Sunday Snippet: Hot as Hades

Had a slower work week and got a good bit of cleaning and clearing done. I also got some solid viewing time in. I'm also somewhat stunned that August is just around the corner. This year is flying by.

I started my watch week with Ms. Fisher's Modern Murder Mysteries and got two episodes finished. The first one did indeed have Percy the Putz involved in his usual shenanigans. The second one made my heart ache but I thoroughly enjoyed getting some background on Birdie. I'm loving the episode titles for the second season as much as I loved the first season's. Can't wait to finish season two up this week, which I think is probably doable.

Caught two episodes of Silent Witness. These finished out the eleventh season and I'm getting into the seasons I've definitely watched before. I'll be starting season twelve this week.

Enjoyed two arcs of Classic Who and I'm getting close to the end of the seventeenth season. Not sure how many more Four has but I'm excited to start Five's tenure soon.

Finished up UFOs: The Lost Evidence. I thoroughly enjoyed both seasons and got a few neat little plot bunnies from what I viewed.

Caught four episodes of The Muppet Show and finished out the second season. The guest stars were Bob Hope, Teresa Brewer, John Cleese, and Cloris Leachman. Looking forward to starting season three.

This was my week for finishing up seasons. I watched the last two episodes of The Hardy Boys and I'm so excited there's going to be a second season. I really enjoyed how everything played out and I'm so happy everyone got the ending they deserved. Also kind of thrilled there's a seed planted for more possibilities for the eye.

Watched two episodes of Peak Practice. The first one finished out the third season where everyone said good-bye to Beth and Jack. The second started season four with Will on the hot seat trying to save the practice. Glad to see Andrew sticking around for a bit and I kind of liked the new doctor.

I finished up the Master Class with David Carson. I enjoyed getting his insight to graphic design and learned some new things. I also started a new class with LeVar Burton on storytelling. I'm very excited to work through this series of classes.

Caught two episodes of Chilling Adventures of Sabrina. I'm loving how accepting the group is being about Theo and I'm kind of interested in how the academy stuff is playing out. I like Nick okay but I'm a little twitchy about his motives. Can't wait to find out if there's more going on there.

Enjoyed two more episodes of the Brokenwood Mysteries. I loved this show. The wine episode ended up being a great little mystery and the golf course episode was thoroughly enjoyable. I loved seeing the story play out on that one.

Started Star Trek: Discovery and have to admit I'm cautiously optimistic. I quite enjoyed the first episode. I'm looking forward to more.

Watched two episodes of Chicago Med and have to say again I'm so glad I'm finally getting to watch this series from the beginning. I'm getting close to the end of the first season and I'm looking forward to season two.

Passionflix premiered season two of Driven and the first episode rocked. I loved the first actor that played Colton but the recast works very well. Looking forward to the next three episodes!

Started UFO Witness and liked the first episode. It's only a single season so I'll see where things go.

For nostalgia's sake, I started the new version of the Rugrats (heretofore referred to as New Rugrats). The original will always have a special place in my heart since all three of my kiddos loved the show. It had the rare ability to appeal to little ones and grown-ups with so many inside jokes. The new version is quite charming and I'm happy to say I think I'll enjoy it.

Last but not least, I started a new episode of Blue Heelers. It's a two-parter and looks to be kind of interesting with lots of bridges being burned and internal affairs out for blood.

Whew. That's if for television this week. Tonight's post is from Hot as Hades, a novella featuring the god of the underworld coming to the assist of an artist that needs a little help with a couple of nefarious guys.

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 St. Clair burned hot.

Baking, boiling, dripping in sweat, hot.

She'd known using all four kilns at once would make her studio unbearable. She also figured it would make her attached loft warmer than usual.

But not sweltering.

She couldn't shut any of them down either. Too much rode on getting as many pieces completed as possible. She could kick herself for that last creative spurt she'd had.

But it would turn out as some of her best work.

Her very best ever.

The notion brought a smile to her face. She'd never lacked pride in her work—hand thrown pots and clay sculptures—but she did doubt ever making it a success.

