"A charming adult fairy tale"

Almost three millenniums ago, the Fates punish skeptic Darius for interfering with Eros' task of firing arrows containing true love to the mortal plane. His sentencing is to match up one hundred soul mates in love, but he must do so in a shrimp short-tempered gnome body instead of his natural handsome hunk figure. After twenty-seven centuries of being the laughing stock of Mount Olympus, Darius has one couple to go.

Taking his annual one-week vacation in the Idaho Mountains in which he allowed to return to his normal body, Darius observes triathlete Ariel Summers calmly struggle to stay alive during a rock slide. He helps her and takes her to his cabin, a shocker because the last visitor was Hemingway over eight decades ago. As they fall in love, Darius worries that Cupid stealthily shot him. What will happen to true love when he returns to his gnome form?

Perhaps the reigning queen of romantic fantasy, Kristine Grayson provides her audience with her usual whimsical yet cute novel. Whether readers find the story line UTTERLY CHARMING depends on taste because for much of the book Darius is as anti a hero as a protagonist can be even if he saves Ariel's life. Instead he is a dumpy grumpy schlump. On the other hand, Ariel is a courageous soul who goes after what she wants without worrying about the outer wrappings. Thus the audience wonders just whom the human really is. Still the story line is amusing for those readers who enjoy a contemporary adult fairy tale.

Harriet Klausner

Reviewed by Harriet Klausner
Posted April 18, 2002

Summary

Beauty And The Beast...

Allow me to introduce myself: My name is Andrew Vari, and I'm short (very short), and not exactly handsome. Actually, that's only partly true. My real name is Darius, and if you caught a glimpse of my true form, you might just swoon. It was my arrogance about my looks and magical powers that got me into this fix. I'm living under a curse the Fates placed upon me two millennia ago. My penance is to unite a thousand pairs of soulmates—however long it takes.

Here's where things get complicated: You see, I just met the most amazing woman. Her name is Ariel Summers, and she's smart, beautiful, athletic...and very mortal. I should know—I saved her life. But the whole thing happened when I was looking way easier on the eyes. I thought she'd never track me down once I was back in my Andrew Vari "disguise," but she did, and now—like it or not—she's in my life. The problem is, I do like it—and it looks as if she's falling for me, too...warts and all. I'm so close to completing my mission—but if finding a "true love" for Ariel is my last assignment, this job may never get done...