Sunday Snippet: In Enemy Territory (a Black Raven Banner novella)

Once again, Ohio weather is all over the place. But at least it hasn't been sweltering hot. Had setbacks with our cars. Mine is still not quite ready. The new engine computer the garage ordered didn't work so they got another one. Hopefully this week. My husband had a deer literally jump on top of his CR-V, shattering the windshield, knocking the rearview mirror off, and sending the driver's side mirror clear over to the passenger side floor. It even dented the top of the car up to the sunroof. I'm pretty sure it's a total loss. Luckily my husband is okay, aside from having a ton of glass all over him. He found glass all the way in the back of the vehicle.

Really busy work week. I finished up a copy edit and continued work on a developmental edit. Also started a new project that's not quite a developmental edit, but it is cleaning up a lot of formatting in a manuscript to get it ready for a copy edit, which a colleague is going to do. Had an exchange with a new author and hope to work with her in the future.

Semi-decent week of viewing. I didn't quite make a full round, mainly because I spent a lot of time on the phone trying to get the insurance sorted and line up a rental until we know for sure what's going on with the CR-V.

I did get an episode of My Life Is Murder in and thoroughly enjoyed it. Lots of twists and turns in this one. Once again, Madison stole the show. Also really cool to have indigenous representation for the storyline. And … more hints about Alexa's family. Here's hoping we'll see more of them.

I think I watched the finale of Signora Volpe, and it might have set up a future episode featuring Sylvia's ex. That would be a lot of fun. So awesome to see her niece again and getting to know her dad. Isabelle ended up stealing this episode. Going to watch the behind-the-scenes stuff next.

Finished up Best in Paradise with the first of the two-parter that set up Florance's exit. It was a great episode and very bittersweet as the actress mentioned when she introduced the episode.

Also caught another Death in Paradise and enjoyed the mystery. It's also fun to see Jack trying to move on from the loss of his wife. The awkward but awesome communication with Anna is lovely to watch.

Started an episode of Elementary but need to finish it this week. Too many distractions to get all the way through the show. It looks like a good one though.

That's pretty much it for the life update this week. Tonight's post is from In Enemy Territory, a Black Raven Banner book.

Here's the miniblurb:

Verity Jones and Emory Cavendish welcome a new CO under the Black Raven banner. Lawrence Worthington hits the ground running and gets up to speed quickly. He has to—the mission rate doubles when a group of resistance teams get ambushed simultaneously. He needs every member—including Verity—at the top of their game and he has to find out how the enemy got their hands on the base locations.

And a preview snippet…

"Jones should fly out to get the lay of the land."

Verity's head snapped around at Percy's suggestion. Had he gone starking mad? Mission launch would be sometime in the next few hours.

She shook her head. "Afraid I'll have to decline, Longfellow." Facing forward again, she blinked when Worthington quirked an eyebrow. "Er, I'll be happy to fly out if you order it, sir. But I've got several irons in the fire with those two downed birds and finishing the upgrades on the last five stingers." She also wanted to test the new tracking device she'd designed.

She itched to be back in the air, but she also wanted the guys she worked for to have an edge.

Worthington agreed. "That does take priority, but I do want to see you fly soon." He glanced out the window. "Maybe we can go up together after you complete the repairs."

Verity bobbed her chin. "I'd like that. I'll let you know when I've got it all finished." She'd welcome the opportunity to match wits with one of her dad's rivals.

Worthington nodded. "Cavendish, Longfellow, get two four-man teams together. I want two in the stingers to act as escorts and a two-man team in a cargo plane to move refugees." He flipped his notebook shut. "Wheels up in two hours for one team and the other is on standby. You decide who goes out first." He dismissed the group.

Verity made a beeline for the Bertha Jay. She wanted to install the device she'd been working on for a trial run.

Emory caught up with her when she made the final adjustments. "Not like you to turn down an opportunity to fly out. Everything okay?" A note of concern entered his voice.

She smiled. "Yeah, nothing's wrong." She pulled him in close to the plane. "I've been working on a new project." Pointing to the tracker, she explained its concept. "This works like a homing beacon and internal tracker. When planes are on the ground, they don't show up on radar. This gives us coordinates when they're not flying." At least she hoped it would.

Emory's eyes widened. "That's brilliant." He gave her a long look. "You don't want Worthington to know?"

She jerked her head back and forth. "Not yet. It's untested and I'd like to work out anything buggy before I show him." She lifted one shoulder. "He's a progressive guy. If this works, he'll want all the planes to have them." And she'd probably have to pull Emory and Percy in to help her with building and installation.

Emory didn't argue. "What do I have to do?"

Verity grinned. "Nothing. That's part of the functionality. Pilots won't need to add anything to the pre-flight checks." She bumped her fist on the hull of the plane. "I'll monitor from the hangar while I install the upgrades to the stingers and work on the repairs."

Emory nudged her shoulder. "This could be a tide turner."

Verity gave a nod. "I'm hopeful." She'd love to give Blackraven the upper hand.

I have so much love for this series. I'm still not completely settled on the actual name yet, but Black Raven is edging out anything else.

 

That's it for this week.

Cheers!

Skye

Sunday Snippet: Turning the Tide (a Black Raven Banner novella)

I can't believe we're at the end of May already. The year is flying by a lot faster than I want it to. Then again, it's been busier than usual for me, so time is kind of relative right now.

