Sunday Snippet: Maybe This Seems Familiar

Even though March is my birth month and the birth month of my mom and one of my best friends, I'm kind of glad to kick it to the curb. It's been a wild ride this month. That said, it's also been intensely productive, so I'm really not complaining.

The weather is still drunk, wildly surging one direction then lurching back only to zing forward again. My sinuses hate me right now. And my throat has that I just swallowed glass with a gravel chaser sound at the moment.

Still buried with work but I'm making great progress on all fronts. I added another new hourly project to the pile and made a big dent in that one yesterday.

Not a bad week for viewing. I got through my usual slate and did a marathon watch to finish out the week.

Ended up watching two episodes of Elementary and both were actually terrific. I'm very interested in seeing how things with Kitty play out in the next few installments.

Caught two episodes of Batman Beyond. Always happy to see the Royal Flush show up and I liked the throwback to Bane.

Also enjoyed two Classic Rugrats episodes. I'm about halfway through the final season and I think I'll pick back up with the new reboot once I'm finished up.

Caught another episode of Death in Paradise and I'm enjoying having Darlene working with the team. She's a great addition. Also glad to see Neville's sister exit. Maybe she'll grow on me, but I didn't enjoy her at all.

Watched the first official episode of season two Beyond Paradise. Really enjoyed the way the mystery unfolded. Also loved the resolution.

I ended up not quite finishing the episode of London Kills but I should have that one completed this week.

That's it for the life update. Tonight's post is from Maybe This Seems Familiar, a novella that pulls a couple together after a big loss.

Here's the miniblurb:

A tragic death sends Inyx Pic, an Adept Major, into a brittle shell of self-doubt. When Philo Batson, her Adept Master, pushes Inyx to get back to teaching, her armor of disillusionment cracks and anger and grief come pouring out, leaving Philo to handle the fallout.

And a preview snippet…

Adept major Inyx Pic cast a recall spell. "No, Marlax. You're skipping steps and your ass is really gonna hurt when you get knocked on it from backlash." She absorbed the random energy from calling in the attempted conjure.

Marlax Tillie snarled. "I'm not a baby mage. I don't need the training wheels, Major Pic." Her eyes flashed with anger. "You're holding me back, and it's not fair." She flounced to her worktable.

Inyx bit back a string of curses. "Fair isn't why we're here. You can't move on to the next class if you don't master the finer points of conjuring." How many times had Inyx listened to lectures about finesse?

And how many times had she wanted to smash her fist into Philo Batson's face because he never shut up about learning the basics forward, backward, and upside down? Probably as many as she'd wanted to strip him naked and make him passionate about something other than conjuring. Too bad she'd never pushed harder to make that happen.

Then again, she had very good reasons for not doing so. Even if he'd made it clear he'd be interested…

"Major Pic? Am I free to go?" Marlax arched her winged brows.

Inyx blinked and shook off the cobwebs. "You can leave after you've listed the ten steps to safely conjure. Then come back tomorrow and we'll start again." She made her way to the stool sitting at the head of the classroom. "The rest of you are dismissed. See you tomorrow." Sinking down, she tried to recalibrate and find her center.

Next time, she'd send the random energy out the window instead of taking it on. She'd spend the rest of the day wired one moment and dragging ass the next. At least she didn't have to teach any more this afternoon.

Marlax slapped her notebook open and huffed out sigh. She scribbled the assigned list down the page, tore it out, and brought it to Inyx. She reviewed the steps and gave a nod.

Marlax rolled her eyes. "It's not that I don't know what they are. It's—"

Inyx finished the thought for her student. "You think they're stupid. I don't need to be an oracle to figure that out." She folded the paper and tucked it into Marlax's shirt pocket. "Come in tomorrow, do what you need to do, and you'll be golden." If Marlax tried to leap ahead again, she'd be wearing the list on her forehead.

Marlax snorted, whirled around, gathered her stuff, and stomped out the door, nearly running Philo over when he entered.

His brows went up. "Do I want to know what that's about?" He propped his hip on the worktable across from her desk.

Inyx sighed. "It's been a day. That one wants to fly before she can walk." And damn if the plebe didn't raise a bunch of red flags.

Philo smirked. "That sounds familiar."

I think I finally have the tone I want for this story. Philo and Inyx have a long history of dancing around each other and it's fun to write them edging closer together.

That's it for this week.

Cheers!

Skye

Sunday Snippet: Manifest Legend

Geez, I can't believe we're almost through March. This has been such a busy month and it's flying by. A few outside distractions added to the mix this week and were something of a big time suck.

My work projects are still chugging along and I'm making progress on my side gig I hope to launch soon. Technically it's already out in the world but I'm adding a big layer to the whole thing. Of course, I pick a moment in time when I'm crazy busy. But I love a good challenge.

As usual, the weather is all over the map. We've had a lot of wind rolling through, stirring up dust and who knows what else. And the temps are doing the back-and-forth dance. I'm looking forward to having some even, leveled-out days … whenever that might be.

Slow viewing week again. Partly due to work stuff and I'm also in a bit of a slump. I might be edging toward a binge-watching phase, which I haven't really done for a long while.

I got most of the way through the episode of London Kills I started last week. It's the opening ep of the fourth season so I kind of want to pay attention and I keep missing key things, so I'll finish it when I have more brain power.

Watched an episode of Death in Paradise and thoroughly enjoyed it. I'd seen bits and pieces of this one so kind of knew what to expect. I very much remember absolutely disliking Neville's sister with an intense passion and that didn't change. Maybe she'll grow on me, but I doubt it.

Also caught the holiday episode of Beyond Paradise and totally loved it! Christmas shows make me happy and this episode seemed to pull the periphery cast into each other's orbits and I loved that. Looking forward to diving into the rest of season two. And, oddly, the timing ended up being perfect for the crossover last week when Humph returned to the beach. Not sure how I did that.

I did another binge marathon of Peter Gunn also. I'm loving some of the live channels on Plex.

