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Vacation and Spartans.  Now there's a word combination you don't see every day.  After all, it's not exactly like recreation and relaxation spring to mind when you think of Spartan warriors.  Then again, romance and love probably wouldn't have occurred to you either, at least not until my "Gods of Midnight" series debuted last fall with Red Fire.

But this particular band of Spartans, an immortal brotherhood of seven, have been protecting mankind from every form of evil for more than twenty-five hundred years.  In my mind these hot guys are due a hot vacation (or is that a cool vacation from the heat?)  So with summer just now kicking into gear, I thought it might be fun to handpick ideal vacations for each of the seven warriors-and brush up on who exactly is who while we're at it.  I can't think of a better way to celebrate the release of Red Kiss tomorrow!

King Leonidas.  Need I say more? Of the seven immortals, he's probably most in need of a spa day (mud wrap? Seaweed facial? Spray tan?)  He's also least likely to take time out for himself.  So, uh, good King Leo? I've come up with a summer activity list to help you unwind when you're not fighting demons. 

First, now that you're living in Savannah, you really should go check out River Street. Go carousing there some night, sing Irish tunes at Kevin Barry's, eat ten-thousand calorie nachos, make fun of tourists.  Live on the edge!  I also think that you should consider taking up surfing this summer.  The sport has the balance, poise and Zen elements that any Spartan commander would admire. 

Besides, ever since River Kassandros became trapped as a dagger and vanished at the bottom of the Wilmington River, you've been wondering if he didn't float out to the Atlantic.  Perhaps venturing into the ocean on a daily basis for your wave-riding would give you some ideas of where to find this missing shapeshifter.

Speaking of River, I'd like to now address my summer suggestions to this warrior's master, Ajax.  Look, Jax, I know that you're feeling guilty that River's missing-I mean, he had shifted into that dagger form to protect you, after all.  And he did stay shifted longer than he'd ever tried before-also to protect you.  I'm not saying I blame you, don't get me wrong about that.  However, I am saying that I know you blame yourself.  Three words, immortal pal of mine: Get. Over. It.

River made his choice to push the time limit with his weapon shifting, and now he's lost.  I miss as much as you do; we all miss him.  But I have a teensy little bit of hope to offer: I know what actually happens in August, the setting of Red Kiss, and seeing as how the guy has a whole book to himself, you know something good must come out of his odyssey at the bottom of the Wilmington River.

So in the meantime, you need to get your mind off all the self-recrimination and have a little fun with that new bride of yours, Shay Angel! Being the clever, devilish romance author that I am, I've got a few tips for how to woo your lady love.  I mean, look, you are in the city of love, dude, so take advantage of that fact.  Shay's lived in Savannah her whole life, but I have it on good authority that she's never actually taken one of those carriage rides. 

So phone ahead, book a private carriage for just the two of you, and be sure you arrange for a picnic with champagne.  My only warning? See if you can't keep her demon-hunting brothers Mason and Jamie on the sidelines to handle any dark forces that might want to interfere with said romance plan.  The two of you aren't exactly on their "nice list" these days, not after that recent rout in Bonaventure Cemetery.

One other tip, Ajax, and that's learn to sleep in occasionally.  You may only need a few hours of rest each night thanks to your immortality, but Shay's still getting used to the forever gig.  She understands that you have drills most mornings, but pull King Leonidas aside at some point and remind him of the newlywed stage.  He'll get it.  He's been there, done that...and trust me, he'd like to be there, doing that again, even if he hasn't confessed that to the group of you.

Question: What would you suggest for Leonidas and Ajax to do this summer? 

Deidre Knight, Red Kiss, paranormal romance, Penguin Books