Mona's Blog

eReaders

noreply@blogger.com (Mona Risk) — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 18:50:00 +0000

My Christmas letter to Santa Claus is written. I told him I have been a good girl and wrote TWO books this year, BABIES IN THE BARGAIN and PRESCRIPTION FOR TRUST, both published with The Wild Rose Press. As I explained to Santa, I deserve the toy I so badly want:
An eREADER

During the past few months, I had several discussions with my husband on the subject. We kept fluctuating from Sony to Kindle, back to Sony, back… We studied every model sold by Sony and Amazon. Somehow he managed to show me all the negative comments he could dig out of the Internet. Three months later, my husband convinced me the eReader was not yet good enough for me.

When I attended the Romanticon Conference organized by Jasmine Jade (Elloras Cave and Cerridwen Press) half the attendees had an eReader in hands, for some it was a Sony, for others a Kindle. I asked them a lot of questions. Every person gushed with delight over her eReader and highly recommended it. I came back determined to buy my own.

My dilemma is still the same. Sony or Kindle?

The Kindle is light, easy to hold and manipulate. It would allow me to download books from Amazon.com but not from my own computer, which means I couldn’t copy the ebooks I already saved on my computer onto my new eReader.

Kindle Wireless Reading Device (6" Display, Global Wireless, Latest Generation)

The Sony is smaller, heavier. It would allow me to buy ebooks from the various publishers and to download from my computer but not to buy from Amazon.

The Reader Pocket Edition and Reader Touch Edition are definitely capable of taking on Amazon’s Kindle e-book reader.

Help. Please share your experience. I need to specify to Santa which brand I want before he takes things into his own hands.

Prescription For Trust

noreply@blogger.com (Mona Risk) — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 05:27:00 +0000

Rx For Trust is officially out in ebook, paprerback and Chrisrmas early bird special at the Wild Rose Press, also availbale at Amazon.com. Amazon.co.uk. barnesandnoble.com, borders.com,

[CLICK ON THE PICTURE TO ORDER FROM THE WILD ROSE PRESS]

Rx FOR TRUST, the first book in the Doctor’s Order series, is a sweet and spicy romance that will make you smile, laugh and cry— the story of two psychiatrists with conflicting theories on how to treat their patients and tame their own emotions.

The story’s theme revolves around a famous saying by Walter Scott:
“Oh what a tangled web we weave, when first we practice to deceive.”

Short Synopsis: Successful physician and loving mother, Olivia Crane fiercely believes youthful mistakes should be kept secret and skeletons are better left in closets. Unfortunately, Dr. Luc George, the French psychiatrist she loved ten years ago, detests secrets and has a professional tendency to dig into people's minds.

Determined to rekindle their former relationship, Luc strolls back into her hospital and her life, tries to unravel her many secrets, and threatens to shatter her carefully constructed world. Against her better judgment, Olivia succumbs to his charm and welcomes another chance, but on her own terms. The past forgotten, no questions asked.

Can Luc help her conquer her inner fears or will he get burned by the past too? Will Olivia grab her second chance and finally find happiness with the love of her life?

Excerpt:“Fine.” He raised both hands in a conciliatory gesture. “But I am stunned by this situation. Help me understand you. We dated for a year. I loved you. Why did you not trust me?”

Loved. He used the past tense. Even if his love had survived for ten years, she’d killed it with her confession. The sadness underlying his question went straight to her heart. She dropped back into her chair, rubbing her forehead to lessen the tension.

Why did he have to linger over the painful past?

Luc touched her hand and enfolded it in his large one. “Olivia, you are a psychiatrist. You know you can’t bury your past forever. Not when you have a teenage daughter. At some point, you will have to deal with it. Can you please tell me why you hid your daughter from me?”

“Why can’t you understand?” She snatched her hand from his and exhaled, wishing she had a magic formula to erase her bitter past. “When I was a student, I was still hiding her from everybody at med school.” Resting her head against the back of the chair, she closed her eyes. “I told you I was terrified for her safety. Melissa is unfortunately the mirror image of her father. I was afraid that he’d find out he has a daughter and hurt us both.”

“Did he ever threaten you?”

Olivia blinked and struggled to suppress her bitterness. Threaten was putting it mildly. “He told me to ‘get rid of it’ when I said I was pregnant. And he got upset when I protested.”

“How upset?” Luc punched the palm of his left hand with his fist.

Feeling her control slipping under his scrutiny, she turned her head.

“Did he hit you?”

She didn’t answer. But he must have read the humiliating truth in her eyes.

“Mon Dieu. I wish I had known. I would have killed this monster. Is that the reason you turned away from me?”

She bit her lip, loathe to tell him how much she’d cried after he left. “Listen, we dated on and off during that year, but you were going back to France, and I wanted to concentrate on my career. Why would we start a long-distance relationship? Besides, I couldn’t trust anyone. Any man after...” Shaking her head, she averted her gaze. Luc was far too perceptive. “I was too frightened.”

“And you still are. You sacrificed a lot because of your inner fear. Don’t you think you need help, Dr. Crane? You need to learn to trust people again.”

“I’m fine now. When Melissa started high school, I introduced her to my boss and colleagues. I’m very proud of her.” She stood to signify the end of this conversation that had drained her.

Damn it. She didn’t need a shrink. After sampling his kisses last night, she roused to a surprising reality. She wanted him again. She wanted her French lover who lavished her with pleasure and tenderness during steamy nights.

His eyes narrowed, Luc crossed his arms over his chest. “But you still have not told your daughter the truth.” The archetypal psychiatrist, he followed the same line of questions.

Irritation flickered through her, and she struggled not to shout at him. “That’s not your problem.” The minute she’d confided in him, he tried to impose his views. “You see why I couldn’t tell you my secret? I didn’t want anyone interfering and destroying my daughter’s peace of mind.”

Blog Schedule

noreply@blogger.com (Mona Risk) — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 17:15:00 +0000

Thanksgiving is over and everywhere people are setting Christmas trees or Manorahs. I finally gathered the energy to get out my Christmas decorations. My apartment looks festive with a white tablecloth from St. Martin and an embroidered red square on top from Dubronik. I have two Santa Claus in ceramics, the big one was handmade by an old friend who died ten years ago from cancer. Every year I say a prayer for her when I take out her Santa.

But before Christmas, I have a very, VERY , VERY important celebration.

My fourth book Rx FOR TRUST will be released in two days, less than forty-eight hours by the Wild Rose Press. PRESCRIPTION FOR TRUST is already available at amazon.com for the paperback book.

Rx FOR TRUST, the first book in the Doctor’s Order series, is a sweet and spicy medical romance that will make you smile, laugh and cry— the story of two psychiatrists with conflicting theories on how to treat their patients and tame their own emotions.

The story’s theme revolves around a famous saying by Walter Scott:
“Oh what a tangled web we weave, when first we practice to deceive.”

Blurb: An American psychiatrist, with a troubled past and secrets by the bucket-load has built a successful career where love has no room. The French psychiatrist, she loved ten years ago, detests secrets and threatens to unravel the secrets of her thorny past. Can he win her trust and love before her inner fears destroy their second chance at happiness?

I will blogging about my new book:

Thursday, December 3rd, at http://www.romancebandits.blogspot.com/
That blog is populated with Golden Heart and Rita finalists and I am quite nervous at being in such a sophisticated company. Come and hold my hand and leave comments please.

Thursday, December 3rd, http://www.frwriters.org/blog/
Yes I have two blogs on the same day. And I count on you to drop by at this one too. PLEASE, pretty please.

Friday, December 4th at http://authorroastandtoast.blogspot.com/ where my friend Mary Ricksen and her crew including, model butler Oliver, will roast me
Remember that day is my big day, my RELEASE DAY for PRESCRIPTION FOR TRUST.

Saturday, December 5th, at http://goddessesofstorytelling.blogspot.com/

Wednesday, December 9th at http://www.lianalaverentz.blogspot.com/

where my friend and fellow author Liana Lavarentz is showcasing my new book.

Tursday, December 10th at http://emmalaiwrites.blogspot.com/

for an interview with Emma Lai.

Friday, December 11 at the PinkFuzzy Slippers http://pinkfuzzyslipperwriters.blogspot.com/

There will be questions, contests and prizes on every blog. So I hope to see you there.

Meanwhile here is an excerpt from Rx FOR TRUST, a love scene--a light one--for your enjoyment.

Excerpt:

“We should live in the present,” he whispered against her mouth and kissed her again with the passion she’d never forgotten.

When she managed to breathe, she cradled his cheeks in her hands and smiled. “Can I invite you upstairs for a drink?”

His gaze locked on hers, peering into her soul. “Have I convinced you? Do you really want me to come?”

“I really want you.” She sealed her words with a kiss on his lips.

“In that case, I could use a Cognac.” He stroked her hair and offered her a dazzling smile before opening the car door and walking her to her apartment.

She felt strong, confident, elated with his arm around her waist. Anticipation warmed her belly with spiraling flames. She’d been waiting for this moment for ten long years.

When they entered her apartment, she switched the lights on and closed the door behind them. “Make yourself comfortable,” she said as she kicked off her high-heeled pumps.

Luc removed his jacket and bowtie, and undid the top button of his shirt. He looked around him, surveying the living room. “Nice place you have here. It is exactly as I expected, neat, elegant and cozy.” He pointed to a Monet painting above the white leather couch. “And you put in a French touch.”

“Always. I can’t live without the French touch.”

He grinned and strolled toward the credenza that served as a buffet and a bar.

“Is there anything else we need to talk about? I mean about your many lady friends,” she said as he poured two drinks with as much ease as if he lived in this apartment.

“Non. No more mention of other women. But I can talk about you all night long and never be bored.” He gave her a glass and clicked his against hers. “A la tienne. To you.”

“Cheers.”

He swirled the golden liquid, brought it to his nose and inhaled. “C’est bon. Very good.” He drained it and refilled it for himself. “Do you remember our last time together?”

“The time you told me you were leaving?”

“And you told me you never wanted to see me again because your career was more important than empty feelings. No. That’s a day I have tried hard to forget. I was talking about the last time we...hmm...made love.”

“Oh.” Heat crept up her neck and face.

“We came back from your graduation party straight to your little student apartment. You wore a black silk dress like tonight and this pearl necklace. Your hair was floating down your back. We had a glass of Chardonnay.”

She brought her hand to her throat. God, he hadn’t forgotten any details. “I-I remember.”

"You gave me a soft kiss.”

“As usual you changed it into a torrid one.”

He came toward her, seized her hand and led her to the couch. “And do you remember I pulled you onto my lap, just like now.” He dropped onto the leather sofa and dragged her down with him. His hands trailed up her arms, skimmed her shoulders. The feather-like caress strayed to her throat, sending a tingle of pleasure all the way to her belly.

And here she thought she’d never sit on his lap again. She basked in the intimacy of their position. “I remember the scent of your cologne, amber and spice.” Closing her eyes, she nuzzled his neck and inhaled. “The same as you have on today.”

“Oh my darling.” Cupping her face between his palms, he captured her mouth in a deep kiss that left her breathless. When he released her, he smiled and his eyes twinkled with merriment.

“Let’s remember more things. I unclasped your necklace, and then I unzipped your dress. Like this.” He removed her jewelry, lowered her bodice down her arms, and exposed her black lace bra.

“And then—” He swiftly unclasped her bra and eased it away. His gaze flickered from one breast to the other, warming her with anticipated pleasure. “Gorgeous,” he whispered as he raised his eyes. Raw desire blazed in their blue depth and mirrored her own excitement.

Mesmerized, she hooked her arms around his neck, snuggled against his chest and breathed the masculine smell that made her dizzy with want.

“And then… Like this?” She smiled, ready to give as good as she got. “Your shirt has to go.” The buttons snapped open to reveal the muscular chest she’d recalled more than once in her fantasies. “Beautiful.”

He chuckled when she mimicked his words and moves, and with a swift motion he threw his shirt away, but when she contoured his nipples with her tongue, he stiffened, his arousal pushing into her thigh.

“Where is your bedroom, chérie?”

Happy Thanksgiving

noreply@blogger.com (Mona Risk) — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 15:50:00 +0000

According to the Internet: Thanksgiving or Thanksgiving Day, presently celebrated on the fourth Thursday in November, has been an annual tradition in the United States since 1863. It did not become a federal holiday until 1941.

