This blog tour is organized by Lola's Blog Tours and the tour runs from November 29 until December 12. Follow the Tour.
When Alec schedules an overseas trip to show Annalisse his mother's birthplace in Bari, Italy, he squeezes in the high-stakes business of divesting his family’s international corporation. But things go terribly wrong as murder makes its familiar reappearance in their lives – and this time it’s Alec’s disgraced former CFO who’s the main suspect.
Accompanied by friend and detective Bill Drake, Annalisse and Alec find themselves embroiled in a behind-closed-doors conspiracy that threatens the reputation and legacy of Alec’s late father – linking him to embezzlement, extortion, and the dirty business of the Sicilian Mafia. The search for the truth sends the trio straight into riddles, secrets, and an historic set of rosary beads. Annalisse leads Alec toward a discovery that is unthinkable, and events that will change their futures forever.
Scattered Legacy is the third in Marlene M. Bell’s thrilling Annalisse series, which weaves romance, crime, and historical mystery into addictive tales to instantly captivate fans of TV show Bones or Dan Brown’s The Da Vinci Code.
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Excerpt
“We believe Josh
falsified invoices with certain clients and moved money to offshore accounts
without my consent. I was so angry I removed him without hearing his side of
it. As far as I’m concerned, he’s totally responsible whether he was directly
or indirectly involved. I wish I’d handled the situation differently. My short
fuse got in the way when I felt Dad’s business was being used illegally as a
giant retirement fund for Josh. He would know whether Dad used illegal monies
from the racing team. We’re waiting on the board’s decision to prosecute Josh.”
“We have to find him.”
“He found me,” Alec
grumbles. “Josh called me while I was in Mom’s office. I haven’t heard from him
since I let him go.” He shakes his head. “He wants my help.”
Gen’s sitting at her
desk in front of her favorite collection of astronomy books, staring at the
wall. Her eyelids are rimmed red, and she’s grasping a wadded tissue in her
hand. My stupid fear of a blackbird’s feather placed in an envelope pales
against her sadness at the reminder of a lost soul mate. She witnessed her
husband’s head explode, as I did, when Pearce fought gunmen on the yacht. It’s
surreal when someone you know has died in front of you. Dreamlike, until their
life jolts away and a body is left in place of a vibrant human being, like the
man with his grin on the tabloid cover. Gen loved her husband deeply. No matter
how many times I assure myself it wasn’t my fault what happened, Pearce might
still be alive if the Mushasha jewel—Stop it. Samantha Freeman, my best friend,
wouldn’t give up her matching horse bracelet either. The curse was powerful,
and it pulled us along. Pearce’s fate was sealed the day he was born. Only God
knows what’s in store for us. I have to show Alec and Gen that Pearce’s short
existence was meaningful. His record must remain untarnished for Gen and her
son.
“Has anyone been
smoking? It smells like something’s burning.” I check the wastebasket for
cigarette butts and find it recently emptied. “Alec, please sit before you fall
down.”
His chair squawks along
the tile in front of the Victorian pedestal desk. “Mom, I’m sorry.” Alec pats
his mother’s hand across the blotter. “I didn’t think what seeing Dad again
might do to you.”
“He’s gone, dear.
There’s no bringing him back. Believe me, I’ve tried.” Gen smiles and dabs the
corner of her eye. “Honey, how do we get in front of this bad press?
Signorile’s sale must go forward. It’s decided. You and Annalisse are to be
freed of the corporation to enjoy yourselves. Phooey on this bad timing, before
your trip and all.” She glances at me and points to the armchair.
“Have you heard from
Global Star Class yet? What’s the best move?” I ask Alec.
“Embezzlement matters.
Serge LeBlanc is a straight-up guy, so he won’t peddle the Signorile
acquisition to his board while there’s a scandal hanging over it.” He rubs
between his brows and takes out his phone. “We need Bill’s expertise on this
one.”
The call is made via
speakerphone so we can all be a part of it. It’ll be great to hear Bill’s voice
again. After Kate’s mysteries were solved a few months ago, Bill returned to
his other investigations with his partner, Dan Chappell. Bill’s a good friend
to Alec, and he helped us both cope with Kate and Ted’s nightmare at Walker
Farm and in Massachusetts. The uncle I thought had committed suicide came back
for revenge. Ted is being held in jail now for the plot to ruin Kate. Bill
doesn’t know where Kate went, which was our hope when he dropped her at the
airport, so she’s in charge and determines when she makes a return. That
mother-daughter talk will have to wait until she’s ready. She left me with only
a letter explaining that she is my birth mother, and I have a father who
doesn’t know I’m alive. It’s little wonder my decision not to marry Alec at
this time is frustrating for him. I’m so afraid something in my past will hurt
Alec or his mother.
“Hey, I was about to
call you. Have you heard mainstream news?” Bill Drake asks.
“You’re on speaker with
Mom and Annalisse. I’m at the gallery, and yes, we’ve read the gossip rag’s
trash.” Alec lays the phone on the desk.
“Good morning,
Generosa, Anna. I hope you’re both well.”
“Hi, Bill,” I chime,
imagining what color palm tree shirt he’s wearing with his chinos. “Did we
catch you at a bad time?”
“Not in the least. I’m in
Connecticut, finishing up a case. What’s up?”
“Can you break away to
join us in Lecce?” Alec looks away from the speakerphone.
“Lecce… Where’s that?”
Bill asks.
“Italy,” he says,
staring at an imaginary spot above my head.
Gen whips around to
glare at Alec. “Son, where are you going?”
I’m just as shocked.
It’s stifling enough to have Brad, Alec’s bodyguard and chauffeur, along on the
trip. Since there’s already three of us, one more will ensure zero privacy with
Alec. Not the trip of my dreams. We’ll put off the romantic venture for another
time.
“Do you want me to
reopen the earlier investigation on the Signorile accounts?” Bill asks.
“What investigation?
You never mentioned this before.” Gen grabs another tissue.
Alec raises a palm
toward his mother. “It’s more complicated than that, Bill. I spoke to Josh
already.”
“Is that right? Wow.
Surprised he’d take your call after being fired.”
Alec erupts into
mirthless laughter. “Bring all you’ve got on Josh Jennings before, during, and
after his tenure with Signorile. Go deep, really deep into the slimy mud if you
have to, and meet us at the Challenger hangar.”
“Text me the address
and gate. When and what time?”
Alec whispers to me,
“What time will you be ready in the morning… six, seven?”
“Name it.” This is
Alec’s mission, and I’m along for support, even though our beautiful, scheduled
destination is a smoking pile of rubble blown up by an ex-employee I’ve never
met.
“We don’t have time to
waste. Can you make it from Connecticut to the hangar, say, by seven thirty
a.m.? You’ll be able to get your beauty rest on the plane. Pack for at least a
week. The ocean air is nice during midday and a little cool at night.”
Lecce must be near the
coast. Alec notices my confusion because he walks by and sits on the arm of my
chair.
“Anything else?” Bill
asks.
“Yeah. A woman was
found murdered in Josh’s office, wrapped in concertina wire. He’s the suspect.”
Alec’s admission triggers the weird visual in Gen’s office. Is that the woman I saw? I don’t know whose silence is more deafening, Bill’s, Gen’s, or mine.
Earlier books in the series
“People die, but legends live on.”
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Spent Identity (Annalisse Series #2) by
Marlene M. Bell
“To find her missing aunt, she has to unearth the secrets of the past. But lies and deceit run though the very heart of their town…”
About the Author
Marlene M. Bell is an award-winning writer, artist, and sheep breeder who resides in beautiful East Texas. Her renown sheep photographs grace the covers of many livestock magazines.
The third book in the Annalisse Series releases in 2021. Scattered Legacy is an international mystery with light touches of romance. Stolen Obsession and Spent Identity, books one and two, received numerous awards including the Independent Press Award for Best Mystery in 2020. Her mysteries can be found at marlenembell.com.
Marlene also writes children's books. Her first children's picture book, Mia and Nattie: One Great Team! is based on true events with Natalie from the Bell’s ranch. It's a touching story of compassion and love between a little girl and her lamb. Mia and Nattie is honored to be a Mom's Choice Gold Award winner.
Marlene shares her life with her husband and a few dreadfully spoiled horned Dorset sheep: a large Maremma guard dog named Tia, and cats, Hollywood, Leo, and Squeaks. The cats believe they rule the household—and do.
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Giveaway
There is a tour wide
giveaway for the blog tour of Scattered Legacy. This giveaway is open
international. These are the prizes you can win:
- One winner wins the
grand prize, see details and picture below
- 2 signed copies of
Scattered Legacy by Marlene M Bell
The grand prize contains the following items:
- One bag of
Orecchiette Pasta made in Puglia Region of Italy (17.63 oz.)
- One new Valentina
Leather Clutch Wallet – Two zippered compartments (color, cognac.) Measures 7
inches long by 4 ½ inches wide. In a Raised Leaf Pattern.
- Two Dark Chocolate
Bars made in Italy by Baratti and Milano (70% chocolate) 2.64 oz each.
- One Annalisse
Mysteries Flashlight (batteries not included. 2 C batteries required)
- One $50 Visa Card
(NOT SHOWN.) Will be INCLUDED with prizes in the winner’s box.
- One personally
Autographed Scattered Legacy book.
PRIZE VALUE OVER $200 US
