Angel Sefer's Blog, page 7

Attract people or things you want in your life

 

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Feel gratitude andappreciation to attract people or things you want in your life. But be carefulto avoid feelings of attachment—fear of losing. Attachment pushes away what youwant.

https://www.angelsefer.com/

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Danger and passion collide on the Greek island of Mykonos

HELENA SQUEEZED THE WOODEN SHIP railing until herknuckles whitened.Trying to control the turmoil of her emotions, she took a deep breath of fresh, salty air and let it outslowly. Her heart still thundered in her chest. Am I really going through with this?

Aneerie feeling washed over her, making the hair on the back of her neck stand on end. She scanned hersurroundings uneasily. The ship deckwas full of people—mostly families. Whatabout him? she wondered, andreleasing the railing, turned on her heel. A tall, slim man dressed in black, standing on the other side of the deck,stared at her intensely with piercingeyes. Helena swallowed hard. Pushing back the fear, she stared right back at him. Being among so manypeople gave her a sense of security. The man hesitated for a moment andthen walked away.

Stopbeing paranoid! shereprimanded herself. There’s nothing toworryabout… Then again, what was that last night? She shivered, thinking of the night before when someone accidentally bumped into her on the pavement in front of her hotel and pushed her right infront of a speeding car.If the hotel concierge hadn’t pulled meback at the very last minute… Closing her eyes, she shook her head to clear her gloomy thoughts. Everythingis going to be all right. I need to do this for my father.

A little girl’s laughter brought her back to reality. Sheturned and looked at thehappy, little face. I could have beenhappy like that if only…

Closing her eyes, she leaned her head back and stoodstill, enjoying thecaress of the warm sunlight on her face and the revitalizing sea breeze blowing softly through her hair. What an amazing sensation! Sheopened her eyes and let the captivating scenery fill her vision. It took herbreath away. This is how Dad must havefelt every time he stood on the bridge of his ship. Leaning against therailing, she was mesmerized by themagnificent view of the crystal clear, sapphire waters of the Aegean Sea.Her thoughts flew back to cherished memories of her childhood, and she wasoverwhelmed. She could hardly wait…

Feeling restless, she looked around her, wondering howmuch longerit would take them to get there. Mykonos was only a few hours trip fromAthens, but it seemed like ages to her.

It had been thirteen years since she last saw the amazing,blue watersof the Aegean and the beautiful island where she was born. She was only eight years old when her father was declareddead, and her heartbroken mother took her to England.

Since then, the shadows of the past kept her mother awayfrom the islandshe used to adore. Only after her mother’s death had Helena decided to come back to meet her only livingrelatives, and to try to unravel the mystery surrounding her father’sdeath.

Now, as the ship approached the shores of Mykonos, Helenaclosed hereyes and saw her mother’s pale face, staring at her with eyes wide open from anxiety and fear. Don’t go back! Don’t ever go back! I want you to promise me… Helena could still hear her soft, tremblingvoice whispering while she was squeezing her hand tightly.

Her heart fluttering like a little bird, she swallowedhard. I have nothing to worry about, she tried to reassure herself. All she needed were some answers, and after that, she would head back to Englandand go on withher life. However, deep down inside, she knew it wasn’t going to be that simple. She had this eerie feeling that destiny was waiting just around the corner for her…

***

Thinking back, she could vividly remember her happychildhood. Theyused to live in a big, white house on top of a cliff, overlooking the Aegean. She would wake up in the morning and runto her balcony to enjoy the breathtaking view.

Her parents were so happy back then. The main offices ofher father’s shippingcompany were in Piraeus—the harbor of Athens—but he ran the businessmainly from the island, in order to spend as much time as possible with hermother and her.

Mykonoswas a beautiful island that took her mother’s breath away when she stepped footon it as a young bride, twenty-two years ago.The beauty of the land and the kindness of the people kept her captivefor a long time. Erin, Helena’s mother, was hopelessly in love with her husband, Captain Angelos Sistakis,and never regretted following him to his homeland, or leaving London with its cloudy days behind.

The sunshine in Greece warmed people’s hearts; somethingabout all these islands spread across theAegean captivated their souls, and they never wanted to leave.

That’s precisely the way Helena felt when her mother toldher they wereleaving. She’d cried and pleaded to stay, but her mother’s decision was final. Her father’s mysterious disappearance had broken her mother’s heart, and the place had lost its magic touch. Erin justwanted to get out of there as soon aspossible and leave the memories behind.

However, her mother never forgot the love she and Angelosshared andthe happy moments at their house on the island. She spent the rest of her life bitter and miserable. And two yearsago, she became sick. As Erin slowlyfaded away, Helena wondered if she even tried to recover.

For the last thirteen years, her mother hadn’t been thesame cheerful andlively woman she used to be. She never got over her husband’s tragic death,but deep down inside, Helena knew it was a lot more than that… Her motherfeared for her little girl’s life. She was convinced Angelos’ death wasn’t an accident, and that Helenawas in grave danger, as well.

***

The beauty in front of her interrupted her thoughts. Shetook a deep breath, staring at the shores of Mykonos with the scenic coves andthe golden sand beaches. Welcome home, Helena… Her heartbeataccelerated, and anticipation washedover her like a cold wave. Tears filled her eyes, seeing her homeland…the land of her adorablefather. She was finally home—the home she’d been deprived of for so long.

