For the Love of a Greek God Hero

By Laura Kaye for The Reading Café 

I’m so excited to be celebrating the release of West of Want, the second book in my Greek-mythology-based Hearts of the Anemoi series. When writing this book, I especially enjoyed the hero, Zephyros Martius, Supreme God of the West Wind and Guardian of Spring. Here’s why I and the heroine Ella Raines love him, and hopefully YOU will too!:

Godly Handsome. What else would you expect in a Greek god? LOL Let’s just say that cover does Zephyros all kinds of justice. Here’s a description from Ella: “She couldn’t stop her brain from resurrecting the image of Zeph tearing off his shirt as he sat on the edge of her bed. As if the man’s broad shoulders and bulging biceps weren’t impressive enough. As if the ridged muscles of his abdomen didn’t just call out to be traced. She had absolutely never seen with her own eyes, on a real man, that incredible cut of muscle just above his hips. But, yeah, he had it, and then some.” And that’s not even mentioning his killer blue eyes!

Super Powerful. The Greek gods are renowned for their supernatural powers, and Zeph is no different. As each of the Cardinal Anemoi can, Zeph can control the wind, the weather, and the nature of his season. He can exist in either elemental or corporeal form, and can travel between the human realm and the Realm of the Gods. As the most powerful of the Anemoi and as the God of Spring, Zeph also possesses healing powers of rebirth and renewal. For me, learning about and seeing in action the powers of a paranormal characters is a big part of the fun!

Lonely. After a string of devastating betrayals, Zeph not only chooses to be alone and not open himself up again, but he believes that it’s something fundamentally wrong with him that made the betrayals happen. As someone who has experienced her own betrayals, Zeph’s loneliness stands out like a beacon to Ella. She recognizes her own pain in him. And it bonds them together even as Zeph tries to resist her.

Tortured. Zeph carries his pain around like Atlas shouldering the world, and sometimes it causes him to act rashly. But Ella understands the pain that underlies these moments and that allows her to break through his pain as no one else ever has.

Devoted. One thing becomes central to Zeph’s happiness: Ella’s happiness. He thus becomes devoted to her pleasure, protective of her safety, supportive of her needs, and willing to sacrifice anything for her happiness. His love for her is true, deep, and unconditional. And I love that in a hero.

So, those are some of the reasons me and Ella are totally in love with Zephyros Martius.

GIVEAWAY

GIVEAWAY!: What makes a hero especially lovable and compelling to you? One commenter who leaves their email address will win an ebook of West of Want! Open to international! Good luck!

Thanks for reading!

Laura Kaye

Don’t miss the West of Want in the Wild (thru 8/24) giveaway events, too! 

Thanks for reading!

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“Laura Kaye’s captivating writing and vibrant world-building will have readers hooked on the gods of the Anemoi. WEST OF WANT is steamy, spellbinding, and a must-read for all romance fantasy fans.” ~Elisabeth Naughton, author of the Eternal Guardians series

About West of Want:

Betrayal is all he’s ever known, but in her, he’ll find a love strong enough to be trusted… When Marcella Raines’ twin brother dies, she honors his request to be buried at sea, never expecting the violent storm that swamps her boat. Though she’s gravely injured–and still emotionally damaged from her recent divorce–Ella fights to survive. Zephyros Martius is the Supreme God of the West Wind and Spring, but being the strongest Anemoi hasn’t protected him from betrayal and loss. Worse, he’s sure his brother Eurus is behind it. When Zeph’s heartbreak whips up a storm that shipwrecks a human, his guilt forces him to save her. Ella is drawn to the vulnerability Zeph hides beneath his otherworldly masculinity and ancient blue eyes. And her honesty, empathy, and unique, calming influence leave Zeph wanting…everything. When Eurus threatens Ella, she and Zeph struggle to let go of the past, defend their future, and embrace what they most want–a love that can be trusted.

About Laura Kaye:

Voted Breakout Author of the Year in the 2011 GraveTells Readers’ Choice Awards, Laura is the bestselling and award-winning author of over a half-dozen books in paranormal, contemporary and erotic romance. Growing up, Laura’s large extended family believed in the supernatural, and family lore involving angels, ghosts, and evil-eye curses cemented in Laura a life-long fascination with all things paranormal. A published non-fiction author, Laura’s work as an historian and training as an archaeologist help her create vivid and accurate portrayals of other times and places. She lives in Maryland with her husband, two daughters, and cute-but-bad dog, and appreciates her view of the Chesapeake Bay every day.