Sunday Snippet: On Ice

Wow… I can't believe May is almost over. The whole time speeding up thing has to be true. Or maybe I just try to pack too much stuff into life? Who knows.

Kind of a so-so week of television viewing. I had quite a few irons in the fire and needed some solid focus on a couple of projects. Still, not a bad slate of shows overall.

As usual, I caught two episodes of Peter Gunn. One I remember seeing before the other one I didn't. Also caught two episodes of Classic Who, starting The Ark storyline.

Watched the second episode of In the Dark and while it didn't charm me as much as the first episode did, I enjoyed it. Even though I love how flawed our heroine is, I can see her abrasiveness becoming a tired gimmick at some point. I'll definitely keep watching because I really want to know what happened to her friend.

Caught another episode of Blade and it's one I remembered featuring Chase's rehab after being burned almost to a crisp… literally. I'm about halfway through the season and if memory serves, things start getting really intense from here on out.

Started a rewatch of Banshee. Man… I'd forgotten how crazy the first episode ended up being. This show didn't flinch from violence in any way and it's one of the reasons I couldn't stop watching. Ugh… not because I love violence. More because the characters jumped right out and grabbed my attention. I also fell in love with Job's character at first sight.

Began a new Australian series called Blue Heelers and have almost two episodes watched. I found the show on the TubiTV app but I'm watching on the Freedive app so I can catch the series from the beginning.

Watched another episode of Chicago Fire and it ended up being pretty decent. I'm not sure about the whole Kelly and Stella vibe, but I like that they're still supportive of each other even if they're not together. Also liked Matt being something of a dick to Herrman. I know, I know… why would I like that? Because I want to see how he deals with his trauma of almost being shot.

Caught episode nine of Iron Fist and, holy crap, it didn't disappoint. Danny fighting without the fist and nailing Davos with the syringe blew me away. Colleen fighting the gang of goons kicked ass. Ward and Walker's interaction almost made me laugh out loud, but it also ended up being kind of touching in a bizarre way. The fact that Ward immediately knew Joy needed help speaks volumes, even if Joy doesn't want to hear about it. Watching her fall a full story down was… actually kind of mind-blowing. And, of course, Misty is always an added benefit to the show. The end… well, I'm excited to see where things go.

Watched the premiere episode of Frankie Drake Mysteries's second season. Great episode with lots of good stuff for the women to do. I like Frankie's interactions with her mom and I loved Trudy saving the day.

Picked back up with Riverdale's third season. I'm not all the way through the episode yet but I already want to smack Hiram. I'm really not sure about the whole G&G thing but part of loving this show is embracing the completely batshit crazy storylines. I'm happy to be back in the game so to speak.

And that's it for television this week. Tonight's post is from On Ice, a novella that got a start with a writing community prompt of write a character that goes alpha on another because their bratty behavior has gone too far and they need a reminder of who is in charge." Kind of a specific prompt, right?

Here's the mini-blurb:

A battle is brewing between opposing magical factions and Paley Knoff and Birk Southampton are charged with readying their troops. Paley thinks Birk is taking the threat too seriously and when he ignores her in favor of adding more training, she pushes him a little too far, leaving him no choice but to put her on ice until she remembers who's in charge.

And a preview snippet…

"We're behind on curriculum. Is that because of the threat from Janus?" The elder mage, Newscome Atwater, called the academic staff meeting to order.

Birk drummed his fingers on his thigh. "The house of Janus doesn't train their people, sending acolytes out to wreak as much havoc as possible." His hand curled into a fist to stop the fidgeting. "If we don't prepare, we're going to lose good people." He couldn't be the only one that deduced the threat level.

Atwater nodded. "I tend to agree."

Paley jumped in. "I don't." She got up and started pacing behind her seat. "The house of Atwater already has the best alignment. Our scholars and acolytes are smart, savvy, and extremely talented." She paused and grasped the back of her seat. "We're holding them back with all the extra hours of training and repetitive bullshit." Her gaze aimed directly for Birk.

He absorbed the intended insult with no visible reaction. But her jibe stung. As she'd meant it to. Retaliation from earlier in the classroom.

Ignoring Paley, Birk addressed the other four mage instructors. "Are the recruits keeping up in the other areas?" Spells, conjuring, and alchemy required less physicality than deflection and projection.

Lydia Norj lifted one shoulder. "So far. And we're moving ahead, just not at our normal pace."

Paley smirked. "Ha! See… the longer training sessions are taking a toll elsewhere." She gave Birk a pointed look. "Told you."

Jim Bakerson held up a hand. "But it's not really. All of us are paying close attention to the individuals and making sure everyone is on the same page before moving on to the next topic."

Camron Michaels nodded. "Yeah, with the higher threat level lurking out there, we're being more cautious than we probably need to be, but I'd rather have it that way. We need scholars to teach and we can't do that if they're dead or injured."

