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This steamy, fast-paced paranormal romance by Sharonlee Holder is perfect for fans of the Black Dagger Brotherhood series by J.R. Ward and Sacrificed to the Dragon by Jessie Donovan.

The last thing Antara remembers about yesterday was her piece of crap car breaking down in the middle of the road, and a too-sexy-for-his-own-good stranger offering his assistance. Neither explains why she woke up naked in his bed, nor why she feels sicker than she's ever been in her life.

Caught in the grips of a terrible fever, nothing's making much sense to Antara. There are only two things she's fairly certain about. One—the unearthly hot stranger's name is Eros and he's definitely not a human. And two—she's pretty sure she was drugged and is currently his hostage.

353 pages, Kindle Edition

First published August 22, 2017

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About the author

Sharonlee Holder

4 books15 followers
South African, born and bred, Sharonlee Holder lives in one of the outer suburbs of Johannesburg in Gauteng, South Africa.

Life is a happy and creative jumble of a husband, three grown daughters, one super cute granddaughter, three dogs, a cat and a mouthy African Grey parrot.

Time at the keyboard is supported by copious amounts of frothy coffee and endless 'What ifs?'. Writing breaks are a blend of the big outdoors astride a motorbike, reading, crafting, or watching anything related to romance, action, military or fantasy.

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5 stars
48 (40%)
4 stars
44 (37%)
3 stars
21 (17%)
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3 (2%)
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2 (1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews
Profile Image for Coco.V.
50k reviews142 followers
Want to Read
April 21, 2018
💝 FREE on Amazon today (4/21/2018)!💝

Blurb:
The last thing Antara remembers about yesterday was her piece of crap car breaking down in the middle of the road, and a too-sexy-for-his-own-good stranger offering his assistance. Neither explains why she woke up naked in his bed, nor why she feels sicker than she's ever been in her life.
Caught in the grips of a terrible fever, nothing's making much sense to Antara. There are only two things she's fairly certain about. One—the unearthly hot stranger's name is Eros and he's definitely not a human. And two—she's pretty sure she was drugged and is currently his hostage.
This steamy, fast-paced paranormal romance by Sharonlee Holder is perfect for fans of the Black Dagger Brotherhood series by J.R. Ward and Sacrificed to the Dragon by Jessie Donovan.
Profile Image for Nikki.
707 reviews17 followers
May 3, 2018
Full review and more on Read and Wander and my BookstagramI received this book for free from the author in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
My Thoughts
Wowza. I have been in YA land way too long. It has been a while since I have read an adult romance and Resurgence does not disappoint. Resurgence is a steamy paranormal debut with hot Greek Gods and a fierce, moody heroine you can't help but to love. I grew up fascinated with Greek mythology so I absolutely loved the juxtaposition of Greek Gods and Goddesses living in modern day society. On the other hand, there was something very human and real about our deities which kept me engaged.

At first I wasn't sure what to think of Antara and Ross. Antara's moods could give you whiplash at times and when we first met Ross, I wanted to threaten bodily harm... much like our heroine. The relationship starts a bit insta-love which might have put me off but Sharonlee Holder did a wonderful job developing their relationship throughout the book, in the mist of the chaos that surrounds them.
Young Nikki is That You?
I also found myself a bit surprised by how much I related to some of Antara's struggles. You see, I am fiercely independent and was told from a really early age that I could do anything (Queue Wonder Woman theme song). And this is how I have always approached life. Enter my husband who crashed into my life much like Ross barreled into Antara's, but instead of wars between Gods, my husband brought the Army (close enough). For almost 10 years the Army has dictated my life which severely chafed my nature the first few years of marriage.

I found it interesting to witness some own internal struggles with falling so quickly into a relationship (yup - eloped just over six months after meeting and married in Vegas on a helicopter) with someone who's life consumed my own, reflected through Antara. In those early years, I wanted to rage, rebel and do anything but toe the line. There were days I was overwhelmed with trying to make a career and military life work. But more than anything, I learned to adapt and figure out who I was at my core. Without this I couldn't make the obstacles thrown at us work in our favor.

