tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37975526394582751932024-02-19T20:47:14.641-05:00Mona's BlogIf you like to travel and love to read, come and enjoy my international romances. Around the world through stories that simmer with emotion and sizzle with passion.Mona Riskhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14923883333893160794noreply@blogger.comBlogger300125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3797552639458275193.post-5234451496063054552013-10-20T17:07:00.000-04:002013-10-20T17:07:02.585-04:00For Christmas<div>
</div>
<div>
What should Julia do when she catches her
fiancé </div>
<div>
cheating on her a week before their fabulous Christmas wedding? </div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc3I02VpdPw8eXzksGJXhM8iWhSPTz_HkpLiMcLb0a9g26I2L9cCG4jaEkiNUnyUAvbL_VQZ4KE5EqWX6TtMzmDltUKGokFTQYH5cIchoNEY3VBHmEb-74m26nBA1Wgnbhmm0aptap4eQ/s320/Christmas+Wedding+Muddle++Amazon.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="286" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><a href="http://tinyurl.com/n9x4kqz">http://tinyurl.com/n9x4kqz</a></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
Of course, she calls off the wedding.
<br />
Tony is a dedicated psychiatrist. He is covering for a short
while in his mother's travel agency when a desperate Julia comes in. Tony is
there to pick up the pieces. Sparks fly between
them and he is willing to put his life on hold to
accompany her on the cruise that should have been her honeymoon. Nothing goes
according to plan, but Tony believes the magic of Christmas
will bring them together. </div>
<br />
<div class="mt4 ath">
<span class="gr10"><span class="txtsmall"><span class="gry">A 5-star review by</span> <a class="noTextDecoration" href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/pdp/profile/A1F3S49OFFVEIP/ref=cm_cr_dp_pdp">Seniorcitizen</a></span>
</span></div>
<span class="inlineblock formatVariation"><span class="gr3 gry formatKey">Format:</span><span class="formatValue">Kindle
Edition</span></span>
<div class="mt9 reviewText">
<div class="drkgry">
<em>"A roller coaster of emotions we can all relate to. Add
fabulous cruise ship, beautiful scenery, landmark locales and a budding romance,
all during Christmastime, you cannot possibly go wrong. Julia and Tony forever.
One terrific read again from Mona Risk."</em> </div>
</div>
<b>Other books
by Mona Risk</b>: <br />
<div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51jcp3OSxmL._BO2,204,203,200_PIsitb-sticker-arrow-click,TopRight,35,-76_AA278_PIkin4,BottomRight,-64,22_AA300_SH20_OU01_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51jcp3OSxmL._BO2,204,203,200_PIsitb-sticker-arrow-click,TopRight,35,-76_AA278_PIkin4,BottomRight,-64,22_AA300_SH20_OU01_.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><a href="http://tinyurl.com/ndvgf9d">http://tinyurl.com/ndvgf9d</a>
</span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"></span> </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<strong>HOLIDAY BABIES SERIES</strong>: A box set of three bestselling
books at Amazon.com <br />
<br />
CHRISTMAS BABIES: It takes a health crisis and two
adorable orphaned babies to bring Dr. Madelyn Ramsay to her senses and force her
to look life and love in the face. <br />
VALENTINE BABIES: Can he love a woman expecting another man's baby? <br />
MOTHER'S DAY BABIES: Can a woman from Kentucky
teach an 'old dog' new tricks, even if he's a CEO? <br />
<br />
<strong>DOCTOR'S ORDERS BOX
SET:</strong> A box set of three bestselling books at Amazon.com <br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/513Hpzr067L._BO2,204,203,200_PIsitb-sticker-arrow-click,TopRight,35,-76_AA278_PIkin4,BottomRight,-64,22_AA300_SH20_OU01_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/513Hpzr067L._BO2,204,203,200_PIsitb-sticker-arrow-click,TopRight,35,-76_AA278_PIkin4,BottomRight,-64,22_AA300_SH20_OU01_.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><a href="http://tinyurl.com/oaly3fu">http://tinyurl.com/oaly3fu</a></span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"></span> </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
BABIES in the
BARGAIN: "ER" and "Grey's Anatomy" in the NICU. <br />
RIGHT NAME, WRONG MAN:
What's a girl to do when she whispers another man's name in her fiancé's arms?
<br />
NO MORE LIES: A lie that brings a smile or a truth drawing
tears?</div>
<br />
<div>
</div>
Mona Riskhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14923883333893160794noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3797552639458275193.post-61470037745905471562013-08-19T16:16:00.003-04:002013-08-19T16:16:39.427-04:00Boxed Set of Bestsellers<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxP4Yo9wqpswkF4C3JqKMTr_IvPh99awMZozaEhcvpY6OhRd5_NR4dh4bzo8v8H4jaJj23wssLn8SAk6_nK6ZD2Z-zdklgYYgybLf0lUTT9vswHKr9yuk8-VyyoDpBWZQM56ecPRNJxvEy/s320/BoxedSetFMD-DoctorsOrders.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="213" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://tinyurl.com/oaly3fu" target="_blank">At Amazon.com</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">A boxed set of three Amazon bestseller
contemporary romance novels, with medical theme, sizzling passion, emotion and
humor.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">At 99cents for a few more days.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">BEST ROMANCE NOVEL at Preditors & Editors Readers Poll 2009. <br />
2009 BEST CONTEMPORARY ROMANCE NOVEL at Readers Favorite</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">2011
EPPIE Award Finalist.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">2010
<span style="color: black;">BEST CONTEMPORARY ROMANCE NOVEL </span>at Readers
Favorite<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">BABIES in
the BARGAIN:</span></b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"> Problems separated them
seven years ago. Can an orphan baby bring them back together? <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">"ER" and "Grey's
Anatomy" in the NICU</i>. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">RIGHT NAME,
WRONG MAN</span></b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">: What's a girl to do when
she whispers another man's name in her fiancé's arms? <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">A comedy novel set in France.</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">NO MORE
LIES</span></b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">: A lie that brings a smile
or a truth drawing tears? <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Secrets and
second chances with humor.</i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><em></em></span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></i> </div>
Mona Riskhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14923883333893160794noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3797552639458275193.post-79649265792351926202013-04-10T22:00:00.001-04:002013-04-10T22:02:05.045-04:00I miss my blogI have been so busy during the past few months, I've seriously neglected my blog.<br />
<br />
My reason: I wrote six new novels between November 2011 and March 2013, and I published them plus two others.<br />
<br />
So I hope you'll forgive me and come back to my blog as I plan to dedicate more time to my favorite meeting place.<br />
<br />
Here is my most recent banner.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw6HfolrgpZCUaASaIkFA19U2ujDAhRXvGzFSxsZbWeyMH3urJl-CsAZnS5Tbk7yYKx9dAN6VHrB9OshCQsJopKBBKwkEs0jKbeW3qwA5xfGEIwyzodTAN2CqfzFELP7tE-vRuiATtShw/s1600/FB+Banner+3+25+2013+publisher.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="131" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw6HfolrgpZCUaASaIkFA19U2ujDAhRXvGzFSxsZbWeyMH3urJl-CsAZnS5Tbk7yYKx9dAN6VHrB9OshCQsJopKBBKwkEs0jKbeW3qwA5xfGEIwyzodTAN2CqfzFELP7tE-vRuiATtShw/s400/FB+Banner+3+25+2013+publisher.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The eight romance novels I published between November 2011 and March 2013.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Mona Riskhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14923883333893160794noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3797552639458275193.post-3666737244541010152013-01-24T21:22:00.002-05:002013-01-24T21:22:43.574-05:00FREE on Amazon.comVALENTINE BABIES will be offered FREE on January 25 and 26, 2013.<br />
Hurry and download your FREE Kindle copy at Amazon<br />
<a data-mce-href="http://tinyurl.com/avb2kbu" href="http://tinyurl.com/avb2kbu" target="_blank">http://tinyurl.com/avb2kbu</a><br />
<br />
Four five-star reviews:<br />
"<em>This was a wonderful read, full of romance, danger and tender moments that </em><br /> <em>brought a tear to my eye."</em>~ Loves Reading<br />
"<em>This is a great sweet and romantic read just in time for Valentines Day</em>."~Snowdog<br />
"<em>Nobody writes a more tender love story than Mona Risk.</em>" Mary. R<br />
"<em>An emotional journey with characters you will grow attached to and cheer for</em>."~ S. Hughes<br />
<br />
<div data-mce-style="text-align: center;" style="text-align: center;">
<a data-mce-href="http://tinyurl.com/avb2kbu" href="http://tinyurl.com/avb2kbu"><img alt="Mw2-ValentineBabies Twitter exp" class="aligncenter wp-image-456" data-mce-src="http://monarisk.files.wordpress.com/2013/01/mw2-valentinebabies-twitter-exp.jpg" height="461" src="http://monarisk.files.wordpress.com/2013/01/mw2-valentinebabies-twitter-exp.jpg" width="307" /></a></div>
<em></em><br />
<em>VALENTINE BABIES is a heartwarming story that will take you from the heart of Kentucky to South Florida and Atlanta, and then to Iraq and Germany. </em><br />
<em></em><br />
Fearless reporter, Roxanne Ramsay, doesn’t think twice before traveling for important assignments, even in a war zone—until her last trip leads her to a life-altering mistake.<br />
<br />
At his best friends’ wedding, Dr. Greg Hayes, who has a serious phobia of planes, can’t take his eyes off the lovely maid of honor. But why is Roxanne blinking away tears? Getting involved with the strong-headed and too generous reporter involves more complications than the bright doctor had ever faced in the OR. Yet what wouldn’t he do to save the love of his life and her baby?Mona Riskhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14923883333893160794noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3797552639458275193.post-58776313373162154792013-01-08T21:12:00.003-05:002013-01-08T21:12:54.494-05:00<span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I was tagged by a special author and friend, Joan Leacott, author of </span><span style="color: black; font-family: Times New Roman;"><a href="http://joanleacott.wordpress.com/" target="_blank">ABOVE SCANDAL</a> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">and here I am answering a few questions.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<strong><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">What is the title of your book? </span></strong><br />
<a href="http://tinyurl.com/burgd9j" target="_blank"><strong><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">CHRISTMAS BABIES</span></strong></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>,</strong> very appropriate for the Christmas season.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<strong><span style="color: #333333; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Where did the idea come from for the book?</span></span></strong><strong><span style="color: #333333; font-weight: normal; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The story takes place in Florida where I live. While living in northern states, I have often wondered how people celebrate Christmas on the beach. Now I know and I love it. Like my daughter, the heroine is a pediatrician and neonatologist. But what if this heroine who deals with tiny patients all day long can’t have children of her own?<o:p></o:p></span></span></strong></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong><span style="color: #333333;">What genre does your book fall under?</span></strong><span style="color: #333333;"> </span></span><br />
<span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Contemporary romance, with some medical scenes, although most of the story takes place out of the hospital or on the beach at Christmas time.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<strong><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Which actors would you choose to play your characters in a movie rendition?</span></span></strong><br />
<span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I love Kate Hudson. She’s sassy and confident. She can handle the role of Dr. Madelyn Ramsay. I can picture Matthew McConaughey in the role of Dr. Nick Preston.</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<strong><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">What is the one-sentence synopsis of your book? </span></span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="color: #333333;"></span></strong><strong><span style="color: #333333; font-weight: normal; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The best synopsis was given by my friend Mary Ricksen: </span></span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="color: #333333; font-weight: normal; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"></span></strong><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Would that we all realize about love without needing a health scare to convince us.</span></span><span style="color: #333333;"> </span></i><span style="color: #333333;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong><span style="color: #333333; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Where (or when) can we get your book?</span></strong><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"></span><span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">CHRISTMAS BABIES is available at Amazon for 99cents. It’s a bestseller with a rank #180 in kindle store and #41 in Contemporary romance. Link to order: </span><a href="http://tinyurl.com/burgd9j"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">http://tinyurl.com/burgd9j</span></a></span><br />
<br />
<strong><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">How long did it take you to write the first draft of your manuscript? </span></span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="color: #333333;"></span></strong><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My manuscript is 36,000 wc. I wrote it in four weeks while in<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span>a cruise in the Middle East and India. I was relaxed. The words flew off my fingers.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<strong><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">What other books would you compare this story to within your genre? </span></span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="color: #333333;"></span></strong><strong><span style="color: #333333; font-weight: normal; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This is my first Christmas story. I wrote several medical romances in the same genre. </span><a href="http://tinyurl.com/6mcd6e3" target="_blank"><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #0060ff; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">BABIES IN THE BARGAIN</span></span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">,</span></span><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><a href="http://tinyurl.com/79r88wp" target="_blank" title="http://tinyurl.com/79r88wp"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #0060ff; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">NO MORE LIES</span></span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">, and </span><a href="http://tinyurl.com/85o4wg7" target="_blank"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #0060ff; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">RIGHT NAME,WRONG MAN</span></span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">.<o:p></o:p></span></span></strong><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP6Kt6KbvPIotmXZl29nq3LnFCYQW4qqwssjqzXTtA0T7D3_AkR4Bu4xADFVp5zOY0svoIqaLVyfUbuK6LN0MTYsPfZyDA1ybwKaKp0mXTNR4B7A6GE_2w7oaB3e6rNaKXgCGn-B2dwpE/s1600/Christmas+Babies+S.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" closure_uid_3tulb9="5" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP6Kt6KbvPIotmXZl29nq3LnFCYQW4qqwssjqzXTtA0T7D3_AkR4Bu4xADFVp5zOY0svoIqaLVyfUbuK6LN0MTYsPfZyDA1ybwKaKp0mXTNR4B7A6GE_2w7oaB3e6rNaKXgCGn-B2dwpE/s1600/Christmas+Babies+S.jpg" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong><span style="color: #333333;">What else about your book might pique the reader’s interest? </span></strong><span style="color: #333333;">The story involves an interesting look at foster care and adoption. Believe me, I did some intense research about these subjects. Stay tuned for <strong>VALENTINE BABIES</strong>, the next book in the Holidays Babies Series.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #333333;"></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong><span style="color: #333333;">Blurb:</span></strong><span style="color: #333333;"> </span></span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";"><em><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A heartwarming holiday story set in South Florida.<br /><br />Dedicated to her patients, the serious Dr. Madelyn Ramsay never had time for fun. An unexpected health problem jolts her into the realization that there’s more to life than just work. She longs to surrender to the magic of Christmas. <o:p></o:p></span></em></span><br />
<em><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></em><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";"><em><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But can she handle the charming and secretive Dr. Nick Preston who carries his own package of disillusions? Can she allow two newborn twins to worm their way into her heart?<o:p></o:p></span></em></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">***The next stop on The next Big Thing (Monday January 16) will be with the talented </span></span><br />
<span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><div>
<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style";"><b>Susan R.
