Lucy Monroe's Blog, page 75

Portland Race for the Cure!

Hey all, DQ here!
As most of you know, my mom's books are made of three key ingredients: faith, hope, and love. It's why we love her and those romantic heroines who always seem to come out on top. Coincidentally, these same ingredients are what serve as the recipe for Susan G. Komen's Race for the Cure, and it should've come as no surprise when mom started "seeing pink" this month.
KomenOregon.org states that, "Each week in Oregon 51 women are diagnosed with breast cancer and 9 will die from the disease. It is estimated that in Washington each week 86 women are diagnosed with the disease and about 15 will die. Oregon and Washington have some of the highest breast cancer rates in the country, although the specific reason is unknown." Wow! As you can see, this is a disease that's had a huge impact on our community, and yours too. Did you know that breast cancer is the leading cancer among American women and second only to lung cancer in cancer deaths? We couldn't believe it! So, we laced up our tennis shoes, bundled up the babes, and fought for those who could no longer fight for themselves.
Adorned in all things pink, BQ and I walked Susan G. Komen's 5K Race for the Cure, teaching our girls what it meant to give your heart to others- Even if they are women we will never even meet. The feeling of sisterhood reigned high in a sea of almost 30,000! I couldn't help but feel a sense of empowerment as we walked side by side with breast cancer survivors and a sense of compassion as women carrying signs that read, "I walk in memory of..." stood tall in front of us. The day was grey but our moods were bright, because we knew that every set of feet that marched through Portland that morning would carry us one step closer to a cure that will change lives.
On the last mile, it started to rain, and we all made a mad dash for the finish line- Women were hugging, children let their balloons into the air, and an overwhelming sense of hope fell across us all. That day, Susan G. Komen's Race for the Cure raised $680,000! So, thank you to everyone who supported our team! We can't wait for next year!
XOXO~*DQ*~


***********There is still time to donate to Lucy's team! You can donate and receive a free signed book with donation until October 1st. The link to our team's donation page is here:
http://race.komenoregon.org/site/TR/Race/PortlandRacefortheCure/1553993863?pg=team&fr_id=1150&team_id=57254

Details for the free book:http://www.facebook.com/LucyMonroe.Romance?sk=app_197667490251160
Thank you to everyone who has supported this worthy cause!

Guest - Dan with ADP

A note from Lucy: Knowing several of our lurking blog readers have their own small businesses, I wanted to pass on my great experience switching my payroll from a CPA firm to Dan with ADP. It's *HARD* running a small business when the creative side (writing, etc.) takes the bulk of our time. Having someone else handle payroll, even for part-timers is a huge blessing as many of us can attest to. So, without further ado...here's Dan!

~ ~ ~

Thank you Lucy for giving me the opportunity to tell your readers and fellow writers about ADP Small Business Payroll and HR Services and the ways it can benefit them, their business and their employees!

I've been working with ADP for 12 years helping employers with less than 50 employees handle federal, state and local taxes affiliated with their payrolls. The part of my career I find most rewarding i

Lucy is utilizing ADP's web-based RUN payroll program which allows her to process her payroll 24/7 365 and view all her payroll and tax totals from both an employee and employer perspective before processing, ensuring her payroll is always 100% accurate. ADP files all Lucy's tax documents and takes care of paying all payroll taxes as part of her ADP package. (Note from Lucy: this is my FAVORITE part. Taxes are just a tad scary! ::g::)

ADP can also benefit and protect a Small Business in numerous other ways including: workers compensation insurance, simple IRA and 401k plans and web-based time and attendance programs.

Although I'm based in the Portland area with my wife Meghan, one-year old daughter Linleigh and dog Bantry, because ADP is a true national payroll provider I would welcome the opportunity to work with other writers or business owners from around the country.

I can be reached via e-mail dan_burke@adp.com or on my office line (503) 513-7947.

Thank you again for the opportunity to drop by and blog about something that's not exactly a sexy topic, but one that is critical to anyone with current or future employees!

