Antonia Aquilante
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Rainbow Snippets December 31-January 1

12/31/2022

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​It's weekend, and time for more Rainbow Snippets! The Rainbow Snippets group on Facebook asks its members to share six sentence snippets from their work each weekend. Check out the group's Facebook page to read all the snippets and add lots of great books to your TBR. You'll find all sorts of books with the common thread that the main character identifies as LGBTQ.

​Since it's December, I've decided to share some snippets from the closest thing I have to a holiday romance so far. The Merchant's Love is a cozy fall/winter fantasy romance in which a bookish demisexual royal and a bisexual commoner (who is utterly besotted with him from first sight) fall in love over books and baked goods. The Merchant's Love is mostly just a warm hug in book form, but there is a bit of magic gone wrong. And that's how Maxen finds out about Faelen's magical Talent, a magic that runs in his family and is kept secret from anyone outside it.
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​One moment, Maxen was nearly giddy with happiness and anticipation for the future, and the next, Faelen was pulling out of his arms and...he wasn’t sure. A glittering cloud had enveloped Faelen, and where he’d been,  there was now a black cat so large its head came up to Maxen’s hip. Part of Maxen was screaming that he needed to run away, but he could only stare, frozen.

The cat stared back, but it looked...worried. Could a cat look worried? They’d never kept cats in his family, and really, this was no house cat anyway.

“Maxen?”

He jumped and fell back against the mantel. The cat drew back, appearing...well, a bit hurt actually. But the cat had talked. And it continued to watch him with large eyes the exact same shade of peridot as Faelen’s. Maxen frowned.

That was crazy, wasn’t it?

“Faelen?”

You can find out more about The Merchant's Love here. The Merchant's Love and my other books are all 50% off at Smashwords through January 1st—not much time left, so don't miss out on a great sale! Thanks for reading, and I hope you all have a happy and healthy 2023!
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Goodbye, 2022 (And My Favorite Reads of the Year)

12/31/2022

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Happy New Year, my darlings! I know a lot of authors are doing lists of their writing accomplishments to end the year, but, since I didn't hit my goals this year, I'm generally going to skip that. Mostly, I'm going to say thank you. Thank you for reading and reviewing and talking about my books. Thank you for looking forward to what's coming next (I promise I'm working on it!). Thank you to everyone there for making my first GRL in October so much fun. I was so thrilled to meet you all there.

The past few years have been...well, I don't think I actually need to say. As this year ends, I'm looking forward to the next and hoping for good things in 2023 (without actually trying to predict what will happen!). To Love the Dragon King finally out in the world. More reading, more writing. My second GRL. A little travel and adventure. I wish health and happiness and wonderful things for you in 2023! Lots of love to you.
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Some of my favorite reads of the year (not all of them published in 2022, but all of them first read by me this year) mostly in the order in which I read them:

The Missing Page by Cat Sebastian (m/m historical cozy mystery)
A Marvellous Light by Freya Marske (m/m historical fantasy romance)
The Windsor Knot and All the Queen's Men by SJ Bennett (cozy mystery)
The Chosen and the Beautiful by Nghi Vo (historical fantasy)
For the Wolf and For the Throne by Hannah Whitten (m/f fantasy romance)
The Perks of Loving a Wallflower by Erica Ridley (f/f Regency romance)
A Dead Djinn in Cairo by P Djeli Clark (alt-historical fantasy novella) 
The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea by Axie Oh (YA fantasy)
In the Ravenous Dark by AM Strickland (queer YA fantasy)
Vespertine by Margaret Rogerson (YA fantasy)
A Rake of His Own by AJ Lancaster (m/m fantasy romance)
A Little Blessing by R Cooper (m/m paranormal romance)
The Sunbearer Trials by Aiden Thomas (queer YA fantasy)

What were some of your favorite reads of the year?
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Rainbow Snippets December 24-25

12/24/2022

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​It's weekend, and time for more Rainbow Snippets! The Rainbow Snippets group on Facebook asks its members to share six sentence snippets from their work each weekend. Check out the group's Facebook page to read all the snippets and add lots of great books to your TBR. You'll find all sorts of books with the common thread that the main character identifies as LGBTQ.

