Sunday Snippet: Man Up

Hope everyone had a terrific US holiday and a terrific week if not in the US. I got to spend time with my oldest and youngest kiddos and enjoyed being able to do so. I think I have two more gifts and maybe some odds and ends to pick up and I'm done with holiday shopping. Fairly pleased to be a little ahead of my usual last-minute rush.

Had a good week of television viewing. I watched another episode of The Brokenwood Mysteries. This show continues to make me so happy.

Got a two-part Silent Witness watched. This is one I didn't remember and I'm glad I got to watch it.

Got a full arc of Classic Who in and started a new one. I've discovered a couple of episodes were almost an hour in this season, which is actually kind of cool.

Started a new series with Mysteries of Apollo and the first episode focused on the Apollo 13 mission and some of the in-depth history of that experience.

Began season five of The Muppet Show and watched four episodes. Gene Kelly, Loretta Swit, Joan Baez, and Shirley Bassey were the guest hosts. Final season of the original.

Caught two episodes of Fantasy Island and I'm still thoroughly enjoying the show. I think I have one left in this first season and I'll look forward to the holiday episode.

Started season six of Peak Practice. Great episode that moved the timeline ahead a little. Being at the halfway mark of the entire run is a nice accomplishment.

Enjoyed another lesson of MasterClass with Brandon McMillan. Some great tips on housebreaking that I hope to put into effect after I get my downstairs area organized.

Season two of Glitch started out with an interesting twist. This show is very twisty and turny and I like that. Looking forward to getting more information on how everything works and finding out if Sarah is another one of the risen. If so, poor James. Two women in his life? That's a lot.

Remember when I thought I finished the first season of Star Trek: Discovery? Yeah, not the case. I had two more episodes. Watched the penultimate this week and, wow, what a mix of highs and lows. This show. Just saying.

Started season three of Chicago Med. I like how they moved the timeline ahead and seeing where everyone ended up. Conor breaks my heart. April breaks my heart. Wil and Nat make me happy. The horrible new surgical resident irritates the life out of me. So far, so good. LOL

Watched another episode of The Madame Blanc Mysteries. I really love the dynamic of this show and the mystery this week ended up being terrific. Also love the overarching mystery of who killed Jean's husband. Interesting show.

That's pretty much it for this week. Tonight's post is from Man Up, a fun tale of a game going too far in exactly the right way.

Here's the mini-blurb:

Hattie Hale and Nero Palmer, instructors at the Academy of Light, are supposed to set the example, but can't quite get past their competitive natures. A drunken game of one-ups-manship goes all the way to the sleeping chamber because neither will admit to being outdone.

And a preview snippet…

Around noon on Saturday, Nero stood outside Hattie's door. "I'm crazy to do this." But he wouldn't welsh on a bet.

He knocked and when no one answered he rapped on the wood again. Moments later, a thud sounded from inside and a scrape of metal against wood followed by a string of curses echoed behind the window.

Hattie pulled the door open, looking worse for the wear. "What the hell, Nero. Why are you here?" She squinted against the sunlight streaming through the trees.

He gave harsh exhale. "Did we really agree to having a one-upsmanship contest last night?" Maybe she'd forgotten.

Hattie winced. "Ugh. You're here at the asscrack of dawn to ask me that?" She ran a hand through her tangled hair.

Nero quirked a brow. "It's after noon, Hats. If we're doing this, we've got until Tuesday since we're on school holiday Monday." Seventy-two hours or so to figure out who really ruled.

She rolled her eyes. "Fine." She stepped back and swept her arm out, inviting him in. "But don't say another word until I get caffeinated." Shuffling across the floor, she headed for her kitchen.

He followed her inside and scoped out her living space. Surprisingly tidy and orderly, except for a chair bumped up against the coffee table. No doubt the source for the earlier commotion and swearing.

Why he thought her home would be mass chaos he couldn't honestly say. Okay, he'd admit having preconceived notions because she rarely if ever invited anyone into her personal space. And the way she ran her classes, with unbridled enthusiasm and raucous abandon fed into his perception.

He huffed out a breath. "Might have to alter the perspective a little."

She strolled back into the living room, carrying a huge mug of coffee in each hand. "Didn't know if you'd want some…" Reaching out, she lifted one of the cups.

Nero accepted the java. "Thank you. I probably don't need it, but I love a good cup of coffee." He took a sip and blinked in surprise. "Wow … this is excellent."

She toasted him. "Thanks." Settling on the couch, she tucked her feet under her thighs. "You might as well sit. I don't plan to move from this spot until the pot is empty." A flick of her wrist conjured a carafe onto the ottoman between the couch and two chairs.

Nero chose a chair and leaned against the cushion. "Okay, you don't have to move until the coffee is gone, but you only have until your first cup is empty for quiet time." He arched a brow, daring her to argue.

