Sunday Snippet: Event Horizon

Hello,

I feel kind of off balance since there's no new Orphan Black to rave about this week. LOL

But... Defiance held up against its premiere, no complaints. In fact, I'm really enjoying the shift in dynamics. The mayor totally creeps me out, and that's a good thing. The actor who plays him is one of my faves and it's fun to see him in something of a villainous role. And not that I have any expectations, but I'm thrilled Nolan and Amanda aren't dancing around each other and drawing crap out. Doesn't bode well, I'm sure, but half the fun of watching is to see where the writers take things.

Oddly, Dominion is keeping my attention, too. Didn't have loads of confidence, but I still want to find out what happens next. I also finished a rewatch of Bitten and I'm on the second season of a Canadian show—Arctic Air. I have a list of shows from Canada I'm looking forward to watching. Stay tuned. J

Tonight's post is from Event Horizon, a short story / novella featuring my favorite kind of characters—pilots.

Here's the tagline:

Casey meets Oliver on a transport flight to celebrate his dad's retirement. They hit it off, but Casey has a big secret… she's the reason Oliver's brother didn't pass the flight test and she doesn't want the old man to find out.

And a sneaky peek…

Casey swirled the spoon inside her coffee cup. "How's your brother doing?" Her gut clenched and she awaited his response.

Oliver shrugged. "He's actually doing great. If the old man would leave him alone, he'd be doing even better."

Casey frowned. "You're dad's still upset Orwen didn't pass basic flight?" She'd hoped the elder Stephas would have realized his youngest son didn't have the heart and grit it took to fly.

Oliver rolled his eyes. "He'll still be pissed even after he's dead and buried. The man considers it a point of pride that every Stephas male for seven generations earned their wings… except Orwen." He lifted his mug and drained the contents.

Casey cocked her head to one side. "No females? I mean, I know you don't have a sister, but would that make a difference?"

Oliver chuckled. "Great question. Oddly, we've had exactly two girls in those seven generations." His lips twitched. "Both went into medicine."

Casey's eyes widened. "Two? That's it?" She blinked. "What are the odds of only having two females in how many years?"

Oliver snorted. "Too many to count. And if you ask my dad, he'll tell you that whatever rules the universe made it so all Stephas men enter the military and fly." He waited a beat. "Except Orwen."

Casey pushed a little. "You're very hard on your old man." She wondered if she might have an ally in Oliver.

He lifted a brow. "You've met the guy, right?"

Her lips quirked. "I have." Several times, each occasion memorable.

Oliver leaned back in his seat. "Then you know what he's like."

Casey nodded. "Unbending, unyielding and a pain in the ass? From what I've experienced, those are his good qualities."

Oliver laughed. "I think you and I are going to get along very well." He moved forward, resting his forearms on the table. "My dad's not gonna win the nicest guy on the planet award, but he's a damned good officer." He met her gaze. "He's not thrilled with being forced into retirement, so if you can, stay on his good side."

Casey slowly bobbed her head up and down. "I always try. For some reason, he seems to like me."

Oliver grinned. "Because you didn't cower or go running for cover when he stormed into your classroom and demanded a meeting." He chuckled. "When you told him you'd be happy to meet with him… as soon as you dismissed your class, you earned his respect."

Casey ignored the queasy churning of her stomach. "I thought he might tag me for insubordination that day." She'd been lucky he hadn't.

Oliver shook his head. "No, the old man is a hard ass, but you made the right call. He'd overstepped his authority and knew it."

Casey's lips curved, but her heart twisted. She prayed her secret remained undiscovered. Orin Stephas could ruin her career if he found out she'd put his son in danger by letting him attempt to qualify when his classwork didn't warrant the experience.

Oliver kicked back again. "Dad made sure you got an invitation to his shindig because he's impressed with you." He met her gaze again. "He'd like to see you continue moving up the ranks."

Casey wanted to confess her transgression to Oliver, but kept her mouth shut. How stupid would she be to tell Orin's other son what she'd done? Even if she kind of trusted he wouldn't tell a soul, she wouldn't take the risk.

