Sunday Snippet: The Jade Claw

I hope everyone had a lovely Thanksgiving, if celebrated. For my family, it's the official beginning to the holiday season and we come up with a new theme for our tree. My middle kidlet is choosing this year and he's decided to go with a sports-related color scheme. Should be interesting because we're mixing scarlet and gray; green, blue, and white; and brown and orange. I have a general idea of how to make it work, but we'll see what the final result is.

A lot of years, we've waited until December 24 to do the actual decorating, but I think we'll be getting it done earlier this season. We also have a big puppy in the house for the first time and I can't wait to see what she does around the tree. LOL

Not much on the TV front this week, but The Flash turned in a great episode. Gotham and Sleepy Hollow were pretty good, too. I'm very much looking forward to the fall finale of Walking Dead tonight. I have a feeling someone's not going to make it… but we'll see. Thankfully, I'll have Chris Hardwick's Talking Dead to soothe whatever gaping wounds I might have. J

Tonight's post is from The Jade Claw, a novella that might be the first of a series, depending on where the story takes me.

Here's the tagline:

Skyrah Yule is caught in the middle of a paranormal mafia grab for power when several artifacts are stolen from the museum she works for. The agent investigating the break-in, Clay Wellstone, intrigues her, especially when she discovers he's got close familial ties with the suspected culprits.

And a preview snippet…

Capricorn Defense Agent Clay Wellstone surveyed the wrecked and damaged area of the Tauric Antiquities room with a critically discerning eye. He noted the presence of the curator, an Art History professor at Capricorn University. Her agitated state suggested impatience to restore order. Not that he blamed her. Whoever pulled off the heist of the museum did so with precision, leaving a path of destruction behind to muddy the waters and slow things down.

"Excuse me, Ms. Rule." Clay pulled the curator of the Museum of Cantor History off to the side of the crime scene. "Can you give me basics of what happened here?"

The harassed but seriously beautiful blond stared at the ugly scene before her, broken glass, overturned display cases and empty stands. Her devastated eyes blinked several times, as if that might make the carnage go away. No such luck.

"Ms. Rule?"

She focused her gaze on him. "What? Oh, the basics. Right."

Turning, she scanned the area with different eyes. This time they were keenly intelligent and sharp, and just a little pissed off. Exactly what he’d been going for.

Her lips thinned into a straight line. "I got here late, my class ran over."

Clay had already run a background check, following protocol. "You're a professor at Capricorn U?" He asked the question for confirmation.

A quick nod and she continued. "I entered the back way. I always come in from the employee parking area."

She ran the steps she'd taken, walked him through her discovery, providing a solid amount of detail. His respect level raised another notch. She’d make a good agent if she ever wanted a career change.

He flashed a rueful smile. "I appreciate the information and I'm sorry to ask, but we'll need you to come down and make a full statement when you're up for it."

She looked around the display area again. "Now's good. Everything's fresh in my mind."

Clay smiled. "Great. I can give you a ride and drop you back here after we're through." He admired her tenacity and get it done now attitude.

As if he needed more to add to the list of things he liked about her.

Skyrah nodded. "Yeah, that works." She picked her way toward the door, careful not to disturb anything.

Clay watched closely, as much to figure out the intriguing puzzle she appeared to be as to enjoy the determined set of her shoulders.

He had a feeling Skyrah Rule would be quite a challenge.

Looking forward to diving deeper into this one and I do sort of hope it turns into a series.

That's it for this week.

Cheers!

Skye

Get Hooked: Reel in a Great Book—An Idyllic Affair (Insula Ara ~ Sanctuary Island) #MFRWAuthors #MFRWHooks

Welcome to Book Hooks, the weekly smorgasbord sampler hosted by the MFRW Authors Blog.

Readers: get hooked and reel in some great books. Authors are sharing short excerpts from their work. Please enjoy and consider picking up the full book by clicking on the buy link.

This week I'm thrilled to announce an upcoming release that is co-written with my alter ego ML Skye. I write under three pseudonyms, and when I started An Idyllic Affair, it began with a strong sci-fi element. But as the story progressed, the nature of the island pushed its way in and a mystical aspect took center stage. For branding purposes, I decided to release under ML Skye, my speculative romance moniker, and Skye Ritchey, my paranormal / fantasy pen name. I'm very excited as I believe the story will appeal to both audiences.