​Since it's December, I've decided to share some snippets from the closest thing I have to a holiday romance so far. The Merchant's Love is a cozy fall/winter fantasy romance in which a bookish demisexual royal and a bisexual commoner (who is utterly besotted with him from first sight) fall in love over books and baked goods. In this snippet, Maxen is giving Faelen a Midwinter gift.
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​Maxen cupped his cheek, stroking his thumb over it lightly. “Just open 
it.”

Faelen turned his head and kissed Maxen’s palm. Then he began to 
carefully work the wrapping free. He could tell Maxen was smiling without looking at him, but Faelen had always been deliberate in opening presents. Not that Faelen wasn’t eager to know what this package held—he just liked the anticipation.

Finally, the colorful paper fell away to reveal a velvet box. Jewelry? Slowly, he lifted the lid, and gasped. Inside, on a pad of more dark velvet, lay a set of combs. The intricate silver filigree was set with little pearls and sparkling peridots. Faelen didn’t know what to say for a moment. The way he wore his hair wasn’t the fashion in Tournai, but Maxen had given him something he knew Faelen would love. A token perhaps, as were all gifts exchanged at Midwinter, but one he’d use happily.

“Maxen...” Faelen finally looked up to find the worry back in Maxen’s eyes. “They’re beautiful. I love them.”

You can find more about The Merchant's Love here. The Merchant's Love is 50% off at Smashwords, along with my other books, through January 1st. You can also find a bunch of LGBTQ books on sale or free at Smashwords here. Thanks for reading today, and I hope you're staying safe and well. And Merry Christmas to all who are celebrating!
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Happy Winter Solstice!

12/21/2022

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Wishing you the peace of cozy winter nights and ever brighter days!
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Rainbow Snippets December 17-18

12/18/2022

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​It's weekend, and time for more Rainbow Snippets! The Rainbow Snippets group on Facebook asks its members to share six sentence snippets from their work each weekend. Check out the group's Facebook page to read all the snippets and add lots of great books to your TBR. You'll find all sorts of books with the common thread that the main character identifies as LGBTQ.

​Since it's December, I've decided to share some snippets from the closest thing I have to a holiday romance so far. The Merchant's Love is a cozy fall/winter fantasy romance in which a bookish demisexual royal and a bisexual commoner (who is utterly besotted with him from first sight) fall in love over books and baked goods. In this snippet, Faelen and Maxen have gone to the Midwinter festival, but Maxen is upset by some family issues and Faelen decides to try to help.
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​He bit his lip. “Will you let me distract you for a while, then?”

A slow smile curved Maxen’s lips. “What did you have in mind?”

​“Well, I think we’ll go to the festival, and I’ll drag you around the 
market and to all the entertainments and ply you with sweets.”

“I thought I would be the one plying you with sweets, Fae.”

Faelen narrowed his eyes and glared at Maxen, but inside he thrilled 
at the pet name and that Maxen’s eyes had some of their sparkle back. “Last I checked, you weren’t indifferent to them either. Now, the change of plan is that instead of staying out as long as we’d planned, I would drag you back to your house and up to bed.”

Maxen’s gaze went hot, the sweep of it over Faelen’s body almost a tangible thing, making him shiver. “And what will we do when we get there?”

You can find out more about The Merchant's Love here. Also, The Merchant's Love and the rest of my books are all 50% off at Smashwords through January 1st, so don't miss out on that great sale. You can find other LGBTQ books that are on sale or free during the Smashwords sale at this book funnel promo too. Thanks for reading today, and I hope you're staying safe and well!
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Smashwords End of Year Sale

12/15/2022

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It's time for the Smashwords End of Year Sale! My books are all 50% off there through January 1st, so it's a great time to treat yourself to some fantasy romance reading! 

