Hunted (Eternal Guardians 8.75 / 1001 Dark Nights) by Elisabeth Naughton-Review and Excerpt Tour

HUNTED (Eternal Guardians 8.75 / 1001 Dark Nights) by Elisabeth Naughton-Review and Excerpt Tour

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HUNTED
Eternal Guardians 8.75 / 1001 Dark Nights
by Elisabeth Naughton
Release Date: June 27, 2017
Genre: adult, contemporary, paranormal, fantasy romance

Hunted

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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date June 27, 2017

Erebus – Dark in every sense of the word, a skilled and lethal warrior, and sinfully sexy by design.

Since the dawn of modern man, Erebus was Hades’ secret weapon in the war between the immortal realms. Until Hades lost the minor god in a bet to his older brother Zeus. For the last hundred years, Erebus has trained Zeus’s Siren warriors in warfare and the sexual arts. But he’s never stopped longing for freedom. For a life filled with choice. And lately, he also longs for one Siren who entranced him during their steamy seduction sessions. A nymph he quickly became obsessed with and who was ripped from his grasp when her seduction training was complete. One he’s just learned Zeus has marked for death because she failed the last Siren test.

Before Erebus can intercede on the nymph’s behalf, she escapes Olympus and flees into the human realm. In a fit of rage, Zeus commands Erebus to hunt her down and kill her. Erebus sees his opportunity to finally go after what he wants, but he’s torn. Freedom means nothing if the Siren at the center of his fantasies doesn’t truly crave him back. Because defying the gods will unleash the fury of Olympus, and if he chooses her over his duty, whether she joins him in exile or not, the hunter will become the hunted.

•••••••••

REVIEW: HUNTED by Elisabeth is the latest installment (#8.75) in Elisabeth Naughton’s contemporary, adult ETERNAL GUARDIANS paranormal, romance series based in Greek mythology, prophecy and history, as well as the latest addition to the multi-authored 1001 Dark Nights series. The modern day heroes –the Argonauts-are descended from the Gods of Olympus whom fate has decreed the Eternal Guardians on Earth. This is the god of darkness Erebus, and siren/nymph Seraphine’s (Sera) story line. HUNTED can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty but I recommend reading the series in order as there is an ongoing theme and story line running throughout.

Told from dual third person perspectives (Erebus and Sera) HUNTED is a second chance story line that focuses on the rekindling romance between Erebus and Sera, and the Sera’s battle to stay one step ahead of Zeus. Eighteen months earlier Sera had been trained in the art of seduction by the man who would steal her heart-Erebus- but Erebus made no promised for the future as his seduction of the Siren was all a part of the woman’s siren training. Fast forward to present day wherein Erebus has been ordered to retrieve a wayward Siren who had stolen something that Zeus wanted back. Enter Seraphine-the woman Erebus has not forgotten-and Erebus’s ultimate target. What ensues is the rebuilding relationship between Erebus and Sera, and the couple’s battle to remain together in spite of their promise and their pledge. Entering into the world of the Eternal guardian warriors-the Argonauts- finds our couple at odds as to their future, and the difficult task placed upon our hero’s head. Erebus knows that to defy Zeus’s command he will be unable to return to Olympus and remaining behind will place another target on his back.

HUNTED continues to follow Zeus’s struggle to complete the Orb of Kronus- a circular disk, designed by Prometheus, that holds all four elements, and the deity who is in possession of the Orb has the ability to start the war to end all wars. Zeus had previously stolen the Orb of Kronus from the Argoleans but the water element remains elusive, and Zeus suspects is has been hidden in Argolea, where the Olympians –and thusly Zeus- are unable to cross.

The character and world development is colorful and detailed-the ongoing premise and story line regarding the Orb of Kronus is intricate and detailed; the developing suspense is memorable and impressive.

HUNTED is a fast paced story line steeped in Greek mythology and prophecy blended into a modern day tale of gods seeking power and revenge against those they consider less than worthy. Several of the previous story line couples, Argonauts and gods play secondary and supporting roles-Erebus and Sera have found a permanent home with the Eternal Guardians and the Argonauts. The premise is imaginative and exciting; the romance is passionate, erotic and fated; the characters are colorful, inspiring and intense. HUNTED and the ETERNAL GUARDIANS series will captivate your imagination.

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy

Hunted Teaser

excerpt

“You’re okay, Sera. I’ve got you. I’m going to get you out of here.”
Long minutes passed where she continued to tremble, and it felt as if his heart had taken up permanent residency in his throat. But slowly, as the heat of his body seeped into hers, her shakes slowly subsided, and she relaxed against him. He took that as a good sign. Lifting the shirt from her wound, he breathed easier when he saw the blood flow had lessened. She was going to have a nice-sized goose egg, but swelling outward from the impact was better than swelling inside the brain, and he knew that was an even better sign.
His pulse inched down. Glancing at her familiar face resting against his shoulder, he brushed a lock of wet hair back from her cheek, and as he did something warm and sweet slid through his chest. An emotion he hadn’t felt before. A yearning that wasn’t just sexual.
The feeling was so strong, so foreign, it threw him off kilter. He didn’t have emotions. He was a god who’d learned long ago that emotions were dangerous. And yet… Somehow he recognized the feelings taking up space inside him now had been spawned by fear. Not fear that she was going to drop to her death and that he was going to miss out on the rough, hot sex he’d been envisioning since the moment he’d recognized her in the woods, but fear that something bad would happen to her. That he’d never see her again. That he would lose her.
Sweat broke out along his forehead, and an odd tingle started in his chest. He told himself it was her heat making him feel weird. Not denial. Not anything else. But even that didn’t sound right, and he had no idea what the hell he was supposed to do next.
“Sera.” The word was a whisper, a plea, a demand. “Sera, wake up and look at me.” He needed to see her eyes. Needed her to explain what was happening to him. Needed to know if she felt it too.
She didn’t move. He knew she was breathing. Knew she wasn’t in any real danger. But the danger to him was suddenly all he could focus on. “Agápi. Open your eyes. Look at me, baby.”
She sighed and snuggled closer. But the reaction didn’t fire him up and make him ache to take her as he expected. It brought a calm over him that was more unsettling than the fear he’d felt before.
He didn’t know what was happening.