This week, I'm featuring a fun interaction between Geoff and Linnea.

Series Tagline: Escape to Insula Ara, an island sanctuary that provides refuge… but it comes with a price.

Book Tagline: On the run from their enemies, an island sanctuary gives Geoff and Linnea time for An Idyllic Affair.

~*~

Cursing the restricted area, Geoff angled his legs down through the passage and attempted to leave enough space for Linnea's to fit. She gingerly tried to put both feet in first. When that didn't work, she grabbed his shoulder and got her left leg situated but couldn't manage the right.

Geoff tried to give her more room. "Sorry, X. I've got nowhere to go here." He shifted his hips, creating maybe one more inch.

Linnea chuckled. "Just give me a sec. If I put my hand here…" She braced her fingers against the tank. "And then lay my head on your shoulder, I think I might… oh, yeah. That's feeling just about right."

Geoff couldn't believe the way she could contort her body. "God, X, that's perfect." But they'd need room to kick the panel out. "Okay, almost there. Lift your thigh a little. Yeah, put it right between mine." His grunt sounded more like a groan when she followed his direction and brought her leg up, wedging it up close to the apex of his groin. "Almost there, Linn. Angle your hips a little. Yeah… that's it."

Linnea fisted her hand in his shirt, twisting it hard. "Sorry, Captain. Need just a little more… there! Right there."

Marcus cleared his throat. "Uh, geez, you two. You're making Willoughby turn an unhealthy shade of crimson out here. Do you have any idea how you guys sound?"

Shane sputtered and coughed. "I am not turning red." He waited a beat. "But Ramsey's got a point. If I didn't know better, I'd think you guys were… well…" His voice trailed off.

A little frustrated and a whole lot of uncomfortable, Geoff shot back. "Trust me, if the XO and I were having sex, it would not sound like this." Exactly how it would, he didn't know, but his imagination could fill in the blanks later.

Linnea snorted and offered her two cents. "Mainly because the captain and I wouldn't be having carnal relations." She paused then added. "Now, or anytime in the foreseeable future."

Geoff frowned. Did she always have to be so emphatic about the potential of them never hooking up?

Coming Soon!

~*~

Book Blurb: Privateers by trade, Geoff MacLeod and Linnea Jensen find sanctuary on Insula Ara, a mysterious island full of wonder and a tinge of darkness. When Geoff and Linnea embark on a quest to retrieve a badly needed part for their ship, they find their deep attraction for each other hard to resist, and under the spell of the island, they have to tread carefully or succumb to the swirling undercurrents.

Series Blurb: Legend tells of a mysterious island called Sanctuary, inhabited by people who have been to hell and back—and lived to tell the tale.

It goes on to say, that if someone needs help, if they are truly without hope, island will come to them in their darkest hour and help them find the way.

But the assistance comes with a price. Their heart and soul may be lost to the island in the process.

~*~

~*~

Please stop by my website

Reel in more great books! Visit the other participating authors.

Sunday Snippet: That Explains Everything

Gotta take a moment and give it up to the entire cast of Sons of Anarchy. Charlie Hunnam and Jimmy Smits made me cry. Seriously. And if memory serves, there's no episode for Thanksgiving week, so I may have to watch the last one at least one more time.

Also, Arrow and The Flash are meeting up and crossing over. Cannot wait! Both shows are really bringing it and I couldn't be happier. Agents of SHIELD is also getting even better and Sleepy Hollow is holding on. I kind of miss the batshit freak of the week stuff and cross my fingers we'll see some more of that in the near future.

I'm kind of hoping to see some holiday themed episodes from some of my fave shows. If nothing pops up, at least I'll have Doctor Who and I can always watch holiday eps from shows gone by.

Enough TV, tonight's post is from, That Explains Everything, a novella filled with magic, a quest, and romance.

Here's the tagline:

Tasha Yale wants Brax Vermillion, but can't seem to break her connection to Staz Yarrow—until she's taken by Lanai Conns. Finally aware of the nefarious machinations, Tasha fights to get back to her clan and Brax… before it's too late.

