Exclusive Excerpt and Giveaway: Once Upon a Rainbow ~ An Anthology from NineStar Press

Welcome to the Once Upon a Rainbow virtual blog tour, with NineStar Press contributing author Mickie B. Ashling! We have an Exclusive Excerpt from her story to share with you, and there’s also a giveaway, so be sure to check out those details below.

About the Book

Title: Once Upon a Rainbow
Authors: Sydney Blackburn, K.S. Trenten, Riza Curtis, A. Fae, Dianne Hartsock, J.P. Jackson, Donna Jay, A.D. Song, Mickie B. Ashling
Publisher: NineStar Press
Purchase Links: NineStar Press || Amazon || Smashwords || Barnes & Noble || Kobo
Release Date: November 20, 2017
Heat Level: 3 – Some Sex
Pairing: Male/Male, Female/Female
Length: 147100
Genre/Categories: Contemporary, Historical, Paranormal, Sci-Fi/Fantasy, gay, bi, fantasy, gods, magic, royalty, bonded, witches, coming of age, coming out, shifters, incubus, friends to lovers, mystery, intersex, trans, ace, prison, paranormal, dark, family drama, erotica, no HEA or HFN, vampires, lesbian, mpreg
Goodreads
Synopsis: Your favorite stories from childhood have a new twist. Nine fairy tales of old with characters across the LGBTQIA+ spectrum.

Morning Star by Sydney Blackburn – Five wishes; one desire.

Fairest by K.S. Trenten – What will you change into?

Gingerbread by Riza Curtis – A night out to die for.

Sleeping Beauty by A. Fae – United by true love’s kiss.

Little Match Girl by Dianne Hartsock – Falling in love with the Little Match Girl was easy, but now Christian is determined to help Dani find his family, even if doing so means he might lose him forever.

Hood’s Ride is Red by J.P. Jackson – A red car, a werewolf, and a trip to grandpa’s house – this ain’t your usual Little Red Riding Hood.

The Gingerbread Woman by Donna Jay – When Candace sets out for a weekend of solitude she gets far more than she bargained on.

White Roses by A.D. Song – A kiss to break the curse…or continue it.

Once Upon a Mattress by Mickie B. Ashling – Will Errol spend a miserable night and prove his worthiness or will Sebastian have to keep on looking?

Blurbs: Morning Star by Sydney Blackburn

Tariq is a devoted apprentice to his master, even stealing a perfume jar for Malik, the man he secretly adores, with only a twinge of guilt. But when Malik seeks to use the Jinni bound to the stolen jar, Tariq learns what love is—and isn’t. Ridha has given Tariq five wishes, two of which remain, and the one Tariq wants most, he cannot have. Or can he?

Fairest by K.S. Trenten

All of my life, I’ve been haunted by her dark eyes. At birth, she cursed me to prick my finger on the spindle and sleep for a century. She appears in my dreams, my reflections, shaping my desires. Who is she? My guardian has only revealed a few enigmatic words as to her identity, the fairest of them all. Follow me into the lonely Forest of Tears where the dwarves dwell, walking where she once walked. Gaze into the depths of the magic mirror, which reveals her secrets. For I refuse to fear her, even if I should.

Gingerbread by Riza Curtis

When a dozen gay men go missing, the Supernatural Investigations team is brought in.

With the trail running cold, werewolf Detective Erik Stuart is sent undercover with fellow officer Noah Coleman to investigate exclusive gay club Gingerbread. As their friendship blossoms into romance, danger puts their very lives at risk. Are they powerful enough to survive and bring justice for the missing men?

Sleeping Beauty by A. Fae

Two royal births: one born into the body of a prince and the other a princess, bodies betraying their true identity. They grow to be inseparable, both deciding to become their true selves as soon as they are able. But an ugly curse by a wicked godmother brings them to the brink of disaster. And only through true love’s kiss can they be united.

Little Match Girl by Dianne Hartsock

Christian can’t help himself. He’s fallen in love with the sweet, sometimes effeminate guy who’s been coming into the sandwich shop for the past several months. But Dani is also the Little Match Girl, the ragged queer selling candles on the street corner Christian’s been avoiding all year, going so far as to cross the street to avoid walking by him. Ashamed, he wonders if Dani can ever forgive him.

Losing his mother to cancer, Dani has spent the last year in a haze of grief and loneliness, selling Mother’s candles like they always had, giving himself to any man who can pay, saving him from having to go home to his father’s brutality. Desperate for a place to belong, he sets out with Christian to find his mother’s family. Christian helps, wanting Dani to be happy, though the cost might be losing his sweet lover forever.

Hood’s Ride is Red by J.P. Jackson

Harkin Ross, otherwise known as Hood, hasn’t exactly had a happy childhood. His mother died in childbirth and his older brother perished in an unusual accident on the family farm. Hood’s father hasn’t coped well over the years and he’s spiraled into a black hole of anger, alcoholism, and abuse.

But when Kenneth Lowell is hired as the family farm hand, Hood’s life vastly improves. Kenneth earns Hood’s trust, and friendship while teaching Hood some basic mechanics skills, helping Hood get his red Dodge Dart up and running.