When you reach out to me please mention that you found me through Lucy's blog and I'll take $175 off the $200 initial implementation costs.

Humpday Hottie!

Soaking in the last days of summer....don't you wish you were there with him?

Weekly Prize Giveaway!

Throughout the month of September I will be giving away not just one book every week, but a bag/tote full of books from lots of my favorite authors! I'll also include a signed copy of one of my own books! You'll be ready when fall arrives. Cozy up in your favorite reading spot with a great cup of coffee and dive in to some delicious reads! Be sure to leave a comment on any posting open to comments and you'll be entered in the contest!



One bag/tote will be given away each week.

Weekly winner will be posted on Saturday!

Monday, Monday...so good to me...

Oh, the Mamas & Papas...remember them?  Smooth hippy music of the best variety. :)  I've always loved their song Monday, Monday ...though it's not exactly a happy ending song, is it?





Still, I love Mondays.  Always have.   When I was a child, I looked forward to going to school.  I also loved the weekends and yes, I still do that too, though perhaps even more so because I work as many Saturdays as I take off.  I do love my writing.

But the simple truth is: I don't hate Mondays like so many.  I love "getting back to the grind" even when the grind wasn't writing.  I'm a creature of routine.  You have to get to know me well to realize this as I love my havey-cavey ideas so much, I seem like a very spontaneous person.  I'm not really, and knowing what comes next is always comforting for me.  The older I get, the more this is true.

Mondays are my day to get back into the groove of writing and working the business of my craft.  For me, they are hopeful days - filled with opportunities and options that are narrowed down considerably by Friday. :)  Mondays are almost always busy, often spiced up with the unexpected and the beginning of achieving my goals for the week.  It's a heady combination for a woman like me. :)

My goal for this week is to finish "Back in the Sheikh's Bed" by Friday so I can spend the weekend preparing for our trip to Europe.  I'm not entirely sure I can get the book done, but I'm hopeful and the characters are being cooperative at present, which is always nice.  I've been working with Asad and Iris even longer than Kaden and Rachel in Heat Seeker because I put aside BITSB to work on HS during my black fog months.  Now, I'm out of the fog and working desperately hard to finish both books.

And every Monday is a chance to draw closer to that goal! :)

It's your turn:  do you love Mondays or hate them?  What are your goals for the week?

Hugs and happy reading,
Lucy :)

~ ~ ~
http://www.lucymonroe.com/
http://www.facebook.com/LucyMonroe.Romance
http://twitter.com/#!/lucymonroe

Weekly Contest Winner!

Who's ready to for some reading? This week's blog prize winner is.....
glittergirl

Congratulation! Please email me your name and address and I will get your prize in the mail! Happy reading!

Deal With This - Reviews!

Here are some great reviews for Deal With This!
Lucy Monroe delivers with DEAL WITH THIS, a must-have for readers looking for sizzle and suspense with their romance. Don't miss out on some terrific reading; pick up DEAL WITH THIS.Romance Reviews Today
This is a fast, easy read with a little mystery and a lot of lovin'. Family dynamics make for entertaining friendships and romances and the close quarters of the quirky characters allow for adequate relationship growth. With a sexually empowered heroine and a hero determined not to get too involved, Monroe heats page after page with extensive, explosive foreplay and intense passion. RT Book Reviews
I absolutely loved Jillian's unique group of boarders, and Alan's reactions to them. It was also fun to catch up with some old friends from earlier books. Whether you're an avid Lucy Monroe fan or a new reader, don't miss DEAL WITH THIS! 4.5 Stars ~ Blue Ribbon Reviews
This book was a very exciting book. The cast of characters were amazing and had me laughing out loud from the first page of the book. The way they react to each other really made this story. 5 Stars ~ FAR
Buy: Borders ~ B&N ~ Books-a-Million ~ Amazon