That's it for the life update this week. Tonight's post is from Manifest Legend, an introductory short to the Insula Ara series.

Here's the miniblurb:

Insula Ara is a mystical island offering sanctuary to those in need, but when she reveals herself for the first time, Cedric Edward Teasdale, former crewman of a privateer, almost blows his chance for refuge … and a reunion with his lost love.

And a preview snippet…

A warm hand smoothed the side of Ceet's face, and he turned over in his sleep. "Dammit, Emaline, ye haunt me even in my dreams."

Feminine laughter filled his ears. "Well, Cedric, you deserve no less. Leavin' me the ye did. But I'm not ahauntin' you, ye daft man. I'm sitting right beside you." A sharp pinch on his bicep followed the statement.

Ceet bolted upright and scrambled to the edge of the bed. "Emaline? What? How?" He blinked and shook his head. "This can't be possible." Or could it…

He reached under the pillow and retrieved the compass. Did you bring my love back to me? The device grew warm under his palm.

Ceet threw the covers back and slid to the edge of the bed. "Emaline Gruder, I've missed ye, I have." His hands cupped her face. "And I love you." His vision grew misty, and his head dropped.

Emaline threw her arms around him. "And I you, Cedric." She eased back. "And if I understand how this is supposed to work, we'll have all the time we ever wanted to be together." She hugged him close again.

Ceet wrapped his arms around her. "Ah, Emaline. I surely hope so. I surely do." He shifted his position and patted the bed then tugged Emaline down beside him. "This island, Sanctuary is her name, is wonderous and full of marvels you've never imagined." His gaze went to the rafters of the room. "She can create buildings, like this here abode. And she made a barn and provided animals for my use." He met Emaline's gaze. "But you have to be certain about what you want, my love. Once yer committed, you can't leave. At least that's how it works for me." And he didn't regret his choice … except for the loneliness.

Which seemed to be resolved.

Emaline placed her head on Ceet's shoulder. "My darling, Cedric. Why would I want to leave? I've wanted to spend my life with you for as long as I can remember. When I got ill and you didn't return, my heart broke." Her voice grew thick and heavy. "And then I was somewhere in between. Dead but not. Wavering but tethered because I didn't get a farewell from you." She clasped his hand. "Now I'm here and we can have a life together…" Her head angled so she could meet his gaze. "But it's a little different for me. When someone else needs the island, I'll have to go away. But I'll always return to you. Always." She straightened and glanced around the room. "And to my new sanctuary … Insula Ara."

Ceet hauled her close. "Then it's time to start our life together…" His mouth claimed hers and everything in his world turned bright and brilliant.

Ceet literally sprang up and decided he wanted his story told, then he captured my heart when sitting down to write it.

 

That's it for this week.

Cheers!

Skye

Sunday Snippet: Man Up

The work project abundance continues. I'm plugging along and chiseling away at the four current projects I have on my plate—two copy edits, a proofread, and a developmental edit are the main events. I also have a set of revisions to review and a read through to start. It's chaotic but also … fun? I love that everything I'm working on right now is so different. Not one of the manuscripts is similar to the other ones.

As usual, totally unhinged weather in Ohio. It's cold. It's hot. It's both in one day. Rain, sun, gloomy clouds, and hey, a chance for more snow. I did get lucky and had a mostly clear night for the recent blood moon eclipse, which was amazing to watch. Being a night owl comes in very hand sometimes.

Had a limited viewing schedule this week, mainly because I needed to focus on the words in the manuscripts. I did get a few things watched. I might have to give binge watching something for background noise a go for the next few weeks.

Finished up Beyond Paradise and thoroughly enjoyed the first season finale. They packed so much into this episode. The case, Humph and Archie fight, more shenanigans from the Chief Super, Esther and Hump bonding, Margo being Margo, Kelby being Kelby, and of course, the crew from Death in Paradise at the end. I can't wait to watch the first holiday episode this week!

Caught an episode of Elementary and quite enjoyed it. Interesting interactions between the consulting trio and the police duo and twisty bits thrown in to keep things rolling.

Enjoyed an episode of Batman Beyond. It's one I definitely remembered and liked during my first watch of this series.

Watched an episode of Classic Rugrats and actually remember this one, which is odd because most of the ninth season has been new-to-me stuff.

Started an episode of London Kills, the opener to the fourth season. I had to stop partway through because I need to pay attention and this isn't the week for me to do that.

Also binged a marathon of Peter Gunn on one of the live PlexTV channels. I've been hitting Plex up for a lot of viewing fare lately and I might end up using it over the next several weeks for background noise. Stay tuned.

That's pretty much it for the life update this week. Tonight's post is from Man Up, a novella that brings a couple together when they compete to see who can outdo who.

Here's the miniblurb:

Hattie Hale and Nero Palmer, instructors at the Academy of Light, are supposed to set the example, but can't quite get past their competitive natures. A drunken game of one-ups-manship goes all the way to the sleeping chamber because neither will admit to being outdone.

And a preview snippet…

Hattie wished she could sip her mug of coffee slowly, but she always inhaled the first blast of caffeine of the day. "Right, then. I'm ready for a refill. You can talk now." She reached for the carafe and filled her mug while carefully watching him through her lashes.

She had to give the guy props. He'd kept up with her last night and didn't seem too bad off. In fact, he appeared to be doing just fine. A notch of respect ticked up for him.

Nero's chin lifted. "Ground rules? Let's start there." He propped an ankle on his knee. "We need some surprises because we know each other's strengths and weaknesses in the classroom."

Hattie blinked. "Wow. You've given this some thought, haven't you?" She didn't care how they competed because her main goal had been to … what had been the original point?

Right. She kind of wanted to test the waters and see if anything developed between them. But … she didn't want to be obvious.

Nero arched his brows. "Why wouldn't I? You issued a challenge and, well, it could be fun to compete for something other than test grades." He nodded toward the pot on the ottoman. "Mind if I have more? The coffee really is excellent."

