Nancy: Author Marie Elena Alonso-Sierra stopped by to share her latest release, THE COIN, a Romantic Suspense/Thriller. Enjoy the FREE excerpt AND leave a comment for the GIVEAWAY! Welcome!
Excerpt
Gabriela took it and averted her
face, pretending to look at the passing view.
Richard wasn’t fooled. He knew
she wasn’t watching her surroundings.
“Gabriela. We have to talk.”
“Like hell we do,” she answered,
without turning her head.
“Yes, we do. You can’t go on like this all day, pretending
I don’t exist, biting my head off every time you answer my questions.”
She shrugged in answer and kept
staring out the window. They passed an
ancient chimney stack from an abandoned perfume factory and rounded their way
up past the old railway station. As they
climbed higher, the traffic became thicker with tourist buses, cars with
foreign plates, and impatient locals.
They would be crawling along before they ever reached the road turnoff.
“Listen. What happened last night shouldn’t have—”
“You’re damn right it shouldn’t
have happened,” she told him viciously.
“And it won’t happen again.” She
turned sparkling, angry eyes at him.
“Last night, I was a fool to allow you to even touch me. And you, chivalrous person that you are, took
full advantage of a weak moment.”
He ground the car gears as the car
crawled even slower, inching its way around a traffic circle with an iron
sculpture of a rose cradling a perfume bottle in its center. The fragile hold on his temper snapped. “Damn it to hell, Gabriela. Do you think this is easy on me? I’m a man who’s always taken what I’ve goddamn
wanted, without asking permission. Look
at me, for God’s sake. For the first
time in my life, I’m considerate of a woman, careful not to wound your damn
moral sensibilities. I’ve never given a
shit about what the opposite sex has thought of me, or wanted, or whether my
actions have pleased or hurt. I’ve never
been in love, Gabriela. Do you think I
enjoy feeling weak and vulnerable? Do
you?”
“No,” she admitted, and looked
down at her hands. She couldn’t fool
herself. She was lashing out at him to
better protect herself against her growing attachment, her irrational
love. It was her only defense.
“I love you, Gabriela,” he said,
and felt her wince at his words. “I’m
sorry about last night, but I don’t regret it happening. I’d be a hypocrite if I told you otherwise.” He shifted to first and managed only an
inch. “What’s done is done. That’s no reason for going at each other’s
throats for the remainder of the day.
Can we at least act civilized toward each other until I can have Maurice
finish things off? That way, I’ll finally
be out of your hair and you can go back to your life the way it was.”
Outside the car, life seemed to be
pulsating. Inside, it was holding its
breath. “My life can never be the same
again,” she said low, with heartrending sadness.
Richard clenched his jaw,
recognizing the truth in her statement.
What comfort could he offer? The
situation could never be repaired. He
was in the same shoes.
GIVEAWAY!
Leave a comment for a chance to WIN
a Signed print copy
OR “Authorgraphed” Kindle version
OR epub version of The Coin; bookmark; rack card.
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Book
Blurb
The cost of this coin might just be too high... When
Gabriela finds a mysterious coin in the French Riviera, she is thrust into a
struggle between governments, terrorists, and madmen, all seeking vital
information she doesn't know she has. Richard, the intelligence officer
assigned to protect her, has all he can do to keep her safe--and keep the
stirrings of his heart from endangering them both.
Where can readers buy your book?
Author
Bio
Maria Elena Alonso-Sierra is a full-time novelist based in
North Carolina. With Cuban roots, she has lived in many countries, including
France, the setting for her first novel, The
Coin. She speaks English, Spanish, French, Italian, and German, and reads Latin,
Middle English, and old French. She holds a Masters in English literature,
specializing in medieval romances, and is currently an active member of the
Carolina Romance Writers. She loves to hear from her readers, and always hopes
to open a dialogue with her fans.Connect with the author here:
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