Sunday Snippet: Follow Me

August 31, 2014

Season finale for Defiance… sooooo good. Seriously, I hope it gets renewed. Without giving away too many spoilers, I kind of loved where some of the characters ended up. I'm kind of on the fence about Amanda, but won't say more to avoid spilling anything.

The Walking Dead is almost ready to premiere and Sons of Anarchy rides next week. Makes waiting for Arrow's return in October worth it. Also looking forward to Sleepy Hollow and Gotham. Crossing my fingers FOX won't muck either of those shows up too much.

Enough TV for now. Tonight's post is from Follow Me, the first book in an epic space opera trilogy. Oddly enough, it's one of my longest, too. Clocks in at close to 100K. I'm working on the second draft at this point, but won't submit or publish until the third book is complete. It's sitting at the halfway mark.

Here's the tagline:

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

And a sneaky peek…

Battlecruiser MacGregor—Corridor 9, Deck B

Drunk and stumbling… a ten-hour marathon Tripola game would get a person nothing but drunk and stumbling.

Especially when it included drinking the Chief's Brew… high octane, created-in-a-still alcohol made with loving care by the master chief of the flight deck, Keegan Douglas. His ass would shortly be in a sling if the hangover Lieutenant Molly Ryan figured she'd get actually kicked in.

She took another dodgy step forward and decided Keegan should be referred to as 'Evil Genius' instead of the usual title of 'Chief'. No one knew what he put into the moonshine he cooked up but she could practically picture him standing over the still, hair standing up all over the place, mad-scientist style, rubbing his hands together with maniacal glee. The thought alone kept a grin on Molly's face.

And there hadn't been much to smile about lately.

So raking it in at the card table had been some much needed fun. It felt good to kick back and enjoy… something. Difficult to do after the world had ended and the MacGregor became the flagship for the remnants of their scattered society. They'd lost so many… the former CAG, captain of the air guard, hadn't made it back from the initial battle. He bought it on the return to the ship, protecting the younger, less skilled pilots as they made combat landings in preparation for a hyper light jump that would allow them to flee from the terrible destruction of their world.

Molly regretted his loss. He'd trained her during flight school and because of her quizzical mind, encouraged her to certify as a flight instructor. She'd followed his advice and taught for a couple of years, putting newbies through their paces at the most prestigious flight academy on the planet. Losing him had been a blow to the fleet, but being on the run, protecting the civilians from their enemies, and just dealing with life as they knew it now… the grief got swept aside.

The marathon card game, played in his honor, had been a much needed distraction. A long, overdue break and a diversion, one that gave everyone a chance to catch their breath for a while. The new CAG, Sloan MacNeill, won some huge points for letting them get away with it.

Of course it helped he'd been a participant. Getting him drunk didn't hurt either. They were having a good time, bantering back and forth, and Molly realized she'd missed that. Hell, she'd missed him. She thanked whatever divine creator existed out there that Sloan had pulled a TDA, temporary duty assignment, to the MacGregor in time for his father's birthday celebration.

No one knew it would be the eve of all hell breaking loose. 

Having Sloan around became one of the only things keeping her sane. Molly didn't make friends easily; her childhood traveling from city to city with her dad precluded it. In fact, she kind of gathered acquaintances like she used to collect shoes, but Sloan was an exception. Even when he had a death grip on her because he couldn't walk in straight line at the moment.

Not that she did much better.

"Geez, Molls. I thought you knew the ship like the back of your hand?"

Molly rolled her eyes. "Cool your ass, Sloan… I'm working on it." Right. Find a place to lay low. "Who the hell decided to put the pilot quarters on the opposite end of the ship from the rec room?" It shouldn't be so difficult to find a place to chill out until the ship stopped spinning. "We should have stopped drinking about four hands ago, Sloan." Molly slowed down, blinked a couple of times and tried not to laugh. They had to look ridiculous, staggering along the causeways.  

Sloan stumbled along behind her, all but tripping over his feet. "Seriously, Molls. Twirling lights… not good. Making me dizzy." He closed his eyes, which seemed to help, and let Molly guide him.

Molly chuckled. She was definitely the more experienced drinker. But they had overdone it and neither would last much longer in upright positions.

And the fact they won't remain upright for long leads to a very interesting development.

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

ML Skye

Sunday Snippet: First Time Laid Eyes on You

August 24, 2014

So… I found out last week The Last Ship did indeed get renewed! WooHoo!! I'm also almost caught up on Defiance, which continues to keep me interested. The new season of Doctor Who premiered and eh… I'll watch and hope I get more into it. So far, I'm not a huge fan of the new Doctor, but I went into viewing with that thought so it's only fair to hold off making a final decision about watching and give the guy a fair chance.

In something of more fun news, the Bitten and Arrow casts are so much fun to follow on social media. They're always posting fun tidbits and behind the scenes stuff, which just makes me more excited to see the new seasons. Gotta give credit to Kurt Sutter for keeping the Sons of Anarchy stuff rolling out, too.

