For the Love of Hades By: Sasha Summers *Guest Post, Review & Tour-Wide Giveaway*

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The Author's Guest Post

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For the Love of Hades – A Soundtrack

                  I use music a lot when I’m writing my mythology based series. It really helps me capture the vibe, the sense of place I need to get ‘into’ my story.

                  While For the Love of Hades wasn’t as tragic as its predecessor Medusa, A Love Story – I admit that a lot of the tunes on Hades playlist are a little… heavy. *Ahem* My kids make me use headphones when I working on the Loves of Olympus books. Seriously, they bought me new ear buds so they wouldn’t get ‘depressed’ by listening to my writing music. *Sigh* Whatever.

                  I listened to this one over and over while I was writing this book. I could see Persephone in the violin, and Hades in the deeper notes… It has a lot of depth to it, yearning and frustration. There’s a lot of both in Hades story. But I just love this song.

                  This song was instrumental in the soldier scene – when Persephone and Hades meet for the first time. Side note – this is a great movie.

                  This piece took me to Erysichthon’s home. When Persephone is brought to him, masked and nervous. There’s a sense of anticipation to the song that worked.

                  What about a love theme for Persephone and Hades? I think so…

                  Okay, so some of the music is a little emotional – but I like to think the book is too. We’re talking mythology after all. It tends to me on the heavy side. And Hades is no light-weight character. But the love story, Persephone and Hades, was a true delight to write. I sincerely hope their story is just as fun to read.

                  You can find Hades entire playlist here.

                  Thanks so much for letting me visit and share my moody writing music with you! Happy Reading!

Book Description

For the Love of Hades         

Loves of Olympus, Book 2

Sasha Summers

Genre: Romantic Fantasy/Paranormal Romance

Publisher: Crescent Moon Press

ISBN:  978-1-937254-83-4

ASIN: 978-1-937254-84-1

Number of pages: 309

Word Count: 78,500

Cover Artist: Jeannie Ruesch

Book Trailer: http://youtu.be/LXx52Vve8hY

Hades, the Lord of the Underworld, has no patience for living things or his Olympian brethren. His purpose is order, administering justice to those who enter his realm, and keeping the balance decreed by the Fates. Meeting Persephone sways his focus, her gentle sweetness threatening his control. But he will not be tempted.

Poseidon’s scheming wreaks havoc upon Persephone. Hades has no choice - he must rescue her.

Hades awakens something within the Goddess Persephone. She feels no fear from his brooding presence. In truth, she’s never felt so alive. Every stolen moment together only confirms her instinct: he is meant to be hers. Such a powerful union suit will face opposition – from Olympus, her troubled betrothed, the Fates, even Hades himself – but she is determined to win his heart.

Tagline: Hades, God of Death, has no heart. Persephone is determined to prove otherwise…

A Short Excerpt

Hades glanced at the lily propped atop the mantle. The blossom was bright white against the black silk to which it was pinned, light against the darkness. He reached up, tracing one petal with an unsteady finger. He saw the tremor, cursed it, and clenched his hand, drawing back from the flower as if it had burned him.

Turning abruptly from the fire, he made his way to his chair and sat heavily. There was a sweetness to his burden, but it was no less a burden.

He leaned forward, rested his elbows on his knees and covered his face with his hands.

What had he done? How could he make amends now that his heinous act had been hidden so long? Using his powers to aid a mortal would seem trivial in comparison with the offense he’d committed against Demeter. Against Olympus.

And yet, he felt whole.

The raw emptiness that he’d held at bay, for nigh on an eternity, no longer threatened to consume him. Having her here, with her constant laughter and endless conversation, had changed his world irrevocably.

If not for her, he would have remained bitter and angry. He would not have interfered at Cyprus. He would never have thought to champion the mortal, Ariston…

“My lord.” Her soft voice interrupted his thoughts.

He lifted his head from his hands, surprised.

Persephone stood, beauty to behold, watching him with wide green eyes. In the blazing firelight her hair glowed copper, warm and rich. Her face, normally alight with smiles and laughter, was drawn. Was she not fully recovered? Or did the tension between them tire her as well?

His voice revealed nothing. “Persephone.”

Her steps were cautious, but she made her way to him. “Aphrodite?”

So she had seen Aphrodite. “Has gone.” And she should have gone with her fellow Olympian. He should have insisted she do so. He swallowed against the lump in his throat, ignoring the tightening in his chest.

“I thought as much.” She stood so close he could see the front of her tunic. The fabric trembled, thundering in time with the rapid beat of her heart.

Was she disappointed? Was she ready to leave him… his realm?

She should go. She should have gone weeks ago. He knew it was right. Yet knowing it did nothing to soothe his agitation. He clutched the arms of his throne, clinging to control.

“I’ve not asked you for anything in my time here.” She paused. “Have I?”

He shook his head once. No, she’d seemed happy, though he had little knowledge of true happiness, he supposed. His gaze found shadows beneath her eyes and a tightness about her mouth. He was a blind fool.

Have you been miserable? He could not ask the words aloud, fearing her answer.

Her voice was no steadier than her pulse. “Nor would I trouble you now, if my need were not so great.”

“What is it?” he asked. His voice sounded harsh to his own ears.

She sank to her knees, glancing at him with an almost timid gaze. Her hands lifted, wavered, and covered his hands. He stiffened, stunned by her actions. She touched him… He swallowed. The feel of her hands upon him squeezed the air from his lungs.

“Show me mercy. Show me the same mercy you’ve bestowed upon the mortal… the soldier Ariston.” Her hands clasped his tightly.

He would not reach for her, he could not. No matter how he might want to.

“Have I been cruel, that you feel the need to beg for anything from me?” His words were a harsh whisper. She shook her head and he continued, “Then why do you kneel before me?”

“It is a selfish request, one that may turn you from solicitous to,” she paused, her cheeks growing red, “… sickened.”

Was it possible for him to feel so towards her?

He stared at her hands, wrapped about his. He would not meet her gaze. He would not reveal his damnable weakness to her. He could not risk losing himself in the fathomless depths of her green eyes. “Ask me,” he murmured as his traitorous eyes sought hers.

            She drew in a wavering breath, ragged and labored. Her whispered words were thick.

            “My lover… Release him. Release the man who loves me, please.” Her eyes sparkled, mesmerizing him while his heart, so newly discovered, seemed to shudder to a stop once more.

About The Author

Sasha Summers is part gypsy. Her passions have always been storytelling, history, and travel. It's no surprise that her books visit times past, set in places rich with legends and myth. Her first play, 'Greek Gods and Goddesses' (original title, right?), was written for her Girl Scout troupe.

She's been writing ever since. She loves getting lost in the worlds and characters she creates; even if she frequently forgets to run the dishwasher or wash socks when she's doing so. Luckily, her four brilliant children and hero-inspiring hubby are super understanding and supportive.

Sasha is an active member of RWA and several Texas Chapters. A self-proclaimed movie-addict, she is full of all sorts of useless movie tidbits and trivia.

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My Review

Awww this was very good. One of the things I really liked about this story, was just the writing. I have written this before, but Author Sasha Summers, is just a wonderful writer; she's very creative and she just has a great writing style, that makes a story flow, and that's what I felt for this one. I have to write, that I know of the main Greek Gods, having heard of them since I was little, but I have not really read any stories about them, except facts from the Internet, but Summers makes it enjoyable to read, and yes its fictional, but for me, it was fun to go to totally new areas and to just feel what these characters go through in this story.

Essentially this novel is about Goddess Persephone and the Lord of the Underworld, Hades. I really, again, just liked how this story was constructed, and some people may know how this story supposedly went, but I liked that there were creative twists here, to create one exciting story of power, jealousy, love, and more. Hades is not supposed to feel anything, especially love, but can that change when he sees the beautiful Persephone on his path one day? Persephone herself, knows that her mother is arranging someone to be married to her, and she just wants to be connected to the trees, flowers, the beautiful things in nature, but that stops, when she is taken to Hade's Underworld, and when she is there for a while...she might not want to leave, and you'll have to read just why she wants to stay with...Hades. The romance between these too, and that's all I'm mildly going to give away, is beautifully written, and wow, it's just stunning. I recommend this novel, and I now look forward to the next book in this series.

My Rating: 4.5/5
I say a Strong PG-13 Rating (Some Violent & Sexual Content)

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