And a preview snippet…

Staz had been gone two days. Brax figured Tasha would show up within the hour, just like clockwork. He grew a little weary of the back and forth, wishing Tash would make up her mind, once and for all. He could deal with uncertainty, especially since Tasha and Staz had a five year history.

Brax sighed. "But I've known you longer, Tash. Known you better." The empty room didn't respond.

He tossed a log on the fire and stoked it. Tasha liked to sit and reflect, the dancing flames a hypnotic balm. He kicked back, putting his feet up on the table. Maybe she wouldn't show up tonight. She could have made a choice. Finally.

Staz over Brax.

The idea settled in his gut like a lead ball. He hated not really having Tasha, but he'd despise not having her in his life at all. She'd been around for as long as he could remember, always keen to get in his way, or drag him into so called adventures that usually landed both on the hot stick. His parents and her grandparents used every trick they could to keep them within the clan boundaries, but Tasha inevitably found a way around every one.

His lips turned up. She still found ways to get past hurdles, loopholes were her favorite things in life.

A series of three quiet knocks sounded on the door and it creaked open wide enough for Tasha to sneak inside. Brax got a kick of relief followed by a slap of adrenaline.

Just like clockwork.

Having two men vie for Tasha's attention has been something of a challenge because it's not quite a good versus bad type of situation. Very fun to write though.

That's it for this week.

Cheers!

Skye

Smokin' Hot—An Idyllic Affair

Welcome to the Hot for Friday blog hop!

Readers: Enjoy posts from authors with fun weekly tasks or a cool question.

Authors: Get in on the fun and join here.

For this week's entry, we authors are tasked with sharing a scene with sexual tension.

My excerpt is from an upcoming release, An Idyllic Affair, co-written with my alter ego, ML Skye, for the Ellipses Press branded anthology Insula Ara ~ Sanctuary Island.

~*~

She didn't care that her captain stood only a few feet away. She peeled off her sticky shirt and dropped it on the floor. Then she scrabbled out of her pants, leaving them in a heap on her way to what she hoped would be heavenly bliss. She spared a quick glance in his direction before stripping off her underwear to climb inside the quickly filling tub.

Linnea settled back with a hum of pleasure. Everything drained away. Her cranky mood and her aching muscles… instantly gone. Unable to resist, she ducked under the water, completely submerged for a moment then came back up, a huge smile on her face. She flipped her hair back, leaned against the tub, and sighed with contentment.

Geoff chuckled. "I might have to look into installing one of these on the Charming Lady."

If he did, she'd probably agree to bear his children.

Geoff stooped down and Linn had a hard time wondering how he kept the towel secure. She refused to look over the side of the tub… she'd already been caught staring once.

The captain had no such qualms. He dipped a finger in the steaming water then trailed it over her shoulder and down her arm.

He angled his head a bit. "You look very happy." His eyes met hers and she shivered under the intense study from him.

Dragging her gaze away, she tried to get back on an even keel. "It wouldn't be fair, you know." His questioning scowl made her feel back in control. "To Marcus and Shane. Something tells me I'd be the only one who'd welcome a lovely tub."

There might have been a flash of disappointment in his eyes, but he masked it quickly.

Her lips curved. "I, uh… appreciate the thought though."

Geoff acknowledged her words with a brief nod then studied her in silent contemplation—long enough she wanted to squirm under the scrutiny. It made her very much aware of her naked state—and his damned close to nude one.

The long, lean thigh she'd been trying not to look at drew her attention and she had to remind herself—ruefully—they didn't mix work and recreation.

~*~

I hope you enjoyed the tension.

~*~

Anthology Blurb: Legend tells of a mysterious island called Sanctuary, inhabited by people who have been to hell and back—and lived to tell the tale.

It goes on to say, that if someone needs help, if they are truly without hope, island will come to them in their darkest hour and help them find the way.

But the assistance comes with a price. Their heart and soul may be lost to the island in the process.

Book Blurb: Privateers by trade, Geoff MacLeod and Linnea Jensen find sanctuary on Insula Ara, a mysterious island full of wonder and a tinge of darkness. When Geoff and Linnea embark on a quest to retrieve a badly needed part for their ship, they find their deep attraction for each other hard to resist, and under the spell of the island, they have to tread carefully or succumb to the swirling undercurrents.

