Friday, August 26, 2011

Romero Teaser/Excerpt! WIP - unedited.


TGIF everyone! So here's a first sneak peek to Romero -- next up in the Moreno Brothers series!

Set up: So they've met at a wedding shower a couple of weeks prior. Romero was amused by Isabel, but initially had determined she wasn't his type--too uptight. Isabel knows he's definitely not her type  but when she unexpectedly runs into him at the mall, they share a meal that turns out to be more fun than she would have every imagined. Here they sit having after dinner drinks as she fills him in about her sister.   


The waitress put the bill down on the table and Romero took it. Isabel reached for her purse. “How much is it?”
“Get out of here. I got this.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yep, plus I’m not done yet. When she comes by again, I’m gonna order a beer. You want one?” Then he rolled his eyes. “That’s right you drink wine. I don’t know if they have any here.” He reached for the drink menu, “I’ve never—”
“I drink beer.”
“You do?” He asked, bringing his attention back to her.
“Yeah, just ‘cause I didn’t have any at the shower. But I’ve been known to throw a few back here and there.”
Romero smiled and flagged the waitress down. After several rounds, Isabel said she had to drive, but she asked for water and they continued to talk. She’d never felt as witty as he made her feel, because he laughed so much at some of the things she said. Though the majority of the time she wasn’t trying to be funny. 
“So you said your sister sets you up a lot. Obviously, these guys she’s picking are not the winners she thinks they are, if you’re still single.”
Isabel lifted a shoulder stirring the ice in her water with the straw. “They’ve all been nice. But there has to be more than just what she thinks is perfect. There has to be chemistry.”
“And what is perfect to her?” He swallowed the last of his beer and set the bottle on the end of the table.
“Respectable, good career, good place in society, someone she thinks will take good care of her little sister.”
His expression went serious for a moment. “Good place in society. What the hell does that mean?” The waitress came by and took the bottle. Romero held up a finger for another beer.
Isabel took a deep breath. Normally she wouldn’t get so personal, but over the course of the evening she’d begun to feel more and more comfortable talking to him. She found him to be a breath of fresh air, especially compared to all the uptight guys she usually dated. Not that she’d consider this a date, but even having someone like Romero as a friend could be a fun—different. “Everyone in my family, with the exception of me and my mother, has at least one masters degree. My sister’s married to a Lieutenant Commander in the U.S. Navy. Most of the men she sets me up with, are up there in rank, either that or someone she met in graduate school.” Isabel sipped her straw. When she looked up it was strange to see not even a trace of a smirk on Romero’s face. “That’s the way she’s always been,” she shrugged. “She just wants the best for me.”
Halfway through her explanation she’d begun to rethink telling Romero all this, especially since she still wasn’t sure what exactly he did for a living. He might take offense.   
The waitress set the new beer in front of Romero and he took a swig. “Well, good luck finding Mr. Perfect based on a fucking rank or degree.”
And there it was. She definitely wasn’t asking him what he did for a living now. She didn’t want him to think she was judging him. “So what about you? You have any brothers or sisters?”
He shook his head. “Nope, just me and my uncles. Which reminds me.” He pulled out something from his back pocket and handed it to her. “I almost forgot why I came here.”
Her eyes went from the paper in her hand to his. “I thought you said you were here looking for tools?”
The smirk was back and now it was his turn to look a little embarrassed. Isabel felt a flutter in her belly and her face warm. “I uh, was hoping to run into you, actually. I was here last Friday, too. I remembered you saying you got your nails done here on Fridays.”
Isabel was floored, but at the same time filled with a strange excitement.
He ran his fingers through his hair. “My uncle gets tickets to the Padre games from some of his clients sometimes and I remembered you said you were a fan.” With the smirk gone, their eyes locked and Isabel felt her heart speed up. He pointed at the tickets but kept his eyes on hers. “I thought you might wanna go. It’s tomorrow night.”
“I… uh.” She gulped, still trying to get past the fact that he’d sought her out two weeks in a row.  “I have a lot of papers to grade this weekend.”
Why did she always do that? She saw the disappointment in his eyes. “You sure? Can’t you do that on Sunday?”
Yes, she could. She finally pulled her eyes away from his and looked down at the tickets. She hadn’t been to a game in a while.
“It’s a good one," he said. "Against the Dodgers. They’re both tied for second right now.”
She could do this. Romero was one-hundred percent the opposite of any guy she ever dated, but there was nothing wrong with going to a ballgame with a friend. She looked back at him. “Okay, I think I can work something out with those papers.” His face brightened immediately. That smile was beginning to do things to her.


Romero- Coming this fall!