This is what Antara did. She stayed true to herself, stood tall, adapted and found opportunities in the calamities.
Overall
Resurgence was steamy and exciting paranormal debut. I found the story to be intriguing, well-paced and 'laugh out loud' funny at times. The characters are complex and multi-dementional leaving you wanting more. This is the first in the Blood of the Custodians series and I am absolutely hooked. What is the price Antara paid? Who else will we meet? I need to know! I also may or may not have a new 'flying naked through the sky' fantasy... Sharonlee Holder has a fan !

Recommended for fans of: Paranormal romance, Blackdagger Brotherhood (without the stupid names - disclaimer I could not finish the first book due to said stupid names), Greek Mythology, Steamy 'I need a cold shower' reads

And right now Resurgence is FREE on Amazon!


Renegade (Blood of the Custodians 2) will be out May 28thThis review was originally posted on Read and Wander

Profile Image for Cranky - The Book Curmudgeon.
2,091 reviews155 followers
March 26, 2018
4 Cranky Stars


Honey, I can hear the heavenly angels singing!! (or maybe just the gospel choir from the storefront down the street).


If you are a fan of Greek and Roman mythology then you are going to love this series!! I was a total mythology nerd in school so I was GREEKED to find these same gods in this story (see what I did there???)


Okay, let's get into it! This is the first novel in a series and and the basic assumption is that you, the reader, have at least a rudimentary knowledge of the major gods i.e. Zeus, Apollo and the like. And I am sure you do, right, cuz, like DUH!!!


This is a totally modern novel, set in today's time. One thing that I absolutely LOVED is that this novel is set in South Africa. There are mentions of portions of cities and areas that actually found me wanting to book a trip! Not your standard New York or Las Vegas or New Orleans, but Johannesburg, South Africa. Also, the gods are gods, yes, but flesh and blood. Heart-poundingly virile flesh and blood.


What I like about this story is that there is plenty of heat, action and intrigue. There is a monumental war coming that will affect both man and god and there is a lot of urgency in the story telling. But there is something very human and real about how the gods related to to each other and the characters. You might even learn a couple life lesson if you aren't careful!


This is a good, fast-paced read and I'm looking forward to the next installment!
Profile Image for Emily (Mrs B's Books).
1,740 reviews82 followers
July 7, 2018
**My thanks to the author for providing me with a free copy for an honest review**

Wow, just wow. This is a new to me author and i am really glad that i took a chance on reading this book.

This book is based on the Gods living today in modern Cape Town, but calling themselves slightly different names. For example Eros calls himself Ross, Andy Pollo is Apollo and Damien Ares is Ares.

We meet many characters and the plot goes very quickly and the attraction and chemistry between Antara and Eros/Ross steams up almost from the moment that they meet.

This is really realistically written and had me enthralled and i could not help but read this book in ONE DAY and i just had to download book two immediately. I may now bee stalking this author lol.

Antara's entire life is changed with the chance meeting of Ross and the world she finds herself thrown into. She finds the world is not quite that it seems and she either has to move with the new revelations or find herself in deep trouble as she is targeted by a hunter.

There are really good supporting characters and a little added extra of Colin Murphy, the man behind Murphy's law.

I really recommend this book for any Greek and Roman Mythology lovers.
Profile Image for J.D. Dexter.
Author 2 books4 followers
June 17, 2018
I loved this book. I'm a high-level book consumer, reading between 15-25 books a month. I require realistic characters, snappy dialogue, genre-believable scenarios, and healthy doses of sarcasm. Sharonlee delivered on all criteria. Her main characters, Antara and Ross, are not only believable, but relatable.

Antara is a fiesty, take-no-crap caterer who is trying to get her life back together after her mom passes away from cancer. On her way to an interview, her car breaks down in the middle of the intersection. Her savior, Ross, gets his head bitten off for his troubles. Between the sparks, sass, and stubbornness, Ross's real identity is revealed - Eros, the Greek God of Love. After a night spent together, Antara's life is in danger. Antara's presence raises the stakes for Ross, who is trying to gain supporters in a war against the Fates.

Jam-packed with women who are more than capable of taking care of themselves, men who are dominant without being jackwagons, and enough sexy to keep your breathing heavy, Resurgence has it all.
Profile Image for Chyina Powell.
Author 14 books25 followers
February 5, 2020
Antara's car broke down. All she needs to do is call a tow truck and hopefully have it fixed before it's time to meet her potential clients. But instead, she wakes up naked in the bed of a man she doesn't know and he is definitely weird. He has glowing contacts and he must've drugged her because what she's seeing isn't possible.

Unless it is.

Caught in the world of the custodians, those we know as Greek gods and goddesses, Antara isn't sure what is true anymore. She's the daughter of Apollo and is mated to Cupid? Oops, Cupid is a slur, his name is Eros. Either way, what is going on? What is this weapon they expect her to find and why did Diana try to kidnap her? And what the heck is with the grim reaper named Murphy?!!!

This was a really funny and superbly written novel. All the characters of the custodians stayed true to what myth says they are and Antara acts like a normal person would to such a drastic alteration in her life, her character doesn't automatically switch to fit the plot which is the downfall of a lot of speculative fiction.
5 reviews
October 12, 2018
Sharonlee Holder is a wordsmith of note. Her first novel Resurgence, begins the intriguing tale of Greek gods who escaped the destruction of Olympus; some of which now live in South Africa. From Eros, god of love and desire, to Apollo, god of healing and the arts, Ares, god of war, Diana, goddess of the hunt, and of course Murphy, bastard son of Hades. Her main female character Antara, is a leggy, feisty blonde who takes Eros on and tames his heart.

The story line propels the characters from suspicion, to determination as they stand together to defeat the ‘Fates’. A steamy love between Antara and Eros erupts unexpectedly at the beginning of the story and continues to its conclusion.



Sharonlee’s sentences are spiced with evocative language, and sometimes hilarious character comments. She sets her scenes with clear imagery that pull the reader into the lives of her characters, leaving them gasping for more.

710 reviews6 followers
March 31, 2019
New to me author and book on Greek Mythology.This book really grabs you from first to last page. Well written,steamy,fast-paced and lots of funny moments thrown in. There are a few grammar errors but nothing major. Steamy hot greek gods disguised as sexy hot modern day humans. Ross AKA EROS tries to help out Antara a human/hybrid (she has no idea about the hybrid part) and she wants no part of his help. Great supporting characters that make you wanna continue to next book.
Profile Image for Rachel Fuente.
Author 5 books72 followers
June 3, 2018
Resurgence was another fun departure from my typical books. It’s been a while since I was in my Greco-Roman mythology phase, but I read enough of it at the time that I recognized nearly all of the characters presented in Resurgence. I really enjoyed their modern day incarnations, and look forward to seeing how their bonds strengthen and develop in Renegade.

Murphy was an interesting “extra” from outside the Greco-Roman pantheon. I’m curious to see if his experiment will bear fruit. I would have liked to know his connection to Murphy’s law; hopefully, that will be explained in later books.

Resurgence was surprisingly unpredictable to me, in terms of the broader story line. I will note that I noticed several instances of what I would typically call errors. However, they were utilized with such consistency that I can only assume they’re simply grammar and spelling unique to South Africa.

Overall, I loved Resurgence and am eager to dive in to Renegade.
93 reviews93 followers
June 8, 2018
Wow! This book is amazing and pulls you in right from the outset. Dragged into a world of Custodians, Antara is left with the ultimate decision: carry on life as normal or leave it all behind and sacrifice all for love.

Fantastically written, this book takes you on the ultimate rollercoaster ride of events and emotional reactions. I loved Resurgence so much that I am rating it 5 stars and I can't wait to find out what happens next in Renegade.
Profile Image for Pamela.
38 reviews2 followers
March 23, 2019
God's of Olympus Rewritten

