STOLEN OBSESSION

Annalisse Series, Book 1

by

Marlene M Bell

Genre: Spicy Romantic Mystery

Publisher: Ewephoric Publishing

Date of Publication: March 20, 2018

Number of Pages: 284

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PEOPLE DIE, BUT LEGENDS LIVE ON.

Manhattan antiquities appraiser Annalisse Drury dreams of a quiet life on the family farm among the sheep she loves, when her best friend is murdered. The police assume robbery is the motive because her friend’s expensive bracelet is missing. But the 500-year-old artifact is rumored to carry an ancient curse, one that unleashes evil upon any who dare wear the jewelry created for the Persian royal family—and Annalisse believes her friend is the latest victim.

Weeks later, Annalisse sees a necklace matching the stolen bracelet at a gallery opening. Convinced the necklace is part of the deadly collection, Annalisse begs the gallery’s owner to destroy the piece, but her pleas are ignored— despite the unnatural death that occurs during the opening. With two victims linked to the jewelry, Annalisse is certain she must act.

Desperate to keep the gallery owner safe, Annalisse reluctantly enlists the owner’s son to help—even though she’s afraid he’ll break her heart. Wealthy and devastatingly handsome, with a string of bereft women in his wake, Greek playboy Alec Zavos dismisses Annalisse’s concerns—until his parents are ripped from the Zavos family yacht during their ocean voyage near Crete.

Annalisse and Alec race across two oceans to save his mother, feared dead or kidnapped. As time lapses, the killer switches mode and closes in on the man who’s meant for Annalisse with the lifestyle she wants most.

But when it’s her turn as the hunted, will she choose to save Alec and his mother, or sacrifice everything to save herself?

Hold on for a heart-thumping adventure through exotic lands in this fast moving, romantic suspense mystery by Marlene M Bell.

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Trailer

Review

A curse, antiquities, and murder make this an intriguing read.  Throw in a handsome man, the Greek isles, and deception….well, it rounds out all the key elements of a good story.

This book led me across the globe and through a web of clues and misdirection while trying to decipher who was behind the murders and kidnappings.  Let’s just say there is a twist near the end that I didn’t expect but looking back should not have been surprised.  With everything that happens to Annalisse and Alec, I trusted no one…not even the ones that are there to help and protect.

The romance between Annalisse and Alec moves at a somewhat slower pace as they take some time to get to know one another before jumping into bed together.  There are some slightly graphic sex scenes, but nothing too risque.  Annalisse has some reservations about Alec, I believe mainly due to his wealth but is able to overcome it with time.  I liked that Alec is planning to open and run a Vet clinic.  With his background and opportunities afforded him, he could have done anything, but he followed his interest with animals into a career that is relatable.

I will say that this book needs a prequel to really delve into the murder of Annalisse’s friend Samantha.  It is the focus of the beginning of the book, but I feel like we really don’t know what happened and who the key players are that are involved.  It is mentioned again near the end of the book and her murder is resolved.  Maybe not to Annalisse’s liking, but it is tied to what happens during the bulk of the book and I feel like it needed more explanation.  When I started this book I wondered if it was the second in the series but it is not.

The book does fluctuate from moving slowly to a brisk pace especially near the end when everything is coming to a head.  I think the last 15-20% of the book is the best since that is where we learn the truth about those involved.  As I mentioned earlier, there is a twist (or two!).  Will you figure the twists out before the truth is revealed?

We give it 4 paws up.

Marlene M Bell is an acclaimed artist and photographer as well as a writer. Her sheep landscapes grace the covers of publications such as, Sheep!, The Shepherd, Ranch & Rural Living and Sheep Industry News. Ewephoric, her mail order venture, began in 1985 out of a desire for realistic sheep stationery. A color catalog of non-fiction books and sheep-related gifts may be requested at  www.marlenembell.com  or www.texassheep.com.

Marlene and her husband, Gregg reside on a wooded ranch in East Texas with their 50 head of Horned Dorset sheep, a lovable Maremma guard dog named, Tia, and 3 spoiled cats who rule the household.

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