Divine by Mistake

I purchased this book under "good condition" and the cover is pretty ugly. I wish they would have said that it was going to be as damaged as it is. The interior seems in tact but the cover is just incredibly underwhelming with loads of scratches and what looks like actual bite marks on one corner. I wish I could post a picture.

This is a fantastic stand alone novel. If you've enjoyed Cast's previous tales, or even if you've never read her, you'll find yourself drowning in the lush detail of her doppleganger world called Partholan. Here the Goddess Epona's (goddess of horses and warriors)incarnate or Beloved, a woman who rules in the goddess' stead, has decided to flee her responsibilties and continue her spoiled, somewhat evil life of indulgence. To this end she is able to cast a spell on a relic, send it to Oklahoma in our world and time, and trick her mirror immage, Shannon Parker, into taking her place. Shannon wakes up in an entirely strange world with no clue what's expected of her. She's also engaged and about to be married any minute to a centaur, ClinFinton. But before you get any disgusting ideas like one other reviewer, Clan is High Shaman of the Centaurs and as is tradion can shape shift into human form, though it's quite painful. Due to a tragedy and a coming evil, Shannon (whom eveyone thinks is Rhiannon)and ClanFinton bond together quickly and fall in love. Which is good because they are up against a disease, self doubt, and an extremely evil and hard to kill enemy. I won't ruin the surprise but the bad guys in this book are truly bad and make for a creepy but fulfilling enemy. And the love between ClanFinton and Rhiannon which you might think you would have trouble believing in, is actually extremely engaging. Cast takes her time with this story and weave's a tale well worth reading without rushing us off to any conclusions. I did happen to read this at the same time the follow up book Divine By Choice was coming out. As much as I adored this book and former Cast works, I don't think I will be reading the next book for fear of what happens in that to Rhiannon and ClanFinton's relationship. I prefer to remember them as they are in this one. Maybe my opinion will change in time, but for now I'll happily hold onto this book.

I have read many books by P.C. Cast and I have loved them all so far, but "Divine By Mistake" tops them all. Shannon Parker's journey from Oklahoma high-school English teacher to Parthalon's High Priestess and Goddess Incarnate is an amazing journey not only for the heroine, but also for the reader. I can only highly reccomend this book to fantasy and romance lovers alike. And don't be daunted by the hero - a centaur. I had doubts at first, never being able to imagine that a man/horse/whatever could be sexy, but ClanFintan is an amazing person who not only took Shannon Parker's heart by storm. And don't miss the sequel "Divine By Choice"! These books are definitely must-haves and keepers. Go on and read them, you wont't regret it.

I never read Goddess by Mistake, I had seen it before but passed on it because I really though it was just another romance novel about a woman who is magically transported to another world and gets her dress ripped open and ravished by the sexiest man alive, who just so happens to be in love with her and they romp happily ever after. I also think it was because of the old cover, it didn't grab my attention. P.C.Cast took Goddess, renamed it Divine by Mistake, updated the pop references inside, and made a new cover. I picked it up again and took a chance, it was a good thing I did because I immediately fell right into the story and fell in love with the characters and Author. To me this isn't a romance novel, it's a Fantasy novel. Her writing is very similar to Piers Anthony in my eyes. We have two worlds, two women, one a goddess and the other a normal woman. The goddess Rhiannon is a selfish cold blooded ruler and the other Shannon is a snarky fun loving teacher. Rhiannon is bored with her world, and as we find out later she can see the future of her world and it doesn't look to rosy, so she switches sides with Shannon whom she thinks lives in a world of technology and limitless power. Shannon adapts quite quickly to a land filled with servants and centaurs and being the incarnate of the Goddess Epona. She is the type of gal who reads Shakespeare and Diana Gabaldon, so she isn't really freaked out by the outright craziness she is confronted with. Her friends are mirrored in looks within her subjects and friends and that is familiar to her, making her adaptation smoother. Throw in a Centaur husband, a sweet horse, great clothes and pampering and she is in heaven. Shannon, or Rhea as she is now known, has the power to dream and astral project, she also has all the blessings the Goddess wanted Rhiannon to have but never deserved. The people she is surrounded with quickly learn that she is not the woman they feared, now she is truly their beloved and trust her completely. Shannon cusses, and loves her wine, but she doesn't just sit around all day and get foot massages, she reacts to a great threat and gathers her minions together to face the coming storm like a pro. P.C. Cast can write romance without it being that squelchy bosom heaving grossness, with her it's straight up real feelings and emotional bonding and I appreciated that. Heaven knows what a lesser writer would have done with Clanfintan considering his...assets. I lost myself in this book, isn't that what we all hope for when we open the pages? I finished it reluctantly and will now go onto the second part gladly!!!!

