Sunday Snippet: Steamed

Happy Boxing Day. Hope everyone who celebrates had a great holiday and everyone who doesn't had a great week.

It's the last Sunday of 2021 and it's been a doozy of a year. Had a very busy week with my middle kid's health issues again, but we're finally closer to getting an actual answer for what's been going on with him. I'll be thankful if we get confirmation.

Slow week for television. I started with the opening arc of season twenty-two of Classic Who. Ended up being a decent four episodes. Six is growing on me.

Finished up Mysteries of Apollo and ended up enjoying this six episode look at the space program. Not sure what new series I'll start this week.

Caught two episodes of The Muppet Show. Melissa Manchester and Tony Randall were the guest stars. I didn't have a chance to watch the Muppet Christmas Carol but I might get it in this week.

Started Fosse Verdon and liked the first episode. This should be an interesting show to dive into. Looking forward to more.

Watched another episode of Peak Practice. Really not sure about the new guy. I can't quite decide if he's desperate, evil or both. So far, I don't like the guy at all.

Enjoyed another lesson of MasterClass with Bill Nye. He's a lot of fun and tackles the serious topic of climate change without making the concept too over the top.

I started season two of The Witcher and loved, loved, loved the first episode. Can't wait to get into more.

Last but not least, I watched two episodes of Classic Rugrats. Both were enjoyable and ones I remembered fondly of watching with my oldest.

That's it for television this week. Tonight's post is from Steamed, a sexy short that got a start with a writing community prompt.

Here's the mini-blurb:

Page Wagner and Gannon Bendis pull long range recon duty and Page decides they need to play truth or strip. After several days of sexy banter, Gannon has enough of Page's innuendo and confronts her … in the shower.

And a sneaky peek…

What a firecracker.

He liked Page Wagner's style. But the woman might prove dangerous to his libido. And not just from her physical appearance. Her dark hair, with short, choppy layers, framed her face and drew attention to the amber color of her eyes. Pilots had to stay in excellent shape so, of course, she maintained peak condition.

But she had something else he valued in a woman. Spark. Witty bold women intrigued him. She projected confidence but didn't take herself too seriously. Very much his type—if he had one. She didn't count as the only equal opportunist when it came to the opposite sex.

She snapped her fingers. "Yo, Gannon. You in?"

He lifted a shoulder. "Sure, why not?" How bad would it be?

Better than watching the pre-loaded video offerings—especially since they hadn't been updated in three years.

Page huffed out a relieved breath. "Whew. Good. Thought I might get stuck playing solitare—and there's no way to liven that game up." She rolled her eyes.

Gannon snorted. "What? You can't figure out a way to get naked playing a single-player game?"

Page smirked. "Oh, I probably could, but where's the fun in that?" She flicked her tongue out. "Ah, I get it. You would enjoy it, but I wouldn't. I see how you are, Gannon."

Gannon's lips curved. "You're the one with exhibitionist tendencies. I'm merely pointing out a way to get your fix." He enjoyed the banter she dished out.

Page tilted her head to one side, studying him. "I have a feeling this is going to be very fun." Her gaze did a slow once-over from his booted feet, along his legs, lingering on his crotch, before finally coming to rest on his face.

His body reacted. Whose wouldn't when a smokin' hot woman showed interest? But he couldn't be certain about what she really wanted. So, he'd play it safe. For now.

Sitting up straight, he tapped the table. "Are you going to let me cut the deck, or not?"

I'm having a lot of fun writing this one. I love having characters who are attracted to each other and finally decide to test the waters.

 

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

ML Skye

Sunday Snippet: Stealing Hannah

December is flying by. I had a busy week trying to get things organized and moved around from the new furniture saga and also dealing getting one kid off to Disney with her grandfather and trying to help another kid during a flare up of his ongoing medical issue. Also had a couple of work projects thrown in.

Slower than usual week for television. I started out by finishing up the final arc of Five on Classic Who. I'd forgotten how much of a snarky snipe Six started out as. Started the first episode of his full arc to end season twenty-one.

Caught another episode of Mysteries of Apollo. I might have inadvertently watched two episodes but I won't know for certain until this week.

Watched two episodes of The Muppet Show. Jean Pierre Rampal and Paul Simon were the guest stars.

Finished up the first season of Fantasy Island. Man, I have to give kudos. I really enjoyed this first season. I'm looking forward to the holiday special next week.

Caught another episode of Peak Practice. It was a tough one to watch and had a lot going on. Erica held her own but, man, what a wringer they put her through.

Enjoyed another MasterClass lesson with Bill Nye. This one focused on how science changes your perspective. Pretty interesting.

Totally flubbed thinking I'd be watching The Ready Room for season one of Star Trek: Discovery only to realize the behind the scenes show didn't start until season two. So … I watched the first episode of the second season. Man, I'm really loving this show. So great to have the introduction of Pike and get some insight on Spock. Really looking forward to this season.

Watched another episode of Chicago Med. Lots of stuff going on but a solid viewing experience. Feels like everyone is kind of heading for a breaking point, Robin and Sarah, especially. Nice to see April and Ethan going public.

Caught another episode of The Madame Blanc Mysteries. Whew. Plot is moving forward in a big way. I think I have two more episodes and I'm kind of wondering how the main arc is going to be resolved. I'm also hoping for another season of this show. It's a lot of fun.

Finished up the second part of Silent Witness. Harry went through a rough ride. I'm not completely certain the police detective wasn't playing both sides but I liked that.

That's pretty much it for this week's television update. I'll be starting season two of The Witcher this week, which means I'll be putting Glitch on hold until I wrap that up.

Tonight's post is from Stealing Hannah, a novella that got a start with a writing community prompt and, of course, took a direction I didn't expect.

Here's the mini-blurb:

Hannah Keane gets caught between Kane and Trent Canterman when their sibling rivalry heats up. Kane loves to push his brother's buttons by telling everyone Trent likes to steal girlfriends. When Kane introduces Trent to Hannah, Trent decides stealing Kane's girl is a good idea to settle the score once and for all.

