Muse by Susie M. Hanley

****4 STARS!****

**SPOILAGE**

I don't think there are enough nice things I could say about this book. It was well written, the characters were like-able, - with maybe one exception - I very much liked the concept and premise to this book and I really loved that I didn't have to try so hard to suspend reality to make this believable. It did take me a while to finish but it is not for lack of interest in the book. I'm kind of in a stinky-rut I-don't-wanna-read-anything phase. Meh. Hopefully, it'll pass.

The world of Muses and Guardians sucked me in from the moment I read the blurb about Muse. With so many books out there about vampires, werewolves, shifters - the list goes on and on. I was SOOO refreshed and excited to finally read something different.

Shelby is our lead. As a protagonist, I really liked her. She was relatable, sassy, smart - I could talk about her all day. I felt like the author really knew what/who to write about and how to enable readers to identify with Shelby. She really felt like a real woman with real issues you could sit down and have a drink with, [Probably not too much. Shelby's kind of a lightweight. Lol] talk about men with and bitch out your professor with when they give too much homework.

Cal - my G-d, I was really rooting for him. *Sad face* I won't give too much away, but despite his tool-ness, I really did like him, I understood him in some aspects and I *whispers* may have gotten lady wood for him a bit. *Giggles* Shhh. 'Tis a secret. ;]

I really liked how the existence of Muses and Guardians wasn't a secret in Muse. Ya know how usually in most - almost all - books the magic or supernatural element[s] in the story are secret and it's super important that no humans know about it. *Rolls eyes* No, I was so relieved and excited that it was known to the public. I sort of felt this book was a little - and I do mean just a touch - slow-going. And at first, I couldnt really pinpoint what the big-bad was going to be but when it hit, holy nucking futs, I was like "Ohhhh, snizap. This dude is INSANE." Yeah. It was that good. For a second there, at like 74% I got thrown. Maybe it was earlier....I don't remember but I *ALMOST* rolled my eyes.

One of the only things I couldn't really gel with in this book was the love/romance element. It felt a bit coerced. Like, the love triangle thing wasn't really thought out and just added in later. I just think a week is a bit too soon for anyone to fall in love with someone new. Especially since Malcom is a Guardian and Shelby has a bad history with Guardians. I just think she should have been less accepting of him in her life.

The other thing I didn't really like was how she treated Cal. Yes, he was a tool - when you read it, you'll see just how big of a tool - but he's the father of her children. Even when things with Tiffany - one of our big-bad's - and her plotting got better, she was still dismissive and I'd go so far as rude. Still, a full length novel and I only didn't like two things? Great book. Really great book.

I just hope theres a part two or something. The ending left it open to suggestion a little bit.

Click HERE to visit Ms. Hanley's website.

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Click HERE to purchase Muse on Barnes and Noble.

Click HERE to purchase Muse on Amazon. 

I was given this book in exchange for a review but as always, all thoughts and opinions are my own and are really how I feel. As you may have read, I don't give reviews for the fork of it.

Writer's Block & a Quick Update

Recently, I've been going through quite a loooong bout of writer's block.

*DUN DUN DUUUNNNN*  Yes, I know. Booo, hiss and all that jazz. That being said, I do believe I've gotten over it. Or I'm pushing through it, at the very least. And I have to say that I am very pleased with the writing I've gotten done. It isn't much but, what I have gotten done feels like it'll be key to the progress of Caleb's first book.

The title of this series hasn't come to me just yet. However, it will include Death or some variation of the word, as Caleb will die once, if not more, in each book. I plan to have six books, but as of now, I do not expect this series to exceed seven books. Alas, things change and I may want to add ten more.

And now, a quick snippet of some of the things I've just written for Caleb! 

“Are you sure you want me to come upstairs, Caleb? I mean, I am Jailbait and all that.” She pulled the left corner of her bottom lip into her mouth then, her teeth making an appearance for the briefest moment.
    “Let me see some identification.” I’d leaned into the desk by now, putting my face about a foot from hers. She grinned full on and pulled out her wallet, sliding her ID onto the counter between us. I picked it up, examining it unnecessarily. I’d already known she was legal. I also knew she liked that I was a cop. “I think I’ll hold onto this. You’ll get it back in the morning.”
    “That’s assuming I’ll be there until the morning.”
    “Oh, you will.” Giving her my best charming smile, I pushed away from the counter and swaggered  my way to the elevators, closing the doors and riding it up to my floor. I had every confidence that she’d be knocking at my door in less than twenty.
    As it turns out, I was wrong. She made it in less than ten.