Had a great week with work projects. I'm making steady progress on both and still enjoying them. It's so much fun when you love the work.

Had a somewhat limited viewing week. I'm trying to figure out the whole HBOMax is Max now and, oh, yeah, it includes Discovery+. I have both so I have to figure it all out. I won't be paying twice for the same thing.

I watched a double-header of Battlestar Galactica with the second and third episodes of season two. I can't say enough about how strong the first ten episodes are. This show rarely missed in the first two seasons.

Also caught another episode of The Brokenwood Mysteries. I have so much love for this show. It also makes me happy when people pop back up. I kind of miss a few of the original recurring characters but it's nice to have the continuity this show tries for.

Enjoyed another episode of Classic Who. I think I might have one or two left to finish out the classic run of episodes. Not sure if I'll start a new rewatch of the New Who or not, but I'm excited for the new doctor and the anniversary specials.

I'll be starting the second part of Silent Witness this week. I'm also going to change up how I do my viewing. I normally scroll through my streaming services and watch one show from each, but that hasn't been cutting it lately. I think I'll start watching whatever strikes my interest and go from there.

That's pretty much it for the life update this week. Tonight's post is from Turning the Tide, a Black Raven Banner novella.

Here's the mini-blurb:

Verity and Emory have to balance the personal with the professional when they're back at Black Raven command. They're tasked with taking out a crucial enemy stronghold by exploiting a vulnerable weakness. The removal of the base will give the allied forces a way into the heart of enemy territory. Just when they think they're ready to go, Verity's ace fighter pilot dad shows up to see his daughter … and meet the man who wants her—Emory Cavendish.

And a preview snippet…

Emory wished for another R and R furlough. "The lack of interruptions were a plus." He finished buttoning his shirt and entered the briefing area.

Worthington greeted him. "Your French connection paid off. Word just came through." He retrieved a box of simulation props from the cupboard.

Emory quirked a brow. "Troop movement?" The resistance had been busy.

Worthington nodded when more people filed into the room. Verity, a large mug of coffee in her hand, strolled in behind Percy. She took a spot on the wall, letting the guys gather around the table.

Worthington called the meeting to order. "All right, now that we have everyone, here's the main point." He unfurled a large map and spread it on the table. "The enemy forces are starting to move around the first base Cavendish located. We've got orders to plan an air attack." His hand motioned to allied territory. "Ground forces are going to move out within forty-eight hours with an estimated arrival sometime late in the week." He paused and pinned Emory with his gaze. "I'm assigning Cavendish and Jones as leads on this, but everyone needs to work the table." His focus switched to Verity.

She came forward and eased up to Emory, her gaze sweeping the mock-up of hand-drawn locations. She shot a glance toward Emory then nodded. She wanted him to take the lead.

He picked up a model representing a troop transport vehicle. "Let's start with where the ground forces will be." He placed the truck on the map surface.

For the next two hours they plotted, arranged, planned, discarded, and finally got a working operation hashed out. Emory nudged Verity and she put the final plane on the board. The one she'd be flying.

She stepped back. "Okay, does everyone understand their role for this mission?" All heads nodded.

She swept the pieces off the table and slid a sideways glance toward Worthington.

He chuckled and lifted his chin. "Good, let's go through it one more time. Jones, why don't you get us started."

Emory picked up the transport and handed it to Verity.

A voice from the back of the room called out. "What the ever-loving hell is my daughter doing knee-deep in a briefing?"

All heads turned and a line of pilots shuffled to obscure the table from the intruder's sight. The man stood with his feet planted in black leather boots and his hands fisted at his side. Emory recognized him; had seen his stern countenance in photographs many times. Victor "Ace" Jones.

Verity's father.

Well, hell.

This is the concluding book to the Black Raven Banner—if the name doesn't change again—series and I'm so happy with how it's coming together.

 

That's it for this week.

Cheers!

Skye

Sunday Snippet: Raid at Midnight (an Under the Black Raven Banner novella)

Welcome to spooky month! October is one of my favorite months, even if it means holiday season is hiding around the corner. So far, we've had some fall-like weather and that's making me very joyful right now.

Had a semi-decent viewing week. Work projects are ongoing and I needed some quiet time to focus on those. But I made a full circuit of my standard streaming schedule.

Once again, Ted Lasso delivered a full-on episode. I'm nervously awaiting the moment when Rebecca reveals why she really hired Ted and dying to see the fallout. Keeley rules at being a mess but not staying that way. I love how she's absolutely not afraid of Rebecca because it never occurred to her to be so. This show. It's so good.

I tried to watch the behind the scenes feature for Brokenwood Mysteries but couldn't seem to get it to play. I'll try again this week.

Started a new show and watched the first episode of Suspects. So far, I'm hooked. I enjoyed the characters and watching the case unfold.

Finished up the second half of Silent Witness and liked the twist the episode took. I kind of thought I had the right killer but the history part I didn't quite see coming.

Caught another episode of Classic Who. I'm ready for the Doctor's reunion with Leftbridge-Stewart. I'll be disappointed if it doesn't happen in the next installment.

Watched another episode of Strangest Things. This one featured the enigma machine and delved into the history of how the encryption finally got cracked.

Finished the first season of The Book of Boba Fett and I have to say, I ended up loving this show! I hope there's another season.

