Sunday Snippet: Mendacium

Geez, halfway through the month already and I feel like I'm stuck in reverse. Not to say I'm not getting anything done. I am. Most of it is work related, which I'm not complaining about. But … I do need to do a better work-life balance. Even my daily oracle card draw is pointing me in that direction.

I'm still buried under multiple projects, and all are making solid progress. I've never had so many nonfiction manuscripts and I'm actually enjoying being able to switch back and forth between the variety of genres there and with my fiction manuscripts. I have a holiday horror story, a romance, and a mystery in fictional work.

Not a bad viewing week. I made it through my usual round of shows did get to add the new show. I enjoyed it and will add it to my current roster. There's one additional show I'd like to work in, but I'm not sure if I'll be able to.

Caught another episode of London Kills and, yep, the beginning of the showdown with David and Vivienne started. Can't wait to see what happens next. Rob and Billie should probably brace for impact.

The new show I started is Dark Winds. So far, really enjoy the premise and the pacing. The acting is top-notch also. I had a sneaking suspicion the new deputy would end up being more than met the eye. Glad I was right about that.

Watched another episode of Death in Paradise and enjoyed it. I'd seen most of this one at some point on Ovation and I liked having the full episode from beginning to end. I'm also enjoying Darlene a lot. Glad they added her to the team.

Enjoyed another episode of Beyond Paradise. It's so much fun watching Martha's mom going on dates. I'm also interested in how things shake out with the fostering situation. Very cool to have some Margo backstory also.

Caught an episode of Elementary and I'm kind of sad Kitty is headed for parts unknown for now. I do love that her story had a satisfying resolution. Also so happy we got to see how she kind of saved Sherlock from himself.

Watched another episode of Batman Beyond. Inque made another appearance and that was fun. Also kind of cool to see Bruce back in the field and how much Terry tried to protect him.

Finished up with an episode of Classic Rugrats. Enjoyed both vignettes and also discovered I have more episodes than I thought I had left. This isn't bad news.

And that's pretty much it for the life update this week. Tonight's post is from Mendacium, a novella that works through a betrayal to bring a couple together.

Here's the miniblurb:

Kelby Svet and Reave Systevich work for Mendacium, a covert organization that monitors magical ability among the human population. When powers go out of control or get abused, Kelby and Reave deal with the fallout—until a betrayal puts them on different sides.

And a preview snippet…

Kelby Svet didn't like her odds right now. "C'mon, fellas. Cut a girl a break." She did a slow circle, keeping the trio of magick abusers in her sight.

The tallest one, Jones something, snorted. "Right. The only break we'll give you is me calling dibs. My friends here are the smash and grab type." He ignored their rude comebacks. "Unlike me, who enjoys taking things nice and slow." He leered and moved a step closer to her.

Kelby grunted. "Not what I heard. The three of you have been tearing through the neighborhood, wreaking havoc and leaving a trail a novice could follow." She turned again, slowly, making sure to keep the other two in her peripheral vision. "I'm not a novice. This is the end of your terror trip." For at least two of them.

Maybe.

The trio lacked finesse, but they could wield magick. She had serious doubts she'd be able to take all three down without any kind of backup. She cursed her handler, Pope Cantas, for sending her out on this assignment. The man liked putting her ass on the line and taking chances with her life. Where's the help he promised?

The short, squatty guy, Marlin or Morley something, sneered. "Whadaya think you can do to stop us? You're one tiny woman against three men." He puffed his chest out and lunged forward.

The third guy, name unknown, cackled. "Yeah, like you have any kind of chance." He spread his arms and muttered the beginning of an incantation.

Kelby countered with a quick silencing spell. It wouldn't last long, but it might buy her some time. She had to make a move, to choose which one to go for first. Her gut said Jones—intel listed him as the one with the most power and experience—but she ran the risk of taking on more than she could handle with him, giving the other two an opportunity to combine forces. Hovering on the brink of disaster, she sighed with relief when the door crashed open. Her sigh turned to a groan when her gaze clashed with the man who entered.

Reave Systevich.

Damn Pope for sending him.

Then again, Reave's experience probably made him the best option.

He moved into the dimly lit room with a barrage of swirling wind, drawing the attention of the three men. Kelby used the distraction to adjust her position and flank the trio. Her chin lifted and Reave shifted to his left, giving her a brief nod. She had the lead.

The unschooled group put their backs to each other and made some noise, mumbling under their breaths. Kelby kept her gaze on their hands, leaving Reave to listen and make sure they weren’t trying to use a combination spell. Tactics shuffled in her brain, and one stood out—the whiplash maneuver. Glancing up, she met Reave’s gaze and used her eyes to indicate the parlay by doing a fast flick to her right and a slow glide to the left. A quick quirk of one side of Reave’s mouth showed his agreement.

She didn’t have to clue him in on which man to target, Jones being the obvious choice. Reave didn’t waste time, giving her a curt nod. They each made a hashing motion with their hands, focusing their intent on the tall man. He whipped backward to the outer wall of the building then flew forward, crashing into the other two before slamming into the opposing side of the interior surface. Silent, mutual agreement had Reave heading for Jones. Kelby made short work of subduing the other two with physical tethers and a binding spell.

Reave dragged Jones to the middle of the space. "Good call with the whiplash." He dumped the tallest of the trio on the pile. "He's out cold for now. You got extra restraints?" His eyebrows arched in question.

Kelby dug another pair out. "Thanks for the backup. Pope didn't say who he'd be sending." She handed the tethers to Reave.

He bent to secure Jones's hands. "Yeah, well, don't like doing favors for him, but you? I don't mind helping out." His head snapped upward, and he flashed a grin.

