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Matching Wits with Venus

by Therese Gilardi (Goodreads Author), Stephanie Taylor (Editor), Elaina Lee (Goodreads Author)

4.31 of 5 stars 4.31 · rating details · 16 ratings · 11 reviews

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...more

ebook, 304 pages

Published April 19th 2011 by Astraea Press (first published April 1st 2011)

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Jan 23, 2013 Mareena rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: Anyone who enjoys paranormal romance

Recommended to Mareena by: Amazon

For centuries, Cupid has longed to be more than just Venus' 'arrow boy' - and he has several ideas that he's sure his mother would appreciate, if only she'd listen to him. The problem is, "Happily Ever After By Amelia", the thriving matchmaking business that caters to the Hollywood set is threatening Venus' status as the goddess of love. When Cupid is sent to eliminate "Happily Ever After By Amelia", he is initially very curious about how and why Amelia Coillard has become so successful in her b...more

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Feb 23, 2012 The Project rated it 4 of 5 stars

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Jan 27, 2012 Laura Mcquillen rated it 3 of 5 stars

I have to be honest here - I realize that I'm going against the common opinion with this book. I've read other reviews and I know that most people seemed to really like this book. I was given this book months ago to review, so this review is well past due, but when I started reading it, I only got about 2/3 of the way through it and had to put it down. I kept thinking I would come back to it and try reading it again, but I just haven't been able to make myself do it. I'm solidly in the middle wi...more I have to be honest here - I realize that I'm going against the common opinion with this book. I've read other reviews and I know that most people seemed to really like this book. I was given this book months ago to review, so this review is well past due, but when I started reading it, I only got about 2/3 of the way through it and had to put it down. I kept thinking I would come back to it and try reading it again, but I just haven't been able to make myself do it. I'm solidly in the middle with this review. There were things I liked about this book and things that I didn't like.

The concept is interesting and original. There are several Greek Gods and Goddesses that play a central role to the story and it's interesting and fun to see how the author chooses to portray them. And therein lies one of the biggest problems for me: I didn't like the main characters very well. I didn't get attached to them and I wasn't invested in what happened to them.

Amelia, our heroine, runs her own business, playing matchmaker to the millionaires. She does her job very well and it's amusing to see how the celebrities are portrayed. (Note: No known celebrities are mentioned) She is also very nice to some of the local "colorful" people, which is nice to see. But she is also judgmental and comes across as shrewish - to me.

Colin/Cupid is likeable in some respects, but in other respects he drove me nuts because of his childish/immature behavior with his mother. On one hand it's funny, that this Greek God can be ruled by his mother so completely to the point where he is sneaking off like a teenager trying to get away with something. On the other hand, he is quite literally hundreds of years old and I was often left thinking "grow up! Grow some backbone!" And the role of his best friend, Inuus, in this book confuses me. I couldn't decide if he was Cupid's best friend (which you would think would merit some loyalty) or if he is Cupid's mother's errand boy.

There are other characters in the book, that are central to the plot, that I really did enjoy. Jennie, Amelia's assistant, is a spunky character that I loved. Also, Amelia's mother - she is hilarious in that perfect Hollywood Diva wannabe way and very believable. Justin, the homeless man that Amelia helps, is an interesting character as well.

There were instances in the book that made me almost feel like this should have been given an "alternate reality" type of tag. When Justin sits down at the curb, in the middle of Hollywood and thinks to himself (in essence) "I don't hear any birds singing. Wow, Cupid must have really messed up spring," and the first conclusion that anybody in the near vicinity jumps to when something bad has happened is that the Gods must be angry - this is not my world. Even in Hollywood.

I do remember running into some grammar issues, but it's been a while since I read the book, and I didn't make note of pages or instances, so I just want to make a small mention of that.

This author has some very fun ideas, and a sense of humor. I would definitely not be against checking her out in the future at all. This book apparently didn't do it for me. And there's nothing wrong with that. Not every book is going to appeal to every single person the same way. Absolutely check it out for yourself. You may love it!

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May 27, 2011 Kiki Dufoulon rated it 5 of 5 stars

Amelia always believed in the goddess of love, Venus, as a child - but when her parents marriage falls apart and the goddess ignores her prayers Amelia devises her own way to give people their Happy Ever Afters. Amelia is a successful match-maker, bringing love to everyone who seeks it. Everyone but herself that is, until the gorgeous Colin Cumin walks into her shop. At first he annoys her to no degree, but the more time she spends with him the more Amelia wants him. It's a pity his mother wants...more Amelia always believed in the goddess of love, Venus, as a child - but when her parents marriage falls apart and the goddess ignores her prayers Amelia devises her own way to give people their Happy Ever Afters. Amelia is a successful match-maker, bringing love to everyone who seeks it. Everyone but herself that is, until the gorgeous Colin Cumin walks into her shop. At first he annoys her to no degree, but the more time she spends with him the more Amelia wants him. It's a pity his mother wants nothing more than to see Amelia fail, or worse - see her dead!! Throw the strange goings on with the local wildlife and the problems with her business into the mix, and Amelia becomes one stressed out lady. I have to say, I really love this girl. She's determined and fierce when she has to be, and some what vulnerable at other times. She got it hard for a while, and totally gets what she deserves in the end.

Cupid, aka Colin, has been doing his mother's work for centuries - shooting her arrows and spreading the love. When Venus' methods don't seem to work any more Cupid tries to persuade her into his way of thinking, but finds himself sent off to ruin a mortal match-maker instead. However, when he gets there Cupid ends up falling in love with Amelia, and feels his mothers wrath for it. And the heartache doesn't end there as Cupid then has to hunt Amelia down and prove himself to her before she walks out of his life forever!! I swear I LOVE Cupid!! He's amazing!! The way he treats his women - cause the man has them falling at his damn feet - and his feelings for Amelia made me melt for him. He was nothing but sweet, and he's sexy as Hell. *sigh* Plus, he's a God!! I want some of that!!

I really enjoyed this book. It was such a sweet romance with a great mythical twist. There were so many great scenes in here full of love, heartache, suspense and betrayal. I loved how Therese mixed the Roman Gods into her tale. The whole Venus Goddess of Love trying to out do a mortal match-maker was funny. I loved how determined Cupid was to win Amelia over, like when he took art classes to impress her or when he dressed up like a lemon meringue because he knew that was her favorite dessert. Sweet or what!!? And the of course there's the whole him getting teary eyed when they made love!! *sigh* He is such a surprise considering his Godly status.

Anywho, I enjoyed watching the troubles with Venus and her failure to start the Spring mating season unfold. So much drama with shocking twists and surprises. I was kept on the edge of my seat waiting to see how it all affected Amelia and Cupid, as well as their parents and the whole damn world in fact!! There where a few tears spilt on my part while reading this book. As I said before I love both Amelia and Cupid, so when things started to go pear shaped for them I got all emotional - like when Venus acts a crazy head and locks Cupid away making Amelia think he used her!! And then I cried when they finally make up only to have a major falling out again!! Not good!!

Okay, I don't wanna say too much. Just know that this is an enchanting tale which I think Therese has written beautifully. You'll enjoy it, go grab a copy and see for yourself.

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Nov 30, 2012 Tracy Krauss rated it 4 of 5 stars

Matching Wits With Venus by Therese Gilardi is definitely an imaginative tale, bringing together modern characters and setting with ancient mythology. Amelia runs a successful matchmaking business – so successful in fact that Venus, the Roman goddess of love, is jealous. Thus begins a twisted campaign to malign the human matchmaker. Venus enlists several of her immortal cohorts to spoil Amelia’s business, but not before her son, Cupid, accidentally pricks himself with one of his own arrows. Who...more

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Aug 06, 2011 Inga rated it 5 of 5 stars

My review:

I read this book in one sitting during my holiday, I couldn’t put it down. This book was exactly and little more what I expected. It was smooth reading, with interesting characters, fun plot and of course, there were gods and goddesses. What more do you want during the summer, but romance, witty and fun dialogues and characters and Greek and Roman mythology!?! Therese Gilardi’s book Matching Wits with Venus was exactly all that!

Regarding the plot:

Amelia is a matchmaker who has got a p...more

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Jun 16, 2011 Melissa rated it 5 of 5 stars

*Drools* What an completely delectable read this was. I could not get enough of Cupid or this book. The characters are well developed, extermly 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 awesom...more

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May 18, 2011 Tifferz rated it 5 of 5 stars

Tifferz Take:
I love the cover of this book! This is an exciting book I stayed up all night reading! I could not bring myself to put it down. I loved the mythology and matchmaking going on in this book. Such a sweet love story that had me laughing,smiling and pulling at my heart. The characters are so fun and they are well developed. This book has romance, adventure, action and some unexpected events I did not see coming, but really enjoyed! I would highly recommend this new and fresh clean read....more

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Jun 01, 2011 Englishrose rated it 5 of 5 stars

This was a fun book with a lot of twists and turns. It is an interesting concept to mix the contemporary world with an ancient mythological one - but the author does a good job combining them realistically. Cupid is a cute character that is just a bit naive about the world. Amelia is a tough character who definitely has been hurt before and struggles to open up again. I love how the story developed and grew to places you never expected. There were times that the plot was a little abrupt, but al...more

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Nov 16, 2011 Sarah (Workaday Reads) rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: read-in-2011

This was a refreshing story featuring both Greek and Roman gods. It was easy to see the personality of each of the individual characters. I will admit that it was hard to imagine Cupid as a tall, handsome hunk instead of a naked, winged cherub, but I could get used to it.

This was a sweet romance story. The plot was standard romance: girl meets boy, they fall in love, boy hides secret, girl discovers secret and tells boy to leave, boy works to win girl back, everything has a happy ending. But thi...more

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Jun 11, 2011 Katrina rated it 4 of 5 stars

will post review soon ;)

An enchanting tale filled with love, gods, betrayl and funny moments !! Very witty !! and refreshing, a definetly unique story of its own, that will captivate you and make you wander where Cupid is :O)

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May 19, 2012 Stephanie Taylor rated it 5 of 5 stars

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About Therese Gilardi

Therese Gilardi is a poet, novelist and essayist who lives in the hills above Los Angeles with her husband, children, and various pets. Therese's work appears online in "Literary Mama", "Punchnel's", "The Dirty Napkin", and "The 13th Warrior Review". Therese's essays about her life in Paris, France appear in the anthologies "Knowing Pains" and "So Far And Yet So Near: Stories of Americans Abroad"....more

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Books by Therese Gilardi

Knowing Pains: Women on Love, Sex and Work in Our 40s

So Far and Yet So Near: Stories of Americans Abroad

The Dirty Napkin (Volume 2.2, Spring 2009)

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