INTRODUCTION:

Crime, romance, and history converge in Marlene M. Bell’s Annalisse series, where priceless antiquities carry secrets powerful enough to change lives—or end them.

For antiquities appraiser Annalisse Drury, priceless artifacts often come with a hidden cost, and each discovery propels her deeper into a world where history and danger collide. Marlene M. Bell’s Annalisse series follows Annalisse across continents and into conspiracies that threaten not only her life but also her fragile, complicated romance with Alec Zavos, heir to a powerful family with secrets of its own. The series begins with Stolen Obsession, where Annalisse’s grief over her best friend’s murder leads her to cursed Persian jewelry tied to a string of deaths and a perilous alliance with Alec. In Spent Identity, she returns to her hometown in Upstate New York to face her aunt’s disappearance, a shocking corpse in the barn, and family secrets long buried. Scattered Legacy transports Annalisse and Alec to Italy, where Mafia conspiracies, embezzlement, and betrayal entwine with Alec’s late father’s reputation, forcing them into a labyrinth of lies. Finally, in Copper Waters, Annalisse flees to New Zealand in search of peace, only to find herself enmeshed in a small-town mystery of political corruption and suspicious deaths. Across all four novels, the series layers romance, international intrigue, and heart-pounding suspense, with twists that keep readers guessing until the last page.

EXCERPT:

STOLEN OBSESSION – Book 1 – Chapter Twenty

Waves spanked the thirty-nine-foot hull of the Gen Amore, rocking the Zavos vessel anchored in the Sea of Crete. The afternoon sun blazed overhead as Annalisse inhaled salty brine and studied the picture-perfect yacht Generosa had described dozens of times. Small enough for them to sail without a crew and large enough for she and Pearce to be intimately comfortable. The teak marine deck gleamed between twin masts, and navy-trimmed sails crackled from above. Wooden chairs were placed alongside lounges covered in striped cushions and square azure pillows. A fashion statement by the same designer who had decorated the yacht to match the island villa.

Sitting next to Generosa, Annalisse watched the rainbow windsock twist and swirl its streamers above their heads. She hadn’t counted on such a cool breeze and shivered in her one-piece swimsuit that exposed too much skin. She set her Mimosa on the side table and wiped her freezing fingers along the chair slats, dissipating some of the moisture.

On a diagonal from them, the men chatted, with Alec and Pearce gesturing with their arms as they talked about current events. It was easy to conceive how Generosa had fallen for a man like Pearce Zavos, currently barefoot in Bermuda shorts, and richly tanned everywhere. If Annalisse were several years older, a single man with Pearce’s attributes would’ve been irresistible to her, too. Pearce was the mature version of Alec with the same muscular physique, light eyes, and wavy hair graying at the temples. Where both of Alec’s cheeks were dimpled, Pearce had a single dent near the corner of his mouth and a super-cool cleft chin. Annalisse was a sucker for actors with cleft chins. They were aphrodisiac city.

Without a doubt, Pearce had to know the answer to how he’d ended up with a relic from the 1500s, and why two identical horsehead necklaces existed. Brushing off the notion a viable evilness had chased them to Greece, Annalisse planned to catch Pearce alone and ask a few generic questions any antiquities appraiser would ask the buyer of an important artifact.

“We’re a long way from shore. Shouldn’t I know how to use the ship’s radio?” Annalisse tossed her question out there.

“Gen knows, but I’ll show you too, if you’d like.” Pearce smiled. “Finish your drink. There’s plenty of time for how to use the radio and flags later.”

“Mr. Zavos, how did you and Gen settle on Sitia when the entire island is so lovely?”

“First, please call me Pearce.” He paused a few beats before answering. “I met Gen in Italy at the wedding of a mutual friend. Since her family fished the Adriatic, Gen admired the homes on the ocean. She’s an excellent swimmer, you know—loves the water as much as she loves me.” He winked at his wife. “My family vacationed in Sitia when I was a boy, and I promised myself that one day I’d buy a home that faced this sea. Gen was ecstatic about theidea.”

“After Dad retired as a stock car driver in North Carolina,” Alec added.

Pearce lolled his head back and watched the sail’s flap cutting the air. “I had to think about Alec. When I had a close call on the track, we decided it was time for me to get out.”

Alec shifted in his seat and looked at his mom. “Will Luciana be gone long?”

“She’s due back tonight.”

“The time to ourselves gave us a good excuse to run an errand in Heraklion City,” Pearce said.

“Who’s Luciana?” Annalisse slid her sunglasses on top of her head. “Sorry, dear. Luci is our villa maid and the daughter of a long-time friend. We wanted lots of playmates for Alec, but it wasn’t to be.” Generosa gave a wistful sigh and looked at Pearce. “God has a habit of testing us.”

