Sunday Snippet: Nugget Training

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

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

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

And, that's it for TV this week.

Tonight's post is from Nugget Training, a working title until the real one prangs me over the head.

Here's the tagline:

Bonnie Bash has issues with remembering boundaries and it gets her in trouble with Taggart Allen, her immediate superior—especially when she sometimes forgets she has to respect the rank. She quickly learns why she frustrates Tag so much when she's thrust into training a group of fifteen newbie pilots, nuggets, and not one has a clue or even cares about how the chain of command works.

And a sneaky peek…

Bonnie did a slow count to fifty. Nugget training. If the commander wanted her to die an agonizing and painful death, he couldn't have given her a better way.

Her gaze strayed to the clock on the wall. Ten freaking minutes and not a single newb even spared her a glance in the last five. They'd heard her come in, heads turned when she entered the room. Narrowing her eyes, she made a quick decision. If her group didn't think they needed instruction, she'd show them otherwise.

Raising her voice, she shouted. "You know, I'm blessed to have such an outstanding class of nuggets." The group quieted a little and most looked her way. "Wanna know why?" The last stragglers stopped talking and turned to pay attention.

Good. She'd let them sweat a little.

One brave soul, Marti Beasley, call sign Moonbeam, responded. "Why?"

The class finally settled and the others nodded, wanting to hear the answer, little mini-conversations starting back up again.

Bonnie shrugged. "Because you guys know it all already." Stalked to the front of the room. "So come on. Let's go." She clapped her hands together. "Time to jump inside the cockpit and head out there." Her arm swept wide, indicating the darkness of space, visible through the observation deck's huge windows.

No one moved and everyone finally shut the hell up.

Bonnie tilted her head to the side. "What? No snappy comebacks?" She pinned a wet behind the ears ensign with a hard gaze. "Chalk Dust? You've got nothing to say?"

His cheeks went red and he jerked his head back and forth. He'd been one of the last to finally zip his lips.

Bonnie snorted. "I find that hard to believe. Your mouth hasn't stopped flapping since I walked in the door." She threw her arms up. "Come on!!" Her voice rose higher. "Patchwork, Bobbo, Bird Dog. Let's hear from you." She leveled her gaze on the trio, their heads hanging down.

Not a sound or whisper of response.

She whirled around. "No one? Really? I walked in here ten minutes ago and it finally gets quiet now?" She turned and faced the group again. "Basic training, what did you all learn? When an officer enters a room, you give them your attention." She swept her gaze over the entire group, shaking her head. "At the very least you shut the hell up. It's called respect people. You don't have to like me. Hell, you don't have to respect me…Bonnie Bash. But you damned well better respect the rank, which is lieutenant, two grades higher than ensign." She paused a moment, then continued. "It's all we have out here between us and the enemy. The chain of command. And until you nuggets actually learn how to fly combat, the chain starts here. With me." She pointed to herself, please to see she had every single eyeball in the class on her.

Tag stepped into the room and Bonnie snapped to attention.

She barked. "CAG on deck." Face set, eyes straight, she stood with perfect stance.

The nuggets all scrambled out of their seats and made a horrific attempt to mimic her. Notebooks and pencils went flying and the group jostled and bumped into each other trying to get turned around to face the front of the space. Bonnie fought the urge to roll her eyes.

Tag nodded in her direction. "At ease. Lieutenant."

Bonnie relaxed. "Sir." She stepped to the side, making room for Tag to address the class.

He strode further into the area and his eyes met hers when he got close. "Nice speech." He swept his gaze around the room. "I think they get it now." He moved to stand in front of the class. "How about it, nuggets? Everyone got a clear picture of how things will move on from here?" He lifted a brow, waiting on a response.

Bonnie couldn't have been more shocked when the entire group responded in unison. "Yes, Sir."

Tag inclined his head. "At ease, then." He shot Bonnie a quick flash of a smile. "Lieutenant, I leave our new nuggets in your capable hands." Walking back the way he came, Tag kept his pace measured and steady until he reached the exit. "I can't wait to see you guys do gyro training." His laughter lingered after he strolled through the doorway.

The group groaned and settled into their seats.

Bonnie smirked. "You might not want to eat before class that day." She took a spot behind the podium and glanced over her class of newbie pilots. "Let's get through combat and tactics first though, okay?" She adjusted the switch to dim the lights and flipped on her overhead projector. "To begin…"

Bonnie getting a dose of her own medicine is so much fun to write. And Tag has a strong appreciation for it, too.

That's it for this week. Catch everyone on the flip.

