Sunday Snippet: A Little More

I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday season, no matter what you celebrate. And if you don't recognize a particular season, I hope you had a great week.

Happened to catch a teaser for Banshee, returning January 9. Gotta say, I can't wait. Also watched Pacific Rim about five more times. I love that movie. LOL

Other than waiting for a few more shows to return, I've been spending my holiday with The Doctor. I gripe about BBC America only showing Top Gear and Gordon Ramsey cooking shows all the time (seriously, it annoys the bejesus out of me), but I do love it when they marathon a favorite show.

Anyway, tonight's post is from A Little More, a sexy short where my main characters live and work together.

Here's the tagline: Lexie Krost and Tighe Milligan work and live together—and a little more—on a remote base in the depths of space. They shouldn't act on their attraction, but the pull is strong and once they've crossed the line they have to figure out how to be a little less.

And a sneaky peek…

Lexie shoved the sock behind her back, but Tighe took advantage and leaned in, capturing her mouth with his. No gentle kiss, the embrace turned smoking hot as soon as their lips met. Lexie melted into Tighe, one arm snaking around his waist, drawing him closer. Tighe grasped her hips, pulling her flush against him. His hand drifted around to cup her ass then slid upward, stopping just above her waistline. Lost in the moment, Lexie brought her other hand up to grasp his bicep, her tongue slipping past his lips to tangle against his. Tighe moaned against her mouth then abruptly broke the kiss, blowing out a harsh breath.

He stepped back. "Not a bad way to get what I want." He dangled the sock in front of her face.

Lexie barely kept her mouth from dropping open. "Aren't you full of surprises?" She made a half-hearted attempt to snatch the footwear out of his hand, but he yanked his hand away and quickly shoved his foot into the standard military gray issue.

She had to give him props.

Big ones. Not only had he distracted her by the ticklefest, he'd made her hotter than a steam valve ready to blow. She waited until he straightened up before taking a step forward, nudging him back against the opposite wall.

When he cocked his head to one side, a confused look on his face, she grinned.

Trailing a finger down his sternum, she met his gaze. "You're not really gonna leave me hanging, are you?" Her hand dropped lower, her palm cupping his erection. "Besides, your interesting diversion kind of backfired. Seems you've got something of a problem to take care of." A slow smile twisted her lips. "Want a little help with that?"

I love writing a short little glimpse into the beginning of a relationship. Or heck, even the middle of one. J

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

ML Skye

Sunday Snippet: Leading the War Effort

Whew. It's been a whirlwind week, getting ready for the upcoming holiday. I think I have almost every task completed off my check list. Still doing some baking and I always wait until the last moment to wrap presents. LOL Actually, if all goes well, that will be finished up over the next three days. J

Looking forward to some TV marathons over the next week or two, with a Xmas Eve X-Files event and Five Days of the Doctor, too. I kind of wish more of my favorite shows created specific holiday shows to air on Christmas Day. That's a trend I could definitely get behind.

Just got the word that Bitten returns in February. I cannot wait!! Banshee starts in a few weeks, so that should keep me going during the brief lag time.

Tonight's post is from Leading the War Effort, a novella that puts my hero and heroine together in completely twisted way.

Here's the tagline:

North Normandy becomes the test subject for a super soldier project and his first mission is to rescue his captured father. Frankie Gant knows the venture inside out, but lacks the emotional connection her superiors feel the candidate will need. Frankie acts as North's handler and when the planned op goes south, she risks her life, undergoing the same process to pull both men out of enemy territory.

And a sneaky peek…

North Normandy entered his CO's office and saluted. "Normandy reporting as ordered, Sir." He dropped his arm and placed his hands behind his back in his attention stance.

Colonel Maris nodded. "At ease, Soldier." He laced his fingers together and placed his hands on the desk. "Take a seat, Lieutenant."

North relaxed and settled into the chair facing his superior.

Maris got to the point. "We have a plan to extract your father from the enemy's clutches." He paused, hesitating for a long moment.

North straightened. "Is there anything I can do, Sir?" Twenty-seven days, he'd waited for news about his dad.

The colonel heaved a sigh. "Yes. But I won't order you to do it. I need you to sit and listen before you make a decision, because the risks are many and the guarantees are pretty much nil." The colonel unfolded his hands and opened a file, running a finger along a page to magnify then display the title document on the holo screen.

