Antonia Aquilante
  • Home
  • About Antonia
  • Books
  • Coming Soon/In Progress
  • Blog
  • Contact

Rainbow Snippets April 16-17

4/16/2022

2 Comments

 
Picture
​​​
​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 another springlike snippet from The Envoy's Honor for you this week. The Envoy's Honor is an adversaries to lovers dragon shifter romance. In this snippet, Kirill, a dragon shifter trying to protect his people while falling for someone he absolutely shouldn't, is grabbing a few moments of needed peace in the palace gardens.
Picture








He had no idea where he was going once he started walking. While 
he’d spent some time staring out of his window at the garden in the early morning light, he hadn’t tried to understand how it was laid out or to plot out routes through the maze of paths. So instead of attempting to find his way anywhere in particular, he set off wandering. The neatly maintained paths led him deeper into lush gardens in the first bloom of spring. A riot of colorful, fragrant flowers filled flowerbeds. Neatly trimmed hedges lined paths and separated gardens. Fanciful statues peeked from behind trees and stood in the center of burbling fountains. None of it was gaudy or ostentatious--all of it elegant and beautiful. And serene in the hush of early morning.

You can find more about The Envoy's Honor here. Thanks for reading today, and I hope you're staying safe and well!
2 Comments

Rainbow Snippets April 2-3

4/3/2022

3 Comments

 
Picture
​​
​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.

​With it finally beginning to look like spring (the daffodils are blooming!) even if it doesn't quite feel springlike most days, I felt like sharing a spring snippet, and this scene from The Envoy's Honor came to mind. The Envoy's Honor is an adversaries to lovers dragon shifter romance, and at this point in the story, Griffen and Kirill absolutely do not trust each other...but they are attracted to each other. This snippet is from Griffen's point of view.
Picture







He should go home, and he’d known it even before he saw Kirill sitting on a bench surrounded by blue irises--before the sight of him there in the sunshine, surrounded by flowers, took his breath. Kirill was alone, but he hadn’t been for long--Romilly was walking away from him, back toward the guest wing of the palace. Neither of them had noticed Griffen, and he had a moment to decide whether he should turn and walk away before Kirill did. Well, if he wanted to be sensible, he absolutely should walk away, and he should be sensible.

​
He wasn’t going to be sensible.

You can find more about The Envoy's Honor here. Thanks for reading today, and I hope you're staying safe and well!
3 Comments

Rainbow Awards Runner-Up

12/7/2021

0 Comments

 
Picture

The Envoy's Honor won runner-up in two categories in this year's Rainbow Awards: Best Bisexual Book and Bisexual Fantasy and Paranormal Romance. I was excited just to have received an honorable mention and was just thrilled and honored to learn of the runner-up awards tonight! Here's what was said by judges about The Envoy's Honor: "Wonderful fantasy world building and characters. The author weaves reality into an alternate world of magic and dragons, and course, love. Kirill and Griffen, and indeed all the characters involved in this slow burn romance are well drawn and likeable and deserve their HEA." Those words just made my day! If you'd like to learn more about The Envoy's Honor, you can do that over here.

​Congratulations to all the winners, runners-up, and honorable mentions in the Rainbow Awards!

Quick edit: NineStar Press is discounting all their Rainbow Awards honorees 30% through the end of the year, so head over here to pick up The Envoy's Honor and lots of other great books!

0 Comments

Rainbow Snippets November 13-14

11/13/2021

3 Comments

 
Picture

​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 Envoy's Honor this weekend, to celebrate its one year anniversary this past Tuesday. The Envoy's Honor is an adversaries to lovers story between Kirill, an envoy from a far off land trying to protect his people, and Griffen, son of an earl and cousin to the prince trying to protect his family. The two are on opposites sides of a dispute, until a murder and a nefarious plot cause them to have to work together. And there are dragon shifters, which makes everything more fun. This snippet picks up directly after last week's.
Picture





​“Do we need to fully trust each other for that?” Griffen asked finally. 
He ignored how little he wanted another meaningless affair or tumble with someone he didn’t know well, didn’t see a future with. He ignored how much he wanted more than he’d had in the past. Because he wanted to feel Kirill against him again more than anything at that moment.

​
“To kiss? Maybe not.” Did something wistful flit over Kirill’s face, or was it only a trick of the dim light? Griffen wanted to ask, to find out somehow what Kirill was feeling behind the mask he wore, but he couldn’t. Kirill had said he didn’t entirely trust Griffen. “Maybe not.”

Kirill went quiet again and watched Griffen for another moment. Then it seemed he came to some sort of decision. He stepped forward, closing the remaining distance between them. He hesitated a fraction of a second, as if checking to make certain Griffen wouldn’t object, and then brought his lips to Griffen’s.

You can find out more about The Envoy's Honor here. Thanks for reading today, and I hope you're all staying safe and well!
3 Comments

Rainbow Snippets November 6-7

11/6/2021

2 Comments

 
Picture

​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, I'm sharing a snippet from The Envoy's Honor, which will have been out in the world for one year on Tuesday. The Envoy's Honor is an adversaries to lovers story between Kirill, an envoy from a far off land trying to protect his people, and Griffen, son of an earl and cousin to the prince trying to protect his family. The two are on opposites sides of a dispute, until a murder and a nefarious plot cause them to have to work together. And there are dragon shifters.
Picture




“I still don’t entirely trust you,” Kirill said abruptly.


The words hit Griffen with the force of a sharp blow, and he only just managed to keep himself from wincing. But was his reaction truly fair? Did he entirely trust Kirill? No...but he wanted to, and he wanted Kirill to trust him even more. Which was probably the most ridiculous part.

“I don’t entirely trust you either.”

Kirill didn’t flinch. In fact, he only nodded slightly, and Griffen expected him to turn and go right then, but he didn’t do that either.

“I shouldn’t want to kiss you again,” Kirill said.

“But you do.” Griffen didn’t make it a question. “I want to kiss you too.”

They stared at each other for another moment in the deepening shadows of the garden.

You can find out more about The Envoy's Honor here. Thanks for reading today and I hope you're all staying safe and well!
2 Comments

Rainbow Snippets September 11-12

9/11/2021

4 Comments

 
Picture

​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, I'm sharing a snippet from The Envoy's Honor. This story puts Griffen, who is trying to protect his family, at odds with dragon shifter Kirill, who is trying to protect his people. Their attraction to each other doesn't make anything easier. Nor does the murder they decide they're going to have to look into together. Here is Kirill's first sight of (and reaction to) Griffen.
Picture





​Another man who entered the room behind them with Ligeia on his 
arm wasn’t quite so emotionless. Something smoldered in his eyes, some emotion hastily banked.

But that wasn’t what made Kirill utterly freeze where he stood.

The man did that on his own.

He was watching Kirill, stare intense out of rich brown eyes. His bronze hair was thick and wavy, framing an incredibly handsome face of chiseled features. Kirill gritted his teeth. He’d never let it happen before 
and he could not afford to get turned around by a handsome face now of all times. He had no time for an affair on this trip and certainly not with someone connected with the royal palace--and to Corentin, too,considering this man’s close resemblance to the earl Corentin was going to marry.

You can find more about The Envoy's Honor here. Thanks for reading today, and I hope you're all staying safe and well.
4 Comments

Rainbow Snippets June 26-27

6/26/2021

7 Comments

 
Picture

​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 have the first several lines of The Envoy's Honor, the most recent book in the Chronicles of Tournai series. This book is an adversaries to lovers romance between Griffen, the brother of an earl who is trying to protect his family, and Kirill, an envoy from a far-off land who is trying to protect his people. Plus a murder, some intrigue, family drama, and more dragon shifters.
Picture









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

The only mildly interesting thing that had happened was Bastien for once 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.

You can find more about The Envoy's Honor here. Until the end of the month, The Envoy's Honor and the rest of my books are 50% off at NineStar Press with code PRIDE2021. Don't miss out on a great sale!
7 Comments

Rainbow Snippets April 24-25

4/24/2021

4 Comments

 
Picture

​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 continuing on with first kisses today with Griffen and Kirill's first kiss in The Envoy's Honor. 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 dragon shifters...which is where all the trouble starts, really.

