Synopsis –
On the first day of her nude modeling job, Elle
deals with a corpse, an eccentric dark artist, his sexy brother, and a
grandmother that can see someone's future by just touching their hands.
Although these crazy distractions shove her on edge, it's just what she needs
to mend her battered heart and forget about her ex-boyfriend. Besides, she does
get to live in their castle for the whole three months.
Everything seems magical and perfect. Until more
dead bodies are discovered.
There's something going on at night, right in the
artist's garden. Under the moonlight, young women are being cut and sliced, and
no one has a clue to who's doing it. And the more she's around the weird family
in the castle, the more she realizes that they all are hiding secrets.
Goodreads
Link - https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18626645-the-muse
Excerpt:
“Can I take you upstairs to my room?” he whispered. As if
to not give me too much time to think about it, he assaulted me with sweet and
long sugary kisses all over the tops of my cleavage. My nipples pebbled at his
attention. My breasts begged to be released right there on the dance floor in
front of everyone.
“Come with me.” He clutched my behind some more. “God, I’ve
got to have you tonight. Please.”
But before I could answer, someone screamed.
It wasn’t the type of shrill sound that one could hear at a
party where someone let out a loud yell of enjoyment. It wasn’t a cry of
excitement. It sounded like fear. The noise cut through the air and delivered
cold shivers up my spine.
The person screamed again.
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Links –
***Nona’s review of The
Muse by Kenya Wright***
When Elle arrives at the artists’ compound, the first thing
she sees is a body bag being taken away. That would have been my cue to say
“See ya” and tell the cabbie to drive me back to the airport. But Elle is braver
than I am. She is also trapped. Thanks to her controlling, abusive ex she has
only five hundred dollars to her name and posing for the artist Hex is the only
way she can earn enough to remain independent.
If Hex were poor and
untalented, he’d be called an oddball, but since he’s a rich and
famous artist, he’s considered eccentric. Many of his creations are large
interactive works. He seems obsessed with death and dying. Besides dealing with
Hex, Elle also encounters his grandmother, another strange soul, who casts spells.
But is she practicing magic or witchcraft?
Luckily, Elle also meets Alvarez, Hex’s handsome older
brother. He takes care of the business side of Hex’s empire. Alvarez and Elle
are powerfully attracted to each other but a series of macabre deaths interrupt
their budding romance. Al also has a secret. He’s hiding the existence of a
mysterious woman named Dayanara from Elle.
This is the first book in the Dark Art Mystery series, and there is
a lot of darkness in the story. Hex and his grandmother share an obsession with
death and decay. Themes include murder, child abuse, mutilation and crimes from
the past. I found it pretty grim at times. The forces of good vs. evil really have a field day in this tale. Good ultimately triumphs, but at
a very high price.
My favorite parts of the book were the romance between Elle
and Alvarez and Elle’s personal growth. She is trying to break away from her
ex, an artist for whom she served as muse. He refuses to let her go, but his
love is selfish. She’s working on getting stronger and discovering she has
other gifts besides physical beauty. Alvarez encourages this growth. He’s an
awesome, protective, loving character—not just for Elle, but for the rest of
his family. This is a huge burden for him, and Elle is only one who sees what
it’s costing him. I loved the scene where he seduces her by quoting the lyrics
of a Spanish song and the scene where they finally consummate their love.
Be warned, there are some intense themes in this book. But readers who enjoy a romance with an unusual setting and a strong suspense line will want to give The Muse a try.
Kenya Wright always knew
she would be famous since the ripe old age of six when she sang the Michael
Jackson thriller song in her bathroom mirror. She has tried her hand at many
things from enlisting in the Navy for six years as a Persian-Farsi linguist to
being a nude model at an art university.
However, writing has been
the only constant love in her life. Will she succeed? Of course.
For she has been coined The
Urban Fantasy Queen, the Super Iconic Writer of this Age, The Lyrical Genius of
Our Generation. Granted, these are all terms coined by her, within the private
walls of her bathroom as she still sings the Michael Jackson thriller song.
Kenya Wright currently
resides in Miami with her three amazing, overactive children, a supportive,
gorgeous husband, and three cool black cats that refuse to stop sleeping on
Kenya’s head at night.
Follow the tour schedule here
Hah! Kenya I love you! Can't believe you were stopping by with Nona today and I didn't even realize it. :-)
ReplyDelete~Rach