A Faery Rose available from The Wild Rose Press (May 6, 2009) Bitten by Books: 5 Tombstones I thoroughly enjoyed this short story! Melinda's hopeful ideals were consistent, if a bit misguided, and Devon's contrasting style added excitement. The characters were believable, and the settings were described clearly and were easy to visualize. Long and Short Reviews: 4 stars The Duende and the Muse may be short, but it is well written and the story holds the attention from beginning to end. WDRF Reviews: Memorable Good The author weaves a great tale with a creative way of using words that makes the story refreshing to read. Review Your Book ...awe-inspiring... I love how Cate Masters could make two opposites work together. I love this short story. Melinda is startled when she notices a dark figure leaning against a booth across the aisle. He stands out like a charcoal etching against the background of clouds-harsh outlines, jagged features. Menacing yet compelling. He smiles, and lightning flashes from his dazzling white teeth, zinging through her. She's never seen a muse like him, but he must be one-otherwise, he wouldn't be here. He wouldn't be stepping toward her with the intensity of a jaguar, a laserlight in his eye, teeth bared in a hungry smile. This guy looks like a Vanity Fair ad -layered hair mussed just so, sandals with a jacket and jeans that fit really well. She runs her hand across her belly to quell the tiny pinpricks. She's been so busy with work lately, she hasn't met anyone new. "Who's that?" Her wings can't beat fast enough to cool the heat rising from deep inside her. Calliope turns to Euterpe. "Oh my. How did he get in here?" Euterpe squints in his direction, then furrows her brow. "A duende. They'll let anyone in these days." That explains it. She's heard of them -said to be a combination of charm, magic, inspiration, fire, magnetism-and demon. Muses were warned at an early age not to take up with duendes. Tales of muse-duende liaisons were fraught with disaster and downfall-for the muse. Duendes managed to carry on unscathed, though their methods of inspiration could be deadly for their students. The thought vanishes quicker than a flicker of sunlight on water as he moves toward her and says hello in a voice whose timbre resounds within her. "Hi." She stares, entranced by his dark beauty. His smile envelops her. "I'm Devon." She extends her hand. "I'm Melinda. So nice to meet you." Fire sparks in her fingers as he takes her hand in his, then leans to kiss it. A tingling crawls up her arms and neck and into her head, where it scrambles her thoughts. His gaze lingers on her lips, and they quiver open like a rosebud blooming in sunlight. His voice is like a hot wind in the desert. "The pleasure's all mine." Oh, she doubts it.