I’ve joined the Rainbow Snippets group on Facebook. From their description: “Rainbow Snippets is a group for LGBTQ+ authors, readers, and bloggers to gather once a week to share six sentences from a work of fiction–a WIP or a finished work or even a 6-sentence book recommendation (no spoilers please!).” Pretty cool, eh? Don’t forget to “Like” my Facebook page and/or my Facebook profile while you’re over there checking out this fantastic group!
This week I’m sharing a random snippet from Cultivating Love. Originally published in June, 2009, an expanded second edition of this story was published in June, 2017. This snippet is from one of the expansion scenes.
For context, Joe and Ed are visiting the grave of Ed’s father. This is told from Ed’s 3rd-person POV:
“I’m…uh…gonna walk around.” Joe cleared his throat. “Stretch a bit,” he added, as if Ed wouldn’t be able to see through the fact he was giving him privacy.
Ed was glad for it. There were things he wanted to say, and saying them aloud felt right.
With Joe out of earshot, Ed sat cross-legged in front of the monument. “I don’t know if you’re floating around out there somewhere and can hear me or not. Bill thinks so, and I like the idea, even if I don’t really believe it myself.” Either way, it would be therapeutic to get this off his chest, so he began.
Blurb & Links
When life throws Ed and Joe a curve ball, can they handle the heat, or will everything they’ve worked for fall apart?
A man of few words, Joe is a hard-working farmhand who likes his simple, uncomplicated life. Ed is satisfied with his existence as an auto mechanic, but thrilled when an unexpected development in his life allows him to help Joe realize a dream.
It forces them, however, to reevaluate the casual, undefined nature of their relationship. They’re too macho to speak of love, and neither would acknowledge he doesn’t really mind when it’s his turn to bottom. When life throws them a curve ball, and the rules of their game get old, Ed tries to take every aspect of their relationship up a notch. Can Joe adapt to the open sentimentality Ed’s injecting into their relationship, let alone the new spice in their bedroom activities?
This is a previously published story that has been rewritten, expanded, and re-edited.
EBOOK
Publisher | Kindle | Books2Read | Bookstrand | BAM! Books-a-Million
(LIBRARY/BORROW)
PRINT (Trade Paperback)
Publisher | Amazon | B&N | BAM! Books-a-Million | Book Depository | Bol.com
#RainbowSnippets
It’s a lovely snippet…Ed & Joe are safe in my stash and waiting for me to finish ‘To Love and To Cherish’. Happy sigh…tis my favourite so far. 💞
Aw, thank you! To Love and To Cherish remains my personal favorite of my own stories (although my fantasy series might unseat it). I’ve always been a sucker for marriage of convenience and amnesia stories and had so much fun combining them. ❤️
I’m so chuffed its your favourite too ❤ Ooh, so have I…my softest of all spots is for marriage of convenience stories methinks.😳
I’ve always felt a bit…wrong about loving that trope, like my inner feminist ought to object, but I don’t suppose there’s any real reason to if it’s not arranged against anyone’s will. Not sure why I’ve always been drawn to it, but those were the Harlequins I most sought out in my younger years.
🤭Me too…hence my 😳 You’ve written the words I replaced with the smiley…right down to devouring all such Harlequins at my local library in my younger years 💗
😍
Feeling the empathy, I sometimes confide in monuments. (wry grin)
Thank you. I think a lot of us have been there. 😢
Intriguing and I want more! Lovely snip.
Thank you! ❤️ I’m not yet sure if I’ll continue this next week or go with another random snip.
A very sensitive, emotional scene. I want to hear what he has to say.
Thank you! 💖
Finding the right words–at the right time–is always a challenge, eh?
It sure is. ❤️
Sad, but so sweet.
Thank you! 💖
Aw, that was so sweet of Joe. Poor Ed, though.
Thank you! 💖
I look like the heart-eye emoji now! I adore Joe and Ed! 🙂
😍
I really liked this one
Thank you! ❤️
An emotional snippet.
Thank you! ❤️
Says a lot about both Joe’s character and their relationship that he knew to give him that space. Poor Ed, dealing with death… there’s no guide book is there?
There sure isn’t. Thank you! ❤️