Kelby cracked a smile. "Much appreciated. Pope is definitely an acquired taste." And sometimes even she could barely stand the bitter flavor her handler dished out.

Reave straightened. "He's also an asshole on a power trip but thank fuck I don't have to deal with him often." His head tilted toward the door. "You have transport, or did he send you in unprepared as usual?"

Her face flamed, because she couldn't deny Pope only gave her sketchy details. "I was within walking distance when they pinpointed their location." Why did she feel the need to cover for her handler?

Reave snorted. "Right. Let's get them hauled out to my ride." He grabbed the smaller two by their collars and pulled them to their feet. "I'll get Jones." Leaning down, he grabbed the unconscious guy and started tugging him to the door.

Kelby directed the other two outside and into Reave's SUV.

He maneuvered Jones into the back of the vehicle and secured the hatch before coming around to her side. "Might as well ride in with me. Unless you have to head back out on patrol?"

Kelby only hesitated a moment. "I do have to go back out, but I might as well help get this lot processed." She popped the passenger door open. "Thanks for the lift." Even if it would be awkward.

Reave's lips quirked again. "Sure thing." He strode over to the driver's side and slid behind the wheel.

Kelby settled in and gazed out the window. Now that the dangerous group had been subdued, she let her mind spin out to how circumstances kept putting her in Reave's orbit. In any other scenario, she'd be thrilled to work with him. Actually, she liked him. A lot.

But she never acted on the attraction she had for him. Because we have a history … and it's not the good kind. So … she avoided getting sexually tangled up with him. Which sucked balls because adrenaline flowed hot after that takedown and she kind of wanted him in a bad way.

Yet … she'd be stupid to think he'd want to pursue anything. After all, she'd been responsible for his best friend's death. And she really didn't like having red on her ledger.

Kind of a long preview this week, but I'm so happy with this scene.

That's it for this week.

Cheers!

Skye

Sunday Snippet: It's Always the Same Show

The end of October is nigh and, man, it's been a month. Between work projects and personal life stuff, time flew by fast. Helped my oldest kidlet move some things from their old place to their new one and also took him for a job interview. Happy to say he got an offer and should start sometime soon. Also looking forward to trick or treat night and then gearing up for the holidays.

Happy to say the areas where I had my extractions are finally healed up enough that I can eat most types of food. I'm still careful with anything hard and crunchy but otherwise normal intake isn't a challenge anymore.

Stayed busy with work. Have a tricky manuscript that's kind of giving me fits with continuity and consistency concerns, which makes the edit slow way down. Sent off a couple of quotes for upcoming projects and look forward to getting started on those.

Had a decent week of viewing. I made it through a full round of my shows but kind of in backward order. Will probably have the same thing this week.

Started off with an episode of Elementary and thoroughly enjoyed it. Nice to see Lastrade get back on track. Interesting twisty case also.

Caught an episode of The Batman and enjoyed it. Always like seeing the Flash in action. I remembered most of this episode also.

Enjoyed an episode of Classic Rugrats and only remembered one of the vignettes. The other two were either new to me or memory holed.

Watched another episode of Mr. and Mrs. Murder. I do remember bits of this one and I’m glad I got to see the whole thing from start to finish.

Caught another episode of London Kills and I like how the new cases play into the overall case of the disappearance of David's wife. Looking forward to seeing how this season ends.

Enjoyed another episode of Death in Paradise. Loved the case because it's fun to see a bit of Ruby's past mixed in with the present. I enjoy her interactions with Commission Patterson. Gotta say, I'm not sure I enjoy Neville Parker. I appreciate the fact he's very different from the previous three DIs but … the constant afflictions are, well, annoying.

On a side note, I discovered there's a second spinoff of this show that's set in Australia. I'm looking forward to seeing it when it's available in the US.

Started a new two-part Silent Witness and it's terrific to see Jack's niece take a role in the Lylle. Looking forward to the second half of this episode.

Another side note … most of the cast from Battlestar Galactica is in Chicago for the twentieth anniversary of the show. I've been poking around all weekend to stay up to date on what's happening at the convention. My mind is completely blown that it's been twenty years since the premiere of the series. It's still probably my all-time favorite show.

That's pretty much it for the life update this week. Tonight's post is from It's Always the Same Show, a novella that reunites a couple that can't help but push each other's buttons.

Here's the miniblurb:

Lanie Beck and Titus Berkley are tasked with whipping a new class of cadet mages into shape for the Academy of Light. The biggest problem they face is never agreeing on how to make it happen. The cadets quickly learn to tune in and enjoy the show.

And a preview snippet…

"Great mage. Could I be more of an idiot?" Lanie walked up the path to Titus's cottage.

She shouldn't have agreed to meet him. But she wanted to set the record straight between them. Standing outside his door, she pushed down the nervous tremble in her stomach down, then knocked.

Two seconds later, Titus's face greeted her, and she crossed the threshold into his home. Half a second later, her back hit the wall and her lips were caught in a steamy kiss. Oh … she'd missed his mouth. Not that she hadn't indulged in a few liaisons, but no one got her revved and going like Titus.

And, ugh, she didn't come here for reunion sex. She couldn't. Not when her whole future rode on getting her class prepared. She pushed against his chest, and he took the hint, stepping back to give her some breathing room.

Titus sighed. "Well, I would've said we answered the where-we-stand thing, but you'd disagree, wouldn't you?" He wiped the corner of his mouth with his thumb.

Lanie shrugged. "I didn't come here to pick up where we left off, no. I just want to avoid a lot of awkwardness if we can." She willed her heartrate to slow down.

