Sunday Snippet: It's Academic

Well, it's my last snippet post of the year and I'm happy to note I didn't miss a week. That's a goal achievement I'm proud of.

Going into 2016, I have quite a few projects on tap for release and I'm very excited about those, too. I may roll a new weekly blog feature or try a newsletter this year. If anyone is interested, please don't hesitate to contact me to be added to the list.

Not much on the television front this week. I watched the finales for The Librarians and Agent X. According to my google fu, Agent X isn't renewed for another season, which is kind of disappointing. Since there are only ten episodes, I may try my hand at recapping the one and only season. We'll see what time allows.

On a side note, I did enjoy the Doctor Who Christmas special. It's my fondest hope I can get into the new season when it premieres, but I don't hold out much hope. The heart of the show is missing for me and unless the Doctor gets a truly marvelous companion, I doubt I'll be interested or able to keep with the all the cleverness Moffat tries to weave.

Oh, well. Looking forward to my favorite shows returning and having more to chat about each week.

Tonight's post is from It's Academic, a novella where my characters start out on the wrong foot but quickly get in sync.

Here's the mini-blurb:

Chaos and control don't mix, but Kari Pride and Thorn Summers must find a way to balance the two or drive each other mad when they become roommates. By the end of the semester, Thorn tempers Kari's sloppy habits and she makes him yield his ruthless organization for some much needed spontaneity. When their relationship gets personal, they have to figure out how to navigate new territory.

And a preview snippet…

Kari dumped the laundry basket of clean clothes on her bed and longed to leave them there. She'd much rather be practicing spells or making potion blends to use in class. But the past week taught her a little effort on her part paid off in unexpected ways.

Sitting on the edge of her mattress, she sorted the pants from the tops, the socks from the underwear, and piled her sports bras and pajamas in their own stacks. She started with her pants, folding some and laying the others off to the side to hang up. She did the same with her shirts. Rising, she hung up the clothes and stowed the in the closet and put the others in her dresser. Her bras went into cubby beside her bed and her pajamas went in the matching one on the other side, with the exception of the set she'd wear tonight. She stashed it under her pillow. Standing back, she nodded. Her bed looked neat and tidy, which would make Thorn a happy camper.

Speaking of, he entered their room and dumped his books on the desk. "It's laundry day. I'm here to help—" He broke off, getting a look at her bed and the empty basket. "Wow. You're done already?"

Kari grinned. "I am. Thought we could maybe go to the catacombs and work on a couple of projects." One of the unexpected benefits she'd discovered.

Thorn didn't mind pushing the envelope. Legacy family or not, he believed in testing his limits, which meant trying new things and revisiting ancient magick no longer in use. Their "extra projects" had become the highlight of the semester.

Thorn flashed a smile. "Let me grab a quick shower and I'll meet you there." He rubbed his hands together. "Ten minutes." Reaching into this closet, he retrieved his shower gear and fresh clothes then dashed out of the room.

Kari chuckled and dug out her spell book, some oils and powder for potions, and stashed both in a satchel. Draping the strap over her shoulders, she exited her room and headed for the pentagon, the academy's main courtyard surrounded on all five sides by schools of magick. Kari resisted the urge to pinch herself. If she dreamed the last month, she didn't want to wake up.

Crossing the upper half of the pentagon, she strode toward the tip where the entrance to the catacombs sat buried under the college of magickal healing. The underground crypt encompassed the entire space under the pentagon, a series of maze-like tunnels and dusty rooms filled with texts, magickal objects, and tons of historical artifacts.

Skipping down the stairs to what looked like a basement entrance of the building, Kari pushed on the two semi-recessed squares on either side of the stairwell and activated the door to the catacombs. She slipped inside and quickly sealed the entrance behind her. Lighting a small flare, she made her way to the room she and Thorn had been using for their projects. Filled with rows and rows of shelves lined with books and scrolls, the space had an antechamber where they practiced new spells and tried to get old ones to work.

Planting the flare in an alcove, she settled down at the table and pulled out one of the books they'd been reading from. She let her mind wander a little; she didn't want to work too far ahead. Thorn filled her thoughts and she shied away from the reason why. A crush didn't mean much and she considered the burgeoning feelings she had for him nothing more than infatuation. They were way too young for a forever kind of thing.

If forever love even existed.

The sound of footsteps approaching settled her firmly in the present, the future evaporating in the mist. Glancing up, she cracked a smile when Thorn entered, freshly showered and raring to get on with their projects. Kari tucked the desire for more in a dark corner of her heart and greeted Thorn with a wiggly fingered wave.

His answering salute made her laugh and broke the tension crawling up her spine.

I'm loving the mix of magick and romance. Kari and Thorn are so much fun to write.

That's it for this week.

Cheers!

Skye

Sunday Snippet: An Enchanted Yule, A Holiday Spirit Short

*meep* Pardon me while I have a small panic attack. It's somehow five days before Xmas and I have nothing wrapped. This doesn't happen, at least not for a long time. All I can say is the sages have been prolific and when they're feeding me words, I pretty much lose all track of time. So… a whirlwind wrapping session is on tap starting first thing tomorrow. Ugh.

I missed the Haven finale. See previous comment about the sages feeding me words. I'll catch it on demand in the near future. I hope. LOL

The Librarians and Agent X had pretty great episodes this week. I'm also in a good mood after watching the magic and mayhem the librarians get involved in. And Agent X makes the conspiracy theorist part of my brain work to figure things out. Two hour finale next week and I'm definitely interested in where the season ends.

That's it for TV this week.

Tonight's post is from An Enchanted Yule, a Holiday Spirit Short, where Hollis Goldstar has to get a sorcerer and wizard to put aside their differences so they can find romance over the Yuletide season.