Enjoyed another episode of Only Murders in the Building. What a mess Oliver and Mabel got into. I can't wait to see what happens next!

Started season nine of Peak Practice. Gotta say Andrew kind of annoys me when he darts off to figure himself out. I guess it's something of a character trait with him. Loved how Joanna and Sam held the line and got through the ordeal of having their patients down with an unknown virus.

Caught another MasterClass lesson with Roxane Gay. She focused on getting published and what to expect from the traditional side of publishing and also delved a little into the small, independent presses and self-publishing. Good information.

The Umbrella Academy had a stellar episode. Pieces are falling into place and plots mixed with subplots are popping up. Allison's concern about Leonard is definitely warranted and I'm very interested in what Vanya's power is. I loved the interactions with Five and Luthor and Klaus and Diego and, of course, the standoff with ChiChi and Hazel ended up being terrific. This show is amazing.

Started season three of Star Trek: Discovery. Gotta say I'm kind of blown away. Can't wait to have Michael back with her crew and hopefully with the addition of a few more members. Excellent premiere!

Finished off the week with Batman: The Animated Series and got another episode without a feature rogue's gallery villain. I really enjoy the slice of life ones.

I'm also in the midst of watching more Resisting Roots, a Passionflix original. I might have it finished up this week, but I won't make any promises.

That's it for the life update this week. Tonight's post is from Raid at Midnight, an Under the Black Raven Banner novella.

Here's the mini-blurb:

Verity Jones joins an elite group of civilian protectors in a battle-torn land. She's the daughter of an ace fighter pilot who tore up the skies in the first epic war. Emory Cavendish is the lead pilot and his crew pulls off amazing feats, largely thanks to Verity, which drives their commanding officer mad to the point of putting Verity in danger.

And a preview snippet…

The next day, Verity spotted Emory when he entered the hangar and went to the communication room. She wiped her hands and made her way over then knocked on the jamb.

He glanced up. "Verity, what can I do for you?" He dropped a folder on the desk and propped his hip on the side.

Verity moved into the space. "I don't like the sound of one of the birds." Her stomach clenched a little but she soldiered on. "I need to take it up to really get a feel for what's wrong." Probably an impossible request, but she had to try.

Emory's eyes widened. "Wait. You're a pilot?" He straightened and moved away from the desk.

She shrugged. "Since age fourteen. Learned to fly before I learned to build planes." Something her dad said would make her a better mechanic.

Emory didn't take more than a second to ponder her request. "Whitcomb will hate it, but let's go." He moved past her into the hangar.

Thrilled, Verity couldn't believe her luck. She loved flying. And Emory didn't seem fazed when she pointed out which plane sounded off. He opened the big doors and motioned for her to get inside the plane and move it out to the runway strip. She slowly maneuvered the bird out onto the grass landing area and followed Emory's motions until he gave her the all clear to take off.

Once airborne, she made several circular passes of the estate, altering her trajectory and altitude. And she figured out the problem—the throttle needed an adjustment. She landed just as the sun started sinking low in the sky and moved the plane back inside the hangar. Once she had the helmet off, she sucked in a breath. Whitcomb had fire coming out of his ears, shaking his fist at Emory.

By the time she finished a post-flight check, Emory stood waiting at the bottom of the short set of steps with the colonel by his side.

She handed him the helmet. "The throttle needs an adjust—"

Whitcomb cut her off. "You are not authorized to fly my aircraft. I won't have you ever doing it again. Women do not belong in the cockpit." His face all but boiled in a raging shade of red.

Verity stood her ground. "Understood. If I may make one point. I didn't want to put any of your pilots at risk when I couldn't figure out what was wrong. Going up myself only put my life in danger." And, of course, the plane, but Whitcomb would be complete ass to argue that fact.

The colonel opened his mouth then snapped it shut and stormed off.

Emory gave her props. "Took guts to put the CO in his place." His lips curved in a half-smile.

Verity basked in the praise. "Thank you. For letting me take her up." She glanced around.

An empty hangar meant she could show her appreciation. Throwing caution to the wind, she wrapped her arms around him and planted her mouth against his.

Emory surprised her by taking the kiss deeper and cupping her ass in his hands.

She eased away and tempted fate a little more. "Can we maybe move this encounter to my quarters?" She wouldn't do anything to put his position in jeopardy.

Emory grinned. "Are you sure? Because I can't think of anything else I'd rather do."

She gave an emphatic nod and Emory grabbed her hand and headed for the exit.

This series is finally coming together and I'm excited to finish everything up and launch it into the bookosphere.

 

That's it for this week.

Cheers!

Skye

Sunday Snippet: In Enemy Territory (A Blackraven Banner novella)

Wow, another rough week on the home front. My middle kiddo is really struggling right now and I hate not being able to help him even though he's an adult. He's really tired of landing in the emergency department but we might be getting closer to figuring out what's going on with him. A few specialist appointments in September might help even more.

Didn't get as much television viewed but had a decent amount nonetheless. Started out with The Brokenwood Mysteries and thoroughly enjoyed the episode. I really like seeing previous characters in their recurring roles.

Finished up Silent Witness's second episode and don't remember watching it during my first viewing. Glad I got to see it.

Watched an arc of Classic Who and should be finished up with the season eighteen soon. I think it might be the last one for Four.

