A new Bestseller

It's such a pleasure to announce that SWEET CHRISTMAS KISSES is on the USA Today bestsellers list. When I read the caption, the emotion made me speechless for a moment, then I kept mumbling, Oh my God, Oh my God. My husband saw my face pale and rush to my side. "Are you OK?" He thought I was having a heart attack. What a giddy feeling. But soon I shouted at the top of my lungs, "I'm a USA Today Bestselling Author," and I couldn't stop laughing and babbling. We had a drink to celebrate reaching this milestone and every author's goal or dream. When I attended my first RWA National Conference in 2004 and saw some 4,000 writers, bustling in the ballroom for lunch, my stomach constricted. If all these people competed to be published there was no way on Earth I would succeed. And yet here I am, ten years later, standing on the top of the mountain, screaming, "TaDa!"   http://mad.ly/signups/111038/join  If I made it, you can make it. Hard work, perseverance, a lot of support, a good network, and a "little bit of blooming luck". Fourteen authors are all over the moon. Amazon  Kobo i-tunes Google Nook     Here are links to buy the bestselling box:

 HER CHRISTMAS CRUISE, my contribution to this box, will take you on a wonderful cruise to Spain and Italy with Julia and Tony. The perfect fiancé is a cheater and the fabulous Christmas wedding is off. But the would-be honeymoon cruise may fulfill the dreams of Julia and her unexpected companion.

More good news are always welcome.

You can pre-order TEN CHRISTMAS BRIDES now or buy it on October 21, 2014 at: Kindle US Kindle UK Nook Kobo iBook

My contribution to this coming box is AN UNUSUAL CHRISTMAS. Running away from Christmas celebrations and the demons of her past, Dr. Jillian has dedicated her life to saving third-world children. In Belarus, a baby girl, four little boys, and a handsome doctor may teach her the true meaning of Christmas.

An Author Life

In a former life, I was a chemist. For years my writing consisted in detailing standard operating procedures or outlining contracts in a concise, straight to the point approach. When I started writing romance, I had to learn how to plot a story and present it from a specific point of view. Workshops, mentors, critique partners, contests taught me to hone the difficult art of writing and find my voice.
Nothing beats a specific daily to-do list prepared the night before to keep you motivated. Crossing out items on my list gives me a sense of achievement.

As soon as I jump out of bed I check my emails for anything important. My morning is then dedicated to various activities, errands, and chores. Walking, exercising, grocery shopping, etc… By noon, I am back at my computer browsing Internet, reading blogs and leaving comments, and advertising my books on Twitter and Facebook. It’s my promotion time. The afternoon and evening are for writing, revising, editing.

I love visiting new places but traveling was never a complete vacation for me, more like a research for interesting stories. Armed with my camera and a notebook, I traveled to more than fifty countries, snapped a gazillion of pictures and scribbled my impressions.

My inspiration sprouts from real life and people around me—they supply a rich canvas of plots and conflicts—and also from my traveling to fascinating places.

I live day by day and write what I feel passionate about; contemporary romances, romantic suspense novels, medical romances set in the various states where I lived, or the country I visited, France, Russia, Greece, even a paranormal romance based on Egyptian mythology.

Most of my heroines have high educational background and solid scientific careers, as I had. They also face difficult obstacles in their lives. But the similarities end there and the romance is specific to each heroine.

My biggest challenge is promoting my books. No one ever warned me that I would have to learn such an amount of technology to be able to sell my stories. I am lucky to have a computer guru at home who taught me to create website, blogs, trailers, book covers, newsletters,…

I always plot everything I do or write, and continuously create new to-do lists. Although I believe I can influence my future or help shape it through my work and actions, I don’t think I can plot it in the true sense of the word. One can always dream and hope that dreams will come true.

Writing is my shelter. Hiding in my own world, I create people I love. With imagination and patience, I force them to overcome their inner conflicts, fight obstacles and make love triumph.

Most writers are continuously plagued with self–doubt and need non-stop cheering to boost their morale and stimulate their muse. The reviews and praise I receive from reviewers and fans reassure me that I have written beautiful romance stories they love.

