Phoenix's Ascent
by Winter Austin
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GENRE: Romantic Suspense/Thriller
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BLURB:
A maniac developing a fantastical drug wants one more thing to finalize the project—a test subject who fits all the parameters. But that test subject is as elusive as her namesake.
Ex-SAS operative Mitch Edwards has been on the run since the moment he was framed for treason by someone in the British government. But he’s never forgotten the flamboyant and seductive CIA operative with the tongue of a thousand languages. In a bar in Cancun, Mexico, Mitch comes face to face with her once more, and with her comes the full force of her enemies.
Reinstated Hera Force linguist and assassin, Nadia Roth, code named Phoenix, has no memory of Mitch Edwards, or of their affair before her team’s disastrous mission. Her traumatic brain injury is tricky that way. But something about this man sets her on fire and tickles the back of her mind. Her Hera teammates remember him, so why can’t she?
Mitch partners up with Hera, with the sole intent of locating those hell-bent on killing him and all who are associated with him. Yet more is at stake than their lives. A traitor hides among their ranks, one who has been revealing all their secrets to an enemy determined to procure this special drug and Nadia for his scheme.
Hera goes into operation mode, doing what they were created to do, but someone is watching, and the team finds themselves trapped behind enemy lines with no way out.
Will Nadia ever remember the man she once loved, or will they perish with the secret between them?
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EXCERPTS:
Nadia paused in the doorway and leaned back to look at her dear friend. “You are, and you will, or they’ll know we’re on to them. Hop to it.”
She was halfway to her room, contemplating whether to change her hair color now, or wear wigs this trip, when the heavy footfalls behind her breached her mind wanderings. She spun and pressed the tip of her blade to his throat.
“If you know me, Mitch, you would know not to follow me.”
He leaned into the tip, making his flesh cave. “I know you well enough to know you would have buried the blade into my eye instead of threatening me with just the point.”
She withdrew the knife and slung the butterfly closed, then returned it to the sheath. “My last recalled moments with you remind me that you’re a stubborn cuss.” She took him in, head to boots. Hadn’t his hair been longer when she first met him? “You look like you can handle yourself. Or is this Mr. World muscle all for show?”
Sighing, the man crossed his arms, making those massive muscles bulge and strain the sleeves of his sea-green tee. Didn’t Lincoln have a shirt like that?
“I’m ex SAS.”
Nadia puckered her face. “I’m impressed. Then you’ll be of some use to us.”
“I’m not coming.”
“You’re not? Didn’t you say back there …?”
“You assumed I was coming. I never said I was.”
Mimicking his stance, Nadia fluttered her eyelashes. “So, you followed me back to my room for a little smooch and make up?”
The Brit blanched, washing out his glorious tan.
Nadia laughed, pushing at his shoulder. “Lighten up. Geesh, for a Brit, you sure do take the whole so serious bit way too far.”
“You realize when you say things like that, it would have been a reality for us in the past?”
Now it was her turn to blanch. “Are you saying…?”
Mitch leaned closer to her. “Every private moment we got.”
Backpedaling from him, she huffed. “I could care less if we were humping like rabbits. I don’t know you. Don’t ever come near me again.”
“As you wish.” He touched his forehead and, like the soldier he used to be, about-faced and marched off. He nodded to Jade as she rounded the corner, then disappeared.
“What was that all about?”
Nadia glowered at the empty hall. “For some reason he thought he had to inform me he was not coming with us to Monte Carlo.”
“Wonder why?”
“I didn’t bother to ask. He was too busy trying to mess with my already messed up head.” Nadia grabbed a handful of Jade’s shirt and jerked her closer. “Tell me I didn’t screw that man six ways from Sunday every chance we got.”
The look of panic on her friend’s face was enough.
“Jade, how could you let me do that?”
“Nads, that was the old you. The one who loved him.”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
AUTHOR Bio and Links:
Winter Austin perpetually answers the question: “were you born in the winter?” with a
flat “nope,” but believe her, there is a story behind her name.
A lifelong Mid-West gal with strong ties to the agriculture world, Winter grew up
listening to the captivating stories told by relatives around a table or a campfire. As a
published author, she learned her glass half-empty personality makes for a perfect
suspense/thriller writer. Taking her ability to verbally spin a vivid and detailed story,
Winter translated that into writing deadly romantic suspense, mysteries, and thrillers.
When she’s not slaving away at the computer, you can find Winter supporting her
daughter in cattle shows, seeing her three sons off into the wide-wide world, loving
on her fur babies, prodding her teacher husband, and nagging at her flock of hens to
stay in the coop or the dogs will get them.
She is the author of ten novels, with more on the way.
Find Winter on:
Website - https://www.winteraustin.com
Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/author.winteraustin
Twitter - https://twitter.com/WinterAustin
Instagram - http://www.instagram.com/iasuspensewriter/
Pinterest - http://www.pinterest.com/winteraustin/
Goodreads - http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6880807.Winter_Austin
Buy Links:
http://tirgearrpublishing.com/authors/Austin_Winter/phoenixs-ascent.htm
http://tirpub.com/waustin
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