NineStar Press is having a great Cyber Monday sale today! Get 50% off your order with code CYBER22, and if you haven't read them yet, all of my books are eligible for the promotion. Don't miss out—you deserve to treat yourself to some new books!
NineStar Press is having a great Cyber Monday sale today! Get 50% off your order with code CYBER22, and if you haven't read them yet, all of my books are eligible for the promotion. Don't miss out—you deserve to treat yourself to some new books!
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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. I decided to share a few snippets from The Merchant's Love this month because it's four year book birthday is June 18th. I always call this book a warm hug in book form because that's how it's always felt to me (and what I needed when I was writing it). It's the story of Faelen, a demisexual bookish royal, falling in love over books and baked goods with Maxen, a bisexual merchant who is utterly besotted with him from the start. There's also some family drama and a bit of magic gone wrong. Here's another moment between Faelen and Maxen to finish out the month. ![]() When Maxen got to the bedchamber, he kicked the door shut behind him—the servants may have witnessed his playfulness, but they would see no more—and carried Faelen to the bed. Maxen tossed him down among the still mussed blankets. Faelen laughed, his cheeks flushing a delicate pink, his eyes dancing with mirth. Maxen went still and just looked at him, marveling that someone so beautiful inside and out wanted him—was, perhaps, his. He was beginning to realize how completely he belonged to Faelen. He wouldn’t think about how terrifying that was. “Maxen?” “I just needed to look at you for a moment.” He lowered himself to the bed over Faelen, feeling Faelen’s arms come up to hold him, his legs lift to cradle him. “You take my breath away.” You can find more about The Merchant's Love here. And don't forget that The Merchant's Love and my other books are 40% off at NineStar Press through the end of June. Thanks for reading today and I hope you're staying safe and well.
Get 50% off your entire cart at NineStar Press through December 5th with code CYBER. All of my books are included, so it's a great time to grab any you might be missing. 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+ For today's snippet, I'm sharing more from The Envoy's Honor, the newest book in my Chronicles of Tournai series, which is now out everywhere. The Envoy's Honor is an adversaries to lovers romance between two men whose devotion to family and country is putting them on opposites sides of a dispute that it will take careful diplomacy to get everyone out of safely. Unwitting attraction complicates matters, of course, and just when they might be getting closer, someone is murdered. But at least they know neither of them could've done it since they were...together...at the time. And there are more dragon shifters in this one! I'm picking up just after last week's snippet. ![]() “And I assume, therefore, some or all of the people looking for you have the same Talent?” Marcus asked. “I’m sure they do. Where I come from...Ivria. Many of us there have the Talent. Not everyone, but many.” “I’ve never heard of such a thing. Not outside legend.” Now Corentin smiled faintly. “As we want it to be. We don’t have time for the detailed story, but many years ago, those with this Talent were more plentiful and lived all over, but then they began to be hunted by those who learned of their magic and wanted to control or eradicate it. They fled until they found a safe place to settle, staying mostly separate from the rest of the world through the years. We let knowledge of the dragon Talent fade into legend, and we all know to keep the secret.” The explanation was no less powerful for its brevity. After a moment, Marcus asked, “The people who’ve come...they’re here because you divulged the secret?” “Yes." You can find more about The Envoy's Honor here. Also, The Envoy's Honor and the rest of my books are all 30% off at NineStar Press, if you need some weekend reading. Thanks for reading today, and I hope you're all staying safe and healthy!