Hattie's lips twitched. "Can I count that as a win?" She scooted the carafe closer to him.

Nero laughed. "Why not? I have to concede it's better than anything I've ever brewed." He refilled his mug and shook his head.

An idea popped into her mind. "Okay. Let's make one of our ground rules competing in nonmagickal areas." She had a couple of super-secret recipes she could pull out and blow his mind with.

Nero pondered for a moment. "Yeah. I'm down with that. Like a mix of magick we don't use in the classroom and regular, everyday stuff." Sipping from the mug, he watched her over the rim of the cup.

Hattie hid a smirk. "All right. I'll cook dinner tonight. You can cook tomorrow. Monday … well, we'll see how it goes. We can use it as a tiebreaker if we need to." Warming up to the plan, she made another suggestion. "For something magickal, I think we should try something with runes. Set a ward and see if the other can break it." She loved puzzles.

Nero tilted his head. "Yeah, okay. For nonmagickal, I'm thinking darts? I have a board in my shed. We could go best two out of three." He paused a moment. "For something with magick, how about layered hexes? We'll start at the same time and see who finishes first?"

Hattie added a stipulation. "Somewhere neutral for the runes and hexes. That way neither of us has an advantage over the other." She flashed a smile. "I'm not worried about the darts. Two out of three makes it fair." Settling back, she sipped more coffee.

Nero set his empty cup on the ottoman. "I think we're good to go. Like you said, we can use Monday if we need tiebreakers for anything." He made to stand up.

Hattie held up a hand. "Hold up a minute. I'm already one ahead of you with the coffee. I think we should switch nights. You cook tonight and I'll cook tomorrow." She had to give him a shot at keeping things even.

Nero narrowed his gaze again. "You need to get groceries, don't you?" The sly twist to his lips gave away his teasing.

She snorted. "No, but I was thinking we could maybe get the dart game out of the way after dinner." Mainly because she wanted to see him in his own space to get some ideas for the layered hexes.

Nero shrugged. "Let's say seven for dinner." He got up and started for the door. "Don't be late."

She grinned. "Wouldn't dream of it. See you then."

Having a lot of fun with this one. Competing as a get to know each other outside of their professional setting is a hoot to write.

 

That's it for this week.

Cheers!

Skye

Sunday Snippet: Loud As Hell

What a week! My brain is all spinny at the moment because I have an abundance of work projects in my inbox. I love having a full calendar. That said, I need about five more hours in each day, please and thank you.

Honestly, the overflowing inbox comes at an excellent time for me. I have several things that need attention, one of them being the brakes on my car. Now to buckle under and get the work done.

Weather in Ohio is typical for March. Maybe a little on the extreme side, but March always seems to be whiplashing back and forth between winter and spring. Today is springlike with temps in the fifties. Yesterday we barely broke freezing for our high.

Another very limited week for viewing. I'm not kidding when I say five more hours each day would be helpful. Just saying.

I did finish up the Death in Paradise episode I started last week. So sad to see Florance leave again. But what a way to go out. And pretty sure we'll see her again.

Also started a Beyond Paradise episode, which will finish out the first season. I'm really enjoying this show.

That's pretty much it for the life update this week. Tonight's post is from Loud As Hell, a follow-up story to A Quiet Hell.

Here's the miniblurb:

Bailey Wendelson has come a long way and learned a lot since almost trapping his brother in a prison for the paranormally gifted. When Bailey meets Yazmin Meechum, a woman with siren capabilities, she has no desire for his assistance, but he won't walk away because she's being followed by the people he used to work for.

And a preview snippet…

Yazmin pushed her cart to the self-checkout area. "Gotta love twenty-four-hour grocery stores." She always waited until after eleven p.m. because the aisles were more or less deserted.

She ran her items over the scanner and paid with her debit card. She smiled and nodded when the night-shift manager asked if he could put her cart away. Grasping the bags, she exited the store and retrieved her key from her jacket pocket.

The parking lot lighting left a lot to be desired, but the tradeoff of fewer people to deal with ranked pretty high on her list. With the exception of talking to herself, she rarely had to interact verbally with anyone. Luckily, she didn't have far to go.

She hit her key fob to unlock her car. "Home. Unpack. Binge watch something until I fall asleep." Not exactly a thrill a minute but she'd grown used to the routine.

Almost to the vehicle, she'd just pressed the trunk button when a large man grabbed her arm and tried to pull her into a van sitting opposite to her sedate sedan. She screamed and the groceries went flying. Twisting and turning, she started to fight back when another guy attempted to scoop her legs up. Kicking out, she shouted for help again.

A metal baton came out of nowhere and cracked the guy trying to grab her legs on the head. He landed on the asphalt with a loud grunt. The other brute let her go and engaged in a fight with her rescuer. Punches were thrown and the baton struck the assailant on the knee, the shoulder, and the nape.

The rescuer whirled around, and Yazmin's eyes went wide. Bailey Wendelson. Holy shit.

His head jerked toward her car. "It's not safe. Pretty sure they planted a tracking device." He collapsed the baton and tucked it into his coat. "We don't have much time. Will you let me get you somewhere safe?" His eyebrows arched.

Not trusting her voice, she gave a shaky nod.

He used his thumb to point over his shoulder. "I'm over here. Sorry about the groceries, but we need to get moving now." He headed for his vehicle, not waiting to see if she followed.

But follow she did, sliding into the passenger seat of the running car. Bailey put the SUV in gear and gunned the engine, lurching forward and barely stopping before pulling out onto the nearly deserted street.

Yazmin hunched into her coat and stared straight ahead. Who were the men and what did they want? How did Bailey know she'd need help? Willing her heart rate to slow down, she twisted her hands in her lap. What the hell am I getting into?

Then a ridiculous thought pinged in her brain. Dammit. My trunk is still open.

I'm having a lot of fun with this story. Bailey really wanted to redeem himself after being a bit of an ass in the first book.

 

That's it for this week.

Cheers!