She wiped the tears with the back of a shaky hand. It wasso unfair tolose her father at such a tender age and to be deprived of everything and everyone she ever knew. Helena, however, knewher mother was scared to death. Shelived the rest of her life with a threathovering over her, every step of the way. Wasit real? Helena wondered, and thescene of the previous night’s near miss flashed before her eyes. Was any of itreal? She had thought about it a million times. The only thing she was sure about was that the threat felt real to her mother.

And what aboutGrandma’s diary? According to hermother, Eleana—Angelos’ mother—had a gift of foreseeing future events and had writtenthem down in her diary. A lot of important things that affected their lives were written down in there,years before they happened. If only I could find that diary, Helenainwardly wished. She needed to find it,not only to get some answers but to verify it actually existed. Sometimes, she was worried about her mother’sstate of mind. Maybe the pain and years ofbitterness had affected her and made herimagine things. Finding the diary would prove Erin wasn’t hallucinating. And this was essential toHelena since her mother had been thecenter of her world since they left Greece. And now, she was gone, too.

***

As the ship came around a peninsula, Helena held herbreath, looking at the cube-shaped, whitehouses of Chora—as the town of Mykonos wascommonly known—glowing in the sunlight. Picturesque windmills and countless churches were scatteredhigher up on the hill, composing a breathtaking picture.

The port was overflowing with life. Numerous ships andcolorful fishing boats were anchored everywherewhile dozens of shops were scattered allover the waterfront. People strolled along the dock, enjoying thebeautiful, sunny day.

The ship moved closer, and Helena’s heartbeataccelerated. Overwhelmed by conflictingemotions of excitement and worry, she felt asif she were floating loose in time and space…

She could hardly wait forthe ship to dock. Squeezing her way throughthe numerous passengers, she managed to be among the first ones to walkoff.

Once she stepped foot on the ground, she felt lost with somany peoplearound—passengers disembarking the ship and workers running back andforth, carrying luggage and boxes.

Sittingat tables outside the cafes in the shade of pergolas people were lazilydrinking their afternoon coffee while kids attacked their ice creams, piled to the top with fruits and nuts.

Standing undecided, Helena let her eyes wander over thecolorful surroundingsand listened to people talking in Greek. It was fascinating and so differentthan speaking Greek at school.

She’d been bilingual since birth. After they had moved toEngland, hermother had sent her to a Greek school in the afternoons, so she continued her education in the Greek language, aswell. Speaking Greek helped her remainconnected to her late father and the life she was forced to leavebehind.

Suddenly,she realized people were staring at her—admiration mixed with curiosity intheir glances. Helena had inherited her mother’s tall and slim figure alongwith her long, silky blonde hair andexpressive blue eyes. Among the dark-haired Greeks with the bronzed bythe sun bodies, her pale complexion left her out of place.

Where is my ride?By now, they knew she was coming. She hadn’t writtenfrom England as she wasn’t sure she was going through with this. When she arrived in Athens, however, she calledher Aunt Sophie and told her she was on herway to the island.

Sophie Sistakiswas her father’s younger sister, and Helena rememberedher kind face with the warm, brown eyes framedby long, black hair. Her aunt was only eight years older than her andused to take her for walks on the beach,play games with her, and read her stories. She felt ashamed she hadn’ttalked to her aunt in all these years.

Hearing Helena’s voice, Sophie was thrilled and told her to catch the next ferry home.

“Miss Sistakis?”

Helena was startled by a deep, sensual voice with a thickGreek accent.

Turning around, she faced a suntanned stranger with ahandsome face and a body to die for. He was at least five inches taller than she, and at five feet seveninches, she was no shrimp. His jet-black hair was shining in the sun while hiscaptivating dark brown eyes made her feel small and vulnerable.

Helena hadn’t realized she was staring until she saw theamusement inhis eyes and a smile appearing on his inviting lips.

“Yes,I’m Helena Sistakis. And who are you?” she said in English, her voice nothingmore than a whisper.

The man hesitated for a moment, searching her face. “I’mDimitris,” he replied finally. His namestruck a chord somewhere deep insideher. Bewildered, she studied him for a minute. No, she thought. If wehad met before, I would definitely remember such a hunk.

As his gaze roamed over her, Helena felt butterfliesin her stomach. Nervously, she licked her lips and dug her nails into herpalms.

“Has my aunt sent you to take me home?” she asked, straightening herback and trying to steady her trembling voice.

“Yes. I’m ready to go when youare. My car is just around the corner,”he replied in Greek, obviously aware she spoke it fluently.

Reaching for her suitcase her hand froze on the handle.The man from theship stood a few feet away, staring at her, totally unaffected byeverything going on around him. Helena noticed the round face with the small, piercing eyes that reminded her of a snake.Her blood turned to ice. “What on earth?”

“Iseverything all right?” Dimitris asked.

Absorbed by the hostile expression onthe stranger’s face, Helena didn’t respond.

“Helena…” Dimitris’ voice and his warm hand on herarm brought her back to reality.

She glanced at him, puzzled. Dimitris’ eyes were fixed onher, searching her face. Then he peered atthe other man.

“Who’sthat? Do you know him?” he asked.

“No,” she whispered. “First time I saw him was on theship. He seemed to be watching me…”

“Waithere!” Dimitris said and strode towards him.