She narrowed her eyes but inclined her head.

Nero considered he'd won the first round and added a point to his win column.

I love the dynamic between Nero and Hattie. This is such a fun story to write.

 

That's it for this week.

Cheers!

Skye 

Sunday Snippet: Loss

Okay, we're a week before Thanksgiving in the US and I'm happy to say I've got the bulk of my holiday shopping done. I need to get a few more items then it's time to put a bow on the whole package and be done. YAY!

Had a pretty solid week of working and watching television. A new project crossed my desk and it's going well. On the television side, I started with Classic Who and watched a four-episode arc then hit a two-episode arc. Both were enjoyable.

Caught the last two episodes of Roswell: The Final Verdict. Really enjoyed this six-part series. Not sure what I'll pick up with next, but probably something else UFO related.

I watched four episodes of The Muppet Show and finished out season four. The guest hosts were Doug Henning, Andy Williams, Alan Arkin, and Diana Ross. Season five is the final run of the original show and I'm not sure what I'll watch next. Maybe some of the movies.

Enjoyed two more episodes of Fantasy Island. So far, I'm liking the new premise and how things from the past are blended into the current incarnation of the island. Based on what I've read, there's going to be a holiday episode. I'm a total sucker for stuff like that and can't wait.

Finished out season five of Peak Practice. Did not expect it to end with a house burning down, but it happened. Looking forward to starting season six. I'm at the halfway point. Yay!

Watched two more lessons of MasterClass with Brandon McMillan. He's got some great methods and I'm hoping to try some out on my furry mutts soon. I've already incorporated a couple of things and they've worked well.

Completed the first season of Glitch. I didn't see a couple of things coming and I love the twists. Looking forward to starting the second season this week. I gotta say I really feel for James and this show is like catnip because of the love triangle that isn't really a triangle and the fact that no one is a bad guy in it. That's a trope I thoroughly enjoy.

Started a new episode of Blue Heelers and have a feeling it's going to be one of those odd ones where the heelers are on opposing sides. Not sure how I'll like this one.

Finished the finale of Star Trek: Discovery. Man, what a ride the first season ended up being. I can't wait to see what the breakdowns will look like on The Ready Room.

Caught two more episodes of Chicago Med. I'm almost finished with the second season and looking forward to the third. Gotta take a moment to appreciate the episode titles. This show makes them fun.

Started a new show with The Madam Blanc Mysteries. So far, I'm hooked. I loved the first episode. Looking forward to seeing more.

Finished the second episode of Silent Witness. I have vague memories of this one and how it played out. Kind of a twisty tale.

Last but not least, I watched two more Classic Rugrats episodes. I'm trying to decide if I want to watch the holiday specials or hold off and watch as they pop up during the seasons. Stay tuned.

That's pretty much it for weekly updates. Tonight's post is from Loss, a novella that puts my characters in a quandary when they deal with grief in completely different ways.

Here's the mini-blurb:

Welsh Hollingsworth is the golden child of Clan Grimstone, but when he's expected to fill the void left when his dad is killed, he can't quite figure out how and he hopes Cagney Gaines can help him find some insight. Cagney can't deal with the loss of her mentor, the one constant in her chaotic world and she leaves when Welsh needs her the most. One year later, she returns to find a very different Welsh—one who doesn't welcome her with open arms.

And a preview snippet…

Welsh woke with a start and had ten blissful seconds of peace before his memory kicked in and the world went dark again. He needed to be a leader today and the idea freaked him out. How had his dad managed for so long?

He scrubbed a hand over his face. "Cagney?" Her side of the bed—empty and cool to the touch—barely looked slept in. "She must be in the shower.'' But his bathroom hadn't been used. "Maybe she's in hers."

He grabbed a shower and dressed then went to make coffee. All routine things that no longer felt normal. Because the looming presence of sending his dad to his final rest hovered on the fringes of his mind. Jacko knocked on the door at the moment the coffeemaker finished brewing.

Welsh offered Jacko a cup. "I'd like to get a group together to build the pyre."

Jacko nodded. "I figured. You want to go to the square or do it here?"

Welsh didn't hesitate. ''Here. I know the square is the community gathering place, but my old man welcomed any and all at the estate. And I plan to do the same."

Jacko didn't argue. "No one is going think it's a bad idea."

Welsh shrugged. "Truce or not, we should be ready to bring people in. The closer everyone stays, the easier it'll be to respond if the treaty is broken."

Jacko cocked his head. "What do you think Bainbridge is angling for?"

Welsh shrugged. "I don't know, but it's definitely something. Bainbridge is full of shit and he's not going to sit back and lick his wounds. We've got a reprieve but it won't last long." He'd bet his entire future on that fact.

