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The One Handed Crossed Swords Edition Series - Valentine's Novella

They say you miss 100% of the shots you never take.

Well... they never met me.
I miss 100% of the shots I do take.

When The Cupid is forced on a mandatory vacation due to some... questionable... matches, the Cherubs decide the best way to find his temporary replacement is through a lottery. Pay a few silvers and get added to the drawing. One night over a few beers, my buddies and I decided it would be a fun joke to put our names into the hat. It's not like we'd get picked, anyway.

Only I did.

I, Azrael Veyron, the clumsiest Cherub to ever exist, am now responsible for love matches for humankind. Sure, I have two left feet and can't shoot an arrow to save my life, but I can be creative. I'll figure it out... I don't really have a choice. Magical contracts are binding, after all, and it's only for a month.

What could go wrong?




Author's This is an 18+ erotic novella based loosely on holiday themes. Read accordingly.

190 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 31, 2025

41 people are currently reading
237 people want to read

About the author

G. Eilsel

19 books263 followers
G. Eilsel started writing under this pen name in early 2024, publishing works in two genres she loves: eccentric novellas and MM romance.

Her writing puts a focus on sarcasm, snarky humor, sometimes horrible puns, and steamy scenes that'll make your momma blush. Expect heavy spice, in any sort of variety you're looking for-sweet, emotional, depraved, or downright questionable.

Some of her books are one-handed reads with minimal plot, others are more intricate stories that weave themselves through her brain and demand to be put on paper. Angsty and emotional, light and giggle-inducing, and everything in between can be found between the covers of her books.

She doesn't take herself too seriously, throwing pieces of her humor and quirky personality in her writing. If she can't live up to her title of a One-Handed author, then maybe she can at least make you smile.

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5 stars
154 (39%)
4 stars
159 (40%)
3 stars
64 (16%)
2 stars
12 (3%)
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1 (<1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 112 reviews
Profile Image for Noi (in & out) .
957 reviews564 followers
February 7, 2025
“Everything I feel for you is real, and it’s big and scary and real, Beau.”

“Azrael, ever since the moment I laid eyes on you, I knew you were mine. You looked at me, and I cracked into pieces. I shattered, right there, but you filled those cracks until I wasn’t damaged anymore. You filled every empty corner of my soul with your light and made me whole. You say I’m the strong one, but darlin’, you’re the one that makes me that way. You’re the one that gives me a reason to be strong.”
Profile Image for ⋆★taylor★⋆.
51 reviews
February 15, 2026
This was a really sweet & funny lil novella. Az is a clumsy cherub who wins a raffle to be the temporary Cupid for a month & he ends up falling in love with a human, Beau. Very lighthearted, supernatural fluffy romance but still spicy. Super cute for Valentine’s Day!

Fav parts:
Az accidentally shooting himself with an arrow 😭 i loved when he found out the arrows don’t work on cherubs & he didn’t have to worry his feelings for beau were exaggerated or because of that

“I’ve spent my entire life with wings, but until him, I’ve never understood what it meant to fly.”

“Everything I feel for you is real, and it’s big and scary and real, Beau.”
Profile Image for Belle (on hiatus).
429 reviews46 followers
February 4, 2025
5 ⭐️

I rarely give novellas 5 stars but this was just too cute!

This is about Azrael (a Cherub turned Cupid temporarily) and Beau (small-town Tennessee teacher). When Azrael accidentally steps on his own arrow while facing Beau, he starts to believe his feelings aren't real - so while they fall in love quickly, he's holding back his true self until he knows it's not just the influence of the arrow. Long story short, there's a third-act identity reveal and some gushy ILY's to finish strong.