Got another episode of UFO Witness viewed and rather enjoyed this one. Still feels staged but I liked the deep dive into whether there's a secret underground base of operations for aliens.

Caught two episodes of The Muppet Show with Raquel Welch and James Coco as the guest stars. About halfway through season three and looking forward to more.

Finished out McCartney 3, 2, 1 and would love to see more. So many great moments and songs in this brief look into Paul McCartney's journey as a musician.

Watched another episode of Peak Practice and ended up liking it a lot. Will can be such a prat sometimes but I like that about his character.

Enjoyed another lesson on Master Class. LeVar Burton focused on reading to children and interacting with them about the source material. Very interesting!

Started Inside the Episodes: The Witcher and loved going back to revisit the first episode. I'm looking forward to the next installment.

Caught another episode of New Rugrats and loved it. I really enjoy the updated version of this show.

Finishing out the week with Chicago Med and it's a heat wave episode. I'm totally feeling that this week. It got hot again.

That's pretty much it for television this week. Tonight's post is from In Enemy Territory, a Blackraven Banner novella.

Here's the mini-blurb:

Verity Jones and Emory Cavendish welcome a new CO under the Blackraven banner. Lawrence Worthington hits the ground running and gets up to speed quickly. He has to—the mission rate doubles when a group of resistance teams get ambushed simultaneously. He needs every member—including Verity—at the top of their game and he has to find out how the enemy got their hands on the base locations.

And a preview snippet…

Verity scrubbed the grease off her hands and redid her ponytail. Nervous tension roiled in her gut about meeting the new CO. She grabbed the edge of the sink and exhaled slowly.

"Probably just feeling some guilt over Whitcomb's downfall." Then again, the guy tried to get her killed.

Pushing away from the sink, she finished getting cleaned up and exited the head. Standing outside, she stripped off her coveralls in the hall. The door opened and a major entered the corridor, no doubt the new commanding officer.

Verity hoped he'd walk right on by and give her a few moments to get situated. She thought she might be in the clear when he strolled past but then he paused and turned around.

He spoke to her back. "Soldier, is there a reason you're stripping in the corridor?"

Verity froze for a second. Damn. It figures. Nothing for it, she'd have to brazen it out.

She stepped out of the coveralls, squared her shoulders, and turned to face the new CO. "It's specialist, sir. I'm a civilian. As for removing my coveralls…" She rolled the clothing up, starting with the legs. "That was to make myself presentable … to meet you, sir." She tucked the rolled-up garment under her arm and thrust her hand forward. "Specialist VJ Jones."

He shook her hand, giving her a curious once-over.  "Jones as in—"

She nodded, assuming he meant her dad. "As in. Yes, sir."

His lips curved in a wry twist. "So, you're Cavendish's girl."

What did he mean? "Excuse me?" Her head spun with the abrupt change in topic.

She usually had to chitchat about her dad before switching gears. She had a whole spiel ready to go. Discussing her relationship with Emory didn't seem appropriate.

The major nodded. "The CAG sings your praises, Jones. You feature prominently in his reports."

She ducked her head. "I do my part, sir. No more or less than anyone else around here."

He gave her a long look. "You're nothing like your dad. Which means you and I are going to get along just fine." A sheepish chuckle followed his statement.

She barely had time to process the comment before Emory's voice preceded him down the corridor.

"Jones! Hop to it—" He stopped short then snapped to attention. "Major Worthington, sir. The men are in the briefing room, awaiting your arrival."

The pieces clicked into place when Verity heard his name. Major Lawrence Worthington—the second best pilot of the united forces. That explained the earlier comment.

Verity turned to face Emory. "Sorry I'm late. I found the new CO—or move to the point—he found me."

They walked toward Emory and Worthington sent him on to get the men ready. Verity stopped to put her coveralls in the wash station.

She fell into step beside the major. "So, you're…"

Worthington cracked a smile. "Yeah, I am." He entered the briefing room and headed to the front of the space.

Verity grabbed a seat in the back and settled in for the opening remarks. Life would certainly be interesting from this point forward.

I love how this series is coming together. Verity and Emory are a joy to write and the secondary characters are also fun.

 

That's it for this week.

Cheers!

Skye

Sunday Snippet: Calamity of Chaos (a Chaos novella)

So far, February has been cold and snowy in Ohio. Not a complaint or anything. It's been a while since we've had snow that stuck around for longer than a day or two.

Had a fairly busy work week but I did manage to get a couple of shows watched. I started with the last two episodes of Queens of Mystery and also caught the behind the scenes and easter egg specials. I'm looking forward to another season of this show if they decide to go ahead.

I started another episode of Silent Witness and should finish it up over the next day or so. This two-parter will round out the eighth season and I'll start nine in the near future.

Caught the first episode of a new-to-me series, No Offence. Set in Manchester, I really liked the first episode. It's a bit of a dramedy which isn't usually my cuppa but I'll give this one a solid shot.

Also got another episode of Blue Heelers almost finished. This had a fun crop circle thing going on to offset a tragedy. The only thing left is the reveal of who committed a murder.

Caught my usual Ovation mysteries also. And I found a channel that's showing Poltergeist: The Legacy, which I loved when it originally aired. I really miss old-school Syfy channel sometimes. The current incarnation annoys me to the point I can't really watch it anymore. I think the freak of the week movies really ruined the entire channel for me.

