Category: Rainbow Snippets

Rainbow Snippets April 18-19

4/18/2020

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 Prince's Consort to switch over to The Artist's Masquerade, which will be rereleasing through NineStar Press at the beginning of May. The Artist's Masquerade is the second book in the Chronicles of Tournai (though it stands alone, as all the other books in the series do) and is the story of Cathal, a dutiful and overly proper duke's heir, and Flavian, a sharp-tongued artist who's in disguise and on the run. An opposites attract romance plus spies and intrigue and magic. I'm sharing the first several lines of Chapter 1 today.

“It’s time you took a wife.”

Cathal managed to keep his surprise hidden with some difficulty. That blunt statement was not what he’d expected when he received the summons to his father’s office. A discussion of family business, perhaps, or questions about happenings at the palace, even a diatribe about one of his cousin’s choices—since Father seemed to hate every one of them since the prince’s marriage to Amory—was what usually precipitated a call to Father’s presence.

He’d never imagined Father would bring up marriage. Cathal had seen no indication Father was even thinking in such a direction. Father had said plenty as he’d pushed the prince to marry, and plenty more when Philip had married a man of his choosing instead of the woman Father would have chosen, but he’d never said a word about his own sons’ need to marry.

I'll have more updates about The Artist's Masquerade soon. In the meantime, don't forget that NineStar's sale continues, and all of my books are 40% off for a while longer. Stay safe and healthy, everyone.

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Rainbow Snippets April 11-12

4/11/2020

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Amory’s mouth dropped open, and Arnau flushed and turned back to Philip. “I must protest, Your Highness—”

“Must you? I don’t think you’re in the position to protest anything, Master Arnau.” Philip was beyond tired of hearing the man talk, and even after making his decision, he was having a hard time keeping his temper in check. The meeting had turned out to be more infuriating than he’d anticipated. “Master Amory? Would you come with me, please?”

Amory’s dark eyes found him as his mouth snapped shut. He nodded. “Yes, Your Highness.”

You can find more about The Prince's Consort here. Also, The Prince's Consort is still 40% off at NineStar Press, along with all my other books. Hope you're all staying safe and well!

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Rainbow Snippets April 4-5

4/4/2020

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He turned the full force of his most regal stare on Arnau and waited. Waited. There. The first hints of uncertainty in that insufferable expression. Just because he found out somehow Philip preferred to spend his time with men, and presumably Amory did as well, didn’t mean his little plan should succeed.

“I think whether Master Amory and I would like to further our acquaintance is not solely a question for me, but for Master Amory as well,” he said after a pause he judged long enough.

“He does, of course,” Arnau said. “He would be honored to further an acquaintance with you, Your Highness, and do anything you wish for him to do.”

Philip fought to keep his voice even. “I would much rather hear from Master Amory.”

Arnau none-too-gently nudged his younger son, who remained frozen at his side. “Tell the prince, Amory. Now.”

“No,” Philip interrupted. “I will speak with Master Amory alone.”

You can find more about The Prince's Consort here. Also, Ninestar Press has extended their sale, so you can still get The Prince's Consort (and all of my other books!) 40% off for a while longer. Take care of yourselves. Stay safe and well.

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Rainbow Snippets March 28-29

3/28/2020

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One glance at Amory’s stricken expression told him Amory had no part in Arnau’s plan. The horror and embarrassment in those big eyes ignited a fire inside Philip. He opened his mouth to yell, to give Arnau the scare of his life before sending him on his way. After canceling the order that brought them there and assuring Arnau the royal family would never go to him for glasswork again.

But then he looked at Amory. He didn’t know the man at all, but there was something about him...and he didn’t think it was only Amory’s beauty. Something told him maybe Amory could be a friend at least, if not a lover. He wanted to trust the feeling, ached to be right. But even if he imagined whatever potential he thought was there, no one deserved to be treated the way Arnau was treating Amory.

He couldn’t yell and send them away. Couldn’t send Amory away with them.

You can find more about The Prince's Consort here. It's also still 40% off for a little while longer at Ninestar Press, along with the rest of my books (except A Dance of Water and Air, which is free!). Take care, everyone. Stay safe and healthy!

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Rainbow Snippets March 21-22

3/21/2020

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“I don’t understand, Master Arnau. What are you offering?”

Oh, yes, his expression was definitely smug. “I only hoped you might like to get to know Amory better, Your Highness. You are both like-minded men, and Amory hasn’t known any others. I thought you might get along well, if you spent an evening, or a night, getting acquainted.”

Was Arnau really...? Arnau’s expression wasn’t just smug, it wasknowing, somehow, and slimy. He was. Arnau was offering his son’s virginity, or at least a night with Amory in Philip’s bed, in exchange forhis allowing them extra time to work on the commission. His stomach churned with a sick mixture of horror and disgust. How could a father do such a thing? For all intents sell his child for his own gain.

You can find more about The Prince's Consort here. The world is a pretty scary place right now, and I hope you all are taking care of yourselves and each other and staying home as much as possible. If you need some books to escape into, NineStar Press is having a sale. Everything is 40% off through the end of March. All of mine are on sale there, including The Prince's Consort, and A Dance of Water and Air is free, so make sure to grab it if you haven't read it yet.

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Rainbow Snippets March 14-15

3/14/2020

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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'm sharing another snippet from The Prince's Consort today, since it will be back out in the world on Monday (though if anyone bought it from NineStar, they have it already...). This snippet follows not long after the last one I shared. Amory's father, Arnau, has brought him along to a business meeting with the prince, something he's never done before. Arnau is a glass merchant, and his glassmaking business has a commission to create a chandelier for the prince, but it's late. Arnau is hoping to make a deal. (I went over six sentences—I'm sorry! I thought it was necessary to convey what's going on.) The snippet is in Philip's POV, and Arnau speaks first.

