tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18320438221836061702024-03-19T10:01:29.466+00:00Monique DeVereAuthor of Contemporary Romance & Romantic ComedyMonique DeVerehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08826281077474713823noreply@blogger.comBlogger258125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1832043822183606170.post-62221628832621819112023-05-28T12:54:00.000+01:002023-05-28T12:54:36.966+01:00Balancing Ledgers by Day and Love Stories by Night – A Thrilling Double Life #RomanceWriter #ADayInTheLifeOf #Author #TheDayJob<p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;"></span></b></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="800" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIq0A-DW3bvfKd5Tz28FWY1loakDfzomSoKl9MkfC-LGeNEg7kD_mUFrFt34U0fwgmQMZLxqvnSKn_HOY8BuYnC1zb9F6lbpSJ0V4BOSIAXFw_wjWSwgSiPaDxjIY_gASwL1h4c8pF1Pb_Ofgkh4GGWhPzkIOxWi9lkN6DKnyMuA8N0vu26qP2KeHt/s320/BlogDoubleLife25052023.jpg" width="213" /></span></b></span></div></div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">I</span></b></span><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">t’s an ordinary day in the office,
shuffling through invoices, bank reconciliations, and expense reports. Little do
my colleagues know that come evening, I’ll be trading my calculator for my
laptop, spreadsheets for Microsoft Word. Instead of financial jargon, my
evenings are filled with whispers of love, witty dialogue, powerful emotions, and
passionate reunions. A stark contrast to my daytime persona, you might say? Welcome
to my life – assistant accountant by day, romance author by night.</span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Every morning, I don my professional armour
– neat blouse, trousers, ankle boots – ready to immerse myself in the
meticulous world of accounting. The day progresses in a predictable fashion.
Budgets, financial forecasts, and tax calculations – these are my daily bread
and butter. Conversations at work are filled with numbers, payroll, and the
dreaded month-end closing. The hustle and bustle of the corporate world give me
a sense of satisfaction, the thrill of having all numbers balanced and
equations tied up perfectly.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Yet, beneath the accountant’s demeanour is
a heart that flutters at the thought of star-crossed lovers, the passion that
ignites between characters, and the intoxicating dance of courtship. As dusk
descends and the day job ends, another part of my persona comes to life.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">The transition from accountant to author is
seamless, a switch from left-brain thinking to right. My home office, a romantic
contrast to my shared office at the day job, is my sanctuary. The scent of my aromatic
herbal tea, the dim light cascading from my Himalayan lamp, the soft
click-clack of laptop keys – this is the backdrop of my moonlit sonata.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">As an assistant accountant, I’m trained to
think logically and methodically. Surprisingly, this helps my creativity.
Plotting a story isn’t that different from solving a complex accounting
problem. Both need structure, the ability to link several elements into a
cohesive whole. And let's not forget about deadlines – those are as crucial for
manuscript submissions as they are for financial reports.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">The dichotomy of my life provides me with a
unique advantage. The precision and meticulousness I’ve learnt in my day job
help shape my writing. On the other hand, the creativity and emotional
intelligence required for my novels provide a refreshing counterbalance, making
me a better, more empathetic assistant accountant.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Living a double life has its comedic
moments too. Picture this – in meetings, while others discussed revenue and
expenditures, I’m secretly deciding whether my protagonist should come clean
about her secret dalliance or enjoy the thrill of secretly dating her
make-a-girl-go-weak-at-the-knees co-worker.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">My two worlds, as different as they are, have
a strange symbiotic relationship. They provided a sense of balance, grounding
me in reality while letting my imagination soar. The characters I create become
my escape from the concrete jungle, while the stability of my day job allows me
the freedom to write without financial stress.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">In this journey of numbers and narratives,
ledgers and love stories, I’ve discovered that one could straddle the world of
facts and fantasy. It’s a tightrope walk, balancing both lives, but the thrill
of it is unparalleled. After all, how many can claim to navigate financial
ledgers by day and chart the tumultuous course of love by night? </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">So, here I am – by day, ensuring the
company's finances are in order, and by night, spinning tales of love, passion,
and happy-ever-afters. Accountant by day, author by night – two worlds, one
incredible journey!</span></span></p>Monique DeVerehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08826281077474713823noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1832043822183606170.post-47834258087635816062023-04-30T00:00:00.000+01:002023-04-30T00:00:00.148+01:00The Psychology of Laughter: Why Humour is Good for You #SundayBlog #Humor #Laughter #Stressrelief #Healthyliving #Healthylifestyle<p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;"></span></b></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiusSmpzULI5gN9JEopqHqiG5EFo5ywf5ZdXWzpl8EAV14RIWv51Hq1Rgez2lF9jevHv6f65xXeoH4IPFPAM8twtMxfQww6EVJgsj_M0JbiUCAiyoWUqe3H_jGgZlYwrQ73fdVOuxOafbyJMBFFV2kK-qZCH8a6ouMyiInjajIyVEtQPN2SyQt7lvgJ/s1200/BlogThe%20Psychology%20of%20Laughter26042023.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="800" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiusSmpzULI5gN9JEopqHqiG5EFo5ywf5ZdXWzpl8EAV14RIWv51Hq1Rgez2lF9jevHv6f65xXeoH4IPFPAM8twtMxfQww6EVJgsj_M0JbiUCAiyoWUqe3H_jGgZlYwrQ73fdVOuxOafbyJMBFFV2kK-qZCH8a6ouMyiInjajIyVEtQPN2SyQt7lvgJ/s320/BlogThe%20Psychology%20of%20Laughter26042023.jpg" width="213" /></a></span></b></span></div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">I</span></b><span style="font-size: medium;"> love to laugh! I’m a happy person. People are constantly asking me why I’m always so happy. I believe it’s because I laugh so much. Let’s face it, laughter is a universal language. It transcends cultures, age groups, and social boundaries, bringing people together in moments of shared joy. For decades, psychologists and researchers have been interested in laughter, as they attempt to understand the underlying mechanisms and benefits of humour. </span></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">There are several theories in psychology that explain why we laugh. Among the most prominent is the incongruity theory, which suggests that humour arises when expectations and reality differ. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">For example, a joke often leads to a punchline that defies our expectations, creating a sense of surprise and triggering laughter.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Other theories include the superiority theory, which suggests that we laugh when we perceive ourselves as superior to others or when we witness someone else's misfortune, mistakes, or incompetence. According to this theory, laughter serves as a way to assert dominance or to feel better about ourselves in comparison to others. The superiority theory dates back to ancient philosophers such as Plato and Aristotle, who believed that mockery and ridicule were at the core of humour.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">The relief theory, proposed by Sigmund Freud and Herbert Spencer, posits that laughter serves as a release of built-up tension, stress, or anxiety. Laughter allows us to release negative emotions and return to a more balanced state of mind. This theory suggests that humour and laughter provide a psychological escape from the pressures and demands of everyday life, allowing us to momentarily forget our worries and concerns.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Another theory is the benign violation theory, developed by psychologists Peter McGraw and Caleb Warren, which combines elements of both the incongruity and superiority theories. According to this theory, humour arises when a situation is perceived as a violation of norms or expectations (similar to incongruity theory) but is simultaneously seen as harmless or benign (similar to superiority theory). In other words, we find something funny when it transgresses social, cultural, or personal boundaries without posing any real threat or harm. Humour, according to this theory, must strike a delicate balance between provocative and safe in order to be effective.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Whatever the theory, there’s no denying that laughter is the best medicine for releasing built-up tension, stress, and anxiety. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">So how is humour good for you?</span></p><h2 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Physically</span></h2><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Physically, laughter boosts our immune system, lowers blood pressure, and reduces stress hormones. When we laugh, we release endorphins, the body's natural painkillers and feel-good chemicals, which uplift us and even temporarily relieve pain.</span></p><h2 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Emotionally</span></h2><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">The power of humour lies in its ability to manage our emotions. It helps us cope with difficult situations by enabling us to view them from a different, less threatening perspective. Laughter can also serve as a distraction from negative emotions, allowing us to refocus our attention and gain perspective.</span></p><h2 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Socially</span></h2><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">As a social lubricant, humour helps to break the ice and ease tension in social situations. Shared laughter connects and bonds us, making it easier for people to communicate, collaborate, and build trust. Moreover, a good sense of humour is often seen as an attractive quality, making it easier to form and maintain relationships.</span></p><h2 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Cognitively</span></h2><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Humour can enhance our cognitive abilities by stimulating our creativity and problem-solving skills. Jokes and puns often involve complex cognitive processes, such as recognizing patterns and making connections between seemingly unrelated concepts. By engaging in humour, we can hone our mental agility and promote cognitive flexibility.</span></p><h2 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Psychologically</span></h2><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Laughter has been linked to increased psychological resilience, helping us to bounce back from stress and adversity. By finding humour in challenging situations, we can reframe negative experiences, making them more manageable and less overwhelming.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">The psychology of laughter reveals that humour is more than amusement – it is an essential component of our well-being. Laughter offers numerous benefits, making it an invaluable tool for maintaining a healthy, balanced, and happy life. So, the next time you're feeling down or stressed out, remember that laughter truly <i>is</i> the best medicine!</span></p>Monique DeVerehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08826281077474713823noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1832043822183606170.post-34562017823543022512023-04-16T11:09:00.000+01:002023-04-16T11:09:01.325+01:00Understanding Your Partner's Love Language: Discovering the Different #LoveLanguages to Improve Your #Relationship and Your #Romance #Stories<p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;"></span></b></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEz3CD3WFTKrN8UTFMY5H-s4QBhGk_lwuUNmKQV4u8KGb3SWx5w4y5bvt7u1S5XW8aov9qdmrlrmX3ohQM-n3Zp_a2ZpWpw2WN8wvRzcdxg7goPMNbzRFvfbngtIBLT_08M53kCj-u9KCIL5C6ZdinacunWzaWqnL46PlNQpi6hArOMyqr7VimqIbi/s1200/bloglovelang160423.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="800" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEz3CD3WFTKrN8UTFMY5H-s4QBhGk_lwuUNmKQV4u8KGb3SWx5w4y5bvt7u1S5XW8aov9qdmrlrmX3ohQM-n3Zp_a2ZpWpw2WN8wvRzcdxg7goPMNbzRFvfbngtIBLT_08M53kCj-u9KCIL5C6ZdinacunWzaWqnL46PlNQpi6hArOMyqr7VimqIbi/s320/bloglovelang160423.jpg" width="213" /></a></span></b></span></div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">I</span></b><span style="font-size: medium;"> first heard about love languages a few years ago. In fact, I wrote about them on this blog at the time. I thought they were fascinating then, and I still think they’re awesome. One of the reasons I think my marriage is so amazing and has lasted so long—32 years and counting—is communication. </span></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">In any relationship, communication is key. This is especially true when it comes to expressing love and affection and creating bonds. Everyone has their unique way of giving and receiving love, often referred to as their "love language." Understanding your partner's love language can significantly improve your relationship by giving you a special connection. Let’s take a look at these love languages.</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b><i>The Five Love Languages</i></b> </span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Dr. Gary Chapman, a relationship expert, identified five primary love languages in his bestselling book, <a href="https://amzn.to/41s5cQZ" target="_blank">The Five Love Languages: The Secret to Love That Lasts</a>. He has since gone on to pen several more books in this area. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">These love languages are:</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">1.<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span><b><i>Words of Affirmation</i></b>: People with this love language value verbal expressions of love, encouragement, and appreciation. They feel most loved when their partner offers sincere compliments and verbal support.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">2.<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span><b><i>Quality Time</i></b>: This love language is all about giving your undivided attention to your partner. People who value quality time feel most loved when their partner spends time with them, engages in meaningful conversations, and participates in shared activities.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">3.<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span><b><i>Receiving Gifts</i></b>: For some people, receiving thoughtful and meaningful gifts is their primary love language. This does not necessarily mean materialism; rather, it's about the thought and effort put into selecting the perfect gift that shows how much you care.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">4.<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span><b><i>Acts of Service</i></b>: Those with this love language feel most loved when their partner performs actions to lighten their load or make their life easier. This can include tasks like cooking dinner, running errands, or helping with chores.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">5.<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span><i><b>Physical Touch</b></i>: Physical touch is essential for people with this love language. They feel most connected to their partner through hugs, kisses, hand-holding, and other forms of physical affection.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">You can discover your love language by taking the <a href="https://5lovelanguages.com/quizzes/love-language" target="_blank"><b>Love Language Quiz</b></a> Dr. Gary Chapman developed to help you and your partner identify your love languages. Both of you can take the quiz and compare your results for better understanding. I did this with my husband and discovered that my love language is Words of Affirmation. Hub’s love language is Physical Touch. Discovering our love languages made all the difference once we knew how to show love effectively to the other. Up until then, I’d tell him a zillion times a day that I love him and, since his primary love language is touch… 😊. Now he verbalises his love more and I’m the touchy-feely one.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">If your partner hasn’t taken the quiz, you might still be able to identify their Love Language:</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">To understand your partner's love language, consider the following steps:</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b>Observe their behaviour</b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Pay attention to how your partner expresses love towards you and others. What actions do they take to show their love? Do they frequently offer compliments, spend quality time, give gifts, perform acts of service, or engage in physical touch?</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b>Listen to their complaints</b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">When your partner expresses dissatisfaction, take note of the underlying issue. Their complaints can reveal what they feel is lacking in the relationship and may hint at their love language.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b>Ask them directly</b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Have an open and honest conversation with your partner about their love language. Discuss the five love languages and ask which one resonates most with them. Be prepared to share your love language as well.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Improving Your Relationship Through Love Languages</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Once you've identified your partner's love language, make a conscious effort to incorporate it into your daily life. Here are some tips for each love language:</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b>Words of Affirmation</b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Regularly express your love and appreciation for your partner through compliments, praise, and encouragement. Be genuine and specific in your expressions.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b>Quality Time</b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Schedule regular date nights or activities that allow you to focus on each other. Engage in deep conversations and listen attentively to your partner's thoughts and feelings.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b>Receiving Gifts</b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Surprise your partner with thoughtful gifts that reflect their interests and desires. Remember, it's the thought that counts, so even small tokens of affection can go a long way.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b>Acts of Service</b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Look for ways to lighten your partner's load or make their life easier. Offer to help with chores or errands, and make sure to follow through on your commitments.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b>Physical Touch</b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Cultivate physical affection and closeness in your relationship to make your partner feel loved and secure.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Here are some tips for each love language:</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">1.<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span><b><i>Words of Affirmation</i></b>:</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">•<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Leave heartfelt notes or messages for your partner to find.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">•<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Publicly acknowledge your partner's achievements and express how proud you are of them.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">•<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Send loving texts or messages.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">•<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Reassure your partner of your love during difficult times.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">2.<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span><b><i>Quality Time</i></b>:</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">•<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Create a technology-free zone during quality time to minimize distractions.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">•<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Try new activities together to bond and create lasting memories.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">•<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Share your goals, dreams, and aspirations with each other.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">•<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Learn about your partner's interests and participate in them.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">3.<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span><b><i>Receiving Gifts</i></b>:</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">•<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Keep a list of things your partner mentions they like or need for future gift ideas.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">•<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Celebrate milestones and special occasions with personalized gifts.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">•<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Create handmade gifts to add a personal touch and demonstrate your effort.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">•<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Plan surprises or experiences, such as a romantic weekend getaway or a surprise date night.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">4.<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span><b><i>Acts of Service</i></b>:</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">•<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Be proactive in noticing your partner's needs and addressing them.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">•<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Learn about your partner's preferences and tailor your acts of service accordingly.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">•<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Team up to tackle larger projects or chores together.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">•<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Be consistent and reliable in your acts of service to build trust and security.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">5.<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span><b><i>Physical Touch</i></b>:</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">•<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Establish regular routines for physical affection, like hugging or cuddling before bed.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">•<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Hold hands or put your arm around your partner when walking or sitting together.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">•<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Give your partner a massage or a comforting touch when they're stressed or tired.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">•<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Learn about your partner's preferences for physical touch and make an effort to meet their needs.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Of course, as an author, I started thinking about how romance writers can use love language to add depth to their novels.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Romance authors can skillfully incorporate the concept of love languages into their novels to create engaging and relatable stories. By understanding and integrating the five love languages, authors can develop rich, dynamic characters and compelling romantic relationships. Here are some ways to incorporate love languages in romance novels:</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b>Character Development</b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">When creating characters, consider giving each one a primary love language. This helps establish their personalities and motivations, making them more relatable to readers. Understanding a character's love language can also guide their actions and reactions throughout the story.