Title: Splinters
(#2 of Running on Empty)
Author: M.R. Field
Genre: Contemporary Romance, NA
Publication date: September 28th, 2015
Goodreads
Hazel
I’ve spent my younger years acting, safe in a world of make-believe. I learnt to transform into roles to hold onto a sense of harmony in my life.
Years later, still in that moment, I am another face. Another mask. I am not me—the forgotten daughter, the quiet friend, the unrequited love.
Until the pretending becomes meaningless.
And my life hardens again.
I’m tired of acting for my friends when my parents ignore me. I’m tired of acting for myself when I want the world to stop being so hard. I’m tired of holding back from the only man I’ve ever loved.
Even though being drawn to him petrifies me above all else.
When I act to him, he sees right through me.
Each and every time.
Robbie
She has haunted my dreams for years. The girl I teased to watch her blush. The girl I watched in quiet agony. The girl I had a chance with, one I ruined when I pushed her away.
Now, after all these years, she’s returning to work for me. A ruse to make her mine.
I will show her that she deserves to be cherished, and loved. I’ll bring back that goddess who took my breath away when I was twenty.
You only live once. Side by side, I only want this final lifetime spent with her.
Excerpt . . .
“Roberto,” Nonna chides. “You not try hard enough. You need nice girl to bring home.”
“Yeah, yeah, Nonna.” I laugh. “How do you know I even want one?”
“Oh.” She points to the side of her nose. “I know everything. You have a girl in there.” She points to my head. “You just need a plan.”
I freeze in shock as she smiles at me knowingly while patting my cheek. “She is the one for you. But a”—her smile instantly vanished as her eyes glared into mine, moving to speak in rapid Italian—“if you make me a great-grandmother before you get married, I’ll—” She motions her fingers into a cutting gesture. I cringe and cover my beloved manhood.
“Nonna! Don’t scare the boys!”
She tuts and waves her hands at me, dismissing my point. “They won’t feel scared as they won’t exist.”
“Okay, Nonna.” I kiss her cheek and go to the kitchen, but not before she summons me to turn around to her again. In soft Italian she whispers, “She was never happy much, Roberto. Only when she was here. One day her eyes will match her lips and many hearts will break knowing it wasn't them who did that. Wait for that look.”
Giveaway . . .
About the Author . . .
M R Field has always held a love for writing, filling journals as a child which progressed to more eloquent pieces as an adult. After ten years of creative instruction, she decided to turn these ideas into manuscripts. She adores creating new story lines and is a big fan of a happily ever after, but believes strongly in making her characters work for it.
She has recently decided to join the independent publishing world with her debut novel, Fragments, due for release on December 8th, 2014.
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