And The Winner Is...

Neecy!

Thanks for leaving your "pretend" comment. You've won yourself a free copy of Let's Pretend. Please contact me and I will send it to you.

Enjoy!

Win a Copy of Let's Pretend

My new romantic comedy novella, Let's Pretend, is on sale from Wednesday 31st March, so I thought I'd celebrate by giving you a chance to win a pdf copy. All you have to do is leave a comment telling me about anything you might have pretended about.

I've heard of women who would spray furniture polish just before hubby walks in the door to make him think she'd been cleaning, when she spent the day doing other things.

For my part, I've only pretended once. I was in college and a guy I didn't fancy used to follow me everywhere trying to get me to agree to a date. Finally, one day when he was especially persistent, I saw a group of really cute, tough-looking guys, so I sidled up to them, placed myself in the middle of their group and said to the cutest one "pretend you know me", then chatted and laughed as though we were long lost friends. Mr Persistent got the message and left. I said a rushed thanks to my pretend guy-friends and made a hasty exit.

Have you ever pretended? What's the craziest thing you ever did for the sake of pretence? And why? Share your stories for the chance to win a copy of Let's Pretend.

I will announce the winner on Wednesday!


Please note: this is for a PDF copy of Let's Pretend only. No other book or monetary value is an option!

More Than a Playboy Has a Cover

I've told you about my latest rom-com, right? This one is called More Than a Playboy and is for The Wild Rose Press Sweetheart line. I know you've been waiting to see the cover--or is that just me? Regardless, here is my lovely new book cover!

 Isn't it fab? I just love it.

I suppose you want to know what the book is about? Yes? No? Either way, take a look at the blurb:

She has a shield...he has one too...and they’re both hiding secrets.

Serious-minded Sandy Donovan has one unbreakable rule—never fall for a rich playboy. Falling for a playboy destroyed her mother and ruined Sandy’s childhood. She’s determined never to let the same thing happen to her. Unfortunately, the only man to make her hormones sit up and take notice is a playboy who doesn’t know the first thing about taking life seriously.

A lonely, miserable childhood taught Cameron Berkeley-Scott to hide his feelings in humour, but his comic nature is pushing away the one woman he wants to draw near. She thinks he’s a playboy—a title he has no desire to have—and ignores his outrageous flirting.

Now it’s time for Cameron to show Sandy he isn’t the irresponsible pleasure-seeker she thinks—but will she run when she finds out who he really is?


Are you curious, yet? Would you like to have a sneak-peek at the inside? I'm such a pushover, here you go.

Excerpt:

Cameron came up behind her, covering her shoulders with his jacket in a gesture so caring it forced the tears she’d been fighting, as she’d thought of her mum, to her eyes.

He didn’t remove his hands from her shoulders. “Why can’t you, Sandy?” he asked on a low voice snatched away by the breeze. If he weren’t standing so close, she would have missed his words. “I know you want me as much as I want you. We’ve been dancing around this attraction for three years and I’m ready to move to the next level.”

“There isn’t a ‘next level’. What we have can never go anywhere.”

He turned her to face him. “Why?”

She dropped her gaze to their feet. Her strappy red high-heels were only a couple of inches from his shiny black dress shoes. “Because it can’t.” Even to herself, she sounded defeated.

“It can’t or you won’t let it?”

She moistened her lips, raised her gaze back to his. “It’s the same thing.”

His eyes, dark with desire, dropped to her mouth. “I disagree.” He held her chin with one hand while his other hand gently stroked her cheek. “Can’t suggests something outside of your control stops you. Won’t implies internal conflict. Which is it, Sandy? What’s really stopping you?”

How could she tell him she had a father wound so wide and deep she feared she’d never heal enough to let any man in? Taking a deep breath, she said, “You are, Cameron...you.”

His brows shot up. “Me?”

“You’re nothing more than a pretty-boy with daddy’s millions to play with. I can’t be with a man like you.”

Snaking an arm around her waist, he drew her against him. “You’re wrong, sweetheart. I’m so much more than that.” In a smooth move, Cameron dipped his head and settled his lips on hers.


Thanks for checking out More Than a Playboy. I'll let you know when I have my release date.

Until next time x

Brain Dominance

Right brain, left brain or both? Which are you?

I always knew I was right brained. But after taking Dr. Loren D. Crane Cognitive Style Quiz I've discovered I'm strong right brain.

I thought it might be fun to share Dr. Crane's quiz with you. If you don't know which dominate side of your brain you use, take the test and find out. It might help you to discover the best way you learn/make decisions/edit.

When you've taken the test don't forget to leave a comment and share your results.

Exercise – Cognitive-Style Quiz – Brain Dominance:

Choose the one sentence that is more true. Do not leave any blanks.


1. A It's fun to take risks.
    B I have fun without taking risks.


2. A I look for new ways to do old jobs.
    B When one way works well, I don't change it.


3. A I begin many jobs that I never finish.
    B I finish a job before starting a new one.


4. A I'm not very imaginative in my work.
    B I use my imagination in everything I do.

5. A I can analyze what is going to happen next.
    B I can sense what is going to happen next.


6. A I try to find the one best way to solve a problem.
    B I try to find different answers to problems.


7. A My thinking is like pictures going through my head.
    B My thinking is like words going through my head.


8. A I agree with new ideas before other people do.
    B I question new ideas more than other people do.


9. A Other people don't understand how I organize things.
    B Other people think I organize well.


10. A I have good self-discipline.
      B I usually act on my feelings.


11. A I plan time for doing my work.
      B I don't think about the time when I work.


12. A With a hard decision, I choose what I know is right.
      B With a hard decision, I choose what I feel is right.


13. A I do easy things first and important things later.
      B I do the important things first and the easy things later.


14. A Sometimes in a new situation, I have too many ideas.
      B Sometimes in a new situation, I don't have any ideas.


15. A I have to have a lot of change and variety in my life.
      B I have to have an orderly and well-planned life.


16. A I know I'm right, because I have good reasons.
      B I know I'm right, even without good reasons.


17. A I spread my work evenly over the time I have.
      B I prefer to do my work at the last minute.


18. A I keep everything in a particular place.
      B Where I keep things depends on what I'm doing.


19. A I have to make my own plans.
      B I can follow anyone's plans.


20. A I am a very flexible and unpredictable person.
      B I am a consistent and stable person.


21. A With a new task, I want to find my own way of doing it.
      B With a new task, I want to be told the best way to it.


To Score: Give yourself one point for each time you answered "A" for questions: 1, 2, 3,7, 8, 9, 13, 14, 15, 19, 20, 21.

Give yourself one point for each time you answered "B" for questions: 4 ,5, 6, 10, 11, 12, 16, 17, 18. Add all points.


0-4 strong left brain
5-8 moderate left brain
9-13 middle brain
14-16 moderate right brain
17-21 strong right brain


Preferences of the Two Sides of the Brain

Description of the Left-Hemisphere Functions


—Constantly monitors our sequential, ongoing behavior
—Responsible for awareness of time, sequence, details, and order
—Responsible for auditory receptive and verbal expressive strengths
—Specializes in words, logic, analytical thinking, reading, and writing
—Responsible for boundaries and knowing right from wrong
—Knows and respects rules and deadlines


Description of the Right-Hemisphere Functions


—Alerts us to novelty; tells us when someone is lying or making a joke
—Specializes in understanding the whole picture
—Specializes in music, art, visual-spatial and/or visual-motor activities
—Helps us form mental images when we read and/or converse
—Responsible for intuitive and emotional responses.
—Helps us to form and maintain relationships


From The Alert Scale of Cognitive Style, by Dr. Loren D. Crane, Western Michigan University, 1989. Reprinted with permission.


Until next time x

Spring Is In The Air!

It's the first of March and I'm convinced spring is in the air. All the snow is gone and my spirits are soaring just to see the sun and green grass. A close look at my pear tree shows a wonderful collection of leaf buds and I can't wait for spring to get into full swing.

The summer is even better, but I'll save my excitement for then and concentrate on enjoying the springtime. There's just something so exquisite about this time of year that makes me glad to be alive. This is probably why I usually do my first detox of the year at this time. Speaking of which, I woke this beautiful morn ready to do my week long spring detox.

I usually do a juice fast, but this time I thought I'd do the Detox in a Box I saw advertised in the Feb issue of Health & Fitness. I tell you, it's the foulest thing I've ever choked down. I can't imagine drinking anymore of the "shake", which is made up of Ispaghula Husk, Sycamore Charcoal, Green Clay and Bentonite/Montmorillonite.

I'm still shuddering every time I think of drinking it--I might need a slice of carrot cake to get rid of the memory! Needless to say, I won't be continuing with the clay "shakes" but I will drink the detox tea, which is quite nice. I might even go ahead and give the Vital Energy food supplement a go--who knows.

But one thing I know for sure, I'm sticking with Jason Vale (The Juice Master) and Carol Vorderman for my twice yearly detoxes from now on. Never again will I succumb to a pretty add--even if it is in my favourite colours!



Until next time
Monique~