As unrest in the Underworld threatens, seven warriors descended from the greatest heroes in all of
Ancient Greece may just be mankind’s last hope.
I love these men, I mean books!! The series is enthralling! It has it all and it's perfectly balanced!
Action: 7 badass Argonauts that believe in duty and honor. They are sworn to protect their realm from threats of the Underworld and in turn also protect the humans who are oblivious to what is going on around them.
Great Characters:
Heroes: The heroes are your typical Alpha warriors. Hot, Sexy, Smart and they all have an issue or two. There are personal and professional obstacles that each must overcome and how they do that is all part of the story. Some are sarcastic (Titus! Sigh! Cannot wait for his book to get to know him better). Some are distant, keeping others at bay for their own good. While others are downright mean. However, there's a reason, I promise, and when you read the series it all fits into place.
Heroines: The girls are SMART and STRONG. Yes I will say this now, for those that may not know or haven't figured it out from my review: I DO NOT like whiny, weak, pathetic heroines. Give me one that knows her self worth, is intelligent, can hold her own and you have my attention. I understand that the heroines can 'grow' or have potential, but unfortunately, if you end up wanting to smack the sh... ahem, sorry I mean, smack the hell out of your lead female character, then there's a problem. THANK GOODNESS Elisabeth doesn't do that in this series. All the heroines are not only likable but you can relate to each one of them as well. Even the ones that may seem meek or as if they would wither away with a dark stare, have a backbone and let the guys and world have it when it counts.
Villains: You have your selfish Greek Gods who wish to be the true leader and they will do anything to reach their goal. As with any good story, you have your layers (story arc) and this is true with characters as well. The top layer of Villains, in this case Hades wants to rule the entire world. Then you have your other layers (sub-story arc) Demi-gods and daemons. Each have their own plans to rule the world and outsmart each other and defeat the Argonauts.
World Building: Elisabeth has created this magnificent world filled with Greek mythology with a new twist. A breath of fresh air in the genre of PNR. For those that love/enjoy Greek mythology you will definitely enjoy the series and it keeps true to it. If you're not familiar with Greek mythology, Elisabeth does a fantastic job telling you the stories without it being boring or giving you a flash back to your history class.
Romance: The Argonauts were cursed by Hera, Queen of the Greek Gods as punishment to her unfaithful husband Zeus. A curse of "True Soulmates". Each of the Argonauts have one, they just don't know who they are. To make things more interesting, its not just a matter of having a Soulmate, but the fact that they are considered to be the Argonauts' weakness and their total opposites. So, needless to say, they aren't out there searching for their one true love. On the contrary, they all "seem" fine to be without their other half, as I mentioned before, they are honor and duty bound. However, when boy meets girl - watch out!!
Elisabeth's Writing Style: I love it! Its flows with ease. She draws you into the world you're reading, making you feel like you're part of that world and part of the lives of the characters. You begin to think of them as friends and are by their sides through their ups and downs. You feel their pain and sorrow and are elated with joy when they are happy. All are great but causes withdrawals when you complete reading the book or series. I devoured the first three books when I began to read the series back in May 2012. I purposely held out from reading book four since I knew I 'd have to wait to read "Enslaved" book #5 until its release on Nov. 6th. Talk about withdrawals and having Orpheus's book calling me from the book shelf "Read Me! You know you want to! You're desire for me...." You guys know how that goes! (BTW, that is soooooooo Orpheus right there. Freaking thinks he knows everything and is irresistible. Well, he's half right. The man is gorgeous!! Anyways, back to Elisabeth's writing style). Where was I... Turns out I didn't have to wait too long as I received an ARC copy of "Enslaved" (posting review soon). However, the bookaholic that I am and how I love this series, I still have to suffer and wait till the next installment.
Steaminess Factor: YES! Hot, steamy, sensual, knee quivering scenes that cause your body to tingle! The sexual tension between the hero and heroine help propel the story, causing you to not want to put the book down. Many authors may use the sex scenes as "fillers" to keep things moving forward. This isn't the case with Elisabeth. The sex is part of the characters' (individually and as a couple) journey. I attended the RT Convention earlier this year in Chicago where I had the pleasure of attending one of the panels Elisabeth was partaking in. This topic "sex scenes" was part of the discussion. Elisabeth stated she usually keeps the steamy love making scenes to about 3 and no more. Don't be sad. She makes them count and so worth your while. Again, its part of the story so you're rooting for the characters to have their HEA (happily ever after).
Can you tell that I absolutely LOVE this series? Head on over to Consummate Reader for their blog launch party, where's I'm hosting this post with a giveaway!! What am I giving away? I'll give you a hint its "Eternal Guardian" themed! I know, I'm evil. I'm such a tease! Sorry, you're just going to have to visit me over at Consummate Reader to find out!! Muah muah muahhhhh (that's my evil laugh! hehehee)
Below are each of the four books currently available and information on the next installment "Enslaved" due out November 6, 2012!! I'll be hosting Elisabeth as part of her book blog tour on November 15, 2012 so mark your calendars!!
