Hostage To Love by Maya Blake (Guest Post/Giveaway)

Please give a warm welcome now to Maya Blake, joining us with her romantic suspense - HOSTAGE TO LOVE!

HOSTAGE TO LOVE – DESTINATION –“ALTHEA” - GREECE

I first became aware of the sheer sexiness and opulence of Greece when I read a magazine article about Jackie O (and yes, I’m probably dating myself a little bit here, lol). But as an impressionable teenager, reading about the extravagant lifestyles of Greek shipping magnates made the budding writer in me yearn to set a story there. 

I mean, you have the stunning ruins of the Acropolis, ancient Greek mythology and the world’s collection of privately owned islands in one relatively small country. What’s not to love about that?

Having been lucky enough to visit Greece, it felt almost natural for me to partly set Nick and Belle’s story on the fictitious private island of Althea. Althea – for those who haven’t read the book yet – means “to heal”. 

After Belle’s ordeal at the hands of her kidnapper, it felt right for her to be brought back to a place known for its healing powers. It was also a place where I felt would be ideal for them to “heal” their broken marriage.

I put a spectacular waterfall and health-improving springs at the farthest end of the island, and this where Nick and Belle have one of their most intense heart-to-hearts and begin to find their way back to each other.

Greece is a special place and I was thrilled to let readers experience the beauty of it through Belle’s eyes. Here’s a small descriptive narrative from the book:

Althea was a five-kilometer-long, lush green paradise dropped into the middle of the Aegean Sea, with nothing for miles but the jeweled brilliance of the warm turquoise-colored water. Located due east of the Cycladic group of islands, it enjoyed almost year-round sunshine.

The four weeks she’d spent here after their wedding had been the happiest of her life, and she bit her lip in sharp remembrance as the Byzantine-themed villa came into full view.

Whitewashed and red-roofed, the two-story building sat resplendent on a small hill in the late afternoon sun. Bordered on either side by cypress and eucalyptus trees, the villa enjoyed a constant soft breeze, which lessened the sometimes harsh impact of the Greek sun. The view from the front was spectacular, offering up panoramic scenes of landscaped gardens in the foreground and a private cove and white sands of the beach beyond. She knew the vista from the sea view deck at the back of the home was equally breathtaking, having spent many a morning breakfasting there during their honeymoon.

HOSTAGE TO LOVE
by Maya Blake
Entangled Publishing July 2013
Title:Hostage to Love
Author: Maya Blake
Genre:Romantic Suspense
Release Date:  July 2013
Imprint:  Suspense

*On an idyllic Greek island, danger surfaces...and passion re-ignites.*
During a charity mission to a war-torn African country, Belle Jones is kidnapped by the vicious rebel leader determined to make her his. Belle’s estranged husband, Greek billionaire Nick Andreakos, stages a daring rescue, saving her from the horror.
To hide her from the obsessed kidnapper—-and to repair their broken relationship—-Nick whisks Belle away to his private island paradise. But she still won’t put up with his controlling ways...even if she’s still defenseless against their scorching-hot chemistry. With the brutal killer hot on their heels, Nick knows he must earn Belle’s trust again—-and *fast*. Even if it means risking everything.And losing his heart forever.

Maya Blake’s Bio:
Maya Blake's dreams of becoming a romance author began when she picked up her first romance novel at age thirteen. She eventually realised this dream in 2007 when her first romantic suspense was published. Maya lives in Kent, Southeastern England, with her husband and two kids and an endless supply of romance novels.

 

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