Titus snorted. "Lanie, we've never been awkward. Passionate, volatile, on opposite sides of too much stuff, but never awkward." He paused. "Why are you really here?" He folded his arms over his chest.

Lanie eased away from the wall. "To make sure you know I'm back to stay. I finally found my niche. Discovered something I'm very good at." She slowly walked into the living room then turned to face him. "The rest? You and me. Has to take a backseat until I get this semester out of the way." She couldn't do more at the moment. "And, even then, I have no idea if there can ever be an us." As much as she really wanted him.

Titus grunted. "So, basically, you're here to yank my chain."

She growled right back. "No, dammit, but if you need to see it that way, I won't try to change your mind." She dashed past him and pulled the door open. "Let's try to stay out of each other's way." Better yet, she'd completely avoid him if possible.

Titus followed her to the threshold when she exited the house. "Sure, we can try." He closed the door with a loud bang. "Not gonna be easy." His muffled response reached her ears.

Lanie stalked away from his cottage and walked toward the visiting-instructor residence—her home until she made the cut. Why on earth would Titus think they'd have a hard time avoiding each other? She'd go out of her way to give him wide berth. The less she let him distract her from her goal the better.

Unlocking the door, she stepped inside the warm interior of the house. She did her nightly ritual, then headed to bed. Room 322 would greet her early in the morning.

Hopefully she wouldn't have any sexy dreams about Titus…

I'm not much of an angst fan, but this story definitely has some between Lanie and Titus.

 

That's it for this week.

Cheers!

Skye

Sunday Snippet: Hush

Another crazy week with record low temperatures for August. I'm talking wear a jacket because it dipped into the low forties at night. This week we're supposed to be back up in the mid to high nineties. Weather is wild.

 

Seriously jammed with work projects right now and I love being busy. I'm at the point where I'd love to have another four hours added to each day, so I don't feel like there aren't enough hours in the day. Also had to figure out a few things for my daughter's grad school, like how to drop a class and add a new one before the semester starts, which is Monday. As mentioned last week, she was in Ontario Canada for a theater festival and didn't have a lot of downtime. The good news is, she's set to go. Yay!

 

I didn't have a lot of viewing time this week. The verdict on my car is still out and that's been hovering in the back of my mind and distracting me. My work projects also need my full attention.

 

I did get to watch an episode of Elementary and ended up enjoying it. I skipped the one that I struggled to get through. I'd rather have forward momentum than get stuck and drop the show.

 

And that's pretty much it for the life update this week. Tonight's post is from Hush, a novella where a hex makes it impossible for a couple to speak without wanting to inflict harm on each other.

 

Here's the miniblurb:

 

Kia Bleu and Chip Strachey have a powerful connection and finally give in to their attraction. When Chip's former flame hexes the couple, they have to learn to communicate without words.

 

And a preview snippet…

Kia reviewed Chip's written scrawl and paced the floor in her apartment. Chip's plan bordered on genius. They would be using Sadie's hex in the upper room sports arena at The Cave. If Mario agreed—and he would—he'd put the word out she and Chip had entered into a blood match, their sudden intense and rabid dislike of each other spurring them to invoke a battle of wills and first blood won the pot.

Kia's lips curved. "Sadie won't be able to resist coming, even though she loathes The Cave." And she would suffer for the effort.

Kia and Chip would build up a good dose of rage then create a feedback loop with an incantation that sent the hex back to its maker, strengthening the bond and increasing the outcome.

Kia rocked back on her heels. "And it'll be a bitch when it hits." A karma spell intensified by not having a specific object or person to bind the hex with.

Any man Sadie decided she wanted would automatically despise her and seek to get away from her presence as quickly as possible.

Kia snorted. "Karma sucks, babe." But it would be a fitting result for her treachery.

Sadie would suffer the consequences of her brazen disregard for the ban on using magick against fellow students. Kia and Chip would sidestep any repercussions. They'd done their due diligence. The law of the mage allowed the injured party or parties to seek retribution. And the focus of their spell would go directly to the source, offering the burden of proof.

Kia's phone pinged. "Mario put the word out. Tonight at seven." She smiled.

The past week had brought them closer than ever. Learning to communicate—and have sex—without words somehow gave her a deeper understanding of Chip. She'd bet Sadie didn't factor that little side effect into the grand scheme of things when she'd placed her hex. Kia could almost feel sorry for the sultry beauty—if Kia hadn't been on the receiving end of the spell.

Then again, she could see how Chip's reputation as a great guy and general attractiveness might inspire a desperate measure. No, actually, Kia didn't really get it. Sadie should think better of herself. Maybe Kia would get a chance to share that idea once the big blood match did its work.

If nothing else, she wanted Sadie to realize mages should work to build each other up instead of trying to trash their lives.

I'm having a lot of fun with this story. Kia and Chip are an amazing couple to write.

 

That's it for this week.

Cheers!

Skye

Sunday Snippet: Hell Is in the Details

Washing machine update. The new washer got here and I'm happy to say the mountain of clothes is now a manageable pile. It's amazing!

Coffeemaker update. The new one arrived and it's a combo single cup or full pot. I love it. Here's hoping my caffeine habit doesn't trash this one in under a year.

Another crazy-busy work week. I finished up the mystery and the romance copy edits and started a cozy mystery. Also continued with novella edits. Had a couple of calls about two or three new projects. I'm excited! I also managed to get some good writing in for myself. A good week!

I didn't get much of anything watched on my viewing schedule. I did a LOT of social media scrolling, especially after Biden stepped aside and endorsed Kamala Harris for the democratic nomination. That's unexpected and exciting. Also spent a lot of time shaking my head over the GOP nomination for vice president. It's going to be an interesting couple of months.