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b>Relationship Dynamics</b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Use love languages to add depth to the romantic relationships in your novel. Show how characters with different love languages might struggle to understand or appreciate each other's expressions of love, leading to tension or conflict. Alternatively, explore how characters with the same love language might find a unique connection or deeper understanding of one another.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b>Conflict Resolution</b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Utilize love languages as a tool for resolving conflicts between characters. As the characters learn to appreciate and adapt to each other's love languages, they can grow individually and as a couple. This growth can serve as a catalyst for resolving misunderstandings or disagreements in the story.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b>Plot Points</b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Love languages can be used to create interesting plot points or challenges that the characters must overcome. For instance, a character might struggle to express love in their partner's love language, leading to feelings of inadequacy or frustration. Alternatively, a character might need to learn their partner's love language to save the relationship or win their love.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b>Symbolism</b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Use the different love languages as symbols or motifs throughout your novel. For example, a recurring theme of physical touch might symbolize a character's longing for connection, while acts of service could represent a character's desire to prove their love and commitment.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b>Emotional Depth</b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Incorporate love languages to create emotional depth in your story. As characters express love in various ways, readers can relate to their feelings, desires, and insecurities. This connection can evoke strong emotions, making the story more engaging.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b>Teachable Moments</b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Use love languages as a means to educate readers about the importance of understanding and appreciating different expressions of love. By showcasing characters learning and growing through their relationships, you can offer valuable insights and lessons to your audience.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">You know I had to bring this back to writing, right? I hope this has given you some ideas. If so, please let me know in the comments section below. I’d love to hear your thoughts.</span></p>Monique DeVerehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08826281077474713823noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1832043822183606170.post-55904405814468472282023-04-09T07:48:00.008+01:002023-04-09T11:29:44.887+01:0010 Unconventional Date Ideas for Couples: Inspiration for Romance Authors #romancewriters #writerscommunity #writersoftwitter #writers #writerslife<p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;"></span></b></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOiPbLLA1BHyaApzsvY3z_nHES97NL-SmpgcFm3EPQpHSdMKLbySSfRkwmKAXBPCCISnGdT49fZ-F1gh7pAZCanD7FOeCcwxVNS18x8655jCHKXqhVQLb47GhG91sGmHc6hf66dqUSz9RWKy6ECyAvARy-lZL37wuK7T_PD_MVlpUFxjcirPcoiqat/s1200/blogdateideas5423.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="800" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOiPbLLA1BHyaApzsvY3z_nHES97NL-SmpgcFm3EPQpHSdMKLbySSfRkwmKAXBPCCISnGdT49fZ-F1gh7pAZCanD7FOeCcwxVNS18x8655jCHKXqhVQLb47GhG91sGmHc6hf66dqUSz9RWKy6ECyAvARy-lZL37wuK7T_PD_MVlpUFxjcirPcoiqat/s320/blogdateideas5423.jpg" width="213" /></a></span></b></span></div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">A</span></b><span style="font-size: medium;">s a romance author, I’m always on the lookout for unique and exciting date ideas for my main characters. To me, there is nothing more boring than reading about the heroine and the hero going on a date. I prefer the “date” scenes to be unusual. Let’s face it, the dinner date has been done to death. Yes, I have a few in my romances, which is probably why I’m sick of them. But, on the other hand, I always make sure my dinner date scenes are in some way unusual. At the end of the day, it's the chemistry and connection between the hero and heroine that creates a memorable date scene. </span></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Anyway, now that I’m back to writing, I’ve been on the hunt for date ideas that would inspire me to write stories that create experiences for my characters. Dates that are not only romantic but also allow the hero and heroine to grow closer and strengthen their bond.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: medium;">I thought you might enjoy some of the ideas I’ve come up with. </span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: medium;">I’ve searched for inspiration in a variety of places, from personal experiences to travel blogs, and even social media. I love the unconventional and unexpected. These have got to be the most memorable dates, I think. Why go out to dinner, when you can go for a more adventurous date. </span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Something like:</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: medium;">1. A hot air balloon ride. It's a unique and romantic way to see the world from a new perspective. Can’t you just picture your hero and heroine taking in the fabulous scenic views and creating memories that will last a lifetime?</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: medium;">2. Volunteer together: I also like the idea of my characters volunteering together, whether it's at a local animal shelter or a community garden. It not only shows their selflessness but also allows them to work together, giving them lots of bonding time.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: medium;">3. Cooking classes: Watching the MC and love interest learn to cook a new dish together can be both humorous and romantic, especially when they make a mess or get into a friendly argument over the recipe.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: medium;">4. Dance lesson: There are so many ways we can incorporate this into a romance and it's a great way for the hero and heroine to get out of their comfort zone and experience something new together.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: medium;">5. Explore hidden gems in their city or wherever they happen to be: I LOVE exploring! Discovering new places is just the most amazing thing and it can create a sense of adventure and spontaneity in the character’s relationship.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: medium;">6. Scavenger hunt: I love the idea of a scavenger hunt. This would be a fun way for the hero and heroine to work together to solve clues while discovering new places, things about each other, and experiencing unique challenges.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: medium;">7. Picnics in the park: Enjoying the outdoors and each other's company can make for a romantic and intimate date.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: medium;">8. Escape Room: Solving puzzles and riddles together in an escape room sounds like a fun and challenging way for the hero and heroine to work together and bond over their shared love for problem-solving.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: medium;">9. Attend a murder mystery dinner: This sounds like it can be a lot of fun for the hero and heroine as they put their detective skills to the test. Not only will you get to dress them up and write the fancy meal, but the MCs will get to work together to solve a fictional crime.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: medium;">10. Stargazing: Send the H/h to a secluded spot away from the city lights and let them spend the night stargazing. What a romantic and peaceful way for the hero and heroine to connect with each other and the universe.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: medium;">And, of course, there’s always the Surprise Date. I think it’d be romantic to have the hero surprise the heroine with a mystery date, where she has no idea where they're going or what they'll be doing. This has got to be a great way to add excitement and spontaneity to their growing relationship.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Since the romance story is all about creating memorable moments that will stay with my readers long after they finish the book, I think sending the characters on exciting dates would serve the purpose, don’t you?</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: medium;">As a writer, how do you come up with ideas for the “date” scenes in your romance?</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: medium;">And, as a reader, what are your favourite date scenes from romance novels that have stayed with you?</span></span></p><p><b style="font-family: georgia; font-size: xx-large;">Would you like to share this post? Click to Tweet this ready-made tweet:</b></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span><a href="https://ctt.ac/dRzWG" target="_blank">Click To Tweet</a>: </span></span><span style="text-align: center;"><a href="10 Unconventional Date Ideas for Couples: Inspiration for Romance Authors @MoniqueDeVere https://ctt.ac/dRzWG+" target="_blank"></a></span><i>10 Unconventional Date Ideas for Couples: Inspiration for Romance Authors @MoniqueDeVere https://ctt.ac/dRzWG+</i></span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Playfair Display", Georgia, serif; font-size: x-large; font-style: italic; text-align: center;"><a href="10 Unconventional Date Ideas for Couples: Inspiration for Romance Authors @MoniqueDeVere https://ctt.ac/dRzWG+" target="_blank"></a></span></p>Monique DeVerehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08826281077474713823noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1832043822183606170.post-1520980883937222012023-04-02T09:38:00.003+01:002023-04-02T09:51:04.312+01:00The Art of Writing Heart-Wrenching Breakup Scenes #WritersLife #WritingRomance #Author #WriteTips #WritingCommunity #BloggingCommunity<h1 style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLtaccFwLCgDF6k6nVzg8JmPFOrWNfPu8SFiUfMFxyIUEmIYSTdm-lRj3gSRy-cQhvDvL0Qc0fen05VruCC3rNW-1XBXzDuL7SwEqplT8auxw82r_O6YfNmoz3E0o2TYR2fZFqm8Lv489S9Q-wDkSAOOASCabrka0UtrDi0eZCt4IgNgSQjaCeuXhp/s320/pulupachairblog23.jpg" width="320" /></div></h1><h1 style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">The Art of Writing Heart-Wrenching Breakup Scenes</span></h1><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>I</b></span><span style="font-size: medium;">t's been a while, but I am thrilled to announce that the Pull Up A Chair With Mon writing series is back! I'm kicking off the series with a new look and plans for a ton of new posts in the coming months. I don't think I've mentioned this here, yet, I'm writing a How To book on writing romance. It's going well and I can't wait to tell you more in the next few weeks. Stay tuned!</span></div><p><span style="font-size: medium;">This post is specifically aimed at romance writers, and I shall be using the pronoun “her” when referring to your readers, given that the majority of romance readers are female. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">So, let’s dive in.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Breakups can be tough, and writing them can be even tougher. But if you're looking to add real emotion to your writing, there’s no better place to start than with a good old-fashioned breakup scene. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">The key to crafting a truly heart-wrenching breakup scene, also known as the Black Moment, is to delve into your characters’ raw emotions and connect with your readers. You want your readers to feel the pain and heartbreak as if they were in the room with your characters. To achieve this, you must be willing to explore complex emotional situations and be vulnerable in your writing. Remember that it’s your character’s wound that leads to the Black Moment but it’s their fear that causes it. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">When we're going through a breakup, it's often insignificant memories that trigger emotions, such as the sound of our ex's laughter, their fragrance, or the way they used to say our name, the tender moments and all the shared fun times. By highlighting these memories, you can create a sense of intimacy between your characters and your readers. It's like you’re letting your readers in on a secret, and this can be incredibly powerful.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Have you ever noticed how movie breakup scenes often contain a lot of conflict? There's a reason these scenes are featured in movies and TV shows - they're inherently dramatic. But you don't want to rely solely on drama to carry your scene. Instead, focus on the underlying conflict between your characters. What are their true motivations? What are they really feeling? By exploring these deeper emotional layers, you can create a sense of tension that will keep your reader on the edge of her seat. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Of course, dialogue is also incredibly important in a breakup scene. This is where your characters can really let loose and say what's on their minds – you know, the internal conflicts they’ve been fighting the entire book. Like, “I knew I could never trust you, you’re just like every other man who’s ever let me down.” Or, from the hero’s POV, “I need a woman who prioritises me over her career.” But again, you don't want to rely solely on melodramatic dialogue to get your point across. Maybe focus on the subtext - what your characters aren't saying is often just as important as what they are saying. By using dialogue to reveal your characters' innermost thoughts and feelings, you can create a sense of emotional depth.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="800" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA0qqHSVUJaF7xZcMALhPwbfNJA9ZlJtLFJbh7Tj75g6jNcgPosWaVryiTcyjzna5H-VtP-JN4Sgj4mwXNQwFHChojBFuL_1AJZfalOfQ4aaJ6FyrseaHqMdgCw6CRbXom_Lc-U-1a6UXTRO75mbG5ZC8JhraKMB3-wHJ_Q_l2Tinsys4EpPp6lJpu/s320/BlogHeartWrenchingBreakup310323.jpg" width="213" /></div><span style="font-size: medium;">To make your breakup scene more impactful, there are certain techniques you can employ. For instance, utilizing flashbacks can be effective in showcasing your characters’ journey toward the breakup. By revealing the history of their relationship, you can create a sense of nostalgia and regret that will really tug at your readers' heartstrings. However, it is important to exercise caution and not go overboard with flashbacks, as excessive use may cause confusion and disrupt the flow of the scene.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Another technique is to use sensory language to create a vivid sense of place. Where is your breakup scene taking place? What does the environment look like? What sounds and smells are present? By using sensory language, you can create a fully-realised setting that will immerse your readers in the moment.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">And what about visceral reactions and sensations? How is your character feeling this breakup on a physical level? Maybe the character is feeling a deep, throbbing pain or tightness in the chest or stomach that’s overwhelming and all-consuming. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">It's important not to shy away from trying out different structures when writing breakup scenes. You can mix up the timeline, change the pacing, and even switch perspectives to make the scene more interesting and unpredictable. By breaking some traditional writing rules, you can generate a sense of excitement and suspense that will capture your readers' attention.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">There you have it – the art of writing heart-wrenching breakup scenes. Remember, the key is to tap into your characters’ raw emotions. In doing so, you will also make your readers feel those emotions and your love story will stay with her long after she’s turned the last page. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">But remember, when writing a breakup scene, it’s important to consider certain factors. It isn’t necessary to make every breakup scene overly emotional and dramatic, as it should align with the tone and message of your story. Avoid forcing your characters into a breakup just for the sake of the scene.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Be careful not to rely too heavily on cliches. We've all seen the classic breakup scene where one character says "it's not you, it's me," or the other character dramatically slams the door on their way out. While these can be effective in small doses, overusing cliches can make your scene stale and unoriginal.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Finally, make sure your breakup scene serves a purpose within the larger context of your story. It needs to be a turning point for your characters and it should reveal something new about your hero’s and heroine’s motivations, wants, and needs. By tying your breakup scene into the larger themes of your romance story, you can ensure a lasting impact on your readers.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">It is true, writing a heart-wrenching breakup scene can be a challenging, but rewarding, experience. My advice would be to recall your worst breakup and utilize your personal experience of heartbreak to fuel your imagination. Harness those intense emotions and go forth and write compelling breakup scenes that will leave your reader thirsty for more!</span></p>Monique DeVerehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08826281077474713823noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1832043822183606170.post-65839541878530471842023-03-26T09:51:00.003+01:002023-03-26T09:54:12.071+01:00The Science of Love: How Our Brains React to Romance #Blogger #RomanceBlogger #LoveTips #Romance #Love #Blogpost #Insta #Loveonthebrain<p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"> </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitBfvnab9OA3ST6eJThNvaKDlyEiyLCBPPkTK3a59Qu3DHZCzREhDMUhMvvxM5KJseZgziBtb2Bqu90aPU_u99odzaq9bYLWsdhf1xXaaqlOIoMabsiqCF1a57cLeKmUO6E2eo_LS7_rdhNqQUKrhP3IW5UFecgiEldyVYc6lYUmetZWvKkQ1km_Bd/s1200/THE%20SCIENCE%20OF%20LOVE26323.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="800" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitBfvnab9OA3ST6eJThNvaKDlyEiyLCBPPkTK3a59Qu3DHZCzREhDMUhMvvxM5KJseZgziBtb2Bqu90aPU_u99odzaq9bYLWsdhf1xXaaqlOIoMabsiqCF1a57cLeKmUO6E2eo_LS7_rdhNqQUKrhP3IW5UFecgiEldyVYc6lYUmetZWvKkQ1km_Bd/s320/THE%20SCIENCE%20OF%20LOVE26323.jpg" width="213" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-large;"><b>H</b></span><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">ey, lovebirds! Are you ready to dive into the science behind why your heart flutters and you go weak at the knees when you’re with that special someone? Buckle up, because we’re about to take a journey through the science of loooove.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">First things first, let’s talk about the brain and all the amazing things that happen during the process of falling in love. You might be surprised to discover that your brain releases several chemicals, and it’s these chemicals that make you feel like you’re on top of the world. It’s like a party in your head, and the guest of honour is dopamine—the pleasure hormone. Dopamine is responsible for those feel-good sensations you get when you’re with your crush or even hear their name.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">But dopamine is just the beginning. Oxytocin, also known as the “love hormone,” is another chemical that plays a big role in romance. It’s released when you’re physically intimate with someone, like when you hug, kiss, or move things into the bedroom. Oxytocin is responsible for those warm, fuzzy feelings you get when you’re snuggled with your hunny.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">And let’s not forget about serotonin. This chemical regulates your mood and keeps you happy and content. When you’re in love, your brain releases lots of serotonin, which is why you’re smiling all the time and feel like you’re walking on air.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">So why do we fall for certain people? Well, there are many factors at play. Physical attraction is a big one, but personality, shared interests, and proximity also play a role. It’s not just about looks, folks! Although, let’s be real, a nice set of biceps or a cute smile can definitely catch your eye.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Speaking of proximity, did you know that we’re more likely to fall for someone close to us? Think friends-to-lovers. It makes sense when you think about it. The more you see someone, the more opportunities you have to get to know them and find out if you’re compatible. So, if you’re crushing on your co-worker or neighbour, it might be because you see them all the time. Then again, they could be the one person Abba Father has created for you and you for them. Yes, I believe there’s One True Love for everyone.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Back to the brain. Neuroscientists have been studying the effects of love on the brain, and they’ve found some interesting stuff. Using brain imaging techniques, they’ve identified the specific regions of the brain activated when we’re smitten.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">One of those regions involved is the ventral tegmental area (VTA), responsible for dopamine release. When we see or think about our crush, the VTA lights up like a Christmas tree. Another region associated with affection is the caudate nucleus, which controls reward and motivation. It’s the same part of the brain activated when we eat delicious food or win something.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">However, it’s not just about the brain regions being activated; it’s also about the way those regions are connected. When we’re in love, there’s a lot of communication between the different parts of our brains. As we fall for someone, our prefrontal cortex, which is responsible for decision-making and impulse control, becomes less active. That’s why we sometimes do things we wouldn’t normally do, like show up at our crush’s doorstep with a gift just because we saw it and thought of them.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">So, what does all this science mean for your romance? Well, for starters, it can help you understand why you feel the way you do. When you’re experiencing all those butterflies and fireworks, it’s not just in your head—well, technically it is, but you know what I mean. It’s a real, physical reaction in your brain.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">The science of love can also help you make better decisions when it comes to matters of the heart. For example, paying attention to how your brain reacts when you’re trying to decide whether to pursue a relationship with someone can be helpful. Are you feeling a lot of dopamine and oxytocin when you’re with them? Do you feel happy and content when you think about them? If so, those are good signs that you’re on the right track. On the other hand, if you’re stressed or anxious around someone, that could be a sign that they’re not the right fit for you.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Remember that love is not just a bunch of chemical reactions in the brain. It’s a complex, multifaceted emotion that involves a lot of different factors. But understanding the science behind these feelings can help demystify some of the more confusing aspects of romance. The next time you’re feeling head-over-heels for someone, take a moment to appreciate all the amazing things happening in your brain. And if you’re unsure about a potential partner, listen to your gut and pay attention to how your brain reacts.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">The science of love is fascinating and can offer valuable insights into the mysteries of the heart. From dopamine and oxytocin to brain regions like the VTA and caudate nucleus, when we find someone irresistible, there’s a lot going on. So, I guess it’s okay to follow your heart while listening to your brain, rather than choose one or the other.