One Night with a Goddess by Judi McCoy

When Zeus orders Chloe, the Muse of Happiness, to spend a year on Earth to improve her job rating, Chloe ends up bringing happiness to mortals by working as wedding planner. Her weddings were always perfect and her services were very much in demand. And she took Zeus’s threats about falling in love with a mortal, so she had a strict policy of never dating anyone long enough to fall in love. But then Matthew Castleberry returned. At first Matthew believes Chloe is out to cheat his grandmother out of her wedding business, but soon he feels there’s something special about Chloe. Chloe senses Matthew’s feelings, but as hard as she tries to deny her own feelings, she’s not sure she can hold out until Zeus calls her home. Maybe just one night with Matthew will get him out of her system, if not, she may never see Mount Olympus again.

This is the second goddess book, following last year’s Almost a Goddess. It’s a great story, filled with plenty of humor and very believable characters. Also having a little heat doesn’t hurt . The only problem with this book is that I’m going to have to wait another year to see how the story turns out. Highly recommended.

Details: Tor, May 2007

Excellence Rating: Great

Steaminess Factor: yummy

Almost a Goddess by Judi McCoy

When Zeus decides his muses are slacking off, he sends them to earth on a mission: over the next year, they must use their talents as he intended or face severe consequences. In addition, he carefully instructs them not to get involved with any humans or risk banishment to Earth as a mortal. Kyra, the goddess of Good Luck ends in up Las Vegas where she inspires gamblers that are a bit down on their luck to win just enough money to get their lives back on track. With only a short time left to go before her year is up, Kyra runs into Jake Lennox. Jake is investigating why the casino seems to be losing money and the stream of winners that Kyra leaves in her wake leads him to think he’s found the source of the problem. Unfortunately, Kyra falls for Jakes charms. Now will Kira risk Zeus’s wrath by letting herself fall in love or will she return to Mount Olympus in total disgrace?

Judi McCoy’s books never fail to capture my attention and this one is no exception. I like the tie in to the Zeus and the rest of the gods on Mount Olympus and wish Kira could tap me on the shoulder the next time I mail something to an editor. The story also leaves room for two sequels featuring two more muses, and I’m eagerly looking forward to reading their stories too.

Details: Avon, June 2006

Bottom line: A great book