Celebrate Your Freedom to Live, Love, & Read—Freedom Hop

LET FREEDOM RING!

Welcome to the Freedom Hop, a great sampling of authors sharing short excerpts from their work. Please enjoy and consider picking up the full book by clicking on the buy link.

~*~

How wonderful is it to have the independence to choose how we live our lives, who we love, and what we read?

I'm lucky enough to have always had the choice and I've used my liberty to do what I love… write about hot romances between men and women, edit for authors who write about all kinds of love—from best friends who become lovers to same sex couples and relationships that include multiple partners, and read all of the above with voracious abandon.

When writing as Skye Ritchey, I tend to focus on magic, fantasy, and paranormal or supernatural settings, characters, and stories. Exploring things not of our realm is whimsical and freeing. Being able to imagine what a character can do or how they react to the world around them is exciting and challenging.

For this year's Freedom Hop, I'm sharing short samplings of all my current titles and a longer excerpt of my most recent release, Cupid's Curse, which I'm giving away for the blog hop. I had the best time writing Bree and Archer. Both characters had very strong voices and wouldn't leave me alone until I wrote their story.

~*~

Cupid's Curse

Available on Amazon ~ $2.99

Archer Stewart, a Cupid of the First Order, suffers the wrath of Eros when he nips the wrong woman with an arrow. Cursed by the god of love, Arch spends his days making perfect matches or he had to deal with some unpleasant consequences.

Bree Daniels is indirectly responsible for Arch's predicament and seeks advice from Aphrodite, hoping to find a way to make amends. After almost two years apart, Bree finally realizes Arch is the man she wants and she's willing to risk her immortality to set him free.

Excerpt:

The push-pull-whoosh feeling weighed on Bree and she shoved everything else aside and readied herself to pop in on Arch.

She blipped, shimmered, and landed with a flourish—something she'd perfected by lots of practice—to find Arch comfortably sprawled on the overstuffed couch, chatting it up with Merry Deerfield.

Stupid cow.

And Arch didn't seem the least bit uncomfortable having Miss Merry practically sitting in his lap.

Stupid man.

But worse, neither one paid her any attention.

Not part of the plan. But she could adjust.

Tilting her head sideways, she cleared her throat. "I'm so sorry… I'm not interrupting anything, am I?"

Arch flicked a glance toward the hour glass by the viewing pool. "Would it matter if you were?" His tone clearly indicated it wouldn't have bothered him.

Bree didn't like to be on the defensive as soon as she arrived. It made her off kilter. Her bravado saved her.

She tossed her head and sent a bored look in Arch's direction. "Not to me, but I imagine it would to you." Her gazed shifted to Merry. "And your friend, of course." Bree waited a beat. "No one likes to be caught with their pants down."

Arch snorted. "Except you."

Okay, totally not fair. And it only happened one time, dammit.

Bree hid her embarrassment behind an audacious front. "Well, yes…" She flicked her gaze toward Merry again. "But I'm not standard fare around here."

To Merry's credit, she only rolled her eyes in response to the insult.

Arch didn't hold back. "Bree, you're not standard fare anywhere." He got up and gave Merry a hand. "You're more like an overused trend… not worth the price."

Bree flinched. That one hurt. But she couldn't blame him for lashing out.

Arch's voice went flat. "You're also late."

Bree recovered quickly. "For which I'll happily apologize." She remembered her conversation with Aphrodite and grinned. "It really couldn't be helped."

Arch shook his head. "Let me guess… you were tied to a bedpost and lost track of time?"

Book Tagline: Cursed by the god of love, Archer Stewart, a Cupid of the First Order, knows exactly who to blame—his fellow cupid, Bree Daniels.

Brand Tagline: When gods and mortals play together… the result is often unexpected.

~*~

AUTHOR GIVEAWAY

To celebrate our freedom to live, love, and read, I'm giving away Cupid's Curse, which is the introductory book in the Meddlesome Gods branded series. More titles are coming this fall.

To enter, please leave a comment and let me know how you like to spend the 4^th of July. Non-US readers, let me know what would celebrate with fireworks.

