Mona Risk has published two books with Cerridwen Press FRENCH PERIL and TO LOVE A HERO. Her book BABIES IN THE BARGAIN is published with The Wild Rose Press. Mona lives in sunny Fort Lauderdale, FL. When she is not typing her latest book on her computer, she is probably babysitting her grandchildren, three adorable little girls and a toddler boy, all under four years. Or she may be walking on the beach, looking at the waves and plotting new stories. Mona and her husband love to travel and have visited more than fifty countries over the years.
You can visit her website: www.monarisk.com
Or stop by her blog: www.monarisk.blogspot.com
Blurb:
What could be more exciting for a young American architect than to live in a French chateau owned by a young count and to work on the restoration of a chapel in the Loire Valley? But when her professor is poisoned because he knew too much about a missing statue, Cheryl’s summer job changes into a dangerous treasure hunt and Count François is faced with a difficult choice:
Are the statue and his chateau worth endangering the life of the impetuous young woman who’s turned his life upside down?
Review Your Book Review, 4 Stars
Mona Risk, author of French Peril, offers her fans another great read. In French Peril, she creates a swirling air of mystery around the excavation of a chapel ruin. Murder, mystery, and intrigue seem to follow Cheryl as she assists Francois on his project. Risk has a talent for character development. {…} French Peril is a great contemporary romantic read.
The Romance Studio Review, 4 hearts
This is a wonderfully exciting romantic suspense novel. The characters are appealing and the setting is very romantic, a chateau in the Loire Valley. There is an interesting cast of characters. The plot is full of action and the reader is never sure who is on the side of good or evil. As a matter of fact, very few are who they appear to be.
Cast of Characters
French Peril:
Cheryl Stewart: I’m worried about my mentor, Professor Howard. He went to lunch with a prospective graduate student from Malaysia, but became sick during the lunch and was rushed to the hospital for food poisoning or heart attack.
Professor Howard asked me to go to France on his behalf and help a French count with the restoration of a chapel and the search for a valuable statue that had been missing since World War II.
What could be more exciting than spending a couple months working in the plush Loire Valley, in France? I will have to live in the count’s chateau. The same count I saw at Harvard three years ago. The handsome playboy was so busy entertaining gorgeous women he didn’t give me the time of the day back then. I bet he won’t remember me.
François de Valroux: I am searching for an invaluable statue of the Virgin Mary that used to adorn the chapel of my chateau. The statue disappeared during the war. Was it destroyed? Stolen? Did my grandfather hide it?
I have been waiting impatiently for Professor Howard, who did a lot of research on the subject. I can’t believe he skipped our appointment and sent his graduate student instead. On the other hand, Cheryl is such a lovely young woman I can’t say I am too disappointed. Between you and me, I can’t resist a pretty woman. What can I say, it’s in my genes. I come from a long line of glorious adulterers and fabulous lovers.
When the Boston Hospital calls to announce Cheryl’s mentor died, I do my best to console her with a hug and a kiss, and pledge to protect her. It’s my pleasure. Huh…I mean my duty.
For her own safety, I ask her to keep the search for my statue secret from the five other students training on the chapel reconstruction.
Edith Blaise: I consider myself François’ current girlfriend. I want him badly but I also have a weakness for his title, his fortune, his chateau and its treasures. I won’t let anyone interfere with my goal of becoming the next Countess of Valroux. Certainly not the American student, a nerd who lives in a pair of blue jeans and finds her happiness in old stones and computers.
Adriaan Van Deem: I come from Amsterdam. I’m studying archeology and I can’t resist the appeal of old stones. Especially if they have a high monetary value. It wouldn’t hurt to befriend the American student who seems to know a lot about the missing statue.
Juan-Pablo Rodriguez: My correct name is Don Juan-Pablo. I hail from the Universidad de Madrid and I am preparing a doctorate in the history of Romanesque churches. I’m a gallant man who always compliments a beautiful woman. Of course, I also like artistic treasures.
Roberto Cantari: I live in Milan, but I was born in Sicily. Women love my dark looks and I love women. People often ask me if I have mafia blood in my veins. Who knows? My nonna prays all the time that I remain an honest man. I respect my nonno, the most powerful and richest man in Palerma. I would do anything to please my grandparents. Anything…
Chuck Minho: I was born in London. I am a quiet man who doesn’t talk much, but I don’t miss anything going on around me. I don’t like the looks the American girl gives me. Dirty looks. As if she suspects me of killing someone, just because I look Chinese.
Karl Boderman: I’m studying art, painting and sculpting at the University of Berlin. I can’t believe the show these young studs put on when a pretty face shows up. I don’t trust any of them. If you want my opinion, I don’t think they are who they say they are. But then, neither am I.
Bernard: I am the old butler. I was raised in the chateau. My father served François’ grandfather. I love François as if he were my own son and I want to see him married to a good French woman. Mademoiselle Edith seems to love him. She’s always visiting and staying in the chateau, in the room next to his. But I think François is attracted to the American student. He asked me to put her in the room next to his, on the other side. I don’t like that, François sandwiched between the women’s rooms. I don’t like it at all. Especially that the rooms in this old chateau have secret passageways.
My fondest dream is to find the statue and put it back on the altar of the reconstructed chapel. But someone hit me in the dark and asked me questions about the statue.
Cheryl: I pledge to go after Professor Howard’s killer and find the statue to honor my mentor’s memory. Things would be easier if I weren’t so attracted to François…
François: Cheryl is careless and exposing herself to danger all the time. I’m constantly worried about her. She has turned my life upside down with her determination and bubbly laughter. I’m ready to give up the search for the statue to ensure Cheryl’s safety, but she won’t let me.
Together we need to find out:
Who poisoned Professor Howard?
Who hit Bernard?
Who broke into Cheryl’s room?
Where is the statue?
Would François call off the search to protect Cheryl?
Thank you Jenyfer for for inviting me here. I love your blog and the pictures you post of Egypt and various places in the world.
by Mona Risk August 29th, 2008 at 9:37 amHi, Mona and Jenyfer,
by Teri Thackston August 29th, 2008 at 9:51 amGreat column…I love the way you let the characters speak. It makes the story sound intriguing and irresistable.
Teri
Love this post and how you introduced the characters, or rather let them introduce themselves. I can’t wait to read this one.
by Vicki August 29th, 2008 at 10:40 amAn intriquing and clever blog, Mona. Gets you into the action without really giving anything away. Love your cast of characters. The idea is too good not to be tempted to borrow it..
by Jean Hart Stewart August 29th, 2008 at 11:55 amHi Terri, Hi Vicky
I am glad to see you here. French Peril is a book very dear to my heart as I visited the chateau where the story is taking place although I changed the name.
by Mona Risk August 29th, 2008 at 12:07 pmHi Jean,
Borrow it dear. Ideas belong to the world, only the style makes the man. I am translating a quote by a French author. {Les idées appartiennent au monde, mais le style fait l’homme.}
by Mona Risk August 29th, 2008 at 12:11 pmHi Mona!
I love the book cover, and you have quite a cast of characters. I wish you all the best with this book, which is obviously near and dear to your heart. Your reviews are outstanding!
by Lynne Marshall August 29th, 2008 at 12:35 pmThank you Lynn. This is quite a compliment coming from a multipublished author. Thank you for stopping here.
by Mona Risk August 29th, 2008 at 1:33 pmSorry it should be Lynne not Lynn. I don’t know when I’ll stop being distracted.
by Mona Risk August 29th, 2008 at 1:35 pmWhat a fascinating and complex story. The setting is magical and the cast of characters come from varied walks of life. Thanks for giving us a head’s up on your book.
by Anita Birt August 29th, 2008 at 5:45 pmHi, Jenyfer and Mona! Neat blog–thanks for posting today, Mona! What a great way to meet your cast!
by Fedora August 29th, 2008 at 6:15 pmHi Mona!
I’m looking forward to reading your latest!
by Heather Hiestand August 29th, 2008 at 9:05 pmFedora, thanks for stopping here. See you next on the WAP.
Hi Anita, sometimes knowing your characters is half the work. They write their own stories.
Thanks Heather. See you on the pond.
by Mona Risk August 30th, 2008 at 12:01 amThanks for being here this weekend, Mona. French Peril sounds wonderful!
by Jenyfer August 31st, 2008 at 11:40 amHappy Labor Day.
by Mona Risk September 1st, 2008 at 12:04 amI love the way you introduced your characters. This one sounds really good.
Elaine Cantrell
by Elaine Cantrell September 1st, 2008 at 7:26 pmhttp://www.elainepcantrell.blogspot.com