Now, she had her chance and couldn't afford to blow it.

The lease on her lovely space would be up in six months and her upcoming show next week would make or break her. If she didn't score enough interest from distributors, she'd be out on the street.

With no choice but to go back to work for evil Edsel Montague.

Oh, how she hated that man. And his creepy, twisted, little day dreams involving the two of them in the throes of passion.

As if. Maybe at half past never she'd consider hooking up with her former employer.

Possibly her soon to be again employer.

Stop it, Rox.

She'd escaped his groping hands and graphic descriptions. Had been free for almost a year.

Best year of her life so far.

Blowing a wisp of hair out of her face, Roxie lifted the heavy length off her shoulder and twisted it up on top of her head. Using one of her carving tools to keep it in place, she instantly felt cooler.

And that, in turn, made her less anxious. She still had the six months to get everything in place to take over the lease from her anonymous benefactor.

Flopping down on the sofa, she kicked her feet up and said yet another silent thank you to the person who'd made it possible for her to pursue her dream.

She still had no idea who her savior might be, or how they'd known her deepest desire. Maybe they'd witnessed the constant harassment from evil Edsel and decided to grant her fondest wish—aside from murdering the pawing pervert—of living and working on her own terms.

Whatever the case, Roxie would be forever grateful. She enjoyed the freedom to create whatever came to mind and prayed she'd be able to continue.

Checking the time, she realized the first kiln would be shutting down in a few minutes. Time to brave the heat and go take a look. She couldn't wait to see how the latest batch turned out.

Roxie is so much fun to write. She doesn't know she's between a rock and a hard place, but she'll soon learn.

 

That's it for this week.

Cheers!

Skye

Sunday Snippet: Hell Is in the Details

Another crazy-busy week but I got a lot of television watched. Finished up some short-term projects and got started a new long-term project that I'm excited about. July is almost over and I'm kind of surprised by how fast it's flying by.

On the television front, I actually got four episodes of The Muppet Show watched. Julie Andrews, Jaye P Morgan, Peter Sellers, and Petula Clark were the guest stars. Had a funny conversation with my brother about the reason I've been rewatching the series—mainly because it's something I remember us doing when we were way younger—and he regaled me with how he remembers certain skits more than he remembers the guest stars … and that's actually kind of true for me, too.

Ended up getting in two episodes of The Hardy Boys also. Really excited the guys got into the secret room and I loved how they completely disagreed about what to do with the pieces of the eye. Interested in what Stacy's game actually is. Something tells me she's not quite as ready to trash everything to do with the circle as she claims. I love how shady all the possible baddies are on this show. I can't wait to see how the first season ends with the finale.

Caught two episodes of Peak Practice and enjoyed both. I liked being able to see Beth and Jack grieve for their loss. Andrew is definitely growing on me, which is a good thing because he sticks around for a long time. Will is Will and I like him as he is.

Watched two more Master Class lessons with David Carson. The first focused on designing impactful magazines and I got some good information from that one. The second one was about designing your future and had the four group members trying to predict what their future would like in design. It was interesting and I liked the group overall.

Enjoyed two more episodes of Chilling Adventures of Sabrina. The final with midwinter as the backdrop ended up being really good. The opener of season two with the epiphany set some interesting dominoes in play. I'm kind of excited to see where things go.

Loved the finale of Street Legal. I'm kind of hoping there's a second season because I'd like to know where the characters end up going. I kind of didn't see the partners hooking up coming but I'm interested in how that ends up playing out.

Caught two episodes of Chicago Med. Both were excellent. I'm so happy I'm finally able to catch this show from the beginning.

Ms. Fisher's Modern Murder Mysteries had a great episode. Watching James and Peregrine tiptoe around each other makes my heart equally happy and sad. I love seeing the ramifications play out with them though. Next episode looks really good with Percy the Putz stirring the pot again.

Watched the second part of Silent Witness and ended up really enjoying the ending. I think I caught it during my initial run because I vaguely remember how things played out.

Got a full arc of Classic Who in and enjoyed the four episodes. I'm still not sure about the whole new regeneration of Romana but we'll see how the season plays out.

