Category: Rainbow Snippets

Rainbow Snippet January 11-12

1/11/2020

Closing his eyes, Corentin let out a long, slow breath and smiled as he reached for his magic. The change was immediate and glorious. He grew and changed under the cover of silvery purple light. When he opened his eyes again he looked out on the world from a far different perspective. He stretched his long neck, his back, even his tail, working out all the kinks and relaxing into this body. His wings came last, large and strong and the thing he’d thrilled to when he came into his power years ago.

With another smile, which he had on good authority looked quite different from his human one, he launched himself over the cliff. He didn’t make a sound doing it, even though as the wind rushed by him, as he beat his wings to carry him up and up, he wanted to scream his joy. That he couldn’t because someone might hear, even if he hadn’t seen anyone nearby, wasn’t enough to damp his delight. He was flying, and he’d found nothing more exhilarating in his life.

You can find out more about The Dragon's Devotion here. Thanks for reading today!

3 Comments

Rainbow Snippet January 4-5

1/4/2020

4 Comments

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+.

Today is the first Rainbow Snippet of the new year! I decided to share a few lines from the beginning of The Prince's Consort this weekend since I turned an edit in to NineStar last weekend. I received the rights back to this book (which was my first published book) from Dreamspinner in October, and it's going to be republished by NineStar (hopefully in February...), so we've been polishing it up and giving it a new cover, though the story remains the same. Here are the first lines in the book:

Amory giggled as he and Tristan practically fell through the garden gate. He slapped a hand over his mouth, but Tristan must not have heard. If he had, he would have teased without mercy, as was his right as Amory’s closest friend. But Tristan tugged him along, barely giving him a chance to latch the gate behind them so the lock spell would reengage.

All morning, Tristan had been in high spirits—unusual as he was usually the more focused one in classes. But when Amory asked him what was going on, Tristan only shrugged. Maybe it was the weather. All of Jumelle seemed livelier since the warmth of spring had burst over the city.

I'll share more information about when The Prince's Consort will be out and the new cover as soon as I can. Thanks for reading today. Happy New Year! I hope this year is filled with happiness and good health for everyone.

4 Comments

Rainbow Snippet December 28-29

12/28/2019

4 Comments

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+.

It's the last Rainbow Snippet of 2019—how did that happen?? I'm finishing out the year with another snippet from The Merchant's Love, my warm and cozy fantasy romance set over Tournai's winter holidays. In this snippet, Maxen is walking his younger brother home from school and goes into a shop to look for a Midwinter gift for Faelen. (It's too long again. I'm sorry! I really do promise to do better next time!)

The shopkeeper wasn’t gone more than that before he came back with a tray containing a glittering array of hair ornaments. He began explaining each piece but was called away almost immediately. Maxen accepted his apologies, happy to be left alone to look in peace. Well, as alone as he could be with Thierry hanging over his shoulder.

Maxen picked up a little silver comb. “Hmm.”

“Do you have a sweetheart? Is that who the gift is for?” Thierry piped up from behind him.

“I...I suppose I do.” He hadn’t ever thought of Faelen in those terms. “Who is she, then?”

He twisted to look at his brother. “His name is Faelen.”

Thierry’s eyes went wide. “Then why are you looking at hair combs?”

“Because he wears his hair long, and he likes them.” Maxen had
noticed that when Faelen did something with his hair other than leaving it loose, he seemed to have a fondness for combs and clips with fanciful work to them, some made of silver that stood out in his rich dark hair.

“Oh. All right.” Thierry turned to the tray and seemed to study it with interest. “What does he like? What is he like? You haven’t mentioned him.”

You can find more about The Merchant's Love here. You can also buy The Merchant's Love and all of my other books 50% off at Smashwords through January 1st. Thanks for reading today!

4 Comments

Rainbow Snippet December 21-22

12/21/2019

3 Comments

He strolled into the city as dusk fell, coat fastened and gloves on against the cold. He could have ridden, but he and Maxen had arranged to meet near the theater and walking was easier. The streets were bustling even now, some people rushing in and out of the shops finishing their errands for the holiday. He’d purchased gifts already—little things, as that was what his family had agreed upon. Maxen’s gift had been difficult for him to choose, but he hoped Maxen would like it, even if its intended purpose made Faelen a little sad.

