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The Devil and the Muse (The Creative Series – 2) by Mandy Jackson-Beverly

An ancient curse.
A forgotten love.
A painting with secrets only one woman can reveal.

In this fast-paced second installment of The Creatives Series, Creative (mystic artist) Coco Rhodes is surprised by a horrific vision beneath her most recent painting: the violent attack upon a fragile young girl. When a link is discovered between an education-finance fraud and several girls disappearing from Washington, D.C. schools, Coco’s lover and leader of the Allegiance, the vampire-warlock Gabriel, vows to rescue the girls, and topple a corrupt congressman. Concurrently, the dark and twisted past of Kenan, the Allegiance’s sworn enemy, is revealed. With Kenan’s whereabouts unknown, members of the Allegiance begin to unravel his sadistic plan.

From New York and D.C., to Tuscany and the Dolomite Mountains of Northern Italy, the supernatural guardians of the Allegiance are guided by both the lessons of history and the shocks of present-day life. Through magical twists and otherworldly subplots, this supernatural thriller weaves a web of intrigue, love, and conflict. In The Devil and the Muse, Coco’s sense of duty to the Allegiance is tested. But will protecting her loved ones cause her to sacrifice her humanity?

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Author’s Bio

Mandy Jackson-Beverly was born in the bustling town of Pyramid Hill, Victoria, Australia … Population: 419. This remote childhood kick-started Mandy’s imagination, as did the rugged coastline and rolling hills of Tasmania, where her family relocated when she was four years old.

In 1982, Mandy moved to London, where she discovered the importance of the creative collective: The 1980s fashion scene. In Los Angeles, she found her own creative freedom among the thriving, no-holds-barred visionaries of the music video world. As a costume designer and stylist Mandy worked for photographer Herb Ritts, and directors Joel and Ethan Coen, David Fincher, and Julien Temple, and music icons David Bowie, Madonna, and Tina Turner, to name a few.

Mandy is a Huffington Post, and Tasmanian Times blogger. She resides in Ojai, California, with her husband, Brian Beverly, a crossed-eyed cat, Luna, a dog named Cash and, sometimes, her sons, Angus and Jack.

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My Review

5 stars

Coco Rhodes is a Creative, an artist that paints truths. She is staying at Casa della Pietra, the strong hold of The Allegiance. In her latest painting she sees the surprising death of a young woman. Her boyfriend and leader of The Allegiance, Gabriel promises to look into the death. But he finds himself looking into several deaths in the Washington DC area. But don’t’ forget about Kenan. He might not be in the picture but his dark plans are starting to be set into play. The Allegiance is going to have its hands full and Coco is going to be facing some tough struggles herself.

Oh my goodness, where to begin. The Creatives can create artwork yet only one person can interpret them and when Coco has the vision of a young girl being killed of course The Allegiance is going to try and stop it. And then you have Kenan. Although a bad vampire, when you learn about his history you can’t help but feel for the poor guy. And when he finally breaks free that puts a curse upon his head.

I love this series. What a fresh take on the paranormal! I loved A Secret Muse and was worried that I would get mixed up with all the characters in this story. No worries, there is an index in the front to keep it all straight and once you get into the story you don’t even notice. This is a great series and I can’t wait to get my hands on book 3.

I received The Devil and the Muse from Author Marketing Experts for free. This has in no way influenced my opinion of this book.

A Secret Muse

UCLA art professor Coco Rhodes knows little about her family’s association with the ancient clandestine organization The Allegiance and wants to keep it that way. She dislikes secrets—they’re a painful reminder of her childhood experiences that were erased as a result of her parents’ tragic deaths when she was four years old.

After a brutal attempt on her life, and the arrival of a birthday letter from her dead mother, Coco demands explanations from her brother, Christopher, a high-powered D.C. lawyer and member of the Allegiance.

Christopher guides Coco to her birthplace, Italy, insisting she’ll find her answers there. Enter the enigmatic Gabriel, a powerful warlock with a vampire father, and the ethereal Prudence, keeper of the Allegiance.

When a close friend is murdered, Coco’s life takes a dark turn. With only a faded portrait torn from a lost sketchbook, and one of her mother’s unfinished paintings, Coco unravels clues from her past, in the hope of saving those she loves.

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My Review

5 Stars

When Coco Rhodes was four years old her parents were killed in relation to The Allegiance. Because of that she has done whatever she can to walk away from them. But an attempt on her life has to talking to her brother trying to figure out what his going on. He tells her to head to Italy where she finds herself in the middle of vampires, warlocks, and her own history.

Coco is going to learn that her life is a lie and that there are bigger thing going on than she initially knows about. The main thing being that The Allegiance has been trying to keep her safe all of these years. This is a huge world that Coco has found herself in and it will quickly get confusing with this cast. I loved the path that her mother’s paintings take her on.

I really enjoyed this story with the paranormal and the wonderful locations. I can’t wait to see what happens to Coco next in The Devil and the Muse.

I received A Secret Muse from Author Marketing Experts for free. This has in no way influenced my opinion of this book.

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