39 comments:

  1. Ooh that was really good. Can't wait to read Romero's story.

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  2. Thanks! It's really starting to come along now. And I'm getting super excited. =D

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  3. Cant wait to read it! Just the little sample is good so I'm sure the book will be Awesome! =)

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  4. Hi there, found you on facebook and followed this link. You did a great job on the dialogue, just a couple of unnecessary words, but overall, and really, overall, it was well done. Why do I hear VinDiesel's voice with this guy?

    The dialog content was well done. I mean, they said things I would expect them to say. She was very level headed, not an idiot like some girls, blind as bats or playing too hard to get. You were right on in the emotion department too, how much emotion to convey in the narrative. you stayed in pov well. Your pace was nice and even for the mood here. Her reactions to her feelings for him seem to be developing realistically too. So, good job on all of that.

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  5. Ms. Reyes: I have read both your books: Forever Mine & Always Been Mine. I can't express how much I LOVEEEE THEM! You are an AMAZING WRITER. Going to start Sweet Sofie next. I can't WAIT for the other books that follow! You are on TOP of my Favorite List Of Authors Now. PLEASE keep them coming :) :) :) *Amy.E. aka HOPELESS ROMANTIC @HEART*

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  6. =) <3 <3 <3

    Thank you, Amy! I gotta tell you like most writers I deal with self doubt day in and day out. So when I get this kind of feedback...well just let me say you've made my day! And my weekend, and this is a long weekend, too! So thank you so much! =)

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  7. Omg!!! I can't wait for this book to come out!! I love ur books! Is there an exact date of release? Ur on my auto buy list. Thank u so much for sharing ur gift.

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  8. Thank you, Philliet! Exact date? LOL I don't think I've ever had an exact date for any of my releases. But I will say this the story is written and has been sent out to my beta readers. I'm now working on Sal's story only while I wait for the feedback on Romero. Once the verdict is in on Romero I'll make any necessary changes then it's off to the editor. So I know for sure it'll be October. But I dare not say beginning, middle or end. These things have a way of changing last minute! =) As always I'll keep you all updated and have another teaser coming your way before the release!

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  9. Hey. I started reading Forever Mine two days ago on my kindle and stopped midway to look up what else you've written. I love the Moreno series. I'm so damned glad you found your old high school writing and decided to finish it. Forever Mine was the best YA romance I've read in too, too long. There was no paranormal/supernatural twist to the story, but it was magical. You hit the spot. :)
    Thanks for this excerpt. I'm especially grateful for how quickly you're publishing the stories.
    I really liked Always Been Mine too, though I think you have a special knack for writing great YA romances. Thanks for your hard work and the great book.
    I'm off to read Sweet Sofie now, and happily anticipating Romero and Sal's stories.

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  10. Hi Honour,

    As always I love getting feedback from my readers. I like to mix it up. FM and Sweet Sofie are the the only YA novels in the series. And even those I'd classify as mature YA. Even though in ABM technically they're still very young I still consider it adult contemporary as are the next two coming up.

    So glad you're enjoying my stories. Thanks for sharing! =)

    Eli

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  11. Why did I read this :-).. It just made the wait feel that much longer. I'm loving this series. Thank you.

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  12. I love your books so much!

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  13. First of all I just wanted to say how much I LOVE your books! You are such a talented author. Ever since I read Forever mine I've literally become obsessed with this series, I can't get enough! Forever mine is my absolute favorite and when I read Sweet Sofie and you talked about Angel and Sarah getting engaged I almost died you have to write another book on those two! Keep up the good work you are so gifted :)

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  14. Let ME just say that I never would've dreamed that my wonderful readers would embrace and love my characters as much as I loved creating them. I love my readers! =D This is not the first time I've heard "I want more Angel and Sarah" Stop putting stuff in my head! lol

    FYI This Tuesday I'm going to try something my writers friends have been doing. Over on my Facebook Fan Page I'll do Teaser Tuesday. Just a sentence or two from one of the upcoming books in the series where you the readers get to guess who said it and which book its from. I just hope it's more fun than frustrating since that's all you'll get, a few sentences. =D Of course you'll get a "like" on your comment if you guess right. But that's it. Wouldn't be a tease otherwise! ;)

    Thanks for the feedback guys! I LOVE it!

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  15. I absolutely cannot wait for this book to come out. I've read the other books in this series twice already. Can't get enough.

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  16. =D I can't wait for you to read it either . My beta readers are already reading and I'm biting my nails waiting for the verdict.

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  17. Looking forward to Teaser Tuesdays. Sincerely your comadre!

