Sunday Snippet: Mr and Mrs Black

May is flying by at a rapid pace. This week has been intense with burning the candle at both ends for me. This is a good day to take some downtime, which I'm trying to do today.

Work exploded this week with multiple projects dropping into my inbox. I have four nonfiction manuscripts and three fiction manuscripts in various stages of editing. I don't normally have seven different projects going at the same time but, so far, I'm managing them. It'll make for a nice June once they're all turned in.

Had an amazing week of viewing. I got a full round of shows in and caught a couple of extras. Also started a new show that might be sporadically viewed until it's available for streaming.

I started a rewatch of Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries this week. I'm waiting a some new episodes of a few other shows to drop and this is such a comfort series for me.

Caught another episode of Brokenwood Mysteries and thoroughly enjoyed it. Very twisty and turny, which is always fun.

Enjoyed another episode of Death in Paradise. I'm happy to have some Naomi backstory. I'd love to see a bit more of that for the characters.

Started a from the beginning run of Poirot. I've seen quite a few episodes of this show but haven't watched any of them in order. This is another filler series until new episodes start dropping of my current shows.

Watched another episode of Elementary and quite enjoyed it. I'm always interested when weird cases pop up and the cryogenics angle ended up being interesting.

Caught an episode of Batman Beyond and have some vague memories of the first time I watched it. I'm wondering if the Ts are in any way a throwback to Mr. Terrific. I might have to dive down that rabbit hole at some point.

Enjoyed another episode of Classic Rugrats. I don't remember either of these vignettes and I liked both.

I finished up an episode of Peak Practice and might start another one this week. This is one of my back burner shows and I'm happy I got to finish watching.

Started a new-to-me series and watched Reacher. Gotta say I loved the first episode. I did a bit of dive into write-ups of future seasons, and I think I'll stick with this one.

Also got a minimarathon of Return to Paradise in over the weekend. I'm looking forward to streaming this one when it's available in the US. Really enjoyed the first three episodes and I'm excited to see the rest.

That's it for the life update this week. Tonight's post is from Mr. and Mrs. Black, a novella about a couple whose work makes them keep secrets from each other.

Here's the miniblurb:

Ember Frost and Winter Smoak, assassins for opposing factions, are ordered by their respective employers to kill each other, which would be so much easier if they weren't happily married but hiding some big secrets—like their occupations—from each other.

And a preview snippet…

"That should do it." Keeping the slow boil of anger in check, Ember set the stage.

She'd booby trapped the doors—front, back, and the French doors leading to the patio. Even with the haze of betrayal clouding her vision, she put backup contingencies in place. Because … when it came right down to reality? She honestly didn't know if she could actually pull the metaphorical trigger.

If Win died in an explosion, it would be on him for not being cautious. Right? Then again, she'd never known him to not be vigilant.

She snorted. "Except when it comes to the truth." He'd prevaricated there.

Big time.

And okay, the irony stabbing her in the gut because she also hid her true work from him only calmed the swirling spiral of rage, disappointment, and … if she had to own it … hurt a tiny bit.

Squaring her shoulders, she ran her mental checklist. She had a barrage of spells ready to go. She considering planning a seductive scene to hide the real reason she'd lured him to this location … on the off chance he cased the house first. But why would he do that? She'd asked him to meet ASAP, which could mean anything. Right?

She ruthlessly ignored the small niggle she should dim the lights and start a fire. Could she sneak in one last romp with the man she married? No. She had an assignment, and she would carry it out like she'd done with every other target she'd been handed.

And when her heart broke after she completed the task?

Well … she'd deal with that by never falling for another person again. Ever. She'd sworn to cherish and honor Winter Smoak until her dying breath.

She shook her head. "Should've said until his dying breath."

"Sounds like you're plotting my demise."

She whirled to find Win standing on the stairs behind her.

Well, fuck. Of course he entered through a window on the second floor.

Caught off guard, she reacted quickly and flung a fireball at him. "Maybe because I am…"

Having a lot of fun with this one. Ember and Win might be keeping big secrets but they know each other very well and that makes this encounter dangerous between them.

 

That's it for this week.

Cheers!

Skye