What a fun read!
You’ve seen it all before - books about guardians protecting the Holy Grail or its equivalent, and people trying
to escape a curse. But you have never seen them quite this way!
Justine is Guardian of the Goblet of Eternal Youth. Except that the goblet has the ability to change, so instead
of just watching a fancy cup, she’s actually watching an espresso machine. And her friend, who just happens to have
been turned into a blue-flame-breathing dragon looking for a good time, is watching Justine -at least when she’s not
busy trying to not set something on fire.
Then there’s Derek, thirty, and determined to break the curse that doesn’t allow any male in his family to live
past thirty-one. In theory, breaking the curse shouldn’t be too difficult; simply behead the Guardian and steal the
Goblet of Eternal Youth. No way can Derek bring himself to kill Justine -unless it’s to save himself while she’s
trying to behead him. Which presents its own problem for Justine. She can’t bring herself to behead Derek and save
the Goblet of Eternal Youth -unless it’s to save herself while he’s trying to behead her. Ms. Rowe does a marvelous
job in leaving you in suspense as to whose head will roll and when.
This is an absolutely quirky and delightful read. The secondary characters -some of which are real groaners- are
fun, just to see what form they manifest themselves as. You don’t expect a mind-controlling doorman, or the devil to
grovel, or to have a son. It’s definitely the unexpected cast of characters and situations that gives Date Me Baby,
One More Time, its energy.