Sunday Snippet: Uncommonly Good

Yeesh, July has been a rough month. I'm kind of glad to see the tail end of it. Of course, mid-August starts the school year and it's crazypants from then until after the first of the year. LOL

I'm almost caught up on Dark Matter, which remains pretty decent. I do love the character interactions in this show. I'm slightly put off by all the new introductions, but I'll get over it.

Still need to catch up on Killjoys and Wynonna Earp. I really, really hate being made to wait for the episode for a full week. Seriously? The stupidest thing ever to not have the episode available immediately for people who can't watch or have another commitment and are unable to view when it's on. I'll never understand why network executives get paid the salaries they do when they're making decisions that shoot themselves in the foot. <shrugs>

Final episodes of Teen Wolf start tonight and I'm looking forward to seeing how this series ends. Very excited for the returning faces.

Less than a month away from The Last Ship. Again, impatiently waiting for one of my favorite shows to return. Come on August 20!

That's pretty much it for television this week. Tonight's post is from Uncommonly Good, a novella that started with the two-word prompt "ladies first".

Here's the mini-blurb:

Shelby Fewes and Creed Campanalla have a very friendly rivalry vying for top name in their respective dark and light organizations. When Creed is ordered to eliminate Shelby for retaliation, he makes a different call and the duo have an uncommonly good time proving the two sides can live and love together.

And a preview snippet…

Shelby Fewes dropped to her knees and focused her energy. With an outward push, she toppled her target, a low-level lightsider. She gave him props for not fighting against the bonds she snared him with.

Rising, she crossed the space separating them and lowered down to his side. "Malcolm Penter sends his regards. You're too far behind to catch up and he's making an example of you."

The guy, Benji something or other, closed his eyes and turned his head away. "F-figured he'd come calling sooner or later." He angled back toward her and met her gaze. "At least I get to look on something of beauty when I meet my end." Giving a nod, he indicated his readiness for her next move.

She ignored the bile rising in her throat and did her job. Placing her palms on either side of his head, she gave a sharp twist and ended his existence. Blowing out a harsh breath, she rocked back on her heels, keeping her head bowed while she dug out her phone. Snapping a quick picture, she forwarded the proof of her handiwork to her employer. One more job down… a meager notch in the column of what she owed against her mother's debt.

Getting slowly to her feet, she sent a message to the ward leader, Basher Cole, asking to have her fee applied to the balance on his books. She hated playing the numbers game. Poor Benji lost his life over a loan he'd taken out from a darkside fae. Why hadn't he sought help from a fellow lightsider?

She sighed. "The answer doesn't matter. Only the bottom line does."

She'd researched his habits and haunts and the guy didn't seem to be a bad sort. Maybe not the brightest fae in the bunch—hello… seeking financial assistance from the other side? Not a smart move. But he didn't go out of his way to hurt anyone and he'd worked a steady job plus another one on the side to make his payments. When he lost the second gig, he fell behind.

And she got the dreaded call.

Blowing out a hard breath, she turned and walked away. "Geez, I need to find another line of work." Of course, she had her own inherited debt to pay. "I've become entirely too damned good at killing."

Each death weighed heavily on her and she needed an outlet to deal with the frustration and shitty circumstances that turned her into an assassin for the darkside. Good thing the next round of cage match fights were only a week away.

"I need to kick some serious ass and take the top prize."

Anything to help balance the ledger.

Shelby's lack of choice is a challenge for me to write and I'm enjoying exploring her inner demons.

That's it for this week.

Cheers!

Skye

Sunday Snippet: Zip Cuffs

AHHHHH! Season finale for The Walking Dead tonight and I'm excited and actually a little frightened. Last week's ending kind of hurt, right?

Let's see… what else from this fairly big week of TV? The Flash messing with the timeline proved kind of interesting. I have to wonder if maybe Wells didn't get split, or possibly has an evil twin wandering around. Not sure how I feel about the idea, but I could probably get behind it. Arrow blew my mind again. So in love with this show. I won't get into too much detail, but every actor is pretty much spot on and giving their all. I LOVE it.

Bitten also brought the goods. Watching Greyston Holt go really creepy as Sean Rogerson's Alestair proved to be great. Nice bit of acting there. I have one small quibble. For all the times the witches have claimed to know everything, they sure get shit wrong an awful lot. Frankly, I expect more from Ruth, but I also like the huge changes in storyline deviating from the books, so… yeah, there's that. I'm just not sure I like how they come across as so uninformed, yet give off the vibe they know it all. But hey, I love Paige and Nick, so hopefully the witches can stick around. :D

And, that's it for TV this week.

Tonight's post is from Zip Cuffs, a sexy novella where my main characters are pitted against each other by an outside force.

Here's the tagline:

Thrayce Stratton finally has the man she wants, Dino Singer, but when all evidence points to him as the culprit behind several gruesome fae murders, she'll absolutely do her job as an enforcer—including using zip cuffs to get what she needs from Dino.

And a preview snippet…

Thrayce stepped out of the shower and gingerly dried off. Her skin still tingled from the early morning romp. Dino's stubble left two tender spots on her inner thighs. Pulling open the door to her bedroom, she barely got her underwear on before her phone rang. Reaching across the bed, she grabbed the device and sighed. Work. Figured.

She swiped her finger over 'answer'. "Stratton." Cradling her cell between her chin and her shoulder, she fished around for a bra.

"Notice how there isn't a dead body this morning?"

