MICHAEL ANGELO & THE STONE MISTRESS
I am thrilled to be hosting a spot on the MICHAEL ANGELO & THE STONE MISTRESS by Steve Moretti Blog Tour hosted by Rockstar Book Tours. Check out my post and make sure to enter the giveaway!
About the Book:
Title: MICHAEL ANGELO & THE STONE MISTRESS
Author: Steve Moretti
Pub. Date: April 30, 2022
Publisher: DWA Media
Formats: Paperback, eBook
Pages: 467
Find it: Goodreads, Amazon, Kindle, B&N
Read for FREE with a Kindle Unlimited Membership!
Michelangelo believed every block of marble held a statue inside it. Yet he knew that without deep personal sacrifice, it would remain forever hidden.
Five hundred years later, New York fashion photographer Michael Angelo Thomas falls in love with every woman who poses before his camera. He is driven to reveal what lies beneath the surface, stripping away the barrier between viewer and subject.
His finished photographs reveal the vulnerable beauty of each model. His work makes him the most sought after fashion photographer in 1994. But rather than enjoy his prestige, he lives a life of anguish, unable to form meaningful attachments or purge the demons of self-doubt and of losing both of his adoptive parents in a freak accident.
After the death of an aspiring young model that his photographs propel to international fame, he leaves New York for an assignment in Florence to photograph the world’s leading fashion models.
In the shadows of Michelangelo’s greatest triumphs, Michael discovers a secret that will change his life and those who desire to be closest to him.
Comments from Advance Readers:
“This was a definite page-turner, I could hardly put it down.” – Nevine R.
“All I can say is, ‘WOW!’” – Marianne P.
“I was so engrossed in the story that I lost all track of time.” – Emma D.
“Love, love, loving this novel, it’s got it all.” – Trulyn B.
“I am very impressed.” – Pierre F
EXCERPT
Michael fell in love with every woman he photographed.
Unless he exposed his heart, he couldn’t get close enough to what lay deepest inside them. If he didn’t make himself vulnerable, his images only reflected what lay on the surface, missing the connection he needed. Once he felt himself swept away by his subject, sparks flying with each release of the shutter, and every lightning bolt flash, they bonded for hours in the studio.
And many more in the darkroom with Michael and the celluloid history of the session.
The results spoke for themselves. Some of the women revealed so completely in his images wanted to be with him, to touch the man who so deeply touched them. He made it a rule to never sleep with the women he photographed.
But he was never very good at following rules.
“Ginger, you’re already here,” he said, making a fist and holding it to his heart. “But…” he hesitated, moving his face close to hers, their lips almost touching.
“But, what, Michael?”
Even in this light, her features outlined softly with the faint brush of the red safelight, he could see her sadness and openness, her strength and her weakness. Her face was a canvas he could explore a long time. Ginger had a gift unlike the dozens and dozens of models he’d photographed. She didn’t need to strike a pose. Everything was there on the surface, waiting to be captured. Her gift was not knowing she had anything to offer, not knowing she was anything special.
Her innocence was intoxicating. “Would you mind if I took a few more pictures of you?” he finally replied.
“Really?” she smiled. “Now?”
“Yes,” he kissed her lips ever so lightly, then flicked on the light. “Come on.”
She followed him out of the darkroom. His mind raced with ideas about how he would light her, what lens to use and a dozen other tiny details about equipment and settings.
Ginger sat at his table, and poured the rest of the champagne into their glasses, then reached down to her purse on the floor. She took out an envelope, opened it and emptied the contents into her hand.
“I just got these,” she said, laying her palm flat, revealing a clutch of small pink pills.
Michael set down the lens he’d taken from his bag. “What are they?”
“It’s ecstasy… in a pill.” Before he could respond, she popped two in her mouth and washed them down with champagne.
She held out her hand, offering him the pills. “Let’s find it tonight.”
About Steve Moretti:
I have always been drawn to passion and creativity in all its forms. I am equally fascinated by the mechanics of the universe and the characters of history. I have a special affection for the power of music which I believe is the universal language of human emotion.