Paley huffed out a loud sigh and directed her attention to the last instructor. "Mabel? Care to share your thoughts?" She pulled her chair out and plopped down hard in the seat.

Mabel Chambers didn't hesitate. "I'm inclined to agree with Paley. We're coddling the scholars and holding them back. They want to spread their magickal wings and see what they can do by gaining experience."

Paley started a happy chair dance in the seat. "Finally. Someone who knows what the Atwater acolytes should be doing."

Newscome held up a hand. "Enough, Miss Knoff. While you raise a good point, I'm still the elder mage here and I gave Southampton the master sage cords for a reason." He pinned Paley with his gaze. "You're the second ranked adept and your opinion holds weight. That said, we'll continue with the extra training sessions and revisit this topic next week." He glanced at the assembled group. "Is that clear for everyone?"

A chorus of nods met his query, with the exception of Paley. She rolled her eyes and got up, strolling out of the room without so much as a farewell.

Birk's lips thinned but he dismissed the others. "Thanks for the input today. Keep going with your classes and let me know if anything comes up." He stood, indicating everyone could leave.

Once they cleared the room, Birk sat back down, letting the anger in. Paley's attitude chafed, especially since they worked so closely together. And it halfway pissed Birk off that she wouldn't let it go.

Atwater rose from his seat at the head of the table. "The voice of dissent often rings the loudest. Sometimes there's a reason or hidden meaning in the conflicting opinion." He started toward the door. "Listen with all of your senses, Birk. You might hear more than you think."

Birk snorted but gave the elder mage a nod. "Yes, Elder Atwater." He got up and made his way out of the room behind Newscome.

He'd listen with his senses all right… to the resounding sound of Paley being a huge pain in the ass.

I love how much Birk absorbs in this scene. Each small dig chips away at his calm.

That's it for this week.

Cheers!

Skye

Sunday Snippet: Nothing Special

Happy Mother's Day to all the moms out there. It's rainy and chilly in Ohio and a nice day to stay in and be pampered. A few quiet hours alone is on my agenda today.

Had a solid television watching week. Since I watched so many penultimate episodes last week, this week ended up putting me in the finale zone. I started with the final episode of Underbelly: Razor. I'll admit I ended up being pretty satisfied with how things turned out. Kate and Tillie ended up living to ripe old ages for the times and Nellie, oddly enough, had an ending that rather suited her. Big Jim definitely got his due as did Phil the Jew.

Caught two more episodes of Midsomer Murders and thoroughly enjoyed both. I do like John and his wife along with their dog Sykes. Also watched two more episodes of Peter Gunn.

Started a new show from the CW. In the Dark ended up being more than I expected and, honestly, I enjoyed it. The heroine is messy and prickly and I like her flaws. The supporting cast is excellent. I'll watch more and see how it goes. It's been renewed for another season so I hope I like the rest of this one.

Watched another episode of Blade and remembered most of this one. There were a few bits I missed the first time around so it's nice to have those blanks filled in.

Also caught two more episodes of Classic Who and finished out the time meddler episodes. If memory serves, this is really the first sighting of the Master. Kind of like his origin story.

Watched the finale of Strike Back and I'm happy to say everyone I lived that I wanted to see still standing at the end. With the exception of Wyatt's marriage, which I have a feeling didn't survive. I can't wait for the final season now.

Caught Chicago Fire and enjoyed the episode. I'm not sold on Grissom being an okay guy yet but here's hoping they go in that direction. I really don't want to see Severied used as a pawn on the chessboard so I'll be pissed if that happens.

Iron Fist had a decent episode. Danny and Colleen are walking a very fine line and I'm hopeful their relationship can withstand the coming nightmare of dealing with Davos. Joy and Ward had some personal growth and Mary's storyline meshed well with the others. Davos is Davos and I'm still struggling to find some kind of empathy with him. It's not working.

Caught a great episode of Arrow and thoroughly enjoyed. I'm not a big fan of Diggle and Lyla keeping big secrets but I'll hold back from judging too much. Really loved Oliver and Laurel's reckoning with past sins. I love Oliver the most when he's pushing to be better than his parents.

Watched the finale of Murdoch Mysteries and, whew, I'm so glad things worked out the way they did. Miss Hart should probably watch her step and I'm kind of hoping she ends up becoming a good character. Nice to see where everyone is at the end, mostly in great places with their personal relationships.

Caught another episode of The Murders and I'm really loving this show. I'm excited to find out who is messing with Kate and I liked seeing Nolan not dealing with his personal life. Also loved having Kate back him up.

Watched the finale to Ms. Fisher's Modern Murder Mysteries and, wow, I truly hoped the stupid superintendent would get what he deserved. Of course, he didn't and Peregrine might have lost her edge with him. We'll see what happens… if there's a second season. The chemistry between Steed and Peregrine is so delicious.

I'm nearing the end of my Painkiller Jane rewatch and I completely missed the episode I caught the first time around. Glad I got it in. I think there are two episodes left in this season, but I can't remember for certain.

Started another new show for me, Durham County. It's dark and twisty and I think I'm going to like it a lot. The first episode had a good mix of creepy happenings along with some good exposition. Looking forward to more.

And that's it for television this week. Tonight's post is from Nothing Special, a holiday solstice sexy short.

Here's the mini-blurb:

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

And a preview snippet…

Masha's eyes widened. She didn't expect anything from him and didn't quite know how to react. The idea he'd thought enough to pick something up gave her… not a bad feeling… more like an unsettled one. Had this thing with Ryce become a thing?

Ryce nudged her shoulder. "The box won't bite, Masha. Go ahead. Take a look inside." He snagged the book, sliding it onto his lap.

Masha eyed it a moment longer before picking it up and popping it open to reveal an alchemized crystal. She let out a little gasp. Reaching with a gentle touch, she removed the crystal from the bed of green satin and turned it over.

She let out a surprised chuckle. "It's a brooch." How incredibly awesome!

She glanced up to catch a look of wonder on Ryce's face. Okay, the kicking boost to her confidence shouldn't matter so much. But she loved how much he seemed to love the gift.

His gaze flashed with something indefinable. "Where did you find this?" His fingers turned another page and the tips slid down the list of ingredients, carefully offset from the hand-drawn image beside it.

She grinned. "You'll never guess. At the dispo center, they have that room where they put all the donated items." Her fingers traced the crystal then played with the clasp on the back. "I had time to kill and spent a morning digging through boxes. Found the book and thought you'd get a kick out of it." She met his gaze. "Because you're always going on about how much of the ancient arts we've lost." The results of the constant struggle and mad power grabs between the dueling houses.

Ryce closed the book. "I do. I love it." He moved some items on the table and placed the tome in the center on prominent display. "I've been looking for something like this for a long, long time." His fingers traced the title, raised up on the leather cover.

He shifted sideways and tucked one foot under his opposite knee. Masha continued to study the brooch. The crystal alchemized two metals, silver and copper. Holding it in her palm, the piece attuned to her, the flow of energy began to transfer. She closed her hand and put it back on its satin bed.

Ryce nodded toward the box. "Oddly enough, I thought it was fortunate to stumble across the brooch given your affinity for the crystal. Now I'm thinking it was fortuitous, because I found it at the same place. The dispo center donation room."

The coincidence couldn't be an accident. Nor the timing. Masha didn't want to delve too deeply, but she might have to.

She met and held his gaze. "Are we having a moment?" The idea made her queasy but she swallowed the fear and let a little hope take its place. "Gotta admit I'm not sure I'm ready for big moments yet." Hell, any kind of moment would be a new thing with them.

Ryce didn't argue. "Is anyone ever ready?" His eyebrows shot up in question.

Masha shrugged. "I don't know about anyone else. I can only speak for myself. And big emotional moments aren't really in my wheelhouse." Hard to let anyone in when the present jammed up against an uncertain future.

Ryce reached over and grasped her hand. "Okay, then, how about starting with small moments? Like this one." He squeezed her fingers. "Thank you for the gift. It means so much and, whether you want it to or not, shows how much you get me." His lips twisted in a lopsided grin.

Her heart swelled to bursting. But, hey, it didn't explode or anything so points for progress there.

Masha returned the smile. "Okay, that wasn't so hard." She scooted forward, closing the space between them. "So… what's next in this grand experiment of having a moment?"

I like the small beats between this couple. They're slowly revealing what they want to say on the page and I enjoy waiting to see what they share with me.

That's it for this week.

Cheers!

Skye

Sunday Snippet: Nothing But the Truth

Well… May is starting out with a crazy-busy schedule. I've got two new projects underway along with my regular work. That said, I love being busy so I won't complain.

I got to spend time with two of my best friends from high school. It's so much fun to catch up with them and we're hoping to make this a several times a year thing. Good food and terrific wine… a fabulous way to spend an evening.

Had a semi-decent week of television viewing. I started out with an episode of Blade: The Series and discovered I'd missed this one. Glad I caught up with it… it had several good pieces of information in it.

I caught the penultimate episode of Strike Back and, wow, as usual, it delivered. Gotta say I'm sad we didn't get to see Coltrane in action between the sheets, especially considering we've seen almost everyone else.

Also watched another episode of Classic Roswell and it's another episode I thoroughly enjoyed but didn't quite remember fully. I love revisiting this series.

Caught another episode of Arrow and got to finally discover Oliver's newest family member. The hits really do keep coming for Oliver and I love to watch him react to each one. Also starting to enjoy the futurescape a lot. I'm going to miss this show so much when it ends after the next season. But I'll look forward to having a dark Gotham to visit if Batwoman gets a pickup.