Hughes, </b></span><span style="font-family: Bradley Hand ITC TT;"><b style="font-size: 16px;">Romance author
- Sweet with a touch of heat</b></span></div>
<div>
<a href="http://www.susanrhughes.weebly.com/" rel="nofollow"><span style="font-family: Bradley Hand ITC TT;"><b style="font-size: 16px;">www.susanrhughes.weebly.com</b></span></a></div>
</span></span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
Mona Riskhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14923883333893160794noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3797552639458275193.post-49346593544261883812012-12-23T02:00:00.000-05:002012-12-24T11:08:39.641-05:00<span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I was tagged by the fabulous Beth Trissel, author of </span><a href="http://www.amazon.com/SOMEWHERE-LOVE-Somewhere-Time-ebook/dp/B00AFJ7DZ6/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1356233139&sr=1-1&keywords=somewhere+my+love" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">SOMEWHERE MY LOVE</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">, and here I am answering a few questions.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9JoW-Za1z6hHhEKbn67WtAS8eBzprSYBD9EbsQRAhdVp5Dlo_bsUr6GAsfLmJOlBAIi-cd4BYgqTNzP0EMUP-0l_1FyNLFh5PxxqHbiVzHZ_NxlwhPyvVu6tBePX1Pm1AhXcky05S96I/s1600/Copy+of+IMG_5734.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9JoW-Za1z6hHhEKbn67WtAS8eBzprSYBD9EbsQRAhdVp5Dlo_bsUr6GAsfLmJOlBAIi-cd4BYgqTNzP0EMUP-0l_1FyNLFh5PxxqHbiVzHZ_NxlwhPyvVu6tBePX1Pm1AhXcky05S96I/s320/Copy+of+IMG_5734.JPG" width="240" /></a><strong><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">What is the title of your book? </span></strong><br />
<a href="http://tinyurl.com/burgd9j" target="_blank"><strong><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">CHRISTMAS BABIES</span></strong></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>,</strong> very appropriate for the Christmas season.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<strong><span style="color: #333333; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Where did the idea come from for the book?</span></span></strong><strong><span style="color: #333333; font-weight: normal; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The story takes place in Florida where I live. While living in northern states, I have often wondered how people celebrate Christmas on the beach. Now I know and I love it. Like my daughter, the heroine is a pediatrician and neonatologist. But what if this heroine who deals with tiny patients all day long can’t have children of her own?<o:p></o:p></span></span></strong></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong><span style="color: #333333;">What genre does your book fall under?</span></strong><span style="color: #333333;"> </span></span><br />
<span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Contemporary romance, with some medical scenes, although most of the story takes place out of the hospital or on the beach at Christmas time.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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<strong><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Which actors would you choose to play your characters in a movie rendition?</span></span></strong><br />
<span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I love Kate Hudson. She’s sassy and confident. She can handle the role of Dr. Madelyn Ramsay. I can picture Matthew McConaughey in the role of Dr. Nick Preston.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjioooPpehZp0Cwunt2J-cvFRKNiepdO5d8b0QMvRak9mfYqMAap-KM4W_QDmdIxG70e9FOiBgmPTTL9tOcuq7niMC9ZiyTWLKuGkTItJgGi7mxdWojZhlMpbGfMFICrDY5bNz5VARoUoo/s1600/IMG_5717.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjioooPpehZp0Cwunt2J-cvFRKNiepdO5d8b0QMvRak9mfYqMAap-KM4W_QDmdIxG70e9FOiBgmPTTL9tOcuq7niMC9ZiyTWLKuGkTItJgGi7mxdWojZhlMpbGfMFICrDY5bNz5VARoUoo/s320/IMG_5717.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<strong><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">What is the one-sentence synopsis of your book? </span></span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="color: #333333;"></span></strong><strong><span style="color: #333333; font-weight: normal; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The best synopsis was given by my friend Mary Ricksen: </span></span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="color: #333333; font-weight: normal; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"></span></strong><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Would that we all realize about love without needing a health scare to convince us.</span></span><span style="color: #333333;"> </span></i><span style="color: #333333;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong><span style="color: #333333; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Where (or when) can we get your book?</span></strong><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"></span><span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">CHRISTMAS BABIES is available at Amazon for 99cents. It’s a bestseller with a rank #180 in kindle store and #41 in Contemporary romance. Link to order: </span><a href="http://tinyurl.com/burgd9j"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">http://tinyurl.com/burgd9j</span></a></span><span style="color: black; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdXHtFQWYEyptCKSAtqLrXqRc8pBnP4dCBBuITJvoi5F8rBcpRTmx-pjOgBfUA_4ovyOp4KBRsMK-03J4joEtD3KCTpfr7kEa3vzGeK7TtYIF07B6nn2bHVbuln-hq9iglWjSdDsIHfIE/s1600/IMG_5748.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdXHtFQWYEyptCKSAtqLrXqRc8pBnP4dCBBuITJvoi5F8rBcpRTmx-pjOgBfUA_4ovyOp4KBRsMK-03J4joEtD3KCTpfr7kEa3vzGeK7TtYIF07B6nn2bHVbuln-hq9iglWjSdDsIHfIE/s320/IMG_5748.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<strong><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">How long did it take you to write the first draft of your manuscript? </span></span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="color: #333333;"></span></strong><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My manuscript is 36,000 wc. I wrote it in four weeks while in<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>a cruise in the Middle East and India. I was relaxed. The words flew off my fingers.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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<strong><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">What other books would you compare this story to within your genre? </span></span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="color: #333333;"></span></strong><strong><span style="color: #333333; font-weight: normal; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This is my first Christmas story. I wrote several medical romances in the same genre. </span><a href="http://tinyurl.com/6mcd6e3" target="_blank"><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #0060ff; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">BABIESIN THE BARGAIN</span></span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">,</span></span><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><a href="http://tinyurl.com/79r88wp" target="_blank" title="http://tinyurl.com/79r88wp"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #0060ff; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">NO MORE LIES</span></span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">, and </span><a href="http://tinyurl.com/85o4wg7" target="_blank"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #0060ff; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">RIGHT NAME,WRONG MAN</span></span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">.<o:p></o:p></span></span></strong><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong><span style="color: #333333;">What else about your book might pique the reader’s interest? </span></strong><span style="color: #333333;">The story involves an interesting look at foster care and adoption. Believe me, I did some intense research about these subjects.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span> <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP6Kt6KbvPIotmXZl29nq3LnFCYQW4qqwssjqzXTtA0T7D3_AkR4Bu4xADFVp5zOY0svoIqaLVyfUbuK6LN0MTYsPfZyDA1ybwKaKp0mXTNR4B7A6GE_2w7oaB3e6rNaKXgCGn-B2dwpE/s1600/Christmas+Babies+S.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP6Kt6KbvPIotmXZl29nq3LnFCYQW4qqwssjqzXTtA0T7D3_AkR4Bu4xADFVp5zOY0svoIqaLVyfUbuK6LN0MTYsPfZyDA1ybwKaKp0mXTNR4B7A6GE_2w7oaB3e6rNaKXgCGn-B2dwpE/s1600/Christmas+Babies+S.jpg" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong><span style="color: #333333;">Blurb:</span></strong><span style="color: #333333;"> </span></span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";"><em><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A heartwarming holiday story set in South Florida.<br /><br />Dedicated to her patients, the serious Dr. Madelyn Ramsay never had time for fun. An unexpected health problem jolts her into the realization that there’s more to life than just work. She longs to surrender to the magic of Christmas. <o:p></o:p></span></em></span><br />
<em><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></em><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";"><em><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But can she handle the charming and secretive Dr. Nick Preston who carries his own package of disillusions? Can she allow two newborn twins to worm their way into her heart?<o:p></o:p></span></em></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">***The next stop on The next Big Thing (Monday the 31st) will be with the talented Celia Yeary, either at her blog: </span><a href="http://celiayeary.blogspot.com/"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://celiayeary.blogspot.com/">http://celiayeary.blogspot.com</a></span><a href="http://celiayeary.blogspot.com/"></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">/</span></span> Mona Riskhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14923883333893160794noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3797552639458275193.post-31197016726376721152012-12-01T06:39:00.001-05:002012-12-01T06:39:28.297-05:00Christmas BabiesCHRISTMAS BABIES available in Kindle format at Amazon.<br />
<br />
FREE TODAY AND TOMORROW.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://tinyurl.com/burgd9j" target="_blank" title="CHRISTMAS BABIES">http://tinyurl.com/burgd9j</a><br />
<em>A heartwarming holiday story, set in South Florida.</em><br />
<a href="http://monarisk.com/2012/11/29/christmas-babies/christmas-babies-mm/" rel="attachment wp-att-426"><img alt="" class="alignleft wp-image-426" height="357" originalh="357" originalw="239" scale="1.5" src-orig="http://monarisk.files.wordpress.com/2012/11/christmas-babies-mm.jpg?w=239&h=357" src="http://monarisk.files.wordpress.com/2012/11/christmas-babies-mm.jpg?w=359&h=536" width="239" /></a><br />
<br />
Dedicated to her patients, the serious Dr. Madelyn Ramsay never had time for fun. An unexpected health problem jolts her into the realization that there’s more to life than just work. She longs to surrender to the magic of Christmas. <br />
<br />
What would be the best Christmas she could give herself?<br />
<br />
A charming doctor to date, like the secretive Nick Preston, who hides his own package of disillusions?<br />
<br />
Or a pair of adorable babies, like the newborn twins, Celia and Liana, who’d already wormed their way into her heart?<br />
Mona Riskhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14923883333893160794noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3797552639458275193.post-80717233696492992312012-10-26T02:31:00.001-04:002012-10-26T03:08:07.812-04:00Treat No Trick<a href="http://www.booktalk.com/Halloween">www.booktalk.com/Halloween</a><br />
<br />
what to do:<br />
<br />
1) Visit each author's website and collect the Witch's Brew ingredients. Enter the Witch's Brew Drawing (form below) and list each author's featured book (aka "ingredient"). All authors are contributing goodies for the Witch's Brew Basket! Contest ends on Halloween at midnight. Winner will be randomly selected from entries and winner will be notified on Thursday, November lst. Good Luck!!<br />
<br />
Visit my Website: Witches Brew ingredient: Find the title of my newest book. http://www.monarisk.com<br />
<br />
2) "LIKE" each authors FACEBOOK page to be eligible for "treat" from each author whose page you visit and "Like." Look for the Halloween contest tab to enter. Prize varies from author to author. All contests end on Halloween at midnight, October 31st. Winners will be notified via e-mail on Thursday, November 1st. Happy Halloween!<br />
<br />
"Like" my Facebook Page:: "Like" my page between Oct. 28 - 31 to be eligible for a prize. Winner chosen randomly. Winner notified on November 1st by e-mail. <a href="http://www.facebook.com/MonaRisk?ref=tn_tnmn">http://www.facebook.com/MonaRisk?ref=tn_tnmn</a><br />
<br />
All contests end at midngiht on Halloween, October 31st.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyHWLmsCRJMwVIatyJI5h6gcY_6ja7MYI_FKXRJnKKPweflWz2Jx1eiLEv5L00YWVIW3WmIDWiSx_nnjBV84qwU-WBPGXj0c0_GtxUhG9GTBQ7NlxCxgs5uzluOPG7tb7PrlV5RRV_KrE/s1600/CoverFinalMD-NeighborsAndMore.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" oea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyHWLmsCRJMwVIatyJI5h6gcY_6ja7MYI_FKXRJnKKPweflWz2Jx1eiLEv5L00YWVIW3WmIDWiSx_nnjBV84qwU-WBPGXj0c0_GtxUhG9GTBQ7NlxCxgs5uzluOPG7tb7PrlV5RRV_KrE/s320/CoverFinalMD-NeighborsAndMore.jpg" width="213" /></a><br />
Neighbors and More is a romantic suspense, and the first book of the High Rise Series.<br />
<br />
High Rises are like large families where members face love, hate, meddling, and gossiping. When the neighbor who was harassing her is found dead in the Jacuzzi, Alexa is a prime suspect.<br />
<br />
Can she count on her dear neighbors,<br />
<br />
including the delectable Italian, Dante, for help? With too many skeletons in their closets, would they save her or incriminate her?<br />