He bought a bag of roasted chestnuts from a cart on a corner and kept walking. The bag warmed his hand even through his glove, and the chestnuts were as delicious as he remembered. They didn’t grow in Teilo, but he used to eat them practically by the pound during the winter when he was a child. The treat warmed him inside and out, at least partly from the glow of pleasure and nostalgia.

When he approached the theater, Maxen was coming toward him from the other direction, and Faelen smiled. He kept walking until he and Maxen met, until only inches separated them, and looked up into Maxen’s twinkling eyes.
“Hello.”

You can find out more about The Merchant's Love here. Thanks for reading today, and happy holidays!

3 Comments

Rainbow Snippet December 14-15

12/14/2019

5 Comments

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 another snippet from The Merchant's Love this weekend. I haven't written a holiday book yet, but this one is set around the winter holidays in Tournai and it has the warm, cozy feeling that goes along with it. In this snippet, Faelen and Maxen are at the city's Midwinter festival, wandering the marketplace. (Note to explain a reference in the second part of the snippet: Faelen's cousin Philip is the Crown Prince, and he married his husband Amory a few years earlier at Midwinter, so their anniversary is also celebrated during the holiday.)

Jumelle’s marketplace always bustled and was filled with wares from seemingly everywhere in and outside of Tournai, but at Midwinter, even more goods crowded the stalls. Faelen had almost forgotten—the capital of Teilo didn’t have near as much diversity of goods and food. With some silent accord, he and Maxen decided to look at everything, and Faelen did share his food, holding out the little bag so they both could eat from it.

They looked at hats and gloves, at swords and knives, at leatherwork, at bound journals and stalls of secondhand books. After discovering little miniature portraits of Philip and Amory with the date of their wedding painted on them and then odd little dolls depicting the two men in their wedding finery, they made a game of seeing what other strange merchandise commemorating the anniversary they could find—and tried not to be too obvious in their laughter. Painted pottery, various embroidered items, toys, glassware. Faelen kept shaking his head as they saw ever more outlandish tributes.

If you'd like to know more about The Merchant's Love, you can find it here. Thanks for reading today!

5 Comments

Rainbow Snippet December 7-8

12/7/2019

7 Comments

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+.

It snowed quite a bit here earlier this week, so in honor of the first snowfall of the season, I thought I would snippet from this little snowy scene from The Merchant's Love. I haven't written a holiday story yet, but The Merchant's Love is a warm, cozy fantasy romance set partly over Tournai's winter holidays, so it feels sort of appropriate this time of year. In this snippet, Faelen and Maxen are out together one night. Faelen said earlier it felt like it was going to snow. (I went a little over six sentences—sorry!)

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.

“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.

If you'd like to know more about The Merchant's Love, you can find it here. Thanks for reading this week!

7 Comments

Rainbow Snippet November 30-December 1

11/30/2019

7 Comments

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'm going to back to The Spymaster's Secret for a snippet this weekend before I switch off to other things. This follows directly after my snippet from two weeks ago in which Alexander and his twin, Faelen, are getting ready for a masked ball and dressing alike. (I went a little over the sentence limit—sorry!)

Their clothing was identical down to the smallest detail of the rich, emerald-green velvet jacket and pants, the gold embroidered shoes. Alexander had insisted they put their hair up, securing it with gold combs, to disguise the slight difference between them. Their masks were exactly the same as well--intricate gold and green half masks with green- dyed feathers and a single white silk rose on the right side. They were secured with glossy green ribbons. Yes, Alexander was pleased with the effect. They looked wonderful, and no one would be able to tell them apart.

“Why is it the point?”

“Don’t be so serious! Just think of people’s faces when they don’t know who they’ve seen or how one of us can be in two places at once.” Alexander grinned. “You know it’s going to be fun.”

Faelen shook his head, but he was laughing. Trying to stifle it, but laughing. “Only you would decide this would be the most amusing way to spend a ball.”

“Well, I also plan to dance quite a bit. Perhaps flirt some.” Marcus’s face floated up in Alexander’s mind but he blinked the image away.Marcus would be at the ball--his name was on the guest list anyway, and unless something catastrophic happened, it was an assurance he’d attend.

“With anyone in particular?” Faelen fixed him with an arch look.