North scanned the words. "A super solider program?" He'd heard rumors, quiet ones, about a new weapon in development.

The colonel inclined his chin. "Yes. Established under the war department's discretionary budget." The man continued. "We've already had several rangers undergo the therapy and, in the interest of full disclosure, none have survived past the first two stages." He flipped to the next page and brought up several images, gruesome and grotesque. "As you can see, the third phase, the one where enhancements are added, has been a colossal failure." He shuffled the image on the screen and filled the space with data columns.

North reviewed the information, quickly digesting the scientific mumbo-jumbo. "So they pass the rigorous physical and mental evaluations, meaning they should be fit and capable of withstanding the injections." He paused, turning the details over in his mind. "What's the missing component?" There had to be one, or the previous candidates wouldn't have succumbed during the injection process.

Maris gave North a long, considering look. "Lieutenant, do you understand all the data on the holo screen?" He brought up several more documented cases. "As in, you're following the process and how it works?"

North met his CO's gaze. "Yes, Sir." He got up and pointed to two cases on the screen. "These should have made the grade. The compounds were adjusted so their bodies could withstand the chemical load." He turned around and faced the colonel. "But the process still didn't work. That suggests something, a buffer maybe, is missing." North sat back down, questions burning in his brain.

Maris let out a low whistle. "Well, you've nailed the problem directly on its head." He swiped his hand over the page and the holo screen went blank. "The directors are at a loss, but the project handler has a wild theory and we're at a point where we have to attempt to see if she's on target." He squarely met North's gaze.

North leaned forward, curiosity piqued. "What's the crazy idea?" Anything to get his dad out of enemy hands.

The colonel shrugged. "Her notion is an emotional angle is missing. She believes there has to be some kind of deep, intense commitment or connection to make the final phase survivable." He snorted. "Probably a load of bullshit, but like I said, we've got to consider every option."

North shook his head. "With all due respect, Sir, she's probably hit the bull's eye." He leaned forward. "If the level of intelligence didn't help the candidates make the grade, the mental desire, call it a need, to survive for something other than self-preservation can definitely add an edge." He stopped, remembered he spoke to a superior, and added. "I'm sorry, Sir. Sometimes my mouth spews information before my brain kicks in." His face heated. "What do you need from me, Sir?" North mentally crossed his fingers for the colonel's reply.

The colonel's lips twitched. "I think you know exactly what I’m going to ask. And note this is a request, not an order." He reached inside the folder and withdrew a stack of papers. "Will you volunteer to be the next recipient of the therapy?" He slid the packet of information in North's direction.

North didn't even read the details, he grabbed a pen and shuffled to the last page. "Yes, Sir. You have your volunteer." He signed his name and returned the packet to the colonel. "When do I report?"

I'm going to have so much fun writing the rest of this one. My heroine has a strong voice in my head. LOL

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

ML Skye

A Toasty Holiday Treat—Midwinter Crises (Book One of Capital City Seasons)

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I'm giving away a copy of my holiday book, too! See below for details.

Grab something warm to drink and cozy up!

Welcome to the Winter Warm Up 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.

~*~

Holiday Traditions. No matter what holiday is celebrated—Yule, Christmas, Kwanza, Hanukkah, or just gathering with family, there's something great about having familiar traditions.

When I was growing up, we always opened one gift on Christmas Eve. My two brothers and I got very excited when Mom called us in and handed the pretty packages to us. Usually, we received new pajamas, sometimes socks, or maybe a winter coat. Regardless of what we revealed, she made sure the items were similar. I kind of loved that about her.

Now that I have three kidlets of my own, we've established a couple of our own traditions. From the time my oldest, now twenty-one, could eat solid foods, we've made cinnamon rolls for breakfast after opening all the gifts under the tree. It's still going strong, with the exception of the year our local store didn't have cinnamon rolls stocked when we were shopping and we substituted the orange flavored ones instead. My daughter still reminds me it's unacceptable to have orange-iced rolls for Christmas morning. Our back-up plan is now to make cinnamon toast instead. LOL

My favorite family tradition started about ten years ago. I got the wild hair idea to have a themed holiday tree. I had my oldest kiddo pick the theme and we came up with ideas for how to make ornaments and use things around the house to decorate. To date we've had Under the Sea, Buried Treasure, Nature's Bounty, Candy Land, Snowflakes and Cupcakes, Techno Tree, Imaginext, and Noah's Ark. I know I'm missing one in there somewhere, but that's the general idea. This year, we're going with a Seahawks tree, using green, blue and white ornaments, in honor of my middle kidlet's favorite team.