Skye

Sunday Snippet: Loss

Wow, March is being its typical mercurial self. Warm up and then plunge back into the teens and single digits. The back-and-forth weather is normal but not fun.

Crazy-busy week with work projects. I'm thrilled to have my calendar filling up and excited to start some new manuscripts. Also getting more details sorted out for Tip Jar Shorts. I need to find a full day I can dedicate to getting everything where it needs to be.

Very limited viewing this week. My brain decided it needed quiet to focus on the reading I needed to finish up for one of my work projects. I probably needed the break.

I did get more of the One Lane Bridge episode watched. I might take a brief vacation from this one. There's a lot going on in this show and focus is going to be important so I don't miss anything.

Finished up season three of London Kills with the behind-the-scenes bonus episode. I always enjoy getting a deeper look at how everything comes together in a series.

Started another episode of Death in Paradise. I'm about halfway through and I like the tension in this one. Also enjoyed Neville and Commissioner Patterson being on the same page for once.

That's pretty much it for the life update this week. Tonight's post is from Loss, a novella that explores how the main characters deal with a devastating blow.

Here's the miniblurb:

Welsh Hollingsworth is the golden child of Clan Grimstone, but when he's expected to fill the void left when his dad is killed, he can't quite figure out how and he hopes Cagney Gaines can help him find some insight. Cagney can't deal with the loss of her mentor, the one constant in her chaotic world and she leaves when Welsh needs her the most. One year later, she returns to find a very different Welsh—one who doesn't welcome her with open arms.

And a preview snippet…

Cagney surveyed the group gathered on the tracks and lining the subway platform. "I've gotta hand it to Welsh. He mobilized the clan in a hurry.'' She met Jacko's gaze. "He's not happy about staying behind." She wouldn't be either if she'd been in his place.

Jacko rolled a shoulder. "Someone needs to call the shots and, like it or not, that's him." He shook his head. "And he needs to be protected. This is a coordinated attack. Taking the old man out? Bold move to get the ball rolling."

Cagney nodded. "Bold but stupid." The one thing Clan Grimstone didn't lack?

Loyalty.

Word of Wallace's death at the hands of Bainbridge spread quickly, and members all but poured out of the woodwork at Hollingsworth House. With communication lines blown, the telepaths were working in a chain to get logistics and movement down and relay orders on. Cagney had met Jacko at the subway terminal and, along with twenty women and thirty men, had a trap set for the Stoneworth clansmen.

The sound of screeching wheels on metal echoed through the tunnel.

Jacko nudged her shoulder. "This should be them. The train is dark." He readied his pouch to give the signal.

The man's bag of tricks never failed to amaze Cagney. Damn good thing he'd arrived at the house in one piece to get the details of Wallace's death. Cagney didn't know if she could have led this battle on her own. Not with—

Guh. She couldn't even think about Wallace not being around when she got back. No way.

Jacko clasped her shoulder with a gnarled hand. "Easy, Cag. I need you here with me." With a gentle squeeze, he let go and readied to launch the counterattack.

Cagney gave him another nod. "On your mark." Shoving aside her grief, she let the anger take control.

When Jacko gave the go, Cagney unleashed her rage and rained hellfire down on the darkened car. Men spilled out on both sides, and Jacko directed the other clansmen in a strategic skirmish that quickly cut the Stoneworth numbers to half. Now, with a fair fight, both groups pulled back on their magick and entered into physical battle mode.

Cagney jumped into the middle of the fray, each blow, kick, punch, and strike chipping away at the tenuous hold on her pain. By the time the Grimstone side had the advantage, rounding up the stragglers of Clan Stoneworth, and she threw her final fist, the tears blurred her vision.

Connecting with her adversary's jaw, she growled. "For Wallace." She let the opponent hit the tracks in a heap of battered flesh.

Jacko made his way to her side. "The old man would be proud of you." He flung an arm around her shoulders. "Let's go see how our new leader fared." He limped forward, a little worse for the skirmish.

Cagney didn't argue, and she appreciated Jacko ignoring the grief overflowing from her eyes. His gaze held a sheen of moisture too. Exhausted and overwhelmed, Cagney didn't stop the stream of tears, letting them run freely. But she'd be dry-eyed when they briefed Welsh—because he would need her to be strong and unbreakable when they got back.

And she would be both even if it killed her.

This one is coming together in so many ways I didn't expect, and I'm excited to see what else unfolds.

 

That's it for this week.

Cheers!

Skye

Sunday Snippet: Long Time No See

Well, had a better week than the last one. Still not completely tip-top but feeling way better with the worst of the cold finally over. We got more snow this week, but warmer temperatures are around the corner. At least for a few days.

I got caught up on my work projects and lined up a potential new one. I'll be starting a new copy edit on one of my favorite mystery series and continuing my read through on the nonfiction project.

I'm setting up a storefront for Tip Jar Shorts. I'm kind of doing things a bit backward, but the more I thought about it, the more I figured a storefront would lend legitimacy to this endeavor. I wanted to keep things super simple and offer various methods of payment and I might still be able to do that, but I also thought it would be best to have immediate access to a downloadable file instead of waiting on a delivery to an inbox. We'll see which version works out the best.

Had an okay week of viewing. I didn't make a full cycle through of my shows, but I did get the back half watched. And I might be adding one additional show to the roster. I'll let everyone know if that happens.

Watched another episode of Elementary and rather enjoyed this one. Sherlock's dynamic with Joan is different and getting more settled. And Kitty is fitting in with both in ways I didn't expect.

Also caught an episode of Batman Beyond. I remembered this one and enjoyed it. I did forget the interaction with Terry and his brother so that was a nice reminder.

Enjoyed another new-to-me episode of Classic Rugrats. I sometimes wish Nickelodeon had continued with the plans for the pre-school show and added more of All Grown Up. The nostalgia is strong with this franchise. Instead, Spongebob and other weird stuff took off.

That's pretty much it for the life update this week. Tonight's post is from Long Time No See, a novella in a yet-to-be-named series.