About The Author Black and White

Follow Elisabeth: Facebook / Goodreads / Website / Twitter

Elisabeth NaughtonBefore topping multiple bestseller lists—including those of the New York Times, USA Today, and the Wall Street Journal—Elisabeth Naughton taught middle school science. A voracious reader, she soon discovered she had a knack for creating stories with a chemistry of their own. The spark turned into a flame, and Naughton now writes full-time. Besides topping bestseller lists, her books have been nominated for some of the industry’s most prestigious awards, such as the RITA and Golden Heart Awards from Romance Writers of America, the Australian Romance Reader Awards, and the Golden Leaf Award. When not dreaming up new stories, Naughton can be found spending time with her husband and three children in their western Oregon home.

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Unchained (Eternal Guardians 8.5/ 1001 Dark Nights) by Elisabeth Naughton-Review and Book Tour

UNCHAINED (Eternal Guardians #8.5/ 1001 Dark Nights) by Elisabeth Naughton-Review and Book Tour
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UNCHAINED
Eternal Guardians 8.5 / 1001 Dark Nights
by Elisabeth Naughton
Release Date: June 16, 2016
Genre: adult, contemporary, fantasy romance

Unchained

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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date June 16, 2016

PROMETHEUS – One of the keenest Titans to ever walk the earth. Until, that is, his weakness for the human race resulted in his imprisonment.

For thousands of years, Prometheus’s only certainty was his daily torture at Zeus’s hand. Now, unchained by the Eternal Guardians, he spends his days in solitude, trying to forget the past. He’s vowed no allegiance in the war between mortal and immortal, but when a beautiful maiden seeks him out and begs for his help, he’s once again powerless to say no. Soon, Prometheus is drawn into the very conflict he swore to avoid, and, to save the maiden’s life, he must choose sides. But she has a secret of her own, and if Prometheus doesn’t discover what she’s hiding in time, the world won’t simply find itself embroiled in a battle between good and evil, it will fall in total domination to Prometheus’s greatest enemy.

••••••••

REVIEW: UNCHAINED is the 8.5 installment (and novella) in Elisabeth Naughton’s adult ETERNAL GUARDIANS romantic fantasy series based in Greek mythology, prophecy and history. The modern day heroes –the Argonauts-are descended from the Gods of Olympus whom fate has decreed the Eternal Guardians on Earth. This is Titan Prometheus, and witch Circe’s story line. UNCHAINED can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty but I recommend reading the series in order as there is a continuing theme running throughout.

Told from dual third person perspectives (Prometheus and Circe) UNCHAINED focuses on Prometheus- a Titan-who thousand of years earlier bequeathed fire to humans and was tortured by Zeus until his rescue approximately twenty five years ago. Fast forward to present day, and our ‘hero’ has secluded himself in solitude until the day the voices in his head become the spirit in the room. What ensues is Prometheus hunt for the woman who captivates his waking hours and his imagination, and the realization that not everything and everyone is whom they appear. As Zeus continues to hunt for the final element in the Orb of Kronos, Prometheus will be drawn back to Mt. Olympus, searching for the woman that calls to his heart. The $ex scenes are intimate and intense.

UNCHAINED is a quick read; a story line steeped in Greek mythology about gods and goddesses, betrayal and revenge; power and control. Elisabeth Naughton blends modern day with fantasy and myth for a series that will capture your imagination placing a spin on the stories and fables we have grown to love. The premise is intriguing; the characters are memorable; the romance is hot and steamy.

Copy supplied by the tour promoter

Reviewed by Sandy

Unchained Teaser

excerpt

 

By daybreak, Circe’s strength had returned enough so she could conjure her magic. She wasn’t a hundred percent yet, but she couldn’t wait until her body completely healed. Zeus had made it clear the shade could return at any moment. She needed to step up her plan with Prometheus if she had any hope of breaking free from this prison.
She placed the length of chain Zeus had given her in the cauldron, held her hands over the bowl, and summoned her spell. The chain was her link to Prometheus. It had been a part of him so long it still possessed part of his lifeblood. With it, she could find him wherever he was in the cosmos. And with it she could make herself ethereal and lure him to her.
The rock walls around her faded, revealing stone columns and the sound of leaves rustling in the early morning breeze, birds chirping in the forest, and water rushing over the falls. The scents of moss and wood filled her senses as she turned, confused why the spell had brought her to the gazebo already. She wasn’t supposed to start out here. She was supposed to start with Prometheus and tempt him to follow her to th—
The thought halted when she caught sight of him, lying on his side on the chaise, his hands tucked up near his face, his eyes closed, and his chest rising and falling with his deep breaths. Something beneath her ribs tightened at the sight of him. Something other than lust. Fast asleep, his long dark lashes feathering the skin beneath his eyes, he looked more innocent than godly, more angelic than dangerous. And for a fleeting moment she pictured him chained to that rock in the blistering sun, unable to move, unable to do anything but wait for the giant eagle to swoop down and rip out his liver only to come back and do it all again the next day.
He’d only escaped that living hell because of the Argonauts. Because his daughter’s mate had rescued him so Prometheus could save her life. Zeus had been pissed when Prometheus was freed. Circe remembered all too well how he’d marched into her cave and ordered her to bring Prometheus back. It had taken her several hours to convince the king of the gods that her witchcraft didn’t work that way. Luckily—for her—Zeus had finally abandoned that order, but she knew he was waiting for the moment when he could make Prometheus suffer. Zeus’s memory was long. When someone bested him, he never forgot. And Prometheus had bested him more than any other.

