BABIES IN THE BARGAIN: Best Romance Novel 2009

Thank you to all my readers, fans and friends who voted for BABIES IN THE BARGAIN.

BABIES IN THE BARGAIN is now BEST ROMANCE NOVEL at the readers poll 2009

It was also chosen by reviewers as 2009 Best Romance Winner at READERS FAVORITE.

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?

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

The Pat on the Back Award from Stephanie Burkhart

I met Steph B. as I called her at the Spa. We regularly read other blog, excerpts, posts and comments. Steph made my day when she posted a lovely review about my first book TO LOVE A HERO on her blog

http://sgcardin.blogspot.com/

Steph traveled to Eastern Europe when she was in the Army as an MP. I traveled to the Russian countries on business trips as a program manager to refurbish army laboratories. We both like to set our stories in the European countries we visited.

I love the award I received from Steph. The golden 7 is an honorary thing. I received it from Steph and I will pass it on to more blogs.

It matches well the certicate I received today from READERS FAVORITE for 2009 BEST ROMANCE.

I am supposed to tell you 7 things about myself. Then, I'll list 7 blogs I particularly enjoy reading. Next, I'll contact each of my seven authors and tell them their blog is on my list. Hopefully, each will do the same thing.

7 THINGS ABOUT ME:

#1 - I have one green eye and one hazel.
#2 - I am fluent in three languages.
#3 - I have been all over the world and visited more than 50 counties.
#4 - I was an A student and earned a Ph.D. in chemistry
#5 - I have never been athletic. Took tennis lessons and quit. Took golf lessons and quit.
#6 - I am terrified of height and can't walk on a bridge.
#7 - I love the ocean.

Here's the 7 blogs I give I "Pat on the Back to."

#1 - http://www.autumnjordonsnotes.blogspot.com/

#2 - http://bethtrissel.blogspot.com/

#3 - http://www.jenyfermatthews.com/blog/

#4 - http://www.lianalaverentz.blogspot.com/

#5 -http://mjdaniels.blogspot.com/

#6 - http://www.sandracox.blogspot.com/

#7 - http://sharondonova n.blogspot. com

Reviews for Babies in the Bargain:

The Long And The Short Reviews~ 5 Books. Best Book of The Week. 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. I highly recommend this book. 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.


Romance Junkies~5 Ribbons. BABIES IN THE BARGAIN is one novel that pulls you into the story and holds you captive to the last page.

Reviewed by Vince~ 5 Hearts

“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.

Night Owl Romance~

Babies in the Bargain is a sweet and sexy medical romance that will have you cooing and awing while also shedding a few tears.

Joyfully Reviewed~ Romance blooms amidst tragedy in Babies in the Bargain. It tugs heart strings and stirs emotions.

WRDF Review~ This was a great read, romantic and at times bittersweet.Enjoyable from beginning to end, Babies in the Bargain sports believable characters, an ultra romantic story line, and a thoroughly satisfying ending.

Readers Favorite~ 5 Hearts and Gold Medal WINNER-

2009 BEST ROMANCE-

This is Mona Risk at her best. The story will bring tears both sadness and joy. The characters are easy to relate to. The plot is excellent. Fans of romance will love this story.

Got Romance! ~ 4 Diamonds This story is both heart warming and heart wrenching. Ms Risk has created beautifully written, well rounded, realistic characters.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

READERS FAVORITE 2009 WINNER

While I was competing and gathering votes for the Preditors & Editors Readers Poll, I completely forgot I entered my medical romance BABIES IN THE BARGAIN in a contest

Today I was surprised with good news:
BABIES IN THE BARGAIN won READERS FAVORITE 2009 BEST ROMANCE

I was given a Golden seal and a review:

Mona Risk

BABIES IN THE BARGAIN~ 5 Stars

Romance - Contemporary
Reviewed for ReadersFavorite.com

Holly Collier spent the last seven years dedicated to her career of medical training in Neonatology. After Marc Suarez broke Holly’s heart in med school she vowed to never let it happen again. The anesthesiologist was back in town and working at the Washington Children’s Hospital. She was determined not to let him distract her again...

This is Mona Risk at her best. The story will bring tears both sadness and joy. The reader watches as Marc matures and as Holly’s heart thaws. One tiny baby makes a difference in both their lives. The characters are easy to relate to. The plot is excellent. Fans of romance will love this story.

Awards will be distributed in Las Vegas during an Awards Ceremony.
Thursday November 5th - Sunday November 8th is the Vegas Valley Book Festival, the largest in Las Vegas and voted the 10th best book fair in the world!

Since the event is in Las Vegas I think I can convince my husband to come with me!!!

