Mona Risk

Inspiration behind Her French Count

Posted on May 17, 2015 by Mona Risk

Of all the countries I visited, France has always been my favorite, because of its rich culture and history, or maybe because I am fluent in French and have several friends living in Paris who always welcome me.

A few years ago, my husband rented a car and we toured the Loire Valley. I was impressed by the magnificence of the French chateaus. I visualized gallant aristocrats entertaining beautiful women in lavishly decorated galleries and plush gardens. Stories played in my mind. I don’t write historical romances but kept thinking about the settings.

A year later, while spending Christmas with my sister, my niece enthusiastically related her summer training in a French chateau. As an American student in Architecture from Harvard University, she was offered the unique opportunity to work on the restoration of a chapel in France.

When I asked with an ironic smile, “Was the owner a haughty old man?”

My niece answered: “He was a young, handsome count and the five girls in my team had a crush on him. He dated my friend.”

Oh, oh. Chateau. Handsome count. Training on a historical chapel. Maybe looking for a historical statue. I had an epiphany. Here was my story premise. When I pitched it to an agent at the RWA conference, she suggested I change the plot to make it a romantic suspense. I took her suggestion to heart and upped the stakes with a missing statue and the murder of a professor.

HER FRENCH COUNT is one of the 14 novels in
Book Boyfriends Cafe Summer Lovin’ Anthology 2015, presently on pre-order for 99 cents.

Release Date: Tuesday, May 19

Amazon: http://indi.uno/1JlFwr0
iTunes: http://indi.uno/1DgZbre
Kobo: http://indi.uno/1NS3rPq
Google: http://indi.uno/1GlC7tG

Join our Release Party on May 19 at:

https://www.facebook.com/events/378702042312928/

HER FRENCH COUNT is also a part of the box set, Foreign Heroes

Posted in Contemporary Romance, Romantic Suspense | Tagged Anthology, Architecture, Book boyfriends Cafe, box, chateau, France, French count, student, summer | Leave a comment

Love Scene Interrupted

Posted on May 16, 2015 by Mona Risk

Excerpt from HER FRENCH COUNT, one of the 14 novels in

Book Boyfriends Cafe Summer Lovin’ Anthology 2015, presently on pre-order for 99 cents.

Release Date: Tuesday, May 19

Amazon: http://indi.uno/1JlFwr0
iTunes: http://indi.uno/1DgZbre
Kobo: http://indi.uno/1NS3rPq
Google: http://indi.uno/1GlC7tG

Join our Release Party on May 19 at:

https://www.facebook.com/events/378702042312928/

The smart, feisty and savvy Cheryl seemed to have lost her vivacity, the look in her eyes gone from distant to faraway. He wanted to reassure her, kiss her and tangle with her in passion.

“Cheryl,” he whispered as he drew her closer. “I can make you feel better.”

“Better? How?” she asked, her voice and her breath so soft, a fraction away from his lips.

“Let me show you.” He brushed his thumb across her bottom lip.

“Nice.” Without pulling back, she closed her eyes. As if she evaluated the benefits of his ministrations, she licked both her lips and his thumb in an erotic dance of her tongue.

“Even nicer.” His mouth replaced his thumb and his lips gently rubbed hers. Her head tilted backward welcoming the soft caress and her moan sent every cell in his body into overdrive. His blood rushed downward, his groin hardened and his brain reeled, all because of one feather-like touch and her hardly audible response. He could give her more. His mouth closed on hers and his tongue slid between her parted lips.
~*~
François’ kiss steadily eroded Cheryl’s ability to think. She hooked her hands around his neck and he responded by wrapping his arms around her waist.

She was softness molded to his hardness, her breasts sensitized by his pecs, the hardest hard-on she had ever felt pressing against her belly, while his tongue whirled a crazy dance in her mouth, licking her palate, tasting her tongue. She could hardly breathe. Couldn’t think or even moan but she reveled in his magnificent body and clung to him.

No need to think now. Just feel him, feel his raw masculinity. You’ll think tomorrow. She inhaled his clean musky scent, ran her fingers through the wavy hair at his nape and clasped her legs together, aware of her arousal and the warm wetness burning between her thighs.

