Sunday Snippet: Countdown to Midnight

Well, March definitely enters the year with a roar. We've had the crazy weather that hops back and forth between warm and cold along with snow showers, thunderstorms, and thirty-degree temperature changes in twenty-four hours. Weirdly, it's somehow fitting that March is my birth month. Volatile and a wee bit mercurial.

My focus is still all over the place, but I have multiple work projects, which helps when I need a change of scenery. It drives me batty when I read the same paragraph over and over because I keep getting distracted by everything. Being able to hop from one manuscript to another helps in a weird way.

Had a decent week of viewing. Still not quite getting a full slate in, but I'm happy with the shows I'm keeping up with. I'm having issues with one of the streamers on a device, but I got the show watched despite the tech glitches.

Started out with the finale of Agatha Raisin. I have a bonus behind-the-scenes episode to watch then it's on to a new show. I'll miss this one. I've had so much fun watching the characters interact and solve mysteries.

Caught another Silent Witness episode. So sorry about Jack's dad. And the whole deal with his mom is beyond sad. Very nice to see Nikki be there for him. I'm wondering about Simone at the moment and Sam is playing a very cagey game.

Enjoyed another Death in Paradise. I'd seen most of this one and enjoyed it the first time. I love Martha to bits and can't wait to finish Humphrey's run to start Beyond Paradise in the near future.

Watched another episode of Elementary. Interesting episode and I'm almost sorry the FBI lady will live to show up again in the future.

Caught an episode of The Batman. I had vague memories of watching this the first time but not everything. I'm still not sure how I feel about Batgirl. I think I end up liking her better once Robin enters the show.

Enjoyed another episode of Classic Rugrats. I didn't remember either of the vignettes, which I'm kind of happy about. The later seasons were kind of hit or miss for us when the kiddos were young.

Finished the second season of The Secret Life of Amy Benson and I'm really hoping we get a third. I'm invested in the characters and want to see what happens next.

That's pretty much it for the life update this week. Tonight's post is from Countdown to Midnight, a novella that reunites a couple in the run up to New Year's Eve.

Here's the miniblurb:

When a necromancer is hell-bent on raising an army of ghostly beings on the cusp of the New Year, Jace Pembroke, a mystic advisor, is called to stop the spirit-wrangler, but she can't do it alone. She needs help from ghost hunter Ridley Saint, but convincing him won't be easy because they used to be a couple and she walked away because a ghostly ancestor took up residence in Jace's home. Fighting the clock as it ticks toward midnight, Jace has to stay mum about what tips her off to keep Ridley away from her ghost and attempt to banish the spirit-wrangler trying to bring the beings across the divide.

And a preview snippet…

Solstice Eve

Jace Pembroke relaxed in a tub full of bubbles. "Finally have some time to recharge and nourish my inner self." Closing her eyes, she sank lower in the water, letting the frothy suds brush up against her chin.

"Jacie, my girl. You've got big trouble brewing."

Jace's eyes popped open. "Gram, I don't want to hear anything negative right now. You know how hard I've been working to sort out everyone's issues." The holiday season brought out so much in people … sadly, not all of it good.

Jace's grandmother took corporeal form, something she could only do on the solstices and equinoxes.

She wagged a finger. "I know, I know. But this can't wait. Norman Thurgooder is getting ready to wreak havoc in the city, right here in our glade." She paced back and forth.

Jace's nose scrunched up in concentration. "Thurgooder. Why is that name—" She broke off when the memory clicked. "Wait, the necromancer?" What kind of shit plan did the spirit-wrangler want to unleash?

Mellie Pembroke paused long enough to nod. "Yes, the necromancer. Rumblings are strong on the other side. Everyone is excited about New Year's Eve when Thurgooder has decided to launch his master plan." She waved her hands back and forth. "Get out of that tub and get dressed. We've got a lot to get through and you'll be a prune by the time I'm done explaining." She faded out then called from Jace's bedroom. "Don't waste time, Jacie."

Jace heaved a sigh and pulled the stopper from the tub. Only one other person called her Jacie and Jace couldn't let her thoughts go to him right now. Too many memories to sort through and not enough time to take a trip down that lane.

Drying off, she firmly closed the door on her past. "I walked away from Ridley for a reason." And that reason happened to be in her bedroom right now.

Jace made the short trip to her room and found her gram pacing again. "Okay, Gram, you're going to make me dizzy if you keep up with the back and forth on my floor." She pointed to the chair in the corner. "Take a seat and I'll get dressed." Rifling through her drawers, she pulled out a pair of leggings and a waffle-knit shirt.

Mellie shook her head. "No time for sitting, Jacie. You've got someplace to be and a favor to ask." She waved her hand and continued walking.

Jace frowned. "Where, exactly, do I have be?" She pulled the pants on and shrugged into the shirt. "And who am I asking for a favor?" Yanking another drawer open, she found a pair of thick socks and tugged them on.

Mellie paused and leveled her gaze on Jace. "You have to find that young man of yours. We're going to need his help."

Say what? She couldn't have heard her grandmother correctly. No way could she bring a ghost hunter in to whatever the necromancer had planned. Ridley's first action would be to send Mellie to the afterlife.

Jace blinked and shook her head. "Hell, no, Gram. That's not going to happen."

This story is in the very beginning stages, but I'm having so much fun writing it. I love a good ghost versus an evil being.

 

That's it for this week.

Cheers!

Skye