Watched the penultimate—a frequent refrain this week—episode of Murdoch Mysteries. I have to admit I'm disappointed with a couple of things. Miss Hart's seeming underhandedness is a big one and I'm holding out hope it's smoke and mirrors on that end. And, seriously, the character assassination of John Brackenreid makes my head spin. I truly hope the finale swings the pendulum back to normal.

The Murders had a terrific fourth episode. I like the little bit of mystery surrounding Kate and I definitely like Nolan's slow spiral. It looks like the next episode starts to address his issues and I'm totally there for it.

Caught the… you guessed it… penultimate episode of Ms. Fisher's Modern Murder Mysteries and, man, I loved it! This show is so. Much. Fun. Seriously, I'm crossing every appendage I have that there might be a second season.

Watched the first part of Chicago Fire's crossover with Chicago PD. Haven't watched the police episode yet but really wanted to watch Cruz go undercover. I'm not quite sure what to think about Grissom's about face with Severied. That might not go anywhere good. Just saying.

Caught episode seven of Iron Fist and actually enjoyed it a lot. I'm sad to view what's going on with Danny and Colleen but I also think it's an interesting wrinkle in their relationship. Davos, as usual, irritates the ever loving crap out of me. I'm totally hoping Joy is making a long play to get her hands on the bowl but won't hold my breath. As usual, Ward and Misty entertained just by being on screen. I'll miss not having new episodes after this season ends.

Watched an episode of Painkiller Jane and it's another one I didn't get to see on the first run of the series. Glad I caught it. I do like how Jane finally accepts being part of the team and starts to consider them family.

And that's it for television this week. Tonight's post is from Nothing But the Truth, a novella that started with a writing community challenge of setting a story around the idea of telling nothing but the truth.

Here's the mini-blurb:

Lexa Chan and Quint Maximoff work the seedy underworld of supernatural bounty hunting. Lexa's got a tough as nails reputation and she competes with Quint's larger than life persona. The Halfway, a bar catering to supernatural and mortal beings, is neutral ground where Lexa and Quint form an interesting relationship.

And a preview snippet…

Lexa opened a can of worms. The evening could go to some dangerous places. Did she care? Not really. She lived in Recklessville. Okay, usually for work, but why not mix some spontaneity into her personal world? Right, maybe not the best idea—

"Seriously? Leave it at that? I don't think so, Lexa." He shifted, unable to hide the growing erection under his pants when he leaned forward to rest his elbows on his knees.

She sucked in a breath. "Truth, right?" She took his quirked brow as a yes and let the alcohol do the talking. "The picture I have of your hard cock is pretty vivid in my mind. So, yeah, it's distracting." She shouldn't have to explain the basics of sexual attraction.

Quint blinked and shook his head. "Fuck. You win. I didn't see this little twist coming at all." He leaned back, no longer attempting to keep the hard ridge of his dick out of sight.

Lexa barely hesitated before she got up and moved to straddle his lap. "If I'm the victor, shouldn't I get some kind of prize for my reward?" She scooched forward, grinding against his groin.

Quint cupped her ass with his hands. "What, exactly, will the claiming involve?" He held her gaze, no doubt seeking any form of retreat or regret.

Lexa answered quickly. "You, me, hot sex, now." She wanted him, if only for tonight within the four walls of this room.

Quint squeezed her butt cheeks. "And it stays here, yeah? We don't carry this out there." His head jerked toward the door and his hands came up to palm her breasts through her shirt.

Lexa nodded and removed her shirt. "Everything stays here. Consider this room sanctuary." She reached down and tugged his shirt up, craving skin-to-skin contact.

Quint dragged the garment over his head then leaned against the cushions. "Then stake your claim." He draped his arms along the back of the couch.

Her gaze feasted on his scarred torso, his battle wounds on display. They didn't detract from the defined cut of muscle covering his frame. Pecs, abs, dented hips. God, what a prime specimen.

And he wanted her to lay claim?

Oh, hell, yes.

Lexa will definitely enjoy the sanctuary but she might not be the only one staking a claim.

That's it for this week.

Cheers!

Skye

Sunday Snippet: Not on the Same Page

Whew! My daughter's third prom is down and out of the way. She's the junior class president so I had chaperone duties and, wow, let me tell you… I ran my ass off last night. LOL And, of course, the weather ended up being a complete downer. Rainy and actually pretty chilly for the end of April. However, I think this year's dress is pretty much my favorite.

Anyway… while I'm putting my feet up, I'll dive into this week's television viewing. I Finished up Iron Fist and it didn't disappoint. I thoroughly enjoyed Ward and Joy's conversation. I'll be really happy to see Davos taken down. I want to be sympathetic, but yeah, not really feeling it. Misty and Colleen need their own show. Just saying.