ML Skye 

Smokin' Hot—Hot Kiss: Bucking Convention

Welcome to the Hot for Friday blog hop!

Readers: Enjoy posts from authors with fun weekly tasks or a cool question.

Authors: Get in on the fun and join here.

Greetings!

This week we're tasked with sharing a hot kiss, whether it's slow, eager, passionate, a kiss can be many things. *sigh* Check out the smokin' smooches and enjoy! :D

For my feature, I'm posting a scene from a current release, Bucking Convention, book two of the Top Dog Pilots series.

For a little background, here are the taglines for the book and the series:

Two top pilots, Max Cutter and Maggie Harper, like to mix a little personal with their professional life.

A tragic loss puts Cutter on the edge and it's up to Maggie to pull him back.

Bring on the steamy smooches…

Max hauled Maggie to him, clamped his mouth over hers and welcomed the heat. He lifted her, leaving the tangle of clothing behind and relished the feel of her skin against his.

Dropping down to the edge of the bunk, Maggie straddling his lap, he whispered in between kisses. "Missed you."

Her fingers dug into his shoulders. "Missed you, too." She met his lips again and he lost himself in the kiss, content to let Maggie set the pace.

She smoothed one hand down his back and braced the other one on the smooth surface of the bunk enclosure. Her back arched to expose her breasts to his lips, teeth, and tongue. He took advantage of the access and let her responses guide him. The flat of his tongue swiped over a taut peak and her growling moan spurred him to continue.

His hands grasped her hips, urging them up and then forward to sink down over his rigid length. He groaned, mouth ghosting over her skin raising goose bumps along the way. A contrast to the warmth that enveloped and surrounded him when her ass settled back on his thighs.

Maggie let go of him, reached up and grabbed hold of the bar that held the curtains for the berth areas. She pressed down and rocked her hips back and forth, using the slow grind that always kicked up the heat between them.

Her head tilted back and Cutter took advantage, burning a trail of kisses along her throat, over her chin until his lips met with hers. He wanted more, but Maggie had other ideas. She pulled back from the kiss and gave him a shove. Cutter went back without protest and let Maggie have her way.

After all, she wanted his indulgence.

~*~

Available on Amazon

~*~

Book Blurb: Max and Maggie survive Hell Week and start a relationship that works. Tragedy strikes Max's wingman and when Maggie shows up as the replacement, she discovers a very different Max. Not a good thing when he lives to fly… and can't.

Long Blurb: Max and Maggie survive Hell Week and start a relationship that works. Tragedy strikes Cutter's wingman and when Maggie shows up as the replacement, she discovers a very different Max. Not a good thing when he lives to fly… and can't.

Maggie wants to support Max and help get him back on an even keel, but living and working with him tests her patience and mettle. It's so much easier to handle two tons of space craft than a surly man.

Series Blurb: Follow the adventures of Max 'Ripper' Cutter and Maggie 'Magpie' Harper, two ace pilots at the top of their game. Whether it's surviving Hell Week, exploring uncharted space, or dealing with a unique family situation, Cutter and Maggie rise to the challenge.

Two ace pilots at the top of their game, Max and Maggie traverse space and navigate a relationship at the same time. Follow their adventures through the crazy insanity of requalifying for flight status in book one, an unexpected tragedy in book two, and a nightmare dinner party in book three, all with steamy results.

~*~

Thank you for stopping by.

Please feel free to drop by my website

And don't forget to enjoy the other Hot for Friday posts!

Get Hooked: Reel in a Great Book—Boyfriend's Brother #MFRWAuthors #MFRWHooks

Welcome to Book Hooks, the weekly smorgasbord sampler hosted by the MFRW Authors Blog.

Readers: get hooked and reel in some great books. Authors are sharing short excerpts from their work. Please enjoy and consider picking up the full book by clicking on the buy link.

I'm featuring a current release, Boyfriend's Brother, a novella where my hero and heroine are facing big decisions. Over the next few weeks, I'll post a few pivotal scenes between Chloe and Jason.

This week, we meet Jason.

Book Tagline: Chloe mixes a potential marriage proposal, a close call, and her boyfriend's hot brother—a heady combination or dangerous concoction.

~*~

Jason McIvey stretched and buried his head under the pillow on the bed. Five more minutes, then he'd get up, grab a shower, and meet the guys in his squadron for breakfast before boarding their transport.

Until then, he could pretend he didn't have a huge decision to make and that he enjoyed the sometimes stupid and lame tripe that went along with flying—because he'd always love being in a cockpit.

A cool hand settled on his hip, and his eyes blinked open. Shit. Last night's 'hangar' hadn't left yet. He winced at the crude name his fellow test pilots gave the bevy of females that always came cleared for action—ready, willing, and able to accommodate any of the guys—especially if the men looked hard and hot. The names and faces might change, but the women never failed to appear whenever a civilian air show rolled through their towns.

Bitta… Bitsy… hell, he couldn't remember the woman's name, probably wanted a repeat performance from the previous night. Her fingers trailed up and down Jason's thigh, and he scrambled for an excuse to make a quick exit. Would she believe he'd choose grabbing something to eat over sex? Did he care if she didn't?

Not really, no. A harsh reality he'd been avoiding for the past couple of months.

The fact Jason never lacked for a companion didn't mean he couldn't be lonely. Not one of the women he'd met recently ever stayed around long after the sun came up—unless they wanted another round. And none of them were interested in more than getting down to business as soon as possible. He almost craved making a connection on a deeper level with someone.

Available on Amazon

~*~

Book Blurb: Chloe Timmons and Jason McIvey are each at a crossroads.

On what may be her last weekend as 'just a girlfriend', Chloe quells her restlessness by hitting the town and runs into her boyfriend's brother, Jason, a fellow pilot in the area for an air show. A barroom brawl brings them together.

Chloe thinks her boyfriend Marc may propose, and she's not sure she's ready for marriage. Jason McIvey has to decide if he's staying in the military or going civilian. When Chloe and Jason spend the night together, it doesn't make either decision easier.

~*~

~*~

Please stop by my website

Reel in more great books! Visit the other participating authors.

Sunday Snippet: Not the First Time

Holy crap. The ending for Bitten's latest episode is going to make waiting for the new one very difficult. I'm dying to see the last three episodes.

The Flash and Arrow also have me on the hot seat, impatiently awaiting the next showing. The Flash kind of messed with my mind and I really hope there's not a huge misstep coming up that's going to disappoint me. Arrow, on the other hand, can usually do no wrong, so the whole deal with Palmer and his meddling has me a little less concerned. I am a little twisted up over Lance falling back into Camp Opposition, but I have a feeling that's not going to last long. *fingers crossed*. I'm also wary over the fate of one of my faves. It's a gut thing and I hope I'm wrong… we'll see.

The Walking Dead season is almost over and I gotta say, this has been one of my favorites. It's so different from what we've had and I love it. Very sad about the loss of one of the new characters, but loved to see Eugene step up in a big way. Very curious about Gabriel and what's going on with him.

Enough television. Tonight's post is from Not the First, a novella where personal and professional collide for my main characters.

Here's the tagline:

Katen Knox and Paul Macabes, pilots, soldiers, lovers, weigh in on opposite sides of a proposal to produce new planes while stationed in deep space. Not the first time they've been on different sides of an issue, they quickly learn it's hard to keep the professional drama out of their personal space.

And a sneaky peek…

"It can't be done." Paul Macabes put his foot firmly in the opposition's camp.

Katen Knox snorted. "I can't wait to prove you wrong."

He countered. "Katen, no one has ever, ever, succeeded in redesigning a plane, making modifications, and producing a fleet of them while out in deep space."

She leaned forward. "I know. And you know what else? No one's ever tried." She sat back. "So your point is moot."

Paul glanced around the huge table—every seat filled with senior officers—and met the gaze of his commander, Admiral Adam Snell. Shit. The man would give Katen the chance to see if she and her merry band of fools could pull off the impossible. And commit resources they might need at a later date. Paul sighed, owning defeat. Reason wouldn't win over rollicking bravado today.

He slumped in his chair. "Okay. Prove me wrong." His lips twisted. "I'll look forward to watching your attempt to pull this one out of your ass." He wondered if he'd be lucky enough to see said butt anytime soon.

Probably not, if she really thought her project had a chance. Absence made the heart grow fonder, right? Yeah, total bullshit.

A slow, quirky smile spread across Katen's face. "You know, Paul, not the first time I'll enjoy showing you how it's done." She waited a beat. "My ass notwithstanding, you might wanna take pictures and notes." She lifted a brow, all but daring him to take the bait.

He opted not to engage. To her great disappointment, he shoved away from the table and gave her a mock salute before directing his attention to the admiral. "Sir? If I may? Since Katen's got her work cut out, the flight schedule needs a major adjustment."

Snell waved him off. "You're dismissed, Captain. Give a copy of the new schedule to the XO when you have it ready."

