Were Vamps Romance: Signed Book Giveaway, Character Guest Post and Book Review with author Therese Gilardi

Thursday, June 16, 2011

Signed Book Giveaway, Character Guest Post and Book Review with author Therese Gilardi

For centuries, Cupid has longed to be more than Venus's arrow boy. When he is sent to eliminate Happily Ever After by Amelia, the matchmaking business threatening Venus's status as the goddess of love, Cupid decides to steal Amelia's methods and make his own matches. While spying on Amelia, Cupid accidentally shoots himself with his magical arrow and falls in love with her. But bereaved Amelia does not believe in the existence of Roman gods, and she certainly is not looking for romance. She is too busy perfecting the patented personality profile that has made her Hollywood's favorite matchmaker.

Disguising himself as a mortal financial advisor, Cupid manages to break through Amelia's guarded exterior. As their passion deepens so does Cupid's guilt about deceiving Amelia. Cupid's interference with Amelia's life causes her business to falter, leads to a sterile spring that threatens the animal kingdom and shatters the longstanding peace between the Roman and Greek gods. With the fate of the natural and under worlds at stake, Cupid must decide whether to reveal his true identity and risk losing the chance to live happily ever after with Amelia.

Review

*Drools* What a completely delectable read this was. I could not get enough of Cupid or this book. The characters are well developed, extremely likeable, and all around fun. They had me giggling, and plain ol' laughing out loud. I found everything you could possibly want was mixed into this book, romance, heartbreak, adventure, action, suspense and betrayal. All of that mixed with twist and turns you can not see coming. Oh, did I mention, it has mythical gods we all love? This was such an awesome read I do encourage you move it to your TBR piles, or go buy it, it will not be a let down.

My Rating 5 stars!

Today Cupid, the hero of “Matching Wits With Venus”, has agreed to speak with me in a small terraced garden off the Piazza Navona in Rome. We meet at a large wrought iron café table, beneath a blue and white striped umbrella. After Cupid kisses me on both cheeks we settle down over salad caprese, pasta and a glass of red wine, which he’s brought from his villa in the Tuscan countryside.

Cupid, where do you live?
I split my time between the Hollywood Hills and the Roman underworld.

Who are the members of your family?
Venus is my mother. My father is Mercury, the messenger god. Concordia, the goddess of harmony, is my sister. Inuus – he’s the god of fertility – is practically a member of the family. He’s been a houseguest for over one thousand years.

What do you do for a living?
(Cupid laughs. I see the slight chip in his front teeth, the only imperfection on his classically proportioned face. No wonder he’s been the model for so many paintings, statues, and poems over the years.) I am known as the god of love.

What are your hobbies?
Ah, of course the chariot racing! Inuus and I love to race our horses round the Coliseum, up the Palantine Hill, and along the cobble-stoned streets of Trastevere. And archery – with Mercury as my father, and my job of shooting arrows on behalf of the love matches made by my mother, I am always using my bow and arrows.

If you don’t mind my saying, you look nothing like the little red cartoon figure shown on Valentine’s Day cards. Does it bother you that you’re portrayed so inaccurately?
(Cupid smiles and runs his muscular hand through his curly hair.) No. Not at all. My concern is making the matches.

Describe yourself in three words.
A great cook.

Really?
(Cupid shrugs his wide shoulders and smiles as he pours me another glass of wine.) What can I say, I’m Italian, cooking is in the blood. I understand that you are the patron of a school that teaches archery to young impoverished boys. (Cupid smiles.) I don’t wish anyone to know of my involvement.

If you could have one wish for the world, what would it be?
(Cupid points at our plates of artichoke pasta, our glasses of wine, and the pot of red geraniums sitting to my left.) That every day be filled with love, passion, and pasta.