Caught the Classic Roswell episode, "Heat Wave" and it's one I really loved when it aired the first time. Still loved it this time around too.

Watched the Arrow Elseworlds episode. Quite enjoyed it even though it's the only one I've seen in the crossover event. I'll have to catch The Flash and Supergirl when they make it to a streaming platform. It really annoys me that full seasons aren't available on the network's app. Or at least keep the crossover on for the full season.

Also caught another episode of Murdoch Mysteries. Based on a little google fu, it looks like there will be another season, which makes me very happy.

Watched episode three of The Murders and I like where this show is going. I'm kind of happy to know why Nolan isn't a big fan of Paul in guns and gangs. I'm also glad to have a little more insight into Kate's relationship with her mom.

Ms. Fisher's Modern Murder Mysteries is such a great spinoff. I really hope there ends up being another season of this one. The second episode had terrific chemistry between all of the characters and I'm such a fan of the secondary ones.

I have some things to discuss about Roswell, New Mexico's finale and I'll save those for later. Caught an episode of Painkiller Jane and it's one I like the first time around. Answers start revealing themselves about Jane's ability. I truly do wish this series had a second season if only for more of those.

Underbelly Razor's penultimate episode dropped some big moves and is titled the same. With one more episode left in this incarnation, I'm excited to see how things end for the women.

Watched a Midsomer Murders episode and, well, found it kind of odd. Then again, with fourteen seasons in front of it and several more to go, there has to be an odd one here and there, right?

Caught two more episodes of Peter Gunn and I don't remember seeing either of them previously. I'm such a fan of how Peter's group of friends and colleagues add so much to the show.

Okay… Roswell, New Mexico's season finale. Wow. Seriously. It's been a long time since a show gave me a gut-punch feeling and I'm not quite sure how I feel about having one. The episode had so much going on, but all the episodes usually do. The acting ended up being stellar, from, I'm not kidding, everyone. As for where things went? I'm honestly still working through how I feel. I'm thrilled there's a second season, which hopefully means a solution for the thing that happened. I haven't decided if I trust this showrunner yet. So far, I've loved everything from the characters to the plot points, even with the somewhat neglected Maria, and pulling a shock-value move makes me slightly twitchy, hence my inability to fully trust how things will play out. That said, you can bet my ass will glued to the screen when the second season premieres, so there's that. I might have more about the season overall on my sister blog Universes Altered.

And that's it for television this week. Tonight's post is from Not on the Same Page, a novella that started with a sentence prompt of "I thought we were talking about wanting the same thing".

Here's the mini-blurb:

Irini Domaine loves Nathair Sofen but marries another to fulfill a familial obligation. When she suggests carrying on the relationship with Nathair he coldly refuses, which makes Irini vow to slowly but surely convince him otherwise.

And a preview snippet…

Irini Domaine loved Nathair Sofen with everything she had.

When she tugged him into the bedroom of his cottage, she only had one thing in mind. A night they'd never forget.

Nathair grasped her hips. "You're in a big hurry tonight, Iri. What's got you all worked up?" His hands skimmed her sides.

Irini leaned forward and ran her tongue around his nipple. "You. Always." Her eyes closed and she breathed the scent of him in.

She wanted to memorize everything about Nathair.

Because she lied. Horribly, deeply, and irrevocably.

Sex with Nathair did always get her worked up. But her rush to get them in bed had a purpose. One she couldn't share with him.

Nathair cupped her face and held her gaze. "I love you, Iri. So much." His lips claimed hers and he nudged her to the bed.

She popped the button to his dungarees. "I love you, too. I always will."

Even though she'd be wed at dawn… to someone else.

Her heart recoiled at the thought. She belonged with Nathair. But her father resurrected a dead rite, one unused for at least a hundred years. He made a blood vow to fulfill a familial debt with her as the tithe.

And he'd made it impossible for her to refuse. To break the covenant would bring dishonor on a founding family and not even her rebellious nature would allow her to let him be cast out and stripped of his magick, the only thing he had left after losing their fortune.

Because he no longer had a daughter. She'd never forgive him. Ever.

Nathair stripped off his pants and tugged hers down. She pushed everything else aside and pulled him down to the mattress then wrapped her legs around him, trapping his heavy length between them.

Her hands smoothed down his back. "I hope you're ready, Nathair. I want the whole night with you." She bucked against him, relishing the friction of his cock against her clit.

Nathair lowered his head, his lips trailing along her jaw. "You don't have to ask. I'm always hard and hot for you." He raised his hips and thrust forward, sinking deep inside her.

She moaned, welcoming him and urging him to set a steady pace. Her mind mapped every move, each gasp and groan, the beat of his heart mingled with hers. She committed everything to memory so she'd never forget.