My friend Patrice Wilton won the silver seal for her book, All Of Me.

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~

Sunrise in Fort Lauderdale

Resolutions

So many of us are making resolutions during the first week of January. We type them on computers, or neatly write them on special papers, or like me scribble them on the back of a Chritmas card in awful handwriting so no one can read them. Sometimes, even I can't read those.

Here are the ten most common New Year’s Resolutions according to official polls:

1. Lose weight/ Eat right

2. Get fit/exercise

3. Manage debt/ Save money

4. Get a better education

5. Drink less alcohol/ Quit smoking

6. Relax/ Take a trip

7. Volunteer to help others
8. Spend more time with family & friends
9. Enjoy life more
10. Get organized

AND IF YOU ARE A WRITER, WRITE, WRITE, WRITE

I recognized so many of my resolutions. Definitely # 1 and 2, probably 3 and 6, and maybe 8 and 9. How about you? Do you recognize your resolutions?

Preditors & Editors Readers Poll

Dear Bloggers, Friends and Readers,

One of my books, BABIES IN THE BARGAIN, a sweet and spicy contemporary romance, has been nominated for Best Book of the Year at the Preditors & Editors Readers Poll along with many others. BABIES IN THE BARGAIN received 8 stellar reviews, including Best Book of The Week at The Long & the Short Romances. Would you please vote for me?

The link is http://www.critters.org/predpoll/novelr.shtml

1-You click on the little circle next to the book name.

2- Scroll down to the bottom of the page, enter your name and email in the white boxes

3- Enter the verification words in the little box,

4- Click on Submit Vote.

You will immediately receive an email from Preditors & Editors at the email address you have given them. You HAVE to click on the link they give you otherwise the vote doesn't count. It will open their site. You will see SUCCESS in green. That is their way of verifying that you have a legitimate email. And that’s all.

I would greatly appreciate your vote. Thank you so much.

Leaving 2009, Starting 2010

I haven’t been posting on my blog since last year. More accurately since the middle of December. Holidays, Christmas preparation, cooking, gifts buying and wrapping, children and grandchildren’s visit, elaborate dinners and playing with the little ones... Is it any wonder I didn’t find a moment to come to my blog? But I didn’t forget my friends and readers.

If I evaluate 2009 with a critical eye, I have to admit it was a good year. BABIES IN THE BARGAIN was published in July and Rx FOR TRUST in December.
BABIES IN THE BARGAIN received eight stellar reviews and was a bestseller for several months on The Wild Rose Press and won Book of The Week at The Long ad the Short Reviews.


French Peril, my Cerridwen Press romantic suspense, received an impressive review at Barbara Vey’s Publishers Weekly: Who wouldn't want to lose themselves in Mona Risk's French Peril? Traveling to the beautiful French countryside, staying in a marvelous, ornate chateau, eating fine food and drinking the chateau's wine, and let's not forget the charming and handsome host. Sign me up, Ms Risk, I'll be looking for your next foreign escape.

TO LOVE A HERO won Sweetheart of the Week at Romantic Studio.

On the health front, I kept my pledge of exercising with a trainer. She exhausted me four times a week for two hours each time but I didn't shed a single pound. I just converted the fat to muscles. As a result, I stopped going to the gym. By September I was so disgusted with myself, I paid a visit-- and a lot of money-- to Quick Weight Loss to learn to eat the proper way and give up all the delicious treats I love. To my utter amazement, it worked, although I cheated once in a while. I finally lost weight and managed to fit in my clothes again. I still have five pounds to drop.


Unfortunately, my mother fell several times, spent many days at the hospital, and can’t walk anymore. Another blow hit me in summer when my daughter and adorable grandchildren moved away to Virginia. But I survived and enjoyed fun trips, to Australia to visit my in-laws, in a Mediterranean cruise and to Canada for a wedding and sightseeing.

2010 seems to start on the right foot. On New Year day I received the first two reviews, both lovely reviews, for Rx FOR TRUST from Night Owl Romance and Got Romance! Reviews.

Night Owl Romance, Rx FOR TRUST was a fantastic read. The plot was very well thought out and the pacing on target.
Got Romance! Reviews, Mona Risk writes a charming story, keeping the reader entertained with the twists and turns in the plot.



And today my editor emailed me a contract for, Rx IN RUSSIAN, my second book in the Doctor’s Order series, a sweet and spicy romance between an American pediatrician on a mission to Belarus and a Russian surgeon.

Not bad at all so far with four days into 2010.





By the way my romantic suspenses, TO LOVE A HERO and FRENCH PERIL are on sale at the publisher, Jasmine Jade.
Down from $14.99 to $5.5 for the papercover books. Here are the links:

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

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



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.