Here's the mini-blurb:

Mercy, a sorcerer, wants to keep her own counsel and walks away from a relationship to do it. Andre, a wizard, is tired being treated as a lower life form by Mercy's ex. The holiday spirit tasked with bringing the duo together over Yule faces a huge challenge.

And a preview snippet…

Mercy slammed the receiver down and cursed the old-fashioned landline phone for not having caller ID. Décor be damned, she'd be updating and replacing the stupid thing in the very near future. She did not want to speak to Nathanial Ashford right now.

Blowing out a long breath, she put a hand to her forehead, willing the dull throb in her temples away. The doorbell chimed and she made a strangled choking sound. If Nathanial stood on her porch, she'd be hard-pressed not to conjure fireballs to rain down on his head.

Yanking the door open, she yelped when an embossed envelope popped into her line of vision then dropped to her feet. "What the hell?" Stooping down, she picked a card that read Yuletide Greetings on the front.

She stepped back inside the house, closing the door behind her. Slipping her finger under the flap, she opened the envelope and laughed when the enchantment spell blazed to life on the thick card.

You are cordially invited to spend Yuletide at the Goodacre Bed and Breakfast.

The charming, secluded inn has all the amenities and is decorated for the holiday season.

Come and enjoy the quiet solitude and peaceful scenery and reflect on the year ahead.

Send your reply via the shadow realm and arrive during the next meld.

Mercy wandered into her living room and settled down on the loveseat. Why not spend the Yule holiday away from everyone and everything? Considering they all ostracized her at the moment, she wouldn't be invited to share the usual festive season with anyone anyway.

She welcomed the opportunity to get out of town. She'd walked away from a dead end relationship with Nathanial. Her progressive views resulted in too many circular arguments over one particular faction in the netherworld—the wizards.

Her ex adamantly opposed letting the wizards have status in their society. Since the groundbreaking summit with the main groups of the netherworld—the shifters, vampires, immortals, guardians, and other supernatural beings—when the sorcerers were given charge of the wizard populace, Nathanial wouldn't allow any of the "wand-wielders" to hold office or attain rank. His idea that sorcery superseded wizardry went unchallenged for the most part. But Mercy argued each culture had roots in ancient magick and should equal representation within the community.

Nathanial vehemently disagreed and his displeasure colored every decision he made. Yet he wouldn't accept her choice to walk away—calling, dropping by, and being a general pain in her ass.

Mercy snorted. "No more, Nate." She'd accept the invitation and take a few days to come up with a way to make Nathanial see reason. "A bed and breakfast is perfect. I can think without being bombarded with a mix of angry accusations and beseeching entreaties." Reaching into the shadows, she forwarded her affirmative reply then conjured what she'd need to take.

She might not pull off a happy and joyous Yule, but she'd take a quiet and introspective one.

Mercy definitely needs a stress-free season. Too bad a wizard is going to crash her getaway. LOL

That's it for this week.

Cheers!

Skye

Mistletoe Madness—An Enchanted Yule #MistletoeHop

Sponsored by Romance Beckons

Enter for a chance to win an awesome prize!

Grab your Mistletoe and pucker up!

Welcome to the Winter Warm Up Blog Hop, an excellent sampling of authors sharing short excerpts from their work.

Readers: Please enjoy the steamy snippets and consider picking up the full book by clicking on the buy link.

Bloggers: Please check out the excellent previews and spread the word.

~*~

My favorite family tradition started about ten years ago. I got the wild hair idea to have a themed holiday tree. I had my oldest kiddo pick the theme and we came up with ideas for how to make ornaments and use things around the house to decorate. To date we've had Under the Sea, Buried Treasure, Nature's Bounty, Candy Land, Snowflakes and Cupcakes, Techno Tree, Imaginext, Noah's Ark, Seahawks Rule—much to the chagrin of my Browns loving husband, and Bells are Ringing.

This year my daughter got to choose and she wanted to do something a little vintage. We've decorated a white tree with old fashioned looking ornaments in jewel tones. She hasn't really named it yet, but I've been calling it our Vintage Jewel tree. It's really quite lovely.

After getting the tree decorated, my favorite 'me' tradition is to turn on some seasonal music, get a glass of wine or cup of tea, and decompress by reading a holiday romance. It's a nice little respite from the crazy schedules, piles of presents, and butt-loads of wrapping paper waiting in the wings.

After getting the tree decorated, my favorite 'me' tradition is to turn on some seasonal music, get a glass of wine or cup of tea, and decompress by reading a holiday romance. It's a nice little respite from the crazy schedules, piles of presents, and butt-loads of wrapping paper waiting in the wings.

~*~

Traditions are wonderful things. But what happens when you can't follow an established one? Or you don't have any in the first place? When writing as Skylin O'Thomas, I tend to focus on contemporary romance, with couples who have challenges to face, but find love nonetheless. They also celebrate the season and keep their holiday spirit, or find it by the end of the story.

My holiday release, An Enchanted Yule, A Holiday Spirit Tale, features Mercy and Andre, a sorcerer and a wizard who are brought together by Hollis Goldstar, a holiday spirit.

I had so much fun writing the book and I'm giving a digital copy away for this blog hop. Please leave a comment for your entry and share your favorite part of the holiday season. (Maybe it involves books!)

~*~

Series Tagline: Holiday spirits are tasked with bringing opposites together.

Book Tagline: A holiday spirit brings Yuletide romance to Mercy and Andre.

~*~

Hollis Goldstar settled in by the fireplace and opened his new book. He loved the Yule season—cold weather, warm fires, and a new world to explore between the pages. He got through the prologue before the zing of energy pulsed under his skin, followed by the tinkling of a bell.

He slapped the tome shut. "Dammit. I thought for sure I'd have this holiday off." He'd worked the last three Yule seasons and deserved a break.