~*~

Thank you for stopping by.

Please feel free to drop by my website

And don't forget to enjoy the other Hot for Friday samples!

Banner Thursday—Meddlesome Gods

Today, I'm featuring the banner for an Ellipses Press branded anthology, Meddlesome Gods. My upcoming release, Cupid's Curse, is part of this line.

                                 

For this piece, I want to convey a pantheon, but nothing too specific. And I wanted something of a neutral color since these stories can either be dark and mysterious or filled with humor and fun.

I hope I succeeded.

Take a look…

Tagline: When gods and mortals play together… the result is often unexpected.

Blurb: Welcome to a world where gods and goddesses of various pantheons mix and mingle with mere earthly mortals—often with unexpected results. Deities can't seem to help themselves and have to meddle with their human counterparts. Sometimes the godly being offers much needed assistance, but occasionally they lash out and cause harm.

But mostly, the amalgamation of deified power and human nature combines to be highly entertaining.

Thanks for reading!

Please visit my website

http://www.skyewrites.com

Get Hooked: Reel in a Great Book—An Idyllic Affair (Insula Ara ~ Sanctuary Island) #MFRWAuthors #MFRWHooks

Welcome to Book Hooks, the weekly smorgasbord sampler hosted by the MFRW Authors Blog.

Readers: get hooked and reel in some great books. Authors are sharing short excerpts from their work. Please enjoy and consider picking up the full book by clicking on the buy link.

This week I'm thrilled to announce an upcoming release that is co-written with my alter ego ML Skye. I write under three pseudonyms, and when I started An Idyllic Affair, it began with a strong sci-fi element. But as the story progressed, the nature of the island pushed its way in and a mystical aspect took center stage. For branding purposes, I decided to release under ML Skye, my speculative romance moniker, and Skye Ritchey, my paranormal / fantasy pen name. I'm very excited as I believe the story will appeal to both audiences.

This week, I'm featuring part of the opening scene from Linnea's point of view.

Series Tagline: Escape to Insula Ara, an island sanctuary that provides refuge… but it comes with a price.

Book Tagline: On the run from their enemies, an island sanctuary gives Geoff and Linnea time for An Idyllic Affair.

~*~

Linnea moved slowly, her steps dragging when time seemed to slow down. "Care to tell me where the hell we're going? It doesn't even look like it's in this galaxy."

Geoff raised a single eyebrow. "It's not. That's the beauty of it."

She felt like the deck dropped out from under her. "Captain. Geoff… where, exactly, are you taking us?"

He directed his gaze back to the holograph. "Old Earth."

If she'd started floating in suspended animation, she wouldn't have been surprised.

She couldn't have heard him right.

Old Earth?

Well, hell. Did he really think they could find sanctuary on some crazy island that might or might not exist? The one he loved to tell stories about?

Everything stopped for a second then snapped back to real time.

Linnea didn't know if the queasy feeling in her stomach came from the jump or finding out they'd left the galaxy.

Both, she decided.

"Captain, are you sure this is a good idea?" Linnea slid her gaze toward the man, making sure to keep one eye on the monitor in front of her.

Geoff raised an eyebrow in question. "You doubt me, XO?" He picked up his excited pacing, striding back and forth across the command deck of the Charming Lady.

Linnea snorted. They wouldn't be sanctioned smugglers if any of the crew doubted him. "It's not about that. Facts are facts. I never doubt them."

And Geoff knew it. He'd chosen her as his executive officer and second-in-command for that very reason.

"I do, however, question myth and legend… and that's all you've got." She sometimes envied the fact he only needed those.

Coming Soon!

~*~

Book Blurb: Privateers by trade, Geoff MacLeod and Linnea Jensen find sanctuary on Insula Ara, a mysterious island full of wonder and a tinge of darkness. When Geoff and Linnea embark on a quest to retrieve a badly needed part for their ship, they find their deep attraction for each other hard to resist, and under the spell of the island, they have to tread carefully or succumb to the swirling undercurrents.

Series Blurb: Legend tells of a mysterious island called Sanctuary, inhabited by people who have been to hell and back—and lived to tell the tale.