And a sneaky peek…

Trent woke up with the exact same thought of stealing Kane's girl—or making it look that way. It became almost an obsession.

Kane liked, no loved, to tell people Trent stole all his girlfriends.

To date, Trent had yet to actually take one. And it didn't escape Trent's notice—that yet again—Kane had gone for an older woman.

The fact his brother obviously still held a grudge convinced Trent Kane hadn't matured much. When Kane didn't get or couldn't keep what he wanted … there was hell to pay. And Kane wanted to fly tiger cats like their dad, even if he might not be able to handle it. Hooking up with his flight instructor covered all his bases. 

His little brother still had some growing up to do. "And it shouldn't be done in a cockpit." Despite what their father thought, Kane didn't have the chops for flying. Trent felt it deep in his bones.

Kane could do the book stuff. He put effort into the coursework. And he might be able to fake it in a simulator—but Trent had that gut punch feeling his brother wouldn't pass muster in combat or under pressure.

And the final qualification trials would be harder than anything Kane had ever faced. "If they kicked my ass"—and they had—"they'll chew Kane up, spit him out, and walk away laughing."

His brother frustrated the hell out of him sometimes, but Trent didn't want to see him utterly humiliated. At least not in a tiger cat.

Better to face a little right now by losing his girl. "Two birds with one stone." Trent liked the symmetry.

And going after Hannah wouldn't be a hardship. He definitely found her attractive, if a little brash and arrogant. Then again, working with nuggets on a regular basis, she'd need to be.

And she seemed to like him. She'd drawn him into the home she let Kane crash in and made Trent welcome. Considering his brother had forgotten until the last minute to announce Trent's arrival—waiting until he'd knocked on the door—he wouldn't have blamed her if she'd been pissed.

Instead, Hannah rolled her eyes and told Kane he could cook dinner since he forgot to mention they'd have a guest. Awkward moment smoothed over and Hannah got out of fixing the meal. Trent admired her deft handling of his brother.

He jumped in the shower and decided to approach Hannah on a professional level to see how she'd handle it.

This really didn't go in the direction I thought it would. Trent starts down a slippery slope and faces a personal demon he didn't know he had.

 

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

ML Skye

Sunday Snippet: Star Chasers

I'm so excited because for the first time in over twenty years—actually, maybe longer—I got some new furniture. It's kind of my holiday present from everyone in the family. A new small recliner and a new couch. I'll be adding a chaise at some point but haven't found one I like yet. The couch story is an entire saga and I didn't expect it until December 23, but it arrived Friday!

I also had a super-busy work schedule, which had me buried for most of the week. I'm definitely not complaining. I love to be busy.

Had a decent week of television but somewhat abbreviated. I started with the Madam Blanc Mysteries. I'm quite enjoying how the larger mystery arc is being woven into the weekly episodes.

I finished up the second part of Silent Witness and started a new episode. Gotta say I'm now into episodes I haven't seen yet. The first part left quite a cliffhanger. I'm a little freaked out.

I caught a full arc of Classic Who and, yes, the Master showed up. I started a new four-part arc and I think this is when we say goodbye to Five. I'll let you know next week.

Watched Mysteries of Apollo and this episode focused on NASA's first heroes, mainly the astronauts from Mercury and Gemini. Quite an interesting episode.

Enjoyed two episodes of The Muppet Show. Senor Wences and Bruce Schwartz and Debbie Harry were the guest stars. Both were fun episodes.

Caught another episode of Fantasy Island. I'm quite happy with this updated version. Looking forward to the holiday episode.

Watched an episode of Peak Practice. An interesting plot with this one. Kind of cool to get a little more backstory for Andrew.

Started a new MasterClass. The instructor is Bill Nye and I can't wait to dive into his classes.

Caught two episodes of Classic Rugrats. Season two is a lot of fun with some memorable stories.

Enjoyed a holiday episode of Chicago Med. Gotta say Dr. Charles is going through it right now. Actually, both of them are. A really great episode nonetheless.

Watched another Brokenwood Mysteries. As usual, this show makes me happy. I love the characters and their interactions. Kind of interesting to meet another one of Mike's exes.

That's pretty much it for this week. Tonight's post is from Star Chasers, which will probably be a series name. I haven't settled on the title name yet.

Here's the mini-blurb:

Marnie Ritoli, a kick-ass mechanic for the premier maze-running team in the galaxy, is presented with a dilemma—choose a new mate or leave the Chasers. But Marnie knows Luce Carrington isn't dead, and she won't play second fiddle to anyone, so she does what she's best at and finds a loophole in the league rules, picking Luce's best friend … the person who backs her into a corner in the first place.

And a sneaky peek…

Marnie entered the canteen to find the Chaser's president Winton Ashcraft pacing back and forth. "This doesn't bode well." She'd muttered the words under her breath but they caught Win's attention.

He turned to face her. "Pull up a pew. We've gotta talk." He planted his hands on his hips.

Marnie parked her butt on one of the barstools. "So you said. Can't be good if we're doing this at two in the morning." She tamped down a nervous fissure, praying he didn't have bad news about Luce.

Winston gave a grunt. "Giving it to you straight. Luce isn't coming back. You know the drill. Pick someone." He shifted his stance and folded his arms over his chest.

Marnie blinked. "Excuse me. Why the hell would I do that?" No way. Luce hadn't been gone long enough to force her into a ride or die moment.

Win narrowed his gaze. "I don't have to explain how this works. When a member defaults, we've got procedures to follow."

Marnie mirrored him, folding her arms over her chest. "You are not quoting league rules to me." Win usually played it fast and loose with the regs.

Members not in good standing lost their privileges and assets and, by rights, should be cast out of the club. Luce didn't fit that category because no one knew where he'd gone. But a Chaser—especially an officer of rank—that missed more than two meetings in a row would be in default and their assets were held in escrow for six months then divvied up within the club. Mates were given a choice—stake a new claim for partner, become fair game for all, or disavow and leave the Chasers. None of those options worked for her. 