Kenneth, however, is hiding a violent and primal secret of his own. When Hood’s father discovers the Hired Hand is doing more than just yard work, the weekly trip to Grandpa’s house goes all to hell.

The Gingerbread Woman by Donna Jay

Looking forward to a weekend of solitude, Candace heads to her country cottage hoping the peaceful surroundings will help to get her creative juices flowing. Never in her wildest of dreams could she have envisioned the events that unfolded.

White Roses by A.D. Song

One night in the dark woods, a faerie attacks Lady Iliana and curses her to slumber forever. Lady Iliana finds herself kissed awake by Lord Alexios. When Iliana meets Adara, Alexios’ sister, Iliana finds herself torn between the man who saved her and the woman who hides secrets about Iliana’s awakening. When Alexios turns on Adara, they discover Lady Iliana is stronger than anyone thought. She does whatever she has to do to save Adara…even if it means killing her again.

Once Upon a Mattress by Mickie B. Ashling

Crown Prince Sebastian of Sendorra has shied away from his obligations to marry and produce the requisite heir. He wants a love match—complicating an already difficult situation—and insists on finding the right man; someone willing and able to carry his child with medical intervention. The Royals throw a ball and invite eligible bachelors from all over the world.

Errol Maitland, a famous sculptor who lives in the small Principality, is tired of random hookups and relationships that fizzle out before they get started. He’s intrigued by the Prince’s invitation and decides to attend the ball.

Sebastian’s mother belongs to a clan of powerful witches. She’s convinced that a touch of magic will ease the selection process. Placing a spell on an ordinary pebble, she tucks it underneath Sebastian’s mattress. The right choice will voice a complaint. Will Errol spend a miserable night and prove his worthiness or will Sebastian have to keep on looking?

Excerpt: Once Upon a Mattress by Mickie B. Ashling

Sebastian

“Find a husband, or we’ll do it for you,” my father said, giving me the stink eye.

I knew I was in trouble whenever he used the royal “we” instead of the less formal “I.” Granted, His Royal Highness, Prince Emile of Sendorra, had every right to call himself whatever he wanted, but I bristled on the rare occasions Papa treated me like a subject instead of Heir Apparent to our small principality tucked away in the mountains between Spain and France.

“You’ve been given enough time to play the field,” my mother, Princess Alexandra, seconded in a prissy voice that set my teeth on edge. “Every gay man of child-bearing age within our borders has seen fit to grace your bed, and yet you remain single. It’s high time you get serious, Sebastian. You’ll be twenty-five in a month, and our patience has run out. The stakes are too high.”

“I’m aware of my duty, Mama. You don’t have to remind me that Sendorra reverts to Spain if I don’t crank out a kid before Papa dies.”

“Must you be so crass?” she shrilled.

“The subject at hand lends itself to prurient remarks,” I argued. “Stop treating me like a prized bull.”

“Bash,” Papa said, using my nickname in a conciliatory tone. “You know that’s not the case. We’ve respected your wishes, allowing you to find a love match, the perfect partner who would provide the requisite child but also one who’d bring joy into your life. Ruling is hard enough without the right person by your side, but it’s been three years since this quest started.”

“Tell me about it,” I grumbled. “If I were to judge someone on physical attributes alone, the nursery would be full by now. But you’re asking for the impossible, Papa. Making me swoon in bed is only part of this mythical person’s job. Granted, it’s a necessary component, but I’m not marrying a booty call. My special man needs to be princely, and someone with an engaging mind, as well as a body that’ll make me stand up and take notice.”

Mama gasped and covered her mouth with a shaky hand.

My eyebrows shot up when I realized what I’d said. I’d forgotten my mother was a bit of a prude. Poor father…. It wasn’t surprising I had no siblings.

Clearing my throat, I tried another approach. “I apologize if I’ve made you uncomfortable, Mama, but it usually boils down to one thing. The lookers are almost always vapid and the brainiacs leave me cold. I’ve exhausted the available gene pool.”

“Nonsense,” she argued. “There has to be someone out there who will meet your specific criteria. We should have a ball to celebrate your birthday. Send invitations to royal families all over the world. Surely someone suitable will turn up.”

“Why limit our selection to royals?” I asked. “No disrespect to either of you, but I think I’ve already checked out the small group of blue bloods, and none of them have passed muster.”

“You’d consider a commoner?” she asked, looking horrified.

“Get real, Mama. There’s too much inbreeding as it is. What I need is someone intelligent and healthy—regardless of his pedigree—who is willing to be my consort with all the bullshit it entails. Put your scruples aside and think of the possibilities.”

I could practically see the gears in her brain whirring with images of wedding invitations, flower arrangements, and ultimately, the cooing fat-cheeked grandson she could dote on.

“If we agree to your terms,” Papa said evenly, “I expect a viable candidate by the end of your birthday festivities, or the decision is out of your hands. Do we have a deal?”

“Absolutely,” I lied. Anything to get them off my back.