• Shine
    Blog

    Happy New Year and welcome to 2021

    Shine

    Welcome to 2021 my lovely readers. Happy New Year!

    I think we’re all more than ready to embrace the new although I don’t think 2021 will be the instant panacea to 2020 many of us are hoping for. I’m optimistic it will be better.

    My word for the year is SHINE. I hope to shine brightly in 2021.

    I had lots of plans for last year and I achieved some. I did write a lot of words. I have a couple of secret pen names and published under those and my own name. 

    I definitely didn’t release everything I wanted to but that’s okay. I became a USA today Bestseller, I came second in the Australian RUBY Awards novella section and released several new books. We’ll take it.

    We moved out of our home of over 24 years and relocated to a new town with about 6 weeks’ notice, so I’m being kind to myself about my lack of accomplishment in the final quarter of 2020.

    The good news is those projects will be completed in the first half of 2021 so all is not lost.

    I started serializing Playing With Trouble in 2020, and I promise to get back to that and share the rest of it with you in 2021. You can catch up here with the opening meanwhile.

    The next books in the Marlin Shores world will be out in January and March and I can’t wait to share those as well. You can preorder Saltwater Tears here.

    Have you read the prequel Kissing The Captain? If not grab your copy here for free.

    We have big plans for the Cinnamon Bay romance world in 2021 so look out for news about that soon.

    I also have Upper Crust Series news…meanwhile have you seen the box sets I made for the Upper Crust series? You can grab them here and they are free in Kindle Unlimited.

    There are a couple of other exciting projects looming in 2021 so stay tuned.

    Happy New Year – 2021 here we come!

    Playing with Trouble

     

  • Blog

    It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas

    Who doesn’t love a festive Holiday Read?

    If the good people at Hallmark have taught us anything it’s that we all love to immerse ourselves in holiday stories this time of year.

    I love writing them as well, which is why I have so many Christmas stories to share with you. From standalone novellas to romance series, I have holiday stories to delight.

    A Christmas Arrangement

    A Christmas Arrangement takes place in Cinnamon Bay. I really loved this story and was so thrilled to be a finalist in the Romance Writers of Australia Ruby Awards with this novella in 2020. Isn’t the video for the book above adorable?

    A Christmas Arrangement - Cover

    Snowbound

    I’m not going to lie this book is one of my favorites. I loved writing it and I love the cover. I think it’s one of my sweetest most feel-good books. I love the characters and the fun they have. It’s an Australian girl snowed in with a hunky basketball star for Christmas – seriously, what’s not to love?

    Snowbound - Cover

    More Than Ornamental

    I wrote this book after I asked a lot of questions on my Facebook page about what people wanted to see in a Christmas book – they wanted a small-town, single Dad romance set in Australia and that’s exactly what this is. It was in the Romancing the Holidays boxset in 2019 and now is a stand alone novella.

    More Than Ornamental

    Any Way You Plan it

    This is the fourth book in my Upper Crust series. I’ve said before I never meant this to be a series so it starts in Boston and moves to a small New Hampshire town. The characters are friends who move between the two places. Marissa in this book is the first permanent small-town gal and she’s had it bad for her friend for years. This Christmas she decides enough is enough – it’s time to move on. Turns out he’s not so keen on that idea and needs to woo her big time. (This can be read as a stand alone).

    Any Way You Plan It - Upper Crust Novel 4 Cover - Monique McDonell

    The Reluctant Bridesmaid 

    This may not look like it but The Reluctant Bridesmaid is  Christms story – it’s Mirand’s story o going home t her small town for her cousin’s wedding. It’s only available for newsletter subscribers right now. You can click here for a free copy.

     

  • BB giveway
    Blog

    Launch Week Giveaway – Boardwalk Dreams and a giftcard

    BB giveway

    It’s launch week for Boardwalk Bound and I want you to fall in love with the Carmichaels.

    To celebrate the release I want to give you a chance to win the second book in the series – Boardwalk Dreams so you can keep on with your Carmichael’s reading.

