Sunday Snippet: Melee

April is off to a weird start. We had a tornado warning in the wee hours of Thursday morning. That was fun. The temperature warmed up then dropped back down with a chance of snow tomorrow or Tuesday. But, sure, we aren't having any climate issues.

Still plugging along on multiple work projects. I did finish up two and added another new one to my pile. I'm very happy to be busy!

Had a decent viewing week. Ended up making it through my full slate of shows and I think I know which new program I'm adding to the lot. I'll give it a view and report back.

Actually realized I did finish up London Kills last week, so I ended up watching another full episode. Things are headed for a showdown with David and Vivienne and I'm here for that.

Watched Death in Paradise and enjoyed the episode. Discovered Izzy is still around and, well, still not a fan. If she returns, maybe she'll grow on me.

Caught Beyond Paradise and thoroughly enjoyed it. So nice to have a little backstory for Esther. And, if rumors prove true, a potential love interest in season three. That'll be fun.

Enjoyed an episode of Elementary. I'm definitely interested in how things will play out with Kitty's attacker. I can't wait to see if it gets resolved in the next installment.

Watched an episode of Batman Beyond. This is one I remembered from my original run through. Quite liked seeing it again.

Caught another episode of Classic Rugrats and it's one I don't remember so a new-to-me episode. Thoroughly enjoyed it. Only a few more left before I move on to the reboot again.

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

Here's the miniblurb:

Josie Walls and Parson Parrington gain extraordinary skills when they're captured and experimented on in a remote laboratory in an icy tundra. Longing to be free, they put their newfound abilities to the test, escaping their prison and going on the run.

And a preview snippet…

Josie alternated between floating on a cloud and diving into hot burning coals. Heat coursed through her veins and her skin felt like it sizzled.

Somewhere in the periphery, a tersely worded questions burst from Hollis. "What do you mean the experiment failed? You were supposed to make them pliable and programmable to do my bidding?"

A nasal voice responded. "We told you the serum might not be ready yet. You said you didn't care. Well, this is what happens when you don't."

The sound of a fist hitting flesh bounced off the walls.

"You have three weeks to fix this mess. For now, put them in containment." A door slammed.

No doubt Hollis made his usual dramatic exit.

Shuffling feet drew close to Josie and fingers wrapped around her wrist.

"Ack! Shit. She's burning up." The shuffling turned to scampering and then fumbling hands. "El? This is Em. Check your subject. Mine is burning up."

Josie focused on the voice, trying to shake off the lethargy and drowning, bobbing sensation from the drugs. Brief stretches of semiconsciousness followed by long periods of dark dives into nightmarish dreamscapes had Josie struggling to form coherent thoughts. The adrenaline from the lab tech—at least she assumed the nasal voice belonged to a technician—gave her a jolt and helped her stay on this side of wakefulness.

Em made a garbled choking sound. "So, yours isn't burning up but they're giving you shocks? Like the static kind?" He sighed. "No, no. I didn't foresee this either. But the stupid, blundering ass didn't exactly give us time to test the serum, did he?" Another sigh. "No, he didn't take it well. Yeah, he wants us to fix it. And no, I don't have a damn clue how."

Josie strained to make sense of the one-sided conversation. What the hell did Hollis give her … them. She'd almost forgotten Parson. He'd been moved to another room … cell … whatever the fuck they wanted to call it.

Nasal Em snorted. "Aw, fuck. If this is what you think it is, and we've trigged some kind of latent ability in the subjects, we're all fucked. It doesn't matter what Hollis wants." A pause. "Yeah, yeah. I'll make the notations. And I'll increase the sedation dosage. Yes. Yes. Then I'll get some sleep. From here on out, we have to document everything." Em ended the call and started back toward Josie, muttering to himself. "We're so off the page we're not even in the book anymore. Hell, we're not in the same library." He grabbed a rolling cart and slid it beside the gurney. "At this point, all bets are off and we're officially in uncharted territory."

A sharp prick against her bicep brought the fuzziness back. Josie dreaded going back under and succumbing to the inky darkness of unconsciousness. But … she had something she didn't have before…

Hope.

I'm having a lot of fun with this story. Josie and Parson are going through it, and they'll have to use everything they have to get through this challenge.

 

That's it for this week.

Cheers!

Skye

Sunday Snippet: Xtreme Attraction (Xtreme Justice book one)

Our temperature warmed up again but didn't get super-hot, so the week ended up being very nice. The leaves are starting to turn and are already falling to the ground. I'm sad the colors aren't nearly as bright as they used to be.

Had a busy work week with lots of potential new projects. I also had some extra time to finish up a fall holiday short story, which makes me so happy! I ended up getting a good chunk of writing done and hope that continues this week.

Ended up with a decent week of viewing television. I got a little distracted with writing so about one full round of my current lineup. Not bad all things considered.

Watched two episodes of My Life Is Murder. So far, I'm enjoying the series. I feel like I might get a little annoyed with Alexa, but it's early days yet and that might change. I do love the supporting characters and how Alexa's backstory is unfolding at a slow drip.

Got almost two episodes of Agatha Raisin watched. I'll be finishing the second one up later today. Another show where I love the supporting characters so much. And Agatha is a lot of fun.

