Sunday Snippet: Keeping Up with Honor

November 30, 2014

I hope everyone had a lovely Thanksgiving, if celebrated. For my family, it's the official beginning to the holiday season and we come up with a new theme for our tree. My middle kidlet is choosing this year and he's decided to go with a sports-related color scheme. Should be interesting because we're mixing scarlet and gray; green, blue, and white; and brown and orange. I have a general idea of how to make it work, but we'll see what the final result is.

A lot of years, we've waited until December 24 to do the actual decorating, but I think we'll be getting it done earlier this season. We also have a big puppy in the house for the first time and I can't wait to see what she does around the tree. LOL

Not much on the TV front this week, but The Flash turned in a great episode. Gotham and Sleepy Hollow were pretty good, too. I'm very much looking forward to the fall finale of Walking Dead tonight. I have a feeling someone's not going to make it… but we'll see. Thankfully, I'll have Chris Hardwick's Talking Dead to soothe whatever gaping wounds I might have. :)

Tonight's post is from Keeping Up with Honor, a novella filled with the adventure of keeping up with my heroine.

Here's the tagline:

Honor Brock goes against orders and runs a fool's mission to find a lost artifact. Rush Masterson tests a theory and risks his life to track her down. Once he finds her, he has to keep up because Honor won't go back until she has what she wants.

And a sneaky peek…

Rush cursed. "Son of a bitch, she jumped. Hibs just left tracking range." He banked his ship and hit the thrusters to cruise back to the Valaria. "Flight, Raster. I'm coming in. Have a hopper ready for takeoff." He didn't give a damn if the old man blew a gasket. "I'm going after her."

When the autotrap engaged, he focused on remembering the theory his class toyed with in flight school. A long range sensor could be configured to pick up a trillium trail. If he launched within sixty minutes of Honor's jump, he could conceivably follow her to wherever the hell she went. Forty minutes to walk engineering through the rewiring, another five to gear up, leaving him less than twelve minutes to argue with his dad over the crazy ass plan, especially since it put Rush's life on the line. Untested, theoretical, and damned dangerous, Rob Masterson would throw every single negative Rush's way.

But he wouldn't cave. The old man could either get out of Rush's way or prepare to go down.

When his plane lowered onto the hanger bay, Rush popped the canopy and immediately removed his helmet, handing it off to one of the crew. He scrambled out of the cockpit and double-timed it down the ladder. His feet hit the deck and he turned, bumping directly into a solid obstacle.

An iron grip grasped Rush's shoulder. "You're not going after her, son." His dad led him away from the hustle and bustle of the workers. "There's no way."

Rush stopped short. "Yeah, I am. And there is a way. You know there is." Ten minutes and counting.

Rob folded his arms over his chest. "You wanna risk your life on a theory?" He planted his feet shoulder-width apart, ready to do battle.

Rush met his dad's gaze head on. "I know you're pissed, but it's Honor, Dad." He lowered his voice and pulled his trump card. "For her? I'd risk anything. We both would."

His old man's mouth opened then snapped shut.

Eight minutes to spare.

Rob gave Rush a curt nod and leaned in close. "She went home, Rush. That gives you an advantage you might need for this crazy ass plan of yours."

The elder Masterson giving Rush a hand up?

Would wonders never cease?

I'm enjoying this one. Say that a lot, I know, but it's fun when the dialog kind of flows from my brain to the page.

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

ML Skye

Get Hooked: Reel in a Great Book—An Idyllic Affair (Insula Ara ~ Sanctuary Island) #MFRWAuthors #MFRWHooks

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

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

This week I'm thrilled to announce an upcoming release that is co-written with my alter ego Skye Ritchey. I write under three pseudonyms, and when I started An Idyllic Affair, it began with a strong sci-fi element. But as the story progressed, the nature of the island pushed its way in and a mystical aspect took center stage. For branding purposes, I decided to release under ML Skye, my speculative romance moniker, and Skye Ritchey, my paranormal / fantasy pen name. I'm very excited as I believe the story will appeal to both audiences.

This week, I'm featuring a fun interaction between Geoff and Linnea.

Series Tagline: Escape to Insula Ara, an island sanctuary that provides refuge… but it comes with a price.

Book Tagline: On the run from their enemies, an island sanctuary gives Geoff and Linnea time for An Idyllic Affair.

~*~

Cursing the restricted area, Geoff angled his legs down through the passage and attempted to leave enough space for Linnea's to fit. She gingerly tried to put both feet in first. When that didn't work, she grabbed his shoulder and got her left leg situated but couldn't manage the right.

Geoff tried to give her more room. "Sorry, X. I've got nowhere to go here." He shifted his hips, creating maybe one more inch.

Linnea chuckled. "Just give me a sec. If I put my hand here…" She braced her fingers against the tank. "And then lay my head on your shoulder, I think I might… oh, yeah. That's feeling just about right."

Geoff couldn't believe the way she could contort her body. "God, X, that's perfect." But they'd need room to kick the panel out. "Okay, almost there. Lift your thigh a little. Yeah, put it right between mine." His grunt sounded more like a groan when she followed his direction and brought her leg up, wedging it up close to the apex of his groin. "Almost there, Linn. Angle your hips a little. Yeah… that's it."

Linnea fisted her hand in his shirt, twisting it hard. "Sorry, Captain. Need just a little more… there! Right there."

Marcus cleared his throat. "Uh, geez, you two. You're making Willoughby turn an unhealthy shade of crimson out here. Do you have any idea how you guys sound?"

Shane sputtered and coughed. "I am not turning red." He waited a beat. "But Ramsey's got a point. If I didn't know better, I'd think you guys were… well…" His voice trailed off.

A little frustrated and a whole lot of uncomfortable, Geoff shot back. "Trust me, if the XO and I were having sex, it would not sound like this." Exactly how it would, he didn't know, but his imagination could fill in the blanks later.

Linnea snorted and offered her two cents. "Mainly because the captain and I wouldn't be having carnal relations." She paused then added. "Now, or anytime in the foreseeable future."

Geoff frowned. Did she always have to be so emphatic about the potential of them never hooking up?

Coming Soon!

~*~

Book Blurb: Privateers by trade, Geoff MacLeod and Linnea Jensen find sanctuary on Insula Ara, a mysterious island full of wonder and a tinge of darkness. When Geoff and Linnea embark on a quest to retrieve a badly needed part for their ship, they find their deep attraction for each other hard to resist, and under the spell of the island, they have to tread carefully or succumb to the swirling undercurrents.

Series Blurb: Legend tells of a mysterious island called Sanctuary, inhabited by people who have been to hell and back—and lived to tell the tale.

It goes on to say, that if someone needs help, if they are truly without hope, island will come to them in their darkest hour and help them find the way.

But the assistance comes with a price. Their heart and soul may be lost to the island in the process.

~*~

~*~

Please stop by my website

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

Sunday Snippet: Keeper of All Things Secret

Gotta take a moment and give it up to the entire cast of Sons of Anarchy. Charlie Hunnam and Jimmy Smits made me cry. Seriously. And if memory serves, there's no episode for Thanksgiving week, so I may have to watch the last one at least one more time.

Also, Arrow and The Flash are meeting up and crossing over. Cannot wait! Both shows are really bringing it and I couldn't be happier. Agents of SHIELD is also getting even better and Sleepy Hollow is holding on. I kind of miss the batshit freak of the week stuff and cross my fingers we'll see some more of that in the near future.

I'm kind of hoping to see some holiday themed episodes from some of my fave shows. If nothing pops up, at least I'll have Doctor Who and I can always watch holiday eps from shows gone by.

Enough TV, tonight's post is from Keeper of All Things Secret, a truly fun story where my heroine will protect the hero, no matter what.

Here's the tagline:

Gili Main, chief of security for an orbiting space station, supports her boss who is up for reelection. Parr Minerval is an excellent leader and should have the election in the bag. But his opponent is playing dirty and Gili appoints herself as the keeper of all things secret to prevent the wily upstart from twisting the facts to his advantage.

And a sneaky peek…

Gili hurried along the corridor, already late for the meeting. Parr would understand, but she hated to leave him to face his distasteful task by himself. Necessary business, if anyone asked her, but Parr never enjoyed backroom dealing.

Rounding the corner, Gili stopped short and ducked into a recessed archway. Gartha Benalz lurked outside the closed meeting room, trying to appear like he belonged there. Several alarm bells went off in her head. Benalz had zero business being in this part of the station. So why arrive just in time for an important bartering session he should have no knowledge of? No good reason came to mind and Gili's gut instinct kicked in.