Caught another episode of UFOs: The Lost Evidence. I'm nearing the end of season two and I'm not sure if there's another season or not but I quite enjoy this show.

Started a new episode of Blue Heelers and, so far, it's interesting. There's a reporter that's annoying but otherwise good story rolling out.

Started a new-to-me series with Brokenwood Mysteries. I loved the first episode and look forward to see how the next few hold up to the premiere.

That's pretty much it for television. Tonight's post is from Hell Is in the Details, a novella that puts the characters on the path to undo some immortal magick.

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 Vig to bring her back from the brink of madness.

And a preview snippet…

Macyn considered giving him a false reason. But he'd know. He always did. The guy read her like a book. And played her like a maestro. Only Vig could have flipped just the right switch to make her vent the rage she carried around.

She owed him the honest answer. "Research. I want the damned bastard dead. Permanently." Her gaze lifted and met his.

She waited, expecting Vig to volunteer. He didn't. She inclined her head, respecting his reason for not doing so. He wanted her to make the choice and commitment to ask for help.

She kept her line of sight steady. "Please tell me there's a way." There had to be…

Vig bobbed his head. "There's a way."

Son of a bitch. Her relief hit so hard she almost crumpled, but he stepped forward and angled her toward a chair.

Sinking down, she fought past the lump in her throat. "Show me how. Teach me, please." The word sounded so foreign coming from her, but not as hard to say as she'd imagined.

Vig reached out and clasped the bottle. "First, let's get this put away." When her fingers loosened, he tucked the alcohol back into the nook she'd pulled it from.

She inhaled slow and deep. "What's next?" Determination filled her but it battled with the defeat that wouldn't go away.

Vig held out his hand. "Come to my place for something to eat." He helped her up and wrapped an arm around her to keep her upright.

They made the walk to his home, the cool air helping to sober her up. She followed him into his kitchen and he put a couple of quick sandwiches together and settled across from her. She dutifully ate the ham and swiss—just the right amount of mustard—then drained the glass of water he'd placed on the table.

Why he took care of her, she'd question at a later time. She didn't warrant his tender treatment. Well … maybe not completely tender. He'd cut to the quick back in the catacombs.

Vig cleared the plates and sat down again. "I'll explain how to get rid of the immortal, but you won't like it."

At this point, she'd walk naked through the village if it worked. "I don't care. I want him gone for good and I'll do anything to make it happen."

Vig gave her a long, level look. "You might not be able to."

This book is coming together in way I didn't expect and I'm pleased with the results. I like the vibe between Macyn and Vig.

 

That's it for this week.

Cheers!

Skye

Sunday Snippet: A Haunting Yule (a Holiday Spirit short)

It's been a busy week with medical emergencies—not mine, thankfully—and vacationer pickups. Also had a few work projects to get worked in.

Had a great week for television. Started out by finishing up the sixteenth season of Classic Who and I got a start on season seventeen. Interesting choice to have Romana regenerate as the princess of the final arc. We'll see how that plays out.

Watched another episode of UFOs: The Lost Evidence. The focus was on the Royal Air Force and I enjoyed the episode. I also started the next one which feature sacred sites and UFOs.

Caught two more episodes of The Muppet Show. Lou Rawls and Cleo Laine were the guest stars. Had a great conversation with my brother about watching this show while we were growing up.

Enjoyed another episode of The Hardy Boys. The jury is still out on whether the grandma is a good force or a not-so-good one. I'm really excited to watch the next episode with the secret room.

Watched another episode of Peak Practice and, yep, a tragedy occurred. I'm pretty sure we'll be seeing the last of Beth and Jack, which is actually what I expected. I'll look forward to their sendoff.

Caught another Master Class with David Carson. This one talked about working with clients and I got some solid information from the session. I might not work full-time with graphic design, but I do work with clients on a regular basis and the lesson had some good strategies for meeting expectations that can apply universally.