Finished up the second half of Silent Witness, which finished out season twenty-two. I thoroughly enjoyed Nikki knowing in her gut she hadn't made a mistake and then following that through to prove it. I was kind of bummed the assistant ended up being the reason for the problems. Also loved the additional case of the drug-trial testing and how that one played out.

Started season three of Death in Paradise. I've watched the episode before, but it's a great example of how to bring in a new character while giving the original a proper send-off. Looking forward to Humphrey's tenure.

Finished up Fantasy Island's second season. I ended up being fairly pleased with the lack of extended angst between Elena and Javier. So nice to see Ruby's daughter and follow that story. The wives' club fantasy ended up being pretty great also. If and when the writer and actor strike is over, I'll look forward to a season three if the show is renewed.

Caught another episode of The Batman and it's one I'd forgotten. I like having some different or lesser-known rogue characters. And the Alfred and Bruce interactions are fun in this series.

Watched a double-header of Battlestar Galactica with "Lay Down Your Burden," the season two finale episodes. So much to love and so much to not love about these two episodes. And I'm still completely amazed with how prescient this series ended up being. It's freaky sometimes.

Enjoyed an episode of Classic Rugrats, which ended season five and ushered in the first movie and baby Dil. I'd completely forgotten about Charles's parents being in this one. Kind of cool to see them.

Also caught another episode of VIP. It's one I remember from way back in the day and a fun one, where Tasha actually give Val kudos. This is an over-the-top wild show but so much fun to watch.

That's pretty much it for the life update this week. Tonight's post is from Xtreme Attraction, the opening book of a trilogy about metahumans.

Here's the miniblurb:

The double X gene found in junk DNA makes life very interesting for a group of humans. Nyx Boit reshapes matter with her force of will. Cythe Baldetto literally has blades of steel at his fingertips. When Cythe is sent to recruit Nyx, she wants no part of his offer. To make her point, she converts his arrows, darts, and knives into liquid pools at his feet. Finally meeting his match, Cythe figures recruiting Nyx is out, but wooing her is most definitely in.

And a preview snippet…

You could kill me if you ever decide you're tired of me…

Cythe wanted to reassure Nyx. He didn't think he could ever harm her.

He cupped her face. "Yes, I suppose that's possible, but it's not probable. I'm not wired that way."

The ex love of his life would be dead if he had been.

He drew Nyx off the bar stool and led her to the couch. "In the interest of full disclosure, I had one other person I reacted to the way I did the first moment I laid eyes on you." He rarely thought of her and didn't want to now.

Nyx settled back and tucked her legs under her. "What happened?"

Cythe shrugged, unwilling to share the truly intimate details. "She wouldn't commit."

And he nearly lost his life because of her inability to do so.

Nyx met his gaze. "Is she still around?" Her voice wobbled just a little.

His lips curved. "She's not dead, if that's what you're asking." He sobered. "But, no, she's not around at the moment." And hopefully wouldn't be anytime soon.

Nyx nodded. "But you have history?" She spoke quietly.

Cythe inclined his chin. "Yes. But there's no longer a connection in that way." And there never would be again.

Nyx shook her head. "What about the pheromones?"

Cythe answered with honesty. "They affect her, but not me. Not anymore. When she broke the covenant, I almost died. But we'd just discovered the latent by product in my DNA. That said, I can't ever be with her again. The desire is no longer there…" He met Nyx's gaze again. "On my end, anyway. Physically, I have no reaction."

Nyx filled in the blanks. "But she does?" Her eyebrows arched.

Cythe nodded. "Yes." Hence the reason his ex had made tracks as quickly as possible.

Nyx shrugged. "That sucks for her."

Cythe couldn't argue. "It does. And she couldn't control the way she responded to me … which made for a lot of tense interactions."

And became part of the reason she left for places unknown. She didn't want a full commitment, but she also didn't want to constantly want Cythe.

He faced Nyx. "I'm telling you everything because I want to avoid the same scenario with you. Can you understand?" His gut said if they acted on the attraction in a physical sense, all bets would be off.

And that probably wouldn't bode well for either of them.

Nyx nodded. "I think so…" She got up and slowly paced his living area. "But I'm trying to wrap my head around it all."

He understood. He'd dropped a major truth bomb on her.

I'm enjoying this couple. They're fun to write and the three books are coming together the way I'd hoped they would.

 

That's it for this week.

Cheers!

Skye

Sunday Snippet: Voltage

Wow. August snuck up on me. I need someone to slow time down a little so I can catch up. I did have a great week with work projects and I'm hoping that trend continues through the end of the year.

Had an okay week with watching television. I'm going through a weird phase where I'm feeling kind of blah about everything I'm viewing. Not because the shows aren't interesting … more because my attention is very scattered and it's hard to focus right now.

I started and ended the week with episodes of Strangest Things. Seriously, there are some truly weird and bizarre items featured on this show. People are strange sometimes.

Caught another episode of Classic Rugrats. Both featured fun bits with Grandpa Lou (Lew? I honestly can't remember how it's spelled.) They also had an in loving memory of David Doyle, the actor who voiced the character. Nice reminder of his work.