The life of a writer is a lonely battle waged against oneself, but we are lucky to bond with other authors through writers’ loops. My writer colleagues share and understand my struggles, lend support when needed and cheer my successes and joys. The daily exchange of emails resulted in solid cyberspace friendships and allowed me to publish multi-authors boxed sets of novels with other writers.

The most recent boxed set co-authored with the Main Street Authors is Wedding on Main Street and my contribution is Wedding Surprise that is not published on its own yet.

How to write a good love scene

A couple years ago, I attended a fantastic presentation by Angela Knights on how to write a good sex scene.

Here is more or less what Angela said—I hope I got it right, Angela.

 Love scenes illustrate the development of romance. They reveal the way people feel about each other.

A love scene reveals characters, enhances the conflict, and develops the romance.

Love scene and the characters:

 How does it reveal the hero? The hero must be experienced. Don’t ever write about a virgin hero! Mention his romantic and sexual history before the first sex scene.

Show how his attitude toward the heroine change in the course of your story.

Show how the heroine helps him develop his strengths and overcome his weaknesses.

The love scene should reveal how he makes love to the heroine, how he finds her different from past lovers, and how his way change toward her by the end of the story.

Before a love scene, we should also know the heroine’s romantic history: how does she feel about sex? In historical romances, a love scene is a big conflict for the heroine who is usually not experienced. Give the heroine good reasons to trust the hero enough to sleep with him.

Picking up a hero in a bar and making love with him is dangerous and borderline erotica.

Is she sexually confident?

How does making love to him change her?

Does she gain confidence in them as a couple?

Let the heroine take the lead in some scenes.

Love scenes make them both grow. A love scene is always a turning point. You develop the plot with a love scene. You also develop the conflict with a sex scene. To intensify the conflict through a love scene you can make him dominant if she doesn’t like an alpha hero. And then make her reaction to him strong and dramatic. Let one character turn the tables on the other—heroine dominates the hero.

 Logistic of a love scene: 

A hero can’t go directly to kissing before a few steps of touching that establish trust.

You have to create the environment of trust for her to accept his kiss.

Love scenes should complicate the situation: A love scene is a critical turning point. What problems does it cause? How does it change the way the characters view each other now?

To know if your love scenes make sense read them back to back by themselves and see if the romance grow and develop through these love scenes.

Love scene pacing:

 Where does the love scene fall in the romance? What kind of emotion do you want to communicate? The love scene can intensify the mood: We are at our most vulnerable when making love. This is a perfect time for drama. Taking off clothes is a big act of trust.

Or it can lighten the mood: for example it will keep a romantic suspense or a thriller from getting too dark.

Watch your timing: Characters who are supposed to be hunting the bad guys can’t waste their time making love. Don’t follow a gruesome murder with a love scene.

Love scene construction:

Don’t rush. You need at least five pages for a satisfying love scene, for emotional impact. Don’t cheat the reader

Set the scene with a sensual environment: sharp vivid emotions with five senses.

A long pre-scene is acceptable but stay clear of purple prose.

Who makes the first move? Stay within characters.

More interesting when there is more than one objective to the love scene.

Sexual roles of hero and heroine: The heroine sets the sexual pace. She decides when characters make love because she’s the one who has the most to lose.

Concentrate on sensual details. Focus on sensations that characters feel. Use lots of sensual details, smell, touch, taste. Reader doesn’t want to guess.

It’s always better to be in her point of view. Don’t shift POV in the middle of a sex scene.

Use a lot of emotion to give love scenes their power.

Use dialog during a love scene.

Pillow talk: remember blood doesn’t go to a man’s brain when it rushes elsewhere. So keep dialog lines short and sexy. Moans are not considered dialog!!! Use sense of humor but keep tenderness to the last chapter otherwise your story is over.

Keep sex language appropriate to time and characters.

Keep heat levels corresponding to your readers’ comfort. Trade paperback and ebooks allow sexier content than mass market in terms of language and erotic details.

Look at other books in the same genre to decide what you can get away with.

Happy Ever After: Readers want to know what it’s like to find HEA with a sexy hero. Capture that experience with passion and imagination.

Remember that your first paragraph sells your book and your last paragraph sells your next book.