It goes on to say, that if someone needs help, if they are truly without hope, island will come to them in their darkest hour and help them find the way.

But the assistance comes with a price. Their heart and soul may be lost to the island in the process.

~*~

~*~

Please stop by my website

Reel in more great books! Visit the other participating authors.

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Sunday Snippet: A Little Yule Magic

I'm truly thrilled with how much I'm enjoying the TV season this fall. Once again, Arrow and Sons of Anarchy blew me away. Gotham and Sleepy Hollow were excellent. The Walking Dead only has two more episodes before the break and I can't wait to watch.

I've had major back spasms over the last two days and Walking Dead actually made me forget how painful it is. LOL

I've also been listening to loads of music lately and putting several playlists together. Sometimes when I write, I like to have specific mood tunes playing in the background. And sometimes I need total silence, which in my house usually only occurs between midnight and four a.m. LOL

Tonight's post is from A Little Yule Magic, a sexy holiday short I'm scrambling like mad to complete for a December release. LOL

Here's the tagline:

Sygin and Boyd, adept mages, are looking forward to their winter break, being alone in the big manor for Yule is their most cherished tradition. But a series of mishaps may keep them from their celebratory festivities.

And a preview snippet…

Boyd put Ethan Frommet through his paces. "No, Ethan, you have to be alert, use all your senses." Boyd flicked his wrist and sent his pupil sprawling to the floor. "Confrontations aren't always on a physical level." He held out his hand, offering Ethan an assist up. "Sometimes a seasoned mage will use a combination of magic and brute force."

The young man waved Boyd off and rose under his own steam. "Yes, Master Lagassi." He walked off his frustration for a few moments then returned to face Boyd. "What's my weakness?"

Boyd motioned for the group to gather around. "What did Ethan forget?"

The youngest mage responded. "To use visual clues. You drew his attention by speaking and he forgot to watch your hands."

Boyd smiled. "That's correct." He rubbed just under his ribs. "But he gave me a run for my money, didn't he?" He waited a beat. "That's why you'll run into mages who start with a physical fight and finish with magic. Someone like Ethan, who's extremely fit and strong, but untested, can be taken out by an opponent twice his age and much weaker." He nodded toward the shower room. "Get cleaned up and pack your gear. That's all for today."

The guys all headed for the huge bathroom, ribbing each other about their upcoming break.

Boyd grabbed a towel from the climbing wall, wiped his face, and looked up to see Sygin standing just inside the door.

She inclined her head, making her way toward him. "Nice of you to use opponent instead of guy. They need to get used to the idea they could face a woman on the playing field or in battle." She stopped, facing him with her head tilted to one side.

Boyd's lips curved. "They'll have no choice but to get used to the notion when you start training with them after Yule break."

This one is coming together nicely and hopefully will be completed in the next two weeks. I know, down to the wire, but the sages pulled this one out at the last moment.

That's it for this week.

Cheers!

Skye

Banner Thursday—Insula Ara ~ Sanctuary Island

Today, I'm featuring the banner for an Ellipses Press branded anthology, Insula Ara ~ Sanctuary Island. My upcoming release An Idyllic Affair, written with my alter ego ML Skye is part of this line.

                                 

For this piece, I want to help build recognition so I'm using the Insula Ara logo and tagline for the series. My goal is to generate interest in the new release.

I hope I succeeded.

Take a look…

Tagline: Escape to Insula Ara, an island sanctuary that provides refuge… but it comes with a price.

Blurb: Legend tells of a mysterious island called Sanctuary, inhabited by people who have been to hell and back—and lived to tell the tale.

It goes on to say, that if someone needs help, if they are truly without hope, island will come to them in their darkest hour and help them find the way.

But the assistance comes with a price. Their heart and soul may be lost to the island in the process.

Thanks for reading!

Please visit my website

Get Hooked: Reel in a Great Book—An Idyllic Affair (Insula Ara ~ Sanctuary Island) #MFRWAuthors #MFRWHooks

Welcome to Book Hooks, the weekly smorgasbord sampler hosted by the MFRW Authors Blog.

Readers: get hooked and reel in some great books. Authors are sharing short excerpts from their work. Please enjoy and consider picking up the full book by clicking on the buy link.