She paused, frowning. The voice on the other end did not belong to her boss. Not the first time she'd received helpful information from an unknown source, but her gut roiled with nervous tension.

She'd play along for now. "Yes, I noticed." Giving up on the bra, she snagged a t-shirt from her drawer and planted her butt on the mattress. "Why? You have any information on that?"

"We believe it's because the killer was otherwise occupied last night…" The speaker paused for one long moment. "With you."

No. Fucking. Way.

But her disbelief hit right up against a sense of betrayal. She couldn't discount the idea just because Dino Singer could make her scream with pleasure.

She gritted her teeth together. "You've got my attention. I'm listening."

"Come to the Mystic Tea Room. I'll give you everything you need to make your case."

Swallowing down the bile rising up in her throat, Thrayce agreed. "Give me fifteen. I'll be there." She ended the call and tossed her phone on the dresser.

There had to be some kind of mistake. Her greatest dream landed in her lap last night and the will to ignore the call, the timing, everything grabbed hold of her.

But she wouldn't be the top enforcer if she always let emotion get in her way. Rising, she yanked her shirt over her head and scrambled into a pair of black cargo pants. She picked up her phone and shoved it into the side pocket. Crossing through her room and out into the parlor, she jammed her feet into a pair of shoes and grabbed her jacket. She didn't bother with her keys, choosing to walk instead. She wanted a cool head when she met with… whomever. And they'd better have damned solid information or Thrayce would make sure they suffered for wasting her time.

And ruining the one thing she wanted most in the world before it even got truly started.

Should be fun to see where this one goes. The sages have some great ideas pinging back and forth.

That's it for this week.

Cheers!

Skye

Sunday Snippet: Veering Off Course

Well, hello, March. Thank you for dumping like seven inches of snow on me. :D

Seriously, I have to remember I was wearing flip flops and shorts in October so I don't get all crazy about having snow in March. LOL

Some great TV this week. I'm rather sad I have to wait almost a whole month for new The Flash and Arrow episodes. Oh well, teaches me the value of patience, right? Banshee and Bitten had great episodes. So happy for a satisfying end to one of the characters on Banshee, which tied in nicely with the satisfying end to one of the characters on Bitten last week. Yes, I have a bloodthirsty streak sometimes. :D

To counter the death toll, let's see if The Walking Dead manages to keep everyone alive again this week. LOL

Tonight's post is from Veering Off Course, a novella where my female character has to go on a journey of discovery.

Here's the tagline:

Raine Shippley tends to go her own way, always veering off course. When her true path is revealed, Dalton Tucker thinks they'll finally have a chance, but Raine disappears and he's left to follow the trail alone… or so he thinks.

And a preview snippet…

"So tell, me Dalton, which freaking element should take precedence?" Raine Shippely whirled around and faced Dalton Tucker. "Because my head hurts trying to figure out what I did to be so damned unlucky." She stalked away and dropped down onto the sofa.

Dalton didn't have a ready answer. "You could try changing your perspective." He moved across the room and settled into the chair across from the couch. "Consider the face you can draw on all four as a blessing instead of a curse?"

Raine rolled her eyes and snorted. "Right. Because that's not totally isolating." She leaned forward. "How many other fae, maybe what? Five? Have the ability to use every element?" She flopped back. "And where are they, Dalton?"

He frowned. "Look, what happened to them doesn't have to happen to you—"

She shot up and paced back and forth. "You mean I don't have to go bug ass insane and land myself in solitary banishment? Or go over the top evil and try to kill off half my race?" She stopped. "The other three aren't even on the grid anymore. What does that tell you?" Her voice trembled but her face hardened. "It tells me they're either dead or waiting to die somewhere off the grid."

Dalton rose and moved to her side, wrapping his arms around her. He expected her to pull away, but she leaned into him. She snaked an arm around his waist and held on.

Dalton pressed a kiss to her temple. "I can't argue your point, Raine, but there's nothing carved in stone indicating you have to follow their path." He guided her to the sofa and got her to sit back down. "The one thing you have going for you is knowledge. You're aware. You know the potential outcomes." He hauled her close, thrilled when she relaxed into his side. "You have time to figure everything out. And you know I'll be here to help."

Raine lifted her chin to meet his gaze. "Right now, you're the only thing keeping me grounded. But I know, deep in my bones, it won't be enough." Her head bent forward, coming to rest on his shoulder.

Dalton didn't speak, content to hold her… for as long as she wanted.

For as long as he could.

Raine's journey takes her on quite the quest, but Dalton is always there, in the forefront of her mind.

So much fun writing this one.

That's it for this week.

Cheers!

Skye

Sunday Snippet: Various Reasons

Ugh. I've hit the nasty cold wall and did not bounce back. Bleh. I can happily say it's the first really icky cold I've had this winter.

Anyway, on to fun stuff. The third episode of Bitten rocked. I'm looking forward to seeing how different the elements play out from the books. So far, I love the changes. The Flash and Arrow each turned in solid episodes. Have to wait until mid-March for a new episode of The Flash, which is probably a good thing. I'm probably in the minority, but I actually want a lot less Iris. She's not my favorite character.

Tonight's post is from Various Reasons, a novella where my established couple decides whether to take their relationship to the next step.

