Friday, July 25, 2014

Blog Tour & Giveaway: Kingdoms Of War by Lisa Beth Darling!

Inside the Heart of every Warrior breathes the Soul of a Hero--even within The Heart of War

That's right, warriors need love too and Ares God of War is no different although he used to like to think he was until Maggie MacLeod came along and turned his world upside down in The Heart of War book #1 in the OF WAR Series of highly dark and adult romances.

It hardly seems like that was four years ago that our hero the grumpy, broody, and often intimidating God of War found a Fey washed up on the shore of his secluded isle.  Of course, being the arrogant god that he is the very first thing he did was change her name to Alena. Not that she minded, with the new name came a new woman one with renewed passion.

In all of that time our hero and heroine have been through many trials and tribulations as they struggled to build a family and life for themselves away from the divinely dysfunctional Olympians.  Who can ever forget Raven's harrowing birth or blood oath demanded of Ares by Zeus in Child of War-A God is Born?  Not to mention Raven forcing his pregnant mother down a very long set of marble stairs.

There have been good times too I think we all found a new use for peppermint oil in Christmas Eve on Olympus. (wink)

Of course there was the time that Raven inadvertently helped to destroy the world in Child of War-Rising Son. It wasn't all his fault, growing up Olympian ain't easy especially not when everyone absolutely hates you. With an Uncle like Apollo nobody needs enemies.
In Women of War we looked back on Maggie's heritage from her great grandmother Shar  Draíocht the Last Queen of the Dark Kingdom to her mother the wild and wanton Maven.  We discovered the secret connection between Alena and her beloved Ares.
Now as we close out the OF WAR Series with Kingdoms of War it's time to find out if Ares and Alena will have their Happily Ever After or they will forever be separated by the Gods and their unruly Son. I hope you'll join me for this explosive finale.

KINGDOMS OF WAR
BOOK #6 OF WAR SERIES
LISA BETH DARLING

With nearly four billion souls lost to the ravages of anarchy and the dreaded disease Major Falls, Ares and Raven journey the Mortal World vainly reaching for a sliver of what was only to discover what will be. Unleashed by Apollo, Major Falls—a weaponized version of the flu and rabies-- has wiped out every person of watery Mortal Blood.
 From the fiery wreckage a new world is slowly arising one where the descendants of Olympians, Celts, Dark Fae, and all manner of Magickal Being will rule. For the last millennium the Dark Kingdom has sent small legions of its Daughters in search of its Lost Queen. Among their number is Lenora, a sharp tongued Dark Fae who joins up with ARES hoping to get close to its leader, Raven. And she does.
 The Wolf inside the God of War contracts Major Falls. As Ares and Athena wander the world hoping to curtail further damage by obliterating weapons of mass destruction he slowly succumbs to the sickness taking over his fevered rabid mind. Ares may not live to see the glory of Olympus restored nor fight to keep his Wife. If he does, how high will be the price for Ares' life? How long will Alena have to keep paying Apollo even once Ares is crowned King of Olympus?

Guest Post:

What Is It About Tall, Dark, Handsome, and Slightly Dangerous Men?

I won’t try to answer that question on behalf of my entire gender but I’ll give it a shot just for myself so please remember the following only applies to my personal tastes in the male persuasion and your mileage may vary. I’d also like to say that the above description does not equate to psychotic or sociopathic men. Those are different animals altogether.

Much to my mother’s chagrin, I was never one to even glance at the geek, the brainiac, or the jock. Those guys hold no interest for me on an intimate level. That’s not to say we can’t be friends, hang out, go for a beer, or just shoot the breeze, sure we can. But I’m not climbing into bed with any of them…except maybe the jock for an hour or two. J
Ever since I can remember I was always attracted to the Bad Boy and I still am. You know, the boys in their well-fitting and well-worn leather jackets, they had black leather wallets with metal chains running to their belt loop, the belt was nearly always double-ringed sitting around a sweet pair of hips under a pair of faded Levis. They had long hair—I can’t tell you how much I love long hair on a man. They raced fast—sometimes beat up—cars down winding New England back roads on a hot summer nights. They hung out on the smoking patio at school smoking what might or might not be tobacco. They were edgy and rough never dull and boring. They were always up to something interesting even if it may have been illegal. Those are my boys, always have been, always will be. 

Why?

Because they made me feel alive and they still do.

I think, way deep down, most of us like to get up to a bit of mischief now and then, keeps the blood pumping and the brain firing on all cylinders. I was never the type of person who wanted to play it safe all of her life. I think that if you never take chances then you never really live. They walked through this life on a high wire without a net and I wanted to do that too.
Obviously I never had any particular desire to ‘fix’ them or ‘change’ them or ‘mother’ them. After all, men are not ‘unique fixer-uppers’ that you can get for a bargain price. Only girls think that way. Women accept a man they’re attracted to for who he is warts and all. I mean, what is the sense in being attracted to Tall, Dark, and Dangerous when you want to turn him into Ward Cleaver? Go for Ward Cleaver he’s already Ward Cleaver. You can move right in and start on your Happily Ever After without having to do any ‘fixing’. 

See how that works?

I believe that it takes a very strong woman…an alpha female if you will…to simply understand an alpha male. To live with him as a fully functioning partner and be his lifelong mate without ever having a desire to change him or turn him into someone else. She may manage to smooth out some of his rough edges, mellow him a bit and help him mature, but she doesn’t want him to lose himself.
I think that, for myself and maybe for those like me, the alpha male, the Dark, Damaged, and Dangerous man offers strong women a challenge that other males can’t. Again, not to ‘fix’ him, there’s nothing wrong with him—damaged or not—he is who he is and that’s it.  You don’t want someone climbing around in your head trying to change you, do you?

The challenge is to understand him and his moods.  The geek, the brainiac, and the jock, are all very predictable personalities (provided the jock isn’t on steroids that is) who will share with you a rather predictable life that will steadily progress in a rather timely manner and when you pass from this world you may be able to leave your 2.5 kids that nice house with the picket fence around the yard and a few bucks.  If that’s what you want then go find the Ozzie to your Harriet and be blissful.


The alpha male, the “Dark, Damaged and Dangerous” man, may not give you that smooth upwardly mobile lifestyle. He may give you something that’s more along the lines of a rollercoaster ride than a Ferris wheel. He may tease you with a bit of mystery and intrigue and be a bit more spontaneous than another man.  He'll challenge you to do the same.  Yes he’ll break a few rules along the way and, with any luck at all, he may teach you that sometimes being bad feels pretty darn good.


In one swiftly flowing motion, Ares pulled her out from behind him to settle her crosswise on his lap like a girl telling Santa what she wanted for Christmas.  She wasn't a little girl and Ares was fully aware he was not Santa Claus.  "I love you," he confessed as he looped one arm around her slender waist.  "I will never let you go."  In his arms she smiled at him as her eyes filled with sparkles, making his heart a little lighter.  "Never."

Bringing the strong hand in her hair to her mouth she brushed a lingered kiss over the back while she turned around inside his hold until her naked body faced him with each of her legs wrapped around his taut waist.   Their lovemaking earlier tonight had been extraordinarily athletic and lengthy, she wasn't sure that she was up for another round and he wasn't, not yet anyway, although the first stirrings of life were twitching against the soft moistening place between her legs.  Wrapping her hands around his neck and grabbing up tufts of his midnight hair she sighed in a sultry whisper, "Do you know how much it turns me on when you say that?"

Grabbing one firm round cheek in the palm of each hand, Ares stood up, bolted to the nearest wall, and planted her back up against it so roughly she let out a cry of painful delight.  Ares had just enough time to feel her yank his hair hard before her hands fell to his shoulders where he grabbed them up faster than lightning to pin them to the rock wall high above her head between two fingers.  "I know how much you like this."  His cock did more than just twitch when she shuddered and let out a heated coo; it threatened to explode open as it rushed to full hardness bringing with it a wild wave of desire.  Holding her hands firm and keeping her seated in the palm of one large hand, his mouth moved in to cover the sweet spot just below her left ear.  Sucking hard on the tender flesh and giving it a meaningful yank with his sharp teeth released gasps of pleasure from her.  Yet, wanting him to master her, Alena fought against the rising tide of desire as she tried to free her hands, straining and pulling within the ring of his fingers until she worked up a sweat and started sliding free.  Without stopping his work, Ares lifted her hands away from the wall and brought them back to the rock with a good deal of force.  Pinned between the unforgiving muscles of his electrified body and the unforgiving rock of the cave wall, Alena gasped and quivered against him sending shock waves of wanton passion exploding outward from the pit of his tight abs down to the hungry creature howling for another meal and upward through his heart, making it quicken on its way to his head where it dazzled him in a brilliant display of pulsing color and tingling sensation.  Soon the intoxicating scent of wild honeysuckle and the primal aroma of the musk between her legs filled his flaring nostrils and made him begin to growl.



Lisa lives in her hometown of New London, CT with her husband of 28 years, Roy. Together the two have raised two adult daughters and, as of this writing, are anxiously awaiting the arrival of their first grandchild.

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New England Authors Signing
October 4, 2014
The DCU Center in Worcester, MA
12pm-4pm
Tickets $12.00
20+ authors from all across New England will be in attendance including me!

This is my first public book signing event and it takes place on my birthday! I hope you will come celebrate with me. Pre-order books/swag and pick them up at the event. More information available on the NEWS Web Site http://christacervone.wix.com/newenglandwriters


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