 

 

About The Author

Follow Elisabeth: Facebook / Goodreads / Website / Twitter

Elisabeth naughtonBefore topping multiple bestseller lists—including those of the New York Times, USA Today, and the Wall Street Journal—Elisabeth Naughton taught middle school science. A voracious reader, she soon discovered she had a knack for creating stories with a chemistry of their own. The spark turned into a flame, and Naughton now writes full-time. Besides topping bestseller lists, her books have been nominated for some of the industry’s most prestigious awards, such as the RITA and Golden Heart Awards from Romance Writers of America, the Australian Romance Reader Awards, and the Golden Leaf Award. When not dreaming up new stories, Naughton can be found spending time with her husband and three children in their western Oregon home.

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Awakened (Eternal Guardians 8) by Elisabeth Naughton-Review, Book Tour & Giveaway

AWAKENED (Eternal Guardians #8) by Elisabeth Naughton-Review, Book Tour and Giveaway

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About the book: Release Date April 12, 2016

DAMON – For twenty-five years he’s served as a plaything for the gods. With no memory of his past, he has no way of knowing if this is his ultimate fate, but he senses there has to be more to life.

Damon’s hope for more comes in the form of the Sirens’ newest recruit. Elysia is unlike any trainee he’s ever met. Not only can she remember where she came from—an ability the Sirens block—but she has an instant connection to Damon, one he’s never felt and doesn’t understand. Soon Damon is willing to do anything to have Elysia. Even risk the wrath of the gods to break her out of Olympus so he can keep her for himself.

But Damon’s past isn’t a mystery to everyone. Evil forces are at work beneath the surface, and before long, Damon realizes that the connection he shares with Elysia isn’t a random coincidence. His fate—and the darkness it brings—was cemented long ago. And when it is finally revealed, no one will be safe.

•••••••••••••••

REVIEW: AWAKENED is the eighth full length installment in Elisabeth Naughton’s adult ETERNAL GUARDIANS romantic fantasy series based in Greek mythology, prophecy and history. The modern day heroes –the Argonauts-are descended from the Gods of Olympus whom fate has decreed the Eternal Guardians on Earth. This is Damon and Elysia’s story line. AWAKENED can be read as a stand alone but I recommend reading the series in order as there is a continuing theme running throughout. AWAKENED fast forwards the series twenty five years and begins to follow the next generation of Argonauts and warriors.

Told from several third person perspectives AWAKENED focuses on Damon-an imprisoned male who for twenty five years has been the sex slave to Aphrodite, without memory of his previous life, and a man trained in the art of seduction. When Athena sets out to train a new group of Siren recruits, Damon finds himself face to face with Elysia-the Argolea princess- and the woman who would call to his soul. What ensues is the forbidden relationship between Siren and Trainer, and Elysia’s need to save Damon from the only life he knows.

AWAKENED has a deep connection to the previous novella-RAVAGED- in that our hero must come to terms with who he is, and from where he comes. Damon is a man without a past, and his future has been decided by the gods. While Elysia struggles as a Siren recruit, Damon begins to fall deeper for the chosen princess. Betrayal, heartbreak, obsession and revenge are the focus for two lost souls-without memories to guide them Elysia and Damon battle their desires while trying to stay one step ahead of the gods. It is Damon’s warrior like persona that gives our heroine pause as to the true identity of the man with whom she is falling in love.

AWAKENED is detailed story of destiny, steeped in Greek mythology, prophecy and lore blended into a modern day tale of gods seeking power and revenge against those they consider less than worthy. While Zeus continues to seek the Orb of Kronos, Athena continues to build her army of Sirens. The premise is intriguing, intricate and enchanting; the characters are passionate, startling and intense; the romance is fated and seductive. Another fantastic addition to Elisabeth Naughton’s ETERNAL GUARDIANS fantasy series.

Copy supplied by the tour promoter.