Chilling Adventures of Sabrina had an interesting episode. I'm still not a Wardwell fan and even less so after this episode. I'm kind of excited to see what Cerebus is going to bring to the story and Zelda made a bold choice I didn't quite expect.

Watched the penultimate episode of Street Legal. I have to give Steven Lund kudos. I loved his journey in this episode. Olivia overstepped in a way I didn't quite believe. I hope there's a bit of an explanation in the final episode of season one.

Enjoyed another Ready Room recap. I'm having a lot of fun with guest stars who were previous cast members. I might not be able to say the same with season two. I'm not a Q fan in the slightest. Here's hoping the writing makes me change my mind.

Finished up another episode of Blue Heelers and enjoyed it. I also caught another episode and started a new one. I'm creeping up on the halfway point of season three.

Caught an episode of Chicago Med. Again, I really enjoyed the multiple threads. Will's arc impressed me. I loved the opening scene with Rhodes and Will working together and getting along, mainly because of the reactions of the rest of the team.

Watched another episode of Ms. Fisher's Modern Murder Mysteries. Bertie cracks me up. I love Samuel and Violetta. I'm hurting for Peregrine and James but I can't wait to see more and how they work things out. I miss Fleur and I'm kind of hoping we'll see more characters of the Adventuress Club. So far, season two is making me very happy.

Enjoyed the first part of Silent Witness's two-parter. Nikki's dad is a piece of work. I'm kind of glad I can't remember how things play out with him. Looking forward to seeing the second part this week.

That's pretty much it for television this week. Tonight's post is from A Haunting Yule, a holiday spirit sexy short featuring a banshee and a goblin.

Here's the mini-blurb:

Holiday spirit Thom Tinsel brings an unlikely duo together for Yule. Urika Uhl is a banshee holding on to a past she needs to let go. Ingo Ingalls is a goblin searching for his place in the netherworld. Thom's magick shows the couple their differences can help them build a strong future together.

And a preview snippet…

Urika swept through the halls of the community building. I'm not going to use my cry to help goblins. I won't do it.

"Urika!" The head crier, Bancroft Harlow charged toward her. "You can't refuse to use your gift. It's unlawful." He paused, a little out of breath.

Urika waved her hand. "I don't care. If you won't sanction those horrible trolls and refuse them our aid, then I'm done." She spun back around and stalked toward the exit.

Bancroft trotted after her. "You have an obligation to fulfill and you're our top seer. You won't be allowed to walk away." His tone turned hard and unyielding.

Urika closed her eyes and drew in a deep breath. "You can’t ask or expect me to help goblins." Her stomach churned. "Especially around Yule."

Bancroft's face softened. "This season is hard for you. I do understand that. But you can't pick and choose. Not anymore." He sighed. "The others are tired of the preferential treatment you're shown."

Urika sneered. "Then maybe they should knock me from the top spot. Better yet, I'll climb down from the lofty perch and let them fight over it."

Bancroft shook his head. "No, that's not the answer. You'd open yourself up to having more goblins to work with. The lessers are usually available to do readings. Right now, we have a backlog of people making requests. You know this."

Urika swallowed hard. "I can't, Bancroft. I can't. I'll take leave. I'm due for some." She rarely left the glade and had plenty of time saved up. "It'll let you save face and give me time to work through my issues." Not that she'd try all that hard.

Bancroft frowned. "You get to use this trump one time, Urika. Next year, you'll not be allowed to shirk your responsibility." He turned to head back to the grotto area. "And don't be surprised if you don't get bombarded with angry banshees who have to pick up your slack."

Urika fought down a wave of sadness. "Why can't people understand?" Goblins savaged her parents … why should the brutish thugs have any opportunity to see their futures?

She made the short walk home and entered her small cottage, hoping to have a mug of hot tea and maybe a long nap.

No such luck. The moment she crossed her threshold, a faint buzz coursed through her veins. She cast a careful eye around her living room and found an ivory envelope hovering over her mantel.

Crossing the floor, she retrieved the missive. "What now?" Removing the seal, she briefly scanned the contents.

 

Hail and welcome.

To Goodacre you must go.

Find peace, solitude, and answers

To what you must know.