You can read more about The Spymaster's Secret here. And through Monday December 2nd, The Spymaster's Secret and my others books are all 40% off at NineStar Press with code BLACKCYBER.

7 Comments

Rainbow Snippet November 23-24

11/23/2019

7 Comments

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'm taking a little break from snippets of The Spymaster's Secret today to share something new. Yesterday I (finally!) submitted a new book in the Chronicles of Tournai series to my editor, and I thought I would share the first few lines with you. This book is a sort of adversaries/enemies to lovers romance with some mystery and magic and family (both blood and chosen) and dragon shifters. I've been excited to write more dragon shifters in this world, so much so that I'm now planning a dragon shifter spin off series.

Griffen’s day had been utterly normal—boring, even—until the dragons arrived.

The only mildly interesting thing that had happened was Bastien actually being convinced to attend a family dinner at the palace. Griffen didn’t delude himself into thinking his persuasion and prodding had anything to do with his older brother’s decision. No, Philip’s order had gotten Bastien and Corentin, the man he would soon marry, here. The prince rarely ordered his family about—and never in this type of situation, so Philip’s edict had probably been at least half joking—but Bastien was too dutiful to ignore it, despite his preference to be something of a hermit.

I don't have more information about the new book for you yet, but I'll keep you posted. In the meantime, if you enjoy dragon shifters and want to know more about Griffen's older brother Bastien, have a look at Bastien and Corentin's book, The Dragon's Devotion. Thanks for reading today!

7 Comments

Rainbow Snippet November 16-17

11/16/2019

5 Comments

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 have a little more from The Spymaster's Secret for you this weekend, though soon I may start sharing snippets from other books again. I've skipped ahead a little in the story a bit for this snippet. It's Alexander and his twin brother, Faelen, getting ready for a masked ball (I've wanted to write a masked ball for ages). Mischievous Alexander has convinced Faelen to go along with him in a bit of a scheme... (Sorry I went over the sentence limit!)

“I can't believe I let you talk me into this.”

“What? We look wonderful.” Alexander stepped over to stand beside Faelen in front of the full-length mirror in his dressing room.

“We look identical.”

So they did, except for the little frown pulling at Faelen’s lips.

“That was the point.” Alexander bumped his shoulder into Faelen’s, watching as one of the figures in the mirror did the same.

It was always a bit surreal when they dressed alike, which wasn’t often anymore. Mother had preferred to dress them identically when they were children, but Father had decided it needed to stop as they got older. Afterward, they sometimes did it to switch places, almost alwaysat Alexander’s urging. He was just so amused to see if people would figureout which of them was which. Hardly anyone ever did, and they could getaway with so much. They hadn’t done it in a long time, which Alexander did understand--they were adults now.

Tonight was a masked ball though. Everyone would be in disguise.They would dress in finery and cover their faces with fanciful masks and dance the night away. Why shouldn’t he and Faelen have a little fun?

You can find more about The Spymaster's Secret here. Thanks for reading today!

5 Comments

Rainbow Snippet November 9-10

11/9/2019

5 Comments

“You need to watch where you’re going, Lord Alexander. You could’ve gotten yourself killed.” Marcus’s cool tone with its hints of condescension irked Alexander far too much after what he’d seen.

“I can hardly control young idiots on horseback.” Alexander brought his chin up slightly, let his lips curve at the edges just a little in a hint of a teasing smile. “But I thank you for your rescue, Lord Marcus, and your advice. If I could have my hand back now?”

“Oh, of course.” Marcus let go immediately.

Alexander didn’t let his satisfaction at the hint of fluster in Marcus show. He had himself back under control—he’d kick himself later for ever losing it. For now, he nodded and took a step back himself, making the motion regal. For the most part, he left off the obvious trappings of royalty, since he was so far from the throne, but he knew quite well how and when to use them.

You can find more about The Spymaster's Secret here. Thanks for reading today!

5 Comments

<<Previous

Rainbow Snippet January 11-12

Rainbow Snippet January 4-5

Rainbow Snippet December 28-29

Rainbow Snippet December 21-22

Rainbow Snippet December 14-15

Rainbow Snippet December 7-8

Rainbow Snippet November 30-December 1

Rainbow Snippet November 23-24

Rainbow Snippet November 16-17

Rainbow Snippet November 9-10

Author

Archives

Categories