The man turned on hisheel and rushed towards the street. Dimitrisswiftly took off right after him,like a panther going after his prey. He was closing in on him when a black Mercedes appeared speeding out of nowhere.As the brakes of the car squeakedright in front of the man, he opened the back door and jumped inside. Hehad barely closed the door when the car launched forward. Dimitris arrived at the street right at the moment the Mercedeswas disappearing around a corner.

Helena took a deep breath, unable to move. What was that all about? Who was he? What didhe want?

Immobilized,she watched Dimitris reaching in his pocket and gettingout his cell phone. He spoke on the phone ashe was heading back towards her.

“Iseverything all right, Captain?”

Helena glanced at a young sailor who was rushing towards Dimitris.

“Yes,everything is under control,” Dimitris replied, glancing at the street.

The sailor gave Helena a polite smileand walked away.

“We should be going,” Dimitris said, arriving next to her.

Picking up her suitcase, he ledHelena on the whitewashed cobbled pavement towards the street.

As they came around the corner of a cafe, she stoppeddead in her tracks.An impressive Porsche Cayenne Jeep was parked right behind the building, its black color shining in thesummer sun like onyx. Helena took a deep breath, staring at her dreamcar.

Her thoughts were interrupted as he had already put hersuitcase in the vehicle and was holding the doorfor her to get in. She blushed as their eyesmet, and hastily climbed inside. Sinking into the soft leather seat, she admired the luxurious interiorand the impressive dashboard. A thrill washed over her. Riding in a Jeeplike this was a dream come true. She drew adeep breath and watched Dimitris walk around the vehicle and get in onthe driver’s side.

The powerful engine came to life, and the car took off.Helena had to holdon to her seat as he was driving way too fast for these narrow roads.She glanced over at him, trying hard to control her accelerated heartbeat. His eyes were set on the road, and shehad a chance to admire the intriguingprofile and the broad shoulders. Her gaze moved to the powerful handswith the long fingers holding steadily onto the wheel. A jolt of desire shot right through her. What would it feel like having those hands touching me…caressing me?

Bewildered, Helena snapped out of it, wondering where those thoughtscame from. She hardly knew the man. Taking a deep breath, she letit out slowly, flexing her hands to release some of the tension. What isthe matter with me? It’s probably due to the adrenaline rush caused byfear. It just can’t be him.

Turning her gaze to the road ahead of them, she tookanother deep breath,trying to clear the wild thoughts whirling around in her mind.

She sensed his eyes on her. It took all the strength shecould muster to keep from staring back at him. Theproximity in the confined area of the car wasbad enough; she couldn’t handle getting lost in those gorgeous,dark-brown eyes of his again.

Helenakept silent, and so did he.

Trying to draw her attention from his powerful presence,she started noticingthe surroundings. They were going up a hill, and things began to seemfamiliar. She had forgotten how beautiful this place was.

The road was curving around, and she had a great view ofthe port andChora with its little white houses built amphitheatrically, overlooking the water. Over to the side, Helena saw a GreekOrthodox Church built on the edge of the hill, dominating the area.

Something about the Cycladic Islands—a group ofthirty-three islands in the Aegean, forming a circlearound the sacred island of Delos—madepeople feel as if they were in a dreamland…sandy beaches, architecture in white and blue, and narrow roads leadinguphill to windmills and churches, standing there for hundreds of years,dominating people and nature.

Helena always liked Greek Orthodox churches with theirByzantine paintings,their gold and marble decorations, their vitro windows, and the strongsmell of incense in the air.

When she finally saw the house at the top of the hill,she felt restless, and her heart pounded faster. Justas beautiful as she remembered, it stooddrowned in red, pink, and white rosebushes while a bougainvillea climbed all the way to the second-floor windows. She remembered the exquisite aromaof the flowers and couldn’t wait to get closer. 

Overwhelmed by emotions, she glanced at theman next to her. He was watching her, hispenetrating gaze reaching all the way to her soul. Helena drew a deep breath tocalm down and instinctively licked her lips. What is he thinking about? He wasn’t the typical Greek; theyusually were so open-hearted and friendly.

As the Jeep pulled into thedriveway, the front door swung open, and a beautiful young woman with long black hair came outside. She stood at the topof the marble staircase leading to theveranda in front of the house. Helena felt the urge to jump out of the car and run into her arms. Instead,she climbed out slowly and hesitated,staring at her aunt for a few seconds. Astonished, she saw her aunt launching down the steps andtaking her into her arms.

Feelinglike a little girl coming home after a long trip, she couldn’t help but glance towards Dimitris. He was staring at her intensely,his gaze burning into her skin.

Helena turned back to her aunt. In her crimson red dressand matching sandals,Sophie was more beautiful than she remembered. Her long shiny hair fell in loose, soft waves onto her shoulders,and her skin was tanned. Admiring her aunt, Helena realized for one moretime how pale her own skin was.

Her aunt released her hug and took a step back to take abetter look at her. Her sparkling eyes gave awayhow happy she was to see her.

“Welcome home, Helena,” she said excited and turned toDimitris, who was waiting patiently by the car.“Isn’t she beautiful? She looks just like an angel.”

Helena’sbreath caught in her throat as she heard him agreeing with her aunt. She didn’thave time to say anything as her aunt went on.“You look just the way I thought you would. I always knew the cute littlegirl with the sweet blue eyes and the long blonde braid would turn into agorgeous young woman.”