That's it for television this week. Tonight's post is from Calamity of Chaos, a novella that follows Consortium of Chaos with the return of Ashton and Esme.

Here's the mini-blurb:

Esme and Ashton embark on a trip to America, on the trail of their nemesis's partner. Calamity ensues when they stumble upon a dastardly plot to keep them from returning home.

And a preview snippet…

Esme Von Staunton opened the door to greet her brother. "Eric, what brings you here?" She stepped back so he could enter.

Eric glanced behind Esme. "Is Ash here? I've got some news." He removed his coat and swung it over his arm.

Smithers entered and frowned then crossed over and took Eric's garment, which he hung up to avoid wrinkling. "Mr. Sylvester will be in shortly. He's finishing up a letter to the consortium." With a nod, he exited the room.

Esme rolled her eyes. "He's been particularly proper lately. It's driving me mad." She led Eric to the seating arrangement and let him decide where to land.

He chose the settee, which didn't surprise her. His tall frame never settled comfortably on smaller furniture. Esme perched on the edge of a side chair.

Ash entered. "Eric. A nice surprise to have you here." He greeted Esme's older sibling with a firm handshake then turned and dropped a kiss on Esme's lips.

Eric got straight to his point. "I've got news. You're going to have a tough time finding Mobride's partner because he isn't in Briton." He leaned forward, resting his elbows on his thighs.

Ash shot Esme a quick glance. "You're certain? We haven't exhausted all of our resources here yet." He sat on the chair next to Esme's.

Eric lifted his chin. "Don't waste them here."

Esme cut in. "So, where should we be looking? Europe's a big continent." She hated the idea of the man being out there, pursuing Mobride's agenda.

Eric snorted. "He's not in Europe. If you want to find the baron's partner, you'll have to head for America."

Esme's mouth dropped open. "America? That's something we didn't foresee." But why would they?

Ash cocked his head. "How good is this information?" His face grew thoughtful, the wheels in his brain no doubt shifting into overdrive.

Eric rolled a shoulder. "Mobride's top aide was overheard discussing how difficult it's been to manage the business interests with the baron in confinement. He's only allowed to see him once during the week." He paused, his lips pursing. "He's getting pressure from someone in America, wanting to know how long Mobride is going to be held and weighing the idea of coming to Briton to take over the enterprise." Eric sat back, shaking his head. "Can you imagine?"

Ash's lips thinned to a slash across his face. "No. And it won't happen. We're not going to have anyone else mucking up the recent progress we've made." He got and paced back and forth a few moments.

Esme didn't need Ash's extrasensory ability to guess what would come next.

Ash stopped midstride. "Es. Better get the Lady V checked over."

Eric frowned. "Whatever for?" The light dawned. "You're not really considering—"

Esme laughed, cutting him off. "Oh, yes, he is, brother dear." She got up and made her way to Ash's side. "We're going to America."

This is such a fun series even if it has some dark turns. I love writing Esme and Ashton and their merry band of friends.

 

That's it for this week.

Cheers!

Skye

Sunday Snippet: Behind the Line (Black Raven Banner)

Well, another week kind of flew by. My work schedule is filling in again and that makes me very happy.

Had a semi-decent week for television. I ended up watching a lot of behind the scenes and bloopers from Passionflix. Gabriel's Inferno, Dirty Sexy Saint, The Will, and Matchmaker's Playbook. Thoroughly enjoyed all of them!

Caught up on some classic television. Watched a lot of Perry Mason and The Saint. I'd forgotten how much intrigue the classic Perry Mason shows had in them. Lots more than the modernized version from the eighties.

Also started a new mystery on Ovation. Caught the first two episodes of Crossing Lines. Enjoyed both so I'll be trying to catch those as they air.

I'd hoped to catch Gabriel's Inferno part three this past week but couldn't find time to really sink into the movie. I'll give it a go this week coming up. Also want to watch the holiday quickies releasing on Passionflix.

That's pretty much it for television this week. Tonight's post is from Behind the Line, a novella in the Black Raven Banner series. Yes, this is a new name for the series. Hopefully I'll land on the right one soon.

Here's the mini-blurb:

Emory Cavendish is trapped behind enemy lines and Verity Jones mounts a rescue mission, thinking she won't get much help. Surprise doesn't express her emotion when every other pilot jockeys for a spot on the team to save Emory. Their hard-won acceptance fills Verity with confidence and gratitude. She'll need their full support to bring Emory home.

And a preview snippet…

Emory Cavendish stumbled through the woods—not far from his downed plane—in enemy territory. "I gotta find some cover." Wounded and bleeding, his first priority had to be the… What?

His head throbbed and his vision blurred. Thinking clearly became a struggle. Pausing, Emory ran a hand over the back of his head. Sure enough, his fingers brushed over a large tender spot and big lump.

But he couldn't slow down. "Head injury. Great. At least I know my name." He repeated it over and over and started making his way toward a clearing … no a rutted roadway.

He'd stepped back down into washout gully when a lone horse cart came along and stopped along the side of the road. An older gentleman peered into the shadows then lifted a lantern. Caught, Emory couldn't do much but pull his sidearm.

The old man's eyes widened. "I came to offer assistance." He met Emory's gaze. "Are you planning to end my life?"

