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Fates #3
Completely Smitten
Beauty And The Beast… — Allow me to introduce myself: My name is Andrew Vari, and I'm short (very short), and not exactly handsome. Actually, that's only partly true. My real name is Darius, and if you caught a glimpse of my true form, you might just swoon. It was my arrogance about my looks and magical powers that got me into this fix. I'm living under a curse the Fates placed upon me two millennia ago. My penance is to unite a thousand pairs of soulmates—however long it takes.
Here's where things get complicated: You see, I just met the most amazing woman. Her name is Ariel Summers, and she's smart, beautiful, athletic…and very mortal. I should know—I saved her life. But the whole thing happened when I was looking way easier on the eyes. I thought she'd never track me down once I was back in my Andrew Vari “disguise,” but she did, and now—like it or not—she's in my life. The problem is, I do like it—and it looks as if she's falling for me, too…warts and all. I'm so close to completing my mission—but if finding a “true love” for Ariel is my last assignment, this job may never get done
Here's where things get complicated: You see, I just met the most amazing woman. Her name is Ariel Summers, and she's smart, beautiful, athletic…and very mortal. I should know—I saved her life. But the whole thing happened when I was looking way easier on the eyes. I thought she'd never track me down once I was back in my Andrew Vari “disguise,” but she did, and now—like it or not—she's in my life. The problem is, I do like it—and it looks as if she's falling for me, too…warts and all. I'm so close to completing my mission—but if finding a “true love” for Ariel is my last assignment, this job may never get done
352 pages, Paperback
First published May 1, 2002
7 people are currently reading
320 people want to read
About the author
Kristine Grayson
53 books83 followersA pseudonym for Kristine Kathryn Rusch, other pseudonyms include:
Kris Nelscott
Kristine Dexter
Kris DeLake
Sandy Schofield
Kris Rusch
Kathryn Wesley
Kris Nelscott
Kristine Dexter
Kris DeLake
Sandy Schofield
Kris Rusch
Kathryn Wesley
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews
September 14, 2018
I love the premise of the fate series and the modern twists on fairy tails. I loved, loved, loved this one, I can't wait to read more from this author.
July 21, 2015
I want to give this book 5 stars b/c I love Darius aka Andvari aka Andrew Vari so much. I don't think I have ever read a book where I wanted so badly for the main Hero to be an ugly little dwarf. Yet, in this book I so did, don't get me wrong I liked Darius in his true form and when I first started reading the book my mind set was okay he is going to become beautiful and its going to great, but the more I read the more I couldn't get past how so wonderfully cute this ugly little man was and how sweetly vulnerable (even though I know it was Darius Ugly or not who actually felt this way)this ugly little body made him. I loved how beautiful Ariel found his eyes and how she she fell in love with him for him. I did like Arial however wasn't so sure at first, if she were the right one for Dar. oh but so was. Ariels ability to just see things as they were was big reason I liked her. yeah sure she was in the dark about a lot things but she still was so very self assured or her feelings once she figured them out. I don't like to talk about the Fates they bother me but I do love what they did for Dar and Ariel. Now for the reason that I could not give this book a 5 start based on him alone, is because one my biggest complaint its just so PG! However, it didn't bother me as much in this book as the other two did. I also still find it very Hard to like Blackstone, and everything in the ending went way to fast for men and felt the explanation of things could have been better and to be completely honest I'm sad that Andrew Vari is well kinda of no longer. I was made that Darius went back to him true form.
February 17, 2008
Arrogant mage Darius is cursed by the Fates to live as a wizened old man while uniting 100 couples as soulmates. After 3000 years, he is one couple short when he meets Ariel, a triathlete who has an accident hiking by his secluded cabin in the woods.
It has been a while since I read the first two books, so I don't remember much about Darius's role in those romances. This was a cute, if oddly flat, romance. The dual identity plotline led to Ariel having to fall in love twice, all in the span of one book, which felt a little rushed. The ending was also rushed. Overall, however, a fun little read.
It has been a while since I read the first two books, so I don't remember much about Darius's role in those romances. This was a cute, if oddly flat, romance. The dual identity plotline led to Ariel having to fall in love twice, all in the span of one book, which felt a little rushed. The ending was also rushed. Overall, however, a fun little read.
