The Muse Unlocked

by Chris Kuhn

All women want to feel desired and see themselves through someone else's eyes as desirable. Cate knew this better than most and had spent her life honing her craft to tell stories that reminded every woman of any age, any size or temperament that she deserved to feel this way. To others, 38-year-old screenwriter and author Cate Mullen appears the consummate professional and at the top of her game. But a sharp, biting wit and tough, confident persona mask something else. Each night, when she returns home, the frequent storyteller of passion and romance is reminded that, while the house is occupied by another – a husband of 12 years – she is in fact living alone. As Cate confronts feelings of rejection and inadequacy that plague her self-esteem and threaten to block her creativity, she begins production on her latest scripted film. There she meets 28-year-old, promising actor, Oliver Sand. As one relationship ends, a new intimacy begins that offers hope of crushing past fears and insecurities though it brings its own set of unique challenges. Would getting involved with a cast member jeopardize Cate’s career or be used against her? Could they be using each other or was true love really possible, as the writer had always touted but never quite believed? A mixture of quick wit, sexy banter and slow-churning romance, The Muse Unlocked is a tale of one woman’s journey to release herself from the constraints of her past and open her heart to the future.
201

Kindle Edition

First published August 7, 2013

About the author

Since she could remember, Chris wanted to write books but never felt a pull in any specific genre. In summer 2012, all of that changed. She discovered contemporary romance and new adult fiction, swooning over the work of such authors as Sylvain Reynard and Colleen Hoover. Inspired and determined to add a new voice to the mix, she took the leap and began telling what she hoped would be a different kind of love story. She has since openly admitted to having dreams about her characters, something she considers the mark of a bonafide author (and quite possibly, of clinical schizophrenia).

Chris lives in the suburbs of Tampa Bay, Fla. and is married. When she is not writing or drooling over book boyfriends, she loves listening to music, going to movies, discovering new Thai restaurants and golfing (badly). If she could write her next book from a golf course while indulging in a Kevin Spacey marathon over tofu panang curry, she would.

Chris loves hearing from readers – so let her have it…but be gentle. Chat with her on Twitter (@chriskuhnauthor), on Facebook and subscribe to blog updates here at the website. If you have more than 140 characters to share, you can also email her at chris@chriskuhnauthor.com.

Reviews

[Debra · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Muse Unlocked is an empowering heartfelt romance story about hope, promise and some dreams come true! This story really touched me; moving me from smiles, to laughter and some tears! Once I started I couldn't put it down!

It is a story about how in life your connections in love can bring out the worst or best in us depending on whether we have the right partner for us ...one that we can grow with!

Cate Mullen is a 38 yr old successful screen writer that has been married for 12 years to her college boyfriend but their connection has slowly died over the years to where they are living and sleeping separate lives. Even though Cate is a strong woman in most parts of her life, she has been suffering from feelings of rejection and inadequacy to the point where she is concerned it will start to affect her working life, as she begins production on her latest scripted film.

Into the story comes a well-rounded heart-throb Oliver Sand, a 28 yr old promising lead actor - who is a pleasant, caring and a oh so thoughtful man! He just melts your heart with all the beautiful and endearing little things that he does!

The Author (Chris Kuhn) builds the story perfectly, so it flows naturally! It's just a "Unfuckingbelievable" Story! Well done Chris, I loved the music too and I can't wait for the sequel to find out what happens next!

#You can also read an interview I did with Cate & Oliver by clicking on this link http://debradml.com/2013/12/04/book-b...

[Andrea · Rating 4 out of 5]

Full disclosure on this review – I know the author so my perspective is probably biased, but come on –we're all biased aren't we. The romance genre isn't my thing, but I keep finding individual works I really enjoy. I was rather worried at the start of this book, as I wasn't sure I liked Cate very much as she tries to cheat on her husband. However, as the book continued and we got a fuller picture of her, her marriage, and her experiences – I came to really understand where she was at mentally in those early events. I found her voice as the romance elements unfolded to be really true to life. This book was full of great dialogue, interesting details about Cate's work and interests, and a fun peak behind the scenes of movie production. My only hesitation is Oliver. He just didn't rock my world, though I really enjoyed the later plot elements that added more depth to his character. I guess I'm wanting a book from his POV or about him. I knew why Cate liked him, but I never got a clear sense of why he liked her beyond the compliments he gave her in the book. Overall, a really enjoyable read and refreshingly complex and nuanced for the genre. I love the fact that, while heading towards the required happy ending, Kuhn doesn't sugar coat and took the effort to represent the real complexities and challenges of adult life and love.

[Karen M. Hanks · Rating 5 out of 5]

You know when something comes into your life at just the right time, like a song? Well, for me, this book was that something. So much of what Cate went through or was feeling resonated with me. I saw a lot of myself in her. Her story gave me hope, and I think that this will ring true with many readers, even if their stories are a bit different. And Oliver - woo! I just love him. He melted my heart on several occasions and damn is he smooth.

The dialogue between characters flowed nicely and I also found myself laughing out loud on many occasions. I loved that Cate was quick with her tongue. Even though she had her insecurities (like any woman would), she was strong in her own ways, successful, and smart, which is not the norm with a lot of main female characters. There needs to be more female characters like Cate.

I also thought the way the author brought in snippets of Cate's past worked very well. There have been some books where they do flashbacks, and they're confusing and out of place. The author brought in bits and pieces that allowed the story to flow in a way that kept me engaged and interested. I truly enjoyed every moment of this book.

[Steph · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great debut novel! I loved that the story of Cate and Oliver was not "insta love." The author built the romance in a natural way and developed the characters. It was a mature love with misunderstandings kept to a minimum. Oliver is absolutely swoon worthy! He could see all of the beauty in Cate that she couldn't see in herself. I could relate to Cate in that she had some insecurities that many women have and some that were created by a painful part of her past. I loved the fact that Oliver was 10 years her junior and hot hot hot! You go girl!! I also loved that Cate was a strong character who had the courage to remove herself from a bad marriage and stand up for herself. Carl, her ex, was a real jerk, who created drama for no reason. I am looking forward to the next book in this series. This book did not end in a cliffhanger, and at the end, you get a sneak peak of the next book which picks up where this book ended.

[Stephen Richards · Rating 5 out of 5]

What can I say about this book that hasn't already been said elsewhere?

Charming, witty, intelligent - and that's just the author!

Seriously though, this is a beautifully crafted piece on the redemption of true love. A heart lifting, feel good romance peopled by believable characters in situations that resonate with the reader.

Although set in the glamorous world of the movie industry, the main characters Cate and Oliver are very approachable. They have doubts, fears and insecurities - just like us; they laugh, cry and love - just like us too.

Through clever dialogue and charmingly described scenes, we fall effortlessly into their world in a way that is perfectly natural and never once feels contrived.

For a debut novel, this is outstanding and we can only expect further greatness to flow from the pen of this very talented and gifted author!

Would I recommend this? Most definitely!

[Marie · Rating 5 out of 5]

My Musings

I finished this book a few days ago but I'm only just sitting down to write a review because honestly I've been mulling the book over since then. It was never going to be anything other than a five star review from me but I felt I lacked the words to describe the layers of this book, I still don't have them so let me just say that this book struck me as both simple and complex (if that makes sense) a tender love story, a main female lead with flaws, fears and bravery. The love she found helped her yes but she was strong without it which I found refreshing in the genre.

I absolutely recommend this very well crafted piece and look forward to seeing what other people take from the story.

[Charlene · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can honestly say I will never look at hands free texting the same again! What a wonderful first novel for Chris Kuhn. Cate and Oliver are great characters who through the book grow together. There is a balance in their relationship that you normally don't see in books; they are a team. It doesn't matter that Cate is 10 years older than Oliver, they have found what works for them. I love how Oliver will take the lead but it never seems to be domineering; he just does it and it's simple, they just get on his motorcycle and go. The way Chris Kuhn writes you feel that you are right there with them. You feel when Oliver kisses Kate's fingers, or when she entwined her arms with his as the take a walk. I can't wait for the next book to be released in this series.

[Karen Sawicki · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent first novel from Ms. Kuhn! I really enjoyed getting to know her characters (especially Oliver - swoon!) and, once I started reading, I didn't want to put the book down. I enjoyed it so much, I bought copies for my friends! One finished the book in a day; another returns from a trip this weekend, and I can't wait to give her a copy! If you're looking for an enjoyable way to spend a weekend, this it!

[C.D. · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am in love with Oliver! Oh sure I love Cate too but Oliver is just so dreamy. The storyline was different, the characters were fresh and lively. This book was so far out from the "cookie-cutter" version of all the stories I've read lately. No 21 year old virgins here! I was enthralled in Cates journey and found a little of myself in her. That's what great authors do, put a little of you in the book and make it relatable. I absolutely can't wait until the next installment!!

[Roses Book Blog · Rating 5 out of 5]

All a woman wants from a man is to feel love, cherished, and desired. Cate Mullen is not different. Cate writes novels that remind women that they should always feel desired and be desired by men, unfortunately the same cannot be said about her own personal life. To everyone around her, she seems to be on top of the world. A great career, a great home, and a husband who adores her. But what most people don't see is that Cate hasn't felt desired for a long time, that her husband Carl has checked out of their marriage and will do almost anything to remind Cate that she choose her career over him. Gone is the doting husband who will do anything to support the woman he loves, in it's place is a man who is bitter and tries to break Cate down any way that he can.

The story starts when Cate goes to her high school reunion and almost hooks up with a man that in high school she desired. Key word? Almost. The man reminds her of why she feels less than adequate and undesired when he is unable to perform and leaves Cate reminded of part of the reason why her marriage has turned non existent. Cate's personal life is falling apart around her. Her father just died, she lives across the house in another room away from her husband, and for a long time, a part of Cate's past won't let her feel desired and at every turn she's reminded as to why men no longer feel desire toward her, not to mention Carl now wants a divorce. Her only comfort is knowing that when she returns one of her novels is about to start filming and she'll get to see the film making process once more as her words become larger than life.

Issue is on the way home she discovers that much to her dismay, an actor she never imagined for the part has been cast, an Oliver Sand. Cate is not happy with the casting decision, but decides she has no choice but to accept their choice for now since BT has decided Oliver will play the part. What she doesn't expect to find when she gets to the set is that the 28 year old actor is not only attractive like she knew he would be, but is a huge fan of her work. While Cate continues to be unhappy with the casting choice, Oliver over time will prove to Cate not only that he's perfect for the part, but that he might just be what she needs in her life to discover that she really is a desired woman and that he can make her feel that way.

So while filming Cate will discover that her attraction toward Oliver seems to be reciprocated through him, but she must learn to keep her growing desire for Oliver from not only to cast and crew of the film secret, but also from her soon to be ex-husband, Carl. While Carl seemed to have checked out of the marriage long ago, he all of a sudden is bent on making her life a living nightmare and determined to prove that Cate has been unfaithful in their marriage. Carl wants to make sure that Cate is left unhappy and alone, while exposing the secrets of those most important to her. Question is, is Oliver hiding something in the past that could destroy him and the relationship he shares with Cate? Can Cate discover that she truly is desired or is it too late for her to find love after her failed marriage?

I loved the story of Cate and Oliver. Cate wants so much to be desired and loved in life. While she appears to have the perfect like and a very successful career, her love life died long ago. It was amazing to watch this woman he should be broke down and unhappy continue to move through life with a positive outlook on things and through writing express what she wanted most out of a man and a partner in life. Oliver was great as well. He many have been so much younger than Cate, but he will prove to her that not only is he the perfect man for the part, but he's just as great off screen as he is on screen. At the beginning of the book, I couldn't figure out why Cate's life was the way it was. At first she appeared to be a wife who got bored with her husband that didn't listen to her or accept her career and just decided to close herself off and move to another part of the house. That is, until a portion of her past is revealed and it made me realize why Cate is the way she is, and it made me sad for her because for so long those moments in her past have defined her life now.

Join Cate as she discovers that life is not over after her marriage is over and that perhaps the man that's right for her isn't how she always envisioned he would be. Oliver is such a complex character with so many things that have happened to him in the past, but like Cate he didn't give up and went on to have a successful career in Hollywood. I loved their story, and cannot wait to see where their story goes from here. Well written, deep, and full of emotion, The Muse Unlocked is a great book for women who want so many of the same things that Cate wants. I give it 5 stars and look forward to the next book in this series.

***ARC provided by author in exchange for a honest review***

[Cameron Lincoln · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fantastic book steeped in warm humour, rich emotion and beautiful intimacy and love. With well-drawn, complex characters who are painfully human, it's a peek into the hearts of those who have been wounded but strive for the simple purity of real love.

It was a new experience for me, reading a book so squarely in the romance genre, and the author's boundless talent guided me through with charm and grace. This is a book that wears its heart on it's sleeve in such a wonderful way. It is about passion in all its forms - through creativity, through performance, through flirtation, lust and, of course, love. The lead is a skilled and talented screenwriter whose personal life isn't all she hoped for. She's a woman who can write the perfect romance but seeks it for real. When Hollywood's potential next big thing is cast as the lead in her newest screenplay, new possibilities and journeys begin to open up.

Chris has a tremendous gift with natural, free-flowing dialogue and the chemistry between Cate and Oliver is a joy to behold. There is a real 'old-fashioned Hollywood romance' movie feel to the book, which ties in perfectly with the setting and theme. The more erotic encounters are laid out with a wonderful eye for emotional detail and never descend into the graphic, but they are no less intense for using such a poetic poetic approach. They are incredibly intimate, tapping into the heart of the characters, hearts that beat with beauty.

It's a wonderful story deftly told, and I look forward to spending more time with these characters somewhere down the road.

Highy recommended!

[Matthew Krause · Rating 4 out of 5]

The best books are the ones where we feel as if we are meeting new people, where characters are fleshed out to such a degree that we can almost touch them. Such is the case with Cate Mullen, the protagonist of THE MUSE UNLOCKED, a 38-year-old screenwriter who falls in love with a younger man. By all indications, Cate is beautiful and amazing, but she seems to have trouble seeing this. Perhaps it is because she is trapped in a near-loveless marriage to a gruff man with a sense of entitlement, a man so focused on his own needs that he can’t see this wondrous woman standing right in front of him.

When Cate meets Oliver Sand, the beautiful actor cast to play the male lead in one of her screenplays, she thinks he is all wrong for the part--too externally beautiful to have a grasp of the internal beauty her everyman character demands. Little does she know that Oliver has a deep and troubled soul, that he has fallen in love with Cate through her words, and that he can see everything amazing about her that she cannot see in herself.

I loved this book because I loved Cate. I felt as if I knew her, and I wanted her to be real so I could have the chance to be a part of her life. I felt a bit jealous of Oliver, because he got to experience the whole of a woman that the reader will only know through the printed page. But then I saw a bit of Cate in every woman, and I realized that I HAD, in fact, met Cate in the real world, and what’s more, I even married her.

[Teisha Lapp · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved that real women can relate to Cate. She isn't perfect, her marriage isn't perfect and she isn't a young college student with no experience at love ;) I believe everyone needs an Oliver in their life. He's hot, young and above all encouraging. He recognizes her insecurities and builds her up. Perfect! The story makes you believe it's never too late to find true love. Excellent debut and anxious for book #2!

[Katherine · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautiful romance! I could not put the book down! I was completely fascinated with Cate & Oliver and how their friendship blossomed into a beautiful and sensual relationship ... just had to keep reading! I was really touched by Cate's story and how she found her confidence, how love opened her heart to a brand-new world. Thank you for writing The Muse Unlocked.

[Lindsay · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is an a amazing story about how the power of love and how it can change who you are. It made me laugh and cry to watchtower he journey that they went through to find out who they are.

[Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story succeeded beautifully in bringing me into Hollywood to meet Cate Mullen and Oliver Sands: two wonderfully realistic characters destined for each other.

The pages of romance novels abound with depictions of women with little real life experience and few believable scars and insecurities. This book does the opposite. Cate is 38 and a successful screenwriter facing the end of a 17-year marriage to a man with whom she no longer has anything in common. She has trouble looking at herself in mirrors and trouble with intimacy. What woman out there hasn’t faced these issues at some point in her life?

In walks Oliver Sands, a young-ish, adorable and loving man who immediately connects with Cate and becomes intent on showing her just how wonderful she really is.

THE MUSE UNLOCKED is a story of personal redemption, resurrection and connection. You will love entering Cate’s world and experiencing her rebirth through Oliver.

The Muse UnlockedChris Kuhn

[OrchardBookClub · Rating 3 out of 5]

Finally a love story that isn’t about a damaged hot guy……. Instead it’s about a damaged woman who has more insecurities than you can shake a stick at!
It’s a whopping 425 pages and you get a sneak peek into book 2 at the end

I will be honest…. As always, this book took me ages to get into. That being said I needed to know what happened, so Chris did her job there.
You meet Cate right from the start, a Screen Writer/Author who spends more time at work than a home, all due to her butt munch husband, Carl, who is unloveing, cold and to quite honest an ass at times. Then in walks Oliver Sand, the lead actor in the movie that Cate is working on. He’s cool, sexy and 10 years her junior! But they click….. And I mean click!
They embark on a romance like no other but have to keep it a secret, but that’s all part of the fun, right? They try to work through Cates insecurities from her past along with things that Oliver has kept hidden from her. Does it all work out I hear you ask? Well buy the book and find out!

The story line was very thought out and very detailed, especially in the beginning and I think that’s what took me a while to get into. I enjoyed the fact it was based on a woman rather than a man, like we have all grown used too. Oliver is very……. Old fashioned in some of his ways, and that’s what makes you love him all that bit more. He’s not pushy or arrogant (to say he’s a movie star) and he can say the most sweetest of things that make you ohhhhh.
Cate….. You gotta love her really, home sucks and the only escape is work, WTF is that all about?! She takes the risk of flirting a little with this hot actor, it pays off and she has an unfuckingbelievable (yes, I stole that word) time!

Like I said you get a peek at book 2 and even though I struggled with book 1 I will probably read it to see how it ends. Each to our own I say, the book world would suck if we all loved the same thing!

~Nicola~

*** This book was given free for an honest review***

[Bookish Temptations · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'll share my thoughts on this book in the near future :)

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Completely captivating from beginning to end. Can't wait for The Muse Unguarded to be released!