s look-alike? I couldn’t. By the time I typed the END to my manuscript I was head over heels in love with my hero—whether his name was Fyodor or Pierce.

Pierce Brosnan was born in Ireland in a catholic family, but his father abandoned his mother. Pierce was raised by his mother and grandparents. He left Ireland at 10 and moved to England with his mother. He planed to be a painter but studied drama. As a little boy, Pierce was a great fan of James Bond, and was offered his first James Bond role in 1986. Critics claimed he was a better Bond than his predecessor, Roger Moore. He starred in six Bond movies.


I personally love him in The Thomas Crown Affair, a light suspense comedy he played with Rene Russo about a billionaire playboy who challenges himself at stealing art work from the Louvre Museum until a lovely detective decides to put an end to his infuriating hobby.

Laws of Attraction was even better. He starred with Julianne Moore in the story of two divorce attorneys who don’t believe in love and compete against each other in court but become attracted to each other.

And recently have you seen him singing in Mamma Mia? According to an interview with Reader’s Digest, Pierce said he’d accepted the role as soon as his agent said, 'Meryl Streep, Mamma Mia!' And he was trained by two singers from the Sweedish pop group ABBA who created the musical Mamma Mia.

From painter to actor and director, Pierce Brosnan can do anything he sets his heart at.

Don’t you just love him!!!

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My blog

How do you like my new format?

Are the colors attractive?

The writing easy to read? Dark enough against the background? Any typos?

How about the heading? The picture is an island in Fiji. Is it romantic or out of place here?

Do I have too much 'blue'? I love the ocean but not everyone does.

Any suggestions for improvement?

I did the changes by myself without begging for my DH's help. So I am
pretty pleased with the results. But I need your opinion, suggestions...
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An Interview with Emma Lai

Emma Lai, I just finished reading His Ship, Her Fantasy and enjoyed it so much. What a great imagination you have to dream such a lovely story. I like the touch of humor and the fast pace, the mix of modern technology and lively fantasy, the subtle sensuality and warm feelings. Even the villain ends up to be a man of honor.

How did you get the idea of this story?
I had this scene stuck in my head of a woman arguing with her spaceship. I started with that and it evolved from there. It actually took a slightly different path then I originally pictured, but who am I to argue with my characters?

Where do you get ideas for your books?
Most of the time, I literally dream them up. Sometimes, I get inspired by a history book or a science article.

Are you a pantser or a plotter?
All of my stories to date have been written via the seat of my pants. I planted my bottom in my chair and typed out the scenes that I dreamed up and let the characters have their heads. After delving into the Mates of the Guardians series, I discovered the value in plotting. I'm not saying that I'm going to be a dedicated plotter, but I'm carefully finishing up the Mates of the Guardians series with the knowledge that it will affect a book that I'm working on.

Do you get support from your family? from your friends?
Definitely. My mother-in-law is the one who encouraged me to submit, and my husband bugged me until I did. The rest of my family and friends think I'm brave for sticking my neck out there even though they don't necessarily read romance.

Blurb for His Ship, Her Fantasy:

Ellie Woods is in love…with a ship. When an argument with the ship results in a bump on the head, she finds herself in the strong arms of Alastair. But, who is he, and where did he come from?Alastair has loved Ellie from afar for years, but duty has kept him from revealing himself to her. When a grave threat reveals his true identity, he hopes that Ellie will choose reality over fantasy.

Excerpt:

She fought to stay aware by focusing her gaze on the intriguing cleft in her rescuer’s chin. After a few moments, she tried to tilt her head back to get a look at the rest of his face, but the action made her dizzy once again. She gave up with a sigh and relaxed against his firm, broad chest.

She shrugged. Chances were she would not recognize him anyway. Over two hundred people served on the ship. She knew the dozen or so engineers who worked the first and third rotations and maybe another dozen crewmates by sight, others who worked the same rotation and happened to eat their meals in solitary silence at the same time she did. She would guess from the fact that he had to ask her name that he was not any of those two dozen individuals.

Maybe she should not have told him her real name. At least that way, when he talked about finding a woman helpless in the bowels of the ship, no one would have known who it was. Yeah, right, whom was she trying to fool? She was the sole person assigned duty to this area during fourth rotation. Her breath caught, and she stiffened in his arms. Who was he, and what was he doing in a restricted area?

“Relax,” he said.

“Who are you?” She tried to sit up in his arms, determined to get a look at him and an answer to her question.

He lifted her higher in his arms, which wedged her head between his head and shoulder and prevented her from getting a good look at his face. “Alastair.” His warm breath fluttered against her forehead and cheek.

Third Review

Babies in the Bargain by Mona Risk on eHarlequin site.

http://community.eharlequin.com/review/highly-emotional-look-neonatologist’s-life


Format: eBook
Series: Other
5 Hearts

The Wild Rose Press, Pages 204

“Babies in the Bargain” Displays Three Areas of Excellence:

1. Very Strong Emotional writing.

2. All pervasive centrality of the romantic relationship.

3. A high level of medical expertise essential to the plot.

In short “Babies in the Bargain” has everything I like to see in a medical romance. The author, Mona Risk, has a Ph.D. in Chemistry and a daughter who is a Neonatologist. The medical elements are very realistic and essential to the plot. (I don’t like it when medical terminology is used simply because the story is a medical romance.)

