Romantic Ramblings

Discussing love, romance & the human condition

And the countdown begins

I have a date. I have a cover. I have a blurb.

So maybe, just maybe, it’s time to share 🙂

A Love Worth Saving, the third installment in my Nights at St Mary’s series will be available from your favourite e-store on…

22 JULY

It’s gonna look like this:

And here’s a hint of the story:

Have you taken a night shift at St Mary’s yet?

Ana Reed has been offered her perfect job – managing a new portable diagnostic sleep service. The only problem: it means working with Dr Brad Lewis, the only man she’s ever loved, and the one man she can never keep.

Brad has always loved Ana, but when he’s around her, he’s constantly reminded of a past he desperately needs to forget. However, he knows Ana is good at her job, and he refuses to stand in the way of her passions. So he will put aside the past, so that she can have her future. After all, they are both professionals, both adults, and their patients have to come first. Surely they can work together without their shared history

Mark the date guys, and get the tissues ready for Brad & Ana’s emotional roller coaster is about to begin.

I watched Fifty Shades of Grey and I LIKED it

WARNING: This blog contains spoilers. Read at your own peril.

I watched Fifty Shades of Grey and I LIKED it.

Seriously!

I haven’t laughed that hard since 21 Jump Street (and that movie had me ROFL)!

Fifty Shades was a comedy, right? A parody of the novel, perhaps?

The reason I ask is because, well, I don’t remember laughing so much when I read the book. Granted, I didn’t manage to finish it, but I do understand why it was such a worldwide phenomenon.

The chemistry between the characters E L James created was incredible. Astronomical. On par with Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie in Mr & Mrs Smith.

The chemistry between Jamie Dornan and Dakota Johnson? Sadly lacking.

I actually liked Anastasia far more in the movie than I did in the book. She had a lot of sass – when she wasn’t breathing heavily or biting her lip, that is. Every time Christian turned up al-a-stalking (and I will say, Jamie Dornan channeled a serial killer very well), she jumped out of her skin and said something akin to “what the f#*k?!”

LIKE A NORMAL PERSON WOULD.

Whether it was the serial-killer shopping at the hardware store, turning up in her apartment with wine after she breaks up with him, or making her car vanish – her initial reactions were all normal.

Of course, when she would then allow him to do all sorts of nasties to her, it was me saying “what the f#*k?!”

Some of the movie was truly humorous, though, and extremely enjoyable. The contract negotiation scene was superb, and I still get the giggles remembering Anastasia’s introduction to the Red Room – X-box anyone?

But large parts of the movie were so bad, the only thing you could do was laugh.

How anyone could fall in love with the uber-controlling Christian Grey the movie portrays is beyond me. Thankfully, it didn’t seem like Anastasia did fall for him. After all, she walked away in the end.

Just like I’ll be walking away from the movies that follow. Hopefully you will too.

Of course, if you prefer your romance with sizzling chemistry between #realwomen and #niceguys you should come on over and check my series out right here.

Nothing like some shameless self-promotion, right?

XX Amanda

Australia Day Sale

Super stoked that A Heart Worth Mending has been included in Amazon Aus’s Australia Day Sale.

You can find out more about the Nights at St Mary’s series here or go straight to the purchase site here for the US or here for Australia

Happy reading!

XX Amanda

Five ways ‘Night’s at St Mary’s’ will keep you hot under the collar

The Escapades

by Amanda Canham

The Night’s at St Mary’s series is a set of sweet, sensual, sleep medicine romance novels about modern women and the delicious doctors that steal their hearts. These dedicated professionals have deeply emotional journeys – but they don’t forget to have a little fun along the way.

They talk about arousals. A Lot.

Cortical arousals, not tumescent. (… unless you’re coming in for a nocturnal penile tumescent study (NPT), but that’s a whole other story.)

They can do it anywhere, any time.

In the lab; on the ward; on someone else’s ward; in your home(…of course, I’m talking about polysomnographic (PSG) studies, where they’ll monitor your cortical and respiratory functions throughout the night.)

You can’t breathe without them

If you suffer from sleep apnoea you stop breathing and need their treatments to keep your airways open during the night. (… and if you’re lucky, they could…

View original post 424 more words

7 Seriously Sweet Medical Romances

So it will probably come as no surprise that I’ve been a long-time fan of medical drama/comedy series. After all, I currently write my very own medical romances, with a wicked combination of emotional drama, laugh out loud moments, super sweet couples and sizzling sexual tension.

I have to get my inspiration from somewhere, and one of the most fruitful sources, I find, are the shows I enjoy. I watch, am touched and want to touch in return. It’s a wonderful creative cycle, and I wanted to share some of my all-time favourite couples with you.

Fair warning: I ❤ Grey’s Anatomy & there are just so many couples in that show to pick from that they’ve dominated this list. Feel free to add your faves in the comments below. I’d love to know who’s touched your memory banks.

Meredith & Derek – Grey’s Anatomy – Seasons 1-11
I couldn’t really start anywhere else, could I? So many moments, so many elevator rides.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_J-mt26FiOU

Luka & Abby – ER – Seasons 6-15

Not the most conventional of love stories, but man, I just wanted these two to finally make it work!

He was the epitome of the brooding hero, but her life wasn’t the easiest either and the tension between them was incredible.

Carla & Turk – Scrubs – Seasons 1-10

Funny, real, stable, long-suffering – these guys were half the show and it was great to watch them grow from their first date through to marriage and children.

Callie & Arizona – Grey’s Anatomy – Seasons 5-11

OMG! I ❤ these two! The chemistry between them is awesome and they are two of the nicest, coolest characters you’ll ever meet. They’ve been through a lot, so I really hope they work it out (and please, no spoilers as I haven’t seen season 11 yet).

Alex & Jo – Grey’s Anatomy – Seasons 9-11

Okay, so this is a relatively new relationship, but Alex has been one of my long-time favourite characters. He had a tough life as a kid, and his love life hasn’t been much better throughout the show. Jo is the first love interest to get him, to understand where he comes from and it’s great to see things finally working out for him.

Izzy & Denny – Grey’s Anatomy – Season 2

It was the shortest of loves, but there aren’t many that are more powerful or emotionally compelling. I dare you to watch this clip and not cry.

Nina & Patrick – Offspring – Seasons 3-4 (& a ghost in season 5)

When I checked the seasons these two were together, I couldn’t believe it was only two years. This couple enamoured an entire nation (Australia) in a very short time with their love and their engaging personalities. It was a modern love story that ended in a tragedy that sent the entire country into mourning. RIP Patrick.

I can only hope only hope that my characters touch people’s hearts as much as these characters touched mine. Click here if you want to find out more about Cam & Stacey and Kelli & Travis.

Amanda

7 Seriously Sweet Medical Romances

Meredith & Derek – Grey’s Anatomy – Seasons 1-11
I couldn’t really start anywhere else, could I? So many moments, so many elevator rides.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_J-mt26FiOU

Luka & Abby – ER – Seasons 6-15

Not the most conventional of love stories, but man, I just wanted these two to finally make it work!

He was the epitome of the brooding hero, but her life wasn’t the easiest either and the tension between them was incredible.

Carla & Turk – Scrubs – Seasons 1-10

Funny, real, stable, long-suffering – these guys were half the show and it was great to watch them grow from their first date through to marriage and children.

Callie & Arizona – Grey’s Anatomy – Seasons 5-11

Alex & Jo – Grey’s Anatomy – Seasons 9-11

Izzy & Denny – Grey’s Anatomy – Season 2

It was the shortest of loves, but there aren’t many that are more powerful or emotionally compelling. I dare you to watch this clip and not cry.

Nina & Patrick – Offspring – Seasons 3-4 (& a ghost in season 5)

I can only hope only hope that my characters touch people’s hearts as much as these characters touched mine.

Amanda

What Dwarfism Awareness Means To Me

Ever feel pressured about your body image? I know I do, but reading this puts my own hang ups into perspective! XX Amanda

What Dwarfism Awareness Means To Me by Stephanie Short

It’s time for some blatant self-promotion

October has turned into a very exciting month for little old writer me.

My second novel – A Heart Worth Mending – was published on the 8th October! Yay me 🙂
It’s a medical romance that is available from all good e-stores & if you like my writing I’m sure you’ll love my stories.

Getting busy with promoting this release means I’ve done some guest blogging and you can find these posts here: WIP Me Inspired & At My Desk

This has, unfortunately meant I’ve neglected my personal blog posts. Sorry! I’ve got lots of ideas bubbling away but no time to write them… fingers crossed I’ll get that time soon.