She started whistling a jaunty tune and walked in place for several seconds, the sound of her boots hitting the deck enough to startle Gartha into scurrying in the opposite direction. Gili continued her off-key song, going into a hum, and casually strolled toward the meeting area. She took up a post outside the double steel doors in case Gartha made a return visit.

The man would bear watching a little more closely. Gili wouldn't put anything past him, not this close to the election. She'd also have a couple of her less than savory friends put their ears to the ground to see if they could find out what the master of spinning facts might be trying to accomplish.

Having a great time writing this one. I love a little subterfuge in my stories. LOL

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

ML Skye

Saturday Standard: Meet Marshton Grey

My new blog feature called the Saturday Standard is a fun little sneak peek behind the scenes featuring character interviews and other items of interest—thirteen questions about the setting, plot, or character traits, a collage of inspirational pictures I used while writing, or anything else that strikes my fancy. Each week one of my pseudonyms will post for the new weekly feature.

Today, I'm going to revisit my very first release with Ellipses Press and interview the main characters, Shyler Lumen and Marshton Grey.

This week… Marshton will be answering questions about what drives him—and reveals a small surprise.

Let's get to it…

THE SATURDAY STANDARD

ML Skye: Hello, Mr. Grey. Thank you for agreeing to answer some questions and for letting me ask while en route to your destination.

Marshton Grey: Marshton or Marsh, please. When I'm out of the office, I try to keep things casual.

ML: By out of the office, you mean your headquarters, located in Queen City on Mars. Is that correct?

Marsh: That's our main location, but I have interests all over the galaxy.

MLS: Yes, I see you're on the board of directors for several corporations and have controlling interest in more than a few.

MG: That's true. I tend to keep very busy.

MLS: How do you keep everything going and not get overwhelmed?

MG: I have great people who do a wonderful job helping me out. [He pauses] And even then, I make an occasional mistake.

MLS: Really? Can you give an example?

MG: I'm not at liberty to say at this time, which I know sounds like a cop out, but lives are at stake and I can't put them in jeopardy.

MLS: Goodness. Sounds all very cloak and dagger.

MG: It's not, really. But people close to me are involved and I need to handle the situation personally.

MLS: I would guess, if it's dragging you to the edge of the galaxy.

[Marsh's pilot announces docking is underway]

MLS: Thank you for your time, Marsh. How long will you be staying here?

MG: On Furlough 99? Hopefully not long. I have business interests on the station, but they don't call it the ass end of the universe for nothing.

MLS: [laughs] I've heard many tales.

MG: It's the ones you don't hear about that are the most interesting.

Marshton Grey is a man who's used to getting what he wants. Let's see if he can get past Shyler Lumen in Finding Home (A Furlough 99 Novella).

Available on Amazon

I hope you enjoyed the latest edition of the Saturday Standard. Stay tuned for more in the near future.

Thanks for reading!

Catch everyone on the flip!

ML Skye

Smokin' Hot—An Idyllic Affair

Welcome to the Hot for Friday blog hop!

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

Authors: Get in on the fun and join here.

~*~

For this week's entry, we authors are tasked with sharing a scene with sexual tension.

My excerpt is from an upcoming release, An Idyllic Affair, co-written with my alter ego, Skye Ritchey, for the Ellipses Press branded anthology Insula Ara ~ Sanctuary Island.

~*~

Approaching Geoff's location, she heard what sounded like running water. In a tree house? No way.

But yes, maybe it could be. She made a turn and stumbled into a sunlit space… to discover her captain taking a shower. A real, actual shower.

A very, very naked Geoff stood under the spray.

Holy hell.

Linn stared. She couldn't help herself. What a fine specimen of the male species. Finely honed muscles, a ridged abdomen, and his ass… Good God, he had a nice ass.

She drank the sight in, enjoyed watching the water sluice over his skin. Feeling hot and flushed, she almost hoped the water would be cold so she could chill down. It would not do for her to get over-heated and bent over the captain right now.

Her eyes finally traveled back up, tracking nicely defined legs, lingering on the ass and admiring the smooth planes of his back and broad shoulders. Geoff picked that moment to turn around and caught her staring. His eyes flared with something—interest, maybe—and it hung between them for a second… and then another… and one more before she looked away.

Linnea didn’t want to examine the charged tension too closely. For once, she told her inquisitive brain to shut up and it listened. She and Geoff shared a moment—nothing else.

~*~

I hope you enjoyed the tension.

~*~

Anthology Blurb: Legend tells of a mysterious island called Sanctuary, inhabited by people who have been to hell and back—and lived to tell the tale.

It goes on to say, that if someone needs help, if they are truly without hope, island will come to them in their darkest hour and help them find the way.

But the assistance comes with a price. Their heart and soul may be lost to the island in the process.

Book Blurb: Privateers by trade, Geoff MacLeod and Linnea Jensen find sanctuary on Insula Ara, a mysterious island full of wonder and a tinge of darkness. When Geoff and Linnea embark on a quest to retrieve a badly needed part for their ship, they find their deep attraction for each other hard to resist, and under the spell of the island, they have to tread carefully or succumb to the swirling undercurrents.

~*~

Thank you for stopping by.

Please feel free to stop by my website:

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

Get Hooked: Reel in a Great Book—An Idyllic Affair (Insula Ara ~ Sanctuary Island) #MFRWAuthors #MFRWHooks

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

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

This week I'm thrilled to announce an upcoming release that is co-written with my alter ego Skye Ritchey. I write under three pseudonyms, and when I started An Idyllic Affair, it began with a strong sci-fi element. But as the story progressed, the nature of the island pushed its way in and a mystical aspect took center stage. For branding purposes, I decided to release under ML Skye, my speculative romance moniker, and Skye Ritchey, my paranormal / fantasy pen name. I'm very excited as I believe the story will appeal to both audiences.

This week, I'm featuring part of the opening scene from Linnea's point of view.

Series Tagline: Escape to Insula Ara, an island sanctuary that provides refuge… but it comes with a price.

Book Tagline: On the run from their enemies, an island sanctuary gives Geoff and Linnea time for An Idyllic Affair.

~*~

Linnea moved slowly, her steps dragging when time seemed to slow down. "Care to tell me where the hell we're going? It doesn't even look like it's in this galaxy."

Geoff raised a single eyebrow. "It's not. That's the beauty of it."

She felt like the deck dropped out from under her. "Captain. Geoff… where, exactly, are you taking us?"

He directed his gaze back to the holograph. "Old Earth."

If she'd started floating in suspended animation, she wouldn't have been surprised.

She couldn't have heard him right.

Old Earth?

Well, hell. Did he really think they could find sanctuary on some crazy island that might or might not exist? The one he loved to tell stories about?

Everything stopped for a second then snapped back to real time.

Linnea didn't know if the queasy feeling in her stomach came from the jump or finding out they'd left the galaxy.

Both, she decided.

"Captain, are you sure this is a good idea?" Linnea slid her gaze toward the man, making sure to keep one eye on the monitor in front of her.

Geoff raised an eyebrow in question. "You doubt me, XO?" He picked up his excited pacing, striding back and forth across the command deck of the Charming Lady.

Linnea snorted. They wouldn't be sanctioned smugglers if any of the crew doubted him. "It's not about that. Facts are facts. I never doubt them."

And Geoff knew it. He'd chosen her as his executive officer and second-in-command for that very reason.

"I do, however, question myth and legend… and that's all you've got." She sometimes envied the fact he only needed those.

Coming Soon!

~*~

Book Blurb: Privateers by trade, Geoff MacLeod and Linnea Jensen find sanctuary on Insula Ara, a mysterious island full of wonder and a tinge of darkness. When Geoff and Linnea embark on a quest to retrieve a badly needed part for their ship, they find their deep attraction for each other hard to resist, and under the spell of the island, they have to tread carefully or succumb to the swirling undercurrents.

Series Blurb: Legend tells of a mysterious island called Sanctuary, inhabited by people who have been to hell and back—and lived to tell the tale.

It goes on to say, that if someone needs help, if they are truly without hope, island will come to them in their darkest hour and help them find the way.

But the assistance comes with a price. Their heart and soul may be lost to the island in the process.

~*~

~*~

Please stop by my website

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

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Sunday Snippet: Jammed In

I'm truly thrilled with how much I'm enjoying the TV season this fall. Once again, Arrow and Sons of Anarchy blew me away. Gotham and Sleepy Hollow were excellent. The Walking Dead only has two more episodes before the break and I can't wait to watch.

I've had major back spasms over the last two days and Walking Dead actually made me forget how painful it is. LOL

I've also been listening to loads of music lately and putting several playlists together. Sometimes when I write, I like to have specific mood tunes playing in the background. And sometimes I need total silence, which in my house usually only occurs between midnight and four a.m. LOL

Tonight's post is from Jammed In, a sexy short about how a couple gets together when they're forced to share a confined space.

Here's the tagline:

A simple clean up goes awry when a junior officer mixes the wrong chemicals together, leaving senior officers, Barrie Scott and Walsh Clinton, to sort the mess out. The two ranking members have to fight their feelings when they're forced to double up and share a bunk until the contaminant is cleared.

And a sneaky peek…

Walsh entered quarters and trudged over to his bunk.

He pulled the curtain back. "Oh, no. You are not gonna have this rack to yourself. Move over." He nudged Barrie's knee with his.

Barrie grumbled. "Aww, come on, Walsh. You can go crash in with the commander." She winked. "Family privilege."

Bunking in with his dad ranked at the top of the list with jabbing a needle in his eye. No fucking way.

Walsh jerked his head back and forth. "Uh uh. I haven't shared space with old man for over a decade." He placed a knee on the edge of the berth. "I plan to keep it that way." He crawled up onto the mattress, forcing Barrie to move over.

She slid back maybe two inches. "Dammit, Walsh. We're not gonna be able to share." She moved two more until her shoulders hit the wall. "You take up too much space."

Walsh flopped down and rolled to his side away from her. "Then think thin, because it's my bunk and I'm staying." She could bunk with the commander.

This one is so much fun. I have a soft spot for friends who become more, probably one of my very favorite tropes to write.

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

ML Skye

Saturday Standard: Meet Shyler Lumen

My new blog feature called the Saturday Standard is a fun little sneak peek behind the scenes featuring character interviews and other items of interest—thirteen questions about the setting, plot, or character traits, a collage of inspirational pictures I used while writing, or anything else that strikes my fancy. Each week one of my pseudonyms will post for the new weekly feature.

Today, I'm going to revisit my very first release with Ellipses Press and interview the main characters, Shyler Lumen and Marshton Grey.

This week… Shyler will be answering questions about what makes her tick—not one of her favorite pastimes. LOL

Let's get to it…

THE SATURDAY STANDARD

ML Skye: Hello, Shyler. Thank you for agreeing to answer some questions, especially since I know you're not fond of being on that side of the table.

Shyler Lumen: You're right. I'm usually the one conducting interrogations.

ML: My notes indicate you've been doing it for a long time, too. First as a rookie with the Mars Sector Police then moving up the ranks to become an inspector the Inter-Stellar Police Force. Is that correct?

Shyler: Yeah, I got recruited by the ISP when they were looking for people with interplanetary connections. Mine aren't extensive, but I traveled a lot before my mom retired.

MLS: Your mother is very famous, and well-loved.

SL: She's also dead.

[A moment of uncomfortable awkwardness.]

MLS: You're blunt and to the point, aren't you?

SL: I am, yes. I think is saves time, but my chief inspector keeps telling me my abrasive attitude won't win any congeniality contests.

MLS: He's probably right, but you're under a lot of pressure right now, so I understand the desire to get directly to the issue at hand.

SL: That's nice of you to say, but I'm technically off on leave, so the pressure thing doesn't apply.

MLS: Oh, I think it does. From what I understand, one of your informants is fighting for his life. Regardless of whether you're officially on the case, you're concerned about him.

SL: I am. Glib and I go a long way. He's one of the first people who ever kept the card I gave him with the address for a halfway house. And… he saved my life once.

MLS: The card goes back to your mom's battle with addiction, doesn't it?

SL: Well, yeah. I volunteer in my downtime and when I worked vice, I handed out a lot of cards.

[Shyler's flight is called over the intercom]

MLS: I'll wrap this up so you can get going. Where are you headed?

SL: Furlough 99, an Alliance space station, otherwise known as the ass end of the universe.

MLS: [laughs] That's quite the nickname.

SL: [smiles] I think it's fitting.

MLS: Thank you for your time. I hope you find what you're looking for.

SL: Not so much what, but who, and I really need to be going.

I feel kind of sorry for whoever she's seeking. Shyler Lumen always gets her collar. Find out who Shyler wants to find in Finding Home (A Furlough 99 Novella).

Available on Amazon

More e-retailers coming soon. 

I hope you enjoyed the latest edition of the Saturday Standard. Stay tuned for more next week when we meet Marshton Grey.

Thanks for reading!

Catch everyone on the flip!

ML Skye

Banner Thursday—Insula Ara ~ Sanctuary Island

Today, I'm featuring the banner for an Ellipses Press branded anthology, Insula Ara ~ Sanctuary Island. My upcoming release An Idyllic Affair, written with my alter ego Skye Ritchey, is part of this line.

                                 

For this piece, I want to help build recognition so I'm using the Insula Ara logo and tagline for the series. My goal is to generate interest in the new release.

I hope I succeeded.

Take a look…

Tagline: Escape to Insula Ara, an island sanctuary that provides refuge… but it comes with a price.

Blurb: Legend tells of a mysterious island called Sanctuary, inhabited by people who have been to hell and back—and lived to tell the tale.

It goes on to say, that if someone needs help, if they are truly without hope, island will come to them in their darkest hour and help them find the way.

But the assistance comes with a price. Their heart and soul may be lost to the island in the process.

Thanks for reading!

Please visit my website

Get Hooked: Reel in a Great Book—An Idyllic Affair (Insula Ara ~ Sanctuary Island) #MFRWAuthors #MFRWHooks

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

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

This week I'm thrilled to announce an upcoming release that is co-written with my alter ego Skye Ritchey. I write under three pseudonyms, and when I started An Idyllic Affair, it began with a strong sci-fi element. But as the story progressed, the nature of the island pushed its way in and a mystical aspect took center stage. For branding purposes, I decided to release under ML Skye, my speculative romance moniker, and Skye Ritchey, my paranormal / fantasy pen name. I'm very excited as I believe the story will appeal to both audiences.

So, without further delay, today's post features part of the opening scene from my hero Geoff's perspective.

Series Tagline: Escape to Insula Ara, an island sanctuary that provides refuge… but it comes with a price.

Book Tagline: On the run from their enemies, an island sanctuary gives Geoff and Linnea time for An Idyllic Affair.

~*~

"Hot damn, Captain… we pulled it off!"

Geoff MacLeod raised an eyebrow at his helmsman, Marcus Ramsey. "Let's get clear of the blockade before we start celebrating, Mr. Ramsey." He directed his attention to his executive officer, Linnea Jensen. "XO? Tell me we're close."

They gazed at the same the screenshot on the monitor, but where he relied on instinct for guidance, Linnea used cold, hard facts to their advantage. She'd know the instant their ship, the Charming Lady, would be beyond the obstruction and into semi-safe territory.

Linnea waited a beat then glanced up from her charts. "Another three hundred kilometers and we're clear. So far, no pursuit from the Axis Prime." Her face lit up with a grin, but fell flat when a bogie blipped into view on the monitor. "Shit. Check that. Three AP vessels, closing in fast." She spun around, punched a button, and brought the holographic view screen up in the middle of the bridge. "We're boxed in."

Geoff moved to stand beside her. "Son of a bitch."

It didn't matter he and his merry band of mercenaries had only recently—and secretly—become sanctioned privateers for the United Forces. Things had finally heated up in the long, cold war between the two opposing factions and if Geoff and his crew were caught, the Axis Prime would parade them through the galaxy as a sterling example of the United Forces' strategic failure. Even if the UF used plausible deniability regarding his covert activities, the blow could cripple the UF's rapidly expanding resistance movement.

And the AP's growing chokehold on the solar system needed to end.

So… they couldn't get caught.

Linnea spoke softly. "We gotta make a move here, Captain. Your orders?" Her fingers flew over the keyboard and the holo image zoomed out, showing him a bird's eye view of the galaxy.

Dammit, they had limited options. There were maybe two or three places they could lay low, but AP forces heavily guarded each of them. No doubt word had already gone out about the Charming Lady carrying a butt-load of weapons, ammo, and medical supplies recently liberated from an Axis Prime freighter.

Every AP ship in the galaxy would be gunning for them.

Geoff didn't like those odds.

Instead of playing them, he decided to create his own. 

Cover Image

Coming Soon!

~*~

Book Blurb: Privateers by trade, Geoff MacLeod and Linnea Jensen find sanctuary on Insula Ara, a mysterious island full of wonder and a tinge of darkness. When Geoff and Linnea embark on a quest to retrieve a badly needed part for their ship, they find their deep attraction for each other hard to resist, and under the spell of the island, they have to tread carefully or succumb to the swirling undercurrents.

Series Blurb: Legend tells of a mysterious island called Sanctuary, inhabited by people who have been to hell and back—and lived to tell the tale.

It goes on to say, that if someone needs help, if they are truly without hope, island will come to them in their darkest hour and help them find the way.

But the assistance comes with a price. Their heart and soul may be lost to the island in the process.

~*~

~*~

Please stop by my website

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

Sunday Snippet: Intimate Bond

Another great week of TV even if a few of my shows were on break for the election night coverage. Gotta take a moment to mention Arrow. Seriously, this show keeps improving on itself. The pacing is perfect and the interweaving of past with present stays flawless. I love this show!

Finally started seeing previews for the new season of Orphan Black. It's just a small little spot with 'You Don't Own Me' playing in the background. Honestly, though? Perfection. And hopefully a small hint of what we'll be seeing early in 2015.

Last mention of television related stuff… Doctor Who. I'll be completely in the minority, but eh, I'm just not feeling the new doctor at all. I did enjoy the season finale and I always watch the Christmas special, but I can't disconnect from the fact Capaldi has played two other roles in the Whoverse. Don't get me wrong, he's a great actor, but the inability to move past his other roles seriously harshes my enjoyment of the show. This saddens me greatly. L

Anyway, enough TV. Tonight's post is from Intimate Bond, a sexy short where my characters have to rely on their bond to get them through a very rough patch.

Here's the tagline:

Lindsay Redd has a big problem with one of her pilots, but when the younger woman goes down in flames, Lindsay can't let go of her grief. Doyle Ingersoll has to find a way to push Lindsay back into top gun form, and isn't above using sex to make it happen.

And a sneaky peek…

Lindsay stood at the podium, staring down at her neatly typed notes. The empty room mocked her, the short-lived silence serving to heighten her awareness that she had to be the worst person in the universe to speak about Kenda. The upstart pilot drove Lindsay to fits of temper on a good day. On a bad one, well, brawling wouldn't be unheard of.

Lindsay cleared her throat, tight with nervous tension. Would using notes cheapen the speech? Why did Doyle pick Lindsay as the best candidate?

She shook her head. "Kenda, you're gonna hate this eulogy."

"No she won't." Doyle's voice echoed through the quiet. "I'm pretty sure the afterlife will mellow her considerably." He moved forward, coming to a stop at the dais.

Lindsay met his gaze. "Why me?" She didn't have to voice the rest of the question.

Doyle shrugged. "Problem or not, she belonged to you. To your squadron." He turned and took a seat in the front row. "The others need it to be you for closure. They'd expect and want the same if they went down, don't you think?" He crossed his arms over his chest.

Lindsay sighed. "Not really. But people skills aren't my forte. They're yours, so I'll take your word for it."

Doyle gave her a sad smile. "You underestimate yourself, Linds." The doors opened and pilots started filing into the briefing room. "Hang in there. You'll get through."

She gathered up the cards and straightened them then squared her shoulders. Yes, she'd get through, if only to show Kenda she could.

Lindsay will get through, but it'll be a tough road. Good thing Doyle plans to stick close and help her out.

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

ML Skye

A Gift from the Stars—The SFR Brigade Showcase: Dress for Dinner #sfrbp

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

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

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I had to take a rather long hiatus from posting with the Brigade. Work commitments sadly took priority. But I'm thankfully back and eager to participate in the wonderful treat for readers.

This week's post is actually a reposting from Dress for Dinner, book three of the Top Dog Pilot series that I wanted to have ready in August from my personal imprint, Starry Sky Press. The pesky need for an outside job made it impossible for me to reach my goal. But… if all goes well, the manuscript will be released in the near future. YAY!

Today, I'm re-sharing a glimpse of where Cutter and Maggie are in their relationship.

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

Book Tagline: A formal dinner with an admiral challenges Cutter's ability to play nice.

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Major Maggie Harper zipped up her rucksack and placed it next to Max Cutter's beside their front door. After a six week furlough, they were headed back to the Pathos and its commanding officer, Drake Essex.

Two years with the same CO, one she respected, had done wonders to temper her penchant for requesting transfers. Or maybe the two plus years with Cutter had settled her down. Either way, Maggie looked forward to getting back out in the black.

She checked the time. Still early yet. Cutter had the shower running… maybe she'd join him. Peeling off her shirt, she hit the steps at a run and ducked into the bathroom. Shimmied out of her shorts and panties and quietly popped the shower door open.

Cutter stood with this forehead against the wall, water sluicing over his skin. He still made Maggie hot. The planes and angles of his muscles, the way his skin glistened under the steaming spray. She eased up behind him and wrapped her arms around his waist, sliding her hands up to his chest. Cutter grabbed one and brought it to his lips, grazing her knuckles.

"Wondered if you'd join me."

~*~

Blurb: Max and Maggie are training up and coming pilots and life is great. But when Maggie's uncle, a retired admiral, brings his new, and much younger, bride to the ship for their honeymoon, Maggie takes one look at the woman and sees disaster. An emergency makes her miss the full dress dinner, leaving Max alone to deal with the hot simpering mess.

Coming Soon!

Please visit my website

~*~

Thank you for reading!

Gift yourself with more great sneak peeks!

Visit the other participating authors

Banner Thursday—Sexy Shorts

Today, I'm featuring the banner I hope to use across all three of my pseudonyms to help brand the shorter works I tend to write.

                                 

For this piece, I wanted something without a lot of busy stuff going on, but it still needed to convey I write sexy, sensual stories. I also wanted to have a little fun, too.

I think I succeeded.

Take a look…

I'll be using this on my blogs and website whenever a story is on the shorter side, usually coming in at under the 12k word mark. Sometimes you want something quick and satisfying for your reading pleasure.

Thanks for reading!

Please visit my websiteNov

Get Hooked: Reel in a Great Book—Shyler: Finding Home (A Furlough 99 Novella) #MFRWAuthors #MFRWHooks

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

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

I'm revisiting one of my first releases, Shyler: Finding Home, one of the offerings from the Furlough 99 line from Ellipses Press. I'll be posting a series of pivotal scenes over the next couple of weeks. Please enjoy!

Today's post features how Shyler meets Marsh.

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

Series Tagline: Furlough 99: The last stop before uncharted space. Welcome to the ass end of the universe.

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Shyler smiled with satisfaction. She had her shadow neutralized in under thirty seconds, but something didn’t feel quite right. The guy was built. Solid. Muscular. Hard.

Why didn't he resist?

And dammit, she felt a zing. Did he have to be so flipping handsome, too? She couldn't let herself be distracted by super hot shadow man.

She huffed out a breath to regroup and got down to business.

She let go of his head, but kept her legs strategically positioned. "Well, hell. I'd hoped you'd at least try to fight back so I could use lethal force if necessary."

A whiskey smooth voice, answered with casual ease. "My mother taught me to never argue with a woman. Especially one who packs a punch."

Interesting thing for a mother to teach her son. Shyler tried a different approach.

"You have five seconds to tell me why you're following me." And explain the lack of trying to break free. "Who are you?"

Her prisoner slowly lifted his right hand. "If I may?" He made a downward motion, toward his back pocket.

The man had a truly fine ass.

Available on Amazon

More e-retailers coming soon!

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Series Blurb: The last stop before the emptiness of unknown space, Furlough 99 is inhabited with a myriad of personalities, each one looking for something different, something they can only find at the end of the line. With a bar called the Den of Inequity and a whole station devoted to pleasure and hedonism, there's nothing that can't be found here, or won't.

Book Blurb: Inspector Shyler Lumen and entrepreneur Marshton Gray don't have much in common. A manhunt for a brilliantly mad chemist brings them together and sparks fly. Shyler and Marsh can fight the wave of change… or grab hold and go along for the ride.

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Please stop by my website

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