And when she shuddered under him and he let go, finding his release just after hers, she didn't give him quarter. Instead, she twisted so she sat atop him, straddling his thighs. Grinding against his groin, she moved sensually to keep the intimate flame burning hot.

Nathair slid his hands up her thighs and grasped her hips. Bringing his thumbs to meet just above her clit, he gently rubbed the nub of nerves in light circles. Irini closed her eyes, letting the buzz of awareness course through her.

And when his cock swelled and hardened, she lifted her hips and sank down over him ready to find the bliss she only experienced in his arms.

This story has some big twists and turns and I'm excited to get them all put together for a satisfying conclusion.

That's it for this week.

Cheers!

Skye

Sunday Snippet: Not Gonna Happen

April 21, 2019

To all who celebrate Easter, I hope it's a good holiday. Another weird weather week in Ohio. I know, big shock, right? Actually turned on the AC one day because the house was stuffy and humid. The next day, I turned it off because the temperature dropped thirty degrees again. Needless to say, it's a combination of AC and furnace for the next few weeks.

Decent television week. I did get to finish Ms. Fisher's Modern Murder Mysteries and it was… soooo good. I'll finish up the other three episodes, but I'm pretty sure I'd like to see more. Here's hoping they'll do another season.

Caught another episode of Painkiller Jane and it's one I remembered from the original run. I'll admit I was disappointed there weren't more episodes even though fandom in general thought the show fared poorly against the source material.

Watched another episode of Underbelly: Razor and, yeah, the women are starting to feel the burn from the law. I wanted to empathize with Tillie but couldn't quite get there. She's just not drawing my sympathy and I can't really explain why. Kate, though, I kind of sympathize with. Nellie… is Nellie. Not quite sure what I feel for her plight.

Finished up Midsomer Murders and enjoyed the rest of the episode. I'm almost through the fourteenth series and I'm still liking the show. There's never a shortage of interesting little bits worked into the stories.

Roswell, New Mexico… the penultimate episode. Holy crap. So much happened. Questions were answered but a ton of new ones popped up from those answers. I really need another season because there's no way it can have a satisfying end with only one more episode to go. I need to know how Maria's mom fits into the situation at Caufield, if she even does, or at the very least, I need to know why she's so scrambled. And, dammit, I need Maria to know what's going on and put her two cents in. I dipped my toe into the fandom waters and, yeah, I'll probably steer clear. I love the potential interactions with everyone, including Alex, Michael, and Maria. While I'm not a full-on fan of triangles, I do like messy and awkward feelings that have to be resolved somehow. I also love how many different definitions of family there is to wade through on the show. The kind of big thing I'm dreading is a possible death in the last episode. I've got a gut feeling of who it might be and I’m not ready for it.

Also, I'm sad to see Jenna go, if she really does. Here's hoping she might make her way back in the future. The interactions between Jenna and Liz were so damn good, as in there was awkwardness but none of the bitchy-girl, fur-flying stuff that's so lame. Kudos for that!

Caught two more episodes of Peter Gunn and both were ones I hadn't seen. Pete and Edie remind me of Nick and Nora. Weird, I know. I think it's a vibe thing. Nora totally had Nick's number and I think Edie is the same way with Peter.

Watched episode four of Blade. Nice to come back to this after a long hiatus. I'm looking forward to more one season wonders on the CW Seed app.

Caught Strike Back and loved so much about this episode. Nice to have Zarkova back among the group. So cool to see Chetri pretty much rescue herself. And Alexander ending up in Moscow was better than expected. Wyatt and Novin are never boring and Mac needs to keep his choose better times to get sexed up. That's a lot of information to pack into a one-hour nutshell.

Watched the beginning of the next arc of Classic Who. This one is about the time meddler and I'm interested to see where it goes. Got a surprise when the guy from the Dalek episodes showed up. Didn't see that coming.

Caught a majorly great episode of Chicago Fire. Watching the women deal with the terrible accident in Indiana while the guys held a chili cook-off worked really well. The fact that the doom and gloom crew won—and one of the members is the dude from the Sonic commercials—kind of made my day.

Also started an episode of Iron Fist and it's full of Misty right now so I'm loving the hell out of it. Just saying.

That's it for television this week. Tonight's post is from Not Gonna Happen, a novella that started with a writing community prompt of "slasher film; in the woods". I put a slightly different spin on the concept and like where it's going.

Here's the mini-blurb:

Gina Ames and Tuck Danvers sign up for a weekend of hunting for an urban legend. When their other team members start dropping, one by one, they take off for the safety of the city. Too bad the concrete and steel can't protect them from what follows them home.

And a preview snippet…

Gina's stomach churned. "What do you think we stumbled on in Haverswood?" Nothing human if she had to guess.

Tuck lifted a shoulder. "I'm thinking more along the lines it's something we unleashed instead of stumbled on." He swung his gaze toward the window, keeping a close watch on its location.