Jacko put his mug on the counter. "We'll keep this information under wraps for now?"

Welsh nodded. "We will. The clan needs to focus on Dad right now and mourning our dead. Time enough to say our good-byes before we open the floodgates of planning and preparation."

Jacko lifted his chin. "For what it's worth, I wouldn't do anything different. You're handling everything the way I would."

Welsh appreciated the boost of confidence. "Thanks for saying so. Could we get the crew together in an hour or so?"

Jacko left with the assurance he'd have everyone ready.

Welsh stared out the window, pondering the toll it would take on him to lead and grieve at the same time. He considered whether to track Cagney down but decided against it.

He backed away from the counter. "Let her have some time alone." He got a kick of guilt for relying on her to do things his way. "I'll get her when the time comes to light the pyre."

They could figure out the future after they'd laid his old man to rest.

This one is challenging but so enjoyable to write. Welsh is a natural-born leader but doesn't think so and he stumbles along his way for a while.

 

That's it for this week.

Cheers!

Skye

Sunday Snippet: Lie to Me

Well, we're finally getting November weather. It's chilly outside and we got some snow showers that really ended up being flurries flying wildly in the wind. I'm kind of excited to get into the true depth of fall.

Had a decent week of catching up on projects and doing more organizing. I also made a dent in my holiday shopping. I'm making an effort to be on top of that this year.

Pretty solid week of viewing also. I got two episodes of Glitch in. I thought I'd already watched the third episode but I hadn't. So I'll be starting episode five this week. Some crazy stuff happened and we're down two characters. I'm very interested in what the hell happened to Vic.

Caught another musical icon episode. Whitney Houston: We Will Always Love You ended up being full of stuff I didn't know or remember about the singer. I like revisiting the lives of those we've lost.

Watched the penultimate episode of Star Trek: Discovery. Definitely had a twist I sort of expected but didn't know if the show would go there. They totally did. I'm kind of excited to see the finale then dive into the Ready Room breakdowns. I kind of hope Wil loses his mind over some of the twists and turns. He's so much fun because he's such a huge fan.

Enjoyed two episode of Chicago Med. I'm almost through the second season with one more episode to go. I'm kind of sad about Robin's descent, especially because Rhodes is such a nice guy. I'm also thrilled with how Reese is coming into her own and standing up for herself. Her confidence is amazing this season.

Caught the season finale of Midsomer Murders. Really liked this one and loved the mystery. I rather hope there's another season in the works.

Finished season thirteen of Silent Witness and started the first episode of season fourteen. I'm a little iffy on whether I remember this one or not. Some of the details are pinging so I think I did watch it before.

Watched the season twenty finale of Classic Who. Thoroughly enjoyed "The Five Doctors" and seeing all the former companions back for a spin. Although Four didn't have much of anything to do, which, honestly, isn't a huge loss. He'd been the most recent anyway.

Caught another episode of Roswell: The Final Verdict and liked the deep dive into how some of the witnesses were discredited and humiliated. Everything that happened with the Roswell incident is fascinating.

Enjoyed two more episodes of The Muppet Show. Lynda Carter and Carol Channing were the guest stars. The muppets trying to be super heroes was hilarious.

Started the updated version of Fantasy Island. Interesting premise and pretty decent storylines. I'll finish out the season and see if things hold up.

Caught another episode of Peak Practice. I'm almost through season five and I'm still liking the mix of partners. I think I have two episodes left before season six starts.

Watched another MasterClass with Brandon McMillan. This one gave me some good insight into how to keep my doggos from jumping. I'm going to try some of the techniques because that's a huge problem with both dogs.

Enjoyed two episodes of Classic Rugrats. Two were favorites from watching with my kiddos when they were little. This show is so much fun to revisit.

Also caught another episode of The Brokenwood Mysteries. Nice to see Jared back and what a terrific case. I'm hoping the lawyer lady gets caught at some point. Because she's definitely guilty. Also wondering if the final duo will end up featuring in another episode at some point.

And that's pretty much it for this week's television update. Tonight's post is from Lie to Me, a novella that puts one of the characters in a dangerous situation and forces the other to consider how to save them.

Here's the mini-blurb:

Jana Ricks has a target on her back and she wants Rhys McPherson to help her get rid of it. Rhys loves Jana, but may not be able to protect her, not if they want to stay alive, which he's determined to make happen … even if it means giving up the future he wants.

And a preview snippet…

Jana showered and waited for Rhys. He tripped the ward to alert her and she went to the door. She drank in the sight of him ambling along her walkway.

She sighed. "Such a handsome geek." Her long-buried feelings for him threatened to consumer her.

She loved him. Always would. Even if she'd never have him again.

When he stepped up onto her porch, she exited to meet him. "I'm sorry. I didn't know who to call. No one else has your knowledge." The man loved nothing more than to be surrounded by books.

He hugged her. A quick squeeze and release. Her body craved more. So much more.

Rhys cupped her face. "You know I'll always have your back." He followed her inside. "You've set perimeter wards?" He hefted his bag higher on his shoulder.

She nodded. "Right now, you're the only one who has access. Anyone else will get an unpleasant welcome." And probably not live to tell anyone about it.

Rhys cocked his head. "You took a risk going out to set an exception."

Jana flushed hot. "Er, I didn't go out." She held up a shirt—the fabric whisper soft from wear. "I used this to create the allowance for your admittance." She tucked the garment under her arm with no plans to give it back.

Rhys huffed out a breath. "Smart." He dumped his bag on the chair by the table. "Didn't realize I'd left anything behind." His gaze drifted toward the living area.

Jana winced but didn't jump on the subject. He didn't come to rehash the reasons they'd split up. Awkward moment much.

Jana finally remembered her manners. "How are Lindi and the kids?" Stupid question, but she could play nice when necessary.

Rhys gave her a wry grin. "They're all right. The kids have adjusted to living at the estate." He sobered. "Lindi's hanging in there." He jammed his hands into his pockets.

Translation—the kids are bouncing back and Lindi is still pissed at you.

She changed the subject. "I didn't get a good look at the predator, but it's either a hell hound or a hex cat. My money's on the cat." She paced a little, fighting the creeped-out feeling of being chased. "I think it was cloaked so a description could be avoided." Pretty damn smart, if she wanted to be nice about things.

She didn't.

Rhys dragged his books out of his bag. "Any reason why you're betting on the cat?" He stacked five volumes on the table.

Jana shrugged. "A hound would be baying in frustration over not getting past my wards." And probably chomping at the bit to get at her.

Rhys lifted his chin. "Unless it's well-trained."

Jana conceded. "Okay. Good point. But … they're notoriously hard to train and not many have the patience or skill to do it."

Rhys gave a slow nod. "True. We'll focus on a hex cat to start." He grabbed a book from the pile.

Jana pointed to the living room. "I cleared the table so you've got room to spread out. Or you—we—can work in here." She started toward the room.

Rhys couldn't hide a slight grimace. "You're helping?" He tucked two books under his arm and lifted three more in both hands.

Jana laughed. "Don't worry. I figured I can play fetch and carry. I promise I won't touch the precious tomes." A long-standing bone of contention between them—her lack of scholarly pursuits showed in her nonexistent reverence for a musty text.

Rhys picked up on her stab at humor. "Hey, the precious tomes might be the only thing to save your very nice ass." He strolled past her with a quirky grin on his face and put the books on the ottoman in front of the couch.

Jana couldn't suppress a lick of satisfaction. At least he still liked her butt. She shut down the euphoria and focused on the reason Rhys had to be here.

Her work created a lot of havoc. Rhys had knowledge about a little bit of everything. She wouldn't regret using whatever connection they had to figure this out. And she wouldn't make too much of anything else.

Heading back toward the kitchen, she called over her shoulder. "I'll put some coffee on."

I love writing banter between characters who have a lot of underlying tension. Rhys and Jana definitely have history and a lot of shorthand between them.

That's it for this week.

Cheers!

Skye 

Sunday Snippet: Left Unsaid

Well … November has arrived and the weather is cooling off to true fall-like temperatures. It's pretty chilly when I take the dogs out for the final time at night. Brrr.

Had a limited work week with only one project on my desk. Sometimes it's nice to have the extra time to get things done around the house. I'm still on my great clear-out and making solid progress. I have a new couch coming later this month and I'm excited to get everything ready for it.

Decent week of television. I caught four episodes of The Muppet Show. Anne Murray, Jonathan Winters, Star Wars / Mark Hamill, and Christopher Reeve were the guest stars. I remember the Star Wars episode from childhood. My brothers and I loved that one.

Finished up Prime Suspect and actually loved the way the series ended. I don't remember if I actually got to finish the entire series when I watched the first time so I'm glad I got to complete the entire run. Really like the bookend of how it began with how it ended.

Watched two episodes of Peak Practice. As suspected, David's wife kind of went off the rails and the climax of that happened in the second episode. I'm also enjoying Paul's storyline. Nice to see him pop up about every other episode.

Caught two more MasterClass lessons with Brandon McMillan. He's very good at explaining his technique and I'm hoping I'll be able to work with both dogs to have them behave better.

Watched another episode of Glitch and this show is as trippy as I thought it would be. Three episodes in and I'm still not quite sure what's going on. James has quite the dilemma on two fronts and it's almost uncomfortable watching him juggle everything.

Enjoyed another Pop Profiles. This one featured Jennifer Lopez. I didn't learn a lot of new things about her career but I loved revisiting some of her stellar moments.

Caught two more episodes of Classic Rugrats. This show is so much fun to revisit. Had a chance to talk to my oldest and reminisce a little about how much we loved watching when he was little.

Watched a great episode of Chicago Med. I'm starting to really enjoy Dr. Latham. I also loved getting into a little more of Goodwin's story. Also really liked Reece's storyline for this episode.

Enjoyed another episode of The Brokenwood Mysteries. I've been enjoying having Frodo pop up in weird jobs. My hope is he'll eventually end up at the Toad and Lion. He'd make a great bartender.

Started a new episode of Blue Heelers. This one is interesting with a rural flavor to it. I'm feeling bad for Adam. He's got it bad for Chris and she's not going there because of their age difference.

Started the final two-parter of Silent Witness for season thirteen. This is another South Africa setting. I have a very vague memory of what happened the first time I watched and I'm looking forward to the second part to see if I remember anything else.

I'm almost finished with season twenty of Classic Who. The Master did show up again in a two-part arc and that leaves one final episode left. "The Five Doctors" will round out the season and we'll be on to twenty-one.

Enjoyed another episode of Roswell: The Final Verdict. This focused on how the government went to a lot of trouble to silence witnesses of the crash. The AI found a couple of false statements and that always interests me. Looking forward to the next episode.

That's pretty much it for this week's update. Tonight's post is from Left Unsaid, a novella with main characters that can't always say what they want to.

Here's the mini-blurb:

Haven and Pryce are involved in a covert war between humanity and the fae. When the battle takes a nasty turn for the worse and their lives are in danger multiple times, the couple realizes it's sometimes better to communicate without words.

And a preview snippet…

Haven woke slowly. A little disoriented, the pleasant weight of Pryce's arm curled around her made her smile. She didn't do wistful, not normally, but she could get used to having him spooned against her.

Stop. You can't go there. Why not, though? Because he still needs to grieve and you might not have tomorrow. But they had today. If anything, living in the moment and happily right now is the way to go.

Raspy stubble ghosted over her shoulder. "I can hear the wheels spinning in your head, Haven. What's got your brain churning?" He pressed a kiss to her skin.

She shifted around to face him. "Everything we leave unsaid between us." So much they could fill a baggage claim.

He cupped her face. "This is deeper than Peter, isn't it?"

She nodded. "But he looms the largest right now." The rest could wait.

Pryce brushed his lips over hers. "Okay, then. Let's grab a shower and put Peter to rest while we eat something." He eased off the couch and started for the bathroom.

Haven admired his ass then shook her head. "Focus, you idiot." She got up and joined him under the spray.

She liked how they lingered, neither in a rush to dive into anything sexy but taking time to appreciate the play of water and suds over skin. The touch so different from when she'd first arrived. When the water cooled, Pryce twisted the knob and cut the flow. He grabbed a towel and wrapped it around Haven.

His thumbs brushed over her cheeks, his gaze seeking answers. "Look, Have, about earlier—"

She cut him off. "Don't you dare apologize. You took what I freely offered and I'm not complaining." She pinned him with a bold look. "We needed the outlet to get through the anger." Keeping the towel around her, she entered his bedroom and snagged one of his T-shirts then dried off and slipped the garment over her head. "Besides, we have other important things to discuss, right?"

I love where this book is going. Everything kind of came together and the conflict ended up being filled with more layers than I thought it would be.

 

That's it for this week.

Cheers!

Skye

Sunday Snippet: Led Astray

Happy Halloween to those who observe. We had our trick or treat last night and it was nice to be outside with semi-decent weather to enjoy fall. For me, it was wonderful to take a break from some renovation in the bathroom. I'm not twenty-five anymore and I'm definitely feeling that right now. LOL

Not a bad week for television, I started with another episode of The Brokenwood Mysteries and quite enjoyed it. I love the quirkiness of the characters and the cases. Such a great show.

Watched a two-part Silent Witness and I vaguely remembered this one. It's odd how a season from a decade or so ago holds up so well. What goes around comes around.

Caught two arcs of Classic Who, which brings me close to the end of season twenty. Pretty sure the Master is going to show up again around the final arc.

Enjoyed two episodes of The Muppet Show. Liza Minnelli and Phyllis George were the guest stars.

Finished up season six of Prime Suspect. I'll be starting the final season this week. I'm not sure what I'll move on to after this series but I'll find something.

Watched two episodes of Roswell: The Final Verdict. I kind of like the use of AI truth detection they're using to determine whether witness accounts about the crash are true or not. Interesting viewing.