Reviewed by Sandy

Series Spotlight

Eternal Guardians 2

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Excerpt beige

 

“Mm…” Aphrodite swung her long legs over the side of the enormous bed and stretched her arms above her head. “That was wonderful.” Curly auburn hair the color of autumn leaves spilled down the pale skin of her naked spine as she turned and cast a coy look over her shoulder. “You get better and better, Damianos.”
The two naked nymphs who’d joined them scurried off the bed and rushed out of the room. Aphrodite pushed to her feet, all long lines and perfect curves, and crossed to the chaise.
The nymphs could disappear after the fact, the lucky females, but Damon could not. Rolling to his side, he propped his elbow on the mattress and rested his head on his hand as he watched Aphrodite slide a white silk robe onto her pale arms and tried not to be resentful of that fact. “Good thing, since my purpose is only to serve.”
Aphrodite smirked. “And you do it so well, erastis.”
Lover. He hated the way that word sounded.
The goddess moved back to the edge of the mattress and sat, then reached out and twirled a lock of Damon’s hair around her finger. “Speaking of serving, a new class of Sirens is set to arrive.” She pushed out her full, plump lips in a sexy little pout. “Athena is going to try to steal you from me again.”
Damon looked up at the goddess of love and desire and tried to feign disappointment, though inside, excitement leapt at the possibility of a break. Aphrodite’s temple wasn’t a bad place to spend your days—wide soaring rooms, tall stately pillars, marble everything, fountains and baths that promised both pleasure and relaxation, and the sweet scent of heliotrope wafting on the air, awakening the senses. But lately he couldn’t help thinking there had to be more to life than this. More than meaningless pleasure. More than casual sex. More than catering to Aphrodite, a goddess who cared only about herself.
“A new class, huh?” He rolled back into the mountain of pillows and laced his fingers behind his head, remembering that Athena and Aphrodite didn’t always get along. Jealousy was forever an issue between them—between any of the ruling Olympians—and he’d learned long ago not to show interest in any immortal other than the one currently in his line of sight.
“You don’t want to go, do you?” Aphrodite slid her finger down his throat and across the dusting of hair on his bare chest. “I could tell Athena you’re too valuable, which you are.”
This was where he needed to be careful. He couldn’t show too much enthusiasm, or Aphrodite would never let him leave. “Of course not. Training new Sirens is as enjoyable for me as spending time with your husband is for you.”
Aphrodite’s lips curled. Everyone knew she couldn’t stand her husband, Hephaestus. Her gaze hovered on Damon’s face. “That boring?”
She was beautiful, even Damon couldn’t deny that. Meadow-green eyes, flawless skin, high cheekbones, and lips made only for seduction. But though physically he was still attracted to her, more and more lately, he was finding it difficult to be aroused in her company. Sex with Aphrodite was as empty as his life these days. There had to be more. A reason he was here. A future that held some kind of purpose. Something other than…immortal perfection.
He drew his hand from behind his head and brushed the back of his fingers against the smooth curve of her jawline. “Infinitely boring. When I’m with the Sirens, I count the days until I return to your temple.”
Which was a flat-out lie. Working with Athena’s Sirens, training them in combat, strategy, warfare—even seduction—was a thousand times more fun than being stuck in Aphrodite’s claustrophobic pleasure palace.
Aphrodite sighed and smoothed her hand over his chest again, dropping her gaze to where she touched him. “I suppose I could consider letting you go. So long as I know you’re pining away for me. Absence, they say, does make the heart grow fonder.”
Damon had never found that to be true, but he refrained from saying so. He wasn’t about to do anything to jeopardize this chance to escape, however short his respite might be. “It does. Very much so.”
She leaned down and kissed him, sliding her tongue along his at the first touch and tasting him deeply. He didn’t pull away, didn’t say no, knew it was pointless to do so. Instead, he slid his fingers into the curly mass of auburn hair framing her face and kissed her back. Her mouth turned greedy against his, and she wriggled out of the robe she’d just pulled on, then pushed the sheet from his hips.
Yeah, there has to be more than this, he thought as she climbed over him. More than aphrodisiacs to keep him hard, more than meaningless sex, more than immortals using him for their pleasure. There had to be a hell of a lot more. Somewhere.
He just hoped he found it before he went mad.

 

 

About The Author beige

Follow Elisabeth: Facebook / Goodreads / Website / Twitter

Elisabeth naughtonBefore topping multiple bestseller lists—including those of the New York Times, USA Today, and the Wall Street Journal—Elisabeth Naughton taught middle school science. A voracious reader, she soon discovered she had a knack for creating stories with a chemistry of their own. The spark turned into a flame, and Naughton now writes full-time. Besides topping bestseller lists, her books have been nominated for some of the industry’s most prestigious awards, such as the RITA and Golden Heart Awards from Romance Writers of America, the Australian Romance Reader Awards, and the Golden Leaf Award. When not dreaming up new stories, Naughton can be found spending time with her husband and three children in their western Oregon home.

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Ravaged (Eternal Guardians 7.5) by Elisabeth Naughton-a review

RAVAGED (Eternal Guardians 7.5) by Elisabeth Naughton-a review

Ravaged

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ABOUT THE BOOK: June 9, 2015

Ari—Once an Eternal Guardian, now he’s nothing but a rogue mercenary with one singular focus: revenge.

His guardian brothers all think he’s dead, but Ari is very much alive in the human realm, chipping away at Zeus’s Sirens every chance he can, reveling in his brutality and anonymity. Until, that is, he abducts the wrong female and his identity is finally exposed. It will take more than the Eternal Guardians, more even than the gods to rein Ari in after everything he’s done. It may just take the courage of one woman willing to stand up to a warrior who’s become a savage.

•••••••••••••••

REVIEW: RAVAGED (Eternal Guardians 7.5) by Elisabeth Naughton is the latest installment in the 1001 Dark Nights novella series. This is rogue Argonaut warrior Ari (Aristokles), and nymph Daphne’s storyline. Elisabeth Naughton’s Eternal Guardians paranormal romance, fantasy series is based in Greek mythology, prophecy and history.