{more details in A Guide To Write Erotic Romance by Angela Knights}

 The four books in my box set, Foreign Lovers, follow Angela Knights’s advice. They sizzle with sensual tension and offer you memorable love scene.--99 cents.

How to write a love scene

A couple years ago, I attended a fantastic presentation by Angela

Knights on how to write a good sex scene.

Here is more or less what Angela said—I hope I got it right, Angela.

 

Love scenes illustrate the development of romance. They reveal the way people feel about each other.

A love scene reveals characters, enhances the conflict, and develops the romance.

Love scene and the characters:

 

How does it reveal the hero? The hero must be experienced. Don’t ever write about a virgin hero! Mention his romantic and sexual history before the first sex scene.

Show how his attitude toward the heroine change in the course of your story.

Show how the heroine helps him develop his strengths and overcome his weaknesses.

The love scene should reveal how he makes love to the heroine, how he finds her different from past lovers, and how his way change toward her by the end of the story.

Before a love scene, we should also know the heroine’s romantic history: how does she feel about sex? In historical romances, a love scene is a big conflict for the heroine who is usually not experienced. Give the heroine good reasons to trust the hero enough to sleep with him.

Picking up a hero in a bar and making love with him is dangerous and borderline erotica.

Is she sexually confident?

How does making love to him change her?

Does she gain confidence in them as a couple?

Let the heroine take the lead in some scenes.

Love scenes make them both grow. A love scene is always a turning point. You develop the plot with a love scene. You also develop the conflict with a sex scene. To intensify the conflict through a love scene you can make him dominant if she doesn’t like an alpha hero. And then make her reaction to him strong and dramatic. Let one character turn the tables on the other—heroine dominates the hero.

Logistic of a love scene: 

A hero can’t go directly to kissing before a few steps of touching that establish trust.

You have to create the environment of trust for her to accept his kiss.

Love scenes should complicate the situation: A love scene is a critical turning point. What problems does it cause? How does it change the way the characters view each other now?

To know if your love scenes make sense read them back to back by themselves and see if the romance grow and develop through these love scenes.

Love scene pacing:

 Where does the love scene fall in the romance? What kind of emotion do you want to communicate? The love scene can intensify the mood: We are at our most vulnerable when making love. This is a perfect time for drama. Taking off clothes is a big act of trust.

Or it can lighten the mood: for example it will keep a romantic suspense or a thriller from getting too dark.

Watch your timing: Characters who are supposed to be hunting the bad guys can’t waste their time making love. Don’t follow a gruesome murder with a love scene.

 Love scene construction:

Don’t rush. You need at least five pages for a satisfying love scene, for emotional impact. Don’t cheat the reader

Set the scene with a sensual environment: sharp vivid emotions with five senses.

A long pre-scene is acceptable but stay clear of purple prose.

Who makes the first move? Stay within characters.

More interesting when there is more than one objective to the love scene.

Sexual roles of hero and heroine: The heroine sets the sexual pace. She decides when characters make love because she’s the one who has the most to lose.

Concentrate on sensual details. Focus on sensations that characters feel. Use lots of sensual details, smell, touch, taste. Reader doesn’t want to guess.

It’s always better to be in her point of view. Don’t shift POV in the middle of a sex scene.

Use a lot of emotion to give love scenes their power.

Use dialog during a love scene

Pillow talk: remember blood doesn’t go to a man’s brain when it rushes elsewhere. So keep dialog lines short and sexy. Moans are not considered dialog!!! Use sense of humor but keep tenderness to the last chapter otherwise your story is over.

Keep sex language appropriate to time and characters.

Keep heat levels corresponding to your readers’ comfort. Trade paperback and ebooks allow sexier content than mass market in terms of language and erotic details.

 Look at other books in the same genre to decide what you can get away with.

Happy Ever After: Readers want to know what it’s like to find HEA with a sexy hero. Capture that experience with passion and imagination.

Remember that your first paragraph sells your book and your last paragraph sells your next book.

{more details in A Guide To Write Erotic Romance by Angela Knights}

 The four books in my box set, Foreign Lovers, follow Angela Knights’s advice. They sizzle with sensual tension and offer you memorable love scene.

Available at Amazon.com

Christmas Here and There

 



 
Have you started your Christmas preparations?
Maybe some of you did. I am not ready for Thanksgiving yet, but I love this holiday season which allows me to visit with my children and grandchildren.

Christmas is not celebrated in the same way in different areas.

You may be used to snow and brightly decorated fir trees.

 But...

CHRISTMAS HERE AND THERE: Whether you dream of love and fun, or run away from sad memories, romance is everywhere at the beach, on a cruise, or in a godforsaken place. 

Buy yourself a box set of three Christmas stories, full of emotion and humor. For 99 cents you can't go wrong and will enjoy delightful stories.

Click here for more.

http://tinyurl.com/lhxkfha

In South Florida, tall and majestic, the palms trees sparkled with spirals of colorful bulbs around their trunks and twinkling garlands swayed between the palm fronds. In spite of the balmy breeze and warm temperature, the holiday season decorations brightened streets and buildings as described in CHRISTMAS BABIES.




Have you ever tried to take a cruise during the holiday season? You should see the incredible decorations of a cruise ship at Christmas time. In HER CHRISTMAS CRUISE, you will have ample time to celebrate a very special time.










What if Christmas isn't a joyful time for some people? The heroine on AN UNUSUAL CHRISTMAS travels to the end of the world to escape the celebrations and her sad memories. Yet she finds unexpected Christmas gifts and her own happy ever after.

CHRISTMAS HERE AND THERE is offered at a discounted price for a few days, 99cents!
If you like to travel and love to read, treat yourself and your friends to an inexpensive box set of  sweet Christmas romances.

Mother's Day Babies

My latest novel, MOTHER’S DAY BABIES, was very appropriately released around Mother’s Day.

Available for 99 cents at Amazon.com,  http://tinyurl.com/cz3v5a8

The perfect gift for Mother's Day, only 99 cents

This book is dedicated to the mothers we celebrate and those we remember with love on Mother's Day.

Blurb: Widowed for seven years, Barbara Ramsay lives and breathes for her five grownup daughters and their babies. She's also used to chatting over the phone with her good friend, Lou. But why has he invited her to come to Paris with his TV Network crew?

Powerful News Director, Lou Roland is certainly not marriage material, yet he has suddenly decided he wants Barbara in his arms. Not an easy task when his pretty confidante from Kentucky proves so difficult to date--unless he follows her rules. Can the over-fifty confirmed bachelor and the widow loyal to her husband's memory find true love and share a future?

Mother’s Day Babies also raises an interesting question. What can a young father do when he’s eagerly expecting the birth of his first child and the mother blatantly announces, “He’s not yours!” just after the delivery?

Let Lou Roland, the hero of MOTHER'S DAY BABIES, tell you his feelings.

Excerpt:

“Ten years later, we bumped into each other in Atlanta. You’d think that at thirty, I’d have been wiser.”

“You still held a flame for her?” In a way, Barbara was pleased to discover he was capable of loving a woman for that long.

“I was still an idiot. That’s what I was.” The bang on the desk startled her. Now at fifty-four, Lou resented his previous naïveté. “Jennifer moved in with me. But not for long. Later, she called to say she was expecting my child.”

“Ah, did you believe her?”

“Yes, and I was delighted to be a dad. I thought something positive has finally come out of our troubled relationship. You see I grew up in a very conservative home. My mother was a church-going lady, classy and generous. Just like you.”

His gaze roamed over her with appreciation. Barbara smiled at the compliment. That explained why Lou liked her.

“I wanted my child to have the good childhood I had.”

“So you married Jennifer?” Hoping he’d done the right thing, Barbara arched her eyebrows.

“She laughed in my face when I proposed and said she wasn’t ready for monogamy. I realized a marriage with her wouldn’t last long but I wanted to be part of my child’s life. Jennifer had no medical insurances so I immediately gave her a check and said I’d pay for the delivery and the baby’s expenses.”

“You were there when the baby was born?” Riveted by his story, she studied the thinning of his lips, and the sad little lines carved around his eyes.