Winston grunted. "Yeah, I am." His face went dark. "I'm tired of breaking up fights. Two hours ago, I broke up the seventh fight in as many days." He fixed his disgusted gaze on her. "And it's all about you. Or rather, it's about who gets dibs on that luscious body of yours."

Marnie stiffened. Fuck. She couldn't deal with the idea right now. And damn Win for making her.

She met his gaze. "No one but Luce owns the rights. No one ever will." An ache started deep in her heart.

Winston's lips went flat. "Luce is gone. Has been for weeks. And you know the rules." His voice softened but kept its hard edge. "In ten days you pick someone or I do it for you." He paused. "Or you can leave the crew. Your choice." He leaned back against the wall, his features closed off, but his eyes held the pain of loss.

Just like her heart.

He didn't have to give her the time. Technically, she should have declared her status last week, but she didn't think she'd actually have to. She held out hope that Luce would return and couldn't believe Win would write his best friend off so soon.

But … she had to make a decision. Stay or go. She'd found her family with the Chasers and the idea of starting over somewhere without Luce terrified her. But staying under the terms of the league rules chafed. What the hell should I do? The fact she had to decide pissed her off.

She pondered Win for a few moments before giving a reply. "Fine." At least he'd given her some leeway. "Tell the ass hats to leave off with each other. I'll weigh my options and inform the crew of my choice at the next meeting." She got up to leave, the desire to smash something weighing heavily.

Win reached out and grasped her elbow. "Look, Marnie. Whatever you decide, I won't let you become space chum for anything with a dick. I owe Luce that much." Meaning, if she left, he'd set her up somewhere with a little protection.

She wanted to be grateful, but betrayal burned hot and fast at the moment. "You owe him more than that, Win. We both know why." They never talked about the sacrifice Luce made for Win and she'd keep it that way for now.

Win hissed out a breath. "Guess I deserved that. But there's no sign of Luce returning and I can't have half the crew fighting over you. You get that, right?"

Marnie shrugged away from him. "Yeah, Win. I get it." She met his gaze. "But you get this—I contribute more around here than the average ladybird. It sucks that no one remembers that fact and it all boils down to my ass being the only asset that counts." She turned and exited before he could respond.

She didn't want or need empty platitudes. Win could go hang for forcing her to comply. And for making her face a life without Luce.

I love how this story is finally coming together. The sages have been dropping ideas—out of order, of course—but a cohesive thread is weaving its way from beginning to end and a new story is forming for Win.

 

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

ML Skye

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

Hello, December. I'm stuck between being excited for the holiday season and freaking out because I have a lot of things I'd like to get accomplished and not enough time to slide them all in. The story of my life.

Not a bad week of television but a little lighter than usual. I started out with Peak Practice and ended up getting two episodes watched. Both were pretty decent.

Finished up the MasterClass with Brandon McMillan. I had two lessons left and got some great information from both. Not sure what I'll start next but I'm excited.

Caught another episode of Glitch. Some interesting developments and good information. I like the pacing of this series and find I need to focus so I don't miss an important piece of the puzzle.

Enjoyed two more episodes of Classic Rugrats. I finished up season one and started season two. Looking forward to diving back in.

Watched two episodes of Chicago Med. Season three is beginning with a good run. I'm a little on the fence about Dr. Reese. I love her passion but I also get annoyed when she goes off the deep end about something.

Started season six of The Brokenwood Mysteries. Interesting to see another one of Mike's ex wives. I liked having Jared back. Also a good mystery to keep things fun.

Caught an episode of Silent Witness. I don't remember this one so I'm interested to see how the second half ends.

Finished the second part of Classic Who and said goodbye to Tegan. I think the Master is going to make another appearance soon, which I'm kind of meh about.

Enjoyed another episode of Mysteries of Apollo. This one focused on Apollo 8 and had some great information. I love watching old footage of the space program's beginning.

Watched two more episodes of The Muppet Show. James Coburn and Glenda Jackson were the guest stars. The pirate-themed episode ended up being a lot of fun.

Caught another episode of Fantasy Island. Really fun episode even if the theme ended up being a little dark.

Finally caught the finale of Star Trek: Discovery. Really great ending to the first season. I'm excited to start the breakdowns of The Ready Room then move on to season two.

That's pretty much it for television this week. Tonight's post is from Specter's Masquerade, one of four novellas set at Specter Space Station.

Here's the mini-blurb:

Juna Newberry starts her new position as head of security on the Specter Spacestation under fire. She walks into the job two days before the biggest gala event of the solar year, a threat is made on the personnel, including the principal owner of the station, Maddox Specter, all while fighting her attraction for the sexy entrepreneur.

And a sneaky peek…

Juna paced the antechamber of the chief station operator's suite of offices. Pissed off, she banked the fires of her anger, letting it smolder and stay hot. The doors whisked open and she whirled around, ready to let loose.

Instead, she stopped and sucked in a harsh breath. Geez. The man is gorgeous.

Maddox Specter had a commanding presence. Tall and broad-shouldered, he filled out the tailored suit and cut a handsome figure. His dark hair had waves, giving him a roguish appearance. The sharp angles and planes of his face made her fingers itch to trace the peaks and valleys.

Crap, she didn't have time for her libido to kick into gear. She blinked and shook her head, focusing on the steaming pile of shit she'd stepped into. Opening her mouth, she made ready to voice her grievances.

The extremely attractive owner beat her to the punch. "Hell's bells. Not only did they fuck up the hire date, they picked a bloody gorgeous woman, too." A hand raked through his hair.

Juna bristled. Beyond tired of having her physical beauty judged over her ability, she made a quick move. Striding two steps forward, she shoved hard at Specter's chest then jerked him forward by grabbing his tie. A small sidestep put her behind him with his tie wrapped around his neck, cutting off his air supply. She snagged his arm and drew it back, twisting it upward in the most uncomfortable position she could manage.

