In our mission to connect readers, writers, and books, Caleb and Linda Pirtle is showcasing some of the best authors in the marketplace today. Monday’s Sampler features an excerpt from Whisper in the Wind by Angel Sefer. The novel is part of the alluring Sun, Sand, and Seas collection. Murder? Romance? Mystery? It all happens somewhere on a beach.

The Story

Blackmailed by a ruthless mastermind, Emily Stone finds herself on the Greek island of Alonnisos, impersonating the golden heiress of a luxury beach resort.

Seductive Captain Andreas Aliveris is torn between his irresistible attraction to the stunning imposter and his need to protect a loved one.

Can passion overcome suspicions and regrets in this game of danger, betrayal, and greed?

As one reviewer said about the collection: The stories ranging from romance to cozy mystery to murder mystery. What made this collection unique was the way certain characters from one author’s story would suddenly pop up in another. This brought the collection together in a way you don’t usually see in anthologies.

The Sampler

Emily Stone glanced out the window as the airplane flew over sparkling sapphire waters and a stunning necklace of islands. The pilot’s announcement they were approaching the Athens International Airport made her stomach churn. What am I doing? I can’t believe I’m going through with this.

She drew a deep breath and wiped her sweaty hands on her pants. Under different circumstances, Emily would be thrilled to spend three weeks in Greece—a country of natural beauty and rich history she always dreamed of visiting. But this was no vacation.

Her thoughts flew back to the emotional roller-coaster of the last two weeks. Until then, her life was simple. Emily had shared an apartment in Atlanta, Georgia with a classmate, Natasha Aliveris, rent-free for a little over a year. Estella Beavers, Natasha’s wealthy mother, paid for rent while Emily did all the housework. Her part-time job as a waitress didn’t pay enough. So she considered herself lucky having a place to live until she got her Degree in Marketing from Georgia State University.

But two weeks ago, Natasha shocked her with an outrageous demand… She wanted Emily to visit her grandmother on the Greek island of Alonnisos, pretending to be Natasha. And when she refused, Natasha blackmailed her, threatening to reveal her well-buried secret.

A light bump as the plane landed brought Emily back to reality. She gathered her purse and carry-on bag and disembarked. Walking through customs, she spotted a young man holding a sign with Natasha’s name on it. Emily felt the urge to flee. Who is that guy?

As most of the other passengers had moved away, the man’s eyes rested on her. “Are you Miss Aliveris?” he asked in English.

“Yes, that’s me,” Emily lied.

“Welcome to Greece. I’m George, the taxi driver to take you to Koropi.”

Emily let out the breath she’d been holding. “Thank you.”

Following the man outside, she sank into the back seat of a yellow Mercedes cab. The man put her luggage in the trunk and climbed into the driver’s seat.

“So where in Athens is Koropi?”

“Koropi is not in Athens. It’s a town not far from here.”

Emily’s jaw dropped. “And why are we going there? My hotel is in Athens…”

He glanced at her in the rear-view mirror as they were leaving the airport. “I don’t understand. I was hired to drive you to the helicopter field in Koropi.”

“A helicopter field? Are you sure you got the right person?”

“You’re Miss Natasha Aliveris, flying in from Atlanta, right?” He knitted his brows.

“Yes, I am.”

“Then, you’re the right person. I’m supposed to take you to Koropi to board a helicopter to Alonnisos. Isn’t that where you’re going?”

“Yes, but I’m taking the ferry tomorrow…”

The driver glanced at her again.

“Never mind, there must be a mix up with my reservations,” Emily muttered and remained silent for the rest of the trip, wondering why Natasha had booked her on a helicopter flight.

“Here we are,” the man’s voice startled her.

The taxi stopped next to a chopper where a middle-aged pilot was waiting for them.

“Miss Aliveris, welcome,” he said as Emily climbed out of the car.

“Thank you.”

He helped her onboard while the taxi driver stowed her luggage. “Sit back and relax. We’ll be on Alonnisos in about half an hour.”

Sinking into the comfortable seat, she fastened her seatbelt and swallowed hard. Natasha had reassured her that her grandmother, Anastasia, hadn’t seen her since she was a baby. And been tall and slim, with light brown hair and brown eyes, she resembled Natasha. Besides, they were about the same age, and Natasha didn’t speak Greek. So that was no problem either. But how could she lie to that old lady? What if she figures out I’m an imposter? And what about Andreas Aliveris, Natasha’s cousin?

According to her roommate, he was an arrogant and stubborn ship captain who would inherit everything if she didn’t visit her grandmother before she died. She also told Emily he’d visited Estella’s house in Fort Lauderdale, Florida to persuade Natasha to come to Greece, but Natasha was in Atlanta.

The captain’s actions puzzled Emily. Why would he do that? It seemed to his advantage if Natasha didn’t come. Then again, what did she care about his motives? As long as he believed she was his cousin, everything would be okay. But what if he didn’t?