~*~

More books by Skye Ritchey

A Magical Affair

Available on Amazon ~ $3.99

A mansion atop a wellspring of magic lets Romy, Heath, and Stacie live out their fantasies.

A Little Yule Magick

Available on Amazon ~ $1.49

Boyd and Sygin use a Little Yule Magick to get their holiday off on the right start.

An Idyllic Affair

(With ML Skye)

Available on Amazon ~ $3.99

On the run from their enemies, an island sanctuary gives Geoff and Linnea time for An Idyllic Affair.

~*~

Please stop by my website

Celebrate with more fireworks! Visit the other participating authors.

Embrace the Magic—An Idyllic Affair

Welcome to the weekly blog hop hosted by the Paranormal Love Wednesdays blog.

Readers: Embrace the magic, the mystical, the totally out there. Witches, werewolves, shapeshifters, magicians, wizards—the dearly twisted beings we all know and love. Or sink into a world with gods and goddesses, unearthly forces, or cupids, imps, and leprechauns. If it's otherworldly, bring on the fun. Authors are sharing short excerpts or blurbs from their books or works in progress.

Please enjoy and consider picking up the full book by clicking on the buy link.

~*~

Today I'm sharing some background details for An Idyllic Affair, an Insula Ara ~ Sanctuary Island novella, co-written with my alter ego ML Skye for Ellipses Press, Ltd.

The Insula Ara ~ Sanctuary Island branded anthology features a mystical island that grants refuge to those who need it. The stories can take place in any time period as long as the characters can reach the island by some means of transportation—boats, airplanes, space ships, whatever—and are in need of sanctuary. Whether it's from running naval blockades, trying to stay out of enemy hands while flying under the radar during a war, or running from a super power that has a chokehold on an entire galaxy, Insula Ara will grant those it deems worthy a safe place to regroup and often find the answers they seek, but the solace always comes with a price.

My story takes place in the very distant future with the crew of the Charming Lady in desperate need of a place to lay low for a while. Trusting the instincts of their captain, Geoff MacLeod, they find exactly what they need—an entire galaxy away. Against the better judgment of the ship's XO, Linnea Jensen, the captain and the two man crew allow the island's caretaker, Ceet, to provide them with rooms and to offer them a part for their damaged ship. Geoff is charmed by the grizzled, old man, but Linnea doesn't trust the guy one tiny bit. Then again, she relies on cold, hard facts whereas Geoff tends to go with his gut. And since he got them to the island, she'll back off and see what happens.

And she's not happy when she finds out. Ceet sends Geoff and Linnea off to the other side of the island with a crude map and a vague assurance they'll find the part they need in the smuggler's caves. They're usually on the run from the Axis Prime and being surrounded by a tropical paradise has the captain and XO off kilter. Linnea and Geoff butt heads, which isn't anything new, but they find their stride and work out some issues while on their trek.

 The downtime also gives them more time than either wants to dance around their attraction. Linnea doesn't want the complication of starting something during a war, but Geoff thinks they should build what they can while they have a shot. The tension stretches between them but their mutual respect for each other holds firm and they shelve the conversation.

At least until they make it to the caves and a hurricane sets in. Trapped inside, they're stuck until the heavy rains pass and that's when the dance of attraction really kicks in. And it's when the fun truly begins…

I hope you'll check out An Idyllic Affair and read about Geoff and Linnea's adventure on Insula Ara.

Next week, I'll be featuring the first of three excerpts from the book.

~*~

Book Tagline: On the run from their enemies, an island sanctuary gives Geoff and Linnea time for An Idyllic Affair.

Anthology Tagline: Escape to Insula Ara, an island sanctuary that provides refuge… but it comes with a price.

~*~

Available on Amazon

~*~

Anthology Blurb: Legend tells of a mysterious island called Sanctuary, inhabited by people who have been to hell and back—and lived to tell the tale.

                                              

It goes on to say, that if someone needs help, if they are truly without hope, island will come to them in their darkest hour and help them find the way.

But the assistance comes with a price. Their heart and soul may be lost to the island in the process.

Book Blurb: Privateers by trade, Geoff MacLeod and Linnea Jensen find sanctuary on Insula Ara, a mysterious island full of wonder and a tinge of darkness. When Geoff and Linnea embark on a quest to retrieve a badly needed part for their ship, they find their deep attraction for each other hard to resist, and under the spell of the island, they have to tread carefully or succumb to the swirling undercurrents.

~*~

~*~

Please stop by my website

Embrace more great reads! Visit the other participating authors.

Smokin' Hot—Hot Kiss: An Idyllic Affair

Welcome to the Hot for Friday blog hop!

Readers: Enjoy posts from authors with fun weekly tasks or a cool question.

Authors: Get in on the fun and join here.

Greetings!

This week we're tasked with sharing a hot kiss, whether it's slow, eager, passionate, a kiss can be many things. *sigh* Check out the smokin' smooches and enjoy! :D

For my feature, I'm posting a scene from a current release, An Idyllic Affair, an Insula Ara ~ Sanctuary Island novella, co-written with my alter ego ML Skye.

For a little background, here are the anthology brand and book taglines:

Escape to Insula Ara, an island sanctuary that provides refuge… but it comes with a price.

On the run from their enemies, an island sanctuary gives Geoff and Linnea time for An Idyllic Affair.

Bring on the steamy smooches…

His hands cupped her face. "Linn." Whisper soft, his voice sent a shudder through her.

She opened her eyes.

"Stop thinking." His hand trailed down, gliding over her stomach, the curve of her hip and drifted over to undo the buttons of her fatigues. "Feel." His fingers slipped under the fabric and cupped her mound. "Just for tonight." Geoff pressed a line of kisses along her jaw. "Don't worry about tomorrow."

Her resistance melted away. "Okay. Until the weather breaks, I won't." She leaned in and kissed him, wrapping her arms around his broad shoulders.

Geoff made a low, growling sound and pushed her pants past her hips. She kicked her legs free and worked her hands under his shirt. Inching it upward, she gasped when Geoff pushed two fingers inside her. Her head fell back, but she tugged his shirt further up, leaning forward to finally taste his skin. Her tongue made a wet trail, before she stopped and crisscrossed her arms to drag her shirt up and over her head. Geoff used his free hand to yank his offensive garment off then wrapped his arm around Linnea, jockeying his position to lift his hips. Linn took the hint and flipped the buttons of his fatigues open, one by one, teasing him by going slowly.

Geoff's voice rumbled in her ear. "I'll make you pay for that later." His tongue flicked against her lobe.

~*~

Available on Amazon

~*~

Book Blurb: Privateers by trade, Geoff MacLeod and Linnea Jensen find sanctuary on Insula Ara, a mysterious island full of wonder and a tinge of darkness. When Geoff and Linnea embark on a quest to retrieve a badly needed part for their ship, they find their deep attraction for each other hard to resist, and under the spell of the island, they have to tread carefully or succumb to the swirling undercurrents.

Brand Blurb: Legend tells of a mysterious island called Sanctuary, inhabited by people who have been to hell and back—and lived to tell the tale.

It goes on to say, that if someone needs help, if they are truly without hope, island will come to them in their darkest hour and help them find the way.

But the assistance comes with a price. Their heart and soul may be lost to the island in the process.

~*~

Thank you for stopping by.

Please feel free to drop by my website

And don't forget to enjoy the other Hot for Friday posts!

Smokin' Hot—Hot Encounter: An Idyllic Affair

Welcome to the Hot for Friday blog hop!

Readers: Enjoy posts from authors with fun weekly tasks or a cool question.

Authors: Get in on the fun and join here.

Greetings!

This week we're tasked with sharing a hot encounter, whether it's the first time or one of many others between the characters. Awesome! As mentioned in last week's post, I'm in Ohio and the subzero temps make reading the hot and steamy even more of a treat. :D

For my feature, I'm sharing a steamy moment from my current release, An Idyllic Affair, co-written with my alter ego, ML Skye, for the Ellipses Press branded anthology Insula Ara ~ Sanctuary Island.

For a little background, here are the series and book taglines:

Escape to Insula Ara, an island sanctuary that provides refuge… but it comes with a price.

On the run from their enemies, an island sanctuary gives Geoff and Linnea time for An Idyllic Affair.

Bring on the hot stuff…

~*~

His hands cupped her face. "Linn." Whisper soft, his voice sent a shudder through her.