– Dual pov
– Not entirely sure on sexual history (Azrael seems to know what he's doing, but also maintains that no one really wanted him or to even be friends with him/Beau *might* be a virgin? Or at least never been with a man, because there are some things he says that lead to that, like "Show me what to do" and "There's only *ever* been you" and Azrael reads that he's deeply repressed his sexuality and stuff so not 100% sure but safe
– Cupid H1/human H2
– No cheating or OW/OM drama (Azrael does accidentally shoot a woman looking at Beau and she becomes obsessed with him but that's it)
– HEA ending

Profile Image for 369Pages.
733 reviews38 followers
March 9, 2025
4.5⭐️
A clumsy, asthmatic cherub has to take over the duties of a Cupid. This means that he has to use his subpar archery skills to make humans of the mortar realm fall in love with each other. Well, he’s at a grocery store one day, he accidentally shoots himself in the foot (and I mean this literally) when he sees Beau, a ruggedly handsome country boy.

This book was hilarious and also very cute and sweet. You’re gonna love this if you’re a fan of lighthearted, supernatural romance. In this book, you’ll find instant attraction between the character characters, a whole lot of steamy scenes, hidden identities, and overall lighthearted fluff .

This is an excellent Valentine’s Day read, and I wish that I’d read it closer to the holiday.
Profile Image for Elsie Bartolic.
85 reviews3 followers
January 28, 2025
ARC Review!

This is a super spicy, incredibly cute, nearly instant love story about an adorably clumsy Cupid trying to figure out the reins of his new promotion, and the cinnamon roll southerner who catches his heart while on the job.

Definitely recommended for a spicy short read, and some great laughs at one of the MC's expenses.
Profile Image for Ashley.
614 reviews16 followers
January 22, 2025
This books balances being absolutely filthy while also being giggle out loud sweet. I have no idea how that is accomplished but damn is it good.
Profile Image for ⭐Toonasa⭐ •Romance Book Lovers' Haven•.
1,613 reviews302 followers
February 4, 2025
A cute MM PNR Small-town romance with Cupid x Human, ✨magical✨ archery, Size Difference, pet animals, all the sweetness, some longing, Delulu Stalker & a lil action!
Loved Azrael & Beau, read my #ARC within 5hrs over 2days. For a Valentine coded story, it happens after Feb 🤔.

💘Azrael is a Cherub who 'wins' the cupid position. Az is clumsy, awkward, bad at archery & woefully unprepared. Will it be just temporary, or will Az find his calling? He's shy, but underneath is sassy, tease & playful! Az also has asthma & allergies (tho only seen twice as small book), I don't see much of it in PNR MCs!
✨Beau is a human teacher with many pets in a small town. B's a southern sweetheart, friendly with a golden heart & a pure soul that enamors Az. He's caring, protective, & multi talented *swoon*. Exploring his repressed bi side!

Their story is pretty cute & fast paced. Low Angst, coming from the "wings" secret & an "accidental arrow shot" IYKYK! Az+B are so hot & I love me a vers couple 😍. B likes his cum 😏. The ending's cool, I'd've liked to see the bonding tho! The world building is enough for the story, it'd be fun to visit places in heavenly realm fully in other books! Also, give Micah a book.

Story Ratings:

POV: 1st person, Dual POV
1) Overall Enjoyment—> 5💘/5
2) The Characters: 5/5
3) Top feels: 😍🥺😁😅💘🤨💞😤🥰😭😳😆☺️
4) Steamy scenes: 3/5
5) Levels: Cute+Swoon: 4.5/5
Angst: 2.25/5
Dark: 1.5/5
6) Creativity + world: 4.25/5
7) Plot arc: (Cute Love, Spicy, a "stalker") 4/5
8) Writing style + pace: 4.5/5
Profile Image for Natalie.
576 reviews145 followers
March 3, 2025
Azrael & Beau
Rating: 4.0⭐

- Cherub/Human
- Cupid/Teacher
- Strangers to Lovers
- First Times
- Size Difference
- Hidden Identity

Cute, spicy, and a lot of laughs.

Content Warnings (may contain spoilers):
- Graphic sexual content between consenting adults
- Explicit language
- Gun violence (on-page)

Verse: Yes
HEA: Yes
POV: Dual
Breakup: No
Cheat: No
OM/OW Drama: No, but one of Azrael's stray arrows has a woman accidentally obsessed with Beau.
Ages: 32 & Unknown
Profile Image for Kassie.
361 reviews5 followers
February 2, 2026
The Cupid & his Beau

Stars:⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice:🌶🌶🌶🌶🌶
Plot:5/5
Characters:5/5

This was such a great MM romance.

I loved AZ and his clumsiness. Then you bring in Beau, who is instantly loved.

Beau and Az are great together and I laughed so hard.

The chemistry was all there. I am glad they got their happy ending.

This book has a great checklist of Tropes
Profile Image for Lady Macbeth.
1,129 reviews29 followers
January 25, 2025
4 stars
This is my second book from G. Eilsel and I have to say I really like her style. This novella was hot and sweet, hilarious and a bit bitter at the same time.
I enjoyed very much this unusual love story between a Cherub, who's temporarly working as The Cupid, and a human, a bisexual teacher.
Azrael finds himself in all sort of ridiculous situation, thanks to his clumsiness: a mistake during a job will end with him and Beau strongly attracted to each other.

I loved their dynamic because, while their relationship was evolving, we got to know them under a different light: clumsy awkward Az is actually very determined in bed and he's not shy to ask for what he wants; Beau, confident and at ease with everyone, is more uncertain during intimacy because he never got to have experience with men.
I really liked how Beau helped Az to become more self assured and competent: the parts were Azrael talks about how he's always been treated as an outsider were a little sad.

What prevented me from giving a higher rate:
I'm not sure about how the situation with Delilah ended, but it seemed to me that maybe it should have been some kind of punishment.
I didn't like that there was o safe sex talk between them before intimacy.

I loved Beau and Micah being sort of frenemies and also how things developed at the end.
Overall it was a quick steamy funny story and I recommend it.

I received an ARC of this book from the author and this is my honest review.
Profile Image for Julia Toth.
454 reviews9 followers
January 24, 2025
This was so fun! If you only read 1 Valentine's Day novella then I think this should be it. It's a great spin on the idea of Cupid. I love Azrael and Beau! Azrael's snarkiness and sassiness was great. He's such a fun character and his clumsiness was also hilarious. I laughed a lot while reading this, and even though it's a novella it had a goof amount of plot. The acts and kinks in this novella are some of my favorites ever, so I had a truly fun time reading it.
I loved the insta-lust and also the fact the Beau wanted to take care of Azrael as soon as they met. I loved how there were no set roles and that they switched it up. They were also very sweet and cute, definitely a couple I will remember fondly.

This was an awesome, quick and easy read. Pick it up for a fun and filthy Valentine'a Day read.
Profile Image for Rachael.
4 reviews3 followers
January 25, 2025
ARC REVIEW
*****************
In true G. Eilsel fashion this novella is the perfect amount spice to story to laughter ratio.

Azrael never wanted to be The Cupid. He's ridiculously clumsy and has never been good at anything. But I guess, when you drunkenly decide to put your name in the drawing to be the next Cupid, there's always a chance...

Beau just needed to get cake mix. He has the job to make his cousin a cake and goodness he'll do his best. Walking into that general store wasn't supposed to change his life, but thank goodness it did. He's gorgeous, so sweet and cute. Who could resist Azrael?

I loved the quirks that these characters were given, especially when it comes down to the spicy parts. Are good sweet Beau shows up how naughty he can be 🥵
Overall, this is a cute fun read, and I'm glad I gave it go!
Profile Image for Natalie  H.
3,836 reviews30 followers
September 10, 2025
September 2025
Kindle edition