Remember the joyful season

And let it be a balm

Discover the quiet strength

And reestablish your calm.

 

A set of instructions and a time to cross the veil into the nether realm followed the rhyming verse.

Urika tucked the invitation under her arm and headed to pack some clothes.

"I'll most definitely take advantage of some downtime away from the glade."

Whew. Urika has some issues she definitely needs to work through. Goodacre is going to be full of surprises for her.

 

That's it for this week.

Cheers!

Skye 

Sunday Snippet: Haunted Hideaway

Happy Independence Day if you're in the US. If not, I hope you're having a terrific weekend. Our weather is very pleasant and mild so I'm not going to complain about that. I will express frustration with random people letting off fireworks, but only because our doggos hate them.

Had a truly jam-packed, great television viewing week. Started and ended the week with No Offence. I finished up the series and I'm not disappointed at all. What a experience!

Also watched Silent Witness and I'm almost through the second episode of the two-parter. I watched the first part at the end of last week and should have this one finished up by the time I'm ready to post this blog entry.

Caught another arc of Classic Who. The fifth part of the key has been found so I'm almost ready for season sixteen to come to a close. So far, I've been on the fence with this season but it's enjoyable.

Watched an episode of UFOs: The Lost Evidence. This one dived into the cover-ups in the US. I'm always fascinated by how much this show reminds me of the X-Files. I love it.

Enjoyed two more episodes of The Muppet Show. Rudolf Nereyev and Elton John were the guest stars. Really enjoyed Elton.

Caught an episode of Peak Practice. I'm starting to like the new doctor. He kind of rubs everyone the wrong way but I truly feel for the guy coming to a small village where the residents are all used to things being a specific way.

The Hardy Boys had a terrific episode. I'm kind of interested in how the boys are dealing with starting at a new school and uncovering their mom's past there.

Dove into another Master Class with David Carson. I didn't think I'd get much out of the whole collage lesson but I did walk away with a few ideas about how textures and colors work together on a physical level.

Watched Chilling Adventures of Sabrina and, wow, Sabrina definitely had a bomb blow up in her face. I'm kind of glad to see it but also now wondering how everything is going to play out. Still not a big fan of Wardwell.

Caught another episode of Street Legal and thoroughly enjoyed. I'll be honest … I'm not always a fan of Olivia but I enjoyed her interaction with Emily. I'm also really interested in the dynamics of the partners. Definitely going to enjoy watching the rest of the episodes.

The Ready Room had a great recap and family reunion with Wil, Jonathan, and Brent. Such a fun episode and really looking forward to the next one.

Caught an episode of Chicago Med and really enjoyed it. I'm totally down for the rivalry between Halsted and Rhodes but I'm looking forward to when they're really great friends too.

Started a new episode of Blue Heelers. I'm kind of interested in how this one plays out because Nick has been getting on my nerves lately. We'll see if that improves or not.

And that's pretty much it for television this week. Tonight's post is from Haunted Hideaway, a sexy short that got a start after a conversation with a friend about a spooky tale of the building she lives in.

Here's the mini-blurb:

Harley Rand meets Ruck Tate when she moves back to her small hometown in Ohio and leases an apartment in a historic village. Little things happen from the moment she moves in—items mysteriously end up in different locations, the doorbell rings and no one is on the other side, and random things go wrong in the apartment. Intrigued, Harley dives into the history of the buildings in the village and discovers a few fun facts and a couple of unsettling ones … like the building is probably haunted. Harley believes in ghosts but has no idea how to broach the topic with the handsome superintendent. She may not have to … Rand has a few secrets he's not quite willing to divulge, even to the lovely new tenant.

And a preview snippet…

Harley Rand pulled into the nearly empty parking lot behind the huge brick building on Whitewoman Street. "Wow … nothing like being hit with a ton of memories." She'd spent a lot of time in the building during her high school years.

Back then, the canal-era historic village drew in a good bit of tourism and provided a solid part-time job even if she had to wear period appropriate clothing at Captain Black's Sweet Shop. The corner business drew in hungry visitors and locals who wanted a quick lunch or to grab some of the famous candy and ice creams.