Leaning in, she snarled. "I'm damned good at my job." She bent his wrist at an odd angle. "Gorgeous or not." Why did the hot men always need a demonstration to understand?

Maddox held up his free arm in surrender. "I have no doubt, Ms. Newberry. You wouldn't have made the top five candidates if I did." His words were raspy due to lack of air flow.

Juna released him, her face flaming hot. No one told her she'd been on a list, or that she'd been a top choice.

Maddox straightened his tie then loosened and removed it. "I should turn you loose on my board of directors." He tossed the crumpled and ruined fabric on his desk.

Juna would replace the accessory. She owed him that much. And she quickly surmised a few key details; he'd been in the dark about the decision.

Juna quirked an eyebrow. "The idiots who brought a critical staff member on board two days before a huge event?" Her earlier anger dwindled to a thrum of irritation.

Maddox snorted. "Yes. Exactly. They pulled a sleight of hand while I was off station visiting a friend of mine."

Juna squared her shoulders. "Point me in their direction." She'd love to give each member a very verbal piece of her mind.

Maddox flashed a grin. "As much as I'd enjoy that show, I really should get you up to speed instead." He indicated the chair opposite his desk.

Juna took a seat and the irritation melted into a healthy respect for the way he'd diffused the potential cluster fuck and turned the experience into something positive. Over the next several hours her admiration grew when he took her through the employee files, the temporary list of event staffers, and the guest list. After a quick break for refreshments he'd ordered from Wanda, he covered the various locations for dancing, dining, and the main draw—the masquerade contest.

She frowned. "Wait. Contest? Does that mean I have to be in costume?" Gads, she had zero desire to play dress-up, especially for work.

Maddox nodded. "It's expected, yes."

Her shoulders slumped. "There's no way I can just wear my security uniform with a mask?" That would suit her so much better than anything else.

Maddox chuckled. "Uh, no, I don't think so." He leaned back in his seat, his head tilted to one side. "Leave your costume to me. I'm certain I can find something appropriate."

Juna narrowed her eyes, but inclined her head. She truly hoped they defined the word appropriate in the same way. But she'd leave the choice in his hands because she wouldn't have time to mess about with finding a costume.

I'm having a lot of fun writing this series of novellas. Maddox and Juna start the whole show and they play a role in each of the other books. They're a fun couple to write.

 

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

ML Skye

Sunday Snippet: Sibling Rivalry

Hope everyone had a terrific US holiday and a terrific week if not in the US. I got to spend time with my oldest and youngest kiddos and enjoyed being able to do so. I think I have two more gifts and maybe some odds and ends to pick up and I'm done with holiday shopping. Fairly pleased to be a little ahead of my usual last-minute rush.

Had a good week of television viewing. I watched another episode of The Brokenwood Mysteries. This show continues to make me so happy.

Got a two-part Silent Witness watched. This is one I didn't remember and I'm glad I got to watch it.

Got a full arc of Classic Who in and started a new one. I've discovered a couple of episodes were almost an hour in this season, which is actually kind of cool.

Started a new series with Mysteries of Apollo and the first episode focused on the Apollo 13 mission and some of the in-depth history of that experience.

Began season five of The Muppet Show and watched four episodes. Gene Kelly, Loretta Swit, Joan Baez, and Shirley Bassey were the guest hosts. Final season of the original.

Caught two episodes of Fantasy Island and I'm still thoroughly enjoying the show. I think I have one left in this first season and I'll look forward to the holiday episode.

Started season six of Peak Practice. Great episode that moved the timeline ahead a little. Being at the halfway mark of the entire run is a nice accomplishment.

Enjoyed another lesson of MasterClass with Brandon McMillan. Some great tips on housebreaking that I hope to put into effect after I get my downstairs area organized.

Season two of Glitch started out with an interesting twist. This show is very twisty and turny and I like that. Looking forward to getting more information on how everything works and finding out if Sarah is another one of the risen. If so, poor James. Two women in his life? That's a lot.

Remember when I thought I finished the first season of Star Trek: Discovery? Yeah, not the case. I had two more episodes. Watched the penultimate this week and, wow, what a mix of highs and lows. This show. Just saying.

Started season three of Chicago Med. I like how they moved the timeline ahead and seeing where everyone ended up. Conor breaks my heart. April breaks my heart. Wil and Nat make me happy. The horrible new surgical resident irritates the life out of me. So far, so good. LOL

Watched another episode of The Madame Blanc Mysteries. I really love the dynamic of this show and the mystery this week ended up being terrific. Also love the overarching mystery of who killed Jean's husband. Interesting show.

That's pretty much it for this week. Tonight's post is from Sibling Rivalry, a novella that got a start with a writing community prompt.

Here's the mini-blurb:

When Fayne Cartier falls for his brother's flight instructor, Rumor Child, he has no idea how difficult dating will end up being when his brother shows signs of not having the chops to qualify. Rumor won't cut him from her class thinking the sibling rivalry may be just what the younger Cartier needs.

And a sneaky peek…

Rumor stretched and rubbed at the kinks in her neck. She finalized the notes and separated her student files. She'd have a full class starting in two weeks. She couldn't wait … the beginning of a new class always excited her.

The aroma of spicy beef hit her nostrils and she glanced up at the same moment her stomach growled. Fayne Cartier stood by the door, dangling a bag of takeout between his fingers. The heavenly smell had her mouth watering.

As did the man.

He looked good enough to eat, clad in fatigues with a tight black T-shirt that hugged his muscles. Fayne definitely hit her hot buttons. Along with the hunger pang, she ended up with an entirely different kind of twinge in her nether regions.

She arched a brow, but said nothing. She'd leave the opening salvo to Fayne. And she didn't doubt they'd be having parry and thrust conversation … either about his brother or Fayne's reason for dropping by.