I wasn't in the mood for this one. Needed to read for a group challenge. The humour was there with Delilah and the flour, plenty of smut, just wasn't feeling it. Beau and Az were pretty standard. Delilah was an annoyance and could've gotten dangerous. I did like the whole Beau/Micah bromance thing. I also got distracted watching Knives out. Great film.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Jessica.
268 reviews
January 20, 2025
Another perfectly spicy novella. I am never disappointed by this author and I am so glad I found her books! :)
Profile Image for Amanda.
2,079 reviews94 followers
Read
February 13, 2026
I love G so much, this one just personally didn't work for me. I'm still very excited to try more in the series!
Profile Image for Renly.
61 reviews9 followers
October 15, 2025
I loved this novella! Az and Beau were so perfect. This was a silly, spicy, and sweet read and I enjoyed every second of it. 🩷
Profile Image for ioana just loves books.
94 reviews1 follower
January 21, 2025
ARC Review

A Spicy MM Novella That Hits the Bullseye

• Rating 4.5/5
• Romance 3.5/5
• Spice Level 3.5/5
• Writing Style 4/5
• Audio Narration N/A

I had the absolute pleasure of diving into an ARC of Quiver by G. Eilsel, and let me tell you—this will definitely not be the last time I read this author!

This adorable, spicy MM novella is part of The One Handed Crossed Swords Edition Series and delivers a delightful mix of humor, charm, and heat. Azrael Veyron, the clumsiest cherub to ever exist, is thrust into the impossible role of temporary Cupid—and the results are as hilarious as they are heartwarming. From his two left feet to his creative attempts at matchmaking, Azrael’s journey is filled with mishaps, laughs, and a surprising dose of swoon-worthy romance.

What stood out to me was how well this novella balanced its elements. The spice was perfectly blended with an irresistibly sweet romance, keeping me hooked from the first page to the last. The characters were not only likable but also endearing, and the chemistry between them practically sizzled off the page.

The writing was polished, the pacing just right, and the overall vibe? Pure enjoyment. Whether you’re a seasoned MM reader or just dipping your toes into the genre, Quiver is a quick and easy read that will leave you with a smile—and maybe even a blush.

Verdict: Quiver is the perfect Valentine’s novella. Equal parts charming and spicy, it’s a Cupid-sized shot of joy straight to the heart. Highly recommend for fans of MM romance who love a side of humor and heat!
Profile Image for caffeinated.crystal .
557 reviews11 followers
February 13, 2025
4.5 ⭐️

After reading and loving, Letters to Satan, I KNEW I'd enjoy QUIVER. Eilsel is back with a novella featuring THE Cupid & a human.

Azrael isn't a great cherub. He doesn't have a lot of friends, and he doesn't fit in. On a dare, he applies to the CUPID lottery and wins! Now he is interim Cupid, in charge of love & soul mates.

On his quest as the Cupid, he meets the very human Beau. They have a meet-ridiculous (think meet-cute but ridiculous) and an instant connection.

You'll enjoy this if you love your novellas to be a little far-fetched and cute. AND dirty, too. There is a significant amount of c*m play in this story, so be prepared for that. I went in unaware, and when the story got frisky, I was like "👀😳👀, that just happened."

Beau and Azrael are feral for each other. The story itself is entertaining and fun & the spicy scenes are 💦 🔥💦 -> that is the first time I've ever used that emoji, but it's fitting for those two and what they get up to.

QUIVER is available now, on Kindle unlimited!
Profile Image for A.G..
249 reviews1 follower
January 22, 2025
I swear, these books are always the best to pull me from a slump, and I jumped to read this ARC when I got it.

This was a sweet, swoony read centered around Azrael, the temporary Cupid who trips on his own feet and can't shoot a bow to save his life. While not as over the top ridiculous as the others in the series, there were several moments that had me chuckling, and I smiled for most of the book. There's enough shenanigans to keep it lighthearted, and there's little to no drama between the couple. Azrael and Beau are loveable, imperfect characters that adore each other, and in turn, I adore both of them.

Everything felt well balanced, between the plot, the relationship, the sweetness, and the spice... but if you've read any of Eilsel's other work, you know when the spice hits, it hits hard, and this is no exception. I loved how easily they found a rhythm with each other, and how dirty these sweet boys could be.
Profile Image for Cath.
87 reviews1 follower
January 30, 2025
Get ready for a delightfully spicy, utterly adorable instant love tale featuring a delightfully awkward Cupid trying to get a handle on his shiny new promotion, and the sweet-as-pie southern charmer who steals his heart!

Azrael finds himself in a hilariously tangled mess—one little blunder at work leads to some serious sparks flying between him and Beau.

Oh, how I adore Azrael and Beau! Azrael’s snarky sass is a total riot. And the instant attraction? Yes, please! Plus, I love how Beau just swoops in to take care of Azrael right from the get-go, helping him strut his stuff with newfound confidence.

These characters are not just lovable; they’re downright endearing, and the chemistry? It practically ignites the pages!

A fun, quick read that’s sure to warm your heart!

💕 Strangers to Lovers
🎂 Cherub/Human
💕 First times
🎂 Hidden identity
💕 Size Difference
🎂 Clumsy/Gentleman
💕 Cum Play
🎂 Toys
Profile Image for Jessica.
90 reviews3 followers
February 5, 2025
Perhaps my favorite so far of G. Eilsel’s One Handed Holiday Crossed Swords Edition novellas, this story was both quite sweet and VERY dirty. Cute personalities, secrets to reveal, and lots of filthy times in bed. And on the countertop. And on a hay bale outside… Az and Beau are an adorable couple who learn to support and trust each other, find a way to meld their two worlds, and survive a shared peanut allergy. Highly recommend for the cute couple, the salacious, sloppy smut, and the character growth along the way!

Mild spoilers below, mostly in the form of my favorite related quotes from the main characters.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Beau: “No one will even see it, and if they do, it’s not like they’d know… but I’ll know. There’s something about being covered in you that just…”

Az: “ Dirty Beau is the best.”
Profile Image for Rae_Reads.
151 reviews8 followers
January 24, 2025
The premise – Azrael is a young cherub who finds himself unexpectedly filling in as The Cupid for a month. He’s a clumsy, hot mess, who couldn’t hit a target with an arrow if his life depended on it. After a botched match attempt, he finds himself pining after Beau, the beautiful bisexual from Tennessee.

This low angst romance has the perfect amount of spice to keep you on your toes, while not taking away from the love story between Azrael and Beau. The best part though – it’s hilarious! I seriously enjoyed reading this, it had me smiling the whole way through.

The spice hits around the halfway mark and when it hits, it hits! Azrael is a little spitfire, and Beau is so hungry for him. It makes for some deliciously spicy scenes.

Overall great novella. Highly recommend it.

"The story of Cupid and his Beau" *swoon*

Vibes:
- Cherub/human
- Low angst
- Clumsy cupid/big southern gentleman
- Size difference
- First times
- C*m play

Rating: 4.5⭐️
Spice: 3🌶️
Profile Image for bookishandferal.
86 reviews8 followers
January 30, 2025
Azrael is a cherub and has suddenly found himself assigned the task of being “the Cupid”. Unfortunately for Azrael, he is not very good at aiming or shooting a bow and arrow, which gets him into some sticky situations during the beginning of his time as the Cupid. (Including but not limited to, showing up at a funeral covered in flour and scaring the 💩 out of the entire family attending)

Insert Beau, big old teddy bear southern gentleman to the rescue! He finds Az in a supermarket, in the midst of one of his….predicaments… and takes him home. Cue adorable bi-awakening (that Azrael totally knew was already there), baking together, bow and arrow practice and a heavy dose of c*m for both of them.

Reasons to read Quiver:
*short, sweet + spicy novella
*cute original plot
*these boys like it DIRTY. I mean dirty. Boundaries were crossed. (I didn’t even know I had boundaries)
*lots of funny LOL moments
*does Azrael have IBS or what keeps making him disappear to the bathroom so much??? Poor Beau 😂
*goats.
*jockstraps.
Profile Image for Ashley Dead.inside_but_reads.
188 reviews27 followers
January 22, 2025
Advanced Copy Review

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶🌶🌶🌶

Ok this book had no business being as cute and hilariously funny as it was. When I wasn't laughing I was swooning. This is a spicy Novella and was only about 160 pages.

Azrael is a cherub that was recently..ugh...promoted (🤷🏻‍♀️) to Cupid. To say it wasn't going great would be an understatement. During one of his missions he meets Beau and well they just click.
Beau feels protective over Az and the patience he has with him just melts my little black heart. I just wanted to wrap Az up at the beginning of this story and keep him hidden away but Beau was absolutely perfect 🥰
The story was pretty low angst so you got to enjoy the laughs and all the swoony moments
Profile Image for Lizzy.
165 reviews17 followers
January 31, 2025

A surprisingly sweet read from G.Eilsels collection of holiday themed short stories. Or ‘one handed holiday novellas’ as the author has titled them 😉

Azrael has won a promotion to the job of ‘The Cupid’. He seems initially to be the clumsiest Cupid to ever take on the job being unable to even shoot his arrows. Queue much amusement as he crawls around on floors arrowing people in the foot in his desperation to hit his target.

Enter the charming southern gentleman Beau and its insta-lust for both of them. Hot and steamy times ensue.

I didn’t expect to find so many sweet and cute moments in what is essentially an erotic novella but these two really wrapped my heart in a warm hug.
There were lots of laughs and lots of awwww’s

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
Profile Image for Alex's Books and Brews.
127 reviews9 followers
February 3, 2025
ℝ𝕖𝕧𝕚𝕖𝕨
💘ℚ𝕦𝕚𝕧𝕖𝕣💘
𝔾. 𝔼𝕚𝕝𝕤𝕖𝕝

𝕆𝕧𝕖𝕣𝕒𝕝𝕝 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
ℙ𝕝𝕠𝕥 📚📚📚📚
𝕊𝕡𝕚𝕔𝕖 🌶🌶🌶🌶

𝙄 𝙟𝙪𝙨𝙩 𝙡𝙤𝙫𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙨𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙢𝙚𝙙 𝙣𝙤𝙫𝙚𝙡𝙡𝙖𝙨!

Quiver is a delightful balance of sweet and scorching! This quick, satisfying novella follows Azrael, a timid Cupid temp with insecurities stemming from a lifetime of being underestimated. His journey of self-discovery as he navigates his new role and a budding, passionate romance with Beau is heartwarming.

Beau's enthusiasm is infectious, and his immediate, almost overwhelming, attraction to Azrael is both endearing and hilarious.

Their interactions are delicious! With Beau's unique and insatiable appetite! 😏

While the story is complete, I really want more! Maybe a novella about the intriguing Micah the Archangel? 🤔
Profile Image for Ronan.
18 reviews4 followers
March 10, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️.5

This novella was so fun! Light, funny, and so so filthy.

I adore Azrael he is so sweet and so clumsy and so hard on himself. He deserves the whole world. Luckily, Beau adores him exactly as he is. I’m not sure how a story can be so sweet and so filthy at the same time but G Eilsel managed it perfectly in Quiver.

This is the perfect book to read as a Valentine’s Day treat, easy to get through in one sitting, or just a nice snack if your in the mood to read some absolutely sinful scenes (so much c💦m play and eating)

I adored this book and these characters ☺️

Tropes;
-1st Person Dual POV
-SO much c*m play
-THE Cupid x Human
-Insta-love
-Clumsy MC
-Just so filthy
-Low angst high heat
-Accidental arrowing
-Southern Accents
Profile Image for Myka Loren.
Author 8 books141 followers
January 21, 2025
This. Book. 👏
The feeeeels. All the dang feels, man!
It was hilarious, sweet, passionate, and downright filthy.
To say I was *enthralled* is an understatement!
The way I adored these two 🥹🥹🥹

Az is a young cherub, still finding his groove in the world, and when he throws his name into the lottery to become the next Cupid, he doesn't expect to win. He does, and he's awful at it. Shenanigans ensue until he crosses paths with our gentle, southern baby doll, Beau.

Gawd, I love Beau.

This is a beautiful romance. Sexy but still sweet.

If you want to swoon and melt, read this.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
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