Griffen and Kirill's first kiss happens in the middle of an argument. (These two do a fair amount of arguing, dancing around each other, and being distrustful before they get it all together...) It certainly is one way to end an argument, though.
Picture








​Griffen surged 
forward and kissed Kirill. As soon as he did it, he regretted the action. Kissing Kirill was a bad idea, and kissing Kirill when Kirill hadn’t invited him to was even worse. Still, it was a moment before he could tear himself from those soft lips.

​
Once he did, he stared into Kirill’s eyes. Kirill seemed frozen in front of him, and Griffen froze too. How would Kirill react? Was Griffen about to be hit? He wouldn’t blame Kirill if he did.

But Kirill didn’t hit him. He shook his head and muttered Griffen’s name, before snaking a hand behind Griffen’s neck and pulling him against his body. And into another kiss.

You can find more about The Envoy's Honor here. Thanks for reading today, and I hope you're all staying safe and well!
4 Comments

Read an Ebook Week Sale!

3/7/2021

0 Comments

 
Picture

All of my books are 50% off in the Smashwords Read an Ebook Week sale through March 13th. You can find them all here. Go grab some books!
0 Comments

Rainbow Snippets February 13-14

2/13/2021

3 Comments

 
Picture

​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!

Since it's Valentine's weekend, I decided to skip ahead in The Envoy's Honor and give you Griffen and Kirill's first kiss, which comes in the middle of an argument. (This is much longer than six sentences, but I thought it was necessary to set the scene—sorry!)
Picture
“I was hoping we could trust each other enough because of common interests,” he said stiffly.

“Common interests?” Kirill let out a short laugh. “What would those be?”

“Wanting the best for both our countries. Perhaps building a mutually beneficial relationship between them?” Griffen’s irritation was growing in the face of Kirill’s obstinacy, but Kirill’s flashing eyes had his desire growing too.

Kirill scoffed. “All you care about is Corentin.”

He was rapidly running out of patience at Kirill’s refusal to believe, even though he did, in some part of him, understand why. Nevertheless, his frustration won out, which he’d kick himself for later. “And, according to you, getting you into bed.”

Kirill lifted his chin a fraction. “Yes, and that.”

“Then I suppose I should get started on trying.” Griffen surged forward and kissed Kirill. As soon as he did it, he regretted the action. Kissing Kirill was a bad idea, and kissing Kirill when Kirill hadn’t invited him to was even worse. Still, it was a moment before he could tear himself from those soft lips.

Once he did, he stared into Kirill’s eyes. Kirill seemed frozen in front of him, and Griffen froze too. How would Kirill react? Was Griffen about to be hit? He wouldn’t blame Kirill if he did.

But Kirill didn’t hit him. He shook his head and muttered Griffen’s name, before snaking a hand behind Griffen’s neck and pulling him against his body. And into another kiss.

Find out more about The Envoy's Honor here. Thanks for reading today, and I hope you're all staying safe and well. Happy Valentine's Day!
3 Comments
<<Previous

    Author

    Antonia is a writer and a reader. She loves books, travel, art, photography, baking, pasta, and shoes.

    Archives

    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015

    Categories

    All
    A Dance Of Water And Air
    A Harmony Of Fire And Earth
    Autumn
    Baking
    Blog Tour
    Bookstores
    Christmas
    Chronicles Of Tournai Series
    Cover Art
    Dragons Of Ivria
    Elemental Magicae Duology
    Events
    Giveaway
    Guest Post
    Halloween
    Holidays
    Inspiration
    Libraries
    My Books
    New Year
    NineStar Press
    Rainbow Awards
    Rainbow Snippets
    Reading
    RWA Conference
    Sales
    Spring
    Thanksgiving
    The Artist's Masquerade
    The Dragon's Devotion
    The Envoy's Honor
    The Merchant's Love
    The Prince's Consort
    The Scholar's Heart
    The Sorcerer's Guardian
    The Spymaster's Secret
    To Love The Dragon King
    Travel
    Turn The Page Anthology
    Winter
    Writing Updates

    RSS Feed

Proudly powered by Weebly