He took a step into the room. "I figured you wouldn't mind if I brought dinner. You have to eat sometime." He sent her a lopsided grin.

She didn't mind. "That's true." She waved him in.

He set the bag on her desk and pulled a chair around. "Of course, I'm part of the package. Hope you don't mind."

She chuckled. "I doubt it would matter if I did." She paused a brief moment. "But I don't." Sitting down, she opened one of the containers. "Ahhh. Smells heavenly." The spicy blend wafted out into the room.

Fayne had a very pleased-with-himself look on his face. He grabbed another box and flipped the top up to reveal buttery noodles cooked to perfection.

They didn't talk much while they split up the food between them or while they polished off half of it. The atmosphere companionable, Rumor wondered how long it would last. She might find Fayne incredibly attractive but…

Fayne swallowed a bite of food. "So … think my brother will pass the written?"

And there it is.

Rumor sat back and folded her arms over her chest. "Is this why you brought me dinner?"

He shook his head. "Not at all. I do have an ulterior motive, but it doesn't involve Renner." He leaned in. "I find you attractive and fascinating, especially since you pretty much handed me my ass earlier today. I have to get to know you better."

She laughed. "You might not like what you discover." Reaching over, she tapped on Renner's file. "Your brother passed the written exam. Not that I'm surprised at all."

Fayne quirked an eyebrow. "Really? Why?"

She shrugged. "He's grown up around ships and pilots. He'd have to have at least a basic aptitude. The written test isn't going to faze him." And that wouldn't be what concerned Fayne.

He proved her right. "Doesn't change the fact he shouldn't be in a cockpit."

Rumor didn't discount his sentiment. "Maybe, maybe not. But I can't grade him on your gut feeling. You're too close to the situation." But she respected him for caring.

 Fayne sighed. "I get that. And I am too close. Renner's always had this thing about pleasing Dad, even if it costs him more than he can give."

Rumor winced. "Speaking from experience?"

Fayne rolled a shoulder. "Not recently. I learned to walk my own path. Becoming a pilot had nothing to do with Dad." He paused. "Check that. I've been interested in flying since I was little and that did come from my father, but I took the time to make sure it's what I wanted. Does that make sense?"

She nodded. "It does. If you didn't love it you would've walked away." She could see him doing exactly that.

He agreed. "Yeah. But I don't think Renner will."

Rumor tilted her head. "Then let me make a suggestion. Give your brother a chance to figure it out on his own. You never know … he could have the chops." Only time would tell if he did.

Fayne made a noncommittal sound.

Rumor pushed a little more. "Look, there's nothing like a little sibling rivalry to drive mediocrity to extraordinary. And you two have rivalry in spades." Almost like an art form, no doubt spurred on by their dad.

Fayne nudged back. "And what if that doesn't work?"

A good question that deserved an answer. "All I can promise is not to pass if him if he doesn't earn it." She wouldn't be swayed by anything but the merits.

So far, this story is coming together nicely. I like the interaction between Rumor and Fayne and how each has a good point about the situation and they kind of agree to disagree and let the chips fall.

 

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

ML Skye

Sunday Snippet: Set the Record Straight

Okay, we're a week before Thanksgiving in the US and I'm happy to say I've got the bulk of my holiday shopping done. I need to get a few more items then it's time to put a bow on the whole package and be done. YAY!

Had a pretty solid week of working and watching television. A new project crossed my desk and it's going well. On the television side, I started with Classic Who and watched a four-episode arc then hit a two-episode arc. Both were enjoyable.

Caught the last two episodes of Roswell: The Final Verdict. Really enjoyed this six-part series. Not sure what I'll pick up with next, but probably something else UFO related.

I watched four episodes of The Muppet Show and finished out season four. The guest hosts were Doug Henning, Andy Williams, Alan Arkin, and Diana Ross. Season five is the final run of the original show and I'm not sure what I'll watch next. Maybe some of the movies.

Enjoyed two more episodes of Fantasy Island. So far, I'm liking the new premise and how things from the past are blended into the current incarnation of the island. Based on what I've read, there's going to be a holiday episode. I'm a total sucker for stuff like that and can't wait.

Finished out season five of Peak Practice. Did not expect it to end with a house burning down, but it happened. Looking forward to starting season six. I'm at the halfway point. Yay!

Watched two more lessons of MasterClass with Brandon McMillan. He's got some great methods and I'm hoping to try some out on my furry mutts soon. I've already incorporated a couple of things and they've worked well.

Completed the first season of Glitch. I didn't see a couple of things coming and I love the twists. Looking forward to starting the second season this week. I gotta say I really feel for James and this show is like catnip because of the love triangle that isn't really a triangle and the fact that no one is a bad guy in it. That's a trope I thoroughly enjoy.

Started a new episode of Blue Heelers and have a feeling it's going to be one of those odd ones where the heelers are on opposing sides. Not sure how I'll like this one.

Finished the finale of Star Trek: Discovery. Man, what a ride the first season ended up being. I can't wait to see what the breakdowns will look like on The Ready Room.

Caught two more episodes of Chicago Med. I'm almost finished with the second season and looking forward to the third. Gotta take a moment to appreciate the episode titles. This show makes them fun.

Started a new show with The Madam Blanc Mysteries. So far, I'm hooked. I loved the first episode. Looking forward to seeing more.

Finished the second episode of Silent Witness. I have vague memories of this one and how it played out. Kind of a twisty tale.

Last but not least, I watched two more Classic Rugrats episodes. I'm trying to decide if I want to watch the holiday specials or hold off and watch as they pop up during the seasons. Stay tuned.

That's pretty much it for weekly updates. Tonight's post is from Set the Record Straight, a novella that got a start with a writing community prompt.

Here's the mini-blurb:

Keegan Brimm and Warner Misona check their feelings for each other at the spaceport airlock and have a knockdown fight before they finally drag out all the baggage between them to set the record straight.

And a sneaky peek…

Warner's brain exploded with tons of emotions. Rage over Westcroft's underhanded and possibly criminal activities. Including possible subterfuge and maneuvering behind the scenes that led to his best friend's death. Regret over not asking Keegan about it sooner. What a burden to be weighed under.

He asked now. "You've been carrying this around since his death, haven't you?" After she nodded, he continued. "And news of Westcroft's arrival kicked everything up again."

She inclined her chin. "You got it in one." Heaving a sigh, she stood up. "And I've wasted an entire week wallowing in self-pity when I should have been seeking dirt on the major." Her eyes closed and her head tilted back.

Warner rose and grasped her hand. "I have some ideas about that." He waited until she met his gaze. "Still want to find a quiet place?" His hand slipped up her forearm then down again. "Only instead of beating yourself up, we can talk about what needs to happen when Westcroft gets here."

Keegan squeezed his hand. "I'd like that. Thanks."

Warner let go of her arm. "Let's go to the library, see if it's unoccupied."

Keegan chuckled. "You mean the former supply locker that our CO decided to convert 'for cultural purposes'?" She rolled her eyes.

Warner grinned. "Hey, give Harcourt some credit. It's a good morale booster. Books, a wireless comm station for research and it's small enough to guarantee quiet." He continued extoling the virtues while they headed in that direction. "People can find a spot to make calls home or send updates without anyone interrupting."

Keegan slid him a sideways glance. "They can also get up close and personal in relative privacy."

Warner smirked. "There's that, too." She would know about that feature.

Keegan paused a moment. "You realize if we're seen going in and coming out together, rumors will fly about us, too."

Warner stopped outside the door. "That's exactly what I'm hoping will happen." He waited a beat. "Whether the gossip proves true or not is up to you." He wouldn't push Keegan for an actual relationship—not when she had Westcroft to deal with—but he'd leave the offer on the table.

He opened the door and motioned for Keegan to precede him. Securing the hatch behind them, he got a shock when he turned to find Keegan right there. As in up close and personal.

This story is so much fun. Keegan found a great partner in Warner and Westcroft probably won't stand a chance with this skirmish.

 

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

ML Skye

Sunday Snippet: Sabotage

Well, we're finally getting November weather. It's chilly outside and we got some snow showers that really ended up being flurries flying wildly in the wind. I'm kind of excited to get into the true depth of fall.

Had a decent week of catching up on projects and doing more organizing. I also made a dent in my holiday shopping. I'm making an effort to be on top of that this year.

Pretty solid week of viewing also. I got two episodes of Glitch in. I thought I'd already watched the third episode but I hadn't. So I'll be starting episode five this week. Some crazy stuff happened and we're down two characters. I'm very interested in what the hell happened to Vic.

Caught another musical icon episode. Whitney Houston: We Will Always Love You ended up being full of stuff I didn't know or remember about the singer. I like revisiting the lives of those we've lost.

Watched the penultimate episode of Star Trek: Discovery. Definitely had a twist I sort of expected but didn't know if the show would go there. They totally did. I'm kind of excited to see the finale then dive into the Ready Room breakdowns. I kind of hope Wil loses his mind over some of the twists and turns. He's so much fun because he's such a huge fan.

Enjoyed two episode of Chicago Med. I'm almost through the second season with one more episode to go. I'm kind of sad about Robin's descent, especially because Rhodes is such a nice guy. I'm also thrilled with how Reese is coming into her own and standing up for herself. Her confidence is amazing this season.

Caught the season finale of Midsomer Murders. Really liked this one and loved the mystery. I rather hope there's another season in the works.

Finished season thirteen of Silent Witness and started the first episode of season fourteen. I'm a little iffy on whether I remember this one or not. Some of the details are pinging so I think I did watch it before.

Watched the season twenty finale of Classic Who. Thoroughly enjoyed "The Five Doctors" and seeing all the former companions back for a spin. Although Four didn't have much of anything to do, which, honestly, isn't a huge loss. He'd been the most recent anyway.

Caught another episode of Roswell: The Final Verdict and liked the deep dive into how some of the witnesses were discredited and humiliated. Everything that happened with the Roswell incident is fascinating.

Enjoyed two more episodes of The Muppet Show. Lynda Carter and Carol Channing were the guest stars. The muppets trying to be super heroes was hilarious.

Started the updated version of Fantasy Island. Interesting premise and pretty decent storylines. I'll finish out the season and see if things hold up.

Caught another episode of Peak Practice. I'm almost through season five and I'm still liking the mix of partners. I think I have two episodes left before season six starts.

Watched another MasterClass with Brandon McMillan. This one gave me some good insight into how to keep my doggos from jumping. I'm going to try some of the techniques because that's a huge problem with both dogs.

Enjoyed two episodes of Classic Rugrats. Two were favorites from watching with my kiddos when they were little. This show is so much fun to revisit.

Also caught another episode of The Brokenwood Mysteries. Nice to see Jared back and what a terrific case. I'm hoping the lawyer lady gets caught at some point. Because she's definitely guilty. Also wondering if the final duo will end up featuring in another episode at some point.

And that's pretty much it for this week's television update. Tonight's post is from Sabotage, a novella that got a start with a writing community prompt.

Here's the mini-blurb:

Sapphire Naught and Gifford Fell are tasked with finding a saboteur and neither is allowed to fly until the culprit is apprehended. The cat and mouse game of tracking and luring their prey into a trap takes its toll on their relationship but ends up making them see new sides to each other.

And a sneaky peek…

"Holy shit." Sapphire straightened in her chair, keeping her eyes glued to the monitor. "Lame bird. Trouble rising." She yanked the headphones over her ears to shut out the background noise and focus on the issues scrolling on the screen and Giff's voice relaying his problem.

Topping the list, a terrible malfunction with his navigation array.

She pitched her voice low, using a soothing tone. "Flagstone, Hyperion. Sit rep."

Giff replied. "Hyperion, Flagstone. Bad hydraulic leak. Can't eject. Bird's drifting."

She glanced over her shoulder. "Launch the SAR team." Search and rescue would need to haul ass or Giff risked hypoxia.

If he couldn't eject, the backup O2 wouldn't switch over. Unless…

She rolled her wrist in a circular motion. "Switching to one on one."

Another tech took over monitoring the SAR comm traffic.

She focused back on Giff. "Why can't you eject?"

Giff explained. "Cable snapped when I tried."

Sapphire frowned. "Should've been caught on pre-flight."

Giff made a quick reply. "That's on me. It was loose, but stable. Didn't think it would be a problem."

And, normally, it wouldn't have been.

Sapphire shook her head. "Okay, look, there's a way to override the malfunction to get the backup oxygen, but it ain't pretty."

Giff made a tsking sound. "Let's hope it doesn't come to that."

She stayed on the line with him, calculating the minutes until search and rescue would get to him. No way they would get there in time.

She lowered her voice. "Giff, you need to start now. You can't take any chances."

He made a disgusted sound. "Yeah, yeah. Fine. Walk me through it."

Sapphire described the steps.

Giff snorted. "Right. Definitely won't be pretty."

He had to find a way to cut the cable then switch the O2 intake over to portable.

Sapphire prompted him. "Keep talking to me so I can follow your progress. Do you carry a blade in your flight suit?"

Giff shot back. "Nope. I've had too many confiscated when we go planetside." After a brief pause, he came on again. "I'm using the metal panel that covers the comm system cables."

Good thinking.

She kept him updated on the progress of the SAR bird. "They're not that far out, but it's gonna be close."

Giff barked out a brief laugh. "Ha! I got it. I'll be switching over to portable, but when I do, I'm gonna lose comms."

Sapphire dragged her lower lip between her teeth. "See you soon." Hopefully alive.

She waited for three heart-pounding minutes before the rescue team announced they had him in sight. Another two for them to mark him aboard their ship. And thirty more seconds before his voice blended in with the others.

Sighing with relief, she glanced up and frowned when see noted the commander in a one-on-one with the XO. Each wore a concerned look on their face. Setting her headset aside, she fought the roil of her stomach and ignored the niggle of worry trying to rent space in her head.

Something's not right.

I'm having a good time writing this one. I love sprinkling a little mystery into the romance for a layer of conflict.

 

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

ML Skye

Sunday Snippet: Rewarding Experience

Well … November has arrived and the weather is cooling off to true fall-like temperatures. It's pretty chilly when I take the dogs out for the final time at night. Brrr.

Had a limited work week with only one project on my desk. Sometimes it's nice to have the extra time to get things done around the house. I'm still on my great clear-out and making solid progress. I have a new couch coming later this month and I'm excited to get everything ready for it.

Decent week of television. I caught four episodes of The Muppet Show. Anne Murray, Jonathan Winters, Star Wars / Mark Hamill, and Christopher Reeve were the guest stars. I remember the Star Wars episode from childhood. My brothers and I loved that one.

Finished up Prime Suspect and actually loved the way the series ended. I don't remember if I actually got to finish the entire series when I watched the first time so I'm glad I got to complete the entire run. Really like the bookend of how it began with how it ended.

Watched two episodes of Peak Practice. As suspected, David's wife kind of went off the rails and the climax of that happened in the second episode. I'm also enjoying Paul's storyline. Nice to see him pop up about every other episode.

Caught two more MasterClass lessons with Brandon McMillan. He's very good at explaining his technique and I'm hoping I'll be able to work with both dogs to have them behave better.

Watched another episode of Glitch and this show is as trippy as I thought it would be. Three episodes in and I'm still not quite sure what's going on. James has quite the dilemma on two fronts and it's almost uncomfortable watching him juggle everything.

Enjoyed another Pop Profiles. This one featured Jennifer Lopez. I didn't learn a lot of new things about her career but I loved revisiting some of her stellar moments.

Caught two more episodes of Classic Rugrats. This show is so much fun to revisit. Had a chance to talk to my oldest and reminisce a little about how much we loved watching when he was little.

Watched a great episode of Chicago Med. I'm starting to really enjoy Dr. Latham. I also loved getting into a little more of Goodwin's story. Also really liked Reece's storyline for this episode.

Enjoyed another episode of The Brokenwood Mysteries. I've been enjoying having Frodo pop up in weird jobs. My hope is he'll eventually end up at the Toad and Lion. He'd make a great bartender.

Started a new episode of Blue Heelers. This one is interesting with a rural flavor to it. I'm feeling bad for Adam. He's got it bad for Chris and she's not going there because of their age difference.

Started the final two-parter of Silent Witness for season thirteen. This is another South Africa setting. I have a very vague memory of what happened the first time I watched and I'm looking forward to the second part to see if I remember anything else.

I'm almost finished with season twenty of Classic Who. The Master did show up again in a two-part arc and that leaves one final episode left. "The Five Doctors" will round out the season and we'll be on to twenty-one.

Enjoyed another episode of Roswell: The Final Verdict. This focused on how the government went to a lot of trouble to silence witnesses of the crash. The AI found a couple of false statements and that always interests me. Looking forward to the next episode.

That's pretty much it for this week's update. Tonight's post is from Rewarding Experience, a novella that got a start with a writing community prompt.

Here's the mini-blurb:

When an explosion rocks a deep space mining expedition, injuring Trixie Bell, she realizes how much she wants and needs Jock Tennyson by her side. The grueling hours and physically exhausting work makes the couple cranky and edgy, but Trixie decides to show Jock how rewarding a simple reprimand can be.

And a sneaky peek…

Jock got a hard kick to his gut. He didn't like the idea of training and running production at the same time.

He shook his head. "We're not authorized to train on site, Trix." A stupid restriction, but one clearly written into the contract.

Trixie snorted. "Too damned bad. Unless you've got a better suggestion, I'm out." She started for the door.