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Have you ever experienced falling in love? Share your story in the comments below!</span></p>Monique DeVerehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08826281077474713823noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1832043822183606170.post-33415090366369568862023-03-19T16:33:00.002+00:002023-03-19T16:34:54.604+00:00Flirt Like a Pro: 11 Tips from The Good Girl's Guide to Flirting #RomanceTips #Relationship #MondayBlog #LoveandRomance #GoodGirlGuide<p><span style="font-family: georgia;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: large; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWB593NVeQsYaidLAdamx8lPDeXmMGuIYYoOuUG_8rU2u4DZoOBjw80Aa0MYtrgMIsYIIyzNJk-m17z0mDpsX3dsL_Mw4oobKE_agBlO79-pSZGP1kNZB6N6rqCKs1DqldJkwYcrw_GR6d5gPFdNrNB375z4_Ql4Ns7H44zLFsEEiTjt8tj_Cm1Ylt/s1200/Flirtingblog19323.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="800" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWB593NVeQsYaidLAdamx8lPDeXmMGuIYYoOuUG_8rU2u4DZoOBjw80Aa0MYtrgMIsYIIyzNJk-m17z0mDpsX3dsL_Mw4oobKE_agBlO79-pSZGP1kNZB6N6rqCKs1DqldJkwYcrw_GR6d5gPFdNrNB375z4_Ql4Ns7H44zLFsEEiTjt8tj_Cm1Ylt/s320/Flirtingblog19323.jpg" width="213" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">I</span></b><span style="font-size: medium;"> know I've been saying I'll make a bigger effort to be more consistent with putting out blog articles. Well, here I am, showing up for the start of a new blog series on dating, romance--you knew romance would have to feature--and how to cultivate healthy relationships. This first post is on flirting, but you already knew that since the blog title brought you here :). And if you're a good girl, navigating to rough seas of dating, you've come to the right place. </span></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">OK, girls, we all know flirting can be fun and exciting, right? It’s an effective way to show that you’re interested in the cute guy you just met. However, if you’re a “good girl” who values respect and doesn’t want to come across as sexually aggressive or—heaven forbid—desperate, flirting can be a tricky balance. Flirting can be a fun, rewarding way to connect with someone of the opposite gender, but it’s important to flirt appropriately.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">I’m not suggesting you become flirtatious because that’s a whole different thing. A flirtatious woman is inclined to be provocatively suggestive and will flirt with just about anything that moves. Since this article is geared toward the good girl, we’ll stick to good-girl flirting, if you don’t mind.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">If you’re hoping to find someone who shares your values and your interests, then consider following these eleven good-girl flirting tips. They could help improve your chances of connecting with that special someone you've been waiting for. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Remember, flirting should never come at the expense of your—or someone else’s—comfort or dignity. As a “good girl,” you have the power to set an example of how to flirt with integrity and respect, while still enjoying the moment and building meaningful connections with others.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Keep in mind that flirting isn't always about finding a romantic partner. It is possible to engage in platonic flirting for fun or to connect with new friends or colleagues. Being yourself and enjoying the moment is the most important aspect of flirting—don't worry about getting it right.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Flirting doesn't have to be overtly sexual or provocative. As I mentioned before, it can be innocent and platonic. In fact, some of the most effective flirting techniques involve simply showing interest and engaging in playful banter. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Here is my Good Girl’s guide to flirting.</span></p><h4 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Be confident</span></h4><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">When it comes to flirting, confidence is key. It'll be much harder to connect with someone if you’re nervous. Practice good posture, make eye contact, and speak clearly and confidently.</span></p><h4 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Don't be afraid to initiate</span></h4><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Many people (especially men) appreciate it when a woman takes the initiative in flirting. You should never be afraid to speak to someone you’re interested in or suggest a date.</span></p><h4 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Make eye contact</span></h4><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">One of the simplest and most powerful ways to flirt is through eye contact. Catch the gaze of someone you're interested in and hold it for a few seconds. This shows that you’re confident and interested, without being too aggressive, stalky, or just plain ol’ weird. In a check-out line once, a guy made eye contact with me. He was just staring and staring, and no matter where I looked I felt his eyes boring into me. Not only was I incredibly uncomfortable, I half-expected him to yank a weapon from his back pocket at begin a killing rampage… starting with me.</span></p><h4 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Respect boundaries</span></h4><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">While flirting can be fun, it's important to remember that everyone has different boundaries and comfort levels. If someone seems uncomfortable or uninterested, back off and respect their wishes.</span></p><h4 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Avoid playing games</span></h4><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">While a little bit of playful teasing can be fun, it's important to avoid playing games or manipulating people. Be honest and straightforward about your intentions, and don't lead him on if you're not truly interested.</span></p><h4 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Smile</span></h4><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">A genuine smile can be incredibly attractive and inviting. When you're talking to someone you like, try to keep a relaxed and friendly expression on your face. This will help to put the other person at ease and make them more receptive to your flirting. We’re not talking fixed, crazy-woman grin. Just try to be yourself, even if you are a little cra-cra. You never know, some guys might like that.</span></p><h4 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Compliment the guy</span></h4><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Everyone loves a sincere compliment. If you notice something you genuinely like about the guy you're flirting with, let him know! Just be sure to keep it appropriate and respectful - for example, commenting on his outfit, hair, cologne, or even his stubble/beard is usually a safe bet.</span></p><h4 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Ask questions</span></h4><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">People love to talk about themselves, so asking open-ended questions can be a great way to show interest and keep the conversation flowing. For example, you might ask about their hobbies, job, or favourite travel destinations.</span></p><h4 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Playfully tease him</span></h4><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">A little bit of playful teasing can be a fun way to show interest and build rapport. Just be sure to keep it light and good-natured - you don't want to come across as mean or aggressive.</span></p><h4 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Use body language</span></h4><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Nonverbal cues like leaning in, mirroring the other person's posture, or lightly touching his arm can all be effective ways to show interest and build intimacy.</span></p><h4 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Know when to back off</span></h4><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">If someone isn't responding positively to your flirting, it's important to know when to back off. While rejection can be tough, it's better to gracefully accept it and move on than to continue pursuing someone who isn't interested.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">In addition to these general tips, it's important to remember that every situation is different. You may find that some flirting techniques work better in certain contexts than others. For example, playful teasing may work well in a social setting, but it may not be appropriate in a professional setting. Pay attention to the social cues and norms of the situation, and adjust your approach accordingly.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Another important aspect of flirting is the ability to recognize when someone is flirting with you. This can be especially challenging if you're not used to being on the dating scene or if you're naturally shy or reserved. Some signs that someone might be flirting with you include:</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">•<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Is he making eye contact and smiling? Yes, even after you looked over your shoulder to see who he’s really smiling at and discover there’s nobody behind you.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">•<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Is he asking open-ended questions about your interests and hobbies?</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">•<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Has he complimented you in a respectful way?</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">•<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Is he laughing at your jokes or engaging in playful banter?</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">•<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Is he leaning into your personal space in a non-threatening way or mirroring your body language?</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">If you're not sure whether someone is flirting with you or simply being friendly, it's okay to ask! You might say something like, "I'm sorry if I'm misreading the situation, but are you flirting with me?" This can help clarify the other person's intentions and give you a better sense of how to proceed.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">In conclusion, flirting can be a fun and rewarding way to connect with others, but it's important to approach it in a way that feels genuine and respectful. With practice and patience, you can develop a flirting style that feels true to who you are and reflects your values and priorities. Good luck! </span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Do you have any tips or strategies I haven’t mentioned? Have you got a flirting story to share with us? Please comment below with your flirting tips or experience.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Until next time</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Win at life!</span></p>Monique DeVerehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08826281077474713823noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1832043822183606170.post-44084459791485507822022-10-23T14:12:00.009+01:002022-10-23T16:18:16.625+01:00Book 3 In The Pleasure Flights Series Coming Soon #RomanceSeries #RomanticComedy #SweetandSpicy #Ebook #Romance<p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">I</span></b><span style="font-size: medium;">t's been too long since I last blogged. It's crazy how fast the days, weeks, and months are flying by. Is it me, or does it seems as though the months are beginning and ending in a matter of days? </span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: medium;">I can't believe the year is almost at an end and I haven't published anything new so far. This is mostly, if not entirely, down to the fact that I am now working full-time as an assistant accountant. But this is not to say things haven't been going on in the background. I currently have a proposal under consideration with Harlequin Mills & Boon for their True Love/Romance line. And I'm working on a few other projects--one being book 3 in the Pleasure Flights series. I know, I know, it's been forever since book 3 was first promised. All I can say is...stuff happened.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">I don't have a release date for HARLEY: Her Risk Taker (Book 3),</span><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"> but I'm nearing the end of the manuscript so, prayerfully, it won't be too long before you can get your hands on Harley and Rayne's story. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">In case you're interested in hearing more about this romantic comedy series, here's a little about book 1 ADAM: Her Deal Maker and book 2 DILLON: Her Rule Breaker</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><i></i></span></p><h2 style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><i><b>ADAM: Her Deal Maker</b></i></span></h2><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><i><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNLeoLmPou5hTiMJzXa9XXYk_Z4p6O_btgjN-pbiFbJIGhwGItZZ6lXC-eSzkNAwNNVRWEhpd4eoSq2TIc8Bgc3TXYMCjUHUkKwlKmjO0fDZpqqh1YSwIB9SONtGqJ40rAuxA9FTYcJS-dTP42xE6dU-p0nP32nFrPECP8EykMtzpP9yPz-sa7FQjD/s300/ADAM2021%20-%20200x300.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="200" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNLeoLmPou5hTiMJzXa9XXYk_Z4p6O_btgjN-pbiFbJIGhwGItZZ6lXC-eSzkNAwNNVRWEhpd4eoSq2TIc8Bgc3TXYMCjUHUkKwlKmjO0fDZpqqh1YSwIB9SONtGqJ40rAuxA9FTYcJS-dTP42xE6dU-p0nP32nFrPECP8EykMtzpP9yPz-sa7FQjD/s1600/ADAM2021%20-%20200x300.jpg" width="200" /></a></i></span></div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><i>Making a sexy deal with the deal-maker...</i></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Flying sightseers over California is part of helicopter pilot Lacey Sanders' job. The other part is denying her attraction for hot-bod fellow pilot Adam Swank. A painful experience taught Lacey never to date her co-workers. So regardless of how sizzling the sparks are between her and Adam, she just isn't going there. But when they're teamed up to close a business deal on a private island, Lacey can no longer resist Adam’s steamy kisses.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Adam The Deal-Maker has the gift of persuasion. Except when it comes to Lacey. For five years they’ve been dancing around a fiery attraction. Now he has her right where he wants her—in his arms—but can he persuade thrill-seeking Lacey to accept his deal and take a chance on an office romance?</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">| <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0725SXFDZ/" target="_blank">AMAZON US</a> | <a href="https://amzn.to/3sjq4Kb" target="_blank">AMAZON UK</a> | <a href="http://bit.ly/ADAMkobo" target="_blank">KOBO</a> | <a href="http://bit.ly/ADAMiBk" target="_blank">iBOOKS</a> | <a href="http://bit.ly/ADAMbn" target="_blank">B&N</a> | <a href="http://bit.ly/ADAMsmash" target="_blank">SMASHWORDS</a> |</span></p><p><br /></p><h2 style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><i>DILLON: Her Rule Breaker</i></span></h2><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><i></i></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><i><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhZNbiGlnAUzWdbLJD3geidTNfz9BNZoDiI6S_A0kVnWi66qIypjgfBTC5l_Ae7psMjTH5BB3s1G02ojTmTXJtlDQCMiPzE7flU82iChTOn_Cgq1WJjb2svO7KCtCNRfuN-uOR6eLgayzi-ClOf0Amyg2L7xOiId5_-piS1sk21yUZjJyG1fBxF5hQ/s300/DILLON%20NEW%202021%20-%20200x300.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="200" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhZNbiGlnAUzWdbLJD3geidTNfz9BNZoDiI6S_A0kVnWi66qIypjgfBTC5l_Ae7psMjTH5BB3s1G02ojTmTXJtlDQCMiPzE7flU82iChTOn_Cgq1WJjb2svO7KCtCNRfuN-uOR6eLgayzi-ClOf0Amyg2L7xOiId5_-piS1sk21yUZjJyG1fBxF5hQ/s1600/DILLON%20NEW%202021%20-%20200x300.jpg" width="200" /></a></i></span></div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><i>Breaking the rules with his best friend’s sister has never felt so right!</i></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Ever since a horrifying experience in her childhood, Renée Swank has had to endure her family’s overprotection, which forced her to move to the UK eight years ago. Now she’s back in California to open her lingerie boutique. And renting the apartment across the hall from her big brother’s super-hunky best friend—who she’s been crushing on since she was sixteen—has more than a few sexy benefits.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Helicopter pilot/Carpenter Dillon The Rule-Breaker Matthews has never met a rule he didn’t want to break. But when he agreed to keep an eye on his buddy’s little sister, he was certain he’d have no problem honoring their friendship. Until he offers Ren his carpenter skills, and suddenly her boutique isn’t the only secret they’re keeping.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">| <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0748JZ4J5" target="_blank">AMAZON US</a> | <a href="https://amzn.to/3gAPjoI" target="_blank">AMAZON UK</a> | <a href="http://bit.ly/DillonKobo" target="_blank">KOBO</a> | <a href="http://bit.ly/DilloniBks" target="_blank">iBOOKS</a> | <a href="http://bit.ly/DillonBnN" target="_blank">B&N</a> | <a href="http://bit.ly/DillonSmash" target="_blank">SMASHWORDS</a> |</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUfzUp-Qivacvt0QMl7MLABnDcyUvVWag7fvuy-3hKKeqY1lRy40KqQl6iTh-kpFOT8B0W_KcX4MZEZ26A35G5zoIAnVg38BvTFHTpzicxd_SYnnbLYFL9tobsyXqdCr6NhJM6enIR6QcKPUoiUML2yZmKU-yMefqqZOmcEh4BH5E99u_HhOPd6Q87/s1518/BookBrushImage-2022-10-23-10-4916.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="759" data-original-width="1518" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUfzUp-Qivacvt0QMl7MLABnDcyUvVWag7fvuy-3hKKeqY1lRy40KqQl6iTh-kpFOT8B0W_KcX4MZEZ26A35G5zoIAnVg38BvTFHTpzicxd_SYnnbLYFL9tobsyXqdCr6NhJM6enIR6QcKPUoiUML2yZmKU-yMefqqZOmcEh4BH5E99u_HhOPd6Q87/w400-h200/BookBrushImage-2022-10-23-10-4916.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><br /><p></p><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: medium;">I'm planning to keep you posted on news about Harley and Rayne, so do pop back. </span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: medium;">On a different note, I have changed my website address from moniquedevere .com to <a href="http://moniquedevere.uk">moniquedevere.uk</a> </span></span></div>Monique DeVerehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08826281077474713823noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1832043822183606170.post-61002457752408244592022-02-13T11:24:00.001+00:002022-02-13T11:35:39.979+00:00Win a Kindle Reader! #RomanceReaders #Kindle #eBooks #Readers #ContemporaryRomance #Amazon<h1 style="text-align: center;"> Click the pic to enter!</h1><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://authorsxp.com/win-books/win-a-kindle-reader" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="winakindle" src="https://authorsxp.com/images/headers/winakindle.jpg" /></a></p>Monique DeVerehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08826281077474713823noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1832043822183606170.post-31348190801180499342022-01-14T20:27:00.000+00:002022-01-14T20:27:42.981+00:00Party For Two is on Sale for 99¢/99p #Romancelovers #MustRead #Romance<div class="separator"><br /></div><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEikvtvW9QAdizxGsbjAyg7VueEB3GKa0X6B-QLx7ikPFq1WOl3X1MsZnhdvrHmzuJnVCU3byvFjgoFi9obFskuefmyUOQo9vPJw-m6lEmcfT_vm-9N6iNOnl2XAaEsTMMCdGMxcIOwmPg6C5vPaAbu3ijjXED3AApSsC4T4slCEYCcy9eOisDxWXkO5=s940" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="788" data-original-width="940" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEikvtvW9QAdizxGsbjAyg7VueEB3GKa0X6B-QLx7ikPFq1WOl3X1MsZnhdvrHmzuJnVCU3byvFjgoFi9obFskuefmyUOQo9vPJw-m6lEmcfT_vm-9N6iNOnl2XAaEsTMMCdGMxcIOwmPg6C5vPaAbu3ijjXED3AApSsC4T4slCEYCcy9eOisDxWXkO5=s320" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>Party For Two is on sale for 99¢/99p for a limited time. Grab your copy before the price goes back up.</span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="100" data-original-width="760" height="42" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiWNav8CKtWOC3bDlUUGNNKao1RtYNIVXeM94ffRZKl1HS5UJelNzOenvDZTt_piOIdzI4dapLXQEeaAULp277Np83VBPJArLA_F-eY-mYGQbil6NpUYq1iO8l6iIRvGozbQLwfZpX3Dpyp6oZkHqXCokXOj2lUNQNVKL_aBCRuxr-TQYHakmNp2QcI=s320" width="320" /></span></div><i><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgnvSmel374kNmNRhxbukCP9zPzcyp114lJHTzRBvqeP_enipm72w4ZV_9X_bvPw7TW84yFh9vunPbXKbzwnHBfNzStVB4ZPXS6EJkQnidATLsy7aycCYRtSNHIzowjufZlY2fF2b5INNdpYc7-nZ8ehiOrDgdRcKp3HHL7P221HGywjCunh_HT-onO=s300" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgnvSmel374kNmNRhxbukCP9zPzcyp114lJHTzRBvqeP_enipm72w4ZV_9X_bvPw7TW84yFh9vunPbXKbzwnHBfNzStVB4ZPXS6EJkQnidATLsy7aycCYRtSNHIzowjufZlY2fF2b5INNdpYc7-nZ8ehiOrDgdRcKp3HHL7P221HGywjCunh_HT-onO=w213-h320" width="213" /></a></div><div><i><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></i></div>Her sexy weekend fling with the guy next door.</span></i><p></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Ex-lawyer turned pregnancy model Danielle Hampton has one simple rule; never<br /> date an attorney, even if he’s so deliciously hot she’s nicknamed him His Hotness Esquire. When her father asks her to strap on her silicone bump and pretend to be Casey Lowe’s pregnant fiancée in order to pull her family’s law firm out of trouble, her first answer is a resounding no! But she owes Casey for wrecking his pool.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Civil Rights Attorney Casey Lowe lives by a code of practice: never date his boss’s daughter, but he’ll do just about anything to make partner at the top law firm—even if it means violating his personal code. He hasn’t bargained on the fierce desire that burns hotter than the Mojave Desert and combusts every time he gets his boss’s daughter alone. She may drive him to distraction and melt in his arms, but will this party girl hang around long enough for him to convince her that all the best parties… are for two?</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="100" data-original-width="760" height="42" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjbdvfRoLF7PLzLEwAsB5yU2qEK5fdais3_mOgut0hnmHmtqenav7R8DnbQ62s_j5NyFKhNpTCjVMIDclfzWCNnC_ISnBwUgE3aByHEo0GVp2zC4sdUXwdKw6fGB8X3w-sURBW8TVe-MmKSmmG4wEViDG28xV3xcLlLZtN4n-46A6p0IrJBgsYHeCml=s320" width="320" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Copyright © Monique DeVere 2015</span></div></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: xx-small;">Crystal Swan Publications</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: xx-small;">All Rights Reserved</span></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><span lang="EN" style="line-height: 115%;"> </span><span style="text-indent: 19.85pt;">He clamped his teeth against his sudden, powerful
reaction. What was wrong with him? This was California; he should be immune to
the effects of seeing a half-naked woman by now. He shoved the phone along with
his hands into his pockets. He only prayed Dani hadn’t noticed his blatant
reaction to the sight of her.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: 19.85pt;"><span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">She stepped forward. “I can fix this.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: 19.85pt;"><span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">He glowered. He knew because he’d perfected the
look in the last six months. He followed her gaze over the mess of broken
furniture and beer bottles her drunken friends had left behind. “How?”<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: 19.85pt;"><span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">“Please.” She closed the space between them,
raising the fine hairs on his body. Her cool fingers closed on his forearm,
sending heated warmth through him. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: 19.85pt;"><span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">His muscles flexed involuntarily.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: 19.85pt;"><span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Her eyes darkened and she yanked her hand off
him. “I’ll clear this all up. Replace the furniture. Get the pool cleaned.