Caught another episode of Peak Practice. I'm coming up on the last few episodes of season five and I'm still enjoying the series. Slowly but surely making my way to season twelve with one of my favorite actors in an early role.

Got some great information from MasterClass with Brandon McMillan. I'll be coming back to this lesson in the near future.

Started the new-to-me series Glitch and got rather hooked on the first episode. My sibling highly recommended this one and I look forward to discussing it with him.

Watched Pop Profile: Demi Lovato and thoroughly enjoyed it. I'm not overly familiar with her career and the profile was interesting to follow along.

Caught another episode of Star Trek: Discovery. Things are definitely heating up and I can't decide if I'm really down with what's going on with Ash or if I need to shake my head over it. Either way, I'm so invested in what happens I can't wait for the next episode.

Great Chicago Med episode with Halsted, Rhodes, and Reese learning some lessons. I always find the episode names interesting and I love how they almost always end up fitting the theme.

Watched another Midsomer Murders episode and thoroughly enjoyed it. After twenty-two seasons that's saying something. I have one more episode of this season then, hopefully, a new season in the near future.

That's pretty much it for this week's viewing update. Tonight's post is from Led Astray, a novella where characters on opposing sides come together to put a feud to rest.

Here's the mini-blurb:

Gia Schmidt is tasked with bringing Orrick Triolo around to her clan's way of thinking, but he proves a hard case to crack, even with her considerable skills. Orrick's got something she wants but if she's not careful, he'll lead her astray instead of the other way around.

And a preview snippet…

Gia reached out, loosened his tie, and pulled it out from under his collar. "We both know the answer, don't we?" Her fingers worked on his buttons, revealing a defined chest and torso.

Her mouth watered and she struggled to remember her true purpose for being here. To Orrick's credit, he gave her full rein, shrugging out of the impeccably tailored shirt while she undid his belt, released the clasp, and lowered his zipper. A hard, thick cock jutted upward and her knees went a little weak at the sight.

She slowly angled around, glancing over her shoulder. "Will you?" Her gaze dropped to the zipper at the low part of her back.

His hands smoothed over her skin before he unzipped her dress. She turned back around to find he'd kicked his pants aside after toeing off his shoes. His gaze darkened when she let the bodice slide down her body, revealing nothing but her bare breasts. With a slight shake, she let the garment fall to stand naked before him.

Orrick blinked. "Damn." He grasped her hips and nudged her backward, easing her fall to the bed.

Gia wrapped a leg around his waist and tilted her chin up to meet his hungry kiss. His lips moved over hers with dizzying thoroughness before trailing along her jawline down to her shoulder where his teeth grazed over her collarbone. His tongue took over, laving a path to her breasts. He teased one then the other before drawing her hardened nipple between his lips. He sucked hard and she gasped, arching her back. He caught a hip with his palm, holding her steady then wedged his thigh between her legs.

She bucked against the muscled thickness, the hair-roughened surface creating a delicious friction. Orrick made his way back up to meet her mouth in another steamy embrace. She didn't try to temper her reaction anymore. She couldn't. The man evoked an emotional and physical response. Her ability to remain detached and use her power had exploded with the first kiss. She wanted him—hard and hot—right now.

Breaking the lip-lock, she palmed his erection. "Don't make me wait, Orrick. I want you." She guided the head of his cock along her wet folds.

His gaze filled with shadows and for one suspended moment, she feared he'd pull away and break the connection they had. It wouldn't be the only time she'd lost someone, but she'd regret losing him—a first for her. When he thrust forward, filling her, relief mixed with wonder. God, the man made her blood sing with heart-pounding rhythm.

I love this story! Orrick and Gia will end up in the crosshairs from both of their families but they'll figure a way out.

 

That's it for this week.

Cheers!

Skye

Sunday Snippet: Kings of Chaos

It's so weird we're almost to the end of the month. One more October Sunday after this one. Had a decent work week and made a lot of progress on my cleaning project.

Also had a solid viewing week. Started with The Muppet Show and ended up getting four episodes watched. Beverley Sills, Kenny Rogers, Lola Falana, and Dizzy Gillespie were the guest stars.

Watched Prime Suspect and finished up season five and started season six. Six is proving to be very interesting. I can't remember how it ends up playing out but I'll find out this week.

Caught two episodes of Peak Practice and liked both. Sometimes the bickering between the partners gets a little wearing but I do like this mix.

Ended up watching two episodes of MasterClass with Brandon McMillan. I like this guy and I'm getting some good tips on how to work with my doggos.

Finished up Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life. Man. "Summer" and "Fall" hit me in the feels in a really big way. At some point, I want to rewatch the four episodes and do a recap on my fictional universe blogs. I can honestly say the revival had everything I would've wanted and only a few things I didn't. Which means I'm left with a feeling of completeness. This isn't to say I wouldn't welcome another year in the life that would pick up at the present time. That could be a lot of fun.