April 26, 2023
Okay, so I read this series 15+ years ago and it has a lasting impression. There are few books I remember from that long ago and at the same time, I want to read again. After some digging, I finally rediscovered the series by name and they're just as fun as I remember ❤️.
These are quick, wholesome, instant love (for the most part), no spice reads so basically perfect for a reading slump or beach read. I really enjoy the dialogue and banter with the side characters - and the regular ties to Kristine's larger universe. Seeing past MCs is always fun.
These are quick, wholesome, instant love (for the most part), no spice reads so basically perfect for a reading slump or beach read. I really enjoy the dialogue and banter with the side characters - and the regular ties to Kristine's larger universe. Seeing past MCs is always fun.
September 4, 2022
I started this as my lounging by the pool book and as is usually the case, I couldn’t stop reading it when I got out. And of course, I didn’t know it was a series, tho I’m glad because I really want the other stories now.
November 21, 2017
A little slow getting started, but cute none the less.
January 1, 2025
Good read
This book opens a list of possibly more books Kristine could write in the set of twisted fairy tails. I love how she does this so smoothly.
This book opens a list of possibly more books Kristine could write in the set of twisted fairy tails. I love how she does this so smoothly.
March 9, 2023
In consequence for his war with Cupid and his arrogance to believe he can interfere in fated lovers, the hero is punished by the fates. They take away his beautiful athletic form and replace it with a 4-foot-tall man with a heavy beard. Now, cursed to spend every day of his life, except for a few precious weeks a year, in the form of a man that's anything but desirable, the hero must also unite 100 fated lovers in order to return to his true form. When he meets the heroine, it's during that selected time when he can be himself. He saves her from a certain death and heals her injuries to the best of his abilities, keeping in mind that it's forbidden to show magic to mortals and the hero will remember the fall that nearly killed her. The heroine is a woman who is used to being on her own. She's never very good at making friends or connecting with people. She'd much rather push her body to achieve top form status in triathlons. But now, she can't even do that because of her busted shoulder. When she meets the hero, she feels an instant and lasting connection but other than one brief kiss, she never really has the chance to know him.
All too soon, he is shipping her off to the hospital-after telling her the kiss was a mistake. But she refuses to give in. Perhaps it's the mystery of no one knowing who this blonde god she describes it or maybe it's that craving inside to find him because she did sort of fall in love with him. Regardless, it appears that her hero has vanished into thin air and the only one she can think of to lead her to him in the short-bearded man who obviously can't stand her. The hero sensed the instant he saw her that she was destined for a true love and as such, forbidden to him. And now that he's back in his cursed form, it should be easy for him to put her out of his mind.... Only, it's not. She's haunts him like a ghost and plagues his every waking and dreaming hour with temptation and longing. She presses him for the whereabouts of the man known as Darius but it's impossible to for tell her the truth. So, he puts on a show. His cursed form is known to be a surly and sarcastic little bastard and he makes use of that attitude towards her but she refuses to give in. She stops asking about Darius, yes, but in place she takes up a far more dangerous mission. She speaks to him with warmth and he to her as well. She buys him a puppy because he needs a familiar and she touches him with kindness and the gentleness of a woman who desires a man. But he is not for her. The only reason she wants him is because cupid shot her with an arrow...right? But what if she wasn't. What if he was cursed by fates and what if he could be free to love her? Would and could she ever forgive his deceit?
This book was fantastic. The cover will have you believe this is an easy rom-com and while it certainly had its funny parts, at the heart of the story is pain, longing and theme of forgiveness. We'll start with the hero because he was the focus of the story. Once arrogant and vain, he is now tortured and far wiser. He may present a surly and grumpy front to the world at large but those who know him can see kindness in his heart. He has a few god friends but he still withholds himself emotionally from them and in a lot of ways, allows a buildup of resentment because they won't push past the walls he's erected. He falls in love with the heroine on sight but the road he must walk, having her close to him daily but forbidden to have for his own, is hard and wrought with heartache and a great deal of pain. He tries so hard to distance himself from her, not because it's something he wants but something he needs. She'd never fall in love with him as he is now even if she didn't have a fated love in her future. He had such sadness about him and the heroine saw it, felt it and it drew her to him because she was just as lonely. The heroine was a woman who refrained from human contact as well and related to the short man. Their relationship was strained and complex as she did love him, just not knowing the little man and her blonde god were the same soul. But as time went on she could start to see the heart of the little man and she fell in love with him more deeply than the blonde god because the emotion was built on something other than lust. The moral of the story was lovely and true and the book was written in a way that made it easy to follow. I anticipate what's next from this author because she certainly has a gift for characterization.
All too soon, he is shipping her off to the hospital-after telling her the kiss was a mistake. But she refuses to give in. Perhaps it's the mystery of no one knowing who this blonde god she describes it or maybe it's that craving inside to find him because she did sort of fall in love with him. Regardless, it appears that her hero has vanished into thin air and the only one she can think of to lead her to him in the short-bearded man who obviously can't stand her. The hero sensed the instant he saw her that she was destined for a true love and as such, forbidden to him. And now that he's back in his cursed form, it should be easy for him to put her out of his mind.... Only, it's not. She's haunts him like a ghost and plagues his every waking and dreaming hour with temptation and longing. She presses him for the whereabouts of the man known as Darius but it's impossible to for tell her the truth. So, he puts on a show. His cursed form is known to be a surly and sarcastic little bastard and he makes use of that attitude towards her but she refuses to give in. She stops asking about Darius, yes, but in place she takes up a far more dangerous mission. She speaks to him with warmth and he to her as well. She buys him a puppy because he needs a familiar and she touches him with kindness and the gentleness of a woman who desires a man. But he is not for her. The only reason she wants him is because cupid shot her with an arrow...right? But what if she wasn't. What if he was cursed by fates and what if he could be free to love her? Would and could she ever forgive his deceit?
This book was fantastic. The cover will have you believe this is an easy rom-com and while it certainly had its funny parts, at the heart of the story is pain, longing and theme of forgiveness. We'll start with the hero because he was the focus of the story. Once arrogant and vain, he is now tortured and far wiser. He may present a surly and grumpy front to the world at large but those who know him can see kindness in his heart. He has a few god friends but he still withholds himself emotionally from them and in a lot of ways, allows a buildup of resentment because they won't push past the walls he's erected. He falls in love with the heroine on sight but the road he must walk, having her close to him daily but forbidden to have for his own, is hard and wrought with heartache and a great deal of pain. He tries so hard to distance himself from her, not because it's something he wants but something he needs. She'd never fall in love with him as he is now even if she didn't have a fated love in her future. He had such sadness about him and the heroine saw it, felt it and it drew her to him because she was just as lonely. The heroine was a woman who refrained from human contact as well and related to the short man. Their relationship was strained and complex as she did love him, just not knowing the little man and her blonde god were the same soul. But as time went on she could start to see the heart of the little man and she fell in love with him more deeply than the blonde god because the emotion was built on something other than lust. The moral of the story was lovely and true and the book was written in a way that made it easy to follow. I anticipate what's next from this author because she certainly has a gift for characterization.
March 21, 2011
Completely Smitten is a modern story featuring the ancient immortal hero Darius, a champion of the original Olympics. Long ago, nearly three thousand years in the past, Dar got a little smart with The Fates, those three Greek deities who determine everyone's fate, whether mortal or immortal. As punishment, he has to match up one hundred couples. Yes, Cupid comes into this story, too -- as Darius's nemesis.
When the story opens, Darius is stuck in a rut after matching up couple ninety-nine. He's in the dumps because it's taken him so long to get within spitting distance of completing his sentence that he's become a laughingstock of the immortal world. Even his best friend, Aethelstan (better known as Alex Blackstone, celebrity chef) despises Darius -- though Aethelstan knows him as his business partner Andrew Vari, and doesn't realize the Vari persona is part of Darius's punishment from the Fates.
Darius gets to inhabit his gorgeous, Olympic champion body for two weeks out of every year, and while out of character (Andrew Vari -- think Andvari, the dour, ugly troll from Norse mythology) he meets a plucky ex-triathlete, Ariel Summers. Ariel has blown out her shoulder with a rotator cuff injury, so her competition days are over. It's a bummer, to put it mildly.