Watched another episode of Madame Blanc Mysteries. We're an episode away from the end of season two and I'm not sure if I'm interested in whatever the creepy lady has in store for Jean or not. I'm on the fence about whether I hope there's a resolution to wrap this part up or if it should continue through season three, if there is one.

Enjoyed another episode of Cannes Confidential. This show is so much fun even with the dark theme swirling in the background. I really hope there's another season of this.

Started a new two-part Silent Witness. Very interesting premise. I'm not completely sure I have this one figured out, but I think I do.

Caught another Death in Paradise, which finished out the first season. Looking forward to starting season two this week.

Continued my rewatch of Battlestar Galactica with "Black Market." I have so much love for this episode even though it has a lot of flaws. Getting action-hero Lee is kind of worth having some thrown-in plot devices.

Watched another Fantasy Island episode and, again, I'm cautiously optimistic with how they're handling the personal lives of the characters. Also really enjoyed the fantasy of the three women. Such a great episode!

That's pretty much it for the life update this week. Tonight's post is from Voltage, a metahuman novella where the dynamics shift with a couple, and they gain some insight into each other.

Here's the miniblurb:

Tess Truvient, Gentry Malloway, and Hunter Keepman use their meta-human abilities for the cause of justice by working with a covert organization with a global reach. Tess and Hunter have a volatile relationship, on one day and off the next. Enter new recruit, Gentry, and Tess finds a much-needed distraction—if only for a few months—except something about Gentry draws her in and she's caught off guard when it's time for him to ship out to his permanent post.

And a preview snippet…

Tess melted into the kiss.

Aw, hell. He always knows how to push my buttons.

She responded, her hands skimming over the skin she knew so well. Hunter worked hard to maintain his physique and stay in top shape. But his powerful brain drew her in and held her interest.

He moved behind her, his hands sliding over her stomach to delve into her pants. He found her clit and swirled a finger around the hard nub. Her knees buckled and Hunter caught her, bracing his back against the lockers and tugging her ass onto his lap.

Tess worked the buttons of her fatigues loose and inched them down to give him some space. Hunter took the advantage and worked two fingers into her hot core. Brushing his thumb in counterpoint to the thrust of his hand, he quickly got her off.

She shuddered against him, a wave of pleasure crashing over her. Her bones turned to mush, and she collapsed in a spent heap. The man always knew exactly what to do to make her fly over the edge of bliss.

When she angled around to meet his lips, Hunter gave her a quick, hard kiss but eased away and straightened, nudging her to her feet.

She faced him, tilting her head. "You don't want me to return the favor?" Her palm cupped the hard ridge of his cock.

She'd gladly provide a toe-curling blowjob. If only to take the edge off. Mutual satisfaction worked as a great mood lifter.

Hunter shook his head. "Not right now. I wanted something of you to take home with me." His fingers glistened with her essence. "I won't expect you tonight … and you'll have the courtesy of giving me a heads-up if you move on with him, right?" An eyebrow arched.

She blinked but nodded, quickly yanking her fatigues up and fastening them. "Uh, yes. Of course." Caught between satiation and bewilderment, she didn't know what else to say.

Leaning in, Hunter gave her a sweetly sexy kiss then with a final glance at her, he headed for the exit.

She stared after him, his stricken face haunting her when he left.

This story might end up going in a direction I didn't expect. The sages are whispering in a corner right now and that usually means they're up to no good.

 

That's it for this week.

Cheers!

Skye

Sunday Snippet: Think Twice

Celebrated my thirty-fourth anniversary this weekend! We had crappy weather, so we brought Chinese home and stayed in for the evening.

Had another busy work week and I'm so thankful the projects are rolling in. Working on a terrific manuscript and I'm so excited to dive into the story. This will be a fun one!

Had a so-so week of viewing television. I'm still focusing on the great cleanup and spent a good amount of time reorganizing and rearranging things in my living room.

I did finish up Wednesday and I enjoy this show so much. I'm excited to see where things go from here.

Caught another episode of Classic Rugrats. The autumn leaves one is fun. I love how much this show still appeals to both kids and adults.

Watched the premier episode of Brokenwood Mysteries season nine. This is another show I have a lot of love for. I miss a few of the original recurring characters but I'm enjoying some of the newer ones. Trudy in particular ends up being fun.

Enjoyed an episode of Endeavor. I'm kind of sad to see Thursday falling in with the new crew. But I'm hoping there might be a twist to this thread. We'll see what happens.

Caught another episode of Classic Who. I'm nearing the end of the classic episodes and I'm happy I did a full rewatch. There are a bunch of episodes I either missed as a kid or completely forgot.

Started a new Silent Witness two-parter. I kind of like seeing Nikki in therapy. Not really sure what's going on with Jack, but he's never boring. Thomas is another one I'm not sure about. His interaction, or lack thereof, with his daughter left a lot to be desired. Clarissa is awesome as always.

Enjoyed another episode of Battlestar Galactica. This is another one of my favorites because Lee Adama steps fully into the role of being a badass.

Also needed some background noise and I ended up watching the Surf Now channel and The Forgotten Coast. Ended up enjoying it a lot.

Started another episode of Strangest Things. Kind of an odd mix of topics with this one, but very interesting so far.

That's pretty much it for the life update this week. Tonight's post is from Think Twice, a novella where the characters take two steps forward and one step back more than once with each other.

Here's the mini-blurb:

When Judd Millian asks Pru Watson to work with him to take out the evil invading their city, she doesn't hesitate to say yes. But when he wants something more, she's reluctant, unable to commit to an answer. The indecision drives a wedge between them, but Pru won't let Judd get sucked into the worst part of her past.

And a preview snippet…

Pru hesitated before answering. "Because you matter. This is my mess to clean up. I can't deal with something happening to you because of me."

Judd opened his mouth, closed it, swallowed hard then visibly relaxed his stance before he finally spoke. "You do realize you're doing exactly the thing you never wanted me to do, right? You're taking the decision out of my hands and not giving me a choice." He held her gaze, daring her to counter.

And she wanted to. Wanted to deny the truth of his words. But she couldn't because he'd called things exactly right.

Her shoulders slumped. "I do now." She whirled away. "I've been so blind. Because I let my need for revenge and closure consume and drive me to the point of absurdity." She turned back to face Judd. "I don't have to do everything alone. Especially this. The good of all takes priority. I finally understand this." How many times had he pulled her out of the fire.

Going it alone didn't matter because Judd always turned up at the right time.

She needed him for a lot of things, but only one she had confidence to ask about. "I'd like to plan the op together. Can we do that?" Anything else would maybe come later.

Judd tilted his head to one side. "And after?" He didn't spell it out, but what he wanted couldn't be clearer.

She bit her lip, chewing over her response. "I don't know. What I want and what I can have are often two very different things." At least to her brain they were.

Judd shook his head. "They don't have to be. The fact you won't see the difference is a big part of our problem." He sighed. "And honestly, we can plan an op together and maybe get lucky and pull it off, but half the trouble is the constant start, stop, move forward, go back, then dive headlong off a cliff. It's exhausting and it's not healthy for either of us." He started walking back and forth. "I've given you all the space I possibly can. I don't think it's too much to ask to have some kind of assurance that once this is over … we can actually, I don't know, maybe have a conversation about where we go from here and what we want from the future."

She gave a nod. "It's not. Too much I mean. You're asking me to make a decision before we get tangled back up in trying to eliminate the evil running rampant in the city." The idea scared the hell out of her, but he deserved some kind of assurance.

Judd and Pru are on the same side but often at cross purposes. This ended up being a conversation they needed to have.

 

That's it for this week.

Cheers!

Skye

Sunday Snippet: Sentinel's Watch

Welcome 2023! Here's hoping everyone has a great year filled with everything good and terrific!

The final week of the year ended up being crazy busy. The weather started out pretty frigid but by the final day, we had temperatures in the fifties. I'm taking extra precautions because rapid changes in the weather wreak havoc on my sinuses.

I got a few more episodes of Batman: The Animated Series viewed. "Harley's Holiday" is one of my favorites. There's a lot of good stuff in that episode.

"Make 'Em Laugh" is also a fun episode. Very interesting to see the Joker as a regular Joe … until he's not anymore.

Batgirl returned and became pals with Catwoman, which ended up being a lot of fun to watch. I do have some questions on how Selena knew to post her message on the campus message board. Just saying.

"Lock-Up" is one I'd forgotten about, but I enjoyed it. I loved the ending where he pretty much gets exactly what he wanted in a weird, twisted way.

I also got to watch "Deep Freeze" and enjoyed having Victor back for a bit. Also nice to see another familiar face, which if memory serves, we might see again.

I'll be continuing the rewatch and hopefully get through the rest of season two and all of three before they're removed from the streaming service. I'm very annoyed over losing great shows for someone else's bottom line. Grrr.

That's pretty much it for the life update. Tonight's post is from Sentinel's Watch, a follow-up to A Capsized Buccaneer with Zeb and Kallen having another adventure.

Here's the mini-blurb:

After gaining some unique super powers and being rescued from a not-so-deserted island, Kallen Bond and Zeb Bertelli go their separate ways because Zeb cut a deal with his family to leave Kallen alone. But the deal can't last long, because the Bertellis plan to kidnap Kallen so more highly profitable experiments can be done on her and Zeb won't stand for their interference.

And a preview snippet…

Zeb Bertelli listened carefully to a one-sided conversation Kallen Bard had with herself. His lips curved when she made a garbled choking sound and basically decided to get over herself.

Stirring his coffee, he chuckled. "I can almost picture her rolling her eyes." He didn't attempt to see through her window, even if he'd probably be able to with his enhanced sight.

Somehow, that kind of intrusion would be too much. Just listening to her crossed lines he should be stepping over. Not after he'd cut the deal of a lifetime with his family by guaranteeing Kallen's safety as long as he didn't have contact with her.

His hand fisted the spoon. "Should've known better." And, deep down, he had.

His relatives weren't great on honoring agreements that didn't suit their broader agenda.

Zeb snorted. "Which is why I'm sitting in a diner at two a.m., keeping vigil over someone I promised to never see again." But he'd keep watch, from a distance at least.

He'd spent the last six months having no actual contact with her. "I miss her." A lot.

Which surprised him … because he figured not being with her would get easier. He'd never cared about someone the way he'd cared for her.

But he'd been determined to hold up his end of the stupid bargain he'd made. Until he heard her name mentioned during one of the family confabs. They had plans for Kallen, nefarious ones, if they got their hands on her.

His hand fisted again. "She's off limits." Or she should be.

But, the general consensus had been she might be too dangerous to leave on her own and she could prove to be a profitable asset if they played their cards right.

Zeb didn't like that idea one damn bit. "Might be time to rock the boat with seismic waves." For the first time, he pondered breaking his promise to his mom.

His hearing picked up Kallen's footsteps coming down the stairs from her loft apartment. Downing his mug of coffee, he tossed several bills on the table and got to his feet. He'd be following her when she exited her building.

Not that Kallen couldn't handle pretty much anything. She had superhuman strength and speed. But … if he knew his family—and he did—they'd have a plan to counter her power, especially if she didn't see them coming.

He waited by the door until she started up the street. "Good thing they won't see me coming or expect anyone to have her back." After all, his family didn't think his enhancements made him dangerous…

"I aim to prove them wrong."

I have a lot of love for these characters. Zeb and Kallen keep surprising each other and it's fun to write their interactions.

 

That's it for this week.

Cheers!

Skye

Sunday Snippet: Seeing Red

Happy holidays to those who celebrate. We had a lovely day, even if the temperatures were in the mid-teens. It's way better than the minus ten degrees we had earlier in the week.

I had some catching up to do with a work project and didn't get much watched, but I did catch a couple more episodes of Batman: The Animated Series. I guess I'll be watching all next month also because it's going to be removed from HBOMax.

I got to catch a couple of good episodes, featuring The Joker and Harley. Bane made his first appearance and the Clock King showed up again. Harvey and Two Face along with the Riddler both had episodes. And the episode with Baby Doll ended up being better than I remembered.

That's pretty much it for the life update this week. Tonight's post is from Seeing Red, a novella featuring metahumans and how they navigate working and living together.

Here's the mini-blurb:

Vesta Crock can't stand tension and a major meta-human uprising puts everyone on edge. Jones Blaylock becomes her target for a series of supposedly fun pranks, but when a fellow member of their team gets injured, Jones sees red and that's not a good thing for the firestarter.

And a preview snippet…

Whoa. Vesta never failed to shock him. From full-on struggling female to responsive woman in less than a heartbeat.

Crossed the line. Mistake. Big mistake. The red haze of lust gripped him hard and his blood pumped, surging through his veins. Her lips opened and his tongue sought hers. He wanted to kiss her forever. But, no, he couldn't … getting tangled up with a team member screamed bad idea.

He eased away from her. "Ves? You with me now?" Her mouth called to him, but he resisted the urge to lock lips with her again.

She nodded then blinked. "Wow. That was … intense." Her thumb brushed over her lower lip.

He backpedaled and downplayed the reaction they had to each other. "You gave me a scare. How bad was the dream?" Let her think he didn't know what she referred to.

Vesta cocked her head to one side. "We're obviously not talking about the same thing, Jones." Her eyes slid shut and her shoulders drooped.

I'm a dick. Guilt sank its sharp teeth into his gut. But he needed time to wrap his head around what happened. He had to get a handle on the way he'd been acting with her lately.

Letting out slow breath, Vesta gave him the bullet points. "Nightmare level dream, vortex intensity." She shrugged. "Sorry you got sucked in." Her tone oozed irritation.

Jones shook his head. "Don't be. I'm glad I got here when I did." He waited a beat. "How often does a nightmare hit so hard?" He didn't have a clue she even had terrible dreams.

Vesta shut down. "That's none of your business, Jones." She scrambled to the edge of her bed, fished around for a shirt and yanked it over her head. "I'm fine. You can go now." She settled on the edge of the opposite side facing away from him.

Dammit. He'd misstepped with her. Again. The sizzling reaction had him off balance.

"Yeah, okay." He started for the door. "Ah, almost forgot, Mixed-team skills training starts tomorrow. Wanted to let you know." Lame. So lame.

But he had to try to smooth things over.

She lifted a hand in acknowledgment but didn't speak or turn his way.

He backed out of her quarters, reluctant to leave on a bad note. "Sucks to be the team leader sometimes." Mixing the personal and professional … definitely not in his wheelhouse.

I have a lot of love for this story. Vesta is going to push Jones's buttons and his struggle to keep his cool will be tested in big ways.

 

That's it for this week.

Cheers!

Skye

Sunday Snippet: Justified

Finally over the ick of the flu and a cold on top of it. Feeling so much better and happy about that. Got a good catch up on work projects and I'm relieved to be back on track.

Had a decent week of television again. I caught another episode of The Brokenwood Mysteries and kind of missed Jared's presence. The episode ended up being pretty good and I enjoyed a twist I didn't quite see coming.

Watched both episodes of Silent Witness and actually remembered most of the plot line. Finished up season twelve and should get started on thirteen this week.

Caught two arcs of Classic Who. The first one didn't really thrill me but the second one ended up being better than I hoped. I'm liking the trio of companions.

Enjoyed two episodes of UFO Conspiracies. The first one had a series of stories about swarms of UFOs. The second had a series about footage caught on camera. Both were pretty interesting and I love seeing how military units in other countries handle sightings.

Ended up watching four episodes of The Muppet Show. Roger Miller, Roy Rogers and Dale Evans, Lynn Redgrave, and Cheryl Ladd were the guest stars. I loved the Lynn Redgrave episode and the Robin Hood enactment.

Started a new season of Prime Suspect. I have vague memories of this one and look forward to the second half when everything pretty much blows up for Tennison.

Caught the first episode of season five Peak Practice. Andrew is back and Will's significant other had their baby. Pretty good beginning to the new season.

Enjoyed another lesson of Master Class with LeVar Burton. He talked about his storytelling heroes and I appreciated the insight he gave.

Watched another Inside the Episodes: The Witcher. This one took a look at episode six where everything goes to hell for Geralt. Very cool to get some insight into how and why things happened the way they did.

Caught another London Live. This one featured Kelly Clarkson and I enjoyed the songs chosen. Still like Berlin Live better.

Enjoyed an episode of Star Trek: Discovery. Mudd returned and the repeating of the thirty minutes entertained me. Loved how many characters ended up being out of their comfort zone even if Burnham was the main focal point.

Watched another episode of Chicago Med. This one kind of gutted me and I loved it. So glad I'm finally getting to see all of this show. I've said that before, right?

Started the next season of Midsommer Murders. I've kind of been putting it off because it's only two episodes with a few more starting this month, I think. Loved the first episode. I've missed Winter's facial expressions so much.

That's pretty much it for television this week. Tonight's post is from Justified, a novella that got a start with a writing community prompt.

Here's the mini-blurb:

Electra Cage and Nix Naught shouldn't be together. She's firmly on the side of law and order and he's on whatever side pays the most. They justify their liaison when they discover a common enemy—one they'll need their unique skill sets to destroy.

And a preview snippet…

Nix proved hard to read, but her sixth sense didn't throw any red flags.

She backed away and nodded toward the exit. "Lead the way."

He reached out for her coat and draped it over her shoulders. "You cause quite the stir and I'd like to get out of here without incident."

She laughed and followed him into the chilly, frosty air outside. He grasped her hand and ducked into the alley between the bar and a pawn shop. Electra didn't fear for her safety but cringed at the assault on her senses. The stench of urine and vomit almost knocked her back. Her eyes watered and she took the lead, all but dragging Nix along until they cleared the alley. Fresher air and a gust of wind cleared her vision.

Nix stopped and gave her a funny look. "You don't blink twice in a bar full of drunk, horny men, but a dark alley lights a fire under your ass." He shook his head. "Makes it hard to get a grip on what makes you tick."

Electra probably owed him an explanation, but it would keep until he came clean first.

She lifted a shoulder. "Fear didn't send me running." She quirked her brow and changed the subject. "Which way?"

Nix narrowed his eyes but nodded to his right. "Halfway up the block. Come on."

Electra walked beside him, taking in the names of businesses—or former ones—and tilted her head to one side when he halted outside a walk-up entrance. He manipulated the lock—she didn't see any keys—and tugged the door open. A sign inside pointed up the stairs. The Path to Enlightenment Begins Here.

She tiled her head to one side. "Buddhist temple?" If so, Nix kept company with some interesting people.

Nix started upward. "Pagan, actually. The druid master is an old friend."

Yep. Interesting.

Electra made a low hum in her throat. "Is that why you don't need a key?"

His foot paused on the last step, a wry quirk to his lips. "Something like that." He continued on into the open space at the top of the stairs.

Electra followed him, mulling over this new bit of information.

I love this story so much. Electra and Nix are a fun duo to write and building their relationship gives me happy vibes even when they have a few angsty moments.

 

That's it for this week.

Cheers!

Skye

Sunday Snippet: Xtremely Personal (Xtreme Justice)

Well, November is here. Gotta say, I hope it doesn't pass as slowly as September but not as fast as October. I'll look forward to a month that actually feels like a month again. Who knows when that'll happen?

Busy week with work projects. I didn't get a lot of new television watched. I mainly caught a few of the holiday movies on Hallmark and Lifetime and watched a lot of Ovation.

I did catch an episode of Blue Heelers. Also started a new one. The new guy in season two is still kind of annoying me. Here's hoping he settles down soon.

I also watched several episodes of Silent Witness. Finished up season five and started on six.

I also got to do early voting. My daughter and I went on Thursday and, thankfully, didn't have a long wait. One of the benefits to living in a rural area. I'll be happy when the election is over. It's been an exhausting ride this year.

Tonight's post is from Xtremely Personal, a novella in the Xtreme Justice series.

Here's the mini-blurb:

A blast from Cythe's past comes blowing in at the worst possible time. Nyx struggles to adjust being part of a team and half of a couple and dealing with Cythe's ex isn't high on her list of things she wants to accomplish. The duo has to thwart the ex-girlfriend's troublemaking and both have to brace for a showdown of epic proportions.

And a preview snippet…

Cythe Baldetto entered his loft ready to head up to the studio apartment where Nyx Boit resided. He'd just received terrific news and couldn't wait to share it with her. Thank you, Stanja.

"Hello, Cythe."

The voice stopped him cold. No … it couldn't be. He slowly turned, his gut dropping to his toes.

"What do you want, Maris?"

Maris Thompkins—his ex—had draped herself over his bed in what she probably assumed to be a seductive pose. Completely lost on him, he wanted the woman in the studio upstairs. Her timing reeked … and smacked of something nefarious. Why did she come back now?

She shrugged. "The same thing I always want, Cythe. You." Moving to a sitting position, she flipped her hair over her shoulder.

Cythe shook his head. "We've been down this road before. I'm not available." And he never would be.

She rose to her feet and sauntered toward him. "Ahhh … but you could be. Once upon a time you were as hot for me as I am for you." Making a slow circle around him, she put one hand on his chest and made another half-circle, wrapping herself around his back. "You know I'm a slave to the lust I feel for you. I'll do anything you want." Her voice buzzed along his ear, raspy and husky.

At one time, the smoky quality set flame to him … now it left him cold.

He disengaged from her. "Don't want a slave. Never did." Turning to face her, he crossed his arms over his chest. "Once upon a time, I wanted a future with you. You chose to walk away." And I almost died. "I'm not looking for a repeat performance if you suddenly change your mind and decide to cut and run."

She pouted. "You don't think I learned from my biggest mistake." Her gaze rose to meet his. "But I have. I want another shot, Cythe. I can't resist the pull anymore. I have to be with you." She added a desperate tone to her plea and started toward him.

Cythe held up a hand and backed away. "There is no pull unless you're in close proximity, which you haven't been for years. So, why now and, again, what do you want?"

A throat cleared. "I'd love to hear the answer to his questions, too."

At the bottom of the spiral staircase he'd installed to the studio apartment, Nyx stood, wearing only a short kimono—pretty much leaving no doubt as to the role she played in his life.

Shit's about to get real interesting.

I'm having so much fun with this series. I love Cythe and Nyx and figuring out where they're going in their work and personal lives.

That's it for this week.

 

Cheers!

Skye

Sunday Snippet: Xtreme Vibrations

Well, we're almost to the end of another month and I'm trying to contemplate what the final two months of 2020 are going to be like. Frankly, I can't do it. LOL And we still have a full moon to get through in October.

Had a slower than normal week for television. I'm honestly not in the mood to watch much and have been catching marathons on regular cable for the most part. Hallmark started their holiday fare and one of the books I copy edited is featured as a new movie this year. Last year, another book I copy edited had a premiere. That's always so exciting!

I did catch an episode or two of Silent Witness, but other than that, I mainly watch Ovation. I'm crossing my fingers they don't have a major programming change anytime soon. That happens so frequently for me. I fall in love with the line-up and all of a sudden, some new honcho comes in and effs it all up. I'm looking at you HGTV, SyFy, and BBC America. Or, I lose access to a channel that usually has classic stuff I really enjoy. Sigh.

Tonight's post is from Xtreme Vibrations, a novella in the Xtreme Justice series.

Here's the mini-blurb:

Cythe and Nyx have one solid ally in their life—Stanja Davidich. When a former mentor kidnaps Stanja to use her vibrating power to wreak havoc on the high seas, Cythe and Nyx go against orders to rescue Stanja. But during the attempt, Nyx falls into a trap and Cythe races the clock to get the women in his life back before he dies from being separated from Nyx.

And a preview snippet…

Stanja Davidich entered her townhouse and tossed her keys on the table. She froze; her fingers flexing, ready to unleash her power. Someone lurked in the shadows.

"Hello, Stanja."

Her eyes slid shut. Fuck. Why couldn't it be anyone but him?

She didn't speak but turned slowly toward the corner where the voice came from. Staying silent, she waited. Engaging first would show weakness and she refused to ever willingly hand over whatever slim advantage she had.

"It's been a minute." The sarcasm lashed out like a coil, striking hard and deep.

Closer to a decade. Eight and a half years, to be accurate. And she didn't miss the roller coaster ride one damn bit.

At least she'd repeated the idea over and over as often as necessary.

He emerged into the light spilling in from outside. "Come on, Stanja. You had to know this day would come."

She schooled her features but got a kick in the gut. He looked damned good. Then again, he always had. Too much so.

He circled around her then moved to stand toe to toe, his hot breath fanning her face.

She held his gaze, keeping hers as steady as possible. "I rather hoped not." She could have cheerfully lived without ever laying eyes on him again.

He smirked. "There she is. The icy queen of understatement." He leaned in close. "But I know how hot the woman underneath runs, don't I?"

He used to. Once upon a time. Back before he turned his back on UNIT to seek his fortune elsewhere.

She'd moved on. And while she'd never forgotten him—it would be too dangerous to do so—she'd stuffed their past in a dark, out-of-the-way place in the back of her mind. To have him come back now … dammit, his presence didn't bode well for her.

His lips twisted into a sneer. "I've come to collect, Stanja, on the favor you owe…"

Right. More like a debt from a long ago saga that didn't end well for either of them.

She opened her mouth to reject the idea but he pushed his finger against her lips.

