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THE COIN by Maria Elena Alonso-Sierra

THE COIN

by Maria Elena Alonso-Sierra

Pub Date: April 12th, 2013
ISBN: 978-1483912479
Publisher: CreateSpace

In her debut novel, Alonso-Sierra blends action, suspense and steamy romance to tell the story of an up-and-coming artist and the secret agent assigned to protect her against an anonymous terrorist.

Gabriela Martinez lives a calm, beautiful life. She has a home in the French Riviera, a wealthy and hardworking husband, a propensity for making excellent quiches and a blossoming career as an artist. However, her life suddenly and dramatically changes when American investigator Richard Harrison questions her about a mysterious coin she found while hiking in La Marbrière. He warns her that a terrorist looking for the coin will come after her—and everyone dear to her. Richard and his team know that it’s the link to “an unknown financial source that has been supplying millions of dollars to every anti-Israeli organization and terrorist group throughout the Middle East and Europe.” To complicate her life even further, Richard is extremely attractive, and Gabriela cannot help but feel an instant connection with him. Alonso-Sierra wonderfully builds suspense, and her psychological-thriller plotline enhances the sexual tension between Gabriela and Richard in an intriguing manner; their restrained romance quickly becomes the driving force of the novel. The character development is on point as well, with unexpectedly multilayered supporting characters such as Albert, Gabriela’s artist mentor; and Bernard, her alcoholic friend who knows too much. That said, some parts of the novel seem repetitive and drawn out, such as Richard’s many internal monologues about his love for Gabriela. Overall, however, the novel is a page-turner, and the romantic sections are most satisfying.

A suspenseful, sexy romantic thriller.