Character Interview with Beth Sanchez, Heroine of No Turning Back |

Book Blurb:

Elizabeth (Beth) Sanchez, daughter of the man who formed a militia and drove out the Del Rio Cartel, was the lone survivor after drug lord, Hector Suarez, retaliated, massacring the people in her town. Seven years later, Beth has an MBA, American citizenship, and is ready to chase her dreams. While on a Big Bend hiking excursion, Beth encounters Suarez who is bent on killing the one remaining symbol of resistance to his power, Beth Sanchez.

After once being called a coward, Drew West has a mile-high chip on his shoulder and an impressive resume of fighting skills. He’s ready to fight anybody, anywhere, especially if someone needs protection. When Suarez tries to kill Beth in Big Bend, Drew humiliates the drug lord and captures Suarez’s little brother, Ricardo. Hector Suarez places Beth and Drew at the top of his hit list. When a federal prosecutor offers Beth and Drew protection for their testimony against Ricardo, Beth fears a safe house cannot stop another massacre. But Drew offers her a different option, his protection on a horse ranch half a continent away. But if Beth accepts Drew’s offer, there will be no marshal protection and no turning back.

Set near Big Bend National Park and in Central Oregon, near the Deschutes River, No Turning Back is a high-action, romantic-suspense story about love, courage, and the futility of human vengeance.

Purchase Link: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07HSYKX2C/

Interview with Beth Sanchez, heroine of No Turning Back:

“Today we’re visiting with Elizabeth Alicia Sanchez. Elizabeth, didn’t you just graduate from Texas A&M University?”

“Just call me Beth, please.”

“Okay, Beth …”

“Yes. I just received my MBA from Mays Business School and I’m looking for my first position.”

“In a town of 10,000 people in far West Texas, there aren’t a lot of positions for MBAs. So what brought you out here?”

“Pecos is the home of US District Court, Western District of Texas.”

“Oh my. I hope you aren’t—”

“No I haven’t been charged or indicted. But I’ve been subpoenaed to testify against Hector Suarez’s little brother, Ricardo.”

“Suarez, as in head of the Del Rio Cartel?”

“Yes.”

“Isn’t your father Rafael Sanchez, the man who drove the Del Rio Cartel out of Northeastern Mexico?”

“He was my father. And he did form the militia of townsmen—businessmen and farmers who drove the cartel out of the region.”

“That made him a hero to all of the—”

“No. Not to everyone. I used to think he was the bravest man in the world. But after the cartel regrouped and returned, they killed most of the people in my town and every member of my family. Everyone but me. Now, sometimes I think my father was a fool. My family would still be alive if only … but you said we weren’t going to talk about that in this interview.”

“Yes, I’m sorry for bringing it up. So tell us how you became a witness against Ricardo Suarez?”

“After graduation, I signed up for an excursion to Big Bend National Park. I sprained my ankle near the trailhead, so I stayed behind, by the river, until the group returned.”

“By yourself? That’s an isolated area with all kinds of wildlife, human as well as animal.”

“I wasn’t by myself. A man from Oregon, Drew West, volunteered to stay behind with me while the rest of the group completed the day hike on the Santa Elena Canyon trail. But Drew and I encountered Ricardo Suarez, and another drug runner, bringing people illegally across the river at that remote location. Then Hector showed up. He’s a vindictive man who believes that, to show his power, he must kill every member of every family that opposes him. He lost track of me after I immigrated to the U.S., but when he recognized me, he tried to finish his vendetta against my family.”

“You must have escaped. Did Mr. West escape too?”

“Drew took on two drug runners armed with automatic weapons and then disabled Hector Suarez. Drew knows guns and martial arts. He injured Hector, humiliating him in the process, killed one of the runners, and captured the other one, Ricardo.”

“After that encounter, Suarez must want revenge on Mr. West too. Who is this man? He sounds like that Texas Ranger guy, Chuck Norris?”

“After seeing Drew in action, I’d rather have him protecting me. Well … now, we have to testify in district court. Hector won’t let his brother stand trial without trying to free him. So the DOJ offered us U.S. Marshal protection until the Grand Jury convenes, but we fear Hector will do what he did with my town—bring an army in the middle of the night, kill everyone at the safe house, then burn it down.”

“You must be terrified thinking about—”

“Not any more. Drew offered me another option. I turned down witness protection and …”

“And what, Beth?”

“I can’t tell you that. Suarez has his spy network, people he’s bribed or intimidated on both sides of the border. He could be listening to us now.”

“How long have you known this Drew West?”

“About twelve hours.”

“Less than a day and you trust him enough to—”

“Look, he’s already risked his life three times and saved mine each time. How much would it take for you to trust someone with your life?”

“Point taken. I’ll be praying for you, Beth. It sounds like you’re going to need some divine pro—uh, would that tall man walking toward us happen to be Mr. West?”

“That’s Drew.”

“Maybe you already have some help that’s divine. I mean, he certainly looks, uh … you know …”

“I’ve noticed.”

Bio:

I served in the USAF as an Intelligence Analyst and a Weather Officer. In civilian life, I served as a Research Scientist in Atmospheric Physics. After earning an MS in Computer Science, I jumped ship to build computer systems for Boeing for 20 years before retiring near Seattle, where my wife and I enjoy small-group ministry, our grandchildren, and hiking on Olympic National Park beaches. I’m an award-winning author of 12 inspirational thrillers and romantic-suspense novels and have more on the way.