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  18. Thanks Judy. And I should have another teaser/excerpt of Romero up in the coming weeks. =D

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  19. I LOVELOVELOVELOVE your books. It only took me about 2 days to read each book! They are fabulous. I'm so excited for Romero...and eventually Sal??
    Is there any chance that after those books, you'd consider continuing the stories? Like a book about what happens after Angel and Sarah or Val and Alex get married??
    ~Grace N.

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  20. Hey Grace!

    So glad you enjoyed and thanks for the feedback! You know, I'm getting so many comments/pm's like yours. In Romero & Sal's stories you get to see a little more of what's going on with Angel and Alex. I think most readers will like. I'm contemplating putting up a poll maybe on the fan page once they're all done because I have a few idea's for a possible bonus novella after they're all done. Maybe revisiting a few "old friends."... but a few new friends (characters) pop up in the next two so I'll wait until the series is complete... we'll see. Thanks so much for the interest!

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  21. Now that its closer to October do you know what part of the month the book is coming out?? And you have really inspired me to start writing again. Also you are one great author i have already read all of your books 5 times.

    Maddie :)

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  22. Hey, Maddie!

    I'm shooting for mid October but it may be sooner... don't quote me though! lol I do promise to have another teaser/excerpt out soon. =D <3

    Eli

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  23. O my goodness!!! It's getting so hard to wait for Romero's book!! On pins & needles!!!

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  24. Philliet, it's getting closer. I can feel it in my stomach. I'm gettin' nervous! =O

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  25. I LOVEE ALL YOUR BOOKS!!!....THEYRE ALL AMAZINGLY FANTASTIC!!....anf i can relate to almost all of your characters in a way!!!...and i loved sweet sofie!!!...and all the other ones!...CANT WAIT FOR ROMERO AND IZZY THEY ARE MY FAVORITE!

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  26. Maddie!

    I love the enthusiasm! I only hope you enjoy the rest of the series just as much! They'll be out real soon! =D

    Eli

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  27. Omg I sooo can't wait for this and sal's story!!!!!!! Ahhhh!!!!! Lol so excited. I stumbled on forever mine by accident now I've read always mine and sweet sofie. Great job Elizabeth this really great reading

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  28. As the release day for Romero gets closer and closer I'm getting so excited myself! So glad you enjoyed! I do the happy dance every time I hear this! =D

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  29. I love all your book!( I've read them all a bunch of times) I found Forever Mine by accident but now I so glad:) I can't wait for Romero's and Sal's book! I super excited, I love your writting and you are an amazing author!!!

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  30. Hi Tiffany!

    Hearing from my readers and how much they loved my books will NEVER stop putting a big goofy smile on my face!

    Thanks for stopping by. Be sure to come back! I'll be announcing the release of Romero...soon. ;)

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  31. To reiterate what everyone posted, you are a great writer and I can't wait for Sal's story. It would be great if it's even remotely like the others. Can we get a time frame for it? Thanks and keep up the good work!

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  32. Thank you... I'm HOPING Sal's story will be out end of November beginning of December... but life always has a way of messing with my plans.. so we'll see.. for now I'll say before the end of the year for sure! =)

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  33. Hi Elizabeth!

    I just finished reading Sweet Sophie & already can't wait for Romero's story. I was so excited to see a projected October release and just a tad disappointed to rush onto amazon & not see it there yet, lol. I stumbled upon Forever Mine & decided to try it out since it was free on Amazon at the time- I never pay for ebooks & rarely even take advantage of the free series books because I know the following book are pay for downloads... I immediately got sucked into the Moreno family & couldn't download the next book fast enough! I am the eldest of 2 with a sister 7 years younger but I swear I know how it is having 3 hot blooded protective older brothers, lol! Thanks for a great series!

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  34. Thank you, Michelle! Yeah something always seems to happen around release time. I was hoping early October but it's looking more like late October. =( In the mean time I just uploaded the very first peak of Sal's cover over on The Moreno Brothers update post and GoodReads! Let me know what you think!

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  35. My husband bought me a kindle fire about a week ago, so i was going through the books and came across forever mine. Wow was all i had to say i downloaded it and i couldnt put it down. I just finished always be mine, now im on to sweet sofie... these books make me feel like i felt when i first fell in love with my husband and i thank you for that!! will be a loyal fan for life!!!

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  36. Hi Shannon! Yay! Don't you just love your fire? I just got mine a few weeks ago, too! LOVE IT! =) Thanks so much so much for stopping by! I love these guys and the girls too. I feel like their family! I can hardly wait to see what everyone thinks of Sal's story and Sarah and Angels short! *sniffs* I'm going to miss them!

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