After getting the tree decorated, my favorite 'me' tradition is to turn on some seasonal music, get a glass of wine or cup of tea, and decompress by reading a holiday romance. It's a nice little respite from the crazy schedules, piles of presents, and butt-loads of wrapping paper waiting in the wings.

~*~

There's a reason for all the talk about traditions. 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. They also celebrate the season, albeit in a slightly different way.

My holiday release, Midwinter Crises, book one of the Capital City Seasons series, features a couple who have to come together during the Midwinter holiday… after a break-up. Facing each other under difficult circumstances doesn't keep either from thinking about their last holiday together or a shared tradition.

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 your favorite holiday tradition if you have one. (Maybe it involves books!)

~*~

Book Tagline: 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.

Series Tagline: Capital City Seasons: High stakes adrenaline and hot romance are an explosive combination.

~*~

Midwinter.

Ben had actually put the holiday out of his mind. He had a ticket to a sunny spot in another nation tucked away in his desk. He had zero intention of being in Capital City for the festivities.

Last year would be hard to top.

After a leisurely dinner with his father on Midwinter's Eve, he and Jess went home and opened presents. Nothing extravagant, but a few nice things. An antique wooden box for Jess's collection, a first edition book for him and a gorgeous carpet they'd picked out together for in front of the fireplace.

He cleared away the wrapping paper debris and Jess lowered the lights, lit the fire. He relaxed on the sofa, feet propped on an oversized ottoman while Jess excused herself 'for just a moment'.

She didn't take long to return.

"You still have one last gift to open." Her voice had gone all husky and soft.

He looked up and almost swallowed his tongue. God, she was beautiful. She walked to stand in front of the fire, wearing a gorgeous red and white confection that skimmed her thighs and hugged her curves. Jess rarely wore lingerie and he found it a treat to see her in it when she did. She'd capped off her holiday themed gift with a silky, gold bow loosely tied around her throat.

She beckoned him over, lifted his hand and placed it on the ribbon's tail. He gave it a gentle tug and the silky materiel unwound to cascade down to the floor. She stepped into his kiss and they melted against each other, her hands slowly peeling off his layers of clothing. She knelt on the new, plush area rug and tugged him down in front of her. Her lips traveled over his body and by the time they made love in front of the fire, she hadn't missed an inch.

Available on Amazon

~*~

Series Blurb: Meet the men and women of Capital City. They work hard on the front lines and behind the scenes to keep the city safe and sometimes… they find love in the middle of a tense situation.

Capital City Seasons is a futuristic series set on a different planet. The inhabitants are descendants of Earth ancestry, but the books don't focus too much on how they got to their current location, but do mention historical points in their past.

Book Blurb: Mixing the holidays with a guy who wants to blow up the city is just another day on the job for Ben Murphy and Jessa Muldoon.

Capital City teems with tourists, shoppers, and anyone else who can cram their way into the limits for the Midwinter celebration. The entire holiday will go to hell in a hand basket if Ben can't negotiate a peaceful resolution with the man holding the city hostage. If he fails, sharpshooter Jess will step in and take the guy out.

Not exactly the post-breakup reunion scenario Ben has in mind for seeing Jess… but he'll take it. He let work split them up once, now it has a chance to bring them together. Ben will take the opportunity and run with it.

~*~

~*~

Please stop by my website

Get cozy and relax! Visit the other participating authors.

Smokin' Hot—First Encounter: Midwinter Crises

Welcome to the Hot for Friday blog hop!

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

Authors: Get in on the fun and join here.

For this week's entry, we were asked to post our hero and heroine's first encounter.

FUN!!!

I love writing that first meeting, or sometimes, the first time characters see each other after a long time or maybe even a break-up, because they just can't stay apart.

Since we're close to the holidays, I'd love to share how Murph and Jess met in Midwinter Crises, book one of the Capital City Seasons series.

Series Tagline: Capital City Seasons: High stakes adrenaline and hot romance are an explosive combination.

Book Tagline: 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.

So… without further ado…

Jess grinned a little, letting her mind drift back. The call went out for STU to respond to a 1049—public disturbance with weapons involved, civilians in danger. What they actually responded to was an AGB, the tactical unit's shorthand for Altered gone batshit. Jess really hated dealing with the drugged out perps, just never knew what she'd end up with.

In this instance, she left with sore muscles and cramped fingers. And a date.

Tired and dirty—crouching in an old storehouse for nine hours would do that—Ben caught her when she looked her worst.

He spoke quietly, for her ears only. "I'm sorry."

An apology? For what?

Jess turned toward him, question in her eyes. "And why is that? My crappy appearance?" She gave him a quick once over—amazed he still looked incredible after nine hours of negotiations—and liked what she saw.

He laughed. "No, for ruining your evening." He stood with his hands jammed in his pockets, rocking back on his feet. "That took longer than it should have." His eyes held a touch of embarrassment.

Jess shrugged. "It's part of the job." She handed off her weapon and signed the transfer of arms form.

Then she focused her attention on Murph. "I'm actually impressed you pulled the save outta your ass." And he had pulled it from somewhere… the expected order to take the guy out never came. And it usually did if more than four hours went by.

Jess sat on the edge of the bumper. "How'd you do it? Most Altereds don't respond to reason and logic." Unless maybe it had a warped aspect to it.

Murph flashed a smile. "Honestly? It's a waiting game." She must've shown her confusion because he clarified. "We got here right before the guy hit his high, when he was at his most violent. The trick was to ride it out with him until he came down enough to see the error of his ways."

Doubly impressed now, she had to shake her head. "So you put yourself on the hot seat. Interesting." She let her gaze peruse him, traveling from his feet upward to his face. "You don't look like you have a death wish."

Ben chuckled in response. "I don't. Trust me." He pivoted around, stepped closer to her. "Unless it would convince you to have dinner with me?" Lowered so only she could hear, his voice sent sexy shivers down her spine.

Jess made sure she kept her jaw from dropping. Still clad in full riot gear and this too handsome for his own good guy wanted to have dinner with her?

A guy who didn't wilt under pressure, put himself in the line of fire and still maintained a clean, crisp and dare she think it—fresh—appearance in ninety degree heat had to have something wrong with him.

Maybe he went for chicks in black? Or women who carried powerful weapons on the job.

And maybe she should just respond to his offer already.

Shrugging, she accepted his invitation. "Dinner's good." She had a way to discover if Murph was as unflappable as he appeared. "But only if I get to pick the place." She stood up and flipped open one of the pockets on her vest.

Murph agreed. "Why not?"

Jess pulled out a notepad and scribbled her address down. "Nine o'clock. Dress casual." She tore the page off and stuck it Murph's front pocket.

He gave her a considering look, but repeated her instructions. "Nine p.m. Casual."

Jess nodded and swung herself up into the transport van so her team could head back to base. She felt a pang of remorse for what she planned. The place she had in mind couldn't exactly be considered first date material.

But it would test the mettle of a man whose job required grace under pressure.

She wondered if he'd hold it together on a personal front in one of her old haunts.

~*~

Available on Amazon

~*~

Series Blurb: Meet the men and women of Capital City. They work hard on the front lines and behind the scenes to keep the city safe and sometimes… they find love in the middle of a tense situation.

Capital City Seasons is a futuristic series set on a different planet. The inhabitants are descendants of Earth ancestry, but the books don't focus too much on how they got to their current location, but do mention historical points in their past.

Book Blurb: Mixing the holidays with a guy who wants to blow up the city is just another day on the job for Ben Murphy and Jessa Muldoon.

Capital City teems with tourists, shoppers, and anyone else who can cram their way into the limits for the Midwinter celebration. The entire holiday will go to hell in a hand basket if Ben can't negotiate a peaceful resolution with the man holding the city hostage. If he fails, sharpshooter Jess will step in and take the guy out.

Not exactly the post-breakup reunion scenario Ben has in mind for seeing Jess… but he'll take it. He let work split them up once, now it has a chance to bring them together. Ben will take the opportunity and run with it.

~*~

Thank you for stopping by.

Please feel free to stop by my website

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

Get Hooked: Reel in a Great Book—Midwinter Crises (Capital City Seasons 1) #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.

Since the holiday season is gearing up, I'm sharing a series of excerpts from Midwinter Crises, book one of Capital City Seasons. Over the next few weeks, I'll post a few pivotal scenes between Murph and Jess.

This week, we see Murph and Jess's first interaction.

Series Tagline: Capital City Seasons: High stakes adrenaline and hot romance are an explosive combination.

Book Tagline: 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.

~*~

Jess shrugged. "It's part of the job." She handed off her weapon and signed the transfer of arms form.

Then she focused her attention on Murph. "I'm actually impressed you pulled the save outta your ass." And he had pulled it from somewhere… the expected order to take the guy out never came. And it usually did if more than four hours went by.

Jess sat on the edge of the bumper. "How'd you do it? Most Altereds don't respond to reason and logic." Unless maybe it had a warped aspect to it.

Murph flashed a smile. "Honestly? It's a waiting game." She must've shown her confusion because he clarified. "We got here right before the guy hit his high, when he was at his most violent. The trick was to ride it out with him until he came down enough to see the error of his ways."

Doubly impressed now, she had to shake her head. "So you put yourself on the hot seat. Interesting." She let her gaze peruse him, traveling from his feet upward to his face. "You don't look like you have a death wish."

Ben chuckled in response. "I don't. Trust me." He pivoted around, stepped closer to her. "Unless it would convince you to have dinner with me?" Lowered so only she could hear, his voice sent sexy shivers down her spine.

Jess made sure she kept her jaw from dropping. Still clad in full riot gear and this too handsome for his own good guy wanted to have dinner with her?

A guy who didn't wilt under pressure, put himself in the line of fire and still maintained a clean, crisp and dare she think it—fresh—appearance in ninety degree heat had to have something wrong with him.

Maybe he went for chicks in black? Or women who carried powerful weapons on the job.

And maybe she should just respond to his offer already.

Shrugging, she accepted his invitation. "Dinner's good." She had a way to discover if Murph was as unflappable as he appeared. "But only if I get to pick the place." She stood up and flipped open one of the pockets on her vest.

Available on Amazon

~*~

Series Blurb: Meet the men and women of Capital City. They work hard on the front lines and behind the scenes to keep the city safe and sometimes… they find love in the middle of a tense situation.

Book Blurb: Mixing the holidays with a guy who wants to blow up the city is just another day on the job for Ben Murphy and Jessa Muldoon.

Capital City teems with tourists, shoppers, and anyone else who can cram their way into the limits for the Midwinter celebration. The entire holiday will go to hell in a hand basket if Ben can't negotiate a peaceful resolution with the man holding the city hostage. If he fails, sharpshooter Jess will step in and take the guy out.

Not exactly the post-breakup reunion scenario Ben has in mind for seeing Jess… but he'll take it. He let work split them up once, now it has a chance to bring them together. Ben will take the opportunity and run with it.

~*~

~*~

Please stop by my website

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

Sunday Snippet: Last Best Chance

Okay. The end of a seven year ride with the final episode of Sons of Anarchy left me satisfied and kind of weepy. But honestly? The last shot of the series ended up being pretty much perfect, in my opinion. Still digesting everything, but all in all, things played out exactly how I expected, but in a way that made me wish I had Kurt Sutter's talent. Sons of Anarchy will rank right up there with Battlestar Galactica as one of my favorite shows of all time.

The Flash and Arrow also didn't let me down. On one hand, I wish I didn't have to wait until January for new episodes, but on the other, with the busy holiday season, a nice little rest won't kill me. I hope. LOL

Tonight's post is from Last Best Chance, a sexy short that wants to be a novella. I sometimes wonder if my sages enjoy messing with me. LOL

Here's the tagline:

Cadence Coll, a top pilot, dreads her new assignment to the Cressida because the scuttlebutt has the CAG known for his rigid adhesion to the status quo. Nik Garrick likes order and structure and his new flying ace has a mile long list of infractions. Cadence and Nik discover first impressions aren't always what they seem and a rush to make a judgment isn't the best idea.

And a sneaky peek…

Cadence trudged off the transport and hefted her rucksack over her shoulder. Already late, she quickly got her bearings, went up two decks, and started for the string of offices to find the CAG. She'd report in with him and hunt down the quartermaster. She turned at the first juncture and slammed into a hard body.

Stepping back, she apologized. "Er, sorry about that. New ship. Not paying attention." Her gaze swept over a prime specimen of manhood.

Tall, with dark hair, he wore a T-shirt with the sleeves ripped off and knit shorts that hugged a sculpted ass and sinewy thighs. Good God, she planned to spend butt-loads of time in the gym as soon as she got settled.

Her new obsession lifted a shoulder. "No harm done." He wiped a trail of sweat onto his shoulder. "Who're you looking for?"

She blinked, remembering her purpose. "The CAG." She leaned in a little. "Heard he's got a huge stick shoved up his ass. Shouldn't be hard to find."

A slow smile spread across the guy's face. "You might wanna hit the mess first then head down to the hangar deck. His office is down there."

She frowned. "On the hangar deck?" Not SOP for a guy who supposedly adhered to the book like glue.

The guy's mouth curved again. "Yeah, he likes to keep a close eye on his pilots." He shrugged. "Should be back to his office in about thirty minutes."

Cadence cocked her head to one side. "How do you know the schedule so well?" Maybe she'd bumped into a friend of her new superior's.

He chuckled. "Guy's got a stick up his ass, right? Means he sticks to a routine. Right now," the man checked his watch. "He'd be getting in his workout before morning shift."

Cadence narrowed her eyes, taking in his attire, but shook her head. "Hmm. Okay. I could use some food." She adjusted her pack and sighed. "Damned long flight out from Silica base." She turned to head back toward the common area, but stopped, glancing back over her shoulder. "Thanks."

The guy gave her a two-fingered salute. "No problem."

Gotta say, Cadence has some definite ideas of how she wants things to go in this story. LOL

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

ML Skye

A Gift from the Stars—The SFR Brigade Showcase: Midwinter Crises #sfrbp

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

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

~*~

Since the holiday season is upon us, I'm revisiting my themed release, Midwinter Crises. Holiday traditions play a big role in our house throughout the season and my post this month reflects how they play a part in Murph and Jess's story.

Series Tagline: High stakes adrenaline and hot romance are an explosive combination.

Book Tagline: 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.

~*~

Midwinter.

Ben had actually put the holiday out of his mind. He had a ticket to a sunny spot in another nation tucked away in his desk. He had zero intention of being in Capital City for the festivities.

Last year would be hard to top.

After a leisurely dinner with his father on Midwinter's Eve, he and Jess went home and opened presents. Nothing extravagant, but a few nice things. An antique wooden box for Jess's collection, a first edition book for him and a gorgeous carpet they'd picked out together for in front of the fireplace.

He cleared away the wrapping paper debris and Jess lowered the lights, lit the fire. He relaxed on the sofa, feet propped on an oversized ottoman while Jess excused herself 'for just a moment'.

She didn't take long to return.

"You still have one last gift to open." Her voice had gone all husky and soft.

He looked up and almost swallowed his tongue. God, she was beautiful. She walked to stand in front of the fire, wearing a gorgeous red and white confection that skimmed her thighs and hugged her curves. Jess rarely wore lingerie and he found it a treat to see her in it when she did. She'd capped off her holiday themed gift with a silky, gold bow loosely tied around her throat.

She beckoned him over, lifted his hand and placed it on the ribbon's tail. He gave it a gentle tug and the silky materiel unwound to cascade down to the floor. She stepped into his kiss and they melted against each other, her hands slowly peeling off his layers of clothing. She knelt on the new, plush area rug and tugged him down in front of her. Her lips traveled over his body and by the time they made love in front of the fire, she hadn't missed an inch.

~*~

Blurb: Mixing the holidays with a guy who wants to blow up the city is just another day on the job for Ben Murphy and Jessa Muldoon.

Seeing each other in a tense situation six months after breaking up is not.

Available at Amazon

Please visit my website

~*~

Thank you for reading!

Gift yourself with more great sneak peeks!

Visit the other participating authors

Get Hooked: Reel in a Great Book—Midwinter Crises (Capital City Seasons 1) #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.

Since the holiday season is gearing up, I'm sharing a series of excerpts from Midwinter Crises, book one of Capital City Seasons. Over the next few weeks, I'll post a few pivotal scenes between Murph and Jess.

This week, we meet Jess.

Series Tagline: Capital City Seasons: High stakes adrenaline and hot romance are an explosive combination.

Book Tagline: 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.

~*~

Not far from the airport, in a cozy apartment, the phone rang.

Crashed out after a long training session, Jessa Muldoon fumbled around to answer it. Her voice sleepy, she managed to catch the call on the third ring. "Better be good."