RAVAGED follows Daphne, a Siren in training, who has been tasked, by Zeus, to kill Aristokles. Ari currently lives in the human realm, and the stories reveal that Ari is a monster; a dark and dangerous rogue Argonaut, who out of revenge and grief following the murder of his first mate, tortures and kills the creatures responsible for her death-the Sirens. Daphne, not quite a Siren, must seduce and destroy Aristokles before she is allowed entry in the Siren caste. What ensues is the building relationship between Ari and Daphne, and the revelation that Ari’s acts of murder and destruction are not of his making.

Fifty years earlier, Ari faked his own death, leaving his son Cerek, and the other Argonauts to grieve the loss of their father and friend. But Ari’s disappearance was self-imposed as he was unable to control the need to kill the Sirens whenever they were in his presence. Daphne’s presence will help Ari focus on the need, and with her help, Ari and Daphne will uncover the truth behind Ari’s uncontrolled murderous rage.

Although a novella, RAVAGED, is a complete story: we learn about Daphne’s background, Ari’s history, and the gods of Olympus who play with the fates of man and beast. Several of the Argonauts make a cameo appearance including their leader Theron, as well as Argonauts Demetrius, Gryphon, Phineus and Titus. Half Breed ‘Misos’ Silas is introduced as Ari’s friend and ‘roommate’; and Daphne’s friend and Siren Sappheire, whose own understanding of the truth, finds another Siren in the human realm.

Elisabeth Naughton seamlessly blends Greek mythology with a modern timeline. There is romance and passion; betrayal and revenge; grieving and death. The characters are a mix of man and gods; daemons and beasts; Sirens, nymphs and Fates. Their stories are heartbreaking, passionate, and exciting. There is always a happily ever after-for now-because, well, Zeus always has another plan to create destruction and chaos, in the world of man.

Reviewed by Sandy

Eternal Guardians

 

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Twisted (Eternal Guardians #7) by Elisabeth Naughton-Review, Blog Tour and Interview

TWISTED (Eternal Guardians #7) by Elisabeth Naughton-Review, Blog Tour and Interview with the Author

Twisted Banner

TWISTED
Eternal Guardians #3
by Elisabeth Naughton
Genre: adult, paranormal, fantasy, romance
Release Date: October
ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date October 1 2014

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Nick –Leader of the half-breeds and the last true hero. He’s spent his life fighting a dark pull toward the gods. A pull he now knows is linked to his father Krónos and the Titan’s plan to escape from the Underworld.

But Nick’s hidden powers are coveted by more than just his father. Imprisoned by Hades, Nick battles every form of torture imaginable as the sadistic god schemes to break him. Only one thing is keeping him sane. One woman who gives him the strength to fight the relentless darkness. She has a dangerous plan of her own, though, and as Nick’s powers grow stronger, even she might not be enough to alter his destiny.

As the fate of the world hangs in the balance, Nick’s allegiances are tested. And no one knows whether he will choose to fight for good or succumb to the sinister lure of evil. Not even him.

••••••••••••••••

REVIEW: TWISTED is the seventh installment in Elisabeth Naughton’s Eternal Guardians paranormal, romance series based in Greek mythology, prophecy and history. This is Miso (half-breed) leader Nick and Cynna’s storyline. Told from third person POV, TWISTED looks closely at Nick’s connection to the gods, his purpose with the Guardians, and his relationship with his brother Demetrius and the Queen

The storyline follows Nick as he has been imprisoned for six months by Hades, and tortured by the very woman that keeps him sane. Struggling to control the power buried deep within, Nick believes the only person that prevents him from destroying everything in his way is Cynna –a woman who will push Nick to the limits of his endurance. Cynna’s reputation precedes her encounter with Nick and it is this reputation that she must fight to overcome. While the Guardians struggle to save their Queen, Nick struggles with his allegiances to his soul mate and his people.

The relationship between Nick and Cynna is a frenemies to friends to lovers storyline of mutual attraction and sexual tension. Cynna, by way of a bad decision and a deal with Hades’ son Zagreus, finds herself not only a perpetrator but also a victim of Hades’ need for power. When Cynna is commanded to ‘break’ the Miso leader, she will defy her captor and release the man with whom she will fall in love. The sex scenes are aggressive with some questionable scenes of consent. Nick needs Cynna to center the beast and Cynna needs only the man that calls to her heart.

The secondary characters include many of the previous storyline couples as well as some of the gods of Olympus and the Underworld. The familial connections become more complicated as the series progresses with the revelation of new siblings, distant relations and the next generation of Guardians and gods. The world building continues as the reader is pulled into a modern day war between the gods and the Eternal Guardians of mankind. The hunt for the final piece of the Orb of Kronos is but a blip in the storyline as the focus of the story was on Nick and his gods-gifted predestination.

Elisabeth Naughton’s ETERNAL GUARDIANS is a provocative and passionate look at modern day Greek mythology. Elisabeth’s storylines are arousing, compelling, addicting and seductive. Thers are stories of romance, suspense, destruction and war where families are torn apart and the impossible is found. ETERNAL GUARDIANS is an imaginative twist to Greek Mythology with the breathtaking background of romance and love.

Copy supplied by the publisher through Netgalley.

Reviewed by Sandy

Eternal Guardians

 

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Entwined : Amazon.com/ Barnes and Noble / KOBO / The Book Depository

Tempted : Amazon.com/ Barnes and Noble / KOBO / The Book Depository

Enraptured : Amazon.com/ Barnes and Noble / KOBO / The Book Depository

Enslaved : Amazon.com/ Barnes and Noble / KOBO / The Book Depository

Bound : Amazon.com/ Barnes and Noble / KOBO / The Book Depository

Interview red:black

Elisabeth naughtonTRC: HI Elisabeth and welcome back to The Reading Cafe.