And check out this Smashwords Year-End Sale promo over on book funnel for links to a bunch more LGBTQ books that are free or on sale through the end of the year.
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Rainbow Snippets December 10-11

12/11/2022

1 Comment

 
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​It's weekend, and time for more Rainbow Snippets! The Rainbow Snippets group on Facebook asks its members to share six sentence snippets from their work each weekend. Check out the group's Facebook page to read all the snippets and add lots of great books to your TBR. You'll find all sorts of books with the common thread that the main character identifies as LGBTQ.

​Since it's December, I've decided to share some snippets from the closest thing I have to a holiday romance so far. The Merchant's Love is a cozy fall/winter fantasy romance in which a bookish demisexual royal and a bisexual commoner (who is utterly besotted with him from first sight) fall in love over books and baked goods. 
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​When they stepped out onto the street after their meal, Faelen’s breath caught in his throat, and he stopped dead just outside the door, looking up in wonder. Maxen walked right into him, knocking them off-balance. He caught Faelen by the waist to steady them as they both wobbled.

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“Sorry!”

“No, it’s my fault,” Faelen said, covering Maxen’s hand with his own. “But look. It’s snowing.”

It was little more than flurries, but there was something magical about them nonetheless. The tiny flakes danced in the air, glistening in the glow of the streetlights. Faelen turned his face up to them and laughed as another little bubble of joy burst inside him.

“I guess you were right,” Maxen whispered. His arms were still around Faelen, holding him back against his chest. Faelen made a little noise of contentment and snuggled into Maxen’s solid warmth. Despite the chilly night, he could’ve stayed right there until morning, just him and Maxen and the snow flurries.

You can find out more about The Merchant's Love here. Thanks for reading today, and I hope you're staying safe and well!
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My November Reading

12/5/2022

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Hello, my darlings! November flew by, and it's time for a new reading recap post. I'm up and down with reading, sometimes unable to focus or get lost in a book, sometimes not in the mood for any book (even though I own a massive number of them!). I did a couple of audiobook rereads in November, and also read some new-to-me books:

A Match Made for Thanksgiving by Jackie Lau: This first book in the Holidays with the Wongs series is set around and at Canadian Thanksgiving. Nick and Lily meet at a bar and have a one night stand the weekend before Thanksgiving. When Nick arrives at his parents' house in his small hometown for the holiday, he finds out that his parents and grandparents have set him and his siblings up with blind dates for Thanksgiving. And Lily is his brother Greg's date. This situation—and the fact that Nick, who doesn't do relationships, hasn't been able to stop thinking about Lily—causes Nick to tell Lily he wants more than just the one night. It's a fun novella with a sweet romance, a wacky meddling family, and some spicy scenes too.

A Rake of His Own by AJ Lancaster: So, I adored this book. It follows after the Stariel Quartet, though as if has its own romance and contained plot, it could probably stand on its own. On the other hand, the Stariel Quartet is really good too, and it gives up the first meeting and interactions between the main characters here: Marcus, a botanist with developing telepathic powers, and Rakken, an arrogant, melodramatic fae prince with a bloody past. When I heard about this book, I was so happy—I wanted these two to have a resolution to their relationship so much. And the book didn't disappoint. Marcus and Rakken are forced to work together solve a mystery that includes murder and lots of intrigue. Their enemies to lovers romance absolutely did not disappoint.

A Thief in the Night by KJ Charles: A Thief in the Night is an Audible Original (ebook to follow in the spring, I believe). As such, it wasn't very long or complex, but it was still a delightful romp of a romance. Toby steals a watch from Miles and later finds himself at the home of an earl looking for work—only the earl turns out to be Miles, newly come into the title in not the best way. There's a search for missing jewels and a little highway robbery, a bit of angst and a lot of comfort and care. I also loved the connection to The Gentle Art of Fortune Hunting (Toby is Robin and Marianne's long lost brother). 