He stopped her. "Hold up. Wait just a damn minute. I don't want my best person putting herself at risk here." He didn't want anyone in danger, but especially her.

Trixie rolled her eyes. "Again, do you have another suggestion? Because we can't make the quota unless one of us actually goes in and trains the miners." She flicked her gaze over him. "Obviously, it won't be you." Her tone implied he no longer could.

He bristled. "I've worked in the mines a long time, Trix." A full year longer than her, as a matter of fact.

She made a disgusted sound. "Yeah, right up until you became one of the suits." She sneered the last word.

He glanced pointedly at his heavy twill work pants and dusty boots. "I don't wear a suit." And he never would.

She waved her hand. "Doesn't mean you haven't become one on the inside." She turned and left.

Jock frowned. "Way to give me a shot at fixing this, Trix." Leaning back, he reflected a little on why he took the job as foreman.

He'd hoped to bring about desperately needed change. Instead, he got buried under a mountain of need this, make it happen, and keep things coming. And his biggest supporter—Trixie—ended up walking away pissed off and angry.

Tossing the pen on the files, he put his head in his hands. "I might be in the middle of a steaming pile right now, but I'll find a way to make things up to her." Including yet another call to the commission to plead their case.

I usually end up writing sci-fi romance that takes place on a ship and I'm enjoying having this set on a mining colony. Trixie and Jock are also a lot of fun to write.

 

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

ML Skye

Sunday Snippet: Red Tape

Happy Halloween to those who observe. We had our trick or treat last night and it was nice to be outside with semi-decent weather to enjoy fall. For me, it was wonderful to take a break from some renovation in the bathroom. I'm not twenty-five anymore and I'm definitely feeling that right now. LOL

Not a bad week for television, I started with another episode of The Brokenwood Mysteries and quite enjoyed it. I love the quirkiness of the characters and the cases. Such a great show.

Watched a two-part Silent Witness and I vaguely remembered this one. It's odd how a season from a decade or so ago holds up so well. What goes around comes around.

Caught two arcs of Classic Who, which brings me close to the end of season twenty. Pretty sure the Master is going to show up again around the final arc.

Enjoyed two episodes of The Muppet Show. Liza Minnelli and Phyllis George were the guest stars.

Finished up season six of Prime Suspect. I'll be starting the final season this week. I'm not sure what I'll move on to after this series but I'll find something.

Watched two episodes of Roswell: The Final Verdict. I kind of like the use of AI truth detection they're using to determine whether witness accounts about the crash are true or not. Interesting viewing.

Caught another episode of Peak Practice. I'm coming up on the last few episodes of season five and I'm still enjoying the series. Slowly but surely making my way to season twelve with one of my favorite actors in an early role.

Got some great information from MasterClass with Brandon McMillan. I'll be coming back to this lesson in the near future.

Started the new-to-me series Glitch and got rather hooked on the first episode. My sibling highly recommended this one and I look forward to discussing it with him.

Watched Pop Profile: Demi Lovato and thoroughly enjoyed it. I'm not overly familiar with her career and the profile was interesting to follow along.

Caught another episode of Star Trek: Discovery. Things are definitely heating up and I can't decide if I'm really down with what's going on with Ash or if I need to shake my head over it. Either way, I'm so invested in what happens I can't wait for the next episode.

Great Chicago Med episode with Halsted, Rhodes, and Reese learning some lessons. I always find the episode names interesting and I love how they almost always end up fitting the theme.

Watched another Midsomer Murders episode and thoroughly enjoyed it. After twenty-two seasons that's saying something. I have one more episode of this season then, hopefully, a new season in the near future.

That's pretty much it for this week's viewing update. Tonight's post is from Red Tape, a novella that got a start with a writing community prompt.

Here's the mini-blurb:

Noelle Phame and Dirk Santias are given a temporary duty assignment to a new space cruiser and quickly realize how different the traditions are on an admiral's flagship. Once they figure out the red tape, they're free to fraternize all they want.

And a sneaky peek…

Noelle stopped the battle formation sim, their final for the day. "Any questions?"

Dirk adjusted the lighting then moved back to stand beside her.

One of the pilots in the front row, Bartleman Jones, raised his hand. "Yeah, are you free for dinner tonight?" He waggled his eyebrows.

Noelle slid a sideways glance to Dirk then rolled her eyes. "Do you really think I'm going to fall for that? You want inside information, don't you?"

Jones laughed. "Maybe I want to test the waters with a beautiful woman."

The rest of the class responded with a collective groan.

Noelle chuckled. "Nice try. Just because I'm from a different ship doesn't mean the frat regs don't apply." Not that the rules really tripped her up.

Bartleman rolled a shoulder. "Can't blame a guy for trying. And, hey, there's a way around everything. Just saying." He smirked.

Noelle gave him a long look. "Maybe so, but don't waste your time. You don't need to tax your brain trying to figure something out." She retrieved the disc with the sim runs and tucked it into her case.

Another pilot, June Lampkin, laughed out loud. "And he goes down in flames."

The guy next to her arched a brow. "What does that make, Jones? Ten consecutive crash and burns?"

Jones snorted. "I'm not in double digits yet. Give me some credit."

Dirk stepped up to the podium. "Duly noted. Now, all of you, get out of here."

The class started leaving and Noelle gathered up their files. When she glanced up, Dirk waggled his eyebrows much better than Bartleman could. "So … there's a way … we just need to figure it out." He moved behind her and cupped her ass.

Noelle lifted her chin and spoke quietly in his ear. "The sooner the better. We're almost up to a week since we've been together."

Dirk gripped her hips. "Copy that. I'll see what I can find out." He eased away from her and gathered up his case, slinging it over his shoulder.

Noelle followed him out of the room, discreetly admiring the flex of his butt under the blue fabric of his pants.

This is a fun little story and I love Noelle and Dirk trying to be sneaky.

 

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

ML Skye