Here's the miniblurb:

With Jonni on probation with the Marsoni clan and Val estranged from the Janis clan, the couple is forging their own path within the fae realm. The Vellas clan is on the warpath and Jonni receives a tip about who their next target is. She and Val have to decide if they're going to intervene or stay on the sidelines and not get involved, which could have serious ramifications for Val.

And a preview snippet…

Jonni Mars rolled her hips, drawing Val deeper into her core. "Damn, it's good to have you back." She planted her hands on the bed close to his shoulders, her fingers curling into her palms.

Val hissed out a breath. "Good to be back. Didn't enjoy tending to clan business, especially when I walked away for a reason." His head lifted and his lips latched on to her nipple.

Her eyes slid shut, pleasure spiraling through her. Val never failed to give her exactly what she needed to amp up the zinging awareness coursing along her nerve endings. He'd been cloistered with the Janis clan for two weeks, out of touch and unreachable. She started climbing the walls by day three because they'd spent nearly every day together for the last six months.

Being on probation sucked. She didn't realize how much space Val filled in her life … or how much of a distraction he provided, easing the huge void she'd landed in by being stuck on the sidelines. She couldn't even patrol without permission right now.

Val's lips traveled up to her shoulder. "Missed you." He nuzzled her collarbone.

Jonni changed the pace, slowing down and moving sensuously over the hard length buried deep inside her. "Yeah, same." Her head lowered and she met his lips.

Val slipped his tongue past her teeth to tangle with hers. His hips rose in counterpoint with her smooth rocking motion. Jonni slid closer to the edge of bliss. When Val skimmed his palms along her torso and around to cup her ass, he applied pressure to hold her in place. His groin bumped the hard nub of nerves, creating just the right amount of friction to send her over.

She broke the kiss on a gasp. "Ah, yes." A shiver rippled over her, and she came, her inner muscles gripping hard on his cock.

Val groaned. "So hot. Love to watch you lose control." He thrust upward two more times and shuddered under her.

Jonni collapsed atop his chest, her breath coming out in short bursts. Val wrapped his arms around her, his fingers drawing lazy circles on her skin. She loved basking in the afterglow with him.

The chirp of a phone broke the moment.

Her head popped up. "Yours or mine?" She glanced toward the nightstand beside the bed.

His phone screen stayed dark.

She sighed. "Ugh. It's mine." Sitting up, she leaned over and fished her device out of her pocket and swiped to answer, not bothering to check the ID. "Hello." The voice on the other end made her shoulders tense. "Yeah, okay. I'll be there in fifteen minutes."

Val's eyebrows arched. "Everything okay?"

Jonni shook her head. "Probably not. But I've got a meeting I can't miss."

I've just starting really writing this one and I can't wait to dive in and see where things go.

 

That's it for this week.

Cheers!

Skye 

Sunday Snippet: Lie to Me

Whew. It's been a week. I'm under the weather and not enjoying that at all. I'm behind on my two work projects and we're getting a buttload of snow at the moment. Also … I'm on cold medication and it's making me loopy. Fun times.

I made a video for Tip Jar and I'm pretty pleased with how it turned out. I'm excited about this new endeavor and hope it gets some traction.

Really slow week for viewing. Between being under the weather and everything else going on in the world, I didn't have the spoons to really dive into my shows.

I didn't end up finishing the episode of One Lane Bridge. I'm hoping to get to it this week.

I did watch the finale of London Kills and it ended up being pretty thrilling. I have a behind the scenes episode to watch and then I'll be starting the next season.

Caught an episode of Death in Paradise and enjoyed it. I'm liking Neville a lot more this season. Very interested in how things play out with Florance's under cover job.

Started an episode of Beyond Paradise and should finish it today. I ended up sleeping a lot over the weekend and just didn't have a chance to get the whole episode in. I did get a chuckle that Humph named his duck Selwyn because that's the commissioner's name from Death in Paradise. Not sure how I missed that before.

That's pretty much it for the life update this week. Tonight's post is from Lie to Me, an urban fantasy romance.

Here's the miniblurb:

Jana Ricks has a target on her back, and she wants Rhys McPherson to help her get rid of it. Rhys loves Jana, but may not be able to protect her, not if they want to stay alive, which he's determined to make happen … even if it means giving up the future he wants.

And a preview snippet…

Several hours later, Rhys ruled out hex cat and hell hound. "It doesn't make sense." Plus, dammit, nothing he'd tried revealed the animal.

And it had to be an animal.

Frustrated, he ran a hand through his hair. "What other magickal being could it be?" Not many were controllable even by dark magick.

A dark steed? Too big. Cloven goat? Too small and focused. Cloven goats only created havoc. Jinx rats weren't particularly useful except as annoyances because of the bad luck they brought. The same with pox hares. Crossing paths with the mangy rabbits could induce insomnia and indigestion, but not much else.

Another thought hit. "Maybe a vex fox." Rhys shuffled some of the texts on the table to uncover the one he needed. "Ah, no. Too rare." No sightings in the last several decades.

Jana entered the living room, carrying a tray of bubbling concoctions. "Here's the next batch." She placed the mixtures at his elbow.

She'd proven to be extremely helpful. Spell casting and brewing potions were often tedious, but she plowed through with perseverance. She'd even labeled the containers to help him find the ones he wanted quickly.

He met her gaze. "Thank you. Let's see what these reveal." He waited until she sat across from him then selected the first pot and worked successively through the batch trying to bring forth the nasty predator dogging Jana.

The action took him back … to when they'd done this kind of thing a lot. He missed her—them. But they couldn't work as a couple.

He didn't blame her for Rand's death, but she did hold responsibility. He couldn't get past that. Not yet.

Maybe not ever. Especially with Lindi and the kids as a constant reminder. But he loved Jana. Always would.

When none of the new spell potions worked, ideas and thoughts started shuffling in his head. "Let's go over the info again. Your gut said hell hound or hex cat, right?" She rarely missed.