Her heart wrenched at the truth in Generosa’s words, for Annalisse understood the pain in her voice. Little on earth hurt as badly than losing a child, her aunt had reminded Annalisse years ago.

Generosa had incredible mothering instincts, but Annalisse wasn’t hard-wired for kids. Small babies were too dependent, and their shrill cries made her nervous. Short of a miracle, having children wasn’t in Annalisse’s future, but she admired those who had the patience for kids.

“What’s wrong?” Alec looked at his father who’d started and stared at a section of water.

“Hand me the binoculars. Hurry.” Pearce pointed to a pair on the table next to Alec.

Annalisse observed a tiny black dot speeding toward them that carried the faint hum of a speedboat with it.

Pearce spent seconds with the binoculars, and for Annalisse, the wait for him to say something felt excruciating. She stood alongside the men to get a better look at the boat.

“Ladies, get below, now. And take the keys to the yacht with you. Hide them someplace where no one will find them, and hide yourselves,” Pearce said.

“Why?” Generosa asked.

“We may be getting unwanted guests.”

“You can forget it; I’m staying here.” Generosa planted hands on her hips in revolt.

“Same goes for me,” Annalisse added.

In less than a minute, a black boat filled with dark men closed on the Gen Amore. A red flag with a symbol fluttered ominously on the bow of their low-profile craft.

“Gen, Go. Hide That key,” Pearce hissed through closed teeth. “If you won’t stay down there, then come back, but hurry.” As if he’d changed his mind, he gave the binoculars to Alec. “I’m going below with your mother. Watch, but do not engage; wait for me.”

As the strangers steered closer, Annalisse noticed they were shaved bald, without beards, except for one person. A blue and white keffiyeh covered his head and most of the face from the bridge of his nose down. Her hands twitched, evoking the man from the brownstone, whose eyes were the only thing visible beneath his mask.

When the couple returned topside, Annalisse whispered to Generosa, “Where’d you hide it?”

“In a small vase. They’ll never find it.

”Annalisse sought out Alec and asked, “Any guesses who they are?”

“Not sure. Turkish, maybe.”“Are we accepting more refugees on Crete?” Generosa stepped toward Pearce.

“The men have rifles, which doesn’t bode well for us,” Pearce said. 

Annalisse’s stomach roiled with a vengeance. Against multiple weapons they were all in deep trouble, and wouldn’t be able to keep the men at bay for long—unless Alec’s dad was a well-trained sharp shooter.

“Did you leave the Glock on the island?” Annalisse asked in Alec’s ear, knowing he’d done exactly that by the way he held his mouth. “Why don’t we pull anchor and run?”

“Ladies, listen. They’re closing fast and we can’t outrun them. No matter what, don’t lead them to the key. On the black market, this yacht’s worth plenty. Say nothing. Do nothing,” Pearce said.

“Pirates.” Alec spat a quiet curse at the deck.

Annalisse and Generosa chimed together, “Pirates?”

“Or they could be refugees.” Pearce added the option, but Annalisse couldn’t imagine refugees would be heavily armed. When people left their countries, most came with children and the clothing on their backs— four men with guns weren’t seeking asylum.

Annalisse’s French toast was dangerously close to making a deck appearance.

Pearce slid a small pistol inside his belt at the back of his Bermuda shorts and dropped extra ammo in a pocket.

Alec hadn’t reminded her about the extra risks of sailing in the area. She’d forgotten how many were fleeing the region. Mentally, she envisioned a world map of Lebanon, Syria, Egypt, and Turkey bordering the eastern Mediterranean Sea. Émigrés fleeing bombs and homeland wars would possess rougher physical characteristics. The men in the boat had a smooth bone structure and rounded features.

As the boat sloshed water to the starboard side of the yacht, a male with two missing fingers hailed them.

“Do any of you speak English?” Pearce asked, three decibels louder than usual.

They glanced at each other and laughed. “We speak English good.”

“What do you want?”

The thinnest in the group, with arms and legs tattooed, brandished a sinister AK47 with a pistol grip at them. He held his weapon like he’d comfortably used it before.

Annalisse calmed herself, curious about the men’s tattoos. She noted their red shoulders from hours on the water, worsened by the ocean’s glare. They weren’t muscular men, rather a rag-tag crew of stringy characters with lifeless eyes and broken teeth.

“We need gas. Pay in gold.”

“No need for guns.” Pearce pointed to the man’s rifle. “I’ll give you what you want.” Then he added under his breath, “I have plenty of lead.”

Annalisse’s heart stopped when Alec jerked her behind him and whispered, “Shh.”

“Take the gas and leave.” Pearce’s tension wafted the deck.

“We come on boat. Put rope down so we board. Now!”

During the back and forth, the two most sunburnt marauders had slipped into the sea, clinging to their boat hooks, only feet away from the Gen Amore’s hull.