Gina didn't see his logic. "How? We weren't summoning or chanting incantations in Latin or anything like that." They'd been scoping out a site, checking the stories from the newspapers.

Tuck leveled his gaze on her. "We weren't." His meaning came through in his tone.

Gina closed her eyes. "Why would Jake and Marley take a risk like that?" She couldn't believe the couple would push the envelope without the proper safety nets in place.

Tuck snorted. "Didn't say it was them." He gave her another pointed look.

Gina slumped in the booth. "Fuck. You think it was Del and Suz?" The duo basically came along for the ride, visiting from Marley's hometown.

Tuck didn't respond right away. Shirl approached with their food and coffee, placing the plates on the table and filling the mugs.

She stood back, narrowing her eyes. "You two had a rough night, didn't you?" She held up a hand. "Nope. Don't need to know the details. I'll keep the caffeine coming while you guys iron out whatever's going on." Turning, she headed back to the counter and started a new pot of coffee.

Gina huffed out a breath. "She's a sweetheart." After Tuck nodded in agreement, she got back on topic. "Del and Suz. Spill." Picking up her fork, she sliced into a waffle and dunked it in the syrup.

Tuck leaned in, keeping his voice low. "I think they had an agenda, one they didn't share with the rest of the class." He shoveled a forkful of hash browns into his mouth.

Gina chewed thoughtfully for a moment. "So… they wanted to what? Have an experience? Make life a living hell for everyone? What kind of agenda gets them killed along with two of our best friends?" He had to be wrong.

Right?

Tuck didn't say anything for a while, clearing half his plate and keeping an eye on the specter outside. Gina gave him some space, keeping her questions at bay. Tuck liked to mull things over even though it drove her mad sometimes.

Finally, he set his fork aside. "I could be wrong, but we didn't know them. We didn't have time to vet them before they insisted we let them tag along for the night." He picked up his mug and swallowed several mouthfuls of coffee. "Marley grew up with both, but she said it'd been almost ten years since she'd seen either one." He paused, letting the information sink in.

Gina finished off her bacon and slowly nodded. "And you're wondering why they show up now?" Actually, a good question.

Tuck jerked his chin upward. "Yeah, I guess." He paused a moment. "They were staying with Jake and Marley, right? Maybe there's something at their place to give us a lead on what's going on."

Gina nodded then glanced out the window. "Should we try to make a run for their condo? Or wait to see if Mr. Creepy goes away when the sun rises?" She hovered between wanting answers now and dreading the thought of going back out there.

A new one for her.

Tuck shrugged. "We've got about an hour until it starts getting light outside. Let's see what happens." He waved to Shirl who grabbed the coffee pot.

Gina settled back against the booth cushions. In an hour, they'd be wired on caffeine and probably still be bone-dead tired.

But they needed to find some kind of clue as to what they were dealing with and hopefully get some justice for their friends.

I'm not quite sure how this one is going to be resolved but I do like the dynamic between Gina and Tuck and how they're not sure what they're dealing with but unafraid to find out.

That's it for this week.

Cheers!

Skye

Sunday Snippet: Not Enough Hope

It's been a busy, busy week. I've got a new long-term project in a new to me genre and I’m excited to get started. Also finished up a couple of copy editing projects that were fun to work on.

About normal television viewing. I finished up the rewatch of Roswell, New Mexico. I'm serious when I say this show is kind of consuming me right now. Also caught the newest episode and it's everything I expected as to the reveal of the fourth alien but it also surpassed my expectations in so many ways. I don't know if there's going to be a triangle with Michael, Maria, and Alex but I actually like where things are right now. I'm not a huge fan of triangles but this has potential to be really interesting.

Caught another episode of Underbelly: Razor and really liked where things went. Wally leaving Kate came at just the right time and I'm interested to see how she fares without him. I'm also excited to see where Tillie and Nellie end up. Probably not in the best circumstances.

Watched two more episodes of Peter Gunn. This is such a great show for inspiration when I want to write something with a flair of noir. It's moody and stylish and the mix of grim and dark with humor is excellent.

Caught an episode of Strike Back and my heart goes out to Wyatt. At the same time, I'm totally down with Coltrane going rogue. It's such a section twenty thing to do. And the responses from the team? Perfect. I'm kind of hoping Katrina sees used-to-be Pavel as the evil force he is and switches allegiance again. We'll see what happens.

Watched another episode of Chicago Fire and loved how the group came together for Foster. Doctor Asshat definitely got the message. At least I hope he did.

Iron Fist had a great episode. I love watching Ward try to navigate through emotions. Joy, I'm not so sure about. I can't quite decide if I understand and sympathize where she's coming from or if I want to write her off the way I've written Trish off in Jessica Jones.

Caught an episode of Classic Roswell and Alex and Liz broke my heart all over again. I did love, love, love the way they took Topolski down though.

