“In book two of the Cupid series, Cupid is still on probation and things are already going to the dogs when granddaddy Jupiter lowers the boom. Well one dog anyway. Dear, sweet, old Miss Eulalie Bidwell had just passed on to her final reward, leaving behind a very rich doggie, Psyche's Folly, a very angry niece and nephew, and two very dear young friends.
Aside from their love of Miss Eulalie, the two young people, Jason Stavros and Merrill Prescott, had little in common. That is until Cupid's momma, Venus, got to thinking. Beautiful, but not too bright, there is sure to be chaos when the goddess of love takes a hand.
Jason is a working man, a carpenter. He'd loved and married a high maintenance woman and had his heart badly broken, not to mention being taken to the cleaners. Ms. Eulalie had helped him pick up the pieces, commissioning him to restore her family home to historical condition. She'd given him a place to live, in the guest house, and custody of her million dollar pet when she passed on. Jason avoids society women like the plague.
Merrill, Ms. Eulalie's attorney, is pure southern society, definitely not Jason's cup of tea. Though the family's old money had been squandered by Merrill's uncle, her grandmother insists that their prestigious name will be sufficient to attract a suitable husband, meaning a man of old southern charm and even older money. Naturally appearances must be kept up, and Merrill did the keeping as best she could. She felt she owed it to the woman who'd raised her. Merrill's father had rebelled against tradition, becoming a flower child. He'd taken to the road with his true love. Though her parents had never married, they were still in love, and still together. They loved their only child as well, but their transient life had not been for Merrill. She'd wanted stability and her grandmother had provided it. Eventually she'd resigned herself to the fact that she would always give in to her grandmother's wishes. Right now she doesn't have the time or energy for dating. At any rate, yankee carpenter Jason Stavros would never fit the bill.
So why would Ms. Eulalie leave her give joint custody of her wealthy pooch to both Merrill and Jason, stipulating that they live together and share in it's care? Cupid and Venus are at it again! Too bad Jupiter's just decided he wants Merrill for himself.
Just to get his way, the head god had ordered all immortals to cease interfering in the affairs of humans, and he's pulled out the big guns, getting grandmother Prescott to back his suit. But the love gods will not be denied. The result is a hilarious comedy of errors as Cupid and Venus go undercover posing as various characters to thwart Jupiter, not to mention Miss Eulalie's greedy relatives who are determined to reclaim their fortune even if it means destroying her good name.
If there is one thing Jason and Merrill agree on, Miss Eulalie had been as sane as she was kind. As they work together to spare her name and her pet, stereotypes fly out the window. Carpenter Jason discovers that southern belles can be handy to have around. Merrill learns that hardworking yankee men have a charm all their own. Will they fall in love? When have Cupid and Venus ever been wrong? Whoops that's how they got in this mess in the first place! Jupiter is not going to be a happy camper. Get ready for book three, Cupid: The Captivating Chauffer.
Reviews based on ImaJinn Books release: March 1, 2000, ISBN #1893896064
Reviewed for PNR Reviews”