Here's the tagline:

Paloma and Cedric keep putting off thinking or talking about the future—they've got a fae war on their hands, but after a particularly ugly skirmish, Paloma decides it's time to open the topic for discussion. Cedric is so shocked, he's not quite sure he believes her, but once Paloma gets through the list of various reasons, he's close to getting on board.

And the preview snippet…

Paloma crashed back against the wall and slid downward, crouching behind the dumpster. Cedric stumbled over and sank to his knees beside her. The stench from the hellhounds emanated from each and they wrinkled their noses.

Cedric heaved a sigh. "You okay? Injured?" He angled around, propping his back against the brick wall.

Paloma nodded. "I'm fine, just winded. Never fought a whole pack before." The number of hounds had nothing to do with her earlier distraction, but she wouldn't share her reason.

Not yet. She wanted to get her head around the revelation first.

Cedric shrugged out of his jacket, covered in noxious and foul hell hound saliva.

He tossed it up into the open dumpster, which smelled better than either of them.

He shuddered. "We need a shower." He wiped his hands on his jeans, but they were probably worse than the jacket.

Paloma snorted. "Ugh. We need a decon chamber." She slowly got up and threw her jacket into the trash bin, too. "I'd strip down right here if we didn't have to cross the boulevard to go back under."

Cedric cracked a smile. "Would be fun to watch you streak across the road, though." He chuckled and started for the street."

Paloma grabbed his arm. "Hey, once we're all shiny and clean, let's find a quiet spot." Her hand slid down his arm to grasp his fingers. "I don't feel like the usual celebratory bash at the Crescent Moon tonight." Too loud for the serious conversation she needed to have with Cedric.

His brows knit, but only for a moment. "Sure. Sounds great." He tugged her forward, heading across the road. "Rooftop in about an hour?"

Paloma grinned. Leave it to Cedric to pick the perfect spot.

She darted around him, trotting down the steps to the underground first. "Yeah… if it doesn't take longer than sixty minutes to get the stink of the hounds off." She glanced back over her shoulder. "I swear my pores are oozing the putrid smell."

Cedric laughed. "Look, if it takes longer, it does. I'll be there."

She kicked the loose tile and pushed the door open when the mechanism unlocked it. She dragged the Henley shirt over her head and jammed it into the trash can beside the door.

Clad in her sports bra and jeans, she started for the shower area. "I'm burning the rest of my clothes. Bring a lighter, will you?"

Cedric shook his head, but answered. "Yeah, yeah. I'll bring one."

She gave him a waggle-fingered wave and ducked into the huge bathroom lined with showers. Stripping off the rest of her clothes, she hurried and turned the spray on, relishing the hot water hitting her skin, feeling more steady and certain with each passing moment.

She wanted forever with Cedric, even if their version might get cut short.

So, Paloma knows what she wants, now she has to convince Cedric. J

That's it for this week.

Cheers!

Skye

Sunday Snippet: Uncommonly Good

So… the new season of Banshee started and blew my mind with the first episode. I have no idea why I'm so drawn to the show, but it never fails to push just a little further than I think it will. The opening scene equaled sheer perfection.

The Librarians is still making me smile and I’m getting ready to start Miss Fisher's Mysteries on Netflix this week. I've heard super awesome things about the series and can't wait to get into a new to me show.

OH! The CW also renewed ALL their fall dramas and I read the showrunners for The Flash and Arrow plan a once a year crossover for the two shows. WOOHOO!! Seriously happy for that news.

Bitten starts next month on Space and my unblocker app and Chromecast is going to be busy each week while I stream the episodes multiple times from the website. (Then watch again when Syfy airs them. :D)

And that's enough about TV, right?

Tonight's post is from Uncommonly Good, a novella where my main characters are on opposite sides and figure out a way to not be.

Here's the tagline:

Shelby Fewes and Creed Campanalla have a very friendly rivalry vying for top name in their respective dark and light organizations. When Creed is ordered to eliminate Shelby for retaliation, he makes a different call and the duo have an uncommonly good time proving the two sides can live and love together.

And a preview snippet…

Creed met Shelby at the entrance to the showers. "Ladies first." He waved her forward with a flourish.

She quipped. "I'm not a lady, but yeah, whatever." She entered the locker room and started stripping off her clothes.

The protective harness landed first, followed by her t-shirt. Next came her shoes, which landed on opposite ends of the room when she kicked them away from her feet. Her fingers slipped under the waistband of her shorts and pushed the fabric past her hips. She wiggled her butt and walked out of the garment.

Standing in her sports bra and hipster undies, she turned and winked. "Like what you see so far?" Her arms crisscrossed and she jerked her bra up and off.

She gave it a toss in in his direction. Creed gaped a little. Her breasts were gorgeous and would perfectly fit in the palms of his hands. His fingers itched to find out. But, no, his orders were to not engage.

She cleared her throat. "Hey, Master of Light, pay attention or you'll miss the best part." She hooked her thumbs under her panties and slowly slid them over her hips and down her thighs.

She lifted a leg, removing the limb from the leg opening, but left the cotton knit dangling from her other foot. Her knee bent and she kicked out, sending the undergarment sailing outward to land at his feet.

Standing nude, and perfectly bare everywhere, she quirked an eyebrow. "Chivalry earned you the free show. Now be more of a nice guy and give me the room to wash the sweat and grit from the cage away." She didn't wait for a response, striding into the shower stall and turning on the water.

Creed granted her request, taking a post outside the door. Nobody else would be treated to her brand of showmanship… unless they could get past him. And he planned to fight to the death if necessary. Shelby Fewes made his blood hum a finely crafted tune.