Emory's hand wavered and he lowered the weapon. "Gonna be hard to do when I see two of you." His vision swam again and he swayed on his feet.

The gentleman slid from the wagon and propped an arm under Emory's shoulder. "The name's Marcel Rainier." When Emory flinched, Marcel's gaze dropped to Emory's side. "You're wounded? My home isn't far. I can help, tend the wound." He started in the direction of the cart.

Emory dug his heels in. "No, can't. Not yet." He glanced over his shoulder. "I can't leave the plane out in the open." Easing away from Marcel, he almost fell backward when his head spun.

Marcel grasped Emory's bicep. "All right. I can help." He propped Emory up again. "You're English, yes?" When Emory gave a terse nod, Marcel heaved a relieved sigh. "Your plane came down in a good spot." He started toward the wagon again. "The homes surrounding this forest are all resistance. I'll signal the others and they can make cover for the plane." Reaching under the seat, Marcel withdrew an ornate box.

Emory frowned then huffed out a breath of surprise when Rainier opened the top and revealed a short-wave radio setup. Leaning against the side of the cart, he waited for Marcel to tap out a message. After a few long seconds, a response beeped back in return. Marcel nodded and put the device back under the seat.

He clasped Emory's shoulder. "Three men are coming. We'll wait here; should only take a few minutes." Glancing down, he tsked. "Let's get the bleeding slowed." Riffling in the bed of the wagon, he brought out a small bag that had torn fabric rolled into makeshift bandages.

Tearing a long strip off, he wound the material around Emory's midsection and tied it off. Emory winced and sucked in a harsh breath. Damn, that hurt. He shoved the pain aside and remembered the mission. And Verity. And all the men with Black Raven counting on him.

Marcel gave a grunt. "There. That should do until we can get a better look." He turned when rustling sounded behind them. "Ah, gentlemen, thank you for coming out."

Three men approached with wary movement. Emory straightened as much as he could and met each of their gazes. The trio swam before him, but he managed to blink and clear his vision.

Marcel briefly explained the need to secure the plane. "Our friend, Mister … I'm sorry"—he glanced in Emory's direction—"I don't know your name…"

Emory lifted his chin. "Cavendish. Emory Cavendish." He didn't say more; they'd discover who he flew for when they got the plane covered.

Marcel's lips curved. "Our friend, Mr. Cavendish will direct us to where he came down and we'll get the plane hidden."

With the five of them, providing cover didn't take long. Emory didn't help much with gathering the branches, but he did get his bag and—in a moment of clarity—located the beacon Verity installed and activated the device.

Emory struggled through another wave of dizziness on the way back to Marcel's cart. When the man helped him get settled in the back, Emory placed his hand over the wound on his side. His fingers came away with blood on them. Marcel hadn't gone more than a few feet after turning the wagon before Emory lost consciousness.

I have a lot of love for this series and the third book is proving to be so much fun to write. Book four is plotted and planned so I hope to have the whole set ready for publishing by late next year.

That's it for this week.

Cheers!

Skye

Sunday Snippet: Trip the Light Fantastic (a Chaos novella)

So far, June is shaping up to be a weird month. Work has slowed way down, which isn't an all bad thing. I've been very fortunate to have a steady flow when so many others have been furloughed or, worse, completely lost their job. That said, it's weird to have time on my hands so I'm hitting projects I've been putting off for ages. It's kind of wonderful and scary all at the same time.

Hit or miss week with television viewing. I haven't been watching as much as I normally do, mainly because I've been doing a good bit of writing. I did catch another episode of Danger Man. Almost finished with the second season.

I caught the penultimate episode of Arrow. Green Arrow and the Canaries ended up being more entertaining than I thought it would be. I'd watch the new version if it comes around.

Also started another episode of Riverdale. I'll be honest, I'm probably done after this season. Alice came such a long way and now she's back to being her obnoxiously overbearing self. I had so hoped she'd maintain her character growth. Bleh.

That's pretty much it for this week. Tonight's post is from Trip the Light Fantastic, a novella that got a start with a writing community prompt and is part of the Chaos series.

Here's the mini-blurb:

Esme Von Staunton and Ashton Sylvester think they might be going insane. Ashton's weird attunement with Esme draws her into his bizarre nightmare of hallucinations and doing things neither remember. Esme's brother Eric stumbles onto a plot by Baron Mobride and races to save his source and his favorite couple, but Mobride has other ideas and doesn't plan to let Eric thwart him.

And a preview snippet…

Baron Franz Mobride pressed his seal against the wax on the envelope. "This goes to the usual location." The mixture of olympus and opium in the paraffin might be his most ingenious idea ever.

The lackey, Johnston, maybe, carefully took the stack of correspondence and tucked it into his case. "I'll see they're delivered in due course." He turned on his heel and exited Franz's office.

Franz leaned back in his chair. "Soon … very soon now, I'll know who has an affinity with the olympus and the advantage that knowledge will afford me." He needed something to give him an edge with his silent benefactor.

All because of Ashton Sylvester.

Franz poured a healthy amount of amber liquor into a tumbler. "The earl of Cranford won't a thorn in my side much longer." Not if Franz's intuition didn't fail him.

His gut squirmed, indicating the correct nature of his guess. Olympus gave Sylvester added insight and who knew what other abilities. Now Franz had to prove his theory and find a way to exploit the fact to benefit himself. If he got his hands on Sylvester's fortune more the better.