Guest Blog - Bronwen Evans

Hi Lucy!
I'm waving from New Zealand. Thanks so much for having me over to blog today. Lucy has kindly allowed me, a fellow Kensington Brava author, to introduce you to my debut novel, a Regency historical called INVITATION TO RUIN, released 1 March 2011. On its release, Invitation to Ruin, received a 4.5 Star review from RT Book Reviews.
INVITATION TO RUIN is Book 1 in a four book series. As a reader I love series romances, so it's only natural that I wanted to write a series. Thankfully I love plotting. Part of the fun of writing a series is plotting out the overarching story and then each individual book before I start writing them. I want to see all the characters, as they continue on through the books. Therefore, you have to understand how they are going to interact and enrich the stories.
The challenge in writing a series is to have enough interesting and engaging secondary characters that make the reader want to read their story too. Lucy understands this very well – I love her HMB Presents Sheik's (Royal Brides) series. The secondary characters in each book were very compelling. They needed a book of their own.

In INVITATION TO RUIN we meet Anthony James Craven, the Earl of Wickham, and his twin brother Richard Craven. The twin's father was England's largest slave trader and was not a very nice man (that's putting it mildly, but I don't want to spoil the story). Richard sets his brother up to compromise Miss Melissa Goodly, knowing she's secretly infatuated with Anthony. Richard hopes that the love of a good woman will help Anthony recover from their father's cruel upbringing. Richard has no idea what will result from his meddling…
Needless to say, Richard deserves a story of his own. The readers who have kindly emailed me are all waiting to see Richard get his comeuppance. Richard's story, INVITATION TO PASSION, will be book three in the INVITATION TO series.
So who is in book two? INVITATION TO SCANDAL due for release 1 May 2012, tells the story of Rufus Knight, Viscount Strathmore, a man's whose father died a traitor. Rufus is Anthony Craven's best friend and a Spymaster for the Crown. You met Rufus in Invitation to Ruin.While hunting for a French spy, Rufus hopes to clear his deceased father of treason, and restore the Strathmore name. The spy is using a Kent smuggling ring and Rufus knows if he captures the head of the smuggling ring, Dark Shadow, he'll have his spy. Unfortunately his hunt doesn't go to plan when he meets Miss Rheda Kerrick. Rheda knows who Dark Shadow is and Rufus will employ any means necessary to make her reveal Dark Shadow's identity.
You can read more about my INVITATION TO series on my website.
If you've read Invitation to Ruin feel free to drop me an email.
To win a copy of INVITATION TO RUIN simply leave a comment and tell me what your favorite romance series is and why. I'll pick a winner from Lucy's blog on Saturday, so don't forget to include your email address in your comments. The contest is open internationally.
Thanks for having me visit today.

Bronwen~ ~ ~ 

Invitation to Ruin
by Bronwen Evans


One Good Lady is About to Go Bad...
The only thing Miss Melissa Goodly has ever wanted out of a marriage is love. But any hope of that dissolves one wild night, when she loses herself in the arms of the most irresistible-and unobtainable-man in all of England. For when they are discovered in a position as compromising as it is pleasurable, she has no choice but to accept his proposal.
Avowed bachelor Anthony Craven, Earl of Wickham, never meant to seduce an innocent like Melissa. Yet now that the damage is done, it does seem like she'd make a very convenient wife. After all, she is so naive he won't have to worry about ever being tempted. Or so he thinks, until the vows are spoken and they are left alone-and his new bride reveals a streak just as brazen and unrestrained as his own... Read an excerpt
Invitation to Ruin is available in book or e-book format from all major bookstores, and online through Amazon, B&N, Book Depository and other online book stores.

Humpday Hottie!

Looking for a contractor? You're hired! I could watch this guy building me a house (or anything for that matter) all day!

Weekly Prize Giveaway!

Throughout the month of September I will be giving away not just one book every week, but a bag/tote full of books from lots of my favorite authors! I'll also include a signed copy of one of my own books! You'll be ready when fall arrives. Cozy up in your favorite reading spot with a great cup of coffee and dive in to some delicious reads! Be sure to leave a comment on any posting open to comments and you'll be entered in the contest!



One bag/tote will be given away each week.

Weekly winner will be posted on Saturday!