<br />Mona Riskhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14923883333893160794noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3797552639458275193.post-6631243112898736632012-10-20T10:20:00.002-04:002012-10-20T10:23:36.987-04:00First Day: Naples, Italy<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_OI_tYwyI13_gAtOrdysp2SwQTkZhx8C-_nNCN7B2YnuJTulXbti9n_aQ066vxdaUplCUuppap9RZfPnVrg4UJckFrg6aK08hr1SskbbPHYFv2RweOS2P8cdz3BJAEI_C0-Kl9FDx-Ik/s1600/Bay+of+Naples.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" nea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_OI_tYwyI13_gAtOrdysp2SwQTkZhx8C-_nNCN7B2YnuJTulXbti9n_aQ066vxdaUplCUuppap9RZfPnVrg4UJckFrg6aK08hr1SskbbPHYFv2RweOS2P8cdz3BJAEI_C0-Kl9FDx-Ik/s320/Bay+of+Naples.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bay of Naples</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Following a long tiring plane trip, we arrived in Rome, early morning and rode the bus for an hour and a half straight to the port of Civitavecchia where we boarded our ship. Needless to say I was so exhausted with a swollen ankle from a previous fall two days before the trip that I collapsed on the bed in our cabin and slept a few hours until dinner.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhog7_B08aOvhImgnbEKYnluPRUAEK4stsqo9auJV0dtIxJ39OeJG7wxorNjbP8KKNWRaqGbQhPy9CDPugYoAcNQdKKCwVFKISZGIpvduuMM_XIcLWzzeXuSLXN_oWPQ6Kl3C3JPyy8gSs/s1600/Volcano+of+Mt.+Vesuvius.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" nea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhog7_B08aOvhImgnbEKYnluPRUAEK4stsqo9auJV0dtIxJ39OeJG7wxorNjbP8KKNWRaqGbQhPy9CDPugYoAcNQdKKCwVFKISZGIpvduuMM_XIcLWzzeXuSLXN_oWPQ6Kl3C3JPyy8gSs/s320/Volcano+of+Mt.+Vesuvius.JPG" width="298" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Volcano of Mt. Vesuvius</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
In the evening the ship sailed to Naples where we arrived the next day.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihk0EHDDL47xrmPtDYikWzoFkWPbxfXvXfyeCr3uQu_ZAcW8o1GnYRLY-LhBL3Q3bCOfoNh3zlKaVyRxEiXMyJjP_2iwLuIOaX1wH9SOQSnWW14uWQJqowbDmTzC5m9YLGeOuWgDXJDQc/s1600/Castel+del+Ovo2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" nea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihk0EHDDL47xrmPtDYikWzoFkWPbxfXvXfyeCr3uQu_ZAcW8o1GnYRLY-LhBL3Q3bCOfoNh3zlKaVyRxEiXMyJjP_2iwLuIOaX1wH9SOQSnWW14uWQJqowbDmTzC5m9YLGeOuWgDXJDQc/s320/Castel+del+Ovo2.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Castel del Ovo</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">We had a lovely day in Naples and took an open-top bus to visit this old city. </span> <br />
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</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4CMfxGCbokBGfGLdYrJw_sXlXf_PTHLl6Bj8plbiS9IhHo-AvdDRy60Wi1Xq2vyY_PBabmP3vHV8E28Y5iXc_EQJ6_bsAMSl4nK8fSbZ11NHYZemopM_KDgFfuIlUPxm9VYPMlBrzCNM/s1600/The+Cathedral.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" nea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4CMfxGCbokBGfGLdYrJw_sXlXf_PTHLl6Bj8plbiS9IhHo-AvdDRy60Wi1Xq2vyY_PBabmP3vHV8E28Y5iXc_EQJ6_bsAMSl4nK8fSbZ11NHYZemopM_KDgFfuIlUPxm9VYPMlBrzCNM/s1600/The+Cathedral.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Cathedral</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5J_ltUd4qLoi36kyAGv3r8Kg_7Fd6S8392cJztUT_mIw7sTK1-weEpSyXYL6DGVVzAKD3j236kvm9WpXi8-M0vf8k3jtO3_AbIDdgKglL_fYsk4XQ5QPPM5vQSzcrW14yFP3ojTO_7fE/s1600/IMG_4273.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" nea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5J_ltUd4qLoi36kyAGv3r8Kg_7Fd6S8392cJztUT_mIw7sTK1-weEpSyXYL6DGVVzAKD3j236kvm9WpXi8-M0vf8k3jtO3_AbIDdgKglL_fYsk4XQ5QPPM5vQSzcrW14yFP3ojTO_7fE/s320/IMG_4273.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Downtown Naples</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Stay tune for pictures of Santorini, Greece, tomorrow.Mona Riskhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14923883333893160794noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3797552639458275193.post-41000609234725162512012-10-09T20:53:00.000-04:002012-10-09T20:53:02.464-04:00Trick-or-Treat Free ParTay! <div align="center">
<span style="color: black;">GOING FREE October 10-11</span></div>
<div align="center">
As part of the FREE Par-Tay</div>
<span style="color: black;">(Previously
titled Sailing with You)<br />
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>When Greek billionaire Stefano decides to demolish the dilapidated villa inherited from his grandmother, the American co-owner refuses to sell his shares and sends his attorney—and pretty granddaughter—to contest the demolition. To check out the opposition before he faces her at the hearing, Stefano meets her incognito and convinces her to take
a sunset ride on his yacht. Sparks fly and passion sizzles during a memorable
night.<br />
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>In court, Ashley is in for a nasty surprise about her handsome Greek god and Stefano is about to lose the only woman who’s ever touched his heart. Will Stefano be able to convince Ashley he’s not the enemy anymore? </span><br />
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<o:p> </o:p></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<b><i><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Trick-or-Treat Free
ParTay! </span></i></b><b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For Two Days Only, Oct. 10<sup>th</sup> – 11<sup>th</sup>
,</span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">
"Her Greek Romance"</span></i></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"> <i><span style="color: #2a2a2a;">will </span></i><span style="color: #2a2a2a;">be <b>FREE! </b>If you like </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">"Her Greek Romance"</i></b>
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or Die,”</span></i></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> A voodoo doll gift turns out to be
anything but! <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">By Stephanie Bond.</b><o:p></o:p></span><br />
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self-destructive PTSD veteran<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">. By Don McQuinn.<o:p></o:p></b></span><br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">“Stolen
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Mona Riskhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14923883333893160794noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3797552639458275193.post-60803102162962417582012-09-11T16:27:00.001-04:002012-09-11T16:28:49.414-04:00September Eleven (9-11)Today is a day of remembrance and prayers. In my family, it is a day to
give thanks to God for sparing my uncle and my cousin—his nephew.<br />
<br />
On
September 11, 2001, my cousin Alex, a twenty-five years old accountant was
cursing himself for staying up late the night before, ignoring his alarm while
still dozing, and missing his train from Long Island to Manhattan. His Mom had
just arrived the night before and the whole family was celebrating her visit
with a special dinner. <br />
<br />
Alex took the next train and worried during the
whole trip about what his boss would say. It was his first job after graduating
with an MBA, a nice position as accountant in a firm on the 18th floor of the
World Trade Center. <br />
<br />
The train stopped for 20 minutes at the previous
station and then zoomed without stopping for the next four stations. Alex and
the passengers couldn’t understand why. They were told to evacuate the train and
walk. While walking toward the World Trade Center, Alex saw the smoke and fumes
darkening the sky. People were running in all directions. Someone told him about
the attack. He tried to walk away, toward his home. From 9:30 am to 5 pm he
roamed in the streets, not knowing how to find transportation and reach home. By
4 pm he finally found someone who agreed to let him use a cellular phone and he
called home.<br />
<br />
His mother had seen the attack on TV and collapsed thinking
her son dead. The whole family gathered around her, supporting and comforting
her with words of hope, as she screamed, prayed, cried for hours, until she
heard my cousin’s voice on the phone.<br />
<br />
That same day, my uncle, a VP in a contracting firm was meeting with important
clients in the company’s office on the 80th floor of the World Trade Center. A
man in his sixties, he often had health problems. <br />
<br />
While driving at 8:30
on the Expressway, he felt sick and had to stop at a fast food restaurant to use
the restroom. At 8:45 he called the office, talked to the administrative
assistant and to the owner’s son and informed them that he would be fifteen
minutes late for the meeting with the clients. A moment later, he raced on the
highway. But at 9:15, his wife called him and said to make a U-turn. His office
was no more. Later he learned that his boss’s son, a young man in his early
thirties, ran down the 80 floors, but their administrative assistant and the old
client waited for the elevator and never made it. <br />
<br />
Today is a sad
day for many. We will never forget 911.Mona Riskhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14923883333893160794noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3797552639458275193.post-60615765800150958272012-08-30T16:33:00.001-04:002012-08-30T20:33:48.801-04:00At Story Finds<img alt="" aria-busy="false" aria-describedby="fbPhotosSnowliftCaption" class="spotlight" height="180" src="http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/377267_10151188293490180_495936433_n.jpg" style="height: 180px; width: 180px;" width="180" /> <a href="http://storyfinds.com/section/author_spotlight">http://storyfinds.com/section/author_spotlight</a><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> </span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">AUTHOR SPOTLIGHT</span></div>
<span class="typeface-js-selected-text" style="letter-spacing: -3.85px; margin-left: -125px; width: 124px;">Author </span><span class="typeface-js-selected-text" style="letter-spacing: -5.11px; margin-left: -149px; width: 148px;">Spotlight</span><br />
<div class="region region-content">
<div class="block block-system first last odd first last odd" id="block-system-main">
<div class="content">
<div class="view view-author-spotlight view-id-author_spotlight view-display-id-page view-dom-id-96268e38927c3fe65424e3434cffd0e0">
<div class="view-content">
<div class="views-row views-row-1 views-row-odd views-row-first views-row-last">
<div>
<div class="right">
<a href="http://storyfinds.com/book/382/neighbors-and-more"><img alt="" height="333" src="http://storyfinds.com/sites/sf/files/styles/home/public/neighborsandmore.jpg" typeof="foaf:Image" width="221" /></a></div>
</div>
<div>
<h2 style="visibility: visible;">
<span class="typeface-js-vector-container"><canvas height="33" style="margin-bottom: -4px; margin-top: -4px;" width="122"></canvas><span class="typeface-js-selected-text" style="letter-spacing: -2.8px; margin-left: -123px; width: 122px;">Neighbors </span><canvas height="33" style="margin-bottom: -4px; margin-top: -4px;" width="49"></canvas><span class="typeface-js-selected-text" style="letter-spacing: -2.75px; margin-left: -50px; width: 49px;">and </span><canvas height="33" style="margin-bottom: -4px; margin-top: -4px;" width="59"></canvas><span class="typeface-js-selected-text" style="letter-spacing: -0.25px; margin-left: -60px; width: 59px;">More</span></span></h2>
</div>
<div class="views-field views-field-field-subtitle">
<h4 class="field-content subtitle" style="visibility: visible;">
<span class="typeface-js-vector-container"><canvas height="20" style="margin-bottom: -2px; margin-top: -2px;" width="35"></canvas><span class="typeface-js-selected-text" style="letter-spacing: -2px; margin-left: -36px; width: 35px;">High </span><canvas height="20" style="margin-bottom: -2px; margin-top: -2px;" width="30"></canvas><span class="typeface-js-selected-text" style="letter-spacing: -3px; margin-left: -31px; width: 30px;">Risk </span><canvas height="20" style="margin-bottom: -2px; margin-top: -2px;" width="40"></canvas><span class="typeface-js-selected-text" style="letter-spacing: -2.33px; margin-left: -41px; width: 40px;">Series</span></span></h4>
</div>
<div class="views-field views-field-field-author">
<h3 class="field-content" style="visibility: visible;">
<span class="typeface-js-vector-container"><canvas height="26" style="margin-bottom: -3px; margin-top: -3px;" width="56"></canvas><span class="typeface-js-selected-text" style="letter-spacing: -0.8px; margin-left: -57px; width: 56px;">Mona </span><canvas height="26" style="margin-bottom: -3px; margin-top: -3px;" width="34"></canvas><span class="typeface-js-selected-text" style="letter-spacing: -3.5px; margin-left: -35px; width: 34px;">Risk</span></span></h3>
</div>
<div class="views-field views-field-field-blurb">
<div class="field-content">
High Rises are like large families where members face love, hate, meddling, and gossiping. When the neighbor who was harassing her is found dead in the Jacuzzi, Alexa is a prime suspect. Can she count on her dear neighbors, including the delectable Italian, Dante, for help? With too many skeletons in their own closets, would they save her or incriminate her?<br />
<br />
Excerpt:<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
Alexa couldn’t tumble into bed with him and later regret her
bout of lust for months. But she wanted a night in Dante’s arms. A night of
love, not of lust. She’d had her share of lust-without-feelings with her ex.</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
A banging interrupted her. Dante spun toward the bedroom
door. “What’s that?”</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
She stiffened. “Damn it.”</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
“Someone’s at your door.”</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
“I’ll get it and be right back.” She checked herself in the
mirror and smoothed her hair. Another knock on the door grated on her nerves. </div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I bet it’s your ex.”