“No. Jennifer had a knack for disappearing. She called when the baby was five-months old. I was furious to be deprived of my child’s first months and we had a fight. That’s when she screamed she wasn’t sure Monica was mine. She was sleeping with two other men at the time.” Disgust and rage churned in his eyes, now as gray as a tempest. “The girl has her mother’s looks. I wanted her to take a DNA test. Jennifer refused.”

“I can understand your frustration, your anger. But you kept contact with your daughter?”

“Only a few times over the years.” He shook his head. “Jennifer followed her lovers and only called me when she needed money.”

“No wonder you longed for a family life.” Now she understood why he never married.

“When she grew up, Monica was the one who called to ask for money. I made her promise to go to college and I paid her tuitions.”

For a chance to win a copy of MOTHER’S DAY BABIES, let me know your opinion: What should the young man do when the woman announces the child may not be his?

About the Author: From chemistry in the lab to chemistry between people.
As a director of chemistry, Mona Risk traveled to more than sixty countries on business or vacation. To relax from her hectic schedule, she avidly read romance novels and mentally plotted her own books. Eventually she left a scientific career to share with readers the many stories brewing in her head. Mona likes to set her stories in the fascinating places she visits.

Mona Risk’s books won Best Romance Novel of the Year at Preditors & Editors; Best Contemporary Romances at Readers Favorite; Epic Award Finalists; and many stellar reviews.

 Other books in The Holiday Babies Series:

VALENTINE BABIES    http://tinyurl.com/avb2kbu
CHRISTMAS BABIES http://tinyurl.com/burgd9j
BABIES IN THE BARGAIN   http://tinyurl.com/6mcd6e3

Links: www.monarisk.com
 

http://www.facebook.com/MonaRisk?ref=tn_tnmn
@MonaRiskS
Mona Risk Amazon Page of books http://tinyurl.com/7mlcjtx

Self-publishing

In a previous post, I grumbled about the difficulties of self-publishing.
My first self-pubbed book has been at amazon.com for less than a week and now I reap the benefits of my effort.
1- I chose my bookcover.
2- I don't have to wait for months to see my book publish.
3- I set the price and can change it when I want

So far, my book is doing well and I don't regret my decision.

My first self-published book NO MORE LIES is offered at $0.99

at amazon.com
http://www.amazon.com/No-More-Lies-ebook/dp/B005UJ2YKK/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1318734696&sr=1-1

and at Smashwords in PDF, Kindle, and other formats.

Reviews: 2011 EPPIE Award Finalist
2010 Best Contemporary Romance ~ Readers Favorite
"A fantastic read. The plot was very well thought out and the pacing on target. ~Night Owl Romance
"A charming story. Keeping the reader entertained with the twists and turns in the plot." ~Got Romance!
"Full of emotion, suspense, intrigue, good intentions and determination." ~The Long And The Short Reviews
"A wonderfully written book about true love and the rarity of second chances." ~Happy Ever After Reviews

Blurb:

A lie that brings a smile or a truth that draws a tear?

Successful physician and loving mother, Olivia Crane fiercely believes youthful mistakes should be kept buried. Dr. Luc George, the French psychiatrist, she loved ten years ago, detests secrets.

When Luc strolls back into her life, Olivia welcomes her second chance. But on her own terms. The past forgotten, no questions asked. As Luc tries to unravel her many secrets, he also threatens to shatter her carefully constructed world. Can Luc help her conquer her inner fears or will he get burned by the past?

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.

No More Lies



Smashwords bookcover



I did it!!!

I self-published a book.

I am so pleased the final product looks good. To start I printed their Formatting Guide, read it once to highlight the important items, practiced on a draft file.

When I was convinced I finally understood the requirements, and I had my favorite picture transformed into a bookcover--no small job here-- I tackled the real file after making a copy. Did I say that every few minutes I called my DH for help?

The first time I uploaded on Smashwords, it told me something was wrong. I had to go back and fix it, and re-upload. Then a friend told me I had an extra word in the blurb. Again fix and re-upload.

Then the bookcover I spent so much time preparing was too small, although I used the dimensions they gave me. So I had to buy a bigger picture and start all over modifying and preparing the picture. Then they said I had to ask for an ISBN and assign a price. Don't forget to add the corresponding tags that will attract readers. Finally my reborn book was up on Smashwords to stay. Now they need to check it before putting it in their catalog.




Amazon Kindle bookcover

 Then came the Amazon Kindle hassle. Formatting was a little different. Also the bookcover didn't work because it has white border and blends in the white background of the page. So I had to figure how to frame it in a different color. Later I discovered the bookcover that goes on the site is of a different size than the one that goes with the book file. Again more work. It's supposed to appear on the site tomorrow or in a few days.

To be honest, it was an interesting education and an eye-opener. Now I understand why it takes so much time to our publishers to get the books published, if they have to go through all that work for every book!

I still have to see if it's worth it or not. I personally wouldn't hesitate to buy a book at $0.99, especially one that was an EPIC award finalist, but you never know.

This book received fantastic reviews and contests awards in its previous life. I still haven't decided whether to add them or not.

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

Night Owl Romance ~ Top Pick
[Prescription for Trust] [NO MORE LIES] was a fantastic read. I enjoyed the slow relationship between Olivia and Luc and how he was so caring toward Melissa and Olivia’s family. The plot was also very well thought out and the pacing on target. The wonderful healing that took place in this book also made it a very sweet read.

Got Romance! ~ 4.5 Diamonds
Mona Risk writes a charming story. Keeping the reader entertained with the twists and turns in the plot. With great characters like Luc and Olivia the reader will enjoy the world that she has built. Luc is a wonderful Hero with a great sense of fairness and loyalty and Olivia is an intelligent and wonderful heroine. The secondary characters like Olivia’s mother and daughter are just as pleasant. The emotional ride that these characters take is a hard one but worth it.

The Long And The Short Reviews~.4.5 Books. Nominated for Best Book of The Week.
[Prescription for Trust] [NO MORE LIES], is full of emotion, suspense, intrigue, good intentions and determination, depending on which character POV you are looking from. Mona Risk’s writing sweeps you into the story from the first page, and keeps you turning the pages. When you have read this one, I’m sure you’ll add the next three to your wish list.

Readers Favorite~ 5 Hearts 2010 Best Contemporary Romance.
This is the first book of the Doctors Orders Series by Mona Risk. If the rest of the books in this string is of this caliber, MS Risk will find herself with a very successful series on her hands.

Happy Ever After~ By "Kris M. McConville" (Scotia) - Beautiful love story about second chances, April 14, 2011

Mona Risk writes a beautiful love story about second chances and being afraid to take a leap of faith. Fans of Mona Risk will not be disappointed with her latest book, [Prescription of Trust] [NO MORE LIES]. It is a fast paced book that you just can't put down until the end.
  Will Olivia give Luc and herself a chance at happiness or will she slam the door in Luc's face once again in order to protect Melissa? Will Olivia trust Luc enough to help her face her demons and tell Melissa the truth?
  It is a wonderfully written book about true love and the rarity of second chances. I would prescribe that anyone wanting a lighthearted fast-paced love story should read this book.

I'll let you know in a few months if I prefer Self-pub at $0.99/ ebook or a conventional publisher at $6.99/ebook.

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.

Unofficial interview of a famous reviewer

“A review is NOT a critique,” the lady sitting next to me said in a firm tone as I listened with the utmost interest.

You see the lady I had the privilege to chat with, is a well-known reviewer who has reviewed NY bestsellers before I even started writing novels, hence every word coming out of her mouth about books --yes every word-- was worth listening, understanding, pondering, and applying. Considering the number of participles—ing words--I am glad this post is not a submission to be reviewed.

“So how do you compare critique and reviews?” I asked eagerly.

“You don’t.”

“Ah.” I wasn’t going to argue and ask silly questions.

“A critique is done on a work-in-progress. The critique partner is expected to carefully read the submission, analyze it, dissect it, and point the author to the things that need corrections. A critique is not about flattering your best friend, it’s about being honest and helping an author improve her writing. No one except you and your CP is going to read the comments. But a review is a very different thing.”

“So what exactly is a review?” I said to encourage the famous reviewer to elaborate on reviews.

“Remember a review is done on a book already published. A reviewer cannot change the book by giving advice, therefore a reviewer should abstain from saying negative things about a published book. A good reviewer should restrict herself to highlight the points she likes in a book.”

“Do I understand you right? A review should always been good?”

“Yes, a review is supposed to help sell the book. Therefore a good reviewer will abstain from mentioning things she doesn’t like. Remember, reading and judging a story is so subjective and will depend on the reader’s taste. What I don’t like as a reviewer, another reader may like. A good reviewer should never destroy a book with nasty comments.”

“Interesting. You have a good point here. So what do you do if you really think the story is poorly written?”

“If I have nothing good to say about a book, I don’t review it.”

“What if you have committed to review it and discover mid-way, you don’t approve of the writing?”

“If I am already committed to review it and my employer is expecting a review, I will grade it, give it a 2 or a 3, but I will still say something good about it. Let’s face if there was absolutely nothing a reader would like about a book, the publisher wouldn’t have published it.”

“So you have never trashed a book?”

“Never. By trashing a book, one would trash not only the author, but also the editor and the publisher. Trashing a book means that the reviewer is a bad reviewer who has a streak of nastiness and should not be allowed to review books.”

“Wow, I like that. I wish you could review my books.” It never hurts to try to get a review when one is guaranteed good review.

“Nope. I never review authors I know,” the lady said with a peremptory tone and a sweet smile.

Have you ever received a bad review? In that case, remember your book is good but your reviewer is bad.

Some of my reviews:
BABIES IN THE BARGAIN:
Romance Junkies~5 Ribbons. BABIES IN THE BARGAIN is one novel that pulls you into the story and holds you captive to the last page.
Joyfully Reviewed~ Romance blooms amidst tragedy in BABIES IN THE BARGAIN. It tugs heart strings and stirs emotions.
WRDF Review~ This was a great read, romantic and at times bittersweet.Enjoyable from beginning to end, Babies in the Bargain sports believable characters, an ultra romantic story line, and a thoroughly satisfying ending.
Readers Favorite~ 5 Hearts This is Mona Risk at her best. The story will bring tears both sadness and joy. The characters are easy to relate to. The plot is excellent. Fans of romance will love this story.

PRESCRIPTION FOR TRUST:
Night Owl Romance: Prescription for Trust was a fantastic read. The plot was also very well thought out and the pacing on target. The wonderful healing that took place in this book also made it a very sweet read.
Got Romance! ~ 4.5 Diamonds Mona Risk writes a charming story. Keeping the reader entertained with the twists and turns in the plot. With great characters like Luc and Olivia the reader will enjoy the world that she has built.
The Long And The Short Reviews~ Mona Risk’s writing sweeps you into the story from the first page, and keeps you turning the pages.


TO LOVE A HERO:
SIMPLY ROMANCE REVIEW: Outstanding Read. Mona Risk's TO LOVE A HERO is a wonderful love story... I definitely recommend TO LOVE A HERO , and while you're at it pick up a bottle of vodka! Nazhtrovia!!
Two Lips Review: Mona Risk tells a poignant yet beautiful and sweet story of two people falling love, who must fight their attraction... This is a story readers will enjoy.
The Romance Studio: Sweetheart of the Week. ~ 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.

FRENCH PERIL:
Night Owl Romance: Recommended Read Mona Risk will pull you in with her amazing characters and in-depth twisting suspense... Travel has never been this suspenseful nor this cheap!
Review Your Book: In French Peril, Mona Risk creates a swirling air of mystery around the excavation of a chapel ruin... French Peril is a great contemporary romantic read.
The Romance Studio: This is a wonderfully exciting romantic suspense novel. The characters are appealing and the setting is very romantic, a chateau in the Loire Valley.
TWO LIPS REVIEW: Pick up French Peril, a sweet mystery romance you’re guaranteed to enjoy.
Coffee Time Romance: French Peril is a great romance with an excellent mystery. Ms. Risk writes outstanding dialogue and this, combined with the lushness of the Loire Valley, are the final elements that make French Peril an excellent story.
Publishers Weekly Saturday Blurb Barbara Vey's Special Beyond her Book Blog ~ 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.

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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.