Goddess Interrupted by Amiee Carter

Goddess Interrupted

(Goddess Test, Book #2)

by Amiee Carter

Genre: Young Adult | Paranormal Romance

Kate Winters has won immortality.
But if she wants a life in the Underworld with Henry, she’ll have to fight for it.

Becoming immortal wasn’t supposed to be the easy part. Though Kate is about to be crowned Queen of the Underworld, she’s as isolated as ever. And despite her growing love for Henry, ruler of the Underworld, he’s becoming ever more distant and secretive. Then, in the midst of Kate’s coronation, Henry is abducted by the only being powerful enough to kill him: the King of the Titans.

As the other gods prepare for a war that could end them all, it is up to Kate to save Henry from the depths of Tartarus. But in order to navigate the endless caverns of the Underworld, Kate must enlist the help of the one person who is the greatest threat to her future.

Henry’s first wife, Persephone.

Kate is returning from her summer away in Greece to Eden Manor (to catch a portal/short-cut to the Underworld) and her new mythological family (and husband!) she left months ago.  As excited as she is for her long-awaited homecoming, she is equally apprehensive because of her recent lack of confidence in her budding relationship with Henry. When her reunion does not go as planned because of discovering a new debilitating gift, the catching of a recent Underworld escapee, and the uncovering that some missing Gods are being held captive, Kate is thrust into a new home that exudes characteristics of Henry's late wife - Persephone.  With hopes of only having to devote her life to helping Henry rule the Underworld, Kate must now personally confront Henry's past and decide just where her future really leads.

Expect lots of emotional turmoil within this continuation of Kate's adventures in being Queen on the Underworld.  Not only is she trying to adapt to her new immortal status among her family while processing Henry's eluding attitude toward their marriage, but Kate is learning there are darker things out there that make even the God/Goddess tremble in fear.  Also, acceptation is a hard concept for Kate to get use to.  Her family is automatically expecting her to accept that there is a certain way to handling situations, dealing with people, or even loving someone - all of which, becomes a struggle for Kate throughout this book.  

Honestly, I am not a fan of many of the side-characters within this series, but the protagonists are spot on and really keep the story alive for me.  The relationship struggle between Kate and Henry is very realistic and captivating. Thus, it becomes quite easy for the reader to become wrapped up in their gut-wrenching turmoil as well as their blissful happiness.  The ending is suspenseful and definitely creates a thrilling problem for book #3 to solve.  Yet, sadly, as much as I wanted to support Kate's surprise revelation in the end -- it left me feeling like a prude since I often frown upon situations like that for girls her age.  But, it won't keep me from checking out the next books in the series next year though.

Likes: After reviewing Amiee Carter's website for Book #3 (The Goddess Inheritance) release date (April 2013), I was amused to find out she and I share the same birthday - Jan. 24th - Ha!

Dislikes: To me, it felt like there were almost two separate stories within this one book.  The first part that focused solely on the Underworld escapee and the second part that really centralized the story back around Kate and Henry.  There was a slight common thread between the two, but I believe it would have been a much more cohesive story if Amiee Carter would have unified the two parts better.

Reviews: Goodreads |  Barnes & Noble | Shelfari | Library Thing | Amazon

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The Goddess Test by Aimee Carter

The Goddess Test
(Goddess Test, Book #1 - Harlequin Teen)
by Aimee Carter

Genre: Young Adult | Romance | Mythology

Every girl who has taken the test has failed.

Now it's Kate's turn.

It's always been just Kate and her mom--and now her mother is dying. Her last wish? To move back to her childhood home. So Kate's going to start a new school with no friends, no other family and the fear her mother won't live past the fall.

Then she meets Henry. Dark. Tortured. And mesmerizing. He claims to be Hades, god of the Underworld--and if she accepts his bargain, he'll keep her mother alive while Kate tries to pass seven tests.

Katie is sure he's crazy--until she sees him bring a girl back from the dead. Now saving her mother seems crazily possible. If she succeeds, she'll becomes Henry's future bride, and a goddess.

If she fails . . .