</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
“Probably.” Her recent euphoria died as she remembered the
turmoil brewing outside her little haven. </div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
“You should tell him to stop barging in without an
invitation.”</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
Why was Greg here, now? Couldn’t he ever let her enjoy a
moment of happiness away from him? She wanted her moment. She wanted Dante. Why
was she fighting her desire for the man of her dreams?</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
A quick look at him had her groaning. All male and handsome,
he lusted for her and his scorching gaze promised to take her to heaven and
back. “Well, hurry up. It’s not particularly exciting to imagine you with your
ex.”</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
As if to confirm it, another knock pounded loudly. After closing
her bedroom door, she rushed toward the living room.</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
“Coming,” she called between gritted teeth. </div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">I hate you, Greg
Partson</i>. </div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
****</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
Alexa skated to the front door and pulled it open while blocking
the doorway. </div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
“What took you so long?” The assessing gleam in Greg’s gray eyes
turned suspicious as he peered above her shoulder and scanned the living room.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
Struggling to control her rising temper, she stabbed him
with a stern look. “Why are you here?” </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
“I came to see if you were okay.” His voice oozed with
saccharine sweetness. “And tell you—”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I’m fine.” Damn it,
she was fine a few minutes ago, but he’d spoiled her mood at the worst possible
moment. She plastered on a perfunctory smile and held herself rooted to block
the entrance, her hands gripping the door and its frame. “Get to the point.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
“I just came to tell you a detective will meet us at eight
in the conference room.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
</div>
<br />
“I’ll be there.”<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
</div>
“He’ll interview the condo owners who saw the deceased
recently.” Greg leaned forward and grabbed her shoulders. “Was Steve Bairey
here last night or today?” His breath blasted with alcohol fumes. Alexa almost gagged. She tilted her chin, refusing to lie but hating Greg’s distrust. </div>
</div>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Book Antiqua"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"></span><br />
Dante was in her bedroom getting impatient. Could she push Greg out? Physically push him out with her fists and all her strength? How had she been able to withstand five long years married to the autocratic sleaze ball? She hissed and tried to bang the door shut, but he blocked it with his foot. <br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
“Alexa, answer me, damn it.” His bellow made her jump. “Did Steve come today?” </div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
“Yes. Yes, he came two hours ago.” <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Who cares when Dante is here?</i> </div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
“Around two?” he specified after glancing at his watch.
“And?” </div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
“I threatened to report him for harassment. But he said he
came to say goodbye.” She exhaled her exasperation. Greg focused a stern look
on her.</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
“Did he stay long?” Disapproval underlined his tone. </div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none;">
“For heaven’s sake, why all these questions?” She tapped her foot, ready to kick it into Greg’s leg. Was he dense or what? He arched a suspicious eyebrow. Understanding dawned on her. “Oh my God, you thought I could have done something to ki... kill him? Is that why you’re bombarding me with questions?” Alexa rubbed her neck to soothe the lump in her throat.</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
“Well, I remembered you saying once you wanted to kill him
for stalking you.”</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
Mona Riskhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14923883333893160794noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3797552639458275193.post-79543774863081273702012-08-23T08:11:00.004-04:002012-08-24T20:37:05.482-04:00Getting ready for storm and hurricane<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLAvkGGErMzT4W13avhueur6ZYDjJ6lMlP6pnwjI8ohYzmpJP2R40f_avuPtyNjfp_CsI9hHht2IFBbvUe3iyxnjsO5oDxq8B0cZxPADA4QkXHd-5epMS_9BBE86EJ-xJoxA8ycvKwaJ4/s1600/IMG_2816.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLAvkGGErMzT4W13avhueur6ZYDjJ6lMlP6pnwjI8ohYzmpJP2R40f_avuPtyNjfp_CsI9hHht2IFBbvUe3iyxnjsO5oDxq8B0cZxPADA4QkXHd-5epMS_9BBE86EJ-xJoxA8ycvKwaJ4/s320/IMG_2816.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Today in South Florida. Stormy but still sunny.<br />
Two days ago, is was raining but the sun managed to shine on and off.<br />
<br />
Today, I took the children--my grandchildren are here for two weeks--to the pool. It was a gorgeous day, sunny and warm, but at 11:30 am a black clud appeared on the east over the ocean and rapidly moved inland. We just had enough time to rush out of the pool, shower, dry and collect our things. The rain caught up with us while we were running to the building door. From my apartment we watched the rain pelt the windows and whitecaps burst on the ocean.<br />
<br />
The supermarkets are bustling with a crowd eager to stock on water and non-perishable food as the TV announces that tropical storm Isaac is heading toward Fort Lauderdale. No one here can forget Hurricane Wilma and the damage it caused in 2005. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq7HuPAlLPGlBnsJzLbMVEVTidaP7NnuDW1oayel9VCClb6bfzozxlsX4MkwPwx5znpPgdDi_5gU_GFZU3s4MKZVNO0pYHuqxvYbrld_nM5p7bx8rOK5QqCL6AQUu2qlSO6uFJyiK2gpU/s1600/IMG_4137.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq7HuPAlLPGlBnsJzLbMVEVTidaP7NnuDW1oayel9VCClb6bfzozxlsX4MkwPwx5znpPgdDi_5gU_GFZU3s4MKZVNO0pYHuqxvYbrld_nM5p7bx8rOK5QqCL6AQUu2qlSO6uFJyiK2gpU/s320/IMG_4137.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
The problem is that I have my grandchildren here and I don't want them exposed to nature fury. I am not sure if we will stay or drive north to escape the storm.<br />
</div>
Mona Riskhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14923883333893160794noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3797552639458275193.post-41869887473952900722012-08-15T20:53:00.000-04:002012-08-15T20:54:17.902-04:00LASR 5th Anniversay Bash<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3BBQX55o-KblSUca3fwgwpsvH1kT5CpsubnkTWZX_p5Vm0ZTZUjg7yHHFk0H8eG53umeBDPRrguBxVl0hbXDb9GlZyVstGkX-2aowgJcYN8QblvgQU1ABOCYfjoaa7w0zGtc1UYl16fc/s1600/LASR+participant-banner-animated-200.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3BBQX55o-KblSUca3fwgwpsvH1kT5CpsubnkTWZX_p5Vm0ZTZUjg7yHHFk0H8eG53umeBDPRrguBxVl0hbXDb9GlZyVstGkX-2aowgJcYN8QblvgQU1ABOCYfjoaa7w0zGtc1UYl16fc/s1600/LASR+participant-banner-animated-200.gif" /></a></div>
The celebration for all groups (romance, erotic romance, YA/Middle Grade,
Mystery/Suspense and SFF) will begin <strong>August 18th and run through August 26,2012</strong>.
<br />
<br />
In addition to several other prizes (including books, author swag, LASR
promo items and various gift certificates), we plan on giving away at least one
grand prize of the winner's choice of either a $100 Amazon or BN GC, three first
prizes of $50 GCs, a total of three second prizes of $25 Amazon/BN GCs, and
numerous $5 gift certificates. Number and amounts of prizes may increase based
on participation. We have two different participation options.<br />
<br />
Option #1:<br />
<br />
We're hosting two two-day blog fests on
our guest blogs to kick off and end our anniversary. We did something like this
for the Christmas Holiday and it was a HUGE hit with authors AND readers. The
participation was amazing. You'll be required to write a blog post of at 250 -
700 words on one of the following topics: vacation, summer, summer reading, back
to school, or "what I did during my summer vacation" and submit it within a week
of your application.<br />
<br />
Prize (for each weekend – for a total of at least
two prize packages – prize number may increase based on participation): $50 GC,
$25 GC + several small GCs and prizes (including books, publisher GCs and author
swag) throughout each day (every comment earns an entry). <br />
<br />
Option #2: -- 100 Total
spots<br />
<br />
We're hosting a week long scavenger hunt between August 20 - 24,
2012. Participants' name and a link to their site will be included on a sponsor
page and they will participate in a scavenger hunt which should drive
significant traffic to their site.<br />
<br />
Prizes: $100 GC, $50 GC, $25 GC +
several small GCs and prizes (including books, publisher GCs and author swag) to
be determined.Mona Riskhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14923883333893160794noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3797552639458275193.post-86314844681399745782012-08-04T01:47:00.000-04:002012-08-04T20:41:31.677-04:00An amazing woman<span style="font-family: Arial;">Everyone knows Mother Theresa and her incredible work with
the poorest of the poor in Calcutta, India. Her funeral was broadcasted on TV,
a week after Princess Diana’s. But very few people have ever heard of Sister Emmanuelle—or
Soeur Emmanuelle as she was called in France and in the MiddleEast where her volunteer
work had paralleled the good deeds of Mother Theresa.</span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51xfVtA5nUL._SL500_AA300_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51xfVtA5nUL._SL500_AA300_.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">I read Sister Emmanuelle’s book recently. A book she wrote
at the age of hundred! The title attracted me, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">I am 100 years old and I would like to tell you...</i> In French: <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">J’ai 100 ans et je voudrais vous dire...</i>
It’s a kind of memoir of her last years, the most interesting part of her life.
</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial;">She was born in Belgium in a wealthy family, but she saw her
father drown when she was only six years old. After studying philosophy at the
Sorbonne in Paris, she entered the convent and dedicated herself to teaching in
the same nuns’ school where I was educated. I never met her but heard about her
much later. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><o:p></o:p></i></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">In her book, Soeur Emmanuelle explained how she was asked to
retire from her active duty in the convent at the age of 75. Free to do as she
pleased with her time, she traveled to Egypt and was appalled and touched by
the poverty in certain parts of Cairo, particularly in the area where the trash
collectors dwell, sorting through the garbage for something to eat. <span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">Horrified by the conditions she had witnessed, she decided
to live among them, and remained in Cairo for twenty years. </span>She raised money through
various fundraising organizations and helped the trash collectors build a
factory to process the waste. She also established schools and daycares in Sudan
to educate the girls and prevent their families from giving them in marriage at
eleven or twelve.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span>In addition to her charity work, Soeur Emmanuelle was known
for her unorthodox religious views, her approval of using contraceptive and her notion that
catholic priests should be allowed to marry. When she reached 95, her convent insisted she retire.
The Belgium and French governments publicly honored her. She remained alert,
writing nine books and fighting for justice and human dignity, until she died
at 100 in her sleep, a few weeks after publishing this last book.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
Her philosophy: To do everything with love.</div>
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
</div>Mona Riskhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14923883333893160794noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3797552639458275193.post-40196797133911703802012-07-18T13:29:00.000-04:002012-07-18T13:29:05.801-04:00Sailing with YouSAILING WITH YOU <br />
<br />
<a href="http://tinyurl.com/7xwp8eo">http://tinyurl.com/7xwp8eo</a> <br />
<br />
A story full of passion, humor, and emotion, set in the Greek Island of Mykonos.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxtJJx49UL6HP3EQ623RhCAF74Q1IoMFnaUESMqFJEuyBmH2oIYJqYyD5_Li8wiBLE1atuQkHThmzz4snEbcxOvrERCXNxQ9uQ-iFTo9ELmaOufTi9eBZDcC5mkoLpmUzdvFARl13UisE/s1600/Sailling+w+You+Sw.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxtJJx49UL6HP3EQ623RhCAF74Q1IoMFnaUESMqFJEuyBmH2oIYJqYyD5_Li8wiBLE1atuQkHThmzz4snEbcxOvrERCXNxQ9uQ-iFTo9ELmaOufTi9eBZDcC5mkoLpmUzdvFARl13UisE/s320/Sailling+w+You+Sw.jpg" width="213" /></a><strong>Offered as a FREE promotion at Amazon for three days.</strong><br />
<br />
32 reviews 4.5 stars average.<br />
<br />
<span class="fl" style="color: #333333; display: block; font-family: Georgia,Times New Roman,New Century Schoolbook,Times,Serif; font-style: italic; left: -1px; position: relative; top: -1px; vertical-align: top;">“This<span class="block" id="advice-quote-0" style="margin: 0px 0px 0px 12px;"><span class="block" style="left: -4px; position: relative;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/review/R2K8DJN24Z1PEP/ref=cm_cr_quotes_dprb_0?ie=UTF8&ASIN=B007IE07OK&nodeID=133140011&store=digital-text" id="advice-quote-list-dpReviewsBucketSummary-B007IE07OK-R2K8DJN24Z1PEP-2-497-137" name="advice-quote-list-dpReviewsBucketSummary-B007IE07OK-R2K8DJN24Z1PEP-2-497-137" style="cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;" title="Read the full review by Loves Romance"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia,Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,Sans-serif; font-style: italic; line-height: 20px;">
book is full of lovely descriptions of Mykonos that transported me to the island
and provided a wonderful backdrop for the </span></a><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/shopping-advice/common/du/displayReviewLightboxForQuoteAjax.html/ref=cm_cr_quotes_dprb_0?ie=UTF8&asin=B007IE07OK&quoteID=B007IE07OK-R2K8DJN24Z1PEP-2-497-137&ref=cm_cr_quotes_dprb_0" id="advice-quote-list-dpReviewsBucketSummary-B007IE07OK-R2K8DJN24Z1PEP-2-497-137_hide" style="display: none;"></a><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia,Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,Sans-serif; font-style: italic; line-height: 20px; white-space: nowrap;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/review/R2K8DJN24Z1PEP/ref=cm_cr_quotes_dprb_0?ie=UTF8&ASIN=B007IE07OK&nodeID=133140011&store=digital-text" id="advice-quote-list-dpReviewsBucketSummary-B007IE07OK-R2K8DJN24Z1PEP-2-497-137" name="advice-quote-list-dpReviewsBucketSummary-B007IE07OK-R2K8DJN24Z1PEP-2-497-137" style="color: #333333; cursor: pointer; font-family: Georgia,Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,Sans-serif; font-style: italic; line-height: 20px; text-decoration: none;" title="Read the full review by Loves Romance">romance.