But apparently some misguided couple needed to find their way to each other and their joining had to happen over the season. Sometimes being a holiday spirit sucked huge dragons. Heaving a sigh, he retrieved his deck of holiday destinations and shuffled through the locations. He found a quaint bed and breakfast, which should function adequately for his needs. Personally, he thought manor house looked like a bucket of charm puked all over the place, but that kind of thing usually appealed to the human side of his charges. They always seemed spellbound by the décor and found the sentiment appealing.

He had his work cut out for him. Bringing a sorcerer and a wizard together could prove to be a challenge. He rifled through the information file the spirit master left. Mercy Mayweather, the sorcerer. Twenty-seven, beautiful, smart as a whip, but she'd chosen the worst possible man to spend her time with. Nathanial Ashford hated wizards and did all he could to keep them down. And now, after breaking up with him, Mercy paid a price with being ostracized. A difficult situation, especially during Yule, when the gifted communities tended to gather together.

The wizard, Andre Addison, acted as a leader for the community of wand-bearers. He regularly butted heads with Ashford over being kept in the dark and not being allowed to have a seat on the council governing the supernatural community. At twenty-nine, his good looks drew plenty women in, but his surly attitude often kept them at bay. Maybe a little one-on-one time with a newly single female could do the trick.

Then again, Hollis might not be able to let nature take its course this time around.

Heaving a sigh, he inscribed two enchanted invitations and sent them into the mist.

Time would tell if his charges were open to the possibility of outer forces being at work.

~*~

Series Blurb: Holiday spirits make the merry season bright. They also bring couples together, especially to right old wrongs.

Book Blurb: Mercy, a sorcerer, wants to keep her own counsel and walks away from a relationship to do it. Andre, a wizard, is tired being treated as a lower life form by Mercy's ex. The holiday spirit tasked with bringing the duo together over Yule faces a huge challenge.

~*~

~*~

Please stop by my website http://www.skyewrites.com

Get into the holiday spirit and relax! Visit the other participating authors.

Sunday Snippet: Ill-Timed Case

Argh!!! The Flash, Arrow, and Agents of SHIELD left off at cliffhangery moments. But what awesome episodes!!! I have lots and lots of thoughts, but won't share here for the sake of saving some space. LOL

Haven has one more week and will end on a double episode. I truly hope it ends well, mainly because I've been with the show since the very beginning.

The Librarians and Agent X are still entertaining me. I really enjoyed last week's Agent X and can't wait to see what happens this week. Gotta say the actor playing the foil in last week's episode is making the rounds. He's been on a lot of shows I've been watching.

Looking forward to Agent Carter coming soon. I love the format and the entire cast of characters. Can't wait.

That's it for the TV roundup this week.

Tonight's post is from Ill-Timed Case, a novella where my main characters play a fun game of cat and mouse for a while.

Here's the mini-blurb:

Rex Van Adder, private investigator, has more cases than he can handle. Enter Gracie Lee, along with a dead body, and Rex scrambles to keep his head above water, especially since he knows Gracie is involved but can't figure out how.

And a preview snippet…

Gracie Lee breathed a heavy sigh of relief. "That was too damned close for comfort." She crept through the boarded up store and made her way to the lower level.

She retrieved her data device and typed a quick message to her surrogate father, Sam Baldwin. [Our man betrayed. Yours are on scene. Need a pickup by the fourth street underground]. She tucked the messenger back inside her pocket and headed for the hidden entrance to the underground rail system. She'd be traveling through an abandoned part and shouldn't be spotted by anyone.

Like the man with Avery Marlow. She thanked the heavens for her innate sixth sense. She didn't have to turn to know she'd caught the man's interest because his gaze bored into her back when she walked away from the mid-grade hotel McGuiness summoned her to earlier.

Sadly, she'd arrived too late. Dougray already lay dead in the alley, stabbed through the heart. A brief search didn't turn up the jewel he'd brought for sale and she'd risked going to his room to find it.

She'd come up empty there, too. Dammit. Dougray had to have left a clue or something to indicate where he'd hidden the jewel. Sam would have to pull some strings to get her access to the case file.

The device in her pocket chirped, startling her. She paused in the darkened corridor and checked the message.

[Car is waiting. Come to my location and we'll decide next move].

Heaving another sigh, she picked her way to the fourth street panel door and entered the stations main hub. The dank interior smelled musty with disuse, but she'd grown used to the aroma after using the location so often. Climbing the steps to street level, she quickly entered the waiting vehicle, snuggling into the plush interior to ward off the evening chill. The rain picked up and her mind drifted to the handsome stranger again. Gut instinct indicated she'd be seeing him soon.

And she didn't quite like the thrill of anticipation she got when thinking about him.

Settling in for the ride, she shrugged off the idea. "Sorry, lover boy, I don't have time for romance right now."

I love writing a mix of urban fantasy and noir and this one is a fun blend of both.

That's it for this week.

Cheers!

Skye

Sunday Snippet: Hush

December 6, 2015

It's the most wonderful time of the year! Even if you don't celebrate anything holiday related, I hope the festive nature rubs off and make December terrific.

So… Gotham. Interesting stuff building in this season. I'm truly loving all the potential and the twists and turns. I'm very curious about how they'll deal with Gordon's actions. I love how he's not afraid to get messy, but there has to be some kind of line he won't cross.

The Flash and Arrow crossover event ended up being pretty decent, especially since it bridges the setup of a new show. Could it have been better? Absolutely. But I think it accomplished a ton of stuff and stayed true to the characters.

The Walking Dead finale seemed a little flat, but I'll give the showrunners this one. The rest of the season has been so top notch; I'm willing to wait for a bigger payoff. In all honesty, I'm not super excited about adding the uber-villain into the mix just yet, even if the actor they cast is incredible. I'll reserve judgment until I see the new episodes.

