[Interim Goddess of Love Blog Tour] Interview with Mina Esguerra + Giveaway!

Hello fellow Interim Goddess of Love fans! If you have read and loved all three books, then you have to read this interview! If not, what are you still doing here? Read all three!

If you were to become a God/Goddess from the IGoL world for one whole day, who would you be and why?

I'd be Diego! Because his "territory" (work and journeys) isn't the type of thing that would make you lose faith in the world and people, I think. Despite the attitude, he's the one actually making things better for people.

But if you were the Goddess of Love and you have the option to help anyone with a love problem, who is the very first person you'll help? Would you go for a celebrity? A friend?

I'd "listen" in on celebrities but I'd help out a friend first, definitely. One friend of mine, in particular, actually did say one time over lunch that she "needed Hannah." So maybe she'd be first on my list haha.

Your most favorite scene from the series?

I really like how the bonfire scene from Queen of the Clueless came out. That was a bit unexpected, but it was probably because I like the guy in that scene that much. So I kind of lingered in the writing of it and made it hotter (that's a pun!) than it maybe should have been.

The burning question: Are you Team Quin, Team Diego or Team Robbie?

As the writer I am so definitely on the team of the one Hannah is with in the last chapter. *nods* As someone who gets to read the finished books sometimes, I weirdly switch teams depending on mood.

Does Hannah's story really end with Icon of the Indecisive? Any plans of writing a spin off series or a short story based on one of the characters? 

It doesn't have to. I'm definitely willing to explore the other characters, or check back in on them at some point. I kind of did that already when I wrote Gifted Little Creatures which features some familiar people, and I did get some requests for a Diego spin-off. Maybe!

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YES TO A DIEGO SPIN-OFF! YES YES YES!!!

BOOK 1 – INTERIM GODDESS OF LOVE
BUY A COPY HERE: Goodreads -Amazon -Smashwords


College sophomore Hannah Maquiling doesn't know why everyone tells her their love problems. She's never even had a boyfriend, but that doesn't stop people from spilling their guts to her, and asking for advice. So maybe it shouldn't be a surprise when the cutest guy in school tells her that she's going to have to take on this responsibility -- but for all humanity.

The Goddess of Love has gone AWOL. It's a problem, because her job is to keep in check this world's obsession with love (and lack of it). The God of the Sun, for now an impossibly handsome senior at an exclusive college just outside of Metro Manila, thinks Hannah has what it takes to (temporarily) do the job.

While she's learning to do this goddess thing, she practices on the love troubles of shy Kathy, who's got a secret admirer on campus. Hannah's mission, should she choose to accept it, is to make sure that he's not a creepy stalker and they find their happily ever after -- or at least something that'll last until next semester. (As if she could refuse! The Sun God asked so nicely. And he's so, well, hot.)

BOOK 2 – QUEEN OF THE CLUELESS

BUY A COPY HERE: Goodreads - Amazon - Smashwords


If you've been feeling neglected by the Goddess of Love lately, don't worry -- Hannah Maquiling, college sophomore, is in training to take over. The Original Goddess is missing, but Hannah is Interim Goddess now, and she should figure out how to solve humanity's love problems soon. Quin (God of the Sun) is still her mentor, still really hot, but apparently isn't as honest about his other earthly relationships as she thought. It's frustrating, and enough to make her check out possibilities with Diego (God of the Sea) and Robbie (Cute Human).

In the meantime, she's decided to spend some of her precious training time helping to break up a relationship, instead of putting one together. Why? Because the girl in question happens to be her best friend Sol, whose boyfriend is stealing not just from her, but from other people on campus. Sol didn't exactly summon the Goddess, but this is what power over Love is for, right? Surely it's not just about matchmaking, but ending doomed relationships too. (Even when it's not what people want.)

BOOK 3 – ICON OF THE INDECISIVE
BUY A COPY HERE: Goodreads - Amazon - Smashwords


College student Hannah Maquiling, also temporarily working as the Goddess of Love, has had enough of everyone asking for her help when it comes to relationships. It's her turn to find romance! She deserves it, after serving as matchmaker and confidant to everyone else in Ford River College for the past year. She's had a crush on handsome senior (and God of the Sun) Quin forever, but he's destined to fall in love with an extraordinary mortal woman, so she's figured her chances with him have pretty much dropped to zero.

It's not like she doesn't have any options for a classic college romance though. There's Diego, God of the Sea and Quin's best friend/enemy. And regular guy Robbie is stepping up, making sure she knows how he feels about her. How hard can it be for a goddess to find someone to love, and be loved in return?

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GIVEAWAY TIME!!!! 

WIN PAPERBACK COPIES OF THE INTERIM GODDESS OF LOVE TRILOGY (International)
WIN TEAM QUIN, TEAM ROBBIE OR TEAM DIEGO KEYCHAIN (Philippines)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Mina V. Esguerra writes contemporary romance, young adult, and new adult novellas. Her young adult/fantasy trilogy Interim Goddess of Love is a college love story featuring gods from Philippine mythology. Her contemporary romance novella Fairy Tale Fail won the 2012 Filipino Readers' Choice award for Chick Lit. Through her blog Publishing in Pajamas (minavesguerra.com), she documents her experiments in e-publishing.

When not writing romance, she is president of communications firm Bronze Age Media, development communication consultant, indie publisher, professional editor, wife, and mother. She created the workshop series "Author at Once" and #romanceclass for writers and publishers.

Find Mna here:
minavesguerra.com
twitter.com/minavesguerra
facebook.com/minavesguerra
http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/3014313.Mina_V_Esguerra

ARC Review: Icon of the Indecisive by Mina Esguerra

Before this review is written, let it be known that I have read the entire series several times in one go.

It gets much better each time I finish reading.

Also, I pledge allegiance to the Sun God, Quin Apolinario.

Title: Icon of the Indecisive by Mina Esguerra
Release Date: June 1st 2013
Published by: Bright Girl Books
Source: Author (Mina, I'm a big fan!)
Buy: Amazon | Smashwords

Summary:

College student Hannah Maquiling, also temporarily working as the Goddess of Love, has had enough of everyone asking for her help when it comes to relationships. It's her turn to find romance! She deserves it, after serving as matchmaker and confidant to everyone else in Ford River College for the past year. She's had a crush on handsome senior (and God of the Sun) Quin forever, but he's destined to fall in love with an extraordinary mortal woman, so she's figured her chances with him have pretty much dropped to zero.

It's not like she doesn't have any options for a classic college romance though. There's Diego, God of the Sea and Quin's best friend/enemy. And regular guy Robbie is stepping up, making sure she knows how he feels about her. How hard can it be for a goddess to find someone to love, and be loved in return?

So while I'm grasping for clues and more clues straight from the mouth of the Gods and Goddesses in this book, Icon of the Indecisive still had some surprises in store for avid followers and ardent readers like me. It's time to choose for our Interim Goddess, and it's not just a matter of becoming the new Goddess of Love. Hannah's heart is also on the line.

Hannah's got more than she bargained for as the day for her to fully assume the role as the Goddess of Love nears. And though she made me sad, irritated me a lot, I know all of that was important for her to complete her journey as the Interim Goddess of Love. Hannah has always been a helpful, kind person, selfless even as evident in the first two books but I wanted her to focus on herself too, to live and experience love for herself because how can she be a Goddess of Love if she hasn't experienced it even once?! And I'm glad that she did, even a little, in this book. I'm glad that she was confused, she was hurt, she was in the denial, that she made a decision for herself and stood by it. I couldn't be more proud of her.

My frustration with Quin's behavior has been building up in the past two books and I am glad, so so glad that it finally made sense in this book. The Sun God has remained mysterious all throughout the series and in Icon of the Indecisive, Quin's presence is more palpable, and his moments with Hannah, short and sweet as always, were a lot more satisfying and romantic. He's "more" in this book. You see him more, you feel him more and you understand him more. I've always been a Quin fan, but Robbie just made me smile often in this book. The more frustrating Quin's character became, the more adorable and lovable Robbie was. He does the things I thought Quin would do, in a sense. At least Robbie had the guts to tell Hannah how he feels and do things to express those feelings, unlike the Sun God, with his roundabout ways of doing things. Whatever happened to Diego? Even the God of the Sea deserves a happy ending too! I still believe that he was a strong, yet unusual contender for Hannah's heart.

Reading Gifted Little Creatures helped me piece together important clues but it was so fulfilling to finally have my suspicions and guesses confirmed in Icon of the Indecisive. Maybe I was as blind as Hannah was at first, but the clues were there, just like how it was for her to finally understand what she stands to gain and lose when she makes her decision. My heart ached so much for Hannah at times. Here she was, supposedly the Goddess of Love and even she couldn't escape the setbacks, the heartaches and heartbreaks of having that feeling. Though I might not agree with how things worked out in the end, it was the logical thing to do. I love how that decision of Hannah lend a bit of 'reality' to the situation they were in. It's not a matter of having someone by her side just because he's there and free, but it's about trying to live the kind of love she wants to have right then and there.

So what makes Mina Esguerra my favorite author? Aside from bringing this one of a kind story to life, it's the way she told Hannah's story and the things that happens to her which I can somewhat relate to. The Interim Goddess of Love series had its mythological side to it, but knowing, reading and understanding the inner workings of the mind and the heart of each character in it is what made this such a lovely series to read. Thank you for the heart thumping romance that made my heart race countless of times, the laughter, the headaches, sadness, the pain of love and the fun reading Hannah's adventures in life and love. Thank you, Mina! This series will always be one of my favorites!

.5

Shining: Worthy of a Goddess' Love!

The .5 was for my initial confusion of Hannah's decision and why she chose that. It's hard to understand it at first, to seize the moment and live, love, now. Also, the frustration for Quin in the first two books! (That's quite a lot.)

Book Cover:
When I first saw this cover, I thought it was the perfect representation of how Hannah is as a college student juggling studies and her role as the Interim Goddess of Love.

Review: Queen of the Clueless (Interim Goddess of Love #2) by Mina V. Esguerra

My android phone and Kindle app has never hated me until this very moment. I kept on pressing the next button but there are no extra pages at the end of the e-book no matter how hard I press.

I want more! More! More!

Title: Queen of the Clueless (Interim Goddess of Love #2) by Mina V. Esguerra
Release Date: February 6th 2013
Published by: Bright Girl Books
Source: Bought / Gifted by author (Thanks, Mina!)
Buy: Amazon (Kindle) | Amazon (Paperback)

Summary:

If you've been feeling neglected by the Goddess of Love lately, don't worry -- Hannah Maquiling, college sophomore, is in training to take over. The Original Goddess is missing, but Hannah is Interim Goddess now, and she should figure out how to solve humanity's love problems soon. Quin (God of the Sun) is still her mentor, still really hot, but apparently isn't as honest about his other earthly relationships as she thought. It's frustrating, and enough to make her check out possibilities with Diego (God of the Sea) and Robbie (Cute Human).

In the meantime, she's decided to spend some of her precious training time helping to break up a relationship, instead of putting one together. Why? Because the girl in question happens to be her best friend Sol, whose boyfriend is stealing not just from her, but from other people on campus. Sol didn't exactly summon the Goddess, but this is what power over Love is for, right? Surely it's not just about matchmaking, but ending doomed relationships too. (Even when it's not what people want.)

Our favorite novice Goddess is back, and she's still getting a hang of using her powers, interacting with confusing, temperamental Gods and just basically trying to learn how to be the Goddess of Love. Now Hannah's caught in a love dilemma involving her best friend, Sol. Oh, and did I mention that she's also trying to catch a thief, who happens to be Sol's boyfriend? You guessed it right, chaos ensues.

Quin, our favorite Sun God, still straight an arrow as ever when it comes to the rules and training Hannah is being such a worrywart, though it's for a reason. I still like how sensible can be, to the point that he becomes a little annoying, because he's right. That also means Hannah doesn't get to have fun. I like how she's standing up for herself, also for a number of reasons. That stubborn streak and spark of feistiness shows there's more to her character than being the usual gentle confidant that she is. Diego took the center stage in this novel, showing more of what the God of the Sea can do. Underneath all the macho facade hides someone who is still capable of caring, someone who has experienced heartbreak just like everyone else. It's a little bit unexpected to see him help Hannah realize a lot of things about her feelings for Quin. Gradually, my impression of this mischievous God is changing. Robbie is still being his cute self and Vida is still being cryptic.

Queen of the Clueless showed more in terms character development and pushes the story further forward. The questions one have in Interim Goddess of Love kept on piling up but some were answered in this sequel, and the reasons we're all looking for as to why Quin, so uptight and responsible God that he is, behaves that way, is revealed. These parts of the story made me love the characters more and made me a step more curious as to what these Gods are really up to and how Hannah really fits in the entire story. This sequel had a more engaging storyline than the first, and made me more emotionally invested in the characters. There were moments when I want to strangle Hannah and knock some sense in Quin. I was frustrated, sad, angry and shocked. But overall, I like how despite her being a Goddess, Hannah was never perfect. She makes mistakes and wrong decisions just like a normal human does and lets her emotion take over once in a while. She over thinks and gets confused and gets hurt too. Also, the introduction of a new character gives the story more intrigue. What role does this person play? How will it affect the already confusing relationships among the Gods and Hannah?

You can feel that the story's almost coming to a close and the cliffhanger ending just builds up the reader's anticipation to the maximum. It made me freak out! What happens now?

----- 

A prequel short story, Gifted Little Creatures, a.k.a. Interim Goddess of Love #0.5 is available for online reading on Wattpad. Read it AFTER you've read Queen of the Clueless and it will shed some light to some of the confusion in both IGoL #1 and #2! (I had an AHA! moment after reading it.)

My rating:

Content (plot, story flow, character):

Diego, the God of the Sea who pretends he doesn't care. Really? Why help Hannah? I love the way he interacted with Hannah in this story more than Quin. Sun God, what is happening to you?

Stunning: Worthy of a Goddess' Praise!

Book Cover:

Love the new cover!