Instead, she smiled. "I'm looking forward to seeing him again." Hopefully for a few brief moments in a receiving line, then only in passing.

Oliver glanced over to the clock on the wall. "Wheels up in five minutes. If you're ready, we can board together."

Oliver is going to be in a sticky situation when Casey has a little too much to drink at the reception. Depending on where the story goes, he'll either be doing damage control or actively working to keep Casey off the hot seat. :D

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

ML Skye

Get Hooked: Reel in a Great Book—Surviving the Trap (excerpt 2) #MFRWHook

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.

To celebrate my most recent release, Surviving the Trap, book one of the Top Dog Pilots series, I'll be posting a series of pivotal scenes over the next couple of weeks. Please enjoy!

Today's post features the introduction of my heroine, Maggie Harper.

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

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

~*~

Coming in off a hard landing that would cost her in both the ratings and standings, Maggie Harper charged through the corridors while she silently multi-tasked. She'd started a heated debate with her stomach. For some reason, it didn't want to believe her when she said it could survive two more days with the crappy rations it had been receiving for sustenance. Next, she promised her aching body a well-deserved massage at her earliest convenience if it would only hang in there for a few more days. She saved her overly tired brain for last, swearing she'd let it sleep for at least two straight days if it would cooperate just a little longer and please, for the love of the universe, not let her kill herself by doing something stupid.

She simultaneously cursed the utter stupidity of her superior officers and the military in general. Hell Week could only be the brainchild of some bigwig admiral. It had to be to have qualifications tied to it. Some pencil pusher who thought their wonderful theory on paper would translate beautifully to real life scenarios. Maggie snorted. Funny how it never seemed to work out that way.

The bigwig couldn't possibly have flight experience. If he did, he'd know how ridiculous his little exercise would turn out.

Available at Amazon

Other e-retailers coming soon!

~*~

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.

Book Blurb: One week of extreme training, two top guns, and a healthy dose of unresolved sexual tension equals two pilots pushed to their limits, looking for a way to get through the hellish experience and possibly into each other's arms.

~*~

~*~

Please stop by my website

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

Sunday Snippet: Drink Me

June 22, 2014

Whoa. Awesome week of television. Defiance is back on Syfy and what a great opening episode for season two. I won't get into spoilers, but I'm excited about where things are going. Dominion also premiered and I enjoyed watching. I'm hoping we get less exposition as the season progresses, but I'm always down for a good set-up in the first episode. J

Orphan Black. Finale didn't disappoint and once again, twists and turns I totally didn't expect. One of the biggest reasons I love this show so much is it never quite goes where I think it will. I was thrilled to have some additional information and background for Paul—even if it makes him even more mysterious. Putting my Cosima hat on for a moment, this show is like a fractal pattern, every layer that's revealed turns around on itself and spawns into something else. I'm sure I butchered the science angle, but… just watch the show to see what I mean. :D

Tonight's post is from Drink Me, a bonus short featuring the characters from One Hot Mess.

Here's the tagline:

A bottle of alcohol takes on the role of perpetrator in a couple's romp filled weekend. Both would swear the damn thing dared them to drink every last drop.

And a sneaky peek…

The shot glass sat empty on the counter, right beside the equally empty bottle.

Eva looked up and shook her head. Van gave her a sloppy grin.

She dropped her head in her hands. "I swear the damn bottle said, 'Drink me'"

Van chuckled, then laughed. "It did. I heard it." He swayed on the stool. "Several times."

Eva glanced sideways. "Think we missed the last transport back?" She craned her head, slowly, and didn't see any of their teammates in the bar.

Van propped an elbow on the bar and rested his head in his hand. "Probably, but I don't care. I'm off tomorrow."

Eva blinked. "You know what? I am, too." She waved the bartender over. "Mac, gimme another bottle, will you?"

The barman lifted a brow, but produced more vodka. "You might wanna consider letting me get you a room before you finish this one off. I don't let anyone sleep it off in the bar."

Van sat up and almost slid off the stool. "That's a great idea." He dug his card out of his wallet. "Can you really set that up?"

Mac laughed. "Normally, I don't make the offer, but for you two, I'm willing. No way you'll be able to manage on your own."

Eva leaned forward, pouring two more shots. "Give yourself a generous tip, Mac. Van won't mind." She slid a glass in his direction and added a smirk. "Will you, Van?"

Van narrowed his eyes. "Since I probably won't remember any of this in the morning, why not?"

I love writing bonus stories for free reads and this one is no exception.

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

ML Skye

Romance on a Starry Night—The SFR Brigade Presents: Midsummer Blog Hop #sfrbp

Welcome to the Midsummer Blog Hop presented by the SFR Brigade.

Our theme this year is Starry Nights which brings to mind romance under—or out among—the stars. It might also include a love bigger than the cosmos.

Readers: Get ready for some wonderful excerpts from a spaceport's load of authors. We've also got prizes, enough to fill a space port.

Authors: Sprinkle some space dust on your best work and launch it into the galaxy.

~*~

A Little about ML Skye

My fascination with science fiction and life among the stars started at an early age, watching reruns of Star Trek with my dad when he got home from work. The romance came later, thanks to my mom and her wild, wacky reading group. The gaggle of women kept me supplied with romances throughout junior high and high school and I'll be forever thankful to each and every one of those ladies.

When the writing bug bit down hard and wouldn't let go, I found a natural drift toward romance with science fiction elements. I enjoy reading about love under or out among the stars, why not write about it? After taking the plunge, I haven't looked back and I love to throw in some different themes, what life on a different planet or in the future might be like, or how humans formed a colony somewhere else, but still have many of the same traditions and responsibilities of their ancestors.

My current titles all have a tie-in with deep space, the home of millions of stars. Whether it's the last known station at the end of the universe, a first year celebration in a city on another planet, pilots flying together on a space cruiser, or a couple who are separated by an entire galaxy, those shining orbs play a role in the story.

For my most recent release, Surviving the Trap, book one of the Top Dog Pilots series, Max Cutter and Maggie Harper are put through a grueling week of hell and it leads the duo down a road neither thought they'd travel. Their journey ended up being loads of fun to write.

Here's an excerpt:

Groggily, Max glanced at the clock wondering why Maggie didn't just look for herself. "Twenty-two minutes." Yawning, he sat up, blinking and trying to focus. "Why?" Something seemed off with her, but he couldn't pin it down, so damned tired his brain rebelled against anything taxing.

Maggie grabbed his arm, tugging him out of his seat. "Come on." She led him out of the ready room, not giving him time to ask questions. Questions she wouldn't answer anyway if she didn't want to. "Come with me." Not letting go, she made her way down the corridor and across a passageway.

Max tried to play catch-up. By the second day of madness, he'd learned real, honest rest would not be an option and trained his body to go on half-alert when not in the cockpit, sort of like being on standby. He figured it the only way he could catch some sleep. Maggie had effectively interrupted his schedule of a catnap and bracing shower followed by hauling ass back to the hangar deck to run pre-flight checks. The routine played like a mantra in his head. Nap, shower, checks.

So, right. Running a little behind here. Max didn't know what Maggie wanted, but she seemed determined to drag him as far away from the ready room as possible. "Maggie, where are we going?" And how the hell did she even have the energy to walk right now. She almost crackled with vigor.

Maggie slowed down, but didn't let go of his arm. "Cutter, just shut up and come with me." Without another word, she rounded the next corner to duck through an open hatch, quickly pulling Max in behind her.

He stumbled a bit, barely clearing the raised threshold before she dogged the hatch. They were in an empty causeway. One used if a fire broke out on the ship. It was supposed to remain empty unless the fire signal had been activated. Clearly, the lack of sleep had Maggie unhinged.

Reaching to undo the hatch, he muttered. "You know we can't be here, Mags." Next thing he knew, Maggie had him backed up against the bulkhead, her lips sucking on his neck sending him into a state of shocked arousal. "What the hell?" He shook his head, wondering if he'd maybe fallen asleep somewhere back on the flight deck. "Mags?"