Tommy Cabot Was Here by Cat Sebastian: This novella, set in the late 1950s, is a gorgeous second chance romance. Tommy is the youngest son of a prominent political family with a bright future ahead of him, until he comes out to his brothers and his family ostracizes him. Tommy runs into Everett—who had been his best friend and more than best friend when they were in boarding school over a decade earlier—when visiting his son at that same school, where Everett now teaches. Everett, in love with Tommy and unwilling to continue to have his hear broken, walked away from him and now has to decide whether to let him back in. Though short, this is heartfelt and warm and just lovely. (Also set in fall and at Thanksgiving, so a seasonally appropriate read!)

Her Naughty Holiday by Tiffany Reisz: One more Thanksgiving read! Clover's family informs her suddenly that she will be hosting the whole family for Thanksgiving several days before the holiday, leaving her freaking out. I'm going to pause and say that Clover's family is horrible—judgmental, pretentious, passive-aggressive, and just awful to her. They do not care that she's built a successful business and owns a lovely home—they only care that she didn't finish college and is not married and having lots of babies. And they never miss an opportunity to tell her what they think. The extent of their awfulness affected how I felt about this book. The premise—Clover asks hot single dad she's had a crush on for a while to be her fake boyfriend for Thanksgiving (and he suggests they have lots of sex until then—like, a lot, be prepared)—sounded fun. And the romance was in a lot of ways. Light, fun, and turning from fake dating to real pretty fast. But the family—the reason for the fake boyfriend—just made me want to scream.

What have you read lately?
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Rainbow Snippets December 3-4

12/4/2022

1 Comment

 
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​It's weekend, and time for more Rainbow Snippets! The Rainbow Snippets group on Facebook asks its members to share six sentence snippets from their work each weekend. Check out the group's Facebook page to read all the snippets and add lots of great books to your TBR. You'll find all sorts of books with the common thread that the main character identifies as LGBTQ.

​Since it's December, I've decided to share some snippets from the closest thing I have to a holiday romance so far. The Merchant's Love is a cozy fall/winter fantasy romance in which a bookish demisexual royal and a bisexual commoner (who is utterly besotted with him from first sight) fall in love over books and baked goods. This snippet is longer than it should be (sorry!), but it seemed so perfect for these two—and chilly nights this time of year—that I had to share it all. Early on in the books, Faelen has arrived unexpectedly at Maxen's house one night.
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​“I interrupted your evening. Wine and a book. And...are those cookies?”

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Maxen choked back a laugh. He snagged the plate off the table and offered it to Faelen. “Have a cookie. And you didn’t do anything except improve my evening. I like your company.”

Faelen’s cheeks pinked. “Still.”

“So let’s spend an evening in each other’s company with our books.” It might be a mad idea or utterly silly, but it was the best he had. Besides, Faelen fit so well in the picture of his perfect evening.

“What do you mean?”

“Let’s read for a while. We can discuss the book too if you like. And eat cookies.”

“That sounds...wonderful, actually.” Faelen handed Maxen back his copy, keeping his own, and kicked off his shoes.

Somewhat surprised that Faelen hadn’t said—in a polite, kind way— that he had no interest in the idea whatsoever, Maxen slowly resettled himself in the corner of the couch. He couldn’t stretch out again with Faelen next to him, and there was no way he was asking Faelen to move. “Do you want a blanket?”

“Do you have another?”

“I can get one.”

Faelen shook his head before Maxen could move. “We can share.”


Faelen moved closer to Maxen until they were pressed together side by side and laid his head on Maxen’s shoulder. “Is this all right?”

Maxen let out a long breath at Faelen’s hesitant words and forced himself to relax. “It’s fine.”

Perfect. It was perfect.

​Find more about The Merchant's Love here. Thanks for reading today and I hope you're staying safe and well.
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    Antonia is a writer and a reader and a copy editor/proofreader. She loves books, travel, art, photography, baking, pasta, and shoes.

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