Synopsis

From the author of All the Cowboys Ain’t Gone and California Fever comes a romantic comedy about the exuberant intoxication of amore and its often hilarious antics.

Aspiring author Billy Spiers tends to fall passionately in love, but soon, finding something missing, fall quickly out again. His grandmother, who raised him, thinks he needs to settle down and find a mate. When Billy’s on the verge of ending yet another relationship, his grandmother decides to do some well-intentioned meddling.

Kari Porter is not only smart and beautiful but also a writer with passions and sensibilities similar to Billy’s. She loves the same kind of stories, quotes lines from his favorite old poems and songs, and has similar unique takes on Shakespeare–is this the kindred spirit he’s been longing for? Sparks fly, and soon the two are lingering over dinner and taking romantic sunset bike rides along the California coast. They even manage to matchmake their four closest friends.

But artistic types can be overly sensitive. As their relationship rapidly progresses, they become afraid of moving too fast–and of getting hurt. Kari becomes distant, dealing with a crisis she feels she can’t share with Billy, while Billy responds with crazy drastic actions that he thinks might salvage the relationship. Billy’s grandmother can’t help meddling again, sending all three couples to a magical mountain lodge where she and her husband fell madly in love decades before. Mayhem ensues when the enigmatic and impish proprietor of the lodge introduces passion-fueled havoc, pushing the young lovers–inadvertently–in bizarre directions.

A twenty-first century twist on Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Cupid on the Loose is a delightful romp that takes an entertaining and humorous look at the foibles of infatuation, lust, and romantic love.

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Review

I have mixed feelings about this book. I don’t think I realized it was a retelling of Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream, but once I discovered that after the fact, it made a lot more sense.

Billy and Kari are looking for love and think they have found it in each other. However, they don’t talk to each other about any issues. I can chalk part of that up to their age. When we are younger, we haven’t figured out how to talk to people and share feelings and information, or at least not as we do when we are older.

We also have the meddling grandmother. She has a kind heart, but seems to think that everything is all about love, and getting her way when it comes to her grandson. At least her husband isn’t always on board with her meddling.

There are two adorable children at the inn where most of the follies ensue. It is all because of these little mint-like tablets that are infused with something magical. However, it does have some extreme side effects! Many of those situations did make me chuckle.

There are some fascinating characters, and some lively interactions between many of the characters. If you enjoy Shakespeare, you will probably enjoy this retelling.

I enjoyed the book and gave it 3 1/2 paws up.

About the Author

John J. Jacobsen is the author of three novels, including All the Cowboys Ain’t Gone and California Fever. Born in Nevada, he grew up in the West, surfed big waves in Hawaii, circled the world thrice, and survived the sixties and seventies, corporate America, and grad school. Among other degrees, he has an MA in Renaissance literature from Claremont Graduate University. He lives in Nashville, Tennessee.

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