Harley tilted her head to one side, glancing up at the second and third stories. "Not so much now." The sweet shop had become an upscale wine and coffee bar about five years ago.

Pop the Cork seemed so out of place in the village but only because Harley had been away almost ten years. The inn at the south end of the road now housed the local branch for one of the state colleges. The general store across Hill Street had morphed into a deli marketplace with the general store moving to the opposite side of Whitewoman. Harley got out of her car and breathed deeply. Nothing like coming home.

She turned and walked to the end of the parking lot then grinned. "At least the Pewter Pub and Lock Twenty-Three remained the same." The restaurant and bar had been a staple in the village for as long as she could remember.

A truck pulled into the parking lot and the driver killed the engine. Harley squinted a little, trying to get a glimpse of the man inside. He drove a foundation vehicle so he had to be Ruck Tate, the guy she'd been speaking to for over three months, trying to arrange the deposit and scheduling the move. The driver's side door popped open and she got her first look at the head of maintenance.

Dammit … he would have to be her type. Not too tall, day-old scruff, and longish hair. She'd hoped he'd be pot-bellied and close to retirement.

Then again, his whiskey-smooth voice belied that wish, something she'd known deep in her gut.

Pasting a smile on her face, she strode forward. "Ruck Tate?" She thrust her hand forward.

He grinned. "Yeah. And you're Harley Rand. It's nice to have a face to put with the voice I've been hearing." He shook her hand and nodded toward the building. "Ready to head in? I've got your keys and your copy of the lease." Letting go, he glanced around. "You've got movers coming, right?"

She lifted her chin. "Not until early tomorrow. But I'll be staying so I can greet them when they get here."

Ruck stepped up onto the wooden decking and led the way to upper level then pushed the main door open. "They can park on the street below. It'll be easier for them to bring your stuff up the steps from there." He stopped by the mailboxes in the vestibule. "You're box number three." He handed her the key. "If you have packages, the delivery guys usually leave them on the table or on the floor beside it." He glanced up. "Unless you give them different instructions. So far, we've never had trouble with people taking stuff that doesn't belong to them."

Harley accepted the key and followed Ruck into the hall. He stopped outside unit number three and unlocked the door then handed her the key. She sent him a brief smile then entered her new home. He followed her through and explained where to find everything then handed her the lease. She tucked it inside her purse and asked a few questions, which he answered.

He started for the door and she followed but he stopped short and she bumped right into his back.

Her face heated. "Ugh. Sorry about that."

He shook his head. "No, my fault. I forgot to give you the garage door opener." He retrieved it from his back pocket. "If you'll come back out, I'll show you which one you can use."

She nodded and followed him again. Big mistake. Stop looking at his ass.

Hard not to. His khaki cargo pants fit snugly without being tight. The sleeves of the dark green T-shirt with the foundation logo hugged his biceps. She really needed to get a grip and remember why she'd decided to be footloose and fancy free. No more relationships.

Ruck paused at the foot of the steps leading to the garages. He titled his head, as if waiting for a response from her.

Harley blinked. "I'm sorry. Did you say something?"

His lips curved. "I asked if you wanted to meet me up there with your car. Unless you've got stuff to unload?"

She did have a few things, namely the air mattress she'd be sleeping on until her furniture arrived in the morning. "I'll just follow you up on foot for now."

He dipped his head and flashed a smile. "Let's go."

He made short work of showing her the space and giving her the code if she forgot the opener. After they walked back down to the parking lot, he headed for the truck.

Harley waved. "Thank you. I appreciate you meeting me here."

Ruck lifted two fingers and saluted her. "No problem. Call me if need anything." He backed out of the lot and headed up Hill Street.

Harley blew out a slow breath. "Whew. Here's hoping I won't have to call." He had such a nice guy vibe.

And her promise to avoid entanglements already teetered on the edge.

I love writing Harley and she's going to have some fun with an uninvited but not unwelcome presence very soon.

 

That's it for this week.

Cheers!

Skye