“We don’t want trouble. Stay in your boat. I’ll give you the supplies.” Pearce hugged the brass rail, his voice even and stern while he convinced the men to stay with their boat.

An object burned her lower spine, and Annalisse saw a shadow cross the deck.

“Alec!” she yelled.

The butt of a rifle struck Alec at the base of his skull, echoing over the water.

He collapsed in front of her in a motionless heap.

Two goons, wet with salt water, stood close enough for her to smell their dense body odor— so powerful, the ocean water hadn’t washed it away. Annalisse gulped, to keep down thevomit surging in her throat.

Someone yanked her hair hard, jerking her backward, stinging the scalp where fingernails dug and scratched.

Annalisse scanned for Generosa and Pearce, but the sun’s blaze overhead blinded her.

“Let me go. I have to help him.” Annalisse gritted her teeth and hitched forward while sending an elbow backward at her captor. She hoped to catch him off guard with the seesaw action and land near his genitals.

He yelped and released her.

Annalisse grimaced and grabbed her painful scalp, feeling hair missing, then scrambled toward Alec’s still body. His breaths were shallow ones, but he was alive.

“Where is boat key?” an accented voice asked her.

Annalisse shook Alec by the shoulders. “Wake up!” She rotated around and blurted, “I don’t know where the key is.” Her attention immediately went back to Alec. “Please open your eyes, hon.”

“Get away from them!” Pearce screamed.

Generosa shouted, “Watch out, Pearce!”

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Marlene M. Bell is an award-winning author, artist, and photographer whose storytelling reflects her many creative talents. Her Annalisse series has been recognized with Best Mystery honors, the IPPY for Best Regional Australia/New Zealand, the Global Award for Best Mystery, and a Chanticleer International Mystery & Mayhem shortlist for Copper Waters. She also writes for children with Mia and Nattie: One Great Team!, a heartfelt picture book inspired by true events from her East Texas sheep ranch that celebrates unconditional love and belonging. Beyond her writing, Marlene is an accomplished artist and photographer, infusing her work with layers of creativity that resonate across genres and age groups. Connect with her through her website, Instagram, Facebook, and X.

Amazon: https://bit.ly/4mNJwsk

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/series/262904-annalisse-series

WRITING JOURNEY:

When I began to publish my work in 2009, I had no idea how intricate and complicated the writing process would be. The publishing world was brutal when I set out with an idea for a new novel. But first, I had to test the water with a silly little non-fiction book for our 4H lamb club…

The club asked me to write a primer on how to raise sheep—which I eventually accomplished over a two-year period. At that time, I wrote for families and people who knew me in the sheep world of raising club lambs. Friends and family were forgiving and supportive, and had given me a false sense of security about my abilities to explain what I’ve learned over twenty years with sheep. Writing is easy and so much fun, I used to say. Now that I’m about to publish my eighth book, reading is easy, but writing original fiction takes patience and loads of editing.

The 4H sheep book was a joy to write, I’ll admit. A great beginning for a new author writing fiction—it was not. My book adviser through Book Surge (Amazon’s publishing company at the time) expressed surprise at my switch from non-fiction to genre fiction. Actually, he was shocked. His reaction seemed strange to me at the time.

It wasn’t until I waded deep into the fiction process, that I understood my advisor’s gasp on the other end of the phone. The literary pool I’d fallen into had water in it way over my head. The research and years of studying various genres was arduous, and the harsh critiques I received from literary agents from online bootcamps stomped on my heart and broke my self-esteem. Writing is hard. It’s that simple. Writing fiction takes endless imagination and the ability to take everyday situations and twist them into excitement for a reader.

In 2018, Stolen Obsession, book one in the Annalisse series, went live in paperback and eBook. What a proud moment to finish my first novel after writing it for ten years. It was written as a standalone with the possibility to blossom into a carefully planned series because of so many plot points in the first drafts.

The Annalisse series adventures include an antique-loving amateur sleuth who can’t keep herself out of mischief, and villains who want to destroy Anna and Alec as a couple. Each novel enters various countries and subtly slides into different genres. The cross-genre books happened accidentally—but I’m thankful for the change in direction from my original idea of a straight romance. My comfortable niche is mystery.

Writing the first four books in the Annalisse series has taken me from romantic suspense, to romantic mystery, and finally into a new standalone thriller. Release date, spring of 2026. I’m excited about this one! Shh, more is coming soon.

Having Anna and Alec begin their dating experience while traveling exotic locales in the series sends readers to places most of us won’t visit in a lifetime. Writing in different genres allows me to reach a wider range of readers. Some of you have asked to hear more about Annalisse and Alec’s detective friend, Bill Drake… In upcoming book five, I’m taking a deep breath and sending the series in a new direction. Where? You’ll have to wait and see!