Haven inches ever closer to the end and I'm on the fence about the stunt casting of Shatner. I love the man as an actor, but I hope the payoff is worth using him. I do have a ton of joy over the fact they're addressing Duke and Audrey's somewhat tumultuous relationship. It's my fondest hope the combined effort of Duke, Audrey, and Nathan will be what it takes to rid Haven of Croatoan and keep the town safe. We'll see if I'm on track very soon.

The Librarians and Agent X are still enjoyable. I like the slow reveal of John's background in Agent X and love the dropped hint in the most recent episode. Won't say more to keep the post spoiler free for now.

Last but not least, Agents of SHIELD and Doctor Who. I'm kind of excited to see where AoS ends up. I like seeing a darker Coulson, but I'm not sure I buy him getting all bent over the death of a woman he pretty much just met. Eh… we'll see what happens. And Doctor Who… well, I honestly don't have a lot to say. Or maybe I've got so much to say I can't possibly put it all in one post. Still hugely disappointed and, quite frankly, too stupid to really understand what the big freaking deal is with the hybrid crap. At least the Xmas episode looks pretty fun.

And that's it for television this week. I hope to start Daredevil and Jessica Jones over the holiday hiatus. YAY!

Tonight's post is from Hush, a novella where my main characters are hexed and have to communicate without words.

Here's the mini-blurb:

Kia Bleu and Chip Strachey have a powerful connection and finally give in to their attraction. When Chip's former flame hexes the couple, they have to learn to communicate without words.

And a preview snippet…

Chip took a moment, standing outside the bathroom. He hoped he exuded annoyance and anger. Adrenaline pumped through his veins—the zing of magic energy from Kia's exit thrummed along his skin. He'd been standing a little too close to miss the contact burn.

A cool hand settled on his forearm. "Chip, sweetie, what was that nasty exchange all about?" Sadie's too innocent gaze locked onto his.

Chip shrugged. "No idea. Kia just lost her shit and almost blasted me with a ball of anger." He nudged the door open and nodded toward the singed wall.

Sadie's eyes grew wider. "Oh, my. She's really gotta learn how to control her attributes." She sidled up close to him. "I did warn you about her, Chip."

He held her gaze for a long moment. "You might have been right." He let the door swing shut. "But it doesn't mean I want to jump back into couple status with you." Walking toward the exit, he glanced back over his shoulder. "I think I need some time alone, Sadie."

Her mouth dropped open and she made a sputter of disbelief. Ignoring the spiteful woman, he tossed off a wave and pushed through the crowd. He made his way outside and resisted the urge to spit the bitter aftertaste out of his mouth.

Sadie's display of feigned caring boiled in his gut. He wanted to hash out a plan for retaliation with Kia and set Sadie firmly in her place—very far away from him.

And Kia.

He strolled up the block, pondering how to remove the hex. Or better yet, turn it back on Sadie. A better of poetic retribution would be hard to come up with.

Making the turn toward The Cave, he figured Sadie would keep her distance and he and Kia could plan, plot, and possibly keep their passionate connection strong and hot. Whatever happened, the basement room should keep them protected and he could add an extra ward or two to make sure they weren't disturbed.

Ducking inside, he waved to Mario, who sat behind a counter taking wagers for the various magic sports going on in the main level.

Mario gave Chip a two-fingered salute. "You going up or down?" He accepted a wad of bills and ticked a box on the betting sheet.

Chip pointed to the floor and Mario rolled his eyes, but stayed quiet. Chip appreciated the reprieve, but fully expected a major ribbing in the near future. Mario liked using Chip as a draw for the upper levels, where the magic got darker and sport more dangerous.

Chip's participated waned over the last three years, but the requests for his presence hadn't slowed down. If he got the hex situation sorted, he'd offer a big event for Mario, one where they'd both make a healthy windfall.

He started down the steps but paused midway. Holy shit. Reversing the hex couldn't be so easy, could it? Taking the last few stairs at a job, he burst through the doorway and quickly rapped on the metal door of the second studio apartment. He couldn't wait to run his idea past Kia.

The heavy steel slowly creaked open and Kia peeked out. She flung the door open and hauled him inside, pushing him up against the wall and clamping her mouth on his. Her tongue slid past his lips and rational thought dissolved into a heady combination of lust and hunger. He had her shirt up and bra undone before the reason they'd met at The Cave came crashing back.

Making a low growl, he tore his mouth from hers and met her angry gaze. Holding up a finger, he tapped his temple, showing her he needed to share something. She heaved a sigh and stripped her bra off without removing her shirt. Shooting him a look to indicate they'd pick up where they left off, she stalked over to the table and pointed to a notepad and several pens.

He flashed a smile, crossed the floor and pulled a chair out. She sat, folded her arms around her waist, pushing her breasts upward, her nipples pebbled and taut under the fabric. He groaned low in his throat and she smirked.

Grabbing a pen, he started jotting down the basic premise of his plan.

I'm loving how this one is coming together. Fingers crossed the sages keep the words flowing.

That's it for this week.

Cheers!

Skye

Sunday Snippet: Hot Target

November 29, 2015

I hope everyone who celebrates Thanksgiving had a terrific one. I spent mine with some extended family and had a lovely time.

Slower than normal week in television, which was rather nice. Gotham turned in a great episode. I have much love for Alfred and this episode made me love him all the more. Haven continues to impress me. I really will hate to see the show end.

The Walking Dead fall finale is tonight, right? I'll miss having my Sunday night viewing staple, but with the holidays coming up, the time should fly. I'll have to see if The Librarians and Agent X are taking a break, too.

Last but not least, Doctor Who. I'm truly saddened I just can't seem to get into the new season. This year's Christmas special may be my last episode. I'll have to do some Whovian soul searching over the next few weeks.

Tonight's post is from Hot Target, a novella where my main characters have to put their lives on the line to catch a rogue mage.

Here's the mini-blurb:

Yates and Baylor work undercover for the mage council. They make a great team, but rarely see eye to eye. When their magical brethren start dropping like flies, one of them must become a hot target. Yates decides he'll do it… Baylor's a better shot.

And a preview snippet…

Baylor Fisk stood outside the double doors of the mage council chamber. She'd been out working a misuse of power case when a call came through, asking her to immediately report to the manor house. Her frequent undercover partner and current lover made his way down the long hallway to stand beside her.

Yates Bannerson hadn't changed from his underground fight club garb, meaning he'd probably received the same cryptic message she had.

He slid his gaze sideways. "Know what's going on?"

Baylor shook her head. "Nope. Might as well find out." She raised a hand and knocked on the heavy oak door.

Yates followed her inside the chamber and took up a relaxed stance when they faced the five person board of elders.

The chairman didn't waste time with pleasantries. "I'm sorry to pull you two away from your current cases, but we have grim news and you need to be brought up to speed."

The lights dimmed and the huge plasma screen flashed with a grisly image of Baylor's best friend, Margo Penschot, displayed in a body bag. Baylor watched with horror as other pictures of the surrounding area melted on and off the screen.

The chairman gave the known details, but Baylor only heard the roar of pain and anger. Margo had been her oldest friend. They'd grown up together, hitting each and every rite of passage from discovering their magical abilities to honing their skills and finally graduating from the apprentice program at the same time. Baylor tried to hang on to her professional detachment, but failed. She collapsed, only Yates' quick thinking stopping her from hitting the floor.

Yates held her cradled in his arms. "Give us a moment."

The council shrouded them with a shield and Baylor let out the howl of rage and hurt she couldn't contain.

Yates hauled her closer. "Let it out, Baylor."

He didn't draw away or flinch when she did, patiently waiting for her to expel the emotion churning through her. Her mind didn't want to accept the loss or acknowledge Margo's death had been a deliberate act, but her practical side already sought a reason. The shift in focus gave her a center of calm and she sought Yates' gaze.

He cupped her face. "We'll find out who killed Margo and make them pay. You have my word." His lips brushed over her forehead.

Baylor exhaled and nodded. "Thank you." Composed, she slowly got to her feet.

Yates muttered the incantation to release the shield.

Staying in his embrace, Baylor faced the council. "What do you need from us?"

The chairman met her gaze. "Watch and listen. All of your other cases are suspended." He nodded toward the screen. "Our priority is to discover who killed Margo and bring them to justice."

Baylor gave the man a grim smile. "I can work with that." She turned to head out of the chamber.

The chairman called out. "Baylor, we're terribly sorry for your loss."

Her throat closed up but Baylor lifted a hand in acknowledgment.

Yates fell into step beside her. "They're not the only ones who'll be sorry."

Baylor's heartache eased a little and she laced her fingers with Yates'. Losing Margo hurt and left a gaping hole in Baylor's life, but Yates wouldn't rest until they caught the person responsible.

Baylor couldn't ask for more.

So far, this one is coming in bits and pieces. I can't wait to see the finished product. LOL

That's it for this week.

Cheers!

Skye

Sunday Snippet: Hot as Hades

Okay, lots of TV stuff to talk about. Gotham is truly upping the stakes and I love the way they're doing it. Gordon is so focused on the crazy sibling duo he's completely missing the trouble brewing with Cobblepot and Nygma. I can't wait to see what happens next. Sleepy Hollow had a decent fall finale. I've missed a bunch of important stuff and need to get caught up.

The Flash is coming along nicely. I'm excited to see where things go, leading up to the Legends of Tomorrow premiere. The same goes for Arrow. This season, between the two shows, there's been a great combo of moving the standard story arcs along with laying great groundwork for the spinoff getting ready to debut. Way to go shows!

Agents of SHIELD keeps throwing interesting twists and turns into the story and I love it. I'm excited to see where things go.

Haven is winding down and I'll be sad to see the show end. I've thoroughly enjoyed watching the adventures of Nathan, Audrey, and Duke. I'm also hoping Syfy fills the void with something good, but I won't hold my breath.

I'm looking forward to The Walking Dead's newest episode. Again, I'm so thrilled with the way this season is unfolding. The balance of total batshit insanity, intense encapsulation, and little seeds being planted is a thing of beauty.

A quick rundown of some other shows. I'm loving the new season of The Librarians. This show makes me happy. I'm also totally in for Agent X. TNT is bringing some great stuff to the screen. Murdoch Mysteries is also coming up with great storylines, which after almost ten years, is so awesome.

Last but not least, I can safely say the most recent episode of Doctor Who hit a home run, even though I'm still not a big fan of Ishieldr / Me. I'm seriously hoping we won't see her as a companion, but I won't hold my breath. *sigh*

And that's it for this week's television roundup.

Tonight's post is from Hot as Hades, a Meddlesome Gods story featuring Hades in the mortal world.

Here's the mini-blurb:

Roxie St. Clair, an up and coming artist, wants to live and work on her own terms. But when the god of the underworld informs her of the underhanded tactics of her former employer, she decides to turn the tables and fight back.

And a preview snippet…

Roxie swung around and dropped the pot she'd just removed from the kiln. "Who the hell are you?" Better yet, how the hell had he gotten in? She always locked up when she worked. And she'd secured the door after Rick left.

He grimaced at her question. "I am Hades." As if that explained his presence.

He didn't look menacing and Roxie stayed relatively calm, considering he'd just scared the bejebus out of her. She kept the conversation going and tried to act naturally. As if handsome men popped in out of nowhere on a regular basis.

Narrowing her eyes, she commented on the strange moniker. "Hades, huh?" She grabbed the broom and made ready to sweep up her now broken pot. "That's a whacked name if I ever heard one." She swept up the big pieces and tossed them into the bin next to her work space, then looked at the man standing in the middle of her studio. "You might look like you're all that… but you'll get laughed outta town with that name." And it was time to get rid of this guy.

She returned the broom to its spot in the corner and grabbed the phone. "Unless you've got a damn good reason for being here, I think you'd better exit the way you came in." She waved the phone in her hand. "Before I call the cops."

The man calling himself Hades raised a brow. "My dear, if you do that, you'll be terribly embarrassed."

Roxie scoffed. "Exactly how? I'd like to see you explain what the hell you're doing here in the middle of the night. In my studio."

Hades merely stared at her. "It wouldn't be difficult. I'd simply produce the deed to this establishment." He gave her a bland look. "Then I believe you'd be the one trying to convince the authorities that you belong."

Roxie shook her head. He'd do what? "You'd produce the deed?" It finally clicked. "Holy hell! You're my benefactor? Why didn't you just say so?" Explained how he got in, he had a key.

Hades inclined his regal head. "In a manner of speaking, yes, I'm your benefactor."

Well, hell.

I'm totally loving the snappy dialog in this book. The sages are being very kind.

That's it for this week.

Cheers!

Skye 

Sunday Snippet: Hold to Let Go

Well, I can finally breathe again. I'm truly hoping I'm done with the cold / viral ick / seasonal funk now. Yeesh.

Gotham had a great episode. I loved the end with two potential villains putting their heads together. That combo could lead to some truly good viewing.

The Flash is getting interesting. I have a sneaking suspicion about who Zoom is going to turn out to be, but I'll refrain from speculating for now. My biggest hint is in looking at his garb…

Arrow keeps getting better and better. I like seeing Oliver and Felicity having some conflict. And it's always fun to see Mama Smoak.

Not much to say about the other shows, but Agents of SHIELD is staying twisty and I like that. Unless it gets too hard to tell who is on what side. Then I'll be annoyed.

One final television note. Doctor Who. Yeah. So disappointed. I can't shake the feeling Moffat and company are trying to be too clever and they're sacrificing the emotional component to do so. "Sleep No More" came off as a jumbled mess, in my opinion. Maybe I'm too stupid to 'get' the cleverness. I don't know.

Tonight's post is from Hold to Let Go, a sexy short that may end up becoming a novella, where my main characters figure out how to navigate a relationship while saving their people.

Here's the mini-blurb:

Banner Nix and Quade Newelson go way back and have a lot of baggage to show for it. When an opportunity to save their people presents itself, they put their crap aside and work together to make it happen, even though their plan is in direct opposition to their leaders'.

And a preview snippet…

Quade Newelson sat through another long meeting. He'd lost interest less than five minutes in and wondered if they'd ever get to 'new' business. The constant rehashing of the same topics drove him mad. The one thing he missed about stepping away from the military had to be losing his 'voice'. As a major, he made a decision and expected it to be carried out. As a brand new delegate to the barely held together government, he had to wait his turn. Sitting on the bottom rung meant he could see his next birthday before he got anything on his agenda heard.

It didn't help he'd opposed the prime minister's course of action. Quade didn't think they should limit their search for a new planet to a single path. He'd cast the deciding vote to open up the option and let Banner follow an opposite trajectory than the PM.

As long as they found what they needed, why should it matter how they got it?

It shouldn't. The PM's personal issues with Banner had become the sole reason for the prickly treatment Quade now received. The PM could be a rank bastard all he wanted. Quade's drama with Banner went back one hell of a lot further than Mick Fitzwater's did. If Quade could get past it, the PM should take that as a sign and get his shit together. They all needed to work toward the same goal.

Ready to nod off, Quade slid his hand into his jacket pocket and pulled out a folded slip of paper with ragged edges. He flipped it open and read the two words written over and over on it—Quade Newelson.

His name.

The only thing Banner swore kept her from breaking during her incarceration with the enemy. He traced a finger over the handwriting, a jolt running through him. She'd held onto him and wouldn't let go. Why couldn't it have been like that before she'd been captured?

Their previous issues didn't matter. They hadn't trusted each other. Not when it came right down to the truth. They could put their lives in each other's hands, but not their hearts. He'd had time to think it all through, when she'd been gone. The missteps, the back and forth, never being on the same page. Both too close to their history, too busy staying alive, they couldn't take a breath. Made it damned difficult to gain perspective.

Believing her dead, Quade made time to ask hard questions. He always pushed Banner, tested their boundaries, but tried to keep some distance. He didn't want to admit how much he needed her. Hell, he didn't want to need anyone. Too damned easy to lose people. His brother drove the point home five years ago, before things got so bad they had to leave their planet, killing himself is a wild car ride and seriously injuring Banner.

I enjoy characters who have internal conflict along with an outside issue. Banner and Quade definitely have both.

That's it for this week.

Cheers!

Skye

Sunday Snippet: Hell is in the Details

Tis the season to battle nasty colds. Bleh. But it's a great time to catch up on my reading while drinking hot tea. :D

Television this week… The Walking Dead had a great episode. I'm rather enjoying the way we have batshit crazy episode where people are dying or might be dying then we follow it with a different pace, but no less intense episode. Seriously, kudos to the producers because I'm still glued to my screen each week.

Gotham and Sleepy Hollow again had good showings. I'm kind of ready for the twisty dance of the new mayor of Gotham to be completed and his hand fully revealed. And the same goes for Pandora on Sleepy Hollow.

The Flash is making me happy with several little twists. Having a different Wells in the mix is actually pretty fun and I’m crossing my fingers he doesn't turn out to be evil, but we'll see. I love how snarky he is towards everyone.