I like the story of the God's of Olympus written in modern times. No Zeus or Mt. Olympus. The God's, now known as Custodians, lead normal human type lives and are battling the Fates and I unknown others to regain power over their mortality. Antara finds herself in love with Eros and all hell breaks loose.
Profile Image for Chrissi.
1,598 reviews11 followers
June 3, 2018
Loved this book! I was sucked into a world where mythology meets modern day. The characters are definitely loveable, some more than others, and the storyline moves at a fairly fast pace. There are twists and turns, secrets revealed, chemistry and tension-as they learn who can be trusted and who is a danger to them. I immediately purchased the 2nd book and cannot wait to get stuck into it.
Profile Image for Romantically Inclined Reviews.
750 reviews2,914 followers
April 4, 2018
This review was copied from my romance novel review blog: romanticallyinclinedreviews.blogspot.com

Everyone who follows my reviews knows that I’m a huge fan of Gena Showalter’s Lord of the Underworld series which is a very entertaining (and hot) take on Greek Mythology. So, I was particularly excited to read the first book in Sharonlee Holder’s Blood of the Custodian’s series, Resurgence, which also follows the Greeks but in a totally unique way.

Blurb: It's been a thousand years since the Fates destroyed Olympus, forcing the gods into exile among the humans. Now, led by Eros, the sons and daughters of the Olympians are preparing for war. They are determined to win their freedom, but the Fates will do anything to keep the status quo. A prophesied weapon—said to be able to destroy the Fates—is sought by both sides. Eros and the resistance want to use it to win their freedom, while the Fates race to find the weapon first and destroy it.

Antara, a hybrid of human and Custodial descent, comes into her ancestral powers as the very Tracker Eros needs to find the weapon. Kidnapped, held hostage and forced to confront the hidden truth about her own heritage, Antara is drawn deeper and deeper into a world she never knew existed. Things would be a lot simpler if she could just hate Eros for bringing her here; if his fate weren't now bound to her own—and if, despite everything, she didn't already find herself falling in love with him…

Review: I love Greek Mythology. I don’t know what it is about the Gods that makes me love reading about them so much. Maybe it’s their cockiness, their inhuman hotness, their uncontrollable egos… or maybe it’s the fact that these 1,000 year old Gods and Goddesses know how to get it on.

I’m always so impressed with authors who can write romance novels with plots and characters as complex as these. You need to do a crazy amount of research just to keep who shagged who straight, I can't imagine keeping names and strifes and relationships accurate, too. Not to mention an author's ability to get creative with the myths. Romance novels this intricate are a work or art and Resurgence is no exception.

I absolutely loved the direction that Sharonlee Holder took her Greek Myth story. I’ve never read a romance novel where the main character was Cupid—and not the diaper wearing, cute baby Cupid either. No, Eros is all man. And Antara is a moody, fiery sprite of a woman who’s thrown into a wild and unbelievable situation. But, unsurprisingly, she makes the best of becoming more than friends with a hot Greek God. I wish we were all so brave as to endure hot sex on the reg.

I loved how the author portrayed Cupid and I especially loved the overpowering sexuality of his true form and the impact it has on those around him. The sex scenes between Eros and Antara were perfection and, thankfully, there were many of them. You could feel the chemistry between these two characters coming straight off the page.

I think that Resurgence is a true gem for those who enjoy Greek Mythology, the novels of Gena Showalter, or reading romance novels that are way more than just fluff. There's some serious chaos here and if you're going to pick up this book you need to be prepared for volatile characters, buff guys fighting a lot, and plenty of explosive sex.
Profile Image for Cheryl.
2,210 reviews62 followers
March 4, 2019
It was ok

I liked parts of the book and skimmed other parts. The book was long, I just felt like there was too much going on. A lot of characters and switching all over the place.

At this time not interested in book 2.
46 reviews4 followers
July 4, 2017
What an amazing inaugural novel by Sharonlee Holder. There are many paranormal books in the market but none address the modern world, South Africa OR Greek Mythology in the way she does.

The world she writes is a rich tapestry of plot, story, background, suspense, romance and chemistry. You are drawn to South Africa, the descriptions of the locale, the people, colors and culture. We all learned Greek mythology in school and there are books and movies about the subject but learning these gods and goddesses from Sharonlee Holder's perspective is refreshing! I mean who would have thought you would be driving next to one in real life? I have to tell you, I'd love to meet the hero in person - (may I say yummy?)