Tonight's post is from First Time Laid Eyes on You, a short story where my characters don’t really start out on the right footing with each other.

Here's the tagline:

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…

Nadia entered the viewing room and remained standing in the back, her eyes riveted to the screen. Bart Uppermark took her breath away. His flawless precision in the simulator made the hair on the back of her neck stand up. Perfection. Sheer perfection.

The absolute best senior pilot in the squadron. And she wanted him. Okay, she wanted to fly with him—so badly her mouth watered.

She'd never actually met the object of her fixation. But their entire first conversation played out in her mind—in one take.

"Hi, Nadia Blunt. Nice to meet you."

"Um, hello. Who, exactly, are you?"

"Your new wingman. I hope."

"Wait. Blunt. As in crazy, insane, hasn't met a complex maneuver she won't try?"

"Well, uh… yes?"

"No. No way. Not gonna happen in this lifetime. You will not be my wingman." He waited a beat. "Ever."

"Thought you might say that. But I promise you I will be."

Oh hell. Their conversation always ended the same way. He didn't want to fly with her and she promised she would change his mind. Scuttlebutt had Bart in need of a new partner when his current wingman transferred out to a new station. The rumor mill also said his impossibly high standards were all but unreachable, and he refused to fly with show boaters or risk-takers. Considering her reputation as both, she definitely had her work cut out if she wanted to convince him they'd make a great team in the air.

The scenario ended and the screen went blank. Nadia heaved a sigh and headed for the exit. She almost made it to the door when it opened and Bart entered, colliding with Nadia. The lights went up and she sucked in a harsh breath.

Holy shit. The man had the most stunning green eyes. The square jaw and high cheekbones made her mouth go dry. She swallowed, mumbled an apology and darted around him, seeking refuge in the corridor outside the viewing room.

She'd never been in close proximity to the man, basing her desire to be his new wingman solely on the numbers he pulled and watching endless hours of footage from simulators and combat missions.

Her unattainable goal just got harder—because she had every intention of proving they'd be unbeatable in the air and on the ground.

Honestly, I love writing characters who don't get along when things start out. So much fun!

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

ML Skye

Sunday Snippet: Fireworks

August 17, 2014

I kind of love this time of year. New shows are being buzzed about and my returning favorites are beginning to film their new seasons. My Tumblr dash is full of fun news and tidbits of information about the upcoming storylines. For me, it whets my appetite and makes me hungry for more. J

I'm watching The Last Ship as I type my post for the week and I sincerely hope it gets a second season. Oddly, it's one show I haven't heard anything about. Of course, my schedule blew up and I haven't had time to do my usual search for info. Here's hoping I have a little time this week to do a seek and find mission. J

Tonight's post is from Fireworks, a short story where those lovely and awesome bursts of colorful lights play a role.

Here's the tagline:

Adelle Lizt and Zeth McKibbet are a volatile mix—neither gives quarter when they know they're right. But with two sides to every situation, they find some common ground in a very interesting place—the guest quarters on base.

And a sneaky peek…

Adelle leaned on the railing, the boat gliding smoothly along the water. Strong arms wrapped around her waist and she closed her eyes, relishing the warm ball of desire settling in her stomach. So very different from the first time she'd traveled the river with Zeth.

He leaned in, his breath fanning her cheek. "Stop it. We've come a long way since then."

Her lips curved. "How do you always know what I'm thinking about?" She turned and faced him, placing her hands on his hips.

He grinned. "Because my head's in the same place, but thinking forward instead of back."

She nodded. "I hadn't quite made it to the looking ahead part." She rested her head on his shoulder. "But I would have eventually."

His hands drew her closer. "I know. And we'll find Keith in much better spirits for this year's fireworks display."

She snorted. "Thankfully, we won't have a double show for people to watch." She lifted her chin and met his gaze. "Unless you and I give them one."

He cupped her ass. "We could skip the topside display and have a private viewing in our stateroom." He waited a beat. "Naked."

She chuckled. "Hmmm. I like the way you think."

I have to say it takes a little bit of time for them to get to the place they're at in this scene. J

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

ML Skye

Sunday Snippet: Fevered Pitch

EEK! I just realized we've only got around ten days before out school year starts. I'm both thrilled and freaked out. Thrilled because the structure is great for the kids. They know where they have to be and at what time. Freaked out because we still have supplies to buy and I'm booked solid and jammed up until after the first day. Poor planning on my part. LOL

As usual, some great TV this past week. The finale for Dominion left so many new questions and I hope we get a second season. I'd love to see more of this show. Really loving the twists and turns in Defiance, too. And The Last Ship is steadily becoming one of my favorite shows.

Filming has started on Sons of Anarchy, Bitten, Arrow and Flash. Fall can't quite get here soon enough.

Tonight's post is from Fevered Pitch, a free bonus read featured Hal and Mia from Mia's Choice. If all goes well, Mia's Choice will be finished sometime in October or November.