Helenafelt her cheeks growing warm, and she spoke quickly so that her aunt wouldn’thave a chance to go on appraising her. “It’s so good to see you again, AuntSophie. I’ve missed you so much.”

“Thenwhy did it take you so long to come back?” the man asked in a low tone ofvoice, sounding somewhat sarcastic.

Helenawas taken aback by his intervention and gavehim a hard look. How dare he get involvedin family matters like this?

Her retort died on her lips when Sophie said, “Dimitris,leave her alone. You know itwasn’t her fault.” Then, smiling warmly, she turnedto Helena. “You have to forgive Dimitris.He’s been with us for so long that he gets very protective of thefamily.”

Helena couldn’t get over her aggravation. Feeling badenough for not having contacted Sophie allthose years, she didn’t appreciate astranger interfering in a sensitive matter like this. She wantedto set him straight but decided to leave the matter alone for now.

Withoutgiving him another look, she followed her aunt into the house. Going through the mahogany doors, she shivered, feeling hisintense gaze burning into her back.

Only after she heard the powerful engine coming to life,she realized she was holding her breath. I never even thanked him for picking me upat the port… Never mind. It serves him right for interfering like this.

***

Dimitris drove too fast for the narrow roads of theisland. He had to release some tension. Being so close to her after all thoseyears and tryingto act totally unaffected were more than he could handle. She had turned out just as amazing as he had imagined. Shewas breathtaking… And she didn’t rememberhim.

I hope you have enjoyed the firstchapter of the mystery romance bestseller DeadlySecrets.

The book is available on Amazon, Apple, Barnes & Noble, Kobo, and other fine booksellers everywhere.

BuyNow

Or click hereto start reading the novel on Amazon for free.

If you want to find out what other readers are sayingabout Spellbound in His Arms, read some of the reviews here.

Best wishes,

Angel Sefer

Billionaires, Intrigue, Murder and Deceit on fascinating Greek Islands

 I’m so excited about all those 5-star reviews on my mysteryromance novel SPELLBOUND IN HIS ARMS.

Let me share some of them with you:

Billionaires, Intrigue, Murder and Deceit!By AnariRomantic Suspense takes on a whole new level in Angel Sefer’s ‘Spellbound in his Arms.’ It’s a fast paced murder mystery with sizzling elements of romance and passion - which will have you glued to your seat until the entire book is finished! Set on the beautiful island of Corfu, this magical world comes to life under Sefer’s talented hands. Billionaires, intrigue, murder and deceit - all make for a wonderfully entertaining read. Can reporter Jackie and detective Michael put their differences aside and work together on this one? You’ll have a fantastic time finding out!


Great Story!By Hawk"Spellbound in His Arms" is the story of Jackie and Michael’s fiery and passionate love affair centered on a mansion that the author gives a life of its own. So much so, I was left wondering is it really a mansion or something else? That’s how expertly the author weaves her characters together to bring the reader a plot that is a skillful blend of romance and mystery with an intriguing story line. Once again the author makes the setting come alive with her vivid description of the islands of Greece, as a backdrop to the complexities of human nature: love, mystery, intrigue and suspicion… It has it all. Great story!


Surprise Elements and Plot Twists Woven into an Explosive Tapestry by Passion
By Muffy WIlsonThis mystery has it all: murder, money, fire, romance, dogged determination of our heroine and the ardent admiration and rising passions of her Greek detective! This combination is a full on assault on the nerves as plot twists and turns, and some surprise elements I will NOT mention, keep the reader glued to this page-turner from the very first paragraph. You won't be able to put this best seller down! Buy it!


Found a new great author to followBy Booklover of all kinds
This was a really great read that has good twists and turns that leave you guessing but aren't convoluted just to create drama. Well written and I like that it's not just straight romance or thriller several elements woven into a well done story.


 Mystery and romance on the Greek isles...


By TailerReady to be spellbound? Angel Sefer's mystery romance will keep you glued to your chair and leave you craving more tales of suspense and romance on the Greek isles.
If you love intriguing mystery and unusual romance, "Spellbound in His Arms" is the book you want. It's action packed, full of twists and turns, captivating characters, and scintillating island descriptions. I enjoyed it so much that, as soon as I finished it, I bought the other books in "The Greek Isles series." Read one, and you will, too. Highly recommended!


My dear friends and readers,

If you want to find out what other readers are sayingabout SPELLBOUND IN HIS ARMS, read some more reviews on Amazon

Or click here to start reading SPELLBOUND IN HIS ARMS onAmazon for free

If you prefer iBooks, Nook, Kobo or other fine booksellers click here:

https://www.books2read.com/SpellboundInHisArms

Best wishes,
Angel Sefer

Mystery and Romance under the Greek Summer Sun

The novels in the Greek Isles Collection will keep you gluedto the pages and transport you to a world where passion flares and danger lurksaround every corner…

The action takes place under the summer sun of enchanting Greekislands, where nothing is what it seems…

 Included in TheGreek Isles Collection Vol. 1  are:

Spellboundin His Arms taking place on the Greek island of Corfu—the setting for the1981 James Bond movie “For Your Eyes Only”

Deadly Secrets taking placeon the Greek island of Mykonos—one of the most popular Greek islands and one ofthe best tourist places in the whole world

TheHeiress of Santorini taking place… Where else? On the Greek island of Santorini, famousfor its sunsets, volcano, caldera, and iconic whitewashed architecture

 
Included in The Greek Isles Collection Vol. 2  

are:

Dark Shadows of the Past taking placeon the Greek island of Kefalonia—the fascinating setting of ‘Captain Corelli’sMandolin’

LethalWeb of Passion taking place on the Greek island of Skopelos

Harborin the Storm taking place on the Greek island of Skiathos

Skiathos, Skopelos, and the Greek seasidevillage of Damouhari, Pelion, provided the breathtaking setting for the musical romantic comedy “Mamma Mia”.

Buy Now The GreekIsles Collection Vol. 1

Or click hereto start reading the first volume of the collection on Amazon for free

 

Buy Now The GreekIsles Collection Vol. 2

Or click hereto start reading the second volume of the collection on Amazon for free

 

Best wishes,

Angel Sefer

Award-winning, mystery romance bestseller Spellbound in His Arms

Jackie stopped dead in her tracks. What was that? A muffled noise from the back of the old mansion turned her blood to ice.She turned the flashlight off and stood still, holding her breath. Her mouth went dry. What if there was someone in the house? How would she explain who she was and what she was doing there in the middle of the night? Then again, would her explanations make any difference to whomever—or even worse whatever—was out there? The Demiris mansion was pitch black, far away from any living soul, and the owner was dead. So, who could it be?

Jackie instinctively flattened herself against the wall, trying to peer through the darkness and track the source of the noise. The back of her neck prickled, and her heartbeat drummed in her ears. Could it be true? She silently cursed herself for laughing at Stephanos’ warnings. What if her uncle was right? What if something supernatural was responsible for the mysterious deaths in the family of Greek tycoon Andreas Demiris?

No, she argued inwardly. Stephanos is wrong in thinking that the Demiris family is cursed. Jackie believed that the assassin was either one of the heirs or an enemy of the family. And she had come to the Greek island of Corfu to find the killer and prevent another murder.

But now, trapped here and feeling something lurking in the dark, she wished she’d thought better before flying six thousand miles from Atlanta, Georgia, to Greece on this eerie assignment. Stephanos used to say that her intuition, determination, and courage were assets for her carrier as an investigative reporter. But he’d also warned her against rushing headfirst into every new challenge. She should have known her impulsiveness would get her into trouble one day.

Fighting her rising panic, Jackie waited in the dark for what seemed like an eternity. The dim moonlight behind the threatening clouds couldn’t penetrate the stained-glass windows of the hallway. So, the mansion’s interior was as pitch black and spooky as the dense forest surrounding it.

She desperately tried to pick up the slightest noise. But there was nothing—only dead silence.

Jackie knew she was being foolish. There is nobody here, she reassured herself. The place had been deserted for months. All she needed to do was to find what she had come for and get out as soon as possible.

Blind in the thick darkness, she took a couple of steps to her right. She kept her hand against the wall while clutching the flashlight with her other hand, ready to use it as a weapon. All her senses worked overtime to detect the slightest noise or movement. She couldn’t see or hear anything, but the warning bells in her head were impossible to ignore.

Suddenly, Jackie stiffened. Something was moving closer to her…a lot closer. She froze in place and held her breath.

A strong hand grabbed her by the throat and shoved her violently against the wall. A second later, a blinding light shone on her face.

Jackie instinctively closed her eyes and struggled to breathe. But the grip tightened around her throat. Fear paralyzed her. On the cusp of fainting, she heard a deep, husky voice commanding in Greek, “Who are you?”

She gasped for air and flailed at her assailant with her flashlight. He blocked her move with impossible speed and effortlessly knocked the flashlight out of her hand. Frantically, Jackie raised her arms and tried to free her throat from the deadly grasp. But his hand was strong as steel.

A second later, the question was repeated, more insistent this time. The grasp loosened a little bit, allowing some air into her lungs and giving her a chance to answer.

“Please…” she managed to whisper in English.

Thanks to Stephanos, Jackie was fluent in Greek. But the intensity of the moment had overwhelmed her, and it was difficult to gather her thoughts. Her T-shirt was clinging to her back, her forehead was moist with sweat, and tension caused every muscle in her body to ache.

“Who are you?” the stranger commanded in perfect English, slightly tinged with a Greek accent.

Who is he, and what is he doing here? Jackie wondered anxiously. What could she possibly say? She couldn’t tell him the truth. But would he settle for anything less?

“You do speak English, don’t you?” he asked, shifting impatiently.

“Yes…but I can hardly breathe,” she whispered truthfully as his hand remained wrapped around her throat.

“Who are you?” he insisted, without loosening his grip any further.

“Jackie... Jackie Alexander,” she muttered.

“And what are you doing here, Jackie Alexander?” he demanded.

Now, that was the hard part. She had rehearsed some plausible answers in case there were questions raised about her visit to the island. But she hadn’t anticipated finding someone there in the middle of the night.

“I’m a relative of the owners,” Jackie said. Well, not exactly, she thought, as she was a relative of Stephanos Demiris’ wife. But there was no reason to clarify that.

The man hesitated for a moment.

“I’m a relative of Andreas Demiris,” she insisted.

His hand released her throat, and she sucked in a ragged breath. However, the stranger remained unbearably close, blocking every possible escape route.