Add to that, the primary and secondary characters which are complex and definitely multi-dimensional - there isn't the Oh, A Villian so I'll hate him or her. Each character has strengths and flaws, definite human characteristics that draw you into the story and want you to develop relationships with them.

The hero and heroine are combustible -- the intelligence, conversation, chemistry and interactions are realistic (ignore that whole paranormal aspect - they are real - add the paranormal, they're awesome!) You take an alpha, arrogant hero/god and push the heroine who is strong, sassy and fierce toward him, and watch how the relationship changes into something amazing.

Add to ALL of that the plot arc - stopping a war, god politics, a rockstar, Fates, adventure and well, overall OMG, SAVE THE WORLD! and you've got the whole package to get into.

I ran the gamut of emotions reading this book. I laughed often at the exchanges between the characters - there is a lot of wit and sarcasm. There were times I wanted to strangle the hero, heroine and several secondary characters. I teared up a few times, felt like I was burning up with several of the HOT scenes (holy moly!) and at the end, realized I cannot wait for Book #2! The story is fantastic and I HIGHLY recommend it!

I received an ARC in exchange for a honest review.
46 reviews4 followers
August 23, 2017
What an amazing inaugural novel by Sharonlee Holder. There are many paranormal books in the market but none address the modern world, South Africa OR Greek Mythology in the way she does.

The world she writes is a rich tapestry of plot, story, background, suspense, romance and chemistry. You are drawn to South Africa, the descriptions of the locale, the people, colors and culture. We all learned Greek mythology in school and there are books and movies about the subject but learning these gods and goddesses from Sharonlee Holder's perspective is refreshing! I mean who would have thought you would be driving next to one in real life? I have to tell you, I'd love to meet the hero in person - (may I say yummy?)

Add to that, the primary and secondary characters which are complex and definitely multi-dimensional - there isn't the Oh, A Villian so I'll hate him or her. Each character has strengths and flaws, definite human characteristics that draw you into the story and want you to develop relationships with them.

The hero and heroine are combustible -- the intelligence, conversation, chemistry and interactions are realistic (ignore that whole paranormal aspect - they are real - add the paranormal, they're awesome!) You take an alpha, arrogant hero/god and push the heroine who is strong, sassy and fierce toward him, and watch how the relationship changes into something amazing.

Add to ALL of that the plot arc - stopping a war, god politics, a rockstar, Fates, adventure and well, overall OMG, SAVE THE WORLD! and you've got the whole package to get into.

I ran the gamut of emotions reading this book. I laughed often at the exchanges between the characters - there is a lot of wit and sarcasm. There were times I wanted to strangle the hero, heroine and several secondary characters. I teared up a few times, felt like I was burning up with several of the HOT scenes (holy moly!) and at the end, realized I cannot wait for Book #2! The story is fantastic and I HIGHLY recommend it!

I received an ARC in exchange for a honest review.
Profile Image for Charlene Namdhari.
Author 20 books992 followers
March 28, 2018
I recently finished Resurgence by Sharonlee Holder and let me just say: what a ride. First off, this is not my usual genre. Watching a paranormal movie is more my comfort level but I decided what the heck let me give it a try.
An amazing read and I’m glad I delved in. Greek Mythology with a South Africa setting. What more can I say. Who doesn’t love a god with chiseled features and mouthwatering abs?
What do you get when you pitch an arrogant alpha hero or god against a beautiful strong, sassy heroine? Fireworks! Not just in their conversations but a blatant sizzle between the sheets as well. The book focuses on the two main characters Ross and Antara who are thrown together in an epic start to the novel for reasons I shall not mention as it will give away spoilers. The energy throbs from start to finish and the side characters complement the story well without boring you to death. Let’s just say there is a whole lot more to Murphy’s Law than meets the eye.
The plot steers you along the lines of stopping a war, adventure and saving the world, throw in a rock star for good measure and you have an interesting, entertaining read.
While the dialogues are filled with wit and sarcasm my absolute favorite lines were, and I quote:

Antara choked out, “You’re…Cupid?”
Halogen eyes narrowed at the offence and wingtips flicked in agitation. “Eros,” he growled.
“Uh…okay but…aren’t you supposed to be wearing, like, a diaper and be carrying a bow and arrow around that shoots hearts or something?”
Ross thinned his lips and glared at her, looking for all the world like an affronted Doberman that had just been called a ‘cute widdle puppy dog.’

