Amanda McIntyre, Romance Author Website

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THE MASTER AND THE MUSES ISBN-13: 978-0-373-60544-6 Harlequin Spice-Books www.Spice-Books.com June 2010 Features: Thomas Rodin, Helen, Sara, Grace	The Master & the Muses -Harlequin Spice They are his inspiration. He is their obsession. Icon, rebel, unabashed romantic… with a single look painter Thomas Rodin conveys the ecstasy of creativity—the pleasures awaiting the woman who can fuel his artistry. the Innocent What did this master artist see in me? Genius abided in his soul, rapture in his flesh—I doubted not. To refuse him…my folly. To surrender…my sensual salvation. the Upstart I chafed at the bonds of servitude until he set me free. I turned my back on all that I knew to follow him and found myself between two men—master and student—one whom I loved with my heart...the other with my body. the Courtesan I understood, perhaps better than any, his needs. I stoked the fires of his soul, the spark of his creativity— he made me a legend. But never could I forget his searing touch.… Three transcendent tales of women bewitched by a master of seduction— a slave as much to his art as to his boundless passion. Read Excerpt Free Wallpaper Download click here (123kb)



Prologue I have been called many things--reckless, arrogant, perverted, self-absorbed, and, my personal favorite, an artist of the “fleshy school.” Perhaps these allegations are true, I do not deny them, but to those stifled critics of my work, I turned a deaf ear and listened instead to the beat of my heart, the siren song of my passion. Had I listened to the naysayers of my work, to the critics who sought to box in my genius, my very soul, I daresay I would not have taken up a single brush. In truth, I believe the critics are correct in their assessment of my incorrigible behavior. Daring to be different was, and is still, the very essence of my creativity. I am nothing if not tenacious in my beliefs, and proud to be so. These would-be art connoisseurs know nothing of true art. Their view is monocular, dull and lifeless, linear and plain. It does not see the emotion of a woman’s faint blush of arousal, of her cheeks in bloom at seeing her beloved, of her eyes bright and shining in the afterglow of passion. No, to paint such beauty, one must experience it, feel it and grasp it. No classroom, no stack of books can teach these things. Despite my parent’s wishes, I was not destined to be a religious man. Rather I consider myself a spiritualist, a believer in karma, more so than doctrine. My passion lies in the tip of my brush, but my inspiration are women. They are my muses. I ask you, what creature in all the earth epitomizes such beauty and grace? Many artists have tried to capture the beauty of this world. Even so, there are few things more persuasive than the delicate color of a woman’s flesh. What could be more inspiring than the soft curve of her shoulder poised to carry the burdens of her world or the pout of her sumptuous mouth determined to carry those burdens with dignity? Rescued from the mundane existence of their lives, my muses needed no coercion. Fame, independence, appreciation—that is what I gave them in return. My pulse quickens to think of our conversations, the wine we drank, the free-spirited love we made. I was asked once if I ever loved one more than the other? To that I say, how can a man love only his arm, and not his leg, or his eye, or his mouth? I loved each one for the life she breathed into me, inspiring my work. I could no more hold them to me forever than I could hold a sunbeam. Reality and art, in many ways, are one. To my moral censors, I ask how could I not fall in love with each of my muses? Each represents a part of my soul. No, to each one I was utterly and completely a devoted slave. Did they know this? It will not add to my days to know that answer. Life, love—it is what it is. I was both their savior and their sin. I rescued them from the ordinary, redeemed them with the stroke of my brush. In my quest to capture the perfect image, I may not have been aware of all my muses had to endure. But I offered them new worlds, new adventures. If that makes me a selfish bastard, then I accept my guilt with open arms. Do I have regrets? What good Italian does? The bad has given me a better appreciation for the good. The good reminds me that while it is welcome, it is also fleeting. I have tasted the cup of life and offer no apologies. To you, my muses, I raise my evening port. You have fueled my imagination and lust. Without your inspiration, I would not be the man I am. Helen, my innocent, fervent in your private desires. Sara, my socialite, always reaching for more. And Grace, in saving you, I saved myself. I am forever slave, mentor and pupil to your inspiration, Thomas The story behind MASTER AND THE MUSES: I am very grateful that my editors shared the vision I had of this book. It would have been easier to follow the rules of traditional romance and have three separate artists and the relationship each had with their muse or model. But it would not have been the way the reality portion of this story should have been told. Its' most unique property, perhaps is the fact that I've taken three fictional characters based loosely upon the very real lives of women who posed as models for members of the rebellious artists group, the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood. So little is known about these women--Who were they? Where did they came from? How did they meet? What happened to them after their commission was finished? These artists were young, on fire with their passion to produce works that would outlast their critic s and make their mark in history. That passion for one in particular, was so strong that he radiated with a charismatic charm that drew men and women alike to him. Women were obsessed with him, men wanted to be like him. This is the character upon which I based my hero Thomas Rodin on, if you will permit, admittedly a tarnished hero at that. Its is the story of the journey to happiness of four people, whose lives intertwine over the period of a few years, all with Thomas Rodin as the proverbial maypole of seduction and mayhem. Each women tells her story of how she meets Thomas and becomes his model first, friend, foe and lover. It is there journey--and so too, Thomas's, as each discovers who is the master and who is the muse in this game of passion and romance! Coming Soon! NOTE:These pictures were used only for inspirational purposes Music & Media Pre-Raphaelites at Home by Pamela Todd Pre-Raphaelites in Love by Gay Daly Art & Forbidden Fruit by John V. Le Bourgeois Lizzie Siddal by Lucinda Hawksley The Pre-Raphaelites by Jan Marsh Art Nouveau and the Erotic by Ghislaine Wood Victorian London.com Desperate Romantics-BBC You tube Enchanted Serenity of Period films The Girl with a Pearl Earring-Lions Gate Films Art History, Historical Outline of Famous Artists of the 19th century Vintage Visions Victorian Station The Pre-Raphaelite Critic Pre-Raphaelite Women: Models, lovers, Art-sisters The Beautiful Necessity law.umkc.edu Victorianweb.org Music itunes radio: Classical/Solo Piano music, Sky.fm Ambient/Got Radio Piano perfect Classical/Cinemix/movie soundtracks