Follow Elisabeth: Facebook / Goodreads / Website / Twitter

Elisabeth: Thanks so much for having me back. I’m thrilled to be here!

TRC: TWISTED is the new release is your ETERNAL GUARDIANS series. Would you please tell us something about the premise?

Elisabeth: Absolutely. I love talking about TWISTED!

Twisted is the seventh book in the series, but don’t worry if you haven’t read the other books yet. You can read TWISTED as a stand alone. TWISTED is Nick’s story. Nick is not a guardian even though he carries the markings of the Argonauts. Instead, he’s the leader of the half breeds (half-Argolean, half human), the half-brother of the guardian Demetrius, and, in an evil twist by the gods, shares a soul mate with his brother (though the female in this twisted little love triangle chose Demetrius as her mate.)

Tempted.inddAt the beginning of TWISTED, Nick has been imprisoned by Hades for six months. Hades recently discovered that Nick is Krónos’s bastard son and that the elder god hid some of his powers within Nick in the hope of using him to break out of his prison in Tartarus. Hades wants those powers for himself, so he’s entrusted Nick to his son’s care, er…torture…with the goal of breaking Nick and claiming those powers for himself. But the woman in charge of Nick’s torture is unwittingly keeping him from breaking. Only Nick hasn’t decided if she’s good or evil and what that means for his future.

TRC: What challenges or difficulties (research, logistics, background) did you encounter writing this particular story and series?

Elisabeth: The hardest part of this book was the heroine. Cynna is very damaged. Probably one of the most damaged characters I’ve ever written, definitely the most damaged heroine. Romance readers are pretty accepting of damaged heroes…a hero can be the biggest jerk on the planet and readers will still fall in love with him…but damaged heroines are a harder sell. I walked a fine line between keeping Cynna tough and justifying her actions versus her coming off as a bitch. In the end, hopefully, readers will get a glimpse into her mind and understand why she’s done the awful things she has.

TRC: Have you considered a novella or spin off for any of the secondary characters?

Elisabeth: The next book in the series will be a novella in the 1001 Dark Nights series. The tentative title is RAVAGED and releases next summer. The series is also not over. More Eternal Guardians books are in the works!

TRC: When writing a storyline, do the characters direct the writing or do you direct the characters?

Elisabeth: The characters are in total control. Whenever I get stuck writing, I know it’s because I’ve tried to force the story in a direction that is not natural to the characters. For that reason—especially with this series because each book is so interconnected—I live with the main characters of a story for a long time in my head before I ever sit down to write a single word.

Eternal Guardians

TRC: The mark of a good writer is to pull the reader into the storyline so that they experience the emotions along with the characters. What do you believe a writer must do to make this happen? Where do you believe writer’s fail in this endeavor?

Elisabeth: Great writers make the reader become part of the storyline rather than their observing it from the sidelines. This is done by showing acting instead of telling it, by writing deep point of view, and by giving readers a glimpse into the characters thoughts. New writers often struggle with deep point of view. Introspection is very hard to write without it becoming boring. There’s a very delicate balance between action and introspection that takes a while to learn. It did for me. ☺

TRC: Writer’s Block is a very real phenomenon. How do you handle the pressures and anxiety of writer’s block?

Elisabeth: Writer’s block is a touchy subject for me. I’ve had true writer’s block – when you can’t get a single word on the page because there’s literally NOTHING floating in your head. Mine came after a really nasty illness when I was hospitalized with sepsis. When I got out of the hospital there was nothing creative happening upstairs. I thought my writing career was dead. My body was working so hard to heal that it was draining my creative well. Luckily, as I recovered, that creativity came back. But whenever I hear writers complaining about writer’s block and the fact they can’t move forward on a story, it’s hard for me not to say…whoa. You just have no idea.

Does that mean I don’t understand struggling with a story? No. I understand it well. I’ve written plenty of books that made me want to pull my hair out. The difference between hobby writers and profession a writers, though, is that professional writers don’t give up. We all want to throw the towel in at some point in a book. No matter how hard a story is, though, professional writers keep going. The only way to get past that kind of writer’s block is to put your butt in the chair and write.

TRC: Thank you Elisabeth for taking the time to answer our questions. Congratulations on all of your success.

Elisabeth: Thanks so much. I hope your readers fall in love with TWISTED!

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Enslaved (Eternal Guardians #5) by Elisabeth Naughton-a review

Enslaved (Eternal Guardians #5) by Elisabeth Naughton-a review

ENSLAVED (Eternal Guardians #5) by Elisabeth Naughton

ENSLAVED is the fifth instalment (November 6, 2012 release) in Elisabeth Naughton’s Eternal Guardians series based in Greek mythology, stories, prophecy and history. All Guardians are descended from Greek gods, but many of the gods still rule. When Hades wife Persephone gave birth to Zeus’s daughter, Hades cursed Maelea to walk alone for over 3,000 years, but now Hades wants something from Maelea, and the Guardian Gryphon is standing in his way.