Suddenly, Jackie heard a distinctive click, and the bright light of a chandelier filled the hallway. She looked around, bewildered. And then, her eyes rested on the man holding her captive. He was tall—at least six inches taller than she. And, at five feet eight inches, Jackie was no shrimp. He had jet black hair, and his black T-shirt and jeans stretched over enticing muscles that any athlete would envy. His face was handsome, with a strong jaw and amazing blue eyes that were now watching her intensely.

Jackie shifted uneasily under his piercinggaze. It was as if he could read her like an open book.

They stared into each other’s eyes, and Jackie felt her heart suspended in her chest…but not from fear this time. Even though he looked tough, she had to admit he was mouthwatering like a Greek God—a seductive stranger as Aphrodite, her romantic teenage cousin, would call him.

The thought of sweet, innocent Aphrodite jolted her back to reality. During the last few months, the heirs of Andreas Demiris had died—one after the other—under mysterious circumstances. Due to a lack of evidence indicating otherwise, the police declared their deaths accidents and closed the case files. But Jackie suspected foul play.

Stephanos and Aphrodite were among the few Demiris family members still alive, and Jackie feared for their lives. She was desperate to find out who was responsible for all those deaths. And coming to the Demiris mansion on the island of Corfu was the right place to start her search.

“That still doesn’t explain what you’re doing here in the middle of the night.” He placed his flashlight on the entry table while watching her like a hawk.

Jackie could tell he was on guard, ready to prevent any attempt of hers to escape. He was obviously stronger and faster but didn’t seem aggressive. So, she began to relax. Now that the initial shock was over, Jackie needed to regain control of the situation.

“And who exactly are you?” she demanded.

A smile appeared on the handsome stranger’s face, and he gave her an appreciative look. “You’re a tough cookie, aren’t you?”

As his gaze roamed over her, Jackie shifted uneasily. The desire that flickered in his captivating eyes—as blue as the Ionian Sea surrounding the island—set her pulse racing. Oh my, I can get lost in those eyes.

“Michael Apostolou,” he said suddenly, catching her off guard. “Police Captain Michael Apostolou,” he added.

Oh no! That was the worst thing that could have happened to her right then. She had only been on the island for a few hours, and there she was, caught by the police breaking and entering. How would she get out of that? Why hadn’t she waited until the following day to talk to Nancy Felini—the Demiris family attorney—as Stephanos had instructed her? But no, she wanted to check out the contents of the safe without anyone looking over her shoulder.

Having no idea who was responsible for the deaths in the Demiris family, Jackie had hoped to find something in that safe to shed some light on this mystery. She intended to read through every document to discover who would benefit from those deaths.

A logical assumption would be that the assassin was one of the heirs. But Jackie knew that neither Stephanos nor Aphrodite were killers. And Stephanos seriously doubted that any of the few Demiris family members still alive was a killer. So, who was left? An enemy of the family?

Knowing that the captain was watching her closely, Jackie remained as calm as she could.

“And now, Miss Alexander, would you mind explaining why you broke into this mansion in the middle of the night?” There was a touch of sarcasm in his voice.

“But I didn’t break in,” Jackie protested.

He inched closer and leaned over her, his eyes shooting daggers. “And what would you call breaking a window and climbinginto a house that doesn’t belong to you?” The sarcasm was even more apparent now.

Jackie raised her chin and looked at him, puzzled. “But I didn’t break any window.” This whole thing was getting out of hand. She needed a way out of there and as far away from him as possible.

“Oh, really?” he asked, grabbed her by the arm, and pulled her toward an arch leading to what turned out to be the living room.

Jackie gasped. A window hung wide open, and pieces of broken glass peppered the carpet. She hadn’t done that. But glancing at him, she was sure she would have a hard time convincing him of that. Those mesmerizing blue eyes were looking at her accusingly.

All of a sudden, she realized that someone else had broken the window. Her breathing quickened, and she glanced around anxiously.

The captain followed her look but didn’t release her arm. “Well?” he asked. “What do you have to say about this?”

“I didn’t do it,” she insisted, looking straight at him. “I came in through the front door.”

“Oh, is that so?” His lips pressed into a thin line.

Jackie could tell he was losing his patience. However, she was not lying. Coming out there, she was prepared to pick the lock but had found the front door unlocked. It had seemed strange, but Jackie wanted to get in and out as fast as possible and didn’t give it a second thought. Being miles away from any living soul, especially in the middle of the night, gave her the creeps.

“I swear I didn’t break that window.” She tried to free her arm from his grip.

“Now, you listen to me—”

A loud noise—like something falling on the second floor—interrupted him. He immediately released her arm and grabbed a gun from the holster attached to his belt.

“Don’t move!” he ordered and took off toward the foyer.

Her heart hammered in her chest as Jackie watched him climb the steps with the grace of an athlete and the swift moves of a panther. She hadn’t noticed the gun before. Of course, he has a gun. He said he’s a policeman. But what if he’s lying about that? How can I be sure about who he is? Dread twisted in her gut. What if he’s the murderer?

Despite the torrent of questions swirling in her mind, she was entirely lucid about one key point. I’m in grave danger!

Frantically, she scanned her surroundings for a way out. Going out the front door was out of the question. She couldn’t risk going back to the hallway and running into the captain again. Her glance turned to the window. Pieces of broken glass were still hanging from the frame. Better hurt than dead!