Her zest for life and her honorable show in the ring notched his respect up a couple of levels. She'd gone toe to toe with him, physically and otherworldly, and when the outcome proved a draw, she acknowledged their evenly matched skills instead of pulling a sleight of hand. Not many of the darkside fae played by the rules, but Shelby did—at least while in the cage.

His heart heavy, he weighed his options. Follow his directive or take a chance on walking a different path. He needed to make a choice. The exchange with Shelby, sexual tension and all, gave him a jolt of much needed reflection. Did he blindly accept his orders, or go with his gut and let Shelby live?

I love the vibe these characters have. Can't wait to get back to work on this one.

That's it for the week.

Cheers!

Skye

Sunday Snippet: Red Cap

September 21, 2014

Hi,

Blargh. I'm still not caught up with Haven. I am, however, and probably as expected, up to date with Sons of Anarchy. Seriously, I have no idea where I want anyone except Gemma to end up. LOL Kudos to Charlie Hunnam for the primo job he's doing portraying Jax.

Sleepy Hollow starts Monday and I can't wait for more batshit insane goodness from that show. I'm so looking forward to November when I'm not working seven days a week and can really sit back and enjoy my shows.

Tonight's post is from Red Cap, an urban fairytale with the gender roles reversed in a retooling of Little Red Riding Hood.

Here's the tagline:

Magan Drone, a red-capped tree nymph, is tasked with protecting Cass Warrison, an earth sprite, from the wolf-shifter clan. Magan isn't thrilled with the duty—she and Cass share a complicated past—but her handy skill with a crossbow can stop an evil prophecy from coming to light. She'll do her job and save the day, but no way will she let Cass back into her life.

And a preview snippet…

Magan spun around. "You want me to do what?" She shook her head, certain she'd heard her uncle's orders the wrong way.

Milton crossed his arms over his chest. "You heard me, Magan. Cass Warrison is the target of the shifter clan and I want you to make sure he stays alive."

Magan snorted. "Why the hell should I?" If she had her way, she'd use him for shooting practice.

Milton growled. "Because if you don't, the shifters will fulfill the prophecy and take control of the realm. They'll no longer live on the fringe, but right in the heart of the enchanted woods. Is that what you want?"

Magan glanced away. "No, Uncle Milt."

She didn't want the wolf clan to take control of the forest. The nymphs and sprites enjoyed unlimited freedom and safety while in the magical woods. Only when they ventured out to the cities in human form did they have to worry about becoming prey for the shifters.

Her uncle laid a gentle hand on her shoulder. "Lass, I know what I'm asking of you won't be easy, but Cass can't fall to the she wolves." He heaved a sigh. "If I could trust anyone else with the task, I wouldn't send you."

Magan met his gaze. "Yes, you would. I'm the best you have." She dragged in a deep breath. "But you'd better be ready when I come back. Whenever Cass and I cross paths, one of us ends up bloody and beaten." Her eyes narrowed. "You'll either be stitching me up or holding me back."

Milton nodded. "I'll be here, Magan, and ready for whatever you bring with you."

She turned away and rolled her eyes. Magan suffered no illusion when it came to her uncle. If he had to hand over her head on a pike to keep the peace, he would. But he'd raised her to understand leadership came with sacrifice and almost always had a personal cost.

Her time to pay up arrived in the form of the man who once held her heart before casting it away.

Cass Warrison better damn well appreciate the expense.

I love playing in fairytale land and this one is great fun to write.

That's it for this week.

Cheers!

Skye

Sunday Snippet: Rapier's Edge

September 14, 2014

Hello,

Argh. Super busy week so I missed the premiere of Haven and will hopefully be catching up tonight. But… I did NOT miss the opening episode of Sons of Anarchy. Holy hell. Without giving too much away, I wanted Gemma to die a slow painful death in the final frame of the series, but yeah, that's all changed. If died in the next episode it wouldn't be too soon for me. Take that as a challenge to change my mind, Mr. Sutter. Seriously.

Since I talked DC last week, I'll throw in my excitement for Marvel's Agents of SHEILD and Agent Carter. I think I'll like having Peggy take up the downtime between the two halves of AOS.

Tonight's post is from Rapier's Edge, a novella where my main characters start out on opposite sides, but quickly end up working together.

Here's the tagline:

Wren Buxton, an undercover fae agent, finds Jacob Franklin standing over a dead body. He resists her siren call and refuses to answer questions during her interrogation. Wren has a sneaking suspicion all isn't what it seems with the covert mercenary.

And the preview snippet…

Wren entered the dingy apartment, ready for action. Crouching low, her gaze swept the dim interior, landing on the prone form of Havish Smithreen then slid sideways to find a tall figure holding a bloodied knife just to the left. Wren let out a piercing pitch and the man dropped to his knees before keeling over to his side.

Working quickly, Wren grabbed her phone and called in a cleanup crew for Havish. The shaman didn't deserve to die by the blade and Wren planned to exact justice on his behalf and to make it happen, she'd have to interrogate the fallen assailant.

But not in Havish's home. Nope, she had just the spot in mind for her task. A nice abandoned warehouse with minimal power she jacked from a neighboring distribution center.