I also appreciate the fact that the romantic relationship between the hero/doctor and heroine/doctor is as pervasive as I’ve ever seen in a romance. When the hero and heroine are not interacting, they are still thinking about each other. If you like the romantic part of a romance, then “Babies in the Bargain” is ideal.

“Babies in the Bargain” could serve as an object lesson on how to ‘show’ and not ‘tell’ a story. You always know exactly what the characters are feeling, indeed, for the most part you 'feel' along with them. It’s a great read.

The heroine is a doctor who is working to get board certified in neonatology. The hero is a respected anesthesiologist who had an affair with the heroine seven years earlier. When a family emergency took the hero away to Puerto Rico he seemed to have abandoned her. She has always loved him and now seven years later he has come back into her life by moving back to town. His brother and sister-in-law are soon killed leaving a premature baby that the hero must raise. Of course he is in need of a mother and thinks the heroine is the perfect candidate. The heroine has ideas of her own.

Excellent Story.
Vince

Book of the Week

At the Long & Short Reviews,

BABIES IN THE BARGAIN was voted

"Best Book of the Week".

Babies in the Bargain by Mona Risk

Thank you to the writers, friends, readers and fans who voted for me.

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

AND THE WINNER IS...

Here are the correct answers to my questions:

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

The winners of my month-long contest are:

Babyblue22: Winner of a bracelet and an antique car brooch from Spain.

Jane: Winner of a silver pharaonic pendant from Egypt

Sharon: A bracelet in painted copper from Tunisia.

Jaclyn: autographed book by Golden Heart winner Beth Andrews

CONGRATULATIONS. Thank you for participating in my blog.

Tomorrow I will know the results of the Long & Short Reviews Best Book of The week and will post them here.

Dear Readers I love having you on my blog. I hope you enjoy this blog as much as I do.

During this coming week I will post the pictures I took in Sydney, Australia, last month.

On Thursday, I will interview TWRP author Emma Lai.

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.

Another great review

Another great review came at the time I badly needed some good news to cheer me up.

http://longandshortreviews.blogspot.com/2009/08/babies-in-bargain-by-mona-risk.html

Babies in the Bargain by Mona Risk

Publisher: The Wild Rose Press

Genre: Contemporary, Medical

Length: FullHeat: Sensual

Rating: 5 Books

Reviewed by Violet

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?

For seven years Holly Collier has tried to protect her heart because of the one man with whom she had fallen in love. Now that Marc Suarez is back in the picture, it is taking Holly every bit of self control to keep the ice around her heart. She has put her all into her medical training in Neonatology leaving little time for socialization. There is no way she will let anyone tamper with her plans for the future, not even Marc Suarez. Just when she thinks she has everything under control, an accident occurs that changes both of their lives. Marc is faced with the fact that he is now a father to his nephew and looks to Holly for help. Can Marc and Holly make it past the crisis to find one another once again?


Babies in the Bargain was just amazing! It started out very dramatic and got my attention from the first paragraph. The intense feelings of grief that Marc felt really got to me. My heart cried out for him. I felt very connected to the characters and loved every moment that I spent with them. Marc's character is a fiercely loyal man that takes his obligations to his family and work very seriously. Seven years earlier, he called off his relationship with Holly without telling her why and it's killing him that he can't get close to her once again. Holly's character was a strong woman with a strong work ethic but the feelings she feels when Marc comes around take her breath away.

Watching these two characters try to stay away from each other was very amusing. It took everything they had to keep each other at arms length. I thought Marc was so incredibly sweet when he did whatever it took to make sure that Holly felt comfortable. I couldn't help but picture Marc Consuelos (of Kelly Ripa and Marc Consuelos) as the character of Marc in Babies in the Bargain!

Ms. Risk has done an outstanding job with Babies in the Bargain and is a very talented writer who gives the reader what they are after. The plot line was amazing and I found the entire book to be spot on with the medical terminology and procedures. Ms. Risk was able to evoke raw emotion from me throughout the book and I found it to be a most exciting and thrilling read. I highly recommend this book to those who love Medical Romances. This one will keep you on your toes and make you beg for more. I can't wait to read more of Ms. Risk's work in the future.

Isn't it a lovely review?

BABIES IN THE BARGAIN is up for Best Book of the Week at The Long & Short.

http://www.longandshortreviews.com/LASR/recentrev.htm

The voting start on Saturday, August 15, 2209, and last during the weekend. I would appreciate your vote.

We have a first winner for our main contest. Get your answers in please. You acn post them here.



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?

We need only 4 answers or 3 if you can't answer 4.


Tomorrow is August 15, and I will announce the winners.


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.

Unfortunately

I have been unable to blog for the last few days. My mom is back at the hospital.

You won't believe what happened. My mom doesn't walk. She moves by wheelchair from her bed to her recliner to the bathroom. On Sunday morning a phone call woke me at 6:30 am. A nurse from the assisted living telling me Mom fell in the bathroom but is okay.

