Copper Waters – A New Zealand Mystery Series By Marlene Bell – Stolen Obsession – Book Tour, Guest Post & Giveaway! {Ends 3/3/23}
Stolen Obsession is the first book in Marlene M. Bell Annalisse Series. This is an awesome series!
Book Details:
Stolen Obsession (Annalisse Series Book 1) by Marlene M. Bell
Category: Adult Fiction (18 +), 296 pages
Genre: Mystery-Suspense
Publisher: Ewephoric Publishing
Release date: March 2018
Content Rating: PG. *Reader Beware: There are a few words of profanity and subtle sexual, romantic conversation interludes.
Book Description:
People die, but legends live on.
New York antiquities appraiser Annalisse Drury’s best friend was murdered. The killer’s identity may be linked to her friend’s expensive missing bracelet—a 500-year-old artifact that carries an ancient curse, one that unleashes evil upon any who dare wear the jewelry created for the Persian royal family.
Weeks later, Annalisse sees a matching necklace at a Manhattan gallery opening. She begs the owner to destroy the cursed piece, but her pleas fall on deaf ears—despite the unnatural death that occurs during the opening. With two victims linked to the jewelry, Annalisse is certain she must act. Desperate, Annalisse enlists the gallery 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 parents, feared kidnapped or even dead. When the killer changes tactics and goes after Alec behind Annalisse’s back, can her plan to rescue Alec’s mother save them all?
BUY THE BOOK: Amazon ~ Audible
Review By LAWonder10:
Annalisse loved her job but her boss’s brother-in-law was a major irritation and her boss was slightly intense. They were enjoying an evening of the gallery opening of a client when she noticed some unsettling anomalies culminating in a tragedy. Annalisse believed this tragedy was related to a curse attached to an antique necklace. One she believed led to the death of her best friend.
Alec was the gorgeous playboy son of the gallery owner. Although he was truly interested in Annalisse, she couldn’t allow herself to believe someone so attractive, rich, and sought-after could be seriously interested in her. She kept avoiding his flirtations but found in him someone she could confide her fears to and obtain his help in keeping the necklace from doing more harm.
As the police and FBI get involved, Annalisse did not know who she could trust. Could she even trust Alec?
As various situations arose, Alec and his mother, convince her to flee to a relaxing time on their yacht in Greece. Relaxation was far from what she received.
This fast-paced novel keeps the reader/listener on his/her seat’s edge. One adventure and mystery leads to another. The endearing relationship between Alec and Annalisse evolves resulting in a climactic ending. It contains a strong ending and at the same time an intriguing intro to the next book of the series.
The characters are very realistic and the scenes are easy to feel a part of. It has some in-depth moments which aroused various emotions in the reader/listener.
I listened to the audiobook. Narrator/performer Katina Kalin, did an excellent job in maintaining vocal fluxations and accents. Her performance was very believable.
*There are a few words of profanity and an explicit sex scene ad other sexual implications. I would have preferred to be eliminated.
The literary accomplishment earns a Five Stars rating.
This audiobook was gifted me with no pressure to post a positive review. This is my honest review.
Other Books in the Series:




Guest Post:

What is my next writing project?
I’m currently outlining my next novel. Surprise! This book isn’t the next one in the queue for the award-winning Annalisse series. On the contrary, while I let the fifth Annalisse and Alec installment simmer in my mind, I’m writing a standalone story with a collection of new characters who live in the South.
We go to East Texas in my next novel, circa 2010. A favorite place of mine since the Piney Woods are my home! The location enables me to pull visuals and intricate details that include tall tree sunsets, wooded ponds, and Texas area history to spice up the backstory. My physical research books are growing even though I’m familiar with this section of Texas. I like digging into my new releases through settings from expert photographers and real facts—not those found on the Internet. Some of the “facts” presented on some search engines are nothing more than a
compilation of information from others who might or might not be experts on the subject.
There’s nothing worse than readers who fact-check in a review when bonified research sources were skimmed or skipped in haste.
