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The Shadowy Mystery and Suspense Book Launch

Genre: Christian Contemporary Suspense

Link to Amazon http://bit.ly/NewNovelTheProof

Price on Kindle: 4.99 on sale for .99 cents during the launch

Shrouded in mystery, a precious relic known as Il Testamento, or The Proof, circulated among the early Christians for centuries. Before their deaths, its guardians hid it from their adversaries, leaving only a crude map of its location. For centuries, it lay in darkness. Until now. Reports of its existence have resurfaced, inciting an ancient rivalry between a ruthless group that seeks to destroy it, and a secret association that lusts for its power. Summoned to Siena by a grandfather he has never met, Gabriel Dolcini is thrust into a dark maze of danger. And into his divine destiny.

John 3:16 Marketing Network is not only sponsoring the launch, the have a generous drawing so be sure to enter below.

The Proof, Excerpt by Cheryl Colwell - Part 2 of 10

After classes, Gabe drove away from the university. Soon, he was tapping his fingers in time to a bluesy song. The pungent scents of saltwater and eucalyptus mingled in the air. Brilliant sunlight shimmered off the Pacific Ocean, and a breeze played with his hair. Buying a convertible had definitely been a good idea. Though old enough to fit his budget—with rust to prove it—the Audi was a sweet model, its weak spots hidden from view.

Easing through the last intersection, he escaped down the freeway that flowed through the heart of the city. With a million things to do before the upcoming celebration, he needed to focus and calculate his stops.

Friday afternoon’s traffic jammed the parking lot at the bank, requiring him to circle twice before slipping into a space. Inside, he waited in a high-end grey chair. Angst gripped his gut. He should have refused his mother’s request to add his name to the deed on her house. It seemed innocuous at the time, but when his educational loans threatened to overwhelm him, she insisted he consolidate them and use the house as collateral. Now, her home was at risk. This extension only bought a five-week reprieve.

His mind wandered to his grandfather’s letter in a drawer at home. Having seen Gabe’s name in an art magazine, the man had tracked him down and sent an invitation. His grandfather was wealthy. No. It was useless to count on others.

Gabe pushed back his hair. Just a little longer. His career had plodded at a slower pace than planned. All he needed was the recognition that would put a premium price on his paintings. You and thirty million other artists. The shaking pen in Gabe’s hand mimicked his rollicking insides.

“Is there a problem, Mr. Dolcini?” The loan officer flashed the smile of an unfeeling shark.

“No.” Gabe scribbled his name and pushed the papers away. He left the bank with clammy hands. Had he been wise to invest so heavily in his career? Out on the street, he downshifted and sped away, aware that painting was the only pursuit in which he excelled.

Preoccupied, he almost missed the dry cleaner. He braked hard to swing into the parking lot. “Fesso—stupid!” He shook his head. “If you’re gonna drive, drive.” When he stepped inside to pick up his dinner jacket, Carlotta, the owner’s wife, turned white.

“Mr. Dolcini.” Tears welled and she began to sputter out a string of unintelligible Spanish.

“Shh, shh,” he tried to calm her. “What’s wrong?”

Her husband, Salvador, came out from the back. She fled and he cleared his voice. “Mr. Dolcini, we are happy to pay for a new jacket.”

It was Gabe’s turn to blanch. “Where’s my jacket?” Two week’s salary had gone to an exclusive tailor to create the one splurge he had allowed himself. The jacket gave him confidence when dealing with his sophisticated clientele. It had also made for a couple of lean months.

Salvador attempted to hold his head high, but a difficult swallow gave him away. “It got caught in the machinery.” He reached under the counter and pulled out a neatly folded jacket. It looked fine—until he unfolded it. The left sleeve lay mangled where it had detached from the shredded shoulder.

Gabe’s jaw dropped. He stared at the butchered garment. There was no time to have another made before the award ceremony tomorrow. Blood pounded against his temples. He looked back at Salvador, who had given up and let his head droop, eyes cast toward the floor.

“Mr. Dolcini, I will pay for the damage.” He opened his cash register. “How much do I owe you?”

Gabe glanced around the small mom and pop store he had chosen instead of the large commercial chain. He studied Salvador, whose hand quivered over the cash drawer. It wouldn’t do to break him, but Gabe would not humiliate him with a paltry sum either.

“Two hundred dollars.”

Salvador looked surprised and nodded with relief. Reaching into the drawer, he counted out five twenties, eight tens, and three fives. After digging some more, he added five ones. Gabe held his breath, hoping he wouldn’t have to take change. Beads of sweat trickled down the man’s forehead. “We appreciate your business. Please accept our apology.”

“Accidents happen.” Gabe tried for a smile, but wasn’t sure he pulled it off. Stuffing the money in his pocket, he headed for his car. Once out of sight, he stomped on the gas pedal and took out his frustration on the road. Where could he get a decent jacket in a day? For two hundred dollars?

His last stop was to pick up Sonia from the restaurant where she worked. Two months ago, his mother had attached herself to the seventeen-year-old, newly emancipated orphan. One look at the girl’s brilliant smile and dark hair and Gabe had immediately understood why. If Angelica had lived…

He entered the restaurant and checked his watch. Sonia entered the dining room with a tray of food and passed plates of hamburgers to three college athletes. One flirt held onto her wrist.