We rushed there right away and asked questions. How could she fall when she doesn't walk and is never alone? Apparently the aid made her walk to the bathroom, dressed her and then let her brush her teeth and comb her hair while standing at the sink. The aid was next to her, not holding her or standing behind her. Mom lost her balance and tumbled backward. The whole staff knew she can't walk, haven't walked in five months and has no balance. And they told me she's fine!!!

The aid said she caught her as she was falling while Mom said she hit her shoulder on the shower step. They brought the x-rays machine to her apartment. I just found out she has a fractured tibia in her right leg. They decided to send her to the in-hospital. Mom hates it. I said no. Only out-patient service to put a cast if necessary. Poor Mom doesn't complain and accepts everything. I am so mad, so depressed. My poor Mom has suffered so much.

Now they are telling me she needs a 24 hour nurse with her. They can put a whole staff!!! If they are as incompetent or negligent or unscrupulous as the one she had with her, what's the use. Trying hard to keep my sanity, but yesterday was a lousy day and we ended up at the in-hospital.

Today was better as the hospital staff was really good. The orthopedic surgeon decided Mom doesn't need surgery but only a cast. I am starting to breathe better.

I hope to be back on the blog soon.

Babyeblue, Terry, Skye I will send your your prize as soon as I have a minute.

Meanwhile don't forget our manin 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 August 15 to give you the time to find the answers. We will have 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 EgyptA Golden Heart winner's autographed book by Beth Andrews.

PLEASE REMEMBER TO SIGN MY MAILING LIST (the white box on the left of the blog) if you haven't done so already. To make it easier, now I need an answer to four of the six questions.

Links to buy my books: Click on the sites.
TO LOVE A HERO: At Jasmine Jade and At Amazon.com
FRENCH PERIL: At Jasmine Jade and At Amazon.com
BABIES IN THE BARGAIN is Bestseller #2 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.

A Lovely Review

Babies in the Bargain's First Review

Author: Mona Risk

Publisher: Wild Rose Press
Release Date: July 3, 2009

Blue Ribbon Rating: 5

Format: EBOOK/PRINT

BABIES IN THE BARGAIN is one novel that pulls you into the story and holds you captive to the last page. My heart broke for Marc and the touching way little Paulito comes into his life. At the same time, the baby forces Holly to acknowledge her feelings for Marc – feelings she’s been trying hard to ignore. Mona Risk delves into the intense life and death situation babies in the NICU face and tempers that overwhelming emotion with a high intensity romance in a storyline that will truly touch the reader’s heart.

BABIES IN THE BARGAIN, sweet and spicy, in the genre of ER and Gray's Anatomy: New release at The Wild Rose Press. Paperback sold at Amazon.com and Barnes&Noble.

Our main contest is still on. Have you read my books?

Please start sending the answers.

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 August 15 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 EgyptA Golden Heart winner's autographed book by Beth Andrews.

PLEASE REMEMBER TO SIGN MY MAILING LIST (the white box on the left of the blog) if you haven't done so already. To make it easier, now I need an answer to four of the six questions.

Links to buy my books: Click on the sites.

TO LOVE A HERO: At Jasmine Jade and At Amazon.com

FRENCH PERIL: At Jasmine Jade and At Amazon.com

BABIES IN THE BARGAIN is Bestseller #2 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.

FIJI ISLANDS

AND THE WINNERS ARE:

You were right my friends. It's Fiji.

We stopped in the beautiful Fiji Islands on our way to Australia. Here are some pictures from this paradise.

After spending two days in Nadi the capital, we explored the other islands on the way back from Sydney.

Our exploration consisted in boarding a catamarane. After about an hour it dropped us at a lovely tiny island. Don't ask me the name.

We moved to a submarine to discover the corals and multicolored fishes.

Full of energy, my husband and I rented a kayak and rawed for half an hour. We were not brave enough to go far.

I prefered the more sedate exercise of buying jewelry from the locals. Rings in mother-of-pearl, bracelet made of tiny pieces of pink, red and green coral. I wore the bracelet right away. It was so pretty.

Unfortunately I fell flat on my stomach when my flip-flop got caught in the sidewalk in the marina. I was lucky I only twistwed my right wrist, pulled the ligament of myleft leg, and bruised my knees. The bracelet broke and bruised my palm.

After ten days I feel much better.

At noon we were offered a scrumptuous lunch under the trees while musicians and dancers entertained our group.

At two oclock we boarded the catamaran and spent two hours at sea going from island to island. It was lovely.

Notice the cottages built on pillars over the water. I was told they have a glass bottom floor in the living room to see the ocean life.

AND THE WINNERS ARE:

Sharon ( Trailer) and Afshan (Babyeblue) You each will receive a mother-of-pearl ring from Fiji.

CONGRATULATIONS.

Our main contest is still on. Have you read my books?

Please start sending the answers.

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 August 15 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.

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.
To make it easier, now you need to answer I need an answer four of 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: http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_ss_b?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=French+Peril+by+mona+risk&x=16&y=20

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 #2 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.