Her CO, Chris Renfer's voice came through loud and clear. "Black Alpha."

Instantly alert, Jess sat up and swung her legs out of the bed. As a sniper for the Specialized Tactical Unit, when Jessa received a call, it didn't matter if she'd been out late and up all night working with fellow law enforcement types. When they said go, she went.

And when they used the top operational code, she went in a big hurry.

She bit back a yawn and made herself focus. "Yeah. I'm up. Give me the bullet points." She grabbed her pants and tugged them on. Glancing at the clock, she groaned and fished around for her shirt. She hated middle of the night wake up calls.

"Team's been called up. Guy wants to blow the power grid. Talker's been called in."

Jess stopped struggling into her t-shirt. A negotiator. Great. She had no doubt who it would be.

Sitting on the edge of the bed, she gave herself a moment to be pissed.

Why did the crazy people have to come out during the holidays?

Probably so she'd have to face the one person on the planet she'd rather avoid?

Dammit.

"Muldoon." Renfer's clipped tone snapped her back on task.

"Yeah." Jess shook her head and stood up. "Yeah. Gimme fifteen. I'll be in." She clicked off the phone and grabbed her shoes.

Happiest time of the year her ass.

More like miserable and lonely. Jess already dreaded the holiday this year. The cheery music she heard everywhere reminded her of Ben and gave her nothing but a headache. And now… two days before Midwinter… she had even more reason to want a fistful of aspirin.

Because she knew the one person the city commissioner would use to work this out.

His son.

For better or worse, Ben Murphy would be on his way home.

Happy Freaking Midwinter to one and all.

Available on Amazon

~*~

Series Blurb: Meet the men and women of Capital City. They work hard on the front lines and behind the scenes to keep the city safe and sometimes… they find love in the middle of a tense situation.

Book Blurb: Mixing the holidays with a guy who wants to blow up the city is just another day on the job for Ben Murphy and Jessa Muldoon.

Capital City teems with tourists, shoppers, and anyone else who can cram their way into the limits for the Midwinter celebration. The entire holiday will go to hell in a hand basket if Ben can't negotiate a peaceful resolution with the man holding the city hostage. If he fails, sharpshooter Jess will step in and take the guy out.

Not exactly the post-breakup reunion scenario Ben has in mind for seeing Jess… but he'll take it. He let work split them up once, now it has a chance to bring them together. Ben will take the opportunity and run with it.

~*~

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Sunday Snippet: Kick in the Burn

Whew. Last week's Walking Dead broke my heart. And if anyone caught The Talking Dead afterward, oh… tears were shed during that, too. Trying really hard not to spoil anything for anybody who hasn't seen the episode yet. Gotta give Chris Hardwick so many props though. The guy does much to restore my calm. LOL

Let's see… The Flash / Arrow crossover turned out to be EXCELLENT!! So much fun! Sleepy Hollow's fall finale ended up being better than I expected. Not so thrilled with one of my faves not making it, but I like it when shows don't always go where I want them to.

Which brings me to Sons of Anarchy. Oh… wow. I have a pretty solid idea of how things will shake out in the last episode, but Kurt Sutter has ways of pulling off some serious surprises, so I kind of hope I’m wrong. All in all, I'm actually pretty thrilled with the ones who are no longer around.

Enough TV talk… tonight's post is from Kick in the Burn, a sexy short that sees a hot and heavy end to a really long day.

Here's the tagline:

Jaden Scratch and Ridge Quartermain spend a lot of time comparing notes about flying. Working late into the night filling out fitreps on their pilots, their conversation takes a very personal turn and kick in the burn takes on a whole new meaning.

And a sneaky peek…

Jaden couldn't look at another fitrep.

She tossed down her pen and picked up their previous conversation. "The first time I flew, I thought it was better than sex." She settled back, waiting for Ridge's reaction.

His head shot up. "You've got to be kidding me? Better than sex?" He set his pen aside and closed the file folder.

Jaden shrugged. "What did I know back then? I'd only done the deed twice before I got to fly a crossfighter." But she'd more than made up for lost time afterward.

Ridge didn't need to know that part.

Ridge kicked back in his chair. "Man, I can't remember the first time I flew in a crossfighter. My old man took me out in one before I could even walk. Broke atmo, too." Jaden's lips quirked. She'd heard the tale. Ridge's old man almost got busted back to ensign when he'd taken his toddler son out for a joyride.