Have you read the series? What did you think? What is it about the Argonauts that have us coming back for more? Can't wait to hear your thoughts!!
Book #1 "Marked"
THERON – Dark haired, duty bound and deceptively deadly. He’s the leader of the Argonauts, an elite group of guardians that defends the immortal realm from threats of the Underworld.
From the moment he walked into the club, Casey knew this guy was different. Men like that just didn’t exist in real life—silky shoulder-length hair, chest impossibly broad, and a predatory manner that just screamed dark and dangerous. He was looking for something. Her.
She was the one. She had the mark. Casey had to die so his kind could live, and it was Theron’s duty to bring her in. But even as a 200-year-old descendent of Hercules, he wasn’t strong enough to resist the pull in her fathomless eyes, to tear himself away from the heat of her body.
As war with the Underworld nears, someone will have to make the ultimate sacrifice.
Book #2 "Entwined"
ZANDER — The most feared of all the Eternal Guardians. It’s rumored he can’t be killed, and he always fights like he has nothing to lose. But as a descendant of the famed hero Achilles, he’s got to have a vulnerability… somewhere.
Forces of daemons are gathering and have broken through the barriers of the Underworld. Now more than ever the Eternal Guardians are needed to protect both their own realm and the humans’. Zander can’t afford to think about what might have been with the bewitching physician he once regarded as his soul mate. But with eternity stretching before him, he also can’t fathom spending his life without the one woman who makes him feel most alive. Perhaps he’s found his weakness, after all…
You can read my book review for "Entwined" here.
Book #3 "Tempted"
DEMETRIUS—He’s the hulking, brooding warrior his fellow Guardians avoid. Too dark. Too damaged. And given his heritage, he knows it’s best to keep everyone at arm’s length.
Isadora is missing. The words pounded through his head like a frantic drumbeat. For her own protection, Demetrius had done all he could to avoid the fragile princess, his soul mate. And now she was gone—kidnapped. To get her back, he’ll have to go to the black place in his soul he’s always shunned. As daemons ravage the human realm and his loyalty to the Guardians is put to the ultimate test, Demetrius realizes that Isadora is stronger than anyone thought. And finally letting her into his heart may be the only way to save them both.
Available for purchase at Amazon and Barnes & Noble
Book #4 "Enraptured"
Orpheus has just one goal: to rescue his brother from the Underworld. He's not expecting a woman to get in the way. Especially not a Siren as gorgeous as Skyla. He has no idea she's an assassin sent by Zeus to seduce, entrap, and ultimately destroy him.
Yet Skyla herself might have the most to lose. There's a reason Orpheus feels so familiar to her, a reason her body seems to crave him. Perhaps he's not the man everyone thinks... The truth could reveal a deadly secret as old as the Eternal Guardians themselves.
You can read my book review for "Enraptured" here.
You can read my book review for "Enraptured" here.
Available for Purchase at Amazon and Barnes & Noble
Book #5 "Enslaved"
GRYPHON—Honorable, loyal, dependable…tainted. He was the ultimate warrior before imprisonment in the Underworld changed him in ways he can’t ignore.
She calls to him. Come to me. You can’t resist. But Gryphon will not allow himself to be ruled by the insidious whispers in his head. And there’s only one way to stop them: kill Atalanta, the goddess who enslaved him. But with so much darkness inside, he can’t be sure what’s real anymore. Even the Eternal Guardians, those who protect the human realm from threats of the Underworld, want to exile him. They’re not sure he can be trusted.
Finding Malea is like a miracle. Somehow he doesn’t feel the pull of the dark when she’s near. And he’s determined to keep her as near as possible, whether she wants him close or not. But proximity spurs temptation. A temptation that will test every last bit of control he has left. One that may ultimately have the power to send him back to the Underworld or free him from his chains for good.
Author Bio:
I was never one of those people who knew they wanted to be an author at the age of six. I didn't have imaginary friends. I didn’t write stories in my journal or entertain my relatives by firelight after Thanksgiving dinner. For the most part, I was just a normal, everyday kid. I liked to read, but I wasn't exceptional at it. And when my teachers complimented me on my writing abilities, I brushed them off. I did, however, always have a penchant for the unique and absurd. And as my mother told me all throughout my childhood, I should have been an actress—I was a drama queen before my time.
Years ago, my husband bought me Scarlett: The Sequel to Gone With The Wind. If you ever saw the book, you know it’s a long one. I sat and read that thing from cover to cover, and dreamed of one day being a writer. But I didn't actually try my hand at writing until years later when I quit my teaching job to stay home with my kids. And my husband? After that week of reading where I neglected him and everything else until I finished Scarlett, he vowed never to buy me another book again. Little did he know I’d one day end up sitting at a keyboard all day drafting my own stories.
To read her full bio, please visit her website.
You can also find Elisabeth at Goodreads, Facebook Page, and you can follow her on Twitter! Oh, the guys have their own Facebook Page, Eternal Guardians.
Great Post! I love these Men... oops I mean books too!
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