{"id":3327,"date":"2019-05-07T08:00:16","date_gmt":"2019-05-07T12:00:16","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/racheldelafuente.com\/blog\/?p=3327"},"modified":"2021-03-25T09:45:07","modified_gmt":"2021-03-25T13:45:07","slug":"bb-touch-darkness","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/racheldelafuente.com\/blog\/bb-touch-darkness\/","title":{"rendered":"Book Blitz &#8211; A Touch of Darkness"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"bsf_rt_marker\"><\/div><p><small><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><em>Disclaimer: I&#8217;ve stated in the past that I don&#8217;t feel comfortable promoting books I haven&#8217;t read. I signed up for a review tour stop for this book, but received notice on May 2nd that the book would not be available in time for the tour. Rather than abandon my spot on the tour, I decided to post this excerpt as requested by the author via Xpresso Book Tours. Please consider this post as informative as opposed to promotional. I have not read the book as of posting this.<\/em><\/span><\/small><\/p>\n<h3 style=\"margin-top: 0;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.goodreads.com\/book\/show\/43175155-a-touch-of-darkness?ac=1&amp;from_search=true\"><em>A Touch of Darkness<\/em><\/a><\/h3>\n<p>by Scarlett St. Clair<\/p>\n<p><strong><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft wp-image-3330 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/racheldelafuente.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/touchOfDarkness.jpg?resize=231%2C300&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"A Touch of Darkness\" width=\"231\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/racheldelafuente.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/touchOfDarkness.jpg?w=231&amp;ssl=1 231w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/racheldelafuente.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/touchOfDarkness.jpg?resize=116%2C150&amp;ssl=1 116w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 231px) 100vw, 231px\" \/>Genres:\u00a0<\/strong>Adult, Mythology, Romance<br \/>\n<strong>Series: <\/strong>Hades &amp; Persephone, Book 1<br \/>\n<strong>Release Date: <\/strong>Spring 2019<\/p>\n<p>Persephone is the Goddess of Spring by title only. The truth is, since she was a little girl, flowers have shriveled at her touch. After moving to New Athens, she hopes to lead an unassuming life disguised as a mortal journalist.<\/p>\n<p>Hades, God of the Dead, has built a gambling empire in the mortal world and his favorite bets are rumored to be impossible.<\/p>\n<p>After a chance encounter with Hades, Persephone finds herself in a contract with the God of the Dead and the terms are impossible: Persephone must create life in the Underworld or lose her freedom forever.<\/p>\n<p>The bet does more than expose Persephone\u2019s failure as a Goddess, however. As she struggles to sow the seeds of her freedom, love for the God of the Dead grows\u2014and it\u2019s forbidden.<\/p>\n<p><!--more--><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h3>Giveaway!<\/h3>\n<p><a id=\"rcwidget_vgpcgobl\" class=\"rcptr\" href=\"http:\/\/www.rafflecopter.com\/rafl\/display\/d04251233041\/\" rel=\"nofollow\" data-raflid=\"d04251233041\" data-theme=\"classic\" data-template=\"\">a Rafflecopter giveaway<\/a> <script src=\"https:\/\/widget-prime.rafflecopter.com\/launch.js\"><\/script><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h3><strong>Excerpt<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>\u201cAre you hurt?\u201d he asked.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cNo,\u201d she said, and he nodded, carefully pulling his arm free of her grasp. He crossed the room, Persephone assumed to put distance between them.<\/p>\n<p>Then she remembered she was in her true form, and started to raise her glamour.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cOh, it\u2019s a little too late to be modest, don\u2019t you think?\u201d Hades said, piercing her with those beautiful dark eyes. He tugged his tie free and she watched it slip from his neck.<\/p>\n<p>She lifted her eyes to his. He wasn\u2019t smirking like she expected. He looked&#8230;primal. Like a starved animal who had finally cornered his prey. She swallowed and hurriedly said, \u201cDid I interrupt something?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>She wasn\u2019t sure she wanted an answer.<\/p>\n<p>The corner of his mouth lifted. \u201cI was just about to go to bed when I heard you demanding entrance to my club.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Bed? It was well past noon.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cImagine my surprise when I find the goddess from last night on my doorstep.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cDid the gorgon tell you?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>She stepped further into the room, angry. Hades was amused.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cNo. Euryale did not. I recognized your magic as Demeter\u2019s, but you are not Demeter.\u201d Then he tilted his head like he had earlier. \u201cWhen you left, I consulted a few texts. I had forgotten Demeter had a daughter. I assumed you were Persephone. Question is, why aren\u2019t you using your own magic?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIs that why you did this?\u201d she demanded, removing the bracelet she\u2019d used to cover the mark on her skin, and holding up her arm.<\/p>\n<p>Hades smirked.<\/p>\n<p>Actually smirked.<\/p>\n<p>Persephone wanted to attack him. She clenched her hands at her sides to keep from vaulting across the room.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cNo,\u201d he said. \u201cThat is the result of losing against me.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYou were teaching me to play,\u201d she argued.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cSemantics,\u201d he said with a shrug. \u201cThe rules of Nevernight are very clear, Goddess.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThey are anything but clear, and you are an asshole!\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Hades eyes darkened. Apparently, he didn\u2019t like being called names any more than the ogre did. He pushed away from the desk striding toward her. Persephone took a step back.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cDon\u2019t call me names, Persephone,\u201d he said, and then reached for her wrist. He traced the bracelet all around, making her shiver. \u201cWhen you invited me to your table, you entered into an agreement. If you had won, you could have left Nevernight with no demands on your time. But you didn\u2019t and now, we have a contract.