This week I'm thrilled to announce an upcoming release that is co-written with my alter ego ML Skye. I write under three pseudonyms, and when I started An Idyllic Affair, it began with a strong sci-fi element. But as the story progressed, the nature of the island pushed its way in and a mystical aspect took center stage. For branding purposes, I decided to release under ML Skye, my speculative romance moniker, and Skye Ritchey, my paranormal / fantasy pen name. I'm very excited as I believe the story will appeal to both audiences.

So, without further delay, today's post features part of the opening scene from my hero Geoff's perspective.

Series Tagline: Escape to Insula Ara, an island sanctuary that provides refuge… but it comes with a price.

Book Tagline: On the run from their enemies, an island sanctuary gives Geoff and Linnea time for An Idyllic Affair.

~*~

"Hot damn, Captain… we pulled it off!"

Geoff MacLeod raised an eyebrow at his helmsman, Marcus Ramsey. "Let's get clear of the blockade before we start celebrating, Mr. Ramsey." He directed his attention to his executive officer, Linnea Jensen. "XO? Tell me we're close."

They gazed at the same the screenshot on the monitor, but where he relied on instinct for guidance, Linnea used cold, hard facts to their advantage. She'd know the instant their ship, the Charming Lady, would be beyond the obstruction and into semi-safe territory.

Linnea waited a beat then glanced up from her charts. "Another three hundred kilometers and we're clear. So far, no pursuit from the Axis Prime." Her face lit up with a grin, but fell flat when a bogie blipped into view on the monitor. "Shit. Check that. Three AP vessels, closing in fast." She spun around, punched a button, and brought the holographic view screen up in the middle of the bridge. "We're boxed in."

Geoff moved to stand beside her. "Son of a bitch."

It didn't matter he and his merry band of mercenaries had only recently—and secretly—become sanctioned privateers for the United Forces. Things had finally heated up in the long, cold war between the two opposing factions and if Geoff and his crew were caught, the Axis Prime would parade them through the galaxy as a sterling example of the United Forces' strategic failure. Even if the UF used plausible deniability regarding his covert activities, the blow could cripple the UF's rapidly expanding resistance movement.

And the AP's growing chokehold on the solar system needed to end.

So… they couldn't get caught.

Linnea spoke softly. "We gotta make a move here, Captain. Your orders?" Her fingers flew over the keyboard and the holo image zoomed out, showing him a bird's eye view of the galaxy.

Dammit, they had limited options. There were maybe two or three places they could lay low, but AP forces heavily guarded each of them. No doubt word had already gone out about the Charming Lady carrying a butt-load of weapons, ammo, and medical supplies recently liberated from an Axis Prime freighter.

Every AP ship in the galaxy would be gunning for them.

Geoff didn't like those odds.

Instead of playing them, he decided to create his own. 

Cover Art

Coming Soon!

~*~

Book Blurb: Privateers by trade, Geoff MacLeod and Linnea Jensen find sanctuary on Insula Ara, a mysterious island full of wonder and a tinge of darkness. When Geoff and Linnea embark on a quest to retrieve a badly needed part for their ship, they find their deep attraction for each other hard to resist, and under the spell of the island, they have to tread carefully or succumb to the swirling undercurrents.

Series Blurb: Legend tells of a mysterious island called Sanctuary, inhabited by people who have been to hell and back—and lived to tell the tale.

It goes on to say, that if someone needs help, if they are truly without hope, island will come to them in their darkest hour and help them find the way.

But the assistance comes with a price. Their heart and soul may be lost to the island in the process.

~*~

~*~

Please stop by my website

Reel in more great books! Visit the other participating authors.

Sunday Snippet: Tangled Web

Another great week of TV even if a few of my shows were on break for the election night coverage. Gotta take a moment to mention Arrow. Seriously, this show keeps improving on itself. The pacing is perfect and the interweaving of past with present stays flawless. I love this show!

Finally started seeing previews for the new season of Orphan Black. It's just a small little spot with 'You Don't Own Me' playing in the background. Honestly, though? Perfection. And hopefully a small hint of what we'll be seeing early in 2015.