Approaching the window, she kicked some of the larger pieces of glass and climbed outside. A moan escaped her lips as she scratched her arms and legs. Her knees buckled, and she landed hard on the marble tiles of the veranda. The fall knocked the wind out of her, paralyzing her for a moment.

Get up! Jackie sucked in a ragged breath, and with as much strength as she could muster, she rose to her feet and took a few staggering steps. Pain shot through her body, but there was no time to waste. She needed to get out of there as soon as possible.

Suddenly, a gunshot blast pierced the air and sent a surge of adrenaline through her veins.

Run! RUN NOW! A voice in her mind screamed out, and Jackie bolted toward the forest.

*   *   *

Firmly clenching the cold piece of steel in his hand, Michael climbed the steps—two at a time. Reaching the second floor, he scanned the corridor… Dead silence.

Knowing the mansion like the back of his hand, he mobilized his Special Forces training and proceeded down the dark hallway. Without making a sound and moving swiftly like a panther, he searched one room after the other. There was no sign of anyone.

Reaching the last room, Michael carefully opened the door. Stepping inside, a breeze of fresh air struck him in the face. He flattened himself against the wall, holding his gun in front of him with both hands, and stood still.

After making sure he was alone in the room, Michael approached the window. But the moment he leaned forward to peek outside, a gunshot thundered through the air. Instincts took over, and Michael dropped to the ground, dodging the bullet.

A moment later, he eased his head up and caught a glimpse of a tall, slim man dressed in black disappearing into the woods.

“Damn!” he cursed, realizing that the intruder was way out of range.

He was ready to run back downstairs when he saw Jackie bolting toward the woods in the same direction the shooter had taken. His heart thudded in his chest as Michael stormed downstairs and out the front door. Damn that girl! She’s going to get herself killed!

*   *   *

Jackie sprinted toward the forest and plunged into the thick shrubbery, focused on one thing—surviving!

Sweating and breathing heavily, she made her way to the dirt road where she’d left her rental car—an old Honda Civic. Suddenly, dread overwhelmed her. Where’s the key?

Her fear spiked as she searched her pockets in vain. Think, Jackie commanded herself. She rummaged through her belt pouch with clammy hands. The moment she felt the cold metal in her hand, Jackie let out a breath she hadn’t realized she’d been holding. Finding the car key was a huge relief, but…inserting it into the lock was another story. Damn! I should have picked the Honda HR-V that the rental place had available. The SUV had remotely controlled electronic door locks. Not to mention that it would have been better for these dirt roads.

Gathering all the strength she could muster to suppress her trembling, Jackie finally unlocked the door on the third try. Casting a look around, she jumped inside and locked the door behind her. Breathing heavily, she leaned back against the headrest and closed her eyes, enjoying a fragile moment of safety.

There’s no time to waste! A voice echoed in her mind. Her eyes flew open, and she bolted upright in her seat. As soon as she turned the key in the ignition, the old engine came to life. But within seconds, it sputtered and stopped.

“Jackie!” The captain’s voice boomed in the darkness.

Oh, no! Holding her breath, Jackie scanned her surroundings. She couldn’t see him, but the policeman had to be nearby.

“Jackie, wait!” he commanded, but she wasn’t about to stick around. She’d had enough flirting with danger for one night.

She grabbed the steering wheel with one hand and tried the engine one more time. As soon as it started, Jackie put the car in gear, stomped the gas pedal to the floor, and abruptly let go of the clutch. The vehicle jerked forward and…died again.

Her heart leaped into her throat. Damn! That serves me right for not wanting to spend the extra money on the automatic HR-V. But not picking the SUV wasn’t only about money. Jackie was trying to keep a low profile, and a fancy car like that might draw unwanted attention.

Calm down, she urged herself and gave the engine another try. As it roared to life, Jackie let out a huge breath. This time, even though she was shaking, she pressed down gently on the gas pedal while easing her foot off the clutch. Huffing and puffing, the car moved forward excruciatingly slow. Great, she thought, on the verge of tears. I’m about to die, and instead of hauling ass out of here, I’m driving Miss Daisy!

Spotting Michael in her rearview mirror, a torrent of adrenaline flooded her veins. She floored the gas pedal, and the Civic went flying down the dirt road, bouncing all over the place. While speeding around a curve, a man dashed out of the woods and into her path. She screamed and violently wrenched the wheel to the right. The car fishtailed, skidded off the road, and veered out of control toward the edge of a cliff.

Jackie shoved against the door with all her strength. It wouldn’t budge. Her heart lurched, and dread washed over her. Oh, God! I’m going to die!

Desperately clutching the steering wheel, she gritted her teeth. A scream escaped her lips as the car plunged over the edge. The vast blue of the sea filled her vision. Fear paralyzed her, and a sharp pain shot through her head. Time seemed to stop, and everything went blank…

I hope you have enjoyed the first chapter of the award-winning, mystery romance bestseller Spellbound in His Arms.

The book is available on Amazon, Apple, Barnes & Noble, Kobo, and other fine booksellers everywhere.

Buy Now

Or click here to start reading the novel on Amazon for free.

If you want to find out what other readers are saying about Spellbound in His Arms, read some of the reviews here.

Best wishes for the new year!

Angel Sefer

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year

💕🎄💕
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year, my friends!

I wish you all a joyful holiday season and a new year filled with health, happiness, and hope.

💕🎄💕

Καλά Χριστούγεννα και Ευτυχισμένος ο Καινούργιος Χρόνος!

Σας εύχομαι από τα βάθη της καρδιάς μου υγεία, ευτυχία και ελπίδα.

💕🎄💕

Joyeux Noël, mes amis!

Je vous souhaite le meilleur pour Le Nouvel An.

💕🎄💕

Feliz navidad mis amigos!

Mis mejores deseos para Navidad y Año Nuevo.

💕🎄💕

Celebrating the spirit of Christmas is a state of mind

When you’re stressed, you’re saying you do not have what you want. That generates negative energy and blocks your wishes from becoming your reality.
Increase your faith and eliminate stress from your system.
Merry Christmas, everyone 💕🎄🎄🎄💕
Angel Sefer

New Novel in the Flames of Destiny Collection

I’m so excited!

After months of work, almost 400 pages and 83,000 words, I just typed the words "The End" on my new novel in the “Flames of Destiny Collection”.

“Echoes of the Past” is the second book to be published in this collection of paranormal romance novels cloaked in mystery and suspense on enchanting Greek islands.

Of course, the book must go through editing, proofreading, and formatting, and a new cover must be created. But all these steps are part of the book’s journey, and they’re always so much fun!

I’m relying on my fantastic team to help me through those steps, and I can’t wait for the release of my novel sometime soon.

In the meantime, my friends, check out “Eternal Soul Mates”—the first book published in the “Flames of Destiny Collection”.

Blurb

In Eternal Soul Mates, the past merges with the present in a haunting and captivating story of love, loss, and betrayal on the Greek island of Zakynthos.

Joanna Williams is bewildered by her mother’s mysterious past and scorching dreams of an irresistible stranger. Trying to find some answers, she visits her mother’s birthplace—the Greek island of Zakynthos.

Alexandros Kortesis—the owner of a luxury resort on Zakynthos—is drawn to Joanna like no other. But a dark secret threatens his family’s legacy, and unfortunately, Joanna is the one trying to uncover it.

Danger and passion collide as the two soul mates—unaware that they were lovers in a past life—confront each other and make sparks while trying to resist the compelling force that draws them together. Will their eternal love prevail? Or will the battle against the evil guarding the secret lead them to the grave?

Eternal Soul Mates is a reincarnation romance cloaked in mystery and suspense. The action unfolds on Zakynthos—a paradise on earth, in the aquamarine waters of the Ionian Sea.

Buy Now

or click hereto start reading the novel on Amazon for free

Best wishes to all of you, my friends,

Angel Sefer

Only a few days left

 

A big THANK YOU for your overwhelming response and making this sale a success!

For a few more days, all my novels in The Greek Isles Series, The Alluring Love Collection, and The Flames of Destiny Collection are on sale for only:

$ 0.99 / £ 0.99 / € 0.99 / CAD 0.99 / AUD 0.99

and all my collections are on sale for only:

$ 1.99 / £ 1.99 / € 1.99 / CAD 1.99 / AUD 1.99

So, here is your chance to stock up on award-winning bestselling novels where passion flares and danger lurks around every corner.

Go to my Amazon Author Page to check out my books, or click on the following links:

Spellbound in His Arms (The Greek Isles Series Book 1)

Deadly Secrets (The Greek Isles Series Book 2)

The Heiress of Santorini (The Greek Isles Series Book 3)

Dark Shadows of the Past (The Greek Isles Series Book 4)

Lethal Web of Passion (The Greek Isles Series Book 5)

Harbor in the Storm (The Greek Isles Series Book 6)

The Greek Isles Collection Vol. 1

The Greek Isles Collection Vol. 2

Whispers in the Wind (The Alluring Love Collection Book 1)

Deadly Paradise (The Alluring Love Collection Book 2)

Rekindled Passion (The Alluring Love Collection Book 3)

The Alluring Love Collection Vol. 1

The Aegean Islands Collection Vol. 1

The Aegean Islands Collection Vol. 2

Eternal Soul Mates (Flames of Destiny Book 1)

Dear members of my Free Readers Group, thank you so much for your support and your interest in my novels and collections.

And those of you who are not members of my Free Readers Group yet, sign up for my Newsletter and join this special group that enjoys exclusive freebies, giveaways, discounts, and early access to new release books.

Also, my Free Readers Group members have a chance to win FREE books from my award-winning, bestselling Greek Isles Series, Alluring Love Collection, and Flames of Destiny Collection. I pick one lucky winner each week from my subscribers’ list.

Best wishes to all of you, my friends,

Angel Sefer

Making your dreams come true might be a heartbeat away

 

Life is full of ups and downs. Some people might be lucky and have everything going their way so far. But “negative” things happen to all of us. And they make us feel upset, sad, and sometimes angry or desperate. But those negative things ignite a desire and determination for something better in our lives—we all dream of a better life.

To create our dream life, we need to visualize it, wish for it with all our hearts, and feel it with all our senses. It is vital, however, to appreciate everything we have right now, whether it’s a partner, a house, or whatever that might be. Appreciating nice people, circumstances, and things in our lives attract more of the same.

So, be grateful for what you have, even “small” things that make you happy. You’ll experience less stress and will feel joy and motivation. Try to remain positive and appreciate the good things in your life. And you’ll be surprised how everything will change for the better.

Best wishes,

Angel Sefer