Draining the glass, he cracked a smile. "Then I'll be on equal footing with my American counterpart." And he wouldn't have to keep excruciatingly accurate account of his expenses.

The very thought chafed against Franz's sense of value. Why did it matter what he spent the flow of funds coming from the American on? Franz had an image to uphold and a network of people to control. The loss of his personal wealth left a bitter taste in the back of his throat.

Twirling the tumbler in his hand, he gnashed his teeth. "Sylvester will pay for ruining me financially. I've still got some friends in the consortium that'll back my every move." Sometimes extortion didn't pay in gold.

Setting the glass aside, Mobride rose from his chair and took a moment to doff his hat and coat. He had a long-standing appointment at the Tildaswail Brothel.

Flashing a grin, he hailed his carriage. "Can't be late. I want to use every minute I have working out my frustration on a willing woman." Stepping up into the plush interior of his enclosed vehicle, he waved his driver onward.

This series is going to some unexpected places. It started with two books then quickly morphed into four. I'm excited to see how everything plays out.

That's it for this week.

Cheers!

Skye

Sunday Snippet: Shine One On

Ugh. What a rough week. I've been battling some wicked-bad insomnia lately and I hate walking around like a zombie and trying to catch some much needed rest whenever I can. Not a fun time.

I did have a wonderful revelation on Thursday, which was my youngest's eighteenth birthday. To date, the husband and I have successfully raised three offspring to adulthood. Now to get her through prom and graduation then off to college. LOL

Slow week for television, mainly due to the insomnia. I caught a full arc of Classic Who and had a thought… the Daleks have been around for a long, long time. Just saying.

Got back into Gargoyles and watched a couple of episodes. The second season is super long and it'll be a while before I get through all of the various stories.

Watched a few episodes of Danger Man. This is pretty much a rewatch of the series for me, but it's nice to have a thirty-minute show to sink into while I'm doing dishes or cooking dinner.

Caught an episode of Murdoch Mysteries and finally discovered what would happen with the neighbors. I'd forgotten about the hotel detective and his mad vendetta against Murdoch. All in all, a satisfying wrap-up to the storyline. Sadly, the widow might end up rearing her vengeful head at some point in the series. That should be interesting.

I watched another episode of Arrow and I can honestly say I'm impressed with Stephen's performance. He brings the emotional element to the screen every episode. That said, he mentioned in an interview that Emily's decision to not be involved in most of season eight made the show feel kind of wrong (absolutely paraphrasing here) because Felicity is the heart of the show and no Felicity means no heart. I totally get that. But… it's kind of cool to see the reunions Oliver is having with people from his past. Talia and Thea teaming up could be a show on its own, especially if Nyssa got involved at some point. Just saying. Also really interesting to see what's going on in the futurescape, especially with the twist at the end of the episode.

Getting ready to start an episode of Riverdale and watch the premiere episode of Strike Back's final season. I also plan to watch the Passionflix original, The Will sometime this week. Looking forward to some great screen time.

That's it for television this week. Tonight's post is from Shine One On, a novella that got a start with a writing community prompt.

Here's the mini-blurb:

Against state regulations, Maxine Wynne braves the revenuer to provide speakeasy owner, Drake Kestleman, enough moonshine to keep his customers happy. When Maxine is caught, Drake launches Operation Shine One On to get her out of danger and back in business.

And a preview snippet…

"Get off her!" Drake grabbed a patron in a chokehold and flung him across the hall.

A guilty flush stained one of his dancer's cheeks. While Lily Tyler had a ripped bodice, her short skirt had been tucked into the wide belt of her showgirl costume. A sure sign she hadn't been attacked.

The customer grabbed Drake's shoulder. "Hey, she offered me a poke for fifty dollars. I paid up front, just like she asked." He huffed out a breath. "I'm owed my piece."

Drake shook off the hammy fist. "I run a speakeasy not a brothel." He peeled two fifties off his roll of cash. "Take this—double what you paid—and try Pennyweathers down the block." He pointed toward the exit. "Never accept an offer from one of my showgirls again."

The man buttoned and zipped up. "Maybe you should tell them not to lure hardworking men back here for a little fun." He sent a glare in Lily's direction.

Drake stepped between the man and his dancer. "I'll handle my business, don't you worry." Just as soon as the guy left.

Which he did by spinning on his heel and muttering about crappy women and getting shortchanged.

Drake turned and met Lily's gaze. She had the grace to flush and look away. Damn right, she should. He didn't have a license for sex work and didn't want the hassle of having one.

He shrugged out of his jacket and tossed it to her. "Cover yourself up." They'd have to go out to the main floor.

She draped the suit coat around her shoulders and untucked her skirt.

He pointed down the hall. "My office. Now." He barely kept the growl from his voice.

Lily shot him a scathing look but preceded him down the corridor to his office.

Drake shut the door and crossed over to his desk. "What the hell did you think you were doing?" He had a solid idea… but he wanted to hear it from her.

Lily rolled a shoulder, letting the jacket fall to the floor. "You're not interested… or so you said." She tilted her head to one side.

And he'd been right. She'd lured on of his customers in as an attention-getting stunt. All because Drake had spurned her desire to become more than a showgirl to him. Did she think he'd be jealous?

Lily sent him a coy smile. "But perhaps you are now…" She made a show of puffing out her chest.