Last mention of television related stuff… Doctor Who. I'll be completely in the minority, but eh, I'm just not feeling the new doctor at all. I did enjoy the season finale and I always watch the Christmas special, but I can't disconnect from the fact Capaldi has played two other roles in the Whoverse. Don't get me wrong, he's a great actor, but the inability to move past his other roles seriously harshes my enjoyment of the show. This saddens me greatly. L

Anyway, enough TV. Tonight's post is from Tangled Web, a novella with an urban noir feel.

Here's the tagline:

Ruby Ire is bad for men—every time she falls for one he ends up dead, so she doesn't get tangled up with them anymore. But a series of near miss accidents makes her think she's become a target and she hires Jordan Riceman to track down her attacker. She won't let Jordan get too close, no matter how damned attractive he is.

And a preview snippet…

Ruby entered Jordan's office, glancing over her shoulder when she closed the door.

"You don't have to do that. No one but my grandfather and I know about the underground access tunnel." Jordan rose and came around his desk to greet her.

Ruby shrugged. "I can't seem to get out of the habit, even here, where I'm somewhat safe." She pulled off her jacket and hung it on the coat tree then turned and almost bumped into Jordan.

She backed up against the door, needing a little space. The man looked too damned good. And smelled heavenly. Soap and clean linen worked like a magical talisman for the guy.

At least whenever she got within ten feet of him.

Blinking away the thought, she shivered a little. "It's miserable out there. The rain's coming down in buckets." Scooting sideways, away from his gaze, she took a seat on the side chair closest to the radiator.

Jordan followed and dropped down on the arm of the loveseat. "You're spooked. What happened?" He reached out and took hand, still chilled from the brisk walk through the tunnel.

She shook her head. "Nothing. But I have the creeped out feeling of being watched all the time again."

Gotta say, I love writing my brand of noir. I'm hoping it comes across well with readers when I finally finish the stories.

That's it for this week.

Cheers!

Skye

Banner Thursday—Sexy Shorts

Today, I'm featuring the banner I hope to use across all three of my pseudonyms to help brand the shorter works I tend to write.

                                 

For this piece, I wanted something without a lot of busy stuff going on, but it still needed to convey I write sexy, sensual stories. I also wanted to have a little fun, too.

I think I succeeded.

Take a look…

I'll be using this on my blogs and websites whenever a story is on the shorter side, usually coming in at under the 12k word mark. Sometimes you want something quick and satisfying for your reading pleasure.

Thanks for reading!

Please visit my website

Sunday Snippet: Storm Down the Drain

I love crossovers on television. The Flash and Arrow had a character crossover this week and it was great to watch. I think my all-time favorite might be the Homicide and Law and Order crossover. Can't really say why, but that one always sticks out in my mind when I think about the various shows that use them.

                    

I caught a marathon of Covert Affairs on Cloo this weekend and quite enjoyed it. I usually catch shows like White Collar and Covert Affairs on Netflix or when other networks run blocks of programming. I wish networks like BBC America would offer more options than Top Gear and whatever Gordon Ramsey show, which I've seen multiple times and could care less about. Honestly, with the vast library the BBC has, isn't there anything else they could put on during the day?

Enough television, tonight's post is from Storm Down the Drain, an urban noir novella.

Here's the tagline:

On a dark and stormy night, Brooks Algonquin knocks on Velvet Strong's door and asks her to help him find the Burmesian Raven, an antiquity with magical qualities. Velvet takes his case, but quickly learns Brooks has ulterior motives for acquiring the artifact stolen from his family.

And a preview snippet…

Brooks Algonquin finally dodged his shadow—the standard bodyguard his father required—by ducking into an all-night noodle shop filled with customers getting out from a popular band's concert. He had someone he needed to see on the QT and hoped like hell they'd be available at the odd hour.

He exited into the alley from the back entrance and sprinted up two blocks. Cut through another causeway and found the address he'd committed to memory earlier—17 Spruce Street, Suite C, Second Floor, Rear. He glanced in both directions before climbing the stairs and entering the building. A long hallway branched off in two directions, Suite C to the left and D to the right. He turned and tried the door to Stong Investigations. Locked. Brooks knocked, but no one answered.

He cursed the late hour. "Dammit."

A small mail slot in the door gave him an idea. Reaching into his pocket, he pulled out a card. He'd leave his contact information and ask the investigator to call. He pushed the brass plate in, ready to drop his message through when the door at the other end of the hall opened.