She opened her eyes.

"Stop thinking." His hand trailed down, gliding over her stomach, the curve of her hip and drifted over to undo the buttons of her fatigues. "Feel." His fingers slipped under the fabric and cupped her mound. "Just for tonight." Geoff pressed a line of kisses along her jaw. "Don't worry about tomorrow."

Her resistance melted away. "Okay. Until the weather breaks, I won't." She leaned in and kissed him, wrapping her arms around his broad shoulders.

Geoff made a low, growling sound and pushed her pants past her hips. She kicked her legs free and worked her hands under his shirt. Inching it upward, she gasped when Geoff pushed two fingers inside her. Her head fell back, but she tugged his shirt further up, leaning forward to finally taste his skin. Her tongue made a wet trail, before she stopped and crisscrossed her arms to drag her shirt up and over her head. Geoff used his free hand to yank his offensive garment off then wrapped his arm around Linnea, jockeying his position to lift his hips. Linn took the hint and flipped the buttons of his fatigues open, one by one, teasing him by going slowly.

Geoff's voice rumbled in her ear. "I'll make you pay for that later." His tongue flicked against her lobe.

Linnea chuckled and shoved his fatigues down then leaned forward, taking the length of his shaft inside her mouth. Geoff hissed out a harsh breath and twisted his fingers in the sleeping bag he'd rolled out earlier.

"God's bones, Linnea. You should warn a guy before going down on him."

She smiled around his girth, pulling back to speak. "Where's the fun in that, Geoff?" She wrapped her lips around the tip and sucked hard.

~*~

Available on Amazon

~*~

Anthology Blurb: Legend tells of a mysterious island called Sanctuary, inhabited by people who have been to hell and back—and lived to tell the tale.

It goes on to say, that if someone needs help, if they are truly without hope, island will come to them in their darkest hour and help them find the way.

But the assistance comes with a price. Their heart and soul may be lost to the island in the process.

Book Blurb: Privateers by trade, Geoff MacLeod and Linnea Jensen find sanctuary on Insula Ara, a mysterious island full of wonder and a tinge of darkness. When Geoff and Linnea embark on a quest to retrieve a badly needed part for their ship, they find their deep attraction for each other hard to resist, and under the spell of the island, they have to tread carefully or succumb to the swirling undercurrents.

~*~

Thank you for dropping by.

Please feel free to stop by my website

And don't forget to enjoy the other Hot for Friday samples!

Get Hooked: Reel in a Great Book—An Idyllic Affair (Insula Ara ~ Sanctuary Island) #MFRWAuthors #MFRWHooks

Welcome to Book Hooks, the weekly smorgasbord sampler hosted by the MFRW Authors Blog.

Readers: get hooked and reel in some great books. Authors are sharing short excerpts from their work. Please enjoy and consider picking up the full book by clicking on the buy link.

This week I'm thrilled to announce an upcoming release that is co-written with my alter ego ML Skye. I write under three pseudonyms, and when I started An Idyllic Affair, it began with a strong sci-fi element. But as the story progressed, the nature of the island pushed its way in and a mystical aspect took center stage. For branding purposes, I decided to release under ML Skye, my speculative romance moniker, and Skye Ritchey, my paranormal / fantasy pen name. I'm very excited as I believe the story will appeal to both audiences.

This week, I'm featuring a fun interaction between Geoff and Linnea.

Series Tagline: Escape to Insula Ara, an island sanctuary that provides refuge… but it comes with a price.

Book Tagline: On the run from their enemies, an island sanctuary gives Geoff and Linnea time for An Idyllic Affair.

~*~

Cursing the restricted area, Geoff angled his legs down through the passage and attempted to leave enough space for Linnea's to fit. She gingerly tried to put both feet in first. When that didn't work, she grabbed his shoulder and got her left leg situated but couldn't manage the right.

Geoff tried to give her more room. "Sorry, X. I've got nowhere to go here." He shifted his hips, creating maybe one more inch.

Linnea chuckled. "Just give me a sec. If I put my hand here…" She braced her fingers against the tank. "And then lay my head on your shoulder, I think I might… oh, yeah. That's feeling just about right."