Moving forward, she lifted a booted foot in each hand and dragged the solidly built man the short distance to the front door. She didn't feel a single twinge of guilt when his head thumped against the wooden chair pushed up close to the café table. She'd shared many a morning coffee with Havish sitting in the very location. When she reached the heavy oak slab, blessed by an ancient ancestor, she cast a cover spell and resumed hauling her quarry out to her SUV. Getting him inside proved a huge challenge, but she got him trussed up in the back, using jumper cables to make sure he stayed put. The cleanup crew arrived directly after she slammed the back doors closed.

Wren jerked her head towards the apartment. "Take care with his body. He's a shaman."

The unit leader hustled over and tried to get a look inside Wren's vehicle. "Need any help?"

Thank the fae for blackout windows.

Wren waved the guy back. "No. This one's mine." She headed for the driver's side. "But tell the council I won't be reporting in until morning. I'll be holed up at location two."

The man frowned. "You really should take back up. Why not give me the address and I'll swing by when we're done here."

Wren exhaled slowly, keeping a tight rein on her temper. "Because I'm calling the shots here and the location is none of your business. I code them for a reason and the elders know where to find me if I don't call in."

He held up his hands. "Okay, okay. Have it your way." He shrugged a shoulder. "Just trying to help out." He started for the entrance of the building.

Wren fought the urge to roll her eyes. "Yeah, whatever. If I want help, I'll ask." She yanked the door open and swung up inside. "Don't forget. You're dealing with a holy man. Give him the utmost respect."

The unit leader nodded and ducked into the apartment. Wren sat for a moment then shut the world out and started the engine. She hummed a serenity ballad, hoping to keep her prisoner out cold until they reached her destination.

And to keep the desire to carve him into pieces at bay until she got the answers she needed.

Wren is calling the shots in this scene, but the tables get turned and she won't like it one little bit. *rubs hands gleefully*

That's it for this week.

Cheers!

Skye

Sunday Snippet: Order in the Court

Hi!

I hope everyone who celebrates the 4^th had a safe and happy one filled with lots of fireworks!

Some great TV even with the holiday week. Defiance keeps getting better… and darker, which I love bunches. Dominion also keeps me coming back. I'm not quite sure I have everything down but I like to be kept guessing. Forgot to mention The Last Ship… loving it. I have a thing for shows with ships and combine it with a mutated virus, I'm totally there.

Tonight's post is from, Order in the Court, a short sexy romp about a day in the Fae Court.

Here's the tagline:

Mace Ormondson, a fae prince, presides over the daily court grievances and disputes. When a new advocate, Nessa Goff, is appointed it turns Mace's world upside down and sideways, because Nessa happens to be the bane of his existence and a huge pain in his ass.

And a preview snippet…

Mace sighed heavily. "Is there anyone who can speak for the opposing side?" He hoped not.

He wanted to end the session and get on with his day.

Nessa strode into Mace's chambers and moved to stand directly in front of his podium. "Nessa Goff, advocating for the Banshee Prime."

Mace barely held back a groan. The band of his very existence would speak for the Katya Korsh. He braced for a long, long day.

Settling back and trying to get comfortable, he nodded. "Advocate Goff. Whenever you're ready."

Nessa smirked. "I'm always ready, Prince Regent." She turned and shrugged out of her jacket, draping it over chair. "The Banshee Prime seeks recompense for the loss of three novices." She faced Mace again. "And I won't be leaving until you make that happen."

Mace's mouth thinned. "You'll leave when I end the session, Advocate Goff. If you have a specific request, state it now. Save the showboating for your stage act."

A collective gasp echoed throughout his chambers. Nessa narrowed her eyes, but withheld her venomous tongue. Good. Mace didn't plan to give her the upper hand. She'd have to play by his rules—not make up her own. Not this time. And definitely not here.

Nessa inclined her head. "What I do with my time each night has no place here. You want specifics, here they are." She paced back and forth with a slow gait. "The Druid Master, Optan Banz, will deed the cavern temple to the Banshee Order, or forfeit three of his adept minors into their service." She paused and glanced toward Mace. "Ball's in your court, Prince Regent."

Mace cocked his head to one side, studying Nessa for several long moments. "Optan will provide an open ended lease to the cavern temple and allow one adept minor to serve the Order for a period of one year." Mace straightened and addressed the entire room. "The blood feud between the banshees and the druids has gone on too long. The two sides will have to work together to end it." He turned towards Optan's advocate, Martice. "Make sure Optan chooses his adept wisely, for he'll be making weekly reports to the Druid Master and my aide administrator."

Martice frowned, but agreed. "Yes, Prince Regent."

A slow smile curved Nessa's lips upward and she pivoted around, grabbed her jacket from the back of the chair and slung it over her shoulder. She didn't say a word when she quietly walked out of Mace's chambers, the only sound coming from the click of her heels on the stone-tiled floor.

Mace raised the gavel and clamped it down, dismissing the session. The occupants spilled out of his chambers, noisily discussing the day's events.

He leaned back in his seat, a hand rising to rub along his temple. "That damned woman might just be the death of me."

Nessa might have had the upper hand here, but just wait until Mace catches up with her later. J

That's it for this week.

Cheers!