Whatever you want,” she said in a low edgy voice that increased his hunger for
her. “I’ll owe you. Just please don’t call the cops.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: 19.85pt;"><span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Whether her touch, or her imploring gaze, managed
to slip past his shield he didn’t know but he found himself agreeing. Though he
told himself he did so reluctantly, he had to admit when she turned that
aquamarine gaze on him he wanted to give her whatever she asked. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: 19.85pt;"><span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">“Fine, but I expect this place to be perfect by
the time I return tomorrow evening.”</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center; text-indent: 19.85pt;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><span style="line-height: 150%;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="100" data-original-width="760" height="42" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjb9GdlzMYr7mK5tS5MPngMRFbw-z2AqoPbH7qMlWMPW6KAdLzBWMDGD57eIusqOrpidG5TB5W2Z_BkPXJOx0qs6SgCYHmxdvHtXQa0catOn7vfHkx9vF8G7gGH95sM-XkfagHdpddEc93iuncasaIHTYF2CbR-wGU3EmYbiLqrIKVsiRg46F_aoBEz=s320" width="320" /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1840" data-original-width="2310" height="255" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEir3tb5uhQxLiuf2UQ3R2SQjSmOgGUluXffK_sg7P-5TRuGuehc9TZz9sRlzP40z7562XL6GDviWF2fpfZR2LkIGVXm5ROGE48TiKY2ngyer91-m3Kv5ANG9iVD44GKqTs-8FBxax6CcUBqP0mHfbmf0qWrLt-Nk0pdzNqhqPlPO-1Gfw_OZIXtICT-=s320" width="320" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-large;">| </span><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Party-Two-Book-1-ebook/dp/B017T9I88A/" style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-large;" target="_blank">Amazon US</a><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-large;"> | </span><a href="https://amzn.to/3KbqWYU" style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-large;" target="_blank">Amazon UK</a><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-large;"> | </span><a href="https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/party-for-two-monique-devere/1123950786?ean=2940153083100" style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-large;" target="_blank">B & N</a><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-large;"> | </span><a href="https://books.apple.com/fi/book/party-for-two/id1125605378" style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-large;" target="_blank">iBooks</a><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-large;"> | </span><a href="https://www.kobo.com/gb/en/ebook/party-for-two-1" style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-large;" target="_blank">Kobo</a><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-large;"> | </span><a href="https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/644031" style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-large;" target="_blank">Smashwords</a><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-large;"> | | </span><a href="http://smarturl.it/PartyForTwo" style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-large;" target="_blank">Amazon Smart Link</a><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-large;"> |</span></div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: 19.85pt;"><br /></p></div><p></p>Monique DeVerehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08826281077474713823noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1832043822183606170.post-67921370664112979412021-05-14T13:15:00.001+01:002021-05-14T13:15:35.027+01:00Pull Up a Chair with Mon ~ What Do You Do When Your Characters Refuse to Comply? #AmWriting #WriteTip #Romance #Writers #AHAgrp<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b> </b></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: xx-large; font-weight: bold; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuEgFQjdDL_lduSskVreSgNbIqaLhyphenhyphenbHkQ6LTT3U-NIBlPGDeoQ9YDDIaNWdLnHr1n7nVnV-5lCodVADAiQHbSZEi13hnHcq0dXyJHRgjbPrN4zMPihUNnw_V27Eu2Wf-KZpTnbOtpr_s/s1024/PullUpaChair19.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="512" data-original-width="1024" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuEgFQjdDL_lduSskVreSgNbIqaLhyphenhyphenbHkQ6LTT3U-NIBlPGDeoQ9YDDIaNWdLnHr1n7nVnV-5lCodVADAiQHbSZEi13hnHcq0dXyJHRgjbPrN4zMPihUNnw_V27Eu2Wf-KZpTnbOtpr_s/s320/PullUpaChair19.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><b>What Do You Do When Your Characters Refuse to Comply? </b></span><p></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>R</b></span><span style="font-size: medium;">ecently, after coming up with a great idea for a Harlequin Desire, I eagerly planned the story then sat down to write. What should have been an easy task of translating my plan for the story onto paper turned out to be one of the hardest books I've ever attempted. I spent a month fighting with my characters to make them follow my vision for this story, only to finally admit defeat. I hit a Y in the road. Either give up on the story or let my characters take over.</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">I decided to give the characters a chance to tell me their story. As it turned out, the only thing my characters wanted to change was the way I told their story. I imagined a dark story of heartbreak and unforgiveness. What my hero and heroine are giving me is a flirty story about forgiveness and learning to trust. </span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">I've heard other authors speak of their characters taking over, but I've never had that experience to this extent. I always put it down to good planning. So when my characters refused to comply, I was stumped. Convinced this story was a lost cause, I was about to scrap the book and start afresh with another idea. Thankfully, before I did that, I handed the reins to my hero and heroine, and I'm delighted I did! Now the story is finally flowing and I can't wait to hear the next candid line my hero shocks the heroine with. </span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">I have high hopes for this story and can't wait to submit the proposal. I guess it goes to show that no matter how seasoned a writer we are, there's always something new to learn. And from now on, I won't be wasting time duking it out with my character to make them do what I want them to. I'll simply sit back and allow them to guide me in the task of telling their story, no matter how it may contrast with my vision. It makes for less grey hair and frustration.</span></p><h4 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">So, what do you do when your characters refuse to comply?</span></h4><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">You step aside and let them have free rein! It might be a sign that the way you're telling the story isn't the way it's meant to be told, and you just might be pleasantly surprised.</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Have you, as an author/writer, ever experienced this? I'd like to hear how you deal with uncooperative characters.</span></p>Monique DeVerehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08826281077474713823noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1832043822183606170.post-81100291081150478342021-04-12T12:52:00.003+01:002021-04-13T13:31:54.425+01:00Why Did No One Ever Tell Me This About Emotional Eating? #BingeEating #EatingTriggers #EmotionalEating #Music #HowToStopEmotionalEating<p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA3ikmta_Uwxd5QlBcqlsuHKXebi-2sE72IDMxyqVyCCv_xv9hv9zVOgomtKop7XvOgUGvr52tBd0pBTA7XydpX8NoaCTL_v6T5VS2gRY8mnLk9eNIF8A6JajNH-DVtoVMyC1U5xwr3k8/s1500/HowToStopEmotionalEatingpin.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="1000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA3ikmta_Uwxd5QlBcqlsuHKXebi-2sE72IDMxyqVyCCv_xv9hv9zVOgomtKop7XvOgUGvr52tBd0pBTA7XydpX8NoaCTL_v6T5VS2gRY8mnLk9eNIF8A6JajNH-DVtoVMyC1U5xwr3k8/s320/HowToStopEmotionalEatingpin.png" /></a></div></span></span></div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">N</span></b><span style="font-size: medium;">ot a lot of people know this, but I'm an emotional eater. There! I've said it. I've struggled with emotional eating for more years than I care to consider. In fact, I've battled one eating disorder or another since my teens. </span></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Anorexia as a teen--not because I was in any way trying to diet. It definitely wasn't about weight, but about having some semblance of control of a small part of my life at a time when other people were in full control. At the time, not eating was a way to tell someone very close to me (whom I loved and trusted): you've hurt me deeply and I don't love you anymore. The simplest way I was able to convey this message, was to not eat the food prepared for me by this person. Just in case anyone might think I'm speaking of my mum, I am not. I love my mum, she's my best friend. Nor am I speaking of my Dad--just to clarify.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Anyway, years later, after overcoming anorexia, I ended up slipping into bulimia. Having a couple of children and not pinging back after the second one--on account of all the sugary junk food I craved whilst carrying him!--led to crash dieting and failing to control my weight as I fell into a yo-yo existence. That's when I got the lightbulb idea to just throw up after I eat. I know, so sad. Thankfully, I was able to move past this stage relatively quickly. </span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Soon, mild binge eating became the next phase. Thank Father, I never had to deal with obesity. But I did have to constantly battle the urge to raid the junk's cupboard whenever I was feeling stressed or emotionally out of sorts. Okay, who am I kidding? I never battled the urge, I always submitted and ran to the junk. </span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The crunch came when I discovered a lump under my arm and decided to take control of my health. I </span></span><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">started a journey of periodic water fasting until the lump reduced. I got tested and the tests came back negative for cancer--thank You, Father! But this brought home the importance of focusing on my health. I found the Low Carb High Fat lifestyle, which I loved at the time and blogged about. It didn't take too long to realise it really wasn't for me. I've never been a fan of meat and, at various points over the years, I've been vegan or vegetarian. Since I wasn't in love with all the meat during LCHF, and I'd started to feel quite poorly, I decided to go back to my roots and become a plant-based vegan again.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">That was the plan, and while plant-based vegan is amazing, I still struggled with emotional eating. I was under the illusion that once I went plant-based, it would solve all of the challenges I have surrounding emotional eating. I'm here to tell you, it did not! </span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">You can see what's coming, can't you? Yes, vegan junk food soon became my good friend. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Untill...</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">I discovered something incredible. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Situations that would send me to the junk's cupboard are obvious disappointments like publishing rejections--if you're an author, I know you feel my pain. But the biggest struggle I have is pent-up creativity. I don't know how to explain it, and maybe you've experienced this as well. It feels like I have a ton of energy lock inside me but am unable to release it. When I'm writing, that energy flows and I'm euphoric. But when I'm in the dumps about a publishing disappointment/rejection, or suffering debilitating self-doubt, I stop writing. Then the trapped creative energy builds and before I realise it, I'm raiding the junk's cupboard.</span></p><h4 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">So what happened to change this?</span></h4><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Well, here's the incredible discovery I mentioned earlier.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">When our youngest went off to uni last year, she left her guitar behind. I've always loved the Saxophone and have thought about learning to play on and off for a couple of years. Recently, I had the urge to finally take the plunge and learn the instrument, but...I also knew hubs would not be impressed if I went out and purchased such an expensive instrument when we both know I have no staying power when it comes to music, (there's a keyboard point-of-reference in my past) so I knew I'd have to prove I could stick to learning a musical instrument before I hit him with the Sax thing.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Since the only instrument at my disposal was our daughter's guitar, I decided to learn that. It's not as hard as I thought, and I'm enjoying learning, but the amazing revelation for me is that learning to play the guitar has given me that amazing high I get from writing.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">This is mind-blowing to me. Why did no one ever tell me that learning a musical instrument not only creates new neural connections and networks in the brain, it also releases all that pent-up creative energy that made me emotionally eat? </span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">I can't tell you how thrilled I am to have made this discovery. Now, if I'm feeling stuck/blocked while writing, I pick up the guitar instead of heading for the junk. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Dare I say it? Have I finally stumbled upon the elusive answer I've been praying and searching for? Have I discovered how to conquer emotional eating at last? I guess time will tell... </span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">I only know that I'm now excited about trying all the hobbies I've always wanted to take up but never did. Next stop, the saxophone, then perhaps horse riding.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">I hope this post helps someone who might be struggling with emotional/stress eating. I've spent years researching how to recover from emotional eating and not one article ever said: you just need to find another outlet for your creativity! How about learning to play a musical instrument?</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Maybe... just maybe... I've found the answer to the question of how to stop emotional eating--for some of us, at least.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Do you struggle with emotional eating? Have you discovered a way to overcome it? I'd love to hear your comments on this subject.</span><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"> </span><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"> </span></p>Monique DeVerehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08826281077474713823noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1832043822183606170.post-33197384708855487502021-01-10T16:59:00.000+00:002021-01-10T16:59:22.901+00:00ADAM: Her Deal Maker to be Serialized! #RomanceReaders #RomanticComedy #RomanceReads #FREERomanceReads #KindleUnlimited #eBooks<p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBv1VswUEuZDFKufOY1npt7LXgaQ2rChDU5bytKli30vXND0j3Rm4bUtxqn9AWvw5t9GM13m_4iM7AdeINKy8IZtSB_7KPOUYVj9uBjEzVzYC1DPAtpZAWJor7YUVPQkw5tEb7mLGlVGU/s1600/ADAMSerial12021.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBv1VswUEuZDFKufOY1npt7LXgaQ2rChDU5bytKli30vXND0j3Rm4bUtxqn9AWvw5t9GM13m_4iM7AdeINKy8IZtSB_7KPOUYVj9uBjEzVzYC1DPAtpZAWJor7YUVPQkw5tEb7mLGlVGU/w400-h225/ADAMSerial12021.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">I</span></b><span style="font-size: medium;">'m so excited about this new venture. Starting January 13th, 2021 until February 10th, 2021 <a href="http://smarturl.it/ADAMHDM" target="_blank">ADAM: Her Deal Maker</a> will be serialized. Each Wednesday a follow-on part of the book will be released. There are five parts in total. Readers can choose to either read ADAM: Her Deal Maker in episodes for FREE with Kindle Unlimited or purchase the original book to read at the reader's convenience. </span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">I used to love the serialization of books in magazines and newspapers. The excitement of looking forward to the next episode each week was fantastic. </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: georgia; font-size: large; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2DcVox3GVXAncjAwnTjdzhfTo_Korx2EJYpgc-RdVWBvseUJvxhQdi3ShAIj5TY6gL6ZBOpISLn_4I7zFXjGX2ubNFEDxlwQ18z9_VefACS25CmxJnthUWaNZlfRdIBtd11WOJcy4-rY/s300/ADAMpart1+-+200X300.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2DcVox3GVXAncjAwnTjdzhfTo_Korx2EJYpgc-RdVWBvseUJvxhQdi3ShAIj5TY6gL6ZBOpISLn_4I7zFXjGX2ubNFEDxlwQ18z9_VefACS25CmxJnthUWaNZlfRdIBtd11WOJcy4-rY/s0/ADAMpart1+-+200X300.jpg" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Remembering this sense of anticipation, I've decided to serialize the <a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B074CGRBPV/" target="_blank">Pleasure Flights Series</a>. So, not only will book #1 ADAM: Her Deal Maker be coming out in episodes, so will book #2 DILLON: Her Rule Breaker and... drum roll, please! Book #3 HARLEY: Her Risk Taker will follow after. You can expect DILLON: Her Rule Breaker to start serialization on February 17th, 2021 through to March 17th, 2021. Then part one of HARLEY: Her Risk Taker will be available on March 24th, 2021. Isn't that exciting?</span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">I almost decided to knock this series on the head. In fact, I came very close to unpublishing my books--with the exception of those still under TWRP. For several months, I've been re-evaluating my writing career. </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinrtoxHPoV-75jONn7FR3Ka-ewzbJDSpdOeGjHaGnVVuXlnziQdBF8RkZ1A12cb0Srxyd3HfERpc8Lh0AMu1cDQBBWMinRheHwamSzPj-c7bupw1Ms_I_8aQ6A_FJ-5e1DHi1VK1uaCCM/s1500/3Dadam.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1150" data-original-width="1500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinrtoxHPoV-75jONn7FR3Ka-ewzbJDSpdOeGjHaGnVVuXlnziQdBF8RkZ1A12cb0Srxyd3HfERpc8Lh0AMu1cDQBBWMinRheHwamSzPj-c7bupw1Ms_I_8aQ6A_FJ-5e1DHi1VK1uaCCM/s320/3Dadam.png" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br />While I love writing romance, I often struggled to reconcile writing love scenes with my Christianity. Yes, I know the obvious answer would be to simply omit love scenes from my books and make them completely sweet romances. Here is where another dilemma takes hold. If I'm going to write sweet romances, why don't I just go straight into Christian romance? See? It just becomes all sorts of complicated. On the flip side, I've spent years building a Brand and my readers expect love scenes. If I have to start over to build a readership, I might as well dive right into Christian fiction and be done with it. I've already written a post about this subject: <a href="https://moniquedevere.blogspot.com/search?q=she+a+christian" target="_blank">What? She's a Christian and She Writes That??</a>, so I won't rehash it here. Needless to say, each time I took the problem to my heavenly Father, I got the same answer. Sometimes it's hard to trust that something as basically human as lovemaking would be okay with Father--who knew? In the end, I decided to continue to write contemporary romance and romantic comedy, as well as to embrace my new venture into Christian women's fiction and Christian speculative thrillers. I'm aiming to get the first book in the Christian women's fiction entitled <i>Soul Food Prayer Group; Ladies Who Pray</i> out this year, and also the first book in my new 3-book Christian speculative thriller series out by the end of the year.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">I have huge plans regarding my writing for the next few months. Here's praying they all come to fruition. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Meanwhile, you can pre-order ADAM: Her Deal Maker (PART ONE) from <a href="https://amzn.to/38vKM07" target="_blank">AMAZON</a> to read FREE with KindleUnlimited.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Or purchase the book from:</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">| <a href="http://smarturl.it/ADAMHDM" target="_blank">AMAZON</a> | <a href="http://bit.ly/ADAMbn" target="_blank">BARNES & NOBLE</a> | <a href="http://bit.ly/ADAMiBk" target="_blank">ibOOKS</a>| <a href="http://bit.ly/ADAMkobo" target="_blank">KOBO</a> | <a href="http://bit.ly/ADAMsmash" target="_blank">SMASHWORDS</a> |</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">When you get a moment, check it out. In fact, go and do it now :)</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"> </span></p>Monique DeVerehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08826281077474713823noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1832043822183606170.post-1601579127984344202021-01-06T14:19:00.002+00:002021-01-06T14:19:26.646+00:00#NewRelease Matt's Pregnant Runaway Wife #MustRead a Preview #ContemporaryRomance #RomanceReaders #UK<p><br /></p>
