Review: Marked by Elisabeth Naughton

Marked 
Eternal Guardians #1
by Elisabeth Naughton 
Mass Market Paperback, 322 pages
Published May 27th 2010 by Love Spell
ISBN 0505528223 

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.

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My Thoughts:
I have seen Elisabeth Naughton’s work around a lot in the last year but never picked up one of her books until I received the third novel in this series, Tempted, in for review. So I decided what the heck, might as well start at the beginning and see what all the fuss is about right? My thoughts now; why did I wait so long to pick up this series?!?!?


The Eternal Guardians is a fresh take on paranormal romance where ancient Greek mythology comes to life in today’s world. Theron is a descendent of Hercules, the leader of the Argonauts and a guardian of his race – the Argolean’s. When the princess, who is also his betrothed, goes missing he tracks her down to a strip club in the human world.  As Theron goes to grab Isadora though he sees a dark haired beauty he thinks he recognizes but can’t place, blowing it off he grabs Isadora and leaves only to be attacked by daemons in the street and saved by the human woman from the club. When she takes Theron back to her home to nurse him back to health, Theron feels an undeniable attraction for her though and can’t keeps his hands off her, until he discovers her birthmark. A mark that is all too familiar, and means the impossible...
After drifting from place to place most of her life, Casey thinks she might have finally found a home running her grandmother’s book store. When she saves a sexy hulking man outside of her part-time waitressing gig though, Casey is thrown into a world that she didn’t even know existed! She finds out that she is the illegitimate daughter of the king, destined to give her life to save their world and that Theron has been sent to bring her to her father. But as these two are thrown into dangerous circumstances together passion builds and they realize that Casey is Theron’s one and only soul mate as an Argonaut; can Theron give up his soul mate’s one life to save many? 


Marked was a stellar start to what I know is going to be a great series! I loved the concept of basing a series off of Greek Gods, Goddesses and Argonauts. And these Argonauts are one sexy group of alpha men; all big, strong warriors with tattoo-like markings heating up the pages! The world building was unique and complex but easy to follow and each character, from the main couple to the secondary characters and villains, were well fleshed out. The story was a bit slow to start out with, as the author introduced readers to the world she has created, but it then progresses at a fast pace and was a quick read. To tell the truth, I was barely able to put this one down! 
Theron and Casey had a conflicted relationship with many obstacles and I think the author did a great job making it believable. There was immense sexual tension and frustration for characters and readers alike that made me want to yell at Theron and Casey to get it on already but it added to the suspense. And there was plenty of that between these two, Isadora, the King’s secrets, the half breeds and those naughty Gods and Goddesses!  
I can’t wait to continue this series and find out what happens next!

Rating: 4 Wine Glasses - LOVED

Sexual Content: After a whole lot of steamy teasing, readers are rewarded with a few extra hot love scenes. Adults only!