A. K. A. Goddess

The Grail Keepers #1

by Evelyn Vaughn

Reporting a break-in, avoiding my overprotective ex-lover, dodging dangerous men out to kill me…not exactly a typical day for a comparative mythology professor. So how did I, Maggi Sanger, get mixed up in all this?

It started with a family legend that connects me to a goddess and charges me with recovering the grail she hid away ages ago. Apparently some powerful people heard the story and are bent on destroying the grail at any cost—including my life. Now I have to find it before the enemy closes in….

Genres: Romance, Paranormal Romance, Mystery, Contemporary Romance, Fantasy, Adventure

304 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published August 1, 2004

About the author

Evelyn Vaughn is one of the nom-de-plume used by southern author Yvonne Jocks. Yes, the pun of E. Vaughn being her first name, Yvonne, is deliberate!

Reviews

[Rhonda · Rating 2 out of 5]

The only reason I had to rate this at 2 stars is because just as much as I hate reading about women-hating men, I have issues with men-hating women. The story was well written and very entertaining, but the main character, Maggi, had such a anti-men cloud around her I just got frustrated with her. Please, Please, Please do not comment on this and start an argument about women's rights, feminine power and such. I am not suggesting all those things aren't good things and have their place and there is a need for them. What I am saying is that Maggi spent most of the book, and the next one, making sure that Lex knew his place. If this book was reversed and Lex was the main character here, you would be hearing major complaints from women about how Maggi was treated. And I am not saying that Lex was a perfect character; not talking about the trust issues Maggi had with him. I am saying that I liked Lex more than I liked Maggi. A man, heck a Person, who cared, loved another person so much they are willing to do anything for the other person. (And the times that the author threw in those flashbacks from their dating past where Lex became chauvinistic felt so off from his character, they seem added so us women would understand Maggi's obvious attitude.) What I am saying, is that from the first moment, Maggi was sarcastic, short tempered and dismissive to almost every other male character in the book. And the author, of course, made them all sound like chauvinistic male stereotypes to help that along. The one "good" male character she had, Rhys, is an "ex" priest. So obviously the standard set here is seriously high, fellas.
I am sorry if this review offends anyone but I truly felt that this book was a toned down male bashing rant at times. I liked the story. I liked most of the characters, including Maggi most of the time. I like that she is a strong female. Kick-butt and take names character. I just feel like her female insecurities about herself and her own capabilities took her waay over the top on how she chose to see and interact with the male characters in the story and for me at least that got irritating.

[Deirdre · Rating 4 out of 5]

For a romance novel there wasn't as much romance as you might expect. Falls firmly within the goddess worshipers being all goodness and light tradition. It would probably also appeal to fans of the Da Vinci Code, Magdeline Sanger (how to flag a character's name 101!) is an interesting heroine and her Nemesis/love interest Lex Stuart is also interesting.
It's obvious that the author has done a bit of research and found some interesting historical, mythological and legendary connections to the Grail. By making it into several goddess-related grails it makes for an interesting series and I'm looking forward to reading more of this.
Actually a few steps above most of your ordinary Mills & Boon/Harlequin romances. In my opinion actually a half step above the Da Vinci Code, with intelligent characters I actually care about, who actually know their fields!

[Lindsay · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book and its sequel are my absolute favorite romance books of all time! Has a very strong heroine character. She and the hero have great chemistry and tension. HOT!

[Lena Loneson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gave this a reread...I seriously miss Silhouette Bombshell, such a fun series full of strong women, romance, and adventure, and Evelyn Vaughn's books were my favourite of the lot.

[Brandi · Rating 4 out of 5]

I actually know Evelyn Vaughn (Yvonne Jocks) personally, and that is the reason I picked up this book. I usually enjoy romance novels, but this is a little less like the romances that you see lately. First, it's a series, and the HEA is a little up on the air. For that reason, in my opinion, it's not a true romance (which is the reason I gave this 4/5 rather than 5/5). But be sure, this is a wonderful, action-packed, great time of a read, and most all will enjoy it. I'm sure I'll pick up the succeeding books too.

[R. · Rating 2 out of 5]

The heroine annoyed me so much. She claimed she had no reason to trust the hero but was keeping huge secrets herself. She constantly thought the worse of a man she had know since kindergarten. She acted like none of it was her own issue. I hate heroines that can’t see past their own nose.

[Charlotte Smith · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was okay for an romance book, I wouldn't rush to finish this series though.

[Patti · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love the idea of Grail keepers.

[Bree Hill · Rating 3 out of 5]

First Bombshell, won’t be my last.

[Tasneem · Rating 3 out of 5]

I adored this book. I love the concept behind the Goddess series. Very well done. The mystery works with the magical and paranormal element very well.

Re-read 01/11/2015
Wow, coming back to this book all these years later just made me realise how interesting it really is. Maggie is so sure that Lex is a bad guy and he is, in that he is involved in Comitatus, but he isn't afraid of the Goddess Cups and is all about balance. It is Phil his cousin who wants to retain his place as the head of the order and who is petrified of feminine and personal power. Probably because he doesn't have any real power himself and has to steal it from others.
I am really looking forward to reading about the Isis Cup. Not got around to reading it until now, but have placed an order for it so expect a review on that soon.

[Kat McKay · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. The author writes well and I found the underlying storyline of Goddess Grails and female secret societies quite intriguing! Usually I don't go for the Silhouettes or the Harlequins, but the plot caught my curiosity and I wish I could find the next one, but it's proving to be difficult (like trying to find a hidden Goddess grail, lol!). My one and only complaint is that the main character is bi-polar when it comes to her on again off again love interest. Sure, it's fun the 1st few times, but having it go back & forth the whole book got tiresome. Fortunately the mystery makes up for it.

[Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

I LOVE this book and the one after it. The character is strong and makes me want to know more about the Goddess and make myself strong myself. I wish that there was a group of women like this in real life so that I could be part of the "sisterhood."

[Lee-Anne Phillips · Rating 5 out of 5]

A gentle knight was pricking on the plain...

This book is part of a series which explores the tension between masculine and feminine magic, right along with a gripping tale of duty and betrayal. I quite liked the entire series, and am difficult to please.