Under the Moon

Goddesses Rising #1

by Natalie J. Damschroder

Their power gives them strength...and makes them targets.

Quinn Caldwell is the epitome of a modern goddess. Her power source is the moon, her abilities restricted only by physical resources and lunar phase. She runs a consulting business and her father's bar, serves on the board of the ancient Society for Goddess Education and Defense, and yearns for Nick Jarrett, professional goddess protector and the soul mate she can never have.

But someone has developed the rare and difficult ability to drain a goddess of her powers, and Quinn is a target. With the world thinking Nick has gone rogue (whatever that means) and that Quinn is influenced by "family ties" she didn't know she had, keeping themselves safe while working to find the enemy proves harder each day.

But not as hard as denying their hearts...

Genres: Paranormal, Fantasy, Urban Fantasy, Paranormal Romance, Romance, Magic, Mythology

Nook

First published November 1, 2011

About the author

Natalie J. Damschroder hasn't done anything remotely worthy of bio documentation in a very long time, unless you count making up the romantic adventures that her characters live out in her books. She loves combining end-of-the-world stakes with the relationships that make those stakes personal. Love with a Shot of Adrenaline has infused nearly every story she's published. Whether you like quick reads you can finish in a day or sinking into longer books, you'll find something to satisfy your craving for action, romance, and happy endings. She also writes paranormal young adult romance as NJ Damschroder, where all of the same elements apply.

Besides her dozens of published books, what Natalie is most proud of is her family. She and her husband have been married over 30 years and still have the kind of partnership she makes her characters fight for every day. They've raised two awesome kids now living their own fulfilling lives, which you would think would mean she'd write more books faster. But she's enjoying reading, relaxing with good TV, and sleeping too much to give any of that up. In the fall and winter, almost nothing will keep her from cheering on her New England Patriots, even though they don't win as much anymore. Visit her website at nataliedamschroder.com to learn more about her books and sign up for her newsletter.

Reviews

[Carol [Goodreads Addict] · Rating 4 out of 5]

Under The Moon is book one in the Goddesses Rising series by Natalie J. Damschroder. As many paranormal books as I have read, this is my first Goddess book so I wasn’t sure what to expect but I was so pleasantly surprised.

For the most part, Goddesses are pretty normal, just like you and I. They go about their lives, have businesses, fall in love. But, what sets them apart are their powers. Goddesses get their power from different elements such as water, earth, minerals, etc.

Quinn Caldwell gets her power from the moon. So she is at her strongest when it is full. She runs the bar, Under The Moon, which she took over after the death of her parents. But she, like all other goddesses, has a side business where she uses her powers to help others. From protecting a woman from an abusive partner, to helping to heal someone that has cancer. But something is wrong. Suddenly her protector, Nick, calls and says he is coming to see her ahead of schedule. And for some reason, the council of goddesses is shutting her out, as if she has done something wrong.

She, along with Nick and her assistant Sam, discover there is a leech out there. He is falsely convincing goddesses that he is in love with them, then he steals their power from them. And, Quinn is his next target. But he is so strong now with all the power he has acquired that this time, he won’t be happy just taking Quinn’s power.

This is a wild ride while Quinn, Nick and Sam try to find out who is doing this and stop him. In the mean time, Quinn is faced with learning things about her past she had no knowledge of. And, Quinn has to finally deal with her feelings for both Sam and Nick. She has been in love with Nick for fifteen years but kept it locked inside. Nick has always insisted they keep their relationship strictly business. And then there is Sam who has made his feelings for her clear.

This book was the perfect blend of magic, suspense and romance. There is no cliff hanger. I believe book two will center around a different goddess but I can’t wait to continue on to see what is next.

[Jacob Proffitt · Rating 2 out of 5]

There are a lot of reasons and ways to like a book. Two important elements, for me, are the characters and the world they inhabit. The world of this book—mainly the whole "goddess" bit—is jarringly weak. The rules governing supernatural power are... arbitrary (to say the least), and giving the main character "moon lust" from using her power (but not other goddess when they use their power) was pretty hokey.

This weakness extends to the "Goddess Society"—the organization governing those with supernatural ability. Look, power corrupts and committees are, at best, inefficient (and at worst nests of backbiting and political intrigue). In the book, the Society is kept kind of vague while Quinn thrashes around trying to figure out what is happening. And what hints we do see (particularly at the end) don't hang together very well. Are they a villainous secret society with wide-ranging (or official) powers over life and death? Are they struggling to maintain order with a disparate membership provoking tough choices and requiring a sometimes-firm hand? Or are they merely an incompetent communication forum for women with power to network? By the end, I still couldn't say.

Usually, this level of discontent with the setup of the novel would have left me cold enough I'd not have finished the book. Fortunately for my engagement with the book, I really liked Quinn and her relationships with the men in her life. Sam was a sweetie that you just couldn't help feel for (because of his unrequited love for Quinn) even as you understood exactly why it was that Quinn couldn't give him what he needed. Damschroder pulled off an incredibly difficult balancing act, here, by giving us enough to really like Sam while still understanding why he just wasn't the guy for Quinn (and without making me hate her as a result). And Nick! A leather-jacket-wearing hard-boy with a reputation for violence and a protective instinct hard-wired into his personality is just impossible to resist. Who wouldn't fall in love with that guy?!? The triangle-that-wasn't was completely awesome to watch unfold. Quinn is torn between what she really wants (uh, Nick, of course, full-time) and depriving other goddesses of his superior protection (because most of the time she's powerful enough that she doesn't really need his help). Since Quinn's base of operations is distant from any other goddess', this poses a real dilemma—or, at least, real enough for me to buy the tension between Quinn's desire for a relationship and her desire for what she perceives to be the greater good.

So yeah, I liked the book well-enough, even though I can only really give it two stars. It was "Okay" in the sense that the truly awful setup (and I acknowledge that personal taste is at play in that evaluation) was offset by a fun relationship dynamic that tugged at my heart—and I don't just mean having a crush on Nick...

A note on Steamy: There are a couple scenes of graphic sex. They weren't overwhelming to the story, or anything, and they fit very well into the context of both the world and the relationship dynamics. Also, they were pretty good...

[Donna (BLHmistress) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Goddesses among us well that definitely caught my attention, and I knew I just had to read more. Being a fan of all kinds of mythology, I thought that is what I would be reading about. I was pleasantly wrong and enjoyed this book tremendously.

What I found unique about it was the goddesses and how normal they were set apart from the source where their powers come from. I loved that how these women used their their gifts for the good and the fact gods were now exempt and didn't exist anymore, which I found refreshingly different.

Another point I have to mention is that while I have read more about love triangles than I care to admit, and while some I feel get a bit old, this one I enjoyed. It at least for me was very believable and fresh. Quinn, who is conflicted with her needs with Sam and her hidden love for Nick. I honestly don't blame her with her conflcted emotions for both of these guys, I loved them both myself. What girl wouldn't love to have two Nice, protective guys to love her. Sign me up :)

But overall this book had everything I look for in a book, characters I can connect with, action and maybe just a bit of smexyiness. Though as most of you know I am a sucker for a good romance and while this book leaned more towards the action it still had the romance I crave sometimes. I can't wait for book 2 in this series- I am hoping it won't be too long of a wait either.

So, if you are looking for an awesome Urban Fantasy to cuddle up on the couch this Xmas season, may I suggest this book.

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a very steamy, not quite erotic, book. Sex plays a large part of Quinn's life, and with two hot men in it, there is plenty of sexual tension. At points this aspect seemed to overtake the actual storyline, you know, the one mentioned in the summary.

Speaking of the summary, it focussed on the goddess aspect of the storyline. I felt that there was a lot left undeveloped when it came to the goddesses and their power. Maybe not undeveloped, but certainly unexplored. I wanted more details about what Quinn's power could do, and how she used normally, not just in the extreme circumstances covered in the book.

Overall, this was an okay read. I felt the sexual parts drown out the story parts that I wanted to read. If you like your books to be hot and steamy, then this book might appeal to you.

[Lissette · Rating 5 out of 5]

Quinn Caldwell has always enjoyed running the Under The Moon bar she'd inherited from her parents when they unexpectedly died several years ago. Yet hers is not the usual bar normal people would patron. You see, she's a goddess - one who's affinity is tied to the moon. The bar is a haven for goddesses and their protectorates whenever they're in the area.

In addition to the bar, she runs a consulting business who's sole purpose is to help out women who find themselves in a bit of a bind and are in need of a helping hand. She's spent quite a bit of time establishing her business and asserting herself as the goddess she is, living openly amongst the human world. Yet never once did she imagine it would have consequences.

When her protectorate, Nick Jarrett, shows up on her doorstep with no clear explanation and ahead of schedule, she tries to make sense of the situation. Her apprehension grows further still when he explains that there's someone draining goddesses of their powers and that she may be a target.

Banding together with her assistant, Sam, the three try to grasp the enormity of the situation while trying to keep themselves safe from harm. As they embark on a quest for answers, Quinn soon discovers she now has further familial ties that bind. Ties that have been kept from her from the very beginning as she realizes there's more to the Society than meets the eye.

Battling her attraction for Nick while trying to keep Sam at arms length, Quinn knows it's only a matter of time before she gives in to the demands inside of herself. She uses every ounce of her willpower to keep her urges at bay while hating the fact that she can't give in to what her body wants.

As the trio dodges danger at every turn, they know it's only a matter of time before the leech finds exactly what he's looking for. Intent on thwarting his every step, they refuse to allow another goddess to be hurt in the process. Survival is the key in staying one step ahead in hopes of bringing down the man whose main goal is to destroy each and every goddess he comes across.

This book was an awesome read. I was hooked from the moment I started reading. The feelings running rampant between Nick, Sam, and Quinn was palpable with every turn of the page. There were quite a few twists and very unexpected turns that lent even more flame to the fire already burning between the trio.

Natalie did a brilliant job in establishing each character and the world they live in. The lore behind goddesses walking amongst us and gods being practically extinct was quite interesting. Enjoyed it immensely. I'm looking forward to reading more of this series soon. Truly recommend it.

[Lucy Felthouse · Rating 4 out of 5]

Under the Moon is an urban fantasy romance novel. It tells the story of Quinn Caldwell, a goddess who draws her power from the moon - a skill that's incredibly useful when the moon is full, but leaves her utterly powerless when there's a new moon. Enter Nick Jarrett, professional goddess protector. He comes into Quinn's life once a month for a few days and looks after her when she's at her most vulnerable, and has done so successfully for the last fifteen years. Sounds like the perfect working relationship, huh? Sadly not, for Quinn has been madly in love with Nick for most of the time she's known him, and she's fairly certain he feels the same. Their circumstances mean that if Nick's bosses knew there was something between them, they'd remove him as her protector and she'd never see him again. So they must deny their hearts, and make the most of what they have.

However, what they do have is suddenly put at stake when Nick turns up at Quinn's bar unexpectedly with some shocking news. Things quickly go from bad to worse as Quinn and her friends fight to find out who's draining goddesses of their power, before anyone else gets hurt. Throw in a rogue, some unknown family ties and a hostile Council and Quinn is in for one hell of a rough ride. Will she and the people she cares about the most emerge unscathed?

Wow, Under the Moon is a great book. It grabs you at the beginning and doesn't let go until the very last page. The action is non-stop, the plot is full of twists and the tension is palpable. I also liked the fact that, although there are quite a few characters in the book, they were given enough time and backstory for you to grasp who they were before the story carried on, meaning you genuinely cared about them and what would happen.

I don't want to give anything away about what happens, but let's just say there are several parts of the story that will have you on the edge of your seat, and constantly rooting for Quinn. So if you're a fan of urban fantasy, then this is one book I'd recommend you add to your to be read list. I'll definitely be looking out for more from Natalie.

[Melanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

4*s

Under the Moon is a really good urban fantasy/Paranormal romance that features goddesses, women who come into their power at 21. They have certain gifts/skills and areas of expertise and usually use this to enhance others’ lives. They are governed by a Society on which Quinn Caldwell is on the board and privy to certain procedures, meetings and decision making for the good of the other goddesses. She also manages a bar called Under the Moon with her faithful assistant/long term friend/need fulfiller Sam, alongside her goddess obligations. Every month her powers wane and she is left with none in the week leading up to a full moon so during this time she is assigned her own protector Nick Jarrett. After a disturbing phone call from Nick saying he was arriving early, some complications in her ‘relationship’ with Sam and a strange email informing her that Nick has ‘gone rogue’ Quinn’s day just keeps getting stranger, but it’s about to get worse because when Nick turns up he informs her that there is a leech on the run and sucking the powers from goddesses and she could very well be next on his list. Trying to find out what’s going on she gets in touch with the Society only to find out she is being shunned which only makes her more determined to get to the bottom of this mess, add to that a couple of secrets, her growing libido and years long attraction to Nick and she’s in for one hell of a ride.
I really enjoyed this, it was nice to read something different and I thought the take on goddesses to be really good and refreshing from the norm. The action was good and paced throughout the book with the threat to her ever present running alongside a simmering sexual tension between the characters that got my heart pounding in all the right places and created some incredibly sweet and super-hot moments. The characters were all likeable, Quinn, Nick and Sam especially and I found myself routing for them and totally immersed in what they were going through. I really like these type of books and find them so easy to read and I’m glad that this is just the first in a series, I like the world that the author has created and look forward to reading more.

[Tahlia Newland · Rating 5 out of 5]

‘Under the Moon’ is a terrific story, tight and well written, about a goddess, her assistant (and ex lover), her sexy protector and their efforts to stop a man who is on his way to steal Quinn’s power.

In the world of ‘Under the Moon’, goddesses live amongst us, using their power to help people, but when an unknown goddess gives some of her power to a man, he becomes addicted to it and becomes a leech, one who preys on goddesses and drains their power. The first two goddesses he leeches are Quinn’s friends and when Quinn tries to find out what’s going on, the society of goddesses shuts her out of the loop with a vague reference to family ties being too strong.

Quinn has two gorgeous men who care about her. First is Sam, her business assistant who wants a relationship with her that she can’t give. They’ve had sex for years because it replenishes Quinn’s power, but Quinn has broken it off, denying her need for sex so he can find the kind of relationship he wants with someone else. It takes most of the book for Sam to come to terms with that, but along the way, he never stops being a wonderful friend.

Then there’s Nick, a protector assigned to her by the Goddess Protectorate. He’s only around when her power is at its weakest – it relies on the phases of the moon – and he refuses to have the intimate relationship with her that she wants, because it would compromise his role as her protector. The sexual tension between them is as thick as butter and the relationship between the two men is delightful.

The story takes the threesome to various places, into several close escapes from death, revelations about Quinn’s family and inevitably to a deadly battle with the leech. During this time it becomes apparent that Nick’s feelings for Quinn are more what she wants than he’s willing to let on. The story builds to a sizzling climax (literally) and a very satisfying conclusion. I loved this book, give it 5 stars and recommend it for all lovers of urban fantasy and romance.

[Niina · Rating 4 out of 5]

The plot was very interesting, when goddesses come to their powers at 21 they have a source of power be it flower water or rain or in Quinn's case the Moon. Suddenly two goddesses turn up drained of power, and her protector when the moon is new is coming to her weeks too early to protect her. Together they start to find out what happened to the goddesses even though her help is not wanted because of her family-ties, she knows they aren't talking about her adopted family so Quinn sets out to find out about her biological parents. But some things are better not known. I liked the intensity of the whole book, a lot happens and having the love triangle going on with Sam, Quinn and Nick is interesting to read.

The characters are all flawed, but then again it makes them interesting. Quinn suffers for what she's put Sam through with energy charging ( read, having sex ) and Sam torn in his love for Quinn, Nick and Quinn try their hardest not to have any feelings for each other but 15 year courtship, danger and threat but them in the path where they can't ignore what's between them any longer. Interesting characters indeed!

The only thing that bothered me a little while reading this was Quinn's "moon lust" ( read, energy charging ), I get it's how her relationship with Sam got so complicated, but it threw me off in the beginning of the book, but as the book moved forward and focus was shifted on the actual adventure things perked up considerably. I also very much enjoyed the little twist that there were only Goddesses left that all the Gods had taken themselves out of the questions!

You'll like this if... you are into urban fantasy with a paranormal romance twist, if you love love-triangles, and like your romance low burning, building, until someone just has to give in!

[Zee Monodee]

Thought I'd post about why I DNF'ed this book (since a lot of people asked me why when I mentioned...)
I'm also not rating this book because of the DNF, and also because I DNF'ed because of pet peeves of mine, not any fault with the story.

So... I didn't get past Chapter 1. Reason? Because Quinn's power recharges through sex. I hate this kind of trope, because too often, it's been used as an open door to throw in lots of sex scenes in a story. While I love good sex scenes when they're integrated organically into a story, having a trope that make it 'too easy' to throw a sex scene here and a sex scene there makes me wary.

That being said, since I didn't finish this book, it could also be that the author used this trope in a totally organic way - I wouldn't know, so I'm not pronouncing myself on the quality of this story.

I also dislike love triangles, esp when it looks one of the participants' interest will be totally unwarranted, and the heroine wavers between both men at some point or the other (too much limbo between Morelli and Ranger in the Stephanie Plum series turned me off that; sorry if this colours my vision). I don't think I would've picked this book if it were mentioned there's an unrequited love triangle in it - the blurb mentions nothing about this, and I also don't read reviews before starting a book.

So there you have it - why I DNF'ed this book. Wasn't my cup of tea, but that doesn't mean it couldn't/wouldn't be yours.

[Sam · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm torn between a 4 star and 5 star so I'll go with a 4.5 rating overall. I very much enjoyed reading this and loved the characters, though I felt that there could have been just a little more development for that area. The concept of the Godesses was interesting, even more so since there wasn't really any mention of them being descendants of any ancient pantheon so they were a bit more original. Quinn and Sam's relationship was cool and I hope Sammy finds happiness in the sequel. Also, I look forward to seeing what will happen with Marley, because I know her story isn't over. I will definitely have to pick up the next books soon.

[Tracy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Couldn't Quite Connect to This One
Moon Goddess Quinn Caldwell is feeling the strain of managing her bar and doing her goddess consultations while holding off on using her very willing best friend Sam to enhance her power. He's in love with her, and as much as she loves him, she just can't return his feelings. Her heart is otherwise occupied on her own hopeless love interest. Still, having sex with Sam during the full moon just doesn't seem right any more. It's holding him back from finding real love.

The conflict between them has made work difficult, though, and the strain of tension between her and her best friend is stressing her out. So much so that Quinn would relish any distraction. She should have been more specific.

When Nick Garret, her official goddess protector and unrequited love interest, calls her with an ominous...and unexplained warning, then shows up at her bar before his normal guarding rotation, Quinn is concerned. That concern turns to shock and alarm when he tells her that goddesses are being attacked and drained of their power and she may be a target.

She tries to contact the Society for Goddess Education and Defense, the ancient society she serves as a board member, for answers and guidance, but she is shut out by the very organization that she has served so faithfully. Then a rumor of Nick going rogue starts swirling around, along with rumors of some mysterious family connection between Quinn and the perpetrator of the crimes against goddesses.

Her life is caught up in a confusing, scary maelstrom of suspicion and fear, and soon she and Nick and Sam are racing across country, investigating the source of the danger and rumors as Quinn tries to stay a step ahead of a power-hungry madman. What she will find at the end of their journey will either change everything in her life...or end it.

~*~

I wanted to like this book more than I did. I liked the idea of a paranormal story without any vampires, shapeshifters, or Fae. Instead we have goddesses, but that's where the trouble started. Though the overall storyline in no way resembles another book featuring goddesses that I read a few months ago, there were a wealth of similarities in the main character and setting. Quinn draws her power from the moon, like the goddess in the other book, she owns a bar, like the goddess in the other book, and sex plays a part in her ability to use her power, like the goddess in the other book.

Being hit with all of that so early into this book made me feel like I had picked up a more fully fleshed out and heavily edited version of a story I've already read. Fortunately, the similarities pretty much ended there.

I have to admit, the concept for this story is original, and the world Damschroder created was obviously well thought out and clearly conceived. I didn't get the sort of detailed definition of that world that I needed to make it real to me, though. The focus of the book stayed tight on the main character and those secondary characters surrounding her, not leaving much room for world view.

The characters were another issue. They were okay, but something about the story kept me from feeling connected to them. Part of the problem could very well be that I was expecting more romance. I thought it was a paranormal romance when I started reading it, but it reads more like an urban fantasy - or, because of the relationships involved, a paranormal romantic suspense, but the romance was almost ancillary to the story. It was more like Quinn and Nick rotated around each other instead of a romance between them evolving alongside the other story threads.

The reader knows Quinn has loved Nick for years, but Nick's feelings are questionable to both Quinn and the reader throughout most of the book. Their relationship doesn't actually start to change from friendship and protection until late into the story. That prevented the romance elements from satisfactorily translating to me as a reader, and the romantic climax lacked much of a punch because of it.

I liked the concept of the Big Bad in the book, but my enjoyment was tempered by the haphazard investigation by Quinn, Nick, and Sam. I was also never clear on why they would be the only ones really doing any serious investigating, given the world and the organizations connected to the matter. Especially given the lack of significant connection to the victims.

A couple of goddesses Quinn was moderately friendly with are attacked and Quinn gets treated weird by the organiztion she belongs to, so she abandons her work and throws herself into stopping a power-hungry madman. There just didn't seem to be enough motivation on Quinn's part for the massive effort she expended given the seeming ambivalence of everyone else.

And while the trio were driving across the country, trying to stay away from a threat they weren't even sure was targeting them, the story dragged. I felt like I was spending too much time with three fairly average characters as they wandered around, failing to gather much pertinent information. Add to that a habit of jumping to conclusions and getting into trouble before dashing off to trace the next clue.

It's not a bad read, though. I didn't dislike the story and I don't mean to sound like I did. Damschroder created a world with an interesting mythos and a conflict that was a serious threat to the characters, then she set it all in motion with sheer force of will. It just didn't do it for me, through a combination of false expectation, reading preference, and story issues. Too many questions went unanswered (how the heck did he get her sock?), too many coincidences to be believed (Sam's roommate, really?), too many things lacking emotional impact impact. This one was just okay for me because of all of it.

Disclosure: An ARC of this book was provided to me by Entangled Publishing via NetGalley. This rating, review, and all included thoughts and comments are my own.
~*~*~*~
Reviewed for One Good Book Deserves Another.

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

TLDR Recap

Quinn Caldwell is your average, everyday woman- aside from the fact that she’s a goddess who draws power from the moon, of course. When a leech begins stealing powers from goddesses around the country, Quinn sets out to find the culprit with her assistant, Sam, and her sexy protectorate, Nick. But will Quinn be able to stop whoever it is before they gain too much power? And could Quinn be the leech’s next target? Under the Moon is a GraveTells recommended read!


Title: Under the Moon
Series: Goddesses Rising #1
Author: Natalie J. Damschroder
Prominent Characters: Quinn, Nick, Sam
Recommended Reader Age: 17+
Sexual Content Level: moderate

***This review contains slight spoilers for the initial plot setup, but nothing major***

Thoughts

Quinn Caldwell has a pretty good life. She runs her own bar, Under the Moon, and is a strong goddess who uses the moon as the source of her power. She even has a business assisting people who need the help of a goddess- she makes no secret of the fact that she is one. When Nick Jarrett suddenly shows up at the bar one night, Quinn knows something is wrong. Nick is her protector, and he’s been in Quinn’s life for years, guarding her each time the new moon comes around, when Quinn’s power is at its weakest. Quinn has longed for Nick since she met him, and the sexual tension between them is hot!

Quinn soon learns that several goddesses have recently been leeched of their powers. But when she tries to contact the Society (a sort of goddess organization) to learn more, they refuse to let her in on what they know. Shocked, and feeling a little betrayed, Quinn decides to take matters into her own hands. With the help of Nick, and her assistant, Sam, she sets off to find the person who’s been stealing powers from goddesses. And since a leech can only be created when another goddess bestows power upon them, Quinn must also look for the woman who betrayed them all.

I loved all the relationships in Under the Moon, especially the one between Quinn and Nick. You can’t help but hope these two find a way to be together. Knowing they’ve been fighting their attraction to each other and suppressing their feelings for years creates even more delicious tension. And Quinn’s relationship with Sam is sweet, too. I’m hesitant to call it a love triangle, however, since the reader can easily tell which guy Quinn is leaning towards.

I also like the world that Natalie Damschroder has created, and I think it’s cool that each goddess is unique and gets their power from a different source. I don’t think the Society is as amazing as Quinn believed it was, since the people there treated her pretty poorly throughout the novel. But I suppose that at the end, when you find out why they acted the way they did, it makes some sense.

Quinn is a likable heroine. She’s brave, selfless, and level-headed. She does what needs to be done, but she’s kind and compassionate, too. I like that she didn’t sit by and wait for the Society to solve the leech problem, but left her home behind to stop the leech before any other goddesses got hurt. She wasn’t afraid to jump right into the action.

Under the Moon was a good start to the Goddesses Rising series. It’s got action, romance, mystery, AND a pretty badass heroine. What’s not to like about that?

Memorable Quotes

Poor Sam. Get ready to walk through the hotel lobby shirtless…

“She ripped my shirt!” Sam cried from inside the car. The valet stood at the driver’s door, staring at Quinn and Nick, then at Sam.
“Embrace your inner stud and let’s get her upstairs, dude.”

Helllooooo, Nick. *winks*

Steam billowed out ahead of Nick, a navy blue towel around his waist and a pale blue towel turban-style around his head. Quinn laughed with a surge of affection. He was competing with Sam—and doing very well, with his powerful arms and shoulders, solid chest, and flat abdomen—but cutting the threat of such a competition by being goofy.


If you liked Under the Moon

I recommend First Grave on the Right, the first book in the Charley Davidson series by Darynda Jones. It mixes urban fantasy, romance, and humor like Under the Moon does.

And also On the Edge by Ilona Andrews. This one also mixes urban fantasy and romance!

Final Thoughts

If you like strong heroines, goddesses, and magic, you’ll enjoy Under the Moon! And the two drool-worthy guys in Quinn’s life make the book even more fun I’m eagerly anticipating the next book in the Goddesses Rising series.

Under the Moon is a GraveTells Recommended Read!



Review originally posted on GraveTells.com

[Book Review Diva · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Under The Moon” By Natalie J. Damschroder

Right from the beginning of Natalie J. Damschroder's book “Under The Moon” you are immediately drawn into the the story. Throughout this book there were parts where my heart was racing with excitement and with surprise.

Quinn Caldwell is a goddess who draws her power from the moon. Quinn uses her power for good and is always helping people with her gift. Quinn has never used her power for evil, or has never harmed a human with her power. So when Quinn receives and e-mail alerting her that another goddess, like herself, is being leeched of her powers, Quinn immediately becomes outraged. As a goddess it is forbidden to transfer power into a human. Quinn also knows from the e-mail that two of her friends have had their powers leeched from them. Before Quinn can make her move to protect herself, she immediately contacts the goddess society, and asks what they are doing to protect the goddesses, and if they have heard that there is a leech on the lose. Quinn is shocked to receive the cold shoulder from the goddess society and wonders why she would get such a cold response from them. Also she is told that she is not needed in helping to catch the leech that's on the loose. What Quinn does not realize, is that there is a deeper underlying issue and it involves Quinns family. Quinn was adopted when she was younger and she has no idea that she has a sister and the goddess society is connecting her to possibly being involved with the leech.

Dealing with a leech is going to be the least of Quinn's worries. Quinn is going to have to confront her parents about giving her up for adoption, and hope they will still want to have further contact with her. She also wants to find out more about the sister that she has not known. Quinn also must deal with the feelings that she was given up for adoption and yet her parents still had another child and did not want her. Quinn also had man trouble, and she is going to have to decide once and for all who her heart belongs to. Is her heart with her assistant Sam who helps her run her late father's bar as well as her Goddess healing business. Or, is Quinn's heart with her assigned protector, Nick Jarrett who has saved her life on many occasions in the past. Hearts will be broken, old family memories will be brought froward, and lives will be put in danger. Can Quinn Caldwell handle all of the drama in her life and still find out who the leech is and stop him or her from harming her friends? Find out what happen in this non-stop action packed novel by Natalie J. Damschroder. “Under the Moon” is a page turner that will keep you up into the late hours of the night. An absolutely AWESOME read!

Reviewed by: ParanormalRomance.ca

5 Lips out of 5



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[holly quigley · Rating 3 out of 5]

The copy of Under the Moon I am reviewing is a NetGalley copy, so some issues may be resolved in the final edition.

I waffled between 3 and 4 stars for this book. On the grading system, I'll still waffle between a C+ and a B-. Maybe I'm feeling generous because my first book of 2012 was a DNF and I was just pleased I could actually make it to the end of this one. Either way, it was definitely readable, but had a few possible issues.

Quinn is a "goddess." Note quotation marks and lowercase-g. In this storyverse, there are women called 'goddesses,' who are born with magical powers. Said magical powers don't really reveal themselves until the woman is 21. Then they're focused on something - some goddesses get their power from the ocean, some from the wind, fire, crystals, etc. Quinn gets her power from the moon. Well, the full moon. Which is problematic in that when the moon wanes, she becomes "normal." Oh, and also, she has to have sex to recharge her batteries or the moon powers drain her more, or something like that.

The problem I had with this setup is that, despite the little brochure-excerpts placed at the beginning of each chapter, the whole 'goddess' thing seemed kind of loosey goosey. I am NOT a reader who's big on tons of backstory or logistics. Yet I felt like this story needed some of that to tighten things up. Also, the entire "goddess" thing felt a little ridiculous and pretentious. Maybe that was intentional, though. I never saw anything that struck me as mythic or deity-like, and I found myself annoyed that they're calling themselves goddesses when they're really just witches. I know - that's probably a little ridiculous on my part, too, but I couldn't shake it off.

As the story went along, I also started to get a tiny bit of a marysue vibe from Quinn. At the story's end, with her newly acquired super-powers, that feeling really increased. This might actually be due to the fact that the whole story was 3rd person narrative but only from Quinn's POV. I totally respect that, but combined with the loose plot feeling, I just wasn't sure.

However, it's definitely a readable story. I usually like a little more romance, but all of the action in Under the Moon kept me reading and was paced really well. The romantic resolution felt a little bit rushed at the end, but not enough to really detract from things.

I think maybe the problem I'm having with grading this book is that it can't seem to decide if it's going to be a paranormal romance, or an urban-paranormal with romantic elements. I think Ms. Damschroder is clearly a competent enough writer with a good idea here, that it would be fine either way. But maybe that uncertainty is what led to the feeling that Under the Moon needed a little bit more tightening up.

Still, I'd recommend it based on the pacing and action alone. I'll be interested in the rest of the series.

[Samantha · Rating 4 out of 5]

Summary from Goodreads:

"Quinn Caldwell is the epitome of a modern goddess. Her power source is the moon, her abilities restricted only by physical resources and lunar phase. She runs a consulting business and her father's bar, serves on the board of the ancient Society for Goddess Education and Defense, and yearns for Nick Jarrett, professional goddess protector and the soul mate she can never have.

But someone has developed the rare and difficult ability to drain a goddess of her powers, and Quinn is a target. With the world thinking Nick has gone rogue (whatever that means) and that Quinn is influenced by "family ties" she didn't know she had, keeping themselves safe while working to find the enemy proves harder each day."

My Thoughts:

Under the Moon is the beginning to a new paranormal romance series featuring goddesses and their protectors. Quinn is a goddess who derives her powers and abilities from the moon. It gives her great abilities during the full moon when her powers are the strongest and leaves her almost completely normal afterwards. I found this to be an interesting concept as it left Quinn very vulnerable at times. One of the things that was really unique about this book was the idea of goddesses and the fact that the goddesses got their powers from different things. Rain, oceans, and crystals were just some of the things that the different goddesses used to enhance their abilities. The book itself was very interesting as Quinn finds herself caught up in a mystery where her fellow goddesses are being drained of their powers. She soon comes to realize that the "leech" has something to do with her and the family that she knows little about. This made for an interesting storyline, and I found myself immersed in the mystery that was surrounding Quinn. Plus, there was a nice little chemistry going on between Nick and Quinn that really added to the book in my opinion. The only problem that I had was that I think I expected a little more focus on the romance. Instead, I found the book to be more plot oriented which worked out fine in the end once I adjusted my expectations. I also didn't entirely care for the triangle that was present between Sam, Quinn, and Nick. But I have a feeling that Sam may show up in later books which would be a good thing :)

All in all, I found this to be a good read with lots of potential! I'm looking forward to reading more in this series in the future. This was my first read on my Kindle Fire and it was a great experience (although I do think I will always prefer an actual book). Recommended to fans of paranormal romance!

Bottom Line: An interesting beginning to a new series....

Disclosure: I read this book on my Kindle courtesy of Netgalley and the publisher.

[Stormi (StormReads) · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the first book I have read by this author, and I found it to be enjoyable. I will be reading the next book in this series.

I haven't read to many books about Goddesses but the ones I have read have been pretty interesting. This one is a bit steamier than any of the other books I have encountered with Goddesses in them. Quinn is a Goddess and her powers always have her craving sex. Quinn, has a friend Sam that she would use to recharge her powers, now she has decided not to use him any more. She feels its not fair to lead him on in this way, as she is not in love with him, she is in love with Nick, her protector, though Nick will not get involved with her.

Personal feelings are put to the side as the two men must protect Quinn from a leech, someone who is going around stealing Goddess powers. The council will not tell them anything as they think somehow Quinn is involved because of a family member, but Quinn doesn't even know of any family members. There is someone trying to tell everyone that Nick has gone Rogue, and nobody will give them any real answers.

Quinn, was an interesting character, but she wasn't my favorite character. She was strong, but I just didn't like her that much. I guess its probably because I liked Sam and didn't like the way she had treated him as an object for sex when she needed it. She messed with his feelings even though she didn't mean too. Even though she was doing her best to not cave into her cravings because she realized she wasn't being fair, you could already tell it had took its toll on Sam.

Nick has that sexy bad boy image going on with the motorcycle and protectorate attitude, so you can't help but like him a little. He would do about anything to protect Quinn, and hung around a lot more than he probably needed. He has other charges to take care of but something always pulled him Quinn's way.

Normally I like the bad boy image guys but this time I fell for the nice guy. Sam was my favorite character, he was sweet and protective. He fell in love with Quinn even though he knew she didn't feel the same way about him. He put aside his disdain for Nick to help protect her from the leech that was out to get her powers. I do hope he gets a girl of his own in the next book in the series, as he deserves one.

My only draw back with this book is I have never really been a fan of a sex driven storyline especially when I feel that sometimes it takes over the whole story. Over all I thought it was a interesting novel and I liked it enough to continue with the series. If you are a fan of Urban Fantasy then I would recommend you give it a try.

[Dahlia (yadkny) · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Goddess wasn’t only a job description – it was a state of being.”

And for Quinn Caldwell the power of the moon holds much influence over her state being. For one week every month she needs to be “recharged” and sex is the only way to overpower the moon lust she experiences. However, Quinn is tired of having to use people, especially Sam her assistant, to keep her energy levels up, so that she can continue helping others and running her bar. Sam would give her everything, but Quinn doesn't feel the same way and she must face the emotional turmoil of setting him free to find what he deserves.

Just when she thought that the inevitable loneliness of her life would be the worst part of her day, Quinn gets word that the one man she's longed for is on his way back to her. Unfortunately, Nick isn't back for her or at least not exactly. As a protector, Nick's responsibility has always come first and now that a “leech” is on the loose and threatening the goddesses, any thought of a romantic reunion is impossible. Now on the run, Quinn must uncover the identity of the “leech” and stop him before another goddess is leeched, but his next victim just might be her.

In a story where “moon lust” and the need to “recharge” are part of the issues the heroine experiences, I was expecting much of the storyline to focus around the issue of sex. Surprisingly, the plot is not blanketed in sex scenes, but instead lots of tension over unrequited feelings. The two sex scenes we are given are functional for part of there purpose, but not as passionately explosive as expected considering the characters’ history together. On this front, I can definitely say I wanted more, but at the same time, I am appreciative that sex isn’t the focal point of the story.

The plotline continuously moves and the characters are hardly stagnant with plenty of expressive dialogue. The main characters are very well fleshed out, but they apologize to each other much too often. Seems like a weird thing to point out and yet it came to my attention and was a bit annoying. I love a strong heroine and I think Quinn's got it and I hope in the next story she really owns it. I am curious to see where the next in the series is headed as lots of things have changed in Quinn's personal and professional life by the end of the book. I am definitely coming back for more of this intriguing story with engaging characters.

Review soon-to-be posted @ Night Owl Reviews

[Crystal _ Reading Between the Wines Book Club · Rating 3 out of 5]

Quinn Caldwell is a goddess that derives her power from the moon, which makes her incredibly powerful…except when there is a new moon. During this time she is powerless and vulnerable, which is when her protector, Nick Jarrett, arrives. Quinn has been in love with Nick for the last fifteen years but since his rejection all those years ago she knows she must hide her feelings and accept that friendship is all she’ll ever have from him. Trying to move forward with her life and fulfill some sensual full moon needs, Quinn and her assistant Sam get close but she knows that he will never have her heart the way Nick does and can’t hold him back from finding someone to truly love him anymore. When a leech is revealed who threatens those Quinn holds dear, and even herself, the trio must team up to stop this nefarious villain from draining anymore Goddesses and uncover which Goddess gave him his powers to begin with. With a scheming council, a rogue, and some surprising family ties it’s sure to be a bumpy journey. Will the trio make it out intact, or will one or all of them be forever changed?

Under the Moon was an enjoyable read with a fast-moving plot full of suspense and sexual tension. The story reminded me a bit of Rachel Caine’s Weather Warden series, the way it was set up and with two potential suitors and one kick-ass heroine trying her damndest to save the world, and you know from the beginning that one is the only guy for the leading lady. And Quinn was a great leading lady, strong but still obtaining emotional depth. She tries to do right by both Nick and Sam, as well as trying to save other Goddesses when she believes the council isn’t doing enough, putting herself at risk for losing her own powers in the process. Nick was sexy and domineering in that alpha sort of way, the kind of hero that any heroine would swoon over. His and Quinn’s dialogues and scenes were bursting with sexual need, nudging you right to the edge and leaving you grasping until the very last moment. Sam played the nice guy that you hope for the best with but know it will never happen, and then by the end you can’t help but desire a HEA for him too one day. I’m glad he’ll be getting his story next! A good amount of action will keep your turning the pages as well. Overall, Under the Moon was a good read that I’d recommend to anyone who enjoys urban fantasy with a touch steamy.

[Angie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Under the Moon was a pretty good Paranormal Romance. It was different than others I've read, mostly because it's about goddesses. But not the Greek or Roman goddess that we're use to reading about. They're just goddesses, no mythology required. Quinn is a goddess and she draws her power from the moon. While she is extremely powerful, the phases of the moon do leave her without it for much of the lunar cycle. Thankfully, she has a protector for the week of the New Moon, but he's on his way to her early, because there's a leech loose: a man who can drain the powers from a goddess.

I definitely liked the plot of Under the Moon better than the romance. I found the idea of leeches very interesting. Women are the only ones with power, so there are no gods. And a goddess has to willingly give magic to a man in order for him to be able to steal power from another goddess. I loved this whole dynamic! The women are in control, but they're not all powerful. There is a balance, but one goddesses' trust in her man is causing problems for the rest of the community. Quinn is on the hunt for this person, especially when a contact mentions "family ties." Quinn is an only child, adopted, and her adoptive parents are dead. So her only family is possibly evil?

The romance was okay. I was pretty excited at the beginning because Quinn mentions that she uses sex to build up her strength. For years she's been using her assistant, Sam, but she knows he wants more from her and she just doesn't see him that way. Then her protector comes into the picture. Nick and Quinn may only see each other for 12 weeks out of the year, but apparently something has built up in that time. While I did think Nick was a better fit for her, I was kind of hoping Quinn would change her mind about Sam. The falling for your protector thing is pretty cliche, and Sam is 10 years younger than Quinn! I would have loved some older woman with younger man romance! Oh well.

In the end, I did like Under the Moon. The plot was engaging and the world was interesting. The romance was pretty good, even if it didn't go the way I wanted. The one thing I was disappointed in was the lack of sex. When sex magic is mentioned, I expect some sexy times! There is, but nothing really that great.

Read more of my reviews at Pinkindle Reads & Reviews.

[Kasie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Under the Moon has a surprisingly fresh take on the paranormal genre. Yes, of course I've seen goddesses done before, but men hold no power at all? That was new for me.

The world building didn't take much since it's modern time and for me even less because it's mostly based in my home state. Quinn lives somewhere around North West/Central Ohio and within the book they end up traveling to quite a few different states. Complete geek moment when I recognized one of the routes they were driving.

On the subject of driving, I was bothered a little by some of the interactions around the vehicles. Here's a mini rant. Nick drives a classic Charger, and at one point him and Quinn are in the front seat, while another character sits in the back. Somehow this third character (Sam, who is apparently in between 6-7 feet) manages to get out of the car without anyone letting him out. I had to stop, for awhile, until I was mentally able to get past that.

So about 100 women in the US are goddesses and each goddess draws her power differently. Quinn is one of kind of course and uses not only the moon to tap into her abilities, but also uses sex to recharge. Moon Lust. As much as I rolled my eyes at that, it actually helped the story. It may have been mentioned more times than needed but it built the sexual tension in the romance.

The characters importance bounces around a little. Quinn, Nick, and Sam are the 3 major players. Although it's mostly Quinn and Nick with Sam third wheeling it right behind them. That was kind of weird, I'm not going to lie. I can't go into more with spoiling it though. I did really like Sam though, I hope he remains in the series.

The action was sporadic. Just when I thought things were getting exciting, the scene ended. There was about 10% action, 15% sexual tension, and 75% planning/talking. It was a little boring at times. When the action did happen it was true film quality. Explosions, guns, traps, and crazy fire balls.

The ending held a corny note but it wrapped things up pretty well. Overall the Under the Moon was amusing and enjoyable.

[Berenice · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quin Caldwell is one of the hundred goddesses that live in the United States, and like many she uses her powers to help others. You can usually find her in the bar Under the moon that was given to her when her father died.
Like all goddesses she has an element she draws energy from, hers is the moon, which makes her vulnerable under the new moon, that's why she gets Nick Jarrett around that time, he is the protector in charge of her and other goddesses.
Quin's like to think of her life as normal, she is a part of the goddesses society, she works for a living both in her bar and as a consultant goddess, to help her balance it all she has Sam, her trusty assistant and a guy who has a major crush on Quin.
One day Nick calls saying he is coming earlier to protect Quin, it turns out that the goddesses greatest treat has come true, a leech has been made and he is out there stealing the powers of the goddesses. Nick feels like its only a matter of time before he comes and gets Quin. With the goddesses society acting weird with Quin; Sam, Nick and Quin start to dig on their own and get sucked into a world of trouble.

Quin, Sam and Nick are great characters that are interesting and fun to read, and this is the kind of story that if you are like me, you will enjoy it more in its physical format a.k.a. paperback, why? It's because it has those exciting moments when you are given another twist in the plot or something big happens or there is a mystery added to what we know or we thought we knew.
In my case I have little quirks that when the momentum of the story changes or when the story speeds up and this book has a bit of those. I know, would have made this book even greater for me if I had read it in its physical form.
The only problem really was that Quin has certain needs as a consequence of using her power, she needs sex and her thinking about those needs sidetracks us from the story from time to time, which I'm not a fan off. The story doesn't really turn erotic, but it is rather steamy, so yeah I would still recommend this book for adults only.

[Daisy · Rating 2 out of 5]

When I read the summary of this book I was really intrigued by the idea of modern goddesses and all the different ways in which power like that could exist in modern day society. So I was a bit disappointed when there wasn't much explained and/or shown about this in the book itself.

I'm probably going to come off negative in this review, but let me assure you that the book wasn't bad, it was just different from what I had expected. And right at the beginning it made me go REALLY?? at one of the plot points. I mean, really, was it necessary for Quinn to have the excuse of needing to recharge her powers for her to have been having sex with Sam, who is sort of her manager? I mean, she's 38, seems to me like she wouldn't need an excuse. And then for her not to kiss him was all a bit too much just making use of someone she claimed to really care about, when she knew he was in love with her. This definitely did not endear her to me.

Also, the events surrounding the threat to the goddesses seemed a bit too convenient to me. It seemed odd that with everyone knowing about goddesses and their being a whole protective movement and society for them that Quinn needed to go after the one draining goddesses herself.
And then there was Quinn's sister who was just so completely too stupid to live! Seriously, that was bad!

But the tension between Nick and Quinn was great and I liked that for the most part Quinn wasn't some helpless female and could hold her own (well, at least during part of the month). This wasn't what I had expect while reading the summary, but it was an ok read.

My rating: 2 stars

[Cocktails and Books · Rating 3 out of 5]

Quinn Caldwell runs a bar, Under the Moon, uses her goddess powers to help others, serves as secretary on the board for the governing body of goddesses, loves her assistant Sam and is in love with her protector Nick. Her life is about to become a lot more complicated when a leech starts stealing goddesses powers and seems hell bent on getting Quinn's.

Nick, Sam and Quinn start their own investigation into the leech and discover that the person responsible for this problem could be a member of Quinn's birth family. They'll cover many miles and have several run ins with the bad guys before this story comes to an end. But along the way, Quinn, Nick and Sam will also learn what they are willing to live without and what they much do to make those they love happy.

I liked Quinn. She was ballsy while being emotionally torn apart by not only her relationship with the two men she loves, but also the family that gave her up when she was a baby. She was the type of woman that people everyone else in front of her if it meant protecting those that she loved. Even with her sister, she was torn between being pissed at her for doing what she'd naively done and wanting to protect her because she didn't know any better.

Nick and Sam both had attributes that I enjoyed, but you could tell each time Nick and Quinn were together that they truly were meant to be together (although a certain male didn't make you feel confident as you read the story that they'd get their happily ever after).

An enjoyable read with a deliciously alpha protector our to ensure his goddess stays safe.

[Traci · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was a bit apprehensive at reading this book at first but now I'm glad I did. The goddess concept is starting to trickle into literature now but it hasn't really taken off. I think it's such a hard thing to do correctly to turn it into a great read. However, I'm very happy I read this. It was such a great book.

There were a few concepts that were a little strange to me, but otherwise, I think the aspect of women having goddess powers and being able to do supernatural things was amazing. The things the women could do were pretty cool. I liked that each woman had their own power source even if they were a tad identical, they all had different ways to tapping into their individual power and the ways they used their powers.

There was a good mix of action and and downtime where the characters were racing to find out what happened to each individual goddess, and how each character fit into their own place within the plot. Also, things weren't just handed away like they are in so many other stories. You were given a chance to figure it out on your own with the characters. As the characters were lead one way, you were lead that way, believing it could be one person when a chapter later you were presented with another aspect that had you believing it was someone else. It was not predictable which is very refreshing!

If you're looking for a good read, that has romance but is more than romance this is the book for you!

Thanks to NetGalley for allowing me to review this book.

[Stacy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have to start out by saying that the cover of UNDER THE MOON does NOT in any way match the story. There is not one motorcycle/motorcycle rider in the whole book and I just don't get why they have someone on one on the cover. Makes no sense.

UNDER THE MOON was a page turner with some nice twist and turns. Quinn was easy to like and the supporting characters brought a great cast to the story. Sam, Quinn's assistant is in love with Quinn and she keeps him at arms length because she is in love with Nick but Sam is still there for her throughout all the conflict and danger as a friend. Nick is Quinn's Protector. He has always loved her but refuses to have a relationship with her because he's her protector. The sexual tension between Quinn and Nick was high. They both want each other but Nick just wont give in for most of the book. When he finally does the scenes between them are HOT.

The world building was full of great explanations and imaginative powers. I loved the whole Goddess storyline. I liked meeting the different goddesses and hearing about what they could do. The action was not lacking. There were plenty of scenes that had my heart beating and had me wondering how the trio would get out of a particular situation.The ending wraps everything up nicely and I'm looking forward to reading what comes next.

[Vicky · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an urban fantasy romance novel with steamy, but not erotic scenes. The main character is Quinn Caldwell, a goddess who draws her power from the moon. This is great when the moon is full, but not so good when there's a new moon. It also cause her to be extremely needy sexually at certain times of the month, an interesting problem for the men in her life - and there is more than one. Nick Jarrett is a goddess protector. He shows up once a month for the week when she is at her most vulnerable. Then there's Sam, the manager of her bar and her relief lover when Nick's not around. Sam is in love with her, but she's in love with Nick - an interesting triangle that causes more than a few problems.

But that's not the main problem in this story. Nick has been declared a rogue and someone is draining goddesses of their power. It's up to Quinn and her friends to find out who's causing the problem before anyone else gets hurt.

This is action/adventure/romance that doesn't stop. Though I'd like to have known more about Quinn's powers and what she does with them, the story is strong enough to do without this knowledge. If you like paranormal romance with lots of action, plot twists and tugs of the emotions, you can't go wrong with this one.

[Ruth · Rating 3 out of 5]

I won this book Under the Moon and just finished reading it. I enjoyed the mystery of trying to find out who created the person draining goddesses of their power and why it all seems to center around Quinn. Quinn is just your normal goddess. She runs a bar with her assistant Sam and uses her goddess power to help people in their lives. When her protector Nick calls say he will be early for his normal visit Quinn begins to worry. Once Nick gets there he tells Quinn and Sam about the problem that has arrived. The problem is that goddess’s are having their powers drained from them. He fears that Quinn will be next. Nick and Sam want to keep Quinn safe but she wants to find and stop the person responsible for it. They guys agree but don’t want her out of their sight. When they start looking for information the head of the Society does not want her help. Quinn will not let that stop her. As she pushes on with Nick and Sam’s help she starts to learn more about her life and finds out more about it then she knew. It will all come down to her.

[Emily (Mrs B's Books) · Rating 5 out of 5]

***May contain Spoilers***
This is a very steamy book (non erotic) that changes up what you think of Goddesses, as Gods not not exist.

Quinn is a Goddess who owns a bar and is only powerful around the full moon, otherwise she is as weak as a human. All Goddesses use their powers to help humans from finding lost keys and healing wounds but the energy has to be replaced and its sex based.

Sam has an assistant Sam who for the last six years has been meeting her admin and re-charging needs, but for the last twelve weeks after realising that he wants more and not given in to her bodies needs.

Nick is her protector and has been since she came into her powers at age 21. He is the man that she has always wanted and never been able to have.

When there are rumours of a leech it is Quinn and her two guys that investigate and family secrets come out of the woodwork.

There is not too much of a love triangle as you can see where things are going and the ending is both explosive and brilliant. I am really looking forward to reading book two.

[Tarran · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quinn Caldwell is the epitome of a modern goddess. Her power source is the moon, her abilities restricted only by physical resources and lunar phase. She runs a consulting business and her father's bar, serves on the board of the ancient Society for Goddess Education and Defense, and yearns for Nick Jarrett, professional goddess protector and the soul mate she can never have.

I quite liked the idea for this series. Instead of being called witches, women of power are called Goddesses. Each Goddess draws her power from different sources and power runs from mother to daughter. There are no male Gods and this leads to the heart of the problem when a leecher is made by infusing the power of a Goddess to a man.

This was a fast paced book and you get drawn to the characters. They were well written and I couldn't put it down. A very good read for people who enjoy reading Rachel Caine.