“I have to get back to work,” she laughed, attempting to pull her hand away.

Obviously jealous of the attention Sonia was garnering, one of four boisterous high school girls curled her lip and hurled an insult for all to hear. “I wonder what border she crawled over.”

Sonia turned and blanched, her silent mouth fell open. Gabe was certain she didn’t have a mean-spirited retort in her vocabulary. The jock glowered at the girls. Sonia yanked her hand free and fled the dining room.

Gabe was about to let the little beasties have it, but an idea occurred to him. He found Sonia crying in the kitchen. “Ignore the playground antics.” He wiped her tear with his thumb. “Go put on a pretty face and meet me out front.”

Waiting in his convertible, Gabe turned up the stereo. The obnoxious girls came out and loitered nearby, laughing and bantering to get his attention. Looking closer, Gabe recognized Howard’s daughter. It figures.

A few minutes later, he spotted Sonia coming out the front door. He jumped out and sauntered to her like an enamored lover. Taking her hand, he kissed her on the cheek.

She blushed and whispered. “What are you doing?”

“Just play along.” He opened the driver’s car door, allowing her to slide into the leather seat. In a loud voice, he said, “Thanks for letting me borrow your car.”

The girls glared, stunned to silence as Sonia started the Audi and drifted past them with a cool smile playing on her lips. After turning the corner, Sonia pulled over to let Gabe drive. She broke into laughter. “That was fabulous. Their type is in the restaurant all the time—rich and obnoxious.”

Gabe dealt with their mothers in the art world. “It must be in the water.” Downshifting, he turned up the mountain to his mother’s house. He hated to admit that he needed these people. Everything he held dear—his career, his reputation, and his mother’s home—rested in their capricious hands.

Link to Book Trailer: http://bit.ly/Mn6Kpd

A Review:

Cheryl Colwell's new novel, The Proof, did just about everything you could ever want a novel to do: Captivating characters who you came to care about and want to know more about; scene development that was so clear you could almost reach out and touch the walls; adventure (including swords), that kept the pages turning as fast as possible; plot turns and twists that were surprising, yet believable; historic and geographic settings that were like travel logs and time machines in their clarity; and gentle teachings about both truth and character. Did I leave anything out that you hope to find in adventure fiction?

Oh! The writing! Cheryl is a seriously good writer. The book is primarily set in Italy, but the adventures take place over 20 centuries as a religious relic is fought over by good guys and thugs. The relic is believed to possess supernatural power, not just monetary value, setting up the ongoing tension.
If you like mystery, suspense, adventure, and intrigue in historic settings, you can't possibly go wrong with The Proof.

Meet Author Cheryl Colwood

Cheryl Colwell began writing fiction in 2007. True to her tagline, "Stunning Suspense," her characters visit stunning locations while they pursue adventurous quests peppered with mystery, suspense, and romance.

Passionate about all things creative, Cheryl finds inspiration in the countryside of Ashland, Oregon - the perfect venue for her interests in writing, gardening, and art.

John, her husband, best friend, and chiropractor, keeps her in shape for gardening and writing long into the night. They are delighted to have four unique and talented children and three grandchildren. A smart and playful English Shepherd makes their empty nest a happy place.

Books:
The Proof, published 2014 by Inspired Fiction Books
The Secrets of the Montebellis, published 2013 by Inspired Fiction Books
A story of healing in, "I Believe in Healing" by Cecil Murphey, published 2013 by Regal.

Connect With Cheryl:

Website link: cherylcolwell.com

Blog link: inspiredfictionbooks.com

Blog link: travelandmysteryblog.com

Facebook link: facebook.com/cherylcolwellauthor

Twitter link: twitter.com/CherylColwell3

John 3:16 Book Launch Drawing:

Enter to win a

$100 Amazon gift card plus a lot more!

http://bit.ly/Christian_Books

I trust you will find some interesting reading from these authors and at unbeatable prices. Enjoy!

Blessings, Carol A. Brown

P.S. Here is the daily schedule if you want to follow a particular story so you know which blog to go to for the next chapter excerpt!

Daily Chapter Excerpt for Gatehaven can be found at:

March 3: #1 Jill Richarson http://jill-theimperfectjourney.blogspot.com/

March 4: #2 Malo Bel www.malobel.com/christian-books.html

March 5: #3 Cheryl Colwell www.travelandmysteryblog.com

March 6: #4 Cheryl Colwell www.inspiredfictionbooks.com

March 7: #5 Carol Brown www.connectwithcarolbrown.blogspot.com

March 10: #6 Laura Davis www.interviewsandreviews.com/book-of-the-week

March 11: #7 Emma Right emmaright.com/blog

March 12: #8 Kimberly Payne www.kimpayne.wordpress.com

March 13: #9 Martin Roth www.martinroth.com.au

March 14: #10 Molly Noble Bell writersrest.blogspot.com

Daily Chapter Excerpt for Shadow Stalker can be found at: