Sunday Snippet: Good for the Soul

Bleh. It's been a week of frustration, and I can't really explain why. I hate it when I feel like everything is either standing in my way or that I'm stuck in reverse with zero forward momentum. Maybe August has just been a bit of a rough month even when there were fun things happening. Who knows?

Not a terrible weather week. The temperatures were fairly mild for August. I'll enjoy that while I can because it's supposed to heat up again this week.

I was supposed to head out for an annual get together with my cousins but ended up not being able to go because I didn't feel well at all. And next year I do believe I have a wedding on the weekend we usually get together so I'll be sending pictures from the ceremony to my fam!

Work projects kept me busy again. I finished up a copy edit and started a proofread. I also finally got all the images stripped from the developmental manuscript. Whew! There were a lot of them. I also scheduled a call with a potential new author and I'm excited to see where that goes.

Had an okay viewing week. I made it through all of my regular shows and binged Death in Paradise and Beyond Paradise again. They're my comfort go-to shows at the moment. I also spend some time watching a documentary about Dolly Parton to help ease the sting of losing the wonderful light she spread around the world.

Started with Marple again and I really do enjoy this version of the show. It was interesting to have something of a different narrator for the episode. The mystery ended up being twisty as usual.

Began a new series with Britain's Most Scenic Counties and visited Kent. I think there are several more episodes in that county, and I'm looking forward to seeing them.

Watched another episode of Beyond Paradise. I love Martha and Esther's friendship. They're so much fun. I'm very interested in where things go with Anne and her cryptic mention of the delicate situation with Mr. Smith. I have a great fear she might be dating him and that will suck majorly. I do love that Humphrey basically unloaded about the situation. Looking forward to a resolution about that. Also … Kelby blasted Margo kind of broke my heart but kudos to him for standing up for himself.

Enjoyed another Poirot episode. The mystery ended up being super twisty and I love how Poirot got very emotional during the reveal. Betrayal never sits well but it really stabs hard when it happens to Hercule.

Elementary had another great episode. I'm really wondering what's going to happen when Sherlock realizes his support person is a murderer. Or maybe it'll be a big twist, and he won't end up being a murderer. Either way, I'm very interested in what happens next.

Watched another episode of Young Justice, and I don't remember any of this one. A truly gut-wrenching watch. Loved the little bits of random characters popping up!

Caught another episode of Star Trek Lower Decks and I'm going to miss this show when I'm done. I seriously didn't know if I liked the show in the first season and now I'd pretty much die for these characters if needed. Ther really should be more seasons for me to enjoy.

As mentioned, I watched the beginning of a documentary about Dolly, and I hope to finish it this week … unless it's been taken down. I also watched quite a few music videos. What an amazing woman.

That's it for the life update this week. Tonight's post is from Good for the Soul, a novella that explores the fallout from a character taking a dark turn and the redemption he finds with the love of his life.

Here's the miniblurb:

Dex Thurgood has ideals he upholds and wants to keep it that way. But when he's forced to confront a sinister underground trade leader, he has to face his darker nature to bust up the extortion racket, which won't be easy because Ramsey Markum knows one of Dex's deeply buried secrets. Lana Denman steps up to help Dex deal with the fallout of not being perfect.

And a sneaky peek…

Two weeks before the attacks, he'd walked away from Erica after she'd told him she carried his child. He hadn't been ready. Needed time to get his head around the idea. He never had the chance.

He didn’t think Lana would get where his head had been back then. Or understand the reason he'd told Erica he'd be financially responsible but couldn't—wouldn't—be more. And he was selfish enough to know he couldn’t survive the loss of Lana.

Yet it wouldn't be fair to hold back. "And it's Lana … if anyone understands screwing up so badly it's hard to live in your own skin, she does." Even if it would be damned uncomfortable talking about his demons.

But he took Darcene's advice and tracked Lana down.

He found her catching some rack time, but her curtain remained open, so he nudged her awake. "Are you still willing to listen? I have a story I need to tell." He held her gaze, refusing to give in to temptation and stare at his feet instead.

When she’d slid over giving him space, he crawled up into the bunk and sat at the opposite end facing her. Lana slid the fabric panels shut, closing out the bunkroom, and settled back to hear what he had to say. The intimate atmosphere cocooned them, giving him the courage to be brutally honest.

And just like she’d once confessed her sins to him, about leaving Mac behind because she didn't think he could handle field combat, Dex laid out all his transgressions for her. Every last one of them.

He started at the beginning. "Before Erica died in the crash, she told me she was pregnant. And I wasn't ready for fatherhood." He might never be ready.

Lana gave a small nod.

Dex followed with another revelation. "I gave up after I ejected. I purposefully let my oxygen run out because I didn’t think it was worth it to live in a world where murder was the way to deal with a superior officer." He paused. "My only regret is letting you down and not having your back." He should've fought for that reason alone.

Lana's eyes narrowed and her lips pressed together, but she didn't speak. She gave him the space to get everything out there.

Dex didn’t leave anything out. "After the medics brought me back, I … felt disconnected and sought something simple and uncomplicated. Human contact and physical release. I couldn't really handle anything else. Darcene filled that void. She made it easy to spill secrets and regrets." He huffed out a breath. "And, of course, that blew up in my face." He sighed. "Then I got the order to track down the leader of the black market. Running into Ramsey Markum and seeing the evil shit he did finally made me understand where Dad and Chancellor Robbins were coming from with the order to assassinate Zemicks."

His stomach churned with what he'd reveal next. But he wouldn't stop now. Lana needed to know it all.

He met her gaze again. "I'm the one that pulled the trigger. I shot him point blank and didn't care." When he finished, he waited for her to say something.

To tell him to get away from her.

She shocked him when she looked at him thoughtfully for a few moments before leaning closer and grasping his palms.

She finally spoke. "Feel better now?"

Stunned, he blinked a few times. He’d just confessed to killing a man in cold blood and she asked if he felt better. Nothing else?

He shook his head. "You don’t hate me?" Her lack of reaction gave him hope but also confused the hell out of him.

This one is getting closer to being finished, but it needs more polish. Dex and Lana are hard to write but their journey is so rewarding.

 

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

ML Skye

Sunday Snippet: Game of One

A very long week with wild weather and lots of things going on, including back-to-school shenanigans, roadwork, and tons of laundry.

Kind of a repeat from last week with thunderstorms rolling through the state and a day or two of plain old rain, which is actually kind of nice … except for flooding, which we didn't have but other areas in the state did.

Work stayed busy. Still removing images from a manuscript to get it ready for a copy edit. But the good news is I should finish up today or tomorrow. I put the project aside when we had storms because I won't change losing all the work put in so far.

Pretty decent viewing week even with the wild weather. Made it through my full slate of shows and had a couple of binge watches of Death in Paradise and Beyond Paradise.

Started with an episode of Marple and thoroughly enjoyed it. Very different from another version and a great cast.

Finished up Coastal Ireland and loved it. Especially enjoy watching someone who loves the country show their favorite locations.

Caught another episode of Beyond Paradise and I'm truly wondering how things will end up working out with Anne being on the committee overseeing the police. Here's hoping she finds a way to keep the team together.

Watched another episode of Poirot and, whew, what a very twisty mystery. And a great cast made it all work.

Elementary had another great offering. I enjoy seeing Sherlock not at his best but also watching Joan kind of rally behind him. And he's still got a leg up on everyone else even with the post-concussion stuff he's going through.

Caught another episode of Young Justice and quite enjoyed watching the team work together while defying orders.

Enjoyed another episode of Star Trek Lower Decks and I'm so happy the lower deckers are back together. Also loved seeing T'Lyn going the extra mile to fill the gap Tendi left and then join in the celebration when she returned.

No backburner shows this week. We'll see if there's time week, but probably not as I have a long day on Saturday to meet my cousins for our annual get together.

That's the life update this week. Tonight's post is from Game of One, a sexy short that brings a couple together over a game of darts.

Here's the miniblurb:

Lacie Brooks's annual Valentine's Day tradition of getting laid and letting off steam is cut short when she shoots her mouth off to the wrong superior officer. Stuck on base, she finds a way to pass her restricted time with Ren Blankenship by playing a Game of One. Too bad for Lacie, Ren decides to turn the tables on her and win for a change.

And a sneaky peek…

Ren thought he might be in trouble when he found himself alone in the rec room with Lacie. She turned toward him with a sly grin and produced a bottle of Andromedian whiskey. Oh yeah, she had something planned. The question he should ask? What would it cost him this time … credits or a strip of dignity?

Raising an eyebrow, he figured he'd probably better find out.

Smiling wide, Lacie pulled two tumblers off the shelf, placing them on the table. "You play darts?" Nodding toward the set on the next table, she looked up, slowly unscrewing the cap off the bottle. "The name of the game is—one bull's eye or one shot—you miss, you drink." Lacie topped off two glasses. "You up for it?"

Oh … definitely.

He didn't know why, especially when she seemed to know more about him than comfort allowed, but Lacie didn't seem to be aware he held the record at the Io Academy for most bull's eyes in a row.

This could be fun.

The trick would be not letting her know that.

Keeping his face impassive, Ren took a moment before answering. "So … I don't hit the target, I down a shot, right?" He considered the board for a full minute as if contemplating his decision, then glanced down at the full shot glasses before lifting his gaze to hers. "I don't know, Lacie … this could be all kinds of trouble." For her.

Lacie's voice dropped low, daring him. "C'mon, Ren. It's called the game of one … and it's just for fun…" Her head tilted sideways, eyes full of challenge. "Don't go soft on me now." The smirk she sent his way decided it for him.

He had no doubt she made the name of the game up on the spot. And … he'd bet she planned to get him drunk, make him do something bug-ass stupid, then crow about it for all eternity. Lacie had worked that way for as long as he could remember.