Arrow is also winding up with a great arc. I love the way the past is still being woven in with the present. And I’m really intrigued with Diggle's brother and what really happened. I have a feeling Darkh isn't being totally forthcoming, because where's the fun in that? LOL

Agents of SHIELD… yeah, totally didn't see the reveal of Lash coming. I should have, but I didn't. And now things are going to get really interesting. I am sort of hoping Ward gets some additional development and doesn't become a cardboard villain.

I watched the final episode of Lost Girl and got weepy because I’m going to miss that show so much. What a great run. I'll definitely enjoy a full rewatch sometime in the future.

And that's it for TV this week.

Tonight's post is from Hell is in the Details, a novella where my heroine learns a hard lesson about letting people in.

Here's the mini-blurb:

Macyn has a one night stand with an immortal creature and suffers the consequences when he traps her in a maze of deception. Once free, she withdraws from her clan and it's up to Vin to bring her back from the brink of madness.

And a preview snippet…

Macyn Dox nursed the drink in her tumbler, trying to decide if she wanted to down it and keep them coming or brood in silence, over just the one.

She hated to drink alone. Damn Vin for pulling a no show and blowing her off.

Again.

Probably to study some ancient text. Again.

Why couldn't she come first? Just once. They didn't have enough time together. He always has a new scroll, text, or artifact to study and research, and considering she usually brought the discoveries to him after traipsing the enchanted trails and combing through the netherworld, she had no one to blame but her.

And the elders who sent her out on the treks in the first place.

And, dammit, Vin. For not recognizing how much she missed him and needed the kind of downtime only he could provide. The hot, sexy, rock their world kind.

She stirred her drink. "Stupid man." He hadn't even hesitated when he refused to put his work aside for a few hours.

Fine. If a dusty scroll held more appeal than a night in her bed, she'd find something else to do. Maybe someone else to do.

She swallowed a kick of frustration with half the contents of her glass. Lifting a hand, she ordered another. Keep them coming, it would be.

A presence behind her pulled her attention away from the alcohol. Macyn angled her head, ready to inform the person they should move and stop invading her space. But the words died in her throat.

Holy shit. An incredible specimen of manhood greeted her gaze. Tall, broad-shouldered, and dressed with impeccable style, the gentleman boldly perused Macyn. His slow once over sent a thrill of awareness through her. And the banked interest in his hooded gaze intrigued her.

And she had nothing better to do.

She twisted around on the barstool, facing him. "See something you like?"

The interest melted into appreciation. "Very much." The man's lips twisted in a sensual curve. "You." His voice practically purred the word.

Macyn gave him a half-smile. "A bold move. I appreciate that in a man." She leaned back, propping her elbows on the bar, giving him a nice view of her cleavage.

His gaze lingered on the swell of her breasts then met hers. "Ellis Barnett. I'd very much like to spend the night with you." He held her gaze, awaiting her response.

Macyn tilted her head to one side. "And what, exactly, will you be doing for me?" She hoped he had a kick ass response ready.

A confident smile spread across his face. "I'll be making you scream with exquisite passion."

Oh, yeah. A terrific reply. His arrogance actually turned her on.

Straightening, she slid off the stool. "In that case, let's go." Leaving a wad of bills on the bar, she strode to the exit.

Oh, Macyn, your good decision fairy is not on duty tonight. LOL

That's it for this week.

Cheers!

Skye

Sunday Snippet: Gotta Make a Living

Wow. Only two months left in 2015. Where did my year go? LOL

TV round up… pretty great this week. I have a feeling The Walking Dead is going to blow my mind. I couldn't watch Doctor Who due to a crazy, insane, busy weekend, but I'll catch up soon.

Gotham and Sleepy Hollow were quite good. I love how Gotham is all about the rise of the villains and the focus on the new crop, but I'm really enjoying Nygma's slow burn. I'm pretty excited to see where things go there. And Sleepy Hollow's crossover with Bones ended up being pretty fun.

The Flash and Arrow are still ranking high on my 'can't miss anything' list. Both seasons are kicking serious ass and I hope it continues.

Agents of SHIELD had what I think will end up being one of my favorite episodes of the season and I'm pretty excited to see more. I don't know, even with all the various different plot threads vying for attention, I feel like this season is actually better and more cohesive than last season. This is not a bad thing.

Lost Girl is almost over. *sniffles* I'm dying to see how it ends even though I'm going to miss the show so much. And The Murdoch Mysteries had a great episode last week. I'm looking forward to more this week.

That's it for now. I'm still trying to figure out if I love The Romeo Section or not. Will keep everyone posted.

Tonight's post is from Gotta Make a Living, an urban noir novella where my main characters meet over a dead body.

Here's the mini-blurb:

Niles finds Claire standing over a dead body and can't decide if he should call the cops or haul her into his arms. Claire makes the choice easy by asking him if he sees any smoking guns. They decide they better work together to find the killer before Claire is framed for a murder she didn't commit.

And a preview snippet…

Claire fixed her face into a serene mask. "Certainly, Niles." She arched a brow. "Or would you prefer Mr. Chesterfield?"

He let go of her hand and put a little distance between them. "Niles is fine." His shoulders remained tense. "My family is off limits. Our working together doesn't include you making stops at the one-twelve for any reason." He pinned her with his gaze. "Clear enough?"

Claire nodded. "I think you put a shine on it and made it sparkle just enough for me to understand." She didn't like being at cross-purposes, so she'd play nice.

For now.

Claire had a good deal of experience reading people and retaining random facts. Niles wanted his rank and file relatives left out of their investigation. She intuited he'd bring in whomever necessary once they cracked the culprit, but he'd want every last detail nailed down before bringing his brother, or any one of his other family members with influence, in.