"No doubt you want to refuse, but I won't let you. I planned for this." He snapped his fingers and she dropped like a stone.

He caught her under the arms and dragged her to the back entrance. She hated him and his ability to render people immobile, or unconscious, or even fully comatose. Of course, he'd want her awake but compliant. He wanted her to experience every bit of humiliation he could dish out.

But she figured this day would come. She had his number the same way he had hers. Had intimate knowledge of the way his mind worked.

And she'd prepared. Carefully and quietly. Within twenty-four hours, the news of her disappearance would make its way to UNIT. Twelve hours after that, the only two people she trusted in the world would hold her life in their hands.

Don't let me down, Cythe. You and Nyx are all that stands between my past and my future.

I'm falling in love with this series. I'm so happy with how the opening scene of book three came together. This is such a fun series to write.

That's it for this week.

 

Cheers!

Skye

Sunday Snippet: Xtreme Attraction

Wow, how can half the month be over already? Time either seems to fly by at the rate of insanity yet it often feels like it an entire decade exists within a twenty-four hour period. It's trippy.

Had a bunch of projects land in my inbox this week so television ended up being on the short end. I finished up a Blue Heelers episode and have another one ready to go.

Also made it through two-thirds of Silent Witness's fifth season. Two interesting cases. Looking forward to finishing up the last two episodes.

I watched a lot of the morning mysteries on Ovation again. I enjoy having those shows on in the background, especially when I’m shredding a ton of old paper files.

Looking forward to hopefully finishing up Picard and catching up on Riverdale and Roswell, New Mexico. As I mentioned, this is probably my last season of Riverdale. I literally can't stomach Hiram and I’m pretty sure he won't be going anywhere when the new season premieres.

That's the short list for television this week. Tonight's post is from Xtreme Attraction, a novella that got a start with a writing community prompt. This is book one in the Xtreme Justice series.

Here's the mini-blurb:

The double X gene found in junk DNA makes life very interesting for a group of humans. Nyx Boit reshapes matter with her force of will. Cythe Baldetto literally has blades of steel at his fingertips. When Cythe is sent to recruit Nyx, she wants no part of his offer. To make her point, she converts his arrows, darts, and knives into liquid pools at his feet. Finally meeting his match, Cythe figures recruiting Nyx is out, but wooing her is most definitely in.

And a preview snippet…

Nyx tilted her head to one side. "Why are you helping me?"

Cythe scooped out two platefuls of food. "Two reasons. I've been where you are." He slid one dish in front of her. "And I'm still really attracted to you."

And I'm attracted to him. Why fight it? She leaned across the counter and kissed him. She had a strong reaction. Lust thrummed through her veins and her body tingled everywhere. The kiss spun out of control and Nyx needed more, needed all of him. Right now.

She all but tried to climb all over him, scooting over the counter, scooting the plates out of the way. Cythe pushed her away. Hard. If he'd slapped her in the face, she might be less pissed off. Who the hell does he think he is?

Cythe swiped his thumb over his lower lip. "You're pissed off and so hot for me you can't stand it, right?"

She opened her mouth to snap his head off then blinked. He'd nailed her reaction exactly. She craved him, desperately. Her fingers itched to touch him and smooth over his skin.

She nodded. "Yeah. What the hell?" She'd never been so hot for a man so quickly.

He scooted the plates back and made a noticeable effort to calm his breathing and body.

When he'd gained control of both, he sat on the stool across from her. "You're reacting to my mating pheromones." Glancing away, he took a bite of his meal. "You can't be certain you truly want me." He met her stare again.

She sat back down and picked up her chopsticks. "I can be pretty damned clear I found you more than a little hot from the moment we met." She slurped the food from the utensils.

He had a quirky little smile play over his lips. "Good to know it was a mutual thing. But ... if I didn't stop you—and it took an iron will of control, believe me—I would have made you mine."

She tilted her head. How could that be a bad thing?" The self-discipline impressed her though. She narrowed her gaze. "What aren't you telling me?"

He chewed his food a moment. "If we continue, the pull will only get stronger."

She didn't see a problem. "Meaning what?" Why did it matter?

He sighed. "You're attracted to me now, but you'd become dependent on me physically, almost like a craving."

The light bulb went off. Holy shit. Now she completely understood.

He shook his head. "It's not fair to you unless you're certain—absolutely certain." He pinned her with his gaze for a long moment.

Nyx finished off her food, pondering everything he'd said.

She placed her chopstick on the plate. "Is there a downside for you?" There had to be, right?

He hesitated.

Nyx held up a hand. "I want full disclosure. If you can be hurt, I have to know."

He filled in the blanks. "The downside is ... once the full mating process is complete, if you ever decide to leave me, I'll die. Or at least it's a strong possibility."

Well, fuck.

She tried to wrap her head around the idea. "What if I die or get killed?"

He rolled a shoulder.  "That's my one way out … if the mental bond is severed upon your death."

She snorted. "So, basically, you could kill me if you ever decide you're tired of me." Talk about potential for a bad breakup.

I'm having a lot of fun with this series. Nyx and Cythe have a good vibe that I enjoy writing.

 

That's it for this week.

Cheers!

Skye