Title: The Muse (Beautiful Magic #1)
Author: Lauren Blakely
Genre: Contemporary Fantasy
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Julien Granier is a connoisseur of fine art. Art speaks to him. Now he unimaginably begins to live it. At night at the Musée d’Orsay it comes to life to breathe, entertain and interact with him. A beautiful experience only he sees. 

“Museums are like churches for art. Sacred spaces or holy ground or something.”

When a new Renoir is scheduled to show, Julien immediately feels connected to the woman in the painting. He can’t wait until she comes to him and can interact with him. When she finally comes to life, he is sunk in love with Clio, a woman unlike any he’s met or imagined.

“Yes, that’s it. We come like pilgrims to an abbey to see them.”

Unlike any other Lauren Blakely read, I grabbed this assuming it was another Rom-Com but was not disappointed with this beautiful Contemporary Fantasy. The mystery element is very well done also. I wish that I didn’t have such a hard time looking away from the cover, though. Mmmm. Man candy. 

All in all, The Muse is an inspiring read. See what I did there? I urge Lauren Blakely’s readers to take the leap to something a little outside her box. Even if you don’t ultimately enjoy the genre, you can’t begrudge the smart and magical love tale.

Highly recommend.

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary advance copy of this book.

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