"A delightful fantasy romance"

Ms. Cast continues her GODDESS SUMMONING series with this story of love in the Underworld.

Lina Santoro loves nothing more than baking, so she is concerned when her trendy bakery ends up in dire straits. She needs something fast to bring in money to rescue it. Never did she imagine that finding an old Italian cookbook would summon aid from the great Goddess of the Harvest, Demeter.

When the Goddess makes a proposition, Lina listens. She is to exchange places with Persephone, the Goddess of Spring, for six months. Persephone will assume Lina's life for that time, in order to rescue the bakery, and Lina will go to the Underworld to bring hope and new "life" to the spirits.

Never did Lina dream that doing so would change her forever, when she meets... and falls in love with... the God Hades, Death personified.

What a fantastic, magical tale this is! Here is a delightful story full of life and love that brings the incredible world of Gods and Goddesses out of the realm of mythology and into the real world for readers to enjoy. Here, one will find a brilliant and unique story of soul mates united, love found, and the passions of the Immortal.

Lina is a middle-aged woman, beautiful inside and out, who has long since given up on dreams of love. Hades is a powerful, sexy, handsome Immortal who is one of a kind and never imagined someone could love him and his realm. These two need each other in order to be whole. There is a full cast of characters to round out the story. Readers will enjoy the second love story entwined here, of Eurydice and Iapis, spirit and daimon. Persephone, though a more minor role, adds youthful vitality, and her mother Demeter adds a touch of awe, to captivate readers.

The imagery is vivid and one will see the beauty of the Underworld... from the joy and light of Elysia, to the darkness and despair of Tartarus. Hades' palace is incredibly portrayed as well, even the "Dread Steeds of Hades."

Though GODDESS OF SPRING was the first book by Ms. Cast this reviewer has read, it intrigued enough to insure it will most definitely not be the last. This is one new fan who eagerly awaits the next story in the series!

© Kelley A. Hartsell, August 2004. All rights reserved.

Reviewed by Kelley Hartsell
Courtesy Love Romances
Posted November 22, 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.