When his hand crawled under her shirt and covered her breast, she snatched her mouth away and arched back. His fingers massaged, kneaded and fondled her pebbled nipples. Her hand wrapped over his, urging for more of his suave French seduction, a reproduction of her wild fantasies. But her knees buckled and he scooped her up.

“Let’s go to my room.” His eyes darkened with desire, he gave her a wicked smile. “We will continue there.”

“Continue? In your room?” she repeated, her fuzzy mind having trouble to grasp the simple words.

“Chérie, I want to make love to you in a comfortable bed.”

She swallowed. “In your room?”

He nuzzled her ear and sent a frisson of desire in her belly. “Yes, my room. The one next to yours.”

Your room is on his right and Mademoiselle Edith’s is on his left. The little maid’s words chimed in Cheryl’s ears and doused the heat of the moment. How could she have forgotten about that convenient arrangement?

One on the right and one on the left. Not on your life, Count de Valroux. “Put me down,” she ordered, her voice chilly.

HER FRENCH COUNT is also a part of the box set, Foreign Heroes

Posted in Contemporary Romance, Romantic Suspense, Uncategorized | Tagged Anthology, box set, chateau, French count, kiss, love scene, romantic suspense | Leave a comment

Their First Kiss

Posted on May 15, 2015 by Mona Risk

Excerpt from HER FRENCH COUNT, one of the 14 novels in

Book Boyfriends Cafe Summer Lovin’ Anthology 2015, presently on pre-order for 99 cents.

Release Date: Tuesday, May 19

Amazon: http://indi.uno/1JlFwr0
iTunes: http://indi.uno/1DgZbre
Kobo: http://indi.uno/1NS3rPq
Google: http://indi.uno/1GlC7tG

Join our Release Party on May 19 at:

https://www.facebook.com/events/378702042312928/

“Well answer my question first. Are we friends?” François came toward her, his hand outstretched.

“Yes,” Cheryl said as she stared at his open palm and debated if she should touch it.
“I don’t bite. Especially not my friends.”

She sneaked a look at him and put her hand in his. His fingers immediately wrapped around hers.

“I don’t bite my friends,” he repeated with a soft voice. “Far from it. I’d rather kiss them,” he said as he brought her fingers to his lips.

Warmth seeped through her skin and her bones. “Yes, friends if you want,” she murmured with conviction, hoping she wouldn’t regret her foolishness tomorrow.

His lips lingered again on the back of her hand and her wrist. “Thank you for your trust.” He backed up and held her shoulders at arm’s length. “Goodnight, Cheryl. I’m so sorry about Professor Howard. I will miss him too. And I will be here for you.” He hugged her and kept his arms wrapped around her back. She leaned her forehead onto his shoulder and breathed the lemon scent of his cologne and his masculine presence.

Strangely enough, she relaxed and felt protected for the first time in years. She raised her head, met his gaze and forgot the whole world. He had the most beautiful eyes, hazel dusted with green and gold. Kindness, almost tenderness, swirled in their depths. He didn’t move, didn’t release his hold on her back. What was she doing staring for so long?

She lowered her lashes just enough to shift her focal point. His lips, luscious and full, stretched in a hint of a smile and came close. Closer, invading her field of vision.
Mesmerized, she swallowed and licked her lower lip, her fingers clutching his shoulders.

His smile faded as he raised her chin with a fingertip and tugged her forward against his solid chest. Heat seeped into her body when he claimed her lips and darted his tongue into her mouth to tease and taste.

His kiss ended too quickly. And too late. Her heart still hammering in her chest, she splayed her hands on his chest and pushed him away, afraid to remain in his embrace another second.

He let her go, walked to the door and opened it. “I’m here for you, Cheryl. My room is next to yours. If you need anything, don’t hesitate to knock on my door.”

She nodded and kept staring at the door long after he left.

Doc was gone. But François was here. Danger floated in the air. But François is here.

Would he still be here when she needed him? When his latest girlfriend summoned his presence and invaded his bed?

HER FRENCH COUNT is also a part of the box set, Foreign Heroes