Thirty something high school English teacher Shannon Parker stops at an auction sale where she notices a vase containing a portrait of her on it. She wins the bid with a ridiculously low price tag due to a mysteriously appearing crack inside the vase. On her way home, Shannon is transported from her vehicle to a luxurious temple where her friend Suzanna calls her Lady. She soon learns that the vase was a portal that her "twin" the High Priestess of Epona Rhiannon used for them to switch places; Suzanna is actually Rhiannon's slave Alanna. Centaur ClanFintan arrives with his "horsies" to demand Rhiannon complete the hand-fastening ceremony that would have them married for a year. Shannon goes through the ceremony, but refuses to take any lip (or other body part) from a man built at least down there like a thoroughbred. Instead she treats him and others the same way she taught teenage hormonal maniacs in Oklahoma. As the transplanted Shannon and the shapeshifting centaur fall in love, she tells him who she is while they team up to battle the malevolent Famorians, demonic vampire like evil creatures and to prevent the real Rhiannon from returning. The first "Goddess" book contains the enjoyable ingredients that make these mythological romances fun to read because the different species of legend seem genuine and the strong heroine is ready to do battle; in this case on behalf of her new society, her beloved and against her "twin" and the Famorians using the techniques honed in teaching wars with teenagers. This tale is amusing mostly due to Shannon's observations and quips yet it has its' serious moments too (for instance the worshipped Goddess learns that teachers are treated with contempt (as those who can't teach and are paid accordingly). Though the heroine adjusts too easily, fantasy romance fans will cast about seeking the remaining delightful Goddess tales. Harriet Klausner

I don't think I can ever say enough about this book-it was so fantastic!Just starting her summer vacation as a schoolteacher, Shannon Parker goes to an antique show and buys a vase that transports her to another place and time. Shannon quickly finds out that she has traded places with the High Priestess Epona who could be her twin in body but not personality. While the people around her adore Epona, they also fear her for her vicious temper. Only half recovered from what ever happened to her to transport her to this new place, Shannon finds herself suddenly getting married to a horse (actually a centaur) and it is all she can do to pretend to fill the missing Priestess' shoes! It isn't until her usually pleasant dreams become nightmares that she finds out they are actually visions, that Shannon finds maybe she really has the strength of a goddess. With each new vision Shannon and her husband the centaur, ClanFintan find themselves closer and closer to a battle with a formidable enemy. With the love of her husband, and his people standing with hers they unite the land in a war that will either be their salvation or total annihilation! Ms Cast has written a very powerful novel. We have reincarnation, centaurs, Muses, magic and a really creepy enemy called the Fomorians. Where much of the book could be dark, our heroine refuses to let it. She has such an upbeat personality that makes it hard not to laugh as Shannon constantly has conversations with herself. She sets out to befriend Epona's "slaves" and later the female centaurs (loved them!) because every woman needs good friends; which is something the real Epona would never have done. And the people love her for it! GODDESS BY MISTAKE is written in first person and for most of the book, I didn't even notice. As for our hero, wow! ClanFintan is a centaur that has the ability to transform into a human man. Prior to their marriage, the real Epona had returned all his gifts and he had found her unwilling to go through with the promised marriage. However, to the woman he married he was still a gentleman (gentlecentaur?), and showed every courtesy, so much patience and understanding - this to Shannon who was a completely different woman than he totally expected; remember he thought he was marrying Epona. While Shannon needed his understanding in order to adjust to her new situation, Shannon falls in love with him. The scenes between them are so touching. Rather than the impression of a couple newlywed, it seems that Shannon and ClanFintan have an known each other for a long span of time rather than a couple that just met. The war for their survival was so well written; I had scenes that were reminiscent of battles from LOTRs running through my head. While the battle is a poignant moment in the story, the book itself is so much more; it's ...you will just need to read the book. GODDESS BY MISTAKE was a wonderful story that should appeal to readers of romance, fantasy or mythology. I