</a><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/shopping-advice/common/du/displayReviewLightboxForQuoteAjax.html/ref=cm_cr_quotes_dprb_0?ie=UTF8&asin=B007IE07OK&quoteID=B007IE07OK-R2K8DJN24Z1PEP-2-497-137&ref=cm_cr_quotes_dprb_0" id="advice-quote-list-dpReviewsBucketSummary-B007IE07OK-R2K8DJN24Z1PEP-2-497-137_hide" style="display: none;"></a><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia,Times New Roman,New Century Schoolbook,Times,Serif; font-style: italic; margin-right: 2px; position: relative; top: -1px; vertical-align: top;">”</span>
</span></span><span class="block" style="margin-top: -5px;"><span style="margin-top: -5px;"><span id="advice-quote-author-0"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial,Verdana,Helvetica,Sans-serif; font-style: normal; line-height: 36px;">Loves
Romance</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Arial,Verdana,Helvetica,Sans-serif; font-style: normal; line-height: 36px;"> | </span><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial,Verdana,Helvetica,Sans-serif; font-style: normal; line-height: 36px;">13 reviewers
made a similar statement</span> </span></span></span></span></span>
<br />
<div style="padding-bottom: 22px;">
<div style="margin-top: -5px;">
<span class="fl" style="color: #333333; display: block; font-family: Georgia,Times New Roman,New Century Schoolbook,Times,Serif; font-style: italic; left: -1px; position: relative; top: -1px; vertical-align: top;"></span> "I<span class="block" id="advice-quote-1" style="margin: 0px 0px 0px 12px;"><span class="block" style="left: -4px; position: relative;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/review/R12C07JHGSPYIA/ref=cm_cr_quotes_dprb_1?ie=UTF8&ASIN=B007IE07OK&nodeID=133140011&store=digital-text" id="advice-quote-list-dpReviewsBucketSummary-B007IE07OK-R12C07JHGSPYIA-2-0-34" name="advice-quote-list-dpReviewsBucketSummary-B007IE07OK-R12C07JHGSPYIA-2-0-34" style="cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;" title="Read the full review by D. Gerber"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia,Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,Sans-serif; font-style: italic; line-height: 20px;">
read this book in one </span></a><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/shopping-advice/common/du/displayReviewLightboxForQuoteAjax.html/ref=cm_cr_quotes_dprb_1?ie=UTF8&asin=B007IE07OK&quoteID=B007IE07OK-R12C07JHGSPYIA-2-0-34&ref=cm_cr_quotes_dprb_1" id="advice-quote-list-dpReviewsBucketSummary-B007IE07OK-R12C07JHGSPYIA-2-0-34_hide" style="display: none;"></a><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia,Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,Sans-serif; font-style: italic; line-height: 20px; white-space: nowrap;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/review/R12C07JHGSPYIA/ref=cm_cr_quotes_dprb_1?ie=UTF8&ASIN=B007IE07OK&nodeID=133140011&store=digital-text" id="advice-quote-list-dpReviewsBucketSummary-B007IE07OK-R12C07JHGSPYIA-2-0-34" name="advice-quote-list-dpReviewsBucketSummary-B007IE07OK-R12C07JHGSPYIA-2-0-34" style="color: #333333; cursor: pointer; font-family: Georgia,Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,Sans-serif; font-style: italic; line-height: 20px; text-decoration: none;" title="Read the full review by D. Gerber">afternoon.
</a><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/shopping-advice/common/du/displayReviewLightboxForQuoteAjax.html/ref=cm_cr_quotes_dprb_1?ie=UTF8&asin=B007IE07OK&quoteID=B007IE07OK-R12C07JHGSPYIA-2-0-34&ref=cm_cr_quotes_dprb_1" id="advice-quote-list-dpReviewsBucketSummary-B007IE07OK-R12C07JHGSPYIA-2-0-34_hide" style="display: none;"></a><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia,Times New Roman,New Century Schoolbook,Times,Serif; font-style: italic; margin-right: 2px; position: relative; top: -1px; vertical-align: top;">”</span>
</span></span><span class="block" style="margin-top: -5px;"><span style="margin-top: -5px;"><span id="advice-quote-author-1"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial,Verdana,Helvetica,Sans-serif; font-style: normal; line-height: 36px;">D.
Gerber</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Arial,Verdana,Helvetica,Sans-serif; font-style: normal; line-height: 36px;"> | </span><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial,Verdana,Helvetica,Sans-serif; font-style: normal; line-height: 36px;">7 reviewers
made a similar statement</span> </span></span></span></span></div>
</div>
<br />
<div>
<div style="margin-top: -5px;">
<span class="fl" style="color: #333333; display: block; font-family: Georgia,Times New Roman,New Century Schoolbook,Times,Serif; font-style: italic; left: -1px; position: relative; top: -1px; vertical-align: top;">“<span class="block" id="advice-quote-2" style="margin: 0px 0px 0px 12px;"><span class="block" style="left: -4px; position: relative;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/review/R3T80RICTRVXSN/ref=cm_cr_quotes_dprb_2?ie=UTF8&ASIN=B007IE07OK&nodeID=133140011&store=digital-text" id="advice-quote-list-dpReviewsBucketSummary-B007IE07OK-R3T80RICTRVXSN-2-269-91" name="advice-quote-list-dpReviewsBucketSummary-B007IE07OK-R3T80RICTRVXSN-2-269-91" style="cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;" title="Read the full review by Carolyn Smith"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia,Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,Sans-serif; font-style: italic; line-height: 20px;">Torn
apart, he hopes Ashley will save the villa, and he secretly hopes she will find
</span></a><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/shopping-advice/common/du/displayReviewLightboxForQuoteAjax.html/ref=cm_cr_quotes_dprb_2?ie=UTF8&asin=B007IE07OK&quoteID=B007IE07OK-R3T80RICTRVXSN-2-269-91&ref=cm_cr_quotes_dprb_2" id="advice-quote-list-dpReviewsBucketSummary-B007IE07OK-R3T80RICTRVXSN-2-269-91_hide" style="display: none;"></a><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia,Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,Sans-serif; font-style: italic; line-height: 20px; white-space: nowrap;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/review/R3T80RICTRVXSN/ref=cm_cr_quotes_dprb_2?ie=UTF8&ASIN=B007IE07OK&nodeID=133140011&store=digital-text" id="advice-quote-list-dpReviewsBucketSummary-B007IE07OK-R3T80RICTRVXSN-2-269-91" name="advice-quote-list-dpReviewsBucketSummary-B007IE07OK-R3T80RICTRVXSN-2-269-91" style="color: #333333; cursor: pointer; font-family: Georgia,Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,Sans-serif; font-style: italic; line-height: 20px; text-decoration: none;" title="Read the full review by Carolyn Smith">love.
</a><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/shopping-advice/common/du/displayReviewLightboxForQuoteAjax.html/ref=cm_cr_quotes_dprb_2?ie=UTF8&asin=B007IE07OK&quoteID=B007IE07OK-R3T80RICTRVXSN-2-269-91&ref=cm_cr_quotes_dprb_2" id="advice-quote-list-dpReviewsBucketSummary-B007IE07OK-R3T80RICTRVXSN-2-269-91_hide" style="display: none;"></a><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia,Times New Roman,New Century Schoolbook,Times,Serif; font-style: italic; margin-right: 2px; position: relative; top: -1px; vertical-align: top;">”</span>
</span></span><span class="block" style="margin-top: -5px;"><span style="margin-top: -5px;"><span id="advice-quote-author-2"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial,Verdana,Helvetica,Sans-serif; font-style: normal; line-height: 36px;">Carolyn
Smith</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Arial,Verdana,Helvetica,Sans-serif; font-style: normal; line-height: 36px;"> | </span><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial,Verdana,Helvetica,Sans-serif; font-style: normal; line-height: 36px;">5 reviewers
made a similar statement</span> </span></span></span></span></span></div>
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
When Greek billionaire Stefano decides to demolish the dilapidated villa
inherited from his grandmother, the American co-owner refuses to sell his shares
and sends his attorney—and pretty granddaughter—to contest the demolition. To
check out the opposition before he faces at the hearing, Stefano meets her
incognito and convinces her to take a sunset ride on his yacht. Sparks fly and
passion sizzles during a memorable night.<br /><br />In court, Ashley is in for a
nasty surprise about her handsome Greek god and Stefano is about to lose the
only woman who’s ever touched his heart. Will Stefano be able to convince Ashley
he’s not the enemy anymore?
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<span class="swSprite s_expandChevron"></span><a class="showMore" href="http://www.amazon.com/Her-Greek-Romance-ebook/dp/B007IE07OK/#">Show More</a> </div>
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<noscript></noscript>Mona Riskhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14923883333893160794noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3797552639458275193.post-66661482892895467602012-07-12T09:32:00.000-04:002012-07-12T09:34:28.198-04:00ReadingMy granddaughters are spending their summer vacation with us. That means pool, beach, lunch, pool, beach, dinner, games, TV, and finally sleep. By then I am more tired than they are and probably collapse before them.
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Yesterday it rained all day. We drove to the mall and got two Lego games. My girls are incredibly talented at building things and I just sat there and admired. Or cooked while issuing encouragement and applauding the little marvels. By 5pm the sun decided to appear. It didn't take them five minutes to be dressed in bathing suit and ready their bag of towels. We stayed till seven at the pool.
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Today is a B-day, means beach day.
Of course I can't write and don't even try to edit. But I read a lot while they are busy on their own.
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I read Sold on You by Sophia Knightly; Journey of the Heart by Stephanie Burkhart;A Matter of Taste by Carol Devaney; Letting Go by Roxy Boroughs; Golden Lies by Barbara Freethy; Kissing Adrien By Siri Mitchell.Soul and Shadow by Susan McLeod; <br />
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And now I am reading Kat and the US Marshal by Celia Yeary. Next on my list The Bachelor's Baby Promise, My Cheeky Angel by Mimi Barbour and A Cowboy's Kiss in Wyoming by E. Ayers.
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<br />"A writer never has a vacation. For a writer life consists of either writing or thinking about writing."
- Eugene Ionesco I would add: "Or reading".
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf6y99oQjMAIYb1qx4NAZ1MBF0z68NDc6LMBkMrRsPwN7yUVmLaLLTyBYbYEoDBfBOCr7RiB_3IpD9M3rLb4Yf6ekV_mQncen02DGXz3-Q6r3SX-RJbSpDeUhVoGWP0rMou_2G27lPQyg/s1600/NaM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf6y99oQjMAIYb1qx4NAZ1MBF0z68NDc6LMBkMrRsPwN7yUVmLaLLTyBYbYEoDBfBOCr7RiB_3IpD9M3rLb4Yf6ekV_mQncen02DGXz3-Q6r3SX-RJbSpDeUhVoGWP0rMou_2G27lPQyg/s200/NaM.jpg" width="127" /></a><br />
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And here is my tentative book cover for NEIGHBORS or MORE... the first novel of High Rises series. I am still using watermarked pictures as I'm still playing with the cover.Mona Riskhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14923883333893160794noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3797552639458275193.post-42559794257337705492012-07-03T22:42:00.006-04:002012-07-03T22:42:57.397-04:00NEVER FORGET<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">HAPPY FOURTH OF JULY </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">Celebrate & Remember</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">USS New YorkUSS New York</td></tr>
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It was built with 24 tons of scrap steel from the World Trade Center.</div>
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<br />It is the fifth in a new class of warship - designed for missions th at include special operations against terrorists. It will carry a crew of 360 sailors and 700 combat-ready Marines to be delivered ashore by helicopters and assault craft. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXnyAUf3A_Y7KHr1McUBu6SIDRcOzIVYaujQJSiPq0OKEzQICJ74c6yzf8VeKzhnWrEbM0W5LVjAoX_7N75Y23emVH4vqnI2CiLsTmIUssplTyb8TDEQ6r6KXS1poGJTtUV8Wg0-hjUuM/s1600-h/image002.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5238660160185781762" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXnyAUf3A_Y7KHr1McUBu6SIDRcOzIVYaujQJSiPq0OKEzQICJ74c6yzf8VeKzhnWrEbM0W5LVjAoX_7N75Y23emVH4vqnI2CiLsTmIUssplTyb8TDEQ6r6KXS1poGJTtUV8Wg0-hjUuM/s320/image002.jpg" style="float: right; margin: 0px 0px 10px 10px;" /></a><br />
Steel from the World Trade Center was melted down in a foundry in Amite , LA to cast the ship's bow section. When it was poured into the molds on Sept 9, 2003, 'those big rough steelworkers treated it with total reverence,' recalled Navy Capt. Kevin Wensing, who was there. 'It was a spiritual moment for everybody there.' </div>
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<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPwmL6Be1gM30fQ2rRB6wYk9svrNkhyphenhyphennD-2PEW0jOv3txvheE7QMfjfKmyse4Ch4rv9ziVRrpIwkkVawRYrY1m5ZStYK06pV0Cr_2HYA-iSNHbtKxhhyGrMR6yasl0zMaoYKYAhv_2HNA/s1600-h/image004.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5238660452798278114" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPwmL6Be1gM30fQ2rRB6wYk9svrNkhyphenhyphennD-2PEW0jOv3txvheE7QMfjfKmyse4Ch4rv9ziVRrpIwkkVawRYrY1m5ZStYK06pV0Cr_2HYA-iSNHbtKxhhyGrMR6yasl0zMaoYKYAhv_2HNA/s320/image004.jpg" style="float: left; margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px;" /></a><br />
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Junior Chavers, foundry operations manager, said that when the trade center steel first arrived, he touched it with his hand and the 'hair on my neck stood up.' 'It had a big meaning to it for all of us,' he said. 'They knocked us down. They can't keep us down. We're going to be back.' The ship's motto? 'Never Forget'Please keep this going so everyone can see what we are m ade of in this country!</div>
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<img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5238660869090997714" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4bi2XYx6aQpoi4H_CeP-DgPrDm_ZfpDX967NgXp8KYnO8zH-yRPks7VIpEGR13lKkZoCJz193cPKe9A51U1Z3QcOUE_r94NZYy8XVvEiVavj6PM9fozNZARkm6ziUdle6irG_3Z4Nhdk/s320/image005.jpg" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" /></div>
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</div>Mona Riskhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14923883333893160794noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3797552639458275193.post-62787082125679153292012-07-02T10:57:00.001-04:002012-07-02T10:57:27.740-04:00Summer Already<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX2KTiJSiLW7hz5deCKSj_7jmoG_zza81kVJ3XJRK9nu4m7W8m_jplHtgzmDoX1avxIz0B1lXT8yvefqH9f3WtSHsVFdFaRcZNcsNjb_rbySsyMdIMQ2BH_hiJgY3YbigypHHDG2jET88/s1600/IMGP1089.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX2KTiJSiLW7hz5deCKSj_7jmoG_zza81kVJ3XJRK9nu4m7W8m_jplHtgzmDoX1avxIz0B1lXT8yvefqH9f3WtSHsVFdFaRcZNcsNjb_rbySsyMdIMQ2BH_hiJgY3YbigypHHDG2jET88/s200/IMGP1089.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sunrise in Florida</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Are you wondering with me how half of the year is already
gone?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Was it a good half or ...?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Let see. The New Year started on the wrong foot with a
friend in a bad accident, another in two surgeries, and my own stomach burning
like hell with acute gastritis and ulcer. But even bad things come to an end.