Review: Interim Goddess of Love by Mina V. Esguerra

I'm a little bit reluctant to say this, but as a Filipino, my knowledge of Philippine Young Adult and Chicklit books is very limited. In my entire stint as a book blogger and reader, I have only ever read two, and both left very little impact on me. As a Filipino reader and book blogger, I've been hearing Mina Esguerra's name from friends and fellow readers but I've only decided to give one of her books a try. And I was not disappointed at all.

I think I have just found the first Filipina author whose book I immensely loved, and for that, she is rapidly becoming one of my favorites as well.

Title: Interim Goddess of Love by Mina V. Esguerra
Release Date: January 14th 2012
Published by: Bright Girl Books
Source: Kindle lending (Thanks, Tina!)
Buy: Amazon

Summary:

College sophomore Hannah Maquiling doesn't know why everyone tells her their love problems. She's never even had a boyfriend, but that doesn't stop people from spilling their guts to her, and asking for advice. So maybe it shouldn't be a surprise when the cutest guy in school tells her that she's going to have to take on this responsibility -- but for all humanity.

The Goddess of Love has gone AWOL. It's a problem, because her job is to keep in check this world's obsession with love (and lack of it). The God of the Sun, for now an impossibly handsome senior at an exclusive college just outside of Metro Manila, thinks Hannah has what it takes to (temporarily) do the job.

While she's learning to do this goddess thing, she practices on the love troubles of shy Kathy, who's got a secret admirer on campus. Hannah's mission, should she choose to accept it, is to make sure that he's not a creepy stalker and they find their happily ever after -- or at least something that'll last until next semester. (As if she could refuse! The Sun God asked so nicely. And he's so, well, hot.)

Mina's YA debut novel, Interim Goddess of Love, tells the story of Hannah, a college sophomore who always happens to lend an ear for anyone and everyone's love woes. She might not have a special someone just yet, but that doesn't stop her from giving advices, an encouraging word or two, so she wasn't really surprised when the Sun God, who happens to be a handsome senior studying at the same school, picks her to be the Goddess of Love, temporarily. Hannah's first assignment lands Kathy Martin on her desk, the shy sophomore who wishes she wasn't invisible to everyone else. Kathy has a secret admirer, and Hannah plans to uncover his identity and bring him and Kathy together with her newfound powers. But as always when it comes to love, nothing is ever easy.

I've always loved smart, witty heroines and Hannah is just that. She's got a good head on her shoulders that it isn't a wonder why people are attracted to her. She always seem to know the right things to say to people, but she doesn't sound like someone who is trying too hard to be too smart for her age. You get to feel what it's like to be like her, eighteen, single, trying to navigate the world of relationships and love even when she has no clue just what it is she needs to do. Hannah's voice is very likable, easy to connect with and relate to. She's got a very pleasant personality, she's very nice and has this quiet charm that you wouldn't be able to resist yourself and just cheer for whatever it is she does, relationship wise or not.

Interim Goddess of Love has no shortage when it comes to hot boys. There's Quin, the rich, popular jock who also happens to be The Sun God. He takes his job seriously, and his stoic, oftentimes serious demeanor just adds to the mysterious vibe he projects and it makes him very likable. And then there's Diego, who I took a particular liking to. I like my boys brooding and temperamental, but Diego, for all his reckless, violent and frightening bursts of anger, has a surprisingly nice side to him. Lastly, there's Robbie. If he was part of a boy band, and Quin is the leader, Robbie is the 'cute one', without the divine powers but definitely worth a look as well.

What particularly endeared this story to me was the fact that I was given a glimpse in a story mixed with elements from Philippine mythology. I appreciated our rich culture just a little bit more with the touch of Gods and Goddesses in this book, presented in a more modern form. Mina dropped quite a few hints that will tempt the readers to know more about who they are, and what it's really like being a God and Goddess before and in the modern times. I rediscovered my love for mythology upon meeting the Sun God, the God of the Sea and the Moon Goddess, all of which were brought to life in and presented in a different light.

There's much to be discussed about love in this book, and I loved that even though I am rooting for Kathy and her secret admirer, I find myself wanting to let Hannah have her own happy ending as well. It doesn't seem fair if the Goddess of Love's love life is severely lacking, right? Those fleeting flashbacks of previous lives are very intriguing, but mostly I just want to see Hannah experience some happiness of her own. Hopefully in the next book she does! I am still rooting for her and Quin. :)

Mina Esguerra's awfully sweet, cute and engaging novel, Interim Goddess of Love just made me fell in love with her writing. I found myself wanting and asking for more even when I've reached the last page. This first book in the series will definitely get you hooked! Read the book now!

My rating:

Content (plot, story flow, character):

Oh, Quin! I can't decide if I like you or Diego more!

Stunning: Worthy of a Goddess' Praise!

Book Cover:

I really want a hard copy of this book!