And that's pretty much it for the life update this week. Tonight's post is from Hell Is in the Details, a novella that explores what happens to a couple when one of them takes the other for granted.

Here's the miniblurb:

Macyn has a one-night stand with an immortal creature and suffers the consequences when he traps her in a maze of deception. Once free, she withdraws from her clan and it's up to Vig to bring her back from the brink of madness.

And a preview snippet…

Macyn ignored the stab of pain from his statement. Emphasis on her. Right.

She inhaled deeply. "Why the hell not?" The reason better be good because his lack of faith in her pissed her off.

Vig sighed. "Because you have to have your heart and mind so full of someone else the immortal can't draw from your life force." He paused a moment. "That means you have to be open and trust someone enough to give them power over both." He kept his features schooled with the exception of an arched brow.

And, okay, this time she deserved his doubt. Giving control over to someone else had never been her bailiwick. She met people as equals or nothing. And she handled sex the same way.

But … if Vig's idea worked, she couldn't not try. "Let's say I can. How does that kill the immortal?" Because if that fucker came back again, she'd end her life to be finished with him.

Vig lifted a shoulder. "It might not kill Bartlett, but it should weaken him enough to take his life force or drain it." He met and held her gaze. "The more you trust and love, the stronger your bond with someone else, the faster his chi will be drained."

She struggled to wrap her head around the concept. Once upon a time, she'd have said Vig fit the role of person she trusted most and loved the deepest. And yet … she'd never told him. Then she went totally off the rails and landed in Barnett's clutches.

Not her best moment.

And now … she had to get free. Obviously, shooting, stabbing—twice, strangulation, poison, fire … none of the other options she'd used worked to get rid of the horrific nightmare she'd unleased. But this—if she could expose herself completely to someone else—sounded too good to be possible.

Vig would be the only person she'd consider. But could she really give him dominion? Hadn't she had that once? With him? Yeah, maybe not so much. Tearing down walls and opening her heart didn't come easy … if either came at all.

But she had to try to get out of her own way.

She closed her eyes for a moment, then focused on Vig again. "Explain how this would work."

This story is full of twisty turns, and I love how it's coming together. Vig and Macyn have some big hurdles to get through.

 

That's it for this week.

Cheers!

Skye

Sunday Snippet: Going to Extremes

Happy Father's Day to anyone celebrating. For those not for whatever reason, I hope your day is filled with peace and calm and you find your joy.

It's been a really rough week. I definitely didn't make it through the worst the week prior. I had a lot more yuck to get through. Thankfully, I'm now down to some nagging congestion, but I can breathe again and I'm not coughing every five minutes, which makes me happy because we're due for some awful heat this week.

Managed to stay mostly on top of my work projects. I'm not as far along as I'd like to be, but I'm within my window to meet my deadlines. Not being 100 percent isn't fun but at least I can work around being less than my best. If I had a job with set hours, I'd still probably be fighting through the slog of upper respiratory yuck.

Had a very slow week of viewing. I didn't have the brain power to get involved in much of anything but comfort shows like Perry Mason and Midsomer Murders.

I did catch another Best in Paradise and thoroughly enjoyed the introduction from Don Warrington. It's fun to hear him speak without the Caribbean accent.

I also watched another Death in Paradise and it's one I only saw bits and pieces of when it first aired. Nice to see if from start to finish.

That's pretty much it for the life update this week. Hopefully I'll be back to somewhat normal for next week's entry.

Tonight's post is from Going to Extremes, a novella that got a start from a writing community prompt.

Here's the miniblurb:

In a magickal realm where dragons are born and raised, a proctor is using dark arts to gain control over the mystical beasts. To stop his plot, the undermage, Clemson Sentre, sends his best wranglers, Osana Wrang and Calix Sentre, to remove the proctor from power during an event with an esteemed rival. But the dangerous and daring plan goes awry and puts the couple in peril and makes them face how they feel for each other.

And a preview snippet…

Osana Wrang bumped into Calix Sentre when she rounded the corner to the undermage's chambers. "Um, sorry about that." She stepped back and smoothed her palm over her short cape. "Did your uncle summon you, also?" There could be no way Clemson Sentre found out about her recent liaison with Calix … right?

Not that it mattered. They didn't break any rules by sharing a bed … er … couch then a bed. But Clemson might not be thrilled his protégé nephew decided to hook up with her.

At least I'm his favorite student—and wrangler—ever.

Calix lifted his chin. "He did. Any clue what this is all about?" He propped a shoulder along the wall.

Osana shook her head. "Nope. You don't think he found out we're…" She trailed off because she had no idea how to refer to their new status.

Friends with benefits?

More than coworkers?

Rivals that smash on the downlow?

She pulled her thoughts in and met Calix's gaze. "Sorry. Never mind." What they called themselves didn't matter right now.

Calix's lips curved in a smirk. "No. I don't think. Wouldn't matter anyway. We're grown-ass adults and the two best dragon wranglers on his campus." Folding his arms over his chest, he grunted. "And we're at the top of the mage roster also. Having incredible sex doesn't change any of that." His eyebrow arched, daring her to counter his statement.

She couldn't because she got hung up on the incredible sex part. Because, yeah, no argument there. Which he'd know considering they'd been friends since entering the Silverwing Academy as students seven years ago. Even if their kinship made no sense. They approached everything from opposite ends. Calix slid into whatever he tackled with measured thought and astute reasoning. She jumped in feet first and slogged through whatever stood in her way.

Calix cleared his throat to get her attention. "Os? Am I wrong? Has everything changed?" A note of worry entered his voice.

She blinked. "What? No. Well, of course, it changes a little, but not the important stuff." She'd stab herself in the before she let that happen.

Calix pushed away from the wall. "Then let's see what the old man wants, yeah?"

She nodded. "Absolutely." Lifting her hand, she knocked on the heavy teak doors.

I just started this one and I'm already having so much fun writing this duo. Can't wait to see what happens next.

 

That's it for this week.

Cheers!

Skye

Sunday Snippet: Fistful of Sorry

May is winding down and it's been kind of a whirlwind month. Or I might be hitting that age where time seems to fly by faster every day.

Not a bad work week. I finished up a project and jumped back into one that had been sitting on the back burner for a while. Also started a new one. Got some writing done also, which makes me happy because the sages have been on an extended vacation.

Pretty good week of viewing also. I managed to go through my slate of shows twice and finished up an episode I left hanging a few weeks ago.

Watched two episodes of The Brokenwood Mysteries. Thoroughly enjoyed both. I'm so excited this show is back for another season. I love the characters so much.

Caught two episodes of Death in Paradise. Finished up season seven and ended up liking it a lot. Starting season eight this week.

Started watching Best in Paradise, which features the favorite episodes of the cast. Got two viewed, and I think I'll continue watching. They have fun intros from the cast member and why the episode is one of their favorites.

Watched two episodes of Elementary and I really love how Joan is being fleshed out and using her knowledge. Also kind of happy to see some growth with Sherlock.

Enjoyed two episodes of The Batman. I remembered both and enjoyed each one. Really fun to have Robin and Batgirl working together to take down the rogues.

Caught one episode of Suspects and it ended up being a twisty affair, which I love. I have two more episodes of season four and then I'll start the final fifth season.

Watched two episodes of Classic Rugrats. Finished up the lead-in to the movie and caught the first episode post wedding. Fun stuff.

Also finished an episode of Peak Practice I started a couple of weeks ago. The later seasons seem to be a little hit or miss for me. Can't wait to finally get to season twelve.

That's it for the life update this week. Tonight's post is from Fistful of Sorry, a novella that puts a couple through a trial by fire.

Here's the miniblurb:

Orly Manx and Cal Luminity always approach situations from opposite angles but usually end up on the same side. When Orly pushes a cadet too far during training, she apologizes to Cal for not following his advice. But Cal isn't interested in listening or quick to forgive, which drives a wedge between them, and Orly realizes how much she needs Cal to play yin to her yang. Clearly in the wrong, Orly can't take back her actions, so making amends is all she has left.

And a preview snippet…

Cal could kick himself for thinking he could appeal to Orly's better nature and hope for the best. "Because that always blows up in my face." He cut through the quad and headed for the morning session of free-time exercise in the training room also known as the shed.

Not keeping his word to Barnabas might bite Cal on the ass. He didn't want to break the confidence, but he couldn't see another way to try and get Orly on board. And, of course, she didn't cooperate anyway.

Pulling the door open, Cal sighed. "Barnabas can be angry if he wants to." Benson wouldn't discover his grandfather's meddling from Orly.

That much Cal could count on.

He entered the wide, airy space and took a post along the north wall to observe Benson during his warmup. A lot of information revealed itself when a plebe didn't have the pressure to perform sitting squarely on their shoulders. Benson moved with ease even if he struggled with some of the gestures needed for spell-casting.

It's not lack of coordination. It's lack of confidence.

Cal understood that on a deep level. When he first started at the school as a student, carrying the family name added a heavy weight to everything he did. From living up to the expectations of the faculty to fighting against the preconceived notions of his fellow cadets, Cal's first year still topped the chart as the most tortured. He suffered paralyzing stage fright and almost gave up because the pressure to succeed as a member of a founding family nearly did him in.

His saving grace? Orly. She'd blazed into the school with nothing but raw, amazing talent and a willingness to do anything necessary to become a premier mage. She also befriended Cal, according to her, despite the fact he had privilege stamped all over him. On some weird level, she recognized a kindred spirit … someone who wanted to be the very best. Unlike everyone else, she didn't ask questions about or pry into his family dynamics … mainly because she didn't care if got along with his parents or whether he lived up to their standards. The only thing she wanted from him? Companionship, in and out of bed, and someone she could challenge and be challenged by.

Cal snorted. "And to this day, she still lives for the competition." Which normally didn't bother him…

Until now.

Because Benson Mikkleson gave away a lot of clues during his free-time exercise. He subtly eyed the other students and tried to mimic their stances. Maybe because his sensitivity held him back. Or … possibly because he had a ton of baggage he needed to work on checking before he really settled into his ability. Without a friend like Orly in his corner, Benson would probably struggle to find his place.

Cal frowned. "Why can't she remember how much we hated the grueling methods?" Because those practices worked ninety percent of the time.

Yet … how many good mages did they lose because of an unbending structure?

Pushing away from the wall, Cal headed for the exit so he could prepare for his first class. "Here's hoping Benson Mikkleson won't be in the ten percent that don't make it through the first semester…"

I'm very happy with how this story is coming together. I love writing a couple with issues and Cal and Orly definitely don't see eye to eye sometimes.

 

That's it for this week.

Cheers!

Skye

Sunday Snippet: Conjuring Justice

It's been a rough week where my brain wants to do anything but focus on work. We also got eight inches of snow on Friday and the temps dropped way down again. My sinuses are not happy at the moment.

Not a bad week of viewing television. The whole distraction thing kind of kept me from getting a full slate watched. I did get through most of my normal shows.

I started out with My Life Is Murder. I kind of like the new assistant but I'm wondering what's going on the Maddie. I also love seeing actors from other shows pop up on this one. I didn't realize how much Australian and New Zealand shows I've been watching.

Caught another episode of Agatha Raisin and finished up the two-parter. Kind of wigged out that James is getting married to someone else. But I loved the interactions in this one.

Continued the eight-part, I think, Silent Witness. This season is very intriguing with a lot of twists and turns. I'm looking forward to seeing how everything plays out.

Enjoyed another episode of Death in Paradise and didn't remember seeing any of this one. Happy to have it in the watched pile.

Watched another episode of Elementary. The introduction of Moriarity is something I've looked forward to. Not sure how I feel about Joan lying to Sherlock, but I'll reserve judgment until I see how it rolls on screen.

Caught another episode of The Batman. Enjoyed seeing Scarface again. Also liked peeling back the layers of Hugo Strange. He's an intriguing character.

Enjoyed another episode of Classic Rugrats. I don't remember either of them from the original run and liked both. Such a fun show.

Also watched another episode of The Secret Life of Amy Benson. Very interesting twist with Maggie coming back. I can definitely see how the books this series is based on would captivate readers. I do think there's a little loss of translation from the page to screen, but I really love this series a lot.

That's pretty much it for the life update this week. Tonight's post is from Conjuring Justice, an experimental novella that closely follows the plot and storyline of a contemporary novella I'm also working on.

Here's the miniblurb:

A mesmer that practices the dark arts uses Koren Milnar, a skilled conjurer, to take out an entire mage council. She's taken into custody by Talbot Lindsay, a dream walker who is tasked with discovering what prompted Koren's wild spree. The dream walker gradually earns Koren's trust—while trying to avoid falling for her—and uncovers a sinister plot that leads back to her childhood.

And a preview snippet…

Koren Milnar watched the medallion spinning back and forth, listening to the monotone voice behind her as it counted backward from one hundred. Her eyelids drooped and she hated the pull against her will. At twelve, she didn't understand the intricacies of hypnosis, but she agreed to be put under. Seventeen-year-old Jamma Sager, the hypnotist and resident mesmer, convinced the group home matron it would be a fun experiment for the younger kids in the residence.

What a load of crap.

He wanted to get back at Koren for being able to resist his mesmer ability. She didn't know how she did it, but she blocked him with a shield. He couldn't make her do anything he directed her to do, and the idea drove him mad.

Jamma opened with a soothing tone. "Koren, you're relaxed now, and open to all suggestions. Do you understand?"

She automatically responded, "Yes, Jamma."

"Good, good." He placed the shiny medal aside and moved in closer. "Do you remember what we're doing?"

Koren nodded. "Yes, Jamma."

"And what is that, Koren?" His voice took on a lilting tone.

She sank deeper into the hypnosis. "Practicing for the fun show you want to put on for the other kids."

Jamma's voice hovered against her right ear. "And what else are we doing today, Koren?"

She didn't hesitate with her answer. "Sowing the seeds to get past my shield."

Jamma smiled. "Good, Koren, very good."

I love the idea of putting a paranormal spin on a contemporary story I'm also writing. If all goes well, I'll be doing a science fiction version also.

 

That's it for this week.

Cheers!

Skye

Sunday Snippet: Broken Down and Maxed Out

Brrrr. It's cold outside. Thankfully, we only lost power once during the first gusty windstorm and didn't lose it all while the wind howled over the last three days. And I can live with a couple of inches of snow. Not a huge fan of temperatures in the teens but layers help when I have to take the dogs out.

Had a super-busy work week and I'm thrilled to have my calendar filling up with projects. I like to stay steady because it keeps me motivated and focused. When I have too much free time I get lost in a haze.

Not a bad week for viewing. I made a full circuit through my regular shows minus the rewatch of Battlestar Galactica. The power blip caused a delay there.

Started the week with My Life Is Murder and enjoyed the episode. The mystery ended up being pretty decent.

Caught the second half of Agatha Raisin and thoroughly enjoyed. The cast really hits on all cylinders and even though I miss James, I love the vibe of these characters.

Started a new two-part Silent Witness. I'm kind of happy to see Jack's familial issues. His brother is a piece of work and I'm interested to see where things go with him. Rather like the new colleague. Looking forward to seeing how she fits in.

Watched another episode of Death in Paradise. I didn't really remember this one so I enjoyed it. Fun to see the commissioner on the suspect board.

Caught another episode of Elementary and quite liked the way Sherlock ended up being on the outs with both Joan and the captain. Fun episode.

Enjoyed another episode of The Batman. I'm nearing the end of the first season and all the players are established for the most part. And the episodes are holding up fairly well.

Watched another episode of Classic Rugrats. I didn't remember either of the vignettes so really enjoyed watching both.

Finished out the first season of The Secret Life of Amy Benson. I'm intrigued and interested in how things are going to play out in the next season, which I'll probably start this week.

Also managed to finish the episode of VIP that I started last week. Looking forward to a new one this week if time permits.

That's it for the life update this week. Tonight's post is from Broken Down and Maxed Out, a novella that explores what happens when a couple hits their wall of limitation at the same time.

Here's the miniblurb:

When Dallas Kirk and Rafe Quinoza, two top agents in the Ministry of Magickal Defense, are broken down and maxed out they turn to each other to regroup and recharge. But when they reach their saturation point at the same time, they struggle to keep their connection strong, which is difficult when they blame themselves for a mission gone wrong.

And a preview snippet…

Rafe waited until Dallas healed completely then drifted off for a few hours. He woke up just before dawn and wondered what had happened the previous night.

His hand skimmed her torso, and his mind absorbed the details. "Shit, Marjam had backup." Did I miss a key piece of information?

Dallas could've handled Calla on her own. But the monstrous mercenary gave her a big hurdle to overcome before she could get to Marjam. The guy looked like he ate steroids for each meal … and he had a familiar face.

Rafe grunted when the name came to him. "Hank Willem. Nasty piece of work." And very expensive.

How the hell could Marjam Calla afford Willem's fee?

A question for another time. After Rafe got rid of the images scrolling through his brain. Willem worked Dallas over pretty hard. The asshole had his hands around her throat more than once and used hellfire to keep her busy while Calla tried to escape.

But Dallas prepped in advance and had the warehouse sealed off. Which meant she couldn't call in for help. She'd finally used a sage bomb to subdue Willem then went after Marjam. He didn't go down without a fight, flinging whatever he had close at hand in Dallas's path. He'd clocked her with a trailer awning and left a line of abrasions on her jaw. Then he finally got backed into a corner, giving Dallas a chance to get him cuffed and controlled.

She took Calla out to the SUV and returned for Willem only to find he'd managed to escape the sage containment field.

Dallas woke up and met his gaze. "You know what happened?" She rolled to her side and propped her head on her hand. "Should've used salt to trap the huge goon Calla had covering his ass." She frowned.

Rafe lifted his chin. "His name's Hank Willem. A nasty merc that's way above Marjam's ability to compensate." There had to be another player in the background.

Dallas grunted. "That's what I thought, too." She narrowed her eyes. "Why didn't we know about him?" She waited a moment. "Unless we have a breach in the ministry."

Rafe shook his head. "I don't think so. I mean anything's possible, but I'd guess Willem was a last-minute addition. My information said Calla would be alone." His gut twisted. "You think this is on me?"

Dallas rolled her shoulder. "No, I don't blame you. I'm pissed because I walked into a trap and set myself up to fail by warding the warehouse and cutting communication. Not my idea of fun to battle a huge hulking bruiser only to have him escape." She sat up and ran her fingers through her hair. "Not to mention making me have to mess with my hair." Sliding to the edge of the bed, she stood and headed for the bathroom.

Rafe tracked her movement, getting a look at the uneven and ragged edges of her hairline. "I'll call Adam and let him know you'll be in later than expected." He reached for his phone and dialed their direct superior.

I love how this story is coming together. Rafe and Dallas are pulled right to the edge and it's fun to write that angle.

 

That's it for this week.

Cheers!

Skye 

Sunday Snippet: Broken Arrow

Well, January in Ohio has been the usual weird warm one day, cool the next, and hey, let's throw some snow into the mix. It's not a lot of snow, but it's enough to be annoying until we get the first really good blanket of the white stuff.

Solid work week. I had a bunch of projects going and added a few to my calendar. I'm kind of excited to be delving into some new territory. I also got a lot done on my new venture and updating my website, which is very much needed. I've neglected it for far too long.

Had a decent week of television. Didn't quite make it through every show, but I got most of my current slate watched.

Stared the week with My Life Is Murder and kind of liked seeing a bit of Alexa's past even if her friend ended up being the culprit.

Caught the first part of a two-part Agatha Raisin. Enjoyed it for the most part. I'm not a fan of the whole lack of progress with Bill and Toni, but I loved having Roy back.

Finished up the second part of Silent Witness and I'm disappointed they lost Adam after a handful of episodes. What a twist though.

Watched another episode of Death in Paradise, starting the fifth season. I'm very much enjoying being able to watch all the episodes in chronological order.

Enjoyed an episode of Elementary. I kind of like the lack of boundaries and the need to establish them. This episode kind of brought that idea home in a big way.

Caught another episode of The Batman. "Grundy's Night" ended up being so much fun and it's one I didn't quite remember from my original run through.

Watched another Classic Rugrats. I actually didn't remember either of these, so it was fun to watch.

Finally, started a new episode of The Secret Life of Amy Benson. I'm enjoying this series, but I also feel like a lot is being left off the screen. Probably the biggest fallback when adapting books for viewing. That said, I love that Passionflix is doing this. So many books to choose from and they've chosen some of the very best.

That's it for the life update this week. Tonight's post is from Broken Arrow, a novella that explores the relationship between a couple dealing with a limiting experience.

Here's the miniblurb:

Cailin Berg is a broken arrow, a mage suffering from a crippling experience who can no longer use their skills, and she wants to find a way back to her practice. Phelps Morlach can't give her any answers, but he will offer whatever assistance he can provide … especially since he holds some of the responsibility for Cailin's predicament.

And a preview snippet…

Phelps got another book from the pile sitting on his desk. "There has to be an answer here." He'd spent the past month studying possibilities for Cailin's dream and potential reasons for her appearance through a portal with no memory.

The obvious reason hit hard. "She could be a darkling." And wouldn't that suck.

Darklings tended to walk a shadowy path whether they wanted to or not. The pull to use the black arts often overcame the ability to cause no harm with magick. Anything damaging would make steep deposits in the negative column of karma.

Phelps dug into his research on darklings and made notes for an hour before putting that tome aside and grabbing another.

He heaved a sigh and started a new section on his notepad. "Maybe she's a changeling…" Which could explain the big gap in her memory.

Changlings were often blank slates waiting for direction. Cailin's dreams could be prophetic of things to come or a warning of what to avoid. The not knowing part about her past made reaching a conclusion difficult. But the lack of memory could also be part of the journey. Cailin would be able to choose what road she wanted to travel if she had the changling gene.

His heart leaned in the direction he wanted it to go, and he spent the next few hours poring over passages filled with information about other changlings and how they navigated their course. A lot of the descriptions fit Cailin's set of circumstances. Hope reared itself like a bright, shiny beacon, and Phelps gave himself permission to revel in the possibilities for the future.

But he didn't spend too much time in that happy place.

Because there could be one additional explanation for Cailin's troubles.

He put the books back on the shelf and retrieved a carton filled to the brim. "She could be carrying a curse, which might also explain a lot." Setting the box on the table, he started digging through the books, leaflets, and handwritten journals.

He picked a few different works. Curses, hexes, and bedevilments would be his topic of research for the next day. Right now, he needed to get some sleep, or he wouldn't be able to work with a clear head. Placing everything he'd need in a neat arrangement he got up and headed for his bedroom.

After crawling between the sheets, he let his mind drift to the edge of the city and a bar called the Houndstooth. Cailin would probably be finishing her shift and getting ready to head to the Shanty soon. Turning to his side, he ached with the knowledge of where she'd landed. He'd known her whereabouts within the first day after she'd left.

But … he kept his distance. She had to find her truth. Until he had something to offer in the way of assistance, he'd leave her on her own.

Even if the idea kicked him in the gut.

 I love how this story is coming together. Phelps is a great character to write.

 

That's it for this week.

 Cheers!

 Skye

Sunday Snippet: Zinging Barbs (Paranormal Bonus Scene)

We had another week of record high temperatures, which means we'll be having brisk, chilly weather this week. Time for more soup! Trick or treat is actually on Halloween this year and we're supposed to have rain and wind. Should make handing candy out lots of fun.

Had another busy work week and also got a good bit of writing done. I'm very close to being ready to launch my new venture. I think everything is lined up.

Had a decent week watching television. I'm still in that weird place of needing silence to focus sometimes, which is truly odd for me. I usually need some kind of background noise going on.

Ended up catching two episodes of My Life Is Murder and enjoyed both. Alexa is growing on me a little more. I'm very interested in getting some additional backstory for her.

Watched a full episode of Agatha Raisin and started another one. I'm kind of crushed they're going to drag out the whole deal with James. I kind of love them together.

Caught the second half of the Silent Witness two-parter. Ended up liking the twists in this one.

Enjoyed an episode of Death in Paradise. I remembered this one from my sporadic watching on the Ovation channel. So weird that this episode timed so closely to Haydn's death. She guest-starred in this episode.

Watched another episode of Only Murders in the Building. Seriously enjoyed this one. But I do miss having the trio solving the mystery together.

Caught an episode of The Batman. It was the first of a two-parter and introduced the origin of Clayface in this version.

Enjoyed another episode of Classic Rugrats. I remembered one of them but not the other. Kind of nice to be surprised.

Watched another episode of VIP and enjoyed it. It's fun when the whole team goes out for job.

And that's pretty much it for the life update this week. Tonight's post is from Zinging Barbs, a bonus read featuring the couple from The Blushing Brawler.

Here's the miniblurb:

Yardley Holmes has a habit for using zinging barbs to motivate Cale Scarsdale, which makes them late for an awards ceremony because Cale has a talent for shutting Yardley up by getting her hot and bothered.

And a preview snippet…

Yardley Holmes poked her head into the bedroom she shared with Cale Scarsdale. "Come on, Ruralsville. We gotta get going." She'd finished getting ready twenty minutes ago.

Clad only in a towel, Cale glanced up from swiping through the closet. "Yeah, I know. Can't find the black shirt I need." He went back to moving hangers.

Yardley rolled her eyes. "So wear a red one. Geez, it's not that hard." Her lips quirked because Cale usually gave her shit for being indecisive.

Not tonight. She'd had the perfect outfit for the award ceremony giving Cale top honors on the circuit. She'd picked it up a month after they got together. A silky wine-colored wrap dress that showed off her cleavage and toned legs. That's how confident I was in him taking the crown.

Cale frowned. "I'm not wearing competitor team colors." He finally snagged the black shirt and tossed it on the bed.

Yardley snorted. "No one cares. Wait, what are you looking for now?" He'd gone back to the closet and started rifling through more clothes.

Cale gave her a sideways glance. "Gotta find a tie. Can't look fresh off the farm, can I?" He went back to his search.

Yardley winced. "Seriously? You're gonna use my words against me?" Not that she didn't deserve the barb.

Cale rolled a broad shoulder. "You weren't wrong. Had a lot to learn, didn't I?" He found a silvery gray tie and laid it on the shirt.

Yardley didn't comment. She'd been ruthless when Cale first arrived in her father's gym. She didn't think anyone from Ruralsville could get up to speed on the circuit in a limited amount of time … even if they did have a hard body that made women swoon.

Including her.

But Cale proved her so very wrong.

And the delicious memories got her hot and bothered in the worst way, and they did not have time to indulge her neediness at the moment.

She tsked. "Please tell me you're not going to coordinate your sock and underwear colors? We gotta get going." Before she jumped him and made them really late.

Cale arched a brow. "Didn't plan on wearing underwear, but I probably have some black ones around her somewhere." He moved toward the dresser.

Yardley marched around the bed. "Don't you dare. We're gonna be cutting it close already." She grabbed his forearm to halt his progress.

Cale turned and clasped his hand around her throat, lifting her up against the wall. "Uh-huh, maybe it's worth being late, because I have you right where I want you." He used his free hand and had her breasts out and panties down before she could think straight.

Moisture pooled between her thighs and heat gathered low in her belly. "Damn, Cale. We're not really going to do this, are we?" Her words came out in breathy rasps.

He gave her a wolfish grin. "We're not, but I am." His head dipped and his lips closed around a taut nipple.

This is such a fun little glimpse into Cale and Yardley's life. I love writing tiny peeks into my characters' lives.

 

That's it for this week.

Cheers!

Skye