CUPIDITY

In this fourth addition to the Romantic Comedy imprint, mythology-obsessed Laura jokingly pleads to Jupiter to send her a boyfriend, and the Roman gods literally come out of retirement to make it happen. They send Cupid, disguised as a beautiful teen calling herself Cupidity, to Laura's Ohio high school. But the disguise will run out in 25 days, so time is precious. While Cupidity attracts plenty of admirers (mostly male), she also makes enemies (mostly female)—and she uses her magic bow and arrow to make some love mismatches (one including Laura's obvious true love, Peter, and the girlfriend of sought-after Jake). Laura starts to suspect the odd girl, but just as she's putting the pieces together, Laura accidently shoots arrows at Cupidity and the school rebel, causing them to fall in love—and Cupidity to forget her true identity.Now Laura has to find out how to break the spells before Cupid's disguise wears off (conveniently timed with the night of the school Homecoming Dance). The author mixes some funny and creative details into her novel, such as the Mount Olympus Retirement Home in Tarzana, Calif., where the gods currently reside, and readers may enjoy the twists on Roman mythology. Otherwise, this fluffy novel follows a predictable trajectory, and readers may bore of the goose chase even before the big dance climax. Ages 14-up. (Jan.)