Title: Splinters
Series: Running on Empty #2
Author: M.R. Field
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Release Date: September 28, 2015
Blurb
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.
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Excerpt
Robbie
“Your eggs!” Nonna suddenly yells at Trice, startling us as we sit at the table as she points to her. I pass Hazel the Corn Flakes as I reach out for the toast that Mamma has prepared. I stare at Nonna, confused, wondering if one of us was meant to go to the chicken coup to grab some eggs this morning.
“Nonna, we’ve been here before. We have plenty of time,” Trice pleads, her voice gently trying to placate her. “You really should stop watching Dr Phil.”
“It’ll be too late!” She sighs, holding her hand to her chest. “They will be gone soon.” She looks over to Hazel, then her eyes barrel into mine. “You need to hurry up too.”
“Nonna, have you got Grappa in your coffee this morning?” I laugh, trying to knock the worried look from her face.
Mamma brings over the percolator and holds it up for us. I nod and lift my cup while shifting my eyes to Nonna then back to her. She chuckles as she finishes pouring.
“Trice, you do have plenty of time. You know Nonna is just impatient.”
I poke my tongue into my cheek for a moment and then I sip my coffee while wondering if Nonna is starting to lose it.
Trice sees my confusion and waves her hand at me. “It’s nothing to worry about. Nonna saw an episode on Dr Phil about fertility and apparently by my age, my eggs will start to shrivel up. She just wants to be a bisnonna.”
I laugh as Alex’s face pales, causing Trice to laugh—loud. “It’s okay, babe. We’re fine, remember?” she teases, rubbing his arm. He relaxes and shakes his head. I chuckle as his eyes flick over to me and he mouths arsehole.
Mamma moves behind me to Hazel and offers her some coffee. Dr Phil has a lot to answer for when it came to my Nonna.
Author Bio
M R Field is an author from Rural Victoria and has completed a Bachelor's degree with Honours from Latrobe University, Melbourne. After growing up with the river at her front door, she returned back to her hometown after many years of living in the city. She now lives a tranquil lifestyle with her husband and two young children.
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.
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ALPHA BOOK CLUB REVIEW
Title: Splinters (Book 2)
Series Name: Running On Empty
Author: M.R. Field
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Stars: 4.5
Heat: Level 3
“To me, you are soft, delicate and beautiful. Fragile and in need of
protection.” She sighs and shivers. Her eyes are hooded as she runs the
tip of her tongue along the corner of her bottom lip. If that isn’t an invitation
to go to her, then I don’t know what is.”
Splinters will lift you off of your feet and carry to bed surrounded by red roses and
soft candles. It’s seductive yet sweet but not overly so. It strikes the perfect
balance between sassy and sweet thanks to fully realized characters and plot.
Splinters is a story with humor, wit, love and heartache. Author M.R. Field has
done a superb job creating the sexual tension between Hazel, the beautiful girl
with the emerald eyes, and Robbie, the gorgeous boy with the panty-melting
smile. Thankfully, we are rewarded fairly early in the story when the tension is
dropped and the heat is turned up full blast.
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.
Who can’t relate to a story of unrequited love? (If you can’t, consider yourself
lucky.) But this is what makes Hazel’s and Robbie’s journey so rewarding. I
found myself on the verge of tears a few times, especially the way Hazel was
tormented and bullied by her two older sisters as a teenager or how she’s treated
by her selfish and ambivalent parents. I detested her siblings and parents just as
much as I loved the fiery, adorable Hazel, who is clearly the black sheep in her
family.
Hazel and Robbie’s close friends round out a stellar cast of supporting characters
who only add to the storyline. The alternating point of views — from Hazel and
Robbie — works brilliantly throughout the story.
“Are you mine, now?” I ask, gazing into the emerald pools that have
captured my thoughts and haunted my dreams for years. “Yes.” She’s
panting and before I can move to her, she surprises me and grabs my shirt
and pulls me close.”
Splinters is a standalone book and the second in the Running on Empty series,
no cliff hanger. It’s a well-written, entertaining, great modern love story that’s
steamy enough to satisfy all readers.
ARC Provided by Give Me Books. Honest review done by Zoe Starr for Alpha
Book Club without influence from publisher or author.