I'm so excited (and happy and relieved) that The Sorcerer's Guardian is back out in the world today. This is the last of my former Dreamspinner titles, and it's been out of print for almost a year. But now, it's back with a gorgeous new cover by Natasha Snow, and all of the books in the Chronicles of Tournai series (so far—new books coming soon!) are available again. The Sorcerer's Guardian is an opposites attract romance between an arrogant sorcerer and a loyal guard captain sent on a dangerous mission for the crown. They clash with each other and somehow tumble into love along the way (and get stuck in an inn with only one room left which only has one bed...). The changes to this book are minimal—just a bit of cleaning up. The characters and story remain unchanged from the first edition, so no need to buy it again, unless you want one with the pretty new cover. And if you haven't read it yet, I hope you enjoy getting to know Loriot and Savarin. And The Sorcerer's Guardian is currently 30% off at NineStar Press, along with my other books! About The Sorcerer's Guardian![]() Savarin honed his Talent through years of study, and to achieve his goal of becoming the most powerful and accomplished sorcerer in Tournai, he made magic his life. Among the wealthy and noble circles he moves in, no one would suspect the handsome, refined, arrogant sorcerer’s humble beginnings--which is how Savarin prefers it. He wants to be seen only as the man he’s made himself. When Tournai’s princes task Savarin with studying and strengthening the spells that protect the principality from magical attack, he is more than happy to do so. The spells are complex, centuries old, and exactly the type of puzzle Savarin is eager to solve. But to his annoyance, the princes insist Loriot accompany him on his journey. Second son of a minor noble family, Loriot worked his way up the ranks of the royal guard to captain with single-minded determination and takes pride in his service to the crown. He must obey the prince’s orders to protect Savarin, despite believing his skills would be best used elsewhere and his wariness of magic. UnTalented himself, Loriot has learned not only the benefits of magic but also its potential for harm--and how to counter it. He still believes it’s best to avoid most magic entirely, which is difficult when he’s tasked with playing guard to a powerful sorcerer. Loriot and Savarin clash repeatedly during their journey, but the simmering tension between them doesn’t only stem from their work, and passion develops into feelings neither expected. But Savarin must still secure Tournai’s magical barrier, and his only solution will endanger both him and the royal family. Add The Sorcerer's Guardian to your Goodreads shelf Buy The Sorcerer's Guardian: NineStar Press Amazon Barnes & Noble Kobo Apple Smashwords NineStar Press is having a Black Friday/Cyber Monday sale! Use code BLACKCYBER to get 40% off your order from November 29th through December 2nd. It's a great time to stock up on some new books! All of mine are included in the sale, including The Spymaster's Secret, so you can pick up any you missed. Happy shopping! Happy book birthday to The Spymaster's Secret! I'm so excited this book is out in the world now for you to read and get to know Alexander and Marcus better. If you've read other books in the series, you might have met these two before (though you can certainly jump in right here if you haven't—all the books in the series stand alone). Marcus's first appearance was way back in the second book of the series, The Artist's Masquerade, and at the time, I didn't plan on writing a book for him. But, as I kept writing, Marcus kept popping up here and there, and then in The Dragon's Devotion, he and Alexander were in one scene together. They didn't even talk to each other, but Alexander was intrigued by Marcus—curious about what he does and drawn to him by his confidence and competence—and I knew I'd be writing their story soon. They were such a fun couple to write—I seem to like writing opposites attract! Alexander is a royal cousin who is younger, flirtatious, and seemingly entirely frivolous, but he has hidden depths that few ever see, mostly because he doesn't let them. He is also endlessly curious (I tried to refrain from too many "curiosity killed the cat" references, considering the magical Talent of the royal family to change into cats!). Marcus is a serious, older widower with children...and the princes' spymaster. He's been alone since his wife died and has no intention of ever falling in love again. He never expected Alexander or the attraction they'd feel for each other. Still, they have to learn to open up, to trust both themselves and each other, if they're going to find love that lasts. And of course, there's magic and spies and intrigue along the way. I hope you enjoy reading their story as much as I did writing it! About The Spymaster's Secret:![]() Alexander is doing his best to settle into life in Tournai’s royal palace after years living