Kathrine Winters is in a difficult place right now. She's trying to keep it together even though her Mother is close to death and she has to start a new life in a new place, knowing she could be alone in the world within just a few months. She has no other family, thus she desperately clings to her Mother and knows once the cancer becomes fatal that everything will change and she's not prepared for that. Then one night she meets a young man who makes some outlandish promises and her life now takes her in a whole new direction. Can the myths of the past really change her future?

It's been awhile since I've read a book as quickly as The Goddess Test. I simply couldn't put it down!!! I highly enjoyed the mythology and the simplicity of the overall story. When a reader can engage solely on the protagonist without a lot of outside interference ( too many side-characters, side-plots, settings, etc. ) it makes the tale a lot more entertaining, especially for my reading taste. I quickly become engrossed in Kate's emotional struggles that before I knew it . . . it was over. Thus, I'm thrilled Book #2, Goddess Interrupted, is coming out soon on March 27th.

Likes: Kate was very down-to-earth and easy to identify with as a character, thus her tale quickly become emotionally gripping since it wasn't difficult to see the world through her eyes & experiences.

Dislikes: The ending somewhat surprised me and it will be interesting to see where this will lead in Book #2 since many of the "relationships" between the characters quickly got altered.

Rating:

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Lothaire by Kresley Cole

Lothaire
(Immortal Afters Dark Series, Book #12)
by Kresley Cole

Genre: Paranormal Romance

ALL FEAR THE ENEMY OF OLD

Driven by his insatiable need for revenge, Lothaire, the Lore’s most ruthless vampire, plots to seize the Horde’s crown. But bloodlust and torture have left him on the brink of madness—until he finds Elizabeth Peirce, the key to his victory. He captures the unique young mortal, intending to offer up her very soul in exchange for power, yet Elizabeth soothes his tormented mind and awakens within him emotions Lothaire believed he could no longer experience.

A DEADLY FORCE DWELLS WITHIN HER

Growing up in desperate poverty, Ellie Peirce yearned for a better life, never imagining she’d be convicted of murder—or that an evil immortal would abduct her from death row. But Lothaire is no savior, as he himself plans to sacrifice Ellie in one month’s time. And yet the vampire seems to ache for her touch, showering her with wealth and sexual pleasure. In a bid to save her soul, Ellie surrenders her body to the wicked vampire, while vowing to protect her heart.

CENTURIES OF COLD INDIFFERENCE SHATTERED

Elizabeth tempts Lothaire beyond reason, as only his fated mate could. As the month draws to a close, he must choose between a millennia-old blood vendetta and his irresistible prisoner. Will Lothaire succumb to the miseries of his past . . . or risk everything for a future with her?

Elizabeth (aka Ellie) has had an interesting life. She's grown up deep within the Appalachian Mountains in a back-woods type of family while becoming possessed by a blood loving goddess who has been committing horrendous murders while within her teenaged body. Then upon meeting an evil vampire, ends up on execution row in prison for five years without any family contact. So ... "interesting life" is really a nice way of putting it. On the other hand, Lothaire (aka LEO of Lothaire: Enemy of Old) is torn in his loyal commitment to this Bride, the cursed vampire deity Saroya, and in his intense attraction to Ellie, a lowly insignificant human. Since both female obsessions share the same body, duties & emotions get very confusing for Lothaire and his endgame. With detailed plans set in motion many many many years in advance for Lothaire to gain a kingdom and win back his royalty status, this new relationship really begins to throw everything out of place -- as if fate is truly giving him the finger! Is it even possible for intimacy and understanding to grow when both share such dark pasts and, more importantly, what are they both willing to give up in order to get it?

I've been a long time fan of Immortals After Dark and can honestly say there have been many up and down books for me in the overall series, but Lothaire really brought the story line back into being a delicious read! I am a lover of stories that focus on the character relationship development without burdening the reader with too many frustrating side-plots or trying to incorporate insane amounts of additional characters within too many detailed settings (i.e. to build a longer series). Thus, this book really went back to the basics and revolved around the growing connection between the two lead protagonists. Lots of focus on the various outcomes and turmoil of ending up together as well as being tragically separated - LOVED IT! The tension caused by both the sexual side and suspenseful side of the tale really drew me in and the humor throughout made it even more enjoyable. Expect lots of egotistical comments from Lothaire and silly stubborn actions from Ellie, but overall buckle up for a juicy sensual ride (with lots of past characters popping in throughout)!!!!!