The other exciting news I’ve had is that some awesome reviews have come out about both my published novels. When my first book (A Life Worth Living) was released in December, I waited with nervous trepidation for the reviews. I waited. And I waited. And I waited. But none came out. Half of me was relieved. After all, reviews are a tricky double-edged sword. They could boost me up (if they were nice) or tear me down (if they were not so nice). But not having any… I was left kind of flat.

Well, in the last few weeks, that’s all changed. I’ve had my first official reviews appear on the web & I’m a little excited. I just had to share a couple of the snippets with you.

A Life Worth Living

“Why did I put off reading this book for so long?!?! What a sweet romantic story!!! The characters are so open and honest with their needs, wants and feelings. Stacey knows what she wants and pursues her own happiness. It was so nice to read a book where the characters acted their age!! No unnecessary drama.”

Posted by: Terri on Goodreads

“…I loved the novel. I loved the way the author wrote her story, the way the relationship evolved between our heroes. And I absolutely loved the last chapter before the epilogue.”

Posted by: Fabiola on Les Romantiques & Goodreads

A Heart Worth Mending

“Getting the balance between medical dramas and emotional dramas is tough…Amanda Canham nails both.” Posted by: Jenny on Goodreads

“The descriptions were fantastic and it was easy to see the flow of the story. There were a few twists but mainly this was a good straightforward sweet story…” Posted by: Valerie on Harlequin Junkie

That’s it for me & my blatant self-promotion. Next time we chat I’ll make it something more juicy, but in the meantime, be sure to add my books to your #TBR pile

XX Amanda

What’s your line in the sand?

Can you ever truly stay friends with an ex?

When I say friends, I mean a strictly platonic friendship, with no blurring of the lines, no falling back into bed, no mixed messages.

I can’t.

Well, at least, not until a certain line in the sand has been crossed.

For me, that didn’t happen until an ex told me he was in love with a stripper. After that, I knew there was no going back.

Looking at it now, I probably should have drawn the line earlier – for example, when he had a threesome with my best friend and a random stranger they picked up at a nightclub.

But I was young, and at the time it hadn’t seemed like a huge deal. After all, we weren’t together anymore. We were being wonderfully mature and had turned our relationship into a “friendship”.

The problem with being friends with an ex is that the relationship barriers are so easily blurred. There’s not a lot stopping you from falling back into old habits, even just for a night. Or at least you tell yourself it’s just for the night. But your emotions aren’t so easily controlled.

So, is it possible to actually stay friends with your ex?

Maybe.

But if you’re like me and constantly question your decisions then it’s almost impossible to do so without blurring the lines.

There are some people out in the big wide world that don’t have this problem. They are confident decision makers who never seem to doubt themselves. My husband is one of these freaks. Of course, my too-ing and fro-ing on decisions drives him insane 😉

For the rest of us “normal people” it’s not that simple. And when you stay friends with your ex, you can find yourself in constant turmoil. That’s when you need to cross that mystical line in the sand. Or, more specifically, your ex needs to cross that line.

The point of no return is different for everyone. Often, you don’t even know what that line is until it’s been crossed. And sometimes, once it’s been crossed, you don’t even want to be friends anymore.

Relationships are huge emotional investments, and ending them can cost us a lot. Trying to stay friends is a way of minimising the emotional expense, but if it leads to months or years of confusion and heartache, is there any point in trying to stay friends?

I’d love to know what you think in the comments below.

Till next time.

XX Amanda

Questions and Answers

Marianne Curley talks writer’s block on her latest blog in her Q&A series

Marianne Curley

Question from: Wilfredo, a Facebook friend, 20th June, 2014

Hello: I’m a big fan, and I’m writing a novel. I was wondering if you can tell me how can I overcome the writers block cause I’m stuck in a chapter and it feels like a dead end ….

Hi Wilfredo

Writer’s block is something that can happen to the best of writers, so first rule is not to panic. But I’m wondering if you have writer’s block or you are a victim of poor planning. Some writers don’t plan much before they start their new book. Some don’t plan at all, and it works for them, but I like to plan from the beginning and plot my chapters, one after another, like scenes of a movie, if you will. You don’t need a lot of information in the Chapter Breakdowns, as I call them. You can have as little as a title, or one…