One thing leads to another, and these two are completely smitten almost from the moment they meet, right near the start of the book.
This is a sweet romance with some smouldering in the background, excellent writing, and several effective secondary characters. There's just enough magic on the part of the immortals that it fits firmly in the paranormal genre, without requiring huge amounts of world building. These immortals are everyday people who just happen to have powers they use sometimes to great effect, but often with unexpected and unfortunate results. The attraction between Ariel and Darius, and the obstacles that come between them, are central to the story. Their characters are well drawn, with believable hang-ups and problems.
If I hadn't disciplined myself, I could easily have been glued to the screen of my laptop (where my Kindle app resides) until I'd finished the thing in one go!
If you normally don't read paranormals, you may enjoy this one regardless. The magic is used mostly as backstory, comic relief, and evidence of the human frailty and silliness of the immortals. If you've ever read Bullfinch's Mythology, you'll recognize the trope, but if you haven't, don't let that stop you. No archaeology/history expertise required.
Highly recommended!
When the story opens, Darius is stuck in a rut after matching up couple ninety-nine. He's in the dumps because it's taken him so long to get within spitting distance of completing his sentence that he's become a laughingstock of the immortal world. Even his best friend, Aethelstan (better known as Alex Blackstone, celebrity chef) despises Darius -- though Aethelstan knows him as his business partner Andrew Vari, and doesn't realize the Vari persona is part of Darius's punishment from the Fates.
Darius gets to inhabit his gorgeous, Olympic champion body for two weeks out of every year, and while out of character (Andrew Vari -- think Andvari, the dour, ugly troll from Norse mythology) he meets a plucky ex-triathlete, Ariel Summers. Ariel has blown out her shoulder with a rotator cuff injury, so her competition days are over. It's a bummer, to put it mildly.
One thing leads to another, and these two are completely smitten almost from the moment they meet, right near the start of the book.
This is a sweet romance with some smouldering in the background, excellent writing, and several effective secondary characters. There's just enough magic on the part of the immortals that it fits firmly in the paranormal genre, without requiring huge amounts of world building. These immortals are everyday people who just happen to have powers they use sometimes to great effect, but often with unexpected and unfortunate results. The attraction between Ariel and Darius, and the obstacles that come between them, are central to the story. Their characters are well drawn, with believable hang-ups and problems.
If I hadn't disciplined myself, I could easily have been glued to the screen of my laptop (where my Kindle app resides) until I'd finished the thing in one go!
If you normally don't read paranormals, you may enjoy this one regardless. The magic is used mostly as backstory, comic relief, and evidence of the human frailty and silliness of the immortals. If you've ever read Bullfinch's Mythology, you'll recognize the trope, but if you haven't, don't let that stop you. No archaeology/history expertise required.
Highly recommended!
February 10, 2015
Kristine Grayson is one of many pen names of Kristine Kathryn Rusch. I’m a regular follower of her blog, as she has extensive experience in writing and publishing, and writes some excellent blog posts on the subject. I’ve also read and reviewed her marketing book, Discoverability, which was also excellent.
However, writing about writing isn’t how Rusch/Greyson has made her name (names?). She’s written widely across fiction genres, including romance, paranormal romance, science fiction and fantasy, including for popular lines such as Star Trek. I have been interested in sampling some of her fiction, so was pleased when I found this in my local library, and even more pleased when I found it could count towards my 2015 Reading Challenge, as A Book With Magic.
Completely Smitten is the story of Darius, cursed by the Fates for mocking true love, forced to live in an ugly body until he unites one hundred pairs of soul mates. It’s been three thousand years, and he has just united his ninety-eighth and ninety-ninth couples when he meets—and falls for—Ariel Summers. Unfortunately, he can see she has a soul mate, and his job isn’t to fall for Ariel, but to find and match her with the lucky man. But the path of true love never did run smooth, and Darius has to use more than a little of his magic with Ariel.
And there’s plenty of magic, along with plenty of humour, witty dialogue (truly, some of the dialogue is a study in excellence), excellent characters, and a plot that twists and turns throughout history while remaining firmly anchored in the present.