Geoff couldn't believe the way she could contort her body. "God, X, that's perfect." But they'd need room to kick the panel out. "Okay, almost there. Lift your thigh a little. Yeah, put it right between mine." His grunt sounded more like a groan when she followed his direction and brought her leg up, wedging it up close to the apex of his groin. "Almost there, Linn. Angle your hips a little. Yeah… that's it."

Linnea fisted her hand in his shirt, twisting it hard. "Sorry, Captain. Need just a little more… there! Right there."

Marcus cleared his throat. "Uh, geez, you two. You're making Willoughby turn an unhealthy shade of crimson out here. Do you have any idea how you guys sound?"

Shane sputtered and coughed. "I am not turning red." He waited a beat. "But Ramsey's got a point. If I didn't know better, I'd think you guys were… well…" His voice trailed off.

A little frustrated and a whole lot of uncomfortable, Geoff shot back. "Trust me, if the XO and I were having sex, it would not sound like this." Exactly how it would, he didn't know, but his imagination could fill in the blanks later.

Linnea snorted and offered her two cents. "Mainly because the captain and I wouldn't be having carnal relations." She paused then added. "Now, or anytime in the foreseeable future."

Geoff frowned. Did she always have to be so emphatic about the potential of them never hooking up?

Coming Soon!

~*~

Book Blurb: Privateers by trade, Geoff MacLeod and Linnea Jensen find sanctuary on Insula Ara, a mysterious island full of wonder and a tinge of darkness. When Geoff and Linnea embark on a quest to retrieve a badly needed part for their ship, they find their deep attraction for each other hard to resist, and under the spell of the island, they have to tread carefully or succumb to the swirling undercurrents.

Series Blurb: Legend tells of a mysterious island called Sanctuary, inhabited by people who have been to hell and back—and lived to tell the tale.

It goes on to say, that if someone needs help, if they are truly without hope, island will come to them in their darkest hour and help them find the way.

But the assistance comes with a price. Their heart and soul may be lost to the island in the process.

~*~

~*~

Please stop by my website

Reel in more great books! Visit the other participating authors.

Smokin' Hot—An Idyllic Affair

Welcome to the Hot for Friday blog hop!

Readers: Enjoy posts from authors with fun weekly tasks or a cool question.

Authors: Get in on the fun and join here.

For this week's entry, we authors are tasked with sharing a scene with sexual tension.

My excerpt is from an upcoming release, An Idyllic Affair, co-written with my alter ego, ML Skye, for the Ellipses Press branded anthology Insula Ara ~ Sanctuary Island.

~*~

She didn't care that her captain stood only a few feet away. She peeled off her sticky shirt and dropped it on the floor. Then she scrabbled out of her pants, leaving them in a heap on her way to what she hoped would be heavenly bliss. She spared a quick glance in his direction before stripping off her underwear to climb inside the quickly filling tub.

Linnea settled back with a hum of pleasure. Everything drained away. Her cranky mood and her aching muscles… instantly gone. Unable to resist, she ducked under the water, completely submerged for a moment then came back up, a huge smile on her face. She flipped her hair back, leaned against the tub, and sighed with contentment.

Geoff chuckled. "I might have to look into installing one of these on the Charming Lady."

If he did, she'd probably agree to bear his children.

Geoff stooped down and Linn had a hard time wondering how he kept the towel secure. She refused to look over the side of the tub… she'd already been caught staring once.

The captain had no such qualms. He dipped a finger in the steaming water then trailed it over her shoulder and down her arm.

He angled his head a bit. "You look very happy." His eyes met hers and she shivered under the intense study from him.

Dragging her gaze away, she tried to get back on an even keel. "It wouldn't be fair, you know." His questioning scowl made her feel back in control. "To Marcus and Shane. Something tells me I'd be the only one who'd welcome a lovely tub."

There might have been a flash of disappointment in his eyes, but he masked it quickly.

Her lips curved. "I, uh… appreciate the thought though."

Geoff acknowledged her words with a brief nod then studied her in silent contemplation—long enough she wanted to squirm under the scrutiny. It made her very much aware of her naked state—and his damned close to nude one.