I thoroughly enjoyed the book and highly recommend giving it a read. Looking forward to book two.
Profile Image for Lucinda.
715 reviews1 follower
September 3, 2018
Very different

I found this to be a great new take on the Greek and Norse gods. They're the custodians and protectors humans - or they're supposed to be, but some of them want to rule them again. Antara and Ross (Eros) are the first... I recommend the series.
Profile Image for Stephanie.
59 reviews4 followers
February 21, 2018
Wow....just wow. I don't even know where to begin. It has been a long time since I've found a paranormal romance that has captured my attention like "Resurgence" has. It has love, it has action, steamy sex scenes and Greek mythology! I'm absolutely in love with this book. I was hooked from the moment I opened to page one. The characters are well rounded, the scenes are incredibly written and I just love the world we are dipping our toes in. I'll admit that at first I wasn't sure how I would feel about Antara, the beginning bitchiness was not my favorite moment of hers, but she shaped up to be a great heroine. Though she could tone down the jumping to conclusion gene she seems to have. Her other half, Eros, is H.O.T....yes, that deserves all caps. All the Greeks gods in play are tickling all my naughty bits. I highly recommend this book and I will be sitting on the edge of my seat awaiting the next book in Holder's Custodians series.
1 review
December 7, 2018
Absolutely LOVED this book! Sharonlee Holder has created a fantastical world of Greek mythology set in modern day South Africa. The story is exciting and fast paced and reels you in from the first page. The heroine Antara is a sharp-tongued no-nonsense badass and Ross... Well... So HoTTT! Apart from all the drool worthy Greek Gods, this book is exhilarating and funny (loved all the witty one-liners and come backs) and sad and certainly steamy! Holder has clearly spent years on research and creating this amazing world and the result is a book that you want to devour in one go from the first chapter.
Profile Image for Marie Pedrick.
120 reviews3 followers
August 24, 2017
This is the story of Antara a young woman living in South Africa as she's thrust into a world of myths and gods that turns out to be real! Not only is it real but only she can find the weapon needed to end a war that's been raging unseen by humans for thousands of years. Follow her as she learns and loves in this hidden world she never knew existed let alone belonged to.
A wonderful love story entwined within myths and legends we all grew up with spun in a different way.
I'd definitely recommend this book to anyone who likes myth, magic, Gods and love stories.
This review was written on behalf of Amo and Sarah's book corner.
Profile Image for Shelly Smith.
304 reviews5 followers
February 16, 2018
This novel was my favorite from a Book Battle challenge I did on my website. Check it out: https://goo.gl/LgBWct

The story is set in South Africa, which I thought was awesome. I don't think I've ever read something set there before. And the hero is Cupid! I loved this! I enjoyed Holder's take on mythology, and am totally looking forward to reading the next one in the series. This was a page turner for sure. It gripped me right away and kept me hooked. That's the most important part of a book for me, and this one delivered.
1,838 reviews20 followers
July 7, 2018
Resurgence blood of the custodians

A good read for people who are in to the series recommend highly can't wait for the next one of the series a really enjoyable read but quick shaping up to be a enjoyable series must read the next one of the series
10 reviews
April 18, 2018
Awesome Book

This book was so good and the romance was very steamy. I would definitely read this again! Now a fave of mine. Can’t wait until next book comes out.
Profile Image for Michelle Weitzmann.
127 reviews1 follower
August 3, 2018
Interesting

Really cool use of mythology ,loved the storyline and the melding of last and present, looking forward to the next installment
Profile Image for Marisa.
173 reviews2 followers
July 25, 2019
First book that i have tried from this author. Especially enjoyed the Greek Gods and the joburg setting.
419 reviews1 follower
September 4, 2020
Hmmmmm...!

Very weird! Unfortunately not my cuppa tea!
Couldn't take to the shallow characters. Couldn't really make head not tail of the story, only got a few chapters in though.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews