{Blog Tour} Goddess by Josephine Angelini: Guest Post + Giveaway

Eeeeeekkkk!!! I am so excited to welcome you guys to my stop on the Goddess Blog Tour, hosted by the awesome gals at Kismet Blog Tours!!!  Today, I have a very special guest post from the author herself, plus an even more awesome giveaway!  But first, a little about the epic finale that is Goddess:

Title: Goddess
Author: Josephine Angelini
Series: Starcrossed, book #3
Publisher: Harper Teen
Publication Date: May 28, 2013
Purchase: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Indiebound

After accidentally unleashing the gods from their captivity on Olympus, Helen must find a way to re-imprison them without starting a devastating war. But the gods are angry, and their thirst for blood already has a body count.

To make matters worse, the Oracle reveals that a diabolical Tyrant is lurking among them, which drives a wedge between the once-solid group of friends. As the gods use the Scions against one another, Lucas’s life hangs in the balance. Still unsure whether she loves him or Orion, Helen is forced to make a terrifying decision, for war is coming to her shores.

In Josephine Angelini’s compelling conclusion to the masterfully woven Starcrossed trilogy, a goddess must rise above it all to change a destiny that’s been written in the stars. With worlds built just as fast as they crumble, love and war collide in an all-out battle that will leave no question unanswered and no heart untouched.

About the author:

Josephine Angelini is a Massachusetts native and the youngest of eight siblings. A real-live farmer's daughter, Josie graduated from New York University's Tisch School of the Arts in theater, with a focus on the classics. She now lives in Los Angeles with her husband.

Find Josie:

Website | Blog | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads | Pinterest

Check out my review here!

18 Random Tidbits about Starcrossed and Me: 

1. I wrote the entire series either in my pajamas or in my underwear. I was never completely dressed. Not once.
2. When I started writing about Orion’s character, I describe his hair as “chestnut”. To me, chestnut always seemed like a medium-dark brown with faint red highlights—you know, like the color of an actual chestnut. It wasn’t until Dreamless was published that I learned through fans that chestnut is actually a red color with light-brown undertones. So I guess Orion’s a redhead. News to me!
3. The first scene I pictured, before I even knew what Starcrossed was about, was the scene where Helen and Lucas fall from the sky. I dreamed it.
4. I pace and talk to my characters when I’m working out a scene. I look like a crazy person—half naked, pacing, and talking to the people in my head.
5. Lucas was a total slut before he met Helen.
6. I don’t like sweets. I’d pick a bag of Cheetos over a cupcake any day of the week. And I just don’t get the appeal of chocolate.
7. The name Noel was actually my second-choice name for my cat, Rabbit. My husband got Rabbit for me as a Christmas gift, and I almost named Rabbit Noel because of it. When I gave the character Noel her name, it was because Rabbit was trying to sit on my keyboard and bite my fingers while I was thinking up with a name for Lucas’s mom. Voila!
8. The first 36 pages of Dreamless were not in the original draft.
9. I love coffee.
10. I’m a post-it note addict, and my husband finally had to cut me off and make me use the “Stickies” app on my computer because he couldn’t stand the clutter on my desk anymore.
11. He really did stage a post-it intervention, and I don’t blame him. I had one particular post-it note on my desk for over 3 years. It was something I thought of while I was outlining Starcrossed that didn’t come to fruition until the final chapters of Goddess. You think I would have memorized the note and not have needed it, but I kept that dusty, curling scrap of yellow paper with me right up to the bitter end. Even if my husband hated it.
12. I finished writing Goddess on New Year’s Eve in Puerto Rico. I wrote “The End” as the sun was going down.
13. I always need a beverage next to me when I write—water, tea, coffee, wine, more coffee. I destroyed 2 computers while writing the Starcrossed series by spazzing out, missing my mouth, and spilling some form of liquid on the track pad. Macs don’t like that.
14. Lucas is my favorite, but Hector is way more fun.
15. I love the number 3.
16. Every time I hear the name “Nantucket” I still think of the movie Jaws first.
17. I named Helen after Edith Hamilton, the Grande Dame of Greek Mythology.
18. I hate to drive. I like being driven, but I hate to drive.

I'm not gonna lie, I'm a post-it note girl myself.  Can't help it.  It's like a compulsion.  Must. Use. Post-its.  Besides that, I love that she named Helen after Edith Hamilton.  I despised that book when I had to read it in high school, but I have to admit, I remember so much about mythology because of it. I think I might have even mentioned it in my review of Starcrossed, though that might have been another mythological retelling. ;)

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Follow the Goddess Tour:

Monday, May 20th - The Starry-Eyed Revue

Tuesday, May 21st –  fiktshun

Wednesday, May 22nd – The Irish Banana

Thursday, May 23rd –  YA Bibliophile

Friday, May 24th –  Supernatural Snark

Monday, May 27th - Birth of a new Witch 

Tuesday, May 28th – Refracted Light Reviews

Wednesday, May 29th –  Tales of a Ravenous Reader

Thursday, May 30th – Hobbitsies

Friday, May 31st –   Reading Teen

Monday, June 3rd - Parajunkee

Tuesday, June 4th – Buried in Books

Wednesday, June 5th – Candace Book Blog

Thursday, June 6th –  Alison Can Read

Friday, June 7th –  Book Twirps

The Starcrossed series by Josephine Angelini -- Available Now!!      