She had an uncanny knack for remembering things. She didn't know that much about Niles, but he thought she did. She'd read an article mentioning the black sheep of the Chesterfield family—Niles—and the scathing burn of the rebuttal his brother Nelms provided. Niles might not be part of the police force, but he did his part to keep the city safe.

Now, reading between the lines, Claire figured Niles for a loner, one who didn't care to play by the rules and didn't mind stretching the lines of the propriety when necessary. She rarely misinterpreted her gut reactions.

Considering she spent a good bit of time walking through murky shades of grey when it came to getting what her employers needed, she thought having Niles in her corner could only help.

Claire rose and crossed around the desk, stopping just shy of Niles. "Now let me get something off my chest." Her hand smoothed a nonexistent crease from his tie. "You'll find me more agreeable if you ask instead of demand. I don't like men who underestimate my intelligence or ability to cooperate when there's a reason to do so." And she really wanted to like Niles.

He grasped her fingers, removing them from his chest. "I don't think you're stupid, Claire. Far from it. You know a hell of a lot about me. I know jack all about you." His voice went sexy smooth. "I like balance, and we're not there yet."

She smiled. "What else would you like to know about me, Niles." She'd pretty much become an open book if he wanted her to.

And she rather hoped he did.

The cat and mouse game between Niles and Claire is so much fun… and when they join forces it gets even better!

That's it for this week.

Cheers!

Skye

Sunday Snippet: Fistful of Sorry

October 25, 2015

WooHoo! Halloween is almost here! I love the fall holiday and even plan to decorate my all-year-round tree with some cool lights and creepy ribbon. I'm even planning to do a Thanksgiving themed tree if time doesn't get away from me. LOL

Television round up this week… not bad overall. I totally stayed away from discussing The Walking Dead, mainly because I didn't want to spoil anyone and I couldn't talk about the show without going into detail. I'll take a moment to say I LOVE how this season is kicking off and leave things there.

As always, I'm thrilled with how The Flash and Arrow are progressing. I thoroughly enjoy the alternate Flash and I like how Thea's time in the pit is being handled. Really interested to see how Sarah's resurrection plays out. (Hint… she'll be fine… eventually).

Agents of SHIELD continues to intrigue me. I have several theories floating around in my head about how things will play out, and I'm actually loving how many different storylines are being addressed. Keep it up!

Gotham and Sleepy Hollow are on my catch up list. Last week's schedule went off the rails so I'm watching both shows on demand.

Lost Girl and The Murdoch Mysteries are also staying excellent. And I started a new show called The Romeo Section that has me very interested. I'll keep everyone posted on how I fare with that one.

Finally, Doctor Who… eh. Seriously, I'm seeing so many people rave about the new season and I'm really not feeling it. The fandom theory that Ashildr will end up being Missy and the Doctor created the Master doesn't work for me. However, there is one way I could get behind the concept… Missy isn't a regeneration of the Master, but she decided to play the role. That might be an interesting twist.

Anyway, TV update for the week is over.

Tonight's post is from Fistful of Sorry, a novella where my heroine jumps in with both feet and it costs her than expects.

Here's the mini-blurb:

Orly Manx and Cal Luminity always approach situations from opposite angles, but usually end up on the same side. When Orly pushes a cadet too far during training, she apologizes to Cal for not following his advice. But Cal isn't interested in listening or quick to forgive, which drives a wedge between them. Clearly in the wrong, Orly can't take back her actions, so making amends is all she has left.

And a preview snippet…

Cal Luminity sat across from Barnabas Mikkleson, a premier mage on the board of magicks, and waited patiently for the man to speak his mind.

Barnabas sighed and leaned forward. "Cal, my boy, I appreciate you coming to meet with me." He pulled a file from thin air and opened it, turning it toward Cal. "My grandson, Benson, is one of your cadets." His gnarled finger pointed to the picture. "He's a good kid, but… well… he's not the quickest mage in the group." He settled back and folded his hands over this stomach.

Cal quickly scanned the information in the student file. "He just started last week?" A little soon to form impressions.

Barnabas nodded. "Yes. And I'm meeting you to ask a favor, which you're under no obligation to provide."

Cal quirked a brow. Translation—it would be to his benefit if he didn't cross Barnabas on this one.

Barnabas smirked, just a little. "Take some time with the kid. He's got some solid skill, he just needs some encouragement." He leaned forward a little, using a lower tone. "Got a lot of his mother in him and she didn't have a full grasp on reality. You know what I mean?"

Cal, and everyone else in the mage society, heard the stories about Mikkleson's daughter-in-law. A brilliant spell-caster but slightly off-balance with day-to-day routines. Margie finally ended up losing her mage privileges and could only cast spells when under supervision.

So, basically, Benson's brain had some wiring issues and would need a softer touch.

Cal closed the file. "I'll be happy to take him under my wing, Barnabas. And let the other instructors know—"

Mikkleson sat forward and smacked his palm on the desk. "No! This stays between you and me. Benson is shy and backwards enough as it is. If he discovers you're all treating him like a special case, he'll shrink even further into his shell." His stern features relaxed. "I want him to flourish, not flounder. All I ask is you maybe keep an eye on him and offer some extra time when you have it available." He settled back in his seat again.

Cal frowned. While he understood the premier mage's position, he didn't like having his hands tied. A quiet word with the other mage superiors would help smooth Benson's transition from plebe to cadet.

But he didn't want to piss off one of his grandfather's oldest friends, either.

Cal stood and gave Barnabas a nod. "I'll do as you request, Barnabas. We'll bring Benson along and get him up to speed."

Mikkleson tapped the file and sent it back to the mage academy then thrust his hand out. "I appreciate it, Cal. Thank you."

Cal grasped his palm. "Happy to help, Barnabas. Always." He turned to head for the double doors.

Cal's willingness to help creates a lot of friction and his headache is only beginning.

That's it for this week.

Cheers!

Skye