a magnet for goddesses - Goddesses Can Wait (Myths and Mayhem #2) by Kim Baccellia

"This novel is fast-paced and easy to read, which I enjoyed. I never found myself bored while reading. I also enjoyed the tidbits of Greek mythology information the author gave, and you can tell she had done plenty of research on the topic." - LitPick

Description:

Jordan Lake, a fifteen-year-old Audrey Hepburn-olic who’s a magnet for goddesses, has a chance to go to Paris with her grandmother and BFF Selena Garza. Even though she senses something is off, she decides to make the trip.

But when she kisses a cute Parisian boy a la Roman Holiday, she switches bodies with Aphrodite and is sent to the Greek netherworld. She must enlist the help of the Greek god (in more ways than one) Ares then complete seven trials set by his sister Artemis in order to return home.

Except time is running out, and if she can’t get Aphrodite back to the Eiffel Tower by midnight, she’ll be stuck in Greek mythology forever.

Excerpt:

My fingers brushed against the wooden box. I pulled it out. A slight tingle vibrated through my fingers. Not unpleasant, still it felt as if I’d shocked myself. I gasped, dropping the box.

I winced, fearing I’d broken it. What would my grandmother do once she found out that I not only brought it overseas but now had damaged it? For all I knew it was invaluable.

I scanned the area, freaking out big time. Then to the corner I recognized the familiar woman on the mosaic top. Relieved, I bent over to pick it up and almost dropped it again. The blond woman blinked at me.

GUEST POST

The Myths are dead...not!

Myths are common to all cultures and that since the beginning of time they have been used to explain the world.

In elementary school, we went over Greek mythology. I loved the stories of the gods and goddesses. One of my favorite stories had to be Pandora’s Box. The whole premise of not opening a box, intrigued me. Why would the gods insist not to open it? What secrets did the box hold? I couldn’t help but know I would have opened that box too.

In Goddesses Can Wait, I did my own twist on this tale. Only in this case when my character Jordan opens the box, she releases Aphrodite and havoc erupts.

Rick Riordan of The Olympians series did a lot to reinvigorate the ancient myths for the middle-grade set. My son loved these stories, especially the idea of a protagonist, Percy, having ADHD. The author shows this as a strength that helps Percy battle the Greek gods.
Most of the demigods have ADHD or dyslexia which helps them decipher Greek and Latin and to concentrate in battle. Percy’s the reluctant hero who goes on a number of journeys while learning more about his demigod status.

I also loved Egyptian mythology. Mummies and pyramids fascinated me! In No More Goddesses, I share this love with readers by introducing Hathor, the Egyptian goddess of love. There’s even a scene where she transforms a high school into a temple in her honor. 

Author P.J. Hoover does a fun take on an immortal King Tut who is stuck at age 13 and shows up in our modern day world.

It’s fun that myths are found in every culture!

For my first book Earrings of Ixtumea I based that world on Mesoamerican mythology. While researching, I found so many interesting and fascinating stories. One deals with the Spider Goddess also known as Teotihuacan –the Spider Woman. The Native American Navajo and Pueblo tribes also know her as ‘Spider Grandmother.’ I did my own twist on the goddess with her weaving in ‘dichos’ or Spanish sayings into the huge spider web that divides our worlds.

I’m happy that other authors have shown more diverse mythology in their fantasies. One of my all-time favorites has to be YA author Cindy Pon. In her novel Serpentine, she weaves in lush and vivid descriptions of Chinese mythology set in the ancient Kingdom of Xia. Protagonist Skybright's life changes when she shifts into a huge snake and then encounters mythological creatures from the underworld. It’s refreshing to read novels that introduce readers to different worlds and cultures.

I hope to use Roman mythology in the last book in the Magic & Mayhem series. Yet another goddess of love comes in Jordan’s path!

More and more authors weave in different mythologies in their stories. The myths aren’t dead. Not by a long shot. With each new retelling, readers are sure to experience the rich culture and backgrounds of these worlds.

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About the author:

When writing Goddesses Can Wait, Kim Baccellia watched almost all of Audrey Hepburn’s movies and learned to love this famous icon after watching and reading all she could about her. Two of her all-time favorite movies, Roman Holiday and Funny Face, are the inspiration for Jordan’s trip to Paris. What teen girl wouldn’t love to have a romantic moment on the Eiffel Tower?

A member of RWA, Kim is currently putting the finishing touches on a YA multicultural thriller. She lives in Southern California with her husband and son.

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