<div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="803" src="https://read.amazon.co.uk/kp/card?asin=B08NDZ2NLF&preview=inline&linkCode=kpe&ref_=cm_sw_r_kb_dp_wnC9Fb0VBGEEF&tag=mondev-21" style="max-width: 100%;" type="text/html" width="500"></iframe></div>Monique DeVerehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08826281077474713823noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1832043822183606170.post-163552063172170312021-01-03T13:46:00.001+00:002021-01-03T13:46:10.679+00:00What's New For Monique DeVere in 2021 #WritingGoals #NewYearGoals #Writerlife #WritingCommunity #ChristianWriters #Books<p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-large;"><b></b></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-large;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWZjxOnKp853DutQ06cODrn0sEXo8YbcmVnX22L6qIzzbOnpunS17L3IijFSUjfxo0JTThPSdMudhY6ooWBKCv6FFBCi8ztfiOp5yXJO-jTR5Ug7oJe9iobBEq_nrUn4gqKHLF2Zr3le8/s1200/What%2527s+New+2021.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="800" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWZjxOnKp853DutQ06cODrn0sEXo8YbcmVnX22L6qIzzbOnpunS17L3IijFSUjfxo0JTThPSdMudhY6ooWBKCv6FFBCi8ztfiOp5yXJO-jTR5Ug7oJe9iobBEq_nrUn4gqKHLF2Zr3le8/s320/What%2527s+New+2021.jpg" /></a></b></span></div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-large;"><b>A</b></span><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: medium;">ccording to the Gregorian calendar, it's a New Year. Biblically speaking, the New Year isn't until the spring, but that's a different post. So, </span><span style="font-size: large;">for now,</span><span style="font-size: medium;"> going along with the Gregorian calendar, this is a time of year when most people reflect on the previous months and make plans to change things for the better in the coming months. I don't usually do the whole reflection thing, but </span><span style="font-size: large;">in the last few months, </span><span style="font-size: large;">things have changed where my writing is concerned, which means my whole view of my writing career has changed. </span></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: large;">As much as I love to write romance, I now find myself taking a different direction into women's Christian fiction. My books have always contained an element of Christianity, but, sadly, my characters were lukewarm Christians. For the purpose of the market for which I was writing, this had to be the case. As these stories aren't in-your-face Christian, I'm not sure many people would have recognised the Christian element. I would describe my previous books as sweet and sensual clean romance. While there are love scenes, there is no foul language or obscenities, and the stories are all feel-good sweet. </span><span style="font-size: large;">Now, I feel it's time to move forward into writing completely Christian stories. </span></span></p><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">So, why did it take so long to get to this point?</span></span></h3><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">The short answer is, I've been chasing the Harlequin Mills & Boon market. Deep down, I knew this was not what Father had for me, but I'd invested so many many years in my apprenticeship in this market that I couldn't just give up. If I did, it would make me a quitter, right? That was my thinking, anyway. I hate to admit this, but I've been targeting the HMB market--on and off--for over thirty years! Thirty-two, to be exact! How sad is that? It was only this last year that I finally accepted that while I was getting great feedback and encouragement from the editors, the door still wasn't going to open no matter how many revise and resubmits I did, for the simple fact that it is not Father's will.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">So many times in life, we walk with Father and still stumble out of His will for our lives. In every other area of my life, Father's will is present and my life is amazingly happy. I have the worlds most wonderful husband who gets me like no one else. Father has given us healthy, godly, intelligent children and grandchildren. And our family life is filled with a lot of laughter, peace and joy. </span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">But, in this one area of my life--my career--I've felt unfulfilled...until now. Once I stopped listening to the enemy, who loved to assure me I wasn't good enough to write Christian fiction, everything fell into place. I've never been a lukewarm believer, and I still am not, which means the stories Father has given me to write are pretty hard-hitting without being preachy. </span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">There's no doubt about the fact we are most certainly living in the End Times. We are all short on time to buck up. Long gone are the days when we had the luxury of coming to Yahawashi (he whom you call Jesus) in our own sweet time. We are at a point where we have to pick a side. Choose this day whom you will serve. Yahawah or satan. "<i>As for me and my house, we will serve Yahawah"--Joshua 24:15. </i></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: large;">This being the case, moving forward, I will be concentrating on my new Christian Speculative Thriller series and my new women's</span><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span><span style="font-size: large;">Christian fiction. </span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">I'm currently working on book #1 in the thriller series--entitled Victor's Crown--and also book #1 in the women's series--entitled Soul Food Prayer Group: Ladies Who Pray. I can't wait to share more about these stories. </span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">So, as from 2021, I'll be doing the job I've been called to do--working for the Heavenly Kingdom. And I can't wait!</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">What are your plans for 2021?</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"> </span></span></p>Monique DeVerehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08826281077474713823noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1832043822183606170.post-67382075361714031812020-12-15T14:20:00.003+00:002020-12-15T14:20:56.117+00:00#FREE #Story THE FOREVER DEAL #RomanceReaders #ILoveToRead #Giveaway #ShortStories #MustRead<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEpQ0ORnRk2VcEl5z0qH3tTveFnPgwV9pyFe7h9oi0khh6Evx6c2NF7ALC3oXGkOkBkhlEdLfsEWhvEvIfBxqtOy0Qt1Q_hgis22JeoISRQMIx0UCe2VRHqkMkf_wZFWXSe9_tDjUNMyw/s440/Get+This+Story+Free.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="440" height="272" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEpQ0ORnRk2VcEl5z0qH3tTveFnPgwV9pyFe7h9oi0khh6Evx6c2NF7ALC3oXGkOkBkhlEdLfsEWhvEvIfBxqtOy0Qt1Q_hgis22JeoISRQMIx0UCe2VRHqkMkf_wZFWXSe9_tDjUNMyw/w400-h272/Get+This+Story+Free.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-large;">I</span><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">f you're a typical lover of romance novels, like me, you love all things romance. And most especially free stories! It's a great way to test a new-to-you author. I know I've found many new favourite authors this way. And now I'm giving you the opportunity to read one of my stories for free. </span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b>The Forever Deal</b> is a married second chance romance about a couple who--though deeply in love--are going through a rough patch. You may not know this, but Belle and Linc made an appearance in THE WEDDING FAVOR. Belle is Max Ferrell’s big sister, who unknowingly caused her brother a bit of conflict with his pretend girlfriend, Erin. If you’d like to find out what Belle did, you can grab a copy of THE WEDDING FAVOR. On sale from your favorite booksellers. Check out the links below.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><i><br /></i></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><i></i></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><i><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtwl9_YcnoLYUSd-FoMxLmLtL_fYXm_o9ItHa-LQ9IFa5L02nMUL8Hts11udEKP6EyA-IsSzJWvhnaz3T7yPcwlUdftAtj71de_u8YxNdoMCpxYEghEn_bJkaqGk-Tinu67BlIN_wme4s/s300/The+Forever+Deal+-+200x300.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtwl9_YcnoLYUSd-FoMxLmLtL_fYXm_o9ItHa-LQ9IFa5L02nMUL8Hts11udEKP6EyA-IsSzJWvhnaz3T7yPcwlUdftAtj71de_u8YxNdoMCpxYEghEn_bJkaqGk-Tinu67BlIN_wme4s/s0/The+Forever+Deal+-+200x300.jpg" /></a></i></span></div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><i>Maybe she just belongs in his arms...</i></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">A year ago, happily married mom of three, Annabelle DeVaney’s life came crashing down around her. Two weeks ago, she made things worse by running out on her gorgeous husband of ten years.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Security expert, Linc DeVaney has located his wife hiding out at a beach house in the Florida Keys and he isn’t about to let a few revelations in a diary ruin his marriage. After all, he and Belle had a deal that was supposed to last a lifetime.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Belle hasn’t forgotten their deal, but how can she stay married to Linc when she’s no longer the woman he married?</span></p><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">To grab a free copy of <b>The Forever Deal</b> click <a href="https://bit.ly/TFDsignup151220" target="_blank">HERE</a>.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim_nCZUX2cZTPssJ4DzhoIvdS9lUADCt6LmbaBwNX7dUqHMjG-3OFD5NImEdi6ta91B9cMxxoFA35Hr4pOqPi5TePTuqwVvpQQvRWimcBzuR0-HciSpVAwvI9oEB-9Qr5PTbumQuucwgs/s300/BookBrushImage-2019-9-31-9-1353.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim_nCZUX2cZTPssJ4DzhoIvdS9lUADCt6LmbaBwNX7dUqHMjG-3OFD5NImEdi6ta91B9cMxxoFA35Hr4pOqPi5TePTuqwVvpQQvRWimcBzuR0-HciSpVAwvI9oEB-9Qr5PTbumQuucwgs/s0/BookBrushImage-2019-9-31-9-1353.png" /></a></div><br />You can also check out <b><a href="https://smarturl.it/TheWeddingFavor" target="_blank">The Wedding Favor</a></b> at the links below</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><a href="https://smarturl.it/TheWeddingFavor" target="_blank">Amazon</a> |<a href="http://bit.ly/TheWeddingFavorBN" target="_blank"> B&N</a> | <a href="http://bit.ly/TheWeddingFavorKobo" target="_blank">Kobo</a> | <a href="http://bit.ly/TheWeddingFavoriBks" target="_blank">iBooks</a> | <a href="http://bit.ly/TheWeddingFavorTWRP" target="_blank">TWRP</a></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><p></p>Monique DeVerehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08826281077474713823noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1832043822183606170.post-26962423809374007232020-11-26T11:15:00.001+00:002020-11-26T11:38:53.071+00:00Blood And Breakfast #Fri13thstories #Suspense #SpookyStories #Novella #QuickReads #KindleUnlimited<p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-family: georgia; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>I'</b></span><span style="font-size: medium;">m thrilled to be hosting </span><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Alicia-Dean/e/B004HQW4X4/ref=dp_byline_cont_ebooks_1" style="font-size: large;" target="_blank">Alicia Dean</a><span style="font-size: medium;"> on my blog today! She's talking about her new release in the 13-Author </span></span><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large; text-align: left;">Friday the 13th Story series. Take it away, Alicia.</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium; text-align: left;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3rd9sVnAiduLxX0xsDQmUIVC8f-DB0kxJfvg0IVP9W1H_bcqqiwtg-sQi4r2mAHabNccHgfBqqqmtj4Sy5WDHXzVA2_HACGqCUBgPhe6os7ycXfkQA90ZiXENouTcNa9Gn34Bkn2wCds/s900/5+Alicia+Fri+13th+Teaser+BandB+Alicia+%25282%2529.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="512" data-original-width="900" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3rd9sVnAiduLxX0xsDQmUIVC8f-DB0kxJfvg0IVP9W1H_bcqqiwtg-sQi4r2mAHabNccHgfBqqqmtj4Sy5WDHXzVA2_HACGqCUBgPhe6os7ycXfkQA90ZiXENouTcNa9Gn34Bkn2wCds/s320/5+Alicia+Fri+13th+Teaser+BandB+Alicia+%25282%2529.png" width="320" /></a></span></span></div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large; text-align: left;"><br /></span></div> </span><span style="font-size: large; text-align: left;">Hello…Alicia Dean here. Myself and twelve other authors (13 total, get it? 😊) each wrote a spooky, suspenseful story in the ‘A Friday the 13th Story’ series. They are stand-alone but have recurring threads and they were all released on Friday, November 13th. </span></span></span></div><p></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">My contribution to the series is titled Blood and Breakfast. Check it out below. And be sure to check out my contest where you can win an <i>Amazon gift card</i>! </span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Find details </span><b><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeCUDvF4YrTa1YzADCvrQIWbK8Q6Ro7Gnb0yRxxl3Kg2Fkd-Q/viewform?usp=sf_link" target="_blank">HERE</a></span></b><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"> <b>(Contest ends Dec 15, 2020)</b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b>Fun Fact:</b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">I was plotting my story and trying to figure out why a normal family man would suddenly snap and murder his family. I realized that hallucinations could cause people to do crazy things, so I researched what could make people hallucinate. I discovered that the plant, jimson weed, can cause serious hallucinations. I also wanted to incorporate some kind of an authentic local legend in my story, so I researched legends in various states and came across the Devil’s Footrock in Rhode Island. I was able to mesh the two–jimson weed and the Devil’s Footrock–to come up with how the husband/father in my story lost his mind and killed his family. It’s so much fun when ideas click and make a story come together. </span></p><h4 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Here’s a photo of Devil’s Foot Rock</span></h4><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU_pJ-ky0ox-QG61w-pGIZJlOmk6gC5W5BvsYn4B3ywVsenL3yCuyEgzo5-mVGzxzQ7t52Z0AxG6Fbe_MiWIL0mvLFlxUMFyZFeV92lXYGOyf5LaZ1EBvP_ypz1xQDF0Fwncrbi7Tx8ns/s500/3a7b102e1ea00151a16c4605d2e0be77.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="333" data-original-width="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU_pJ-ky0ox-QG61w-pGIZJlOmk6gC5W5BvsYn4B3ywVsenL3yCuyEgzo5-mVGzxzQ7t52Z0AxG6Fbe_MiWIL0mvLFlxUMFyZFeV92lXYGOyf5LaZ1EBvP_ypz1xQDF0Fwncrbi7Tx8ns/s320/3a7b102e1ea00151a16c4605d2e0be77.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: right;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="100" data-original-width="760" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-le5m7OWQmmMIgmBrGmhooa_j0APMl0ejteo2kzypHve3xEppIMbgYPsxlrSXaGd4SR0OIgLCbGfksO7Mw1ZzsEG0D9j5UrcxaNQoPQkE2ArcBble5DNqYE1s-_GE7Jcmf6JSXxcDvk4/s320/Back+Cover+Copy.png" width="320" /></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFKXySGL10e7PHVD1ibQRhlviUmMO3YFp_WNz8tOQWxnEWCL31pWPb1SvpUUU1KTr1Nvt5J_YT5vLMAVKdq2PzwdPZOuaCjLHxrc098DRSec_jV5wX1oF__HE4LXhKObv3smnHAXTykU0/s1605/Blood+and+Breakfast+Cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1605" data-original-width="1220" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFKXySGL10e7PHVD1ibQRhlviUmMO3YFp_WNz8tOQWxnEWCL31pWPb1SvpUUU1KTr1Nvt5J_YT5vLMAVKdq2PzwdPZOuaCjLHxrc098DRSec_jV5wX1oF__HE4LXhKObv3smnHAXTykU0/s320/Blood+and+Breakfast+Cover.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div>Determined to boost the sagging ratings of her internet radio show, “A Dark Place,” murder junkie Sasha Gillette checks into the Talley House Bed and Breakfast in North Kingston, Rhode Island. She and her co-host plan to broadcast an episode about the murders that took place there thirteen years earlier on a Friday the 13th, when a man butchered his entire family.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Not long after Sasha arrives, the other guests begin to disappear. Has a killer from the past resurfaced or is there a copycat on the loose?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">One of the lone survivors, Sasha finds herself trapped with a sadistic killer and, suddenly, murder isn’t as much fun as she thought.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div></div></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7rXeTzgaLqTtk2_A4IFeb7zxYUxCriIpMyZiqj4bEfHt7Hi9HIwWfQmWa02bmsSguZgfmdQWh0lcwCVsQ_XSXW2xziHlqH8E0309DWVaLFxwdRDRnzL_qKqbm70jKz2lBjQVerg51Epo/s760/Excerpt.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="100" data-original-width="760" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7rXeTzgaLqTtk2_A4IFeb7zxYUxCriIpMyZiqj4bEfHt7Hi9HIwWfQmWa02bmsSguZgfmdQWh0lcwCVsQ_XSXW2xziHlqH8E0309DWVaLFxwdRDRnzL_qKqbm70jKz2lBjQVerg51Epo/s320/Excerpt.png" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 21.6pt;"><span style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">“I’m
going to look for her. It’s not okay that she’s been gone for hours when she
said she’d be back in thirty minutes. Do you know where she was taking her
walk?”<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 21.6pt;"><span style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">“I-in
the woods.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 21.6pt;"><span style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">“Well,
of course she was,” I muttered. “Agnes, do you have a flashlight I can borrow?
And maybe something I can use for a weapon?”<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 21.6pt;"><span style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Agnes
nodded. “I’ll get you a flashlight. I have a hammer.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 21.6pt;"><span style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Dorset
rose as well. “I’ll go with you.” He cut his gaze to Bradley, but the dufus
just sat there without volunteering to help. “Nothing, old chap? Not going to
offer to come along?”<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 21.6pt;"><span style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">“I
should stay here in case she comes back,” Bradley murmured but he didn’t look
at them. Was he afraid…or feeling guilty? <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 21.6pt;"><span style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"> I shivered when we stepped outside, drawing my
hoodie tighter around my body. The nearly half full moon hovered in the cloudy
sky behind the branches of a Tulip tree. Lightning flashed, illuminating the
back yard. The icy air held the scent of rain. “We need to hurry,” I told
Dorset. “It looks like it might storm.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 21.6pt;"><span style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">He
nodded. “I’d say let’s split up to cover more ground, but with one flashlight
and hammer, and with the odd happenings lately, maybe we should stick
together.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 21.6pt;"><span style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">“Agreed.”
My teeth chattered, though it wasn’t all that cold. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 21.6pt;"><span style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">We walked
along the wood line, shouting for Macy, shining the flashlight between the
trees. Nothing. As if by mutual agreement, we entered the woods. I shuddered,
not only concerned about a potential maniac, but also leery of whatever
creatures might be scurrying around at my feet. I was a city girl and didn’t
even own a pet. I was <i>not</i> okay with encountering an animal, of any kind.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 21.6pt;"><span style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">We
searched for another half hour with no sign of Macy. We were deep into the
woods when the sky opened up and doused us with buckets of rain. Thunder
rumbled and more lightning flashed. We gave up and hurried back to the house.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 21.6pt;"><span style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">The
others were waiting for us. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 21.6pt;"><span style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">“Anything?”
Bradley asked, his voice high-pitched with anxiety. He seemed much more
concerned about Macy than he had been about his wife.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 21.6pt;"><span style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">“Not a
sign,” I said. “We need to call the police.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 21.6pt;"><span style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">“I
did.” Agnes was seated in the forest green wing chair in the corner of the
library. “They took the information but said she’s an adult and can leave any
time she wants.” She rose. “We waited dinner for you. Let’s eat.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 21.6pt;"><span style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">A pall
hung over the room as we ate in silence, the air thick with fear and confusion.
<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 21.6pt;"><span style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Afterward,
I excused myself and headed upstairs, anxiety weighing on me. I had an
overwhelming feeling that I wouldn’t sleep a wink. Nor would anyone else.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzzSmNEnGlUKnRXFfmPZ6tMUqi62mro7wvBzJA66_FGO8FHvqRub2IL8GHDICOcVl6fbcH8xdgC6iKQbyHt_rr1tFvYlvJwlNJGFjMDhQmRjXLN4DyS7CXyKjnXBkrSKdE8zE8gZq5Ejg/s760/Purchase+the+book%2521.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="100" data-original-width="760" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzzSmNEnGlUKnRXFfmPZ6tMUqi62mro7wvBzJA66_FGO8FHvqRub2IL8GHDICOcVl6fbcH8xdgC6iKQbyHt_rr1tFvYlvJwlNJGFjMDhQmRjXLN4DyS7CXyKjnXBkrSKdE8zE8gZq5Ejg/s320/Purchase+the+book%2521.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Available to buy and FREE on KindleUnlimited</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><b><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Blood-Breakfast-Friday-13th-Story-ebook/dp/B08NF5GH9C/" target="_blank">AmazonUS</a> | <a href="https://amzn.to/3m7JZXO" target="_blank">AmazonUK</a> | <a href="https://www.amazon.ca/Blood-Breakfast-Friday-13th-Story-ebook/dp/B08NF5GH9C/" target="_blank">AmazonCA</a> | <a href="https://www.amazon.com.au/Blood-Breakfast-Friday-13th-Story-ebook/dp/B08NF5GH9C/" target="_blank">AmazonAU</a></b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><p style="background: white; margin: 0cm 0cm 11.25pt; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt;"><b>Please like Facebook page:</b> </span></p><p style="background: white; margin: 0cm 0cm 11.25pt; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/Fri13thShortStories"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt;">https://www.facebook.com/Fri13thShortStories</span></a><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="background: white; margin: 0cm 0cm 11.25pt; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt;"> </span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><a name="_Toc56586069"><b><u><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; line-height: 107%;">All
stories in the Friday the 13<sup>th</sup> series:</span></u></b></a><b><u><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 5.0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> </span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 5.0pt; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Links-Evil-Friday-13th-Story-ebook/dp/B08M46Y15R/ref=sr_1_7?dchild=1&keywords=a+friday+the+13th+story&qid=1604512955&s=digital-text&sr=1-7"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Links
to Evil</span></a><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> by <span style="color: #050505;">Rolynn Anderson<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 5.0pt; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Till-Death-Friday-13th-Story-ebook/dp/B08LSP52VK/ref=sr_1_11?dchild=1&keywords=a+friday+the+13th+story&qid=1604512955&s=digital-text&sr=1-11"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Till
Death</span></a><span style="color: #050505; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> by Maureen Bonatch<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 5.0pt; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08NF5GH9C?fbclid=IwAR1RLvpXylZmtintKa0hU5SuFfx5u9Dck_k07WMHBxIS8gbuYq6vaE_tRVE"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Blood
and Breakfast</span></a><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> by Alicia Dean<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 5.0pt; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Retribution-Friday-13th-Story-FitzSimons-ebook/dp/B08MCJJ97S/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=a+friday+the+13th+story&qid=1604512955&s=digital-text&sr=1-1"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Retribution</span></a><span style="color: #050505; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> by D.J. FitzSimons<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 5.0pt; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08M946Z7Z?fbclid=IwAR0B_kJhWKJo9HVh98QVyGHDlwxraLBvxzaGP-Acgin4dC-S4e6Z6nL-vsM"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Shattered
Reflections</span></a><span style="color: #050505; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> by Tamrie Foxtail<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 5.0pt; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Deadly-Game-Friday-13th-Story-ebook/dp/B08M98B3Z4/ref=sr_1_3?dchild=1&keywords=jannine+gallant&qid=1604421727&s=digital-text&sr=1-3"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; line-height: 107%;">A
