Antonia Aquilante
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Rainbow Snippets May 18-19

5/19/2024

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​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 finishing out May with a couple more snippets from The Artist's Masquerade. The Artist's Masquerade is my second book, published back in 2015 (and rereleased in 2020 with its pretty new cover). This book is the story of Cathal, a royal duke's heir who has spent his entire life doing what is expected of him by his father, putting aside his own needs and wants to do so. When his father tells him that he has to marry—and that his father has chosen his bride for him—Cathal goes along with it but then finds himself far more fascinated by his intended's companion, Flavia. What Cathal doesn't know is that Flavia is in reality Flavian, an artist in disguise and on the run from a bad situation in his home country. His friend—Cathal's intended bride—came up with the ruse to disguise him as her companion and smuggle him out of the country so he can disappear into a new life. Only everything doesn't quite go as planned, and Flavian finds himself trapped in his role and pulled into intrigue. I've picked up right after the last snippet I shared from The Artist's Masquerade.

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Rainbow Snippets May 4-5

5/5/2024

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​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.

The Artist's Masquerade rereleased four years ago this weekend! The Artist's Masquerade is my second book, published back in 2015 (and rereleased in 2020 with its pretty new cover). This book is the story of Cathal, a royal duke's heir who has spent his entire life doing what is expected of him by his father, putting aside his own needs and wants to do so. When his father tells him that he has to marry—and that his father has chosen his bride for him—Cathal goes along with it but then finds himself far more fascinated by his intended's companion, Flavia. What Cathal doesn't know is that Flavia is in reality Flavian, an artist in disguise and on the run from a bad situation in his home country. His friend—Cathal's intended bride—came up with the ruse to disguise him as her companion and smuggle him out of the country so he can disappear into a new life. Only everything doesn't quite go as planned, and Flavian finds himself trapped in his role and pulled into intrigue. I'm picking up right after last week's snippet. (This snippet went a bit long—sorry! This seemed the best place to break it.)

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Rainbow Snippets April 27-28

4/28/2024

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​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.

In April, I'm sharing snippets from The Artist's Masquerade. The Artist's Masquerade is my second book, published back in 2015 (and rereleased in 2020 with its pretty new cover). This book is the story of Cathal, a royal duke's heir who has spent his entire life doing what is expected of him by his father, putting aside his own needs and wants to do so. When his father tells him that he has to marry—and that his father has chosen his bride for him—Cathal goes along with it but then finds himself far more fascinated by his intended's companion, Flavia. What Cathal doesn't know is that Flavia is in reality Flavian, an artist in disguise and on the run from a bad situation in his home country. His friend—Cathal's intended bride—came up with the ruse to disguise him as her companion and smuggle him out of the country so he can disappear into a new life. Only everything doesn't quite go as planned, and Flavian finds himself trapped in his role and pulled into intrigue. In last week's snippet, Cathal found out Flavia is actually Flavian and left him locked in his room. Flavian immediately begins searching for a way out but isn't able to find one. I'm picking up when Cathal returns.
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​“I thought the guards were going to come drag me away.”

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He realized Flavian always spoke in a low whisper--probably to disguise that his voice wasn’t feminine--only now he didn’t. The difference was disconcerting. Everything about the situation was disconcerting.

“I thought I’d wait on it for a little while. Until I know more.” Cathal stepped farther into the room. “You say you haven’t done anything wrong. You’re going to prove it to me.”

“And how am I going to do that?”

Cathal held up the small vial filled with vivid blue liquid. “This is a truth potion. You’re going to drink it, and you’re going to answer my questions.”

“Am I?” Flavian snapped and folded his arms across his chest. “Why would I agree to that?”

“To keep me from bringing the guards to your door, if in fact you are innocent of wrongdoing.”

Flavian flinched slightly. “This is a lot of trouble to go to because you think I’m your betrothed’s lover.”

​“That’s not why I’m doing it,” Cathal said.



You can find more about The Artist's Masquerade here. Thanks for reading today!
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Rainbow Snippets April 20-21

4/21/2024

1 Comment

 
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​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.

In April, I'm sharing snippets from The Artist's Masquerade. The Artist's Masquerade is my second book, published back in 2015 (and rereleased in 2020 with its pretty new cover). This book is the story of Cathal, a royal duke's heir who has spent his entire life doing what is expected of him by his father, putting aside his own needs and wants to do so. When his father tells him that he has to marry—and that his father has chosen his bride for him—Cathal goes along with it but then finds himself far more fascinated by his intended's companion, Flavia. What Cathal doesn't know is that Flavia is in reality Flavian, an artist in disguise and on the run from a bad situation in his home country. His friend—Cathal's intended bride—came up with the ruse to disguise him as her companion and smuggle him out of the country so he can disappear into a new life. Only everything doesn't quite go as planned, and Flavian finds himself trapped in his role and pulled into intrigue. I'm jumping in at the beginning of Chapter 7 with Flavian and Cathal's first kiss. Cathal doesn't know Flavian's real identity yet, but he soon will. I'm picking up after last week's snippet.
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​“I’m...Flavian. I’m no one, no one important.” Flavian stumbled over the words. Cathal’s face was dark with anger, his eyes implacable and 
cold.

“If you’re no one, why are you in the palace disguised as a woman? What are you doing here?”

Flavian stared at Cathal before Cathal’s hands flexing on his arms, giving him a small shake, shocked him out of his stupor. “Nothing. I don’t even want to be here. I just wanted to leave Ardunn. I’ll leave, right now. Just let me go.”

He was horrified to find himself practically begging, but he couldn’t take the words back, and he wouldn’t want to if they convinced Cathal not to send him back to Ardunn. But Cathal only stared at him for long moments before stepping back and pushing Flavian into a chair.

“Stay there. I’ll be back shortly.” Cathal turned on his heel and left the suite, closing the door behind him with snap.

You can find more about The Artist's Masquerade here. Thanks for reading!
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Rainbow Snippets April 13-14

4/14/2024

1 Comment

 
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​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.

In April, I'll be sharing snippets from The Artist's Masquerade. The Artist's Masquerade is my second book, published back in 2015 (and rereleased in 2020 with its pretty new cover). This book is the story of Cathal, a royal duke's heir who has spent his entire life doing what is expected of him by his father, putting aside his own needs and wants to do so. When his father tells him that he has to marry—and that his father has chosen his bride for him—Cathal goes along with it but then finds himself far more fascinated by his intended's companion, Flavia. What Cathal doesn't know is that Flavia is in reality Flavian, an artist in disguise and on the run from a bad situation in his home country. His friend—Cathal's intended bride—came up with the ruse to disguise him as her companion and smuggle him out of the country so he can disappear into a new life. Only everything doesn't quite go as planned, and Flavian finds himself trapped in his role and pulled into intrigue. I'm jumping in at the beginning of Chapter 7 with Flavian and Cathal's first kiss. Cathal doesn't know Flavian's real identity yet, but he soon will. I'm picking up directly after last week's snippet.

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Rainbow Snippets April 6-7

4/7/2024

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​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.

With the new month, I decided to switch to a different book! In April, I'll be sharing snippets from The Artist's Masquerade. The Artist's Masquerade is my second book, published back in 2015 (and rereleased in 2020 with its pretty new cover). This book is the story of Cathal, a royal duke's heir who has spent his entire life doing what is expected of him by his father, putting aside his own needs and wants to do so. When his father tells him that he has to marry—and that his father has chosen his bride for him—Cathal goes along with it but then finds himself far more fascinated by his intended's companion, Flavia. What Cathal doesn't know is that Flavia is in reality Flavian, an artist in disguise and on the run from a bad situation in his home country. His friend—Cathal's intended bride—came up with the ruse to disguise him as her companion and smuggle him out of the country so he can disappear into a new life. Only everything doesn't quite go as planned, and Flavian finds himself trapped in his role and pulled into intrigue. I'm jumping in at the beginning of Chapter 7 with Flavian and Cathal's first kiss. Cathal doesn't know Flavian's real identity yet, but he soon will...

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Rainbow Snippets May 20-21

5/21/2023

3 Comments

 
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​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 switching over to sharing some snippets from The Artist's Masquerade this month. Cathal is cousin to the crown prince of Tournai and son of a royal duke, and is absolutely shocked when his father tells him he has arranged a marriage for him with a relative of the emperor of Ardunn, who has for some time wanted to add Tournai to his empire. A dutiful son, Cathal goes along with the betrothal despite his misgivings, but when his bride arrives, finds himself more interested in her companion, Flavia. What he doesn't know is that Flavia is really Flavian, an artist fleeing the empire in disguise as his friend's companion. He never expected to have to keep up the charade for so long, but complications keep getting in the way. Cathal and Flavian are pulled reluctantly closer and closer, tumbling into love and trust, but the situation—Cathal's betrothal, spies infiltrating Tournai, secrets and lies—is stacked against them. In this snippet, Flavian has seen where Cathal grew up and begins to wonder about what Cathal was like as a child...and then think about grown-up Cathal.
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​Cathal and his brothers probably hadn’t run wild, not with a father like Umber. No, Cathal had probably always been a serious boy. Grown into a serious man, who could kiss well enough to make Flavian nearly swoon just remembering it.

​​He cursed himself silently. He should not be thinking about Cathal, not in such a way. Not at all. And he certainly would do no swooning, not over Cathal, not over anyone. Ridiculous to even think it.



