It’s time for Snippet Sunday and I have two new releases coming. The first is in an anthology where the proceeds go to Planned Parenthood and NARAL in an effort to help keep women’s medical decisions between them and their doctors. There are 36 stories in this anthology by authors like Jackie Lau, Megan Frampton, Cecilia London, Elizabeth Cole, Zoe York, Alison Packard, and of course, me.
My story is SEDUCING THE DRAGON, a historical paranormal romance that asks the question, what if you were selected to be the next virgin sacrifice? What would you do? The book is my response.
In this snippet, Isabelle is visiting her friend Marie, the village baker. Marie is no-nonsense about life and sex.
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“Now, it seems you are not here just for your usual order, Belle.” Marie briskly shelved the hot pastries from the oven and deftly grabbed the kettle off the fire. She snagged two teacups and brought them all to the table. “What has gotten your skirt in a knot?”
Isabelle frowned and took a deep breath. “The elders have been talking to my father.”
Marie just stared at her for a few moments before she shot out of her chair and cursed in French. Isabelle didn’t know much French, but she could tell by the tone of Marie’s voice the phrases would have blistered paint.
“This is about the damned Sacrifice, non?” Marie jammed her hands on her hips and stared at her boots just showing beneath her skirts. “Those men are fools. You are still a virgin, oui?”
Isabelle’s mouth flattened. “Aye.”
“Mon dieu, have they not killed enough young women to suit them already?” Marie whirled to another oven and opened it, a hot breath of cinnamon wafting over Isabelle.
“It would seem not.” Isabelle clenched her fist in her skirt as her helpless fury rose again. Marie gripped the tray of hot sweet rolls grimly and slid them onto a rack. “But I may have found a solution to that problem.”
“Which?” Marie turned her head to look at Isabelle with one elegantly arched eyebrow. “The Sacrifice or the virginity?”
“In my case, both.”
Now both eyebrows went up.
“I have decided to find a man to take me virginity so I won’t be eligible for the Sacrifice.”
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She’s not messing around. 😉 There are several great authors on the Weekend Writer Warriors list, the Snippet Sunday Facebook group, and the Rainbow Snippets Facebook group. A few of my favorites are, P.T. Wyant, Karen Michelle Nutt, Veronica Scott, Karysa Faire, and Iris Blobel.
Here’s the blurb for SEDUCING THE DRAGON in the OUR CHOICE: ROMANCE FOR ROE Anthology:
Unless Isabelle finds a man to take her innocence, she may be the next virgin sacrifice.
For Isabelle Andersen, being a virgin in a dragon-plagued Scottish village is a dangerous position. Potentially the next dragon sacrifice, Isabelle’s only way out is to lose her innocence, and fast. All she needs is one handsome stranger she can coax into bed, but Lochmore Cott doesn’t get much in the way of visitors.
Jonarrion Swiftwind has sworn off virgins. The last time he took one to his bed, his family paid the price for his lust at the hands of her demon-possessed father. Since that night, he’s made it his mission to destroy demons and keep his bed virgin-free. Nothing distracts him from killing the demon-in-dragon’s-clothing until lovely Isabelle offers him a mug of tea. And her virginity.
It takes just one night of passion for Jon to realize he doesn’t want to let the independent beauty go. Isabelle may have accepted her choices, but will she accept Jon when she discovers the only real dragon in her village… is him?
Previously published as ‘Not a Dragon’s Standard Virgin’ through Siren Publishing.
Quite a dilemma in all sorts of ways! Can’t wait to read more…