outside the country due to his father’s diplomatic work. The sense of belonging and home he feels is overwhelming, but none of his plans are going as he imagined. Many see him as only a lovely, charming adornment of the royal court and underestimate both his intelligence and abilities. His attraction to Marcus, a mysterious older man who does work for the prince, Alexander’s cousin, is unexpected but not unwelcome…if Marcus could possibly see who Alexander really is. Lord Marcus is the second son of a minor noble family, a widower raising two children…and the prince’s spymaster. He knows his work is necessary for the security of the kingdom and its royal family, but he also knows it can be distasteful and dangerous to him and those around him. Marcus has vowed never to fall in love again, never to put anyone else at risk—a promise threatened for the first time by the vibrant, flirtatious Alexander. The attraction is unwelcome and entirely undeniable. He can’t believe someone like Alexander would want someone like him, but he also can’t stay away. As they become ever more entangled, Marcus is investigating rumors of spies at work in Tournai’s university. As he gets closer to uncovering their plot, Alexander is drawn deeper into danger. Can their love survive when Alexander is put in peril by the very spies Marcus is hunting for? Add to your Goodreads shelf. Buy The Spymaster's Secret: NineStar Press Amazon Barnes & Noble Apple Kobo Smashwords The Spymaster's Secret, the next book in the Chronicles of Tournai series, will be out in the world on October 14th (though you can have it in your hands three days early if you preorder from NineStar Press). And, of course, I'm my usual jumble of nervous and excited at the upcoming release! The Spymaster's Secret is the story of Alexander, the flirtatious, charming royal cousin with hidden depths, and Marcus, the older, serious widower with the mysterious job. It's an opposites attract, age gap romance with spies and intrigue and two people who have to learn to trust each other and themselves and take a chance on love. And here is the absolutely gorgeous cover by Natasha Snow: About The Spymaster's Secret:Alexander is doing his best to settle into life in Tournai’s royal palace after years living outside the country due to his father’s diplomatic work. The sense of belonging and home he feels is overwhelming, but none of his plans are going as he imagined. Many see him as only a lovely, charming adornment of the royal court and underestimate both his intelligence and abilities. His attraction to Marcus, a mysterious older man who does work for the prince, Alexander’s cousin, is unexpected but not unwelcome...if Marcus could possibly see who Alexander really is.
Lord Marcus is the second son of a minor noble family, a widower raising two children...and the prince’s spymaster. He knows his work is necessary for the security of the kingdom and its royal family, but he also knows it can be distasteful and dangerous to him and those around him. Marcus has vowed never to fall in love again, never to put anyone else at risk--a promise threatened for the first time by the vibrant, flirtatious Alexander. The attraction is unwelcome and entirely undeniable. He can’t believe someone like Alexander would want someone like him, but he also can’t stay away. As they become ever more entangled, Marcus is investigating rumors of spies at work in Tournai’s university. As he gets closer to uncovering their plot, Alexander is drawn deeper into danger. Can their love survive when Alexander is put in peril by the very spies Marcus is hunting for? Preorder The Spymaster's Secret at NineStar Press. (Preorders at other retailers will be available soon.) ![]() Title: Coffee Series: A Cup of John, Book Two Author: Matthew J. Metzger Publisher: NineStar Press Release Date: August 19. 2019 Heat Level: 3 - Some Sex Pairing: Male/Male Length: 69100 Genre: Contemporary, LGBT, contemporary, British, trans, gay, queer, age gap, established couple, size difference, blue collar, disability, ableism, death and grieving, family issues, dirty talk, wedding, ownvoices Add to Goodreads![]() SynopsisWhen Chris’s stepfather passes away and leaves Chris a house and a wedding ring, it seems like the perfect opportunity to take the next step in his relationship with John. So, they’re both in for a nasty shock when Chris’s mother is vehemently opposed to the idea. Despite three years of history to prove otherwise, she insists that John is only a temporary feature in Chris’s life, and a man like him can’t be expected to stay with someone like Chris in the long run. Can Chris persuade her that she’s wrong in time for the wedding—or will there be an empty space in the photographs?ExcerptCoffee Matthew J. Metzger © 2019 All Rights Reserved Rather appropriately for the occasion, it had been raining all day. Chris took in a deep lungful of smoke and exhaled it smoothly into the chilly afternoon. The memorial garden was blissful after the hustle and bustle of the