You can find more about The Artist's Masquerade here. Thanks for reading today!
3 Comments

Rainbow Snippets May 13-14

5/14/2023

4 Comments

 
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​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 switching over to sharing some snippets from The Artist's Masquerade this month. Cathal is cousin to the crown prince of Tournai and son of a royal duke, and is absolutely shocked when his father tells him he has arranged a marriage for him with a relative of the emperor of Ardunn, who has for some time wanted to add Tournai to his empire. A dutiful son, Cathal goes along with the betrothal despite his misgivings, but when his bride arrives, finds himself more interested in her companion, Flavia. What he doesn't know is that Flavia is really Flavian, an artist fleeing the empire in disguise as his friend's companion. He never expected to have to keep up the charade for so long, but complications keep getting in the way. Cathal and Flavian are pulled reluctantly closer and closer, tumbling into love and trust, but the situation—Cathal's betrothal, spies infiltrating Tournai, secrets and lies—is stacked against them. Since it's Mother's Day weekend here in the US, I decided to share a snippet of Cathal and his mother. This is back at the beginning of the book when Cathal's has just informed him of the marriage he's arranged for Cathal. (Meriall is Cathal's youngest sister.)
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​“Cathal.” Mother held out her hands to him and tilted her head for his kiss to her cheek. “I didn’t know you were here.”

​
He brushed a kiss over Meriall’s cheek as well. “Father wanted to meet with me.”

Because he was watching, he saw the flash of concern in Mother’s warm-brown eyes. Did she know her husband’s plans for Cathal? “Is everything all right?”

You can find more about The Artist's Masquerade here. Thanks for reading today! 
4 Comments

Rainbow Snippets May 6-7

5/7/2023

3 Comments

 
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​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 switching over to sharing some snippets from The Artist's Masquerade this month. Cathal is cousin to the crown prince of Tournai and son of a royal duke, and is absolutely shocked when his father tells him he has arranged a marriage for him with a relative of the emperor of Ardunn, who has for some time wanted to add Tournai to his empire. A dutiful son, Cathal goes along with the betrothal despite his misgivings, but when his bride arrives, finds himself more interested in her companion, Flavia. What he doesn't know is that Flavia is really Flavian, an artist fleeing the empire in disguise as his friend's companion. He never expected to have to keep up the charade for so long, but complications keep getting in the way. Cathal and Flavian are pulled reluctantly closer and closer, tumbling into love and trust, but the situation—Cathal's betrothal, spies infiltrating Tournai, secrets and lies—is stacked against them. Another short jump ahead to this snippet in Flavian's point of view.
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​He watched Cathal, focusing only on 
him, on the way he moved, sinuous and graceful, a bit incongruous for someone so tall and well built. He held his breath as Cathal came near, turning as Cathal passed behind him, a hairsbreadth away. Flavian’s skin prickled at the proximity, and he let out a shuddering breath when Cathal moved away again.

His hopes Cathal hadn’t noticed were dashed when Cathal glanced at him over his shoulder, a knowing smile curving his full lips. And how he wished the smile didn’t make heat curl through his middle. He could not think of Cathal in such a way, could not let him affect him so much. It was time to leave, to go back to the boring party or, better yet, back to his bedchamber where he didn’t have to deal with anyone.

You can find more about The Artist's Masquerade here. Thanks for reading!
3 Comments

Rainbow Snippets April 29-30

4/30/2023

2 Comments

 
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​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 switching over to sharing some snippets from The Artist's Masquerade this month. Cathal is cousin to the crown prince of Tournai and son of a royal duke, and is absolutely shocked when his father tells him he has arranged a marriage for him with a relative of the emperor of Ardunn, who has for some time wanted to add Tournai to his empire. A dutiful son, Cathal goes along with the betrothal despite his misgivings, but when his bride arrives, finds himself more interested in her companion, Flavia. What he doesn't know is that Flavia is really Flavian, an artist fleeing the empire in disguise as his friend's companion. He never expected to have to keep up the charade for so long, but complications keep getting in the way. Cathal and Flavian are pulled reluctantly closer and closer, tumbling into love and trust, but the situation—Cathal's betrothal, spies infiltrating Tournai, secrets and lies—is stacked against them. I've skipped ahead slightly again. This week's snippet is a moment between Cathal and Flavian, as Cathal sits with Flavian while he draws.
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​They lapsed into silence then, and a few minutes later, Flavian began to sketch again. At first, he drew haltingly, glancing at Cathal sideways, but Cathal forced himself to stare out at the sea, and soon Flavian relaxed
--Cathal could see it in the lines of his body and the way his hand flew across the page, confident and sure. As Flavian appeared to lose himself in the drawing, Cathal gave in to temptation and allowed himself to study Flavian surreptitiously.

Flavian drawing was yet another facet of the man Cathal was becoming far too fascinated with. Flavian drawing was calm and focused and more open. Seeing him this way made Cathal want to see more, learn more, discover more of who Flavian was. Cathal shouldn’t have come to Flavian, he knew it before, and he knew it now. He should be at the side of the woman he had to marry, not becoming even more fascinated by the prickly man masquerading as her companion.

You can find more about The Artist's Masquerade here. Thanks for reading today!
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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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