Starcrossed: Goodreads |  Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Indiebound    

Dreamless: Goodreads |  Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Indiebound           

Starcrossed City (novella prequel to Starcrossed): Goodreads |  exclusively on Josephine's website

Thanks for stopping by & happy reading!

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Labels: beautiful covers, blog tour, giveaways, guest post, harper-collins, josephine angelini, kismet, mythology, retellings, starcrossed

Blog Tour: The Goddess Inheritance by Aimee Carter - What's Divine About The Goddess Test Series + Giveaway

Guys, I am beyond thrilled to be taking part in The Goddess Inheritance Tour hosted by Kismet Book Touring.  The Goddess Inheritance is the final book in a series I've loved since page one, through all of Kate's ups and downs, and I can't wait to share with you why I think The Goddess Test series is divine.  But first, a little about this final installment in Aimée Carter's mythology-themed saga:

Title:  The Goddess Inheritance
Author:  Aimée Carter
Series:  final book in The Goddess Test series
Publisher:  Harlequin Teen
Publication Date:  February 26, 2013
Purchase:  Amazon | Barnes & Noble | The Book Depository

Love or life.
Henry or their child.
The end of her family or the end of the world.
Kate must choose.

During nine months of captivity, Kate Winters has survived a jealous goddess, a vengeful Titan and a pregnancy she never asked for. Now the Queen of the Gods wants her unborn child, and Kate can't stop her--until Cronus offers a deal.

In exchange for her loyalty and devotion, the King of the Titans will spare humanity and let Kate keep her child. Yet even if Kate agrees, he'll destroy Henry, her mother and the rest of the council. And if she refuses, Cronus will tear the world apart until every last god and mortal is dead.

With the fate of everyone she loves resting on her shoulders, Kate must do the impossible: find a way to defeat the most powerful being in existence, even if it costs her everything.

Even if it costs her eternity.

Above all else, my favorite aspect of this series is the mythology, which is kind of funny, considering I would have done anything to get out of reading Edith Hamilton's Mythology when I was in school.  But Aimée Carter has done something that my teachers only dreamed of doing:  she made mythology fun.  And while I did enjoy mythology on the whole as a youth, I would have enjoyed it so much more if it had been presented in the way that it is in this series.  Not that I think these books are a substitute for what is taught in school, but  kids might be more interested in the subject matter if they could see that mythology doesn't have to be boring and stodgy, the way it was taught to me.

Another reason I can't get enough of this series?  Despite the fact that Kate is put through the gauntlet time and again, you still kind of want to be her.  She's just finding herself when we meet her in the first book, but what girl wouldn't want to be a goddess?  Granted, that crazy immortal family is part of the package, but they just make life interesting.  The romance and the friendships more than make up for those insane in-laws, though.  Kate and Henry's love has been tested, but it is true, and I love how it was portrayed in these books.  It's emotionally trying, but it's also depicted as two people, facing their own fears to be with one another, and I can't get enough of it!

I'm going to miss all of these characters so very much, but I'm excited to see what Aimee Carter has in store for us next.  And on that note, I'll leave you with some of my favorite quotes from the series:

“I care," he said in a trembling voice. "I care so much that I do not know how to tell you without it seeming inconsequential compared to how I feel. Even if I am distant at times and seem as if I do not want to be with you, it is only because this scares me, too.”

“But if this works--if I pass, I need to know that when you look at me, you're going to see me, not just her replacement. That there is more in this future for me than standing in the shadows while you wallow the rest of your existence away.”

“I'm not afraid of you." And to demonstrate that point, I leaned forward and kissed him like he'd kissed me in the drawing room, careful not to spill my drink. My heart pounded in my chest as I waited for him to respond, hoping he wouldn't pull away and declare everything that had happened a mistake.”

“It is supposed to be the truth." He stared at me and my breath caught in my throat. "If I were a better man, I would be able to show you the love and affection you deserve. As I am not, I can only offer you what I'm capable of giving. But I assure you, just because I do not show it, doesn't mean I do not feel it.”

“You can say you love me all you want, but if you only ever act like the opposite's true, then I can't trust your words anymore.”

“Sadness doesn't equal weakness, sweetheart. If anything, it shows the love you have inside of you, and nothing stronger in this world exists.”

About the author:

Aimée Carter was born and raised in Michigan, where she currently resides. She started writing at age eleven and later attended the University of Michigan, graduating with a degree in screen arts and cultures. Currently she spends her time continuing with The Goddess Test series and working on new projects. You can tweet her at @aimee_carter or catch updates on her website.

Find Aimée: Website | Blog | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

As part of The Goddess Inheritance Tour, you have the chance to win a copy of any one book in The Goddess Test series to one lucky winner. All entries into the daily giveaway count toward the grand prize giveaway of a Kindle Paperwhite skinned in the gorgeous and lush The Goddess Inheritance cover art!

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Be sure to check out the rest of the tour:

Monday, January 28th - Harlequin Paranormal Blog

Wednesday, January 30th - Alison Can Read

Friday, February 1st - Mundie Moms

Monday, February 4th - Soul Unsung

Wednesday, February 6th - Starry Eyed Revue

Friday, February 8th - Two Chicks on Books

Monday, February 11th - The Story Queen

Tuesday, February 12th - Simply Infatuated

Wednesday, February 13th - Me, My Shelf and I

Friday, February 15th - IB Blogging

Thanks so much to Harlequin Teen, Aimée Carter & Kismet Book Touring for allowing me to be a part of this tour!

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Labels: aimee carter, blog tour, giveaways, goddess test, harlequin-teen, kismet, mythology