Featured Reader: Kristel Satumbaga-Villar

To celebrate the upcoming release of Icon of the Indecisive, I'm posting readers' thoughts on the Interim Goddess of Love series.

Kristel was one of the first five to send in their thoughts, so she's getting a free Kindle copy of Icon of the Indecisive on release day next week!

Source: iheartorganizing.blogspot.com via Mina on Pinterest

Reading Interim Goddess of Love was like getting inside a time machine and being transported back in the good old days of college -- and maybe high school. It was a fun and exciting ride, as if I was there as one of the students of Ford River College witnessing the events first hand. 

I grew up reading Sweet Valley, Sweet Dreams and Love Stories books, where every story shows me more about the meaning of friendship, loyalty, and of course, dealing with young love. But it deals with American main characters and love interests, which gives me a different experience than what Interim Goddess of Love gave me. With its Filipino touch and setting, I can totally relate to Hannah in Interim Goddess of Love. I saw her as a former high school/college classmate, the type of batchmate you will always remember because she exudes that aura whenever she passes by the hallways, or gets caught up studying in the library -- someone you adore and wish you could be like her. And Quin, Diego and Robbie could be your typical school heartthrobs, whose names you usually write at the back of your notebook binders. 

Oh, I wish I grew up in a school like Ford River college with these wonderful people on it. 

Featured Reader: Katrina Flores

To celebrate the upcoming release of Icon of the Indecisive, I'm posting readers' thoughts on the Interim Goddess of Love series.

I received this through email from Katrina Flores (katrinalyn_erika):

Source: littlemissmomma.com via Mina on Pinterest

I was looking for a good book in National Book Store when I spotted Interim Goddess of Love. Seeing the book's interesting cover, I bought it. I started reading it on the way home. I love the unique plot about Philippine mythology and to make it more entertaining, it becomes modern. Good thing my mom listens to me every time I have stories about a new book I have read. I even read Interim Goddess of Love in school! Even my teacher checked out the book.

What makes the book interesting is Hannah. I think it's cool being able to be a matchmaker or problem solver of Love. And what I love about Hannah is her determination to make someone have their happy endings. She really does her best in everything.

I've been reading books by Mina Esguerra ever since I read "That Kind of Guy." Interim Goddess of Love is the first series that I have read that has the plot of gods and goddesses. It's gotten me hooked on mythology! And also, with Hannah (maybe) finding her own love, I want to know who she ends up with! (But I'm for Quin)

Do you have thoughts on Interim Goddess of Love that you'd like posted here? Send them to minavesguerra@gmail.com. Prizes like Kindle copies of Icon of the Indecisive and other random things are up for grabs!

Featured Reader: Chris Mariano

To celebrate the upcoming release of Icon of the Indecisive, I'm posting readers' thoughts on the Interim Goddess of Love series.

This is from Chris Mariano of Ficsation:

I was vacationing in Boracay when Interim Goddess of Love came out. I bought it on Kindle just as I was leaving the resort for dinner, then finished it before dinner was over. Good thing I was with friends who knew about (and forgave) my tendency to be absorbed by a really good book. I think I left an Amazon review immediately after finishing the book; I enjoyed not only the kilig that came with a well-written YA romance but also what the novella tried to do in introducing Filipino culture to a younger (and maybe even international) audience. 

Towards the end of 2013, my friends and I put up an NGO that advocated Filipino mythology (among other things) and IGoL was part of our 13 books of Christmas :) See how much it's inspired me?

Do you have thoughts on Interim Goddess of Love that you'd like posted here? Send them to minavesguerra@gmail.com. Prizes like Kindle copies of Icon of the Indecisive and other random things are up for grabs!

Featured Reader: Jennylyn Suguitan

To celebrate the upcoming release of Icon of the Indecisive, I asked some readers for their thoughts on the Interim Goddess of Love series.

Source: etsy.com via Mina on Pinterest

This is from Jennylyn Suguitan.

DISCLAIMER: I can be foul-mouthed sometimes.

When I first heard about Interim Goddess of Love, I didn't believe in its premise. I'm a fan of Greek and Roman myth but I don't know much about Pinoy myth. So in one of my random trips in NBS, I decided to give it a shot and I think I can say that it was worth the it.

I think it's very brave of you to actually try and write (and PUBLISH! :D) a book about a pinoy myth fanfiction. I love the characters and the story so now I'm hooked. :D

Hannah was great because she wasn't a whiny bitch. Hannah reminded me so much of Nam from Crazy Little Thing Called Love and I think both Nam and Hannah are adorable.

I liked it that Vida is actually such a Diva (That's an anagram!) with a reason why (she's a goddess, enough said!).

It's a good take on Pinoy mythology and hopefully the other two would include more gods and goddesses.

Do you have thoughts on Interim Goddess of Love that you'd like posted here? Send them to minavesguerra@gmail.com. Prizes like Kindle copies of Icon of the Indecisive and other random things are up for grabs!

Featured Reader: Charmie Saligumba

To celebrate the upcoming release of Icon of the Indecisive, I asked some readers for their thoughts on the Interim Goddess of Love series. 

I've chosen Charmie Saligumba (@chamiepop on Twitter) as the first featured reader. Not because she sent her thoughts first (there will be a future post on who made the first five) but because she actually lives in Bacolod/Negros Occidental and thus had the Creepiest Cool Coincidence while reading the book. :)

Charmie's copy and its post-it bookmarks

I found out about Interim Goddess of Love because I've been a follower since I first laid my hands on No Strings Attached. Since then, I've always looked forward to your work... and I think the only books I haven't bought are My Imaginary Ex and Queen of the Clueless. Haha. :D 

I think that IGoL is such a fresh breath of air. I've read so many Filipino chick lit books and (as far as I am concerned) I've never encountered a story that touched on the topic of Bathala, et al.. the Philippine mythology, which included some "magic" feel into it. It was like eating dark chocolate, it got better as I got into the characters' world. And what's funny and weird was that while I was reading a part about Silay's ancestral house, I was also passing by SILAY, actually passing by a friggin' Ancestral House. That was probably Bathala, telling me, "Told ya!" HAHA. I really found it amazingly-creepy.

Since I haven't read the Queen of the Clueless, I'm on Team Quin. Though that might change if I get to read QotC. :) 

I liked the fact that you made references on Philippine mythology because, sad to say, I honestly can't remember them anymore and it somehow sparked some interest... and the result was a little bit of research on my end. Which I think is great. Since we often forget about our very own mythology when we get into high school.

 Do you have thoughts on Interim Goddess of Love that you'd like posted here? Send them to minavesguerra@gmail.com. Prizes like Kindle copies of Icon of the Indecisive and other random things are up for grabs!