"A fine fantasy romance"

In Tulsa, her accountant explains the error and the choices facing Carolina "Lina" Santoro and her Pani Del Goddess Bakery that she spent twenty years insuring the quality and trendiest of products. Still she owes the IRS much more than she can afford, but she detests her accountant's options.

When she has a problem, Lina bakes so that is what she does, but with a new recipe she found in an Ancient cookbook. When she follows the instructions including a prayer, Lina ends up in Olympus where Demeter offers her a deal in which the Goddess' daughter will switch places with her. Persephone will save the bakery while Lina brings spring to Hades and his underworld, but must not reveal the agreement or her true identity. However, Lina never expected to fall in love with Hades though she refuses to allow her feelings and future happiness to interfere with her charter of springtime for Hades and his minions.

Deals aside as going to Lina's perceived Underworld rather than selling her bakery seems inane, fans will take immense pleasure with this retelling of the classic mythological love story as casted by one of the top romantic fantasy mythologists today. The entertaining story line is brisk and filled with characters that seem real whether they are a sloppy accountant, a baker, a Roman God/Goddess, or a minion. The growing love between Hades and Lina is well designed with the complexity being her honesty split in opposite directions. However, the key to GODDESS OF THE SPRING as it was with GODDESS OF SEA is the locale feels as if we readers are witnessing the events as they unfold.

Harriet Klausner

Reviewed by Harriet Klausner
Posted August 11, 2004

Summary

Lina's trendy bakery in Tulsa is proving to be less than lucrative, and she must come up with a plan. When she stumbles upon an Italian Goddess cookbook, Lina can't help but think she's found the answer to her problem even if it means invoking a goddess to save her business.

Soon enough, Lina finds herself face-to-face with Demeter, who has a plan of her own. She proposes that Lina exchange souls with Persephone, the Goddess of Spring, who will breathe new life into the bakery. In return, Lina must set order to the Underworld.

Before all this, Lina's problems mostly involved sourdough and second dates. Now that she embodies the enchanting Persephone, Lina has weightier things on her mind, like the formidable task of bringing Spring to a world of spirits. But when the handsome,brooding Hades kindles a spark in her heart, Lina wonders if this Lord of the Underworld might be the man of her dreams.