Work of Art part 2: The Unveiling by Ruth Clampett-Review and Blog Tour
The Unveiling
Work of Art Part 2
by Ruth Clampett
Genre: adult, contemporary, romance
Release Date: January 5, 2015
Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / Amazon.uk /
ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date January 5, 2015
Famed artist, Maxfield Caswell is missing.
Three of his major paintings have been savagely defaced and his house left in ruins. As his friends search for him, does his muse, Ava, hold the key?
Before the hope of love is lost, secrets will be told, spirits will be broken, and a price will be paid.
From the cave dwellings of New Mexico to the shores of Malibu, Max and Ava’s journey tests them to their limits. As they render passion and pain in broad strokes, will their all-consuming love rise from the debris?
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REVIEW: THE UNVEILING is the second installment in Ruth Clampett’s contemporary, adult Work of Art romance series focusing on tormented and troubled artist Maxfield Caswell and his muse Ava Jacobs. The continuing story focuses on Max’s spiral out of control and Ava’s need to save the man with whom she has fallen in love. The Unveiling should not be read as a stand alone due to the nature of the series format and the information imparted in each successive installment.
Told from first person point of view (Ava) THE UNVEILING is a passionate, edgy and revealing look at the dark side of fame and one man’s struggle with mental instability, mistrust and emotional breakdown. Maxfield Caswell is a man whose need for one woman overrides all sense of responsibility and trust; he is a man doomed to destroy the woman that he loves through betrayal, heartbreak and fear. Unable to accept Ava’s love at face value, Max continues to push Ava at every opportunity; his apprehension, issues of trust and anxiety, and overwhelming obsession for Ava find Max and Ava at crossroads towards the future.
Max is a man whose responses to everything are extreme: from jealousy, depression, hopelessness and obsession Max’s continued fall into the abyss finds the man with thoughts of betrayal and mistrust, resentment and patterns of behavior that scream ‘warning’ with every encounter. As Ava’s success continues to climb, Max’s demons will grow stronger until he may have pushed away the woman that he loves. He is vulnerable to suggestion; continues to push at personal boundaries; and is unable to accept the truth. Jealousy runs rampant in Max’s obsessive world.
Ruth Clampett’s intense and passionate WORK OF ART series focuses on a man whose psychological and emotional behavior are not only personally destructive but professionally as well. While many artists are brooding and angst ridden there is a fine line between professional behavior and psychological nightmare; in this, Maxfield Caswell is a man who has lost all control of his emotional well being.
The supporting and secondary characters drive a good portion of the storyline as they focus their attention on Ava and the destructive nature of her relationship with Max. The world building continues to focus on Ava’s rising success as a writer; Max’s need and obsession with Ava; and the behind the scenes negotiations in the business of art. The sex scenes are intimate, provocative and sensual. There is no denying that Max loves Ava but it is the obsessive nature of that love that leads to questions of sanity and emotional stability.
Click HERE for our review of WORK OF ART Book I: The Inspiration
Copy supplied by the tour promoter.
Reviewed by Sandy
“Yes?”
He pauses on the walkway, looks down and kicks a pebble toward
the lawn.
“I know that as much I’d like to…I can’t ask you not to see
Jonathan…”
What? I glance up at him with my head tipped to the side.
He’s twisting his hands together as I wait for him to continue. He
finally looks me square in the eyes.
“…But, will you do me a favor? Don’t fall in love with him.”
I arch my brow. “Did you really just ask me that?” Should I tell him
there’s little to no chance of my falling in love with Jonathan now?
He gets a devilish look in his eyes as he holds up his hands in surrender.
“I know, I know…I just don’t want you to get involved with
him on the rebound.”
I put my hands on my hips and arch my brow. “Max, to be on the
rebound you have to have been in a relationship to rebound from.”
He seems to ignore my logic. “Besides, Ava, you could still be really
attracted to me and not know it.”
“Really? I don’t think my attraction to you is in question.”
“Yeah, what if you’re secretly falling in love with me?”
I playfully push him on the shoulder. “You wish!” I tease.
“There’s only one way to know for sure. Don’t you think you should
know before you go out with Jonathan again?”
“One way to know for sure?”
“Yes. Kiss me. I promise I won’t touch you—look, hands free!” He
tucks his hands into his back pockets.
My mouth falls open as I press my thighs together. Just the idea of
being kissed again by Max makes me instantly hot and bothered.
“Just one little kiss,” he says in a low voice.
I can’t believe he’s playing this game with me. But the fire in his eyes
and the sweet smile on his face are more than I can bear. I take a step
toward him. Two can play this game.
“So, if I feel nothing, we’ll agree to be friends—that’s it—no complications.
And I can friggin’ marry Jonathan if I so choose.”
He makes a sour face, but nods anyway.
I bite my lip as I look into his eyes. One kiss, one kiss…I close my
eyes as I edge closer until I can feel the heat shimmering from his skin.
“Oh, Ava,” he whispers, a deep longing in his voice.
His breath on my cheek undoes me, and when our lips meet, they
meld together as if they’d just kissed a moment earlier. We kiss languidly,
sensuously, our tongues meeting in an erotic dance. He gently
bites my bottom lip before I press my lips even harder against his. An
overwhelming current suddenly surges through me, practically knocking
me over.
Oh my God! I’m on fire. I run one of my hands along his shoulder
and behind his neck, pulling him closer, while winding my other hand
into his hair and tugging it passionately. Our bodies are pressed together
so tightly I feel as if I’m one with him.
He moans my name over and over as the kiss intensifies. I’m lost in
his sweet mouth, his lips turning me into a traitor to logic and reason.
When I finally pull away to gasp for air, he grins widely, and the
bright-eyed expression on his face is victorious. He gambled big and
won.
Like there was ever a question—he owns me. He probably has all
along; it’s just taken me all this time to figure it out.
He studies me with a spark in his eyes, and he takes a sharp breath.
He takes his hands out of his pockets as if to grab me and never let me
go. My heart’s so full I can’t help but shine with a smile.
I remember we’re taking things slow, so without a word, I hurry to
my car before he can say something to draw me back into his arms. But
even as I flee the charged atmosphere and speed down PCH, I can feel
his joy follow me all the way home.
Work of Art
The Inspiration #1
by Ruth Clampett
Genre: adult, contemporary, romance
Release Date: November 4, 2014
Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / Amazon.uk/ Barnes and Noble / The Book Depository
ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date November 4, 2014
Click HERE for the WORK OF ART: The Inspiration trailer
In a life driven by passion, famed artist Maxfield Caswell lives in a world of brilliant color and drama, pushing his art and affairs to his emotional edge. He’s stunning, charismatic and celebrated in the art world, but are the trappings of fame also destroying him?
For years intelligent and bright-eyed Ava Jacobs has worked diligently toward a career in the art world. Ava is swept off her feet when she meets the passionate artist. She soon realizes, however, that he’s on a destructive path—one she doesn’t intend to join him on.
In the decadent world of patrons, art groupies, and predators, feisty and beautiful Ava knocks Max off his pedestal. A stunned Max sees something special in Ava and offers her an opportunity she can’t refuse. As their lives and passions collide, will he realize that she alone has the power to heal him? Can their hearts come together to create their own work of art?
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Ruth Clampett, daughter of legendary animation director, Bob Clampett, has spent a lifetime surrounded by art and animation. A graduate of Art Center College of Design, her careers have included graphic design, photography, VP of Design for WB Stores and teaching photography at UCLA. She now runs her own studio as the fine art publisher for Warner Bros. where she’s had the opportunity to know and work with many of the greatest artists in the world of animation and comics.
The Work of Art Trilogy is Ruth’s third publishing endeavor, following Animate Me and Mr. 365. She lives in Los Angeles and is heavily supervised by her teenage daughter, lovingly referred to as Snarky, who loves art and visiting museums as much as her mom.
Wonderful review, Sandy. Looks like an interesting storyline.
Great review, Sandy. A new author for me to try. I like the sound of this story.
Great review Sandy. I read the first book, and book 2 sounds even more disconcerting. I am hoping Ruth can bring Max into some semblance of sanity.
Fantastic review. Sounds absolutely heartbreaking. Congrats to Ruth on the new release.
Wonderful review Sandy. Congratulations to Ruth on the release of part 2
I have not read the first book, but this looks good. Thanks.
Great review, Sandy. Looks very interesting.
Sounds heartbreaking Sandy. Thanks.
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