Jana nodded. "But the spells aren't revealing the beast."

Rhys scraped a hand over his head. "Why? Dammit. Why can't I figure it out?" This kind of situation shouldn't be beyond him.

Jana rocked back in her chair. "Maybe it's both." She shrugged one shoulder.

Bingo! She might have just hit the jackpot.

Profound inspiration smacked him in the forehead. "Holy shit." Rhys went to a new book—one he'd discounted earlier. "You might be onto something." He thumbed through the pages. "A blended link with a side of cloaking." He read through the details and whistled low between his teeth. "That's some powerful fucking magick." But the concept fit.

Her chair thumped forward. "Who's got the ability to pull that off?" Jana frowned.

Rhys slid his gaze sideways. "One brain teaser at a time. Let's see if we're right first."

He transcribed the pages for the necessary spells then helped gather the necessary ingredients.

While filling the vials, he explained the process. "We'll need to work together. Uncloak first, break the link, then banish the creatures." Excitement to be working with her thrummed in his veins when he filled the vials. "Are you ready?"

It took a while for me to figure out where this story wanted to go, but I'm so happy with where it's headed now.

 

That's it for this week.

Cheers!

Skye

Sunday Snippet: Left Unsaid

Happy Kendrick Lamar Does the Halftime Show to all who celebrate. I'll be feasting on food that's terrible for me because that's my favorite part of this weekend.

I'm still doing small things for Tip Jar Shorts. I'm trying to get my other blogs and my author website updated with the new material and I'm looking at possible setting up immediate downloads. That's a goal and I hope I can get there. Trying to gauge interest first. I also kept up with drawing one oracle card a day and posting the results on Bluesky.

Had a fairly busy work week. I finished up a copy edit and completed a combination copy edit proofread. I also had a terrific meeting with a new client, and I'll be working on evaluating their manuscript over the next few weeks. Very exciting!

Slow week for viewing. I had a lot of distractions and couldn't focus on watching very much. I think lack of sleep played a role there. I'm trying to figure out what kind of sleep schedule I need right now.

I did get a few shows in, starting with Elementary, which ended up being a really great episode and I enjoyed it.

Also caught an episode of Batman Beyond. I'm very nostalgic for this show right now and thoroughly enjoying the rewatch.

Watched another episode of Classic Rugrats. Again, the two vignettes were new to me. Although, I think they were out of order with the rest of the season because one showed how Chas and Kira ended up with the coffee shop.

I started an episode of One Lane Bridge and should finish it up today. This show has some twists, and I enjoy those but also need to be able to focus so I don't miss important details.

That's pretty much it for the life update this week. Tonight's post is from Left Unsaid, a novella that explores different methods of communication when speaking doesn't help.

Here's the miniblurb:

Haven and Pryce are involved in a covert war between humanity and the fae. When the battle takes a nasty turn for the worse and their lives are in danger multiple times, the couple realize it's sometimes better to communicate without words.

And a preview snippet…

Haven had no doubt what Pryce wanted. "His pound of flesh." Talking might come later, but right now, he needed an outlet, one she'd happily provide.

She filled out a hastily worded report and dropped it off at the makeshift command center. She showered and called in to central communications. "Hey, Ross. I'm gonna need a twelve-hour window. No calls. No disturbances. Complete radio silence." She wrapped a towel around torso. "And include Pryce. If anyone asks, consider it lost time. He hasn't had a chance to work through his brother's death yet." She chewed on her lip. "And he needs it." Because of the role I played.

Ross made a rude sound. "And you're what? Babysitting?"

She bit her response out. "Something like that." She waited a beat. "And you can stop being a dick. You took three days when Maria died." She didn't begrudge anyone their grief, but she'd be damned if Ross would pull that shit.

He responded with a contrite tone. "Yeah, you're right. As of right now, your clock is ticking."

Haven hoped it would be enough. "Thanks." She hung up and considered getting dressed. "Why bother? That's not what this is about." She exited her quarters and crossed the hall.

She didn't bother with a knock. Instead, she let herself into Pryce's space, shutting the rest of the world out. Like her, Pryce only had a towel slung low around his hips. Dropping all pretense, she let hers fall to the floor, indicating the next move belonged to him.

A flash of lust tinged with anger lit his gaze, sending a jolt of heat through her. Pryce didn't hesitate, he strode toward her, the damp terrycloth lost on the way. Wedging his thigh between her legs, he backed her up against the wall. Haven welcomed the hair-roughened skin against her clit, another zing of hot desire threading through her nerve endings.

He caught her chin in one hand and slanted his lips over hers. His tongue thrust deeply and Haven responded with a low moan. His aggression inflamed her need, but she kept a tight leash on her desire. This is Pryce's moment. Pryce worked his free hand between them to find her slick and ready.

He broke the kiss, his stare drilling into her. "You're wet. You want this…"

Haven held his gaze. "I want you, Pryce. No matter what." She rocked her hips and grasped his erection. "In any way you want." Always.

His eyes darkened. "You might live to regret that, Haven. I'm really pissed right now." His words came out on a growl.

She lifted her chin. "I know. But I'm still here. And I'm not going anywhere." Unless he kicked her out.

This story is coming together is a way I didn't expect, but I'm thrilled with how things are going.

 

That's it for this week.

Cheers!

Skye

Sunday Snippet: Led Astray

Welcome February! The shortest month seems like a great time to start new things. I've challenged myself to post every day on Bluesky and I picked drawing one oracle card from a random deck each day. So far, I'm two for two.

I'm also going to launch the side project I've previously talked about. Tip Jar Shorts is a fun way to get sexy romance short stories right to your inbox. The blog is up and running and still a work in progress. I'm so excited to see how things go! If you're interested, check it out!

I had a busy work week with a challenging copy edit but it's almost complete and I'm happy I got to work on this mystery series. A few more bits and pieces to check and it'll be on its way to the publisher.

