SUMMER READING: For the love of the gods...review + CONTEST!

Hi there!

Welcome back to Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers….the place to be when you are looking for your next reading escape and perhaps, a little extra bookish fun as well.  How so?  Keep reading…you’ll see…

QUICK REMINDER:  The blogoversary celebration is quickly drawing to an end.  *boo* This is the LAST WEEK to get your entries in to win the FOUR BOOK prize pack (US) or a $10 GC (International) so don’t miss out!  Just click on over to the celebratory post and get those entries in.  Now, moving forward…

Today’s post is a two for, or perhaps that should be a three for considering the “extra fun” I referenced to; that means you get to read the skinny on two books in one post but no worries, they go together like birds of a feather, especially since they are all a part of the same series.  We’re going back to the world of Young Adult Fiction with a series that let’s you get your Greek on…hehe, sorry…couldn’t resist!  ^_^  Book 1 was already out and making waves, and book 2 just joined the fray this past April, but together….they make for a GREAT summer read.  Without further ado, today’s books of choice by author Aimee Carter are…

The Goddess Test

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 at 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.

Kate 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 become Henry's future bride, and a goddess.

If she fails...

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Okay…here’s the thing.  This is the part that I go all, why did this and how in the world about the first novel in a series.  Sorry, it’s bound to happen and when it gets itself out of the way the first book through, the series is usually better for it…can’t say that happens 100% in this case, but…here goes.  I had a problem with not a character per say, but with a recurring issue of .acceptance.  Doesn’t sound like a big deal, and in the grand scheme of things it was really a minor irritant, but it was there nonetheless.  Allow me to explain…

When things kick off and the situation with Kate and Ava is being recounted for James (something to do with a potential death of one of them and a promise made lightly to a mysterious shadowy figure….ooohhh…), though the details are sparse and the magnitude of them not understood (yet), they pretty much accept it as fact and then move on.  *blink*  I mean, hang on a second…excuse me?  We are dealing with fairly contemporary times here.  If YOU were presented with information that lead you to believe, oh I don’t know…you made a deal with the Greek embodiment of death and would be potentially spending your days living as a modern day Persephone, wouldn’t it give you MORE than a MINOR pause?  I know it would for me.  Greek mythology, though interesting fodder to fill a lazy afternoon is more ancient history than it is “here and now”, no matter how many togas you wish to don. 

As for Kate, I can understand her feelings of betrayal when everything comes to light; the person (or persons…not spoiling it if I can help it!) behind all the deaths will catch you off guard, though not as much as it does our leading lady.  Let’s just say Kate is one of those “two-by-four-to-the-head” kinda girls…you know, the one’s that literally need reality to smack them upside the head before they GET it.  The twists are not THAT see through thankfully, but when they’re upon you, it’s obvious….not so much to Kate.  (Oye.)

I do have to say that despite all that I’ve mentioned, I couldn’t seem to break away from the book’s spell.  I mean, I can guess that some of you read the issues listed there and thought why did you keep reading then?  The answer…because it drew me in and I simply had to know where things would go; just because there was a book 2 did NOT mean that Kate would be cast in the starring role…and the (frustrating) romance between the characters had to be seen through!  Speaking of book 2….

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Goddess Interrupted

(The Goddess Test, book 2)

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.

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So, our little gal Kate has grown up and is ready to spend the Fall/Winter with her under worldly prince…but what’s this?  Smooth sailing is SO NOT in the forecast.  One would think with all the drama she survived last go round, things would be peachy keen at this point.  You know, just accept the crown, marry the prince and live happily ever after for eternity…..yeah, then we would be reading Cinderella and though I’m a fan of that tale, this is far more interesting and about to get even more so.  Can we say, first wife anyone?

For those of you that have or are in relationships, you can probably understand the “threat” felt (whether real or imagined) by a first love’s presence if you are not in that title role….imagine having to deal with them for all time?  Yeah.  Now you’re getting the picture.  Persephone is in her own version of heaven in the Underworld (with Adonis…not so hard on the eyes, but a bit trying on the brain) and quite content to remain unseen and unheard to her former family; unfortunately, it looks like she may be their only hope for survival.  Take one ticked off goddess (Calliope) add in a partially escaped Titan (a king no less!) with a vengeance the size of Nantucket to exact upon his creations and the world at large (*-*) and shake violently…but watch out for the steam!

It’s a recipe for disaster and with no one willing to step up to the plate to end the massacre in the works, guess who volunteers?  Yep…Kate.  She’s immortal right?  What can go wrong?  Oh.  Did I fail to mention that the Titans are the only one’s strong enough to kill the gods and goddesses?  Yep…things just got THAT much more dangerous (and interesting).  You have to applaud her though….she’s willing to go to such lengths to preserve the new life she has found even though they don’t all seem to be action gripped on doing the same for her.  Even Henry…

Oh Henry.  You are BEYOND frustrating!  Would it kill you to show a little feeling sometimes?  Oh wait…it wouldn’t; you’re immortal.  As for our girl Kate, her “I’ll-save-him” attitude is great but take it combined with her emotional bouncing between elation and confusion on the part of Henry’s actions or severe lack thereof and…oye!  My head.  She’s hoping to change his ways, to crack open the heart she was shown momentary glimpses of back in Eden but short of taking a jack hammer to it, I’m at a loss to how she’s gonna do it.  I mean, it’s definitely worth saving but for all the trouble it’s causing, she’s gonna have to have the patience of a saint…or maybe a goddess.  (^_^)

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In conclusion, a Young Adult series that allows readers to get safely lost in the myths while one girl finds the strength within herself to face them head on.  It’s a daunting task, but someone has to do it…and the prize is well worth the fight (if only he’d let down his darn walls!).  Despite my minor issues with the characters/situations, I wouldn’t trade the overall experience for an immortal life…though time spent with one of the “brothers” might make it a harder decision (hehe).  If Greek mythology wasn’t/isn’t your thing, no worries; this is actually a great way to be introduced to those tales of old in a less imposing way…and thanks to the author, we even get a “cast of characters” list that tells us who’s who as in their present day persona versus their Greek selves.

Recommended read for teen readers and beyond; there’s myth, there’s mirth, there’s romance and danger…good stuff!  Now, I’m off to find out more about the novella (The Goddess Hunt) that was released in March to further my Greek adventures and if this series sounds like something you’d be interested in as well, don’t despair…there’s more still to come!  The Goddess Legacy releases this July (a collection of novellas) and The Goddess Inheritance is scheduled for April 2013 (book 3 of the series)!  Yes siree, my wish list has just grown a title or two. 

Book 1, borrowed for the read; book 2 ARC received courtesy of Karen at Media Masters Publicity.  (THANKS!)  For more information on their services, feel free to visit them online.  To discover more about author Aimee Carter as well as her forthcoming works, fee free to clink on the links sprinkled throughout this review!  Book 2 was released this past April from Harlequin Teen and should be readily available on a bookstore shelf near you….HOWEVER…should you desire to get your hands on a copy another way, you’re in luck!

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Thanks to Media Masters Publicity, I have the opportunity to give you a chance to win a copy all your own!  If you haven’t read book 1, I highly suggest you do because A) you’re missing out on a great story, and B) it makes everything that happens in book 2 that much more vivid….but you can read this one as a stand alone without being TOO lost.  Here’s the scoop….

The prize…

(1) copy of Goddess Interrupted (The Goddess Test, book 2) by Aimee Carter

How to enter…

Just fill out the rafflecopter below and BAM, you’re in!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

The rules…

Open to US/Canada residents only; no PO Boxes please.

Entries accepted Monday, June 4^th, 2012 through Monday, June 11^th, 2012 at midnight CST.  Winner will be contacted via email by Wednesday, June 13^th, 2012 for mailing information if not included with entry and have 48 hours to respond.  If response is not received in the given time frame, a new winner will be chosen.

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So there you have it.

How’s THAT for a great way to kick off a new week?

Thought you might enjoy it.  ^_^

Good luck guys!

Until next time…fill your summer time with some GREAT books…and happy reading!