Thanksgiving was historically a religious observation to give thanks to God, but is now primarily identified as a secular holiday. The First Thanksgiving was celebrated to give thanks to God for helping the pilgrims survive the brutal winter. The first Thanksgiving feast lasted three days providing enough food for 53 pilgrims and 90 Indians.

The traditional Thanksgiving menu often features turkey, stuffing, sweet potatoes and pumpkin pie. Americans may eat these foods on modern day Thanksgiving, but the first feast did not consist of these items.

On the first feast turkey was any type of fowl that the pilgrims hunted.Pumpkin pie wasn't on the menu because there were no ovens for baking, but they did have boiled pumpkin. Cranberries weren't introduced at this time.Due to the diminishing supply of flour there was no bread of any kind. The foods included in the first feast included duck, geese, venison, fish, lobster, clams, swan, berries, dried fruit, pumpkin, squash, and many more vegetables.

The National Turkey Federation estimated that 46 million turkeys—one fifth of the annual total of 235 million consumed in the United States in 2007—were eaten at Thanksgiving.The cranberry is one of only three fruits—the others are the blueberry and the Concord grape—that are entirely native to North American soil, according to the Cape Cod Cranberry Growers' Association. According to the Guinness Book of World Records, the largest pumpkin pie ever baked weighed 2,020 pounds and measured just over 12 feet long.

Many people we know had a bad year, lost their job or had to sell their home. Like the colonists, let's look to the future and give thanks. Here is a lovely prayer I found:

Oh God,When I have food, help me remember the hungry;
When I have work, help me remember the jobless;
When I have a warm home, help me remember the homeless;
When I am without pain, help remember those who suffer.
Make me concern enough to help, by word and deed those who cry out for what we take for granted.

On Thanksgiving Day, we count our blessings.
I am grateful to be healthy and have wonderful friends whovisit my log often.
I am grateful to be able to vist with my son and his family.
I am grateful that my mother who has been so sick all year is still around to share the holidays with her family.
I am grateful that my son-in-law and daughter-in-law finally found jobs.
I am grateful for my husband's love and support.
And I am so grateful to have four books published and enjoying great reviews.

And I want to share my joy at just discovering that Prescription For Trust is in stock at amazon.com. Yeah!!!!

What are you grateful for? Share with us.

PRESCRIPTION FOR TRUST

noreply@blogger.com (Mona Risk) — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 03:51:00 +0000

My new book Rx FOR TRUST is in stock at Amazon.com.

Rx For Trust will be released by The Wild Rose Press on December 4, 2009.

Contest Awards: First Place in Central Ohio Ignite the Flame; Second Place in Heart of Denver, The Molly; Third Place in FTHRW Golden Gateway.

Short Synopsis: Olivia Crane is a psychiatrist at Cincinnati University Hospital . She is also a woman with a troubled past and secrets by the bucket-load. Luc George, the French psychiatrist, she loved ten years ago, detests secrets. All hell breaks loose when Luc strolls into her office, with a confident smile and a perceptive eye, determined to rekindle their relationship and threatening to unravel the secrets of her thorny past. Can Luc win Olivia’s trust and love before her inner fears destroy their second chance at happiness?

Excerpt:

“Olivia, why didn’t you tell me you knew Dr. Vicour-Michelet?” Bypassing morning greetings, the Chairman of Psychiatry, Dr. Herb McMillan, never wasted precious minutes on the phone.

“I don’t.” Tapping the faded, old desk in her windowless office, Dr. Olivia Crane scoured her mind to put a face to the name. “Never met him. But I read his articles, the ones you passed on to me. He seems like a brilliant psychiatrist. I’m sure he’ll be an excellent addition to our department.” Maybe she’d be able to sleep a little more than four hours with the French doctor on board for six months.

Doc cleared his throat then paused as if to choose his words. “When I sent him your enthusiastic report last Thursday, he e-mailed back on Friday that he’ll be here on Sunday. And voilà, as he said.”

“Voilà, what?”

“He arrived last night.”

“Already? He wasn’t supposed to be here for two more weeks.” With her busy schedule, Olivia hadn’t had time to check the visiting physician’s website yet.

A soft chuckle sounded on the other line. “The first thing he told me was he couldn’t wait to see you.”

To see...me? Why? Olivia blinked.

Doc kept mumbling in her ear as she pulled one of their visitor’s articles from the pile on her desk and punched his website into her computer.

The name Vicour-Michelet flashed on the screen, along with a photo that stopped her heart. A perfect, amazing picture of Luc.

Her Luc.

The picture didn’t make sense. How had Luc ended up with such an incredibly long and aristocratic name?

Olivia zoomed in on the photo by two hundred percent. With the cursor, she traced blue eyes framed by dark lashes, chiseled nose and smiling lips.

“Dr. Lucien...de...Vicour-Michelet.” Squinting at the screen, she studied Luc’s handsome features. He was here? In Cincinnati ? “Oh no.”

“Yes,” Doc replied, his voice excited. She heard a faint, “I’ll bring him over.”

The phone slipped from her sweaty palm and banged on the desk.

Olivia had welcomed the opportunity to co-author an article with a brilliant psychiatrist to further her career. But she was expecting an older, distinguished physician, Dr. L. de Vicour-Michelet, probably graying or bald.

Not drop-dead gorgeous Luc whose image was woven intimately into her most sensual dreams.

Darn. Luc might imagine she was behind the decision to invite him back to the Cincinnati University Hospital . Too late now for the chairman to politely withdraw the invitation.

An insistent beeping caught her attention. She reached for the receiver and put it back in its cradle.

Ten years was a long time. Maybe he was married. Her throat constricted. God, I hope he doesn’t come here with a wife and family.

Her gaze frozen on the screen, Olivia couldn’t tell how long she remained at her desk, staring at the monitor where Luc’s picture smiled at her.

Someone knocked. Her office door opened. She bolted out of her chair, took a step, and stopped in her tracks. Doc came in, and towering behind him...Luc George.

Her pulse raced, her knees wobbled, her head swam. She stared at him, hands clenched behind her back to conceal their trembling.

With confident strides, Luc passed Dr. McMillan and circled her desk. A wide grin on his face, he halted in front of her, his hair mussed with a strand across his forehead, his eyes as bright as a cloudless sky. She recognized the amber and spice scents of his favorite cologne. The evocative fragrance transported her back to a time when she still believed love could work miracles.

“Olivia.” His voice was hoarse. Different.

Awareness clicked in her foggy mind. She had to welcome him, a physician greeting a visiting colleague. She stiffened and extended her arm for a handshake.

Ignoring her hand, Luc cradled her shoulders. In a swift motion, he brought her against him and kissed her three times on the cheeks—right, left, and right again—in the French way. His lips left fiery spots where they touched her face, and her heart skipped a beat. She stepped back.

“Olivia,” Luc repeated with a devastating smile.

“Luc?” Heat radiated to her throat, her chest, her belly.

Beyond the desk, Doc cleared his throat a couple of times.

Good grief, what was happening to her? Ten years of perfect control threatened to crumble in a few minutes.

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

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DUBROVNIK

noreply@blogger.com (Mona Risk) — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 03:23:00 +0000

We booked the whole cruise because I wanted so badly to visit Dubrovnik, the “well wooded” in Slavic. I was not disappointed.

This is the modern city.

The old town is protected by very high walls, a moat and drawbridge. A statue of the town's patron can be seen above the entrance gate.

Dubrovnik is by far the most picturesque town on the Mediterranean Sea. It's part of Croatia now. Note the ancient clock that chimes the hours.

Their motto is: Liberty cannot be sold for all the gold on earth.
The Cathedral was destroyed by an earthquake and rebuilt in 1713. The Harvard Scool of Architecture sends its fourth-year students to study the architecture and train for two weeks in Dubrovnik.

From the earliest times, slavery and torture were forbidden in Dubrovnik. Refugees were welcomed.

No cars are allowed inside the Old Town where about 1000 people live. Note the narrow paved streets and the stairs to reach higher part of the town.

We visited at least ten gorgeous churches with elaborate interiors and a wealth of painting, statues and decorations that reminded me of Italian churches.

We were treated to a show of folkloric dances in a stone theater set against the town ramparts.

If you like to travel and love to read, come and enjoy my international romances. I will take you around the world through stories that simmer with emotion and sizzle with heat. Meet the spirited heroines and the alpha heroes who share irresistible chemistry.

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RHODES: a strong island

noreply@blogger.com (Mona Risk) — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 20:20:00 +0000

According to Homer, the first colonists were Greek. They founded the city of Rhodes at the northern tip of the island and built a powerful citadel to protect it.

In its day of greatest power, Rhodes became famous for its impressive sculptures, like the huge bronze Colossus which stood at the entrance of the harbor. Created to honor, the sun god Helios, it was at least 110 feet high and considered one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. Unfortunately, the Colossus only stood for 56 years before an earthquake toppled it in 224B.C. but the enormous fragments remained half-submerged for another nine centuries. A scrap dealer carried the pieces away on 900 camels.

The most glorious episode in Rhodes history began in 1309 when the Knights of St.John took control after being expelled from the Holy Land following the Crusades. They built the St.John's Chapel and the St.Mary's Church.

One of the tunnels that allowed the Knights to secretely escape.

They settled in Rhodes and increased the fortifications. The ramparts are impressive, several feet high. A moat circled and protected the city when the drawbridge was raised.

After Constantinople was captured by the Turks. Repeated sieges of Rhodes by the Turks weakened the city. At the end only 180 Knights remained to defend Rhodes.

They were expelled to Malta and Rhodes became Turkish property.

The Italian navy seized Rhodes in 1912 and it was turned over to Greece in 1948.

The famous movie of Guns of Navarone was filmed in Rhodes.

If you like to travel and love to read, come and enjoy my international romances. I will take you around the world through stories that simmer with emotion and sizzle with heat. Meet the spirited heroines and the alpha heroes who share irresistible chemistry.

My first newsletter has been going out. Some of you may have received it. Other will soon.

Ephesus: A Historical Site

noreply@blogger.com (Mona Risk) — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 02:49:00 +0000

Ephesus was considered one of the most beautiful cities in the Mediterranean area and a dazzling paradise of nature. The Historical site of Ephesus is now part of Turkey, not Greece.

Old sources record that the city was founded by the Amazones of the goddess Artemis—goddess of hunting and chase-- who was born there according to Homer’s immortal work. Temples to Artemis, Athena and Apollo adorned the ancient city.

Ruins of stadiums, gymnasiums and theaters can still be seen, together with the famous two-story library.

We saw remains of houses and the public baths. Our guide explained, that before going to work the men would stop at the public male restrooms. There they relieved themselves while discussing and conducting business. But the benches with holes were made of marble and quite cold in winter, so an hour earlier, they would send their slaves to reserve and warm their places. The women stayed home!!!

The first city built in 2000 bc was abandoned, buried by the sand carried by rivers.

A new city was built later a few miles away from the site of the first one with a huge cathedral erected by Emperor Justinian, one of the first Roman emperors to convert to the new faith.

What remains of the Christian city were the ruins of the Cathedral and the tomb of St. John the Evangelist who came to Ephesus, lived there and wrote the fourth book of the New Testament.

But St. John didn’t come alone to Ephesus. He brought with him the Virgin Mary after the death of Jesus on the cross. St. Mary lived in Ephesus the last years of her life until her dormition. Both the cathedral and the house of Mary were destroyed and disappeared.

In 1822, a Bavarian woman, Catherine Emmerich, who never left her village received revelations about the exact site of the house of the Virgin Mary. Those revelations were transmitted to the Pope and then to the Turkish government who agreed to perform excavations. The remaining of the house of St. Mary and the cathedral were unearthed at the place mentioned by the pious Bavarian woman. A little chapel was built at the place of the house. We were able to visit it.

Here I am drinking from the spring water that has contributed to so many miraculous cures. It is now canalized into a fountain.

Next to the little house, there was a wall where prople left their petitions.

Ephesus is an amazing place where Egyptian, Greek, Roman, and later early Christian civilizations developed.

Santorini

noreply@blogger.com (Mona Risk) — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 19:58:00 +0000

Today Santorini is a rock shaped like a fishhook. Centuries ago it was called Thera and was shaped like a cone. But that cone was formed by a volcano that erupted before 1600 BC. Excavations began in 1967. and scientists wondered if Thera was not part of the lost continent of Atlantis described in Greek literature.

The current name of the island comes from its patroness, Saint Irene of Thessalonika, who died in 304. The Venetians called her, Sant’Irini and the name stuck.
The present capital of Santorini is the town of Thera built on top of the cliff.
Views from this picturesque town are especially beautiful.
The highest point of the island is marked by the monastery of the Prophet Elijah. On the eastern shore of the island there are beaches of black sand from previous volcanic activity.
In addition to a temple dedicated to Apollo, there is a shrine cut out of rocks to honor the Egyptian gods Isis, Serapis and Anubis, a reminder of the Egyptian presence during the Ptolemaic period.

You can reach the top of the cliff and the town of Thera walking or by cable or riding on a donkey which is by far the most popular and fun way.
We used the cable. Since I am terrified of height I held my husband’s hand and closed my eyes, then opened one eye when my husband insisted the view was terrific and I was missing half of my life by not looking.
Once up on the cliff top, I agreed it was worth the scare. Look at the gorgeous pictures and be the judge.
Santorini is an ideal place for honeymooners.

Naples and Capri: Day Two

noreply@blogger.com (Mona Risk) — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 19:12:00 +0000

The sunny Bay of Naples is a beautiful sight as one approaches the city by ship. The plumed heights of Mount Vesuvius dominate the skyline. We didn’t have time to visit Naples but strolled along the streets lining the harbor to check a fortress or old castle.

A half hour ride in the ferry took us to the romantic island of Capri that I visited when I was eight years old with my parents.

All I remember from that first visit was that I lost my brand new straw hat. The wind blew it from my head to the sea and I stared at it unable to believe Daddy couldn’t get it back, then I started crying. I bought a straw hat in memory of my Dad and this time I held it with both hands. It came with me to the States!

From Capri, we took a boat to the famous Grotta Dell Azura.

You can’t see any grotto from the sea. Just a rock with a small opening.

And I mean small. Not higher than a table, about four-foot wide. Only a canoe could go through.

After waiting for our turn for another hour, we finally jumped from the boat into a canoe operated by an expert who asked us to lie down and put our arms inside the canoe.

He rowed through the narrow arch in the rock. Suddenly we were in the dark, pitch-black. We heard Italian songs, mingled with exclamations. I looked back toward the opening and was stunned by the incredible blue color. The water and air looked bright blue, a festival of blue light as if a thousand blue lamps illuminated the grotto. Unfortunately the pictures don’t give credit to the ethereal atmosphere.

Two new reviews for BABIES IN THE BARGAIN:

Joyfully Reviewed: This an old-fashioned, tender romance... Romance blooms amidst tragedy in BABIES IN THE BARGAIN. It tugs heart strings and stirs emotions.

Readers Favorite: 5 Stars. This is Mona Risk at her best. The characters are easy to relate to. The plot is excellent. fns of romance will love this story.

Rome: Day One

noreply@blogger.com (Mona Risk) — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 10:13:00 +0000

We landed in Rome early in the morning and were supposed to be taken straight to the ship to start our Mediterranean cruise.

The handsome young man who greeted us—too bad I didn’t have my camera available—had dark curly hair framing his face, attractive features la Roger Federrer and a cheerful smile. He apologized for the fact that we wouldn’t be able to board the ship before noon. To compensate for the inconvenience, Princess Cruise had arranged for us and other early birds a complementary guided tour of Rome while our luggage was transferred directly to the ship. Who could ask for a better deal? I forgot the lack of sleep, uncomfortable plane seat and exhaustion of the long trip.

Here are some of my pictures of Rome taken between 9:00 and 10:00 am from the so-comfortable tour bus before driving to Civitavecchia, the closest port to Rome.

Vittorio-Emmanuele Monument.

The Forum.

The famous Piazza d'Hispania with the unending steps and the church on the top. We didn't stop to look at the gorgeous view.

Here approaching St. Peter's Square.

As the bus circled around St Peter's Cathedral, I noticed there was a Sunday Mass celebrated on the piazza. Two large screens on each side allowed the congregation to view every detail.

The Pope would step on the third balcony from the right to give his blessing every Sunday at 10:30 am.

I thought I had a picture of the Colliseum but apparently my camera didn't click fast enough as the bus toured around the famous arena.

Out on Vacation

noreply@blogger.com (Mona Risk) — Sat, 24 Oct 2009 01:43:00 +0000

I am leaving tomorrow morning for a vacation in Greece. My great-grandparents came from Salonica. I have been to Greece three times but never to Salonica. I am not even sure we will have time to stop there.

Salonica (officially Thessaloníki), Greece's second largest city and capital of Greek Macedonia, lies at the head of the Thermaic Gulf (Gulf of Salonica), the most northwesterly gulf in the Aegean.

In 1430 the town was captured by Sultan Murad II, and it remained Turkish for almost 500 years, until 1912, under the name of Selanik. The Turks expelled many of the Greek inhabitants and turned most of the churches into mosques. It was finally liberated in 1912. Some of the town's many Christian churches were converted into mosques and later were used by the Jews as synagogues. As the power of the Ottoman Empire declined Turkish rule in the Balkans, and particularly in Macedonia, grew steadily harsher, and the inhabitants of Salonica, suffering ever greater hardship and privation, several times rose in revolt.

I plan to take a lot of pictures and carefully report all I see.

As I mentioned in my last email, I have been extremely busy, babysitting my grandchildren but also creating a newsletter I hope to send as soon as I come back.

My new book, Rx for Trust, is part of a three-book series, Doctor's Order. It will be released by The Wild Rose Press on December 4, 2009. The second is Rx in Russian, and third is Rx in French.

See you on November 8 or earlier if I can manage to connect to the Internet while abroad.

Please sign the mailing list-white box on the right- to receive my newsletter, if you haven't already done that in the past.

Recent news

noreply@blogger.com (Mona Risk) — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 02:47:00 +0000

Signing my books at Romanticon. My bear dressed as General Sergei, the hero of To Love A Hero, attracted a lot of attention.

I havent't post in the last three days as I was still recovering from my recent trip to Akron for Romanticon. It just occured to me that during this month I have been packing a suitcase while still unpacking another from the previous trip.