Ridge crossed his arms over his chest. "But the first time I flew one was like nothing else I've ever experienced." He got a hazy look in his eyes. "The challenge, the thrill, the freedom…"

Jaden knew exactly what he meant. "And then you kick in the burn and it's like…" She paused, not sure how to describe the feeling.

Ridge finished. "Nothing else in the universe." He nodded.

Her head bobbed in agreement. "Yeah, exactly." She'd fly as long as her eyes held up and her fingers could grasp the joystick.

Ridge straightened. "Except not. Sex is still better than flying. Always will be."

She quirked a brow. "You sure about that?" She didn't disagree, but wanted to push his buttons.

He pondered her. "I guess it must depend on who you're with." Waited a beat. "You've obviously been with the wrong men." His lips twisted in a smirk.

She snorted. "Oh yeah?" She stood and angled around the desk, pushing him back a little before situating herself on his lap. "Prove it."

He arched a brow. "Is that a dare?" His hands grasped her hips, drawing her closer, bringing her into contact with the hard ridge under his fatigues.

She met his gaze. "It's whatever you want it to be."

Yeah, this one is fun. I love banter and these two seem to enjoy it also. :D

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

ML Skye

Smokin' Hot—Midwinter Crises Book Boyfriend Celebrity Lookalike

Welcome to the Hot for Friday blog hop!

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

Authors: Get in on the fun and join here.

For this week's entry, we were asked: Who is your book boyfriend's celebrity lookalike?

FUN!!!

And seriously? Apropos. I almost always have actors and actresses serve as my writing inspiration. It's great to have visual imagery as a point of reference when creating characters.

Since we're close to the holidays, I'd love to share my book boyfriend for Midwinter Crises, book one of the Capital City Seasons series.

Series Tagline: Capital City Seasons: High stakes adrenaline and hot romance are an explosive combination.

Book Tagline: 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.

So… without further ado…

Please meet the very handsome celebrity lookalike for my hero Ben Murphy.

Jamie Bamber

   

Some background… Jamie first caught my attention when he starred in Battlestar Galactica as Captain Lee 'Apollo' Adama. After wiping the drool from my TV screen, I quickly looked up what else he'd acted in and kept myself entertained during the hellaciously long BSG hiatuses by watching everything I could get my hands on.

The biggest thing I walked away with? The man has chemistry with everyone. No kidding. Probably everything, too. I'm pretty sure he could make a fence post emote. Just saying. LOL

When I started writing Ben Murphy, I definitely had Jamie in the forefront of my brain. Actually, he serves as inspiration for quite a few of my characters. J

A little character detail. Ben Murphy is a smooth negotiator. He's the go to person in a crisis, very much in demand. His unflappable presence, his grace under pressure keeps him very busy, to the detriment of his personal relationship with Jessa Muldoon.

Murph's been gone a lot since his break up with Jess, but he's back in town—just in time for the holiday—to stop a madman who is holding the city hostage.

And, lucky him, he'll get to face Jess while he's there. LOL

A few more images for your entertainment (and maybe some inspiration…)

If you're interested, here are a few examples of where to find Jamie.

Series Credits

Hornblower Movies

Monday Mornings

Law and Order: UK

Guest Starring Credits

Dollhouse

CSI: Miami

NCIS

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Series Blurb: Meet the men and women of Capital City. They work hard on the front lines and behind the scenes to keep the city safe and sometimes… they find love in the middle of a tense situation.

Capital City Seasons is a futuristic series set on a different planet. The inhabitants are descendants of Earth ancestry, but the books don't focus too much on how they got to their current location, but do mention historical points in their past.

Book Blurb: Mixing the holidays with a guy who wants to blow up the city is just another day on the job for Ben Murphy and Jessa Muldoon.

Capital City teems with tourists, shoppers, and anyone else who can cram their way into the limits for the Midwinter celebration. The entire holiday will go to hell in a hand basket if Ben can't negotiate a peaceful resolution with the man holding the city hostage. If he fails, sharpshooter Jess will step in and take the guy out.

Not exactly the post-breakup reunion scenario Ben has in mind for seeing Jess… but he'll take it. He let work split them up once, now it has a chance to bring them together. Ben will take the opportunity and run with it.

~*~

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!

 Book Boyfriend Cafe