I enjoyed two musician spotlights. Dolly Parton: Queen of Country turned out to be an enjoyable look at the amazing woman and her long career. Pop Profiles: Christina Aguilara shed some facts about her career that I didn't know. As a casual fan, I found it interesting.

Watched an episode of Star Trek: Discovery and loved the mirror universe. Those kinds of episodes always make me happy. I'm looking forward to the next installment so I can find out how things play out.

Caught two episodes of Chicago Med. The second one ended up blowing me away. Understated but really strong performances all around. I love this show.

Weirdly enough, I watched an episode of Midsomer Murders and it featured scarecrows. I say weirdly because the final episode of The Brokenwood Mysteries had a scarecrow feature also. Anyway, nice to see Winter get some backstory and lovely to see Betty again.

Finished up the second episode of Silent Witness. I vaguely remember this one and enjoyed getting caught up in the cases again. Looking forward to starting the next two-parter.

Caught another four-episode arc of Classic Who. Nice to see the brigadier again. Interesting episode with a potential new companion in the mix.

Finished up UFOs over Earth. This one focused on mass sightings in Mexico. I'll be starting a new series this week and I think it's going to be about Roswell.

Last but not least, I watched two more episodes of Classic Rugrats. The first season had some great standalone episodes and two were in the set I watched. The second season of the new version is streaming now but I'm waiting until all episodes are available before diving in.

And that's it for television this week. Tonight's post is from Kings of Chaos, a novella that features a couple caught in a brewing feud between warlocks and wizards.

Here's the mini-blurb:

Ainslee and Witt are stranded during a charity ride for their local children's organization. Foul play is involved and they have to determine which rival club member has the most to gain or if someone closer to home is the culprit. Either way the warlocks versus wizards mindset is supposed to be null and void when a truce is underway.

And a preview snippet…

Going astral never failed to be a thrill ride. The first euphoric moments of freedom provided a giddy escape and Ainslee relished the experience for a few moments. Hovering above the campsite, she sobered quickly when her gaze caught sight of the hex spells Witt set.

Right. She had a mission—check on the old man.

Soaring high, she spared a final glance at Witt now sitting beside her physical form, keeping vigil until she returned. "God, I love that man."

He wouldn't let anything happen to her. She'd stake her life on him.

Soaring outward, she followed the route for the charity ride and found the clubs at a rest area—one no longer maintained by the state—where the MCs often stopped to regroup and stretch their legs. This spot—considered neutral territory—served as a place to conduct pickups and drop-offs, usually of a supernatural sort.

Ainslee spotted the old man ambling down one of the trails and she followed. He cleared the rest area perimeter and kept going, which surprised Ainslee. He didn't mention anything about a meet or other business before they left. Not that he had to. Being president had perks—he could do what he wanted.

He stopped at the mesh fence bordering on some private property owned by the Kings. He didn't go further. Ainslee spotted the reason why several seconds later. Frank Cavalli, flanked by one of his goons, strolled to the old man's side.

Wyatt arched a brow. "You asked for this meet. What do you want?" He planted his hands on his hips and held Cavalli's gaze.

Ainslee hovered around and caught the glint of a blade. Dammit. Power play.

She shouted a telepathic warning, which had Wyatt's torso whipping around. Her paranormal action sent her hurtling back toward her corporeal self, but not before she witnessed the lunge of the knife into the old man's body.

She also heard the ominous warning.

"It's time for a change, old man."

She fought the pull back to her physical form, but lost the battle, crashing down into herself. Her body jerked with a violent start. Her mouth opened on a gasp and her mind screamed. No!

The convulsions from her rapid reentry started almost immediately. Strong hands gripped her shoulders, holding her steady and keeping her from doing too much harm to herself. The ethereal fog, thick and gritty, tried to hold her under but Witt's voice broke through the haze.

"Roll with it, Ainslee. Ride the wave and come back to me."

She struggled to clear her mind, kicking through the murky veils, and finally opened her eyes to the sight of Witt's concerned face.

She gripped his shirt, fisting her hand in the fabric. "The old man..." Her voice croaked and she swallowed hard. "Not good." She coughed, gagging for air.

I love this story and the sages are feeding me ideas for two more books. Here's hoping they let me finish this one before they really get going.

 

That's it for this week.

Cheers!

Skye

Sunday Snippet: Kindred Spirits

Wow. The month is half over already. October is flying by. Not complaining because I'm super busy with work projects and that makes me happy. I'm also making steady progress on the whole clean and organize project.

Had a solid week of television viewing again. I watched two lessons of Master Class with Brandon McMillan. I got more valuable insight in dog behavior and I hope I can translate that to working with my doggos.

