The first time I saw this book I knew that I had to read this one. Not only is the cover fabulous but I also adore the writer. Julian writes sexy stories with engaging plots and witty conversations thrown into the mix. Her new series focusses on the Etruscan Goddesses who are in our modern times almost completely forgotten. I never really heard of them before reading one of Julian’s books and it seems the rest of the world is the same.

What a Goddess Wants is all about Thesan, the Etruscan Goddess of Dawn. Tessa’s life is threatened by an old enemy who’s hungering for revenge Tessa doesn’t deserve. Her life in the last few millennia wasn’t easy. After the rise of the Roman Gods she lost nearly all her duties and after so many years being a party girl can get a bit boring too. Tessa is full of joy and love but her life isn’t what she planned it to be- she struggles with this but she also knows that what she has left is worth living for. I loved that she still stayed strong and never really gave up. She is one of those nice persons you just have to love.

On the other hand we have Caligo of the Cimmerians. At first I was a bit disgusted with myself because I kept imagining The Governator as Conan. But after a few pages I got over that prejudice and finally saw Cal as the hot alpha male that he is. Cal got burned in the past by a selfish goddess who only played with him to keep herself entertained and reach her own goals. He swore to never get tangled up with one of her kind again. But when he sees Tessa and how special she is, he breaks his own rules to keep the one person who makes him feel alive safe.

The attraction between our two protagonists burned hot from the start. I always love the way how Julian makes these instant attractions work. The way she describes the observations and feelings of her characters always draws me. She creates a vivid image not only of the plot itself but also of all emotions involved. The chemistry between Tessa and Cal is explosive. Their passion burns hotter than hot and will make you crave a cold shower pretty fast.

The romance is threaded carefully into the plot. I loved the way action and love were balanced. I never felt overwhelmed by one or the other. The plot moves on in a measured pace with a surprise around one or two corners. For the first book in a new series the “explaining” part isn’t too prominent. We get all the important facts without being info-dumped every third paragraph.

The world around our Etruscan characters is wonderful and fascinating. It’s nice to see an author taking a risk with introducing a not so popular and known culture. The engaging feel comes not only from the setting but also from the characters. Her side cast is varied and I already have some potential candidates I would like to read more about.

What a Goddess Wants is a fantastic start for a series that will surely go directly onto my keeper shelf. Julian’s mix of action, fun and sensuality is just what I want- and I’m happy that she always delivers. You’ve had enough of all the vampires and shapeshifters? You should give these Etruscan Goddesses a chance.

I give What a Goddess Wants 4.5 our of  5 bookies.

***FTC Disclaimer: Most books reviewed on this site have been provided free of charge by the publisher, author or publicist. Some books we have purchased with our own money and will be noted as such. Any links to places to purchase books are provided as a convenience, and do not serve as an endorsement by this blog. All reviews are the true and honest opinion of the blogger reviewing the book. The method of acquiring the book does not have a bearing on the content of the review.