Deadly Game</span></a><span style="color: #050505; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> by Jannine Gallant<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 5.0pt; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Dead-Rights-Friday-13th-Story-ebook/dp/B08M9RD3NC/ref=sr_1_4?dchild=1&keywords=a+friday+the+13th+story&qid=1604512955&s=digital-text&sr=1-4"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Dead to
Rights</span></a><span style="color: #050505; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> by Margo Hoornstra<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 5.0pt; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Still-Night-Friday-13th-Story-ebook/dp/B08MBHP93R/ref=sr_1_3?dchild=1&keywords=a+friday+the+13th+story&qid=1604512955&s=digital-text&sr=1-3"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; line-height: 107%;">In the
Still of the Night</span></a><span style="color: #050505; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> by Callie Hutton<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 5.0pt; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Glimpse-Dinner-Guest-Friday-Glimpses-ebook/dp/B08LCHP6G1/ref=sr_1_15?dchild=1&keywords=a+friday+the+13th+story&qid=1604512955&s=digital-text&sr=1-15"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Glimpse,
the Dinner Guest</span></a><span style="color: #050505; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> by Stephen B. King<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 5.0pt; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/SCORNED-Friday-13th-Story-Kittrell-ebook/dp/B08M3VQS8C/ref=sr_1_6?dchild=1&keywords=a+friday+the+13th+story&qid=1604512955&s=digital-text&sr=1-6"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Scorned</span></a><span style="color: #050505; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> by Anna Kittrell<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 5.0pt; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Vanity-Kills-Friday-13th-Story-ebook/dp/B08MB9GB8K/ref=sr_1_2?dchild=1&keywords=a+friday+the+13th+story&qid=1604512955&s=digital-text&sr=1-2"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Vanity
Kills</span></a><span style="color: #050505; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> by Dianne McCartney<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 5.0pt; text-align: center;"><a href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2Fdp%2FB08NCD8XS7%3Ffbclid%3DIwAR0UK_Z4FHLYE5grYLKeuoQDvJS_unUAfeAcmdsCcV0GNFJEmpOPiXeXocY&h=AT3paJYhZBm1SR32mfTNQKL06_C4W20CNwZIBkRcKe1PL_T7e9fhu-nXjKFviWU-lcDL_YB3NgNETVQsF9XqHvNX5ryk_XznDWxI9YTk_prQTv2aVJAc4rjNICWdc_gG0w1_YwL-ZvlXy7QgXbbx&__tn__=-UK-R&c%5b0%5d=AT3tmya9GAn1Ss_L1Lslbk-qnNraF104-QxjiNUY8ZxtQVEp_35kHeb3PAl5U5caf43s7B8K_LbbiHLhYYvuxEAsPssQZhWPmIUhtnv9i9RfZSv3kIhm3tSJ_vxVOSnRRSGvTApgzd51KZBLocgzhznXnI4EQa8suOrdg5evHg6KdvJtl-oG3sKwgHxu5SfpPlievMqnRSxOLlZSoAx1"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Fatal
Legacy</span></a><span style="color: #050505; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> by Krysta Scott<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 5.0pt; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Azraels-Chosen-Friday-13th-Story-ebook/dp/B08M9RCPLF/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=Azrael%E2%80%99s+Chosen&qid=1604360856&s=digital-text&sr=1-1"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Azrael’s
Chosen</span></a><span style="color: #050505; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> by Leah St. James<o:p></o:p></span></p></div></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgaYDT9ngWKHJV9o7bHK60G1R_js3-q8dPAI-tsEUKaGeLwVSoJgSs66pXaK7lkWgx-cxq1FPBhW9rJCSBANrWatiWcm-rN-YxNZMxxOedQYTvWjhWI2wxFT8NPoW3BDd1Tz0q6tzh1bg/s760/Meet+The+Author.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="100" data-original-width="760" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgaYDT9ngWKHJV9o7bHK60G1R_js3-q8dPAI-tsEUKaGeLwVSoJgSs66pXaK7lkWgx-cxq1FPBhW9rJCSBANrWatiWcm-rN-YxNZMxxOedQYTvWjhWI2wxFT8NPoW3BDd1Tz0q6tzh1bg/s320/Meet+The+Author.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 27.0pt;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 17.3333px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkgFm5CEYpL2hAjaUEHF56hZNTCo-ZfuVnPWg3fMyVvyy9vZ4YL-piLuimao_QMzr5lTtz8Rdv_GFqoLrmWYxWd9oRkqOKsgdi8Yy1a4IN9B-5nOgjzvVoetD5_9Ry0xOZDDY10xG8V6c/s652/2017+Author+Photo+Alicia+Dean+Color.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="626" data-original-width="652" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkgFm5CEYpL2hAjaUEHF56hZNTCo-ZfuVnPWg3fMyVvyy9vZ4YL-piLuimao_QMzr5lTtz8Rdv_GFqoLrmWYxWd9oRkqOKsgdi8Yy1a4IN9B-5nOgjzvVoetD5_9Ry0xOZDDY10xG8V6c/s320/2017+Author+Photo+Alicia+Dean+Color.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Alicia Dean began writing stories as a child. At age 10, she wrote her first ever romance (featuring a hero who looked just like Elvis Presley, and who shared the name of Elvis’ character in the movie, Tickle Me), and she still has the tattered, pencil-written copy. Alicia is from Moore, Oklahoma and now lives in Edmond. She has three grown children and a huge network of supportive friends and family. She writes mostly contemporary suspense and paranormal, but has also written in other genres, including a few vintage historicals. </span><p></p><p style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 27.0pt;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Other than reading and writing, her passions are Elvis Presley (she almost always works in a mention of him into her stories) and watching (and rewatching) her favorite television shows like Ozark, Dexter, Justified, Breaking Bad, Sons of Anarchy, and Vampire Diaries. Some of her favorite authors are Michael Connelly, Dennis Lehane, Stephen King, Lee Child, Lisa Gardner, Ridley Pearson, Joseph Finder, and Jonathan Kellerman…to name a few.</span></p><p style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 27.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"><span style="font-size: 17.3333px;"><br /></span></span></p><p style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 27.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="100" data-original-width="760" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggyBrTMlFMPWX8pXcJRjDCnvGaK9F3TPx4LJO3M0z-4tvV7_kQMB-A4n7UCl0-tzchoW-5F8vlukSMNFnqbpti5DWiHqxOs_bLP9Rzh7pruYtBhCU-G3WnqfLbdOe5GEg7mzrq7BWYTXU/s320/Where+to+find+the+author....png" width="320" /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"><br /></span></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 17.3333px; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;">Email: Alicia@AliciaDean.com</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Website: </span><a href="about:blank"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; line-height: 107%;">http://aliciadean.com/</span></a><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Blog: </span><a href="about:blank"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; line-height: 107%;">http://aliciadean.com/alicias-blog/</span></a><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Facebook: </span><a href="about:blank"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; line-height: 107%;">https://www.facebook.com/AuthorAliciaDean/</span></a><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Twitter: @Alicia_Dean_<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Instagram: AliciaDeanAuthor<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; line-height: 107%;">BookBub: </span><a href="about:blank"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; line-height: 107%;">https://www.bookbub.com/profile/alicia-dean</span></a><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Pinterest: </span><a href="about:blank"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; line-height: 107%;">https://pinterest.com/aliciamdean/</span></a><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Goodreads: </span><a href="about:blank"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; line-height: 107%;">http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/468339.Alicia_Dean</span></a><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 27.0pt;">
</p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> </span></p></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: right;"><br /></div>Monique DeVerehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08826281077474713823noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1832043822183606170.post-24013570224478993082020-11-16T12:37:00.000+00:002020-11-16T12:37:33.147+00:00New #ContemporaryRomance Matt's Pregnant Runaway Wife #eBook #KindleUnlimited #PreOrder<p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;"></span></b></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLtkBlhavePAqN7hobCljZm4YfeRggJB0jJWI6xaISKHaQp6HVbQ-vamuSW17X1q0E-iRA4E_ZUfThdx_cjnkoWoVCu2JxKZ5_4d7N-hFlsAmlLk2ab2IXYjmXMsxQhldEx_1Hh9jo6ow/s300/Matt%2527s+Pregnant+Runaway+WifeFinal51120+-+200X300.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLtkBlhavePAqN7hobCljZm4YfeRggJB0jJWI6xaISKHaQp6HVbQ-vamuSW17X1q0E-iRA4E_ZUfThdx_cjnkoWoVCu2JxKZ5_4d7N-hFlsAmlLk2ab2IXYjmXMsxQhldEx_1Hh9jo6ow/s0/Matt%2527s+Pregnant+Runaway+WifeFinal51120+-+200X300.jpg" /></a></span></b></span></div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">I</span></b><span style="font-size: medium;">'m very excited to announce the upcoming release of <a href="https://smarturl.it/6mypb6" target="_blank"><b>Matt's Pregnant Runaway Wife</b></a>! When Sabrina fell in love with Matt, it happened so fast she didn't stop to consider anything but their whirlwind romance. Now, months later, she's faced with a decision. But yet again, she doesn't stop to think of the consequences. </span></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: medium;">How will it all end now that she's put her marriage at risk? </span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://smarturl.it/6mypb6" target="_blank"><b>Matt's Pregnant Runaway Wife</b></a> is now available for pre-order.</span></span></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6qUTBcG3fDJK17X57T6Xp0QD-Ap5BpsCWfXEoj8GHNnvH65UaRJt_P035GjMz8M0UUF04dCUIUwMoqr6T2JCCQ9KujprqwxgaWAdI34mxkyTR9hQlUxqTqXrVh_WTsRbrRZHj7rpxzzY/s760/Back+Cover+Copy.png" imageanchor="1" style="font-family: georgia; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="100" data-original-width="760" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6qUTBcG3fDJK17X57T6Xp0QD-Ap5BpsCWfXEoj8GHNnvH65UaRJt_P035GjMz8M0UUF04dCUIUwMoqr6T2JCCQ9KujprqwxgaWAdI34mxkyTR9hQlUxqTqXrVh_WTsRbrRZHj7rpxzzY/s320/Back+Cover+Copy.png" width="320" /></a></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><i>This might be the biggest risk of her life.</i></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">When her whirlwind romance with gorgeous Sicilian-born restaurateur Matteo Giordano culminates in marriage, award-winning pastry chef Sabrina Newton-Giordano thinks she has it all...until Matt refuses to introduce her to his family. Sabrina desires their baby to have the same love she knew from her grandparents, but Matt’s outright rejection of his family could result in their baby never knowing his or her paternal grandparents, something Sabrina will not accept. Until that is, she hits on the perfect solution—run away to Sicily to meet the in-laws! </span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Matt wants only one thing—to keep his wife and unborn child safe. For a man intent on never allowing anything to stand in his way, it should be an easy task. But Matt hasn’t bargained on how stubborn his irresistible, runaway wife can be. Despite his stern objections, she’s determined to form a relationship with his family. He knows, from past experience, they’d never accept her or the baby. Now Matt is torn between the urgent need to protect his wife and fear of causing her undue stress in her pregnancy. </span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWAiZ5uOhfqqvOTusVz23LkW2mR1FlSplUixs3sC05oqP8D_CTE2iMlKVI_45VBH06uDhJc5NEqHXUmmSpDmcvYzqpQMdFafSmPFiDs8BsDGQtcl33Dti5HKVkas3TXbPg88iPEv1Kh68/s760/PreOrder+the+book%2521.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="100" data-original-width="760" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWAiZ5uOhfqqvOTusVz23LkW2mR1FlSplUixs3sC05oqP8D_CTE2iMlKVI_45VBH06uDhJc5NEqHXUmmSpDmcvYzqpQMdFafSmPFiDs8BsDGQtcl33Dti5HKVkas3TXbPg88iPEv1Kh68/s320/PreOrder+the+book%2521.png" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://smarturl.it/6mypb6" target="_blank">Amazon</a></span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p></p><div><br /></div>Monique DeVerehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08826281077474713823noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1832043822183606170.post-6522056770091770932020-04-13T17:34:00.000+01:002020-04-13T17:34:20.028+01:00PARTY FOR TWO has a new cover! #Coverreveal #RomanceReaders #ContemporaryRomance #SexyRomance<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">P</span></b><span style="font-size: large;">arty For Two has a new cover! </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">If you remember the original cover, it had pretty pink silk sheets. I thought I'd try a cover featuring a couple instead to see if it makes a difference to book sales for this title. We shall see. If you are so inclined, I'd love to know what you think of the new cover.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Here are the covers compared.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHBllhHrqsySgkKyJBKpGa1i3TfQHABanrqwdupB8KbxTdW9WQi5GdoM3xZg6fD88HgginQXGOsg1A79CxLI_TKDMlqJf7ae2SJJtFPOoWnr7o1qcdGRcgR5DPWAzxH-V5yROP8imf3Yo/s1600/OldandNew.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="525" data-original-width="632" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHBllhHrqsySgkKyJBKpGa1i3TfQHABanrqwdupB8KbxTdW9WQi5GdoM3xZg6fD88HgginQXGOsg1A79CxLI_TKDMlqJf7ae2SJJtFPOoWnr7o1qcdGRcgR5DPWAzxH-V5yROP8imf3Yo/s320/OldandNew.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6RYpgtai21V4tx39FjxEspSz0qw_3N6kyKkXyNqnwNMytWR1TW9EUel0mFFbhQFKLx_qsVYIGRaNEKq5le_yxgTivAV1EmKFTc5gJ68Z2yGbuOu2ZzeYCbRNznK-a4FLOz8ocpIs4SJM/s1600/Back+Cover+Copy.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="100" data-original-width="760" height="42" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6RYpgtai21V4tx39FjxEspSz0qw_3N6kyKkXyNqnwNMytWR1TW9EUel0mFFbhQFKLx_qsVYIGRaNEKq5le_yxgTivAV1EmKFTc5gJ68Z2yGbuOu2ZzeYCbRNznK-a4FLOz8ocpIs4SJM/s320/Back+Cover+Copy.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><span style="font-weight: 400;"><i>Her sexy weekend fling</i></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><span style="font-weight: 400;"><br /></span></span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Ex-lawyer turned pregnancy model Danielle Hampton has one simple rule; never date an attorney, even if he’s so deliciously hot she’s nicknamed him His Hotness Esquire. When her father asks her to strap on her silicone bump and pretend to be Casey Lowe’s pregnant fiancée in order to pull her family’s law firm out of trouble, her first answer is a resounding no! But she owes Casey for wrecking his pool.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><span style="font-weight: 400;"><br /></span></span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Civil Rights Attorney Casey Lowe lives by a code of practice: never date his boss’s daughter, but he’ll do just about anything to make partner at the top law firm—even if it means violating his personal code. He hasn’t bargained on the fierce desire that burns hotter than the Mojave Desert and combusts every time he gets his boss’s daughter alone. She may drive him to distraction and melt in his arms, but will this party girl hang around long enough for him to convince her that all the best parties… are for two?</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgJCm-rUE8524V0wM_twlaOK_M12KKmEZ17nXW6DAOM50i-n0-Xz0rlPp6IlMFWes5ceLL-CVmO-PlXvTTD5qm_vRUag3PuBH9FYr4UPHsNQWKt9HGjT9xjiy02y_FvnQM8pbQxgLUZH0/s1600/Excerpt.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="100" data-original-width="760" height="42" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgJCm-rUE8524V0wM_twlaOK_M12KKmEZ17nXW6DAOM50i-n0-Xz0rlPp6IlMFWes5ceLL-CVmO-PlXvTTD5qm_vRUag3PuBH9FYr4UPHsNQWKt9HGjT9xjiy02y_FvnQM8pbQxgLUZH0/s320/Excerpt.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-small;">Copyright © Monique DeVere 2015</span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-small;">Crystal Swan Publications</span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-small;">All Rights Reserved</span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">“Answer the question, Lowe. Did you or did you not say—”</span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">It should have wiped the smile off his face but if anything it brightened his grin. “Yes, I said it, but—”</span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">“Just the facts, Lowe.”</span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">He chuckled. “Why the hell did you ever give up law?” His mouth landed on hers and she hadn’t even seen it coming. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Dani refused to let her eyes drift shut. Refused to let the sweet sensation of Casey’s lips on hers seduce her. She should pull back. Push him away. She got as far as planting her palms on his chest—his hard chest with the solid muscles that flexed beneath her fingers. Then, as if they operated independently of her brain, her hands bunched in his shirt front, tugged him closer. Her lids became too heavy and fluttered closed. The tip of his tongue caressed the seam of her lips. They softened, parted of their own accord. He accepted the invitation, slid his tongue in slow bewitching strokes inside her mouth. A shudder skittered through her, coaxing a sigh from her.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">She was going to push him away… in a minute… any minute now… just one more second…</span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">He made a half growl kind of sound deep in his throat then broke the kiss. “How’s that for a fact?” </span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Dani blinked. She couldn’t think. Every muscle in her body had jellified. She’d never been kissed stupid before. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXzY4yk5JfxwKcQEVJ_DHaTMXLC6IsaDBvjdsq9SkOjv081LmfWsvMor5eNMv_sVh1nD0ISlSWq4GdlOghAMqeQ0xTvLCqtV2V5ocdDJEyxanBsFNvCdUoSz2GCftPs6ncKR8pTTkOBSo/s1600/Purchase+the+book%2521.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="100" data-original-width="760" height="42" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXzY4yk5JfxwKcQEVJ_DHaTMXLC6IsaDBvjdsq9SkOjv081LmfWsvMor5eNMv_sVh1nD0ISlSWq4GdlOghAMqeQ0xTvLCqtV2V5ocdDJEyxanBsFNvCdUoSz2GCftPs6ncKR8pTTkOBSo/s320/Purchase+the+book%2521.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><a href="http://smarturl.it/PartyForTwo" target="_blank">Amazon</a>| <a href="https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/party-for-two-monique-devere/1123950786?ean=2940153083100" target="_blank">Barnes & Noble</a>| <a href="https://books.apple.com/fi/book/party-for-two/id1125605378" target="_blank">iBooks</a>| <a href="https://www.kobo.com/gb/en/ebook/party-for-two-1" target="_blank">Kobo</a>| <a href="https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/644031" target="_blank">Smashwords</a>|</span></div>
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Monique DeVerehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08826281077474713823noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1832043822183606170.post-10357636109254933002019-11-18T12:29:00.001+00:002019-11-18T12:34:00.565+00:00THE WEDDING FAVOR Release Day #Romance #ILovetoRead #NewRelease #RomanceReaders<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYiIznbEjWtVGc9atCcmR1hHl07I_aHMV-Rc9TKlZxLpEFfJQbQ-13cysdS8Ntjq6Y8HbwZGeKl1JOqhvMx5UHs4dlGg0uX-jhM_oyC9QkDI7JN_59FeRQmWhnaIBdRX5U5G6lEO8x7ig/s1600/TheWeddingFavor_w13863_300.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYiIznbEjWtVGc9atCcmR1hHl07I_aHMV-Rc9TKlZxLpEFfJQbQ-13cysdS8Ntjq6Y8HbwZGeKl1JOqhvMx5UHs4dlGg0uX-jhM_oyC9QkDI7JN_59FeRQmWhnaIBdRX5U5G6lEO8x7ig/s1600/TheWeddingFavor_w13863_300.jpg" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></b></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">R</span></b><span style="font-size: large;">elease day has finally arrived for <a href="https://smarturl.it/TheWeddingFavor" target="_blank">The Wedding Favor</a>! </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i>When unlucky-in-love Erin Hart’s workaholic boss asks her to attend a family wedding as his fake girlfriend, hiding her secret crush becomes an impossible task. </i></span></span><br />
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<i style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: x-large;">Will a favor lead to forever?</i><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"> </span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhovYwyKDgLJZ1Rt55xejWLpeYe4fjQa36pHm3aEyHPU_DLSMph3IpstChctCGLcBQ1FV3mt3Ib79QOZNU9b2kWyiCS8lCWYrJS1PLyjht0zEdnW9w2kPt7bBUBA9FpqNv8D49xjL9nVA/s1600/Back+Cover+Copy.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="100" data-original-width="760" height="42" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhovYwyKDgLJZ1Rt55xejWLpeYe4fjQa36pHm3aEyHPU_DLSMph3IpstChctCGLcBQ1FV3mt3Ib79QOZNU9b2kWyiCS8lCWYrJS1PLyjht0zEdnW9w2kPt7bBUBA9FpqNv8D49xjL9nVA/s320/Back+Cover+Copy.png" width="320" /></a><br />
<i style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: x-large;">A wedding favor for her secret crush…</i><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">When unlucky-in-love personal assistant Erin Hart enters her boss’s New York office to resign her job, she doesn’t expect to exit as his fake-girlfriend for an upcoming family wedding. How is she going to keep her crush a secret when she has to share a room… and a bed… with Max for one sizzling weekend in the UK?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Workaholic CEO Max Ferrell understands women only too well: they either want his body or his money. But fiery, sexy Erin is different and recruiting her to help curtail his over-zealous, matchmaking sisters is proving that it’s far more fun to play while you work. Especially when his prim and proper PA helps him to set the sheets ablaze. But falling for her was not in the plan and if he’s not careful, the next wedding might be his own.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2JH4dhTkcRZFWl_TFsFEUndiiFmYIWOaxUIsFpodFLbxgIyupZHRb-T0trzhZtciCosRXTvvoCLPUmHr4WQ3WAf4kuSTd3DTlHHXjDR4V3_VgPkIPXQp-iloczPZb2-cXcAlXbp7R-PQ/s1600/Excerpt.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="100" data-original-width="760" height="42" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2JH4dhTkcRZFWl_TFsFEUndiiFmYIWOaxUIsFpodFLbxgIyupZHRb-T0trzhZtciCosRXTvvoCLPUmHr4WQ3WAf4kuSTd3DTlHHXjDR4V3_VgPkIPXQp-iloczPZb2-cXcAlXbp7R-PQ/s320/Excerpt.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 9.0pt;">The Wedding Favor<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 9.0pt;">Copyright © Monique DeVere 2019<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 9.0pt;">The Wild Rose Press<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 9.0pt;">All Rights Reserved<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><b>“L</b>ook out!”
