Inspire (Muse, #1)

by Cora Carmack

• ISBN10: 0988393522
• ISBN13: 9780988393523
• Publish Date: 15 December 2014
• Publish Status: Active
• Imprint: Cora Carmack
• Format: Paperback (US Trade)
• Pages: 332
• Language: English

Reviews

[Chelsea]

I was gifted this book during a secret santa exchange because I was told I would like it. Well congrats to my secret santa because she wasn't wrong! I've been starting to venture out of young adult books and moving into new adult and adult. Possibly because I'm getting a little older so my reading is doing the same. I really liked that Inspire was a new adult book because it's just kind of nice to read an older, more mature romance book every once and a while.

I was also a really big fan of the characters and if you know me at all then you know that characters are what makes a book for me. The plot could be sub-par (which in this case it actually was) but I'll still enjoy myself if the characters are well done. I think it partially had to do with the artists. I'm an artist myself and I find it difficult to find characters who are serious artists (not just the typical moody artists we see so often).

There's problematic things in Inspire for sure. The romance felt a bit rushed sometimes. Not quite insta-love but it's close to it which bothered me a little. Also this book is mainly about sex. Nothing else really. There's a plot in there somewhere but it felt pushed to the side to make way for all these sex scenes. I have no problem with that, I just wanted more of a plot to go with it than just some of the silly romance we got. It just made the book feel a little childish at times.

One thing I wish we could have seen more of was Kali's backstory. We know she's a Greek muse but we don't really know much else. I'm a huge fan of any kind of mythology and I was expecting to see a lot more of it. I’d recommend Inspire to those who love a good new adult paranormal romance because that's exactly what that is. It's not character or plot driven but mostly romance driven. Sometimes that's ok though. The romance outweighs the fantasy by a long shot but if that's your thing then you'd love this book.

[Rowena]

I got about half way through this book before I called it quits. It's totally me and not the book, I'm just not in the mood for this one. I'll come back to it...someday.

[Sam@WLABB]

At first I said, "Cora Carmack and paranormal?", but I have to admit -- it was great. Kalli and Wilder won my heart immediately. I was rooting for them the whole time. I really like the mythology that was incorporated into the story. Carmack did a great job of laying the groundwork to help me understand who and what Kalli was. What I couldn't understand was her adverse reactions to Wilder. That was hard for me to swallow, since all I wanted was for them to live happily ever after. Therefore, anything that caused friction or problems between the two was unacceptable for me. Yes, this love story has a lot of starts and stops. I just hope Kalli can work it all out, because in my heart, I know they belong together.

This book has a lot to offer: great characters, passion and emotions galore, and mythology -- what more could you ask for? =)

[Cocktails and Books]

INSPIRE was one of those books that amazed me as much from the first page to the last. Cora Carmack has created a world and characters that mesmerize you from the very beginning.

Kalli, one of the remaining eight Greek Muses, is working within an Austin college when she develops a sense of guilt. The guilt tears at her, making her question what she's doing. It's during this time that she meets Wilder Bell. He's very different from the people who run into Kalli. He sees her for who she is, not her beauty. She tries to stay away from Wilder, but she is inexplicably drawn to him and he her, and she doesn't know why. Kalli has to decide if what she feels for Wilder is worth the risk or if she needs to keep her distance permanently.

I enjoyed this story. Kalli and Wilder were two characters that were very easy to connect with. Both of them have varying degrees of guilt pushing down on them and it's almost like that guilt is what helps draw them to one another. Despite their differences (even though Wilder isn't aware of just how different they are), you can see how these two truly belong together and it makes the reader cheer Wilder on as he pursues Kalli.

I loved the Greek mythology angle and I enjoyed the idea that Greek Gods could be mascarading in the crowds at the mall or grocery store and we wouldn't even know it. The author keeps the readers attention with the perfectly paced storyline, which has me anxious to find out what happens next with Kalli and Wilder.

Definitely a different type of story from this author, but definitely one that I highly recommend.