Drake barely kept from rolling his eyes. "I'm not. You know I don't mix things up with my employees." And he never would.

Lily's shoulders slumped. "Then at least I would've been fifty bucks ahead." Her tone indicated he'd ruined her fun.

Well, she could have all the fun she wanted… just not here.

He shook his head. "Oh, you'll be ahead." Reaching for his cash, he snagged a hundred and pressed it into her palm. "Consider this severance pay." Combined with the fifty she still had, it doubled what she made dancing three nights a week. "Won't take you long to triple this at Pennyweathers." If she wanted to earn on her back, he wouldn't stop her.

Lily's eyes went wide. "You're firing me?"

Drake nodded. "Absolutely. There's nothing wrong with brothel work, but it's not what I do here." And every last one of his employees received that information on their hire date.

Lily's mouth worked for several moments. "B-bu-but, I don't want to be a Pennyweather trollop." The nickname trembled from her lips.

Drake tsked. "You played a losing hand, Lily… and this is the fallout." He brushed past her and opened the door. "Don't come back."

Lily squared her shoulders and sashayed out with a huff. "You'll regret getting rid of me." Glancing back, she lifted her chin. "I could've rocked your world."

Drake bit back a snort. "I doubt that."

It took a special kind of woman to rock his world. An image of Maxine Wynn filled his mind. Independent, fiercely loyal to her employees, and so curvaceously gorgeous Drake's head spun.

Lily definitely didn't fit that mold.

I love playing with something of an alternative history. If I achieve my goal, this will have a twenties feel mixed with a contemporary vibe.

That's it for this week.

Cheers!

Skye

Sunday Snippet: In Enemy Territory (Under the Blackwatch Banner)

Whew. What a week. Our high school's homecoming is next weekend and we're in a flurry to get the last-minute accessories for the big event. We usually host about six couples each year and we're getting the menu finalized and nailing down who's bringing what. Like I said. Whew.

Had a semi-productive viewing week for television. The season premiere of The Last Ship didn't disappoint. I loved how much exposition they packed into small moments. I'm so excited for the next episode, even though we lost two of my favorite characters.

I caught the second episode of Birds of Prey. Also caught episodes of Pensacola Wings of Gold and Lexx. I'd forgotten what happened during the most recently watched Lexx. Now I need to see the next episode to see what the fallout was. LOL

Caught a classic movie on DVD, Crazy Love. It's a Myrna Loy / William Powell comedy and it was excellent!

Watched another episode of Strike Back. I'm beginning to like how the team is coming together and it was great to have some references back to the previous incarnation of Section Twenty.

Finally, I watched the next to last episode of season six Chicago Fire. I'll be interested to see what happens in the finale.

That's pretty much it. Caught the usual marathons of Murder, She Wrote and In the Heat of the Night along with a mini-marathon of The Saint.

Tonight's post is from In Enemy Territory, an Under the Blackwatch Banner book.

Here's the mini-blurb:

Verity Jones and Emory Cavendish welcome a new CO under the Blackwatch banner. Lawrence Worthington hits the ground running and gets up to speed quickly. He has to—the mission rate doubles when a group of resistance teams gets ambushed simultaneously. He needs every member—including Verity—at the top of their game and he has to find out how the enemy got their hands on the base locations.

And a preview snippet…

Emory Cavendish pulled the printed strip from the telegraph. "Shit." He grabbed his cover and darted from the office.

He needed to find Verity and get his squadron together. The new commanding officer would be at Blackwatch within the hour.

Crossing the courtyard at an almost dead run, his gaze scanned the road leading to the estate. "Nothing like supremely short notice." He reached the hangar and ducked inside, letting his eyes adjust to the dimly lit interior.

He spotted Verity first—when didn't he—and headed in her direction. Flat on her back, she used wrench on the landing gear of a plane. Her bent knees gave her some extra leverage to get the bolt refastened.

He stopped next to her and waved the four pilots present over. "New CO is due anytime now. Let's get everyone together and be ready when he arrives." Verity sat up, her face smudged with grease. "Jones, you'll want to get cleaned up a little. Meet us in the briefing hall when you can." She gave him an eye roll but got up and dusted off her hands.

Giving him a mocking salute, she smirked. "Right away, captain." Turning on her heel, she sauntered across the hangar and exited to cross the grassy lawn.

His second in command came up beside Emory. "Do you know who the new CO is?" Concern edged his voice.

After the fiasco with Whitcomb, Emory didn't blame him for being worried.

Emory nodded. "I do. And it's a definite step up." Which didn't actually say much.

An animated corpse would be better than Whitcomb turned out to be. But their new commanding officer's reputation nudged into sterling territory.

The deputy CAG's eyebrows rose. "Are you going to fill me in or is there some big secret?" Patience would never rank as one of Percy's strong traits.

Emory didn't see a reason to keep Percy waiting. "Major Lawrence Worthington is coming to take Whitcomb's place."

Percy's mouth dropped open. "As in…" Wonder and awe filled his voice.

Emory lifted his chin. "As in." Britain's former best pilot.

Only one other man had a better record than Worthington—Victor "Ace" Jones.

Verity's dad.

I'm very excited about this series. Here's hoping I get the time to finish up the plotting and planning and really dive into the writing.

That's it for this week.

Cheers!

Skye