• Blog

    It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas

    December 1, 2020

    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.

     

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  • Blog

    Musical Monday – or what’s your earworm Monday?

    December 30, 2019

    10/19/2019

    Musical Monday
    I’m the queen of the earworm. I was just singing one of my regulars and my husband said “you haven’t had that one in a while”. Some people have recurring dreams (Me as well) and I have recurring earworms.
    Here’s the song in question – I’m pretty sure he wanted to leave me the week I watched the movie Dumplin’ on Netflix. I’m not known for singing the whole song of even getting the words right. Let’s be honest – I annoy myself. Anyway, you’re welcome my friends.

    I don’t know that I would describe myself as an optimist but I sure do try and get up in the morning and find the joy in my day. Right now I’m feeling good about my book like. I’m part of a box set – Romancing the Holidays – that comes out Nov 1 but you can pre-order it now and it’s doing pretty well. I also have a new cinnamon bay novella out for Christmas – A Christmas Arrangement – and it’s also on pre-order so I’m on track for my 2019 goal of releasing 12 books this year.

    Romancing the Holidays Box Set Preorder Promo
    A Christmas Arrangement - Cover
    Meanwhile, just like everyone I have things going on in my real life that give me pause. That of course influences my “musical stylings”. Who are we kidding I have no musical style. I like what I like and that’s that.

    I’m known for my ability to cry in any situation and I just had a cry to this song. I don’t know if music helps or hinders my ability to cope some days but music definitely touches us in ways nothing else does. I just heard this one and had a good cry.

    Still I’d rather have a happy ear worm than a sad one. I haven’t got the time or the enrgy to be crying all the time. Cryings is nothing if not exhausting so I’ll leave you with my happy earworm that stays with me if I hear it on the radio. Fun fact I’m not a big Justin Beiber fan but I love everything he does with Ed Sheeran.

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