Muse

by Clare London

Gavin McGrath’s art career is in ruins, his health is failing, his wife’s left him because of his promiscuity, and he’s alienated people in the industry with his aggressive and arrogant behavior.

But when a full pot of red paint falls on his current canvas, apparently ruining it, it brings a change in his life he never expected. A strange, beautiful young man appears in his studio as his companion and Muse. Matteo is from another time but he understands artists all too well—and now his place is with Gavin.

Matteo brings devotion and inspiration across the centuries, forcing Gavin to take stock of his life and his behavior in the months he has left to him. Eventually Gavin realizes he must reconsider the capacity for love he’s always scorned—before it’s too late for both him and Matteo...

Genres: Gay / Paranormal / Ghosts / Hauntings / Time Travel

Genres: M M Romance, Paranormal

43 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2009

About the author

Clare took the pen name London from the city where she lives, loves, and writes. A lone, brave female in a frenetic, testosterone-fuelled family home, she juggles her writing with her other day job as an accountant. She’s written in many genres and across many settings, with award-winning novels and short stories published both online and in print. She says she likes variety in her writing while friends say she’s just fickle, but as long as both theories spawn good fiction, she’s happy. Most of her work features male/male romance and drama with a healthy serving of physical passion, as she enjoys both reading and writing about strong, sympathetic and sexy characters.

Clare currently has several novels sulking at that tricky chapter 3 stage and plenty of other projects in mind . . . she just has to find out where she left them in that frenetic, testosterone-fuelled family home.

All the details and free fiction are available at her website. Visit her today and say hello!

Clare also writes as Stella Shaw and launched a new series of rent boy romances in 2021.

Reviews

[FantasyLiving · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 Hearts

This story was surprising. Very well written, and different, it’s going to be difficult to write this review without spoilers, but I am going to try my best.

Gavin McGrath is in a deep artistic rut. His wife has left, and he doesn’t really care. He just wants to find that spark that will drive his creativity, and allow him to produce some great work again.

Enter Matteo. Arriving as if out of nowhere, Matteo is not wanted, and mistaken for all the other paid models that come to the studio. Not wanting to be interrupted, Gavin tries to get rid of Matteo, but it appears the man has no sense of self preservation, and will not budge, smiling and eating fruit while ignoring the angry artist.

As the story progresses, so does their relationship. Gavin comes to rely on Matteo to be around for him as a companion, advisor, and model, even as he grunts and snarls at him. He has driven everyone away, and he needs the young man more than he realised, secretly thankful that the soft warm nature of Matteo means that he is immune to Gavin’s outbursts.

A copy was provided in exchange for an honest review

[Jordan Price]

I enjoyed the slow reveal of the plot twist. Clare had me looking so hard at the more obvious aspect of the character arcs that I didn't see the other part coming, and I always love that. The was a poignancy to the sex, and then later, a quiet, triumphant joy.

[Lena Grey · Rating 4 out of 5]

When there is too much negativity, life becomes an unending struggle, like trying to pull out of quicksand and getting nowhere. Painter Gavin McGrath, of 'Muse' by Clare London, has lost his direction. Gavin is trying to avoid facing the inevitable by ignoring it. As we all know, that doesn't work. Problems can't be ignored; if left unattended, they only fester and become worse. Gavin needs a muse, one who will help him see that his talent is still there but it's deep inside. It must be rekindled and his faith in him must be restored.

Among other things, red is the color of masculinity, sexuality, and motivation. When the color red takes center stage in Gavin’s life, so does a beautiful, passionate young man with odd clothing, an eye for art, and an understanding of artists. His name is Matteo and he becomes the sunshine, brightness, and vitality that Gavin so desperately needs. At first, Gavin treats Matteo like he's been treating his wife, the art critics, dealers, and everyone else in his life. Unlike those people, Matteo doesn't take offense; he lets Gavin rant and rave, but he also doesn't go away. As time passes, Gavin starts reevaluating his life and a burden is lifted. Gavin has regrets, but he also has Matteo, his muse. With little direction, Gavin begins to see how the color red is influencing his life. He becomes more productive, painting like a fiend, all with red in the paintings. Before, in Gavin's life, this was all that was important, but now, Matteo is what matters most.

This is a poignant story of two men united against all odds and reason, brought together to give them both another chance. It's beautiful and it's sad. Although the story does not have a traditional happy ending, Matteo and Gavin get what they want—to be together. Clare has created an intense, almost haunting story, written in the brilliant prose she's so good at. I was dazzled by Clare's ability to create such emotion and empathy for Mateo and Gavin. Matteo was perfect, no other way to describe him, and Gavin seems to prove that you can teach an old dog new tricks. Love inspires the best in all of us and it was never as true as Matteo and Gavin’s case. I recommend this read to those who like a different kind of love story, written in intensely beautiful prose. Thank you, Clare, for a touching, thoughtful story that will stay with me for a long time.

NOTE: This book was provided by the author for the purpose of a review on Rainbow Book Reviews.

[Lily · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5*
A lovely, cleverly well written, and very enjoyable short story with a happy ending. The last two chapters had me in tears. I don’t want to give away any spoilers, but I loved the role of the artist’s muse and the subtle aspects of this poignant story.