funeral. The air was open and soothingly cool, not like the stuffy heat of the chapel. He could breathe again. He could gather the shards of grief around himself and try to put them back together, without having to think about his mother’s sobbing at his side, or the favourite song that had been played for Jack’s last journey, a song now stained with sadness. The gentle patter of raindrops on the umbrella calmed him, and the far-off chirping of some irate bird provided a gentle counterpoint. Life slowed. From farther off, the chattering of friends and relations had finally died away, and Chris stubbed out the remains of the cigarette as he heard the crunch of gravel. He’d never been here before, but the footsteps coming down the path were as familiar as his own. Thunderously heavy, an immense weight crushing each step into the ground even as the pace was slow and steady. That slight stress on one step, followed by lightness on the other. That dodgy knee from the rugby accident last year had left its mark in the form of a subtle limp and a tiny scar like a fish hook that made its owner go all shivery when Chris kissed it. Even the speed with which each step followed the other was familiar, like the tower of a body might collapse if the feet were spread too far apart. The hands that clasped Chris’s shoulders were as big as spades, and only one person in his life was tall enough to kiss the crown of his head without the use of a box to stand on. Chris leaned back into the wall of a man who had arrived and lifted the umbrella to let him into the shelter. “Your mum’s gone home with Lauren.” The relief was bittersweet. Mum and Lauren had always gotten along, despite one being Dad’s ex-wife and one being Dad’s girlfriend. Lauren would look after her—even if it was Chris’s job. Even if he was supposed to. “You did great.” Chris swallowed thickly. “I think it’s just sunk in.” It hadn’t been real. It had taken so long that it had never quite felt real until this moment. Jack had died a long, slow, terrible death. Weeks in the hospice. Chris would never forget the gargling way his stepfather had breathed near the end, or the clammy coolness of his skin. The way Mum had cried, soft little sniffles at the corner of the bed on that final day. The gaps between the gurgles, until finally there had been nothing but the eeriest silence. The shaking in his fingertips was over. Everything was over. The smell of cigar smoke on the tenth of March, the one day of the year Jack lit up. The shuffle of his slippers. The whirr of that deathtrap of a stairlift. The croaking way he’d chuckled, a noise that in a bigger man would have been a belly laugh. The little huff he let out when Mum was in one of her moods, followed up hastily with “Yes, dear, of course…” And Chris had never seen it, but he’d known Jack had flashed him little smirks across the table at such moments, conspiratorial understandings between the two men who were most subject to her fussing and flapping, the two men who loved her most. Gone. “Jack’s gone.” “I know.” The words were soft but firm. The hands on his shoulders rubbed down to his elbows and then back up in a long, smooth stroke. “But so is the pain and the suffering. He’s not hurting anymore. And if he was right, then he gets to see his daughter again now.” Chris coughed a shaky laugh. It bubbled out of his ribs like water overflowing. “No such thing as heaven.” “You never know.” Chris sighed and leaned his head back. He closed his eyes and hummed as a kiss was pressed into his temple. “I should go and see Mum,” he said. But his chest ached. His ribs felt like they were going to cave in, and a red-hot pain followed the scar, as if he’d been wrapped in metal wire, melting against his skin. He hurt. “I want to go home.” The hands pulled. He was turned by the shoulders and drawn into a rain-damp embrace. The arms around his back made the pain worse, but Chris clung and burrowed into the embrace anyway. The kiss on the top of his head slotted two of the jagged edges together and sealed them shut again. The grief ebbed a fraction. “Come on, then. Let’s go home.”PurchaseNineStar Press | Amazon | Smashwords | Barnes & Noble | Kobo![]() Meet the AuthorMatthew J. Metzger is an ace, trans author posing as a functional human being in the wilds of Yorkshire, England. Although mainly a writer of contemporary, working-class romance, he also strays into fantasy when the mood strikes. Whatever the genre, the focus is inevitably on queer characters and their relationships, be they familial, platonic, sexual, or romantic. When not crunching numbers at his day job, or writing books by night, Matthew can be found tweeting from the gym, being used as a pillow by his cat, or trying to keep his website in some semblance of order.Website | TwitterGiveawaya Rafflecopter giveaway![]() |
AuthorAntonia is a writer and a reader and a copy editor/proofreader. She loves books, travel, art, photography, baking, pasta, and shoes. Archives
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