Available on Amazon
(Other e-retailers coming soon)

~*~

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

Blurb: One week of extreme training, two top guns, and a healthy dose of unresolved sexual tension equals two pilots pushed to their limits, looking for a way to get through the hellish experience and possibly into each other's arms.

~*~

Contest Giveaway!

Now for the really fun part of the blog hop—lots of prizes! The SFR Brigade is offering a galactic giveaway.

Details below:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

1st

$100 Amazon or B&N gift card plus 41 ebooks - Tales from the SFR Brigade, Heart of Stone, Her Cyborg Awakes, Anja's Star, Silver Strife, Corwint Series 4 Book Gift Pack, Earth's Requiem, Alien Blood, Starwoman's Sanctuary, one book from Jessica E Subject's SFR backlist (ONE ebook title out of the following: Alien Adoration, Alien Admirer, Alien Lover, An Unexpected Return, Another Night Another Planet, Celestial Seduction, Crash Landing, Hey Santa, His Alien Virgin, Made For Her, Never Gonna Let You Go, Never Gonna Desert You, Never Gonna Say Goodbye, Satin Sheets in Space, Sudden Breakaway, or Unknown Futures), LodeStar Series Books 1-3 (Stark Pleasure, Creed of Pleasure and Captive of Pleasure), Reunion trilogy, Terms & Conditions Apply, Wreck of the Nebula Dream, Starheart, Kuralon Rescue, A Matter of Trust, Earth's Blood, Roman's Gold, Wolf Born, The Marann, Nightfall, Unrequited, Butterman Time Travel Inc., Legend Beyond the Stars, Hathor's Legacy: Outcast, Removed, Midwinter Crisis, Shlyer: Finding Home, Boyfriend's Brother, Surviving the Trap, Captive, Tower in the Woods, Catching Red. (41 books)

2nd

$50 Amazon or B&N gift card plus 28 ebooks - Tales from the SFR Brigade, Heart of Stone, Her Cyborg Awakes, Anja's Star, Silver Strife, Corwint Series 4 Book Gift Pack, Earth's Requiem, Alien Blood, Starwoman's Sanctuary, Tangled In Time, Terms & Conditions Apply, Escape from Zulaire, Lana's Comet, Heart's Bounty, Glad Hands, Nikolai, The Trial of Tompa Lee, The Tribulations of Tompa Lee, The Midas Rush, Prime Obsession, Daughters of Suralia, Morning Star, Hey Santa, Tower in the Woods, Catching Red. (28 books)

3rd

3 separate winners each receive $25 Amazon or B&N gift card plus 11 ebooks - Tales from the SFR Brigade, Heart of Stone, Her Cyborg Awakes, Anja's Star, Corwint Series 4 Book Gift Pack, Hey Santa, Tower in the Woods, Catching Red. (11 books each)

If the winner cannot accept gift cards or the digital files, another winner will be chosen. Thank you for understanding!

~*~

I'll be offering four lucky commenters their choice of my current titles.

When a madman wants to blow up the city during the Midwinter holiday, it's just another day on the job for Ben and Jess.

Available on Amazon

Inspector Shyler Lumen always gets her man—even if she has to go through Marshton Grey to do it.

Available on Amazon

Chloe Timmons mixes a potential marriage proposal, a close call, and her boyfriend's hot brother. She can walk away… but she may lose everything.

Available on Amazon

Or…

Surviving the Trap

Just leave a comment with your favorite starry night scenario to be entered.

~*~

Please take a look at the other awesome entries on the blog tour and spread a little stardust and love.

Thank you for reading!

Please visit my website for more information.

Hot in the City—Summer Lovin' Blog Hop

Sponsored by Romance Blog Hops

Enter for a chance to win an awesome prize!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Rafflecopter

Here’s the Grand Prize list: 

1 $75 Amazon Gift Card

1 $25 Starbucks Gift Card (Donated by Sue)

1 $25 Amazon (or B&N) Gift Card (Donated by Denisea)

Turn on the AC and kick back!

Welcome to the Summer Lovin' Blog Hop, an excellent sampling of authors sharing short excerpts from their work.

Readers: Please enjoy the steamy snippets and consider picking up the full book by clicking on the buy link. Enter for a chance to receive

Bloggers: Please check out the excellent previews and spread the word.

~*~

Summer fun. There's something wonderful about the lazy days of summer. Even when working a full-time job, sunny days and longer nights can inspire the urge to kick back and relax. Why not sneak in a bit of bliss and unwind with a great book?

When writing as ML Skye, I tend to focus on science fiction or speculative romance, imagining a future where couples have the same issues of contemporary times, but find love in a different galaxy or another planet. There's something fascinating about rank and structure and trying to have a relationship when rules and regulations can get in the way. Being able to create a hot romance in the middle of everything is something I enjoy on so many levels.

My latest release, Surviving the Trap, book one of the Top Dog Pilots series, features a couple who have to combine personal and professional. As the first book in the series, the dynamic is set, but boundaries are crossed and now Max and Maggie have to figure out how to navigate new territory.

Maggie breaks one of her hardline personal rules, but she trusts Max won't make her regret it. The reason she steps over the line is a fun one.

My Blog Giveaway

I had so much fun writing the book and I'm giving a digital copy away for this blog hop. Please leave a comment for your entry and tell me favorite way to laze away a summer day. (Hopefully it involves books!)

~*~

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

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

~*~

Max tried to play catch-up. By the second day of madness, he'd learned real, honest rest would not be an option and trained his body to go on half-alert when not in the cockpit, sort of like being on standby. He figured it the only way he could catch some sleep. Maggie had effectively interrupted his schedule of a catnap and bracing shower followed by hauling ass back to the hangar deck to run pre-flight checks. The routine played like a mantra in his head. Nap, shower, checks.

So, right. Running a little behind here. Max didn't know what Maggie wanted, but she seemed determined to drag him as far away from the ready room as possible. "Maggie, where are we going?" And how the hell did she even have the energy to walk right now. She almost crackled with vigor.

Maggie slowed down, but didn't let go of his arm. "Cutter, just shut up and come with me." Without another word, she rounded the next corner to duck through an open hatch, quickly pulling Max in behind her.

He stumbled a bit, barely clearing the raised threshold before she dogged the hatch. They were in an empty causeway. One used if a fire broke out on the ship. It was supposed to remain empty unless the fire signal had been activated. Clearly, the lack of sleep had Maggie unhinged.

Reaching to undo the hatch, he muttered. "You know we can't be here, Mags." Next thing he knew, Maggie had him backed up against the bulkhead, her lips sucking on his neck sending him into a state of shocked arousal. "What the hell?" He shook his head, wondering if he'd maybe fallen asleep somewhere back on the flight deck. "Mags?"

Available on Amazon
Other e-retailers coming soon!

~*~

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.

Book Blurb: One week of extreme training, two top guns, and a healthy dose of unresolved sexual tension equals two pilots pushed to their limits, looking for a way to get through the hellish experience and possibly into each other's arms.

~*~

~*~

Please stop by my website

Turn up the heat! Visit the other participating authors.

Banner Thursday—Surviving the Trap Cover

To celebrate my newest release, I'm featuring the cover for Surviving the Trap, book one from the series Top Dog Pilots, available now.

As with the banner, I wanted a deep space feel since the book is set on the fringes of charted territory and most of the action takes place on a ship. For my couple, I wanted something a little steamy but not too racy. Considering they'll be the main focus of three books, I'm hoping the chosen image works. J

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

Blurb: One week of extreme training, two top guns, and a healthy dose of unresolved sexual tension equals two pilots pushed to their limits, looking for a way to get through the hellish experience and possibly into each other's arms.

Available on Amazon

Thanks for reading!

Please visit my website

Get Hooked: Reel in a Great Book—Surviving the Trap #MFRWHook

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.

To celebrate my most recent release, Surviving the Trap, book one of the Top Dog Pilots series, I'll be posting a series of pivotal scenes over the next couple of weeks. Please enjoy!

Today's post features the introduction of my hero, Max Cutter.

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

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

~*~

He'd always wanted to fly.

But this?

Hitting trap after trap, over and over? Sure as hell didn't qualify as flying.

More like a teeth-jarring, brain-scrambling, headache-inducing nightmare. The planes weren't designed for it. Hell, the pilots even less so. He'd never heard nor read about anything like this in the scores of military history books he devoured. What the brass hoped to prove by tying flight quals to this display of madness had to be beyond Max.

Unless they were attempting to discover which gave out first—the pilot or the plane?

His opinion? It would be a dead heat.

Planes were like women. The more respect someone showed them, the more someone dug down deep to understand how they worked and what they needed, the more that person could make them hum with satisfaction. Flying was almost as good as sex. Almost. When Max flew, an indefinable something thrummed in his blood. The precision, the instinct, the ebb and flow, the give and take of response—all of it heightened the experience.  Exerting just enough control to bend the plane to his will while at the same time giving himself over. To become one with the machine.

 

Available on Amazon

~*~

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.

Book Blurb: One week of extreme training, two top guns, and a healthy dose of unresolved sexual tension equals two pilots pushed to their limits, looking for a way to get through the hellish experience and possibly into each other's arms.

~*~

~*~

Please stop by my website http://www.skyewrites.com

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

Sunday Snippet: Domestic Partners

June 15, 2014

Happy Father's Day to all the fathers and father figures out there!

So… Orphan Black is almost over for this season and *eep* I still have way more questions than answers. That said, I don't care. I love everything about this season. Although, I guess I should ask if it's really wrong I pretty much cheered on Helena throughout last night's entire episode? No? Good. And Donnie and Alison. Twisted and creepy, but holy shit, I laughed, even though I shouldn't have. :D

Tonight's post is from Domestic Partners, a novella where my main couple gets to revisit their history, whether they want to or not.

Here's the tagline:

Tabby and Hale pretend to be domestic partners to keep the man who killed her husband from getting his hands on her. But when they're forced to live together, sparks and tempers fly, because Tabby broke a promise she made to Hale and he's not going to let her forget it.

And a sneaky peek…

Hale caught sight of Lawrence skulking around Tabby's tent. Thinking fast, Hale flipped out his knife and cut a long slice in the heavy canvas, slid inside, and quickly crawled into bed with Tabby. She stirred and he clamped his hand over her mouth. He jerked his head toward the door and her eyes widened when she noticed the shadowy figure lurking outside. She relaxed and he removed his hand from her mouth.

When the door latch rattled, Hale leaned in, kissing Tabby while quickly toeing his boots off to land on the soft, woven carpet beside the bed. Tabby responded and the embrace spun out and heated up.

The door cracked open and Tabby tensed for a brief moment, the only indication she gave of knowing they were no longer alone. Lawrence entered her home, but neither let on, pretending to be so wrapped up in each other that they couldn't hear him. Tabby moaned Hale's name, acting oblivious to the prowling figure in the entrance.

Hale deepened the kiss, slipping his tongue past her lips and sliding his hand under her shirt to palm a breast. Lawrence still lingered, remaining silent in the shadows. Tabby pushed things a little more, dragging Hale's shirt off, going further and removing her own. She unfastened his pants and dipped her hand inside. Hale took the hint and shoved his fatigues past his hips then dragged her panties to the side. Angling her back, he maneuvered between her legs, getting into position. Running his lips along her shoulder, Hale poised to enter Tabby.

The door shut quietly and Tabby grabbed ahold of Hale's ass. "Hale."

Hale snapped back to reality, blinking to meet her gaze.

She whispered. "He's gone." Reaching around, she found her shirt and quickly pulled it back over her head.

Hale collapsed sideways. "Right, yeah." He huffed out a harsh breath and relaxed.

All but one part of him. Yanking his pants up, he left them unfastened until he could get the rigid length under control.

Tabby scrambled up and shoved him off the bed. "What the flaming hell, Hale?" She stumbled off the mattress and fished around for her fatigues. "If you ever pull a stunt like again, I'll do bodily harm."

Hale shook his head. "I just saved your life. Or at the very least kept you from being hauled to the detention center." He snagged his shirt from under the covers and pulled it over his head. "You could show a little gratitude."

Tabby snorted. "Maybe I would if you'd filled me in beforehand." She lit a lantern and slid the inside lock on the latch.

Hale tilted his head to the side, confused.

Tabby rolled her eyes. "You had to know he could be a problem." She jabbed her finger into his shoulder. "You should have said something."

Hale lifted a brow. "Would you have believed me?" As if. She barely spoke to him on a good day.

Tabby sighed. "Probably not." She growled low in her throat. "And now we have a big ass problem."

Hale frowned. "Shit." He probably should've thought the possible repercussions out a little more.

Tabby nodded. "Yeah. Lawrence thinks we're a couple. That means we're gonna have to act like it now."

Let the fun begin! LOL

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

ML Skye

Banner Thursday—Surviving the Trap Banner

Today, I'm featuring the ad banner for Surviving the Trap, book one from the series Top Dog Pilots, releasing this month.

For this banner, I wanted a deep space feel since the book is set on the fringes of charted territory. I also wanted to invoke a military report look as the main characters are re-qualifying for pilot status… and going through hell to do it. J

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

Blurb: One week of extreme training, two top guns, and a healthy dose of unresolved sexual tension equals two pilots pushed to their limits, looking for a way to get through the hellish experience and possibly into each other's arms.

Coming Soon—Cover Reveal!

Thanks for reading!

Please visit my website 

Sunday Snippet: Differences Settled

June 8, 2014

Orphan Black. If you're not watching this show, why aren't you? LOL I rave about Arrow and Bitten, but in all honesty, Orphan Black hits every single one of my hot spot kinks for television. The writers always throw something into the mix that catches me completely by surprise and seriously, with the amount of television I watch, that's hard to do. LOL

Truly, if you're looking for something awesome to sink your teeth into, find the first season and don't look back. The acting is top notch—any show that has a lead actress who can pull off no less than nine different roles, usually at least four to five simultaneously, is worth its weight in gold. And the supporting cast is stellar. Go. Find. Watch. You won't regret it.

Tonight's post is from Differences Settled, a novella where my main characters are stuck in a tenuous situation, but eventually make headway.

Here's the tagline:

Regan Tiedt and Finn O'Kellen are transferred to a new ship under difficult circumstances and find they have to settle quite a few differences with their new crew mates… and their commanding officer.

And a sneaky peek…

Commander Craig entered her quarters and barked an order. "Lock it down."

Regan had blood trickling down her lip, but managed a crisp salute.

Craig eyed her two pilots. The CAGs—current and former.

She snapped. "Stringer, you're dismissed. Find your way to sickbay then report to the brig."

Taylor nearly snarled, but checked the action. With a precise salute, he turned and exited the commander's quarters, his back straight and shoulders rigidly tense.

Craig fixed her gaze on Ragan. "Captain, I see you held your own."

Regan nodded. The statement didn't warrant a response.

Craig lifted a brow. "Care to tell me why I'm going to be cleaning blood off my deck?"

Regan responded. "With all due respect, Sir, you won't be the one cleaning it."

Craig's lips twitched. "You're right about that, Captain. I think you'll have that honor." She nodded toward the L-shaped sectional. "Now tell me what just went down here." Her butt hit the cushion, but she didn't relax.

Regan held back a sigh. "Captain Taylor and I settled a minor disagreement." She settled down on the edge of the sofa, maintaining a rigid posture.

Craig inclined her head. "I see. Who started it?"

Regan didn't hesitate. "Mutual engagement, Sir." She wouldn't hang Taylor even though he had started the altercation.

Craig snorted. "My ass. I've known Ewan Taylor a lot longer than you, Captain." She finally relaxed, leaning back against the nubby fabric. "He goes for the throat and when that fails, he fights dirty." The commander shrugged. "He learned that trick from me."

Regan didn't react. She waited patiently for her superior officer to make her point or dismiss Regan.

Craig frowned. "I won't play favorites, Captain. When you finish cleaning up the mess, report to the brig." She rose.

Regan quickly stood and saluted. "Yes, Sir." She turned and made her way to the hatch. "I'll return with the necessary items to get rid of the bloodstains."

Craig's lips curved. "You do that, Captain. Dismissed."

Finn has a similar run in with the chief of the hangar deck and the XO intervenes. Half the fun of writing for Regan and Finn is figuring out their new crewmates should react. :D

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

ML Skye

Sunday Snippet: A Day in the Life

Wow, survived something of a long week. Just now catching up on Orphan Black and again, this show eats my brain. I'm about halfway through this week's episode and I'm sitting on the edge of my seat as I type this. LOL

Tonight's post is from A Day in the Life, a free read and companion piece for one of my first releases, Shyler: Finding Home, a Furlough 99 novella. Told from an awesomely cool droid's point of view, I hope it provides as much entertainment as it did when I wrote it.

Here's the tagline:

Alphie is a kick ass droid who assists Inspector Shyler Lumen. He's also not afraid to offer unwarranted advice.

And a sneaky peek…

Just when he thought his circuitry would fry from the banality of it all, he spotted a dynamic woman exited a civilian transport. She looked determined, cranky and in a rush. Also somewhat lost.

Alphie decided she needed his brand of humor to shake her up a little.

He moved to stand in an obvious location. Hopefully she'd need assistance and ask him for help.

She moved in his direction and Alphie tugged on the bottom of his vest, catching her eye. With a quick wave, she indicated she'd like to speak with him.

Alphie started toward her.

"Can you tell me who runs security on Furlough and where the best place to meet would be?" Her eyes narrowed and he knew the moment it pinged that he was a droid. "And um… maybe how I can get a message to them."

Alphie gave her credit. Clearly caught off guard, she kept it all business, going with the flow until she could figure out how advanced his model was.

He quickly scanned through his personality files and picked one he thought she'd enjoy. His eyes blinked rapidly several times, spooling the information then he looked directly at the woman.

"Oh, they'll find you, sweetie cakes. Trust me."

The woman laughed out loud and seemed much more at ease. She didn't have a backwater planet look to her. No, more like a big city vibe, one that would not be offended by something a little off beat. His over the top drag queen persona definitely did the trick.

Mission one accomplished.

Oops. Maybe not. Her gaze slid sideways and she narrowed her eyes. The earlier outburst stopped a gentleman on the glide path in his tracks.

Alphie immediately recognized him. Marshton Gray. Stakeholder in Furlough 99, Luxury Quadrant and head of Grayswell Industries. And someone the woman thought she should know.

She must be from Queen City, Mars, but clearly didn't move in the same circles as Gray. Her eyes followed him, like she'd seen him before but couldn’t place where.

She dismissed him and focused on Alphie. "I'm sorry. They'll find me?"

Her jaw dropped open when he rolled his eyes. "Sweetie cakes, you've got enforcement written all over you." He added air quotes to emphasize enforcement and she chuckled.

"I'm ISP. Not exactly trying to hide it. Don't have time to waste going covert." She glanced toward Gray again and he moved away slowly, maybe too slowly and Alphie wondered if it piqued her curiosity or if he'd have to call for the security team she wanted to see.

Maybe if he distracted her. "Hmm… Inter-Stellar Police, not exactly total enforcement. At least not the kind we used to have around here. You guys at least provide trials for the accused." He'd been around long enough to have that unpleasant data stored in his memory banks.

The inspector, from her demeanor she had to at least have rank, clearly didn't know what to make of his off the cuff observation. He liked that.

She got back to business. "Give me a public place that has privacy so I can park it until the security people find me."

He scrolled through several locations before choosing what he perceived as the best one. "You'll want the Den." Oops, her first time here, she wouldn't know the shorthand nickname. He clarified. "Den of Iniquity… the bar up on Level 4. Ask for Varina, she'll point you to a place you can 'park it'."

"Right. Thanks."

The inspector strode away and Alphie had a feeling he'd be seeing or hearing from her again in the near future.

He'd look forward to it. But first, he probably ought to assist the very lost looking couple over by the food court.

Seriously, I loved writing Alphie so much I had to give him a brief spotlight of his own.

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

ML Skye