Had a somewhat quiet viewing week. Between getting Tip Jar finished up and the copy edit, I needed a quiet background to get everything done.

Caught another Batman Beyond episode. I remembered this one and enjoyed during my first run through of the show.

Enjoyed an episode of Classic Rugrats. I'm in the final season and catching some episodes I haven't seen before.

Watched another episode of One Lane Bridge and I'm still enjoying the show. It's kind of a slow, moody narrative and I'm rather into that right now.

Caught another episode of London Kills and I'm kind of wondering what the hell is going to happen next. I'm also wondering what the superintendent thought would happen when he tried to run.

Enjoyed another episode of Death in Paradise. The vibe is very different with season eleven and I'm kind of okay with that. I like the new sergeant and I'm looking forward to seeing where things go with Florance doing an undercover stint. I like that the reason is tied back to a previous murder.

Loved the episode of Beyond Paradise that I caught this week. I'm interested in how Humphrey and Martha work through their issues and was so happy to see her rebuff Archie, even if he's portrayed by one of my favorite actors. I'm still on the fence with Martha's mom. I can't quite decide if I like her or not. We'll see how the rest of the season goes.

That's pretty much it for the life update this week. Tonight's post is from Led Astray, a novella that brings a couple together even if they're not supposed to fall for each other.

Here's the miniblurb:

Gia Schmidt is tasked with bringing Orrick Triolo around to her clan's way of thinking, but he proves a hard case to crack, even with her considerable skills. Orrick's got something she wants but if she's not careful, he'll lead her astray instead of the other way around.

And a preview snippet…

Gia toyed with her food. "If you want to avoid a war—and you should—agreeing to a summit between all the clans is a good idea." Gia ended on a sigh.

At least Orrick listened to her spiel without comment. She could break the entire list of possibilities down into minute detail but wouldn't waste her breath. Not unless he gave her a positive sign. He signaled for a refill of coffee. Gia resisted the urge to kick him under the table.

Finally, he took a slow sip of the hot brew then met her gaze. "Why come to me? The elder triad of Triolos holds the power in our family. They're the ones you should be talking to."

Gia huffed out a breath. "Do you know how many have tried to get meetings with them—even one?"

Orrick lifted a shoulder. "Not really, no."

Gia leaned in. "Every single clan has tried alone. And together. And every time they're ignored or rebuffed. Threats have been made if anyone outside tries again."

Orrick blinked. "Why? What do you think I can do?"

Gia shrugged. "Ask them to see reason. The Triolos have a lot of power. They're tired of warring factions. But the grab for complete control isn't playing out the way they want. Instead of giving them what they desire, the move has united the clans against them."

Orrick arched a brow. "You don't think we'll win?"

Gia bit back another sigh. "I don't know. You might. But the toll in lives and lost resources will cost all of us."

Orrick tilted his head to one side. "That's a good point … and a possible opening."

Gia nudged the spark of hope aside. "So … you'll make the pitch?"

Orrick lifted a chin. "I'll consider it, yes."

The flame flickered. Happy about the response, she let a small smile curve her lips. Maybe things would end up working out.

Orrick took some wind out of her sails with a disclaimer. "I'll need some time to find the right approach."

Gia slumped. "How much?" Her grandfather lacked patience on a good day.

Orrick held her gaze. "I'm not sure. Let's maybe meet for dinner in a few days and I should have a better idea."

She agreed. What else could she do?

And she didn't hate the idea of seeing him again.

I'm having fun with the cat and mouse aspect of this story and the characters are stepping up in big ways to help move the plot along.

 

That's it for this week.

Cheers!

Skye

Sunday Snippet: Knowing Truth

We had a bit of a thaw with temperatures just a bit above freezing. It's not going to last long but nice to step outside and not have it hurt to breathe.

Work ended up being very busy this week. And I made some progress on my side project. Hoping to launch by February, but that's not a given. I am crossing my fingers though.

Didn't quite make it all the way through my usual shows. I did add a new one, which I think I'm going to enjoy.

The new show I added is One Lane Bridge and I watched the first episode. There's a bit of a paranormal twist to this that I'm very interested in.

Caught another episode of London Kills. It was nice to get some Billie backstory. Also nice to see movement on the larger case. Looking forward to a new episode this week.

Enjoyed an episode of Death in Paradise. New sergeant is fun, and the mystery ended up being interesting. Looking forward to more of season eleven.

Watched another episode of Beyond Paradise. I'm enjoying my favorite actor's character in this. Loved the mystery and piecing everything together.

I started an episode of Elementary and I'm enjoying it. I'm not quite sure what's going on with Watson's guy, but I have a sneaking suspicion there's more to him than we're seeing and not in a good way.

That's it for the life update this week. Tonight's post is from Knowing Truth, a novella that got a start with a writing community prompt.

Here's the miniblurb:

Shila Sellers knows time is growing short for her fae brethren to find the enchanted glade they need to survive, and she takes a big risk to make the elders listen to her. Quinton Bobbitt knows Shila is on a journey to find the true path they need to travel, and he'll back her no matter the cost. Together, Shila and Quinton map out their destiny and find the road to a new home.

And a preview snippet…

Shila stood outside the temple, wishing she'd let Quinton come with her.

Adam pulled the drape aside. "She'll see you now." He swept his arm out, indicating Shila should enter.

She exhaled slowly and crossed the threshold. The interior reeked with incense and the scent of low-burning candles. Lauret reclined on a chaise with her feet propped up on a cushion.

Inner knowledge swam in Shila's mind when she made her way to Lauret's side. She sent a questioning look in Adam's direction. As usual, the elder sage gave nothing away.

Shila decided not to pull any punches. "Cancer sucks."

Lauret blinked and responded. "Who told you?" She shifted her position, wincing slightly until she found another comfortable spot.

Shila shook her head. "No one. I just know." She couldn't explain the weird insights she kept receiving.

Just like she couldn't give anyone a reason for creating the maze, other than having the deep, abiding sense she needed to make the elaborate network. And she didn't care if the scrolls had no mention of the labyrinth.