Skye

Sunday Snippet: Only When They Blink

Whoa. Awesome week of television. Defiance is back on Syfy and what a great opening episode for season two. I won't get into spoilers, but I'm excited about where things are going. Dominion also premiered and I enjoyed watching. I'm hoping we get less exposition as the season progresses, but I'm always down for a good set-up in the first episode. J

Orphan Black. Finale didn't disappoint and once again, twists and turns I totally didn't expect. One of the biggest reasons I love this show so much is it never quite goes where I think it will. I was thrilled to have some additional information and background for Paul—even if it makes him even more mysterious. Putting my Cosima hat on for a moment, this show is like a fractal pattern, every layer that's revealed turns around on itself and spawns into something else. I'm sure I butchered the science angle, but… just watch the show to see what I mean. :D

Tonight's post is from, Only When They Blink, an erotic fantasy novella and a loose retelling of The Princess and the Pea. J

Here's the tagline:

Hale Easterson has fae blood running in his veins, but he won't follow the family old school traditions and mate by the designated age. He escapes to his private lake house to find an unconscious Winter Sorn, a beautiful woman, sprawled on his doorstep and realizes he may not be able to avoid what destiny has in store.

And a preview snippet…

Hale trudged along the shore, taking the back way to his lake house. The argument with his dad still fresh in his mind, he almost missed the sprawled lump laying halfway up the steps to the rear entrance. He paused, instincts on full alert. Darting a quick glance in either direction, he found nothing out of the ordinary and no one around. His extra sensory ability did pick up the fae blood in the person prone on the ground.

He approached cautiously, keeping an ear tuned for a surprise attack. Bending down, he felt for and found a pulse thrumming under soft, feminine skin, and her back rose and fell with shallow breaths. He carefully rolled the female over and gasped when he got a look at her face.

Impossibly beautiful, the woman's eyelashes fluttered against her cheeks, but she remained unconscious. High cheekbones, a delicately pointed chin, and straight patrician nose indicated a pure bloodline. The fullness of her bottom lip kept her from appearing too austere and haughty.

Blue.

The word popped into his mind and he fought an urge to see if her eyes matched the strong suggestion. Dark hair, almost black, framed her face and her brushed several strands away to check for injuries along her hairline. Finding a large goose egg near the nape of her neck, he followed with a cursory exam of her arms, legs, and torso. His fingers found a wound on her lower back and came away sticky with blood.

Sweeping an arm under her legs, her lifted her and curled her against his chest. "Okay, mystery lady, let's get the bleeding under control and find out why you landed on my doorstep." His father's final words—you can't outrun fate, Hale—echoed in his head and his steps faltered, but only for a moment.

Hale shook off the crazy notion his father had a hand in the woman's mysterious arrival at his secluded sanctuary.

So far, I really love the way this one is coming together. Hopefully the sages will continue cooperating. J

That's it for this week.

Cheers!

Skye

Sunday Snippet: One of These Things

Happy Father's Day to all the fathers and father figures out there!

So… Orphan Black is almost over for this season and *eep* I still have way more questions than answers. That said, I don't care. I love everything about this season. Although, I guess I should ask if it's really wrong I pretty much cheered on Helena throughout last night's entire episode? No? Good. And Donnie and Alison. Twisted and creepy, but holy shit, I laughed, even though I shouldn't have. :D

Tonight's post is from One of These Things, a novella where my main character learns she's very different from the people who raised her.

Here's the tagline:

Tanis Watts comes of age in the human world, but discovers she has fae abilities. When she's caught between warring factions, she falls in with the wrong side and barely escapes with her life. Seeking sanctuary, she lands on Falco Corsair's doorstep and runs headfirst into her destiny.

And a preview snippet…

"If you're going to become a full member of the Black, you must sacrifice this life."

Tanis Watts met the gaze of the Dark Priest, but held silent. She understood her next move would seal her fate and indecision waged an internal battle in her mind. Tanis didn't have the driving need for bloodlust her fellow Black brethren did, even though the desire for acceptance weighed heavily in her heart. The Guard had taken her in, given her a place to live, but after some serious soul searching, she couldn't bring herself to kill for the sake of killing. She didn't believe a sacrifice should cost anyone their life.

Glancing downward, she spoke with conviction. "The Guard has been good to me, like family, and I appreciate it." She paused a moment. "But I won't take his life."

The Dark Priest frowned. "You know what this means, Tanis. Are you certain?"

She gave a jerky nod. "I am."

The priest raised an arm and three acolytes seized her, not that she put up a struggle. Why fight? She couldn't escape, had nowhere to run if she did. Her gaze met the Dark Priest's again and he stared, unflinchingly, before casually drawing his blade and slicing the throat of her intended sacrifice.

Bile rose in her esophagus, but she showed no outward sign. The priest's minions changed the death song and bowed their heads. Once complete, they hustled Tanis toward the exit.

The Dark Priest called out. "Your life is forfeit Tanis Watts. In three days, on the high moon, you will cease to live."

Tanis closed her eyes, letting the acolytes lead her through the maze of tunnels under the estate house, back up to the surface of the main grounds. The image of the poor victim sharpened into focus in her mind. Three days, and then she'd be cast in the same role.

Sacrifice.

I had a dream about this scene. Doesn't happen very often, but it's nice when it does, even when it's kind of dark like this. J

That's it for this week.

Cheers!

Skye

Sunday Snippet: Numb

Wow, survived something of a long week. Just now catching up on Orphan Black and again, this show eats my brain. I'm about halfway through this week's episode and I'm sitting on the edge of my seat as I type this. LOL

Tonight's post is from Numb, a novella where my hero and heroine sort of go through the motions because outside forces are wearing them down.

Here's the tagline:

Cyan Fitch and Theron Dibney have a great relationship—hot sex, rock solid friendship, and mutual respect. When a mostly lethal virus tears through their community, the couple works side by side to help as many as possible, but it takes a toll. They can't quite get comfortably numb while they face the devastating losses and neither is willing to bend for fear they'll break.

And a preview snippet…

Cyan grabbed hold of Theron and nudged him back against the wall. Her mouth met his in  a quick, hard kiss, enough of an indicator of what she needed. Too damn tired to speak, she worked the buttons of his shirt loose, spreading the material apart and lowering her head to nip along his collarbone.

Theron grasped her chin, making her glance upward. "That hurts, Cy." He grabbed the hem of her shirt and yanked it up and over her head. "Cut it out."

She rolled her eyes and unfastened his pants, sliding her hand under the material to grasp his erection. "Doesn't seem to matter. You're nice and hard."

Theron shoved his jeans down past his ass and let gravity take care of the rest. He reached for Cyan and hauled her close, one hand cupped her butt and the other bunched up the front of her skirt before dipping down under her panties. She sucked in a harsh breath when his fingers found her clit, the slippery wetness letting them glide over the bundle of nerves with ease.

His lips curved. "And you're wet and ready." He drew the cotton to one side and nudged her forward, dipping his hips and bracing his back against the wall.

She straddled his thighs and lifted up, guiding him into her, letting out a guttural moan when he thrust hard, going deep—exactly where she wanted him.

She rocked her hips, fisting her hands in his shirt. Theron flexed his hips and she arched her back, seeking the steady friction that would send each to the brink of release. They'd done fast and dirty so often lately he automatically grabbed her ass, holding her firmly in place. A few more bumps and one long grind pushed her over the edge. She straightened, burying her head between his neck and shoulder, the orgasm rocking through her body.

Theron pumped his hips hard and came, wrapping his arms around her waist before sinking to the floor. He threaded his fingers in her hair, dragging her head back to meet her mouth in thorough kiss.

When he came up for air, he whispered against her lips. "I miss taking my time, but I needed this." He rested his forehead against hers.

Cyan nodded. "Hard to go slow when we only have stolen moments." She snuggled closer. "We've only covered half the sanctum and time is so important."

Theron brushed his lips over her. "And the dead need to be buried and mourned." He sighed. "We've lost too many, Cy. They have to find a cure."

My poor duo can't quite connect, but at least they realize they're drifting apart. I'm so looking forward to bringing them close together again.

That's it for this week.

Cheers!

Skye

Sunday Snippet: Nothing Special

So… Orphan Black keeps blowing my mind. Seriously, I would have NEVER dreamed I'd be interested in seeing Vic the Dick again, but playing opposite Allison is such an interesting little twist. Angie, or whatever her name is, kinda continues to irritate me, but I'm totally along for the ride to see what she's trying to pull off.

The whole deal with Helena creeps me out, but keeps me riveted to the screen, too. LOL Then there's Sarah… I have so much love for her. The cold war between Rachel and Sarah and how it's dragging Helena and Cosima into the middle of it keeps me glued to the screen.

And let's talk about Paul. Without revealing too much, I sooooo want to know more about him, but I love the loosely defined loyalties he has and the way he's pulled from all directions.

Enough about television… tonight's post is from Nothing Special, a short story where my main characters are convinced they don't have anything special between them. Of course, they're wrong. LOL

Here's the tagline:

Masha Tuck and Ryce Reynoldson work tirelessly around the winter solstice to help provide a meaningful celebration to their fae and non-fae neighbors. Masha uncovers the perfect gift for Ryce—just a book, nothing special—but if she gives it to him, it'll add depth to their weird relationship and she's not sure she's ready for them to be a 'thing'.

And a preview snippet…

Masha stood outside Ryce's small cottage, trying to decide whether or not to knock on his front door. They'd finally completed all the tasks and the solstice had come and gone. And she still had the vintage book on ancient cooking arts. Masha felt a little foolish about giving it to him, especially since the holiday had passed. She'd totally bailed and couldn't get up the nerve on the actual day of celebration. Stupid. She'd found a book. Nothing special.

Except it could be construed as having meaning. Did she want to give the weird 'thing' between her and Ryce depth? He'd probably take it as a sign she'd been thinking of him. And well, she had. A lot. The guy filled her thoughts at the strangest times. Why else would she be compelled to dig through the donated box of goods at the disposition center?

Maybe because she and Ryce spent the bulk of their waking hours at the place. Then, occasionally, they spent the hours they should be sleeping having incredible sex. The physical aspect didn't happen all that often, but they had worked up to once or twice a week.

"No, it's nothing special. We're not a couple. Just friends." She waited a beat. "With really awesome benefits."

She tucked the book under her arm and lifted her hand, knocking on the door. It opened within moments, Ryce's quick grin giving her a warm greeting.

This will hopefully be a holiday release in December.

That's it for this week.

Cheers!

Skye

Sunday Snippet: Not Enough Hope

April 27, 2014

Greetings,

Whew. Wild week in TV. Arrow, of course, amped up the tension and drama with a total shocker at the end of the episode. Okay, maybe not a total surprise, but wow, I'm dying to see what happens next. S.H.I.E.L.D went to great places and planted some new seeds for a future season (I hope!) and Orphan Black delivered another taut hour of viewing pleasure. I have several things I want to see happen with Rachel, but I'll save those for a fandom blog post. LOL I'm honestly not sure about the whole Helena/religious cult dealio, but I'll keep watching to see what happens.