My writing journey started in journalism, public relations and advertising then continued into software development. I have been writing novels full-time for a couple of years now and recently completed my first series, Song for a Lost Kingdom.
I also co-authored a biography on the life of Pyotr Tchaikovsky, and am currently finishing the first book of a new trilogy called Michael Angelo.
I grew up in London, Ontario (Canada) and also lived in Pompano Beach, Florida as a teenager. I moved to Ottawa and attended Carleton University and now live just south of the city with my wife and our two dogs.
I look forward to your feedback. Visit my website stevemoretti.ca for the latest news, or email me at steve@stevemoretti.ca anytime!
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Giveaway Details:
1 winner will win a $25 Amazon GC, International.
Tour Schedule:
Week One:
| 5/9/2022 | Two Chicks on Books | Excerpt |
| 5/9/2022 | @jaimerockstarbooktours | IG Post |
| 5/10/2022 | Writer of Wrongs | Guest Post |
| 5/10/2022 | #BRVL Book Review Virginia Lee Blog | Excerpt |
| 5/11/2022 | Sadie’s Spotlight | Excerpt/IG Post |
| 5/11/2022 | BookHounds | Excerpt/IG Post |
| 5/12/2022 | The Momma Spot | Excerpt/IG Post |
| 5/12/2022 | Lady Hawkeye | Excerpt/IG Post |
| 5/13/2022 | Review Thick and Thin | Review/IG Post |
| 5/13/2022 | Rajiv’s Reviews | Review/IG Post |
Week Two:
| 5/16/2022 | @coffeesipsandreads | Review/IG Post |
| 5/16/2022 | Fire and Ice | Review/IG Post |
| 5/17/2022 | Viviana MacKade | Guest Post |
| 5/17/2022 | More Books Please blog | Review/IG Post |
| 5/18/2022 | Books a Plenty Book Reviews | Review/IG Post |
| 5/18/2022 | Nagma | TakeALookAtMyBookshelf | Review/IG Post |
| 5/19/2022 | Emmiepooh2 | Review/IG Post |
| 5/19/2022 | The Girl Who Reads | Review/IG Post |
| 5/20/2022 | onemoreexclamation | Review/IG Post |
| 5/20/2022 | Ravenz Reviewz | Review/IG Post |
love the cover art
A gorgeous cover and a great synopsis and excerpt, this sounds like an awesome read. Thank you for sharing your bio and book details and for offering a giveaway
Looks and sounds great!
Thanks for the giveaway!
Sounds like a very interesting concept for a book.
Don’t know what to think of the excerpt but this book has an intriguing premise! 🙂
this book looks intriguing
Love can make people do strange things. This sounds like a great love story.
MICHAEL ANGELO & THE STONE MISTRESS by author Steve Moretti has a book cover with an unusual design.
Sounds like a wonderful read!
This sounds so good!
Sounds like a good book.
I look forward to reading this.
Sounds like a great read!
I’m looking forward to following his to Florence and learning about the secrets he uncovers
this sounds like a great book
Hope you are having a good day
Sounds like a good read.
Sounds like a good read.
Liked the excerpt
Love seldom arrives in the form of a few pills and a night of brief pleasure.
I really loved the sweeping, cinematic feel of this story. I was especially drawn to the setting of the fashion world in the 1990’s!
I enjoyed reading this blurb. This sounds like a great read and the cover is amazing.
I enjoyed reading the excerpt – so well done!
Thank you for sharing this.
Sounds like a great story. The reviewers really loved it.
What an amazing book! Great cover and excerpt. I’d love to read more.
sounds like a good one
sherry @ fundinmental
I’d love to read this!
Sounds fascinating. Looking forward to reading the book.
I absolutely love the unique cover.
I join in with the comments that it does sound so intriguing. thanks for the intro and I hope to read more.
🔥🔥🔥
How do you get the quick start to a new book?
Sounds like an excellent book!
spooky
The book sounds great, I love the plot.
What inspires your book plots?
The book sounds interesting.
This sounds like a great read that I would really enjoy.
Oh my! This sounds like a great read!
looks like a fun one
Sounds like a good book. I like the cover and excerpt.