At present, the new novel is a suspense mystery involving neighbors and past acquaintances. I might include a crime of passion or a crime of circumstance if the story needs this element. By the time the first draft is finished, I’ll know more with a developmental edit.
My elderly character, Hattie, has a challenging life history to portray as a WWII woman pilot keeping with the vocabulary of that era in her dialog. She’s a cursive letter-writer like me, and as you might imagine, Hattie’s set in her ways living well into her nineties. She isn’t the main character, but a colorful individual who gets things started with a figurative bang.
The book’s title is a work in progress, so I’m keeping ideas close to my chest. I’ll wait until the novel is written to be sure the original title theme fits the final draft. My developmental editor/agent knows if a title suits the narrative or she suggests another.
I’ll leave you with this much: The new protagonist is a single woman trained as a pastry chef and she’s part of a vintner’s family. Her last occupation includes working as a personal chef for a celebrity in Beverly Hills. She returns to Texas to be by her father’s side as moral support for the loss of her mother, Celeste. It gets wild from there.
You’ll have to wait until 2023 for the details!
Meet the Author:
Marlene M. Bell is an eclectic mystery writer, artist, photographer, and she raises sheep in beautiful East Texas with her husband, Gregg, three cats and a flock of horned Dorset sheep.
The Annalisse series has received numerous honors including the Independent Press Award for Best Mystery (Spent Identity,) and FAPA— Florida Author’s President’s Gold Award for two other installments, (Stolen Obsession and Scattered Legacy.) Her mysteries with a touch of romance are found at marlenembell.com. She also offers the first of her children’s picture books, Mia and Nattie: One Great Team! Based on true events from the Bell’s ranch. The simple text and illustrations are a touching tribute of compassion and love between a little girl and her lamb.
Connect with the author: website ~ website ~ twitter ~ facebook ~ instagram ~ goodreads
The Tour Schedule :
Jan 30 –Cover Lover Book Review – book series spotlight / giveaway
Jan 30 – Paws.Read.Repeat – book review of STOLEN OBSESSION / giveaway
Jan 31 – Rockin’ Book Reviews – audiobook review of STOLEN OBSESSION / giveaway
Jan 31 – Bigreadersite – book review of STOLEN OBSESSION / giveaway
Jan 31 – fundinmental – book review of SPENT IDENTITY / giveaway
Feb 1 – Reading Excursions – book review of COPPER WATERS
Feb 1 – Kim’s Book Reviews and Writing Aha’s – book series spotlight / author interview / giveaway
Feb 2 – Mystery Review Crew – book series spotlight / guest post / giveaway
Feb 2 – JB’s Bookworms with Brandy Mulder – book series spotlight / guest post / giveaway
Feb 2 – Locks, Hooks and Books – book review of SCATTERED LEGACY / giveaway
Feb 3 – Rockin’ Book Reviews – audiobook review of SPENT IDENTITY / giveaway
Feb 3 – Bigreadersite – book review of SPENT IDENTITY / giveaway
Feb 3 – Locks, Hooks and Books – book review of COPPER WATERS / giveaway
Feb 6 – Book Corner News and Reviews – book review of SPENT IDENTITY / giveaway
Feb 6 – Paws.Read.Repeat – book review of SPENT IDENTITY / giveaway
Feb 7 – Rockin’ Book Reviews – book review of SCATTERED LEGACY / giveaway
Feb 7 – Review Thick And Thin – book review of STOLEN OBSESSION / giveaway
Feb 7 – Book Corner News and Reviews – book review of SCATTERED LEGACY / giveaway
Feb 8 – fundinmental – book review of SCATTERED LEGACY / giveaway
Feb 8 – Book Corner News and Reviews – book review of COPPER WATERS / giveaway
Feb 9 – Jazzy Book Reviews – book series spotlight / guest post / giveaway
Feb 9 – Rockin’ Book Reviews –book review of COPPER WATERS / guest post / giveaway
Feb 10 – Books for Books – book series spotlight
Feb 10 – Older & Smarter? – book review of STOLEN OBSESSION / giveaway
Feb 13 –Paws.Read.Repeat – book review of SCATTERED LEGACY / giveaway
Feb 13 – Olio by Marilyn – book review of STOLEN OBSESSION / giveaway
Feb 13 – Bigreadersite – book review of SCATTERED LEGACY / giveaway
Feb 14 – Mystery Review Crew – book review of STOLEN OBSESSION / giveaway
Feb 14 – Review Thick And Thin – book review of SPENT IDENTITY / giveaway
Feb 14 – Olio by Marilyn – book review of SPENT IDENTITY / giveaway
Feb 15 – Olio by Marilyn – book review of SCATTERED LEGACY / giveaway
Feb 16 – Olio by Marilyn – book review of COPPER WATERS / giveaway
Feb 16 – Olio by Marilyn – book series spotlight / author interview / giveaway
Feb 16 – Mystery Review Crew – book review of SPENT IDENTITY / giveaway
Feb 16 – Lynchburg Reads – book review of SCATTERED LEGACY / giveaway
Feb 17 – Celticlady’s Reviews – book series spotlight / giveaway
Feb 17 – Lynchburg Reads – book review of COPPER WATERS / giveaway
Feb 17 – Older & Smarter? – book review of COPPER WATERS / giveaway
Feb 20 – Splashes of Joy – book review of STOLEN OBSESSION / giveaway
Feb 20 – Paws.Read.Repeat – book review of COPPER WATERS / giveaway
Feb 20 – Bigreadersite – book review of COPPER WATERS / giveaway
Feb 20 – FUONLYKNEW – book review of STOLEN OBSESSION / giveaway
Feb 21 – Liese’s Blog – book series spotlight
Feb 21 – Splashes of Joy – book review of SPENT IDENTITY / giveaway
Feb 21 – Review Thick And Thin – book review of SCATTERED LEGACY / giveaway
Feb 21 – Mystery Review Crew – book review of SCATTERED LEGACY / giveaway
Feb 21 – FUONLYKNEW – book review of SPENT IDENTITY / giveaway
Feb 22 – Gina Rae Mitchell – book review of COPPER WATERS / guest post / giveaway
Feb 22 – fundinmental – book review of COPPER WATERS / giveaway
Feb 22 – Splashes of Joy – book review of SCATTERED LEGACY / giveaway
Feb 22 – FUONLYKNEW – book review of SCATTERED LEGACY / giveaway
Feb 23 – Deborah-Zenha Adams – book series spotlight / guest post / giveaway
Feb 23 – Splashes of Joy – book review of COPPER WATERS / giveaway
Feb 23 – Mystery Review Crew – book review of COPPER WATERS / giveaway
Feb 23 – FUONLYKNEW – book review of COPPER WATERS / guest post / giveaway
Feb 24 – Stephanie Jane – book series spotlight / giveaway
Feb 24 – Review Thick And Thin – book review of COPPER WATERS / giveaway
Giveaway Details:
Enter the Copper Waters – A New Zealand Mystery (Annalisse Series) for a chance to win:
One – William Morris design layered Tapestry Throw. 50 x 60. (Made in USA)
One – Vintage Copper Tea Kettle (Circa 1960s)
One – New Leather Tote Bag as carried by Annalisse, protagonist of Marlene M. Bell’s series. (Described in the Annalisse series.)
One set Autographed Copies of Stolen Obsession, Spent Identity, Scattered Legacy and new release, Copper Waters.
One – $50 VISA Card
GRAND PRIZE VALUE: $360.00
(USA only) (ends Mar 3)
To Enter the Giveaway click on the Rafflecopter link below:

These sound like awesome books! I love the covers! Thank you for sharing your review!
This sounds like such a good book!
I would love to read this.
Wonderful author whose novels are intriguing and unique.
Thank you for joining the Annalisse series tour and your nice review of Stolen Obsession. The audio format you heard is the original book when it launched. I’ve removed the graphic scene from Crete mentioned and profanity in Stolen Obsession print and eBook updated in 2022. Unfortunately, the audio file for book one and two are not updated yet. I appreciate your comments, though, and also felt the book needed adjustments. Thanks again, Marlene M. Bell