Here's the tagline:

After six months apart, Hal and Mia are finally reunited at the new space station. But Hal is unknowingly exposed to a virulent virus and brings it along from his last planetary excursion. He succumbs to the raging illness and Mia makes a fevered pitch to her former husband to save Hal's life before she surrenders to the same infection.

And a sneaky peek…

Hal exited the Queen Amalie, rubbing the kinks out of his neck. An achy tension worked through his shoulders, but he figured a long night spent in the arms of his old flame—and current wife—would do wonders to improve his space lag.

His gaze scanned the landing bay, hoping to see Mia. Six months apart, he couldn't wait to get his hands on her. The deck crew quickly finished securing the ship and Hal finally spotted his brainy brunette. She stood back, watching the action, a small smile on her face. She glanced in Hal's direction and the grin spread wide. She lifted a hand, waved, and started dodging the crewmembers between her and Hal, picking up speed the closer she got.

Three feet away, she launched herself forward and Hal caught her, lifting and swinging her around. Her mouth met his and her arms wrapped around his shoulders. She eased back when she needed oxygen.

Settling her on her feet, he cupped her face. "It's damned good to see you, Mia." He leaned in closer. "Can I take you to quarters and ravish you? Or do you have more work today?"

Mia winked. "I'm all yours for the next forty-eight hours."

Hal grinned. "You cleared your schedule for me?" His hand slid down to grasp hers and he tugged her against his side. "You must've missed me."

She wrapped an arm around his waist. "You know I did, Hal." She started forward. "And I don't plan to waste a moment of my free time. Let's go."

Just a brief little look. I hope you enjoyed!

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

ML Skye

Sunday Snippet: Fail Me Now

Another long week, but at least some great TV to ease the stress. Currently watching The Last Ship, which continues to keep me entertained. The new season of Doctor Who starts in a few weeks and my fingers are crossed. Really not sure I'm going to like Twelve.

Getting ready to start season two of La Femme Nikita, probably when I completely fell in love with the show. I'm also still loving Defiance and can't wait to see where the season ends.

New and pics from Comic Con made my week. The casts from Orphan Black, Sons of Anarchy, and Arrow were super awesome and shared tons of stuff. I so enjoy it when the actors love what they do and give lots to their fans.

Tonight's post is from Fail Me Now, a novella where my hero wants nothing to do with flying fighters to help win a war.

Here's the tagline:

Tate Emerson has no desire to fly fighters—he's worked too hard to get out from under his father's thumb. But when enemy forces attack, Indi Best comes calling with a special invitation from the elder Emerson: Join the fight or get left behind. Tate hatches a plan to do his part, but not have to take orders from his father.

And a sneaky peek…

Indi strode into Tate's quarters and planted her booted feet directly in front of the exit. She folded her arms over her chest and waited.

Tate glanced up and sighed. "You seriously won't take no for an answer, will you?" He closed his logbook and set it aside.

Indi jerked her head back and forth. "Nope. And you know why I won't." She met his gaze and held it.

Tate frowned. "Look, I have no desire to train. I'm perfectly content to contribute to our war effort from here." He got up and put his logbook back in his desk. "But... we could pretend to play along few weeks and you could fail me sometime in the third." He propped his hip on the oak surface.

Indi snorted. "You don't ask for much do you?" She relaxed her posture, happy he'd finally started talking.

He waved off her objection. "Just say I have zero aptitude for flying."

Obviously he did or he wouldn't be captaining your own ship.

She quirked a brow. "You want me to lie to your old man? How'd that work out for you as a kid?" The elder Emerson didn't appreciate bullshit in any form.

Tate's lips twitched. "Not well." He heaved a long sigh.

Indi chuckled. "Exactly. His tolerance hasn't improved, take my word for it." She cocked her head to the side, studied him a moment, and decided on a different tactic. "Let me ask a simple question. Why did you become a captain?"

He glanced away and didn't answer for several long seconds. "I grew up taking orders." He slid his gaze back to hers. "I wanted to give them and earned the right to do so."

She nodded. "Hmm. Okay." She respected his reason.

She also recognized a kindred spirit and her instincts screamed he had what it took to fly combat missions.

She wanted him on their side. "Let's try this for a solution. Come back with me and give it your best. If you hate it at the end, I'll figure something out."

He huffed out a harsh breath. "You think I'm going to love it, don't you?" He crossed his arms over his chest.

She answered. "I know you will."

He shook his head. "That doesn't bode well."

Oh… you're so wrong. Guys like you and your dad win wars. She opted to not share her thoughts on the topic.

She shrugged. "Maybe not… but those are my terms. Do your best, give it everything you've got—and I'll know if you don't—and if you still want to fail… I'll find a way to make it happen."

He narrowed his eyes, but she had him, he couldn't refuse.

Tate stuck out his hand. "Deal."

Victory!

Indi won the first skirmish but she's got a long road to win her personal war.

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

ML Skye