In the previous storyline, Gryphon has been rescued from the Underworld by his brother Orpheus and Orpheus’s soul-mate Skyla. But the torture and abuse were nothing compared to the insidious voice that continues to haunt his every waking hour. Thinking he is going insane, Gryphon needed to find a way to get rid of the incessant call, and there was only one way to end the torment-he needed to kill the source. His only option was to escape from the Guardians and his friends. But something about the little waif-like ‘ghoul’ known as Maelea, stirred at Gryphon’s cold heart, and he knew that she was his ticket out of this world.

Maelea knew her parents did not want her. Having never met her father, Maelea has been on the run for close to 3,000 years from her mother’s husband, and even her mother rarely acknowledged her existence. But when the Orb of Kronos went missing, everyone wanted a piece of the ‘ghoul’. With her ability to detect energy shifts, Maelea was the perfect weapon in the war to find the Orb but she would not let herself become a pawn. When her only option was to run she did not expect to find herself an unwanted jailer –the ‘insane’ Gryphon, With both of them on the run, Maelea thought she would become the next casualty in the war between the gods. The Guardians, Nick and the Misos, and most of the Underworld were looking to find Maelea and she was damned sure that she would not be used again.

The darkness within Gryphon called to Maelea. Cursed by Hades, Maelea’s own dark side felt the pull from Gryphon but there was something else about Maelea that calmed the voices inside. Gryphon has long watched the woman everyone called a ‘ghoul’, but he knew that there was much more to the quiet, albeit 3,000 year old woman, than what was presented on the surface. Her soul called to his, but he knew that he would only bring her pain and sorrow. A life on the run was no life for the mate of a condemned Guardian. But the powers of the Underworld would continue to threaten both and Gryphon knew there was only one way to end the threat.

Throughout the storyline we see a potential storyline build for the Guardian Titus, when he meets a woman who could very well be his mate. Max’s issues with Atalanta continue to haunt the young man and Nick’s colony of Misos will put a surprising twist to Hades’s rule of the Underworld.

Elisabeth Naughton brings together two lost souls who believe they are cursed to walk eternity alone. The need to run is overshadowed by their soul’s call to each other. I love reading this series and Gryphon’s story is both heart wrenching and cathartic sultry and scandalous.   Elizabeth Naughton ‘s Eternal Guardians  will capture your imagination from the very start.

READING ORDER
1. Marked
2. Entwined
3. Tempted
4. Enraptured
5. Enslaved

LINKS TO ORDER: Amazon / Barnes and Noble / The Book Depository / Books a Million / KOBO

Copy supplied by author.

Reviewed by Sandy

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ENRAPTURED by Elisabeth Naughton- a new release review

ENRAPTURED by Elisabeth Naughton

ENRAPTURED by Elisabeth Naughton

ENRAPTURED is the 4th instalment and April 2012 NEW release in Elisabeth Naughton’s Eternal Guardians series. The Eternal Guardians series follows the lives and loves of 7 warriors descended from the god’s of Olympus, whom fate has decreed as the Eternal Guardians on earth. But this time a warrior is haunted by guilt over the destruction of his brother’s soul and memories of a past, he has somehow forgotten.

Orpheus, son of Perseus, is part daemon, part witch and part Argolean. Searching for the Orb of Kronos-the source of ultimate power-so that he may be able to bargain with the Lord of the Underworld Hades for his brother Gryphon’s soul, Orpheus finally believes he has tracked down the key to the missing Orb. But ‘goth girl’ Maelea has continued to evade capture for close to 3000 years, and refuses to be pulled into the game between Zeus, Hades and Poseidon. With the ability to detect power shifts, Maelea-the bastard child of Zeus and Persephone-knows where Orpheus can find the Orb that will aid in the release of his brother’s trapped soul.

Skyla is Athena’s number one Siren, and has been commissioned to track down the deamon known as Orpheus. But something about the daemon is very familiar and calls to her heart and soul. And it is only when she reaches into her past does she realize that she has been deceived by those who claim to be family and friends. Tailing Orpheus on his hunt for the Orb of Kronos, is becoming more complicated, when she finds herself falling for the man, the warrior and the daemon, who was once part of her past, but is now becoming part of her present and beyond.

Hoping Maelea will lead him to the Orb, or at the very least another element, Orpheus recognizes there is more to the waif-like creature than her ability to sense power shifts. There is an unsettling calm that masks a power that has yet to be unleashed. But when an avalanche engulfs the train taking the trio back through Greece, and nearly takes the life of both the waif and Skyla, Orpheus is stunned when his mind cannot comprehend, that his heart has become one with the Siren sent to take him back to hell. And the flashes of memories, from a lifetime ago, push closer to the surface, out of the abyss, where they were meant to stay.

A new breed of daemon hybrid has surfaced-one which no longer bears the hideous façade, but continues to present the face of a human. Atalanta is awaiting judgment in Tartarus (purgatory), when the news about Gryphon excites her senses. Hoping to harness the strength and knowledge of the warrior, Atalanta makes him a deal he should have refused. Humiliation and shame will engulf the once proud man, and his brother Orpheus, may not be able to bring him back from the abyss.

The Orb of Kronos is in the possession of the warlock Apophis, but without the four elements that will garner the Orb with the ultimate power, Apophis amasses a coven of witches, hoping to draw those who will lead him to the individual who knows where to find the elements. But inhabiting the physical body of a fallen warrior Apophis soon loses his battle in the war for control and the Orb of Kronos.

Betrayal and heartbreak resurface for Orpheus, when the past comes crashing down around. Not only does he suffer the guilt for his brother’s lost and tortured soul, but knowing the only person he loved more than his brother, is the one person who will destroy the heart and soul of a man whose demonic nature, was tamed by love.

As Orpheus attempts the rescue of his brother Gryphon, he is too late to save the life of another close to his heart. And it is only when Skyla listens to her heart and hears the message of the Fates, does she realize, that the man she once knew, in a life long ago, is not the same man, she has grown to love in the life she wanted in return.

Enraptured is a complicated storyline. The history of hatred between 3 brothers-Zeus, Hades and Poseidon, and the mythology behind the many stories of vengeance and the struggle for power, floods the mind with tales only the gods could have dreamed. But Elisabeth Naughton has fused the myth of the gods within a novel that will keep you reading and wanting more. Enraptured tells the story of a warrior so filled with guilt, that his only goal, is to set right, the wrong, he fears may have destroyed his brother’s soul.

And it is within the pages that a small waif-life creature seems to draw the essences of a lost soul slowly back into the light and perhaps onto the pages of another Eternal Warrior. Book 5-ENSLAVED will be released in November of 2012.

READING ORDER:

1. MARKED
2. ENTWINED
3. TEMPTED
4. ENRAPTURED
5. ENSLAVED (Nov 2012)

reviewed by Sandy

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ENTWINED by Elisabeth Naughton-a review

ENTWINED by Elisabeth Naughton

ENTWINED by Elisabeth Naughton

ENTWINED is the second book in Elisabeth Naughton’s Eternal Guardian series. Set against the backdrop between two worlds, ENTWINED steps further into the realm of Greek mythology using the descendants of the gods and demi-gods as fodder for our senses. Our reluctant hero Zander must make a decision that could destroy his mate, his intended bride and all of their lives. But without the love of the only woman who has ever broken his heart, Zander no longer wishes to remain in the immortal world of Argolea.

Zander is a warrior who has long thought himself impervious to death-a true immortal, so while he contemplates ways to end his existence, he must face the reality that the only woman he has ever loved, betrayed him more than 10 years ago. Without his soulmate, his heart has hardened and he seeks the means to withdraw from the others.

Callia is a healer for her people and a woman who has just completed a 10 year cleansing to rid her soul of the guilt and shame she has brought upon her family. Following an affair with a warrior that left her both devastated and shattered, Callia’s father all but renounced his daughter for the humiliation and hurt. But the truth is somewhere in between.

Princess Isadora must marry and produce an heir before her father, the King succumbs to old age. But with no potential suitors and no Argolean soulmate on the horizon, the King orders Demetrius to marry his daughter. Disgusted with the idea of marrying and mating with Isadora, Demetrius is stunned when Zander steps forward to accept the King’s offer of marriage to his daughter. And Callia, both hurt and humiliated, must perform the pre-wedding physical to determine Zander’s fertility. With their previous history and 10 years of hatred for a betrayal, both Zander and Callia, must face the fact, they do not belong together.

Meanwhile, Atalanta’s 10-year old son, is being groomed to fight in the ways of the demons, but Maximus is not a demon. He is a young boy, lost in a world that is foreign to him. With the markings of a Guardian, Max knows that he does not belong with Atalanta and the demon hordes. Hoping to find the Guardians of Argolea, Max steals a valuable symbol from Atalanta, and goes in search of the Guardians. But a demon attack at a truck stop, leaves Max shaken, and again captured by the very monsters he is trying to escape..

During one of the many demon hunts, Zander and Titus are thrown into a fight, that is almost impossible to win. An injured Zander requires medical aid that only Callia is able to give, and their relationship begins to burn once again, but the memory of a betrayal is still very clear and painful to both. Their emotional wounds are deep, and when Zander accuses Callia of aborting their son 10 years earlier, a stunned and broken Callia, must face the man whom she still loves. Refusing to listen to his soulmate, Zander dismisses her tears as a ploy. When Callia finally reveals the truth about her visit to the medical centre in the mortal realm, a shaken and shattered Zander must admit that he betrayed his soulmate. He left her, thinking she had aborted their child, not knowing that she was trying to save the life of their unborn son. But the betrayal goes beyond the realm of possibilities.

Throughout the storyline, we are privy to the evil underworld controlled and ruled by Atalanta. Amassing an army of demons to destroy Argolea, Atalanta hopes to someday rule, using her ‘son’ Max as leverage. It is Callia who over hears a conversation that reveals their son is still alive, and Atalanta’s son Max is the common thread. But with the knowledge, comes a deeper betrayal by a family member that Callia will never forgive.

Princess Isadora and her half-sister Casey, agree to help Callia with her struggles finding her son. But the revelation of a ‘third’ sister and the prophecy of the Three Hours, proves these 3 ladies are tied closer together by both friendship and blood

Callia and Zander’s relationship strengthens with the discovery that their son may still be alive, but their guilt and shame will prove to be a larger obstacle then they imagined. It is only when Callia refuses Zander’s offer of marriage, because he has accepted the King’s proposal, do we find how deep their love and true feelings will go.

A betrayal by a father, innocence lost and ten years of guilt all culminate together, with a family reunion that is both sorrowful and happy. But a missing Princess and a joining ceremony between two lost souls, opens the possibility of another HEA. Another great storyline in Elisabeth Naughton’s Eternal Guardians series. Elisabeth Naughton is a welcome addition to my favorite author’s list.

READING ORDER:

1.  MARKED
2.  ENTWINED
3.  TEMPTED
4.  ENRAPTURED
5.  ENSLAVED (Nov 2012)

reviewed by Sandy

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