    Boardwalk Beginnings (The Carmichaels of Cinnamon Bay Book 1) is #free on all platforms
    and to celebrate I am giving away 1 x Ebook copy of Boardwalk Dreams (The Carmichaels of Cinnamon Bay Book 2) and 1x $5 Amazon Giftcard!
    To Enter: Sign up here for my newsletter ↓
    Post a screenshot in the comments and I will pick 1 lucky winner!
    Giveaway closes November 15th 2020
    And don’t forget to get download a copy of Boardwalk Bound today!
    Title: Boardwalk Bound (The Carmichaels of Cinnamon Bay Book 5)
    Blurb ↓
    What happens when your greatest ally turns out to be a perfect stranger?
    Welcome back to Cinnamon Bay, where the neighbors know your business and one sip of the Cafe Amour can make you fall in love. If you believe in that kind of thing.
    Award winning actress India Rose Carmichael hasn’t been back to Cinnamon Bay for more than a day in years. When she should be celebrating the peak of her career, she’s wondering how she landed herself with a cheating ex—who was also her manager! Looking to escape Hollywood, she turns to the director of the Cinnamon Bay Film festival, who she’s been corresponding with for a few years, and offers him a deal: hide her away for two weeks, from the media and her erstwhile family, and she’ll help promote the festival to bring in tourists and money.
    Finn Jameson should have said no to India Rose, but the high school vice-principal, and part-time film festival director, knew she must be desperate if she’s looking to him for help. What he forgot to factor in was that having one of the world’s most beautiful women in his home would prove more than a little tempting, especially when she’s also sweet vulnerable and very much alone. When the world and her estranged family find out India Rose is in Cinnamon Bay their relationship goes from friendship to fake romance and the lines between dreams and reality become blurred.
    Everyone has an opinion on what should happen between them, if only they all agreed. Can a small-town guy and a big time actress find a way to build a love that will last?
    Fans of Brenda Novak, Nora Roberts, and Robyn Carr will fall head over heels for this delightful beachy romance.
    Delve into a new world of romance, mystery, and magic in the quirky coastal town of Cinnamon Bay, North Carolina. Scroll up and one-click to start reading BOARDWALK BOUND by USA Today bestselling author Monique McDonell today!
    Image may contain: 8 people
  • Blog

    It’s launch day for Boardwalk Bound

    It’s launch day today for Boardwalk Bound, The Carmichaels of Cinnamon Bay Book 5

    Hey guys, I’m super excited about the launch of Boardwalk Bound today! It’s been a year 2020 but India, Rose and Finn, have bee my companions throughout the year helping me through it. Their love story has been a sweet, bright spot for me and I hope it is for you too! If you haven’t read the other Carmichael books  – click here to find out more. Book 1, Boardwalk bound is free!

    Boardwalk Bound is Live Boardwalk Bound

    What happens when your greatest ally turns out to be a perfect stranger?

    Welcome back to Cinnamon Bay, where the neighbors know your business and one sip of the Cafe Amour can make you fall in love. If you believe in that kind of thing.

    Award winning actress India Rose Carmichael hasn’t been back to Cinnamon Bay for more than a day in years. When she should be celebrating the peak of her career, she’s wondering how she landed herself with a cheating ex—who was also her manager! Looking to escape Hollywood, she turns to the director of the Cinnamon Bay Film festival, who she’s been corresponding with for a few years, and offers him a deal: hide her away for two weeks, from the media and her erstwhile family, and she’ll help promote the festival to bring in tourists and money.

    Finn Jameson should have said no to India Rose, but the high school vice-principal, and part-time film festival director, knew she must be desperate if she’s looking to him for help. What he forgot to factor in was that having one of the world’s most beautiful women in his home would prove more than a little tempting, especially when she’s also sweet vulnerable and very much alone. When the world and her estranged family find out India Rose is in Cinnamon Bay their relationship goes from friendship to fake romance and the lines between dreams and reality become blurred.

    Everyone has an opinion on what should happen between them, if only they all agreed. Can a small-town guy and a big time actress find a way to build a love that will last?

    Fans of Brenda Novak, Nora Roberts, and Robyn Carr will fall head over heels for this delightful beachy romance.

    Delve into a new world of romance, mystery, and magic in the quirky coastal town of Cinnamon Bay, North Carolina.

    Start reading BOARDWALK BOUND by USA Today bestselling author Monique McDonell today!

    ➜ Amazon

    Apple

    ➜Kobo

    ➜ Barnes and Noble

    Other Cinnamon Bay Series Titles By Monique McDonell:

    Playing Doctor
    ➜ Draft2digital
    ➜ Amazon

    A Christmas Arrangement
    ➜ Draft2Digital
    ➜ Amazon

    The Carmichael Series

  • Blog

    It’s a week until NANOWRIMO 2020, let’s get ready!

    Nanowrimo 2020 badgeHey there,

    It’s almost time for NanoWrimo – National Novel Writing Month where people try to write a 50,000 word draft of a novel in a month. I’ve taken part at various times all the way back to 2011, I believe.

    In 2012, I did a series of posts about prepping that hold the test of time and they’re linked below. (I migrated my website a year ago from Weebly to WordPress and not every image made the journey, but the content is solid and worth a read).

    My life is so different now to then. I don’t have a young family to juggle and I have written a lot of books since. These days it’s not unusual for me to write 50,000 words several months a year but I love the participation and community of Nano and I love getting that final novel for the year done. December is crazy, we all know that and I tend to ease off on the writing in favour of Christmas lunches and drinks with friends.

    I still know a few things work for me:

    1. Get a big count early.

    I love writing a new book. LOVE IT! So the beginning is the easy part. To stay om track for NanNo you need to write 1667 words a day. I like to start with a few 3,00 even 5,000 word days and then I’m ahead and the pressure is off.

    1. Round up.

    Don’t stop at 1667  the recommended daily word count needed to reach your target. Aim to reach at least get to 2000 words a day. You’ll thank yourself mid-month.

    1. Sprints

    That’s where you set a timer for 20 minutes or 30 and just write. Three of those a day and I will make the 1667 easily.

    1. Plotting

    I don’t always plot my books. I’m a weirdo who sometimes just writes, sometimes plots an entire novel and sometimes gets to 15k and plots the rest. Heck, sometimes I make bullet points and just plot the next chapter. The bullet points mean I won’t start at the screen for an hour…I always have a scene I can write.

    1. Remember, it’s a draft.

    This is not what gets published, it’s your first draft, so it’s okay to write and leave things blank– add description later, check this character’s name/hair/eye colour, insert sex scene, research this bit and -MOVE ON. You can fill all that in later, but don’t let it stop you from continuing to write.

    1. Write something fun – especially in 2020.

    It’s going to be work regardless but don’t put yourself in a zone of misery before you begin. We all know this year has been and continues to be tough, so don’t set yourself up for misery and/or failure. Pick a story that will excite you and write that.

    So there’s some advice.…I do recommend you read the post below, especially if you’re a Nano newbie.

    Let me know if you’re signed up for this year in the comments.

    From the 2012 Archives

    Preparing for NaNoWriMo – Part 1 Plan the Writing

    https://moniquemcdonellauthor.com/2019/12/23/preparing-for-nanowrimo-part-1-plan-the-writing/

    NaNoWriMo – Planning your Life

    NaNoWriMo – Planning your Life

     

    How to survive NaNoWriMo – Part 3, Organise Your Writing Life

    How to survive NaNoWriMo – Part 3, Organise Your Writing Life

     

    NaNoWriMo Planning Series – Part 4 – Plan to care for Your Body

    https://moniquemcdonellauthor.com/2019/12/23/nanowrimo-planning-series-part-4-plan-to-care-for-your-body/

    My 2017 Advice

    Preparing for NaNoWriMo the 2017 edition

  • brothers best friend
    Blog

    It’s finally release day for Boardwalk Beginnings the first of the Carmiachels of Cinnamon Bay Romances

     

    🌴The Carmichaels are about to find out…all the money in the world can’t buy love🌴

    Take a trip through Cinnamon Bay, where the locals are friendly, the beaches are beautiful, and the love spice will have you head over heels. 

     

    The Carmichael siblings might have fallen from grace, but even then, their journey is just beginning! Book X is now LIVE, so one-click to start your journey today. Beware – these highly addictive romance novels will having you falling in love.

    Join our Facebook Group to keep updated and let us know what you think of this delightful new series! Grab your copy here and start reading today.

     

    brothers best friend

  • Blog

    It is release week for Saltwater Song

    It’s release week for Saltwater Song

    I’m so excited to be sharing this new series with. 2019 and the start of 2020 have been all about finishing up existing projects and working in collaboration with others ,but the Marlin Shores series is all mine and it’s the first new thing I’ve done in a while.

    I love the Montgomery brothers who feature in the first three books Saltwater Song, Saltwater  Tears and Saltwater Wishes. Parker, Banner and Tony are all totally different and they all have their own journey that’s kept them away from Marlin Shores, and thanks to a pesky clause in their father’s will, has forced them to come home.

    The quaint town and marina have been a blast to write and don’t worry, lots of the people you meet in the first books will be getting their own stories in 2021.

    So please grab a copy of Saltwater Song and if you love it do leave a review.

    Saltwater Song

    Parker

    Three years of caring for my father and running his marina had stripped me of everything – my old life in the music business was gone – and now so was he. I wanted to start my life again but even from the grave the old man was controlling me and my brothers.
    I wanted to get back to who I was before, who Kelsey saw me as, but I didn’t know if that was even possible no matter how badly I wanted it.

    Kelsey

    He discovered me in a bar at age seventeen and turned me into a singing sensation. He was my manager and my best friend and he promised me from day one we’d never be anything more. That made the fact that I was hopelessly in love with him more than a little inconvenient.
    He’d left me for three years for family reasons but now I was going to get him and prove to him we needed to make music together again.

    If you like high stakes small town romance with a hint of heat and a guaranteed HEA, Saltwater Song is for you.

    This small town sweet friends to lovers romance is the first book in the new Marlin Shores trilogy and can be read as a stand-alone novel.

    Get it here.

  • Blog

    Only a few days to go until Saltwater Song launches the Marline Shores series into the world.

    Saltwater Song profile picSaltwater Song, the first of my new marlin Shores romances launches in just a few days and it is so much fun to be working on and launching a new series. (It’s also super fun to have covers that say USA Today Best Selling Author on them – not sure that will ever get old). It’s a while since I worked on anything completely new and that’s fun.

    The series kicks of with a trilogy that focuses on the Montgomery brothers who inherit a marina from their late father, there’s only one catch, they have to run it together for a year or they lose it. If only they didn’t already have lives elsewhere…

    Saltwater Song introduces us to Parker, a record producer and Kelsey the star he discovered years ago. They’re a super cute couple…here’s a little teaser.

    ***

    “You guys are good,” he said with a smile. “Ever thought of trying out the music industry?”

    “Nope, never,” Parker deadpanned.

    “Nope, me either,” I said with a grin.

    “Well, something to consider,” he said, tilting his drink at us before disappearing inside without another word.

    We tweaked the song a little longer until we agreed it was done.

    “I think that’s it, baby, your next hit single.”

    “I’ll give you a credit and a cut of the royalties.” 

    He waved his hand dismissively. “No need for that, just helping a friend.”

    That response earned him an eye roll. “You don’t want another million dollars, Parker? I can see you’re living large, you might need it.”

    “Baby, I already have more than enough money. As long as you don’t let Derek touch that song, it’s all yours.”

    I sighed. “You had to go and ruin my mood by mentioning him, didn’t you?”

    He pulled me into his side and kissed my temple. 

    “Sorry about that. How can I make it up to you, Kels?” I wanted to say, just take those perfect lips and press them against mine, but I refrained because he had other ideas. “Are you free for dinner?”

    “Who else would I be meeting?”

    “I don’t know, you’ve been making friends. Could be Em or Hailey or Serenity? Anyway, good, I have an idea.”

    “You do?” I felt my tongue dart out to lick my lips, and I was aware of his eyes watching its trail. He wasn’t immune to me at least.

    “Yep.” He stood and held out his hands, pulling me to my feet. “Meet me at the marina at five and bring a jacket, okay?”

    It was more than okay. Whatever Parker asked me to do at that moment, I’d have done. Strip naked in his yard, yes. Jump into his arms and kiss the stuffing out of him. Yes. Write another song right now. Okay. Go home and grab a sweater seemed well below what I was willing to do, but it was progress, and it meant I’d have more opportunities to maybe get to some of the other things.

    You can order a copy of Saltwater Song here.

     

  • Blog

    It’s time for the release of No Time for Tears – my latest No Brides Club book

    No Time for Tears No Time for Tears release day

    I’m so happy to announce the release today of No Time for Tears, Book 15 in the No Brides Club series. This is my third book in the multi-author series following on from No Time for Temptation and No Time for Trouble, although each book can be a stand alone the Georgie and Liam  and Marnie and Mal all reappear in No Time for Tears. In fact, Sven and Devon were both minor characters in No Time for Trouble and I knew when I was writing that book that I was going to tell their story.

    Blurb

    When she’s unceremoniously dumped by her fiance, Devon Bates heads to New York for some much-needed family time. After a week of moping on her sister’s couch, things are looking up. She’s become a member of the No Brides Club and snagged a part-time job working alongside her sister and handsome television veterinarian, Sven.

    But when the paparazzi get a snap of her and Sven together, the two hatch a plan to fake a relationship for the sake of good publicity. Soon enough, the lines between what’s real and fake become blurred.

    Sven loves New York but yearns for a quiet life on his family’s farm. Meeting Devon throws that possibility into turmoil. He’s fake dating his boss’ sister which is already bad enough, but now he wants whatever this is between them to turn into something more substantial. But he isn’t convinced Devon is over her ex, and if she decides to run back to Tennessee, she might take his heart with her.

    Sven knows the only chance he has to win Devon over is to convince her there’s more to this relationship than just the publicity. Can he make her see that the happily ever after of their dreams is in the cards for them?

    Get your copy here today!

     

     

     

  • New Release Friday
    Blog

    New Release Friday – the August 2020 edition

    New Release Friday

    Welcome back to New Release Friday – let’s wrap up August new releases by some of my amazing author friends.

    I used to do this every week but 2020 has been that kind of year – I’m hoping to get back to a weekly New Release post but for now here’s a wrap up of new release books from August by some amazing authors I know – the offerings include the sweet and the short, historical, sexy and paranormal. In short, there is something for everyone I hope. Happy reading!

    No Time for Adventure

    No Time for Adventure (The No Brides Club Book 14)

    When six friends make a pact not to let love get in the way of their careers, the No Brides Club is born. But could meeting the right man at the wrong time cause them to break their vows to each other?

    Victoria Hambersby is a charter member of the “No Brides Club” and that’s given her plenty of time to focus on her career. She’s even on the verge of creating a VA program that will help vets with physical and mental challenges stretch their abilities. But that dream hits a major road bump when she’s informed that she must combine her program with that of Joshua Lewis, the owner of “No Limits” extreme adventure company.

    Since two of his sisters are also members of the No Brides Club, Josh is aware of the no romance before career goals motto. So while he finds Vic attractive, the focus needs to stay on finding a way to blend their proposal ideas. But with baggage from their pasts coloring their viewpoints, that’s not going to be easy.

    To get a better idea of what Josh’s company has to offer, Vic agrees to a weekend adventure, which, despite herself, stirs her inner thrill-seeker. Surprisingly they may have more in common than they believe, but can they overcome their defensive barriers to let go of the past and reach for the future?

    Get it now

    The Last Resort

    Last Resort – Diane Michaels

    Emma has forty-five-million dollars burning a hole in her handbag.
    And just as many reasons to flee New York City.

    She had everything:
    A billionaire husband
    Respect in the art world
    And impeccable style.

    Now the only exhibit she can curate is in a Staten Island sports bar. Plus, while wearing an outfit even a dumpster would reject, she bumps into the one person she hoped she’d never meet: the woman who ruined her marriage.

    Humiliated and single, Emma escapes to the Catskills, ready for an epic round of retail therapy.