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>She swallowed, considering every horrible, impossible pact he\u2019d made. What darkness would he pull from deep inside her?<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAnd what does that mean?\u201d Her voice was still biting.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt means we must choose terms,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI don\u2019t want to be in a contract with you,\u201d she said between her teeth. Take it off!\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI can\u2019t.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYou put it there, you can remove it.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>His lips twitched.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYou think this is funny?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cOh, darling, you have no idea.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The word darling slid across her skin and she shivered again. He seemed to notice because he smiled a little bit more.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI am a goddess,\u201d she tried again. \u201cWe are equals.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYou think our blood changes the fact that you willingly entered into a contract with me? These things are law, Persephone.\u201d She glared at him. \u201cThe mark will dissolve when the contract has been fulfilled.\u201d He said it like that should make it all better.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAnd what are your terms?\u201d Just because she was asking didn\u2019t mean she was going to agree.<\/p>\n<p>Hades jaw was tight. He seemed to be restraining himself. Maybe he wasn\u2019t used to being ordered around. When he lifted his head and stared down at her, she knew she was in trouble.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cCreate life in the Underworld,\u201d he said at last.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhat?\u201d She hadn\u2019t been prepared for that, though she probably should have been. Wasn\u2019t her greatest weakness her lack of power? An irony considering her Divinity.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cCreate life in the Underworld,\u201d he said again. \u201cYou have six months\u2014and if you fail or refuse, then you will become a permanent resident of the Underworld.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYou want me to grow a garden in your realm?\u201d she asked, shocked. She considered her options at this point, and could only think of one reply\u2014a threat.<\/p>\n<p>He shrugged. \u201cI suppose that is one way to create life.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>She glared at him. \u201cIf you steal me away to the Underworld, you will face my mother\u2019s wrath.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cOh, I am sure,\u201d he mused. \u201cMuch like you will feel her wrath when she discovers what you\u2019ve so recklessly done.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Persephone\u2019s cheeks flushed. He was right. The difference between them was that Hades didn\u2019t seemed at all fazed by the threat. Why should he be? He was one of the three\u2014the most powerful Gods in existence. A threat from Demeter was a pebble thrown.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h3>About the Author<\/h3>\n<p>Scarlett St. Clair lives in Oklahoma with her husband. She has a Master&#8217;s degree in Library Science and Information Studies and spends a lot of time researching reincarnation, unsolved murders and Greek mythology-all of which made it into her debut novel, When Stars Come Out.<\/p>\n<p>Author links:\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/authorscarlettstclair.tumblr.com\/\">Website<\/a>\u00a0|\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/authorscarlettstclair\/\">Facebook<\/a>\u00a0|\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.goodreads.com\/author\/show\/18145334.Scarlett_St_Clair\">Goodreads<\/a> | <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/ScarlettStClai1\">Twitter<\/a><\/p>\n<hr style=\"clear: both;\" \/>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/xpressobooktours.com\/\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-868\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/racheldelafuente.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/ButtonXBT.png?resize=280%2C280&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"Xpresso Book Tours\" width=\"280\" height=\"280\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/racheldelafuente.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/ButtonXBT.png?w=280&amp;ssl=1 280w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/racheldelafuente.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/ButtonXBT.png?resize=150%2C150&amp;ssl=1 150w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 280px) 100vw, 280px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Read on to learn more about A Touch of Darkness by Scarlett St. Clair, first book in the Hades and Persephone series. You&#8217;ll also find a giveaway.<\/p>\n<div class=\"more-link-wrapper\"><a class=\"more-link\" href=\"https:\/\/racheldelafuente.com\/blog\/bb-touch-darkness\/\">Keep Reading<span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Book Blitz &#8211; A Touch of Darkness<\/span><\/a><\/div>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"inline_featured_image":false,"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[115],"tags":[105,86,39,149,138,80],"class_list":["post-3327","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-book-blogger","tag-adult","tag-book-blitz","tag-books","tag-mythology","tag-romance","tag-xpresso-book-tours","entry"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p8Z77k-RF","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":1314,"url":"https:\/\/racheldelafuente.com\/blog\/review-alpha-goddess\/","url_meta":{"origin":3327,"position":0},"title":"Review &#8211; Alpha Goddess","author":"Rachel","date":"June 2, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"Alpha Goddess by Amalie Howard Series:\u00a0Alpha Goddess, Book 1 Genres: Fantasy, Hindu Mythology, Young Adult, Paranormal, Romance Release Date: March 4, 2014 Pages:\u00a0408 Purchase from: Amazon\u00a0|\u00a0Barnes & Noble My Rating:\u00a0\u2605\u2605\u2605\u2605\u2605 In Serjana Caelum\u2019s world, gods exist. 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