Let's welcome Sarah Monzon to the blog again! Yesterday, you got to know her better via her author interview celebrating her book release. Today, you get to read an excerpt from her new novel, Finders Keepers: A Carrington Family Novel, Book 1! Exciting, right?
You also get to read my review of her book and when you reach the end of this post, you have a chance to WIN a copy of Finders Keepers for your Kindle! Just fill out the entry form on the Rafflecopter widget.
So let's get this party started! Enjoy! :)
My review of Finders Keepers (A Carrington Family Novel, Book 1):
The plot is deeply layered. Monzon’s writing has improved by leaps and bounds after her debut novel, The Isaac Project, was released in Sept. 2015. She was already a good writer, but Finders Keepers made her GREAT!
The author does a wonderful job of weaving themes of faith and life lessons into the fabric of this perfectly paced story. The characters are complex yet captivating. Every scene builds conflict and tension, keeping the reader interested and eager to know what happens next. It’s my favorite book by Monzon so far and totally worth a five-star rating!
Read my full review here, http://amzn.to/1WFUDF0
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Excerpt from Chapter 7 of Finders Keepers:
Summer's cell vibrated on the desk next to her outstretched hand. The ID registered a number she didn't recognize. She tapped the green Accept button.
“Hello?”
“Hey, beautiful, you want to grab some coffee?”
Furrows formed between her eyes. Who in the world? “I'm sorry. You must have the wrong number.”
She pulled the phone away from her ear but stopped short of disconnecting when she heard the voice on the other end say her name.
Her lips turned down. “Who is this?”
“Who do you think it is, babe? I told you I'd call.” Summer hadn't known it was possible to hear a smile until then. The flirtatious, mischievous smile she'd seen on Trent Carrington's face before resounded over the phone lines. And babe? Really? She set her teeth. The guy knew it irked her to be called that, but it seemed he got perverse pleasure in pushing her buttons.
Ignore it. If he can't get a rise out of you, he'll eventually stop. At least that was how it had worked when the boys had teased her in elementary school.
Summer stared at her computer screen. She really needed to get these photos edited by the end of the day. “I'm in the middle of something right now, Trent. If this is about the trip, you can e-mail me the itinerary.”
The door to her studio pushed open, and there stood Trent. All six foot plus of him. The sun shone through the open door, causing his blond hair to glow like gold. One side of his mouth whirled up in a lopsided grin. Her breath whooshed out of her. From irritation. Obviously. The reaction couldn't have been for any other reason.
“I'm not taking no for an answer.” Summer heard his voice from across the room as well as from her cell. She hung up and sent him a glare.
“As you can see, I'm working.” She indicated the screen in front of her.
He walked across the room and sat in one of the chairs opposite her desk, leaning back in it like he had all the time in the world.
“Coffee will only take fifteen minutes.” He bestowed one of his flashing smiles upon her.
Summer looked at him. She took in his laid-back manner, the way he was quick to smile, and the ease in which he charmed. For goodness’ sake, the man thought all he had to do was smile and he'd get his way. She pursed her lips. Already she'd given in to him, but that was because she needed some edgy photos for Our World, not because he'd smiled at her, said pretty please, and made her go all gooey inside.
Someone needed to start telling this man no.
“Thank you for the offer, but I really don't have time right now.”
He continued to lounge in her chair, his gaze never leaving her face, the lopsided grin never faltering. “All right. No problem.”
Really? He wasn't going to put up more of a fight? No cajoling? No begging? No persuasion of any kind? Summer was surprised at the twinge of disappointment in her midsection. Guess he didn't think her worthy of any added effort.
Trent stood, and Summer's eyes followed the motion. His gaze continued to lock on her, and she swallowed hard.
“I'll just go and bring some coffee back. Better that way anyhow. Now I won't have to worry about getting you back at a specific time. And since I don't have anything else going on right now, I can stay and keep you company while you work. I could stay all day if I wanted to.”
All day? Her nerves already stood on end with his constant stare. No way she'd be able to get any work done. And how so like him to manipulate a situation so he got exactly what he wanted. Any twinge of disappointment was replaced with annoyance.
She met his gaze and took in the cocky slant of his eyes. Her jaw clenched. He thought he was so irresistible. One look, one smile, and she'd fall all over him. Not going to happen.
“Do you always get what you want so easily?”
His head tilted as if thinking it through, then his eyes bored into hers once more. "No. Not everything is worth pursuit. But when I find something special, something precious, a treasure of immeasurable wealth, I'll do everything within my power to claim it as mine."
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Author bio:
Sarah Monzon is a pastor's wife and a stay at home mom to the two cutest littles in the world.
Playing pretend all day with them isn't enough, she spends the evenings after their heads hit the pillow to create her own imaginary characters.
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