“Of course, Your Highness. One more week, and the chandelier will be completed to perfection. It will be the most impressive gift the kingand queen of Amaranta receive. The envy of all others.” Arnau seemed to clue in to Philip’s impatience and cut short his words. His face didn’tchange, but a calculating gleam came to his eyes. “In the meantime, perhaps I can do something to apologize for the inconvenience we have caused you.”

He raised an eyebrow. He couldn’t wait to hear what Arnau thought would appease him. A discount? If Philip hadn’t needed the highest quality glasswork for the gift, he would never have done business with Arnau again.

“As you see, I brought my son Amory with me today.” Amory turned a puzzled gaze on his father, who seemed almost...smug. “I thought youmight like to spend an evening together, Your Highness. Get to know each other.”

Complete silence fell. Arnau couldn’t be saying what it sounded like, could he?

The Prince's Consort will be out on Monday, and you can find out more about it, including links and a longer excerpt, here. Also, another of my books, A Harmony of Fire and Earth, has been out for a year this week, and I'm giving away a copy (or a copy of the first book in the series, if you prefer) in this blog post. Go enter! Thanks for reading today!

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Rainbow Snippet March 7-8

3/7/2020

3 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 sharing a snippet from The Prince's Consort again today. In this snippet, Philip sees Amory for the first time. He's meeting with Arnau and Alban, Amory's (horrible) father and brother, as he has many times before, but this is the first time they've brought Amory with them (and of course, there's a reason for that...). I've gone a little over six sentences, but I thought it was necessary this time.

His gaze slid over Arnau and Alban. They’d met with him more than once in the past, but the man with them was a stranger. He looked young, younger even than Philip, and--

Philip’s mouth dried, his breath caught in his throat, and he stared. At the curling auburn hair and the slender, lithe body dressed in well-cut, well-made clothes. At the rich brown eyes staring back at him. They went almost comically wide and startled, but the young man didn’t look away, and Philip couldn’t bring himself to either. A delightful blush stained the stranger’s cheeks, and Philip wanted to grin. Who was this man?

The Prince's Consort will be back out in the world on March 16th! So soon! You can find more about it here. Also, all of my other books are 50% off at Smashwords through today—don't miss out on a great sale! Thanks for reading!

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Rainbow Snippet February 29-March 1

2/29/2020

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+

This week, I have a snippet from The Prince's Consort for you. The Prince's Consort was my first published novel, which I requested and received my rights back to from Dreamspinner in the fall. It will be back out in the world through NineStar Press on March 16th with a gorgeous new cover. I'm so excited for it to finally be available again! This snippet is the first time we meet Prince Philip in the book.

Philip Alexander Stefan Mael threw himself down into his office chair with a long sigh, forcing the weight of responsibility that came with each of those names from his body. Audiences had been long that afternoon, some of the petitions complex, others tedious and frustrating, but he’d insisted on presiding on his own. He wasn’t alone with the petitioners in the audience chamber—there were any number of people with him—but he refused to have his uncle whispering in his ear. Uncle Umber, his father’s brother, had become a source of counsel and support when his father died. But Father had been gone over a year, and Uncle Umber needed to let Philip be the ruler of Tournai. He had been trained and prepared for it his whole life, but no one would ever see him as a ruler if his uncle was perceived to be the power behind the throne

You can find more about The Prince's Consort (including a longer excerpt and preorder links) here. Thanks for reading today!

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Rainbow Snippet February 22-23

2/22/2020

6 Comments

They lingered over kisses--long, luxurious kisses that spiraled out around Alexander, leaving him almost dizzy with them. He had no idea how long they kissed and lazily touched, holding each other close and reveling in the feel of skin on skin, but it was long enough for Alexander to feel heavy and drugged on the pleasure of those kisses. Finally they slowed, then stopped, and Marcus settled at Alexander’s side, gently gathering him close and tugging the blankets up over them.

The care in the gestures had Alexander’s chest going tight. He wasn’t used to it in his affairs, but he didn’t care to examine that tonight. What he wanted to do was snuggle in even closer and let sleep pull him under, warm and safe in Marcus’s arms.

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

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Rainbow Snippet February 15-16

2/15/2020

5 Comments

He leaned over and retrieved Maxen’s book from the floor, turning it to read the title. “Oh, this is new, isn’t it? What do you think so far?”

Maxen hadn’t gotten more than a few pages in, as distracted as he was, and he’d only bought the book that day. “I’m enjoying it so far. I bought you a copy too. I was going to send it to you tomorrow.”

Faelen turned to him, surprise and pleasure in his eyes. It was a small enough gift, but from the look on Faelen’s face, it was as if he’d brought him diamonds or something equally valuable. “Thank you.”

“You’re welcome.” Maxen ached so much to kiss him in that moment as the firelight teased out the red in Faelen’s hair and reflected in his large, wide eyes.

You can find out more about The Merchant's Love here. The Merchant's Love and all of my other books are 40% off at NineStar Press this weekend with code Valentines40 if you'd like to give one a try. Thanks for reading today!

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Rainbow Snippets April 18-19

Rainbow Snippets April 11-12

Rainbow Snippets April 4-5

Rainbow Snippets March 28-29

Rainbow Snippets March 21-22

Rainbow Snippets March 14-15

Rainbow Snippet March 7-8

Rainbow Snippet February 29-March 1

Rainbow Snippet February 22-23

Rainbow Snippet February 15-16

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