Lauret studied Shila for several long moments. Shila weathered the scrutiny because Adam already decided to send Shila out to traverse the maze. He believed in her.

Finally, the priestess narrowed her eyes. "What else do you know?"

Shila looked her straight in the eye. "We're going about finding our new glade the wrong way." She hoped Lauret didn't ask her to clarify details … because Shila didn't have any.

Lauret sighed. "Okay, Sister Sellers. You have my leave." Straightening, she gathered her robes around her. "What do you want from me?"

Shila shrugged. "Faith would be great, but I don't want anything from you." Not even a blessing because who the hell knew if Shila would be successful?

The priestess frowned. "I can't, in good conscience, blindly follow you when you don't have any kind of idea where to go either." In other words, she'd continue using the scrolls for guidance.

Honestly, what could it hurt?

Shila gave a curt nod. "As long as we understand each other, Madame Priestess." With a small bow, Shila turned and headed for the exit.

Adam followed after a brief word with Lauret.

Shila waited until he closed the drape before speaking. "I'll leave at first light." She hesitated for a moment then squared her shoulders. "And I'm not going alone." She met the elder sage's gaze. "Quinton is coming with me."

I'm just getting started with this one and I have a general idea where things are going. I can't wait to see how everything plays out.

That's it for this week.

 

Cheers!

Skye

Sunday Snippet: Kings of Chaos

Winter blast is lingering for at least another week. Our low is supposed to minus eight on Tuesday. And I'll probably have to go out when it's that low. I can't wait.

Lighter than normal work week, but I had come copy editing on my plate. Finished one project and started another one. I also have some new stuff floating in the wings and will hopefully start that soon.

Had an okay week of viewing and made it through the full slate of shows. I'll be starting a new one this week and I'm pretty sure I have the show picked out.

Finished up the series run of Mr. and Mrs. Murder. I quite enjoyed this show. Sometimes I got annoyed at the antics but mostly loved the interactions between the characters.

Caught another episode of London Kills and loved the twisty turns in the episode. I'm loving the vibe between the characters and I'm happy to see Billie become a full detective constable. Looking forward to the next episode.

Loved the Christmas episode of Death in Paradise. The beginning of season eleven is off to a great start. Really cool to see Dwayne again.

Enjoyed another episode of Beyond Paradise. My favorite actor showed up and I'm very excited to see what happens. Still not sure about the mom. Can't quite figure out if she's going to be an anvil between Humphrey and Martha or supportive.

Watched another episode of Elementary and quite enjoyed. I'm not really sure about Joan's new love interest. I actually think he's a bit annoying.

Caught another episode of Batman Beyond and loved it. I remembered this one and possibly caught an easter egg related to Batman: The Animated Series and the Gray Ghost character. Fun times!

Enjoyed the last episode of the eighth season of Classic Rugrats. I'll be starting the final season this week. Very much looking forward to picking back up with new episodes once my rewatch is complete.

That's pretty much it for the life update this week. Tonight's post is from Kings of Chaos, a novella about a paranormal motorcycle club in a to-be-named series.

Here's the miniblurb:

Ainslee and Witt are stranded during a charity ride for their local children's organization. Foul play is involved, and they have to determine which rival club member has the most to gain or if someone closer to home is the culprit. Either way the warlocks versus wizards mindset is supposed to be null and void when a truce is underway.

And a preview snippet…

Witt loved the start of a group ride. The roar of the engines. The rush of adrenaline. The camaraderie of riding with his brothers. And, of course having Ainslee by his side.

Ainsley swung her leg over her bike and flashed a grin. "Gonna be a wild trip." She settled back and waited for the signal.

Only two other old ladies came along on charity rides. Each had two Kings as their old men. The trios were well-established and rarely did anything apart. Witt's old man didn't like the multiple partner setup, but he couldn't argue against a poly group. The club bylaws specifically stated polyamorous relationships were legal and binding. Personally, Witt found the practice kept members from butting heads and creating havoc. So far, all parties proved the system worked both ways.

"Fuck you, Argathorn. Kerri came to see me off. Why waste time with a shit stain like you?" Andy Rytol shoved hard against Merrick Argathorn's shoulder.

Merrick sneered but didn't respond, other than to put an arm around the woman in question.

The competition between the men for Karrie Warner had reared its ugly head. Again. Witt lost his calm.

He straightened from his reclined position. "Hey, lock that shit down." He pinned the instigator with his gaze. "Karrie, get your ass back in the clubhouse and stay there until we're gone."

She bowed her head and made a brisk getaway. She might not stir the pot intentionally, but she hadn't figured out how to keep the rivals from hitting the boiling point either.

Witt pointed at the men. "You two"—his voice lowered to a snarl—"stop acting like assholes who can't figure out which dick is bigger. If you keep it up, I'll solve the problem by hexing your poles down to the nads." He gave both men a hard glare. "Clear?"

The men shifted uncomfortably but grumbled and nodded. Argathorn straddled his motorcycle and Rytol stooped down to check his foot plate.

Ainslee leaned in close. "Harsh, but effective." She put her palm on his thigh, sending a soothing stream of serene vibes his way.

Witt lifted his chin. "That's a problem for another day." He laced his fingers with hers.

Wyatt gave a sharp whistle, and the noise and chatter dwindled. An air of expectation and excitement rippled through the members. Wyatt faced forward at the head of the group.

The old man raised his fist. "Let's ride." His bike roared to life.

The cacophony of engines starting and motors revving reverberated through the parking lot. Wyatt moved out, everyone else falling into a line behind him. At the edge of the apron, Witt gave Ainslee a quick, hand kiss—a charity ride tradition—and pulled out onto the street.

The wind hit his face, and the lure of the open road squashed the earlier discord.

This is going to be a fun series to write. Ainslee and Witt set the stage for the next two books in the series. I can't wait to get started!

 

That's it for this week.

Cheers!

Skye