An exquisite touch of distinction #mfrwhooks

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Today, another hook from my WIP titled Audra Fleeing Audra Finding, book 5 in the Alien Contact for Idiots series. Kwadra’s queen has twisted the arm of a reluctant Duchess Opsie Beaverpaw to lead the search for Audra, a runaway young mother. Here Opsie talks with the runaway’s uncle, Matt Verhailey, a wealthy cyber security expert who is searching for her.

“I have an important meeting with the Defense Department in D.C. in six days,” Verhailey said. The hair at his temple and above his ears was turning grey. A few years ago, that would’ve warned Opsie that he was probably too old, but now it seemed like an exquisite touch of distinction, earned by long life and, perhaps, suffering. “Think we can find her by then?”

“If she’s desperate to see the sun again and wants to be found, the chances are ninety-eight percent. But if she doesn’t?” Opsie shrugged.

Verhailey’s expression went still, as though he hadn’t liked what he’d heard. For her own sake, she hoped he’d call off the search because his meeting was too important. But she liked the way he looked, so for his sake she hoped family was more important than business.

“Audra isn’t my blood niece,” he said, and Opsie was disappointed. He was weaseling out of the search.

“She’s fiercely independent,” he continued, “and she might not want my help, but . . .” His conflicted frown made her want to soothe him by running her fingers through his graying hair. “But if anyone deserves my help, it’s Audra. I’ll need the rest of today to brief my partner about the Pentagon meeting.”

Be sure to check out the hooks by other great writers in the Book Hooks blog hop.

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Audra Fleeing, Audra Finding

She’s running from an abusive lover . . . but what is she running to?

When her abusive lover threatens to take custody of her baby, Audra Verhailey flees where even he can’t follow: the aliens’ forbidden cities underneath Kwadra Island.

But can the safe isolation she wants for her daughter survive a search party, a gang of alien criminals — and the love of an emotionally damaged Kwadran?