$15.00
“You can live in my pool house, if you’ll teach me to paint.”
Living alone in her bare mansion in LA’s Hollywood Hills, gentle Celia takes up art therapy, hoping it will soothe the deep scars of her past. Each failed artwork deepens her fear of losing to depression, like her father.
León, an intense painter struggling with a creative block, empties his savings to move to LA in search of new visions. He needs a cheap studio and some raw, authentic inspiration—his dreams and future as an artist depend on it.
Brought together by their colorful mutual friends, Celia offers León a deal: he can live in her pool house for free if he teaches her to paint. As he becomes her infatuated teacher and she his reluctant muse, both are laid bare by their pursuit of honest art. Could the desperate creativity that drew them together also rip them apart?
Unique and powerful, this sensual slow burn romance unfolds between mature characters, exploring themes of healing, trauma, and empowerment. Perfect for readers who appreciate new contemporary romance and women’s fiction, this novel includes diverse, over 40, LGBTQ characters, making it a profound choice for those looking for explicit angsty romantic stories that mirror their own experiences and complexities.
This is not your average romance. It’s quiet in places, messy in others, and deeply sensual throughout. Painting Celia is about finding beauty in the broken parts, and falling for someone who sees them too. Come for the pool house. Stay for the transformation.
| Weight | .45 oz |
|---|---|
| Dimensions | 1 × 5.25 × 8 in |
| Format | Paperback |
Lynn H
Painting Celia had everything that I love in a book. The characters were likable and had interest and depth to them. The book centered around art which is a passion of mine and I learned a lot about painting which was fun! I loved that one of the main characters revealed their trauma and the healing journey was portrayed in an honest and thoughtful manner. The book was fast paced and made me look forward to possible future books with the characters. I loved the ending which was uplifting and inspiring; the message that relationships, happiness and fulfilling your passions was amazing. It seems very relevant to address in today’s world of consumerism and individualism.
Emily Champagne
Wow, I could hardly put the book down! Painting Celia reads like poetry, so clear and captivating. Especially awesome…how you wove many themes into an amazing tapestry. Your portrayal of the art world brought it to life, made it exciting and memorable. And you showed a way for a woman to heal from the childhood trauma by a father who deserted and by a physically abusive mother. Still more was the way you presented bisexuality, as nothing special, just a normal part of some lives; I loved that. And the bi-cultural experience of several characters was fun – as you artfully included and taught us all the Spanish words. And you showed the difference a supportive network of friends can make for repairing a damaged psyche. Finally, I cherish the way you grappled with the struggle of us women to be free to be ourselves, in a world where so many people think we must belong to man to be someone important or worthy. I’m recommending this book to everyone I know…and truly expect one day it will be on the New York Times Bestseller List!
Rebecca
I thoroughly enjoyed it. Your writing is wonderful. Your dialogue is so natural, and your descriptions are beautiful. I love the way you can make me feel how your characters are feeling.
I particularly enjoy stories about people who have passions, even if I don’t share those passions myself. I find it fascinating what makes others tick.
I’m not a visual artist and don’t have a lot of appreciation for paintings and other visual art. But I loved your description of how Leon saw colors and shapes and lines and pulled feelings from those. His process was fascinating and you described it in a way that held my interest and made me feel for his art.
I also enjoyed how he pulled expression of feelings from Celia. That is an area that is new to me, verbalizing what I’m feeling in my body and getting feelings from colors. I can relate to Celia there.
And Celia’s own inner demons resonated with me. That judgmental voice in her head and her response to it was powerful.
I also very much enjoyed the love scenes. You write with beautiful respect. It is erotic and romantically realistic. Those scenes moved me in more emotional ways.
So, art and psychology and relationships and beauty. Lots of wonderful themes explored in lovely writing.
I’m so glad I found that book, and I hope to read more of your writing. I can’t believe that was your first book. Bravo!