Please Welcome Mystery and Romance Author Angel Sefer

with Angel Sefer

We are delighted to welcome mystery and romance author Angel Sefer to Omnimystery News.

Angel's first book in her "Greek Isles" series is Spellbound in His Arms (CreateSpace; June 2013 trade paperback and ebook formats).

We asked Angel to tell us more about the backstory to the book, and her guest post today is titled, "Blending an Enchanting Romantic Mystery with an Exotic Location".

— ♦ —

I've always been fascinated by the magical world of books and I'm passionate about reading and writing novels. I believe that depending on the genre, a good novel can be stimulating, intriguing, refreshing, educational, relaxing, dramatic or enjoyable and entertaining. As a writer, I've always wondered about the right recipe for a fascinating book, especially a mystery. Is it just the plot and the characters, or is there something more?

Photo provided courtesy of
Angel Sefer

Of course, the backbone of a mystery book is the plot, and it has to be intriguing, with interesting twists and turns to keep the reader glued to the pages. The characters must be well-developed as well. They have to be "real" people with feelings and a defined background, so that the reader can relate to them, feel their emotions, and get involved in the interaction and the process of solving the mystery.
 
But for me, just as important as the plot and the characters is the setting. I believe visiting an exotic place through the pages of a book gives the reader an additional advantage. I love reading mystery and romance novels, and throughout the years, I preferred the ones that took place in majestic destinations around the world. It was exciting to let the wings of my imagination take me there and feel like I actually visited the place. So for me, the right recipe is to blend mystery, romance, and an exotic location in a captivating plot. I particularly enjoy reading about smart heroines with fiery personalities and larger-than-life heroes. I tried to make the main characters in my novel, Spellbound in His Arms, fit this ideal image of protagonists for a great romantic mystery.
 
Having visited numerous Greek islands — alluring destinations which cast a spell on the visitor from the very first moment — I found the ideal settings for quite a few of my books. I have written a whole series of romance and mystery novels, The Greek Isles Series, each taking place on a different island. In this series, while sharing with my readers the development of the romance between my hero and heroine and the unfolding of the mystery, I take the opportunity to also share with them the unbelievable experience of visiting some of the most enchanting Greek islands — places of impeccable beauty where nature exists lavishly in hundreds of shades of green and blue, and in which centuries of Greek tradition coexist harmoniously with cosmopolitan activity.
 
Spellbound in His Arms is the first novel published in The Greek Isles Series. While writing this novel, I tried to convey to the reader the beauty of the island of Corfu without taking away from the darker elements of the mystery plot …

— ♦ —

Angel Sefer was born in Athens, Greece. She has studied and worked on both sides of the Atlantic. She holds a degree in Economics, and divides her time between the corporate world and her true passion: reading and writing romance, mystery and adventure novels. She lives in Athens, Greece, with the two loves of her life — her son and her husband — and her wonderful and supportive family.

Learn more about the author and her work on AngelSefer.com, or find her on Facebook and Twitter.

— ♦ —

Spellbound in His Arms
Angel Sefer
The Greek Isles Series

A mansion full of secrets …

From the moment investigative reporter Jackie Alexander steps foot inside the mansion dominating the Demiris estate on the beautiful Greek island of Corfu, her suspicions are on high alert. This is no ordinary assignment … The life of her beloved cousin, Aphrodite, is in grave danger, as the heirs to the incredible fortune of Greek tycoon Andreas Demiris die one after the other, under mysterious circumstances …

A man with secrets of his own …

The only person who can help Jackie is Michael Apostolou, former Special Forces Officer and one of the finest detectives on the Athens police force. Soon enough though, Jackie realizes, that despite her simmering desire for him, she can't really trust him, as the seductive detective seems to be investigating those mysterious deaths for reasons of his own …

Trusting the wrong person can be deadly …

Jackie and Michael are forced to work together, but the suspicions and unanswered questions are devouring them, just like their rising passion for each other. In games like this, the stakes are high and the players are ruthless … When Jackie is kidnapped by the most dangerous player of all, time is running out, as Michael is forced to choose between jeopardizing his mission and personal quest for justice, or the life of the gorgeous intruder of his heart …