After three months in a hospital, several surgeries, and therapy, my friend is
walking again. The other one is finally healthy, and my stomach problem is
under control providing I don’t forget to take my pills.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">On the publishing front, these past six months have been the
best selling months I have ever had. My four self-published ebooks, NO MORE
LIES; RIGHT NAME, WRONG MAN; BABIES IN THE BARGAIN; and SAILING with YOU have
maintained a bestselling status at Amazon.com</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGqL6s0lA5t0IAu9AvS_iGydR6GGBqeIP2BpRzLbch2ikUmCorUFvMHSm7WpElrw392-VvZQbfpM1nESNMpgZO6suoPSrlSGiVHT5PHk-_Fxo-FcDPg0BTrKH96pYGl0sAX1ec_AHf81I/s1600/IMGP2836+c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGqL6s0lA5t0IAu9AvS_iGydR6GGBqeIP2BpRzLbch2ikUmCorUFvMHSm7WpElrw392-VvZQbfpM1nESNMpgZO6suoPSrlSGiVHT5PHk-_Fxo-FcDPg0BTrKH96pYGl0sAX1ec_AHf81I/s320/IMGP2836+c.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fort Lauderdale High Rises </td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">I just typed The End on NEIGHBORS AND MORE... The first in a
new series called HIGH RISES. This romantic suspense is set in a high rise
building located on the beach in Fort Lauderdale. High Rises are like huge
families where members face love, hate, meddling, and gossiping. When you deal
with three hundred plus condos there ought to be friction between some neighbors,
friendship with others, and more with a select few.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy7MzOhMEw2Trmd5w5LULQRN5T9kCWBh6vUZVJ6rPtW1tqbjlOQxtONwS0V_19HtXqOUdsjoIhVN5yjRz7c1qKlCTdHQS53E2iyK5E5_qP4V3gqbITC_w4TxOFOrXZsEyY2Yn0KDsHjsQ/s1600/IMGP1090+c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy7MzOhMEw2Trmd5w5LULQRN5T9kCWBh6vUZVJ6rPtW1tqbjlOQxtONwS0V_19HtXqOUdsjoIhVN5yjRz7c1qKlCTdHQS53E2iyK5E5_qP4V3gqbITC_w4TxOFOrXZsEyY2Yn0KDsHjsQ/s320/IMGP1090+c.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Bulrb: When her neighbor, and suitor, is found dead in the Jacuzzi, Alexa is a suspect. Can she count on her dear neighbors for help? </div>
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The lawyer she loves, a mafioso's grandson; her ex-husband who is trying to keep her to himself; her former friend, the victim's ex-wife who blames Alexa for her husband's infidelity; the ex-husband new girlfriend; the widow's secret lover... </div>
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All dear neighbors who may help save Alexa...or incriminate her. </div>Mona Riskhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14923883333893160794noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3797552639458275193.post-82840006621804995522012-06-16T09:42:00.003-04:002012-06-16T22:17:45.921-04:00Remembering Dad<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5AyJUR-WnjLEF3tb4rqLA9EuSKzlfg_ZIYmmXRLLTDTkXLR_Obj1l6MtURUPAqq1CLxVMg9_hmmcmdLzj1Aduomgp5HjB-CEMdzVc1b7qvsMm0jM_mZR75Sa4c67IoEj8f1jGpQdO5os/s1600/Papa+in+Deauville..jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="181" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5AyJUR-WnjLEF3tb4rqLA9EuSKzlfg_ZIYmmXRLLTDTkXLR_Obj1l6MtURUPAqq1CLxVMg9_hmmcmdLzj1Aduomgp5HjB-CEMdzVc1b7qvsMm0jM_mZR75Sa4c67IoEj8f1jGpQdO5os/s200/Papa+in+Deauville..jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dad in Deauville, France.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Tomorrow is Father’s Day.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Today would have been my father’s birthday. If he was still around. But
he's been gone many years ago.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">On this particular weekend, I remember him fondly.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQjbzwyd1FOkBKzt1dESeH0LwSIWw5ZZo-fqyrXJeF1gwWTAS1loTtgVfhBeOsyRe6soyCmx3-qlSLusyqiSozYyNGJEX3c59xYZvhHs5A-7I4kxL5gsD3ePxbqodMLCgzlZl4o7FxZMg/s1600/nono-img425.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="175" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQjbzwyd1FOkBKzt1dESeH0LwSIWw5ZZo-fqyrXJeF1gwWTAS1loTtgVfhBeOsyRe6soyCmx3-qlSLusyqiSozYyNGJEX3c59xYZvhHs5A-7I4kxL5gsD3ePxbqodMLCgzlZl4o7FxZMg/s200/nono-img425.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial;">He was a quiet, kind, intellectual man, always busy at his desk,
writing. When I was small I could never understand why he wrote so much, and
when I asked, he’d say he was correcting his students’ assays. I thought his
students had too much homework. Or sometimes he composed books, not fun books I
could read but very serious, boring for me, literary critiques of famous dead
authors. At other times, he’d be looking in the air, thinking and then scribbling,
erasing, and re--writing. And I knew it was a poem for my mother. Dad wrote a
whole book of poems about my mother’s beautiful eyes, telling her she was his
princess and he was her knight.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">When I told him, I, too, wanted a poem, he read those he’d
written especially for me. At six, I was so proud to show my whole class two of
my very own poems. Except my friends didn’t understand the words. I didn’t
either, but I loved their sound. Almost like music.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial;">As I grew up, I admired him so much and wanted to write like him, but he insisted I should go into a scientific career. After my early retirement as a chemist, I gave in to my love of writing romance. I inherited from Dad his
love of books, his writing talent, and his ability to read fast. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirRCBoScdJeTgLOyJOkPkFiFkAwxWZDGTYRtY-8Vnm_3SMuOnPmgKfOoB0CKYLcnddfHC1-XgFgV7sxVdFfFkbI2zn5u9yPbEY0F1rMdtk2cBUbEcUo6ytRDamJqacW5XHpoiIpLplgq0/s1600/Sailling+w+You+Sw.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirRCBoScdJeTgLOyJOkPkFiFkAwxWZDGTYRtY-8Vnm_3SMuOnPmgKfOoB0CKYLcnddfHC1-XgFgV7sxVdFfFkbI2zn5u9yPbEY0F1rMdtk2cBUbEcUo6ytRDamJqacW5XHpoiIpLplgq0/s320/Sailling+w+You+Sw.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
<div class="description">
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 passion.</div>Mona Riskhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14923883333893160794noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3797552639458275193.post-66505514712895533882012-06-08T10:46:00.005-04:002012-07-28T17:12:07.339-04:00Book Lover's Buffet<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQHohYC5TlkeOVKDbh21ZBZ2bBpfklxX5Vt2hxBoIN5_dc-rMktIlmaJ52QkgRta8Zsq41JwVXbftrdqBxN8vhArAvpOncf8qqxzrRbe5uCgEiZFv19FMDHg7L90xaf1nKOeQbSYiAmEc/s1600/BLB_vac_getaway_button.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQHohYC5TlkeOVKDbh21ZBZ2bBpfklxX5Vt2hxBoIN5_dc-rMktIlmaJ52QkgRta8Zsq41JwVXbftrdqBxN8vhArAvpOncf8qqxzrRbe5uCgEiZFv19FMDHg7L90xaf1nKOeQbSYiAmEc/s1600/BLB_vac_getaway_button.gif" /></a>Welcome to the Booklover’s Buffet. The Buffet will open to the public on June 8, 2012 and close on June 22, 2012.<br />
We’re excited to offer you more than 150 romance novels, each for the special Buffet price of 99 cents. We offer all romance genres: Contemporary, Mystery, Suspense, Paranormal, Romance, Inspirational, Erotica.<br />
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I am entering three of my books:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwRXUGY4dFpDR4cbMFlwk9uPdOKBvxPu3EKIZYZhZUEsm6bGQ92-GSiRI3yd-OY58-_yzQ66CKHk9nx_T4lBK92urRXN1_EDFU27xYSvfJezlImr4026vLQ9jXaUEmfjjPhosyTuAILHU/s1600/RNWM+S.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwRXUGY4dFpDR4cbMFlwk9uPdOKBvxPu3EKIZYZhZUEsm6bGQ92-GSiRI3yd-OY58-_yzQ66CKHk9nx_T4lBK92urRXN1_EDFU27xYSvfJezlImr4026vLQ9jXaUEmfjjPhosyTuAILHU/s200/RNWM+S.jpg" width="149" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibiHdTCKFTrI_v6bS1jSKVXgei5ob8dVP58ZO5y7a2Suusn88wtwnW_P98xuYi5BdInXB2yUovUuoM2sTdcN_ge6rWY7EBTMOmBv075RmgC6ZiBCjUxUWJ7e2nzzxzwaylHz2F-p4YYVE/s1600/BABIES+in+the+Bargain+S.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibiHdTCKFTrI_v6bS1jSKVXgei5ob8dVP58ZO5y7a2Suusn88wtwnW_P98xuYi5BdInXB2yUovUuoM2sTdcN_ge6rWY7EBTMOmBv075RmgC6ZiBCjUxUWJ7e2nzzxzwaylHz2F-p4YYVE/s200/BABIES+in+the+Bargain+S.jpg" width="144" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIQvyjle8CFiNP1kIcOoIPMd8nEMrmglUiVu8zn4oq_vWNh4VmY8W7_K8je_b8rncvQI5HjYF78QzdxN9Nz1CxzvGFkY0ovzRSK7e5N37huD3C50agW81LelPUA_7B_pRHeRKObDrf7hw/s1600/Sailling+w+You+Sw.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIQvyjle8CFiNP1kIcOoIPMd8nEMrmglUiVu8zn4oq_vWNh4VmY8W7_K8je_b8rncvQI5HjYF78QzdxN9Nz1CxzvGFkY0ovzRSK7e5N37huD3C50agW81LelPUA_7B_pRHeRKObDrf7hw/s200/Sailling+w+You+Sw.jpg" width="133" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
Also, we have wonderful contests and prizes offered by our participating authors. <br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<strong>To enter, go to<br /><a href="http://www.facebook.com/IndieRomanceInkAuthors">http</a><a href="http://www.facebook.com/IndieRomanceInkAuthors" target="_blank">://www.facebook.com/IndieRomanceInkAuthors</a></strong><br />
<strong>and click on the Contest button.</strong></div>Mona Riskhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14923883333893160794noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3797552639458275193.post-44350591549044474042012-05-17T20:45:00.001-04:002012-05-17T20:48:16.432-04:00How to lose weight
Eat "<span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="color: #515151; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;">The 10 Best Fat-Melting Foods" as suggested by</span></span><span style="font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> Lucy Danziger <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 12pt; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-line-height-rule: exactly;">
<b><span style="font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Apples: </span></span></b><span style="font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: Arial;">This fruit’s 4 to 5 grams of
fiber not only are filling but also help ferry out some of the fat and calories
you take in from other foods.<br />
<b>Lentils: </b>These </span><a href="http://nutritiondata.self.com/facts/legumes-and-legume-products/4338/2?mbid=synd_yhealth" target="_blank" title="legumes"><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">legumes</span></span></a><span style="font-family: Arial;"> are rich in resistant starch (RS),
a carbohydrate that may encourage fat burning and shrink fat cells.<br />
<b>Sweet Potatoes:</b> These spuds have RS, the same carbs found in </span><a href="http://www.self.com/fooddiet/2011/09/superfoods-for-fiber-slideshow#slide=3?mbid=synd_yhealth" target="_blank" title="lentils"><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">lentils</span></span></a><span style="font-family: Arial;"> that may turn up the body’s
fat-scorching furnace. RS may also increase production of peptide hormone
compounds that signal the brain to stop eating.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 12pt; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-line-height-rule: exactly;">
<b><span style="font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Eggs: </span></span></b><span style="font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: Arial;">The breakfast staple is loaded
with choline, a compound known to help block fat absorption.<br />
<b>Edamame:</b> The green </span><a href="http://nutritiondata.self.com/facts/legumes-and-legume-products/4376/2?mbid=synd_yhealth" target="_blank" title="soybeans"><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">soybeans</span></span></a><span style="font-family: Arial;"> supply 17 g of protein per cup,
and your body torches more calories digesting protein than it does processing
carbs and fat.<br />
<b>Kiwifruit:</b> A large </span><a href="http://nutritiondata.self.com/facts/fruits-and-fruit-juices/1934/2?mbid=synd_yhealth" target="_blank" title="kiwi"><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">kiwi</span></span></a><span style="font-family: Arial;"> has 84 milligrams of vitamin C—more than a
day’s quota. C helps form carnitine, a compound that transports fat into cell
mitochondria, where it’s burned for energy during exercise.<br />
<b>Wild salmon:</b> The fish’s omega-3 fatty acids could help you </span><a href="http://www.self.com/drop10?mbid=synd_yhealth" target="_blank" title="fight flab"><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">fight flab</span></span></a><span style="font-family: Arial;"> more effectively. They alter the
expression of certain genes, shifting your body to burn fat rather than store
it.<br />
<b>Yogurt:</b> Lowfat and nonfat </span><a href="http://nutritiondata.self.com/facts/custom/590715/2?mbid=synd_yhealth" target="_blank" title="Greek"><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Greek</span></span></a><span style="font-family: Arial;"> and regular yogurts contain 20 percent or
more of your daily calcium needs. The mineral slows production of cortisol, a
hormone that encourages belly-flab buildup.<br />
<b>Quinoa:</b> A complete protein, quinoa has all the essential amino acids
needed to build </span><a href="http://www.self.com/drop10?mbid=synd_yhealth" target="_blank" title="metabolism-revving muscle"><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">metabolism-revving muscle</span></span></a><span style="font-family: Arial;">.<br />
<b>Olive oil:</b> Healthful monounsaturated fats found in </span><a href="http://www.self.com/fooddiet/2010/05/meet-the-ingredient-olive-oil?mbid=synd_yhealth" target="_blank" title="olive oil"><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">olive oil</span></span></a><span style="font-family: Arial;"> could potentially switch on