A vision of sultry womanhood cocked her head to one side. "Is there something I can help you with?"

Brooks swallowed hard and fought the kick of lust bursting through his veins. He had a penchant for blondes with svelte curves, and the flowing purple negligee with a shimmering orange robe over top hugged an hourglass figure.

He blinked, clearing his head. "Er, no. Thank you. I'd like to hire Strong Investigations to find something." He held up the card. "I'll just leave a message."

A slow, sly smile curved the woman's lips. "Based on your looks alone, it's a safe bet Ms. Strong will be happy to find whatever you're looking for."

He bit back a grin, certain he'd stumbled into good luck. "She'd best hear the details first. The work could get dangerous."

The woman took two steps out into the corridor. "Dangerous?" She waved back and forth. "She'd consider anything perilous a bonus."

Brooks quirked a brow. "Really?" He moved forward. "Is the woman sane?"

She paused and tilted her head to one side. "The last time I checked." Straightening, she continued in his direction, meeting him halfway. "Velvet Strong." She held out her hand. "I'll take the case."

Brooks grasped her palm, tugging her closer. "Brooks Algonquin. And you haven't heard the details yet."

Her eyes widened, the only indication she'd heard his family name before. She pushed against his chest, backing up. "Why don't you fill me in over coffee?" She nodded toward Suite D.

Brooks inclined his head. "After you." He followed her into the space she called home, enjoying the sway of her hips under the satiny fabric.

He had a sneaking suspicion Velvet Strong would turn his world upside down.

And he didn't mind one damn bit.

I love writing with a noir feel. I'm actually hoping I can tie some of my stories together in a series.

That's it for this week.

Cheers!

Skye

Saturday Standard: Meet Romy Bludd

To celebrate my Halloween-centric novella, A Magical Affair, I wanted to do something a little fun.

My new blog feature called the Saturday Standard is what I've come up with. Each week one of my pseudonyms will conduct an interview with one of the characters of a featured story.

This week… Romy Bludd will be answering questions about spending the weekend with Heath Graystone and Stacie Williams.

Let's get to it…

THE SATURDAY STANDARD

Skye Ritchey: Hello, Romy. Thank you for agreeing to answer some questions.

Romy Bludd: Hi. Happy to help.

Skye: To open, I'll start with the same question I asked Heath and Stacie. What do you do for a living?

Romy: I scout locations throughout a tri-state area for several production companies.

SR: Is it safe to assume that's how you met Heath?

RB: It is. He called with a very specific request for a commercial shoot and didn't think I'd be able to pull off what he needed.

SR: But you did?

RB: Oh, yeah. I found the perfect spot. Impressed Heath so much, he asked me to dinner. We've been together ever since.

SR: What a great first date story.

RB: [laughs] That's the short version. We had a couple of bumps along the way, but Heath is so mellow and easy-going, I couldn't drive him away.

SR: Did you want to? I mean, he's a great guy.

RB: No, I didn't really want to, but I have a bad habit of always taking charge. Heath tends to go with the flow, which saves us a lot of arguments. And my best friend Stacie pretty much told me I'd be stupid to let him get away.

SR: Stacie's a smart girl.

RB: Yes, she is, and she's never steered me wrong. I took her advice about Heath and couldn't be happier. It's the main reason I asked her to spend the weekend with us.

SR: Speaking of your sojourn at Magic Meadows, how on earth did you find the place?

RB: I got a call from the owners who wanted my expert opinion as to whether their renovations were ad ready. They absolutely were.

SR: And they invited you to test their unique package, is that correct.

RB: Yep. They wanted to make sure there wouldn't be any kinks when they launch for the holiday season.

SR: And?

RB: If they have any trouble and don't book up completely after their first weekend, I'll be shocked.

SR: I think I might have to look into booking a weekend for myself.

RB: You won't be sorry. I wasn't.

No, Romy wasn't sorry… read all about how she spent her weekend with Stacie and Heath in A Magical Affair.

Available on Amazon 

More e-retailers coming soon.

I hope you enjoyed the latest edition of the Saturday Standard. Stay tuned for more next week with Romy.

Thanks for reading!

Cheers!

Skye