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With her unique perspective on life, Lisa Beth Darling is unafraid to delve into darker places other may fear to tread. In doing so, she masterfully shines glorious light on the stormy events that shape, test, & define human character.
Ranging from dark & thrilling to heartwarming & inspirational, Lisa’s stories are rich with secrets, lust, betrayal, and sometimes rage. They may keep you awake into the wee hours of the morning cheering, weeping, and trapped in suspense as her heroes and heroines have their love tested by demons who reside within and without.
Lisa Beth Darling is 56 years-old, the mother of two adult daughters, grandmother to two adorable granddaughters, and wife to her husband for 37 years, Roy. She lives and writes in her hometown of New London, CT. Early influences were Stephen King, Mary Higgins Clark, Harold Robins, Jacqueline Susan and VC Andrews. In her spare time she enjoys gardening and photography.
Reviewed by Jamie Michele for Readers' Favorite
The Heart of War by Lisa Beth Darling is the first book in the mythological dark erotica Of War series. Accused of a dreadful crime, Ares, the formidable War God of Greek lore, lives in solitary confinement on an isolated island, guarded by humans and attended by female servants. His life is disrupted when a mystical fey woman, Magdalena MacLeod, appears mysteriously on his island. With no recollection of how she arrived, she captivates Ares who renames her Alena. Her presence intrigues him further when he discovers her chastity belt engraved with the insignia of Cernunnos, the Celtic God of Forest and Death. An unexpected deal takes shape: Alena's maidenhead for Ares' protection. As this bond grows, Ares confronts the choice between his estranged divine family, his self-worth, and his newfound attachment to Alena, all while the Olympians and Cernunnos are closing in.
In The Heart of War, Lisa Beth Darling delivers no-holds-barred erotica laden with extreme violence, attributed to a horrific curse, that carries out with the hope of an eventual romance. Ares is an absolute brute with a private harem full of women who are obsessed with him, and the resilient Alena, and they are the ultimate unlikely pair. Their chemistry unfolds and through alternating points of view, Darling develops a diverse cast that includes Ares' Olympian family. The trigger warnings for sexual violence against women and children, and incest, are the standard fare for books of the genre. Darling isn't writing to please everyone, just genre lovers who will find this story ticks all the boxes. I genuinely appreciated the detailed backstory provided, given that this is not intended to be a one-hit-wonder. We have time for real evolution of character and Darling very effectively sets the stage for a promising series.