A female voice shouted a second before a wave of water hit the top of Erin
Hart’s head and cascaded down her body.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Erin squealed,
jerking back way too late to avoid disaster. It was just her bad luck to be
passing a café awning the moment someone decided to upend the canopy of
collected rainwater from last night’s heavy downpour. One minute, she’d been
striding along East 23<sup>rd</sup> Street at 7:15 a.m. trying to work up the
courage to resign her job. The next, she stood—shocked motionless—dripping wet
in the middle of the sidewalk.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Max Ferrell, CEO of
Ferrell Alliance, Inc, the real estate investment firm on Madison Avenue where
she worked, had been hijacking her thoughts for the last three years—and
especially this morning—leaving her oblivious to the potential hazard ahead.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Clutching her tote
with one hand as she worked to catch the breath the sudden splash of chilled
water had snatched, she swiped the other down the front of her brown office
dress. Did she really hope she would be able to brush the wetness from the
material as easily as she would a speck of dust? When her frantic effort made
little difference, she shook herself, much like Buttercup—her teacup Yorkshire
terrier—would have.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Sensing eyes on her,
she glanced at a couple of snickering teenage girls in tight jeans and tighter
T-shirts who gave her a wide berth as they passed.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Suddenly aware of the
spectacle she was making; she raised her chin, squared her shoulders, pasted on
a smile, and forced one sensible-pumped foot in front of the other until the
momentum had her fast-pacing it to Ferrell Alliance, Inc.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Of course, she
accumulated countless stares on her way, but she’d faced humiliation more than
once in her lifetime. By now, it was a piece of cherry pie to her. Even her
crush on Max was proving humiliating. How much longer would she be able to hide
the fact that he made her heart pound and her insides flutter?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Her cell jingled from
deep inside her brown leather tote and she dove for it. Without checking, she
knew who was calling. It would be her sister Nicole, wondering whether she’d
given Max her resignation. That would be a big fat <i>no</i>. She’d attempted
to hand it in several times over the last week but, each time, Max’s reliance
on her as his PA got in the way. It was now Monday, the start of a fresh week
and she still had the pristine envelope in her handbag. Every time she pictured
handing him her resignation it sent nervous sensations and sorrow swirling in
her belly.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Her family needed her
and, instead of leaving New York and returning to Baltimore to help her three
sisters save the family business, she’d allowed her monumental crush on her
boss and his dependence on her to stall her. As a result, her sisters were
struggling to keep Hart to Hart Restorations afloat without any help from her.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">It took four stabs
before her wet fingers managed to let her answer the call, while Nicole’s
smiling face stared at her from the screen.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">“Hi, Nik. Before you
ask, no, I haven’t told Max I’m leaving yet. I’ll do it soon. Promise.” Just as
soon as she came to terms with not getting to see Max five days a
week—sometimes more when she traveled with him on business trips. She was going
to miss her job. Miss the business trips and the challenge of being his
assistant. But most of all she was going to miss Max.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">“It’s not looking
good, hon. We could really use your help around here.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Guilt washed over her
right about the same time a speeding taxi sailed through a deep puddle of
settled water and she experienced her second dousing of the morning. Dripping
wet, she clutched the phone at her side with a death-grip, trying to catch her
breath. A bubble of laughter tickled her belly, and she saw the funny side.
Here she was, trying to look calm, cool and pristine enough to hand in her
notice to Max, only for some wicked, unseen imp to have fun at her expense.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">“Erin?” Nicole’s
voice filtered through the cell. Obviously hearing Erin’s laugh, which probably
veered close to hysteria, had her sister wondering what had happened.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Bringing the phone to
her ear, she swiped the back of her other hand across her eyes. “I’ll call you
later, Nik.” She cut the call, wishing she could rewind and start her morning again.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Every time she’d ever
taken a risk it had turned out to be a huge mistake. Deciding to walk to work
today instead of taking a taxi just proved she shouldn’t take risks. She closed
her eyes and in that moment the last three years flashed through her mind. What
was she doing? She’d meant to lay low working as Max’s PA, desperate to avoid
the people who’d witnessed her humiliating experience back home when her fiancé
had jilted her on the night of their wedding rehearsal.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8WzqzzewAINiTp5iEm7rJ3IDMIyeJQgQBLAI21VuTHEBq1lbhCtyXZFcFefkkla4OeBae4okvXY22f5pkVwkkdO24bagvMHEQAZ_r_zHyIzX2iTPvABpUhdf8xt2Jn2ShGX-XjgYLR8o/s1600/TWFbg181119.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="512" data-original-width="1024" height="160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8WzqzzewAINiTp5iEm7rJ3IDMIyeJQgQBLAI21VuTHEBq1lbhCtyXZFcFefkkla4OeBae4okvXY22f5pkVwkkdO24bagvMHEQAZ_r_zHyIzX2iTPvABpUhdf8xt2Jn2ShGX-XjgYLR8o/s320/TWFbg181119.png" width="320" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">All she’d wanted was
time to heal emotionally until she was able to branch out on her own and start
her dream business of flipping houses. Instead, she’d developed a crush on her
boss and now she was putting her futile attachment to him before her family’s
needs. Up until now, she’d hesitated, afraid of losing Max. But really,
she never had him. He barely noticed she existed. She heaved in a deep breath,
then released it on a sigh. Every thought of him came with a painful pinch
at his rejection. The only way she would get over her crush was to put as
many miles between the two of them as she could. The notion made her heart
hurt, but working with Max and knowing he just didn’t see her as more than his
assistant hurt more. Being so close to him, yet not being free to do
anything about her feelings made her days impossible to bear.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">It was time she
started taking risks. Time she took back control of her life. And it started
with handing Max Ferrell her resignation.</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8arTaYM3b3M1EOV8-7x1A4e224edRCtPRnxIRxmvc26jZVCQggYQq4yuEZTg-LhsRJ_LrIJhRRzbwCz9L4o55bFW_xuy26ZENI45YKWkyZTYMyUMlcoIg0GLwVuTTjSQx3OnE9g9Xt44/s1600/Purchase+the+book%2521.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="100" data-original-width="760" height="42" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8arTaYM3b3M1EOV8-7x1A4e224edRCtPRnxIRxmvc26jZVCQggYQq4yuEZTg-LhsRJ_LrIJhRRzbwCz9L4o55bFW_xuy26ZENI45YKWkyZTYMyUMlcoIg0GLwVuTTjSQx3OnE9g9Xt44/s320/Purchase+the+book%2521.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><a href="https://smarturl.it/TheWeddingFavor" target="_blank">Amazon</a></span><span style="line-height: 115%;"> | </span><a href="http://bit.ly/TheWeddingFavorBN"><span lang="EN-GB" style="line-height: 115%;">Barnes & Noble</span></a><span lang="EN-GB" style="line-height: 115%;">
| </span><a href="http://bit.ly/TheWeddingFavoriBks"><span lang="EN-GB" style="line-height: 115%;">iBooks</span></a></span><span lang="EN-GB" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">
| <a href="http://bit.ly/TheWeddingFavorTWRP">The Wild Rose Press</a> | <a href="http://bit.ly/TheWeddingFavorKobo">Kobo</a> |</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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Monique DeVerehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08826281077474713823noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1832043822183606170.post-85864445196768898142019-10-16T20:05:00.000+01:002019-10-16T20:05:31.439+01:00The Wedding Favor Has a Release Date #Bookworm #MustRead #Preorder #RomanceReaders<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcFTbtEDQKYdRyN-yyyQwKARxek3T8M4BLbFR8dwlQdGR1cFs08758MHZ1PwLoQiYSpete6NeL45O58kTZV4a3mzWaVp-_bJFl00SwMeU89urIoUZbUpIQc8gYVIDGd-_WIJQyMhIYZNo/s1600/TheWeddingFavor_w13863_300.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcFTbtEDQKYdRyN-yyyQwKARxek3T8M4BLbFR8dwlQdGR1cFs08758MHZ1PwLoQiYSpete6NeL45O58kTZV4a3mzWaVp-_bJFl00SwMeU89urIoUZbUpIQc8gYVIDGd-_WIJQyMhIYZNo/s1600/TheWeddingFavor_w13863_300.jpg" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;"><b>H</b></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">ello guys. I thought you, my wonderful fans, would like to know that <a href="https://smarturl.it/TheWeddingFavor" target="_blank">The Wedding Favor</a> has a release date. You can finally get to know Max and Erin better on <b>November 18th, 2019</b>. Both the ebook and paperback are available for pre-order now. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Don't forget to pre-order from <a href="https://smarturl.it/TheWeddingFavor" target="_blank">Amazon</a>.</span></div>
Monique DeVerehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08826281077474713823noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1832043822183606170.post-33736664903120945502019-08-06T13:56:00.003+01:002019-08-06T13:56:59.216+01:00THE WEDDING FAVOR Has a Cover! #CoverReveal #RomanticComedy #Weddings #WeddingRomance #Bestman #Romance<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU6L71wImj3qhJE69Yr7Rijfupr6Otky9FELdeClxj-zznAdoadaIy6heatb7zf6dwXiWU7u3NWLYSWTa5qwqom3FcGxH1t1586UCWTSAUwPb4T6Lj_K1jfCcqN2CYGFm4Z5k3bENRGhc/s1600/IMG-20190710-WA0003.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="448" data-original-width="336" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU6L71wImj3qhJE69Yr7Rijfupr6Otky9FELdeClxj-zznAdoadaIy6heatb7zf6dwXiWU7u3NWLYSWTa5qwqom3FcGxH1t1586UCWTSAUwPb4T6Lj_K1jfCcqN2CYGFm4Z5k3bENRGhc/s320/IMG-20190710-WA0003.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><i>T</i></b></span><span style="font-size: large;"><i>he Wedding Favor</i> has a cover! I'm very excited to share the cover for my new romantic comedy, published by The Wild Rose Press. I haven't been given a release date yet, but, I have to tell you, I can't wait! </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<h4 style="text-align: left;">
<i><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">When unlucky-in-love Erin Hart’s workaholic boss asks her to attend a family wedding as his fake girlfriend, hiding her secret crush becomes an impossible task. </span></i></h4>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">You're probably wondering why I have a picture of a Yorkshire Terrie fronting the blog post when I'm introducing you to my new book cover. Meet my Yorkie. Her name is Autumn Buttercup and she's 11 months old. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">So what does this have to do with my cover? </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Good question. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">The answer is that the heroine</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">—</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Erin Hart</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">—</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">from <i>The Wedding Favor </i>and I have something in common</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">—</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">we both love Yorkies. Erin's Yorkie is a teacup Yorkshire Terrier named Buttercup. I was thrilled when I saw that The Wild Rose Press cover artist assigned to create my cover had managed to get the Yorkie on the cover ~melt~.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Isn't the cover cute? I must say, I do love it. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy54YO3VaDm9dLT4wPdWCDLT3mwYrDmNOOURD5F8VbOvr-wb9YkHZBkRArDOjma4Lvd20hWOOvsNVyZNYtJH2n2QUWNaYkcmDNw0y1Y-KYmgGMAjocO5-_TEpVGDpJk5xLBQZHbjjqa8s/s1600/TheWeddingFavor_w13863_med.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="999" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy54YO3VaDm9dLT4wPdWCDLT3mwYrDmNOOURD5F8VbOvr-wb9YkHZBkRArDOjma4Lvd20hWOOvsNVyZNYtJH2n2QUWNaYkcmDNw0y1Y-KYmgGMAjocO5-_TEpVGDpJk5xLBQZHbjjqa8s/s640/TheWeddingFavor_w13863_med.jpg" width="396" /></span></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG1VLBY0I4ocWAMEC6psW4VGY3FVTQZPWOPPo0RAGRGLa5917znaOFW5pvoWNfb7KEndNqfFbrZUpvSYTc7SltOaK4TAD5OOz5rSyf9FlgUIgvZpIJguY1_Qr538R_F94erQYrc5cCKEQ/s1600/Back+Cover+Copy.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="100" data-original-width="760" height="42" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG1VLBY0I4ocWAMEC6psW4VGY3FVTQZPWOPPo0RAGRGLa5917znaOFW5pvoWNfb7KEndNqfFbrZUpvSYTc7SltOaK4TAD5OOz5rSyf9FlgUIgvZpIJguY1_Qr538R_F94erQYrc5cCKEQ/s320/Back+Cover+Copy.png" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">A wedding favor for her secret crush…<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">When unlucky-in-love personal assistant Erin Hart
enters her boss’s New York office to resign her job, she doesn’t expect to exit
as his fake-girlfriend for an upcoming family wedding. How is she going to keep
her crush a secret when she has to share a room… and a bed… with Max for one
sizzling weekend in the UK?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Workaholic CEO Max Ferrell understands women only
too well: they either want his body or his money. But fiery, sexy Erin is
different and recruiting her to help curtail his over-zealous, matchmaking
sisters is proving that it’s far more fun to play while you work. Especially
when his prim and proper PA helps him to set the sheets ablaze. But falling for
her was not in the plan and if he's not careful, the next wedding might be his
own.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Monique DeVerehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08826281077474713823noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1832043822183606170.post-40886273118658731772019-07-14T15:50:00.000+01:002019-07-14T15:50:20.286+01:00Carb Sensitivity, Sugar Intolerance & The #Keto Solution #Health #HealthyEating #LCHF #LowCarb #CleanEating #SugarFree<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWftspckatoMgbu0uvWavwtO9nrvmgtDjswQztm1yFHeZAykcTxGuJiEjWVgRx8-9VGQ5iN1o4UaVdn0tKQ15DOZPDfWcwo2gSUu0R-jyx0wXCpBqz44yGMXm29bK0vK1jP_OPZvXjgIQ/s1600/Sugar...Can+You+Handle+It_+Blog14719.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="800" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWftspckatoMgbu0uvWavwtO9nrvmgtDjswQztm1yFHeZAykcTxGuJiEjWVgRx8-9VGQ5iN1o4UaVdn0tKQ15DOZPDfWcwo2gSUu0R-jyx0wXCpBqz44yGMXm29bK0vK1jP_OPZvXjgIQ/s320/Sugar...Can+You+Handle+It_+Blog14719.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: x-large;"><b>E</b></span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">arlier this year, I took a long hard look at my health and realised I had to get serious. After all, I'm long past the age of youth when my body forgave my bad eating habits. One of the things I came to discover, was my intolerance to sugar. Yes, we all know sugar is bad for our bodies and our brain but, yet, we remain snared by the sugary hooks of temptation. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">I've mentioned before that I'm a huge fan of water-only fasting and I try to look after my body as best as I can, but still, I had a very unhealthy relationship with sugar. I was hooked! Just couldn't break that addiction, no matter how hard I tried. So, I got serious</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">—</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">mainly because I <pwa class="pwa-mark-done" data-pwa-category="" data-pwa-dictionary-word="don't like anything" data-pwa-hint="Readability may be enhanced by using: like nothing" data-pwa-id="pwa-C2F0F554D0A66AEF5A06766B7E30EB8E" data-pwa-rule-id="READABILITY_1661" data-pwa-suggestions="like nothing">don't</pwa> <pwa class="pwa-mark-done" data-pwa-category="" data-pwa-dictionary-word="don't like anything" data-pwa-hint="Readability may be enhanced by using: like nothing" data-pwa-id="pwa-C2F0F554D0A66AEF5A06766B7E30EB8E" data-pwa-rule-id="READABILITY_1661" data-pwa-suggestions="like nothing">like anything</pwa> controlling me</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">—</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">and decided to cut out sugar. I'd love to say that was the end of the matter</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">—</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">no more sugar. Sadly, that wasn't the result. I did well for a couple of weeks, then one of the kids had a birthday and the sugar addiction gripped me again. After I recovered from the sugar coma, I realised I needed a better strategy than simply giving up sweet treats and chocolate. While I'd avoided sugar, I was still eating high carb foods, which was doing me no favours since I'm also carb sensitive. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">So, I decided to try the Ketogenic diet again. The last time I was on keto, I didn't count my macros or added salt, or really took it seriously. As a result, I started to have heart palpitations every day. Then the leg cramps set in and I ditched the diet faster than you can say caramel cheesecake. Had I done keto properly, none of this would have happened. Live and learn, right? Anyway, fast forward to the present. I'm back on Keto</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">—</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">properly</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">—</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">and I feel amazing for it. All of my joint aches and muscle pains are gone. The brain fog is lifting. The irritability is gone and I no longer need a baby nap in the afternoon. Now, if I have a sugar craving, I find that 50-100g of berries with a couple of tbsp of double cream is the perfect treat for me. I don't believe I'd ever really kick the sugar habit. I imagine this is what it must be like to be a recovering addict. You have to take each day at a time and make wise decisions as you go.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwdHK4VaeTf0tRBqkjPzx5oEIhg7G44VglBjnxDPKiNQMBF5HqjrvGPNGnH_t9T3pd7rF2uXZq69dHw-DeYVctv3XSVwQUJpJ6H0lyThIg9RMW67rdRs7iawxHxOesJnl72RT7k6Vh_t0/s1600/Berries+%2526+Cream.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="800" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwdHK4VaeTf0tRBqkjPzx5oEIhg7G44VglBjnxDPKiNQMBF5HqjrvGPNGnH_t9T3pd7rF2uXZq69dHw-DeYVctv3XSVwQUJpJ6H0lyThIg9RMW67rdRs7iawxHxOesJnl72RT7k6Vh_t0/s320/Berries+%2526+Cream.png" width="320" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Not everyone is sensitive or intolerant to sugar and carbs but if you are, you'll know by monitoring your body’s reaction before and after you consume sugar. Do you love sugar so much that you eat sugar-laden foods even when you’re not hungry? This was one of my signs. The other was chronic fatigue. I didn't have the energy</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">—</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">nor the motivation</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">—</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">to do anything. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Other Signs and S</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">ymptoms of Carb & </span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Sugar Sensitivity</span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">•<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Unstable blood sugar</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">•<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Voracious craving for sweet treats and refined carbohydrates</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">•<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Mood disturbances/Mood swings</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">•<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Stomach Bloating</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">•<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Irritable Bowel</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">•<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Diarrhea</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">•<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Joint and muscle pain</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">•<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Skin break-outs</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">•<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Brittle nails</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">•<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Unhealthy hair and hair loss</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">•<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Lethargy and fatigue</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">•<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Poor memory/Brain fog</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">•<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Irritability</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">•<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Severe PMS symptoms in women</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">•<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Struggle with weight </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">•<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Tired, tetchy and sleepy (or what I call the afternoon sleepy-weepies).</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">I'm not saying Keto solves all problems for everyone, but, for me, it certainly has. I'm now full of energy, I can eat tons of fat<span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 16px;">—</span>did I mention how much I LOVE fat??<span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 16px;">—</span>and I can sit in front of my laptop and be productive. The fact that I haven't put out a book in a couple of years has something to do with my chronic lethargy as well as the fact that I've been focusing on targeting Harlequin. I live in perpetual anticipation of the day I get The Call, but I digress. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">I've found that doing Keto correctly has been my life-saver. If like me, you suffer from sugar and carbohydrate intolerance, perhaps you might like to look into the Ketogenic diet. It's brilliant! AND a super-fast way to drop unwanted, stored fat!! I've found the <a href="https://www.dietdoctor.com/" target="_blank">Diet Doctor</a> site amazing for information. You might like to check them out. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">And if you're not sold on Keto and you're looking for a way to crush the sugar demons, I invite you to check out one of my books</span><span style="color: #222222;">—</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">you might enjoy my <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B075V7FKT4/" target="_blank">Pleasure Flights</a> series. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Did you know you get the same high from reading a good book as you would from eating sugary treats? The bonus is you get all the pleasure without the unwanted calories! Who wouldn't want that, right?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Here is a taster of Book #1 in the Pleasure Flights series.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSOAJMCkwIqdWgZDWZJvmx0rrcq8XrJFrnAmr2yWZC8KTbWuVBf2m7vc3CBrKlBLQYjntzqC9r64rneSfyb5KOoOEFSqz5Fq2fO5nWYcwQALp5Jqrfd2insVr6ZkF7ClP5JJTASkNVASU/s1600/mockup-9-99609641509010821-large.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="997" data-original-width="1595" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSOAJMCkwIqdWgZDWZJvmx0rrcq8XrJFrnAmr2yWZC8KTbWuVBf2m7vc3CBrKlBLQYjntzqC9r64rneSfyb5KOoOEFSqz5Fq2fO5nWYcwQALp5Jqrfd2insVr6ZkF7ClP5JJTASkNVASU/s320/mockup-9-99609641509010821-large.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><i><b>ADAM: Her Deal Maker</b></i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><i>Making a sexy deal with the deal-maker</i> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Flying sightseers over California is part of helicopter pilot Lacey Sanders' job. The other part is denying her attraction for hot-bod fellow pilot Adam Swank. A painful experience has taught Lacey never to date her co-workers. So regardless of how sizzling the sparks are, she will never go there again. But when they team up to close a business deal, Lacey can no longer resist Adam’s steamy kisses or sensuous lovemaking under stars on the beach of a private island.