Review: Naughty Cupid by Deanna Wadsworth

2nd Edition

The name’s Lio, and you may have read the beginning of my story in A Cupid’s Wager. Well, hold on to your hats, because there’s more to tell about your favorite cupid working in the Gay Division of the Inter-Dimensional Association of Cupids.

Remember Ethan? That Aztec god of the winds who busted me shooting a closeted human with a gay lust arrow? Yeah, I haven’t been able to forget him either. Even though I have a rule against getting it on with other supernaturals—especially ones working for the Straight Division—my magic is drawn to Ethan and all his tattoos and piercings in a way I cannot control.

But after that night of mind-numbing sex, now I gotta face my evil ex-boyfriend and a suspension by the IDAC for “misplacing” arrows. They took my quiver, and I have to figure out how to get my arrow privileges back before they’re taken forever.

Ethan seems to think he can help me, but I don’t know how anybody can make this cupid believe in love again.

First Edition published as A Cupid's Wager by Dreamspinner Press, 2014.


It ended!


And now I'm sad.

Because this book? It was so much more than what I was expecting. I thought I'd pick up where we left off in A Cupid's Wager and there'd be more snarky, sexy fun.

And there was.

But it was a punch in the feels as well. (I was not expecting to need tissues.) It’s a broken man with a broken heart, a best friend with unquestionable loyalty, and a chance at happiness for someone who really deserves it.

It’s also snarky, and sexy, and completely entertaining.

Lio hides behind walls of humor and sarcasm. He refuses to take things seriously, keeps everyone at a distance, and has lost his faith in love. That's a big deal if you're a cupid. Deep down there is a part of him that wants to believe, but he's older and wiser than the young cupid he once was - the one that put their trust in the wrong love and nearly died in the process. It's a hard lesson learned, and a mistake he refuses to make again.

Ethan is powerful. He’s a proud and fierce warrior, an Aztec god of wind, and despite all of his tattoos and piercings, can rock kohl eyeliner like nobody’s business. He’s intimidating on the outside, but caring and tender on the inside. He's like a big, Aztec kitten.

He’s known the truth about his connection to Lio for longer than Lio can imagine, but denied it. The results of which cost Lio dearly. Now, he’s seizing his opportunity to make things right, and convince the cupid how real their love can be.

It’s hard to believe this story only spans about 5 days because of how patient Ethan is with Lio. Every gentle touch and whispered praise cracks open the safe around Lio’s heart. It’s instalove, all the way, but if there was ever the case of instalove working, it’s soul mates, amiright?

This was really well written and took me completely by surprise. I wanted more. Not because I thought it was lacking, but because I didn’t want to let them go.

It's more than Ethan trying to show Lio how to love again. It's about Lio realizing how important that is in the grand scheme of things. He is a cupid after all, and his arrows are on the line unless he can convince the higher ups that he takes his job seriously and wants to be a better cupid.

Ethan and Lio are great together, and the supporting cast is just as delightful - Walter is a bundle of epic, and Ethan's got a twin - a very fun loving twin.



I did experience a little frustration with this read. Ethan has a knack for withholding information from Lio. He's pretty good at putting off conversations or conveniently leaving key points out, and it left me, as the reader, feeling like I was just as much in the dark as Lio was.

But, it all worked out in the end though, so who am I to complain?

If you like a smidgen of mythology mixed in with contemporary paranormal, and you're looking for a fun read with feels, this is the book for you.


An ARC was provided in exchange for an honest review.

Find out more on Goodreads & Dreamspinner Press.

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