I went to visit my daughter and take care of the girls while their mother rested in bed after surgery-by now you probably know that my three granddaughters and only grandson are the pupil of my eye. So I left to Virginia on a Friday, came back on a Monday, unpacked and packed , left again on Friday, came back from Akron on Monday. I am still unpacking and packing to leave on Saturday. Are you able to follow that!!! Never mind. I am jumping on a plane... again...

But I can never afford the luxury of wasting time packing at a leisurely pace. Not when I enjoy the comapany of my two granddaughters who came from VA to spend ten days. Their mommy is partially recovered from her surgery and already back to work and on a business trip. The girls insist on helping me pack. Try to imagine the mess and fun around my place as discipline is totally ignored and the only rule is to have fun and laugh. Too bad if Mommy and Daddy can't understand that.

Today we walked to the pharmacy, picked up flowers from neat parterres and had a blast at the pharmacy trying to choose Halloween cards and stickers to decorate the cards. The girls insisted on stuffing their cards in the wrong envelopes and spoiled a few in the process. I had to buy a bunch of useless cards to make every one happy, including the pharmacy manager who was about to throw us out.

I hope I will be able to send my first newsletter during this week. I may announce a contest to celebrate my new book that will be released on December 4th, a story of psychiatrists who don't practice in their lives the good priciples they preach to their patients, a story based on this theme:

Oh what a tangled web we weave, when first we practice to deceive.”-- Walter Scott.

Here is for the first time the blurb of Rx For Trust:

Successful physician and loving mother, Olivia Crane fiercely believes youthful mistakes should be kept secret and skeletons are better left in closets.

Unfortunately, Dr. Luc George, the French psychiatrist, she loved ten years ago, detests secrets and has a professional tendency to dig into people’s minds.

Can Luc help her conquer her inner fears or will he get burned by the past too? Will Olivia grab her second chance and finally find happiness with the love of her life?

My heroine is an all-American career woman and my hero is a French doctor coming to a mid-western hospital as visiting physician.

Please sign the mailing list-white box on the right- to receive my newsletter, if you haven't already done that in the past.

Romanticon: Sunday

noreply@blogger.com (Mona Risk) — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 01:16:00 +0000

Breakfast in the covered pool area.

Ellora's Cave man pulling a winning ticket for the raffle at the Booksigning

Mona and her General Sergei bear from To Love A Hero

Betty Hanawa and her bear

Afton And Brooke London

Joanna Waugh

Cindy Pape and Hailey Steele

Romanticon: Saturday

noreply@blogger.com (Mona Risk) — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 17:39:00 +0000

Saturday started with a delicious leisurely buffet breakfast around the indoor swimming pool. When I say leisurely, I mean it. I was there from 8:00 am to 9:30 am chatting, signing programs for various people and asking authors to sign my program. This was one of the neat ideas the EC organizers came up with. There were several pages with authors and models' names followed by a couple of lines for each author to write a friendly word and sign it. A great keepsake of the Romanticon and a nice way to remember our fellow authors.

I am posing here with my editor Helen Woodall who came all the way from Australia.

Around noon we attended the Author Mania. Readers brought their own books and asked the authors to sign them. Betty Hanawa and I brought our bears to show them around. My bear is dressed like a Russian general, General Sergei, the hero of TO LOVE A HERO. It was given to me by my friends at Writers at Play when I signed my first contract. Betty's bear wore glasses and played on his guitar.

Editor Helen Wodall invited her froggies to an Australian lunch of vegemite served on bread and butter. We had Tim-Tam for dessert.

Helen and Tracie, an author from Down Under, sang the Aussie national anthem at the end of the lunch and Helen distributed little gifts, kaola bears and others. Thank you, Helen, for a lovely time.

Did I mention that our videos trailers were playing non-stop in a dark room called Voyer for the occasion? I sat there for a few hours watching many trailers. A big round of applause to my friend Fran Lee who created several of these trailers including the one for my FRENCH PERIL. Before dinner many of us gathered at the bar to chat, drink or munch on snacks and salad.

During each event, Ellora's Cave models pulled raffle tickets for baskets and incredible gifts, and personally delivered them with a smile and a kiss. Those guys were awsome, handsome, fun, and so helpful. Too bad we were not allowed to take one home.

Saturday night's big event was the appreciation dinner. You should have seen the pretty outfits displayed there. Joysann was sitting at my table and took a picture of our group that you can see on Publishers Weekly with her own report.

After a delicious dinner, EC publisher Raelene Gorlinski handed a star trophee-Rising Star-to new authors who published their first books in 2009 and to authors -Super Star-who thrived in a special field. (example Best Matchmaker in a book) ... Later, the authors recognized the fantastic staff of Ellora's Cave with special gifts. Here is Betty Hanawa showing her Rising Star.

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

Romanticon: Friday Evening

noreply@blogger.com (Mona Risk) — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 02:23:00 +0000

Romanticon Day 1 started on Friday at 5:00 am with a strident alarm from my digital clock. After hiding my head under the pillows for a moment, I shook myself and walked groggily to the shower. I really didn’t want to miss my early flight. I read and napped during the flight, changed planes in Charleston, NC, and arrived around 1:30 pm in Cleveland.

At the baggage claim, I collected my suitcase and donned my heavy jacket, while wondering if I would be able to locate my pre-reserved limousine’s driver. Just then I saw a man in suit walking by with a sign that said Romanticon. Before I could say anything he asked if I was Mona Risk. God bless him. My first worry vanished when he informed me that two friends were waiting for me outside. I hugged Judith Rochelle and recognized Rita Thedford. Big hugs again. Our driver Greg was the perfect gentleman and promised to be on time to pick us up on Monday morning for the return flight.

I checked in and unpacked. My roommate Betty Hanawa hadn’t arrived yet. I went to register and met my wonderful editor Helen Woodall who flew all the way from Melbourne, Australia, for the conference. Helen was as lovely and nice as her emails suggested. Of course, her nails were painted in green and she wore a frog ring. She handed me my Romanticon bag loaded with books from Ellora’s Cave and Cerridwen Press books, and a special gift from The Lotus Club. Martha Punches who was handling the registration with Helen received my special hug.

If you have never attended a workshop by Raelene Gorlinsky you’ve missed the crème de la crème. She had the chairs arranged as a big rectangle so that the attendees could all face each other and actively participate in the workshop. The first one I attended was: Act It Out, where she had volunteers act some weird scenes from rejected manuscripts to show what was wrong with the writing. During another workshop, So You Want to Be An Author? published authors were asked to share their experience and advise aspiring authors. In Tell Us what You Think? Readers told authors what genre they like to read. Another interesting workshop was Promo Items by Marianne Stevens, Anny Cook and Judy Atkin.

A Reviewers Panel, Joysann (Publishers Weekly), Chrissy Dionne (Romance Junkies) Sheila Gallagher (Two Lips Reviews), Mimi Tremont (IMRR), and Moderator EC Editor Helen Woodall. The reviewers told us how they review a book and how the review should be received (never take it personally).

About 200 people, women and a few brave husbands dressed in their best 60 and 70ish outfits for a fun soiree of music and dance with the Cavemen ( Ellors’s Cave models).

Kelly Kirch,
Anny Cook,
Joanna Waugh,
Helen Woodall

Mona Risk,
Betty Hanawa

Marianne Stevens

Stay tune for more on Romanticon: Saturday on tomorrow’s blog.

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

Romanticon

noreply@blogger.com (Mona Risk) — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 02:33:00 +0000

I am leaving early tomorrow morning for Akron, OH, to attend Romanticon, the first convention of Ellora's Cave/ Cerridwen Press. My first two books To Love A Hero and French Peril are published by Cerridwen Press. I am so excited because I will meet fellow authors, some I already know and some I will see for the first time, many readers and my editor who is coming all the way from Australia.

I will be back on Monday. My next post will be about the conventionn with a lot of pictures.

If you will be in Akron, look me up. I would love to meet you.

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

FRENCH PERIL on Barbara Vey’s Publishers Weekly

noreply@blogger.com (Mona Risk) — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 01:53:00 +0000

I had the most lovely surprise last Thursday when a friend mentioned that my romantice suspense published bt Cerridwen Press was on Barbara Veil's blog with a great review.

http://www.publishersweekly.com/blog/880000288.html

Cheryl doesn't know who to trust, especially the dangerously handsome Francois, who definitely has more than just a statue on his mind. Who wouldn't want to lose themselves in Mona Risk's French Peril?

Traveling to the beautiful French countryside, staying in a marvelous, ornate chateau, eating fine food and drinking the chateau's wine, and let's not forget the charming and handsome host.

Sign me up, Ms Risk, I'll be looking for your next foreign escape.

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

This Week's 5 Heart Sweetheart...

noreply@blogger.com (Mona Risk) — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 00:01:00 +0000

TO LOVE A HERO, a review from The Romance Studio

To Love A Hero won This Week's 5 Heart Sweetheart...

"Mona Risk has built an exceptional story of romance with a hopeful tale of what can be accomplished when people on both sides of the ocean work together to make the world a better place. The fly in the ointment is Colonel Roussov, a truly evil man who only wants power for himself. He doesn’t seem to care about his country or fellow human beings."

"Both Sergei and Cecile are well deserving of the roles as hero and heroine of the story. As a war hero Sergei has earned the respect of his country that allows him to work as hard for peace and the future of his country as he did during war. Cecile doesn’t let fear stand in her way as she finds a route around the problems to get what she wants if people stand in her way. She’s admirable in her inventive solutions when confronted by a male dominated society."

"This is a fast moving story full of colorful characters who enhance our enjoyment of the country and its people. Ms. Risk is one of those authors who puts together a tale that’s captivates from first page to last. I’ll have to look for more of her work in the future." - Dee Dailey

The Ultimate Diet

noreply@blogger.com (Mona Risk) — Sat, 19 Sep 2009 01:09:00 +0000

Sitting at the computer for hours at a time, during the last five years, had helped me write seven books and publish four, but it definitely damaged my waistline and loaded pounds of fat on my hips and belly.

I tried to lose the extra weight on my own through Weight Watchers and South Beach Diet. I followed the diets for three to four weeks and give up at the first crisis.

Last year my daughter and husband encouraged me to seek help from a personal trainer and exercise. I did. Faithfully. For four months. Four times a week. One to two hours every day. I lost ten pounds of fat. Only of fat. The fat got converted to muscles. I felt good about myself and my health improved. But my clothes didn’t fit because overall, my weight and measurements remained the same. And my moral didn’t improve much. At the first crisis, I munched a lot, overate again and piled a few more pounds. Fat or muscles, who cared. The pounds stuck to my body determined to stay. I tried to ignore them.

Two days ago, I reached a record high on the scale. My heart sank as the damn arrow kept moving up and stabilized on a number I never reached even when nine-month- pregnant. Tears welled in my eyes. I had to do something. I remembered the phone number a friend gave me three months ago. I called the Quick Weight Loss Center. They told me to come right away.

The meeting was interesting but I was not convinced. Their diet excluded cheese, nuts, yogurt, mango, avocado,… all my favorite food. The manager took me to an office and asked me to sit across from her desk, in a chair positioned in front of a mirror. Every time I glanced up, I saw myself in the mirror and immediately asked more questions about the diet. Before I knew what I was doing I handed my credit card. Later I thought I should hire this manager to be my publicist. She sure knew how to convince a client to buy their services and product. That day I went home and indulged on all the food I love, the way people used to do on Fat Tuesday before starting Lent. But that diet looked much worse than Lent!!!

I started my diet yesterday. Phase one: I have to drink ten glasses of water a day, eat only protein and GREEN vegetables, raw or steamed. No salt or sugar. I was allowed 1/8 of a cantaloupe a day. It’s not a big piece, believe me. By 6 pm at the end of the first day I was dizzy, suffered an incredible headache and stomach cramps. I was hardly able to drive home and collapsed on my bed. I slept straight till the morning. Today was better. It seems that my body is adjusting to the lack of carbohydrates and the incredible volume of water I sip.

By next Wednesday, I will start phase two. They will give me herbs and vitamins to swallow. I can add some fruits and dark bread. I will receive as special treat packets of pudding and cappuccino. I hope they taste good but anyway after starving for a week, any remotely sweet food will be delicious.

They will monitor me for a year. Still I am not too optimistic considering my last year fiasco at the gym.

Am I crazy? To spend so much money to starve myself.

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

Tennis Championships

noreply@blogger.com (Mona Risk) — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 01:56:00 +0000

How many of you regularly watch the tennis tournaments?

My husband doesn’t take his eyes off the TV for the two weeks of each of the Australian Open, French Open, Wimbledon and US open. I glance from time to the TV screen to cheer a good point.

At the Wimbledon, we cheered Roger Federer, my all–time favorite tennis player. The papers describe him as the most elegant champion and a true gentleman. With his sixth Wimbledon win, he became tennis's greatest men's champion, watched by a legion of champions. He also set a record with his 15th Grand Slam title, overhauling the total of Pete Sampras who was in the Royal Box along with fellow legends Bjorn Borg and Rod Laver.

Was Federer really unbeatable?

The US Open presented an incredible match that lasted more than four hours. Federer almost won but his opponent Argentinean Juan Martin Del Potro managed to come back and win the unbeatable Federer. The women’s final followed a similar path as Kim Clijsters defeated the famous Serena Williams.

Today I found myself establishing a parallel between tennis and writing.

I compared Federer and Serena Williams to the New York Bestselling authors, well-established, basking in fame for years and unbeatable.

And yet, there are a lot of Del Potro and Kim Clijsters in Romance Writing. New authors with charming voices and fabulous imagination. With perseverance and hard work, they CAN reach the unreachable goal, they can be the new champions, the new bestselling authors.

Remember that the biggest champions and the most famous authors were once beginners too.

Dream your dream
Set your goal
Work hard
Listen to your coach
Go for it
Develop a tough skin
PERSEVERE

You are almost there. One more hit is all it takes sometimes.

The Magic Knot by Helen Scott-Taylor, my critique partner, was voted among the ten best books of the year.

Through the Fire by Beth Trissel was a finalist in the Golden Heart.

Babies in the Bargain, by Mona Risk (yours truly) was voted Best Book of the Week by The Long and Short Reviews

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

Ottawa: a neat capital

noreply@blogger.com (Mona Risk) — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 02:14:00 +0000

Click on the pictures to enlarge.

The second part of my trip to Canada included a twenty-four hour visit to Ottawa. We drove for a bout two hours from Montreal to the capital of Canada. The weather was gorgeous and a glorious sunshine brightened our trip. While my husband drove I munched on candied almonds, read the instructions and played navigator. I am proud to say we didn’t get lost in spite of my ususl poor sense of orientation.

The moment we stepped into our hotel room, the phone rang. It was one of my two high-school friends who live in Ottawa and was impatient to meet. They both joined us in the lobby. My husband smiled to his ears while watching our hugs and screams of joy. It was my fifth reunion with one of them and my third with the other since that far away graduation day.

We invited them to dinner in a restaurant of their choice on the canal. Later they gave us a tour of downtown Ottawa by night. We ambled through streets of cafes and restaurants in a lively city.

In the morning, my husband and I strolled in downtown and stopped at the Byward Market for a delicious breakfast at the very famous Moulin de Provence Bakery in Ottawa.

Look at the pictures and you will recognize President Obama who indulged his sweet tooth at this place. A video of the president ‘s visit played continuously and a special counter offered Obama cookies.

"I understand you've got some Canadian cookies … in the shape of a maple leaf," the president said during his surprise walkabout in the market last Thursday.
The baker, Claude Bonnet, obliged with maple-leaf-shaped sugar cookies with red and white icing.
"I figured, I'd get some points from my daughters," Obama said.

[CNN]

Since then the bakery is selling the Obama cookies all over United States and Europe.

One of my friends met us after breakfast and gave us a tour of the city.

We passed in front of the Parliament.

And visited the splendid Cathedral of Our Lady.

Notice the steel spider-shaped structure across from the cathedral.

We toured the Museum of Civilization. The front of the building looks like a face. Later we stopped by my other friend's house for lunch: salmon smoked in Ottawa.

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

Quebec: a quaint old city

noreply@blogger.com (Mona Risk) — Mon, 07 Sep 2009 00:41:00 +0000

The pictures posted here are all from Quebec City. Would you like to take an armchair trip to Quebec with me? Relax and enjoy.

I just came back from a week vacation in Canada. We flew to Montreal, spent a night there at my cousin's, drove to Trois Rivières, a little French Canadian town, where we tasted delicious Napoleons--mille-feuilles in French-- and drank Cappuccino to warm up, before getting dressed to attend the wedding of my husband's best friend's son.

We ran to the cathedral, across the street from the hotel, under pouring rain. The reception was a lot of fun and we danced till two a.m.

The next day we drove for two hours to the former capital of Canada, the lovely old city of Quebec. For two days we walked through parcs, lingered in historical streets, negotiated steps and bought a few souvenirs.

Quebec is the only city in the American continent that still has a city wall or part of a wall remaining.

The statue of Champlain who discovered Canada dominates the main place of the old city, facing the St. Laurent river.

We had brunch in the rotating restorant of our hotel and enjoyed a magnificent view of the city and river.

The Cathedral reminded me of the Ghotic cathedrals of France and Germany with a lot of columns, elaborate paintings and golden statues.

Here is the most famous chateau of Quebec seen from close. It's decorated with bronze statues in alcoves framing the windows.

This gorgeous fountain was offered by France to the city of Quebec. It's located in front of the Chateau.

Notice the Indian sculpture called INUKSUK, which means Indian/Canadian. They used to build a human statue with a series of stones.

The inscription is written in English and Inuksuk writing.

We rode a fenicular to go down to the lower part of Quebec City near the St. Laurent banks.

After strolling for another hour, we climbed ten stories of steps to reach the top of a hill and walked to a cafe. My friend claimed it to be the most famous ice cream place in Canada. I was so out of breath I kept wondering if the ice cream was worth my effort. Believe me it was!!!

My friend eating the most scrumptious ice cream dipped in chocolate at the Cafe European, across the River.

Sunset on the River.

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

Pierce Brosnan, my favorite actor and inspiration.

noreply@blogger.com (Mona Risk) — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 02:17:00 +0000

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Don’t you just love him!!!

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My blog

noreply@blogger.com (Mona Risk) — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 04:53:00 +0000

How do you like my new format?

Are the colors attractive?

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

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

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

Any suggestions for improvement?

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