    The scenery is gorgeous. Especially Matthias, the manager of the town’s tattered resort. But the welcome he shows Emma is icier than winter in the mountains.

    When she invests in the resort, the battle for the small town’s soul heats up. And so do her feelings for Matthias.

    But it takes more than money to curate a town. Will the price be too steep for Emma?

    Get this laugh-out-loud standalone novel, book 2 of the Empire State of Mind series, perfect for readers who love chick lit with a lot of heart. Get it today.

    Like a Boss

    Like a Boss – Annabel Costa

    Have you ever met someone and hated them instantly?

    For me, that was Luke Thayer.

    When I met him freshman year of college, he was as smug as he was rich and gorgeous. A spoiled jerk who would get everything he wanted in life.

    Now it’s sixteen years later.

    He’s just as obnoxious and handsome as he ever was, and ten times as wealthy. But he’s not the same—a rock climbing accident a decade earlier has landed him in a wheelchair for life.

    And I get one other big surprise:

    He’s my new boss. 

    Note: This is a standalone enemies-to-lovers romance with some steamy scenes, no cheating, and a HEA. It was previously released as Harvard Hottie and has been significantly revised with a large amount of new content.

    Grab it today

    A free trip leads to island romance.

    Island DreamsIsland Dreams: A Clean Short Read (Vacation Romance Book 1) – Evangeline Kelly

    It was a miracle. I never won anything. But here I was, boarding a plane for an all-expenses paid trip to Makani Island. Alone. I wasn’t expecting anything more than a soul-soothing vacation.

    Then I met him. A total grouch, or so I thought. A guy I wouldn’t want to see again. Ever. But somehow, he convinced me to take a walk on the beach. The walk turned into an all-night conversation. A once in a lifetime connection. We both knew it, but his mega-wealthy parents had wedding plans set out for him already.

    He said he was his own man, but I refused to be a wedge between them. Could I really give him up? The bigger question was…would he let me?

    Island Dreams is a clean short read, and the first in a vacation romance series.

    Get it now

    A Timid Heart Sweet & Clean Western Romance (Cowboys and Angels Beginnings Book 2) – Jo Noelle
    CA timid Heartan a tender man whose passion is to take pictures reach the heart of a woman who hides from him and all others?

    Bridget Hall takes a much-needed job at the Brody Hotel as a laundress after being rejected as a mail-order bride. She loves the people she works with, but because of a deformity, she hides from society. . . until a handsome new photographer comes to Topeka.

    Lorne Whitney looks for beauty in the world to wash out the ugliness he experienced as a soldier in the War Between the States ten years ago. Although he tried everything to forget, nothing works until he meets a brown-eyed beauty, who is reluctant to be seen.

    Can Lorne get past Bridget’s resistance to create the kind of love that can save them both?

    ***

    An abbreviated version of A Timid Heart was first published as a Kansas Crossroads story—a sweet western romance set in Topeka in 1876. It’s full of heartwarming acceptance and tender romance.

    Get it now

    Rose and BaneRose and Bane: (A Dark Paranormal Beauty and the Beast Retelling) – Brea Viragh

    A tale as old as time, but not as you remember it.

    Reila Barnes has a habit of losing herself in books, not because she loves to read—although she does love to read—but because she’s searching for a long-lost piece of herself. Things happen around her that no one can explain. People in town look at her strangely, always muttering under their breath when she passes, but no one will tell her why she is shunned. Not even her mother and young brother.

    Rejecting a marriage proposal from a handsome but cold-hearted man presents her with a startling bit of evidence to cling to: Reila is a witch.

    Not only is Reila a witch, but she is the one responsible for putting the curse on Merek, the Prince of Bellmare, condemning him to his current beast form.

    What happens when the beast needs to be saved from the beauty?

    Will Reila find a way to break the curse? Will Prince Merek ever learn to trust Reila again? Or is the old saying “true love can conquer anything” just another fairy tale?

    Fans of P.C. Cast, Bella Forest, and J.R. Ward will find themselves enthralled with this magical paranormal romance full of love and betrayal.

    Scroll up and one-click to start reading ROSE AND BANE by USA Today bestselling author Brea Viragh today!

    Get it now