Paul nodded. "Yes, Sir." He cut across the room and exited through the hatch, Katen's gaze following him the entire way.

Without a doubt, she'd have one or two, or possibly a million, more things to say about her crazy ass plan to manufacture planes on a warship several light years away from the nearest supply station.

He couldn't wait.

I love exploring an external conflict coming into an already established relationship. So much fun!

That's it for this week. Catch everyone on the flip.

ML Skye

Smokin' Hot—Hot Encounter: Bucking Convention

Welcome to the Hot for Friday blog hop!

Readers: Enjoy posts from authors with fun weekly tasks or a cool question.

Authors: Get in on the fun and join here.

Greetings!

This week we're tasked with sharing a hot encounter, whether it's the first time or one of many others between the characters. Awesome! Kick off the spring season with a nice steamy treat. :D

For my feature, I'm posting a scene from a current release, Bucking Convention, book two of the Top Dog Pilots series.

For a little background, here are the taglines:

Series: Two top pilots, Max Cutter and Maggie Harper, like to mix a little personal with their professional life.

Book: A tragic loss puts Cutter on the edge and it's up to Maggie to pull him back.

Bring on the hot stuff…

Max hauled Maggie to him, clamped his mouth over hers and welcomed the heat. He lifted her, leaving the tangle of clothing behind and relished the feel of her skin against his.

Dropping down to the edge of the bunk, Maggie straddling his lap, he whispered in between kisses. "Missed you."

Her fingers dug into his shoulders. "Missed you, too." She met his lips again and he lost himself in the kiss, content to let Maggie set the pace.

She smoothed one hand down his back and braced the other one on the smooth surface of the bunk enclosure. Her back arched to expose her breasts to his lips, teeth, and tongue. He took advantage of the access and let her responses guide him. The flat of his tongue swiped over a taut peak and her growling moan spurred him to continue.

His hands grasped her hips, urging them up and then forward to sink down over his rigid length. He groaned, mouth ghosting over her skin raising goose bumps along the way. A contrast to the warmth that enveloped and surrounded him when her ass settled back on his thighs.

Maggie let go of him, reached up and grabbed hold of the bar that held the curtains for the berth areas. She pressed down and rocked her hips back and forth, using the slow grind that always kicked up the heat between them.

Her head tilted back and Cutter took advantage, burning a trail of kisses along her throat, over her chin until his lips met with hers. He wanted more, but Maggie had other ideas. She pulled back from the kiss and gave him a shove. Cutter went back without protest and let Maggie have her way.

After all, she wanted his indulgence.

She smiled and planted her hands on his chest. God, watching her, listening to her… so hot. He loved it—her expressive face, the little catch in her throat when her clit bumped against his groin in exactly the right spot. He loved everything about it.

Especially when she wanted to speed things up.

Her fingers curled into her palms and she pressed down harder. "Do you want faster, Cutter?" She added a little twist to her rocking motion, changing things up a bit.

Cutter shook his head back and forth. "No. I want this to last forever." His fingers dug into her thighs as a shudder tore through her.

~*~

Available on Amazon

~*~

Book Blurb: Max and Maggie survive Hell Week and start a relationship that works. Tragedy strikes Max's wingman and when Maggie shows up as the replacement, she discovers a very different Max. Not a good thing when he lives to fly… and can't.

Long Blurb: Max and Maggie survive Hell Week and start a relationship that works. Tragedy strikes Cutter's wingman and when Maggie shows up as the replacement, she discovers a very different Max. Not a good thing when he lives to fly… and can't.

Maggie wants to support Max and help get him back on an even keel, but living and working with him tests her patience and mettle. It's so much easier to handle two tons of space craft than a surly man.

Series Blurb: Two ace pilots at the top of their game, Max 'Ripper' Cutter and Maggie 'Magpie' Harper traverse space and navigate a relationship at the same time. Follow their adventures through Hell Week, an unexpected tragedy, and a nightmare dinner party with steamy results.

~*~

Thank you for stopping by.

Please feel free to drop by my website

And don't forget to enjoy the other Hot for Friday posts!

Get Hooked: Reel in a Great Book—Boyfriend's Brother #MFRWAuthors #MFRWHooks

Welcome to Book Hooks, the weekly smorgasbord sampler hosted by the MFRW Authors Blog.

Readers: get hooked and reel in some great books. Authors are sharing short excerpts from their work. Please enjoy and consider picking up the full book by clicking on the buy link.

I'm featuring a current release, Boyfriend's Brother, a novella where my hero and heroine are facing big decisions. Over the next few weeks, I'll post a few pivotal scenes between Chloe and Jason.

~*~

This week, we meet Chloe (and Jason's brother Marc).

Book Tagline: Chloe mixes a potential marriage proposal, a close call, and her boyfriend's hot brother—a heady combination or dangerous concoction.

~*~

Chloe Timmons stretched, then snuggled back down under the covers. She had one whole week of freedom during the semester break and didn't have to get up at half past ugly o'clock.

One of seven flight instructors who taught wet behind the ears cadets the ins and outs of flying—basic aeronautics, combat maneuvers, advanced weaponry assaults—she'd just finished putting twenty-five newbs through the wringer.

And most of them had passed muster.

She smiled when her boyfriend, Marcus McIvey, spooned up behind her. A marine first sergeant, he usually took leave when she had downtime, and they went off somewhere that had sand, sun, and cool, frothy drinks. At least, they had over the last two years.

Marc brushed his lips over her shoulder. "Morning, Chlo. Gonna sleep in today?"

She made a noncommittal sound, not quite ready to have coherent conversation yet.

Marc dropped a kiss on her temple, then eased out of bed. "Go ahead if you want, but I need to get up."

Chloe blinked and yawned. She flopped over on her back and observed Marc pulling open drawers and throwing clothes in his rucksack.

Available on Amazon

~*~

Book Blurb: Chloe Timmons and Jason McIvey are each at a crossroads.

On what may be her last weekend as 'just a girlfriend', Chloe quells her restlessness by hitting the town and runs into her boyfriend's brother, Jason, a fellow pilot in the area for an air show. A barroom brawl brings them together.

Chloe thinks her boyfriend Marc may propose, and she's not sure she's ready for marriage. Jason McIvey has to decide if he's staying in the military or going civilian. When Chloe and Jason spend the night together, it doesn't make either decision easier.

~*~

~*~

Please stop by my website

Reel in more great books! Visit the other participating authors.

Sunday Snippet: Not Quite Paradise

Ugh. A full week later and I'm still moving files and cleaning up the older computers. Then again, several editing deadlines crept up on me and I got hit with a couple of scenes for two WIPs, so yeah, not going to complain. LOL I also had to take an online course and finished it up today. YAY!

Banshee had a great finale! Without spoiling too much, I'm glad to see the end of one particular character, sad to see the end of one, and very intrigued about the fate of a few others, including Hood. I can't wait for the next season!

Happy to say The Walking Dead didn't lose anyone important last week. We'll see if the streak continues tonight.

Still waiting on the return of The Flash and Arrow, back this week. WooHoo! Getting a few glimpses of Strike Back and Orphan Black, which can't get here soon enough. Found out the US premiere date for Bitten, April 17, if memory serves. The latest episode ended up being way better than I expected. Looking forward to next week's.

I think that's it for TV news. Tonight's post is from Not Quite Paradise, a novella set on a deserted moon.

Here's the tagline:

Janee Neff and Oxley DeCosta are military transport pilots flying a peacetime mission to pick up new recruits when their craft crashes and strands them on a deserted moon. The couple discovers things aren't exactly what they seem when they find their signal beacon is destroyed by blaster fire, which means their unexpected vacation isn't quite paradise after all.

And a sneaky peek…

Janee jerked upright, consciousness returning with a brutal vengeance. "Son of a bitch." Her hand rubbed at a nasty bump on the back of her head. "What the hell happened?"

Oh. Right.

Crash landing in a burning ship.

Crash landing in a burning ship. Ox! Where is he?

With caution, she craned her neck, ignoring the poundy-drum ache throbbing along her skull. "Ox? Hey, you okay?"

A low groan sounded from behind her. Okay, not at all where he should be.

Her fingers worked to unfasten the safety harness, but fumbled with the buttons. "Oxley DeCosta, Lieutenant Hot Stuff, you've got some explaining to do." The damned belts would not unfasten and concern warred with annoyance over her lack of progress. "Ox. Hello? Speak to me. Or, well, grunt or something. Anything." She still couldn't get the stupid bindings loose and she growled with frustration.

Ox finally spoke. "Janee, shut up a minute. I'm trying to figure out how the hell to get to you." He snarled the next words. "And for all that's holy, stop messing with your harness."

A sick ball of dread formed deep in her gut. Ox's voice didn't come from behind her. No. The pain-laced dialog came from—she lifted her chin and met his gaze below her—the top of the ship. Flaming hell. Trapped, hanging upside down. That explains the raging headache.

Closing her eyes, she drew in a deep, calming breath. "You know what, Ox? Next time I'm doing the flying."

Janee may not be thrilled with Ox at the moment, but she'll be glad he's around later.

That's it for this week. Catch everyone on the flip.

ML Skye

Smokin' Hot—Hot and Bothered: Surviving the Trap

Welcome to the Hot for Friday blog hop!

Readers: Enjoy posts from authors with fun weekly tasks or a cool question.

Authors: Get in on the fun and join here.

Greetings!

This week we're tasked with sharing a scene with sexual tension to leave us hot and bothered. Nice! Especially if you live in a cold climate… like Ohio in March. Seriously, I have to remind myself I was wearing shorts and flip flops in October sometimes. LOL

For my feature, I'm posting a scene from book one of my Top Dog Pilots series, Surviving the Trap.

For a little background, here are the series and book taglines:

Two top pilots, Max Cutter and Maggie Harper, like to mix a little personal with their professional life.

A week of hell pushes Maggie into risking her friendship with Max by sleeping with him.

Bring on the tension…

She'd formed a solid rule of never sleeping with someone she regarded as a friend. Sex equaled a physical release involving the exchange of bodily fluids and mind-numbing pleasure. It didn't mean she gave a damn about who she exchanged them with.

And that was the reason Maggie had never hooked up with Max—because she gave a damn about him. Sex with emotion made things complicated and complications weren't her thing. Not anymore. So Maggie kept things casual and never made promises she couldn't keep. That way she didn't lose friends, no matter how much sexual tension existed.

And there were bucketsful with Max. A stand-up guy and loyal to a fault, he had a laid back attitude that fooled a lot of people into complacency until they crossed him. Then watch out. Cutter came out swinging and was usually the last one standing.

He'd become one of the best friends she had, and there weren't that many. Maggie didn't make things easy. She had a habit of putting people through their paces and Max hit and crossed each one. He'd pulled her out of some embarrassing scrapes and still came back for more.

And the best thing? Once he'd gotten to know her and realized she wouldn't break her rule, even though they were both aware of the tension simmering between them. He backed off, content to be a friend.

He made Maggie feel safe.

Her biggest problem? Max was hot. As in smokin', drop dead, gorgeous hot. And right now, the sleep-deprived part of Maggie's brain was hard pressed to remember why she usually ignored that fact. Like a kid who needed a nap, she only knew she wanted him, and wanted him right this very moment.

Naked. Hard. Hot.

Damn.

She couldn't seriously be considering it, could she? Hooking up with him?

Oh, yes… she absolutely could.

Holy hell.

~*~

Available on Amazon

~*~

Book Blurb: Take one week of extreme training, add in two top guns, and stir together with a healthy dose of unresolved sexual tension. The outcome is two pilots pushed to their limits and they need to find a way to get through their hellish experience and possibly into each other's arms.

Series Blurb: Two ace pilots at the top of their game, Max 'Ripper' Cutter and Maggie 'Magpie' Harper traverse space and navigate a relationship at the same time. Follow their adventures through Hell Week, an unexpected tragedy, and a nightmare dinner party with steamy results.

~*~

Thank you for stopping by.

Please feel free to drop by my website

And don't forget to enjoy the other Hot for Friday posts!

Get Hooked: Reel in a Great Book—Bucking Convention #MFRWAuthors #MFRWHooks

Welcome to Book Hooks, the weekly smorgasbord sampler hosted by the MFRW Authors Blog.

Readers: get hooked and reel in some great books. Authors are sharing short excerpts from their work. Please enjoy and consider picking up the full book by clicking on the buy link.

I'm revisiting a current release, Bucking Convention, book two of the Top Dog Pilots series. Over the next few weeks, I'll post a few pivotal scenes between Max and Maggie.

This week, we meet Max who isn't handling a loss all that well.

Book Tagline: A tragic loss puts Cutter on the edge and it's up to Maggie to pull him back.

Series Tagline: Two top pilots, Max Cutter and Maggie Harper, like to mix a little personal with their professional life.

~*~

He knew her well.

Maggie stood quietly, feeling the room sway a bit. Stars above, she had kinks on top of kinks. As much as she wanted to stretch them out, she'd wait until the scalding blast of water could work on them first.

Biting back a groan, she turned to exit quarters. "I'd ask you to join me… but something tells me Top Hat is already hogging the hot water."

Max grinned. "Some other time then." He followed her to the hatch and pushed it open. "I'll look forward to it." When his voice dropped to low tones, it always sent delicious little shivers down her spine.