Caught two episodes of Gilmore Girls: Year in the Life. Winter and spring were each enjoyable. I didn't know how they'd handle Richard's death, but I like what they did. I'm very curious how summer is going to play out, especially with Loralie's therapy deal.

Enjoyed two specials about Cher. Artist to Icon and Life in the Spotlight both had great footage and details. I remember watching Sonny and Cher and her solo show on television when I was a kid. I sometimes miss that type of variety show. I'm so not into the idols and voice-type shows.

Watched another episode of Star Trek: Discovery. I thoroughly enjoy how the plotlines are playing out. I have to admit I really didn't think they'd go where they went with the Tyler storyline but I love that they did. Took me back to Farscape a little bit.

Caught two episodes of Chicago Med and liked both. Rhodes keeps growing on me and I like how he stumbles every once in a while. I need to go back and do a crossover watch at some point also.

Thoroughly enjoyed an episode of Midsommer Murders. Old school in so many ways with being trapped on an island and having the case be about tabletop gaming. All in all, an excellent episode.

Finished up the second part of Silent Witness and started a new two-parter. Great to have Leo back in the morgue and out on cases. I also remembered how much I love Nikki and Harry's bantery conversations.

Started season twenty of Classic Who and, hello, Tegan's back. I watched two four-episode arcs and actually loved both. The second arc brought the Maya back and I'd forgotten they did that sometimes in the original series.

Began a new series with UFOs Over Earth. The first two episodes were fun. Fayetteville and Bucks County were the areas MUFON investigated. I've seen bit and pieces about both sightings but got some new information about each. Always enjoy when that happens.

Watched two episodes of The Muppet Show. Dudley Moore and Arlo Guthrie were the guest stars. I'm enjoying season four so far.

Started the fifth season of Prime Suspect and I'm pretty sure I remember how this one plays out. I love how fallible Jane is and watching that unfold on screen.

Got another episode of Peak Practice watched. This one ended up being a lot calmer than the last one. I'm really enjoying the trio of partners.

Watched two episodes of Classic Rugrats. The first season has so many great moments and I love revisiting them.

Also got in another episode of The Brokenwood Mysteries and finished up season four. I'll be starting season five this week. I still truly love this show so much. I miss Jared a little but I think he might be in at least one more episode and I'm hoping to actually get to meet Roxy at some point.

That's pretty much it for the weekly television update. Tonight's post is from Kindred Spirits, a novella with a friendly rivalry that turns into something deeper between the characters.

Here's the mini-blurb:

Merrit Rhodes accepts a teaching position at the Athena Academy of Magic and Semblance to earn her rites. Vaughn Gregorvich and Kirby Selwig are best friends and fellow instructors who fall hard for the newest addition to the campus. Sparks literally fly when the trio decides to test the power of three after a night of drinking a powerfully potent new cocktail called Elixir.

And a preview snippet…

Her beauty stunned Kirby. He didn't lack confidence, but someone like Merrit—who had enough raw talent to garner the special program—intimidated him. He'd man up and own that admission—if only to himself. So … he fell back on his standard practice—boyish charm and a steady flow of conversation.

He angled toward her. "You're not nervous, are you?" She came across as open but a little reserved.

Merrit's head wobbled back and forth a little. "Overwhelmed is a better definition." She swept her arms out. "This is a lot take in."

Kirby's lips curved. "You get used to it—pretty quickly, too. Vaughn and I were old hands by our second semester." And they ruled the campus by the end of the third.

Merrit tilted her head to one side. "When did you start?"

Kirby glanced in Vaughn's direction. "Hmm … how old were we, Vaughn? Ten?"

Vaughn gave him a vacant stare, which probably meant a private conversation with Hargrove. Kirby would find out what had held his friend up after they got Merrit settled. He didn't like being out of the loop.

Vaughn focused on the question a moment then nodded. "Yes. You'd just turned ten the week before, and I was only going to be ten for another week."

Merrit flashed a smile. "So, you're the same age for two whole weeks?"

Kirby smirked. "Exactly. Something old man Vaughn likes to tout—the vast maturity and experience he has over me."

Vaughn snorted. "I don't have to tout anything. Anyone with keen observational skills can figure out what they need to know about you and me."

Kirby narrowed his gaze. Translated meaning … Good luck, bro. The game is on. Which meant the trash talk would begin.

Kirby flung in arm around Merrit. "Let's get you some uniforms then we'll get you settled." He led her down the corridor.

Merrit happily agreed and stayed by his side.

Kirby tossed a vague smile of triumph in Vaughn's direction. First point, mine.

I love writing this group of characters. The vibe between the three is so much fun to write.

 

That's it for this week.

Cheers!

Skye