genes related to fat burning and storage.<br />
the weight that dieters who ate the same calories but less total fat and
protein and more carbs lost, a study in the <i>Archives of Internal Medicine</i>
reveals.</span></span><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
Mona Riskhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14923883333893160794noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3797552639458275193.post-30208254467363995932012-05-12T17:52:00.000-04:002012-05-12T20:52:29.729-04:00Remembering MomTomorrow is Mother's Day. Since we'll be traveling, flying back home, my daughter, son-in-law and granddaughters are taking me out tonight. The little girls are preapring a special celebration for their mother and grandmother tonight. I know it will be a fun evening in a nice restaurant. Today I saw the two little girls trying to hide the cards they prepared to give us for Mother's Day.<br />
<br />
Tomorrow will be a sad day for me as I will remember.<br />
<br />
I'll remember your sweet smile, Mom, as you always answered my question, "How are you feeling today, Mom?" with a "I am feeling great. What more can I ask for with my daughter next to me?" And yet you were stuck in a wheelchair; you could hardly eat solid food; you rarely went out, but you always smiled and said, "I'm feeling great." I knew you didn't, but you tried to spare your daughter, even though she was a grown-up daughter and you were the one in need. But these are sad reminders of your last year that bring tears to my eyes. I'll do like you, paste a smile on my face and say, I'm doing great as I remember only the happy moments.<br />
<br />
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4XxqEQK_G5YlmmcakDgsIBTZsyE1qMxtN8Sp-bRxjRuMEwnJtWSryGA5TWUZBJ3eQdSPzek06B2nSCZSwO2knQ6aTyN5MRqrmoj2Dn8x5t7t0y2U8Q689g1ntKgSVQLvmOSDIU2LBxW0/s1600/IMGP1204.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" dba="true" height="270" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4XxqEQK_G5YlmmcakDgsIBTZsyE1qMxtN8Sp-bRxjRuMEwnJtWSryGA5TWUZBJ3eQdSPzek06B2nSCZSwO2knQ6aTyN5MRqrmoj2Dn8x5t7t0y2U8Q689g1ntKgSVQLvmOSDIU2LBxW0/s320/IMGP1204.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;">
Your latest Mother's Day while still walking, with your daughter, granddaughter and great-granddaughters.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU49pvcSfYLbRK_bjFaj3nn5rvIb06cieQBzCAas56V3OfciM5b1Qv4WelUvgWS_f6c7IaEkAAMopB5BoBLVBfPw2riUfdHLX9YrOIzC4Ijc-cyy5vSkAMw1xbYe6grUoW_6IFyBz2gOU/s1600/IMGP1639@2008-06-22T00;34;00.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" dba="true" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU49pvcSfYLbRK_bjFaj3nn5rvIb06cieQBzCAas56V3OfciM5b1Qv4WelUvgWS_f6c7IaEkAAMopB5BoBLVBfPw2riUfdHLX9YrOIzC4Ijc-cyy5vSkAMw1xbYe6grUoW_6IFyBz2gOU/s320/IMGP1639@2008-06-22T00;34;00.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Celebrating your 90th birthday with family and friends during a happy party where 50 people gathered to honor you.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJP5M6N_HXzQyzD2_yKhQNfGiSeksUY8U7IyTpNllRIpXgejc9WZu88LTaGicxcCWQ00h8YMlvAoGqrBIfTUMjiVRPuBc2A11JWEmaToVxW3Ko8cHF-1LEThgYFUlFFxexud8s4DPqDHs/s1600/IMGP0226.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" dba="true" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJP5M6N_HXzQyzD2_yKhQNfGiSeksUY8U7IyTpNllRIpXgejc9WZu88LTaGicxcCWQ00h8YMlvAoGqrBIfTUMjiVRPuBc2A11JWEmaToVxW3Ko8cHF-1LEThgYFUlFFxexud8s4DPqDHs/s320/IMGP0226.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Holding your great-grandson.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTfo_LnXYaZ3LUNRbiWvd490xnvL2nFT8iA7oz6Ckrrko4TPcmP1XLZuWvci0qpkRJ-JlLhnFsfkmqZ0phmscKKaZIuJ1XU1ty2u_mbrpw1KdYbtt-GmobsG8d8GFs1Cdt5Usmh5DQp88/s1600/Mom+TLAH.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" dba="true" height="304" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTfo_LnXYaZ3LUNRbiWvd490xnvL2nFT8iA7oz6Ckrrko4TPcmP1XLZuWvci0qpkRJ-JlLhnFsfkmqZ0phmscKKaZIuJ1XU1ty2u_mbrpw1KdYbtt-GmobsG8d8GFs1Cdt5Usmh5DQp88/s320/Mom+TLAH.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Proudly showing my first book, To Love A Hero</div>
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<br /></div>
I know many of my friends will have to face bitter-sweet time and memories on that special day. I'm sure your mothers are smiling from behind a little cloud.Mona Riskhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14923883333893160794noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3797552639458275193.post-14054361319425083622012-05-01T13:20:00.001-04:002012-07-28T17:14:07.864-04:00My back is hurting<br />
<div style="background: white; line-height: 12pt;">
<span style="color: #919191; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">I am so pleased with myself for writting non-stop last week. The
weather was lousy so what better way to be productive. Sitting 6 hours in the
morning, 3 in the afternoon and 4 at night, I typed non stop. My new novel High
Rise Style is just flowing out of my mind and my fingers are running on the
keyboard.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div style="background: white; line-height: 12pt;">
<span style="color: #919191; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">But my back is<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>killing
me. My hips feel so stiff, and legs are cramped. Is there no free meal. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div style="background: white; line-height: 12pt;">
<span style="color: #919191; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">HELP. Well here is help. I copied it from the Internet. It may
help you too.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div style="background: white; line-height: 12pt;">
<span style="color: #919191; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">By Lucy Danziger and the staff at SELF<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div style="background: white; line-height: 12pt;">
<span style="color: #5e5e5e; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Hey, you in the chair! Get up and you’ll live better and longer.
Women who sit for six or more hours a day have a 34 percent higher risk for
early death from heart disease, cancer and diabetes than do women who sit less,
regardless of how often they <a data-rapid_p="1" href="http://www.self.com/drop10?mbid=synd_yhealth" target="_blank" title="drop10"><span style="color: #2669b2;">exercise</span></a>, according to a study from the
American Cancer Society. The easy fix: Ditch the chair. It may sound like a
pain, but we found four women who say it’s a cinch. They scrapped sitting to <a data-rapid_p="2" href="http://www.self.com/drop10?mbid=synd_yhealth" target="_blank"><span style="color: #2669b2;">lose weight</span></a>, gain energy and knock out pain—and succeeded.
And, says James A. Levine, M.D., an inactivity expert and professor of medicine
at the Mayo Clinic, they’re nabbing a longer life and lower risk for disease
while they’re at it. Use their tips (and sign up for our free <a data-rapid_p="3" href="http://www.self.com/fitness/2012/04/2012-drop-10-diet-slideshow?mbid=synd_yhealth" target="_blank"><span style="color: #2669b2;">Drop 10 plan</span></a> on SELF.com!) and you can, too.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div style="background: white; line-height: 12pt;">
<b><span style="color: #eb790a; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Monica Montiel, 27, program coordinator,
Philadelphia<br />
</span></b><span style="color: #5e5e5e; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Moves
and stretches throughout the workday<br />
</span><b><span style="color: #eb790a; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Her goal</span></b><span style="color: #5e5e5e; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> Maintain her weight.
Montiel knows it’s not an easy feat when you’re locked into a desk job.<br />
</span><b><span style="color: #eb790a; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">How she
does it</span></b><span style="color: #5e5e5e; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">
She now strolls around the office several times a day, stands while on the
phone and even does 5 to 10 lunges during calls twice a week. She’s cut sitting
time from eight hours a day to six. Montiel bikes or walks to work, and her
home habits have also changed. “If I put on the TV, I’ll think, What a good
time to clean,” she says.<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
</span><b><span style="color: #eb790a; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
<div style="background: white; line-height: 12pt;">
<b><span style="color: #eb790a; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Kelly Jensen, 27, blogger, Lake Geneva,
Wisconsin</span></b><span style="color: #5e5e5e; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br />
Built her own treadmill desk<br />
</span><b><span style="color: #eb790a; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Her goal</span></b><span style="color: #5e5e5e; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> A total health
overhaul: Jensen hopes to shed 80 pounds.<br />
</span><b><span style="color: #eb790a; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">How she
does it </span></b><span style="color: #5e5e5e; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Jensen
used $30 worth of wood to create a desk attachment for her treadmill and began
walking at 1 to 3 mph for an hour or two a day as she worked. Six months later,
after working out more and eating better, she’d lost 40 pounds. (Go, Kelly!)
Plus, she’s happy and productive. “Walking sparks my creativity,” Jensen says.<br />
</span><b><span style="color: #eb790a; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Make it
work for you</span></b><span style="color: #5e5e5e; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">. One or two hours daily of walking at a slow pace is a great
health target, says Michelle Segar, Ph.D., associate director of the SHARP
Center for Women and Girls. Afraid you’ll fall? “I got the hang of it easily.
You go so slowly, it’s hardly a workout,” Jensen says. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div style="background: white; line-height: 12pt;">
<b><span style="color: #eb790a; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Marissa Wald, 31, doctoral student, Tucson,
Arizona</span></b><span style="color: #5e5e5e; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br />
Uses a standing desk most of the day<br />
</span><b><span style="color: #eb790a; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Her goal</span></b><span style="color: #5e5e5e; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> Ease backaches brought
on by being tied to her screen. Wald tried an exercise ball, but her desk chair
was too tough to resist.<br />
</span><b><span style="color: #eb790a; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">How she
does it </span></b><span style="color: #5e5e5e; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">She
ditched her desk and chair and placed the computer on a tall table her husband
found on Craigslist for about $75. “Now instead of sitting for 10 hours, I
stand for 7 and rest on a stool when I get tired,” Wald says. “And it’s so
great. I don’t have much back pain.” That’s even after Wald became pregnant.<br />
</span><b><span style="color: #eb790a; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Make it
work for you</span></b><span style="color: #5e5e5e; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">. Moms-to-be should get a doctor’s green light to stand, Dr.
Levine says. “But being active is important for the baby’s health, too.” Wald
suggests adding a soundtrack: “Dancing and swaying make for a fun work
environment.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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</div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 12pt;">
<b><span style="color: #eb790a; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Marianne Hales Harding, 38, online college
faculty, St. George, Utah</span></b><span style="color: #5e5e5e; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br />
Works on a stationary bike<br />
</span><b><span style="color: #eb790a; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Her goal</span></b><span style="color: #5e5e5e; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> Stay energetic without
scarfing junk food for a sugar rush. Hales Harding is a single mom with
multiple sclerosis who works after her children go to bed.<br />
</span><b><span style="color: #eb790a; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">How she
does it</span></b><span style="color: #5e5e5e; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">
Hales Harding uses FitDesk ($229), a stationary bike with a work surface in
place of handlebars, to cycle slowly for 30 minutes to an hour most nights
while she works, so instead of sitting still, she’s getting active. “It’s much
more effective than Oreos for energy!” she says. “I love cycling and ride for
MS every June.”<br />
</span><b><span style="color: #eb790a; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Make it
work for you</span></b><span style="color: #5e5e5e; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">. “If a person with MS can do it, then we have no excuse,” Dr.
Levine says. If your cop-out is a painful seat, seek out a wide, padded model,
Hales Harding suggests. “It’s more like a comfortable chair.” Pedal power!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>Mona Riskhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14923883333893160794noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3797552639458275193.post-80086033532074239102012-04-24T13:28:00.001-04:002012-04-24T13:30:29.067-04:00A Romantic Island: Mykonos<span style="color: #4c4c4c; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">Mykonos is probably the most cosmopolitan
of the Aegean Islands. I visited four times in the last twenty years, the first
time when my children were teenagers. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF9dvglXidjokE5T55ErU3wOvrCuTt9O9LO001fTSRRjTN0kksdUOM8ywRszazJVQgQDtjBNqGONlCUOV2wmLQJFqyEzWhdpW7eiid7Qf4Z_urrto8NnnQ48ZvlI9XSmL2SOTBDzSG8xM/s1600/Mykonos-Island-Greece-300x214.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF9dvglXidjokE5T55ErU3wOvrCuTt9O9LO001fTSRRjTN0kksdUOM8ywRszazJVQgQDtjBNqGONlCUOV2wmLQJFqyEzWhdpW7eiid7Qf4Z_urrto8NnnQ48ZvlI9XSmL2SOTBDzSG8xM/s1600/Mykonos-Island-Greece-300x214.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #4c4c4c; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">We fell in love the picturesque island
and went back the year after. The streets are a maze of narrow, winding
alleyways - many only two or four feet wide, overhung with dazzling pink and
purple blossoms. </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidAEy09YfRa5LZM99mMu87uFe8pHb4q1Q8LssnwJH0VskCa9KGaGHLSTHr5W1pCDXQOmwf-LXmLgJkRcpkCxNse6zQBCegXA2nfsuqK9tGSgQaBv7Ud2-1lQ335cBKC2wjpqwshwrk_7Q/s1600/Copy+of+IMGP3962.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidAEy09YfRa5LZM99mMu87uFe8pHb4q1Q8LssnwJH0VskCa9KGaGHLSTHr5W1pCDXQOmwf-LXmLgJkRcpkCxNse6zQBCegXA2nfsuqK9tGSgQaBv7Ud2-1lQ335cBKC2wjpqwshwrk_7Q/s320/Copy+of+IMGP3962.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="color: #4c4c4c; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">All the houses, shops, churches, restaurants and windmills are
immaculately whitewashed, with door frames and window shutters highlighted with
splashes of sky blue and jade green. </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhROIb7FNMF83gPl_V2-sSAP1Zs53j3CoDCU5NyW_LdHWN8Td0knBnnZXiN1_8_CU50PkoZwEx5BrkMU5a6biCgLUseN60Y2iRnYNJKLoFF47btAsGO0Fpd7cwVbdr4Fr4VEl5D0QG06GM/s1600/Copy+of+IMGP3954.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhROIb7FNMF83gPl_V2-sSAP1Zs53j3CoDCU5NyW_LdHWN8Td0knBnnZXiN1_8_CU50PkoZwEx5BrkMU5a6biCgLUseN60Y2iRnYNJKLoFF47btAsGO0Fpd7cwVbdr4Fr4VEl5D0QG06GM/s320/Copy+of+IMGP3954.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="color: #4c4c4c; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">On every second doorstep sits a cat,
gazing down serenely at passers-by. </span><br />
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhau2DnhEy7clJq_Ilmg0JHOGOR7SKgCLEq293_9kD6cNa4SIaa5zE49zPa30Tzd4DhI36IeerjwQ6RWqBG-IkJu4nIEkaoEDthEHFHthHkMVPRyrceJBkJW3er3qAJqneLx4dcriBCacw/s1600/Copy+of+IMGP3955.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhau2DnhEy7clJq_Ilmg0JHOGOR7SKgCLEq293_9kD6cNa4SIaa5zE49zPa30Tzd4DhI36IeerjwQ6RWqBG-IkJu4nIEkaoEDthEHFHthHkMVPRyrceJBkJW3er3qAJqneLx4dcriBCacw/s320/Copy+of+IMGP3955.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
</div>
From HER GREEK ROMANCE, here is a description of Mykonos as the heroine Ashley sees it from Stefano's yacht:<br />
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">“See, we are passing Chora, the capital of Mykonos.” </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqm9EK5yQIOiI6WeUJoq1sLeZkhvXwnBC4s0maa0NajCxp8SIe3A4fbln4eVjmM4vv-RXDZubXzQlxzvG-QYyxkA1txZ6cig0vLvA76izh6tUBfw98ygaSg5q2r0J2oxdXzUACFJGLHiI/s1600/Copy+of+IMGP3964.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqm9EK5yQIOiI6WeUJoq1sLeZkhvXwnBC4s0maa0NajCxp8SIe3A4fbln4eVjmM4vv-RXDZubXzQlxzvG-QYyxkA1txZ6cig0vLvA76izh6tUBfw98ygaSg5q2r0J2oxdXzUACFJGLHiI/s320/Copy+of+IMGP3964.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Mountainous landscape and long sandy beaches faded away. Square
whitewashed houses with flat roofs, flowered balconies, blue doors and window
shutters lined the cluttered narrow paved streets of the picturesque villages.
Beautiful churches, chapels and windmills lent a magical atmosphere to the
quaint town. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">“Now, keep your hands on the helm and steer to the left.”</span><br />
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVoKJAQuHGnCSpXfhGM4LNiz55s2kmObW4j9-XWvMro3yePjtuut4_fpvVTV0wvNMQ5ISVjUVPkPP0OXrAFXFlAAI40-xtx-Heo88Q_oRjhRgM6YHfgdBARPmWQ2j6rkHD5Cy-U6WQP0E/s1600/Mykonos++and+mills.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVoKJAQuHGnCSpXfhGM4LNiz55s2kmObW4j9-XWvMro3yePjtuut4_fpvVTV0wvNMQ5ISVjUVPkPP0OXrAFXFlAAI40-xtx-Heo88Q_oRjhRgM6YHfgdBARPmWQ2j6rkHD5Cy-U6WQP0E/s320/Mykonos++and+mills.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial;">The <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Athena</i> glided through
the water and gained speed. Stefano opened the side windshield and let the
breeze invade the pilot station. “What’s your pleasure?” </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">With a toss of her head, Ashley flung her hair back and took
a deep breath. “Can we stay close enough to the shore to discover the beaches?”</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">“Absolutely. This little cruise is all yours.” </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Exhilaration filled her heart. She steered a superb ship and
the captain was determined to please her. “Thank you, Stefano. I really
appreciate you taking the time to show me your beautiful island.”</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">“We’re passing Korfos. Keep straight. The main island is
looping into a cape. Now you can see Agios Ioannis—St. Jeanne Beach there. It’s
small but picturesque.” He handed her a pair of binoculars and she scanned the
beach. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">B</span><span style="font-family: Arial;">lood rushed to her cheeks at the sight of the topless
bathers lying on towels or relaxing on lounge chairs. A couple hours ago, she’d
been soaking up the sun on a similar chair—in a similar pose. Good thing Stefano
had been lazing in a café. Besides, he didn’t know her at the time and wouldn’t
have noticed her in the crowd. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Lowering the
binoculars, she glanced at him. His face expressionless, he stared at the
horizon and hadn’t noticed her embarrassment. “We are crossing a strait between
Mykonos and the ancient island of Delos. I’ll handle the helm while you enjoy
the view. The rocky islet offers an impressive exhibit of columns, temple
remains, and statues of lions.” </span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Ashley shifted to the other side of the pilot station and
adjusted the binoculars to her eyes while Stefano took back the control of his
boat. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio90QK-JsxVwVf2RNTu9s2JGyMZPq9wMhixCsduCHfwjkU9ZF-Vo7JCzs17TxDQav3FnPQdp6Hd7OxETh7e4MlXUi0iMYQxzcWNnPck6pM_dU3QuAA0M38_dvhsm4OFyRhbBn9p4yRynQ/s1600/Ancient_Delos.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio90QK-JsxVwVf2RNTu9s2JGyMZPq9wMhixCsduCHfwjkU9ZF-Vo7JCzs17TxDQav3FnPQdp6Hd7OxETh7e4MlXUi0iMYQxzcWNnPck6pM_dU3QuAA0M38_dvhsm4OFyRhbBn9p4yRynQ/s320/Ancient_Delos.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial;">“Delos is the birthplace of Apollo. His mother, the nymph
Leto, was seduced by the god of gods, Zeus,” Stefano explained while Ashley
admired the sculptural ruins of sanctuaries. “When his wife, the goddess Hera,
learned of his treachery she banished the pregnant young nymph from earth.”</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">“What happened to Leto?” she asked, genuinely interested in
the sad love story. Had all the Greek maids been destined to suffer because of
love? She had Greek blood in her veins and wanted to hear of a happy ending. </span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf-ztJtWjLrM46c1bajZ_axYyTkevoVKpwTshJQFpEh97J_4xhxK4ZQ7UEnX2JjOz0naMatmAlB8UuowQl0bmfgJQ6vPtwXIrxYy3ZineHZtwbpqS8wFiPIxvuEg2__jEdOpDbdx0d_ds/s1600/Delos_lions.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf-ztJtWjLrM46c1bajZ_axYyTkevoVKpwTshJQFpEh97J_4xhxK4ZQ7UEnX2JjOz0naMatmAlB8UuowQl0bmfgJQ6vPtwXIrxYy3ZineHZtwbpqS8wFiPIxvuEg2__jEdOpDbdx0d_ds/s320/Delos_lions.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial;">“Poseidon, Zeus’s brother, rescued the nymph and had her
deliver her baby on the island of Delos which wasn’t considered as part of the
earth.” Stefano told her more about the history of Delos, a necropolis with too
many burials for her taste.</span><br />
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">No happy ending here. They passed Delos and continued to
cruise.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial;">“What’s next? Is there anything more fun than Delos and its
dead?” </span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">“Sure.” He navigated through the crystalline waters, along
miles of golden sand uninterrupted by umbrellas. He gave her a strange smile
and brought the boat closer to shore. “Keep watching. We are coming to the most
famous beaches of Paradise and Super Paradise where young crowds like to
gather.”</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHvKtABUZTIeEc5uEPzFQgSq9EthW0p5KUJZLCYoApoZQvDaoHa-4_D4aOEzYLQEa8gVnBMBjtmXjzwFr-OHKunTtTz7lVXZN3mqs3kn6G7EbTND3VBXiWF0FeBBAw62r2ry6iD6zoyJw/s1600/Elias_Beach_on_Mykonos.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHvKtABUZTIeEc5uEPzFQgSq9EthW0p5KUJZLCYoApoZQvDaoHa-4_D4aOEzYLQEa8gVnBMBjtmXjzwFr-OHKunTtTz7lVXZN3mqs3kn6G7EbTND3VBXiWF0FeBBAw62r2ry6iD6zoyJw/s1600/Elias_Beach_on_Mykonos.jpg" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Scanning the coastline through the binoculars, Ashley
spotted rows of umbrellas made of palm leaves, sun beds and beach bars, as the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Athena</i> smoothly sailed past. At the end
of the crowded area, the shore curved into a hidden bay with clear water. Small
rocks dotted the sand and rocky hills provided a background to the secluded place
devoid of umbrellas and chairs. Yet the beach was not deserted. People strolled
in group or couples. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Ashley scowled as she focused on the vacationers. Was she
seeing correctly? She removed the binoculars and fixed her attention on a
couple holding hands. “No way,” she gasped and then stared again through the
magnifying lenses. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Stefano chuckled. </span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">She swirled toward him. “They’re naked. I mean completely.”</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial;">“It’s a nudist beach,” he said matter-of-factly. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: black; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">HER GREEK ROMANCE, 99cents at Amazon </span><b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 7.5pt;"> <a href="http://tinyurl.com/76br7ze"><span style="color: #21759b;">http://tinyurl.com/76br7ze</span></a></span></b><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">5* “I was swept
away to the beautiful Greek Isles and was lost in the story. Easy, quick paced,
heartfilled read."</span><br />
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht79IhnbAy8Eh2n4Oywhpj6Tx3vjTo1MgBP7qkN9ONycV7Z55dJvSYJSiEWxmzJBzJ4ohwBMZ0WDnl2Zl8w7_auZz6zj07Jxsz04oYfg10kIFzlkQONn_693jS_VcZ8C482DIPEjqHwTA/s1600/Her+Greek+Romance+web.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht79IhnbAy8Eh2n4Oywhpj6Tx3vjTo1MgBP7qkN9ONycV7Z55dJvSYJSiEWxmzJBzJ4ohwBMZ0WDnl2Zl8w7_auZz6zj07Jxsz04oYfg10kIFzlkQONn_693jS_VcZ8C482DIPEjqHwTA/s320/Her+Greek+Romance+web.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
Stefano Kostapoulos plans to demolish the dilapidated Pink Villa inherited from
his grandmother and build a modern resort on the Greek island of Mykonos. But
the American co-owner refuses to sell his shares and sends his attorney to
Greece--a lawyer Stefano plans to shred to pieces at the hearing. <br />
<br />
Except
that Counselor Ashley Sheppard is a gorgeous redhead who knocks Stefano off his
axis when he meets her incognito. Sparks fly during a first encounter that leads
to a memorable night of passion. <br />
<br />
In court, Ashley is in for a nasty
surprise. Her handsome Greek god is the opponent. Her heart gnaws with pain, yet
she attacks him with all her strength to defend her grandfather's case.
<br />
<br />
Stefano wins the lawsuit, but is about to lose Ashley. To keep her in
Mykonos, he strikes a deal with his old enemy. Does Ashley dare to trust the
Greek playboy? Or even understand her grandfather's strange change of heart
regarding the Pink Villa?Mona Riskhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14923883333893160794noreply@blogger.com12