The long, lean thigh she'd been trying not to look at drew her attention and she had to remind herself—ruefully—they didn't mix work and recreation.

~*~

I hope you enjoyed the tension.

~*~

Anthology Blurb: Legend tells of a mysterious island called Sanctuary, inhabited by people who have been to hell and back—and lived to tell the tale.

It goes on to say, that if someone needs help, if they are truly without hope, island will come to them in their darkest hour and help them find the way.

But the assistance comes with a price. Their heart and soul may be lost to the island in the process.

Book Blurb: Privateers by trade, Geoff MacLeod and Linnea Jensen find sanctuary on Insula Ara, a mysterious island full of wonder and a tinge of darkness. When Geoff and Linnea embark on a quest to retrieve a badly needed part for their ship, they find their deep attraction for each other hard to resist, and under the spell of the island, they have to tread carefully or succumb to the swirling undercurrents.

~*~

Thank you for stopping by.

Please feel free to drop by my website

And don't forget to enjoy the other Hot for Friday samples!

Get Hooked: Reel in a Great Book—An Idyllic Affair (Insula Ara ~ Sanctuary Island) #MFRWAuthors #MFRWHooks

Welcome to Book Hooks, the weekly smorgasbord sampler hosted by the MFRW Authors Blog.

Readers: get hooked and reel in some great books. Authors are sharing short excerpts from their work. Please enjoy and consider picking up the full book by clicking on the buy link.

This week I'm thrilled to announce an upcoming release that is co-written with my alter ego ML Skye. I write under three pseudonyms, and when I started An Idyllic Affair, it began with a strong sci-fi element. But as the story progressed, the nature of the island pushed its way in and a mystical aspect took center stage. For branding purposes, I decided to release under ML Skye, my speculative romance moniker, and Skye Ritchey, my paranormal / fantasy pen name. I'm very excited as I believe the story will appeal to both audiences.

This week, I'm featuring part of the opening scene from Linnea's point of view.

Series Tagline: Escape to Insula Ara, an island sanctuary that provides refuge… but it comes with a price.

Book Tagline: On the run from their enemies, an island sanctuary gives Geoff and Linnea time for An Idyllic Affair.

~*~

Linnea moved slowly, her steps dragging when time seemed to slow down. "Care to tell me where the hell we're going? It doesn't even look like it's in this galaxy."

Geoff raised a single eyebrow. "It's not. That's the beauty of it."

She felt like the deck dropped out from under her. "Captain. Geoff… where, exactly, are you taking us?"

He directed his gaze back to the holograph. "Old Earth."

If she'd started floating in suspended animation, she wouldn't have been surprised.

She couldn't have heard him right.

Old Earth?

Well, hell. Did he really think they could find sanctuary on some crazy island that might or might not exist? The one he loved to tell stories about?

Everything stopped for a second then snapped back to real time.

Linnea didn't know if the queasy feeling in her stomach came from the jump or finding out they'd left the galaxy.

Both, she decided.

"Captain, are you sure this is a good idea?" Linnea slid her gaze toward the man, making sure to keep one eye on the monitor in front of her.

Geoff raised an eyebrow in question. "You doubt me, XO?" He picked up his excited pacing, striding back and forth across the command deck of the Charming Lady.

Linnea snorted. They wouldn't be sanctioned smugglers if any of the crew doubted him. "It's not about that. Facts are facts. I never doubt them."

And Geoff knew it. He'd chosen her as his executive officer and second-in-command for that very reason.

"I do, however, question myth and legend… and that's all you've got." She sometimes envied the fact he only needed those.

Coming Soon!

~*~

Book Blurb: Privateers by trade, Geoff MacLeod and Linnea Jensen find sanctuary on Insula Ara, a mysterious island full of wonder and a tinge of darkness. When Geoff and Linnea embark on a quest to retrieve a badly needed part for their ship, they find their deep attraction for each other hard to resist, and under the spell of the island, they have to tread carefully or succumb to the swirling undercurrents.

Series Blurb: Legend tells of a mysterious island called Sanctuary, inhabited by people who have been to hell and back—and lived to tell the tale.

It goes on to say, that if someone needs help, if they are truly without hope, island will come to them in their darkest hour and help them find the way.

But the assistance comes with a price. Their heart and soul may be lost to the island in the process.

~*~

~*~

Please stop by my website

Reel in more great books! Visit the other participating authors.

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Get Hooked: Reel in a Great Book—An Idyllic Affair (Insula Ara ~ Sanctuary Island) #MFRWAuthors #MFRWHooks

Welcome to Book Hooks, the weekly smorgasbord sampler hosted by the MFRW Authors Blog.

Readers: get hooked and reel in some great books. Authors are sharing short excerpts from their work. Please enjoy and consider picking up the full book by clicking on the buy link.

This week I'm thrilled to announce an upcoming release that is co-written with my alter ego ML Skye. I write under three pseudonyms, and when I started An Idyllic Affair, it began with a strong sci-fi element. But as the story progressed, the nature of the island pushed its way in and a mystical aspect took center stage. For branding purposes, I decided to release under ML Skye, my speculative romance moniker, and Skye Ritchey, my paranormal / fantasy pen name. I'm very excited as I believe the story will appeal to both audiences.

So, without further delay, today's post features part of the opening scene from my hero Geoff's perspective.

Series Tagline: Escape to Insula Ara, an island sanctuary that provides refuge… but it comes with a price.

Book Tagline: On the run from their enemies, an island sanctuary gives Geoff and Linnea time for An Idyllic Affair.

~*~

"Hot damn, Captain… we pulled it off!"

Geoff MacLeod raised an eyebrow at his helmsman, Marcus Ramsey. "Let's get clear of the blockade before we start celebrating, Mr. Ramsey." He directed his attention to his executive officer, Linnea Jensen. "XO? Tell me we're close."

They gazed at the same the screenshot on the monitor, but where he relied on instinct for guidance, Linnea used cold, hard facts to their advantage. She'd know the instant their ship, the Charming Lady, would be beyond the obstruction and into semi-safe territory.

Linnea waited a beat then glanced up from her charts. "Another three hundred kilometers and we're clear. So far, no pursuit from the Axis Prime." Her face lit up with a grin, but fell flat when a bogie blipped into view on the monitor. "Shit. Check that. Three AP vessels, closing in fast." She spun around, punched a button, and brought the holographic view screen up in the middle of the bridge. "We're boxed in."

Geoff moved to stand beside her. "Son of a bitch."

It didn't matter he and his merry band of mercenaries had only recently—and secretly—become sanctioned privateers for the United Forces. Things had finally heated up in the long, cold war between the two opposing factions and if Geoff and his crew were caught, the Axis Prime would parade them through the galaxy as a sterling example of the United Forces' strategic failure. Even if the UF used plausible deniability regarding his covert activities, the blow could cripple the UF's rapidly expanding resistance movement.

And the AP's growing chokehold on the solar system needed to end.

So… they couldn't get caught.

Linnea spoke softly. "We gotta make a move here, Captain. Your orders?" Her fingers flew over the keyboard and the holo image zoomed out, showing him a bird's eye view of the galaxy.

Dammit, they had limited options. There were maybe two or three places they could lay low, but AP forces heavily guarded each of them. No doubt word had already gone out about the Charming Lady carrying a butt-load of weapons, ammo, and medical supplies recently liberated from an Axis Prime freighter.

Every AP ship in the galaxy would be gunning for them.

Geoff didn't like those odds.

Instead of playing them, he decided to create his own. 

Cover Art

Coming Soon!

~*~

Book Blurb: Privateers by trade, Geoff MacLeod and Linnea Jensen find sanctuary on Insula Ara, a mysterious island full of wonder and a tinge of darkness. When Geoff and Linnea embark on a quest to retrieve a badly needed part for their ship, they find their deep attraction for each other hard to resist, and under the spell of the island, they have to tread carefully or succumb to the swirling undercurrents.

Series Blurb: Legend tells of a mysterious island called Sanctuary, inhabited by people who have been to hell and back—and lived to tell the tale.

It goes on to say, that if someone needs help, if they are truly without hope, island will come to them in their darkest hour and help them find the way.

But the assistance comes with a price. Their heart and soul may be lost to the island in the process.

~*~

~*~

Please stop by my website

Reel in more great books! Visit the other participating authors.