Watched an episode Murdoch Mysteries. The reporter lady drives me nuts but I loved how she handled getting William and Julie to recognize how much George contributed to their book. The murder case also entertained.

Caught the second episode of The Murders and I really like the partnership between Nolan and Kate. I want to know more about both characters.

I started Ms. Fisher's Modern Murder Mysteries and I'm excited to see how this show stacks up to Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries.

That's pretty much it for TV this week. Tonight's post is from Not Enough Hope, a novella that started with a writing community prompt of writing a story that involves a lie and include a funeral.

Here's the mini-blurb:

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

And a preview snippet…

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

She never did.

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

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

He didn't disappoint.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

This one is coming along nicely. Early and Salem have some issues to work through and he is definitely not going to be an easy target.

That's it for this week.

Cheers!

Skye

Sunday Snippet: Not Again

So… not a bad week overall. A little slower, which I truly appreciate. I did have a sick kid, but she's on the mend now. A quick trip to pick her up from work had to happen but otherwise, she's feeling much better.

Had some decent television viewing. Mainly some repeat watches of current favorite shows and catching up on a few marathons. I did catch a few new episodes also.

Chicago Fire had a terrific episode. I have to say I'm not a fan of the boys fighting amongst themselves. New guy breaking the ice is going to be one of my favorite bits from the series.

Watched Iron Fist and things are moving along. Nice to see a little progress with Ward but I have a dreadful feeling his trust will bite him on the ass. Thrilled to finally see what the hell is up with Mary and, boy, the reveal didn't disappoint. Looking forward to the next episode.

Caught another episode of Classic Roswell. I'd forgotten about the Native American angle. Looking forward to the next episode.

Also watched an episode of Murdoch Mysteries. I don't know if this is the last season, but they seem to be tying off a lot of loose ends. If it is… it's been a wonderful twelve years.

I started casually watching Blue Bloods. It's not really a show I want to add to my roster, but marathons are on every day and I've seen pretty much of the first five seasons. I'm now paying more attention and trying to catch up on season six and onward. I do love the family angle of this show.

Started a new Canadian show, The Murders, mainly because Dylan Bruce is one of the regulars. That said, I loved the first episode. I'm looking forward to more.

With no new episode of Roswell, New Mexico this week, I started another rewatch. This show… man, I can't get enough of it right now. I might have to start a recap series on my fandom blog. Stay tuned. I'll let everyone know if it happens.

That's pretty much my week in television. Tonight's post is from Not Again, a novella that started with a two-word prompt of "not again".

Here's the mini-blurb:

Drue Braddock and Xeno Howlett have a rocky relationship, but when Drue goes off on one of her many soul searching quests, Xeno decides he's had enough. When Drue returns, she finally knows what she wants—Xeno—but she may not get her chance because he's got someone new in his life.

And a preview snippet…

Drue sized up her new accommodations. "Temporary… so it'll do." The cheap rent sold her on the studio space, enhanced with an actual galley-style kitchen area and full bath.

She didn't need much and sure as hell didn't plan to be there very long.

Xeno would meet with her and listen to what she'd discovered. And he'd do it soon. If she had to tie him up to make it happen, she would.

Lydia Masters threw a bit of a twist into the mix. "What the hell, Xeno. Nothing like picking my polar opposite to hook up with." Her history with the woman probably made Lydia all the more appealing.

Dammit, Xeno.

Right. Couldn't really blame him. Not for everything. He'd put up with her crazy vision quest drama for five years. The one where she needed time and space and distance to figure out her role in life.

Dropping her bag on the floor, she made her way to the furnished sofa and dropped down on it. "Not my fault Xeno's too much of a distraction when the crystals start calling." Also not her fault they were deep in the realm and she always went to them.

Not his fault either.

But she did blame him for thinking she could pull the stones from their natural location. First, they'd lose their connection to the elements. Second, despite his assurances, the crystals wouldn't be safe. No matter how hard or how much Xeno tried to protect them, nothing would beat the realm's measures.

Her head hit the back of the cushions. "And Miss Lydia-Effing-Masters knows that." Part of their beef had everything to do with the fact Lydia couldn’t get her hands on the stones.

Unlike Drue, Lydia didn't have an affinity for shifting between the ether veils that separated the human world from the magickal.

Drue straightened, bringing her chin level again. "Boo-fucking-hoo and not my problem." Nope… her challenge grew exponentially with each passing moment she didn't have Xeno's ear.

Because the crystals had a lot to reveal and none of the portents boded well for the Xeno and the tribe elders.

She heaved a sigh. "And the whole damn mess landed in my lap."

Drue has her work cut out and Xeno isn't going to make anything easy for her. She'll get him to listen though and he's not going to like what he hears.

That's it for this week.

Cheers!

Skye