Be My Muse

by Chantelle Blake

Hendrix and Mila’s story


Hendrix Cross, a young talented tattoo artist, has always felt the sting of loneliness and he longs for something — or someone — to fill the void in his cold heart.



He needs a muse.



Life has never been easy sailing for him. Growing up in care left him feeling out of place until he found his purpose and solace working at a tattoo shop owned by Roman Cassidy who took him in when he was eighteen, teaching him the way of life.



But everything changes when Roman’s daughter, Mila Cassidy, moves from the UK to America after a fallout with her mother. Mila, a fashion guru and art enthusiast with a passion for Chanel and tattoos, begins working in her father’s shop and instantly catches the attention of Hendrix, who is instantly captivated by her beauty.



As the pair get to know each other, Hendrix begins to develop an obsession with Mila and is determined to make her his muse.



And when Hendrix sets his sights on something, he doesn’t rest until it’s his.


Be My Muse is a grumpy/sunshine romance with a HEA and is book 1 in The Cross Series.

Genres: Romance

421 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 4, 2024

Reviews

[Hailey · Rating 1 out of 5]

there is a 13 year old girl out there writing better books on a chromebook to publish on wattpad

[zizi · Rating 1 out of 5]

dropped only a few chapters in cuz this shit is written so badly 😭 is the author being chased? cuz for some reason the writing is so fast paced… and it’s kinda giving wattpad. i fear tumblr ff authors write better than this

[hajer · Rating 1 out of 5]

Couldn’t finish it
I don’t know if my brain is slow or the book is rushed
And the FMC was so childish and whiny I wanted to cry
And what’s bad is that i loved the plot and the fact that he’s a tattoo artist

[manda ౨ৎ · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book off of the vibes alone, and so going off the vibes alone...the book scratched the itch I had for a grumpy/sunshine romance where he does anything for her just because she wants it.

For example, this man is literally like her personal photographer and will only have his photo taken willingly if its a) with her in the photo or b) when she's the one taking the photo of him.

[morganinpages · Rating 2 out of 5]

DNF @67%
This book started out so good, but why is this book 400+ pages???? Like I can look past the awful writing and errors on most pages bc this book was extremely entertaining, but it should be at least 100 pages less. Like this book just got so boring really quick so I had to DNF. I honestly thought Hendrix was really cute and I love how obsessive/ possessed he is, but Mila honestly got annoying after awhile. Like why is she making fights with him when they are already together???? And why is she continually asking if he loved his ex girlfriend when he’s repeatedly told her he didn’t???? I really wish this book was shorter and faster paced bc it honestly started off good, but repeating the same thing every day gets boring fast. I saw this book on tik tok, but the stuff I saw literally happened within the first couple chapters which was kinda annoying. Don’t waste your time!!!!!

[Maddy Hookom · Rating 3 out of 5]

I had really high expectation for this book. However, I felt that too much was happening and that I wasn’t getting g what I wanted out of this couple. The 3rd act break up/ almost death scare was really annoying and by that point I was just ready for the book to be over

[Mia Serra · Rating 5 out of 5]

10 out of FUCKING 10

[TomMisha Reynolds · Rating 2 out of 5]

I read this book when it was on Wattpad and I decided to read it again since it’s a published book now because I thought it would be edited and better overall… it’s the EXACT same. Aside from grammar issues the plot is everywhere. It’s like the author tried to fit all her favorite tropes into one book. Nobody’s character seems to be consistent. The FMC is supposedly smart and strong but shows childlike naivety over and over again and the MMC seems to have multiple personalities sometimes. I’m honestly kind of disappointed THIS is the book chosen to be taken from Wattpad when there’s better on there. I mean, the book has a slither of potential but you can definitely tell nobody edited it. It went from Wattpad straight to kindle.

[Lucy · Rating 1 out of 5]

This was not it. I wanted to like this so much. The TikToks I had seen that first drove my interest looked so enticing. The problem lies in the characters and the pacing.

As far as the characters go, Mila had such a child-like behavior to most everything that, especially during the sex scenes, made me so uncomfortable. I can get behind a 23-year-old virgin that's never been kissed (I guess, if I must) but during the first spicy scene, it just made my skin crawl with how she reacted to him. And Hendrix's violent behavior when anyone even looks at Mila, while I guess can be hot, just came across as abusive. Like, dude, get yourself a therapist. All this and the dialogue is just so clunky and stilted. None of it flowed like a conversation, rather it felt like a really poorly written B-movie with even worse actors playing the parts.

And maybe Hendrix's over the top behavior just comes across as bad because the pacing was so weird. We raced through the story to the point that even if there was chemistry between Mila and Hendrix, you wouldn't know because nothing was really built up. I stopped caring about the suspense of the stalker because Mila was just so flagrantly stupid about it. On top of her stupidity, there was just too much going on. Too many side plots, too many hissy fits and crying, too many brawls.

Just not my jam at all.

[Reading Past Midnight · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was obsessively good. Be My Muse is the kind of romance that grips you from the start and doesn’t let go—gritty, passionate, and filled with off-the-charts chemistry. Hendrix and Mila’s story is a perfect mix of grumpy/sunshine, obsession, and deep emotional connection, making it impossible to put down.

What to Expect:
- Grumpy x Sunshine (but make it dangerously intense)
- Tattoo Artist MMC x Fashion Guru FMC
- Obsession & Possession (Hendrix is not subtle)
- Slow Burn That Burns
- Emotional Baggage & Found Family
- A Stalker That Keeps You On Edge

Hendrix? Broody, rough around the edges, and completely lost—until Mila. He’s got that tortured artist vibe, and when he wants something, he doesn’t stop until it’s his. And Mila? Bold, vibrant, and unapologetically herself, she’s the light Hendrix didn’t realize he needed. Their dynamic is electric—every look, every touch, every moment builds until you’re just as hooked on them as Hendrix is on her.

But there’s a stalker lurking in the shadows, and the tension had me on edge the whole time, trying to figure out who it was. The suspense adds a whole new layer to the romance, making every stolen moment between Hendrix and Mila feel even more intense.

The spice? 🔥🔥🔥🔥 (4/5 – steamy, intense, and completely obsessive).

This is not just another grumpy/sunshine romance—it's raw, emotional, and filled with so much longing it hurts. If you love protective, possessive heroes, heroines who can hold their own, and romance that consumes you, Be My Muse is a must-read

[kinky yar · Rating 2 out of 5]

The book was an okay read, but definitely not mind-blowing. The plot was predictable — I could guess most things way ahead, so there wasn’t much to be amused or surprised by. The writing itself didn’t really do it for me either; it felt flat at times and lacked the emotional depth I was hoping for.

Character-wise, I did like Mila’s personality — she had her moments, and I appreciated her independence and wit, but she also frustrated me more than once. As for Hendrix… yeah, not a fan. His whole vibe was just cringey, and I couldn’t take him seriously most of the time.

Not the worst book out there, but I wouldn’t go out of my way to recommend it.

[Louise · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hendrix❤️Mila

Tattoo artists
She’s british in new york
grumpy sunshine
He’s absolutely obsessed with her

I loved this
He was obsessed with her
Literally went to prison for her MULTIPLE times
bail money
I loved it
Loved the mystery stalker thing
I was intrigued the whole way through
Did not expect that end result

[Alice⭐️ · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is really cute. It’s basically a grumpy x sunshine, and I have to say—Hendrix is really grumpy. But he’s also adorable when it comes to Mila. Like the fact that he has Instagram just for her. They’re amazing together.
Even though Cruz has his own charm lol.
It’s a light and quick read, so in that sense, I definitely recommend it.
(I wouldn't say it's spicy)

[Luciana · Rating 1 out of 5]

The book started off ok. I found the story jumping jarring, though it was relevant it also felt like the focus had shifted from the main characters. I thought i could carry on despite the reviews, but honestly guys save your time.

Id love to reread this book after it’s been rewritten because parts didnt make sense. Also the fmc she lacked development.

[Becca G · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a really good book, I loved the dynamic between Mila and Hendrix. I liked how he was able to show his vulnerable side and talk about his emotions, Mila was his safe space and I loved that. Can’t wait to read Xavier’s book and find out his back story!

[Tati♡ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Delicious that's all I will say lamo

[Yas · Rating 1 out of 5]

The plot was so good but the writing was so bad i just finished it out of spite

[Grace · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good plot and likeable characters. Would recommend.

[Rafi]

dnf

[Haddo🖤 · Rating 5 out of 5]

DADDY HENDRIX omggggg
also funny rare books make me laugh
I LOVE THIS MAN I NEED HIM

[Lucia Aguilera · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF

[Talulah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Quick and cute read.

[Alli · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.7⭐️

[Nur · Rating 3 out of 5]

Yazımı kötüydü

Konu fena değil

Karışık biraz

[Kristen Hewitt · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5*

[ian]

saw a tiktok and thought it was cute 🙁, i was tricked. this was so horribly written i got like 20 pages in before i said NOPE!

[Tayla Brook · Rating 5 out of 5]

First time reading a book from this author and she did not disappoint. Can’t wait to continue on with this series! :)

[K.C · Rating 2 out of 5]

EXTREMELY wattpad….like i knew it started on wattpad but damn

[Dyodux · Rating 1 out of 5]

Wtf did I just read? My 11 year old brother could have written this better.
Oddly enough, it was entertaining.

[Z · Rating 1 out of 5]

Rubbish writing, did not complete