The Goddess Test by Aimee Carter follows Kate. Kate moves to a small town with her dying mother because it is where her mother wishes to die. After her friend dives into a river and dies she is visited by Henry who tells her that he will save her friend if she comes to live with him and he tells her to read the story of Persephone. She moves into his home and is told that she must compete several tests in order to become his bride. If she does not pass or chooses not to stay she will not remember anything, and she has to worry about her safety because many of the girls in the past have been murdered before the six months were up.
While this wasn't the most exciting book I've read lately it was a nice romance. Kate is a strong girl who was willing to go to great lengths to save the people she loves. I loved the background of the myth of Persephone that was weaved into the story. The story did drag at times and the constant drudgery of the day to day that living in the mansion made the story flow slowly at times. There was no action and the buildup to the romance was very slow.
Appropriateness: There is no drug or alcohol use or abuse in the novel. The main character does have sex although the sex is glossed over fairly quickly and without much detail. Kate is 18 and the book does not have the feel of a book that would appeal to young teens (although it is not inappropriate for a younger audience). I would recommend this book to girls aged 14+ who were fans of romance with a touch of the paranormal.