He might just have to turn the tables on her just this once. Possibly in more ways than one. She thought she had the upper hand, but he'd walk away the winner this time out. And maybe his prize would be sitting her down for a heart-to-heart.

But first, Lacie Brooks would go down in flames.

Feigning reluctance, Ren heaved a sigh. "Still think this is a bad idea…" He scooped up the darts, weighing them in his hands, getting a feel for them. "But okay … I'm in." Separating the missiles by color, he held up both sets to let Lacie choose. "Why don't you go first … show me how it's done?"

Stepping back, he caught her wink at him then watched while she settled into a relaxed stance as she concentrated on the target.

Breathing in, she fired off the three darts in rapid succession, exhaling when the last one landed.

The first two hit close but missed. The third found its mark … hugging the outer most edge of the center circle … but still a bull's eye.

Turning toward him, Lacie wore a huge smirk, but she didn't say anything. Ren shrugged as if admitting potential defeat.

Picking up his darts, he nodded congratulations. "Nice shot." He took his place behind the line and quickly fired off his three … purposefully missing this time around … and it gained him Lacie's cackle of laughter.

Lacie slid one of the shot glasses his way, the look on her face saying it all. She thought she'd have him drunk on his ass in under ten rounds. Good thing he wanted her to think she had the advantage. He tossed back the liquid.

Lacie attempted commiseration. "Don't worry … first shot's always the hardest." She grinned at his answering snort … the double meaning not lost on him.

She'd get hers.

All in due time.

He flashed a smile. "Just throw your darts, Lacie." She laughed and turned around, focusing her attention on the board again.

Maybe the quiet in the rec room unnerved her, with only the two of them present … or maybe the way he leaned casually against the wall watching her with unabashed interest threw Lacie off, but she missed the bull's eye this round.

With a good-natured shrug, she picked up the glass. "I was thirsty anyway." After downing the shot, she refilled it then waved her hand indicating Ren should take his next turn.

Ren stared at the target, drew in a breath and let his darts sail … again missing the center circle, but not by much.

Lacie shoved the glass toward him. "Oh. So close." Strutting past him, she took her place behind the line then looked back over her shoulder. "And yet so far away." She squared her shoulders to take her shot and completely missed the raised eyebrow and quick shake of Ren's head.

Failing to hit the bull's eye again, she drank … but only after she sent a mock toast in his direction. Ren decided to enjoy turning the tables on her. The shots he'd downed were making him very mellow, and he was having more fun than he'd had in a very long time.

Of course, most of that had to do with Lacie. It never mattered what frightfully stupid payoff she came up with; he usually ended up carrying out her instructions to the letter … just to watch her face. Her insane need to put him in awkward situations gave her so much glee it always lit up when she presented her latest method of torturing him.

He could almost be disappointed she wouldn't have the chance this time. Almost.

Ren landed his second dart in the center ring … the other two hit the wide area between the inner and outer circles. Cocking his head sideways, he looked at the target, playing it off as a lucky shot.

They were drink for drink and even up for now, but the next three rounds had Lacie belting back two shots to his one.

This story is so much fun and Ren having the upper hand is a rarity to the savored.

 

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

ML Skye

Sunday Snippet: Fyre's Masquerade (a Specter Space Station novella)

Yeesh. I'd really like Ohio weather to calm the eff down. We've had storms all week and we're getting hammered today. Severe thunderstorm warnings, tornado warnings, it's wild.

We did have a break in the yucky weather on Friday and got to attend a fun concert to benefit our local botanical garden and a local pet shelter. We had a truly great time and my extended family participated in the musical lineup.

Had a busy work week filled with some tedious little stuff and some technology problems. I did manage to get a copy edit finished up and worked on formatting a family history book that has a ton of images in it. That one is kind of challenging because the copy edit can't be done with the images in the document and I'm pulling them out and adding design tags.

Not a bad viewing week. I made it through my usual slate and started a back-burner episode. The weather kind of affected being able to finish that one. I also did another binge watch of Death in Paradise on Ovation.

Started with an episode of Marple and enjoyed it. I rather liked the cast of characters in this episode and, whew, did it have some twisty turns.

Started a new series for me with Adrian Dunbar's Coastal Ireland. I love seeing the landscape and shorelines of the country. It's so beautiful.

Caught an episode of Beyond Paradise and I'm so bummed that Humphrey has to reduce his staff by one. I hope it ends up working out by the end of the season. I also wish I understood more about why Esther doesn't want to be happy with Archie. Maybe they'll delve into that a little more.

Watched an episode of Poirot and truly enjoyed it. Always nice to see old friends and the behind-the-scenes machinations were interesting.

Elementary had a great opening to its sixth season. Sherlock's struggle post-concussion adds an interesting layer of conflict and I'm happy with Joan's response.

Caught an episode of Young Justice and enjoyed it. Great to see the team pull together and also nice to see the Justice League's trust in their ability.

Enjoyed the season opener of Star Trek Lower Decks season five. Very fun to see a mirror of the crew and how different things could turn out.

Watched The Thin Man again because I was in the mood for something fun. I need to find the other Nick and Nora movies somewhere, because they're so enjoyable.

Started an episode of Peak Practice but the thunderstorms put a halt to finishing it. I'll maybe get to it later this week.

That's it for the life update this week. Tonight's post is from Fyre's Masquerade, a novella the in the Specter Space Station universe.

Here's the miniblurb:

Balek Fyre made his fortune mining asteroids and just became a principal owner of Specter Station. He's ready to enjoy a new stage in his life—until the Yuli family descends on his base of operations for the galactic midyear celebration with only one thing on their minds … getting him to marry their oldest daughter, Serena. The only problem? Balek would rather spend time with her sister, Scout.

And a sneaky peek…

Balek arrived at Specter Station and docked his ship in his very own private location. "Nice to have my own section." Over a dozen landing bays occupied his sector. "I've only got three ships."

Good to know his friends believed he'd need room to grow.

He grimaced. "Which I can't do if I'm stuck with a wife." He engaged the landing cables and called the crew to the bridge. "You all went above and beyond. Expect bonuses in your pay packets when they hit your accounts." After giving them a few moments to celebrate, he went on. "You'll ship out on Fyre's Wisdom in three weeks. Enjoy your downtime."

He followed them off the ship only to be greeted by his friends—and new partners.

Wicek stepped forward and clapped Balek on the back. "A celebration is in order, and I'm not referring to your supposed impending nuptials."

Balek winced. "Give me five minutes to enjoy my new home before we tackle the subject of my non-wedding." He shook hands with Wicek then Roman and Maddox. "What are we celebrating?"

Roman spread his arms wide. "Your official arrival to our base of operations." He leaned in a little. "Just in time for the mid-year masquerade."

Maddox lifted his chin. "It's scheduled for week after next, and we thought it would be a good opportunity to make the formal introduction and welcome you to the fold in the most public way possible." His lips twitched.

Balek rolled his eyes. "You mean the most torturous way, right. You'll make me say a few words and all that." He shuddered.

Wicek grinned. "Absolutely. And, hey, if you're really stuck for something to say, you can always introduce your bride-to-be."

Roman thwapped Wicek on the back of the head. "Stop it. His five minutes isn't up yet." Roman met Balek's gaze. "You're in for an interesting day, my friend." His tone had gone serious.

Balek glanced toward Maddox. "I take it the Yulis are less than thrilled with their accommodations?" He rather hoped they were.

Maddox gave a nod. "To say the least. Every one of them have asked to be moved … with the exception of the younger sister." His lips spread wide. "She seems to love where we put them."

She did?

Balek quirked a brow. "They're in the lower quadrant?" His curiosity piqued about this younger sister.

Wicek laughed. "Yep. The mother, Zara, considers it very far beneath their stature." He stuck his nose up in the air.

Balek smiled. "Good. That makes me happy." The more uncomfortable they were the easier it should be to get rid of them.

Roman cut in. "Did you review the file I sent? My legal team couldn't find a contract regarding a promise to marry."

Balak nodded. "There isn't one. It's possible they knew my parents, but if they have documents I'd bet my next ship they're forged." He paused. "The report on their finances is the key to this whole scenario. They think I'm going to be their new purse-holder and they're going to find out I won't be." Not with how the father let his business slide into shambles.

Maddox's lips curved. "When do you plan to inform them?"

Balek flashed a smile. "After I get about a full day of sleep." They could suffer another twenty-four hours.

I love this series and Balek is so much fun to write. I can't wait to finish these and put them out into the world.

 

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

ML Skye

Sunday Snippet: Founder's Day Flames (a Capital City Seasons novella)

Had a fun time at my high school reunion on Saturday … even though it was very hot and super humid. Got to see people I haven't seen in absolute ages. So nice to catch up with everyone.

Weather has been a little wild. Big temperature swings again. We've also had some rumbling thunderstorms with interesting lightning. We're supposed to have a very rainy week with more storms rolling through so that should be fun.

Had a busy work week with a few projects coming in for final touches and should be getting close to the finish line. Made more progress on the developmental edit I've been working on and might be close to finishing that one up also. Finished up a proofread and started a new copy edit. Not a bad week.

Made it through my usual slate of shows so had a good viewing week also. I even got to finish up one of my backburner shows. I'll be starting a new series this week and I'm looking forward to picking one out. I also did another Death in Paradise binge on Sunday.

Caught an episode of Marple and rather enjoyed the twists and turns. It was kind of fun to have the show set during the holiday season but not be overtly holidayish.

Finished up Ireland Coast and Country. Enjoyed the dip into some of the country's locations and remarkable scenery.

Started season four of Beyond Paradise. Fun episode setting up a big quandary for Humphrey. I'm kind of excited to see what hijinks Humph and Martha get into with renovating their new house. Very happy to be revisiting Shipton Abbot.

Caught another episode of Poirot and actually enjoyed seeing him in a very different setting. The mystery had some interesting twists and I liked that.

Elementary ended on a concerning note and I'm glad I can drop right into the next season without a long wait. Happy to have the Shinwell murder resolved, and I'm truly thrilled that Moriarty isn't the mystery woman, even though her identity makes me sad.

Watched another episode of Young Justice and enjoyed watching the team come together even when they were on the outs.

Finished up season four of Star Trek Lower Decks and, seriously, I'm going to miss this show so much. I loved everything about this finale … except one thing. Losing a team member sucked but at least there's a chance she'll return.

Also finished up an episode of Peak Practice. It ended up being a pretty good one but had a lot going on. So happy Tom finally owned his feelings!

That's the life update this week. Tonight's post is from Founder's Day Flames, a novella in the Capital City Seasons universe.

Here's the miniblurb:

An arsonist strikes Capital City, setting blazes, each more devastating than the last, on the lead up to the Founder's Day holiday, which falls on Beltane. Graham McClain is called on to analyze the firebug's actions and help get a handle on his next move. Fire captain Prima Alton reluctantly works closely with Graham and together they discover she plays a role in the culprit's twisted fantasies.

And a sneaky peek…

Graham slid his gaze toward the lovely woman walking next to him. Her almost military bearing actually kind of turned Graham on. Which … yeah … not what he came her for.

Get your mind on the job, dumbass.

She paused by a door marked with the words situation room. "I'm Prima Alton, by the way." She thrust her palm forward. "I can't say it's nice to meet you because you already know how I feel about you being here." Her gaze met his.

Graham's lips quirked. "Graham McClain, as you know. And there's nothing like total honesty. I'm actually a sucker for being in on the secret." He clasped her palm. "I appreciate knowing what I'm dealing with because it inevitably saves time." Following her into the situation room he couldn't hide his surprise. "This is amazing … er, do you prefer being addressed as Captain?" His gaze swept over the stacks of files up to the maps with pinpoints in each location of previous burns.

His counterpart made a stuttering step before she smoothly turned to face him. "I don't really have anything specific I like. Rank is fine or my name." Her gaze darted to the slowly closing door. "If we're going to be working closely, names are probably best." She focused back on him. "Um, unless you prefer to stay with professional titles." Her fingers flexed almost as if she fought the urge to make fists.

Graham lifted his chin. "You haven't quite decided if we're going to be working together close or otherwise yet. But I'm happy for first names." He walked over to the large map of Capital City hanging on the wall to give her a little space.

She'd flushed a plucky shade of pink when he called her out on how their relationship would or wouldn't go. He could read the room well enough to know she didn't want interference with her work. And he completely got why she wouldn't.

That said, he had a job to do and taking credit from her didn't have to be part of the task.

Prima cleared her throat. "I'm making the worst first impression and I don't know why it's bothering me." She moved to stand beside him. "But it is, and I'm sorry. This … you … kind of came unexpectedly and I don't always react well to surprises." Angling her head, she nodded toward the table. "If you're ready, we can get started on reviewing what I have so far."

Graham moved to the table and waited for Prima to pick a spot before he settled in. He liked that she took a place at the head of the table, leaving him to sit with everything facing him. He retrieved the first pile of folders and opened the top one.

Prima sat quietly, while he skimmed through the information. Occasionally, he had questions about data and she responded with clear, concise answers. He found a kindred spirit in the notes and files.

Graham finished reviewing her charts and graphs. "I'm seriously impressed with your research." He glanced upward. "You get it, don't you?" He'd never really met anyone else who did.

Prima tilted her head. "Get what?" Her gaze narrowed a little.

Graham swept his hand over the piles of folders and notes. "The way information has power and a vibe all of its own." And data held the answers they would need.

Her eyes widened. "Yes." She leaned forward. "That's what you mean by it talks to you, isn't it?"

He grunted. "Yep. And if you listen closely, all is revealed." Patterns emerged and pieces fell in place.

She sat back. "Huh. I never thought of it that way." Her gaze met his again. "I'm surprised by your easy manner. I haven't been very welcoming and that would put a lot of people off." She shook her head. "But you aren't put off at all."

Graham shrugged. "It's hard to have someone come in and scrutinize your work. Especially with a ticking clock getting louder and louder in the background." He pulled three of the folders out and placed them in the middle of the table. "I'm not here to dampen your efforts. My goal is to add a second set of eyes and ears and collaborate with you to resolve this before anyone else gets hurt." He tapped the middle file.

Prima's gaze focused on the information. "You think I missed something…" Her shoulders drooped.

Graham made a back-and-forth motion with his head. "No, I think there's an avenue you haven't explored yet, which is not the same as missing key details." He paused, waiting for her reaction.

Her response would determine how he'd handle his next step.

I'm having a lot of fun with this one. Graham and Prima are going to do wonderful things together.

 

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

ML Skye

Sunday Snippet: Fortune's Dawn

August is starting out with a weird vibe. The temperatures have been very mild and I'm wondering how much we'll pay for that in the fall months or the winter. Thrilled for the kiddos going back to school in a week or so because they might not roast during the first few weeks like they normally do.

I'm still trying to get some things that I've been putting off in the checked boxes. I did manage to fix the leak in my bathtub, which was way overdue. Should help with my water bill. I got the part needed to fix the washing machine and that's a project for this week. I hope.

Work projects are going somewhat smoothly. I did have the book that won't go away come back one more time. The developmental edit I've got on the back burner is heating up again. I'm also working on a coaching project that's part pull the manuscript together and part help the author get it ready for a copy edit. Had a solid week with copy edits and proofreads also.

Had another good week for viewing. Nothing extra but made it through my usual slate of shows. Also did another Death in Paradise binge of older seasons.

Started with another episode of Marple. I kind of like the actress playing Jane. She's kind of snappy and a little punchy (not physically) with her dialog and I love it.

Also watched another episode of Ireland Coast and Country. I'm really enjoying this series. I now want to make vermouth. Just saying.

Caught an episode of Death in Paradise and finished up season fifteen. I ended up kind of liking the niece. Looking forward to the holiday episode if there is one this year. And also kind of excited about the next season. I really love this show.

Enjoyed an episode of Poirot. The mystery ended up being kind of twisty and I loved seeing Poirot's author friend again. She's a hoot.

Elementary ended up being really good. The whole thing with the woman who leads meetings and Sherlock kind of came from left field, but I'll hold out to see what happens with that. I'll be disappointed if she ends up being Moriarty. The whole take down of the gang is really interesting. Can't wait to see what happens there.

Watched another episode of Young Justice and pieces are falling in place. Nearing the end of the first season and I'm interested in seeing what happens to the team.

Also caught another episode of Star Trek Lower Decks and love how the season-arc mystery is coming together. Also enjoyed the Cerritos team pulling off a ruse to get what they needed. And the name drops from other shows always make me happy.

That wraps up the life update this week. Tonight's post is from Fortune's Dawn, a follow up to Dance with Destiny.

Here's the miniblurb:

Quillan and Jeb answered fate's call, discovered an ancient prophecy that led them to dance with destiny, and now they're setting out to find their lost colony before the cyborgs do.

And a sneaky peek…

Jeb would never take being with Quill for granted. "It's good to have you home." From the moment he'd reached out to her through mystical forces, the concept of what created a happy dwelling space shifted on a core level.

Quillan's head lowered. "And we'll be staying here, together, with each other." Her lips ghosted over his jawline.

Jeb clasped her thighs and raised his pelvis. "Yes, we will." No more singular side journeys.

Wherever she led, he'd follow. Or maybe that should be the other way around.

Quill nuzzled his throat. "Less thinking … more moving." Her hips rocked and her mouth met his.

Jeb's hands smoothed upward along her back. His fingers threaded through her hair. She meant everything to him. And he'd lay the groundwork for her to blaze a path to their future.

Quillan eased back, planting her hands on his chest. Her head dropped back and her breathing went shallow. He flexed underneath her, bringing his palms up to cup her breasts. A sharp hiss escaped between her lips followed by a low moan.

When her pace increased, so did the internal pressure on his cock. He groaned and rose to meet her rocking motion. Wouldn't be long now … her slick back and forth and the dip of her groin against his amped up the friction.

Her fingers curled into her palms, and her fists dug into his chest. "Love you, Jeb. So much." Her core tightened around him, a shudder tore through her, and she gasped through her orgasm.

Jeb's gaze met hers. "Love you too. Always." He gripped her thighs again and let the wave of pleasure wash over him.

Quill collapsed on top of him then shifted to the side to snuggle in close. "You always give me what I need. Always." Her finger traced lazy circles on his torso.

Jeb wrapped an arm around her. "You do the same for me." He pressed a kiss to her temple. "We'll start on more translations after a good rest."

She nodded against him. "Yeah, that works." A yawn escaped before she could stop it.

Jeb dragged a cover over them. The perilous stuff might be behind them, but they had a lot of work to do. Sleep could get scarce the farther they dug into the ancient texts.

This one is still in the very first stages of coming together but I'm having so much fun with it.

 

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

ML Skye

Sunday Snippet: Follow Me (Scorched Galaxy book one)

Another week in the books and it ended up not being terrible. Had several errands that needed to be handled and got through those without issue for the most part. I always appreciate being able to check things off the list.

We had very mild weather for July. Our high was in the low seventies a couple of days and that's unusual. But it makes doing my great clear out easier and more comfortable.

Work is staying steady and I'm getting through several projects, which makes me happy. I have one that keeps popping back and that can be frustrating. The good news is the reason it keeps coming back isn't due to anything I've done. It's all author related requests.

Had a fairly decent viewing week. I made it through my usual list of shows and had another Death in Paradise binge watch of previous seasons.

Started the week with the new to me series Marple. I've seen a previous version of Miss Marple and it's kind of fun to see how the episodes change with new incarnations.

Also started the docuseries Ireland Coast and Country. I'm on an emerald isle kick at the moment because I truly enjoyed the series about Ireland's castles. The first episode makes me want to visit the country at some point.

Watched another episode of the current season of Death in Paradise. I'm enjoying the dynamic between Mervin and Naomi. Also really happy the fallout of Mervin's kidnapping is being explored. Really not sure what to make of the niece showing up. We'll see if that ends up being a good thing.

Caught another episode of Poirot and finished off season ten. Have to admit this one had more than one mystery twisting through it and I enjoyed that. Looking forward to seeing what season eleven has in store.

Elementary entertained again. The case ended up being very twisty. And the appearance of Shinwell made me kind of happy … even though it might not have ended well.

Enjoyed an episode of Young Justice. I'm kind of interested in where things are going to go with the whole the Light thing. Exciting developments between Connor and Magan though.

Also watched another episode of Star Trek Lower Decks. Very cool to see the original four on an away mission. Also loved how they addressed the different dynamic since they've all been bumped up in rank.

That's it for the life update. Tonight's post is from Follow Me, the opening book in the Scorched Galaxy trilogy.

Here's the miniblurb:

A will they or won't they wager spurs Molly and Sloan to see how long they can without getting caught.

And a sneaky peek…

Never would have thought that possible.

Sloan didn't know if he should laugh or be insulted. They were both attractive people. It shouldn't be that hard for Molly to conjure it up in her head.

He sure as hell didn't find it difficult to imagine her naked.

And isn't that the sticking point I keep tripping over? If Molly hadn't been engaged to his best friend, a play would have been made a long time ago. But she'd said yes to Lachlan and that put her firmly in the don't-even-think-about-it category.

Sloan considered himself an honorable man. But the guilt he thought he should feel didn't surface. And he'd just broken the primo rule of the brotherhood of men. A guy does not make out with, put his hands on, or have mind-blowing sex with his best friend's girl.

They just didn't do it.

Sloan took a moment and tried to think about Lachlan, but Molly had taken up residence. She consumed all the space in his head that he didn't want dedicated to the upcoming confrontation with the commander. He should be focused on working out a plan for that, instead he relived the feel of her in his arms.

Is she doing the same?

Sloan leveled his gaze on hers. "You really never thought it possible?"

She'd be lying. And they both knew it.

Molly sobered. "Uh … no, actually." She shifted her position in the chair, tucking her feet up under her legs.   

Almost as if the question made her uncomfortable. Or she settled in for a serious conversation.

Both worked for him.

Molly gave a slight shrug of one shoulder. "The thing is … you're not one to take stupid risks." She leaned forward and lowered her voice. "And the CAG screwing one of his pilots is a huge risk … one that could land us both in hack."

Sloan couldn’t argue her point, but he shot her a skeptical look. She'd never been obtuse and had to know what he'd meant.

Blowing out sigh, she answered honestly. "Okay, maybe it's more like I've never let myself imagine what could happen between us … given the right circumstances."

She glanced his way and Sloan had the impression she'd thought about it a lot. But like him, she couldn't let herself believe it would happen.

Because of Lachlan.

Sloan tilted his head, looking at Molly closely. "Well, it did happen." And lightning hadn't struck and nothing had blown up, so maybe they didn't have to be haunted by the ghost in the past.

He cocked an eyebrow. "Regrets?" As soon as the word came out, he wanted to kick himself.

He'd gotten a little too comfortable, sitting with her, as they were, with no distractions for the moment. Asking a question when he couldn't be sure of the answer might prove disastrous.

Because if Molly got weirded out in any way, she'd run for the hills. He knew this about her. She didn't make friends easily. For all her bold and brash behavior, she rarely let people in.

The constant shuffle from scattered military bases with her mom to being out on the road with her jack-of-all-trades dad didn't leave a lot of time to form lasting friendships. Sloan would be forever grateful to his mom, who refused to travel on the base-to-base merry-go-round with his dad. Their marriage sometimes suffered for it, but being the wife of a pilot meant she could be made an instant widow, and she wanted her son to have a stable environment while growing up.

And his dad always knew where he could find home and that she would be waiting for him. Losing her to cancer almost broke each of them, but they managed to get through the loss. Together.

Sloan realized he'd been navel gazing and avoiding eye contact with Molly. She still hadn't answered him, so he focused his gaze on hers, hoping she didn't have plans to bolt out the door.

I've been working on this series for a really, really long time and I have so much love for this couple and the other characters in this saga.

 

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

ML Skye

Sunday Snippet: First Time Laid Eyes on You

Whew. What a week. Ohio got a lot of the smoke from the Canadian wildfires, and it was kind of eerie seeing the hazy gray skies for most of the week. Good time to stay inside due to the high danger air quality alerts.

The weather at least stayed just under sweltering. My garage cleanout went much smoother since the temperatures weren't as high as they have been. Going out very late at night and only staying there for under an hour also helped.

Work projects moved along. I finished up a few odds and ends and started a new copy edit. I also touched base on a few back burner projects. I got to review some back cover copy and book blurbs, which is always a fun change of pace.

Had an okay viewing week. Didn't quite make it through all of my usual shows but made a decent stab at them. Between the cleanup and a lengthy run with my own writing, my watching took a back seat.

Started with another bonus episode of Foyle's War behind the scenes. An interview about the details of the final episode with the writer and the show historian. Very much enjoyed it.

Also finished up Tales of Irish Castles. Really liked this series and its deep dive into the seriously large number of castles in Ireland.

Caught an episode of Silent Witness and made it about halfway through. I'm going to take a break, I think. This season is kind of dark, which I enjoy most of the time but, in all honesty, I kind of need something lighter right now.

Watched another episode of Poirot and really enjoyed it. It's always fun when familiar people pop up in these movies. And this one was very twisty, which I enjoy.

Elementary ended up being really good. I really like getting backstory and even though Marcus's is full of strife and pain, it tied into the current happenings really well. Also loved Sherlock being there for Marcus at the end.

That's all for the life update this week. Tonight's post is from First Time Laid Eyes on You, a novella about opposites attracting each other.

Here's the miniblurb:

Nadia Blunt takes one look at Bart Uppermark and decides they'll make a great team in the air and on the ground. But when Bart shows zero interest in working together—she takes too many risks for his comfort zone—Nadia pulls out all the stops and proves him wrong.

And a sneaky peek…

Stunned, Nadia relaxed and tried to keep her mouth from falling open. "Um, yes, sir." She followed his suggestion and settled across from him. "You're really choosing me as your wingman?" She had to be dreaming.

He nodded. "I am." He flipped her file open and got down to business. "But I'll be perfectly honest. You scare the hell out of me." He thumbed through her fit reps. "You've been cited for reckless maneuvers over a dozen times." He glanced up. "That's about ten times more than I'm comfortable with."

She considered his statement. "May I speak freely?" Did she really want to mount a defense?

He inclined his chin and rested his forearms on the desk.

She exhaled slowly, then went with the first thing that popped into her head. "If you feel I'm too reckless, why did you even pick me as a choice?" He had to have a reason.

He snapped off a response. "Delta roll double dive." No hesitation, no time needed to think.

Her lips twitched, but she didn't speak.

He shrugged. "Aside from myself, I only knew of two other pilots who can pull off the maneuver." His voice held a note of amazement.

She flashed a brief smile. "And now me." Pride filled her.

He agreed. "And now you."

She relaxed even more, sliding down in the chair a little. "I managed the delta roll double dive on my fifth attempt." She lifted her gaze to his. "If rumor is true, you got it in seven." His reaction here would make or break her decision to trust him.

He quirked an eyebrow. "The information is accurate." His lips curved in a wry smile.

She straightened and leaned forward. "I'll admit I push harder and farther than I should sometimes. But I firmly believe we, as pilots, have to test not only our limits, but the limits of the crafts we fly." Her tone edged on passionate, and she cleared her throat. "If you'll note, I have one citation involving another pilot and that occurred one month after I graduated. The other occurrences only put myself at risk." She learned a valuable lesson about never pulling others into her hijinks.

Bart countered. "Yourself and a multimillion-dollar space craft." He leaned back again, waiting on her response.

She mimicked his stance. "Touche. I promise to keep that in mind." A finger shot up. "But … I can't always fly by the book. It goes against my nature and my instincts." And would absolutely be a deal breaker. 

Bart placed his forearms on the desk again. "I'll give you some leeway, but if you endanger my life or any other pilot, I'll have your wings." He held her gaze.

Nadia weighed his stipulation. "I wouldn't expect anything less." And she would do her best not to let him down or give him an opportunity to find fault with her.

He reached across the desk, his palm extended. "Welcome to active flight status as my wingman, Lieutenant."

Nadia cracked a wide grin and shook his hand with a firm grip, holding on longer than necessary. "Thank you, Captain." She'd done the impossible and landed her dream position.

Bart walked her to the hatch. "Expect your transfer papers by the end of the day." He flashed a quick smile.

Nadia exited the office with her mind filled with one specific thought. One hurdle down. Another one to overcome. Her attraction for the man raged hard.

But his by-the-book stance would be a challenge to sway.

Except … he kind of gave her something of a free pass. Or maybe it's a trap. He'd give her some room in the cockpit but if she mis-stepped elsewhere, he'd start a new search.

Gah! Too many thoughts crowded her head. She'd get settled, find her footing, then worry about the attraction and how to manage the hot pull she didn't want to resist.

Having a lot of fun with this one. Nadia and Bart are going to do a delicate balancing act and really enjoy it.

 

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

ML Skye