Likes: {{SPOILER}} I appreciated that Ellie was a human at the beginning of the story and loved comparing that to Holly in the beginning of Dark Desires After Dusk (one of my favorite books). The humanization of the female lead characters really makes the story somewhat more relatable and realistic . . . excluding the full-body possession and vampire interactions and ability to trace to different destinations, etc. etc. etc. . . . so maybe NOT "realistic", but at least a lot more comparable than being some witch, demon, or valkyrie.

Dislikes: {{SPOILER}} What really happened to Mariketa's hand!?!? Also, not really a fan of Thaddesu. The whole Friday-Night-Lights small town Texas boy doesn't really work on me since I'm really small town Texas girl and need something more exciting/different in male lead. Thus, Thaddesu is too boring for me . . . Blah!

Rating:

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Warped by Maurissa Guibord

Warped
by Maurissa Guibord

Genre: Young Adult | Time-Travel | Fantasy

Tessa Brody doesn't believe in magic. Or Fate. But there is definitely something weird about the dusty unicorn tapestry that she discovers in a box of old books. The wild, handsome creature woven within it draws Tessa, and frightens her too.

Soon after the tapestry comes into her possession strange things begin to happen. Tessa experiences vivid dreams of the past and scenes from a brutal hunt. When she accidentally pulls a thread from the tapestry, Tessa releases a terrible secret-one that has been contained for centuries. She also meets William de Chaucy, a young sixteenth-century nobleman with gorgeous eyes, an odd accent and haughty attitude to spare. His fate is as inextricably tied to the tapestry as Tessa's own. "His Lordship" is pretty hard to get along with but equally hard to resist.

Together with Will, Tessa must correct the wrongs of the past to defeat a cruel and crafty ancient enemy.

But what is she willing to sacrifice in order to do it?

warp

n. 1. the set of yarns placed in a loom that forms the lengthwise threads of a woven fabric. 2. a hypothetical eccentricity or discontinuity in the space-time continuum.

- from Webster's dictionary

Tessa and her father live above a used bookstore in Maine and by all appearances, she comes off as a normal teenager with a mundane part-time job, kooky best bud, and the usual school angst. Yet, her father's newest purchase (a collection of leather bound books and other unusual items from an auction estate sale) begins to strangely affect Tessa by causing vivid flashbacks of a long-ago life - a life she's certain she was involved with. When one small action brings the past to the present...Tessa realizes that sometimes souls (ie. "threads of human life") can be twisted to withstand the test of time and that immortality is the 'name of the game'. When dark magic, three mythological goddesses, and one well-built young man all collide in Tessa's humdrum life, can she finally make up for her mistakes in the past while continuing to have a future of her own?

I was presently surprised in how much I enjoyed Warped. Honestly, I expected the usual Young Adult read full of supernatural mystery and innocent romance, but Guibord wrote a very intriguing novel where both sides (good and bad) were in constant battle and it was truly difficult to predict which side would win come page 337. (the end!) Plus, all the characters were well-rounded (ex: Jackson Brody, Tessa's dad, was very warmhearted) and easy to enjoy (ex: Opal, Tessa's best friend, adds a lot of comical humor) throughout, which is always a great perk of a good book. Expect lots of twists and turn within the plot with also a nice amount of romantic intrigue and passion. Do yourself a favor and check it out!

Like: I highly enjoyed the story and was happy to have a complete finish for once. No more continuation in the next book of the series here, which is something I've been sadly dealing with in a few of my other previous reading adventures! Don't get me wrong, I love series, but it was refreshing and quite satisfying to finish a story in one book.

Dislikes: Personally, I was cracking up about the whole auction scene at the beginning because . . . that's my life! Seriously! I work at a Fine Auction House and bidding placards ("like a Ping-Pong paddle" pg 6.) are something I deal with on a monthly basis ---- so, sadly I kept thinking about work and NOT escaping into a new book as I wanted.

Rating:

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