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Adam </span><i style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: x-large;">The Deal-Maker</i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"> has the gift of persuasion. Except when it comes to Lacey. For five years they’ve been dancing around a fiery attraction. Now he has her right where he wants her—in his arms—but can he persuade thrill seeking Lacey to accept his deal and take a chance on an office romance?</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh76ZtriSYSW4x4DTIZycswXzYE_YD8DyGK1et8KGD7Jd6RPJxAvSWygnwGT1gA22DVEse5Kfe6RlGekKs0k_cqn8JAT5-7ytixPnA9fInjCBmDk_k3ZJSTqW8iI1qucrKLOYWltpwexQo/s1600/Excerpt.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="42" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh76ZtriSYSW4x4DTIZycswXzYE_YD8DyGK1et8KGD7Jd6RPJxAvSWygnwGT1gA22DVEse5Kfe6RlGekKs0k_cqn8JAT5-7ytixPnA9fInjCBmDk_k3ZJSTqW8iI1qucrKLOYWltpwexQo/s320/Excerpt.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b style="background-color: white; color: #4e2800; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">ADAM: Her Deal Maker</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Pleasure Flights series #1</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Copyright © Monique DeVere 2017</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Crystal Swan Publications</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">All Rights Reserved</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">S</span></b><span style="font-size: large;">nagged around the waist, Lacey found herself swept off her feet. "</span><span style="font-size: large;">Adam, put me down!” </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">His free hand closed on the doorknob to the stationery cupboard next to them. “We need to talk,” he repeated. A second later he had them shut inside the dimly lit cupboard, her back pressed to his chest, his arm branding her, his body heat reminding her of how hot his naked skin had been against hers. Her stomach fluttered with a warmth that meandered through the rest of her. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">“We have nothing to talk about.” She squirmed and pushed at his arm around her waist, no match for his easy strength. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">“Keep doing that, and we’re going to have an embarrassing problem, Lacey.” His voice dropped to the same seductive husk he’d used that night in Washington. “You must know when you wriggle your butt against my groin like that, <i>it’s</i> going to react.” </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">She stilled, frozen in midair as a sudden blast of desire slammed her. She drew in a sharp breath, angry with herself for responding to his words, his touch. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">He put her down, dipped his head so his lips brushed her ear, sending a delicious buzz through her. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">“We <i>do</i> need to talk.” He let his hand slide across her abdomen, making her muscles quiver </span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">as he released her</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">. </span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">“And I’m done pussyfooting around the issue.” </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">“What issue?” The confined space felt too closed-in, too intimate. Too much like the perfect place for lovers to grab a stolen moment.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">“You and I.” His fresh, spicy clean scent distracted her as it always did.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">She put a step between them, scraped back the lock of her hair that had come loose, her breathing ragged with temper and—she hated to admit—excitement. “There is no you and I—me—<i>I</i>.” He made her so mad she forgot her grammar. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">“All I’m asking for is thirty seconds to say I’m sorry.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">“For what?” Was he really attempting to apologize for the way he’d treated her? </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">“For what happened in D.C.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Or was he simply poking at her wound? “I already know that. You made it clear, so no need to press the point home.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Adam heaved a frustrated breath, rubbed the back of his neck. “I’m saying sorry for the way I reacted <i>after</i> we made love.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">“Will you keep your voice down?” Her whisper came out a little harsher than she intended. “I’m not anxious to broadcast that stupid mistake to everyone in this place.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">In the gloom, she sensed more than saw him tense, as though she’d landed a direct blow and she experienced a moment of remorse. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">“Why does everything with yo</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">u</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"> have to be so difficult, Lacey? Why can’t we just get along?”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">And wasn’t that just the question she’d been asking herself for months? “Maybe we should stay out of each other’s way.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0725SXFDZ" target="_blank">Amazon US</a> | <a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0725SXFDZ" target="_blank">Amazon UK</a> | <a href="https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B0725SXFDZ" target="_blank">Amazon Ca</a> | <a href="https://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B0725SXFDZ" target="_blank">Amazon Au</a></span><br />
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Monique DeVerehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08826281077474713823noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1832043822183606170.post-41258068431999887342019-05-30T19:33:00.000+01:002019-06-04T15:32:29.983+01:00Emotional Stakes How Do You Raise Them? #WriteTip #Writing #Romance #EmotionalStakes<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Emotional Stakes</span></h2>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><b>P</b>ull up a chair, everyone! It's been ages since I did a "Pull Up a Chair With Mon" post. I thought it might be fun to grab a few of my author friends and chat about emotional stakes in a way that would allow newbie writers to grasp the concept. I remember as a newbie writer--many many years ago!--thinking that story stakes and emotional stakes were the same thing. It was a long time before I discovered they were not. So, for any newbie writers seeking to understand stakes, I'm going to explain. Since I write romance, I'll be focusing on stakes in romance novels.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">What are Stakes</span></h4>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Stakes create tension and give the reader an emotional interest in the outcome of your characters’ journey. If you want your reader to be invested in your story--even keep her on the edge of her seat turning pages long into the night--you must raise the emotional stakes. The big question must always be "what's at stake?" As I've mentioned, there are two types of stakes in the romance novel. </span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Story stakes and emotional stakes. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Story Stakes</span><span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span></span></h4>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Are external conflicts/obstacles. Everything to do with the plot. It's the risks our characters take in their quest to achieve the external goal. You can up the story stakes by looking at what the character stands to lose or gain with relation to the external goal, then make the worse happen. </span></span><br />
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<h4 style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Emotional Stakes</span></span></h4>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Emotional stakes come from the protagonists’ internal conflict. You raise the stakes by putting your character through emotional conflict. Give them a choice that places them between a rock and a hard place. Look to the character's fear for ideas on ramping up the emotional conflict. What is at stake for the character proves the lie they believe is true. For example, if your heroine's fear is love leads to abandonment, and her lie/limiting belief is that pregnancy always ends in being alone, put her in that position so her fear proves the lie. Of course, the truth will set her free. But first, we just need to torture her emotions a little. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Remember that t</span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">he lie/limiting belief produces the internal conflict and t</span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">he fear </span></span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">produces the stakes. For instance, using the fear and lie example above, and knowing the emotional stakes comes from the fear, we can raise the emotional stakes by creating situations where the heroine causes problems for herself by maybe being too clingy, suspicious, untrusting. Maybe she checks the hero's phone messages or checks up on him, or any of the zillion crazy things someone who is afraid of being abandoned would do. For sure, she would hold on too tightly to the people she loves, which could make them feel smothered and, ultimately, bring about the one thing your heroine fears--abandonment. And worse of all, abandonment whilst pregnant! Give the hero emotional fears of his own that will collide with the heroine's fears. You can picture what an emotional mess these two characters will get themselves into. Of course, your hero doesn't knowingly abandon the pregnant heroine, but her fear caused the Black Moment where she loses everything. The emotional wound leads to the Black Moment but the fear causes it. So make sure the emotional wound is good and deep.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Stakes are the emotional conflicts in your story. They're what keeps your reader turning pages. In order to properly raise the emotional stakes in your novel, you need to first </span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">create well-developed characters. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">In the interest of clarity, let me briefly touch on this. The way I develop my main characters is fairly simple. I make sure both my hero and heroine have a name, an identity, a flaw, motto, lie/limiting belief, symptoms of the lie, emotional wound, emotional fear, want, need/truth, long and short-term ext GMC, and story question. Once we know these things, it's easy to raise the stakes.</span><br />
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<h4 style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">How I Raise Emotional Stakes</span></h4>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Every author is different in how s/he crafts a story. The way I raise the emotional stakes in my stories is by making a list of questions based on the hero and heroine's emotional fears, flaws, lie, want, and wounds. These are predominately questions I think the reader will be asking as she reads the story. Then I </span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">intentionally </span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">create scenes that pose these questions in the reader's mind. I answer each question while posing another, making sure to keep it on an emotional level. This way, the reader will keep reading because she has to find out the answer to the last question I crafted. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">That's the way I create the roller coaster read. Let's hear from a few of my author friends to see how they do it.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><b>Diana Rubino</b>: </span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">author of </span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">BOOTLEG BROADWAY</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1HbSSdak97pL3n_YpXEGX0FUyunkmxo9DkpKdWFNnIB83BQyGoM8fCJ05_VpRkdUvNitz-LGYUlDFHsDN57iWp93Ym6QVFK6tlaBYugwtzuiJMDeRFgqoURInGvKwkJJRzCXkDHJADNc/s1600/BootlegThreeCovers.png.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="910" data-original-width="1600" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1HbSSdak97pL3n_YpXEGX0FUyunkmxo9DkpKdWFNnIB83BQyGoM8fCJ05_VpRkdUvNitz-LGYUlDFHsDN57iWp93Ym6QVFK6tlaBYugwtzuiJMDeRFgqoURInGvKwkJJRzCXkDHJADNc/s320/BootlegThreeCovers.png.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.dianarubino.com/" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: small;">www.dianarubino.com</span></a></td></tr>
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<i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">At the height of Prohibition, gifted musician/composer Billy McGlory gets into one mess after another--and shocks us all at the end. </span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">"I make sure each choice/dilemma has more dire consequences than the one before, and involves the fate of at least one other major character."</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><b>Maureen Bonatch</b>: author of NOT A CHANCE</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.maureenbonatch.com/" target="_blank">www.maureenbonatch.com</a></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: medium;"><i>Hope just wants to be normal—too bad that will never happen.</i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">"Most of the characters in my stories have strong family connections. I often raise the emotional stakes by making my character face conflicting expectations from their family, love interest, and themselves. Often this can lead to emotional growth while making those difficult decisions and trying to be true to themselves."</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><b>Kathy L Wheeler</b>: author of MAIL ORDER BRIDE: THE COUNTERFEIT (book 1) </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4UZh21soJc4U9z7EUX1h7GzzgXeHwPOueTl7iwvf_adOEyUXgAC6MoeWHSqTz4gdlGdFawpFbbjrifQVXKMCKb_egq4-qNZBJnvCN9aU2AKXIjiw6MPRsGaqbngnm8MzQobrnJrGDmNU/s1600/Counterfeit_CVR_xXSML.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="200" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4UZh21soJc4U9z7EUX1h7GzzgXeHwPOueTl7iwvf_adOEyUXgAC6MoeWHSqTz4gdlGdFawpFbbjrifQVXKMCKb_egq4-qNZBJnvCN9aU2AKXIjiw6MPRsGaqbngnm8MzQobrnJrGDmNU/s200/Counterfeit_CVR_xXSML.png" width="133" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://kathylwheeler.com/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;">www.kathylwheeler.com</span></a></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: medium;"><i>Amelia’s saloon madam mother has decided it’s time to bring her daughter into the family business—imagine her surprise, and relief, when she is mistaken for Will’s mail ordered bride.</i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">"According to Donald Maas, go deep, deeper, and one more deep. The second and third deeps are where you are getting to the heart of the matter. For example, if you have a heroine who is angry. Why is she angry? Because anger hides other “deeper” feelings. What feelings? Pain, hurt, desire even. The answer to the <i>why</i> depends on the situation of the character’s situation."</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><b>Pamela S. Thibodeaux</b>: author of LOVE IN SEASON</span><br />
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<span style="color: #1d2228; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"><i>Any time is the right time for love. In this collection, Pamela S Thibodeaux brings together 8 romantic stories that revolve around the 4 seasons as well as 4 holidays that focus on love and relationships. *Contains two brand new, never before published stories! </i></span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC4AOSuYN8yA_zIbai2jU6FY2pvDaVRdFlsE1DrM3W1EIhT3-dqkNtlToSo-HiBcSRT-k1g4vkO419isErdjIyl_Lv80Q5WaYt2JFtYhJvfb2VQwrNmKgR5JxNGwFxbG24dRjv1gwtrJ4/s1600/loveinseason-w12659-300_1_orig.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="200" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC4AOSuYN8yA_zIbai2jU6FY2pvDaVRdFlsE1DrM3W1EIhT3-dqkNtlToSo-HiBcSRT-k1g4vkO419isErdjIyl_Lv80Q5WaYt2JFtYhJvfb2VQwrNmKgR5JxNGwFxbG24dRjv1gwtrJ4/s200/loveinseason-w12659-300_1_orig.jpg" width="133" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.pamelathibodeaux.com/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;">www.pamelathibodeaux.com</span></a></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">"There’s a saying most every author knows. 'No tears in the writer, no tears in the reader.' </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">This goes for laughter, terror, passion.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Raising the emotional stakes for your readers means you, as an author, must go a level deeper. It’s not enough to tell or even to some degree, show, your characters' emotions. You’ve got to get inside their heads and hearts and feel their feelings. Then transfer that to the page in a way that will make your reader sit on the edge of their seat in suspense or swoon with longing. Think deep POV.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Everyone feels the same basic emotions. Asking your characters the following questions can help you connect with them and your readers on that same deep level. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Why does he/she feel that way?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">What has happened to make them react the way they do?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">When did this happen?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Where?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Who was involved?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">More questions are: </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">How do you want to feel, act, respond?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">What would it take for you to evolve so that you can respond as you desire instead of with the same knee-jerk reactions?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Most of us don’t want to ask our characters these questions because, on some level, what he or she is going through we’ve either experienced or are afraid to experience. Many of us don’t want to feel our own emotions much less have some made up human being ripping us apart with theirs.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Alas, to grip your reader by the heart and not let go, we must look a level deeper, feel a level deeper. Even if it means facing our own fears and perhaps overcoming our own shortcomings."</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><b>Linda Carroll-Bradd</b>: author of DULCINA (book 5 in The Widows of Wildcat Ridge series)</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://blog.lindacarroll-bradd.com/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;">http://blog.lindacarroll-bradd.com/</span></a></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: medium;"><i>Will bringing an old friend to town provide the help Dulcina needs or a new kind of trouble?</i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">"I often give the characters a previous history. Maybe one had a crush on the other when they were both youth but never acted on it. Or the pair courted (I write mostly historical stories) and planned a future then the relationship abruptly ended (lots of reasons here--parental disapproval, one family’s financial circumstances changes, war, relocation, death in family). When they meet again years later, they have to overcome whatever the past problem was plus whatever’s happening in the present. But they also have the fond memories of the times they spent together."</span><br />
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Monique DeVerehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08826281077474713823noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1832043822183606170.post-5977717356033444182019-05-16T14:12:00.000+01:002019-05-16T14:12:32.481+01:00Even Romance Heroes Can Be Gaslit! #Amwriting #WIP #Romance #Gaslighting<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWFVe6F_M5ARtE61fRE9tc9XeIY5cFxKH7jRX9FZmQbfKmtAOR-N3Oi7PUyjvCCSJSG9o7QmVrqa76ns43GIAisDtv1FHDChjl0lUNvw4VBBEYGD1uaadrY8CRwaIoR_XT-p2deHCylBI/s1600/Gaslighting+Post+16519.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="512" data-original-width="1024" height="160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWFVe6F_M5ARtE61fRE9tc9XeIY5cFxKH7jRX9FZmQbfKmtAOR-N3Oi7PUyjvCCSJSG9o7QmVrqa76ns43GIAisDtv1FHDChjl0lUNvw4VBBEYGD1uaadrY8CRwaIoR_XT-p2deHCylBI/s320/Gaslighting+Post+16519.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">One of the stories I'm currently working on has a subplot about gaslighting. This is a subject I've been interested in for a long time. It fascinates me that one person can mess with someone else's head so much that they end up thinking they're nuts. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Hold up... I'm assuming everyone who reads this knows what gaslighting is--and you know what is said about people who assume! So, in the interest of not making a donkey of you or me, let me explain. Gaslighting is a form of psychological or emotional manipulation. In more extreme cases it would fall into the category of psychological or emotional abuse intended to convince the victim that they're going crazy. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Have you ever been in a conversation with someone and they flat-out deny that what you heard them say is what they said? Have they made you so frustrated that you throw your hands </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">up</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">and say: "you're driving me crazy?" If so, then you've experienced the sort of strategy gaslighters use. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">It wasn't until many years after the fact that I realised, as a young teen, I'd been a victim of gaslighting. The perpetrators weren't my mum, dad, sisters or brothers, but they were people who I--and my parents--trusted. I'd say something relatively intelligent, then at a later date the conversation would come up again and I'd say something along the lines of: "I said...". And one of the people would say: "you didn't say that! I did!" Other instances went something like this: "that wasn't your idea, it was mine". Or "I made this cake. You made that one." Of course, this person claimed the cake I made as theirs because it came out better. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">Or this person/people would say something, then deny they said it and proceed to tell me I was making things up. Another would ensure everyone thought I was a little unhinged and would tell my parents not to listen to me (when I tried to alert my parents to what was going on) because I was a liar. I knew the things that happened to me during that time was emotional abuse, but it was only years later that I realised it had been gaslighting. More than once I was convinced I was crazy. So much so that I attempted the unthinkable... I have my little sister to thank for me being here today. But that isn't what we're talking about. I simply wanted to touch on how serious gaslighting can be. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">Some people are very adept at messing with another person's head. The brother of my hero in my current WIP is very subtle in his gaslighting abilities. My hero doesn't even know that his brother is gaslighting him until the end of the book. Romance heroes are supposed to be alpha male and utterly capable, but what happens when the hero is riddled with guilt because of something he did years ago that caused his brother's bride to leave him at the altar? I think it would be easy for an alpha hero to overlook the subtleties of gaslighting when he's consumed with a mountain of guilt. And this is what happens to my hero. I'm enjoying writing this story and hope it wouldn't be too long before I'll be able to share exciting news about this book.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">Have you ever been gaslit? Know someone who has? I'd like to hear about your experience. </span><br />
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Monique DeVerehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08826281077474713823noreply@blogger.com9