Maggie turned her head and bussed his lips. "Me too." She stepped over the threshold but stopped. "Any chance you can have something hot and stiff ready for me when I get back? And I'm not talking body parts… although that'll be nice, too."

Technically against regs to keep alcohol in their quarters, most of the pilots had a stash somewhere. There were times when hitting the rec room just didn't appeal. And the pilots policed themselves. If anyone developed a problem, it would be handled. Quickly and efficiently.

Max leaned down and pounded on the small section underneath his duty locker. The panel popped free. He reached inside the access area and pulled out a tray holding fixings for her requested drink. "Count on it." He leaned out the door and gave her a thorough kiss.

The man might be too damn good to her.

With more bounce in her step than before, Maggie made her way to the head.

Available on Amazon

~*~

Series Blurb: Follow the adventures of Max 'Ripper' Cutter and Maggie 'Magpie' Harper, two ace pilots at the top of their game. Whether it's surviving Hell Week, exploring uncharted space, or dealing with a unique family situation, Cutter and Maggie rise to the challenge.

Book Blurb: Max and Maggie survive Hell Week and start a relationship that works. Tragedy strikes Cutter's wingman and when Maggie shows up as the replacement, she discovers a very different Max. Not a good thing when he lives to fly… and can't.

Maggie wants to support Max and help get him back on an even keel, but living and working with him tests her patience and mettle. It's so much easier to handle two tons of space craft than a surly man.

~*~

~*~

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Reel in more great books! Visit the other participating authors.

Sunday Snippet: No Loss of Life

Whew. Can I say transferring data from old computers to new computers is a pain in the waz? It seriously is. Gah.

Anyway, moving files didn't stop me from watching my appointment television. Gotham is keeping me interested. Banshee, with only one episode left, has me hanging on the edge of my seat. Bitten keeps improving on the books. And I don't mean it's better or anything, but I like the changes so I don't always know what's coming next. And finally, The Walking Dead is actually kind of riveting lately. I absolutely love the almost scaled back tension and how it's building to hopefully something big.

Patiently waiting for Strike Back to return and Orphan Black very soon now. Need to watch the first two seasons again just to ramp up.

Tonight's post is from No Loss of Life, a novella pitting my main characters on opposite sides of an issue.

Here's the tagline:

Brigit Hardy is an anti-government revolutionary who kicks the system in the teeth to incite change. Vlad Octavius is the government agent who has to bring her to heel. There's only one problem—Vlad hates what she does, but can't disagree with her reasons.

And a sneaky peek…

Vlad seized the opportunity to formally meet Brigit, following Augie through the crowded space. When Brigit turned, Vlad missed a step, bowled over by the passion lingering in her eyes. What would it take to have her look at him with so much feeling? What the hell am I thinking? He shook off the foolish notion and waited for Augie to make the introduction.

Augie shuffled on nervous feet. "Er, Brigit, this is the guy I've been telling you about. Vlad Octavious, meet Brigit Hardy."

Vlad stuck out his hand. "Nice speech. You have a quite a presence." He winced when Brigit grasped his hand in a tight grip.

She smirked. "And I've made an impression then?" She pulled free and crossed her arms over her chest. "Why are you here?"

Vlad blinked but respected her caution. "To see what young Augie's been blathering about for days now." He stepped cautiously with his next words. "He's been keeping me out of trouble at the shelter, showing me the ins and outs. Listening to him has paid off so far. Couldn't refuse when he asked me to meet him here tonight." Close enough to the truth, her keen nose for bullshit should be fooled.

Brigit narrowed her gaze and tilted her head to one side.

Or not.

After several long moments, where she swept thorough head to toe once over, she straightened and tossed off a genuine smile. "Well then, welcome to the revolution."

She didn't wait for a response. Turning on her heel, she stalked away and headed for the closest exit.

Augie let out a quick laugh. "So, that's Brigit. Not one for small talk at all."

Vlad kept her in his sight until she left the building. "No, I guess not." He slid a slow glance toward Augie. "What did she mean by 'welcome to the revolution'?" Big moment time. He needed confirmation from Augie.

The young man flashed a grin. "It means you're in, man. When everything goes down, you'll be a part of it." He slapped Vlad on the shoulder and walked away.

Vlad cracked a smile. Pay dirt. He finally landed a prime spot in Brigit's inner sanctum. Now his work really started.

Taking the woman down before she started blowing stuff up.

Gotta say, Vlad has his work cut out for him. Brigit won't go down without getting her pound of flesh.

That's is for this week. Catch everyone on the flip.

ML Skye

Smokin' Hot—Hot and Swoon-Worthy: Boyfriend's Brother

Welcome to the Hot for Friday blog hop!

Readers: Enjoy posts from authors with fun weekly tasks or a cool question.

Authors: Get in on the fun and join here.

Whew! Considering it's the beginning of March in Ohio and we've got snow on the ground, hot and swoon-worthy reading is welcome indeed.

This week we're tasked with posting a piece of dialog where our hero gets to take center stage and deliver a swoon-worthy line to the heroine. I can't wait to read some smooth moves from our heroes.

For my feature, I'm posting one of my favorite bits from a current release, Boyfriend's Brother.

For a little background, here's the tagline:

Chloe mixes a potential marriage proposal, a close call, and her boyfriend's hot brother—a heady combination or dangerous concoction.

And the swoon-worthy dialog… (from Jason's point of view)

He nodded. "Believe me, Chloe, I pretty much hate myself, too. But here's the thing. I can't stop thinking about you. And yeah, I'm shit for a brother, but Marc is the one who sent me here. To make things right." He lifted a hand and placed it on the wall above her shoulder. "I can't do that if you refuse to listen or give me, no us, a chance." His other hand settled against the wall, bracketing her.

He paused and held her gaze, gauging her reaction. Her breathing went shallow, and her mouth opened, her tongue darting out to wet her bottom lip. She didn't move or try to duck away. If she had, he would've backed off.

Instead, he laid it out straight. "Here's exactly what I think is going to happen." He leaned in close, his mouth hovering over hers. "I'm gonna kiss you and see where that goes."

~*~

Needless to say, Chloe can't resist seeing where the kiss leads. J

Available on Amazon

~*~

Blurb: Chloe Timmons and Jason McIvey are each at a crossroads.

On what may be her last weekend as 'just a girlfriend', Chloe quells her restlessness by hitting the town and runs into her boyfriend's brother, Jason, a fellow pilot in the area for an air show. A barroom brawl brings them together.

Chloe thinks her boyfriend Marc may propose, and she's not sure she's ready for marriage. Jason McIvey has to decide if he's staying in the military or going civilian. When Chloe and Jason spend the night together, it doesn't make either decision easier.

~*~

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A Gift from the Stars—The SFR Brigade Showcase: Boyfriend's Brother #sfrbp

Welcome to the Science Fiction Romance Brigade Presents, a weekly sneak peek sampler hosted by the SFR Brigade.

Readers: enjoy brief glimpses of currently available, soon to be released books, or works in progress. Authors are sharing short excerpts for your enjoyment. Please have fun and spread the joy.

~*~

Since my birthday falls on the first day of the showcase, I'm sharing a bit from my release, Boyfriend's Brother. I have a soft spot for this manuscript. J Jason and Chloe face some hard truths about themselves.

Book Tagline: Chloe mixes a potential marriage proposal, a close call, and her boyfriend's hot brother—a heady combination or dangerous concoction.

~*~

He cleared his throat. "So… married." He turned toward her, shifting his position so he lay mainly on his side. "It's a big step." He'd figure out a way to be happy for his little brother if he did propose to Chloe.

He'd be happy for her, too.

Chloe kept her gaze on Jason a moment longer, then nodded. "Tell me about it."

They'd talked once, briefly, about relationships. Chloe never thought anyone would want her 'forever'. Didn't think she'd ever be worthy.

She worried her lower lip between her teeth. "I'm scared."

She looked terrified.

Jason's eyes grew wide. "Of Marc?" She couldn't be scared of his brother—the guy worshipped her.

Chloe shook her head back and forth. "Of myself… of screwing it up…" She sighed deeply. "I don't know if I can do forever. Hell, I'm still attracted to other guys." She swung a sultry gaze toward him.

Jason didn't know what to say… so he said nothing.

Chloe moved forward until an inch separated her face from his. "I'm attracted to you." Her eyes were intent on his.

And there he had it… out in the open.

The air became charged.

~*~

Blurb: Chloe Timmons and Jason McIvey are each at a crossroads.

On what may be her last weekend as 'just a girlfriend', Chloe quells her restlessness by hitting the town and runs into her boyfriend's brother, Jason, a fellow pilot in the area for an air show. A barroom brawl brings them together.

Chloe thinks her boyfriend Marc may propose, and she's not sure she's ready for marriage. Jason McIvey has to decide if he's staying in the military or going civilian. When Chloe and Jason spend the night together, it doesn't make either decision easier.

Available on Amazon

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~*~

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