Writing wise, the week ended up being way more productive than expected, in a truly odd way. I've been updating my Works in Progress page and the exercise is shaking off some cobwebs and getting the creative juices flowing again. I love it when that happens. J

Tonight's post is from Not Enough Hope, a novella where my main characters have to find their way back to each other… if they can.

Here's the tagline:

Early Gibbons walks away from her position in the fae court—and Salem Powell—to forge her own path in the human realm. When she discovers a vengeance hound on her trail, she returns to the land of fae to find out who unleashed the beast, which may be tricky since Salem is the leader and she can't discount him as the culprit.

And a preview snippet…

Early spoke quietly. "It's hard to let go of someone you loved."

Salem agreed. "It is, yes." But he hadn't loved Glenda enough. He'd used her. And she him. But they were good for each other… for a while. He'd thought maybe… no, he hadn't really. And she knew it. She wanted one last decent thing before giving it up. And maybe she'd hoped they could find their way back… but he wouldn't lie. Not this time. And Glenda realized it… he hadn't meant to take away her hope, but he had.

And she'd given up. Because of him. And Early.

Salem sighed. "Why are you here?"

Early shrugged. "It was time to come home."

Salem slid his gaze sideways. "This isn't your home anymore. Did you forget that?"

Only he could grant her access back into the fold… and right now… he didn't feel inclined. She could interact and visit family and friends—if she still had any. But unless he welcomed her, she wouldn't be embraced by the fae. Not quite a full on shunning where she'd be turned to ash if she crossed the threshold, but uncomfortable nonetheless. She'd have to resort to accepting whatever hospitality she could find and wouldn't be able to put down roots or stay past her welcome.

Early replied succinctly. "I haven't forgotten anything." She turned towards him. "You don't plan to make this easy, do you?"

Salem worked the ashes, scooping them toward the center of the pyre. "Apparently you have forgotten." He glanced up. "Nothing's ever easy with you."

Early lifted a brow. "Oh, it gets worse. I've got a vengeance hound on my ass." She crossed her arms over her chest. "Know anything about that, Salem?"

A sucker punch to the face would've shocked him less, but he wouldn't show his surprise. Not here, or now.

He held her gaze for several long moments. "There's a long list to go through to narrow down the possibilities, Early." His flicked a glance toward the fire. "And I'm a little busy at the moment."

~:~

Early's gut twisted. She deserved his scorn. Hell, she hadn't expected anything less. But Mage's blood, her timing couldn't suck worse. Arriving on the day he performed final rites on Glenda. The universe might be trying to tell her something. Too bad she didn't plan on listening.

She never did.

She'd walked away with no intention of ever coming back, but too many close calls forced her return. The only reason she could come up with for a hound chasing her had everything to do with home. Someone had cursed her and she had to find out who and why. Sadly, she couldn't rule out Salem. She wanted to, but he had some rage issues… not that she blamed him. She hated to think he might stoop to using a hound, but ten years had passed, so ruling it out… not yet.

She pushed for an answer. "Is your name at the top of the list, Salem?" Her eyes slid shut and she braced for his reply.

He didn't disappoint.

He made a low growling sound. "We're not doing this right now." He took the large ornamental spade and walked the perimeter of the pyre. "I'm laying Glenda to rest." He paused, pain marring his features. "You're intruding, which is what you do, but just once, you're going to respect the boundaries and leave." His head snapped up and he pinned her with his gaze. "Now."

Early dragged her lower lip between her teeth, biting back an urge to hurl a scathing comeback. She didn't want to encroach on his ceremony. She had no choice.

She blew out a long, cleansing breath. "I have nowhere to go, Salem."

He snorted. "Because you burned every bridge you could find on your way out." His shoulders slumped. "The Brackin house is empty. You can stay there tonight." He closed his eyes, effectively shutting her out.

Early took a moment, studying Salem, noting the changes a decade had wrought. Not many, but his face had filled out, softening the angular planes and valleys. Grief showed prominently through the tired lines around his eyes.

Early walked toward him, carefully staying clear of the burning flames.

Stopping next to him, she laid a palm on his forearm. "I'm sorry about Glenda." She squeezed lightly and moved forward, leaving him to mourn in solitude.

Salem is stuck between a rock and a hard place—my favorite spot for characters. :D

That's it for this week.

Cheers!

Skye

Banner Thursday—Skye Ritchey

Welcome to my new blog feature—Banner Day!

The general idea behind the posts is to reveal some type of artwork pertaining to one of my books—a cover, a banner, or maybe a logo or web page header.

If I didn't create the work, due credit will be given along with what I love about the graphic design. I've been very lucky to have some spectacular art for covers. J

To get things started, I'm going to post banners, beginning with the various series I have underway. I maintain three blogs, so I'll be rotating from week to week. My other blog locations are: Skylin O'Thomas and MLSkye.

The first one I'd like to feature is my author brand.

Tagline: Creating Magic Between Characters.

Concept: Skye Ritchey is my magic/fantasy/paranormal pseudonym. I like to add a little magical fantasy to sexy romance and use it to create charged—sometimes in more than one way—encounters between my characters.

Skye writes anything from urban fantasy to fae-related stories. Throw in gods, goddesses, meta-humans with powers, mages and mystics and the story possibilities seem endless.

No wonder I have so much fun writing as Skye, right?

Thanks for reading!

Please visit my website