Best of all, while it was a paranormal romance in the sense that Darius is three thousand years old and has an interesting background (among other things, he inspired many of Shakespeare’s plays), it was a sweet romance with little bad language, no violence, and no sex.
Recommended for those looking for an enjoyable general market romance with no inappropriate content.
However, writing about writing isn’t how Rusch/Greyson has made her name (names?). She’s written widely across fiction genres, including romance, paranormal romance, science fiction and fantasy, including for popular lines such as Star Trek. I have been interested in sampling some of her fiction, so was pleased when I found this in my local library, and even more pleased when I found it could count towards my 2015 Reading Challenge, as A Book With Magic.
Completely Smitten is the story of Darius, cursed by the Fates for mocking true love, forced to live in an ugly body until he unites one hundred pairs of soul mates. It’s been three thousand years, and he has just united his ninety-eighth and ninety-ninth couples when he meets—and falls for—Ariel Summers. Unfortunately, he can see she has a soul mate, and his job isn’t to fall for Ariel, but to find and match her with the lucky man. But the path of true love never did run smooth, and Darius has to use more than a little of his magic with Ariel.
And there’s plenty of magic, along with plenty of humour, witty dialogue (truly, some of the dialogue is a study in excellence), excellent characters, and a plot that twists and turns throughout history while remaining firmly anchored in the present.
Best of all, while it was a paranormal romance in the sense that Darius is three thousand years old and has an interesting background (among other things, he inspired many of Shakespeare’s plays), it was a sweet romance with little bad language, no violence, and no sex.
Recommended for those looking for an enjoyable general market romance with no inappropriate content.
Want to read
January 15, 2015Beauty And The Beast… — Allow me to introduce myself: My name is Andrew Vari, and I'm short (very short), and not exactly handsome. Actually, that's only partly true. My real name is Darius, and if you caught a glimpse of my true form, you might just swoon. It was my arrogance about my looks and magical powers that got me into this fix. I'm living under a curse the Fates placed upon me two millennia ago. My penance is to unite a thousand pairs of soulmates—however long it takes.
Here's where things get complicated: You see, I just met the most amazing woman. Her name is Ariel Summers, and she's smart, beautiful, athletic…and very mortal. I should know—I saved her life. But the whole thing happened when I was looking way easier on the eyes. I thought she'd never track me down once I was back in my Andrew Vari “disguise,” but she did, and now—like it or not—she's in my life. The problem is, I do like it—and it looks as if she's falling for me, too…warts and all. I'm so close to completing my mission—but if finding a “true love” for Ariel is my last assignment, this job may never get done
Here's where things get complicated: You see, I just met the most amazing woman. Her name is Ariel Summers, and she's smart, beautiful, athletic…and very mortal. I should know—I saved her life. But the whole thing happened when I was looking way easier on the eyes. I thought she'd never track me down once I was back in my Andrew Vari “disguise,” but she did, and now—like it or not—she's in my life. The problem is, I do like it—and it looks as if she's falling for me, too…warts and all. I'm so close to completing my mission—but if finding a “true love” for Ariel is my last assignment, this job may never get done
August 24, 2016
The greek myth storyline was interesting, but not enough to save the book. I did like the world the author created, but it wasn't explained enough to suit me and since this was only the third book in the series, it should have been. I was probably most disappointed in Darius. He completely ignores the obvious and it's so frustrating.
*Edit* I just read Utterly Charming (the first book in the series). I now better understand the world and fully recommend that you start at the beginning of this series. DON'T read them out of order. It's very confusing and I think I would have enjoyed the third one more, had I read them in order.
*Edit* I just read Utterly Charming (the first book in the series). I now better understand the world and fully recommend that you start at the beginning of this series. DON'T read them out of order. It's very confusing and I think I would have enjoyed the third one more, had I read them in order.
November 1, 2007
The third book in the series. I liked this story because it was about time Darius/ Andrew Vari found someone. Parts of it did get a bit wearisome, though. The Fates can be amusing, but pages and pages of dialogue among them when they can be so flighty and distracted and they never just answer the question is beyond tedious once you get to the third book. But it was a cute, funny, very interesting story and I couldn't put it down. Actually the past two mornings I've gone into work tired. :-)
July 24, 2011
One of the first, if not the very first, romance novels I ever read. It's definitely not one of the hide-behind-book-covers types of romances. There are no sex scenes. It's just a sweet story (a take on mythology and fairy tales if I remember correctly) that has you smiling. Out of all the books in her series, this has always been my favorite. I love the characters and will go back to read it every once in a while :) It really is a charming story. If you want a light read, check this book out.
January 27, 2016
Completely Smitten like the rest of Grayson's novels in the Fates series is everything an escapist romance should be. Fun, silly, completely unbelievable, romantic, and quick. There are some serious plot holes but when all you want is to escape and have a happy ending, what does that matter. Completely Smitten is not the best but I enjoyed the bits about many different mythologies and by the end, I was very much rooting for Ariel and what's-his-name.
August 8, 2014
Excellent modernized, fractured version of Beauty and the Beast. My favorite, so far, in the series. Darius is amazing, strong, smart, and good gosh I loved reading his thoughts. Ariel is strong and aggressive without becoming overbearing and annoying. Yes, at one point she's stalkerish, but the author deals with it beautifully, never making her heroine seem crazy or stupid.
Wonderful, sweet romance. Will definitely try out the next book.
Wonderful, sweet romance. Will definitely try out the next book.
January 24, 2009
I've been reading this series - light and funny fantasies - lots of sexual tension but not a whole lot of sex. They made me laugh.
• 6 TOTALLY SPELLBOUND
• 5 ABSOLUTELY CAPTIVATED
• 4 SIMPLY IRRESISTIBLE
• 3 COMPLETELY SMITTEN
• 2 THOROUGHLY KISSED
• 1 UTTERLY CHARMING
• 6 TOTALLY SPELLBOUND
• 5 ABSOLUTELY CAPTIVATED
• 4 SIMPLY IRRESISTIBLE
• 3 COMPLETELY SMITTEN
• 2 THOROUGHLY KISSED
• 1 UTTERLY CHARMING
January 2, 2010
This was hilarious! She falls in love with Darius who has to unite 1000 soulmates - and it takes over 3000 years. The last couple is ready. But he falls in love with her, she falls in love with him. But he has to be old and ugly for 50 weeks of the year. Then she falls in love with his alter ego. He doesn't believe it.
January 28, 2013
I never really got into the groove of reading this book. I've read Thoroughly Kissed and I couldn't keep that book down. I read it in 1 day and even stayed up all night just to finish it. I'm not saying this book is not a good read, but I wasn't entirely too excited to read, even the first chapter didn't lure me to read more into it.
Who knows, I might borrow it again. Will see :-)
Who knows, I might borrow it again. Will see :-)
February 6, 2013
I liked this book. Though it did really annoy me how clueless Dar was about her being his soul mate. And how she complained about knowing Dar's secrets when that's half the reason she hunted him down. But besides that good book. Got me back into reading about my Greek mythology type books. I will definitely reread this again.
July 9, 2008
This is not a typical read for me but was a perfect book for laying by the pool and reading in Hawaii. It took me a little while to get into it but I enjoyed it overall.
January 1, 2012
Nice, fluffy read.
July 28, 2011
Absolutely Hysterically funny...and very romantic.
May 12, 2012
A cute, lighthearted and fun read! (Although completely forgettable)
October 1, 2017
It's official. I am now a huge fan of Kristine Grayson's romance novels. Completely smitten, as it were. If you like funny, heart warming and short love stories, then she's the author for you, too.
June 23, 2012
I'll admit to being odd in that my favorite parts were the romance between Ariel and Andrew Vari. The change from the sarcastic dwarf to the tall handsome typical romance hero made me sad.
July 24, 2013
Cute. Kind of a Beauty and the Beast retelling with mayhem provided by Cupid.
May 21, 2017
Too silly
The Fates are entertaining but again Darius like the other characters in these books is not likeable and the reader ends up not really caring what happens to him.
The Fates are entertaining but again Darius like the other characters in these books is not likeable and the reader ends up not really caring what happens to him.
March 12, 2011
Fun, light fantasy romance. Well worth reading!
March 31, 2012
I could not get into this book. Had to make myself finish it. Sorry!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews