Review and Giveaway! "Goddess Girls: Athena the Wise"

Authors Joan Holub and Suzanne Williams have generously provided an awesome Athena the Wise Swag Bag and a copy of the book for one lucky reader of my blog! See contest info after the review!

"Athena the Wise" (Goddess Girls #5)

by Joan Holub and Suzanne Williams

Publisher: Aladdin
Release Date: April 5, 2010
Source: sent by author

My Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Summary from goodreads.com:

Join the class at Mount Olympus Academy with this new series that puts a modern spin on classic Greek myths!
Athena the Wise (April 2011): Zeus says Heracles has to do 12 tasks or get kicked out of MOA. Athena's not sure it's wise, but she agrees to help out.  

My Review: 

The Goddess Girls series is one of my favorites, and "Athena the Wise" is an especially sweet installment! As a romance fan, I love the cute romance blooming between Athena and Heracles. I also love Athena's relationship with her so embarrassing dad, Zeus. 


As with the previous Goddess Girls books, there's a subtle but important message woven throughout the story. The book takes a look a the varying shades of right and wrong. It also explores anger and revenge. The authors are never preachy but instead ask the reader how far is too far when it comes to revenge and retribution.


Readers of the series get to revisit all of our old friends from Mount Olympus Academy, including the animal companions. Athena's relationship with her dad, Zeus, the principal at MOA, was first explored in the first book in the series, and I loved the way it was developed here. You can tell he just embarrasses her so much in all the classic ways that parents can embarrass their kids. But she loves him so much no matter how embarrassing he gets. 


Heracles is a great mortal hero. His list of 12 labors that he must accomplish are pretty impressive for a 12-ish year old! I love that Heracles is a great guy but he's not perfect. Instead of fighting or arguing though, Athena and Heracles talk it out to understand their differences and learn about each other. 


The romance in this book is oh-so-sweet! I couldn't help but get a serious case of the warm fuzzies when I finished the book. The romance will keep the most boy crazy goddessgirl interested while still being completely age appropriate.


Main Characters: 5/5
Supporting Characters: 5/5
Setting: 5/5
Romance: 5/5 (love it)
Uniqueness: 5/5
Cover: 5/5 (LOVE all the covers!!)
Writing: 5/5



Bottom Line: Another wonderful book in the Goddess Girls series, "Athena the Wise" is not to be missed!


Check out my reviews for the first four books in the series:


More info on the series at: http://www.joanholub.blogspot.com/

GIVEAWAY RULES:
Joan Holub and Suzanne Williams are generously providing one lucky reader an Athena the Wise Swag Bag!! The swag bag was carefully put together by the authors and includes:

* GODDESSGIRLS bead necklaces made by Joan and Suzanne.
Strung on colorful stretchy cord, they can be shortened into bracelets. (Beads & cord packages purchased at Michaels say they're not for under age 14. Actual colors will vary.)
* Plush lion (Heracles comes up against a fierce lion in the book!)
* Athena the Wise book signed by Joan and Suzanne
* Bookmark featuring six Goddess Girls books

All you have to do is follow my blog publicly and leave a comment on this review with your email address!Please follow publicly or I can't tell that you are following :) Also, if you aren't comfortable leaving your email here, go ahead and leave a comment and then send me an email with your email addy.

Extra Entries:
  • +1 Tweet this contest (leave link in comment)
  • +1 Post link in sidebar of your blog (leave link in comment)

Rules:
  • US only
  • Must be a follower to enter
  • Extra entries are optional and can all be left in the same comment
  • Leave a comment with your email address
  • Ends Sunday May 1
Thanks to everyone for entering! Good luck!
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43 comments

  1. VidishaApril 15, 2011 at 11:33 AM

    Great giveaway!!!

    GFC follower

    vidishamun@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  2. LisaApril 15, 2011 at 11:55 AM

    This looks so cute! I'm a GFC follower. :)

    lhoffpauir at gmail

    ReplyDelete
  3. AnonymousApril 15, 2011 at 12:37 PM

    What a cute book:)I am a GFC follower

    mk261274 at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  4. BlodeueddApril 15, 2011 at 12:45 PM

    They just sound so freaking sweet!!! :D

    ReplyDelete
  5. AnonymousApril 15, 2011 at 1:07 PM

    Publicly following In the Hammock with Google Friend Connect {Cheryl F.} -- I enjoyed your review would love to read Goddess Girls: Athena the Wise :) *Thanks* for the giveaway!

    +1 Tweeted the giveaway

    +1 Linked the giveaway in sidebar, More Giveaways

    theluckyladybug[at]gmail[dot]com

    ReplyDelete
  6. UnknownApril 15, 2011 at 1:33 PM

    I follow under Lisa, My daughter would love this giveaway. Thanks lisapeters at yahoo dot com

    ReplyDelete
  7. AnonymousApril 15, 2011 at 2:34 PM

    *grins*
    I so love these books! I Can't wait! I like that there is more romance now, since the girls are growing up and all.

    So I'm a follower, and I tweeted it:
    http://twitter.com/#!/DarthClavie/status/58960471696482304

    *grins*

    animegirrl(at)gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  8. Suzanne WilliamsApril 15, 2011 at 2:52 PM

    Hi Carrie, Thanks so much for hosting our newest GG book giveaway and for the wonderful review! "Athena the Wise" was an especially fun book to write. Good luck to all the contest entrants! --Suzanne

    ReplyDelete
  9. Texas Book LoverApril 15, 2011 at 3:03 PM

    From the sound of it my daughters would love this book!

    Thank you! mmafsmith(at)gmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  10. Texas Book LoverApril 15, 2011 at 3:04 PM

    I also tweeted: http://twitter.com/#!/Maria_Smith_76/status/58968340709916672

    ReplyDelete
  11. Tiffany DrewApril 15, 2011 at 4:10 PM

    Thank you so much for the awesome giveaway, my daughter would LOVE this!!! Thanks for the chance :)

    jaidahsmommy(at)comcast(dot)net

    ReplyDelete
  12. Tiffany DrewApril 15, 2011 at 4:14 PM

    Tweeted:

    http://twitter.com/#!/enterthedrew/status/58986151616331776

    jaidahsmommy(at)comcast(dot)net

    ReplyDelete
  13. UnknownApril 15, 2011 at 4:41 PM

    I would just love to win this! Thank you for the review and contest!

    Tweeted:http://twitter.com/#!/IntenseWhisper/statuses/58993233497305088

    And I follow :)
    robin [at] intensewhisper [dot] com

    ReplyDelete
  14. Carrie at In the Hammock BlogApril 15, 2011 at 5:09 PM

    Thanks, everyone!! Good luck!!

    Thanks for stopping by, Suzanne! I loved the book! I hope it was as fun to write as it was to read!! :)

    ReplyDelete
  15. LilMissMollyApril 16, 2011 at 12:16 AM

    I think my daughters would enjoy this very much. Love the swag!
    lvsgund at gmail.com
    GFC follower

    ReplyDelete
  16. Joan HolubApril 16, 2011 at 9:06 AM

    Hi Carrie,

    Thank you so much for hosting the Goddess Girls: Athena the Wise giveaway, and for your thoughtful review (which I love!)

    The twelve labors of Heracles myth was a wonderful framework to build on in this story. And we had fun bringing back Principal Zeus. (I'm so glad you enjoy him, Carrie.) He's pretty much the epitome of an embarrassing dad.

    I really like the way this book ends because it satisfies the romantic in me, while being age-appropriate, as you say in your review. I'm a romance fan too!

    Have a good weekend...
    ~ Joan

    ReplyDelete
  17. Small ReviewApril 16, 2011 at 9:08 AM

    I'm so happy to hear Zeus plays more of a role in this book. I really liked the relationship between him and Athena in Athena the Brain.

    Thanks for the giveaway opportunity! That little lion is so cute :)

    imagesandwords at optonline dot net

    ReplyDelete
  18. Small ReviewApril 16, 2011 at 9:08 AM

    Oops, I forgot to mention that I am a GCF as "Small Review"

    ReplyDelete
  19. Joan HolubApril 16, 2011 at 9:12 AM

    Hi Alex! *waving*

    I'm glad you're enjoying the series and that you like the development of the light romance in these books. There's more light romance in the next book, Aphrodite the Diva, as well. It's one of my favorite covers so far, too.

    xox
    Joan

    ReplyDelete
  20. Joan HolubApril 16, 2011 at 9:13 AM

    Hi Small Review,

    I'm glad you're enjoying Zeus. We love writing his larger-than-life character. He cracks me up.

    Joan

    ReplyDelete
  21. CHRISTIEApril 16, 2011 at 9:59 PM

    Great review, Carrie! All the covers for this series are so stinking cute! I really need to give it a try.

    Thanks for the giveaway!

    TheFictionEnthusiast@live.com

    ReplyDelete
  22. Carrie at In the Hammock BlogApril 17, 2011 at 8:44 PM

    Thanks so much, everyone!!

    Joan, thank you for stopping by!! I loved the romance in this one :)

    ReplyDelete
  23. JennieApril 17, 2011 at 8:47 PM

    I love this series!

    lifeisshort.readfast at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  24. KatieApril 19, 2011 at 12:02 AM

    sounds interesting! i am a gfc follower. thanks for the giveaway!

    katie_tp(at)yahoo(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  25. Linda HendersonApril 20, 2011 at 6:37 PM

    I've always been fascinated with Greek mythology. I've been interested in reading this series, I think my granddaughter would love them.

    GFC follow as seriousreader

    Tweeted http://twitter.com/#!/BookOwner/status/60833788854419457

    seriousreader at live dot com

    ReplyDelete
  26. BLHmistressApril 21, 2011 at 1:47 AM

    I so been wanting to read these books, I love Greek Mythology.

    GFC follower- BLHmistress

    vampiremistress2010(at)gmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  27. kallosmango123April 21, 2011 at 5:42 PM

    I've gotta check out this series, it looks super cute.

    And this swag bag looks awesome, I really want that lion.

    kallosmango123@hotmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  28. rhonda1111April 22, 2011 at 12:08 PM

    I have wanted to read that series, new follower rlrlaney
    rlrlaney@yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
  29. LolawidApril 22, 2011 at 12:47 PM

    Old GFC follower - Lolawid

    widsfam7 @ digis dot net

    My girls would love this!!

    ReplyDelete
  30. SakiraApril 22, 2011 at 10:09 PM

    This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
  31. SakiraApril 22, 2011 at 10:17 PM

    I've always wanted to read this series, and I LOVE THE PLUSH LION!!!!!

    GFC FOLLOWER: Sakira
    Tweeted: http://twitter.com/#!/SummersKris/status/61611952618741760
    Sidebar: http://writekris.blogspot.com/

    Thanks,
    Kris
    elfdrop AT gmail DOT com

    ReplyDelete
  32. MonaApril 23, 2011 at 8:37 AM

    This sounds like such a fun and educational series and the covers are so cute. I would love to read this with my daughter.

    Thanks for the giveaway :)

    GFC(MonaG)

    monagargATyahooDOTcom

    ReplyDelete
  33. Tanya1224April 23, 2011 at 11:38 AM

    How cute =) I've never heard of these before. Please count me in for this.
    GFC follow as Tanyaw1224
    Tanyaw1224(at(yahoo(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  34. Crystal CApril 23, 2011 at 10:56 PM

    This is too cute!! I haven't heard of this series before, but I want to read now. Definitely enter me for the giveaway!!

    GFC Follow as Crystal C

    destinyfighter7 AT gmail DOT com

    ReplyDelete
  35. MeredithApril 24, 2011 at 6:06 PM

    I'd love to share this with my niece!

    meredithfl at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  36. UnknownApril 24, 2011 at 6:14 PM

    This sounds like a charming book. Athena has always been my favorite goddess.
    GFC follower
    marlenebreakfield(at)yahoo(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  37. brendajeanApril 25, 2011 at 3:33 AM

    I've wanted to try out this series!
    I am a follower.

    bchild5 at aol dot com

    ReplyDelete
  38. Ramblings of a Part time DruidApril 25, 2011 at 11:26 PM

    gfc follower - ramblings of a part time druid

    raynekitten@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  39. NancyeMay 2, 2011 at 12:01 AM

    Sounds like a great book! I would LOVE to win this for my daughter!

    **GFC Follower

    **Tweet! Tweet!
    @NancyeDavis

    http://twitter.com/#!/NancyeDavis/status/64901369471041536

    nancyecdavis AT bellsouth DOT net

    ReplyDelete
  40. D.S MelanderSeptember 19, 2011 at 11:12 PM

    My daughter wants this series. looks like people like it. Great review!!!

    ~The Mythical Chick~

    ReplyDelete
  41. BrianApril 10, 2013 at 9:50 AM

    Daughter would love this giveaway!
    jennisonb gmail dotcom

    ReplyDelete
  42. Panda Lover 0717April 29, 2013 at 11:22 PM

    I ABSOLUTELY LOVE YOUR BOOKS!!! I can't believe how relatable these books are to my life in Middle School I CANT WAIT TO SEE WHAT YOU COME UP WITH NEXT!


    I have a question-
    ~did you make the characters off of people you know?
    ~ how do you get your inspiration?
    ~how do you two split up the co-authoring?

    Love, Haley


    hsjenn at gmail dotcom

    ReplyDelete
  43. Panda Lover 0717April 30, 2013 at 7:28 PM

    Who are your favorite characters?

    ReplyDelete

Thanks so much for your lovely comments!

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