Review and Guest Post with Lisa Beth Darling, Author: OF War Series

I am so excited to have Lisa Beth Darling here today, Please give her a warm welcome. 

 

The OF WAR Movie Cast 

Not to brag or boast, but one thing I keep hearing over and over is that people can see the OF War Series as a movie. In fact, they *want* to see it on the silver screen. Me too. Maybe one, if the Gods are kind, we'll get our wish on that one. But until then, I get to be the casting director and not take orders from anyone. (That's nice, isn't it?) If I could have my way here's how I would cast this epic adult gritty saga. 

Ares God of War—our hero. I know, you didn't expect that, he's a very unlikely hero. On many levels, he is unlikeable, at least first. He's strong, powerful, brash, arrogant, moody, brooding, and sexy as hell. A tough bill to fill by anyone's definition. My first choice can never come to fruition and so casting this part is very difficult. If we were in a different world

  

Kevin Tod Smith

Since we can't have him, a few other names have been thrown about 

  That's a yummy line up for the Casting Couch! Gerard Butler, Jason Mamoa, Mickey Rourke, and Robert Downey, Jr. I like the last two options best. 

Magdalena MacLeod-our heroine. 

She's a half-Fey half-Human woman nearly 300 years old. She too is strong but tempered, she's wise, caring, loving, and bold. My choices for her would be;

     

Charlize Theron, Diane Lane, and Maria Bellow, I think any of these ladies would play Alena MacLeod, wife to the God of War very well. 

Cernunnos-one of the antagonists in the series, yes we have many 'bad guys' in our saga. 

 

Liam Neeson and Ralph Fiennes

Zeus-God of Gods. I think there's only one man capable of playing the part 

Sir Ian McKellen 

But I'm also willing to give this guy a shot  

  

Anthony Hopkins

Aphrodite-Goddess of Love and Desire. Also the bitter ex-Lover of Ares who causes a whole lot of trouble for our couple. 

Angelina Jolie

Hera-Queen of the Gods. 

  

Susan Sarandon 

Apollo-God of the Sun and Music. Another of our bad guys, I'm afraid. My perfect choice for him would be 

 

David Bowie 

But if that's not possible I suppose I could give these guys a shot 

 

 Brad Pitt and Chris Hemsworth—both yummy! 

Eros-Winged God of Love. One of the good guys.

  

Chris Pine 

Hades-God of the Underworld.

  

Karl Urban 

Raven-Son of Ares and Magdalena MacLeod. Sadly this part remains uncast. I can't seem to find anyone yummy enough to fill the role. This guy is the closest I've been able to come but I don't know who he is. If you do, please let me know. He already has the part, well, once he passes the Casting Couch, that is.  

 The OF WAR Series contains scenes of graphic sex and violence. As such, it is intended for a MATURE AUDIENCE ONLY. It is not recommended for the faint of heart.  

Links to buy: 

Amazon/Kindle http://www.amazon.com/Lisa-Beth-Darling/e/B002BMDA9I/ 

Nook http://www.barnesandnoble.com/c/lisa-beth-darling 

All Romance Ebookshttp://www.allromanceebooks.com/storeSearch.html?searchBy=author&qString=Lisa+Beth+Darling 

Author Links: 

Website: http://www.moonsmusings.com 

Blog: http://lbdarling.wordpress.com 

Twitter: @lb_darling 

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/lbdarling

  

 File Size: 947 KB 

Print Length: 598 pages 

Publisher: Moon Mistress Publishing; 2 edition (November 21, 2010) 

Sold by: Amazon Digital Services, Inc. 

Language: English 

ASIN: B004DCB3CA 

Text-to-Speech: Enabled 

X-Ray: Not Enabled 

Lending: Enabled 

Book Description

Sink more than just your teeth into a real paranormal sizzler. 

Inside the Heart of every Warrior breathes the Soul of a Hero--even within The Heart of War. Meet Ares God of War, the greatest Warrior the world has ever known. He's moody, grumpy, dominant, ravenously sexual, and above all, built like a Greek God. 

Get lost in this sweeping dark saga of lust, rage, revenge, and redemption. Battle Ancient Gods while falling in love with Ares God of War and Alena MacLeod. They share a love that will rock the world from the heights of Olympus to the Celtic moors. 

EXCERPT—“

THE HEART OF WAR” BY LISA BETH DARLING COPYRIGHT 2010 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. 

Ares was in a foul mood and suffering from a splitting headache when he arrived back on the island with Alena. "Go inside." He said gruffly and pointed toward the cliffs and the cave above.

"Ares?" 

"Please, Alena, just do as I ask. Go." 

She didn't want to leave him here, alone, on the beach but it didn't appear Ares was wanted company, not hers anyway. In the face of his Father and the other Olympians, Ares stood tall and strong. He'd come to her aid just as he said he would and kept his promise. Alena was stunned. When Zeus said he would return Ares' property and his station to him, she felt sure the God of War would sell her down the river. She wanted to thank him, wanted to ask why he had done it but she held her tongue. "Yes, my Lord." Hiking up the hem of the dress, she turned to make her way up the long strange stairs leading from the beach to the top of the cliff. With a heavy heart, she walked a few steps until she got to the base of the stairs and there she turned around. Ares was sitting on the sand facing the water and the setting sun. He had thrown off the belt with the heavy sword and his thick leather vest; they were in the sand next to him as he sat there with his head down in his hands. She could not leave him there. Quietly coming up behind him, Alena sat down, wrapped one arm over his left shoulder and the other under his right lacing her fingers together and pulling him backward. Alena expected him to balk or to fight but, instead, Ares settled backward into her arms, rested his head in the crook between her neck and shoulder as he let out an exhausted sigh. "I'm sorry I'm so much trouble, my Lord." She whispered as she nestled her face into his hair. 

Letting the softness of her touch and the warmth of her body comfort him, Ares closed his eyes and drew in the peaceful shelter she offered. "It's not you. It's Them." 

The Olympians were quite the Divinely Dysfunctional Family. Alena had never seen or heard so much bitter bickering from one clan. If that was her Family, she might be damn happy that she lived in Exile on a beautiful island such as this. "They're awful." She whispered in his ear careful not to let any prying ears overhear. Ares gave out a deep chuckle and then another sigh as his hand rose up to caress her arm. She thought of how brave, how daring, and even dashing, Ares had been as he stood there telling all of them they could not have her. When she listened to him speak of Artemis, Alena nearly cried. Then she had been stunned into silence having expected the God of War to hand her over, maybe not with ease but readily enough, in return for his crown and scepter. "Thank you for keeping your promise." 

"You expected this chauvinistic pig to do less." Ares mused still with his eyes closed. "Everyone does." 

Under her hands, beneath the thick pad of fur her fingers were twirling, Alena felt the steady beat of his heart. It too was brave and strong. "Why did you do it?" 

Last night, Ares indulged himself in the pleasures Alena had to offer not in the name of any barter. Not for any affection. Just, simply, because the opportunity arose and he took it as he always did. Come morning, Ares expected that he would turn her over to the Olympians in exchange for those things so wrongfully taken from him. For all her intrigue and mystery, she was still, disposable. Unimportant. Superfluous. For centuries, all he thought about was going home and the chance finally fell into his lap, Ares thought it was a Gift from the Gods. 

Yet when Zeus unknowingly presented all of them with irrefutable proof of Ares' innocence, he had the gall to make more demands upon him instead of lifting Ares' exile. It wasn't that Ares minded going to War, it was after all, his Thing. He wanted revenge for Artemis as much as much as any of them. Couldn't Zeus see that? Surely, he did, he must know this much about his Son. It was then that Ares realized none of it was about Justice, just Power. Nothing ever changed on Olympus. Standing there in the Great Chamber, Ares started wondering why he ever wanted to go back to Olympus. Why return to all of that bickering and backstabbing when he could stay on his island with her? 

Last night she was expendable. Tonight that was no longer the case and he wasn't sure where the tide turned or even how it had done so. Ares understood that Vindication wasn't the Gift the Gods sent him; Alena was. With five thousand years behind him and, if all went all, another four or five thousand ahead of him, Ares was too old to mince words, too old to play stupid or coy. He wondered how much time his pretty little Fey had ahead of her. "I'd rather have one night with you here on my island than ten thousand more nights with them on Olympus." 

"Why?" 

"I'm tired of being alone." Ares confessed. 

"You're not alone. You have all of your guards and your women." 

"And still I am alone except when I'm with you. Then I am whole, no longer restless, and no longer weary." In her arms, Ares turned around quickly, put his arms around her, and brought her down to the warm sand. Staring into those stormy eyes Ares couldn't hold the words back any longer. "I love you, Alena." 

Review: 

Where to begin with this review, let me just say first of all. If I could have rated this book higher I would have, it was that damned good.  As many of you know I am mythology junkie. If it has any type of mythology you better believe I am going to read it, especially Greek.  I have been wanting to read this book for so long and I am so glad I have. It truly rocked my world that is how much I loved this book.

Now I was warned of certain situations in this book and while it didn't bother me, because frankly I hate to say it, but it had to happen. So if you are like the author said , it is not for the faint at heart. This book might not be for you.  I won't lie and say I didn't wince a few times but that certainly didn't deter me from enjoying this book.

I want to say I love love love Ares. I can't say that too often, because most of the time when I have read about him, I hated him with a passion.  And with this one at first I wasn't sure but I kept an open mind and read on and fell deeply for this god.  I can't say that for some of the other gods featured in this book.

But that is what makes me love this book so much, is that I felt for these characters, whether it was love or hate I felt!!  The story as well grabbed me and wouldn't let go until I finished (and let me say I had many of sleepless nights because I couldn't stop thinking about this book).

I can't forget the hot smexy action, phew I was sweating a few times that's how steamy it is. But like I said above there are situations that might make some of you uncomfortable so forewarn. Those gods weren't always pleasant and sweet. But they are God's after all.

I could honestly go on and on with this review. I just can't get enough of Ares and Alena(Maggie) they have to be listed as one of my favorite couples of all time.  I want to say thank you to the author for giving me another series to obsess over.

So if you love Greek Mythology, Strong Adult Themes(Dark in some cases), Hot and I mean Fiery Hot Smexy Action, this book is for you. It's long so be prepared to lose some sleep over this one. I surely did.

Rating: (5 plus plus plus)

Heat Factor: